tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75032238092026836312024-03-12T19:29:16.412-07:00annie and mAnna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.comBlogger446125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-38851626136829330462015-09-14T12:05:00.001-07:002015-09-14T12:05:31.287-07:00the diagnosis//part 2An ER nurse led us to a room. It seemed busy, but calm. Nurses in plain blue scrubs were everywhere. I am sure there were doctors in the mix but I couldn't separate them. Hailey laid on a bed while the Mr. filled out insurance paperwork and documents allowing them to do whatever tests were necessary. I spoke briefly with the ER doctor about her symptoms. A nurse started in IV and I was surprised at how brave Hailey was. She was laying on the hospital bed, as calm as if she had just woken from a nap. I was seeing everything in slow motion. I am sure angels were with us at that very moment. Because I felt a calmness I know wasn't coming from me. <br />
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We just wanted answers. What was causing the swelling in Hailey's head? Why was there so much fluid? Was she going blind? Where do we go from here......<br />
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She hates needles. If there was ever a time for her to be brave, it was now. A male nurse came in to draw Hailey's blood. She just laid there and let him do his thing. She didn't cry. I held her hand and she squeezed mine so tight. He left with a handful of blood-filled vials and she began to sleep. All of the commotion was wearing her out. We waited. It wasn't long, I am sure, but it seemed like forever. Another nurse came to escort us to the basement level to do a CT scan of her brain. The walls were painted cinderblocks. It was tacky. And quiet. The basement was so quiet. I appreciated the quiet. It didn't take long and the tech was extremely nice. Everyone was nice. I could only guess that they really loved their job. That working with children was way better than working with grumpy adults. We went back to our designated ER room after the scan was over. She was tired. I could see the energy slowly leaving her thin body. She laid down on the bed again. After a short wait, the results were back from the CT scan. The doctor asked if we wanted the good news or the bad news first. I wanted the bad news first. I always want the bad news first. She explained that there was a lot of fluid surrounding her brain. So much fluid, in fact, that the sutures surrounding her brain had not fused any of the bones together. It was the same fluid that was behind her eyes. The good news was that they couldn't find any masses in her brain from the scan. We sighed a very small breath of relief. The CT scan didn't give us definitive results. We knew more needed to be done. That this was just the beginning of what would be many tests.<br />
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The next test was an MRI. I've had one before. I knew what was involved. Any masses or tumors would be more visible with this kind of test. Again, I went with her. Again, to the basement. I tried to keep the conversation casual with the nurse that escorted us to the testing room. Hailey rode in a purple wheelchair and I walked briskly to keep up with the nurse as she zig-zagged her way through the basement corridors. I tried to show Hailey that there was nothing to worry about. I was trying to be brave for her. The MRI tech gave me a locker to put my wedding rings in so that it wouldn't pull me toward the machine. I sat in a chair in the corner of the room near a table of magazines while Hailey was prepped for the test. She selected music to listen to through a set of headphones while I put disposable earplugs in my ears. MRI machines are loud. She closed her eyes and the test began. A small mirror above her head was angled so that when she opened her eyes, she could see me. I smiled at her every time her eyes met mine through the reflection. She was so brave. I am sure angels were with her then, comforting her in a way that I could not. I looked at home decor magazines and sat in a white chair in the corner while the machine took images of her brain. Half an hour later, it was over. We were escorted back to our room in the ER. I didn't say much on the way back. Hailey was quiet too.<br />
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We got back to the room and the Mr. was waiting for us. He looked anxious but I didn't have anything to say. It was just another test. The results were not immediate so we had to wait. Again. Hailey looked really tired. Her poor sixteen year old body was giving up. Maybe she felt like she could let go of being brave on that hospital bed. The nurse came in and checked on her. She had a fever. He left the room and returned with a mask on and some tylenol. How could she possibly have the fever?! She was fine just a few minutes ago. My heart was starting to race. She fell asleep. <br />
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There was a knock on the door. Amidst all the craziness, the Mr. had gotten in touch with the missionaries serving in the hospital area. We wanted Hailey to have a priesthood blessing and the Mr. needed another worthy man to administer the blessing. One of the missionaries is from Virginia and we shared shared stories about our time there. Virginia holds a very special place in our hearts and in some small way, it gave us comfort to talk to that 19 year old boy. We shook hands after our 10 minute visit together and they left as quietly as they had come. <br />
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We waited.....<br />
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The results took a little longer this time. Realistically, I'd say it was about 1/2 hour before the doctor came back into the room. And her face did not look the same as it did when she gave the results of the CT scan. Her face was serious. Almost sad. Her eyes looked sympathetic. She didn't ask if we wanted the good news or the bad news. She got right to the point - that the MRI results didn't show anything abnormal in her brain. No cysts. No tumors. Nothing was wrong with her brain. Then she paused. And carefully told us that there was something wrong with Hailey's blood. Her labs had come back & Hailey's white blood cell count was extremely high and her red count was low. My mind started to process what she was saying and I asked her what that meant. She said she couldn't tell us exactly what was wrong, but that a doctor was on her way to explain it to us. My mind started to process this, too. She was a doctor. But another doctor was coming to tell us what was wrong with Hailey's blood. A special doctor. A doctor that would be treating Hailey from here on out. My heart sank and the tears wanted to flow but nothing came out. I really didn't know what to say. I could tell the Mr. was processing all of it just was I was. The ER doctor knelt down by Hailey's bedside and held her hand. She had the look of a worried mother and I knew that her heart was breaking for Hailey, me and the Mr. <br />
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A few minutes later, the anticipated doctor came in the room. She politely introduced herself, shook our hands and walked the few steps from the door to to Hailey's bedside. Our ER room was small. She knelt down and explained that something was wrong with her blood, that her white count was very high.<br />
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And then the question came out: "Have you ever heard of the word leukemia before?" Hailey shook her head yes and then no. She had heard the word before but had no idea what it meant. <br />
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The Mr. was sitting next to me. I looked at him & he looked at me. <i>Did she really just say what we think she just said?!</i> We were both scared. Our eyes clearly showed it. I had only seen children with leukemia on St. Jude's commercials. None of them had hair and they were much younger than Hailey. <br />
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"Am I going to die?" It was the only question she asked. The doctor assured her - and us - that Hailey would live a long and somewhat normal life. This type of leukemia was not going to kill her. That is all Hailey cared about. That is all we cared about.<br />
