tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4627142646096601552024-02-20T21:19:41.378-08:00Mom, Mum or Ma?This blog chronicles my life as a new mom to "wee" Freddie (and now "wee" Elsie, too!). I am an American with an Irish partner and we recently moved from Edinburgh, Scotland to Seattle, USA. We are sad to see Freddie's Scottish accent going but love living in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. We look forward to welcoming a new arrival this April! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.comBlogger121125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-23928448663772120272017-07-27T07:10:00.003-07:002017-07-27T07:13:31.433-07:00Is it too late for me to 'grow into my feet?'I've always had large feet - probably an American size 8 by the time I was 12. Does this seem odd for someone who is otherwise pretty petite? Yes. Despite my dad insisting they gave me a 'good foundation,' did I use to be embarrassed by these trotters? Yes. I am 5 foot 2 and have size 8.5/9 feet (UK 7). Flippers. Flat-footed flippers with no trace of an arch.<br />
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HOWEVER, as I've grown older, pretty much nothing embarrasses me (thanks kids) and I've come to love my feet. They've run a marathon, several halfs, and, with a little nail polish, they don't look half bad. Due to their sheer size, however, I cannot stop breaking my toes.<br />
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Yesterday afternoon was just the latest - I broke my pointer toe on my right foot tripping over the corner of the bed when I was tucking Freddie in. As I crumbled to the ground and tried not to swear, Freddie rushed over (he loves a good emergency) to see how I was. I got out the frozen peas, hobbled to the couch and iced my mangled toe on a few pillows.<br />
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Freddie pulled over the coffee table, put my water bottle on it, handed me a book about castles and put some rose petals he'd collected from the park in a train car on the table. He told me to call him if I needed anything, anything at all, and headed back down the hall to play with his truck.<br />
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You never know if they're grasping the concept of empathy but there it was. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeA_3k8iowl-G-pF3jCw92-j-RQAtHCCR46nrUbHgtR9MRa_FQOjUFyZwnXQWe7TN49gvzv5Ij1aXVmgjTgRuCnXZcFo_NXBXm0gyfoGRNaKBTm3BRHxvYJeujcVduI1zwjxKfyc258lok/s1600/image1+%252819%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeA_3k8iowl-G-pF3jCw92-j-RQAtHCCR46nrUbHgtR9MRa_FQOjUFyZwnXQWe7TN49gvzv5Ij1aXVmgjTgRuCnXZcFo_NXBXm0gyfoGRNaKBTm3BRHxvYJeujcVduI1zwjxKfyc258lok/s320/image1+%252819%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello Elsie. </td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-24186065800459808832017-06-27T12:39:00.003-07:002017-06-27T12:39:38.172-07:00Things Harry has thrown in the toilet......in the past week.<br />
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1. Elsie's undies.<br />
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2. The kids' shampoo.<br />
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3. His sock.<br />
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4. A small ambulance.<br />
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5. Two train tracks.<br />
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6. Wads and wads of toilet paper.<br />
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7. A sandwich.<br />
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Harry + the toilet = love. We've stocked up on toilet paper and hand soap so long may this love affair continue.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-19123301892338392062017-05-17T06:50:00.003-07:002017-05-17T06:50:59.654-07:00The day it rained puke I've been puked on before. It's never fun but today was especially disgusting. The day started out OK; Elsie and Harry were feverish and very clingy but, as we've been saying for over a week now, at least no one is puking.<br />
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William took Freddie to preschool and the three of us snuggled/played a bit and then they took naps at 9:30am. I used nap time to take a nice shower, dry my hair and put on makeup (!). Nice to feel normal again after almost a week of being unwell myself.<br />
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Elsie woke up from her nap and was a bit happier, ate some plain yogurt, a couple blueberries and a small rice cake. Ten minutes later she was back to laying on the floor moaning. Harry woke up and joined her. They did that and competed for space on my lap for the next half hour. Cozy!<br />
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When it came time to go get Freddie, I asked Els if she wanted to ride on my back in the Ergo. She quickly said yes and immediately laid her head on my shoulders. I got her an apple juice box from the shop and she sipped it on the way. She didn't say much on the journey there or on the way home. Freddie told us about his day (two of the ten chicks hatched from their eggs and he planted a sunflower) and we saw a couple trains go by.<br />
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Once we got to our street, Elsie muttered something I didn't quite hear. 'What, honey?' 'Go home faster.'<br />
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That was my only warning before the puke shower began. It was like a volcano erupted out of her mouth. It poured over my shoulder and onto my foot (great idea to wear flip flops today!). I quickly got her down and then Freddie, Harry and I watched the spectacle of it all, unable to move. In seconds, the sidewalk was covered and it was only then I realized I should have held her over a drain or something. Oops.<br />
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Once it was over, we removed all our puked-on clothes that we could, considering we were in public (sorry neighbors!), and hightailed it home, a wad of disgusting clothes under one arm and a squishy foot squeaking the whole way.<br />
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A warm bath and nap seems to have helped. Fingers crossed that was all of it (but is it ever???).<br />
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Hope you weren't eating anything when you read this! And yes, we are back in Scotland. I need to change the header of this blog. If you enjoy reading about puke and how you're likely in a nicer, cleaner, comfier position than I am, check back here again soon. I plan on actually keeping up with it now that we're back.<br />
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P.S. Anthony, if you're reading this...the incident occurred just down from your door. Watch your feet on the way home tonight. William said he'd go down later with a bucket of water! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-24829982540230129732016-05-29T20:47:00.000-07:002016-05-29T20:47:47.084-07:00Happy 2nd Birthday Elsie!!A month later and it's finished! Ha! My latest project - a video of Elsie's first two years. And yes, it's 15 minutes long. Watch if you have the time - she's pretty dang cute. We love you Elsie!! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj3dGR22_rw" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj3dGR22_rw</a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-79276194998308289732016-05-29T20:25:00.000-07:002016-05-29T20:25:45.541-07:00Welcome Baby Harry!Harrison Lucas Kearns was born on April 14, 2016. After about 5 days of pretty consistent contractions, we were more than happy he finally decided to come out! I was 7cm dilated when I got to the doctor's office and was rushed to the labor ward immediately. Ultimately, it took several more hours and an emergency c-section to get him out but it was an amazing experience nonetheless. He immediately peed on the doctors and nurses before being snuggled by William and my mom, who were there with me. He weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces and was 21 inches long. After I was patched up we went back to my original room and introduced him to Francie, who was waiting there on the edge of her seat. It was so fun to have them all there and so exciting we are now a family of five!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-6378142232419237042016-05-29T20:00:00.001-07:002016-05-29T20:05:32.783-07:00RheaRhea was a constant companion of Freddie's when we lived in Edinburgh. I met her mom, my friend Lisa, when we were both pregnant and did the same yoga class. I was thrilled to meet her and instantly thought she could become a good friend. Plus, we lived close to each other and she offered me a ride home after every class. So nice not to walk back to my flat on those pitch black Scottish nights.<br />
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Our kiddos were born exactly a month apart - Rhea on April 5th and Freddie on May 5th. They were babies who stared at each other during our coffee shop meet-ups, 10-month olds who crawled around together at the museum, 1 year-olds who toddled after one another in the park, 2-year olds who jumped up and down in each other's cribs and 3-year-olds who chased after each other and played hide-and-seek.<br />
