tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16038993066964822132012-02-16T04:37:52.987-08:00celebrating the may·hem (mā'hěm'):1. a state of rowdy disorder.
2. absolute chaos and severe disruption
3. my life and i love it!emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.comBlogger4281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-46515761956944333692010-10-16T16:06:00.000-07:002010-10-18T16:07:17.578-07:00the reward for acts of serviceis usually the good feeling you have in your heart ... a warm plate of cookies ... a heartfelt "thank you" or "we couldn't have done it without you!"<br /><br />this time, though, i offered my dad's trailer - complete with explorer to tow it and my dad to drive it - and my handsome (and burly) husband's muscles and helpful hands in exchange for this ... <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TLzRhtN9ziI/AAAAAAAAC0c/T3yZBogKHVo/s1600/1018101415-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TLzRhtN9ziI/AAAAAAAAC0c/T3yZBogKHVo/s400/1018101415-00.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />for 45-ish minutes of service and 2 moved pianos, i was awarded with a real, working, able to be played, sounds-great-in-my-home - except-when-it's-mass-chaos, i'm-thinking-about-learning-how-to-actually-play, and won't-my-christmas-village-look-great-on-it?? PIANO!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">thank you </span><a href="http://robertandangiegriffithfamily.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">Angie</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">i'm/we're loving it!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-4651576195694433369?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-32740347491608700812010-09-20T21:37:00.000-07:002010-09-21T10:13:17.344-07:00how do you spell that??some of my favorite words are e-n-c-y-c-l-o-p-e-d-i-a, superlative, onomatopoeia, friend, Christmas, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,<br />... i could go on ...<br /><br /><span style="font-size:large;"><span style="font-size:130%;">onomatopoeia</span>:</span> "<span id="hotword"><span style="BACKGROUND-: default;color:transparent;" id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">the</span> <span style="BACKGROUND-: default;color:transparent;" id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">formation</span> <span style="BACKGROUND-: default;color:transparent;" id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">of</span> <span style="BACKGROUND-: default;color:transparent;" id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">word,</span> <span id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">as</span> </span><span class="ital-inline"><span id="hotword"><em><span id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">cuckoo</span> </em></span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">or</span> </span><span class="ital-inline"><span id="hotword"><em><span id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">boom,</span> </em></span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">by</span> <span style="BACKGROUND-: default;color:transparent;" id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">imitation</span> <span id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">sound</span> <span id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">made</span> <span id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">by</span> <span style="BACKGROUND-: default;color:transparent;" id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">or</span> <span style="BACKGROUND-: default;color:transparent;" id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">associated</span> <span style="BACKGROUND-: default;color:transparent;" id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">with</span> <span style="BACKGROUND-: default;color:transparent;" id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">its</span> <span style="BACKGROUND-: default;color:transparent;" id="hotword" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">referent."</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="BACKGROUND-: default;color:transparent;" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">boink</span>, <span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">zing</span>, <span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">splat</span>, <span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">clipclop</span> ... </span><br /></span><br /><span style="BACKGROUND-: default;color:transparent;" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">i love words that are a sound!!</span><br /><span style="font-size:0;"><span style="BACKGROUND-: default;color:transparent;" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:0;"><span style="BACKGROUND-: default;color:transparent;" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, sans-serif;">pssst</span>, <span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">bleh</span>, hmm, <span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">ew</span>, <span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">phew</span></span>... <span style="font-size:100%;">all words that to be fully appreciated need to be said aloud - try it!</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="BACKGROUND-: default;color:transparent;" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">occasionally i run across a sound that isn't commonly 'written', forcing me to make it up if i want to share it in writing.</span><br /><br /><span style="BACKGROUND-: default;color:transparent;" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">say for instance, i get a text from my sister that begs for a barfing sound reply ... BARF just doesn't quite get the true feeling across ... so this is what i sent:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="BACKGROUND-: default;color:transparent;" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">Hhuumbf</span><br /></span><br /><span style="BACKGROUND-: default;color:transparent;" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">sound it out ... put your fingers to your lips as you say it ... funny, huh. </span><br /><br /><span style="BACKGROUND-: default;color:transparent;" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" name="hotword">feel free to use it!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-3274034749160870081?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-89666038361187197302010-09-19T21:36:00.000-07:002010-09-21T14:32:36.473-07:00FHE Preview: the second great commandmentMatt. 22: 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? <br /><br /><br />37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt alove the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. <br /><br />38 This is the first and great commandment. <br /><br />39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. <br /><br />40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. <br /><br />what does that mean? "hang all the law and the prophets" ... that everything hinges on it, that it's the foundation, that every commandment can be referenced back to these 2 commandments ... <br /><br />the first commandment is Love Heavenly Father ... he tells us that because we show Him love in our actions, in our thoughts and in our words ... <br /><br />the second is like it: Love our Neighbors<br />who is our neighbor? the people that live by us, the people that we know down the street, the people in our ward, the people we go to school with, the people we see at the store, the people at the library, ...<br /><br />is our family our neighbor? our rooms are close to each other, do you have to live by someone to have them be your neighbor? <br /><br />our neighbors are everyone else.<br /><br />and when Heavenly Father says to love them ... it's not just a nice idea, not a suggestion, not good advice - it's a commandment. it's the rule. being nice and loving each other is a commandment. <br /><br />so - i wanna see it. i am tired of the fighting, the arguing, the back-talking, the snide and back-handed remarks. now is the time to be friends with the people you live with - namely your sisters and brothers and mom and dad. here is the place that it should begin ... trickle out from.<br /><br />Heavenly Father loves us, let's show Him how much we love Him!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-8966603836118719730?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-9177124668309916652010-09-18T23:57:00.000-07:002010-09-21T09:35:55.646-07:00Firsts: even after 11 years together!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">today is our 11th anniversary!</span></div><br />our 10 year was <a href="http://iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com/2010/05/rest-of-fantasy.html">fabulous</a> ... this anniversary we decided to go low key ... our original plan was to 'Do the Puyallup!' ... but with record breaking rain this past month <span style="font-size: x-small;">(especially these last 10 days)</span> we decided against it.<br /><br />instead we ate at one of our old standbys, Red Robin, and did 2 things we've never done before:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJjc_oQqq4I/AAAAAAAAC0M/uNnKmOdz_mk/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJjc_oQqq4I/AAAAAAAAC0M/uNnKmOdz_mk/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">btw: that starbucks cup was left behind by whoever sat there last<br />we haven't been breaking the Word of Wisdom ... </td></tr></tbody></table>and there was a huge sale at <a href="http://www.wetseal.com/home.jsp">wet seal</a>, a place i have never been into ... but from the outside of the store i saw some darling stuff and then i saw the 70% sign and i had to go in!! i got myself a 2 darling jackets, 2 necklaces and 2 rings!! so fun!<br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">after my shopping spree, we went out to go see "The Other Guys" with our AMC coupons out of our entertainment book. We looked at the theater and it said Loews not AMC!! so we scrambled to find the movie at another theater and headed up the freeway ... imagine my embarrassment when i looked online and saw this: </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJjdG0iAY7I/AAAAAAAAC0Q/VW7vvkkRGBU/s1600/duh.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" qx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJjdG0iAY7I/AAAAAAAAC0Q/VW7vvkkRGBU/s640/duh.bmp" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><br />so we hustled back to alderwood and arrived just as the previews were starting ...<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">movie review: super dumb funny ... we do NOT recommend seeing this movie - even as a rental ... but if you are set on seeing it make it a LATE night movie ... and be ready for some crude humor!</span><br /><br />all in all it was a lovely anniversary!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJjdhIlqshI/AAAAAAAAC0U/DTqUER2Zdck/s1600/080809+LFFR+-+E104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" qx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJjdhIlqshI/AAAAAAAAC0U/DTqUER2Zdck/s640/080809+LFFR+-+E104.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">i sure am a lucky girl to have this guy for eternity!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-917712466830991665?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-83564475049110011382010-09-17T23:51:00.000-07:002010-09-18T00:53:01.915-07:00break out your countdown calendars!i have a list of people that i call every year on september 17th, the call goes something like this:<br />"hey (insert name)! i'm just making my reminder calls that we now have 99 days until Christmas! break out your countdown calendar! we're in double digit territory <em>already</em>!!"<br /><br />"oh my gosh are you serious? i was thinking about that just a few days ago ... time flies! you're so funny!"<br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">this year though i have new tech savvy friends on facebook and texting that i can remind! so fun! and funny all the comments from people who think i'm a little crazy!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJRubh25dmI/AAAAAAAAC0E/zSi3XXBB8pI/s1600/IMG_7250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJRubh25dmI/AAAAAAAAC0E/zSi3XXBB8pI/s400/IMG_7250.jpg" width="400" /></a>my favorite exchange was from some of my friends from when i lived at home ... "<span style="color: black;">Phil Noll-</span> What are you, Mrs Claus giving a pep talk to the elves?"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"<span style="color: black;">Stewart Galbraith-</span> Phil, Mrs. Claus is her mom!"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"<span style="color: black;">Barbara Paulson Waibel-</span> And Santa is her Pa"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">these people have known me for a LONG time ... when i was younger {in jr. high and highschool} i would wear my elf costume to school the last friday before christmas break and hand out candy canes!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJRudkMW67I/AAAAAAAAC0I/OMXJVbjATy0/s1600/IMG_7243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" qx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJRudkMW67I/AAAAAAAAC0I/OMXJVbjATy0/s640/IMG_7243.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas is the best!</span></div> <br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">yes ... my mom's christmas tree is upside down</span> </div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- there's more room for decorations and gifts </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">with the bigger part at the top!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-8356447504911001138?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-13837605310646578532010-09-16T16:26:00.000-07:002010-09-16T22:35:14.037-07:00on days like today ... i'm reminded of Toy Story<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJKWR3s1-sI/AAAAAAAAC0A/ASFEQFKYPns/s1600/IMG_2345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" qx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJKWR3s1-sI/AAAAAAAAC0A/ASFEQFKYPns/s640/IMG_2345.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday Beautiful!</td></tr></tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You've got a friend in me</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You've got a friend in me</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When the road looks rough ahead</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And you're miles and miles</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">From your nice warm bed</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Just remember what your old pal said</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">[Girl], you've got a friend in me</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You've got a friend in me</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You've got a friend in me</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You've got a friend in me</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You've got troubles, well I've got 'em too</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We stick together and we see it through</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You've got a friend in me</span><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You've got a friend in me</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Some other folks might be</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A little bit smarter than I am</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Bigger and stronger too</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Maybe</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But none of them will ever love you the way I do </span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's me and you</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And as the years go by</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our friendship will never die</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You're gonna see</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's our destiny</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You've got a friend in me</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You've got a friend in me</span><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You've got a friend in me</span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-1383760531064657853?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-35814872976147584752010-09-15T16:40:00.000-07:002010-09-15T16:40:59.748-07:00we're getting too big for our britches!<div style="text-align: center;">Now you see it:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJFY4rkwFFI/AAAAAAAACzo/QWqdQdjDxMc/s1600/playset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJFY4rkwFFI/AAAAAAAACzo/QWqdQdjDxMc/s400/playset.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Now you don't!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJFY5dZh8XI/AAAAAAAACzs/X2sFUuo45Wk/s1600/Cropped+backyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" qx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJFY5dZh8XI/AAAAAAAACzs/X2sFUuo45Wk/s640/Cropped+backyard.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">what will we do with our HUGE backyard?! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">all 313.5 sqft ... how will we ever figure out what to do with all this space!? </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">{read with extreme sarcasm}</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-3581487297614758475?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-15304527092480225552010-09-14T23:40:00.000-07:002010-09-14T23:40:36.618-07:00routineswe're trying to get back into the habit of a few things around here ... so i made this<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJBnDpceBeI/AAAAAAAACzg/44U9f6MA8-Q/s1600/IMG_9020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJBnDpceBeI/AAAAAAAACzg/44U9f6MA8-Q/s640/IMG_9020.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> and put it up on the wall outside the bathroom ... i stand there with my white board pen in hand, <br />"Abi have you made your bed? are you dressed? did you change your underwear? put your PJs away? brush your teeth? brush your hair? is your back pack ready?<br />Elyssa have you made your bed? are you dressed? did you change your underwear? put your PJs away? brush your teeth? brush your hair? is your back pack ready?" and so on ... <br />then at night, "Abi, do you have your PJs on? are your dirty clothes in the hamper? did you brush your teeth? go to the potty? get a drink of water? brush your hair? [we read scriptures this morning] have you said your personal prayers?<br />Elyssa ... "<br /><br />i'm hoping after about 21 days {that's how long it takes to make a habit right??} of this they will not have to be told to go to the potty and get a drink of water and breathe in and breathe out ... <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJBnH7dob9I/AAAAAAAACzk/vS7isqInOrg/s1600/IMG_9017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TJBnH7dob9I/AAAAAAAACzk/vS7isqInOrg/s400/IMG_9017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />and though we slacked off most of the summer, we are back on track with our reading together each morning ... albeit one verse each and there's still some chatter about wanting their's to be on bottom or top when we stack them back up to put them away (the fighting over colored pencils has been alleviated by the baggies) ... but we at least read, talk alittle about what we read, say morning prayer together and when i remember i sing to them, <a href="http://lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer/index.html?searchlanguage=1&searchcollection=2&searchseqstart=160&searchsubseqstart= &searchseqend=160&searchsubseqend=ZZZ">"There's a right way to live and be happy ... "</a><br /><br />our routine is getting there ... we'll have all the kinks ironed out just about the time for Christmas Break ... when it all falls apart again!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-1530452709248022555?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-40902106413950088472010-09-13T22:36:00.000-07:002010-09-14T07:51:56.139-07:00embarrassing ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI-HgnOxpJI/AAAAAAAACzc/u8Ng7BMAzFI/s1600/caution.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI-HgnOxpJI/AAAAAAAACzc/u8Ng7BMAzFI/s1600/caution.bmp" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">******warning: TMI ahead******</div><br />i'm going to talk about that <span style="font-size: large;">'elephant in the room'</span> if you don't mind ... <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI-EsNSjVhI/AAAAAAAACzY/7jsFkpdfvXk/s1600/IMG_9015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI-EsNSjVhI/AAAAAAAACzY/7jsFkpdfvXk/s320/IMG_9015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">what is <span style="font-size: large;">that? </span> yeah ... that's a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love-bite">hickey</a></td></tr></tbody></table>my husband broke the cardinal rule: <span style="font-size: large;">inconspicuous</span> ... <br /><br />his defense? "i didn't think i was that low" - meaning he was aiming for right behind my ear ... but 'missed'<br /><br />lovely.<br /><br />so now you know ... married people make out ... in the past PDA has not been something we shy away from - albeit this was not created in public (thank heaven!) but the resulting 'display of affection' is hard to miss ... <br /><br />and slightly <span style="font-size: large;">embarrassing!!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">don't even worry that i noticed it on Sunday morning </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and because i work with the youth now i tried to conceal it ... </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">all the time worrying that my cute little beehives would notice!!</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">not that they would ever say anything!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-4090210641395008847?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-60385763439121844472010-09-12T21:51:00.001-07:002010-09-12T22:06:37.795-07:00National Day of Service<div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday, as a ward family and community, we weeded the grounds, added fresh bark and generally spruced up Silver Firs Elementary.</div><div style="text-align: center;">we have a vested interest since this is <em>our</em> school so we felt a sense of pride in this service project!</div><div style="text-align: center;">all of the shaws worked for 2 hours - some of us harder than others ... but each one of us did a great job!</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI2uV28brbI/AAAAAAAACy4/LHFapBtOzXE/s1600/0911101040-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI2uV28brbI/AAAAAAAACy4/LHFapBtOzXE/s400/0911101040-02.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the kids had ditched us for lunch so i only got a pic of the 2 of us ... </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI2uVPRTkwI/AAAAAAAACy0/Mj09Ac_mxO0/s1600/20100912163628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI2uVPRTkwI/AAAAAAAACy0/Mj09Ac_mxO0/s320/20100912163628.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">weeding brings back memories from my childhood ... not good ones ...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">i hoping for extra blessings from this kind service - the kind that you really hate but just the act of doing it makes you feel good. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">today in church we heard that over 350 hours of service were logged on 9/11/2010 ... </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">makes my heart happy!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-6038576343912184447?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-19139419786842536372010-09-11T13:34:00.000-07:002010-09-12T21:50:27.328-07:00get a load of this ... literally!i have a few friends that have been telling me about this for a few months and i'm sorry that i didn't act on it sooner!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bountifulbaskets.org/">bountifulbaskets.org</a> </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI2r_q2ol1I/AAAAAAAACyw/UpUe7xPjgqg/s1600/0911100912-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI2r_q2ol1I/AAAAAAAACyw/UpUe7xPjgqg/s640/0911100912-00.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this picture is missing the 5lb bag of potatoes that was included ... </td></tr></tbody></table>the idea is that we all contribute to buy produce in bulk and then we divide up what is purchased and come away with an awesome deal!!<br />i paid $15 for all this!!<br /><br />i did not fully understand until i saw it for myself.<br /><br />this is not the dregs of the supermarket ... it's not gleaned ... it's produce from <a href="http://www.triplebcorp.com/">charlie's produce</a> and it's all great stuff.<br /><br />granted i didn't get to pick and choose what i got and i now have an egg plant (that i'm going to use ... not sure how - but i'll learn!) and cauliflower and 6 kiwis ... but these are all wonderful foods that my people will eat or at least try!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">check it out!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bountifulbaskets.org/"><span style="font-size: x-large;">bountifulbaskets.org</span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-1913941978684253637?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-12450883993708992712010-09-10T14:10:00.000-07:002010-09-12T21:18:09.599-07:00the wheels on the bus ...<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">stopped here for him!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI2lKK7faaI/AAAAAAAACys/HxgA2lcBN0E/s1600/20100912163741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI2lKK7faaI/AAAAAAAACys/HxgA2lcBN0E/s640/20100912163741.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ammon was so <span style="font-size: large;">excited</span> to hear that he could ride the bus to kindergarten!</div><div style="text-align: center;">today was his <span style="font-size: large;">first ride</span> ... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">what a big boy</span> ... sniff.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">i had a teary-eyed walk back home with Easton saying, "are you happy crying mom?"</div><div style="text-align: center;">which made me laugh ... because really - who sad-cries about their kids riding the bus to school? </div><div style="text-align: center;">sniff ... me.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-1245088399370899271?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-23742239296080479002010-09-09T23:47:00.000-07:002010-09-10T01:15:33.711-07:00i think i can, i think i can ...organization. <br /><br />a word and a way of life that escapes me ... i talk a big show about what i want to do to organize my life and how i am working toward it ... that i am 'going to' get there and that 'one day' the planets will align in such a way that my house magically cleans and organizes itself.<br /><br />i read blogs and see pictures of 'before and after' the blogger gutted and organized ... people painting their walls ... repurposing old furniture ... building in shelves ... labeling bins ...<br /><br />i want that so bad ... i want order ... i long for it ... i pine for it ... i dream about it.<br /><br />i need to start praying for it ... "and bless me that i can get off my duff and get this house in order so that when the Savior knocks i won't have to say, 'one minute please ... ' then turn and shuffle papers, toys and junk out of the way so that He can get in!!"<br /><br />and while i'm at it (since i know that He really does care that i'm stressed out about my home and He loves me enough to help me figure this out) maybe i'll just eat this elephant one bite at a time ... cut it up into bite size pieces and gnaw away at it.<br /><br />Heaven Help Me - i want to follow the instuctions given in <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/88/119#119">Doctrine and Covenants 88:119</a><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TInoJIxH6rI/AAAAAAAACyg/152VwC2hkD8/s1600/051005+DnC88-119+Embroidery.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TInoJIxH6rI/AAAAAAAACyg/152VwC2hkD8/s400/051005+DnC88-119+Embroidery.jpg" width="300" height="400" ox="true" /></a></div>i even stitched this myself to remind me ... don't worry that it's been on my wall for 2+ years now and i'm still not there ... and don't <em>even</em> worry that i have been talking about this forever and harping on my kids to keep their rooms clean and mine is the <strong>biggest</strong> disaster area <em>ever</em>! <br /><br />with all my new found free time (while ammon's at school and easton sleeps) maybe - just maybe - i'll be able to bite off a chunk here and there ...<br /><br />say a little prayer for me.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-2374223929608047900?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-35128763743534656392010-09-08T21:33:00.001-07:002010-09-08T23:15:45.857-07:00"bye mom!"it was almost like the heavens knew just how i was feeling today ... a little weepy, misty eyed, and drippy. <br /><br />we were up at 7:30 - easton came out of his room just as i was headed in to wake him ... "i was going to lay by you ..." he said. <br />"i need to wake up the girls, you go crawl in my bed and i'll come lay by you for a minute."<br /><br />so he did and i did and we laid there for a minute and then i said, "are you excited to go to school??"