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The doctor - Hailey's new doctor - explained that Hailey's white blood count was 609,000. A normal child's white count is roughly somewhere in the 6,000 range. That's a huge difference. Huge. The white cells were everywhere. So many that her spinal fluid had nowhere to go but up into her head. That was the cause of the excess fluid & blood behind her eyes. She was not going to go blind. Her doctor assured us Hailey's vision would eventually return to normal. But what would not be normal from here on out is the life Hailey is going to live. The doctor explained that some red blood cells look different from others. Some are called blasts. Simply put, they are white blood cells that have not formed correctly. They multiply quickly, take over the bone marrow and prevent red blood cells, healthy white blood cells and platelets from producing. It turns out that Hailey had some blasts in her blood but not very many - not enough to diagnose her with a more serious type of leukemia. More specific tests needed to be done in the hospital lab, but the doctor was sure Hailey had chronic myeloid leukemia or CML. I have a chronic condition - one I have had to live with since I was four years old and will have to live with for the rest of my life. I know that routine doctor visits are just a normal part of life. And now these visits were going to have to be a regular part of Hailey's life. Chronic meant she was in this for the long haul and we were going to be cheering her on & supporting her every step of the way. Living with CML was going to be her new normal. <br />
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"New normal" - it was a term we used a lot in the beginning.<br />
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All of the motherly-type feelings started swelling up in me and I knew Hailey and our family were going to be tried like never before. I texted my mom and typed the words that were so hard to say in person - "Hailey has leukemia." I would have lost it if I had to speak those words out loud. She replied and said she was coming on the next plane out. We quickly made arrangements for a family friend to pick up our other kids from school. <br />
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Hailey was being admitted as a patient and our room on the 5th floor of the hematology/oncology wing was ready. As we walked out of the room, the doctor kindly asked if I had any questions. I paused and replied, "I really don't know what to ask right now." My mind was blank. I didn't know anything about leukemia. She assured me that Hailey was going to be watched over and taken care of during her time at the hospital. <br />
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The ER doctor and nurses in the common area were quiet. Their eyes looked sad and sympathetic as we walked by. They knew that we had just received hard news. They new that we were hurting inside. They knew that our lives had just changed in a way none of us expected. I tried to muster a smile, as if to say <i>thank you</i>, as we walked toward the elevator. Hailey was escorted in a wheelchair. The Mr. & I walked behind her. Hailey was still being brave. I was trying to be brave too. But I was in denial. <i>My daughter does not have cancer. My daughter does not have cancer. My daughter does not have cancer. </i>Maybe if I said it enough, this nightmare would disappear. No one ever said the "c" word. It is not a nice word.<br />
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It was December 4, 2014.Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-39397377755436673232015-06-22T13:09:00.001-07:002015-06-22T13:09:50.671-07:00the diagnosis//part 1I am pretty sure there is a single day in every person's life that changes everything. It happens whether you are ready or not. And it makes you figure out just what you're made of. Sometimes it is a process and sometimes it hits you like a tornado and you have no time to prepare. Sometimes decisions need to be made quickly. So quickly you don't have time to think about the decision itself. You are kind of on auto mode. <br />
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December 4th, 2014 began just as any other day. We started to drag ourselves out of bed at 6:30am, just as the Mr. was leaving for work. I had 30 minutes to make sure everyone was up and dressed before going downstairs to unlock the front door for Hailey so she didn't have to fumble through her pocket for her house key. She attends Seminary every morning at 6am during the school year. This year they studied the Doctrine and Covenants. She loves Seminary. She promptly walks through the door at 7:05am and heads upstairs to get ready for school. By 7:30am sharp, the littles are situating themselves in the minivan so I can drive them to school and Carter is walking down the street to his bus stop. It was a cloudy morning. It was drizzling outside.<br />
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Hailey had a doctor appointment that morning. She had been complaining that her vision was blurry and I wanted to get her eyes checked to see if her prescription had changed. We are relatively new to the area and didn't have an optometrist established so I took her to the first office I could find on our insurance list. When we were sitting in the waiting room and she told me she couldn't read the titles of the magazines on the table in front of us, I knew something was wrong. But my gut didn't tell me that anything was horribly wrong. Not yet, anyway. <br />
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Five minutes later, we were sitting in the office with the doctor and she looked at the detailed pictures that the assistant just took of her eyes. In a quiet voice, she said the words <i>papilledema</i> and <i>hospital</i>. Actually, it was a full sentence....maybe two. But all I heard were those two words. She told us to go directly to the hospital and my heart dropped. I had no idea where to take her. We were new to the area and had no need for a hospital up till that time. The doctor quickly made arrangements at a nearby hospital and sent us on our way. <br />
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But all we could do is just sit in the van in the parking lot and cry. Crying out of fear is a lot different from crying because you are happy or sad. I never felt so helpless in all of my life. My daughter was hurting and scared and I felt like nothing I could say or do could comfort her in that very moment. She was desperate for answers and I had none. The bad feeling in my gut was suddenly there. I had never heard the word <i>papilledema</i> before. All I knew was what the eye doctor just told us: bleeding and swelling behind her eyes. Both of them. Was she going blind? I had no idea. It sucks to be a parent and not know important things or have all the answers when life throws you a curveball. We sat in the van in the parking lot were both crying so hard. I kind of forgot that I needed to keep myself together for her sake. I called the Mr. I could barely speak. The words just couldn't come out. It cried the words, pushing out choppy sentences containing only the important information - <i>papilledema</i> and where to meet us.<br />
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We headed to the hospital and headed straight for the emergency room. There was a girl sitting at a desk. She had brown hair and had a kind voice. I asked her if the hospital had any eye doctors on call. She said no. Putting all of my trust in her, I asked if she knew of another hospital we could take her to. She recommended Cook Children's. It was a 20 minute drive downtown. I could make it that far without crying. I called the Mr. again. A co-worker was just starting to drive him toward the first hospital. I instructed him to turn around and head to Cooks. It is just blocks from his work. A wave of relief washed over us when we turned to corner to the ER and saw him waiting on the curb in his bright orange coat. He tried to smile at me through the corner of his mouth but I didn't smile back.<br />
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I parked the van in a small, free lot across the street and rushed Hailey into the ER. The nurse at the desk asked me what Hailey was there for. I handed him a sticky note that the eye doctor gave me with the word <i>papilledema</i> written on it so he could write it correctly. He wrote it down on a sheet attached to a blue clipboard. And in the column next to it, he circled the word red. Red. I knew it was bad. I've watched doctor shows before. <i>Code Red</i> always meant something bad. We had not even sat down for a full minute when we were called back. Everyone else in the waiting room looked like they had been there for much longer. Hailey didn't look sick. Their kids did. It hardly seemed fair. To them, anyway. My daughter was losing her vision. She was scared. For the first time in her life, something was seriously wrong. And our lives were about to be forever changed.Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-59701008785515201932015-04-22T06:20:00.001-07:002015-04-22T06:20:20.415-07:00carter loves to runAt the beginning of the school year, Carter signed up for Athletics. It's like a PE class on steroids. All the kids who want to play a sport during the school year are required to take Athletics. Carter's intended on trying out for the soccer team in the spring so he had to take the class the entire school year. Shortly after school started, Carter's Athletics coach asked him to participate on the cross country team. He was on the B team for the first race and by the end of that race, he had earned a spot on the A team (which was mostly 8th graders).<br />
