tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-310428572024-03-07T15:43:03.510-08:00Kristin's ContrivancesIronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.comBlogger489125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-67321068751057040082014-02-23T21:46:00.000-08:002014-02-23T21:46:14.220-08:004 months - an Eden update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My baby girl is 4 months old.</div>
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This sweet heart is 14 pounds (55th%)</div>
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25 inches long (40th%)</div>
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Head circumference is 70th%</div>
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She is a rolling maniac. She scoots all around if she's laid on her back.</div>
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She still loves baths.</div>
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She plays with toys, and is starting to try to grasp things she's focusing on.</div>
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Has slept through the night a handful of times, but mostly is still waking once, usually around 2:30-3:00. She's also been moved out of our room, which has helped her sleeping big time! So she's in the crib in the playroom for now.</div>
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Biggest recent change... she's a thumbsucker!</div>
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I will even try pulling out her thumb and putting in a passy, but it just upsets her, and she wants her thumb. It's darling, and I love her self soothing.</div>
IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-25200999375972404802013-11-19T18:22:00.000-08:002013-11-19T18:22:26.589-08:006 week update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My baby is 6 weeks old.</div>
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I don't know how it happened, but she's not a new born anymore.</div>
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We're still trying to adjust to life and figure out our new normal.</div>
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<li style="text-align: left;">10.4 pounds (75th percentile)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">starting to like the passy - but struggles to keep it in</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">eats every 2-3 hours </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">spits up a lot</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">likes blankets/hands/a body up against her face</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">starting to smile!</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">starting to talk - her cooing melts my heart!</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">tracks us with her eyes</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">likes looking at lights</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gwen and Edie getting some rays.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love, love, love these little furry shoulders.</td></tr>
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The kids have been fantastically helpful.</div>
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They just adore their little sister.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fuzzy head</td></tr>
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And let me tell you how much I love Ryan loving his little girl!</div>
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He's been such a sweet heart to me, and is such a helper. But he is just head over heels for this baby. </div>
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Ryan's always been a softie for babies. When he sees babies, he likes to go up to them and admire their sweetness. I think I took it for granted. But when I was volunteering at Ironman, and was wearing Edie, a man came up and was cooing at her, and when he left, the ladies around me started talking about how cute that was. They were saying how rare it is to find a guy that r<i>eally</i> likes babies. Really? Ryan LOVES babies, and especially our little ones. I love it. I'm so lucky. <br />
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In other Edie news, she hasn't pooped in 5 days! Since this...<br />
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I looked it up online before making a Dr. appointment. But apparently it's normal for exclusively breastfed babies. I don't remember if Gwen or Drake did this. But since babies bodies digest breast milk so efficiently, they don't have to poop a ton/often. This is a change from her newborn weeks when she was pooping several times a day. But it warns that when she does poop, it'll be a lot. That picture above was after not pooping for two and a half days. I'm scared for her next poo...<br />
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We're working on getting her on a schedule, and sleeping in her crib. She takes at least one nap a day in her crib, and sleeps most of the night in her crib. And last night she had her longest stretch between feedings - 6 HOURS!! But I didn't sleep that long. I woke up automatically for our 2 am feeding, but she was still asleep. I think I woke up every twenty minutes after that making sure she was in fact still sleeping. She didn't wake up until 3:40! Crossing my fingers this happens again tonight! <br />
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<br />IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-87119485333159958632013-11-14T21:01:00.001-08:002013-11-14T21:01:30.086-08:00Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream cheese FrostingI will get around to posting about life in our family of FIVE soon, but for now, here is a Pinterest <a href="http://www.savorhomeblog.com/2013/09/the-requisite-pumpkin-cupcakes-w.html" target="_blank">recipe</a> I tried out and modified just a bit. <br />
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<b>Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream cheese Frosting</b>!</div>
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<b>Cupcakes</b><br />1 cup all-purpose flour<br />1 teaspoon baking powder<br />1/2 teaspoon baking soda<br />1/2 teaspoon salt<br />1 teaspoon cinnamon<br />1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (ground)<br />1/8 teaspoon ginger<br />1/8 teaspoon cloves<br />1 cup pumpkin puree<br />1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed<br />1/2 cup granulated sugar<br />1/2 cup coconut oil<br />2 large eggs<br />
<br /><b>Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting</b><br />12 tablespoons butter, room temperature<br />1 8oz package cream cheese, room temperature<br />3 cups confectioners sugar<br />1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract<br />1/2 teaspoon cinnamon<br />1/2 teaspoon nutmeg<br />
<br />Mixing the cupcakes is easy, put your wets in a mixer and mix 'em up. Then sift your dry stuff together. Then slowly stir the dry stuff in until well incorporated. Bake in cupcake cups at 350ยบ for 15 minutes.<br /><br />
For the frosting, cream the butter and cream cheese first! Then add the sugar before the wets. Uh-mazing!!! <br /><br />
Use the extra frosting to eat by the spoonful or spread on graham crackers. In secret of course. Because you don't want to have to share your frosting with anyone!<br />
IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-39970808204037794842013-10-20T22:10:00.000-07:002013-10-21T12:00:40.346-07:00Eden McPhieIt's hard to believe it was over a week ago that I had Eden. Time is just going too fast while I'm trying to soak up every single new-born moment with her. She is just so precious, I can't stand it!<br />
But I know I've got to get this written down before I forget more of the little details. <br />
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There was a lot of <a href="http://mcphiefamily.blogspot.com/2013/06/pregnancy-blues.html" target="_blank">uncertainty going into this labor</a>. All of it revolving around Drake being shoulder dystocia (he got stuck coming out), and my chances of having another baby get stuck were much higher. I figured that as long as I don't go 2 weeks over my due date (like Drake) then my baby wouldn't get too big and would come out just fine. So I didn't schedule a planned c-section, and didn't want to schedule an induction either. I wanted it to happen naturally, when my baby was ready, and my body was ripe. But this isn't to say that I wasn't doing things to help it happen. Like the miles and miles that Ryan and I would walk together every night. I loved these walks! The weather was finally cooling off at night, and I loved the time we got to spend together and the talks we had. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">40 weeks - 4 days before she was born</td></tr>
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I had had plenty of contractions. The Friday and Saturday before I had her, I woke up very early in the morning with contractions that I'd time, but after a few hours, they'd die off. So when I woke up at two in the morning on Tuesday with contractions, I ignored them at first and tried to sleep. But it didn't take long for me to realize that they were strong and consistent. So I got up and started timing them with my <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/full-term-labor-contraction/id382013176?mt=8" target="_blank">sweet contraction timing app</a>.<br />
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I hopped in the tub, turned on my relaxing music, and breathed my way through my contractions. I thought this could be it, but if it was, labor would be hours long, so I might as well let Ryan sleep while I was progressing through the early stages of labor. Ryan's mom was in town and would be able to stay with the kids, and I was thinking we could wait for the kids to wake up, kiss them good bye and then head to the hospital. <br />
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At 3:45 Ryan woke up (I guess because he could hear me), and came and asked me if I was okay. I was in the middle of a contraction, and when I realized I couldn't answer him because I was focusing on my visualization/breathing, I first realized that things might be serious. He then suggested we go to the hospital, and my initial thought was <i>not yet, we'll have hours</i>, but then I started shaking. I got the shakes when I was in transition with Gwen and Drake, so I changed my mind, and agreed we should go. That's when I tried getting out of the tub during a contraction and dropped my phone (that I took the insurance off of!) in the bathtub!!! Crud! I wasn't going to be able to text people, or take pictures. Argh!! <br />
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So Ryan began running around the house getting everything together we would need, putting my phone in rice, and letting his mom know we'd be heading to the hospital. I was trying to go to the bathroom and get dressed in between contractions. When we finally headed to the car, contractions had gotten so strong that I would have to put my arms around Ryan's neck and almost hang on him while I was trying to let my body surrender to the shuddering. <br />
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Once we were in the car, things were even more intense. Ryan drove like a mad man, and we made it to the hospital (in Phoenix) in only 22 minutes. I was trying to find a comfortable position to sit in, which was impossible since I didn't want to sit. There was just so much pressure in my bum. I had my eyes closed and was trying desperately to keep my body under control and to relax. <br />
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We got to the hospital at about 4:35, and it took longer than we planned to get to the front door, get a wheel chair and passed security and up to labor and delivery. When we finally got there, we went to check in, and again, I found that I couldn't really talk through my contraction when they began asking me questions. They realized that things were intense and got me into a triage room. They asked for a urine sample, and I just dropped trou and went into the bathroom, where it wouldn't happen. But on my second contraction in there, I felt my body starting to contract/push down. I abandoned the urine efforts, and went and climbed onto the bed so the midwife could check me. Again, I couldn't imagine getting on my bum, so I laid on my side, and was just gripping the railing on the bed, and was apparently chanting "relax, relax" over and over. The midwife checked me and said, "oh, she's at a ten, and there's a bulging bag of water, we may have this baby right here!" I asked then if I could get in the tub, and she chuckled and said that we were probably too late for that. And poor Ryan was there trying to rub/tickle my back or do anything to try to help. <br />
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On the next contraction, again my body pushed down hard, and just like a huge water balloon popping, my water broke with such force that it made kind of a popping sound. That's when they decided to wheel the bed into a delivery room, and I was still just gripping the rails of the bed, eyes closed, trying to surrender to the convulsions happening to me. <br />
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By the time we got into the delivery room, it was about 5:05, and they asked me to crawl over to the delivery bed. I opened my eyes for the first time in what felt like forever, and tried to crawl over. But it hurt so bad. I labored with Drake mostly on my hands and knees, and imagined that's how I would this time too, but the pain in my pelvis wouldn't allow that. I just couldn't figure out how to get comfortable. The pressure in my bum wouldn't allow me to sit or lay back, and I was desperate to find a way that I could just try to relax. So the midwife got out the birthing bar and attached it to the bed, and finally I could just hang on the bar, and the midwife held up my thighs for me to squat down, fully supported, and I could handle it. <br />
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Again, my contractions were so strong, I could feel my body squeezing down, without me having to actually push. I was just trying to breathe my way through them (when I say breathe, it means moo/moan through the contractions), and let my body just do what it needed to do. Ryan was there putting wet washcloths on my neck and forehead since I was soo hot! I kept reaching down to feel how close the baby was, and on the next contraction, I felt the burning of her crowning. The next contraction, her head was out, and shortly after was the next contraction that pushed out her body, and I was able to catch her and pull her warm little body up onto my chest. This moment was pure joy as I cradled this sweet little baby up on me, and I was still in only my tank top I had worn to the hospital, no time to even put on a hospital gown. It was a few seconds later that I realized we hadn't even checked to see what the baby was, and we moved the cord out of the way to find out that we had a baby girl. After the cord had stopped pulsing, Ryan was able to cut it. She was born at 5:22, 50 minutes after arriving at the hospital. It was fast,<br />
