tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83220373243457331702024-03-14T10:39:43.493-05:00Doodles and DragonfliesKathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.comBlogger199125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-30068289308263917412009-03-12T10:53:00.004-05:002009-03-12T11:11:16.522-05:00I'M STILL ALIVE..TRUE STORYWell, I'll be amazed if anyone is still lingering out there. But the answer is yes, I'm still alive. Between a computer crash, a trip to Jamaica, 20 horses that required food in the dead of winter, and maybe a little slacking off....well I fell of the face of the blogging planet. But I'm back....<br /><br />So today's goal is to share just a little bit of Jamaica with you and then in the coming days I will catch you up with my life...and maybe I'll try walking into my craft room...we'll see.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5kq5UW9-27i1bc8rk4dfh890O5GWGac4vQaE-2RDhzwrXEqMDa08O8vSoCvr4Irj7ssM2ZLvvozwYOPrI0R-oFxNdTeFulE4ZsjEk8Gb_ui24aYRo_frM1w9EppJszmEpJRTQ0Nk770/s1600-h/P1011580.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5kq5UW9-27i1bc8rk4dfh890O5GWGac4vQaE-2RDhzwrXEqMDa08O8vSoCvr4Irj7ssM2ZLvvozwYOPrI0R-oFxNdTeFulE4ZsjEk8Gb_ui24aYRo_frM1w9EppJszmEpJRTQ0Nk770/s400/P1011580.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312332266281532178" /></a><br />All I can say is yes...a lot of locals really do look like this...and yes they smoke A LOT of the wacky weed.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7ZPdW5MGfWQKuSojCZCB22wCIBXnm5cDGPrZ4j2imjlH6bKWOZPgqJZCjuJf8lLcBgrJnUYlEW8bBqmI2oncAB5UY-RNtYQLD-07Ad3VhEfxBorF3eGvLFPR51l0shV4RkQAXaKs1po/s1600-h/P1011539.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7ZPdW5MGfWQKuSojCZCB22wCIBXnm5cDGPrZ4j2imjlH6bKWOZPgqJZCjuJf8lLcBgrJnUYlEW8bBqmI2oncAB5UY-RNtYQLD-07Ad3VhEfxBorF3eGvLFPR51l0shV4RkQAXaKs1po/s400/P1011539.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312332261734623218" /></a><br />We went on this "girls" trip because our friend Kristy was getting married. A sunset wedding on Valentines day, in Jamaica. It truly was amazingly beautiful!!!!!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggEAa64ryudIS_Ae-_vbdboVS1J-jgXFeqTEJQkDP5ZLe8ibYu053y1AsD18GdDF99edPeWlcTfGA6tMIXq9zPSPxqf2ORmnZr-iqg4iFyTB2d6F712ivtAI1TO71MQbkUNSbfuvBZRk/s1600-h/P1011472.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggEAa64ryudIS_Ae-_vbdboVS1J-jgXFeqTEJQkDP5ZLe8ibYu053y1AsD18GdDF99edPeWlcTfGA6tMIXq9zPSPxqf2ORmnZr-iqg4iFyTB2d6F712ivtAI1TO71MQbkUNSbfuvBZRk/s400/P1011472.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312332260511376178" /></a><br /><br />Sunsets like this EVERY NIGHT....it never got old. In fact....can I go back???<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsqqZchncwy8iXatkeX08GljDGv2NPno099mrLFbEjoKBsPXPn3IRwSrkTcWTDWe7g9UQT4J_AeSE7D_Puyqs5F7LrYtgoaGQruR819zZCWJgVGVy8mOK5paEn33e5HamI819blgj1SM/s1600-h/P1011450.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsqqZchncwy8iXatkeX08GljDGv2NPno099mrLFbEjoKBsPXPn3IRwSrkTcWTDWe7g9UQT4J_AeSE7D_Puyqs5F7LrYtgoaGQruR819zZCWJgVGVy8mOK5paEn33e5HamI819blgj1SM/s400/P1011450.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312332256237579778" /></a><br /><br />Here was the view from the lobby of our resort. It was beautiful every day!!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizgZjyheat2A8ghfs3dvjLaUeJsYyCKMunBJruc9P0dAVnm0ssVr5bBvW9YOjin9go1Cw6KNKUvUFkIdE9Z1mVcSrrlVLtC4rvC1pCgM8lV_HkHtsASLK4kHh3Pqpvd0v5N-CYXblw_k/s1600-h/P1011435.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizgZjyheat2A8ghfs3dvjLaUeJsYyCKMunBJruc9P0dAVnm0ssVr5bBvW9YOjin9go1Cw6KNKUvUFkIdE9Z1mVcSrrlVLtC4rvC1pCgM8lV_HkHtsASLK4kHh3Pqpvd0v5N-CYXblw_k/s400/P1011435.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312332252552673746" /></a><br /><br />This is a crazy cliff diver at Rick's Cafe. 90 feet in the air. Won't jump until he has $20 in his little money bucket. Rough day at the office for these guys.<br /><br /><br />I hope you are all well....I promise to try to catch up!!!<br /><br />KatKathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-61897531577962791792009-01-01T12:46:00.006-06:002009-01-01T13:42:52.568-06:00The Wonder of WinterIf your going to live in Minnesota, you have to be ready to embrace that it's gonna snow and it's gonna get cold. And I'll be the first to say that by the end of January I'm thinking "Why the heck to we live in this God forsaken ice box." But I'm not there yet. I'm still embracing and loving the snow, because part of me loves it. I think if you live here too, you need to be able to know how to play in the snow or your gonna go crazy.<br /><br />And I think maybe I've succeed at teaching my kids to embrace it too.<br /><br />So 3 days ago after dragging the boys through the 70% off Christmas sales at Target, and then $150 dollar grocery trip (because the little hooligans are eating me out of house and home while on "winter" break), it started to snow on our half an hour drive home.<br /><br />And not just your average snow. Big huge, gorgeous flakes. The kind that make you feel like some giant has just shook the snow globe that you are living in and now you just stand there while they descend.<br /><br />These are the kinds of snow falls you live for each year. Because you don't think about the fact that it's not as pretty when you are shoveling it. And because it's not that pretty when you slide off the highway and your car is stuck in the stuff.<br /><br />Years ago when the boys where little I would get all excited over these snowfalls, and yell, "Grab your boots....we gotta go catch snowflakes!!!!"<br /><br />And apparently it hasn't worn off. Because they jumped out of the car to do this...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnQDHZWDT4I6PJnNF6sJ5dHa504SVgSxCVIetiXaW9XVhBgcJ6vGZ1Za1eo-LqvvYRHJFPMNRB-cyKPC1Y7yDVYZ1Nuf6XQ0xpY97FrhrFOH9vxn0Bf7FGV1fVxww1OVRzURHiqbNJQo/s1600-h/P1011296.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnQDHZWDT4I6PJnNF6sJ5dHa504SVgSxCVIetiXaW9XVhBgcJ6vGZ1Za1eo-LqvvYRHJFPMNRB-cyKPC1Y7yDVYZ1Nuf6XQ0xpY97FrhrFOH9vxn0Bf7FGV1fVxww1OVRzURHiqbNJQo/s400/P1011296.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286400194898182322" /></a><br /><br />First, you need to check them out at little.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BO65nv5iQ7hduRa4Q-1fUT5zxzdspEdUV7kMCvrw19Xgy89C90jLQWRsTWaLYmOWgrZc42OHz7M2y4AcfFRGN8IsEzTO-AnccNnm1WOnJbSwTJ4KyB17igLYADjxkJg3h_gXUVe9qH4/s1600-h/P1011293.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BO65nv5iQ7hduRa4Q-1fUT5zxzdspEdUV7kMCvrw19Xgy89C90jLQWRsTWaLYmOWgrZc42OHz7M2y4AcfFRGN8IsEzTO-AnccNnm1WOnJbSwTJ4KyB17igLYADjxkJg3h_gXUVe9qH4/s400/P1011293.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286403316382025362" /></a><br /><br />It starts with eyeing up the big flakes and trying to catch just the right one.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WTsZKfp68AklWRKt_8f8lcs0T7WdJRlq5jquxR9hy9HIyAZv3DkSYolW8mmRY48RtqB6iWL6aI-qFzwpFhJn6VtYN4teXJz8YMWAsKbF5lXi1764MKgTURiHU5Kdq19A8gAqsqF7Emo/s1600-h/P1011295.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WTsZKfp68AklWRKt_8f8lcs0T7WdJRlq5jquxR9hy9HIyAZv3DkSYolW8mmRY48RtqB6iWL6aI-qFzwpFhJn6VtYN4teXJz8YMWAsKbF5lXi1764MKgTURiHU5Kdq19A8gAqsqF7Emo/s400/P1011295.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286402016521779730" /></a><br /><br />And when you have really long eyelashes, that are just wrong to have as a boy, the snow will stick to them. (As well as your overly long, hippy-ish hair, that makes it look like your mother can't afford a haircut).<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxbZtKoWaBHFBC0NfMseColTGXROYvUIGzFVkITLXBJMQTDgyuVDmw0QtEEf17r99CFvbW3AsD7mJ543rf0jtOia4DSDlOFmy8AtxKkjc5aQpcbtyaHdh5UlHhzQLAk0fyDN5iJvfhoI/s1600-h/P1011294.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxbZtKoWaBHFBC0NfMseColTGXROYvUIGzFVkITLXBJMQTDgyuVDmw0QtEEf17r99CFvbW3AsD7mJ543rf0jtOia4DSDlOFmy8AtxKkjc5aQpcbtyaHdh5UlHhzQLAk0fyDN5iJvfhoI/s400/P1011294.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286402032326363314" /></a><br /><br />And then you stand there, weaving and bobbing, making weird noises that make you sound like Chewbacca, because your tongue is stuck as far as it will go out.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCt5WdPwGcgu-x06DMUtE3tAslHDeh4n3waSFq0lAf7m8-WSFz5tuBNoH_E5o6rUi_l-W477JCGC2Y6M6JoPvOXM3GMd0LZoq1XfAa6EPAiVl7crlhyNWmk2ckMf6o5evRDk8zYobV4E/s1600-h/P1011291.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCt5WdPwGcgu-x06DMUtE3tAslHDeh4n3waSFq0lAf7m8-WSFz5tuBNoH_E5o6rUi_l-W477JCGC2Y6M6JoPvOXM3GMd0LZoq1XfAa6EPAiVl7crlhyNWmk2ckMf6o5evRDk8zYobV4E/s400/P1011291.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286403310376006962" /></a><br /><br />Or you can opt to catch them on your hands, and eat them that way.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qbDoI6hEjHJoghGQGJ1KkjRRl_5U1rO7Lf6pudnvEPm2y6H2-mqNNzdcBgEur_sX17jhNe1rm5wincIA3oPtFA_6UjSjIcVazC1V2lbkZOAVzvXB-kioYkO3J4DpNuNk2FITBB95ToE/s1600-h/P1011290.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qbDoI6hEjHJoghGQGJ1KkjRRl_5U1rO7Lf6pudnvEPm2y6H2-mqNNzdcBgEur_sX17jhNe1rm5wincIA3oPtFA_6UjSjIcVazC1V2lbkZOAVzvXB-kioYkO3J4DpNuNk2FITBB95ToE/s400/P1011290.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286402007894637778" /></a><br /><br />Or perhaps just stand there, tongue extended, waiting for one to just stick.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKN-MC1v-UtHuGQ_einE6uCCzb6Y1esFloq4r8ywnXXGKz8JsSjA-in4XLD5YNI7ojXlH-L0sCVNrXtHKxAuHPtAGwslhvkn2v4FbsPGcDZZRGJ6b5EolH1eAd3S_yioWLDXOysD2Yczo/s1600-h/P1011223_edited-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKN-MC1v-UtHuGQ_einE6uCCzb6Y1esFloq4r8ywnXXGKz8JsSjA-in4XLD5YNI7ojXlH-L0sCVNrXtHKxAuHPtAGwslhvkn2v4FbsPGcDZZRGJ6b5EolH1eAd3S_yioWLDXOysD2Yczo/s400/P1011223_edited-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286400210810448178" /></a><br /><br />And then there is the chopping attack mode.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kbA-0o8gmvl1PGSBKA9uOaLeSkXyMlyUeHlhwErevRwoE4kq-iRxW1LziBD8Egj9cAS69ExkMtMu95bvR2CAY78CLETlUd9XvVbTVyzIetIRVifqDaf973Yp3mPscj9kkNHY3vjmHxI/s1600-h/P1011289.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kbA-0o8gmvl1PGSBKA9uOaLeSkXyMlyUeHlhwErevRwoE4kq-iRxW1LziBD8Egj9cAS69ExkMtMu95bvR2CAY78CLETlUd9XvVbTVyzIetIRVifqDaf973Yp3mPscj9kkNHY3vjmHxI/s400/P1011289.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286400196142774562" /></a><br /><br />And lastly there is the "when a snowflake hits your eye and forces it closed, it causes your tongue to get all contorted". And luckily your mom makes a priceless snapshot!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC05siA8wTvsakkTnBIQS-Ms29b2aXR_RNQwc9bLFiJ365YOmc0uye7yo90jZatM01jpT4NwY7voa4AudZU69gCPU7OFbV_h6EXWNj9OCe_P7n26BMAsv-_-hlxZCOaRGuWtPR2DCImg8/s1600-h/P1011288.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC05siA8wTvsakkTnBIQS-Ms29b2aXR_RNQwc9bLFiJ365YOmc0uye7yo90jZatM01jpT4NwY7voa4AudZU69gCPU7OFbV_h6EXWNj9OCe_P7n26BMAsv-_-hlxZCOaRGuWtPR2DCImg8/s400/P1011288.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286403317551498466" /></a><br /><br />Embrace winter everyone, we only have 4 more months to go!!!!!Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-37979283819446850552008-12-28T14:19:00.002-06:002008-12-28T17:11:27.201-06:00Trying to catch upBefore I start in with catching up to Christmas and such I figured I better back up because I've taken a couple hundred pictures in the last month. So I'm gonna back up to Thanksgiving.<br />Thanksgiving this year was spent at my cousins house. They moved here from Colorado and wanted to host this year. The boys were very excited to see that in the front yard they found a zip line attached to some trees. And somehow my 70 year old mother took a bet to do it herself.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlDNnsRtJWq4iJC2lOmgoMWJqWgdabI6dJAKVwiPIYjJkU6V-n6-J_mdkEvPqyp2MO-B8dInbQXj3V93LFiG7rA9erTdSn-KvkInPR2t5TI9PhLrDIZedGn4iaQfYGl7SNFNSXATMRvE/s1600-h/P1011200.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlDNnsRtJWq4iJC2lOmgoMWJqWgdabI6dJAKVwiPIYjJkU6V-n6-J_mdkEvPqyp2MO-B8dInbQXj3V93LFiG7rA9erTdSn-KvkInPR2t5TI9PhLrDIZedGn4iaQfYGl7SNFNSXATMRvE/s400/P1011200.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284940238316863794" /></a><br />I love that about her!!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkOG9oEvSmkniT7asdAZ-oneqzdV5yQKpDYyqnIWYdfNryfDRWXgxCKa3EdrjLkMahcMvJL21G88F2I0yT6-fuf04d3Z777F78D790Shv2R5v7m-EVNDivZxHdPf9v-8gvVDxkL6cR4M/s1600-h/P1011198.