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All of his races were 2 miles long and he always placed somewhere in the middle, which is quite an accomplishment considering the sea of boys that ran in each race. The cross country season is hot and most days he was training in 100+ degree weather. I half expected to get a call from the his coach to tell me he had passed out on the side of the road from heat exhaustion while training. That never did happen, thank goodness. Carter even qualified for the final race (he was one of two boys from his school to qualify). And again, he finished somewhere in the middle.<br />
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I know that it can be hard to fit in or find your niche when you move and have to go to a new school. It's even harder when you are shy. He found his bearings pretty quickly and LOVES to run. Now we can't keep him from running. It's become a part of him. I hope it stays that way.</div>
Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-16757055065172667622015-04-08T06:23:00.000-07:002015-04-08T06:23:29.437-07:00the AlamoShortly after arriving in Texas and settling in to our temporary rental apartment, we had the opportunity to take the kids to see the Alamo in San Antonio. The Mr. had an appraisal to do in the area for work and it seemed like the perfect time to get away for a few days before school started in the fall. <br />
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Luckily, our kids are great travelers (they really always have been). They were totally up for a little road trip. We don't need to bring much to keep them busy during long drives. We play the Alphabet Game and I Spy and charge up the laptop, propping it on top of the cooler and pillows so the kiddos can watch a movie to break up the monotony. And Tatum always wants to sing Down By The Bay at least 10 rounds through. <i>Have you ever met a moose that gawked like a goose?.......Down by the bay!</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(I think someone forgot to tell the kids to smile. It was bright, hot and they were so ready to get into an air-conditioned building.)</span><br />
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Our family likes to sightsee. Daytrips to visit historic sites are always on our to do list. More than going to amusement parks, I'd say. We're kinda mellow that way. Except Disneyland. I'm sure we'd like that quite a bit. We've been talking about it a lot lately and have decided to start saving our pennies (literally) to go one day. Anyway..... back to the Alamo. The heat of the day reminded us of summers in the Arizona desert and we were all too happy to get inside the actual building to cool off. It was crowded but we were able to find a quiet spot in a corner and talk to the kids about the battle that occurred there so long ago - a bravely fought fight to protect freedom in Texas - and that it happened right where they were standing. We looked at artifacts on display and admired the beautiful wood doors. We learned that the Alamo is considered hallowed ground so taking pictures inside the structure are not allowed. <br />
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We explored the grounds for about half an hour afterward. The kids loved the koi pond and I was taken with the desert plants. It was shaded and peaceful and I wanted to stay longer but the kids were getting anxious so we decided to head back to the car and make the four hour drive home. We purchased snow cones from a street vendor and opted to walk down the River Walk on the way back to the car lot. It was lined with shops and restaurants and the smell of food came from every direction. What a treasure to have in a desert city.<br />
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We always love going on little work trips with the Mr. Hopefully, he will have another one soon!<br />
<br />Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-18203374503548101442014-11-30T17:22:00.001-07:002014-11-30T17:35:57.032-07:00holiday gift guide: affordable workout gear<div>
In between all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I have to remind myself to take some time out just for me. Keeping a regular exercise routine is important for my sanity - especially when life gets a little crazy. My go-to workouts are pilates, walking and kettle bell exercises. I find these workouts challenge me (and make me sore in places I never knew I could be) and vary enough to keep my body on its toes. </div>
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If you're like me, splurging for pricey exercise equipment is just not in the budget. But you really don't have to shell out big bucks to get quality items. I put together a fun little gift guide for you that won't break the bank. In fact, everything you see is just $60 or less!</div>
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Items going clockwise:<br />
1. <span style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=53934&vid=1&pid=333351152">Active Mesh Top:</a> </span> These <a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/?">Old Navy</a> tops are perfect for working out - stylish, cute & cheap! <br />
2. <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.zappos.com/puma-rio-speed-black-white?zlfid=191&ref=pd_sims_p_ab_t_1">Puma Rio Speed tennis shoes</a>: </span>These Pumas are perfect for that cute, I-just-worked-out look.<br />
3. <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0044RQR4I/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3W4O6J7GHYL0&coliid=IRPKX8E14JQEA&psc=1">GoFit contoured kettle bell</a>:</span> Kettle bells great for working your whole body and the contoured design doesn't hurt your arms. They come in various weight amounts. (I used this kind along with Bob Harper workout DVD's and LOVE it!)<br />
4.<span style="color: #cc0000;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fitbit-Wireless-Activity-Tracker-Charcoal/dp/B0095PZHZE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417236238&sr=8-1&keywords=fit+bit+zip#customerReviews">Fitbit Zip</a>: </span>This is a super cute pedometer for the walker/calorie counter in your life that syncs to your phone (I really want this to make it into my stocking this year. Hint hint.)<br />
5. <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="https://www.yogaoutlet.com/product_p/45935.htm">Gaiam Pilates Mat</a>: </span>This mat from <a href="http://www.yogaoutlet.com/yoga-holiday-shop-c13177/">Yogaoutlet</a> is sooooo good for pilates. I was doing pilates on my plain old carpet for years and this mat has changed my life. It's thick and fabulous. If you do pilates and don't have one - get one!)<br />
6. <span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="https://www.yogaoutlet.com/product_p/8121048.htm">Marika Kitcket Legging</a>:</span> I wear these cute pants from <a href="http://www.yogaoutlet.com/yoga-holiday-shop-c13177/">Yogaoutlet </a>for my pilates workouts. They give the right amount of stretch and come at a great price - a perfect piece to add to your workout attire. Yogaoutlet.com has a fabulous selection of workout clothing and gear for all budgets. Give them a look see!<br />
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**This post was done in collaboration with Yogaoutlet.com, however, all opinions are my own.Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-46320029317156708942014-11-13T09:32:00.001-07:002014-11-13T09:32:25.731-07:00turning 37 (for real this time)<br />
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Yes, it's true. As of Monday, I am officially 37 years old. For real this time. And here's how I figured out that I wasn't really turning 37 last year.....<br />
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On my birthday last year, I told the world on instagram that it was my birthday and that I was oh so happy to be 37. A few weeks later, I mention during a conversation at the dinner table that I liked being 37. No, <i>loved</i> being 37. My sweet husband looked at me and said, "You are not 37. You're 36." I looked at him and said, "No way. I'm 37!" He said, "No, you're 36. I had to check church records last week for something and saw that you are 36. So you're not 37. You are 36." I burst out laughing, thinking of the ridiculousness of going a whole year thinking I was a whole year older than I really was. I tried to quickly do the math in my head, but I am really bad at math unless I have a paper and pencil in front of me, so I just had to trust him.<br />
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So this year I am telling people that I am 37 for real this time. And Noah made me a birthday card that says, "Happy Birthday Mom! You're actually 37!" It was the sweetest. So here's to being 37. <br />
