tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10629410429366061582024-03-14T03:32:44.512-05:00My Riddles 3A chronicle of crafts, silliness and love.Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-47618366593269394892012-08-16T01:00:00.000-05:002012-08-16T13:02:51.889-05:00August blog circle- DeterminationI thought for a long time about this topic. I'm not great at seeing creatively. I do think in pictures, as many photographers do. My mind just automatically seems to think, ooh, take a picture of that! Or, oh, frame it this way and it'll be a great shot! But when it comes to photographing something that doesn't really have a specific form.. I'm usually at a loss. But for this month, determination has taken on a slightly different meaning. <br />
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My older two children recently started school, and have left my youngest, the newly turned 3 year old, at home alone with me. <br />
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The first two days of school went easily, since we had a friend we knew from Korea and her two kids staying with us. The weekend flew by, and it was Monday again... So what exactly were we going to do? We went to my Stroller Strides class, which is a daily thing throughout the week. But after that, there were no siblings to chase at the park or ride bikes with. There were only two or three kids that were old enough to play with, but not old enough for school. <br />
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This is one benefit- one on one Daddy time! (Thanks to L and J for his new Lincoln log set)!<br />
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Anyhow, he is determined that he is going to 'grow up big and be 5 and ride the bus' (even though we only live one street over from the school, and they walk there and back.. hehehehe). So almost everything he does, he has to do it like Sissy and Bubba. Daddy even took the training wheels off his bike! (And my oldest didn't learn until THIS summer how to ride without those)!<br />
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He is DETERMINED to do it! And I think he will succeed in just about anything he wants to do, unless Mama or Daddy naysay it.. lol.. He is very stubborn and headstrong, this one. And we cherish him for it, whilst simultaneously banging our heads against the wall and trying to figure out how to discipline without breaking his spirit. Strong-willed child, yes. Softy at night or when he gets hurt? Yes. Determined? Definitely. <br />
Just a few more on the topic- we went to the park recently, and Jacob, my oldest, was, yes, you guessed it- determined he would get that basketball into the hoop. :)<br />
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He never quite made it, but he showed how much he's grown up recently by not throwing a fit or crying over not being able to do it. He was quite happy to be distracted by his friends and siblings.<br />
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Determination on Mom's part will get you silly faces! :)<br />
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And sometimes, brotherly love. (You should see the outtakes of these, they are hilarious)! :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was him saying "Ta da!" when he made it up the huge rock face to get back to the car. </td></tr>
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Finally, determination will always get you somewhere. Its up to you to decide which direction you're going. Choose wisely. :)<br />
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Next up in the blog circle, is the lovely <a href="http://katiesmithphotography.com/determination-killeen-texas-photographer/" target="_blank">Katie Smith</a>!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-89150549833552524882012-07-20T15:41:00.003-05:002012-07-20T20:23:01.822-05:00July blog circle- TEXTURE<br />
Hello all! This is my second time participating in the blog circle. This month, we were supposed to capture texture. I used things around my house, since I am not so creative as to go out and about yet. :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">My daughter's quilt- I was using it as a guide for a new quilt I'm making. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Fur baby #1- Tiger. She loves her bed, although she used to hate it. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Fur baby # 2- Smoke. More the kids' than mine, even though we got her on my birthday. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Row of stuffed animals in C's room. She loves her animals. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Dresses, robes and dress-up stuff. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Bright green grass out front. <br />
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Please continue on to the next wonderful photographer-<a href="http://katiesmithphotography.com/is-furry-a-texture-killeen-photographer/" target="_blank"> Katie Smith</a>!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-56134483368481261242012-06-22T08:35:00.001-05:002012-06-22T08:45:40.422-05:00Colors of summerRecently, I joined a blog circle, my first one. The idea is that we all break out of any rut we might be in and shoot in a creative way for each month's theme. This month is Colors of Summer. Unfortunately, we never made it to the splash park that I had planned to use for the theme, and the last two days it was only in the mid-70's here, so I'm using an image that I captured of my son on his bicycle. Since we left Korea this past March, my children have had the opportunity to actually be outside and running, jumping, climbing and riding as much as they want. It has been fabulous!! :) The first week school was out, I didn't see the kids until it was dark. Sometimes dinner wasn't even until 830-9 pm, closely followed by bedtime!<br />
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Anyhow, here is what the colors of summer are to us.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my actual submission- summer represents a new feeling of freedom. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-njqoqcLhcHM/T-RzfoleC_I/AAAAAAAAAyg/qp99thrBuTg/s1600/054-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-njqoqcLhcHM/T-RzfoleC_I/AAAAAAAAAyg/qp99thrBuTg/s320/054-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This obviously isn't in color, but its our neighbor's daughter and her reaction to her father rolling her into the sprinkler's path. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showing off his italian-iced tongue</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first fishing trip of the summer- my 7 yr old caught this one. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B76Bt9YQWmw/T-Rz_-V-RGI/AAAAAAAAAy4/GXNwAuRC9S4/s1600/296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B76Bt9YQWmw/T-Rz_-V-RGI/AAAAAAAAAy4/GXNwAuRC9S4/s320/296.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Italian ices from the Renaissance Faire. </td></tr>
