tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11653727375134732912024-02-19T02:49:15.089-05:00Peach Orchard ProjectThe adventures of a young familySarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.comBlogger171125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-27119186583162973812011-09-27T20:12:00.006-04:002011-09-28T21:22:32.970-04:00Time AwayHi.<br /><br />I know. It's been a while, huh.<br /><br />Here, allow me to distract you with this adorable side-eye from my kid:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapzaylgkDeA8MfVms_UuJnlb6PmNPD-HcSsVsen1dIGTg_GIL59RzQZ1SnFsaLJRMXA1xj_jciACb269RwJzNoCgGoMMpb6F8bMeTOdyrlD6lTMn1k8_wufxcLpBzf_1oTEAbRNW0saM/s1600/photo1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 286px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657578850196451458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapzaylgkDeA8MfVms_UuJnlb6PmNPD-HcSsVsen1dIGTg_GIL59RzQZ1SnFsaLJRMXA1xj_jciACb269RwJzNoCgGoMMpb6F8bMeTOdyrlD6lTMn1k8_wufxcLpBzf_1oTEAbRNW0saM/s400/photo1.JPG" /></a><br />Esscuse me? Where you been, guuurl?<br /><br />So the job transition is consuming a lot of my time, obviously. I was away for a week and now I'm settling into the new role, new office, and new (much longer and more soul-sucking) commute. It's a lot. I haven't had a chance to browse any of my regular blogs, nevermind actually update my own.<br /><br />Being away earlier this month was :gasp: <em>not as bad as I expected</em>. The build up was much worse than the trip itself. I nearly gave myself a panic attack the night before. The kind of anxiety when you can't feel your hands and one of them contorts into a claw? Maybe my sister's the only one who would understand the claw thing. Anyway, it was rough.<br /><br />But then I got there. And I was like, "Okay, I'm here. For 5 days. Let's do this and then go home." I dove head first into the trainings (yawn) and networking events (ugh) and team dinners (meh) like my life depended on it. I was so distracted I didn't have time to dwell on how much I missed home.<br /><br />I'd talk to Des on speaker phone every morning and get frequent updates from Tony. Apparently Des was a superstar all week, not a tear or tantrum in sight. Ahem. God bless my husband for knowing exactly what to keep secret.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHcbe1au-owxvptU2nWeTn-1UemYDjfDKJqGD5g5X1xw5Ed_UeLtDXoJa0Dke4wOEL5Z4TuCFMHSGDFlBNf_N5_ufQbYb_VRn00jdiT1SAMrRrcCfwjde9_R9iajs1dLPKzti_zBRiNg/s1600/photo3.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 299px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657578873611891282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHcbe1au-owxvptU2nWeTn-1UemYDjfDKJqGD5g5X1xw5Ed_UeLtDXoJa0Dke4wOEL5Z4TuCFMHSGDFlBNf_N5_ufQbYb_VRn00jdiT1SAMrRrcCfwjde9_R9iajs1dLPKzti_zBRiNg/s400/photo3.JPG" /></a><br />This is me on the window sill of my hotel room, all, "Ok. So. What do I do now?" Solo traveler extraordinaire, I am not.<br /><br />I should have taken a picture of the hotel bed. Holy ess, it was like a cloud in heaven and the comforter was like a hug from angels. That bed made the whole thing worth it.<br /><br />There were even moments of the trip when I actually had... :looks around:... fun. SHH! Don't tell.<br /><br />Like when we had a lovely low key dinner here:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrB77zytytesxOxjINiK_GKn8Gs6ZXacXIjDN-oGtsm8qUQ3E4AwysMCMRn0YSI-fVFD35Dlz-pSemMuv3kI2MMyCRyzVFtLXW96TtHY7TJC5RJWoZu_8_qnPCYo4y9Ct5n8EiPMq8iE/s1600/photo4.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657578880410025346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrB77zytytesxOxjINiK_GKn8Gs6ZXacXIjDN-oGtsm8qUQ3E4AwysMCMRn0YSI-fVFD35Dlz-pSemMuv3kI2MMyCRyzVFtLXW96TtHY7TJC5RJWoZu_8_qnPCYo4y9Ct5n8EiPMq8iE/s400/photo4.JPG" /></a><br />Prior to which I attempted a field goal, threw footballs through tires, and generally one-upped the alpha males as I tend do in these type situations. It happens sometimes. Ask Tony.<br /><br />Then there was that one night when I hung out with this guy:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKyp0lhMhYWhtWwr8kWafd36s3namzfEIrmKezeYpoOfkWs6VQXTho9RbjOm01pCpjjgWD1OMCX2xQsY4aYiC9P0bLRww_eS_VqcevN9YGE_zzazO4MJUS_vANFFU-n5jEUGxKiAVkHY/s1600/photo6.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 287px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657578883836191234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKyp0lhMhYWhtWwr8kWafd36s3namzfEIrmKezeYpoOfkWs6VQXTho9RbjOm01pCpjjgWD1OMCX2xQsY4aYiC9P0bLRww_eS_VqcevN9YGE_zzazO4MJUS_vANFFU-n5jEUGxKiAVkHY/s400/photo6.JPG" /></a><br /><br />You don't need details. But it was basically a flashback to my early 20's. A fabulous, hilarious horror show. Unfortunately I'm actually in my early 30's and I don't bounce back as easily from mechanical bulls. Ow.<br /><br />So that trip is over. I have another coming up in November. And potentially more work travel in the future for both me and Tony. So please pardon me as we all get settled into this new life. I will not abandon this blog entirely, but udpates may come in spurts. Time is of the essence these days. And the precious free moments I get are usually spent like this:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe41zRSowbOBK5yOf_hs6IORPzju7TYnbZbmw1u_o9pN2SZxr_IbeV-KJFpQc8k5v0ziUhri2xXFhtxKIuDpbBzZTfsp4KiyEEUM79Md_EVkkMa2FQ9zyS0HklzjgF640ntfJSMO4hvNI/s1600/photo2.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657578865694546018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe41zRSowbOBK5yOf_hs6IORPzju7TYnbZbmw1u_o9pN2SZxr_IbeV-KJFpQc8k5v0ziUhri2xXFhtxKIuDpbBzZTfsp4KiyEEUM79Md_EVkkMa2FQ9zyS0HklzjgF640ntfJSMO4hvNI/s400/photo2.JPG" /></a><br />He's a great lap cuddler. And god did I miss him.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-26179919763560342032011-09-06T14:24:00.006-04:002011-09-06T15:26:58.019-04:00The Job FrontAs I've <a href="http://peachorchardproject.blogspot.com/2011/07/road-block.html">touched upon</a> in the past, my career hit a bit of a speed bump recently. To put it briefly, my company was acquired by another larger firm. It was not guaranteed that there would be a position for me (or for anyone, really). Most of us had to interview for positions. Luckily, there was a match for me. And after hours upon hours of internal debate and family discussion, I accepted the offer with the new firm.<br /><br />So yay for having a job!<br /><br />While I am staying in the same department, my job responsibilities will be changing <em>drastically</em>. Also, I will now be commuting into the city. Can I get a collective 'UGGGH'? Yeah. This was one of the major sticking points for me. My commute will basically triple in duration, and instead of a congested highway, I'll be dealing with the woes of public transportation. Sigh.<br /><br />However, the new company offers flexible work hours and the ability to work from home a great deal more than my current company. So I may only need to actually go into the office 2-3 days a week (if that!). They put a lot of emphasis on pursuing a positive work life balance, very family oriented, blah-dee-blah. So the days I have to go into the office will kinda suck, but on the days I'm home I'll get to drop Des off and pick him up from daycare, which I don't even get to do now! Major MAJOR plus.<br /><br />On a semi side note... next house project = Home Office. Working at the dining room table is okay when it's once a week, but after that I imagine it will get old. IKEA here we come!<br /><br />Next week I am traveling to a 5-day event for the merge of the 2 companies. 5 days. Away from home. From my husband, from my baby. I need a paper bag. To breathe in.. and out.. in.. and out. Obviously I'm having a bit of anxiety about this. And knowing that this event was in my future was even one of the negatives in taking the job. I do not part easily from my family, especially for 5 days... God I even hate typing that out loud. BREATHE DAMMIT.<br /><br />But for some reason, the closer it gets to the event the less nervous I feel. Time is flying, and I hope it flies while I'm there too. I leave on Monday, back on Friday. I won't miss a weekend. Undoubtedly there will be tears. But I'm hoping I'll be plenty distracted so it'll be over before I know it.<br /><br />There's an episode of the Simpsons in which Homer is having a particularly tough time at his miserable job. If you've ever watched that show for 5 minutes, you know this is one of the overarching themes: Working Man vs. Rich Greedy Old Boss. There's a sign hanging in Homer's office with a photo of crotchety Mr. Burns saying, "DON'T FORGET, YOU'RE HERE FOREVER." Homer tapes photos of his daughter Maggie on the sign so that instead it reads:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ucJ6kJVy7RP0-Wa51buKa4JRIcj4mxT02LUxMPb4xr-JdGJYDbEqYVLkPqj8rQtgeZWMAw8zz3KDJlIVHh3ZmnrcrloqNe-_DjqaPfaMtgyICUNxSZGqSpxxj1oNRx8h3rp1BPHJCmE/s1600/235px-Simpsons6x13.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 149px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649315111839246690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ucJ6kJVy7RP0-Wa51buKa4JRIcj4mxT02LUxMPb4xr-JdGJYDbEqYVLkPqj8rQtgeZWMAw8zz3KDJlIVHh3ZmnrcrloqNe-_DjqaPfaMtgyICUNxSZGqSpxxj1oNRx8h3rp1BPHJCmE/s200/235px-Simpsons6x13.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I think about this a lot lately. I'll think about it on the plane. And at the conference. And during those seemingly endless commutes.<br /><br />I do it for him.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9VdmpQHsKjPKLE69AQCisgkNHTqFFbH78jSy88NRL0Dm37bH6K-lXVkECLYDySVG6bsKHqk2F_zPqoxgLkLclhAdgeG7NHUHN7tHv0RwLZ_QWpKLu0gMJpthpsQb6i7tjvXN8oy2i3w/s1600/06Sep11_a.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 299px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649329325582667506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9VdmpQHsKjPKLE69AQCisgkNHTqFFbH78jSy88NRL0Dm37bH6K-lXVkECLYDySVG6bsKHqk2F_zPqoxgLkLclhAdgeG7NHUHN7tHv0RwLZ_QWpKLu0gMJpthpsQb6i7tjvXN8oy2i3w/s400/06Sep11_a.JPG" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-76555040136789037042011-08-30T21:24:00.010-04:002011-08-30T22:59:19.211-04:00Long Time ComingSince we've lived in this house, the outdoor stairs have been the bane of my existence. I fear for my life every time I set foot on them. Okay... that's an exaggeration. But perhaps not totally out of the realm, considering the minor slip I had on our interior stairs... when I was 7 months pregnant... that resulted in a fractured elbow.
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<br />Anyway.
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<br />I'm a klutz, is what it is. And these stairs are not klutz friendly. Especially when the klutz is carrying a 30-pound squirming toddler up and down them.
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<br />See for yourselves:
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7yEogl-EbfAWWdk7uv0tN3Qr9_F0RSCzs6R4tLhz0-Kji6lza5JDEHw8sp7rNxg1E-mufFuZQIunRluIUY2Q7eYFTDuRS3PPgYjfpIogugmwywv1kn3opar7d5ulukPjFeFDWlLSiA4/s1600/IMG_7640.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7yEogl-EbfAWWdk7uv0tN3Qr9_F0RSCzs6R4tLhz0-Kji6lza5JDEHw8sp7rNxg1E-mufFuZQIunRluIUY2Q7eYFTDuRS3PPgYjfpIogugmwywv1kn3opar7d5ulukPjFeFDWlLSiA4/s400/IMG_7640.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646831232095238610" border="0" /></a>
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<br />They were built on a diagonal to compensate for... something. I don't know. Also, no balusters. The wood was splintering with age. And the concrete block of a bottom step was chipping away.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QqGJ0hlFeHmD67ZEh_rIj1dovVDxiCJorcU_eAHH1pDvrFDsF-ct_HU3SmUrDLokHjXzj_7-_tFTuD-tB8tISv4JWCAb0zs-cpMn7lK_jRaUbEktYeqTpP3dTzJzSCbPOzPhCfeJNfY/s1600/IMG_7641.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7QqGJ0hlFeHmD67ZEh_rIj1dovVDxiCJorcU_eAHH1pDvrFDsF-ct_HU3SmUrDLokHjXzj_7-_tFTuD-tB8tISv4JWCAb0zs-cpMn7lK_jRaUbEktYeqTpP3dTzJzSCbPOzPhCfeJNfY/s400/IMG_7641.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646831235273810162" border="0" /></a>
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<br />To give you some spacial perspective, the main entry is not at the front of the house. It's off to the side. The door at the front of the house is actually the entrance to the in-law apartment downstairs. This proves to be a bit confusing for first-time visitors and pizza delivery guys.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTD35XRITOcor97qEB5P57c2-ZcTljZV0JQvj6pv15vD1PPHjuFbuZGqtyPKP_5qftnQFeXixOFh0f6oLp0U7sFAXs_3ZDCjVDMyWEoLz8ZNlRSn6erVycPMCS5Z9LcIes34NmcRg6qNU/s1600/IMG_7642.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTD35XRITOcor97qEB5P57c2-ZcTljZV0JQvj6pv15vD1PPHjuFbuZGqtyPKP_5qftnQFeXixOFh0f6oLp0U7sFAXs_3ZDCjVDMyWEoLz8ZNlRSn6erVycPMCS5Z9LcIes34NmcRg6qNU/s400/IMG_7642.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646831241869804482" border="0" /></a>
<br />Dizzy yet?
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<br />So when we talked about re-doing the stairs, all those many years ago, we wanted to make them safer, nicer, and look more prominent.
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<br />To get the job done we called our boys from <a href="http://www.choicewoodworking.com/">Choice Woodworking</a>, who happen to include our brother-in-law Nick and good friend Paul, and who basically did our entire interior remodel (so far). Despite our obvious bias, these guys are skilled artists. And I want to marry them. Or have my sister marry one of them, either way.
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<br />Tony tore the stairs down the day before, and The Boys spent a couple days building the new stairs. Needless to say, I was giddy with excitement with the whole shebang. It only took a few days, but it was quite a journey.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 1: Demo and wood delivery</span>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_f3C5y_6Ee6RdZE_nipJcHaPGJu8_CZ55U4_AQ0hPQHqkemJNsa8-fSxjwIMuIL7vDUEl_aJQE0KML-rIxQmb7FVu3ngre04LUYsIeY5PoEFID5vw_hpNsAS7RnB48obXI_koFgcAFQ/s1600/IMG_7651.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_f3C5y_6Ee6RdZE_nipJcHaPGJu8_CZ55U4_AQ0hPQHqkemJNsa8-fSxjwIMuIL7vDUEl_aJQE0KML-rIxQmb7FVu3ngre04LUYsIeY5PoEFID5vw_hpNsAS7RnB48obXI_koFgcAFQ/s400/IMG_7651.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646833697041989650" border="0" /></a>
<br />Des supervised the demo.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDrqoKKPkdngGTaouPkPqRKDE6C0oeemZ9_hl5AVF0aoJy2q96Pz8X6gQfKmv-hqjdLRz9vh7QtjfMK3QHQs0WNe-Gz7zv3OASULpZpgBG1ituLrApgaCUeYJDdWbQrIME7xDhf4F5-M/s1600/IMG_7652.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDrqoKKPkdngGTaouPkPqRKDE6C0oeemZ9_hl5AVF0aoJy2q96Pz8X6gQfKmv-hqjdLRz9vh7QtjfMK3QHQs0WNe-Gz7zv3OASULpZpgBG1ituLrApgaCUeYJDdWbQrIME7xDhf4F5-M/s400/IMG_7652.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646833701164456242" border="0" /></a>
<br />Which went fairly quick.
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<br />Then the supplies came... Another job for Supervisor Des. There was a big truck, a cool forklift, and huge planks of wood involved. He was all over this.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-mXQBj2JEnMhPqYJRjmddSjrs8lJD5uU1Hmd7Fzs5bRPfqHaE3WO6YOn3ucsBzpfLMqdhRDoH5Lny9p5flwVpRJlBPLR0Uy2hpsKuwUbWUPD-slk7DTywlmJTR9j_UEbFuYffk-DeYM/s1600/IMG_7654.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-mXQBj2JEnMhPqYJRjmddSjrs8lJD5uU1Hmd7Fzs5bRPfqHaE3WO6YOn3ucsBzpfLMqdhRDoH5Lny9p5flwVpRJlBPLR0Uy2hpsKuwUbWUPD-slk7DTywlmJTR9j_UEbFuYffk-DeYM/s400/IMG_7654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646835077419187714" border="0" /></a>
<br />Look at the size of that truck.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdQfd3pu_GnTxV7T7CvRcyWvEXiWUxrzB1Lp3lF0MVnd5xH2_t1I085bX7f0EHjjIVClRUijJVp5AssDYJAdEuJepB8Fd70ImQw46Uf8YWPzwJXm6liEzVfq_qspPyuJ_F2zLzQRvmmM/s1600/IMG_7655.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdQfd3pu_GnTxV7T7CvRcyWvEXiWUxrzB1Lp3lF0MVnd5xH2_t1I085bX7f0EHjjIVClRUijJVp5AssDYJAdEuJepB8Fd70ImQw46Uf8YWPzwJXm6liEzVfq_qspPyuJ_F2zLzQRvmmM/s400/IMG_7655.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646835081223766946" border="0" /></a>
<br />If toddlers could say "OMG!"
