tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127217612024-03-07T00:15:16.191-06:00No Harm DoneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.comBlogger608125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-53963306422427667732011-08-07T22:20:00.004-05:002011-08-07T22:47:53.107-05:00Weeellll...<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Hi there. How are you? Long time no see.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Yes, I know it's been since April. But there's been a lot going on, and not very much of it was fun.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">However, </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">today </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">- well - today I have reason to post.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">C. was in a play this week. The Missoula Children's Theater came through town to put on their production of "Cinderella." For those not familiar with MCT, they hold open auditions on Monday, then cast 50-60 children for the parts in the show. They rehearse 4 hours every day. On Saturday, they have a dress rehearsal and two performances.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Colson auditioned on Monday and was cast as the King. We were pretty surprised, as most of the named cast members were in middle or high school. Standing next to the 17 year old actor who played Prince Charming, Colson is not quite half as tall as him. I think that was the effect they were going for, though.<br /><br />Here are the videos of Colson's appearances. I'll try to set the stage for each one. Turn up your speakers, though, and set the video to full screen.<br /><br /><br />1. This first clip shows his entrance. At the beginning of the clip, the beggars are asking for money from the lords and ladies of the town who are arriving at the ball. They turn around and watch the Town Criers enter and announce the arrival of the king.</span><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4mQLxltKVmU" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="480"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I love that when he first walks out, the audience's reaction is "Awwww," because he's so tiny and - really- his costume is mostly hat. And the robe is </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">clearly </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">meant for a taller child. But then he starts his thing, and they laugh.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If you can't quite hear what he's saying, he's pointing to people in the audience and saying "How're </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >you </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">doing?" a la Joey Tribbiani of "Friends."</span></span><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/43wkqM27z2E" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="480"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2. In this second clip, the Town Criers announce the King entering the ball. He makes the same sort of entrance, and announces "Food's on the table. Hope you can dance!" Watch for the little impromptu gesture he makes as he walks offstage...</span></span><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ez_ANVi8khI" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="480"></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Yep. Your eyes did not deceive you. My baby did the "Call me" sign to a girl in the audience.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">3. </span></span><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wdC77C6wbHs" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="480"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In the third clip, Cinderella runs away from Prince Charming. Colson enters with the glass slipper. "Perhaps this will help, son. She's forgotten her shoe."</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">4. This final clip is the longest, but I think it's the best. It begins with the Town Criers entering to try the shoes on the stepsisters. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Keep watching through the song. You can't see Colson (one of the tallest kids kneels down directly between Colson and the camera). But if you listen carefully, he sings the second solo in the second verse. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"I think it's rather sweet."</span></span><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bPCDw9-JvTU" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="480"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Keep watching 'till the end of the clip. Colson's best part is at the very end. :)</span></span>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-53761514774290197102011-04-01T12:29:00.001-05:002011-04-01T12:29:32.717-05:00And So the 2012 Campaign Season Begins ...<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VIA5aszzA18" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-59897991049787376452011-02-15T11:49:00.003-06:002011-02-15T11:59:45.848-06:00"DEATH COMES UNEXPECTEDLY!!!"<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >Brogan has decided he wants to write an encouraging letter to our pastor.<br /><br />In it, he explains, "You are the complete opposite of the minister in 'Pollyanna.' "</span></span><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-UKhVRIi_yY" allowfullscreen="" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I think he'll be encouraged, no?<br /><br /><br /></span></span>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-64581801906370999922011-02-07T22:57:00.004-06:002011-02-07T23:08:00.862-06:00Dear [State] Welcoming Committee,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6MFhuhKmWsJ512aYkv5RLpvFPV0F5qprR2R_WfbUg-4-YJxgZJWJPm0hWcogfJesCMf9p7dkgE91oYaV3Yfk17GB5RSuJ_DZLdUobi3bXbaolZ-a5G6SVtgSH5J1xemVM2I_/s1600/w.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6MFhuhKmWsJ512aYkv5RLpvFPV0F5qprR2R_WfbUg-4-YJxgZJWJPm0hWcogfJesCMf9p7dkgE91oYaV3Yfk17GB5RSuJ_DZLdUobi3bXbaolZ-a5G6SVtgSH5J1xemVM2I_/s400/w.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571180314012724066" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br />Thank you<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> so much</span> for having your representative contact us personally to review our application to move to your state.