tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9355818973293751692024-02-06T22:32:33.418-08:00CutesieSweetsiesLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-26331463486508140162012-03-08T06:15:00.000-08:002012-03-08T06:15:56.159-08:00An open door...or twoThis is super short.<br />
<br />
I havent blogged in a few days.<br />
I am working on something and I dont have a way to describe it without giving it away.<br />
All I can say is...the doors are opening.<br />
And I am walking through them holding the Hand of my Creator.<br />
<br />
I can't wait to share it. (No...Im not pregnant : )<br />
<br />
God is doing something big in my life.<br />
He has been doing something big for years...and He just keeps it going.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-28228055517029988962012-03-03T18:46:00.000-08:002012-03-03T18:46:58.113-08:00Because of what it means...Yesterday was a tragic day for a lot of people in the southern states.<br />
<br />
If you know me very well...or even a little...you might know that I am very, very afraid of tornadoes.<br />
I have always been afraid. <br />
I have always had a "respective fear" of tornadoes...meaning I never take severe weather lightly.<br />
<br />
And yesterday proves to me once again...why I feel this way.<br />
It also confirms that we made a good choice in ordering a safe room that cannot get here fast enough.<br />
(Just 3-4 more weeks)<br />
Thankfully I have the sweetest neighbors ever...and if the weather gets so bad I can at least get my babies in her safe room. Thank you sweet neighbor.<br />
<br />
I don't even feel comfortable writing the words I feel about what happened yesterday.<br />
Lives lost.<br />
Homes destroyed.<br />
People hurting.<br />
No way to prevent it.<br />
Children<br />
Mommas<br />
daddys<br />
the devastation of it all<br />
<br />
my heart is heavy and hurting so <br />
<br />
Tonight as I got my girls ready for bed, I soaked up the sweetness.<br />
I praised God that I was there with them...in that moment. <br />
Some people lost that yesterday.<br />
I still have it. <br />
I have my babies to hold.<br />
My home is still in tact, toys everywhere, bottles needing cleaned, striped socks left by the back door.<br />
I am leaving it all there (maybe not the bottles).<br />
But tonight...it stays. I need to see the mess. because of what it means. <br />
<br />
It means I have my babies sleeping just feet away from me while I type.<br />
I have my family.<br />
<br />
I'll take the mess and look at it with love. With thankfulness.<br />
<br />
Because of what it means.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-30647329776675493912012-03-02T12:03:00.000-08:002012-03-02T12:03:21.670-08:00"Joyful Noise"...the MovieI really don't go to the movies much. <br />
I have a hard time justifying to myself that it's "ok" to sit still...for two hours...and do nothing but focus on a huge screen. <br />
I call that a bad case of the Mommydoeverythingforeverybodybutyourself syndrome. :)<br />
<br />
This past weekend...my best sisterfriend called and said hey let's go to the movies and eat.<br />
I got to go with her girlies too which was crazy fun.<br />
We added an impromtu shopping trip in there which does the soul good on a down day...even if you only try on 25 pairs of high heels and get none of them :) <br />
<br />
(By the way...heels and tall wedges are not my thang...I towered over all the aisles in the store and gave my friends a good laugh at my superfreaky tall expense)<br />
You need a good laugh? Go shoe shoppin' with me. dare ya :)<br />
<br />
We saw "Joyful Noise"...with Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton.<br />
<br />
I loved it. Loved loved loved it. Alot, alot, alot.<br />
<br />
I was so glad I said yes. (Which I wouldve said yes even if she asked me to go grocery shopping...friends stick with friends right?)<br />
<br />
Go see the movie.<br />
I had chills, I cried (and boohoo cry....not just tears).<br />
we danced in the theatre.<br />
sang our little hearts out.<br />
Even chowed down on buttery popcorn. (My stomach punished me for that one later...)<br />
<br />
It was just a good movie that I cannot wait to show my hubs.<br />
<br />
I need to see it again.<br />
I probably wont get the same high that I got the first time, but I could use an encore for sure!<br />
<br />
That's it.<br />
Probably my only movie review of the year :)<br />
<br />
Have a Fabuloso weekend!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-61608650010818055672012-03-01T09:18:00.000-08:002012-03-01T09:18:22.794-08:00Anchors Away...A visit from my brother who is in the US NAVY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have always been a military supporter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My heart has always been sensitive to those who serve and who</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">selflessly leave their sweet families home to make sure my family...keeps their freedoms.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then my own brother joined the Navy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now...I am as close to a Blue Star Mom as you can be.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Blue Star Sister maybe? :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My brother came home for Christmas and brought Nathan a super cool Navy shirt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He is here now and we are going to have lunch and hang out a little bit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He leaves soon...and will soon be deployed again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you imagine the prayers that boy gets from his big sister???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes. Tons. Lots. every day. All the time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We all love him...and my kids think he is the coolest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Natalie crawls all over him and jumps on him like hes a trampoline.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brooklyn thinks he is silly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nathan just chills with him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My brother is pretty cool. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I sure cant wait until we can see him more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-76972383569415852132012-02-29T08:27:00.000-08:002012-02-29T08:27:03.524-08:00And she turned 4...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our little girl...our firstborn princess.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She turned four this year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">January 15th.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was her snow princess party...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I will try and upload the invitation tonight</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was really fun :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She had a sweet group of little princesses come to help celebrate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They ate cupcakes, admired each others dresses...and listen to Brooklyns favorite story.