tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28259295371844817942024-03-05T15:03:17.495-05:00Ye Olde Sandwich ShoppeKnock on my door and ask me for coffee, and I will kindly inform you that, "Eeew! Coffee is gross! Tea is where it's at."
However, back in the 1940s and 50s, my home was known as the Travelers Inn & Coffee Shop--a little B&B for families and salesmen to stop in and spend the night on their travels.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.comBlogger608125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-88569210648586605472013-12-16T23:48:00.004-05:002013-12-16T23:52:19.170-05:00Dare to Deck the Halls: Paper Christmas Tree Advent Calendar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
At the beginning of December, I instagrammed a few photo of the making of our homemade paper Christmas tree Advent calendar.</div>
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Well, <a href="http://www.newlywoodwards.com/">Kim of Newlywoodwards</a> requested that I blog about the little paper trees and join the link up for her <a href="http://newlywoodwards.com/2013/12/dare-to-deck-the-halls-english-plaid-wool-throw-pillows.html">Dare to Deck the Halls blog party</a>. Since this was back in the beginning of December (practically a lifetime ago) it's a miracle that I even remembered! So, this is for you, Kim. :)</div>
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I bravely gave my kids lots of red, blue, and green paint while they were inside my house. I proceeded to hand them an assortment of Christmas cookie cutters, tp rolls, and corks with which to "stamp" a large quantity of white paper.</div>
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After a while, our process devolved into hand printing and finger painting. Possibly even taste testing.<br />
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Shocker.<br />
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Then I dumped my tiny hooligans in a bathtub and attacked our table, floor, and walls with soap and water. Victory was mine.<br />
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Once our prints were dry, we traced circles onto the paper using different size dinner plates. Later, after the wee ones were abed, I cut out the circles and cut each circle in half. Joseph would point out that you call this particular shape a "semi-circle". He knows things.<br />
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Then I hot glued (screw you, Elmers) my "semi-circles" into 25 rolled Christmas trees and topped them with white pom poms and some star and angel shapes cut out from cookie cutter stamps. Voila! Transformed kitchen table into Christmas Tree Forest!<br />
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Under each tree, I hid goodies for the munchkins. Mostly leftover Halloween candy, but I also included card games, popcorn, hot cocoa, and the crowning 25th tree treat:</div>
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Giant Christmas lollipops. Every kid needs one of those for breakfast on Christmas morning, right?<br />
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Now, ideally, I would have also included written activities under each tree. Love that idea. However, my schedule is ever changing and full of chaos, so it seemed unwise to write down fun activities that may or may not be practically achieved on any given day. Recipe for disastrous 3 year old disappointment! Instead, Mommy has magically come up with a "very special Advent activity" on the spot after checking under our tree each night. Whatever worked best at the time, particularly given the closeness of the holy grail that is bedtime. Examples include setting up our nativity set and discussing family, watching the Polar Express, baking cookies, reading Twas the Night Before Christmas, etc.<br />
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The trees have been a big hit with the kiddos and I love that they helped to make them. They get so excited to check under them after dinner each night!<br />
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I can't imagine why...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9p5r2Bclh_bKOS5IrjA2F_CS81mcu9wE4Jn561pXY1YGxMoJksayynMtYn9zzujhoaRY9NUra8uvknO_AqYXI1kUXD7DpO-7V2APKSRma0nSn4epvTnOlRdsBINHDzcO23chwacGrPQ/s1600/IMG_7672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9p5r2Bclh_bKOS5IrjA2F_CS81mcu9wE4Jn561pXY1YGxMoJksayynMtYn9zzujhoaRY9NUra8uvknO_AqYXI1kUXD7DpO-7V2APKSRma0nSn4epvTnOlRdsBINHDzcO23chwacGrPQ/s1600/IMG_7672.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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We brush our teeth <i>really well. </i>With extra care.<br />
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It has even led to amicable sharing. So heartwarming!<br />
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Of course, it has also led to tantrums by little 1.5 year old girls who want to look under all the trees RIGHT NOW and don't see why they have to wait or why their brother should get a turn. Drama queen.<br />
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Less heartwarming. More eye rolling.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-62781166491300219312013-10-09T16:07:00.000-04:002013-10-12T01:16:47.947-04:00Probably the Same Accident?In my excitement at having new-to-me historic photos in my hands, I typed up my last blog post in about 3 minutes flat before dashing out the door for library storytime. However, reflecting on the photos throughout the day, I started to think that I was probably looking at the <i>same</i> car accident, but from different angles. I mean, what are the chances that there were two separate wrecks right in front of (or <i>in</i>) our house in the 40s/50s? I know this is pre-interstate highway... but, really? It seems fairly obvious now, but like I said... Excited, cursory glances, Tiny People, dashing out the door, etc.<br />
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So, here we have the 1946 car accident:</div>
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The wreck of the car looks so completely horrifying that I tend to focus on that when I look at the picture. However, the caption for this photo from a newspaper article includes the following:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px;">Those who think traveling on Interstate 81 today is hazardous can't remember what it was like on old U.S. 11 in the days before the federal interstate highway system was created. Heavy trucks moving alongside passenger vehicles on a three-lane road resulted in more than 30 deaths per year in our [our] county alone.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px;"><b>This wreck, which occurred in [our] town in about 1946 involved a car and a tractor-trailer. </b>The buildings in the background were on the the side of the main road across from the present day car wash.</span></div>
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You can see the "NOVICK" on the back of the tractor-trailer behind the group of men milling about in the first photo. If you focus on the angle of the tractor trailer, it looks like it is most likely sitting in the middle of where my front porch should be. The angle and size of the truck look like they match up with the tractor-trailer in my newly acquired photo of the accident:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPEsKoY7hyRDNMDTKZDpacIcJ2YIUf6vwN7L-fgOWBrf8aFkn1Rlz5tH-ZHey5CP7VG8zzF9j5-YyUW8VtYnUMcvDCyGF15bQj2iR1galgJ14vMtRLoPII8FEv-HHpRBCEoyJdTuJoO0/s640/IMG_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPEsKoY7hyRDNMDTKZDpacIcJ2YIUf6vwN7L-fgOWBrf8aFkn1Rlz5tH-ZHey5CP7VG8zzF9j5-YyUW8VtYnUMcvDCyGF15bQj2iR1galgJ14vMtRLoPII8FEv-HHpRBCEoyJdTuJoO0/s640/IMG_0002.jpg" width="522" /></a></div>
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Additionally, the damage done to the Nails Curio & Camera shop in the 1946 accident looks like it matches up with the damage you can see after the vehicles were removed.</div>
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Then, there's the fact that you can see a "Nails Curio" sign on my front porch after the vehicles were cleared away. Focusing on the signs for the Traveler's Inn, I didn't notice it at first. But you can see it in both the picture above and below. </div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqny8lhin2AEowEuGtzEnjvDGOFE-nBrTwh-zvWZjjulCgGbAyeGj4dj5KBhRqP7ge7iRZRvlZydwfwZd03MKeXu_gYd103MMCVeAyyI6KAXE3Ci3AhmBVxP-_bp-9d_7m0o-dk02JoP8/s640/IMG_0001.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Side note: My backyard used to have giant trees. Now it has none.</span></div>
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True, in the 1946 picture, the "Nails Curio" sign is intact and had neon lighting, but they could have had a sign on either side of the building. I'm thinking that the black square hanging from the awning in the middle of the edge of the right side of this picture...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jAftrSJH-kZKaLlN2BgFAryrWBpWpSyKJf_obIdZQ8EH88PdspUnKBMlPfUf6bX8w1jNK1WeJDNVqrNptuJkwag5SS_t03nidejj211WCLQeznP9Kt_ulN2cWj-NPcPhS8tr6dcAXjA/s640/IMG_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="491" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jAftrSJH-kZKaLlN2BgFAryrWBpWpSyKJf_obIdZQ8EH88PdspUnKBMlPfUf6bX8w1jNK1WeJDNVqrNptuJkwag5SS_t03nidejj211WCLQeznP9Kt_ulN2cWj-NPcPhS8tr6dcAXjA/s640/IMG_0003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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...is this Nails Curio sign hanging above the wrecked car.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnBYiOGPopJj1xaTGGygJwBLPWu_PvjuIxHSctVsbwIyd4V3AGyVTXrAV6ZChCoZcryTnAlSoAXFeDBhW2lKAsdvXJDEi2GW18Tkwp7hejs-MuhGWN1Z3jKF2DUGZbwt6LXFmb6SKO1E/s640/Scan-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnBYiOGPopJj1xaTGGygJwBLPWu_PvjuIxHSctVsbwIyd4V3AGyVTXrAV6ZChCoZcryTnAlSoAXFeDBhW2lKAsdvXJDEi2GW18Tkwp7hejs-MuhGWN1Z3jKF2DUGZbwt6LXFmb6SKO1E/s640/Scan-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anyways, those are my speculations. Sorry for obsessing, I'm sure you guys are bored stiff. What do you think? Same accident?</div>
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At least it gives me a starting point for the microfiche. I can look at newspapers from my town in 1946. And since the trees in the background all have full leaves, I can focus on late spring through early fall. I wanted to look at microfiche at the library after storytime today, but something told me Joseph and Juliana wouldn't sit around like patient angels while I dug into old newspapers... Ahhh! Nightmare!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-50313702726465690332013-10-08T23:30:00.001-04:002013-10-10T14:31:15.780-04:00That Time A Truck Crashed Into My House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">Note: This post somehow got deleted. I'm just putting it back up. Sorry if it reappears in your reader!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvG46J1Yk5kbGOrvSfQg7e7FNyKtOW1GWYTiT0cgC1habnLNPSrBxLc9Sgs0QB8nS82Ol1ztt2Cd009WBSEC8f4MULcIT95Ajbz-bkPkXVHLnrrbfoOn5pPJktuKeLXUvAWy7U-130Ks/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvG46J1Yk5kbGOrvSfQg7e7FNyKtOW1GWYTiT0cgC1habnLNPSrBxLc9Sgs0QB8nS82Ol1ztt2Cd009WBSEC8f4MULcIT95Ajbz-bkPkXVHLnrrbfoOn5pPJktuKeLXUvAWy7U-130Ks/s640/IMG_0002.jpg" width="522" /></a></div>
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HOW CRAZY IS THAT?!?!?!?!??!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lhFbot6e7-Mp4MsmQbhDz88mUn8zG2VdCIEi4OFNS8fylkRkAIJUXcCnAk-btxNhRoeTnRX_V__-n_SRfBLM53jJADcXXePYyblIbTF4iSeYl1sMQd3awgnyGtqLycK07TFJs8zF9dk/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lhFbot6e7-Mp4MsmQbhDz88mUn8zG2VdCIEi4OFNS8fylkRkAIJUXcCnAk-btxNhRoeTnRX_V__-n_SRfBLM53jJADcXXePYyblIbTF4iSeYl1sMQd3awgnyGtqLycK07TFJs8zF9dk/s640/IMG_0001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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fORTUNATELY, THIS OCCURRED BACK IN THE 40s/50s. I would not be at all excited if this happened while we lived here. (Please, God, let's skip that lovely adventure. Amen.)<br />
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My source wasn't sure exactly when this happened, but you can bet there was probably a newspaper article on it and you can bet I am on my way to the library to look through the archives for said newspaper article.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3TNnofGIBEhyphenhyphenQqg-OyhDccGjQNjBCVjc6FAx36l9aQ_sfznUgPO_kwrJ30B9EJt3s7bdHXTXVSfXwXq1apaagw4VNMjTiD_icLd1myWH2V4AC-2Sj1ogq9qikN63m_Fx8m1HRaUaPI4/s1600/IMG_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3TNnofGIBEhyphenhyphenQqg-OyhDccGjQNjBCVjc6FAx36l9aQ_sfznUgPO_kwrJ30B9EJt3s7bdHXTXVSfXwXq1apaagw4VNMjTiD_icLd1myWH2V4AC-2Sj1ogq9qikN63m_Fx8m1HRaUaPI4/s640/IMG_0003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Oh, fine. You got me. I'm really on my way to the library to see a fire truck with my kids. We do love our storytime... But <i>THEN! </i>Serious. Historical. Research. (Because my kids will so sit through that...)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDRcu3bSFd2Xbfgqz4RhOrPb8QnfnS0f4afObbpWU5j_s9nGXUFGF_Iky4Gc97seY7d9ZPLzBaSMzglHfyhy-GfsezaR6ywF2MsAKAPO8BKUx0na728JHADMt6QS154tsjEeh3hP2W9o/s1600/IMG_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDRcu3bSFd2Xbfgqz4RhOrPb8QnfnS0f4afObbpWU5j_s9nGXUFGF_Iky4Gc97seY7d9ZPLzBaSMzglHfyhy-GfsezaR6ywF2MsAKAPO8BKUx0na728JHADMt6QS154tsjEeh3hP2W9o/s640/IMG_0004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Not gonna lie, it's a little scary to think about a truck crashing into the front of my house. But the pictures are SO COOL! I mean, seriously?! How many people have pictures like this of their home?!</div>
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When Jeannie (Bless her!) at the town office told me she had pictures of a car accident in front of my house, I thought for sure she was talking about this photo of a <a href="http://yeoldesandwichshoppeva.blogspot.com/2011/02/1946-car-accident-sheds-some-light.html">1946 accident</a> that I unearthed 2 years ago:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnBYiOGPopJj1xaTGGygJwBLPWu_PvjuIxHSctVsbwIyd4V3AGyVTXrAV6ZChCoZcryTnAlSoAXFeDBhW2lKAsdvXJDEi2GW18Tkwp7hejs-MuhGWN1Z3jKF2DUGZbwt6LXFmb6SKO1E/s640/Scan-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnBYiOGPopJj1xaTGGygJwBLPWu_PvjuIxHSctVsbwIyd4V3AGyVTXrAV6ZChCoZcryTnAlSoAXFeDBhW2lKAsdvXJDEi2GW18Tkwp7hejs-MuhGWN1Z3jKF2DUGZbwt6LXFmb6SKO1E/s640/Scan-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I was so freaking excited when I realized she had photos of a completely different accident. Not that I'm happy about the actual accidents. especially since we're talking pre-airbags. But, still... <i>so excited.</i> I'm a bad person. I've accepted it. You can just see the sign for the Traveler's Inn and Coffee Shop in the background of the 1946 crash. Back then, I was so disappointed that I couldn't make out all of the words on the lower sign. Now? Problem solved.</div>
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"Traveler's Inn"</div>
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"Coffee Shop"</div>
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"Home Cooked Meals"</div>
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I'll be recreating those signs for the inside of the Sandwich Shoppe when we get around to finishing it. For sure!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-3627814411793326732013-10-08T23:30:00.000-04:002013-10-09T02:04:48.330-04:00Blogger Protective ServicesIf this blog were my kid, Child Protective Services would have taken him away from me back in May. I mean, 5 months of blog neglect is just criminal.<br />
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Sure, I have plenty of excuses:<br />
<ul>
<li>My life is ruled by Tiny People who apparently need my attention, or something?</li>
<li>Home DIY projects... Ha! What are those?</li>
<li>My photography blog is an attention whore. </li>
<li>I like sleep. I'm told it's good for me.</li>
</ul>
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But it all comes down to an Epic Fail on my part. I am a Terrible Inconsistent Blog Parent.<br />
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So, I'm going to attempt to fix things up around here. You definitely won't get a post a day from me. That's just crazy talk. However, I'm going to try to show my poor neglected blog some attention.<br />
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Fortunately, I have gathered a lot of information about the house in the last few months, not the least of which includes:<br />
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<li>new photos of the house exterior in the 50s</li>
<li>a photo of the inside of the Sandwich Shoppe when it was in operation</li>
<li>the epic Civil War love story of the property deed holders in the 1860s</li>
</ul>