<br /><br />Unfortunately, your representative neglected to leave his </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >name </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >or </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >contact number</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >, and we are unable to return his call.<br /><br />Would you be so good to have him contact us via e-mail, so that we may discuss his recent call?<br /><br />Thank you.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-p5tWayvIBAYd-YrHunrTlXucX1G6i79UQbBcGkf-lAUMmSdSroErebBx6lzdPor8ncBqqlk2V9neOnL184dLc357FFqUrb4cZMQSd6bXmhMbAdh9_ZPjMtC_zAS7njnVLXqt/s1600/c.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 315px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-p5tWayvIBAYd-YrHunrTlXucX1G6i79UQbBcGkf-lAUMmSdSroErebBx6lzdPor8ncBqqlk2V9neOnL184dLc357FFqUrb4cZMQSd6bXmhMbAdh9_ZPjMtC_zAS7njnVLXqt/s400/c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571180317808059698" border="0" /></a>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-4326605961488505612010-12-14T16:35:00.002-06:002010-12-14T16:38:23.378-06:00Romeo and Juliet<span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Braden and his partner, L., have been working on a "humorous duo" for a speech competition this spring.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Last night they performed it for the first time to a small audience at our speech and debate club.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It's still very much a work in progress, but I am enjoying their progress thus far! </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">*NOTE: In this speech/debate league, duo partners are not allowed to touch or look directly at each other.</span></span><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/T8NcLOoJMy8?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/T8NcLOoJMy8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-82880377024704288582010-12-13T12:35:00.000-06:002010-12-14T16:38:53.909-06:00Someone Smart Thought of This<span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" >This made me laugh!<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jW58lVVcu4w?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jW58lVVcu4w?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Perhaps with a bit more coffee in me I'll attempt to sing along.</span>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-69151340672954814152010-11-24T18:52:00.002-06:002010-11-24T18:55:25.477-06:00A Thanksgiving Tradition<span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Happy Thanksgiving!</span></span><br /><br /><div class="containerEpix" style="position: relative;"><div id="kwg_iLyROoafYtDe" class="kwg_pr" name="kwg_iLyROoafYtDe"></div><div id="flash_epix_iLyROoafYtDe" class="flash_epix" name="flash_epix"><object name="iLyROoafYtDe" id="iLyROoafYtDe" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://sll.kewego.com/swf/p3/epix.swf" width="400" height="300"> <param name="movie" value="http://sll.kewego.com/swf/p3/epix.swf"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> <param name="flashVars" value="language_code=en&playerKey=902e0deec887&skinKey=a7ad6feec87d&sig=iLyROoafYtDe&autostart=false&advertise=1"> <param name="wmode" value="Opaque"></object></div></div><div style="width: 400px;"><a href="http://www.kewego.com/video/iLyROoafYtDe.html"></a><br /> <div> <a href="http://www.kewego.com/search/?q=thanksgiving"></a> <a href="http://www.kewego.com/search/?q=happy"></a> <a href="http://www.kewego.com/search/?q=wkrp"></a> <a href="http://www.kewego.com/search/?q=cincinnati"></a> <a href="http://www.kewego.com/search/?q=turkey"></a> <a href="http://www.kewego.com/search/?q=drop"></a> </div> <div style="text-align: right;"> <a href="http://www.kewego.com/video/iLyROoafYtDe.html"></a> <a href="http://www.kewego.com/search/?q=user:sharkhost"></a> </div></div>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-44482076276583723782010-11-17T11:17:00.002-06:002010-11-17T11:20:19.444-06:00"The Talk"<span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Wow. There's a lot of wisdom in here. I wish this video had been around when the boys were little.</span></span><br /><br /><object id="AOLVP_us_673618182001" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="512" height="288"><param name="movie" value="http://o.aolcdn.com/videoplayer/AOL_PlayerLoader.swf"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="flashvars" value="videoid=673618182001&codever=1"><embed src="http://xml.truveo.com/eb/i/646441368/a/58ef677afb89fc040e3dec6de7dd6c26/p/1/h/4ce40deb3d9ab40:f3fc52cb2e48562c17ba547df7c0317f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" name="AOLVP_us_673618182001" flashvars="videoid=673618182001&codever=1" width="512" height="288"></embed></object><h3 style="font: bold 0.8em arial; padding: 0pt; margin: 5px;"><a href="http://video.aol.com/video/talking-to-your-kids-about-star-wars/649277137">Talking to Your Kids About Star Wars</a>.<br /></h3><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Seriously, though, I second the advice to watch the movies in the order they were originally released. To paraphrase Sheldon on "Big Bang Theory": "I prefer to be disappointed in the order that George Lucas intended."</span></span>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-73640168905101684762010-11-08T17:54:00.002-06:002010-11-08T17:59:51.437-06:00<span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Brogan came upon me as I was searching for knitting patterns on Ravelry.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Brogan</span>: What are you looking for?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Me</span>: Patterns for fingerless gloves.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Brogan</span>: Fingerless gloves? Why?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Me</span>: Because when Braden practices piano in the wintertime his hands get cold. But he needs to feel the keys with his fingers. So I thought a pair of fingerless gloves would do the trick.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Brogan</span>: That sounds kind of dumb, Mom.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Me</span>: What! Why? If your hands were cold while you practiced piano wouldn't YOU want a pair of fingerless gloves?