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkOG9oEvSmkniT7asdAZ-oneqzdV5yQKpDYyqnIWYdfNryfDRWXgxCKa3EdrjLkMahcMvJL21G88F2I0yT6-fuf04d3Z777F78D790Shv2R5v7m-EVNDivZxHdPf9v-8gvVDxkL6cR4M/s400/P1011198.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284940234163408690" /></a><br />Hopped right on and went a flyin'. These are kind of priceless memories right here, what great facial expressions.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitc7MFKWwsXmGY-qCOXPGmUsHh-a-CASxNIWMEF8d5SSKm8oCYVwuMkiXIdPFyhsuZjLV4xAQnrmkMM0ArdiL82eDmEzv5uOoFpwFJ3zDvhEYoyRyyJWsyp3eq6ocnk91qCHkn-IL1a_c/s1600-h/P1011192.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitc7MFKWwsXmGY-qCOXPGmUsHh-a-CASxNIWMEF8d5SSKm8oCYVwuMkiXIdPFyhsuZjLV4xAQnrmkMM0ArdiL82eDmEzv5uOoFpwFJ3zDvhEYoyRyyJWsyp3eq6ocnk91qCHkn-IL1a_c/s400/P1011192.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284940229084045826" /></a><br />And then my sister hopped on, skirt and all. Pretty great to see, considering last year at this time she was bald from chemo and finishing radiation for breast cancer!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih88eW5cWQej9Nu_7WxkrFsbUVx7WJgeKvPAxqMQOBTEnZjhtmvNOZadAwenfSL-3Dw1z_UJVuVlu1WDAPW0CX6gp22bYWf6bON0hWy-nzBO7GhZA08YCu2THgskcuRRHAAMhderC2FEk/s1600-h/P1011188.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih88eW5cWQej9Nu_7WxkrFsbUVx7WJgeKvPAxqMQOBTEnZjhtmvNOZadAwenfSL-3Dw1z_UJVuVlu1WDAPW0CX6gp22bYWf6bON0hWy-nzBO7GhZA08YCu2THgskcuRRHAAMhderC2FEk/s400/P1011188.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284940228143345666" /></a><br />My 16 year old niece had to jump in the action as well.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKZMcksLOALu_FSsF-oaTCRMfQAKmtMb5d1eKvwsnzVuhdm41h9vffMK2ko7kdrZMC4Ry4Kkwv9ZlAllySrxP61IPfh0VOEJoMZHJz5dDCzZ8DPDLKUc8FqGBV1CaFctniiKqAMmrKMw/s1600-h/P1011180.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKZMcksLOALu_FSsF-oaTCRMfQAKmtMb5d1eKvwsnzVuhdm41h9vffMK2ko7kdrZMC4Ry4Kkwv9ZlAllySrxP61IPfh0VOEJoMZHJz5dDCzZ8DPDLKUc8FqGBV1CaFctniiKqAMmrKMw/s400/P1011180.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284940223775338162" /></a><br />And the good part about having a brother is he can drag you back up the hill, so that he can fling you back down the line, secretly hoping you might fall off. It's a brother thing!Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-63143183449739590472008-12-17T20:01:00.004-06:002008-12-17T20:21:28.629-06:00Away in Coors Light CanWell I'm trying to catch up on my life, and seriously I could write a new blog entry with photos every single day, it's just that whole time thing that seems to be a challenge.<br /><br />Last Friday, my good demo friends Brenda and Kristen, and I had our holiday Stamp Camp. <br />No it's nothing like band camp....<br /><br />Part of our stamp camps are a demonstration section, where we show our customers some trick or tip about stamping. This go around we decided to show everyone the rage of using Coors Light can to sharpen your punches and in return you get a punched out blue piece of tin.<br /><br />But here's the funny (at least to me) part:<br />We rent a church hall for our event ant they were in full Christmas mode. <br />And little did we realize that when Brenda started her demo, she was standing in front of the manger with a Coors Light Can.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZaascK7HpT68vl_R3VjCCs6yVWAxIccZAHFN5QEq5B7LhP3ASfV7cmr1Uum8K2V5C4S4MaGHiFGw67r23AOir8zfj-DuJ6Tdc1arjPclXv0fIjs_0YSENbiURpIKOSleSZs7y4-SJjI/s1600-h/P1011207.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZaascK7HpT68vl_R3VjCCs6yVWAxIccZAHFN5QEq5B7LhP3ASfV7cmr1Uum8K2V5C4S4MaGHiFGw67r23AOir8zfj-DuJ6Tdc1arjPclXv0fIjs_0YSENbiURpIKOSleSZs7y4-SJjI/s400/P1011207.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280945587326725698" /></a><br /><br />"And the wise woman brought gold, frankencence, and Coors Light for the baby Jesus."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFIt83hn6ZLOmtoE9Ch5jWCFbbbje7T-pGjDpqKclhZdiV1X1Q_ljEK3j5YBZ3PyGfGZltF6nS8LsSF49UIduzlB6hCz4mTCxn_sz7SjsD9rN02TQh__wtlyZnBoqL4yUsRDE44Y2138/s1600-h/P1011213.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFIt83hn6ZLOmtoE9Ch5jWCFbbbje7T-pGjDpqKclhZdiV1X1Q_ljEK3j5YBZ3PyGfGZltF6nS8LsSF49UIduzlB6hCz4mTCxn_sz7SjsD9rN02TQh__wtlyZnBoqL4yUsRDE44Y2138/s400/P1011213.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280945593809622962" /></a><br />But see Brenda didn't know how ironicly funny the whole thing looked. She did an amazing demo that impressed everyone.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZ4zy_fHKkhskwDRq7L-cNIQnN0jhepi0dvxhKuWlqbXY5QYn1sUVAVJ7B0aEeqkBG6llhbgBco7LhxddQCuJ2-NlrcSe00BfRCmOEfhjSGZyafpUtTNr-24m_NNGbkgfAfq_lSMluiU/s1600-h/P1011212.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZ4zy_fHKkhskwDRq7L-cNIQnN0jhepi0dvxhKuWlqbXY5QYn1sUVAVJ7B0aEeqkBG6llhbgBco7LhxddQCuJ2-NlrcSe00BfRCmOEfhjSGZyafpUtTNr-24m_NNGbkgfAfq_lSMluiU/s400/P1011212.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280945595512606434" /></a><br />She did a great step by step demo.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwPMCZ-v-AX_SlvX6OSkCMmMIRMAPqk9g5M0N9HQpaKxZI3MezBK5Zh-AIJo6lk3Io31BSPlYoAewbBJ2gnZQDuH82gAyYzD3p96i-6Rn7hR-hSBviOVx3O6aRD_h81dmAw5gJVDYhPU/s1600-h/P1011214.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwPMCZ-v-AX_SlvX6OSkCMmMIRMAPqk9g5M0N9HQpaKxZI3MezBK5Zh-AIJo6lk3Io31BSPlYoAewbBJ2gnZQDuH82gAyYzD3p96i-6Rn7hR-hSBviOVx3O6aRD_h81dmAw5gJVDYhPU/s400/P1011214.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280945577629047058" /></a><br />I think the one and all was impressed with her ability to turn a beer can into a card.<br /><br />Good Job B.!!!Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-24431688392587517042008-12-11T16:20:00.002-06:002008-12-11T16:23:24.002-06:00Help!!!Okay I need some good Karma here folks. I've lost the cord that connects my camera to my laptop and you know what the means???<br /><br />No NEW photos, no new blog entries, no nothing.<br /><br />I've exhausted every possible option. I mean how do you lose something that you use all the time???????????????<br /><br />So send some good luck my way!!!!<br /><br />I'm having blogging deprivation!Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-36114522303849551622008-11-25T10:24:00.006-06:002008-11-25T12:07:16.945-06:00This may be disturbing to younger viewers and the elderlyIt's hunting season in our neck of the woods. <br /><br />A time for men and their sons to bond and commune with nature. <br /><br />A time to kill a large animal with horns, and fill my freezer with meat I will never eat.<br /><br />A time to explain yet again why there will never be a deer head mounted on the wall in my living room. <br /><br />A time for my husband to grow out all his facial hair and look like the unabomber. <br /><br />A time for clothing that only has camouflage or blaze orange in it. <br /><br />A time for the male species to not shower for a week. <br /><br />A time for me to be VERY glad he leaves to do this. <br /><br />A time for me to send one of my camera's along and tell the men, "take some good pictures", and secretly hope they don't really come home with pictures of dead deer and gut piles. <br /><br />A time for me to take the camera after they come home and load the pictures on my computer and find pictures like this:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGDKUaBDvd0iGECEEG1Js7Fmq6MfWwYWHI5FthV3gdu-bS1Q8z098sI-zH2_Q-zzEFV8jSvfWLtLo1AvHwkTpoXZTPEfcnKFlKn4nvP_xMGdH8T8UL_L9_nviJ8Rrbcd3Bl9ok_AYqHk/s1600-h/S6300638.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGDKUaBDvd0iGECEEG1Js7Fmq6MfWwYWHI5FthV3gdu-bS1Q8z098sI-zH2_Q-zzEFV8jSvfWLtLo1AvHwkTpoXZTPEfcnKFlKn4nvP_xMGdH8T8UL_L9_nviJ8Rrbcd3Bl9ok_AYqHk/s400/S6300638.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272653587167766210" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And then I find something like this. Something that makes me cringe as the mother. Something that reconfirms that testosterone and dumb boy humor are not a good combination. Something that makes me feel like I am getting nowhere with these children.<br /><br />Something that makes me think...."where the heck was your dad?????"<br /><br />Something that confirms my sister in law is NOT on my side. And neither is my mother in law-cuz I hear her in the background too.<br /><br />Something that makes me glad my brother in law knows nothing about my blog.<br /><br /><br />**I'm warning you, there is nothing pretty about this** <br />**If you have never been mooned, or you would find something like that offensive YOU SHOULD NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO**<br /><br /><br /><br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-58462ad2d5a8be4b height=266 width=320 contentId="58462ad2d5a8be4b"></OBJECT><br /><br />I'm sorry, I'm really really sorry.<br /><br />Seriously people I am trying to raise them better than this, but I cannot be blamed for their behavior when they are away from me.<br /><br />And, yes...it cracked me up....but that's not the point!!!!Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-86199435574705080392008-11-25T09:44:00.002-06:002008-11-25T09:53:39.314-06:00Friends...Part 2Do you know what friends don't do? When someone says they don't like your second choice for a blog background, well then it's just time to ignore them.<br /><br />And Kathy...I'm not scared away that easily. I'm a labor and delivery nurse....I deal with irrational people in pain all of the time. My skin in a little thicker than that. And don't even get me started on dealing with doctors.....<br /><br />I will say that I do value your honesty however, it's kind of refreshing. I may not always listen to you, but I do hear you.<br /><br />Don't worry I'll have a Christmas theme for you to analyze soon!Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-73764811393741406122008-11-15T11:16:00.003-06:002008-11-15T11:25:16.291-06:00Friends...Do you know what friends do for each other?<br /><br />They listen...<br /><br />Even if they have never met.<br /><br />So today...I listened. <br /><br />So Kathy, this is for you.<br />I listened to your request. I heard you "shout out" and be very honest that you didn't like my background and that is was so very hard to read my clever and touching stories about absolutely nothing.<br /><br />See Kathy is the only one out there that ever validates me. Comments on all my posts. Makes me feel like someone out there is listening, reading, wasting her precious time. She is my sista, my peeps, my voice of reason...okay a bit much, but....<br /><br />Kathy, I respect your opinion, your brutal honesty that my background sucked, so sista, I listened. <br /><br />Will this one do???Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-38797042004033787682008-11-11T10:26:00.005-06:002008-11-11T16:16:33.902-06:00Do you remember...when I started this blog because I was a stamper? Do you?<br />Have you been with me that long?<br /><br />Sweet!<br /><br />Because I've kind of forgotten. I got sidetracked with you know, like...real life.<br /><br />And that whole blogging stampers world got pretty competitive. And I got a little overwhelmed.<br /><br />But I've been tinkering here and there and thought I'd share with you what I made out of this:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtXzFX7YRPRUl6T5oqdv3soTCnZ7RDTjCLGhE28kH68a7Gz6u0fMZgL8i9w00YjjzrivbuO46CB-BlcL800QQmlP5QlygXzsewFw4PxNTCnYbXNX7JXzEGEpMIXw9W5t9VCBQdb7B4vs/s1600-h/P1010860.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 373px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtXzFX7YRPRUl6T5oqdv3soTCnZ7RDTjCLGhE28kH68a7Gz6u0fMZgL8i9w00YjjzrivbuO46CB-BlcL800QQmlP5QlygXzsewFw4PxNTCnYbXNX7JXzEGEpMIXw9W5t9VCBQdb7B4vs/s400/P1010860.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267524139102432610" /></a><br /><br />Ta-da:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Wznqq7v6E1Dr2K6tfD7EnA3mAtoppOd5dtO0aM8tcwx5NERD9h_Pj0pl9TkEoLTkd-NULjEGV7ccPO4FEhM_09mvlLSgYXzu3bIr1TqiVY7YB_2rxsF24fx0mMtdnA_-RQ75N6UWQ8I/s1600-h/P1010858.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Wznqq7v6E1Dr2K6tfD7EnA3mAtoppOd5dtO0aM8tcwx5NERD9h_Pj0pl9TkEoLTkd-NULjEGV7ccPO4FEhM_09mvlLSgYXzu3bIr1TqiVY7YB_2rxsF24fx0mMtdnA_-RQ75N6UWQ8I/s400/P1010858.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267524144356455010" /></a><br />Yep, 24 Christmas cards out of a Simply Scrappin' Kit. Not a single bit of stamping involved on one of them.