tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36454296390302185822024-03-07T21:40:55.248-05:00Our Two PearlsFollow the adventures of the two gems in our family, EJ and Sophie.Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.comBlogger511125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-21066393941130519052010-06-16T20:22:00.001-04:002010-06-16T20:29:31.101-04:00Piano Recital Performance<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz3fXUdc5ZGxmlGVV05hhmp5oXha4_SAazO51edj26sYmlQuC2bhnj8kuLMrVj0N5bhTfEGO1wSC02HpB_nng' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-51044928996310733372010-06-14T22:16:00.001-04:002010-06-15T10:36:06.757-04:00Family Day!A few weeks ago, on May 28th, we celebrated Family Day - our 3rd anniversary of meeting little Long Li Lei, now Sophie LiLei. I've never posted the video before...mostly because I've never managed to find the time to create the movie of the moment. But alas, here it is...better late than never.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw2HbijfJa3DI1RLRvwSvklfi9eGO5uDVxmCMtReSb7U7l34ZNrEaEpTK59DEstrx7_Xs7Uk0IHhyHJi2ypAw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-80089126151868852242010-06-09T20:22:00.007-04:002010-06-09T20:46:44.492-04:00Catching up...These last few weeks of school are always a killer with the schedule - too many things crammed into only a few weeks. Next week is the worst...Dance recital on Sunday, piano recital rehearsal on Monday, piano recital on Tuesday, dance practice for competition on Wednesday, an ice cream party at school that I'm helping with on Friday, and dance competition on Saturday. School gets on the following Monday, then EJ will have her braces put on later that week. Then, a weekend of camping, K's parents are visiting, 4th of July....WHEW! <br /><br />Anyway, I am way behind on posting, so hopefully this will catch me up a bit. Two weeks ago, EJ had her band and chorus concerts on back-to-back nights. (back row, on right):<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoqCTdo-ENsN0ZkZeq5sWJeHOe6Ch-r0CBGWY8RU8LymkOMxP7NAvrvQoL53rKjrAWTl38KdZmwfPr6ReqOPTwo0fZwxY6Qe2Nfzb-gxXp2rzF_SFOEfYk9-_9r6Kv9yYQDfU2gutJn0/s1600/DSC_0593.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480937172418274818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoqCTdo-ENsN0ZkZeq5sWJeHOe6Ch-r0CBGWY8RU8LymkOMxP7NAvrvQoL53rKjrAWTl38KdZmwfPr6ReqOPTwo0fZwxY6Qe2Nfzb-gxXp2rzF_SFOEfYk9-_9r6Kv9yYQDfU2gutJn0/s400/DSC_0593.JPG" /></a><br />Playing the drums:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOamAVpZ7zhuCvrMi3JtsDdpILy3oE0NBgXHpDIBGdTtmZvYWeBih-a_9F6bKg6QeXwwXPG31Akle1bZEodOGSEIsdUxQxIDuH9o8svK6ex0DG-kEFUFK1IIXgPiRU-DB2D2gBuqQ5gs/s1600/DSC_0588.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480937165204746802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOamAVpZ7zhuCvrMi3JtsDdpILy3oE0NBgXHpDIBGdTtmZvYWeBih-a_9F6bKg6QeXwwXPG31Akle1bZEodOGSEIsdUxQxIDuH9o8svK6ex0DG-kEFUFK1IIXgPiRU-DB2D2gBuqQ5gs/s400/DSC_0588.JPG" /></a> </div><div>5th grade band:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TAe_Kn9XHAfr5hVB_LOyNC8QNcjT2s2fiFzlnQePZCxg5GDV_-Ud-frh_lGZSE1FVThlA2QqzIAj16oqYxY8AHgvpPwZMO1SkdVvpwK-rLxEX9Xmzh6IO53pV5c3uJwCQ60VuogDe5U/s1600/DSC_0580.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480936752084515602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TAe_Kn9XHAfr5hVB_LOyNC8QNcjT2s2fiFzlnQePZCxg5GDV_-Ud-frh_lGZSE1FVThlA2QqzIAj16oqYxY8AHgvpPwZMO1SkdVvpwK-rLxEX9Xmzh6IO53pV5c3uJwCQ60VuogDe5U/s400/DSC_0580.JPG" /></a><br />With one of her best buddies, EB:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic61cHHGkMHJvHyBhzMIjzVPntDXZPEvVnODekq23Ne7oqrpXHCtZ9IixSZso4UKMV1NHIHMWw4Qo4tZSj2t04AlUGK_KmV6vGjyV_GRsOZUDbusr1L_AEO8dwLavlTm6D4mKxEVawMlU/s1600/DSC_0579+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480936740018098530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic61cHHGkMHJvHyBhzMIjzVPntDXZPEvVnODekq23Ne7oqrpXHCtZ9IixSZso4UKMV1NHIHMWw4Qo4tZSj2t04AlUGK_KmV6vGjyV_GRsOZUDbusr1L_AEO8dwLavlTm6D4mKxEVawMlU/s400/DSC_0579+(Large).JPG" /></a><br />EJ celebrated her 11th birthday a few weeks ago. She and a few friends went to a local salon/spa to get all dolled up for the occasion with mini manicures, mini facials, and fancy hairdos. The girls had a blast and it was fun to watch them! Then, we all came back to the house for some cake and ice cream.</div><div> </div><div>There was a wide array of crazy nail colors:<br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoIigefV3w3MUb4wlErIT6sAf_0FcXarTFNsVO6d7wZRMR63aOhGShxX8gNRAMVyyuHN3SP92mIodovMK4VRTWWeAZDVy12v4Bk7y7YbHVUAPex1H0ubuLHJyfg-jsq-vmPNXquCo3sc/s1600/Nails1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480936243125852882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoIigefV3w3MUb4wlErIT6sAf_0FcXarTFNsVO6d7wZRMR63aOhGShxX8gNRAMVyyuHN3SP92mIodovMK4VRTWWeAZDVy12v4Bk7y7YbHVUAPex1H0ubuLHJyfg-jsq-vmPNXquCo3sc/s400/Nails1.jpg" /></a> </div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcQSPvhXvdXHLaYm3zFaLd9DvmEv7YQZ0gcoFOtt3vnqjHxEaRv_Py16W2wa_VNjA4sMMcTCfchqA06a-FItPsdgiiIkKs92h4QUTxA18vL13jVQuSl83P5tlzfaNXF_mlSVUZw_WDV0/s1600/JessicaBrittany.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480936238291880930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcQSPvhXvdXHLaYm3zFaLd9DvmEv7YQZ0gcoFOtt3vnqjHxEaRv_Py16W2wa_VNjA4sMMcTCfchqA06a-FItPsdgiiIkKs92h4QUTxA18vL13jVQuSl83P5tlzfaNXF_mlSVUZw_WDV0/s400/JessicaBrittany.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnV30exFoJtbUbqeHYeS8eiGce1oPJ5S2QlJ0V-iEm8DbtQGkBQ1W43io9vTaggjlTGGXd4zj7l2472nKUWCAl_7_KE0FXYLP9Uq90-WBTh3lQjAeBwWbwmEDikepId82PgqHDL-ktpVQ/s1600/EmilyNails.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480935990477498386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnV30exFoJtbUbqeHYeS8eiGce1oPJ5S2QlJ0V-iEm8DbtQGkBQ1W43io9vTaggjlTGGXd4zj7l2472nKUWCAl_7_KE0FXYLP9Uq90-WBTh3lQjAeBwWbwmEDikepId82PgqHDL-ktpVQ/s400/EmilyNails.jpg" /></a><br />EB had her hair done in zig-zagged French braids:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7dgSnKnZ6CyM0qyyCPLleN2WxA77c8XjX2lCx7y16Jo2t2qrq5OrDvjILP_v8N4ise0qYnJgRiO4FGNtkSOyWAeNDIUFOQMIVJSu9RDRQ7D-BP-SB-3iutXu1HeQuNfbif5yZSCNUew/s1600/EmmaBHair3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480935987803910994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7dgSnKnZ6CyM0qyyCPLleN2WxA77c8XjX2lCx7y16Jo2t2qrq5OrDvjILP_v8N4ise0qYnJgRiO4FGNtkSOyWAeNDIUFOQMIVJSu9RDRQ7D-BP-SB-3iutXu1HeQuNfbif5yZSCNUew/s400/EmmaBHair3.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgZ_Dhlqiaga3jZ4EFm_CkEiQvAI209rhvZELpIs3XM4vSuGf2Lsmlz5jPGtb3Jh9_CVULWCFByjzQoaniBOSkqVY8uGy2y5Q68U3iipg-7QSSlH2RleQSt_1MtvWQb2VFETS_P3zTPQ/s1600/EmmaBHair2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480935980906642930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgZ_Dhlqiaga3jZ4EFm_CkEiQvAI209rhvZELpIs3XM4vSuGf2Lsmlz5jPGtb3Jh9_CVULWCFByjzQoaniBOSkqVY8uGy2y5Q68U3iipg-7QSSlH2RleQSt_1MtvWQb2VFETS_P3zTPQ/s400/EmmaBHair2.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitm2LxT7Eloi7Rt4oyBk4arUKIhP8mRIx9uC3tL873frimo6NUUHQFZJUgHv2gbDIgucJRlY_sBl9wdRhWhiXgpObb3ECkppYVjO4utzARksrSb9bSNKvYulZnPtRB8EFQQpBUHxXGwNE/s1600/Copy+of+ToriHair.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480935972756548530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitm2LxT7Eloi7Rt4oyBk4arUKIhP8mRIx9uC3tL873frimo6NUUHQFZJUgHv2gbDIgucJRlY_sBl9wdRhWhiXgpObb3ECkppYVjO4utzARksrSb9bSNKvYulZnPtRB8EFQQpBUHxXGwNE/s400/Copy+of+ToriHair.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxK3aen2DPLpAJQ7lqCPSRQ6ewZt1rekvg6doBZjITe_DWqkecB9z5_pvUHbSdmfBn4hsmGkhskoLqcSC_QFxRBK1aePE-6iws1FQld_Den4VkyPSRiOZ8bDKndX3O92qMQVLfJbnR7U/s1600/BrittanyHair3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480935970508207778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxK3aen2DPLpAJQ7lqCPSRQ6ewZt1rekvg6doBZjITe_DWqkecB9z5_pvUHbSdmfBn4hsmGkhskoLqcSC_QFxRBK1aePE-6iws1FQld_Den4VkyPSRiOZ8bDKndX3O92qMQVLfJbnR7U/s400/BrittanyHair3.jpg" /></a><br />EJ, ready for her facial:</div><div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480935598433150290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDOfkKw8sltDo0L5ET28unvgmqW3FzF-RqrnR4UUwqw_vJsTYrkvzxM-I0dSvrzjOW8d41vb8rNZhohmZ1KkfOZBiwjP54hNS0o-fgzKD_6yWr0-0UnXqkSjWN7F7UYYgOc0gatwY7Dk/s400/EmmaHFacial2.jpg" /></div><div> </div><div>Getting her nails painted a very deep purple with gold glitter on top:</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480935608228934114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtNKntIRpEmixO1uenk88JC_K71gq20p99QVnyG_RhbeTir4zucefrlw-yGOmfapveLkgU0ulC7-Yq1zejm2mAeHi4bNFKDgIDlUBQfTgy3zAi_2PJaFFASzJWV3mUQqx8uT4ACyOnb4/s400/EmmaHNails3.jpg" /></div><div> </div><div>Her fancy 'do:</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480935603351906514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhljXRLnMDkXYauZAjyBJBlzDFsQCrEfYFF6BeADV1wLMDAVJlhvuwQZTYAW2ss65ixSA0VVKqzFyxBj9bXyQ5nUTLi6oZk4KNpKXXRl_S86HnqdZGT5a3w8wXQKwDJieXIoWshlmYG8Q/s400/EmmaHHair5.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480935616498143298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGUfm9QO8_FE-jZzlLpjrFNCNrRTKddvQOJ0qIn_zNeXSxwnuxo6FBVx5ZIxc_nA6yqbYdMa_0IQE8X_JSrny2DhkYf-8gRridb_p8A-tVbdcLHfwRq5H5gW4TH_6UEWAQ2mo7XzvlKI/s400/GlamGirls1.jpg" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIFOyJJj2s9l8UerjZX1zfayWAZM4MTtvrum-ytO8ztSIeABURnHi4zE_YBTufvCnSPl6w9YLXHamAOiS-BpRCVjTJTkhEbtBODb5YEgS9vIhkucVnAoj65B78wePzUOcizU5m2YDQaw/s1600/GlamGirls5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480935615702771634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIFOyJJj2s9l8UerjZX1zfayWAZM4MTtvrum-ytO8ztSIeABURnHi4zE_YBTufvCnSPl6w9YLXHamAOiS-BpRCVjTJTkhEbtBODb5YEgS9vIhkucVnAoj65B78wePzUOcizU5m2YDQaw/s400/GlamGirls5.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div>K and Sophie missed all the excitement, as I made them go buy tix for the dance recital while we were at the salon, and then Sophie had a friend's birthday party that afternoon. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-5854339170534688632010-05-22T15:20:00.000-04:002010-05-24T10:05:36.644-04:00Last Day in DCOkay, I know I've been home for almost three weeks, but I just can't seem to get out of my own way to get some things done! :) Anyway, here are some shots from our last 24 hours in DC:<br /><br /><div><div><div>Here's a shot of our hotel - three old brownstones that have about 40 rooms. See the dormer windows at the top left? That was our penthouse suite!</div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474833445672164098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmO71hojZAECTDQrM5QBw_us-P1HoSZUM_ippWwmGtrZwugf3Q2uoIFSGKZNAunkmxvvfAQHWexK5ej0Z3IBLejNDL1UZq0UBWCy2QjE5cSJEJUlmah9Jd2SlPA7Y9p-fIgXlqK1qE4JY/s400/DSC_0436+(Large).JPG" /></div><br /><div>The girls on the front steps:</div><div></div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474834511028448050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mordsTqTjJj2lujOqgn93dk6N7zpNpglRfadnma5ufVhosu3wZ2Xj-QRurLW57u2S2ry4DguiHItR7eJcNWAUUqu6QpaFllnZD7F8TvmdVOD01Ha0Cm-yGsQ08y8cMifv_rKAzJfwmk/s400/DSC_0426+(Large).JPG" /><br /><div><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474832082280077410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UMFa1J7mrk7heQSNgSvSbCDxW5sEzQ9c5myB2CxpiMnCK7j_UTh9-ghpLV2m-EkHic5DHsKJtaz0Ead09suwO7vCr_gjPzG8GanHy6bSX6kM4Yf-J-YdohZRfKDBMIdSQDtGKwL5RlU/s400/DSC_0425+(Large).JPG" /> </div><br /><div>This was the view out our bathroom window at the back of the hotel - overlooking the outdoor patio/bar/restaurant. And just across the way from this was the back side of several embassies - Chile, Trinidad.<br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474832077408230994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjo8O-4S3UW5MXGOVDvxo0qfUko9KwYQG9lcqQQqshlmTdbc0CAwEHzOAaDgFq3SbAYwzIzDRoTSEh35IjFKc99EHoBXC0ZTJlSOoQ44bVd6i6vL_8FaJ7FlWJ6Fu8Mz7SL9cK0Kekofo/s400/DSC_0420+(Large).JPG" /><br />Our giant room. We also had a small kitchen area.</div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474832078944138306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhVvvcH3PwjdsRSKIQgrWPNBxfSORCTGz0DNuPprlvRWyfFGxthcIRnLF2nuH2uHxs752IUmGhR506fyArOQrB0IWmpJpZWx0CWPKGTo1_AQQEtEghP5DwP6aznj03L_KfKqQtXdE7DA/s400/DSC_0415+(Large).JPG" /> </div><div>The view across the street:</div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474832073373854066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQpYVHiHXKD9m1oh61pumcJPCPDP4QMYJm2IV-WqNzBVqLSB0U0xJwWV05r9WUgsy2Mx0qmfuCtbF4J-NxTxi53WPd_s_85cqvVLKXkbJXdjrNhtYsrmk8_-F4sHXmhUJoVP9yOLUXvQ/s400/DSC_0406+(Large).JPG" /></div><div></div><div>This was the very skinny winding staircase that we had to climb several times each day to the 4th floor:</div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474833441529173746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGx4NMh_QB-xmHP579Uh8u8lNvA7V291dck3k0bg_b3ilDzzOxdgevcK27WV-MX0TjV6PIV_fY9ao2LDgVSzWXYPBcNIjwwgopax6TgdadZ3fJl_2BkXi-ZSHe9Pkjbm2yRJS92CMyPBQ/s400/DSC_0440+(Large).JPG" /><br />We started the morning at the zoo! We met up with my good friend HD and her boys there. They had a flight home that afternoon, but we did get to spend a little time with them again!</div><div><br /><div><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474831365929744402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3DetdQ7hGbF7Tbep7cQ21uCmQnvaX4mNfzlxvHbqnOddSGxvkiE36VBKf_bh_wbTk-BCVpUiDip15bn2lJkYzihayzb1n5VDy5oFHkP9SIJiVJtWONGkNR0cI77gebHISGyPlYudFb0/s400/DSC_0313+(Large).JPG" /></div><div></div><div>The baby gorilla was so cute. A few minutes after I took this photo, mama grabbed him and went inside, because the HUMANS couldn't follow the rules "No tapping on glass". Well, honestly, the rude humans weren't tapping...they were pounding!</div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474831377670543538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLMxWXqLMERTQFY8TWSskrdLlR_hnSkxtQhVtrIw9uuG3G3UvqiSdcxNUHr22ESainedFQ04zZIJtLfpYvxMj2jUy8lc3em8y49c_k4AGS0cEMqwq8gSStzBtqVocXN-A50AsMqmmOKs/s400/DSC_0352+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474831373247988386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwcB8dczg6X3KAAJ-3GurX8VQ-VJP4-XdL4PMVcKcvk43It2YfdzWQad3V7w85-UTirLJPp-IBsPqrm6ThY1GR6cAY4pS3_hQX2v5dbQtbA5ln-aYrA2tfEUbdYnMdjLYozDdBurRBoM/s400/DSC_0325+(Large).JPG" /></div><div></div><div>Sophie comparing hersellf to how fast the bamboo grows. She had to take her panda with her to the zoo! We did see one panda...the other was under "panda watch" - they thought she was pregnant again a few days earlier (she wasn't), but she was still under observation.</div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474831365855750402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZrDIyvmPXy1L6TAW92Gg96Hr8ohK-r7HNlcVuZKam39IApUN_VczCU6U966Ar7pNe79fNg0qlwKA9arMsU4QltPxdGR9N9Oi1S8DIw3p6uC2z0Z6Wz4yc2ulSAkKB7Xp5o7xaB8RKP0/s400/DSC_0316+(Large).JPG" /></div><div></div><div>K left the zoo a little early to do a Segway tour. So, the girls and I hit up the panda gift shop (of course!) and then took the Metro to the Sculpture Garden. Sophie crashed before we were even out of the zoo. EJ and I enjoyed a little ice cream treat while walking around. When Sophie woke up, the girls just had to dip their toes in the fountain at the garden, and I had a chance to play with the camera a bit:</div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474831755317837778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWSsS-XH2-SPUBzP5xH8m6KhiUiPjxFZtxbooLo-yhEz0mrN4zsRFz6_e3rfuzwqG2m7-t2i-aeGZ-uE0U4HgslJT5tN8nC9SohgzAfjhUUZyVA5Lrx9HJc3sDpBPoiv1MJYe9OaPfhY/s400/DSC_0396+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474831750333842642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZVUf8UUpOamTXSdBTpviM34aLRdMBpGJk48ro59xOCSzF5bt2MSMFEVvq_YfZEWLhItlUlmQTLlUXmtHD7mhnO_vFx30ksTAZsKGnaaAdI4pePLDum6e9-C0BgSWevQf8ShlOqU90jI/s400/DSC_0393+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474831745497858018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYrOA_Fvu462otxSV0cPoHSzGaOaUFgO9pu_aklYin5sLFUNmHRUESM1YXi1EQhYnj9-RUql1nQaZkk51_cEPVu-2fxhyXwHRLYeFtXXbQO6Y9KPAFfgB1zoz6NVGOTf1GHLEm7yUFvg/s400/DSC_0374+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474831741540077554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBplx3CnLVs7D-vQnE5bQhB30JDbtwO8jyiyuKqznDW3fdNTJPA0ExhJhAOGox_XHcbwxcR8VksCsCVlADkF76CAX0_aBlHNcS9LaSvd8TMzTb-fnEnjlLMP1GfWVXqwZS5KG0bdZv4U/s400/DSC_0373+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474831736985037234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjoA-RCJIfWjAc5VdyvNUPvBckJf3M6-fogSzihe_pH5gbiZAEsFXgQLi3dKZLWlgi5UKzNj_O6dVTnc7A72w8tskDMF45zwvoCFwUcFthBC3dxYZez0eu8_dsftFXrposK9qR_Lx_Jw/s400/DSC_0371+(Large).JPG" /></div><div></div><div>EJ liked this sculpture of a pyramid of cubes. The light made it look interesting.</div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474831383585666018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0tpWCKvEFafKky6Q8B0O8UBQG5K367y7TBHI321n_IByMykV9XSS7ZnYx3wjhaChDS4bZrZdIRDqIpRFFTwCzbiTm1w2BNArwKreDGWbBiewGnx4ekazhzzQ3ABZLOUQHgxc5ix6EGM/s400/DSC_0366+(Large).JPG" /></div><div></div><div>When the sculpture garden closed, we popped into the Natural History museum for a quick break until K called us that he was done. Here's one of the Easter Island statues:</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvteDY7nKsRzqHDaGfurlNWk6cnznBnnedLkjpvfWYEDjtd8enNKifAZ4pFpaTA7ThYOR8oL2yBP_gIuhqolvbs3ZolTiOQzwcHRvOdAdX4DCP2IseM8nb4V96uezvf-gSK2ba2f72GY/s1600/DSC_0404+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474832069579069170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvteDY7nKsRzqHDaGfurlNWk6cnznBnnedLkjpvfWYEDjtd8enNKifAZ4pFpaTA7ThYOR8oL2yBP_gIuhqolvbs3ZolTiOQzwcHRvOdAdX4DCP2IseM8nb4V96uezvf-gSK2ba2f72GY/s400/DSC_0404+(Large).JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-90699770838352730682010-05-16T20:41:00.006-04:002010-05-16T21:24:51.644-04:00Washington DC - Day FourOur fourth day in DC also started out early, as our congressman had arranged an 8:45 AM tour at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, so we had to be on the move by about 7:45 to walk to the Metro Station, make a few transfers, walk a few blocks, find the wrong entrance, and get in and through security. This was a fascinating tour about how our paper money is printed, but no photos were allowed! Here's a shot from the gift shop, where EJ and Sophie were trying to see how much money they were worth!