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Next up in the blog circle is Katie McDuffie Smith, a Killeen photographer. Click on the link to view her post on the colors of summer. <a href="http://katiesmithphotography.com/killeen-photographer-colors-of-summer/">http://katiesmithphotography.com/killeen-photographer-colors-of-summer/</a><br />
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I hope you enjoy our Military spouse photographer blog circle! :) Stay tuned for next month's theme!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-40884341048675804312012-05-27T22:27:00.001-05:002012-05-27T22:27:05.867-05:00Making a house a homeWe're still here! So far, we are absolutely loving the house. There are a couple of areas that I wish I could change a bit, like any house, but we are slowly doing what we can to make it our home. I've put up a few family pictures, and two of our canvases in the dining room, and our Korean painting and name scroll are in the living room. We mounted the TV tonight, and added a shelf underneath it to hold the cable box and PS3. That will be temporary, since Jon and I will be deciding on either a media center or an entertainment center to build soon. <br />
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The kids have made friends, especially this last week, since the public schools finished on Friday. Friday night I had several children in the house that I had never met! It was a fun time. Tonight there were two more that we hadn't met yet, and praise God, none of them are children that I felt uneasy having around. The playground being 200 yards from our house is really nice, too, we can sit in the driveway while Jamie rides his bike and the older two can go run and play at the park. <br />
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As for homeschooling, we have about another month left until they are finished. I've been doing my yearly pros and cons list, because Caitlynn is begging hard to be allowed to go to school. With almost everything someone says about public school, though, I am reminded of why we prefer to keep them at home. I guess I will have to find a few ways to keep Cait from being mad that she isn't going to school. Things are too uncertain with Jon's job and where we will end up for us to have them in school, on top of all the other reasons we prefer it. <br />
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We spent yesterday morning at Garden of the Gods, which was amazing! The kids really got into the climbing and bird watching. Here are a few pictures that I will leave you with. :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cait took this of us at America the Beautiful park on Friday. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He had to have his turn carrying the Camelbak. :D</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They actually said, Mom come take a picture of us! hehehe</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamie didn't want ANY help climbing this part, he made it about 25 feet up, all the way to where Jon is in the next picture. I was too busy sweating it to take any pictures of how big it was. Jamie did a great job, though. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Jon ended up with Jamie towards the end, since I was carrying Cait. This was about 3.5 hours after we started (and still 30 minutes before we found the right trail to lead us to the car)! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-78842179523201535992012-05-15T00:44:00.000-05:002012-05-15T00:44:33.029-05:00Greetings from Colorado!We finally got internet here at our new house just today. Our trip home was highly eventful (more to come later), we got to spend some much needed time with family and friends, and were blessed to be able to stay with friends once we got here. Anyhow, I just wanted to post something so that you wouldn't think I'd fallen off the grid somewhere between Korea and the States. :) <br />
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Here are a couple of pictures from the last two months. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C with T<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Traveling Sea exhibit</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She was so proud of her creation!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His first ever baseball game!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ice cream in the park with friends</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool Leo! :D</td></tr>
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I feel kinda bad.. there aren't any pictures of Jacob that I've edited. He doesn't really like to be in the way of the camera unless its HIS idea first. I'll work on that. :D<br />
Night!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-9559264655588704882012-03-16T09:08:00.004-05:002012-03-16T09:08:50.739-05:00Last post from KoreaOur last week in Korea has been busy, wonderful, sad, crazy, silly and FULL!! We have been staying with some wonderful friends since we cleared out of our apartment. They also have three boys and 2 dogs, so its definitely full over here. :) Some different friends are pet-sitting for us, so we didn't have to add that particular crazy to this house. Tiger is getting along well with their hedgehog. Wish I had a pic of that! :D<br />
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Anyhow, we were blessed to receive a little over half of our deposit back- they only took out the last month's bills from our original deposit. Wooohooooo! We paid for the wallpaper to be fixed three days before they came to inspect, so technically that would have come out of our deposit as well, but hey, it looks great in there! <br />
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We've gotten several mementos and some gifts for a few family members and friends that we will be seeing in the coming weeks- I just recently have found the lovely jewelry boxes in the ville and am kicking myself for not getting one earlier.. lol<br />
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We sold our van three days ago, and have been walking/cabbing/bussing it- wow, was it really this hard when we first got here?? Whew! Its definitely an adventure having to carry a car seat all over again. luckily, Jamie walks now. <br />
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I was able to squeeze in one last newborn session for a friend that delivered 2 days after all our furniture was picked up. My camera travels with me, and Jon kept the external hard drive.. plus my friend that second shot with me agreed to edit the photos and dumped all of mine onto my drive for me. :D Good stuff all around. <br />