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjq6rcd9PjO2iI25E3n4JNtGm8vbpCMReAJqvH3tIPbBEDuioU5IN2ky-7PL6L1lwXzdmVyMBg-QftzuYXon5m42bcclhunNi32ge7x8idu2RzCwxrn2FCArPD6xC3r51UBXXAxyrgUeo/s1600/IMG_7658.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjq6rcd9PjO2iI25E3n4JNtGm8vbpCMReAJqvH3tIPbBEDuioU5IN2ky-7PL6L1lwXzdmVyMBg-QftzuYXon5m42bcclhunNi32ge7x8idu2RzCwxrn2FCArPD6xC3r51UBXXAxyrgUeo/s400/IMG_7658.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646837060266509794" border="0" /></a>
<br />Here he comes!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nBQKHtik-hulvAyNTsiIdM2EWyE1n-BxxXxzcmQyJ9_wERm7PDHiw5JkekZF7Drs0VNCYwh-QJjQgRa0sNwLUq-NYoFXZ17XWwHnIY3uLX4u4HpQL6zrTTYIZ25NcbCMgGan_ggp6UM/s1600/IMG_7666.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nBQKHtik-hulvAyNTsiIdM2EWyE1n-BxxXxzcmQyJ9_wERm7PDHiw5JkekZF7Drs0VNCYwh-QJjQgRa0sNwLUq-NYoFXZ17XWwHnIY3uLX4u4HpQL6zrTTYIZ25NcbCMgGan_ggp6UM/s400/IMG_7666.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646837064402325826" border="0" /></a>
<br />This'll do.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixURUwVGGliPaOyNXjaNJqU1jHMIASnTEeUeKy5HVGDXcDajDzw-d0ZzdaorxiOPjmojy2SqvXW5LhkcwjeK13TeTPI9ADMIxBp6X8gZGgM0FzHh6J2RRk3HRC-lu9PrYCN9fN-kXz1a4/s1600/IMG_7672.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixURUwVGGliPaOyNXjaNJqU1jHMIASnTEeUeKy5HVGDXcDajDzw-d0ZzdaorxiOPjmojy2SqvXW5LhkcwjeK13TeTPI9ADMIxBp6X8gZGgM0FzHh6J2RRk3HRC-lu9PrYCN9fN-kXz1a4/s400/IMG_7672.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646837071496091186" border="0" /></a>
<br />Get back to work!
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 2: There was a jackhammer. And some framing. And some ass kicking.</span>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMzRTK4AddQalrCl1T6b-DtbCMlpLJnf5-G_XevtzWu243JsRpcWWhBt6j9HGXUvExzRko5g7DSqUXaw8sHa8elrLOCbXlZlyd34mNnozfueZ5UMhZhs1FvFA0P4ISvjv5fKF5pOO2_w/s1600/IMG_7676.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMzRTK4AddQalrCl1T6b-DtbCMlpLJnf5-G_XevtzWu243JsRpcWWhBt6j9HGXUvExzRko5g7DSqUXaw8sHa8elrLOCbXlZlyd34mNnozfueZ5UMhZhs1FvFA0P4ISvjv5fKF5pOO2_w/s400/IMG_7676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646838940788694994" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="http://peachorchardproject.blogspot.com/2011/08/welcome-to-world.html">New dad</a>, Nick, hard at work.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1zfpNmOoQjGQ17WjAwM7c3uAVsQBWNANM1m3HdHT4BLEwo7f92BLP3CzbL_W4Y7G5CKJHLrQ0VUG92L7fLyS7EU4Cjn26WheVkE4MQeD8Ih1Kopxm0Y9WIu9rvP3SemJ0d3xBlqnJKs/s1600/IMG_7683.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1zfpNmOoQjGQ17WjAwM7c3uAVsQBWNANM1m3HdHT4BLEwo7f92BLP3CzbL_W4Y7G5CKJHLrQ0VUG92L7fLyS7EU4Cjn26WheVkE4MQeD8Ih1Kopxm0Y9WIu9rvP3SemJ0d3xBlqnJKs/s400/IMG_7683.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646838952261748018" border="0" /></a>
<br />Mhmm, mhmm. Lookin' good.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAu3wUetOKOmCfRSHW2IQOxfy82xin7sV6GNLT0XOr501wWov2l5WMmkFxQNpVNMd_JikTQuVfEwaozEM72DTSQu2IR7451j-7PlmxWiTwqtQ0vB5gzha7FBqzAgdVMYeD1BwgprDvrf4/s1600/IMG_7684.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAu3wUetOKOmCfRSHW2IQOxfy82xin7sV6GNLT0XOr501wWov2l5WMmkFxQNpVNMd_JikTQuVfEwaozEM72DTSQu2IR7451j-7PlmxWiTwqtQ0vB5gzha7FBqzAgdVMYeD1BwgprDvrf4/s400/IMG_7684.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646838954418479266" border="0" /></a>
<br />It came together fast!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9p7PvL668dlQSCMj6YJa4PiUNHuz-1944nzuBulCiviGvEpCyyxzquQSPxNK_cRlUc0wWuvO04juF3MaY60XPxd7M-qV4OC27lvHTTfwwjc-9LcSUCfjNK9HRfJGUSfWJjyCeajgDvo/s1600/IMG_7689.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9p7PvL668dlQSCMj6YJa4PiUNHuz-1944nzuBulCiviGvEpCyyxzquQSPxNK_cRlUc0wWuvO04juF3MaY60XPxd7M-qV4OC27lvHTTfwwjc-9LcSUCfjNK9HRfJGUSfWJjyCeajgDvo/s400/IMG_7689.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646840836743875474" border="0" /></a>
<br />Remnants of their art.
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Day 3: Finished product</span>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnXyqg5SWAkjs1-hwPzJ3RQw8y0rsNDSOH_DBohPVDA5w0FWymHtEr20TGOHi9WfXJSYWTnf12hNOrDd8GAhEi_erlSHc_ZGFChOHxtY40QF_v1OGCPz6Tm4u5VlZZTu137nXJIRh9eg/s1600/IMG_7692.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnXyqg5SWAkjs1-hwPzJ3RQw8y0rsNDSOH_DBohPVDA5w0FWymHtEr20TGOHi9WfXJSYWTnf12hNOrDd8GAhEi_erlSHc_ZGFChOHxtY40QF_v1OGCPz6Tm4u5VlZZTu137nXJIRh9eg/s400/IMG_7692.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646842736787843650" border="0" /></a>
<br />Ooooooh...
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71UElpMdgbq34XMtghpqaxPH5vW4bHxmGss_ldB6y2whK2Q6ONOrqcToRFMXUCP5iMIzmgsx6QNKGvgZXueJvaHzRE8OMimAa0a1qaL1Vg9BEbLNPgSJ-kTBRsfJcwGw8QQ7zW4ZXt9o/s1600/IMG_7691.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71UElpMdgbq34XMtghpqaxPH5vW4bHxmGss_ldB6y2whK2Q6ONOrqcToRFMXUCP5iMIzmgsx6QNKGvgZXueJvaHzRE8OMimAa0a1qaL1Vg9BEbLNPgSJ-kTBRsfJcwGw8QQ7zW4ZXt9o/s400/IMG_7691.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646842733290681922" border="0" /></a>
<br />Aaaaah...
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9qPCyopxgLP-qlD8EnqXjXkOvZHVTz40pFjUVN22tI32BmiiedFTGRhPpXQmIVQJ1myzR8VOmsYfNcpkDcPady6DREkpxr3E5_JXBT8DudFnlXrBRVdg2SOsl1llizYtqqA2-bcRbnw/s1600/IMG_7690.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9qPCyopxgLP-qlD8EnqXjXkOvZHVTz40pFjUVN22tI32BmiiedFTGRhPpXQmIVQJ1myzR8VOmsYfNcpkDcPady6DREkpxr3E5_JXBT8DudFnlXrBRVdg2SOsl1llizYtqqA2-bcRbnw/s400/IMG_7690.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646842731825091698" border="0" /></a>
<br />Eeeeee!!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIQoAUxVBUNxUfYYxPj-93cn6roFmYr3eGIt67gz_bFLdmwLTLurI7ZtIbCIO2oGF_Px3Wd667nz43x-m5V-XeGJOZV6rSyv8dgdoxFZnYtMzONb51my3-eC_Wrj3Jx8zXWyE2WF-olg/s1600/IMG_7693.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIQoAUxVBUNxUfYYxPj-93cn6roFmYr3eGIt67gz_bFLdmwLTLurI7ZtIbCIO2oGF_Px3Wd667nz43x-m5V-XeGJOZV6rSyv8dgdoxFZnYtMzONb51my3-eC_Wrj3Jx8zXWyE2WF-olg/s400/IMG_7693.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646842736847203490" border="0" /></a>
<br />Thank you, thank you, thank you.
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<br />So there's our new stairway!
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<br />I leave the front door open so I can stare at it all day. The first night I pulled a sleeping bag out there and slept on the deck. Not really. But I thought about it. Tony's really excited about putting a pumpkin out there. Which, obviously yeah. There will be pumpkins. It's just so cute that he said that.
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<br />A final side by side, before/after comparison:
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvigh9EYOMDlDHLK-YRyJfqYXV1QUR4MZT_6tMl2vAqaMZnb2_BohWMTT60PNuvGfXIKFb6p4SU6jHJzXSkXHaF4SQ8pzUqt9IDAJY5qjz-o9mIgjaH9Jlzor2wDrnf7I4a20p-kkY6uQ/s1600/IMG_7640.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 143px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvigh9EYOMDlDHLK-YRyJfqYXV1QUR4MZT_6tMl2vAqaMZnb2_BohWMTT60PNuvGfXIKFb6p4SU6jHJzXSkXHaF4SQ8pzUqt9IDAJY5qjz-o9mIgjaH9Jlzor2wDrnf7I4a20p-kkY6uQ/s200/IMG_7640.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646846176176561010" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2mW6SH9Orvsn5e275Q9y05iy3A8RStzC11Xfp_xFXWWPhb7wmYT1vmTFQhx47fb7JUDDIYjnpYXA77ESQq11OUJ_yARMm1Xei_ETlgT4p4GUnnNPByAWRbNzlVvXelWa9-kedN06bmA/s1600/IMG_7692.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 142px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2mW6SH9Orvsn5e275Q9y05iy3A8RStzC11Xfp_xFXWWPhb7wmYT1vmTFQhx47fb7JUDDIYjnpYXA77ESQq11OUJ_yARMm1Xei_ETlgT4p4GUnnNPByAWRbNzlVvXelWa9-kedN06bmA/s200/IMG_7692.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646846177222858834" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CpWumdTj7bUcxWABynxxMXlrIipvg8jXmChC3D3oN4IKvx3tWntRoJA47OiF1_aiIA92H7u6vNMWE4oKlWnFw2GtsZUGJIWmynd7N9a_9KWFQrs6JVVb8OfjcLCxAeXCqTvDxvv4GK0/s1600/IMG_7641.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CpWumdTj7bUcxWABynxxMXlrIipvg8jXmChC3D3oN4IKvx3tWntRoJA47OiF1_aiIA92H7u6vNMWE4oKlWnFw2GtsZUGJIWmynd7N9a_9KWFQrs6JVVb8OfjcLCxAeXCqTvDxvv4GK0/s200/IMG_7641.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646846175168671826" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZ3ZQsOcybRIPljm-iASU3XiDOyhYVikhQWC5WS75ZVdWdqzkd-CPujHDsshEoXVmncu-a5YPDGx8dmRNWXUV-ZfRhyAWCTF44IiXQvSJYjF77VDIcPDFyBB4D069E6IF6sZ0v9RgdJE/s1600/IMG_7693.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 143px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZ3ZQsOcybRIPljm-iASU3XiDOyhYVikhQWC5WS75ZVdWdqzkd-CPujHDsshEoXVmncu-a5YPDGx8dmRNWXUV-ZfRhyAWCTF44IiXQvSJYjF77VDIcPDFyBB4D069E6IF6sZ0v9RgdJE/s200/IMG_7693.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646846181342682866" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Our new stairway survived its first hurricane unscathed. Obviously. I mean, looka that thing!
<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-20676611451924947972011-08-25T19:27:00.008-04:002011-08-25T22:58:41.605-04:00The CapeAlthough we haven't been able to take a real vacation this summer due to work schedules and that <a href="http://peachorchardproject.blogspot.com/2011/05/before-we-get-back-to-reality.html">little trip</a> we took in May, we were able to get away for a long weekend to the Cape. My sister and her family graciously invited us down to their rental house and we <em>eagerly</em> accepted.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK21m7eZ_RD6nKCsN-kSnuHH5WV-HY54GYHgrsnBc5lZl93nh351JT-iW0aSvLxZFiNPzKDPo8WMzC21iHebr5ZqBy8-WixzseuHR1sT1BG36f-_ODZnUuvGeFzHx4tawcNTVHPr_SOgY/s1600/bb9bb423dc394165bc9a958195be2799_7.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644948320536970882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK21m7eZ_RD6nKCsN-kSnuHH5WV-HY54GYHgrsnBc5lZl93nh351JT-iW0aSvLxZFiNPzKDPo8WMzC21iHebr5ZqBy8-WixzseuHR1sT1BG36f-_ODZnUuvGeFzHx4tawcNTVHPr_SOgY/s400/bb9bb423dc394165bc9a958195be2799_7.jpg" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwF197nVct1aIvRqvkZoMghEcnkNpXpSeayeQ2uWt4fedp74wzL9Vh2YEIJYgq0zfgNF9Qt1s0bypxELigYrQHFqYIF83JGffvyhSz6ZTMVI-UXqeg9ejZuQ7ItZrJcP6u5MLsEy4ubwg/s1600/IMG_7621.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644989728658904546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwF197nVct1aIvRqvkZoMghEcnkNpXpSeayeQ2uWt4fedp74wzL9Vh2YEIJYgq0zfgNF9Qt1s0bypxELigYrQHFqYIF83JGffvyhSz6ZTMVI-UXqeg9ejZuQ7ItZrJcP6u5MLsEy4ubwg/s400/IMG_7621.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiYmlbVGAhHx3iF1491N9o72ymP8vn3ECr3BGFC0JNGsh6GfwMYOXYSM7tGRpuDHStctv_OPxHUlwthAd-msqH6ph25XUj02B6gKw41O0MA7pFbHqWwbOhv2wtV1VlbWs8JEy1hIaTZI/s1600/IMG_7627.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644990802545709186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiYmlbVGAhHx3iF1491N9o72ymP8vn3ECr3BGFC0JNGsh6GfwMYOXYSM7tGRpuDHStctv_OPxHUlwthAd-msqH6ph25XUj02B6gKw41O0MA7pFbHqWwbOhv2wtV1VlbWs8JEy1hIaTZI/s400/IMG_7627.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkV6jQSuh90iGQ63UpwztEp68HKqloWia970uCs6BvE6Qz3fiRc5AcFjnVWp47Twe2MrbjGs5QNi3Sq2BIm_Loiw0EzKF3WiI0t8Fh17oLc3rrqqLkzIh8YuAR-R6Bs4ArpK5cb8_5XM/s1600/IMG_7622.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644990794519503746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkV6jQSuh90iGQ63UpwztEp68HKqloWia970uCs6BvE6Qz3fiRc5AcFjnVWp47Twe2MrbjGs5QNi3Sq2BIm_Loiw0EzKF3WiI0t8Fh17oLc3rrqqLkzIh8YuAR-R6Bs4ArpK5cb8_5XM/s400/IMG_7622.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPm17JzEA9NjjM5PAUozSsoim4ko62CuOnCmgbPno-lqCFWFXMHjAf0WH4hy2LEC3X4CoUl0EN8ZxD5vhApPGxFCBgsFi4de_E6ktGtx7mZb_wd8xJR7KT0GuDeABz8YJgHTI5mk9tQyQ/s1600/IMG_7618.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644989722806994610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPm17JzEA9NjjM5PAUozSsoim4ko62CuOnCmgbPno-lqCFWFXMHjAf0WH4hy2LEC3X4CoUl0EN8ZxD5vhApPGxFCBgsFi4de_E6ktGtx7mZb_wd8xJR7KT0GuDeABz8YJgHTI5mk9tQyQ/s400/IMG_7618.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtgoJTWjTsrg67RJwqOG4CUQd8FqNpjMLfc1g1MShyphenhyphenb2Lxy7Ck9R3_IP4mzDOLChXRGnLgILqSip5u_GFp4ceffH1fYaQrJxPj-LO0Fw2WZsBSFNGjMzgVGmFsgnxFHJL49jRqrmf_ks/s1600/IMG_7611.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644988372405073010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtgoJTWjTsrg67RJwqOG4CUQd8FqNpjMLfc1g1MShyphenhyphenb2Lxy7Ck9R3_IP4mzDOLChXRGnLgILqSip5u_GFp4ceffH1fYaQrJxPj-LO0Fw2WZsBSFNGjMzgVGmFsgnxFHJL49jRqrmf_ks/s400/IMG_7611.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTNeAuENeUDHWE_EtpbQGtelAugS2-S3Qt84j4rLtWk7YH0QSOEtro02qdUk7OZe9oqr30C1XKjjOacGvjSjTUVCgZzfVMEWvi-bXyrvy9YtpPd8aXxEjODzZ8eMi0nVsZ1YFhfnrawg/s1600/photo3.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644948334701182066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTNeAuENeUDHWE_EtpbQGtelAugS2-S3Qt84j4rLtWk7YH0QSOEtro02qdUk7OZe9oqr30C1XKjjOacGvjSjTUVCgZzfVMEWvi-bXyrvy9YtpPd8aXxEjODzZ8eMi0nVsZ1YFhfnrawg/s400/photo3.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXb5CzkuYVN1vabWNMgcnPHJgfzXJUlcicetx3a3FHx2cWNJTGnX8wQbccyksnq8OTVCAHkulyUGGdIyLIgHa8yNBjwHu4SbgWzRlyP1hvrb-GE0W2kUkZ0drF9OJMCwNIHnWoZFneFY/s1600/photo1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 285px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644948321756808370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXb5CzkuYVN1vabWNMgcnPHJgfzXJUlcicetx3a3FHx2cWNJTGnX8wQbccyksnq8OTVCAHkulyUGGdIyLIgHa8yNBjwHu4SbgWzRlyP1hvrb-GE0W2kUkZ0drF9OJMCwNIHnWoZFneFY/s400/photo1.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcAYQZr-dUHxXfct7ZsAbrSPlqZGHJEaGMtwkQ7-wTZXhCojnm7M2t3rjZgaHvXwK0Fu7WwuLayb9TdTnunj8x4VD6WebL8a3P1J4OmJZ2NLMX2tv9c3yvBj_A9eHmN_rT4nBqZ7ssHs/s1600/photo2.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 285px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644948333279839122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcAYQZr-dUHxXfct7ZsAbrSPlqZGHJEaGMtwkQ7-wTZXhCojnm7M2t3rjZgaHvXwK0Fu7WwuLayb9TdTnunj8x4VD6WebL8a3P1J4OmJZ2NLMX2tv9c3yvBj_A9eHmN_rT4nBqZ7ssHs/s400/photo2.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy56_LeEGUi_X-ddg1NoYDyOfFGUJOSpuB1PkeiJrDYwTPDWmeqYVHTMq5CsM4_8nfa6Lz0fx4YWXhGEwPo0wO8LzBcVSrZeK8lnDTxW4nhFiQD8WGgPIR8GVfWt2FQ9CirVFyj8yUTSg/s1600/photo5.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644948342749548354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy56_LeEGUi_X-ddg1NoYDyOfFGUJOSpuB1PkeiJrDYwTPDWmeqYVHTMq5CsM4_8nfa6Lz0fx4YWXhGEwPo0wO8LzBcVSrZeK8lnDTxW4nhFiQD8WGgPIR8GVfWt2FQ9CirVFyj8yUTSg/s400/photo5.JPG" /></a>
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<br />My mom and more of our family were also renting a house in the area.
