tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50836828578692119552024-03-14T23:56:45.411+09:00Agabang in AnyangSerenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.comBlogger262125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-43875761042089450462015-02-04T22:58:00.000+09:002015-02-04T22:58:05.348+09:00Blog SwitchI have decided to finally retire my Korea blog. It's been more than a year since we left Anyang, and it no longer makes sense to have a blog address that my mom can't remember how to find. So I'm going back to my first blog identity, though I've retitled it: <a href="http://gibbness.blogspot.com/">I'M ABOUT TO SIT DOWN</a>. Time to change your bookmark, Dad.Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-282022777006059772015-01-10T00:23:00.004+09:002015-01-10T00:23:47.412+09:00Lights MostlyThe thing I will remember most about our stint here in Indiana, however brief or long it proves to be, is its incredible capacity for snow production. When it snows, it snows every day, sometimes just a dusting to tidy everything up. Because I don't have to leave the house, I actually really, really love this part of this part of the country. Joash thinks it's Christmas every day now because every Netflix Christmas special told him it would snow on Christmas (it didn't, so now he's enjoying the delayed gratification). Also because of Netflix, Joash already knows that Christmas is in constant need of saving. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So here are some pictures of our belated white Christmas.<a name='more'></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KNfkgzTLPBo/VKwAJWpceTI/AAAAAAAARn0/JavCxhICgw0/s1600/IMG_1394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KNfkgzTLPBo/VKwAJWpceTI/AAAAAAAARn0/JavCxhICgw0/s1600/IMG_1394.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some Christmas knitting. I made the <a href="http://ravel.me/gibbness/nu76g">Sugar Vest</a> for Korrine's daughter Quinn and their forthcoming Australian winter. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7OBEzvjETDk/VKwAQe8PFGI/AAAAAAAARoM/9Zn_JXxXJUw/s1600/IMG_1401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7OBEzvjETDk/VKwAQe8PFGI/AAAAAAAARoM/9Zn_JXxXJUw/s1600/IMG_1401.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue buttons and a bit of lace.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U-YDgEytKUU/VKwAU6Rs8jI/AAAAAAAARoc/0JIbcis_N78/s1600/IMG_1412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U-YDgEytKUU/VKwAU6Rs8jI/AAAAAAAARoc/0JIbcis_N78/s1600/IMG_1412.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seed stitch button band and i-cord hems.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A6vZNpSn7qo/VKwAWx6b8GI/AAAAAAAARok/39PkJjm4KEo/s1600/IMG_1415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A6vZNpSn7qo/VKwAWx6b8GI/AAAAAAAARok/39PkJjm4KEo/s1600/IMG_1415.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LEGO action in front of our Douglas fir. She <i>is </i>the planet Duplo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S7jnBJzC_ZM/VKwAhHZPUhI/AAAAAAAARo8/UWk7iY0WAEk/s1600/IMG_1429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S7jnBJzC_ZM/VKwAhHZPUhI/AAAAAAAARo8/UWk7iY0WAEk/s1600/IMG_1429.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because we spent Christmas in Cincinnati, we didn't get to take Christmas pajama pictures in front of the tree, so we did it for the new year.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4WAvjcZYvPE/VKwArgUjKtI/AAAAAAAARpM/XKiA1T5xbnM/s1600/IMG_1433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4WAvjcZYvPE/VKwArgUjKtI/AAAAAAAARpM/XKiA1T5xbnM/s1600/IMG_1433.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Christmas knitting. I made stockings for the kids to match the stockings I knit for Dan and myself 5 years ago.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k5XyvFJ87Lg/VKwA3gocnQI/AAAAAAAARpk/I6q78xdd3gk/s1600/IMG_1435a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k5XyvFJ87Lg/VKwA3gocnQI/AAAAAAAARpk/I6q78xdd3gk/s1600/IMG_1435a.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For Ammi, a <a href="http://ravel.me/gibbness/1gf32">Reindeer Stocking</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rpZs1qyKC4o/VKwBC2lJWAI/AAAAAAAARp8/nE_ANWO0bUY/s1600/IMG_1438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rpZs1qyKC4o/VKwBC2lJWAI/AAAAAAAARp8/nE_ANWO0bUY/s1600/IMG_1438.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For Joash, a <a href="http://ravel.me/gibbness/36gfi">Moose Stocking</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tpcwqjBMZR4/VKwB-4ao-pI/AAAAAAAARsM/KX4pMAyu3kA/s1600/IMG_1464a.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tpcwqjBMZR4/VKwB-4ao-pI/AAAAAAAARsM/KX4pMAyu3kA/s1600/IMG_1464a.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MpSyLUCcorE/VKwCCUX43GI/AAAAAAAARsU/DZmVFkJQeQg/s1600/IMG_1471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MpSyLUCcorE/VKwCCUX43GI/AAAAAAAARsU/DZmVFkJQeQg/s1600/IMG_1471.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really enjoyed the color work. It's always nice to have a good payoff for your efforts.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iF_dLsAPmNw/VKwBg2FzZeI/AAAAAAAARrM/Cs-JCPmaIP8/s1600/IMG_1477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iF_dLsAPmNw/VKwBg2FzZeI/AAAAAAAARrM/Cs-JCPmaIP8/s1600/IMG_1477.jpg" height="294" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJBGIMjEBjI/VKwBpMoRfbI/AAAAAAAARrk/QpQeF4Itm7c/s1600/IMG_1489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJBGIMjEBjI/VKwBpMoRfbI/AAAAAAAARrk/QpQeF4Itm7c/s1600/IMG_1489.jpg" height="294" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also nice was the childrens' apparent interest in something I knit for them. Joash ran around with it on his arm and pretended it was a snake. (Contrast that with today's shouty meltdown after I made him try on a vest I just finished.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LFTDwACXuEs/VKwBzHVkBjI/AAAAAAAARr8/hKZCecVQcyw/s1600/IMG_1506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LFTDwACXuEs/VKwBzHVkBjI/AAAAAAAARr8/hKZCecVQcyw/s1600/IMG_1506.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hadn't yet weaved in the ends, so Ammi tried to drape the loose string over her neck like a scarf.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SlV4P9gJWuo/VKwB16uxYiI/AAAAAAAARsE/NUH8Izj5py4/s1600/IMG_1514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SlV4P9gJWuo/VKwB16uxYiI/AAAAAAAARsE/NUH8Izj5py4/s1600/IMG_1514.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dan decked out our house with the straightest Christmas lights on the block!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uv4fMbY5vXM/VK_tcCC2QFI/AAAAAAAARtg/ecW7dN5ZJE8/s1600/IMG_1543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uv4fMbY5vXM/VK_tcCC2QFI/AAAAAAAARtg/ecW7dN5ZJE8/s1600/IMG_1543.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meanwhile, our week of winter weather has now encased the lights in cocoons of ice and snow. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9JlEil5sh9Y/VK_tazxSJiI/AAAAAAAARtY/Q_ckpWaDGqE/s1600/IMG_1559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9JlEil5sh9Y/VK_tazxSJiI/AAAAAAAARtY/Q_ckpWaDGqE/s1600/IMG_1559.jpg" height="294" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is that aforementioned hot chocolate revelry. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-25132400398491315662015-01-09T23:47:00.001+09:002015-01-10T10:10:35.289+09:00Holiday PicturesI took my camera to Florida for Thanksgiving, but I did not take my camera to Ohio for Christmas, so there is a plethora of the one and a dearth of the other. I'll try harder next time.<br />
<br />
Right now I'm sitting on the chair while Dan and his boy build an Ewok Village out of LEGOs on the dining table, sipping away at their hot chocolates in twin cups. Ammi is asleep, snuggled under two blankets while the playroom (her experimental room, the third since we've moved to this house, all in the so far unsuccessful attempt to secure for Joash a post-5am wakeup) heats up. I made myself some hot coffee, but I really can't get along with soy milk in hot coffee, so I might just end up wasting it (EDIT: I did). Much like I've wasted all my blogging time this evening, so on with it (EDIT: Today is tomorrow).<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vkKCqq9_MaY/VIXGU-8QlQI/AAAAAAAARaw/3wIe1KJVtsA/s1600/IMG_1228a.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vkKCqq9_MaY/VIXGU-8QlQI/AAAAAAAARaw/3wIe1KJVtsA/s1600/IMG_1228a.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-07sjdS3xcLg/VIXGirsyt9I/AAAAAAAARbI/GQBjiprvU2I/s1600/IMG_1232a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-07sjdS3xcLg/VIXGirsyt9I/AAAAAAAARbI/GQBjiprvU2I/s1600/IMG_1232a.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water fun on my parents' pretty awesome wrap around porch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rH2ppS98X5Q/VIXGqp9vd4I/AAAAAAAARbo/IOsT88MtWZM/s1600/IMG_1237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rH2ppS98X5Q/VIXGqp9vd4I/AAAAAAAARbo/IOsT88MtWZM/s1600/IMG_1237.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It took Ammi a while to warm up to the idea.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CqnkI_r4Ytc/VIXGusEjXdI/AAAAAAAARbw/EAGGZUuqdeA/s1600/IMG_1239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CqnkI_r4Ytc/VIXGusEjXdI/AAAAAAAARbw/EAGGZUuqdeA/s1600/IMG_1239.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perhaps because of this guy here doing his best to target splash everybody.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jmy1VxoQV_4/VIXGw_BPpgI/AAAAAAAARb4/EvWKeXrwZEw/s1600/IMG_1241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jmy1VxoQV_4/VIXGw_BPpgI/AAAAAAAARb4/EvWKeXrwZEw/s1600/IMG_1241.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you know Ammi, you know that this never happens. Never was there ever a successful sleep transition with this kid, except that one time it happened and we took this picture of it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hLP7m9UW7-I/VIXG52L-YhI/AAAAAAAARcI/ecZ5NAINchI/s1600/IMG_1244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hLP7m9UW7-I/VIXG52L-YhI/AAAAAAAARcI/ecZ5NAINchI/s1600/IMG_1244.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We go to my mother's sister's house for Thanksgiving. My dad has a habit of making these Thanksgiving faces. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_RE6AmXO0Hts/SxAlEpExFZI/AAAAAAAABy8/dCuqstWId7Y/s800/IMG_1989.jpg">Here for the picture.</a> <a href="http://gibbness.blogspot.com/2009/11/thanksgiving-is-nice-holiday.html">Here for the post.</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_yETw-vkpwY/VIXG-1yMOWI/AAAAAAAARcY/uh2DDcifnHc/s1600/IMG_1247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_yETw-vkpwY/VIXG-1yMOWI/AAAAAAAARcY/uh2DDcifnHc/s1600/IMG_1247.jpg" height="294" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meanwhile, Dan asked me to take this picture. Gearing up for games.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g4CDAbNOpC8/VIXHA8BbLBI/AAAAAAAARcg/hiZgmf_z_Wg/s1600/IMG_1248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g4CDAbNOpC8/VIXHA8BbLBI/AAAAAAAARcg/hiZgmf_z_Wg/s1600/IMG_1248.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amber chatting in the kitchen after lunch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SnhucE6CIrk/VIXIc4T_HtI/AAAAAAAARdU/cA5-eCo2HXw/s1600/IMG_1255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SnhucE6CIrk/VIXIc4T_HtI/AAAAAAAARdU/cA5-eCo2HXw/s1600/IMG_1255.jpg" height="400" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom orchestrated a baseball game. It was Joah's first. He ran the wrong way.