tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81860131481324317582024-03-05T16:36:21.614-08:00The Manuel Familydawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-48394853047590156102009-01-19T16:09:00.000-08:002013-03-20T19:27:55.058-07:00On our Hike<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Nms5MKoJCRAF7G6p2LUwTT2ayzaQsi6rK1T09X9JMsXA-JSdaoasT8pUoCS8UQ-mPtw22LMxnvK4Blu_lHHPEgclIu26QAfTta1D9y1Pv6l4fxdl4sQRko2Yej7i5KbpBfkRwdbdHn6p/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+136.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293162826133934530" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Nms5MKoJCRAF7G6p2LUwTT2ayzaQsi6rK1T09X9JMsXA-JSdaoasT8pUoCS8UQ-mPtw22LMxnvK4Blu_lHHPEgclIu26QAfTta1D9y1Pv6l4fxdl4sQRko2Yej7i5KbpBfkRwdbdHn6p/s320/Hawaii+2+136.jpg" border="0" /></a> I finally got my hands on the camera and was able to take a picture of Adam.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdh01vmfqESesTZUole_YuhLAE13UDSZU1FepgRJWpVI1DACkIOt6xoJJ7lLuDEndyJ7bI9JtCpBWegc3gzqOb5qIGGh6FemBtzlashbK42dPKEumIUx9lAlQYR1LGl1F20hAHtjSA0QI/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+142.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293162807794965986" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdh01vmfqESesTZUole_YuhLAE13UDSZU1FepgRJWpVI1DACkIOt6xoJJ7lLuDEndyJ7bI9JtCpBWegc3gzqOb5qIGGh6FemBtzlashbK42dPKEumIUx9lAlQYR1LGl1F20hAHtjSA0QI/s320/Hawaii+2+142.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Taking a little break to enjoy the view.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-lI8lLPPhNrTML46iyJuwGW_EYmCrpMaXPoesIERJ79ZatmGHmQx0SJi4oatRDyjgr5xdjg1rQffFwwPYUZ5vgcfGyQMMACGMFcsgSGKpCYPTErLV7O8JFqK5Aqpe7f4i0hXYhRrnVgd/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+143.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293162796813304018" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-lI8lLPPhNrTML46iyJuwGW_EYmCrpMaXPoesIERJ79ZatmGHmQx0SJi4oatRDyjgr5xdjg1rQffFwwPYUZ5vgcfGyQMMACGMFcsgSGKpCYPTErLV7O8JFqK5Aqpe7f4i0hXYhRrnVgd/s320/Hawaii+2+143.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloB_AXsroktQW7HSLXNNpunli6b-Uc5GuRKKTcfpjP82DgwccXOTOWvBC4jkneVKfWJ2NmMBnx7_i2JRtkmL8L3BLNSFE-RWRXw0Az7JpI7btuLGFFfw1Rrx2lQzIIoWPp5ZpTK2sGRqv/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+149.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293162782274344354" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloB_AXsroktQW7HSLXNNpunli6b-Uc5GuRKKTcfpjP82DgwccXOTOWvBC4jkneVKfWJ2NmMBnx7_i2JRtkmL8L3BLNSFE-RWRXw0Az7JpI7btuLGFFfw1Rrx2lQzIIoWPp5ZpTK2sGRqv/s320/Hawaii+2+149.jpg" border="0" /></a> Okay not everything went smoothly. I think I slipped three times throughout the whole process. I wasn't too happy about busting my butt, but I would do it all over again if I had to. I'm racing back to the car to go horseback riding in a few minutes. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEk-l6JJJFgCOdgBikItf3vSUef_EVw-9BGjuJKq_5_SsFDPxkE8Dm-aYs2scg7YhU2mWfPjOoHTVBhYHjvKulvKWa5fk76lVbXVJWGXObx7-MFcLfzEIRkyP-YNwAewAWTFcWRiL_Z0ox/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+147.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293162768212008130" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEk-l6JJJFgCOdgBikItf3vSUef_EVw-9BGjuJKq_5_SsFDPxkE8Dm-aYs2scg7YhU2mWfPjOoHTVBhYHjvKulvKWa5fk76lVbXVJWGXObx7-MFcLfzEIRkyP-YNwAewAWTFcWRiL_Z0ox/s320/Hawaii+2+147.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-57049488930735884512009-01-19T15:51:00.000-08:002013-03-20T19:27:55.061-07:00All in One Hike<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfF_3VYxcLVfPpXimN7mjbLmI8OKtLymxrkVYUDj4lKJ3n7_OVheOb1DkGadhHZgBeVOIs9jan0UhIW0hRkG4-dQZAM0ISzgOJKwHkHzFcHutHNKk9TE1INMw1CGFy3RLAqoIYC1OaFfz/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+116.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293159665843554658" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfF_3VYxcLVfPpXimN7mjbLmI8OKtLymxrkVYUDj4lKJ3n7_OVheOb1DkGadhHZgBeVOIs9jan0UhIW0hRkG4-dQZAM0ISzgOJKwHkHzFcHutHNKk9TE1INMw1CGFy3RLAqoIYC1OaFfz/s320/Hawaii+2+116.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOVJP8vt5A_nE1g4GicUbvaY5i90s2rrASOZCHDR-rGeRhLqgzpl7RG4IBtR0GuwefHAMFOM4IlEK12giqJ8A4n5KFwcRz3Kya_dcgJf1LQT2OORK3k43gyEzF-eMDFWHQbVbJQSuexpR/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+117.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293159655342735698" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOVJP8vt5A_nE1g4GicUbvaY5i90s2rrASOZCHDR-rGeRhLqgzpl7RG4IBtR0GuwefHAMFOM4IlEK12giqJ8A4n5KFwcRz3Kya_dcgJf1LQT2OORK3k43gyEzF-eMDFWHQbVbJQSuexpR/s320/Hawaii+2+117.jpg" border="0" /></a> I often wonder if we could have done the majority of the hike if not all of the hike. A couple of miles was challenging. Adam said that when we came back he wanted to hike up and camp out at the top. I hope we can go back some time in the near future because I'm not getting any younger. By the grace of God maybe I can be one of those people who ages well physically. I do want to go back. I just can't imagine trying to tackle this when I'm close to fifty.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ImbDjEAlXFgIPa_i0zO0l4YcebXeJmF8lEQ7x_H_b8fdDEeIQlXK0Kv5sWzx56LG3gs3hJYd9Z1MfDKWK48g9wA-7Vbl8mtp2Aj9G0xOjq-5DcDXKkGpVeICbKLxJJ54mfZE2Ea4jGeF/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+120.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293159649543038434" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ImbDjEAlXFgIPa_i0zO0l4YcebXeJmF8lEQ7x_H_b8fdDEeIQlXK0Kv5sWzx56LG3gs3hJYd9Z1MfDKWK48g9wA-7Vbl8mtp2Aj9G0xOjq-5DcDXKkGpVeICbKLxJJ54mfZE2Ea4jGeF/s320/Hawaii+2+120.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlOoSZfgDP-kZElmihq_ORWXuxOQWOK_kQQOXecU5VRMMfjqw-0AnRzoTPl4UcPJJ56MopwPRt_2jGZZk0Jk3LYsMFIjBXjnZoPyFqHfSZf30xKxoOhZC6YZqI8zxTUYJp49kbZXAUoRT/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+125.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293159647479046258" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlOoSZfgDP-kZElmihq_ORWXuxOQWOK_kQQOXecU5VRMMfjqw-0AnRzoTPl4UcPJJ56MopwPRt_2jGZZk0Jk3LYsMFIjBXjnZoPyFqHfSZf30xKxoOhZC6YZqI8zxTUYJp49kbZXAUoRT/s320/Hawaii+2+125.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyb5U80XzlsrroXkshRU0lRH0hz8C5IoIcxSZTD5Yskf7s6BNeAPh5yECWeksscZqHw5QaP6rGTNhnQgFfxoCx6OmIYmMpZEmhLHejPVzepv94AEwS-KfUzDwf_mp-tFfM0y3hWEo9s8C/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+133.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293159644009277394" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyb5U80XzlsrroXkshRU0lRH0hz8C5IoIcxSZTD5Yskf7s6BNeAPh5yECWeksscZqHw5QaP6rGTNhnQgFfxoCx6OmIYmMpZEmhLHejPVzepv94AEwS-KfUzDwf_mp-tFfM0y3hWEo9s8C/s320/Hawaii+2+133.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-91057101197166214332009-01-19T15:41:00.000-08:002013-03-20T19:27:55.070-07:00Our Hike Continues<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkeg4uI2OhAU5_mD5sL7B0O1JgRhDLjwfuWhLvBvGOY9-oqHMwuF5td9e_GbDz5ZmfPMprfgiW_SmQ1O370Fz-znBE2Agco94dX5JxSuRjChRv8zOvKU8nJHI4VBR34k6cOMQp2cZ0HcL/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+115.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293155292616629186" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkeg4uI2OhAU5_mD5sL7B0O1JgRhDLjwfuWhLvBvGOY9-oqHMwuF5td9e_GbDz5ZmfPMprfgiW_SmQ1O370Fz-znBE2Agco94dX5JxSuRjChRv8zOvKU8nJHI4VBR34k6cOMQp2cZ0HcL/s320/Hawaii+2+115.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_JFn3l8PcqDEk720VguKW9yg2IU5bQy8JbVy_KLMgUwAiB3KNefWuxN2w1NpbvQT3j3cJsj2Qio7I2rziM-WXQ_YvWrzl0xhwchLHtJhksjK3-0hR7UygLtqmpfB2CB3OrVwBzGjBnZX/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+113.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293155283057665666" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_JFn3l8PcqDEk720VguKW9yg2IU5bQy8JbVy_KLMgUwAiB3KNefWuxN2w1NpbvQT3j3cJsj2Qio7I2rziM-WXQ_YvWrzl0xhwchLHtJhksjK3-0hR7UygLtqmpfB2CB3OrVwBzGjBnZX/s320/Hawaii+2+113.jpg" border="0" /></a> Notice the edge. One slip and you could be a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">goner</span>.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWj5hFjkS9mLNted6S0qOCuxktvo3mAAzKWHd37MPSFkwll6wBIM1ICPU_nWuxCD3WHUMhseuUt8Md_g-JfNdCbXvELVNKfFKw5ST23tMDvyK0Dg7EyxHxbM7R2r8rQhZsyhrBpUFWQKF/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+110.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293155276595375650" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWj5hFjkS9mLNted6S0qOCuxktvo3mAAzKWHd37MPSFkwll6wBIM1ICPU_nWuxCD3WHUMhseuUt8Md_g-JfNdCbXvELVNKfFKw5ST23tMDvyK0Dg7EyxHxbM7R2r8rQhZsyhrBpUFWQKF/s320/Hawaii+2+110.jpg" border="0" /></a> We saw people hiking as well and from time to time we were able to switch cameras.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1btIvQXiHWYzTdiJ_RyKVcb0JpPKCvT6r1vDTtPvpj2D6VrDqiMk1_SVvQfp_eP64jmJmhb1T_HcVrAl7XeabZw5M7dDsIRkyrjMIvyznyKEwp3-isdnb1EpzqISgTRsQkMAKegtcQ3t/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+106.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293155273981357106" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1btIvQXiHWYzTdiJ_RyKVcb0JpPKCvT6r1vDTtPvpj2D6VrDqiMk1_SVvQfp_eP64jmJmhb1T_HcVrAl7XeabZw5M7dDsIRkyrjMIvyznyKEwp3-isdnb1EpzqISgTRsQkMAKegtcQ3t/s320/Hawaii+2+106.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixBRedYiHpweIbHf2TSeNoddwfnihZvkOoyY3j7QYzw2L4OEZg_6ds2Cqjjy3WsP8gQKad6jg0l7Aw0ENUwd2YhPcbqPEjMzZOZsufKi5iMQAE2lCprBmajNMfBUrvEVXEBEPYyoCSM5J/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+103.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293155265531881762" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixBRedYiHpweIbHf2TSeNoddwfnihZvkOoyY3j7QYzw2L4OEZg_6ds2Cqjjy3WsP8gQKad6jg0l7Aw0ENUwd2YhPcbqPEjMzZOZsufKi5iMQAE2lCprBmajNMfBUrvEVXEBEPYyoCSM5J/s320/Hawaii+2+103.jpg" border="0" /></a> A view when you turn around from the hike. This is what we saw when we looked up from behind us.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-87015602118976313752009-01-19T15:27:00.000-08:002013-03-20T19:27:55.068-07:00More Pictures of Our Hike<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvWJPeuyWyN2-CbbaQIiiif4_iRB3ZjBgz4zbmKIS5z3C3VNsDXrLijd21ktYppB3BHUgr65svhoDH7f39Ut2EafUB5DJMCag_H_2tJurWI1r7tlbvJ7clRn4JuRW-OcP1PZaJCDPQ7eu/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+085.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293151902299946770" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvWJPeuyWyN2-CbbaQIiiif4_iRB3ZjBgz4zbmKIS5z3C3VNsDXrLijd21ktYppB3BHUgr65svhoDH7f39Ut2EafUB5DJMCag_H_2tJurWI1r7tlbvJ7clRn4JuRW-OcP1PZaJCDPQ7eu/s320/Hawaii+2+085.jpg" border="0" /></a> A little break along the way with a picture of the two of us. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHeXxl-8aJl5PgAv1ybDn-9WOLa4lloWe6ndl0Wn96g_cFRARiNJsq9JxPhbpdNbSXp2kkiBv56_dlqBYKw8rMIXhFIH4TEvpxregI2j_asOouCY8r5OSNSxCmuwj7AaUgEDxXrKWr2u5/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+088.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293151879010673090" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHeXxl-8aJl5PgAv1ybDn-9WOLa4lloWe6ndl0Wn96g_cFRARiNJsq9JxPhbpdNbSXp2kkiBv56_dlqBYKw8rMIXhFIH4TEvpxregI2j_asOouCY8r5OSNSxCmuwj7AaUgEDxXrKWr2u5/s320/Hawaii+2+088.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMbplvfGBt1dSW5IsznJ-PFOKwbhfeIAncPwC_hq28NoR3bxS8yq1Q7INI7Ib-dGvqsPI0KoO-9xMMYEGQBFOtHl4xpSBur1HgRpidxIlAKeMYmHq8DdpxqS6JRHHVQm9L4gikrH58Dhz/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+097.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293151869690516130" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMbplvfGBt1dSW5IsznJ-PFOKwbhfeIAncPwC_hq28NoR3bxS8yq1Q7INI7Ib-dGvqsPI0KoO-9xMMYEGQBFOtHl4xpSBur1HgRpidxIlAKeMYmHq8DdpxqS6JRHHVQm9L4gikrH58Dhz/s320/Hawaii+2+097.jpg" border="0" /></a> Yep, Adam has the camera.