tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72998861298934334972024-03-17T22:03:34.839-05:00Somehow We ManageSarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.comBlogger303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-28026976120706187172023-01-12T15:29:00.006-06:002023-01-12T15:33:44.006-06:00Wearing, Eating, Listening, Reading Wearing. Winter makes me want to wear bright colors. I get tired of gray and black and beige. My sweater is from <a href="https://www.thredup.com/r/N99IEU" target="_blank">ThredUP</a>. <div><br /></div><div>My college roommate says don't buy something unless it makes your heart do 10 million flips. Don't you think that's great advice for discovering your true style? These stripes definitely had my heart flippin.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1Jed8k6OOZCwYKwfz3Zk6u9VHgga9I1YCweGfolYmFC1Cv7K45EJp3DDuRpct6nQwvbdnqyqQAAC1RjBtu5KF3sEg52CtZtwxwEU4fUUsfgK5QeNPARuJ-NePqhSwUA0DLpdQukNceAdsesflI9SdwcZVwDMboEjyO4RvNA9Se9R3UtPNuhu06_p/s3088/IMG_8858.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1Jed8k6OOZCwYKwfz3Zk6u9VHgga9I1YCweGfolYmFC1Cv7K45EJp3DDuRpct6nQwvbdnqyqQAAC1RjBtu5KF3sEg52CtZtwxwEU4fUUsfgK5QeNPARuJ-NePqhSwUA0DLpdQukNceAdsesflI9SdwcZVwDMboEjyO4RvNA9Se9R3UtPNuhu06_p/w480-h640/IMG_8858.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> </div><div>Eating. We had <a href="https://www.budgetbytes.com/creamy-white-chicken-chili/" target="_blank">this creamy white chicken chili</a> for dinner the other night, and I give it 5 stars. I used salsa verde instead of green chilis. Also, I double or triple every recipe I make because we eat a lot.<div><br /></div><div>Listening. <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-megyn-kelly-show/id1532976305" target="_blank">Megyn Kelly's podcast</a>! I'm a huge fan. The most recent episode I recommend is #462 about the terrible Idaho murders. It's tragic and fascinating. MK has a way of reminding the listener about the humanity of the victims. Also, I appreciate her commentary on the royals. </div><div><br /></div><div>Reading. I'm almost finished with <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Jane-Eyre-Audiobook/B01COOZ5C2?eac_link=xlrDXV9BWSYm&ref=web_search_eac_asin_1&eac_selected_type=asin&eac_selected=B01COOZ5C2&qid=dui8nkVCPw&eac_id=137-1634811-8622608_dui8nkVCPw&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Jane Eyre</a>, and I've enjoyed it. Next on my list is <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Six-Wives-of-Henry-VIII-Audiobook/B009PRIE2K?eac_link=RTyCtIaqwY0N&ref=web_search_eac_asin_1&eac_selected_type=asin&eac_selected=B009PRIE2K&qid=qTFMFlcjki&eac_id=137-1634811-8622608_qTFMFlcjki&sr=1-1" target="_blank">The Six Wives of Henry VII. </a> I hope it's good because it's a long one.</div><div><br /></div><div>What are you wearing, eating, listening to and reading?</div></div>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-70316236491074586272023-01-07T15:08:00.007-06:002023-01-09T13:11:49.416-06:00Farewell, 2022<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'd like to take a moment to ponder 2022.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For me, it started with a dry January, which quickly devolved into "damp" January. My friend renamed our challenge as we agreed that skipping the booze at restaurants was too high of a standard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also, we all had Covid...again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpKft0PgB20vixVly6v-QE5yq-bvylWVR-RSvKtN6w1ho36PR1i2nh-OIc9DsmeG7FCeeCfIwIA8duW4P5RVH4GWAt_4FslmRRIuvD00SMpADX8OmY4FdgzRlrylMkThzJSF54UBdOPTKO0FLUeve46HZv4nAKWG5B5x3OhI27q9EzWXXHkK73u5-/s955/8D99DC47-A3C4-4548-962A-96EF74E64D9B_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="823" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpKft0PgB20vixVly6v-QE5yq-bvylWVR-RSvKtN6w1ho36PR1i2nh-OIc9DsmeG7FCeeCfIwIA8duW4P5RVH4GWAt_4FslmRRIuvD00SMpADX8OmY4FdgzRlrylMkThzJSF54UBdOPTKO0FLUeve46HZv4nAKWG5B5x3OhI27q9EzWXXHkK73u5-/w552-h640/8D99DC47-A3C4-4548-962A-96EF74E64D9B_1_105_c.jpeg" width="552" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>By February, I was aggressively working my way out of our homeschooling situation. George and I had the sweetest semester, though we slugged through some really challenging days. Ultimately, with lots of prayer and hot chocolate from the Vintage Cafe, we prevailed! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqSstMfyILqHLHBXasaqsGfKlUvCxouseReQ4qRDBut8LQHLplNOCzJzXuxEJ6FI_v3KicGwKkxDlO8T2eQU8b4GDGesTiVHaMtOy_H_9tFbfadGPCKHJmk7y91bnxF1tpSwF2YvIxRFFNWSCKvMRtZ0iVk8Ho8e6E14Y9CVX3tFvIm3b-v08OMF9/s1024/D856A7E7-7E2C-4FBE-A909-229D11F9295A_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqSstMfyILqHLHBXasaqsGfKlUvCxouseReQ4qRDBut8LQHLplNOCzJzXuxEJ6FI_v3KicGwKkxDlO8T2eQU8b4GDGesTiVHaMtOy_H_9tFbfadGPCKHJmk7y91bnxF1tpSwF2YvIxRFFNWSCKvMRtZ0iVk8Ho8e6E14Y9CVX3tFvIm3b-v08OMF9/w480-h640/D856A7E7-7E2C-4FBE-A909-229D11F9295A_1_105_c.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br />On Valentine's Day, I discovered I was pregnant with baby #5. And there began my love affair with breakfast sandwiches, which lasted the entire pregnancy. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IWZ8nsbfLowC_RRxxJBUJqf0TX6kpHVbS2GxTtWiMzsiRSxmZaOwD2OFfTJvWcQ3Y8SU7fzJ2bZ-K9VBc0bQLSwV-9drk-OplFEEA5xwY0KvVJX3_ifZD_IaMIVkIeM8eITS5UxFvP0E1q4TXmG7WPekQ7t_FB4BC0xKWbkG17QfOzd3bLeH5rDz/s1024/AC447B6B-82A2-4DF9-B5FC-35456B13FDE3_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IWZ8nsbfLowC_RRxxJBUJqf0TX6kpHVbS2GxTtWiMzsiRSxmZaOwD2OFfTJvWcQ3Y8SU7fzJ2bZ-K9VBc0bQLSwV-9drk-OplFEEA5xwY0KvVJX3_ifZD_IaMIVkIeM8eITS5UxFvP0E1q4TXmG7WPekQ7t_FB4BC0xKWbkG17QfOzd3bLeH5rDz/w480-h640/AC447B6B-82A2-4DF9-B5FC-35456B13FDE3_1_105_c.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Early March, Stephen finished constructing what we now call the "middle room," a cozy office/sitting room. We painted it green and put a giant TV over that fireplace. I love it so much.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8XfmRv8Yrs48J08IGqyNtKa6SNqJ0srvJQgWi82eePSAWOaNApWty86N4J4Axw2Xi7vQj4uagGfiZBccApkB-Dr2U0cf_PImXjBV_k-3Fv9DodKJAgLj8HAvGur8w35wdZ-qbZiVafUEFR3rD6-12EwmHFCYnUMF-CQLNiHDZWuajYvTcz-FWrtO/s1024/A9B99342-8602-4FC0-9D1F-77CB286FB881_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8XfmRv8Yrs48J08IGqyNtKa6SNqJ0srvJQgWi82eePSAWOaNApWty86N4J4Axw2Xi7vQj4uagGfiZBccApkB-Dr2U0cf_PImXjBV_k-3Fv9DodKJAgLj8HAvGur8w35wdZ-qbZiVafUEFR3rD6-12EwmHFCYnUMF-CQLNiHDZWuajYvTcz-FWrtO/w640-h480/A9B99342-8602-4FC0-9D1F-77CB286FB881_1_105_c.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>By Easter we knew that our bonus baby was a GIRL. This was thrilling news, even to the brothers. <br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BnastuGRrxhS4cl2Ins0zAZu6rW2KTNRuba7y9LJ8GlvJQoFJ4z5deyhtrzB9AqFLvbPse-lqn_RU_PT85lFyjp1hiaBWq8-KJCDwLmrHuRSJaZZBOibp7fnQPkhbcpfDIOrDGllh8hTYbltrtWQ6VLYa4KW5w0lTxFJa1K35yrZCGBCsiYj9jKp/s1024/6F0C2777-9236-4412-8105-805EC6A462FE_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BnastuGRrxhS4cl2Ins0zAZu6rW2KTNRuba7y9LJ8GlvJQoFJ4z5deyhtrzB9AqFLvbPse-lqn_RU_PT85lFyjp1hiaBWq8-KJCDwLmrHuRSJaZZBOibp7fnQPkhbcpfDIOrDGllh8hTYbltrtWQ6VLYa4KW5w0lTxFJa1K35yrZCGBCsiYj9jKp/w640-h480/6F0C2777-9236-4412-8105-805EC6A462FE_1_105_c.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We surprised them by filling up a 5th Easter basket with PINK everything. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0EBuwcNR9hGK8CfVD2YsTjlhk1QJD7iERfDwEQ38rKGDs5OlkRRCusoKJLQAyIHgkbf5zK1VI6ok2oErR7M7mfNAJ5dxV4HrLN4RM4H1TMWBHStBlBR3PozrfVIF_1ldsD-frbtn6vZyMzIKKYTY9Qme_EGOBzX1fE62Xhk4VY3a5CqGpY2loNfk/s1024/5CBEA4A2-0479-4716-93D3-8AAF839DA0A2_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0EBuwcNR9hGK8CfVD2YsTjlhk1QJD7iERfDwEQ38rKGDs5OlkRRCusoKJLQAyIHgkbf5zK1VI6ok2oErR7M7mfNAJ5dxV4HrLN4RM4H1TMWBHStBlBR3PozrfVIF_1ldsD-frbtn6vZyMzIKKYTY9Qme_EGOBzX1fE62Xhk4VY3a5CqGpY2loNfk/w480-h640/5CBEA4A2-0479-4716-93D3-8AAF839DA0A2_1_105_c.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>In April, we officially gained a teenager! 13</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDV0wbvJIhZmj7hzijTDRT09-MwtINivdEvMQjEBntcEeyTy7CfqBV53I2V8LfKvc_rwUE54XX2W01x4IjmccKlQJo_RBxW63Immotvp6WGIhfX7peg75n5WN2yHUfzkKXnIs21tUNtsA4_lE2fT9SaMxpUtR5vltB0n6AICo_IW8JSgM6NAl6G0G/s991/708B41D4-7C40-4C29-A612-6D7E83A6FE6F_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="793" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDV0wbvJIhZmj7hzijTDRT09-MwtINivdEvMQjEBntcEeyTy7CfqBV53I2V8LfKvc_rwUE54XX2W01x4IjmccKlQJo_RBxW63Immotvp6WGIhfX7peg75n5WN2yHUfzkKXnIs21tUNtsA4_lE2fT9SaMxpUtR5vltB0n6AICo_IW8JSgM6NAl6G0G/w512-h640/708B41D4-7C40-4C29-A612-6D7E83A6FE6F_1_105_c.jpeg" width="512" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Around this time I started showing. I'm 16 weeks along in this picture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpJkL6HCT1xIwfuGPDsYZom7dAY34Et_Sa3q-gozW3u_TvVMwvP97TR8xcHR10cYMPmldg7HTZ36_WDvt-4KOd2n2Hc07llGgl00zwR9wbOv5t7wwET5M6NuP0zCy7uEPqMMyjTSME2OMTkP7uyh6hNXFETMweq6JI0jejXEtaVLXUSYEz0vBTphn/s4030/FFCC06F4-BFAD-44BD-968D-8937AB09E4F0_1_201_a.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4030" data-original-width="2447" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpJkL6HCT1xIwfuGPDsYZom7dAY34Et_Sa3q-gozW3u_TvVMwvP97TR8xcHR10cYMPmldg7HTZ36_WDvt-4KOd2n2Hc07llGgl00zwR9wbOv5t7wwET5M6NuP0zCy7uEPqMMyjTSME2OMTkP7uyh6hNXFETMweq6JI0jejXEtaVLXUSYEz0vBTphn/w388-h640/FFCC06F4-BFAD-44BD-968D-8937AB09E4F0_1_201_a.heic" width="388" /></a></div><div><br /></div>And speaking of 16, in May - we celebrated our <i>16th </i>anniversary. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EV8fWxKHYBPv12n4OlCseNLX90_PFj-enZMhT-_stuOe5BF5q4nhTQV3YnPNzBFGMN7u7zj6AGS3eAb_eqQr7sGr9l1pcn28LvkF8UP2NOwmecwpuhtbpWOrwOvwr1-IZC2CsUwO1mEH89W4uBV8d6GXmLXCFHELw5o0kT-rOCDIrY_noGMTa27C/s1024/D7ECEF54-4A75-44D9-844A-FCCBCD62256D_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EV8fWxKHYBPv12n4OlCseNLX90_PFj-enZMhT-_stuOe5BF5q4nhTQV3YnPNzBFGMN7u7zj6AGS3eAb_eqQr7sGr9l1pcn28LvkF8UP2NOwmecwpuhtbpWOrwOvwr1-IZC2CsUwO1mEH89W4uBV8d6GXmLXCFHELw5o0kT-rOCDIrY_noGMTa27C/w480-h640/D7ECEF54-4A75-44D9-844A-FCCBCD62256D_1_105_c.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>As soon as school let out, we ventured to Cape San Blas for a few days, stopping on our way to visit Stephen's grandmother. The kids loved seeing Muh and begged us to stop again on our way home.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZitwOWKQLZnvorkp3biqDCMjHTaAc48mCSJ2Mu5uv2-YW3kMfuNCwG02dj0XDj3V9yRJhWb5EivA9YIyV7XTWzdxOAYnTQRszOtvmgRm1XSBL0wGQPk0onE5aAWDzxL7CWOxNdVm5fJWXvRAGB8K_FhlFFL27N6BPDfC2ie2IqtLIkBeK2rvLbzW/s1024/C63E51DB-CB2E-43DD-B43F-1B21C400B68B_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZitwOWKQLZnvorkp3biqDCMjHTaAc48mCSJ2Mu5uv2-YW3kMfuNCwG02dj0XDj3V9yRJhWb5EivA9YIyV7XTWzdxOAYnTQRszOtvmgRm1XSBL0wGQPk0onE5aAWDzxL7CWOxNdVm5fJWXvRAGB8K_FhlFFL27N6BPDfC2ie2IqtLIkBeK2rvLbzW/w640-h480/C63E51DB-CB2E-43DD-B43F-1B21C400B68B_1_105_c.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYX9MBIXnMe1gucZQpkt9LU-QrYrHxehjgw8RVtPD54NrQ_0ywZ0Mm-HERpmPdsPxHp-JbQ3hOIKlZPmfTCFHe9UqtW5SO5Ko90SceYleMMs1Xo9tL3_s5AyCKdQDm54EfeOTgNwHeJe13Qz7abZRi-LYhYlVGzW9oG6YaSC5b6MyLUsG2L8pHwiGN/s3705/C9922958-CF34-4D47-A566-C5AC6E17B985_1_201_a.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3705" data-original-width="2778" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYX9MBIXnMe1gucZQpkt9LU-QrYrHxehjgw8RVtPD54NrQ_0ywZ0Mm-HERpmPdsPxHp-JbQ3hOIKlZPmfTCFHe9UqtW5SO5Ko90SceYleMMs1Xo9tL3_s5AyCKdQDm54EfeOTgNwHeJe13Qz7abZRi-LYhYlVGzW9oG6YaSC5b6MyLUsG2L8pHwiGN/w480-h640/C9922958-CF34-4D47-A566-C5AC6E17B985_1_201_a.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We made this an activities trip, boating and fishing, lots of restaurants, etc, knowing that next year we would have an eight month old. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6umxtGNrAmUZxqayIgw92rCu2f3wP-fqTQQwBUyRiDMxhKK2Lty-QMgmWsPhIngqtjwVI_e4yCmSEM6_rDI9xtJFmLs3K83mGi8LvelzR9OwK_Teet2FcdehzFb3AtFdouHLZj-dBk7YZ1ttZHOBw2796bGeo96K0mqyU5Jn8XM83_GjZOXxN-GQ/s1024/02F98B34-DB10-4374-88D1-871AE4B0664F_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6umxtGNrAmUZxqayIgw92rCu2f3wP-fqTQQwBUyRiDMxhKK2Lty-QMgmWsPhIngqtjwVI_e4yCmSEM6_rDI9xtJFmLs3K83mGi8LvelzR9OwK_Teet2FcdehzFb3AtFdouHLZj-dBk7YZ1ttZHOBw2796bGeo96K0mqyU5Jn8XM83_GjZOXxN-GQ/w640-h480/02F98B34-DB10-4374-88D1-871AE4B0664F_1_105_c.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQKr3_ho02RbrBR2OpcEN5NJbOLhRbv3PRRFz-LB2f2WMAY-HVtmFjv7Fuw6zc8VMKOiKiMGj1aDMqQiuCTvj47YgwU1eXPxHmav_6Ba3J1ftb31-qQlEpabc94MsXrwfJNoItcWGgX-ud2W68gsPs-5_R7xt4G6pBDhhJLC6Hy2Nc_m_CzSqE5RX/s1024/69D7BEBE-D71E-441C-9E6A-39E5B5BF6C95_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQKr3_ho02RbrBR2OpcEN5NJbOLhRbv3PRRFz-LB2f2WMAY-HVtmFjv7Fuw6zc8VMKOiKiMGj1aDMqQiuCTvj47YgwU1eXPxHmav_6Ba3J1ftb31-qQlEpabc94MsXrwfJNoItcWGgX-ud2W68gsPs-5_R7xt4G6pBDhhJLC6Hy2Nc_m_CzSqE5RX/w640-h480/69D7BEBE-D71E-441C-9E6A-39E5B5BF6C95_1_105_c.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In June, our 3 oldest went to camp for 3 1/2 weeks. While they were away Caroline spent time with both sets of grandparents. This was a glorious sabbatical for me. I was able to nest like my hair was on fire. I sorted, organized, cleaned, and rested. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijz09dbd5huNnH5g2p09psR6tKJVGScmc20o1LVXwbeW3mbj6CLUKCV0zoqVVG65sqdPCcD81T4v2RMhd_A4BXi8nKez9q1_OZaoj3POjj9zRQXp9iAKbpcKbkg95zfdn0zfZMOzc_tq-M5729TABBgf7Y8Kj9Cpdhhc2FiW27t-ewEJRXFqutrFC/s4032/IMG_7299.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijz09dbd5huNnH5g2p09psR6tKJVGScmc20o1LVXwbeW3mbj6CLUKCV0zoqVVG65sqdPCcD81T4v2RMhd_A4BXi8nKez9q1_OZaoj3POjj9zRQXp9iAKbpcKbkg95zfdn0zfZMOzc_tq-M5729TABBgf7Y8Kj9Cpdhhc2FiW27t-ewEJRXFqutrFC/w480-h640/IMG_7299.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC29UCf3cHC4CjMlNRg8mDzmyEFA65K-jr13WBYpsuNs4BF27FvLpztVtshb2aaveMEBJczcLtuVk-oCxwqU8fLzKvL_hD9D1vaSEXqdcBK9m9BuMhhPHbtnVhY512YW-mw6ut70Q52iWXivLpG9Smbr4vo-W_9_UsuOuwcRZdJypGBWWw-WLH1wGL/s640/IMG_7183.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC29UCf3cHC4CjMlNRg8mDzmyEFA65K-jr13WBYpsuNs4BF27FvLpztVtshb2aaveMEBJczcLtuVk-oCxwqU8fLzKvL_hD9D1vaSEXqdcBK9m9BuMhhPHbtnVhY512YW-mw6ut70Q52iWXivLpG9Smbr4vo-W_9_UsuOuwcRZdJypGBWWw-WLH1wGL/w480-h640/IMG_7183.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>Late July, we began our back to school preparations. In a wave of frugality, I sharpened the used colored pencils instead of buying new ones. I also rounded up all the binders we already had. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxbd6lgxRFmtHVnVwapPXYeBxvThhW8CnMxiq_4ld2z9D8fy3VeUsuiMgKCyQtTk99Fg-92xd-5oBj_XTX1kbKsIFrUyUADdpTJ4qSZG38yM3tr0WYQMDxs9VGFmlqQj1N54L8Omusmk6dHtHJ55KmPed5kJGMQj1DwHZmAxxl7jccNnKuLlkJmzd/s4032/IMG_7492.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxbd6lgxRFmtHVnVwapPXYeBxvThhW8CnMxiq_4ld2z9D8fy3VeUsuiMgKCyQtTk99Fg-92xd-5oBj_XTX1kbKsIFrUyUADdpTJ4qSZG38yM3tr0WYQMDxs9VGFmlqQj1N54L8Omusmk6dHtHJ55KmPed5kJGMQj1DwHZmAxxl7jccNnKuLlkJmzd/w480-h640/IMG_7492.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Early August was back to school. The first day felt monumental. I had officially hung up my homeschooling hat and bridged the gap between quitting school and restarting. I'm so proud of them.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8t2ijuSpkvSe1-mjlqv2T2Jajtx_F2RldKb5shcLVcnmlJvd4FejRMtYKSObO_ixUerpLgtbdaiCn7TOkfljUBqD9uAD07JNJW0rEZWMBDyq2a11QD2FqknpXDek8xTV_Z2yVhiwxxWN-A3IUCtn3qmt_48Y9VO47SH4WhDHRYMZoz167vpMItwyJ/s4032/IMG_7522.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8t2ijuSpkvSe1-mjlqv2T2Jajtx_F2RldKb5shcLVcnmlJvd4FejRMtYKSObO_ixUerpLgtbdaiCn7TOkfljUBqD9uAD07JNJW0rEZWMBDyq2a11QD2FqknpXDek8xTV_Z2yVhiwxxWN-A3IUCtn3qmt_48Y9VO47SH4WhDHRYMZoz167vpMItwyJ/w480-h640/IMG_7522.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>And I'm pretty proud of myself, too.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_M2qM6Ow1AoAsY41Hu5fccH4QBXXQG7aMvKJtUqt1wbJnbX13UiyAvFEWeclsmaKjw_lEEU66il2_u56202ftSv_b8Lhe4979_pc50N4qGgUpZFJjZ9OPZgqfLjkRWYSLzf5ZvZ-HdKrKu2ItSdslvDxaeYBEo8bv1cDyXs6Tn_Oda-BBpuewCVKq/s4032/IMG_7531.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_M2qM6Ow1AoAsY41Hu5fccH4QBXXQG7aMvKJtUqt1wbJnbX13UiyAvFEWeclsmaKjw_lEEU66il2_u56202ftSv_b8Lhe4979_pc50N4qGgUpZFJjZ9OPZgqfLjkRWYSLzf5ZvZ-HdKrKu2ItSdslvDxaeYBEo8bv1cDyXs6Tn_Oda-BBpuewCVKq/w640-h480/IMG_7531.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Fall semester was packed with the end of pregnancy, lunches, snacks, after school activities, sports, homework, etc. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1UitVaThwjVUWAx6tJhwDgOTQoJ5VmR_y_s05ssLmbswheUkkhl0eDrRIC9L0GbfOk0x-oDOszY_6ZSDKp37qtWaAiH_rx3kq7NrbkEuuj1XZt8cAMAYbNhpqxgZREPJvqd7Ayj_lLQL0O5qDdbTYiIXUKVs1ZyVGWD4fSk1yEUYknX69Ik7EA9e/s4032/IMG_7905.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1UitVaThwjVUWAx6tJhwDgOTQoJ5VmR_y_s05ssLmbswheUkkhl0eDrRIC9L0GbfOk0x-oDOszY_6ZSDKp37qtWaAiH_rx3kq7NrbkEuuj1XZt8cAMAYbNhpqxgZREPJvqd7Ayj_lLQL0O5qDdbTYiIXUKVs1ZyVGWD4fSk1yEUYknX69Ik7EA9e/w640-h480/IMG_7905.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNM8LNtwHplZnsPcguwm20FnwowuO7AIbCAvabqUlztxzxn2F2irWXwmRxOo1JZ6m0Nk67dApna24rXk_hllwWpnVH_sUTZq4i6-xN0IgSQwLo7CqVrRAtFEGDA3z-BAGVjjzL_S7-SyS5MvoApPVIGZ0YddJildcOyVjqC94QaqSWQt2WmxK0MC9/s4032/IMG_7878.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNM8LNtwHplZnsPcguwm20FnwowuO7AIbCAvabqUlztxzxn2F2irWXwmRxOo1JZ6m0Nk67dApna24rXk_hllwWpnVH_sUTZq4i6-xN0IgSQwLo7CqVrRAtFEGDA3z-BAGVjjzL_S7-SyS5MvoApPVIGZ0YddJildcOyVjqC94QaqSWQt2WmxK0MC9/w640-h480/IMG_7878.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Stephen and Laurie ran cross country and George played Y football. </div>Here is my standard sports fan "uniform."</div><div>Very European chic in my dress and sneakers, don't you think? </div><div>Remember, <a href="http://www.somehowwemanage.com/2022/09/how-to-dress-pregnant.html" target="_blank">pregnant ladies wear dresses</a>. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakAu0AM7pAgYBrPl2oz2UF4THrYJ-LSXrFTQl7hzsQX-0ZjctKER6B_5SyrwGG_8XHqcI8zWWaRTADNfwkuysgipsAeqjom05wW077ARQwreR_7Gx8_WNNdn6JuKoQK7m9askjfheSrkCLVaoOZGcoka0JxCV1fFHKD9xr1HYMHS1-dlNorHYeYhi/s4032/IMG_7729.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakAu0AM7pAgYBrPl2oz2UF4THrYJ-LSXrFTQl7hzsQX-0ZjctKER6B_5SyrwGG_8XHqcI8zWWaRTADNfwkuysgipsAeqjom05wW077ARQwreR_7Gx8_WNNdn6JuKoQK7m9askjfheSrkCLVaoOZGcoka0JxCV1fFHKD9xr1HYMHS1-dlNorHYeYhi/w480-h640/IMG_7729.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I treasure this picture of Stephen and Laurie. They are so different, but share the same circles. It is sweet to see them together. Also, it makes me laugh because Stephen despises tank tops. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1aNIIb64KmBYNjNbg0y3hsNOOWt_63EcJ569oRi3i91ar7rxQ3csnBwfk9MafcUBNDGpMvMby_RAg3y7Y4XssSXJjTObSDkxj3h1PCHl8GwIKpYN1FhStIBtoe_xBo9oWLn85f4Q5EXglRDT9aQNbtznQpa09RpZc5ZMIfCVP30PJNuM_eTupQKA/s4032/IMG_6172.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1aNIIb64KmBYNjNbg0y3hsNOOWt_63EcJ569oRi3i91ar7rxQ3csnBwfk9MafcUBNDGpMvMby_RAg3y7Y4XssSXJjTObSDkxj3h1PCHl8GwIKpYN1FhStIBtoe_xBo9oWLn85f4Q5EXglRDT9aQNbtznQpa09RpZc5ZMIfCVP30PJNuM_eTupQKA/w480-h640/IMG_6172.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>George made a whole new group of friends on the football field, which now has turned into a neighborhood gang. The other day he informed me "the parents have no idea where we are or what we are doing." Ha.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJD2QSeKV4r8rPrGFsngzYNXfkdC_hjYSMVuIs7gZ25UWFqHklR9iU1G6fC601Kjf7W4Y9xYLxuwJbrU-Z0KG3G4PxW-VJYOunJ0cPRb_4Y15G-nDOhjMAoaizTFNJeNivQFFy-6WonVrb4f_rCnBqCou8rHRXrqg-p4GNh6JZDz2aJ3f0EmbZJYF/s4032/IMG_7779.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJD2QSeKV4r8rPrGFsngzYNXfkdC_hjYSMVuIs7gZ25UWFqHklR9iU1G6fC601Kjf7W4Y9xYLxuwJbrU-Z0KG3G4PxW-VJYOunJ0cPRb_4Y15G-nDOhjMAoaizTFNJeNivQFFy-6WonVrb4f_rCnBqCou8rHRXrqg-p4GNh6JZDz2aJ3f0EmbZJYF/w480-h640/IMG_7779.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>In September my sister and best friends threw me the loveliest baby shower. It truly warmed my heart and encouraged me. They treated me like this was my first baby, reminding me that <i>every</i> baby is a miracle, a gift, and worthy of celebrating BIG. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7SCQqqz3v2cwxKDE-_-IVoDIi_W9jHA6_kbtNddaS0PLLO1J0mWOwkQID8c_BgYbt_8ZIedw1NkK0vDxyWe18ZnxEQFSGqJ2KDwf6TWOQoUxjpAVce6yswScn-4oU52-bG5YiU3_JS4HrZLW18QERdqLefco776cgpBC5svY_iofFKjIbguBze3o/s4032/IMG_4848.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7SCQqqz3v2cwxKDE-_-IVoDIi_W9jHA6_kbtNddaS0PLLO1J0mWOwkQID8c_BgYbt_8ZIedw1NkK0vDxyWe18ZnxEQFSGqJ2KDwf6TWOQoUxjpAVce6yswScn-4oU52-bG5YiU3_JS4HrZLW18QERdqLefco776cgpBC5svY_iofFKjIbguBze3o/w480-h640/IMG_4848.