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Honestly, I'm so excited about the photos, I would share them with you this second... but my internet is being wonky and won't upload the files. Womp womp.</div>
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So, now that I have reassured you of my continued existence... Stay tuned!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-37130486006542723172013-05-07T12:51:00.001-04:002013-05-07T15:47:25.618-04:00Joseph is 3. Juliana is 1. Somebody hold me!Joseph turned 3 last month. Juliana is turning 1 today. I keep tearing up while watching them play together. Crying actually. Really it's quite absurd.<br />
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It's just... I didn't give them permission to grow up so fast! I just want to sit and snuggle them as much as possible. They want to go play. Snuggling is LAME, Mom! Well, too freaking bad. We are snuggling, damn it!<br />
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I had the chance to take portraits of them together when they were rested and happy and, if you can believe it, <i>cooperative</i>. I may have been carrying fruit snacks on my person for bribery and there may have been a PEZ dispenser attached to the top of my camera. It was kind of the greatest thing ever. Just sayin'.</div>
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I love how they all turned out, but these ones really make my heart hurt:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ddYLp0kNVSY/UYkVpfVdrTI/AAAAAAAAF00/ke-WIH_B7Fo/s1600/IMG_1372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ddYLp0kNVSY/UYkVpfVdrTI/AAAAAAAAF00/ke-WIH_B7Fo/s640/IMG_1372.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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"Ew! Get him off of me!"</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5ggUHZtOI4g/UYkV6-B7Q7I/AAAAAAAAF4E/3NQzJGkDsjc/s1600/IMG_1537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5ggUHZtOI4g/UYkV6-B7Q7I/AAAAAAAAF4E/3NQzJGkDsjc/s640/IMG_1537.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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"I want to run, too!"</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KDVy0-VmrxE/UYkVwSt33fI/AAAAAAAAF2A/xvJ3Lsk0In0/s1600/IMG_1447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KDVy0-VmrxE/UYkVwSt33fI/AAAAAAAAF2A/xvJ3Lsk0In0/s640/IMG_1447.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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"Mommy, I'm so handsome!"</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRtmEW7XADU/UYkV15Zh0VI/AAAAAAAAF3E/x2u33tZzWvs/s1600/IMG_1495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRtmEW7XADU/UYkV15Zh0VI/AAAAAAAAF3E/x2u33tZzWvs/s640/IMG_1495.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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She makes this face all the time when she's up to no good:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nVOwl8If22E/UYkV0RN-rdI/AAAAAAAAF2s/p633xfUSVtw/s1600/IMG_1472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nVOwl8If22E/UYkV0RN-rdI/AAAAAAAAF2s/p633xfUSVtw/s640/IMG_1472.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
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We call this one, "The Uncle Rob".</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bcxZlXe_QTA/UYkVquYQpsI/AAAAAAAAF1E/Yt4kwXN6J4Q/s1600/IMG_1392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bcxZlXe_QTA/UYkVquYQpsI/AAAAAAAAF1E/Yt4kwXN6J4Q/s640/IMG_1392.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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My baby girl's pigtails.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jPpnQob0rog/UYkV9lu5JFI/AAAAAAAAF4g/frQ5SIURbrY/s1600/IMG_1566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jPpnQob0rog/UYkV9lu5JFI/AAAAAAAAF4g/frQ5SIURbrY/s640/IMG_1566.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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She makes this face whenever she's thinking about grabbing something off the ground for a taste test.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_wqoOgYPNU/UYkV8NsoCpI/AAAAAAAAF4U/DxYmo--8x78/s1600/IMG_1546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_wqoOgYPNU/UYkV8NsoCpI/AAAAAAAAF4U/DxYmo--8x78/s640/IMG_1546.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The hat kills me. Special thanks to my sister Kate for "losing Auntie points" to get Joseph this outfit for his birthday.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B_kKdW8v1wo/UYkV81oc89I/AAAAAAAAF4c/UxzMr_jYrLg/s1600/IMG_1560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B_kKdW8v1wo/UYkV81oc89I/AAAAAAAAF4c/UxzMr_jYrLg/s640/IMG_1560.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Best of all, I'm so glad my kids like each other. They are so sweet when they play together.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hdr1OVUXBwI/UYkV5N6DsOI/AAAAAAAAF3o/o5f2ByEv8Fs/s1600/IMG_1523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hdr1OVUXBwI/UYkV5N6DsOI/AAAAAAAAF3o/o5f2ByEv8Fs/s640/IMG_1523.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I have to go get a tissue now, but you can see the rest <a href="http://www.carolinemeyersphotography.com/blog/josephjuliana-glassbridgedowntownroanoke">here</a>.</div>
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I need a hug.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-49115846354789315332013-03-25T09:00:00.000-04:002013-03-25T15:49:08.784-04:00Canon!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We got a new toy!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7vKFhMxoyiY/UUZIPeidvmI/AAAAAAAAKEA/aKVd_pBBuhA/s1600/IMG_6234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7vKFhMxoyiY/UUZIPeidvmI/AAAAAAAAKEA/aKVd_pBBuhA/s640/IMG_6234.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Stephen surprised me with a nifty bag to put it in!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69QWNfa7SR87qtDj6XqDQAykHVOKPo1Wdf86Nh7x6frpNXoUfhIVJy-LalkMDbo2f-rAr-WtVdoo_oumRwSg5RiYI4rgbW5c4O398bNwfq5omaXLFNVx-Gl0hEqWti3DOp7dYTzhiKU0/s1600/IMG_6236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69QWNfa7SR87qtDj6XqDQAykHVOKPo1Wdf86Nh7x6frpNXoUfhIVJy-LalkMDbo2f-rAr-WtVdoo_oumRwSg5RiYI4rgbW5c4O398bNwfq5omaXLFNVx-Gl0hEqWti3DOp7dYTzhiKU0/s640/IMG_6236.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I luf him. Now, I can carry around my gear at weddings. All professional-like.<br />
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It takes purty pictures.<br />
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Even if my subjects won't take photography seriously. Harumph.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-52399056689280914552013-03-21T00:28:00.003-04:002013-03-21T10:11:00.980-04:00Master Bath, Zombies, & Bath Box Painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Back when Joseph was about <i>2 months old</i>, Stephen somehow convinced me to let him put a <a href="http://yeoldesandwichshoppeva.blogspot.com/search/label/Addition">second story master bathroom addition</a> onto the house. We managed to build it and, thankfully, it never fell over.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2PCKouEiIAaxkZHQzFENPdoYYRYXb5YNZS7yfoAMAQa3MqEoF2QnzcBaS_0EMIPL_SN9bkszMjirG1wmfWjJqmxRJsHQcbDCs9HvOWnKkc1OMc5Sey9uUlYEWUKK5L58RGQursvggUI/s640/IMG_0052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2PCKouEiIAaxkZHQzFENPdoYYRYXb5YNZS7yfoAMAQa3MqEoF2QnzcBaS_0EMIPL_SN9bkszMjirG1wmfWjJqmxRJsHQcbDCs9HvOWnKkc1OMc5Sey9uUlYEWUKK5L58RGQursvggUI/s640/IMG_0052.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then we got distracted, tore down other walls, had a second baby, and generally lost our minds. The addition morphed into a storage closet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoT2gRY03ziztYyMx1sWRCupOkDlcIc80Rv0OCiSdt81QrfAqKuHJZjibSbZ4tFznPO-MmNUO48W3HAiiev8JfXU3e4AquNODYaAeyhILfglT3lm1XYoCnCZ-PWGXua5xXz3QAN_GLs4E/s640/IMG_0049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoT2gRY03ziztYyMx1sWRCupOkDlcIc80Rv0OCiSdt81QrfAqKuHJZjibSbZ4tFznPO-MmNUO48W3HAiiev8JfXU3e4AquNODYaAeyhILfglT3lm1XYoCnCZ-PWGXua5xXz3QAN_GLs4E/s640/IMG_0049.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Now that Joseph is about to turn 3 (let's not dwell on that fact...), we find that we don't really enjoy stepping on dinosaurs when we are taking a shower. We'd like our own bathroom, thank you very much.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqX28k-P21f10HTCwYrRqNCvRkpyLkwyHsh_5dq-y9VQMF6MMue62S41FS7WJJFgQdkZG-zSi_rDHv9UTveP3q4kimLT8ctjLPVE3nX2dq_jyM9rlsrcwLu6yVDpDIPQDxe1QEg9SXISM/s1600/IMG_6460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqX28k-P21f10HTCwYrRqNCvRkpyLkwyHsh_5dq-y9VQMF6MMue62S41FS7WJJFgQdkZG-zSi_rDHv9UTveP3q4kimLT8ctjLPVE3nX2dq_jyM9rlsrcwLu6yVDpDIPQDxe1QEg9SXISM/s640/IMG_6460.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Stephen has really been pushing this project lately. Something about how having a working bathroom 20 feet closer to his computer desk would result in considerably less zombie-related fatalities caused by an unavoidable need to pee in the middle of a Day Z game with his friends???<br />
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I did not make that up. He seriously cited that as a reason. Seriously.<br />
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Absurd man. I rolled my eyes so violently that I think I strained them.<br />
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So we bought a tub & toilet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYTc2SijG-5v9-8xDhOnkxWJ9mcBbPrHQBsPwmkTBpEou45nXh0K1YK2WkbjNLzbNfymTogJy7fJJE1vvBfokIqgyxyeM237dJUbFHaRKl9SkpQH4KAS9oIlQuCbxZyDX_oNt3WkSz1Q/s1600/IMG_6463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYTc2SijG-5v9-8xDhOnkxWJ9mcBbPrHQBsPwmkTBpEou45nXh0K1YK2WkbjNLzbNfymTogJy7fJJE1vvBfokIqgyxyeM237dJUbFHaRKl9SkpQH4KAS9oIlQuCbxZyDX_oNt3WkSz1Q/s400/IMG_6463.JPG" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGHoJyLrykaoqDFz5LhyphenhyphenK-Py8nR58ceIygleezFR1kXgKh9D9Xx4_16_jvMib7HaL__GYTnE-qDYiksjvmNWOB87Bv-Qya-Z8S70HW7hcHpdj2_KcJuCcPPtteaopyP-dSOYUSggkqNY/s1600/IMG_6462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGHoJyLrykaoqDFz5LhyphenhyphenK-Py8nR58ceIygleezFR1kXgKh9D9Xx4_16_jvMib7HaL__GYTnE-qDYiksjvmNWOB87Bv-Qya-Z8S70HW7hcHpdj2_KcJuCcPPtteaopyP-dSOYUSggkqNY/s400/IMG_6462.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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The room is now wired and insulated.<br />
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We have Pex water lines and holes for drains. Look! The pink downstairs bathroom!<br />
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Stephen is currently focused on installing the rest of the PVC so we can move onto tiling and drywall. Meanwhile, his son is focused on creating "tunnels" for his electronic bug to run through.<br />
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We are making progress. We still have lots of projects to finish (i.e. the living room), but the upstairs is the warmest part of the house right now, so that's where we are spending all of our time. We've bought tile and are discussing vanity and shelving preferences (more on that later).<br />
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In the meantime, Joseph is certainly profiting in the fort business.<br />
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The nice thing about giant bathtubs is that they come in GIANT BOXES! I love cardboard in winter. I really, really do.<br />
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I gave him a mini roller and some paint and let him go to town.<br />
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The whole time I was thinking (in my inner Mr. Burns voice), "Yes, yes, learn how to paint with a roller. Believe that it is fun. Then you can be Mommy's <strike>slave labor</strike> big helper whenever she wants to paint a wall." Then I cackled evilly in my head and tapped my fingers together.<br />
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At one point, he handed me the roller and told me how to spell his name.<br />
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Then he made his own "O" and I got all choked up with pride.<br />
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Then he got paint on my bedroom door and I got over my pride. Huzzah for diaper wipes!<br />
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When he got bored with the roller, I gave him some bubble wrap.<br />
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Cardboard and bubble wrap, how do I love thee?<br />
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When interest in bubble wrap started to fade, I sent him inside the giant box.<br />
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We painted, "No girls allowed!" to keep Juliana out. Yeah, because that's likely to happen...<br />
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Again, I'm thinking, "Yes, yes. Learn how to paint the ceiling. I have a whole ceiling in the living room for you to paint!" Then I remembered that would require a ladder and, consequently, about a 12 year wait. Then I was sad because that means <i>I</i> still have to do it. Shucks.<br />
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All told, he was occupied for the entirety of his baby sister's 2 hour morning nap. Winning!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-77758144462760035062013-03-17T21:42:00.001-04:002013-03-17T23:41:28.147-04:00Happy (Snowy?) St. Paddy's!Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!<br />
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It's snowing outside. A lot. It's not sticking to the roads, but everything else is fair game. We've already got about an inch. Stephen, lover of all things snow-related and manly builder of igloos, just looked out the window and wailed, "WHY IS IT SNOWING?!?! I wasn't prepared for this! We are halfway through March for crying out loud!!!"<br />
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To which I (quite reasonably) responded, "<i style="font-weight: bold;">Who are you and what have you done with my husband?!</i>" Of course, I said this while frantically searching my vicinity for a weapon with which to defend myself and my baby because the man standing before me who <i>looked</i> like my husband quite obviously was <i>not</i> my husband. My husband had clearly been kidnapped by Pod People. They must have replaced him with a robot lookalike while I was busy cooking dinner!<br />
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Not cool, Pod People, not cool! It's St. Patrick's Day--the holiday I associate with a he-finally-kissed-me glow coupled with a he-put-a-ring-on-it glow... So, like, I'm always super happy today or some such nonsense. In other words, return my husband this instant!! Please?!<br />
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Oh, fine you can keep him. I will just enjoy the rest of my St. Patty's Festivities with the kids.<br />
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Leprechaun foot & hand prints and shamrock paint. Bahahaha.</div>
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Juliana and I made Guinness stew, garlic mashed potatoes, wheat rolls, and Irish soda bread.<br />
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Juliana really did "help" make all of the above delectable Irish dishes. We tried hip-carrying with the Ergo and discovered that it's perfect for cooking! It enables her to see everything that's going on and hold things for me while making it possible for me to keep her away from fun baby things like knives and ovens and stove tops.<br />
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You know what else the hip-carry is perfect for? DANCING! Lots of jig music and spinning and baby giggling :). Love me some<a href="http://celticmusicpodcast.com/"> Irish & Celtic Music Podcasts from Marc Gunn</a>, but I am particularly enjoying <a href="http://www.gaelicstorm.com/">Gaelic Storm</a> lately.<br />
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Did you know they were the steerage band performing "An Irish Party in Third Class" in the movie <i>Titanic</i>? Way better than that "my heart will go on" crap. My current favorite by them right now is Johnny Tarr:<br />
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It's been stuck in my head all day.<br />
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Combined with Flogging Molly blasting down from the upstairs where a certain (maybe real?) husband is installing plumbing in the Master Bath, today's just about perfect. But more on that later... For now, I hope your St. Paddy's day was as wonderful and musical and relaxed as mine!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-3916433089767482132013-03-07T00:19:00.001-05:002013-03-07T01:06:43.276-05:00Igloo-ologists<div>
We are igloo-ologists.<br />