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I finished my second class for this semester (smack me if I decide to take another class then ends 11 days before an international move, will ya?), and just reminded myself to go check for grades. :P If my head wasn't attached, I think it would be rolling around somewhere.. probably very dusty by now. <br />
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Anyhow.. I think that's about it.. Need to go to bed, because we are taking our very last trip to Yongsan tomorrow morning. Going to browse Itaewon (awesome souvenir district) and mail off a couple of last minute packages of souvenirs.. Maybe take the kids to a movie and then head home to double check that everything is packed. Then we head out Sunday morning to catch the bus to the airport. (Pray for us.. travelling with three kids, a dog and a cat that hates her crate).. Jon has never flown with any of the kids yet.. lol.. should prove to be an interesting ride.. 10 hour flight to CA, an hour layover (woohoo, stretch the legs time!), and another few hours to land in NY around 930pm. Whew. Luckily, my dad and uncle are driving 6 hours to bring us our car so we don't have to rent one. <br />
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Last post for about a month! Going to enjoy having family time with my family then Jon's, then visiting several friends.. and finally on to CO to another wonderful friend whom we haven't seen since Fort Sill! Jacob and their daughter Tiffany had just turned 1!!<br />
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Anyong!! (Goodbye)Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-39998480240986361902012-03-06T07:02:00.001-06:002012-03-06T07:02:47.138-06:00I Heart Faces BW ChallengeHere is my entry for the monthly challenge- Black and White. This was at a newborn session, by special request of the family. :)<br />
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<span style="float: right; width: 70%;"><code><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img alt="Photo Challenge Submission" src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/I-Heart-Faces-button.jpg" title="I Heart Faces
Photo Challenge Submission" /></a></code></span></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-19978661987692122972012-02-28T07:55:00.001-06:002012-02-28T07:55:47.854-06:00One last session before we leave KoreaI had the pleasure of photographing this little beauty last weekend. It should be my last session (unless a certain mama wants newborn photos:). Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LUFVQXPdMPw/T0zczocukhI/AAAAAAAAAu0/qhLJzIYaCIQ/s1600/036-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LUFVQXPdMPw/T0zczocukhI/AAAAAAAAAu0/qhLJzIYaCIQ/s320/036-3.jpg" uda="true" width="236px" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-33655386352327491282012-02-23T07:15:00.001-06:002012-02-23T07:15:48.602-06:00When your style changes...I did a newborn session for this family back in December. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9L_BHxxRV0/T0Y7t0fwkGI/AAAAAAAAAuM/Xq929TphUqA/s1600/061-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" lda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9L_BHxxRV0/T0Y7t0fwkGI/AAAAAAAAAuM/Xq929TphUqA/s400/061-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Well, when I got an email from them today, I went back over their photos, and realized that my style had changed. When I shot their session, I was thinking along the lines of posed newborn shots. I recently have changed my view more towards lifestyle photography, finding it much more enjoyable. So when I found this gem.. I had to edit it for them. It exudes that newborn peacefulness. :) <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dhZ5j1NGYts/T0Y71Tj470I/AAAAAAAAAuU/rX17B8-yvto/s1600/073-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" lda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dhZ5j1NGYts/T0Y71Tj470I/AAAAAAAAAuU/rX17B8-yvto/s400/073-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-23841678326052029732012-02-18T09:52:00.001-06:002012-02-18T09:52:02.748-06:00This blog post has really inspired me. I have been wanting to define on paper what it is that I want my children to learn, and be and do.. and its all written here, just like I've pictured, but haven't been able to say. Please go and be encouraged! :) <br />
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<a href="http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com/2012/02/three-of-most-important-words-parent.html">http://time-warp-wife.blogspot.com/2012/02/three-of-most-important-words-parent.html</a>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-42313810905944180282012-02-15T09:45:00.005-06:002012-02-15T09:45:35.344-06:00A few pictures from a recent tripAs I was finishing up editing a birthday session, I decided to jump back and do a few of my own pics. These are from our marriage retreat weekend- we went to see N. Seoul Tower. Here are a few of my favorites. :D<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The skyline from Seoul Tower</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rMZWrN0-KNQ/TzvSYL2-zXI/AAAAAAAAAtk/yyDUmvXIDSo/s1600/204-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rMZWrN0-KNQ/TzvSYL2-zXI/AAAAAAAAAtk/yyDUmvXIDSo/s400/204-1.jpg" width="400" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The temple atop the mountain</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pi_914ehER8/TzvSawYcQZI/AAAAAAAAAts/loPCAjV_ZhU/s1600/251-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pi_914ehER8/TzvSawYcQZI/AAAAAAAAAts/loPCAjV_ZhU/s400/251-1.jpg" width="266" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bear museum that describes Korea's history, past and present</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TgBJXB8Ojg8/TzvSd18tFhI/AAAAAAAAAt0/Al50hgwB4rk/s1600/290-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TgBJXB8Ojg8/TzvSd18tFhI/AAAAAAAAAt0/Al50hgwB4rk/s400/290-1.jpg" width="400" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wishful thinking</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--1B9MVay6kA/TzvSgsv8EMI/AAAAAAAAAt8/7zohVRKuB50/s1600/299-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--1B9MVay6kA/TzvSgsv8EMI/AAAAAAAAAt8/7zohVRKuB50/s400/299-1.jpg" width="400" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Locks of Love area- there are hundreds of thousands of locks on this mountain! The legend is that if you and your love leave an inscribed lock on Seoul Tower, you will have a long and happy love life and your dreams will come true. :)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8uRath-AeTY/TzvSjay2QbI/AAAAAAAAAuE/3o7x77kUxgI/s1600/301-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8uRath-AeTY/TzvSjay2QbI/AAAAAAAAAuE/3o7x77kUxgI/s400/301-1.jpg" width="400" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really big heart. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-36113104999402847992012-02-13T09:26:00.002-06:002012-02-13T09:26:52.179-06:00What a thrill!! :DI just clicked through a random email from I Heart Faces, and noticed that my photo of Gyungbokgung Palace was a Featured Photo for the Letter L Challenge last week!! :D<br />