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFMPKmM5Te4lk-afsO-3KbPVKtWeoiacK8drc7u5lBA7EKxVlos4PlChdbjJKKcartVmhBHG6iCtGlRdTmK1RAEsypxGNLMzqe60lTXiWvV-J6YHH7KN78AK_kvmDFIbc_XhnAkQlTmeUvIT1qsOm9UtPe3kbzKxUO0np5ib8QcsDq6pqsTH0Vt3U/s3024/IMG_4868.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFMPKmM5Te4lk-afsO-3KbPVKtWeoiacK8drc7u5lBA7EKxVlos4PlChdbjJKKcartVmhBHG6iCtGlRdTmK1RAEsypxGNLMzqe60lTXiWvV-J6YHH7KN78AK_kvmDFIbc_XhnAkQlTmeUvIT1qsOm9UtPe3kbzKxUO0np5ib8QcsDq6pqsTH0Vt3U/w640-h640/IMG_4868.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Early October Stephen "convinced" me to hire some cleaning ladies. Physically, I couldn't anymore. These women are angels on earth. They make toilet paper bows and arrange the kids' stuffed animals in cute and surprising ways. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0qUda8vnNuWL63dxJfvD2i7w6qgEN922HgRrRHB9WFEC1c6tf7zSyEqKXdtaV-tllXqAu3-9iCMC5vIbLCtVh2baR_rAws5TKpfb49UmVX23VE23QRKluFXt9lKNgRpj_ByZ_PsK_m5Z04wd7skuxsOpOkvOzQ-OhmbSnaa2e6iF6I35Bqew1uwk/s4032/IMG_7675.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0qUda8vnNuWL63dxJfvD2i7w6qgEN922HgRrRHB9WFEC1c6tf7zSyEqKXdtaV-tllXqAu3-9iCMC5vIbLCtVh2baR_rAws5TKpfb49UmVX23VE23QRKluFXt9lKNgRpj_ByZ_PsK_m5Z04wd7skuxsOpOkvOzQ-OhmbSnaa2e6iF6I35Bqew1uwk/w480-h640/IMG_7675.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>With a clean house, 4 kids in school, cross country and football season wrapping up, it was time for </div><div>D-day. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.somehowwemanage.com/2022/12/jill.html">Look at that BABY!</a></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLh3-Jf0B0LqjCll_chPT4aDZOReJxVyhba1tRekWz5enc4EdWvR4MZFkjZUQxv-pGVJH25q-EvE3VUNX2plyODdaMtyNLV7XYMtALvBVRLZaEBYxCqknZITuidnGzsZAo7T3lYK6C4MRXIJxVv2lZN7ymZYcQ1wcoBDamI6U4aDOLQASNyhSmonKI/s4032/IMG_8415.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLh3-Jf0B0LqjCll_chPT4aDZOReJxVyhba1tRekWz5enc4EdWvR4MZFkjZUQxv-pGVJH25q-EvE3VUNX2plyODdaMtyNLV7XYMtALvBVRLZaEBYxCqknZITuidnGzsZAo7T3lYK6C4MRXIJxVv2lZN7ymZYcQ1wcoBDamI6U4aDOLQASNyhSmonKI/w640-h480/IMG_8415.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Jill is like my grandchild, not that I'm <i>too old</i> to be her mom. It's a perspective change, the notion that she is not of any inconvenience. She is pure love and joy. With every feed, every diaper change, I think <i>what a privilege. </i>I have so much more patience and grace for myself than 26 year old new-mom-me.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_guXtDgRWVhOnHspwSxHOmoKUh5oaD6TXahbSC9iMptFrA8mom1c6e0B-sTfjsksE3v2wBkXDQUVU5y0ZExm2xd6IggQLBDEfa2iOW4CaWJ0TdAgKq1CD86xhhzOIToyc1iiVE022Z7knmQ7CFjJFQhTpfAWTIbyhTMU9JS0s8RKerR9nTCTnswEF/s4032/IMG_8081.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_guXtDgRWVhOnHspwSxHOmoKUh5oaD6TXahbSC9iMptFrA8mom1c6e0B-sTfjsksE3v2wBkXDQUVU5y0ZExm2xd6IggQLBDEfa2iOW4CaWJ0TdAgKq1CD86xhhzOIToyc1iiVE022Z7knmQ7CFjJFQhTpfAWTIbyhTMU9JS0s8RKerR9nTCTnswEF/w480-h640/IMG_8081.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Halloween rolled around so of course we took our traditional picture with mums and our newest pumpkin. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvPSD0Y5ruSw5lRXnKGqiWDgMKVw7eVSSq9u_B7QEVrPq4Yf2uIF10uSu0UtSzZLr4Nx74DGF14zwzFaHLzExnbwNPzaKwk9sivgpVAiYBAoz9a07D5gRV5pIGwsc-72OcrU0Kb1wfKsgabo8g7FDvZSka1SOZ7s9nCoXiX5r3J7ww7hnd1ogJ5Ho/s2955/61BBAA22-D837-414D-9BC9-6BD4E42D54AC.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2955" data-original-width="2955" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvPSD0Y5ruSw5lRXnKGqiWDgMKVw7eVSSq9u_B7QEVrPq4Yf2uIF10uSu0UtSzZLr4Nx74DGF14zwzFaHLzExnbwNPzaKwk9sivgpVAiYBAoz9a07D5gRV5pIGwsc-72OcrU0Kb1wfKsgabo8g7FDvZSka1SOZ7s9nCoXiX5r3J7ww7hnd1ogJ5Ho/w640-h640/61BBAA22-D837-414D-9BC9-6BD4E42D54AC.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOYTRO9_UH8NB5J3EENJaQDkr1dxA5uooyz9oQlwmy0GPiUoyfO6UOHw4fizCTbav31w7lT7IdCdir_Z9l0wY4npHni0OJz17-b21HcjKqN5iP3fiDee1GJzZn2Z7jrgYVzQM_XaZ5O4wKNtj34J--EWRppzGs0k_8lNTa02n2v3gZggFRsU_uMm4/s4032/IMG_8073.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOYTRO9_UH8NB5J3EENJaQDkr1dxA5uooyz9oQlwmy0GPiUoyfO6UOHw4fizCTbav31w7lT7IdCdir_Z9l0wY4npHni0OJz17-b21HcjKqN5iP3fiDee1GJzZn2Z7jrgYVzQM_XaZ5O4wKNtj34J--EWRppzGs0k_8lNTa02n2v3gZggFRsU_uMm4/w640-h480/IMG_8073.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>November launched the holiday season with lots of good food, time with family, school performances, and parties.</div><div><br /></div><div>For Thanksgiving we spent 4 days with Stephen's family. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysZMcZ1_LFM69V-iURYxJaNrbOY1_RzWqsKiqFu0NB67qstMsVOEF8qE03Jy0nU93XXft_V-nol9jLRCZETdExMoEWuKRQff8EtACHMIh-Jee6rHKWhZBQ35bg6eDu5E5t2ag-knoxyCiHSOCMco-keLu2Sw9B8xHVdg_NrLxYLuuxsmIL53hq_uK/s4032/IMG_8401.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysZMcZ1_LFM69V-iURYxJaNrbOY1_RzWqsKiqFu0NB67qstMsVOEF8qE03Jy0nU93XXft_V-nol9jLRCZETdExMoEWuKRQff8EtACHMIh-Jee6rHKWhZBQ35bg6eDu5E5t2ag-knoxyCiHSOCMco-keLu2Sw9B8xHVdg_NrLxYLuuxsmIL53hq_uK/w480-h640/IMG_8401.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We went the park, watched football, made gingerbread houses, and had lots of conversations over coffee.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjn0cMCH66mZH7RHWB9lbi3rDzBgYC6E65sVXhMqhEYPunFm_i8V8Hi4zp1H8AOXF3uaIgSJrajlRV0k_jyvEJqzX2xFWkKNhrUYYAcDVoAxHnq75C6Fq7HX1EXVBrxM5kXoMpqXp_l_JBEennPFE0ScyrDcteHcogdotyKOZ_2AdbzNqeGYJQp7Y/s4032/IMG_8408.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjn0cMCH66mZH7RHWB9lbi3rDzBgYC6E65sVXhMqhEYPunFm_i8V8Hi4zp1H8AOXF3uaIgSJrajlRV0k_jyvEJqzX2xFWkKNhrUYYAcDVoAxHnq75C6Fq7HX1EXVBrxM5kXoMpqXp_l_JBEennPFE0ScyrDcteHcogdotyKOZ_2AdbzNqeGYJQp7Y/w480-h640/IMG_8408.jpg" width="480" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We came home and busted out our Christmas pj's, got our tree, and put on our game face for December, which was totally crazy as always.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHS9pGvYNDYNPUd8TYoz73mdpwTP2LYhA1nssXxrg54FpFl1m_7TAO2PpIfcIboxYQuTvPEVMeaDzGFLK9_8ACk1YrQWVaSUFgvfRqL-ya403M8gKqX7MhWRLfuly7F38n7VwykTSvo_KqBMXGBZC7vWjZHfOnA8a-7i6xARkKW2-SCeqgxc80iqb/s4032/IMG_8468.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHS9pGvYNDYNPUd8TYoz73mdpwTP2LYhA1nssXxrg54FpFl1m_7TAO2PpIfcIboxYQuTvPEVMeaDzGFLK9_8ACk1YrQWVaSUFgvfRqL-ya403M8gKqX7MhWRLfuly7F38n7VwykTSvo_KqBMXGBZC7vWjZHfOnA8a-7i6xARkKW2-SCeqgxc80iqb/w480-h640/IMG_8468.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Laurie + cousins in the school play. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6A2aOFUSR0x4dK0kFV_rYDbAr9X_6Q14jeU6o1w0DLqGo9XnXKZxQ2N0-z_ZNe3VgHO7uYhNlw6Lo6a9JQINsz93wAdLt_KpaDwEuTwIJfRlocrZHhebjlpeB7el0qdGgZGSp7Wnn_irDn6bFhLcVdDT1Ebi3BEOqdhSOUg-nuH3y5IhPVcdCqcd/s4032/IMG_6676.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6A2aOFUSR0x4dK0kFV_rYDbAr9X_6Q14jeU6o1w0DLqGo9XnXKZxQ2N0-z_ZNe3VgHO7uYhNlw6Lo6a9JQINsz93wAdLt_KpaDwEuTwIJfRlocrZHhebjlpeB7el0qdGgZGSp7Wnn_irDn6bFhLcVdDT1Ebi3BEOqdhSOUg-nuH3y5IhPVcdCqcd/w480-h640/IMG_6676.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>As December progressed and each activity fell off the calendar, things eventually got quieter. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkwM8I90GcHSpQz2ON3nU0EmC-Kq1RRAULttBrW6siferGyyhM9oKJuAJiOVMJJxBLA9SDRLSYistOPbiU54fp0N2E57GPXCoacpkaT6gdrlFN_P2Vi83BHs27Yi4MkVaneG-QSQ0KCf_c7XKpYYJH1IIunmx8eDzZQtnJcE2k5NGsIBo8b8MPSoV/s4032/IMG_8534.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkwM8I90GcHSpQz2ON3nU0EmC-Kq1RRAULttBrW6siferGyyhM9oKJuAJiOVMJJxBLA9SDRLSYistOPbiU54fp0N2E57GPXCoacpkaT6gdrlFN_P2Vi83BHs27Yi4MkVaneG-QSQ0KCf_c7XKpYYJH1IIunmx8eDzZQtnJcE2k5NGsIBo8b8MPSoV/w480-h640/IMG_8534.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We road tripped to Jackson to visit family and see the Sound of Music at a local theatre. </div><div>Caroline has not stopped singing Sound of Music songs since. She's a sucker for a musical. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTozGUeYF56UyJ8lKXOsoARAVOdrMhiCoivOk9ZFS_pblSDUr2sBUix-HDyz2WMOh7Z2b7RZt6eBrrnxbJCDWHC3GjTVTmTA6wS_NEaHI15LQ9z0PVBVgDhoSGueIXhZzqo4yR9YiMb3uOEH1C4IL9zLZ71hOcjEzbRlc9rw9ZdiK7J2pjkN92skJH/s4032/IMG_6891.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTozGUeYF56UyJ8lKXOsoARAVOdrMhiCoivOk9ZFS_pblSDUr2sBUix-HDyz2WMOh7Z2b7RZt6eBrrnxbJCDWHC3GjTVTmTA6wS_NEaHI15LQ9z0PVBVgDhoSGueIXhZzqo4yR9YiMb3uOEH1C4IL9zLZ71hOcjEzbRlc9rw9ZdiK7J2pjkN92skJH/w480-h640/IMG_6891.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><div>Finally, Christmas morning came and went. That afternoon I put on a movie and slept through the entire thing, relieved that I had actually survived -- the day and the season<i> and the year</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0MhAYpZNJmOXL0jz8fEAJwP4Ze2XBgEbMVzvbI1kgpsagQhXcFB9nCa_TlVoeTBbbjAe7_AEu2V2Gre5qNKmI0xxqCZT4kphTZFUaaHjKRHp10bRS0Wl62TreHUfaTR-Ijftg6dgslbdjmPXcbKJnNkfx2HmKnuoaeyTGMuDndIUPDKMJvTn1tZ8/s4032/IMG_8680.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0MhAYpZNJmOXL0jz8fEAJwP4Ze2XBgEbMVzvbI1kgpsagQhXcFB9nCa_TlVoeTBbbjAe7_AEu2V2Gre5qNKmI0xxqCZT4kphTZFUaaHjKRHp10bRS0Wl62TreHUfaTR-Ijftg6dgslbdjmPXcbKJnNkfx2HmKnuoaeyTGMuDndIUPDKMJvTn1tZ8/w640-h480/IMG_8680.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>2022, like any other year, had its disappointments, temper tantrums, terrible days, and wasted time. But overall, we made progress. We grew literally as a family, but also in maturity and depth as people. We added more layers to our stories.</div><div><br /></div><div>Earlier this week I pulled out a stack of old journals that spanned more than a decade. I couldn't believe how God had answered so many prayers. There were times we were stressed about money and career, babies, illnesses, interpersonal conflicts. It was amazing to see how many of our concerns were resolved and how we had changed in the process. I was reminded that there is a God and he hears our prayers! </div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers to 2023! I have 2 resolutions: 12 dates, 12 books.</div><div><br /></div><div>I want to go on 12 dates with my husband and I want listen to 12 audiobooks, the only way I can read successfully these days.</div><div><br /></div><div>What about you? How was '22? What ya got going for 2023?</div>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-25966193015079184422022-12-28T16:33:00.000-06:002022-12-28T16:33:42.323-06:00Jill<p style="text-align: center;">October 14, 2022 Jill Miriam Spooner got born. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFLx-dkH2LOn2sPJ75JImePR52fKxx5cC5sAED6EhLvp8_b0AJ8SFqdOzWiOaWth-gR_yXb0GV7ID-1-319n0YC9HwcMb-VzEc4-TgF2PIX_YYyvqb77yrV0xDOePmxhDlPwEyUig6y8mdI6-MU56uFR_5Ngm7F8kgwEuGbbhPAzF5rq-RntxaI0Z/s4032/IMG_8409.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFLx-dkH2LOn2sPJ75JImePR52fKxx5cC5sAED6EhLvp8_b0AJ8SFqdOzWiOaWth-gR_yXb0GV7ID-1-319n0YC9HwcMb-VzEc4-TgF2PIX_YYyvqb77yrV0xDOePmxhDlPwEyUig6y8mdI6-MU56uFR_5Ngm7F8kgwEuGbbhPAzF5rq-RntxaI0Z/w480-h640/IMG_8409.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I don't quite know how to share about her birth. It was surreal. I honestly could not believe that I was doing it all again, the pregnancy and delivery.</p><p>I was more in awe of the whole process this time. <i>We grow people</i>. What in the world?! </p><p>Her birth day was a Friday morning, and she was delivered via scheduled C-section, my 5th. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JvJGfZTMkXTig6KLSEztBCMoWWVVJ_e478FXOvNnfIINWA1y82ni0z-I1ncNQh7m23F49sbk93SLitD-k9k5i3og2ssgbyTqqr0X1iSsV6SWBMvgebJo_3aefqk6VvrvwuIlaaqOd0ZBeuw-JioCKyTnu6xl-ZIxMv7P4F_NI4wSinC7zLzKnqVp/s4032/IMG_8399.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JvJGfZTMkXTig6KLSEztBCMoWWVVJ_e478FXOvNnfIINWA1y82ni0z-I1ncNQh7m23F49sbk93SLitD-k9k5i3og2ssgbyTqqr0X1iSsV6SWBMvgebJo_3aefqk6VvrvwuIlaaqOd0ZBeuw-JioCKyTnu6xl-ZIxMv7P4F_NI4wSinC7zLzKnqVp/w480-h640/IMG_8399.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The verse I carried with me into surgery was Luke 12:7 </div><div><br /></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); color: #202124; font-size: 16px;"><i>Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.</i></span></div><div><br /></div>She was born pink and perfect, weighing 8lbs 5oz.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJlM-hEO48sMURaAMf2b4DUzjwIw__IqdPxjwsUemdGFD8ZvS7BenrUECcPtMapYr5L2VZYxKWLcDYC3CR1sp-AR5lUVmo4XC4DMYGm1Iip7ycJzTHFoHs6qOcW-5KwJqMZcE7KD6-Z8EKgQE6DuVwLVHsma_rxA0hOHK4D_iJ7zbvEc-tar83yQo/s4032/IMG_8400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJlM-hEO48sMURaAMf2b4DUzjwIw__IqdPxjwsUemdGFD8ZvS7BenrUECcPtMapYr5L2VZYxKWLcDYC3CR1sp-AR5lUVmo4XC4DMYGm1Iip7ycJzTHFoHs6qOcW-5KwJqMZcE7KD6-Z8EKgQE6DuVwLVHsma_rxA0hOHK4D_iJ7zbvEc-tar83yQo/w480-h640/IMG_8400.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Her name, Jill, is for my mother in law, a truly lovely and deserving person. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Jill</i> - short, classic, and feminine. I love it.</div><div><br /></div><div>As for <i>Miriam</i> - we just really liked it and felt Jill needed a 3 syllable middle name to balance the 1 short - <i>Jill</i>.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtYEyHsGycN_CIFM9-scVFnJKAVxjH1h6v2TTStiHBmm_vkvrOksxwvv9MIwTTFVG__dEKlMVJEATihBxtP0h75Ivy6JZA0lBdMfFskL5gzNad_q7iWUnHKcIMBfMpUCtPVN66nVcRqL11MtUIToYQ-x74FNW_qv4fIHKz1B-17URp6Y91y5BAbR-/s4032/IMG_8412.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtYEyHsGycN_CIFM9-scVFnJKAVxjH1h6v2TTStiHBmm_vkvrOksxwvv9MIwTTFVG__dEKlMVJEATihBxtP0h75Ivy6JZA0lBdMfFskL5gzNad_q7iWUnHKcIMBfMpUCtPVN66nVcRqL11MtUIToYQ-x74FNW_qv4fIHKz1B-17URp6Y91y5BAbR-/w640-h480/IMG_8412.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Stephen was by my side, of course. Not his first rodeo. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaL2XnT49Peyxf0fmoj5CZAtRcKWQzPkLR3xv1-xzruEPgprOrbiiUpheNglYHtyXb4MecR6Aa7ab_b7bLhV4uAhW0u_Od4WCBUV6HZysjvuIwR-P-pz9Q25vqvSt2sJGlFxmYzo5R9QUZfKk_q5OpUF-4Z7Glhu-od1hz33OZBsVjkI2rPmnwccfA/s4032/IMG_8415.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaL2XnT49Peyxf0fmoj5CZAtRcKWQzPkLR3xv1-xzruEPgprOrbiiUpheNglYHtyXb4MecR6Aa7ab_b7bLhV4uAhW0u_Od4WCBUV6HZysjvuIwR-P-pz9Q25vqvSt2sJGlFxmYzo5R9QUZfKk_q5OpUF-4Z7Glhu-od1hz33OZBsVjkI2rPmnwccfA/w640-h480/IMG_8415.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>There is no better day than the day your baby is born. Truly a miracle every time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hvgugLJ4ElhtWRbQkP1TszqYkqfDnqE8OViLtciIJvdmFKOvmpJC6-eOZK8c28QwksOULjQ7NmkLO_1gVv11QnPRCfpV62Y0R_rl0Mq-j9VeAxalDTqV2KyVHIBShgrm3oCioxIRHXalPqESjSCZaeJlTIUjJuDWMzVwi5WvjMWz15Vr5RjwNBMg/s4032/IMG_8419.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hvgugLJ4ElhtWRbQkP1TszqYkqfDnqE8OViLtciIJvdmFKOvmpJC6-eOZK8c28QwksOULjQ7NmkLO_1gVv11QnPRCfpV62Y0R_rl0Mq-j9VeAxalDTqV2KyVHIBShgrm3oCioxIRHXalPqESjSCZaeJlTIUjJuDWMzVwi5WvjMWz15Vr5RjwNBMg/w480-h640/IMG_8419.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Proud Papa</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyqmxrmH1tyQf_ItSVRx19p6KLRAiBLAZo6avNEQ5TnwXwL-oxAzIqMmBu0gv5RAxmzSkz_pGKbjSZyUXOlD0fLh15JOiD6e43ZQBxKNJeAE5yAbTrvLPNWKej0VO2Ay4_xycDg1-Rywa82ZrPT-p1FojcK2qwxydkn260wQXCXduDo64_A9qmP3Y/s4032/IMG_8422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyqmxrmH1tyQf_ItSVRx19p6KLRAiBLAZo6avNEQ5TnwXwL-oxAzIqMmBu0gv5RAxmzSkz_pGKbjSZyUXOlD0fLh15JOiD6e43ZQBxKNJeAE5yAbTrvLPNWKej0VO2Ay4_xycDg1-Rywa82ZrPT-p1FojcK2qwxydkn260wQXCXduDo64_A9qmP3Y/w480-h640/IMG_8422.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This was the very first birth I got to do skin to skin, which means I held her immediately after delivery in the recovery room. It was so sweet to have these early moments together. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgml2UZD4JHV8FBR-M92uUuxJIH4uJofbM0C4TBQKI1-qfjcbV-M1sVQ0xYp-8ZFSQcpLip9jtJJsI_e6Sc9vIaNA-gjkvjKkMJXDkk_x4EvRAxNmu5z4ItK1Pdzj8TCwxZTwpuT7GKL2qW25ljkgGhOcGh96MYMiXsRtUr9lda95_n5T6C2iKuzenb/s4032/IMG_8431.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgml2UZD4JHV8FBR-M92uUuxJIH4uJofbM0C4TBQKI1-qfjcbV-M1sVQ0xYp-8ZFSQcpLip9jtJJsI_e6Sc9vIaNA-gjkvjKkMJXDkk_x4EvRAxNmu5z4ItK1Pdzj8TCwxZTwpuT7GKL2qW25ljkgGhOcGh96MYMiXsRtUr9lda95_n5T6C2iKuzenb/w480-h640/IMG_8431.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I'm drugged and happy in this photo. Relieved.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-r6mS77P_PMnAujSBrTnE-aQ1oewDgysV3KFzXK8LQqZfpIyxFIn5aFuSP3B6fQ_PfK4waaOn7rV1af0Yc1tfUoK5YI2s4enJ-w8gGxyUgRbzDndmP9z_D9p0fTAMTuLB-oUlgHAnz-qYpInBpDDBKpe6fEubkhDoK-NKR7znRFCh0hb8_DkD95bo/s4032/IMG_8433.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-r6mS77P_PMnAujSBrTnE-aQ1oewDgysV3KFzXK8LQqZfpIyxFIn5aFuSP3B6fQ_PfK4waaOn7rV1af0Yc1tfUoK5YI2s4enJ-w8gGxyUgRbzDndmP9z_D9p0fTAMTuLB-oUlgHAnz-qYpInBpDDBKpe6fEubkhDoK-NKR7znRFCh0hb8_DkD95bo/w480-h640/IMG_8433.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The gang's all here. Meeting the siblings.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_httfY0BKodDowuOb-70rfedNQqaOVYBmBqOXkrQ1jOH_I6S6Tp0Ze95L1JAbHSuMzNqtNs5ocx5ovKkGtUnKVsxAHlL32XaIOovCB131drCXwaEAdUwLsBv0FzEBqPnJKyWpd_Qnj5-WR2z-twfeWFnXXIJKKuhLU56_yveU2fN2VjRGpH62w9_s/s4032/IMG_8436.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_httfY0BKodDowuOb-70rfedNQqaOVYBmBqOXkrQ1jOH_I6S6Tp0Ze95L1JAbHSuMzNqtNs5ocx5ovKkGtUnKVsxAHlL32XaIOovCB131drCXwaEAdUwLsBv0FzEBqPnJKyWpd_Qnj5-WR2z-twfeWFnXXIJKKuhLU56_yveU2fN2VjRGpH62w9_s/w480-h640/IMG_8436.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Aunt Lu, Millie, and James (my niece and nephew) were our first visitors the next morning. James requested the "Big Cousin" shirt for his birthday. He rocked it.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVWJRiA0BMrEeje2eHzis1djvHzMXhKv-y6PzmetTQrYsxU69NbjSlHhfU9MEJgc0oxionZIg9Cww9un7L-B03DLMthSUCOVmeHK4YSgeel7lvCYMWRFAJ5yQPVq-cn-vgPCba_WHuwe6KOHE8ZBKcAvTvJSwvDVVUYeMYziyKdRpBFYV7iFSt24g/s4032/IMG_7983.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVWJRiA0BMrEeje2eHzis1djvHzMXhKv-y6PzmetTQrYsxU69NbjSlHhfU9MEJgc0oxionZIg9Cww9un7L-B03DLMthSUCOVmeHK4YSgeel7lvCYMWRFAJ5yQPVq-cn-vgPCba_WHuwe6KOHE8ZBKcAvTvJSwvDVVUYeMYziyKdRpBFYV7iFSt24g/w480-h640/IMG_7983.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Aunt Lu brought coffee, and I <i>needed</i> it. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMkHrG7J1_cdzTpY_3jsmHIiDPeG9DvNzGiQ5WaB59AXt0pvz383So7-EdQcVBnWCcEutOt-L7vBHJPsUR2TqAglmeMzuL3LYclveGTT0K9AwTmJiky_FjlNEeETg4FF0XW84t68OVf4p3vyYeZROA7DvpXJj90S9LZn7zWxaYj7FnCxolIlphnT2/s3088/IMG_7985.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMkHrG7J1_cdzTpY_3jsmHIiDPeG9DvNzGiQ5WaB59AXt0pvz383So7-EdQcVBnWCcEutOt-L7vBHJPsUR2TqAglmeMzuL3LYclveGTT0K9AwTmJiky_FjlNEeETg4FF0XW84t68OVf4p3vyYeZROA7DvpXJj90S9LZn7zWxaYj7FnCxolIlphnT2/w480-h640/IMG_7985.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Cheeks!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BUuJ2rV7gRCfaBsPTU2p0kFp00DDC7AcJJxpzbFAa84iP3GnqdgVUer-hCHgKTdJxe-6ybULzfVNUrqUopZ0QXGgqCF96HAEijxMAUPoLTkR6ZtUwonv1j4t9LLVxdG09JWrrX4QBHCEw-o5VycsjFLV3i8kho-e3zfTYRL6ZQnX8-6ayQgR3bCv/s4032/IMG_7980.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BUuJ2rV7gRCfaBsPTU2p0kFp00DDC7AcJJxpzbFAa84iP3GnqdgVUer-hCHgKTdJxe-6ybULzfVNUrqUopZ0QXGgqCF96HAEijxMAUPoLTkR6ZtUwonv1j4t9LLVxdG09JWrrX4QBHCEw-o5VycsjFLV3i8kho-e3zfTYRL6ZQnX8-6ayQgR3bCv/w480-h640/IMG_7980.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Big sister Caroline!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEA6FsT87HwBV0b-aEIrffFtU99aVIdpJVq4plwSkvsF11MOcgopGBApsxFO9WsazZlvpIM7FtgeeUE-YIKgoh5GR7OXP_agaxkJJZ_VtEF03SICATV62MMmqdqZvhD6dEsvpJrEQ4mBqWx_ryV4V3hJ_EpzTlAtXGLVx8jvs_Eu17Vpfwm2rIYf9c/s4032/IMG_7993.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEA6FsT87HwBV0b-aEIrffFtU99aVIdpJVq4plwSkvsF11MOcgopGBApsxFO9WsazZlvpIM7FtgeeUE-YIKgoh5GR7OXP_agaxkJJZ_VtEF03SICATV62MMmqdqZvhD6dEsvpJrEQ4mBqWx_ryV4V3hJ_EpzTlAtXGLVx8jvs_Eu17Vpfwm2rIYf9c/w480-h640/IMG_7993.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>and Laurie<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UfLavl8k9BMlyxlJC0P2-soHbsSpzC6mYPLayJm6-pbi2bopAJ2imZjj-TYFrdFB55eDCg8mIhiiwR0AtyrxR4CUeEIWKilT3E-oUaBm1TL2JLTGQU4eRfjiHiqIMcj53s-ZX53tHXK0TcbzFC8Fx3GQytdVYgs3ukBEKhxNCM4fThcOpUdrvUfU/s4032/IMG_7996.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UfLavl8k9BMlyxlJC0P2-soHbsSpzC6mYPLayJm6-pbi2bopAJ2imZjj-TYFrdFB55eDCg8mIhiiwR0AtyrxR4CUeEIWKilT3E-oUaBm1TL2JLTGQU4eRfjiHiqIMcj53s-ZX53tHXK0TcbzFC8Fx3GQytdVYgs3ukBEKhxNCM4fThcOpUdrvUfU/w480-h640/IMG_7996.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>my 3 girls<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdtfc4RuUqvu3RFJoFQhRCgyjKTe5IHpySNNLb_uz4I_t-GGfVrqQxLj8MisT45etQEoeWvEW3mEOUc_45hXzZo7kPOiubBj-K2-VgWbASUQd4Yr_NsnIRmHmZSiD71kHDEXQMKnFH2gWsj9uPG2WlnNSkjS8cf1hA6nW5Zn_cIZebXIbQCilM_u2/s4032/IMG_7997.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdtfc4RuUqvu3RFJoFQhRCgyjKTe5IHpySNNLb_uz4I_t-GGfVrqQxLj8MisT45etQEoeWvEW3mEOUc_45hXzZo7kPOiubBj-K2-VgWbASUQd4Yr_NsnIRmHmZSiD71kHDEXQMKnFH2gWsj9uPG2WlnNSkjS8cf1hA6nW5Zn_cIZebXIbQCilM_u2/w480-h640/IMG_7997.