<br />"do i get to wear my new clothes <em>and</em> shoes?"<br />"yes, let's go get you dressed and ready!"<br />so we did.<br /><br />everybody but ammon was dressed and eating breakfast by 7:50 ...<br /><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; CLEAR: right; cssfloat: right" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIh3mDzoBmI/AAAAAAAACyI/GVYJ8iS0s8g/s1600/IMG_8990.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIh3mDzoBmI/AAAAAAAACyI/GVYJ8iS0s8g/s320/IMG_8990.JPG" width="320" height="240" ox="true" /></a></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">he doesn't have school until the afternoon ... so he slept in and stumbled downstairs just in time for scriptures at 8:10 ... then it was "brush teeth, brush hair, grab your backpack - ammon get dressed ... no not in your school clothes yet ... "</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">and suddenly we were a flurry of action to get out the door!</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">we arrived at the girl's school at 8:50, i parked ... left the boys watching the Cosby Show and walked the girls to the covered area to wait, stood with them for about 5 minutes, gave them hugs, took a few pics (we decided to get the ones with teachers after school) and then they were all "bye mom!" not a tear to be seen from them ... no biggy mom ... see ya! (sniff ... sigh)</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: left; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em; cssfloat: left" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIh3njNfw1I/AAAAAAAACyM/POjjCBgCvmk/s1600/IMG_8992.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIh3njNfw1I/AAAAAAAACyM/POjjCBgCvmk/s200/IMG_8992.JPG" width="200" height="150" ox="true" /></a></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; CLEAR: right; cssfloat: right" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIh3o5HYAfI/AAAAAAAACyQ/0guOud6OaHU/s1600/IMG_8993.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIh3o5HYAfI/AAAAAAAACyQ/0guOud6OaHU/s320/IMG_8993.JPG" width="320" height="240" ox="true" /></a>then we were off to deliver the newest preschooler!</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">miss maryanne was there for a pic and then he was in - backpack hung, shoes off, sitting on the blue polka dot - "bye mom!" no clinging to mom, no tears, no "stay with me for a minute" ... (sniff)</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">ammon and i hustled off to the Y for zumba and then home for a quick shower and then to a 30 minute meeting and then pick up easton, eat lunch, and get ammon in his school clothes and shoes, "grab your backpack and get in the van!" </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIh3qJAgPOI/AAAAAAAACyU/RfP-dTE6VyA/s1600/IMG_8997.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIh3qJAgPOI/AAAAAAAACyU/RfP-dTE6VyA/s320/IMG_8997.JPG" width="320" height="240" ox="true" /></a></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">we parked and walked to the kindergarten corral where they were all lined up ... girls in one line boys in the other (the boys significantly outnumber the girls) and wait for mrs. cummins - she greets each kindergartener and then they head into class and again, "bye mom!" no clinging, not a tear, he turned and waved as he headed off to school ... (sniff, sniff)</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">easton and i head home ... just the 2 of us again ... lo and behold it's quiet time ... we read 2 stories and then settle in for a good nap ... ahhh ... this is the life! </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">i did the dishes, mostly cleared off the kitchen counter, emptied the dishwasher, sorted the kids inboxes to make room for the onslaught of papers i'm anticipating (and it's a good thing since i got 3 of everything!!) and then had to wake easton to go and get the kids. </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; CLEAR: right; cssfloat: right" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIh3Vz2M0fI/AAAAAAAACyE/_6JpomLmco8/s1600/IMG_9004.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIh3Vz2M0fI/AAAAAAAACyE/_6JpomLmco8/s200/IMG_9004.JPG" width="200" height="150" ox="true" /></a><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: left; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em; cssfloat: left" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIh3TCGEofI/AAAAAAAACx8/F-9UAcLOuHQ/s1600/IMG_9001.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIh3TCGEofI/AAAAAAAACx8/F-9UAcLOuHQ/s200/IMG_9001.JPG" width="200" height="150" ox="true" /></a><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIh3UAjoc1I/AAAAAAAACyA/uRPmNIDirmc/s1600/IMG_9002.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIh3UAjoc1I/AAAAAAAACyA/uRPmNIDirmc/s200/IMG_9002.JPG" width="200" height="150" ox="true" /></a></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator">it was a lovely first day of school and like the weather - i dried up by the time school was out ... </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-3512876374353465639?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-33600627909904210772010-09-07T23:18:00.001-07:002010-09-07T23:50:55.100-07:00first day of school eve<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">is also the last day of summer vacation and the day we get to meet our teachers and deliver our school supplies ... the day we pick out our outfits from the new school clothes - down to the shoes, we know what we're wearing tomorrow ... and the day after that ... and even the day after that!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">this summer has been fairly uneventful ... lazy, laid back, slightly boring - but the good kind.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">as i look back at the last 11 weeks <span style="font-size: x-small;">(yes, that's all we got ... so short!!)</span> we have had some schedule free days, followed by some lethargic days, followed by sluggish days ... the kind where we barely get out of bed before it's time to get back in ... when we flop from the bed to the couch ... when showers are few and far between and going outside isn't an option due to the weather ... </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">we had some hectic days, followed by some action-packed days, interspersed with some tiring days, when we traveled to UT thru ID and back and rode our bikes everyday, went to the gym for exercise and swam until we were beat but we stay up until way too late just because we can...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and even now as i listen to the rain fall outside and remember that elyssa's soccer practice was rained out this evening... i can't imagine that summer is really over, that we are back to scheduled days and routines and bed times. we have to abide by rules, we're required to do homework, we're obliged to attend functions and we make plans to follow through. structure. calendar. agenda. organized.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">that's what i look forward to the most in the coming months. getting in the groove. finding my niche. making a plan - albeit flexible to an extent ... but having a scaffolding to guide my slightly scattered brain.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">i have printed an enormous calendar for september and october ... i'm working on color coding, menu tweaking, and schedule planning and when it's all filled out and a thing of beauty i will take a picture and share. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">so as the book of summer vacay 2010 closes, the equally exciting sequel is only beginning. cross your fingers that we can make it happen - start tomorrow on the right foot ... get out of bed on time, eat a healthy breakfast, brush teeth and hair <span style="font-size: x-small;">(preferably separately)</span>, get backpacks and lunches ready, smile for a few pictures and head off for another first day! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">look out world - here we come!!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-3360062790990421077?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-28189862444786222012010-09-06T23:12:00.000-07:002010-09-07T01:12:44.021-07:00Our Rainy {Labor} Day<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXxQl7WJII/AAAAAAAACxw/Y_xFctlb3ew/s1600/20100906161732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXxQl7WJII/AAAAAAAACxw/Y_xFctlb3ew/s320/20100906161732.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we brought out our own blue sky for a picnic at grandma and papa's lot</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXxRN_gMBI/AAAAAAAACx0/dJcNLpxz-GM/s1600/0906101610-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXxRN_gMBI/AAAAAAAACx0/dJcNLpxz-GM/s320/0906101610-00.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and then spent a couple hours at the <br />Skater Appreciation Day at the Skate Deck<br />(we can't pass up $2 admission days)</td></tr></tbody></table>and then headed home for some spaghetti and watermelon dinner then our dad gave us father's blessings in preparation for the upcoming school year. can it really be that time again?!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-2818986244478622201?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-5913527039215350072010-09-05T22:32:00.000-07:002010-09-13T00:37:23.480-07:00carnies at heart!!<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI3T-ZdcjBI/AAAAAAAACzA/DEoqfpR12gI/s1600/0905101904-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI3T-ZdcjBI/AAAAAAAACzA/DEoqfpR12gI/s320/0905101904-01.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI3UB2Fur0I/AAAAAAAACzQ/Bu63nyi6lbw/s1600/0905101900-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI3UB2Fur0I/AAAAAAAACzQ/Bu63nyi6lbw/s320/0905101900-01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI3T_FVmigI/AAAAAAAACzE/cakc9MZus6E/s1600/0905101904-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI3T_FVmigI/AAAAAAAACzE/cakc9MZus6E/s320/0905101904-02.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI3UAKISIHI/AAAAAAAACzI/1FIkHmJf_74/s1600/0905101907-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI3UAKISIHI/AAAAAAAACzI/1FIkHmJf_74/s320/0905101907-00.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI3UA_QYgYI/AAAAAAAACzM/4QlC23UYwy0/s1600/0905101859-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI3UA_QYgYI/AAAAAAAACzM/4QlC23UYwy0/s320/0905101859-00.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">who knew a foam nose and some funny glasses could be so entertaining!?</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-591352703921535007?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-34902819523890345142010-09-04T21:23:00.000-07:002010-09-13T00:32:02.586-07:00bedtime ...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIW_W4M3ixI/AAAAAAAACwY/lT2ruzCcXss/s1600/000_0338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIW_W4M3ixI/AAAAAAAACwY/lT2ruzCcXss/s320/000_0338.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">these 3 boys got haircuts tonight<br />don't they look handsome!?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIW_XaW4QRI/AAAAAAAACwc/eyGMqEg5UHI/s1600/000_0340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIW_XaW4QRI/AAAAAAAACwc/eyGMqEg5UHI/s320/000_0340.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this boy likes to have both of us lay by him<br />we have designated 'sides'<br />and dad has to have his whole body on the bed</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIW_XuQjEgI/AAAAAAAACwg/0ksBqpCai6Q/s1600/000_0345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIW_XuQjEgI/AAAAAAAACwg/0ksBqpCai6Q/s320/000_0345.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">he likes us to lay close to him<br />closer ... </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIW_Xwr_7UI/AAAAAAAACwk/_P8R4GD4DxE/s1600/000_0347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIW_Xwr_7UI/AAAAAAAACwk/_P8R4GD4DxE/s320/000_0347.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this one doesn't always want his mom to love on him so much<br />but he always says "i love you too" when i tell him i love him!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIW_YVPOP2I/AAAAAAAACwo/RvaB7Iuf8v8/s1600/000_0348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIW_YVPOP2I/AAAAAAAACwo/RvaB7Iuf8v8/s320/000_0348.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">he allows me to lay by him every once in a while ... </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIW_YnNYZYI/AAAAAAAACws/4A3-GWticZ8/s1600/000_0349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIW_YnNYZYI/AAAAAAAACws/4A3-GWticZ8/s320/000_0349.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">but he always has to have dad lay by him.<br />they talk about the day, football and motorcycles ...<br />it's his favorite time of day, i think,<br />no fighting for time with dad!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-3490281952389034514?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-64667128448575024752010-09-03T21:53:00.000-07:002010-09-07T00:58:03.530-07:00one last warm day?!<div style="text-align: center;">we took our summer's last dip in the pool up at Grandma and Papa's lot! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(maybe ... i'm still crossing my fingers we get a few scorchers in September)</span> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXwNpg91QI/AAAAAAAACxs/GWs4K5Pae6Y/s1600/IMG_8984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXwNpg91QI/AAAAAAAACxs/GWs4K5Pae6Y/s320/IMG_8984.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXwMJbSNII/AAAAAAAACxo/svM52_m0lfQ/s1600/IMG_8986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXwMJbSNII/AAAAAAAACxo/svM52_m0lfQ/s320/IMG_8986.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-6466712844857502475?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-17234582537938571572010-09-02T23:30:00.000-07:002010-09-07T00:51:04.175-07:00The Evergreen State Fair!!we took advantage of the free kids day at the fair and used our bogo adult admission coupon in our entertainment book and got everybody into the fair for ten bucks!! we watched the lumber jack show and then saw a man on a flying carpet doing magic tricks and got an upclose look/tour of the first aid trailer (cuz abi cut herself helping the magician cut some magic rope with some really sharp scissors...) the boys rode the carousel and the girls rode the ferris wheel, we ate some cotton candy, saw some animals <span style="font-size: x-small;">(darling baby piglets!!)</span>, and ended our fun (short) day at the fair with ammon shooting 100 bbs at a target, easton riding the carousel (again) and the girls on the big swing ride! we didn't get any smiling rocks or buy a hot tub but we had a great time!!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXrGbQ9M2I/AAAAAAAACxk/h1OzpfEfB9k/s1600/New+Folder8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXrGbQ9M2I/AAAAAAAACxk/h1OzpfEfB9k/s640/New+Folder8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our state fair is a great state fair,</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't miss it, don't even be late.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's dollars to donuts </div><div style="text-align: center;">That our state fair </div><div style="text-align: center;">Is the best state fair in our state.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-1723458253793857157?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-23723960411323858652010-09-01T11:17:00.000-07:002010-09-02T11:41:58.977-07:00and so it begins ...today is the beginning of the 'bers and i'm not ready for the summer to be over ... <br /><br />how did this happen? where did summer go? <br /><br />there is so much we didn't get to do! <br /><br />there is so much i still want to try to cram into the last few days before school starts ... <br /><br />last sleep overs at grandmas, last splashes in the pool, last campouts, last late nights 'just because', last walks on the beach, last bits of all that summer is ... <br /><br />it's always funny to me though ... summer will come again - right? - and there will be sunshine every once in a while thru the 'bers ... and then it will be a whole new year and we'll make resolutions and goals and try to 'start all over again'. and then i'll be posting that christmas has come and gone all to quickly and that i didn't get all the things done in the 'bers that i wanted to ... it really is a never ending cycle.<br /><br />i need to be more in the moment. live. in. the. moment. stop looking back and forward, regretting and wishing, bemoaning and counting down. gotta remember ... the wise words of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0441773/quotes">Oogway</a> "You are too concerned about what was and what will be. There is a saying: yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present." <br /><br />so here i sit ... at andy's computer thinking about all the things i have to do today ... but for this moment - i'm living in the moment ... where's my book? <span style="font-size: x-small;">(i'm reading the Hunger Games and The DaVinci Code - seriously ... who does that? this is my first time ... but i'm totally engrossed in both!)</span><br /><br />skadoosh!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TH_v4YHM6CI/AAAAAAAACwQ/e6Hoo_wDCAA/s1600/kungfu.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TH_v4YHM6CI/AAAAAAAACwQ/e6Hoo_wDCAA/s320/kungfu.png" width="289" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-2372396041132385865?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-33274420043563908542010-08-31T16:16:00.000-07:002010-09-07T00:15:14.507-07:00wait just a minute ...<div style="text-align: center;">when did all those get there??</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXl2FpaSgI/AAAAAAAACxc/qFrSl3cPJO8/s1600/IMG_8953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXl2FpaSgI/AAAAAAAACxc/qFrSl3cPJO8/s320/IMG_8953.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">although i have to admit i think i have earned every last one of them! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-3327442004356390854?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-34974411774355940722010-08-29T13:02:00.000-07:002010-09-07T00:09:25.319-07:00somebody hijacked my camera ... again!<div style="text-align: center;">i did <em>not</em> take this upclose picture of my library book ... </div><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXkTTxmyKI/AAAAAAAACxU/FRHmDfRU_tQ/s1600/IMG_8934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXkTTxmyKI/AAAAAAAACxU/FRHmDfRU_tQ/s320/IMG_8934.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">but i think i know who did ... </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXkSif3n1I/AAAAAAAACxQ/SSk4A4sTSjg/s1600/IMG_8935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXkSif3n1I/AAAAAAAACxQ/SSk4A4sTSjg/s320/IMG_8935.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-3497441177435594072?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-34134366154424730112010-08-28T22:48:00.000-07:002010-09-06T23:53:51.465-07:00we went to the ward campout!we did it ... we had a nice sleep in our nice warm beds and after the rains came down and there wasn't a flood we decided to pack up the tent, sleeping bags, our huge air mattress, some sweatshirts, s'more stuff, our bikes and a few snacks and hit the road ...<br /><br />we made a stop at the bowling alley - bowled a few games with our 'extended family', the quigleys <span style="font-size:85%;">(minus their dad)</span>...<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXeDcWdEyI/AAAAAAAACxE/dOeWMHVClys/s1600/New+Folder6.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXeDcWdEyI/AAAAAAAACxE/dOeWMHVClys/s640/New+Folder6.jpg" width="640" height="456" ox="true" /></a></div><br /><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">and then made our way to cascade park!</div><br /><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">we decided not to bring all our gear so after setting up camp and taking a quick polar dip in the river, we drove up the road to granite falls for dinner at mcdonalds and then came back to cascade for a program put on by the activities commitee and the bishop. then the quigley's showed up and we had ourselves some s'mores!! </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">in the morning, i made a fire, we had chocolate chip pancakes provided by our fantastic ward people, helped them clean up and pack up, pumped up our raft, 'mostly' packed up, donned our swimsuits and life jackets and headed down to the river - <span style="font-size:x-small;">it was still freezing (btw)</span> - after we were numb from the neck down <span style="font-size:x-small;">(or the neck up as the case may be... )</span> we decided our camping trip was over and loaded in the rest of our stuff, changed back into our dirty clothes and came home!</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXeG1FgbZI/AAAAAAAACxI/djImdGTcCy0/s1600/New+Folder7.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXeG1FgbZI/AAAAAAAACxI/djImdGTcCy0/s640/New+Folder7.jpg" width="640" height="456" ox="true" /></a></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><span style="font-size:large;">it was so fun! for real.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-3413436615442473011?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-13416389117984864732010-08-27T22:19:00.000-07:002010-09-13T00:28:35.318-07:00i'd like to make a call ...instead of camping thursday night we took the kids to alderwood mall and had dinner in the food court ... we had some coupons from our entertainment book to use and so we made a night of it!<br /><br />we also had a history lesson ... <br /><br />this is something my kids have never seen before ... they have never watched me use one ... and have not had the opportunity to use ever in their young lives. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI3SGJX9JOI/AAAAAAAACy8/96ZsWpvSrQk/s1600/0826102049-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TI3SGJX9JOI/AAAAAAAACy8/96ZsWpvSrQk/s640/0826102049-00.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">15 yrs ago who knew the pay phone would be a relic/obsolete/archaic!? </div><br />you mean people used to have to pull over at a gas station or 7-11 to use the phone on the road?<br />you mean you didn't have a phone in your car? or in your pocket? or in your purse?<br />you mean you had to put coins in the phone?<br />a quarter?! (it's 2 quarters now!)<br /><br />it was a fun little field trip!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-1341638911798486473?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-49086067546941201432010-08-26T15:41:00.001-07:002010-08-26T22:30:31.294-07:00making up new words ...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THdJEpqySrI/AAAAAAAACv8/zGzUjkEDFoc/s1600/211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THdJEpqySrI/AAAAAAAACv8/zGzUjkEDFoc/s320/211.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">but let's face it ... these 2 campers <br />would have a hard time <br />without these 2 campers</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">o what do you do in the summer time</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">when all the world is gray?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">do you sit on your bum</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">and watch shows that are dumb</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">while the summer days all fly away??</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">is that what you do? </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">unforturnately so do we!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">o what do you do in the summer time</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">when all the ground is wet?</div>do you get ready for camp<br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">wish things weren't so damp</div>and pray the clouds would dry up and go away??<br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">is that what you do?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">SO DO WE!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THdJCkzzKmI/AAAAAAAACv4/9qMubrcK8I4/s1600/wrights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THdJCkzzKmI/AAAAAAAACv4/9qMubrcK8I4/s320/wrights.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">come back and do ShawWright Labor Day Campout with us!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">it was our plan to go camping today ... </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">but now it's raining ... </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">rain, rain go away ... </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">come again when autumn is here</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">summer's supposed to be sunny and warm</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">so we can go camping with all our gear</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">rain, rain go away!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-4908606754694120143?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-83543276194714981782010-08-25T20:37:00.000-07:002010-08-26T15:40:32.959-07:00in preparation for our campout ...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THbs3AlVcJI/AAAAAAAACvk/KD7llsx4anM/s1600/0825101804-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THbs3AlVcJI/AAAAAAAACvk/KD7llsx4anM/s640/0825101804-00.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andy practiced eating smores ... and getting them all over himself!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-8354327619471498178?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-71203322906210092692010-08-24T14:26:00.000-07:002010-08-25T00:42:07.824-07:00the many faces of me ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THTF4XkPAsI/AAAAAAAACvE/SI6WBE5lzqU/s1600/faces+of+Emily.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THTF4XkPAsI/AAAAAAAACvE/SI6WBE5lzqU/s640/faces+of+Emily.bmp" width="640" /></a></div>I use <a href="http://picasa.google.com/#utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-bk&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=picasa%203">picasa 3</a> to make my collages and just discovered that it has facial recognition and will categorize all the faces ... and then try to match the rest of the faces in all the pictures you've got on your computer ... it's amazing ... and entertaining - sometimes it recognizes eatson's face as mine ... elyssa has shown up in my queue as well! guess my kids do look like me! i only have 3,522 unnamed faces to deal with ... it's been fun and funny going thru all the pictures i have ... the best is getting to see all the faces of me ... andy, abi, elyssa, ammon, easton - the baby ones, the crying ones, the cheese-ing ones, and the laughing ones! <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-7120332290621009269?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-41384227133744951672010-08-23T09:57:00.000-07:002010-09-06T22:47:32.326-07:00a few things you should know about the four year old in our house ...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THYWbJEkulI/AAAAAAAACvc/aYJgVcl-svo/s1600/Easton+Shaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THYWbJEkulI/AAAAAAAACvc/aYJgVcl-svo/s640/Easton+Shaw.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">seriously ... is this kid cute or what!?</td></tr></tbody></table>1: he knows he's cute ... he is told how cute he is on a regular basis (and not just by his mommy) and he tries to get away with things because he is so cute.<br /><br />2: he loves his mommy. he wants me to lay by him for a few minutes each night and we usually sing a song or two together. he likes to hold my hand - everywhere we go. he kisses me, on the lips sometimes ... not gross - sweet and slobbery ..., on the cheek, on the forehead, butterfly kisses on my nose ... he's my little charmer.<br /><br />3: he has uncanny balance. this kid was riding a 2 wheeler bike at 2 years old! he got a new yellow bike for his birthday and LOVES it! he roller blades and not just around in a circle at the skate deck ... he jumps, steps up onto the carpet without falling and wins races!! he can kick his skateboard up our sloped drive way, jump on with both feet and ride it down the driveway! he's amazing - all self taught ... we did not help/force him ... he is totally athletic!<br /><br />4: he still sucks his left ring finger backwards (palm out) and loves his taggie!<br /><br />5: he's starting preschool this september! whenever we talk about him going off to school he makes sure that i remember that he will come back home. he's not going to stay at school - 'just like ammon did' he says.<br /><br />6: he loves to sing! he knows lots of songs (mostly christmas and primary) and most of the right words!<br /><br />7: he's a pouter! if he doesn't get what he wants he usually shouts: "Darn!" folds his arms or flops on the ground or kicks things ... i usually ignore it ... but sometimes have to stop myself from laughing in his face! his pouty face is pretty 'darn' cute!<br /><br />8: he's the size of a 5 and 1/2 year old. he's always been big ... and he seems to be keeping a steady pace. look out ... he wants to play football and we're gonna let him - that is unless he's really good at something else and changes his mind ... we'll let him decide but he's gonna be a BIG kid and coaches are going to LOVE him!<br /><br />9: he's a really good friend. he's always looking out for people, sticking up for his friends. he likes to play with everybody! he's nice and friendly and likes to include people and doesn't care/doesn't notice the difference between boys and girls! friends are friends!