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<a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/2012/02/alphabet-challenge-l-photos/">http://www.iheartfaces.com/2012/02/alphabet-challenge-l-photos/</a><br />
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Mine is the only one under Leading Lines. <br />
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What a thrill! :P I was totally shocked when my photo popped up. Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-76420830988486830972012-02-13T07:08:00.000-06:002012-02-13T07:08:40.207-06:00Cleaning, cleaning, cleaningWhew! This last week flew past, and its already the middle of February! I know that as I try to cram as many activities in as possible, the time will go even faster. So far, I have a trip to Dongdaemun planned (need to get the last few craft supplies before our movers come), a sleepover at our house this coming weekends, watching a friends kids the next (payback for both friends watching mine for my CDC observations), and attempting to get to Insadong and Myeongdong before we leave. Although those last two might have to wait til the week before we leave. Jon is going to start leave a few days before we actually get on the plane, so that we can see a bit more of Korea before the opportunity is completely gone. :P I do wish that we hadn't passed so many opportunities up because we didn't want to spend the money, but we have seen lots of cool places and done lots of new things here, so I am happy. <br />
<br />
I will definitely miss the kid friendliness here- my kids will not understand why people don't want to talk to them when we get back stateside! Jacob can ( and does!) strike up a conversation with pretty much anyone he sees, even if they don't speak the same language! :P <br />
<br />
We have already sold our couch, microwave and crock pot. On the list are the entertainment center, the loft bed, twin bed and toddler bed, since the floors are heated and the kids would rather spend the night on the floor for some reason. Plus, Jacob scared the heck out of me with a huge scream tonight, when he "fell off the side of Cait's bed while I was walking on the edge!" (Insert parental snort of "Well, duh. Don't walk on the bed railings."). He's got a nice little scrape bruise about 2 inches away from a very sensitive area. <br />
Add that to the fact that he has spent the last two days with a 103-104 degree fever, and its still about 101 today, and he wasn't feeling too great at bedtime. My poor man. <br />
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I'm feeling accomplished today- finished editing a session super early this morning, got most of my chores out of the way (including mopping the entire living room and kitchen, which I dread), swept and vacuumed the foyer (we aren't allowed to wear shoes in the house, and the foyer gets really nasty very fast with all the dirt that is tracked in). I really need to peel myself off the internet and go fold laundry, since Jacob doesn't have any pants left. :P <br />
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Some good news, though- Jon said that the tentative plan is to let him have half days as much as possible until the end of the month, so he can wrap up all the loose ends (vet, car, records, financial paperwork, etc) before he starts clearing. So that will be a huge help to me.. lol.. I won't have to fight to have the car in order to go around and do things. <br />
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Anyhow, nothing else to update with. I had planned to share a couple of pictures, but its not letting me click browse, so I will wait for another day. :DAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-77022782566353372762012-02-09T09:20:00.000-06:002012-02-09T09:20:18.232-06:00Picture postI wanted to share some images from the last few weeks. I apologize if you've already seen them on my Facebook- my goal is to eventually make a book out of my blog, just for the memento and being able to say I did it. :P So I post pictures in both places. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3SA5HSQDNCU/TzPfYHH-k3I/AAAAAAAAAqk/1SqUHJZug3M/s1600/086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" sda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3SA5HSQDNCU/TzPfYHH-k3I/AAAAAAAAAqk/1SqUHJZug3M/s320/086.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ghetto sledding at its finest! (Hey, there wasn't enough snow on the hills)!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sy4VpTpdjzw/TzPfaFETUEI/AAAAAAAAAqs/Yl3UYZChxls/s1600/087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" sda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sy4VpTpdjzw/TzPfaFETUEI/AAAAAAAAAqs/Yl3UYZChxls/s320/087.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catchin some good air! :)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0GhmlHm3GaE/TzPff4FFy6I/AAAAAAAAAq0/epz30Tui6Q0/s1600/102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0GhmlHm3GaE/TzPff4FFy6I/AAAAAAAAAq0/epz30Tui6Q0/s320/102.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamie's turn, courtesy of Daddy</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TuajS0xiBxM/TzPfiS_6cSI/AAAAAAAAAq8/MQPPygdG_XQ/s1600/103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TuajS0xiBxM/TzPfiS_6cSI/AAAAAAAAAq8/MQPPygdG_XQ/s320/103.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at me, Ma!! No hands!!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gzwKElbgbjM/TzPfvJmpH4I/AAAAAAAAArE/v_j5v0zBF3U/s1600/133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gzwKElbgbjM/TzPfvJmpH4I/AAAAAAAAArE/v_j5v0zBF3U/s320/133.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delighted grin</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MBY10NcSz9U/TzPfy5w4GZI/AAAAAAAAArM/K0whQHv43bw/s1600/135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MBY10NcSz9U/TzPfy5w4GZI/AAAAAAAAArM/K0whQHv43bw/s320/135.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "yay, I did it and I'm not hurt!' grin</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_R4sAk0sY0c/TzPf_eXr18I/AAAAAAAAArU/B1soSg0td78/s1600/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" sda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_R4sAk0sY0c/TzPf_eXr18I/AAAAAAAAArU/B1soSg0td78/s320/005.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A royal bench at the museum- no shoes allowed!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iD-qsJiCCLE/TzPgBwSl95I/AAAAAAAAArc/9lO6DDXfs1E/s1600/020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iD-qsJiCCLE/TzPgBwSl95I/AAAAAAAAArc/9lO6DDXfs1E/s320/020.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jacob writing his name and USA in Hangul</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tli731pw7OU/TzPgD_soEdI/AAAAAAAAArk/iHKHzOuYBy0/s1600/023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" sda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tli731pw7OU/TzPgD_soEdI/AAAAAAAAArk/iHKHzOuYBy0/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caitlynn writing her name in Hangul.. poor kid had LOTS of characters to write!