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRg6FJ6emGKA8Hy5w05tnxQ5rrhsGT3TTOUrYqIm1uszc6cXiYLUcrwj3hyphenhyphenzrTKMtPxLDBY3JpS8kgCOi6cUNWLd-te6yMUH9TXvX7J1cL64g4U4rluhokkTx_3-MmQGPY76bXa8SZ8VQa/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+098.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br />Imagine actually being there.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfp3X-e6bsAZG-0g80W4fr1KlUs1V_yYs9pCM1VnSSwVOR_juqKSpVJtLKFr_xjQhAS1Jk6Cxoa8OPmwW1z4PaqhOQ-3g84_GYmh0WnmvzVdHpaiePS4Ti1h-2tEoLtYKlXBFpHB3p-ul/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+099.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293151850751867106" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfp3X-e6bsAZG-0g80W4fr1KlUs1V_yYs9pCM1VnSSwVOR_juqKSpVJtLKFr_xjQhAS1Jk6Cxoa8OPmwW1z4PaqhOQ-3g84_GYmh0WnmvzVdHpaiePS4Ti1h-2tEoLtYKlXBFpHB3p-ul/s320/Hawaii+2+099.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-43621043915339969532009-01-19T14:38:00.000-08:002013-03-20T19:27:55.057-07:00Our 10 Year Anniversary Celebrated in Hawaii<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlxzJ_cxvWgk47G1kumYkSRvpe9ci9nTeSnH6yGVaf8aGVeXt_cy7uwi8Qirx6G4qrQbtblnSbqROGQloArb8BSc1uisFGNKP25vXJMFLUtqy-kC5AtE-WroNmZfZRXgS08B0xkqA9CF-/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+152.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293141235301898130" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlxzJ_cxvWgk47G1kumYkSRvpe9ci9nTeSnH6yGVaf8aGVeXt_cy7uwi8Qirx6G4qrQbtblnSbqROGQloArb8BSc1uisFGNKP25vXJMFLUtqy-kC5AtE-WroNmZfZRXgS08B0xkqA9CF-/s320/Hawaii+2+152.jpg" border="0" /></a>Adam loves the outdoors and did not want to miss a thing. So we attempted to hike on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kalalau</span> trail. We could not do the whole thing because we were scheduled for horseback riding at noon. We managed to get in a couple of miles. Below Adam could not resist taking my picture. Hey you better have an empty bladder before attempting this trail.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Sfme9ABLBv8Ji2HyUfm5fJTs3kigrQ85fkLrqANb2XCqSfEozi6-ath6IEWVXUkag-bnjxd2SYbEOTajljicKia-mMpVBJW2eGjWG92p_N_7PmtBy-hFsOrP8yWd4cr564XP4re9SC6D/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+072.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293141229152461810" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Sfme9ABLBv8Ji2HyUfm5fJTs3kigrQ85fkLrqANb2XCqSfEozi6-ath6IEWVXUkag-bnjxd2SYbEOTajljicKia-mMpVBJW2eGjWG92p_N_7PmtBy-hFsOrP8yWd4cr564XP4re9SC6D/s320/Hawaii+2+072.jpg" border="0" /></a> The trail was like the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">rain forest</span>, very wet and slippery. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">scenery</span> was absolutely beautiful. It was a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">challenge</span>. The whole time we were on our hike, I was thanking God for my arms, legs, and movements that allowed me to take in this breathtaking scenery personally. I felt like I had experienced a glimpse of heaven. I was also wondering who out of all my friends could have made this hike. It was a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">challenge</span> bigger than what I expected, but I'm not a professional hiker so that may make a difference. Believe it or not we even saw people in flip flops. That was crazy. I didn't even have my hiking boots on, but my sketcher's seemed to hold up well.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69sRovonJA4dl36rxDRmfU1Os65LZYnUwEi4AnZIq5mlrEjNgP-o-huia_ddE-XajlbM137JXsbrD3bRU3wK4LCaKId5k4UJUhn7cRLhBtZq6C5AUjoxVwJuIWbQxhf9toi2sIDt2J7Hv/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+076.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293141224398403634" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69sRovonJA4dl36rxDRmfU1Os65LZYnUwEi4AnZIq5mlrEjNgP-o-huia_ddE-XajlbM137JXsbrD3bRU3wK4LCaKId5k4UJUhn7cRLhBtZq6C5AUjoxVwJuIWbQxhf9toi2sIDt2J7Hv/s320/Hawaii+2+076.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJX_mHy_yJ3joLNU85Jmeo6I6S7i2yY4_ouEBDDQin7s1XpSCgoGAglP6dpEumaQpBFzrU-bEAyR-uJFJFZ60STdr43adKagB2y9er6YFc1IuMJN8H8DJjYo8PxvL9FDWc2_gQtONDbPU/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+078.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293141216245580626" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJX_mHy_yJ3joLNU85Jmeo6I6S7i2yY4_ouEBDDQin7s1XpSCgoGAglP6dpEumaQpBFzrU-bEAyR-uJFJFZ60STdr43adKagB2y9er6YFc1IuMJN8H8DJjYo8PxvL9FDWc2_gQtONDbPU/s320/Hawaii+2+078.jpg" border="0" /></a> The trail changed throughout the hike and these are some rocks that we had to hike on while on our journey. I will post several pictures of our hike. It was amazing how different the view was from different angles with each view taking your breath away. The whole experience cannot even be put into words. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOpWRcOKetHC5BUGxGnw9LLvUnGQ5zfyG-is1MJ6ow0E1vCzkNpAqT7ks4nzPR78N2X1lkOYjvFswDglszQFZypvtt3oNgfSwgIiiYb8gAK8fRNuEgK89ZKMb2cLfSoe45EGytESk06Gu/s1600-h/Hawaii+2+083.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293141199612546210" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOpWRcOKetHC5BUGxGnw9LLvUnGQ5zfyG-is1MJ6ow0E1vCzkNpAqT7ks4nzPR78N2X1lkOYjvFswDglszQFZypvtt3oNgfSwgIiiYb8gAK8fRNuEgK89ZKMb2cLfSoe45EGytESk06Gu/s320/Hawaii+2+083.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMb7H1pNSVEDUBXC8wP8Gi-RUyLnBPPYwupoRtj69VIUlzJDXFM4VskZg6-E_6trxLw0-PTfGeX7I2dqIazIBvtJ1ExWmPNtOrWsHMdK3ru-wOFk2BdpPkw9XmFDFSunnRqXfUg1Sm4qP/s1600-h/Hawaii+1+152.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GvNbj_LkOkHBXBmq3DmCIFSkQRHRV7aWfTjKL4GceOveI2RJBHFXgXyy2_VRVPASPxk5btVwszQj3NTSosdKIlnZ6i2tDCuWyQh0Zi74z7JI6S2WYMWyphUK364VsiPp89udE0q9uL5r/s1600-h/Hawaii+1+072.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8iZiWayhbaq1ZpfYAUOirSWQCiTmn5TyiI2OBqBlHXg436P-e9s1gsq8YJsa-n_MPtDvFJBPts8oncTzZxKXoN8uq6910Mr-TvxejQz3ZKJvJIQNIcozP8Rx0Lr0F2i2CXR1aQO9YJGlX/s1600-h/Hawaii+1+076.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSz_1qU51OypIyyYtwKjz_9ZEZYjWb9C112psNRdiL2wKHdxSN7dAUC0GJdTUoBGYkTaR23cRS_W5oSe8H0vt_UXtqpqBCPmDBRwq7rvOWAgVg_Cn63F9jSzJtxUPRCYOxgK9ITght0x_A/s1600-h/Hawaii+1+078.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73pNzniiHsBBAb5Q2Zu4fTn0MwEZPHz2g7RU2K98o0i7cIpcbDYtz1qugywE1Yf5e3FcK4NPBi7bdQXZ7VOmtUbF-ZCCRF7UId3rxq7YKdR-M9GQPJL1v3aZ_IPwVnag_VIq2LFvZbFvs/s1600-h/Hawaii+1+083.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-75843490334696420132009-01-04T15:19:00.000-08:002013-03-20T19:27:55.067-07:00More Pictures of the Kids<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1phl1Qn3qsUnPd4zFAI-qhg75IIcXpYlSKyHq2sQjr40g3DG_RWMaRug6Qa9zGa6paw19no0wk_qgsc5vVfq_-p44FZ8rwibwm419Rf8VCGm8Q1d0mIfZ99uzhghKaV8dvt8YYOHTlPC/s1600-h/238.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287583843798808770" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 144px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1phl1Qn3qsUnPd4zFAI-qhg75IIcXpYlSKyHq2sQjr40g3DG_RWMaRug6Qa9zGa6paw19no0wk_qgsc5vVfq_-p44FZ8rwibwm419Rf8VCGm8Q1d0mIfZ99uzhghKaV8dvt8YYOHTlPC/s320/238.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ashlyn and her friends chillin after bowling and her party.<br /><br />Alexandra's first Halloween. What else could she be other than a ladybug. She loved trick r treating and stayed up way past her bedtime. She had a blast and walked without assistance to all of the houses. She got lots of looks and smiles as people past us by.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzY03zDZeoxhRuprcOCjk5Jr5pcFkLruTO6lZZjRPDeJ9luHZjLmm6gmnuCas64oWYRKeK3j7N3eXLgaDhHKupWpEDmzBB9MEY2MwOAdxTGRKLupXpdkTvgVq83dRszwYAMDaZzfGpSuS-/s1600-h/088.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287583810397958242" style="WIDTH: 177px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzY03zDZeoxhRuprcOCjk5Jr5pcFkLruTO6lZZjRPDeJ9luHZjLmm6gmnuCas64oWYRKeK3j7N3eXLgaDhHKupWpEDmzBB9MEY2MwOAdxTGRKLupXpdkTvgVq83dRszwYAMDaZzfGpSuS-/s320/088.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5c4gItKVamDi3APUaN0IwG63SlS0vSn9eZZ271m_DjedV3E2qurtOWBpk17w9Avk9errM0uAc0texKmsm69xYq_W16yDfVx1CN4g94Hux8e71_NibTQnswvhyphenhyphen7sCiXSTPO7cwhNKVbUc5/s1600-h/091.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287583797921706930" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5c4gItKVamDi3APUaN0IwG63SlS0vSn9eZZ271m_DjedV3E2qurtOWBpk17w9Avk9errM0uAc0texKmsm69xYq_W16yDfVx1CN4g94Hux8e71_NibTQnswvhyphenhyphen7sCiXSTPO7cwhNKVbUc5/s320/091.JPG" border="0" /></a> Okay Landen and Aidan decided that they would be the same person for Halloween. Landen wanted to be Aniken Skywalker and Aidan wanted to be Darth Vader. Unfortunately Landen did not go trick or treating because he continued to get notes from school saying that he was misbehaving and not listening to the teacher. He was warned beforehand that if he came home with notes from the teacher for misbehaving he would not be allowed to go trick r treating. He got a note and we had to follow through. We have been having some issues and he has been doing better. We have an appointment later this month to see a child specialist regarding his behavior at school. He went from being a favorite in kindergarten to a child who receives conduct marks often in first grade. It's a little hard for me because Landen's personality and attitude is the mirror image of myself. He's definitely my child. It will be interesting to see what the specialist has to say. I think we will have to use our best judgement in the end. We are on a three month waiting list to see the specialist. She suggested that we do not punish Landen at home for his misbehavior at school because his punishment of the teacher moving his folder at school is enough. Hmmmm!!! I wonder what Landen's teacher would think of this. And to be honest I don't think Landen feels any consequences for bad behavior with a folder being moved. We are just taking it one day at a time with this one. It does seem that Landen is doing better. I am concerned, but not taken by surprise by the whole situation, because I do know my son, and as a parent I can only do the best that I can. And I don't expect my kids to be. It's all part of growing up. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpLim-1snnk_qC0sVPTLFBQVH2cx6YdF9oGbvxmFvxlT8u64g5MY88wYzf3GzzCt3yXw6fKct1iNY0ag2Q4eVAk8wFS_OuIVnp1zNMY5Iga7nJnE1SfeH8tnjwIxH8zw_T8mOyLRPTYbU/s1600-h/092.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287583797498178946" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpLim-1snnk_qC0sVPTLFBQVH2cx6YdF9oGbvxmFvxlT8u64g5MY88wYzf3GzzCt3yXw6fKct1iNY0ag2Q4eVAk8wFS_OuIVnp1zNMY5Iga7nJnE1SfeH8tnjwIxH8zw_T8mOyLRPTYbU/s320/092.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div> </div><div></div><div>Ashlyn as Hannah Montana. I was hoping that she would want to be something else, but nope this is who she wanted to be for Halloween. One of the grown up men passing out candy commented on Ashlyn asking if she was Britney Spears, his wife quickly said no she's Hannah Montana and I said, she does have underwear and shorts underneath her costume. It was hard enough letting her be Hannah Montana, but there is no way in H#ll I would let her be Britney Spears. I don't even think Ashlyn knows who Britney Spears is.<br /></div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXngnuVZIj1sPD0THTx0Gjthi6wkn3QK44gn4mRZsrqiakHobBEOW86schzws9_uxfIT6eDptC9hdfEjIqORWWv0Wlk2298HQzEERDUIy9fFusiYqYixGJyeYxCDg-MTNngGzHxYKEGzxQ/s1600-h/093.