tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246218042024-03-07T13:57:10.945-08:00Living the Adventure...John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.comBlogger443125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-78342697077186465202013-01-21T13:37:00.004-08:002013-01-21T13:37:39.203-08:00Amazing Weekend in Austin<br />
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m flying home right now from an incredible
weekend spent in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span class="apple-converted-space">Austin</span></st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state></st1:place>
with our best friends Adam and Amber-Rose Zimel and their five great kids. Brace yourself for a pretty long entry - this is a long flight and I have some time to kill. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many
moons ago </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">more than 10 years
ago now), the Zimels and we were all living around </span><st1:place style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Portland</st1:city></st1:place><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and we were introduced through
mutual friends. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Zimels
were similar to us in that they they were young parents with a baby boy who were trying to
balance many different obligations – work, school, family, etc. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To say the least, m</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">uch has happened since our initial introduction. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our
friendship with the Zimels deepened when we were all living in </span><st1:city style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Portland</st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and we would see each other multiple
times per week. Adam and I started a men’s group together (which would
ultimately form the group of guys who participate in our annual “</span><a href="http://johnswilson.blogspot.com/2010/09/awesome-guys-weekend-in-olympic.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Guys’Weekend</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">), and Missi and Amber-Rose would meet frequently. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> We ate together, played together, vacationed together, figured out how to parent together, and worked on home improvement projects together. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our friendship grew and deepened, so
you can imagine how devastated we were when they packed up their RV – literally –
and headed out for </span><st1:state style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Florida</st1:place></st1:state><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They made it to </span><st1:city style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on">Jacksonville
Beach</st1:city><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><st1:state style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on">Florida</st1:state><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, but decided that
they enjoyed </span><st1:city style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on">Austin</st1:city><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><st1:state style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on">Texas</st1:state><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
more, so they turned back around and settled in </span><st1:city style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Austin</st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although
we live far apart, we still consider the Zimels to be our closest and best friends, as
we have lived so much life together and our families are so similar.
Thankfully, this friendship hasn't waned despite the many miles between us. Since that time we have lived in Eugene, and now Seattle, but we
still try to see each other at least once or twice per year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A
few weeks ago Amber-Rose contacted me and said that Adam is turning the big 3-0
this year, and so she wanted to do something special for him. She asked me if I would be
interested in coming out to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Austin</st1:place></st1:city>
for a special birthday weekend. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It
took me about 0.8 seconds to determine that I would do what ever it took to
make it <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Austin</st1:place></st1:city>
for this special event. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>And
Amber-Rose generously offered to buy my plane ticket to come out to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Austin</st1:place></st1:city> for the celebration!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>And one
of the best things about this whole weekend was that Adam had no idea I was coming.</u></b> <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I took a
redeye flight from <st1:city w:st="on">Seattle</st1:city> on Thursday night and
landed in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Austin</st1:place></st1:city>
about 8:30 on Friday. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>After
going back to the Zimel’s house and playing with the kids a bit, I headed over
to Adam’s officer for the big “reveal.” <span class="apple-converted-space"> Here are a few photos of the kids enjoying a few of the gifts I brought from Seattle. </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeYkpAl2nvZJCBsIPoTvykuFhUlzayMQlYF1nzSvV_dXZlcuTp7KkiHMJilDyJ482dRs92l-HfMuBzjNT0xY6U1pd4b6xwPjJBYVE_vE9l9Y5LJLwlJTspZk35-yovnCLheC_/s1600/04_IMG_1339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeYkpAl2nvZJCBsIPoTvykuFhUlzayMQlYF1nzSvV_dXZlcuTp7KkiHMJilDyJ482dRs92l-HfMuBzjNT0xY6U1pd4b6xwPjJBYVE_vE9l9Y5LJLwlJTspZk35-yovnCLheC_/s400/04_IMG_1339.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0FwBrqVnM6fpxuVuRpq8NWbNqItV1i4eUDuAY-hKgu70A3AJ4b8JIFUtNkhQd4ThTb1wN_Ltk_qtnslaNz5RuAIOaLiOqldhFDCI8jyKXWK-m5up-qPclkhkxy9VX2EjZG6T/s1600/02_IMG_1337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0FwBrqVnM6fpxuVuRpq8NWbNqItV1i4eUDuAY-hKgu70A3AJ4b8JIFUtNkhQd4ThTb1wN_Ltk_qtnslaNz5RuAIOaLiOqldhFDCI8jyKXWK-m5up-qPclkhkxy9VX2EjZG6T/s400/02_IMG_1337.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;">I had previously set up a phone call with Adam to discuss “some really important” things with him. When </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;">we connected on the phone, I asked Adam if he could go down to the </span><a href="http://www.houndstoothcoffee.com/" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" target="_blank">coffee shop</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;"> located below his office so we could talk. When he came down from his office to have “the call,” I was waiting at the coffee shop. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;">Here we are just a minute or two after the surprise:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eSuvDyh57nAXDX-04kbHmcjAZwUGTEdzADO-l3giMEjybbR5M58lKzg2iRKf4Rt2IpbCZtgADU75h-f2Kc7T7lmO1w9RY0-OS-lgFVW_QXkGhj1lHzeFsM00Mwn61GCuvISw/s1600/05_IMG_1342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eSuvDyh57nAXDX-04kbHmcjAZwUGTEdzADO-l3giMEjybbR5M58lKzg2iRKf4Rt2IpbCZtgADU75h-f2Kc7T7lmO1w9RY0-OS-lgFVW_QXkGhj1lHzeFsM00Mwn61GCuvISw/s400/05_IMG_1342.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One
of Adam’s passions in life besides his faith, family, and work is basketball,
and to celebrate his birthday we had a full weekend of basketball. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>On Friday night we traveled with several
of Adam’s friends to attend a San Antonio Spurs game. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Before the game we ate dinner at a
<a href="http://www.boudros.com/" target="_blank">nice place along the San Antonio Riverwalk</a>. <span class="apple-converted-space"> The game was lots of fun and the <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400278310" target="_blank">home crowd went home happy with a Spurs win</a>. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">View of the San Antonio RiverWalk</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9igvPAzOzgry0yfHRBTXQ7Vhuq-dgSPvRHF1RPERIn9A4AJzsNEpiLuFJZUs4RK8yFNdBszU03ox4diyAkfCdGk9KhI2PiXmiyzEyax_Pkd8huJE4t6hGYecMMK47FnOCeFCT/s1600/09_IMG_1347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9igvPAzOzgry0yfHRBTXQ7Vhuq-dgSPvRHF1RPERIn9A4AJzsNEpiLuFJZUs4RK8yFNdBszU03ox4diyAkfCdGk9KhI2PiXmiyzEyax_Pkd8huJE4t6hGYecMMK47FnOCeFCT/s400/09_IMG_1347.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another shot of the RiverWalk</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLEMFMqMM7dLuRk69YK2PM8nXVzMgPu_yG_L33kbaYPPNLMRQDTIcR5R41XTo8Oba_2ZKnKViU8S4qMDy3aYT0x1vu9NQG_Rq_LBXOcLd9OtMskFgEi9cbTOeguJu6ObD41zM/s1600/10_IMG_1348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLEMFMqMM7dLuRk69YK2PM8nXVzMgPu_yG_L33kbaYPPNLMRQDTIcR5R41XTo8Oba_2ZKnKViU8S4qMDy3aYT0x1vu9NQG_Rq_LBXOcLd9OtMskFgEi9cbTOeguJu6ObD41zM/s400/10_IMG_1348.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not the most flattering picture of Adam, but you can't fault the guy for enjoying his birthday dessert. I think we should have told him that he couldn't eat the candle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Spurs' NBA championship trophies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">View from our seats at the Spurs game.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another shot from our seats at the game. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">On the drive back to <st1:city w:st="on">Austin</st1:city>
after the game I was able to experience <a href="http://www.bucees.com/" target="_blank">Buc-ee’s</a> </span><span style="color: #222222;">for the first time. Buc-ee's is apparently </span><span style="color: #222222;">a real </span><st1:state style="color: #222222;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Texas</st1:place></st1:state><span style="color: #222222;"> institution, and it did not disappoint. </span><span style="color: #222222;">Think of a really nice convenience
store on steroids (like they say, everything is bigger in Texas). </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;">This
place was pretty incredible. Side note: Buc-ee's is incredibly proud of its bathrooms. They are immaculate, and they have a full-time employee inside the bathroom cleaning them continuously. The guys told me that I had to check them out, and I'll admit that they were the nicest public restrooms I've ever seen. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is Buc-ee's in all its Texas-sized glory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Buc-ee's has a full deli case of beef and turkey jerky, and they offer samples of any type you want. I think we spent about 15 minutes trying about a half-dozen different types of jerky. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Buc-ee's is apparently famous for their "Beaver Nuggets" and "Buc-ee's Nug-ees." These are essentially flavored air, and I'm sure made of 100% organic ingredients. The Nug-ee's are the spicy/savory variety, and the Beaver Nuggets are sugary. We bought a bag of the Beaver Nuggets and I had a handful. They were pretty tasty but I felt the symptoms of early-onset diabetes after I ate them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kind of a strange thing to be proud of, but probably well-deserved. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On
Saturday morning we watched Adam coach his son Elijah’s basketball team.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coach Adam gathers the team. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elijah's team won easily. I love Isaac's expression in this photo (and in most photos, to be honest). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Saturday
afternoon we attended the </span><st1:place style="color: #222222;" w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">Texas</st1:placename></st1:place><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;">men’s basketball game against the #4
ranked Kansas Jayhawks. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;">We
watched the game from a suite with some guys from Adam’s work, and it was a
really fun time. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;">The
Longhorn’s couldn't pull off the victory, but it was a really good game. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;">After the game we saw former NFL
quarterback (and Texas Longhorn legend) Vince Young.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the Longhorns' basketball game. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me with the birthday boy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With Longhorn legend Vince Young. Hook 'em Horns! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnYWk1QWnTEYKg6ZPI7SA4vcnVJEXfoWaNDk-25wFF8z-TAfuHb7qkEOQPtG3kSuDlMeFz1PZFIIp_-JkkB4BEk2mltcNadqrGVA4KSMKU-tobpFM3FYSiSbtkwaFv3iuZ0tt/s1600/27_IMG_1376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnYWk1QWnTEYKg6ZPI7SA4vcnVJEXfoWaNDk-25wFF8z-TAfuHb7qkEOQPtG3kSuDlMeFz1PZFIIp_-JkkB4BEk2mltcNadqrGVA4KSMKU-tobpFM3FYSiSbtkwaFv3iuZ0tt/s400/27_IMG_1376.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After
the UT, I had the pleasure of enjoying my first taste of Chick-Fil-A. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I had never eaten there (they don’t
have them in the Northwest), but I had heard so much about it. I ordered the
original chicken sandwich, and it definitely lived up to the hype. We don’t eat
much fast food, but I thought it was really great. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That evening we went to a
birthday party in the neighborhood for awhile and then Adam and I headed out
for some fun at Dave & Buster’s and then to the movie <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero_Dark_Thirty" target="_blank">Zero Dark Thirty</a>
(short review: we both thought it was really slow until the last 30 minutes or so).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday
morning we all piled in their <span class="apple-converted-space">Suburban</span>
and made our way to <a href="http://austinstone.org/" target="_blank">The Austin Stone</a>, which has been the Zimel’s church home
since moving to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Austin</st1:city></st1:place>.