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Brogan</span>: No. I'd just deal with it. Just <span style="font-style: italic;">be a man </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">deal with it</span>!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcj0UnNRafaisYjJUPGqauC-yPAkKyWoNfuHNFzFVcHijZEcSN1DxReSiGvXMFGaRvexceAUslbma9U3GQdquLXVq4HaUvZETXSdr3JX8tQhhSuplwjtVPqEXwrSCniWJcdM-G/s1600/who-me.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcj0UnNRafaisYjJUPGqauC-yPAkKyWoNfuHNFzFVcHijZEcSN1DxReSiGvXMFGaRvexceAUslbma9U3GQdquLXVq4HaUvZETXSdr3JX8tQhhSuplwjtVPqEXwrSCniWJcdM-G/s400/who-me.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537331860085453586" border="0" /></a>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-52208540413070336922010-10-28T02:12:00.002-05:002010-10-28T17:46:22.365-05:00Portland for Pedestrians<span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"> Mom, my sister, and I spent Sunday in Portland. We rode the light-rail into downtown, then got off and walked.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">And walked some more.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">And then we walked some more.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"> We walked around Lloyd Center, the SW Harrison area, and then up to the Pearl District, where my sister used to live. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">This is a fun city to walk in, and there is certainly a lot happening here. It'll be great fun next spring and summer to take the boys around town and explore.<br /><br />The following photo is for Colson. Colson, THIS is a pigeon. There are a lot of them here. I didn't see any eating hot dogs, but that's probably not for lack of trying.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcupVxVs4pupACbBPmsksecQyUhz3WYHl60TP7mWsM1FbHUv94APv4FhErxOD1l8IYHpsnHdBIYKgLiCdM7v6d6X4CXWoQrbuM5xv8poF2XOLNW0O2n1VYnqhFjAHW5usVy5A/s1600/Pigeon.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532994453244980578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcupVxVs4pupACbBPmsksecQyUhz3WYHl60TP7mWsM1FbHUv94APv4FhErxOD1l8IYHpsnHdBIYKgLiCdM7v6d6X4CXWoQrbuM5xv8poF2XOLNW0O2n1VYnqhFjAHW5usVy5A/s400/Pigeon.JPG" /></span></a><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><br />We hopped on the streetcar quite a bit. I had a picture of me <em>actually hopping</em> onto the streetcar, but it disappeared from the post. I'll have to try to find it later. But below is a picture of the car.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Q7OdCPJQa1ahC1K8iwB6XGrYC-6clYddogn-Wm34i0CVfXbyHxCrNbKo-40KhZ74fmYv0Sm7Wo_zedU80OINvmcGJjkgW6BG6iPg9nWv_2cO1ILdy41K15HZV76T9Wf7omkP/s1600/Portland+3.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532994439442315186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Q7OdCPJQa1ahC1K8iwB6XGrYC-6clYddogn-Wm34i0CVfXbyHxCrNbKo-40KhZ74fmYv0Sm7Wo_zedU80OINvmcGJjkgW6BG6iPg9nWv_2cO1ILdy41K15HZV76T9Wf7omkP/s400/Portland+3.JPG" /></span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">Here we were looking to see when the next car is coming. At this point in the day it was still mostly sunny, but about 20 minutes later it was grey and rainy. <br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKVZrtQXdb5fWv51MBTVzwG5I3ow0I1mkr1J_pRbh28eXSYWiPkjKcPTOSwQYWsmJCVAu3QjjcPnFtBMPEtqDYcAJtkhpThBVbTdWBJKb7BYhgxi_WhdKxrfrTg0X2nTRG9YQ/s1600/POrtland+2.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532994433356916354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKVZrtQXdb5fWv51MBTVzwG5I3ow0I1mkr1J_pRbh28eXSYWiPkjKcPTOSwQYWsmJCVAu3QjjcPnFtBMPEtqDYcAJtkhpThBVbTdWBJKb7BYhgxi_WhdKxrfrTg0X2nTRG9YQ/s400/POrtland+2.JPG" /></span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">After touring what felt like much of downtown, we stopped for a quick dinner and then caught a movie at Pioneer Place. (Looking for a good movie? Go see "Social Network.")<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYyjBDrTiq4yZMhb6ybyiLtJdHFwsT6_UQzJZHHy6AhqJm_4r83ilMfxklGAXT5rylSTOxvEilOUuOCQ6rZ6ycipI1Zyo26gjkxlYhpwC4yzjX-SG7FLbP2m2kEoEFiM8fxa-/s1600/Portland+1.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532994428826919106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYyjBDrTiq4yZMhb6ybyiLtJdHFwsT6_UQzJZHHy6AhqJm_4r83ilMfxklGAXT5rylSTOxvEilOUuOCQ6rZ6ycipI1Zyo26gjkxlYhpwC4yzjX-SG7FLbP2m2kEoEFiM8fxa-/s400/Portland+1.JPG" /></span></a><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">The next time I can get to the computer I'll post more pictures from the day, and some from our new hometown. Hopefully later tonight.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"></span></div>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-90433606280311518942010-10-24T16:01:00.002-05:002010-10-24T16:13:21.339-05:00Guess Where I Am?<span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"> Well, I'll take pity on you and tell you. Because that's the sort of big-hearted person I am. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;">These pictures are taken at Cascade Locks, about 30 minutes east of Portland. We stopped here to take pictures. As it turned out, my parents were INSIDE the restaurant eating lunch when we stopped. M. and I didn't know this, though untill we called them later.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lkn5ND7P6G0XNRUSVeulg-f4j712WZRDVG2vI2MkzBD_gQc0ROxwNjaIRplrL4gL9VuH1I92w_Z-JOmCaW9a6-iCygHjsJmAFwzss_RyG9DeNLCQuTRHtYjspF48NwSM8FhI/s1600/a5.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531721856332802466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lkn5ND7P6G0XNRUSVeulg-f4j712WZRDVG2vI2MkzBD_gQc0ROxwNjaIRplrL4gL9VuH1I92w_Z-JOmCaW9a6-iCygHjsJmAFwzss_RyG9DeNLCQuTRHtYjspF48NwSM8FhI/s400/a5.JPG" /></span></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxisSHgLPdor8x0RGhNnA7_7RER7XQetrtjLPyp1rxu5gHccfDgbRLsAjNGrpdzlZ_y-WOq98wo_5_Cgy9yV4qi8dSITKrMZd12DDCEUiC3yhKwkd358l7xs9zm_sZhFI38xV/s1600/a4.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531721854482804754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxisSHgLPdor8x0RGhNnA7_7RER7XQetrtjLPyp1rxu5gHccfDgbRLsAjNGrpdzlZ_y-WOq98wo_5_Cgy9yV4qi8dSITKrMZd12DDCEUiC3yhKwkd358l7xs9zm_sZhFI38xV/s400/a4.JPG" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;">The Columbia River.