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287583788011870514" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXngnuVZIj1sPD0THTx0Gjthi6wkn3QK44gn4mRZsrqiakHobBEOW86schzws9_uxfIT6eDptC9hdfEjIqORWWv0Wlk2298HQzEERDUIy9fFusiYqYixGJyeYxCDg-MTNngGzHxYKEGzxQ/s320/093.JPG" border="0" /></a> And here's Aidan as Darth Vader<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-10681719253357033192009-01-04T13:36:00.000-08:002013-03-20T19:27:55.045-07:00My Babies Are Getting Older<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHDobq7QoivKunjCRb_PUMTVVi0nVZvExdWj0PIWIVL8PvSIMwv7NwYAf4rBTGsINeo1S0Cw7Vs1w6Pily54lGkmbzk50vpibS7ReTNSEME4muOBfrb7ZLB0-BpxbsfjVOQ7ZVdKq5Jb8/s1600-h/166.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287561518309965826" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHDobq7QoivKunjCRb_PUMTVVi0nVZvExdWj0PIWIVL8PvSIMwv7NwYAf4rBTGsINeo1S0Cw7Vs1w6Pily54lGkmbzk50vpibS7ReTNSEME4muOBfrb7ZLB0-BpxbsfjVOQ7ZVdKq5Jb8/s320/166.JPG" border="0" /></a> I ask them every year not to do it, and every year they do it. They turn a year older. Aidan is now five years old. I told him "Aidan don't do it", and he looked at me and smiled and said, "I'm going to do it". Five is a big year for both me and Aidan. This is the milestone where my baby is now old enough to start school. It's a big change for both of us. Aidan will now have to go to school full time, no more days home with mom. He is going to preschool, but it is only part time so there were many of days that he and I would be able to spend time together - sometimes with Alexandra and sometimes, it would just be the two of us. This will all end next year. I know he's ready for school. It's just difficult sometimes to watch your children get older. I can remember his birth, just like all my children, like it was yesterday. I think that this is a moment that every mom will always remember and hold dear and never forget.<br /><br />For Aidan's five year birthday party we celebrated at our house, and Aidan wanted another Spiderman birthday party. I don't think I know of any other kid who had the same birthday party two years in a row. But if this is what he wanted, it was fine with me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_Gl0Zqo5sYDGeNI-DsdvHqZWgMMmanYIWQdhvRD7-nW-hl9nHwTJQzM_fA18BYYN9QEwAIBYu0c7PNELjRTRluoC5SZ51i89KO4CFpOG-ZyZyYj6WhPy6Xbvbdq8p3VlCZeLvookeY9d/s1600-h/171.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287561508458300002" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_Gl0Zqo5sYDGeNI-DsdvHqZWgMMmanYIWQdhvRD7-nW-hl9nHwTJQzM_fA18BYYN9QEwAIBYu0c7PNELjRTRluoC5SZ51i89KO4CFpOG-ZyZyYj6WhPy6Xbvbdq8p3VlCZeLvookeY9d/s320/171.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />The boys hanging out at the bowling alley for Ashlyn's eighth birthday party. They all had a lot of fun.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MIsC4ZtSFHnKMsG7ZlavFuiGxbU2EPH77X_2-a1TF52-0G5wxxrLQX44Z-Y9OdLjqnrudKdHBxK_Vqb6wSN8r6Oxsp2a59Ns_gWbU42UkweigOphjaBUNUybnv1p1Ktad4aSs_5osc8H/s1600-h/218.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287561498959990594" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MIsC4ZtSFHnKMsG7ZlavFuiGxbU2EPH77X_2-a1TF52-0G5wxxrLQX44Z-Y9OdLjqnrudKdHBxK_Vqb6wSN8r6Oxsp2a59Ns_gWbU42UkweigOphjaBUNUybnv1p1Ktad4aSs_5osc8H/s320/218.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ashlyn wanted her party at the bowling alley and it was Hannah Montana. It was nice because I just had to show up with the cake and the dad's watched the kids bowl and got in on the action as well. My only complaint though was I hated the smell of the bowling alley. It smelled like an ash tray, but I was told that no matter what bowling alley we went to, they are all the same. Yuck.<br /><br />Ashlyn is now eight and she thinks that she is fifteen. She is no longer into Princess stuff and Hello Kitty - "that's for babies". She's into Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers. Is this what they call the tween years? She's also getting into the stage where she doesn't want me to show any public displays of affection. This will embarrass her. At least I know to ask her first before I hug her or give her a kiss around her friends. She will just smile and shake her head no. But she still wants me to go to her school parties and read to her class so I guess it's not all bad. My two boys though have not gotten into this stage yet. They both still love hugs and kisses. I can ask Landen at school if he minds if I give him a kiss or hug and he tells me, no he doesn't mind.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ756vfRwUghpMgvT5qq0AG7kyLlpFNlCISDvXJDTWyXSwyhb2Z9MlW5agA7lFYbcQAwJV_VK8IranVlEjcPRHKFpGtTuQ9OiXA34-crc4HPJQWG7r_QqfsSaB4JzcD2IfRefh9DjbU4A2/s1600-h/229.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287561497853412066" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ756vfRwUghpMgvT5qq0AG7kyLlpFNlCISDvXJDTWyXSwyhb2Z9MlW5agA7lFYbcQAwJV_VK8IranVlEjcPRHKFpGtTuQ9OiXA34-crc4HPJQWG7r_QqfsSaB4JzcD2IfRefh9DjbU4A2/s320/229.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5CtUltKthb5dfIDy-8fx2wFO_PFmX55aiSYPQMBvDcYNirEGIt0cEg3sjezL5b6iGhoEhCVVIwi6ZeogpHU48oQrf7RoFx7Z2fAR1xRGuj16f1nVcHV-fdp96qfJSFh5v0H6byzgkgH1/s1600-h/234.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287561478380597650" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5CtUltKthb5dfIDy-8fx2wFO_PFmX55aiSYPQMBvDcYNirEGIt0cEg3sjezL5b6iGhoEhCVVIwi6ZeogpHU48oQrf7RoFx7Z2fAR1xRGuj16f1nVcHV-fdp96qfJSFh5v0H6byzgkgH1/s320/234.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We have also decided to take our kids out one at a time by themselves with just Adam and myself to celebrate their birthday. It's their date night with mom and dad. We do this at the half year mark and a couple of weeks after their birthdate. We really enjoy doing this with them because it gives them time with just the two of us and they get all of the attention. They get to choose the activity and the place to eat.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-57774863243690862062009-01-04T11:05:00.000-08:002013-03-20T19:27:55.063-07:00A Lot of Catching Up to Do<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeG9mmncRw5DQnw0t0ZzugtiZgC1jHSGJ_2e41BXb707qdTuBkupSJbo8ybaGnxAX4qzCdgzU9OuEQ3TuXB4ia0JiQ38SIQKhmPAVwtDGGB222700NYUkpO2TudnH-t7MCdt67tVvYX9Qc/s1600-h/162.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287518786600995634" style="WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeG9mmncRw5DQnw0t0ZzugtiZgC1jHSGJ_2e41BXb707qdTuBkupSJbo8ybaGnxAX4qzCdgzU9OuEQ3TuXB4ia0JiQ38SIQKhmPAVwtDGGB222700NYUkpO2TudnH-t7MCdt67tVvYX9Qc/s200/162.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our little star soccer player Aidan with his cousin Conor. Aidan and Conor played on the same team this last soccer season. Aidan was the best player on the team. And I'm not just saying that because I'm his mom. He was really good and fast. We called him lightning. There were few times that he sat out of the game. He may have found his sport.<br /><br /><br />Below Aidan dressed for his Tae Kwan Do class. He and Landen both took classes last semester. I think Landen was having one of his moments this day and opted not to put on his uniform. Both boys seem to enjoy this class, especially Landen. Next school year I will be looking into some of the martial arts schools to see what they have available. We just registered the boys for a semester at our local YMCA before deciding to sign a contract and pay a lot more. We really do take advantage of our membership at our YMCA and I would recommend it to any parent whose child is thinking of sports, dance, gymnastics, etc.... It's not as competitive nor as professional as some of the other areas, but it is a lot cheaper and it's a way of knowing whether or not your child really likes the activity before having to dish out the big bucks.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKla2Ma76nziJs7vuosXQrx3mFR0DhZ0kMBBv__1ICijWx3neRN6EGpCvbHPqLcFvQZXaIT6NkYc2582JtNAw8jdGQoB0Te2lHrGsxB0Hcs9uiuWL721itwMvx6_CZcN9zwVbo4tCc6B8E/s1600-h/040.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287518783319213954" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKla2Ma76nziJs7vuosXQrx3mFR0DhZ0kMBBv__1ICijWx3neRN6EGpCvbHPqLcFvQZXaIT6NkYc2582JtNAw8jdGQoB0Te2lHrGsxB0Hcs9uiuWL721itwMvx6_CZcN9zwVbo4tCc6B8E/s200/040.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingAq_4tjz4en4x4icmw0AXLjV-AmPfVly8jJKAQM6gDAUy4kac4Y6EFU4YxQKxvDY4f9BTh914-A5PIO-SXay_UaRqnmKT8qEHJZ7vLS9Zwg2cOnQYMk967iMHADnDsuX3mSFxoBE3HNz/s1600-h/051.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287518773483197250" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingAq_4tjz4en4x4icmw0AXLjV-AmPfVly8jJKAQM6gDAUy4kac4Y6EFU4YxQKxvDY4f9BTh914-A5PIO-SXay_UaRqnmKT8qEHJZ7vLS9Zwg2cOnQYMk967iMHADnDsuX3mSFxoBE3HNz/s200/051.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiNPSIeYNCe_aqVqLw4KHyjwaktDCZe8z4-CRuNoIB7hHzW6xf1oxjleE_LqBDF8BqMD4PhaHaOQwdiDGOBzGJULUMf9g5fUNAufeOMqz5wMmZvM2Jf9kHViXau6INw6Avld3wP4y4CW2/s1600-h/169.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuv-JP9mNT5Xl8qc1jIgD6nxkbbdtKWNrSeKK_GPV_0F80HXoRmvN7lZomwBRNp5OTdMqh53tPyagsEcNDTQRNnm0lmm2g-mND5J7UQSq1h43QQ8FeCKifHOrcQ8VjF4Jc7GwM3HKhqL9/s1600-h/192.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-15116783271457083952009-01-04T10:42:00.000-08:002013-03-20T19:28:51.655-07:00A Lot of Catching Up to Do<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPZCX5Lxf_AnkQWtvnA_B1lm0XJIcw-ht3Rp442oHA2BmaQYw2idG4NKdjY7Ir-_O1Eltx1fGd-TxQNrny2dfnYH3BPEj25ccXZH9Jaoiq6mUpusdoUHitqXPNn0Easj-11e7KGKpNWDw/s1600-h/192.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287514147292278194" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPZCX5Lxf_AnkQWtvnA_B1lm0XJIcw-ht3Rp442oHA2BmaQYw2idG4NKdjY7Ir-_O1Eltx1fGd-TxQNrny2dfnYH3BPEj25ccXZH9Jaoiq6mUpusdoUHitqXPNn0Easj-11e7KGKpNWDw/s200/192.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />
<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpdG5xMG_DLCb0HU7FPh4TM0OTYG1c0zOqPOzm38A9ya2ZqZCC42T7Hm43szr-vOIQjBXoFVaF_9zqs_ujvw3JK6xXp4awe-H_676cqmt19yrFQ6I1M6ONJsvDLMp5C1kp04eZhQPGqIu/s1600-h/173.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287514117213262658" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpdG5xMG_DLCb0HU7FPh4TM0OTYG1c0zOqPOzm38A9ya2ZqZCC42T7Hm43szr-vOIQjBXoFVaF_9zqs_ujvw3JK6xXp4awe-H_676cqmt19yrFQ6I1M6ONJsvDLMp5C1kp04eZhQPGqIu/s200/173.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />
<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoV2_xCkoEdz-6p0rAaMOgMJaKQP_-vbuvD0jVXd1M5bsMK4jVdueNaj2aXa6BN99fP8YYe_mA5dfVBxb4DNjIyx5RKHtshCnRYKedcFvxguXreeL4VCgIsjhVgYrBug9b6iG1Z6I_K4v/s1600-h/189.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287514112248899474" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoV2_xCkoEdz-6p0rAaMOgMJaKQP_-vbuvD0jVXd1M5bsMK4jVdueNaj2aXa6BN99fP8YYe_mA5dfVBxb4DNjIyx5RKHtshCnRYKedcFvxguXreeL4VCgIsjhVgYrBug9b6iG1Z6I_K4v/s200/189.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />
<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFC3jhWANbCbeGpwbVUE2F4WRS4egPf0zxt3DN1QDvPmlqgxWE5jk3dAY-l2Ku7LEOTdOZo5_w1rWZs9qLnyVCHAiWokO2paQ_Uic_2CZjHG9tO3EwDI9T-4XIIU6KtyZs6CZSqtxeMjei/s1600-h/173.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287514101606517538" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFC3jhWANbCbeGpwbVUE2F4WRS4egPf0zxt3DN1QDvPmlqgxWE5jk3dAY-l2Ku7LEOTdOZo5_w1rWZs9qLnyVCHAiWokO2paQ_Uic_2CZjHG9tO3EwDI9T-4XIIU6KtyZs6CZSqtxeMjei/s200/173.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />
<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwGxpTcH68vvQf1M882ZVyy8S6iOES07t7j61wb24-p-TXWoYtUPCUlOADaLYZPc7cvH1I_6_k3TOUrEO_hZNb7WS5S4cki2wZ1PkDMg3rzFR7lDUDBVyGwfWgt1AVuzZd0iNp8JKdVPT/s1600-h/161.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287514096085046690" style="WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwGxpTcH68vvQf1M882ZVyy8S6iOES07t7j61wb24-p-TXWoYtUPCUlOADaLYZPc7cvH1I_6_k3TOUrEO_hZNb7WS5S4cki2wZ1PkDMg3rzFR7lDUDBVyGwfWgt1AVuzZd0iNp8JKdVPT/s200/161.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-12778760163497267962008-09-19T11:15:00.001-07:002013-03-20T19:27:55.047-07:00Cha cha cha changesThings are moving along and life is changing and getting busier everyday. The kids have started school and I have started working on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We are trying to get adjusted and back into the swing of things. The good news is that in spite of all of our business, my wonderful husband has took the time to schedule us a trip to Hawaii for our ten year anniversary. YAY!!!! I am so looking forward to going. And I'm hoping to drop a couple of pounds before heading out if that's possible, if not I'm still going to enjoy my time away. This will be the first time since Adam and I got married after our honeymoon that we have gone away together with just the two of us. Long overdue. So if any of my friends out there who have been to Hawaii have any recommendations or suggestions, please let me know.<br /><br />Ashlyn and Landen have officially started school, with the exception of being out right now because of the hurricane, and for the most part seem to be enjoying being back. It took Landen all of four days before he got a note sent home from his teacher. He did not want to follow directions and wanted to do his own thing. Imagine that. So in return, Landen had to write his teacher a letter apologizing for not listening and promising to do better. So far so good.<br /><br />Ashlyn on the other hand tries her best to be a people pleaser. She likes her teacher and is always trying her best to please her teacher. And with school comes all of their extracurricular activities -voice/piano, tae kwan do, gymnastics, soccer, and Adventure Guides. They don't all do this, but for all three of them this is what the activities include. I know it's insane, but sometimes I think I'm trying to make up for the things that I could not do when I was growing up. I was not completely deprived as a child but things like piano, gymnastics, or dance were never an option for me as a child. If I got to do something it was because a friend's mom would pick me up and drop me off. So I want to make sure my children have a lot of opportunities. I never force them to do anything (except for Ashlyn's piano and voice), but it's their decision on whether or not they want to do these extracurricular activities. Which I am totally for because I don't want them watching T.V. and playing video games all of the time.<br />Aidan has not started school yet. His first day isn't until October 7th and he is doing his best to stay patient because he enjoys going to school as well. It's hard for him at times to see his brother and sister going to school while he stays at home.<br /><br />I am currently working at a MDO program for a little extra money every month. Even though it is taking me a while to see the benefits of working part time because of the cost of finger printing, Alexandra's deposit and being out a week because of the hurricane. I am with ten two year olds. What a challenge. I enjoy it, but come home tired because of all the running around I have to do. The hardest part is bringing them all to the bathroom. They run all over the restrooms, play in the water and almost always need assistance. And for those little ones who have to wait while the others are going to the restroom, they have a hard time being patient.<br /><br />When Alexandra turns eighteen months old, she will be coming with me. I think she's ready because she has become so independent over these last couple of months and she's like a little sponge. She still loves books and at times I will find her sitting down looking at a book pretending to read. So I think she is going to enjoy going to preschool. She's getting to the point where I can now go to church and the YMCA without her crying when I drop her off. It's strange because we have only had our daughter for six months, but I can't imagine not having her before. It's like she's always been part of our family. She's such a blessing and joy. Adam tells me she was the longest delivery ever. That's true. Both of my girls were a lot of work, Ashlyn with IVF and waiting for Alexandra for three years.dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-39686320130537357962008-09-19T11:15:00.000-07:002013-03-20T19:27:55.055-07:00Yikes it was Ike<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix334Ena4z9ZNenGzHSSSffLGgOeUcnFKCLi8T9WJeCYg0kxU9u7QlY0-NBUj8s3gvJbeaxdWWXvJYNhiZa4l33cHU3PQcNh9qD6E5hiaYd9BoL3-zTUJMYZJ1kjOmJrEroh10RJ5Z0KYa/s1600-h/024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247801087025075986" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix334Ena4z9ZNenGzHSSSffLGgOeUcnFKCLi8T9WJeCYg0kxU9u7QlY0-NBUj8s3gvJbeaxdWWXvJYNhiZa4l33cHU3PQcNh9qD6E5hiaYd9BoL3-zTUJMYZJ1kjOmJrEroh10RJ5Z0KYa/s320/024.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here are some pictures of our yard after Ike came through.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-z3I1rILDJHEb157D_H4REoqvgqqWMKYs9GIoP8e0rtSw3RffvUtZCsF6I7sn1iOTXxuyym5nH5lltbyjpN_gplBM4Fk_WHpr5ndA0ya3U-lstapXmXpRa2VSxIaZbptK7AsXzu65VnZ/s1600-h/023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247801094798228498" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-z3I1rILDJHEb157D_H4REoqvgqqWMKYs9GIoP8e0rtSw3RffvUtZCsF6I7sn1iOTXxuyym5nH5lltbyjpN_gplBM4Fk_WHpr5ndA0ya3U-lstapXmXpRa2VSxIaZbptK7AsXzu65VnZ/s320/023.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCQGKAr1DFK4o3IpoT5MkwzKkJ3c7HMw-KfGJhOFNRAKkSgBXDGSGCBGtXo95e508T3O8526nG4IDryiTZ-s75zH7Xlx735gg-R7_O3C67NkaYEuGCEyA9lttkPPLA_XSd8sWrIRI-OeZ/s1600-h/026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247801099733964754" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCQGKAr1DFK4o3IpoT5MkwzKkJ3c7HMw-KfGJhOFNRAKkSgBXDGSGCBGtXo95e508T3O8526nG4IDryiTZ-s75zH7Xlx735gg-R7_O3C67NkaYEuGCEyA9lttkPPLA_XSd8sWrIRI-OeZ/s320/026.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_OaTPFRzOTuSQRrIkSn69hTC18ey_gunl943Gi-2MN7rgxH9zFJVf9D4vML-1unXlVQPXHNtGpiCnXu2FnmGcprML-R2cQaR3hqpxK_OXRIm1Bl3R55R27xyx6kVnvq3k8cGnviilTWG/s1600-h/034.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247801102937400930" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_OaTPFRzOTuSQRrIkSn69hTC18ey_gunl943Gi-2MN7rgxH9zFJVf9D4vML-1unXlVQPXHNtGpiCnXu2FnmGcprML-R2cQaR3hqpxK_OXRIm1Bl3R55R27xyx6kVnvq3k8cGnviilTWG/s320/034.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHn8wyodPRjD8I65gl80IiVWQMDzeAk51qj0KQduH-CLSf7pQM04CTjhsyO7ZZGIVWaYxxudm5-O07LDzOuYn2gGp4v-Xp1uQBRQ90aeJ3cAf6f_VsawotZRoG8KlkFcezW_9GEtA8bF6/s1600-h/035.JPG"></a>The renovations moving along in our house. A couple of doors and a huge window so that I can now watch my children as they play outside. There's still a lot more left to do.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6Tt1C9atABr4lOLG-WzoiMJd3WfxSs4L_OxiZg9R9S93givU-P2K0eEckOPORDrNzf4hA985Se83LG-TDuJpGkAAWp-NVnO_5k73Gfa0-gDqkjRMEnVuZRZIX76kvs11SYWuNAFUE-1v/s1600-h/009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247799384402986578" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6Tt1C9atABr4lOLG-WzoiMJd3WfxSs4L_OxiZg9R9S93givU-P2K0eEckOPORDrNzf4hA985Se83LG-TDuJpGkAAWp-NVnO_5k73Gfa0-gDqkjRMEnVuZRZIX76kvs11SYWuNAFUE-1v/s320/009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqIYG691n5nViVVmo97GpcqEJUl_hXg3r6bgcIvhV-8ucfyryxw8WLz6fTNm9QeVvtqLMShP1xHekWv3INPKgXCYlnI3y8B-Rsu__9kw3yyQFnY2NZMZXRIuHNOElfNJEcC6O6er4WQzV/s1600-h/013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247799390637801362" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqIYG691n5nViVVmo97GpcqEJUl_hXg3r6bgcIvhV-8ucfyryxw8WLz6fTNm9QeVvtqLMShP1xHekWv3INPKgXCYlnI3y8B-Rsu__9kw3yyQFnY2NZMZXRIuHNOElfNJEcC6O6er4WQzV/s320/013.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7Ix9Ne1hKVrCQw25urE4eIuc41JHH_SgVWJBtGpgz2aPVVZRuY0jDyGDihZojhyVRo0Wt7G5LH9ECmLBmg86vG_JJnsDKPCfAeln_4pmdoJGXgQbnukDtlU8tnb5ZikdV9nGrW4QnIem/s1600-h/018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247799398011328770" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7Ix9Ne1hKVrCQw25urE4eIuc41JHH_SgVWJBtGpgz2aPVVZRuY0jDyGDihZojhyVRo0Wt7G5LH9ECmLBmg86vG_JJnsDKPCfAeln_4pmdoJGXgQbnukDtlU8tnb5ZikdV9nGrW4QnIem/s320/018.JPG" border="0" /></a> Alexandra eating her first chocolate popsicle. I think she likes it.<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-26397160056548097212008-08-16T07:51:00.000-07:002013-03-20T19:27:55.050-07:00August News<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaL8dasWKQf-7bqbUgO2v2EIu0-4Y8mbL8Phll2ZbcbiRGb0tLM-776rqfJHO7wpJmaobZ52J_PK5kCxsUautt01nHZlyrMNJBWq6bfRtwpjUDnTNo1NxVh2_YIwH7mI6h2IDva05i7ZJ/s1600-h/057.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDms4vq6juqOp5c7LCnLQvUVwGyqIAWCqFNrBKgWCryyECeHAv9oZGOy4wVc8lWYmW5Vit9FvVlY_vh8w3oegoFQg4X9tAK0gGSIAiK5Sp9zjHwkyGLF99qf9mLohsZI-J3LiWsZdhkU2/s1600-h/078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235130936543627010" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDms4vq6juqOp5c7LCnLQvUVwGyqIAWCqFNrBKgWCryyECeHAv9oZGOy4wVc8lWYmW5Vit9FvVlY_vh8w3oegoFQg4X9tAK0gGSIAiK5Sp9zjHwkyGLF99qf9mLohsZI-J3LiWsZdhkU2/s320/078.JPG" border="0" /></a>Unlike last year we didn't let this summer pass us by without a trip to Sea World. We all had a good time, with the exception of Landen and Aidan not being able to ride a lot of the rides. It was very very hot, but we managed. We will go again when the boys are a little taller, not in August and not on a weekend.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingwoekHe6dxZDyN0Ts_AmfN9U2_cbNG7AvrSY8NmR3LqFisk8B0lKg66Nq5_2OHATHRdmTfujAFb7YtF1P9i-AjezWfvB63gf24PVQPyCdw1OBcEWB8fBuPv-ncG273ZSg0IevTvgAmSz/s1600-h/087.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235130940010301394" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingwoekHe6dxZDyN0Ts_AmfN9U2_cbNG7AvrSY8NmR3LqFisk8B0lKg66Nq5_2OHATHRdmTfujAFb7YtF1P9i-AjezWfvB63gf24PVQPyCdw1OBcEWB8fBuPv-ncG273ZSg0IevTvgAmSz/s320/087.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-02TG2iK1h2i84XJgksgBdiM25aAIS3x9WhsK9jHs7Ah_Gvtt2evWF5wug7wleidM6j8uoct5IOR1Ho_kzURX5UY1cFsCNjtEFvbPD-TgOXHVIjbT2wUDaXsZhmIseNR0p7z4a4XhHw9H/s1600-h/014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235130946367120802" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-02TG2iK1h2i84XJgksgBdiM25aAIS3x9WhsK9jHs7Ah_Gvtt2evWF5wug7wleidM6j8uoct5IOR1Ho_kzURX5UY1cFsCNjtEFvbPD-TgOXHVIjbT2wUDaXsZhmIseNR0p7z4a4XhHw9H/s320/014.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ashlyn and Alexandra displaying their gifts of love given to them by their dear friend Ms. Stephanie and Harper.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziQeHeAiSZgHub-xx2ZQqbAHWbxy8MPBI0NL-65qQJy73Z61D8pgXm99XmYxKnagUrHl6Z_m9H3LpPiEroar_2nkQA3d-qGAEj5zBod0LpyltyLO3q44hkpJT-nrnftfyl24oGSW4KF8e/s1600-h/103.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235130947787902930" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziQeHeAiSZgHub-xx2ZQqbAHWbxy8MPBI0NL-65qQJy73Z61D8pgXm99XmYxKnagUrHl6Z_m9H3LpPiEroar_2nkQA3d-qGAEj5zBod0LpyltyLO3q44hkpJT-nrnftfyl24oGSW4KF8e/s320/103.