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oUcTc3qHhg4/VIXIfjbwEMI/AAAAAAAARdc/jWVuj4etvfE/s1600/IMG_1256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oUcTc3qHhg4/VIXIfjbwEMI/AAAAAAAARdc/jWVuj4etvfE/s1600/IMG_1256.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banyan is such an easy poser. No arguments or goofy faces.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jpykfXBwGsc/VIXIil8r2PI/AAAAAAAARdk/wJMZltFscV0/s1600/IMG_1257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jpykfXBwGsc/VIXIil8r2PI/AAAAAAAARdk/wJMZltFscV0/s1600/IMG_1257.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JJ knocked the t-ball out of the park, so to speak.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qgnt7p6b2gM/VIXIqs488UI/AAAAAAAARd8/uGZXkRFSA70/s1600/IMG_1261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qgnt7p6b2gM/VIXIqs488UI/AAAAAAAARd8/uGZXkRFSA70/s1600/IMG_1261.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and Hannah playing catch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PuOzG5OZmeM/VIXItKIlLvI/AAAAAAAAReE/WqvAxxVFIeE/s1600/IMG_1262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PuOzG5OZmeM/VIXItKIlLvI/AAAAAAAAReE/WqvAxxVFIeE/s1600/IMG_1262.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Madison was in the outfield, if her balloon blowing didn't already make that apparent.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8y5vOG3qq6A/VIXI5FW04pI/AAAAAAAARec/s9EIAXF_bCA/s1600/IMG_1266a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8y5vOG3qq6A/VIXI5FW04pI/AAAAAAAARec/s9EIAXF_bCA/s1600/IMG_1266a.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uzvs7QLmPLc/VIXJDLkwgaI/AAAAAAAARe0/4xkLoIQ0s_U/s1600/IMG_1269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uzvs7QLmPLc/VIXJDLkwgaI/AAAAAAAARe0/4xkLoIQ0s_U/s1600/IMG_1269.jpg" height="294" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evan had such a good run of it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FqRL0AK0Tpw/VIXJGxMZ3rI/AAAAAAAARe8/KU57ChNe9yE/s1600/IMG_1270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FqRL0AK0Tpw/VIXJGxMZ3rI/AAAAAAAARe8/KU57ChNe9yE/s1600/IMG_1270.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banyan at bat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9a0nE5tv3wM/VIXJJydo-aI/AAAAAAAARfE/OKIAQd3XmFE/s1600/IMG_1271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9a0nE5tv3wM/VIXJJydo-aI/AAAAAAAARfE/OKIAQd3XmFE/s1600/IMG_1271.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole scene.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N4WoWbeksls/VIXJReCxRfI/AAAAAAAARfc/jA2DPyWutak/s1600/IMG_1276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N4WoWbeksls/VIXJReCxRfI/AAAAAAAARfc/jA2DPyWutak/s1600/IMG_1276.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mason was super laid back and here sits on his father's brother-in-law's step mother's lap.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n4UxfvcqzZQ/VIXJTQIVKJI/AAAAAAAARfk/TTg8pmhXxaw/s1600/IMG_1277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n4UxfvcqzZQ/VIXJTQIVKJI/AAAAAAAARfk/TTg8pmhXxaw/s1600/IMG_1277.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heidi and her mom relishing that Florida Thanksgiving weather.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bpeQPDaHEfM/VIXJaCgW_MI/AAAAAAAARf8/lyjQrodJtcY/s1600/IMG_1280a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bpeQPDaHEfM/VIXJaCgW_MI/AAAAAAAARf8/lyjQrodJtcY/s1600/IMG_1280a.jpg" height="294" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More games. My brother being nice to a child, while Amanda gets her game face on.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XsrJoetNoeQ/VIXJcNYPnuI/AAAAAAAARgE/7U0pcO4vRv8/s1600/IMG_1281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XsrJoetNoeQ/VIXJcNYPnuI/AAAAAAAARgE/7U0pcO4vRv8/s1600/IMG_1281.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought my mom would like the picture of Jeff's nice smile.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BTn_dZ6wbRE/VIXJeMQkrlI/AAAAAAAARgM/0kzIYLuMcw4/s1600/IMG_1285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BTn_dZ6wbRE/VIXJeMQkrlI/AAAAAAAARgM/0kzIYLuMcw4/s1600/IMG_1285.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Julie and her newest grandbaby.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5jIigaMsOqE/VIXJmihEm-I/AAAAAAAARgk/XpYfJoN-1HQ/s1600/IMG_1289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5jIigaMsOqE/VIXJmihEm-I/AAAAAAAARgk/XpYfJoN-1HQ/s1600/IMG_1289.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My yankee son needed to come inside to cool down. Also, monster trucks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JxqKHym2G6g/VIXJpw-OFHI/AAAAAAAARgs/LW8S9oSnZ68/s1600/IMG_1291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JxqKHym2G6g/VIXJpw-OFHI/AAAAAAAARgs/LW8S9oSnZ68/s1600/IMG_1291.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mason found the baby toys.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y-L1ATdbEHU/VIXJxpfVWFI/AAAAAAAARhE/kPVEaOlI0Y8/s1600/IMG_1297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y-L1ATdbEHU/VIXJxpfVWFI/AAAAAAAARhE/kPVEaOlI0Y8/s1600/IMG_1297.jpg" height="294" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ammi found the baby.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eDrR42h_y-Y/VIXJ0ciX96I/AAAAAAAARhM/pHeG-iyCuKA/s1600/IMG_1299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eDrR42h_y-Y/VIXJ0ciX96I/AAAAAAAARhM/pHeG-iyCuKA/s1600/IMG_1299.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gaggle of girl cousins (while Quinn looks on).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nwOc9iEShP8/VIXJ1xh-kpI/AAAAAAAARhU/-aVSvC8-viE/s1600/IMG_1302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nwOc9iEShP8/VIXJ1xh-kpI/AAAAAAAARhU/-aVSvC8-viE/s1600/IMG_1302.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bryan teaching his oldest son how to be the kind of cheater who wins!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UG2W2ZrwxrE/VIXKFcTglyI/AAAAAAAARh8/YNweHrhjW1c/s1600/IMG_1313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UG2W2ZrwxrE/VIXKFcTglyI/AAAAAAAARh8/YNweHrhjW1c/s1600/IMG_1313.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balloon pop game. Not for the faint of heart. I find it very stressful.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o5MBNWnmdLs/VIXKM9S_mhI/AAAAAAAARiU/1WDqr2XsoSU/s1600/IMG_1316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o5MBNWnmdLs/VIXKM9S_mhI/AAAAAAAARiU/1WDqr2XsoSU/s1600/IMG_1316.jpg" height="294" width="640" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8IbguDJDyWg/VIXKS97xnjI/AAAAAAAARik/Hxs6b1HAQUA/s1600/IMG_1318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8IbguDJDyWg/VIXKS97xnjI/AAAAAAAARik/Hxs6b1HAQUA/s1600/IMG_1318.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing Whoonu.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dd6NpViFwFY/VIXKaUsdoZI/AAAAAAAARi8/iqWaGaMeIaU/s1600/IMG_1322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dd6NpViFwFY/VIXKaUsdoZI/AAAAAAAARi8/iqWaGaMeIaU/s1600/IMG_1322.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joash legitimately loves to kiss a baby.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ciwuFnGIgi4/VIXKg1GUFcI/AAAAAAAARjU/cq2chY-NB3U/s1600/IMG_1328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ciwuFnGIgi4/VIXKg1GUFcI/AAAAAAAARjU/cq2chY-NB3U/s1600/IMG_1328.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These boys are next generation close cousins, just like my brother Jeff and our cousin Bryan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZI6sGCVnECI/VIXKn9oDGOI/AAAAAAAARjs/8sJlnF_1-rE/s1600/IMG_1335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZI6sGCVnECI/VIXKn9oDGOI/AAAAAAAARjs/8sJlnF_1-rE/s1600/IMG_1335.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During "throw all the stuff across the table screaming screaming screaming!" game.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwhU0aCvwXg/VIXKuXWaWWI/AAAAAAAARkE/8nVLLi94o3M/s1600/IMG_1338a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwhU0aCvwXg/VIXKuXWaWWI/AAAAAAAARkE/8nVLLi94o3M/s1600/IMG_1338a.jpg" height="294" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting one last squeeze in.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F3N5QiHhf0g/VIXK3jQdarI/AAAAAAAARkk/2fF8HW_kqn8/s1600/IMG_1343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F3N5QiHhf0g/VIXK3jQdarI/AAAAAAAARkk/2fF8HW_kqn8/s1600/IMG_1343.jpg" height="142" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was Ammi's first caged experience. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NBifyR-cw9s/VIXLBIXOtcI/AAAAAAAARk8/GrMt1i_Fn2M/s1600/IMG_1348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NBifyR-cw9s/VIXLBIXOtcI/AAAAAAAARk8/GrMt1i_Fn2M/s1600/IMG_1348.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutting in butter with his MamaGrandma.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--J3Rm4bPFy0/VIXLELb9D1I/AAAAAAAARlE/SJGyKlSO4pA/s1600/IMG_1352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--J3Rm4bPFy0/VIXLELb9D1I/AAAAAAAARlE/SJGyKlSO4pA/s1600/IMG_1352.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My parents live in a tree house, and I like it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3kijw75Zh-E/VIXLMonTA7I/AAAAAAAARlk/n3sCnMGpPys/s1600/IMG_1377a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3kijw75Zh-E/VIXLMonTA7I/AAAAAAAARlk/n3sCnMGpPys/s1600/IMG_1377a.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My father reading to his daughter's son.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gbwFHohi5mM/VIXLUkdzuwI/AAAAAAAARl8/5faRFj7OCfU/s1600/IMG_1382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gbwFHohi5mM/VIXLUkdzuwI/AAAAAAAARl8/5faRFj7OCfU/s1600/IMG_1382.jpg" height="294" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was Ammi's first glance at our Christmas tree. More to come on that.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-1607690846464193092014-11-14T22:14:00.001+09:002014-11-14T22:14:36.005+09:00<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/111809741" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/111809741">3 Variations on a Honey Pooh Theme</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-74858071701846744442014-11-13T05:01:00.005+09:002014-11-13T05:04:00.945+09:00Dan's gone for work again. Ammi is a non-sleeping, high-needs/spirited one year old. Things are not going well.<br />
<br />