It was a great service and it was so easy for me to see how well-loved the
Zimels are among their church family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After
church we went to <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/chuys-panaderia-bakery-austin" target="_blank">Chuy’s Panaderia</a>, a Mexican bakery and café. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>We enjoyed some delicious tacos and
Mexican pastries. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took this picture because I couldn't understand why these cookies have a sad face. Perhaps because one of them is missing an arm? </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidU3suvAzfPCXJ4y-UEKZ-0MooKwYLGNJB81WhyphenhyphenUoIyRYw3YKq0VvtYxzu4fTRK9iqhDqtGXLVxfLXSW3-G9sFAtQodrDvbkj_9V1PsQMhJtOiQX_zjEuuGVdt59LnLIsVKiSn/s1600/36_IMG_1395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidU3suvAzfPCXJ4y-UEKZ-0MooKwYLGNJB81WhyphenhyphenUoIyRYw3YKq0VvtYxzu4fTRK9iqhDqtGXLVxfLXSW3-G9sFAtQodrDvbkj_9V1PsQMhJtOiQX_zjEuuGVdt59LnLIsVKiSn/s400/36_IMG_1395.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trying to decide which pastry to get. They all look so good! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbYSHBlecFj4Aewb-a93y0YZNy22IAmlFmVJUStbQ-Yi4x6rNaawhPOaF93Ddl0Z7pdj80EP4YVD3rM6uNhi7bXlyj8Ncz0-Q2qKIofUXDo1hCpTKyxJQd2lb_Wkc13AqetRw/s1600/37_IMG_1399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbYSHBlecFj4Aewb-a93y0YZNy22IAmlFmVJUStbQ-Yi4x6rNaawhPOaF93Ddl0Z7pdj80EP4YVD3rM6uNhi7bXlyj8Ncz0-Q2qKIofUXDo1hCpTKyxJQd2lb_Wkc13AqetRw/s400/37_IMG_1399.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Abraham was very happy with his selection. </span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWK-5HCiRM2H_NITO_SQZ5MCfR6ia-mfi_oh3f4TUv4pA-ZJI68_n5jFfoZ9Oax1PhrUDLRjmcbPH0MOyAod5Pns-AzwRx_wI6TM6zrX4LfA3sSniqIp4xzvmabtz5MccmCrP/s1600/38_IMG_1401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWK-5HCiRM2H_NITO_SQZ5MCfR6ia-mfi_oh3f4TUv4pA-ZJI68_n5jFfoZ9Oax1PhrUDLRjmcbPH0MOyAod5Pns-AzwRx_wI6TM6zrX4LfA3sSniqIp4xzvmabtz5MccmCrP/s400/38_IMG_1401.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Samuel showing off his pastry. It was great to spend time with Samuel, and I definitely saw some of the same characteristics in him that I see in Drew. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elijah looks like he is enjoying his treat. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHxqr1gWK9T9boMdtHgT8fcYG_0hDFZ5WCT_C_x00w0xKZsRgTh9MYwD-nLB0yuL2WPRPu98oVrRF7Pz8I6YWHiZ0FgN9soP0cKOmeRd8th8HgDFPwVqvd5B9wAgT8AQrvfqp/s1600/35_IMG_1394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHxqr1gWK9T9boMdtHgT8fcYG_0hDFZ5WCT_C_x00w0xKZsRgTh9MYwD-nLB0yuL2WPRPu98oVrRF7Pz8I6YWHiZ0FgN9soP0cKOmeRd8th8HgDFPwVqvd5B9wAgT8AQrvfqp/s400/35_IMG_1394.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This place had dozens and dozens of different types of pastries and donuts. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0qXYNOBeHlSQE6anHazIPCs-kr2y86s8iEuMojIflRDunO0ViIdS4qkUwcm46m8EUQ6-0jRE8L2QG89_NfZd454mu5TZ-sJwQaUIwaEoeVeqSoIk0GHL8e49C3W__UEd_Onm/s1600/40_IMG_1404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0qXYNOBeHlSQE6anHazIPCs-kr2y86s8iEuMojIflRDunO0ViIdS4qkUwcm46m8EUQ6-0jRE8L2QG89_NfZd454mu5TZ-sJwQaUIwaEoeVeqSoIk0GHL8e49C3W__UEd_Onm/s400/40_IMG_1404.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isaac always has the best expressions - check the next photo for an example. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gFJSs-sabJuqrh-S5GeOiatW4TjdwDrnj0Xmtzz9E57mVmXWtrDCDUfmbDE4LWEPhDBtyAy0MFSiaaf2kbUJ3JaEwvEfpzl7aUCAlsy62hYOd7OjJPsGrz-15xFyV7vGYISa/s1600/43_IMG_1407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gFJSs-sabJuqrh-S5GeOiatW4TjdwDrnj0Xmtzz9E57mVmXWtrDCDUfmbDE4LWEPhDBtyAy0MFSiaaf2kbUJ3JaEwvEfpzl7aUCAlsy62hYOd7OjJPsGrz-15xFyV7vGYISa/s400/43_IMG_1407.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fab five (plus a friend) up at the counter looking into the kitchen. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday afternoon Adam and I went to play basketball in a local school gym with a bunch
of his buddies. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Fortunately
I was able to escape <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Austin</st1:place></st1:city>
without breaking my foot this time! <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>After
showering up, it was time to head to the airport so I could catch my flight
back to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Seattle</st1:place></st1:city>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mattea was very happy with the altoid I gave her! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love me some Hammertime! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another classic Isaac face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I love Abraham trying to photobomb this picture. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you're ever looking for Elijah, you can probably find him here, out in front of the house shooting hoops. I love this picture for several reasons: Elijah is wearing mismatched shoes, and there is a collection of scooters, bikes, and battery-operated cars scattered in the driveway and road. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It<span style="color: #222222;"> was an amazing, whirlwind weekend in </span><st1:city style="color: #222222;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Austin</st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: #222222;">,
and I was so incredibly thankful I could be there to help celebrate my best
friend’s birthday. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-37809555934948937062013-01-13T22:10:00.000-08:002013-01-21T12:24:22.684-08:00Short Trip to Whistler<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">Missi and I just enjoyed a few great days up <span class="apple-converted-space">in</span> Whistler with our friends Terry and
Jessica. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>We became friends
with Terry and Jess when they were living out in Seattle, but a job opportunity
relocated them to Tulsa, Oklahoma about <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>a
year or so after we became friends – way too soon if you ask us! <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">Since they moved to </span><st1:city style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tulsa</st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">, we haven’t been able to see Terry and Jess very much, so when we heard they would be within a few hours’ drive of our house, we jumped at the chance to visit Whistler for the first time and see our good friends. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">Whistler was awesome – it was very cold and there was tons of snow everywhere. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">We stayed in </span><st1:place style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;" w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Whistler</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Village</st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"> at </span><a href="http://www.aavawhistlerhotel.com/" style="font-family: Arial;" target="_blank">The Aava Hotel</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"> and were very happy with the accommodations. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">It was fun to be right within walking distance of the lifts, tons of restaurants, and lots of shops. Terry and I snowboarded one day while the ladies explored the Village. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">We also relaxed while soaking the hot tub, ate some good food (although maybe not too good for us), and played several games of Pawball (ask us about it some time). </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">Even though the Village was great and the snow was wonderful, the best part about the trip for Missi and I was the chance to see our friends and catch up with them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Terry on the slopes. We had an awesome day exploring the mountain. Tons of great terrain and knee-deep powder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Messing around at dinner. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g154948-d3468691-Reviews-El_Furniture_Warehouse-Whistler_British_Columbia.html" target="_blank">This place</a> was so good that we ended up eating dinner there three times while we were in Whistler. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Requisite couple photo while riding the gondola. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See photo description above. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Missi and Jessica</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love these guys! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Giving us their best "<a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/3lxEGp6ismutrhwqC8qK30x2o1_400.jpg" target="_blank">blue steel</a>." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love this girl! </span></div>
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John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-13944994721378384532012-12-17T17:52:00.001-08:002012-12-17T17:52:09.135-08:00The great suburban adventureWe had a very rare Saturday where there was literally nothing on the calendar. We wanted to do something as a family so Missi and I devised "The Great Suburban Adventure."<br />
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Basically the kids were given a list of clues or challenges that led them to locations throughout town. An example of a clue might be "Go to the biblioteca." this allowed us to visit our town's beautiful new library, but also required them to go on the Internet to learn what "biblioteca" meant. <br />
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Another clue was "Go to [underground transportation system] and get 2-13-20.". This clue led the kids to one of their favorite restaurants, Subway (i.e., an "underground transportation system") where they ordered a BMT sandwich (the letters BMT can be represented as 2-13-20 by assigning a number to each letter in the alphabet). It was a great day! <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MpS49d9CBE5cLc534xtoEgKEDu9lC60Cgua1U2DpFDrLBw45CqBo8PGeYH4UHvEv8Easlp1LFlSrOjom1QRPrmcD-XwVEMKU3m9K7An9y3WpdeXELNIdhHd5c0cASuKZAnK7/s640/blogger-image-1685811276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MpS49d9CBE5cLc534xtoEgKEDu9lC60Cgua1U2DpFDrLBw45CqBo8PGeYH4UHvEv8Easlp1LFlSrOjom1QRPrmcD-XwVEMKU3m9K7An9y3WpdeXELNIdhHd5c0cASuKZAnK7/s640/blogger-image-1685811276.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEXEUWkRlyJbNxPizwa392XHi0LFverYDDHsu11X9b34ITjoBTvRFmKManmwcVWm-SWkaMfyuOg9iZzkSPOUs_WJvMg4NdbKyHbjmEWLithWa2ODmHiVNRCul3QvQD29x48IH/s640/blogger-image--966948956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEXEUWkRlyJbNxPizwa392XHi0LFverYDDHsu11X9b34ITjoBTvRFmKManmwcVWm-SWkaMfyuOg9iZzkSPOUs_WJvMg4NdbKyHbjmEWLithWa2ODmHiVNRCul3QvQD29x48IH/s640/blogger-image--966948956.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BcarKOizR0ifVe3thkXU2O0VuFHrYpeT-T7vXivjoOOwBO3HytcI2YYumVt57x-GW7MDYqbqjWjTqmClxJiVqH8rWDLktkNahsJGMsQJBk41wQ9Ad9ZsryPPpVpfVDG9re8l/s640/blogger-image--1444482850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BcarKOizR0ifVe3thkXU2O0VuFHrYpeT-T7vXivjoOOwBO3HytcI2YYumVt57x-GW7MDYqbqjWjTqmClxJiVqH8rWDLktkNahsJGMsQJBk41wQ9Ad9ZsryPPpVpfVDG9re8l/s640/blogger-image--1444482850.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWMMgaC1IDAnCYVx9i8yIyTX3FxGAHD03SQ7gVASy-3Ljb8ekwbgClHRceI4MBYynsdbKeHjatV3wAuYox2-j9WVt7N3NA_IJPacOKU-aazb_WWKyl1QVEMg8FrXovwvL5pVg/s640/blogger-image--1333052998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWMMgaC1IDAnCYVx9i8yIyTX3FxGAHD03SQ7gVASy-3Ljb8ekwbgClHRceI4MBYynsdbKeHjatV3wAuYox2-j9WVt7N3NA_IJPacOKU-aazb_WWKyl1QVEMg8FrXovwvL5pVg/s640/blogger-image--1333052998.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lvsWYakK2UvmjlIPZPH0-LdxhBuyWLXyZ3OWB1V-vW7Bxd232Etz_zhkYSQW5pkewQ_4_zVvahdOyAzLUzd4qzpIOfozq_Ccsh26x0JTrNcDs6ARBJhUvVLlHJ_4P2RZgkXW/s640/blogger-image--71623978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lvsWYakK2UvmjlIPZPH0-LdxhBuyWLXyZ3OWB1V-vW7Bxd232Etz_zhkYSQW5pkewQ_4_zVvahdOyAzLUzd4qzpIOfozq_Ccsh26x0JTrNcDs6ARBJhUvVLlHJ_4P2RZgkXW/s640/blogger-image--71623978.jpg" /></a></div>John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-65177454578424325462012-12-07T21:20:00.001-08:002013-01-21T12:25:16.126-08:00Gotta love free speechSaw this editorial comment on a sign at my local grocery store. If you can't tell what it is, it is a recruitment poster for the National Guard, and someone has taken a pen to add "Fight for Oil!!"<br />