<br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAtoSAGgwq0UPOy3h7-9rJpKuY3bSQoeLYUW0jllo7rqP68HkHQnbVeBw7h6Vc5qjdojSh_AFhy5xtaL0AATeudvRlCtcF-79gYEoy7q1oHClLZltateJXsTJRDm3Qw04zxfI/s1600/a3.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531721356936580370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAtoSAGgwq0UPOy3h7-9rJpKuY3bSQoeLYUW0jllo7rqP68HkHQnbVeBw7h6Vc5qjdojSh_AFhy5xtaL0AATeudvRlCtcF-79gYEoy7q1oHClLZltateJXsTJRDm3Qw04zxfI/s400/a3.JPG" /></span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;">Here's the bridge across to the Washinghton side. It's raining a bit and is hard to see some of the mountains. But the colors are beautiful.<br /></span><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"> </span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7Fc6j8rqpNNzTnSNJrNPCryNzobbXKpwo95P17y0U4FaidnDpHyJ9zqSbR81_F4OXmVUBHRy8jqeIGqi7wdhwQNXFfy6WIKkv1je-CB18dDzBnCTs5S9ESDEJwlD-IYpZdsy/s1600/a2.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531721354214515458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7Fc6j8rqpNNzTnSNJrNPCryNzobbXKpwo95P17y0U4FaidnDpHyJ9zqSbR81_F4OXmVUBHRy8jqeIGqi7wdhwQNXFfy6WIKkv1je-CB18dDzBnCTs5S9ESDEJwlD-IYpZdsy/s400/a2.JPG" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;">There'll be more to come! </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"></span> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Vvo7Rrgm7KysMs3oZ5VH3YDyCLmXeLN6BpWS94m0-bi0h1kRb6WD0tpM0-NViOIsDz_yg0A2mCXwXReAccBNrF2TlQ1mVjIDlLqQ9EqJ1QGLJihJoY5KVnjsiEo_79mBpx8V/s1600/a1.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531721348801343874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Vvo7Rrgm7KysMs3oZ5VH3YDyCLmXeLN6BpWS94m0-bi0h1kRb6WD0tpM0-NViOIsDz_yg0A2mCXwXReAccBNrF2TlQ1mVjIDlLqQ9EqJ1QGLJihJoY5KVnjsiEo_79mBpx8V/s400/a1.JPG" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color:#000000;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"></span></div></div>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-86399383310448782842010-10-20T23:17:00.003-05:002010-10-22T08:32:40.474-05:00First Grade Open House<span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" ><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJORhImZMkL6thDbecHO9bsjpBaAL3W7E6JbQ5ELOC_RXOJQpxoWfRLnPGBIIGDI0JOpO08DdG9YxcPr1jUqzZ3N54hWV1P6QrJYvAZMtSRs3y2xrKTPo7v-ZHIfq8EwTMp1b/s1600/Colson+Open+House+2011.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJORhImZMkL6thDbecHO9bsjpBaAL3W7E6JbQ5ELOC_RXOJQpxoWfRLnPGBIIGDI0JOpO08DdG9YxcPr1jUqzZ3N54hWV1P6QrJYvAZMtSRs3y2xrKTPo7v-ZHIfq8EwTMp1b/s400/Colson+Open+House+2011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530348950857582914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Hello! Welcome to our first grade "Open House!" Come on in!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Colson is our first grade student this year, and is making excellent progress, having benefited from listening in on what his brothers have been due for the past few years. Colson has surprised us all by being remarkably academic, characteristic he's kept well-hidden under his gregarious, hammy personality.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" >READING<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">For reading we are using both "Phonics Pathways" and the "Pathway Readers" series. I have used "Phonics Pathways" to teach all three boys how to read. When a child gets about halfway through the book, I add in the "Pathway Reader" primer book. The Pathway Readers are basal readers used in Amish schools, and are filled with sweet stories. I'm enjoying reading them again with Colson. Colson is mid-way through the second-grade readers and says that reading is his favorite subject.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">MATH<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">For math we're using the "Singapore Math" series. Again, it's something that all three boys have used. (When you find something that works, why change?) Colson is finishing up the 2nd grade math book and will be starting the third grade book sometime in November. The hardest part about this is that there's so much more writing in 2nd and 3rd grade math, and as a first grader he's just not ready/able to write that much. So we do a lot of the textbook portion orally, and just leave him the workbook portions to write out.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">LANGUAGE ARTS</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">For spelling Colson's working his way through "Spelling Workout A." For grammar we're using "First Language Lessons" by Jessie Wise. I discovered FLL with Brogan, and am enjoying it again with Colson. It covers 1st and 2nd grade grammar, and I </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">love</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> the gentle approach it takes with students. The first grade lessons are almost all done orally, with writing increasing in the second grade. SO far Colson has memorized three poems and can tell you the definition of a noun and the difference between common and proper nouns. If reading is his favorite subject, grammar just might be his second favorite.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">BIBLE</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Colson and I are using "Leading Little Ones to God," another book I've used with all three boys.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">HISTORY</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We are studying the Middle Ages with "Story of the World: Volume 2." I think this is my third time through this book. It's a wonderful world history book for younger students.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">That's our Open House. We're looking forward to a great year!</span><br /><br /></span>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-73280661401035031712010-10-14T09:53:00.002-05:002010-10-14T09:58:29.940-05:00<span style=";font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">According to my kids, "you totally need this, Mom!!"</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Apparently, it "has <span style="font-weight: bold;">YOU </span>written all over it! Get this, Mom!"</span></span><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TFiuIJVUsAs?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TFiuIJVUsAs?