But Joash made an instructional video, and last month we went to a farm in the evening. I'm going to hurry and dump that information here before the babies start languishing at my feet like some goblins from the Labyrinth if I'm remembering any of that correctly.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/111356101" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/111356101">LEGO INSTRUCTION VIDEO</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/111566065" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/111566065">Stair Stepper</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/111566064" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/111566064">Ammi Walks and Walks Away</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n_trKx1WgRg/VFDlTYcYM9I/AAAAAAAARQc/5b4GeLXXw2M/s1600/IMG_1165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n_trKx1WgRg/VFDlTYcYM9I/AAAAAAAARQc/5b4GeLXXw2M/s640/IMG_1165.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We carved a pumpkin. It has since been disposed of. Ammi is the only of our offshoots that participated.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LqisT7jO2vk/VFDlbup56BI/AAAAAAAARQ8/mCSKlwM4BgM/s1600/IMG_1176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LqisT7jO2vk/VFDlbup56BI/AAAAAAAARQ8/mCSKlwM4BgM/s640/IMG_1176.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pigeon and Duck from everyone's favorite Pigeon books.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d0Y2Q1A4S4Y/VFDlw2mL0tI/AAAAAAAARRM/hdYNPpc1gDg/s1600/IMG_1187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d0Y2Q1A4S4Y/VFDlw2mL0tI/AAAAAAAARRM/hdYNPpc1gDg/s400/IMG_1187.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready for bed by the pacifying blue light of a video game.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PTimLaqaAYA/VFDl_MmTyVI/AAAAAAAARRs/Oc8I7-QWJ1I/s1600/IMG_1195a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PTimLaqaAYA/VFDl_MmTyVI/AAAAAAAARRs/Oc8I7-QWJ1I/s640/IMG_1195a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is from Thistleberry Farm, where we went with a group of people from church to do Midwestern Autumnal Farm Funtivities.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WVyDcG455Qc/VFDmLMZ0CdI/AAAAAAAARSE/MnuBw13g-n0/s1600/IMG_1200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WVyDcG455Qc/VFDmLMZ0CdI/AAAAAAAARSE/MnuBw13g-n0/s640/IMG_1200.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joash was super excited to get on with it. Of all the things we each paid ten dollars to participate in, his favorite thing was driving dump trucks through some dirt, which we literally have in our back yard. It's all about the ambiance, though, right?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g571bWn96XM/VFDmQiAO4dI/AAAAAAAARSM/OZ18bJPOgyU/s1600/IMG_1202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g571bWn96XM/VFDmQiAO4dI/AAAAAAAARSM/OZ18bJPOgyU/s400/IMG_1202.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He loved this huge slide, even though it seems like he is taken aback. He was the only kid on the platform when he went, and we heard him echo through, talking to himself for several minutes, trying to decide which tube to choose.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zU9-RMpFXQI/VFDmTm8_UbI/AAAAAAAARSU/CR_F-WeAm8o/s1600/IMG_1207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zU9-RMpFXQI/VFDmTm8_UbI/AAAAAAAARSU/CR_F-WeAm8o/s400/IMG_1207.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a giant "jumping pillow." He couldn't quite manage to stay standing and jump. We did several running attempts. He was fairly disappointed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aPFVz3lbFck/VFDmZsyNtsI/AAAAAAAARSc/EYeyh_qQmU4/s1600/IMG_1208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aPFVz3lbFck/VFDmZsyNtsI/AAAAAAAARSc/EYeyh_qQmU4/s400/IMG_1208.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But you really can't go wrong with a tractor-pulled cow train through a corn maze.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6OYqEHEFB68/VFDmdqjA6mI/AAAAAAAARSk/ATaO0WmUL28/s1600/IMG_1212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6OYqEHEFB68/VFDmdqjA6mI/AAAAAAAARSk/ATaO0WmUL28/s400/IMG_1212.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a nice, little setting.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m71tXBifi1U/VFDmgD7t9BI/AAAAAAAARSs/6kQKGR5fge4/s1600/IMG_1214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m71tXBifi1U/VFDmgD7t9BI/AAAAAAAARSs/6kQKGR5fge4/s400/IMG_1214.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ammi made her way through some tractor tire tunnels. She also got to bathe in a pool of corn kernels, which she hated, but I loved.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vMZhXhym0LA/VFDmnpBJvUI/AAAAAAAARTE/cQNpWO49pGc/s1600/IMG_1223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vMZhXhym0LA/VFDmnpBJvUI/AAAAAAAARTE/cQNpWO49pGc/s640/IMG_1223.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farm land sunset stages.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-57677987987590177142014-10-17T09:28:00.001+09:002014-10-17T09:39:18.132+09:00For our first Midwestern Fall with Children, we were casually determined to do fun Fall activities. We jumped in leaves, yes, and we also went apple picking. We drove out to Overhiser Orchards in Michigan, picked a bushel full, then ate at Big Boy for lunch because it was almost 1 o'clock, and Dan can be very convincing to a hungry person. All I wanted was some immediate food.<br />
<br />
It was a nice experience. Joash sort of cared, but it does get a bit repetitive. I thought it would be prettier, like more stunningly autumnal and wildernessy, but it's just rows of trees. I know everyone else knows this, but I had different expectations. No, but we had fun. Fun and apple cider doughnut samples. And now we have a ton of apples to eat. I've already <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/apple-coleslaw-recipe.html">slawed</a> some, and I intend to <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2008/09/moms-apple-cake/">cake</a> some, <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2011/09/apple-and-honey-challah/">challah</a> some, and <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/925917/apple-pie#Apple%20Recipes|/275039/apple-recipes/@center/276955/seasonal-produce-recipe-guide|925917">pie</a> some. Overhiser had a pumpkin patch, too, so we picked some pumpkins to carve and to <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2008/11/silky-smooth-pumpkin-pie/">pie</a>.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gxGRYvBGygs/VDxX0W4l4gI/AAAAAAAARIo/wowW6aFawAQ/s1600/IMG_1079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gxGRYvBGygs/VDxX0W4l4gI/AAAAAAAARIo/wowW6aFawAQ/s1600/IMG_1079.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joash brought his rake in case there were leaves to attend to. There were! But he didn't rake them. In the end, he just dragged the rake around the place like it was one big apple-dotted zen garden. He has gone fruit picking before, for tomatoes, and he wore this shirt, even. He started picking up rotting apples from the ground with earnest before he realized how gross they were, so we found some low ones for him.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HiNavKjhSLI/VDxYGSgcv9I/AAAAAAAARIw/tyqb-2mNHCc/s1600/IMG_1087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HiNavKjhSLI/VDxYGSgcv9I/AAAAAAAARIw/tyqb-2mNHCc/s1600/IMG_1087.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So, this is our first family photo in the year since Ammi's birth. We took so many more when Joash was a baby. I actually feel no remorse about this, because I don't want my children to have a hoarder's share of photos to sift through when they're old. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G4QGsG0VKY8/VDxYWIJALAI/AAAAAAAARI4/WGOCS4XFBfc/s1600/IMG_1090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G4QGsG0VKY8/VDxYWIJALAI/AAAAAAAARI4/WGOCS4XFBfc/s1600/IMG_1090.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun was very bright, a formidable foe to the camera facing skills of amateur babes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WE1IXTnqGkI/VDxYt9JMFAI/AAAAAAAARJA/ME4QRSGCUe0/s1600/IMG_1097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WE1IXTnqGkI/VDxYt9JMFAI/AAAAAAAARJA/ME4QRSGCUe0/s1600/IMG_1097.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ammi playing peek-a-boo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--QMUC6JeMfc/VDxZCcSPOYI/AAAAAAAARJg/lb5Quk4mMzQ/s1600/IMG_1104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--QMUC6JeMfc/VDxZCcSPOYI/AAAAAAAARJg/lb5Quk4mMzQ/s1600/IMG_1104.jpg" height="211" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joash offering me an apple, and then picking off all of its leaves. He was adamant that our apples would have no leaves!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rH3LMeJFDIg/VDxZJrFG9tI/AAAAAAAARJo/IVYSHBto3yw/s1600/IMG_1105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rH3LMeJFDIg/VDxZJrFG9tI/AAAAAAAARJo/IVYSHBto3yw/s1600/IMG_1105.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dan and his apple picking staff.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-roLZI1Tp410/VDxZMFZ_KqI/AAAAAAAARJw/9tp6gSOiFEU/s1600/IMG_1112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-roLZI1Tp410/VDxZMFZ_KqI/AAAAAAAARJw/9tp6gSOiFEU/s1600/IMG_1112.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We found a ladder. Dan's face is on account of Joash saying something hilarious and nonsensical about monsters.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bln-TmHnsNI/VDxZNqy2LoI/AAAAAAAARJ4/VTrVJ7IIcQw/s1600/IMG_1115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bln-TmHnsNI/VDxZNqy2LoI/AAAAAAAARJ4/VTrVJ7IIcQw/s1600/IMG_1115.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He just does stuff like this without thinking or being told. He might as well be Snow White.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dSe0mftivXw/VDxZT0nwMrI/AAAAAAAARKQ/Y2oqnKT62HU/s1600/IMG_1121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dSe0mftivXw/VDxZT0nwMrI/AAAAAAAARKQ/Y2oqnKT62HU/s1600/IMG_1121.jpg" height="294" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Ammi just does this sort of thing without thinking or being told (eats wooden apple crates).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hTHx7ytPolw/VDxZZgNlgUI/AAAAAAAARKY/JyfBfd-FrN4/s1600/IMG_1126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hTHx7ytPolw/VDxZZgNlgUI/AAAAAAAARKY/JyfBfd-FrN4/s1600/IMG_1126.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apples of my eye, of course.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QUxIP8JZcYo/VDxZiTtMVsI/AAAAAAAARKw/B0FjGjUSjeI/s1600/IMG_1132a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QUxIP8JZcYo/VDxZiTtMVsI/AAAAAAAARKw/B0FjGjUSjeI/s1600/IMG_1132a.jpg" height="294" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He carried quite a few apples in his little apple basket, even when it got pretty heavy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eTGBHMeLAR8/VDxZ-X6lIoI/AAAAAAAARLY/Tdt6fSukYt0/s1600/IMG_1137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eTGBHMeLAR8/VDxZ-X6lIoI/AAAAAAAARLY/Tdt6fSukYt0/s1600/IMG_1137.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old tractors for my dad.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UMdzy8WCeks/VDxaIJnByrI/AAAAAAAARLw/vmz7r9f_u7w/s1600/IMG_1147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UMdzy8WCeks/VDxaIJnByrI/AAAAAAAARLw/vmz7r9f_u7w/s1600/IMG_1147.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We heaved them up onto these pumpkin faced hay bales. Joash enjoyed it. Ammi wanted to throw herself on the ground and freaked out when she realized she couldn't just. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Px-Fd3S4x1g/VDxaKgXLHmI/AAAAAAAARL4/JnSVbSSATbs/s1600/IMG_1148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Px-Fd3S4x1g/VDxaKgXLHmI/AAAAAAAARL4/JnSVbSSATbs/s1600/IMG_1148.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good sport.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-56942637930349584312014-10-11T06:43:00.000+09:002014-10-17T09:37:37.681+09:00I guess nothing of note happened in September. I didn't even take any pictures the whole month. But October has already started with an explosion of photographable activity.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3kakmg9b-v4/VDflf-uw7ZI/AAAAAAAARCc/GaC36orYMFg/s1600/IMG_0970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3kakmg9b-v4/VDflf-uw7ZI/AAAAAAAARCc/GaC36orYMFg/s1600/IMG_0970.