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ls0Mh-nJTU8/TzPgG13OUbI/AAAAAAAAArs/MEO4ra1wbYc/s1600/031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" sda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ls0Mh-nJTU8/TzPgG13OUbI/AAAAAAAAArs/MEO4ra1wbYc/s320/031.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamie giving a death glare to the lady that had my camera! :P</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eyEm5DXZaCc/TzPgKmWrpSI/AAAAAAAAAr0/55k9nOAUCYw/s1600/039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" sda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eyEm5DXZaCc/TzPgKmWrpSI/AAAAAAAAAr0/55k9nOAUCYw/s320/039.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My turn!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nikTvEErm5A/TzPgNS-IKPI/AAAAAAAAAr8/ZXvdhwfWLAg/s1600/047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" sda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nikTvEErm5A/TzPgNS-IKPI/AAAAAAAAAr8/ZXvdhwfWLAg/s320/047.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And everyone knows that eating ice cream off the table makes it taste better, right?? :)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-12qm3Bin2os/TzPgQ0tGd8I/AAAAAAAAAsE/qJXPpbUq6sA/s1600/053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" sda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-12qm3Bin2os/TzPgQ0tGd8I/AAAAAAAAAsE/qJXPpbUq6sA/s320/053.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making a Korean good luck charm out of paper. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--z10KPx7DAU/TzPgTV0cTfI/AAAAAAAAAsM/kQJ2a6lH6Bo/s1600/061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--z10KPx7DAU/TzPgTV0cTfI/AAAAAAAAAsM/kQJ2a6lH6Bo/s320/061.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Her good luck charm. They had to color a paper that said what they wanted to be when they were adults, and it is tucked inside. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m0DYehKKe1Q/TzPgZ29tRZI/AAAAAAAAAsU/zs6XJRaxUwY/s1600/057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" sda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m0DYehKKe1Q/TzPgZ29tRZI/AAAAAAAAAsU/zs6XJRaxUwY/s320/057.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is where the boys were the entire time she was making her charm. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lCEmRz-AF5c/TzPgiFPXY5I/AAAAAAAAAsc/fHQ4KEyd2IE/s1600/070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" sda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lCEmRz-AF5c/TzPgiFPXY5I/AAAAAAAAAsc/fHQ4KEyd2IE/s320/070.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children's art on 3x3 wooden blocks. Caitlynn was exclaiming, " This one has a CAKE on it!"</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5bi305bqKu8/TzPgmP1UPeI/AAAAAAAAAsk/RfrhjSfjFMI/s1600/073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5bi305bqKu8/TzPgmP1UPeI/AAAAAAAAAsk/RfrhjSfjFMI/s320/073.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post-it note mosaic</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hUVl9bl7hyE/TzPgpm73tRI/AAAAAAAAAss/Nqf-f0I_JJY/s1600/076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hUVl9bl7hyE/TzPgpm73tRI/AAAAAAAAAss/Nqf-f0I_JJY/s320/076.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jacob actually asked me to take this picture. :D</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_QFAyHSMNMM/TzPguSlwpYI/AAAAAAAAAs0/ZZD7GRKqNZU/s1600/078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" sda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_QFAyHSMNMM/TzPguSlwpYI/AAAAAAAAAs0/ZZD7GRKqNZU/s320/078.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mirrors on the ceiling are fun!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VSZToiO7kdE/TzPg2AmmrPI/AAAAAAAAAs8/Ouhh5fu0OwU/s1600/091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" sda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VSZToiO7kdE/TzPg2AmmrPI/AAAAAAAAAs8/Ouhh5fu0OwU/s320/091.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The number one reason why I LOVe homeschooling, especially in this country- its Thursday around 130pm, and they are learning about the Forbidden Bridge and the Forbidden Stream at Gyungbokgung Palace. (This stream used to be filled with water (duh), and the bridge they are standing on was the entrance to the palace. The King required everyone to stop and cleanse their minds with the water from the stream. Once they had observed this custom, they were able to cross the bridge and continue inside to see the King. The walls of the palace were not ridiculously high- the King believed that he should be accessible to his people. (We had a tour guide this time around). </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RS-KwrKGC3Y/TzPhIy052vI/AAAAAAAAAtE/3fKBXwDWvhc/s1600/124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" sda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RS-KwrKGC3Y/TzPhIy052vI/AAAAAAAAAtE/3fKBXwDWvhc/s320/124.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crazy picture they asked for. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YRLZ8_owJY8/TzPhKyAFljI/AAAAAAAAAtM/gY6yNsFPDaA/s1600/125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YRLZ8_owJY8/TzPhKyAFljI/AAAAAAAAAtM/gY6yNsFPDaA/s320/125.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamie playing peek a boo around the corner of the same ledge the other two were on above. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And just cause I like it, Jamie peeking at the dessert buffet two weeks ago at the Dragon Hill Lodge, where we participated in the marriage retreat. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-2529805480848349272012-02-08T06:32:00.001-06:002012-02-08T06:32:37.453-06:00Time is tickingWe have 38 days left in country. This time is really starting to fly right on by! Today we got our HHG pick up scheduled. 3 weeks and 1 day, and all our house hold goods will be packed and taken away. We have to be out of the apartment a couple of days after that, and will be staying with a friend until we fly out on the 18th. <br />
I still need to get down to Dongdaemun once more, for several basic items I need to make several items I will use in my photography. I also want to go to Osan once more, to visit Happy Quilt- love love love the fabrics there! :P <br />
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The animals had their rabies shots this weekend, and will go for the yearly shots this next weekend. We have tons of things to sell and get rid of (only allowed 4000 lbs of HHG going back), we need to fix the van door and sell the van, housing needs to come get our fridge, and amongst all this, I have to finish my CDEC class, and keep the children up to date on their work. Whew! I'm tired just thinking about it! :)<br />