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The next couple hours were some of the best in my life. Ryan and I just sat in the room alone with our new baby girl, and cuddled her, stared at her, took pictures of her, and breathed in all her new born baby smells. (Besides the midwife coming in an hour after she was born to fill out the admittance paperwork!) It was heavenly having these quiet moments, just the three of us, with this squishy, warm, naked little baby girl. We were in love!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7TmEPeccIsn5t_VlbrsJXAwtiUvv4Z7GDBeEtvMKcVDmgu4DkUQLGzdPGN9CXQ2qpuqUXtOiPgnuY4hhOOVZfVXgKwO2-V9kb5ePMqq-5Wb4Hbam2I1Pbb_vxXEbXIVewWNC/s1600/20131008_064215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7TmEPeccIsn5t_VlbrsJXAwtiUvv4Z7GDBeEtvMKcVDmgu4DkUQLGzdPGN9CXQ2qpuqUXtOiPgnuY4hhOOVZfVXgKwO2-V9kb5ePMqq-5Wb4Hbam2I1Pbb_vxXEbXIVewWNC/s320/20131008_064215.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excuse all the blurry cell phone pics</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXAzoKRYQ6EoNF4vjdqh59gjnFyL8IM_URsOZTGimBC8ovyVGxw8LIclauZ2amEZDcouJN3Lkyj5Ndyi6ZUoHVdJanQnth6cW4iSZi7-3gn_Vl7RR0U3CSmUdPWU9IVY0gVk_/s1600/20131008_064625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXAzoKRYQ6EoNF4vjdqh59gjnFyL8IM_URsOZTGimBC8ovyVGxw8LIclauZ2amEZDcouJN3Lkyj5Ndyi6ZUoHVdJanQnth6cW4iSZi7-3gn_Vl7RR0U3CSmUdPWU9IVY0gVk_/s320/20131008_064625.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy is so in love with this little girl!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJGBeeBz3WJVcUr9Vvm8qHkUXiEqOVATEVILno1k1d1pA0jk7Sx3Um-t_5WBO27CdRx2tQogyi8qW-RGRhnrx93nrP0fEOx6a32zQGkkE3B4w4XF0JFrP9xsR_Aq_nYiJ9_Xn/s1600/20131008_074312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJGBeeBz3WJVcUr9Vvm8qHkUXiEqOVATEVILno1k1d1pA0jk7Sx3Um-t_5WBO27CdRx2tQogyi8qW-RGRhnrx93nrP0fEOx6a32zQGkkE3B4w4XF0JFrP9xsR_Aq_nYiJ9_Xn/s320/20131008_074312.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ryan eventually took her to be bathed and weighed, etc. She was 7 pounds, 11 ounces; and 20.5 inches long. Practically perfect. <br />
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The rest of the day was nice and relaxing. Family came to see our baby girl, and we debated over what to name her. Gwen and Drake were smitten with their little sister. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9DEsgMjAy7cFsQ41FhSJ8WiRJBHT8qrjiyJvbtl7WVjNGT18QZbbwJZVTSw0ka68kisxwxKHHetfqsCoGSUSZUhnob2rpGGEB5YHsaeAV9MPczvpk_-k_DgWEZjc0W_CQPNf/s1600/20131008_085746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9DEsgMjAy7cFsQ41FhSJ8WiRJBHT8qrjiyJvbtl7WVjNGT18QZbbwJZVTSw0ka68kisxwxKHHetfqsCoGSUSZUhnob2rpGGEB5YHsaeAV9MPczvpk_-k_DgWEZjc0W_CQPNf/s320/20131008_085746.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">first sibling picture</td></tr>
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Early the next morning, we started packing up, getting ready for discharge, and just before leaving, we filled out the paperwork for her name. After narrowing it down to two good choices, we felt good about naming our sweet baby girl Eden McPhie. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdwyFY90QTOEXFwTDWVfXf12OOXOqyjQa7VTjSnKV60JLT4OBFH0A8OqSqYPAV1eHnYup4fhkyHWv2o_56NNS0lMe3wJNQrnXiRjS0q4wzagVQYvlsiPycINHv5TB0zGt9h3U/s1600/IMG_0848+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdwyFY90QTOEXFwTDWVfXf12OOXOqyjQa7VTjSnKV60JLT4OBFH0A8OqSqYPAV1eHnYup4fhkyHWv2o_56NNS0lMe3wJNQrnXiRjS0q4wzagVQYvlsiPycINHv5TB0zGt9h3U/s400/IMG_0848+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eden McPhie</td></tr>
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<br />IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-31727939117401420432013-09-27T12:21:00.000-07:002013-09-27T12:21:29.077-07:00sewing room<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The third car garage of our house had been converted into a work room of sorts by the previous owners. We thought it was a meth lab. It had special ventilation, all sorts of pipes and computer-monitored mixing systems, and water filter systems, plus it smelled really weird. I'm sure it was all the Breaking Bad watching we had been doing, but we worried it was a meth lab. Turns out it was a dark room. The previous owner was a photographer. Oh.</div>
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Anyway, the "meth lab" became our dumping room. It held all the boxes and things we didn't want to deal with when we moved in. It was nasty. </div>
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Fast forward to school being over, me being 8.5 months pregnant, and I wanted to start sewing. I love to sew! My poor sewing machine had been packed away forever, and I was ready to get it out. Babies were coming, and I needed to get creating! The only problem was, was I needed a space to do it. Enter nasty meth lab. </div>
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I wish I got a true before with all the boxes and junk still in this little room. </div>
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But let me tell you, this room was DIRTY! The matte black walls were just covered in dust of some sort. </div>
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So these pictures are after I've already cleared out the room and started painting those lower cabinets. I promise, it already looks 58x better. </div>
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And after:</div>
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I still need to get a real table to sew on since this card table shakes every time I start up my machine, but hey, it's a surface! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZNwcXJigmE-IgmM_ZboK2Q20aGvkWlJtpo3ILQ1oPV-UFI2G_v_ksTost-dHPpZsSeDAPhxfO_CnY7BJ9r_l4WDDl73GoPtLAKQd8E2MACx8w7UqTS3fgoNBo_EUb_wuLGNM/s1600/IMG_1029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZNwcXJigmE-IgmM_ZboK2Q20aGvkWlJtpo3ILQ1oPV-UFI2G_v_ksTost-dHPpZsSeDAPhxfO_CnY7BJ9r_l4WDDl73GoPtLAKQd8E2MACx8w7UqTS3fgoNBo_EUb_wuLGNM/s320/IMG_1029.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bernina love!</td></tr>
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And I want to paint the floor...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFupD73QAHKbM0kZu7K_T1K7RVgE7w4jSv0blFCTRae0500Q2fcNP0I4CabB3JWwoqBESK1qW6OyR9lGeI4GFOVC1n7c0doMVvn_snFVQ5a6vOunU8sT5BVicDM96pR4GfWPW/s1600/IMG_1032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFupD73QAHKbM0kZu7K_T1K7RVgE7w4jSv0blFCTRae0500Q2fcNP0I4CabB3JWwoqBESK1qW6OyR9lGeI4GFOVC1n7c0doMVvn_snFVQ5a6vOunU8sT5BVicDM96pR4GfWPW/s320/IMG_1032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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and still need to take care of the lower wall area, but I can sew!!</div>
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I made these shoes and onesies for Tara's baby.</div>
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And these gender neutralish wannabe Vans for our baby. </div>
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I love my meth lab-turned sewing room!<br />
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IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-5185990720631462512013-09-23T12:11:00.000-07:002013-09-23T12:13:26.106-07:00men love power tools<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is a sad story.</div>
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We have a huge tree in the front yard, and I LOVE it!</div>
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It is one of the reasons I really loved this house when we were looking for houses.</div>
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But the HOA apparently doesn't love it.</div>
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Because it hangs over the road.</div>
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Give me a break!</div>
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So we got some tree trimming quotes.</div>
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$500.</div>
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Seriously!? To trim a tree?!!?</div>
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So Ryan set out to do it himself. He shimmied up the tree, tied him and the chainsaw to a branch, and tried to cut off some branches. </div>
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But it was hot, and he was really high, and next thing I know, he almost passes out.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPi2Q2I5Xci1uU5OM23mFIAgqnnht_EjLiReAGAg1Dq_KwpASQP-fqNh5yKOgnwTQ2oW4uFdhl22ftMboJcyYkrPj1PV7MDhUo0It8FH9gwbP-nlxonbl3VZ4_l-eNwG4-o2_p/s1600/1239634_10151843119987929_1917197837_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPi2Q2I5Xci1uU5OM23mFIAgqnnht_EjLiReAGAg1Dq_KwpASQP-fqNh5yKOgnwTQ2oW4uFdhl22ftMboJcyYkrPj1PV7MDhUo0It8FH9gwbP-nlxonbl3VZ4_l-eNwG4-o2_p/s320/1239634_10151843119987929_1917197837_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">willow before</td></tr>
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So instead of passing out and falling out of a tree, Ryan got a bucket truck.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLA2nQ4CEjuwxIYN6QyP9umzKlrhGc1bR6mTK1J_2FSa5eb8tL5SgXrPsba1DLsVJK5l4cxHyKPhAzlGk8iChrKKCsrNxzT3Y3LygUA9009ZW8936es8ItXua2RraOvGSyKLe/s1600/IMG_1009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLA2nQ4CEjuwxIYN6QyP9umzKlrhGc1bR6mTK1J_2FSa5eb8tL5SgXrPsba1DLsVJK5l4cxHyKPhAzlGk8iChrKKCsrNxzT3Y3LygUA9009ZW8936es8ItXua2RraOvGSyKLe/s320/IMG_1009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhibit A: Ryan in bucket truck</td></tr>
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This handy bucket truck Ryan could control from the bucket and raise himself to wherever he needed to be to cut the poor tree limbs. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOt2iOSWAUSfC3u2NSHEOdK5tcYeyZS1Tg819hf4Ehyphenhyphend6hhnQuMTR8GVByToIoos1FVrWE2e9zDu6j8cuqLgrtUOv2ZR4K1jtCpEWAt9NZrjxhyphenhyphenEoNBafoV9WEYy9rR8f14zZ/s1600/IMG_1016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOt2iOSWAUSfC3u2NSHEOdK5tcYeyZS1Tg819hf4Ehyphenhyphend6hhnQuMTR8GVByToIoos1FVrWE2e9zDu6j8cuqLgrtUOv2ZR4K1jtCpEWAt9NZrjxhyphenhyphenEoNBafoV9WEYy9rR8f14zZ/s320/IMG_1016.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhibit B: Ryan about to cut tree limb</td></tr>
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Ryan was out there for 5 hours cutting this thing!</div>
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Because once he got the limbs down, he needed to cut and pile those so the city pick-up would come and get the branches.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1D5Hw_h3e6OZ9q1ZqCqBkmEQYKrPAnBiH8xy_zVgJEnduzJOiiqHgd4g6uH-H8wtQOGGL-3sWdKuV5A_GSKcHMPtnfT2gYZGHqvNxBEvs2wQoACK4qiP4JAQNVjO1IugcgiV/s1600/IMG_1019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1D5Hw_h3e6OZ9q1ZqCqBkmEQYKrPAnBiH8xy_zVgJEnduzJOiiqHgd4g6uH-H8wtQOGGL-3sWdKuV5A_GSKcHMPtnfT2gYZGHqvNxBEvs2wQoACK4qiP4JAQNVjO1IugcgiV/s320/IMG_1019.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Oh, and I was in the house, doing my Saturday chores, and Ryan kept having me come outside to see what I thought about what branch to cut, bring him water, etc. The funny thing is, is I was wearing this:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1Rp_8A5CQdh_z11RSBVAZGynJa5YXbejYShJEgERkojRKEO5JkX5Rk7ywIxMn9Sgj4Q6DTYngxipgTUEY6fzScKsCgdobogLG8aB71jE4ZDYHG1inStcxWIAd9g7I8PWH8qT/s1600/IMG_1005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1Rp_8A5CQdh_z11RSBVAZGynJa5YXbejYShJEgERkojRKEO5JkX5Rk7ywIxMn9Sgj4Q6DTYngxipgTUEY6fzScKsCgdobogLG8aB71jE4ZDYHG1inStcxWIAd9g7I8PWH8qT/s320/IMG_1005.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">for your viewing pleasure</td></tr>
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You see, I have some pretty funny girlfriends who gave me a birthing baby gift. It included things like stool softeners, hemorrhoid cream, nipple cream, etc.; and this lovely little number. They may have thought this gorgeous pink cherry nightgown was a joke, but once I tried it on, it was no joke! I was wearing it all day on the tree trimming day. So each time I went outside to observe/help Ryan, at least one neighbor would catch me in this. </div>
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Fortunately my neighbors are awesome, and they'd say it was cute (lie), or say "you're 9 months pregnant, wear whatever you want!" (truth). </div>
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I love this nightgown.</div>
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And that's the story about how Ryan appeased the HOA, and saved us $500, and I gave my neighbors something to laugh about. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5VOj7_n1tEfxtt5G2jao28Q2-CwS2tfxhObnKljeeFS2BZXWUZpt_RwTF3EDerMyxURb-JZPz9EMp9bbzN1Y9VlJYGfi0nNwmnlPa5sMi1bpI1xAa0fK2uGH61jD1qAJistb/s1600/1234017_10151843126622929_748041353_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5VOj7_n1tEfxtt5G2jao28Q2-CwS2tfxhObnKljeeFS2BZXWUZpt_RwTF3EDerMyxURb-JZPz9EMp9bbzN1Y9VlJYGfi0nNwmnlPa5sMi1bpI1xAa0fK2uGH61jD1qAJistb/s320/1234017_10151843126622929_748041353_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willow after.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtMD8XHa7P-fAlvlh8QaxcSMXglorC69s392HxCS1wX26YEnLROD3tjbVEawmQ0DCxoMaa36lDPXe-cs3kZtXkrwPnSNdw8L9w_qw3iYItOlbW6l2Sx2eEyha19_U2jtTil5T/s1600/IMG_1018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtMD8XHa7P-fAlvlh8QaxcSMXglorC69s392HxCS1wX26YEnLROD3tjbVEawmQ0DCxoMaa36lDPXe-cs3kZtXkrwPnSNdw8L9w_qw3iYItOlbW6l2Sx2eEyha19_U2jtTil5T/s320/IMG_1018.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ryan rules.</td></tr>
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<br />IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-80121809051832685412013-09-16T14:11:00.000-07:002013-09-16T14:11:19.037-07:00babies are coming... 37 weeksMy sister, Tara, and I had our boys on the same day 7 years ago. Since then, she had two more, and we thought our baby years were behind us. So it was a super surprise when we found out that we were pregnant together again, our estimated due dates only three days apart! <br />
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She's having a girl, we're having a surprise! I wanted to be surprised with Gwen and Drake, but Ryan wanted to know, so I agreed. This time, I'm taking the reigns. This might be our last baby, so why not do it the way I want to? Luckily, Ryan eventually got on board and is down for a surprise. <br />
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Anyhow, Tara needed a last trip before the baby comes. We try to have a mom/sisters trip every summer, but that stupid bar got in the way. So we planned a last minute one, right before these bellies burst. <br />
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While it was not well documented with pictures, we had a ton of fun. Pool, pedis, eating, talking, laughing... all things a girls weekend should be. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDGdhTeVc4_GuGuqYiC_KZ-1_OwW1_xT4tlnXHT1AnxOdsNQUavFHnlg_qwpCBSX_MFYiQFkVTVaJeJd_hQBFb9WJK7iVqh-m-Qwzr_xqnzlcfoE1GJrfnOao_RBFpny0TzaU/s1600/photo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDGdhTeVc4_GuGuqYiC_KZ-1_OwW1_xT4tlnXHT1AnxOdsNQUavFHnlg_qwpCBSX_MFYiQFkVTVaJeJd_hQBFb9WJK7iVqh-m-Qwzr_xqnzlcfoE1GJrfnOao_RBFpny0TzaU/s320/photo.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tara's baby is going to be like 10 pounds!!</td></tr>
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Now, because her baby is gigantic, she's scheduled to be induced on Friday. I don't think I'll be going that early, so our babies won't share a birthday again. :(<br />
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But let me tell you about my Drakey boy. He is the sweetest thing. He loves this baby so much, and he insists on taking care of me. If I need to pick up anything, he says, "no mom, let me get that, you're pregnant". If I need something from upstairs, he says, "I'll get it for you mom, you're pregnant". He's my water boy, always refilling my water cup, and he's always wanting to touch and kiss my belly, and talks to the baby. I love it. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJZgk08Dmn3Z9-m08lrGvHubgAUvrzEDsUc9LnkGv-VSo-Dt7xbY18TXMO1s7qahA5PPlGpIxU2ClhyXFT1tcVHJVE_j25ouTsM38-TdgzZJ4GBJ76K88YXj7rxHoScjsRQlk/s1600/photo-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJZgk08Dmn3Z9-m08lrGvHubgAUvrzEDsUc9LnkGv-VSo-Dt7xbY18TXMO1s7qahA5PPlGpIxU2ClhyXFT1tcVHJVE_j25ouTsM38-TdgzZJ4GBJ76K88YXj7rxHoScjsRQlk/s320/photo-4.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">36 weeks</td></tr>