<br /><br />10: he's four today! i can't believe it! my baby is getting so big! but he'll always be my baby!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXR1dqRFII/AAAAAAAACxA/tCDG3Mi7gSQ/s1600/New+Folder5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TIXR1dqRFII/AAAAAAAACxA/tCDG3Mi7gSQ/s640/New+Folder5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-4138422713374495167?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-54565596224967935622010-08-18T16:03:00.000-07:002010-08-24T15:19:49.900-07:00i took my circus TO the circus (at the science center)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THRERNZVA8I/AAAAAAAACu8/uq5kaP0MuLI/s1600/circus+and+tye+dye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THRERNZVA8I/AAAAAAAACu8/uq5kaP0MuLI/s640/circus+and+tye+dye.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We decided that we better use our guest passes before they expire, so we invited one of Easton's best little buddies and her mom to join us! It was a lot of fun! The girls stood in line almost the entire time waiting to go on the flying trapeze for 15 minutes each! Better hurry if you want to see the Circus - it's only in town for a few more days!</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THRETNMF_nI/AAAAAAAACvA/oAQNzWHfjH8/s1600/IMG_8863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THRETNMF_nI/AAAAAAAACvA/oAQNzWHfjH8/s400/IMG_8863.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this shot only took 4 tries!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-5456559622496793562?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-82936756054131267802010-08-15T21:36:00.000-07:002010-08-22T13:03:55.629-07:00yw camp : important details (don't need a travel log)<em><span style="font-size:x-small;">holy long post ... </span></em><br />camp was 3+ weeks ago but i want to remember a few things ... i had the awesome opportunity to hang out with the 4th years! i was an assistant leader which translates to indian - not chief (hooray!) ... i did as i was told/asked to do and helped out where i could. mostly i was just an adult 'supervisor'. that makes it sound like the girls were my minions/subjects/subordinates ... on the contrary, i was merely older ... these girls were in charge and they knew full-well what they were doing and rarely needed my guidance! our team had some awesome YCLs (youth camp leaders) that basically did EVERYTHING and we (the adult camp leaders) stood around and watched!<br /><br />the first day we gathered our girls and took them about 20 minutes north to where they would camp for the night and do their 4th yr hike. we went back up that evening for FHE with them ... wow - these girls are awesome ... this was my first chance to see them in action! Megan Hickman and Whitney Perkins lead the FHE and did such a great job. they talked about goals for YW camp and the things they had talked about on the hike - wanting to get to know each other better, no gossiping amongst ourselves, no drama, be AWESOME and don't have clicks. Megan talked a little about EFY and a quote she shared: "the distance between you and the Lord is the distance from your knees to the floor." we read in D&C 6 and she pointed out the words Pray, Seek, Gifts and Friends and whitney shared Matt. 25:14 about talents. she talked to us about how the Lord will say to us "well done" when we use our talents for good.<br />it was wo great to see them in action and feel the spirit there with them ... just as they were getting to know each other ... i was still trying to learn names myself!<br /><br />tuesday morning we went to pick them up and caravanned back with all our girls! after lunch we had our opening ceremony. one of the first tasks was to start preparing a skit ... we had a list of things the girls needed to incorporate and our girls were awesome!! totally not biased opinion! the 4th yrs skit ROCKED!<br /><br />during our free time Sarah Platteborze and I did a few runs down the enormous slip n slide and then went and played in the river! on our way back from the river we stopped at the crafts pavilion and made ourselves some lip gloss!<br /><br />later that night, after each group performed their skits (and did i mention that ours was the best?! - and the leaders did not have to perform {halleluiah}), brother fawcett - one of the camp dads - sang an impromptu song ... including a few leaders and girls by name. (pretty stinkin' funny)<br /><br />one of our jobs as leaders was to enforce the rules ... not fun ... but i learned from the other leaders about being firm and loving. we went to each tent and ensured we had all our girls in at 11:00 - told them that we loved them and goodnight!<br /><br />the next morning i thought about going to the polar dip ... but decided to build a fire instead - the mornings were COLD!! brother stewart - camp dad - came over and surveyed my fire ... he was impressed ... the last few years he was on morning fire duty for the 4th years ... he was glad i was there to take on that responsibility - and i was happy to do it! ;o)<br /><br />we did our service project that morning - half of the campers were on mulching trees and the other was tasked with building nice wide walkways ... we collected river rocks the size of one of our feet and made the edges of the paths with the rocks and filled in the path with mulch - they looked great! and we mulched 173 trees! it was a great project!!<br /><br />later on that day the 4th years were scheduled for the ropes course. Wow - what an experience. we have some strong leaders in this rising generation - and i mean physically powerful as well as enthusiastic and effective. the most outspoken of which were 'taken ill' and were instructed not to use their voices (in an effort to bring some of the quieter girls to the front and allow them to lead. i was even caused to be lame (i know i'm lame ha ha), my leg was 'broken' and i had to be helped across the logs. we learned about team work, trust and how to listen. i personally learned about stinging nettle ... did you know that the spores on the back of the fern leaves can neutralize the stinging?? it's true ... but the stinging lingers for a few hours ... annoying!!<br /><br />that evening was the night hike ... i had been hearing bits and pieces of what we would be doing but didn't really know what to expect. our YCLs were involved so that left the adult leaders in charge of the evening fireside and we had decided to read the story "The Parable of the Golden Pathway" to our girls. it was awesome ... such a powerful message. when we finished our fireside we had time to read scriptures for a few minutes and use the potty and get ready for the night hike...<br /><br />the YCLs took us in groups of about 10 ... and my group was the last. as we walked thru the dark forrest, flashlights and headlamps lighting the way, we came across adult leaders that we knew - holding framed pictures of Jesus, Moroni, Nephi, other prophets and the last was President Monson. as we approached each picture the leader would read their scripted part of our journey's narrative and then direct us along the path to the next. when we came to the beginning of the iron rod (PVC pipe) we were instructed to "hold on, don't let go and no talking... " we followed the rod up the path where we could hear our very own YCLs inticing us to join them in the great and spacious building, to 'just let go', saying that 'it was no big deal ... we could come back to the rod after we had some fun' ... it was interesting ... the thought occured to me that i can be distracted by people that i know and even trust. we were stopped on the path ... being taunted ... and then we were blindfolded - one by one. and then the fun began ... we walked slowly holding to the rod. people - YCLs and other leaders - tried to get us to let go of the rod. i had people telling me i was done, there was a snake, spiders were going to get me... but i didn't let go. held on ... followed it to the end, where our stake president said, "well done sister shaw, you made it!" he shook my hand and i took off my blind fold and there was the tree - all lit up ... and my girls were there, the ladies i worked with and many people that i had grown to love thru this camp experience. tears welled in my eyes as i realized that we all made it! we were all there!<br /><br />later i found out that if the 'tempters' were successful they would take the people who strayed to the 'repentance table' where the camp director would share with them a scripture and talk to them about how Jesus suffered and died so that we have the opportunity to repent. and then they were brought back to the rod to continue on their journey.<br /><br />we gathered in an ampitheater and President Duce spoke to us about what we just experienced and his perspective ... watching from the end and not being able to encourage anyone/watching girls be taken away when they were so close ... feeling like he had a glimpse of what Heavenly Father sees and feels everyday. it was powerful.<br /><br />the next day we had "Golden Hour' (in my day it was called 'Land of Destiny' ... same idea), the topic was be the heroine in your own story... be the one that conquers evil, comes thru the test and trials and traps with more knowledge and know how and no worse for the wear. i loved this hour ... and asked for a copy of the notes ... so i can study it on my own (so if you'd like a copy let me know)!<br /><br />from 2-3:30 we had a fun certification activity with the whole camp - it was 'the amazing race' camp style! each team had to follow clues to their next destination and complete the task presented to them ... it was interesting/hilarious - these girls would most certainly no survive if they were stuck in the woods ...<br /><br />during the activity we saw president brigman ... he was dressed down and looked like he was ready to play. i had been warned earlier that he was ruthless in a water fight ... but i was unconvinced. we snuck away to prepare ourselves - sarah platteborze and i - donned our bathing suits and filled our buckets. and then it was on! and shoot ... if you weren't with him - you were against him! and no one was exempt. we had a water war the likes of which i hadn't witnessed since the days of ryan litchfield when i was a youth! it was fun and hilarious and 'epic'!!<br /><br />that evening was our ward testimony meeting ... and since bishop briggs was out of town picking up his son from India, brother perkins was designated to be our bishopric member in charge! he brought ice cream sandwiches from cold stone to endear himself to us - and it worked! we listenen to him share personal stories about tying ourselves to the proper source. and then he opened it up for the girls to share testimonies. they did and we all cried and i shared ... it was wonderful and spiritual and amazing experience that i will not soon forget!<br /><br />following our ward time we had stake testimony meeting ... i was expecting more of the same in the way of testimonies ... and it was to an extent ... the girls went up and then the flood gates opened and so many girls got up and sat in line waiting for their turn. we didn't finish until past 11:00 and it was truly an uplifting testimony meeting ... sister bushman (camp director) was the last speaker and i just love her!!<br /><br />that evening we 'tucked in' our little family - told them how much we loved them. the last night at camp is always the one that no one sleeps thru and we weren't expecting a ton of sleep ... but in actuality it was not that bad ... we were all so tired that we crashed!<br /><br />in the morning we heard the YCLs singing to wake the girls ... they started at the tent next to ours 'they wanted to let us sleep a little longer' and they went to every tent and then came back around to ours! :o) sweet cute girls! love them!!<br /><br />we busted a move and got packed up and cleaned up and ready to be checked out and then headed down for the closing ceremony. YW camp ROCKS! and i told sister bushman to sign me up for next year!<br /><br /><strong>what i learned</strong>: while these girls may not be able to pee in the woods, build a shelter, go without showers, or live without their cell phones ... they have such powerful testimonies. they carry with them such strong spirits and have the potential to go so far in this life. i think that is the focus now ... when i was younger we were in survival mode ... now it's refined to spiritual survival mode. these girls <em>need</em> to be rock solid, and with the programs and activities they have the opportunity to participate in - they are becoming just what Heavenly Father needs them to be. <br /><br />I am sending a letter to each of my girls to let them know how much they mean to me ... and I hope that I get to work with a few of them next year when they will be YCLs! :<br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Sometimes there are not words to describe the feelings of peace, hope and love that I experienced while at YW Camp … I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to know such awesome girls – future mothers and leaders … you really are a bright shining generation … so much stronger than you may think you are and yet pure and innocent … you have experienced so much in your short lives and will have to experience/endure so much more. I’m so grateful for YW Camp, EFY and Youth Conference; bright spots in the darkness, moments when testimonies grow and the Spirit is so strong. I feel blessed to have been able to get to know you and hope that we can be friends forever!!"</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-8293675605413126780?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-78604229986663765342010-08-14T22:08:00.000-07:002010-08-22T13:02:56.112-07:00ocean shores = a place i'd like to go again - real soon!<table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THBNAtFuWiI/AAAAAAAACt8/BIvuEPlBVrg/s1600/IMG_8840.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THBNAtFuWiI/AAAAAAAACt8/BIvuEPlBVrg/s400/IMG_8840.jpg" width="400" height="300" ox="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">it was a very welcome quick get away!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THBNB7XRigI/AAAAAAAACuA/lY6wl3O0gek/s1600/IMG_8824.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THBNB7XRigI/AAAAAAAACuA/lY6wl3O0gek/s320/IMG_8824.jpg" width="320" height="240" ox="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">note to self ... the jetta isn't a jeep ...<br />stay on solid ground!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THBNDBJ0kVI/AAAAAAAACuE/0Vn6dtP1z2U/s1600/IMG_8826.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THBNDBJ0kVI/AAAAAAAACuE/0Vn6dtP1z2U/s320/IMG_8826.jpg" width="320" height="240" ox="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">such a blessing that the North Beach Towing truck happened by!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THBNECv_5xI/AAAAAAAACuI/1cDyZWBdeu8/s1600/IMG_8830.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THBNECv_5xI/AAAAAAAACuI/1cDyZWBdeu8/s320/IMG_8830.jpg" width="320" height="240" ox="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">the weather was fabulous ..<br />and there were hundreds of kites riding the warmish ocean breeze</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THBNFBXyEiI/AAAAAAAACuM/uC9SdL7UkyE/s1600/IMG_8833.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THBNFBXyEiI/AAAAAAAACuM/uC9SdL7UkyE/s400/IMG_8833.jpg" width="300" height="400" ox="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">the last time these shoes were in this ocean<br />the sand was softer, lighter color and the water was much warmer ...<br />hard to believe it was the same ocean!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THBNGMXeLdI/AAAAAAAACuQ/ruAQuksLY3o/s1600/IMG_8838.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THBNGMXeLdI/AAAAAAAACuQ/ruAQuksLY3o/s320/IMG_8838.jpg" width="320" height="240" ox="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">tourists were out in force ... and driving on the stable sand :o)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THBNHB3GB0I/AAAAAAAACuU/gn6g3ADkmjg/s1600/IMG_8839.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/THBNHB3GB0I/AAAAAAAACuU/gn6g3ADkmjg/s640/IMG_8839.jpg" width="640" height="480" ox="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">and we were happy to have a few hours in the sun<br />(even if it was a work trip)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-7860422998666376534?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-35673905288274029632010-08-13T14:18:00.000-07:002010-08-13T14:21:38.367-07:00you know it's friday the 13th when ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">emily shaw shows up for a zumba class at the Y!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGW1FAeii3I/AAAAAAAACt0/g5xYXxMuNfU/s1600/zumba.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGW1FAeii3I/AAAAAAAACt0/g5xYXxMuNfU/s640/zumba.bmp" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">my neighbor has been pestering me to go ... and i finally gave in ... </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">so fun and burned 1658, 1659, 1660, 1661 ... calories </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">(i'm watching my counter go up 1673, 1674...)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">it really is a great workout and so FUN!</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(i know i promised more on Camp ... and i'm working on it ... i'll post it by Sunday ... :o)</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-3567390528827402963?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-8425712879690163402010-08-12T14:25:00.001-07:002010-08-12T21:43:55.779-07:00this is what YW camp does to a leader ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGRos_eg64I/AAAAAAAACtw/vJGB5gVVhpA/s1600/20100811013452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGRos_eg64I/AAAAAAAACtw/vJGB5gVVhpA/s400/20100811013452.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">turns them back into teenagers! <br /><br />tomorrow i'll share some details ...<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-842571287969016340?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-15902403697820282402010-08-11T23:27:00.000-07:002010-08-12T11:35:13.921-07:00cereal = shaw food staple<div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGQ9NP5oNrI/AAAAAAAACts/WLWvbzmPHis/s1600/20100811164538.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGQ9NP5oNrI/AAAAAAAACts/WLWvbzmPHis/s400/20100811164538.jpg" width="400" height="300" ox="true" /></a></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; CLEAR: right; cssfloat: right" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGQ9McNY5fI/AAAAAAAACtk/GwpV837eYDQ/s1600/0811101654-00.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGQ9McNY5fI/AAAAAAAACtk/GwpV837eYDQ/s200/0811101654-00.jpg" width="200" height="150" ox="true" /></a><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: left; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em; cssfloat: left" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGQ9MzkfqfI/AAAAAAAACto/GULSO4viUG4/s1600/0811101655-00.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGQ9MzkfqfI/AAAAAAAACto/GULSO4viUG4/s200/0811101655-00.jpg" width="200" height="150" ox="true" /></a>today starts the "stock up on cereal fest" at Albertsons! i had 30 boxes in my cart ... along with 10 boxes of cake mix <span style="font-size:85%;">(bring on cake mix cookies!!)</span> and a few other items ... i spent a total of $66.76 and saved $109.43 - seriously love these sales!!</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-1590240369782028240?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-46994120899950414592010-08-10T22:19:00.000-07:002010-08-11T13:40:11.086-07:00Shopping advice - long distance.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">since my fashion conscious bff moved away i have somewhat shied away from shopping <span style="font-size: x-small;">(except for the basics, of course)</span> and worried that i might be stuck in my same-old same-old for <em>way</em> too long... until i discovered that i could still get fashion advice via <span style="font-size: large;">photo-text!!</span> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGJkykoIWlI/AAAAAAAACtU/T4duSR0wb2s/s1600/0430101316-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" mx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGJkykoIWlI/AAAAAAAACtU/T4duSR0wb2s/s320/0430101316-00.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">it all started with these ... </span><a href="http://iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com/2010/05/what-fashion-dont.html"><span style="font-size: small;">remember</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">??</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGJkzBtd9qI/AAAAAAAACtY/HF7iKrlHxEQ/s1600/0809101549-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGJkzBtd9qI/AAAAAAAACtY/HF7iKrlHxEQ/s320/0809101549-00.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGJkzW7RiNI/AAAAAAAACtc/cIWnwOdJwkI/s1600/0809101552-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGJkzW7RiNI/AAAAAAAACtc/cIWnwOdJwkI/s320/0809101552-00.jpg" width="240" /></a>then it was a decision between <span style="font-size: large;">purple</span> and <span style="font-size: large;">pink</span>-ish ... (btw: pink-ish won ... but needs accesories)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGJlyXwpvMI/AAAAAAAACtg/4_3bKNcKYg0/s1600/20100811013119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mx="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGJlyXwpvMI/AAAAAAAACtg/4_3bKNcKYg0/s320/20100811013119.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">and tonight at fred meyer i tried on this little number ... </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">and since TX is 2 hours ahead i'm still waiting on a verdict ... </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">but i purchased anyway ... on the off-chance that i get the thumbs up!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">opinions? </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(only if they aren't hurtful - and imagine a purple or tangerine cardigan over those skinny upper arms ... )</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">update on the 'little number': </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">i decided it was too loud and i couldn't pull it off</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">even before i got the big NO from the superior powers that be </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-4699412089995041459?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-44974635888143154302010-08-09T21:37:00.000-07:002010-08-09T21:40:40.818-07:00blogging commitments not my forte ...right ... so 'summer' and 'schedule' don't really go in the same sentence around the shaw household ... although a few years ago (2006) i tried to do a set summer schedule of activities and such ... i called it the Shaw's Sensational Summer! i had a "stay-home" plan and a "field-trip" plan ... scheduled out the day from 7:30am to 7:30pm and had free time, quiet time, and play time scheduled! Then 2007 it was SuperFabuloso ShawFamily SummerFun!! we did theme weeks, had a stay home and field trip schedule again ... play time, chore time, reading time, art time; mapped out from 7:30 to 7:30 ... and as i recall we were hit and miss with those schedules. this summer we've mostly been going to bed late and getting up late and doing whatever floats our boat (except our boat was dragged to TX a couple months ago ... boo hoo) and enjoying the sunshine when we have it. i have missed the Y, mostly because my people don't want to go everyday and partly because i'm lazy ... the one thing that i rarely skip in my daily routine is quiet time. though my people don't really cooperate and i have to get after them ... my babiest has a nap and the cranky 3 almost 4 year old is virtually non-existent!<br />remember how i said i was going to do the blogging 365 thing ... yeah ... i slack, i'm slacking, i'm a slacker ...<br />on the other hand:<br />i blog, i'm blogging, i'm a blogger ... in all my days in the blogosphere i have posted many a-blog and made many a-goal, and said "this time i'll really do it" many a-time. but let's face it, i do pretty ok ... could do better, want to do my best, sometimes i spurt, have long surges of daily narratives, interspersed with dry periods of occasional history reports ... i would really like to be an ex-spurt blogger (get it 'expert' - hee hee!) i can not guarantee, take an oath, or vow to blog every single day ... but i've got my phone reminding me daily at 2:30pm (mid-quiet time) 'have you blogged today?'<br /><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">there are some things i'd like to go back and write down/type up - remember, so stay tuned ... if you want ... there is no obligation/compulsion/duty/responsibility/requirement here ... we just do our best.</div><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGDWxhM0lLI/AAAAAAAACtM/Uh84DMz0A4o/s1600/peace+and+quiet.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TGDWxhM0lLI/AAAAAAAACtM/Uh84DMz0A4o/s400/peace+and+quiet.jpg" width="298" height="400" bx="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">just a little peace and quiet</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-4497463588814315430?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-61946367963698764312010-07-18T23:49:00.000-07:002010-07-19T01:48:58.741-07:00ahhh ... Sunday ...church at 9 isn't easy ... we're late often ... and we choose to sit in the very front row for a few reasons: first, to possibly embarrass/encourage my children to be reverent ... because "the bishop can see you!"; second, it's usually open, even when we're late; third, i like to hear what's being said; fourth, my people are easily distracted and with no one in front of us ... less distraction; and fifth, it's where my family sat when i was a kid ... i'm accustom to it, and when we sit in the back people wonder where we are! tradition!!<br /><br />today was not different, slightly late, walking in after the opening prayer to land in the front ... Elyssa wants to sit by mom and easton is the baby and is supposed to sit by mom ... mom and dad sit next to each other and so elyssa got sat on ... and then talked to thru clenched teeth a little harshly in her ear ... reprimanded for making a scene <em>again </em>(she's our <em>one</em> ... cuz every family needs one). i have to wonder what people are thinking sometimes ... but oh well ... we have all been there!<br /><br />sacrament meeting was great - fabulous youth speakers (love the story about the room with all the drawers ... i've heard it before but i've gotta remember to get that from whitney and post it ... so good!), excellent adult speakers (sometimes i wish sacrament meeting was longer ... i know keri could have gone on longer and i love to listen to her! brian's talk was great too ... he had some great personal stories that make me smile to myself and think 'ah yes ... been there!' and say to myself 'i'm having <em>growth spurts</em> more often than i'd like ... so often sometimes that the growing pains are quite unpleasant ... but i'm learning - i hope!")<br /><br />sunday school - even though i was late arriving - was great. the influence of good leaders is super important ... but the personal/conscience choice to do what is right is paramount to getting you where you want to be in the end ... and for me - that's with my Heavenly Father!<br /><br />relief society is always wonderful! amy's lesson could have gone on and on and i would <em>not</em> have minded at all! we just got to discussing how we can, as mothers/daughters/sisters/wives/teachers, sustain and encourage the priesthood in our homes, ward, and community. it was a <em>great</em> lesson!<br /><br />we came home to a slightly messy house and had our home teachers coming at 2 so we had lunch and did a little bit of a panic pick up to be ready for them <em>and</em> granny to come for dinner. <br /><br />our home teachers talked to us about being good friends. we want to be great friends like Jesus was ... we want to be like Jesus.<br /><br />granny and papa came to dinner and brought tilapia foil dinners for grilling outside! surprise!! it was yummy! ammon was the only kid that tried it - not a surprise. elyssa had froot loops, abi had grilled chicken, easton had a reheated cheeseburger and ammon had a grilled cheese sandwich, several bites of tilapia, half of easton's cheeseburger and ceasar salad (he's a growing boy). andy and i had tilapia and ceasar salad - yum!<br /><br />after dinner we watched the pioneer commemoration concert from SLC ... (i dvr'd it if anyone missed it) love motab!<br /><br />now i'm frantically getting packed and ready for girls camp in the morning ... i don't have to be to the church until 9am but i don't what to be sweating in the morning. man, it's a good thing i'm bringing my own car! loading up now ... got my checklist ... wish me luck!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-6194636796369876431?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-59567181842581402482010-07-17T22:28:00.000-07:002010-07-19T01:19:08.104-07:00our day in pictures ...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEP-nk56SNI/AAAAAAAACss/qXgJ9tpJtwc/s1600/IMG_8734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" hw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEP-nk56SNI/AAAAAAAACss/qXgJ9tpJtwc/s400/IMG_8734.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easton's team played against Haley Kenyon's team!