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<br />We relaxed on the beach, took walks, breathed the clean ocean air, ate amazing food, and spent time with the people we love most. We couldn't ask for a better time.
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<br />We also stopped to see the legendary Mr. Wagner, the man who found my rings on the beach 3 years ago (a story I hold close to my heart and will share some day soon). He and his wife are so lovely. We got to share our new story of <a href="http://peachorchardproject.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-goes-around.html">finding a ring</a>, which they were amazed by. Mr. Wagner even buffed Tony's ring for him. We said we wanted to leave the little nicks in the fine metal for nostalgia, but there's no way we could deny Mr. W when he offered. And what a perfect way to come full circle in our ring sagas.
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<br />He and his beautiful wife made us promise we'd visit again. Since we're already planning our Cape vacation for next year, that shouldn't be a problem. I don't think I can go another summer without taking a week off. We will be back next year for certain.
<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-3066410286812204372011-08-14T20:02:00.012-04:002011-08-14T23:15:27.788-04:00Lesson LearnedOn a whim Tony and I decided to take Des to the <a href="http://www.neaq.org/">New England Aquarium</a> today. It was cloudy and rainy out, so we were looking for a fun indoor activity.
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<br />The fact that it was the first icky weekend day all month should have tipped us off to stay away from any 'fun indoor activity,' unless it was in our own home. Ahh hindsight...
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<br />We found cheap parking in the city and walked around the waterfront. We don't venture to that part of the city often, so we took our time watching the boats and seagulls and tourists.
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<br />By the time we arrived at the aquarium there was a massive, snaking line from the entrance alllll the way back to the street. This can't be the ticket line, can it? No, it's probably for a duck tour or whale watch or I dunno, is Harry Potter himself here?? No such luck. It <em>was</em> the ticket line. We thought we planned it so we would miss the rush!
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<br />There was no way Des was going to sit still in this line. So we pushed the stroller over to the exterior seal exhibit, trying to decide what to do. Des LOVED the seals. Well, at first he was scared. He nearly jumped out of his skin when one of them swam by. It was really funny. We are the kind of parents who find our child's initial terror of harmless situations side-splittingly hilarious. But after that, he was pointing and yelling at them, like, "HI THERE, I SEE YOU SEAL, YOU ARE SWIMMING AND I LOVE YOU," kind of yelling. Aww, look he loves them!
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<br />Despite the fact that we were thinking of nixing the aquarium idea and walking around the city for the afternoon, Des's adoration of the seals made me want to take him inside. How much would he love the penguins and turtles and shiny fish as far as the eye can see? But that line. No effin way, is what I said to that line.
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<br />"Damn, we coulda bought tickets online and printed them at home," Tony said. "I wish I thought of it."
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<br />"What if we went to Kinkos?" I am truly brilliant sometimes. FedEx/Kinkos was just a couple blocks away. We'd be there and back before most of these people even make it halfway to the ticket window.
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<br />So that's what we did. And I was so proud of myself for coming up with that plan. All those people waiting in line are clearly not as smart as we are. But as we made our way back to the aquarium, printed tickets in hand, I had a thought. All those people waiting. Those hundreds of people... they're going to be inside eventually. Every one of them, in those dark aisles and along the edges of tanks, congested and crowded. The wind went out of my sail. Ohhh crap.
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<br />See, I'm not so good in those situations. I like bright, under-populated, wide open spaces where me and my kid can run around. So umm.. what was I thinking again?
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<br />Welp, we paid $50 for this, we might as well go in at this point. And as soon as we walked in the doors, my fears were justified. Wall-to-wall people. The last time I had been here I was in elementary school. I recalled it being A LOT bigger. But maybe that's the claustrophobia talking.
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<br />Despite the crowds, it wasn't all bad. Des actually enjoyed himself for the most part, and that's what it's all about, right folks? Unfortunately I had a minor anxiety attack in the middle of the starfish exhibit where it felt like the walls were closing in on me and I was going to be sucked spinning into the tile floor. So for the most part Tony handled Des, and I handled the stroller and the arduous task of keeping my shit together.
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<br />When I <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">was</span> breathing at a normal pace, it was so fun to see Des's reactions to all the surroundings. The penguins were his buddies. The shark scared him to death at first, as it did ME, and the turtles were as a big as cars. But he loved it all. And it's always an amazing experience to see this world from a fresh set of eyes. Especially when my old eyes are polluted with stupid anxiety.
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<br />Check out these ooh's and aah's (if you listen past the crowd noise):
<br /><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GvzaZEqOykc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<br />These pics are a bit blurry due to poor lighting, constantly moving subjects, and my piss-poor photography skills. But you get the gist.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-y5FdQ0NfKG57ZI7DQwKQvf6As_drZa9hE2yHRV7Lku-m2T2XbHhcJCOvqurJLp8RG6a9MNIl2uKz6ZADqlog8KB6Sl-9TtTILA6xoViP8tBRw_1swRwaGhd9YPvi-eFWFi5MDCPj5M/s1600/IMG_7554.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640897857774308578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-y5FdQ0NfKG57ZI7DQwKQvf6As_drZa9hE2yHRV7Lku-m2T2XbHhcJCOvqurJLp8RG6a9MNIl2uKz6ZADqlog8KB6Sl-9TtTILA6xoViP8tBRw_1swRwaGhd9YPvi-eFWFi5MDCPj5M/s400/IMG_7554.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhja0O8rs_hFNXmQSvjPMUcJQY90KphmRccvFsvg-938UZsF78sjRuACAxLvW6MBeUbW-hwSM27thPmoGWlotfQNMuNpSBA8_6KrNqdjFHmV_PtGMDyKyGd8lsVrI5upRk0qoyioWCbKy0/s1600/IMG_7553.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640897855182097042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhja0O8rs_hFNXmQSvjPMUcJQY90KphmRccvFsvg-938UZsF78sjRuACAxLvW6MBeUbW-hwSM27thPmoGWlotfQNMuNpSBA8_6KrNqdjFHmV_PtGMDyKyGd8lsVrI5upRk0qoyioWCbKy0/s400/IMG_7553.JPG" /></a>
<br />Penguin buddies!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLynX_p9y6LTnU2jgnmotr0KAIcB3DyHi-kFRQXVvaRJKil11eJburjMfO9FlY7A-w0XX-mTPHXkNU04apvUwYHKFz3KXDc0trpK2fMsVDwELVzGmTQi9TJcUVDK9ntdXrHNaTFXRcvOg/s1600/IMG_7560.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640897868846433858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLynX_p9y6LTnU2jgnmotr0KAIcB3DyHi-kFRQXVvaRJKil11eJburjMfO9FlY7A-w0XX-mTPHXkNU04apvUwYHKFz3KXDc0trpK2fMsVDwELVzGmTQi9TJcUVDK9ntdXrHNaTFXRcvOg/s400/IMG_7560.JPG" /></a>
<br />Just like <a href="http://peachorchardproject.blogspot.com/2011/05/before-we-get-back-to-reality.html">St. John</a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFpqdap3n6axnB9zIMNUhcYzaS-JC31wxHXoJZErUl6hAA5e2lNFKo-iO180B-yXdNRJyn3rSF2eq2oPF7DagycuxZztxsfqCtdhkLBGxV-YC5eDQfI_fCTlTzzsLfEFrHssKx04HAT8/s1600/IMG_7558.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640897864452869762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFpqdap3n6axnB9zIMNUhcYzaS-JC31wxHXoJZErUl6hAA5e2lNFKo-iO180B-yXdNRJyn3rSF2eq2oPF7DagycuxZztxsfqCtdhkLBGxV-YC5eDQfI_fCTlTzzsLfEFrHssKx04HAT8/s400/IMG_7558.JPG" /></a>
<br />Puffer fish
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6sp1VpBTVoR-iz1TQ_TR4Q639JMrMF-HiW-AWGvTzLvHvP3VMzYPD6Hy7tV1sIHOPDrwd612Gf8662A9Gdva4AP5zp7fn-FAKfhFi9nIdDOswn1EfwUZ9SRlPUV94o7f_xB4DK11Xcc/s1600/IMG_7562.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640897871892700322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6sp1VpBTVoR-iz1TQ_TR4Q639JMrMF-HiW-AWGvTzLvHvP3VMzYPD6Hy7tV1sIHOPDrwd612Gf8662A9Gdva4AP5zp7fn-FAKfhFi9nIdDOswn1EfwUZ9SRlPUV94o7f_xB4DK11Xcc/s400/IMG_7562.JPG" /></a>
<br />I love coral
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gSv0gybc8ix6pRBeHe7ARDn2Dj6SrPruYPZ6vmlalQSmSUTOvxfgetU-oF6nRfKTvQTBQAKTp3KEM8nutUBxh76qKSL6289Qmq_LISxn3J_ZReJ9YG4FG8CEzkuc7RjmCT3DaMGoPhw/s1600/IMG_7581.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640909516186444194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gSv0gybc8ix6pRBeHe7ARDn2Dj6SrPruYPZ6vmlalQSmSUTOvxfgetU-oF6nRfKTvQTBQAKTp3KEM8nutUBxh76qKSL6289Qmq_LISxn3J_ZReJ9YG4FG8CEzkuc7RjmCT3DaMGoPhw/s400/IMG_7581.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTexbBWd5BsOBxpq9Gio2iBhI1YCQ4LNNYeeWc-Hv1QP2VMCkh7D5HSap9lWrMRA_msiT8X2ekxzEYbKoVNq2IHCTgRLoMD-9w2HTZtEaflQVxw2Jf5-tHSlDQ-m84AaKxs4P5LHgf7HE/s1600/IMG_7575.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640907940599432386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTexbBWd5BsOBxpq9Gio2iBhI1YCQ4LNNYeeWc-Hv1QP2VMCkh7D5HSap9lWrMRA_msiT8X2ekxzEYbKoVNq2IHCTgRLoMD-9w2HTZtEaflQVxw2Jf5-tHSlDQ-m84AaKxs4P5LHgf7HE/s400/IMG_7575.JPG" /></a>
<br />Also, turtles
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-osDPuNYKZHQPf6igZM9FfdA72uhQz3VWu4APIMwz6l_f2_6O6rsBlwaq17yR0s87OJl12A_GH9j_ADbe-2WtDxSAsZXxYfQW9613YtUZkcdS_BwPaggkjZ_daPySuw8yimoWmumx_w/s1600/IMG_7578.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640909510071664306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-osDPuNYKZHQPf6igZM9FfdA72uhQz3VWu4APIMwz6l_f2_6O6rsBlwaq17yR0s87OJl12A_GH9j_ADbe-2WtDxSAsZXxYfQW9613YtUZkcdS_BwPaggkjZ_daPySuw8yimoWmumx_w/s400/IMG_7578.JPG" /></a>
<br />"Oh Holy Jesus!" was my very loud reaction amongst the crowd of young children.
<br />"Rawr!" was Des's.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7iDPGkN0lwSXuZxv8p3BR-pWUowh5_OEZ3Kj8vQyVYOg-x4A7SNAv2TEMUIaDZLBawKMcUqaTbDL5x49YVJng3uqmTa7kzqSd-KrenSHMjj5rDBM5wakHOgyUAoGichC6bdchJVfTW0/s1600/IMG_7597.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640912546643453554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7iDPGkN0lwSXuZxv8p3BR-pWUowh5_OEZ3Kj8vQyVYOg-x4A7SNAv2TEMUIaDZLBawKMcUqaTbDL5x49YVJng3uqmTa7kzqSd-KrenSHMjj5rDBM5wakHOgyUAoGichC6bdchJVfTW0/s400/IMG_7597.JPG" /></a>
<br />Starfish
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wWkRdRDk9yyao15WvcrVv_wNt0X5qk__9wE9XRXQyXLkhXZ1fDb4XGnTOIVzeXR9u1pb4GXTGL2QUDruXEondYtaNOI8HrssqTo4APYDADgbsppHzPZ7I6uN0n2721rSP3D2yC11dJQ/s1600/IMG_7602.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 285px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640912551403791314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wWkRdRDk9yyao15WvcrVv_wNt0X5qk__9wE9XRXQyXLkhXZ1fDb4XGnTOIVzeXR9u1pb4GXTGL2QUDruXEondYtaNOI8HrssqTo4APYDADgbsppHzPZ7I6uN0n2721rSP3D2yC11dJQ/s400/IMG_7602.JPG" /></a>
<br />Sweet, sweet fresh air
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0Lpw_NYsSP35mf-OWegd6nZP1ghYBwfhcUokVHwylN7w6wJ1NXJg4M3CWrio28r7klracNXqoQw6kiDoswY_MIdcdrisVgr61Qd95ezlCSmMPjEU4Umnp4BKFw0kyAkOdzyr2gEPNi0/s1600/IMG_7608.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640913590904091426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0Lpw_NYsSP35mf-OWegd6nZP1ghYBwfhcUokVHwylN7w6wJ1NXJg4M3CWrio28r7klracNXqoQw6kiDoswY_MIdcdrisVgr61Qd95ezlCSmMPjEU4Umnp4BKFw0kyAkOdzyr2gEPNi0/s400/IMG_7608.JPG" /></a>
<br />Moving freely is awesome
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPLl_bxv9gDTJfPYPmQ00xPggEht_c5uO_71C_ZK-EYSvBW-jkrkh1tM2r1qw7Vjh8MPrNZBIG0rh1dQYrElB9Ka6O0nl8sYHUFa30I_3CzkQaLeOk4wdpGYcIcHRCb5Y5lSjJ0MsU2k/s1600/IMG_7607.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640913587060807938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPLl_bxv9gDTJfPYPmQ00xPggEht_c5uO_71C_ZK-EYSvBW-jkrkh1tM2r1qw7Vjh8MPrNZBIG0rh1dQYrElB9Ka6O0nl8sYHUFa30I_3CzkQaLeOk4wdpGYcIcHRCb5Y5lSjJ0MsU2k/s400/IMG_7607.JPG" /></a>
<br />Me and my turtle boy
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<br />Side note: Best of luck to Auntie Jaclyn on her trip back east from California!! We can't wait to see her. And her 'lovie' is going to give her the biggest most excited smiles and hugs ever. She has no idea.
<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-66542862006075530722011-08-10T21:52:00.006-04:002011-08-10T22:12:53.803-04:00Trains, Planes, and... Make it stop alreadyDesmond inherited a big bin full of Thomas trains. Every morning, the first thing he does after we walk downstairs is to reach for the bin and whine until we open it, “eh eh eh.” Then he spends the next half hour taking out each train one by one, lining them up in a circle all around him.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4E5Du6lNilh-lempaWSuE9WhAWUZIYRBft6JDLMinmO_xhIgy9i8szJFDE3cMbSN-ePcLsiVfqE4b5t85Hx9nHwsVEyu5Z5PlvHcvVQOaGKwEuRNjfRnsrwhwwaQIyjqdsr37K8Vrdc/s1600/IMG_7307.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639410980397711826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4E5Du6lNilh-lempaWSuE9WhAWUZIYRBft6JDLMinmO_xhIgy9i8szJFDE3cMbSN-ePcLsiVfqE4b5t85Hx9nHwsVEyu5Z5PlvHcvVQOaGKwEuRNjfRnsrwhwwaQIyjqdsr37K8Vrdc/s400/IMG_7307.JPG" /></a>
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<br />The original owner, Des’s cousin Liam, was obsessed with Thomas a few years ago. Liam would sit on the floor with the thick Thomas catalogue, pointing and naming every train from memory before he could even read. The names of close family members would often slip his mind (his famous saying was, “Who are you again?”), but heck if he couldn’t pick Diesel 10 out of a line up!
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<br />Truthfully, I’ve always been a bit creeped out by Thomas and his friends. Gray clay-like faces on the front of giant steel machines. They spoke in British accents and used weird words like “cross” and “chuff.” They answered to a man in a top hat and tuxedo jacket. They didn’t have limbs. What if they had an itch on their face?? These are the thoughts that keep me up at night.
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<br />Des didn’t understand that his favorite bin was full of Thomas trains. He’s just always been fascinated with trucks and cars and anything with wheels. These could have been all of the above. Fun!
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<br />Well, he didn’t understand they were Thomas trains until recently.
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<br />Tony, in his infinite nerdiness, decided he wanted to learn the names of all the trains. As Des picked each one out, Tony tested himself aloud with the names. Apparently, Des started remembering too. Recently I asked him, “Where’s Spencer?” He stood over the bin, staring into it. Then he shuffled his hand inside and pulled out the sleek silver train. Spencer. Thinking it was a fluke, I asked, “Okay, where’s Toby?” I could see his eyes searching, then his hand feeling around, and out came the brown square train. Toby.
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<br />Wow, that's amazing! Impressive! Scary as hell!
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<br />And oh greeeeat.
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<br />He’s only seen a few episodes of the TV show. But now that he’s learning who Thomas and his friends are, he gets SUPER PSYCHED when it comes on.
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<br />Exhibits A through Z:
<br /><iframe height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iu6xmLQ7NkM" frameborder="0" width="560"></iframe>
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<br />I guess I have to get over my creepy Thomas issues.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVF-GKagILHcK0TnIoaVmDInTwkE3KJsGEHAXrv_LPZhaWeMvxusBGe8DfFVkmZSWVuO4bo0ZTi9CgwOZYTMOYwIsGdcMYQsTflIFUsg1yjxUzuirZDo9waGPyxY3f_YlK9IP8Qq9l7E/s1600/IMG_7298.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639411889725792242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVF-GKagILHcK0TnIoaVmDInTwkE3KJsGEHAXrv_LPZhaWeMvxusBGe8DfFVkmZSWVuO4bo0ZTi9CgwOZYTMOYwIsGdcMYQsTflIFUsg1yjxUzuirZDo9waGPyxY3f_YlK9IP8Qq9l7E/s400/IMG_7298.JPG" /></a>
<br />Anything for this face.