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472033605985861970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MGFlkL7KVM2qZnOhbj1O3vMF3Y5AZQUkMjGp8l3XcJ7WtqFLSdi_Ly1BZL-XslYYQC3OVUSLBpQ3SAvpiRtv63s_Gz-sqGvMfZP0EHvOo9YplSPBSZebjtqptqzQ3fC2ZzZBkAETqps/s400/DSC_0206+(Large).JPG" /><br /><br />About halfway through the tour, the emergency alarm sounded and was telling us all to evacuate the building immediately. We quickly found out this was just a test, but it had us all wondering for a while! EJ bought herself about $500 worth of shredded money for $5, and we bought Sophie some lucky money for the year of the dog (when she was born). It's a dollar bill from the year 2006 that the serial number begins with 888 (considered lucky in Chinese!). We tried to get some for EJ but the year of the rabbit was sold out...it will be out again next year though!<br /><br />Notice how blue and sunny the sky is in the next photo. Well, since this day was the first one that didn't threaten rain, the girls and I wore shorts. Big mistake. It was probably only in the mid-40s in the morning and then it might have climbed to 50. We were freezing and the wind was blowing terribly hard. Nonetheless, we had wanted to do a bunch of outdoor walking among the monuments, so perhaps we just walked a little faster than usual. Our first leg of the walk took us around the tidal basin to see the Jefferson Memorial. All of the cherry blossoms were gone - darn!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472033610518867234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-xYd_0xavAbTX3zjcHE8ozmGqt9IPgGPELGbCxtVLyLpMXEBAUSaDNvX_Z5TvmVyha5jkH1VQ3qZFvsgm72ASr5FhezyfpQAHBR3HHkszRVO22zs1A8J3e24ttN0iIH3x8xD8MkdKM4/s400/DSC_0212+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472033613944464706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholl8eLpDIrg-QFb_xpzQtqvUIXIh5tR-oz2xq_uZPb2AbvjKhTIFF-wl2aLpq2L_fsC3KUbD83CSm0d2izx8L3y8Xtt5I-hz45l4_PjaKHpG_EyVpNwDEpwJdYiLn6vhogEqDIQWTvK4/s400/DSC_0217+(Large).JPG" /><br /><br />As we worked our way around the tidal basin, we came across the FDR monument, which I had never seen. It was really very nice.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472033617394366770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP3l-zSHEGKJPdAvclsz5K7gjZL42K-45sAmDqmC-rWfWP6DXTME1_sHjutfJWwlT8xvGYoxyl39Uw2i-1eLREkTJBeDNHG11_cjIIzOUc2PskDrWetOIAQvZnPYOs163kt-FirXdXf50/s400/DSC_0222+(Large).JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9EYHYRbM9lw95cZFAyqDKgKn_mnjH3pwelOarDvBDduc5PxskMLnFOsomUTno4lLcDHeLLr5rrzEcOo4bOr92TiyJ3BAplLQQCv9gjVu5FiLTdraP_AwlgiEEMN0fQ3iU2KiszKUVB8/s1600/DSC_0224+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472033623137770290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9EYHYRbM9lw95cZFAyqDKgKn_mnjH3pwelOarDvBDduc5PxskMLnFOsomUTno4lLcDHeLLr5rrzEcOo4bOr92TiyJ3BAplLQQCv9gjVu5FiLTdraP_AwlgiEEMN0fQ3iU2KiszKUVB8/s400/DSC_0224+(Large).JPG" /></a><br />You can see that at some point after the Jefferson memorial, I realized I had a change of clothes in the backpack for Sophie, so I slid some leggings on under her skirt, and she put her extra socks on as mittens!<br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVWEHwr-tciLtpK4mxH1ZPSHlris6jcmLQbCclCYnpKf8GZGpKNCVm1d8maCfTIl0Bh-T1J9PCmEzubz3gnwPgY9MSc9zTjR0lDsXETaVV64iPwVGbAsm62jXayPY-TzfuzYhILT6yjQ/s1600/DSC_0232+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472033916000281106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVWEHwr-tciLtpK4mxH1ZPSHlris6jcmLQbCclCYnpKf8GZGpKNCVm1d8maCfTIl0Bh-T1J9PCmEzubz3gnwPgY9MSc9zTjR0lDsXETaVV64iPwVGbAsm62jXayPY-TzfuzYhILT6yjQ/s400/DSC_0232+(Large).JPG" /></a><br />Here are EJ and Sophie in the bread line:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472033911478111746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA66GmGyydXwMGqp4BzzndnGghpnRgR9EqB_WQ4IG6taLQcmptBUY7vq7pXDrVsgvYJwV46jUNJUEywIDO03EMokfBRIiAnB0fE-FLyO9wna7Qhv9c8ioPgwXpK035FseTGG6Hkwf9C5w/s400/DSC_0229+(Large).JPG" /> <div> </div><div>A short walk further brought us to the Korean Monument. I had never seen it before, and it was amazing too. I noticed that each of the soldiers had a small spotlight on it, and I imagine that it is quite eerie to see at night.</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472033920096413810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zMz9a-sgWQI6toAwxeDcr_a_uxSbvL8zaA_R7sZydvOeEp5_mkqv2Zw5xd7oz_KYiynLVJnPqSEB8aw85Jkwt1ydS8508sMD1K_W5NrzAnnDeXq4hUBqcjV3XCyOOPvpXcvDQ-K8VJw/s400/DSC_0235+(Large).JPG" /></div><div> </div><div>There is a marble wall to the left of the above photograph. It has engraved faces of Korean War soldiers on it, and it is meant to reflect the statues of the soldiers.</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472034183419871682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbrpizd-eQA3Hg6ldOstqcXwO73_YqakjF_Mzr_MgZ9EH_Nte1LOzeBl4xCM1kvMB8wJn1b2k9_EK4c-C3hnneUFec0HRdPyZzx0ARef-uKvFvRXv-WPxYPspk4wjO2-2_lrTvU-27HE/s400/DSC_0246+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472033920656196146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7tIo-dcSM_TCHlFXq6fzIj4xDQalgOeW1OYyrVdgn2s4QRXq1auhdn_o4Ya1GD5c8FZJM8E9-kchFZevcSelL6Znsnihc8oBgdiMOcqwJ0qxDGR1R7TqLHgSZLrPjHXsLBk0GKmYuBA/s400/DSC_0236+(Large).JPG" /></div><div> </div><div>This gentleman is a Korean War veteran. He was happy to share some of his experiences with the school groups that were visiting, and all the kids shook his hand when he was done speaking:</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472033925388231570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8K7nYEo5-VTcbI-JLepRVjHkm5QJ4syttIqZ-QnBkt96nQB6OAEJEZdY-YlEAfcoPJqxe5p_ZsD70X4wfQl5xyw_n96jvMEdlcbp0ZgaZi0GKjoIIgAyJT0LYD80JQ7yq3_p7ExpyFE/s400/DSC_0243+(Large).JPG" /> </div><div>We finally made it to the Lincoln Memorial:</div><div> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472034188038411362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6HnkWqFDzWyhqgDIWa2NOXW-10cOg_-3Kmv8GadZS40K1lYeSdC3oKAyjRh6P_5zNbDElm4AAXw6AYD4rNkpVJTwG3_6bplDaAsIS2WB8RhG3CBx90C25_t5X-7posebZ0DiZzZtBWY/s400/DSC_0250+(Large).JPG" /><br /><br />EJ always finds the horses:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472034192741692114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUhmAvrW_dWAcWp3qyyUxTimJyeQtemCuMAl8tVw7KhQZ2HZcArtWWtjKJ7ht1dZFGf25IOsW76EQal3CQ1hSj4bcjko0G3K7lQEhwfh38x2ffeMf6lvKVRaUmpomvnPrZVTRQ_UYkMs/s400/DSC_0256+(Large).JPG" /><br /><br />Yup, there's that "tall pointy building" again (as Sophie called it):<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472034200179485506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7z5-eGBI3N8UNlnMRGrcGylXrtQ-dbUG0_r3MkfwdsB3TPMOxQU7tIRA8RdSXAmTRj6pvp4PFsYCdD8Kwq9BQzmKus_gIEZNn5HOdBLBG0g7MMaMFAVEc06QN4KefX-xMXAjPut9s8o8/s400/DSC_0258+(Large).JPG" /><br /><br />I think Sophie half expected old Abe to stand up, as in the Night at the Museum 2 movie:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472034208628974434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1XWVOQX7H8ybmmrWO3liOWeK4OwWtxjiEKUTV0Tc1ll3t2xFIij0I7y69NFY9M2p5Rrx2q7cBsAaHVx3cUOPz6vlVoAAQceOias2ZASoziizLc8OWlWGN4C9m3p4ewU5eaZ9k3VM8Ck/s400/DSC_0265+(Large).JPG" /><br /><br />Next was the Vietnam Wall...a very powerful memorial:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472034738384269714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMdwX-hDmjirNXlxcHX66Sd4hy4PcwFXEGwxEE8vQtQLLC05eW-O6-cK0MP6dzOB3wBiYySUJOwh8rIj5r87ZF_FAHIioJwNR8LLkHS_T1Vpb6HVrGuHyhUmaMB0DQDk9p6ZPlZEmVk8/s400/DSC_0272+(Large).JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip25fwlOJ1IFMMbdsW-eNtwgzgeJskiRj2Ve1FUyJKON-oQ4PLpC135lb_GvcKNhqgPaPxXJndseqcWdz65EP7gH79lMny6puuKnZSs9DR1GazVv9IPBPpFBUJmqG65-Jw6sC9S0XHI4Q/s1600/DSC_0273+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472034744914362370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip25fwlOJ1IFMMbdsW-eNtwgzgeJskiRj2Ve1FUyJKON-oQ4PLpC135lb_GvcKNhqgPaPxXJndseqcWdz65EP7gH79lMny6puuKnZSs9DR1GazVv9IPBPpFBUJmqG65-Jw6sC9S0XHI4Q/s400/DSC_0273+(Large).JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiugKY6TVOsQC3WP6tHaut82UDizNQILde5tyIB-wzYF4hEbcnwr4NPDvQ_wziNtnUNQVmHnioD8QVSCAuTVfQDhuDlmhT955xE7mSkKXAjQjq9JNbjpexj8JX4HyaRxYwNw-zYOvM8nDo/s1600/DSC_0275+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472034741927922290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiugKY6TVOsQC3WP6tHaut82UDizNQILde5tyIB-wzYF4hEbcnwr4NPDvQ_wziNtnUNQVmHnioD8QVSCAuTVfQDhuDlmhT955xE7mSkKXAjQjq9JNbjpexj8JX4HyaRxYwNw-zYOvM8nDo/s400/DSC_0275+(Large).JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVicvIfpT6ljisj-xm8xIqzbppaSzUm6jEcaC1n_b8UjZKbJV0kuqAWmBkTnvlmSIgU2Vehw9LChvP8p37NxGZAgJszMTgq61jORlDw-33b_LQApr-jOHhewd5JEyh_fwV9mTnJlWahc/s1600/DSC_0278+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472034748926508994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVicvIfpT6ljisj-xm8xIqzbppaSzUm6jEcaC1n_b8UjZKbJV0kuqAWmBkTnvlmSIgU2Vehw9LChvP8p37NxGZAgJszMTgq61jORlDw-33b_LQApr-jOHhewd5JEyh_fwV9mTnJlWahc/s400/DSC_0278+(Large).JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Gwg9TZjZooXzoItffArpjMPROIIpiOiUXhyphenhyphenwmSNwcP8ZuG_3gUDbgBubvZuWPqIz2OW4o1xDrEdvSaTQxT21PoYPNQyC76doR4F2ZflCBdZuUlVGI-ag_H54d7L8X-sBz3a15XJ-Y3A/s1600/DSC_0279+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472034758269775010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Gwg9TZjZooXzoItffArpjMPROIIpiOiUXhyphenhyphenwmSNwcP8ZuG_3gUDbgBubvZuWPqIz2OW4o1xDrEdvSaTQxT21PoYPNQyC76doR4F2ZflCBdZuUlVGI-ag_H54d7L8X-sBz3a15XJ-Y3A/s400/DSC_0279+(Large).JPG" /></a><br />After this long hike, we were starved, but kinda sorta on the wrong end of town for most restaurants. We wandered around a few blocks, and someone suggested walking north toward George Washington University. Still nothing. Finally, K went into a CVS and asked for a suggestion. They said the Red Cross headquarters was just a block east and it had a cafeteria, so that's where we went! After lunch, back down to the mall to see the World War 2 monument.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472035433309828194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2XPNRsMpb4WRO3zwobK3MQlg8xGXKQE7olFpoNHfq5EZm9pOUWPRVbuDEATO0fwXDZMx0qOFQIhWoWuRZyFeUB2CFFoQ6ru2WILWBnSGp_btXxv1YkpDT-NQQnRM8Jd9tim0TjGzTPs/s400/DSC_0288+(Large).JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2O1EUGlWi4qurAxjSVG24_CjwjroxK5i11KAlUhxGSm8hVDP75BFVFXzrsuaXZrBY-CV6OummtqDFK4hZENbqvFmE0oQG18_4floPwxtRMc41x_q6kErwrfLNVkb4-oj_eW_PGJ5X44/s1600/DSC_0301+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472035450464011810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2O1EUGlWi4qurAxjSVG24_CjwjroxK5i11KAlUhxGSm8hVDP75BFVFXzrsuaXZrBY-CV6OummtqDFK4hZENbqvFmE0oQG18_4floPwxtRMc41x_q6kErwrfLNVkb4-oj_eW_PGJ5X44/s400/DSC_0301+(Large).JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooYeZGoQYol-aZGQ2d6aXv_ESD8ymhOZ5TBSJ02y7s6HUg6A_qhVYAVL_aYdnhHM_xUPdYsYftAVtrVUHBmH9aAWN83SK8-_BUkUtsQyuou7pH6AkQo8HffVuuQmNlM9VOm_J73ds3Ow/s1600/DSC_0292+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472035447396498994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooYeZGoQYol-aZGQ2d6aXv_ESD8ymhOZ5TBSJ02y7s6HUg6A_qhVYAVL_aYdnhHM_xUPdYsYftAVtrVUHBmH9aAWN83SK8-_BUkUtsQyuou7pH6AkQo8HffVuuQmNlM9VOm_J73ds3Ow/s400/DSC_0292+(Large).JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4KU9kgaXvCSk_zLWxGrDPfVQyk3jUf370NrYpXE08_GG6Q-sJbSvrkR29Hb2QmHEFL6ggIV2v2CSexh2FJDhacXgE4xZVlhpWfm0GF3Eo9kPl6sCkrLoYdHzyRYzBqA2gKqzYJGz01o/s1600/DSC_0291+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472035445126093746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4KU9kgaXvCSk_zLWxGrDPfVQyk3jUf370NrYpXE08_GG6Q-sJbSvrkR29Hb2QmHEFL6ggIV2v2CSexh2FJDhacXgE4xZVlhpWfm0GF3Eo9kPl6sCkrLoYdHzyRYzBqA2gKqzYJGz01o/s400/DSC_0291+(Large).JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLD2hQOjMtLFWxCVvdv5nuYtyVJIgmEID_JevLX6HPMwpmljuOS2qx_ZUVi2Dh3GL-KnPr43J82MH_7ChPrYykAlPiu_cDM8uY-A4l02RPPS4u9T-REEWPrBqD5Bj0KTvmlvZ1G3dBew/s1600/DSC_0289+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472035438699497906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLD2hQOjMtLFWxCVvdv5nuYtyVJIgmEID_JevLX6HPMwpmljuOS2qx_ZUVi2Dh3GL-KnPr43J82MH_7ChPrYykAlPiu_cDM8uY-A4l02RPPS4u9T-REEWPrBqD5Bj0KTvmlvZ1G3dBew/s400/DSC_0289+(Large).JPG" /></a></div></div></div><br /><p>I figure we walked close to six miles this day. After getting back to our Metro stop, we went to Pizzeria Paradiso in Dupont Circle, voted the best pizza in DC, to grab a slice. Not bad! I think we all fell asleep pretty quickly this night.</p>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-2862026140305757692010-05-12T20:51:00.006-04:002010-05-12T21:17:56.437-04:00Washington DC - Day 3Day three of the trip, Tuesday, started very early for me! I wanted to get tickets to go to the top of the Washington Monument. I tried to reserve them online, but they were sold out, and the only other way was to get same day tickets starting at 8:30 AM. But the tour guide said that the line forms as early as 7 AM during tourist season, so I left the hotel room at 6:45 for a brisk mile and a half walk to the monument. I arrived a little after 7 and there were about 8 people in front of me. And then I had 90 minutes to kill just standing in line talking to other tourists. But it was a beautiful morning and I didn't care. I got tickets for an 11 AM tour, so I had time to get back to the hotel and rally the troops. <br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470551199691596994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4I1Kfq8ieMT-I7VGZ0f7wogwJUMoXyWxtOGbWFYO3kVmfWxFRq7V2b4iGybIUADi5i9LmWc1OcZMVNzGWmKNptcSJuLEfV0YECvk_XVKQG5UchLx1LKyuofnRvx3rcV1U_I5OR8Nqfck/s400/DSC_0114+(Large).JPG" /></div><div> </div><div>Yep, all the way to the top to look out those itty bitty windows.</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470551202135563810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTV0u5CH2DL8_2UctdtVRqsztubNOAqrjETzN3yGVrjlf_vTdasAohx1H0PaS2lhnkhZpezTG1PrR0psKywreDusB5oM1dDMiqt-1ftOgHoPEb1Q0YOafUh0JmAKf6DNdG6-JZdLPHXc/s400/DSC_0104+(Large).JPG" /></div><div> </div><div>The view to the west, the Lincoln Memorial, the reflecting pool, and the World War 2 memorial in the foreground.</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470551206111184690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBZdjk6R56Ipe8No75n5cHqw2L5R8cQu6r_OvyUuO5LmsuNJNVL9LAtldXdxEjepsEzREILqiHkwAWIZ3vFhojBMjitNB0F-GGCxS_Mj6idrHQnXP995AfLEzJW964nR31J9qiRIvMes/s400/DSC_0120+(Large).JPG" /></div><div> </div><div>The view to the east, to the Capitol and all the museums: </div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470551666045006962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpjbEKj4XBumdWw4W3ClSt-GJXnaDqZAWL0Yp9XdWycm6ZDFuT0qZ-DnN7qd5f2pjFnDxkJfSQa_tSqI6oQrYdCHUgnLnfwf6qGHTxmhyKBwLT71UIlFAyX-ixC-qYoC8XmNlOlLUcHo/s400/DSC_0130+(Large).JPG" /></div><div> </div><div>The view to the north to the White House. </div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470551222190532882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESlixnFbOK31WrzN2ms6CLsgAWauUINf4sYfKZq7p9dQTyNacrMJ-u3UlNgsCYki6tAoW1Zqk295emH7XhIbdyXZdnun46WfVqoL2VL2Bq6j_w-MexJMEPzs7VjFJ4p1ucUQf4RD5_KE/s400/DSC_0124+(Large).JPG" /></div><div> </div><div>The southern view of the Jefferson Memorial. The Pentagon is just across the river and to the right. From this vantage, it was quite scary to see how close the plane was to everything else on Sept 11, 2001.</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470551219689829890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNfWWYozuJVcAmDUA50XhUkEOJUCYiCn6wuRJobHL0lx4jGwRfIlnZcqWJX3Vx_jV-AGJFnRGTRNO5pmNs-aWRl3SoWDurtZHiHn96XEiyJwOPZpHPFo72m3rGDwphb3bU_g1QaLCq0A/s400/DSC_0116+(Large).JPG" /></div><div> </div><div>At the top of the momument:</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470551675440846610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCWNk-U9BTIxysDI4xGsIwtNEPedxLyrzplC9LSJPy8obI-YrS36jFHTOkg7lFHM1XV_RpjrzjGPXRtDf94Q8BuBBtgWGjATtHuFQmy7kaR3BLgxEIoIzUz1APOhG3eCUCxxGMYS4qPE/s400/DSC_0136+(Large).JPG" /></div><div> </div><div>Chillin' outside the monument after the tour.