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family: lucida grande;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I have no idea what they're talking about.</span></span>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-46066107300237215022010-09-21T21:19:00.001-05:002010-09-21T21:20:59.584-05:00Duets<span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Brogan has been working on this song (Sword Dance) for a couple of weeks now. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Today Braden sat down and played the teacher's part of the duet with him.</span></span><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ycXpMo1_uGA?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ycXpMo1_uGA?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-16929472882926808412010-09-19T21:14:00.004-05:002010-09-19T21:20:07.915-05:00Braden on Homecoming Dances<span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Braden: "I need to learn how to dance."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Me: "What? Why? you know how to dance. We've been working on it."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Braden: "Mom, I pretty much only know two dances. I'm not allowed to slow-dance with anyone I'm not related to. So unless they play a lot of polka at the Homecoming Dance, I'm in trouble."</span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7BUDD43maKDnKaXRCgyid8xRp3fe_hgNdcpsyGaHJqrldoQA5b_dFSiOCoFlM0zhaHte7-mm25PuyxJltCuuwGRWGpK2Od5bt1XWyRXi2d6v3bnKJWkqJqPBJRgBCmnPgrzu/s1600/polka.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 378px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7BUDD43maKDnKaXRCgyid8xRp3fe_hgNdcpsyGaHJqrldoQA5b_dFSiOCoFlM0zhaHte7-mm25PuyxJltCuuwGRWGpK2Od5bt1XWyRXi2d6v3bnKJWkqJqPBJRgBCmnPgrzu/s400/polka.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518814273286445954" border="0" /></a>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-54185703418984198242010-09-16T10:29:00.002-05:002010-09-16T10:30:42.527-05:00The Roller Coaster<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I like the roller coaster. But sometimes I'd like to see what the merry-go-round is like. Just for a little while.....</span></span><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ATUvyJNvFk0?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ATUvyJNvFk0?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-35168158277772506942010-08-01T23:46:00.002-05:002010-08-01T23:50:17.211-05:00The Best Meal I Ever Had<span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I saw this video on another blog tonight, and <span style="font-style: italic;">could. not. stop. laughing.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Tears streaming down my face.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">My sides aching from laughter.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Maybe it's just because it's late and I am very, very sleepy. I don't know. <br /><br />All I can say is, I loved this prank and it's just the sort of thing my college roomie D. and I would have done, assuming we were genius enough to think of it.</span></span><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7iEDyTqubiM&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7iEDyTqubiM&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-44140987974590426472010-07-22T13:01:00.002-05:002010-07-22T13:09:45.857-05:00A Car Crash, A Collapsing Building, and a Big Finale Blowout.<span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">All three appear to be present in Braden's first attempt at playing "Tarantella" by Pieczonka at the proper speed (170 beats per minute).</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">He started out well ... and then I forgot to turn the page. (Whoops!)</span><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4yZznI7x7G4&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4yZznI7x7G4&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">As we listened to the video afterward, some of the chords he missed sound like something one might hear if car crashes and building demolishings had soundtracks. He completely lost the beat at the end, and ended with a <span style="font-style: italic;">spectacularly </span>bad final chord.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Still, he enjoyed attempting the breakneck speed so much that he wanted me to put it on the blog for family and friends to see. He laughed a lot, and hasn't let it discourage him. He plans to try again when his fingers stop smoking.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I promise to post a video of this piece when he has it up to speed and catastrophe-free.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-40747400423947663422010-07-16T13:47:00.003-05:002010-07-16T14:08:48.178-05:00Our First Meet of the Summer<span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This week we attended our first swim meet of the summer. It was just like any other meet, really, with two notable exceptions:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1) We were racing to beat the impending severe storm. The day was miserable: hot, humid, dew point in the 80's, and a heat index of 110. There was no shade to be found at the pool, and we parents were <span style="font-weight: bold;">so thankful</span> to see clouds on the horizon. But then the clouds turned dark and ugly, and we knew we were in trouble. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We made it almost all the way through the meet. Brogan was on the blocks to swim the 100 IM when thunder rumbled overhead. They swam the heat anyway (I know!) but ended after the kids got out.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Brogan won that event. Probably because he was worried he'd get hit by lightning if he didn't get out of the pool ASAP. Thunderstorms= great motivation!</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wTQuncUXR0j95dnmrkKCoesBQpP9JnEjvMlxuKzXZqFHoFudFeGiobWu9YRa8OKzIuL7beib3LHhIxUQJXbltFG8s2UOqUZM6cajR9it9qnmdcZB3OTltzLzjthx7qdpGcKF/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 352px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wTQuncUXR0j95dnmrkKCoesBQpP9JnEjvMlxuKzXZqFHoFudFeGiobWu9YRa8OKzIuL7beib3LHhIxUQJXbltFG8s2UOqUZM6cajR9it9qnmdcZB3OTltzLzjthx7qdpGcKF/s400/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494579281675220562" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">( Brogan - the lower "above water" swimmer- swimming the breaststroke in the 100 IM)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2) The second noteworthy aspect of this meet involved Colson. After 5 years of watching his brothers swim, this summer he finally got his chance to join the team. This was his very first meet <span style="font-weight: bold;">ev-ah</span>. He was excited to <span style="font-style: italic;">finally </span>be participating. And he knew that every time he got would be a "best time."