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This actually happened in August. Dan or Joash or both had the idea to collect every single pillow in the house and throw the whole lot into Ammi's crib.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-54zQFuRDFbg/VDflpuopuhI/AAAAAAAARC8/uCyv2na-U3g/s1600/IMG_0981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-54zQFuRDFbg/VDflpuopuhI/AAAAAAAARC8/uCyv2na-U3g/s1600/IMG_0981.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little Mafia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EqbhQ8mgQg0/VDflnKg0WkI/AAAAAAAARC0/59VR8DylpZ8/s1600/IMG_0980a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EqbhQ8mgQg0/VDflnKg0WkI/AAAAAAAARC0/59VR8DylpZ8/s1600/IMG_0980a.jpg" height="292" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DIY Bounce House. And, of course it was Mom's job to put all the pillows away. Not hating, just stating.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4JMgBkd-YLE/VDflsW0-S4I/AAAAAAAARDE/SExcSB8_BdM/s1600/IMG_0984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4JMgBkd-YLE/VDflsW0-S4I/AAAAAAAARDE/SExcSB8_BdM/s1600/IMG_0984.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XgdgwjfpVvM/VDflurx1ScI/AAAAAAAARDM/lWTTYGRBBYk/s1600/IMG_0985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XgdgwjfpVvM/VDflurx1ScI/AAAAAAAARDM/lWTTYGRBBYk/s1600/IMG_0985.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This week Joash has been asking to play outside, which is kind of a big deal because he doesn't usually want to be outside. I think he's not a fan of hot weather, honestly, because now that it's crisp and the air shoots through your lungs and just feels healthier somehow, he's asked to go out twice. Ammi refused to get out of this swing for at least 30 minutes, and Joash practiced climbing the tree. Today he wore his monkey hoodie so that it would help him climb the tree.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p7xpiVh7lag/VDflzw11-9I/AAAAAAAARDk/6Vb98-HzW3s/s1600/IMG_0995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p7xpiVh7lag/VDflzw11-9I/AAAAAAAARDk/6Vb98-HzW3s/s1600/IMG_0995.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After we spent a day crunching the leaves on the sidewalk, we asked Papa to make a nice big pile to play in. Joash is so interested in leaves this year that Dan even bought him his own <i>brake</i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WKH4wgJUh4Q/VDfl4bbm8-I/AAAAAAAARD0/eMFXoXnPlb4/s1600/IMG_0999a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WKH4wgJUh4Q/VDfl4bbm8-I/AAAAAAAARD0/eMFXoXnPlb4/s1600/IMG_0999a.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We thought Ammi would like it, too, but what she really wanted was the freedom to run off into the street. It's an ancient allure, that forbidden street to curious children.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JCi53VikvuI/VDfl_MiYWoI/AAAAAAAAREc/SpKuq7Q-Lxc/s1600/IMG_1013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JCi53VikvuI/VDfl_MiYWoI/AAAAAAAAREc/SpKuq7Q-Lxc/s1600/IMG_1013.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v7yHnZTJzK8/VDfmBPQ-BcI/AAAAAAAAREk/mTyEIhweQ0g/s1600/IMG_1016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v7yHnZTJzK8/VDfmBPQ-BcI/AAAAAAAAREk/mTyEIhweQ0g/s1600/IMG_1016.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He really had a lovely time. And his rake came in the mail today, so I think there will plenty of that this weekend.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z-b2qPw_hMg/VDfmFzu0HrI/AAAAAAAARE0/DQQIPqD11xg/s1600/IMG_1025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z-b2qPw_hMg/VDfmFzu0HrI/AAAAAAAARE0/DQQIPqD11xg/s1600/IMG_1025.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ammi is finally at an age where I can get some good knitting done. I finished this sweater that I cast-on for in January of 2013.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3OeEQUZjW_E/VDfmHvLAtWI/AAAAAAAARE8/28nDQgsSduw/s1600/IMG_1026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3OeEQUZjW_E/VDfmHvLAtWI/AAAAAAAARE8/28nDQgsSduw/s1600/IMG_1026.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1UAZ5QbUbW8/VDfmJmzOmnI/AAAAAAAARFE/OnS7STPyygU/s1600/IMG_1028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1UAZ5QbUbW8/VDfmJmzOmnI/AAAAAAAARFE/OnS7STPyygU/s1600/IMG_1028.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6mfFuXmJF2w/VDfmPX1s68I/AAAAAAAARFc/91BYBChrPas/s1600/IMG_1037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6mfFuXmJF2w/VDfmPX1s68I/AAAAAAAARFc/91BYBChrPas/s1600/IMG_1037.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EjdPKVB54ds/VDfmY0ZaNTI/AAAAAAAARF0/sCghdMcitDk/s1600/IMG_1043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EjdPKVB54ds/VDfmY0ZaNTI/AAAAAAAARF0/sCghdMcitDk/s1600/IMG_1043.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z6AqRTA1qdc/VDfmbgeriOI/AAAAAAAARF8/h6MGaWFnHLI/s1600/IMG_1044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z6AqRTA1qdc/VDfmbgeriOI/AAAAAAAARF8/h6MGaWFnHLI/s1600/IMG_1044.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-60hkINDUL5A/VDfmdyXbP9I/AAAAAAAARGE/C9zXNi7q6Ig/s1600/IMG_1045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-60hkINDUL5A/VDfmdyXbP9I/AAAAAAAARGE/C9zXNi7q6Ig/s1600/IMG_1045.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joash takes an afternoon nap that is an hour or so longer than Ammi's afternoon nap, so we get some alone time, she and me. She usually spends that time tearing into everything in the living room, but this day she kept trying to grab the camera. She's a monster, but usually in the best way.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2eYBr_5maRo/VDfmgMZTuwI/AAAAAAAARGM/LMCd-_pvJFQ/s1600/IMG_1046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2eYBr_5maRo/VDfmgMZTuwI/AAAAAAAARGM/LMCd-_pvJFQ/s1600/IMG_1046.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autumn Leaves Vest for Ammi.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aruUpcY79Fs/VDfmijP1GgI/AAAAAAAARGU/aUkcvLc9OUc/s1600/IMG_1049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aruUpcY79Fs/VDfmijP1GgI/AAAAAAAARGU/aUkcvLc9OUc/s1600/IMG_1049.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p1Eupj97yv4/VDfmkwZP2uI/AAAAAAAARGc/-pIoaDGom_o/s1600/IMG_1052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p1Eupj97yv4/VDfmkwZP2uI/AAAAAAAARGc/-pIoaDGom_o/s1600/IMG_1052.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x1cpwPb91ME/VDfmmxk5CSI/AAAAAAAARGk/jQB2yTKPQ6Y/s1600/IMG_1055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x1cpwPb91ME/VDfmmxk5CSI/AAAAAAAARGk/jQB2yTKPQ6Y/s1600/IMG_1055.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This yarn is from camels in Mongolia. We sourced it ourselves, haha. It has a lovely halo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e_VbN_s-4xU/VDfmo5ImeaI/AAAAAAAARGs/UlG1vukWZFs/s1600/IMG_1064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e_VbN_s-4xU/VDfmo5ImeaI/AAAAAAAARGs/UlG1vukWZFs/s1600/IMG_1064.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JbMOLCFsnhE/VDfmvGucsHI/AAAAAAAARHE/a_0bFyr9tvM/s1600/IMG_1070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JbMOLCFsnhE/VDfmvGucsHI/AAAAAAAARHE/a_0bFyr9tvM/s1600/IMG_1070.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hnO_CuDhdOE/VDfm1_UvEsI/AAAAAAAARHc/B604B05vrOg/s1600/IMG_1076-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hnO_CuDhdOE/VDfm1_UvEsI/AAAAAAAARHc/B604B05vrOg/s1600/IMG_1076-001.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But just look at this face!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-63388958497341894472014-08-21T09:30:00.000+09:002014-08-21T11:12:35.128+09:00I'm almost all out of babies these days, as my babies have now turned 3 and 1. Once Ammi decides to start walking (instead of hyperventilating out of excitement, arms flapping, preparing for flight, and then falling on her face), it'll be time to make some more. Haha. Really, though, Dan and I were talking today about how much fun the kids were specifically today, and how that humans-are-animals survival instinct makes you consider having more. Also, this week Joash has decided it'd be good to have another baby. He was telling me today that we need another baby, and he'd like 5 if we'd oblige him. I told him that we have a baby! He should play with her! I guess he's just used to getting a sister for his birthday.<br />
<br />
The pace of life just continues to be constant paradox. I never have time, but nothing much happens, except the total cultivation of life! And I actually feel really good about that. Joash is starting to be sarcastic, and he's just such a funny, chatty guy. I can almost see him learning words sometimes. He'll start a sentence and then say, "I can't say the word!" And once I tell him what word he was looking for, he uses it from then on. Kids are amazing.<br />
<br />
Ammi is smart in a really devious way. She is so much sneakier than Joash. Just today she was trying to flush the toilet, and I told her not to so she pulled her hand away. Then she looked at me, smiled, and went for it again. If I gently push her hand away, she comes back for another swat and thinks it's a hilarious game. She is mad as ever, but she's starting to play by herself more. Maybe since their birthday we finally have toys she's interested in? I don't know.<br />
<br />
Okay, so Chuck E. Cheese's pictures, and that'll be the end of this post.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-covj5DQ6D0c/U-VCA9-RGdI/AAAAAAAAQxg/7RRuCbrLtbg/s1600/IMG_0878a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-covj5DQ6D0c/U-VCA9-RGdI/AAAAAAAAQxg/7RRuCbrLtbg/s1600/IMG_0878a.jpg" height="400" width="182" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Months ago, Joash became adamant that he should have a red Lego cake for his birthday. I did my best to make that happen. There was a series of comedic errors leading up to the completion of the cake. Dan was out of town while I baked it, so I didn't have the car. That's normally not a problem, but I realized that the only food coloring we have is, like, pastel Easter colors, so I had to make him a hot pink/orange Lego cake. And I really wanted to do a hidden number inside, a 3, for his birthday. I specifically bought cookie cutters for this purpose. The kids play with them every now and then. Of course, the only number missing was the 3! I had to hand cut 3s from 8s, and then they were actually too tall to even fit right, so I settled for a cake with a sideways 3. But kids don't care! And then I commissioned Dan to build a cake cover out of Duplo bricks, which he more than accomplished. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8-0z8lno4I/U-VCEyoX62I/AAAAAAAAQyA/SXYzD7nQoYw/s1600/IMG_0885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8-0z8lno4I/U-VCEyoX62I/AAAAAAAAQyA/SXYzD7nQoYw/s1600/IMG_0885.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was probably Joah's first time actually blowing out candles. Last year we forgot to buy candles, so I cut some "candles" out of McDonald's straws. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vi7fVbyCsiQ/U-VCF0kY2XI/AAAAAAAAQyI/j8URI4JCIO4/s1600/IMG_0889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vi7fVbyCsiQ/U-VCF0kY2XI/AAAAAAAAQyI/j8URI4JCIO4/s1600/IMG_0889.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ammi had a little Lego head cake. She was surprisingly disinterested.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tFpvXqSQctc/U-VCH4ymM0I/AAAAAAAAQyY/ounI0NoE15E/s1600/IMG_0894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tFpvXqSQctc/U-VCH4ymM0I/AAAAAAAAQyY/ounI0NoE15E/s1600/IMG_0894.