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I need to order Jamie's new car seat (because his old one is going to expire, and I don't want to lug it on the flights with us), we are ordering the Kindle Fire for the kiddos to use on the way home, and when our tax return hits, I get to pay off a bill or two! :P<br />
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Sorry for the rambling, but my brain is racing right now, and my list is in the other room. I'm too cold to get up and go get it.. hehe.. <br />
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Anyhow, I am praying hard that we will be able to get out of this apartment without having to pay and arm and a leg to fix the floors and wallpaper. My kids are rough on wallpaper. :_<br />
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Hopefully I will have some time later this week to post some photos of what we've been up to lately. Night!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-72658390191521192182012-02-03T06:24:00.002-06:002012-02-03T06:42:50.295-06:00Jumping on here real quick to add my January recap. I'm linking over at Frisk, Party of Five. :) Enjoy!<br />
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(Sorry that its not pretty, I literally had four minutes to throw it together and add my link.. lol)<br />
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We were blessed to be able to go on the marriage retreat for the last weekend in January, and were able to take the kids this time, as child care was provided. We only have a month and a half left here in Korea, so we decided to make sure we got to Seoul Tower, and it was SO worth it. There are only a couple of pictures here, as well as some shots of the kiddos bowling on the same trip. <br />
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Hope you enjoy! :)<br />
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PS- I guess it would be good if I remembered to add the link, huh? :P Let's see if I do this right.. :D<br />
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<a href="http://friskpartyoffive.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n5/erykah600/JanuaryMonthlyMemories.jpg" /></a>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-3694872239753165922012-01-22T08:43:00.002-06:002012-01-22T08:43:38.029-06:00I love my job.. :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I really love being able to be home with my children, but that's my life, not my job. I am referring to my photography when I say job, even though I do acknowledge that it is a BIG job to be raising three children. </div>
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Below are some of the adorable families I have had the priviledge to work with in the last month or so. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AJpR0yLeoBI/TxwgFP6k5SI/AAAAAAAAApw/07-8WvkH7iU/s1600/102-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" nfa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AJpR0yLeoBI/TxwgFP6k5SI/AAAAAAAAApw/07-8WvkH7iU/s320/102-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-48266882680091035542012-01-16T07:46:00.002-06:002012-01-16T07:53:29.033-06:00I Heart Faces ChallengeThis is my entry for the weekly challenge at I Heart Faces. I absolutely loved this session- it was so fun shooting their family!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--l_BhkQtjqk/TxQqFR2BQ4I/AAAAAAAAAo8/ClFqLXz560I/s1600/175-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--l_BhkQtjqk/TxQqFR2BQ4I/AAAAAAAAAo8/ClFqLXz560I/s400/175-4.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img alt="Photo Challenge Submission" src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/I-Heart-Faces-button.jpg" title="Photo Challenge Submission" /></a> </div>
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-10779753671976663242012-01-11T05:35:00.000-06:002012-01-11T05:35:02.582-06:00Translation TuesdayMan, I am LOVING this time difference right now. My two classes require everything to be posted Sunday night by midnight, but I get an extra few hours because we are ahead. :P Its almost like getting a whole extra day! Also, I can post things like this without being late! :D<br />
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So, hat and gloves in Korean...<br />
Hat (or cap) is MO-JA<br />
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Gloves are JANG-GAP<br />
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Wear your hat is MO-JA-SOH. <br />
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I also have to admit that for this, I cheat a bit. Yongsan's official FB page has a Korean word of the day feature (which normally comes out every few days instead of daily).. So I snagged this info today from there. :) <br />
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Its not totally cheating, right? I'm still learning! <br />
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In other news, we are going to be visiting the local firehouse on Hovey on Friday afternoon. It was kind of funny, because the firemen showed me into the house, and said, go left.. and that was it. I had to wander around a bit to find the office. But it all turned out alright- the crew chief that was there said he would show us around, since it would just be the 4 of us. I told him I'd like the kids to be able to see the turnout gear, and what happens when they get a call. Should be fun- the kids will definitely enjoy it. We are going to brush up on firemen and what they do tomorrow. I'll try to take some pictures. <br />
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Now off to watch some Warehouse 13 with the hubby, and hopefully go to bed early! Night!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-40617533103445292222012-01-02T09:10:00.002-06:002012-01-02T09:10:19.093-06:00A title eludes meIts late, I'm tired. :) Can't think of a witty title. Lots to do this week, so I'll be quick.<br />
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Going in the morning to take the kids out of school. Still struggling hard about taking Cait out. She really loves going to school, and wants to continue. She wants to do her 'other schoolwork' after she comes home from school each day. Technically, she doesn't even have to be in school for a whole year from now, because the age in CO is 7 for mandatory attendance. So there's no rush. But I know she is ready, we have been whizzing through her math, and she is so eager to do her work each day (we've been working on her math and LA for the last three days). I'm pretty sure she is just upset about losing the playground, and her friends that don't live in our complex, and all the nice toys at school that we don't have. I just hope she won't miss the independence from Mommy, the different routine, the time away from her siblings, etc. Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-31313515327101099532011-12-30T05:03:00.000-06:002011-12-30T05:12:29.388-06:00A breakthrough of sorts"The child who craves social interaction the most, may be the very child we need to protect the most from peer dependence. " (Credit will be given at the end of the blog).<br />