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Rhea was an amazing little girl who we loved so much. We are talking about her daily and trying to remember all the fun times we had together instead of being sad. It's helped to look at pictures of them together - Freddie finds thinking about them as babies especially funny. She will always be synonymous with our time in Edinburgh - she (and her mom) certainly helped shape me as a parent. Lots of love to her whole family now and for the future.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-4354183906300836382016-01-13T16:10:00.002-08:002016-01-13T20:51:54.066-08:00Liza<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two weeks ago I got some of the saddest news I've ever had. My 'little sister' Elizabeth unexpectedly passed away. I felt physically sick. My heart literally hurt. There's been a wave of emotions since then <span style="line-height: 18.2px;">—</span> extreme sadness, for the years we will miss her, but also laughter, remembering what a hysterical and fun-loving kid she was. Her death still seems surreal and also just so, so unfair. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyX7z_cysmzKnqvTzNB8XEs2nwsl9tv37KOA22KmSMPHp_sKY3ae6Vg07EVrXfnNgEduoHr3BIBgYMgRbw_Ao3DvuitY6_k16AyaObQIS2t_D-Xts0FKLJSsSNBW56VN5DEvyJG9p_uNu/s1600/Liz_Char.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyX7z_cysmzKnqvTzNB8XEs2nwsl9tv37KOA22KmSMPHp_sKY3ae6Vg07EVrXfnNgEduoHr3BIBgYMgRbw_Ao3DvuitY6_k16AyaObQIS2t_D-Xts0FKLJSsSNBW56VN5DEvyJG9p_uNu/s320/Liz_Char.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lounging in the hammock</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember exactly what I was doing the day Elizabeth was born. It was June 23, 1995 <span style="line-height: 18.2px;">— </span>my last day of sixth grade. I was 12. We'd heard the baby, Sarah's little sis, was going to be arriving soon and, finally, I got the news when I was walking up to my friend's house after swimming in Lake Washington. To say I was excited is an understatement. Another little girl for my mom to watch; another 'little sister' for me and my siblings. We already thought Sarah was amazing (and useful for fetching glasses of water and other items from around the house) and now there'd be two of them coming over every day. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I gave Liz bottles, rocked her and watched her roll over on a blanket outside. She was the most adorable baby <span style="line-height: 18.2px;">— always calm, cool and collected. She </span>didn't even squirm when you were changing her, something I wish I could say of my own two children! She grew into the cuddliest toddler and we'd spend hours playing out in the backyard, laying on the hammock, or inside having dance parties and filming our own music videos. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Often, my sisters or I would babysit Sarah and Liz if Matt and Sheila wanted to go out. It was a win-win situation. We got to hang out with the sweetest kids (it honestly did not feel like babysitting it was so easy </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px;">—</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> not something I can say of all the babysitting gigs I had as a teenager) and eat fruit snacks by the boxful out of their pantry. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As most kids do, she radiated positivity. But what stands out about Elizabeth/Liz/Liza/Lizard (we are big fans of nicknames in my fam), is that she carried this positivity throughout her whole life. That is why now, I can only be thankful for the time I had knowing her. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genuine, kind, sweet and loving, Liza was a true treasure. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahYsFU9lCijzh-rlMokhCYy-Ilps9jZxVhHh_GwfodZz4Is2fI2iQh2QlHJjsSBTJQrxVfIPxjZTuYEnQt5eHQi-xp7bqRyFyTE566rG3b5D742xKAwrCWf07F7A8IK0ZWwnxYxTWsAaI/s1600/Liz_Char_hug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahYsFU9lCijzh-rlMokhCYy-Ilps9jZxVhHh_GwfodZz4Is2fI2iQh2QlHJjsSBTJQrxVfIPxjZTuYEnQt5eHQi-xp7bqRyFyTE566rG3b5D742xKAwrCWf07F7A8IK0ZWwnxYxTWsAaI/s320/Liz_Char_hug.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An original 'hold-out,' pre-selfie stick</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xX-eJebL2nhTadNyzt51C02R0DrURdk2eIa-FcGUhtLFj99XiOpR63H92G6Ois6johBBrOfCD9pC3YoXz1VVYKYlJjsXTu5E00NbtoZ0V6nRN8Jk-6uWKfX2Uoh8gDO1B7psKYNKIvVF/s1600/Liz_Seaside_Kays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xX-eJebL2nhTadNyzt51C02R0DrURdk2eIa-FcGUhtLFj99XiOpR63H92G6Ois6johBBrOfCD9pC3YoXz1VVYKYlJjsXTu5E00NbtoZ0V6nRN8Jk-6uWKfX2Uoh8gDO1B7psKYNKIvVF/s320/Liz_Seaside_Kays.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seaside! Looks like Liz is bringing back lunch</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWZjKaILTWRmhtDO3lLqYtL08oJ_4Ovju1gSIJP8PYujEHBC-7XtIdiB9CsJzYymtmPu3-LGwqt32OmzwUuHLiVC5IDq2emeIi6DWmFwOGBZ99o-y82Up9arFqvkJmmWnGnrmWZZe0o0f/s1600/Liz_Char-Francie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWZjKaILTWRmhtDO3lLqYtL08oJ_4Ovju1gSIJP8PYujEHBC-7XtIdiB9CsJzYymtmPu3-LGwqt32OmzwUuHLiVC5IDq2emeIi6DWmFwOGBZ99o-y82Up9arFqvkJmmWnGnrmWZZe0o0f/s1600/Liz_Char-Francie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWZjKaILTWRmhtDO3lLqYtL08oJ_4Ovju1gSIJP8PYujEHBC-7XtIdiB9CsJzYymtmPu3-LGwqt32OmzwUuHLiVC5IDq2emeIi6DWmFwOGBZ99o-y82Up9arFqvkJmmWnGnrmWZZe0o0f/s320/Liz_Char-Francie.jpg" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Francie and I with Liza, about 1999</td></tr>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-42463229730879990752015-09-08T20:35:00.001-07:002015-09-08T20:40:09.254-07:00Seaside 2015: Jam-packed days and anxiety dreamsA couple weeks ago we got to spend a week in Seaside, Oregon - the place I have been vacationing since I was an infant. It's a fantastic town, complete with a huge beach, delicious caramel corn and some interesting locals.<br />
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We had a GREAT time. Freddie and Elsie lived it up with their American cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. They built sand castle after sand castle, jumped the chilly Pacific Ocean waves and had one-on-one 'dates' with their parents to get giant ice cream cones. They even enjoyed the long car journey. "That was a great road trip!" said Freddie, covered in granola bar crumbs and nectarine residue, as we arrived.<br />
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I don't know if I'd say 'great,' but it wasn't too painful. I was expecting the 5+ hour car ride to be the most difficult part of the vacation (William got car sick, Elsie learned how to THROW toys precisely at Freddie's head and we listened to 'I've been working on the railroad' on repeat) but instead it was something else.<br />
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Ever since <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/07/20/the-really-big-one" target="_blank">that New York Times article</a> came out, I can't get the 'big one' out of my head. For those not in the Pacific Northwest, the 'big one' is a huge 9.0 earthquake that is due to happen in this area. Actually, it's OVERdue. And the worst hit spot? Seaside, Oregon.<br />
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Yes, I spent the week in Seaside having a blast with my kids and rest of the family but I also spent it very low on sleep. Every night I had horrible anxiety dreams about the earthquake, tsunami and how to get everyone out alive. I memorized evacuation routes, parked the car at the beach (3 blocks from the house) so we'd have a quicker method out if the tsunami hit (and the roads were drivable - unlikely), and carried the Ergo (baby carrier) everywhere in case I had to throw one kid into it and make a run for it. By the end of the week, I was a blurry-eyed mess.<br />
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The article was a real eye-opener, so for that I am grateful, but I was also happy when we drove past the 'Leaving Tsunami Hazard Zone' signs on the way home. I feel like I'm at a real dilemma here. Are we not supposed to go to Seaside ever again because of the risk? Should I just live in denial? Oh, and where should I store our disaster preparedness kit (yet to be packed) in case I store it in the part of the house that collapses and we can't even end up getting it out?<br />
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Whew. Let me know if you have any answers to those questions and, in the meantime, here are some pics of our holiday! :)<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-85903982936784355972015-08-17T21:52:00.000-07:002015-08-17T21:53:54.490-07:00Camping with toddlers<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaYIn5x_KE_Zx7hBkWRWeCyihmvb_Im6FNNZUhatfq7_3DyQHWT1vL1Fkf6ynIWdh2tj2bvu6gYbUdIzJMPPOiCxl6dypqD510il5rRxaahdKXv2euZRFsM9SUJUlLeoGVmVkTOcB6dXk/s1600/DSC_0272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaYIn5x_KE_Zx7hBkWRWeCyihmvb_Im6FNNZUhatfq7_3DyQHWT1vL1Fkf6ynIWdh2tj2bvu6gYbUdIzJMPPOiCxl6dypqD510il5rRxaahdKXv2euZRFsM9SUJUlLeoGVmVkTOcB6dXk/s320/DSC_0272.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corina, Freddie, Ollie & Keeley - the 4 'big kids'</td></tr>
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Some of my best vacay memories as a kid are from going camping. Good old-fashioned pitching a tent and cooking meals over the fire (and by fire I mean camping stove). We've gone camping twice this summer so far and it's been awesome! Not a ton of sleep but LOTS of laughs.<br />