<br />I'm hosting a class next week so my customers can make a set too!<br /><br />Sorry such a short post. Quick day!!!<br />Take care!Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-20025631561117896232008-11-07T11:13:00.003-06:002008-11-07T11:55:13.882-06:00Unnaturally naturalWell almost immediately after pitching my little fit (see previous post), I decided to try one more time--and it's like the computer Gods heard me. So let's all just pretend like I didn't act like one of my kids when they can't find something. Like I actually continued to act like an adult and not vent my frustrations out here in Bloggerville.<br /><br />And while we are at it, let's pretend that there isn't snow outside this morning, and that I'm 3 inches taller and have Jennifer Garner's body from Alias, and that I have a live in chef and Pilate's instructor. I mean, if we are going to pretend, let's do it up good!<br /><br />Wow, ticked off and delusional--a lethal combination!!!<br /><br />Now on to our regularly scheduled post:<br /><br />I've been spending a lot of time out at my friend Tammy's farm. Riding horses, feeding horses, attending to dogs, cats, and chickens while Tammy takes a much needed respite.<br /><br />The farm provides lots of photographic opportunities. Some scenic, some sweet, some funny, and some just downright disturbing.<br /><br />We are going to start with downright disturbing. <br /><br />**PLEASE NOTE** <br />You are officially being warning about the following photographs, and the unnatural act you are about to witness.<br />I merely photographed what I had to witness.<br /><br />See out on the farm, love knows no bounds. You can't stop certain feeling or urges. Nature, well sometimes it's just unnatural.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GBP8CJ4UndosxQATTWbz4iJNXMfAmb-k5ior1SFCTGiC8KHg_pZAkQoLpjS4Almn1CkddTjmLEIvTSf2JcQxp9MUzJ52OMsO0BfKFCMqaxBlrqaeLUowZDMvvHqer5R_lijN0w5yCfE/s1600-h/P1011095.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GBP8CJ4UndosxQATTWbz4iJNXMfAmb-k5ior1SFCTGiC8KHg_pZAkQoLpjS4Almn1CkddTjmLEIvTSf2JcQxp9MUzJ52OMsO0BfKFCMqaxBlrqaeLUowZDMvvHqer5R_lijN0w5yCfE/s400/P1011095.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265966329182162130" /></a><br /><br />Yes, what you think is about to happen, is going to happen.<br /><br />"Come here my pet. I cannot resist your beauty. I most have you....right here...right now. I don't care who sees us."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBJdRA0tvI7MyFQVUEAKlsjOGF9WtQy6ZeARxJSga2Tz2Qh8sCeRo71XdLsUpsP9_8JlTIcwTPvpE5MtZ7OdRXLcfDr2vAY01JEUiLjOvoVgMnhksJx8FOiacdSfqlZtrn5d5pcf9l60/s1600-h/P1011093.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBJdRA0tvI7MyFQVUEAKlsjOGF9WtQy6ZeARxJSga2Tz2Qh8sCeRo71XdLsUpsP9_8JlTIcwTPvpE5MtZ7OdRXLcfDr2vAY01JEUiLjOvoVgMnhksJx8FOiacdSfqlZtrn5d5pcf9l60/s400/P1011093.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265966330380741890" /></a><br /><br />"Of course I love you. You are the only one for me."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aF_e5B92LTAs02-ygQag94YHQc7GcHABwcW7Ek-Of36PmmnEwtx5QLWI1VpzoRltNbw_EWrGJ-MKht9yWE7LTQXtdvnkoPRERlOdew5wI9qibS0f_3ZiMKAIvRoIeapvF9FrDnQddR4/s1600-h/P1011094.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aF_e5B92LTAs02-ygQag94YHQc7GcHABwcW7Ek-Of36PmmnEwtx5QLWI1VpzoRltNbw_EWrGJ-MKht9yWE7LTQXtdvnkoPRERlOdew5wI9qibS0f_3ZiMKAIvRoIeapvF9FrDnQddR4/s400/P1011094.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265966335870963938" /></a><br /><br />"Later. I left a $20 by your water dish."<br /><br /><br />**I'm sorry you had you witness this, but I'm more sorry that I had to watch it happen in real life."**Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-42632356156557545632008-11-07T11:02:00.002-06:002008-11-07T11:11:18.399-06:00Ticked offOkay, I'm officially ticked off!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />I've been so very busy the last 2 weeks. And this morning was my morning to spend at the computer. Uploading to the blog, sending pictures people are waiting on, etc.<br /><br />But I can't get anything uploaded to blogger!!!!!<br /><br /><br />GRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! Stomping feet, rolling on floor, utter frustration. And I can't figure out if it's my laptop or a blogger problem.<br /><br />Okay, I keep trying...................<br /><br />but right now......I'm just plain ol' ticked off!!!!!Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-18840193217683215162008-11-03T20:00:00.005-06:002008-11-04T07:58:25.775-06:00My Aurora MorningWell, in the last few weeks I have been spending a lot of time on horseback. Regularly meeting up with my friends with horses and loading them into trailers and hauling them to state parks with horseback riding trails, and then enjoying the fall colors here in Minnesota for the day.<br /><br />Last Tuesday was no different. Showed up to my friend Tammy's house about 7:45am to load horses. But that morning would prove to be slightly more eventful. See when we headed out to the pasture, this is what we found:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFKZRWJApW1GrpOxz7S4ta5ABhbtuygZuOQRUXpkpuLC6cUO8LHHTL3KdVe9PUeK0_Ohp5MvWPrQpgM_dcAk_ou5SKdUAgBc0yYz9CI8H7s1Qw2dxiPXV4DJtZn5vF-pNlnwnSVsUFTY/s1600-h/P1011037.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFKZRWJApW1GrpOxz7S4ta5ABhbtuygZuOQRUXpkpuLC6cUO8LHHTL3KdVe9PUeK0_Ohp5MvWPrQpgM_dcAk_ou5SKdUAgBc0yYz9CI8H7s1Qw2dxiPXV4DJtZn5vF-pNlnwnSVsUFTY/s400/P1011037.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264619163333577538" /></a><br />A brand new little filly about 2 hours old.<br /><br />And here's the thing----it was a huge surprise!!! See Tammy didn't know that she was pregnant. Slightly alarming to a woman that raises and trains horses for a living. See, this little girls momma, well she's a pretty big horse and she hid her pregnancy very well. And poor thing, I've been running her up and down hills, trudged her through water, sliding down a muddy slope with her sliding down behind me, and she never complained.<br /><br />And she never exhibited usual horse signs of an impeding deliver. No agitation, no dropped utters filling with milk, no restlessness. Nope just went out to pasture one night, and had a baby.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNc5I5SCPKJXpom7D4HUqzE1EQLFJ1n0LYJbB1pHNyGe90Ydp2l7kSk8sbxdJBFxhdzcHV6pm8iRQCSLdeMadjubFDzlpjkvHMStxuOjOVvFZwK-4TCHC8qSaHygOqSZ8_vemxcvp3EiQ/s1600-h/P1011061.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNc5I5SCPKJXpom7D4HUqzE1EQLFJ1n0LYJbB1pHNyGe90Ydp2l7kSk8sbxdJBFxhdzcHV6pm8iRQCSLdeMadjubFDzlpjkvHMStxuOjOVvFZwK-4TCHC8qSaHygOqSZ8_vemxcvp3EiQ/s400/P1011061.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264619179971030994" /></a><br />Oh my goodness, is that not one of the cutest things you have ever seen in your life? <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-P115lY3XGbl09XYp8Wgtq7KA0EIE6llqR6A5o67VFPNMpb5MiuixShdItl2CKpjeZoan5ub81tYjT9xQxaW_1w56hD63okeYbFYfGAaLkJ3pVzNVPaFtmKk5g750D42h7Be2Ts5jWV0/s1600-h/P1011079.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-P115lY3XGbl09XYp8Wgtq7KA0EIE6llqR6A5o67VFPNMpb5MiuixShdItl2CKpjeZoan5ub81tYjT9xQxaW_1w56hD63okeYbFYfGAaLkJ3pVzNVPaFtmKk5g750D42h7Be2Ts5jWV0/s400/P1011079.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264619178005450018" /></a><br />Hello blogging friends I'd like to officially have you meet Kat's Aurora Morning (and her momma Cheyenne). <br />She's named after me and the Greek goddess of the dawn. Is she not one of the most beautiful creatures on earth?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUiqbhe-vM8IUB_1RjUNjD_5ow33-fFwp47NlpvFK5Rfn_ml_DzB7XLJ6NB1ejNYm-hrBM2pqnwrEzrzZH42Q3_Dw8Fycy-1ex6ufZJSnpceoLjLihOhDh9jf1fbMRhwtKSDRTlBvxyc/s1600-h/P1011063.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUiqbhe-vM8IUB_1RjUNjD_5ow33-fFwp47NlpvFK5Rfn_ml_DzB7XLJ6NB1ejNYm-hrBM2pqnwrEzrzZH42Q3_Dw8Fycy-1ex6ufZJSnpceoLjLihOhDh9jf1fbMRhwtKSDRTlBvxyc/s400/P1011063.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264619173013778946" /></a><br />Her momma is half Morgan and half Arabian. And her Daddy (at least the one we think is her Daddy) is a full blooded Arabian.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QLhPDLTvAguoqoNBCGgRkOSJaQsmobWT4B8Hd2B2AI1FlVRiTUlHxrwO-BLSEPKxyB0KRs-T1SxppgCULf2JpJjWiT-22-xwRrKXYfzHbcbiFlEMvLALSdvb_Zi8RL4W-9WTonoldtE/s1600-h/P1011056.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QLhPDLTvAguoqoNBCGgRkOSJaQsmobWT4B8Hd2B2AI1FlVRiTUlHxrwO-BLSEPKxyB0KRs-T1SxppgCULf2JpJjWiT-22-xwRrKXYfzHbcbiFlEMvLALSdvb_Zi8RL4W-9WTonoldtE/s400/P1011056.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264619166072670546" /></a><br />Are you stuck on the "think her Daddy" part? Yeah, see we shouldn't really be having foals right now. And 11 months ago, neither of the stallions got loose to spread their love seed. Which means Cheyenne backed herself up to the electric fence, and Daddy and her made beautiful love through the fence (that's what we are telling Aurora-that is the product of a beautiful night of love, not some lustful night through a fence).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTA7W1StTEfctr6bdzL7GQNAoE1MMWDcmfHMgbogM8ayK7K4nvlJy5L48rZKQyum8WESPxEwGkqUgRwtYZ6WJL6CCKxI3jS2mi42-fu0am7lovRuKYx0lQ_4Djj88NWgxC1_JVAnsgxAg/s1600-h/P1011114.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTA7W1StTEfctr6bdzL7GQNAoE1MMWDcmfHMgbogM8ayK7K4nvlJy5L48rZKQyum8WESPxEwGkqUgRwtYZ6WJL6CCKxI3jS2mi42-fu0am7lovRuKYx0lQ_4Djj88NWgxC1_JVAnsgxAg/s400/P1011114.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264617794781096530" /></a><br />Oh my goodness, I am in LOVE with this little girl!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAjPAucHiR0YoE0dI6lpC00ZZ-VGz9pJWgaMa9ZiuHjCWYYcIPM50qCpPuWTKFN9k3jKwtLX7ldfhxuuyQpL7yIr6uvFOHRrXSf1p6b0y8_jFYunBx8RxpRd7UkJ-ODzEEsofvO1tGNY/s1600-h/P1011104.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAjPAucHiR0YoE0dI6lpC00ZZ-VGz9pJWgaMa9ZiuHjCWYYcIPM50qCpPuWTKFN9k3jKwtLX7ldfhxuuyQpL7yIr6uvFOHRrXSf1p6b0y8_jFYunBx8RxpRd7UkJ-ODzEEsofvO1tGNY/s400/P1011104.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264617791458452578" /></a><br />I mean look at her adorable little pink nose, and the cute little whiskers on her chin.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimFkIWTejwPKR0pbzaFEWh_GSAqWhnwrrIMt7tg0va13aPWicCXTqHqT5DV-qAzHhuHmcLPNJ45vhuBSXTglbXO4b_KZVcIZrFt85OoHB_Y0sLiLvtMSecFD8cWWa6b5FUWEzljKI5oOk/s1600-h/P1011101.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimFkIWTejwPKR0pbzaFEWh_GSAqWhnwrrIMt7tg0va13aPWicCXTqHqT5DV-qAzHhuHmcLPNJ45vhuBSXTglbXO4b_KZVcIZrFt85OoHB_Y0sLiLvtMSecFD8cWWa6b5FUWEzljKI5oOk/s400/P1011101.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264617787018573810" /></a><br />You should feel her mane and her ears--heaven on earth!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1ihTDF2gp44NWEQ4VeM9SnztiZgPfZrRXifYJBN3nIokhRuK_Lm_060vst5vI3ftPB8smxB4Z6DNLMhg7hVLJcslX5WyQp8TQnGorsEqcd8sj-ENbLGk3CZ6dTQDYD3tqvIgUvxbuVg/s1600-h/P1011109.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1ihTDF2gp44NWEQ4VeM9SnztiZgPfZrRXifYJBN3nIokhRuK_Lm_060vst5vI3ftPB8smxB4Z6DNLMhg7hVLJcslX5WyQp8TQnGorsEqcd8sj-ENbLGk3CZ6dTQDYD3tqvIgUvxbuVg/s400/P1011109.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264617782585717410" /></a><br />And look at those eyelashes!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheW51Q3zuA3-BJscZdarpQh7crf4AtApmPPf7sZwX_lFwWWDle5nw53V5Z2wnGVtoLz-Xcrd5q-CCrm6Hcs5rNxH1OWMTuLM8bLpV3EFaopLQsVUkLUCEzWvI18ZvV1PAo-9Q_pExPjMc/s1600-h/P1011111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheW51Q3zuA3-BJscZdarpQh7crf4AtApmPPf7sZwX_lFwWWDle5nw53V5Z2wnGVtoLz-Xcrd5q-CCrm6Hcs5rNxH1OWMTuLM8bLpV3EFaopLQsVUkLUCEzWvI18ZvV1PAo-9Q_pExPjMc/s400/P1011111.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264617778646851138" /></a><br />And seeing a new baby nurse is so very sweet. The little tongue sticking out and little slurping sounds. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtI7grDShGYQhOJLFw-YVdNVmMGLbgofNtJ5Mz6DFAUxezYGigUBxOQQnwnHLbriqHqYn07FgP01NFfArJXqNz3MwqlQU9Jofm7kuIi8QRkINZyKjCm_SECEAlS0ndfwkOIDSW6HP0K8/s1600-h/P1011096.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtI7grDShGYQhOJLFw-YVdNVmMGLbgofNtJ5Mz6DFAUxezYGigUBxOQQnwnHLbriqHqYn07FgP01NFfArJXqNz3MwqlQU9Jofm7kuIi8QRkINZyKjCm_SECEAlS0ndfwkOIDSW6HP0K8/s400/P1011096.