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMbWjJIIGANNsQuozSzThhgvugej0Xb7XFol8xghA7e0Urx5ZF9pbOje4Orpgl-joeFaL-MvDdkPwLWchkq3quSSF6gphU6oddUCXrL93oQxoTufOhVgq4N1NGEbAM5XCiN0_lvguN2A/s1600/DSC_0153+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470551946867048674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMbWjJIIGANNsQuozSzThhgvugej0Xb7XFol8xghA7e0Urx5ZF9pbOje4Orpgl-joeFaL-MvDdkPwLWchkq3quSSF6gphU6oddUCXrL93oQxoTufOhVgq4N1NGEbAM5XCiN0_lvguN2A/s400/DSC_0153+(Large).JPG" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwnSZgzAy1LhlZyhgwSUGEYtKGolT4Sp-Gogtd9-aSjFBz_HTpchkxqAFDA1xOpe8szMlhyivqP3TlwgvD0UbD0zfya31JuPwpGWDNwNVg8go33tfbsGYgQ8bH74WbGUZ1la90RFgiRg/s1600/DSC_0152+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470551692854519202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwnSZgzAy1LhlZyhgwSUGEYtKGolT4Sp-Gogtd9-aSjFBz_HTpchkxqAFDA1xOpe8szMlhyivqP3TlwgvD0UbD0zfya31JuPwpGWDNwNVg8go33tfbsGYgQ8bH74WbGUZ1la90RFgiRg/s400/DSC_0152+(Large).JPG" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4tqxeBPWgLPel9NUVlOxuefQyeejzwSd8Mkn5ulUGzRY8XP72y6Ywz8cy5tnTpgOA4XE6sWqAXiIVfsdMhUWc3_9lUsh74hQ7dQzI84pg42VYVJhw44DPmtyAJZnEeJpaOyCRRvnidE/s1600/DSC_0143+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470551687897353490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4tqxeBPWgLPel9NUVlOxuefQyeejzwSd8Mkn5ulUGzRY8XP72y6Ywz8cy5tnTpgOA4XE6sWqAXiIVfsdMhUWc3_9lUsh74hQ7dQzI84pg42VYVJhw44DPmtyAJZnEeJpaOyCRRvnidE/s400/DSC_0143+(Large).JPG" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnq8EF4pf2_kwvrOQm2SPh6JsY9k9PfAFnMEscy5lmpbLZssxJFrk0VXemB6l23H91IEp6YTD_v3V-OU8J-jbSLPgNAysTzQfISIcJ-YQhvs4U9rv7vkWHCwfg-M5_yVRsvWqC3ycC7hY/s1600/DSC_0141+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470551677185509570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnq8EF4pf2_kwvrOQm2SPh6JsY9k9PfAFnMEscy5lmpbLZssxJFrk0VXemB6l23H91IEp6YTD_v3V-OU8J-jbSLPgNAysTzQfISIcJ-YQhvs4U9rv7vkWHCwfg-M5_yVRsvWqC3ycC7hY/s400/DSC_0141+(Large).JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>We went to the Reagan Commerce Building's food court for lunch. Crazy is an understatement. Afterward, we headed across the National Mall to get to the Smithsonian Castle.</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470551964651527410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIbsvWO1X9teDMkjH7AUs27KyobJVMHTCHwmAWEqoXddC0CBDQVVjWCOhWxjMdw13TjaoXUn4RJkAqZWjHW9vFAIDMOjPlCiCmUGHgPOzrO2seMFkxUHK35574rwmEHAYvphNjxcO2Fw/s400/DSC_0160+(Large).JPG" /></p><p>We saw some other folks taking funny photos like this, so EJ and I just had to try it:</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470551964332960034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHjT2lKwQrfkn8P_7vnuoQHPW2fuzBg_xiU5LdTk7tFoUGOGP7U9_ckj8P4wxTt-FNRsYS0lJLapbBo0bOyCW2Bxf8Dl-59LARyBz48OqopsK3NHvswf3PPrQcb159i7FaTI5cFyL0vc/s400/DSC_0156+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470551954675153650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2CCrU7WcS-giWMbD9M8g5Mh2MVVPQmUIhuKfqoChLT9LlJlstqmS1VWTS74Gm7XVDVosECEZ4N6nM1KkkbBTwkl5IeGtHd1eaEsvhmR7Z6guKp2H48FTnsfLyuXuhSjm7ALgjXBK7gg/s400/DSC_0155+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470551950473390306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCrMny8LOqs9D_GtmAmClNGNNChLJqEdSkb7l7G39DCgGeLiF62fS5BP2Nm8LGjZpC4oXs3q9Ijwa25FGtatOJPKvFV9ik4J5JJxVfyLm_ABP6K6ZR9o6qAYPVybMWN5UdszCcP9B_Tk/s400/DSC_0154+(Large).JPG" /></p><p>There's a beautiful old carousel in front of the Smithsonian Castle. Sophie had to ride the shiny blue dragon.</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470552257648689186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Qq_rEjrk5KaG2q5uQIh1DjbjTv4d0bjUU9VYhHnt9tZfD7sYqeqGkr4RcKK1Jf3-H64BaNGw6AJAV8x-XDCIkCBhTJh3pb7MtpYA7b2ToXXwdNmAOiGDOOr_Q1iFZi4ts7AbqvXmZWY/s400/DSC_0165+(Large).JPG" /></p><p>The next stop was the Air and Space Museum, but on the way, EJ went inside the Hirschorn's building to check out the fountain.</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470552265078482690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKj6hDPpk4cpdcFa9PVjIeOrnAHgUwVxgvvtGHRfohT-NlU9ES9dmBxBImKo6Tz4VsHrBtuwFBy4ZZlzt8MyhAS1aIENlZO8hwMcLDJKuasQecKNTC7Q00qn_iBZ8OOh5seq9YDAh57Y8/s400/DSC_0184+(Large).JPG" /></p><p>At the Air and Space Museum, we saw the Wright Brothers plane...</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470552274880679746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcTylJPBmfHHgseml8Do-e6-w1AYFLLV2GcsyjcM6D8To-9aRXyQbSaXHLQDtC7xfkZPGGEd03Gixec8090OGpr_MHWV5U4QLH0NU1fsAJGOpFLByck6l0K84LfjndusoU78sQqJsuS4/s400/DSC_0191+(Large).JPG" /></p><p>And Amelia Earhart's plane...</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470552283627038706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKk6PwNW9a72BVKvWO_miF6aB_UIqsg2DZzTsyJXc3nyP-gGodkMSNMI7NYSt2DmxwCln859Llr5LhuRRW8L5w1NpxR7LgzCZQm0fmQxIeE2cCajWBc49vOGKs_EBk2kwHZbwC5EUYWA/s400/DSC_0193+(Large).JPG" /></p><p>and the cockpit of a jetliner:</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470552487389781314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYDGbNaIDgGLT89_zaLRvAVAlOampk21r_Bf08mLlb9MCdcvWweDR8RzR66qTP5exeptcSDcTb7VIRLOiIWPvVkkJ5dT-nV-JhjqBDoJBjvwjDdsWf4BHRgVpvLwtVjp0a_uIlTfGdpI/s400/DSC_0200+(Large).JPG" /></p><div><div><div>EJ competed in a paper airplane contest against much older kids and finished in 2nd or 3rd place!</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28408ma6iVOkXDwjm63xJvE7gdl9s6jn0Tq6ZHdGFEDYjhzjRpASqjwJ6SWeLedU9MBdRTQjGzx76-YgVUsL3jejvkH3WuNC74BbNMggsFZKxk4r2Vt21OMpi8nKDkSeYaJo7NCK3I18/s1600/DSC_0203+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470552488699140866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28408ma6iVOkXDwjm63xJvE7gdl9s6jn0Tq6ZHdGFEDYjhzjRpASqjwJ6SWeLedU9MBdRTQjGzx76-YgVUsL3jejvkH3WuNC74BbNMggsFZKxk4r2Vt21OMpi8nKDkSeYaJo7NCK3I18/s400/DSC_0203+(Large).JPG" /></a></div></div></div><br /><div><div><div> </div><div>Sophie? She won't remember anything after the carousel, because she crashed hard!!!</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1POdJt2bhny9Ljbjjwsg6YUpXE9yeCyr-LUr4DQhPlOoQb4YTxkHi8Ms8yst0bcHgs5oXRnMbcOljoFs9olwiYtX-okPTSou4sqF_djDWpHFW0WloaKt5S2I-FztmKxpmBEO3cCWVi0/s1600/DSC_0188+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470552272282074402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1POdJt2bhny9Ljbjjwsg6YUpXE9yeCyr-LUr4DQhPlOoQb4YTxkHi8Ms8yst0bcHgs5oXRnMbcOljoFs9olwiYtX-okPTSou4sqF_djDWpHFW0WloaKt5S2I-FztmKxpmBEO3cCWVi0/s400/DSC_0188+(Large).JPG" /></a></div></div></div>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-91761068648262406042010-05-08T21:30:00.004-04:002010-05-08T21:53:16.958-04:00Washington DC - Day 2Our second day in DC started at the Supreme Court. The court was in session and I was hoping to get in to see the justices! When we got to the court, the line was VERY long. It was probably 9:45. I asked the security guard which line this was, because there were supposed to be two lines - one to get in for the entire session, and one for a three-to-five minute viewing of the courtroom, which was the one we wanted to be in. He explained that they had already seated the 50 or so people for the morning session, so this remaining line was the 3-5 line. I did a quick calculation and figured that there was at least an hour's worth of folks in front of us and the sky was threatening to drench us at any moment. Given that this line didn't start moving until 10 and we had a tour appointment for 12ish across the street at the Capitol, we opted to skip the courtroom experience and just see the exhibits inside instead. <br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469077093795389650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKDZ5kJigq6qBakGqhafA2xFuLfrn64InvVqBhW3h0VSn_E8mW8pX1owZmsJoKYCx56mtcn4cGUU84hVihadXm6fNhnc5HMIAZ6VfvyRZ2f-xuGrhzfwVrw6CtlOJhvRlUpQ3vrvHbA0/s400/P1000790+(Large).JPG" /><br /><br />The Supreme Court had, by far, the most educational movie about its function. The movie featured all of the justices talking about how they work. The courthouse had this really cool staircase inside, too:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469077097316305954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidH3Y80BPH6Gk3b_Y1fZ8QjMKbsY3Q4g1Pxz-W46AOrWFMzCqSIUNJV-9VQPZmMqffGVAtzLTbUiU3uhXuw-xOy5sGqFM-IPL6e63c-waeJzOung7Wp7ac1D8hmnz0-vycsoIC7DM3CTI/s400/P1000792+(Large).JPG" /><br /><br />When we left the Supreme Court, it was raining, so we quickly made our way across the street to the Capitol. We had to wait outside for a bit to get through security. We had a quick snack and then visited the displays in the Capitol Visitor's Center before our tour. The Visitor's Center just opened in the last year or so, and it was quite nice, but honestly, the tour was lame. Now, I'm comparing it to a tour I took when I was in college, and we were guests of a congressman, but still - we only got to see three rooms on the tour! Here's a look up in the Rotunda:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469077106147058258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lztDFuGOh3k2MQCLD7rgbnGZTNo0eOVVJE57wjGWmw10-Ft6WvDuDqXiciPGHi-m8CP4O9LFJqW7vgVvGxnQI_4U23wW-19BGPUMMZRzqHlXBHBmQVGJOFBjXuItbaw5sOyEhe62zDQ/s400/P1000793+(Large).JPG" /><br /><br />If you read Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol, you know what the painting is at the top - the Apotheosis of Washington:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469077108665863986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEXLi9pslu4Ex38hGO_kY3WqxxpjEpIJzxjF-u0vPkLhEH_FfvsVXJ9W4nVsal_p1D0GlGB21Pc9DMUoXGtWTQNywI_P-3OTUDzUqnIz7dKCSzAbOZEa1FaNqDkoem2YyulRjq4IRIO0/s400/P1000795+(Large).JPG" /><br /><br />The hall of statues:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469077122304455410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDzC24WsCg9M_KB1Uk8EaQCdxeDu8QQO7VCGh1BHIRMhXva3JSplO9rxgOGqd3DeG9uzIHijJY-55g_97_4lnJkR6x36WNRB8guu2l-bwPe73kfMWnkZdI6weaJxqrdqWZjE8sx1MQgw/s400/P1000796+(Large).JPG" /><br /><br />This room was the "tomb" under the Rotunda, and here are the girls with General Stark of NH:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469077446135479458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirW-djuT1-C8KciHSeqIhonnBm7Dji7oFrQQpZzsDQdIpu-2fEUpxung3fvIxxpdx5jOoA2MzDZLdEUJnq9YiQYJeRI3k-Qo_wf3cbEf9GgSvFEnpBjij010lASLdmNtmfM4yAA18bDEE/s400/P1000800+(Large).JPG" /><br /><br />I had hoped to visit the Library of Congress of the Capitol, but we were starving, so we walked up to Union Station and found the Capitol City Brewery in the old Post Office Museum across the street. HIGHLY recommended if you get to DC! After that, we thought Sophie would take a snooze if we strolled for a while (we were about two miles from the hotel). We decided to walk partway back and then catch a train. Well, we kept finding interesting things to sidetrack us, so we ended up walking the whole way - and only the last three blocks in the rain! Here's the friendship arch in Chinatown. DC's Chinatown is pretty lame - all chain stores with Chinese signs, and honestly, we didn't really see too many Chinese people there!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469077446966166834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUyIK5pUYFSaZFVtVtF7TOTasZW1ay611pMycul15xrIhpGw5F4QZk5iTzY5XFh8wVnDMOYjs8cfKEG8QkuYZcHgxgA1sWAvk_HEHSyYV5klIVAdXTNyxf_9MY9dQDJdwhKdEce7foHtc/s400/P1000802+(Large).JPG" /><br /><br />The back side of the White House:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469077478926841122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBkFutNFPnEn67Mj0EwC9tGdvN1S0oa3kmMHVVHXaadsoi-okg1GzT2zphAUOCi_uGl6H_YyFxHM-BEzH0xpGcRStEt5oyHNS-z_8JjhyphenhyphenQBbbw-n9ZDKVNZXmRXRR2eHEBGC5il7SY5o/s400/P1000807+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469077467738935906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9k1Yt4EAh6pexOMVzg_nrid0MWS9OfbkM0JQYwAGfOvVL-ukz-fxZYKmcNpJt4elHEdD9a0uvEG4JZBwISvyRa4eMaa6hxw3_Rpo1b18wnoGv4PyC4SHnq0WTxmRhDioIkp49d9tZuk/s400/P1000805+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469077457948265730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwY0H4OYhA0Hv7ZGYyVuyj9VWnurTPaSWsGKRqHjdI0DLxDuSR-xS1-czgcK-NLk4tJKE9Zq5cuWOCGsUxSyVrWxdVf-b4y74kC26PLPr7nRWs08lmJ7381kPB7EaXTsKfvq8pue8TwU/s400/P1000804+(Large).JPG" /><br /><br />We weren't very hungry for dinner after eating a late lunch. Our friends, the D family, stopped by and we had some snacks. <br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469078632943617858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXhZkRmqx7N87wcTldHhObzrXHqIZsHU_C1QY11kj37S0JcgielSAFDojLLJ8SNO1gvgYHr0849HcMlfHKT-oSsc1QUcC0BnslqW8bCfwjfE-3BfkRj7wEz4USAfKjFcx0kINc1SU8m8/s400/DSC_0097+(Large).JPG" />Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-88403922405018768662010-05-02T14:28:00.009-04:002010-05-02T15:15:36.688-04:00Trip to Washington DC - Day 1We returned yesterday from a wonderful week in Washington DC. It was a great trip, and the girls had a fantastic time. EJ is such a history and politics buff that she is at a good age for this trip!<br /><br />We stayed at the fabulous <a href="http://www.tabardinn.com/">Tabard Inn</a>, an historic hotel just south of Dupont Circle. It was a great location, just six blocks from the White House and very close to a Metro station. We had the penthouse suite, which was enormous - 700 square feet! And it was about half the price of most in-town hotel rooms. It even included breakfast in their restaurant every morning. The downside was that the penthouse was on the 4th floor, and due to the historic nature of the hotel, there was no elevator. And the staircase was twisting and steep and narrow! It really is a beautiful old property. The first night there, the inn was hosting a beautiful wedding. We also noticed that a lot of young professionals seemed to gather in the bar for after-work drinks, and the restaurant was VERY popular!<br /><br />We bought weekly subway passes and used them several times a day, but we still walked a LOT. We probably averaged 4-6 miles a day. The girls were troopers and never complained about being tired.<br /><br />We drove down on a Saturday and arrived in about 8 hours of driving. We just relaxed the first night and wandered around the neighborhood looking for something for dinner. We ended up at a great Irish pub called Mackeys for some crab cake sliders and potato soup.<br /><br />The forecast for the first few days included a lot of rain. Our original plan was to go to the zoo on Sunday, but we decided to stay indoors instead and headed to the Museum of American History, where we met up with the D family to do some touring. We saw Abe Lincoln's top hat that he wore on the night he was assassinated:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466741605276518354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGbUpv6pOwJhyphenhyphen8-K4qmFTD4eL0ACI-rARjaNzpAkdbhSm6b5uQtXJrso_gy5yOAMRE6bogt5rMLHzU-b1EMoO-YJCHiRM8xk1_GT-I4-O-cCuWSz6L6akkPzBTWoBRtEF6OFTpRimXgs/s400/DSC_0024+(Large).JPG" /><br />Julia Child's kitchen:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466742734692910850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYN18lKAJYaMKDGmzeGy2mITpLx_Ll-EcGriGq0PwP7RehkQ72tJc9ZgsTpm-5fY5RDb-Ux-x3tQJc7dcH7GpOsOUeJyHu-bbUOxx4jGKaJi5YVR7zYau6ytHn-poDVWKMCAXopKqVyQ/s400/DSC_0037+(Large).JPG" /><br />EJ taking a stand behind the presidential podium:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24aSgqMGxpxJnSY8XI-Toel3nytd1o3CWOjqEuMfdxUcGnDY9CUf2KzKZpp-FQ0KOa2dEGx6_lXIf_83CAMwk6oGzwqyuUAZOmEZZyQFRqa9s47jyNPX-B0TI64Ma93VnRpOlIkzMnFE/s1600/DSC_0026+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466742833682211874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24aSgqMGxpxJnSY8XI-Toel3nytd1o3CWOjqEuMfdxUcGnDY9CUf2KzKZpp-FQ0KOa2dEGx6_lXIf_83CAMwk6oGzwqyuUAZOmEZZyQFRqa9s47jyNPX-B0TI64Ma93VnRpOlIkzMnFE/s400/DSC_0026+(Large).JPG" /></a><br />This museum has a wonderful exhibit featuring the First Ladies that I had looked forward to seeing. Here's Michelle Obama's inaugural gown:<br /><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSHQWaCY_PcibJTTpEaFJdFG2YotPXMYXBvAPXXYTeoRTwd-ihOHaeNZdGfRnkEONkaWldIKqMFa0BdWRLfpSqWZZfDgpGi0wy0pSgUO6mBX-ULNz-cSQ-e-WsOVSVXelKjjit-RPRGE/s1600/DSC_0028+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466742753634482370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSHQWaCY_PcibJTTpEaFJdFG2YotPXMYXBvAPXXYTeoRTwd-ihOHaeNZdGfRnkEONkaWldIKqMFa0BdWRLfpSqWZZfDgpGi0wy0pSgUO6mBX-ULNz-cSQ-e-WsOVSVXelKjjit-RPRGE/s400/DSC_0028+(Large).JPG" /></a></p><p>Hilary Clinton's (left) and Laura Bush's (right) inaugural gowns:</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9sbaphyphenhyphenG6OiPx9qPxFvlnVcHuFy4GnwQh5lqfoqSR3UOqtbQzcSse_vCXW4DcZlL-IwRDKlTH8J6FkQ9rylrPHJA_7ENq_8QjT7RIZW0mV41UH3kawlexx65QA91_tNYIArAjL1GD0E/s1600/DSC_0029+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466742748442964578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9sbaphyphenhyphenG6OiPx9qPxFvlnVcHuFy4GnwQh5lqfoqSR3UOqtbQzcSse_vCXW4DcZlL-IwRDKlTH8J6FkQ9rylrPHJA_7ENq_8QjT7RIZW0mV41UH3kawlexx65QA91_tNYIArAjL1GD0E/s400/DSC_0029+(Large).JPG" /></a></p><p>Archie Bunker's and Edith's chairs:</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466741611410071426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQtzFLn3Hsn8q6AglA0NqCcBOhYXiyj2MyE6sWL4rtFzUvK6oSTgCY1Oo4T-KVllfEJZmYn9zd-CT3XLuDJstoLWujL4YodWOG73cP4ZbXTePJ0WnYhvz0zII6mwuORvXEIpk8H3wTuM/s400/DSC_0023+(Large).JPG" /></p><p>Kermit the frog: </p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466741623502307474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKNpX0oBPOe7YqjMWOH8E8w5YEVmWeW-dooJIJsdV0fDNK4sDNVhtg7yJtGPK2rkLC4kvOqH1gGGUkcNsVr0lscBBtKAvEnZf8a1cvnmHzkf2raJPaIk-7LzedsjUtxYRi0MWQZkW6Kk/s400/DSC_0022+(Large).JPG" /></p><p>Apollo Anton Ohno's Olympic speed skates:</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466741631768110498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1N2seA0cfkvWkBXQdDS3fHQGduVUgJQb9Ma9y5kHqFLce2RrRbaLAocT8nXFotkwh-it6lgAm3BHPqIDqUTzW0t3z4rIhFQBcNLZBY7Ph8skSFrLkGQjXjLh-_fdWZTvR7wWmag3PQzg/s400/DSC_0020+(Large).JPG" /></p><p>Judy Garland's ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz:</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466741635312424802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLdWRG4UuolgKcvYck2S2j6x5sz97vrtGbv7P3i8hSn7Y_ZpO_SrSzDU9w4sU4uAj2unCzmwiw02k2gTozEnY-XcgOXbNxt7S6V-6hyphenhyphenLye4buOXlcO9bOFDbyFYQcOfFxsVMYe7Ferxk/s400/DSC_0019+(Large).JPG" /></p><p>Sophie in the playroom:</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYZgWtBIGOZAedVaypvkeHqrb-mcuNgkNSB06RkySKJyI5__S80Tieizk4tNDwfLaq5onASqIVdvglYVxsa7t0cxP6wQ-yshqf8SU4b1EnXv2I5120-T1atpFXUtEJoJ0zhiSMSW_ej4/s1600/DSC_0039+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466742719671715250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYZgWtBIGOZAedVaypvkeHqrb-mcuNgkNSB06RkySKJyI5__S80Tieizk4tNDwfLaq5onASqIVdvglYVxsa7t0cxP6wQ-yshqf8SU4b1EnXv2I5120-T1atpFXUtEJoJ0zhiSMSW_ej4/s400/DSC_0039+(Large).JPG" /></a></p><p>EJ and her friend M in the science center:</p><p></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVh4kAyXqdjkDtTt6-i8tdF7eBkHt4yNGWb8uvGbCUZa6QTMLXNllWmzsoKoD-gj_1TFwZB6LiZtF7-Vu8vN_nhXc1KPa6Ew4X6gzZrGL3zKNsby2bNgpbCBTylu0I8UNmMXMvC0yOvIg/s1600/DSC_0041+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466742712393847490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVh4kAyXqdjkDtTt6-i8tdF7eBkHt4yNGWb8uvGbCUZa6QTMLXNllWmzsoKoD-gj_1TFwZB6LiZtF7-Vu8vN_nhXc1KPa6Ew4X6gzZrGL3zKNsby2bNgpbCBTylu0I8UNmMXMvC0yOvIg/s400/DSC_0041+(Large).JPG" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5r0nCdv9eNGRX3xmaBY7OuccxZzUDthbiqkNMgqLhiGeQIpQrSoJp0uk7Soew21F42BSA8KoVdNEZmfRus9f5aIfbl6DGtlCbiRxmKKBOo0jMjyzMu5kXIHXP84WTdNKyp5EaRyt8ug/s1600/DSC_0043+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466742264411748098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5r0nCdv9eNGRX3xmaBY7OuccxZzUDthbiqkNMgqLhiGeQIpQrSoJp0uk7Soew21F42BSA8KoVdNEZmfRus9f5aIfbl6DGtlCbiRxmKKBOo0jMjyzMu5kXIHXP84WTdNKyp5EaRyt8ug/s400/DSC_0043+(Large).JPG" /></a></p><p>We had lunch at the American History Museum and then decided to head over to the Museum of Natural History. When we stepped out onto the Mall, we were surprised that it wasn't raining, and it was VERY warm! There was an Earth Day-related event in progress - the Climate Rally. Sting was the featured artist, but we didn't see him. We decided to look around at some of the displays.