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A week ago, it was raining really hard here. (it was awesome!!) Well I was on my way to go get a facial my girlfriends gave me for graduation, and was going down the stairs to the girl's studio, when I slipped and fell down a few stairs. It was scary, but more embarrassing since she heard me. Anyway, since then, Drake reminds me before he goes to school each day to "wear your belly band, and hold on to the hand rails when you're going down stairs." What a sweet heart. <br />
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Also... nesting. This baby doesn't have any clothes yet. I have three onesies, that need to be washed, no blankets, burp cloths, bottles, stroller, etc. I started to panic the other day, and decided that maybe we should do a shower before the baby comes. We were going to wait until after the birth so we know if it's a boy or girl, but we'll go ahead anyway. <br />
But I do have a cute crib my friend Jen gave me, and I did buy and wash the crib sheet! See, I'm getting ready. ;)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYSN7vWiRfsuZhjTTp06yGf1ApNU6vZtASn4Qc5KZLxneEsw9BeutbgpnANSyjqp9m-Ks52NfeKTuQG_XMibt1Iz2J5ZnHnceHiUbG6DO00ddo5MpJYrCVsYAiRttBDOCJuXK/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYSN7vWiRfsuZhjTTp06yGf1ApNU6vZtASn4Qc5KZLxneEsw9BeutbgpnANSyjqp9m-Ks52NfeKTuQG_XMibt1Iz2J5ZnHnceHiUbG6DO00ddo5MpJYrCVsYAiRttBDOCJuXK/s320/photo-3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here I am. 37 weeks pregnant. Full term. And I promise, I do put on clothes and make up most days. But apparently I don't take pictures on those days to prove it. </div>
You can see that the baby's dropped. Which means I have more room to eat more! But I do pee about every 14 minutes. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouPDKjn1Gqw5S0dEDf5SXYxiKeMBsYGCfUATvDzOjN-fbcIMQxwDNnuqQLLaS-8NWiuyy7ci7tG8mhTVDj5SFfnavjmCXOapild7DkqJFcFPMsp90yCbxLu8MyLkZzNowf0KH/s1600/photo-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouPDKjn1Gqw5S0dEDf5SXYxiKeMBsYGCfUATvDzOjN-fbcIMQxwDNnuqQLLaS-8NWiuyy7ci7tG8mhTVDj5SFfnavjmCXOapild7DkqJFcFPMsp90yCbxLu8MyLkZzNowf0KH/s320/photo-2.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">37 weeks</td></tr>
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I have a good friend who's been doing a weekly update on her blog about her pregnancy. It's so cute, and now I wish I had been more diligent about documenting this. I was fine doing without taking belly pictures, until I was looking for pictures of me pregnant with Gwen and Drake, and only found one picture of my belly with Gwen, and none with Drake! So even though I feel extremely unattractive, I will take some pictures anyway so when I look for pregnant pictures in 7 or 17 years, I will have some. </div>
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And still, just about everyday, Ryan and I will look at each other and say, "I can't believe we're having a baby!" Still shocking. Still exciting. Can't wait to meet this baby!</div>
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IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-91674548347815150132013-08-29T17:30:00.000-07:002013-08-29T17:30:00.841-07:00pinterest reviewsI love being home during the day so much!<br />
One of the bonuses of not being at school all day is that I get to actually make things that I pin on Pinterest. So here are some of the things I've made lately:<br />
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<a href="http://www.macaroniandcheesecake.com/2011/08/oatmeal-cream-pies.html" target="_blank">Oatmeal Cream Pies</a>:<br />
I seriously love those cheap little cookies that you can buy in the store. But then again, I have a weakness for oatmeal cookies, especially if I don't have to pick out any raisins or chocolate chips. So I made these:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1fwsykFcRCztpqk4RrmBKOOuPWsqBATFZXbrOgMlBOJLw9Oe9aQ6dHVu8i41CI8DV0Nnr-GUe-o1OVPW3xZPs-xX-7C5Uk9-2UqgUmuFcp2pU9xwiPKZoo0JLlbMZxfJNWlx/s1600/1186060_10151636849693785_1554235868_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1fwsykFcRCztpqk4RrmBKOOuPWsqBATFZXbrOgMlBOJLw9Oe9aQ6dHVu8i41CI8DV0Nnr-GUe-o1OVPW3xZPs-xX-7C5Uk9-2UqgUmuFcp2pU9xwiPKZoo0JLlbMZxfJNWlx/s320/1186060_10151636849693785_1554235868_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The cookie dough was phenomenal! Too bad I don't photgraph them as well as the original pinner does. But they were good. It was nice to get to use my double boiler to make the filling (since I feel guilty having kitchen products take up space if they don't get used often), and the filling was very similar to the Little Debbie cookies, but I think I'd prefer something with butter and/or cream cheese in the middle if I'm going to be making them. I'll try that next time. <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Oatmeal Cream Pies</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"></span></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.625; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ingredients:</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature<br />3/4 cup dark brown sugar<br />1/2 cup sugar<br />2 eggs<br />1 tsp. vanilla<br />1 tbsp. honey<br />1 3/4 cup all purpose flour<br />1 tsp. baking soda<br />1/8 tsp. cinnamon<br />1/2 tsp. salt<br />1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats<br />Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside.<br />2 egg whites<br />1/2 cup sugar<br />1/4 tsp. cream of tartar<br />1/2 tsp. vanilla<br />In a double boiler, add egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar and heat over simmering water. Whisking frequently, heat until egg whites become very frothy and sugar is dissolved (approx. 160 degrees). Carefully add egg mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk on high speed for several minutes until egg mixture will hold stiff peaks and is light in texture. Carefully fold in vanilla until incorporated. Add frosting to cookie and then top with another cookie. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Directions:</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">In the bowl of a stand mixer cream together the butter, brown sugar, and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, honey and vanilla and beat until incorporated.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">In a separate medium sized bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Slowly add the flour mixture into the butter mixture and mix just until incorporated. Stir in oats until evenly distributed. Transfer dough to a large mixing bowl (this is so you can use stand mixer bowl for the frosting) and chill in refrigerator for 15 minutes.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Remove dough from refrigerator and drop by tablespoons onto baking sheet (or even a bit smaller for smaller cookies). Bake for 8 to 10 minutes just until the edges start to brown. Cookies will seem moist in the middle but they will set up. Cool on baking sheet until set and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Once cool, on the underside of one cookie spread the marshmallow frosting and top with another cookie. Store in an airtight container.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Marshmallow Frosting</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 26px;"><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.625; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ingredients:</span><br />2 egg whites<br />1/2 cup sugar<br />1/4 tsp. cream of tartar<br />1/2 tsp. vanilla</div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.625; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Directions:</span><br />In a double boiler, add egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar and heat over simmering water. Whisking frequently, heat until egg whites become very frothy and sugar is dissolved (approx. 160 degrees). Carefully add egg mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk on high speed for several minutes until egg mixture will hold stiff peaks and is light in texture. Carefully fold in vanilla until incorporated. Add frosting to cookie and then top with another cookie. Enjoy!</div>
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<a href="http://abitchinkitchen.blogspot.com/2011/10/pumpkin-snickerdoodles.html" target="_blank">Pumpkin Snickerdoodles</a>:<br />
Anyone else craving fall? It may be pregnant Kristin talking, but I'm anxious for cooler weather and all things pumpkin. Oh, and having this baby. That'll be nice too. But I was craving that today. So I busted out the pumpkin, even if it is still August, it's only supposed to be 95ยบ today, so I'm going with fall. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbiYskjs3R7a6_xcPe3tfew4xLTJkwnqU6_Cpwwz3nA_LnumQC7ZeSuZkIS1HabzDwLnB182qQq24A4nPcOLP0cEKXGWS517xeghRHUaqozy4tuMHwG24ybMZRIp8m2yLwd5-/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbiYskjs3R7a6_xcPe3tfew4xLTJkwnqU6_Cpwwz3nA_LnumQC7ZeSuZkIS1HabzDwLnB182qQq24A4nPcOLP0cEKXGWS517xeghRHUaqozy4tuMHwG24ybMZRIp8m2yLwd5-/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
These cookies weren't my favorite. Probably because they are very cake-like in texture. The recipe calls for 1 1/2 tsp. of baking powder. I think next time I'd try doing just 1 tsp. baking soda to help the cookies be more chewy rather than cakey. But there were still pumpkin, cinnamon cookies, which is always a winning combination. <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Pumpkin Snickerdoodles:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">3 3/4 cups flour</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1/2 teaspoon salt</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1 cup sugar</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1/2 cup dark brown sugar</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1 cup pumpkin puree</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1 large egg</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">2 teaspoons vanilla extract</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>For the coating:</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1/2 cup sugar</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1 teaspoon ground cinnamon</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">1/2 teaspoon ground ginger</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Dash of allspice</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk together to blend. In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugars on medium speed until well combined. Next, still on medium speed, beat in pumpkin. Then, add the egg and vanilla extract. Lastly, add in the dry ingredients. Beat until combined, but do not over mix. Cover the dough, and refrigerate for one hour, until firm.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and spices for the sugar coating. Scoop dough (approximately 2 1/2 tablespoons) and roll into a ball. Roll the dough ball in the sugar mixture, and place on the lined baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. Take a drinking glass with a flat bottom and moisten with water. Dip the glass in the sugar mixture, and use it to flatten the dough balls. Re-sugar the glass as needed.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes. Remove when the centers of the cookies have set. Let cool on the baking pan for approximately 5 minutes, and then transfer to wire cooling racks to cool completely.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.raininghotcoupons.com/brown-sugar-and-garlic-chicken-recipe/" target="_blank">Brown Sugar and Garlic Chicken</a>:</div>
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This should just be called sweet and sour chicken. That's basically what it is... without any added vegetables. This I didn't get a picture, so I'm using the one from Pinterest. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmInkDGQb8YA3fNPFA-545ThxoRsGgPWUao2zOqvIWm0MR5FKCE1tlAsH1sC7_NIhPiVR0yqN55R64cs5Y4t7fiLUUojKWbvOcL_cqmD-qF0n-38ovaKT0bJcGhlwtnQo9baXu/s1600/1975457e7ab85f54fc1566ae707dd0af.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmInkDGQb8YA3fNPFA-545ThxoRsGgPWUao2zOqvIWm0MR5FKCE1tlAsH1sC7_NIhPiVR0yqN55R64cs5Y4t7fiLUUojKWbvOcL_cqmD-qF0n-38ovaKT0bJcGhlwtnQo9baXu/s320/1975457e7ab85f54fc1566ae707dd0af.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Some thoughts on the recipe. The 1/4 c Sierra Mist is point less. I panicked when I got to that part of the recipe until I remembered we were at Costco just before, and Drake got a Sierra Mist there, so I made him give me the rest of his cup so I could add the 1/4 cup. It added nothing. Next time, I'll just skip it, because I'm sure I won't have any pop on hand.</div>
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Also, this needs some serious veggies! I should have steamed some broccoli, zucchini, cabbage, bell peppers, and carrots to put with the chicken and rice, but I choose to make balsamic glazed carrots to go with dinner. But the sauce is so strong, and the chicken is so saucy, that I could have easily incorporated some non-flavored vegetables in with the chicken. </div>
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Oh, and we ate it over brown rice, and the kids usually don't love brown rice, but the chicken sauce was so tangy, they didn't even notice. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Shredded Sweet and Sour Chicken:</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"></span></span></div>
<ul id="zlrecipe-ingredients-list" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2.4em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-1" itemprop="ingredients" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">5 chicken breasts</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-2" itemprop="ingredients" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">1 cup brown sugar</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-3" itemprop="ingredients" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">2/3 cup vinegar</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-4" itemprop="ingredients" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">1/4 cup Sierra Mist lemon lime soda (like I said, feel free to leave this out as I think it was pointless - there's plenty of sugar and acid in this already!)</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-5" itemprop="ingredients" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">2 tablespoons minced garlic</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-6" itemprop="ingredients" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">2 tablespoons soy sauce (I used Liquid Aminos)</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-7" itemprop="ingredients" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-8" itemprop="ingredients" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">2 tablespoons corn starch</span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"><div class="h-4 strong" id="zlrecipe-instructions" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Instructions</div>
<ol class="instructions" id="zlrecipe-instructions-list" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0.5em; margin-right: 0.5em; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-0" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Combine all the ingredients in crock pot (except chicken) and whisk together until mixed thoroughly and all corn starch lumps are gone.</li>