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<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/buisfam/annieandmblogsignature2013_zps537999fa.jpg" width="720" />Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-82886471761665331392014-11-05T12:53:00.000-07:002014-11-05T12:53:56.045-07:00octoberOctober was a good month. We managed to get through it with zero sick days and lots of family time. I got a new calling at church, teaching the 13 year old Sunday School class. I'm pretty sure they are still trying to decide if I'm cool or not. Ha! Nana & Grandpa Vern squeezed in a visit to see the kiddos and the new-to-us house. Granpda went to town on our overgrown trees, and pruned them to his heart's delight. It was cool to watch a 94 year old be in his element. I hope I am that passionate about things at that age.<br />
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We ventured out to a pumpkin farm for our Family Home Evening activity to pick out pumpkins for carving and decided to splurge and do our first-ever corn maze. We paired up and went in different directions. And somehow, we all made it back to the end at just about the same time. We went at dusk it was all lit up with Christmas lights. We've talked about putting up lights in the backyard for months now and this pretty much sold us on the idea. We picked out 3 medium-size, squatty pumpkins after the sun had set and headed for home. We set them out on the front porch and left them there, uncarved until November 1st. With all the business of other things, we just didn't get around to carving them and I am secretly grateful we skipped the wet, seedy mess this year. I painted them instead (which I'll share soon!).<br />
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Halloween totally crept up on me. Because we had only just moved into our house two months before, my mind was on other things - like what furniture we need in the dining room so we can actually start eating in there. I have a solution for that, but no money. It seems that is always the case...... Anyhow, the Mr. & I managed to slip away on a hot date to Target and browsed the Halloween section for simple costume ideas. Somehow, I had convinced everyone in our family that we were going to be lumberjacks about a week before. Tatum, our super girly girl, was totally opposed. The boys were on board and Hailey seemed pretty indifferent. When we found lumberjack beards velcroed to plaid hats in the costume aisle and I knew it was meant to be. I whipped up some axes with cardboard and duck tape. Once Tatum had it in her hands, she was hooked. No more princess costume for her. No sir. <br />
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The boys were super funny with their beards, moving their mouths underneath to make them wiggle. Carter is normally pretty quiet, but if you pay attention, he's pretty funny too. It was pretty obvious from the start that the beards were a good idea.<br />
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I took all these pictures in 10 minutes flat because we had to rush to the church building for some trunk-or-treating. The Mr. & I passed out candy while the kids walked around with friends and filled their bags with treats. Then we went trick-or-treating with new friends around a block in our neighborhood. Carter scored a full size Snickers bar and made me promise I wouldn't eat it. Because I did last year. It's not my fault he left it on top of the fridge for two weeks. He should have known better. Chocolate does not last in our home. <br />
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On the way home, I told the kids I thought this year was our best Halloween ever. It was the first year we all dressed up. It was the first year no one cried about wanting or not wanting to dress up as a certain super hero or animal or whatever. It was the first year everyone wore their entire costume the entire night. It was the first year the kids were totally happy. Which totally made my heart happy.<br />
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We finished the night off with our traditional watching of <i>It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. </i>We kind of love that movie and watch it a handful of times during the year. <br />
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Oh October, I kinda liked you. Too bad you couldn't stick around a little while longer.<br />
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<br />Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-86404046028188786072014-09-12T20:00:00.000-07:002014-09-12T20:00:34.518-07:00Virginia wrap upVirginia was good to us. I remember we were just starting to discuss home buying options when we found out the Mr.'s work was relocating us. It was a huge shock and we were really pretty bummed about it for several months. We had finally starting feeling at home and had to get used to the idea of being uprooted once again. We were especially heartbroken for the kids because it meant we had to drag them away from friends for the second time. We waited a long time before we told them. In fact, we didn't tell anyone for a whole year. Not even our parents. Because right up until about 3 months before the move, we had no idea where we were going.<br />
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Ok, so enough about that.......</div>
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Did I say that Virginia was good to us? It was. Just before we left, the Mr. and I made a mental list of all the fun things we had been able to do while we were there. We made a lot of good memories, visited a lot of historic sites and enjoyed the outdoors often. And for the first time, we lived somewhere where the deer sightings were common and the seasons were amazing. I think I'll miss the seasons most. So I am obviously a little sad when people tell us some seasons in this part of Texas don't really exist. But I am sure we'll love it here anyway.<br />
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Our last month there was packed full of birthdays, packing, saying good-byes, and tying up loose ends. We quietly celebrated the Mr.'s 40th birthday and Tatum's 10th birthday in June. The Mr. & I squeezed in an afternoon date of bowling and frozen yogurt for our 17th anniversary, too. I was so stressed with the move and the end of school year activities that birthday planning and big anniversary plans were put on the back burner. I'm pretty sure that puts me first on the Bad Mom & Wife of the Year list, but I'm over it. There's always next year, right? <br />
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The Mr. and I also managed to free up a Saturday during all the craziness to go to the Washington, DC Temple. It was the only place we wanted to go to just one last time. I had been feeling unsettled about the move and knew I needed to be in the temple to feel peace. I felt it almost as soon as we were inside. I love it when that happens.<br />
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I bought a cheap grill at Target & we spent the very last bits of our Virginia summer roasting marshmallows and stuffing our faces with yummy s'mores. <br />
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So thank you Virginia, for showing us a good time. A little piece of our hearts will always be with you.<br />
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Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-21056441163962513652014-07-29T13:02:00.000-07:002014-07-29T13:02:00.084-07:00visiting the Virginia State CapitolSummer is almost over for us and A LOT has happened to our little family (which I will blog about soon). I was thinking about all the fun things the kids have been able to do this past school year and realized I never blogged about Noah's field trip to the state capitol building earlier this year ("this year" meaning "the school year". Because my life's calendar is based on the school calendar year, not a traditional calendar. After almost 16 years of being a mother, my mind has turned to mush and I can't think in terms of both.)<br />
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The Mr. & I tagged along with Noah's class, who ended up with an amazing tour guide. He was entertaining and so full of knowledge. We took our time in each room (just wee bit longer than his 1st grade class) and another worker pointed out tidbits of knowledge about the building and its history.
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Fun facts for you (name that movie).......<br />
1. The Richmond State Capitol Building is the oldest government building in United States. <br />
2. The large pillars on the outside of the building were originally supported by large evergreen trees (pine trees, I think). The trees are inside the pillars, providing support when they were built. I'm pretty sure they are still there.<br />
3. There is a full size statue of George Washington in the original lobby (the building has since been added on to). It is the only full size statue of him ever made and the only one that he posed for. It's grand and amazing and kind of inspiring.<br />
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I am in love with the architecture you can find in Richmond. There are so many lovely buildings. The State Capitol building has such great stories to go along with it. It was somewhat of an honor to be in a building that helped shape our modern government and is still used today.
Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-13727431327627404602014-05-14T09:12:00.000-07:002014-05-14T09:12:24.323-07:00Metro Richmond ZooAt the end of a short Spring Break week, we piled into the van and headed to the Metro Richmond Zoo. It had been recommended to us by a few friends as a great place take the kids. We put it on our list of places to go before we move to Texas. The Mr. took the day off and we headed in the direction of the zoo after running some errands that morning. We treated the kids to lunch at Panda Express on the way. We're kind of in love with their orange chicken and it had been ages since our last Panda fix. It was so worth the stop. My mouth is starting to water just thinking about it....<br />
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The zoo itself is small enough that we made it through the whole thing in four hours. I like small zoos. By the time we arrive, the kids are pumped to be there. By the time hour four rolls around, they are all done and ready to go home. Our time there included a couple trips to the bathroom (there are only two) and really taking our time to enjoy each animal exhibit. We paid a couple extra bucks for two cups of animal feed. There are several animals around the zoo to feed so we started with the giraffes (while Tatum and I took a bathroom break) and fed a little to the goats and camels toward the end of the day. A little girl in front of us did a pretty spectacular face plant on the pavement just after we had entered the park. Her cup of animal feed went flying everywhere. Poor thing. I had Hailey give the little girl her cup of animal feed while her mom was checking her knees for scrapes. The cups were large and had plenty of feed for all four of our kids to give the animals, so we really just needed one anyway. Hand sanitation stations speckle the park - just enough to keep the kid's hands clean. I'm pretty sure they were sick of me telling them not to touch their faces until we found another sanitizer station. I'm kind of a germ cop with my kids when we're in public.<br />
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We spent a good deal of time in the bird exhibit. For a dollar, you can buy a popsicle stick with sticky bird feed on one end. If you are patient enough, eventually a bird will cautiously land on your stick and peck at the feed. We had to stay in the exhibit until each of the kids had a bird land on their stick. One mama bird was super protective of one of the birdhouses. I'm guessing her eggs inside were not yet hatched and she was just doing what any mama would do - protecting her young. <br />
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The penguin exhibit was my favorite. I crouched down as one of them was waddling by. It stopped and we had a little staring contest. It's like it knew that I wanted to reach through the fencing and touch it. But soaking in our little 20 second encounter would have to suffice. And then a worker opened a door and a little herd of penguins waddled out to the pool's edge. My heart skipped a beat. Seriously. I love penguins. Like a lot. You know how <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5jw3T3Jy70"><span style="color: #bf9000;"><b>Kristen Bell</b></span></a> loves sloths? That's pretty much me with penguins.<br />
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It was fun to mark off another fun outing off our list of things to do in Virginia. It's a cute zoo with a good variety of animals. It was a huge plus that we could feed the animals too, allowing us more interaction with them than other zoos we've been to. <br />
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<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/buisfam/annieandmblogsignature2013_zps537999fa.jpg" width="720" />Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-90655695404953902892014-04-24T18:01:00.000-07:002014-04-24T18:01:05.468-07:00Easter in a flash<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/buisfam/DSC_0078_zps947b7b67.jpg" width="720" /><br />
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So I only have one picture to post because that is all I managed to take over the Easter holiday weekend. It's been months since I've used my big boy camera and I've missed it. Easter was the perfect way to end the kid's spring break from school. It's late in the school year and it was a desperately needed time away from our hectic routine. <br />
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We got dressed up fancy for church. I bought a new top (and wore it backwards because I liked how it looked under my sweater better & no one even knew!). The girls got new dresses and the boys looked pretty handsome in their suits. I spoke in Sacrament Meeting and the Mr. sang my very favorite Easter song "Consider the Lilies". I've loved that song since I was a little girl, when my grandma was the choir director in our ward in Pittsburgh and had them sing it every year. Maybe I love it because it is a memory that is attached to Grandma. I love anything that reminds me of her. Anyhoo.....I also had to teach the Sharing Time lesson in Primary and Tatum gave a short talk too. I really felt the Spirit throughout the day<br />
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I was completely exhausted from our adventures during the week and just wanted to collapse on the couch and take a nap right after church. Instead, I talked everyone into heading right into the backyard so I could take a family picture. And then I collapsed. <br />
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I hope this Easter was good to you & your loved ones.<br />
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Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-38048529246190681402014-03-14T21:12:00.000-07:002014-03-14T21:12:05.453-07:00life as of late<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/buisfam/IMG_3082_zps75291cd7.jpg" width="720" />
To say that life has been busy the last three months would be an understatement. It's been so much more than that. And at the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is sit down and blog. I'd much rather sip a cup of hot chocolate and go to bed - not edit pictures and type up coherent sentences to go with them. <br />
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The Mr. & Carter are on a boy scout campout tonight. The other kiddos are all asleep. This is the first little bit of time I've had to myself in such a long time. It's the perfect time to jot down thoughts about the last couple of months and all of our little adventures and accomplishments.<br />
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Birthdays were celebrated for the boys in January and February. A little piece of my heart breaks as my children get older. Like many mothers, I wish they could stay young forever. But I know that growing up is what we must all do. I'm watching my boys grow into young men and I hope they hold on to their childhood as long as they possibly can.<br />
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Carter, who celebrated his 12th birthday in February, was ordained a deacon the Sunday after his birthday. (In my church, boys receive the priesthood at age 12.) Nana flew in from Arizona to celebrate this special day with us. I could hardly keep the tears from flowing as Mike offered the blessing. My heart is full.<br />
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January and February also brought a lot of snow. The kids spent a lot of days at home. The flu was passed from Tatum to Noah to Carter over a two week period. We watched a lot of movies and played in the snow once the fevers were gone. The snow was a kind reminder that I need to slow down. I am learning that I can only do so much. I am learning my what my limits are.<br />
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For the last year, I have been working hard to get a cub scout pack established and running in my ward (church). Somehow, being the Cubmaster fell into my lap. We have a small group of boys that keep me on my toes and leaders that are willing to do whatever I ask of them. Shortly after we started up, it was Pinewood Derby time. The Mr. & I sanded and repaired a 30 year old track that worked just enough to run a successful derby. Just one month later, we held a circus themed Blue & Gold Banquet. It was another successful event. It felt so rewarding to get our scout program off to a good start. But my mind has turned into mush. I'm still serving as the 1st Counselor in Primary (for children ages 18 months to 11 years) and have had to keep up with those responsibilities too. To say I've been working my butt off would be an understatement.<br />
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Feeling a bit overwhelmed, I am learning that sometimes I have to stop and take just a little time for myself. It's tough to balance both of my callings and my home life too. I try to keep up with chores but the piles of laundry and dishes never end. I won't lie and say that the last few months have been easy. They have not been. But my heart is full and I see the blessings Heavenly Father is pouring out on my family. We are happy. We are healthy. We have everything we need. We have each other. That makes all the hard work worth it.<br />
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Somewhere among all the hard work, we managed to sneak in a lot of family walks when the weather was warm. We are trying to make small changes in our health habits and are working toward a healthier lifestyle. We have learned that Noah should never ride a scooter when we go on family walks. He rides all over the place and has had several near misses with parked cars. He's dangerous stuff. Oh, & the Mr. managed to plan a sweet little Valentine's dinner sans kiddos. It was a perfect date. I'm so in love with him.<br />
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<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/buisfam/annieandmblogsignature2013_zps537999fa.jpg" width="720" />Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-16721457261848592462014-03-06T19:53:00.003-07:002014-03-06T19:57:22.569-07:00texas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We told our parents.<br />