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BAF4BBAoDus/U-VCJJHVRXI/AAAAAAAAQyo/Q-J4Qrm2GNY/s1600/IMG_0896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BAF4BBAoDus/U-VCJJHVRXI/AAAAAAAAQyo/Q-J4Qrm2GNY/s1600/IMG_0896.jpg" height="183" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yftVX6tJbSQ/U-VCJ-HBSmI/AAAAAAAAQy0/1v_BipnLCvc/s1600/IMG_0898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yftVX6tJbSQ/U-VCJ-HBSmI/AAAAAAAAQy0/1v_BipnLCvc/s1600/IMG_0898.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joash was so desperate to begin present time that he committed to helping Ammi with hers. Not before we shot the confetti canon, though. Funny story, I am still cleaning confetti up from various places, human and otherwise.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fV1J5hPCN0o/U-VCLalOufI/AAAAAAAAQy4/9cm0DJIG_fc/s1600/IMG_0902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fV1J5hPCN0o/U-VCLalOufI/AAAAAAAAQy4/9cm0DJIG_fc/s1600/IMG_0902.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then it was his turn. We accidentally bought him tons and tons of Legos (or did Dan do this on purpose for himself? Yes.), but he didn't mind. And he even got to play with them all for 2 whole weeks before I just couldn't take the constant patrolling of fixing and sharing teeny, tiny Lego pieces. They are on a brief respite for now.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIcnFHyKvpQ/U_U4UKOjsHI/AAAAAAAAQ2A/WX10Y0VoNqs/s1600/201408083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIcnFHyKvpQ/U_U4UKOjsHI/AAAAAAAAQ2A/WX10Y0VoNqs/s1600/201408083.jpg" height="132" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my dear girl.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dgG9ud5DD-Y/U-VCOc5iqUI/AAAAAAAAQzQ/HWip_dWwLxI/s1600/IMG_0917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dgG9ud5DD-Y/U-VCOc5iqUI/AAAAAAAAQzQ/HWip_dWwLxI/s1600/IMG_0917.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought this just looked so sweet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RWUEsVJwnjQ/U_U4VhxkeWI/AAAAAAAAQ2I/CeP-Odc2GK4/s1600/201408084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RWUEsVJwnjQ/U_U4VhxkeWI/AAAAAAAAQ2I/CeP-Odc2GK4/s1600/201408084.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then we went to Chuck E. Cheese's! Where a kid can become bamboozled and over-stimulated. Ammi loved it because those are her two favorite things.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_WWv5uc43Gg/U-VCROSxHvI/AAAAAAAAQzo/XHKhzv7--Ic/s1600/IMG_0925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_WWv5uc43Gg/U-VCROSxHvI/AAAAAAAAQzo/XHKhzv7--Ic/s1600/IMG_0925.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A moment of calm in the chaos.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N3UVMNpUhHQ/U-VCTaj9HjI/AAAAAAAAQz4/AyT3IpO-f5E/s1600/IMG_0930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N3UVMNpUhHQ/U-VCTaj9HjI/AAAAAAAAQz4/AyT3IpO-f5E/s1600/IMG_0930.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unrelated, why is this bowling pin with bowling pin legs so obviously giving birth? It was even worse from the other side. Weird stuff at Chuck's. Weird stuff.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xfuWcV8yaYQ/U-VCXOShtwI/AAAAAAAAQ0Q/8v1K4BU5Mpg/s1600/IMG_0935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xfuWcV8yaYQ/U-VCXOShtwI/AAAAAAAAQ0Q/8v1K4BU5Mpg/s1600/IMG_0935.jpg" height="183" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joash won the Kentucky Derby.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c9J4mn3xljQ/U_U4XCGpQjI/AAAAAAAAQ2Q/m3s8Ab7UsOs/s1600/201408085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c9J4mn3xljQ/U_U4XCGpQjI/AAAAAAAAQ2Q/m3s8Ab7UsOs/s1600/201408085.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And played 30 seconds of every game, and that stressed him out. He really wanted to "go to 99," he said, which we've deduced to mean that he wanted to play for longer. And I did walk away sort of frustrated at the way the games very blatantly deceive and bait the children. We left when Joash began crying and asked to leave. We asked if he had fun, and he said, "Yes! But not really."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MUyCdtxzWV0/U-VCabXcanI/AAAAAAAAQ0o/d_bIc9Cgi-0/s1600/IMG_0940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MUyCdtxzWV0/U-VCabXcanI/AAAAAAAAQ0o/d_bIc9Cgi-0/s1600/IMG_0940.jpg" height="183" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We read a book, I think, about the spinning teacups, so spinning mugs of hot chocolate were right up his alley.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rj0f0VlTOuE/U-VCcTOi0JI/AAAAAAAAQ0w/ks_NOR1TWTU/s1600/IMG_0944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rj0f0VlTOuE/U-VCcTOi0JI/AAAAAAAAQ0w/ks_NOR1TWTU/s1600/IMG_0944.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1KZNjQEGJG0/U-VCdGbOwTI/AAAAAAAAQ04/vSsLIspm-0E/s1600/IMG_0946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1KZNjQEGJG0/U-VCdGbOwTI/AAAAAAAAQ04/vSsLIspm-0E/s1600/IMG_0946.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this was the best I could get of them and the lesser of famous mice. Never again, Chuck!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-52021339341226686602014-08-05T22:13:00.000+09:002014-08-05T22:13:00.038+09:00<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/102586257" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/102586257">Mirror, Mirror on the Floor</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br /><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/102586608" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/102586608">Ammi's Dance Grooves</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br /><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/102586610" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/102586610">Bad Cop/Good Cop</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
Joash really likes to quote and reenact his favorite movies right now. He pretends to be Bad Cop from the Lego movie, then he "opens his glasses" and becomes Good Cop.Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-82047463254605852492014-08-05T11:08:00.000+09:002014-08-05T11:08:38.479+09:00I have nothing super meaningful to report. Life has been good. The babies have their birthday this Thursday, so I've wrapped a small stack of presents, and I've planned out in Legos their Lego cake. I have the Duplo model in the kitchen waiting to be created. Magically the children have been more or less sleeping in the same room, and just this week Ammi decided that 8 o'clock is a pretty fine bed time. Tomorrow I will have videos, but today I have pictures.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-V6Fjaat9D6Q/U-A13Vv-drI/AAAAAAAAQvA/HTJIBVAttN8/s600/IMG_0812.JPG" /><br />
They do love a good video game session with their daddy.<br />
<br /><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KWQhJhihN5o/U-A141-4-bI/AAAAAAAAQvE/LWtZZB0F5wg/s600/IMG_0817.JPG" /><br />Speaking of love, Ammi cannot get enough of her brother, even when he's had enough of her.<br />
<br /><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cOWFKz_FCxI/U-A15xoDqVI/AAAAAAAAQvM/lFOWwjWaGLE/s600/IMG_0830.JPG" /><br />
Teething continues to be a monster, but this day there were popsicles.<br /><br /><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Awdp78LpFK4/U-A17DyqQvI/AAAAAAAAQvU/G46RNwt0jGI/s600/IMG_0832.JPG" /><br />
He has proved to be such a big help that I just want to have another baby so he can, like, legitimately take care of it.<br />
<br /><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8ahocolUPDI/U-A21hS9ilI/AAAAAAAAQwc/JJRlIFVo2dc/s700/IMG_0851.jpg" /><br />
But being helpful doesn't mean he's compliant. These insubordinate children refused a good photo op.<br /><br /><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wcaAW1vTAMU/U-A2Bdi7AkI/AAAAAAAAQv0/mWL-6je2LG4/s600/IMG_0857.JPG" /><br />
This is my all day every day.<br /><br /><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VcTGdWrk_IY/U-A3DwtasJI/AAAAAAAAQws/_FMHnDAkfIg/s700/IMG_0861.jpg" />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KBsxUYzFpPo/U-A23LQui0I/AAAAAAAAQwk/cIENQi3ZOwc/s700/IMG_0865.jpg" /><br />I don't know why, but somehow they're mine.Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-22865093111738203802014-07-25T11:50:00.002+09:002014-07-25T11:50:44.580+09:00<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/101533881" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/101533881">Supposed Naptime</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-76163854216864254132014-07-07T00:54:00.001+09:002014-07-07T01:41:58.481+09:00If I kept a sleep training journal for my dear, grumpy girl, I think it would read something like the first Jurassic Park book: a brief period of monster taming, followed by an even briefer period of presumed success lulling the tamer into a sense of false confidence, which is thereafter succinctly abolished by a terror greater than ever before. The other day I was contemplating what wonders I might accomplish (wonders like cookies and grown up TV) when I don't find it necessary to nap every day, and then Ammi, horticulturalist extraordinaire, decided to nip that fantasy right in the bud. Two nights this week, she and we have welcomed every hour of the night with open eyes, and her days are spent languishing in relative misery. We are assuming the problem is her first year molars. This knowledge has made it no less painful for any of us, though it does so soften the heart to see your baby inconsolable.<br />
<br />
The teething situation, coupled with recent visitors (Jean and Bonnie) and visits (Chicago and Cincinnati), means I'm one event behind on pictures. I have patriotic pictures from two days ago, and I have Shedd Aquarium pictures from several weeks ago.<br />
<div>
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FYuhLnJ_9KA/U7ldevpZsnI/AAAAAAAAQko/shho8F_R5x0/s600/IMG_0765.JPG" /><br />
Right when the boys got home from the fireworks shop (Kroger), Joash saw a neighbor dog. He wanted me to take a picture of it. I took a picture of him instead.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LD4gZqjIYlo/U7ldfogi2bI/AAAAAAAAQkw/NrQAFlSbXKY/s600/IMG_0766.JPG" /><br />
Let the incredibly mild fireworks display begin. We just got a short stack, sparklers, and poppers. Kroger was all out of snakes.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aP9pa0lNjas/U7ldgHKnjQI/AAAAAAAAQk4/PKf8xyND_Bc/s700/IMG_0767.jpg" />
<br />
He loved the sparklers! And he would still love them to this day if not for parent error. We forgot to give him explicit instruction regarding extinguished flames, and he touched the hot burnt end right after the fire went out. After that, he wouldn't even tolerate the little nips from the sparks. Poor guy.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xRNPWgJd9Cs/U7ldtQ6q9oI/AAAAAAAAQmg/WD0j-C0QGcc/s700/IMG_0788.jpg" /><br />
Sparklers!<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vQ7rIwW_RTU/U7ldjcEfRmI/AAAAAAAAQlY/Zfzm9xTsNe8/s700/IMG_0778.jpg" /><br />
Dan was being really cool and snapping the poppers. Ammi's saying what we're all thinking.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LncwS7qteH4/U7ldqlxPTzI/AAAAAAAAQmI/R91QRmxrX2I/s700/IMG_0784.jpg" /><br />
Dan diverted Joash to the poppers, and Joash could not have been more pleased.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BMUJCDzn0ns/U7ls_SPMtvI/AAAAAAAAQow/yBu35nnyxqk/s550/20140704a.gif" />
<br />
In action.