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Then came the brothers.</div><div><br /></div><div>Stephen<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLonvsltJ5nZxYHSBrOUL0dR_9dHXZnIfVU7fx5mLat3adC0N-EHxMAf5IXNfdwcKwGw5c4fhRaUK3AKZjGB9wsBUfhJHm5bfTJhu8Zlc595GbjxDBiLt50vQZ7nvoc8d3UK0fQow2HOXmmxJ8z0obY9l5z7ZA_3K2rP0Af1KyCnsh-yBQ9ccD1We9/s4032/IMG_8003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLonvsltJ5nZxYHSBrOUL0dR_9dHXZnIfVU7fx5mLat3adC0N-EHxMAf5IXNfdwcKwGw5c4fhRaUK3AKZjGB9wsBUfhJHm5bfTJhu8Zlc595GbjxDBiLt50vQZ7nvoc8d3UK0fQow2HOXmmxJ8z0obY9l5z7ZA_3K2rP0Af1KyCnsh-yBQ9ccD1We9/w480-h640/IMG_8003.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>and George</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0n1RO1aaQ3kWYkMpaePJ7IID2AwQT6MS4O9jE9lgoYgvJ2agar37LQIFZi9oSsXkwrB60Zi-YAdXTbT-PNpZd5tZ7lEMN4rMnERjwZNSoMOzJAxH_qoXDgarCj9J571cdSHgBQ1mXQOal4uT-4PmpDTIrbG24Qswruvwxrb0BPxCjkzBZG6QA5-XQ/s4032/IMG_8012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0n1RO1aaQ3kWYkMpaePJ7IID2AwQT6MS4O9jE9lgoYgvJ2agar37LQIFZi9oSsXkwrB60Zi-YAdXTbT-PNpZd5tZ7lEMN4rMnERjwZNSoMOzJAxH_qoXDgarCj9J571cdSHgBQ1mXQOal4uT-4PmpDTIrbG24Qswruvwxrb0BPxCjkzBZG6QA5-XQ/w480-h640/IMG_8012.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>and grandparents</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4G0nVFPTkf97XNL8HA7EJh_uxgrijUIM41ZspJBaZjYDu3PK7q9rsxZ_O2aeXil3puEovxR4Kcne68ke2AS4xo6RP1096wArpK3VMfMIcwfx2XdQIf9SRiGV7-WhrXMgUZbSYrcbqzIpyOblc0BEkLLIf1ycKc7P7o9Vk3JLFfH_0dpR7D_TmuPcU/s4032/IMG_8005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4G0nVFPTkf97XNL8HA7EJh_uxgrijUIM41ZspJBaZjYDu3PK7q9rsxZ_O2aeXil3puEovxR4Kcne68ke2AS4xo6RP1096wArpK3VMfMIcwfx2XdQIf9SRiGV7-WhrXMgUZbSYrcbqzIpyOblc0BEkLLIf1ycKc7P7o9Vk3JLFfH_0dpR7D_TmuPcU/w480-h640/IMG_8005.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNh0RUxelx7OoHjSCZIBkfBZPyy4lclZTmQ1GgnYdQodUdtEaEN7R_5ByFsd75vJrtGSf0NMoriygHXYTj6PZ3-0_N2vVVSQr_ZfEqhv9aKwUusGSt9P0ZCRdBZxN7BMQ0bJqA6T8Xq-nd6JewNE45DuP03c6Ei3WrRB1C74MTzp6a2pw4Ef7h9oLR/s4032/IMG_8007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNh0RUxelx7OoHjSCZIBkfBZPyy4lclZTmQ1GgnYdQodUdtEaEN7R_5ByFsd75vJrtGSf0NMoriygHXYTj6PZ3-0_N2vVVSQr_ZfEqhv9aKwUusGSt9P0ZCRdBZxN7BMQ0bJqA6T8Xq-nd6JewNE45DuP03c6Ei3WrRB1C74MTzp6a2pw4Ef7h9oLR/w480-h640/IMG_8007.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div> Here's Jill and Jill.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIUk8QCfwjMR_aF2YnG9U5QuQzaN27TdMaNoQ1O0-vzXRvJtgDWunF205fJ7qIdJSo8s0vOdWv4uaQ6O58xQhUyLtFnMpS26uarfaJ-uwMuThoRX-IJDx3NbiuRyOkdZCco-DfRxptZMPqnedTQjBizoBSDe5Z4YBW4EmgcztcSZbUW3aZLH3I_r-/s1284/IMG_8475.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIUk8QCfwjMR_aF2YnG9U5QuQzaN27TdMaNoQ1O0-vzXRvJtgDWunF205fJ7qIdJSo8s0vOdWv4uaQ6O58xQhUyLtFnMpS26uarfaJ-uwMuThoRX-IJDx3NbiuRyOkdZCco-DfRxptZMPqnedTQjBizoBSDe5Z4YBW4EmgcztcSZbUW3aZLH3I_r-/w478-h640/IMG_8475.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div>We watched some Auburn football. War Eagle!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UwMYZ7q856ny2jTLFQrq4fO5taXNZbfq5zPLB5aIAevSpr4gP9pHxh1w_CUTr1DttpwU0oicIJPSEgfDWLjg_3n6BywvQmSBy7vdzQ0v6AcpT840OleHU2-wTzLPiTXwAluR6uXDgkUVfEMq76g8gWmjV8cdDwvfJlwAtfcHQ3Ttb0dWMzIlPXWi/s3088/IMG_8009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UwMYZ7q856ny2jTLFQrq4fO5taXNZbfq5zPLB5aIAevSpr4gP9pHxh1w_CUTr1DttpwU0oicIJPSEgfDWLjg_3n6BywvQmSBy7vdzQ0v6AcpT840OleHU2-wTzLPiTXwAluR6uXDgkUVfEMq76g8gWmjV8cdDwvfJlwAtfcHQ3Ttb0dWMzIlPXWi/w480-h640/IMG_8009.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNL7xfIYtUmhcXZSIDvN29hOI0RL3VxIHc1A0JDo1Vu0qbYEKO877thastmGucomNfIMnZd_Lr2zwaceRHCQkO-aFL0QgKC0XzL1dHFPQIsXcby5qdzcJj2xMF0Ew8mdfjY-UvwBB9aHgPU-qzl9O7s1uy3mwEzUF3HmlWPtIy2UyZB1HTapCS_ZRZ/s4032/IMG_8014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNL7xfIYtUmhcXZSIDvN29hOI0RL3VxIHc1A0JDo1Vu0qbYEKO877thastmGucomNfIMnZd_Lr2zwaceRHCQkO-aFL0QgKC0XzL1dHFPQIsXcby5qdzcJj2xMF0Ew8mdfjY-UvwBB9aHgPU-qzl9O7s1uy3mwEzUF3HmlWPtIy2UyZB1HTapCS_ZRZ/w480-h640/IMG_8014.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Some of my best memories are in the hospital with Stephen after the birth of our babies. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuF3nRxU4Q3SxVPyNcB9hnYQ3NmrYXMpRiiBAA-1UYXIqOPqWmxcUxYuH6-OwRg8CXBo5VXKv2aV0Jugv5HW3ghomqBwa8Bz30JG_HNTsrw4kgXYGew3tVcm5WyGQxAm82Iz4kkp1dFi5-SpgBVSriMoPM2S9rxhN3ugjMHxLiO7fsVFTuTfZb47hV/s3890/IMG_8017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3890" data-original-width="2366" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuF3nRxU4Q3SxVPyNcB9hnYQ3NmrYXMpRiiBAA-1UYXIqOPqWmxcUxYuH6-OwRg8CXBo5VXKv2aV0Jugv5HW3ghomqBwa8Bz30JG_HNTsrw4kgXYGew3tVcm5WyGQxAm82Iz4kkp1dFi5-SpgBVSriMoPM2S9rxhN3ugjMHxLiO7fsVFTuTfZb47hV/w390-h640/IMG_8017.jpg" width="390" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDUZeTyMTlVsIJfP7ZzNM8ZJnO7ZObZ48sLHysvNCY_-x90b6BFcWtDTz__m3SjopBIII5aAkgSMyxATOD89v-crwmfG08cV1qlrBfEzVnEqXcRF7SURTZDjRut-013QsCWxvA7QwR3YeCUwNEoRyFehtyI4-bxDv2yVDiBnZ8Qr1aG5phhSYzxQQ/s4032/IMG_8025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDUZeTyMTlVsIJfP7ZzNM8ZJnO7ZObZ48sLHysvNCY_-x90b6BFcWtDTz__m3SjopBIII5aAkgSMyxATOD89v-crwmfG08cV1qlrBfEzVnEqXcRF7SURTZDjRut-013QsCWxvA7QwR3YeCUwNEoRyFehtyI4-bxDv2yVDiBnZ8Qr1aG5phhSYzxQQ/w480-h640/IMG_8025.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I think this was the first time she opened her eyes, all packed up and ready to head home. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISKq9ccP5aUYuwEP9H46i5tc9BUhOSdGjeFzM-nIufx_VeBQDByzFKyZVEAI916pcUzLfCS0i3NkoHHJngWOpU85zOoiG4fVwDfhZanFRF11_L9I7_xiy4JalgUaVj9g0PPX3M_xwzOZ563EsR_q3r5EgV8vQDVrlZHfCYtdGdOz6cl33mgKwIDcQ/s4032/IMG_8028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISKq9ccP5aUYuwEP9H46i5tc9BUhOSdGjeFzM-nIufx_VeBQDByzFKyZVEAI916pcUzLfCS0i3NkoHHJngWOpU85zOoiG4fVwDfhZanFRF11_L9I7_xiy4JalgUaVj9g0PPX3M_xwzOZ563EsR_q3r5EgV8vQDVrlZHfCYtdGdOz6cl33mgKwIDcQ/w480-h640/IMG_8028.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>My postpartum nurse is the daughter of one of the nurses I used to work with. This felt full circle and beautifully tied together my previous births with this experience. Her mom took care of me when I had the other babies.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEXqwtTPo8IeqLcZuZojivrwZBM3Ije2SWvRawiH9NU6dd3TR2c8wOS-57jXOXzRjGjtXJxnTlhTW1F4qYcGOAZXYrP20jKuHNJf_rFj9wHnowVYYc842VquoBVVdq7BW3MM7gQ82bSmwi5pVZMZLqPB_Q8tDfzbO93EjGQ1dglTK3gWqKx4BHsAm/s4032/IMG_8030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEXqwtTPo8IeqLcZuZojivrwZBM3Ije2SWvRawiH9NU6dd3TR2c8wOS-57jXOXzRjGjtXJxnTlhTW1F4qYcGOAZXYrP20jKuHNJf_rFj9wHnowVYYc842VquoBVVdq7BW3MM7gQ82bSmwi5pVZMZLqPB_Q8tDfzbO93EjGQ1dglTK3gWqKx4BHsAm/w480-h640/IMG_8030.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>*side note: I wanted to walk out of the hospital, holding the baby like Kate Middleton (and I tried to), but they made me sit in a wheel chair and baby in the car seat. Not as romantic. </div><div><br /></div>Finally HOME!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypV4Tb47h6rBj0GgdY-WswvtY00Xq_4irlOWo0oqtT_Wl3w91fB3nVFLI58YXvDtNZzogWiowMqmp32uhf0LkBGFzdYlYgjcxmVGQKNee9AgJRB8EQLeixFipgu3R0baYjZmW2mq-NwYfJp2U3uJuLcKMpa16-xcJI9Kq-8ZhRV4R5tPLahAwc8nz/s4032/IMG_8041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypV4Tb47h6rBj0GgdY-WswvtY00Xq_4irlOWo0oqtT_Wl3w91fB3nVFLI58YXvDtNZzogWiowMqmp32uhf0LkBGFzdYlYgjcxmVGQKNee9AgJRB8EQLeixFipgu3R0baYjZmW2mq-NwYfJp2U3uJuLcKMpa16-xcJI9Kq-8ZhRV4R5tPLahAwc8nz/w480-h640/IMG_8041.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLNhTb1xoqrsrBZv03PjhPUvRs_A1rt9_10VWROAHFv8s5ZqiSddMAtKQNlqeu1dhpi1n3F1z1tMGfXyvSyvtlC5eXlJGyyui-w8uTTtcQxwQZu3L0qhyrGk_G-ZNtcW0SdrXJnW_xznlAicNeueQYJFJc5n1AtjBb-EHlm4CBUdg_-zAznr_YATm/s3698/IMG_8044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3698" data-original-width="2826" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLNhTb1xoqrsrBZv03PjhPUvRs_A1rt9_10VWROAHFv8s5ZqiSddMAtKQNlqeu1dhpi1n3F1z1tMGfXyvSyvtlC5eXlJGyyui-w8uTTtcQxwQZu3L0qhyrGk_G-ZNtcW0SdrXJnW_xznlAicNeueQYJFJc5n1AtjBb-EHlm4CBUdg_-zAznr_YATm/w490-h640/IMG_8044.jpg" width="490" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Caroline snapped this photo of me starting what's been dubbed the 4th trimester.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrDv31oJO4nWjTGp_xfCGi06-Ug5cNiwXoCFGM3DJzIdlpQND5tzAE6e6KD6RCqCYxDedRIzKPfUt2-Bf3EQiNw4t5Ua7z5Lg-C5lPLLTRHECsam1emLw8cXbbOSM73As7VvPDdQvJW_FPUBaq9-mZJxzohP1uR6yS0gWVQ0rKlJMYeN6MG0Y3o-T/s4032/IMG_8046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrDv31oJO4nWjTGp_xfCGi06-Ug5cNiwXoCFGM3DJzIdlpQND5tzAE6e6KD6RCqCYxDedRIzKPfUt2-Bf3EQiNw4t5Ua7z5Lg-C5lPLLTRHECsam1emLw8cXbbOSM73As7VvPDdQvJW_FPUBaq9-mZJxzohP1uR6yS0gWVQ0rKlJMYeN6MG0Y3o-T/w480-h640/IMG_8046.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Life is good. I'm beyond grateful. Jill is now 2 months old and she's a sweet and good baby. </p><p>At age 39 with 4 older children, I have the gift of perspective, knowing that this little ball of joy will be a teenager in 5 minutes. There is nothing I'd rather be doing right now than being her mama. What a joy and privilege. </p></div>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-36615563392364813822022-10-01T18:25:00.002-05:002022-10-01T18:25:20.236-05:00Put this House in Order - Addressing Pain Points<p>Recently I addressed two pain points in my home, and I'm super proud of myself. </p><p>1. The pencil/pen situation. </p><p>We do homework at the kitchen table, and I use a corner of my kitchen countertop as a pseudo office. I label food containers and Ziplocks with black-only Sharpies. Guess what I don't need? A gold paint pen. So why has one been inhabiting my pencil jar for the past 2 years? Don't know.</p><p>I gave our pencil cup a makeover and our quality of life has remarkably improved. I was irritated, rummaging for the right pen or pencil. No more.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdd6iit1rJCRw0FJm7bRu0ihseXFUyL9dS0kKSDKIXlRQ7bZyMp_AkvZ3jxi44Z_Hw2HUSmO9BNNC3HRrS7Ze4OihTYxC7f2ZF_NBMh7R1u4YQVCT9SSA7ejEEla5QEfxNJOaU6Sbz6NS3qlDMDhInk_7v2BwyqtGIMzFUcpjYqAyrQ6nyWKMtEwQ/s4032/IMG_7706.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdd6iit1rJCRw0FJm7bRu0ihseXFUyL9dS0kKSDKIXlRQ7bZyMp_AkvZ3jxi44Z_Hw2HUSmO9BNNC3HRrS7Ze4OihTYxC7f2ZF_NBMh7R1u4YQVCT9SSA7ejEEla5QEfxNJOaU6Sbz6NS3qlDMDhInk_7v2BwyqtGIMzFUcpjYqAyrQ6nyWKMtEwQ/w480-h640/IMG_7706.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How pretty! And functional.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFcfYj96JZi2067rmS_MJgUYtQHMtBEXzm7aDbcELthKk34I91naMzlMZZ5oUZyNRAFA8QIPUwAUiMMXwwEX0fMoIThPbP9x2I--xsm5GoL3UZVlVA2pl_2FxoeUyE5c7ouvSw0NCTHD00xdUJFLWXEtZc2xRpnl6cbJIvzeN2PRxIRu2t0asx0Pb/s4032/IMG_7857.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFcfYj96JZi2067rmS_MJgUYtQHMtBEXzm7aDbcELthKk34I91naMzlMZZ5oUZyNRAFA8QIPUwAUiMMXwwEX0fMoIThPbP9x2I--xsm5GoL3UZVlVA2pl_2FxoeUyE5c7ouvSw0NCTHD00xdUJFLWXEtZc2xRpnl6cbJIvzeN2PRxIRu2t0asx0Pb/w640-h480/IMG_7857.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Now this pencil cup houses the essentials: pencils for homework, red pen for making corrections, black pens for lists, a Sharpie, a highlighter, and a pencil sharpener.</p><p>2. Reading to kids. The pain point - where to read and where is the book? When we settle down to read in the evenings, I want to be comfortable and I don't want to spend 10 minutes looking for our ongoing chapter book. Call it off if we can't get started right away. That's my policy.</p><p>To combat these problems, I put together a book basket in <i>my bedroom</i> with our favorites and our current reads, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Frisby-OBrien-Robert-Paperback/dp/B010712S0Q/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2S6C6GX05XY3I&keywords=rats+of+nimh+book&qid=1664664863&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjE0IiwicXNhIjoiMS43OSIsInFzcCI6IjEuNjcifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=rats+of+nimh%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-3" target="_blank">Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH</a> (George) and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ramona-Mother-Quimby-Beverly-2013-03-19/dp/B01FEKLC66/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1664665043&sr=8-3" target="_blank">Ramona and her Mother</a> (Caroline). </p><p>I'm much more likely to read to my children if I can be in my own bed and the book is right there!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOu_CV86icRBY0N-b31iGUIvJsz-cIql_OLGIhE6swe_BFHKNF5fckbxTw3is1mAjVu4Bi9O8ogKGoYW0BAAg4PUWHPO4y9gPIgpQA4A0FL9UEBpIUx4HazykQp9sABL4I2CN3T3j6UML63GDfKplF8GhohTLHQduN--XNfPgUOHHiJuBIuSPgWChS/s4032/IMG_7840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOu_CV86icRBY0N-b31iGUIvJsz-cIql_OLGIhE6swe_BFHKNF5fckbxTw3is1mAjVu4Bi9O8ogKGoYW0BAAg4PUWHPO4y9gPIgpQA4A0FL9UEBpIUx4HazykQp9sABL4I2CN3T3j6UML63GDfKplF8GhohTLHQduN--XNfPgUOHHiJuBIuSPgWChS/w480-h640/IMG_7840.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I alternate reading to George and Caroline every other night. That's realistic in this season, and I hope to keep it up after <a href="http://www.somehowwemanage.com/2022/08/prepping-for-baby-5.html" target="_blank">the baby</a> is born. It is such a comfort and it ends the day on a happy note. I happen to love both of these books which also makes it easier. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98t9YbTAgHcqFOdAfdFcd3l3HVKkqx0iSVI5KuNVZkl3FJUPbNhBQqJyKhtbJo_gz4CZzGWPxDkShYo7ZuxgZv9hCAijKepwVcEFCFeocPgGOyL0Hu-6L9wfB5LJYRihq7hDLOp6QuEiCssGuOg-ModYa1QUOE7wKDdRUoaYHTZ97fc0S0MrFAp55/s4030/IMG_7841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3023" data-original-width="4030" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98t9YbTAgHcqFOdAfdFcd3l3HVKkqx0iSVI5KuNVZkl3FJUPbNhBQqJyKhtbJo_gz4CZzGWPxDkShYo7ZuxgZv9hCAijKepwVcEFCFeocPgGOyL0Hu-6L9wfB5LJYRihq7hDLOp6QuEiCssGuOg-ModYa1QUOE7wKDdRUoaYHTZ97fc0S0MrFAp55/w640-h480/IMG_7841.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>It can feel like a big fuss to curate our home life, but it is worth it to take a few minutes and address some trouble spots. </p><p>I discovered a quote I like while reading the book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Living-Forever-Chic-Frenchwomens-Entertaining/dp/0847863050/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3C307OMS21CY9&keywords=living+forever+chic+book&qid=1664665659&s=books&sprefix=living+forever+chic%2Cstripbooks%2C97&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Living Forever Chic</a>. The author shares a wise word from her best friend, Anne-Fransoise de Saint Saens-Henner, mother of 6. </p><p>"If I didn't keep everything in order, I could never enjoy my life. I have to be disciplined, otherwise I would have no time for myself. I would have no time to sit here and drink a glass of wine and chat with you."</p><p>Can I get an Amen?</p>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-51907666770924173922022-09-08T09:29:00.001-05:002022-09-08T09:40:45.355-05:00How to DRESS pregnant <p>When I was expecting Caroline, I stumbled across a group of European mommy bloggers and Instagrammers who were literally the most chic people I had ever seen in my life. I would share links, but this was 7 years ago, and most of them have gone on to do different things. </p><p>Here was my take away from my encounter with these chic strangers -- They dressed so beautifully durning pregnancy, mostly wearing dresses. Fortunately, there's never been a better time to claim the dress as your signature maternity look. You can find flowy, waistless dresses at every shop. Bye bye, maternity jeans and tops with ruching. </p><p>I've worn dresses this entire pregnancy, so much so that pants feel weird on my legs. Who's up for a fashion show? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh--hhLgfU4C9fEVSwvRAxUYpiNzliZQhHzP_wZbz3pSfxCebc_AcFWAHZgJLyZUFFBm9AFveJwek44AY2KfJWwohDlt9bf3_nrG4a5pUrdLBxXYyoGBtT-LbCsmiTiEswgSdYHRtg79PGYTF_ubW2MQaQ1UnBle84pMMN4gik3RHd2MjsqA4AMAN-Z/s4032/IMG_7641.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh--hhLgfU4C9fEVSwvRAxUYpiNzliZQhHzP_wZbz3pSfxCebc_AcFWAHZgJLyZUFFBm9AFveJwek44AY2KfJWwohDlt9bf3_nrG4a5pUrdLBxXYyoGBtT-LbCsmiTiEswgSdYHRtg79PGYTF_ubW2MQaQ1UnBle84pMMN4gik3RHd2MjsqA4AMAN-Z/w480-h640/IMG_7641.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-G61n5G6IGDJXjBqO107g_D4TeMjTIQqp2NCc8O-2oXsoxgtey1GwZHunn-AnoSqYvkv1gakr9_GVK04DAUQnAV2uX0mWTTA2GBWPL0FBVuDHGsnvKqLZqI1OoBES4InZaIt4PCcsZzpHTTQoeecZ4SlLLIzE5wQYASfAWlgzcKonsalQs9YXJWD/s4032/IMG_7642.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-G61n5G6IGDJXjBqO107g_D4TeMjTIQqp2NCc8O-2oXsoxgtey1GwZHunn-AnoSqYvkv1gakr9_GVK04DAUQnAV2uX0mWTTA2GBWPL0FBVuDHGsnvKqLZqI1OoBES4InZaIt4PCcsZzpHTTQoeecZ4SlLLIzE5wQYASfAWlgzcKonsalQs9YXJWD/w480-h640/IMG_7642.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WOFiUDX6Ub80XM-3FPr5geveVacdqeiqfC8p8sdHe_iXjOWE0NEJzfb4ahlhfzRC_hLhhIL4-QK8bfW7MeweCmR4K0j-bYZNCpy61vzQ7MnSahCLY5c_7abx6bDaMBOgNwlWEkPyKK9y-qMiJK_VfTXA-eb2RYMtjN5Tv-kyoJ92svPcqjoQMudU/s4032/IMG_7646.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WOFiUDX6Ub80XM-3FPr5geveVacdqeiqfC8p8sdHe_iXjOWE0NEJzfb4ahlhfzRC_hLhhIL4-QK8bfW7MeweCmR4K0j-bYZNCpy61vzQ7MnSahCLY5c_7abx6bDaMBOgNwlWEkPyKK9y-qMiJK_VfTXA-eb2RYMtjN5Tv-kyoJ92svPcqjoQMudU/w480-h640/IMG_7646.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fUiT9VNQCJFxU2pJ4I2b2voIngSsz4jd2fCFqk1ZYAjnsNAIbLqT1FETfxXXoWk3qo8CitikEXPf_BZjGjEYgso973y9Pm7I_JZfteYGe_iGxq3jwhb23hnbIp7pFJUax5S9BeocKEkCsrQdQVWALZX_r9EtcqkJK9EpIngSlcGRrndBqKXK6n6m/s4032/IMG_7656.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fUiT9VNQCJFxU2pJ4I2b2voIngSsz4jd2fCFqk1ZYAjnsNAIbLqT1FETfxXXoWk3qo8CitikEXPf_BZjGjEYgso973y9Pm7I_JZfteYGe_iGxq3jwhb23hnbIp7pFJUax5S9BeocKEkCsrQdQVWALZX_r9EtcqkJK9EpIngSlcGRrndBqKXK6n6m/w480-h640/IMG_7656.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Hello toilet with child's dirty clothes on the floor.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Now I'm starting to think about what I'm going to wear in the 4th trimester. So far, I have a couple of pair of <a href="https://wearpact.com/women/apparel/maternity/maternity%20sleep%20set/wa1-yss-mrn" target="_blank">these pajamas</a>, which are really great. </div><div><br /></div><div>What are your thoughts on maternity wear? </div><div>I almost titled this post: Pregnant Women Shouldn't Wear Jeans</div>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-74405064151380923872022-09-02T17:33:00.001-05:002022-09-02T17:35:37.917-05:00Back to School Breakfast Menu<p></p><p>Back to school hits ya in the face all at once -- school, homework, tutoring, sports practices, church activities. And then there's the usual sickness, doctors' appointments, orthodontists' appointments, vet visits, dog surgeries, haircuts, etc. And laundry and food. </p><p>AAAAHHHHHHH!!!! </p><p>Here's how I've managed breakfast.</p><p>The challenges: It's hard to please all of the people all of the time. I don't want the children eating cereal every day. I don't want to waste food. I don't want to be a short order cook.</p><p>The goals: I want them to eat a variety of simple, nutritious foods. I want to get some protein in their diet before school and depend less on breads, toasts, muffins, and cereal. I want to <i>know</i> what we are having for breakfast <i>and</i> stay stocked with groceries. I do not want to fly by the seat of my pants.</p><p>The solution: a menu</p><p>I have been working this menu for about 3 weeks and it is blessing my soul. </p><p style="text-align: center;">...................</p><p style="text-align: center;">Monday: eggs + toast</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33miaP5fneh7P5s6M06J5FrCXTjyXvBP07fEGPcER_G2bu0Jgl2mKayqMODzBg7uSsAeauSGnBqWTXC40CgT5Ju_iUerUW2SGJ162ofut-gUDHg6bsW5v2NUkO0WbjK5CHidyAZ-YwSdr8mCRo9Z4pH9qdEJIhy17sbV4DbBhjN5gdZ2wHUkGfwaX/s4032/IMG_7619.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33miaP5fneh7P5s6M06J5FrCXTjyXvBP07fEGPcER_G2bu0Jgl2mKayqMODzBg7uSsAeauSGnBqWTXC40CgT5Ju_iUerUW2SGJ162ofut-gUDHg6bsW5v2NUkO0WbjK5CHidyAZ-YwSdr8mCRo9Z4pH9qdEJIhy17sbV4DbBhjN5gdZ2wHUkGfwaX/w480-h640/IMG_7619.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tuesday: smoothies, bagels + cream cheese</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJfqPsKlOzirYNAgz2M4bBnqYkrapFFWNac-E2pNsnU-j0GF5ye6CjUh2KyPanTs0mUG50TtJG6Qu2L6nZZY-gptTbWYsiflRrNJbj9XBUBRjuoQ5WC9NMOd8fyfxdZubBaTgT80sU5VOG356a0S0qNSeKqoSIxw_-JsGCTq8TT-1-Fz6szqD-tDA/s4032/IMG_7624.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJfqPsKlOzirYNAgz2M4bBnqYkrapFFWNac-E2pNsnU-j0GF5ye6CjUh2KyPanTs0mUG50TtJG6Qu2L6nZZY-gptTbWYsiflRrNJbj9XBUBRjuoQ5WC9NMOd8fyfxdZubBaTgT80sU5VOG356a0S0qNSeKqoSIxw_-JsGCTq8TT-1-Fz6szqD-tDA/w480-h640/IMG_7624.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wednesday: cheese grits</div></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFhBt3EpQ2FMfdKiVjp7zGiiAkwzwpPYT0coLPZkVbIfPYT8kbDGqFDwMUEXtOWuHp2SotFJvXYCtZmGOjXyf5wmAAgGlY0i2GqynBA7nUBzMv0f67Qv_g7E3ejjEnnq4gynsF-cjaI48nknfnOFGrtfBqZc_YjhRx6AxfUOwAjd400ZFsMYk3GXO/s4032/IMG_7628.