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Colson was only able to swim one event before we got rained out. Here he is "taking his mark" for the "8 and under" 25 freestyle.</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgj5INqUzjd0BRYK0oQZOk2U1eNEfFFbDFTTazJYsBBP2f-qlA9WjBTySeZGy0ZMX_Uc57zvfxD5QzJzdkCYDIJ3I1lWMxqUHgORixM4VHpdV-oUtdUxNvBKtBpxdc0zzBzwS/s1600/2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgj5INqUzjd0BRYK0oQZOk2U1eNEfFFbDFTTazJYsBBP2f-qlA9WjBTySeZGy0ZMX_Uc57zvfxD5QzJzdkCYDIJ3I1lWMxqUHgORixM4VHpdV-oUtdUxNvBKtBpxdc0zzBzwS/s400/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494579274246148834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">He actually <span style="font-style: italic;">dove </span>off the starting block! I wasn't able to get a picture, because the starter was in the way. Colson taught himself to dive by watching his brothers. It never occurred to him that it might be hard or a little intimidating to dive off the high starting blocks. Everyone else does it, so he thought he should too.<br /><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jMFdoaLHbK4nR6b9fBHJtoDpf5pSIzP8WRahcwpuWyDgd5HLNVQrTLuFsmnuSoFEp_VXwqUURW4CSKz2fHUM3izWqFbxVsCiUVCx1MQbjZBX5V4h2smnpvsBSOa3eResixi4/s1600/3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jMFdoaLHbK4nR6b9fBHJtoDpf5pSIzP8WRahcwpuWyDgd5HLNVQrTLuFsmnuSoFEp_VXwqUURW4CSKz2fHUM3izWqFbxVsCiUVCx1MQbjZBX5V4h2smnpvsBSOa3eResixi4/s400/3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494579270572342562" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I was holding my breath as he got to the deep end of the pool. He was swimming so slowly that I was worried he might just stall and go under. But he kept moving forward and finished with a "best time" of 44 seconds. (Dad, you will have </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">nothing</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> to worry about when you're racing Colson. Hee! Hee!)</span><br /><br />Here's his finish of the race.<br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iAOysXXrWlg&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iAOysXXrWlg&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><br />After he got out of the pool, I asked him how he felt.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">His one-word answer: "Awesome!!!!"</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-leCDVwuAYEl7qejmTU6bEsI2TAmhvElmgFXeW4pYs36CD1N8Mz1xms8tzzA1V5Xuafp8NGdZGiCLc4p8ka3VVNLQt_LZ2COlI5cUWJC-VWSUuKogwvhTTQMjCCeZTfpLezg/s1600/4.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-leCDVwuAYEl7qejmTU6bEsI2TAmhvElmgFXeW4pYs36CD1N8Mz1xms8tzzA1V5Xuafp8NGdZGiCLc4p8ka3VVNLQt_LZ2COlI5cUWJC-VWSUuKogwvhTTQMjCCeZTfpLezg/s400/4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494579263148656674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></span>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-9656064394347751662010-07-11T20:08:00.005-05:002010-07-11T20:18:03.191-05:00Summer Fun<span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We've been busy this summer!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Brogan and Colson tried their hands at rappelling. Both got several feet off the ground, but making it up into the treetops was a long, hard climb for small people. </span><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-PDmtIY6wo1a5q8qOpotUJn0iexdk5QzpyZ3NUoZIbroefxIySLeYmFPWy5avIBlVc2_IHuMy9TO3x6tABalm0_KF9pT4uY9IwHT2zjLOyaygljhXtX5vX4ljbPXmqVUuYvO/s1600/1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-PDmtIY6wo1a5q8qOpotUJn0iexdk5QzpyZ3NUoZIbroefxIySLeYmFPWy5avIBlVc2_IHuMy9TO3x6tABalm0_KF9pT4uY9IwHT2zjLOyaygljhXtX5vX4ljbPXmqVUuYvO/s400/1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492821350830227010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The boys learned how to use knotted ropes to inch their way upward.</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwP5yrbwhvwgAtnnrIxpIuG8EB1-uppevOAElWMMpoLQVyBjb20iVyiQIzceYaTrTCF92gvfFiyItivRx1UdmQobJqaulSMMyZpWvtkMNrEiSDrEpGq2MAmy4cp-Nq9iWht_N2/s1600/2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwP5yrbwhvwgAtnnrIxpIuG8EB1-uppevOAElWMMpoLQVyBjb20iVyiQIzceYaTrTCF92gvfFiyItivRx1UdmQobJqaulSMMyZpWvtkMNrEiSDrEpGq2MAmy4cp-Nq9iWht_N2/s400/2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492821342754397634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">There were lots of rest breaks. Little arms get tired!</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aTEgq0ofSyjhf02qCratStVxTgZJyDbMtx9Pt2-CX8QNtDYUQBWI1TkIEjg84pzedEFCKTBq6WmBbLpsGgrtC6xnOJBU0zp-9WPMg2nIRbrFxXFPxbMbU0ZcvsOEMyOjXiMj/s1600/3.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aTEgq0ofSyjhf02qCratStVxTgZJyDbMtx9Pt2-CX8QNtDYUQBWI1TkIEjg84pzedEFCKTBq6WmBbLpsGgrtC6xnOJBU0zp-9WPMg2nIRbrFxXFPxbMbU0ZcvsOEMyOjXiMj/s400/3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492821333223625938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We also spent time swimming at a lake with family. </span><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-b0g-TTcewQeTQem6tCUQ8lCaOLm-1pw6xeA9xA1SsAJzjeyWaUQlnxhWSn9KLs-gjD5nY1dtcJlpg-MrA92jifgjYEdDkpHwEcI2elA_KxVh1hOSFJEJuOynjn8SpG6oFM23/s1600/5.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-b0g-TTcewQeTQem6tCUQ8lCaOLm-1pw6xeA9xA1SsAJzjeyWaUQlnxhWSn9KLs-gjD5nY1dtcJlpg-MrA92jifgjYEdDkpHwEcI2elA_KxVh1hOSFJEJuOynjn8SpG6oFM23/s400/5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492820844295693010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01dhPgAGPgFv0Rmc8LgGLVOn6_3S9L3rhoTIDmLR0ouJOg9fv2sABb-QdlcGqP7QFZfMyP5_ZOouDRVFS_wjurXwdCZkgnVfIeWjnZIKs0sVOUNrVd_ys37pm6jWQHfR26avJ/s1600/6.