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The sentence resonated with me. I have been on the homeschool fence yet again, because I am struggling with a HUGE case of Mommy-guilt. Caitlynn likes her school so much, the toys we don't have here, the friends, the painting abilities (cause mommy doesn't want to deal with the mess that accompanies everyone painting...namely a two year old brother..), the sense of independence... <br />
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Through reading this article, and a couple more like it, I have realized that my fears about homeschooling are only because I am a product of the education system. It is so ingrained in me that I try to make sure my homeschool will line up perfectly with any school in the States (which is impossible, since none of those school are alike). I worry about when I should teach a certain subject, instead of realizing that as my kids ask questions or read new things, they will find out the information when it matters to them, and when they will be more likely to retain it. Let's face it, I don't remember much of the schooling I memorized back then. <br />
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"How much worse spending the best of one’s waking hours in a government school which teaches us to ignore God all day long, among teachers who cannot even mention God’s name; and among students who, if they do mention God’s name, do not mention it with reverence."<br />
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Another one of my pros for HS. I want my children to know that God has everything in His hands- that everything we have and are is from Him. What better way to teach this than to have them at home where I can explore with them and teach them what the Bible says about situations, people or places?<br />
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"Our children are to be well-honed in God’s commandments, sharp and accurate in applying them. Sharpening our children helps keep us sharp as well."<br />
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I know this is more about teaching our children God's ways, but it also made me think about how excited I am that I will get to refresh my memory on so many things that my kids will learn in the next year. <br />
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Source- <a href="http://www.triviumpursuit.com/articles/7_und_trs_hsing.php">http://www.triviumpursuit.com/articles/7_und_trs_hsing.php</a> <br />
© Copyright by Harvey Bluedorn. All rights reserved. <br />
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Anyhow, I just had these thoughts racing around in my head as I read, so I thought I would set them down so I could re-read in a few months. (Most likely when I will need a pick-me-up, or have a day where I wonder why I decided to homeschool). :D<br />
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<br />Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-84636096896914816942011-12-26T21:10:00.002-06:002011-12-26T21:10:40.577-06:00Quick picture updateI had to take a couple more pictures of the kids for the modeling agencies.. So far, Jamie has been called twice now, once as an alternate that we had to turn down, cause Jon was working that day, and we would have had to leave at 5 am to get there on time. They just called this afternoon and asked for Jamie to work 6 January.. lol.. we will see how it goes. Anyhow, here are the pics. :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They thought I had all boys, so I had to send one that showed her hair better..lol</td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KQjbXtKY3vg/Tvk297l4NRI/AAAAAAAAAo0/XN3K9hnEOGs/s1600/032-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KQjbXtKY3vg/Tvk297l4NRI/AAAAAAAAAo0/XN3K9hnEOGs/s320/032-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-90716680861480727112011-12-23T08:01:00.002-06:002011-12-23T08:01:51.720-06:00Let it snow! :)Ok... so I made it further through the December Dailies than I thought I would. Life got in the way, as usual, and while I continued to take pictures, I never had time for a whole week to sit at the computer. None of them got edited or put onto a cute page, so I'm jumping back in with yesterday's. :) <br />
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A little backstory- we were down in Yongsan (1.5 hours south, close to Seoul) at the PX eating lunch, and a lady came up, bearing a business card. She asked if she could take our children's pictures (which isn't uncommon here, although it doesn't really happen that much). Its not awkward like it would be in the states.. lol.. Anyhow, she takes a few iPhone pics and asks me to email her some good pictures of them later. Turns out, she's a modeling rep looking for children to do clothing photos. lol.. She points straight at Jacob and says, " I have an OshKosh shoot, and he is the perfect size and age, could you come to Yongsan soon?" (Insert dropped jaw here). <br />
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Anyhow, about an hour later, Jacob and I were heading to meet Jon and the other two in the book section of the PX, when a second lady came up behind us and did the same thing, just from a different agency! :D<br />
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I got a call on Wednesday, actually, because they had a toddler shoot the next day, but the one lined up was slightly sick, and they needed a backup. They needed us there at 7am, though, which wouldn't be possible, since Jon has the car that early in the morning. Also, I'm lazy and didn't want to get up at 5am to catch a train with 3 sleepy kids at 530am. EEk! <br />
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So anyhow, these are the pictures that I'm going to email to both ladies (NOT on the scrapbook page, though)! :D<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_2ZgqXCv7CQ/TvSJky786XI/AAAAAAAAAnw/yHfteFS5j5c/s1600/DD22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_2ZgqXCv7CQ/TvSJky786XI/AAAAAAAAAnw/yHfteFS5j5c/s320/DD22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-40136909155004725792011-12-10T08:37:00.001-06:002011-12-10T08:45:03.080-06:00not back to the regularly scheduled post...Just a quick note to myself... slow down!! <br />
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Thursday was spent getting ready for the IPR and planning an entire party.. which wasn't actually needed. Urg. Things got misconstrued, and basically we wasted alot of time, but hey, good things did come of it. Now we know what we are doing, so we can move forward. <br />
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I do have pictures from each day (even if its only one, like today's)! I will work on them tomorrow, since I will be spending the day in my pajamas! (Well, hopefully). I had a fairly good newborn session today that I will be working on also. <br />