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFhBt3EpQ2FMfdKiVjp7zGiiAkwzwpPYT0coLPZkVbIfPYT8kbDGqFDwMUEXtOWuHp2SotFJvXYCtZmGOjXyf5wmAAgGlY0i2GqynBA7nUBzMv0f67Qv_g7E3ejjEnnq4gynsF-cjaI48nknfnOFGrtfBqZc_YjhRx6AxfUOwAjd400ZFsMYk3GXO/w480-h640/IMG_7628.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thursday: cereal + fruit</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMwWI8nSgEt0Irys9UDNM95vWs8ddpmwBJ8fmmWK64yy-JHWFQ5fOw5L-4IA9ng5gtM176gFBccr22Uatv2OrkL5Gd-HSrRcqePLkzexbjnHO6izazCSkIH8ZKlyP1HRnjsvfO8ZFh7nyY3V1F628hCC7olMy31xpF_Jv4yR9MeDYI5rACBfkGR29/s4032/IMG_7630.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMwWI8nSgEt0Irys9UDNM95vWs8ddpmwBJ8fmmWK64yy-JHWFQ5fOw5L-4IA9ng5gtM176gFBccr22Uatv2OrkL5Gd-HSrRcqePLkzexbjnHO6izazCSkIH8ZKlyP1HRnjsvfO8ZFh7nyY3V1F628hCC7olMy31xpF_Jv4yR9MeDYI5rACBfkGR29/w480-h640/IMG_7630.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Friday: sausage biscuits</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Yewru6CtlYnGKhHQXg34myQ2-_rd18PJyAuOPfXsrcMsoFWylOttPyO8hUM4OSM8DHtRfSgm5olC7brtSAi9azJ0_P3DPvHXvCOOiS0OJJgdVdw361yzzT3_SRh2IfIk5YltGMouapJjjFFFxQCRwivrRXG1qgZPfqMreG6Lcxau_JBwrbkhjMPi/s3241/IMG_7635.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3241" data-original-width="2430" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Yewru6CtlYnGKhHQXg34myQ2-_rd18PJyAuOPfXsrcMsoFWylOttPyO8hUM4OSM8DHtRfSgm5olC7brtSAi9azJ0_P3DPvHXvCOOiS0OJJgdVdw361yzzT3_SRh2IfIk5YltGMouapJjjFFFxQCRwivrRXG1qgZPfqMreG6Lcxau_JBwrbkhjMPi/w480-h640/IMG_7635.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The original menu had cheese toast instead of bagels + cream cheese and oatmeal instead of cereal, but those both got REJECTED hard. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I told them they were all communists, especially for not liking oatmeal. What is wrong with you people?! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also have a school lunch menu and I will work on sharing that. </div>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-11895702313627782272022-08-29T15:43:00.002-05:002022-08-29T15:43:13.644-05:00Prepping for Baby #5<p>The count down is on. Mid October will be here in 5 minutes, so I finally decided to get ready for this baby. </p><p>I have a carseat, diapers, and a crib. </p><p>That's pretty much what ya need to get started, right? And a few onesies! </p><p>I'm remembering back to my list of <a href="http://www.somehowwemanage.com/2015/04/my-favorites-baby-things.html" target="_blank">baby essentials</a> and <a href="http://www.somehowwemanage.com/2015/10/freezer-meals-i-made-before-baby.html" target="_blank">freezer meals</a>.....7 years ago.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsweiAfot6YUwE-FK5RC4YEYrk_ZxwzPTtJmN2iUslZEEQBfXzN7DDamr3Saf2OMsEskZtMy9UZjmBF35OpYU2ZZ9zYRrzPn2EHQjq-5szSAvSA517baT2mJIqOnK7Tg0Kneub5y9x34k2MysWRN6qxC4VNOCtISmdR8OWy-r3pkHHMYP3YKhAyNv/s4032/IMG_7605.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsweiAfot6YUwE-FK5RC4YEYrk_ZxwzPTtJmN2iUslZEEQBfXzN7DDamr3Saf2OMsEskZtMy9UZjmBF35OpYU2ZZ9zYRrzPn2EHQjq-5szSAvSA517baT2mJIqOnK7Tg0Kneub5y9x34k2MysWRN6qxC4VNOCtISmdR8OWy-r3pkHHMYP3YKhAyNv/w480-h640/IMG_7605.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">32 + weeks</div><div><br /></div>Mini Boden had a sale and I could not resist <a href="https://www.bodenusa.com/en-us/floral-5-pack-bodies-multi-vintage-flowerbed/sty-y2085-mul?cat=C1_S15" target="_blank">these</a>. Look at this packaging. Details matter.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PwsuywjsrRasYtwhq1Se-21m14hROQ2veEGBrGvn7rQGagqOl6CGmq7IsOaWHwNWxaCjZl4u5gzglPcv_28dcs3AmaKosGWTcSIc203GZoVDwuEH25EOIzyue4ru9vBgsmbjYSyG3WtnHrrMvMYaG0IKyQwdc219UWdUKJk-y101yngsv18hXEKi/s3976/IMG_7610.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3976" data-original-width="2972" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PwsuywjsrRasYtwhq1Se-21m14hROQ2veEGBrGvn7rQGagqOl6CGmq7IsOaWHwNWxaCjZl4u5gzglPcv_28dcs3AmaKosGWTcSIc203GZoVDwuEH25EOIzyue4ru9vBgsmbjYSyG3WtnHrrMvMYaG0IKyQwdc219UWdUKJk-y101yngsv18hXEKi/w478-h640/IMG_7610.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It's getting too real. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsdTgE5CGjfbae8YalTWKFwFQhnrWcs0ozYucVDn8tuxA-EnGBXDFjEPhWUQSzD7ixQgL8etGOmvC4oM6n_D16EM26w-gqfV1z2-sFgN3HsNdWU_y5_vgiHjNhBIGmOr9vxyb8fFE8Rkt1SJTsZEw2ozKXEaU3_7vFaVBZkMbwQpURpQnDx2owAYk/s3771/IMG_7611.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3771" data-original-width="2960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsdTgE5CGjfbae8YalTWKFwFQhnrWcs0ozYucVDn8tuxA-EnGBXDFjEPhWUQSzD7ixQgL8etGOmvC4oM6n_D16EM26w-gqfV1z2-sFgN3HsNdWU_y5_vgiHjNhBIGmOr9vxyb8fFE8Rkt1SJTsZEw2ozKXEaU3_7vFaVBZkMbwQpURpQnDx2owAYk/w502-h640/IMG_7611.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We do not have a bedroom or even <a href="http://www.somehowwemanage.com/2015/08/babys-teeny-closet-nursery.html" target="_blank">a closet nursery</a>, so this babe will be sleeping in our room for the unforeseeable future. Wishing and hoping and praying for a good sleeper.</div><div><br /></div>See that dark corner over my shoulder? We cleaned it up a bit this weekend. Baby's going in the corner.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tY8aRQHLeTKHNr4A40k1VnTH5gJcWlQt7wHvlmtyhRZCn8EelQpfsX2RVq5UYEabbEZNKPCGMtu_udfJT8_9wbQhZo1SRLTKMH6LUqk02Am3io4bSyesWGCXQJDWzlTMmZsRvruGPs5TIVuTnyA12JK0NNsRqSmQyyOaFmxBi7KWKh_Mv_j8iRAK/s4032/IMG_7617.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tY8aRQHLeTKHNr4A40k1VnTH5gJcWlQt7wHvlmtyhRZCn8EelQpfsX2RVq5UYEabbEZNKPCGMtu_udfJT8_9wbQhZo1SRLTKMH6LUqk02Am3io4bSyesWGCXQJDWzlTMmZsRvruGPs5TIVuTnyA12JK0NNsRqSmQyyOaFmxBi7KWKh_Mv_j8iRAK/w480-h640/IMG_7617.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I found this dresser at my favorite flea market over the weekend to hold all her little baby things. Crib still needs to be set up. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizsZbiyPG_Wr4zM2iCXQAaupP6IHkg6hy66nXNWtYVVJfo4_LJ9d3y6qdRiABqTl-MObfWV0aqCgoXUn_UHu49ScQ5wx8-092beM0977MlY6s0fKWhRJjFIP5LMdGpV7q6EdmoeYAe-TE505J4EHG5yAkktVWf8tRUUBNFhid7ajqBg1Uwi-3w0NH/s4032/IMG_7620.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizsZbiyPG_Wr4zM2iCXQAaupP6IHkg6hy66nXNWtYVVJfo4_LJ9d3y6qdRiABqTl-MObfWV0aqCgoXUn_UHu49ScQ5wx8-092beM0977MlY6s0fKWhRJjFIP5LMdGpV7q6EdmoeYAe-TE505J4EHG5yAkktVWf8tRUUBNFhid7ajqBg1Uwi-3w0NH/w640-h480/IMG_7620.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I am excited, anxious, and very close to the GET THIS BABY OUT OF ME stage. </p></div>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-90119420759344384072022-08-18T16:48:00.002-05:002022-08-18T20:43:55.479-05:00Back to SchoolWe are back in school, baby! <br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMVl2DGVPO50OGrZydOyEeDd-YKVzRt6rfns1IhSy3ikVxrkqyy81T7INacQJlVdqHap-y475lCMVqx5sz2_97gXfvshkle2gGjfKycsfu_L29oJh-gRxSusFlw1XrR7vYvUMvccmm_NGTUu3Vveqebbw44t6n2Ck-5uakDSx_BBxyI3kBlW-krNh/s4032/IMG_7522.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMVl2DGVPO50OGrZydOyEeDd-YKVzRt6rfns1IhSy3ikVxrkqyy81T7INacQJlVdqHap-y475lCMVqx5sz2_97gXfvshkle2gGjfKycsfu_L29oJh-gRxSusFlw1XrR7vYvUMvccmm_NGTUu3Vveqebbw44t6n2Ck-5uakDSx_BBxyI3kBlW-krNh/w480-h640/IMG_7522.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>My emotions got the best of me when I snapped this picture. Hopefully my children understood that I was crying happy, sentimental tears. God has been faithful to see us through homeschooling, career changes, and a surprise, but blessedly uneventful pregnancy.</div><div><br /></div><div>My 11 year old gave me a serious talking to about not getting emotional <i>"at the school."</i> I did ok.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2d6lfT1iUlaYluQrIardw79Ye8DFk7dj3ceRhcUme3J_qOF6OtYDmXdlpIcGK8w7swrA6dwsomX8pi1tfWL3fCXHLEm8PAQH5rZJVt6h5Es4mvZli_0v76lLDw01gbl_Cb_p9pE4s71GR-TEWMYrBH0Z-P6kmqlJmJmPvfAqGuouQjs7EmYAvuJ-/s3714/IMG_7523.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3714" data-original-width="2621" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2d6lfT1iUlaYluQrIardw79Ye8DFk7dj3ceRhcUme3J_qOF6OtYDmXdlpIcGK8w7swrA6dwsomX8pi1tfWL3fCXHLEm8PAQH5rZJVt6h5Es4mvZli_0v76lLDw01gbl_Cb_p9pE4s71GR-TEWMYrBH0Z-P6kmqlJmJmPvfAqGuouQjs7EmYAvuJ-/w452-h640/IMG_7523.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I relished the first day home alone, making myself a real lunch and eating in a quiet house. <div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vR_gq2v72b4qpopCYKr-bFJ-lKL9KVM3xT-9o82RQ3bf52IJoxxQidvloaxnQseB697pDhLyo7BDUa7DQcsrVWA2Jj-xmNEmTYqoH_gNp3pWoIwiIr1NuEXV7qNg5Edmc5mQrF_-4T5IEmVVWWUo6b36ZaDX1R5IDwuR0dAmEdDUGtLJ86-zyroy/s4032/IMG_7529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vR_gq2v72b4qpopCYKr-bFJ-lKL9KVM3xT-9o82RQ3bf52IJoxxQidvloaxnQseB697pDhLyo7BDUa7DQcsrVWA2Jj-xmNEmTYqoH_gNp3pWoIwiIr1NuEXV7qNg5Edmc5mQrF_-4T5IEmVVWWUo6b36ZaDX1R5IDwuR0dAmEdDUGtLJ86-zyroy/w480-h640/IMG_7529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>First day of pick up, they were all smiles and good reports x 4!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2O_0ijAMBdZ7O2sTuto9KhteXhv4RWvC7Qv9edGo3rfT15oiiDDBBgTbMOoRSxyV0gDyv2zJjEVJMZIpxSzz931iLGyxbRUFGWDN4PQe40_gv4qC8h4wyuYkad63qj_5SsDdKJKRp4NhNuzpnZRfBfB7mIAOD_ikh5peF9x6XwLo1ntJKwZId4TBx/s4032/IMG_7531.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2O_0ijAMBdZ7O2sTuto9KhteXhv4RWvC7Qv9edGo3rfT15oiiDDBBgTbMOoRSxyV0gDyv2zJjEVJMZIpxSzz931iLGyxbRUFGWDN4PQe40_gv4qC8h4wyuYkad63qj_5SsDdKJKRp4NhNuzpnZRfBfB7mIAOD_ikh5peF9x6XwLo1ntJKwZId4TBx/w640-h480/IMG_7531.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm working <i>HARD</i> on establishing good routines. A family of 5 kids needs order. </div><div>Speaking of large families, ever seen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Lo85c89z14" target="_blank"><b>Yours, Mine, and Ours</b></a>? It's so good. </div><div><br /></div><div>Our after school routine goes like this: </div><div><br /></div><div>backpacks in lockers</div><div>lunch boxes to the kitchen</div><div>WASH YOUR HANDS I'm a stickler for this with a newborn coming.</div><div>change clothes</div><div>snack + free time + homework + activities </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_EqCopEtqo5gM13_ZZw9GbkueT1zCbE7gmloJUZdlW4kEDotME3-gwzfc3jcU76xB1GqjmsiU_Nw_kG8gYphM38UKWVTAyc481jx20eyEYHXdb785f22rrF6o5lZCksgN6voUVDq8G5PkQyHNpbBBqkIO12utllApK3jnx_g4CiynWlusO5J-9rt/s4032/IMG_7566.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_EqCopEtqo5gM13_ZZw9GbkueT1zCbE7gmloJUZdlW4kEDotME3-gwzfc3jcU76xB1GqjmsiU_Nw_kG8gYphM38UKWVTAyc481jx20eyEYHXdb785f22rrF6o5lZCksgN6voUVDq8G5PkQyHNpbBBqkIO12utllApK3jnx_g4CiynWlusO5J-9rt/w480-h640/IMG_7566.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div><br /></div><div>The afternoons are go go go, but it's all good things. We have jumped into cross country and football practices. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmIBK-BLEmhGXsHvkDCAcWKO8mIvYaNcVGADH84YMEzeZgPvVecAIV88eaxIxU22dyq8aQBuQRNj4lvvqIbq_ef4qF_3Hy5ejQd2Xi1EM9qYqvT4MbHqC_AdbdxXtTtI1dG3vIuMiu9-qeHxF-e4NhbPjqY8aWoS-K7LRlvHkQa_tfdL-chNdQi-9/s4032/IMG_7537.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmIBK-BLEmhGXsHvkDCAcWKO8mIvYaNcVGADH84YMEzeZgPvVecAIV88eaxIxU22dyq8aQBuQRNj4lvvqIbq_ef4qF_3Hy5ejQd2Xi1EM9qYqvT4MbHqC_AdbdxXtTtI1dG3vIuMiu9-qeHxF-e4NhbPjqY8aWoS-K7LRlvHkQa_tfdL-chNdQi-9/w640-h480/IMG_7537.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Caroline put this picnic snack together while we waited out a cross country practice last week.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyrOUyflBSH7OyKSVVJ29CQAV3tbz7iqIFZhRcDgfeKQRiitKrbBKxjNeIzVzCNN3iJzQ3cHyg5pYc51L9aivmRZkxkoth_vdrrIJfs15PCSumNNUt1NG-5Lkj2VPpOWO1-peL3_xPKIYnrA3p9Pl-7dBgbGiPiZrKRizVL9_lUSL3EADu06Uw8e-/s4032/IMG_7539.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyrOUyflBSH7OyKSVVJ29CQAV3tbz7iqIFZhRcDgfeKQRiitKrbBKxjNeIzVzCNN3iJzQ3cHyg5pYc51L9aivmRZkxkoth_vdrrIJfs15PCSumNNUt1NG-5Lkj2VPpOWO1-peL3_xPKIYnrA3p9Pl-7dBgbGiPiZrKRizVL9_lUSL3EADu06Uw8e-/w480-h640/IMG_7539.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I think Friday night <a href="https://littlecaesars.com/en-us/" target="_blank">Little Ceasar's</a> is going to be our go-to this season. By the end of the week, </div><div>I. am. done. I think we all are, right?</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a tip. Order and pay online at <a href="https://littlecaesars.com/en-us/" target="_blank">LC</a>. They pop it in a warming drawer and you can just walk in and grab it. No transaction required. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFrbNQ8UlWTciCa6_UNSaLSC1E4x18RAb7BNxrc0RTqLQky882XnoGD-zyEF2e5HmqlkVDw_GJXcCyMjWktyY4uxPC9PpU3rN-EcffF-RK2OWHgjzfKLJ7eRFjRPNassC5EAikw1zN3MwFT5K3whH9VHRPXKVvsoR3qXtz5ZDkajG-yyIaRNwq8ey/s4032/IMG_7542.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFrbNQ8UlWTciCa6_UNSaLSC1E4x18RAb7BNxrc0RTqLQky882XnoGD-zyEF2e5HmqlkVDw_GJXcCyMjWktyY4uxPC9PpU3rN-EcffF-RK2OWHgjzfKLJ7eRFjRPNassC5EAikw1zN3MwFT5K3whH9VHRPXKVvsoR3qXtz5ZDkajG-yyIaRNwq8ey/w480-h640/IMG_7542.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm signing off with my sweet, little 1st grader. We had a rare afternoon just the two of us. We enjoyed a warm chocolate chip cookie + an iced latte + a chocolate muffin and "light" conversation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Are God and Jesus the same?" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"When did Jesus go to heaven?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjawVt7YwRGKbSnSsFcHanh19ZGv5OupuhpjrlHdN1WqPKiOMR5m1peMjK3sYZvK5_zGkNbcVRSJjk0ROKRifOUe5NYxj6uSQbckaQ-euM0uquawqGg-WiWc6xi3J7JVbLAj76tg9aQ9B-L2gnyPU7_5uMq7TA4Y0KE578zUbG_T8nC8Z3RoiaJn9/s4032/IMG_7570.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjawVt7YwRGKbSnSsFcHanh19ZGv5OupuhpjrlHdN1WqPKiOMR5m1peMjK3sYZvK5_zGkNbcVRSJjk0ROKRifOUe5NYxj6uSQbckaQ-euM0uquawqGg-WiWc6xi3J7JVbLAj76tg9aQ9B-L2gnyPU7_5uMq7TA4Y0KE578zUbG_T8nC8Z3RoiaJn9/w480-h640/IMG_7570.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p></div></div>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-27611931178692681762022-08-11T15:32:00.000-05:002022-08-11T15:32:10.319-05:00Bye, summer<p>Summer, you were good to us. </p><p>I know we technically have until September 21st to call summer, but school started today, and so summer <i>vacation</i> has come to a close. We had a full and happy time. Our cup runneth over. </p><p>We swam. We grew tomatoes. We camped. We beached.</p><p>Stephen and I had a kid sabbatical with all 4 of them gone for a week! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhEp1smvG6M8eFsRkQPDnPwjIkXdRaShRXR7fnj9b6TS7xhD6ftTuWfPY_H13qevt5owXg2s4Mn1NvTUzNSGtXi5A3edTbLy4OkseE5LvIKQxZON2qX_IO7T_dqQSjRlva-VZUPw_pRYabAb8Qmo5Bqbo4nPN0Cd26_ApCw8YDd1WoL52ploPVJ51/s1024/A9F66771-CEDA-4F00-8A57-EC7E03AD4561_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhEp1smvG6M8eFsRkQPDnPwjIkXdRaShRXR7fnj9b6TS7xhD6ftTuWfPY_H13qevt5owXg2s4Mn1NvTUzNSGtXi5A3edTbLy4OkseE5LvIKQxZON2qX_IO7T_dqQSjRlva-VZUPw_pRYabAb8Qmo5Bqbo4nPN0Cd26_ApCw8YDd1WoL52ploPVJ51/w480-h640/A9F66771-CEDA-4F00-8A57-EC7E03AD4561_1_105_c.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This next season of life is going to be different. First of all, I will not be homeschooling any of my children for the first time in 3 years. Last year, I had George with me. I treasure that year and all the one on one time we had together.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWhP9IR4eW98sMnksGpw5252MFv9u_AFTQ3BGwvBXXEacbnm4UsK18LVc6v0zXbI7oPNFt9htYdHc2C1ROx7kdbDlvUVUQWU2Re0TFSb0ji423gLZyDe4JAix9CLd0be26PK4DSVZ4j9TQ-MgmmXYrcnvOGjXMb3E6EqHYS_7zKM4MPe7aC94YJoF/s3705/C9922958-CF34-4D47-A566-C5AC6E17B985_1_201_a.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3705" data-original-width="2778" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWhP9IR4eW98sMnksGpw5252MFv9u_AFTQ3BGwvBXXEacbnm4UsK18LVc6v0zXbI7oPNFt9htYdHc2C1ROx7kdbDlvUVUQWU2Re0TFSb0ji423gLZyDe4JAix9CLd0be26PK4DSVZ4j9TQ-MgmmXYrcnvOGjXMb3E6EqHYS_7zKM4MPe7aC94YJoF/w480-h640/C9922958-CF34-4D47-A566-C5AC6E17B985_1_201_a.heic" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>They will all be at the same school. Hallelujah! This has never happened before. My game face is on for carpool, packed lunches, homework, after school sports, and early bedtimes. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXTW3K6eaHm7bFARr7q7uiPOM5urP1OMahZzu5nQ10SIswX6f8m7h7llaSw6PO8ZaFWbPeAGjFvP1-SZljZUIqIdEDKQ_fogNylJ_1yg4eqcC4V2mt6W4a4Y6_lByazKtiewOKo0uItEpfA2ECnzIMDSCUCTO18DVen173l7wHxd13ryuycSpxSJ5/s1024/A0A9B3B0-64E9-4BE8-A4B7-F4A3682B8825_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXTW3K6eaHm7bFARr7q7uiPOM5urP1OMahZzu5nQ10SIswX6f8m7h7llaSw6PO8ZaFWbPeAGjFvP1-SZljZUIqIdEDKQ_fogNylJ_1yg4eqcC4V2mt6W4a4Y6_lByazKtiewOKo0uItEpfA2ECnzIMDSCUCTO18DVen173l7wHxd13ryuycSpxSJ5/w640-h480/A0A9B3B0-64E9-4BE8-A4B7-F4A3682B8825_1_105_c.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am so excited for us. I think it's going to be a really fun season. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh844FZVx52ozfIIi3JvpNeHYxTfqhseoIL0i8QJHrSAaec3Ott7PAr8l9TsXgoidDlW-Rjo352o2EfltLcDTiaZZDwo1ZcI_IIGTnktZvcRmJs0VQdl_fB5fzUgMm5aOe5n2Uyl7Nusp6--d5ztWKEVHMKwO96sPr4U7TJ-9of6WeMhU07eeS2ZYmA/s919/9E114534-E0FD-4DAD-B575-E4C6035C5164_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="656" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh844FZVx52ozfIIi3JvpNeHYxTfqhseoIL0i8QJHrSAaec3Ott7PAr8l9TsXgoidDlW-Rjo352o2EfltLcDTiaZZDwo1ZcI_IIGTnktZvcRmJs0VQdl_fB5fzUgMm5aOe5n2Uyl7Nusp6--d5ztWKEVHMKwO96sPr4U7TJ-9of6WeMhU07eeS2ZYmA/w456-h640/9E114534-E0FD-4DAD-B575-E4C6035C5164_1_201_a.jpeg" width="456" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Also, different about this year...we are having a BABY, a girl, in October. </div><div><br /></div>When we found out we were expecting, Stephen said, "Well, I never really wanted to be an empty nester."</div><div>Looks like we bought ourselves 18 more years. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEznnj2sirq6vb6eiGFDy7vekgariCsj7CUrV7zykuqKRvuy2PRO89VhaqZdWnoJTi40JhVw2HDtRShinMFDsH39-RHYVqTN_Pxlgyrr25VFBU7T9c5x01V-ZkuR6uQeFgc5rHz97dZKvsM9JP2QJjsEx-QuBvxv40G6ojLwa4S7upMIVuNUht4OAZ/s1024/F615BDF2-CB87-45E6-89AF-28733EED56EE_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEznnj2sirq6vb6eiGFDy7vekgariCsj7CUrV7zykuqKRvuy2PRO89VhaqZdWnoJTi40JhVw2HDtRShinMFDsH39-RHYVqTN_Pxlgyrr25VFBU7T9c5x01V-ZkuR6uQeFgc5rHz97dZKvsM9JP2QJjsEx-QuBvxv40G6ojLwa4S7upMIVuNUht4OAZ/w640-h480/F615BDF2-CB87-45E6-89AF-28733EED56EE_1_105_c.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This baby is a bonus baby, a <i>family</i> baby. I'm sure when she arrives we won't be able to imagine life before...just like with all the others. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2icQlmrT-Jgkyv-J2w9vnAVBfpx7UHYBYP2yZPC2wcv_2ijyH4Y-LOeKeYBc0orsCqwX6caRF8vYdALZUD3TPWOGcGyriokCpJt4ZJSMEfP8Pusc8M1q28uWxVPTsDSnP0SUAT2oac1TjRB9vsrTNI8NfeaLmbEHGDKLbRNK-HAUxlPEMvRLj8m7k/s1024/366206A5-BF3E-483F-B08D-C7B27E650490_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2icQlmrT-Jgkyv-J2w9vnAVBfpx7UHYBYP2yZPC2wcv_2ijyH4Y-LOeKeYBc0orsCqwX6caRF8vYdALZUD3TPWOGcGyriokCpJt4ZJSMEfP8Pusc8M1q28uWxVPTsDSnP0SUAT2oac1TjRB9vsrTNI8NfeaLmbEHGDKLbRNK-HAUxlPEMvRLj8m7k/w480-h640/366206A5-BF3E-483F-B08D-C7B27E650490_1_105_c.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Caroline is thrilled to be a big sister! When she was born, my oldest was her age, going into 1st grade. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0djqyGB8cAf_NrTYfA6norRE-Mv_sZt7xANTKdomd04drxe3nq_lUrQtXAxnApLwkGMssQUv5T-l-bccKhbaYkV0KVkcRq1fw6YzpwrHJWEuYYPwQPXePpwt3jy4i14oxh6x79Y6yKJ4LmRjTuU5doXbQ_LyK52NFedvNRJySCW9vIlqWzAnaupiZ/s4030/E6B6748F-EF92-4560-8849-4413535A5C14_1_201_a.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4030" data-original-width="2879" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0djqyGB8cAf_NrTYfA6norRE-Mv_sZt7xANTKdomd04drxe3nq_lUrQtXAxnApLwkGMssQUv5T-l-bccKhbaYkV0KVkcRq1fw6YzpwrHJWEuYYPwQPXePpwt3jy4i14oxh6x79Y6yKJ4LmRjTuU5doXbQ_LyK52NFedvNRJySCW9vIlqWzAnaupiZ/w458-h640/E6B6748F-EF92-4560-8849-4413535A5C14_1_201_a.heic" width="458" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I write this post hoping and wishing that I might resurrect my blog in this next chapter. With school age kids gone for the day and a baby at home, I'm craving a outlet. A few of you flatter me and tell me you've missed it (SWM). You've mentioned that you occasionally refer back to old posts. What a compliment! </div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0f5f9RlL_QdpOb1aKRc0pLft-YrfVKFKecusNy3Fjt1IbX6hPCtL56C8gbESIpVjDFpMvynXF-EBwWCvuEUGwBUqTvSVUrJl6KPBkBHMRw0F6DMrCQdMtpu07WZMOuL-PrCl3ccK9JQVixTpsZoXZ7RDHoWNHTQ9-tO8bWFR12PDZAsLJXSsoEwK/s1024/70B02CE4-B65B-40A3-ABA4-ED852E4ED9A9_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0f5f9RlL_QdpOb1aKRc0pLft-YrfVKFKecusNy3Fjt1IbX6hPCtL56C8gbESIpVjDFpMvynXF-EBwWCvuEUGwBUqTvSVUrJl6KPBkBHMRw0F6DMrCQdMtpu07WZMOuL-PrCl3ccK9JQVixTpsZoXZ7RDHoWNHTQ9-tO8bWFR12PDZAsLJXSsoEwK/w480-h640/70B02CE4-B65B-40A3-ABA4-ED852E4ED9A9_1_105_c.