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A story of what God wants for his little girls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kindness</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Grace</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Compassion</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Confidence </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and more...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a sweet celebration of the life that God blessed us with just four years ago.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh, to just hold this little girl in my arms once more and smell her newbornness.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I remember as soon as we got her home from the hospital, it was me, Philip and Brooklyn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I got on my knees at the end of our bed and wept.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I wept because she was ours.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I wept because I didnt know what to do next.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I wept because I was so deeply in love with this 4 day old baby and I didnt know how to deal with it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I wept because she was my miracle and I knew she was special.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(I was on bedrest/restrictions basically the whole pregnancy due to the placenta tearing away from the uterus. The whole pregnancy I was on edge, afraid, trying so hard to keep her with me)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh to freeze time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To keep today so still until I can soak it up enough to say</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Ok, tomorrow...what do you have for us?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nathan was napping the entire party...he missed the fun...but oh to have a nap:)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMF-HWzj3iGP1X8yikP5Fs-KafpScfkan0nKiIZw4D8D9UJMFTElpQWPML-ijnUC1QKRIstj3gw_sfJ-X1K-W15Bo_rOVh-GeBdh9al9ZF_1D_tmbDepp27erbhE5h6NClwJ-GhSmJIxO/s1600/IMG_7030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMF-HWzj3iGP1X8yikP5Fs-KafpScfkan0nKiIZw4D8D9UJMFTElpQWPML-ijnUC1QKRIstj3gw_sfJ-X1K-W15Bo_rOVh-GeBdh9al9ZF_1D_tmbDepp27erbhE5h6NClwJ-GhSmJIxO/s320/IMG_7030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-86140709065269769842012-02-26T12:22:00.000-08:002012-02-26T12:22:45.988-08:00Worship care...So today is Sunday...I really like Sundays. Sunday is the start of our weekend.<br />
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Today Philip and I took our turn for "worship care" aka nursery duty, at church today.<br />
We are on the schedule once a month for the three year old class.<br />
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It was really fun.<br />
<br />
I have three little kids at home and I have been told "dont you need a break?" haha!<br />
Yes. Yes, I do. But beng around more kids....makes me love mine more!! Double blessing!!!<br />
<br />
to be honest, volunteering for worship care is more of a blessing to me than it probably is for the kids.<br />
Today we had such a fun group of little boys and girls.<br />
I love to watch them interact, and play, and learn, and eat together and encourage each other.<br />
(They even argue with each other a little...imagine that! :) :)<br />
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Today they were extra sweet...when we sat down for a snack...each one of them took a turn praying. They voluntarily prayed. And they encouraged each other to pray. Wow.<br />
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However, its a blessing. I believe they need to be nurtured and encouraged by many ages and people.<br />
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It takes a village right ? :) Happy Sunday...<br />
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enjoy the fabulicious weather!!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-22517147732159416142012-02-25T08:36:00.000-08:002012-02-25T08:36:19.720-08:00Potty training in five-yes five days! For good!I have had the <strike>torment </strike>pleasure of potty training two children within a year.<br />
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Brooklyn potty trained at 3 years and 4 months (while I was 8 months preggo with Nathan-not fun)<br />
Natalie just potty trained at 2 years and 10 months (with a newly crawling and pulling up ten month old Nathan-again-not so fun but with a box of toys outside the bathroom door he was fine)<br />
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</div><div align="center"><strong>My method</strong></div><div align="center">I am probably a mixture of a whole bunch of methods...but this is what worked for both of my girls.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">They both came to me at the age above...and said "mommy I want panties!"</div><div align="center">YAY!</div><div align="center">(For the record...I never pushed it on either of them. I figured I would know when they were ready...and it worked! Plus...I had so much going on in my life with pregnancy and a newborn...I decided potty training would come...and it did!)</div><div align="center">So i said "Ok you're a big girl now! Yay! No more diapers!"</div><div align="center">So I took the diaper off and started encouraging them to drink as much water as possible.</div><div align="center">(I put panties on both of them, but they both peed in them pretty quick, so we went bare bottom for the first day-nice-I know but I put towels on the furniture. They stayed in the kitchen coloring for the most part)</div><div align="center">They both held it for a couple of hours, but eventually I could tell they needed to go.</div><div align="center">They both fought sitting on the toilet (I used our toilet, not a potty chair but we do have a seat the fits on the toilet for their little bums).</div><div align="center">I would take them back and forth ALL DAY!</div><div align="center">The first time...they both peed a little on the kitchen floor, and I picked them up, they would pee on me, then I would put them on the toilet and let them finish.</div><div align="center">I put them in the tub, let them wash off their legs and we moved on.</div><div align="center">that sounds horrible I know.</div><div align="center">Who wants to clean up pee on the floor and on themselves?</div><div align="center">Honestly-they both "got it" after that.</div><div align="center">They didnt like peeing out of control or on themselves.</div><div align="center">So they would run back and forth to the potty every ten minutes, trying to pee.</div><div align="center">Sometimes I had to hold them on the toilet and hug them while they got used to it.</div><div align="center">But after 4-5 times of doing that...it was fun to them!</div><div align="center">We would have lots of parties....many times a day!</div><div align="center">The same thing with poop.</div><div align="center">brooklyn had no problem pooping in the potty.