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John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-17913375291017250192012-12-04T08:28:00.001-08:002012-12-04T09:06:35.512-08:00This is a both sad and a little funnyFor the second time in about 6 months, the fifth member of our family, Zeke, has had to wear a device we affectionately call the "Cone of Shame." In both instances he has had some medical issue and the vet has required him to wear it to prevent him from licking or biting the affected area.<br />
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Poor Zeke looks absolutely defeated when he roams around the house, bumping into walls and furniture with the cone. He gets these really sad, depressed eyes and just skulks around the house like an <a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/THeunuo8gm4xxhurnXU957bYo1_400.jpg" target="_blank">emo teenager</a> who just listened to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliott_Smith" target="_blank">Elliot Smith</a>'s entire catalogue. <br />
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This morning I snapped this pic of Zeke trying to eat with his cone on. Poor guy.<br />
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John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-17986603273822954082012-12-04T08:19:00.001-08:002012-12-04T09:10:28.577-08:00Changing things up a bit...I'm going to try to fire the blogging machine back up. In the midst of a busy life prioritization is required, and blogging unfortunately (or fortunately?) falls far down the priority list for me. But recent developments have encouraged me to start blogging again. <br />
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First, I have been struck with how quickly our kids are growing up. I mean, I'm GOING TO HAVE A TEENAGER ON MY HANDS SOON. And one of the main benefits of blogging is that it provides a snapshot of a particular point in time. I like blogging for its ability to capture thoughts, photos, and memories relating to my rapidly-growing-up kids. <br />
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Second, Blogger has finally come out with an iOS app that allows me to post from my iPhone. For so long Blogger lacked a mobile app, and thus I couldn't blog unless I was sitting in front of a computer. In fact, I even thought about switching my blog to <a href="http://www.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Wordpress</a> because it had a mobile app. But I'm loyal to Blogger - I have almost 500 posts on this blog - and they finally rewarded my loyalty by developing an app. I'm actually typing this post while riding my bus into work. <br />
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Because most of my posts will now be generated using the mobile app, expect shorter posts with less text and more photos. In a way, I expect this blog to resemble more of a <a href="http://www.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">tumblr</a> site than a blog with 2,000-word posts <a href="http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/12/15/gallery/yawn-324x205.jpg" target="_blank">describing my feelings on the fiscal cliff</a>. <br />
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As always, you can take a peak into what's going on in our lives by following me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/johnsamwilson" target="_blank">twitter</a> or<a href="http://www.facebook.com/johnsamwilson" target="_blank"> finding me</a> or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/missiwilson" target="_blank">my better half</a> on Facebook. John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-43338524425285456022012-12-03T22:20:00.001-08:002012-12-04T09:14:58.602-08:00When did she get so grown up?This was taken at our annual Daddy Date to <a href="http://www.gardendlights.org/" target="_blank">Garden D'Lights at Bellevue Botanical Gardens</a>. I love this girl! <br />
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P.S. <a href="http://johnswilson.blogspot.com/2011/01/daddy-date.html" target="_blank">Here is the post from our visit to Garden D'Lights from last year</a>.<br />
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John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-59889127109432344542011-10-07T11:06:00.000-07:002011-10-07T11:09:35.910-07:00Growing upBecause I see them every day, I often don't realize just how quickly our kids are growing up. I guess it is a variation of the frog-in-slowly-warming-water phenomenon. But when I saw these pictures of Drew and Sam from the Sounders game the other night, I was struck by how grown up they both look! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJbGKFbbh-UpIvvFOp2RpBtAmrmYWc61WJayVziJKg3jqeIezaSWNsAHkkG_X4mgc0XuJF5649yst5OGgtpJbJZJ8Z7IG2Aus32Iv8RK0-zNEh_Q27JoKda-8PeslQulHP-Jy/s1600/Drew.jpg"target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJbGKFbbh-UpIvvFOp2RpBtAmrmYWc61WJayVziJKg3jqeIezaSWNsAHkkG_X4mgc0XuJF5649yst5OGgtpJbJZJ8Z7IG2Aus32Iv8RK0-zNEh_Q27JoKda-8PeslQulHP-Jy/s400/Drew.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660813797452167762" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftx6UOQdfLQSoGCmbcvlgaXCbFoyfKQi4ilAlJPVGWZufjmsSW5uKLQrgWzSHEDNKz9wyHQt98MhBgtmrrtulLxx1DjUofsRT2X1H14sLZ_QXPx10eH_rF7EyOwHmYjnGaYco/s1600/Sam.jpg"target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftx6UOQdfLQSoGCmbcvlgaXCbFoyfKQi4ilAlJPVGWZufjmsSW5uKLQrgWzSHEDNKz9wyHQt98MhBgtmrrtulLxx1DjUofsRT2X1H14sLZ_QXPx10eH_rF7EyOwHmYjnGaYco/s400/Sam.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660813787425268018" /></a>John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-51462501125128095242011-10-07T10:41:00.000-07:002011-10-07T10:48:26.988-07:00Saying goodbye to 8965 SW Edgewood St.So, my parents are moving after 35 years in the same house. Suffice it to say this is a big change. This is the house my sisters and I grew up in, and I have a TON of memories in 8965 SW Edgewood Street. It was a great house to grow up in, and the neighborhood was an amazing place with lots of other kids running around to build forts with or play soccer against. <br /><br />We took a trip down to Portland this past weekend and Sam and I had a chance to take a last walk around the house and record a few memories. <br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0ewC0pDN-7s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-85474042247256427292011-10-07T10:38:00.001-07:002011-10-07T10:41:36.573-07:00A necklace for mom...I love that Sam made this necklace for Missi. The "chain" is a few pipecleaners and the pendant is a piece of construction paper that says "the best Mom is right in front of you". <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFLk7bh8yEDX25iFV-PWvyeDomPvnMQ0JMeXWxZdi0T8gVmxULk5bIIaXwdwALFYesH93Qi0hE47sbueGjhWP3N6wSz2pnLYAiiyR-qzk7YYotO4LNCDz-snOEzN2y2m_s5Iz/s1600/photo.JPG"target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFLk7bh8yEDX25iFV-PWvyeDomPvnMQ0JMeXWxZdi0T8gVmxULk5bIIaXwdwALFYesH93Qi0hE47sbueGjhWP3N6wSz2pnLYAiiyR-qzk7YYotO4LNCDz-snOEzN2y2m_s5Iz/s400/photo.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660806537301737186" /></a>John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-37587823320313937892011-07-02T08:12:00.000-07:002011-07-02T08:40:07.714-07:00Big 'ol update from spring and early summer 2011Sorry for the insanely long post, but I figured I needed a big huge update to somewhat make up for my lack of blogging the past few months. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Crazy Dress-Up Days<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br />This year Drew and Sam went all out in their outfits for their school's crazy dress-up days. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0ZZpaP-oH_1-IQtvu2GJKr65w9wjFE_vBu5FnF6tBhsL553PJnad6icdrI4p_DbuHGHfaTxVHWufGbFUoMF6EWXYUR-BYGTNU46IkLp-5cur4qj2DJwg_8txTrgaOigOcxZY/s1600/IMG_5720.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0ZZpaP-oH_1-IQtvu2GJKr65w9wjFE_vBu5FnF6tBhsL553PJnad6icdrI4p_DbuHGHfaTxVHWufGbFUoMF6EWXYUR-BYGTNU46IkLp-5cur4qj2DJwg_8txTrgaOigOcxZY/s400/IMG_5720.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624779312173367874" /></a><br />Here are Drew and Sam on "crazy appearance day"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUmZN9y91m_N0EEuae1pEkpG-5e-ecFCqAr7mDMvyfidmUBQpcH7_J-PdWZA7IRLucC8w0pNnJKmoFITEczvV-Miswpn-OjBpLtx6E870P9SJ52irgFe178FGUVXMW8b5PyS7/s1600/IMG_5732.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUmZN9y91m_N0EEuae1pEkpG-5e-ecFCqAr7mDMvyfidmUBQpcH7_J-PdWZA7IRLucC8w0pNnJKmoFITEczvV-Miswpn-OjBpLtx6E870P9SJ52irgFe178FGUVXMW8b5PyS7/s400/IMG_5732.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624779307843902994" /></a><br />This is Sam on "Favorite Character" day. She was Fancy Nancy. If you've ever scene the "Fancy Nancy" series of books, you'll recognize that she absolutely nailed this one. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVxBWh_yISSx3eHGRGT6g_Y6hQc55wCPllW2vPq4gLz7D9fgvZwjYBTvwTZoh4SbrkNQnUuN2xXNypWwNkdHKDo97yUGX_As2blZh6GR-qs8WXNSBpGJw_fCBc2aGMvzxEcMP/s1600/IMG_5738.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVxBWh_yISSx3eHGRGT6g_Y6hQc55wCPllW2vPq4gLz7D9fgvZwjYBTvwTZoh4SbrkNQnUuN2xXNypWwNkdHKDo97yUGX_As2blZh6GR-qs8WXNSBpGJw_fCBc2aGMvzxEcMP/s400/IMG_5738.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624779303744597186" /></a><br />Drew on "Favorite Character" day. Not hard to realize that his favorite character is a soldier just back from deployment to Afghanistan<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0W80yZ6lOnCmHAAGjFnMDh9Bzi5hS3__VgkD1opt-zWhsVRWGzvhZsx1OykLBQVHH1xAj4773c-r3Ix6m1qPP3Z2VqAK18LP6OZpR5KiRWddsDPto44ZlgcPrU8P4u-eElbTE/s1600/IMG_5741.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0W80yZ6lOnCmHAAGjFnMDh9Bzi5hS3__VgkD1opt-zWhsVRWGzvhZsx1OykLBQVHH1xAj4773c-r3Ix6m1qPP3Z2VqAK18LP6OZpR5KiRWddsDPto44ZlgcPrU8P4u-eElbTE/s400/IMG_5741.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624779297847734530" /></a><br />Drew and Sam together on "Favorite Character" day<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Easter 2011<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br />This year's Easter celebration was one for the memory books. First, our church held one massive service at Qwest Field in Seattle with thousands of people attending. It was an amazing service, even when it started to rain a bit. Second, our son Drew decided that he wanted to be baptized at this service and John was able to baptize him at the Easter service. After the service we had dozens of friends come over for a big meal and Easter Egg hunt. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxbVEBpFaW8Z7RX1lF8Igi-j2XXDWakled0HtcB4_ro3EQJSrn8CKdLWlkpBnc2DFTSpYYOmxOkot5wJfUjhXKB5qe_7HqH-bBeaxpFKJzyAjp6m3IPWXcjY3SDrw9nEmNl5B/s1600/IMG_5913.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxbVEBpFaW8Z7RX1lF8Igi-j2XXDWakled0HtcB4_ro3EQJSrn8CKdLWlkpBnc2DFTSpYYOmxOkot5wJfUjhXKB5qe_7HqH-bBeaxpFKJzyAjp6m3IPWXcjY3SDrw9nEmNl5B/s400/IMG_5913.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624778799089993426" /></a><br />The set up for our church's Easter service<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxkFs8-UbQPA8LWpKm9aV5JLS9F-lP6q2_AGk4HSmi5tmzPkSeOoeHd0ioieiF3b0_7OsUYNUeYxGtiLxXDDQ-khw4ZmYOjxc5OL5te82srJQHGVM-hbjd1ZaYW6YqB286YDp/s1600/IMG_5854.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxkFs8-UbQPA8LWpKm9aV5JLS9F-lP6q2_AGk4HSmi5tmzPkSeOoeHd0ioieiF3b0_7OsUYNUeYxGtiLxXDDQ-khw4ZmYOjxc5OL5te82srJQHGVM-hbjd1ZaYW6YqB286YDp/s400/IMG_5854.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624778641360862290" /></a><br />Drew at the Easter service<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFoGZdyrlgqGIH9dX-oxelQotp0hTqbx61TSdsnFbxfouF8d_-akV2uqSxIYti3p5KKrDiDtOpzD7twWvE_7-dDlbX1RwXWOjCuYTFMpVWWpcCLqeTojMjKO2nqGrRPNuurVY/s1600/IMG_5946.