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>With the trend down in blogging + having older kids, it is a challenge to write. Most days I've used up all my brain power. Blogging was easier with little kids. Not sure why. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqUKuYHqo6amcxw6QLyDHPYC54v6k51wmgiTXXM7mCiRuHp9WwQ0PLNwwKOYvSetFXeRrOA8SU24A-wUA0H1ktQIehLmQnRMSnceCLnlEkefYjEOgQ0am7DpQWCwcIMrUCCqet_7405t63zsGQSGndWeIw3WHPhiEKesBraERgQlpKeBZ3ozPwnMk/s1024/6EFA3C6B-D256-4787-8D08-D5A15F88897C_1_105_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqUKuYHqo6amcxw6QLyDHPYC54v6k51wmgiTXXM7mCiRuHp9WwQ0PLNwwKOYvSetFXeRrOA8SU24A-wUA0H1ktQIehLmQnRMSnceCLnlEkefYjEOgQ0am7DpQWCwcIMrUCCqet_7405t63zsGQSGndWeIw3WHPhiEKesBraERgQlpKeBZ3ozPwnMk/w480-h640/6EFA3C6B-D256-4787-8D08-D5A15F88897C_1_105_c.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I leave you with a belly pic. My friend, Caroline, snapped this of me on the 4th of July. She said, "I bet you don't have many pictures of yourself pregnant with your 5th child." </div><div><br /></div><div>She's right. Thank you, Caroline! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-hYdG6xSxefnqxIpjObw8u4bqraZNpyjecN03oYDOmCwLz6Y0B2ZyTSEHge-8Adyx4W1DysvbKanT1Q-lyFo65du3lBvThV8LmbL8rYp6bG4LCVM7InM0cRl8psG1gV8A69dD6lXw10fFvDGvzfkGZ3jmqZRwFh_LVEL00S0KHdWAjXe25hjo5eL/s4032/IMG_7292.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-hYdG6xSxefnqxIpjObw8u4bqraZNpyjecN03oYDOmCwLz6Y0B2ZyTSEHge-8Adyx4W1DysvbKanT1Q-lyFo65du3lBvThV8LmbL8rYp6bG4LCVM7InM0cRl8psG1gV8A69dD6lXw10fFvDGvzfkGZ3jmqZRwFh_LVEL00S0KHdWAjXe25hjo5eL/w480-h640/IMG_7292.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>Okay, that's all for now. </div></div><div>See ya later. </div>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-50434124758326315112022-03-31T16:43:00.004-05:002022-03-31T16:43:13.114-05:00Skilling up - Laundry and Dishes<p>I've recently had 2 discoveries in the homemaking department. </p><p>1. Laundry is much easier when I wash each person's clothing in their own personal and exclusive load. </p><p>Because the children shower in our bathroom, naturally that's where the dirty laundry lands. Prior to implementing the new system, we had a family hamper. As a result, each load was one big soup of everybody's laundry. </p><p>With that system, folding and putting away was irritating. I had to go to each room every time.</p><p>I don't know what inspired the new way -- to give each person their own load. I'm pretty sure y'all do this and have been holding out on me. Regardless, it is now our standard practice. </p><p>This new way takes discipline, getting everyone to carry their dirty laundry to <i>their</i> hamper. BUT...it is so much simpler in the end. I dare say it's a serene experience to pull a load from the dryer, knowing all the items belong to one individual. Usually, I fold and let children put away. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8KOX2HmvExx6UDbmu2Mwrcqf63lS0Ef-Y6QQOqdq0oG3tA9GRsQAMlLsS_aOfhozt5ORng8VAQYLbGmyzFlIaTz7A1XgGmm-9fePN3WwMS7e15VYaK5KCnDBB2-6_Xw6Lia4zr0S1Y6snlS9cPqECF-4ADTT2gP8lmwPSXO1syeHqcWDNNVmXc1Ml=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8KOX2HmvExx6UDbmu2Mwrcqf63lS0Ef-Y6QQOqdq0oG3tA9GRsQAMlLsS_aOfhozt5ORng8VAQYLbGmyzFlIaTz7A1XgGmm-9fePN3WwMS7e15VYaK5KCnDBB2-6_Xw6Lia4zr0S1Y6snlS9cPqECF-4ADTT2gP8lmwPSXO1syeHqcWDNNVmXc1Ml=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>2. My dishwasher has a 60 minute cycle. </p><p>Our old dishwasher would not properly clean dishes unless you ran it on the longest cycle. When we replaced it, it was deep in my psyche that clean dishes = longest cycle. By default I ran the new one on the marathon wash, 180+ minutes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUBGx6L46uQGMlUEAgg88i-pUDr_N8oClTXUbe5LSTq1xib_kXJYaJp3QUkc2BSQTVkAYTq76Jtfk9D3_tOrQolXbFl8qmtm2FMGv6F9AGnPolLdHCusNLd2pJ1usxcsfZ4_MLXlFf2DmQN7g61Tcr79RC6vAdcKrBLNkugB3Wn0nXL4mvYV3rPcg/s4032/IMG_6559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUBGx6L46uQGMlUEAgg88i-pUDr_N8oClTXUbe5LSTq1xib_kXJYaJp3QUkc2BSQTVkAYTq76Jtfk9D3_tOrQolXbFl8qmtm2FMGv6F9AGnPolLdHCusNLd2pJ1usxcsfZ4_MLXlFf2DmQN7g61Tcr79RC6vAdcKrBLNkugB3Wn0nXL4mvYV3rPcg/w480-h640/IMG_6559.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The long cycle routinely backed up the kitchen. But I didn't know any different! So one day on a whim, I tried the shortest cycle. And boom. I converted to a short cycle gal. My kitchen is much more efficient now!</p><p>My point in my sharing this newfound knowledge is .... sometimes, you <i>can</i> reinvent the wheel. You <i>can</i> hack it. These revelations have me looking at other pain points in our home and routines.</p><p>What about you? Can you relate to any of this?</p><p>......</p><p>I discovered the term skilling up from one of my favorite podcast <a href="https://homemakerchicpodcast.com" target="_blank">Homemaker Chic</a>. </p>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-58108738695474449572022-03-29T15:33:00.002-05:002022-03-29T15:33:31.387-05:002 Front Pots<p>Caroline and I planted some violas a few weeks ago, and I have officially made the switch from pansies to violas as my winter flower of choice. They are perkier. </p><p>When they start looking sad, I will transition to impatiens or begonias for late spring/early summer. I try to keep my two pots by our front door looking fresh. It's the first thing you see when you walk up, and it communicates that I somewhat have it together even though I don't. </p><p>We are years into a construction project, and the <i>last</i> bit is to replace some front siding and paint the house. It doesn't help that the guy we hired is mostly a no show. We are weary of it looking so bad for so long. The planters are getting me though. </p><p>If you're feeling down about your space, I highly recommend getting a couple of big planters and going for it. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4I42uN52rhv-f3cTUaZOWS_cDPwJZ7mJBAfUz41thn7D_lj2NNjvl4eAH5ppzipblOoVMeM43QppbQi2QuKXt8nb_SZ7bROdZIyJgzXDCwVFyWbB5C_LCepw5D1k1bKp_ZSRMXTk_y5WKkuwPPT_nlJdwNQmz9MgK9N358nQV332NgALU1AXjjdf8/s4032/IMG_6733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4I42uN52rhv-f3cTUaZOWS_cDPwJZ7mJBAfUz41thn7D_lj2NNjvl4eAH5ppzipblOoVMeM43QppbQi2QuKXt8nb_SZ7bROdZIyJgzXDCwVFyWbB5C_LCepw5D1k1bKp_ZSRMXTk_y5WKkuwPPT_nlJdwNQmz9MgK9N358nQV332NgALU1AXjjdf8/w480-h640/IMG_6733.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIdvh6zZ21VMzs15bvIQ4RYYp4qJOf8QZkPunGpnh846SdX6XE9ULF8Wp1b7kbNufQ4nzDH98CCjhmggUsworOeUr1-0p-PA0O65ANID1FHhVoTYmGWmSIbsTx3A1s1RUKxZDf9NHvzwENbf-a_wGq7nsZ7r8vReI8wuvRMfl4hdWe56ufLF9iHBc/s4032/IMG_6590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIdvh6zZ21VMzs15bvIQ4RYYp4qJOf8QZkPunGpnh846SdX6XE9ULF8Wp1b7kbNufQ4nzDH98CCjhmggUsworOeUr1-0p-PA0O65ANID1FHhVoTYmGWmSIbsTx3A1s1RUKxZDf9NHvzwENbf-a_wGq7nsZ7r8vReI8wuvRMfl4hdWe56ufLF9iHBc/w480-h640/IMG_6590.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisd6kuM-hZT42PYbU7lvOOVY3v0vRl2JeOJRboJQLUqBfId_UGY2PS7ouLQ_rg4Yvm-yfnweSewDWnXuxf2GERu8kBt68ILGyQfWQfK4T8sVTd13laFAUwBrVZ7YuCj3ewKJ5gGVqBNm9vy2lkhKWOOTqb8IKivChpFrpInDBOldxi2_E3pKepfLiC/s4032/IMG_6588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisd6kuM-hZT42PYbU7lvOOVY3v0vRl2JeOJRboJQLUqBfId_UGY2PS7ouLQ_rg4Yvm-yfnweSewDWnXuxf2GERu8kBt68ILGyQfWQfK4T8sVTd13laFAUwBrVZ7YuCj3ewKJ5gGVqBNm9vy2lkhKWOOTqb8IKivChpFrpInDBOldxi2_E3pKepfLiC/w480-h640/IMG_6588.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-29273355617201432132022-01-24T15:37:00.003-06:002022-01-24T15:37:39.429-06:00Two Soups<p>I'm relishing January things, which for me means cleaning up and cleaning out, sitting by the fire, and making soups. </p><p>I'm sharing two good ones today.</p><p>First, <a href="https://www.budgetbytes.com/zuppa-toscana/" target="_blank">Budget Bytes' Zuppa Toscana</a>. This was a big hit with the kids. My oldest even took the leftovers for school lunch. Look at all that gorgeous kale!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU0ymOoez9TCbXf_fN3QlxYQujQLR4LsdpAAE64EM8Afp9eAdWKiKw4SNIqJEkQIVUK26Xinlvzqt0kGewieDTMCt7p71D7JlY0GioKP8dgQqt2NLQtuUKksV2n6aD3Cpnt5QakBcDhsFufD5KEgU58TFVnR2Hf2FU1c2PwXq82a59-BQeKKq14oat=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU0ymOoez9TCbXf_fN3QlxYQujQLR4LsdpAAE64EM8Afp9eAdWKiKw4SNIqJEkQIVUK26Xinlvzqt0kGewieDTMCt7p71D7JlY0GioKP8dgQqt2NLQtuUKksV2n6aD3Cpnt5QakBcDhsFufD5KEgU58TFVnR2Hf2FU1c2PwXq82a59-BQeKKq14oat=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>I also recommend the <a href="https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a11980/veggie-chili/" target="_blank">Pioneer Woman's veggie chili.</a> My sister put me onto this one. I skip the corn flour - tried it, prefer without. A lot of chopping is required, so get ya a good podcast. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh121_oGTeYyZB_rTKpCh3qP7gziR_ECDgiUPm4u2iQTLZvH0W26-Iu-7QfGAX0-bogzOtAK_ntWFq6I-VOBM_HAXmxeQUkQH4Xb4-R2Rzb5jP4hobC-JUvAZ2dIfMZ3_w0STwi0BTHuMWA3p1of14jAnXsfBpskEwQMGDai7zHrPBtrXV84OZnAu5k=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh121_oGTeYyZB_rTKpCh3qP7gziR_ECDgiUPm4u2iQTLZvH0W26-Iu-7QfGAX0-bogzOtAK_ntWFq6I-VOBM_HAXmxeQUkQH4Xb4-R2Rzb5jP4hobC-JUvAZ2dIfMZ3_w0STwi0BTHuMWA3p1of14jAnXsfBpskEwQMGDai7zHrPBtrXV84OZnAu5k=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>Favorite toppings: goat cheese or sour cream, avocado, and cilantro. </p><p>My kids didn't love this one as much. More for me! </p><p>.......</p><p>Another favorite January indulgence -- I LOVE a cold walk. Is there anything more invigorating?! We've all heard the expression, "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing." </p><p>I have to give myself a pep talk every. single. time. But once I'm bundled up and out there...it's great. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTWZFsyYHDNbBtZksKHFK9xQQ9lW1Rxe94Pzcx5O57j8JLAwPvjEBQLAI1ifRxT-lcj-EGC53zdjNKgYIp3jRi4ApgumusqSKW-MEwUsIcoNlFa6Kg4s3AvNlV5jwShxDbZRT_Y8zpUZehX95QM-QsUJNqNwGKGxvujwBj5X5tVRNmsT4PhVAdPrlv=s3088" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTWZFsyYHDNbBtZksKHFK9xQQ9lW1Rxe94Pzcx5O57j8JLAwPvjEBQLAI1ifRxT-lcj-EGC53zdjNKgYIp3jRi4ApgumusqSKW-MEwUsIcoNlFa6Kg4s3AvNlV5jwShxDbZRT_Y8zpUZehX95QM-QsUJNqNwGKGxvujwBj5X5tVRNmsT4PhVAdPrlv=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>How do you spend your winters?Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-31669032310481100522022-01-06T15:43:00.002-06:002022-01-06T15:43:37.849-06:00Memphis Before Christmas my mom and dad took us to Memphis to see **HAMILTION**!! <div><br /></div><div>The enthusiasm for this trip was not equally distributed among family members. </div><div>A certain 9 y.o. boy, who shall remain nameless, would have rather stayed home and grilled squirrel. I told him we were building his character, dragging him to a nice hotel, making him eat in restaurants, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">"There's no such thing as fun for the whole family," a concept my mother in law once shared years ago. I think she got it from a comic strip. Truer words were never spoken.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGIX1791W8pmhuY3gSS11IWrVVBNVUpSjwM0XB-nzPlUMd7TCpc4qrZNqzP6-Gzi2vD7m4x-ur4EpSjb2f9HiY1f2ez_7jaNv_p_WjcCrTfpDkL34fGCmtTx_khsim7j45sGkNEPq_JDnF2DnvC8Htg8tYWtMxmW9P6krHB-sr9F0F45sJ6aTvKtsl=s3088" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGIX1791W8pmhuY3gSS11IWrVVBNVUpSjwM0XB-nzPlUMd7TCpc4qrZNqzP6-Gzi2vD7m4x-ur4EpSjb2f9HiY1f2ez_7jaNv_p_WjcCrTfpDkL34fGCmtTx_khsim7j45sGkNEPq_JDnF2DnvC8Htg8tYWtMxmW9P6krHB-sr9F0F45sJ6aTvKtsl=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">city slickers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>This was a walking trip. We parked our car on Friday night and didn't see it till departure. I loved frolicking around downtown. I feel a connection with Memphis. One of my best friends from college is from there, and I have loads of good memories going to visit her and her fam.</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stephen tried to convince me to rent a scooter. I said no I needed to practice on open land first.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgebMbVffJ1i_H97iaQYzXq7cdT6G7wzIgapInUxGw-L0WPd7KicnjVQJoPW-5dWVhLay0yOkY9r2YtYVwaChGQP6WvTToFm7lzURs_ESNMn1yPk2MQxQ4KUuuHOarN8McXLOMirll17auwHBVz91ainf8c4W6Klt4AH0D78ToqjbOooL2W2A1JCTsf=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgebMbVffJ1i_H97iaQYzXq7cdT6G7wzIgapInUxGw-L0WPd7KicnjVQJoPW-5dWVhLay0yOkY9r2YtYVwaChGQP6WvTToFm7lzURs_ESNMn1yPk2MQxQ4KUuuHOarN8McXLOMirll17auwHBVz91ainf8c4W6Klt4AH0D78ToqjbOooL2W2A1JCTsf=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I adore a glass champagne and it was double good in the lobby of the Peabody.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4jbCcmCOu7bv3Kmu4Z9LJ0FYmTiy4fPPRhvl5SCgT7Xmpgee0SbZDuMdu-3QV44cJKiukxU8v6XNasgHypwHUrFFWYuDwcLT6B57H0wC9QFxrZbSrkUDucdQqtJiCJE267goDqBPz_f_FnRKVW7byaySLgUBTvH_pGzncEosi3Jngu4FrKb5RA6_7=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4jbCcmCOu7bv3Kmu4Z9LJ0FYmTiy4fPPRhvl5SCgT7Xmpgee0SbZDuMdu-3QV44cJKiukxU8v6XNasgHypwHUrFFWYuDwcLT6B57H0wC9QFxrZbSrkUDucdQqtJiCJE267goDqBPz_f_FnRKVW7byaySLgUBTvH_pGzncEosi3Jngu4FrKb5RA6_7=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">feeling so French</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>We saw the ducks and bought some surprisingly affordable souvenirs in the gift shop.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjeovqeaTbba8N0N1Y_RbAbieOmNuoLIiJaroeFVfOdUda_kmemFY_1M35T78OCHLzNOCimFLR56F1FB32mMeqSnkGzsevNAb6_0M7Kn2UbGH1vEvMYOPJxzIrDWaQ2dqd4w2sxsRW18uQe8x0ahDQt_2wY3kM9656C39PpYyI6HF--jU5FG7hycz7w=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjeovqeaTbba8N0N1Y_RbAbieOmNuoLIiJaroeFVfOdUda_kmemFY_1M35T78OCHLzNOCimFLR56F1FB32mMeqSnkGzsevNAb6_0M7Kn2UbGH1vEvMYOPJxzIrDWaQ2dqd4w2sxsRW18uQe8x0ahDQt_2wY3kM9656C39PpYyI6HF--jU5FG7hycz7w=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div> </div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSB5Do-0uMTnebU9lccsZI5dwE237Oz7V9w2JfZOIKUHj4IILQtl0X7sMYtEoCBkLoMy8hLtMDgHD9DA-ClLONffcp5xPG4z5V3KKsxixvNOBs7KAsLX2nLOp6MhEPpINu238uGkb77i6puB8pVW0LTmg8vDhLOV592GztMSR8lICaSrZmSLRVLSzP=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSB5Do-0uMTnebU9lccsZI5dwE237Oz7V9w2JfZOIKUHj4IILQtl0X7sMYtEoCBkLoMy8hLtMDgHD9DA-ClLONffcp5xPG4z5V3KKsxixvNOBs7KAsLX2nLOp6MhEPpINu238uGkb77i6puB8pVW0LTmg8vDhLOV592GztMSR8lICaSrZmSLRVLSzP=w640-h480" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> historic motel where MLK Jr. was killed</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKl-oKSwhMEVznXUUU8ZRcqvsvpSfAvJsWPflB_m3Rz6m1EPIxBzBdVrW92tlnzGZxorKYABJYqe4FgFj63eTes99xJ3sUn9Id48XoFNTrEX1TiLefZ68070tKXpoQxRc1Mz_kWpYb7_feWugbX9YpNqyUQS2ZB-Np3mR3YMG7xcKDuu0xElSvUrCl=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKl-oKSwhMEVznXUUU8ZRcqvsvpSfAvJsWPflB_m3Rz6m1EPIxBzBdVrW92tlnzGZxorKYABJYqe4FgFj63eTes99xJ3sUn9Id48XoFNTrEX1TiLefZ68070tKXpoQxRc1Mz_kWpYb7_feWugbX9YpNqyUQS2ZB-Np3mR3YMG7xcKDuu0xElSvUrCl=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">drinks on the rooftop bar</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqgDG9785lTghdKaUf51hZl0TSZUEzp2ep1dY2-jGMaX7bIdVTc9QUVVL2vAoAj9i_nsaS4nHgwXKaQ1jdw4N1GXAyxXXATPhpo5U9_QedQPf01RINuZg83O4If6YHILqXvpmXP-g6lxcPVgtjPIAG6dUvJWJjlmfhqp_G6eH_CmO1BOn-fHpn178l=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqgDG9785lTghdKaUf51hZl0TSZUEzp2ep1dY2-jGMaX7bIdVTc9QUVVL2vAoAj9i_nsaS4nHgwXKaQ1jdw4N1GXAyxXXATPhpo5U9_QedQPf01RINuZg83O4If6YHILqXvpmXP-g6lxcPVgtjPIAG6dUvJWJjlmfhqp_G6eH_CmO1BOn-fHpn178l=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">professional photo bomber </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The show was fantastic. We've listened to the music and watched the original cast on Disney numerous times. I was worried I might be a little disappointed, but quite the opposite. I appreciated how the cast added there on whimsy and personality to the show. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHzae4YNmetj0VHaZlXd3RtR2nhtoBOqSUj6DBCcPRHtFyiqPLibeT_x4UAX7bnoIAQHUTMwQevRFjV9bSaI02WfQtJOcudKSvObFO04_eAFS1Fn_PsDswtNF8SJWJfA-bQqr3r2AxriK1Do43gXdaInVY2jLKxqCnVmyuRA8RJkyaO4z7yY8zsdkK=s3220" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3220" data-original-width="2300" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHzae4YNmetj0VHaZlXd3RtR2nhtoBOqSUj6DBCcPRHtFyiqPLibeT_x4UAX7bnoIAQHUTMwQevRFjV9bSaI02WfQtJOcudKSvObFO04_eAFS1Fn_PsDswtNF8SJWJfA-bQqr3r2AxriK1Do43gXdaInVY2jLKxqCnVmyuRA8RJkyaO4z7yY8zsdkK=w458-h640" width="458" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in route to the Orpheum </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjk3y9qSCds2pJeOwEvs_7M8aL8PMEGkA0nBQcuNRy_3H_lHggrD8WJmeL25fVxty93Li-gtaHj9tVwUdaxOMTza-6tenD_EgkYBsvNYZO0nYoi0cmvbiwGIR-R8PvfmPXV0dNhgv5Qgdd0UIibh-lqOabGnnaZlg2nm7PggDVXCeAiWmaY5-XZQJ7i=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjk3y9qSCds2pJeOwEvs_7M8aL8PMEGkA0nBQcuNRy_3H_lHggrD8WJmeL25fVxty93Li-gtaHj9tVwUdaxOMTza-6tenD_EgkYBsvNYZO0nYoi0cmvbiwGIR-R8PvfmPXV0dNhgv5Qgdd0UIibh-lqOabGnnaZlg2nm7PggDVXCeAiWmaY5-XZQJ7i=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The theater was gorgeous and a good time was had by all but one. 👎</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIa9YyHlMUNrdDQGum-WbXwcYGYhqn8Ju_XDGCqpwpJ6UfwFC_DhgbyVGPHBJWPVu06BeC2PCNhDbh0jI5UlDToAkLX-sCElx44Qq2fnM_aitC-T6QMyPzRa539CH7ITxbzDJsVBCa3_KHXZRf5KqRPe5vr0sWyu6AfcBw36TaLz1-fA49TobhPGgX=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIa9YyHlMUNrdDQGum-WbXwcYGYhqn8Ju_XDGCqpwpJ6UfwFC_DhgbyVGPHBJWPVu06BeC2PCNhDbh0jI5UlDToAkLX-sCElx44Qq2fnM_aitC-T6QMyPzRa539CH7ITxbzDJsVBCa3_KHXZRf5KqRPe5vr0sWyu6AfcBw36TaLz1-fA49TobhPGgX=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was bonus that my aunt and uncle, Lynn and Steve, could join us! We always love being with them. We're spoiled.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNrbk0RwRAZJ9MPbXRZqIEDxWrVNqusDkQl-adnetd5eO4WPPAwV0eXKMf0wmUVmVa5u5RhqGmEeZbswRbvfvNDgi7PQ1CnBOWqVyv2nnLc26gjLiI0dRuwqbjV0jJfjPYmUcbESlLV2wDkdYDxbxomypi45a3wS69Yi3avwyJcPZqCUBu1khD9S2n=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNrbk0RwRAZJ9MPbXRZqIEDxWrVNqusDkQl-adnetd5eO4WPPAwV0eXKMf0wmUVmVa5u5RhqGmEeZbswRbvfvNDgi7PQ1CnBOWqVyv2nnLc26gjLiI0dRuwqbjV0jJfjPYmUcbESlLV2wDkdYDxbxomypi45a3wS69Yi3avwyJcPZqCUBu1khD9S2n=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div>Thanks, Lovie and Doc for an extra large time.<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh__cQ8suG8v4Y9EqFmnvBIu7omYQYwc8bnG8Xbj3zGzzJRvbfO-IoYv15BjT0uglVF3Yrp7QYLtUuz7o3mGyO3pnHL_KWDxvMe4LkCNAx5oROWJXX8wQeBVeJc4YJcCFLUVtxms8k558_RSkl4eQGviYAcEBg3-nD2GjfaCUCLjlEOH_cYUqy_0kwK=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh__cQ8suG8v4Y9EqFmnvBIu7omYQYwc8bnG8Xbj3zGzzJRvbfO-IoYv15BjT0uglVF3Yrp7QYLtUuz7o3mGyO3pnHL_KWDxvMe4LkCNAx5oROWJXX8wQeBVeJc4YJcCFLUVtxms8k558_RSkl4eQGviYAcEBg3-nD2GjfaCUCLjlEOH_cYUqy_0kwK=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></p></div></div>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-43332115225147398162022-01-03T17:20:00.002-06:002022-01-03T18:09:08.081-06:00Hey 2022<p>Where to begin? </p><p>Happy New Year! We took down the tree and welcomed 2022 with a quiet night at home. I love this time of year. It is the perfect palete cleanser to follow the hustle of Christmas. I clean out, freshen up, and brighten all the spaces like my hair is on fire. Room by room I go. I'm reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Minimalista-Step-Step-Better-Wardrobe/dp/1984859277/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1N2ZPW993PBPW&keywords=minimalista+book&qid=1641250999&s=books&sprefix=minimalista%2Cstripbooks%2C84&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Minimalista</a> to get inspired. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4SItuLNMYpSKIMq77-KKRE6zWUwOUkHSQFkJDU3PnOiRZdftWOt-GC30pJrixBOFNlOpwmFh7U3OG6242NicTlyIeS30ecsvAAoLc4auG7W5-fvfHfB7RaX9l6y65rmSmTHz5iO4tC8-5fpvMVDImcY1yXWpPmX6HKANuxtcskPpfjUi8zZ-f0K3L=s3759" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3759" data-original-width="2948" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4SItuLNMYpSKIMq77-KKRE6zWUwOUkHSQFkJDU3PnOiRZdftWOt-GC30pJrixBOFNlOpwmFh7U3OG6242NicTlyIeS30ecsvAAoLc4auG7W5-fvfHfB7RaX9l6y65rmSmTHz5iO4tC8-5fpvMVDImcY1yXWpPmX6HKANuxtcskPpfjUi8zZ-f0K3L=w502-h640" width="502" /></a></div><p></p><p>This is also a time for no drinking. With holiday merriment and travel behind us, it's time to rein in the booze. I trick myself by pouring fancy water into a champagne flute. A friend and I are doing a dry January together. The exception is if I go out to eat (which is rare), I can get a drink. I don't believe in extreme deprivation.