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264619589048216210" /></a><br />And then after your belly gets full, you get very very sleepy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkbEAu-b6F43uLPJWHJcpLpNynFkAhTE6LcSyTmmPsNsDcarUC7bFBtGP4u6belEbczh0-cogWg7oNeoXdnqFBS-ZUapqyB4wxymYg_NEeO7UMC1kOl-NpDHx2gDEcsRO_nwogpQw8NA/s1600-h/P1011112.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkbEAu-b6F43uLPJWHJcpLpNynFkAhTE6LcSyTmmPsNsDcarUC7bFBtGP4u6belEbczh0-cogWg7oNeoXdnqFBS-ZUapqyB4wxymYg_NEeO7UMC1kOl-NpDHx2gDEcsRO_nwogpQw8NA/s400/P1011112.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264619584667647762" /></a><br />Sweet dreams honey. You were the best surprise I've ever found.Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-10677434671033551102008-10-24T11:58:00.003-05:002008-10-24T12:06:27.180-05:00Blowin' in the wind<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4Svgk4kf8ZpwxmUX9G_18i50rBlXmwVeRRptWZ8cE1CqAwB_bgjVQynBVerha9G80lJkp0pxnW3O2kpVZqi4v9-7vYUFFR8AtiqWhdr5r3IgP-g06STomWveRP5SSVE0SgKym0bNGIM/s1600-h/P1010843_edited-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4Svgk4kf8ZpwxmUX9G_18i50rBlXmwVeRRptWZ8cE1CqAwB_bgjVQynBVerha9G80lJkp0pxnW3O2kpVZqi4v9-7vYUFFR8AtiqWhdr5r3IgP-g06STomWveRP5SSVE0SgKym0bNGIM/s400/P1010843_edited-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260766724542085554" /></a><br />So it's another week that has blown by. <br /><br />Just wanted to post a little something for my garden. I love my grasses this time of year!<br /><br />We are off to visit Nick's family for the weekend, and I will return next week.<br /><br />Have a safe and happy weekend all!Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-38027891821954130092008-10-20T08:34:00.005-05:002008-10-20T09:29:00.223-05:00Happy Trails.....Anybody miss me?<br /><br />Wow, it was a busy week last week. And it had a theme:<br /><br />Horses, horses, and more horses.<br /><br />I've been fortunate enough to have been going on some amazing trail rides with some really great ladies in the last couple of weeks. Getting to see fall in Minnesota on horseback has been AMAZING. <br />I thought I'd share with you some of the snapshots I've been able to grab.<br /><br />They pale in comparison to the real thing, but it will give you a little taste of what I've been seeing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMztEI9M0pCC45H41R4qskabUsEETj7gF1gExxCm0fFO82i39h2mDh81P0SM16tDJrVpbILmddkYojJ9ND3WCLhsFzleDWiluKRYaPRKOqjggIrMxfYkxWg7zaZXmHf0S07OzoLOezb2s/s1600-h/P1010815.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMztEI9M0pCC45H41R4qskabUsEETj7gF1gExxCm0fFO82i39h2mDh81P0SM16tDJrVpbILmddkYojJ9ND3WCLhsFzleDWiluKRYaPRKOqjggIrMxfYkxWg7zaZXmHf0S07OzoLOezb2s/s400/P1010815.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259233434096709554" /></a><br />Here's our group. I'm the second from the left, you can barely see me peeking around back there. <br />This was a gorgeous stop at the top of one of the trails in the middle of a pine forest. Look at all way the needles that have fallen blanket this part of the trail.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTd6DZ8yrrHu5S8daVQaGEdrj9Z0lI5aDKca-eRYNUysdV9D-TFowskDVVmHySAtvPd9VuGh9dwK32d65sXfAwQGZpuJAQZJ9YrNxVtX782xxnb3t6dHXfoLxT692Fb4vqQjcQzD6L04/s1600-h/P1010817_edited-1+-+Copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTd6DZ8yrrHu5S8daVQaGEdrj9Z0lI5aDKca-eRYNUysdV9D-TFowskDVVmHySAtvPd9VuGh9dwK32d65sXfAwQGZpuJAQZJ9YrNxVtX782xxnb3t6dHXfoLxT692Fb4vqQjcQzD6L04/s400/P1010817_edited-1+-+Copy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259233439145394722" /></a><br />When you look up doing this part of the trail, this is what you will see. Amazing how pine needles can be so beautiful.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jmyrdsVZfGrd3VxQyLVbciIyACcLYEeQ9hbwFzz7aIwuZT9TaKdElXewfnYP9ZuwHy9KS55y2lt4EVeb-7p94khVWYoP5h3ANJaNoMP0Srv1t1GigzpOlmxcHpBwp98dJ1kU_CU0kQw/s1600-h/P1010820_edited-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jmyrdsVZfGrd3VxQyLVbciIyACcLYEeQ9hbwFzz7aIwuZT9TaKdElXewfnYP9ZuwHy9KS55y2lt4EVeb-7p94khVWYoP5h3ANJaNoMP0Srv1t1GigzpOlmxcHpBwp98dJ1kU_CU0kQw/s400/P1010820_edited-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259233449715931458" /></a><br />We are just past the peak of the season for fall color here. Truly magnificent array of yellows, oranges, and red.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRPtJa-B0-LZT1LF_rzWMrN8x40AhIsYIIJ2iPyd3IzbqDYcVdtB_-JMTzk8U3A6TTOK22fdnmMBbpw8zQt_nXG8POcWf5ObKjIQFPtCRetr72qdB6Dx5cRN0HxEgQn8-pVIwBkWrvCq4/s1600-h/PA140883_edited-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRPtJa-B0-LZT1LF_rzWMrN8x40AhIsYIIJ2iPyd3IzbqDYcVdtB_-JMTzk8U3A6TTOK22fdnmMBbpw8zQt_nXG8POcWf5ObKjIQFPtCRetr72qdB6Dx5cRN0HxEgQn8-pVIwBkWrvCq4/s400/PA140883_edited-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259233460844627858" /></a><br />This is a sight that just makes you take a deep breath and drink it in. It is quite a hike up to this point. If you are not fond of heights this is not the trail ride for you. Part of what makes Minnesota great this time of year is the harvesting of the fields because they add a whole extra dimension of color and texture.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GsUw7dJYeaYgtREbiFM2nA88F3uGxQVtE_kGKMmwppjOOJpmQi16YFUkqAtvtWDwk9FMGkqB4gK0WE_kMl555O-39dCe-RdnSJPdlUY3HiRasQyGtqd55oGXLGpeAv67LUV77K2q3wY/s1600-h/PA140887_edited-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GsUw7dJYeaYgtREbiFM2nA88F3uGxQVtE_kGKMmwppjOOJpmQi16YFUkqAtvtWDwk9FMGkqB4gK0WE_kMl555O-39dCe-RdnSJPdlUY3HiRasQyGtqd55oGXLGpeAv67LUV77K2q3wY/s400/PA140887_edited-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259239905396838594" /></a><br />If you look way over on the left side of this picture, see those little spots. Those are our trailers. Yeah, we are way the heck up there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibbAumFdGr0FvSVcfCZ9sPeoJNGvhydEVcuMBCjUoTZd1V4_69Q5GVJz9u8YpoqNKzcVoFG2j7I9xreY26LLCjWIa7YboD5HMGO7Cp24EmQW0gqjl22xa5yME9WhUpLarUakolmMaexM/s1600-h/PA140884_edited-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibbAumFdGr0FvSVcfCZ9sPeoJNGvhydEVcuMBCjUoTZd1V4_69Q5GVJz9u8YpoqNKzcVoFG2j7I9xreY26LLCjWIa7YboD5HMGO7Cp24EmQW0gqjl22xa5yME9WhUpLarUakolmMaexM/s400/PA140884_edited-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259233467344692018" /></a><br />Time to take one last look because you know what? What goes up must come down. And when it has rained 2 days before this the trail gets rather muddy. Which means you get to dismount and walk, slide, sludge, your way down the trail with a 1200 pound animal walking, sliding, sludging her way down the GIANT hill. <br /><br />I have more to share in the coming days. Happy Monday all.Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-15250416747674445722008-10-13T16:41:00.003-05:002008-10-13T18:32:05.917-05:00My boys have a new past time.<br /><br />Writing their own comic books....and (without my knowledge)selling them to the neighbors....quite successfully might I add.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLFAbBWa2-2xfS3R7V7qiVxpLunFn9EXnGPf3xRvyeeLK6TxCWfpyF2LKPYZ1LUKQTHz-9N6mLj8jY9FDtTN8eCaDc1HNFUI5njFxre0rlHIDpp-sL8D3xyDTpWiaNQF_eEm-oIPT2mRy/s1600-h/P1010805.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLFAbBWa2-2xfS3R7V7qiVxpLunFn9EXnGPf3xRvyeeLK6TxCWfpyF2LKPYZ1LUKQTHz-9N6mLj8jY9FDtTN8eCaDc1HNFUI5njFxre0rlHIDpp-sL8D3xyDTpWiaNQF_eEm-oIPT2mRy/s400/P1010805.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256760572943611570" /></a><br />Little con artists got me to make a bunch of copies of it to sell to their "friends", and their "friends parents". <br /><br />See, the 2 neighbor boys helped with some of the story line, so they were supposed to get copies. Little did I know, they decided to be little entrepreneurs and sell some of the copies door to door.<br /><br />I'm not sure whether to be proud or totally embarrassed.<br /><br />The main characters are a group of super hero's called "The Boxers Boys".<br /><br />Gotta love superheros that save the world in their boxer shorts.<br /><br />Anyway for your viewing pleasure, may I present:<br /><br />"HAS THE WORLD GONE MAD?" (Ehhhhhhhh......Nooooooo.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jb4QJ6Ap57oFOSqa7BiPexQ0IYKsYPfAcqrBPFDboYTatBjVAIWU2WiEL_rB-GRmJOx6w4xLZuovvyn0stzwmEQ5GwBmkqG8uK6USK9KUjbfDd0F4N8MRIe2PfX_2_NWh-PykHBNWAgc/s1600-h/P1010806_edited-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jb4QJ6Ap57oFOSqa7BiPexQ0IYKsYPfAcqrBPFDboYTatBjVAIWU2WiEL_rB-GRmJOx6w4xLZuovvyn0stzwmEQ5GwBmkqG8uK6USK9KUjbfDd0F4N8MRIe2PfX_2_NWh-PykHBNWAgc/s400/P1010806_edited-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256760577714765698" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1HnLYywHb4hH0kkHV31g6Q9JERsurNHCFhzQawhAAevTujEERyWRV-CaWmeL1HE2C4D2IVEoacKM1cg5Y3VfHulKd1RWBsy1E3aU1cw5RgKxBuK3NOU-9dz7doV2_DHMdrobEgzogwc/s1600-h/P1010807_edited-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1HnLYywHb4hH0kkHV31g6Q9JERsurNHCFhzQawhAAevTujEERyWRV-CaWmeL1HE2C4D2IVEoacKM1cg5Y3VfHulKd1RWBsy1E3aU1cw5RgKxBuK3NOU-9dz7doV2_DHMdrobEgzogwc/s400/P1010807_edited-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256760576882098914" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkRdmglwP-AZ7WTSM6WxKhnucPQblpp4zKhMmHy3tI0g0qSneO3p2OqjdagQBC8-qb_KZZ5POhf6ZljjDcXIlmxPzM2a8RtT13wVyUKdtXmZBd44wGR0LpQzO90whbofIW476rrDMVlcD/s1600-h/P1010809.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkRdmglwP-AZ7WTSM6WxKhnucPQblpp4zKhMmHy3tI0g0qSneO3p2OqjdagQBC8-qb_KZZ5POhf6ZljjDcXIlmxPzM2a8RtT13wVyUKdtXmZBd44wGR0LpQzO90whbofIW476rrDMVlcD/s400/P1010809.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256759747429966322" /></a><br />Yikes...the wedgenator. Makes my butt hurt just thinking about it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Zpr9fcmCuSxSY0s8zAKqr6KWWQhtZpJihfn7UljkPzTWN0CUzYncfJ1kPTg-iqHef_B5lpKgovjDpq2H1_U0MX9hlx1Hr23PRStOTdYmZrXTtaOJe900wKZv3bnMheG41tERdTV-5L_0/s1600-h/P1010810.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Zpr9fcmCuSxSY0s8zAKqr6KWWQhtZpJihfn7UljkPzTWN0CUzYncfJ1kPTg-iqHef_B5lpKgovjDpq2H1_U0MX9hlx1Hr23PRStOTdYmZrXTtaOJe900wKZv3bnMheG41tERdTV-5L_0/s400/P1010810.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256759752499460930" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViJS7plRQx3yA3q_G_CWH_rothHBn2JdIitx8QYWPp2ZB0bqmbCI8PO7XUovqcF-2B7trz-YKTYH8gIXvL-7Wa4AWkjWzjzL8Tv41mLfZ-h5qbsZY3pi6HFhmd3Pp8lAXwuWCHYRW5L-z/s1600-h/P1010811.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViJS7plRQx3yA3q_G_CWH_rothHBn2JdIitx8QYWPp2ZB0bqmbCI8PO7XUovqcF-2B7trz-YKTYH8gIXvL-7Wa4AWkjWzjzL8Tv41mLfZ-h5qbsZY3pi6HFhmd3Pp8lAXwuWCHYRW5L-z/s400/P1010811.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256759757114654210" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQutcrNLXcPTQxwKAh3eSMswD2kMURzBu-eSNyiCq9mabx8XBkrFeBgX4jWixwlRINwPJ5AfUpocAMwaJ3xtsO0Kv7BmruMmBL7kyjrC3p8T_EfGxeGdLvI8j9axzgSVlgab62aKP6CXv8/s1600-h/P1010813_edited-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQutcrNLXcPTQxwKAh3eSMswD2kMURzBu-eSNyiCq9mabx8XBkrFeBgX4jWixwlRINwPJ5AfUpocAMwaJ3xtsO0Kv7BmruMmBL7kyjrC3p8T_EfGxeGdLvI8j9axzgSVlgab62aKP6CXv8/s400/P1010813_edited-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256759761577589746" /></a><br /><br />Totally confused yet?<br />Good.....I never said any of it made any sense.<br /><br /><br /><br />And Lord help us all, <br />this is the title of the next installment:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqlsDGAh1mTc_UzTDNAvjNIjRJTyx4S1c8rkPsnRfcEYtzO4Pqe2LFKeU020NykZJvczQMFKxvzPVEkNg2BM8LcvwTgMA3OiYoMNPRbGw4BC1-N666s3BNwF30fWzTIU0876mfIdNtxsq/s1600-h/P1010814_edited-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqlsDGAh1mTc_UzTDNAvjNIjRJTyx4S1c8rkPsnRfcEYtzO4Pqe2LFKeU020NykZJvczQMFKxvzPVEkNg2BM8LcvwTgMA3OiYoMNPRbGw4BC1-N666s3BNwF30fWzTIU0876mfIdNtxsq/s400/P1010814_edited-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256759761277962306" /></a><br />I'm currently taking orders for advanced autographed copies.Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-79668940760065084142008-10-10T09:26:00.004-05:002008-10-10T10:10:22.603-05:00Good morning!"Hey...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfN8zcXAb_hK_OY_UVJaouEGrvQ2wS5ZgmP6b-WK5rWUhoFQ6z9EvOOR-OQlqLlRQkdA-e5PZEObERV7a4qKSYbYpjGR0pynt9VNEI0JHaNvZvMEZlhbIJZo7WK3_dYEdBrrzC_KxTM8LY/s1600-h/P1010780_edited-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfN8zcXAb_hK_OY_UVJaouEGrvQ2wS5ZgmP6b-WK5rWUhoFQ6z9EvOOR-OQlqLlRQkdA-e5PZEObERV7a4qKSYbYpjGR0pynt9VNEI0JHaNvZvMEZlhbIJZo7WK3_dYEdBrrzC_KxTM8LY/s400/P1010780_edited-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255534295818607698" /></a><br />Got any apples?"