</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466742243300678354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAY3UUMA0xMt9ONuzgWj6Z9G2E6TIQJzNYqC1P8E7VANUWNCBGo-qH4r-v5VZgKFAFPGWmNFVtpmA1jqtQkKxCtBuYwlasKGqid8tiYOjvndg0kIe08pjpgG4HyTCkgJ300LsMj4-puI/s400/DSC_0046+(Large).JPG" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFWip8bwP3pTmCrXK5s-XyAe071h7EkxQYWnvasGo4jwfSFfZp5_qsjq2W9JtgBN02MTmv7IAzxtQUddoYqDM6mH4S6VL1seMMqdrqo7keeDPh3gZ3a2iucD5nJVS9HKwDM3FnZ9kCBI/s1600/DSC_0047+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466742230433654626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFWip8bwP3pTmCrXK5s-XyAe071h7EkxQYWnvasGo4jwfSFfZp5_qsjq2W9JtgBN02MTmv7IAzxtQUddoYqDM6mH4S6VL1seMMqdrqo7keeDPh3gZ3a2iucD5nJVS9HKwDM3FnZ9kCBI/s400/DSC_0047+(Large).JPG" /></a></p><p>We finally made our way to the Natural History Museum:</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ec30LpA2CIdzgDDeWH7TSxyAfEy7IJweWqmK-yEmKqB4dcArRukbGxN45s3Ma-u6b2mIt_YkW4HbJkJYF0Z075-TnhECqSigIbtR-wfFRej0lhS2PF1dJCm7lgKlg_8tzKQduhGvXnA/s1600/DSC_0052+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466742224151783890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ec30LpA2CIdzgDDeWH7TSxyAfEy7IJweWqmK-yEmKqB4dcArRukbGxN45s3Ma-u6b2mIt_YkW4HbJkJYF0Z075-TnhECqSigIbtR-wfFRej0lhS2PF1dJCm7lgKlg_8tzKQduhGvXnA/s400/DSC_0052+(Large).JPG" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdPUqRtZItWEeXMZNjOxSmyP7zEGjc8IRP4HWxRdHr3C_T4cZX8d53n3M406mr5-XNl_YDYafZNbkdlGlVWRE16fRPaTahRciVXH6kV7jeJOjkgoBv3Hnh-FZucjYSeSK6pPQsPfE65Y/s1600/DSC_0059+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466741987508284450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdPUqRtZItWEeXMZNjOxSmyP7zEGjc8IRP4HWxRdHr3C_T4cZX8d53n3M406mr5-XNl_YDYafZNbkdlGlVWRE16fRPaTahRciVXH6kV7jeJOjkgoBv3Hnh-FZucjYSeSK6pPQsPfE65Y/s400/DSC_0059+(Large).JPG" /></a></p><p>This museum is famous for its dinosaurs, which were featured in Night at the Museum 2, Battle of the Smithsonian:</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVDF_ZGrZvIgEHiAXFru0GSHzfTF1wEOTWC0T0qRXcSgTIrFO0eaiMdlZ5QmSK6Ze_QuxZjYWW0zBuUfnAchRpie81JK7KbrlAKl__xII73uO_giPQHL7TGwXT6Q9zQO9Y1i-X-ksqg4/s1600/DSC_0064+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466741965803142114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVDF_ZGrZvIgEHiAXFru0GSHzfTF1wEOTWC0T0qRXcSgTIrFO0eaiMdlZ5QmSK6Ze_QuxZjYWW0zBuUfnAchRpie81JK7KbrlAKl__xII73uO_giPQHL7TGwXT6Q9zQO9Y1i-X-ksqg4/s400/DSC_0064+(Large).JPG" /></a></p><p>The Hope Diamond is also on display:</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3YgSt11F9TrdErSujyo8a0815uj1F8o2VcAGU-WRVTxeXxedfPCtoxHz3rmFx-BoEqQOeQMGS4xwe5_PQC_alHIyTZsB4oNX4LwM_6h5IyQiQZ7xrJzb5NptmrrdarRatSzwk1o36vQ/s1600/DSC_0066+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466741954560600018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3YgSt11F9TrdErSujyo8a0815uj1F8o2VcAGU-WRVTxeXxedfPCtoxHz3rmFx-BoEqQOeQMGS4xwe5_PQC_alHIyTZsB4oNX4LwM_6h5IyQiQZ7xrJzb5NptmrrdarRatSzwk1o36vQ/s400/DSC_0066+(Large).JPG" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fpJWIX1V7qVyiLmLjtkhrjSkZVH6MVXkRuoJ9hfWLMjoTlyD8_w_1cnTRMhHtQjRaHsP_6Rx9oRRclttdknCKj7m4wNOu2JIDaIL4JbK-8gcpNi60FKuHWhRQTOzNY7xKg2ePjcpHk4/s1600/DSC_0068+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466741944830672162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fpJWIX1V7qVyiLmLjtkhrjSkZVH6MVXkRuoJ9hfWLMjoTlyD8_w_1cnTRMhHtQjRaHsP_6Rx9oRRclttdknCKj7m4wNOu2JIDaIL4JbK-8gcpNi60FKuHWhRQTOzNY7xKg2ePjcpHk4/s400/DSC_0068+(Large).JPG" /></a></p><p>Sophie fell asleep as we left the museum. We strolled through the Smithsonian Sculpture Garden and stopped to have an ice cream treat before our next tour at the National Archives. No photos were permitted here, but we did get to see the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. </p><p>We had a reservation for the tour and didn't need to stand in the long line, but the crowds inside were a bit unorganized. Instead of going around the room in a line, most people just headed across the room to view the important exhibits, which slowed down everything. </p><p>The National Archives keeps immigration records and copies of all correspondence to presidents, so Sophie has information there, as does EJ (<a href="http://twopearls.blogspot.com/2008/04/dear-mr-president.html">she wrote a letter to President Bush and received one back</a>).</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhtLxAEElpMt2zIq66TcGZgKrAkeUVQUd1GItvzxbXjaAB5JVNW2JS_ifujq_g49md4whj3UGEaTIjadl20KQ62qbnqn7tRoinjdHj_rj6N9OpF52kC3guXWtL8fb3Nr0ijj1kEQGKfs/s1600/DSC_0077+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466741934450539330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhtLxAEElpMt2zIq66TcGZgKrAkeUVQUd1GItvzxbXjaAB5JVNW2JS_ifujq_g49md4whj3UGEaTIjadl20KQ62qbnqn7tRoinjdHj_rj6N9OpF52kC3guXWtL8fb3Nr0ijj1kEQGKfs/s400/DSC_0077+(Large).JPG" /></a> </p>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-5405721542187818352010-04-06T21:10:00.006-04:002010-04-06T21:28:12.802-04:00EasterSorry it's taken a few days to get these together! We had a great Easter. The weather this weekend was just fabulous. It was strange to have the girls going to church in sundresses and just a sweater...usually it's winter coats! You might remember that last Easter we were still able to sled through the back yard!<br /><br />On Saturday morning, we had breakfast with the Easter bunny at the Elementary school. Sophie was just a little shy and wanted EJ with her, but she gave the bunny a big hug.<br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457197216728887474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvWH-U-1iv6MLigHPZvUWaXmWNRzy97PUu15wBtkNNJiv5O2Umn4uWPowy8WgMdFj8qKPef9CaAJI9qK4D92XB_QYBctxVenC4ws4s279uRTojeENg0o0fJjae2tuC0HY_LF0pM8rmr8/s400/DSC_0396+(Large).JPG" /></p><p>On Easter morning, the girls woke up and couldn't find any eggs or their baskets anywhere!</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457197993172240322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipErWlG7ChQpiTAd9raoW7vfc2BcERHYmwWweEhUTXGqH8SWlo1mhbj8XYCSm3t8b79bnuNatHOMz2RKGqAtL7vL7Xbl59X_nJhAHSIMMgrGiCdfztzXOYX7Lu4I10hDF5dQjFQDsY5ww/s400/DSC_0436+(Large).JPG" /></p><p>Finally, Sophie spied some eggs out on the porch!</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457198002741150290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BHOauPFTz-byrYOAiUldxPxNG7KRXJgpmmtSPEUzFtz23vX7diNYwY0VdsrMF-O3eG9WoQIOao2GdSXWeP626B9Ck4VpRlIIGMUqyMKVGVukH4JJDQkBMs6kirQhE3NINXFvYEM5k0U/s400/DSC_0438+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457198004845671874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hYbJ56EGr2z2rVn4LsRFgHMN_G-eWS_gfrNznLYTOqqXbrsWtYcWl1tx7QXKtzvmwVMvyU3CC-SuBPSxSG-oO_lX_w-1WNHD2_FwsD8SGn6By51XFoplx2oKDmx-7xJYQqYWKbmffqo/s400/DSC_0442+(Large).JPG" /></p><p>She found her basket in the corner of the dining room:</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457198017102662210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGr90Yd1qIEIG9W42H9QAZowQ715P9qLLAc_sdY7ghlTcwWyJSNEmI_h-AOfl0a10UjeUtMPbUhcGNbdRCmS3N1XuUBH0EKu_cf7NwODPxMHYMRdq1VJauv3UdUvZl0ZRl4rGhz0Dc5U8/s400/DSC_0447+(Large).JPG" /></p><p>EJ was getting a little concerned, because she couldn't find hers anywhere!</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457198331375014242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXAcRFjgyncOnWQOGcH_owLLVkXL_r0S2eWhapu77jUjH4ijG0hWvBdrspSXG-qUlZDC7XigDT7SxDtvVBNREBXRLNh8KchoCxYwA0PNYkrmrMZmN0pEsSNd5cweUbFK1uWkccaOgUbs/s400/DSC_0448+(Large).JPG" /></p><p>Finally, she realized it was in the washing machine!</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457198332463403474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5cONFCHOq6Gy_DGJaqV8cPVzDc_FzbaSVcNGAMbp_iiVrreOU5d8YWA-abRK3xqmUoDOac6oAI7MiTLn7IdbsJ5ShMXQQJiL1C3aWvXsS3c4wtXQFxCBv3AvQdcFFv3Nm3VRezRR8w0/s400/DSC_0452+(Large).JPG" /></p><p>For breakfast, we had K's homemade sticky buns!</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457198341554718082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzKpn0vjoDqbITx2ZIWuhcaZZv1wlVzyDS3J0DfIcCfVubq-m5GOAMoqxubDKiqxDlfX_Xb3bTXmN9IP6-FwDkpV_UBgYUtHG2msjnIpoYh0mYASLRZLMvZgNDSeSL9DvRvO2yLiwJZQ/s400/DSC_0460+(Large).JPG" /></p><p>After church. The forsythia is in full bloom now.</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457198345602272578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8p8boJi6g3WxTUE3-cTLtrEdrtHLMdCybBjirhZj-zqWW3cWsOsAkj3Tsv-V53gVwyceTnEICw7SVDCINABlhQfQx85-R4J8Nxe2r6ZSYY_OgGYxJiTxWhrklODJ38r04QkrMgO_Z48/s400/DSC_0469+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457198349375251330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyn7F32i4NlSUGAu31J5pA2Js4IRf2_S-RimADgb8vbS4aLRnX4E59to2SKLWuX9i4M-lmEfD9WaN2oI4WPAxoSjenJEknRLTAnvMW8qzsNMChDlBSS4sDQxpItU6E0b5-Fhaa_6OSwzM/s400/DSC_0477+(Large).JPG" /><br />Sophie enjoyed some time with her vehicles in the driveway on Saturday.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457197988653246418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrdEK0Onoeohn6mGVWbzPrzInILUY3UE-pv5i04fMh0TPAiIbARbv3p-R-Lr3EHtWLrDQpzgqk6x3WzF-TTnLn7fHtWV4431EKpA16uSPr7lC5x9EEQWRzdp0YiM4JeBe8MfDw_5mDRQ/s400/DSC_0406+(Large).JPG" /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXcxZ9mvDRsBYrCoycIN48eTBxhda_cvig6VbLwsmW6R0mKdUqBM4g_d0HGnHFTD3bk8bgOA6YNt878x2xSjxalRBxB7GYuXpXe1gRQ9T4ij3AHBb8Jxnmxz4XasQSUruTxBf1av0zsQ/s1600/DSC_0401+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457197223980737586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXcxZ9mvDRsBYrCoycIN48eTBxhda_cvig6VbLwsmW6R0mKdUqBM4g_d0HGnHFTD3bk8bgOA6YNt878x2xSjxalRBxB7GYuXpXe1gRQ9T4ij3AHBb8Jxnmxz4XasQSUruTxBf1av0zsQ/s400/DSC_0401+(Large).JPG" /></a></p><p>Coloring eggs on Friday night:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUz1KfqmhfG8qque9vte_4lvPOVmIfHIaoysoUsohx0AOHLfcA6zsmYhcCE-TSqTsT2sNlQPrQRTydCEXcEKV6CBrRzy41Am9B-uocXewV82ZIvEQf4cW_4LwJBvfon8FXyVw7dQP5O_w/s1600/DSC_0371+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457197208914796690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUz1KfqmhfG8qque9vte_4lvPOVmIfHIaoysoUsohx0AOHLfcA6zsmYhcCE-TSqTsT2sNlQPrQRTydCEXcEKV6CBrRzy41Am9B-uocXewV82ZIvEQf4cW_4LwJBvfon8FXyVw7dQP5O_w/s400/DSC_0371+(Large).JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-MVNP2KFW3HNQvYqFchqIfDwH_8wJhTZ7I80y5dRvWpDsm6tOF_h9WlGP-UMgWfn7oTVmGtj-BsQuSvztTgBMxgJov5_pnY60Rl44ZRSnyz-2JDVXJUMWAY2m4wnk-MRgxPQy9sjVgg/s1600/DSC_0361+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457197204827135666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-MVNP2KFW3HNQvYqFchqIfDwH_8wJhTZ7I80y5dRvWpDsm6tOF_h9WlGP-UMgWfn7oTVmGtj-BsQuSvztTgBMxgJov5_pnY60Rl44ZRSnyz-2JDVXJUMWAY2m4wnk-MRgxPQy9sjVgg/s400/DSC_0361+(Large).JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0Or5L7vDrkXTMEfeSt6_B9aefy5cMLezIywtc-9FPp0rXJAsGmYfyxjAy8x9a00OOyX9zVIy6_KGCmYzUbqawpr2Ua-DlAsPwsEQmMl-NRbqHytZr5qxw4BWL_GOIiiAry33j3lyj6A/s1600/DSC_0360+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457197198008264178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje0Or5L7vDrkXTMEfeSt6_B9aefy5cMLezIywtc-9FPp0rXJAsGmYfyxjAy8x9a00OOyX9zVIy6_KGCmYzUbqawpr2Ua-DlAsPwsEQmMl-NRbqHytZr5qxw4BWL_GOIiiAry33j3lyj6A/s400/DSC_0360+(Large).JPG" /></a> </p>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-72561929307991504352010-03-31T21:36:00.000-04:002010-04-02T09:40:50.622-04:00Black and White WednesdaySaw this on another blog (<a href="http://thelongroadtochina.blogspot.com/2010/03/black-and-white-wednesday-overwhelmed.html">The Long Road to China - Black and White Wednesday</a>) and thought it might be fun to try. I'm having a lot of fun learning about my new camera! <div><br /></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455534084120934962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVc-Q9xrwCaTycMBasFCdr8LhZNXrwNZILPgEHOBzmo_CGFZ_MIm_L7usQXo-PJSZwHfA-0StIGXJmqA9JOuLIwUlbE9fmZ0lVxLiBlCjAeijO-uAEcfmXOAVQLo7eO1I5hxsJ1kNG4QY/s400/CSC_0279+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455534088712295026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMftisF3iQujFUqAv25YY0Aqs19e_6Q4I24_IVeRlNiWuM7R8SsL6Y2nJ2ERYNAOC8t93mcIZRAL3rAmYQgReNrFQuJKbWBlEGDXznxsaTIqKVBOmzDCQLzi3P-tbxZ52YH7Uj5KRsr6c/s400/CSC_0291.JPG" /></div>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-75066896884400728282010-03-22T20:49:00.002-04:002010-03-22T20:58:52.025-04:00Catching up...Yeah, I'm still here. Busy, busy. A few things to catch up on, but I'm just going to lump them all into one post!<br /><br />I splurged a bit and bought myself a new digital camera a week or so ago. It's a Nikon D5000 DSLR with two lenses (18-55 and 55-200). I've been playing around with it a little, as we're going on vacation again in a few weeks and I really want to get some great photos! I've only taken some "basic" shots around the house over the last few days. Saturday, the weather was so incredible, and Sophie and I decided to kick the soccer ball around a bit after dinner. I thought this was a good opportunity to take some shots in "sports mode", but they all came out blurry!<br /><br />Well, last night K and I watched the training video and guess what? I learned a lot! I wanted to try out the action shots again today, so I had the girls dance around (and jump!), and giving the shutter priority over the aperture did wonders!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdQnX8lFBU-1qpHBwz_uc_PaKa3vcYsIp_5ugNXIBRbmi0rxGDWT5ROCaj5AuWaUEeKUDmMCuSCMOX0kIvwi_vgli5fvEH5YgwKconRnIbAOiwu_FkwGZmNmgblBw7GqJsfv6BWIOI6o/s1600-h/DSC_0235+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451625770132361234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdQnX8lFBU-1qpHBwz_uc_PaKa3vcYsIp_5ugNXIBRbmi0rxGDWT5ROCaj5AuWaUEeKUDmMCuSCMOX0kIvwi_vgli5fvEH5YgwKconRnIbAOiwu_FkwGZmNmgblBw7GqJsfv6BWIOI6o/s400/DSC_0235+(Large).JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6c3k2eFmI6-getQJkxQcWDeh5cDC1zjOXOkAHA8rP11UyNE7eAPFGmUjFQtF6OXBndrlDtTs1jxnqJTh7cXqkBFeOK9viRxcE3eTVx77Ewsa4V3m3Ml7SE-DXerAlnT3v7YAWeiezhc/s1600-h/DSC_0212+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451625763981171042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6c3k2eFmI6-getQJkxQcWDeh5cDC1zjOXOkAHA8rP11UyNE7eAPFGmUjFQtF6OXBndrlDtTs1jxnqJTh7cXqkBFeOK9viRxcE3eTVx77Ewsa4V3m3Ml7SE-DXerAlnT3v7YAWeiezhc/s400/DSC_0212+(Large).JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-i9lvN0L7vETg9np8uMaBaTj3NpA1TOgjJLsXx536ksjZ0LbtgID2Q6rmVzY1Wh-rh9__SadQB84Rk3_lL3MvwMaA0z3UlkBYExyJqp3maL6tqWw0QPnV-yu6qI-I0VGbaQP-5qdWe8/s1600-h/DSC_0191+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451625760089463474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-i9lvN0L7vETg9np8uMaBaTj3NpA1TOgjJLsXx536ksjZ0LbtgID2Q6rmVzY1Wh-rh9__SadQB84Rk3_lL3MvwMaA0z3UlkBYExyJqp3maL6tqWw0QPnV-yu6qI-I0VGbaQP-5qdWe8/s400/DSC_0191+(Large).JPG" /></a><br />Last weekend, we also bought Sophie a big girl bed! FINALLY!!!! She really likes it!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNAOicmpHcCH8UhqNuW-aC_kpCG4ezJmz8JkK3fi4zaIU2sRlZze0rlqe9GX-G-lPU8gll4SU2Au-fIyzIr9yUdVmb8mgN8GclZA0sfo2LK6xFIIHQdmkeE8Rr94Udoxmnf11BYtJQ2g/s1600-h/DSC_0075+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451625503360467122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNAOicmpHcCH8UhqNuW-aC_kpCG4ezJmz8JkK3fi4zaIU2sRlZze0rlqe9GX-G-lPU8gll4SU2Au-fIyzIr9yUdVmb8mgN8GclZA0sfo2LK6xFIIHQdmkeE8Rr94Udoxmnf11BYtJQ2g/s400/DSC_0075+(Large).JPG" /></a><br />About three weeks ago (when there was still a bit of snow on the ground), K got out EJ's first bike...this cute little Madeline bike. Sophie really felt like a big girl on it!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1d4VlUAmEEBfwbN36R3661-iXmTtDEmjeUq3o-GreaoJkT-ZFCcO0uWt1u8I0gmbDdrNeEF5TarzLs2x2xqtj7vEcuGNSV6CncXQRvuSCZkkrDhMh7cy8bEKqjdsxUDenusSLUMXAzo/s1600-h/P1050604.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451625496543279730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1d4VlUAmEEBfwbN36R3661-iXmTtDEmjeUq3o-GreaoJkT-ZFCcO0uWt1u8I0gmbDdrNeEF5TarzLs2x2xqtj7vEcuGNSV6CncXQRvuSCZkkrDhMh7cy8bEKqjdsxUDenusSLUMXAzo/s400/P1050604.JPG" /></a><br />This past weekend, we went to a Manchester Monarchs hockey game. The Monarchs are an affiliate team of the LA Kings. EJ's school chorus sang the national anthem. The first two pics were taken during the sound check, when the parents were allowed on the platform. During the real performance, EJ was on the Jumbotron!!