</p><p>This is my favorite <a href="https://www.bonappetit.com/story/drinking-lovers-guide-cutting-back" target="_blank">article</a> about cutting back on drinking. I so relate.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYH1fIg8Sf_E1Ah0J1w8SaELitZfJkM2cp5_2yNN-NRv5zaWddvJdNbN9PPH0leJMLKCxjFEPZPPlFEvAC00xvVFwr6ecOQoHGXGyHBns5JFk_p6phFdsId83emRAbJyNwviuK3n266gygSk1A-SVcBGoP8e9ZLPnbHJ6dBz-jPO8U1ICpieP7hjcO=s3207" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3207" data-original-width="2765" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYH1fIg8Sf_E1Ah0J1w8SaELitZfJkM2cp5_2yNN-NRv5zaWddvJdNbN9PPH0leJMLKCxjFEPZPPlFEvAC00xvVFwr6ecOQoHGXGyHBns5JFk_p6phFdsId83emRAbJyNwviuK3n266gygSk1A-SVcBGoP8e9ZLPnbHJ6dBz-jPO8U1ICpieP7hjcO=w552-h640" width="552" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My children return to school tomorrow. It's bittersweet. They can't stay <i>here</i>, but I will miss the days of togetherness. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQ3_wUUN0Rfv0XdZuYruSVb48jD-QNMcVICkw1Zrq6komsll520M8IQq0U5zLf9wBxBcqM8xNsMGZJcCzJIYBefqHDjxp6z3d_6apz_ulzhrn2FyTtNvNDMF1Jgnvkwo5h-G26q7sOPLoYbSO7DzceWD6_K4qhTjhYR6pc0waAZedvWMO0n3fcXwc3=s3696" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3696" data-original-width="2772" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQ3_wUUN0Rfv0XdZuYruSVb48jD-QNMcVICkw1Zrq6komsll520M8IQq0U5zLf9wBxBcqM8xNsMGZJcCzJIYBefqHDjxp6z3d_6apz_ulzhrn2FyTtNvNDMF1Jgnvkwo5h-G26q7sOPLoYbSO7DzceWD6_K4qhTjhYR6pc0waAZedvWMO0n3fcXwc3=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">George and Laurie have had a lot of fun making comedy videos together. Some of them are actually funny.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What are you excited about this year? Tell me your dreams. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-42049853293503513932021-08-05T16:07:00.001-05:002021-08-05T16:08:23.833-05:00PUPPIES!<p>One lovely evening in May, our neighbor's Vizsla frolicked over and impregnated our British lab. What's done is done. </p><p>Therefore, on July 7th, 2021 we welcomed 11 puppies into our already chaotic family life. Puppy birth is an education unto itself -- and I'm counting on the experience to make up for any holes or gaps left in the wake of homeschool science.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LvNOLbto3Ed9g6NFg3oQM9itBiG3P7zRmZJtOOpD6NcFAgoOxVVcXlTMLOWGhuI11ijKccSyL2_k639pKcYPxLB7a_JgUJrbEFEqGO3rJlZISOv9L0wLUoVAY5pAIwMD1kPg9YUF7Mk/s2048/3FD76364-1629-49C4-87DE-C4A080897582.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LvNOLbto3Ed9g6NFg3oQM9itBiG3P7zRmZJtOOpD6NcFAgoOxVVcXlTMLOWGhuI11ijKccSyL2_k639pKcYPxLB7a_JgUJrbEFEqGO3rJlZISOv9L0wLUoVAY5pAIwMD1kPg9YUF7Mk/w458-h640/3FD76364-1629-49C4-87DE-C4A080897582.jpeg" width="458" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Sally, the mama dog, successfully birthed 6 blonde/strawberry blonde pups and 5 black pups. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNJfumrbpok66Hh2jgcsFUGHkZEY1xN45Yc18xYDqOaGleyn5TEpnDRgj_3r0oxtLa1X8efHVOcV0NyWkFWhAYC8k-O9CmYTPhJx3D8nE-Tcl9U9Pi4Vr9HO4R99gGEiWGnkgS0o8ubE/s2048/05ED83B6-A04E-4DC3-B2CF-870EFAB748EB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNJfumrbpok66Hh2jgcsFUGHkZEY1xN45Yc18xYDqOaGleyn5TEpnDRgj_3r0oxtLa1X8efHVOcV0NyWkFWhAYC8k-O9CmYTPhJx3D8nE-Tcl9U9Pi4Vr9HO4R99gGEiWGnkgS0o8ubE/w480-h640/05ED83B6-A04E-4DC3-B2CF-870EFAB748EB.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It's therapy. Puppies are therapy. And if you don't love them at least a little bit, then you probably have no soul. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHqhYJYYQ7tD0F37y39nGed6fl3t_VpvqLdMmnIHBLoAcOD_nzGq3a5nCIXY9WFHsChvux4gOUB3yQWI7bK6b_0eoWwXSu10VnDtW9iyKvGdlpDOKsz6QwUmwF6ubazlTOmXMxaXxPBI/s4032/027B52BA-CA9A-4D29-9236-C78241F87E19.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHqhYJYYQ7tD0F37y39nGed6fl3t_VpvqLdMmnIHBLoAcOD_nzGq3a5nCIXY9WFHsChvux4gOUB3yQWI7bK6b_0eoWwXSu10VnDtW9iyKvGdlpDOKsz6QwUmwF6ubazlTOmXMxaXxPBI/w480-h640/027B52BA-CA9A-4D29-9236-C78241F87E19.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>As it currently stands, we have 5 promised to owners, 4 lighter pups and 1 darker. This means we have 2 light and 4 dark that need a person or persons.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimadIKSDSVnkoMQFPMaYMM4UEjtZYbNo8ZSprKEWBuS7XubUjC2w4w38tVlsmw3yyiUgFcIGvcj0S4SNxfS_6P_e85kLeb4TAO1itNcyINQKKax7RcC277K_g9bAiVVpd0hEPiBVakCk/s4032/102E79EE-038C-4FFC-8D6C-6C4664C731BB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimadIKSDSVnkoMQFPMaYMM4UEjtZYbNo8ZSprKEWBuS7XubUjC2w4w38tVlsmw3yyiUgFcIGvcj0S4SNxfS_6P_e85kLeb4TAO1itNcyINQKKax7RcC277K_g9bAiVVpd0hEPiBVakCk/w480-h640/102E79EE-038C-4FFC-8D6C-6C4664C731BB.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>These pics are from the BIRTHnight. We had so many puppies we actually got bored and went to bed on puppy number 9. We awoke to 2 more, totaling ELEVEN. #hastag #fertilemertle</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmW9gCa7XrBeBPGt6V3uCB66u2SaqBIbf7-Fe8pOwWrlsQ6CUveObk8UWr5P3PR33YX0Cym1ht0eFfeZE-dwiIyBbK1CsRX-MgCEzrbAHb2fkMXHNt7ahdNmTupd82vTUbeIuTo_BNvQ/s2048/5467B642-94D0-425C-BB9F-98502A3E9FB5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmW9gCa7XrBeBPGt6V3uCB66u2SaqBIbf7-Fe8pOwWrlsQ6CUveObk8UWr5P3PR33YX0Cym1ht0eFfeZE-dwiIyBbK1CsRX-MgCEzrbAHb2fkMXHNt7ahdNmTupd82vTUbeIuTo_BNvQ/w640-h480/5467B642-94D0-425C-BB9F-98502A3E9FB5.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We are selling them for $55/pup to cover the cost of shots + food. You know you want one or TWO.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6AJlriEiIPSmn3YJC77qDwU9hb13yGqqnpTIscplVq0Z0fRljL_vovfpzhAYbZ3GYqKjgl7C9FXZRDDehc2xccIk8OGRdsMXkaKuEUjBW4_t-yZZo9O8BYUgfgF2R7VZ5KTsM1mgiZE/s2048/D145702A-D24C-40D1-80F2-296C2FEBF5D1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6AJlriEiIPSmn3YJC77qDwU9hb13yGqqnpTIscplVq0Z0fRljL_vovfpzhAYbZ3GYqKjgl7C9FXZRDDehc2xccIk8OGRdsMXkaKuEUjBW4_t-yZZo9O8BYUgfgF2R7VZ5KTsM1mgiZE/w480-h640/D145702A-D24C-40D1-80F2-296C2FEBF5D1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Seriously, the cycle of life is amazing. We made some memories on this night. Some families go to Disney. Some have puppies. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXo_sChC1Q5px1PGv86jrEXIAipETE319PINHR79uoXCexHCDgxEPPE-IVZhsL9DfK7hyfHwrfyXw-_FF7bB7NJkwlFNVmfm-b0smIhqKFti3Pmb7M3tlFjp6b6ycbBcumQ2zEaDgZUg/s2048/EDC761D7-4CF0-40ED-BD7B-4A3460017424.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXo_sChC1Q5px1PGv86jrEXIAipETE319PINHR79uoXCexHCDgxEPPE-IVZhsL9DfK7hyfHwrfyXw-_FF7bB7NJkwlFNVmfm-b0smIhqKFti3Pmb7M3tlFjp6b6ycbBcumQ2zEaDgZUg/w480-h640/EDC761D7-4CF0-40ED-BD7B-4A3460017424.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>For real, email or DM me if you want one.</div><div><br /></div><div>sbspooner@gmail.com</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AzqhuOSh3y24zMajKAuO6XJCd0z_CEk4nUugHfv6xeJfua23oIaQRy9Qp5K6bSncYll0pcW0Pa9cYob2Hxzq9u3Ihv8Ltl8htAKMJIX0dWX802fXi9VbxA9sGxQB6OlCMyI13ZaRbuE/s2048/F1092538-6E36-411A-8318-875D18084971.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1319" data-original-width="2048" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AzqhuOSh3y24zMajKAuO6XJCd0z_CEk4nUugHfv6xeJfua23oIaQRy9Qp5K6bSncYll0pcW0Pa9cYob2Hxzq9u3Ihv8Ltl8htAKMJIX0dWX802fXi9VbxA9sGxQB6OlCMyI13ZaRbuE/w640-h412/F1092538-6E36-411A-8318-875D18084971.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></div></div>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-21927373880276548972021-07-21T16:37:00.001-05:002021-07-21T16:37:37.054-05:00Summer Staples<div class="separator">1. ZINNIAS</div><div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator">Every spring we plant zinnia seeds. I get the biggest rush making a bouquet from my own cuttings. They are so easy to grow. All you need is a patch of grass or a pot, water, and lots of sunshine.</div><div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40Cl_PA0EPgXsdb_Qk2bNj_QjEQ1GjKPMpOhSMUfKS7VZAmmcRmei1QedRu2pkEV_dyd2K6eEntWWo1AJvYYO_7ntgr2X5WlIPQ523QPBe4BJfGJ89xnts3FNZzJ9lhHLk3mGVY6dVsk/s4032/73BD8201-9AC1-4ACF-8F23-412AD4EBE603.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40Cl_PA0EPgXsdb_Qk2bNj_QjEQ1GjKPMpOhSMUfKS7VZAmmcRmei1QedRu2pkEV_dyd2K6eEntWWo1AJvYYO_7ntgr2X5WlIPQ523QPBe4BJfGJ89xnts3FNZzJ9lhHLk3mGVY6dVsk/w480-h640/73BD8201-9AC1-4ACF-8F23-412AD4EBE603.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn30YeD01GVOnKOD91eEuxuv1nzvNlrHXbJBguTDs5l4ZlYeTnCibU-feC5_Gq6zkL6LhWizAfsooET5xYmL591B1obq-L7zJsLZBVq9WAL9BM-tWcU8QT9Y-A17JUv-Sbphf79yG3_vc/s2048/214C700B-F2E3-44C2-B8A4-35F75E38D695.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn30YeD01GVOnKOD91eEuxuv1nzvNlrHXbJBguTDs5l4ZlYeTnCibU-feC5_Gq6zkL6LhWizAfsooET5xYmL591B1obq-L7zJsLZBVq9WAL9BM-tWcU8QT9Y-A17JUv-Sbphf79yG3_vc/w480-h640/214C700B-F2E3-44C2-B8A4-35F75E38D695.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>2. ICED LATTES </p><p>If I find myself running errands in the afternoon, I love nothing more than to grab a coffee from the Vintage Cafe. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNVV6HytNQukTO2is2UQdbkoMTLtnxl9GYP003FvgRtzOCtZk_27nttSpc0NRoEF_C6YCyUhMpXtibu_8Gq1XuuUapVnZoDTJFchyLwBaE0okOPVd3-4bgTL4fxVubasHEYwi0z9epro/s2928/50D24BCE-B369-42A6-9A5E-95CC67EFF01E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2928" data-original-width="2104" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNVV6HytNQukTO2is2UQdbkoMTLtnxl9GYP003FvgRtzOCtZk_27nttSpc0NRoEF_C6YCyUhMpXtibu_8Gq1XuuUapVnZoDTJFchyLwBaE0okOPVd3-4bgTL4fxVubasHEYwi0z9epro/w460-h640/50D24BCE-B369-42A6-9A5E-95CC67EFF01E.jpeg" width="460" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>3. FARMER'S MARKET TOMATOES<div><br /></div><div>Literally, nothing better. Throw on a little feta, fresh herbs, vinaigrette salad dressing or olive oil, salt, pepper. The end. <br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcuvvntnteGR26qKxCyntItmKnxAzk20iTUnr-CIrsW-dS61-V0Vj4ex7SA19ab-wv-zvDLBcvftSGyamfvOsV_aytFxsRNteUa-GuwdApXhJOWZdii61gQaIRiKYSQCZe5PXC5VNWiE/s2048/FC5556E6-E04A-47C8-87A4-5F599C242DFB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcuvvntnteGR26qKxCyntItmKnxAzk20iTUnr-CIrsW-dS61-V0Vj4ex7SA19ab-wv-zvDLBcvftSGyamfvOsV_aytFxsRNteUa-GuwdApXhJOWZdii61gQaIRiKYSQCZe5PXC5VNWiE/w480-h640/FC5556E6-E04A-47C8-87A4-5F599C242DFB.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>4. SUNSCREEN STICKS</p><p>This is the easiest way to protect little faces. Realistically, I'm not gonna reapply if I have to hold my kids down and get my hands dirty.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgd-QuR9OskNGjTGRkCl1nQAF7fQ-OqWiWgiGFOXKJqaxwtTSRAM1BYF-sRJHBdPvU2N8HthtmvGeuK-RhUUZPABdU2CrtaqT_dOlzi23Cw2XfwNFw_SDvLI14fBEpfOzhxvaEBlwD3yY/s2048/95E1620C-CA70-4091-9C5D-F348E6DEFD23.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgd-QuR9OskNGjTGRkCl1nQAF7fQ-OqWiWgiGFOXKJqaxwtTSRAM1BYF-sRJHBdPvU2N8HthtmvGeuK-RhUUZPABdU2CrtaqT_dOlzi23Cw2XfwNFw_SDvLI14fBEpfOzhxvaEBlwD3yY/w480-h640/95E1620C-CA70-4091-9C5D-F348E6DEFD23.heic" width="480" /></a></div><p></p></div></div>
What are your summer staples? Jean shorts? Old movies? Linen sheets? <div><br /></div><div>It's the little things. </div>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-87506764047592942282021-07-08T16:12:00.004-05:002021-07-08T16:15:28.929-05:00The 4th + Welcome Home from Camp CAKE<p>Do you have any 4th of July traditions? We usually go to my sister's pool for the afternoon and eat barbecue nachos or something equally as good. We deck out in our patriotic garb and the kids end up doing some sort of parade or 4th of July "show." </p><p>It's one of my favorite holidays. I LOVE THIS LAND, and I am so grateful to live here!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6MCWzLlM2U9h2S42LjKWZcPFAB1S9P0mjqBYkmhiL_y08U8S1VFH1Qc6kx95dSRVTZJiDs9e1tJ4RR3tXEv8IFbxt9wtrYeE8usgtUrHu_pR0m33YT_bc6YCtoOBsMzlgo-WXh5hw6o/s4032/5DA619C8-CEE6-4688-8E67-3C72A67ACE7F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6MCWzLlM2U9h2S42LjKWZcPFAB1S9P0mjqBYkmhiL_y08U8S1VFH1Qc6kx95dSRVTZJiDs9e1tJ4RR3tXEv8IFbxt9wtrYeE8usgtUrHu_pR0m33YT_bc6YCtoOBsMzlgo-WXh5hw6o/w480-h640/5DA619C8-CEE6-4688-8E67-3C72A67ACE7F.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VsHwvcXjdlC95LnyFONUJj4CMluO6JZ9TuNBtv7ZQLVujIRNGo1w8DTr89S2ZXMRugyrRzeNfoaIJNlLA8yy2USbfA-ETkwRGhGx0OVzVfYPJ0Vx5uyTTmdmvAszrQNq5LboeTfZ3T8/s3862/A365CA4C-89F9-40B6-A4FC-82868BC996F9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3862" data-original-width="3022" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VsHwvcXjdlC95LnyFONUJj4CMluO6JZ9TuNBtv7ZQLVujIRNGo1w8DTr89S2ZXMRugyrRzeNfoaIJNlLA8yy2USbfA-ETkwRGhGx0OVzVfYPJ0Vx5uyTTmdmvAszrQNq5LboeTfZ3T8/w500-h640/A365CA4C-89F9-40B6-A4FC-82868BC996F9.jpeg" width="500" /></a></div><p>.......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-wWX7TecR_PFhAR0H7nGeN74E8gz6hX6tJU_taWOVeawfP2m8_xpj4WG2CLvN66UO6R0RWbUF4xU5l3JQfVFUfz7w6iTDqoLr6eHMzRiHVHDNttoMw6v7VqAPbHLBPqG9chMihTS5Ys/s2048/1ADC3AE9-E75A-47DC-B9CE-A43FA1683BED.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-wWX7TecR_PFhAR0H7nGeN74E8gz6hX6tJU_taWOVeawfP2m8_xpj4WG2CLvN66UO6R0RWbUF4xU5l3JQfVFUfz7w6iTDqoLr6eHMzRiHVHDNttoMw6v7VqAPbHLBPqG9chMihTS5Ys/w480-h640/1ADC3AE9-E75A-47DC-B9CE-A43FA1683BED.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>Following the 4th, on the 6th, we retrieved our older 2 kids from camp. They were gone for 3.5 weeks! This mama is happy to have us all under one roof again. </p><p>While they were gone I had a bit of an identity crisis. Suddenly I had so much less responsibility -- kidwise. Who am I? Why was I put on this earth? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijw4tnxU2_PBqWoRZoLcvVn5Ohn5jSZ_JBwV_E3Y9wTqn6LxJIH2SCt1EdFqOlHzHtt0P_I9wfCun69Zy9oSIiIStMo_eMstZ9_hHJAlNqHhYUnudnliEG9OVPYFdGvBYrK6uLgiJR0ss/s2048/4C98656E-89E6-4779-BBE1-187D9458C7D8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijw4tnxU2_PBqWoRZoLcvVn5Ohn5jSZ_JBwV_E3Y9wTqn6LxJIH2SCt1EdFqOlHzHtt0P_I9wfCun69Zy9oSIiIStMo_eMstZ9_hHJAlNqHhYUnudnliEG9OVPYFdGvBYrK6uLgiJR0ss/w480-h640/4C98656E-89E6-4779-BBE1-187D9458C7D8.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>Now that they are all home again I am so busy and overwhelmed. I'm cranking out huge batches of taco meat and my washer has. not. stopped. in three days. It's hilarious to imagine all that questioning and deep thinking I was doing 2 weeks ago.</p><p>And because no homecoming is complete without a cake, I made this easy chocolate chip one. </p><p>It lasted 5 minutes. It's SO good!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLUWl41GRyRYkSpkCEUTChv34J3lyCd3GAmYqNaSgtJEQEXE93OKC9q_AyLquvNVgxqPFmVsjX904LUycz8guEiXjix05kCRoZr-AaMkD49OpGMWKbQ3qd8A-PDcX8SlT2OA5cPvUWt8/s2048/F640F1D9-899D-49A1-936C-0D4BCB73533B.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLUWl41GRyRYkSpkCEUTChv34J3lyCd3GAmYqNaSgtJEQEXE93OKC9q_AyLquvNVgxqPFmVsjX904LUycz8guEiXjix05kCRoZr-AaMkD49OpGMWKbQ3qd8A-PDcX8SlT2OA5cPvUWt8/w480-h640/F640F1D9-899D-49A1-936C-0D4BCB73533B.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">great picture, right? </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
1 box yellow cake mix <div>2 3 oz boxes instant vanilla pudding </div><div>4 eggs </div><div>1 tablespoon vanilla </div><div>8 oz sour cream </div><div>1 cup oil </div><div>1/4 cup water </div><div>8 oz chocolate chips </div><div><br /></div><div>bake in a greased bundt pan at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes</div>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-39585264028384075812021-07-01T17:45:00.011-05:002021-07-01T19:05:29.821-05:00Covid<div class="separator">How did you all fair during the pandemic/lockdown/Covid-19? Was it wild or what? Is it still going? </div><p>I remember feeling nervous in early March last year. </p><p>Church was the first thing officially canceled. Then schools said don't come back after spring break. One by one, things fell off the calendar. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1B66Dxq8QPqrjex3EK32e2YH0n0jqrNwk7eP09uZW1GfViPN0EsVgE257V5cTCBiY07MWDNyWwZWWYFUxHdgVlvAN3H0duW7SvDE6V1YRWBtzNqXFb2xLHEcVfOGqjLTfMBw6e3Xeqq4/s2048/6FA9B71B-8271-4EFC-82B4-05819181B5C8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1B66Dxq8QPqrjex3EK32e2YH0n0jqrNwk7eP09uZW1GfViPN0EsVgE257V5cTCBiY07MWDNyWwZWWYFUxHdgVlvAN3H0duW7SvDE6V1YRWBtzNqXFb2xLHEcVfOGqjLTfMBw6e3Xeqq4/w480-h640/6FA9B71B-8271-4EFC-82B4-05819181B5C8.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Next, 15 days to slow the spread. </p><p>We started zooming. Zoom Sunday school. Zoom ballet. Zoom speech therapy. I hate zoom.</p><p>We began sneaking around with friends, having drinks in dark yards. Was this really happening?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-96kzc3OCmbRhCek4X8_tGdD4TBtNGCm2NgiSI4esFF3SRtAW3MMrQYBuFvcc5TAjjhTaIw4d6bhXPcwLqlano8To5eXvK9LPsQreCFSF8CpslqSlTKK5NvwSkZk5IQKo-eS3i9Rc9U/s2048/817FB6BD-D546-4AD1-8AB2-741DE7AC18BE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-96kzc3OCmbRhCek4X8_tGdD4TBtNGCm2NgiSI4esFF3SRtAW3MMrQYBuFvcc5TAjjhTaIw4d6bhXPcwLqlano8To5eXvK9LPsQreCFSF8CpslqSlTKK5NvwSkZk5IQKo-eS3i9Rc9U/w480-h640/817FB6BD-D546-4AD1-8AB2-741DE7AC18BE.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>My brother's wedding was scheduled for early May. He and his fiancé moved it up to early April because better to go ahead and get married in quarantine than wait this thing out. Turns out it was the right decision.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UaTZ_PzpHDGmsjHVC5Sq5tVTwFKSQkieoZieZxL9RY5JiRnwFIcZtVyos1t4-JtDar0koLiwe_n5R-yqSxi84o-vWdiJoFGdnk7foqJV0TsWycQH_nIhxXf6UkCR3uhaEXrTH7wawcA/s2048/B21C4511-324D-444D-8F6E-DF8B3F346D03.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UaTZ_PzpHDGmsjHVC5Sq5tVTwFKSQkieoZieZxL9RY5JiRnwFIcZtVyos1t4-JtDar0koLiwe_n5R-yqSxi84o-vWdiJoFGdnk7foqJV0TsWycQH_nIhxXf6UkCR3uhaEXrTH7wawcA/w480-h640/B21C4511-324D-444D-8F6E-DF8B3F346D03.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>homemade alcohol wipes, let me know if you want the recipe</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Funnily enough, that weekend was the absolute peak of the pandemic hysteria. Both governors of our states issued lockdowns and travel restrictions. </p><p>But this is AMERICA! Forgive us, we did not stay home and save lives that weekend. We loaded up the fam in our SUV and with wind blowing in our hair -- we crossed the state line without incident. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU88aRERPkUNUN7eR3lrN3tbTnCA2sjgyNoYkfU0Y5UKvGwPrZ_Vmueu5OUW0tt-NCbca3P9-UAeTlwQfKmEVUh6nb6p5FZ7R2Ae_TvkddcgcNIp5IqbfHjj4fH6H-3Ylh66H7kInUxXc/s2048/CE5C388D-CB4A-4184-85AE-46062E7235E2.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU88aRERPkUNUN7eR3lrN3tbTnCA2sjgyNoYkfU0Y5UKvGwPrZ_Vmueu5OUW0tt-NCbca3P9-UAeTlwQfKmEVUh6nb6p5FZ7R2Ae_TvkddcgcNIp5IqbfHjj4fH6H-3Ylh66H7kInUxXc/w640-h480/CE5C388D-CB4A-4184-85AE-46062E7235E2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>rehearsal dinner</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It's fun to tell the tale now, but there was heightened anxiety. We had never done this before, defied the government during a lockdown. My fear was getting in trouble with the authorities and being fined some arbitrary amount -- or worse, carted off to jail!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqYmDptfDIcga1Zf_7ZNVlCi51QmshVt8TxRxOBORkvU9Nezq1vcasvvxXreuv6jCNMC6k9HmmxR73huBL1-vzZcFI-JOse9pj2FqbnuJgszyCYj17h1COoybNvj60EGiGrOuvmfzS8I/s2048/66A0DB6C-EA16-45F3-93A5-098EF825F576.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqYmDptfDIcga1Zf_7ZNVlCi51QmshVt8TxRxOBORkvU9Nezq1vcasvvxXreuv6jCNMC6k9HmmxR73huBL1-vzZcFI-JOse9pj2FqbnuJgszyCYj17h1COoybNvj60EGiGrOuvmfzS8I/w480-h640/66A0DB6C-EA16-45F3-93A5-098EF825F576.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>Side story: we left all the kids' wedding clothes at home on our bed. And by <i>we</i>, I mean Stephen. As soon as we realized it, without hesitation he said he would drive 4 hours back home and get them. Of course, I told him absolutely no, but his willingness to drive a total of 12 hours to Jackson to Montgomery to Jackson is proof that he has a heart of gold. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHgartiNDKxtu-GFASM9ny1yEdPckgGkn3bd-Bou0ixqTOy40fgMQE5fryJWz_noinJwB360buPq5CTyLDKFoZ2j7zDM_hr6QRuER3VqxIx6Tk4DNZLGPFWKG6vdh3DoB3RdJTf3Xhpk/s2048/D3C1A699-20D3-4B12-A708-D002F01F3312.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1462" data-original-width="2048" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHgartiNDKxtu-GFASM9ny1yEdPckgGkn3bd-Bou0ixqTOy40fgMQE5fryJWz_noinJwB360buPq5CTyLDKFoZ2j7zDM_hr6QRuER3VqxIx6Tk4DNZLGPFWKG6vdh3DoB3RdJTf3Xhpk/w640-h456/D3C1A699-20D3-4B12-A708-D002F01F3312.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p>We made do...without proper clothes. The wedding was beautiful in their backyard, perfect weather, immediate family, a preacher, and a photographer. Some things you just can't miss, and your only baby brother getting married is one of them! Pandemics be damned.