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEP-qWjQC4I/AAAAAAAACsw/bp6vN9VWSyk/s1600/IMG_8739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" hw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEP-qWjQC4I/AAAAAAAACsw/bp6vN9VWSyk/s320/IMG_8739.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEP-tJDtUkI/AAAAAAAACs0/ZGmhGMD6IV4/s1600/IMG_8741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" hw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEP-tJDtUkI/AAAAAAAACs0/ZGmhGMD6IV4/s320/IMG_8741.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEP-wPgBN7I/AAAAAAAACs4/m0Skhm0D6Co/s1600/IMG_8744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" hw="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEP-wPgBN7I/AAAAAAAACs4/m0Skhm0D6Co/s400/IMG_8744.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shaw Family picnic up at Lake Riley</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEP-ymQ4p0I/AAAAAAAACs8/-MllTH-HYrc/s1600/IMG_8748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" hw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEP-ymQ4p0I/AAAAAAAACs8/-MllTH-HYrc/s320/IMG_8748.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEP-1vzIhgI/AAAAAAAACtA/MNhdYtAVXj4/s1600/IMG_8750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" hw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEP-1vzIhgI/AAAAAAAACtA/MNhdYtAVXj4/s400/IMG_8750.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ammon's ball game (he can't be normal ...)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEP-lGWn5ZI/AAAAAAAACso/4KIDWoflXQU/s1600/IMG_8753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" hw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEP-lGWn5ZI/AAAAAAAACso/4KIDWoflXQU/s320/IMG_8753.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">then everyone got a much needed bath!!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">what a way to end the week ... phew ... </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">on to Sunday and then i'm off to Girls Camp for the week!!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(bet you can't wait to hear all about that!!)</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-5956718184258140248?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-81687841853467095342010-07-16T21:22:00.000-07:002010-07-17T10:06:33.721-07:00a date with my 3 favorite boys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEHdUmRz1yI/AAAAAAAACsk/SZCpzxHRsQg/s1600/pictures8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" hw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEHdUmRz1yI/AAAAAAAACsk/SZCpzxHRsQg/s640/pictures8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Andy and I took the boys with us on our date tonight ... <span style="font-size: x-small;">the girls were with Andy's parents for the night</span>! We went to one of our favorite restaurants <span style="font-size: x-small;">(and the same place we took Ammon last time we took him along)</span> La Palmera ... MMM!! They are both pretty good eaters and Ammon even asked for more beans!! <span style="font-size: x-small;">He <em>is</em> my son!!</span> We ran some errands and got them each a shirt at Fred Meyers for being good kids <span style="font-size: x-small;">(and because FM is having a HUGE sale!!) </span><span style="font-size: small;">and got home about 8:45 ... just enough time for fudgesicles and a little foot rub for mom and 'can i brush your hair?' then prayers and bed! </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I sure love these boys!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-8168784185346709534?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-49192718304346598812010-07-15T14:57:00.000-07:002010-07-16T15:29:36.407-07:00pet, pet, wash, wash, giddyup!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEDZIo9d5CI/AAAAAAAACsQ/IfoSOX3InnQ/s1600/100716+dump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" hw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEDZIo9d5CI/AAAAAAAACsQ/IfoSOX3InnQ/s640/100716+dump.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we took a lunch to the park and then walked down to the petting farm ... </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEDZE9pFZ0I/AAAAAAAACsM/DXzc4gcTcHw/s1600/100716+dump1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" hw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TEDZE9pFZ0I/AAAAAAAACsM/DXzc4gcTcHw/s640/100716+dump1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">then waited in line for a turn to ride the horse ... </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">my kids are animal lovers ... all of them <span style="font-size: x-small;">(all my kids ... not necessarily all animals ... although ... now that i think about it ... i don't know what animals they don't like ... ) </span><span style="font-size: small;">so when we were invited by our neighbor to go to the nearby petting farm we were totally game! we saw bunnies, geese, ducks, sheep, goats, chickens and 2 calves ... so cute. when it was time for horse rides they jumped at the chance ... Abi asked if they could trot <span style="font-size: x-small;">(since she is an experienced rider ... )</span> no dice :o( she'll just have to wait until we make our way to ID again to ride with Garth! Overall a really fun field trip!!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-4919271830434659881?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-62812868384293753992010-07-14T14:36:00.000-07:002010-07-15T11:13:59.684-07:00"shhhh ... this is the library."i tell my kids that as we head into the building. and i'm always surprised at the noise that greets us there. is it not the <em>rule</em> anymore? do people not <em>follow</em> the rule? are people losing their hearing and can't tell they are being loud? are people <em>really</em> that inconsiderate? answers aside, i do my best to keep my people hushed.<br /><br />in our family kids are allowed 3 items per ... 3 books; 2 books and a movie; 1 book, 1 movie, and a game; 2 movies and a book ... there must be a book in the bunch but they are allowed 3. we have been going on wednesdays ... not for any particular reason, just seems to be the day that we're ready.<br /><br />my favorite part about our library trip happens less than 3 minutes after we get there ... Easton comes back to me with 3 books that he has grabbed from the shelf or table. he has not looked at what the books are about, nor has he put any thought into what he wants to learn about or have read to him at quiet time ... he has simply 'come and conquered' ... carried out the task of finding 3 books. so funny to me ... i will then look at his books and ask him "are these the books you want me to read to you?" "uh huh." "this one is about barbie's dream castle ... you want to hear that story?" "NO!" "well then you're going to have to look for something else ... maybe look at the front of the book and see if it looks like something you like?"<br /><br />it's all about judging the book by the cover ...<br /><br />Ammon is all about finding chapter books with pictures on the fronts that look cool. monsters, aliens, mice on motorcycles, scooby-doo, baseball players, and your occasional army cat ... all books that he can't read and doesn't necessarily want read to him ... he just likes to thumb through the pages and look at the pictures and pretend that he has read 46 pages in 17 minutes. he's always the one that borrows movies too ... random movies that i have never heard of ... or old ones like Herby goes bananas!<br /><br />Elyssa and Abi are pretty independant and pick out books that they will actually read, Elyssa sometimes brings home books that are WAY below her reading level ... just so that she has more books to add to her list in a short amount of time. Abi is way into educational books ... she just picked up a book about training horses ... and breeds of dogs ... she wants to be prepared for when she gets those things ... because you never know ... we might just move to texas and <em>have a farm</em> ...<br /><br />what's my least favorite part, you ask?? check out.<br />it's a fight ... i wanna go first ... i can do it ... get out of my way ... i want to get the receipt ...<br /><br />i have to lay the smack down almost everytime ... or do them separately ... and this last time Elyssa wanted to get her own card ... bah.<br /><br />but we made it out alive ... no one had to die ... and now we have some books for quiet time! <br /><br />hooray for the library!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-6281286838429375399?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-42242549010693325092010-07-13T15:21:00.000-07:002010-07-13T15:22:27.223-07:00FHE: Toy Story 3<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: left; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em; cssfloat: left" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDzj-Ycye2I/AAAAAAAACrs/7DbvaxGE_nM/s1600/toy+story+3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDzj-Ycye2I/AAAAAAAACrs/7DbvaxGE_nM/s320/toy+story+3.jpg" width="214" height="320" rw="true" /></a></div>i thought that the first 2 were great ... they are imaginative and clever ... funny even for adults and so cute for the kids. they in all actuality brought toys to life and inspired kids to start playing with toys again ...<br />on the down side they ruined all my chances of 'getting rid of' any of our toys ... they all had feelings all of a sudden ... they all would be sad if they were left at the side of the road or sold in a garage sale.<br />but #3 has saved me ... i no longer have to fight the battle of depressed and hurt toy's feelings. there is a better place for them ... other kids need them ... they need to be loved by someone else ... because they are just being sad, lonely, unplayed with toys here in our house.<br /><br />i have to admit ... i was teary at the end ... but it was a happy cry. and if you wondered how they could ever end a series of movies such as Toy Story ... go see 3 ... it was done beautifully.<br /><br />we spend Family Night at the movies for a little under $50 <span style="font-size:x-small;"><em>ouch.</em></span> but it was fun ... i'm glad we did it!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-size:x-small;">i'm going forward with my posts ... </span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-size:x-small;">even though i skipped quite a few days ...</span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-size:x-small;">i will fill in as i have time ... </span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-size:x-small;">because i have things to say about those days ...</span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-size:x-small;">just a little behind ... </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-4224254901069332509?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-56552793814215805522010-07-12T15:30:00.000-07:002010-07-13T16:05:22.000-07:00if you were to ask me ...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">what my favorite pass time is ... i might humm and hahh and tap my finger on my head trying to decide between a few of the things that i really <em>like</em> to do ... such as read, walk around walmart in the middle of the night talking to my sister in texas, watch reality tv, sit on the beach in hawaii, go away <em>anywhere</em> with my handsome husband, visit the blogoshere, step aerobics, yoga ... i could go on ... but you get the idea. there are a lot of things i <em>really like</em> to do. but if you were to ask me what my <em>favorite</em> thing to do is ... i'd have to say this: </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDzscrImZ5I/AAAAAAAACr0/1I-qdwNmgRY/s1600/IMG_8668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDzscrImZ5I/AAAAAAAACr0/1I-qdwNmgRY/s400/IMG_8668.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">sitting with girlfriends, for hours on end, talking about everything under the sun, solving the world's problems, sharing funny stories, birth stories, adventures, talking about our crazy mommy lives and the eventual poop/barf/oh no! story, helping each other be better mommies, feel better about our mothering skills, feel better about our own lives in general because we are in the same boat, some of us a little farther along than others and full of wisdom to share (ha!), some of us more 'street smart' with better wisdom to share ... but all the <em>same</em> ... </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">all while our collective 20 children play and visit and run around. ahh ... what could be better??</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDzsaUaFkbI/AAAAAAAACrw/ghSiFgILfPs/s1600/IMG_8673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDzsaUaFkbI/AAAAAAAACrw/ghSiFgILfPs/s320/IMG_8673.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">here's 14 of the 20<br /> - it was all we could do <br />to get these ones to cooperate!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />it was extra fun to have the <a href="http://conlinchaos.blogspot.com/">Conlin Chaos</a> in on all the fun!!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">friends are the best!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-5655279381421580552?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-44283924182280285102010-06-21T21:31:00.000-07:002010-07-08T07:49:02.570-07:00again with the stitches!? as if getting the stitches put<em> in</em> wasn't bad enough ... what with the holding him down and the screaming and the crying and the fighting ... i was sick to my stomach just watching it all and a little light-headed with all the tortured noises coming from my baby. it was a good thing Andy was there ... i don't think i could have taken it if i was by myself. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDXi9eNm04I/AAAAAAAACrg/ttt7u2CpX8M/s1600/0621101328-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDXi9eNm04I/AAAAAAAACrg/ttt7u2CpX8M/s320/0621101328-00.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Had to have one last picture of the stitches ... </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDXi-7c4xOI/AAAAAAAACrk/Q5M44HQSU2M/s1600/0621101342-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDXi-7c4xOI/AAAAAAAACrk/Q5M44HQSU2M/s320/0621101342-00.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tears and labored breathing started when the dr <br />showed him what she was going to do ... </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDXjA_AnMkI/AAAAAAAACro/Rse3QZH8K5g/s1600/0621101344-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDXjA_AnMkI/AAAAAAAACro/Rse3QZH8K5g/s320/0621101344-00.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it shouldn't hurt very much ... but when a stranger comes at you with scissors ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">then the fight is on, the crying insues and he wanted to just keep the stitches!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDXi7vcboxI/AAAAAAAACrc/fLlSF0I9wVU/s1600/0621101353-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDXi7vcboxI/AAAAAAAACrc/fLlSF0I9wVU/s320/0621101353-00.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">and after all was said and done there was a small piece of stitch left inside his lip ... because he wiggled around and she accidentally cut off the knot and left the stitch ... she said it would work it's way out but we weren't convinced. it was a little red at bedtime so we totured him a little bit more in our bathroom and got it out. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">phew.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-4428392418228028510?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-37386630734134270242010-06-20T22:05:00.000-07:002010-07-06T22:23:16.534-07:00Our Dad is the Best ... rawro ...<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDQLd0f6AiI/AAAAAAAACrA/NvSi7HMUybc/s1600/IMG_8242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDQLd0f6AiI/AAAAAAAACrA/NvSi7HMUybc/s320/IMG_8242.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We love our dad ... and we hope he knows how much!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">(if i were on top of my game i would have interviewed each of them and asked all the fun questions about him and recorded their endearing answers ... i'll work on that ... get back to you with those ... )</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">don't look now ... but our aunt Annie got some new 'dress-ups' and found one that fits mom too ... </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">embarrassing.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDQLgHoOz0I/AAAAAAAACrE/FCsrkMM3mo0/s1600/IMG_8243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDQLgHoOz0I/AAAAAAAACrE/FCsrkMM3mo0/s200/IMG_8243.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDQLhjNpYcI/AAAAAAAACrI/71TCrOFS9Nc/s1600/IMG_8250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rw="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDQLhjNpYcI/AAAAAAAACrI/71TCrOFS9Nc/s200/IMG_8250.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-3738663073413427024?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-203445807180921602010-06-19T17:14:00.000-07:002010-07-06T21:49:01.510-07:00we play T-ball and occasionally hit a homerun!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDQEN1A7cSI/AAAAAAAACqo/5n3Jumj7QFU/s1600/IMG_8175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDQEN1A7cSI/AAAAAAAACqo/5n3Jumj7QFU/s320/IMG_8175.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDQERq4cs1I/AAAAAAAACqs/tOAYxzpTcjU/s1600/IMG_8178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDQERq4cs1I/AAAAAAAACqs/tOAYxzpTcjU/s320/IMG_8178.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDQETiakipI/AAAAAAAACqw/TFnK73yIssY/s1600/IMG_8215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDQETiakipI/AAAAAAAACqw/TFnK73yIssY/s320/IMG_8215.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go Transformers!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDQEWTet1dI/AAAAAAAACq0/oDdJvxjuuTY/s1600/IMG_8221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDQEWTet1dI/AAAAAAAACq0/oDdJvxjuuTY/s320/IMG_8221.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDQEZNPx7iI/AAAAAAAACq4/aDes9cXZ3PY/s1600/IMG_8230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDQEZNPx7iI/AAAAAAAACq4/aDes9cXZ3PY/s320/IMG_8230.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDQEaiWJOFI/AAAAAAAACq8/YwBR-R7i6WU/s1600/IMG_8241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDQEaiWJOFI/AAAAAAAACq8/YwBR-R7i6WU/s320/IMG_8241.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's hear it for the Sharks!!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-20344580718092160?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-82667507081281498942010-06-18T22:42:00.000-07:002010-07-08T07:26:03.536-07:00first sign of summer and the 'pinkwood' derby<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDP4zzTLKcI/AAAAAAAACqg/Cr_V84npgYo/s1600/IMG_8167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDP4zzTLKcI/AAAAAAAACqg/Cr_V84npgYo/s400/IMG_8167.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDP41pSTtmI/AAAAAAAACqk/u1OnFKL1A30/s1600/IMG_8168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDP41pSTtmI/AAAAAAAACqk/u1OnFKL1A30/s320/IMG_8168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">who says there's no such thing as a free lunch? </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">when we came out of the Y today there were signs up inviting us to have a free hotdog, chips and a drink for free!! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Summer is just around the corner! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDXd1Bq7IZI/AAAAAAAACrU/9ZjljE73iT4/s1600/0618101851-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDXd1Bq7IZI/AAAAAAAACrU/9ZjljE73iT4/s320/0618101851-00.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDXdzEg8kCI/AAAAAAAACrQ/oLszgEkcwdc/s1600/0618101850-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDXdzEg8kCI/AAAAAAAACrQ/oLszgEkcwdc/s320/0618101850-00.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elyssa won 2nd place!!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Tonight was also our second annual Activity Days Pinkwood Derby!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDXd2tZuEWI/AAAAAAAACrY/beBTJ7P3fcs/s1600/0618102001-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDXd2tZuEWI/AAAAAAAACrY/beBTJ7P3fcs/s400/0618102001-00.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDXdyTQ2EoI/AAAAAAAACrM/tfzUYE8A23I/s1600/0618102008-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDXdyTQ2EoI/AAAAAAAACrM/tfzUYE8A23I/s320/0618102008-00.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-8266750708128149894?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-23900000127038543882010-06-17T20:13:00.000-07:002010-07-06T17:31:03.131-07:00stitches and the rainforest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Andy took the boys to the chiropractor so I could go visiting teaching and after just 5 minutes in the office (copay paid but no popping) there was an incident ... in Easton's words: "He pulled me to the toys and I spilled my water and when he runned away he slipped on the floor and hurt his lip on the wall ... and that's what happened."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDPHEDqH11I/AAAAAAAACqc/76qZtNubU4g/s1600/stitches.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDPHEDqH11I/AAAAAAAACqc/76qZtNubU4g/s640/stitches.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">and then ... </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDO6EVaKIqI/AAAAAAAACp8/Jc30e-X6Jok/s1600/IMG_8161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDO6EVaKIqI/AAAAAAAACp8/Jc30e-X6Jok/s200/IMG_8161.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDO6K_gBEHI/AAAAAAAACqE/lHR35KntEYI/s1600/IMG_8165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDO6K_gBEHI/AAAAAAAACqE/lHR35KntEYI/s200/IMG_8165.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDO6IR0VXgI/AAAAAAAACqA/H7Kd-phRLnA/s1600/IMG_8164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDO6IR0VXgI/AAAAAAAACqA/H7Kd-phRLnA/s320/IMG_8164.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div>Abi's class had a final class project of turning their room into a rainforest. They each picked an animal that lives in the rain forest and researched, studied and reported on it. They were to make 3D animals and have a display for their animals. Tonight was the parent's opportunity to tour the classroom, it was fun to visit and Abi did a great job ... as per usual!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-2390000012703854388?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-7043892468004901912010-06-16T21:31:00.000-07:002010-07-06T16:12:45.056-07:00what has 14 busy legs and 70 grimy fingers?<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator" align="left">and even after repeated instructions doesn't use the 14 ears it has!?</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><br /></div><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOwQFHOg_I/AAAAAAAACps/4rKswtxdVas/s1600/IMG_8138.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOwQFHOg_I/AAAAAAAACps/4rKswtxdVas/s400/IMG_8138.JPG" width="400" height="300" rw="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">the shaw-wright group hug monster!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOwST3j7lI/AAAAAAAACpw/Vwg472MDdRg/s1600/IMG_8144.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOwST3j7lI/AAAAAAAACpw/Vwg472MDdRg/s320/IMG_8144.JPG" width="320" height="240" rw="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">one last shaw-wright in washington together shot</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOwUcg_peI/AAAAAAAACp0/26ytMIx5xFs/s1600/IMG_8155.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOwUcg_peI/AAAAAAAACp0/26ytMIx5xFs/s320/IMG_8155.JPG" width="320" height="240" rw="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">and then they backed up</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOwV0Uj7tI/AAAAAAAACp4/Y4NbKAe9ek0/s1600/IMG_8156.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOwV0Uj7tI/AAAAAAAACp4/Y4NbKAe9ek0/s320/IMG_8156.JPG" width="320" height="240" rw="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">and drove away with our boat and best friends ... </td></tr></tbody></table>After many long years and many more to come we say 'see ya later' and 'we're not going to cry' and 'fine, just leave then!' with every bit of love and heart ache that we can muster. but we also say: "make room for us - cuz we've just got a few loose ends to tie up around these parts and we'll mosey on down join you in the wide open spaces of the great state of texas. we love ya!"<br /><br />and after all that ... here's our texting conversation:<br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">N: I change my mind</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">E: Don't tease me (i was thinking she changed her mind about moving ... but it was about crying ...)</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">N: Sad</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">E: :'(</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">N: Trying not to ugly cry</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">N: Throat hurts</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">E: Too late for me</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">N: Hope we're doing the right thing</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">E: Stop it ... I am banking on u staying there!</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">N: We will if we can stand being away!</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">E: Ur the leader</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">E: We're just late as usual</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">N: Thanks so much for the kids stuff. They're SO excited</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">E: Goodie bags are essential</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">N: Lol</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">N: We'll get texas ready for you</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">E: K ... But really ... Is anywhere really ever ready for the party?</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">N: As ready as it'll ever be!</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">E: Now that i think about it ... I should have given trav a mighty mouse too ... He's more than just a stud muffin</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">N: Now that would be funny</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">E: I'll have to get him one :-}</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">E: He cried ... He really likes us!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">N: Of course he does</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">E: I know ... ;-)</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">N: Did Andy? Probably not ... </span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">E: He's teary</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">N: :'(</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">E: My tears keep coming in waves</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">N: I think it's going to b that way for a while!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">N: Weeks maybe. Or until u come?</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">E: Probably ... </span><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><span style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:x-small;">We'll be there before we both know it!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-704389246800490191?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-6584038104884639952010-06-15T23:47:00.000-07:002010-07-06T15:30:51.634-07:00Pump it up, park play, Arby's dinner and more sleep over!!So much fun to be had in the last hours of having these boys in our same state!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOsWTuLJQI/AAAAAAAACpM/il5OLNfOilI/s1600/IMG_8065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOsWTuLJQI/AAAAAAAACpM/il5OLNfOilI/s320/IMG_8065.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ammon's graduation party was tons of fun with a few extras!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOsaPFhRpI/AAAAAAAACpQ/TcnrlEAO2Gs/s1600/IMG_8093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOsaPFhRpI/AAAAAAAACpQ/TcnrlEAO2Gs/s320/IMG_8093.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the park was calling our names ... nothin to do in our dinky little house!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOsdanDXeI/AAAAAAAACpU/NHDya-IfMN4/s1600/IMG_8119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOsdanDXeI/AAAAAAAACpU/NHDya-IfMN4/s320/IMG_8119.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a kid needs to eat ... and so we took over Arbys for a few minutes!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOsfqG5CII/AAAAAAAACpY/OsiiJGa7ImI/s1600/IMG_8120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOsfqG5CII/AAAAAAAACpY/OsiiJGa7ImI/s320/IMG_8120.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">it took a few tries to get everybody ... but we did it!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOsiSMEA7I/AAAAAAAACpc/7u3_mfuCiEI/s1600/IMG_8121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOsiSMEA7I/AAAAAAAACpc/7u3_mfuCiEI/s320/IMG_8121.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">what would we do without KungFu Panda for entertainment??</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOslbFTGtI/AAAAAAAACpg/B-TEz4Wslcc/s1600/IMG_8122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOslbFTGtI/AAAAAAAACpg/B-TEz4Wslcc/s320/IMG_8122.