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFoGZdyrlgqGIH9dX-oxelQotp0hTqbx61TSdsnFbxfouF8d_-akV2uqSxIYti3p5KKrDiDtOpzD7twWvE_7-dDlbX1RwXWOjCuYTFMpVWWpcCLqeTojMjKO2nqGrRPNuurVY/s400/IMG_5946.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624778006609883714" /></a><br />Drew preparing to be baptized<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsSYmXUyj29Ek4YC6e8_hIylhBMSvmvmg4XjilofIjmKW0wa7jilSkq3izE_ZG3Z2jn2wJbTDUoig5r0Gq0i1bLoDmadfqcRHBZEOB7BzB6-M7BZRIAvUZzVxx1-EcOnTcHsG/s1600/IMG_5949.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsSYmXUyj29Ek4YC6e8_hIylhBMSvmvmg4XjilofIjmKW0wa7jilSkq3izE_ZG3Z2jn2wJbTDUoig5r0Gq0i1bLoDmadfqcRHBZEOB7BzB6-M7BZRIAvUZzVxx1-EcOnTcHsG/s400/IMG_5949.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624778002562099170" /></a><br />An amazing moment<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPuRqain6ZRsI1drAiHFOGiJsFGK75fxGOwtjUGN_O63pZtFf2kCrQfMXJeB9yr5zjW6dDK36kPJ0sQA_TGh5SlqBI6r8HGmaF31b55kc4_nw8hTDbioDxKuVZ3XixIuCd4Xz/s1600/IMG_6018.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPuRqain6ZRsI1drAiHFOGiJsFGK75fxGOwtjUGN_O63pZtFf2kCrQfMXJeB9yr5zjW6dDK36kPJ0sQA_TGh5SlqBI6r8HGmaF31b55kc4_nw8hTDbioDxKuVZ3XixIuCd4Xz/s400/IMG_6018.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624777996214778482" /></a><br />The big 'ol Easter egg hunt<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UF-n2VMH42um8EEn_djnC5FloWJx4roysdQCCykIIEBaJ45yiIDHqhZmmsSfll8FwaPL_lVNTP94nbqbpXBR930NHhZ1b5BUupU46qCJQTUDyugpl1ld4JI3M3rHsVcA71eg/s1600/IMG_6039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 379px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UF-n2VMH42um8EEn_djnC5FloWJx4roysdQCCykIIEBaJ45yiIDHqhZmmsSfll8FwaPL_lVNTP94nbqbpXBR930NHhZ1b5BUupU46qCJQTUDyugpl1ld4JI3M3rHsVcA71eg/s400/IMG_6039.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624777980388495522" /></a><br />Family picture on Easter<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_RXYtgy6lbQcZk7HSBi7r7U1pJ3HZ0dom5C3xnFy2CJz_gM2pf_Smpy9HEF-4TLbvXT-XrldIoj0C74UOSMQ3SR0YuzqhtcbO9-oZSgh8TZhKgD9bUs_8-ukzw4CyGwjfrih/s1600/IMG_6041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_RXYtgy6lbQcZk7HSBi7r7U1pJ3HZ0dom5C3xnFy2CJz_gM2pf_Smpy9HEF-4TLbvXT-XrldIoj0C74UOSMQ3SR0YuzqhtcbO9-oZSgh8TZhKgD9bUs_8-ukzw4CyGwjfrih/s400/IMG_6041.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624777976602348322" /></a><br />It was great to have Grammy and Grandpa (John's parents) in town to help celebrate Easter<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Tee Ball and Sounders FC<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTq-IAluHTLlQFCuDlMf2TRuAYP72dKzoG1ctaZoVTecJ2_7WgYutWHxxnt3uHUylE3-PO6B6VxNWj4Zz6acEE698z5FMVGHsii9_GXFulnt4jAWSNPIGniR65lZYz8z3IyEW1/s1600/IMG_6067.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTq-IAluHTLlQFCuDlMf2TRuAYP72dKzoG1ctaZoVTecJ2_7WgYutWHxxnt3uHUylE3-PO6B6VxNWj4Zz6acEE698z5FMVGHsii9_GXFulnt4jAWSNPIGniR65lZYz8z3IyEW1/s400/IMG_6067.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624776224903586322" /></a><br />Our little tee ball player<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSvJ7MvLbguL3rzH7kcmFe9D8VsXsq25QN0Jao2dj1VWT04O4fr-KOnBHH_0T854my-xwfLKi6VHjKHvhS_V3nKFlyqk1KU9OaMwaoyLCiAXW1qc8EFiIn_jPbVb2AaLREiP_/s1600/IMG_6070.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSvJ7MvLbguL3rzH7kcmFe9D8VsXsq25QN0Jao2dj1VWT04O4fr-KOnBHH_0T854my-xwfLKi6VHjKHvhS_V3nKFlyqk1KU9OaMwaoyLCiAXW1qc8EFiIn_jPbVb2AaLREiP_/s400/IMG_6070.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624777526606280626" /></a><br />"Swing, batta, batta, batta..."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVE3zO3Z1lLN9eQ_PBxPySxz2d0ENeScXHVkugvNyAAS9bv0WvWdv9EHt0zKEJSvJbhSHQ4E-q51nhWWT7EEGGxlDluI2dJ1jfYCmI5E976jeAKTlum9AxOz0qtLAVNJQ2rcPP/s1600/IMG_6075.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVE3zO3Z1lLN9eQ_PBxPySxz2d0ENeScXHVkugvNyAAS9bv0WvWdv9EHt0zKEJSvJbhSHQ4E-q51nhWWT7EEGGxlDluI2dJ1jfYCmI5E976jeAKTlum9AxOz0qtLAVNJQ2rcPP/s400/IMG_6075.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624776493056863010" /></a><br />There are few things in life more adorable than watching little kids play tee ball!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxW22dvLBYO1syMrOC4ECJKKAmw6CZbOhJogd2qOP0YQaOw8EgwLedy0dgfkGYwXwmjsq2Twne8TcVP0XTk_EdbX4aThhLyp2YaT0qN4lcCQjtiXvlzvQY_DCcwbpZCBEzT95/s1600/IMG_6093.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxW22dvLBYO1syMrOC4ECJKKAmw6CZbOhJogd2qOP0YQaOw8EgwLedy0dgfkGYwXwmjsq2Twne8TcVP0XTk_EdbX4aThhLyp2YaT0qN4lcCQjtiXvlzvQY_DCcwbpZCBEzT95/s400/IMG_6093.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624776214244127490" /></a><br />Missi and our friend Jessica at the Sounders game<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSghhSYRKwClunENCZHgctt9dq2FP0uQSsxe1aQ0L0KU7vRoZd2G4IZhTOZXxFg-eGqH82npWXBAFJC7AEPqRM2A3elBa0g-pBz_IyTaARng6n7E0AdMBCA8kFpJu75ZB_-qT/s1600/IMG_6095.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGSghhSYRKwClunENCZHgctt9dq2FP0uQSsxe1aQ0L0KU7vRoZd2G4IZhTOZXxFg-eGqH82npWXBAFJC7AEPqRM2A3elBa0g-pBz_IyTaARng6n7E0AdMBCA8kFpJu75ZB_-qT/s400/IMG_6095.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624776212951583698" /></a><br />At the Sounders game<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Sam's Seventh Birthday Party!<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br />We had a great time celebrating our little lady's seventh birthday. There were about 12 of her friends who came over for a makeover themed party and sleepover. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_UBPWYJ7GUkTRaphNqGu6hOTasAZS1DiR1Hkf4cjeE6md2uffwhFTuGgT35bkIhjSiv0fbe3DSauFGwfNG9xkd6uxAXPC0v04TaxiyEUCA7WU8pi_bzgixuGm8nKYWHSV_pn/s1600/IMG_6119.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_UBPWYJ7GUkTRaphNqGu6hOTasAZS1DiR1Hkf4cjeE6md2uffwhFTuGgT35bkIhjSiv0fbe3DSauFGwfNG9xkd6uxAXPC0v04TaxiyEUCA7WU8pi_bzgixuGm8nKYWHSV_pn/s400/IMG_6119.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624775613628723906" /></a><br />Sam and one of Drew's friends who came to assist with the party doing an at-home manicure<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-K3fdGfHSAsrXmDw1cEddhaiQU9eZBORVFtFTLtYTgMbpAbNhxLV-PROUipbRIX39D1wYpgoQf8ZvzhDvgQSIVH-A8o8NKQ6ysHLEVBoR-GCHJK69TD8zMqtWWdpA7VdiEJb/s1600/IMG_6124.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-K3fdGfHSAsrXmDw1cEddhaiQU9eZBORVFtFTLtYTgMbpAbNhxLV-PROUipbRIX39D1wYpgoQf8ZvzhDvgQSIVH-A8o8NKQ6ysHLEVBoR-GCHJK69TD8zMqtWWdpA7VdiEJb/s400/IMG_6124.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624774394557751474" /></a><br />The birthday girl getting her nails done. (notice how her hair has been crimped as part of the "makeover")<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzexOuj5jwX930svsrFMozBNfV_VGaLF6Uo96Ma0bYrSI0Z-o0_JLbwET4gpvzUMRGNc_HjryY15VdFtmEh3Bd9QHV-aFRB09o5pYKca3dCu0-DMC9qodTOHRPMc7r3NOxuSX/s1600/IMG_6145.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzexOuj5jwX930svsrFMozBNfV_VGaLF6Uo96Ma0bYrSI0Z-o0_JLbwET4gpvzUMRGNc_HjryY15VdFtmEh3Bd9QHV-aFRB09o5pYKca3dCu0-DMC9qodTOHRPMc7r3NOxuSX/s400/IMG_6145.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624774395305520098" /></a><br />Dance party to Hannah Montana!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3pM-YNU38mumxmgi-UbE_rewMiMrkBQS-Sunylh3LEyiUZbQVRa6erWKZTeDkO3iYkuf7O5THFMJCD_zPMfoj-l-BOczEWkVc_4g5WCZDmQlGxMfF1FbXwpVguhyOIU941Si/s1600/IMG_6168.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3pM-YNU38mumxmgi-UbE_rewMiMrkBQS-Sunylh3LEyiUZbQVRa6erWKZTeDkO3iYkuf7O5THFMJCD_zPMfoj-l-BOczEWkVc_4g5WCZDmQlGxMfF1FbXwpVguhyOIU941Si/s400/IMG_6168.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624774387671873442" /></a><br />Massive pillow fight!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioweJnmSqCHQAFEjLrB9umZT2vX1z2R80jCLdfaUpwlBNlzVaUebfW4LSRsR66z5El2wCep-JWVsT1X1xMZBIgcE9PL9EhJb160TeOahHl8tHklrR2KULczb1CWnJRXyblENl_/s1600/IMG_6174.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioweJnmSqCHQAFEjLrB9umZT2vX1z2R80jCLdfaUpwlBNlzVaUebfW4LSRsR66z5El2wCep-JWVsT1X1xMZBIgcE9PL9EhJb160TeOahHl8tHklrR2KULczb1CWnJRXyblENl_/s400/IMG_6174.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624774384759736786" /></a><br />I loved the irony in the fact that the girls had a "makeover" themed birthday and then promptly went out into the dirt and worked on building a fort. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpE5wkO9onSWv6BOpeZg0-F7vmw79scGNdEoqFPIoHvLFMsMF42RsSCb50fFQyPiy8q0uZvD6XHMbLZqjf03ENr8D3UrDTkcbJ0025Do5AH7avP9iGZLh7Lcwz81bEXFVfSKN/s1600/IMG_6182.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpE5wkO9onSWv6BOpeZg0-F7vmw79scGNdEoqFPIoHvLFMsMF42RsSCb50fFQyPiy8q0uZvD6XHMbLZqjf03ENr8D3UrDTkcbJ0025Do5AH7avP9iGZLh7Lcwz81bEXFVfSKN/s400/IMG_6182.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624774381887415298" /></a><br />I can't tell if "Pillow Pets" are popular among 6 and 7 year old girls<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">End of School Year and Visit from Alaskan Cousins<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GkNDASFf8EHJ5U_hY5lnPcRgg8iqwUO8JL-ruvfSUuRNyRZ7OeI-bpNG8e3Ni9TDfDrziXThycXgRkku1M3iJzyKiv1ZB16p5vRV_74JaYJOciB8ljlSEkgGGLNGZYHwusMC/s1600/IMG_6709.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GkNDASFf8EHJ5U_hY5lnPcRgg8iqwUO8JL-ruvfSUuRNyRZ7OeI-bpNG8e3Ni9TDfDrziXThycXgRkku1M3iJzyKiv1ZB16p5vRV_74JaYJOciB8ljlSEkgGGLNGZYHwusMC/s400/IMG_6709.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624773590397217970" /></a><br />Hazelwood Elementary Class of 2011!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTk2jv72V8je7RweBQGaJPkovI8vnv505x8ES3qz8P6YLr1NUNXXf8M_ZYwDeJmYX5JmZZqTdzh6DzpxpcXu8JOw7W9wwjCZ1xb2YCPWGnig2SfAkpWgym0EFNpEOZ2o8l1xA/s1600/IMG_6710.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTk2jv72V8je7RweBQGaJPkovI8vnv505x8ES3qz8P6YLr1NUNXXf8M_ZYwDeJmYX5JmZZqTdzh6DzpxpcXu8JOw7W9wwjCZ1xb2YCPWGnig2SfAkpWgym0EFNpEOZ2o8l1xA/s400/IMG_6710.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624773586225848306" /></a><br />Drew and his great teacher at the graduation ceremony<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKuQMoAfPTaG6XxVg25rtx5BrNJDswcfrlfeJrcbQcpgObthi7CvrIRiQHCQ2hPuEp3vmVM6hZzYi1Vg2vgBJupKqAJwItHdTBb46mMRgwp58DajOe-M05qgk8RVqh4EHDL4U/s1600/IMG_6736.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKuQMoAfPTaG6XxVg25rtx5BrNJDswcfrlfeJrcbQcpgObthi7CvrIRiQHCQ2hPuEp3vmVM6hZzYi1Vg2vgBJupKqAJwItHdTBb46mMRgwp58DajOe-M05qgk8RVqh4EHDL4U/s400/IMG_6736.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624773583874562770" /></a><br />We LOVED having the Alaskan cousins in Seattle for a short visit. So fun to catch up with them!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_oJuDEWTpno8h5S4lalNroD5sBcUKAZrCEX5lzaDF3VcqchR3r9DXYkEZlZluNKZMxRQRnJLp8xjxbEbmKkh7m5de0aqoFOychuzKwz2q_9V4i78NCwUt4BDaS3bSYl7WP1h/s1600/IMG_6740.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_oJuDEWTpno8h5S4lalNroD5sBcUKAZrCEX5lzaDF3VcqchR3r9DXYkEZlZluNKZMxRQRnJLp8xjxbEbmKkh7m5de0aqoFOychuzKwz2q_9V4i78NCwUt4BDaS3bSYl7WP1h/s400/IMG_6740.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624773571451637410" /></a><br />Sam and her wonderful first-grade teacher.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5oC2Fzk1fJijHWqtzibfDaFnaRq7jyMgmbAa5ruzgFQG0y24bq7x9xgLfo64jLPhadjiRWeaf5GbiPil1Vq-GARKxNT2E_nrFdf83EkG1CLk0v3JYSdMH6CidWgy8YgFU09I/s1600/IMG_6744.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5oC2Fzk1fJijHWqtzibfDaFnaRq7jyMgmbAa5ruzgFQG0y24bq7x9xgLfo64jLPhadjiRWeaf5GbiPil1Vq-GARKxNT2E_nrFdf83EkG1CLk0v3JYSdMH6CidWgy8YgFU09I/s400/IMG_6744.