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01dhPgAGPgFv0Rmc8LgGLVOn6_3S9L3rhoTIDmLR0ouJOg9fv2sABb-QdlcGqP7QFZfMyP5_ZOouDRVFS_wjurXwdCZkgnVfIeWjnZIKs0sVOUNrVd_ys37pm6jWQHfR26avJ/s400/6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492820836689821410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JGZffw0Wq3FHVCYFDCKzITi9d0gzU34xJDdIEb5RPp89R6ePN_h96Fcqj93_Wgx15tIHmVsVpIy7Jivsfm90LOGDWI6tTcRxxvJYytGsXauUNiC6G6J6uBr7M5BVKDLvlgCy/s1600/7.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JGZffw0Wq3FHVCYFDCKzITi9d0gzU34xJDdIEb5RPp89R6ePN_h96Fcqj93_Wgx15tIHmVsVpIy7Jivsfm90LOGDWI6tTcRxxvJYytGsXauUNiC6G6J6uBr7M5BVKDLvlgCy/s400/7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492820826449037986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">And finally, for Braden. Look who we spotted in the parade today!</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLkAROREY6oIU5lbuJqyrHVULZBMiqIXbxmo6FUxIU4zUTxHZ0x43ckVKQva7pBHL-86J9VYThbVFa11grsCU9_231tmiUhnCkB17kmpec4Azb3l4LuSm0PWgPbaSvBldZ1uz/s1600/j+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 390px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoLkAROREY6oIU5lbuJqyrHVULZBMiqIXbxmo6FUxIU4zUTxHZ0x43ckVKQva7pBHL-86J9VYThbVFa11grsCU9_231tmiUhnCkB17kmpec4Azb3l4LuSm0PWgPbaSvBldZ1uz/s400/j+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492821499840464082" border="0" /></a></span>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-24899016028400662302010-07-04T08:25:00.000-05:002010-07-04T08:25:00.392-05:00Happy Fourth of July!<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kDA9NbPAK8o&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kDA9NbPAK8o&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-37879285350368055232010-07-01T21:57:00.005-05:002010-07-01T22:49:14.156-05:00Wedding Weekend Photopalooza!<span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Well, we're back!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We've been off visiting family for the past week, as M.'s youngest brother got married last weekend. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Brother D. found himself a wonderful girl. We're all very happy for them!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I was able to spend a lot of time helping set things up for the wedding. One of my favorite moments was when the groom had his mother pin his boutonniere onto his jacket.....</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Czphoa5nCiF66PNH_JuvYpMLnR9KtRCigQKzMam86QrW1Wp6IEgHVcnF_id4RC7hyfQ0TViZ_I9x1HG_4wQugRthxsdn_xIAcHyRTOvSMyO0xFmYOA4jdrAUZmNDwbQqLydV/s1600/2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Czphoa5nCiF66PNH_JuvYpMLnR9KtRCigQKzMam86QrW1Wp6IEgHVcnF_id4RC7hyfQ0TViZ_I9x1HG_4wQugRthxsdn_xIAcHyRTOvSMyO0xFmYOA4jdrAUZmNDwbQqLydV/s400/2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489139167976335746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">... and then all four groomsmen lined up behind them so she could also pin theirs. </span><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1PA6LpOfb9Te4dKJhuECqmb_6KWPgilBQyoXJdlQBB5kQTp2XM7EL-9MU9nXd9INbG0E2hMaP8DTzjj4c8WBw9xV998nvr1wHpEgS6KF5HvK9KS0cVKeyxfK955vv4WyOtJr/s1600/3.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1PA6LpOfb9Te4dKJhuECqmb_6KWPgilBQyoXJdlQBB5kQTp2XM7EL-9MU9nXd9INbG0E2hMaP8DTzjj4c8WBw9xV998nvr1wHpEgS6KF5HvK9KS0cVKeyxfK955vv4WyOtJr/s400/3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489138923648360114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The bride was beautiful, and so calm and composed all day. No "Bridezilla" moments were witnessed by anyone.</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlT6GVI7Eon0AwqxYF4L8KUTImWxG2yVbtCbpeC7Dkz5rNBtJoJ4tFJFUC7xa7bqOwPGDb5zS8g5PobFKT8BfsJDt5YDi0Mkcb96Vl09v3hy8JGqn9Ij-rWXxWWyzVAOTTuX_/s1600/4.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlT6GVI7Eon0AwqxYF4L8KUTImWxG2yVbtCbpeC7Dkz5rNBtJoJ4tFJFUC7xa7bqOwPGDb5zS8g5PobFKT8BfsJDt5YDi0Mkcb96Vl09v3hy8JGqn9Ij-rWXxWWyzVAOTTuX_/s400/4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489138916170127234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">They planned a low-key, simple wedding by the river. It was hot out, but thankfully the groom's side had a shade tree! Woo-hoo!</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vQIxzVsWbS4GQL-DaVNKyuTuMjIRp_WCN1znJQ4aZKsf-VYi7oteodZNVSXq2fPBJO3Z7ifK8wE_9IruyN5SFBbi347GS_TjsDONfDpc3UoOpdlVXPbuCapdeHcrHNOQJjEG/s1600/5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vQIxzVsWbS4GQL-DaVNKyuTuMjIRp_WCN1znJQ4aZKsf-VYi7oteodZNVSXq2fPBJO3Z7ifK8wE_9IruyN5SFBbi347GS_TjsDONfDpc3UoOpdlVXPbuCapdeHcrHNOQJjEG/s400/5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489138909496577186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Between the ceremony and the party, we had time for a family picture. Look at how tall the boys are getting!</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3r2Z8ZmRdMN2jxJGi8OtWJ-JvVnJK59KlWpL8pSN54APeYcTjUHJ8mGp2RqZGQujRxHlYDGBKe-Zxd9uJXgftK-lgIh_7KwUzRRYKywJNGX2hD37JSUgYJGOuf8Y_gfoSSwue/s1600/6.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3r2Z8ZmRdMN2jxJGi8OtWJ-JvVnJK59KlWpL8pSN54APeYcTjUHJ8mGp2RqZGQujRxHlYDGBKe-Zxd9uJXgftK-lgIh_7KwUzRRYKywJNGX2hD37JSUgYJGOuf8Y_gfoSSwue/s400/6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489138899701791506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The following picture could have been taken at pretty much any point in the afternoon or evening. Colson spent a LOT of time around the bride, essentially following her around the facility. It was handy, in that whenever we lost him we just had to find the bride and Colson was sure to be nearby. He gave her lots of hugs and when I told him to give her some space he said, "But Mom, she's just so beauuuuuuutiful!"</span><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" ><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjbTDaHgWrRGF6qpZ7AytHJHU2A-IitdYwTk-OsBWpyrgi3ls191GTY6j175Y6LdA2zcm1AEr3ACpB_4po78zUlrOeqozRZKEBHjG6gxgsnUo2JChoUuzuHDstZLhy6HVNVqD/s1600/7.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjbTDaHgWrRGF6qpZ7AytHJHU2A-IitdYwTk-OsBWpyrgi3ls191GTY6j175Y6LdA2zcm1AEr3ACpB_4po78zUlrOeqozRZKEBHjG6gxgsnUo2JChoUuzuHDstZLhy6HVNVqD/s400/7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489138340460850210" border="0" /></a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">During the ceremony his constant presence worked in his favor. Just before the wedding party was to begin their walk down the aisle, the decorator discovered a small basket of flower petals that hadn't been sprinkled along the aisle. She handed it to Colson and told him to scatter them as he walked up front. He sort of walked and tossed them in front of him, but was proud to be the spontaneous "flower boy" for the wedding.