<br /><br />"Seriously...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXBYe5WIaietEPxEdp7IEUVeE4TvZP3qmGqAXaISGxk_dOXweBgR_XH-mrIbTG84psMX9cfwxJrSrZd6sgw5m-TtdDpOm2cmbHLhv4U3-czW1lkv2RsZoymMVEH6gSec1Zt_udDaW-oRh/s1600-h/P1010781_edited-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXBYe5WIaietEPxEdp7IEUVeE4TvZP3qmGqAXaISGxk_dOXweBgR_XH-mrIbTG84psMX9cfwxJrSrZd6sgw5m-TtdDpOm2cmbHLhv4U3-czW1lkv2RsZoymMVEH6gSec1Zt_udDaW-oRh/s400/P1010781_edited-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255534292286856898" /></a><br />What's up with the silver thing in your hand?" "Holy crap, what's up with the flashing light?"<br /><br />"No....I'm serious...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCVL3cNWnfWKmipwhvNlhvRIW4DgjXs4PKAjEUgPREmIsOJpaS5BEKH9dr8xHbBExOUw3GyQUejFwTLOgCKTzTPRZiUByYxqb0pQ0wj5XzZUuHfdVSgLI45kePRQPPIWa0Lu63ALRNbl-/s1600-h/P1010782_edited-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCVL3cNWnfWKmipwhvNlhvRIW4DgjXs4PKAjEUgPREmIsOJpaS5BEKH9dr8xHbBExOUw3GyQUejFwTLOgCKTzTPRZiUByYxqb0pQ0wj5XzZUuHfdVSgLI45kePRQPPIWa0Lu63ALRNbl-/s400/P1010782_edited-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255533079860118642" /></a><br />where are the goods lady?" "What? I have something hanging out of my mouth? I know, I know. I'm cool, you know, like the cowboys that hang a piece of grass out of their mouth? Yeah I'm going for that."<br />"Now back to the apples....where are they?"<br /><br />"I'm getting so bored here,<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGbtgUsJQzzmYPWCcqsSbruOrzhqVpVlOhcWgqG_fDIrljT_y0kWoPkDOmBx_nQ0ytknCZgABe4RGXY7iEi1iZl9Vz1zkmF44783tVto68QpLlT-4XNhnRdb4O3VVe5R67JH74f9pqQq-/s1600-h/P1010784_edited-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGbtgUsJQzzmYPWCcqsSbruOrzhqVpVlOhcWgqG_fDIrljT_y0kWoPkDOmBx_nQ0ytknCZgABe4RGXY7iEi1iZl9Vz1zkmF44783tVto68QpLlT-4XNhnRdb4O3VVe5R67JH74f9pqQq-/s400/P1010784_edited-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255533081549382994" /></a><br />I have narcalepsy you know? No seriously....sometimes I fall asleep standing up."<br /><br />"Oh, it's a camera?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UZd8fI9ru3iUvj-a_xBx0zSKljA6W6VwDFt57wYDIr9MBqa5h3NRysWNQz1_qoCCC1UTyZ0Zs6Gkuo0NEwdtGZ_QP_4VMVfGIW3jECHLUmwvAlIVU5-UBQrm3__Q930E4wvSagFWB_kY/s1600-h/P1010783_edited-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UZd8fI9ru3iUvj-a_xBx0zSKljA6W6VwDFt57wYDIr9MBqa5h3NRysWNQz1_qoCCC1UTyZ0Zs6Gkuo0NEwdtGZ_QP_4VMVfGIW3jECHLUmwvAlIVU5-UBQrm3__Q930E4wvSagFWB_kY/s400/P1010783_edited-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255533090591293570" /></a><br />"Here, this is my good side. Everyone says so."<br /><br />"Forget it...I give up...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Tch_-eBW_VpxRE-5kEAsAwmSrjfDnA4ulFg7_UE3YuwwALPFQ6wFPfdTSz-sBDZs6ynvcd7dd0fZqHvMlBDoyHnhhQbsyBL1ChN5wOfg1ohYvNl9cyfOELteC1p1OVasgmLNRLfBcObx/s1600-h/P1010778_edited-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Tch_-eBW_VpxRE-5kEAsAwmSrjfDnA4ulFg7_UE3YuwwALPFQ6wFPfdTSz-sBDZs6ynvcd7dd0fZqHvMlBDoyHnhhQbsyBL1ChN5wOfg1ohYvNl9cyfOELteC1p1OVasgmLNRLfBcObx/s400/P1010778_edited-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255535521412457602" /></a><br />I have a high metabolism, I need to eat every 30 seconds. I'll just eat some grass, since you're just standing there doing nothing with that stupid thing in your hands."<br /><br /><br />"What....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgNFRaehgcdxkQKDwblUTpKOtGdYPlmLhJjRj6serQX7BkQZnhl6ejkiPx7bPpUGo1QXTnuj1ideHOzSVUsHBOYVh49lAk3DJkdYpd38JG8WZqLe0EB2-QAa9BebBkTIMbEpeSceNuv22/s1600-h/P1010788_edited-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgNFRaehgcdxkQKDwblUTpKOtGdYPlmLhJjRj6serQX7BkQZnhl6ejkiPx7bPpUGo1QXTnuj1ideHOzSVUsHBOYVh49lAk3DJkdYpd38JG8WZqLe0EB2-QAa9BebBkTIMbEpeSceNuv22/s400/P1010788_edited-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255533099278167522" /></a><br />I have something hanging out of my mouth again????"<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Welcome to mornings at my house. This is what I find in my backyard every morning.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRmSGXSZNxy0uVRA0hHlOLmX3NGSPLPdUbOEglnwbIalzC-ZJsoAxDXQK4RrfQ1iR2RjwK3A3j5z4f2VkA6OVryGXz42x9IFuoG0YNjfnhQmmtumI2x_zZl7RgNTf8xjWb3LxyuhOlP1i/s1600-h/P1010775_edited-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRmSGXSZNxy0uVRA0hHlOLmX3NGSPLPdUbOEglnwbIalzC-ZJsoAxDXQK4RrfQ1iR2RjwK3A3j5z4f2VkA6OVryGXz42x9IFuoG0YNjfnhQmmtumI2x_zZl7RgNTf8xjWb3LxyuhOlP1i/s400/P1010775_edited-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255534299459760146" /></a><br />Please ignore the half finished perennial bed with all the dying flowers. It's a work in progress. Just concentrate on the horse.<br /><br />Actually, this is what I spend a lot of my day looking at: <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGN3HXs7t5vnfDAl_USRyaHB7wv1kXwga0NjY0UU8X-C_jiBPcws4tr0jX3wM8OpQ3mAyMKWAtgKESIqraL_RHaMYlbSNNF07gGfUN1_d1VeO6oW_G_DhDWUKrcn-_D_Ukh_ubg8oAcSGD/s1600-h/P1010776_edited-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGN3HXs7t5vnfDAl_USRyaHB7wv1kXwga0NjY0UU8X-C_jiBPcws4tr0jX3wM8OpQ3mAyMKWAtgKESIqraL_RHaMYlbSNNF07gGfUN1_d1VeO6oW_G_DhDWUKrcn-_D_Ukh_ubg8oAcSGD/s400/P1010776_edited-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255533104021993474" /></a><br />Just a bunch of horse's....Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-6206136746331557262008-10-08T09:10:00.004-05:002008-10-08T11:58:54.135-05:00A little piece of meWhen I was a little girl I had only one true love. <br /><br />Horses.<br /><br />Forget Barbie, Strawberry Shortcake, New Kids on the Block (okay so I was a teenager then, not a little girl...not the point), or anything else.<br /><br />I was all about horses. Drawing horses, horse figurines, horse books, and riding horses. If it had to do with horses, I wanted to be a part of it. <br />I was going to grow up and marry a cowboy, and live in the country, riding every single day of my life, raising babies on horseback.<br /><br />Well, then life happened, and I grew up and married a hunter/football star/baseball star/basketball star and we live in city limits. But the silver lining is that where I live, I'm little bit country ("I'm a little bit rock and roll"-sorry... you can't say that without following up with that), and I'm a little bit city. Our lot backs up to someone else's horse pasture. And I have the best of both worlds.<br /><br />Tomorrow morning I'll show you what I get to look at out of the back of my house every day. Not today's point however.<br />The point is that since my boys were born I've done very little riding. And the children that were going to ride before they walked, have only ridden a handful of times.<br /><br />This summer however we got the chance to go to a really amazing place. My dear friend Ardelle, who is a labor and delivery nurse with me, has started a non-for profit organization at her farm. At <a href="http://www.petersbiz.com/horses/index.asp">Turning Point Stables</a>, her goal is double sided. She began rescuing horses that have been abused and neglected, and allowed some to come live out their last days on a beautiful farm being well cared for. Her hope to is bring children in need of "something" together with horses that need "something". <br />Whether it's an autistic child, or a troubled teenager, or city kid that has never been to a farm, Ardelle believes that through horsemanship, a lot of life lessons can be learned.<br /><br />Well, I got the chance to take the boys (and myself) to her beautiful farm and teach them a thing or two about something I know. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AxySlr9wC2GC6St2WTZymSlpGTpCtE26Aekujfh7iw0RCyrCM2Uya4fu0_hlygOfvSAxjNSLm3bJdYTbdmt0p-8yzZutxw4DPh-LT6qd3zwPUmuiUhbPNvKJ-G0LV-DhAiEmJLNF084P/s1600-h/P2091283.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AxySlr9wC2GC6St2WTZymSlpGTpCtE26Aekujfh7iw0RCyrCM2Uya4fu0_hlygOfvSAxjNSLm3bJdYTbdmt0p-8yzZutxw4DPh-LT6qd3zwPUmuiUhbPNvKJ-G0LV-DhAiEmJLNF084P/s400/P2091283.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254787513021389298" /></a><br />Alec was a little nervous at first. I mean that horse looks HUGE when you are that size. (By the way, at the end of the day this was the horse I rode. So gorgeous!)<br /><br />Ardelle is patient and kind and makes sure that they do all the work.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZwG2rgVMyZFg9mMpbUC421lIV5ouL1lgt36IQgitYEo8GI9uUpi9g8JPufxaGxtej-lxMUKUeK14hMXExPIclAjZDyPQP-WvQV_ZWB3Ah1uX4DiXI6cl4dJSRGsNWa9XaM3DC6FHqt4l/s1600-h/P2091284.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZwG2rgVMyZFg9mMpbUC421lIV5ouL1lgt36IQgitYEo8GI9uUpi9g8JPufxaGxtej-lxMUKUeK14hMXExPIclAjZDyPQP-WvQV_ZWB3Ah1uX4DiXI6cl4dJSRGsNWa9XaM3DC6FHqt4l/s400/P2091284.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254787515544436930" /></a><br />No free rides. If you want to ride, you need to learn to lead your horse back to the barn. Alec chose a horse named Daisy.<br />I encourage you to read this <a href="http://www.riderochester.org/id80.html">quick link</a> about Daisy and her "turning point" at Ardelle's. A true testament of what can happen when a horse is given proper mental and physical nourishment.<br /><br />Joe on the other hand was pretty fearless.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzMW6-1FLavi4IoFPI2LnNkxgeizqgtiJjHviYZeGeMpow_PwAg4LedrzIIx0oMmqZsSbuyHfypwvFjE2qQMWbiEu97aX43ayRBTnVSBQ44VSPYJeY9oWYbWnMMzf1RMTquoW7lBgNkwJ/s1600-h/P2091285.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzMW6-1FLavi4IoFPI2LnNkxgeizqgtiJjHviYZeGeMpow_PwAg4LedrzIIx0oMmqZsSbuyHfypwvFjE2qQMWbiEu97aX43ayRBTnVSBQ44VSPYJeY9oWYbWnMMzf1RMTquoW7lBgNkwJ/s400/P2091285.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254787520592819442" /></a><br />Sucked up every word of information Ardelle offered him. I got the chance to just step back and watch him learn from her. He was like a sponge that day. He chose a horse named Navarre. <br />If you were a child/half adult of the 80's you may remember a movie named Ladyhawke-which you would not have forgotten if you saw it.<br />So remember...Rutger Hauer's character's name was Navarre...<br /><br />anyway..thus this horse's name. (I think I need to rent that movie again...)<br /><br />And then came the moment we had all waited for:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTqEC_jrlz00orFO6P6NQF8VOd-qYYgjhA_zSaHawR9qGWRD__56GoCPL7HeXPBcDVco4cetZuXxdLw0DdXwzkKQOBOUPOOkP4Aiq6UwvDDYzjl8MmhRuoE3cSJTlMpSBloTGH7PD3Vc_/s1600-h/P2091286.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTqEC_jrlz00orFO6P6NQF8VOd-qYYgjhA_zSaHawR9qGWRD__56GoCPL7HeXPBcDVco4cetZuXxdLw0DdXwzkKQOBOUPOOkP4Aiq6UwvDDYzjl8MmhRuoE3cSJTlMpSBloTGH7PD3Vc_/s400/P2091286.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254787518790189778" /></a><br />Joe independently riding.<br /><br />And then this one:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjno_hUvcEytt8oL0sAV089On3PBRKeboVZCoQlFIITF86gGMx2xnBiiwkxHZr869jPfDuP7c9uIzQ64FCv6Nvi7wOP1Ym47dGNwLZLkHw8jalnP6znnEjd78c_z1yCMMZMKsLKLTtuOoec/s1600-h/P2091290.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjno_hUvcEytt8oL0sAV089On3PBRKeboVZCoQlFIITF86gGMx2xnBiiwkxHZr869jPfDuP7c9uIzQ64FCv6Nvi7wOP1Ym47dGNwLZLkHw8jalnP6znnEjd78c_z1yCMMZMKsLKLTtuOoec/s400/P2091290.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254787523547745170" /></a><br />Alec on horseback.<br /><br />And this may not be the best photographic photo, <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-NZC-HZnk4Kzd9Cfu8ub4kUS48hShiV5QyhCYe6ckqNcrLl65VnhxGZx7R5OfgSV0H1DDsKyHG6s2o19F1Od_7CCSQ9eVzeeDKXdxU7Udgcng7HD_z3GB9jlKxofJaxguNu0pS52Q3Nd/s1600-h/P2091291.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-NZC-HZnk4Kzd9Cfu8ub4kUS48hShiV5QyhCYe6ckqNcrLl65VnhxGZx7R5OfgSV0H1DDsKyHG6s2o19F1Od_7CCSQ9eVzeeDKXdxU7Udgcng7HD_z3GB9jlKxofJaxguNu0pS52Q3Nd/s400/P2091291.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254788318072655378" /></a><br />but just look at that smile.<br /><br />And here is the whole little point of this tale. This may have been the proudest day I've had as their mother. See I'm a pretty good boy mom. I throw a mean football and baseball. I'm not afraid to hold a frog, or touch a snake. And occasionally, if I've gulped the appropriate amount of pop I can crank out an impressive burp. But I've taught them very little about the things that they currently love. Nick has give them an endless amount of time and energy teaching them about the things he loves. It's because of him that Alec is a baseball-aholic, and that they know about gun safety, and that every night they want to play football in the front yard. See I can support all that, but I didn't teach them that.