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">late in the night we dragged everyone out for a 'for real' last dinner and picture of the party</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOsm3ue3JI/AAAAAAAACpk/0IXzNiMVaSU/s1600/IMG_8123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOsm3ue3JI/AAAAAAAACpk/0IXzNiMVaSU/s320/IMG_8123.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stephanie and Cory will have to step in for the Wrights on some of our Party dates!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOsoqYVAnI/AAAAAAAACpo/VQI15Y8FxHA/s1600/IMG_8124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TDOsoqYVAnI/AAAAAAAACpo/VQI15Y8FxHA/s320/IMG_8124.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleep overs are the best with best friends!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-658403810488463995?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-4374800941107872122010-06-14T23:55:00.000-07:002010-07-06T15:12:22.658-07:00bye bye boys ...<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">today just as the girls got out of school we picked them up and headed up to the wright boy's going away party ... it was b.y.o. dinner and something to share. we brought mcdonalds and cookies, a lot of them! we dropped our dad off to help trav with more loading and went to join the party! it was fun for the kids to have a break and to get a chance to say goodbye. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">after the festivities died down (partly because it was getting late ... and partly because it started to spit on us) we went back to their house and finished a few things, packed up some knick knacks and taped up some boxes. it's getting down to the wire ... the time is fast approaching that these friends of ours will be driving away ... far far away. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">tomorrow is going to be a busy day of last minutes and hurry get things dones and i figured it would be a whole lot easier if they were not distracted by little people. so i sneaked boys number 2 & 3 into my car, double buckled and my oldest on the floor and took off! (lest you think i'm not nice ... their oldest had school to attend ... ) 7 kids and 2 adults in a 7 passenger van ... no problem! we bedded down for the night with 2 boys in each of the bunk beds and after a little bit of "shhh, time to sleep" and "lay down and close your eyes" they were out.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">ahh friends.</span> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-437480094110787212?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-67950336969966225252010-06-12T16:09:00.000-07:002010-06-17T11:52:32.400-07:00Our Graduates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TBpHmPuFExI/AAAAAAAACog/4osLDl5CRbY/s1600/IMG_8029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TBpHmPuFExI/AAAAAAAACog/4osLDl5CRbY/s200/IMG_8029.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> 2 days 2 graduations ... <br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TBpHjyo5EWI/AAAAAAAACoc/mbxQ0x6v_CI/s1600/IMG_8012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TBpHjyo5EWI/AAAAAAAACoc/mbxQ0x6v_CI/s320/IMG_8012.jpg" width="320" /></a>Ammon graduated from Preschool!! He's on to Kindergarten and can't wait! He asked me if he starts Kindergarten tomorrow ... "um tomorrow is Saturday ... " </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"on the next marrow?"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"then it's Sunday ... "</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"on Monday??"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"sorry ... you have to wait until after Easton's birthday ... the beginning of September ... sorry buddy."</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TBpV9_V0lyI/AAAAAAAACpI/KA9r4UUo_U8/s1600/100616+dump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" qu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TBpV9_V0lyI/AAAAAAAACpI/KA9r4UUo_U8/s640/100616+dump.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Today was the Interpreter Pinning Ceremony, Andy finished the ITP (Interpreter Training Program)!! He only has 2 (maybe 3) classes and then he will have his AA. Humanities, Linguistics and maybe Math ... if he doesn't test high enough. Cross your fingers for him! It's been a struggle but amazing and frustrating but rewarding, and we're so happy he did it! The teachers and his peers have nothing but wonderful things to say about him. His teachers were happy to have someone closer to their own age in the class, and the students looked up to him and enjoyed getting to know this 'old guy' in their class. <span style="font-size: large;">He <strong>is</strong> wonderful and he <strong>did it</strong>!!</span> Good job, babe!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-6795033696996622525?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-51915784961915495072010-06-11T16:56:00.000-07:002010-06-11T17:08:45.444-07:00on earning gum ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">mom, can i have some gum?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TBLNjLN_YjI/AAAAAAAACoY/KbC4JWk4XxE/s1600/IMG_8011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TBLNjLN_YjI/AAAAAAAACoY/KbC4JWk4XxE/s400/IMG_8011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the answer is always a question ... </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">what have you done <strong>Extra</strong> today so that you can earn gum?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">cuz it's not just gum ... it's Extra!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-5191578496191549507?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-28024753469798261592010-06-10T16:00:00.000-07:002010-06-10T20:03:11.294-07:00there was a little girl ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TBFxIJCdzOI/AAAAAAAACoU/gDEus3V0NDg/s1600/050404+-+who+had+a+little+curl+-+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TBFxIJCdzOI/AAAAAAAACoU/gDEus3V0NDg/s640/050404+-+who+had+a+little+curl+-+sm.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">right in the middle of her forehead</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(do you know this poem?)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">and when she was good, </div><div style="text-align: center;">she was very very good!</div><div style="text-align: center;">and when she was bad, she was horrid!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ah Elyssa ... <span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: large;">i</span> </span>remember when you were this little ... it was only 5 years ago and you were most definitely <em>that</em> little girl. you like to stir the pot and you can be quite the little bully when you set your mind to it. you're rough and tumble and would almost rather be dusty and dirty with the boys than having tea parties with the girly girls... although you do <span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">love</span> it when someone (anyone) will play with your hair, scratch your back, tickle your arms or do "going on a treasure hunt" on your back. you're getting so grown up these days and i sometimes wonder who you will be when you grow up ... what you'll be like ... if you'll be like me or if you'll decide you want to be the president of the united states or an underwater explorer ... i hope that you'll someday decide that no matter what abi is doing you can do what <em><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">you</span></em> want. </div><div style="text-align: left;">your school teacher gives me glowing reports of how wonderful and helpful you are at school and i find myself crunching into my mom's words trying to escape my lips ... ("sure wish she'd be that way at home!") i bite my tongue because i hope that your caring way will be a part of your everyday life and i don't want to jinx myself into accepting that you are one way at school and another way at home. you <em>are</em> a wonderful helper, you often ask me how you can help, you make your own lunch without being asked and you can do a lot of things that abi does. you want to be in charge and you want to have responsibility. you are funny and happy and mostly a well-behaved little girl. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: x-large;">i love you.</span> we are a lot alike and it's hard for me to let you walk in my footsteps now that i have perspective and can guide you a different way ... but like me - you're a little bull headed and like to do things your own way. i pray that we will be friends and that we can talk and that there will come a time when we don't clash quite so much! i will give it a valiant effort - i will smile more, try to say yes more than no, and be the kind of mom that you need me to be! </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-2802475346979826159?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-54884166726037439572010-06-09T15:13:00.000-07:002010-06-10T01:27:25.695-07:00and the calendar fills up<span style="font-family:verdana;">t-ball practice, early dismissal, preschool graduation, end of the year parties, t-ball games, meetings, and kindergarten orientation ... my calendar is full to the brim. i have something on every single day, aside from glorious thursday the 17th ... but give it a minute and someone will put something there!<br /><br />this coming saturday is stacked ... from 8am to way into the night we have planned out the entire day ... every hour is accounted for! we are even double and triple booked a few hours and will have to divide and conquer and even bring in reinforcements for the t-ball games! it's going to be a busy day ... thank heaven for sunday - it will be a <em>literal</em> day of rest for us!<br /><br />the only problem with the upcoming filled up week is the fact that when you have lots to do, time flies ... and in 7 days our best friends will be hittin' the road - high tailing it to Texas ... without us. the more i think about it the less glorious the 17th gets.<br /><br />but i'm a supportive friend ... i help with packing (<span style="font-size:85%;">even though everything that's in me wants to sabotage the entire process!</span>), i say things like "i'm so happy for you!" (<span style="font-size:85%;">and i try to mean it!</span>), and i make time in my full up calendar to be there for whatever they need. that's just how i roll.<br /><br />if you have a second or two, would you say a little prayer for me ... the catharsis that i started a few days ago ... might be the beginning of a too short busy week ... ending abruptly with a wave 'goodbye' that <em>really</em> just means 'see ya later' and i hope truly means 'see ya soon!'</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-5488416672603743957?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-65312820617245489812010-06-08T20:34:00.000-07:002010-06-08T23:32:06.872-07:00"sunshine, lollipops and rainbows"<div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: left; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em; cssfloat: left" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TA8IjVIujNI/AAAAAAAACn4/q9q5OwhK6BU/s1600/20100608nap.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TA8IjVIujNI/AAAAAAAACn4/q9q5OwhK6BU/s320/20100608nap.jpg" width="240" height="320" qu="true" /></a>remember that <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_v468ptuXw">old song</a>? well ... i'm all better today </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">- <em>partly</em> because i promised i would be and <em>partly</em> because 'i'm in love to stay' and <em>partly</em> because the sun shone bright in the sky today and<em> partly</em> because i got to punch and kick out my aggression in kick boxing class this morning but <em><strong>mostly</strong></em> because i got to take a nap in the sunshine coming thru my sliding glass door. i am <em>not</em> a cat lover nor do i like the idea that i am, in any way, similar to a cat ... but i love a good warm spot on the carpet to curl up in!</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">we went for a walk to safeway for some salsa and salad makings and had quesadillas, ceasar salad and watermelon for dinner - YUM! </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">it was just an all around good day.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: left; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em; cssfloat: left" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TA8IpDPpYkI/AAAAAAAACoI/64TCIDBRn2k/s1600/20100608Easton+1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TA8IpDPpYkI/AAAAAAAACoI/64TCIDBRn2k/s200/20100608Easton+1.jpg" width="150" height="200" qu="true" /></a></div><br /><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; CLEAR: right; cssfloat: right" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TA8ImGN35sI/AAAAAAAACoA/29d2UyVwSQI/s1600/20100608Ammon+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TA8ImGN35sI/AAAAAAAACoA/29d2UyVwSQI/s200/20100608Ammon+2.jpg" width="150" height="200" qu="true" /></a>bonus: these 2 had no cavities! </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">way to go boys!</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">no one cried, no one gagged (well, not too bad) and everyone got a new toothbrush, their very own tooth paste, floss and toy!</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">victory!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-6531282061724548981?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-50641643150165982342010-06-07T23:42:00.000-07:002010-06-07T23:44:16.938-07:00attitude malfunction<span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i've been irritated all day long. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i got up late. and had lots of things to take care of before it was time to leave for school and didn't have as much time as i would have liked to do them. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so i took it out on everyone.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i threw a tantrum.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i shouted at andy.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i slammed things around.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i stomped up and down the stairs.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i barked orders and complained (<em>loudly</em>) that no one was doing what they were told/knew they needed to do.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and then i gave him a prickly kiss goodbye and raced out the door to drop off kids late to school.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i was in a huff and then i looked at the time ... i had 15 minutes before my meeting started ... so i stopped at home, left easton in the car with an "i'll be right back, stay in your seat." and i hurried inside, up the stairs, into my room where he sat ... nearly in tears ... i made him get up (sweaty body from his workout) and gave him a hug. apologized for blaming him for my problems and for shouting at him. told him it was not his fault and that i am sorry. and i am.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but the rest of the day wasn't much better ... </span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RS Presidency meeting 9:30 - 11:20 ... </span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11:45 pick up girls for simultaneous cavity extraction/filling appts at 12:00 ... </span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">back to school at 1:00 ... </span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">home for quiet time with the boys (during which i fiddled on the computer/sent emails and replied to messages instead of slept like i wanted to) ... </span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pick up the girls at 3:25ish ... ("what's for snack? can i play outside? when's dinner? what are we having? can i have some gum? i don't have any homework ... ") </span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tried to lay down for a power nap at 4:15 ... </span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">first t-ball practices at 4:45 and 5:30 on the muddiest field in the whole state of washington (gross.) </span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hurried home for chicken-on-the-bone (aka: rottisserie chicken) and watermelon dinner ... </span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hurry and clean up for 7:30 choir concert </span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and then home for ice cream "cuz it's family night and i did so good at my concert" </span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">prayers and in bed at 9:00ish. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">i'm still irritated. bugged. angry at the world?! working on my most loathed mom-job - <em>the laundry</em> - and blogging about my bad attitude. </span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">could it be that i'm PMSing? nope, just finished with that (sorry for the TMI). </span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">could it be that i didn't get enough sleep last night? possibility ... </span><br /><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">could it be that i'm not coping very well with an impending major change in my otherwise happy existence? maybe (it's easy to blame! it's all your fault!)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">mostly i'm just going to have to get glad again ... but maybe i'll have a cathartic little cry first.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">come back tomorrow ... i'll have found my happy place again. </span><br /><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">promise.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-5064164315016598234?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-19398628277177193532010-06-06T22:20:00.000-07:002010-06-07T01:21:40.932-07:00testimony<span style="font-family:Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Law. the statement or declaration of a witness under oath or affirmation, usually in court. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana, sans-serif;">2. evidence in support of a fact or statement; proof. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana, sans-serif;">3. open declaration or profession, as of faith.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">My testimony is this: I know that I have a Heavenly Father that loves me, that knows me, that wants what is best for me and is willing and ready to bless me. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that reading it will bring peace and joy.</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I also know that these words from </span><a href="http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1207-15,00.html"><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Elder Bednar</span></a><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> are true:</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I bear witness that parents who consistently read and talk about the Book of Mormon with their children, who share testimony spontaneously with their children, and who invite children as gospel learners to act and not merely be acted upon will be blessed with eyes that can see afar off (see Moses 6:27) and with ears that can hear the sound of the trumpet (see Ezekiel 33:2–16). The spiritual discernment and inspiration you will receive from the combination of these three holy habits will enable you to stand as watchmen on the tower for your families—“watching . . . with all perseverance” (Ephesians 6:18)—to the blessing of your immediate family and your future posterity. I so promise and testify in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen."</span><br /><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I taught Relief Society today about the </span><a href="https://secure.lds.org/units/a/news/details/1,8608,789-1-5-505862-302416,00.html"><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">reading invitation</span></a><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> from our Stake President. As I showed in </span><a href="http://iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com/2010/05/update-doin-pretty-good.html"><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">this post</span></a><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">, we have committed to doing it and are slowly but surely making it a habit. I was able to share my experiences and victories as well as the challenges and frustrations. We all talked about how we have implemented this into our families and the different difficulties and setbacks are experience and then shared ideas of how to overcome them! I felt nervous to get up and teach ... but after the first 5 minutes or so my nerves calmed down and I was more comfortable. All in all I think it went fairly well ... I shared all the things I had prepared ... took all the time (oops! so no time for testimonies) ... and lots of sisters shared and that was the best part! </span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-1939862827717719353?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-88911482900772967272010-06-05T22:20:00.000-07:002010-06-07T01:45:59.671-07:00what is that fiery ball in the sky??<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">after full on downpour friday evening the clouds were drained of all wetness and the sun shone big and bright and beautiful in the great green gorgeous northwest!! it was a perfect day to get out and enjoy the weather! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">so we did. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAywYiDnhgI/AAAAAAAACns/0uDIfFQynKQ/s1600/memorial+day+on+LW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" qu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAywYiDnhgI/AAAAAAAACns/0uDIfFQynKQ/s640/memorial+day+on+LW.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(this was actually taken on Memorial Day on Lake Union ... thanks <a href="http://iwright.wordpress.com/2010/05/31/shaw-wright/">Nicki</a>!)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">we're savoring these last few days we have with both sunshine and best friends with a boat in the same state!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-8891148290077296727?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-46699968549355181992010-06-04T15:51:00.000-07:002010-06-05T11:55:04.051-07:00we skype! we were skyping! we're skypers!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last night we signed up for a Skype account ... we thought we were taking blackmail photos ... until <a href="http://iwright.wordpress.com/2010/06/03/its-funzy/">this</a>. </div><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAqaOLk4XkI/AAAAAAAACnk/0ZdkQf1cOrs/s1600/Video+call+snapshot+12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAqaOLk4XkI/AAAAAAAACnk/0ZdkQf1cOrs/s640/Video+call+snapshot+12.png" width="640" /></a> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAqaMyyqyoI/AAAAAAAACng/jgBATIhklxk/s1600/Video+call+snapshot+11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAqaMyyqyoI/AAAAAAAACng/jgBATIhklxk/s400/Video+call+snapshot+11.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAqaLo-H72I/AAAAAAAACnc/R7aJ82HV8x4/s1600/Video+call+snapshot+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAqaLo-H72I/AAAAAAAACnc/R7aJ82HV8x4/s400/Video+call+snapshot+6.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAqaKkKRw-I/AAAAAAAACnY/PGBoRXvr-lQ/s1600/Video+call+snapshot+19.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAqaKkKRw-I/AAAAAAAACnY/PGBoRXvr-lQ/s640/Video+call+snapshot+19.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I think having this kind of quality time together will really make them not seem so far away! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">my favorite part about these pictures:</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">trav is laughing SO hard in the first one</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and nicki is super excited in the last one</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">priceless.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-4669996854935518199?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-46154510418384204892010-06-03T23:03:00.000-07:002010-06-06T21:19:22.093-07:00Thursday.the day after wednesday and the day before friday ... it sits calm and peaceful and free from chaos ... empty of the rigmarole of the rest of the week ... ahh ... thursday ... i love you!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-4615451041838420489?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-47469248751270760862010-06-02T14:34:00.000-07:002010-06-02T15:30:14.837-07:00... and then there was a giant orange gorilla in my bedroom<span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I may have mentioned before that my dear husband has issues ... sleep issues mostly. He has </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_apnea"><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">sleep apnea</span></a><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> and has had for many years ... it went undiagnosed for a long while because the doctors thought that he was sleep deprived because he's a fun-and-party-stay-up-late-and-get-up-early-for-work-and-school-in-the-morning kind of guy. Only after we were married, and he had a bed buddy that tried to sleep next to him for any length of time, did we discover that he really <em>does</em> have issues sleeping and had him checked out and <em>sure enough</em> he is in the top 5% ... He stops breathing 95+ times an hour and hadn't had real </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REM_sleep"><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">REM sleep</span></a><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> for years! He didn't ever dream, he didn't really fall into deep enough sleep to feel rested and therefore was always tired. </span><br /><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">When he was younger (14, 15 - 18, 21, 23 years old ... the years just before we were married) he would sprawl out on the floor at various youth activities, parties, movie nights, etc. and offer, "who wants blessings?" as a kind of bribe for a back-rub or back-scratch or the like ... and, more often than not, the girls would play in to his little sham. Sooner than later he would begin to snore and that would be the end of that. He oftentimes <em>wouldn't</em> make it to the floor and fall asleep sitting on the couch or in a chair or standing up in the corner ... (ok that's a little exaggeration there ... but you catch my drift!!)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The man falls asleep mid-sentence when he's talking! So it's not hard to believe that he also falls asleep mid-conversation while someone <em>else</em> is talking ... before they have said 2 words. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Recently there has been a new development in the snore monster's repertoire...</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">He dreams now ... and they are vivid ... almost like real life ... so at night when he's extra tired and we are trying to have a conversation, and he's not exactly <em>engaged, </em>dreamland takes over and occasionally I get sucked in ... </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">The other night he said:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"What?"</span> </span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">"What what?" i said</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Why did you say dangit?"</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">"I didn't ... you're hearing things ... "</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You just said dangit ... didn't you?"</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">"nope ..."</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Did I just fall asleep?"</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">"Yup."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">and then a few minutes later:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Who's grandpa had to eat thru a straw?"</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">"What? ..."</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I just did it again ... didn't I?"</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">"uh huh ..."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">not 2 minutes later:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Couldn't get it in there?"</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">"Huh?"</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"In the car?"</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">"I think we better get you to bed ..."</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"No ... I'm awake ... really ..."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">mere moments later:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"That's why we had to talk about it."</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">"Talk about what?"</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Your goals ... ? Didn't you just say something about goals?"</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">"No. We were talking about this week's calendar ..."</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Oh."