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In the unlikely event that you are confused--igloo-ologists build igloos every time there is enough snow to do so. They can't help themselves. They are snow addicts. No, not <i>that</i> snow. Fluffy snow. Of the snowflake variety.</div>
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The last time we had enough snow to build an igloo, I was six months pregnant with Joseph.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">10 minutes long. Skip around.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">And 90 gajillion points to the first person not related to me who can identify the last song. you're cool. let's be friends.</span></div>
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Yes, I am six months along in the above video. Yes, I am serious. No, you don't have to yell at me. It's been taken care of. Joseph was born with a love for snow, so it was completely worth it. End of discussion.<br />
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So, anyways, it's been over three years without a snow big enough for igloo building. Read: Addict withdrawal. With the end of winter nearing, Stephen was starting to despair. His son NEEDED an igloo, <i>people!</i><br />
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Then along came Winter Storm Saturn. Ta-da!</div>
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Woot, woot! We were smack dab in the 12-18" range!! :) :) :) That much snow + Stephen = igloo = HAPPYHAPPYJOYJOY. No way was that man going to work today. He had very. important. things. to do with his son.</div>
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We put our 16" to good use. Joseph spent the <i>entire day</i> outside. No joke. Skipped naptime and everything. It's how we know the milkman has no claim on the kid. Definitely Stephen's son. Has the snow addict gene.</div>
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We started our morning with waffles, snow plow watching, and snow paint (elmer's glue + shaving cream).</div>
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Had to start the morning off flexing our snow muscles with something. Plus, we needed an occupation while we waited for Daddy to wake up so we could go OUTSIDE!</div>
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As soon as Daddy woke up, we got right to igloo building. Here is Joseph "helping" by using his substantial weight to pack the snow into our <i>Igloo</i> cooler.</div>
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Igloos take time. You really have to commit. It's a 4-5 hour process that involves coolers, shovels, saws, a very long nap taken by a 10 month old, and hide & seek with a son who only ever hides inside the igloo walls, but is <i>very hard</i> to locate.</div>
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However, since building an igloo <i>just isn't enough</i> when surrounded by such glorious bounty, we also set up a snow cone bar.</div>
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Dug a maze trail through the backyard that led to "Snow Mountain" and scaled it. (Read: A place on the opposite end of the yard where you can tell your toddler to go "climb" when you need him to not knock over your igloo walls in their infancy.)</div>
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Took up residency in our new home.</div>
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Complete with fab light fixtures:</div>
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And very, very chic seating.</div>
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After dinner, we Skyped family and friends from inside our new home while sipping hot cocoa and declaring we'd moved to the North Pole (where one has easy access to technology).</div>
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Made and happily devoured <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/snow-day-treat-how-to-make-map-106130">maple syrup snow taffy</a> for desert at dusk.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nHmt2IZGD3w/UTfpunaAvxI/AAAAAAAAJNM/RFLam0fppDM/s727/IMG_1624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nHmt2IZGD3w/UTfpunaAvxI/AAAAAAAAJNM/RFLam0fppDM/s640/IMG_1624.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Went baby sledding just past dusk.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IVk5QB8Kd3c/UTfp2dUmWnI/AAAAAAAAJOU/-Soi_OZWNv8/w557-h417-o-k/IMG_1633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IVk5QB8Kd3c/UTfp2dUmWnI/AAAAAAAAJOU/-Soi_OZWNv8/w557-h417-o-k/IMG_1633.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Built a carrot-nosed snow mommy and snow baby in the dark.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l4W0CtAKVW0/UTgFhZGHVTI/AAAAAAAAJPk/cV7K-Sz_ilo/w563-h315-o-k/2013-03-06_19-38-36_796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l4W0CtAKVW0/UTgFhZGHVTI/AAAAAAAAJPk/cV7K-Sz_ilo/w563-h315-o-k/2013-03-06_19-38-36_796.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And then climbed back inside the igloo.</div>
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Awesome day. Super fun. Strangely tired. Good Ni----ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.</div>
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This post is comprised of phone and camcorder pictures. Sorry. My camera is broke-ed-ed-ed. We are working on getting it fixed.<br />
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:(<br />
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The sad face didn't fully convey my anguish...<br />
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Hysterical wailing. Hair pulling. Teeth gnashing.<br />
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There. More accurate.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-70671863481088810512013-02-24T01:05:00.001-05:002013-02-24T02:29:11.562-05:00The Climax<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was having one of my "Worst Mother EVER" days. Everything resulted in screaming and crying. For the kids, too.</div>
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Let Joseph help "wash" the dishes? Turn to load dishwasher and he sprays about a gallon of water inside one of the kitchen cabinets. ON PURPOSE.</div>
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Tried to take Juliana's 9 month photos about 2 weeks late? BIG FAT TEARS.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MwjOjJu9hnZDnP-U069-wWxdEbKIFsCZRvwCtZuBWgZbDws58kgb6UHwR2Ld1epL6w7Ecl9hYbMjw-EO4jVrsRTi9zVPJaol1TIxynvEETGkmwjI0T3-JyabN9A03Ib9xP9tiQbZ7XI/s1600/IMG_3555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MwjOjJu9hnZDnP-U069-wWxdEbKIFsCZRvwCtZuBWgZbDws58kgb6UHwR2Ld1epL6w7Ecl9hYbMjw-EO4jVrsRTi9zVPJaol1TIxynvEETGkmwjI0T3-JyabN9A03Ib9xP9tiQbZ7XI/s640/IMG_3555.JPG" width="425" /></a></div>
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And so on. You get the idea.</div>
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Please understand - I love my children. I am blessed to stay home with my children, but... On such days, when I feel my internal self morphing into the "Crabby B**ch Monster Mommy From Hell" and have to fight the urge to strangle said loved children, we leave the house.</div>
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You can't strangle your children in public. It's frowned upon. I hear they even arrest people for that.</div>
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SO. I drop everything. I put the children in the double stroller. I go for a walk. I chant, "Zen Mother, Zen Mother, Zen Mother!!!!" while wiggling my fingers in front of my face. The "Zen Mother" Fingers have magical powers. Probably.</div>
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On cold days, we usually end up at the library. The beautiful, heavenly library. Where they have toys and books that keep small children happy and occupied. Most importantly, they have an entire room dedicated to town-related history. If it were possible to have an affair with a room, I'd jump that room's bones in a heartbeat. I love it with the fiery passion of a thousand burning suns. I am pretty sure that room is actually the TARDIS in disguise and we <i>all</i> know that makes it <i>the.greatest.thing.ever</i>. Even better--because the librarians know me, they let me take things out of that room to read in the children's area so I can responsibly monitor my <strike>demon-spawn</strike> children.</div>
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On this particular cranky day, I finally ran out of World War II newspaper clippings to thumb through. So, I started on the yearbooks.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cJlXsIu2SMI/USl_DEP6iBI/AAAAAAAAIwE/f5daBWnSgiE/s677/2013-02-19_14-22-07_250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cJlXsIu2SMI/USl_DEP6iBI/AAAAAAAAIwE/f5daBWnSgiE/s640/2013-02-19_14-22-07_250.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>
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Whoops. Sometimes babies make it hard to take phone pictures. Shoo bad baby! Mommy is grumpy.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xVG1T9VO5ns/USl_DBgwpyI/AAAAAAAAIwE/EGyUwqwpfvg/s400/2013-02-19_14-21-47_131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xVG1T9VO5ns/USl_DBgwpyI/AAAAAAAAIwE/EGyUwqwpfvg/s640/2013-02-19_14-21-47_131.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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You probably think I'm crazy, but looking through old primary source texts makes me happy. Try to remember I was a high school history teacher for a whole year before the arrival of the <strike>demon spawn</strike> little people.</div>
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So, yes, primary source documents rank right up there with chocolate for me. Primarily because of little gems like these:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RKxI-Sj4RfI/USl_DE7m5WI/AAAAAAAAIwE/ti0EIa1GdGU/s1061/2013-02-19_14-26-12_731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RKxI-Sj4RfI/USl_DE7m5WI/AAAAAAAAIwE/ti0EIa1GdGU/s640/2013-02-19_14-26-12_731.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I mean, seriously, who knew my town could be home to both a Chinchilla Farm AND a Snake & Monkey Farm in 1953. Read: sweat-pant-clad, greasy ponytailed Caroline sprawled on the library floor suppressing fits of giggles so the librarians won't take away her precious primary sources. Joseph probably thought I was having a fit of apoplexy. Except that he's two and doesn't even know what apoplexy is.</div>
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And then I came across this--the real reason I am going to elope to Bermuda with the library's special room some day:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U-vWTKkO_Ns/USl_DB_D7NI/AAAAAAAAIwE/lbSVVSpe0nw/s320/2013-02-19_14-22-19_436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U-vWTKkO_Ns/USl_DB_D7NI/AAAAAAAAIwE/lbSVVSpe0nw/s640/2013-02-19_14-22-19_436.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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Advertising for my house. Right below the 1953 first grade class. True, I already have this picture, but STILL!!?!?!!!!!</div>
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div>
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Need more yearbooks.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-18K1QynYIgk/USl_DBN2dMI/AAAAAAAAIwE/OVCh3P4PQ1g/s320/2013-02-19_14-02-50_552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-18K1QynYIgk/USl_DBN2dMI/AAAAAAAAIwE/OVCh3P4PQ1g/s640/2013-02-19_14-02-50_552.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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This is the last year the Traveler's Inn & Coffee shop was in business. And there it is. Right on the last page. :) :) :)</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kBWUt75Nozo/USl_DPynI5I/AAAAAAAAIwE/bbSw17oCf1A/s320/2013-02-19_14-03-02_338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kBWUt75Nozo/USl_DPynI5I/AAAAAAAAIwE/bbSw17oCf1A/s640/2013-02-19_14-03-02_338.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Historical house research: chicken soup for the Crabby B**tch Monster Mommy Soul.</div>
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You should try it sometime. Works wonders.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-59809023929933341962013-02-14T09:36:00.002-05:002013-02-14T09:45:04.725-05:00Hey Girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Won't you...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4u7BUg5z9UIb5-DzneEeMP8l_ywKo75xHA8fqANmldWO54gqu_lEufN9HX7aGOCubXc3EldwNLSS192xOScA3NxrwQ3UP0qzrDYiTM-DEPC5V6D-xzExDq4iLNnUkf9AI8jpLPinWb6A/s1600/Fullscreen+capture+2142013+84347+AM.bmp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4u7BUg5z9UIb5-DzneEeMP8l_ywKo75xHA8fqANmldWO54gqu_lEufN9HX7aGOCubXc3EldwNLSS192xOScA3NxrwQ3UP0qzrDYiTM-DEPC5V6D-xzExDq4iLNnUkf9AI8jpLPinWb6A/s640/Fullscreen+capture+2142013+84347+AM.bmp.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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Oy. My heart hurts a little.</div>
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Okay, okay. That's not the card we sent out to the Grandmothers. Sadly.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pq41gqZad2M/URzwRTKhKxI/AAAAAAAAKAY/WNik6IpoWcU/s1600/IMG_2897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pq41gqZad2M/URzwRTKhKxI/AAAAAAAAKAY/WNik6IpoWcU/s640/IMG_2897.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Had to include Juliana... Baby sisters ruin everything. Who needs 'em?</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XHDoe6qlVtA/URz4Pxa-4BI/AAAAAAAAKA0/bduFZe3xLzM/s1600/IMG_0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XHDoe6qlVtA/URz4Pxa-4BI/AAAAAAAAKA0/bduFZe3xLzM/s640/IMG_0064.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Bahahaha.</div>
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Happy Valentine's Day! Off to play at the Chocolate Festival with the kiddos!! :) :) :)</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-4439195055692406312012-12-25T23:59:00.000-05:002012-12-26T02:04:32.546-05:00Natural & Colorful Christmas Table<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We (Theresa, Sarah, and I) went with a Williamsburg-inspired natural and brightly colored table this year.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hHNTNfcr-UY/UNqTbc0cjzI/AAAAAAAAJbE/vhFaX8TqJdM/s1600/IMG_8195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hHNTNfcr-UY/UNqTbc0cjzI/AAAAAAAAJbE/vhFaX8TqJdM/s640/IMG_8195.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sFDbFZNg3tk/UNqTchvFDuI/AAAAAAAAJbU/GioR2lpikJ4/s1600/IMG_8200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sFDbFZNg3tk/UNqTchvFDuI/AAAAAAAAJbU/GioR2lpikJ4/s640/IMG_8200.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The apples kept trying to roll away, so Sarah came up with the idea to stick toothpicks in them. Genius.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WkAgextkJhg/UNqTds8BmbI/AAAAAAAAJbc/5uQCeol99F4/s1600/IMG_8201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WkAgextkJhg/UNqTds8BmbI/AAAAAAAAJbc/5uQCeol99F4/s640/IMG_8201.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I love how the whole table turned out, but am a little sad I didn't get any photos of the impressive fruit towers my brother-in-law Rob built with said toothpicks in an effort to vex me mid-decorating. Quite amusing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQfk7NZUs-E_go3a9Yyzq508dPoZ3D2U6r6Ndf38mRNk5MjvkWHfYcmmPrsSZFk8MNaWpNsN7CXJpDl8rSZuvesPVgufW6qPAGP2RD31yxmE7p3nhT92M1xWvu9a2ONMVBqWTThGD3JU/s1600/IMG_8199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQfk7NZUs-E_go3a9Yyzq508dPoZ3D2U6r6Ndf38mRNk5MjvkWHfYcmmPrsSZFk8MNaWpNsN7CXJpDl8rSZuvesPVgufW6qPAGP2RD31yxmE7p3nhT92M1xWvu9a2ONMVBqWTThGD3JU/s640/IMG_8199.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sarah brought boxwood from her house and I am now convinced that I need to fill my whole backyard with boxwood. Such pretty greenery!<br />
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And Merry Christmas from my three favorite kids!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-334591946700020862012-12-15T00:40:00.002-05:002012-12-15T00:42:11.066-05:00Tampon Snack<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Joseph was hungry, so he dug around in the diaper bag looking for a snack.</span><br />
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He found a wrapped tampon and immediately brought it to me.</div>
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"Momma, you open snack please??"</div>
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"...Errr..."</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-47733598202107402862012-12-04T01:44:00.006-05:002012-12-04T13:46:54.295-05:003rd Annual Gingerbread Wars!!! - Zombies vs. The Doctor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here it is, folks! Gingerbread Wars 2012! Team Bone Shrapnel (the men) vs. The Women Folk (the, er... women). And no, we didn't get to pick our name. Or our logo. Obviously. Can't you tell?<br />