</div><div align="center">Right now...Natalie will poop in the potty but she runs back and forth all day because she cant</div><div align="center">tell when she is quite ready. And she wants me with her when she poops still, which is OK!</div><div align="center">They both required ALL of my attention for a few days and I sat with them every single time for about a week.</div><div align="center">But its worth it!</div><div align="center">And no more diapers!</div><div align="center">And no accidents except the first day!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I hope this makes sense and can encourage anyone who is thinking about potty training.</div><div align="center">It worked for both of my girls...even though they were both around three years old,</div><div align="center"> I am so glad I waited.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">They know when they are ready. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Oh...lots and lots of positive reinforcement and encouragement.</div><div align="center">They were so excited to show me and loved when I would jump up and down and dance around to celebrate! (its so fun to see them gain confidence :)) </div><div align="center">We had an ice cream party after the first poop...</div><div align="center">but besides that we never really rewarded with candy or food.</div><div align="center">They were happy to have stickers and markers, and even play outside in the muddy garden!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I will spare you the pictures on this post :) </div><div align="center"><br />
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</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-13590056531783836032012-02-24T19:02:00.000-08:002012-02-24T19:02:28.974-08:00Twists and turns...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The last time I was here was December 9...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I took a little break. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A little voluntarily...a little not</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Life has been happening.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some twists...some turns.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A lot of ups...a few downs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A little painful growing going on too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Learning how life is precious.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Witnessing the truth of "He giveth and taketh away".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My new years resolution: To not live a day with any regrets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So far: Im meeting my resolution :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, whats been going on recently?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All three babies had RSV- at once. whew!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nathan- is ten months - crawling, pulling up, testing mammas authority :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Natalie- potty trained in 5 days. FIVE. I am thrilled!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I turned 31..and love it</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Philip is working hard but has been getting home early ... yay!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We ordered our saferoom for tornado season...a little less anxiety here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With that said...here is something sweet to look at :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My little Valentines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh they are sweet...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The girls made the sign :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Love love love love</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSK0sr9Jax7aTGI49uaMt_BFIVrOaVPCnlU2dOFoqcGZPIjPhZst18HIl0iyafvXdCu4rtK6wYbslxUy7QxwegQ8aLwb2UzcoPYtl21tggmafCAGsxSXTJIFjA0oZL-hpjvxrGR_SyEgC/s1600/IMG_7522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSK0sr9Jax7aTGI49uaMt_BFIVrOaVPCnlU2dOFoqcGZPIjPhZst18HIl0iyafvXdCu4rtK6wYbslxUy7QxwegQ8aLwb2UzcoPYtl21tggmafCAGsxSXTJIFjA0oZL-hpjvxrGR_SyEgC/s320/IMG_7522.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39hH9xZa2Ci7-MFdsrFh20X2q2eyBpwrTT0QHBGu_UawRvWMyxbUx1Y0E90pVT00MuEcSrzYKPSqk4Z9eyBPuvZ1UNmVDNE7WIcbUbKslRudLUd3sCzZz0RxvuVUpSXpGzQiafW_lZKpb/s1600/IMG_7494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39hH9xZa2Ci7-MFdsrFh20X2q2eyBpwrTT0QHBGu_UawRvWMyxbUx1Y0E90pVT00MuEcSrzYKPSqk4Z9eyBPuvZ1UNmVDNE7WIcbUbKslRudLUd3sCzZz0RxvuVUpSXpGzQiafW_lZKpb/s320/IMG_7494.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-145218174225905282011-12-09T19:41:00.000-08:002011-12-09T19:41:38.422-08:00Our little bakers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is definately Christmas time here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Visions of sugar plums are dancing - and if you're lucky you can catch me doing a jig or two to Bing Crosby and friends Christmas tunes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We are crafting crazy every day...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rudolph definately makes his appearance on our TV screen everyday...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We watch "The Small One" and everytime..everytime...Brooklyn wants me to tell her why the donkey is carrying Mary to Bethlehem.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Mommy...why is the donkey taking Mary to Bethlehem?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She loves to hear the story of the birth of Jesus.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Melt me...just watch me turn to goo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We made Christmas cookies one evening and they were soooo sweet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think we will do it again in a week or so.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am so excited to have my Christmas baking buddies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think matching aprons will find their way under the tree this year :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Check ya later...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Frank Sinatra is about to serenade me and a lovely fire is waiting for me :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wpT5XpB8ZnD4ac8mulzfXf3Bw798HsMfnLvaUyEbuLhXMzcucNNw-9jDYOs-D7pySq_We5qE_5wwDGVRWD99-lqNU20QCl19ZiX7yj7JxuvXdcFqoau3IEmApK8gnWZTad1jd_cTYH3o/s1600/IMG_6783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wpT5XpB8ZnD4ac8mulzfXf3Bw798HsMfnLvaUyEbuLhXMzcucNNw-9jDYOs-D7pySq_We5qE_5wwDGVRWD99-lqNU20QCl19ZiX7yj7JxuvXdcFqoau3IEmApK8gnWZTad1jd_cTYH3o/s320/IMG_6783.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYudQhkrhfyP-vi-SuBR9UndgEEEr3ucR6zaQyawF2HZUJ77jU0On8I1imEQwpdpF8BnGBPNQn9B8EKb9EuoLgmPcnsGOVcRkQ2vBGTSdilFosNDEn0WQdd0vpwMDrSqOV7IUMJ5VEK7T/s1600/IMG_6776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYudQhkrhfyP-vi-SuBR9UndgEEEr3ucR6zaQyawF2HZUJ77jU0On8I1imEQwpdpF8BnGBPNQn9B8EKb9EuoLgmPcnsGOVcRkQ2vBGTSdilFosNDEn0WQdd0vpwMDrSqOV7IUMJ5VEK7T/s320/IMG_6776.