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">It's funny the first few times, he gets a sheepish look on his face, all apologetic, and tries harder to keep his eyes open ... I like to tease him a little .. sometimes I ask for things that I <em>know</em> he wouldn't normally let me buy ... or I tell him stories about the giant orange gorilla just to see if he heard a single word I said. Mostly I help him take his socks off, turn down the bed, shut off the lights, hand him his CPAP mask, and tuck him in. There's no stopping him when the Snore Monster takes over!!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-4746924875127076086?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-78955495514822050062010-06-01T20:30:00.000-07:002010-06-02T14:34:12.482-07:00brush-a brush-a brush-a<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">makes our teeth so pretty ... and our breath <em>not</em> nasty ... and our dentist happy ... </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAbLyLoNvOI/AAAAAAAACnU/_0N7ie9d014/s1600/IMG_7997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAbLyLoNvOI/AAAAAAAACnU/_0N7ie9d014/s320/IMG_7997.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAbKrRbf0YI/AAAAAAAACnM/SjaWCh7xHyE/s1600/IMG_7993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAbKrRbf0YI/AAAAAAAACnM/SjaWCh7xHyE/s320/IMG_7993.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">today was the first visit of 2 for the girls and also the first visit of regularly scheduled dental appts for our family! we are not naturally dental-aware folks but want to have good strong teeth in the future so i am committed to doing better checks at night and morning brushings, i got some of those flossers (so they don't have to try and figure out how to use acutal floss) and regular 6 mo. check-ups, cleanings and fillings when necessary (cross your fingers that they will be few and far between). Abi is getting 2 fillings and Elyssa only 1 next monday ... then tuesday it's the boy's turn to sit in these chairs and get checked ... the girls were all hyped up to brush and floss last night and this morning ... hope they keep up the enthusiasm!! here's to good dental health! </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-7895549551482205006?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-75660766262615110562010-05-31T23:05:00.000-07:002010-06-01T23:56:46.670-07:00shaw-wright memorial day miraclethe day began with the pitter-patter of rain on the skylight in our bathroom ... we lazily enjoyed the music of memorial day morning and then realized we were late for breakfast with my parents! we sprang into action getting dressed, reading scriptures, saying prayers and loading in the car the things we'd possibly need for the day ... umbrellas, coats, blankets, extra clothes, extra socks, etc. breakfast was yummy (thanks papa!) and afterward we played a little hungry hungry hippo and catch phrase. then it was time to head on our way.<br />we stopped in at Old Navy and got ourselves some flag shirts (bogo prices are the best!) and then headed to the wrights to begin this year's shaw-wright memorial day ... as we pulled into their driveway it was coming straight down and we hustled inside out of the torrential downpour. <br />the kids played upstairs and down, watching a movie and playing with toys ... the rain didn't seem to bother them, nor the fact that they were trapped inside with the rest of us ... somehow that was only a problem for the grown ups ... <br />"if we go anywhere outside we're <em>going</em> to get wet, and anything to do <em>inside</em> is going to be <strong>crowded</strong> ... "<br />"let's go on the boat!! it can't be that bad ... we can bring our own blue sky (a tarp) it'll be fun!!" <br />"look up the weather ... "<br /><br />and will wonder's never cease!? it's like a little Memorial Day Miracle for us!!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAVbGvPSVYI/AAAAAAAACnA/JMb7AVnuwjM/s1600/100531+weather.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAVbGvPSVYI/AAAAAAAACnA/JMb7AVnuwjM/s640/100531+weather.bmp" width="457" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somebody knew it wouldn't be 'shaw-wright' memorial day if we couldn't have an adventure!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAVdS9pDdBI/AAAAAAAACnE/0s7Z0w2pZfs/s1600/pictures7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="512" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAVdS9pDdBI/AAAAAAAACnE/0s7Z0w2pZfs/s640/pictures7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> we loaded up the kidlets, the babiest boys with the dads went to get the boat ... and the rest went with the moms to get dinner at safeway. we took the boat out on Lake Washington and made our way past Mr. Gates home and under 520 ... past UW Stadium thru the Montlake Cut and under the Ship Canal Bridge into Lake Union. We could see Gas Works Park and the sun was shining it was LOVELY, Magical even!!<br />our time was running short so we didn't make it to the Locks but decided that we should definitely do that if we get another sunny weekend before the wrights leave ... <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAXXr4KVHNI/AAAAAAAACnI/7JcjjTbHj-k/s1600/IMG_7991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TAXXr4KVHNI/AAAAAAAACnI/7JcjjTbHj-k/s640/IMG_7991.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shaw-Wright Memorial Day 2010</td></tr></tbody></table><span id="goog_707600194"></span><span id="goog_707600195">all in all it was a wonderful day with wonderful friends and a wonderful tradition that we'll have to continue for many years to come ... just gotta relocate ourselves i guess!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">our kids are getting so big!!</span> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-7566076626261511056?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-15403934200783173692010-05-30T22:31:00.000-07:002010-06-01T11:30:54.410-07:00"Watching with All Perseverance"<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I sure love it when there is a 5th Sunday in the month! We meet for the 3rd hour as a united Priesthood and Relief Society ... and I get to sit next to my honey and listen to a member of the Bishopric teach us.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today we discussed </span><a href="http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1207-15,00.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Elder Bednar's talk</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> from the Saturday Session of General Conference. I remember hearing this while I sat in the Conference Center with my Mission friends! I wrote 2 whole pages of notes then and today jotted down a few reminders:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ Let them do the talking - LISTEN!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ 'It's no coincidence we have 2 ears and 1 mouth' ... we should listen twice as much as we talk!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ Teach individually ... all of our children are individuals and we need to listen and learn how to teach them on a personal level for them.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ Provide a sounding board for them. Sometimes they just need to talk things thru for themselves and don't need us to <em>tell</em> them what to do ... just be a sounding board for them.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ Bear <em>spontaneous</em> testimony ... "I bear you my testimony" and "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." is not always necessary.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ Their reaction is very telling as to where they are spiritually. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ Invite them to act ... be 'doers of the word' (</span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/james/1/22#22"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">James 1:22</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ Teach them to seek opportunities to <em>do</em>, to <em>help</em>, to <em>act</em>. On their own, they can see what needs to be done ... help them understand that it's a great thing to be anxiously engaged ... and to not wait for instructions all the time... but then <em>let them</em>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ "Turn 'em loose" - and encourage them, even if they fail let them do it their way! There's something to be said for independant learning ... they will learn so much more by doing things by themselves!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">READ & STUDY this talk.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I think I'll take my own advise and take a minute today to read this talk. It's a good one!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-1540393420078317369?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-77571310357494269542010-05-29T17:57:00.000-07:002010-05-31T01:47:12.003-07:00how do you do that fondue that you do so well??<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TANzY6wSaII/AAAAAAAACmk/FpJnnXq8jpA/s1600/fondue-collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TANzY6wSaII/AAAAAAAACmk/FpJnnXq8jpA/s640/fondue-collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">like this!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">it's a whole lot of what we do best ... talk, eat, spend a lot of time together ... </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">and chocolate.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">YUM!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">Friday Night Party Plus Fondue ... So. so. so. fun. FUN!</div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(if i use the word more than once it means even more ... right?)</span></div><div style="text-align: right;">thanks for the great collage, <a href="http://iwright.wordpress.com/2010/05/29/just-what-i-needed/">Nicki</a>!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-7757131035749426954?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-26732100843513686542010-05-28T16:23:00.001-07:002010-05-29T11:55:03.535-07:00inspiringly flexible.For the last nearly 5 years I have been attending a yoga/pilates class at the Y. I'm a front-and-center kinda girl ... not because i want to be an example ... but because i want to be able to see the teacher and myself in the mirror ... so i can get it right. as you may know, when one practices yoga they are upside down a lot, looking thru their own legs at the other people behind them doing the same poses. almost every class i have been to Shirley has been quietly stretching, inspiring, encouraging in the back corner of the room. she became a fast friend and a kind of mentor. she's darling, kind and the sweetest yogini i know! she is moving away now and will be missed. i only hope that i can be like her when i'm 60ish.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TABQxK_5bjI/AAAAAAAACmg/yc-Helpvm90/s1600/shirley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/TABQxK_5bjI/AAAAAAAACmg/yc-Helpvm90/s400/shirley.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm going to miss you, Shirley!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-2673210084351368654?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-75083345038323904152010-05-27T22:28:00.000-07:002010-05-28T08:49:13.508-07:00on your marks, get set, GO!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_9TbBAyt5I/AAAAAAAACmc/l58xbZqe1pM/s1600/100527skatedeck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_9TbBAyt5I/AAAAAAAACmc/l58xbZqe1pM/s640/100527skatedeck.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">thanks to my neighbor Luiza and her iphone ... she snapped this shot of us and emailed it to me last night!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">yup ... we raced ... and as you can tell by that blur passing me up - he won - </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">even though he gave me a HUGE head start</span>!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-7508334503832390415?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-65833154782008144782010-05-26T15:16:00.000-07:002010-05-26T19:47:15.138-07:00learned something new today ...i googled (such a funny word isn't it? ... but i use it all the time - i google everything, if i need an answer to how many tablespoons are in a cup, what's the temperature on the moon or where can i find hamster wheels that don't squeak ... i google it! if i need a pic of flowers, President Monson, or the New York skyline ... i google it! if i need a word that rhymes with purple or a poem about sisters ... i google it!! - anyway ... what was i was saying?) o right ... i googled 'lactic acid muscle soreness' and found out that:<span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">"Lactic Acid is not the culprit for this muscle soreness."</span><br /><br />what i'm experiencing from my 3 consecutive days working out is:<br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">"</span><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Lactic-Acid-and-Muscle-Soreness&id=1418935"><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)</span></a><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Lactic acid is responsible for the burning muscles during and after exercise and this is why many suspect it to be responsible for soreness 24-36 hours after intense exercise. However, lactic acid is completely flushed out of muscles within 30-60 minutes of finishing intense exercise. There is no abnormal levels of lactic acid in the tissues or blood when the dreaded DOMS strikes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Research indicates that DOMS is more likely caused by localised damage to the muscle fibres membranes, the connective tissue and the contractile elements - namely microtrauma to the muscle fibres. Over the 24 hours after intense exercise, the damaged muscles become sore and inflammed. Chemical irritants are released from damaged tissue, triggering pain receptors. In addition to the injured muscle fibres, there is an increase in blood flow causing a swelling of the muscle tissues which again may stimulate pain receptors. In the morning following the exercise, the muscle fibres are fatigued, have microscopic tears and are inflammed. The muscle nerve supply perceives this as an abnormal state and sends pain messages to the pain.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Typical recommendations for dealing with DOMS include light stretching and exercise, massage (of course!), submersion in a hot bath, etc. All these are aimed at lightly increasing blood flow to the muscles and damaged tissues to facilitate repair (and not flushing out non-existing lactic acid buildup)."</span><br /><br />looks like i need a <span style="font-size:large;">massage</span> and a <span style="font-size:large;">hot bath</span> tonight so i don't want to die when my teacher kicks my bum tomorrow!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-6583315478200814478?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-75825837468820506252010-05-25T14:41:00.000-07:002010-05-26T21:09:15.544-07:00update: doin' pretty good<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"></div><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_2YonCUVuI/AAAAAAAACmY/MbVRrbER56g/s1600/IMG_7895.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_2YonCUVuI/AAAAAAAACmY/MbVRrbER56g/s640/IMG_7895.jpg" width="640" height="480" gu="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">Easton loves to mark his Book of Mormon ...<br />he is learning what we mark ...<br />sometimes it's hard to tell 'Lemuel' and 'Lord' apart ...<br />they both start with L</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our <a href="http://iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com/2010/05/cinco-de-mayo-its-already-been-week.html">scripture reading and marking</a> coupled with family morning prayers is the bright spot in the beginning of each day ... we gather in the living room on the floor with our copies of the Book of Mormon and our 4 colored pencils and we each read a verse ... after each verse is read we see if there is anything to mark and at the end of the 6 verses we talk about what we learned ... today Nephi was telling his brothers to have faith. We are trying to be more like Nephi ... go and do, follow the Lord's commandments and be faithful - <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_ne/4">"[the Lord] is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Laban..."</a> Then all the pencils are collected, books stacked <span style="font-size:x-small;">("i want mine on bottom!" "i want mine on top!" "just put it on the stack!!")</span> we kneel for morning prayers and we're off and running again!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-7582583746882050625?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-77793637926390544672010-05-24T21:56:00.000-07:002010-05-25T14:02:03.275-07:00the rest of the fantasy ...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_tZEZHIUlI/AAAAAAAAClo/pTJVVKfZHrM/s1600/IMG_6597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_tZEZHIUlI/AAAAAAAAClo/pTJVVKfZHrM/s320/IMG_6597.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our first pic in paradise</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r4Nr4s53I/AAAAAAAACks/EL7AUA2-6-k/s1600/IMG_6876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r4Nr4s53I/AAAAAAAACks/EL7AUA2-6-k/s320/IMG_6876.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our first pic in front of the ocean.<br />a wave came up behind us just after we had the pic taken and soaked andy's shoes<br />not. happy.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r9V_6KUUI/AAAAAAAAClQ/54xHJERNx_Y/s1600/IMG_6747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r9V_6KUUI/AAAAAAAAClQ/54xHJERNx_Y/s320/IMG_6747.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pearl Harbor Memorial<br />what a sacred and emotionally moving place</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r9UVTTjPI/AAAAAAAAClM/eyU6uLo02lw/s1600/IMG_6709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r9UVTTjPI/AAAAAAAAClM/eyU6uLo02lw/s320/IMG_6709.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we spent the whole day at the Polynesian Cultural Center<br />Luau, show, dinner, tour of the temple grounds ... <br />it was magical!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r9SdzNZvI/AAAAAAAAClI/1_pa_yhH66U/s1600/IMG_6685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r9SdzNZvI/AAAAAAAAClI/1_pa_yhH66U/s320/IMG_6685.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andy got to join the Samoan man on stage <br />to drink some of the coconut water!<br />bleh.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r9NznNeeI/AAAAAAAAClA/PGcod-vGCaA/s1600/IMG_6893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r9NznNeeI/AAAAAAAAClA/PGcod-vGCaA/s320/IMG_6893.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the International Market Place<br />the best place to barter for good stuff!!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r4T2rXm4I/AAAAAAAACk8/_WOw_f3wAa0/s1600/IMG_6966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r4T2rXm4I/AAAAAAAACk8/_WOw_f3wAa0/s320/IMG_6966.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our ocean view balcony</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r4SP8eDzI/AAAAAAAACk4/qGHzX4DIsg0/s1600/IMG_6935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r4SP8eDzI/AAAAAAAACk4/qGHzX4DIsg0/s320/IMG_6935.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our last sunset<br />so beautiful!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r4RFrydeI/AAAAAAAACk0/NJtTjW2LjfQ/s1600/IMG_6926crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r4RFrydeI/AAAAAAAACk0/NJtTjW2LjfQ/s320/IMG_6926crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we sat on the beach and watched the sunset ... </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r4O4M2whI/AAAAAAAACkw/ShN_eDG63xs/s1600/IMG_6898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r4O4M2whI/AAAAAAAACkw/ShN_eDG63xs/s320/IMG_6898.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the parrot man put the birds on us, took our picture<br />and then asked for some money ... <br />sorry dude, i only have coins!<br />and he DIDN'T want them!!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r4MMS9pxI/AAAAAAAACko/FHbx_vXfxNQ/s1600/IMG_6836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r4MMS9pxI/AAAAAAAACko/FHbx_vXfxNQ/s320/IMG_6836.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beautiful and fragrant plumeria tree right outside our hotel!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r4KfLt4WI/AAAAAAAACkk/Pov-7zYL5Zo/s1600/IMG_6799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r4KfLt4WI/AAAAAAAACkk/Pov-7zYL5Zo/s320/IMG_6799.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanauma Bay</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_t7pai198I/AAAAAAAAClw/x0dyQdnI5JU/s1600/67230001_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_t7pai198I/AAAAAAAAClw/x0dyQdnI5JU/s320/67230001_001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we snorkeled in the salty water at Hanauma Bay</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_t7nDC7t8I/AAAAAAAACls/iFHfFyxhWEA/s1600/67230009_009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_t7nDC7t8I/AAAAAAAACls/iFHfFyxhWEA/s320/67230009_009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we saw a turtle!!<br />and took some underwater pictures ... <br />that didn't do the colors justice!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r4IVxmMZI/AAAAAAAACkg/Ejh6YEKiA-0/s1600/IMG_6970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r4IVxmMZI/AAAAAAAACkg/Ejh6YEKiA-0/s400/IMG_6970.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one last touch from the warm Hawaiian ocean</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">I honestly still can not believe that in reality, not just my fantasy world, we went to Hawaii!! Our short stay in paradise was fantastic ... dreamy ... out of this world! I have so many more pictures ... mostly as proof that it actually happened. Andy promised that he would take me back again <em>someday</em>. </div><div style="text-align: left;">and for now, that promise seems far away, but someday we'll get back there. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: right;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">someday.</span></em></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-7779363792639054467?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-70218039149571500332010-05-23T20:56:00.000-07:002010-05-25T08:41:52.670-07:00Porcupine Meatballs<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ingredients:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">6 lbs</span> •1-1/2 lbs. lean ground beef</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">3 cups</span> •1/2 cup long grain rice</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">3 tsp</span> •1/2 tsp. salt</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">1 1/2tsp</span> •1/4 tsp. pepper</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">3/4 cup</span> •2 Tbsp. minced onion</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">depending on how many meatballs you end up using you may have to use 2 cans and a cup of water or 3 cans and 1 1/2 cups of water ... and so on ... so long as you have enough sauce to cover the meatballs.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> •10 oz. can condensed tomato soup</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> •1/2 cup water</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Preparation:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In large bowl, combine meat, rice, salt, pepper and onion <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">(i did this part with my hands - cuz that's how my mom does it)</span>. Shape into small balls <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">(using a cookie scoop or ice cream scoop)</span>. Heat tomato soup and water in cooker, using brown function or not closing lid <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">(or don't and pour the soup and water mixture over the meatballs when you get them in the cooker ... )</span>. Drop meat balls in soup mixture. Close cover securely, then bring up to high pressure <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">(that's when the rocker is making a steady/rhythmic sound) </span>and cook for 10 minutes. Let pressure drop of its own accord (natural pressure release -<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> in other words: don't take the rocker off or you'll spray your ceiling with the entire contents of the cooker</span>). Serve over <strike>hot cooked noodles</strike> <span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">boiled diced potatoes</span>. Serves 6 </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">(</span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">if you go ahead and quadrupal the recipe, since Costco sells 6lb packages of hamburger, you can make some and freeze them on a cookie sheet and then put the frozen meatballs in a ziplock ... several meals done!! i should mention here that i did the 6lbs of meat in 2 - 3lb batches ... my biggest bowl wasn't big enough to mix all 6 at the same time... )</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Total time needed: 35ish minutes (if you've got pre-made frozen meatballs). It took me about an hour to make 62 meatballs (ice cream scoop size, there would have been more if i had used my cookie scoop) with 6lbs. of meat, and then 25ish minutes to cook them up <span style="font-size: x-small;">(cuz they weren't frozen)</span>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New;">If you're going to have the meatballs over diced, boiled potatoes: use the little red ones (that way you don't have to peel them ...) cover the potatoes with water and start them cooking when you close the pressure cooker lid ... they take about the same amount of time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New;">These tasty meaty spheres can be prepared for my Birthday dinner and Mother's Day dinner ... or for when you need to hurry and cook up something for impending guests, cuz you took a nap on sunday afternoon and didn't get anything else ready - especially if you had someone do the quadruple thing for their Birthday/Mother's Day dinner and have a bunch in your freezer.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Courier New;">I'm pretty much an expert at this recipe {wink wink}... </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;">YUM!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-7021803914957150033?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-62960093545722230022010-05-22T22:14:00.000-07:002010-05-24T16:29:25.973-07:00fact or fantasy??<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I haven't yet posted about my wonderful, amazing, can't-believe-it's-come-and-gone trip to Hawaii, I think I need to today ... it's been sunny around here lately (it's trying to be spring) but the warm is missing ... maybe these pictures will help warm me up!</span><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It all started last June-ish ... a friend of mine called to ask me a 'strange and huge favor'. She and her family were heading off to Hawaii for what may be the last time in for a while (dang economy!) and so this time they were taking their whole family - 4 kids; 12, 10, 8 and 5. The dad was going to have to work for a portion of the time and she, my friend, was worried about being alone with 4 kids with so much water and people in a place where she couldn't control the environment like at home. So 'would I like to come with them and be a kind of second mom/helper/friend?' Would I be willing to ditch my own 4 crazies to spend a week in Hawaii?? Stay in the </span><a href="http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/HNLHVHH-Hilton-Hawaiian-Village-Beach-Resort-Spa-Hawaii/index.do"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Hilton Hawaiian Village</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> with them for free ... swim in the warm ocean, walk on the beach, hang out by the pool, play with the kids ... Oh and maybe Andy would maybe want to come and meet me after they leave and the 2 of us stay for a few more days!? </span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S6AQ0VqjGZI/AAAAAAAACco/U7dGMztmzKI/s1600-h/IMG_6502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S6AQ0VqjGZI/AAAAAAAACco/U7dGMztmzKI/s200/IMG_6502.jpg" vt="true" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is a 'favor'!? My kinda favor!!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I jumped at the chance! Sept 2009 marked 10 years married and it had been my pie-in-the-sky dream to go to Hawaii for my 10 year anniversary - now things were falling into place for it to actually happen!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">SO ... I left Nov. 1st, rode Hawaiian Air to Honolulu...</span><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br /><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_sB1gg6wPI/AAAAAAAAClY/GE02DJFzz_Y/s1600/IMG_6544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_sB1gg6wPI/AAAAAAAAClY/GE02DJFzz_Y/s200/IMG_6544.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">swam in the pool</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_sB6ib76zI/AAAAAAAAClk/xUksZFC2IRg/s1600/IMG_6567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_sB6ib76zI/AAAAAAAAClk/xUksZFC2IRg/s200/IMG_6567.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">played in the sand</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I arrived to find that the hotel was magical, the pools <span style="font-size: x-small;">(there were 3)</span> and waterslides were fun and fantastic, we were practically on the beach, the salt water was blue and warm!! ... I had died and gone to paradise!!