<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-74840008142463427682011-08-08T20:50:00.006-04:002011-08-08T21:55:32.808-04:00Blowing the Stink OffDes had a bit of an off day at daycare. He was in a fine mood, played well with others, ate all his snacks and lunch. But the napping... oh the napping. His caretaker tried twice, but Des just cried and cried. We've been having some <a href="http://burlington.patch.com/articles/sleep-training">sleep issues</a> recently. And coming off of a weekend always makes it worse.
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<br />Needless to say, his mood by the time he got home was less than desirable.
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<br />It had rained most of the day, but the skies finally cleared after dinner. As Des sat whining through another episode of Chuggington, I finally said, "He needs to get out and blow the stink off him."
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<br />"What, does he stink?" Tony said.
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<br />"No, he's been cooped up, he's cranky, he needs to run around in the fresh air. Blow the stink off of him."
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<br />He looked at me like I had two heads. I was shocked he had never heard this phrase. My mother must have said that EVERY DAY growing up, '<em>Get out and blow the stink off ya!' </em>I assumed every mom said that. I plan on keeping the phrase alive.
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<br />As we put our shoes on, Tony said, "Okay Des, let's go outside and get that smell out."
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<br />I laughed. "It's blow the stink off!"
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<br />And as soon as we got out there, put Des down on the wet grass and let him run around the yard, he was a new boy. He was our boy.
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<br /><iframe height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zXbUMbDmMbo" frameborder="0" width="425"></iframe>
<br />This, my love, is what blowing the stink off looks like.
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<br />(Sorry for the skinny iPhone video. We have a flip. We should probably use it.)
<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-5392310664283125022011-08-03T21:26:00.003-04:002011-08-03T21:47:56.826-04:00Summer NightWhat a lovely night. There's a breeze wafting through the window sheers. It's nice to not have the hum of the AC in the background. I love the summer, but a cool evening is a welcome change.<br /><br />Right now I'm half-watching a movie I've seen a dozen times already, my laptop on a pillow, and a glass of wine on the coffee table. Tony is in bed, finally home from a few days away for work, a long and exhausting stretch for the both of us. We don't do apart well.<br /><br />Desmond is going through a rough patch with sleeping. Or not sleeping, as it were. It happens every once in a while. It will pass. It usually does within a week or two. Hopefully soon because my back is shot from laying on the floor next to his crib. Dealing with a rough patch like this alone, on top of all the other daily care taking, is draining. Then to end a tough day in big empty bed... well, I'm glad my husband is home.<br /><br />Both my boys are resting quietly upstairs. I'll join them soon. And tomorrow it's back to the way things should be. Tony and I plugging away at our laptops on the dining room table as Des comes by with a train or a book, forcing us to take a needed break. I love Thursdays. I love my family.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7um3BuWdtU88gz1_g2u-6O84s_awk5mjN1gGE0yJs2rSTHay2aX28BMSSIl0DWM2Kc4kvxH0deqOi1M73bbUpYh_GxSUBwmHmLSYPHm4Rl4El7Pf-PGTDQKe8W52_aPy6GHzYRzerhPg/s1600/IMG_7420+copy.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7um3BuWdtU88gz1_g2u-6O84s_awk5mjN1gGE0yJs2rSTHay2aX28BMSSIl0DWM2Kc4kvxH0deqOi1M73bbUpYh_GxSUBwmHmLSYPHm4Rl4El7Pf-PGTDQKe8W52_aPy6GHzYRzerhPg/s400/IMG_7420+copy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636811262245402466" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-81683729246002654142011-08-03T09:17:00.004-04:002011-08-03T11:25:59.394-04:00Welcome to the World<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRELjSUgOrUJSeNVUHO_bbm3Nw7_kzrQpwn9e15IXWesuEtsQwPAQx6_aSYrqdodeTfl6yYF2YTB8Cqh1tYIHr1BnomAehvLOvlNLz9H7piG8ineuYBZ9Mdajdjf3UD_e0IdWyUtpvYlI/s1600/216742_10150270792814451_700449450_7160261_6475183_n.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636645789008600482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRELjSUgOrUJSeNVUHO_bbm3Nw7_kzrQpwn9e15IXWesuEtsQwPAQx6_aSYrqdodeTfl6yYF2YTB8Cqh1tYIHr1BnomAehvLOvlNLz9H7piG8ineuYBZ9Mdajdjf3UD_e0IdWyUtpvYlI/s400/216742_10150270792814451_700449450_7160261_6475183_n.jpg" /></a><br />Cameron James!<br /><br />Born Sunday 7/31 at 5:42pm, 7 lbs (not sure of the length).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqtAllAzuuCggc4fNdc1jcjIKU6RqxWnpI_qgIHGGCIrfsvEJOT_vFg1rpAJSieLDnSosrfi9jTePYkcFbverlwP8rz17-brB_4iWnYD_zbhCDRhRUXWRM8AdxtGP-8TwHD2lzUaNmfA/s1600/249383_10150270792319451_700449450_7160257_2063512_n.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636645796392543650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqtAllAzuuCggc4fNdc1jcjIKU6RqxWnpI_qgIHGGCIrfsvEJOT_vFg1rpAJSieLDnSosrfi9jTePYkcFbverlwP8rz17-brB_4iWnYD_zbhCDRhRUXWRM8AdxtGP-8TwHD2lzUaNmfA/s400/249383_10150270792319451_700449450_7160257_2063512_n.jpg" /></a><br />Nana holding her 10th grandchild.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfGrhJBcIQd5dZD1S42boZIzC74jLWhzKDSOiM6wElKjrhqHMC47jUAZ-EeMMuNxImIPSxQgWJZWpiEc1a-IzKFKCPQERbX1-g0Yc1ptocqK5wQQ1D6xPwRwjOcebjvAHhloLM1TIxNE/s1600/249208_10150270792274451_700449450_7160256_4889791_n.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636645796081205362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfGrhJBcIQd5dZD1S42boZIzC74jLWhzKDSOiM6wElKjrhqHMC47jUAZ-EeMMuNxImIPSxQgWJZWpiEc1a-IzKFKCPQERbX1-g0Yc1ptocqK5wQQ1D6xPwRwjOcebjvAHhloLM1TIxNE/s400/249208_10150270792274451_700449450_7160256_4889791_n.jpg" /></a><br />Snuggly<br /><br />So Des has a new little cousin who will live right down the street. I have a strong feeling they are going to be best buds, despite the fact that Des banged on the side of Cameron's bassinet in the hospital. Cam barely flinched. That's a good sign.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNBkXwWOd_v41cJgYz5Ay92Yc1I4p75OIcnyhTOJNO4uPJYZCak7oJTY1ZAc_pnO8VlIzmSxKsj9TZjaUrnKnGHGUhQM_HUvBcZLc42Y-RFbE254iLs1CIdxxprHaSCSIOLWUG8b6gr4/s1600/262830_10150270792974451_700449450_7160263_4280880_n.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636645797887865826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNBkXwWOd_v41cJgYz5Ay92Yc1I4p75OIcnyhTOJNO4uPJYZCak7oJTY1ZAc_pnO8VlIzmSxKsj9TZjaUrnKnGHGUhQM_HUvBcZLc42Y-RFbE254iLs1CIdxxprHaSCSIOLWUG8b6gr4/s400/262830_10150270792974451_700449450_7160263_4280880_n.jpg" /></a><br />Proud parents, Janet (my sis and best friend in the whole world) and Nick (one of the coolest guys on the planet). That is one lucky kid.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9PNZThYkgVC_iCCae_CQhJ9O7MSLkQmJPZHpQcw3yMN3ihFfS-tjO-wcghioKkX8ncX88LLrekq6qb5SuRKIPuFediOzkUbOxECvOM1e8BTkxjAmxzWvVhxt8PARQLGT0KZ9IgJmDqo/s1600/205848_10150270794519451_700449450_7160266_5895167_n.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 298px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636645789867724578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9PNZThYkgVC_iCCae_CQhJ9O7MSLkQmJPZHpQcw3yMN3ihFfS-tjO-wcghioKkX8ncX88LLrekq6qb5SuRKIPuFediOzkUbOxECvOM1e8BTkxjAmxzWvVhxt8PARQLGT0KZ9IgJmDqo/s400/205848_10150270794519451_700449450_7160266_5895167_n.jpg" /></a><br />Was Desmond ever this teenie? :tear:<br /><br />I am beside myself with excitement to get to know this new little person, and to see my best friends become parents. It is such an amazing adventure. We are lucky to be a part of it.<br /><br />Congratulations Nick and Janet. I love you both to pieces. You guys make beautiful babies.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-90743184620189566272011-07-27T20:01:00.010-04:002011-07-27T22:05:11.307-04:00Sometimes You Just Need a Day<div>To take a random Wednesday off, despite certain urgencies at work. To hit the road with your baby in the back seat and a couple of towels in a bag. One day to leave the laptop at home. To use the phone to take pictures only.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtTnGpcuyIRbII4TL3ABhuREO27UAF8mADvszYj5ng7Bp3FCzq3ylZxV3UsEARqI53W-2UZCk33eRw4fARHFcgCooAHX18ET1AArUTK6-wMx2YjPK2WHC1LqVml7Z9KfG4ppyVFHLWoI/s1600/photo1.JPG"><img style="width: 285px; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634202792818724322" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtTnGpcuyIRbII4TL3ABhuREO27UAF8mADvszYj5ng7Bp3FCzq3ylZxV3UsEARqI53W-2UZCk33eRw4fARHFcgCooAHX18ET1AArUTK6-wMx2YjPK2WHC1LqVml7Z9KfG4ppyVFHLWoI/s400/photo1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />To splash in the waves.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCfWrELHn6fIueipJYHY-myGP7jKGltzem_07nhI7Ug24uszqEwQ_Slu9Bc7vydMM7F3KM6ksXvN5Z_pzvzX3gikxuB9ob6xozk__9dQxvuk-Tp3gqDGNJNNCB7yEmItuk5SmTUBu1ZU/s1600/photo7.JPG"><img style="width: 285px; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634204669981324082" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCfWrELHn6fIueipJYHY-myGP7jKGltzem_07nhI7Ug24uszqEwQ_Slu9Bc7vydMM7F3KM6ksXvN5Z_pzvzX3gikxuB9ob6xozk__9dQxvuk-Tp3gqDGNJNNCB7yEmItuk5SmTUBu1ZU/s400/photo7.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />To dig in the sand.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasU3QQHbLOfs_Nt2jSxHXavqdzq_eMc7vqTRyE2MJfsmis4Est8bHYkZ6Ae2w50NwdUDF5zkLl4ShtBFAUGW6zzYSsB32HEFKVoRTU13fN_29uFvj0MrLDa6v8-Jm1T0QW1OTfBruZNE/s1600/photo3.JPG"><img style="width: 400px; height: 286px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634202512016545634" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasU3QQHbLOfs_Nt2jSxHXavqdzq_eMc7vqTRyE2MJfsmis4Est8bHYkZ6Ae2w50NwdUDF5zkLl4ShtBFAUGW6zzYSsB32HEFKVoRTU13fN_29uFvj0MrLDa6v8-Jm1T0QW1OTfBruZNE/s400/photo3.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />To run.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYdHys0Yj3vVAjGesYGSqTTOX6kUDqIhvuHvE-MN4CnVQdGZjuQLl5iM9IVE0NOLN5tw0_rp9SH0TtixZ0djIBDBcGjiPXoy5vM04CoBd8vJ-hjwd0Ek9pvKPJQxX7RJOWwZUT5WCjj0/s1600/photo8.JPG"><img style="width: 285px; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634202533567351746" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYdHys0Yj3vVAjGesYGSqTTOX6kUDqIhvuHvE-MN4CnVQdGZjuQLl5iM9IVE0NOLN5tw0_rp9SH0TtixZ0djIBDBcGjiPXoy5vM04CoBd8vJ-hjwd0Ek9pvKPJQxX7RJOWwZUT5WCjj0/s400/photo8.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>To fall.<br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjE3nm9SiWbX6-Fi007UM1AxuxnsJZwIJaAtRh045WI8LZZsgSLljThRCrMpYz8eMvKhAKnOrdjiwS3hMiV9TNVHL50J0MXoAbLINM8loT1QFXLQZXcQB31Vo0ztavNKDmuz6oAiz7IE8/s1600/photo5.JPG"><img style="width: 285px; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634204662727284242" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjE3nm9SiWbX6-Fi007UM1AxuxnsJZwIJaAtRh045WI8LZZsgSLljThRCrMpYz8eMvKhAKnOrdjiwS3hMiV9TNVHL50J0MXoAbLINM8loT1QFXLQZXcQB31Vo0ztavNKDmuz6oAiz7IE8/s400/photo5.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>To laugh.<br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGG4hyOasEzzExJZhp5SCIVN0famKdDUbKzqiP9dGyJ086GKy-C2teeEoGIUkR4dwDY_Sk3m9JSLTt0iNm2E4ySWgvRmK2UI2Ubpy62NoixI-XU50GRTi7CxNSDafPdp2ytced7tFhjrw/s1600/6974369e87ec4e82a971a1c6349a1eb1_7.jpg"><img style="width: 400px; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634202507131815010" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGG4hyOasEzzExJZhp5SCIVN0famKdDUbKzqiP9dGyJ086GKy-C2teeEoGIUkR4dwDY_Sk3m9JSLTt0iNm2E4ySWgvRmK2UI2Ubpy62NoixI-XU50GRTi7CxNSDafPdp2ytced7tFhjrw/s400/6974369e87ec4e82a971a1c6349a1eb1_7.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>To make memories.<br /><br /><div></div><div>Today I went to the water with my boy. He is such a beach baby, lucky for me. It was just me and him and that gorgeous ocean air. I wish days like this could happen more often. But then maybe they wouldn't feel so special. <br /></div></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-82987024234794584932011-07-23T15:34:00.005-04:002011-07-23T15:39:58.928-04:00ChangeIn light of all the change that is going to be happening in the next few weeks, I figured the mop on my head needed a transformation as well:<br /><br />Before:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0soSEBfLWF664spsyZqyzTJLIrNWaKsc3uxOGKeVuHvf3yStetkodAhnaEvLz_K8p0w6ICf1m30PYRPFWSZXjN_fj7O0K_OdUdEDRW1bFAmO8VzwDP3L5aIB9Qdqak5G2o8ph_DJdAP8/s1600/hair1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 287px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632633744252270498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0soSEBfLWF664spsyZqyzTJLIrNWaKsc3uxOGKeVuHvf3yStetkodAhnaEvLz_K8p0w6ICf1m30PYRPFWSZXjN_fj7O0K_OdUdEDRW1bFAmO8VzwDP3L5aIB9Qdqak5G2o8ph_DJdAP8/s400/hair1.JPG" /></a><br /><br />After:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKH17QnQJnoN5pBUlWoZRjlGtwvD9YyCPqN-QBagC2wc20K-VwBqZM2AgbanJ0H01zOvedOuoSMEznpxI1ac81_3SPlSaNZooxyDySDYRuO1owE4fgKUVWJnbZkI_No4wjAN-SZIVavhM/s1600/hair2.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 287px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632633746187239714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKH17QnQJnoN5pBUlWoZRjlGtwvD9YyCPqN-QBagC2wc20K-VwBqZM2AgbanJ0H01zOvedOuoSMEznpxI1ac81_3SPlSaNZooxyDySDYRuO1owE4fgKUVWJnbZkI_No4wjAN-SZIVavhM/s400/hair2.JPG" /></a><br /><br />This is going to be infinitely easier to maintain, especially in this ridiculous heat. And the blond is like coming home. I missed it.<br /><br />More news on some big changes on the job front this week. Decisions need to be made, but at least I know I have options. Still figuring this all out.<br /><br />Sorry for the vagueness. You understand.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-72337079380920904252011-07-11T19:24:00.005-04:002011-07-11T20:32:14.586-04:00Road Block?So things are... hmm. Going.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjXE4wP3OpiuunsUtFbjr7TmUT7Z34Kt_hTVlZfVuuHdgvlzhZ4qrHeAMsgpmxhzk3KUAedShlNt8yGJ8YR69ygzrwAv0hDjESTrLKdcBRF06H_Da5MmMX-HMLEFGhw3UYwxeajsojEU/s1600/267845_10150245326579451_700449450_6922616_8030764_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjXE4wP3OpiuunsUtFbjr7TmUT7Z34Kt_hTVlZfVuuHdgvlzhZ4qrHeAMsgpmxhzk3KUAedShlNt8yGJ8YR69ygzrwAv0hDjESTrLKdcBRF06H_Da5MmMX-HMLEFGhw3UYwxeajsojEU/s400/267845_10150245326579451_700449450_6922616_8030764_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628254053495147698" border="0" /></a><br />At least this guy is keeping me going.<br /><br />Just to put it all out there, I'm facing some tough times at work. I know, I hate talking about work here. Isn't that Blogging 101? Don't cross the streams? Total protonic reversal, and all that. I won't go into details. But the gist is, I may or may not have a job in a few weeks. And it's stressing me out. Big time. Like, if I run my hand through my hair I'll pull out a clump, kinda stress. Also I may have lost 40-50% of my eyelashes. Needs me some falsies STAT.<br /><br />Everyone's all, 'Whatever happens happens,' 'It's out of your hands,' 'Don't get stressed about things you can't control.' And I'm all puking in the corner thinking about mortgage payments and college funds and career paths and commutes from hell. They mean well. And I'm not scoffing at those words of wisdom like "You don't know my LYFE!" They're totally right. But it doesn't change the fact that I feel like I'm spiraling down a hole, grasping at the sides with my fingernails.<br /><br />This could be a totally awesome turn of events. I just have no idea. And I HATE not knowing what's going to happen next. Don't ever try to throw me a surprise party or I'll claw your eyes out. If not right at that moment, then in your nightmares. It's a promise. So basically yeah, surprises aint my thing.