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaACOQYnDawK27mdmFeTAumU4JW5k85fIdkJAKwVTQYFMGP-fRaTn4ul6cAZ-iD7J-kxvItKKDJ0qgUESxQouADikYmedvGGLa9v-Q-XYW1ct41RlK2ugwkC4PipyreGsKnN2SCYcauiM8/s1600/IMG_6790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaACOQYnDawK27mdmFeTAumU4JW5k85fIdkJAKwVTQYFMGP-fRaTn4ul6cAZ-iD7J-kxvItKKDJ0qgUESxQouADikYmedvGGLa9v-Q-XYW1ct41RlK2ugwkC4PipyreGsKnN2SCYcauiM8/s320/IMG_6790.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-85321271916634631282011-12-06T19:56:00.000-08:002011-12-06T19:56:15.167-08:00Nathan 7 month pics...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It has been way too long since I have been on here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The days are getting away from me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Guess I have a no brainer for a new years resolution :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are the TWO pics I got for Nathans 7 month day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He was very grumpy. Not happy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Turns out...he had an ear infection and here I am sitting him out on a cool day</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">trying to get him to smile.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I actually like these pics though.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They are real life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Who wants fakey fakey posey posey?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Melt my heart once again...have I mentioned how crazy in love I am with this</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">little guy? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">:)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VZd1GBvKX0YoFHzQ7e39cncv6cf41w_rIg962K3NX_SNF-05EZAuQN_z7GWS8uXVcC1ds-zTnW7t85VSQIDLgCNlHgPMEfdM4zB11bXfQ7LvFgPTlZ0iv5GvKi3aidWbPDYXNqOtHUJg/s1600/IMG_6652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VZd1GBvKX0YoFHzQ7e39cncv6cf41w_rIg962K3NX_SNF-05EZAuQN_z7GWS8uXVcC1ds-zTnW7t85VSQIDLgCNlHgPMEfdM4zB11bXfQ7LvFgPTlZ0iv5GvKi3aidWbPDYXNqOtHUJg/s320/IMG_6652.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-505CFOgmIJHkenDJak_cVtU-Zw0QRxAfEmzHVksN18EyUM-QW4EM4xTd-5saKK9xO3SKdZFfF57Ag6gx3EFY688Lx0OZcieQ_3724lyO9qqvBOyyYBiM1hSsmSFDrpBL1teUda4BGT7/s1600/IMG_6653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-505CFOgmIJHkenDJak_cVtU-Zw0QRxAfEmzHVksN18EyUM-QW4EM4xTd-5saKK9xO3SKdZFfF57Ag6gx3EFY688Lx0OZcieQ_3724lyO9qqvBOyyYBiM1hSsmSFDrpBL1teUda4BGT7/s320/IMG_6653.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-81632865655153662832011-11-04T10:27:00.000-07:002011-11-04T10:39:27.757-07:00The Happy Day Project....<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thehappydayproject.com/"><img alt="happy day" border="0" height="125" src="http://liferearranged.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/happydayrainbowsquare125.jpg" width="125" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am so excited to be a part of this project!<br />
<br />
I want my blog to be used for the good of others.<br />
One of my favorite bloggers Julie over at <a href="http://joyshope.com/">joyshope.com</a> and her friend Jeanette at Life Rearranged<br />
have teamed up for a really worthy challenge.<br />
<br />
The Happy Day Project<br />
<br />
She challenges us to do something good everyday for a week.<br />
<br />
While I hope I do good everyday anyways...<br />
Ive been praying that I would be inspired to make the holidays more meaningful...and not just for my kids.<br />
I tend to make my world about my kids...which is fine in certain aspects.<br />
<br />
I want to teach them to do good.<br />
To love.<br />
To give.<br />
To enjoy spreading happiness to those around them.<br />
To be selfless.<br />
<br />
take the challenge with me :)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XijudTXkDHYEYqS4QakowU0R9ReHdv7xfhIdsU7pUg18p-o6bH_J0xa2Ft0756s3MnrSzYdpCgHG0kLZY1erD-FLtkw1ftQmB2-WZpZiZfaK8nOT0S1bk38Scj7z3ip1dDxKY0gW9_0/s1600/happydayschedule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_k99xoq="4" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XijudTXkDHYEYqS4QakowU0R9ReHdv7xfhIdsU7pUg18p-o6bH_J0xa2Ft0756s3MnrSzYdpCgHG0kLZY1erD-FLtkw1ftQmB2-WZpZiZfaK8nOT0S1bk38Scj7z3ip1dDxKY0gW9_0/s640/happydayschedule.jpg" width="344" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Check out the details at <a href="http://joyshope.com/">joyshope.com</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">or just click on the icon above.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is good to do good.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Its Biblical</div><div style="text-align: center;">Its right</div><div style="text-align: center;">Its good</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have a fabulous wonderful weekend :) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-17053420127613568852011-10-28T12:03:00.000-07:002011-10-28T12:03:00.283-07:00Nathan....6 month pic...how can this BE???<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just cannot bring myself to say my little baby boy is 6 months old.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> What in the world have I been doing for 6 months?</div>(Oh yeah...changing diapers, cooking, nursing, potty training....etc) <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He is so handsome.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I took these last night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The ones where he is sitting up were quick pics.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Philip would hold him, let go, I would take the pic, then P would catch him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Little booger (talking about Nathan) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ok so Philip can be a booger too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He is weighing in at 21 lbs, 28 inches and he has a big head. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">100 % on the charts for his head.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I dont mind.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Its the cutest little baby boy head I have ever seen!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">he started eating solid foods this week...sweet potatoes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ill post those pics soon too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Meanwhile...here is a little glimpse into picture time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My favorites wouldnt upload, so I will try again when P gets home!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh he is so precious to me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9P5L526bVwYhkljN1JtWr5Zm8YihoHZw3YWfaffSP_3mGMleBOV38iIdl3_Ke5kusdUnW9zFINxZaVJR1b6ps1YIDxkSPoeNmgMWCubcaX7E1DMU7JjSocua9-yrkvgjBILC4Jvaw0KK/s1600/IMG_6370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9P5L526bVwYhkljN1JtWr5Zm8YihoHZw3YWfaffSP_3mGMleBOV38iIdl3_Ke5kusdUnW9zFINxZaVJR1b6ps1YIDxkSPoeNmgMWCubcaX7E1DMU7JjSocua9-yrkvgjBILC4Jvaw0KK/s320/IMG_6370.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">He does have a big head huh? haha!</div><div align="center">He's a big boy!</div><div align="center">Gotta protect his sisters :) </div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-13674319566372816412011-10-26T09:19:00.000-07:002011-10-26T09:19:04.629-07:00comfort food...im a suckerSo when it turns cold I get in the mood for warm foods and sometimes they arent so healthy. <br />