<br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451625488861585474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcu2Y3L4qfXPcgpeiVQozEa2mG8GkaaxadyHvEhsx6C7XfR8mmRfmFFYvIest8u-nT5XrieZ4xihYid94hcMte3n7k6dlaxnBdXVX1sglE3mEVOl0TOu4_NvDO1WoZ9MZMw45GD7FWhI/s400/P1050622+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451625476726219682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjls5lwZHJpi4ZzkC_a4TaNVlBG1EVEPoqEabBDe6OaR4fzmMPnvky1XFzHoHvq3LjyScvw_yjALQKmVyvMjAjTgniDilp6cMS_-bVNXdYwlbjd7sT04P3Y2SUUHazTng2DL-LBva0Mb_w/s400/P1050612+(Large).JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW13xU7z-L7WxKi1y9XGzxg5yLLFVYVwrGsaMK3CcmG4JDDj7tMmh0ir8U5pRz_U9hNf88Ztavq0cNI4lm5FcrilMtaPm8f8HQocMT1VedEBsL5IowyzPJmBNaM3hUhHICGFQMomylL-4/s1600-h/P1050636+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451625491930351090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW13xU7z-L7WxKi1y9XGzxg5yLLFVYVwrGsaMK3CcmG4JDDj7tMmh0ir8U5pRz_U9hNf88Ztavq0cNI4lm5FcrilMtaPm8f8HQocMT1VedEBsL5IowyzPJmBNaM3hUhHICGFQMomylL-4/s400/P1050636+(Large).JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-10600746202772827792010-03-10T20:48:00.005-05:002010-03-10T21:07:30.808-05:00EJ's first dance competitionEJ joined her dance studio's dance company this year. She takes five classes (four required and one optional), and they compete at three local competitions. This first competition was held this past weekend at our local high school, and it was a LONG day (had to be there at 7AM, got home at 11:30 PM). Here are some fun shots from the day, most taken in the hallway while they were practicing:<br /><br />"The Conga" - jazz. Check out the clip-on pony tail and shimmery rhinestone earrings! She's in the back row, left.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447188133771922242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vuYkEHyMyOyVLxGS04nEk4s4zZbZ6mF088NpNP9czP2g2qlQ3O6VNuTrkBCKHnmmBbbmcdfcEqXP13522LhdUwXUjvZ9SWfXpIrChr4BQe-ygV1-Uqbj99M_XpLNkoVZwDRUnyzR1aU/s400/P1050575+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447188143092651186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8YbDe1DO0GhXrqpvz0IWgWCrF6yVe1-9KJNUZUMp3DdtPDu22u9GUbdAAC72ogh1TYkFDQ-2zmiu01gLh_rLczQh_l7XWnfekL-3tv6pPoSkzbcrRGA0p77kq7gRrE-wr8g-wL_hO1o/s400/P1050583+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447188132051105618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKPM8oSKAK_Kb2da6cveuRFvfgiiXkQpNSpiaDFtrrEydHS7MEybm4Nb6Ry4sXnB7yOz35zeSRIggAa9EMgUZ6jVnhcoHhoGdT80-Vlxz3DBT_Au-FdilUGE5YdX_i_0T-LoZsrlSrqQ/s400/P1050571+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447188396116067506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCWxNv0UkUxbg3TxbB_Cv-0EvcPMbInns5zWtTsVAF9H-kKXxJ3BQFaEKkgn4PCT3FKazLu9nZ_rOFbegPK9ft9GSP_RCmAThMwakqmjsvJJDHPeICZGrcUbhZkeWRKJPoXpfAVhkQUI/s400/P1050584+(Large).JPG" /><br /><br />Lunch break!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447188399463989586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyoQLtfrAGbMuS09vjuJ_1S6E9QdE9gHO-ayPTf6oInLxrz23FkujfpCMqOTAiZZaiAv8zfTIY0FkM-A4iUZwREXMbRy4sx_nHkdXmnChBNB2JGaniZhClGr7ouNcpOY1rTui2urdqT8/s400/P1050588+(Large).JPG" /><br /><br />"Tutti Fruitti" - tap. I love this costume! <br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447188406038604370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmHLn1zUVAKEf3pi7L4P_anVkp1_qDzlh96bW8P3siELK1A0JMWnCtcNntXtmANWwAK8VtxF6SqxN3NKTg6bjjMDHFJCmWdz32-W54ntRY1Z0ZcgqYfBC1CpOjK2N6S7a59lvUmKLWts/s400/P1050589+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447187579701687650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAn3bM269auwo6Zb3x_FYzCeWesKORldyU7F9x5Fx5s_0X7eJgUWFshXcm1RNeDBDFpBxibuDf5AOAB2nv8cqMhI_1yTB9tXOPeA7yzlwWj-lbNEI_WCtIyT6bFeX_rYmXvbWGeob1KE/s400/tap.jpg" /><br /><br />Striking a pose (front right):<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447188413293594786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTLZ2o5qosdt2emGwgWB9XNUPhQpbjQts4k6blQzUszdAXvNf3ACN2RmTry0ZsHbAtyQs5_AiszKU-hL6FqOAqBD5VtPZpGdrnHWd_9QSdv2H2JXDtzapm4UiWaRNkjDUB4W8h8v4-W8/s400/pose.jpg" /><br />"Double Dutch Bus" - hip hop. They have a giant yellow bus made out of PVC pipe that they push around the stage for this number - very cute!<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAvnmHtfLuuCHAryr8fJ63ppIkzrFNF-QYPilsMo2efNSHKqBLESxuKQvlvry8BtaVBVZMugtqwTg8o4TQMY4aIYcqbZ0InBeXTs1nyJhq8a2sVxMcto-N1e0QJKbr4XgxNOno9k2ofo/s1600-h/P1050567+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447188113725274690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAvnmHtfLuuCHAryr8fJ63ppIkzrFNF-QYPilsMo2efNSHKqBLESxuKQvlvry8BtaVBVZMugtqwTg8o4TQMY4aIYcqbZ0InBeXTs1nyJhq8a2sVxMcto-N1e0QJKbr4XgxNOno9k2ofo/s400/P1050567+(Large).JPG" /></a><br />Front row, center:</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447187832968820946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9SeEKbMvLZhK0SDlMCTwtIaNNoUh-pR6MxzylLUThU3aAPojrYRXNF0vCIHs2sfzcprj-ccnRNsMic24B7_lGnpyxcTWmk5vEM2P-j40rEfLMe14t8dTTQdmqLyBYOZ3xinUG9SkWtI/s400/P1050564+(Large).JPG" /></div><div><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447187828499012034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjoxeSGmAYD2_mcS1-i7F2Qaixa83GhFK-1A4qE2u9O38uQ4yFu1gQ4uOZFXH7jyWr12eqipe3mNQTydLrJiUuRNfvWZh1dhVHeQaVZVEEdRufBmTdlGl0rUt31R1wSxVYonUMM4v3zA/s400/P1050562+(Large).JPG" /></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447187561476861250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzVBSMwG22qrTjVELuYw4YtdxOHinLoymI7-CRk5dmc3z1IPgtYlo6-Q_K0qjRFsltb8Lo-JCVrdAsQXxn0PGI9UkoO6sW1n4YeYgbGQOH43-YBiH8Px25LvCcsbZPwQlsyoO4oSpB-o/s400/hiphop.jpg" /></div><div> </div><div>"Tout Doucement" - ballet. Yikes, don't know my French, not sure I spelled the name of the song correctly? Anyway, these costumes are quite hypnotizing when there are 14 of them spinning around on stage!</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447187820899439714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrcy7JsLER668ED802IQlvEuhZHn_Sr6QnZuyQFpvNafkDIExoF6TGO_Zu-AKbjp5-w5mh4kFYo_bxRXA4Vui_ohY2I7ufTeMbB4v_3mPV4ygdE-8aOLr7mtQiz4XCtsI575sQHzxHNE/s400/P1050558+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447187560057031378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9saXM0Rl1DntDY6UxdR9X9Zya3lL6EbH4fQE6jFw3jlaeVO4xDFoU8e4Vl5Lqc96ZCExyB0F9T51sw1T6GkeDCiTHb9AZTYFxMFfTQ4OYwQ9IGpiNogZxz5v2mb5Ml9GmxuQm0pTL-jY/s400/ballet.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447187818323261010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTtF0B4vUsmOvB46Z1PmEJUsLGvoZzN6vKkuPwftKMSkZM4C0J4Y7HA61II4XNp8aULjCzHAXAO-CQ_mjP6dvRCdmi2wA1Qo5r1WDLURgEhjkBE1H5QBctHmrm2rknyS0ofrX5kY38rI/s400/P1050556+(Large).JPG" /><br />"Dream" - lyrical<br /><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_WcpvBml6-ZgejgfVQXUpsln0bL6qVtdmnMJmzlBnUxA0QxGGOfzXmfkk6FXK6ud-EZDd5WMO2aCwEO2sBRQiY2j_hP3-dmVIe58aJefjdteyrcih70KZ3atyx5j-rDKxhSS6crRyL8/s1600-h/lyrical.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447187573271341234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_WcpvBml6-ZgejgfVQXUpsln0bL6qVtdmnMJmzlBnUxA0QxGGOfzXmfkk6FXK6ud-EZDd5WMO2aCwEO2sBRQiY2j_hP3-dmVIe58aJefjdteyrcih70KZ3atyx5j-rDKxhSS6crRyL8/s400/lyrical.jpg" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>Her team won five high silver awards. The next competition is the second weekend in April.</p>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-77825776133340037882010-03-10T20:07:00.003-05:002010-03-10T20:48:24.057-05:00Our trip to PAHere in New England, most schools give students a one week break in February and a one week break in April. Personally, I'd rather have the extra time off in June, but I'm starting to dream about warm tropical vacations right about now, so perhaps a winter break isn't such a bad idea. Well, we did go south, but it wasn't tropical...it was southwestern PA to visit family. Here are the girls with Pap Pap and Mamaw S:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwTwAJAhOtJvbalJK-Smwsw2e8i_T4LZIy33I1D6ANJL6NiAjsSkyXy0rp7Y8U6g_XDE-FhAYDCKyodJ2QgbLgQf2-Zqnw32ao28nYLOt9cGOaFSTutzJ8KMnfAtqHWHse5pG1lCht3s/s1600-h/P1050554+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447183935289310898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwTwAJAhOtJvbalJK-Smwsw2e8i_T4LZIy33I1D6ANJL6NiAjsSkyXy0rp7Y8U6g_XDE-FhAYDCKyodJ2QgbLgQf2-Zqnw32ao28nYLOt9cGOaFSTutzJ8KMnfAtqHWHse5pG1lCht3s/s400/P1050554+(Large).JPG" /></a><br />EJ and Mamaw played dress-up one day and then played cards. EJ looked like a real card shark!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1zs0QifjeiqqdNDMW3NPOoSOTQ7gXNQ285nVY7ieQ61eOO3gzzXk2zPpDgR_3cInro4BkB-RtKIJvDUqAmy_PojwUOr6-_Y_xq04VJiJ4AqathPJ9YGm81TXxME23CUseHH58Yp2wCo/s1600-h/P1050550+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447183930722017490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm1zs0QifjeiqqdNDMW3NPOoSOTQ7gXNQ285nVY7ieQ61eOO3gzzXk2zPpDgR_3cInro4BkB-RtKIJvDUqAmy_PojwUOr6-_Y_xq04VJiJ4AqathPJ9YGm81TXxME23CUseHH58Yp2wCo/s400/P1050550+(Large).JPG" /></a> </div><div>Here are the girls with their Great Great Aunt A:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13vkJpXADLdhO50HxSvpL4TLuJ26fyA2zkrSR5C6nDi4JgqEbIEqs_TUaBJ7wBFRfmltd4KfCYP4haciwy4KSnO7zeGFArcCE5B88Tjs44Xg1vYrpX-mvQvTh-vRHA1wYkHilCcQiZT8/s1600-h/P1050547+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447183923097361122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13vkJpXADLdhO50HxSvpL4TLuJ26fyA2zkrSR5C6nDi4JgqEbIEqs_TUaBJ7wBFRfmltd4KfCYP4haciwy4KSnO7zeGFArcCE5B88Tjs44Xg1vYrpX-mvQvTh-vRHA1wYkHilCcQiZT8/s400/P1050547+(Large).JPG" /></a><br />On Wednesday evening, EJ, Pap Pap, and I went tubing to Hidden Valley Resort. We had a lot of fun - mostly because there were only a dozen other people there, and after the first 75 minutes or so we had the whole hill to ourselves! <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWaC4KgDrV1XgWLYF9_d9vMfPMBX0YVDTkGkLoXgDEGcqw0kTwTarVt79iQtVEWB7mghosaFOfWRwMEJMQuxKr6ZnnVXzYuBUvL3wwNwe38PeyQlxKPdjm4qHrQE49oo37FFg8rbiP20/s1600-h/P1050543+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447176938803684610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWaC4KgDrV1XgWLYF9_d9vMfPMBX0YVDTkGkLoXgDEGcqw0kTwTarVt79iQtVEWB7mghosaFOfWRwMEJMQuxKr6ZnnVXzYuBUvL3wwNwe38PeyQlxKPdjm4qHrQE49oo37FFg8rbiP20/s400/P1050543+(Large).JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMX55Ge3JkjH-kpxZc3YIWlk9W6RqTBAeroyeVqHeifOy0vSmzVQ3HAwMjFxKAGiiBb9cyhDBXmagaY2VWVuLu3fYCrIoADwBEl5x61ewpvPKz9_w-j89gI45B0BSdec1f0eAyNA9CvM/s1600-h/P1050540+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447176927953777506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMX55Ge3JkjH-kpxZc3YIWlk9W6RqTBAeroyeVqHeifOy0vSmzVQ3HAwMjFxKAGiiBb9cyhDBXmagaY2VWVuLu3fYCrIoADwBEl5x61ewpvPKz9_w-j89gI45B0BSdec1f0eAyNA9CvM/s400/P1050540+(Large).JPG" /></a><br />Here are the girls striking a silly pose with their Great Great Uncle C:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7cdMi8WNoevlxrEsPQLB1cZiB0Dni8XbCegCDmye9DFgG1CBXMPAOqcJhUjEKpSa4jokuPCZLKZBW3ilAK1Bs0qfh_LlKJbMzJe4P1trbzQ1pWrGGS8PWIokB7lvi9gq1JKosHfv22M/s1600-h/P1050529+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447176926599001730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7cdMi8WNoevlxrEsPQLB1cZiB0Dni8XbCegCDmye9DFgG1CBXMPAOqcJhUjEKpSa4jokuPCZLKZBW3ilAK1Bs0qfh_LlKJbMzJe4P1trbzQ1pWrGGS8PWIokB7lvi9gq1JKosHfv22M/s400/P1050529+(Large).JPG" /></a><br />And here they are with their Great Grandma K (my maternal grandmother). Sophie loved riding in the wheelchair!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSllzfvH8ICvDN_JbPKtmyXKlJ2K6QJp7hTl2y0yM0I7VGOgiYHIwPhIbLebxfc7K-ZajxsO004GF6JXRN9RKRBoNknPRHXdcYUi5TBl3feNNze7dkCYZFXGCmkHpxjiiBV4m0EEA4Gw/s1600-h/P1050524+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447176920778897186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSllzfvH8ICvDN_JbPKtmyXKlJ2K6QJp7hTl2y0yM0I7VGOgiYHIwPhIbLebxfc7K-ZajxsO004GF6JXRN9RKRBoNknPRHXdcYUi5TBl3feNNze7dkCYZFXGCmkHpxjiiBV4m0EEA4Gw/s400/P1050524+(Large).JPG" /></a><br />The first night we were there, we met up at a local pizza shop with some family and friends. Here I am with two of my best friends from high school, S and R:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmo5vXH7AHxSnbcxp7qNAhimKRUA8aouBTvkz3y8Of7hor5Ep63leUVpQlMUwTK_ZVOFUkJ1DWfavR0hD4ow74FxTTBD3W6GucKZsfDuTiMemh1KaaF0nLIgKj11yed8BzWqZ74LP41Q/s1600-h/P1050520+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447176912641938322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmo5vXH7AHxSnbcxp7qNAhimKRUA8aouBTvkz3y8Of7hor5Ep63leUVpQlMUwTK_ZVOFUkJ1DWfavR0hD4ow74FxTTBD3W6GucKZsfDuTiMemh1KaaF0nLIgKj11yed8BzWqZ74LP41Q/s400/P1050520+(Large).JPG" /></a><br />We had a lot of fun, despite the foot of snow that fell the day before we left, or that K, Sophie, and I were all fighting colds while we were there. A wind storm tore through southern NH and knocked out the power at home on Thursday night. We were hoping to return home Saturday afternoon, but we had a late start (still recovering from the snow at my dad's and the traffic jams in the Scranton area), so it was around midnight Saturday when we pulled in. The house was only 45 degrees, but thankfully it hadn't been cold enough to freeze the pipes. We plugged in the generator and fired up the furnace and the pellet stove. The power didn't come back on until Monday afternoon, but we were prepared. Our only loss was everything in the fridge and the freezer on the fridge (everything in the basement freezer was still frozen solid). Sheesh, two major power outages in 15 months! I do give PSNH a lot of credit for their communications plan this time. They waited until they had a full assessment of the situation before releasing estimated time of restoration to everyone. And they had regular updates on Twitter, which were great to follow!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-2753386673613949172010-02-15T07:44:00.005-05:002010-02-15T08:10:38.596-05:00What happens......when Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year fall on the same day? You get together with some of your China travel mates and have a little party! Many thanks to the B family for hosting the Jiangxi families for an awesome Chinese lunch and reunion. Here's our somewhat regular attempt to recreate the red couch photo from China (no, we didn't line them up in the same order...), with the big sisters standing behind them:<br /><div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438450287593081122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDmnAr2IHqw3TcZvyI2SWA1aI956yROUOAkwiLgRqHRAdUMsl4OFsnByDtaVDrVF-51yg7sVrpXgennKuRYYwVygwS_2zHjqNOjnPSEdpfpm8zxFVNMz2X5TjnSZpU2_6VBeabuVjs-o/s400/P1050499+(Large).JPG" /></div><br /><div>Now, can you figure out which girl today matches which baby in this photo, taken on the 2nd floor red couch at the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou?</div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438451650027715090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxBd-0QsrJ1O9mTckE2rk0EBowpP5SR0hot_PR333-QPJXJAWUEr6MhvIWX7XiyemZxcUkCGVkBNIdXyA9D4cXxyVrwmsxPbu8Pd9NVZrvQuFh1Nwpt0GINyTOyDsUtABU3J6JH2nX6E/s400/P1000942+(Large).JPG" /></div><br /><div>And here are the four girls from the Suichuan SWI. I don't think we've taken any photos of the four of them together before, but hopefully we'll be able to capture a few more group photos over the the years! We had a tough time with this photo, as their older siblings were standing behind the couch. I asked the big girls to hide behind the couch while we took this photo, and of course, that caused a whole lot of jumping up and down to peek. What was I thinking? </div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438452426746272850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sz9BQF846KxtNHtYhaNfn3Hvh2qOeO7WOZpuwONG6fPPFZRu765co1LOI59MolKr6t9sY07n3U5VyUQK9j9YLaX1QGFURKy5ht9To4YZzeGZLgzf6xVhueNLXe-IDa3M1k3MKRyKtFc/s400/P1050506+(Large).JPG" /><br /><div>It was a whirlwind week of Valentines parties and CNY parties. And this week isn't much more sane. Sophie and I are off today for President's Day. EJ still had school since we're on winter break next week, and K had to work. Today, I hope to finish gathering paperwork to take to the accountant so the taxes can get done. Tomorrow, EJ and I are going to see the musical at her middle school. Wednesday morning, she has a social studies open house (an Egypt museum) before school, and then a costume check for dance that evening (so I have to alter a few things on her costumes today too!). And oh...somewhere in there, I really need to think about packing since we're heading for PA first thing on Saturday morning for winter break. </div></div>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-9424283668956373262010-02-14T20:05:00.003-05:002010-02-15T08:10:10.686-05:00Happy Valentines Day!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNGWckY5oBUi4GkyWrPwhybuPp9imp2SaUS45jY1vGwVsoHxi8PMLh7uC64-OUGGhrxmz-GBGgEwuYOnx5zTzxUYpBmdCtmqA9KZYpA6YvnbO74rtUnTJMDkbKI3iZadfGKpeKRU0JrM/s1600-h/vd2010-000-Page-6+(Large).jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438456200916397650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNGWckY5oBUi4GkyWrPwhybuPp9imp2SaUS45jY1vGwVsoHxi8PMLh7uC64-OUGGhrxmz-GBGgEwuYOnx5zTzxUYpBmdCtmqA9KZYpA6YvnbO74rtUnTJMDkbKI3iZadfGKpeKRU0JrM/s400/vd2010-000-Page-6+(Large).jpg" /></a><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438456192914552786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTLZr7J6z53nQyDRbkgmKxSm9RJIzCTblWFJE7oC8lt6sW3UkqX6UuyqIt_Gr7CEfqEcb-GAR0zQuqQQX0XK0f1SdnbnBU6jzytUhGSknrocMM7SPjcC4GGEQQYD7qzgSAqy7yDsQXVc/s400/P1050404+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438456183667412786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbSNqix61ekBdIh4MV7Jhv2cDE6pzJViUqQEizpN_df1zNV_kFANLLNwogGgR9o3gkGh-No7FjNRf1w5pRYxoE9lz5dZGr_2J4elmJw6tMH1TN0NXFAtT8J71hvayrmIdiXugbgFduA0/s400/P1050402+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438456182155765298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzJD6LBLBERSGap03USgsWwuaazql-FyKM_1e8sxD8m2WqLhj_HspeFUtbpUtIs8HEmiaeb-m8rMiV0Oo9pXoJVl-yBiIYcINFo_POAlug2aR1xe5Rk_aS1SfmD_8xqHVrL9xZb30vWI/s400/P1050398+(Large).JPG" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIgoqX7BEZfFP0CS0yvXHiFhRQzgtG67MaC2FNkTL4B3cj4Iciiw1w4TqKpezM9RfNKOzwbcZLLFJ87m5T92ECJq6KJU5rtCF3kkqoLAVfDQLyW7RN70mQGAEe-ODoVgODYExmcKNYMI/s1600-h/P1050430+(Large).