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-1" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Add chicken breasts to sauce in crock pot</li>
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-2" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cook on Medium for 4-6 hours or high for 4 hours.</li>
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-3" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Shred Chicken</li>
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-4" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Let shredded chicken sit in sauce over "warm" setting or low for about 20 minutes</li>
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-5" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Serve with rice</li>
</ol>
</span></span>IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-2875089364107054302013-08-25T19:36:00.002-07:002013-08-25T19:38:46.738-07:00..36...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
McPhie celebration season has come to an end.</div>
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Gwen, Drake, and I all have birthdays in July, and then in the first couple of weeks of August is our anniversary, then Ryan's birthday.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Ryan's birthday came on a Friday.</div>
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Fridays are trial days.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So we sent him off to trial with a yummy waffle breakfast.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55M020y7GmWh_tQ8s4d3qtMfZ6edNOKlgyWCup33UeecwuMq0T930JJ6Il2fs-HIWJ24I5l7jqgA7T-63OdxmfthO-GAWla9Jz0XCmOqTfOFbUZS_oSOmTwjlDRrz4f5uBwAY/s1600/photo-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55M020y7GmWh_tQ8s4d3qtMfZ6edNOKlgyWCup33UeecwuMq0T930JJ6Il2fs-HIWJ24I5l7jqgA7T-63OdxmfthO-GAWla9Jz0XCmOqTfOFbUZS_oSOmTwjlDRrz4f5uBwAY/s320/photo-4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I got Ryan this watch for his birthday.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxZEYAcnHwASNqwCC54oA0cn6PWHXSrThHd22ubFu57ttFRrB8nlmKi27GLj9qYMIH119emyeiwo4Dqkp3a55PfA3IxOglPUJwP7ljV0urNLCSHSimD_T1-ayb1QH3iOTi5zY/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxZEYAcnHwASNqwCC54oA0cn6PWHXSrThHd22ubFu57ttFRrB8nlmKi27GLj9qYMIH119emyeiwo4Dqkp3a55PfA3IxOglPUJwP7ljV0urNLCSHSimD_T1-ayb1QH3iOTi5zY/s200/images-1.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But in typical Ryan fashion, he wants to exchange it.</div>
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Maybe for this one...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-u2AUa3yCJfaduN4-PNhSIMpuT_Ufi_F2zvZbC6tJOcF7ynToEJR2lLeWQr-nLklGdFbmLAQ7y_xU6CtGtesLcjZAH0gpS8xvySRCNTamrgqxlVX4PysI_7hKhWBisCribhn/s1600/images-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-u2AUa3yCJfaduN4-PNhSIMpuT_Ufi_F2zvZbC6tJOcF7ynToEJR2lLeWQr-nLklGdFbmLAQ7y_xU6CtGtesLcjZAH0gpS8xvySRCNTamrgqxlVX4PysI_7hKhWBisCribhn/s200/images-2.jpeg" width="126" /></a></div>
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or this one.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDQ0kVkGN3q_6TcvJJsO75GTxR7IsHOkvdIF4hIZvbuPSziwXTCJG9VZued6tAcXauEpam4UslxM7olASQpBixZf5whMeo8uDQowgxcL5nxSf_qEaDEW-q-CRBWbzcpWM80Hk/s1600/A027-131-view1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDQ0kVkGN3q_6TcvJJsO75GTxR7IsHOkvdIF4hIZvbuPSziwXTCJG9VZued6tAcXauEpam4UslxM7olASQpBixZf5whMeo8uDQowgxcL5nxSf_qEaDEW-q-CRBWbzcpWM80Hk/s200/A027-131-view1.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Which one do you like better? I thought about the light wood one, but thought it might get dirty.?? So here's some advice if any of you, for any reason, give Ryan a gift for any occasion, give him a gift card. I still try and give him gifts, but they are just about always getting exchanged. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's okay.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well he had a good trial (won on one count, lost on another; but he knew that one would be tough). We celebrated with dinner and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1430132/" target="_blank">The Wolverine</a>. </div>
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<br /></div>
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It's a good one. Even though Hugh Jackman was not in very good shape for it.</div>
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Not.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Yes, I just said "not".</div>
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<br /></div>
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Then we had family birthday party on Sunday.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRzE8cNOi5KH9t0eRxl48Din4Zw82Aws9p1Tlu7MTCwDQ0IJmqsayFtzC2w8izBAj_BjpLxQcii52vnKcESRtQpfSdRTFz18VPKXDUkWF93Nma_P0Pnb-CQ3CdYsfA26zr97j/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRzE8cNOi5KH9t0eRxl48Din4Zw82Aws9p1Tlu7MTCwDQ0IJmqsayFtzC2w8izBAj_BjpLxQcii52vnKcESRtQpfSdRTFz18VPKXDUkWF93Nma_P0Pnb-CQ3CdYsfA26zr97j/s320/photo-3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And I was too lazy to put 36 candles on the cake, so we had 3 candles + 6 candles. It equals 36 in candle math.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Oh yah, and here are the kids with their As You Wish paintings from our family anniversary date.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzFqG74wOgsiocc2B5BoW71L7Sgwj6aMKWLyB5pLOuq3eQY8tJF-MQOWSbG2PhM-jry0Xh2edxqkKsdWWhU4MNUPwvEf62qdsXDfrg4S6Yv3BlaJrNHhCCudba8MPEWUeAzCI/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzFqG74wOgsiocc2B5BoW71L7Sgwj6aMKWLyB5pLOuq3eQY8tJF-MQOWSbG2PhM-jry0Xh2edxqkKsdWWhU4MNUPwvEf62qdsXDfrg4S6Yv3BlaJrNHhCCudba8MPEWUeAzCI/s320/photo-2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drake's hair is awesome</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Oh, and here's Drake's self portrait on the wall in school.</div>
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Notice the robot/lego arm, and the gun arm.<br />
But no legs.<br />
I love his creativity!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzDwZXS700jDC8QAFLVtlAHKxa33xNQ2ec1jJrCG2kdecfowDYimcTj5vnKmjArgJNB7o7VLX725ltdSWnDIYZ27pypYdW4TBHjSgsYL0suAL0ohdioW_aiA9SPTexNqvO4Vo/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzDwZXS700jDC8QAFLVtlAHKxa33xNQ2ec1jJrCG2kdecfowDYimcTj5vnKmjArgJNB7o7VLX725ltdSWnDIYZ27pypYdW4TBHjSgsYL0suAL0ohdioW_aiA9SPTexNqvO4Vo/s320/photo-1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Happy birthday Ryan.</div>
IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-45700037362638211842013-08-19T20:35:00.003-07:002013-08-19T20:35:25.194-07:00Lego BoyBuster Brown is obsessed with Legos. He watches videos about them all the time, and recently he has gotten into making his own. Here's a sample of what he's been working on. <br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/nSaF3oU702E?rel=0" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
He is constantly asking how to earn money so he can buy more Legos. I love it. <br />
But I have a feeling I won't love it when we have a baby crawling around here putting everything it finds in his/her mouth. IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-50877565325171818622013-08-14T19:42:00.001-07:002013-08-14T19:42:27.592-07:00eight eight thirteen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
10 years ago, my car of college girls ran into a car of boys in the dollar movie theater parking lot in Provo. The boys came over to our apartment, and upon coming in the door, Ryan noticed that he and I had the same studded belt on so he plopped down by me on the couch and we started talking music and bands. He found out I hadn't seen Braveheart which meant he had to show it to me. We talked all night.</div>
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<br /></div>
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He showed me Braveheart a few days later.</div>
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I tried to not like him.</div>
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I was graduating in a month and moving home, and last thing I wanted was a long distance relationship.</div>
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But Ryan was persistent.</div>
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And I gave in.</div>
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I fell hard and fast.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We were married in Oakland, on a gorgeous day.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqDWRaEuxw2EAjduyz4CvG1uoOJ5suoq0YSq5Fi1HjtyzKoHgDRYg3i1CIQAAv-HYUMNW4HcPlYZpCZTux3adifi6QYCSSugjJSH5SZWJODIj8Rme4cMokRBnp-tisSxFp_0x/s1600/IMG_0851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqDWRaEuxw2EAjduyz4CvG1uoOJ5suoq0YSq5Fi1HjtyzKoHgDRYg3i1CIQAAv-HYUMNW4HcPlYZpCZTux3adifi6QYCSSugjJSH5SZWJODIj8Rme4cMokRBnp-tisSxFp_0x/s320/IMG_0851.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
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We were an hour and a half late to our luncheon because we were taking pictures and then in bad traffic from Oakland to Sacramento.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2W9sSR75iZcIdpvTI7JB-38oiaGWQR1n2JGm1sDgsgDfxyl8MkSKhSLy_vVhzHlmGU6-qmdihn1J0YPRNIOBRxgXKOQAWDSyYP_B1rt_k5uNUlRna_UOR-B6ML3whO5v9Et8/s1600/IMG_0855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2W9sSR75iZcIdpvTI7JB-38oiaGWQR1n2JGm1sDgsgDfxyl8MkSKhSLy_vVhzHlmGU6-qmdihn1J0YPRNIOBRxgXKOQAWDSyYP_B1rt_k5uNUlRna_UOR-B6ML3whO5v9Et8/s320/IMG_0855.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We had a gorgeous reception in the backyard of Ryan's house.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpGAcponQW5yKdfGURU5kNzNT9_MniACWgXo5JZ-i0aapNKZ_G3e87aaiAF2EDZgF1fgYPA49HmHyUzRlWipd45bEG3-l0UPehZdWYsOKjqPEKCU4UugCHnzjg_HkncJcpAGb/s1600/IMG_0856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpGAcponQW5yKdfGURU5kNzNT9_MniACWgXo5JZ-i0aapNKZ_G3e87aaiAF2EDZgF1fgYPA49HmHyUzRlWipd45bEG3-l0UPehZdWYsOKjqPEKCU4UugCHnzjg_HkncJcpAGb/s320/IMG_0856.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We had a little cake fight.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-coQhsN7Law97OrFrHDY1DZ2STbOub0S6WMvcO_iCXTm_FsHqQ9BgZje0a8r3DJwcTxDobYfr8kOz__rFPVzH2CWeFEANfpYyWSq6D9fMePGIG7wyU7svRYna_pOI9jkEDcV/s1600/IMG_0857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-coQhsN7Law97OrFrHDY1DZ2STbOub0S6WMvcO_iCXTm_FsHqQ9BgZje0a8r3DJwcTxDobYfr8kOz__rFPVzH2CWeFEANfpYyWSq6D9fMePGIG7wyU7svRYna_pOI9jkEDcV/s320/IMG_0857.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We were so excited to be starting eternity together.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyDYGicd_5dvO0olbWau5AbnBALILJokAmQ_USIQuGx8R4nYFKPo0s-TbJgkYTOOn154o-S354ID2-VrB7gZzPkfyl4rRgxpG2SdjZ6tghDCyd7K45uBTc6762XRybH80qAvn/s1600/IMG_0858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyDYGicd_5dvO0olbWau5AbnBALILJokAmQ_USIQuGx8R4nYFKPo0s-TbJgkYTOOn154o-S354ID2-VrB7gZzPkfyl4rRgxpG2SdjZ6tghDCyd7K45uBTc6762XRybH80qAvn/s320/IMG_0858.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And we became Mr. and Mrs. McPhie.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I won't lie and say that everything has been peachy keen since.</div>
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Marriage is hard.</div>
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We've had happiness, and sorrow. Fights and laughter. But most of all, we've had each other. We have leaned on each other and do truly love each other more now than we did then. </div>
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10 years later, I woke up to this.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_1K0asa5JgHxKdLFlC9pF2HDiEMqqRBvFWtA_SZ8rdy0SmVqV_Z1QkDzWiBbO_3E_VKGep_eTxq0pBLWUSBN-q_puMRuzdbcsRj_fvBK-onXY3xxwBgIY9g02jH2-qJkL1X1/s1600/IMG_0868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_1K0asa5JgHxKdLFlC9pF2HDiEMqqRBvFWtA_SZ8rdy0SmVqV_Z1QkDzWiBbO_3E_VKGep_eTxq0pBLWUSBN-q_puMRuzdbcsRj_fvBK-onXY3xxwBgIY9g02jH2-qJkL1X1/s320/IMG_0868.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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My side of the bathroom mirror covered in things from 2003.</div>
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Justin Timberlake, Cry Me a River? Check.</div>
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Black Eyed Peas? Check.</div>
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Santa Cruz trip? Check.</div>
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Cancun trip? Check.</div>
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Moving to AZ? Check.</div>
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And around the house, pictures like this.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMl5u2WbTMb85__80ILa_ojGIP01ZYxRwLzi-hrSEHEyubTq0rcMj93L1oPeqJA9QnBRwrtHiXk4px-Oyi6T8AQ8xIXHFRyKOn5aexxl560CgS7vQetaZM0nllG_VnOygHX8Ic/s1600/IMG_0865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMl5u2WbTMb85__80ILa_ojGIP01ZYxRwLzi-hrSEHEyubTq0rcMj93L1oPeqJA9QnBRwrtHiXk4px-Oyi6T8AQ8xIXHFRyKOn5aexxl560CgS7vQetaZM0nllG_VnOygHX8Ic/s320/IMG_0865.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Braveheart - first date.</td></tr>
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This little gem was on the fridge. I said, I thought Kendra Wilkinson had her baby uno way after 2003. Ryan said that picture wasn't hung up because it happened in 2003, but this picture reminded him of us. </div>
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Naturally.</div>
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The resemblance is uncanny. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqYRulheo6ExpDXmLSzAMja9mRN6LLuV0bfapGiqU8rpbCupxeZEFybw1kSSWrHDoiSR_kLeCAtNaXuNP8DeV4hSPlG56dQ6_tRmidGHsbBOU816yBT1Tv7Llv_hezC0tNNmG/s1600/IMG_0861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqYRulheo6ExpDXmLSzAMja9mRN6LLuV0bfapGiqU8rpbCupxeZEFybw1kSSWrHDoiSR_kLeCAtNaXuNP8DeV4hSPlG56dQ6_tRmidGHsbBOU816yBT1Tv7Llv_hezC0tNNmG/s320/IMG_0861.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Oh, and this picture was still on our fridge when we had a babysitter in our house for seven hours. She must think we're awesome. Or super creeps.</div>
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Ryan was in court all day on our anniversary, and was prepping for a trial the following day, so we had a low key Italian lunch date, just like on our wedding day.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgCr21zFvZlEWEzBjtk25ajsNT_C58atUeOaYquCvacBGQx7ODkDHw-N_5rR16HoRLhZ8TTYSbAJCDSsD6hoRY6buj1XmEkCOYpC24doOE7QNwscPRQ05qZbbIKRBNo6bPJQT/s1600/IMG_0845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgCr21zFvZlEWEzBjtk25ajsNT_C58atUeOaYquCvacBGQx7ODkDHw-N_5rR16HoRLhZ8TTYSbAJCDSsD6hoRY6buj1XmEkCOYpC24doOE7QNwscPRQ05qZbbIKRBNo6bPJQT/s320/IMG_0845.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then he planned a Saturday day-date.</div>