I was trying to figure out what to have for dinner last night and found some potatoes my mom gave me because she had too many.<br />
free potatoes? I have to use them! <br />
So I made this for dinner last night...easy on the budget too! YUMMO! :) <br />
<br />
Easy potato soup<br />
<br />
We dont eat a lot of white potatoes....and a major reason is because I do not like to peel them. And generally we like sweet potatoes better. <br />
<br />
I take 5-6 potaoes the size of my fist. Scrub, peel and cut up into fairly large chunks. <br />
Add some water (do not cover the potatoes completely) and bring to a boil.<br />
Continue to cook for about 20 minutes<br />
add 1 cup of milk<br />
add 1/4 onion finely chopped<br />
add lots of black pepper<br />
dried parsley or chopped fresh parsley leaves (optional if you dont have either)<br />
add 2-3 cloves minces garlic<br />
add a little salt<br />
<br />
conitnue to cook on medium for about 30 minutes.<br />
<br />
Its fantastic. we love it and its comforting and warm and its a good healthier meal for the cooler days!<br />
<br />
Hope you like it! <br />
<br />
We are loving the weather today...cloudy with some rain and a cool breeze. Yay for fall!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-28936410602945067742011-10-25T10:15:00.000-07:002011-10-26T08:51:58.035-07:00Guest post at The Domestic Wannabe!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am excited to be a part of the series "A Day in the Life" over at</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thedomesticwannabe.blogspot.com/">http://www.thedomesticwannabe.blogspot.com/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Check out her awesome blog and be encouraged!</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-36753032344678490482011-10-23T12:00:00.000-07:002011-10-23T12:00:03.203-07:00Mommy "Possible" Williams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yesterday Philip asked Brooklyn...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Brooklyn, what is mommy's name?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Mommy, possible, Williams" she said.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We just couldnt quit laughing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What a silly girl...trying to be serious :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am LOVING how my girls say and do things like that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Which reminds me, I have got to start writing more of those down!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Speaking of "possible"...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This little handsome guy is 6 Months old now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ummm 6 months.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How is that possible???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is what I get to look at all day long...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">boy...I sure do have it made :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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I got distracted...three kids. You know...<br />
<br />
I have really been trying to stretch our budget and be creative with our meals.<br />
So if you are needing some help with the same, maybe this will help out a little.<br />
<br />
Each week I buy a whole chicken.<br />
Meal#1 <br />
crockpot the whole chicken for 8 hours <br />
season with onions, garlic cloves, pepper, and salt<br />
sides=steamed broccoli, corn on the cobb, and black eyed peas<br />
<br />
(After dinner, I take time and pull all the chicken off of the bones, not fun, but I do it)<br />
<br />
Meal#2<br />
fajitas<br />
one green bell pepper, half an onion<br />
1 cup chicken from last night<br />
taco seasoning packet OR I like to use a little salsa to mix in with the onion, pepper, and chicken<br />
cook in a skillet for about 15 minutes<br />
serve with corn tortillas, grated cheese, and any other toppings you like<br />
<br />
Meal#3<br />
Chicken spaghetti<br />
Use the rest of the chicken you have and mix with 8 oz whole wheat spaghetti (cooked), one bell pepper, 1/4 onion chopped, pepper, 1/2 cup heavy cream, and about 6 oz grated cheese.<br />
cook in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.<br />
serve with salad!<br />
<br />
We usually eat a version of these three meals each week.<br />
How can you beat that? A whole chicken feeds the four of us for three meals!<br />
We do not generally eat red meat, so if we eat meat it is chicken or fish.<br />
<br />
Hope this can help you spread the grocery dollars a little bit. :)<br />
Ill share more soon...<br />
<br />
OH! Dont forget to strain the chicken broth out of the chicken! Freeze it later for soup or for cooking!<br />
Yummo!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-29712969696465254222011-10-21T20:10:00.000-07:002011-10-21T20:10:57.119-07:00It's a Little Wild and a Little Strange...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So Philip and I usually watch some kind of TV show after we put the kids to bed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Usually it's something recorded on the DVR like "The Office" or "19 Kids and Counting"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Yes, I am strangely fascinated with the Duggars!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lately we have revisited our preteen-early teen years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Do you remember the show "Hey, Dude"?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You know...the theme song starts out </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"It's a little wild and a little strange...when you make your home out on the range."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Early 90's.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Philip and I both thought it was the coolest show ever.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well...we have been watching it every night for the past week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How cool are we?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I couldn't find a great pic...but maybe this one will help bring you back down memory lane.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bringin' back the 90's baby...bringin' it back. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-38137900457240802522011-09-13T07:30:00.000-07:002011-09-13T07:30:18.793-07:00A little acccountability...<div align="center">I am writing this post as sort of an accountability post.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Before kids I was a decent normal weight, size, etc.