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438456193602328530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIgoqX7BEZfFP0CS0yvXHiFhRQzgtG67MaC2FNkTL4B3cj4Iciiw1w4TqKpezM9RfNKOzwbcZLLFJ87m5T92ECJq6KJU5rtCF3kkqoLAVfDQLyW7RN70mQGAEe-ODoVgODYExmcKNYMI/s400/P1050430+(Large).JPG" /></a>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-7810357802001050002010-02-06T22:48:00.010-05:002010-02-10T08:45:42.288-05:00Chinese New Year party!Today was the annual Chinese New Year party for clients and friends of our adoption agency. We had a lot of fun, but it makes for a very long day. Once again, I screwed up the order of selecting the photos (thanks to the lousy interface blogger has for uploading), so we're going in reverse order here. <div><div><div><div><br /><div>Here are Sophie and I with the gold and red lion after the lion dance. We got her a lion puppet that matches this lion - a puppet on strings. We'll see how long before it's tangled. I told her that maybe she could take it to preschool on Friday for the little Chinese New Year celebration they're having there.</div><div> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436607434829581890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HyVuDzM-zp1UVt8jSjXGlYTCSW4UBMegfeQ-sOV_enrvXb8jtE5Jt4FSJ-USpQ5VeL2GfuyfS5nC506ox4M3KsbA79N6hEBYlXf53O5QxwXdD6-P7GcxIGK0UmWgE1srp6NMraEnUpg/s400/modified+P1050479+(Large).JPG" /><br /><div>She also got to bang the drum and the gong:</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435344166487165746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-Zma1UJQJCT3DHsa_yfDqGa6G8n75xIU6intm98VnOKBLPSvZIlDJLTej05FGnGVV2wwdlaYh3bTJ_iZHz1SYHPe9pYCsIj3P-eIyyXLGL6o_dT53mCesN5hnP8JeO3WPPWtkC5mAUg/s400/P1050477+(Large).JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435344155194191090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYePIySWX9_8xV9QbOvmjsmygYjtCG-HqV37puxRfyqUC2KDXIALCKQLw0SwTpjaYiTyY2w6FlvU1LdGjlQ6KIAWB5BqoZ5X-8u5Y7su7fd2_FHRgzHOREjI8udzdpEJBcuUvqV_WZj6E/s400/P1050476+(Large).JPG" /><br /> Here she is inside the lion head for the red/gold lion. They let the kids try them out after the performance, which was great! We'd been reading a story she has about the lion dance all week!</div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435344154537979058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7a1HGSjueulUgjvZoWStkoYUjNMR8JeL3LvhSCHEwUhnu-2fjF7pJMxkyh1T6zZtp5z5F1BW4Xi2qNduTFfv3NE0PY3f6t6BzkUr4bGdp1U7WonQN0Yi42NeQ09bUl0Fas2h8zqzOYc/s400/P1050475+(Large).JPG" /><br />The smaller head fit her much better!</div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435344148866492002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIREp21-Gfu4bRZOjN-ZsfknVec-tbmwBexaUYYfyD5NiSEN4WJWPYvnumtV8Jil0-7OAda8DmVAXvttd8zNNhvWeo8lxWaNOEK72_ZYMv_nAWw8l18mWCPnvasxu2Hd4QFBUyPvI3jzA/s400/P1050473+(Large).JPG" /></div><div> </div><div>Here's the dragon dance!</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435343782124384610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKuvE5oXbFfIVQ7QpDAmDx9LAAvtpUDX8y49Jc-6Gm6He4b_BSaXhj0w7FDuTOOPRdYnUsx-Nk68Idsw238VfmYqXiuUq4BmKenVMps-rri_HyG9gIPpWFAFcMA8poULk32-z-RSYI_A/s400/P1050466+(Large).JPG" /><br /><div>Here's Sophie with cutie-pie friend, R:</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436607667063127074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qj7087Tr4x9gZftyKompXtpoxDoIYRJx0jXj2xVPBM7snHUkio3ndeSXL3qOAA2iYLIhamYV6IC2aicb8LMV9ar9NVeGz-Iku_wt6JxLFzITZm2Qd8TnF6o8hFrm0vZCPR8CCVsUcEM/s400/modified+P1050452+(Large).JPG" /></div><br /><div>And here are all the kiddos from our travel group, with the older siblings:</div><div> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436608302948083730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOt-zghtRi4xgjLaaD4CKIhwlnS_6j8MyxYrmhKo_ZQ1Na2C0dNYmFo4DZVCq3WYSKpU8vK9rxYVASWEa-7mucHhR8dk2pKYxh4wjKaa8IyagGU2aO3Y829rYrMqYr4-XVr8z_zKkneE4/s400/modified+P1050447+(Large).JPG" /><br /><div>EJ and Sophie hit the dance floor for the Cha-Cha Slide:</div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436608711712492770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KqFlEya-dViahyZdWs4VbLjjBNZdp6EVRUZOSxUmLm3nVgBc5zM9vIqDzrFSIuKeU9mB8dO-M1CsZdfe30neb9jDI_muN_slkMmQGhampeOo_cPDqZ6ZiE5JqVq9inUFW075TQiXdPY/s400/modified+P1050441+(Large).JPG" /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436609527653343218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZnQ1Ox_8VTcKb4g3z-unMNKMr1wAqX2aa5hGM0tzYz1HzfOK49BC6Z63dSvo7wNPm5d44EEghN_sn5NE5U3soVH0K5kjfUJ0ylN26PtroJlPbGa69GzSTXlyFtWdzgVKDrMmBkXLvO8/s400/modified+P1050438+(Large).JPG" /><br /><div>On another note, there is an Amtrak train that has been stuck in my hometown of Connellsville, PA for nearly 24 hours in the snow: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/us/07train.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/us/07train.html</a>. Poor folks...traveling from Washington DC to Chicago, and stuck (as one of my high school friends put it on Facebook) "in Mayberry."</div></div></div>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-23159455454283690652010-01-16T13:10:00.005-05:002010-01-16T13:25:19.248-05:00A trip to American Girl<div>This morning, we got up bright and early to head to the American Girl store in Natick (just west of Boston). Our mission was to buy an Ivy Ling doll and Ivy's Chinese New Years dress to donate to the raffle at our adoption agency's Chinese New Years party in a few weeks. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxcHulzCwdTCKGb8twLQfYOwAJqUjjLYOuzZC9tEn0kxKfA-1507YOvQUD1KFn9Pnez2S8rTBU1bjiht-kZerNmsRUz8DXYU5Xb-HV4TtIds2sjayibl19UMeXVjjg3akuya7KndpPYY/s1600-h/P1050351+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxcHulzCwdTCKGb8twLQfYOwAJqUjjLYOuzZC9tEn0kxKfA-1507YOvQUD1KFn9Pnez2S8rTBU1bjiht-kZerNmsRUz8DXYU5Xb-HV4TtIds2sjayibl19UMeXVjjg3akuya7KndpPYY/s400/P1050351+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427403808391661314" /></a><br /><div>We had reservations for breakfast at the Bistro. Each doll gets a cute little chair that attachs to the table. Here's Sophie with her American Girl Bitty Baby that Grandma and Grandpap H bought her for Christmas! The dolls were served chocolate chip muffins (which the girls helped them eat), and we got strawberry muffins too. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rIV-lEmnkoucnI5sGO3voiEJrTt-gq6Z7xmNZecOge2rGG8gv8CeoLRxWxPpCpeEYqg5mIXJmuMr17wTcUAYXp5lK2RPxlD3cxNiaWPmyKs1vGg0IsmlYT6-DJaLuDDv-s0xQ9rWRQI/s1600-h/P1050355+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rIV-lEmnkoucnI5sGO3voiEJrTt-gq6Z7xmNZecOge2rGG8gv8CeoLRxWxPpCpeEYqg5mIXJmuMr17wTcUAYXp5lK2RPxlD3cxNiaWPmyKs1vGg0IsmlYT6-DJaLuDDv-s0xQ9rWRQI/s400/P1050355+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427403806799756402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJ9Fl2Q-wv2mSoBkt3tIvUQzuY40rNX-JGLORZWQfejmXp5t4u9N8VPLy85-o7o6IRHBlkjF3Wrg0voO8AKffP5yMGtta58HCc8uk-DVvBGm1KCFnbM4pd6TKswcPuik00NX3lJ5ReDU/s1600-h/P1050356+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJ9Fl2Q-wv2mSoBkt3tIvUQzuY40rNX-JGLORZWQfejmXp5t4u9N8VPLy85-o7o6IRHBlkjF3Wrg0voO8AKffP5yMGtta58HCc8uk-DVvBGm1KCFnbM4pd6TKswcPuik00NX3lJ5ReDU/s400/P1050356+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427403800431172146" /></a><br /></div><div>We all had the Belgian waffles with berries and whipped cream. They were pretty good!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXTM94ZPlYrsR0xhEcyauksXz-jqP4XP22NF-Tk8cu_4NLmOi8NPGRAtnQGXAYvM-Gq34GXDk5AGXeygE44vQVkbS0uDpmOV9vc-ut1ocVyRRVmbLSeeKORKs5C397XOTGT7HYMxHBY4/s1600-h/P1050357+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXTM94ZPlYrsR0xhEcyauksXz-jqP4XP22NF-Tk8cu_4NLmOi8NPGRAtnQGXAYvM-Gq34GXDk5AGXeygE44vQVkbS0uDpmOV9vc-ut1ocVyRRVmbLSeeKORKs5C397XOTGT7HYMxHBY4/s400/P1050357+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427403803240333954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnK3ZhJRr6-RdGpcTxeIH55NVGK-mgbCH-MFv1Xbzb_cstkAy8o5WmL2eSM9Gin25CLhmcBSCR4vfbFrfHeX6wLAFSIEU6PGEoMMDBiEhegT5REb1oizeeAcVqXeTjwIi2kj6CCMRCFk4/s1600-h/P1050358+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnK3ZhJRr6-RdGpcTxeIH55NVGK-mgbCH-MFv1Xbzb_cstkAy8o5WmL2eSM9Gin25CLhmcBSCR4vfbFrfHeX6wLAFSIEU6PGEoMMDBiEhegT5REb1oizeeAcVqXeTjwIi2kj6CCMRCFk4/s400/P1050358+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427403798612031778" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITHziKyDk_jIQfPL7MCHPlrzh2Ly_-FpWuzKbpbQhwIHuirKL2nZlbtFj6BthX4d7K-k68nOyB71zgZY6HUPHhZCYYcPmG7b_E6U8UV3q6olGWkta1vJ0a7AK7xjzOFguITxlLnO8bhU/s1600-h/P1050360+(Large).JPG"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITHziKyDk_jIQfPL7MCHPlrzh2Ly_-FpWuzKbpbQhwIHuirKL2nZlbtFj6BthX4d7K-k68nOyB71zgZY6HUPHhZCYYcPmG7b_E6U8UV3q6olGWkta1vJ0a7AK7xjzOFguITxlLnO8bhU/s400/P1050360+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427403592161405906" /></a><br /></div><div>After breakfast, we made our way to the Doll Salon to have EJ's doll, Samantha's, hair done. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfACvo40bBfys-E3k3PZLp__uoST6kMXqXSYBW5QuurC5GQEVY31-DaUztcsXV3wGleMEtFBHXJmWR6SbGpybjvRTtzj96RREz7FfOU8ms1LG46Fc8wwjK7RgEVh0O9l44m8XApUjswE/s1600-h/P1050362+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfACvo40bBfys-E3k3PZLp__uoST6kMXqXSYBW5QuurC5GQEVY31-DaUztcsXV3wGleMEtFBHXJmWR6SbGpybjvRTtzj96RREz7FfOU8ms1LG46Fc8wwjK7RgEVh0O9l44m8XApUjswE/s400/P1050362+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427403585027862690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZLIcgqg9glk_JwiiWYY7C_QiZI8YHEZ8kI8PNxAxebXjRTtRC60gMkvQBgV8WpmkPFRJMjSpP7-ehsvoKOYJfDIbgUA4p1wLe8vxG-cO6jEjw1g6RHk57rdJqyucaA1rXwRuTnnve4M/s1600-h/P1050363+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZLIcgqg9glk_JwiiWYY7C_QiZI8YHEZ8kI8PNxAxebXjRTtRC60gMkvQBgV8WpmkPFRJMjSpP7-ehsvoKOYJfDIbgUA4p1wLe8vxG-cO6jEjw1g6RHk57rdJqyucaA1rXwRuTnnve4M/s400/P1050363+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427403583616268338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuXZWh7t6xBWAmpUi2R05sWnADDwTrH06Om4Tci6K7tHoFdgqckRSWaCVL8r9HaY1xuaOV16Fh8ACgn2mMaaD594UAp-PNtpGXfuPJp49dibpV-1DwWtVCFRoXikKaspX68JeELkVYx4/s1600-h/P1050364+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuXZWh7t6xBWAmpUi2R05sWnADDwTrH06Om4Tci6K7tHoFdgqckRSWaCVL8r9HaY1xuaOV16Fh8ACgn2mMaaD594UAp-PNtpGXfuPJp49dibpV-1DwWtVCFRoXikKaspX68JeELkVYx4/s400/P1050364+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427403576492902898" /></a><br /></div><div>While we waited for Samantha, Sophie's doll (named "Baby Sophie") got a pink ribbon put in her hair.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZKh-KUenuU2bfTVVcEiWAEiRHPPDL4a5Dt79Nw9CrOZSvaSylQfMchALzqFV602Rrmoc_a0zAvQlEKl3hjUPwIK9IQLD7Ci4Yh3c5Cueq0_9DDdi_0N3RXlB7NrNPkUNx_xQV04Mo0Q/s1600-h/P1050365+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZKh-KUenuU2bfTVVcEiWAEiRHPPDL4a5Dt79Nw9CrOZSvaSylQfMchALzqFV602Rrmoc_a0zAvQlEKl3hjUPwIK9IQLD7Ci4Yh3c5Cueq0_9DDdi_0N3RXlB7NrNPkUNx_xQV04Mo0Q/s400/P1050365+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427403576542748162" /></a><br /><div>Sophie was so excited!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgda3CfhIgTcB-_1ouIioibwMmyrtaN57RHvmnBGtqKCkkH1vL43sGnGZqvjKDv2T1-zbDDoF_khSuFOxhmRwwskgmdTKczn0h4qyct8GzyrBdHhDXg1ouX78pUTPF1Y0Bt7QVyU-N4MC4/s1600-h/P1050366+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgda3CfhIgTcB-_1ouIioibwMmyrtaN57RHvmnBGtqKCkkH1vL43sGnGZqvjKDv2T1-zbDDoF_khSuFOxhmRwwskgmdTKczn0h4qyct8GzyrBdHhDXg1ouX78pUTPF1Y0Bt7QVyU-N4MC4/s400/P1050366+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427403295242284626" /></a><br /></div><div>Samantha gets her finishing touches:</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LIJdTrzkclQqPJYK5mpOcRO1LVxcdOlISYfHDN88amblkB2s1gu3_Tf-2QWv4GW37UXYNBCOgwsGsMX60RwCLENxuob-IdRtctR_rEq5_Zw0K1tZN6twBDv6U7ZnPaKQCF0a6PtM8Fo/s1600-h/P1050367+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LIJdTrzkclQqPJYK5mpOcRO1LVxcdOlISYfHDN88amblkB2s1gu3_Tf-2QWv4GW37UXYNBCOgwsGsMX60RwCLENxuob-IdRtctR_rEq5_Zw0K1tZN6twBDv6U7ZnPaKQCF0a6PtM8Fo/s400/P1050367+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427403292753022658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2aMAkqkLp9hH_oTdxZ4mMOsTzY8SwxfO5DR8cRdT0KWDMagPoui9wRStkn7M7Xh2xqgFdkJpjfrfV2NOBqsUyucbkk-9lEHOFbjwBGnurLQ0yJcmoRM39N6P8ucT-n-t_QW42ddUSH4/s1600-h/P1050368+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2aMAkqkLp9hH_oTdxZ4mMOsTzY8SwxfO5DR8cRdT0KWDMagPoui9wRStkn7M7Xh2xqgFdkJpjfrfV2NOBqsUyucbkk-9lEHOFbjwBGnurLQ0yJcmoRM39N6P8ucT-n-t_QW42ddUSH4/s400/P1050368+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427403292275456498" /></a><br /></div><div>The AFTER shot:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcP9KTm41MSiiV37yBNFEFa_WRAHrDigKhfmrbQE9HmxBNSeyl2pGc7GEYKsl2tZek1nMGXPm7yn0V34_HkMv3keAFXq9FtzObGoywatRecxLbJBLRYdi40hXG8CkUwujI5U3iS9Kybw/s1600-h/P1050370+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcP9KTm41MSiiV37yBNFEFa_WRAHrDigKhfmrbQE9HmxBNSeyl2pGc7GEYKsl2tZek1nMGXPm7yn0V34_HkMv3keAFXq9FtzObGoywatRecxLbJBLRYdi40hXG8CkUwujI5U3iS9Kybw/s400/P1050370+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427403286912310578" /></a><br /></div><div>Sophie liked looking at the doll displays, especially the Kaya and Felicity ones with horses!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NLIwVVamjNaChSszXhSlDVMZr2l1o3YIj7_4XIptK6E2d8owAq-7GYVmUEZtkwduYvf6UIR_OvhqH9yf_N8Nc05zgg3RiGM25QaI-ta1HpunuPKgFccYz4TGLRL-o6pwDfTCoCDEutg/s1600-h/P1050371+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NLIwVVamjNaChSszXhSlDVMZr2l1o3YIj7_4XIptK6E2d8owAq-7GYVmUEZtkwduYvf6UIR_OvhqH9yf_N8Nc05zgg3RiGM25QaI-ta1HpunuPKgFccYz4TGLRL-o6pwDfTCoCDEutg/s400/P1050371+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427403280920950034" /></a><br /><div>EJ, checking out Julie's bed: </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG5s4txF_5aCVYo_nNonZabl7jxrCS4weeV7nFFqZC-9_4h3lPqcz1Xwm-tkoFPSZiQ4yiPoSbczEf77ULSeE6RdSNWzHPCpL23Bk6pV4Gc8YR5HPKGGr2geLqF9BeOhbVfypvQew_WU/s1600-h/P1050372+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG5s4txF_5aCVYo_nNonZabl7jxrCS4weeV7nFFqZC-9_4h3lPqcz1Xwm-tkoFPSZiQ4yiPoSbczEf77ULSeE6RdSNWzHPCpL23Bk6pV4Gc8YR5HPKGGr2geLqF9BeOhbVfypvQew_WU/s400/P1050372+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427402972564249554" /></a><br /></div><div>The Bistro:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgytw4kYFRmtHknH-lN5LH8C_QNwYIEY3IZR5o5toSaA74-gpMm1cgbKd5nZNSpYxGYh3XBBFPNA0oZHpi3aXQVi57wTUNPhPtbO6jJNFLuWgMiYzlZTw0JJVwdzMBdwZ_IP3-QhySGJE/s1600-h/P1050373+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgytw4kYFRmtHknH-lN5LH8C_QNwYIEY3IZR5o5toSaA74-gpMm1cgbKd5nZNSpYxGYh3XBBFPNA0oZHpi3aXQVi57wTUNPhPtbO6jJNFLuWgMiYzlZTw0JJVwdzMBdwZ_IP3-QhySGJE/s400/P1050373+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427402968449938802" /></a><br /></div><div>EJ picked out this dress (actually a Julie doll dress) for Samantha:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0zjM0mvJsTiI7qbDdTpbURBFL2592_Ye2wRM_fYFFnaKlzbMKfHFdtHoaW8YpDv-xMfuV74rBtER5M7qE5Pst70xbQJ7QNzVcMWVRlWCEDK7NyPyaQgEHnbT8JjoxPPkhrxOteqvsNQ/s1600-h/P1050374+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0zjM0mvJsTiI7qbDdTpbURBFL2592_Ye2wRM_fYFFnaKlzbMKfHFdtHoaW8YpDv-xMfuV74rBtER5M7qE5Pst70xbQJ7QNzVcMWVRlWCEDK7NyPyaQgEHnbT8JjoxPPkhrxOteqvsNQ/s400/P1050374+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427402964802560834" /></a><br /></div><div>Oh, Samantha had her ears pierced at the salon too:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlc47P_BYfTXHBPg5cpVxKYJh_8VhJFkjpDcfSuPdJNFpiPOLHbkUXKFD2w7BiKmE0TYuxKfTRsYFxEh5-VFrwrF7U0NlsoDXLZI7liAje-4eTRy2LLdMMG6TsIgLP1cKkVXaR27IJRk/s1600-h/P1050375+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlc47P_BYfTXHBPg5cpVxKYJh_8VhJFkjpDcfSuPdJNFpiPOLHbkUXKFD2w7BiKmE0TYuxKfTRsYFxEh5-VFrwrF7U0NlsoDXLZI7liAje-4eTRy2LLdMMG6TsIgLP1cKkVXaR27IJRk/s400/P1050375+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427402959615474594" /></a><br /></div><div>And Sophie picked out this outfit for her doll:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8-a-Z-I3d5q4575r7eGjc3P2blcsvKl07kG6KqoxSYG7f4U3u_tJzHJ5SfqRDmkyqTyT2FjVD2UQtRiC-C3FjWJ4QDSomEKvKZjcd-ksG_MdzBj4huMGCQPt893D3Ag0WK37m9GgJcQ/s1600-h/P1050377+(Large).JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8-a-Z-I3d5q4575r7eGjc3P2blcsvKl07kG6KqoxSYG7f4U3u_tJzHJ5SfqRDmkyqTyT2FjVD2UQtRiC-C3FjWJ4QDSomEKvKZjcd-ksG_MdzBj4huMGCQPt893D3Ag0WK37m9GgJcQ/s400/P1050377+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427402954121654994" /></a></div>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-55017527632621257972010-01-03T10:46:00.001-05:002010-01-03T11:06:56.378-05:00Christmas morning<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw-Yux8uxsPzJ0z1AbM1CoDlB7DSfV_fSX2JMaC70QgZB567-g0Z0fekxDFeQyuZXF62GKRfhMmGW8Uw4087A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-59380072700085299812010-01-03T10:39:00.002-05:002010-01-03T10:45:49.185-05:00Sophie's Preschool Christmas programSophie's class at preschool did a little Christmas show for us on the last day before holiday break. There are 15 or 16 kids in her class, and they all did such a wonderful job! <div><br /></div><div><div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzkkLwi3jm1AM-4sDPpLea9LwIyTVFZ-q5xbiWziRo8Cx5hrtKbXb5AT6DxD6jntuEOVficvDeLUQilV2JL4g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-22978800184565421022009-12-25T21:24:00.009-05:002009-12-25T21:44:42.338-05:00Merry Christmas!!!