<br /><br />With this potential road block/opportunity/who-the-hell-knows, I have hit a blogging wall. I'm having trouble digesting food, never mind thoughts and ideas into words that make sense to the web.<br /><br />Every once in a while I'll get a blog entry ex machina (not even the right way to use that phrase, but I love it so suck it), like <a href="http://peachorchardproject.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-goes-around.html">finding the ring</a>. But mostly I've been opening a new entry to stare at a blank screen for a while. Then I go to People.com and Perez Hilton. And Pinterest to get lost for a few hours looking at pretty things. Did you know that the internet is full of distractions?!<br /><br />As my thoughts are consumed with work worries, anything that requires an ounce of thought or creativity is eclipsed. I'm just going through the motions. Watching a million hours of Harry Potter. Doing laundry, dishes, anything to keep my hands occupied and my mind hushed.<br /><br />It's like my falling hair is clogging the sink drain of inspiration. Deep, dude. That's so something I would have written on my notebook in high school.<br /><br />The good news is that Des is on a major Mama kick. Just when I need it most. Despite the aforementioned anxieties, we ARE enjoying this beautiful summer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW87RZP0mDGcSG3SBLQC-50dnIqOL3dtiKBNOra-ojiTaQ92c5tuY4sCQVHD0NiKkScZnYfVKGJHflrpI_5ZPu1l43DYUS8tMMyzy_rzvUl1TXwuK3Mxl0uG5JJMJ9seNWWq4dvfmJXko/s1600/267490_10150245356209451_700449450_6922917_2343787_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW87RZP0mDGcSG3SBLQC-50dnIqOL3dtiKBNOra-ojiTaQ92c5tuY4sCQVHD0NiKkScZnYfVKGJHflrpI_5ZPu1l43DYUS8tMMyzy_rzvUl1TXwuK3Mxl0uG5JJMJ9seNWWq4dvfmJXko/s400/267490_10150245356209451_700449450_6922917_2343787_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628254036636455794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsjrUrC4MRNBaKk1a2w4kx63CH45qp6Tv4z6YZ8ArX791a1HpU-DgL_PcsmO9fmlHhbQdv6PAYk_DYpLqXXuNmdtzpBiW2aDkeT0uhIUSGa7QEYRKesl8vbghKsdnUyBvrUrGkO57Skk/s1600/265065_10150245321349451_700449450_6922525_1306875_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsjrUrC4MRNBaKk1a2w4kx63CH45qp6Tv4z6YZ8ArX791a1HpU-DgL_PcsmO9fmlHhbQdv6PAYk_DYpLqXXuNmdtzpBiW2aDkeT0uhIUSGa7QEYRKesl8vbghKsdnUyBvrUrGkO57Skk/s400/265065_10150245321349451_700449450_6922525_1306875_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628254041009737794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He makes me laugh so much. And smile like it's plastered on my face.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdY9TuHRFMz5E2fDi05LEYGgt6OwsGzcj-7y9iPPkgSLswZ6nhyphenhyphenNew8l-GlnkTz95HcCCc_y9uki0wudVD9fapXIF0gWnXg0nwS7CggvjsQYHiXGzt_enQ8EDYusnOxhzY6-x9u1XmYw/s1600/269780_10150245341634451_700449450_6922740_989537_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdY9TuHRFMz5E2fDi05LEYGgt6OwsGzcj-7y9iPPkgSLswZ6nhyphenhyphenNew8l-GlnkTz95HcCCc_y9uki0wudVD9fapXIF0gWnXg0nwS7CggvjsQYHiXGzt_enQ8EDYusnOxhzY6-x9u1XmYw/s400/269780_10150245341634451_700449450_6922740_989537_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628254038528296562" border="0" /></a><br />Ridiculous joy. Worries magically gone.<br /><br />I'll try to keep you posted, as much as I can. But don't blame me for being sparse. Blame The Man, man.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-75467162155686643162011-07-05T20:02:00.004-04:002011-07-05T21:24:26.994-04:00What Goes AroundTony lost his wedding ring in February 2008. He noticed it was not on his finger as he was letting Barkley out one day, and by that time he had already been to the store and shoveled the driveway. He retraced his steps, went back to the supermarket and searched the freezers (ice cream, of course). He tore his car apart. He borrowed a metal detector and searched the yard. Nothing. To say he was upset would be an understatement.<br /><br />It was insured, luckily. The appraisal amount was based on the original cost. If he wanted to get the same ring, it would have been TWICE as much due to the increased cost of gold. So he just never got around to submitting the claim and getting a 'real' ring. Instead he got a $20 replacement band at a mall kiosk. Sleeping, showering, playing sports, etc... He never takes that thing off. It looks like any old ring. A plain silver band. But if you hold it in your hand there is very little weight, as if hollow.<br /><br />It's just a ring, both the original and the replacement. In the big picture it's no big deal. But our bands are special. The ones we picked out together in the grown-up jewelry store, and put on each others' fingers the day we were married... those were <span style="font-style: italic;">our rings</span>.<br /><br />Every once in a while I'd ask Tony if he wanted to go pick out another one, and he always declined. I don't know if he was holding out hope that one day he'd find the original, or if it just bummed him out too much to really replace it.<br /><br />This weekend we were both doing yard work. It wasn't on my To Do list, but it was beautiful out. Des went down for a nap and I wanted to be out in the air picking weeds. I started out at one end of the house and worked my way down.<br /><br />This was a particularly long nap for Des. Again, I didn't have a plan for how much I wanted to get done so I just kept on going, filling 2 garbage cans along the way. When I got to the grass down by the end of the driveway, I noticed something metallic looking among the weeds and rocks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SCoO5lr-WSOU_fXeJ_vdUiRvx_yelBGi75wEj1NsKEFd5Cc5eFX_Mt79MMe_0kWoRpmXGpfyYGSDilXH8J4AmoKSickJ0RkbLbcsODRaOj5Git-N5nWydJJSffOZdEwqOAeS29dL0v0/s1600/IMG_7147.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SCoO5lr-WSOU_fXeJ_vdUiRvx_yelBGi75wEj1NsKEFd5Cc5eFX_Mt79MMe_0kWoRpmXGpfyYGSDilXH8J4AmoKSickJ0RkbLbcsODRaOj5Git-N5nWydJJSffOZdEwqOAeS29dL0v0/s400/IMG_7147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626041429373490242" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A quarter maybe? It was dirty, faded silver. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGR0bibkjKy7svGyiorYuvGD32R1E4uhC4G4M9OtZMZ4MRDI-03PL8E5dCRkCAHQKrjtBlX1rRt6b74BnCoaOnIFf_oNzxWR9pYbiUUssDGNr__S35orQn8k0Le-xt5D6-oEsixQz7mc/s1600/IMG_7148.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGR0bibkjKy7svGyiorYuvGD32R1E4uhC4G4M9OtZMZ4MRDI-03PL8E5dCRkCAHQKrjtBlX1rRt6b74BnCoaOnIFf_oNzxWR9pYbiUUssDGNr__S35orQn8k0Le-xt5D6-oEsixQz7mc/s400/IMG_7148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626041443554289954" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I leaned in further... It was a ring.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhpLDfBRtd5BWaKkjBiTmAX03CiRCkhyphenhyphenawO0MqlhIqnBiZ9Pcq0ysFrbVP7YP87rqCeWjAu7lb4GQ2XkI5SnKH8KfWC_ITiB2VIlXNZW89F8xJrjefLUAekHKIHr5fHw0-m8guC9Qu-E/s1600/IMG_7149.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhpLDfBRtd5BWaKkjBiTmAX03CiRCkhyphenhyphenawO0MqlhIqnBiZ9Pcq0ysFrbVP7YP87rqCeWjAu7lb4GQ2XkI5SnKH8KfWC_ITiB2VIlXNZW89F8xJrjefLUAekHKIHr5fHw0-m8guC9Qu-E/s400/IMG_7149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626041447729385410" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Just sitting there on top of the soil. I picked it up thinking maybe Tony dropped his knock-off cheapo as he was down there earlier. No, this was <span style="font-style: italic;">much</span> heavier. Solid and strong.<br /><br />I RAN to the backyard where Tony was dumping one of my garbage cans. I threw my arms around him and said, "Give me your hand."<br /><br />"I don't want to," he replied.<br /><br />I was covered in filth and sweat and hugging him unexpectedly. I don't blame him for that reaction.<br /><br />"Yes, you do." I put the ring in his hand.<br /><br />"What is this?"<br />"It's YOUR RING."<br />"No it's not... no it's not."<br /><br />He could not believe it. It took him a few minutes to be convinced. We hugged for a long time and cried. It wasn't just the rings. It's the way it happened.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrm09qgh-ZGKPSf8xNYgT3Us_L5DueDRZxdpyr43fb1c9S5HQ5gELviWK_U00o3PQiWjzopxTGu2tlg5YS5y8zSBiX0ASg1Cjb9R2Gvlspsx4sgu643Daq-9Onlanj4s23g9DYShxH-k/s1600/IMG_7146.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrm09qgh-ZGKPSf8xNYgT3Us_L5DueDRZxdpyr43fb1c9S5HQ5gELviWK_U00o3PQiWjzopxTGu2tlg5YS5y8zSBiX0ASg1Cjb9R2Gvlspsx4sgu643Daq-9Onlanj4s23g9DYShxH-k/s400/IMG_7146.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626041423087584946" border="0" /></a><br /><br />3+ years of New England weather. Snow, rain, a near tornado just a few weeks earlier... Cars, lawn mowers, snow blowers. It shows on the ring. A few little dings and a tarnished finish. He doesn't think he'll get it polished. Those marks are like badges of honor.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWmygfFsCaxsxkzYjufFsRftV0ZBo2zApf3xK90T_eEC5Ao2VW3DkYheaxF5YObzdSYG1ZxamsFfBExt5dTjOWpQZZoCYCwehXFpHt6vwhMmwcidiTXCZzszqQKO4_FSci-voXWUlA0Y/s1600/IMG_7151.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWmygfFsCaxsxkzYjufFsRftV0ZBo2zApf3xK90T_eEC5Ao2VW3DkYheaxF5YObzdSYG1ZxamsFfBExt5dTjOWpQZZoCYCwehXFpHt6vwhMmwcidiTXCZzszqQKO4_FSci-voXWUlA0Y/s400/IMG_7151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626041458205070402" border="0" /></a><br />Fake on top, real on the bottom.<br /><br />He regularly wears both now. I joke that people are going to think he has sister wives. But I really think it's cute. He just loves his one wife supah extra!<br /><br />Welcome back, old friend.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-7643352000726292682011-06-24T20:57:00.004-04:002011-06-24T21:14:21.323-04:00Too Old for This?A few weeks ago it was all about celebrating the pre-teen/tween days with our boys from Boston, <a href="http://peachorchardproject.blogspot.com/2011/06/nkotbsb.html">NKOTB</a>. Lastnight I went back to the era of my late-teens/early 20's to see the Bouncing Souls, a punk rock band from Jersey. Many many memories have been made listening to those guys and going to their shows back in the day. It was time to make some more memories... as old people.<br /><br />Tony and I and our buddies Nick and Paul headed into town to grab a bite and catch the show for some nostalgic punk rock action. It was a weeknight, so we were livin' it up like the young people do!<br /><br />When we got to the door of the Middle East and noticed what time the Souls were going on, we shuddered in our cardigans. 10:50? PM?? Oh dear god. That's, like, 3 whole hours after I usually change into my old lady nightgown. Breathe. Everything will be fine. I survived months of newborn wakings, I can get through one early morning after a late night.<br /><br />We planned to grab a slice and a cheap beer at the Hi-Fi, a hole in the wall pizza place across the street. But as we walked in we were hit with the memory that the Hi-Fi is really only good for apres-show slices. Sober, you kinda have to choke it down. Blech. So we ventured down to the Asgard irish pub for good beer and decent sandwiches. Much better choice, senior citizens.<br /><br />When we finally headed into the show we found the ultimate Souls fan, Dink.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6O7L4dxyInMM3QRwjyHEYff4y44mpYczowvkuU7Ugc1I1z1n6xKcTGm1veNtox5_QtWYn62ExBUr5SUapCmI4sX1ZVRpeOyaGxNqDO2KGOUYitaKi_wlD2S9oILmqoV6JNimxHo1RWc/s1600/263523_10150232357829090_530824089_7070793_1447557_n.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 298px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621955695043363714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6O7L4dxyInMM3QRwjyHEYff4y44mpYczowvkuU7Ugc1I1z1n6xKcTGm1veNtox5_QtWYn62ExBUr5SUapCmI4sX1ZVRpeOyaGxNqDO2KGOUYitaKi_wlD2S9oILmqoV6JNimxHo1RWc/s400/263523_10150232357829090_530824089_7070793_1447557_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Can't see the Souls without Dink. We chatted for a while, drinking our tallboy PBRs, and she made the time fly by. Before I knew it, the band was going on. I made it! I can't believe it! And I only yawned a half a dozen times or so!<br /><br />The Souls were... amazing. I was jumping up and down like a lunatic. They're just fun and chill and not so serious.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XNDOKwm2Hakc0GQDtVc9eBmc58DNI7lpSAYoFSPtwXcI6TQaWvHIkrjeY7WXo1YwSupyx6Di8FK71uwaWCpjIPzsuG0ztaMM7CiQkE83mieWqmKthmuD0n1ZfvzLjTbKO9BUBf8H3vk/s1600/show.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 285px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621955700913865618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XNDOKwm2Hakc0GQDtVc9eBmc58DNI7lpSAYoFSPtwXcI6TQaWvHIkrjeY7WXo1YwSupyx6Di8FK71uwaWCpjIPzsuG0ztaMM7CiQkE83mieWqmKthmuD0n1ZfvzLjTbKO9BUBf8H3vk/s400/show.JPG" /></a><br />Whooa-oh-oh! Great show. Great times.<br /><br />It was worth it, but I'm feeling it today. It'll be a while before I go out on a weeknight again. Kids don't care if you're out late. I swear, they'll wake you up at 5am just to spite that crap.<br /><br />For good measure, here's Des 'helping' with the laundry:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LZ1ylCvbIgC7odvZii8UNi2urK3fFiFIE6U5MIwlS1WXSW_NuEjVDejsoxu-h-s1CLIDK1QPRv_0wTovAV0XnVn_npWS2HsG3Y1dYij-eAtKZaQQKEhyphenhyphen6uGtGCdoQksHkmDQzo0489U/s1600/laundry2.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621957055834623138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LZ1ylCvbIgC7odvZii8UNi2urK3fFiFIE6U5MIwlS1WXSW_NuEjVDejsoxu-h-s1CLIDK1QPRv_0wTovAV0XnVn_npWS2HsG3Y1dYij-eAtKZaQQKEhyphenhyphen6uGtGCdoQksHkmDQzo0489U/s200/laundry2.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhYpRyA32AKPQWqiysvsCXQEtBadXfWPRututM4hVu47bmq7ziI-kJqpFSpoa-lGVdkcx8BaVRuLqwjF0gT9u38CUhWhUFZlkEykiJQutH1gW_nHkZno8d_naCnL8USEiGZ4cR0xDBMM/s1600/laundry1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 143px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621957050465706274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhYpRyA32AKPQWqiysvsCXQEtBadXfWPRututM4hVu47bmq7ziI-kJqpFSpoa-lGVdkcx8BaVRuLqwjF0gT9u38CUhWhUFZlkEykiJQutH1gW_nHkZno8d_naCnL8USEiGZ4cR0xDBMM/s200/laundry1.JPG" /></a><br />He keeps me young.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-63720584025818533462011-06-20T08:38:00.006-04:002011-06-20T16:39:10.461-04:00The Perfect DayAt least it was perfect in my mind. And it was Father's Day. So I hope Tony enjoyed it too.<br /><br />I let Tony sleep in yesterday, which means he woke up a little past 8am. I was.. ahem... not feeling well, due to a little too much fun at our friend's wedding the night before (Congrats <a href="http://brewengland.blogspot.com/">Sarah and Adam</a>! Such a blast). So I threw on Buzz and Woody and let the kid veg in front of the tube as I rested my eyes on the couch. Why yes, I am a fabulous mom, thank you.<br /><br />It was a beautiful lazy family morning. We spent a few hours recovering, munching on breakfast, and getting ready for the day.<br /><br />We had lunch at our favorite Mexican place. Des was a funny little angel, a bit of a change from recent antics in restaurants. Mad props to my boy for that.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTNjukjUmu5llTrXb_1taKS8wdXUBTlTAAZgPRNSFVUU_nx6NqiIPMvE3HDqXPKN2uLCUJt4OamxVaLUZOfEAWw3jlKEjGKNGtU-DiOcgYbvw_CLTMqTFqfR7jIXdChAe4e8DypcNBDY/s1600/lunch.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 286px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620401914174116082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTNjukjUmu5llTrXb_1taKS8wdXUBTlTAAZgPRNSFVUU_nx6NqiIPMvE3HDqXPKN2uLCUJt4OamxVaLUZOfEAWw3jlKEjGKNGtU-DiOcgYbvw_CLTMqTFqfR7jIXdChAe4e8DypcNBDY/s400/lunch.JPG" /></a><br /><br />And I enjoyed a little hair of the dog. It did the trick.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcjmXcGgwu6Sug8BFLW-tCrgq-eyCpRf8b5987yiEsSGLYuORljTbdgUV-_MtkQYXLxMAyJxJGpJ1ubjg8mmHw6m5BSQjFs6HRM5B2Sr3Z_f5LHFNMwOxS3gRUu5jYsI_30XUAe79diI/s1600/11eb51e7cc5d4c3ab9313f86fde57053_7.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620401912533266530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcjmXcGgwu6Sug8BFLW-tCrgq-eyCpRf8b5987yiEsSGLYuORljTbdgUV-_MtkQYXLxMAyJxJGpJ1ubjg8mmHw6m5BSQjFs6HRM5B2Sr3Z_f5LHFNMwOxS3gRUu5jYsI_30XUAe79diI/s400/11eb51e7cc5d4c3ab9313f86fde57053_7.jpg" /></a><br /><br />That afternoon we went for a long walk, as the weather was amazing, and we stopped for ice cream. Des enjoyed his first bites of a chocolate cone and kept coming back for more. So okay everybody, he is officially Tony's son now. I know you were all worried.