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624773568442795234" /></a><br />It was incredible to have this guy be Drew's teacher for the past two years. He'll be missed! Notice Drew rocking the end-of-schoolyear mohawkJohn W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-25203398527159965622011-06-26T07:42:00.001-07:002011-06-26T07:43:35.435-07:003 Month Hiatus!Hard to believe that it has been 3 months since I've blogged. I think that may be a record. There seems to be a very clear inverse relationship between the level of "busyness" of life and the frequency with which I blog. I'm going to post a bunch of pictures that will hopefully update some of what has been going on in the spring of 2011.John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-39778387922369640682011-03-12T07:26:00.000-08:002011-03-12T07:35:49.038-08:00Pray for JapanOur hearts are broken for the country of Japan. The images of destruction in the wake of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami are startling and disturbing. I have a special affinity for the Japanese as I studied that language for a number of years. I also worked for a few summers at a summer camp in Bend, Oregon for Japanese school kids who would come to the United States to do things like going horseback riding and whitewater rafting. Please be praying for the Japanese people and their leaders as they deal with the aftermath of these disasters. <br /><br />We have some good friends who live here in the Seattle area but are currently in Japan for work obligations. They live in Tokyo, which thankfully wasn't the hardest hit area, but they definitely felt the quake and were affected. Check out <a href="http://themillerhood.blogspot.com/2011/03/largest-earth-quake-in-japan-history.html"target="_blank">The Millerhood</a> if you want to read a well-written first-hand account of the earthquake. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/5517440041_68159c13d8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 300px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/5517440041_68159c13d8.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-60546686457782075992011-03-12T07:15:00.000-08:002011-03-12T07:26:49.937-08:00Bracing My Back and Girding My LoinsI need to mentally and physically prepare myself for about 12 fifth grade boys and girls coming over to the house for Drew's 11th birthday party this afternoon. You read that right - <span style="font-weight:bold;">DREW IS TURNING ELEVEN</span>. I had to write it in CAPS just to see if it is any easier for me to digest. Nope. I really can't believe that we have an 11 year old son. <br /><br />But stepping away from my stage of denial, I'm proud of Drew for the party he has planned. He has invited both girls and boys to the party, and we are going to start things off by going on a hike in a greenspace near our house. Then the group will be divided into 3 or 4 teams and will have to embark on a scavenger hunt. Here are the list of items the teams need to "scavenge": <br /><br />1. Something orange<br />2. A coin that was issued on the year Drew was born<br />3. A piece of string longer than 12 inches<br />4. A napkin with a McDonald’s logo on it. <br />5. Something with a Starbucks logo on it. <br />6. Something written in a language other than English<br />7. A battery<br />8. Something that you would get in a hotel bathroom (travel size shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, etc…)<br />9. An airsoft BB<br />10. 5 business cards (from different people – not 5 of the same card)<br />11. One lime<br />12. Something with the ‘Y’ logo on it (from the YMCA)<br />13. A balloon <br />14. A to-go menu<br />15. A starlight mint (the kind you can get from some restaurants – the red and white mints)<br />16. Something with a logo of a bank<br />17. A piece of Bazooka gum (hint: Sweet D’s)<br />18. A button<br />19. A Lego piece<br />20. 20 toothpicks<br /><br />After that, it will be back to the house for some time playing the <a href="http://gamerinvestments.com/video-game-stocks/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/kinect-sports-xbox360-e3-screens-1.jpg"target="_blank">Kinect</a> (Drew doesn't know it yet but he is getting an Xbox and a Kinect for his birthday - shhhhhh!), home made <a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1049/539031592_de457ca6c3.jpg"target="_blank">ice cream sandwiches</a> (Drew isn't a fan of cake so he and Missi made the cookies and we added in his favorite type of ice cream - coffee - in the middle), and presents. But the fun doesn't stop there: about 6 of the boys will be spending the night and the boys have an <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SSKLemFwUI"target="_blank">airsoft battle</a> planned for tomorrow. <br /><br />Wish us luck! And I'm sure there will be pictures to follow!John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-52233287203003204692011-03-10T07:36:00.000-08:002011-03-12T12:35:03.829-08:00Our Little Capitalistic EntrepreneursLest there be any doubt, our kids look like they will be entrepreneurs when they grow up. <br /><br />Some context: last Sunday we had one of the nicest days in what seemed like weeks. The clouds dissipated and we were able to accomplish some long-overdue yard work. Drew and Sam were both helping me, and Sam had her friend Kylie over. Kylie lives a few houses away from us, and she and Sam are frequent guests at each others houses. <br /><br />As first-grade girls are wont to do, Sam and Kylie lost interest in the yard work after a short time, and they decided they wanted to open a rock stand. That's right, they decided they would pick out the best rocks from a gravel area across the street and then sell them to whoever would like to purchase them. Here are Sam and Kylie with their rock stand: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwJGgbCpLc5m3vzg3Xu2MzV0HgPVpN8PvWCnUBHxNth4YiqlTEWUmWwFdrkMpe_Wv0KdDrbeXciipdOeoKof1FHIUJh42mXcia6euPdtNnX-yFVYTDYU5OkfpmC1Ye34vKuiU/s1600/rock+sale.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwJGgbCpLc5m3vzg3Xu2MzV0HgPVpN8PvWCnUBHxNth4YiqlTEWUmWwFdrkMpe_Wv0KdDrbeXciipdOeoKof1FHIUJh42mXcia6euPdtNnX-yFVYTDYU5OkfpmC1Ye34vKuiU/s400/rock+sale.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583220690970571138"></a><br /><br />The price started out at $1 per rock, but they quickly lowered it to 4 for a dollar. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQw__7x7nIANnvOq3uxt3BuOb6vIJ2ddvHXI1K4zLDKzBdkrfAfPgY5J7GbGDMyoRueESIeUzWMYVlyKDpnhqRltWORupPEWndj0zM0uBvxdzBmwk6OPhKPtKxm62vDEYySLP9/s1600/rock+sale+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQw__7x7nIANnvOq3uxt3BuOb6vIJ2ddvHXI1K4zLDKzBdkrfAfPgY5J7GbGDMyoRueESIeUzWMYVlyKDpnhqRltWORupPEWndj0zM0uBvxdzBmwk6OPhKPtKxm62vDEYySLP9/s400/rock+sale+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583220696510618242"></a><br /><br />Now Drew was being his "<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6H0MZW0mmZY2pM89EQVL635UfiRlWCEigAJcJfn1XlCoCQ6eDkwvgay0JWkNDWLdcY3GjjeluOjDLOMBtds8AUBtEUbUVgSTU9friNL_xPW2n5jCfFV-1EqAxIWSVHXTs-wEL/s400/too-cool.jpg"target="_blank">I'm almost 11 and way too cool for that</a>" self while helping me with the yard work. But you could tell that he was keeping an eye on Sam and Kylie. And once Sam and Kylie started to see revenues roll in (Missi), Drew sprang into action. <br /><br />He promptly set up his own <span style="font-style:italic;">competing</span> rock store directly across the street from Sam and Kylie. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbU00plrsS-pirkZI1c34JqeHPQj57BBgOs_412PT_4VzaOWjDQc-hWymsnh_PiiwAQW1sAnj3eYsYM4ofLcdeMpBytuiyYvvDFxO5iVZSBLIl_HEKLQCOqDS2ckKQATBxJ-v/s1600/rock+store+4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbU00plrsS-pirkZI1c34JqeHPQj57BBgOs_412PT_4VzaOWjDQc-hWymsnh_PiiwAQW1sAnj3eYsYM4ofLcdeMpBytuiyYvvDFxO5iVZSBLIl_HEKLQCOqDS2ckKQATBxJ-v/s400/rock+store+4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583221468368319042"></a><br /><br />Talk about competition! This is like a <a href="http://www.stumptowncoffee.com"target="_blank">Stumptown Coffee</a> setting up shop next to the <a href="http://www.alston.com/files/uploads/original%20starbucks.jpg"target="_blank">original Starbucks in Pike Place Market</a>! And Drew wasn't just idly sitting in his "rock store" waiting for business - he was yelling across the street trying to get Missi's attention in an attempt to lure her away from the girls' store and to his store. What a ruthless businessman! Well, apparently his tactics worked - Missi made her way over to his store and purchased a few rocks. Here is a short video of their negotiations (the audio isn't great, but you can get the gist): <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy1DbtFw7Q9rhVyoCWYdWqRIXSuiesQHSSaW-GBmsZTgYH4yxCsztuEXrnOjZpfDKsUCYenUsdxxhQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />I loved this whole experience. I loved Sam and Kylie's initiative and creativity in setting up their stand. I loved Drew acting "too cool" and then jumping in to join the "market." I loved Missi negotiating with both of them but judiciously ensuring that each received the same amount of money at the end of the day. And I hope that my kids always follow their passions and dreams, especially if that means that they will be entrepreneurs.John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-24424861918690701352011-02-27T08:05:00.000-08:002011-02-27T10:32:41.681-08:00In Which I Blog About What Has Been Going On...It's always crazy for me to look back at the last time I posted something on the blog, when I realize that it has been several WEEKS since the last post. I guess I just need to resign myself to the fact that with the current pace of life, that is about the frequency that I can reasonably expect. In any event, here are a few tidbits from our life lately: <br /><br />- We celebrated our eleventh anniversary! It is hard for me to believe that we have been married for 11 years - it certainly hasn't seemed that long. But what an adventure it has been. We celebrated by going winetasting in <a href="http://www.woodinvillewinecountry.com/"target="_blank">Woodinville</a>, where there are dozens of tasting rooms. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7d19-HG4dczmGiY7jtfJWWUbmKm8s1MU5vZTPGMlI7EMWmtljOtAF2KD4byLkFKq4G4XlBF6RsvvcafIyZx8xB4c0OgQ95H1ckBcCadR48COMpirrQ8RbciIa83RZsVYSPa8r/s1600/IMG_5191.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7d19-HG4dczmGiY7jtfJWWUbmKm8s1MU5vZTPGMlI7EMWmtljOtAF2KD4byLkFKq4G4XlBF6RsvvcafIyZx8xB4c0OgQ95H1ckBcCadR48COMpirrQ8RbciIa83RZsVYSPa8r/s400/IMG_5191.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578433632858361154" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"I think I'm getting some notes of blackberry and with a hint spring mist..."</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFh66al-pT8ABqnME8jlXNZ0KgFlexHXS6x2aYmCvgBXC4fkv7rwWSA-7adLMR2XNnR8pPKoS42DymjE_jsGT7yNxoChNAwGRkS_FC__6IPtbEPSE8bu2O_g-psCKMu4x9Z-_/s1600/IMG_5196.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 321px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFh66al-pT8ABqnME8jlXNZ0KgFlexHXS6x2aYmCvgBXC4fkv7rwWSA-7adLMR2XNnR8pPKoS42DymjE_jsGT7yNxoChNAwGRkS_FC__6IPtbEPSE8bu2O_g-psCKMu4x9Z-_/s400/IMG_5196.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578434821901060098" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"No, actually I'm getting a nose that consists of wild mushroom and toasted oak..."</span><br /><br />- We celebrated the wedding of our great friend <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=11512178"target="_blank">Monica Kerslake</a> to her husband David. We met Monica during my first year of <a href="http://law.uoregon.edu/"target="_blank">law school</a> in Eugene and she has been such a great friend ever since. Missi was radiant as the matron of honor and Sam was completely adorable as the flower girl. After the ceremony, Sam completely stole the show on the dance floor. It is completely apparent that Sam has received her mother's dancing genes. An added bonus of the wedding was the chance to catch up with my friend Ryan, who was up from Eugene to <a href="http://vividweddingfilms.com/blog/vivid-wedding-films/"target="_blank">film the ceremony</a>. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV70BvyAnDzw5t4gKcn1-TGZGtapy1vQRmzLmCPXbLOwYXN8slIg-p0t0qeiKK2HYkEK6B4o0Hh3Ytw-EdAwZA9njogy2EUCXpsdvDS1AuSyeekN34V5dhoDRrQp6sRzCFN_DA/s1600/IMG_5225.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 345px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV70BvyAnDzw5t4gKcn1-TGZGtapy1vQRmzLmCPXbLOwYXN8slIg-p0t0qeiKK2HYkEK6B4o0Hh3Ytw-EdAwZA9njogy2EUCXpsdvDS1AuSyeekN34V5dhoDRrQp6sRzCFN_DA/s400/IMG_5225.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578434828518517794" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Sam coming down the aisle.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxaVOKNuymCwF5Os-Bksj0j8tfSgjvgD6l84qCb2dcIJ_lklpor_zn0IK3JQvu9L8W98DitcTzJS-N2wJgHjU7RIekcYPwkWcBOYmENxOzDCKGfBWZeQ9Y4pnS4gQnH-R7rPu/s1600/IMG_5284.