</p><p>Then there was the worst Easter ever. The weather was hot, humid, and cloudy. No church. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWYfjEOi3bSyT1iFiWfZHyKRBVl3E5iAM4qKHP8KolhkaBfRIrWSlgXBsxIQL29x8onJYNwg_bAPaZQxHg5z8JUTRNIpNR5f9XegMUqY65Hy6eVYdHJj2Y4G2fUKMbhENwqu4Yx9nyXY/s2048/4E4EE521-0125-48CB-9C8B-8F09EE27F601.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWYfjEOi3bSyT1iFiWfZHyKRBVl3E5iAM4qKHP8KolhkaBfRIrWSlgXBsxIQL29x8onJYNwg_bAPaZQxHg5z8JUTRNIpNR5f9XegMUqY65Hy6eVYdHJj2Y4G2fUKMbhENwqu4Yx9nyXY/w480-h640/4E4EE521-0125-48CB-9C8B-8F09EE27F601.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>And that's when we snapped. We were DONE with Covid. </p><p>We formed our Covid family. Us and a few others broke quarantine (again). We went to the lake, the beach, the pool, we had pizzas on Sunday nights, gathered on the 4th of July. We had a blast, quite frankly. No one got Covid. These are the people I want to be with when the world ends.</p><p>Summer camps were canceled. Everything was canceled. Masks mandates were in full force. By early fall 2020, things were back but not normal. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZzGqH4HjdApW5-IoDD7oORzmFItoRput9bU4-cMH84AFfOBZ0pTaU87TurzGDscbrdYtqV7t_5eBrmFmYut2A8LqCnPRiIaL31M8pn6aJr6K6mpo5u7RnVVkx11VY_iCW3j5LBZuw48/s2048/EC7CB4E4-E9E0-4F59-91FF-9E42D8B77EC6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZzGqH4HjdApW5-IoDD7oORzmFItoRput9bU4-cMH84AFfOBZ0pTaU87TurzGDscbrdYtqV7t_5eBrmFmYut2A8LqCnPRiIaL31M8pn6aJr6K6mpo5u7RnVVkx11VY_iCW3j5LBZuw48/w640-h640/EC7CB4E4-E9E0-4F59-91FF-9E42D8B77EC6.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p><p>Hop forward to November. People actually started getting Covid, people we knew. We had lots of exposures. Our family Thanksgiving plans were canceled. It got real. </p><p>In December, Stephen tested positive. Somehow I did not get it. Crazy, right?</p><p>In January, I got it -- the VIRUS-- from a totally different exposure. Three of our kids got it as well. I was thrilled to have natural immunity. </p><p>Early on during this whole ordeal, my mom mailed me a copy of <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ae75f34e74940380c1926c3/t/5e7d10d2e673e149c64d162f/1585254611117/C.S.+Lewis+-+Living+in+a+Nuclear+Age.pdf" target="_blank">this essay by C.S. Lewis, On Living in an Atomic Age.</a> It's a good read. Probably need to keep it on file.</p>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-45188022488703650782021-06-28T14:48:00.006-05:002021-06-28T14:55:03.187-05:00Personal Pizzas + Stocking UpWith George being an only child last week <i><span style="color: #999999;">(others at camp)</span></i>, my plan was to minimize time in the kitchen. But a boy's still gotta eat. <div><br /></div><div>Hello, personal naan bread pizza. </div><div><br /></div><div>naan bread</div><div><a href="https://victoriapastasauces.com/product/marinara-sauce/" target="_blank">our favorite marinara sauce</a></div><div>mozzarella cheese</div><div>pepperoni </div><div><br /></div><div>In the oven 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Stephen's method is to layer a little cheese, then the pep, then a little more cheese. This makes it extra good. Trust us.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLB7tTPZA61-ZxdBRsjjb4txdlpbWWGm4MFBv0A-u5KK3fGIGn4JdxjyAsoSOP6dnjZNCA4eSg282cdslMWiztKIg-xcxFaT_iHzoXpraUDXwsjpyNsaVMdf6t0_6AUaRZQUNL2iIyRU/s2048/4A2495C8-E31B-4E13-9DF3-672CCCC28934.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLB7tTPZA61-ZxdBRsjjb4txdlpbWWGm4MFBv0A-u5KK3fGIGn4JdxjyAsoSOP6dnjZNCA4eSg282cdslMWiztKIg-xcxFaT_iHzoXpraUDXwsjpyNsaVMdf6t0_6AUaRZQUNL2iIyRU/w480-h640/4A2495C8-E31B-4E13-9DF3-672CCCC28934.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Of course you could serve naan bread pizzas to a crowd (and I have), but it is especially handy for a meal of one. Keep it in your back pocket if you're hosting a grandchild or dining solo...or cooking for an 8 year old boy after a long swim.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's no more trouble than making a sandwich.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWt8c9QQpLFEinV3XWmFZEJIJ8J0h7JNlN50fjUOGpAsGtdi11ZX6WdSrpWJAW2WINRUwQh2mQdciu69tNuRu9hg_v5_MeKcKOU-lOlD-U1dqb7yxrV3OBw8bJREReZGzDILMPiKe1kII/s2048/19A313CC-FD79-4F8A-9E0A-B9DFDBFF1AE8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWt8c9QQpLFEinV3XWmFZEJIJ8J0h7JNlN50fjUOGpAsGtdi11ZX6WdSrpWJAW2WINRUwQh2mQdciu69tNuRu9hg_v5_MeKcKOU-lOlD-U1dqb7yxrV3OBw8bJREReZGzDILMPiKe1kII/w480-h640/19A313CC-FD79-4F8A-9E0A-B9DFDBFF1AE8.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>....</div><div><br /></div><div>In other practical matters,</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm working on getting a comfortable stockpile of consumable items and toiletries. This is not about earthquakes or end times. It's about convenience. </div><div><br /></div><div>How to: go to Walmart and get three of everything you need. </div><div><br /></div><div>Why three? Because that's what <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/funcheaporfree" target="_blank">Jordan Page</a> said to do. One for now, two for later. It's extra, but not excessive. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0UiuPdkFNP4MniBKoX2tWDjcBXm9v-FL36gE714JroBOu_hNV9Mz8ZfBxc68iVpXUg0g1o39Gu8V-EJzU4x-zDA6ItNt1C761vO1RJ7DO0W9XiSOX5tdz2U9nZFng47TiLzxIy8vghaA/s2048/04CEFBCC-F112-4FBB-811E-0AB31343FDEF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0UiuPdkFNP4MniBKoX2tWDjcBXm9v-FL36gE714JroBOu_hNV9Mz8ZfBxc68iVpXUg0g1o39Gu8V-EJzU4x-zDA6ItNt1C761vO1RJ7DO0W9XiSOX5tdz2U9nZFng47TiLzxIy8vghaA/w480-h640/04CEFBCC-F112-4FBB-811E-0AB31343FDEF.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Of course some things come with multiples in a package...like soap.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
Do you keep a stockpile of household goods? <div><br /></div><div>Traditionally, I've bought things as needed, but after being inconvenienced a couple of times lately, I'm changing my system.</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Monday!</div>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-76440912787128251122021-06-24T13:30:00.000-05:002021-06-24T13:30:48.293-05:00Regular Haircuts + Rug RecommendationI have tried a lot of different haircuts over the years. I really wanted to make bangs work, but I always come back to this chin length bob. <div><br /></div><div>I have a lot of opinions about hair. Do you? IMO a lot of women keep their hair too long and it looks unhealthy! Hair health should be the #1 priority. <div><br /></div><div>It's not the most important thing in life, but it's pretty darn important. HA! <br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgao_0NSW-Uc9JJmvT8zIm4YItj7hVlOQ7Sv6LKtybYntzAaQ6sLBlxvX7LmimpE8StDP3L1p8Z0RV7fxm8HP0yh50Gr7XDgDEmLCR6Gu0CbkxWTMlAW981dfwo7j5vYPEufeigN1cJJos/s2048/5FA5197F-07D8-487E-978B-FFDD1900708C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgao_0NSW-Uc9JJmvT8zIm4YItj7hVlOQ7Sv6LKtybYntzAaQ6sLBlxvX7LmimpE8StDP3L1p8Z0RV7fxm8HP0yh50Gr7XDgDEmLCR6Gu0CbkxWTMlAW981dfwo7j5vYPEufeigN1cJJos/w480-h640/5FA5197F-07D8-487E-978B-FFDD1900708C.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Another thing, I always schedule my next hair appointment when I'm leaving the salon. Set it and forget it. Why not? You're there. I go about every 8 weeks. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also, PSA. We bought <a href="https://www.potterybarn.com/products/kala-printed-rug-midnight/?pkey=cblue%20rug" target="_blank">a new rug</a> for our big hangout room. I love it and <a href="https://www.potterybarn.com/products/kala-printed-rug-midnight/?pkey=cblue%20rug" target="_blank">it is on major sale at Pottery Barn! </a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjDY5rXfQYTHjUpeAKjr5sYQUNsXBXETXTduL19ZHnerOoCYpJvE-SRMmyN8kWRQvso67ap78jj8RQ7McEzQCg56DUpRUlrZB1BAxDwrOS531NAr1m4kk9vBdBn6cPPS5njnpEOEMefY/s2048/E47809B7-6822-4290-954D-A806B5563F94.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjDY5rXfQYTHjUpeAKjr5sYQUNsXBXETXTduL19ZHnerOoCYpJvE-SRMmyN8kWRQvso67ap78jj8RQ7McEzQCg56DUpRUlrZB1BAxDwrOS531NAr1m4kk9vBdBn6cPPS5njnpEOEMefY/w640-h480/E47809B7-6822-4290-954D-A806B5563F94.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />It is shedding a bit but that is to be expected. This rug is sturdy.</div><div><br /></div><div>I learned from James Farmer and since have heard it from other designers -- blue and green are nature's neutrals -- think the sky, trees, grass, water. Blue or green almost always work in decor. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also, blue and white is always right!</div></div>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-34382963764416084802021-06-22T21:07:00.004-05:002021-06-22T21:26:01.916-05:00Back to blogging?Hello friends! Today, I find myself with 3/4 of my children at camp. There's a lot less laundry and a ton less cooking and feeding people. So here I am. <div><br /></div><div>Life update. We are well. The children are 12, 10, 8, and almost 6 years old. We are definitely entering a new phase of parenting. And it is so fun! </div><div><br /></div><div>We can go to a restaurant and actually relax and eat. They can all swim, ride a bike, and make their own peanut butter and jelly sandwich. We have arrived...sorta.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8UTgG-4AYuzmBQFo41UsFe-TU0yrnd4orXEVADv4_wVyLJsppKYRe9SihY1y3ifNrGa0vP-_OqgNXjk-TnDJlUcuLF6h0FVFRhGmvvejZ_Z7HTnseb7MWiyLj5mjFMGOxQ_AibIluwQ/s4032/4F8E8212-4DD6-4421-AC82-48CAC7D57B67.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8UTgG-4AYuzmBQFo41UsFe-TU0yrnd4orXEVADv4_wVyLJsppKYRe9SihY1y3ifNrGa0vP-_OqgNXjk-TnDJlUcuLF6h0FVFRhGmvvejZ_Z7HTnseb7MWiyLj5mjFMGOxQ_AibIluwQ/w480-h640/4F8E8212-4DD6-4421-AC82-48CAC7D57B67.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We have spent the past two years homeschooling the oldest 3 (Stephen, Laurie, and George). Caroline has been going to preschool. </div><div><br /></div><div>This was a pre-Covid decision, but ended up being the absolute best coincidence. </div><div><br /></div><div>Homeschooling is hard. More on that in a future post?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdOmAPxIdDRBPfkbhp3ayzYBtJMObdf5fsVsh2UNTTpOyyoJv7Pjvf94Tw8Vg2PSGVHvNN-oq0e-duCDTzPnYo_YWDTojAJCsH7epOaQWhDlRua_KTISQHqWRvScWpUsXVFL6ZsNrmZg/s4032/14BCED34-6C36-4D22-9ABD-5ACF0DDB88BC.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdOmAPxIdDRBPfkbhp3ayzYBtJMObdf5fsVsh2UNTTpOyyoJv7Pjvf94Tw8Vg2PSGVHvNN-oq0e-duCDTzPnYo_YWDTojAJCsH7epOaQWhDlRua_KTISQHqWRvScWpUsXVFL6ZsNrmZg/w480-h640/14BCED34-6C36-4D22-9ABD-5ACF0DDB88BC.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>In big life events news.....</div><div><br /></div><div>*My brother got married in April 2020, at the height of the pandemic and lock downs. It was dramatic and romantic. And thankfully we were there for it. Our new sister-in-law/aunt is the loveliest person and we are so grateful that she's officially part of the fam.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>*We gained 2 beautiful nieces! Stephen's sister had her 1st baby in Nov. 2020 and my sister - her 4th in Feb. 2021.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>*My mom was diagnosed and treated for stage 1 breast cancer. This was heavy, and I don't like to dwell on the weeks of uncertainty we went through last October. But God, in his kindness, has restored her health, and she is on the other side of chemo and thriving!</div><div><br /></div><div>*Stephen's grandmother died in December. She was quite a legend. We celebrated her life and the end of an era at a family graveside service in Atlanta. </div><div><br /></div><div>*We started a long planned for home renovation in November. We are adding 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a porch, laundry room, and a pantry. I'm going to love the end result, but I'm not loving the process. Stephen is doing most of it himself. He is truly amazing. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpudlEdLQfi26fAUlM9p1fVZ35f65YwWmSel7HYLd01c-lD6CH7PVeeDcLJ4MRz-nHQmRUbkQwy9jPOw_qKLfZQ8azgz4_FVMFt_KkW_U1H-5gZVfh4l6j5N5Gs-tZWU6nFf8AcaTvQY/s4032/62C62232-5392-4AD6-A380-F84F1943860E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpudlEdLQfi26fAUlM9p1fVZ35f65YwWmSel7HYLd01c-lD6CH7PVeeDcLJ4MRz-nHQmRUbkQwy9jPOw_qKLfZQ8azgz4_FVMFt_KkW_U1H-5gZVfh4l6j5N5Gs-tZWU6nFf8AcaTvQY/w480-h640/62C62232-5392-4AD6-A380-F84F1943860E.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Yesterday, I came across an old photo book I had made from my Instagram photos...many moons ago before chat books. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the front I printed this quote. </div><div><br /></div><div>"The ordinary acts we practice everyday at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest." -- Thomas Moore</div><div><br /></div><div>Funny how those words resonated with me then (2012) and resonate with me now. I love ordinary days and all that they entail.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKnEDc0pJfFM3MEqj6ZN92EUMir4KyhLepz2OWB2xcZ7ifE47V-ZtDqPg7wR6dtr6KY_jtYnX1aN4OwgvogA-bkTc5z4gL9_K6C3NIjY3Mq4HRnZx1aqFRUhMDT1jKgQeAx3XYNX9JgI/s4032/83D9E13D-7D68-4325-ADEC-EBB0745FEBD9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKnEDc0pJfFM3MEqj6ZN92EUMir4KyhLepz2OWB2xcZ7ifE47V-ZtDqPg7wR6dtr6KY_jtYnX1aN4OwgvogA-bkTc5z4gL9_K6C3NIjY3Mq4HRnZx1aqFRUhMDT1jKgQeAx3XYNX9JgI/w480-h640/83D9E13D-7D68-4325-ADEC-EBB0745FEBD9.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>George (my only kid home right now) and I went to the farmer's market this morning. We bought peaches, cucumbers, and tomatoes. We stopped by the library. Then we drove through CookOut and got him a hamburger and chocolate milkshake. It's not a bad life being an only child. </div><div><br /></div><div>The ordinary. How grand!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqfWMK7eTvliUcl72EyGk09UXbmGvr07w8Sp6NTmuttB5mt_5TyK2VxcEr7f_wTWpT80ZCsQaX-q0MNcm0Ae2cclYrXQ4EnD9KGwXvyZaDyeFdHbIO9LPOHT7XeEvtHdKrsPGU8xiFwA/s4032/A229882F-4EAC-4B72-AC11-9D83F7B4D08C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqfWMK7eTvliUcl72EyGk09UXbmGvr07w8Sp6NTmuttB5mt_5TyK2VxcEr7f_wTWpT80ZCsQaX-q0MNcm0Ae2cclYrXQ4EnD9KGwXvyZaDyeFdHbIO9LPOHT7XeEvtHdKrsPGU8xiFwA/w480-h640/A229882F-4EAC-4B72-AC11-9D83F7B4D08C.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>With my extra time I've been enjoying cleaning and sorting areas of our home that need attention. Monday I took everything off our living room bookshelves, dusted and wiped them down, and put everything back with special care. This is like therapy for me.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF04XNKX-x6qES89D5j317zSdPcxSUpNXYkYrk8Ao6qa3UJOI-esC2K_CwCkKsbq1uFOWxPMVFqSTTMzV8tTsAXxxGQXgCQAL3psIF2hqPXKAMP6AaMsH-OrBOMDgVpH79gQvUuUqa6jg/s2048/B16E09CC-C764-437D-89A2-ABA7A50FCF14.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF04XNKX-x6qES89D5j317zSdPcxSUpNXYkYrk8Ao6qa3UJOI-esC2K_CwCkKsbq1uFOWxPMVFqSTTMzV8tTsAXxxGQXgCQAL3psIF2hqPXKAMP6AaMsH-OrBOMDgVpH79gQvUuUqa6jg/w640-h480/B16E09CC-C764-437D-89A2-ABA7A50FCF14.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm old enough to remember a time before the internet, a time when we didn't take our mini computers with us everywhere. I've been channeling those pre-internet and pre-smart phone days. Writing letters, calling friends, walking out to my little herb garden sans phone in the morning. </div><div><br /></div><div>Even writing this blog post <i>on the internet </i>seems remarkably slower and old fashioned in contrast to social media and phone scrolling. I think it's the whole producing vs. consuming thing that makes it feel more worthwhile. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDZzLO_J2IzrZLyzdpFosJvWy9kWvrLCeO8nHFVUOpeyNecStvMkaTDFZxoGmMQjFM8u02HWkFUQID6zVO7wc1LJe908T3yCGVGSnF4QVmm0fEm2j-QXpa4fO0CRUTCY9AVI0QsyQ3IY/s4032/D9FC62C7-A5A1-4C5C-A060-4CF57D20D736.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDZzLO_J2IzrZLyzdpFosJvWy9kWvrLCeO8nHFVUOpeyNecStvMkaTDFZxoGmMQjFM8u02HWkFUQID6zVO7wc1LJe908T3yCGVGSnF4QVmm0fEm2j-QXpa4fO0CRUTCY9AVI0QsyQ3IY/w480-h640/D9FC62C7-A5A1-4C5C-A060-4CF57D20D736.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>This was nice, dabbling back on the blog.</div><div>How are y'all doing out there? <p></p></div>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-22319225017573772692019-11-25T16:42:00.002-06:002019-11-25T16:42:50.279-06:00Some Tried and True Gift Ideas for KidsA friend was telling me she wanted to be extra thoughtful about
Christmas this year, not go crazy buying "junk" and really stick to her budget. We bonded over the fact that we have both experienced the start
of a good plan, panicked last minute, and bought too much. We
exchanged thoughts and gave ourselves a pep talk about showing
restraint with children's gifts.<br />
<br />
Last year was my first <i>truly </i>successful
year of getting a modest amount of the right things, gifts my kids actually used for more that 12 minutes. One
of them commented, "We didn't get a lot of stuff this year, but it was
still a good Christmas." They couldn't deny they were satisfied with what they got. They were all smiles!<br />
<br />
Motivating us to have self control was
the fact that we were staring down the nose of a job search and months
of living off our savings. My husband was in the middle of a major
career change, which turned out great, but not a fun process, FYI.<br />
<br />
The
cool thing is that most of those gifts received last Christmas are
still loved and enjoyed <i>literally </i>- today - bikes and helmets, <a href="https://www.primary.com/shop/kids/outerwear/the-puffer-jacket?color=cherry&ref=plp_pdp_g1_3" target="_blank">colorful puffer coats</a>,
and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FZ8S74R/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=somehowwemana-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B07FZ8S74R&linkId=8505466fa8355ce4eb52254365f0bbe9" target="_blank">Alexa </a>that constantly has an audio book going in my son's bedroom. <br />
<br />
I
know that every blogger and their brother has a gift guide this time
of year.<br />
These ideas are my 2 cents. These gifts are actual things we have gotten and loved. Tried and true. <br />
<br />
Here we go. <br />
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1. The start to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0448095017/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=somehowwemana-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0448095017&linkId=6ae08dfeb0a7376b3e745f4b04d110b6" target="_blank">a classic book series</a> <br />
Can't go wrong.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88f234XpBZLwipzxDc3UFv0ZTOlZBAei-qY6xSrn3YJ6wcesJOH0rycjLwryCxzmE7a0AoDwdpEN6fDyEBYc39TwU4J0jAwLR8IBtWfnnQrlVQAOByRUm7ekvS-TFlUHT_hzrMVkZaTo/s1600/51sltestS%252BL._SX305_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="307" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88f234XpBZLwipzxDc3UFv0ZTOlZBAei-qY6xSrn3YJ6wcesJOH0rycjLwryCxzmE7a0AoDwdpEN6fDyEBYc39TwU4J0jAwLR8IBtWfnnQrlVQAOByRUm7ekvS-TFlUHT_hzrMVkZaTo/s640/51sltestS%252BL._SX305_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="392" /></a></div>
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2. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078HDR9GD/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=somehowwemana-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B078HDR9GD&linkId=f66ad3a741c39aee358582049bd4335d" target="_blank">A sturdy water bottle</a><br />
These are the best. Keeps the water cold and doesn't have a bunch of parts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQrEbV3t54IuRF9Ffa1YnEs0hKUDsOJokfIoRcMqWuERWHRTqZCHvwkEDZ0yizz5SlwrmuyCyPj99XJ4vfs1pi36em6PseiRgiXCfaT6PmucS9bS1GQrOxaIeimzdkUeac0mooitIlHM/s1600/61meq5eVRxL._AC_SY879_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="343" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQrEbV3t54IuRF9Ffa1YnEs0hKUDsOJokfIoRcMqWuERWHRTqZCHvwkEDZ0yizz5SlwrmuyCyPj99XJ4vfs1pi36em6PseiRgiXCfaT6PmucS9bS1GQrOxaIeimzdkUeac0mooitIlHM/s640/61meq5eVRxL._AC_SY879_.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
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3. For and older child, an <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FZ8S74R/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=somehowwemana-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B07FZ8S74R&linkId=423b49ba14e8c5420b64c20f693c4ae8" target="_blank">Echo Dot</a> is great!<br />