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We told our kids.</div>
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And everyone at church knows too.</div>
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So I can finally share a little secret we've been keeping for just under a year now.....</div>
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We are moving! Yep, you read that right. Moving. Again.</div>
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Honestly, this came out of the blue. We had been making plans to buy a home here in Virginia and stay for the rest of our days. Or at least stay here until all of our kids were grown and done with high school. And then we talked of retiring in Arizona (because we left a large part of our hearts there and would love to go back). </div>
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But that is not the plan Heavenly Father has for us. </div>
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The Mr. was driving home from work one day in April of last year. He called me at home, which he never does unless something is up. Something important. He told me I should sit down. That work was shutting down several offices across the country and relocating all the employees to 13 offices HUD was keeping open. </div>
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Really HUD? REALLY???!!!</div>
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Several months later, the Mr. called me again. He had instructions regarding our relocation. We had to submit a HUD office that we wanted to relocate to. A lot of prayer and fasting was involved. We had just 2 weeks to make our decision. So we submitted our choices. And one of them had to be the Mr.'s assigned hub office in Manhattan, New York. We were certain that is where we would be assigned even though it was our fourth location on our submission list. We were looking at homes online in Pennsylvania and New Jersey because we most certainly could not afford a home in New York. We waited for months to find out where HUD had decided to relocate us to.</div>
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And then the Mr. called me from work.</div>
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HUD decided to wipe the slate clean. They decided to keep 3 more offices open and we were no longer required to submit our assigned hub office in New York as one of our relocation choices. </div>
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I was frustrated. We had start all over. More research online. More praying. More fasting.</div>
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We submitted our new choices and waited. Waited. Waited. </div>
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And then one day about two weeks ago, Mike called me. Again. Only this time it was good news!</div>
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The hub director from the Forth Worth, Texas called him earlier that day to welcome to the office and was excited to meet him. Fort Worth was our first choice. We were so excited!</div>
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So for the second time in 2.5 years, we are going to live in a state where we don't know a single sole. We are not familiar with the state in general. We are starting from scratch and it's kind of exciting. We'll be just a full days drive from from both our families. We've had no official word yet, but word is we should be out there some time in June or July.<br />
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Moving to Virginia has been a pitstop full of blessings. We've grown so close as a family since we've been here. We love our ward (church) and have made good friends here. We chose to move to Virginia. When the Mr. applied for his job with HUD, my heart just knew that he would get it. I knew without a doubt that we were supposed to move to Virginia. We <i>had </i>to move here. It took a lot of faith to believe that we belong in Texas. I didn't feel the same way about Texas that I did about Virginia. Until church one Sunday, weeks before we knew where we'd be moving to, we sang "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go" in Sacrament Meeting. I could barely get through the song. My eyes were wet with tears and I had a strong feeling in my heart that the Lord was going to send us where we are needed. That's when I knew it didn't matter where we went. All that mattered was that I knew that He trusted us enough to go and do His work. I've felt at peace ever since.<br />
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So here's to Texas, ya'll!<br />
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<i>Do you live in the Fort Worth area? What fun places should we check out?</i><br />
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<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/buisfam/annieandmblogsignature2013_zps537999fa.jpg" width="720" />Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-20484346003866820642014-02-11T08:49:00.000-07:002014-02-11T08:49:08.792-07:00Science Museum of VirginiaAfter rummaging through old photos on my computer late last week, I realized I never shared a little day trip we took last fall to the Science Museum of Virginia. The kids had a day off of school and so we made plans for the Mr. to take the day off work too and we took the kids to explore a new fun spot in Richmond. <br />
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I fell in love with the museum as soon as we drove up. The building was once a train station and there are hints of that vintage era everywhere. I imagine it was quite the busy station, with well dressed travelers passing through its halls to go to New York or other such places. I appreciate that the history of the building is incorporated into the design of the Museum.<br />
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The Museum was a perfect place to spend the day. The exhibits were interesting enough to keep our seven year old occupied (he is now 7) and fun enough to keep the Mr. & I interested too. Most of the exhibits are hands-on, which is great for my kids who want to touch everything when we go to places like this. We enjoyed a few demonstrations too. I just love it when grown ups are excited and borderline nerdy about science because it rubs off on my kids.<br />
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A Museum employee clued us in to the fun exhibits on the bottom floor. We made sure to save a good chunk of time to explore it before we left. You get a little square card when you enter that has a barcode on the back. You can scan your card at each exhibit in the room and it keeps the results of each activity on your card. Cards can be kept and used any time you visit the Museum. How cool is that?! We did yoga, made a music video, tried to balance on a rope and watched a cooking demonstration. The bottom floor far exceeded my expectations.<br />
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If you're looking for something fun to do for the family, the Museum is a great place to explore the world of science. I wouldn't mind going back with just the Mr., but I'm sure our kids would be jealous.
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<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/buisfam/annieandmblogsignature2013_zps537999fa.jpg" width="720" />Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-72835693028662062292014-01-15T08:16:00.000-07:002014-01-15T08:16:02.741-07:00Busch Gardens Christmas Town<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/buisfam/IMG_2935_zps51a388a2.jpg" width="720" /><br />
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We managed to throw a fun little mini vacation into our Christmas holiday. Grandma and Grandpa Buis sent us a little money to buy the kids some gifts. The Mr. & I decided it would be better to purchase one large gift with it than individual gifts. A friend had told me about Christmas Town at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg and how much our kids would love it, so we decided put the money toward two-day tickets to the park. We used our Priority Club points toward a hotel stay at Holiday Inn Express and only had to pay for one of the two nights. The park wasn't open till 3pm each day, so we ate our free breakfast at the hotel and brought a cooler full of food for lunches both days. So we only had to pay for dinner at the park, which can be crazy expensive for six people. We had burgers the first night, ordering 3 meals and splitting them in half. It ended up being plenty of food because the burgers were huge. Dinner for day two was a simple corn dog for the kiddos and the Mr. & I split a ginormous turkey leg. <br />
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I snapped pictures whenever I could. I shoved my iPhone and a video camera in my coat pockets & got the kids to pose for pictures throughout the park. The kids got sick of it halfway through day two so I was happy just taking pics of them on the rides when I wasn't riding them too.<br />
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It was in the low 30's both days, so we splurged for hot chocolate after the sun went down because it was the only way we could keep warm. We cozied up in our winter coats, hats & gloves to fight off the chill. The kids got smart and wore 2 pairs of socks on day two to keep their toes cozy. <br />
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The kids braved rides I thought they'd shy away from and the Mr. rode VerBolten all by himself - in the dark, in the front row and all by himself. I don't care much for roller coasters. I prefer my feet on solid ground. So does Hailey. She is not much of a thrill seeker either. Carter and Tatum were much braver and wanted to ride everything in sight. They remind me that sometimes I need to be brave and just do things even if it scares me.<br />