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJHu7CNAybDwkblEJeNgroQkz7koMrJ50CgWBjLvgHI5kZJaEgvuwjT9d7sWdIBUcv47BwL197wN1K4JXgz-ravA29xq43RUxi6wKf7H2kzabfbNvFdPSHLtrCx10cu5QpJH0b-iKUxI/s1600/253476_10150219979969451_700449450_6814090_7629685_n.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 286px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620401917895131378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJHu7CNAybDwkblEJeNgroQkz7koMrJ50CgWBjLvgHI5kZJaEgvuwjT9d7sWdIBUcv47BwL197wN1K4JXgz-ravA29xq43RUxi6wKf7H2kzabfbNvFdPSHLtrCx10cu5QpJH0b-iKUxI/s400/253476_10150219979969451_700449450_6814090_7629685_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Later we filled up the kiddie pool and laughed as Des climbed in and out and splashed all around, giddy with excitement. I'd post pics but they're mostly nudes. And that would be creepy. What, the kid enjoys the fresh air on his nethers. Again.. his father's son.<br /><br />Later after Des went to bed Tony took a bike ride down to the baseball field and caught up with old friends. I enjoyed some alone time with laundry and the Real Housewives.<br /><br />We both fell asleep early with the windows open and a kitty purring at our feet.<br /><br />We haven't had a day like that in a while. It was much needed.<br /><br />Happy Father's Day, my love. You are the most incredible father I could have ever hoped our son would have.<br /><br />Check out my <a href="http://burlington.patch.com/articles/dads-eye-view">Father's Day piece on the Patch</a>. It was a fun one to write.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-14629836848541835942011-06-16T21:09:00.017-04:002011-06-17T09:32:37.417-04:00FingernailsDesmond does not have a lovie. Or a blankie or a binkie or whatever you call it. He has his thumb and... us. He's a snuggler in a major way. Every morning he'll cuddle in our bed with us for a half hour or an hour, as we're all still groggy and hesitant to wake up. During the day he'll often climb up on our laps for a snuggle break. And at night before bed it's snuggle-palooza.<br /><br />It's not overly frequent or clingy, although he has his days. It's mostly just every once in a while. And when he's done, he's on his way getting into everything and tearing the house apart.<br /><br />Instead of a blanket or teddy bear, as he snuggles he'll rub our fingernails. His left thumb in his mouth and his right hand stroking the nail bed of one of our fingers. He shares this habit with others, grandparents, aunts, uncles, his day care provider. He's an equal opportunity fingernail-rubber. It sounds weird, I know.<br /><br />But no. Here's what's weird...<br /><br />One of my most vivid memories of Desmond's birth was when they put him on my chest right after he came out. (Of course that would be vivid, right?) I looked him all over, beside myself with joy, completely fascinated that I grew this perfect person inside of me and now he was on the outside. But mostly I stared at his <em>fingernails</em>. For some reason I was fixated on them, like tunnel vision amidst all the chaos and excitement. At that moment, his fingernails were the most flawless, sublime thing about him. They meant he was okay, healthy, HERE in the flesh. And I rubbed them. Gently between my thumb and index finger, I squeezed each tiny pink nail one at a time. Unbelievably small, but so so strong.<br /><br />Every time he climbs up on my lap, <em>every time</em>, I think about those moments right after he was born. Even as he continues to grow at such a feverish pace I feel like I can't keep up, every day he brings me back to that time when he was so tiny I could hold all of him in my arms.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5-vx8uGpI2RQID1bqDI0u-4Og3J9-qPa4Gnt3wL3y4FQlqnxSTwAcqmvtkFV_FaplQeWU_8zAeqsmoeka-oEWvQM95TuTktWBMuGFAK4RJnCcdzSWITPvXt4YOdzl5Gdn0RqnKhPI0o/s1600/IMG_6007.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 285px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619017335988410850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5-vx8uGpI2RQID1bqDI0u-4Og3J9-qPa4Gnt3wL3y4FQlqnxSTwAcqmvtkFV_FaplQeWU_8zAeqsmoeka-oEWvQM95TuTktWBMuGFAK4RJnCcdzSWITPvXt4YOdzl5Gdn0RqnKhPI0o/s400/IMG_6007.JPG" /></a><br /><br />He'll have his thumb in his mouth and if sometimes I'm not fast enough to provide a hand, he'll whine, reaching for it. And when he finally finds my hand, my finger, my nail, he rubs softly. As if reminding me that he's still my baby boy. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CbNz2wfbG1igi2-UuVGxMRPp5rhIc_qR3pyOOEHv4xjSG-CjFBIH5zg9lppEIFFOP7gzTiQ9XbKVTbfd9s4mFPM0RSDXL069ZERgjZ2jjx_WBdtkneYLRUcNqM-CH0inOMRu9yT7Jnk/s1600/IMG_5856+copy.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CbNz2wfbG1igi2-UuVGxMRPp5rhIc_qR3pyOOEHv4xjSG-CjFBIH5zg9lppEIFFOP7gzTiQ9XbKVTbfd9s4mFPM0RSDXL069ZERgjZ2jjx_WBdtkneYLRUcNqM-CH0inOMRu9yT7Jnk/s400/IMG_5856+copy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619020181331784850" /></a><br />Always.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-23611659156693915282011-06-13T21:15:00.000-04:002011-06-13T21:16:40.749-04:00NKOTBSBI'm not sure whose idea it was so many months ago. But someone in my crazy family decided we should all go see New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys when they come to Fenway Park. It would be a belated 30th birthday celebration for my sister Janet! And baby Guppy would also get to enjoy the sweet sweet sounds of Step By Step.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoD6_BwwSYZ5r40JutEssKzVk5ZWO-AtJAMA_wv5MEMUmV9xl1tv0dDvVb9imPeKZqEiNtTWjQHBaQeH4ta9fJcqS7BHgxHJDiVegmxNJeS7bgIs410vcMV3JD_Lw-Gh-JuqFhLu6wh6k/s1600/246845_1946199667584_1620301621_1967523_699916_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoD6_BwwSYZ5r40JutEssKzVk5ZWO-AtJAMA_wv5MEMUmV9xl1tv0dDvVb9imPeKZqEiNtTWjQHBaQeH4ta9fJcqS7BHgxHJDiVegmxNJeS7bgIs410vcMV3JD_Lw-Gh-JuqFhLu6wh6k/s400/246845_1946199667584_1620301621_1967523_699916_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617865335826801682" border="0" /></a><br />Oooh baybeh!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Cw9Fh_3j47OcOW-DqrjWGfuO3sBdXLoLa8ZbfE0XfAvT0fugeHTDRvtLAwtRueKdyDx2X8NBKHJJLej0bjFnoFjxjl_ogIHrxCfhFPtwfC3YHbHeXk9tF_dC4ixPDaAU5uvqhbN5WMQ/s1600/248959_626387168107_17603835_34501530_8387619_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Cw9Fh_3j47OcOW-DqrjWGfuO3sBdXLoLa8ZbfE0XfAvT0fugeHTDRvtLAwtRueKdyDx2X8NBKHJJLej0bjFnoFjxjl_ogIHrxCfhFPtwfC3YHbHeXk9tF_dC4ixPDaAU5uvqhbN5WMQ/s400/248959_626387168107_17603835_34501530_8387619_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617865543541049682" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We somehow managed to get 12 tickets together, thanks to my savvy husband. The seats were great, the company was ideal, and the show was a blast!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1DqEZ9qvGprfJBsrkb2ZlIs3e7o66fQwlqoEkCHxAk94HlV9ok5zgcmHXk2fT9n10Yo2ZPV25AQ7sr4DR-4tAmXwLayzB_4vf3ASrOwaPV9Khrg4PHSZq1CgdU4uB8app99ufiZic9o/s1600/249901_626387367707_17603835_34501538_2458_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1DqEZ9qvGprfJBsrkb2ZlIs3e7o66fQwlqoEkCHxAk94HlV9ok5zgcmHXk2fT9n10Yo2ZPV25AQ7sr4DR-4tAmXwLayzB_4vf3ASrOwaPV9Khrg4PHSZq1CgdU4uB8app99ufiZic9o/s400/249901_626387367707_17603835_34501538_2458_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617865566967544978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hcsH8Q4Tb8-TLlZyY5LYWlQjI7fkl7S-nGLC6znYH_2_uRESV2ZtYIw7AYZb6A3c8KlZkBMGf_w4pifunTyX2eFB-s3jNmN8Hl46qQlzCfh7Vp8-RZ5oOgmr4xpLHWmSIJ3qgu78qCI/s1600/249847_626387392657_17603835_34501539_6113290_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hcsH8Q4Tb8-TLlZyY5LYWlQjI7fkl7S-nGLC6znYH_2_uRESV2ZtYIw7AYZb6A3c8KlZkBMGf_w4pifunTyX2eFB-s3jNmN8Hl46qQlzCfh7Vp8-RZ5oOgmr4xpLHWmSIJ3qgu78qCI/s400/249847_626387392657_17603835_34501539_6113290_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617865562530627874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNl37g0u_8os9_FOfuV55tcUFIPUnBrQ_du07bA8T8Nf8xrxspA6Ln9ztYS1ReCq9Xfpni3rQNaqOh_-BCVakpFXUOsk26hAbNKXOvKaw8luTd63lJVdN1emMnfTob4bKUZVZdARo-6A/s1600/249508_626387517407_17603835_34501544_1214760_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNl37g0u_8os9_FOfuV55tcUFIPUnBrQ_du07bA8T8Nf8xrxspA6Ln9ztYS1ReCq9Xfpni3rQNaqOh_-BCVakpFXUOsk26hAbNKXOvKaw8luTd63lJVdN1emMnfTob4bKUZVZdARo-6A/s400/249508_626387517407_17603835_34501544_1214760_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617865549667770098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The ages of our group ranged from 11 to 64 and everything in between. We still all had an amazing time. We're good like that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQza3GWnx5w62ro3Q81gjf1qT4QJt178Jj0wfg6lT3Js4Tqx_vTh1msTvfZRuSOCLry3nqs4d7DMkv1-ApQB6lE8MgUJ2Zr24n_UGEMC-1cusUhzf1DTHQtyN4lez8LvCEibxvE9PPX3A/s1600/255094_626387612217_17603835_34501546_665013_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQza3GWnx5w62ro3Q81gjf1qT4QJt178Jj0wfg6lT3Js4Tqx_vTh1msTvfZRuSOCLry3nqs4d7DMkv1-ApQB6lE8MgUJ2Zr24n_UGEMC-1cusUhzf1DTHQtyN4lez8LvCEibxvE9PPX3A/s400/255094_626387612217_17603835_34501546_665013_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617865743489656002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKdqvhJdJLnox1k-vcC_OUtYL0qM9p0r0QZE1HpIPXoelbSBvS9ivdKAuBffFw__vQUs6xdo8hU7wWA2FxgkW509FRjCXNu8KjDG8uscq2TeFqeNr1tUOgZ3s7q7x5JxuS5YTP1v-_vI/s1600/248257_626388305827_17603835_34501586_2907284_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKdqvhJdJLnox1k-vcC_OUtYL0qM9p0r0QZE1HpIPXoelbSBvS9ivdKAuBffFw__vQUs6xdo8hU7wWA2FxgkW509FRjCXNu8KjDG8uscq2TeFqeNr1tUOgZ3s7q7x5JxuS5YTP1v-_vI/s400/248257_626388305827_17603835_34501586_2907284_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617865356995644146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I thought the New Kids were going to look all old and depressing. But they didn't! They were fit and fresh and on-key. They took off their shirts a lot, so we got a good look.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMM0ePSVuuCOD7ku6J2_YZ_XQ4AXk6kd3Z29Bt0P2rn0aHk_JuAredHDfdJQgiDzLYcIpaFocGBh5Pdg_1kk-wLQMRnkTIzMO6wpY73UM18SS3VDZSubv9kBjRWaF9oQIDo3fXnVK0cg/s1600/247138_626388270897_17603835_34501584_8296702_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMM0ePSVuuCOD7ku6J2_YZ_XQ4AXk6kd3Z29Bt0P2rn0aHk_JuAredHDfdJQgiDzLYcIpaFocGBh5Pdg_1kk-wLQMRnkTIzMO6wpY73UM18SS3VDZSubv9kBjRWaF9oQIDo3fXnVK0cg/s400/247138_626388270897_17603835_34501584_8296702_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617865340303274418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EMkKtBVDRJgh5XppzdM6ibqFhyphenhyphenT9eg4y_PkPhIiHZR7am8Yo1h_2RHWP0GsMFEbjUBTu5QnWwN6DK9UpI78rrgrHrs7yNT3aA5S-FKnaY3mBx5u7Ckyu_GHTyBORnWDtuCG-d5uOnpY/s1600/259843_626387726987_17603835_34501552_4734127_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EMkKtBVDRJgh5XppzdM6ibqFhyphenhyphenT9eg4y_PkPhIiHZR7am8Yo1h_2RHWP0GsMFEbjUBTu5QnWwN6DK9UpI78rrgrHrs7yNT3aA5S-FKnaY3mBx5u7Ckyu_GHTyBORnWDtuCG-d5uOnpY/s400/259843_626387726987_17603835_34501552_4734127_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617865749907614098" border="0" /></a><br />Nick was Hangin' Tough. The beer helped.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsSZ7L9wgyBhN8x0PYDPgcmRQroSvaPhQGlQuEHgMDAAiy_Q78Lx4CZsV1d32yR3dDPckjLVnQqjKA1QBW9HEF-wstY4xP8Vp1AX_K664lgOd9iX65gQGTOYpTt0rZq6npsY9AoI2VjXw/s1600/250427_626388161117_17603835_34501578_1865768_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsSZ7L9wgyBhN8x0PYDPgcmRQroSvaPhQGlQuEHgMDAAiy_Q78Lx4CZsV1d32yR3dDPckjLVnQqjKA1QBW9HEF-wstY4xP8Vp1AX_K664lgOd9iX65gQGTOYpTt0rZq6npsY9AoI2VjXw/s400/250427_626388161117_17603835_34501578_1865768_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617865726877279794" border="0" /></a><br />Bill was a trooper too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkern0AEuXSPkOHrJe6vw839XHWSekCP9Uequk6Hq8G6QtQJMQlnxGM9UtFwc5AJDSpHeuyEWJ2t4smeKEWqWowWdHmrBT76hS3HDRaRR1RGYvPXIC0NcqEoQzAjMqpHIgYa5JmtO_-E/s1600/253810_626388565307_17603835_34501600_1922747_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkern0AEuXSPkOHrJe6vw839XHWSekCP9Uequk6Hq8G6QtQJMQlnxGM9UtFwc5AJDSpHeuyEWJ2t4smeKEWqWowWdHmrBT76hS3HDRaRR1RGYvPXIC0NcqEoQzAjMqpHIgYa5JmtO_-E/s400/253810_626388565307_17603835_34501600_1922747_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617865741008567234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAILW7I2S4vkPMYnZdZS8yq__WfvuvYEk_YlQ7WQTmGC8VZRS4VBsQ_ULQGJxw3ZtH678XkskSzCucLHFfWyIJOktzReSaP5MJ8WEWkQYNJ4KqHeX1UQ5PPmQdTC2ibNgn4Fc3iEKIqUs/s1600/251693_626387991457_17603835_34501566_5638743_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAILW7I2S4vkPMYnZdZS8yq__WfvuvYEk_YlQ7WQTmGC8VZRS4VBsQ_ULQGJxw3ZtH678XkskSzCucLHFfWyIJOktzReSaP5MJ8WEWkQYNJ4KqHeX1UQ5PPmQdTC2ibNgn4Fc3iEKIqUs/s400/251693_626387991457_17603835_34501566_5638743_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617865730705742386" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And then it started raining. Many buckets. But it couldn't dampen our spirits!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWMkMbhnHo4chQ4cTFk1sAJZshooenSegwDM3wbcMX6Uj814t7QCFei7WXX_s6ZZLbOCnnpIyUNDS7M4C7lVs-WOrkF1uK52i7U_RN6obZhgd5ciUuelZxm9A1N1GG3az2juo1InFVjw/s1600/247199_626388320797_17603835_34501587_1940052_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWMkMbhnHo4chQ4cTFk1sAJZshooenSegwDM3wbcMX6Uj814t7QCFei7WXX_s6ZZLbOCnnpIyUNDS7M4C7lVs-WOrkF1uK52i7U_RN6obZhgd5ciUuelZxm9A1N1GG3az2juo1InFVjw/s400/247199_626388320797_17603835_34501587_1940052_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617865348255549858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwsoshyphenhyphen_byTGztWuq7CCS9JbtejpUgZLoR6ILDPe6rscXP7HmQBUwTgQVw2WPctvgL8wEWdCxVBsuaZ1eyCCDEKApwHUa4LScMTlgcbJXg43LA3WPHN4UsZClLsPsM_35NtvdhVW6RGA/s1600/247407_626388515407_17603835_34501597_412391_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwsoshyphenhyphen_byTGztWuq7CCS9JbtejpUgZLoR6ILDPe6rscXP7HmQBUwTgQVw2WPctvgL8wEWdCxVBsuaZ1eyCCDEKApwHUa4LScMTlgcbJXg43LA3WPHN4UsZClLsPsM_35NtvdhVW6RGA/s400/247407_626388515407_17603835_34501597_412391_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617865354106594706" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My sister Maureen said that watching me and Janet sing and dance to the New Kids was like a flashback to 20 years ago. There were many flashbacks happening that night.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPKJ52fmQ2gkNpVH9ZiVLXCvFKrYXJZVqaOwZEICZbgzVB0ngrc9NciXxauo7LISsnxpwQLcFjNLs6qNAe8yzZGaHEH2c2cU_jOEWlufG_R6HQeXa1OOuyQjNvs11Stb6yMsllqKlWk8/s1600/249732_10150212912704451_700449450_6744353_6590146_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 439px; height: 328px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPKJ52fmQ2gkNpVH9ZiVLXCvFKrYXJZVqaOwZEICZbgzVB0ngrc9NciXxauo7LISsnxpwQLcFjNLs6qNAe8yzZGaHEH2c2cU_jOEWlufG_R6HQeXa1OOuyQjNvs11Stb6yMsllqKlWk8/s400/249732_10150212912704451_700449450_6744353_6590146_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617865557529752386" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was such a fun night, a great way to start the summer.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Many of these pics were stolen from my cousin Breanne, our gracious host for the weekend. Thanks Bre!</span>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-64217413079277521932011-06-08T19:53:00.008-04:002011-06-08T20:26:48.590-04:00The Prodigal BloggerObviously I haven't been very inspired to write lately. Blogging is a little like working out. Once you start slacking, it's easy to fall into a rut of excuses.<br /><br />Have you seen <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2JSWgkwRL4">this commercial</a>?<br /><br />"My mom called."<br />"Oh, that's a day right there."<br /><br />Something pretty much <span style="font-style: italic;">exactly</span> like that. Except I like when my mom calls. You get the idea.