My new class starts Monday, I'm volunteering in Cait's class Wednesday for a little bit, and then Jacob's class Friday. He has a breakfast with a movie deal going on. Cait's class party is Friday at noon, and then the whole school has an assembly at 1. Not sure how much of that we will actually DO, but it all sounds fun, and is fairly short. We will be home right after Jamie's regular nap time, so hopefully we can get most of it in. Jon will be off that day, so he will get to be with us for it all. :) <br />
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Anyhow. Its late, the lunar eclipse is pretty much over (I'll post my 2 photos tomorrow), and I'm going to curl up with my new book (123 Magic) and watch The Santa Clause 3 with Jon. <br />
Night!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1062941042936606158.post-10542230052233138712011-12-09T06:33:00.001-06:002011-12-09T07:30:05.820-06:00Decision-making timeOnce again, our family has to make a decision. Well, Jon and I do. The kids will be able to voice their wants, but ultimately, it will be Jon's decision. We are supposed to leave here mid-March. My kids are in 1st grade and pre-k here, but in the new state, they would have gone to 2nd and K (because of how late their birthdays are). <br />
So.. do we let them stay in school and make a rushed trip home before heading to Carson? We will fly into NY to get my car and visit family, then make the 3 day drive to TX (and that is straight through with hardly any stops), and spend a couple of days visiting family and friends there before making the 2 day drive to CO. We would have to rush to CO in order to get them registered during the last week of March (which is CO's spring break) so they could start up on 2 April. They would have all of April and all of May to finish 1st and pre-k, unless they were bumped up into the higher grades due to their age. <br />
Do we pull them now (since school ends next week for winter break), and homeschool them in the 2nd and K grades that they might get to go into in CO? <br />
Or do we homeschool them slowly (from January til August, or possibly just March-August) through 2 and K, and then let them enroll into 3rd and 1st in August 2012? <br />
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This is all frustrating for me, because in spite of much praying and weighing pros and cons, nothing is clear. And getting not-so-great reports from Jacob's teacher regarding his inability to focus, sit still, etc, doesn't really help. He is distracting his classmates by wiggling, crab walking, trying to sit on his head during carpet time, etc. Each day he comes home with a not so good color (yellow, orange or red, the 1, 2, 3 strikes you're out basically), he doesn't get to play games at home (meaning the computer, his DSi, or the iPhone apps we let him play). Which means that he only really plays games on weekends, and occasionally 1-2 days per week. <br />
And yes, before anyone thinks that I don't want the rules to apply to my kids.. I know that they need to be able to listen to other authority figures than just Jon and I. For the most part, my children do not have a problem listening to other adults- as long as that adult has made clear the rules and that they will not get away with breaking them. As for socialization, I don't really give a fig if someone thinks my children need to be around huge groups of kids their age in order to be well-rounded. That's just dumb. They get a better feel for how to deal with people of all types and ages by going places with Jon and I, paying rent, grocery shopping, being out in public at all, etc. And they get plenty of time around other kids their age, as well as older and younger, by playing on the playground or seeing other homeschoolers.<br />
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All this stress over school isn't something I expected to feel. I grew up thinking that when your kid turned 5, they went to school, and graduated around age 18, went to college, etc. Knowing that most homeschoolers do better on tests than public school kids, though, and knowing that my kids don't conform to 'average' or 'normal', knowing that our day doesn't have to be 7 hours long to finish a day's work, being a military family that might be moving every couple of years, other things like that lean me towards homeschooling. <br />
But worrying about whether or not I will miss teaching them something important (like national holidays and their significance or how to read music, how to diagram sentences, proofreading, etc), or thinking about all the fun things that I got to do in school that they won't (choir, spelling bees, field trips with friends, etc) makes me want to suck it up and let them attend school. On the other hand, I know that if we had a homeschool co-op, the kids would be able to attend most of those things I just listed. We never really fit in at our last duty station, and there isn't a co-op here. There are several families that HS, but half of them are about 20-30 minutes away, and the other ones have older kids.<br />
Yes, its easier when its just Jamie and I at home- I accomplish more chores faster, but then sometimes, we really just sit around the house and play for a bit, watch a cartoon, play some more, read a book, eat, nap, and it feels so purpose-less (even though I know the one on one is great for Jamie). There are always things that can be done around the house, but I admit, a good book distracts me pretty easily some days. When I had the kids at home, we had a purpose, and a loose schedule to the way we did things. I guess I miss the schedule- maybe I need to tweak the one I have now.. Ugh.. I don't know. <br />
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I don't know if its just being homesick, or stress about figuring this school stuff out, both, or maybe I am just depressed, but sometimes, I just want out. I just want to be able to sit around and do nothing all day but read, have a good snack, or just do whatever I want for once, without 5 million intrusions. I don't want to do that repeatedly, but man, once would be nice. I feel like life and I haven't really 'clicked' lately. I'm still interested in my activities, but I feel like I'm a shell sometimes. <br />
And this is a really long and rambling post, so I apologize if you were expecting to see my December Daily for the last couple of days. I do have the pictures, but I ended up working on another project last night, and I'm about to hit the hay for tonight- I have an early start to make tomorrow. <br />
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Anyhow.. if anyone made it to the end of this, pray for me, will ya? I don't know what end is up anymore, and I'm starting to drag. Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09552252961718701563noreply@blogger.com2