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our family photo taken for our Social Worker's visit the next day. We have plenty of photos of everyone, but very few of all of us together. (Someone has to be on the other end of the camera). This is one of Alexandra's favorite thing to do, play rough with her dad. The visit went really well with the exception of me wanting to choke Ashlyn. The social worker has to come and see how we are all doing six months and then a year after our arrival from China. While conducting her interview with me, the kids did not want to leave the room. I asked them to leave, but they wanted by all means to stay. I told them they could stay if they promised to be quiet and listen. Well about two minutes into the interview, the boys had had enough and left the room. Ashlyn on the other hand stayed and decided that she would answer the social worker's questions. I told her several times that the social worker was talking to me, not her, and I asked her to leave more than once. She just out right refused to listen. Okay let's just stop the interview with the social worker so I can strangle my daughter. The social worker asked if Alexandra was sick since we brought her back. I answered no, she just had a bout with allergies that I needed to check out, I noted she was allergic to peanut butter and possibly had some outdoor allergies. And then Ashlyn chimed in, "Oh remember Alexandra was really sick when she had a fever of 103." (I forgot about this), and then she proceeded to say that Alexandra had a black eye too. From that point on, I just wanted to say yeah, and we lock our kids up on the closet too. Let's just say I wasn't a happy camper with Ashlyn after the interview. I wanted to tell her that if she really wanted to do an interview with the social worker then she would have to go to China and get her own kid.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwo2KczjYobAGrdyCdwb4m6aH7sz9lT-7WmiheZ3CGoxtSuQ6D_z3amyXJD7ecH3LBvoNlLK4XWJxCMDN_iAxPue7oKRjYjh0I6UGL0vxkZRHFkToYu_PwUepOMOHzyb2ijHIhXDLKkqmb/s1600-h/003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235129237166623042" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwo2KczjYobAGrdyCdwb4m6aH7sz9lT-7WmiheZ3CGoxtSuQ6D_z3amyXJD7ecH3LBvoNlLK4XWJxCMDN_iAxPue7oKRjYjh0I6UGL0vxkZRHFkToYu_PwUepOMOHzyb2ijHIhXDLKkqmb/s320/003.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is what we did during the summer. I cannot tell you how many Saturday's I had to show up at the gym at 8 o'clock in the morning for the games. I don't think we will be doing any summer sports again. This was the first season that the kids played basketball and for the most part all of the kids seemed to enjoy basketball. I think Aidan was kind of in la la land about half the time - he was with the four year old team. Ashlyn and Landen played on the same team. They both did really well. Every time Landen got the ball, he ALWAYS passed it to his sister.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdo6RvxGpCCz7D_6aygcOWDo_cwE5a-Rq1aIr1VDglIbn3nf_9-JcXmzwLIDi6isWMtwmYn5jBFhHIXnQwP4SSm0zwarzvGQS753FK0G8CddbO5V5PvZLXp171w1BdyHjfLnvx_j4-n_T/s1600-h/011+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235129241428085202" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdo6RvxGpCCz7D_6aygcOWDo_cwE5a-Rq1aIr1VDglIbn3nf_9-JcXmzwLIDi6isWMtwmYn5jBFhHIXnQwP4SSm0zwarzvGQS753FK0G8CddbO5V5PvZLXp171w1BdyHjfLnvx_j4-n_T/s320/011+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupDVTmV10kmK-ifcASroLfuHOxMDSLKf7neNdLvzeOpFqW5DkbMk3n3DsdYeL7XPGXjekafk2Em1BeMryU6Yz7sUshLE9eHcqVzUoLcj-erMjviOla6N1tyIGzXxederHKTVUddMLFWbH/s1600-h/017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235129245912286482" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupDVTmV10kmK-ifcASroLfuHOxMDSLKf7neNdLvzeOpFqW5DkbMk3n3DsdYeL7XPGXjekafk2Em1BeMryU6Yz7sUshLE9eHcqVzUoLcj-erMjviOla6N1tyIGzXxederHKTVUddMLFWbH/s320/017.JPG" border="0" /></a> This was a wonderful treat for us. We had a mini reunion with some of the families that where with us in China. We were able to meet in Austin before going to Sea World. It was so nice to see everyone again. My only complaint was that it was not long enough. I got to talk to everyone, but couldn't really speak to just one person in depth. I really did miss these guys. You wouldn't believe how close you can get to someone after spending three weeks together and having to share the same experiences together. This is just a small portion of our group. We are trying our hardest to have a reunion sometime in the future with the whole group. The baby being held in the back by her dad, Julieann was Alexandra's crib mate.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugUks58VUhWO1TazPMRdFAMoim8eK-Wgl32S233WMEW08w0xj9j2eoi5vy0XyPLXUzMUWqgbr1VoQSNTyAL-C2nD0ioJT9dPWtBFog4_L8aTwiZCYYDCUSvirbRPmqo1g48jaKjoX0PMH/s1600-h/066.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235129252633095090" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugUks58VUhWO1TazPMRdFAMoim8eK-Wgl32S233WMEW08w0xj9j2eoi5vy0XyPLXUzMUWqgbr1VoQSNTyAL-C2nD0ioJT9dPWtBFog4_L8aTwiZCYYDCUSvirbRPmqo1g48jaKjoX0PMH/s320/066.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtG0FIBLl-550dzm4hMJJT8FoIS0dPW-5IFx6bCFpcnHqDCESME9Tc5OCphj7lRZHWnVgAGreGsW1xuMPDyEr-Gv-88x9q1kzgFuUDijzpVRZ2HwLcZpvnItcbFB0YTQ6r_kJBXDFUb3P/s1600-h/061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235129257798344786" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtG0FIBLl-550dzm4hMJJT8FoIS0dPW-5IFx6bCFpcnHqDCESME9Tc5OCphj7lRZHWnVgAGreGsW1xuMPDyEr-Gv-88x9q1kzgFuUDijzpVRZ2HwLcZpvnItcbFB0YTQ6r_kJBXDFUb3P/s320/061.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaL8dasWKQf-7bqbUgO2v2EIu0-4Y8mbL8Phll2ZbcbiRGb0tLM-776rqfJHO7wpJmaobZ52J_PK5kCxsUautt01nHZlyrMNJBWq6bfRtwpjUDnTNo1NxVh2_YIwH7mI6h2IDva05i7ZJ/s1600-h/057.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaL8dasWKQf-7bqbUgO2v2EIu0-4Y8mbL8Phll2ZbcbiRGb0tLM-776rqfJHO7wpJmaobZ52J_PK5kCxsUautt01nHZlyrMNJBWq6bfRtwpjUDnTNo1NxVh2_YIwH7mI6h2IDva05i7ZJ/s1600-h/057.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaL8dasWKQf-7bqbUgO2v2EIu0-4Y8mbL8Phll2ZbcbiRGb0tLM-776rqfJHO7wpJmaobZ52J_PK5kCxsUautt01nHZlyrMNJBWq6bfRtwpjUDnTNo1NxVh2_YIwH7mI6h2IDva05i7ZJ/s1600-h/057.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaL8dasWKQf-7bqbUgO2v2EIu0-4Y8mbL8Phll2ZbcbiRGb0tLM-776rqfJHO7wpJmaobZ52J_PK5kCxsUautt01nHZlyrMNJBWq6bfRtwpjUDnTNo1NxVh2_YIwH7mI6h2IDva05i7ZJ/s1600-h/057.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaL8dasWKQf-7bqbUgO2v2EIu0-4Y8mbL8Phll2ZbcbiRGb0tLM-776rqfJHO7wpJmaobZ52J_PK5kCxsUautt01nHZlyrMNJBWq6bfRtwpjUDnTNo1NxVh2_YIwH7mI6h2IDva05i7ZJ/s1600-h/057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235130928120985490" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaL8dasWKQf-7bqbUgO2v2EIu0-4Y8mbL8Phll2ZbcbiRGb0tLM-776rqfJHO7wpJmaobZ52J_PK5kCxsUautt01nHZlyrMNJBWq6bfRtwpjUDnTNo1NxVh2_YIwH7mI6h2IDva05i7ZJ/s320/057.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-38762028462575102732008-08-16T07:10:00.000-07:002013-03-20T19:28:51.666-07:00August news<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEM0IS8hLb2IBrAlT2_jnacoBgcZpM3ZqlFYDI0KjB_zoq8VVeH-T5DqqbYM-xoKuo55pvCNXuOZc0NYqLJq1_v74yKsF35XIm1mmRByKxHExUDQW0BqBnDEm7C2gV8MomzYJM7-iQNm3/s1600-h/066.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235122167738855426" style="CURSOR: hand" height="201" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEM0IS8hLb2IBrAlT2_jnacoBgcZpM3ZqlFYDI0KjB_zoq8VVeH-T5DqqbYM-xoKuo55pvCNXuOZc0NYqLJq1_v74yKsF35XIm1mmRByKxHExUDQW0BqBnDEm7C2gV8MomzYJM7-iQNm3/s320/066.JPG" width="320" border="0" /></a><br />
<br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQpaikstc2rvjifDdNGH4L7W5NL9Hdr3cDHMJ_qJ3Km8s5YXkHkCi9kOVndrYvs1fg5dQg3HjjoeR006IkarCDaNaAp130zxGswL_LfhptpdYt9rsuLPo7eluHHIuzYyB3sPoZ5pVxyzi/s1600-h/063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235121073044096546" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQpaikstc2rvjifDdNGH4L7W5NL9Hdr3cDHMJ_qJ3Km8s5YXkHkCi9kOVndrYvs1fg5dQg3HjjoeR006IkarCDaNaAp130zxGswL_LfhptpdYt9rsuLPo7eluHHIuzYyB3sPoZ5pVxyzi/s320/063.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />
<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoCg_QIIiXLjDVRLaFgwcEZBSM93xcDeKXSL5KE0HDihkFGOXWSYKQ7eWUx_PosHOggS7RYeX2QsVZ7hHss-mOf1LaRXXc0tabfBx0Z2Ih3xbIHGM3cI4Bk-GB_pnhV1kiixieqkE7uak/s1600-h/049.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHtFJ9G7ki1D2cx1ZlmUR6NX5lWGxHTJEav48QxAWuaPjNcy4ppBluQR5EszTaa9EkHWFtFZz0wR70pl8vrMtJkt0qqJTrsDzDVCWF42BTIjdPKGlOp70FoRHahyphenhypheno4BCMd815NESyTxNE/s1600-h/051.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235119875307941666" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHtFJ9G7ki1D2cx1ZlmUR6NX5lWGxHTJEav48QxAWuaPjNcy4ppBluQR5EszTaa9EkHWFtFZz0wR70pl8vrMtJkt0qqJTrsDzDVCWF42BTIjdPKGlOp70FoRHahyphenhypheno4BCMd815NESyTxNE/s320/051.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomRVVs21oVQYwRaRqhqEmdxYrz9ee_UsGfI-vT_iUxTcLTQeKse2ca2jFFwdFZwHMSESjYNda08odzu5uQQgprgz9aYhBTo7alyXuZQbhOXDZ3_6Az7jdOjiVh4L22fSz_XXt8__nbXwx/s1600-h/063.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gismgazg0yi13wQ3mg65k4DvwQWrqI4mOAnuHb5S24VyxZYGh5_A1AKdlT8nIuua-8OWS97ABZMtsll12kl0FnFHorhB_yFRi14oayPuNVPpt3lK2zo3BzqcGjjWhqzlnpOm8hK_PTdh/s1600-h/079.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbbKOdKjRM59ZPS8u_nI1qCb0q7tFQ4ex6F9nScVGyuZW9Q3IAtydR7zUoQ5Rdvt3njzAZBQEOHEF7vOrR29O-vvfsc1534rlQ9rn4MjM8jq1AGRuZ-hzFtnWT6d8pL3Rf4Lon5aWHsmz/s1600-h/075.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235119889291415810" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbbKOdKjRM59ZPS8u_nI1qCb0q7tFQ4ex6F9nScVGyuZW9Q3IAtydR7zUoQ5Rdvt3njzAZBQEOHEF7vOrR29O-vvfsc1534rlQ9rn4MjM8jq1AGRuZ-hzFtnWT6d8pL3Rf4Lon5aWHsmz/s320/075.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVX23tOnmi6B9-Oa9aeFNzaVa49NdZbeHSIWBM3GQWbrn8Yo74MpgadK8luTnW-uY14W8guJHhHo5SSJIhSOVKX-lDx-Nm8-nFaTuuk-YwOTuVubVLMeOPhGW2espLcohEpWTg9prvpMi/s1600-h/085.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235119896245382994" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVX23tOnmi6B9-Oa9aeFNzaVa49NdZbeHSIWBM3GQWbrn8Yo74MpgadK8luTnW-uY14W8guJHhHo5SSJIhSOVKX-lDx-Nm8-nFaTuuk-YwOTuVubVLMeOPhGW2espLcohEpWTg9prvpMi/s320/085.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />
<br /><div>I cannot believe the kids will be starting school in less than 2wks. Wow, the summer has gone by quickly. Maybe it's because we have been sooooo busy.</div><br /><br /><br />