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We've gotten over bathroom fears (of the automatic toilet flush - NOT going in the woods), tent tears (picture a double air mattress with Freddie squeezed between William and I) and the youngest two straight up eating dirt.<br />
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Here are some pics from our trip last weekend to Lake Easton, just over an hour from Seattle.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVqMWd1KRZdssur1JrFayJSwXDHoHrVh6BzxzETiJ4hgS0ZvxTlE-mWSDRNwUSx8XMb7EsGPxuaZ7gDoEUWxoUHM_c6mqh9c3MCpbNkjjcmRp0z8RjTHnxYuJGczsdDr5ClPzTsWcnloU/s1600/DSC_0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVqMWd1KRZdssur1JrFayJSwXDHoHrVh6BzxzETiJ4hgS0ZvxTlE-mWSDRNwUSx8XMb7EsGPxuaZ7gDoEUWxoUHM_c6mqh9c3MCpbNkjjcmRp0z8RjTHnxYuJGczsdDr5ClPzTsWcnloU/s320/DSC_0240.JPG" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couldn't believe her good luck!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZ6yUR3_u_XyQ4TNzo_5i0jDDtiv8EmkTgrzAQHy6hv37c4jAf0PEhftidYsL0TKVv2AuiebVfyNbXbYKrBxj0mWK1KyoOgIab8oRd4OMVJM89bVO3WmLESaMsW0pbuEWnXLdpi2tXMql/s1600/DSC_0235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZ6yUR3_u_XyQ4TNzo_5i0jDDtiv8EmkTgrzAQHy6hv37c4jAf0PEhftidYsL0TKVv2AuiebVfyNbXbYKrBxj0mWK1KyoOgIab8oRd4OMVJM89bVO3WmLESaMsW0pbuEWnXLdpi2tXMql/s320/DSC_0235.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washing dishes at the spigot!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tent time!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJgJH1Squ5qVQtXaOjvzCeC4vr0YgtHCfuwSIcCinaTqkCkDn611yb_8VlH1C3lJ79a7go3hbyP6zpIGwBEclPguTr3dXvmCiGOaOdnQwoeNNc9TbP0xkEseC57i4qBNy6cKGRbgP46-L/s1600/DSC_0286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJgJH1Squ5qVQtXaOjvzCeC4vr0YgtHCfuwSIcCinaTqkCkDn611yb_8VlH1C3lJ79a7go3hbyP6zpIGwBEclPguTr3dXvmCiGOaOdnQwoeNNc9TbP0xkEseC57i4qBNy6cKGRbgP46-L/s320/DSC_0286.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elsie learns to climb...everything!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgSqbbgpNUh29MisaKuIOIbKVwQLUdpzUFIqYRBBF2fd-ZZxQ4psqq9Ha3r1JpfwSVMq_2XjciEvPV5Q1jVRfeMg8LJaEVm0nWcBu3m9CPQRkdBwOR84er4r6WiMPgUBIDkRm1T_Q1txe/s1600/DSC_0283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgSqbbgpNUh29MisaKuIOIbKVwQLUdpzUFIqYRBBF2fd-ZZxQ4psqq9Ha3r1JpfwSVMq_2XjciEvPV5Q1jVRfeMg8LJaEVm0nWcBu3m9CPQRkdBwOR84er4r6WiMPgUBIDkRm1T_Q1txe/s320/DSC_0283.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smiley GG.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiRdUZE7fxD4qMnGXQpcmbz-_cSlRHku-oUuwVjNPGp1tAgayU_qceSV4Qusq6QATsgnbASUOf4DQRMk4Ir8zhXrUaomTYJZLCIzT37v_cNGUPRXFzOTmk53Q4r-MVkR-Z02v6SDuPdTL/s1600/DSC_0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiRdUZE7fxD4qMnGXQpcmbz-_cSlRHku-oUuwVjNPGp1tAgayU_qceSV4Qusq6QATsgnbASUOf4DQRMk4Ir8zhXrUaomTYJZLCIzT37v_cNGUPRXFzOTmk53Q4r-MVkR-Z02v6SDuPdTL/s320/DSC_0245.JPG" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fire ban means roasting mallows on the stove!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp63tokR4C3ZBPm-VgrQGT0YNayZWZZcOSiYCR6zYbY1bvvmGKm-epZEtnYIO_YZnWKoHTTavj6DkAtzOcaO_cKfRskSpmyfAuB1XPGgHr6wV2tnD4uA5CciOxI5Bxo6tStiGyEjejzLiY/s1600/DSC_0192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp63tokR4C3ZBPm-VgrQGT0YNayZWZZcOSiYCR6zYbY1bvvmGKm-epZEtnYIO_YZnWKoHTTavj6DkAtzOcaO_cKfRskSpmyfAuB1XPGgHr6wV2tnD4uA5CciOxI5Bxo6tStiGyEjejzLiY/s320/DSC_0192.JPG" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cookin' up some breakfast.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGvB1O5VNZBaWwxAYZrtqXATtZaTpsTIY-KTbh6NCY_AND5w5WslBBVTbhpLGDmFvg6BT8U8nbfZjQvpX4jNLWJfxfM2uyvZRIBdVIVqcId0LLn06wv5VveVLzMpEhi2pzhzYQG2L9iBl/s1600/DSC_0188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGvB1O5VNZBaWwxAYZrtqXATtZaTpsTIY-KTbh6NCY_AND5w5WslBBVTbhpLGDmFvg6BT8U8nbfZjQvpX4jNLWJfxfM2uyvZRIBdVIVqcId0LLn06wv5VveVLzMpEhi2pzhzYQG2L9iBl/s320/DSC_0188.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Booster seat = only thing making Elsie sit still. </td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-35821668868227781302015-07-04T16:32:00.000-07:002015-07-04T16:57:16.725-07:00Happy 4th! (aka the best time to be back in the USA)Following the age-old phrase 'when in Rome,' we jumped right back into the swing of things today. What say you Brits? It's just an average ol' Saturday? Not here. It's Independence Day! A day to celebrate being finally free from those durn Redcoats. Here are our highlights (so far) from the holiday weekend:<br />
<ol>
<li><b>William got yesterday off work. </b>Woohooo! Long weekend! We celebrated with banana pancakes on our new pancake griddle. (That's right - we may not have our own house but we did buy a brand spanking new pancake griddle. Only the essentials.)</li>
<li><b>Flag shirts. </b>If you do not wear red, white and blue on the 4th of July here you are by FAR the minority. Not only that - you're weird. It's simply a must. William and I sported his and hers flag shirts while the kids wore white shirts they spray painted with red and blue paint (genius idea by my sister Anna.) </li>
<li><b>The parade. </b>Americans really like to kick up their heels whenever they can. Halloween, St. Paddy's day (?!), a solo trip to the grocery story (you MUST treat yourself to a frappuccino) - whatever it is, it's time to go all out. On the 4th of July, every city, town, village and suburb has their own parade. Continuing the tradition of my childhood, we made a float (wagon) and the kids partook in the Edmonds 4th of July parade. One word: chaos. (See the stunned faces below). A delightful barbecue followed, complete with aunts, uncles, cousins and two kiddie pools.</li>
<li><b>Fireworks. </b>I'm just assuming this will be a highlight because, let's face it, it always is. I plan on watching the Kenmore fireworks display (what up Log Boom) from the comfort of my parents' living room. Although, when Freddie and Elsie are old enough to make it past 8pm, we'll almost certainly head to Edmonds for their evening do. Can't beat that pre-fireworks dance party on the dusty park grounds. Hip hip hooray!</li>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-8048403019644734402015-06-16T15:37:00.003-07:002015-06-16T15:38:32.013-07:00Living in the U.S.A.Well, we've been stateside almost 2 months so I guess it's time for a Kay/Kearns family update! We arrived in Seattle on April 28th, with a well-rested Elsie (5 hours sleeping on William's lap on the plane), a semi-well-rested William (dozed with Elsie) and a very tired Freddie and I (spent most of the flight eating, drinking coffee and watching TV). We were met by 3 of my 4 siblings, waving American flags and welcome signs. What can I say, Americans are expressive! As always, it was a relief to get off the airplane and take a big breath of fresh air.<br />
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We continued on a sickness run (no, I haven't yet gotten past the chicken pox misery of March/April. Brutal!) and within a week of arriving I had mastitis and after another week William had mono and a bad throat infection. Thank heavens for antibiotics and lots of family around to help us rest! We are all (even Freddie after his recent fall off a rock/bloody head/trip to the ER) back to good health now, thank goodness!<br />
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We've been enjoying the Seattle summer, which apparently started in April this year! It has been hot and sunny pretty much every day since we've been here. We packed away the coats and snowsuits, gone through copious amounts of sunscreen, and Freddie has freckles. Adorable. He is suddenly so mature and capable (he'll be the first to tell you he's 3!). He climbs trees, dresses himself (even the sandals!) and can cruise on his balance bike and scooter. He looks after his little sis very well and loves sharing the new 'kids room' with her. They chat a bit before naps and bed and miss each other when the other one's not in there, too.<br />
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Elsie has followed in her climbing brother's footsteps and climbs up on toys, chairs, cushions, and anything else she can reach. She isn't saying much (other than the constant 'hiya' and 'hi' to her cousins, Nina, Grandpa and her favorite companion <span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">—</span> Booter, my sister's dog) but she signs 'more' and 'all finished,' so can definitely still get her point across. Her volume has increased as well, which helps. :) Both Freddie and Elsie are beside themselves with excitement every time their cousins come over or we all meet up somewhere. Instant friends!<br />
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The job front has been amazing <span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">— </span>William got a job within two weeks of us arriving (did the interview two days before he got mono) and he's really been enjoying it. I've been working with my sistahs (check out <a href="http://www.cascadiacontent.com/" target="_blank">Cascadia Content</a> for all your web copy/content needs) but despite being busy somehow William and I are spending more time together than recent years. Nice to have so many babysitters nearby!<br />