<div>Hope you had a wonderful day with friends and family!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoljDKAfV_onk_BRdPlxvtlLcpP5kjE9kl3lyFL2csFINSUF3wuoFKtF-squUYpGxc4G4Hu6tVVIEzgaTqo8z14R6td4zKVMkVrrhtRGCLkpr82O_VjQtpU0VAPGTTVlTCeMjFKv21q24/s1600-h/xmas09card-000-Page-1+(Large).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoljDKAfV_onk_BRdPlxvtlLcpP5kjE9kl3lyFL2csFINSUF3wuoFKtF-squUYpGxc4G4Hu6tVVIEzgaTqo8z14R6td4zKVMkVrrhtRGCLkpr82O_VjQtpU0VAPGTTVlTCeMjFKv21q24/s400/xmas09card-000-Page-1+(Large).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419367305308325442" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here are some photos from our day. The tree, before the chaos hit!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpLjs1qA0UE7VdSrlmOr7rWkfta14PxEIHtvbPFo2yDwnr59HoYrZPpUTriaXZqvM6jYtNhpC41ZQoV15PWsO3TAywkj9DCj1tzIeQxbdDaC71jaWgGEOtoPi-35LpiajZp2_0dA8uQo/s1600-h/P1050292+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpLjs1qA0UE7VdSrlmOr7rWkfta14PxEIHtvbPFo2yDwnr59HoYrZPpUTriaXZqvM6jYtNhpC41ZQoV15PWsO3TAywkj9DCj1tzIeQxbdDaC71jaWgGEOtoPi-35LpiajZp2_0dA8uQo/s400/P1050292+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419367035849236818" /></a><br /><div>The first view...<br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkEhuApXTAc1eOzl6OYCbegK3tnIin6VptbEysGeSkvJjN9jnbfIRzIwafhG43MVrEO3QlhyphenhyphenLwJNORPBymENRe5LnSccHEiDVvUu5Zwd_lSxNBHfdK0BTUYLTPWBj_hgRHyAQss3ehgw/s1600-h/P1050293+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkEhuApXTAc1eOzl6OYCbegK3tnIin6VptbEysGeSkvJjN9jnbfIRzIwafhG43MVrEO3QlhyphenhyphenLwJNORPBymENRe5LnSccHEiDVvUu5Zwd_lSxNBHfdK0BTUYLTPWBj_hgRHyAQss3ehgw/s400/P1050293+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419367034398224514" /></a><br /></div><div>Whew - Santa remember the pony that Sophie requested!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviGrLCa9DkBsF2pUxpnJbeHGYtIvu0siVOAGBEt5Td_pZjrhupR43NVpkUT7vg4tQb9htAusC9UkO0PgEZ5e8osHhZB_hauhsm_g-ghdNjp6Jo3OSwULz3GnhRWq_83cnMX01BqqhAMo/s1600-h/P1050294+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviGrLCa9DkBsF2pUxpnJbeHGYtIvu0siVOAGBEt5Td_pZjrhupR43NVpkUT7vg4tQb9htAusC9UkO0PgEZ5e8osHhZB_hauhsm_g-ghdNjp6Jo3OSwULz3GnhRWq_83cnMX01BqqhAMo/s400/P1050294+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419367029315635330" /></a><br /></div><div>A beautiful Chinese takeout box ornament:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmiNmfi0IvIlvq-hmn2Y5LgegQNSZRMhx35XUXyLKrOhjuFVtB37S8VJFMqYr6MHYne7KxQ8_0JEkD6HDZaii-2PRPgsCe6-_085oeION9CXDYNQURhU91JCLq4Z1cV9r8_Br1AngatM/s1600-h/P1050296+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmiNmfi0IvIlvq-hmn2Y5LgegQNSZRMhx35XUXyLKrOhjuFVtB37S8VJFMqYr6MHYne7KxQ8_0JEkD6HDZaii-2PRPgsCe6-_085oeION9CXDYNQURhU91JCLq4Z1cV9r8_Br1AngatM/s400/P1050296+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419367026060820610" /></a><br /></div><div>A cookie set. Sophie was totally into the unwrapping and finding gifts that had her name on them.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8acNciRGTtD5UwpbBt_gZ3A_sZIialHIPLVctZt1G4oJmWEVFixLiXJ5BIbjiL3h_Bz2VIQp4C92EPc5-uEpK7356FyRh6mGkYQH_SZkBz53y_P1QaG639vIYdz0EJjMzK_p5xXgyZM/s1600-h/P1050299+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8acNciRGTtD5UwpbBt_gZ3A_sZIialHIPLVctZt1G4oJmWEVFixLiXJ5BIbjiL3h_Bz2VIQp4C92EPc5-uEpK7356FyRh6mGkYQH_SZkBz53y_P1QaG639vIYdz0EJjMzK_p5xXgyZM/s400/P1050299+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419367020356375938" /></a><br /></div><div>Grandma and Grandpap H sent EJ a silk screening kit with some Tshirts to decorate. Somehow, I missed a shot of her unwrapping Mamaw and Pap Pap's gift, a pogo stick!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkJ2PY8lRhlVv26rojUMYqNAfTEEwkXi2VqjLfStTusxGn1Mxzns7nBKE7C278en6OGEIXRR3xcsLocdMcw9whyUuwaf0kwzX0TJBtEFKDgEvv4F5pTBWc5kQ2KSDsLAmbB3cvs2Hi10/s1600-h/P1050301+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkJ2PY8lRhlVv26rojUMYqNAfTEEwkXi2VqjLfStTusxGn1Mxzns7nBKE7C278en6OGEIXRR3xcsLocdMcw9whyUuwaf0kwzX0TJBtEFKDgEvv4F5pTBWc5kQ2KSDsLAmbB3cvs2Hi10/s400/P1050301+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419366511465865506" /></a><br /></div><div>Sophie got a bunch of Kai Lan toys this year, including this lantern. For those of you who haven't heard of her, Kai Lan is like the Chinese Dora.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiR9LbH3_lpvTFSyy733Tov_heL3e-8WF1Ex4KdQmfU8EKUO8rGb9uHt85lpbfeFtooXblvjUziLjlYB2Fi12sz3gNbmIh-Uo6HKVE30-Hl2V_odOr8OvmUcMLt9vzhuJhYv6aennQJI/s1600-h/P1050302+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiR9LbH3_lpvTFSyy733Tov_heL3e-8WF1Ex4KdQmfU8EKUO8rGb9uHt85lpbfeFtooXblvjUziLjlYB2Fi12sz3gNbmIh-Uo6HKVE30-Hl2V_odOr8OvmUcMLt9vzhuJhYv6aennQJI/s400/P1050302+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419366511028793218" /></a><br /></div><div>Oooo...what's this?</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqL65Yr41FEZOI-gbW6PIrsBw6zOMIiqVtlRDelUVwLQ7Vv2iL0MNcWiPE3tola3NDPYjiIokV8OLmmLVFyb4B-PcZv3Xjd4jrlwEInRHqo_IZeWdMbsagkFwTd5SYwq4iOyhm32Avh8/s1600-h/P1050303+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqL65Yr41FEZOI-gbW6PIrsBw6zOMIiqVtlRDelUVwLQ7Vv2iL0MNcWiPE3tola3NDPYjiIokV8OLmmLVFyb4B-PcZv3Xjd4jrlwEInRHqo_IZeWdMbsagkFwTd5SYwq4iOyhm32Avh8/s400/P1050303+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419366509006759794" /></a><br /></div><div>Oh. My. Gosh. Is this what I think it is?</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cOoPvOMPA4ZTdoGykU2zl2lzxKexemDyB_5scDvxpTcnt17osxBCbaRD4xLbkJJX46-83h80J0wN5UJzirrTqjD9_1zYHgjvbIZ8fjIdaVyY1-b_DcHRivQ5LpYtKG7dzOIXkC-H8Ug/s1600-h/P1050304+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cOoPvOMPA4ZTdoGykU2zl2lzxKexemDyB_5scDvxpTcnt17osxBCbaRD4xLbkJJX46-83h80J0wN5UJzirrTqjD9_1zYHgjvbIZ8fjIdaVyY1-b_DcHRivQ5LpYtKG7dzOIXkC-H8Ug/s400/P1050304+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419366505672152626" /></a><br /></div><div>It is! It's a Wii!!!!!!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZchnGcC3Q_yu8vENMAKM1MhDmuhcbAvS8n4rfIcDjk76RIKeBUpPC-Lvh1BZtuDS7vbtnY-q1021pil_PvdPkilzrvXU4HsRD1-2g0KD-FrQPpNRW7PqYrtimqPmD76FJslehVRIEAP8/s1600-h/P1050306+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZchnGcC3Q_yu8vENMAKM1MhDmuhcbAvS8n4rfIcDjk76RIKeBUpPC-Lvh1BZtuDS7vbtnY-q1021pil_PvdPkilzrvXU4HsRD1-2g0KD-FrQPpNRW7PqYrtimqPmD76FJslehVRIEAP8/s400/P1050306+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419366499561975970" /></a><br /></div><div>Ever since EJ started playing the trumpet, Sophie's been saying "Where's my trumpet?" Now, she has one too!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSpiPxtKpkDitlAL9VgamvsbVSUsJwlhYH6g2kdeYgiG6LhUWYEcOpBKTQ9QgDBX-6UiHcqjIfF8csMbiayCPO2FyGfyBoT6Mi9jhr6aU8kX7gAJDQE_cc4sGPzfUJ6Q_J95Vf0dpYic/s1600-h/P1050307+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSpiPxtKpkDitlAL9VgamvsbVSUsJwlhYH6g2kdeYgiG6LhUWYEcOpBKTQ9QgDBX-6UiHcqjIfF8csMbiayCPO2FyGfyBoT6Mi9jhr6aU8kX7gAJDQE_cc4sGPzfUJ6Q_J95Vf0dpYic/s400/P1050307+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419366207438290930" /></a><br /></div><div>EJ regifted her old dollhouse to Sophie this year. It's been tucked away in the attic for a few years, but Sophie had the best time with it today.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAbynPPOXCBQiBSc9AF38er89vHdTVlcVwElzU5miRTEeqao3jfZeYa-Y4jI1B7uQf46xXh4E9HYlv3a1UeKnaRAIqJOnAXIxCeju-uXiXOV6w7Y0zhPXacfm8RL2an1U0sKefdK-mrw/s1600-h/P1050309+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAbynPPOXCBQiBSc9AF38er89vHdTVlcVwElzU5miRTEeqao3jfZeYa-Y4jI1B7uQf46xXh4E9HYlv3a1UeKnaRAIqJOnAXIxCeju-uXiXOV6w7Y0zhPXacfm8RL2an1U0sKefdK-mrw/s400/P1050309+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419366207214541074" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Sophie got an American Girl Bitty Baby from Grandma and Grandpap H:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxZbx0CsjrPUvi6qpjZFztMkCCWPV4yMUJhd5MfqEI-jP_CmtZdKRkT6lU60089Zf_KdDnf-c7xO15Im5HSvb8RrdjgJTXv_OevW2WlWnuDm5KzrwwS2Gix3_94MGhloL235vfCmCrVY/s1600-h/P1050313+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxZbx0CsjrPUvi6qpjZFztMkCCWPV4yMUJhd5MfqEI-jP_CmtZdKRkT6lU60089Zf_KdDnf-c7xO15Im5HSvb8RrdjgJTXv_OevW2WlWnuDm5KzrwwS2Gix3_94MGhloL235vfCmCrVY/s400/P1050313+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419366197321283154" /></a><br /></div><div>Sophie LOVES piggy banks, and this new pink one is "fwagile", she'll tell you.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkJTn26HCqJtMZQp20Hu3Tt3su3J3PwVUzqhtSlRGrE5qXYTni2ljNST7j_8lLiDKOVwivgFD7Arf4EC-3FA52zKsNo4c5iV9m0j1hMcBghI4FPm6M4f_bBtr6RQ9PGk_PL-uu50Jt5w/s1600-h/P1050315+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkJTn26HCqJtMZQp20Hu3Tt3su3J3PwVUzqhtSlRGrE5qXYTni2ljNST7j_8lLiDKOVwivgFD7Arf4EC-3FA52zKsNo4c5iV9m0j1hMcBghI4FPm6M4f_bBtr6RQ9PGk_PL-uu50Jt5w/s400/P1050315+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419366187011274722" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Uncle E and Aunt M sent a cute Christmas Pooh-in-the-box:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfo4PSI9AmMdTNfmgFnAwinH20YewApyY_MuxiZwGpyJEPtXa4gh01TJNIgareFFcwso-4q_mePQ6KXmaCLEfICj2uJGRi5gVZTosLxKJqLgjKotgdiZoAQVtiDJfreYTEr52ZLo6np20/s1600-h/P1050319+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfo4PSI9AmMdTNfmgFnAwinH20YewApyY_MuxiZwGpyJEPtXa4gh01TJNIgareFFcwso-4q_mePQ6KXmaCLEfICj2uJGRi5gVZTosLxKJqLgjKotgdiZoAQVtiDJfreYTEr52ZLo6np20/s400/P1050319+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419365908411469346" /></a><br /></div><div>Uncle T, Aunt P, and Hannah sent EJ a calligraphy kit.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_NsTVpICET15XKjdVJP_CSyf9EsGm8f5nvBULAtRgMlFVcRWvMJ2cI7Y7hWcFlyKqEllEMoF4MadHb3RtBg44uzlmzzCu-x9jgRcvyuZuOSr42RuWDfjNt-BfC4lvaToRuUQz1MgmoU/s1600-h/P1050325+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_NsTVpICET15XKjdVJP_CSyf9EsGm8f5nvBULAtRgMlFVcRWvMJ2cI7Y7hWcFlyKqEllEMoF4MadHb3RtBg44uzlmzzCu-x9jgRcvyuZuOSr42RuWDfjNt-BfC4lvaToRuUQz1MgmoU/s400/P1050325+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419365907118005682" /></a><br /></div><div>Santa also left a Wii Fit Plus for the whole family!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYhGkL-IKoU9IX6N0wh2Qx8R3z-EVa04agDZteZHC5zqYbFa_K_3nB0xCmlUslo-NCuF0RRqCcZACagn2YpY4CCVc4UrC5zAr13bC5LF_1AZXwbP0Wat2giD5AaOe9bV71seX_j3qvGg/s1600-h/P1050330+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYhGkL-IKoU9IX6N0wh2Qx8R3z-EVa04agDZteZHC5zqYbFa_K_3nB0xCmlUslo-NCuF0RRqCcZACagn2YpY4CCVc4UrC5zAr13bC5LF_1AZXwbP0Wat2giD5AaOe9bV71seX_j3qvGg/s400/P1050330+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419365905562229298" /></a><br /></div><div>Now, on to the stockings:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEien-WGqZbW8cLEBCRx10cQXdVOhtK2D4cfKEjgtL7sF5PaAzMeiJq4VaJ8KxX_5bMq2E7V62QuYZn5taF1FYu1_KwkRv-UHspenKkJ_pt3SwbHnD0oW73GChnQcuc_pVLqxpqyHreuVlI/s1600-h/P1050334+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEien-WGqZbW8cLEBCRx10cQXdVOhtK2D4cfKEjgtL7sF5PaAzMeiJq4VaJ8KxX_5bMq2E7V62QuYZn5taF1FYu1_KwkRv-UHspenKkJ_pt3SwbHnD0oW73GChnQcuc_pVLqxpqyHreuVlI/s400/P1050334+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419365897297967826" /></a><br /></div><div>EJ has always wanted a sleepmask.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3r7WmVnIyyVhlJO-EBIAPyEPne51iNBzs4G3JAIMZxALgsmzwYXS2zvTW6Gu9qbC0ivYngROyN6yXyOG4qPkp_xHW1OE3EV48ALM3xQKYBhiDvI0IPgnhq3ojd2nN2hgIAYZfPkEnlQ/s1600-h/P1050337+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3r7WmVnIyyVhlJO-EBIAPyEPne51iNBzs4G3JAIMZxALgsmzwYXS2zvTW6Gu9qbC0ivYngROyN6yXyOG4qPkp_xHW1OE3EV48ALM3xQKYBhiDvI0IPgnhq3ojd2nN2hgIAYZfPkEnlQ/s400/P1050337+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419365515361704610" /></a><br /></div><div>Sophie got a ball filled with glittery liquid:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqy3r-EQx6nQXuftf4SWcKdWoH5QL_i9ErKtwFEQTdpUUlLhLBCjm7RZ-xviQruSFQ8MUREMN6Vj6tMIYgNaqskbE_jvH9ZYESPXV1dYPTsLvVkunoMyfG7YkyT6HOzaWoAc8WWb_ajgA/s1600-h/P1050339+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqy3r-EQx6nQXuftf4SWcKdWoH5QL_i9ErKtwFEQTdpUUlLhLBCjm7RZ-xviQruSFQ8MUREMN6Vj6tMIYgNaqskbE_jvH9ZYESPXV1dYPTsLvVkunoMyfG7YkyT6HOzaWoAc8WWb_ajgA/s400/P1050339+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419365514451907138" /></a><br /></div><div>Sophie made sure that Santa finished his cookies!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hggKITBct53CT7OVOkEXSRrsDy5xtHrxVcCinbU08pMMYV_aG-a3cEsWnGfvfz1f8Y0m80MLVYGGP7nv11QIgqjTa919r0lwwaTjtZrgv8vH8POEUDmhb0cQOkz12DPnoPjg_mphrwQ/s1600-h/P1050340+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hggKITBct53CT7OVOkEXSRrsDy5xtHrxVcCinbU08pMMYV_aG-a3cEsWnGfvfz1f8Y0m80MLVYGGP7nv11QIgqjTa919r0lwwaTjtZrgv8vH8POEUDmhb0cQOkz12DPnoPjg_mphrwQ/s400/P1050340+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419365507910059058" /></a><br /></div><div>The family room after the holiday flurry:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOfRIX7VDlcGqsD5eB3Mv-b6JbnxiF_vYNYBTnxDsuSXa642LnLlr6zoOPE1bsCbuH2g6a-cNYLiqKVMTVGaChX1B76P-fuq0M8ZaeYETRWhb44gWo2MMwmKdZeIOiz7yRzWM5znMUdY/s1600-h/P1050343+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOfRIX7VDlcGqsD5eB3Mv-b6JbnxiF_vYNYBTnxDsuSXa642LnLlr6zoOPE1bsCbuH2g6a-cNYLiqKVMTVGaChX1B76P-fuq0M8ZaeYETRWhb44gWo2MMwmKdZeIOiz7yRzWM5znMUdY/s400/P1050343+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419365502442953746" /></a><br /></div><div>Sophie made me some cookies!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnsJVE1wgT3UTolxVXblVgr8Txt3vjER2H3NaSv9HTidxwPc0v1KIK0ZuO1d5hh1CJucsavRLuSxH1lNxSO0m9c5UQSppSrNo1b4bYfIGqX6XPdlo_VfhTyS6ym3sFhYp2jgv41CZO5s/s1600-h/P1050344+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnsJVE1wgT3UTolxVXblVgr8Txt3vjER2H3NaSv9HTidxwPc0v1KIK0ZuO1d5hh1CJucsavRLuSxH1lNxSO0m9c5UQSppSrNo1b4bYfIGqX6XPdlo_VfhTyS6ym3sFhYp2jgv41CZO5s/s400/P1050344+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419365495063511394" /></a><br /></div><div>Tomorrow we'll be heading into Boston to see 101 Dalmatians - the Musical, compliments of Santa. </div></div>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-42610736448022409012009-12-24T21:42:00.004-05:002009-12-24T21:49:22.666-05:00On the twelfth day of Christmas...<div>...it was Christmas Eve! We went to church mid-afternoon and then did the annual photos by the tree. Sophie was very excited to wear her "princess dress" again!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02cVD8sBUxhWwzc4AHRYMl8KM-FgO0PEP5mZ1YwDlwphvTaUcj-Kql3wo4gPgkP2VUSmuyzD-IMTEy4CEX7piqhnzLlam8yeA0FJpHxWtqybqPau_BY7MsCFIL2T59M3lke6vlUCvHTc/s1600-h/P1050244+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02cVD8sBUxhWwzc4AHRYMl8KM-FgO0PEP5mZ1YwDlwphvTaUcj-Kql3wo4gPgkP2VUSmuyzD-IMTEy4CEX7piqhnzLlam8yeA0FJpHxWtqybqPau_BY7MsCFIL2T59M3lke6vlUCvHTc/s400/P1050244+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418999736940578418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNnhM3dizdpXP4IXMJqa1s3jp2ceo_TnW6_TZCMxEZQWlE0XeDWg-YsY54w8LEO8tTXal13AQYir49lZfefK1N_i4b-q2OCk8YVGE6oLCAPPR-uUwVmbOChy9UNLesYq69YrqwLcgv0Y/s1600-h/P1050245+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNnhM3dizdpXP4IXMJqa1s3jp2ceo_TnW6_TZCMxEZQWlE0XeDWg-YsY54w8LEO8tTXal13AQYir49lZfefK1N_i4b-q2OCk8YVGE6oLCAPPR-uUwVmbOChy9UNLesYq69YrqwLcgv0Y/s400/P1050245+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418999731221038562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwJfcnlu5ucSSKlk-rtVuVMn851wpZ1LB2DrDa9oW63vE2JmLL3SjC7VXotjVmiOGgb7syRFFmy7oPczphiQnsrv3pKBNWuxcDnTWTy98AZCUC6lvSG4zO6eM0rkrVtudW6jrEVPMir0/s1600-h/P1050247+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwJfcnlu5ucSSKlk-rtVuVMn851wpZ1LB2DrDa9oW63vE2JmLL3SjC7VXotjVmiOGgb7syRFFmy7oPczphiQnsrv3pKBNWuxcDnTWTy98AZCUC6lvSG4zO6eM0rkrVtudW6jrEVPMir0/s400/P1050247+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418999723536486226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClMmDkaFyppERzGRX7iynptYXD3U8ME8Ti9TXm6htrC196FLyo2h4yslP4bL5icWI_PGc0v1LI-WwvZyWJUvvZzqI6ijER3viloSSBfEXjjSyIp_oGAYRwwgDaB2kIyItyuA19ljiIlE/s1600-h/P1050252+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClMmDkaFyppERzGRX7iynptYXD3U8ME8Ti9TXm6htrC196FLyo2h4yslP4bL5icWI_PGc0v1LI-WwvZyWJUvvZzqI6ijER3viloSSBfEXjjSyIp_oGAYRwwgDaB2kIyItyuA19ljiIlE/s400/P1050252+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418999716980952146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdniXk8l5Ssw1OiPUlY7ACI-4rwCVSoSYSyjqkK4WH3HlQW_GO05zyrgMklEpxsUESanzsDTfGBQkNkKr5x5zeozCadRFyvexvDrELMYR2EjAzLz_rIcyi_3zKU4yYKLflcKwnZE75T7Q/s1600-h/P1050257+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdniXk8l5Ssw1OiPUlY7ACI-4rwCVSoSYSyjqkK4WH3HlQW_GO05zyrgMklEpxsUESanzsDTfGBQkNkKr5x5zeozCadRFyvexvDrELMYR2EjAzLz_rIcyi_3zKU4yYKLflcKwnZE75T7Q/s400/P1050257+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418999719329374226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvBvW9FpNSNXNqgcfjtUFmDfj1kXJk_1VqwyvFM3Db35GlqI9auUDEAnOVqiKfIxXCVDNkkyUFG8iRxxKzZqWX8-qnieNOupPd7eCY_-eYEItyOCVBe9HiPaqWZxUlXKiLJEjs30bpII/s1600-h/P1050261+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvBvW9FpNSNXNqgcfjtUFmDfj1kXJk_1VqwyvFM3Db35GlqI9auUDEAnOVqiKfIxXCVDNkkyUFG8iRxxKzZqWX8-qnieNOupPd7eCY_-eYEItyOCVBe9HiPaqWZxUlXKiLJEjs30bpII/s400/P1050261+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418999516820214274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXWmb2GEp5BKuI_TO1LDqqinBJblqF4rkS__3ZZBakAq2X6J0iybmEMJhBEg8htFD0eeoeqDjcYoDIg8di5PNM6y84x7LpRgU4Y8sQXeYEnl8zWiaUcZa-lRTkqtKX7Ungrz_lB41x6A/s1600-h/P1050265+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXWmb2GEp5BKuI_TO1LDqqinBJblqF4rkS__3ZZBakAq2X6J0iybmEMJhBEg8htFD0eeoeqDjcYoDIg8di5PNM6y84x7LpRgU4Y8sQXeYEnl8zWiaUcZa-lRTkqtKX7Ungrz_lB41x6A/s400/P1050265+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418999511966949730" /></a><br /><div>After dinner (seafood crepes for K and I, fruit crepes for the girls), it was time to read "Twas the Night Before Christmas". Check out the jammies - they say "Dear Santa, I can explain..."