<br /><br />But this day....this day I got to shine. To teach them some horsemanship. To teach them subtle things about a horse's character, and how to watch their ears and you'll know whether they are happy are sad, or really ticked off. And when they rode those horses, I was so freakin' proud. I felt like for the first time in their lives I had given them a piece of me, and having them love it, meant more to me than I can express.Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-33441672032352354642008-10-05T12:59:00.005-05:002008-10-05T17:05:18.941-05:00The Evolution of OzzieIn addition to two boys, we happen to have 2 dogs. Both male. Both brought home by me, without hubby's knowledge or approval.<br /><br />Doggie #1 (we'll meet him another day), was brought home before we were married. A bold move, that made my then fiance wonder about my ability to make snap inappropriate decisions.<br /><br />Doggie #2 was brough home last April. I was kind of feeling like maybe I wanted to have another baby. I was feeling the need to nuture, to love, to mold. And somehow my need to nuture crossed pathes with fate...at a garage sale. So today I'm going to share with you how Ozzie became a part of our family. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGucVONzrBFK8JdJKm73C-2UaDCZcBs_fbNMRs27KaTr52Ww1uKXF4YURCwrh4L1uDCxf4jARgtauQAFeqo9GGs6EA7zjh9esReE759wxMSpnDVH1iUje9J6SB1dCF5dDEQApy83nM1iz/s1600-h/my+third+child.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGucVONzrBFK8JdJKm73C-2UaDCZcBs_fbNMRs27KaTr52Ww1uKXF4YURCwrh4L1uDCxf4jARgtauQAFeqo9GGs6EA7zjh9esReE759wxMSpnDVH1iUje9J6SB1dCF5dDEQApy83nM1iz/s400/my+third+child.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253734091964753074" /></a><br /><br />So innocently enough on an April morning, I drive my kids to school, little turds farted around and missed the bus, so I had to drive them. <br />"Bye, love ya, see you after school." And on my way,down the street, back to my life of laundry and dusting. Cruising along just fine, past a garage sale, and there they are. <br />There in that little pen in the front yard. Small tiny black furballs, bouncing around, rolling on top of each other with a sign on the pen that says "Puppies for Sale".<br />Now mind you, I have no intention of getting another dog. Hubby was not happy 9 years ago when I brought the first one home, I learned my lesson. I'm just going to stop and take a look. I mean they are so stinkin' cute, I just gotta look at them. <br /><br />Whip the car into park and quickly walk up, scoop one out of the cage and let it lick my face with the fabulous little puppy breath smell. I oogle and google over the thing. Find out they are Shih tzu's, all boys left, all the girls are gone. So I stay for like half an hour loving each and every one of them. "Okay, I must go home." "Bye, guys, your really cute, hope you find good homes".<br /><br />So I head back home. A couple hours later, while manning my own garage sale, I say to my sister. "There was a sale this morning that had puppies, they were SOOOOOOOOOO cute (sounding like I'm about 7 when I say "so cute".)<br />"Well, lets go see them"<br />"Okay"<br />"Mom, we'll be back, we're going to go see the puppies."<br /> <br />Now when you come back a second time, the people selling the puppies start to work you over a little harder. <br />"Oh your back"<br />"I just brought my sister to see them"<br />"I see" (chuckle, chuckle)<br />Then lots of questions about where we live, what type of family we have, you know, working us over as possible buyers. Same thing again, half an hour of looking, and then your outta there.<br /> <br />Now here's where it starts to get ugly. You go pick up your kids at school and tell them there is a garage sale with puppies,<br />"What....can we go see them....PPPLLLLEEEAAASSSEEE." Then you try to act like no we aren't going to go see them, but inside your thinking "yes".<br /> <br />Okay, now when you show up for the third time with your kids, they pretty much hand you the puppy, his papers, and they ask for $350 (yikes!-for a dog?)<br /> <br />But see, this is the evil part. When you take the kids home and they beg their Dad for the dog, it doesn't look as pathetic as if you beg for the dog. Saying things like "well, get me the puppy and I'll stop whining over a baby" or "if I don't get to nurture something I might decide to buy a horse, or a pot belly pig, or adopt a child from Romania" don't seem totally appropriate. <br /> <br />Now insert the horrific look of "your not serious are you? It's taken me 9 years to like the other dog, don't push your luck lady. For the love of God, tell me you are not going to do this!". <br /> <br />Now insert me going from endearing and kind of cute, to me thinking "I don't really care, I think this will keep me sane". <br />"I'm getting me a puppy, I mean.....I'm getting the kids a puppy."<br /> <br />And so we all four went and look at the puppies, and the kids and I picked out which one would become my new psuedo child, the thing that I would nurture and try to make it seem like it filled the human void. And Nick stood there is disbelief, hoping it was all just some bad dream, hating EVERY second of the whole process, and basically looking at me like "don't even think for a second that I am going to do anything to take care of that thing".<br /> <br />Love, a lot of love.<br /> <br />And so, in all reality, it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Having a new little something, that thought the world of me, needed me, went ( and still does) everywhere I go, gave me back a little tiny sense of being needed. That animal loves me, and the kids, and Nick (shhh, don't tell him, it still wants to act like he doesn't like him, but I've caught him teaching the little furball how to hug). <br /> <br />He's brought a lot of mindless joy (and frustration in the form of housebreaking) and I always say to everyone that he's my third child.<br />With that being said, I don't carry him around in a purse, dress him up in clothes, or take him for pictures with Santa. I haven't totally lost my mind.<br /> <br />And that my friends, is the the Evolution of Ozzie. A little black and brown Shih Tzu that helped keep my sanity. He might have only a face a mother could love, and he's not the smartest dog ever, but he's served a very important purpose in this house.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkb7aclwE9dfLeop1HoU0Eij1qzmUXyNBXX_BYT65kHAR_muJPhu03j5LeDsAH9XagI9f_F7IEw3tbFPSm_GDZi-0_rjSm_MGfpoLmwVfoWRsChb2-ttI1eqJvhSbY_fo3THP5LBwRR5l/s1600-h/S6300563.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkb7aclwE9dfLeop1HoU0Eij1qzmUXyNBXX_BYT65kHAR_muJPhu03j5LeDsAH9XagI9f_F7IEw3tbFPSm_GDZi-0_rjSm_MGfpoLmwVfoWRsChb2-ttI1eqJvhSbY_fo3THP5LBwRR5l/s400/S6300563.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253731794441793570" /></a><br /><br />And don't tell anyone, but I think maybe, just maybe, Nick actually likes the little guy. What do you think?Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-3448416770669633082008-10-01T14:28:00.003-05:002008-10-01T16:29:28.572-05:00The smell of boyOkay all of you with only girls, I have a little treat for you. Think of it as a scavenger hunt. A little project in what you are missing out on.<br /><br />First, you will need to get a bag of Frito's. Set on your counter.<br /><br />Next, go get out a pound of freshly ground hamburger. Now set it next to the Frito's.<br /><br />Now, out to your garden and grab a handful of dirt. Set next to the other items.<br /><br />Lastly, grab your husbands nasty smelling gym shoes and set them next to the other items.<br /><br />Now scoot all of them items next to each other and cup your hand and waft those smells toward your nose.<br /><br />You know, kind of like wine snobs swirl wine, and then sniff the bouquet. "Smokey, with a hint of cedar, and cherry."<br /><br />Okay back to the wafting: "Corn chippy, with a hint of raw hamburger, intense fresh dirt smell, ending with the smell of old shoes."<br /><br />That, my friends, is the smell of boy.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiJ5LqOK57Uj1p-XgSiJk3SPl3i_IYbFRltj43AyoIxXwjwSiv8WbwyuvqY9GyLHpRSg1jgJAitKVxWcIYfp3Lblb5SgeKG_rl22ZEg8NutePCUUf6DP_Gv6VyOqAFfhl4PeJYVFMZH5-/s1600-h/P1010578_edited-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiJ5LqOK57Uj1p-XgSiJk3SPl3i_IYbFRltj43AyoIxXwjwSiv8WbwyuvqY9GyLHpRSg1jgJAitKVxWcIYfp3Lblb5SgeKG_rl22ZEg8NutePCUUf6DP_Gv6VyOqAFfhl4PeJYVFMZH5-/s400/P1010578_edited-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252275495506923506" /></a><br />I'm serious. You don't know the pheromones that they give off until you live with them. It doesn't smell good, but the longer you live with them, the more you get used to it.<br /><br />And somehow, I would imagine, that when they are grown men, I will actually miss that smell. But for now, I'll just continue to look at them and say, "You smell, go take a shower." <br /><br />And they will continue to grin with the little smile that makes me think they are very proud of the smell that give off.<br /><br />Okay, now go make dinner with that hamburger, it's been sitting on you counter for 10 minutes now.Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-4766628080701927962008-09-29T09:52:00.004-05:002008-09-29T10:21:41.067-05:00Fall in MinnesotaOne of the best parts of Midwest living is the amazing change is season that we are able to have. And I LOVE the fall. <br />Nothing beats the amazing color change that you get, the smell of the leaves, the sound of the leaves crunching underneath your feet. And the great fall harvest that you get.<br />Apples would be the best part in my opinion. And if you've never had a Honey Crisp, your life is not complete. I'm serious.<br />If you are an apple eater, they are the best. Hard, crunchy, sweet, and so very satisfying.<br />Saturday was our annual trip to an apple orchard to do some picking, eating, and wandering through corn mazes.<br /><br />Just look:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1FH8xXS7OLv6ViGOwzymbOxHEvGTLvbLsGWaS22-h-NU1X4042-acksiIeL2A6uWdamxgWq2yVS31ASeyglYxfRYQWZGgOxAEvMtvsZ3xVhsby1YdKIM4u9E9QKOQLikhPYLkD5dvfuI/s1600-h/S6300627.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1FH8xXS7OLv6ViGOwzymbOxHEvGTLvbLsGWaS22-h-NU1X4042-acksiIeL2A6uWdamxgWq2yVS31ASeyglYxfRYQWZGgOxAEvMtvsZ3xVhsby1YdKIM4u9E9QKOQLikhPYLkD5dvfuI/s400/S6300627.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251457618181147874" /></a><br />These my friends are Honey Crisps. Yummy, yummy, yummy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflEw8AIamsboH94bFz_qUIwUZcwwIsDGDCaWqbIYcUS2r59et0sen0aGAtIjiCCb76cj3U-jc_lCPk296CzevuhUz7ynYR-Ob9GmUm7SOBHqHeUSzd7sNK2qNd-6g7h4josLFm4XWRNK4/s1600-h/S6300629.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflEw8AIamsboH94bFz_qUIwUZcwwIsDGDCaWqbIYcUS2r59et0sen0aGAtIjiCCb76cj3U-jc_lCPk296CzevuhUz7ynYR-Ob9GmUm7SOBHqHeUSzd7sNK2qNd-6g7h4josLFm4XWRNK4/s400/S6300629.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251457624240970754" /></a><br />Wandering through the orchard you get to sample one or two, if your a hungry 9 year old who needs to be fed every 2 hours.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6nJVTGEKH532MEoloFDEId_YUGzBAqYBgnPPmHysBMNh6GS4zAekIGFHX4f67ie6YS_pv9RPLLSSy6PGKdR0vYlSp3EmNuzxRdWjvrL5zGNYzuLujaEb0UuwmN_8Z8vUjJ-xIgZ9OC1l/s1600-h/S6300631.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6nJVTGEKH532MEoloFDEId_YUGzBAqYBgnPPmHysBMNh6GS4zAekIGFHX4f67ie6YS_pv9RPLLSSy6PGKdR0vYlSp3EmNuzxRdWjvrL5zGNYzuLujaEb0UuwmN_8Z8vUjJ-xIgZ9OC1l/s400/S6300631.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251457629577713762" /></a><br />I'm starting to cherish pictures like this, because my little boys aren't so little anymore and pictures like this are getting harder and harder to capture.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zmv6JnE56tu4EWJHPIYY8D15lKGuK3V3imjWbL5Igsi2ZiK_X5HvjxPdZ3jCLPVWlHCnWOeIwUqT-EUtkzZvzBWR6_RS2uLmQ3DnjwVq0zfIKyLkwihXh4kg932q72eBj-0QV4vMAvrO/s1600-h/S6300633.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zmv6JnE56tu4EWJHPIYY8D15lKGuK3V3imjWbL5Igsi2ZiK_X5HvjxPdZ3jCLPVWlHCnWOeIwUqT-EUtkzZvzBWR6_RS2uLmQ3DnjwVq0zfIKyLkwihXh4kg932q72eBj-0QV4vMAvrO/s400/S6300633.