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">post kids...Its just not that way.</div><div align="center">permanent stretch marks on my belly (and thighs).</div><div align="center">A little more "junk in the trunk" (ive heard that term a lot recently)</div><div align="center">back pain</div><div align="center">wider hips</div><div align="center">bags under the eyes</div><div align="center">etc</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center">however, I do feel so sad that I am not as healthy as I could be.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">My body is interesting because after each baby...I lost all the weight I gained within four weeks.</div><div align="center">Im talking 52 lbs with Natalie</div><div align="center">35 lbs with Nathan</div><div align="center">(With Brooklyn I never wanted to know the lb number)</div><div align="center">My metabolism kicks into high gear postpartum...its nuts.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Since losing my weight with Nathan...I have gained 7 lbs back.</div><div align="center">Thats 7 pounds above PRE pregnancy weight.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">How can this be??<br />
Im nursing and burning crazy amount of calories that way.</div><div align="center">Ive been running for a couple of months now.</div><div align="center">(I am now more consistent)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">The scale is not budging.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I have thyroid issues but according to the Dr...my hormone levels are not easy to read because I am nursing and still in the postpartum stage.</div><div align="center">(Nathan is only 4 months old)</div><div align="center">So my thyroid problems are still up in the air...</div><div align="center">and apparently I have to wait 6 months longer to see what direction (treatment)</div><div align="center">the Dr wants to take.</div><div align="center">Still not sure about that whole thing.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Anyways...<br />
I am super excited and motivated to get into the best shape possible for ME.</div><div align="center">I am not interested in being model thin or superbody builder.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I want to be healthy.</div><div align="center">For myself</div><div align="center">for my kids</div><div align="center">for my husband</div><div align="center">and mostly because God gave me this body to take care of and</div><div align="center">I feel sooo thankful that I have the resources to make it healthy!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">What are you doing to keep yourself healthy?<br />
I would love to hear...maybe you can think of something I am not thinking of.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">the only thing I can think that I am lacking...and out of my control...is sleep.</div><div align="center">I know I do not get enough sleep.</div><div align="center">Maybe one day :)</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-33254617936535411582011-09-09T09:58:00.000-07:002011-09-09T09:58:33.198-07:00Groceries...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well yesterday I said I was going to tell you the cost of each item we bought.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I lost the receipt. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Actually I probably threw it away with other miscellaneous paper.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(I am annoyed with any clutter...so I dont keep anything paper that I do not need)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At Whole Foods total we spent 85.49</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Reasors I spent 37.00</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The pic of Whole Foods products is below. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I didnt take a pic of the reasors trip</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Normally I would spend about 80$ in a week on groceries.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I dont usually buy meat but I am trying to include salmon in our diet at least once a week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Its not cheap!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Reasors:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One whole chicken $11.00</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">wild caught alaskan salmon $11.27</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">one organic Bell pepper, half gallon of organic milk, pkg 6 whole wheat organic bagels</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">one organic tomato</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Whole Foods:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All organic foods below and I dont remember everything because I dont have the receipt and I dont really want to squint and figure out the picture! ha!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also made two more trips and bought a few things...I just cant remember what!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">yes there is bacon in there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Philip loves bacon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So...it had less than 5 ingredients and was organic...so he bought it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It has been fun cooking this week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have a lot going on right now</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I will share the menu and recipes I used on the next post.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">HOWEVER...we made it the first week and today is grocery day already. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ive gotta get busy figuring out what we will need the next 6 days!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">have a WONDERFUL weekend!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(If you look closely towards the front I did buy a $3 bar of goats milk soap...it smelled so good!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZZNcxcUDe6Caoo7xfxoUQwA-y_cgGBJJy7zDr6gm5hSScW7QfuHqvpQqmKPYZKHozJhF5W-ZV2R9Rd-Fkm435I1m2s5C1tmwIqFdKpVXiww239Icwjtb5HYx6EBFidbQI3_-c9We47NY/s1600/IMG_5989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZZNcxcUDe6Caoo7xfxoUQwA-y_cgGBJJy7zDr6gm5hSScW7QfuHqvpQqmKPYZKHozJhF5W-ZV2R9Rd-Fkm435I1m2s5C1tmwIqFdKpVXiww239Icwjtb5HYx6EBFidbQI3_-c9We47NY/s320/IMG_5989.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-37187895317392434232011-09-08T08:24:00.000-07:002011-09-08T08:24:40.041-07:00Tiny Dancers...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A few weeks ago my little princesses began dance lessons.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Natalie is in beginner ballet...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brooklyn is in 3 year old ballet/tap</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They absolutely love it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Natalie was a little shy at first.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On her first day she was frozen the entire class.