<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2XoZBqnBU7g/U7lduNJ99EI/AAAAAAAAQmo/fZvmWlQ9w1Y/s600/IMG_0790.JPG" /><br />
Readying his ammo for stomping.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3enQ3tFgUYM/U7ldwUxLemI/AAAAAAAAQnA/Q8H_bcie34E/s700/IMG_0793a.jpg" /><br />
And thus became a brother of a boy. My brother used to torture me with poppers. He would tape them to the sliding door of our bathroom after I had gone to bed so that they would explode when I'd get up to pee in the middle of the night, a tale I recount every Independence Day. Sorry in advance, dear Ammi.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q6izpUULMhQ/U7ldyljdiNI/AAAAAAAAQnU/1w5PkQezh9Q/s700/IMG_0798.jpg" /><br />
This was our three gun finale.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BLFgBoMnzdE/U7ldz2GjyaI/AAAAAAAAQno/mXoC2Y9etbY/s600/IMG_0802.JPG" /><br />
Regardless, Ammi was into it.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DyQ8LJdUtNs/U7ltc0PQR3I/AAAAAAAAQpA/JElvsH87iJE/s550/20140704b.gif" />
<br />
In action.<br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Bz1_IVYMXN8/U6nsIJLJEMI/AAAAAAAAQho/ha1f7VyZ0JI/s700/IMG_0712.jpg" />
The rest are from our time at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Joash really wanted to be captain of this submarine, but there was an insubordinate uprising.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sbSTbs1gj2Y/U6nsLKVZ9fI/AAAAAAAAQiA/nyCF8IOMjZg/s700/IMG_0717.jpg" /><br />
Ammi and Grandma standing by.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-K-iof0sKsyQ/U6nsPJSB3fI/AAAAAAAAQio/tqCOhPIyHc0/s700/IMG_0732.jpg" /><br />
He asked to see the dolphins the whole time we were there. We weren't sure there would actually be dolphins outside of a dolphin show, which we weren't going to attend. We convinced him this beluga whale was a dolphin, and by the time we got to the actual dolphins just around the corner, he had lost interest.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B_NzREUWAqc/U6nsTHtjrRI/AAAAAAAAQjI/1ns5vaRTgiU/s700/IMG_0739.jpg" />
<br />
Checking out the tidal pool.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2BH9-Bj2o9M/U6nsTy7iTnI/AAAAAAAAQjQ/ydAlmnLA3uQ/s600/IMG_0747.JPG" /><br />
Jeweled anemone, blurry because of Ammi's interest in the camera.<br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8Vb3s3Op8Kk/U6nsWb0FdVI/AAAAAAAAQjo/I9u8iLdHoBU/s700/IMG_0756.jpg" />
<br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cMUl290dXlI/U6nsZm4r-HI/AAAAAAAAQkA/ER9ffP-Wir8/s700/IMG_0762.jpg" /><br />
Requisite pictures in the bean.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SUazIxfA3B4/U6nsaycvVMI/AAAAAAAAQkI/TEyj-Y1atR4/s600/IMG_0764.JPG" /><br />
Joash really started to feel the stress of his upset schedule and he required a timeout in the midst of a bovinical revelry, courtesy of Chick-fil-a.Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-34218856387585366142014-06-10T10:31:00.002+09:002014-06-10T20:29:04.917+09:00Well, I bit the bullet (does this mean I caught a bullet in my teeth? Who is trying to kill me, and why are my teeth so strong? Why am I so casually confident about such an extraordinary talent? I bet the Rifleman really could bite the bullet, though. One of those 12 or 13 first shots of the show. [I'm typing this for you, Mom. I love you so], and I started sleep-training my little monster baby. For reasons of general parenting style, I was trying to wait until she was 12 months, but she really doesn't sleep very well in our bed anymore; oh, and I am steadily going insane. I tossed her in her crib Saturday night and let the hate cries ensue. She is a very good hate crier.<br />
<br />
Everybody was in Florida last week, but we were not all together, except for when we were. Dan was working in Orlando, so I caught a flight to my parents' house, but my mom offered to drive up with me on Wednesday so Dan and I could have a date on our ninth anniversary. We do not have many dates, so it was pretty special. We went and ate fancy food in our nuptial town, Mount Dora.<br />
<br />
Dan's mom comes tomorrow to spend the week, and Joash is already excited about a visit from his "PapaGrandma." Ammi is, too, she just doesn't know it yet. I think we are bound to do plenty of South Bend activities. Dan had the idea last Saturday to go see the Notre Dame campus. We didn't get very far because we almost immediately reached a playground, and the babies played while we drank our Biggby coffees and even met and chatted quite naturally (as opposed to awkwardly) with several parents. It was a simple and lovely day. And then began the night that finally necessitated the sleep-training, but, still.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OkzOW-6Kgxg/U5HbE9ssHlI/AAAAAAAAQbY/Oumu6B47yyE/s600/IMG_0634.JPG" /><br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LI1-DN3733s/U5HbIFtLx2I/AAAAAAAAQbw/Vf_T5ZjjYIg/s700/IMG_0641a.jpg" />
This is a vast improvement from the phone picture we have of Jeff holding Joash as a baby.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JqhUxDLhSZI/T5OWHJj7KoI/AAAAAAAAKH4/FlBVmtrlCfU/s700/IMG_1378.jpg" />
Like, such as.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JZSBUBFl7pw/U5HbKTnNidI/AAAAAAAAQb4/3hEp0tXx2hg/s600/IMG_0642.JPG" /><br />
Earlier this week, these kids were just all huddled up together hanging out, and I thought it was sweet. This picture is blurry, but Ammi is smiling so nicely and looking so grown.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-trbYV6Td0XU/U5HbO2d6ADI/AAAAAAAAQcY/PuoVsuA5RI4/s700/IMG_0647a.jpg" />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9Xp1BK3xIwo/U5HbSY_lqUI/AAAAAAAAQcw/PSCtboUvuI4/s700/IMG_0650.jpg" /><br />
It was short-lived once she heard the camera clicking.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7EshInmrzPE/U5IhfPUHARI/AAAAAAAAQdk/fgohFqCHYP0/s700/IMG_0661.jpg" /><br />
Joash had an entire day where he pretended to be a mama. It was so dear. He fed a baby, put it to sleep for naptime, and he wanted to wear the baby and give it snuggles. That's what he's doing in the second picture, snuggles.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zra_3WrecdM/U5Yy_QII8jI/AAAAAAAAQeU/Z-Zz8bpkGIU/s700/IMG_0667.jpg" /><br />
Ammi loved playing at the park on Saturday. Not only was there another little baby for her to drool with, but she was also just very interested in watching the big kids run around and make noise.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZgAjGvdc3Xo/U5YzC8czsgI/AAAAAAAAQes/Nc1AWhzQ7IY/s700/IMG_0670.jpg" /><br />
When Joash heard we were going to a park, he knew he wanted to bring something to show all the "lots of kids" who were sure to be there. Dan had made him a Duplo plane, and he thought the kids would "really like that." Sadly, they were mostly disinterested. He is admiring and learning so much from big kids these days, including how to navigate monkey bars.<br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--gPGvcTeTsg/U5YzEsT3yKI/AAAAAAAAQe8/SXARvRU6z9Y/s700/IMG_0674.jpg" /><br />
Sweet faces. Or are they? I can't help but notice the unfortunate similarities between Joah's expression and <a href="http://i2.cdnds.net/12/44/618x718/the_shining.jpg">this one</a>.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d1Dd01j3UHo/U5YzFg7cGGI/AAAAAAAAQfE/R_9Lve0pMNQ/s600/IMG_0675.JPG" /><br />
It looks like she's being so big and being so brave, but really she is just falling on her butt.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GFNbafz-E2o/U5YzHqQgSCI/AAAAAAAAQfU/z769kQqMp80/s600/IMG_0680.JPG" /><br />
This guy is a good guy.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-d08GYpoZ27g/U5YzMCg_b2I/AAAAAAAAQf8/eXHhhlzM-BI/s700/IMG_0692.jpg" /><br />
Ammi agrees.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SW_RUyEXH2o/U5YzTkFCioI/AAAAAAAAQg8/4ZJ2kk8O7F4/s700/IMG_0705.jpg" /><br />
I will probably spend the rest of his childhood trying to recreate a set of slide pictures my clever parents had arranged in one of our old photo albums. I haven't accomplished it yet, but they had a picture of my brother and me at the top of a slide and one at the bottom and, for whatever reason, the two photos lined up perfectly to make it seem like one impossible picture. I'm underselling it maybe. It is one of my favorites. Also, how funny is Joash's relaxed approach to slide-going? It looks like he's doing it because it just needs to be done.Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-17539465274603329892014-05-24T04:45:00.002+09:002014-05-24T04:45:21.561+09:00Video BacklogI have videos from as long ago as Ammi's first week, and now I will put them here. We'll start with the oldest and work our way forward.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/96125819" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/96125819">Ice with Accents</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/96135934" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/96135934">Ammi's First Days</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/96135938" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/96135938">Picture? Aye, Baby!</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/96135939" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/96135939">Ice Cream Cone</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/96135940" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/96135940">Background Noise</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/96135941" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/96135941">Reading to His Sister</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/96202317" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/96202317">Helpful Brother</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/96202318" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/96202318">Coaxing</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/96202319" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/96202319">Joah's Opus</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
Joash wanted to make a video of Ammi, so he did. And then I put all the clips together.Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-76860296122155550052014-05-22T12:02:00.001+09:002014-05-22T12:46:22.781+09:00Dan was in Thailand recently, and my dad came up to make sure I didn't go crazy with the pressures of these precious babies. It was a really nice time, just me and my dad, watching Joash climb on him nonstop, and seeing Ammi warm right up to him. It was all very ordinary in the best, most hopeful way, and I won't forget that feeling. I drank too much soda, stayed up well into the 9 o'clock hour, and just indulged in marathon hours of Columbo, no big deal.<br />
<br />
We did a couple sight seeing things, like visiting the Studebaker Museum, which Joash insisted on calling the "Tuna Makers," driving to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, and eating at one of the local and ubiquitous pancake houses, at which my dad swiftly became a morning regular. He also changed all my burnt out light bulbs and helped me plant a little garden. He's all right, my dad.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VVMh0R6jzQ8/U31Y1-_lS7I/AAAAAAAAQaE/GCtZWTl6oxs/s600/IMG_0547.JPG" /><br />
Grandpa gazes.<br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SYpf65w-Cjg/U3Z_kIUkRvI/AAAAAAAAQXA/VwxF_f1a5yA/s700/IMG_0558.jpg" /><br />
The aforementioned Columbo watching. Actually, Ammi really dd love it. For whatever reason, it consistently made her laugh.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PunRjMqKbPw/U3Z_mRrqbDI/AAAAAAAAQXQ/CvfWCCk0Mqg/s700/IMG_0562.jpg" /><br />
I'm not going to say it was lame, but maybe we just didn't do it right? It just seemed like weedy hills of sand in a forest behind junky train tracks.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tk2TJXs21fs/U3Z_sFJ2_eI/AAAAAAAAQX4/yX1o6Vz3tD4/s700/IMG_0571.jpg" /><br />
Well, at least Ammi got to eat some sand.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-f4InP_k_ZO8/U3Z_w1gqReI/AAAAAAAAQYg/xPFdqigHHig/s700/IMG_0582a.jpg" /><br />
And Joash got to dig in it.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6Ouc_K5KuGI/U3Z_xnjasdI/AAAAAAAAQYo/k_1AX4k0BOE/s700/IMG_0582b.jpg" /><br />
He employed his hefty excavator and did everything he could to avoid the water part of the beach.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hRA1zYY6dTw/U3Z_yGWIEOI/AAAAAAAAQYw/3ALthWcTGMg/s700/IMG_0583.jpg" /><br />
The view from either end of our beach blanket.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YQcIQKxofaU/U3Z_0gvyOeI/AAAAAAAAQZI/4WVgql4gEtM/s600/IMG_0586.JPG" /><br />
On the walk back to the car, Joash, grumpy with hunger, got mad at my dad and me and went to be "far away" from us.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-URwxCSjU8Ws/U3Z_3i5BJtI/AAAAAAAAQZo/Br6xSNZOP-U/s700/IMG_0598.jpg" /><br />
I forgot that my dad chaperoned a sleeping Ammi in the car while Joash got his first big boy haircut. He wanted to stand on his stool and look in the mirror before bath time. While he was getting his cut, I asked him if he wanted me to stand there with him or go sit down. He told me definitively to go sit down. The girls there thought it was the funniest thing. He has unpredictable bursts of independence.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UY1zoPKRbqQ/U3Z_4XGJ9xI/AAAAAAAAQZw/i8otgA0eP_s/s600/IMG_0601.JPG" /><br />
Dan had such a terrible time getting home because <a href="http://agabanginanyang.blogspot.com/2012/04/unitedsuxcom.html">United </a>continues to be the absolute worst, most unfriendly, unaccomodating airline in the history of the whole world, and he fell asleep with our little grump.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HnnnelRzs34/U31Y2sdP-4I/AAAAAAAAQaM/TaAwVF0s9Ac/s600/IMG_0603.JPG" /><br />
This is from today. She knows her way around a frown.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mKYI0CSC0cs/U31Y3_Jeb2I/AAAAAAAAQaU/pwNMeteVPMU/s600/IMG_0612.JPG" /><br />
Joash has won the attention of two little neighbor girls who came to our living room window to ask him to play tonight. We were about to eat dinner, so, like a real mother, I had to coordinate with them a playdate. When we got outside, they were running errands with their grandma, so Dan walked him down the block for a while. Eventually the girls did come back, and, just like older sisters would, they ended up pushing him in a stroller with a blanket on his lap like a proper baby.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8FWwVNLqpB4/U31Y5LbYyTI/AAAAAAAAQac/yWmW6pX5hKg/s600/IMG_0618.JPG" /><br />
He's starting to figure out his bike. Such a kid now, this ol' baby.<br />
<br />
I'm about to have so many videos! Old ones from a camera I finally dealt with. But Ammi is only willing that I do things in segments. I suppose she doesn't want me to work too hard.Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-51375889614823181282014-05-17T20:19:00.001+09:002014-05-17T20:20:02.759+09:00A quick comparison and a milestone video.