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We were going to hike Camelback, which he really was doing for me, because I always want to go hike, but he doesn't want to wake up.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pUI4FVO2nZ-VWuSR_CQ3xc3hJ7zyR4lRyA7zGaDz-jQ6-q22MWL2e16ww6ea4G8IxcZcgQeBqaSaAkUuRVMz8eN4HX09A_aeH_QiYO3Ng8iCHUyYNoRtXzT1fn9smmyZxcGt/s1600/IMG_0875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pUI4FVO2nZ-VWuSR_CQ3xc3hJ7zyR4lRyA7zGaDz-jQ6-q22MWL2e16ww6ea4G8IxcZcgQeBqaSaAkUuRVMz8eN4HX09A_aeH_QiYO3Ng8iCHUyYNoRtXzT1fn9smmyZxcGt/s320/IMG_0875.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVRrFLQRo4sVH-i1kZgj58oIPu-m90ui3cGsm1UJJGJ7SobKeGtMjFCX_J49AAuwztn2jK-2JDc0wiqDCMZ8xKB0FXrrnFmyxmLZE4fgiwy0VXKQ66aD9lUL4J1O9D9htZfSX/s1600/IMG_0880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVRrFLQRo4sVH-i1kZgj58oIPu-m90ui3cGsm1UJJGJ7SobKeGtMjFCX_J49AAuwztn2jK-2JDc0wiqDCMZ8xKB0FXrrnFmyxmLZE4fgiwy0VXKQ66aD9lUL4J1O9D9htZfSX/s320/IMG_0880.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10 years! It's all down hill from here. The mountain that is.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0k9EJL0qB09kne5BQJMKSPSTHd562C-VcxdQV-4dtJrQdByh-yVx_BicEKtb-gy_IMeHtp5Vh5YQuEzEzbtK3CaBisQ9ZhKa4eSjUtQrjU1UwNiB6t2-oJSclt8luwqmoo_wq/s1600/IMG_0887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0k9EJL0qB09kne5BQJMKSPSTHd562C-VcxdQV-4dtJrQdByh-yVx_BicEKtb-gy_IMeHtp5Vh5YQuEzEzbtK3CaBisQ9ZhKa4eSjUtQrjU1UwNiB6t2-oJSclt8luwqmoo_wq/s320/IMG_0887.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We made it to the top!</div>
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Oh ya, and this baby came with us.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXRT909YPTvX0CsWOpxXK3tciwLKTlbvbUo7QnCamEaIq4K5Bxd7Xclme7IEGCW_xhp-DZ57d9kK1cNmDx0elt9clWMcRj9vE3cSZUj1FNvCfBNYu4jetoRAsj7LO8LSkQEio/s1600/IMG_0888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXRT909YPTvX0CsWOpxXK3tciwLKTlbvbUo7QnCamEaIq4K5Bxd7Xclme7IEGCW_xhp-DZ57d9kK1cNmDx0elt9clWMcRj9vE3cSZUj1FNvCfBNYu4jetoRAsj7LO8LSkQEio/s320/IMG_0888.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Going up was the easy part, it was coming down that I felt it.</div>
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I wore my belly band, but still needed an arm to support my belly.</div>
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I realized that you naturally lean back a little when going down hill, and with all this mass in front of me, I needed to lean extra far back to compensate. Core. Work. Out.</div>
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We spent the rest of the day together, hanging out, having fun, bringing up memories from the last 10 years. </div>
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It was a great anniversary.</div>
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Even if we weren't on a cruise.</div>
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(apparently they don't like preggo people on cruises)</div>
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I love you so much Ryan McPhie!</div>
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Thank you for putting up with me for the last ten years.</div>
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I'm excited for what's in store.</div>
IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-89439003289473649382013-08-12T12:20:00.000-07:002013-08-12T12:20:46.386-07:00First Day Of School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The kids have been wanting to go back to school for the last month.</div>
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They're starting a new school this year, and don't know many kids there, but were still beyond excited to do it.</div>
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So here they are. Drake a second grader, and Gwen a fourth grader.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXfiFECQySLCAHibCEPP4CwADD_Iva7qGtes2e7jEqoD-tv2FZATgJLCIjp0AUFui-AjGN7gSTECbriBqH90IqGqlfsNnylA-comi89PDYYtdoLjGIo0Lu2OBG7OZrz_Nqzrr/s1600/IMG_0821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXfiFECQySLCAHibCEPP4CwADD_Iva7qGtes2e7jEqoD-tv2FZATgJLCIjp0AUFui-AjGN7gSTECbriBqH90IqGqlfsNnylA-comi89PDYYtdoLjGIo0Lu2OBG7OZrz_Nqzrr/s320/IMG_0821.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drake insists on socks with his Toms</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FHRdiWrcfkNRiLWHDrmCrxmAbPuV0pl4Yd4Ld4hWgwVz2iP8uNXyJIwc_avqs5fIa44dN90VcRUvVFEQCTz8IyZVJTjOHysGcfHOB0vhJarbOsl_4J2ZguPvXgkMGcRsAvKP/s1600/IMG_0822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FHRdiWrcfkNRiLWHDrmCrxmAbPuV0pl4Yd4Ld4hWgwVz2iP8uNXyJIwc_avqs5fIa44dN90VcRUvVFEQCTz8IyZVJTjOHysGcfHOB0vhJarbOsl_4J2ZguPvXgkMGcRsAvKP/s320/IMG_0822.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6c-dJPSXuiCEbUDXvEhW-HGrkMgvJK6l1EWkXaLYC9TIbrEdI-HM96a6dV82o2S5gMoapjG4ScqoeIa5L5PiqghIXycSUmDoHYXPJ09_ESzaLZ9nLlM3c4ZdsQn-q6maNEaD/s1600/IMG_0839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6c-dJPSXuiCEbUDXvEhW-HGrkMgvJK6l1EWkXaLYC9TIbrEdI-HM96a6dV82o2S5gMoapjG4ScqoeIa5L5PiqghIXycSUmDoHYXPJ09_ESzaLZ9nLlM3c4ZdsQn-q6maNEaD/s320/IMG_0839.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I die at their cuteness!</td></tr>
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Also new and exciting for the kids is that they get to ride their bikes to school!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeC5W6XuodN_7FZLn_oBa2RhYJzSw0wcLVUycUKM-5mo701xo4g77zhDnr4K-p6LP_f_Arqyw8qyx41crPzhkKub4cwEKkVTRN6c_2Kdagz1qJmJc22P5Jj3vlnT2iZwQL3vC/s1600/IMG_0824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeC5W6XuodN_7FZLn_oBa2RhYJzSw0wcLVUycUKM-5mo701xo4g77zhDnr4K-p6LP_f_Arqyw8qyx41crPzhkKub4cwEKkVTRN6c_2Kdagz1qJmJc22P5Jj3vlnT2iZwQL3vC/s320/IMG_0824.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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In all their excitement, we got to school way early and had to wait for the gates to open. Then once inside, we had to wait for teachers to come out and get their students. They didn't want parents going inside the first day, so I didn't get pictures of them in their classrooms.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8WUaQByiFE1WeqURi7hKEkzRt20RvQ2vArz25GzLawxLK_z1uAawTHaYF50-UvPLK4g-y7wmf-TrwQW9KyTSKs-RtOT1b1EhvZj_zOVVDTl3cQWaEq7kd3DvjH05lBXwtijj/s1600/IMG_0832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8WUaQByiFE1WeqURi7hKEkzRt20RvQ2vArz25GzLawxLK_z1uAawTHaYF50-UvPLK4g-y7wmf-TrwQW9KyTSKs-RtOT1b1EhvZj_zOVVDTl3cQWaEq7kd3DvjH05lBXwtijj/s320/IMG_0832.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8h8Rh8fLiDUzYvNPndcYukhLUNolAntJk0Onlx3VWYGyxJbU1m5kAfbb3GM0wS8o6JdATkm1Z3lJJvOd-Fu4Zd42qzmYPmOJ6aBrjmaIjznIm7as20vxGyJhV2p-kE-poGiU5/s1600/IMG_0836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8h8Rh8fLiDUzYvNPndcYukhLUNolAntJk0Onlx3VWYGyxJbU1m5kAfbb3GM0wS8o6JdATkm1Z3lJJvOd-Fu4Zd42qzmYPmOJ6aBrjmaIjznIm7as20vxGyJhV2p-kE-poGiU5/s320/IMG_0836.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And then I worried all day that they'd get lost, or not make any friends, but they both were all smiles once school got out. </div>
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It's going to be a good year!</div>
IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-15454355930920030652013-08-12T12:08:00.000-07:002013-08-12T12:08:21.771-07:00the saddest summerThis summer has been a downer. I tried to make it fun for the kids. I tried to have a schedule and order. But really, how much fun can it be when you're stuck at home because mom is studying? <br />
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We did have swim teams, </div>
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and birthdays,</div>
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and a little get away, </div>
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and maybe I'm speaking for myself, but this summer was pretty sad. </div>
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I was in a really dark place just before the bar. I was full of self-doubt, because I knew my studying wasn't what I wanted it to be. After all, I couldn't go to the library all day like my class-mates, I had to be home with the kids. And I still had to make meals for them, do the laundry, clean the house, go to the grocery store, plan birthdays, makes cakes, etc. And even then, I'm sure I would have been fine, but throw pregnancy hormones, tiredness, and not being able to run/ride my bike because of the pregnancy into the mix, and I was a wreck. <br />
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I had this dream a couple of times that I was at school doing a bar study course, and the instructor congratulated me for having my baby the day before. It was then that realized I had my baby, and I didn't even know where it was! I went to the hospital and my mom was there with my baby, and she was saying "where have you been?! You haven't even fed her yet!" Then I'd feed my starving baby, wonder where Gwen and Drake were, and think about how I needed to get back to studying. <br />
Ugh!! That's been my feeling all summer.<br />
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But finally the bar came and went and all I can do is cross my fingers and hope I did well enough. <br />
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The second day following the bar, Ryan and I picked up the kids from the McPhie's and headed straight down to Tucson. He had a conference there, and the kids and I were more than happy to tag along and hang out at the resort. I needed to unwind. <br />
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It was strange how I didn't have immediate relief. I still didn't sleep the first night (I hadn't had a full nights sleep for who knows how long!). But the second night, I finally slept for at least 7 hours, and it was awesome.<br />
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The kids and I went to the movies, swam, went back to school shopping, and generally just relaxed.<br />
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The first night there, we saw this tarantula, and the kids were terrified. But we looked them up, and learned about them and how they're generally friendly to humans, so after that the kids were on the hunt. Unfortunately, we only found two more...that were dead.<br />
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But Gwen did find and catch a toad with daddy's help.</div>
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Ryan also put his cheerleading - I mean stunt team - skills to use, and the kids loved it.</div>
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Gwen also finally caught a lizard on our last day.</div>
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Unfortunately it was hurt, and only lived a few hours.</div>
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Sorry lizard. Drake cried about it for a good half hour, and couldn't get over how bad he felt for the little guy.</div>
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Then we came home, did laundry and met the kids teachers, and like that summer was over. It's a summer that I'm glad is behind us now.IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-8700236827272896322013-08-08T22:10:00.000-07:002013-08-08T22:10:25.890-07:00...7...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My baby is SEVEN!</div>
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Family party the night before the big day.</div>
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Drake requested a pinata, and picked this one out.</div>
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Mason trying to hit it was so cute!</div>
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I didn't get a very good shot, so you may not be able to tell, but that would be a Lone Ranger cake. I felt so bad. It was crunch time for bar study, and I was planning on just buying a cake from a store. But then when it came down to actually doing it, I couldn't. I had to bake a cake, but took a short cut with a Lone Ranger Lego set on top. He was stoked. Phew.</div>
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That night I kissed my sweet little SIX year old boy good bye forever.</div>
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I cuddled that sweet baby boy so hard!</div>
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And in the morning, he magically was my sweet SEVEN year old baby.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBD1Czey3Oom-QT62WYNpsT_iUvcrO5aMj5bj2ZvOUnF02W4bNjDQGO2CfbubT24wIUIkK55CfKa-UM0YlNFzXQC5qm7hVTOKjmjWKdTUJ6AupgtYvBcFzkKnefiHmvXLq1u_O/s1600/IMG_0728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBD1Czey3Oom-QT62WYNpsT_iUvcrO5aMj5bj2ZvOUnF02W4bNjDQGO2CfbubT24wIUIkK55CfKa-UM0YlNFzXQC5qm7hVTOKjmjWKdTUJ6AupgtYvBcFzkKnefiHmvXLq1u_O/s320/IMG_0728.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He slept with his new Lone Ranger set.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
This may be his favorite present of the day.</div>
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The Lone Ranger silver mine. </div>
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If you haven't noticed, Drake loves the Lone Ranger.</div>
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And he LOVES Legos. </div>
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It turned out to be one of the best days of bar study I had.</div>
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These two sat quietly at their table working on that silver mine for hours!</div>
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If only I could have purchased a huge expensive Lego set everyday to occupy them.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25HSOOXUTLSrlXxL-FHEaL5aOafTbDxVLFvdputZwa5tWMijm44Rn9EufbeDNUS8Eay3HysLMV6VdjX142DoHs2CakyKedxlUdKL_TPXTtWQUjgW8MazRDui25jWTEVLCS1LQ/s1600/IMG_0738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25HSOOXUTLSrlXxL-FHEaL5aOafTbDxVLFvdputZwa5tWMijm44Rn9EufbeDNUS8Eay3HysLMV6VdjX142DoHs2CakyKedxlUdKL_TPXTtWQUjgW8MazRDui25jWTEVLCS1LQ/s320/IMG_0738.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you don't get a b-day party, you get to go to Perter Piper Pizza</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Drake's birthday was up in the air. He chose going to Jack's house in California and going to Legoland with him over having a birthday party.</div>
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The problem with that was we were planning on Ryan taking Thursday and Friday off for our trip, but then last minute Ryan had a trial that looked like it was going to go for Friday, so he wasn't able to get Friday off. But then Thursday he found out it wouldn't go. Ugh!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So we packed up fast and hit the road. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
These boys were so happy to be together again!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdIZ4WD5Se4hn6p0fANK50i1h5oTGcu_rUuKCxgBlmlNP8xoOp8bfHAm09gaFJgll0ysGf9DWmPHazGZ4Dmsl46E2qBEbZnHSYWsEENvo6vOoCJoXzBqefCd71WLLq_ywEJht/s1600/IMG_0752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdIZ4WD5Se4hn6p0fANK50i1h5oTGcu_rUuKCxgBlmlNP8xoOp8bfHAm09gaFJgll0ysGf9DWmPHazGZ4Dmsl46E2qBEbZnHSYWsEENvo6vOoCJoXzBqefCd71WLLq_ywEJht/s320/IMG_0752.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So were these boys.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq3-7dyxCyJRvP0k8pkawtkTwO4UtMSEfJFxIkrZba9UkAkUvM6Sv_1tU4DFs7wiBYdT9vNZnf2NcB42BQnqPejA3ra8gkNr94bi5mUie0BnFef3Pj5ExhUuf7I89Ds_DLL-f/s1600/IMG_0755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq3-7dyxCyJRvP0k8pkawtkTwO4UtMSEfJFxIkrZba9UkAkUvM6Sv_1tU4DFs7wiBYdT9vNZnf2NcB42BQnqPejA3ra8gkNr94bi5mUie0BnFef3Pj5ExhUuf7I89Ds_DLL-f/s320/IMG_0755.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Unfortunately, I had to close myself off and study the whole trip, including while the dads took the kids to Legoland.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It better be worth it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I better pass the bar for missing out on this.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVprZejDGCo99ZU2lvtzAOjVOfRM153QZM6b413OP_d7iynemzJzBiaUYGzd59SrKVRnM5B0CIGygFk9XR2gKVy5GgLaZJYBe5irxPand64RtBC-Z1GVSfBaljqKw9wQg5o1v/s1600/IMG_0757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVprZejDGCo99ZU2lvtzAOjVOfRM153QZM6b413OP_d7iynemzJzBiaUYGzd59SrKVRnM5B0CIGygFk9XR2gKVy5GgLaZJYBe5irxPand64RtBC-Z1GVSfBaljqKw9wQg5o1v/s320/IMG_0757.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