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The teacher had to physically move her body to do a somersault (sp??)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She is now a little more relaxed and is enjoying it more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brooklyn walked into class and was such a good student.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She kept her eyes on the teacher and followed every step she showed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am so proud of her for following directions, disciplining herself, and having fun at the same time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">its definately a lot of work taking them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Natalie's class is first for 40 minutes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brooklyns class is second for an hour.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So we are all there for about 2 hours.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I entertain Nathan the whole time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am sure that will get easier too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Below are some pics from the first day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look how TINY Natalie is!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She is 2 1/2 years old and wears the same size diapers as my almost 5 month old.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">nope...she is not interested in potty training at all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fine with me :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqT3fpFMh_meYvE6vg0Y3Wqf8VuU_W41z671xi_RAbR0WeP96d9HkL0FFBbrZHjtRB6ddIXnNPBdkiKYRhFJRYVYyqvFyCmcZPjrqvuCxUr8gfEKIjf1suf6whli8NXZDF0X2fIk5IDl1/s1600/IMG_5902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqT3fpFMh_meYvE6vg0Y3Wqf8VuU_W41z671xi_RAbR0WeP96d9HkL0FFBbrZHjtRB6ddIXnNPBdkiKYRhFJRYVYyqvFyCmcZPjrqvuCxUr8gfEKIjf1suf6whli8NXZDF0X2fIk5IDl1/s320/IMG_5902.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVS29lBKj4MF8-X0wMJdKMg_Y9u0XKrnc9TjqE2GtH5g153OoTy0fz7r4OZS-ULoOUs-S_O9QhsXx_RUOHDOj9-kNuIoZgjjn6mliY7XiyBVtUrdd7Wf5V_xJwlpHf5Q_iGhkmlM-8EAY/s1600/IMG_5906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVS29lBKj4MF8-X0wMJdKMg_Y9u0XKrnc9TjqE2GtH5g153OoTy0fz7r4OZS-ULoOUs-S_O9QhsXx_RUOHDOj9-kNuIoZgjjn6mliY7XiyBVtUrdd7Wf5V_xJwlpHf5Q_iGhkmlM-8EAY/s320/IMG_5906.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcQyFc0bek_gs2hxWdLISytWGBtd_ncWrz7f1QbTdV2c2bOUG-6t4VMMZ4PP09fpRkbeZKaoMZr_dCKIymhpy966b6mY42MqbRsdQcjZIwJknsNe0l8Jt8NcwWhqGeZ8g1tXsPkX61hn8/s1600/IMG_5899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcQyFc0bek_gs2hxWdLISytWGBtd_ncWrz7f1QbTdV2c2bOUG-6t4VMMZ4PP09fpRkbeZKaoMZr_dCKIymhpy966b6mY42MqbRsdQcjZIwJknsNe0l8Jt8NcwWhqGeZ8g1tXsPkX61hn8/s320/IMG_5899.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Love it love it love it<br />
<br />
As for my food challenge: Its going well!<br />
I have been making some great recipes and the entire family has loved them all.<br />
It has been hard sometimes not to want to grab a starbucks drive thru drink but I have prevailed.<br />
<br />
It is nice to know that all our food is healthy and whole.<br />
I will admit our grocery bill was about 25$ more. But I think some of that was because of my bad menu planning. I bought some things we didnt really need. I also spent more in gas going to Whole Foods three times last week. Also because of bad planning. Ill do better this week :) <br />
Tomorrow...Ill share my past weeks menu-grocery bill (yes I will tell you the cost lol!)and a list of all I bought. If you want the recipes you can message me.<br />
I am getting most of them off of <a href="http://100daysofrealfood.com/">100daysofrealfood.com</a><br />
<br />
Anyways....have a great Thursday!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-9318351991346758732011-09-07T16:55:00.001-07:002011-09-07T16:55:05.499-07:00Photo Book<object width="425" height="425" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/flashslideshowphotobook/slideshow_pb.swf"/><param name="flashvars" value="xmlURL=http%3A%2F%2Fws.shutterfly.com%2Fpsdata%3FprojectGUID%3D0AcuHLds1cs2iuLA%26uid%3D004039567989%26size%3D0%26ts%3D1315439681000%26height%3D425%26width%3D425&size=0&ob=0&fc=0&ss=0&sb=0&ft=0"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="quality" value="best"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><embed width="425" height="425" align="middle" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" name="wrapper" quality="best" menu="false" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="xmlURL=http%3A%2F%2Fws.shutterfly.com%2Fpsdata%3FprojectGUID%3D0AcuHLds1cs2iuLA%26uid%3D004039567989%26size%3D0%26ts%3D1315439681000%26height%3D425%26width%3D425&size=0&ob=0&fc=0&ss=0&sb=0&ft=0" src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/flashslideshowphotobook/slideshow_pb.swf"></embed></object><p style="width:425px;margin-top:0;text-align:center;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AcuHLds1cs2jiY&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=115">Click here to view this photo book larger</a><img width="1" height="1" border="0" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=photobook&c2=blogger" /></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-16495499976347655332011-09-06T09:38:00.000-07:002011-09-06T09:38:08.139-07:00Labor Day WeekendOur weekend was not so labor intensive.<br />
<br />
Philip and I had two dates.<br />
Friday my mom stopped by after work-so Philip and I took a "date" to Whole Foods.<br />
(seriously it is a date. it is not fun taking my kids there...they love going but I need to concentrate!)<br />
<br />
Saturday I took the girlies to dance class. <br />
I love them so much...my girls are definately born dancers. <br />
Brooklyn has amazing rythym!!!<br />
<br />
Sunday I got to help teach/lead the two year old class at church.<br />
It was caraaaaazy for me.<br />
The other teacher was amazing. She is really gifted.<br />
The hard part about that is I am beginning to teach that class starting this coming Sunday!<br />
I admit I was overwhelmed and scared, but I am praying..and slowly that fear is fading.<br />
I was super tired though :)<br />
<br />
Sunday night Philips parents came over so we could have another date night!<br />
We went to a new restaurant and sat outside in the LOVELY weather.<br />
We walked around utica square and had coffee.<br />
We love our date nights (Which always end up in a trip to Target to get wipes or diapers)<br />
<br />
My food journey is going awesome!<br />
I have discovered that we eat really well anyways...so this transition isnt life changing horrible.<br />
I have come up with creative ways to sweeten things and have had fun researching new recipes.<br />
<br />
I will post pics of our refreshed fridge and pantry tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Thats about it today...sorry its so boring. I just needed to do a weekend "report" for myself!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-7569861144951631012011-09-02T07:38:00.000-07:002011-09-02T07:38:26.210-07:00My pantry...yikes!!!If you didnt read yesterdays post ... todays will make more sense if you do. :)<br />