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gNihKX0goWw/U2T3kCGIBxI/AAAAAAAAQTs/9vIXJTb3je0/s700/1404.jpg" /><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Left: April 2012, Joash</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Right: April 2014, Amielle</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/95568226" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/95568226">She Crawls! (Sort Of)</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-72271958538789477372014-04-20T10:17:00.000+09:002014-04-20T10:17:26.204+09:00Just Want to Not Hide<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="333" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/92295545" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/92295545">Just Want to Not Hide</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
Nap time is a time of peak creativity, apparently. Joash wrote this song back in February.Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-64209169984874473022014-04-18T09:39:00.005+09:002014-04-18T09:40:21.043+09:00Another month has passed, which means I've scrutinized and compared my children and come up with another set of comparables. I actually kept forgetting to take a picture, even though I had a picture in mind, so I ended up having Dan take one on his phone. Pretty lame, but I've already got my April picture done, so I don't feel too bad.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wbG0b54tKK0/U1BwNRaZX4I/AAAAAAAAQMg/1Y_Tbu056-M/s700/COMPS.jpg" /><br />
Left: March 2012, Joash
<br />Right: March 2014, Amielle<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ASb-4Hdg4tc/U0s5C3PaYTI/AAAAAAAAQKo/S74XMIMSdbc/s600/IMG_9983.JPG" />
<br />
Ammi spent an afternoon gazing longingly out the window.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ISrXQKhfeSM/U0s5_X9CfoI/AAAAAAAAQMA/2oj9rBxxJxs/s700/IMG_0009a.jpg" /><br />
Sometimes babies might as well be puppies.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XB57mezDCwM/U0s5_-Q3_xI/AAAAAAAAQMI/t8vSnYwvd9w/s700/IMG_0013.jpg" /><br />
I have a policy that if, during a diaper change, a child flips to his or her backside, said child is punished via photographic evidence. I did it to Joash, and I've done it now to her. But baby butts are such that they require documentation, are they not?<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-v7itrldlADI/U0s6AfCHtvI/AAAAAAAAQMQ/bJHbpP-BXbM/s700/IMG_0030.jpg" /><br />
Here are these sweet crazies in the bath.
<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_ub2w6_OL80/U0s5IFt_MwI/AAAAAAAAQLg/w1m7w2cOiLQ/s600/IMG_0039.JPG" /><br />
For now, Joash is still so tender toward his sister. He has a special voice for her, higher pitched and whispery. If she's crying, he'll say, "Don't worry, Ammi, Mama's gonna feed you."<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-orv4sQnmPVw/U0s5I6lMs1I/AAAAAAAAQLo/0O9yJJBMCac/s600/IMG_0046.JPG" />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tXCgE9qEpKo/U0s5JzI6VcI/AAAAAAAAQLw/Kx_G-q0voos/s600/IMG_0054.JPG" />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PmTEdYxUDWA/U0s5Khbc5gI/AAAAAAAAQL4/EYq4Ii3jIsI/s600/IMG_0060.JPG" />
<br />
He even occasionally requests her presence while he's watching one of his shows after nap time. Every now and then, though, he acts like a proper sibling and screams over the injustice of her touching him while he's eating a sandwich or he laments her obsession with his LEGO train (and the destruction thereof). I do wonder if they'll be friends when they're grown up, and I wonder if it will hurt my heart if they are not, but that's just because I like to collect things to worry about.Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-14270182038921641042014-03-23T09:53:00.004+09:002014-03-23T09:54:54.758+09:00Busy baby days. The little one always wanting to be held, the big one always wanted to be noticed, and I find I am less and less at an actual computer screen these days, which is not to say that I am piously restricting screen time. I have plenty of that on my phone. All those blogs won't read themselves!<br />
<br />
The weather is finally clearing up. We have gone days without a snowstorm, week(s) without major accumulation, and the roofs previously upholstered with snow have released their stitches for shingles. Because of this, I have started grocery shopping by myself. What an amazing idea! Getting a break from constant care-taking is something I felt guilty about when Joash was a baby, but I feel so glad about it now. Today I even went to the hardware store just to be alone.<br />
<br />
Well, Ammi has obviously awakened from her brief evening nap and is crying in my ear behind me.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/89073904" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe>
<br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/89073904">The Snowman Project</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
But, Mom and Dad, you haven't seen this sweet video of Joash playing in the snow.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/89068961" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe>
<br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/89068961">My Finger Hurts</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
Or this one of your grandbabies playing together.
<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-__mIHJ-jnLc/Uy4twV2F6GI/AAAAAAAAQKA/dX-c96XfW30/s700/1402.jpg" />
And, here, the latest comparison of my children.<br />
Left: February 2012, Joash<br />
Right: February 2014, AmielleSerenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-45562438800435825052014-03-05T05:37:00.001+09:002014-03-05T05:37:26.533+09:00I went with the babies to Florida for a brief Grandparently visit while Dan did his usual tour of Asia. I will admit to pangs of nostalgia when he emailed me a picture of our old apartment and as the pictures of him doing Korea things stacked up on Facebook, but it is easy to feel happy when you're caught up remembering, and I know that living there with babies and so much aloneness just wasn't good for anyone, least of all the babies.<br />
<br />
I am glad to be back in our home with my iced Bustelo chilling in the fridge, no more drive by Dunkin for me for now. We made a pretty good Ikea run while we were in Cincinnati, and now we can trim the windows and dry dishes on a rack instead of a tea towel on the counter. Being home also means fun things like making noodles with Joash, pasta roller clamped to a dining room chair. He took ownership of the task and held the dough while he was cranking the handle and then hurried to hang it up to dry. Maybe this will be that elusive guarantor that he'll finally try noodles for dinner, probably not.
<br />
<a name='more'></a><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5ltQFXxFWIg/UxP0B-v_jiI/AAAAAAAAQBg/8Pwo_rnOOCY/s700/IMG_9842.jpg" /><br />All the kisses in the world on a good day, but I have noticed bouts of sibling rivalry springing up. He makes me pick them both up after a nap, and he sometimes tells me, "Don't feed Ammi, just leave her alone." Which sounds as harsh as a 2 year old can make it, but he doesn't mean it harshly, just matter of factly.<br /> <img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RqmW4wBSUnc/UxP0E5nnWHI/AAAAAAAAQB4/hfVsCNFuZqU/s700/IMG_9896.jpg" /><br />The spinning chair was a main attraction of the living room in Florida. I think everyone got a little inspired by the Olympics, and Grandma had a time getting them both dizzy. Joash would hop off her lap and wobble around and once he fell on his poor little face while mumbling, "Oh, oh, oh..." Always coming back for more, though.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lr6P2nGUFXE/UxP0F7JpadI/AAAAAAAAQCA/D6uxVl7h9uc/s600/IMG_9904.JPG" />
<br />Every morning we'd try to wait for my mom to come down so we could eat breakfast with her at the counter. If you're going to go to all that trouble, you might as well bring cars to park by the sink.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MbT_Fs2XaYM/UxP0J65dpTI/AAAAAAAAQCg/6hbWYaBWpUk/s700/IMG_9909a.jpg" /><br />Uncle Jeff, mean as he purports to be, loaded up his computer with cartoons for Joash to watch, so we celebrated drive-in movie night most nights.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tAAZGl3aDDg/UxP0QLTzIAI/AAAAAAAAQDg/atkC3Cx36zg/s700/IMG_9917a.jpg" /><br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-D7csdKPEGP8/UxP0QwusRPI/AAAAAAAAQDo/tccvF4FYUA8/s700/IMG_9917b.jpg" /><br />Babies of knitters must love yarn.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-cwxytaC4vkE/UxP0Tic09qI/AAAAAAAAQD8/kyXNvBOSMfU/s700/IMG_9925.jpg" /><br />Because he's enjoyed it in the past, I thought Joash would like to run through the fountains with his cousins, but, of course, there is no referencing history to a finicky kid.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WVXNsQR1hws/UxP0WSTtqfI/AAAAAAAAQEY/-JW-46f6T0c/s700/IMG_9933.jpg" /><br />Ammi is a hard sell for laughter, but she'll usually honor your efforts with a smile.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VFnYTmFxtrc/UxP0XGtJSCI/AAAAAAAAQEg/PAUboZaGY0M/s600/IMG_9937.JPG" /><br /><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WkQsn63MyAs/UxP0X7ZULuI/AAAAAAAAQEo/hkNr6Lq8vkk/s600/IMG_9939.JPG" />
<br />The park area near the fountain is not the best, but the kids liked sitting on this gym thing.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-10t0t_ZS6wk/UxP0cAZBjfI/AAAAAAAAQFI/MuiNw0Hn9DI/s700/IMG_9944.jpg" /><br />Ammi practiced free-standing.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2kQOiEljYsM/UxP0hNskIbI/AAAAAAAAQFo/pMy1iXE6eOY/s700/IMG_9949.jpg" />
<br />We attempted a photo for posterity, but Joash was sick of being coaxed to have a good time, and Ammi was more interested in the action than the camera.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Bihlj9o-mSQ/UxP0iggkCtI/AAAAAAAAQFw/d-DDUp7Tvao/s600/IMG_9951.JPG" />
<br />Hands in his pockets. He let me walk him through a couple times, but he walked away crying when he realized he was wet.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JcIWO0wJLmI/UxP0lLYQDyI/AAAAAAAAQGI/ovNmhB30NB0/s700/IMG_9955.jpg" /><br />Banyan had no trouble having fun.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Px-AoqCfl2o/UxP0nb3PuxI/AAAAAAAAQGg/T2tjXSFfQzM/s700/IMG_9963.jpg" /><br />This is the difference between 5 and 2.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ASILKf37VV0/UxP0oE-HUyI/AAAAAAAAQGo/DjtnRJ9KF1k/s600/IMG_9965.JPG" />
<br />You know how you play hard all day with your kids and then someone will remark, "Oh, they'll sleep good tonight!"? Does that actually happen for anyone, because my kids are always up before the day starts. If anything's true, it's a slightly longer nap maybe once days later.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q97gCO73pGA/UxP0rMDsmEI/AAAAAAAAQHA/hihgCKoteTI/s700/IMG_9969.jpg" /><br />Picking tomatoes with Grandma ended up being pretty sweet. Joash followed her lead and kept repeating all her exclamations of quality.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vc-DnI9qe5o/UxP0ufam8oI/AAAAAAAAQHY/j91DH_NyfRs/s700/IMG_9973a.jpg" /><br />He was proud of his little basket, and he refused to let us take it for him, though my mom did lighten his load periodically.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Cew3cP0bqzE/UxP0vsjdP0I/AAAAAAAAQHg/VI8Lb0C6a7w/s600/IMG_9974.JPG" />
<br />Finding the good ones.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tfVlfokKMhc/UxP0yoUf9HI/AAAAAAAAQH4/dSG_nwt-XkM/s600/IMG_9981.JPG" />
<br />Getting all the cuddles in on the last day.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LyYWjGluwAY/UxP0xkNXktI/AAAAAAAAQHw/CRqO6rTgWqw/s600/IMG_9979.JPG" />
<br />And here she is being real cool and wearing a Jayne hat that I had to make for one of my brother's friends.Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-57336726571313729422014-02-11T12:02:00.003+09:002014-02-11T12:02:32.990+09:00My Babies Today<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-TL2ZHoa6PVU/UvlDLo7Jp6I/AAAAAAAAPq0/nL2zCT8OE40/s700/IMG_9706.jpg" /><br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RsnPhd1dncc/UvlDdHacusI/AAAAAAAAPss/kyvEswmFMT4/s700/IMG_9739.jpg" /><br />The boy.<br /><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ii1EfcSu-Ug/UvlDQm_b4jI/AAAAAAAAPrc/FfKsDTxTd_4/s600/IMG_9721.JPG" />
<br /><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qHOMY1DgSHY/UvlDSB8V07I/AAAAAAAAPrk/uygt4uYsL-o/s600/IMG_9723.JPG" /><br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-A2TKKu8lsUY/UvlDaI83eVI/AAAAAAAAPsU/JUVJfwvfHz8/s700/IMG_9735.jpg" /><br />The girl.Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-60554447084104400612014-02-05T11:27:00.002+09:002014-02-05T11:31:35.194+09:00Baby Comparables<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ILxO2GU08NM/UvGdr9e7LdI/AAAAAAAAPp4/dTOaHjNA4Ug/s700/1401.jpg" /><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Left: January 2012, Joash</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">Right: January 2014, Amielle</span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9fD4lyCQh9c/UvGd_3DNgwI/AAAAAAAAPqA/bOhSvZN7i00/s600/IMG_9651.JPG" /><br />
An outtake. Oddly, I couldn't get the toy to stick to her forehead even though it stuck to Joah's head often and for a long time. It must be because Joash was always at least a little bit sweaty.Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-51099211354049700502014-02-01T12:14:00.001+09:002014-02-01T12:16:17.934+09:00New House<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Something about settling in feels literally like that, like slowly seeping our lives and stuff into all the cracks and corners of this house. The odd bits and awkward spaces have already become commonplace, and I'm trying to figure out a way to curate pretty little collections of clutter. Whenever I feel bad at that, I think of what grounds me. It used to be the baby wrapping lady with the long skirts and dream catchers. For now it's the Waltons and that green gingham tablecloth and all the bread and pie. I am obsessive and easily overwhelmed, especially by the esoteric rigors of modernity, but bread and pie I can do. Be a mother. Love my family. Stop worrying about being good at things I might not be good at.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Well, my grumpy girl woke up in the midst of this, so I'm typing with one hand now (the left, no less!), and that has its way of culling necessity. So as I rock her, prone on my stretched legs, with one foot over the other (a trick my cousin just taught me), I'll finish up with recent pictures.</span></span>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><img src="" />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B61ln18fu2I/UuxiS4lDUMI/AAAAAAAAPn4/3xINyyX5WtI/s700/IMG_9536.jpg" /><br />
Some final sleeps at Grandma's house.