<br /><div></div></div></div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-75262438118404019092008-07-22T20:05:00.001-07:002013-03-20T19:27:55.065-07:00It's A Family Affair<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfbhq2TZrI5DuQjJOIQyCwsTfk6GThCnG_JfNF0qLODFqCM1gsnwGTz8iKvhSZvSUWPWWCwkMrZN_94mW6zxr7AzxeqBDx8M3zrKu-FM55HGEn-PB4vRNFuPZ1p5uRyMH0ouhNRSGAJYq/s1600-h/160.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226041476171236898" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfbhq2TZrI5DuQjJOIQyCwsTfk6GThCnG_JfNF0qLODFqCM1gsnwGTz8iKvhSZvSUWPWWCwkMrZN_94mW6zxr7AzxeqBDx8M3zrKu-FM55HGEn-PB4vRNFuPZ1p5uRyMH0ouhNRSGAJYq/s320/160.JPG" border="0" /></a>With everyone pitching in and the help of family and friends, our house is finally finally getting started with renovations.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5LFU3M2Quly989rkTeI3i6JGyw6WP49VhrC3K9Bgzy2at_sqfHJst65eKCnPnsX6aXKMCwvarERAPPbWAQhwLildywK2AHhIaVoqN9eEUi7X9kkEoN3KH3m93c8hXyGb0bPGTxM7J1Zv/s1600-h/011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226041481719275794" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5LFU3M2Quly989rkTeI3i6JGyw6WP49VhrC3K9Bgzy2at_sqfHJst65eKCnPnsX6aXKMCwvarERAPPbWAQhwLildywK2AHhIaVoqN9eEUi7X9kkEoN3KH3m93c8hXyGb0bPGTxM7J1Zv/s320/011.JPG" border="0" /></a> The kids love helping their dad work on the house, especially the boys.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstXMB8EgKClJXWiCHxjBur_yb0sbiFKh3e3ErbEY07p0InqNrF_j7_zWyibkEH2Hn0afS12Jh2s2w4WZa21UBQmL0Eq8Jx9MHsc3Z5K5mvlbny1ERXYmTc_92fW3VY-Ylfz3cqDDAFHuH/s1600-h/021.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226041486087336306" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstXMB8EgKClJXWiCHxjBur_yb0sbiFKh3e3ErbEY07p0InqNrF_j7_zWyibkEH2Hn0afS12Jh2s2w4WZa21UBQmL0Eq8Jx9MHsc3Z5K5mvlbny1ERXYmTc_92fW3VY-Ylfz3cqDDAFHuH/s320/021.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ashyn did not want to be left out, so she decided to pitch in too.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggu1xPW_PRJY8raBL9iWwhz7Kh5vUfTrhO05QZVDjssJgsrzXIDsMZhHNM-VOYQ3t0GegF6n_RDLlm2y4yXtxeDq2lvHz87FN_9ub4yqiKTXvBiMTk01ElOyZiuR_s9HEZoPIRAFQuNAxs/s1600-h/029.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226041489014651170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggu1xPW_PRJY8raBL9iWwhz7Kh5vUfTrhO05QZVDjssJgsrzXIDsMZhHNM-VOYQ3t0GegF6n_RDLlm2y4yXtxeDq2lvHz87FN_9ub4yqiKTXvBiMTk01ElOyZiuR_s9HEZoPIRAFQuNAxs/s320/029.JPG" border="0" /></a> I've been wanting to do this for a long long time - knock this wall down. We are expanding our back wall from our living area that had a horrible design of two windows on opposite ends that were way too high to see the outside yard. And I hated it because I could not see my children while they played outside. With this wall down we will have about an extra three feet added to our living area and I will be able to see my kids play outside from any area of the living room without having to get up and look out the window. We have added a door, french doors, and a huge window that takes up about half the wall. It really has opened up the room. So far Adam and the kids have knocked down half of the wall, next they will do the fire place in the middle and then the other half of the wall. YAY!!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAdFdPnYgZ-WF7dv53XGDmTS2UfC7m6-Kk4ZXA0hp5t1vhmd30D6VzwrXxj811EmT_o3aa_vPGVPGVOMv-JYq1mu_sFfYs3kx3zUugHXSF6HWvxvFvVL2p8wAcPfEbv2nauioMB-J46hL/s1600-h/165.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226041491067954914" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAdFdPnYgZ-WF7dv53XGDmTS2UfC7m6-Kk4ZXA0hp5t1vhmd30D6VzwrXxj811EmT_o3aa_vPGVPGVOMv-JYq1mu_sFfYs3kx3zUugHXSF6HWvxvFvVL2p8wAcPfEbv2nauioMB-J46hL/s320/165.JPG" border="0" /></a> Nope, this is not a posed picture. I am really up on the roof, screwing the plywood down. It took me a while before I started to get blisters on my hand to look over at my husband and see him wearing gloves. He forgot that minor detail while handing me the tools. OOPS. I managed to finish the job in over 90 degree weather. There are very few times that I am willing to pat myself on the back, but I was sure damn proud of myself for getting up on the roof for over an hour bent over drilling the plywood. (Yep, I was sore the next day) So see, I'm not a total girly girl. I also helped drill the holes in the yard when we first got our house to put up the fence. I wonder if I can add all of this to my resume and who knows, by the time I look for a paying job, I may have to look into this line of work. It's been so long since I've done administrative work - yep, that's why it takes me so long to blog because I'm not as efficient as I once was years ago on the computer. Not to mention the alone time is few and far in between. But hey, for the most part, I'm happy.<br /><br /><div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-29884767157956301022008-07-22T19:12:00.000-07:002013-03-20T19:27:55.052-07:00What's Alexandra up to these days<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJrEaPLjQ5Gf6ChqNY2k8rUqAuu0iQ2M2Q4VgqO9MyvsRwOPuW8wjhLIGQOVpjP0h6UDodiZvBQydNjhtTfLWYtxzwiCIMZJ1TAgrpP_60uDHT_pMCqsU-I7UPv_3-20jcD3wlqerHod_/s1600-h/094.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226027734541022818" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJrEaPLjQ5Gf6ChqNY2k8rUqAuu0iQ2M2Q4VgqO9MyvsRwOPuW8wjhLIGQOVpjP0h6UDodiZvBQydNjhtTfLWYtxzwiCIMZJ1TAgrpP_60uDHT_pMCqsU-I7UPv_3-20jcD3wlqerHod_/s320/094.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is Alexandra's favorite thing to do (other than eating). She loves to look at books and have you read to her. And unfortunately, if you look real close, she has a shiner. Nope, she didn't fall and hit the corner of a table. Her older brother Aidan scared our dog who in turn made a mad dash away from him that Alexandra just happen to be in his way, so without seeing her, he ran over her. Needless to say, I was not very happy and had to pray for forgiveness after a few bad words flew out of my mouth. And yes, this would be the first week that I would take her to our regular pediatrician, go the YMCA, and church, etc... I never had so many things to do with her in tow before. And I had to explain why she was sporting around her shiner. I'm sure it won't be her first. Even though it was a complete accident, this little girl is into everything. She's running all over the house, laughing all the time. She has climbed on top of a few things - the couch, out of her high chair, she's tried her bed and hasn't accomplished that yet -into the tub, on a storage box, and she loves to put whatever she can in her mouth. The other night she tried putting insulation in her mouth. The good thing is, is that if I think she's put something in her mouth, and I tell her to give it to me. She will spit it out into my hand. Since the day we got her she's always liked putting fuzz in her mouth.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0cerCj7_nX6OTllgR6BvpiA-9Pa4m_kuW6ITgMmhyygQGxYSLlceow-z9jyMaj4Mrxx0nRdXbqP4SnnATc3dTL90vVrRZNfbrz3F0_TAwVl1bHMGQ8_ju6lf8kb7CLKXZJIs7ZggdTu_2/s1600-h/133.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226027738075158018" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0cerCj7_nX6OTllgR6BvpiA-9Pa4m_kuW6ITgMmhyygQGxYSLlceow-z9jyMaj4Mrxx0nRdXbqP4SnnATc3dTL90vVrRZNfbrz3F0_TAwVl1bHMGQ8_ju6lf8kb7CLKXZJIs7ZggdTu_2/s320/133.JPG" border="0" /></a>This is what she did the whole fourth of July. She was not any different than her usual self. She ran around constantly, and it was very hard for me to get any pictures of her because she would not be still. Nope, she wasn't afraid of any of the fireworks or the noise.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbfggseqnbXNUNtpWGEnLPHw6Bj23jBro2XyPGe-iELeKsgSUWM7rOgAsnJkOgEJylvSRG7rWDo4RzyUQuTemvT1VABRWrQZfnZc98xQTXp5tLEiByzoVxU4vOxyNf80R2XRmsFYmg3sb/s1600-h/139.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226027749381284098" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbfggseqnbXNUNtpWGEnLPHw6Bj23jBro2XyPGe-iELeKsgSUWM7rOgAsnJkOgEJylvSRG7rWDo4RzyUQuTemvT1VABRWrQZfnZc98xQTXp5tLEiByzoVxU4vOxyNf80R2XRmsFYmg3sb/s320/139.JPG" border="0" /></a>Taking a little break with her dad and looking a little out of sorts after playing hard.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdbaNtAWNU_YBZ8yNB9Ns5dNBSFfWnGnXyggWWYARgX75jSVAOFp1zoUoChba4jiyjmXD9yxe_AL-ObzgA7tAH9Q8tqTil804Viw_bGSEeuJJKeS7ntkgT1wqUItRzSRU6sT_TLXN5BkI/s1600-h/133.JPG"></a>From the picture below, she's trying to get her hands on the goods. She even threw her head band in the box so she could have an excuse to stick her little hands in there. Don't worry though the box only contained things that the kids could play with like the pull string confetti, pop rocks, and sparklers. I was close by making sure she stayed out of trouble.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAb1cEx-VWPO6-uQW0u0tJ4_LFt8RVAn7d0rqecL1V0o6SqBuJEz1x81qVQmGH2rdq7BQq_yMW6-OqBgmwX_OLv7cd9U9D4cNpFjJQHSpoQVjsFepxxCZkpVky9yGWuPZEt5sPoP74nNAx/s1600-h/153.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226027757903743218" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAb1cEx-VWPO6-uQW0u0tJ4_LFt8RVAn7d0rqecL1V0o6SqBuJEz1x81qVQmGH2rdq7BQq_yMW6-OqBgmwX_OLv7cd9U9D4cNpFjJQHSpoQVjsFepxxCZkpVky9yGWuPZEt5sPoP74nNAx/s320/153.JPG" border="0" /></a> I also wanted to put in my blog some interesting facts that I learned about Alexandra's matching process to our family. How she became our daughter. I will never forget gotcha day, seeing all the little Asian babies and not knowing exactly which one was ours and how blessed we were to have her. So many people gave us complements on our trip about how she was the perfect fit for us. I know God had his hand in this, but what was the deciding factor for the directors of the orphanage. How would they choose this child to be part of our family. Believe it or not we were told that they do look for physical similarities. Alexandra and Ashlyn have the same mouth for sure. And I did run into some people that I had not seen in a while and introduced them to my daughter and they said that she looked like her dad. Sorry, I didn't tell them any different. But anyway, I'm straying here. I found out that other than the physical characteristics, they will match a child according to the birth date and their Chinese zodiac sign, which is not like the American zodiac sign. The Chinese Zodiac is done in years, not months. So Alexandra's birthday is two days before Adam's and her Zodiac sign is the same as mine. I thought that this was so interesting that I had to include it in my blog.<br /><br /><div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-73605226653731237702008-07-04T12:57:00.000-07:002013-03-20T19:27:55.064-07:00Landen's six year birthday and our days camping<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RWuOKub7WNCWWgBVPGM4s2BGPNzWNq1cDpVIBrNgJWGLG-XYOhzO2uGNLoxY3Pmjn18ZO8Qr-9uF9_GgUaU05AowUsb_TEcmqcWpd26-0s5XuMm2UU9F92QkWTDquYRNJ1bHCDcdbuhG/s1600-h/035.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219252682892398786" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RWuOKub7WNCWWgBVPGM4s2BGPNzWNq1cDpVIBrNgJWGLG-XYOhzO2uGNLoxY3Pmjn18ZO8Qr-9uF9_GgUaU05AowUsb_TEcmqcWpd26-0s5XuMm2UU9F92QkWTDquYRNJ1bHCDcdbuhG/s320/035.JPG" border="0" /></a> My little boy is already six years old. The time goes by so fast. You blink and they are out of diapers and going into first grade.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zp0ra98MJV9iuGW4cpdFpwN3swi9nd3hhq1M99cIKURu-AARD1ARIXqb7RNN7qKlPajy7t3tcpJH7FVBNdRPve098FpapSDZuYDl5Apl9HgYSbvAxfQFVGGWyyH_242MkHGmAsKMoR09/s1600-h/038.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219252686008932994" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zp0ra98MJV9iuGW4cpdFpwN3swi9nd3hhq1M99cIKURu-AARD1ARIXqb7RNN7qKlPajy7t3tcpJH7FVBNdRPve098FpapSDZuYDl5Apl9HgYSbvAxfQFVGGWyyH_242MkHGmAsKMoR09/s320/038.JPG" border="0" /></a> Oops, just a little too close to the cake. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_aZdL0eF5YbpOoN8oCYmmkjbz7uV_bwen0S8o5nGMqzIY9d8InOVU89aOY9HdI1VXYnY27CFJdm7oBHbVh5RdvQnv3GVKNv_iUSNSTiXE542KcKNV9BbxKfBxFc7DvVO3c2QLE5qOfts/s1600-h/039.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219252697882213954" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_aZdL0eF5YbpOoN8oCYmmkjbz7uV_bwen0S8o5nGMqzIY9d8InOVU89aOY9HdI1VXYnY27CFJdm7oBHbVh5RdvQnv3GVKNv_iUSNSTiXE542KcKNV9BbxKfBxFc7DvVO3c2QLE5qOfts/s320/039.JPG" border="0" /></a> I can't imagine Landen being any other way. His nickname from his mom only is Sunshine. You can definitely see why here. He has the ability to light up the whole room. (There's also another side, but we won't discuss that now)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuj_0l-u0GMk2II5gonqIZDbyWh_3IxG32wfFIbgmjeD72yuu1q7joU4Hginw9aJz_aG7CPZjhyphenhyphenY7i1NsYlrj4Q-bqj0jnY4L2hO6uEALl30RukuHlFZtJQbJB-fv7LMk0VsqkmIx0dirW/s1600-h/080.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219252702509368146" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuj_0l-u0GMk2II5gonqIZDbyWh_3IxG32wfFIbgmjeD72yuu1q7joU4Hginw9aJz_aG7CPZjhyphenhyphenY7i1NsYlrj4Q-bqj0jnY4L2hO6uEALl30RukuHlFZtJQbJB-fv7LMk0VsqkmIx0dirW/s320/080.JPG" border="0" /></a> All the little Manuel's right before bedtime while camping. It looks like Alexandra is loving her first camping trip. She was great. We went camping just a couple of weeks after returning home from China.