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We REALLY miss our friends and family across the pond. Hope you are all doing well and planning your Seattle holidays! ;)<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-37988920528516627292015-04-25T12:49:00.001-07:002015-04-25T12:51:35.033-07:00Happy 1st Birthday Elsie!!!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, it's been awhile since my last post but I have a REALLY good excuse. The day after I wrote that post we discovered a few spots on Freddie. Chicken pox? Noooooo, it couldn't be. IT WAS. Fast forward a few very itchy, very tired weeks later and they've both had it. Whew. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pox may have canceled Freddie and Elsie's joint birthday bash (meant to be last weekend) but at least we could celebrate her big day today. That's right - at 5:40pm on April 25, 2014, the biggest surprise of my life popped out. A girl! For some reason, we were absolutely convinced we were having another boy and were SHOCKED it was a girl. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was in labor for 3 days, most of which was spent having contractions at home and out in my favorite spot, Holyrood Park. It was painful but there were breaks, including the night before I had her when I wolfed an entire Dominos pizza (large). YUM. <a href="http://grassyllama.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Margaret</a> and William cheered me on until 4am on the morning of the 25th when we decided it was time to go to the hospital. Elsie didn't arrive for more than 12 hours later and during that time I tried pretty much every pain relief option available. Haha. Tens machine, birthing pool, gas and air and, finally, an epidural. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once the epidural was in (took three tries...yikes!), I relaxed and waited for our little gal to show up. We chatted with the midwife, medical student and doctor. In a bizarre turn of events, the doctor was the same woman who did my c-section with Freddie. AND, in another bizarre turn of events, the medical student just treated Freddie in the children's hospital last weekend. I was touched that he remembered Elsie's birth and even more touched that he said he almost didn't recognize me (45lbs lighter haha). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How do I describe Elsie? Snuggly, sly, determined, sweet, fearless and feisty. Another pea in our pod, I couldn't imagine life without her. What an awesome year it's been for this little gal. We love you Elsie!!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">E for Elsie.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhayDZZ4T2xF4XDUGJKmOUoHMagtJM21UPUe_pmgjDDJqhzQ_0uiYWfXlgDzN-cWNkf2lkyzFrRZIgE8JC0twROMeqXjWqgSF2ZTD28Ao15x2ZCAgiZ6Inq1b06UvM8Jd6Vcdoz3NVNXFK/s1600/image2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhayDZZ4T2xF4XDUGJKmOUoHMagtJM21UPUe_pmgjDDJqhzQ_0uiYWfXlgDzN-cWNkf2lkyzFrRZIgE8JC0twROMeqXjWqgSF2ZTD28Ao15x2ZCAgiZ6Inq1b06UvM8Jd6Vcdoz3NVNXFK/s1600/image2.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Picking off the blueberries.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38meoXj2g3nwIIRD_5Zp21-z_jQp0818Crq2hCUvTTIngnU3DPAHVEEvAex8nbGicI2CLGdk0dxUoBGc8DsTqgdaBDhp2QMozh77XWoYALH_AUZVDVPy0-_ANqSCiQhr7S7rwwtcSj8o6/s1600/image3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38meoXj2g3nwIIRD_5Zp21-z_jQp0818Crq2hCUvTTIngnU3DPAHVEEvAex8nbGicI2CLGdk0dxUoBGc8DsTqgdaBDhp2QMozh77XWoYALH_AUZVDVPy0-_ANqSCiQhr7S7rwwtcSj8o6/s1600/image3.JPG" height="320" width="229" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a little 1-year-old!</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-43343507718186984572015-04-02T06:15:00.000-07:002015-04-02T06:16:16.964-07:00"I wanna walk, I wanna walk!""...a mile in your shooooooooooes." Don't get the reference? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT47WSO08qE" target="_blank">Watch this</a>. Fantastic version. Hands down the best song from my childhood. And that's saying a lot. It beat out 'Backwards Land' and 'Shapes, Shapes!' (NOT <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ5mZIInE6s" target="_blank">this insane techno version</a>).<br />
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Whew, that was almost so annoying I couldn't keep writing.<br />
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Anyhoot - the point is.......Elsie is WALKING! She took her first couple of steps a few weeks ago and is starting to cruise more and more every day. She loves pushing the bee wheely bug at 100mph down the hall (sorry paint trim I just redid) and can walk pretty steady between the couch and the chair.<br />
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She's starting to give her brother a run for his money (pun intended) in the race for toys and it's hilarious to watch them chase each other around their room. She's Freddie's number one fan and boy does he know it. Despite the power struggle (this morning's must-have item? a rubber spatula), they are best friends. Freddie even instructs Els to say good night to him every afternoon before his nap. And, of course, she does it. So sweet!<br />
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Our amazing Elsie celebrated her 11 month old birthday last week. Happy Birthday little gal!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6XANr4phd477Dn12zW1IZK9ik2aUUhC81-P3TB-3B8aBSfk79bbPcvWnq3na3SZj6vZZoKYbWu8xXuu2SjAlURJ1srfLrqCu55v1eB46gm0Tk65ekKiDNEeI3-dNne4U2K08xwIByW4h/s1600/IMG_1778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6XANr4phd477Dn12zW1IZK9ik2aUUhC81-P3TB-3B8aBSfk79bbPcvWnq3na3SZj6vZZoKYbWu8xXuu2SjAlURJ1srfLrqCu55v1eB46gm0Tk65ekKiDNEeI3-dNne4U2K08xwIByW4h/s1600/IMG_1778.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look out! Here she comes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxsGLonoSi1oJqLkv9hQ_BXAdRtshK0lDLANm0FM6DBHSI0dORHFRvj03594Cu1fV0RDJu-ZE7QPW1dnl92os52_Br2oRwxLfCpU8HyoNjqalUJOxmOisPeUfTK8LMusTVRFm3pm_WQCU/s1600/IMG_1776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxsGLonoSi1oJqLkv9hQ_BXAdRtshK0lDLANm0FM6DBHSI0dORHFRvj03594Cu1fV0RDJu-ZE7QPW1dnl92os52_Br2oRwxLfCpU8HyoNjqalUJOxmOisPeUfTK8LMusTVRFm3pm_WQCU/s1600/IMG_1776.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's obviously inherited her mother's crazy smile. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCszUbnb22xXJzS-_KwZpFCvsvTw1rQER4C8Nq0B11LUd_k6X1JQGHT58GsqflNq7SWBbUOLzBSqlBEZME0907ZAc8UzC5yxEd8aHOmyrALaXkQLGhD8IAOsZE8xsfvyzDSmiuBSuaxu0/s1600/IMG_1839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCszUbnb22xXJzS-_KwZpFCvsvTw1rQER4C8Nq0B11LUd_k6X1JQGHT58GsqflNq7SWBbUOLzBSqlBEZME0907ZAc8UzC5yxEd8aHOmyrALaXkQLGhD8IAOsZE8xsfvyzDSmiuBSuaxu0/s1600/IMG_1839.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big kiddo!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPT5uBr8H78or-7lSyKv75u-CxFB7N86sH6txKjN5DSdHLkMZiha7Udhi-sz_hCd_X7-8hJ0yxBPjWG18vOGJ6hgzTXOli3uyvn14ojzjPURtJsIVBsXxTZlfg4qUgvKMp28ub_n7yAjM/s1600/IMG_1837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPT5uBr8H78or-7lSyKv75u-CxFB7N86sH6txKjN5DSdHLkMZiha7Udhi-sz_hCd_X7-8hJ0yxBPjWG18vOGJ6hgzTXOli3uyvn14ojzjPURtJsIVBsXxTZlfg4qUgvKMp28ub_n7yAjM/s1600/IMG_1837.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little maniac on the loose. :)</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-81977114244212037492015-03-22T15:26:00.001-07:002015-03-22T15:26:48.469-07:00'Summer' is here!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went for an exhilarating run yesterday to Portobello Beach. I didn't want to do it <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">— <a href="http://grassyllama.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">my running partner</a> isn't here any more and I'd gotten less than four hours of sleep. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">But, when I couldn't come up with anything else to do (kids were out with William, I was fully caffeinated and there wasn't a new episode of any of my favorite shows available), I headed outside. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">The sun was shining, the park was hopping (where <i>are </i>all these people in the depths of winter? hibernating?) and I set off. At first, I was just going to do my usual 3-4 mile loop but it must have been the sudden burst of vitamin D that propelled me all the way to the beach and beyond. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">I've been hearing rumors of sunny, 60-degree weather (and higher!) in Seattle for weeks now but I've been ignoring them as I pulled on my boots, circled my scarf and popped on my hat every day. Until now. Thank goodness I'm wearing a tank top and shorts, I thought, as I sprinted down the sand. Should I have put on sunscreen? No, I'm sure I'll be OK, I reassured myself. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">And it wasn't just me smelling the sight of summer. There were kids with their tops off, putting their toes in the sea. 50-year old men skateboarding down the </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">promenade. Teenagers wearing t-shirts and backwards hats (wait, that's back in?). Middle-aged couples waiting in line at the ice-cream truck. People playing beach volleyball! Beach volleyball!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">As I finished what ended up being a fantastic 8-mile run (maybe that half marathon won't be so bad after all!), I whipped out my phone to check the temperature. It must be nearly 65 I thought! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;"><b>Nope. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">It was 8</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.3333339691162px;">° Celsius. That's </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">46</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.3333339691162px;">°F</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">. 46!!!!! What's going to happen when we move back and experience a Seattle Spring and Summer? Will we get heat stroke? Should we start carrying umbrellas for shade? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">One thing's for sure, I'm going to miss my fellow Edinburghians who truly know how to make the most of a sunny day. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVmBuHdBqqatFGZF1ODMfD5YkjO1fIQ2I4xloZTXIPVkabcm8TqZKTFZnMAy9c_kH7DqMDKJsVUrD11D0pZBX7ynaffKqNFNbl7XaC5aoNYHy5mhJkQJQ5g9Ww-6GHsdorADix5BVNCth/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVmBuHdBqqatFGZF1ODMfD5YkjO1fIQ2I4xloZTXIPVkabcm8TqZKTFZnMAy9c_kH7DqMDKJsVUrD11D0pZBX7ynaffKqNFNbl7XaC5aoNYHy5mhJkQJQ5g9Ww-6GHsdorADix5BVNCth/s1600/image1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Vitamin D rush continued today. Had to get an ice cream bar <br />for the walk back from the store. It was <span style="line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">7</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.3333339691162px; text-align: start;">°C.</span> </span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-5504962228302871202015-03-15T13:32:00.002-07:002015-03-15T13:32:22.041-07:00No, I'm not moving just to get out of this run<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I know how this will seem. I conveniently decided to move one month before the Edinburgh half marathon that I've trained and <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/charlene-kay2014/" target="_blank">raised money for</a>, <i>just </i>so I don't have to actually run it. I swear that's not what happened! And, to prove it, I am still going to run those 13.1 miles. Just not here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moments ago, I signed up for the 2015 <a href="http://www.promotionevents.com/MothersDay/register.html" target="_blank">Mother's Day Half Marathon in Kirkland</a>. It's on May 10th (US Mother's Day) at 7:30am (those Seattleites like to get started EARLY!), giving me a good week and a half to get over the horrendous jet lag that awaits me and two small children and three less weeks to train than if I was here to do the Edinburgh half on May 31st. Guess I better get cracking with some runs!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to admit, my training lately has been scattered at best. 'Long' runs have consisted of Margaret and I running 20 minutes out to Portobello Beach, getting a coffee and chocolate croissant at the cute cafe on the promenade (once even a full breakfast!), wolfing it down and then running home. Not sure if that's really the recommended runners diet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And this afternoon, I was so tired from waking up at 4:30am (Freddie's having nightmares about dogs and hair salons <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">— the subject of an upcoming blog post, I'm sure) that I only managed 25 minutes. That, and the fact that it is still absolutely freezing here. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, with this new, earlier deadline, I feel excited and energetic! For those of you who have donated already, a massive THANK YOU. I can't believe how much I've raised (over <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">(£650!!). I have less than </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">£100 left before I reach my goal so let's do this! You can <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/charlene-kay2014/" target="_blank">donate here</a> and I promise I won't plan another international move so I can get out of the Kirkland half. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My last run - I think my face was frozen.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_YiMSxK86-fLhZ7yLYMKW_RG24izMvYj2vGiug6Va_XiApaUFp4NhLimMPqFN-BQ7ZJhChKK5XOwopA5z3zSj9Vf837wCa-I9fH8iSFOfh6Xp9Vb3KrOHTgO1Q9PllxEYstDuO0Gw8fd/s1600/IMG_3754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-54921649345363152032015-03-06T06:04:00.000-08:002015-03-06T06:04:04.208-08:00Learning to lie<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apparently, lying starts at a pretty young age. Now, you could call it 'seeing what you can get away with,' but the reality is <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">— it's lying. Here are some of the lies Freddie has fed me lately:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">1. Returns from the bathroom literally one second after he goes in to check for pee. I tell him to go back in and check for real and, looking me straight in the eye, he says 'I did Mama!' I tell him to go in again and I'm going to check on him if he can't tell me the truth and, once again, he returns </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">one second later</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">. 'I peed!' Lie. The next time, we go in together. With me watching at the door he turns, fully clothed, towards the toilet and says in a squeaky little voice 'pee!' I mean, come on. I look smarter than that, don't I Fred?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">2. Half a page is ripped out of one of his books. When I asked what happened he said it just came out on its own after he was done reading it. Hmmmmm. Sounds suspicious. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">3. Me: 'What happened to Elsie's biscotti?' 'She gave it to me, Mama. She all full.' Hmmmmmm. <i>Could </i>be true, but I highly doubt it. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzD9NMP6TFUR1u2wIADlGAxsx9UfECpj_tVDUUcaxtgn1A5m2LriuLpV33CR71ZqPU1F2Yc-JItXhFmI7lMVs5QBZfdi38qyR1Ec5J2CtfWplfF76r4Q1cNYJVZc6WV-oBlmsZEWpayiIw/s1600/IMG_3271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzD9NMP6TFUR1u2wIADlGAxsx9UfECpj_tVDUUcaxtgn1A5m2LriuLpV33CR71ZqPU1F2Yc-JItXhFmI7lMVs5QBZfdi38qyR1Ec5J2CtfWplfF76r4Q1cNYJVZc6WV-oBlmsZEWpayiIw/s1600/IMG_3271.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who, me?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">The funny thing is, at other times he's brutally honest, even turning himself in when he's done something wrong. A couple examples:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">1. Elsie is wailing and has a red mark on her forehead. Me: 'What happened????' Freddie: 'I just wanted to play with that recycle truck so I grabbed it and it hit Elsie in the head so she has an owie. It'll feel better real soon.'</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">2. Freddie is suddenly sans clothes the moment we are about to head out. 'Where'd your clothes go?' I ask, as he was completely dressed a minute ago. His response: 'I too hot so I threw my clothes up on top of the couch. I just wearing my birthday suit to the park.'</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">Let's hope he gets better at it or there's no way he'll be able to sneak out when he's older.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-76538543426642881672015-02-27T06:19:00.002-08:002015-02-27T06:19:35.480-08:00Photo of the week - Freddie in Els's jammies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_32y61hlvbmXR6lMvpo_Jx_-UOPeEe37mEQhtXO7ZIc4gwfet_-ikCdVIB2QttxU_0HzN5hoDYO1v2JXD6w3LQpDtcNmJ0YE2gUZ2OuccZwY1agCOkV68MtHIqXtxZfHhrlj_3e3JUmG/s1600/Fred+in+Els's%2Bjammies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_32y61hlvbmXR6lMvpo_Jx_-UOPeEe37mEQhtXO7ZIc4gwfet_-ikCdVIB2QttxU_0HzN5hoDYO1v2JXD6w3LQpDtcNmJ0YE2gUZ2OuccZwY1agCOkV68MtHIqXtxZfHhrlj_3e3JUmG/s1600/Fred+in+Els's%2Bjammies.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I came into the kids' room yesterday and found Freddie trying to squeeeeeeze himself into one of Elsie's fleece pyjamas. This photo was taken during his proud-of-himself moment (for getting his arms in) but right before he started sobbing because he couldn't also get his legs in. </div>
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Love to see him dressing himself! He can now, usually, get his boxers, trousers, socks and boots on all by himself. He's still working on the shirts and sweaters. Way to go Fred! </div>