<br /><br />But if you get into the habit of doing it a few times a week, it's a rewarding and fulfilling part of life. And then you stand up straighter, you sleep better, you feel a little more confident and assured in yourself.<br /><br />I haven't been working out lately either. So the blog and my belly are a bit of a flabby, neglected mess.<br /><br />For what it's worth, many other aspects of life lately are simply splendid. Perhaps I should share them! On this here BLOG, the sole purpose of which is to share the splendid (and sometimes not-so-splendid) aspects of life!<br /><br />Here are just a couple...<br /><br />Splendid:<br />Bra fittings. I got my first one in 5+ years the other day. I spent a pretty penny on 4 new bras in a <span style="font-style: italic;">completely different size</span> than I was wearing (thank you pregnancy and nursing and drastic fluctuations in weight), but it was very well worth it. In the few days after I started wearing the new bras I was told by multiple people that I looked thinner. My sister said it looked like my boobs got smaller. This is a good thing. Smaller = perkier. Ladies, if you haven't had a fitting in a while, go get one. Especially if you've recently had a baby. It will change your life.<br /><br />Sorry, no pics. Keep dreaming.<br /><br />Not-so-splendid:<br />Tony's <a href="http://bruins.nhl.com/">play-off beard</a>. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the reasons behind it. Truly. But once the 'stache started growing over his top lip I got a little skeeved. And since then every once in a while I'll look at my husband and have to do a double take. Who is this man?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4jszf68rdqXT0TNaNXk8PFEZXFNItJ6d66i7Y94h_irUHkVEEKLcyS-kgwV3X4NLxyUjVlR1XRDH-0SvD7dxWvkqdLFin_gV6KhD1E03hYILras_xGLcvNJsa_Hh7oQisupsBedPhQ4/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4jszf68rdqXT0TNaNXk8PFEZXFNItJ6d66i7Y94h_irUHkVEEKLcyS-kgwV3X4NLxyUjVlR1XRDH-0SvD7dxWvkqdLFin_gV6KhD1E03hYILras_xGLcvNJsa_Hh7oQisupsBedPhQ4/s400/photo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616004000346684066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We're getting dangerously close to SF Giant's relief pitcher Brian Wilson territory:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_hSHJcQCSvbPrhnca6X6IgHcEt-b3ec9trbaQfN5XhP7BZITDPDCaS_JKhPTopPtFOfpCIqArqXsk1q9BY1mOqJB5eDOnRQ9NttWDrphkZMDpIEP2nbt2zar-NNDydxgrk56_9JKQ_g/s1600/San-Francisco-Giants-Brian-Wilson.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 354px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_hSHJcQCSvbPrhnca6X6IgHcEt-b3ec9trbaQfN5XhP7BZITDPDCaS_JKhPTopPtFOfpCIqArqXsk1q9BY1mOqJB5eDOnRQ9NttWDrphkZMDpIEP2nbt2zar-NNDydxgrk56_9JKQ_g/s400/San-Francisco-Giants-Brian-Wilson.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616000537027043666" border="0" /></a><br />Yeesh. Not much longer. Game 4 of the NHL finals is tonight. And on that note... Off to <span style="font-style: italic;">not </span>work out.<br /><br />More updates to come on showers, weddings, and the insane way my baby is growing like a weed and walking his way through my heart.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWdUB1_oDJwVzgT90zd9KKLHkTRhLjULabtHXIMVJDBwaEPInZ5tgEzFKKH6mPby9G-a0AQLkqsahBHA_wOzeSXyeEx83P2IqJy67UekWhMNYHCR-aYnbE6h2CxPJ1buDIt1tu6XiqTo/s1600/IMG_6821+copy.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWdUB1_oDJwVzgT90zd9KKLHkTRhLjULabtHXIMVJDBwaEPInZ5tgEzFKKH6mPby9G-a0AQLkqsahBHA_wOzeSXyeEx83P2IqJy67UekWhMNYHCR-aYnbE6h2CxPJ1buDIt1tu6XiqTo/s400/IMG_6821+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616009350079276258" border="0" /></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-43698687032272643252011-06-01T09:36:00.008-04:002011-06-01T22:32:31.933-04:00Happy Anniversary (a day late)Four years of married life. It's strange how something can feel like forever and yet at the same time like it's only been the blink of an eye.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hA3AGyEIZDDo1NYOwwhm2Zda8aNJTh7yA5LWESAhyphenhyphenGQvvUN84CLtfPAjS9LWTYfB_x5IBZJ6l-PUS96vNAahdtUZ0fjoJ2ONMrYnq63SAlV4IIPuKXW5G0F8mdO-j9mMLTYFps-oYBg/s1600/DSC_0712.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hA3AGyEIZDDo1NYOwwhm2Zda8aNJTh7yA5LWESAhyphenhyphenGQvvUN84CLtfPAjS9LWTYfB_x5IBZJ6l-PUS96vNAahdtUZ0fjoJ2ONMrYnq63SAlV4IIPuKXW5G0F8mdO-j9mMLTYFps-oYBg/s400/DSC_0712.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613245585588589442" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I never thought I'd get married. I knew I'd find The One some day, but I assumed we'd be perfectly fine living Oprah-style, as partners in life without formal vows or the law getting involved. And we did that for a while. 7 years of playing house before we finally gave in to what our guts were telling us all along.<br /><br />Each year that passes I grow more confident and content in our decision. It's not something that we needed, it's something that we wanted. Our wedding day was a time to show our family and friends that we choose each other. Every day in our marriage that's what we are doing... making the choice of <span style="font-style: italic;">us</span>. As individuals and together, we are better for it.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgLNXZF9WHGmmSx0Z4gNLuqHu4AjKhqYOT3Mm99fe7rK2qil4Z0TGCsYPcQqFcYLQ4OO55dKFBwdefEA0PZV1Lusyi5D0m9Pv-pett9r49qtLoH1AEmNGdPFeHx5OFtaFJeoZncspcxs/s1600/DSC_0773.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgLNXZF9WHGmmSx0Z4gNLuqHu4AjKhqYOT3Mm99fe7rK2qil4Z0TGCsYPcQqFcYLQ4OO55dKFBwdefEA0PZV1Lusyi5D0m9Pv-pett9r49qtLoH1AEmNGdPFeHx5OFtaFJeoZncspcxs/s400/DSC_0773.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613245588647442994" border="0" /></a></span><br /><br />It's an easy choice to make. Because my husband is the biz-omb. And he'd probably say the same about me. Maybe not that exact word. But something comparable. I strive to be like him and to be the best person for him.<br /><br />Tony is level-headed, reasonable, take charge, funny, outgoing, kind. I am more the artsy type... impulsive, introverted, easily overwhelmed, nurturing, too smart for my own good. Somehow we level each other out. It just works. We are a match. Also, additionally, and furthermore... that boy still gives me butterflies. :smile:<br /><br />And now we have this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJL1c7lMFMModrok4-TtCZI-4TX9zufwgcbzHW3UNOkiR-0UDv2VRH0Pi099MhzRDTbhVKc_jc7w14J6MpMDVmtMnvGlDzW7JmEhVkwdh6jrBu23X_VhWHc-CVn6OXKXhtm2Nft9Ss-0/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJL1c7lMFMModrok4-TtCZI-4TX9zufwgcbzHW3UNOkiR-0UDv2VRH0Pi099MhzRDTbhVKc_jc7w14J6MpMDVmtMnvGlDzW7JmEhVkwdh6jrBu23X_VhWHc-CVn6OXKXhtm2Nft9Ss-0/s400/photo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613316323102144610" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Can it get any better? We have a lifetime of adventures to find out.<br /><br />Happy anniversary, my love.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Wedding photos by <a href="http://alleyesonjenny.com/">Jenny Frazier</a>.</span>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-74443820785549400692011-05-30T20:05:00.006-04:002011-05-30T21:03:20.113-04:00What Des Learned on Vacation v.3Trucks. Are. AWESOME.<br /><br />He calls them "Dus." Dus is a general term for truck, car, golfcart, lawn mower, etc. Our gas grill has wheels and he calls it "Dus." So... He knows what he means though. And we do too.<br /><br />On St. John our neighbors down the road were doing some construction on their house. There was a yellow digger truck in the yard, and the fervor with which he pointed and yelled "DUS!" at this thing as we went by each day... It was like Santa was driving it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZ0QPqNMkmsYY5r6ILIRC6hJCp5sLX17i5fX4QFdhkxYjLxa0HS7GcqBNvVY0Awld0mjv9eVx1Z33WGW5VZE35j1qfn9VOL2Bkn6M1mTwIBK1SCAt1hJFtRPI_Tssj3n8MRP7Pj2dVVU/s1600/226443_10150194342454451_700449450_6577002_6727742_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZ0QPqNMkmsYY5r6ILIRC6hJCp5sLX17i5fX4QFdhkxYjLxa0HS7GcqBNvVY0Awld0mjv9eVx1Z33WGW5VZE35j1qfn9VOL2Bkn6M1mTwIBK1SCAt1hJFtRPI_Tssj3n8MRP7Pj2dVVU/s400/226443_10150194342454451_700449450_6577002_6727742_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612674514218343250" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We walked down to watch it in action. The driver beeped and pointed the bucket at Des. If there is anyone <span style="font-style: italic;">better</span> than Santa, it's that guy.<br /><br />There's a beach called Maho Bay. It's always been a favorite of ours, but this trip it was a particular hit. Mostly because the street is RIGHTTHERE. You park next to the beach and unload. When you have a shitload of crap including 4 beach chairs, bags of toys, 4 towels and a Neat Sheet, a cooler full of food and drinks, etc., close proximity to your landing spot is a good thing. Also, being so close to the road, little boys who love a good "dus" can watch them drive by all day long.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEM1PRFi0kYQKFHLS1-ImRd39nd3_s8IMgntokZq3LFmHa0yU4tgWO8ozH8_qgLoWvySVWSq4fcvFziP797SSy8nJ2lFhxl3mMAJFYHhECZ7pgyQ90pAZhfPfYQYwJeUySy-9ToregCY/s1600/228678_10150193973764451_700449450_6573879_7320691_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEM1PRFi0kYQKFHLS1-ImRd39nd3_s8IMgntokZq3LFmHa0yU4tgWO8ozH8_qgLoWvySVWSq4fcvFziP797SSy8nJ2lFhxl3mMAJFYHhECZ7pgyQ90pAZhfPfYQYwJeUySy-9ToregCY/s400/228678_10150193973764451_700449450_6573879_7320691_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612674512266539922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Des knew how amazing trucks were before our trip. But down there he learned that trucks are awesome... as long as they're not <span style="font-style: italic;">too</span> close.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB34IfJJTYJvr04zQ2RH7dUXW2XQKg7c1qjOXKgP9QDEuBvkNL1gYFBWeojdBqTaGtM8so7f_mcdKuM6kUUNFcyJGJmwNcDsJm3V3v5riQlyl-aoSZo1nc1foaK-X4CYwgR0KSNd4dwD8/s1600/247702_10150193962454451_700449450_6573672_8388194_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB34IfJJTYJvr04zQ2RH7dUXW2XQKg7c1qjOXKgP9QDEuBvkNL1gYFBWeojdBqTaGtM8so7f_mcdKuM6kUUNFcyJGJmwNcDsJm3V3v5riQlyl-aoSZo1nc1foaK-X4CYwgR0KSNd4dwD8/s400/247702_10150193962454451_700449450_6573672_8388194_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612674519561522642" border="0" /></a><br />This was our vantage point from the car ferry back to St. Thomas, as a cement truck backed on to the barge.<br /><br />And here's video of Des watching a second cement truck back in to park directly next to us. Pay attention to the 22 second mark when he jumps in his seat, the following moment of shock, and then the end when he breaks down into tears.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GCdMdzeqr1g" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />I think that was a fitting end to the trip.<br /><br />And yes, this was another goddamn vacation entry. Expect at least one more and then I'll shut my trap and get back to the interesting stuff like baby snot and poop and whatnot.<br /><br />Happy Memorial Day everyone.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-11101200081167993102011-05-26T20:14:00.003-04:002011-05-26T20:26:36.335-04:00What Des Learned on Vacation v.2I don't know how or when it happened. But Desmond learned how to answer a simple question in a way that will crack up a room full of people. And himself. He is his father's son.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ObJl5e2HGZo" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />"Des, are you poopin'?"<br /><br />You have no idea how many times we've asked him that, and it never gets old. Hours of hilarity.<br /><br />GRUNT.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-90743871268672004772011-05-25T21:17:00.006-04:002011-05-25T22:55:02.232-04:00What Des Learned on Vacation v.1I'm still suffering from a major case of Real World Re-entry Depression, so the next few blog updates will likely be St. John/vacation related. You have been warned.<br /><br />Desmond learned a lot while we were away. It was like we flew down with a baby and came back with a little kid. I always suspected that island was magic, but now I <span style="font-style: italic;">know</span>.<br /><br />We were able to capture many of his mad skills on the Flip cam. And I just keep watching these dozen or so 30-60 second clips over and over. Here are the first clips in the series of What Des Learned On Vacation.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4qQ3yWNQ-b4" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JXiyc-7yVUc" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />We have a walker, folks.<br /><br />I know I posted previously about his <a href="http://peachorchardproject.blogspot.com/2011/04/milestones.html">first steps</a>. But since then the extent of his walking ventures were 1 or 2 steps, and then crouching down to a crawl because, you guys? That whole center of gravity thing is way more stable down there. And so are toys. They're all just laying there on the floor, might as well just get down there with 'em.<br /><br />Somewhere between the beach and the villa, we saw a switch flip in his head.<br /><br />So wait, I can hold 2 toys AND transport them from here to there while remaining at the same level the whole time? And then my Nana will loudly rejoice and shower me with praise?? Yes please!<br /><br />For real, the kid likes to put on a show. This is a whole new side of him. He sees people psyched he's doing something, and he wants to do it over and over. Simply adorable.<br /><br />Now we're home and he's walking all over the house and he's already taken a header off the coffee table with a nice little shiner to show for it. Home kinda sucks.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-25503412989011480972011-05-22T20:18:00.001-04:002011-05-22T20:21:44.544-04:00Before We Get Back to Reality....St. John, USVI 2011:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdL-bNTC2n2jSi81UaOpDg-lZVLfATtY7_XEoUXQrnHQ8UINY369_nJMESisv0Xs8f9_ORwk_eyKTVLmUE-nNDMQtddKVh72BH5tWv2dZ9MnN2gJHyIntkgPYkSCwJep9D4_j23FEF_o/s1600/226883_10150194340104451_700449450_6576965_5157831_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdL-bNTC2n2jSi81UaOpDg-lZVLfATtY7_XEoUXQrnHQ8UINY369_nJMESisv0Xs8f9_ORwk_eyKTVLmUE-nNDMQtddKVh72BH5tWv2dZ9MnN2gJHyIntkgPYkSCwJep9D4_j23FEF_o/s400/226883_10150194340104451_700449450_6576965_5157831_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609689880564693378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwFXTjApMTWeiEIt1x-BHzns0x39r4F73lQ9Ir80uSqjJwF_IX0wNbZMwTEgNwrdF2hb6wanOZ3qdLssXkHv99s1fFaESBEPy9PsV9c4sgoWHzd9NMDFLR9mJ7slrYs7NiE03PEm6XkA/s1600/226878_10150194337404451_700449450_6576909_1084464_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; 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width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZOw82lC7KgxEriH3RK0xR8OWyhF7mtCJSyitfwjNyRqpyV9QaO2mItVsIxc6qUZmYrk43Qs4_abXS0DYVuUaQS6m-6vdVOWgHYU_I7QY_VAkxDn_64a4HzABteSl7rSNcsPfmleiE9c/s400/229038_10150193963684451_700449450_6573693_6653326_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609690111039210786" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxB75bXbcbRd5fMpTYNqeWDsIHJcf7qWoj6aTpKOiwGKyia6iSBitUfrCPu3tsZgT7WpmCuZt2LrSB1ixdyPrIwXctfoohgRa5cAl8HXzFYdnapMWwZzlDUEE7PygklpjzTnHQDrZy4w/s1600/228293_10150194331739451_700449450_6576775_5107130_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxB75bXbcbRd5fMpTYNqeWDsIHJcf7qWoj6aTpKOiwGKyia6iSBitUfrCPu3tsZgT7WpmCuZt2LrSB1ixdyPrIwXctfoohgRa5cAl8HXzFYdnapMWwZzlDUEE7PygklpjzTnHQDrZy4w/s400/228293_10150194331739451_700449450_6576775_5107130_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609689900931690066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRCXxB0iwSAG7pP-1R7zrlIJOuvFXgYtCuzAtzIwjL9yjsV_jSCMJBldgSdJJJbHjuXbb6U4GUn-3vgRe_5oNR9cNz5EwhXx-PYuXF-9KdKM_wsf4zHq7b5PTtKkaBSnCJaQsfKqBT4YY/s1600/229451_10150193969194451_700449450_6573782_7370075_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRCXxB0iwSAG7pP-1R7zrlIJOuvFXgYtCuzAtzIwjL9yjsV_jSCMJBldgSdJJJbHjuXbb6U4GUn-3vgRe_5oNR9cNz5EwhXx-PYuXF-9KdKM_wsf4zHq7b5PTtKkaBSnCJaQsfKqBT4YY/s400/229451_10150193969194451_700449450_6573782_7370075_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609690118538037138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINkWEnMClwKFZ71Tydcz_T7VWwGUZg6oZy1j_1Evlre3CdVOLoBXmfm9uB4nIL3VUN817CFSpKt9aqByhan1o-CFaKZ158RNwhlQWRx13z3tLa9uUJHBH9PnEqMv7uEfcG_C8kcUAQgc/s1600/227923_10150194342819451_700449450_6577012_6126903_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINkWEnMClwKFZ71Tydcz_T7VWwGUZg6oZy1j_1Evlre3CdVOLoBXmfm9uB4nIL3VUN817CFSpKt9aqByhan1o-CFaKZ158RNwhlQWRx13z3tLa9uUJHBH9PnEqMv7uEfcG_C8kcUAQgc/s400/227923_10150194342819451_700449450_6577012_6126903_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609689890961152946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvyM1ricjuZW6PkVkLh2ItiHGSZ0YWcg3iy8wcoaf2F7bHmBcHnhoCnOJI3_IbK1v9Iu0FgHKIU1XSnMPrm8sNsO32BM_xTfhxL4GeD0QdJ_lwl8DARMEdj77brID40W2d7NumnbHrR0/s1600/250983_10150194338239451_700449450_6576929_1466179_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvyM1ricjuZW6PkVkLh2ItiHGSZ0YWcg3iy8wcoaf2F7bHmBcHnhoCnOJI3_IbK1v9Iu0FgHKIU1XSnMPrm8sNsO32BM_xTfhxL4GeD0QdJ_lwl8DARMEdj77brID40W2d7NumnbHrR0/s400/250983_10150194338239451_700449450_6576929_1466179_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609690947182117394" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The more we return, the more I worship this island. Sharing it with our son and my mom was so much fun. They <span style="font-style: italic;">got it</span>. Desmond was happy and loud, like a fish in water. Throughout the week I found myself overwhelmed with pride and relief (relief in a 'thank god he loves it and we can come back' kind of way) watching Des explore and dive in to so many new experiences. He rolled around in sand, he talked to the birds, he connected with his Nana on a whole new level. It was a beautiful, hilarious, relaxing yet exhausting week.