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If you are new to Gingerbread Wars or need a refresher, check out our many creations from <a href="http://yeoldesandwichshoppeva.blogspot.com/search?q=gingerbread">past years</a>. However, this year, I really think we outdid ourselves. It. Was. AWESOME. Just you wait!<br />
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First off, props must be given to my 2.5 year old son who did an excellent job making...<br />
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...ahem, <b><i>"his"</i></b> gingerbread dough.</div>
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Props will not be given to my 6 month old daughter who was never content to be in one spot for longer than 6 minutes throughout the entire process (see baby in box above). Very unhelpful of her.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Who me, Mom? I don't know why you are bothering with the bouncy seat when you <b>know</b> you are just going to end up baking one-handed with me on your hip. Silly Mother!</span></div>
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So, gingerbread, check. Friends, check. Power tools, check.</div>
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What? Gingerbread is serious business. </div>
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Team Bone Shrapnel (Stephen, Mark, & Aaron) created a lovely church (complete with cemetery & broken stained glass windows) set in the middle of the zombie apocalypse.</div>
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The boarded up church is defended by a brave soldier and his jeep mounted with candy cane gun turret. </div>
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The shattered rose window (drilled through with the Dremel) is one of my favorite touches.</div>
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Their zombies are quite fabulous. Full of Christmas spirit and, um, bloody.</div>
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Team Women Folk (Caroline, Theresa, and Erin), well, we decided we needed to create a Christmas Special.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U49nb1ZI69A/UL1bhFucBPI/AAAAAAAAIbQ/6Ol1cjAHwnA/s1600/IMG_6992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U49nb1ZI69A/UL1bhFucBPI/AAAAAAAAIbQ/6Ol1cjAHwnA/s640/IMG_6992.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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And even though Theresa doesn't watch Dr. Who, she went along with her two slightly crazed Whovian partners. With only a few eye rolls. Fear not, we will make a convert of her yet.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MEE8BEYn0-g/UL1bfonW1II/AAAAAAAAIbA/5BbCKPyEn6A/s1600/IMG_6949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MEE8BEYn0-g/UL1bfonW1II/AAAAAAAAIbA/5BbCKPyEn6A/s640/IMG_6949.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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And although we had a few distractions and interruptions...</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ofWkGNgYJao/UL1nTIO1klI/AAAAAAAAIgE/nj-Q_qos8GY/s1600/IMG_6977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ofWkGNgYJao/UL1nTIO1klI/AAAAAAAAIgE/nj-Q_qos8GY/s640/IMG_6977.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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We eventually completed our task.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCAlJAHRNDxueQ6QpBgIqKkNzFRdkshKq6M9VGjlBCDpIcIXkbDMRuaO4gZhtarpD4Vk09xgQ_ySqGr-k9FD7tpEaqESS3zw2Vi26s0CAHJAzd-ru309OimVX_nTs1yluXknuDTDFE1o/s1600/IMG_7133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCAlJAHRNDxueQ6QpBgIqKkNzFRdkshKq6M9VGjlBCDpIcIXkbDMRuaO4gZhtarpD4Vk09xgQ_ySqGr-k9FD7tpEaqESS3zw2Vi26s0CAHJAzd-ru309OimVX_nTs1yluXknuDTDFE1o/s640/IMG_7133.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here we have Amy Pond and Rory trapped on an alien planet made up of peppermints and gum drops.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-keWoqjO5lgE/UL1boDyEIzI/AAAAAAAAIcw/_GmOBuRRO3k/s1600/IMG_7137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-keWoqjO5lgE/UL1boDyEIzI/AAAAAAAAIcw/_GmOBuRRO3k/s640/IMG_7137.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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They are fending off killer Christmas trees and Daleks with candy canes when The Doctor pops in with the TARDIS to save the day.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9WL-WOs9m4I/UL1bsOri7nI/AAAAAAAAIdg/MozAjz-mFqc/s1600/IMG_7157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9WL-WOs9m4I/UL1bsOri7nI/AAAAAAAAIdg/MozAjz-mFqc/s640/IMG_7157.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The pretzel plungers on the Daleks are my favorite detail.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U6mCd4JFpi4/UL1bozLGgSI/AAAAAAAAIc4/VCt4VLyFLB8/s1600/IMG_7139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U6mCd4JFpi4/UL1bozLGgSI/AAAAAAAAIc4/VCt4VLyFLB8/s640/IMG_7139.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">You will be exterminated!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T3CkAwB5Hpg/UL1buosWY9I/AAAAAAAAIeA/pVuGjkOGHgc/s1600/IMG_7177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T3CkAwB5Hpg/UL1buosWY9I/AAAAAAAAIeA/pVuGjkOGHgc/s640/IMG_7177.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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EXTERMINATE!!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PdFRiqUg0-0/UL1buXmxiGI/AAAAAAAAId8/-dhaKjHEs2E/s1600/IMG_7170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PdFRiqUg0-0/UL1buXmxiGI/AAAAAAAAId8/-dhaKjHEs2E/s640/IMG_7170.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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EXTERMINATE!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4WPISrk7kzY/UL1btugVDRI/AAAAAAAAId0/PNYQ6YvzhIg/s1600/IMG_7159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4WPISrk7kzY/UL1btugVDRI/AAAAAAAAId0/PNYQ6YvzhIg/s640/IMG_7159.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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The Daleks reign supreme, all hail the Daleks!</div>
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Not.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARco57Zu_fbF53yqw3Pr9Aosc5XttE5rMd7gvIeL3cvCwTonJZfEL8X-y1w-X96eS1N8TZbgYOdGVfyN9kpA4H22kt0k7hQWUVW-YLoPpZv3hnie096eEF4fmAJtFx3JP9p-_yKPM14M/s1600/IMG_7161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARco57Zu_fbF53yqw3Pr9Aosc5XttE5rMd7gvIeL3cvCwTonJZfEL8X-y1w-X96eS1N8TZbgYOdGVfyN9kpA4H22kt0k7hQWUVW-YLoPpZv3hnie096eEF4fmAJtFx3JP9p-_yKPM14M/s640/IMG_7161.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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GERONIMO!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dFp3jPA6edo/UL1bpkWQtLI/AAAAAAAAIdA/InkDD-RrVHI/s1600/IMG_7141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dFp3jPA6edo/UL1bpkWQtLI/AAAAAAAAIdA/InkDD-RrVHI/s640/IMG_7141.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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(Hmm. Note to self, must ice a red gumdrop onto his head as a fez.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-mAvV5Fr_EIVVNRTRMlieABCk1DaFq5OjYsdy7LNr9zIFEgqvE82jIC8CtYOtVIMEGCJjHfnpG9DLshL6NPSienXXFogN8gc4gtDYmDyZFAYFgxw20PvpJnBTo71NLcMvlM6pBpkf_k/s1600/IMG_7164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-mAvV5Fr_EIVVNRTRMlieABCk1DaFq5OjYsdy7LNr9zIFEgqvE82jIC8CtYOtVIMEGCJjHfnpG9DLshL6NPSienXXFogN8gc4gtDYmDyZFAYFgxw20PvpJnBTo71NLcMvlM6pBpkf_k/s640/IMG_7164.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Come along, Pond! Back to the TARDIS.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MD_TLL6yQkA/UL1brjXkhwI/AAAAAAAAIdc/sIOp01khxM4/s1600/IMG_7151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MD_TLL6yQkA/UL1brjXkhwI/AAAAAAAAIdc/sIOp01khxM4/s640/IMG_7151.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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vwooorp. vwooorp. vwooorp.</div>
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And that concludes the 3rd Annual Gingerbread Wars. I've decided that next year, we'll give Joseph his own milk carton and graham crackers so he can more actively join in the fun. :) Now, I can't wait for next year!</div>
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The only question left is who won? Team Bone Shrapnel or the Women Folk?</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WqE1R0oN1s0/UL1rj3aTpyI/AAAAAAAAIgc/crGYyOjRmm0/s1600/Gingerbread+Wars+Wknd+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WqE1R0oN1s0/UL1rj3aTpyI/AAAAAAAAIgc/crGYyOjRmm0/s640/Gingerbread+Wars+Wknd+2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Vote!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-85714777614675492852012-11-13T09:45:00.001-05:002012-11-13T14:39:54.533-05:00Juliana - 6 Months of Fabulous<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last week, Juliana hit the 6 month mark and decided to revel in her lavish life of pampering and luxury (as all babies must). She draped on the pearls and proceeded to be <a href="http://www.carolinemeyersphotography.com/blog/juliana-6monthsold">fabulous</a>:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aBxWazjYj8Q/UKHGLH_YDNI/AAAAAAAAD8w/VdaNCGMp3es/s1600/IMG_6150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aBxWazjYj8Q/UKHGLH_YDNI/AAAAAAAAD8w/VdaNCGMp3es/s640/IMG_6150.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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I'm having a hard time coping with the fact that my tiny little baby girl has gotten big enough to wear jewelry. </div>
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::sniff::</div>
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Here she is all shiny & new. Fresh off the assembly line:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnKs6CXjE3gmHBj3oMsmX8uaHW5zORTpPEtv2_difCAbpM9naot3WwO7zrTWVf8hkrVHAYbFogYy07NDqWyflKr0nkQl0AijESNTJwNJgIQgHGdvswuY0oi4Z6DojUrr5BOoogCib68w/s640/IMG_1454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnKs6CXjE3gmHBj3oMsmX8uaHW5zORTpPEtv2_difCAbpM9naot3WwO7zrTWVf8hkrVHAYbFogYy07NDqWyflKr0nkQl0AijESNTJwNJgIQgHGdvswuY0oi4Z6DojUrr5BOoogCib68w/s640/IMG_1454.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Wasn't that yesterday? It must have been yesterday. Time is passing far too quickly for my liking. It keeps ignoring my "FREEZE!" commands. Inconsiderate, if you ask me. It just keeps marching along...</div>
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1 month...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UhXEWkijr9zAqyZ9jUvnkhnKL8aCAK2Qe-0p6wDYPVX01I_7d2doTqTRXLIdBwNoOJlHWaI5OyUSVS77rVWr3dhii7QkbotFoxgoucpearBSaT0bRZ9erNvmyCbgQ53_2CK4iQ6NAM8/s1600/IMG_2992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UhXEWkijr9zAqyZ9jUvnkhnKL8aCAK2Qe-0p6wDYPVX01I_7d2doTqTRXLIdBwNoOJlHWaI5OyUSVS77rVWr3dhii7QkbotFoxgoucpearBSaT0bRZ9erNvmyCbgQ53_2CK4iQ6NAM8/s640/IMG_2992.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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2 months...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NOvEo0QEaWo/UE7YigkZ0hI/AAAAAAAAH-I/fcnMArmDcU8/s1600/IMG_7111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NOvEo0QEaWo/UE7YigkZ0hI/AAAAAAAAH-I/fcnMArmDcU8/s640/IMG_7111.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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3 months...</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kRJzAvwnmL8/UE7YnuJo7wI/AAAAAAAAH_A/48jqUlakWJU/s1600/IMG_9962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kRJzAvwnmL8/UE7YnuJo7wI/AAAAAAAAH_A/48jqUlakWJU/s640/IMG_9962.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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4 months...</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5AJJnUvvuNA/UE7YzzUN2_I/AAAAAAAAIBI/mXou_5Ke-as/s1600/IMG_1494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5AJJnUvvuNA/UE7YzzUN2_I/AAAAAAAAIBI/mXou_5Ke-as/s640/IMG_1494.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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5 months...</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H93Ga_9px7k/UKJUz11DApI/AAAAAAAAIZ0/B4w5WWv6RDM/s1600/IMG_8235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H93Ga_9px7k/UKJUz11DApI/AAAAAAAAIZ0/B4w5WWv6RDM/s640/IMG_8235.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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6 months...</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CDE9GFCfb-s/UKHGJ0U6WdI/AAAAAAAAD8o/lc8D_AnzZeY/s1600/IMG_6137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CDE9GFCfb-s/UKHGJ0U6WdI/AAAAAAAAD8o/lc8D_AnzZeY/s640/IMG_6137.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Blasted time.</div>
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I hand painted the "J" (a sweet and thoughtful gift from <a href="http://madeinearlysville.blogspot.com/">Karla</a>) for <a href="http://yeoldesandwichshoppeva.blogspot.com/2012/04/juliana-claires-mostly-finished-nursery.html">Juliana's nursery</a> when I was hugely pregnant with her and waiting to pop. I'm thinking it needs to make an appearance in Juliana's birthday portraits every year.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w22m5dCQhUU/UKHGOHD-7QI/AAAAAAAAD9A/C1_ZhdNMqOQ/s1600/IMG_6097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w22m5dCQhUU/UKHGOHD-7QI/AAAAAAAAD9A/C1_ZhdNMqOQ/s640/IMG_6097.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
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She slays me. I'm so madly in love with her. Lack of a sleep schedule and all.</div>
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There's no way she's allowed to get any bigger. No way. I object. Vehemently. Growing up is overrated.</div>
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Unfortunately, Time and Juliana disagree:</div>
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"You can't handle the truth!"</div>
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Little lady has a flair for drama. Oy.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-34924625363532382042012-10-22T21:56:00.001-04:002012-10-22T21:58:11.121-04:00Your Everyday Zombie Related Marital Discussion<div>
Clear expectations are the foundation of a strong marriage, especially when discussing possible eventualities like the zombie apocalypse.</div>
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<b>Stephen: </b>Zombie eyes are creepy.</div>
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<b>Caroline: </b>Everything zombie is creepy. You never come across an attractive zombie.</div>
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<b>Stephen: </b>So you don't think I'd make a handsome zombie?</div>
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<b>Caroline: </b>Aw, sweetheart, I wouldn't care if you were a handsome zombie because I'd be too busy chopping at your brains to keep you from eating our children. (*pause*) And I'd expect you to do the same if the situation were reversed.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-69621087903182635602012-10-04T11:00:00.001-04:002012-10-04T12:52:24.366-04:00Fireplace Plans & Dalmatian HandsRemove the thick faux beam at the top and this is what we are aiming for with our fireplace/mantel (via The Lettered Cottage):<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/250653535480414793/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="600" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/109775309636679899_cdS0EDWu_c.jpg" width="381" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/my-82-fireplace-makeover" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">theletteredcottage.net</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/carolinemeyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Caroline</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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With maybe something like this (via Newlywoodwards) at the foot of the fireplace:<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/250653535482221694/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/upload/250653535482221694_kKj7ewHP_c.jpg" width="600" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.newlywoodwards.com/2012/01/little-tile-project.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">newlywoodwards.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/carolinemeyers/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Caroline</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Low enough the kids won't trip on it. And pretty. :)<br />
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We've got the ball rolling and I'm excited about it:<br />