At least I got to see my sister. Tara and I are due only days apart!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This happened before, and our boys were born on the same day... maybe it could happen again?</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ahKz_kDi7vKRiE6XeS7tHUjonDnX-___i-5QNBYNSju61M3JdfC7eUMDWbV3mujhyLxT64XA7yRHbuTP0JFB6vIdX85RCE3CoVxJ0FGrOCX6Fk6k3FbTFsqbT1oHMREnnbrc/s1600/IMG_0765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ahKz_kDi7vKRiE6XeS7tHUjonDnX-___i-5QNBYNSju61M3JdfC7eUMDWbV3mujhyLxT64XA7yRHbuTP0JFB6vIdX85RCE3CoVxJ0FGrOCX6Fk6k3FbTFsqbT1oHMREnnbrc/s320/IMG_0765.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curleyhair girls 7 months pregnant.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy birthday buddy.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We love you!</div>
IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-13964442436956217642013-07-24T17:07:00.002-07:002013-07-24T17:07:43.120-07:00Top 10 Signs Your Mom is Studying for the Bar<div style="text-align: center;">
I'll get to posting about Drake's birthday and our trip to Cali. But that may have to wait for a week. Then I will be finished with this stupid bar examination!!!!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSSmlNfvCnpzZ-hrHKRDIP_o8Wh4PwjCHbHO7nWvK9wXTZ7YaRDT0QNx9ktnyAgKwNEogbLo3AE74egxX6tdLOAHcyUSK0K9NKhaV4KiL5BECJpglEhZ4n0PNr9UKM40gAZwb/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSSmlNfvCnpzZ-hrHKRDIP_o8Wh4PwjCHbHO7nWvK9wXTZ7YaRDT0QNx9ktnyAgKwNEogbLo3AE74egxX6tdLOAHcyUSK0K9NKhaV4KiL5BECJpglEhZ4n0PNr9UKM40gAZwb/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So here it is, the top 10 signs your mom is studying for the bar:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
10. Laundry sits on the couch for days.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
9. Paper plates are a must.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
8. You eat ice cream for breakfast.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
7. You eat left over birthday cake for lunch.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
6. You've been wearing the same clothes for three days.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
5. Two bathrooms are out of TP.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4. The people at Papa John's know your mom by her first name.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3. You haven't brushed your hair in 2 days.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2. She's always wearing sound muting headphones.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1. She BEGS you to just "go watch TV!" </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm sorry babies. One more week. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We can make it! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>I hope!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thankfully Ryan has been so sweet and supportive.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I mean look at the things he says...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_YxWuz1lh_AakrQnnmcvyhza8Whj8xOdbpuGb0e0rlpIEkNvzIYhaS4FyvBIOA9QkLmB16DIqN7fHe3VkpzD4K4WLEBzeDc7cjEIgMikeul_xgXA8gUFfqWAXHKK8uHkg7ts/s1600/23744018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_YxWuz1lh_AakrQnnmcvyhza8Whj8xOdbpuGb0e0rlpIEkNvzIYhaS4FyvBIOA9QkLmB16DIqN7fHe3VkpzD4K4WLEBzeDc7cjEIgMikeul_xgXA8gUFfqWAXHKK8uHkg7ts/s1600/23744018.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSg4uGp1yI9EH4KPf7mxWdCVBaiwKTrMQsFA4CKrIZ-ifiDND7MjbQKvG8NU-M76b2KGzE3JrthSr80T_FmfYg9_X8K8DxTgwnQdZd_2mSqhQHDCYr_n1rwibmaR-EDLWMpMY/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-07-24+at+5.02.05+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSg4uGp1yI9EH4KPf7mxWdCVBaiwKTrMQsFA4CKrIZ-ifiDND7MjbQKvG8NU-M76b2KGzE3JrthSr80T_FmfYg9_X8K8DxTgwnQdZd_2mSqhQHDCYr_n1rwibmaR-EDLWMpMY/s320/Screen+shot+2013-07-24+at+5.02.05+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh, and the other Ryan too. ;)</div>
IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-7842764841669486292013-07-12T12:21:00.000-07:002013-07-12T12:21:18.430-07:00...32...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
More nights than not, this boy wanders into our bed in the middle of the night.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So I wake up like this.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vtTa1fVPiRqt3lj-Q7HOLaxu8498Ix1b56RsJKsXk8RrdKUVSTbNRrEICikS5iZF7_NWkpKz0nho3-ykazfOjQ-Cw7wAbRbPbQd9QmHQu6gNCnEyqYvWWmTG-yNzeVrivNZf/s1600/IMG_0638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vtTa1fVPiRqt3lj-Q7HOLaxu8498Ix1b56RsJKsXk8RrdKUVSTbNRrEICikS5iZF7_NWkpKz0nho3-ykazfOjQ-Cw7wAbRbPbQd9QmHQu6gNCnEyqYvWWmTG-yNzeVrivNZf/s320/IMG_0638.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm so blessed, not only because of this cute boy, but my nose swells up when I'm pregnant.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And I guess since he's hijacking our bed, he feels the responsibility to make it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3Lrkebu6kTS0Xcwgk9MIKphpLE1Cb9faf-m5y3RiunIft7_VsHUR-7UmZTNVm-j4SaBJ8Gq6T-7RnmxDUBvFllSfpNV8MLfHxzL2xzbuTpAO1JBrIyes5bFylpwqze7iZgMc/s1600/IMG_0626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3Lrkebu6kTS0Xcwgk9MIKphpLE1Cb9faf-m5y3RiunIft7_VsHUR-7UmZTNVm-j4SaBJ8Gq6T-7RnmxDUBvFllSfpNV8MLfHxzL2xzbuTpAO1JBrIyes5bFylpwqze7iZgMc/s320/IMG_0626.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Drake had a primary teacher in our old ward who made the kids these "Drake was here" heart bean bags, so they could give service and leave it behind.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's the cutest thing ever.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love it!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I had a birthday.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't have any pictures of it, but my friends took me out a couple of days later and spoiled me with a new Coach purse.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Can you believe that!?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZOghPaOMqyC5byD-pmu7kIacrY0elYQaiQp8l3MZKRbozTLdpotsCZdQeci34OfJdNMmX5HiT3wHSV-LjziUfbYD-FCmmGk0F1ouu3rtKAmyRU5QM637b-JOMNBBVcpZLNVX/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZOghPaOMqyC5byD-pmu7kIacrY0elYQaiQp8l3MZKRbozTLdpotsCZdQeci34OfJdNMmX5HiT3wHSV-LjziUfbYD-FCmmGk0F1ouu3rtKAmyRU5QM637b-JOMNBBVcpZLNVX/s320/IMG_0631.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So I'm 32, which I didn't feel like that was old, until I thanked my mom for birthing me 32 years ago. That just sounds crazy.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
At least I'm a nice round number, that is divisible by 4. For some reason, I love numbers divisible by four. It just makes me feel good.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
While I'm "studying for the bar", I figure I might as well have some bread rising.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I think I've got my white bread down!</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9nxpEvxCUZM5P3L4-OnskBLZEuQIY8Qjt2FRqDG_BLAEcXpb1HSciGUAhTN0rt4nYlY4R7PklRhorOOBO1FjHghzqCBrzn1EDxkq8RtKylCkrcDofy8GSbsnrsHUZGg1cZu3/s1600/IMG_0642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9nxpEvxCUZM5P3L4-OnskBLZEuQIY8Qjt2FRqDG_BLAEcXpb1HSciGUAhTN0rt4nYlY4R7PklRhorOOBO1FjHghzqCBrzn1EDxkq8RtKylCkrcDofy8GSbsnrsHUZGg1cZu3/s320/IMG_0642.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So yummy! My house smells so good right now!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This whole bar thing is a joke.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
How am I supposed to study when I'm home with kids out on summer break? I feel like I study 12 hours a day, but get done what I would be able to do in 4 hours if I were at the library. :(</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And finally, I'm 28 weeks!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That's officially 3rd trimester.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWoWOkDhmpX1dDA4OhGGDlmYTR_KFQft5WvDjaD0EakiMd12tbmK80iJM9RH_kMxbxcWHlv9SFceqERkMhZFhli0kq8vZ5zcALUk4oVunjeEbrdAc2-Ld6OVKS_rKBcd7Yn0S/s1600/IMG_0645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWoWOkDhmpX1dDA4OhGGDlmYTR_KFQft5WvDjaD0EakiMd12tbmK80iJM9RH_kMxbxcWHlv9SFceqERkMhZFhli0kq8vZ5zcALUk4oVunjeEbrdAc2-Ld6OVKS_rKBcd7Yn0S/s320/IMG_0645.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">there's a baby in there!<br />I still can't believe it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*baby's the size of a large eggplant (2.25 pounds)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*if I have to wear clothes, they better be stretchy</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8S26_f_QlMmw8Z0Pv6LJnd1izfGtrvpsdmd83FqJEjG7NSF4W2NPJX1fGnk3KQvxhMBa2uId5mcR_QF7b4qRA17VrlFfmurCX-xnXwyTGZBXfHBiJnCVVBpByVHp4ZP2nZEO6/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8S26_f_QlMmw8Z0Pv6LJnd1izfGtrvpsdmd83FqJEjG7NSF4W2NPJX1fGnk3KQvxhMBa2uId5mcR_QF7b4qRA17VrlFfmurCX-xnXwyTGZBXfHBiJnCVVBpByVHp4ZP2nZEO6/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
*the baby is very active, and the kids LOVE to feel the baby move</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*I finally bought the first item of baby clothes, that only leaves everything else to acquire!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*I've gained 20 pounds so far...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My reduced sugar/salt <a href="http://mcphiefamily.blogspot.com/2013/06/pregnancy-blues.html" target="_blank">diet</a> started out well, but after a couple of birthdays with excuses to eat cake and ice cream for weeks, I'm off the wagon. I need to get my act back together!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And now, back to studying!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-61857322641117924172013-07-06T14:50:00.000-07:002013-07-06T14:50:05.236-07:00...9...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My baby girl is NINE!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Gwen wanted to do her birthday party a little early this year since come the first of July, most people head for the hills. So we did it the weekend before, and it worked out great. Other than the garbage disposal eating my frosting tip. :(</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-4Rk5TjU2677FIt9QDW720OpeVt4CBYpDEg_084CCXUV0puoqe90eFqg01TY36cH-VEsZoVMUij0k6i-bTYN7Zye3bb0TOK9K_eCJv6UBkATOsGw0scSde9xh00pR7_sZfFB/s1600/IMG_0546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-4Rk5TjU2677FIt9QDW720OpeVt4CBYpDEg_084CCXUV0puoqe90eFqg01TY36cH-VEsZoVMUij0k6i-bTYN7Zye3bb0TOK9K_eCJv6UBkATOsGw0scSde9xh00pR7_sZfFB/s320/IMG_0546.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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She wanted a sleep over, but since those are not allowed according to the McPhie statutes, we had a late night instead. All her friends came over in their jammies to make pizza, eat cupcakes and watch a movie on the big wall of the playroom - movie theater style. </div>
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Gwen decorated the play room herself. Well with the help of Drake.</div>
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And Drake. Oh boy. I wanted him to go watch a movie with Gigi and Papa during the party so he wouldn't have to be around all the girls, but he refused. He wanted to hang out at the party, and play. What a nut. </div>
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So her early birthday party was a super success, and it was nice to not have to worry about a party on her actual birthday. </div>
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So the night before I cleaned the house and got presents wrapped, balloons blown up, house decorated, and then went in to kiss my 8 year old Gwenny good bye forever, and found her like this. It killed me! She has her unicorn tucked in under the blanket and is sleeping with a little hat pinned to the top of her head! Oh I cried, and cried. As much fun as it is to see her grow up, I want to preserve my little girl just a while longer. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOh3OkWbdGlSobaEz40B35xmIWnPU66dlgqwxuJVU1GbWBLYRTOr5NHTusUM4QgJ-4uN6o5ODlAQcL9p8GFMuS05SIzmzh1wQNhlHY5eocZD9YHs8CaWXTNZuKlTX0zrJBhgG/s1600/IMG_0571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOh3OkWbdGlSobaEz40B35xmIWnPU66dlgqwxuJVU1GbWBLYRTOr5NHTusUM4QgJ-4uN6o5ODlAQcL9p8GFMuS05SIzmzh1wQNhlHY5eocZD9YHs8CaWXTNZuKlTX0zrJBhgG/s320/IMG_0571.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last picture of Gwen as an 8 year old.</td></tr>
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But the next morning, I found a gorgeous 9 year old Gwenny! </div>
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Then we had a day of doing what she wanted! </div>
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That meant no bar study for me, pedicures for the girls (Drake really wanted one, and has asked for one on his birthday in a couple of weeks),</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8ZePdG1tRLCsJ92wiHg6eKQlTjdcREkYH_85eVVlKFfgEM-6VofArdK56Y-W3xJ2LGJy3BTqOHXNd3tGY3AcwlajrxFiyj0nrjdGEBahmVnUicuPlCuToQ5Vg6RMY_ehPfkW/s1600/IMG_0584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8ZePdG1tRLCsJ92wiHg6eKQlTjdcREkYH_85eVVlKFfgEM-6VofArdK56Y-W3xJ2LGJy3BTqOHXNd3tGY3AcwlajrxFiyj0nrjdGEBahmVnUicuPlCuToQ5Vg6RMY_ehPfkW/s320/IMG_0584.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am UGE (silent H)</td></tr>
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Lunch at Olive Garden!</div>
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The kids were fuh-reez-ing!!</div>
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This was how Drake waited for our lunch. While he was confined, he certainly was not quiet.</div>
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We had a fun giggly lunch!</div>
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We ended the night with a family party at the Collard's house (since our air conditioning decided to go out the night before), and ate German Chocolate cake at Gwen's request. </div>
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It was a super fun day, and I'm so happy to have gotten to spend it with my little best friend! She passed out on the way home!</div>
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IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-28939437457742093532013-06-25T21:45:00.002-07:002013-06-25T21:45:55.422-07:00mom, can I have a shaver?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Want to see one of the cutest selfies ever?</div>
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Behold-</div>
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Gwen and Austin. hashtagnofilter</div>
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I have put a serious limit on the kids screen time this summer. No TV/games until chores are done, and the kids have read for at least 20 minutes. Often this doesn't happen until 4:00 pm if it happens at all! Sometimes I think it's harder on me than on them. Like when I'm studying and the kids are driving me crazy and I want to say "just go watch a movie!" but then I remember they can't. :p</div>
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For Drake the hardest part is that I have a lock on my phone, so he can't just pick it up and play <a href="http://www.badpiggies.com/" target="_blank">Bad Piggies</a> whenever he wants. But he has learned that if my phone is locked all he can do is make an emergency call, OR go to camera and take pictures! Seriously? Doesn't that seem funny that a locked phone will take pictures? I mean I get the convenience thing, but what about the privacy thing? Anyway, I plugged my phone in tonight and discovered HUNDREDS of pictures like these:</div>