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251457640768536850" /></a><br />And mister "I'm getting to cool for stuff like this" even went and stood in the corn for a picture. (Look at the child's hair--anyone want to sneak into my house and shave his head while he sleeps?)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_wLCQKdY6gHzhbseFQ1OW7cxba2e5-p4LM5jMhqzwTEl6gbq7L0jjgWChjKmOFUv0w1MUC13Vrnr-yfGeNlLreMQmwrIDmh2Ljg4aja8hE2uidffTpeJlCsmIzUyfcogwRM4BC9DyXMY/s1600-h/S6300630_edited-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_wLCQKdY6gHzhbseFQ1OW7cxba2e5-p4LM5jMhqzwTEl6gbq7L0jjgWChjKmOFUv0w1MUC13Vrnr-yfGeNlLreMQmwrIDmh2Ljg4aja8hE2uidffTpeJlCsmIzUyfcogwRM4BC9DyXMY/s400/S6300630_edited-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251461207497900018" /></a><br />And if could have only heard the discussion that occurred leading up to this picture.<br />"Hey guys, go put your head through the ghosts."<br />"SERIOUSLY?"<br />"YES...SERIOUSLY"<br />"Mom, come on....do we have to?"<br />"Yes"<br />"But mom, it's stupid"<br />"Exactly!"<br />"You're so weird"<br />"Thank you"<br />Insert groaning...something I hear a lot.<br /><br />(To be followed later with a discussion that went:<br />"Mom, your not going to do anything with that stupid ghost picture are you?"<br />"Like what?"<br />"Like print it off and show it to people, or put it on your blog or something?"<br />"Of course not"--my fingers were totally crossed, TOTALLY!)<br /><br />And after enduring such things, at least they each got one of these at the end of the day!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCy6mKYsIBfY9VZAifOkyHuiToCL013Gi31pLtUE6EV63IJGM2mkf8dGq0h39HkMVBYsH_RMNrBRIB95Gfv2xLt-4iDGjJLJ6eqddIfMkkWV_Q6SUy7Dg9LVqOIdvfays8kwD-aPQp5OKS/s1600-h/S6300621.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCy6mKYsIBfY9VZAifOkyHuiToCL013Gi31pLtUE6EV63IJGM2mkf8dGq0h39HkMVBYsH_RMNrBRIB95Gfv2xLt-4iDGjJLJ6eqddIfMkkWV_Q6SUy7Dg9LVqOIdvfays8kwD-aPQp5OKS/s400/S6300621.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251457649020578306" /></a><br />YUMMY!!!!Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-51706955474440527972008-09-27T10:39:00.002-05:002008-09-27T11:15:04.224-05:00Join the Journey-year 2Wow what a busy, busy week I have had. Sorry I've missed you all, I just had to put the blog on the back burner for a few days. But life is back to normal now, and I get you caught up on my little life.<br /><br />For those of you that have read from the beginning, this will be a repeat of information, for those of you new to the blog, it's just one more installment in my life.<br /><br />So, last June my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer at 41. My mother is a breast cancer survivor, her sister died of breast cancer in her late 40's, and my father's mother had breast cancer. So you might say that I have a slightly higher risk of getting the disease (gee, ya think?) So last September we walked in our first <a href="http://www.jointhejourney.us/">Join the Journey </a>breast cancer walk, that is a grass roots walk here in our community. The walk is only 4 years old and every year it grows and grows.<br /><br />So last Sunday it was our second year to walk. 10 miles, by the way. I have to tell you that it is an amazing sight. Those that are walking that are survivors wear a pink shirt, and everyone else supporting them wears gray. I cannot tell you the lump you get in your throat watching this sea of over a 1000 pink and gray shirts walk through our city.<br /><br />We start the day with a kick off speech at one of the high school stadiums.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkc5eQA1d_WsGEgyn-WIocHehulUm0LMN_ftl6Y2deKx4lg0B9-wUbKToWVcVMAHmAtYc_Zoi0OL3ujyPYYc648BRrJYZ9RYyxNUV1e02vhfRRX7uVKLBpLFlpmRC0e3l8JZ2GmhjB6DHR/s1600-h/JOURNEY+6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkc5eQA1d_WsGEgyn-WIocHehulUm0LMN_ftl6Y2deKx4lg0B9-wUbKToWVcVMAHmAtYc_Zoi0OL3ujyPYYc648BRrJYZ9RYyxNUV1e02vhfRRX7uVKLBpLFlpmRC0e3l8JZ2GmhjB6DHR/s320/JOURNEY+6.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250728320531590530" /></a><br />Here we are sitting on the cold wet bleachers waiting to get our walk going. A little tough to not get a little choked up listening to the ladies kick it off.<br /><br />Here we are on about mile 6. Me, the ever dopey clown that has to take a flying leap as my dad photographes from across the street.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1WJX1o1GWi3bR6Mc5LpcXQSNeosDOVsC-ONP_VRFvt2RqCVsGq7vuLnc97pmO4BB5JvyO3D7X7pxlciaU6GlFZznn44QdraeDNJTP5ztuf0H48YtcuoWCKbZKn2VcqbRHxIDOJ5zuKDB/s1600-h/JOURNEY2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1WJX1o1GWi3bR6Mc5LpcXQSNeosDOVsC-ONP_VRFvt2RqCVsGq7vuLnc97pmO4BB5JvyO3D7X7pxlciaU6GlFZznn44QdraeDNJTP5ztuf0H48YtcuoWCKbZKn2VcqbRHxIDOJ5zuKDB/s320/JOURNEY2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250728324496766946" /></a><br />I love my mom and sister laughing at me making a complete ass out of myself while the teenage girls behind us completely ignore me.<br />(Can just insert that it is killing me to look at myself in the picture-I'm going to go eat a salad. Don't you hate yourself in pictures?)<br /><br />And at the end of the 10 miles they feed you an amazing meal. Here is my sister enjoying these amazing brownies with a fabulous ganache on the top.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Yypi2tfl3Tp5BGTyw8n0paDE95aV1oCX-DxmP58s3aYBBO58FjA25v_UEAG9oQO7O0fZJH-yOTCQfQk7XEpvR7rNXAfaa3TUt30FM1NMv1T3DofuVN3WyfZJHu8KFqFbgMJ_D2PmV9vs/s1600-h/JOURNEY+9.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Yypi2tfl3Tp5BGTyw8n0paDE95aV1oCX-DxmP58s3aYBBO58FjA25v_UEAG9oQO7O0fZJH-yOTCQfQk7XEpvR7rNXAfaa3TUt30FM1NMv1T3DofuVN3WyfZJHu8KFqFbgMJ_D2PmV9vs/s320/JOURNEY+9.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250728328155962066" /></a><br />The significance of this picture is that last year she was in the middle of chemo when we walked and couldn't taste anything because of the chemotherapy. So not only did she make it the 10 miles last year, but she couldn't taste a darn thing.<br /><br />Here she is last year:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhMl7wpItJIFWIcymlQTGn1-WcaPVpZ-eBOPIO-LqvIbZQeS5RSob4Ul3b-_T2wxtgIEt_7brRet9te07HJSDt7txOcTkKs_pt2AlIXWuivy9_uBMQxZJYGFK21TQsx_q_SXTUSKyzmE4/s1600-h/S6300322.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhMl7wpItJIFWIcymlQTGn1-WcaPVpZ-eBOPIO-LqvIbZQeS5RSob4Ul3b-_T2wxtgIEt_7brRet9te07HJSDt7txOcTkKs_pt2AlIXWuivy9_uBMQxZJYGFK21TQsx_q_SXTUSKyzmE4/s320/S6300322.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250728333014383666" /></a><br />Just compare those 2 pictures. What a difference a year makes. Amazing gal she is, pretty amazing.<br /><br />And they have all of this great information for everyone to have, including really encouraging everyone to do self exams. And these two gals walk around the whole day. Man they just crack me up.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78Mdywf0I8nTpJnJkAadDbB2-Izt8pTJaBd-M_cy7879cvzAIoePq4moNKgHRENkEsYtI2WqPOclBZ9u9OlRJ95IrneHLBVpbBDdC5oz75zoygqRbMB40nT1hoPinL6H7xop3Y8Hf1JC8/s1600-h/S6300320.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78Mdywf0I8nTpJnJkAadDbB2-Izt8pTJaBd-M_cy7879cvzAIoePq4moNKgHRENkEsYtI2WqPOclBZ9u9OlRJ95IrneHLBVpbBDdC5oz75zoygqRbMB40nT1hoPinL6H7xop3Y8Hf1JC8/s320/S6300320.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250728334550028290" /></a><br />And all I can think when I look this picture is, "I'm really glad I wasn't in a testicular cancer walk."Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-86121612227602605122008-09-19T14:55:00.001-05:002008-09-19T16:06:22.488-05:00Summer LoveShhhh....don't tell. <br /><br />I covertly took these pictures of my oldest this summer. See, he really liked the little neighbor girl that was here to spend the summer with her dad. See, it all started out normal.<br />You know, they didn't want anything to do with each other. Yuck, I mean, who wants to play with a girl. They only like Barbies and wearing dresses and watching Hanna Montana right?<br /><br />And then...well,<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOTNcD8IKRenLIRGWVXq9Mu9P61j_ToXsDbduWu7UL-XOHmwK3evLmqVzmjJrh58-TEFiawjKUQAmwN1u9PEROAbwue1pnF2MWskTgL6LgQqtVkw6dAyS87y20AKWRxmln6mHy04feMkV/s1600-h/joe+with+c.+%231.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOTNcD8IKRenLIRGWVXq9Mu9P61j_ToXsDbduWu7UL-XOHmwK3evLmqVzmjJrh58-TEFiawjKUQAmwN1u9PEROAbwue1pnF2MWskTgL6LgQqtVkw6dAyS87y20AKWRxmln6mHy04feMkV/s320/joe+with+c.+%231.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247825654186306962" /></a><br />Turns out that home girl here, is well, a little bit of tomboy. Likes to skateboard, play guitar hero, and knows a thing or two about sports.<br /><br />And so would be a 9 year olds version of summer romance. You know, adamantly denying to little brother and the other neighbor kids that you like her, yet spending more time with her than them, and finding out that some girls are "cool".<br /><br />(Ahhh....duh....your mother is one of the cool ones....just ask your dad----insert eye rolling from all the males in my house)<br /><br />But as with all good summer romances, they must come to an end. Saying goodbye is tough, especially when you are 9. I mean do you SAY "goodbye", or "see ya next summer", or do you hug-------no way! No this is what you do:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKl_5EoUhQ_31p6uX1QJZpFfCfVQylPKjk8_VvsQfE2hv-6mNhOyRJGn5AK2HiUzqRJc67_M8UgmOmhVITCsT6mu-4EJiA97zId0aFwNe0vZveYmDTB5euomlj2SIw7w-WcZLS8iFDesB/s1600-h/joe+with+c.+%232.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKl_5EoUhQ_31p6uX1QJZpFfCfVQylPKjk8_VvsQfE2hv-6mNhOyRJGn5AK2HiUzqRJc67_M8UgmOmhVITCsT6mu-4EJiA97zId0aFwNe0vZveYmDTB5euomlj2SIw7w-WcZLS8iFDesB/s320/joe+with+c.+%232.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247825657006460002" /></a><br />you stand in your front yard, making weird postures that involve crossing and uncrossing your arms and making a large spread leg male stance that shows your uncomfortable with the whole situation. Meanwhile your mother hides in the office and takes pictures through the screened window to document it all and post it to the world. See how cool your mother is?<br /><br />And finally a quick "see ya", and you say "see you next summer" and then find out that actually, she will be back a Christmas for a couple of weeks and maybe you all can go snowboarding together. "Sweet!" <br />(what to the kids say these days that means "sweet" or "cool"---maybe I'm not so cool.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJs4NEYquotTTDnxuoTMQDPZj2Q_bgvkg9-VA9f71dV8nJo2Cujvj7jiKiWwzXcJ3V9f-aOz0GP7D9usw5A6lfQek5JG1AlFnl-aDzJci6vsoq2A4qvsyMPOVxtcOQfPsL2IEjTir_apD/s1600-h/joe+with+c.+%233.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJs4NEYquotTTDnxuoTMQDPZj2Q_bgvkg9-VA9f71dV8nJo2Cujvj7jiKiWwzXcJ3V9f-aOz0GP7D9usw5A6lfQek5JG1AlFnl-aDzJci6vsoq2A4qvsyMPOVxtcOQfPsL2IEjTir_apD/s320/joe+with+c.+%233.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247825660147437298" /></a><br />So would end the first of the summer romances. You know the kind the mother finds sweet and innocent, because there was no kissing and hugging, and making grandbabies that I don't need at 43. <br />Whoa.........the reality of being a labor and delivery nurse does occasionally slap me in the face and remind me what a summer romance can lead to.<br /><br />And those of you with teenage sons, you just keep your yaps shut, I know whats going to happen all too soon, and personally I like the state of denial I am living in--it works for me!Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-91015754824477303422008-09-17T15:56:00.002-05:002008-09-17T16:24:45.148-05:00Seriously...how do they do this?In case you are just tuning in...I'm the mother of 2 boys. 2 VERY active, somewhat stinky boys, that are magnets for dirt. Not like the playing in mud puddles dirt. <br /><br />Like outside sand and dirt.<br /><br />There is some sort of molecular pull that brings the dirt to them.<br /><br />Let me show what I mean.<br />Exhibit A: Son # 2's socks:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIlvT08euAEZc3KR6tMzVwffnreEyVn27f-ohoTpVMOQd9KdfhojC2YVKau3KkQ1O0rDQGJ-5Qxt64iGEnFT-3X29emVU-KImPe943CSsFL6T56MGyP89IpXZS7kbnJRpMhEuE9Pt-wLz/s1600-h/P1010508.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIlvT08euAEZc3KR6tMzVwffnreEyVn27f-ohoTpVMOQd9KdfhojC2YVKau3KkQ1O0rDQGJ-5Qxt64iGEnFT-3X29emVU-KImPe943CSsFL6T56MGyP89IpXZS7kbnJRpMhEuE9Pt-wLz/s320/P1010508.