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We also had a good laugh about an hour later when I then tried to get his fireman's coat on and it got stuck on my arms so bad I almost called William to come home from work to get me out (my arms were starting to lose feeling!). Sigh. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-19549398846138208572015-02-16T06:09:00.000-08:002015-02-16T06:15:54.447-08:00A new adventure...<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's the end of an era! After almost ten years living in Edinburgh, I am heading back to the good ol' USA in April. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I arrived in this beautiful city in 2005 <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">—</span> a fresh-faced 22-year-old whose biggest worry was understanding her Scottish professors. I thoroughly enjoyed my Master's degree, working in several different labs and transitioning from science to children and freelance writing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've fully embraced life here (I even got a British drivers license after all) and really love the laid-back, international feel of Edinburgh. The architecture (everything and I mean everything looks like a castle), the accents and, above all, the people make it really hard to leave. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To all my friends here <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">— THANK YOU! You have been like family to me. You really have. Please know you have an open invitation to visit us in Seattle any time you can (well, maybe wait a few months until we are moved out of my parent's house!). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To all my friends in Seattle </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">— sorry for being a beast about keeping in touch! Can we be friends again? If you're reading this, then there's a chance. I'm still fairly cool, just with more squinty eye wrinkles and a huge dependence on tea.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Some of the many memories:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0Ctuf0JbxmgeN2L4tG9y1RsJo7MaPLgh5aM9Ph3m33BvIoFGSFWCRJWFbJ_qZSPE0NRCHbHg0GLopOHEMl33t1sGnBXyIjPo0ZVMUfb6I1Rj7HUEgajbvkhpJ4uDaCgyq9-_WHqJeuLi/s1600/Halloween+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0Ctuf0JbxmgeN2L4tG9y1RsJo7MaPLgh5aM9Ph3m33BvIoFGSFWCRJWFbJ_qZSPE0NRCHbHg0GLopOHEMl33t1sGnBXyIjPo0ZVMUfb6I1Rj7HUEgajbvkhpJ4uDaCgyq9-_WHqJeuLi/s1600/Halloween+2010.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween 2010. No caption needed really. Wow. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nOGSNLgn1kQGrECslRmhKrWHDJnyFsYD9jLSrqcI3-J0YeX-jo-MWNizboXTAD3_IZTgqSF0EImM3H7QcVe-Pqfm0X9KyLfoTksayW21zwvpTPR30FgRsBoJtVyWGPHfQRkFBs8frnD8/s1600/Arthur's%2BSeat%2BFeb%2B2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nOGSNLgn1kQGrECslRmhKrWHDJnyFsYD9jLSrqcI3-J0YeX-jo-MWNizboXTAD3_IZTgqSF0EImM3H7QcVe-Pqfm0X9KyLfoTksayW21zwvpTPR30FgRsBoJtVyWGPHfQRkFBs8frnD8/s1600/Arthur's%2BSeat%2BFeb%2B2012.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">March 2012. The top of Arthur's Seat (7 mths pregnant).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0OCdZoWbM-ceDjz234YOgGQ8Fbdisq2rgwmwpiBOihoQNEtSuEvT35-uwnKWOj7JKrMK_MqpLJhozmVul87U9VwXRRCvO1yetFaQqJwV8WHdHd2fvwE5tp7MEUPDlc37eA_jA2r-CwSD/s1600/Half+marathon+June+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0OCdZoWbM-ceDjz234YOgGQ8Fbdisq2rgwmwpiBOihoQNEtSuEvT35-uwnKWOj7JKrMK_MqpLJhozmVul87U9VwXRRCvO1yetFaQqJwV8WHdHd2fvwE5tp7MEUPDlc37eA_jA2r-CwSD/s1600/Half+marathon+June+2010.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June 2010. The Edinburgh half marathon.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwsFOg2DcbYB_zHfofyH2nx-bUsOVH4cDkrOYTVy989hqmjjffcNR1XgZXYfFsoPkYeLT4mCrNXlHj5N3SZoW3CuaLYSd7gee3YmPcQXTdkBl_7GC8wt4g25AGePgovZgOCZzXpBOukT3/s1600/Thanksgiving+2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwsFOg2DcbYB_zHfofyH2nx-bUsOVH4cDkrOYTVy989hqmjjffcNR1XgZXYfFsoPkYeLT4mCrNXlHj5N3SZoW3CuaLYSd7gee3YmPcQXTdkBl_7GC8wt4g25AGePgovZgOCZzXpBOukT3/s1600/Thanksgiving+2006.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: center;">2006. Snagged myself a trendy Irish bf.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August 2010. Francie visiting for the Fringe!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">December 2010. Making snowmen on our lunch break. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0__8y2d1OZdw-tRsAe5AQYihSPOTK7mFVhjAishsVIYchcnWbzloP8IO3jVGc7HZPywMngrRstAefweK9WT4mqAhOkpQDW7JPOXw0IgyN62W2uBiV1cbjBOpwpbS4yjo5BhglkGcskoQ/s1600/Baby+Freddie+May+8,+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0__8y2d1OZdw-tRsAe5AQYihSPOTK7mFVhjAishsVIYchcnWbzloP8IO3jVGc7HZPywMngrRstAefweK9WT4mqAhOkpQDW7JPOXw0IgyN62W2uBiV1cbjBOpwpbS4yjo5BhglkGcskoQ/s1600/Baby+Freddie+May+8,+2012.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May 2012. Baby Freddie. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">December 2014. Elsie and Santa at Dad's Rock.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June 2011. Breakthrough lab. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">November 2014. On the way to the City Chambers!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2008. Sistahs out on the town.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">October 2014. Quite a different Halloween than in the pic above!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">December 2013. With Freddie's friend Rhea in Holyrood Park.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-3240150156432184922015-01-26T13:57:00.000-08:002015-01-26T13:57:22.812-08:00Happy 9 months, Elsie!Elsie is 9 months old! Woahhhhhhhhh. How did that happen? If my math is correct, that means she'll be a year old in just 3 more months. She's a busy gal these days <span class="st">— crawling, 'speaking' (gagagaga, </span><span class="st"><span class="st">dadadada</span>), pulling herself up, standing and snuggling. She loves playing with the train set with her older bro, splashing in the bath (and during swimming lessons), reading Goodnight Moon, standing up by the toy kitchen, trying to get her hands on Freddie's Big Bird and Baby Kearns, crawling away as fast as she can when it's time to change her diaper and eating rice cakes. What a gal! Boy do we love her. Happy 9 months Els!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6fcmdD1Bi1m7U-7KAoK0fstvR0FaMylmdySAso4ZnG4t3ZTiN3o53gX9Q4s8QC9jtHjtTzT_41o4qut7NhtS23cmg3LPSZohpZRgDoOfzjUiLpY8QwuHEK4aJNi1vaCC80S5Ry4MaFmF1/s1600/IMG_1637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6fcmdD1Bi1m7U-7KAoK0fstvR0FaMylmdySAso4ZnG4t3ZTiN3o53gX9Q4s8QC9jtHjtTzT_41o4qut7NhtS23cmg3LPSZohpZRgDoOfzjUiLpY8QwuHEK4aJNi1vaCC80S5Ry4MaFmF1/s1600/IMG_1637.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't believe Mama found the sticker!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDRPJICEPRTPCX-Iz7Isul41Ku6gBc84fETZ7tEkV_t-h31pFnq7JOHvAzB8Etxp9-Nsg9FaySSIvAF8UP1x4G_Aw4yX85ZNj33bgIb7iXTkGnbdw8b77cEjajRnrdT0aijyxE2fbgtjk/s1600/IMG_1638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDRPJICEPRTPCX-Iz7Isul41Ku6gBc84fETZ7tEkV_t-h31pFnq7JOHvAzB8Etxp9-Nsg9FaySSIvAF8UP1x4G_Aw4yX85ZNj33bgIb7iXTkGnbdw8b77cEjajRnrdT0aijyxE2fbgtjk/s1600/IMG_1638.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go Hawks! Excited for the big game Sunday.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-53130708313122852902015-01-11T12:57:00.001-08:002015-01-11T12:58:58.449-08:00We know that one!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDJpEz74jD6O__08r8APgsmu_tmw9b8bba9cpzXGoPCAVDHBSlQsxqe7LW7Pgqrg6Q19BYptwIdQbPVZd7FT_MEqnKkdbcWou9-KchPlkJRgwZ76VGraVDx5uuO94XbrRO3h-jB1nGYlS/s1600/Great+Winter+Run+2015,+pic+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDJpEz74jD6O__08r8APgsmu_tmw9b8bba9cpzXGoPCAVDHBSlQsxqe7LW7Pgqrg6Q19BYptwIdQbPVZd7FT_MEqnKkdbcWou9-KchPlkJRgwZ76VGraVDx5uuO94XbrRO3h-jB1nGYlS/s1600/Great+Winter+Run+2015,+pic+2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huddling together for warmth</td></tr>
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Freddie has been really into music lately. He always sings himself a few songs before he falls asleep at night, sometimes adjusting the lyrics to fit the day/his mood ('Twinkle twinkle little pizza'). And one<span class="st"> of our favorite activities is an after-dinner dance party </span><span class="st"><span class="st">— we blast 'Skip to My Loo' and take off down the hall or get every stuffed animal down from the shelves and throw them in the air (watch out Elsie!) while singing along to Raffi's version of 'Pick a Bale O'Cotton.'</span></span><br />
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<span class="st"><span class="st">Speaking of perhaps the biggest musical influence of my childhood other than my dad, we recently received some fantastic Raffi CDs from my parents. Some kids songs can really grate on your nerves, with the overly enthusiastic vocals and extremely peppy music, but Raffi is actually quite enjoyable to listen to. </span></span><br />
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<span class="st"><span class="st">A lot of the songs on the CDs were new to us, but every time one was played that Freddie knew (either because we have it on another CD or I sing it around the house), he shouted "We know that one!!!!" very excitedly. It's like he's so into his own world that he can't believe that other people (my parents) know the same songs we do. </span></span><br />
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<span class="st"><span class="st">'Baby Beluga' came on. "We know that one!" Then 'Apples and Bananas' and 'Down on Grandpa's Farm.' "WE KNOW THAT ONE!!!" </span></span><span class="st"><span class="st"><span class="st"><span class="st">"WE KNOW THAT ONE!!!" </span></span>It was really cute to see him so excited.</span></span><br />
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<span class="st"><span class="st">Then, yesterday when we were out in the FREEZING cold (I cannot stress enough how cold it was) watching William run the Edinburgh Great Winter Run, he waddled (in a pair of sweats, sweater, snowsuit, jacket over the snowsuit, hat, wellies, etc.) through the snow and hail with me and Elsie over to watch the runners get warmed up to go. As usual, they had a very fit individual leading the shivering public in some pre-run exercises to some very loud, high-energy music. </span></span><br />