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxaVOKNuymCwF5Os-Bksj0j8tfSgjvgD6l84qCb2dcIJ_lklpor_zn0IK3JQvu9L8W98DitcTzJS-N2wJgHjU7RIekcYPwkWcBOYmENxOzDCKGfBWZeQ9Y4pnS4gQnH-R7rPu/s400/IMG_5284.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578434832165578706" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Mr. and Mrs. Chin!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OWMRksiPO4nedDdBH3_rOr9zr4B9_EJQ0IcT-amLFMR0ET903_Md4EUahnKnVqNcg7O8q3bOyJUEjaBsP8-9qevQkNmwqB8oQLTTi09Z1JKS-6KpguZImTKKm50S7tCwhAsT/s1600/IMG_5326.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OWMRksiPO4nedDdBH3_rOr9zr4B9_EJQ0IcT-amLFMR0ET903_Md4EUahnKnVqNcg7O8q3bOyJUEjaBsP8-9qevQkNmwqB8oQLTTi09Z1JKS-6KpguZImTKKm50S7tCwhAsT/s400/IMG_5326.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578436268852633410" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnp6cliwIATOcwIXyH1OPpPbKv9Gb7nfy1TYcsR28ombnw7UbPTxQYCtNj_6PAOgp3_V9-TpbLriS3a5wY9T69tHSp1B189paD34NQBbFdXbXpzyxzrx7SLU1-o90MCHXkZJg/s1600/IMG_5324.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnp6cliwIATOcwIXyH1OPpPbKv9Gb7nfy1TYcsR28ombnw7UbPTxQYCtNj_6PAOgp3_V9-TpbLriS3a5wY9T69tHSp1B189paD34NQBbFdXbXpzyxzrx7SLU1-o90MCHXkZJg/s400/IMG_5324.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578436266675154178" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsEtFS1iQJXdatmQQ3zsgRlytsZ23CGTuUYIYqEZ86iV7-R0weCzDAvEx9hBSo3g_7OJMO7eDVqKLwDPltroQr3QvQHgc6RPMifJkrsCIVa_6RREf4CwbYvTaRrjPTScvrS11/s1600/IMG_5312.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsEtFS1iQJXdatmQQ3zsgRlytsZ23CGTuUYIYqEZ86iV7-R0weCzDAvEx9hBSo3g_7OJMO7eDVqKLwDPltroQr3QvQHgc6RPMifJkrsCIVa_6RREf4CwbYvTaRrjPTScvrS11/s400/IMG_5312.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578436263494958914" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">This about stopped my heart when I saw Sam in the veil. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TPaukcJWq8WH8iXlC4ebpAtdjHI9o0RSsNUTFWeHP-66Rteu8J_gSLG4FuHIG8vih0vPrljQksByiZ9BP6-2JVfrfoVs8EIMcOePy1o8L_-7U4jJPd0NSfYQj1dQ27PWDPiu/s1600/IMG_5307.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TPaukcJWq8WH8iXlC4ebpAtdjHI9o0RSsNUTFWeHP-66Rteu8J_gSLG4FuHIG8vih0vPrljQksByiZ9BP6-2JVfrfoVs8EIMcOePy1o8L_-7U4jJPd0NSfYQj1dQ27PWDPiu/s400/IMG_5307.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578436258607084930" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kI_i4JDd2crt2zO8vjaefSmKrPEKkInkbndgdgpZ_sYsh0DDd1PDjEw3hb-Fe5HUAwWECjMOh6g4EXdJNilkLoTNpJXPo5HvdcFuapgGnQnswAAKPOi98zQn0qMxhEgloRvF/s1600/IMG_5288.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 362px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kI_i4JDd2crt2zO8vjaefSmKrPEKkInkbndgdgpZ_sYsh0DDd1PDjEw3hb-Fe5HUAwWECjMOh6g4EXdJNilkLoTNpJXPo5HvdcFuapgGnQnswAAKPOi98zQn0qMxhEgloRvF/s400/IMG_5288.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578434837245556418" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Ryan hard at work.</span> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyi1KFXH-afO7fJ8ZWsZmvGjudfOQ8Ij86VKgNdB_Ob7et2owtd9cVDMX65oNBu4TaT0qEZtBvYLpWbT2ZOWPon-liM0EigKRXH84_NhDjrvEhvIEXqjdiXSJyjKg1jJYuNDU/s1600/IMG_5294.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyi1KFXH-afO7fJ8ZWsZmvGjudfOQ8Ij86VKgNdB_Ob7et2owtd9cVDMX65oNBu4TaT0qEZtBvYLpWbT2ZOWPon-liM0EigKRXH84_NhDjrvEhvIEXqjdiXSJyjKg1jJYuNDU/s400/IMG_5294.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578437375050074562" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Missi did an AMAZING job with her toast. A great combination of heartfelt encouragement and humor. </span><br /><br />- Baseball season has arrived! I have the honor/privilege/burden of being a <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/not/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20091022b-1.jpg"target="_blank">head coach</a> this year. We are the <a href="http://media.insidepulse.com/zones/sports/uploads/2009/09/St_Louis_Cardinals_1998-present_logo.gif"target="_blank">Cardinals</a>. I am a mixture of excited and anxious. <br /><br />- We took a trip to <a href="http://www.greatwolf.com/"target="_blank">Great Wolf Lodge</a> with our friends the Foglios. This was one of the kids' Christmas gifts and we had a blast. If you have kids, I recommend checking out Great Wolf. If you haven't been, think of a fairly large hotel with a huge indoor water park included in the price of your room. They also don't allow non-hotel guests to use the water park, and this limited capacity means that you don't have to wait in line for 45 minutes to use a water slide. They also have this crazy treasure hunt throughout the entire hotel called "<a href="http://magiquest.com/"target="_blank">MagiQuest</a>" where you have a wand and have to point it at certain features (picture frames, plants, lights, etc...) in order to complete certain quests. It was a great time. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSr6Uh8abNe6vOZPv5pKUI-5AaHAc1zSVNRM3IidJVvoRe0IhZTilNAGigA76RLPUCZdJqgm-uz5o1aZrxh3Y-hXDpub7tDV-PpNbyuA58UjYVEXARdlgvKKt5Z_6_akt9cvU6/s1600/IMG_5158.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSr6Uh8abNe6vOZPv5pKUI-5AaHAc1zSVNRM3IidJVvoRe0IhZTilNAGigA76RLPUCZdJqgm-uz5o1aZrxh3Y-hXDpub7tDV-PpNbyuA58UjYVEXARdlgvKKt5Z_6_akt9cvU6/s400/IMG_5158.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578433614939996050" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Drew hit it big in the arcade.</span> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhRtLZQ9IwGZasvu4aGktvonJuzYpYQ2eosaA8cPglrNxmMhxabyKRLPsZNJOwgdmT7-X5Yib46M4MrjPfiic94DsXhAtJnnjkorvC8Ws9qhkpAJresDLOxx7TUHqp3j6vexI/s1600/IMG_5181.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhRtLZQ9IwGZasvu4aGktvonJuzYpYQ2eosaA8cPglrNxmMhxabyKRLPsZNJOwgdmT7-X5Yib46M4MrjPfiic94DsXhAtJnnjkorvC8Ws9qhkpAJresDLOxx7TUHqp3j6vexI/s400/IMG_5181.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578433628647632658" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Sam and her BFF Taylor.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8Oc3MpIQKzrAp2Dp0zuFn7ewQXmfHTs2KZ5ufKcjAPqpOAS3SFBUSeqwGthrHIPdDoMvQCBu29Ylmiw3dviAR9bclu_lFxEDQOfMVJa7NB-2NJE93hcX_6Tu0lvFDjGX3zSZ/s1600/IMG_5160.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8Oc3MpIQKzrAp2Dp0zuFn7ewQXmfHTs2KZ5ufKcjAPqpOAS3SFBUSeqwGthrHIPdDoMvQCBu29Ylmiw3dviAR9bclu_lFxEDQOfMVJa7NB-2NJE93hcX_6Tu0lvFDjGX3zSZ/s400/IMG_5160.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578433621555851666" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMIwDboHZRIavwiDB46sCQaygaCPI4wdoraE_JdVH1PzKftGno5LIG0m39UAGMNKeuFCUIY3Wk7KUzX4KKkjxk_hjZE6ZGh87fW_5RHklA0j0kjvpl8WIV6rVcKQc9BhCumTZ/s1600/IMG_5185.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMIwDboHZRIavwiDB46sCQaygaCPI4wdoraE_JdVH1PzKftGno5LIG0m39UAGMNKeuFCUIY3Wk7KUzX4KKkjxk_hjZE6ZGh87fW_5RHklA0j0kjvpl8WIV6rVcKQc9BhCumTZ/s400/IMG_5185.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578434812876669506" /></a><br /><br />- We went to see <a href="http://www.decemberists.com"target="_blank">The Decemberists</a> in their "Popes of Pendarvia" tour. What a great show. I can't emphasize this enough, but please go see this band if they come through your town. They are total stage performers and you will have a great time, even if you don't know much of their music. <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/music/index.ssf/2011/02/live_review_the_decemberists_c.html"target="_blank">Here is a review of their show in Portland</a>, which took place on the night following their show in Portland. Without a doubt The Decemberists are one of our favorite bands right now. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAA2J0ATZpg2NV1VQ8blsE-ak8EmrLvQPGrLAsOtAE_xiC-hh8ADAWWTqbrwRP2iyRGvWSH_PZ4IYr99Wsk8mw7wYWPIPf_Pr9FNMXsxW9X5cp6HhL_Lx4qnKyYL4vqucGHRPz/s1600/photo-11.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAA2J0ATZpg2NV1VQ8blsE-ak8EmrLvQPGrLAsOtAE_xiC-hh8ADAWWTqbrwRP2iyRGvWSH_PZ4IYr99Wsk8mw7wYWPIPf_Pr9FNMXsxW9X5cp6HhL_Lx4qnKyYL4vqucGHRPz/s400/photo-11.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578438554161876946" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MUI18G3tnr3YNBCZTMCsbhdYpapH5x9Y7-_OiAjRXFbfGWZft9gj8DU0iTns45f1reBXckPGNZY1wBsQrY4U-LfUWlp7elHGqPtWV1fMK-mqcYoW5GrcDBVWlX0Supe-QKCU/s1600/photo-10.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MUI18G3tnr3YNBCZTMCsbhdYpapH5x9Y7-_OiAjRXFbfGWZft9gj8DU0iTns45f1reBXckPGNZY1wBsQrY4U-LfUWlp7elHGqPtWV1fMK-mqcYoW5GrcDBVWlX0Supe-QKCU/s400/photo-10.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578438546620158386" /></a><br /><br />- Speaking of music, I am listening to "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sigh-No-More-Mumford-Sons/dp/B002L5R75S"target="_blank">Sigh No More</a>" by <a href="http://www.mumfordandsons.com"target="_blank">Mumford and Sons</a> a lot right now. Check it out. It's a great album.John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-70083702606048975932011-02-04T21:50:00.000-08:002011-02-04T23:07:44.785-08:00A gem of the InternetEvery now and then you come across some gems on the interwebs - <a href="http://www.zefrank.com/"target="_blank">zefrank</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ3oHpup-pk"target="_blank">Montgomery Flea Market</a> and <a href="http://vimeo.com/14190306"target="_blank">Marcel the Shell with Shoes On</a> come to mind - and I have another gem to share with you. <br /><br />If you are like me and have a strong affinity for awesome vintage t-shirts, then you need to cruise over to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/skippyhaha"target="_blank">Skippy Haha's Etsy shop</a>. Skippy is one half of the former <a href="http://www.vintagevantage.com"target="_blank">Vintage Vantage</a> (R.I.P.), and she is now providing her great shirts through her Etsy site. <br /><br />Check out this sweet tiger shirt that I got from Skippy. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMrLLpa178pFfrwH9BopoHz6VEc8BechXAOQFvpaUDokSyv8sqk9Qa7ix440T3FgjIMrgkAcKAPKbxtlIogjgKkcqxeiL4uZDWcUntnnteplSyEe4WLp678PGQZyDeVui-0KA/s1600/IMG_5125.jpg"target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMrLLpa178pFfrwH9BopoHz6VEc8BechXAOQFvpaUDokSyv8sqk9Qa7ix440T3FgjIMrgkAcKAPKbxtlIogjgKkcqxeiL4uZDWcUntnnteplSyEe4WLp678PGQZyDeVui-0KA/s400/IMG_5125.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570095930666066594" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6ntNmMXM9m_6WzyM2TDFkSWCq6ok1LlnbyMtPbE58ToUQx6MT0vs2BQ_TzgR_WlADBYxCnZcJYwIQdk-jQtALC1gyzk4MelXbjoa0RCb7pX2SYLRy8PUi0XsLb4b4zEBQZOj/s1600/IMG_5124.jpg"target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6ntNmMXM9m_6WzyM2TDFkSWCq6ok1LlnbyMtPbE58ToUQx6MT0vs2BQ_TzgR_WlADBYxCnZcJYwIQdk-jQtALC1gyzk4MelXbjoa0RCb7pX2SYLRy8PUi0XsLb4b4zEBQZOj/s400/IMG_5124.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570095919457866114" /></a><br /><br />Actually, I like to think that the shirt actually shows a <a href="http://www.lignewport.com/Images/P10100151.jpg"target="_blank">liger</a>, which, as you know, are <a href="http://www.zimbio.com/watch/waLURLED4Hp/Napoleon+Dynamite+Scene+Liger/Napoleon+Dynamite"target="_blank">bred for their skills in magic</a>. <br /><br />So go check out <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/skippyhaha"target="_blank">Skippy's Etsy site</a> and buy some shirts!John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-35521762238680406252011-01-16T14:41:00.000-08:002011-01-16T14:55:53.190-08:00Christmas 2010 (in sepia)Here are a few pictures from Christmas 2010.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFy6bYxQ0KXOfHVPdlSVQfgY5a3C_0QXMUO6OhcRxR9nmpQtfkPbw6IZuEoIy1zNltc2kmAG3FR8jr4KIc7BEtN9gYXLacfJQ3BB6OhsU404SHXI2j3UGTmoY7zvkWxN14eCk/s1600/IMG_4764.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 337px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFy6bYxQ0KXOfHVPdlSVQfgY5a3C_0QXMUO6OhcRxR9nmpQtfkPbw6IZuEoIy1zNltc2kmAG3FR8jr4KIc7BEtN9gYXLacfJQ3BB6OhsU404SHXI2j3UGTmoY7zvkWxN14eCk/s400/IMG_4764.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562918907351371730" /></a><br />I love Sam's expression in this photo<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3s2hJC4eB4HP38I4wbvYExU2_GZEANg-vksttRgfmt2E8_kvJC4dpZcMkWF6tGRxkZc9wuiCFjyM9f9PXZgNW-kSUao-L5bXzKR92icD5jUMcMWQCPou_N8FDWWIoJ5fTeOf/s1600/IMG_4791.