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247098339601702658" /></a><br /><br />Now one might believe this child was outside for like 24 hours without shoes on, running across muddy fields. But no, this child was outside for a day playing, in shoes, not running through mud.<br /><br />People...this is my life. Socks that have to immediately be taken off before entering my house. I have a bucket in my laundry room known as the "dirty sock bucket", (I came up with that clever name.) And every 3-4 days a cycle starts that involves soaking overnight in Oxyclean (the best product ever made!), and then HOT water and bleach in the washing machine.<br /><br />Inventors of the world, I'm calling out to you! <br /><br />Hello, do you hear me? <br /><br />Someone, not me, needs to make disposable socks for boys. Something that holds up during the day and then disintegrate upon coming into my house in the evening. <br /><br />Could you please work on that? I'll be a test marketer for you!<br /><br />I'm off to clean some socks, aren't you jealous?Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-49464732521105575112008-09-15T09:28:00.002-05:002008-09-15T10:56:50.863-05:00Scrapfest '08 Baby!Last Friday I was able to attend my first ever Scrapfest, and it was a totally bitchin' time.<br /><br />Okay....wait....I'm laughing so hard I might pee a little.<br /><br />First of all Scrapfest-you know like saying "Summerfest, or Countryfest, or Octoberfest"....but Scrapfest...come on, it just sounds funny.<br /><br />All right, for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, which I'm sure there are many, Scrapfest is this insanely large event held at the Mall of America by Archivers that involves buying a badge for $12 and being able to do a bunch of make and takes, and you could also sign up for classes with different companies and famous scrapping people and make stuff.<br /><br />So let me tell you right now, I had no idea how out of my league this event would be. Two of my girl friends and I headed up to Minneapolis on Thursday, ate, drank, had some fun, talked about everything under the sun, tucked ourselves in bed and got up on Friday morning to head to the Mall of America.<br /><br />Okay, seriously, I'm not sure I can even describe the insanity that we would witness in the next 7 hours. 27 make and take stations set up on the main level on the Mall of America. So we hopped in the first line we saw, and proceeded to stand in line for the next 40 MINUTES! Okay, this event makes Disneyworld look like a piece of cake.<br /><br />And, the people that attend it...well...there are some very serious scrapbookers out there. We are talking matching t-shirts, hauling there own scrap tote things that double as a seat to sit on in line, and all they talk about is scrapbooking for HOURS on end. And that's fine...that's their thing....but wowsa....I was out of my league let me tell you! They know every product, who made it, who runs the company, when the next line is coming out...you name it, they know it.<br /><br />So, in 5 hours, we made 4 make and takes. Seriously, 5 freakin' hours, 4 make and takes. Finally we looked at each other and said screw this, and we went upstairs to the Mexican Restaurant, ate chips and salsa and drank some margaritas, and then we shopped.<br /><br />So let me show you my rewards for standing in line.<br /><br />First up, would be my favorite:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vExeZMhrHRrRjZ-VktGpn0H3CrESFe5OT-lSxObJYP2Df0GNL6PegujChMeAPGTBaOvzQwL-GOcoynkR670WC8C0S-n1Z25r-U7yZex_4VgUU1bfTj0T_VSJ_FoFzRfuSWCH1_wuGU_K/s1600-h/scrapfest+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vExeZMhrHRrRjZ-VktGpn0H3CrESFe5OT-lSxObJYP2Df0GNL6PegujChMeAPGTBaOvzQwL-GOcoynkR670WC8C0S-n1Z25r-U7yZex_4VgUU1bfTj0T_VSJ_FoFzRfuSWCH1_wuGU_K/s320/scrapfest+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246256057270787730" /></a><br />From a company called Bazzill. Now if you are a serious scrapbooker you will probably know all these names. But remember, I'm a Stampin' Up demonstrator that mostly makes cards...this is not in my little realm. Anyway, I have checked out their <a href="http://bazzillbasics.com/">website</a>...super cute ideas for you scrapbookers. (Betsy, I'm talking to you, so much inspiration there for you!)<br /><br />Okay, the next one is this one. This is the first line that we stood in...our welcome to Scrapfest.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiI1770ytv2NNHlOKqvp_2F6PKkrnP7LSDlAOzk6ErGYs3oa-qV5AJDDiUCo5c2gs1CjGN1WnANmcdkbJ6qeTopzCBeJWuw_5wHthoEevySvJvMg-jCW9dNP20YgWQrSwt-PDM1lWEYuS/s1600-h/scrapfest+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiI1770ytv2NNHlOKqvp_2F6PKkrnP7LSDlAOzk6ErGYs3oa-qV5AJDDiUCo5c2gs1CjGN1WnANmcdkbJ6qeTopzCBeJWuw_5wHthoEevySvJvMg-jCW9dNP20YgWQrSwt-PDM1lWEYuS/s320/scrapfest+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246256060087657410" /></a><br />A company called Me and My Big Ideas (MAMBI-for those of you "in the know".) Very cute little page. Here's their <a href="http://www.meandmybigideas.com/cms/">website</a>. (Betsy, check their gallery out too!)<br /><br />Okay, here's the shortest line I had.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvomwxTGa0txnsXXGB7u9X5dHoedRE7gFQJQ3KWysmuZvlLbnma8CvFa2wt-78p6Ou5VnlY8ywtMf-GSuTThLOHUrICAkPDW7SJNbHHpbksk0KF10pFONXJ18vspzfhiMJ6hiCMVEzYtZ/s1600-h/scrapfest+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvomwxTGa0txnsXXGB7u9X5dHoedRE7gFQJQ3KWysmuZvlLbnma8CvFa2wt-78p6Ou5VnlY8ywtMf-GSuTThLOHUrICAkPDW7SJNbHHpbksk0KF10pFONXJ18vspzfhiMJ6hiCMVEzYtZ/s320/scrapfest+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246256064532189362" /></a><br />Only half an hour for this baby. From <a href="http://www.mymindseye.com/index.asp">My Mind's Eye</a>, a company I had actually heard of.<br /><br />And lastly this one.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJw2GxGGBWwth6JCnkIscyK8irw2edsmi43VALKTmqdoFI7ctvyyIwfQU6BvLOZbT5ZLqfS4GcJcktjN02erjNNewObGDAh8Ykf7fsQ4hK9oNefJLUukUMoAXM6nD-bZUYkd1bdbI_EcGL/s1600-h/scrapfest+4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJw2GxGGBWwth6JCnkIscyK8irw2edsmi43VALKTmqdoFI7ctvyyIwfQU6BvLOZbT5ZLqfS4GcJcktjN02erjNNewObGDAh8Ykf7fsQ4hK9oNefJLUukUMoAXM6nD-bZUYkd1bdbI_EcGL/s320/scrapfest+4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246256069633660690" /></a><br />From Hero Arts. Thankfully another company I know, a little more in the stamping world.<br /><br />And there you have it, 5 hours, four projects, and some good time with friends. Scrapfest '08...it was something to behold.Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8322037324345733170.post-29302026548294838532008-09-14T11:10:00.004-05:002008-09-14T11:43:57.355-05:0011 years ago....11 years ago, on September 13th 1997, these two <strong>very young looking</strong> whipper snappers would make a vow to each other.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqvaTvu9BL3JnnsG7Ng1oEQr2kwslCmQz8DRcAoHkrtMcMP7l8BhIN54ksWYY7uVPrtWtz-PmHrOOnVB2zk66CBZvpf8Tn_dXOTYfunIwESSqewwX1C2QWLbBUPZ5dysrcxWQYFZX_S0a/s1600-h/engagement+picture.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqvaTvu9BL3JnnsG7Ng1oEQr2kwslCmQz8DRcAoHkrtMcMP7l8BhIN54ksWYY7uVPrtWtz-PmHrOOnVB2zk66CBZvpf8Tn_dXOTYfunIwESSqewwX1C2QWLbBUPZ5dysrcxWQYFZX_S0a/s320/engagement+picture.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245912436169197922" /></a><br />In front of the Catholic Church, surrounded by friends and family, they tied the knot. And now, 11 years later, I'm sitting here remembering....<br /><br />Look at my pretty dress....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYIkRC-0RkwaHUTrzVlqpm2mu4yy8OFG5oZkPRtaSI9oDERVcHRkMzaNtx2nr8Obrn9-t60-7LK7OQeyNTp2wjhdo_Kjp6Q5gVEC7PEywSC5zF1m_HkMawmKNKPAvoegdg0RABWKYKKhs/s1600-h/my+dress.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYIkRC-0RkwaHUTrzVlqpm2mu4yy8OFG5oZkPRtaSI9oDERVcHRkMzaNtx2nr8Obrn9-t60-7LK7OQeyNTp2wjhdo_Kjp6Q5gVEC7PEywSC5zF1m_HkMawmKNKPAvoegdg0RABWKYKKhs/s320/my+dress.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245911708322224562" /></a><br />First one that I tried on, though there would be countless others that day, it was on sale...and in one day, yes ONE day, I bought my wedding dress. My sister made my vail, and the little netting piece detached so that when everybody and their brother hugged me that day they wouldn't rip my head off. I haven't worn panty hose and a dress since....maybe once...but seriously....if you know me....this was a monumental day in my dress wearing life.<br /><br />And here is my FAVORITE wedding picture of all time...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfKg323k9V3mHW88W0xPS4K1zeobzjve4oOfkhb0dxTwO1BkCChFYpR4kVufIorq0aCelzA-RkRrx3Ks5FUWBynxxBRiiwdjym9rYZ2k_lpAFxXJ5CAJnXRyKfTsTzlR0aYNAM6AQjSSg/s1600-h/me+with+emma+and+sarah.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfKg323k9V3mHW88W0xPS4K1zeobzjve4oOfkhb0dxTwO1BkCChFYpR4kVufIorq0aCelzA-RkRrx3Ks5FUWBynxxBRiiwdjym9rYZ2k_lpAFxXJ5CAJnXRyKfTsTzlR0aYNAM6AQjSSg/s320/me+with+emma+and+sarah.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245911708752114082" /></a><br />Look at my stinkin' cute little nieces. Do you not just want to eat them up? Look at their little purple dresses, and their hair, and their baskets....oh my gosh that it like syrup with sugar, and honey, and whip cream on top. Yeah, they are almost 15and 16 now. They aren't that cute any more. <br />I mean they are cute and all, but in a teenage diva sort of way.<br /><br />There it is, our first kiss EVER....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83zmRa0tmmRuttZ0JBMRo8v8iwH-tdJitpQmGFE9crKkyk-PYVGQa5BXuYp_kayPY3wRTv1zidKUp6QFRLvT_x5xW_oWJr9FtL8ERD5K65xVdz2JGSRul8rj7pme0eZc8DLLwS8hZqutR/s1600-h/first+kiss.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83zmRa0tmmRuttZ0JBMRo8v8iwH-tdJitpQmGFE9crKkyk-PYVGQa5BXuYp_kayPY3wRTv1zidKUp6QFRLvT_x5xW_oWJr9FtL8ERD5K65xVdz2JGSRul8rj7pme0eZc8DLLwS8hZqutR/s320/first+kiss.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245911712719802626" /></a><br />We saved ourselves you know, for that moment. <br />Wait... just a minute...I need to stop rolling around laughing on the floor. <br />Truth is, when our priest found out we had lived together (NO, I didn't lie about that fact, I just <em>maybe</em> forgot to mention it to him), he threatened not to marry us. But all was well when we did face to face confession after rehearsal...yeah...that was fun. (Fellow Catholics, do you feel my pain?)<br /><br />So here's to us....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LkbrSMf6rEaPrg-kTHT2_PistI2lQTvyxIKBdIJjPzqAoaNnpu_CN6LS_VZyVpLgFjUMrLiKOHkIibRrW9pejXAo9uLH6xQOkHOii3V0EDUbDtr3OtR4JaUlEh8pH1AZyB5Zr_uYYbcu/s1600-h/kiss+at+head+table.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LkbrSMf6rEaPrg-kTHT2_PistI2lQTvyxIKBdIJjPzqAoaNnpu_CN6LS_VZyVpLgFjUMrLiKOHkIibRrW9pejXAo9uLH6xQOkHOii3V0EDUbDtr3OtR4JaUlEh8pH1AZyB5Zr_uYYbcu/s320/kiss+at+head+table.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245911713502246674" /></a><br />With love from all of our friends that day. Most of whom are still good friends. Looks like we've made it so far.<br /><br />Good luck you two...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdybE7XVTTnASoU3m9GJW4nT-sYsWu_8hURSXFw7kWoL-bETXJhw4O2xBHglo_OMFKWGgB6OVCY40Ud5gTgGmr6oz4En-2I2RnqRSPkCVKH2UlHGfpcAHIpMQqZdlCXlIpjve3Mzbitm0W/s1600-h/waving+goodbye.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdybE7XVTTnASoU3m9GJW4nT-sYsWu_8hURSXFw7kWoL-bETXJhw4O2xBHglo_OMFKWGgB6OVCY40Ud5gTgGmr6oz4En-2I2RnqRSPkCVKH2UlHGfpcAHIpMQqZdlCXlIpjve3Mzbitm0W/s320/waving+goodbye.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245911718537146322" /></a><br />Truth is...the next 11 years are going to be a lot of up and down. You are going to have some serious tragedy come your way, along with some amazing joys. Don't tell anyone, but your going to have 2 beautiful boys. It really is going to get tough sometimes, and you may really want to give up, but remember you guys started as really good friends and that is what will see you through.<br /><br />Good luck...and ahhh, have fun getting out of that body suit thing that you wore under that dress to keep all your parts in place. After about 5 hours it started to become a part of your body!<br /><br />Good times, good times.....Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03362155439481770117noreply@blogger.com4