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Including some not so flattering pictures of me buried in my books and computer with headphones on, tuning the world out. But you can thank me for sparing you those pictures. </div>
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Did I mention previously that the bar is ruining my summer?</div>
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Well it is.</div>
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Study all day everyday, and I'm still behind.</div>
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Perhaps because I still have to make time for this cuteness.</div>
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This boy is so rad.</div>
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And Gwen and I also have been on a baking kick.</div>
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I don't know how many loaves of bread I've baked already this summer, I want to find the perfect recipe, so I'm slowly perfecting wheat bread, but also am figuring out the right combos for white, oatmeal, and potato breads too. Gluten-free we are not!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BbwkhUXUK14ihQ0mZEgHAGHqIZ71XRqk3S5EKBcQTQLlZ8adEU37Ce5puZjIWEzfKdfONnvmn5qbSZIFwh_eX6i4tQ_62-3znk6RBac-ltMB6WZF14OiIrDDXitMQOLZMPYA/s1600/IMG_0507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BbwkhUXUK14ihQ0mZEgHAGHqIZ71XRqk3S5EKBcQTQLlZ8adEU37Ce5puZjIWEzfKdfONnvmn5qbSZIFwh_eX6i4tQ_62-3znk6RBac-ltMB6WZF14OiIrDDXitMQOLZMPYA/s320/IMG_0507.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And I told you <a href="http://mcphiefamily.blogspot.com/2013/06/oh-what-do-you-do-in-summertime.html" target="_blank">last time</a> how Gwen was making tons of cookies, well she's whipped out her first cake ever too. All by herself! My little Gwenny Crocker.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6h5YU1Zzdjwh002IQ0vvQRMd8FiZLct9PuN8Xd_xA_8QN86HBV96TLU0eghrOfpXkhUWsQlZL2sLrvroAnM_SPH1xbBBIrbOcRIppuGQNnX2xFdP2ZuFp35g3Y7ZuhBqV6fF/s1600/IMG_0519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6h5YU1Zzdjwh002IQ0vvQRMd8FiZLct9PuN8Xd_xA_8QN86HBV96TLU0eghrOfpXkhUWsQlZL2sLrvroAnM_SPH1xbBBIrbOcRIppuGQNnX2xFdP2ZuFp35g3Y7ZuhBqV6fF/s320/IMG_0519.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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In other news:</div>
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25 weeks, and the baby is the size of rutabaga. Yep, a rutabaga. </div>
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Should I be concerned that the garbage bags are in the same spot they've been for months, and the other night Ryan didn't know where that was??</div>
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Maybe I should be concerned about the fact that Gwen asked me today for a shaver so she can shave the hair on her legs?!!?!? Holy smokes, I'm not ready for this.</div>
IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-61326040408304629262013-06-09T16:49:00.000-07:002013-06-09T16:49:24.996-07:00oh what do you do in the summertime...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Gwen is back at it in synchro. It's really fun to watch her and how much she's improved over the last year.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2K4On9Uxi33Vm9HctRmpemu_Gq-TcBHH2NCxjG28S5_R6y0RXy_PjEbfm5x51Rua0LYj05QPGd3IpTbwCnePQdwCn73fm-_qId4LVjOuo7aCpXmsoV4NgRvHLJojSp-z9KAcf/s1600/IMG_0332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2K4On9Uxi33Vm9HctRmpemu_Gq-TcBHH2NCxjG28S5_R6y0RXy_PjEbfm5x51Rua0LYj05QPGd3IpTbwCnePQdwCn73fm-_qId4LVjOuo7aCpXmsoV4NgRvHLJojSp-z9KAcf/s320/IMG_0332.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First place!</td></tr>
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She's been working really hard to get her splits.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pZpVvUwXItZ3vMKcEbqZOsXJP9iOnc8Jwny5jcgIw0njdw95gytUtEp1BbQoso2Fu7AtIQdHtWMJ2LWjDLRke9YfutGkqNG0aeg7MhP00QIdFK5iIfiQwbJEtaR2koHExG1f/s1600/IMG_0336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pZpVvUwXItZ3vMKcEbqZOsXJP9iOnc8Jwny5jcgIw0njdw95gytUtEp1BbQoso2Fu7AtIQdHtWMJ2LWjDLRke9YfutGkqNG0aeg7MhP00QIdFK5iIfiQwbJEtaR2koHExG1f/s320/IMG_0336.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Drake is killing it on swim team this year. He's been put in the fast heat, and his relay team took second! I love how proud he was of that. I love that he doesn't complain about having to go to swim this year. It's great what confidence does.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1pYKFzKM9zkxUYI1BVjLumHCZfaIvZTYNTDeu0ThQwvHW9sdJnNk0ETY_xVtIr4fLQ-MWwdMWa6gW5vAeTjZcy8Lsh5zXcw9G6H4_tlSEkkXgh5ioAIHHiy3CtV9t6z4jUQy/s1600/IMG_0350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1pYKFzKM9zkxUYI1BVjLumHCZfaIvZTYNTDeu0ThQwvHW9sdJnNk0ETY_xVtIr4fLQ-MWwdMWa6gW5vAeTjZcy8Lsh5zXcw9G6H4_tlSEkkXgh5ioAIHHiy3CtV9t6z4jUQy/s320/IMG_0350.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second place freestyle relay!</td></tr>
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We attacked Camelback with cousin Cloe.</div>
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I've been studying for the bar everywhere possible. My best block of time is when the kids are in the pool each day. Then Drake steals my phone and takes random pictures (like below) and plays Bad Piggies. He's an addict.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzp7N7W5u2GIHnnqttdmQE4kBwfBXTD1fhfMQswwGttyDATbLkW5IRqjnuCWsCKLYProVQxE9IkIsilCpby7SaSuRbFxXnlyadmMnrbjFZjR5ts9_qsfIZfAcI1wcH7tTAJ4ud/s1600/IMG_0311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzp7N7W5u2GIHnnqttdmQE4kBwfBXTD1fhfMQswwGttyDATbLkW5IRqjnuCWsCKLYProVQxE9IkIsilCpby7SaSuRbFxXnlyadmMnrbjFZjR5ts9_qsfIZfAcI1wcH7tTAJ4ud/s320/IMG_0311.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Gwen made cookies almost everyday the first week of summer.</div>
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I had to tell her no more cookie making since it usually leads to a mess, and many calories consumed. But I love that she can read a recipe, and do it all by herself!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hOkNC_o5hZI_KJ0LWDwdHV57rF6W_-Du8bf6Bz3cT9ADPukPU4KFYwxNnEGMxdH1wJ3Whxc-snpzYZlhZnO_sseJeY56f_9QWaQmqIRf3L8wnlUnklHosi2UVkG43MkRaSAl/s1600/IMG_0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hOkNC_o5hZI_KJ0LWDwdHV57rF6W_-Du8bf6Bz3cT9ADPukPU4KFYwxNnEGMxdH1wJ3Whxc-snpzYZlhZnO_sseJeY56f_9QWaQmqIRf3L8wnlUnklHosi2UVkG43MkRaSAl/s320/IMG_0329.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-43162882178653587972013-06-07T17:12:00.001-07:002013-06-07T17:12:39.379-07:00Pregnancy Blues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Remember in the last blog post how in the caption to a picture I mentioned that the manager of the dealership convinced me I had kidney stones?</div>
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Well the next morning I called my midwife's office and was advised I should go to the ER to get checked out.</div>
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The ER then asked how far along I was... 21 weeks.</div>
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So they instructed me to go up to OB Triage.</div>
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I got all hooked up, gave some pee, and got checked out.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPEBaCsi9Y_ouaIZ4Lb_SB0VtsbRevdvd1L2z2-LH3VfyesYujlrdM6waJYinr8Zdd4OpGOO9mDbpokG3WNFA15DTa56expdXXwdmdkit1F9yj8OSYapv7oB39gxVdUc_T0R9/s1600/IMG_0316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPEBaCsi9Y_ouaIZ4Lb_SB0VtsbRevdvd1L2z2-LH3VfyesYujlrdM6waJYinr8Zdd4OpGOO9mDbpokG3WNFA15DTa56expdXXwdmdkit1F9yj8OSYapv7oB39gxVdUc_T0R9/s320/IMG_0316.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Good news!</div>
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<b>NOT</b> my kidneys, or my appendix, or gallbladder!</div>
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Just round ligament pain along with my abs separating and stretching.</div>
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Seriously? The pain was B.A.D. It'd knock the breath out of me and I'd cripple over.</div>
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And, I didn't experience this with either Gwen or Drake.</div>
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But rather than having to pee out a stone, I just get to wear this lovely belly band.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupwyyICwEsIBe5vudgt1CvN8HM6FYa_Pa3rGHgqX5uirdYwIzOn0-1gt2OyMpav2X_nsp529a-zwPKQGCIrswhveDLjyxwbUFGOQAC0xWg812a2oVm5IqVak9X8-cxau9Uumz/s1600/photo-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupwyyICwEsIBe5vudgt1CvN8HM6FYa_Pa3rGHgqX5uirdYwIzOn0-1gt2OyMpav2X_nsp529a-zwPKQGCIrswhveDLjyxwbUFGOQAC0xWg812a2oVm5IqVak9X8-cxau9Uumz/s320/photo-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I'll call that a win.</div>
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Plus, since I've been wearing it, the pain I'd been experiencing in my hip since about 12 weeks has almost gone completely! I'm tempted to try running with the band and see if it's possible. </div>
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The belly band has been my friend. My hot, hot, friend.</div>
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So I was feeling better about being pregnant until my last prenatal appointment.</div>
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My mid-wife informed me that because Drake was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoulder_dystocia" target="_blank">a shoulder distocia</a> delivery, while she is a strong advocate for vaginal deliveries, she recommended that I have a c-section for this baby.</div>
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Ummm... <b>NO!!!</b></div>
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She has been a midwife for 48 years, and said that those deliveries are scary (it was <i>really</i> scary with Drake)... possible broken bones, nerve, or even brain damage for the baby.</div>
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Drake was fortunate, and didn't have any of that.</div>
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But do we risk it? From my research, shoulder distocia occurs on average less than 1% of the time. But for those who have had a shoulder distocia baby previously, the chance goes up to about 16%. Obviously large babies are the most at risk. Drake was 8lbs 10oz, a full 2 pounds bigger than Gwen. </div>
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She sensed my hesitation (probably because I really almost passed out!!), and said we will try to prevent the risk factors. That means I have to be on a diet!</div>
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Eww. A pregnant lady should not have to be on a diet. That's just wrong.</div>
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She's asked that I limit my sugar and salt, and try not to gain more than 9 pounds for the rest of my pregnancy. That's 17 more weeks!!!!</div>
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It's been hard. I may have broken down last night and ate a foot long Tootsie Roll. Apparently I can't have those within 50 feet of me anymore. Darn you Target $1 section!</div>
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Then we'll also continue to monitor the size of the baby, but even with ultrasound, those aren't terribly accurate.</div>
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So I'm trying not to worry too much about it right now, otherwise I just cry.</div>
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It'll just be a matter of prayer, and dieting, and we'll see what happens.</div>
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IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-21630196231754052582013-06-03T01:03:00.000-07:002013-06-03T01:03:22.778-07:00RIP Highlander<div style="text-align: center;">
Strange. I am so sad about my car being dead, yet when I went to title this blogpost, I realized I never even named my car! That's weird right? Everyone names there car... right?</div>
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Anyhoo, this story all began a few weeks ago. I took my car in to get serviced, because the check engine light was on, and my tags were expiring the end of May. (You can't pass emissions if your check enginge light is on.) Well of course the check engine light was triggered because a stupid sensor needed to be replaced, and the sensor was expensive, and took a lot of labor to get to and replace. $750 later, I'm ready to go to drop more $ registering my car. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJRaqk1y2mLlz4FSaGxy7A5B7LKyw9w2c9Ybsyh0LNH5HP4TdQrM3J8kTeS63tWnmijukYoo61lrPogPs6cMwkWU9RhIwfLqxFxLtR4vWSnEEgGJTCQ7y5lowdBGFMDr7rdZ8/s1600/DSCN0545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJRaqk1y2mLlz4FSaGxy7A5B7LKyw9w2c9Ybsyh0LNH5HP4TdQrM3J8kTeS63tWnmijukYoo61lrPogPs6cMwkWU9RhIwfLqxFxLtR4vWSnEEgGJTCQ7y5lowdBGFMDr7rdZ8/s320/DSCN0545.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Highlander in happier times</td></tr>
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No prob, I love my car. </div>
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Honestly, I love my car! I just rolled 200,000 miles in my baby, and she was still purring like a kitten. While we realized with a baby to squeeze in there soon it'd be a tight fit, but I still wasn't interested in getting a new car because, like I said, I love my car! </div>
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So I didn't hesitate to volunteer to drive up north for a girls weekend. My baby made it up the rim, and then stopped forward progress in Heber. What I mean by that was it felt as if my car had been placed in neutral. I checked, and it wasn't in neutral. So we pulled over, called husbands, I held back tears, and then we all jumped in my friend's car, and left my Highlander in Heber for the weekend. </div>
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We had hopes that the transmission might cool, and then we'd be able to drive it down the rim, and maybe even into the valley. So we enjoyed our weekend. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNfXuhkN8oD-G_ZGmJiaBmC9C8hiayt8HF-TN5ZN3JclJskktfdFLi9iAoeTaCVcHa5LCp36bZaCSLUaxDvqKMEt1V0o9ITqJwlncJ27J93mooZlaN74ynXYhpYIGo22MJIMx/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNfXuhkN8oD-G_ZGmJiaBmC9C8hiayt8HF-TN5ZN3JclJskktfdFLi9iAoeTaCVcHa5LCp36bZaCSLUaxDvqKMEt1V0o9ITqJwlncJ27J93mooZlaN74ynXYhpYIGo22MJIMx/s320/photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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On the way home, my car was still there, and it drove!!! For a mile. Then it went back into "neutral". So again, I left my car in Heber, this time for a week. </div>
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So the following weekend, we borrowed a friend's truck (this was a long story that I'll spare you, but THANK YOU John Arnett for coming to our rescue!!), rented a tow dolly, and went up to get the car. Our friends Rick and Jenny were nice enough to let us stay at their cabin since we were going to be up in the area anyway. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigh2JSmQ0HObrhriXs8NjczJ2jZWMPbOxN_wdDEqJ0ZorFtHfzcl3DTo70mYG-853bmxf0zF1QitwLDFAhL-T1rXhNLVYjAldIsz_lt6l2rwBlRN1xHksKgPjb88IkdZegooO9/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigh2JSmQ0HObrhriXs8NjczJ2jZWMPbOxN_wdDEqJ0ZorFtHfzcl3DTo70mYG-853bmxf0zF1QitwLDFAhL-T1rXhNLVYjAldIsz_lt6l2rwBlRN1xHksKgPjb88IkdZegooO9/s320/photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