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">we ... </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_sBzYLBchI/AAAAAAAAClU/hHgpVjclAu8/s1600/IMG_6586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_sBzYLBchI/AAAAAAAAClU/hHgpVjclAu8/s200/IMG_6586.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">climbed trees at a nearby park by the beach</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_sB4hv8CiI/AAAAAAAAClg/YeNy4nXvq5M/s1600/IMG_6559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_sB4hv8CiI/AAAAAAAAClg/YeNy4nXvq5M/s200/IMG_6559.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rode the elevator several times a day ... <br />just for the fun of it</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_sB2wAOj-I/AAAAAAAAClc/2lzpMmOgSys/s1600/IMG_6553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_sB2wAOj-I/AAAAAAAAClc/2lzpMmOgSys/s200/IMG_6553.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">played cards while the warm rain fell.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r9QPdSCAI/AAAAAAAAClE/8zfbdBPB-k4/s1600/IMG_6596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_r9QPdSCAI/AAAAAAAAClE/8zfbdBPB-k4/s400/IMG_6596.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and said goodbye all too soon!! it's true that the time flies when you're having fun!!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">stay tuned ... </span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">i'll be back with the shorter but more romantic part of my dream trip soon!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-6296009354572223002?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-16267899568711965442010-05-21T23:40:00.000-07:002010-05-24T12:47:19.267-07:00Late-Over ... the sensible alternative to 'sleep'-over<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_rQrTMfYoI/AAAAAAAACkc/MQiD18TqASY/s1600/pictures6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="512" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_rQrTMfYoI/AAAAAAAACkc/MQiD18TqASY/s640/pictures6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">10 girls + 1 boy + 2 brothers + 3 moms = super sensational smash hit birthday party late-over!!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Girls started arriving at 6pm and we partied, opened gifts, ate pizza, watched movies, had popcorn, candy, chocolate covered pretzels, cake and ice cream!! We were sugared up and playing everywhere ... some girls had their hair done, some painted nails and then the fun was over at 10pm! We had a GREAT time, and we'll definitely do this again! <span style="font-size: x-small;">(no need to wait for a birthday to party!!)</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-1626789956871196544?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-5915238564012894892010-05-20T03:56:00.000-07:002010-05-24T08:34:04.391-07:00grounded.<div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">we have a neighbor that has a daughter that loves to play with Easton, and he is always up for playing with her. they ride scooters together, draw on the sidewalk, run cars down the driveway, race back and forth from their house to our's, climb on the 'big rock' over in the grassy common area and occasionally play inside each other's houses. they also like to go to the park together ... </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">today was a perfect day for a picnic at the park ... i had a bunch of things i needed to take care of and so my nice neighbor offered to take Easton and go to the park. WONDERFUL! i packed him a lunch, strapped on his helmet, handed the lunch to my super fantastic neighbor and sent them on their merry way. </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">i came back inside to start (i never really know <i>where </i>to start when it comes to the house ... ) the kitchen needed to be wiped and counters needed to be decluttered and andy needed a lunch prepared. i made his lunch and sent him off to work and just as i was headed back inside Easton crashed in our driveway. he was back early and i was surprised, but i kissed him better and rubbed his owie ... andy asked where our neighbor was and i told him she must be at the top of the neighborhood ... since Easton was on his bike, he likes to zoom down to our house. </div><br />then a frantic looking woman (whom i know from taking exercise classes at the Y) drove up and asked if i knew who that little boy belonged to ...<br /><br />and the story began to unfold:<br /><br /><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">she was acting frantic and worried because she had seen <i>that little boy</i> ("how old is he by the way?" "um he's 3 ... will be 4 in august ... " "i thought he was about 4 ... ") on his bike <i>WAY</i> up the <b>busy</b> road all. by. him. self. ... </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">she had seen him and felt worried that she hadn't seen an adult with him and had turned around to follow him and discovered another hysterical woman doing the same. they spoke to each other and decided to call 9-1-1 and report that this little boy looks determined but is all alone. and by the time they found their cell phones and made the call the little boy was gone! and they couldn't find him! the hysterical one went to safeway and my Y acquaintance came down into our neighborhood ... (they didn't confront that little boy for fear that he would be afraid of them and make matters worse)</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">the park that they had gone to was about a mile away ... on the opposite side of the <b>busy </b>road. which means that little boy had crossed the busy road all. by. him. self. and had ridden his bike down the sidewalk crossed 2 side streets and come down the sidewalk to our house all. by. him. self.</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">i took his bike, loaded him in the van and drove up the road to find my wonderful, and now fretful neighbor. she was ... worried and a little upset and more than a little apologetic. i reassured her that it was <i>not</i> her fault and that <i>I</i> was so sorry. she said that she was really worried because he always stayed with them before ... they had arrived at the park and it was too cold and windy and they decided not to stay. Easton had picked up his bike and taken off without looking back and since my neighbor and her daughter were on foot she couldn't catch up to him!! </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">Easton apologized as well and we had a big talk about staying together when we go to the park ... </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">the <i>strangest</i> thing: he has never done something like this. he is my momma's boy, stays right by me, waits for me at every corner, asks if he can cross now ... i asked him why he hadn't waited for our neighbor and his answer was simple... <span style="font-size:large;">'when i dot to the torner my heel holed off and so i tossed the hoad'</span> {translation: when i got to the corner by wheel rolled off and so i crossed the road} so it was the bikes fault ... hmmm ... </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div>on the bright side: he knows where we live, he didn't get lost, he didn't get stolen, he didn't get run over, and he had 2 angels following him.<br /><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">consequences: this is my first grounded child ... i have not yet need to bring out the big guns and ground anyone ... but this did it. he had to stay inside the rest of the day and when i did let him outside he was within my reach. later that day i was sitting on the stairs with him ... i told him that he scared me today. "why?" "i could have lost you today ... " "why?" "you rode your bike a long far way all by yourself, you could have gotten lost, or someone could have taken you away from me." "i tame home." "i know and i'm happy you know where we live but please don't do that again." "o tay. tan i hide {ride} my bike now?" "um, sorry buddy, you're grounded from your bike for a few days..."</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_oCspkNTLI/AAAAAAAACj8/hmk5sojegzU/s1600/IMG_7862.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_oCspkNTLI/AAAAAAAACj8/hmk5sojegzU/s320/IMG_7862.jpg" width="240" height="320" gu="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">and there it will hang for the next few days!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"></div><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_oEW52v8kI/AAAAAAAACkA/ayVj8QoaNiY/s1600/pictures5.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_oEW52v8kI/AAAAAAAACkA/ayVj8QoaNiY/s640/pictures5.jpg" width="640" height="512" gu="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">poor, grounded baby ... sure am glad he made it home ... </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-591523856401289489?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-25525191929116687262010-05-19T16:19:00.000-07:002010-05-20T17:06:38.811-07:00Cleaning the house is ... fun to do?!when it's somebody else's!! why is that?? my whole life - it's always been that way. i much prefer to clean for someone, than to clean up after myself. i remember my mom being very annoyed with that fact... i would go babysitting and after the kids were down to bed, i would set to work cleaning the house. (maybe i didn't know how to watch the tv, since we didn't have one at home ...) the parents would come home to a nice clean house, dishes washed a put away (or dishwasher emptied or washing), toys picked up, books organized, laundry folded, etc... they would make comments to my mom about how wonderful it was to come home to a clean house - and my mom would roll her eyes and reply, "now if i could just get her to clean her own room!!" <br /><br />in all fairness i will try to describe my bedroom vividly enough since i don't have a picture to share ... <br /><br />imagine, if you will, the basement bedroom, 10ft by 12ft (maybe?!), just big enough for a twin size bed, a desk (3'x4'), a book shelf, a dresser and an open closet insert ... no doors on the closet. now imagine, there are many hangers and a few with clothes on them ... but there are more clothes than hangers strewn about the room ... not hung up, or folded in the drawers ... mostly on the floor so that if one were to stand in my room they would be ankle-deep in a flood of fabric. in your mind's eye look around ... every surface has either dust or clothes on it especially the bed ... when i wasn't sleeping <em>in it</em>, there was a thick layer of clothes covering it ... that pile would then be scooped off onto the floor when i needed to <em>sleep</em> in the bed and when morning came <em>that pile</em> would be heaved back to it's daily resting place. the book shelf and desk are also disaters but mostly laden with 'keepsake' things like trinkets, papers, pictures, books, painted rocks, and mini statues. when i was sentenced to clean it up ... i would spend more time looking at my priceless <strike>junk</strike> souvenirs and never actually get around to cleaning/organizing/washing/putting away/folding/picking up any of it. my dad often warned my friends that 'they better tie a rope to their leg and the other end to the door knob, in case they couldn't find their way out of the mess' ... <br /><br />even now as i type this out ... i am amazed that my mom never nailed my things to the floor ... like her own dad did to her sister's bedroom. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(another story for another time)</span><br /><br />today, and forever, i believe that "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (<a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/mosiah/2/17#17">Mosiah 2:17</a>)<br /><br />and so i sing: <br /><span style="font-size: large;">Cleaning the house is fun to do, fun to do, to do, to do!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Cleaning the house is fun to do, when it's not a chore to do!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">maybe someday i'll trick myself into thinking this isn't my house ... </span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">and these poor people <em>need</em> my help ... </span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-2552519192911668726?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-14435135390488660602010-05-18T14:58:00.000-07:002010-05-20T16:18:11.555-07:005 boys is easier than 2 ... phew ... but it's true!<table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_Wx3LvNaBI/AAAAAAAACjY/XwkRiqdyggg/s1600/IMG_7551.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_Wx3LvNaBI/AAAAAAAACjY/XwkRiqdyggg/s640/IMG_7551.jpg" width="640" height="480" gu="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">at the library!</td></tr></tbody></table>Tuesdays are fun days ... I so look forward to them! I swap with a friend of mine <em>every</em> Tuesday ... either she takes my 2 or I get her 3 ... she is brave and takes them to the library ... I'm not so brave and have them play here at our house. It works out quite nicely ... when I have all 5 of them here, we watch a show (diego or backyardigans), play with cars, run up and down the stairs, shoot guns (nerf or pop - nothing lethal), have a snack, and generally entertain/occupying/assassinate each other! What do they need me for? Oh that's right, I make the snack!! <br /><br />It's awesome! <br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><span style="font-size:x-small;">and these boys are honestly the easiest kids to have around!</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><span style="font-size:large;">Yeah for good friends!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-1443513539048866060?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-39294784539567110242010-05-17T16:09:00.001-07:002010-05-17T21:54:46.542-07:00Y.M.C.A.<table style="TEXT-ALIGN: right; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 1em" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; CLEAR: right; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; cssfloat: right" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_IcmxMtEbI/AAAAAAAACjQ/ucVlcNkAtDk/s1600/ymca+1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_IcmxMtEbI/AAAAAAAACjQ/ucVlcNkAtDk/s320/ymca+1.jpg" width="320" height="308" wt="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">They might want to wear something<br />a little more comfortable in the weight room.<br />Ya think?<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">"It's fun to stay at the Y M C A ... "</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">It's also fun to swim, workout, play in the adventure zone and do yoga</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">"at the Y-M-C-A-ay"!</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">I have been going the last few months fairly regularly and really liking the classes. I do a few different ones and they all <a href="http://iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com/2010/05/mom-did-your-teacher-kick-your-bum.html">'kick my bum'</a>!!</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">Lately especially I have been sore, tired and generally hurting all over - the good kind (<span style="font-size:x-small;">as if there could be a 'good' kind of hurt</span>). I have been doing a class called Peak Performance which is code for weights, cardio, and bum-kicking fun! Today we did a pyramid work out with 3 sets of weights ... light, medium and heavy. 12 reps with the light weights, 10 with the medium, 5 with the heavy, 10 with the medium, and 12 with the light weights. We worked shoulders, pecs, lats, biceps and triceps ... and my arms and back are pretty much jelly at this point. I surprised myself alittle in class ... I didn't wuss out of any of the exercises and between the pyramids we did some cardio that was fun!</div><br />Wednesdays I like to do the Cardio Blast class which is a fancy name for step aerobics! It took me a while to not feel totally uncoordinated and I still mess up a LOT ... but I have fun and the teacher is great!<br /><br />Fridays is another Peak Performance with the same teacher that does step and she's fun! I like her and she keeps the workout fun ... kinda don't feel like I'm really working all that much until the next day when I realize I have worked muscles in places I didn't know I had!<br /><br />Ideally I would be doing cardio (<span style="font-size:x-small;">ie: the eliptical that is in my bedroom</span>) <strong><em>daily</em></strong> ... babysteps!!<br /><br />I am telling you all this for a reason ...<br /><br />I need to lose weight ... I want to lose more weight than I have already lost (<span style="font-size:x-small;">I used to be fatt-er - it's hard to believe, I know!</span>) I want to be in a size that makes me <em>want</em> to buy clothes!<br /><br />I'm working on it ... I need to work on it more ... but for the time being - I'm trying. Someday, <span style="font-size:x-small;">sooner than later</span>, I'll look in the mirror and wonder who that beautiful babe is staring back at me?!!<br /><br />So, if you see me there, cheer me on and I'll do the same for you! Go Team!!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-3929478453956711024?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-20338398594907188252010-05-16T13:25:00.000-07:002010-05-17T16:01:55.682-07:00We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet!<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"></div><a href="http://www.lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer/index.html?searchlanguage=1&searchcollection=1&searchseqstart=19&searchsubseqstart=" searchseqend="'19&searchsubseqend=">this song</a> and <a href="http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=f0321f7962d43210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=198bf4b13819d110VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD">this lesson</a> (<span style="font-size:x-small;">taught in Relief Society today - Amy: you did an awesome job!!</span>) got me to thinking about just how thankful i am for a living prophet on the earth today. what a blessing it is.<br /><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_G9gqOANTI/AAAAAAAACjI/jo8gubkhK7o/s1600/Monson+1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_G9gqOANTI/AAAAAAAACjI/jo8gubkhK7o/s200/Monson+1.jpg" width="200" height="150" wt="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">what a wonderful man!</td></tr></tbody></table><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_G9hnyCFnI/AAAAAAAACjM/tFDhWaFPoMg/s1600/Monson%208.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_G9hnyCFnI/AAAAAAAACjM/tFDhWaFPoMg/s320/Monson%208.jpg" width="314" height="320" wt="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">and he loves his wife!<br />so darling!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-2033839859490718825?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-9807757030446616962010-05-15T23:34:00.000-07:002010-05-16T22:09:59.209-07:00a squeak under the hood?<div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">Andy and I went on a date tonight and the car battery was not doing well ... mind you it's the stock battery on a 2005 van and everything is electric ... the doors, windows, locks, DVD player, sunroof, radio, 6 CD disk changer, backup camera, GPS ... all electric ... battery powered ... battery sucking functions. So we made it home and he went to Walmart and got a new battery and brought it home to swap out the old for the new ... no big deal. It's not a coincidence that Andy rhymes with 'handy' ... really what would I do without him?</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">So he unscrews, unlatches, un-does whatever to get the battery off (<span style="font-size:85%;">i didn't watch - i have no real idea what he did ... but the old battery was removed</span>) and it's really heavy so he uses his big burly muscles (swoon) to lift it out and lo and behold ... </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">tucked under the battery ... (we think it fell there) near the tranny (that's shop talk for <em>transmission</em>) we found this:</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_DOE4lnUgI/AAAAAAAACjA/T7iFj7F__sg/s1600/mousetrap+and+droppings.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S_DOE4lnUgI/AAAAAAAACjA/T7iFj7F__sg/s640/mousetrap+and+droppings.JPG" width="640" height="480" wt="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">go ahead ... say it ... GROOOSSSSS!!</td></tr></tbody></table>That's what I said! Does that mean there is a dead mouse somewhere inside my car!?!?!?!?<br /><br />We hope not ... Andy's pretty sure that there would be a terrible stink if there was a dead something in my car ... at least he assumes ...<br /><br />pray for me.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-980775703044661696?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-23133088699978155622010-05-14T23:58:00.000-07:002010-05-15T00:41:25.490-07:00what's better than beautiful weather and best friends with a boat?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-5PsdmWN8I/AAAAAAAACi8/YzDtMsDKauY/s1600/IMG_7844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-5PsdmWN8I/AAAAAAAACi8/YzDtMsDKauY/s640/IMG_7844.jpg" width="480" wt="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">enjoying the sunset at the end of a great day!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-2313308869997815562?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-74101130558497702122010-05-13T14:23:00.000-07:002010-05-15T00:35:40.487-07:00somehow i feel content ...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-5NsUQCqzI/AAAAAAAACi0/zGqKz1JpUf0/s1600/IMG_7801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-5NsUQCqzI/AAAAAAAACi0/zGqKz1JpUf0/s640/IMG_7801.jpg" width="640" wt="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the kitchen sink is clean ... </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">while i don't follow all the steps ... <a href="http://flylady.net/pages/FLYingLessons_Shine.asp">flylady</a> is right about the way it makes me feel!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-7410113055849770212?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-77292891159033271752010-05-12T22:32:00.000-07:002010-05-13T16:41:52.083-07:00if only the internet would have worked at the church building where i was supposed to teach a class about using the church website ...<table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-yMdXwT1oI/AAAAAAAACiw/z_f85tQ35wE/s1600/My+Pictures1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-yMdXwT1oI/AAAAAAAACiw/z_f85tQ35wE/s640/My+Pictures1.jpg" width="640" height="512" wt="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">I would have shown them all of this!!</td></tr></tbody></table>Points that I tried to cover:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.lds.org/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">www.lds.org</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> front page is very comprehensive … many things that you might need and news/recent information … regularly changed. (bread crumbs are at the top left to show you where you've been and are links to click back too!)<br /><br />Stake and Ward Websites (right sidebar) – (need information to log on) Ward webpage<br /> Calendar, Membership Directory, Stake Home (other ward websites are available - only within our stake)<br />About the Church – Humanitarian Service – How can I help? – Make humanitarian aid kits<br />Gospel Library – Search Gospel Library<br />Gospel Library – General Conference – English – 180th Annual … April 2010<br />Family History and Temples – Temples around the world<br />Home and Family – Family Home Evening<br />Serving in the Church – Relief Society<br />News and Events – Calendar or Newsroom …</span><br /><br />These were my notes ... I hope everybody was curious enough to go home and look at it for real! there really is a LOT of really good/helpful/wonderful/amazing stuff there!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-7729289115903327175?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-1022409461803567592010-05-11T21:48:00.000-07:002010-05-12T22:36:54.793-07:00unbreakable<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-oyLfg-p6I/AAAAAAAACfQ/OqPjTuIf1MM/s1600/mom+and+dad+holding+hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-oyLfg-p6I/AAAAAAAACfQ/OqPjTuIf1MM/s640/mom+and+dad+holding+hands.jpg" tt="true" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My parents have been married 37 years today ... <br />(8 years longer than my mom has been alive ...)<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-102240946180356759?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-50181453972093338682010-05-10T23:21:00.000-07:002010-05-12T22:36:40.068-07:00the master of disguise<table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-mEeRw8XZI/AAAAAAAACfI/anA_VY1R0r4/s1600/IMG_7755.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-mEeRw8XZI/AAAAAAAACfI/anA_VY1R0r4/s640/IMG_7755.jpg" width="640" height="480" tt="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">he takes self portraits with my camera</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-mEgVkYIhI/AAAAAAAACfM/hAgyXSMHulA/s1600/IMG_7757.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-mEgVkYIhI/AAAAAAAACfM/hAgyXSMHulA/s400/IMG_7757.jpg" width="300" height="400" tt="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">and i caught him in my room near to the laundry basket...<br />no doubt looking for a clean shirt to complete his covert costume</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;">you didn't see anything at all ...</span> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-5018145397209333868?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-90998336763816033672010-05-09T15:34:00.000-07:002010-05-12T22:37:02.114-07:00Happy Mother's Day!Elder Marvin J. Ashton said:<br />"Some mothers seem to have the capacity and energy to make their children’s clothes, bake, give piano lessons, go to Relief Society, teach Sunday School, attend parent-teacher association meetings, and so on. Other mothers look upon such women as models and feel inadequate, depressed, and think they are failures when they make comparisons.<br /><br />We should not allow ourselves to be trapped into such damaging inferiority feelings. This is another tool of Satan. Many seem to put too much pressure on themselves to be a ‘supermom’ or ‘superwoman.’<br /><br />Sisters, do not allow yourselves to be made to feel inadequate or frustrated because you cannot do everything others seem to be accomplishing. Rather, each should assess her own situation, her own energy, and her own talents, and then choose the best way to mold her family into a team, a unit that works together and supports each other. Only you and your Father in Heaven know your needs, strengths, and desires. Around this knowledge your personal course must be charted and your choices made." <span style="font-size:x-small;">(in Conference Report, Apr. 1984, 11; or Ensign, May 1984, 9–10 ).</span><br /><br />Neal A. Maxwell said:<br /><br />"We salute you, sisters, for the joy that is yours as you rejoice in a baby’s first smile and as you listen with eager ear to a child’s first day at school which bespeaks a special selflessness. Women, more quickly than others, will understand the possible dangers when the word self is militantly placed before other words like fulfillment. You rock a sobbing child without wondering if today’s world is passing you by, because you know you hold tomorrow tightly in your arms." ("<span style="font-size:x-small;">The Women of God," Ensign, May 1978, 10</span>)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:large;">amen.</span><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-dAbMHaoQI/AAAAAAAACe8/ztHzaZSwASg/s1600/IMG_7798+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-dAbMHaoQI/AAAAAAAACe8/ztHzaZSwASg/s400/IMG_7798+cropped.jpg" width="400" height="343" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-9099833676381603367?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-10662236657264673062010-05-08T14:49:00.000-07:002010-05-12T22:37:10.870-07:00Thoughts on being 'mom'Today i spent most of the day alone ... a rarity it feels like in my line of work ... I took myself to the store, all by myself, i got out of the car, closed the door, walked alone across the parking lot, waited for a car to back out of a spot and made it into the store ... all by myself. I walked into the jewelry section and kept my hands to myself, i didn't touch the glass or spin the displays ... just looked and then i walked over to the shoe section ... i tried on a few pairs and found the perfect ones ... just what i was looking for ... all by myself. I went to the clothing section and found a darling skirt and picked up a few different shirts to try on, i went to the dressing room and tried them on and chose one to buy ... i went to the register and paid for my items and turned and walked out of the store ... across the parking lot and got back into my car, put on my seat belt and said to myself, "wow it's quiet in here ..." there wasn't any fighting, no whining, no "i want to sit there" or "stop touching that" or "keep your hands to yourself" ... there was also no "thanks mom for taking me" or "mom, where are we going next?" or "what time is it?" ... no little voices singing along with the music ... no laughter. I was reminded that sometimes it's not <em>that</em> great to be alone. (don't get me wrong, i love me some me-time ... but i thought to myself "that is why i wanted to be the mom!")