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Noah was just tall enough to ride most of the rides we went on and if he didn't meet the height requirement, there was a kiddie version of the same ride so he went on those instead. It worked out perfectly. He was my partner on most of the bigger rides and we had fun yelling "wooohooo!" together. There were times when I knew he was scared but we were already on the ride and it was already going so I acted like I was having a really fun time so he'd feel more comfortable. It totally worked.</div>
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This was such fun little trip for us. We had the best time. Thanks Grandma & Grandpa Buis!</div>
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Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-77422874708292604842014-01-09T19:22:00.000-07:002014-01-09T19:22:56.887-07:00bits of Christmas<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/buisfam/DSC_0325_zpse23c0a9f.jpg" width="720" />
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Christmas seemed to have passed quietly this year. Gifts were all bought and (mostly) wrapped the week before. We played our favorite vintage holiday albums on the record player every day while I baked cinnamon rolls and made pizzelles for a few friends from church. <br />
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Christmas is never really a big production in our home. When the Mr. & I were just starting out, we could only afford just one or two gifts for each person in our family. It started out as a necessary thing, but is now just how we do our gift-giving. Keeping things simple reminds us that our focus really should be on the Savior and that all the things that we have are gifts from our Heavenly Father. <br />
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I took more time this year to ponder the meaning of Christmas - what it all entails and why we really celebrate it. My thoughts were focused on Mary and her role as the Savior's mother. What an incredible amount of faith she must have had to know that she would bring Jesus into the world. That she cared for Him and loved Him and supported Him in a way only a mother can. Even at such a young age, she was entrusted with so much. I have a great amount of respect and deep gratitude for her.<br />
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I hope your Christmas was all you hoped it would be. I am counting this one as one of my favorites.<br />
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Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-49989577348408269552013-12-25T08:00:00.000-07:002013-12-25T08:00:09.764-07:00Merry Christmas!<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/buisfam/DSC_0340_zpsbad05ce5.jpg" width="720" />
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Merry Christmas from our crew to yours! We hope you are filled with love and joy on this very special day.<br />
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<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/buisfam/annieandmblogsignature2013_zps537999fa.jpg" width="720" />Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-36372284982777052442013-12-05T07:43:00.001-07:002013-12-05T07:43:44.906-07:00family fun//ice skatingWe woke up last Saturday with an itch to do something fun with the kids before Monday rolled around and they were back in school after a very welcomed Thanksgiving break. The Mr. suggested ice skating and everyone was instantly excited. An outdoor rink is set up in downtown Richmond every year in an empty lot right across the street from the Mr.'s work. It was a perfect day - chilly with clear skies. We arrived shortly after noon and skated to our heart's content for as long as we liked. <br />
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The Mr. was a bit of a natural and didn't need to hold on the side of the rink like the rest of us. After a handful of laps, Carter and Tatum let go of the side rail but never ventured too far from it. Noah was brave and skated right into the path of the faster skaters, going as fast as his six year old legs could go. He fell so much I thought for sure he'd have broken some part of his body. But by the end, he was as happy as could be. <br />
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My first few times around, I clung to the side of the rink too. I felt like my feet were going every direction but forward. All the other moms were hanging on for dear life too & I felt like I was super cool when I got brave, let go of the side and skated around them just to grab on to the side again. It was all pretty hilarious but I got the hang of it after a bit and decided to let go. Much to my amazement, I didn't fall once! (insert happy dance - off the ice - here!) I skated with the kids, wiping them off after falls and laughing with them about how awkward skating was. I have a whole new respect for anyone who can ice skate better than me (which is just about everybody, ha!)<br />
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Hot chocolate and s'mores were the perfect way to end the fun. There was a fire pit on the site for roasting marshmallows and warming our freezing hands. This is definitely going on our list of Thanksgiving traditions permanently and can't wait to do it all over again next year!
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<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/buisfam/annieandmblogsignature2013_zps537999fa.jpg" width="720" />Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-10731434971841835512013-12-02T08:37:00.000-07:002013-12-02T08:37:00.313-07:00november recapNovember went by in a hurry. I took an unplanned break from blogging to focus on my kids, home and getting healthy. My 37th birthday passed quickly and quietly. I got my hairs cut Friday morning, adding just a hint of lighter brown and red highlights on top for fun. The Mr. made birthday plans for the weekend but I started feeling icky just an hour before we headed out to eat. We ditched our plans to eat at a nicer sit down restaurant and see a movie for a quick dinner at Chipotle (our favorite) and a quick shopping trip at Hobby Lobby for crafty supplies. We told the kids we'd be home by 10 but walked in the door at 7. They were super disappointed because it shortened their movie night but I needed to crash on the couch. We had the traditional grocery store donuts (will somebody please open good donut shop in my town??) on Saturday morning. I love donuts. They will be the death of me.<br />
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The boys had their final soccer games the same weekend. We live and breathe soccer in the fall and spring so it's nice to have a little break in-between. Noah was awarded a medal for playing his little heart out. Carter's team was made co-champions because the championship game was cancelled due to weather. <br />
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To finish off my birthday, we headed to a local fishing spot to take a family photo for our Christmas card. I've always been too lazy to put a card and family newsletter together but decided this would be the year to get it done. We had a crazy time trying to get the one perfect shot. When we arrived, the kids were moody and didn't want to cooperate. I forgot to style Noah's hair and left his glasses in the drawer of my bedside table. It was a disaster. Luckily we only live 10 minutes away, so we piled everyone back in the van, made a mad dash home and back again, set up the tripod (again) and got the perfect shot just before the sun faded through the trees. I had to share an outtake of the fun. Tatum's face says it all.<br />
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<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/buisfam/annieandmblogsignature2013_zps537999fa.jpg" width="720" />Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-67044584377083494522013-11-26T12:08:00.000-07:002013-11-26T12:08:55.890-07:00make your own gratitude branch<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/buisfam/c9c6fcf4-50da-4011-bf1b-6548455e8ae0_zps3ecc0dbb.jpg" width="720" /><br />
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Hello friends! Thanksgiving is just two days away. Are you ready? We are staying home for the holiday. It'll just be our little family around the dinner table this year. I am cooking our Thanksgiving meal and the Mr. has eagerly agreed to help. It's going to be delicious. A piece of my heart is missing my family this holiday season but being far away and on our own gives us a chance to establish our own traditions. This year, we had a little Family Home Evening that focused on gratitude. We each took a turn sharing something we are especially grateful for and why. Then we wrote that one special thing on a cutout of a feather (you can google free feather printables). One of my kids obviously likes to do fun things outdoors ;) We strung our feathers up with bakers twine and placed them on a branch I found in our backyard. The branch sits on the wall over our table, reminding us of all that is good and dear to us. Afterward, we watched this <a href="http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=910930407001">video</a>. (This <a href="http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=911161818001">video</a> is good too.)<br />
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It's easy to make your own gratitude branch. You can find other cute ideas <a href="http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2013/11/gratitude-tree-made-from-tree-branches.html">here</a> and <a href="http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2013/11/thankful-trees/">here</a>. <br />
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So what am I grateful for? Motherhood. My children mean everything to me and I love them dearly. I miss them the minute they walk out the door in the morning to go to school and my heart is happy the second they walk in the door after long days in the classroom. They teach me to be patient, kind and to laugh even when I'm mad. Being a mom is my chosen career. I wouldn't have it any other way.<br />
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<i>What are you grateful for?</i><br />
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<br />Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-31306689188179162852013-11-04T11:00:00.002-07:002013-11-04T11:02:15.882-07:00tricks-or-treats<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/buisfam/halloween2013_edited-1_zps46a972c0.jpg" width="720" /><br />