<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-28QQnqZRm88/UuxiTvAZpHI/AAAAAAAAPoA/SCbI1d9qeDg/s600/IMG_9540.JPG" />
<br />
Things to embarrass them by. Joah's face isn't lying, he loves the nights that Ammi participates in bath time.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6K_QQW5E2YA/UuxiXr4_OcI/AAAAAAAAPoo/KS9zwqq9KcE/s700/IMG_9603.jpg" /><br />
Blue winter light. She's wearing a sweater I made for her. There's so much more to knit, but I can't find the time.
<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W98lH_mC6e8/UuxiWKFvAyI/AAAAAAAAPoY/xxEuqgHtdb8/s600/IMG_9598.JPG" />
<br />
I love this clever smile.
<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lx0SkylIOsQ/UuxiYhQwk4I/AAAAAAAAPow/zT1VOV35tzQ/s600/IMG_9609.JPG" />
<br />
Joash craves the division of attentions and demanded that Ammi join in story time. Today they invented a game called "Ammi's Gonna Get You!" during which Joash sees Ammi sitting on my lap, comes to wedge himself in between and gets gummed by his sister.
<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-B2uYrnmgumY/UuxiZXpdFkI/AAAAAAAAPo4/6ElyP_bTAd4/s600/IMG_9616.JPG" />
<br />
This bed thing is going over much better than the time we tried in Korea. He sits behind his rail, shouting, "Mama! Come get me!" and so far hasn't yet left his room of his own volition. I wasn't even going to start messing with all of this, as I was still suffering the trauma of the first attempt, but we had moved the bed into his room, and he kept asking to sleep in it.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Kis0v8qGqms/Uuxif1yV_HI/AAAAAAAAPpo/ANN4JuxQ7K0/s700/IMG_9642.jpg" /> <img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WwS1aX5MSPw/UuxidZIJJ4I/AAAAAAAAPpQ/D01n_boLEl0/s600/IMG_9631.JPG" />
<br />
Snuggles and faces with her Papa.
<br />
<br />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-W3ux7j49y3Q/UuxicJMk7SI/AAAAAAAAPpI/uYPNW74hkFE/s600/IMG_9629.JPG" />
<br />
Making sure I'm still here, I guess.Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-87402768334772576712014-01-07T12:32:00.001+09:002014-01-07T12:32:31.983+09:00Video Backlog<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/83551804" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/83551804">Sleeps and Snores</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/83552133" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/83552133">Peanut Butter Jelly!</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/83552134" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/83552134">Grabbing</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/83553207" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/83553207">Three Minutes with Joash</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/83554531" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/83554531">Me Hungry for Macy's Ad</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/83555395" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/83555395">Hair Brush</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/83555512" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/83555512">One Day Driving the Train Along</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1764349">serenity johnson</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5083682857869211955.post-69255450128635762452013-12-27T12:47:00.003+09:002013-12-27T12:47:42.777+09:00Christmas is over, and it was Joah's first time knowing what presents are. He's known about toys for a year or so, but presents are a different thing. Presents are just for you and in such fancy wrappings. Once he got in the habit of opening them, of course he didn't want to stop. Turns out greed is pretty automatic. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Time with Dan's family is always fun and very sweet, though.<br />
<br />
There was cousin time with Abraham on Monday for his fourth birthday, a little Grandpa Wayne time on Christmas Eve, Christmas Mass yesterday morning, which Joash seemed even to enjoy (he asked for, "one more time!" at the end of one of the carols), and last night he ran around with all the rest of the cousins, showing them his new toys, following them from room to room, repeating syllables that made Maggie think he was, "saying words we're not allowed to say" (she thought he was saying <i>wee wee</i>, but I'm pretty sure he was saying <i>wheel</i>, as we do not actually use that euphemism). Today I caught him sneaking chocolates, so I think he's had a pretty successful Christmas.
<br />
<a name='more'></a><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xBru961qros/Urj7MkVSUqI/AAAAAAAAPd0/WNpIe70WHes/s700/IMG_9312.jpg" />
<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OGYfn0vqbVs/Urj7OVvF3DI/AAAAAAAAPeQ/oROboItadzE/s700/IMG_9319.jpg" />
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hrCS1baQUW4/Urj7RCHuJoI/AAAAAAAAPew/oUvfZp7KJOs/s700/IMG_9324.jpg" /><br />No shortage of rolls here.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VgHEWu77mrQ/Urj7S5TaxoI/AAAAAAAAPfI/Qj8KRO5n-Ow/s700/IMG_9340.jpg" />
<br />Abraham was able to show Joash how to get the most out of his toys. Everyone needs a mentor.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YRkAaAWthNQ/Urj7Tr1awkI/AAAAAAAAPfU/bTtnmNhkdXE/s600/IMG_9342.JPG" />
<br />Grandma Jean wanted to make sugar cookies with the boys. Joash had his shapes all ready.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Bp0NCFXLbCg/Urj7V8imfkI/AAAAAAAAPfo/yvzucJeZgE8/s700/IMG_9346a.jpg" /><br />Abraham had good technique.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vzuyTC7GdCI/Urj7YcTh57I/AAAAAAAAPgI/6mjs2J97ack/s700/IMG_9350.jpg" /><br />Dan came by to help with sprinkles. Joash is no stranger to sprinkling. He's always shaking the salt on our popcorn.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-CoI5IfaYuZM/Urj8GrZAD_I/AAAAAAAAPhU/dvjKfaBNbmI/s600/IMG_9362-MOTION.gif" />
<br />I wasn't even going to post any of these, but Google+ turned them into a gif for me all by itself. Maybe I don't hate Google+ after all.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MtoBb8_O2Pc/Urj7eJpVJ0I/AAAAAAAAPg4/GCqhC2Wc9Uw/s600/IMG_9369.JPG" />
<br />Abraham got some awesome presents, including a radio controlled rattle snake from Animal Planet. Uncle Ben helped Joash take a turn.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6TsAKau_xIo/Urj7f_KD85I/AAAAAAAAPhQ/I6qDesxQLqY/s700/IMG_9380.jpg" /><br />Fourth time blowing out birthday candles.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1nQPgdD8yzs/Urzkstt2YRI/AAAAAAAAPh8/jdVyKpAvmF4/s700/IMG_9388.jpg" />
<br />On our way home from delivering Bob Evans' turkey dinner to Grandpa Wayne, Joash took a Christmas Eve evening nap.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kEY-ZAPer7k/UrzkwDZdeoI/AAAAAAAAPiU/iaTjE65yByk/s700/IMG_9393.jpg" /><br />That was while we were waiting for Dan to get our New China dinner, which we ate while watching "A Christmas Story." Some traditions just fall so effortlessly into place.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DlHLPpkmclE/Urzk0EDmV2I/AAAAAAAAPis/H-DJXrAnosg/s700/IMG_9399.jpg" /><br />Breakfast on his face while opening presents, which he did slowly and meticulously.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LNhCqt5J_sI/Urzk2dFmxZI/AAAAAAAAPjE/tm6twrC7gOU/s700/IMG_9415.jpg" /><br />We got him his first bike, which he loves to walk from room to room while expressing his desire to run.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2P9DMRxobxY/UrzlQPPx1pI/AAAAAAAAPlM/Uy6v4MHDhao/s700/1225.jpg" /><br />Left: December 25, 2011, Joash
<br />Right: December 25, 2013, Amielle
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ncXmIhR2EyM/Urzk6-ubgZI/AAAAAAAAPjk/iO8z5sSOnfs/s700/IMG_9433.jpg" /><br />Christmas cuddles with Aunt Nancy, wearing her brother's hat and her first little tutu.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-80FoMx9EfEc/Urzk-6thHfI/AAAAAAAAPjs/HA1NHo-HOyE/s600/IMG_9437.JPG" />
<br />Grandma Jean got him, among other delights, a take-apart truck. It's held together with plastic bolts that are loosened and tightened with a toy electric screw driver. All the kids wanted a turn. Joash was excited that Maggie and Annie were so interested in his cool stuff.
<br /><br /><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L9TCgI3VC8M/UrzlLXH5f_I/AAAAAAAAPlE/L7PK4rJyR-Y/s600/IMG_9457.JPG" />
<br />And here was their post-Christmas wipe-out nap.Serenityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09180270852140969714noreply@blogger.com0