</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBT9qZrRq94zVjXuDqCgwdPR7COgPWC_On07hXf5dfUXziv8lpgXbXBQt04Hrv6TVKCumzsoWi6LI5dLQ5JGhClH8cuvrhlNDsrdByd8e0C2OQyaX-SyTc5_ElZHnaS-I67hSFaKyq9A/s1600-h/P1050269+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBT9qZrRq94zVjXuDqCgwdPR7COgPWC_On07hXf5dfUXziv8lpgXbXBQt04Hrv6TVKCumzsoWi6LI5dLQ5JGhClH8cuvrhlNDsrdByd8e0C2OQyaX-SyTc5_ElZHnaS-I67hSFaKyq9A/s400/P1050269+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418999506303539442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_h6bb3B_3yqdDd1lr-ufOcKoeDKgEjAzwad5AktVTlPPci49BI1sVYYHRyrnlm73jf1nvezvDVsfQftr06270VBQ7fbl7g7HtR8slc9N7HHwMHhy7uut7fdVr3oy2vcPZgsBK8o_s00/s1600-h/P1050270+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_h6bb3B_3yqdDd1lr-ufOcKoeDKgEjAzwad5AktVTlPPci49BI1sVYYHRyrnlm73jf1nvezvDVsfQftr06270VBQ7fbl7g7HtR8slc9N7HHwMHhy7uut7fdVr3oy2vcPZgsBK8o_s00/s400/P1050270+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418999500844848498" /></a><br /></div><div>Then it was time to get out the milk and cookies....</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-Ni3P01Xq5lk-SN3EQeSTpAWfnZQLiVnQlsVWUjwaSFRjQI5HXbC-DfRkV9ZJXlmotqGwsJ38GGzrEdE38NvANgpN_xxzWAXHBqQPBjetlxvI2-NVTQ27DB7Y03OMkeyqzKZwcwInGs/s1600-h/P1050276+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-Ni3P01Xq5lk-SN3EQeSTpAWfnZQLiVnQlsVWUjwaSFRjQI5HXbC-DfRkV9ZJXlmotqGwsJ38GGzrEdE38NvANgpN_xxzWAXHBqQPBjetlxvI2-NVTQ27DB7Y03OMkeyqzKZwcwInGs/s400/P1050276+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418999497251836914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9LWRxeHwgD-gj1QWdVc0ikOWNrOaiCgu7kthV3G6RUMUeht78SDFuMBH3x-vUN94nq6NgWaBy4AmUcnMj8FoPd-TIXj3T8xFkkEjqnAMpnhtYbmS3IyUAy_HwVltmPMqBBXL6EAS6zA/s1600-h/P1050277+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9LWRxeHwgD-gj1QWdVc0ikOWNrOaiCgu7kthV3G6RUMUeht78SDFuMBH3x-vUN94nq6NgWaBy4AmUcnMj8FoPd-TIXj3T8xFkkEjqnAMpnhtYbmS3IyUAy_HwVltmPMqBBXL6EAS6zA/s400/P1050277+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418999124276204626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXV-92TmehVpr7M-XnW0xbMqjKq9NPqZOmbuq4YzzJA_iWHN8pn4rIDlOHZh8-TCaUvO3VC9Asa0BOCxMutiOtTJocKvWfO7gCnBCzDqCnKTno362D2T1KY9dfhEy2zn0GMbKNQdJpQho/s1600-h/P1050278+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXV-92TmehVpr7M-XnW0xbMqjKq9NPqZOmbuq4YzzJA_iWHN8pn4rIDlOHZh8-TCaUvO3VC9Asa0BOCxMutiOtTJocKvWfO7gCnBCzDqCnKTno362D2T1KY9dfhEy2zn0GMbKNQdJpQho/s400/P1050278+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418999121579939826" /></a><br /></div><div>...and sprinkle glitter dust on the yard for the reindeer (so they know where to land, of course).</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrI9unohpwaKU92S4DXnsLlsDfXFZFgB1gi8iO27_Y4el6xpZdLOAd308DEI8IQ8ke4doM-QeIrOt-WWxxov8j0TWgr49kNB22p4psYxqLaOUt6z-wJ71UGpe9ZbIWpWp9ll8nPtRXsA/s1600-h/P1050281+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrI9unohpwaKU92S4DXnsLlsDfXFZFgB1gi8iO27_Y4el6xpZdLOAd308DEI8IQ8ke4doM-QeIrOt-WWxxov8j0TWgr49kNB22p4psYxqLaOUt6z-wJ71UGpe9ZbIWpWp9ll8nPtRXsA/s400/P1050281+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418999112173922770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbf7GmpCadgnnWloLPnmXZIVOdr5zCZ_rzos9BlXsdkCq8Dwlkntyizz4vaKDdb314kENNedso7XGjTlMEClyVh2sG27eiWN978UrEnTH719nTcRohw5PnbScf0fz69RWD7NbyR2TcSdA/s1600-h/P1050283+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbf7GmpCadgnnWloLPnmXZIVOdr5zCZ_rzos9BlXsdkCq8Dwlkntyizz4vaKDdb314kENNedso7XGjTlMEClyVh2sG27eiWN978UrEnTH719nTcRohw5PnbScf0fz69RWD7NbyR2TcSdA/s400/P1050283+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418999112019007874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ppjm48_LbHCh3wJy5RYc7PG38f82xlSceXu6Ltx9Noh_kLj8QU1VL1mGrZdlrd33WYjeYeEwOHvahQp8Wn1XaEuImTxDFjO5uSQCShslvaBx77GMmflUpBX6V8T1hK8BqO2OqwoLnFs/s1600-h/P1050285+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ppjm48_LbHCh3wJy5RYc7PG38f82xlSceXu6Ltx9Noh_kLj8QU1VL1mGrZdlrd33WYjeYeEwOHvahQp8Wn1XaEuImTxDFjO5uSQCShslvaBx77GMmflUpBX6V8T1hK8BqO2OqwoLnFs/s400/P1050285+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418999107623418450" /></a><br /></div><div>Sophie just fell asleep about 10 minutes ago and EJ just went to bed.</div>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-29918867852468182592009-12-23T18:45:00.004-05:002009-12-23T18:58:32.396-05:00On the eleventh day of Christmas...<div>...there was a Christmas pageant at Sophie's daycare! Oh, the little Bumblebee class (3-year olds) were SO cute and SO excited! </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEfGVvdZazwEjT9OOkjon8GNGyvKMwWwkmD1HxkwmKAGKxmoleWMq-zWPW84keLEF4xPLZWyf3I88XnzJLYzfmxWbpzMUx0598vRF0bLIjugOA_jfzwZ5VWQ4Bm76fbtpmaXw99tbOeo/s1600-h/P1050216+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEfGVvdZazwEjT9OOkjon8GNGyvKMwWwkmD1HxkwmKAGKxmoleWMq-zWPW84keLEF4xPLZWyf3I88XnzJLYzfmxWbpzMUx0598vRF0bLIjugOA_jfzwZ5VWQ4Bm76fbtpmaXw99tbOeo/s400/P1050216+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418584171350561730" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhNCpe2kJwLlX0eq7ZOdytWIEjTD5UR6DANPC7IjQNoBBrprBsv5TGiIXZa0C7aXJMa9mc7TGk6RkQIMd9FaP5y_nhZj27nhdth9VsV1IZPfuHJRLZbh6KcFcFqkXWg8uT4PFsd6CeJg/s1600-h/P1050217+(Large).JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><br /><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhNCpe2kJwLlX0eq7ZOdytWIEjTD5UR6DANPC7IjQNoBBrprBsv5TGiIXZa0C7aXJMa9mc7TGk6RkQIMd9FaP5y_nhZj27nhdth9VsV1IZPfuHJRLZbh6KcFcFqkXWg8uT4PFsd6CeJg/s400/P1050217+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418584169088666786" /></a><br />K and I laughed because Sophie could NOT stand still! She stayed in her spot, but was twirling, wiggling, and dancing the whole time. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwdC0FO-tn1MUBpkkG_Z6R5C6fKtSHXuIPIHsTH2gbH_RvRnHd47l1nRFYVOOz52nZCm4GcWjs3TcHpFk8e4jCH7pW_vfXOUyVaDfnrQt_tAWpi73n8fXfSmh24vazyMIqg7Bwsw6gRM/s1600-h/P1050218+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwdC0FO-tn1MUBpkkG_Z6R5C6fKtSHXuIPIHsTH2gbH_RvRnHd47l1nRFYVOOz52nZCm4GcWjs3TcHpFk8e4jCH7pW_vfXOUyVaDfnrQt_tAWpi73n8fXfSmh24vazyMIqg7Bwsw6gRM/s400/P1050218+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418584161934188642" /></a><br /></div><div>Ringing their jingle bells:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSYtVQYxZCq4dwCYXXWYlxRFMF-zhxdbz0QowDchEuSos7iiYwrtw-gw0HUJzVko91zNJ6jjlXxgBJT6s0Aw0kT-Ev1DSKoqYRgMRgYVMkekdsh9Bg8l5-7FeYqUzfI2vuhBFnT06ka4/s1600-h/P1050221+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSYtVQYxZCq4dwCYXXWYlxRFMF-zhxdbz0QowDchEuSos7iiYwrtw-gw0HUJzVko91zNJ6jjlXxgBJT6s0Aw0kT-Ev1DSKoqYRgMRgYVMkekdsh9Bg8l5-7FeYqUzfI2vuhBFnT06ka4/s400/P1050221+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418584153480152386" /></a><br /></div><div>Santa going "down through the chimney":</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZX5uLZ_FLPpAqJmPBhugvwzio8rM0AIiBs4JrpMNuMIL7xV3ygdn4_Y7HLSJfd2vNzPfpWf8vPyDt4ztNzVUQimoTwmYPjzq0W5UOL7a1i9xpXQkm6CN4Dxic3Tfej8Sn5oqyX5fj2VM/s1600-h/P1050222+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZX5uLZ_FLPpAqJmPBhugvwzio8rM0AIiBs4JrpMNuMIL7xV3ygdn4_Y7HLSJfd2vNzPfpWf8vPyDt4ztNzVUQimoTwmYPjzq0W5UOL7a1i9xpXQkm6CN4Dxic3Tfej8Sn5oqyX5fj2VM/s400/P1050222+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418584154058249890" /></a><br /></div><div>The Bumblebee teachers, Miss L and Miss D:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ns2yD6L329DQM8SQgeNygG8SCwHp1O4JGMnbt5mR9Z9RqQ9tkYNH9di8OJwwFpJWf6ehRLJPXast9KEiYoUlPBsczzr73kLeCLOVbEw_n9UWHHQKpQlJ0LQiR942VNvUj3V2ZzTzzFE/s1600-h/P1050240+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ns2yD6L329DQM8SQgeNygG8SCwHp1O4JGMnbt5mR9Z9RqQ9tkYNH9di8OJwwFpJWf6ehRLJPXast9KEiYoUlPBsczzr73kLeCLOVbEw_n9UWHHQKpQlJ0LQiR942VNvUj3V2ZzTzzFE/s400/P1050240+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418583670475987954" /></a><br /></div><div>Sophie modeled a Santa mask for me after the show.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-h0avzstID62z5Qi8jt85-dOd3jANQIjOHUs5HQ4R8PqwDhwOeTLqvor3bXrPC7R4Lgbufja8A6IBm8Q_CHfqQo7VhdPHY3zO6BqbKDK3Xxl-djBZCYgxywn2Ji8uM4FPOWU8HQe3a4/s1600-h/P1050238+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-h0avzstID62z5Qi8jt85-dOd3jANQIjOHUs5HQ4R8PqwDhwOeTLqvor3bXrPC7R4Lgbufja8A6IBm8Q_CHfqQo7VhdPHY3zO6BqbKDK3Xxl-djBZCYgxywn2Ji8uM4FPOWU8HQe3a4/s400/P1050238+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418583663536681106" /></a><br /></div><div>After the show, we got a class picture. It's hard getting them all to look at the camera at the same time!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AwCS5CELkj4YU41fgbScWnm6fsC0AtLZTg1j3jLUSPiKnzypziKwq7cuG7jKS45pcru-hQuk0Asgd1uSsr2mgm7nle5m18Bcp_7kQYwGmvbUFOUH24OW3b7TJNnco1DPvTRKqs1H99A/s1600-h/P1050233+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AwCS5CELkj4YU41fgbScWnm6fsC0AtLZTg1j3jLUSPiKnzypziKwq7cuG7jKS45pcru-hQuk0Asgd1uSsr2mgm7nle5m18Bcp_7kQYwGmvbUFOUH24OW3b7TJNnco1DPvTRKqs1H99A/s400/P1050233+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418583662481013490" /></a><br /></div><div>Singing Rudolph:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4KJSZNlFupcs0aybSNSlx3gIiKL05TzbeGRQto2qjPLn5RC1qMSNfX7Bk18ORBITvhRmxvpBjiASFo_52XqIsKgLEIXO5kIHVXVZ4dILmYSUIVlb7V3fso-Aipq5Ftp6tkMYs8OhLNs/s1600-h/P1050226+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4KJSZNlFupcs0aybSNSlx3gIiKL05TzbeGRQto2qjPLn5RC1qMSNfX7Bk18ORBITvhRmxvpBjiASFo_52XqIsKgLEIXO5kIHVXVZ4dILmYSUIVlb7V3fso-Aipq5Ftp6tkMYs8OhLNs/s400/P1050226+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418583654509796642" /></a><br /></div><div>Check out the cute Rudolph hats they made, complete with the red nose...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wW00QN747SCVyvDsTHILbV0KS0cTAC0bzf9aTrxP3ezvF3-GRpb4no4Z2BkBC_MXQPvF1tkNQgKJJSz-y0AvqG8qsCU1C9R8w7vm7WDnupga8sK3khtN-EXEn-yc_N0LafpH1v5jhcM/s1600-h/P1050223+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wW00QN747SCVyvDsTHILbV0KS0cTAC0bzf9aTrxP3ezvF3-GRpb4no4Z2BkBC_MXQPvF1tkNQgKJJSz-y0AvqG8qsCU1C9R8w7vm7WDnupga8sK3khtN-EXEn-yc_N0LafpH1v5jhcM/s400/P1050223+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418583646446937826" /></a><br /></div><div>I have video of the performance and will try to find time tonight to upload some!</div><div><br /></div>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-32886983354514517732009-12-22T18:44:00.001-05:002009-12-23T18:45:32.356-05:00On the tenth day of Christmas...<div>...my favorites!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fZS_olsA7pZblRABZEl-QmYYf1yDlD-Jh3zWbUdQ-J77XH_gPeA_VLgOevSO-eDno49zHniLoJf1dsugG3ju0_wvF54lUEURocPT1Own0qEgnfCx6fzb2RLlZCcfljZSyds7Y3d_CEM/s1600-h/Emma+Closeup.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 343px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fZS_olsA7pZblRABZEl-QmYYf1yDlD-Jh3zWbUdQ-J77XH_gPeA_VLgOevSO-eDno49zHniLoJf1dsugG3ju0_wvF54lUEURocPT1Own0qEgnfCx6fzb2RLlZCcfljZSyds7Y3d_CEM/s400/Emma+Closeup.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418581892682072690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnerwBmEz7wIqqf0-6xdY2TR8QXWxAsVPtkSsvxRSn9AscvgHm7_vC9tIEHhgt1egiFu1-diRGBrW8Ny_RpbLbiQyXaI8Vf70EMfAkr868WlNJITCwVOI2qmoE8LnOfGpMqKbf81og_o/s1600-h/Sophie+Closeup.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 232px; height: 347px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnerwBmEz7wIqqf0-6xdY2TR8QXWxAsVPtkSsvxRSn9AscvgHm7_vC9tIEHhgt1egiFu1-diRGBrW8Ny_RpbLbiQyXaI8Vf70EMfAkr868WlNJITCwVOI2qmoE8LnOfGpMqKbf81og_o/s400/Sophie+Closeup.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418581885696789954" /></a>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-10127011368905924412009-12-21T18:43:00.000-05:002009-12-23T18:44:16.202-05:00On the ninth day of Christmas...<div>...some tree-decorating portraits!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NICF0kffQzdMLhhcqGxQa-VbnuCrmSCB0XnG2jLta4cvB2stYfWT7Y_XTbxcBd-xSKf9zwUYs-csw3c4aldxYOjpAPWvhXJuKTFYXnoouf1aWs38K8M-kgUBIRxZYG64mHlBVJ3nHUE/s1600-h/Sophie+Tree.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NICF0kffQzdMLhhcqGxQa-VbnuCrmSCB0XnG2jLta4cvB2stYfWT7Y_XTbxcBd-xSKf9zwUYs-csw3c4aldxYOjpAPWvhXJuKTFYXnoouf1aWs38K8M-kgUBIRxZYG64mHlBVJ3nHUE/s400/Sophie+Tree.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418581527022705714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihp4_BGN_fyW55soRKL5WNo3W3pMsvcTXLYEtgh7rRdaExEgp4Pc05uJBvYkkxEIuXhd0UlZZRkmmZctEwd2pf8moruBKEaY3X9PMNd6mjkL5mIh0IEHZMTUXqk1orjzUYXty59bzE3ug/s1600-h/Emma+Tree.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihp4_BGN_fyW55soRKL5WNo3W3pMsvcTXLYEtgh7rRdaExEgp4Pc05uJBvYkkxEIuXhd0UlZZRkmmZctEwd2pf8moruBKEaY3X9PMNd6mjkL5mIh0IEHZMTUXqk1orjzUYXty59bzE3ug/s400/Emma+Tree.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418581517513131362" /></a>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3645429639030218582.post-39966394749187844852009-12-20T19:17:00.002-05:002009-12-20T19:24:05.129-05:00On the eighth day of Christmas...<div>...we went to the pageant/potluck/talent show at church! The girls didn't participate in the pageant this year, but still wanted to see it! Afterward, there was a terrific potluck dinner, and then the kids do a talent show. EJ played Carol of the Bells on the piano:</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittCaHX0456268jRz3wj81U42DFc6bUwFq49DR4Ld09lIQpmSHFIxkRwPFm6u3UGmUrub45sbl5T5aSXblLwvZKl9O4DaujAEHfuNyQIMjjYFQuLoxp9KFWLR1FzRRLsmn2aTMM_ZJcpk/s1600-h/P1050201+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittCaHX0456268jRz3wj81U42DFc6bUwFq49DR4Ld09lIQpmSHFIxkRwPFm6u3UGmUrub45sbl5T5aSXblLwvZKl9O4DaujAEHfuNyQIMjjYFQuLoxp9KFWLR1FzRRLsmn2aTMM_ZJcpk/s400/P1050201+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417477620219539218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5TX6sSLapL8NAg38p_H2Pci343Qx8mPo6WcDgCmKjHdpQsIBNjHfo5l6jdSSr_ETs0Db6ZXu0SEGsaC0I4YSXXcxykPpu_4OAqIDZAtu-OD9rvEPEjhTnxx-n_BMuRFzOuHhaD2rBTc/s1600-h/P1050199+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5TX6sSLapL8NAg38p_H2Pci343Qx8mPo6WcDgCmKjHdpQsIBNjHfo5l6jdSSr_ETs0Db6ZXu0SEGsaC0I4YSXXcxykPpu_4OAqIDZAtu-OD9rvEPEjhTnxx-n_BMuRFzOuHhaD2rBTc/s400/P1050199+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417477617776845826" /></a><br /><div>Sophie told me that she was going to sing, but I wasn't too sure. She did sing "on the big stage" (aka the altar) at church last Sunday morning with the Sunday School choir, but I didn't know if she'd do it by herself. We practiced with a toy microphone earlier in the day, so she knew exactly what to do. She sang "Santa Claus is coming to Town".</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOd4XFKVDqq9IVh0jBE1FBvuIT9GeymN3c-vCBO7_4fMF9SxJ0mahmnzRMzmc6l2Z5i9_VUH83cDWt8EMsCTvuj3MY4QZ7fCQHc9rnhjAUS2T9JHL53brdCUVEUtuz4IshjshOQsiSYME/s1600-h/P1050198+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOd4XFKVDqq9IVh0jBE1FBvuIT9GeymN3c-vCBO7_4fMF9SxJ0mahmnzRMzmc6l2Z5i9_VUH83cDWt8EMsCTvuj3MY4QZ7fCQHc9rnhjAUS2T9JHL53brdCUVEUtuz4IshjshOQsiSYME/s400/P1050198+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417477611027528466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPdnfk4vMIjZ7vCKZwuNRZDWYvFs6cGtpOCLVlwtmxwaJna8FMe6AoFhKU3uT9SlmpEftfvB_OclxFuvn7Ad1uecpP9NU7lsTZJhXRP2tnPaSrTdMy2cXAWwyHAKIyqFs1SIQVRB7kX4/s1600-h/P1050195+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPdnfk4vMIjZ7vCKZwuNRZDWYvFs6cGtpOCLVlwtmxwaJna8FMe6AoFhKU3uT9SlmpEftfvB_OclxFuvn7Ad1uecpP9NU7lsTZJhXRP2tnPaSrTdMy2cXAWwyHAKIyqFs1SIQVRB7kX4/s400/P1050195+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417477412981187218" /></a><br /></div><div>We didn't make it to church this morning because of the weather. We didn't wake up with much snow, but it was really coming down this morning and we ended up with about five inches. We decided to bake some sugar cookies:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMbfQXJYKRf-DqXM5iYJnJxiE_uS5PS00UftvhAUg96vmkmwgejlE7q73_G_jWXmo4nTZQnxBSLxaWNoZol94lzFbC3rWRpbtQNyIbQUw5POCzFpr9PQ3vN8bLLjaBzUwEAQJm5ChmPE/s1600-h/P1050189+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMbfQXJYKRf-DqXM5iYJnJxiE_uS5PS00UftvhAUg96vmkmwgejlE7q73_G_jWXmo4nTZQnxBSLxaWNoZol94lzFbC3rWRpbtQNyIbQUw5POCzFpr9PQ3vN8bLLjaBzUwEAQJm5ChmPE/s400/P1050189+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417477409446069618" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIo006YCyzuIFoK5XQGVIOX913GBnoAV-x21__eCdnwC5BM_y3oAlnm5AtuKc1gFNW2_zKQ6qKKaOUfeIo0EYBQqHj0RdaseO-h7xYIRK8pb68vY0bvzSKxUzt7lSbG71U4BzxrRnW4I/s1600-h/P1050187+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIo006YCyzuIFoK5XQGVIOX913GBnoAV-x21__eCdnwC5BM_y3oAlnm5AtuKc1gFNW2_zKQ6qKKaOUfeIo0EYBQqHj0RdaseO-h7xYIRK8pb68vY0bvzSKxUzt7lSbG71U4BzxrRnW4I/s400/P1050187+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417477406048567266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpVSQISJquVxPDEoMTWK2D1_ihGfS2t2QfzwQfEe3fB-RG35lSzxeJ6Urg249RoVKgBNU9CFPB7YcTTq6qrJSD9VXO8fsEcozDnu9e9exX6fCiw_koYakvaVD2aL4voeRYCq16NWZeUE/s1600-h/P1050184+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpVSQISJquVxPDEoMTWK2D1_ihGfS2t2QfzwQfEe3fB-RG35lSzxeJ6Urg249RoVKgBNU9CFPB7YcTTq6qrJSD9VXO8fsEcozDnu9e9exX6fCiw_koYakvaVD2aL4voeRYCq16NWZeUE/s400/P1050184+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417477399999251570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlNYGWEx9bVvedEFub3Q1osJo5aF4ynRgr_H_6ySQtHhuOrSMk91jnjOk8P5fI_VpbYUmvheic_CN8Z227KIl-z5duHYB52KX6_hozzds5c72edodO120cUOM6en7_sGxQJHhs1YpFLY/s1600-h/P1050179+(Large).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlNYGWEx9bVvedEFub3Q1osJo5aF4ynRgr_H_6ySQtHhuOrSMk91jnjOk8P5fI_VpbYUmvheic_CN8Z227KIl-z5duHYB52KX6_hozzds5c72edodO120cUOM6en7_sGxQJHhs1YpFLY/s400/P1050179+(Large).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417477399337378146" /></a><br /></div>Two Pearlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12287174746506005845noreply@blogger.com0