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But I'm kind of starting to feel like a dalmatian:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-INW3G-2yu7w/UG2ezcBbJFI/AAAAAAAAIZg/QLloM9iJV-U/s1600/IMG_7097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-INW3G-2yu7w/UG2ezcBbJFI/AAAAAAAAIZg/QLloM9iJV-U/s640/IMG_7097.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Look out Cruella de Vil--I carry a nail gun.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-65743805711414082842012-10-02T01:28:00.000-04:002012-10-02T01:49:40.850-04:00Proof Positive: It Must Be Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When we bought our house, the living room was actually divided into two rooms and separated by this lovely arch:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcie8FxsUzPDxdR3DaGYjw6eWw1WeDvdHklZCLXAoS_aWJovPEpLvXaa_abuwxNRIxP0HHdB9dPWbU2i1S4eCDajo6FqFF5fcDj45Py63nvgJP7ZucC-5UmONXH-yb4nvfG4XmtCdGML-/s640/CIMG5242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcie8FxsUzPDxdR3DaGYjw6eWw1WeDvdHklZCLXAoS_aWJovPEpLvXaa_abuwxNRIxP0HHdB9dPWbU2i1S4eCDajo6FqFF5fcDj45Py63nvgJP7ZucC-5UmONXH-yb4nvfG4XmtCdGML-/s640/CIMG5242.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It made furniture arranging difficult and there was this weird diagonal wall covering up an old chimney. So, Stephen and I discussed <i>eventually</i> making the room into one big room once we finished our plethora of other projects.</div>
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Then, last October, I took Joseph and went away for the weekend for some fun thrifting in Richmond with Mary-Carolyn and my sister-in-law Sarah. <a href="http://yeoldesandwichshoppeva.blogspot.com/search?q=wall+living">In my absence</a> and without my knowledge, Stephen and his buddy Aaron ripped down the middle wall in the living room:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fGaWXlCV2Vs/TpJ3e9HcRPI/AAAAAAAABeI/-7SLATucP4o/s640/2011-10-07_01-59-31_311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fGaWXlCV2Vs/TpJ3e9HcRPI/AAAAAAAABeI/-7SLATucP4o/s640/2011-10-07_01-59-31_311.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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SURPRISE!</div>
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It was a giant mess, but it really did open of the living room:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jXGLWjdpx-8/TqwWgFbQUpI/AAAAAAAABkY/Pawwo9I3pO8/s640/IMG_0803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jXGLWjdpx-8/TqwWgFbQUpI/AAAAAAAABkY/Pawwo9I3pO8/s640/IMG_0803.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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There were still problems to address... such as the single ceiling fan on the far right of the room, the holes in the walls and ceiling, and the building of the fireplace where the old chimney used to be inside the former diagonal wall..</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pWGjjG2RMmo/TqwWRbIQVGI/AAAAAAAABjw/BFexBWoRtEI/s320/IMG_0792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pWGjjG2RMmo/TqwWRbIQVGI/AAAAAAAABjw/BFexBWoRtEI/s640/IMG_0792.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Almost a year went by and we made some small leaps of progress, but, for the most part, we were busy having a baby. In August, my Mom & I took said baby and her older brother on a week long trip to New York.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1WXu1XF_e3g/UGpvZUYwFAI/AAAAAAAAIY0/SVhaANH4obo/s1600/IMG_9259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1WXu1XF_e3g/UGpvZUYwFAI/AAAAAAAAIY0/SVhaANH4obo/s640/IMG_9259.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I wanted to introduce Juliana to family that I don't see very often due to distance, particularly my grandfather who is in a nursing home & wheelchair bound.</div>
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Juliana was a big hit all around.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WOnUsTxp8fE/UGpvcav24SI/AAAAAAAAIY8/xTP28FglXtI/s1600/IMG_9374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WOnUsTxp8fE/UGpvcav24SI/AAAAAAAAIY8/xTP28FglXtI/s640/IMG_9374.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I even got to visit my sister Amy who just started at the Culinary Institute of America. Because she's AH-MAZING. She gave us the grand tour.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIZ5TmrJP0GHHOnMEQBG9Jn3vIZhXTnLp2Zt_kdBmUBTBMQ_QcpDRA00CZdQghxKi9RI2D3_Rg35gjpB3LtfD1sWIRviTYhTPPyFAte5NL4VPJEBq81Qj0Ud927E2Bx77un4LCmg_xBI/s1600/IMG_0485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIZ5TmrJP0GHHOnMEQBG9Jn3vIZhXTnLp2Zt_kdBmUBTBMQ_QcpDRA00CZdQghxKi9RI2D3_Rg35gjpB3LtfD1sWIRviTYhTPPyFAte5NL4VPJEBq81Qj0Ud927E2Bx77un4LCmg_xBI/s640/IMG_0485.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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That <i>is</i> corn. You aren't imagining it. Of course it's corn. The Culinary only grows edible plants on their grounds. Duh.</div>
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While I was away, Stephen apparently grew bored and restless and ripped down the living room ceiling. Without telling me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuU15KCgOhzplQ83diIwhexIfByNnkzmKji3adVB63Gn9fYkKVWxlv_4YDDEcXasa-G-XHxlIPtOXdsQ5QHmOUbkrWK_DrsU-S1I07P9MLUuuWFmbOMajF8tgyCY2jZH9hRHLe-UdyVw/s640/IMG_9847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuU15KCgOhzplQ83diIwhexIfByNnkzmKji3adVB63Gn9fYkKVWxlv_4YDDEcXasa-G-XHxlIPtOXdsQ5QHmOUbkrWK_DrsU-S1I07P9MLUuuWFmbOMajF8tgyCY2jZH9hRHLe-UdyVw/s640/IMG_9847.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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SURPRISE!</div>
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No, I didn't kill him.</div>
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Yes, he really is still alive.</div>
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No, he's not sleeping on the couch.</div>
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Yes, I'm still talking to him.</div>
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It must be love.</div>
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...</div>
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I may never leave the house again.</div>
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It's dangerous.</div>
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In his defense, there were very good reasons to take down the ceiling. The plaster was cracking and had fallen down in some places creating holes.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nMdTzFLzDRI/TqwWUch57nI/AAAAAAAABj4/ffZrhMfClko/s320/IMG_0794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nMdTzFLzDRI/TqwWUch57nI/AAAAAAAABj4/ffZrhMfClko/s640/IMG_0794.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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And it had the side benefit of making it infinitely easier to put in a second ceiling fan.</div>
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In the aftermath of the destruction of the ceiling, Stephen wanted to leave the rafters uncovered permanently. We tried it... for about a day. Stephen even painted some of them white to see if I would like that better. Sadly, it's the kind of thing that looks awesome in an old rehabbed apartment warehouse, but it doesn't work in a 1876 small town home. So, I requested a coffered ceiling.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IyO5ZyZMATA/UGpow-LUEjI/AAAAAAAAIYU/P9Bbi0pzd5Q/s320/IMG_7030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IyO5ZyZMATA/UGpow-LUEjI/AAAAAAAAIYU/P9Bbi0pzd5Q/s640/IMG_7030.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Stephen and my brother built a framework with 2x4s and we just finished putting up all the drywall tonight.</div>
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I am so loving it! I really think it will look great <strike>if</strike> <i>when</i> we finish it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN__KsbMeGdgmHtcxuwryrzjN3djdwoDRBdRPDDQPWAyie0nQSTh0STfqesJS9hBtzhiTQ7joBN6EIx-c3ve5AEjV9VGR68wzIKya7Pdjqvp_D0pU6HXN75maG8k3mbBcp-K470BOruLc/s1600/IMG_7094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN__KsbMeGdgmHtcxuwryrzjN3djdwoDRBdRPDDQPWAyie0nQSTh0STfqesJS9hBtzhiTQ7joBN6EIx-c3ve5AEjV9VGR68wzIKya7Pdjqvp_D0pU6HXN75maG8k3mbBcp-K470BOruLc/s640/IMG_7094.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now... we just have to tape & mud everything, sand it, install crown molding, caulk it, prime it, and paint it. All with our arms up above our heads.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kV2YNyXVAjg/UGpouDx5OcI/AAAAAAAAIYE/Hk5aF17M2LA/s1600/IMG_7092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kV2YNyXVAjg/UGpouDx5OcI/AAAAAAAAIYE/Hk5aF17M2LA/s640/IMG_7092.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Piece of cake.<br />
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Oy.<br />
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We have a goal. We are going to <b>finish</b> the living room by Christmas--the ceiling, the walls, the fireplace/mantel, the built in shelving, the furniture... everything.<br />
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...<br />
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Pardon.<br />
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...<br />
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If you are quite finished hysterically laughing on the floor, then maybe you could find a little spare time to pray for us?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-44651175589358847782012-09-11T03:57:00.001-04:002012-09-11T09:40:06.246-04:00"So, I take it you are done blogging?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Said my darling husband late last night.</div>
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"What?! NO! I've just been... um... kind of... well... busy." I replied lamely.</div>
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It's not like I <i>meant</i> to go dark. Honestly! After I had Joseph, I disappeared from the blogosphere for 2 months. Apparently, a second child results in radio silence for twice as long? To all of you mothers of new babies and/or multiple children who consistently blog through all the craziness, I am in awe. Seriously! Gold star!</div>
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So, let's start over. Hi! Remember me? We used to be friends.</div>
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I'm a dreadful friend. So sorry. Here. Let me introduce you to my daughter, Juliana 4.0.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEra0RraMMw38l8ZClzdl6Qtc6bM3wuuUWVj6uOuUI_0O18yQ295D2UpJI24Xj5diINiRP_r0XDNZFIyxARv-B2ab15_j7D0SEo3M6XrvA43FEdbnP6WfPFJN7AFAzXfc543AfMUl8d-c/s1600/IMG_1460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEra0RraMMw38l8ZClzdl6Qtc6bM3wuuUWVj6uOuUI_0O18yQ295D2UpJI24Xj5diINiRP_r0XDNZFIyxARv-B2ab15_j7D0SEo3M6XrvA43FEdbnP6WfPFJN7AFAzXfc543AfMUl8d-c/s640/IMG_1460.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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She's a little more advanced than the <a href="http://yeoldesandwichshoppeva.blogspot.com/2012/05/introducing-juliana-claire.html">original model</a> I shared with you 4 months ago. She coos and <strike>spits up</strike> sits up and everything!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0clqM3x0tc8/UE7Yr7aXEsI/AAAAAAAAH_o/hvrCyXD8YnU/s1600/IMG_1417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0clqM3x0tc8/UE7Yr7aXEsI/AAAAAAAAH_o/hvrCyXD8YnU/s640/IMG_1417.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Ooooo! Aaaaaah! Shiny!!</div>
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And <i><b>HOW</b></i> did I let <b><i>THAT</i> </b>happen without ever telling you?!?!</div>
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They say a picture is worth a thousand words:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNerMP_SaaL6r0wFKr0RcZmeyVBDLHQ2YwBWfjuVXntJWXIU9djixC-f68sNt7nPbFl3Q9PSdmXkw47CHwUlejEwNpZBKHbgprpC4lxCAyvpe5IC7KYlGbFluN4-7cFTLkSBJGgtLiqMI/s1600/IMG_0322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNerMP_SaaL6r0wFKr0RcZmeyVBDLHQ2YwBWfjuVXntJWXIU9djixC-f68sNt7nPbFl3Q9PSdmXkw47CHwUlejEwNpZBKHbgprpC4lxCAyvpe5IC7KYlGbFluN4-7cFTLkSBJGgtLiqMI/s640/IMG_0322.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I hear math works too.</div>
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potty training, mischievous 2 year old son</div>
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breastfeeding, newborn drama queen of a daughter</div>
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photography jobs which require much editing in place of blogging</div>
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what some might consider to be less than optimal amounts of sleep</div>
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<u>+ house under construction and in a state of constant disaster </u></div>
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<strike>murder</strike> that maniacal gleam in my eye</div>
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My coping method from day 7 (The date of my last blog post. Also the day I got Joseph back from my mother-in-law after Juliana was born and officially became a mother of 2):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0fbognOguhHHGZM-MeQO1Lzs2M8ixYuIhuwrVKW9Qr6ZTwmqbP3d4_FLuhV3TfxIH5hUSkkwvtI_gMRvH7T4dvM-8IBS5J2hUPhT5x29GsgJEVJz21SHctC49LLJne7_WWEtNQX-oZ0/s1600/IMG_9950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0fbognOguhHHGZM-MeQO1Lzs2M8ixYuIhuwrVKW9Qr6ZTwmqbP3d4_FLuhV3TfxIH5hUSkkwvtI_gMRvH7T4dvM-8IBS5J2hUPhT5x29GsgJEVJz21SHctC49LLJne7_WWEtNQX-oZ0/s640/IMG_9950.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Pool. Parks. Library. Walks. Play dates. All things anti-hermit.</div>
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Anything to get the two year old out of the house to expend some of his boundless energy. It bumps the gleam down a notch from maniacal to amused.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSUTlAeNXANxjiKL4xTanNzS3V4L6w4RSV1Nr-Yo_i614pvmCfxdD8wdMmPHwUAVakOWPvslSG8sm3nO0x08uaQJhEzf9B9xNYnvKFoM2qdoYNtZ9fY8SotHYA76iyVongRkL43mkfWg/s1600/IMG_0342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSUTlAeNXANxjiKL4xTanNzS3V4L6w4RSV1Nr-Yo_i614pvmCfxdD8wdMmPHwUAVakOWPvslSG8sm3nO0x08uaQJhEzf9B9xNYnvKFoM2qdoYNtZ9fY8SotHYA76iyVongRkL43mkfWg/s640/IMG_0342.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Wrap baby to chest and go, go, go! Right up until we all crash and burn during Family Naptime. God bless Family Naptime!</div>
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Plus, it's been kind of a crazy summer on top of the everyday. Beach. Road trips. Fairs. Thrifting. Wedding jobs. Possums. (I'll explain later.)</div>
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Right now, my house pretty much always look like this:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j9vm3hootTs/UE7YgBVhcqI/AAAAAAAAH9w/EBKeDWbydo0/s1600/IMG_5822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j9vm3hootTs/UE7YgBVhcqI/AAAAAAAAH9w/EBKeDWbydo0/s640/IMG_5822.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Scary.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v4My8uBRQqg/UE7YhFT_MtI/AAAAAAAAH94/qWNxUKGPBSQ/s1600/IMG_6569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v4My8uBRQqg/UE7YhFT_MtI/AAAAAAAAH94/qWNxUKGPBSQ/s640/IMG_6569.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Oh yeah, and my living room is, um, not much of a living room at the moment.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuU15KCgOhzplQ83diIwhexIfByNnkzmKji3adVB63Gn9fYkKVWxlv_4YDDEcXasa-G-XHxlIPtOXdsQ5QHmOUbkrWK_DrsU-S1I07P9MLUuuWFmbOMajF8tgyCY2jZH9hRHLe-UdyVw/s1600/IMG_9847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuU15KCgOhzplQ83diIwhexIfByNnkzmKji3adVB63Gn9fYkKVWxlv_4YDDEcXasa-G-XHxlIPtOXdsQ5QHmOUbkrWK_DrsU-S1I07P9MLUuuWFmbOMajF8tgyCY2jZH9hRHLe-UdyVw/s640/IMG_9847.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Hence, the outdoors and I are bosom bows.</div>
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However, since I can't have people thinking that I have been severely mauled by ferocious possums and can no longer type blog posts due to the damage they inflicted upon my hands (seems legit)... </div>
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I suppose I'll just have to overcome my extreme lameness and start blogging again. Not too frequently mind you. Let's not get any crazy ideas! But, perhaps, more than once every four months?</div>
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Sounds doable.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-66226317448784786962012-05-13T22:00:00.001-04:002012-05-13T22:11:43.813-04:00When I grow up, I want to be a mother.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Seriously. I give you the ambitions (and spelling errors) of an eight year old Caroline:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBWofX4BYatgcNG530U58nurdxeg-O0miwA3NVEd5Z9D-PZmpGKcFw7GjHAJS9JRdD_w30KoKEWne_YeRuDPXpLwCF6Q_gWORGePGTK-05mlA3KmRDDs0PTbb7B8ksTkzhVJf0LxfBW0/s1600/whenigrowup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBWofX4BYatgcNG530U58nurdxeg-O0miwA3NVEd5Z9D-PZmpGKcFw7GjHAJS9JRdD_w30KoKEWne_YeRuDPXpLwCF6Q_gWORGePGTK-05mlA3KmRDDs0PTbb7B8ksTkzhVJf0LxfBW0/s640/whenigrowup.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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College to become a "smart mother"? Check.<br />