But you dont have to.<br />
<br />
Well last night I stayed up way too late.<br />
Researching recipes.<br />
Printing off my meal plans for the week.<br />
<br />
I think this will take a little longer than I thought.<br />
<br />
I dont want to rush into this whole thing because then...I am sure I will fail!<br />
I need to be organized.<br />
<br />
My goal for today is to make my grocery list and post my menu for next week on the fridge.<br />
If I post my menu then at least we will know what meals are coming up.<br />
I used to do this before I had Nathan...so I am sure this wont be a hard thing to pick back up.<br />
<br />
My girls are extra "needy" today...not sure why. <br />
Usually they have periods during the day where they play together well without me.<br />
Not so much today.<br />
So that will determine how far I get.<br />
<br />
<br />
So here is my before picture of my pantry and fridge. I took the pics far away so you couldnt study and see what I have in there :) Smart huh? <br />
I have a lot of items in my pantry that I never ever use and do not remember buying. unopened canned foods, salad dressings, crackers, etc. I even found 5 hershey bars! Where did those come from and how did they survive??? ha! <br />
My fridge looks horrible...its full of condiments that we never use. <br />
I cant WAIT to clean it all out!<br />
<br />
dont judge friends....dont judge :) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJABD6vxZgBYDXVW81r8chHjcn5lrLKzsw7aq96FJfaFe2SePSicCAIKGkESBeThxkspUU3cnEiveog6oucexu4J6v8Bay7Vm9uyocHLL68hkA8lewvJe7sayeVnLcwagyd8VwINGoym_a/s1600/IMG_5985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJABD6vxZgBYDXVW81r8chHjcn5lrLKzsw7aq96FJfaFe2SePSicCAIKGkESBeThxkspUU3cnEiveog6oucexu4J6v8Bay7Vm9uyocHLL68hkA8lewvJe7sayeVnLcwagyd8VwINGoym_a/s320/IMG_5985.JPG" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div align="center"></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-66149613447576358922011-09-01T12:58:00.000-07:002011-09-01T12:58:32.829-07:00Food for thought...I am thinking about doing something brave.<br />
<br />
I have an unhealthy obsession with health. <br />
<br />
Especially food.<br />
<br />
I LOVE healthy delicious whole food.<br />
<br />
Philip and I talk alot about how we would totally live on a farm and sustain ourselves with homegrown food. Lots of gardens with a huge variety of fruits and veggies. Raise chickens for eggs...and maybe for chicken as food. I am sure we would have to have cattle....so Philip could have his weekly steak. (we would take it to a butcher of course. gross!!) We would have goats for milk. Fruit trees. <br />
I would have the best herb garden and always have fresh herbs to season our handpicked veggies.<br />
<br />
That is our dream. <br />
<br />
Will it come true? Probably not completely. <br />
<br />
I do not see myself or Philip riding horses and herding the cattle.<br />
(I would like to see Philip in chaps and a cowboy hat though...just out of curiosity)<br />
<br />
Anyways...I strive to buy and feed my family the freshest most healthy food I can find within our budget.<br />
<br />
I am SERIOUSLY thinking about going through my pantry and fridge and taking out every food that is processed. Even if its organic. If it has FIVE ingredients or less...it goes.<br />
<br />
I really want to do this. I admit...I am TERRIFIED!!! <br />
<br />
As hard as I try to buy whole real foods....I am sure there are more foods than I think that have more than 5 ingredients.<br />
<br />
SO .... I am asking for help.<br />
<br />
I want 2 more people to do this with me...<br />
<br />
At first I was going to say 5.<br />
<br />
But thats a LOT to ask.<br />
<br />
I am going to do this in three steps.<br />
<br />
1) Plan meals and snacks for the next week. (using no processed foods or ingredients...whole real fresh foods are priority.)<br />
2) Go grocery shopping and buy everything on the list.<br />
3) Go through my pantry, fridge, and freezer and remove EVERYTHING (yes including ketchup, salad dressings etc) that is processed. yikes!!!<br />
<br />
for the record...i am not going to throw it away. <br />
My plan is to box up anything that does not need to be refrigerated and put it in another room of the house.<br />
Anything frozen will go into my deep freezer in the garage.<br />
Anything refrigerated will be placed in the back of the fridge...in a paper sack so there is no temptation.<br />
<br />
Who wants to try this with me???<br />
<br />
Anybody???<br />
<br />
Pleeeease pretty pretty pleaseeeeeee dont make me do this alone!!!!!<br />
there is strength in numbers!!!!<br />
<br />
This idea has been in the back of my mind for quite some time.<br />
This lady ( 100daysofrealfood.com ) made it reality for her family.<br />
<br />
Join me...Ill update.<br />
<br />
My goal is to have the three steps done by Sunday.<br />
I have three kids...simple things take a long time around here :) Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-935581897329375169.post-88652780158807956362011-08-30T05:22:00.000-07:002011-08-30T05:22:03.691-07:00Family pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It has been over a month since I have posted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yikes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">About a month ago our sweet friends came to our home</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and took some family pics.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We thought it would be easier to take them at our home</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">rather than a studio or packing the littles up</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to go to another location.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it was perfect</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The girls were so relaxed and had a great time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They were in their element...so it was easy to get fun pictures!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you need a photographer..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Danny and Mandi Ammann</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ammannphotography.com</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They are AWESOME.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The cutest couple and so friendly and the prices are GREAT!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Enjoy!<br />
Brooklyn 3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Natalie 2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nathan 3 months</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IA6QvWerbddoYE6mccl7fn9H2vaYsG9lNb_ZbMmlOYGGQ94xAaF-sLyGurPn6mvCb2jHfwzU3042Y8TlhU_-xlkMY2Vir34KOveAizyqJP7IXEC2rLWL-8TUPnm6ELBrFclBDvBMVk7U/s1600/_DSC7040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IA6QvWerbddoYE6mccl7fn9H2vaYsG9lNb_ZbMmlOYGGQ94xAaF-sLyGurPn6mvCb2jHfwzU3042Y8TlhU_-xlkMY2Vir34KOveAizyqJP7IXEC2rLWL-8TUPnm6ELBrFclBDvBMVk7U/s320/_DSC7040.jpg" width="213" xaa="true" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00486078074655319276noreply@blogger.com0