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3s2hJC4eB4HP38I4wbvYExU2_GZEANg-vksttRgfmt2E8_kvJC4dpZcMkWF6tGRxkZc9wuiCFjyM9f9PXZgNW-kSUao-L5bXzKR92icD5jUMcMWQCPou_N8FDWWIoJ5fTeOf/s400/IMG_4791.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562918902912280514" /></a><br />Sam on Christmas morning with her new Hex Bugs<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnSSGZzQf4NSCAw_J5w8iD0mjpbuQewMIjrl0m4RLbe05H0BWuDmzv0yD8bUWhtMauvW07z5uGiCO5hxhZ1Z3g-y-pn-FTsezPn-bIACHCfQsjBIZGcDa0HmQcVwnNwT0uiAU/s1600/IMG_4760.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnSSGZzQf4NSCAw_J5w8iD0mjpbuQewMIjrl0m4RLbe05H0BWuDmzv0yD8bUWhtMauvW07z5uGiCO5hxhZ1Z3g-y-pn-FTsezPn-bIACHCfQsjBIZGcDa0HmQcVwnNwT0uiAU/s400/IMG_4760.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562919033890757810" /></a><br />Rocking the personalized duct tape scarf I received from Missi's sister Ella<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TYfPLQPrvWix9zQdbXRwhDrpz5cOuzwpf_x0EllerGqppJ-0mbRjMgibHGTFHzdPuXDmocf32D9ZgFaNwTyCQuNlbcWB737HJRpiJoLUdM8KGPysB6BfRGsOkrfLMJeCpjL1/s1600/IMG_4838.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TYfPLQPrvWix9zQdbXRwhDrpz5cOuzwpf_x0EllerGqppJ-0mbRjMgibHGTFHzdPuXDmocf32D9ZgFaNwTyCQuNlbcWB737HJRpiJoLUdM8KGPysB6BfRGsOkrfLMJeCpjL1/s400/IMG_4838.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562918896272619554" /></a><br />The kids had to solve a puzzle that spelled out "Great Wolf Lodge," and represented a family trip we are taking there in February<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjN-5cIcvzY70sG3Ot6Ousc99QScmRJaR7Y2vDGhzX791Jd2rAidtvtQys4rGmapag7SjrlYerSPNd7ieH704Y67o5mqAT8J36JFXOv_Xh9J4iUqhT17Z0_wtv9UrCy6ULaXoB/s1600/IMG_4846.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjN-5cIcvzY70sG3Ot6Ousc99QScmRJaR7Y2vDGhzX791Jd2rAidtvtQys4rGmapag7SjrlYerSPNd7ieH704Y67o5mqAT8J36JFXOv_Xh9J4iUqhT17Z0_wtv9UrCy6ULaXoB/s400/IMG_4846.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562918892543106258" /></a><br />Missi and the kids at the Farm on Christmas morning<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmxhHWKEegjBSGjknH6zlRRImX0_F1nDQIjOmKE-ltj11Ao4Wjhz2iDzZhsoJiyeDonMWiDUalmrT0r4Yu3TZ3_YbnNiBZ_PU7S8X0-FdC0u5Rr-eP5eyHYIwFNlpQEsvyHnR/s1600/IMG_4850.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmxhHWKEegjBSGjknH6zlRRImX0_F1nDQIjOmKE-ltj11Ao4Wjhz2iDzZhsoJiyeDonMWiDUalmrT0r4Yu3TZ3_YbnNiBZ_PU7S8X0-FdC0u5Rr-eP5eyHYIwFNlpQEsvyHnR/s400/IMG_4850.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562918887490856642" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRzeHIS-4K2pW5niPhZNwyQGsdMmgHRWbpK7JMSuMUFjGQrj-SdNqyieZhZ_EkoH6jWFPK-bfRTPpxp8I1oV1vL1eaV6vUKA2K7sdbx1xrTojmlmhkR2csMJztQTK3-c4rtqI/s1600/IMG_4856.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRzeHIS-4K2pW5niPhZNwyQGsdMmgHRWbpK7JMSuMUFjGQrj-SdNqyieZhZ_EkoH6jWFPK-bfRTPpxp8I1oV1vL1eaV6vUKA2K7sdbx1xrTojmlmhkR2csMJztQTK3-c4rtqI/s400/IMG_4856.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562918244018955202" /></a><br />One of the most fun parts of Christmas was the opportunity to do some target shooting with our good friend Jesse. Drew had been looking forward to this for a loooong time, so he was really excited when we surprised him with it on Christmas morning. Here is Drew shooting Jesse's .22 rifle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27-8nQKwdKYlRTKPVK5DXuGT4vZugwuiD9JnrLaC9eAeyZNLXiSkul4KsOhSSZxVxbdL-RPV_b5USYEHVj-1OUOKT-oOlneQA3MVI568Zvypsxw8pGApsZvwmVSacMDnUmqlN/s1600/IMG_4872.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27-8nQKwdKYlRTKPVK5DXuGT4vZugwuiD9JnrLaC9eAeyZNLXiSkul4KsOhSSZxVxbdL-RPV_b5USYEHVj-1OUOKT-oOlneQA3MVI568Zvypsxw8pGApsZvwmVSacMDnUmqlN/s400/IMG_4872.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562918246493047410" /></a><br />Sam of course loved seeing Jesse and Nicole's daughter Taylor<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK67pjexBu8fdzAjLKiiQXwkqOSWDoFuzGtmHT_Zpe7nhteU5Sgns5haI_aKEBzz3iRB9Sd9LLvChZCMNxgoILXRJHSiDlFjaXh6x_QAEpb1mmHKFaBXO6J18rIOwDz6ZmwhLc/s1600/IMG_4879.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK67pjexBu8fdzAjLKiiQXwkqOSWDoFuzGtmHT_Zpe7nhteU5Sgns5haI_aKEBzz3iRB9Sd9LLvChZCMNxgoILXRJHSiDlFjaXh6x_QAEpb1mmHKFaBXO6J18rIOwDz6ZmwhLc/s400/IMG_4879.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562918240449333986" /></a><br />Missi and Nicole<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnavUaakAJEb6fEMG9fcNf9gn0ZmV-xvVXVubRS4TJByBmK2HJb5O9YNG8ejE-REeRt8oxu1orlL0UMwGJTDXW9sCXXU6QBkjEvRXnN86uS1zPzGSQ53CtktaKvpMZna7G0qi7/s1600/IMG_4933.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnavUaakAJEb6fEMG9fcNf9gn0ZmV-xvVXVubRS4TJByBmK2HJb5O9YNG8ejE-REeRt8oxu1orlL0UMwGJTDXW9sCXXU6QBkjEvRXnN86uS1zPzGSQ53CtktaKvpMZna7G0qi7/s400/IMG_4933.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562918231733257666" /></a><br />Here is Drew shooting Jesse's AR-15<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QT_GrBsLOtCnOOTHaGpt-Mzg6EpYjX3okxXtYEZUR3L1dldd1HBKz5m39V8bCNYFg-ipnnDcEzZBKvYhRUcLveu53W_geaZZlPoZXcFBqv148Mw2htCTDBnCdvLA-Slg0vU1/s1600/IMG_4936.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 394px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QT_GrBsLOtCnOOTHaGpt-Mzg6EpYjX3okxXtYEZUR3L1dldd1HBKz5m39V8bCNYFg-ipnnDcEzZBKvYhRUcLveu53W_geaZZlPoZXcFBqv148Mw2htCTDBnCdvLA-Slg0vU1/s400/IMG_4936.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562918225999793570" /></a><br />Even Missi got into the act, and it was her very first time shooting a gun in her life.John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-69978653763885034992011-01-08T21:55:00.000-08:002011-01-08T22:38:49.898-08:00Drew's Oregon Ducks PlaylistIf you've been <a href="http://blog.hotelclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/setenil-de-las-bodegas.jpg"target="_blank">living under a rock</a> for the past 6-8 weeks or <a href="http://www.nerdnexus.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/nerd.jpg"target="_blank">have absolutely no interest in sports</a>, you might be among the very few people who don't realize that our beloved <a href="http://www.goducks.com"target="_blank">Oregon Ducks</a> are playing against the Auburn Tigers in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BCS_National_Championship_Game"target="_blank">BCS Championship game</a> on Monday. Suffice it to say, we are all very excited about the game and will be rooting like crazy for our Ducks. <br /><br />Drew has a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/donald.maher1"target="_blank">great teacher</a> this year - a really good guy who was also Drew's teacher for fourth grade. One of the many reasons why Drew and his classmates (and their parents) like this teacher so much is because of the CD player he has in the classroom and the music that he often plays throughout the day. He even allows students to bring in their own music to join the playlist. <br /><br />If I were a mathematician, the equation might look like this: <br /><br />(Drew's love for the Ducks) + (the BCS Championship game on Monday) + (Drew's teacher allowing students to listen to music) = <span style="font-weight:bold;">Drew's Awesome Oregon Ducks Playlist.</span> <br /><br />That's right...one of Drew's main request for this weekend was that I help him burn a CD full of all his favorite Duck songs so he could take it to school on Monday and play it all day long in anticipation of '<a href="http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksbeat/2011/01/bcs_national_championship_clif.html"target="_blank">the Natty</a>! <br /><br />Here are the songs that made the playlist: <br /><br />1. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNboYbN6wFYtarget="_blank"">Call Me a Duck by On The Rocks</a><br />2. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQtMfZd8Sfg"target="_blank">Green and Yellow by SpeedyGunz</a><br />3. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxWcdC1dZKg"target="_blank">University of Oregon Fight Song (original version)</a><br />4. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hrjpe1VCNg"target="_blank">I Smell Roses (I Love My Ducks) by Supwitchugirl</a><br />5. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_P1PPy7FTo"target="_blank">Return of the Quack by Supwitchugirl</a><br />6. <a href="http://admissions.uoregon.edu/sites/all/files/audio/mightyoregon/03-Edward-Kammerer.mp3"target="_blank">Oregon Ducks Fight Song (electronic jazz version)</a><br /><br />And, we also had to put <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go8ABAkQcfk"target="_blank">I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas</a> on the mix, cause we are really hoping that Monday night will be "a good, good night..." The icing on the cake with this awesomeness is that Drew asked me to take him to school on Monday so we could blast the playlist from our car with the windows down as we rolled up to the school. Love this boy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOkWzYDwEBilMV9uhtW8dYJqbL3xgqSgNLAwdM8JX_GwJuwFmPbnNmYiIM5bro8C9o7esLwtXULuSHNeru6oYV7WE15O8t-TVfchjuya8kqp6If-e4sB3zhZz7Q-0mpU_po7k/s1600/bcs.png"target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 328px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOkWzYDwEBilMV9uhtW8dYJqbL3xgqSgNLAwdM8JX_GwJuwFmPbnNmYiIM5bro8C9o7esLwtXULuSHNeru6oYV7WE15O8t-TVfchjuya8kqp6If-e4sB3zhZz7Q-0mpU_po7k/s400/bcs.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560064889336371442" /></a>John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-34165377969351122112011-01-05T09:44:00.000-08:002011-01-05T10:19:24.389-08:00The Tooth Fairy Visits the WilsonsAs you have probably noticed from <a href="http://johnswilson.blogspot.com/2010/02/this-is-why-i-blog.html"target="_blank">prior posts</a>, I love getting notes from our kids. I love seeing their handwriting, spelling, phrasing, etc...It isn't uncommon for me to take pictures of these notes <a href="http://johnswilson.blogspot.com/2010/02/winter-camp-brought-to-you-by-drew.html"target="_blank">or writings </a>so they are preserved as memories. <br /><br />We had an exciting event in our house last night - Sam lost yet another tooth. The girl is definitely going a phase where here baby teeth are falling out at a rapid pace. As our family's "tooth fairy," I have the honor/privilege/responsibility/burden of writing a note to each of the kids when they lose a tooth. I always "disguise" my writing in some crazy handwriting and then burn the edges of the paper for effect. It's quite a process, especially late at night right before I'm trying to go to bed. <br /><br />Here is the note the "tooth fairy" received from "Toothless Sam" last night, and the response that was left behind with a few dollars. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWHZE_NcoXedREu1OiDFEiQxNwxYzGVReR3QxnWXBW5pKBv6nmSaQbjHr2GmCnQ16nEoiz6V2ZB8tPgYvdnUBn-BjEQcdWHd1PFHOgLRVvYSacbHcPj9IyHzFrC1hTjQ7KWxA/s1600/photo1.JPG"target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWHZE_NcoXedREu1OiDFEiQxNwxYzGVReR3QxnWXBW5pKBv6nmSaQbjHr2GmCnQ16nEoiz6V2ZB8tPgYvdnUBn-BjEQcdWHd1PFHOgLRVvYSacbHcPj9IyHzFrC1hTjQ7KWxA/s400/photo1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558765468584182866" /></a><br /><br /><em>Dear Tooth Fairy, <br />I am Sam. I lost my tooth. I am giv??? [giving] it to you. Please leave me a present. <br />Love, Toothless Sam</em><br /><br />My favorite part of this note? That she signed it "Toothless Sam."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzXbMAS1chgmfKc-6wdOWE8k6nzdH0kRv_KDG_dTnL_9Cg_Fm4m5cOecvEk5Fxffrf_PF4pByBuIkF0QyKVEP-1B4-ncRySk-p1PaRmdye3Fx3rXEBbKWaHUQlJJGshKVfchj/s1600/photo.JPG"target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzXbMAS1chgmfKc-6wdOWE8k6nzdH0kRv_KDG_dTnL_9Cg_Fm4m5cOecvEk5Fxffrf_PF4pByBuIkF0QyKVEP-1B4-ncRySk-p1PaRmdye3Fx3rXEBbKWaHUQlJJGshKVfchj/s400/photo.