Good husband? Definite check. With puffy little hearts.<br />
Kids? Double check.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4ou4dvMv-4kfbAzzYY7HyPpBoYS0yYwn9eqW3gzZifPXrleC4lsyLddDT-Cu_8g9DCsTjDl_NbbvY74v7NMUu8FyfNeq_MsEMvGkUmXOMgMO_ZyzJNv4TsYp31NI3Q9yytpp4QlC4v0/s1600/IMG_0152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4ou4dvMv-4kfbAzzYY7HyPpBoYS0yYwn9eqW3gzZifPXrleC4lsyLddDT-Cu_8g9DCsTjDl_NbbvY74v7NMUu8FyfNeq_MsEMvGkUmXOMgMO_ZyzJNv4TsYp31NI3Q9yytpp4QlC4v0/s640/IMG_0152.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Man, I am living the dream--minus the whole three story house in "Hawii" and threat of "devorse" should my husband ever get mad at our kids. (???)<br />
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Now. Must take children to park after breakfast and teeth brushing every day this week. :)<br />
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Happy Mothers Day!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-43414485250688822772012-05-10T22:05:00.002-04:002012-05-10T22:29:00.468-04:00Introducing Juliana Claire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We have a three day old baby girl!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2Omck2qVVv8CnALJQdvWWWXmQ5vRGPrpcfsQnW00lJ3JhgEubPZHk0wN45Lx-IQgjjRiDvLAS_X1oh97OUDeH-aA9yJzyT2kGmn5sB9SbSzxC7zBVrtNvJulDF6kOPbrOalfixrFq0c/s1600/IMG_1474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2Omck2qVVv8CnALJQdvWWWXmQ5vRGPrpcfsQnW00lJ3JhgEubPZHk0wN45Lx-IQgjjRiDvLAS_X1oh97OUDeH-aA9yJzyT2kGmn5sB9SbSzxC7zBVrtNvJulDF6kOPbrOalfixrFq0c/s640/IMG_1474.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And she has long dark eyelashes & gobs of gorgeous dark hair!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8Z3Q22xtg0Axv9OZNv0sWCRUhT3iluq4YuJRSk4hEt8jlqqgEmrKWfiHk-GhvY94gZVKM1NMLX513E6dEnQi6i8NFpKdITKu2bMhLNTpDTdwQF7MghVR4vAkd_a2XNB4GA-RNHbmxLU/s1600/IMG_1491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8Z3Q22xtg0Axv9OZNv0sWCRUhT3iluq4YuJRSk4hEt8jlqqgEmrKWfiHk-GhvY94gZVKM1NMLX513E6dEnQi6i8NFpKdITKu2bMhLNTpDTdwQF7MghVR4vAkd_a2XNB4GA-RNHbmxLU/s640/IMG_1491.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And she's the sweetest, most beautiful baby girl in the entire world!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2-WOF2AEkjysNczQRL38_HPuuJq9QPa4yjqwHD5BmoyORPX0oB1fHc95wTLNYpQiGNNmxziG3cahzRLN9SdvqtNgTc4el1tsmBSG9UVJdN_D-HwFaw1OF7HAdlAG4ATdBspWIRClmOA/s1600/IMG_1499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2-WOF2AEkjysNczQRL38_HPuuJq9QPa4yjqwHD5BmoyORPX0oB1fHc95wTLNYpQiGNNmxziG3cahzRLN9SdvqtNgTc4el1tsmBSG9UVJdN_D-HwFaw1OF7HAdlAG4ATdBspWIRClmOA/s640/IMG_1499.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Not that I'm biased or anything.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnKs6CXjE3gmHBj3oMsmX8uaHW5zORTpPEtv2_difCAbpM9naot3WwO7zrTWVf8hkrVHAYbFogYy07NDqWyflKr0nkQl0AijESNTJwNJgIQgHGdvswuY0oi4Z6DojUrr5BOoogCib68w/s1600/IMG_1454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnKs6CXjE3gmHBj3oMsmX8uaHW5zORTpPEtv2_difCAbpM9naot3WwO7zrTWVf8hkrVHAYbFogYy07NDqWyflKr0nkQl0AijESNTJwNJgIQgHGdvswuY0oi4Z6DojUrr5BOoogCib68w/s640/IMG_1454.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I promise to share more details about the fabulous little lady and her birth in the near future. <span style="text-align: left;">The sun and clouds were very uncooperative for photos today, but I made some adorable headbands this evening and will take plenty more photos tomorrow. <i>Need</i> million photos of newborn daughter.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJGyzXJUpMooaJIiGADPiTXokm6xdJ79eocXq_E4OHThqgjRAiTneVEWf6T9VjBPDgs99b_VZzRvXFZ3ONoMoIgzBckX_6vf2-qjyfxufP0wbIp8sJpyi5d4BMwv7tU99owxlgodmjPI/s1600/IMG_1472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJGyzXJUpMooaJIiGADPiTXokm6xdJ79eocXq_E4OHThqgjRAiTneVEWf6T9VjBPDgs99b_VZzRvXFZ3ONoMoIgzBckX_6vf2-qjyfxufP0wbIp8sJpyi5d4BMwv7tU99owxlgodmjPI/s640/IMG_1472.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The last photo totally cracks me up. I didn't edit it or anything, but it still came out looking like a 90s glamour shot. Winning. All she needs now is a feather boa. ;)</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-67968765861720659342012-05-03T23:30:00.000-04:002012-05-04T08:16:31.416-04:00Downstairs Bathroom Makeover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Mary-Carolyn -- here's the post you've been requesting for the past six months! Happy Birthday!!! ;)</div>
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When my sister Amy first toured our home right after we bought it, she dubbed the downstairs bathroom as the "Silence of the Lambs Bathroom". Remember that scene in Buffalo Bill's basement at the end of <i>The Silence of the Lambs</i> with the rotting body in the tub? Yeah, that's what she was referring to. Mostly because I had been using the downstairs bathroom to clean all of my paint brushes at the time and the sink & tub looked very dubious in a serial-killer-has-been-chopping-up-bodies-in-here kind of way?? But also because... it's just plain scary in there:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQVyzy1ZXC9GlPGWFNaVz2liZuVbe2f3s_Ds284m_rXu7USv8izEP7_uWkwS7ITqeg_yHYWWFUj5NIAi2fw9LqKKrDzjnQeFepudz49pYP3TfLeiBMvf8FcWT-Pd9WI4hkP69sE6RfVk/s400/CIMG4493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQVyzy1ZXC9GlPGWFNaVz2liZuVbe2f3s_Ds284m_rXu7USv8izEP7_uWkwS7ITqeg_yHYWWFUj5NIAi2fw9LqKKrDzjnQeFepudz49pYP3TfLeiBMvf8FcWT-Pd9WI4hkP69sE6RfVk/s640/CIMG4493.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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BEFORE</div>
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Yup. Classic 50s retro pink with swirly grey & black tiles. Not cute or quality classic retro pink, mind you. OH NO. See those tiles?? They are PLASTIC. I kid you not. And in the places where the plastic tile cracked, broke, or came off the wall entirely? Someone glued the leftover harvest gold sunburst tiles from the yellow upstairs bathroom in their place. Because... They totally go together?!?!? There are 7 yellow sunburst tiles glued around the bathtub faucet alone! Oy. The vast majority of this room is cracked plastic. Even the cup dispenser and toothbrush holder are plastic.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4Y3QioQAvsWBl20rbZ1otSv57H__cb-uBAbDvfEWRvKewdh3DWPe5ahP9o6vFO9mdIauNp_outewp0VkAGJqiOA4OrBOaECYGOux0KCbrZw_DG_NPqtQMCp_NnLQ9eb_6WbLkqamM6M/s400/CIMG4492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4Y3QioQAvsWBl20rbZ1otSv57H__cb-uBAbDvfEWRvKewdh3DWPe5ahP9o6vFO9mdIauNp_outewp0VkAGJqiOA4OrBOaECYGOux0KCbrZw_DG_NPqtQMCp_NnLQ9eb_6WbLkqamM6M/s640/CIMG4492.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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BEFORE</div>
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Now, I'm all for preserving history and I can respect the idea behind the movement to <a href="http://savethepinkbathrooms.com/">Save the Pink Bathrooms</a> (even though I personally think they are hideous...). <span style="text-align: left;">Honestly, I think that it's very, very cool that I can find my tub and sink in old 50s Kohler advertisements:</span><br />
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<a href="http://savethepinkbathrooms.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/pink-bathroom-by-kohler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://savethepinkbathrooms.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/pink-bathroom-by-kohler.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://savethepinkbathrooms.com/2009/07/04/pink-was-not-always-the-color-for-girls-blue-was-not-always-the-color-for-boys/">credit</a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://kohlertalk.wordpress.com/category/history/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">kohlertalk.wordpress.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/kohlerco/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Kohler</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://kohlertalk.wordpress.com/category/history/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">kohlertalk.wordpress.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/kohlerco/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Kohler</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Apparently, what I've been calling "Pepto-Bismal Pink" was actually called "Peachblow". Who knew?<br />
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Perhaps if my bathroom was in good condition, had really nice tiles, and was full of quality fixtures, I might consider joining the Save the Pink Bathroom movement. Perhaps. I'm really, really not that into pink (especially not in combination with black and grey), but I could have been swayed by some cuteness.<br />
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Thing is? There is NO cuteness.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAiov-chFwuxnNTZ8emDkqASmaOfJxU45W4ix7jqryp4CTKmSTDVFj2ImXhpgbq0BPhni5Al2GBkVXV3rmXTIeBvSS5Hyae7eJfkFG2tgPCJoyCj3iFFOYxaYFryA7Ljerzhgo0rDbwo/s400/CIMG4494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAiov-chFwuxnNTZ8emDkqASmaOfJxU45W4ix7jqryp4CTKmSTDVFj2ImXhpgbq0BPhni5Al2GBkVXV3rmXTIeBvSS5Hyae7eJfkFG2tgPCJoyCj3iFFOYxaYFryA7Ljerzhgo0rDbwo/s640/CIMG4494.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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BEFORE</div>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Just look at the floor! Stick on laminate tiles that look like the black and white static of a television with no cable signal. So not cute. Black and white hex tiles? Now, that would be worth saving. This crap? Hell no.</span></div>
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Besides, let's consider the house as a whole. My house was built sometime between 1876-1885, right in the Victorian era. Ideally, I want clawfoot bathtubs, pretty wainscoting, and beautiful tile. Ideally, I want my bathrooms to suit the age of my home.</div>
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Unfortunately, "ideally" requires capital that we don't have right now. Someday, I will have the funds and time to focus my energies on gutting this tiny little space. But for now, we are living with it. For the first year and a half that we owned our home, we lived with it as is. At one point, I even started using the tub for diaper storage and put up an old shower curtain (that completely clashed with the room) from my college days to hide everything. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgiPOTNgQmwrCISi78iyKN_gRHw4wlGOBMkj-1ho7t_jiDLv9DSP1RZa_2dK0mg891rfSdiusU6VOHW3GntG97IZgWIDnz0RJ0FHkbCdXYUWyjkDHzSkDMq9cWeyOpiXe4LfYFA6Baf8/s640/IMG_5424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgiPOTNgQmwrCISi78iyKN_gRHw4wlGOBMkj-1ho7t_jiDLv9DSP1RZa_2dK0mg891rfSdiusU6VOHW3GntG97IZgWIDnz0RJ0FHkbCdXYUWyjkDHzSkDMq9cWeyOpiXe4LfYFA6Baf8/s640/IMG_5424.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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BEFORE</div>
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Unfortunately, living with it as is was making me very unhappy. It's not a good sign when you try to divert visitors in your home to the slightly better kids bathroom upstairs. You shouldn't have to be too embarrassed by the state of your bathroom to let people pee in it. Right?</div>
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In July/August, right when I knew we were going to start trying for another kid, I went through a phase where I <i>needed</i> to take care of any house projects that would require staining or painting <i>before</i> I got pregnant and was no longer allowed. One of those projects was the downstairs bathroom. I was sitting in there one day (What? The potty is a good thinking spot!) when I thought... there<i> HAS</i> to be a way to make this bathroom look halfway decent without spending gobs of money on a renovation. Maybe I'll just paint over everything. It can't possibly get any worse, right?</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VWEn3nXe0gE/T6KOlV-YsoI/AAAAAAAAELQ/ScjgATKxC6k/s320/IMG_8398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VWEn3nXe0gE/T6KOlV-YsoI/AAAAAAAAELQ/ScjgATKxC6k/s640/IMG_8398.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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I wiped everything down to clean it, grabbed a half used can of Kilz primer from my paint closet and started painting right over the ugly plastic tiles, the orangey baseboards, door, and molding, the rusty chrome, and the radiator.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aRqUmyiOMbk/T6KOjTW3j0I/AAAAAAAAELI/p0LF9LCP7U8/s720/IMG_8397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aRqUmyiOMbk/T6KOjTW3j0I/AAAAAAAAELI/p0LF9LCP7U8/s640/IMG_8397.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Room brightness improvement 100%. Okay. Looking good. Don't freak out yet. Now let's try the floor.</div>
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Not too shabby. I made sure to leave plenty of time after each coat for the paint to dry. It took two coats of primer and a coat of ultra bright white paint leftover from the staircase project, but I was extremely happy with the results. The room was feeling less and less cave-like. So long as nobody intentionally tried to scratch the paint off the walls with dagger-like claws, it would <i>probably</i> be fine.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fxRPDz0Xv1o/T6KOYGLg5wI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/fpReCwN4gKo/s720/IMG_8459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fxRPDz0Xv1o/T6KOYGLg5wI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/fpReCwN4gKo/s640/IMG_8459.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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I used more leftover paint from my paint closet for the wall above the tiles and the floor. I went with stripes on the floor simply because it was quick and easy and I had painter's tape on hand. I highly recommend painting over the painters tape with the base color and letting it dry before painting with the top color. It gives you crisp lines and prevents the top color from leaking under the tape. I used Kilz primer for the base and simple water based latex for the stripes (same as the walls). Then I painted over everything with water based polyurethane a few times. So far, it's held up perfectly. No scratches or anything and it's easy to swiffer.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0p8iP8i_kw0/T6KOeHN1zqI/AAAAAAAAEKo/bC8nqDVs0G4/s320/IMG_8463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0p8iP8i_kw0/T6KOeHN1zqI/AAAAAAAAEKo/bC8nqDVs0G4/s640/IMG_8463.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then, I got pregnant and since I'm pretty much useless during the first trimester (must sleep at all times!), no more progress was made until February when I finally got around to making a <a href="http://yeoldesandwichshoppeva.blogspot.com/2012/02/1-anthropologie-esque-ruffled-shower.html">ruffly shower curtain</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XRk7LiVezQ0/T0W4K_k4c4I/AAAAAAAADIU/mw_qQvTseho/s320/IMG_5162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XRk7LiVezQ0/T0W4K_k4c4I/AAAAAAAADIU/mw_qQvTseho/s640/IMG_5162.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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All that was left was to hang some art that tied together the Sea Sprite paint and the peachblow tub & sink. Hmm. What did I already own that had both a peachy pink color and blue??</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-srRNcVoZGYU/T6KaDu8s64I/AAAAAAAAENc/ZP-GjnDhvq4/s320/IMG_1041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-srRNcVoZGYU/T6KaDu8s64I/AAAAAAAAENc/ZP-GjnDhvq4/s640/IMG_1041.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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My Japanese kimono from Sakura Matsuri (the cherry blossom festival). </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eyl7MWwn6r4/T6L2C8A-m2I/AAAAAAAAEOQ/U20m6FRfcBo/s320/cherry%2520blossom%25201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eyl7MWwn6r4/T6L2C8A-m2I/AAAAAAAAEOQ/U20m6FRfcBo/s640/cherry%2520blossom%25201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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My dad was in the Army and we lived in Japan on and off from the time I was about 8 until I was almost 16. When I was 14 or 15, my parents had us garbed in traditional Japanese clothing (a gift from a Japanese friend) for the Camp Zama Cherry Blossom Festival. The base opened up to the Japanese for the festival and we quickly became a major attraction. Nothing like a bunch of blue eyed Caucasian kids <i>properly</i> dressed for the festival (tabi socks, geta sandals, obis and all) to bring out the cameras.</div>