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Halloween was a little test of our sense of adventure this year. Our costume budget was slim to none because we had to pinch pennies thanks to the government shutdown. By the time Halloween rolled around, the Mr. was back at work but we decided it would be best if we continued with our original plan to have the kids wear costumes made of things we already had around the house. I may have snuck out to JoAnns for some felt, cheap blue fabric and glitter snowflakes, but kept my spending to a minimum. The kids opted to be made up superheroes. I guess wearing capes is too cool to pass up - even if you are eleven. We ended up with a Super Nerd Guy, Super Shadow and Super Snow Girl outfit. And at the last minute, Hailey decided she wanted in on the candy action too & threw together a cat costume. I don't blame her - I like chocolate too.<br />
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If you follow me on instagram, you know that we had quite the adventure on Halloween night. Rain was in the forecast but we managed to get through the whole night with beautiful weather and only a few drops fell from the sky. The kids had such a fun time running from house to house with friends, filling up their treat bags with lots of chocolate candy for the Mr. & I to eat later. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Just kidding.....sort of. </i></span><br />
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<i>Did you have fun trick-or-treating adventures with your little ones?</i><br />
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<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/buisfam/annieandmblogsignature2013_zps537999fa.jpg" width="720" />Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-54262103091181285302013-10-20T19:00:00.000-07:002013-10-20T19:00:59.440-07:00sunday style//blue ballerina<div>
Today was a little hectic at church because we are getting ready for our Primary Program. Every year the Primary (children ages 3 - 11) has a program to show the congregation the things they've learned during the year up to this point. They sing all the songs they've been practicing since the beginning of the year and each child has a speaking part. It's a lot of work to put the program together and I am truly impressed with how well the rehearsal went today. I know the Program will be great next week!</div>
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I was a little worn out after church today and changed out of my outfit as soon as I got home. So the outfit in today's post is from a couple of Sundays ago. I bought a new ballerina-style skirt from <a href="http://sweetsaltclothing.com/">Sweet Salt</a>, a vendor at the <a href="http://annieandm.blogspot.com/2013/09/time-out-for-women.html">Time Out For Women</a> event I attended in September. It's just the right length, has a lot of layers & is lined. I love this skirt. I paired it with my lace top, shiny gold sweater (even though you can't tell from the pictures), and polka dot flats. I love that this outfit is cute but not fussy. It's something I will wear again and again.</div>
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<i>How about you - what did you wear to church this week? I'd love to see! Leave a link in the comments.</i><br />
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Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-62040975299823036562013-10-16T06:36:00.000-07:002013-10-16T06:36:21.045-07:00gratefulIt's been sixteen days. Sixteen days since the government shut down. Sixteen days that the Mr. has been out of work. Sixteen days that we've had to seriously think about things like the lack of money in our bank account and how much food storage we wish we had. But I am grateful. Grateful that the Mr. has a job to return to once the mess in Washington is over. Grateful he has a job he enjoys.<br />
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In an effort to avoid cabin fever, the Mr. & I went fishing one day last week. Our ward (church) owns a private lake and he can go whenever he likes. It was nice to get out - for him to do his thing and for me to do mine. I walked around and photographed little details of our excursion. I put away all the cameras to do a little fishing just before we left. It did our souls good to be surrounded by nature. I am grateful that God created such beautiful things. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Little known fact about me: I love to fish from the shore line but will not ever touch the fish once it's caught. It grosses me out to touch fish. Maybe if I was wearing gloves I would touch them....</i></span><br />
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A friend with a boat offered to take him out to the middle of the lake this morning to catch some catfish. It is perfect timing. We need a little break from one another. Perhaps this is a small glimpse of what our retirement will be like. The Mr. & I have been getting along just fine. He's been super helpful around the house. But we are not used to being around one another for sixteen days straight. Certainly, we have a strong opinion about what is going on in Washington. We pray every day that an agreement can be made that will be for the good of the American people and allow the Mr. to go back to work. It is frustrating to think that his job is considered non-essential. For us, it is more than essential. It is how we survive. <br />
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I have come to realize, yet again, that life is what you make of it. I have learned many lessons about self-reliance. Now we have a plan - a written plan - and feel good about moving forward. We already have 72 hr. kits and enough beans and wheat to feed us for three months. Our plan is to stockpile more than the basics so we can feel secure should we ever be in this situation again. Who knows how long the shutdown and the effects of it will really last for our family. I want to be prepared. I am grateful that this experience, which could be pretty rough for our family of six, has been more of a time of reflection and preparation than bitterness.<br />
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<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/buisfam/annieandmblogsignature2013_zps537999fa.jpg" width="720" />Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-52195005286218305062013-10-08T05:55:00.000-07:002013-10-08T10:58:56.375-07:00the weekendThis past weekend was the weekend of festivals all over the state. A friend of mine invited to me go to the Fall Fiber Festival with her. It was located just across the road from James Madison's Montpelier home and the landscape was absolutely perfect for this event. When we arrived, sheepdog trials were underway and memories of the movie Babe came rushing back. It was kind of a magical moment for me.<br />
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Large tents set up in rows housed vendor after vendor, selling their hand spun yarns and hand dyed wool. With over fifty vendors, there was a lot of fiber to choose from. I browsed each vendor and kept mental notes of each vendor I planned to purchase from. I brought home hand dyed roving which I plan to make goodies with to sell in my soon-to-be opened etsy shop. Artists entered their work to be judged and I so wanted to take the fox pillow home with me.<br />
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The llamas were entertaining and I was surprised to feel how soft their coat of fur is. My friend wants to sell her two sheep and buy llamas. It makes my heart yearn for a home on acreage so I can raise my animals. <br />
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We finished our day with a hot apple cider donut. Holy cow. It's the best donut I've ever had - hot, thick and perfectly flavored. I am craving more and plan to get some at the pumpkin patch this weekend.<br />
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This weekend was also a special one for my family. Hailey got her <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1986/10/your-patriarchal-blessing-a-liahona-of-light?lang=eng&query=patriarchal+blessing">patriarchal blessing</a> and I was so touched by the things the patriarch had to say. She is a special girl. We also got to enjoy<a href="http://www.lds.org/"> General Conference</a>, hearing the leaders of the church speak. I've had things weighing on my heart as of late and things were said that put it at ease. It was like some of the words spoken were meant just for me. I love it when that happens.<br />
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<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/buisfam/annieandmblogsignature2013_zps537999fa.jpg" width="720" />Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7503223809202683631.post-73118257697775356332013-10-05T18:45:00.000-07:002013-10-05T18:45:14.337-07:0043rd Street Art Festival<img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll67/buisfam/2d8956e2-27c2-47a1-bf7b-42b2ef3dbc03_zps4b4225b8.jpg" width="720" /><br />
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Our little family recently ventured outdoors to enjoy the lovely weather and visit our friend who was selling her woven pieces in the 43rd Street Art Festival. I watch a friend's daughter a couple times a week and used some of my earnings to purchase the girls handwoven purses. Music filled the air and it was a perfect day to be with the ones I love most.<br />
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We happened upon a booth that offered sidewalk chalk to children who were passing by. Our kids were thrilled with the idea that they could draw to their heart's content right in the middle of the street. Tatum had me trace her shadow, Noah drew a sun with a happy face and Carter sketched a mine craft figure. That boy always has legos on the brain.<br />
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Anna @ annie and mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11821100094062678182noreply@blogger.com0