My 10 year old got one last Christmas. It's was the perfect way to give him some tech freedom without giving him a screen. He enjoys listening to music, podcasts, books, trivia. All parental controls are in place.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgGzgEUPvIRtaQjwqlZjv-j5E22gCgr9mLBNR71AQodkObmu9ENpVCkBhpPK-yEZmG_3QXEXOM8e7D4m1895VFEyGhUMfMG5gcU_dKtZo5U2yxvb2Al-oabVC5dAGzyzLzelPQzPczIg/s1600/6182S7MYC2L._AC_SL1000_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="838" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgGzgEUPvIRtaQjwqlZjv-j5E22gCgr9mLBNR71AQodkObmu9ENpVCkBhpPK-yEZmG_3QXEXOM8e7D4m1895VFEyGhUMfMG5gcU_dKtZo5U2yxvb2Al-oabVC5dAGzyzLzelPQzPczIg/s640/6182S7MYC2L._AC_SL1000_.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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4. A <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YTYJ6NA/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=somehowwemana-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00YTYJ6NA&linkId=2c7867a6d2b957511ffc79ee7f3c5f49" target="_blank">watch</a><br />
My 8 year old wears one every day. She always knows what time it is.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtqR2GJFwQFDIj837Sjii-cfnNn8uDlo2ao4yNtxiFkJsdPPLwoSRyTf9AjKZpT-AZBXOrPC63FH-LOMcxxfrgpcIovnr5LeUOFLeF25i9f6kR6RtSmAG5lDF9Bv163nVLBX-4Vq5Vsc/s1600/watch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="679" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtqR2GJFwQFDIj837Sjii-cfnNn8uDlo2ao4yNtxiFkJsdPPLwoSRyTf9AjKZpT-AZBXOrPC63FH-LOMcxxfrgpcIovnr5LeUOFLeF25i9f6kR6RtSmAG5lDF9Bv163nVLBX-4Vq5Vsc/s640/watch.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
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5. An awesome pair of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00593Z6Y8/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=somehowwemana-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00593Z6Y8&linkId=42a2796a0d5170ade40dd56ffeecd931" target="_blank">cowboy boots</a>.</div>
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My daughter has this exact pair. They are great looking and so well made.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHutyScnz4hYuOqXMvT35xr-BQ4RHhB15RzAqhyu1SG2j2pyjkOOUTghwueTw0hLsrRnsNPdCYx-p3yyZfUW1a-t_eVM5XdvdfchYVoxC1IyQCfdMr5BBJ1Zh2OR9wMttBzwCfXY_dQY/s1600/71InlQB2FeL._AC_UY695_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="408" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHutyScnz4hYuOqXMvT35xr-BQ4RHhB15RzAqhyu1SG2j2pyjkOOUTghwueTw0hLsrRnsNPdCYx-p3yyZfUW1a-t_eVM5XdvdfchYVoxC1IyQCfdMr5BBJ1Zh2OR9wMttBzwCfXY_dQY/s640/71InlQB2FeL._AC_UY695_.jpg" width="374" /></a></div>
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6. Costumes. We love a costume.<br />
How cute is this <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YSRH8KT/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=somehowwemana-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B07YSRH8KT&linkId=0067f6c1067c89d64e22bba469b2e4cc" target="_blank">pioneer girl get up</a>?!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RHssw6J7BBdyoqFiP9Yadxxv6t0U3IJZCK7MeubtOVPEfdS37nhviPeSSgTw76am_yZ25tEwTX0lRr7LEjiQeZrBlqdTgk4RRnMCVsaLlbYG3J_TCCU7x-b-ChqmJAmMJ1VhYdyZzh4/s1600/81KbIhixlrL._AC_UX679_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="679" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RHssw6J7BBdyoqFiP9Yadxxv6t0U3IJZCK7MeubtOVPEfdS37nhviPeSSgTw76am_yZ25tEwTX0lRr7LEjiQeZrBlqdTgk4RRnMCVsaLlbYG3J_TCCU7x-b-ChqmJAmMJ1VhYdyZzh4/s640/81KbIhixlrL._AC_UX679_.jpg" width="558" /></a></div>
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7. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CBSNRY/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=somehowwemana-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B000CBSNRY&linkId=c8e1d77bce8c2d1217a4dea4610236db" target="_blank">Magna-Tiles</a><br />
Go on and get the 100 piece set. The more the merrier. This is truly my #1 toy recommendation.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsK_em9ZkFzzAESeHk_8xfoT6gGXJZLF-vcYBhh5MrHcPOijLtiRUWTP5a0-YvGXmZPHPbgQFxnyoMYa3opmGDMt657Q06QcUmG9Tv8CycndIInB1N46dUGWZibgUTmFIJQ6gyf86f-O8/s1600/81KjOtFRJ0L._AC_SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="1500" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsK_em9ZkFzzAESeHk_8xfoT6gGXJZLF-vcYBhh5MrHcPOijLtiRUWTP5a0-YvGXmZPHPbgQFxnyoMYa3opmGDMt657Q06QcUmG9Tv8CycndIInB1N46dUGWZibgUTmFIJQ6gyf86f-O8/s640/81KjOtFRJ0L._AC_SL1500_.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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8. Favorite character/movie T-shirts.<br />
We gave my nephew <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MWFZM72/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=somehowwemana-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B07MWFZM72&linkId=f53d54d03a1ba242707ccd3457cb8603" target="_blank">this Star Wars shirt</a> for this birthday. He wears it a lot, just sayin.'<br />
Great for stocking stuffers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWZzRZRZamrQHOA_B73RMh2_oQXZvyvDcDfZbMeNT8VH0ewCjBFfiiH6jfHQJW7MjBzXQZocLVPIIC-oywvFB2tmeqobwLVZX2CkMMr4GF6BmVEe39rJVzVMxcGwnuLFZxqI_-8H2AhI/s1600/81MRZ1LYiWL._AC_UX679_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="679" height="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWZzRZRZamrQHOA_B73RMh2_oQXZvyvDcDfZbMeNT8VH0ewCjBFfiiH6jfHQJW7MjBzXQZocLVPIIC-oywvFB2tmeqobwLVZX2CkMMr4GF6BmVEe39rJVzVMxcGwnuLFZxqI_-8H2AhI/s640/81MRZ1LYiWL._AC_UX679_.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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9. High quality art supplies. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0034JTWJY/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=somehowwemana-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B0034JTWJY&linkId=1723b16cce67ace92a9dd3b3ff8eff28" target="_blank">Faber-Castell makes my favorite water colors</a>. I think things like this make the perfect gift for when you don't know what to get!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZlAhlWyB1j8oI3PrpOtZrmIq6t3EWFnWOmDpSWhJE7eOCq3foKiq8oykIo3SYCnlsqhVX5E-mJlHPmk3Iz9XQcdk_io1HqV_VLvMPjNqRX_8TADfGfTDxDAibAMGaKPjHIYPT6twK3I/s1600/912lCza6LcL._AC_SY879_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="366" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZlAhlWyB1j8oI3PrpOtZrmIq6t3EWFnWOmDpSWhJE7eOCq3foKiq8oykIo3SYCnlsqhVX5E-mJlHPmk3Iz9XQcdk_io1HqV_VLvMPjNqRX_8TADfGfTDxDAibAMGaKPjHIYPT6twK3I/s640/912lCza6LcL._AC_SY879_.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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10. Also, in the art department. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GNAVT0U/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=somehowwemana-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01GNAVT0U&linkId=849495eb2f1756ca934ba2f5b5e8ad86" target="_blank">Kwik Stix paint sticks</a>. These make the best kid art. The colors are highly saturated and mess free! We've loved these for years. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPeZx36beT3Du_hFKJDnWZlXronOGX9MHn9h8N0-fmv339rofu5RskXu9GeUKGhMKLpwj7cV2CNo5vyevtitVSGlS4ru9B1tVx6zFbDMKlFgEQGcqL6AT8HLUDdIdZ3vaaa0O6Rsfvi4/s1600/paint+sticks+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1287" data-original-width="1363" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPeZx36beT3Du_hFKJDnWZlXronOGX9MHn9h8N0-fmv339rofu5RskXu9GeUKGhMKLpwj7cV2CNo5vyevtitVSGlS4ru9B1tVx6zFbDMKlFgEQGcqL6AT8HLUDdIdZ3vaaa0O6Rsfvi4/s640/paint+sticks+2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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11. Did someone say <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IZXCABQ/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=somehowwemana-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00IZXCABQ&linkId=d87e0377dd9623b87d63f4fc56773af5" target="_blank">balance bike</a>?<br />
These things are miracle workers. It will teach your kid to ride a bike. Great for ages 2-5. Don't fret if they don't take to it right away. They will come around to loving it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKh3_pidPyqYYmeg17NswpkF1UTRt7QgJfkPObkNfxGIXNIoRF5gPBjOxSLP3voSQvfxxc154WEVy3fHwLIqJXzEoOqJtb2BmaGU_DbWKLBZdCInUN_pITBlVmfVgURLtaCmmJ4E9095A/s1600/balance+bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1500" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKh3_pidPyqYYmeg17NswpkF1UTRt7QgJfkPObkNfxGIXNIoRF5gPBjOxSLP3voSQvfxxc154WEVy3fHwLIqJXzEoOqJtb2BmaGU_DbWKLBZdCInUN_pITBlVmfVgURLtaCmmJ4E9095A/s640/balance+bike.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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12. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000ITOQ/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=somehowwemana-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00000ITOQ&linkId=97929772c48eb685d7243f4683bc3ca3" target="_blank">U.S. States puzzle</a>. <a href="http://www.somehowwemanage.com/2019/10/need-gift-idea-we-love-this-united.html" target="_blank">Already mentioned it before</a>, but it's the best puzzle. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgeUlTRxzRUaYf5DyEbRjxHy0cGze2nKBxHMCB1sGLmq5m1fotmT1MjBcQDlE2znguFspnFeVaVQhemojA6PLbov1w5iGc_NE6Wo90Glp9Ao9iqM4FZhzweOUsNwsnjg3_tSzrI0wkrI/s1600/us+puzzle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="977" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgeUlTRxzRUaYf5DyEbRjxHy0cGze2nKBxHMCB1sGLmq5m1fotmT1MjBcQDlE2znguFspnFeVaVQhemojA6PLbov1w5iGc_NE6Wo90Glp9Ao9iqM4FZhzweOUsNwsnjg3_tSzrI0wkrI/s640/us+puzzle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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13. A <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FOTAS4/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=somehowwemana-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B000FOTAS4&linkId=c333c4784e07bd58580bd4c0822d5ac2" target="_blank">tin tea set</a>. For half a decade we have adored this exact tea set. Still going strong.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBX_wcDL39wV1qCax_NwJrUSeBuvT9CtlwevUwSTKpfKyRz1vhFsejycKPsKHTybTDNf5VIHKnBhJasrbGmIxMSNS71TDlDlI_6TrK_bXv0qGkM_ipkn365Q7FhKCNBPZz8cX5cEAXQw/s1600/tea+set+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1500" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBX_wcDL39wV1qCax_NwJrUSeBuvT9CtlwevUwSTKpfKyRz1vhFsejycKPsKHTybTDNf5VIHKnBhJasrbGmIxMSNS71TDlDlI_6TrK_bXv0qGkM_ipkn365Q7FhKCNBPZz8cX5cEAXQw/s640/tea+set+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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14. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N4984OL/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=somehowwemana-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01N4984OL&linkId=b1f26f55a3a09fc86c65a2370112a369" target="_blank">Water Wows!</a> Caroline received one of these for her birthday, and all my children fought over it constantly. So fun and only uses water. Great for restaurants or car rides.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQoy7_CqbFlLOiVCogWKbg2mk_NTGuBMpsL5PON3DDz46ZT8wjHdk78n_4mRxhDGlnGw3tpBMJAz1QNTdiQD9NzZYRUMtJSQMs6_E3mp1NzosqB7x1Xkk_QaCjLAa-7cDQJXW3NoyBBM/s1600/water+wow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQoy7_CqbFlLOiVCogWKbg2mk_NTGuBMpsL5PON3DDz46ZT8wjHdk78n_4mRxhDGlnGw3tpBMJAz1QNTdiQD9NzZYRUMtJSQMs6_E3mp1NzosqB7x1Xkk_QaCjLAa-7cDQJXW3NoyBBM/s640/water+wow.jpg" width="596" /></a></div>
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15. Lastly, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A9UOVZG/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=somehowwemana-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00A9UOVZG&linkId=af5357e95a43d46f454d1da32aa52e30" target="_blank">this swing</a> is up there with the Magna-Tiles as far as I'm concerned. We have this particular one, and it's great, but there's lots of good ones out there. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYr-Cspm7jmtKFPgNwqRvxzzofxtd9uYHK4-Bc-IiEQYivmDOL8OlgbkkhGFESmU8fLvpDfMJucfw269-C4VQb_IhAahMRLto7iq3u2JWOimXuzxboNbEHw4fXffAIsrey5P52zM5Pu4/s1600/61nGc-DnQfL._AC_SL1127_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="530" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYr-Cspm7jmtKFPgNwqRvxzzofxtd9uYHK4-Bc-IiEQYivmDOL8OlgbkkhGFESmU8fLvpDfMJucfw269-C4VQb_IhAahMRLto7iq3u2JWOimXuzxboNbEHw4fXffAIsrey5P52zM5Pu4/s640/61nGc-DnQfL._AC_SL1127_.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>
That's all I've got. What's your best tried and true gift recommendation?<br />
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<span style="color: #999999;"><i>All links are Amazon Associate links. If you buy something, I will get a small commission. </i></span>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-83039150532089106682019-11-04T16:56:00.000-06:002019-11-04T16:56:41.404-06:00Strategy for Reading to Little Ones - Linking HabitsI confess, I don't always enjoy reading to my children. But like exercise and home cooked meals, it's one of the things I value most, and I try to make it a priority. <br />
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<a href="http://www.somehowwemanage.com/2019/09/homeschooling.html" target="_blank">Since I'm reading so much to my older kids,</a> it's particularity challenging to read to my 4 year old. I never <i>feel </i>like it, and I certainly can't rely on myself to stick to a bedtime story. After dinner I'm a shell of a parent, here in body but not in spirit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBUCSbNVEIbAJ0Q5cAFCd5HZhnFDtWwotEUKTSEErgn24ntY_Ibjj91BZ55TZkw8ZC9PmIwvEZZq8YSPtfNIX_UDYi4g-loUrztfvxJtfRtw8rM4s92vFv33tnzF36VlAb0pzOx_jhS8/s1600/IMG_4851.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBUCSbNVEIbAJ0Q5cAFCd5HZhnFDtWwotEUKTSEErgn24ntY_Ibjj91BZ55TZkw8ZC9PmIwvEZZq8YSPtfNIX_UDYi4g-loUrztfvxJtfRtw8rM4s92vFv33tnzF36VlAb0pzOx_jhS8/s640/IMG_4851.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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My strategy: linking this habit (reading) to a non-negotiable activity (in our case, leaving for school)<br />
This is also called habit stacking in some circles. <br />
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4 days a week, I take Caroline to nursery school. About 20 minutes before we walk out the door, I tell her to pick out 2 books. We cozy up in a chair and I read to her for about 12-15 minutes. It's become a part of our routine as we prepare to leave the house. It's a sweet moment to connect before she leaves for several hours, and it's short!! There is an ending point. Ok, time to go to school. <br />
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I wish I had implemented this strategy with my other kids when they were younger - short and sweet read alouds linked to a habit. In the past I was hot or cold. It was 10 books or none. I think persistence and building the habit are preferable to occasional marathon sessions. <br />
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Other things you could link the reading habit it to:<br />
read while the kettle gets hot or your tea steeps <br />
read in the the carpool line when picking up an older child<br />
read right before bath time<br />
read during snack time <br />
read when you pour your second cup of coffee, not the first - that's sacred <br />
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Do you implement any strategies like this? How do you fit in reading aloud with multiple children?Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-12323457000713798642019-10-22T16:01:00.001-05:002019-10-22T16:01:46.780-05:00Need a Gift Idea? We Love This United States PuzzleChristmas is two short months away. Talking to some of my mama friends the other day, we were brainstorming about what to get our children this year. The consensus is we don't want junk! We want toys that will actually get played with and are enjoyed for more than a day.<br />
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I immediately thought of this <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000ITOQ/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=somehowwemana-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00000ITOQ&linkId=df8bb2a5dadec3f04a85a651c973f2c1" target="_blank">United States puzzle</a>. My mom bought this puzzle years ago for my kids to play with at her house. I asked if we could borrow it because of <a href="http://www.somehowwemanage.com/2019/09/homeschooling.html" target="_blank">homeschooling</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000ITOQ/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=somehowwemana-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00000ITOQ&linkId=df8bb2a5dadec3f04a85a651c973f2c1" target="_blank">This states puzzle</a> is <i>beloved</i>, even by Caroline. She's 4. If you need a good gift to give your own family or a niece or nephew or grandchild, I can't recommend this enough.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBPsedhe3iiZnPYSS8nqs-ZRD5Ee0zayupIEtaHQ5r84IZj-VBYgjhybHF-nOsCiDcIalVVQI1zofCJ_CUFArtqeOQnFitybN3HXgWKp3tvdjZXkWiNxfc8V50_RO698RVa6xUjqg4KA/s1600/IMG_4246+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBPsedhe3iiZnPYSS8nqs-ZRD5Ee0zayupIEtaHQ5r84IZj-VBYgjhybHF-nOsCiDcIalVVQI1zofCJ_CUFArtqeOQnFitybN3HXgWKp3tvdjZXkWiNxfc8V50_RO698RVa6xUjqg4KA/s640/IMG_4246+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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What are your thoughts on Christmas this year?<br />
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This <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CRZ92YV/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=somehowwemana-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B07CRZ92YV&linkId=56cf267de56a94903f36dfdc8bba73de" target="_blank">Spanish/English word shower curtain</a> caught my eye for my kids' bathroom. Can't get my brain off educational gifts! Ha!<br />
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<i><span style="color: #666666;">Links are Amazon Affiliate links. I am paid a small amount if you buy items through my link. </span></i>Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7299886129893433497.post-17613238764425136772019-10-16T16:02:00.000-05:002019-10-16T16:02:33.860-05:00Goodwill JeansI have not been a big fan of thrifting or buying second hand clothes in the past.* The stores smell weird. You have to dig. Who has the time?<br />
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*<a href="http://www.somehowwemanage.com/2016/03/i-love-thread-up.html" target="_blank">exception </a><br />
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But as time has passed and my shopping skills improved, I've been willing to give it another go, especially because my kids need so many new clothes this season. #stickingtoabudget<br />
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I've discovered that kids' jeans are great to buy secondhand. They hold up to lots of wear and there is actually a really decent stock of jeans at my local Goodwill, all for $2-3. <br />
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Also, I am loving taking my older kids in Goodwill with me. I like that they see me "saving" money, and also we just have a good ol' time, laughing and joking around. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzU1pS__zV4CYjIxg9UOHKsKcqbinpqoUMOf5ghJmTYTVvaxGEE776PX-N-5EiRQmSkPQb37qPWFPJ5PZagzeFDBnfImhxMeQtTMvTTgIUoXcYWNdxWpdqKl6Ua9e3SGIZ9QvpKh0oaY8/s1600/IMG_4225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzU1pS__zV4CYjIxg9UOHKsKcqbinpqoUMOf5ghJmTYTVvaxGEE776PX-N-5EiRQmSkPQb37qPWFPJ5PZagzeFDBnfImhxMeQtTMvTTgIUoXcYWNdxWpdqKl6Ua9e3SGIZ9QvpKh0oaY8/s640/IMG_4225.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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going for the cropped look</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-yuwDf4nG_NI7tBKz7rwwM_IzOneI7WmCmz5BAMJD07l-QxL_TlkQ8bYa6mIepZxW8vqYJqyGdVIAu1HQRBePj9uu4NZXYwvzTDnaujuwVpROQgTQb9bynisnevxSkewgGs-CGLXC24/s1600/IMG_4221.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-yuwDf4nG_NI7tBKz7rwwM_IzOneI7WmCmz5BAMJD07l-QxL_TlkQ8bYa6mIepZxW8vqYJqyGdVIAu1HQRBePj9uu4NZXYwvzTDnaujuwVpROQgTQb9bynisnevxSkewgGs-CGLXC24/s640/IMG_4221.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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model and photo bomber :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3Cc9U_3WQ9YAgedFb2vKn-3n0JuyrHN6f8-vsrNSnfuZ2rsK3_JWtsZ5ZP7Vq3F07PrgmcUoftbu6Gamogg_7LSNzvBS5tQvDKAa0kCZPU-R_9QYxAQaP3Ev9GDpLIIunBK5P028DpI/s1600/IMG_4228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3Cc9U_3WQ9YAgedFb2vKn-3n0JuyrHN6f8-vsrNSnfuZ2rsK3_JWtsZ5ZP7Vq3F07PrgmcUoftbu6Gamogg_7LSNzvBS5tQvDKAa0kCZPU-R_9QYxAQaP3Ev9GDpLIIunBK5P028DpI/s640/IMG_4228.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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She also found this super cute purse $2</div>
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win-win</div>
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Do you buy secondhand clothes?</div>
Sarah Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16023901303151195275noreply@blogger.com6