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I found a series of Japanese related <a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/explore/dgexplore.cfm?col_id=161">cigarette cards</a> through the New York Public Library and asked my SIL Theresa to print them for me. Thanks, pretty lady! I first came across the NYPL's free collection of cigarette cards when my other SIL Sarah blogged about them <a href="http://fivecamels.blogspot.com/2011/09/swanky-nest.html">here</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://images.nypl.org/index.php?id=1658268&t=w" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="http://images.nypl.org/index.php?id=1658268&t=w" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://images.nypl.org/index.php?id=1658244&t=w" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://images.nypl.org/index.php?id=1658244&t=w" width="640" /></a></div>
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I chose these three cards because the colors suited my kimono and because they each have meaning for me. I used to live in Yokohama (you could see Mt. Fuji from our bedroom window on a clear day), I actually attended a traditional Japanese tea ceremony at the Sakura Matsuri while dressed in my kimono with my siblings (the green tea is SO bitter, but you can't make a face because that would be very rude!), and I used to go shopping off base in Machida (a part of Tokyo) with my high school friends all the time.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oPZMcx-0pX4/T6KZc4Hnd1I/AAAAAAAAEME/XAcs7sAAyU8/s320/IMG_1027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oPZMcx-0pX4/T6KZc4Hnd1I/AAAAAAAAEME/XAcs7sAAyU8/s640/IMG_1027.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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I used frames I already had in my Goodwill Outlet stash to hang everything in the bathroom.</div>
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A friend in college gave me this very old and delicate map of Japan and Korea from 1897.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cgA5OXAEQxM/T6KZuS2gZHI/AAAAAAAAEOg/Csw24iFca_c/s320/IMG_1034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cgA5OXAEQxM/T6KZuS2gZHI/AAAAAAAAEOg/Csw24iFca_c/s640/IMG_1034.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
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The plates above the toilet were a wedding present from my Grandmother Wightman and have little fish on them.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VsOpLBXx9rE/T6KZf9ckoBI/AAAAAAAAEOw/MOxzqtWtk5w/s720/IMG_1031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VsOpLBXx9rE/T6KZf9ckoBI/AAAAAAAAEOw/MOxzqtWtk5w/s640/IMG_1031.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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The colors of the fish work perfectly with the kimono.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KYd1x2vXA0Q/T6KZjMrXZwI/AAAAAAAAEOo/MXyoG2T_3c0/s320/IMG_1032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KYd1x2vXA0Q/T6KZjMrXZwI/AAAAAAAAEOo/MXyoG2T_3c0/s640/IMG_1032.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The wooden fan is just something I've had since living in Japan. It was just sitting around in it's box. I printed a picture of my siblings and I dressed in our kimonos & hakama at the Sakura Matsuri.</div>
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This photo makes me smile. We got to have our hair professionally done for the day and were dressed by the Japanese family who gave us the kimonos. As kids and young teenagers, of course, we weren't necessarily totally thrilled with being stared at by <i>everyone </i>on base<i>, </i>but it's still a good memory.</div>
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Here's the overall after effect:</div>
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This window is so small, I feel like window treatments would swallow it up. Thoughts?</div>
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In retrospect, given the way I decorated the room, it might have been better to go with a stenciled floor instead of a striped floor. Possibly a stencil with an Asian feel to it. I'm not redoing it anytime soon and this was not a permanent makeover because the room still has problems. It's still way better than black and white static though. Thoughts? </div>
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If you look closely at the mirror, you can see wires and missing tiles around it. I painted them white so they would be less noticeable, but they are still there. Like I said, the room still has problems. This was just a quick fix. I keep thinking it might be fun to somehow rig some paper lanterns around the hollywood light strip since I'm not planning to replace the light fixture anyday soon and the naked bulbs bug me. Thoughts and suggestions? Totally open to ideas here!</div>
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I rigged a skirt around the sink using some ruffly white window panels to hide the ugly exposed plumbing and trash can, but the sticky velcro I used keeps falling down and driving me crazy. I'm going to have to rethink this. Again, thoughts? Suggestions?</div>
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And finally, my little secret... I didn't bother to paint the area around the tub since I knew it would be hidden by the shower curtain. Plus, painting an area that is supposed to get wet and be used for showering seemed unwise. Not that the tub or sink drain well.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-USBX4-FFQlA/T6KZyYhFNeI/AAAAAAAAEM8/tCKmsx_LlVU/s720/IMG_1037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-USBX4-FFQlA/T6KZyYhFNeI/AAAAAAAAEM8/tCKmsx_LlVU/s640/IMG_1037.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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shh. don't tell.</div>
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The extremely heavy white enameled cast iron kitchen sink is currently chilling in the tub. I might end up using it in the laundry room one day. Not sure yet.</div>
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Is it my dream bathroom? No.</div>
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Do I let guests pee in there now? Yes.</div>
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I spent under $3 making over the entire room and it's now at a stage where I can live with it in peace, so I'm happy. Plus, now it's full of happy childhood memories. :)</div>
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What do you think? Have any spaces that are really bugging you?</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-74729378037131073802012-04-26T10:00:00.003-04:002012-04-26T21:02:57.280-04:00Juliana Claire's *Mostly Finished* NurseryJuliana's nursery isn't done, but since I could go into labor anytime and since I have <a href="http://fivecamels.blogspot.com/">a certain sister-in-law</a> who insists that she's <i>"dying"</i> a slow agonizing death without nursery photos, I thought I'd go ahead and share what I've done so far.<br />
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This is what I started with two weekends ago:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-adQE_-rAzyw/T5k9yOWZjMI/AAAAAAAAEFo/vtHX9cm0I9Q/s1024/IMG_9549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-adQE_-rAzyw/T5k9yOWZjMI/AAAAAAAAEFo/vtHX9cm0I9Q/s640/IMG_9549.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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What a mess! I'm usually a "share the step-by-step process" kind of gal, but since I had a definite timeline, I just didn't have time for <i>that</i> much blogging.</div>
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Just looking in there made me want to bang my head against the wall. Repeatedly. Until I knocked myself unconscious.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">terribly mangled star mobile from Joseph's nursery</span></div>
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Fortunately, once I got it cleaned up and started <strike>playing</strike> decorating, it started coming together beautifully. In my opinion, anyways.</div>
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I set up a couple of rules for the room:</div>
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<li>Reuse as much of Joseph's nursery items as possible. Check.</li>
<li>Use items from around the house and spend no more than $5 total on<i> necessary </i>crafting supplies (i.e. thread, hanging hardware, etc.). Check.</li>
<li>Embrace the fact that you are going to have a baby girl and have fun with it. The space should make you happy. Check.</li>
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Let's get started before my ticket to aunthood expires from the anticipation. ;) This is what you see when you first walk in the door:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--LAToFaDmaI/T5k9-RrEynI/AAAAAAAAEGI/tE5L840-Mug/s1024/IMG_0944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--LAToFaDmaI/T5k9-RrEynI/AAAAAAAAEGI/tE5L840-Mug/s640/IMG_0944.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sorry, the pictures aren't the greatest. It was a super rainy, gloomy, and dark morning so I had to turn on the overhead light.</span></div>
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I made this little welcoming door wreath last night with some ribbon (one of my few purchases), an old Christmas cranberry wreath that had cracked cranberries all over it, scrapbooking stickers that my Mom gave me a <i>long</i> time ago. and some foam letters that my MIL picked up on clearance at Target (the same ones we used for our <a href="http://yeoldesandwichshoppeva.blogspot.com/2012/04/educational-abc-easter-eggs.html">ABC Easter eggs</a>). Thank you, mothers!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3P_j4Mgdz7E/T5k_H2NgGuI/AAAAAAAAEJI/mf6KV0YbcSg/s720/IMG_0979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3P_j4Mgdz7E/T5k_H2NgGuI/AAAAAAAAEJI/mf6KV0YbcSg/s640/IMG_0979.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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The view when you walk a little bit further into the room:</div>
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The view from the tall dresser in the corner:</div>
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And the view from the corner behind the glider:</div>
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The little bookcase corner right by the door has my old jewelry box and some kissing teddy bears that I had lying around. They are <strike>making out</strike> sitting in the same exact style chair that I used for my dollies when I was a kid (from Goodwill Outlet a long time ago). The hanging branch is something I just grabbed out of my backyard and the dress hanging on it was my SIL Theresa's baptismal gown. I can't wait to put Juliana in all that frilly white! The artwork is one of three numbered and signed prints by Mark Strauss. He is a Holocaust survivor and was my very first guest speaker as a history teacher. I bought the prints for Joseph's nursery at a teacher discount of $20 each.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V7zn7o0bbz8/T5k-N98WeUI/AAAAAAAAEGw/B5ti4AhEgNQ/s720/IMG_0950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V7zn7o0bbz8/T5k-N98WeUI/AAAAAAAAEGw/B5ti4AhEgNQ/s640/IMG_0950.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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The ceiling to floor curtains are made from two different linens I already had in the closet - my sister Kate's old IKEA duvet from her high school days and a light blue fitted bed sheet.</div>
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I love how fun this fabric is, but the spunky purple flowers are a bone of contention with me. It's not that I don't think they are fun and cute... It's that there is <i>NO</i> purple anywhere else in the room. I've tried to convince myself to ignore them, but they make my eye twitch. So, I'm in the process of making little blue fabric roses to cover them up. It will only take about a 100...</div>
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Yes. I am aware that I'm off my rocker. ;)</div>
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The grape vine wreaths in the windows were a part of Joseph's nursery. The little owls sitting on them were knitted by my mother for Joseph's nursery when he was a baby. She made me a <i>whole parliament </i>of them!</div>
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The lamp also used to be in my sister Kate's room in high school. It has been spray painted white and ribbon-ified. I used hot glue on each end of the ribbon to make a fun latticework shade inspired by <a href="http://caitlinwilsondesign.blogspot.com/2011/01/diy-trellis-lampshade.html">this</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NOKyPX8Auew/T5k-kMCel4I/AAAAAAAAEHg/-mmGCxXqTsg/s720/IMG_0961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NOKyPX8Auew/T5k-kMCel4I/AAAAAAAAEHg/-mmGCxXqTsg/s640/IMG_0961.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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The grass in the baby food jars on the window sill was <a href="http://yeoldesandwichshoppeva.blogspot.com/2012/04/grass-latest-greatest-in-baby-food.html">grown by Joseph</a> for his <a href="http://yeoldesandwichshoppeva.blogspot.com/2012/03/sarahs-baby-shower-main-table.html">aunt's baby shower</a> and then used for his <a href="http://yeoldesandwichshoppeva.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-do-dinosaurs-say-happy-birthday.html">second birthday</a>. Now, it's gracing his baby sister's room. *sniff*</div>
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I love the big prints by <a href="http://markstrauss.com/home.html">Mark Strauss</a>. They always amaze me because the man had a bomb blow up in his hands and is missing a large chunk of his fingers. I simply can't comprehend how someone who has been through so much can paint such beautiful and whimsical landscapes. On the whole, I find them very moving. I didn't have a theme for the room, but I built the nursery around these three prints.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fIY25m-y1SI/T5k-ZWyhWWI/AAAAAAAAEHI/2FDCeiRikIY/s1024/IMG_0956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fIY25m-y1SI/T5k-ZWyhWWI/AAAAAAAAEHI/2FDCeiRikIY/s640/IMG_0956.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This one is my favorite:</div>
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<a href="http://www.markstrauss.com/Landscapes/fullsize/stone_wall_fs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.markstrauss.com/Landscapes/fullsize/stone_wall_fs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The framed ABCs that go all around the the top of the room were a hand-me-down from my SIL Sarah. She originally had them on the wall in <a href="http://fivecamels.blogspot.com/2012/01/nursery-progress.html">baby Katherine's nursery</a>, but decided to take the room in a different direction. So she gave them to me! Sweet! Thank you, Sarah! I had my brother stain the dollar store frames to match the rest of the frames and furniture in the room. The conversation went like this:</div>
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"Hey, Marshall! Would you stain some frames for me when I come over tomorrow?"</div>
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"Yeah, sure!"<br />
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"Thanks!"</div>
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The next day:</div>
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"So, I may have neglected to mention that there are... um... 26 frames..."</div>
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"WHAT?!"</div>
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"I'm framing the alphabet. It's going to be adorable!"</div>
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"You could have mentioned that yesterday!?!"</div>
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"Aw, c'mon! You wouldn't make a pregnant lady breath in fumes while staining <i>twenty-six</i> frames now would you?" (This argument works for <i>everything</i> with him. It's so sweet! Usually, you have to bribe the kid to get him to do anything.)</div>
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"You know that isn't going to work for very much longer, right? Once you have the baby, you'll have to start bribing me again."</div>
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"But it's working now? Right?"</div>
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*grumble grumble* "Fiiine..."</div>