<br /><br />I'm not ready to be back.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-55890479272637888162011-05-10T13:35:00.006-04:002011-05-10T21:04:24.344-04:00North Carolina'Memba that time we went there? That was a trillion years ago, huh. It was fun.<br /><br />Our <a href="http://peachorchardproject.blogspot.com/2011/05/first-airplane-ride.html">adventurous flight down</a> brought us to beautiful weather in the charming city of Raleigh. We spent most of our time that weekend in and around the neighborhood of our welcoming hosts, exploring trails and parks and enjoying the company on their patio. It was a lovely time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTV1N3Ig-YSMP6N9j1qtIl0bpGgJbLC2K_wdswQfS-9d5DdSJimpbcf59r_2lfrLNauwWGc56kjYZrZavegw89nuThJjWN5fkuaS6YVajV5ToY7hEDwziuRQjmqIF0AAjnQCRzsuBI5M/s1600/230125_10150179000644451_700449450_6457048_6447184_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTV1N3Ig-YSMP6N9j1qtIl0bpGgJbLC2K_wdswQfS-9d5DdSJimpbcf59r_2lfrLNauwWGc56kjYZrZavegw89nuThJjWN5fkuaS6YVajV5ToY7hEDwziuRQjmqIF0AAjnQCRzsuBI5M/s400/230125_10150179000644451_700449450_6457048_6447184_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605160513974194546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTZkysvzMvS6F7ohdRjYuLS6POTu83QCwUL3xUvY1Pz9sXRL8QArPncTf7yIR6E-Jp4nTy14eEJQgyFrULQWAQlRW_qiKcJtNQI5NQnIZzkVJVD8-fDKrWP12klsCEvAmcYv1anPvDrk/s1600/230608_10150179000179451_700449450_6457038_1698178_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTZkysvzMvS6F7ohdRjYuLS6POTu83QCwUL3xUvY1Pz9sXRL8QArPncTf7yIR6E-Jp4nTy14eEJQgyFrULQWAQlRW_qiKcJtNQI5NQnIZzkVJVD8-fDKrWP12klsCEvAmcYv1anPvDrk/s400/230608_10150179000179451_700449450_6457038_1698178_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605161046951347954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXW7-jR7tkYolM-d0IkZiYfCkkGaXDXLsq_XJW4EhCxtaSGgJ5VTgSeQ4izZSwyT2s6hbh55c9cWer_Lma1yykrcXu3h6LaEzmVon9y3KxqdKxML2a5V62es0uvWt0qXObowBkxAdV5s4/s1600/228692_10150179002039451_700449450_6457070_1406761_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXW7-jR7tkYolM-d0IkZiYfCkkGaXDXLsq_XJW4EhCxtaSGgJ5VTgSeQ4izZSwyT2s6hbh55c9cWer_Lma1yykrcXu3h6LaEzmVon9y3KxqdKxML2a5V62es0uvWt0qXObowBkxAdV5s4/s400/228692_10150179002039451_700449450_6457070_1406761_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605160510127288242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5AJldjBrgpKKI3XleRm1AN01K_Hx83YIjXpfXeS_JcSI7hjsTiUJ8f1PY2lOaK1JNfObtWvkulkgtmjqjTwhOldt3BR658fF0TSOVBaiAx0OI40n4hX_dWiytD00YmIRf8LvvyM-KS4/s1600/228299_10150179000544451_700449450_6457046_6565775_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5AJldjBrgpKKI3XleRm1AN01K_Hx83YIjXpfXeS_JcSI7hjsTiUJ8f1PY2lOaK1JNfObtWvkulkgtmjqjTwhOldt3BR658fF0TSOVBaiAx0OI40n4hX_dWiytD00YmIRf8LvvyM-KS4/s400/228299_10150179000544451_700449450_6457046_6565775_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605160504903598130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaH06G_yl_Gu_1EZ7weuEH-0Q9ST4qZWLkSu8BCIpG8wdCCUNFw9kuuI1IE2eBadGcmE9QM7NY9J0U-V2PdzRK0p3UjF2CMxa7ViSogO27Wk9jN-XvctkiH1aMeB1OVJH_aS_wJBHxwc/s1600/225474_10150179001169451_700449450_6457056_2005960_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaH06G_yl_Gu_1EZ7weuEH-0Q9ST4qZWLkSu8BCIpG8wdCCUNFw9kuuI1IE2eBadGcmE9QM7NY9J0U-V2PdzRK0p3UjF2CMxa7ViSogO27Wk9jN-XvctkiH1aMeB1OVJH_aS_wJBHxwc/s400/225474_10150179001169451_700449450_6457056_2005960_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605160506689895474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5Fy7ZctunoMouRPUVdv1CL2vbXoVpkIacj_F1lTEGReGHOj-SXeU5zZfF_2wDwfTOgffxL5g_4l6ySq9iR_Wh7GlShh4Cod__EM3N_KiS9UdY-zvMJrRzbxOKm2TuDRA-YPrdVbMo-s/s1600/228408_10150178999014451_700449450_6457017_3112898_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5Fy7ZctunoMouRPUVdv1CL2vbXoVpkIacj_F1lTEGReGHOj-SXeU5zZfF_2wDwfTOgffxL5g_4l6ySq9iR_Wh7GlShh4Cod__EM3N_KiS9UdY-zvMJrRzbxOKm2TuDRA-YPrdVbMo-s/s400/228408_10150178999014451_700449450_6457017_3112898_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605160511195237922" border="0" /></a><br />Totally embracing Southern culture.<br /><br />We also went to a kid's museum that was pretty much heaven on earth for little ones. Everywhere we turned there was head-exploding amazingness. Shopping carts and trains and water and trucks! YES PLEASE times a million.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZudlUgz1JiTA3v1-Wv3LSsajbcX4JuWwLZ8XbDSqR6U0utb2DeHRn6uZ-CpWMQ8Q01cqNDbMJ1JIID2r_UEPzKd3h2cMiK7lRA-VkQaW3QTVU99_BJSawW8-4npjrcClH7Pcbx5QZt4w/s1600/mus2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZudlUgz1JiTA3v1-Wv3LSsajbcX4JuWwLZ8XbDSqR6U0utb2DeHRn6uZ-CpWMQ8Q01cqNDbMJ1JIID2r_UEPzKd3h2cMiK7lRA-VkQaW3QTVU99_BJSawW8-4npjrcClH7Pcbx5QZt4w/s400/mus2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605161052180428274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1h0rsyUhdprdZketm2Q22tENlIWVCMOjKmBoQKjDMBcYF-ruBP9vD6ca2ck11LjPm0CLkls3CykhBRBvorLbfa-kMgJ5-FUTSw5wB6vXtFqRtdcJHQTjv3k_lBXhz1ZlyC2bskWLAyM/s1600/mus1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1h0rsyUhdprdZketm2Q22tENlIWVCMOjKmBoQKjDMBcYF-ruBP9vD6ca2ck11LjPm0CLkls3CykhBRBvorLbfa-kMgJ5-FUTSw5wB6vXtFqRtdcJHQTjv3k_lBXhz1ZlyC2bskWLAyM/s400/mus1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605161049048622834" border="0" /></a><br />Yes, we're at the train tables again, why you even gotta ask?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqOO4Amz15I6coWiLDRtIECZUjM0g9owOXUkMDlFZ96FQ5x9LQW3blYL6_jESOcodVbu9Mq31BjEw_urSKpTXeczjmeY6_f_RACNTMPeFMbJEK-ZPYi5nJmQcLTqPyl6lcRhR0TyBCkw/s1600/mus5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqOO4Amz15I6coWiLDRtIECZUjM0g9owOXUkMDlFZ96FQ5x9LQW3blYL6_jESOcodVbu9Mq31BjEw_urSKpTXeczjmeY6_f_RACNTMPeFMbJEK-ZPYi5nJmQcLTqPyl6lcRhR0TyBCkw/s400/mus5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605162304788640578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1krjuY_J7Ccp_drcCIC8_hCqrlrLU09oPSunUfb77mrxqTLscKl1ZSuBFgoJ7jQbvPtjfHXol0u3fYwsE05uJdBaKQmtMco-rKhoZB-S7bkZbrbmydRz7K3Agv0pDyuyXqOi-kLcLg9c/s1600/mus4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1krjuY_J7Ccp_drcCIC8_hCqrlrLU09oPSunUfb77mrxqTLscKl1ZSuBFgoJ7jQbvPtjfHXol0u3fYwsE05uJdBaKQmtMco-rKhoZB-S7bkZbrbmydRz7K3Agv0pDyuyXqOi-kLcLg9c/s400/mus4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605161054114600738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXD_otUrPQSTjhCvOxe3ydBQ3qdaL-HO0yLPjaaSxkve082982A3dwr6AesGWF2kYchXBP8awkrde3K2eO5ZxKJ6MNySuyyIKCtgHkttvNO7jSH9dzebyuA-LMYT3fuvsN7kv_1SaovcE/s1600/mus7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXD_otUrPQSTjhCvOxe3ydBQ3qdaL-HO0yLPjaaSxkve082982A3dwr6AesGWF2kYchXBP8awkrde3K2eO5ZxKJ6MNySuyyIKCtgHkttvNO7jSH9dzebyuA-LMYT3fuvsN7kv_1SaovcE/s400/mus7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605162317854809810" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXTnBISOuizsY77-psKDeqzGhS6MOilZ3k19fpVUGMywGT9XMc2c488iMp5ICqpLfTHVEC_w39T6yNYwJCupP31RAcNgsp-uTQGgoTdV156-8bl9nuEZRiiVGDHIsNXMTHliywE_-MkY/s1600/mus3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXTnBISOuizsY77-psKDeqzGhS6MOilZ3k19fpVUGMywGT9XMc2c488iMp5ICqpLfTHVEC_w39T6yNYwJCupP31RAcNgsp-uTQGgoTdV156-8bl9nuEZRiiVGDHIsNXMTHliywE_-MkY/s400/mus3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605161058163793970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKup2rN0k6WYSCbiEeCS_Ln9hai_lSdjiwJ_ubKcR53HfAYhpMw7bwYrZgMnNfHv7OujgKKyWoxAT2cR7CgJVWRV7OIQhrW1IRaZ-gZt8vtniWQzvKCdSOxjn6bzC6M1zwhK2KSdSZxs/s1600/mus6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKup2rN0k6WYSCbiEeCS_Ln9hai_lSdjiwJ_ubKcR53HfAYhpMw7bwYrZgMnNfHv7OujgKKyWoxAT2cR7CgJVWRV7OIQhrW1IRaZ-gZt8vtniWQzvKCdSOxjn6bzC6M1zwhK2KSdSZxs/s400/mus6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605162313022137218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Before we headed down, I was most nervous about the flight (already covered in previous entry) and Desmond's sleeping. On our last weekend getaway he barely slept. He'd wake up at 2am, ready to go for the day, and then refuse to nap. That weekend is a blur, we were so exhausted. I was hoping, praying, pleading with the gods of slumber that history did not repeat itself.<br /><br />We went in with a positive mentality. We would encourage, but not force naps. We would try to stick to his regular bedtime, but be flexible. I'm shocked to say it went much better than expected.<br /><br />He pushed his bedtime a little later, which was actually kind of nice. He slept through the nights and woke at a reasonable hour. And he took at least one good nap each day. And if/when we let the 2nd one slide, he was not a complete melting mush of tears.<br /><br />It's all extremely encouraging for future adventures. We're hoping that repeated exposure to different places and spaces will make him better at adapting to new environments.<br /><br />Who knows, maybe next time he'll be Toddler Zombie Warrior from Hell. But we're just taking it all in stride.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165372737513473291.post-31616458040224763882011-05-04T22:03:00.003-04:002011-05-06T14:05:53.140-04:00First Airplane RideWe're home from North Carolina, where we were visiting cousins <a href="http://www.totsites.com/tot/carlygrace/">John, Abbie, and Carly</a>. They moved a year ago and it took us this long to get down there, shame on us. So we finally got to see where they've been living this past year and hang out in their new territory. Dang, we miss those guys up here in New England. But they've made a nice little home in the South.<br /><br />This trip was also a chance to get Desmond used to traveling. It's about a 2 hour plane ride to NC, so it's a nice quick trip to get us started, since we have some longer rides in our future. I had no idea how nervous I would be, even for this short get away. Visions of toddler tantrums in a tiny tin can airplane cabin ran through my head. Followed by the inevitable mommy meltdown, where I'd be pulling out my hair and raiding the drink cart for mini bottles of vodka.<br /><br />I work with people who travel frequently. I hear some of them complain about kids on planes often. And I know I should be all "Eff 'em," but I'm not going to lie... I feared that we would be <span style="font-style: italic;">those people</span>. The ones people would go home and tell their friends about.<br /><br />"Oh my god, on the flight there was this kid who would NOT. SHUT. UP. Kicking the seat, crying, and the parents just let him do it! I mean, if you're going to take your kid on a plane, learn to control them, fer chrisakes."<br /><br />Commence nail biting. And not sleeping. And pooping my brains out.<br /><br />But seriously? I'm learning to just say it... Eff 'em.<br /><br />Des had a few breakdowns, yes. On take off and landing mostly. The tell-tale grabbing of the ears told me the pressure was getting to him, poor kid. We did all the things they say are supposed to help... drinking out of a bottle (he doesn't take a bottle, so a sippy), sucking on a paci (he doesn't take a paci, so his thumb), eating lollipops (which he flat out rejected, who is this kid?). The only thing that seemed to help was chewing on snacks of Cheerios and dried fruit. But still. He screamed. And I silently apologized to all the passengers around us. And then I quickly stopped caring about anyone around us because my kid was in pain. And all we could do was try our best to help him.<br /><br />So some people were inconvenienced in 3-5 minute increments a couple times on their flight. Amazing how much worry I put into it, and yet how easy it was to just GET OVER IT.<br /><br />Oh, and then there was that time in the middle of the flight when he choked on a pretzel, freaked out, freaked US the hell out, and then vomited the contents of his stomach into my hands. So that was exciting!<br /><br />But I have to say, when all was said and done, it went amazingly well. He was mostly in great spirits, slept for a good chunk, was kept entertained by the DVD player, and happy to sit in my lap. We could not have asked for anything better.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-6dA8qA1vBwK8d1fdlnrByrRQSgOF-haFios_X67EDAry3ua4Gsv14Ba-JFOx1Pqg92K2SNhAf9hAgOgSEZC0QL52gqlF_jFO9dxBeemLlSiXArNFyB7EBtGLHy5xaKEPk_aQLimpGU/s1600/airport2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-6dA8qA1vBwK8d1fdlnrByrRQSgOF-haFios_X67EDAry3ua4Gsv14Ba-JFOx1Pqg92K2SNhAf9hAgOgSEZC0QL52gqlF_jFO9dxBeemLlSiXArNFyB7EBtGLHy5xaKEPk_aQLimpGU/s400/airport2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603665559357976306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnZ2sG7g7Nj08wXtW0q7Svt6x_LyRrI05s3CpQnrJQYkW1sVPK_kDhrqiYP0k_eshhK-xVelxyXo33xBgZvTDowqSL-JQTgVg5G8jjwzSE0IK9MV86wpGPWySBcwR-4VYBd0iF9gloNg/s1600/airport1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnZ2sG7g7Nj08wXtW0q7Svt6x_LyRrI05s3CpQnrJQYkW1sVPK_kDhrqiYP0k_eshhK-xVelxyXo33xBgZvTDowqSL-JQTgVg5G8jjwzSE0IK9MV86wpGPWySBcwR-4VYBd0iF9gloNg/s400/airport1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603665555141535970" border="0" /></a><br />LOVING the aiport. "VROOM VROOM"... constantly. His lips must have been numb from all the vrooming.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1YTuGFN40kfMIEQVYUVU6E9Y-UMpc1i3qxdshKoJ9zaTmRKL8jEnX1M6OrBuAEJBu6ysIhfdWlUDQ1ThWAGK0KVBsDDH1yv3oyxcEEIG_6yprIGezTnxJrBg7MO8UgMdqJhlO5JjNUw/s1600/plane2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1YTuGFN40kfMIEQVYUVU6E9Y-UMpc1i3qxdshKoJ9zaTmRKL8jEnX1M6OrBuAEJBu6ysIhfdWlUDQ1ThWAGK0KVBsDDH1yv3oyxcEEIG_6yprIGezTnxJrBg7MO8UgMdqJhlO5JjNUw/s400/plane2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603665574321743522" border="0" /></a><br />Big mush.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsFw73BW-DWKGqDNuK3GaE-zZUhTjC_GY2TlSsvwgJ36P7QxOuWytHmI5OGK6Q68zI61khNJPOVeqk2ebP1oGh4hbRNSBYczDZ1V9t4ygWaeNS2iUkfJv94TAqzQuMawLDR5aNloXNUc/s1600/plane1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsFw73BW-DWKGqDNuK3GaE-zZUhTjC_GY2TlSsvwgJ36P7QxOuWytHmI5OGK6Q68zI61khNJPOVeqk2ebP1oGh4hbRNSBYczDZ1V9t4ygWaeNS2iUkfJv94TAqzQuMawLDR5aNloXNUc/s400/plane1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603665563858207378" border="0" /></a><br />Sleeping soundly after Aero-vomit-fest-2011. We were both a little spent.<br /><br />More pics and updates on NC to come.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09646797086900352291noreply@blogger.com0