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Our family loves the dances at receptions. Colson, especially, loves to dance. Brogan will do the "Chicken Dance," and I can usually coax him out onto the floor for a slower number. Braden's getting much more comfortable dancing, even attempting a polka once or twice!</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfasSuDKbWhCt3bbrUZzpIMbq_EmAcYDuOGQTPSWMV1B1kjzu_T2JgIzUu5oLjTtI3NpdnEDXh4JU-AmfwrzhyrgAa42-4iQy86frkWvp0i0Ers-bmGHSIZ3bTXiy7rR_me8W_/s1600/8.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfasSuDKbWhCt3bbrUZzpIMbq_EmAcYDuOGQTPSWMV1B1kjzu_T2JgIzUu5oLjTtI3NpdnEDXh4JU-AmfwrzhyrgAa42-4iQy86frkWvp0i0Ers-bmGHSIZ3bTXiy7rR_me8W_/s400/8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489138329125275618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I think Braden danced more than I did, actually. </span><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtl692HHWJfg7x7f0rLzfnnU2J6XA9FgqSj6grsLqEus2XLRRzT9as4mnqMEL7dYirqzPo0nqP7Uw7aiA8JD1To_W5evGnslFoTM1cDt6DW1oCSg3w5lI_o8yS2IIcVSJna7m/s1600/9.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtl692HHWJfg7x7f0rLzfnnU2J6XA9FgqSj6grsLqEus2XLRRzT9as4mnqMEL7dYirqzPo0nqP7Uw7aiA8JD1To_W5evGnslFoTM1cDt6DW1oCSg3w5lI_o8yS2IIcVSJna7m/s400/9.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489138325731053842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It was almost Colson's night. He came </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">this close</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> to catching the garter. Colson is in the front of the group of gentlemen, and is wearing a white shirt and khaki pants below. You can see that both hands are reaching up to catch the white garter that is </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">clearly</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> an inch or two from his tiny hands.</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIlfGhZiiexPP8WrcMDmLkjYbb0Zl6w8hDSY-WktsMGrc_aQPcdODxbduF8nISIcJSxnLqGJhxlokxFMY7EFf57dhKi4blz-V7Ogt3dyI6tqUcW6YA7MMayHCks6UiNvQG_0V/s1600/10.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIlfGhZiiexPP8WrcMDmLkjYbb0Zl6w8hDSY-WktsMGrc_aQPcdODxbduF8nISIcJSxnLqGJhxlokxFMY7EFf57dhKi4blz-V7Ogt3dyI6tqUcW6YA7MMayHCks6UiNvQG_0V/s400/10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489138320268284194" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">But, alas, it was not to be.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The tall gentleman directly behind him swooped in and snatched it away at the last microsecond.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">That's OK, though. I'm not quite ready for Colson to get married. And hopefully that tall gentleman's girlfriend will be able to use his victory to her advantage.</span><br /></span>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-86189562462905241032010-06-10T12:12:00.001-05:002010-06-10T12:13:23.534-05:00A Powerful Never-Coming of Age Story<span style="font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">OK, this has some language in it. Viewer - consider yourself cautioned.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">But if you can make it past the language, it's terrific!</span></span><br /><br /><object width="512" height="328" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" id="ordie_player_c8ad4aa802"><param name="movie" value="http://player.ordienetworks.com/flash/fodplayer.swf" /><param name="flashvars" value="key=c8ad4aa802" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed width="512" height="328" flashvars="key=c8ad4aa802" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" quality="high" src="http://player.ordienetworks.com/flash/fodplayer.swf" name="ordie_player_c8ad4aa802" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><div style="text-align:left;font-size:x-small;margin-top:0;width:512px;"><a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c8ad4aa802/wax-on-f-ck-off-with-ralph-macchio" title="from Ralph Macchio, Todd Holland, Molly Ringwald, Kevin Connolly, Pat O'Brien, Michael Lerner, chad_carter, FOD Team, Chris Kula, Antonio Scarlata, June Diane Raphael, and Shauna O'Toole">Wax On, F*ck Off with Ralph Macchio</a> from <a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/ralph_macchio">Ralph Macchio</a></div>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-73710465255132154012010-06-08T19:14:00.000-05:002010-06-08T19:15:11.102-05:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXS-wUOXHujVwTe-in4Uj8SqysqX4niPjgsAlz8MZHzSakJAyFLujYlMKar-GA3pklPSFhG3gBi2-8ysWdCRToqgLAR3OVqINMxbv4h-wKPO6BcR-SDj8PHUnKRnD2EY-DDHt/s1600/Billboard.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXS-wUOXHujVwTe-in4Uj8SqysqX4niPjgsAlz8MZHzSakJAyFLujYlMKar-GA3pklPSFhG3gBi2-8ysWdCRToqgLAR3OVqINMxbv4h-wKPO6BcR-SDj8PHUnKRnD2EY-DDHt/s400/Billboard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480560818453171474" border="0" /></a>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12721761.post-6299663134981204432010-06-05T23:34:00.002-05:002010-06-05T23:37:54.425-05:00Huh. Who'd Have Seen That Coming?<span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This video is dedicated to all those team policy debate judges who didn't see Braden's reformation of the invasive species policy in the United States as necessary.</span></span><br /><br /><object width="480" height="430"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://media.theonion.com/flash/video/embedded_player.swf?&videoid=101196"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://media.theonion.com/flash/video/embedded_player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" flashvars="videoid=101196" width="480" height="430"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/video,101196/">Boy’s Tragic Death Could Have Happened To Any Family With 20-Foot Pet Python</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I know you all wish you could go back now and give his team the win. </span></span>Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12947420124918584822noreply@blogger.com0