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWkYO-GQdZYmXU3sfZj-kYyDM9E2UPAVYWw_MhyphenhyphensFwq2fS6IA3z8_w9rcUkApXOQx6HeX55FUkP1m9VO6YxEiSOQS07wqD7C9Ih_0NIPw7c7iV6UUuWDYGAxcI_TNbSWxSKmyCOKu1UtO/s1600-h/069.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219252714026947794" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWkYO-GQdZYmXU3sfZj-kYyDM9E2UPAVYWw_MhyphenhyphensFwq2fS6IA3z8_w9rcUkApXOQx6HeX55FUkP1m9VO6YxEiSOQS07wqD7C9Ih_0NIPw7c7iV6UUuWDYGAxcI_TNbSWxSKmyCOKu1UtO/s320/069.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is my camping look. How unfortunate some of our camping buddies have never seen me any other way. Here, Alexandra and I are about to go walking on an alligator trail for a couple of miles. She liked the hike too, and never complained. There was one occasion though where this alligator was flailing in and out of the water with it's tail and growling. I'm from Louisiana and have seen many of alligator, but I've never seen one act like that before. Needless to say we did not stick around to see why he/she (I'm assuming it was a female because she was ornery) was acting irritable.<br /><div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-50855027246885564202008-07-04T06:12:00.000-07:002013-03-20T19:28:51.675-07:00<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hnHgJIvSx6KpgexExozOJez6Q1ABKkNAPLmVHZjRL4-Byl5tUvr6ct2Gdl0OxOzNJoF-gSbJidbOQbJQHwQ8opt02uuMu7x_UfNCZThTq9BjCQVEhSY1xzBT92l-oFXhVLDZWyVHWRt_/s1600-h/039.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219148230808797362" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hnHgJIvSx6KpgexExozOJez6Q1ABKkNAPLmVHZjRL4-Byl5tUvr6ct2Gdl0OxOzNJoF-gSbJidbOQbJQHwQ8opt02uuMu7x_UfNCZThTq9BjCQVEhSY1xzBT92l-oFXhVLDZWyVHWRt_/s200/039.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDUlFksWM05bvg_kGDln4psyiAxPUP8mRPkGcnhGjokGC3Wt8QjRBFXJMyz7-fW6TPXceaPtdA5Lnt3JO7bJPViowHPyClKs1uzvdY2JPNqn95H0OSYQ6Nu-erSiLWZ0_rqJWt6YwyVpK/s1600-h/038.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219148235997186642" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDUlFksWM05bvg_kGDln4psyiAxPUP8mRPkGcnhGjokGC3Wt8QjRBFXJMyz7-fW6TPXceaPtdA5Lnt3JO7bJPViowHPyClKs1uzvdY2JPNqn95H0OSYQ6Nu-erSiLWZ0_rqJWt6YwyVpK/s200/038.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZoxveL-2CfBJ0En92OMiWD6ht4dvgMqe6zcqQjFCDMmjJ33wVxLWdv21EQDsVTlCHEWh4NDZ992ltx-nbWNpClGzedKWaw-gaIlyshzItXCYRf3XvSe_kO3ESciV0XJgVNv5DRFt5Vjav/s1600-h/035.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219148243378109906" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZoxveL-2CfBJ0En92OMiWD6ht4dvgMqe6zcqQjFCDMmjJ33wVxLWdv21EQDsVTlCHEWh4NDZ992ltx-nbWNpClGzedKWaw-gaIlyshzItXCYRf3XvSe_kO3ESciV0XJgVNv5DRFt5Vjav/s200/035.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoU-Yeg_JcotNw7f18_8lz_aOBnKYxt7_Uyx-8cE6arqyMt3p6JsDzggxIZY2ZwuHKLSEwEgd9TdibudKCnEhDMYQtL8a6A6yor3GN26UtImqxOm80htaDd1a13CqlCKbIc899Q8bjwfdl/s1600-h/080.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219148244275944898" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoU-Yeg_JcotNw7f18_8lz_aOBnKYxt7_Uyx-8cE6arqyMt3p6JsDzggxIZY2ZwuHKLSEwEgd9TdibudKCnEhDMYQtL8a6A6yor3GN26UtImqxOm80htaDd1a13CqlCKbIc899Q8bjwfdl/s200/080.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjP90djSNVd_79jU2d2y245pOCujfHXs-RH9_5AtHBocQG2tc_nQl9SxY1OaiZv4KHojnSPPMU244SMe5UzEKnyLttfojXY1tI-GhWy8yj1QiNS-_kODb-v5NhRoqqegMaRb-C6YVVcl8/s1600-h/069.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219148250233713474" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjP90djSNVd_79jU2d2y245pOCujfHXs-RH9_5AtHBocQG2tc_nQl9SxY1OaiZv4KHojnSPPMU244SMe5UzEKnyLttfojXY1tI-GhWy8yj1QiNS-_kODb-v5NhRoqqegMaRb-C6YVVcl8/s200/069.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />
<br /><div></div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-63328630912341346082008-07-04T05:52:00.000-07:002013-03-20T19:28:51.684-07:00What's up with the Manuel's<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1spN3M5MhJJF4MzluCm-zj_ZD_w04JOjV9C-Wm9Qf4rYCLLMFHXhNWtwblwMTSQ3ALbuRbuFbsFqgmNJfsuWwjbYQRsaQeIwtmeIaX0J9FZ781AO0Lr7MK9IxtZm6t6c-8IEUuRLxkk6/s1600-h/080.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219142067867443746" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1spN3M5MhJJF4MzluCm-zj_ZD_w04JOjV9C-Wm9Qf4rYCLLMFHXhNWtwblwMTSQ3ALbuRbuFbsFqgmNJfsuWwjbYQRsaQeIwtmeIaX0J9FZ781AO0Lr7MK9IxtZm6t6c-8IEUuRLxkk6/s320/080.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />
<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66EqNL4MNIzSDhYQ6pi_2dzXpOoTwzEg_FX28P19kJwH9xuV5FZyTED3DciDYxXgvG7amVMvweGWImC5t-TqrlS5JCg8klf9QRKBTwLTB9beVR5G4BF07nB48tIe-kyM5wq3S_9gzUOiu/s1600-h/069.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219141604938164306" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66EqNL4MNIzSDhYQ6pi_2dzXpOoTwzEg_FX28P19kJwH9xuV5FZyTED3DciDYxXgvG7amVMvweGWImC5t-TqrlS5JCg8klf9QRKBTwLTB9beVR5G4BF07nB48tIe-kyM5wq3S_9gzUOiu/s320/069.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />
<br /><div></div></div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-2394578185548279762008-06-06T13:38:00.000-07:002008-06-06T14:26:45.237-07:00What's new with everyoneWell school has been out for a week. Oh my. Landen is officially over with kindergarten, Ashlyn is now going to second grade, and Aidan will continue to go to preschool. I think Ashlyn was happy school was over and looking forward to the summer. Of course there's the poor me scenario every now and then. I wish we could go to summer camp, I wish we could go to the YMCA pool everyday. Why we can't do that? Let's see, before school ended she was doing gymnastics, singing/piano lessons, baseball, and safari princess. Poor girl, she's soooo deprived. Anyway, basketball season starts and the first practice is this Monday. I got an e-mail from the coach introducing himself and letting me know when practice was. I had to e-mail him and ask which kid he was talking about since three of mine will be playing this season. I'm praying for a relaxed summer if that is possible, where I can hang out at the pool with my kids and enjoy spending time with them. It's only the motherhood mentality that makes me want to do this because otherwise I wouldn't be caught dead in a bathing suit.<br /><br />Landen was very sad the last day of school. He didn't want school to end. He said that he was going to miss all of his friends and teachers. Oh and he got all of his pretty blond hair cut off for the summer. I refused to let him and Aidan get a buzz cut, but it's really short.<br /><br />Aidan is pretty much easy going. He will go with the flow. It's just hard for me to believe that he will have to go another year in preschool. I think he's ready for kindergarten, but I know several mothers that think their kids are advanced. It's not so much his academics that I think he's advanced in, even though he can write his name and read a few site words. He just seems to be mature. And there are times that he is definitely more mature than his older brother.<br /><br />As far as Alexandra, she is changing everyday since the day we got her. She now has more hair, four teeth, and she starting to get a little chunky around the booty and thighs. She is also walking all over the place. And her grandmother Betty has spoiled her rotten. She loves Ms. Betty to death and if Ms. Betty walks into a room and doesn't pick Alexandra up, Alexandra will start to cry. And when Alexandra sees her Grandmother across the room she will take off running with her arms up in the air. It's hard to believe that she wasn't with us a few months ago.<br /><br />We've heard from Bryan. He sent a few pictures from Kuwait, but called Adam the other day to say that he was in Iraq, but he could not tell us where he was in Iraq. I might be afraid to know. He is hoping to get a few days leave in November. We are still praying for him to come safely home, and ask that our friends and family will do the same. Oh and rumor has it, he's very serious with his girlfriend. Hmmm, that's the first that I've heard of him having a serious relationship since I've known him.<br /><br />Oh and if anyone knows our family there's never a dull moment and there is always some crises no matter how big or small. The latest is our neighborhood water supply. There have been several occasions where we had no water at all. How wonderful. A mother with four children and no water. Do you realize how many times I wash my hands and the kids a day? Thank God for sanitizing wipes. And yes, the matter is still being worked on. Today my poor mother in law took the kids blackberry picking, cut the grass, and then went home to get totally undressed ready to get in her shower only to find out that there was no water. While this was going on, I called the water company - Aqua Texas and asked as nicely as possible what was going on that this was probably the 3rd or 4th time that we had no water. The rep said she would look into it and then came back and said they were working on it. I asked her since we were having to do without water on a number of occasions if we were going to get a discount on our water bill? I was being sarcastic, which is something I can't stand when other people do it. But I thought it was quiet obvious. But she put me on hold to find out. I couldn't believe she thought I was serious, but hey it was worth the try, but to no surprise she came back and said no.<br /><br />Well hopefully we will have a good summer and not suffer too much from the heat. And get our water working properly.dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-75293462377866765112008-05-14T20:21:00.000-07:002008-12-10T06:06:28.557-08:00Our oldest son Bryan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6mkq-DwgMjFLWV3UPbuGKMsvh7on0N8oPXgrr8D4V2QigfukL858qQmZfO_hr5Ki1rfojbd4HpBAt94T0ZO3KOgbhbw5P6-aouBXidLx___5jC1Uq5_qoYvLJeFDlk63js_RZWOZs5YL/s1600-h/100_0190.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200440316593950306" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6mkq-DwgMjFLWV3UPbuGKMsvh7on0N8oPXgrr8D4V2QigfukL858qQmZfO_hr5Ki1rfojbd4HpBAt94T0ZO3KOgbhbw5P6-aouBXidLx___5jC1Uq5_qoYvLJeFDlk63js_RZWOZs5YL/s320/100_0190.JPG" border="0" /></a> Bryan during his last family gathering before being deployed to Kuwait. We ask that you please keep Bryan in your prayers that he will come home safely and for God speed.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTP5zLAQO3qYRFFFjQdRkGd_c9EBzx-soUJJLgq3GJr47VnumNwh8KgS7SI55CadvkITimjVrSlVJoklbDaWOSs9-DPyKBUXKfAySfBV5oZrFigDKKnUmmDu6YK6iVLqq6VOjennbAT90/s1600-h/100_0189.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200440316593950322" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTP5zLAQO3qYRFFFjQdRkGd_c9EBzx-soUJJLgq3GJr47VnumNwh8KgS7SI55CadvkITimjVrSlVJoklbDaWOSs9-DPyKBUXKfAySfBV5oZrFigDKKnUmmDu6YK6iVLqq6VOjennbAT90/s320/100_0189.JPG" border="0" /></a> Adam and Bryan May 9, 2008, gee they really do look alike.<br /><div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-30514399128758955472008-05-14T20:14:00.001-07:002008-12-10T06:06:29.333-08:00Other family photos<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjET5mmiG-rbMH5n77ErhffJ9_KMeu4jwalc6TIdITymQ_X6WS2CWCyduFxUuMgQdROtU9Y_Oz4Yensaf7-D7TaEPULuDO6pp16dB-UEB_vqiphnXsdfnWZC5k82pFURmMnX8yOj6hoIWic/s1600-h/100_0074.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQfDr-JT62sN8sKrRcBFAGsHj0kERICsPnd82wyp51yFfbn0PlPvtDiuRl2oJzJu5sxJeTtzfeXZ45Vd2j5lPXe6Xn50wvXsIeTUV9yv8HeW4QfaJs8p5lkLpjuLIVjhACDH2XRHyQCs7/s1600-h/100_0074.