So we stayed the night in Pinedale which was fun, because this was where we had a cabin until a few years ago. So we took the kids to see the Pinedale stuff,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQc5H71-Yv-zTi-ZwQC5ZlON8TRq9osvzYfugeuKJ3gBxhr0Cvz_TdxqgqFNQM7dHmlG4Dx6jegMtPHOTRwCN9cF5uBfqAkdpO2WmhQ6JYfbv16wrawiHk27FqjZZ4mDDV1w1/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQc5H71-Yv-zTi-ZwQC5ZlON8TRq9osvzYfugeuKJ3gBxhr0Cvz_TdxqgqFNQM7dHmlG4Dx6jegMtPHOTRwCN9cF5uBfqAkdpO2WmhQ6JYfbv16wrawiHk27FqjZZ4mDDV1w1/s320/photo-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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and ancestor's headstones. That's normal too, right? Pictures in cemeteries? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdyOzQLcyh3jd7-tO-CkrzfRtfZ16tT621Ld-NP1NuyjpM3XW-N0hcNyRsCku1exAAhjbBGvhNIqi-tl9cNklwXLIcKxV4YGyatqVglAUk7Ed7_XQYd6ogqGd2twhk3t8OJsC/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdyOzQLcyh3jd7-tO-CkrzfRtfZ16tT621Ld-NP1NuyjpM3XW-N0hcNyRsCku1exAAhjbBGvhNIqi-tl9cNklwXLIcKxV4YGyatqVglAUk7Ed7_XQYd6ogqGd2twhk3t8OJsC/s320/photo-2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then all too soon, it was time to go home, and bring the car with us. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OMbouMUEnpExtV1QTwGstBpKbM6ep5uD0kda3cfyM1GbuU-Tj44NpzlbZKxQkfjP-CeVmiTK3kEDnAJIqMK_FL5tRA1KO3ChYfH2kPTRYEiA1WaDytCto5u56RLv-ZujyQT9/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OMbouMUEnpExtV1QTwGstBpKbM6ep5uD0kda3cfyM1GbuU-Tj44NpzlbZKxQkfjP-CeVmiTK3kEDnAJIqMK_FL5tRA1KO3ChYfH2kPTRYEiA1WaDytCto5u56RLv-ZujyQT9/s320/photo-3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"How is Kristin going to push the car up on this dolly?"</td></tr>
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Luckily, it was still where I left it. Again, a long story here about trying to get ahold of the Donut shop it was parked at to ask them not to tow my car, and never an answer. I figured they were out of business. Fortunately for us, it was booming Sunday morning, and when some customers there saw pregnant Kristin trying to push this car up the ramp onto the dolly, they ran out and helped. We never would have been able to do it on our own. </div>
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We then drove it home, and <i>luckily</i>, when we got to the shop, and no one was around to help us push it this time, it drove! So we were able to reverse it off the dolly, again, something we wouldn't have been able to push on our own. </div>
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Well then we were left pondering:</div>
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Drop $1500-$2000 fixing the transmission on an 11 year old car with 200,000 miles on it?</div>
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Or buy a new car?</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6HOfGSm7T2roDpQSopEYTtPXeTm8-BWLkV8VhRLE3YKpMKdwjywjv-HNKrf1Cyuh468PFcMWaxCFBoDsFx20lCfeD4e5AZqbuWJMKc0KagdXH3tR7s0ozWeHCzYqMANvIGfk/s1600/20130529_215153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6HOfGSm7T2roDpQSopEYTtPXeTm8-BWLkV8VhRLE3YKpMKdwjywjv-HNKrf1Cyuh468PFcMWaxCFBoDsFx20lCfeD4e5AZqbuWJMKc0KagdXH3tR7s0ozWeHCzYqMANvIGfk/s320/20130529_215153.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If I look trashed, it's because we were at the dealership for four hours, and the manager convinced me that I had kidney stones. Another story for another post.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Buy a new car!!!</b></span></div>
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Yep, we roll in a Ford now.</div>
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And I LOVE it!!!</div>
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And I'd be embarrassed if we told you why we're now Fordies. It may have something to do with not taking the bail out $, and still kicking A. hashtagbuyAmerican</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZW1L3HWflKgwmdMMpji5SAiag0OUOfwhmhMrEzDDzKOva9ua-H36SIR-v7FBqqiObplpjk3TXj74dubld_FRikP3vwsmo-KHY7xkxNERF41rUeTy-Jtq55KsXqUu-6Z1iqg_/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZW1L3HWflKgwmdMMpji5SAiag0OUOfwhmhMrEzDDzKOva9ua-H36SIR-v7FBqqiObplpjk3TXj74dubld_FRikP3vwsmo-KHY7xkxNERF41rUeTy-Jtq55KsXqUu-6Z1iqg_/s320/photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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And like that I've moved on. Don't worry Highlander, I did love you, but it's time that we go our separate ways.</div>
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And again, I'm a chauffeur. But now the kids insist on riding in the back back.</div>
IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-67912284555781773422013-05-21T10:12:00.000-07:002013-05-21T10:12:16.476-07:00baby names<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The kids are so excited to have a baby in the house.</div>
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I'm excited to have them be my little helpers when we have a baby in the house.</div>
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They're already being helpful.</div>
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They've come up with a list of names for their baby brother or sister.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6xYwdFp0VMZMsXC1B3OBEyahYDpN0I-JumJEjmlMoybbeC1ZSe7AN6s3ovxmGE2uVYVKjEm8Hi2fl7Ee4gZsnsDYfSFVugVhVka_aPCNoC7uu28cUH-BnLMW1oq8aNHBOe3g/s1600/IMG_0210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6xYwdFp0VMZMsXC1B3OBEyahYDpN0I-JumJEjmlMoybbeC1ZSe7AN6s3ovxmGE2uVYVKjEm8Hi2fl7Ee4gZsnsDYfSFVugVhVka_aPCNoC7uu28cUH-BnLMW1oq8aNHBOe3g/s320/IMG_0210.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Girls:</div>
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Sara</div>
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Suizi (Suzy)</div>
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Alisu (Alisa)</div>
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Michl (Michelle)</div>
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Boys:</div>
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Micle (Michael)</div>
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Joan (John)</div>
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Sparky</div>
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Joanathan (Jonathan)</div>
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Otto</div>
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Drake really likes the name Sparky.</div>
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His second choice is Jonathan. In fact, he wanted me to call him Jonathan for a couple of days last year.</div>
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And then Otto.</div>
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IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-33759656022909360592013-05-17T09:01:00.000-07:002013-05-17T09:01:13.373-07:00...half way there...<div style="text-align: center;">
Twenty weeks today.</div>
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Half way there</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpP-2GS4uOXSm8eHRlyNSBtNLEd_-EC7Py6t0RNNfafc2w8DusA9uq8QxinrGu952j2IJJl_Dniu890WI2UiiObNLHGwd0FI97ddebElt5dSbMXOeMaZGvDY0b8IbXK2kt_qf/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpP-2GS4uOXSm8eHRlyNSBtNLEd_-EC7Py6t0RNNfafc2w8DusA9uq8QxinrGu952j2IJJl_Dniu890WI2UiiObNLHGwd0FI97ddebElt5dSbMXOeMaZGvDY0b8IbXK2kt_qf/s320/photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Bon Jovi singing about it here:</div>
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Poor third child.</div>
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That is the first belly profile shot of the pregnancy.</div>
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With the exception of the pregnant-lady-wetsuit IG pic prior to Ironman St. George.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hnnZEpz_tOMslxWL0fJ8Xcv-0Yo-_ZjMLCw4G_e1Ph2Zu5GbyMfn-BWxizugCeE0ZE4WcYaOu9VnEPpNMmsz6CQ6_o2tyt2mce7yhnWdh-iFCSPcxl2UbAdNincsPhGuVBQa/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hnnZEpz_tOMslxWL0fJ8Xcv-0Yo-_ZjMLCw4G_e1Ph2Zu5GbyMfn-BWxizugCeE0ZE4WcYaOu9VnEPpNMmsz6CQ6_o2tyt2mce7yhnWdh-iFCSPcxl2UbAdNincsPhGuVBQa/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This pregnancy has been amazing.</div>
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No sickness, just fatness.</div>
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Blissful fatness.</div>
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But the acne is less than flattering.</div>
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I broke out with Gwen pretty bad too.</div>
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Could this mean it's going to be a girl?</div>
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We don't know, because we're not finding out.</div>
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Ryan's not on board...but the baby's not in him. ;)</div>
IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-69780304269868193372013-05-13T11:47:00.000-07:002013-05-13T11:47:28.824-07:00I'm back!<div style="text-align: center;">
So I took a six month hiatus. NBD. Life has been cra-zy! But some exciting things have happened. Maybe some of these will get their own posts, but let's be honest. Probably not. So some fun things that have happened since I last posted: </div>
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I did finish Ironman! One of the most incredible days of my life, and if you like to read, you can read more about it <a href="http://ironmoms2012.blogspot.com/2012/11/long-recap-for-long-race.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktz1vWy3-wITkxGBgIYW_XsOMSXODza9esMpkFOCNUQF63cWuZ0dVKKVjpvZanjyYumNsZUlycjZE3vmo_vAGVxP74orMVQNkhejMwwfebKiLJsXcvN_nenaD-Hgegp4H_K41/s1600/0257_45296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktz1vWy3-wITkxGBgIYW_XsOMSXODza9esMpkFOCNUQF63cWuZ0dVKKVjpvZanjyYumNsZUlycjZE3vmo_vAGVxP74orMVQNkhejMwwfebKiLJsXcvN_nenaD-Hgegp4H_K41/s320/0257_45296.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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Ryan started a new job. He is now a prosecutor for Maricopa County. When he gets home from work, Drake likes to ask him "how many bad guys did you get today?" It's pretty cute. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoj_xrIRZqxtI-ya0eOLzwY2ZYnjvLLStmi9If0bvFjvnWkfar8IG6CZK6jA7Qk5fOkXyK_djk-F7vfyk7JAx8m9R0Q_dflb8RKSv3JecL4-cIXvvIb4eGcdBR5stTGsS8AymU/s1600/012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoj_xrIRZqxtI-ya0eOLzwY2ZYnjvLLStmi9If0bvFjvnWkfar8IG6CZK6jA7Qk5fOkXyK_djk-F7vfyk7JAx8m9R0Q_dflb8RKSv3JecL4-cIXvvIb4eGcdBR5stTGsS8AymU/s320/012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We found out a new McPhie is joining our family! This has been a great surprise, and we couldn't be happier. Baby McPhie is coming some time around October 4, and Gwen and Drake are so excited to have a baby brother or sister!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-TvAeHBIIOapSdtKJzecMid47zslUMnVodVAA77SzFpFs9n0mVLyDQuAy79LSJwFRz-mPKjs5j8YasoDY8MIRw5miRB2lq-SCpXNmflNzb5Q8MPiQMcm0VkgvgrnoyeKjptw/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-TvAeHBIIOapSdtKJzecMid47zslUMnVodVAA77SzFpFs9n0mVLyDQuAy79LSJwFRz-mPKjs5j8YasoDY8MIRw5miRB2lq-SCpXNmflNzb5Q8MPiQMcm0VkgvgrnoyeKjptw/s320/IMG_0025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We bought a house! We had been renting ever since Ryan started law school, and most recently we spent a few months living with my parents while we were house hunting. While we loved being there, Ryan was anxious for a place of our own, so we sadly left Mesa, and moved to Gilbert. We love the area, and love the house, and someday will furnish it. ;)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9l3YLPj7fIJdywK5Obsx-f4RaWy5xXneR5-MFz6S7u6LoDWyVdX_97O77MZBIg6OrCCuHsKXGr2IAZ_YSFtIhL1HwGHefeT6JHy116J0nnQ7fgtZs6M4zbSwx_4rQVrFixR7/s1600/IMG_0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9l3YLPj7fIJdywK5Obsx-f4RaWy5xXneR5-MFz6S7u6LoDWyVdX_97O77MZBIg6OrCCuHsKXGr2IAZ_YSFtIhL1HwGHefeT6JHy116J0nnQ7fgtZs6M4zbSwx_4rQVrFixR7/s320/IMG_0194.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Gwen and Drake have been killing it in school!</div>
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They're sad to be leaving the school they've been attending the past few years in Mesa, but are excited to maybe get to ride bikes to school next school year.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3o3ifgRBJ0XfD3bfBSC7AKOUAiwbg_y2OmcvddPEbxrhWCSmWNsmIipalfml6mo9BJGXH613A8xTDcyp_g9PHKEiCzhGkvqID1mgh6K09H1omxsZxRelEW16zTQCg_D8qyzqV/s1600/IMG_0090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3o3ifgRBJ0XfD3bfBSC7AKOUAiwbg_y2OmcvddPEbxrhWCSmWNsmIipalfml6mo9BJGXH613A8xTDcyp_g9PHKEiCzhGkvqID1mgh6K09H1omxsZxRelEW16zTQCg_D8qyzqV/s320/IMG_0090.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>And I GRADUATED!!!!!</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVARx4KTNrH9b45dZ9MHtJejJJ9IteLZ5yLmEyNWut3OtD8PJbQltvyANQtxqfDuDVtUxQDSisO5b0Ehnx0dQ-F6RkL_S4pe5dqfl-pf5ARObHU8Pi1IaWnkiMmDYgH6cDc6Mn/s1600/IMG_0188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVARx4KTNrH9b45dZ9MHtJejJJ9IteLZ5yLmEyNWut3OtD8PJbQltvyANQtxqfDuDVtUxQDSisO5b0Ehnx0dQ-F6RkL_S4pe5dqfl-pf5ARObHU8Pi1IaWnkiMmDYgH6cDc6Mn/s400/IMG_0188.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This I can't take all the credit for, because I would not have made it without the support of my family and friends. This last year has been especially hard since so much time was spent doing my schooling, I felt it was keeping me from being the kind of mother I wanted to be for my kids. Often they'd ask me why I have to go to school, and if I could just quit. Ugh!!! I wish I could have. I'd tell them McPhies don't quit, and it'd be over soon. Mostly I was convincing myself. But it turned out to be true. It's over!! Now on to bar prep. :p</div>
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Ryan threw me a lovely graduation party.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLY8aunr7DBGuDlbTbkg-rEQocfYogz6O9vsct480O5ahz-MpUi6s1DbuQSxqKFYzg-eAy7976e478MGNz6ksDaz7Jfw5NWUBxCsPpjUVzVjXBiygGTFNJCy9quMIPt0p3PHsT/s1600/IMG_0185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLY8aunr7DBGuDlbTbkg-rEQocfYogz6O9vsct480O5ahz-MpUi6s1DbuQSxqKFYzg-eAy7976e478MGNz6ksDaz7Jfw5NWUBxCsPpjUVzVjXBiygGTFNJCy9quMIPt0p3PHsT/s320/IMG_0185.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The kids helped decorate.</div>
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Love these signs Drake made!</div>
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And now, perhaps life will slow down a little.</div>
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Besides preparing for the bar, I'll be running the babes to swim, and eating watermelon all summer, so hopefully I might be able to resume blogging as well. </div>
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<br />IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31042857.post-56811138976007060422012-11-02T16:25:00.000-07:002012-11-02T16:25:20.975-07:0016 more days...<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">til Ironman!!</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm so excited and scared all at the same time!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I've been watching all kinds of Ironman videos on Youtube to get pumped, and this one is my favorite so far.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I cried.</span></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LoDNQNzGkXo?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>I will do this!!</b></span></div>
IronLawGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16778213912574888182noreply@blogger.com1