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Ha. I love it.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n30U9JgdDLU/T5k-dV570lI/AAAAAAAAEHQ/nHfsReu0-rE/s1024/IMG_0957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n30U9JgdDLU/T5k-dV570lI/AAAAAAAAEHQ/nHfsReu0-rE/s640/IMG_0957.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The little antique fan on the top of dresser was acquired at the Yard Crawl a few years ago. The book is the complete works of Beatrix Potter. I love me some Peter Rabbit and it goes with my Peter Rabbit music box. Each of the four music boxes on the dresser belongs to me and my three siblings. My mom got each of them when we were born. I have them in safe-keeping until my siblings decide they want them.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NAu_sxGDvvA/T5k-paKgknI/AAAAAAAAEHw/ymraYLOrotY/s720/IMG_0964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NAu_sxGDvvA/T5k-paKgknI/AAAAAAAAEHw/ymraYLOrotY/s640/IMG_0964.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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One of my favorite spots in the room is the changing table. The doily bunting with Juliana's name is just made from twine, paper doilies, and the same foam letters from my MIL.</div>
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I picked up some embroidery hoops at the Yard Crawl last year and have been waiting for the perfect use for them. I also acquired some antique doilies at a church bazaar sale with Sarah sometime last year. I put the two together and I am totally smitten with the results.</div>
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I hung them with clear beading string from a near invisible nylon fishing line that is stretched taught between hooks in the ceiling.</div>
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I'm using the same chalkboard that I used on the <a href="http://yeoldesandwichshoppeva.blogspot.com/2012/03/sarahs-baby-shower-milk-cookie-bar.html">milk & cookies bar</a> at Sarah's baby shower on the back of the door. I haven't decided if the frame needs to be painted a happy color or not, but for now, I think it looks good.</div>
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The lacy bunting on the wall behind the crib is made from an old stained lace bed skirt from my closet. I pretty much let my girly side reign with the crib.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sbCaetWLAiU/T5k-RFoWceI/AAAAAAAAEG4/aNn0KsnWPYw/s320/IMG_0952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sbCaetWLAiU/T5k-RFoWceI/AAAAAAAAEG4/aNn0KsnWPYw/s640/IMG_0952.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Not because of the beautifully crocheted blankets from Stephen's aunt or the adorable little pink rabbit from my MIL. No. Definitely because of the pink platypus. Every little girl needs a fuzzy pink platypus. It's a rule.</div>
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I was also inspired by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/61838230/subliminal-baby-letterpress-art-print?ref=sr_list_7&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=crying+is+for+babies&ga_view_type=list&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade">this</a> to make a little framed word art with a scrap of blue fitted sheet left from the curtain project and the foam letters from my MIL.</div>
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It amuses me to have it by the crib and glider. Besides, that wall was <i>practically blank</i>, so I had to throw it together last night. Hi, my name is Caroline, and I don't like bare wall space. At one point over the weekend, Stephen walked in and pointed at this corner and said, "You missed a space. You should get on that." ;)</div>
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I was waffling about possibly putting up a princess drape above the crib on Pinterest when Sarah decided Juliana <i>needed</i> a princess drape and gave me the most adorable hand carved shelf from her house. She picked it up for a song at a yard sale a long time ago. Thank you again, pretty lady! I draped a lacy table cloth and some white sheer curtains from the inside of the shelf using tacks and a staple gun. I even found a queen sized bed skirt in my linen closet (four pictures up) with an edge on it that sort of mimics the carving and used it as the crib skirt! Love.</div>
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The moravian stars that I made into a star mobile (using the same method as the doily mobile) were actually made by my Aunt Jennifer and given to me as a wedding present. They are something of a tradition in our family and they used to hang above Joseph when he was a baby.</div>
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The most adorable "J" on the planet was actually a little cardboard J that was given to me by Sarah's friend <a href="http://www.madeinearlysville.com/">Karla</a>. Thank you so much! It's my favorite thing in the whole room!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kmisHmuCEWM/T5lPV8BHMuI/AAAAAAAABG8/QoIDf7jbiOM/s1483/2012-04-23_00-51-26_576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kmisHmuCEWM/T5lPV8BHMuI/AAAAAAAABG8/QoIDf7jbiOM/s640/2012-04-23_00-51-26_576.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Belly!</div>
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I hand painted it using <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/72087523/pocketful-of-posies">Katie Daisy's Pocketful of Posies</a> as a guide. I couldn't be happier with the results. It just so stinkin' happy!</div>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">So, that's where we stand with the nursery. I still need to cover up the glider. It's a hand-me-down from my MIL and plenty comfortable, but the blonde wood sticks out like a sore thumb and the cushions are straight out of the early 90s. I plan to make a slip cover for it... probably from white bed sheets. We'll see.</span></div>
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I also have the little bookshelf in the corner for toy storage. It doesn't go with the rest of the dark mahogany furniture either, but it's functional and helps to cover up a giant plumbing access panel that I don't consider to be especially safe for small children to be around. So, I will be making a slip cover again, probably out of white bedsheets. It will serve to hide the toys and make it work better with the rest of the room.</div>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">So... a few projects left to complete:</span></div>
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<li>DIY glider slipcover</li>
<li>DIY bookcase slipcover</li>
<li>DIY oval rag rug from sheets</li>
<li>glue broken dresser drawer</li>
<li>make 100 or so fabric flowers and use to cover purple curtain flowers</li>
<li>make small, easy faux roman shades to hide the miniblinds and black out shades.</li>
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Am I going to get any of these done?</div>
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Well, considering my present state, probably not.<br />
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But I'll keep working on it right up until contractions start. ;)</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-90167435007442699682012-04-24T10:05:00.000-04:002012-04-24T10:05:00.241-04:00Easter Maternity PortraitsJoseph was actually born at 7:39am Easter morning two years ago. Since my little man had just turned two and I am about to have another kid, I was feeling super sentimental all day on Easter Sunday.<br />
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I even put my hair up into a ponytail on the top of my head and chopped off six inches the night before, which I <i>also </i>did when I was 7 or 8 months pregnant with Joseph. Apparently it's going to be one of my 8 months pregnant traditions???<br />
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<b>Brain:</b> Will have small baby depending on you 24/7. Will have no time for grooming and hair maintenance for the next year. Chop off hair. Now. DO IT.</blockquote>
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Brain won the argument, I got even more sentimental, and I asked Stephen to take some pictures of Joseph and my hugely 8 months pregnant self together at the river Easter evening.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OhAp-FEuvnE/T5X9ar7dbOI/AAAAAAAAD-A/baiNWIsgk9s/s1024/IMG_9210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OhAp-FEuvnE/T5X9ar7dbOI/AAAAAAAAD-A/baiNWIsgk9s/s640/IMG_9210.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Virginia bluebells were all blooming along the bank making everything super pretty.<br />
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I'm kind of madly in love with my little guy, but he was too excited to sit with his Mommy when we were <i>at. the. river.</i><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oEMZOPHyRjg/T5X9lvS4r3I/AAAAAAAAD-Q/MZXvM4FozZE/s1024/IMG_9243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oEMZOPHyRjg/T5X9lvS4r3I/AAAAAAAAD-Q/MZXvM4FozZE/s640/IMG_9243.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Consequently, there was lots of escaping and running back and forth between me and his Daddy.<br />
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Silly kid. Doesn't he know he can't escape his mother??</div>
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No matter how hard he tries?</div>
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Because in the end, she has the strength to just lift him up off the ground.</div>
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Muahahahaha.</div>
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Upside down toddler.</div>
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I win.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4YEmw6P5zsE/T5X93GK3JAI/AAAAAAAAD-4/G3R1EUbgn_k/s720/IMG_9259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4YEmw6P5zsE/T5X93GK3JAI/AAAAAAAAD-4/G3R1EUbgn_k/s640/IMG_9259.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Such a silly goose.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LJCTqgI7wlE/T5X-Gnx6y7I/AAAAAAAAD_Q/tlyOycqX3Os/s720/IMG_9281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LJCTqgI7wlE/T5X-Gnx6y7I/AAAAAAAAD_Q/tlyOycqX3Os/s640/IMG_9281.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Uncooperative toddlers must be tickled. It's a rule.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kT5gcfDtOOY/T5X-KEUXafI/AAAAAAAAD_Y/pafSRRhXYMM/s720/IMG_9282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kT5gcfDtOOY/T5X-KEUXafI/AAAAAAAAD_Y/pafSRRhXYMM/s640/IMG_9282.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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This is the, "MooOOOoooM! Lemme go!" face:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u4yfMYVQH-8/T5X-MysRGsI/AAAAAAAAEAI/Ri4iyfBa-3k/s720/IMG_9298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u4yfMYVQH-8/T5X-MysRGsI/AAAAAAAAEAI/Ri4iyfBa-3k/s640/IMG_9298.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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See? He's trying to pry my arm away.</div>
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Then we went up to the covered bridge. Favorite. Maternity. Photo. Location. Ever.</div>
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Lift.</div>
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Toss.</div>
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Catch.</div>
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I'm such a bad 8 months pregnant woman. Setting a poor example for proper pregnancy behavior. All I have to say to that is that I spend all day picking the kid up and down. And I'm still pregnant. With a very hiccupy baby. Who is welcome to arrive after Saturday night, but no sooner. ;)</div>
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Now... To take those 8.95 months pregnant photos... Soon. Very. Very. Soon.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2825929537184481794.post-82731993955002518862012-04-23T21:35:00.002-04:002012-04-23T22:17:07.413-04:00Baby Food Jars of Grass. So easy, a toddler can do it!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What I forgot to mention about the baby food jars of grass that we planted for <a href="http://yeoldesandwichshoppeva.blogspot.com/search?q=sarah%27s+baby+shower">Sarah's baby shower</a> (and then later used for <a href="http://yeoldesandwichshoppeva.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-do-dinosaurs-say-happy-birthday.html">Joseph's birthday party</a>)...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UhfSZNY1LRc/T3Eoh9Gj4MI/AAAAAAAADjs/2qnIf4MLMww/s320/IMG_7834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UhfSZNY1LRc/T3Eoh9Gj4MI/AAAAAAAADjs/2qnIf4MLMww/s640/IMG_7834.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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...is that Joseph was 90% responsible for them. I just supervised.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5IDWAaWWNoI/T2JSarbCrzI/AAAAAAAADZY/Q1cBzTDnzzg/s1024/IMG_5189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5IDWAaWWNoI/T2JSarbCrzI/AAAAAAAADZY/Q1cBzTDnzzg/s640/IMG_5189.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And yes, we did this indoors.</div>
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At his picnic table. In the middle of my kitchen. Over my outdoor kitchen rug. Because it was freezing outside at the time.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vxEs8aFpbEM/T2JScIkm7qI/AAAAAAAADZk/bI2OQbJKGmU/s1024/IMG_5193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vxEs8aFpbEM/T2JScIkm7qI/AAAAAAAADZk/bI2OQbJKGmU/s640/IMG_5193.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It really wasn't that bad and what's the point in owning a vacuum if you can't use it for occasions like this??</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TExbG6VCQ-A/T2JScs3CYaI/AAAAAAAADZ4/pFPl4vcl74o/s1024/IMG_5201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TExbG6VCQ-A/T2JScs3CYaI/AAAAAAAADZ4/pFPl4vcl74o/s640/IMG_5201.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was a super simple activity and the little guy was totally absorbed with his assigned task for his Aunt Sarah.</div>
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I gave him a bowl of garden soil, a spoon, and a bunch of empty baby jars. He filled each jar to overflowing and I would move the full jars far away from him so that he would focus on the empty jars.</div>
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Then I gave him a jar full of grass seed and showed him how to sprinkle some into each jar.</div>
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I voted for sprinkling, he voted for dumping large handfuls.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j92hhiwDOmw/T2JSfxI80iI/AAAAAAAADaM/T0L_eM5tGDI/s1024/IMG_5213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j92hhiwDOmw/T2JSfxI80iI/AAAAAAAADaM/T0L_eM5tGDI/s640/IMG_5213.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And in my opinion, the jars with the excessive amounts of grass seed turned out to be the nicest looking. Joseph. Grass grower extraordinaire.</div>
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He even put the last spoonful of dirt over the seeds.</div>
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And then helped me water them and place them on the kitchen window sill to grow.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5zp1dDOZ5Wc/T2JSi-7CRPI/AAAAAAAADak/h8MbKceWjD4/s720/IMG_5227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5zp1dDOZ5Wc/T2JSi-7CRPI/AAAAAAAADak/h8MbKceWjD4/s640/IMG_5227.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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And, despite having used grass seed from last spring, it grew!!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sgZUy84wm7o/T099-lb5vkI/AAAAAAAAAuA/dQTH5KGiMQM/s1483/2012-03-01_08-47-06_915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sgZUy84wm7o/T099-lb5vkI/AAAAAAAAAuA/dQTH5KGiMQM/s640/2012-03-01_08-47-06_915.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I know it's lame, but I was so proud of us for growing grass together and not killing it before the shower!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jUsQ_DbC92g/T3EooeSpMYI/AAAAAAAADk0/5N8VOgE01VQ/s1024/IMG_7848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jUsQ_DbC92g/T3EooeSpMYI/AAAAAAAADk0/5N8VOgE01VQ/s640/IMG_7848.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And now? They are cheering up my kitchen window sills and destined for greatness in Juliana's nursery. :)</div>
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I'm taking the grass as a sign that Joseph and I. CAN. GROW. PLANTS. TOGETHER. So I bought us a bunch of packets of seeds and we will hopefully plant them soon. Like tomorrow. Or Thursday. Right? Right???</div>
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Ha. Can anyone say "denial"??</div>
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*****</div>
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P.S. Did anyone catch the message on the fridge?</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06475458653755548885noreply@blogger.com2