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558765834569991074" /></a><br /><br /><em>Dear Toothless Sam, <br /><br />Thank you for your kind note and for your tooth! It is a nice tooth! I have left you a few dollars as a thank you for your tooth. Thanks again and always remember to brush your chompers! <br /><br />Your friend, <br /><br />T.F. </em>John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-55882528599371490712011-01-02T19:52:00.000-08:002011-01-02T20:02:17.270-08:00Banished Words ListI'm a big fan of words, and all the unique "quirks" that accompany them. I'm guessing this has its root in my love of reading and all of the time I spend at work writing. So, it wasn't hard to predict that I absolutely LOVE <a href="http://www.lssu.edu/banished/current.php"target="_blank">this list</a> of the most overused words of the past year. The list was put out by, of all people, <a href="http://www.lssu.edu"target="_blank">Lake Superior State University</a>, and it looks as those they receive nominations from the public for these words throughout the year. For those who want a little sneak preview of what words made this infamous list, both "epic" and "fail" are on the list.John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-82290240557947227762011-01-02T18:45:00.000-08:002011-01-02T19:50:04.031-08:00Drew and his most recent passionOur son Drew is now 10 years old, and his latest passion is something called "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airsoft"target="_blank">airsoft</a>" or "airsofting." If you aren't familiar with "airsofting," it is an activity where you have a gun and you attempt to shoot your opponents with small plastic BBs. The guns are usually battery powered (sometimes gas), and you can usually hold a few hundred rounds of ammunition in your clip. As we have learned, there is a whole subculture of people who really, REALLY get into airsofting. I mean, you can spend several hundred dollars on your gun, then several hundred more on various other equipment and supplies. Many airsofting enthusiasts also produce videos of their battles and then <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=airsoft&aq=f"target="_blank">post them on Youtube</a> for others to view. And Drew has been bitten HARD by the airsofting bug. We are now on his third or fourth gun, each of them successively more powerful than the previous gun, and he has a full wardrobe of camouflage fatigues, a helmet, a facemask, etc...Several of Drew's friends are also interested in airsofting, so Drew has organized "battles" in the forest near our house. <br /><br />But his favorite place is certainly an airsofting-specific facility called "<a href="http://www.tacomatactical.com"target="_blank">Tacoma Tactical.</a>" I took Drew and a few friends down to Tacoma Tactical over the winter break and we had a great time! It's basically a large warehouse with several small "rooms" that provide cover. <br /><br />Here are a few photos of Drew in action. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1oZhnZHkfZAHBqE9Ie_xY0MkKN02gZ1YVNTyxweJr58RhWyBC14RViFY9J8Q2sSIg1UPrBitc76S2rreJ6cS0HkzBgJX3vl3bFIBndMfmlcqDcFQ28Jw0pj3TV3zbm1-zXjW/s1600/IMG_4579.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1oZhnZHkfZAHBqE9Ie_xY0MkKN02gZ1YVNTyxweJr58RhWyBC14RViFY9J8Q2sSIg1UPrBitc76S2rreJ6cS0HkzBgJX3vl3bFIBndMfmlcqDcFQ28Jw0pj3TV3zbm1-zXjW/s400/IMG_4579.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557797874720997234" /></a><br /><br />This is Drew at Tacoma Tactical. He is on the "red team," which is why he had the red headband on his helmet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjim8ahedFzF7uPkaOHvEGeECyhyp51WY-fckoHDWBIb-Pg2L6WkyoZcSLO47-6NLhHvmNNjCVXdohJCJeRjuZ5sal0XWWrKMYqbIEgrlogfh2xgV2TIwKr0hjDtsH-WIH_FShC/s1600/IMG_4576.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjim8ahedFzF7uPkaOHvEGeECyhyp51WY-fckoHDWBIb-Pg2L6WkyoZcSLO47-6NLhHvmNNjCVXdohJCJeRjuZ5sal0XWWrKMYqbIEgrlogfh2xgV2TIwKr0hjDtsH-WIH_FShC/s400/IMG_4576.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557797870056364978" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6rIx81EMFka-eZjKpAb_hzdbA7CyNQUZN75GBmK14-P_vO0wTAH3dvfSEM4rD0pb4Th5VvfaYvauN3kp9Ll4LfAYtIvIAs9pfoykqMALplp_zHjbNFczcyYW-fNtBGi1C7xo/s1600/IMG_4575.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6rIx81EMFka-eZjKpAb_hzdbA7CyNQUZN75GBmK14-P_vO0wTAH3dvfSEM4rD0pb4Th5VvfaYvauN3kp9Ll4LfAYtIvIAs9pfoykqMALplp_zHjbNFczcyYW-fNtBGi1C7xo/s400/IMG_4575.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557797865654831474" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZ-nzRBKw3FlK0xX-hRlw9sCUzypt44UEsWlfIWEHxBS88P51WmUfJQ3O2QXn5P9qzOvBfeST8Ziv1umiMxTkZ0bU5_QHVKubj97uSdaXxJycAcHW155W9kKkZsKF3_BzpFjl/s1600/IMG_4535.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZ-nzRBKw3FlK0xX-hRlw9sCUzypt44UEsWlfIWEHxBS88P51WmUfJQ3O2QXn5P9qzOvBfeST8Ziv1umiMxTkZ0bU5_QHVKubj97uSdaXxJycAcHW155W9kKkZsKF3_BzpFjl/s400/IMG_4535.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557797860566784306" /></a><br /><br />Being completely honest, I have mixed feelings about Drew's most recent passion for airsoft. On the one hand, I recognize that this is an "all boy" activity, and I like the fact that Drew is working on developing traits like leadership, courage, and fighting for what is good and right. On the other hand, I'm not a fan of airsofting because I think it might foster a false impression of war (which is horrible) and firearms (which are dangerous and deadly). When done the right way, airsoft is actually pretty safe. You always wear eye protection, and when you get it hit it feels like you are being pinched. Also, to be completely honest, I wish that Drew would be passionate for a sport like soccer or baseball, but I understand I can't force that on him right now. For now, we are letting Drew explore this recent passion, but we are attempting to moderate it.John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-86921532632980788922011-01-02T18:12:00.000-08:002011-01-02T18:45:42.063-08:00Daddy Date!It has become something of a tradition for Sam and I to go on a holiday season "Daddy Date" to the <a href="http://www.bellevuebotanical.org/events/fmevents_gardendlights.htm"target="_blank">Garden D'Lights</a> at the B<a href="http://www.bellevuebotanical.org/fmvisitor.htm"target="_blank">ellevue Botanical Gardens</a>. This is a really amazing display of Christmas lights in various landscapes and animal shapes. Before we go to see the lights, Sam gets to pick out a place where we go to get dinner (this year it was pizza) and then we get dessert afterwards. I always love it when Missi helps Sam gets dressed up in a pretty Christmas dress and does her hair. This is always one of the highlights of the holidays for me! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyOTE6qxuYvcb1Cgn-QT3oc1ucUzdc2iMPlcfkl8Dyh5oHuBj8bXFZ7Q_6yYhobwxepHp63KQiBv-TiDHGVrH3VcGAiU_fRebo49T8RN3WV7p3DtgDfcpWXq05aCaMRkVExQJ/s1600/IMG_4520.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyOTE6qxuYvcb1Cgn-QT3oc1ucUzdc2iMPlcfkl8Dyh5oHuBj8bXFZ7Q_6yYhobwxepHp63KQiBv-TiDHGVrH3VcGAiU_fRebo49T8RN3WV7p3DtgDfcpWXq05aCaMRkVExQJ/s400/IMG_4520.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557781079663757698" /></a><br />My pretty date!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofWQBZh_PfeOtf3r2pAhQbAS7o3c32xCD78MiMb6omVTilyOEofQSHVpx4bd_Ymz7MioTUeOy2uk15ksw9RIgo2-dYE-zusyw1AesNZQmh92UcMjI87PfulOkBJRkay9viHdu/s1600/IMG_4519.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofWQBZh_PfeOtf3r2pAhQbAS7o3c32xCD78MiMb6omVTilyOEofQSHVpx4bd_Ymz7MioTUeOy2uk15ksw9RIgo2-dYE-zusyw1AesNZQmh92UcMjI87PfulOkBJRkay9viHdu/s400/IMG_4519.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557781075151772146" /></a><br />At the Garden D' Lights!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYZ7nWVQ4UQSzF8q0ExATX_1YsJqdEXi7brsSqnRNbexrpaIHtcpmG7uVfbQIsjUKBZUFCpBQAIYV2BRft-tooCF7oCiOWpXWQyKgdVARKUFh4UJ0lPpWpmXFr4_hpjZDV-fy/s1600/IMG_4517.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYZ7nWVQ4UQSzF8q0ExATX_1YsJqdEXi7brsSqnRNbexrpaIHtcpmG7uVfbQIsjUKBZUFCpBQAIYV2BRft-tooCF7oCiOWpXWQyKgdVARKUFh4UJ0lPpWpmXFr4_hpjZDV-fy/s400/IMG_4517.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557781060254571794" /></a><br />There are some really amazing lights displays. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuC_I7e3au37CBLFgzIvMH-Qsl2_T8B1_atgjX7tkb08smgxSkTSUGpeX-OpeEg9Ys7kf2GkXT-hQMOdXoL0Pfj9ggDCpIWIorcybCmq7WWE6FCEciMAUBsKzwTulhhA8l4Tm/s1600/photo-8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuC_I7e3au37CBLFgzIvMH-Qsl2_T8B1_atgjX7tkb08smgxSkTSUGpeX-OpeEg9Ys7kf2GkXT-hQMOdXoL0Pfj9ggDCpIWIorcybCmq7WWE6FCEciMAUBsKzwTulhhA8l4Tm/s400/photo-8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557781070408083090" /></a><br />At dessert after Garden D'Lights.John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-3667784578283734162010-12-25T22:18:00.000-08:002010-12-25T22:22:06.771-08:00Merry Christmas!I'm a bit behind on updating the blog, but wanted to post a short 'merry Christmas' message. Hope everyone has had a great day with friends and family. <br /><br />Here are a few posts that have been percolating in my mind and I will hopefully have the opportunity to finish before too long. <br /><br />- hunting for our Christmas tree<br />- our Totally Tubular 80's party celebrating our 30th birthday<br />- Drew and his love of airsoft<br />- Christmas!John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24621804.post-13503456247354897192010-11-28T09:35:00.000-08:002010-11-28T10:08:46.277-08:00A Breakfast Fave in the Wilson HouseOne of our favorite weekend breakfasts is Baked Oatmeal, or "brown oatmeal" as Sam likes to call it. As with many of our favorite things, we learned about this from <a href="http://zimels.blogspot.com"target="_blank">the Zimels</a>, and we still refer to the recipe card that A-R wrote out for us several years ago now. So you can also enjoy this awesome breakfast food, here is the recipe and a few pictures from this morning. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">Baked Oatmeal</span></span><br />Preheat oven to 350<br /><br />3/4 cup oil<br />3 eggs<br />1-1/2 cup milk<br />4-1/2 cup oatmeal<br />3/4 cup sugar<br />1 tsp cinnamon<br />3 tsp baking powder<br />1-1/2 tsp salt<br /><br />Stir wet ingredients together; add dry ingredients. Add nuts or berries as desired (and we always add them). Pour into greased glass baking dish and bake for 30 minutes and enjoy! <br /><br />Here are a few photos from this morning's batch: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheH8-z_WnfVXUJmjMpiVz4SwlXDtFCMK2UfuPQPZAstkEt9tDNqTa7JVFBmb5p_-GJoreT-1HcYy8ce1LC8eIizzog9KfPcgHlnlKPaWSrmVv3jP5JCGYglMNHC7vR9fMZR9-g/s1600/oatmeal1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheH8-z_WnfVXUJmjMpiVz4SwlXDtFCMK2UfuPQPZAstkEt9tDNqTa7JVFBmb5p_-GJoreT-1HcYy8ce1LC8eIizzog9KfPcgHlnlKPaWSrmVv3jP5JCGYglMNHC7vR9fMZR9-g/s400/oatmeal1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544659822792260322" /></a><br />Mixing the wet and dry ingredients together. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKv74eF-Jq1tK06Wq_sRGEx6XdzQ69-J5joMV0vu_nrOCYcTq_JDSiDBfmVfXBwG_618DwySBMrouD7qvAk54bscwVGvZVI30L83bv1tERnSQ30zpLUlqJBsTWXhXZlGuJc7ys/s1600/oatmeal+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKv74eF-Jq1tK06Wq_sRGEx6XdzQ69-J5joMV0vu_nrOCYcTq_JDSiDBfmVfXBwG_618DwySBMrouD7qvAk54bscwVGvZVI30L83bv1tERnSQ30zpLUlqJBsTWXhXZlGuJc7ys/s400/oatmeal+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544659800747821538" /></a><br />Layering the bottom of the dish with walnuts and frozen blueberries. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZQyO1E8ybFgKp1AYvp9mRi_xtqk9axX38pQKdDZXi6OQQjbsfQtu3UZaLx7Ud1MccPmNllUBpX8-5Viwqr-2UEPrmj3JBgbuuzbNf9iGiHdAw9cStbfKxmbo4fe313Mtp1Hv/s1600/oatmeal3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZQyO1E8ybFgKp1AYvp9mRi_xtqk9axX38pQKdDZXi6OQQjbsfQtu3UZaLx7Ud1MccPmNllUBpX8-5Viwqr-2UEPrmj3JBgbuuzbNf9iGiHdAw9cStbfKxmbo4fe313Mtp1Hv/s400/oatmeal3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544659790277736674" /></a><br />Mixing the oatmeal with the nuts and berries before popping it into the oven. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEPO80WxeeTJ74PA0H7i4hSQAG0m6DAnhfSL0-Jy8dEYzzP08k-VbmC2HMLB-Z9ZGhMK9jGjOLM6a6ap1BdxI8PB4CLxh1y_pbe1pJLp3ymrO7at4TPEKvU04t5ldzQoaumMX/s1600/mmm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEPO80WxeeTJ74PA0H7i4hSQAG0m6DAnhfSL0-Jy8dEYzzP08k-VbmC2HMLB-Z9ZGhMK9jGjOLM6a6ap1BdxI8PB4CLxh1y_pbe1pJLp3ymrO7at4TPEKvU04t5ldzQoaumMX/s400/mmm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544663940009102978" /></a><br />Mmmmmm....<br /><br /><br />P.S. apologies for a few out-of-focus photos. These were all taken with my iPhone.John W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10414717261760429964noreply@blogger.com1