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<span class="st"><span class="st">With the song blasting in our ears, Freddie in his semi-frozen state looked up at me with a huge smile on his face and said "Mama - We know that one!!!" It was Taylor Swift's "Shake it Out." </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorC4NcRwRMUa_qx9OrorC64xcTWbGWlz8TOjY7OhYwlXlsGaoYeSy3QP578knFCkEbcC1H6Iz94WY2fivokspSvNo7ot43QpPeETCscmZrLS2dO6rLueQNvVrvLp6PNxzLqIdOyUnpyyE/s1600/Great+Winter+Run+2015,+pic+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorC4NcRwRMUa_qx9OrorC64xcTWbGWlz8TOjY7OhYwlXlsGaoYeSy3QP578knFCkEbcC1H6Iz94WY2fivokspSvNo7ot43QpPeETCscmZrLS2dO6rLueQNvVrvLp6PNxzLqIdOyUnpyyE/s1600/Great+Winter+Run+2015,+pic+3.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right before it started snowing</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wishing I'd brought my hat.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-84892716992627654232015-01-05T06:55:00.000-08:002015-01-05T06:55:26.837-08:00I Like To Move It, Move It<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0tcss60cM2sm_IDgyzUSYE82aJ-qpzJkWjvuG1ybwglfO4YGApY7skak9iADaIm3zddO7PTan7t_UQhjPXBcGEc958fooTAI8Y8wNJUM5qjyfA_6D8fc4cQ45QP8U0BcGE7x1PMXfbpE/s1600/ElsDec2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0tcss60cM2sm_IDgyzUSYE82aJ-qpzJkWjvuG1ybwglfO4YGApY7skak9iADaIm3zddO7PTan7t_UQhjPXBcGEc958fooTAI8Y8wNJUM5qjyfA_6D8fc4cQ45QP8U0BcGE7x1PMXfbpE/s1600/ElsDec2014.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pulling things off of shelves.</td></tr>
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Elsie has been on the move for 3 months now. Yes, that's right <span class="st">— she started a worm-like maneuver when she was just over 5 months old. Shocking that the second child who is rarely held figured things out so quickly, huh! Well, boy did she ever and the gal never stops now. She can crawl with the best of 'em and I imagine sings <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdcTmpvDO0I" target="_blank">this tune</a> to herself at least a few times over the course of a day. </span><br />
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<span class="st">It's been fun to watch her interact more with her older brother, especially when it comes to the classic "It's mine" toy debacle. They enjoy a good tug-of-war every now and then and have also started wrestling. Luckily, they seem to rein it in before anyone gets hurt, although I do wonder if they're going to grow up to be those siblings who bite each other. Yikes!</span><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: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7pND0iSNph26nvZYQf9boTlBysc_4X4ETY0TNbi-4hgDRo4FLgQPQ8fUmSWz5PNPIIf02Qk6zstTdpzeYR0iW4vhGv-HTtMTfjRkKtKdH1oWCeRXaP3nYcFBjXvMP0_Qt4B8vyZMuvhR/s1600/ElsiePushUpOct2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7pND0iSNph26nvZYQf9boTlBysc_4X4ETY0TNbi-4hgDRo4FLgQPQ8fUmSWz5PNPIIf02Qk6zstTdpzeYR0iW4vhGv-HTtMTfjRkKtKdH1oWCeRXaP3nYcFBjXvMP0_Qt4B8vyZMuvhR/s1600/ElsiePushUpOct2014.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Push ups in her Halloween costume.</td></tr>
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<span class="st">She started pulling herself up on the couch (and us) a couple weeks ago and this morning I saw her squat a little so I'm going to go ahead and predict she'll master walking before her 1st birthday. Go Elsie go!</span><br /><span class="st"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxwKtwdjiJKAiRteZLASBIf-bX1ko4vACbWADHrHqQSfBzUAGKCtFsQgIuxsyKu11Tb2Q1s548eiI_CdQ9cObdUpvPRb-vgWyiaf0F34RtbSE_ELD8WD6mmFk8lVsFc2mVCg1qQNnIOil/s1600/ElsTryingToGetFredDec2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxwKtwdjiJKAiRteZLASBIf-bX1ko4vACbWADHrHqQSfBzUAGKCtFsQgIuxsyKu11Tb2Q1s548eiI_CdQ9cObdUpvPRb-vgWyiaf0F34RtbSE_ELD8WD6mmFk8lVsFc2mVCg1qQNnIOil/s1600/ElsTryingToGetFredDec2014.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Literally on his heels. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLOwjcRRpOEHLwxgYGH39FlYTb_GGdqmR-9vP0Nv_QoXpB_VHWcuhB1Oea-DbomCoAqOK_4gDzF5d26h-wVjmA7c33ekRPSvkraXJ7e4fkIy7ngjiArNkbNxBxLcHhzFwtKCnwoC_TgPU/s1600/ElsieJanuary2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLOwjcRRpOEHLwxgYGH39FlYTb_GGdqmR-9vP0Nv_QoXpB_VHWcuhB1Oea-DbomCoAqOK_4gDzF5d26h-wVjmA7c33ekRPSvkraXJ7e4fkIy7ngjiArNkbNxBxLcHhzFwtKCnwoC_TgPU/s1600/ElsieJanuary2015.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading into the kitchen to bake herself a pie.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnVSFDEF5Y8VOeijWAhIeut4ogkd643InUScbJ5aTnUW1fPzedgnILjKrzaU-1RJMMmQMMOIPSSLHDsrpGQJnhuMYIPcw3aZqm4tFpbzrgdc3Sm79cSVGFesL7WX_DBs6D89kfTbgW98m/s1600/ElsieOnFredDec2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnVSFDEF5Y8VOeijWAhIeut4ogkd643InUScbJ5aTnUW1fPzedgnILjKrzaU-1RJMMmQMMOIPSSLHDsrpGQJnhuMYIPcw3aZqm4tFpbzrgdc3Sm79cSVGFesL7WX_DBs6D89kfTbgW98m/s1600/ElsieOnFredDec2014.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She legitimately won this match.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKQsLHLJqSyfhw6Az9BcGHCbGooAlrfgA2xjBCETZyqAxVQyCxXIMCUNA8drRkXhT9yVcuw2ksNxqQMskzlBZfROFF2Q1xpSdQxaKi0igwD3PcS_0fjKXxFZFXWo9eucWi1ax4kSil9Lp/s1600/ElsiePushUpDec2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKQsLHLJqSyfhw6Az9BcGHCbGooAlrfgA2xjBCETZyqAxVQyCxXIMCUNA8drRkXhT9yVcuw2ksNxqQMskzlBZfROFF2Q1xpSdQxaKi0igwD3PcS_0fjKXxFZFXWo9eucWi1ax4kSil9Lp/s1600/ElsiePushUpDec2014.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both trying to open the Goro's Christmas package. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKiKktrpV2weqDZjfc00pq6QzvWBs_TukolZpisUPLkAh6WzewOyAelNmjw7-i_45sZ8Vrn3wZhYWIdzSIjUEtdF5hFshbBXbT7uY9wRFaZJFWHJRYhEJ6fYyWzMW2cIZ2O7IrEicoqMi/s1600/ElsNov2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKiKktrpV2weqDZjfc00pq6QzvWBs_TukolZpisUPLkAh6WzewOyAelNmjw7-i_45sZ8Vrn3wZhYWIdzSIjUEtdF5hFshbBXbT7uY9wRFaZJFWHJRYhEJ6fYyWzMW2cIZ2O7IrEicoqMi/s1600/ElsNov2014.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at me! I'm always in my PJs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnPiRkhlmuPpmvyIALaoDuBPdIub0804nEaaUo9d52otgWGilVVmWCT1RH3c8K-1LJ4m_0h5hPZjEKf8BjTxd3IxLDOqvuAMoS2jjCcfrQrt_XyWR_6NRO0J9Os1xXYfWEodeAzxwLmBk/s1600/ElsInWalkerDec2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnPiRkhlmuPpmvyIALaoDuBPdIub0804nEaaUo9d52otgWGilVVmWCT1RH3c8K-1LJ4m_0h5hPZjEKf8BjTxd3IxLDOqvuAMoS2jjCcfrQrt_XyWR_6NRO0J9Os1xXYfWEodeAzxwLmBk/s1600/ElsInWalkerDec2014.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where there's a will, there's a way. </td></tr>
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<span class="st"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-15499560502060674882015-01-01T06:27:00.001-08:002015-01-01T06:27:43.210-08:00Happy New Year! Happy New Year everyone! How does 2015 feel so far? Futuristic? I wish I could say I stayed up to see the clock strike 12 but, to the surprise of probably no one, I fell asleep at 10:30. Luckily, I got to experience the first few hours of 2015 with my lovely daughter Elsie who woke up at 3am with a poop that not only exploded out of her diaper and through her three layers of pajamas but also onto her bleary-eyed mother. Thanks Els! I think she enjoyed that 3am bath just as much as I did.<br />
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We had a great Christmas in Ireland. With the excitement of Santa, a big family Christmas dinner, St. Stephens' Day dinner and Elsie's Christening all happening right after each other, it was a good week of unwrapping presents, playing, eating and socializing. <br />
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Instead of flying to Dublin like we usually do, we decided to take the ferry to Belfast this time. And, despite a longgggggg detour due to a landslide on the way there, it was a great move. The kids did fab in the car, the ferry was a blast and we got to bring (and take home) a LOT of stuff. Any way to avoid the wear-everything-you-own-situation-just-to-make-your-bag-light-enough for Ryanair works for me!<br />
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Here are some photo highlights of our trip:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmGx0XuS0dxl6IjEntISxbghyphenhyphenmkmyUdATQNLHRgB7R5ahVdodPPIoAOkHR9I3zytymesuTg56QVdsro1e6zWdGDt-tgMRn0s7Fl_6uKY8lPtDW0PfE8rfgNvUMoOxoG-4BPzQPSdRXk8r/s1600/Ferry+pic+2+23Dec2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmGx0XuS0dxl6IjEntISxbghyphenhyphenmkmyUdATQNLHRgB7R5ahVdodPPIoAOkHR9I3zytymesuTg56QVdsro1e6zWdGDt-tgMRn0s7Fl_6uKY8lPtDW0PfE8rfgNvUMoOxoG-4BPzQPSdRXk8r/s1600/Ferry+pic+2+23Dec2014.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrOmSEiJFZSWNrS7lLBcc749OTC3Ib4z3O5yGUNs1Ph2c945adh1CbTxsjw381O1UHuOAW4HDXVjAUwOXrFBgYLtLvzB0ZKsa1tK2ElTqdEHb2YRd0AtKRLVBqWCVpgAAVFFqzjbnAgG0/s1600/Ferry+pic+1+23Dec2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrOmSEiJFZSWNrS7lLBcc749OTC3Ib4z3O5yGUNs1Ph2c945adh1CbTxsjw381O1UHuOAW4HDXVjAUwOXrFBgYLtLvzB0ZKsa1tK2ElTqdEHb2YRd0AtKRLVBqWCVpgAAVFFqzjbnAgG0/s1600/Ferry+pic+1+23Dec2014.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPJPFOHU2OhyphenhyphenrD_r5RPBUEg7f2e_kaAT8viP6zxY3E7RQHuizpc4NF-feoh3ZZuP_knC6URX4NYTcZO_lPOkrdFJPEuICdfb7A1Bi6u2WMAqUaFsjXT5qSTVouPpcoSLGSQMCr39fp2cB/s1600/Ferry+pic+3+23Dec2014+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPJPFOHU2OhyphenhyphenrD_r5RPBUEg7f2e_kaAT8viP6zxY3E7RQHuizpc4NF-feoh3ZZuP_knC6URX4NYTcZO_lPOkrdFJPEuICdfb7A1Bi6u2WMAqUaFsjXT5qSTVouPpcoSLGSQMCr39fp2cB/s1600/Ferry+pic+3+23Dec2014+.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jammies all day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4l8qpqYGy9VyuVMxLbjRFvlxlTha__PKUek6MP3LaL4-diCXyBSfpqjZlYAYrxDj576l8V28oDxh2C06bk4xpraL3AowsBtlRtWc3Pga5tBcovmwYMWzri5lpo5BAk6RWOXyOzEmJ05m/s1600/W,+Anthony,+Els+Christening+27Dec2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4l8qpqYGy9VyuVMxLbjRFvlxlTha__PKUek6MP3LaL4-diCXyBSfpqjZlYAYrxDj576l8V28oDxh2C06bk4xpraL3AowsBtlRtWc3Pga5tBcovmwYMWzri5lpo5BAk6RWOXyOzEmJ05m/s1600/W,+Anthony,+Els+Christening+27Dec2014.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">William, Elsie and her godfather Anthony</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cnkI1iIw23sH0hwwY7-eY-ZN8LDzBfK4HrUZCEFUmyVov2jyyWJIhaFNrFANSoppNQ37NNxjsBHYqJvVJwwNcWQ2lycey8-TmrlyLBbhWKJeR_OMmR9dtDrEKtdTuQM9kUzx1gxtWDms/s1600/Christmas+kids+table+2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cnkI1iIw23sH0hwwY7-eY-ZN8LDzBfK4HrUZCEFUmyVov2jyyWJIhaFNrFANSoppNQ37NNxjsBHYqJvVJwwNcWQ2lycey8-TmrlyLBbhWKJeR_OMmR9dtDrEKtdTuQM9kUzx1gxtWDms/s1600/Christmas+kids+table+2014.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids table on Christmas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjB08eFHOyEUh8gJef00Ym0kcsB5PIyp-MC1h46tsVRD4JQsYiHuuROlSDJi_I_mYGAsR6xCCF27Tlmluoo4fPFECLc9lr_xB1pfZmgG8BSEu5ARuRmOd3p3X9E4IFYnQILUEKOXLHnA7/s1600/Elsie+Christening+cake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjB08eFHOyEUh8gJef00Ym0kcsB5PIyp-MC1h46tsVRD4JQsYiHuuROlSDJi_I_mYGAsR6xCCF27Tlmluoo4fPFECLc9lr_xB1pfZmgG8BSEu5ARuRmOd3p3X9E4IFYnQILUEKOXLHnA7/s1600/Elsie+Christening+cake.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elsie's Christening cake</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0a0Hxwu-GkWK2NMcF1ipKWqKBQanAnK7NJBVm4LHvuniukQUin6yCRqKEaP1qwDTgF7fDzi1KPxeJYN8iN8nIPd7xsLNYbazBaSkdADX9GzAn8AHjO-r0UhpaBxFhuca2uwk8OcXeX7g/s1600/C,W,E+Christening+27Dec2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0a0Hxwu-GkWK2NMcF1ipKWqKBQanAnK7NJBVm4LHvuniukQUin6yCRqKEaP1qwDTgF7fDzi1KPxeJYN8iN8nIPd7xsLNYbazBaSkdADX9GzAn8AHjO-r0UhpaBxFhuca2uwk8OcXeX7g/s1600/C,W,E+Christening+27Dec2014.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-60830214551223609222014-12-05T00:35:00.000-08:002014-12-05T00:35:03.594-08:00We got hitched!After nine years together, William and I got married November 21st at 2:30pm. We were thrilled both our families could make it (despite us giving them six weeks notice!) and a lot of our Edinburgh friends.<br />
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A couple highlights from the day -<br />
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- Getting my hair done by the fabulous Lesleyanne Kearns.<br />
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- My dad (who arrived in Edinburgh two hours before the ceremony) left his glasses in the taxi from the airport so I took him and my mom to a drug store on the Royal Mile on the way to the Registrar to get a pair.<br />
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- Then, because we were early (and tired), we stopped at Starbucks to get a coffee before walking the rest of the way up the Mile. Some great comments from the Starbucks baristas!<br />
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- Keeley and Freddie walking down the aisle holding hands. Margaret, the only one with her hands free, holding Elsie, a bottle and a burp rag.<br />
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- Anna having the rings instead of Stephen (and because Freddie decided last minute to hold Keeley's hand instead of the rings). <br />
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- Walking down the aisle with my parents and trying to hold it together.<br />
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- Nursing Elsie in the car right outside the Lothian Chambers building.<br />
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- Driving to our reception at Hemma with Freddie plugging his ears and yelling 'I don't like loud noise! No like loud noise!" (our exhaust pipe broke that morning)<br />
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- Great food and friends. Fun to have all the kiddos!<br />
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- Celebrating our 'honeymoon' by my nieces, two of my sisters, myself and Freddie getting the flu. Ha!<br />
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Thanks SO much to the talented <a href="http://www.raymondkeithphotography.co.uk/" target="_blank">Raymond Keith</a> for taking our photos. <br />
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<span class="st">Anyway, as a way to say 'I'm sorry' for my lack of posts, I've decided to share one of my best parenting tips. And although it might be somewhat controversial, I've been living according to this rule pretty much since Elsie was born and I stand by it 100%.</span><br />
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<span class="st"><b>Don't fold laundry. Ever. </b></span><br />
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<span class="st">Or at least not the kids' clothes. What's the point! They just get food or mud all over themselves right after they're dressed anyway. Now that Elsie's eating solid foods, I change her clothes at least two times a day </span><span class="st">— usually three. </span><br />
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<span class="st">So now, every night when William and I see that giant, never-ending pile of clean laundry on our couch, we simply divide it into <i>piles</i> of clothes belonging to Freddie and Elsie and then stuff the piles into their drawers. </span><br />
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<span class="st">You won't believe all the time we save by not folding anything! If you're finding it hard to fit in cutting your nails, washing your sheets or the latest episode of 'Geordie Shore,' I highly recommend you stop folding your clothes. You'll never go back!</span><br />
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<span class="st">Now, since photos of heaps of laundry are boring as all H, here are a couple cute pics of the kids from recently. </span><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/AVvXsEjF2O8cQ87zwxF_BbaJzkq-fWEsIYm_Q58_yvZ_q3n_N6gSTkLOs_GFj-L2gukOrOQAa5Xd6OWoYSGLu4w8wGmiFc9Z31E_JIGZetwwTj_o2bLYgkm5uuwUbfHVw1aVsnCG2iVaRA7y_UY6/s1600/Elsie+Pizza+Express+Nov+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2O8cQ87zwxF_BbaJzkq-fWEsIYm_Q58_yvZ_q3n_N6gSTkLOs_GFj-L2gukOrOQAa5Xd6OWoYSGLu4w8wGmiFc9Z31E_JIGZetwwTj_o2bLYgkm5uuwUbfHVw1aVsnCG2iVaRA7y_UY6/s320/Elsie+Pizza+Express+Nov+2014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Els out for dinner the other night. She got her first tooth yesterday!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Y9N6-AyY9BkxexsbhzjAdqEVZyiwut0f26IwVwib7gG1D6Ss9sUIYOQ65MepmjNVxYGJgXxtj1y_LIfuUcfFsDSbeO0Dpa6uOhCcWnu79esTzWti2dB_8U53gusg_6frL3R-ZulR851x/s1600/Freddie+with+his+2+and+a+half+birthday+cake+Nov+5+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Y9N6-AyY9BkxexsbhzjAdqEVZyiwut0f26IwVwib7gG1D6Ss9sUIYOQ65MepmjNVxYGJgXxtj1y_LIfuUcfFsDSbeO0Dpa6uOhCcWnu79esTzWti2dB_8U53gusg_6frL3R-ZulR851x/s320/Freddie+with+his+2+and+a+half+birthday+cake+Nov+5+2014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freddie with his 2 and a half year-old birthday cake (a train!). Choo Choo!</td></tr>
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<span class="st"> </span><span class="st"><b> </b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-462714264609660155.post-62097120211599870222014-10-02T11:40:00.001-07:002014-10-02T11:40:49.142-07:00Guess who?There's no doubting Freddie and Elsie are siblings. I've always thought their red hair, round cheeks and big blue eyes are a pretty close match. However, it was only recently that I realized just <i>how </i>much these two look alike. All thanks to big blue snowsuit...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvvWmq7-IWpg7YEz7eediTF1SHFuAk04Rm-apHmbisl30OXailjffxNlyR80LrVE22vn96DauhzjF8LOPKJrYD7plINWOF2AnTkZV_7NH_JQzvvYECAF2evih6-kt33R6llYn5a8u2s_Q/s1600/IMG_4713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvvWmq7-IWpg7YEz7eediTF1SHFuAk04Rm-apHmbisl30OXailjffxNlyR80LrVE22vn96DauhzjF8LOPKJrYD7plINWOF2AnTkZV_7NH_JQzvvYECAF2evih6-kt33R6llYn5a8u2s_Q/s1600/IMG_4713.JPG" height="320" width="268" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZ5uOX11vIqle8PY46g_KuXWd4dh-1nos3JWpHzzVIO-OiYfDGuu_mVpit7GGfaMLJQ4Au34B5u0ZUQz0PA3POm7BPESEGhwMCzdS0OF4DkPyxOe9ugeIPB1MLmJwul7sOgGRFOa_-0Ir/s1600/Els+on+swing+in+snowsuit,+so+like+Fred+Sept+2014+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZ5uOX11vIqle8PY46g_KuXWd4dh-1nos3JWpHzzVIO-OiYfDGuu_mVpit7GGfaMLJQ4Au34B5u0ZUQz0PA3POm7BPESEGhwMCzdS0OF4DkPyxOe9ugeIPB1MLmJwul7sOgGRFOa_-0Ir/s1600/Els+on+swing+in+snowsuit,+so+like+Fred+Sept+2014+cropped.jpg" height="320" width="278" /></a><br />
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PS I redid my blog header. Elsie is official now!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18348810922840151370noreply@blogger.com5