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200438426808340002" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQfDr-JT62sN8sKrRcBFAGsHj0kERICsPnd82wyp51yFfbn0PlPvtDiuRl2oJzJu5sxJeTtzfeXZ45Vd2j5lPXe6Xn50wvXsIeTUV9yv8HeW4QfaJs8p5lkLpjuLIVjhACDH2XRHyQCs7/s320/100_0074.JPG" border="0" /></a> Landen and Aidan crossing out the days while waiting for Mommy, Daddy, Ashlyn, and Alexandra to come home.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOxuxrCLtwA2qUHTFm56gVvcpZK_Mmisn2YLZdApfTSyDN3hyRk92QUAJQAasQexENdH-dX74G6CB9p4tsCufEl4d4sqP2TZCPrVVQqlJvr0vAxNWuVFPoYHFfDp46ZRmRX4A2vJf1Lpn/s1600-h/060.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200438426808340018" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOxuxrCLtwA2qUHTFm56gVvcpZK_Mmisn2YLZdApfTSyDN3hyRk92QUAJQAasQexENdH-dX74G6CB9p4tsCufEl4d4sqP2TZCPrVVQqlJvr0vAxNWuVFPoYHFfDp46ZRmRX4A2vJf1Lpn/s320/060.JPG" border="0" /></a> Aidan and Landen think that since they are wearing Chinese PJ's<br />that they are Chinese boys.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sdw2YJjOMAG3UpTlzOXCMJBm6_M0rVIOT9Dh6prrEzKDSPqud6u8b8VFGqqKQtM3kB0o6NBNmuXgkmccY8QdKLu-ME0dvtqvAh__8YD_Jjx4YPcGhQaorj4ylhmCfs48CHUQUnAQQ7oE/s1600-h/100_0178.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200438435398274626" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sdw2YJjOMAG3UpTlzOXCMJBm6_M0rVIOT9Dh6prrEzKDSPqud6u8b8VFGqqKQtM3kB0o6NBNmuXgkmccY8QdKLu-ME0dvtqvAh__8YD_Jjx4YPcGhQaorj4ylhmCfs48CHUQUnAQQ7oE/s320/100_0178.jpg" border="0" /></a> Aidan performing at his end of the year preschool show.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lmzRc1Z4_kGv9bpgMydlE9Vsh_bTwsH8h5WLlFy7ixCCgfVem3VL11guQtZjoW9XeAQ0VBLq1DneFD4lp_pXpr97LX44Ivg8u01XihRpVKgx0j2mXnmT2-OS17d9R8pVeAQgOxiQso5J/s1600-h/100_0173.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200438439693241938" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lmzRc1Z4_kGv9bpgMydlE9Vsh_bTwsH8h5WLlFy7ixCCgfVem3VL11guQtZjoW9XeAQ0VBLq1DneFD4lp_pXpr97LX44Ivg8u01XihRpVKgx0j2mXnmT2-OS17d9R8pVeAQgOxiQso5J/s320/100_0173.JPG" border="0" /></a> Landen's Kindergarten celebration-celebrating going into first grade next year.dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-61150110311486195062008-05-14T20:05:00.000-07:002008-12-10T06:06:30.388-08:00Alexandra's 1st Birthday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-OzXrhL0jWROnRLzKCyDvuH5ddD6XoKzeXDSp75M3uqHQZaFdhI6GjmDnhNQQdEYPuKCzcjGs8dv_F2X0Th_Uo9KbaNYpbv9bCxDlJZt5pjKmRJWNymCtZ8FZrP6_AGvfXvwZMPx4giD/s1600-h/026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200436764655996418" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-OzXrhL0jWROnRLzKCyDvuH5ddD6XoKzeXDSp75M3uqHQZaFdhI6GjmDnhNQQdEYPuKCzcjGs8dv_F2X0Th_Uo9KbaNYpbv9bCxDlJZt5pjKmRJWNymCtZ8FZrP6_AGvfXvwZMPx4giD/s320/026.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ms. Laura's gift to Alexandra - her birthday cakes.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjBHE4rDuVTUpLHoNaJrQ0-LbGiyjYUArfqW-6ex63nKIkSds47m93mjlAeInqR0QonbO_Fvi23N2BOdaETXlru3aDPAXfi9gesdzawwGowZTLpmbw570JsoJfa3iVgscewMnwOoYgfQJ/s1600-h/029.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Sw6tGDXS7WEdg7eWHcTngy9uEq2vlLRonn4J099if5WNR2gxnpTJcEJC0n8OGRKoOiDz5hj2ALBJVM28sIsnvhL5NxJPCFc1jFctvSyJ-dMAj3xclztWzk9y9CpmMdtRaBP_i6nsBpdH/s1600-h/029.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200436339454234050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Sw6tGDXS7WEdg7eWHcTngy9uEq2vlLRonn4J099if5WNR2gxnpTJcEJC0n8OGRKoOiDz5hj2ALBJVM28sIsnvhL5NxJPCFc1jFctvSyJ-dMAj3xclztWzk9y9CpmMdtRaBP_i6nsBpdH/s320/029.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNdX08cDBJmL5cBdtVw3zjYgGHPCm1PvJs6FhX1zY3irs_X_LZ8L0mjh9Z8RBZk5O2hIRR7A_yJcc1Gs1-E0rA4XiYCePnvDyZyhOgiOVFCE6UDJkEe20j-9b2fPZ0g86CUZLWq6D2YIG/s1600-h/031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200436369519005138" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNdX08cDBJmL5cBdtVw3zjYgGHPCm1PvJs6FhX1zY3irs_X_LZ8L0mjh9Z8RBZk5O2hIRR7A_yJcc1Gs1-E0rA4XiYCePnvDyZyhOgiOVFCE6UDJkEe20j-9b2fPZ0g86CUZLWq6D2YIG/s320/031.JPG" border="0" /></a> I don't think Alexandra's seen one of these before. She's thinking (what is this?)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZvxXKwmironAO9DLHgrG4LilvazvyWYPeYBSSaEmRLBivSNGIF372Qd5VnbB8drHq3_EvAIrI28AMFXAV85k5RRJ-pZPdvM9vNn9roVb6Gzjge1uu3Ri5zmWCXqrmXoWkHqmBQugLUVh/s1600-h/042.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200436378108939746" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZvxXKwmironAO9DLHgrG4LilvazvyWYPeYBSSaEmRLBivSNGIF372Qd5VnbB8drHq3_EvAIrI28AMFXAV85k5RRJ-pZPdvM9vNn9roVb6Gzjge1uu3Ri5zmWCXqrmXoWkHqmBQugLUVh/s320/042.JPG" border="0" /></a> I think she figured it out. Mmmmm, it taste good.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9ZlpK5xEELBoTXJ_xFwesVFppKIEEKMc4WpVvNlCBAvBU03He7wNUdKRuHmpNP13d5rBjYpr-Q5V0gK1KcjguaBXmMCGUnH6KCfjqqixnPfwlq7n-GPYthE_LXfNUz7yHRP1rL8UxXyj/s1600-h/057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200436378108939762" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9ZlpK5xEELBoTXJ_xFwesVFppKIEEKMc4WpVvNlCBAvBU03He7wNUdKRuHmpNP13d5rBjYpr-Q5V0gK1KcjguaBXmMCGUnH6KCfjqqixnPfwlq7n-GPYthE_LXfNUz7yHRP1rL8UxXyj/s320/057.JPG" border="0" /></a> Yep, she's happy and you can see the evidence all over her face.<br /><br /><div></div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-57957371551219048422008-05-14T19:44:00.001-07:002008-12-10T06:06:30.949-08:00April 26, 2008 Alexandra's baby dedication/welcome home/birthday party<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGkhDNTNSvu_4Kkxjy7zub5GEJuQsWm2bn4q3n3n3VwrnSNohk2E1G5r1jqUnZIuRo4eHOwon9284J9LQKn-GUemBDB5hronGP4huqK58qd20KVX5ycaBnIUB-T2Q0FXWca2el8vwY-E3/s1600-h/100_0132.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200434591402544546" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGkhDNTNSvu_4Kkxjy7zub5GEJuQsWm2bn4q3n3n3VwrnSNohk2E1G5r1jqUnZIuRo4eHOwon9284J9LQKn-GUemBDB5hronGP4huqK58qd20KVX5ycaBnIUB-T2Q0FXWca2el8vwY-E3/s320/100_0132.JPG" border="0" /></a> Alexandra and Mommy<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrv_udzMF0dmScQ9ksisemn2NqVoGffc1RSWt6YoQ9JlCZwxNS5F9OMgchCXCuyrvcjbkOJ2LcDqgVa6e1Wz7U-Dav3YeBBvZxATLsmM-ajT3zEqRrlWIOpQhfCWfRqj9DtiBM3Clfd8y/s1600-h/100_0137.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200433341567061394" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrv_udzMF0dmScQ9ksisemn2NqVoGffc1RSWt6YoQ9JlCZwxNS5F9OMgchCXCuyrvcjbkOJ2LcDqgVa6e1Wz7U-Dav3YeBBvZxATLsmM-ajT3zEqRrlWIOpQhfCWfRqj9DtiBM3Clfd8y/s320/100_0137.JPG" border="0" /></a>Grandma Betty, Alexandra, and Mommy. If you look in the background, you can see where Adam has started to demolish the back of the house for expansion. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hmmmm</span>, I wonder when we will have time to go into the next phase. Oh, Let's focus - It's Alexandra's dedication. I just couldn't help myself to point this out.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9etTI_Am3U6yLClwZ-yHaXjdT8tTNsdcqNYppzSPg_sNeNWOOmCYZR5tYnIPSB1aYXmZDvpqdsrbITKU2WEU48EIMXBWMgGjBpQlZEsFz1Bb6Kufhur4Gqs0bzXMYt52rXUBN9QhSt8A/s1600-h/100_0132.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0U3IpFpMrN36lpr6JdoKu74Wc4-xeaBu-uVePyDGksPHllqN7fSezt-nqNszk_s7mOhCQ_96Cc7MLfw4qZpJmF8-j2fifGcszTJX3vyOPwVp4mfwqJTpZ1cerz2-4hLeYK4EB9uEGxcT/s1600-h/100_0132.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tTkmHkpnTkEZB3fbP0daA73QEiD8xd0kADP9MBTvetp5ybPbGpjLSjUqn3Dp9ZAiF-nF3fwmTjWfu0LQuVkQsco1gUC-w9ZBxs0BWcZJCKZUsJkGgNJ-4F3esGZlhdY8qI1Yw9JmwAoD/s1600-h/023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200432920660266370" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tTkmHkpnTkEZB3fbP0daA73QEiD8xd0kADP9MBTvetp5ybPbGpjLSjUqn3Dp9ZAiF-nF3fwmTjWfu0LQuVkQsco1gUC-w9ZBxs0BWcZJCKZUsJkGgNJ-4F3esGZlhdY8qI1Yw9JmwAoD/s320/023.JPG" border="0" /></a> Alexandra's dedication with Pastor James and family and friends.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-74975218347322882242008-04-12T07:47:00.000-07:002008-12-10T06:06:31.838-08:00We have the best family and friends<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3J2NgFyF05AeNohlrxJAAg2T5RXyagMrWJNQDBK9ecYLyenKH92cWukS9Kjv4a1uqJeYWqzkpYoNuO6YfZuM_PE4lG_Z0iOACpo38uysULsCZgEya5bLGk-4ldE1kIl0U3U8Pm3FlbBh/s1600-h/005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188370831049119618" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3J2NgFyF05AeNohlrxJAAg2T5RXyagMrWJNQDBK9ecYLyenKH92cWukS9Kjv4a1uqJeYWqzkpYoNuO6YfZuM_PE4lG_Z0iOACpo38uysULsCZgEya5bLGk-4ldE1kIl0U3U8Pm3FlbBh/s320/005.JPG" border="0" /></a> Worst and best plane ride ever. The best because we were coming home. The worst because it was way too long and my baby couldn't get comfortable enough to sleep. We had wanted to purchase a carseat, but that wasn't an option once we arrived in China. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RaNpbKpkNB6xIQB2z1rdRziqR_OLrX5gTD8D8r24zpnlN6tv1usohWsunX-mV6fnyfHomDqa0CPfjM9Bhcr0VQNmph9aWfVrbxIgocYJ2IMcaR3-5e4Le-i7AsU1v_b3o-8S8oiyrJZC/s1600-h/009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188370839639054226" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RaNpbKpkNB6xIQB2z1rdRziqR_OLrX5gTD8D8r24zpnlN6tv1usohWsunX-mV6fnyfHomDqa0CPfjM9Bhcr0VQNmph9aWfVrbxIgocYJ2IMcaR3-5e4Le-i7AsU1v_b3o-8S8oiyrJZC/s320/009.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our welcome home, we had many surprises. Our friends were there to greet us at the airport. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpxfg6AfbWB7tLQdbWqmnvUP7DYd0Su4DxJE8zJJtDDSvV66sj7fUxZd1cdQXrvypSNQfdC_BD1ZUhzduSLEZJ8_x5KpSsipY0Gmw0UhwOW-XSSxY4OUDPYW7JjrzG-QwkVb0zMZLV4eJ/s1600-h/011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188370843934021538" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpxfg6AfbWB7tLQdbWqmnvUP7DYd0Su4DxJE8zJJtDDSvV66sj7fUxZd1cdQXrvypSNQfdC_BD1ZUhzduSLEZJ8_x5KpSsipY0Gmw0UhwOW-XSSxY4OUDPYW7JjrzG-QwkVb0zMZLV4eJ/s320/011.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our family anxiously awaited our arrival with many surprises as well. Alexandra had a brand new carseat waiting for her in the van that her Aunt Heather and Grandma Betty bought for her.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqHTjKh1mMiu2zdI8ka229FQNaej2nKtGw2KzfZrzIeqxZdcjGRVcu3x3fem7bv5mXu__zbUAlGUmWbIARrBDpRJxY0FbyoKO2Z5ayZNsOleLFFef4G4ycxjl-3PSNSJX_RH4GwRIJKEu/s1600-h/016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188370848228988850" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqHTjKh1mMiu2zdI8ka229FQNaej2nKtGw2KzfZrzIeqxZdcjGRVcu3x3fem7bv5mXu__zbUAlGUmWbIARrBDpRJxY0FbyoKO2Z5ayZNsOleLFFef4G4ycxjl-3PSNSJX_RH4GwRIJKEu/s320/016.JPG" border="0" /></a> Her beautiful nursery that was done by all -Grandma Betty, Aunt Heather, Aunt Rhonda, Aunt Faye, Aunt Billie, and Glynis. A lot of decisions to be made and hard work -what would be the best thing for the nursery- the end result, Mommy and Alexandra were really surprised and loved it.<br /><div></div>dawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8186013148132431758.post-3496554438280318142008-04-08T06:44:00.000-07:002008-04-08T06:47:02.305-07:00On our way home<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Yippeeeeee</span>, we are on our way home first thing tomorrow morning. Bright and early. The bellboy is coming to take our luggage at 4:30am and we are off to the airport at 5:30am. I can't wait to see my boys. Pray that we have a safe trip and that it is uneventful. And that getting back on schedule will not be hard for all of us.<br /><br />We'll see you soon.<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />Dawndawnmanuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10935513394032671040noreply@blogger.com1