<br /><br />Then i watched <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHDvxPjsm8E">this youtube video</a> and it changed me a little ... being the mom isn't glamorous ... but i sure love it ... and i need to start telling my kids how much i LOVE being their mom ... it's always been my #1 - when my friends were hoping to be astronauts and the first woman president ... i wanted to be a <span style="font-size:large;">mom</span> (<span style="font-size:x-small;">my big plan was to go to beauty school and be a hair dresser in my own home so that i'd be home but able to work ... maybe someday i'll add on that extra part</span>). <br /><br />i read this for the first time on my mission ... true ... so true!<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">What is a Mother?</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"></div><br /><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">A Mother is a wonderful creature constructed almost entirely of love and this she can express in a million ways from hugs and kisses and good cooking and patient listening, to stern lectures and strict rules and repeated use of the word "no". </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">Like snowflakes, no two Mothers are alike but they have a number of things in common. Name anything a Mother can be found washing it, roasting it, polishing it, getting rid of it, repairing it, packing it, teaching it, redecorating it, loving it, or talking it over at PTA.</div><br />A Mother cares about, and for most everything; gardens, pets, the state of the nation, the worn spot in the rug, hungry people, and most of all, Father and her children. For these, she can do anything, dare anything, and fight for anything necessary for their happiness.<br /><br />A Mother is not always an angel. She will often disagree with you, expect too much of you, criticize your choice of friends, and bring up the subject of work when you feel least energetic. But she's always ready to help when you need her.<br /><br />You don't always tell a Mother how much you love her or how much you wish the most wonderful things in the world will come to her because there are no words to express feelings so deep and sincere. Somehow, though, you feel she understands what's in your heart. Mothers always do.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-c34va1TQI/AAAAAAAACe4/eXpGM2DIe8c/s1600/granny+on+the+carousel+with+words.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-c34va1TQI/AAAAAAAACe4/eXpGM2DIe8c/s400/granny+on+the+carousel+with+words.JPG" width="291" height="400" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-1066223665726467306?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-22828017587389479682010-05-07T23:47:00.000-07:002010-05-12T22:37:26.654-07:00no better way to spend a birthday ... (round 3 or maybe 4 ... who's counting?!)<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">when you get older it's your own prerogative how you want to spend your birthday ... as well as how many times you can celebrate/how long you can stretch out the celebration.</div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">this year i chose to celebrate with my family on the actual day ... we had alfy's pizza and went to the skatedeck! earlier that day Andy and i went to lunch and later that night i went to a late night movie with some girlfriends!! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">then a few nights later i went out to dinner with my 2 best girlfriends (and when i say 'dinner' ... we ate a little and talked a LOT ... we solve the world's problems on a regular basis! (<span style="font-size: x-small;">dinner was at 8 we talked until midnight</span>)) </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">to top off my week + birthday celebration, the Party got together tonight for the premier of <a href="http://ironmanmovie.marvel.com/?gclid=COD7gZaIwqECFSA5gwodJWFi_w">Iron Man 2</a> and dinner at <a href="http://www.maggianos.com/">Maggiano's</a>. we made a reservation and it is a good thing we did ... when we arrived 20 minutes early the place was PACKED!! our table was ready right on time and we went in and sat down. excellent service, delicious food (i tried everyone's dish ... all were spectacular!! - i even tried calamari - not terrible but not yummy ... in a word: 'myeah ...' ) and GREAT conversation.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">the conversation is always easy with us ... we seem to move effortlessly, flawlessly (naturally even?!) from poop and boogies with our collective 9 kids to work and computers to leisure time and vacation plans to how to talk to our kids about sex and everything in between! we share laughs and fears and trade hilarous stories about kids and everything ... there isn't anything off limits with this crowd. we talk feelings and memories and hopes as well as bathroom humor, TMI, and 'really did you just say that out LOUD?!' </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">these people are truly my BFFs ... they know far too much!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">as we were leaving the restaurant, i said, <span style="font-size: large;">"i love to sit and eat and then talk for hours with you guys! it's my favorite ... what a great birthday! thanks!"</span> and i meant it ... every word.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-UcViaHslI/AAAAAAAACe0/vlEm9qmRuFI/s1600/the+girls+-+camping+2008.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-UcViaHslI/AAAAAAAACe0/vlEm9qmRuFI/s640/the+girls+-+camping+2008.bmp" tt="true" width="427" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">memorial day campout 2008</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">we were at maggiano's for 2 1/2 hours!!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: right;">i love us!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-2282801758738947968?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-69032132759812887412010-05-06T22:25:00.000-07:002010-05-12T22:37:33.168-07:00my favorite time of day ...<table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-OfteEy4hI/AAAAAAAACew/_zvwCV7VJUo/s1600/bedtime.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-OfteEy4hI/AAAAAAAACew/_zvwCV7VJUo/s640/bedtime.jpg" width="640" height="480" tt="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">mom, tan i see hor phone while hor pushing da buttons?</td></tr></tbody></table>Easton loves it when i text his name to Andy at night time ... He recognizes the 'E' and says that every word that starts with 'E' is his name - except when it's my name! (he knows that my name starts with an 'E' too because i write it when i sign him into the Y's adventure zone!) this picture is taken with my phone and the flash was SO bright we couldn't keep our eyes open!<br /><br />He loves to sing at bedtime (or in the bathroom, or when it's just the 2 of us in the car, or when he's playing by himself ... never performing ... but he loves to sing!) and he has his favorite songs ... this one is one of my favorites!!<br /><br />"i'm so dad when mommy tums home,<br />dad as i tan be! <br />tap my hans and shout for joy<br />and time up on her knee. <br />put my arms ahound her neck,<br />hud her tight hike dat,<br />pat her cheek and dive her what? <br />a date bid kiss!!"<br /><br />i need to post the video ... his face is the best part!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-6903213275981288741?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-63097624374812218342010-05-05T15:12:00.000-07:002010-05-12T22:37:49.711-07:00Cinco de Mayo! ... it's already been a week since i turned 34?<div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: left; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em; cssfloat: left" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S1jZnh9JhSI/AAAAAAAACO4/b6njrasJymc/s1600/book%20of%20mormon%20-%20b&w.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S1jZnh9JhSI/AAAAAAAACO4/b6njrasJymc/s400/book%20of%20mormon%20-%20b&w.jpg" width="353" height="400" tt="true" /></a></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">We started this morning by reading the first 5 verses in 1st Nephi ... it is our first day since we committed to be a part of this:</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">As part of our September 2009 Everett Stake Conference, President Duce extended the following invitation to the stake membership with regards to studying The Book of Mormon as a family:</span></div><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">1. Get a paperback copy of The Book of Mormon for each member of the family and write your name in it</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">2. Meet as a family and decide what time of day you will read from The Book of Mormon as a family</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">3. Get four different colored marking pencils for each family member</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">4. As you read, highlight in different colors:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">a. Each reference to Jesus Christ (any of His names or pronouns referring to Him)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">b. His words (spoken by Him or by prophets when they say “thus saith the Lord” or similar)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">c. His attributes</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">d. The doctrines and principles contained in The Book of Mormon</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;">During the General Session of Stake Conference this morning (April 18th), President Duce again extended this invitation in support of the stake focus - Increasing Faith in Jesus Christ through Daily Scripture Study and Praying with Real Intent. We join with President Duce in inviting each of you to accept this challenge of reading and marking The Book of Mormon with your families as outlined above. We know that doing so will be a blessing to your families and will bring you closer to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We raised our hands in Sacrament Meeting just last Sunday and committed to do it!</span><br /><br /><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; CLEAR: right; cssfloat: right" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-HlS5a9LSI/AAAAAAAACd8/hb4fktcwIuk/s1600/step.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-HlS5a9LSI/AAAAAAAACd8/hb4fktcwIuk/s320/step.jpg" width="320" height="240" tt="true" /></a><br /><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: left; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em; cssfloat: left" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S1eNg7PuwhI/AAAAAAAACOw/JoEYNLUPCD0/s1600/step.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S1eNg7PuwhI/AAAAAAAACOw/JoEYNLUPCD0/s200/step.jpg" width="189" height="200" tt="true" /></a> Then I dropped kids off at school and headed to my hard core step class ... (and yes ... my teacher kicked my bum today ... if you were wondering!)</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator">I hurried home to shower and get ready for Visiting Teaching and then hurried to get Ammon from school! </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator">We dropped off our friend that we carpool with and headed to lunch!</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: left; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em; cssfloat: left" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-HlVFJIlzI/AAAAAAAACeI/Td9B2qcyQ7M/s1600/YUM.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-HlVFJIlzI/AAAAAAAACeI/Td9B2qcyQ7M/s320/YUM.jpg" width="320" height="240" tt="true" /></a></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; CLEAR: right; cssfloat: right" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-HnfYun5VI/AAAAAAAACeQ/RJq8lUZ1Pmo/s1600/TDM.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-HnfYun5VI/AAAAAAAACeQ/RJq8lUZ1Pmo/s320/TDM.jpg" width="240" height="320" tt="true" /></a> </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" align="center">Happy Cinco de Mayo! </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" align="center">Hooray for Taco del Mar! </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" align="center">YUM!!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"></div><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-Hsh1PrclI/AAAAAAAACes/eY2dgEpzipg/s1600/heart+attack.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-Hsh1PrclI/AAAAAAAACes/eY2dgEpzipg/s640/heart+attack.jpg" width="640" height="512" tt="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">34 is a little young to be having actual heart attacks ...<br />But this kind i could have everyday!!<br />My friends are so nice!!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">The booger one was one of the funniest! I also liked the one that said "get out your lawn chair and pretend you're in Hawaii! Thanks friends! You're the best!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-6309762437481221834?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-24031059906101037022010-05-04T16:52:00.001-07:002010-05-12T22:37:58.208-07:00what?? fashion don't?!<div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator" align="left">I texted my 2 best friends about these shoes ... "what do you think?!"</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-EqBA8k-GI/AAAAAAAACdk/nSR0-CyMWJY/s1600/orange%20shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-EqBA8k-GI/AAAAAAAACdk/nSR0-CyMWJY/s400/orange%20shoes.jpg" width="400" height="300" tt="true" /></a></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" align="center">one sent back: "So cute!" </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">but the other had a little more to say ... "Um ... maybe with the right outfit ... "</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: left; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em; cssfloat: left" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-EqDvaU87I/AAAAAAAACdw/g6UgCh-NAeg/s1600/orange+outfit.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-EqDvaU87I/AAAAAAAACdw/g6UgCh-NAeg/s400/orange+outfit.jpg" width="300" height="400" tt="true" /></a></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">So i donned my new sherbet colored shirt and sent </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">"How bout this?"</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">"Um ... no ... you don't match your shoes to your shirt ... unless they are black."</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">"and are they shiny?"</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">hm ... i said ... </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">"i think the term you were searching for is <em>patent leather</em>"</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">"no ... shiny is the term ... bleh"</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">texting still. "what? you don't like them? what can i say ... i'm just your country bumpkin friend!"</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">"country <em>pump</em>kin ... "</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">HA! You just made a funny!!</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-EqDFutNgI/AAAAAAAACds/giMRe7oCeNM/s1600/orange+bracelet.bmp" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-EqDFutNgI/AAAAAAAACds/giMRe7oCeNM/s200/orange+bracelet.bmp" width="200" height="173" tt="true" /></a></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator">Maybe if i accessorize with a little bit of <a href="http://sammoon.com/">Sammoon</a>!?</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: left; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em; cssfloat: left" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-EqAVI3HBI/AAAAAAAACdg/gY4JcFcx6mM/s1600/orange+ring.bmp" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-EqAVI3HBI/AAAAAAAACdg/gY4JcFcx6mM/s200/orange+ring.bmp" width="197" height="200" tt="true" /></a> </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; CLEAR: right; cssfloat: right" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-EqB9Fd_fI/AAAAAAAACdo/yRuSLzTegqs/s1600/orange+bracelet+2.bmp" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-EqB9Fd_fI/AAAAAAAACdo/yRuSLzTegqs/s200/orange+bracelet+2.bmp" width="200" height="163" tt="true" /></a> </div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-EqETVGH_I/AAAAAAAACd0/EnzNYwTQR98/s1600/orange+purse.bmp" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-EqETVGH_I/AAAAAAAACd0/EnzNYwTQR98/s400/orange+purse.bmp" width="333" height="400" tt="true" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">ooo and i'm LOVING this orange purse!!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;">by the way: the darling orange shoes cost me all of $3 - not bad!!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-2403105990610103702?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-25087593031747773192010-05-03T15:52:00.001-07:002010-05-12T22:38:08.442-07:00mom, did your teacher kick your bum today?Easton's question every time i pick him up from the Y's adventure zone ... i'm sweaty and red in the face from getting my bum kicked in my exercising classes! Today, though, i enjoyed a bit of Yoga and my face was <em>not</em> red and i was <em>not</em> sweaty when i went to get him ... still the usual question. Nope, not today, i just stretched and laid on the mat. <br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"who is your teacher?"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Miss Vicki</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"she's nice, she doesn't kick your bum!"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-HlT_zSQBI/AAAAAAAACeA/t9AFEAVFPww/s1600/sweaty+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S-HlT_zSQBI/AAAAAAAACeA/t9AFEAVFPww/s400/sweaty+me.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(added pic 5/5 ... today she kicked my bum!)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-2508759303174777319?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-18417883079056862992010-05-02T15:03:00.000-07:002010-05-02T15:12:19.461-07:00Sunday<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">a perfect day for a rest</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S934M9kFhFI/AAAAAAAACdc/g9SvYakytL4/s1600/david+lanz+cristoforis+dream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S934M9kFhFI/AAAAAAAACdc/g9SvYakytL4/s320/david+lanz+cristoforis+dream.jpg" tt="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you Mr. Lanz, your music is divine</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-1841788307905686299?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-12113662674091826352010-05-01T14:32:00.000-07:002010-05-02T14:57:22.041-07:00all dressed in white<div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: left; CLEAR: left; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em; cssfloat: left" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S93vquGVxwI/AAAAAAAACdY/Ffp5YQzM-KQ/s1600/Elyssa" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S93vquGVxwI/AAAAAAAACdY/Ffp5YQzM-KQ/s640/Elyssa" width="426" height="640" tt="true" /></a></div>Elyssa was baptized today by her dad. She has a book that helped her prepare ... it has scriptures to read and things to think about ... places to write her feelings. There is a place for her parents to write down how they felt and to record their testimony. Before I put pen to paper I wanted to type it out ... I'm much better at typing than writing!<br />My feelings of the day ... I started out feeling confident - knowing that we'd make it to the building on time, ready for the baptism without a glitch. My confidence turned to anticipation and eagerness when your dad was a little late arriving home ... but then relieved that we ended up getting to the building with plenty of time. I had remembered to have you bring the things you needed and I was prepared to do the things I was going to do. I felt happy that our friends had come and that even though Granny was sick she felt that it was important enough to be there. I felt the Spirit when Sister Greely talked about Baptism and the promises that we make when we are baptized. The words she said were true and I felt good inside. I felt happy that Nicki was willing to sing at your baptism, she really loves you and was so happy to be a part of this day with you. I felt so good inside when you went down into the water with Dad and he baptized you with the power of the Priesthood, and especially happy that we have a Dad that holds the priesthood and can bless us. I felt the Spirit while Sister Davis talked about the Holy Ghost and I hoped that you would remember the things that she said. I remember feeling especially grateful that she had talked about how the Holy Ghost never wears out and that the more you listen to Him the better He works in your life. While Dad laid his hands on your head and gave you the Gift of the Holy Ghost, I was interpreting the blessing so that Ann could understand and I felt the Spirit as I repeated the words that Dad said to you. He and Heavenly Father love you SO much and I could feel that ... I remember hoping that you would remember that especially - that your Heavenly Father loves you! I felt the Spirit as Sister Nguyen stood and welcomed you to Primary ... I know you are already used to seeing her every week but she really loves the Primary kids and I can feel her love for you! I was happy that Brother Simpson was there to welcome you into the ward ... I know that you know him as Chad and that he's a good friend of ours ... but I felt the love from the Bishop as he welcomed you to the ward! I felt the Spirit very strong, and it made me cry a little, while I said the closing prayer. I know you made a wonderful decision to be baptized and I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ will be a strength and a protection to you if you continue to choose the right. I love you and I want what's best for you always! <br /><br />This probably won't all fit on the few lines that are available in the book but now it's recorded and hopefully she will remember all the feelings <em>she</em> had on this special day.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-1211366267409182635?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-49803889329816733632010-04-30T14:57:00.000-07:002010-04-30T15:17:45.842-07:00365 blogging ...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S9tUZHs5Z4I/AAAAAAAACdI/BkqpOKLXSSQ/s1600/shawskies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S9tUZHs5Z4I/AAAAAAAACdI/BkqpOKLXSSQ/s400/shawskies.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">because these 2 <br />are going to miss</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S9tUaQKJJII/AAAAAAAACdM/efSR6_cjY6I/s1600/IMG_0914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S9tUaQKJJII/AAAAAAAACdM/efSR6_cjY6I/s400/IMG_0914.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">these 2 ... </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">and do not want to miss out on anything ... <a href="http://iwright.wordpress.com/2010/04/30/365-blogging/">we're in this together</a>!! </div><div style="text-align: center;">cross your fingers that i'll be able to keep up with her!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">ps. it is totally not fair of me to use these pictures ...</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nicki took and edited the one of us ... at Alicia's wedding!</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">and I took and didn't edit the one of them ... while we were camping!</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">camping is the only time when we are on level playing field in the 'looks' department ...</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">in real life, she's always beautiful and i'm her country bumpkin bff!! {wink}</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-4980388932981673363?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-63715545197994531242010-03-27T18:18:00.001-07:002010-04-30T14:46:54.137-07:00I CanDo and so can they!!<table style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FLOAT: left; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; CLEAR: left; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; cssfloat: left" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S9tNoFVGS3I/AAAAAAAACc4/JR4AWWldxQQ/s1600/IMG_7661.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S9tNoFVGS3I/AAAAAAAACc4/JR4AWWldxQQ/s400/IMG_7661.jpg" width="400" height="300" tt="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">We did it!!</td></tr></tbody></table><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: right; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 1em" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S9tN0MhAegI/AAAAAAAACc8/SiLYMRXPm7E/s1600/CanDo+results+Emily.bmp" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S9tN0MhAegI/AAAAAAAACc8/SiLYMRXPm7E/s400/CanDo+results+Emily.bmp" width="141" height="400" tt="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">personal best!!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><br />We kept a steady pace ... we started together ... Nicki and I stayed together the whole race!!<br /><br />It was so fun! <br /><br /><br />And if finishing is winning ... than we totally won this race!!<br /><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S9tN0pUNWvI/AAAAAAAACdA/DwSQ4Uge5X8/s1600/CanDo+results+all.bmp" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S9tN0pUNWvI/AAAAAAAACdA/DwSQ4Uge5X8/s640/CanDo+results+all.bmp" width="640" height="182" tt="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="tr-caption">We rocked!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"></div><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" class="tr-caption-container" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S9tNnCIXS2I/AAAAAAAACc0/CPIX1ATv2eo/s1600/IMG_7662.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__q622M1E-jg/S9tNnCIXS2I/AAAAAAAACc0/CPIX1ATv2eo/s640/IMG_7662.jpg" width="640" height="480" tt="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class="tr-caption">The Party (missing one non-runner hubby)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1603899306696482213-6371554519799453124?l=iamemilyshaw.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754572976093208405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603899306696482213.post-22629737510317483332010-03-23T16:13:00.000-07:002010-03-23T16:13:48.180-07:00thoughts and expectations ...<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">things i've been thinking a lot about lately ... </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><u>if i were a better mom ... i would</u>:</span><br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">+ work with Ammon on his letters/numbers regularly so that he could start to <em>really</em> read instead of 'read in his head' ...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">+ read with and to my children daily so that they would have a love of books and reading ...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">+ stay on top of the laundry situation at our house so that we wouldn't have to hunt for clean socks and underwear every morning ...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">+ shower the kids more regulary so that they would have an appreciation of cleanliness ...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">+ stick to the schedules and checklists and rules so that our lives would be more organized ... </span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">+ blog daily so that i would have a record - consistant record - of the goings on and challenges that we face</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">+ read my scriptures daily so that my knowledge of the scriptures would be more a part of my life ...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">+ go to bed earlier so that i could get up earlier and be prepared for the day ...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">+ exercise daily so that my body would be strong and lean - instead of weak and fat ... </span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">+ sing more primary songs so that the lessons that are taught in the words would play in my children's heads instead of my shouting ringing in their ears ... </span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">+ be more organized so that i could find things i need and be less cluttered ...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">+ sew and craft more so that my creative side could be more developed and i could beautify my home and life with my own 2 hands ... </span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">+ scrapbook again so that my pictures and words could be preserved ... (i guess blogging does this too ... but my scrapbooks have several pictures waiting to be scrapped!!)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">+ take Easton to the library or the park or the skate park while Ammon's in school so that he will remember how much fun we had when it was just the 2 of us at home ... </span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">+ vacuum more often ...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">+ have clean bathrooms ... </span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">+ sweep and mop the kitchen/dining room floors more often ... </span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">+ have birthday parties every year so that my kids would remember the fun we had ...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">+ be productive and proactive ...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">+ plan more effectively ... </span><br /><span style="font-family: