tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145194092024-03-12T18:20:57.663-07:00Bumble Bird BlogKeep up-to-date with Andrew, Brenda, Joshua, Ben, and maybe even Copper!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.comBlogger413125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-65243078136743712242011-08-28T13:45:00.005-07:002011-08-28T14:08:55.299-07:00First Day of SchoolAugust 8th was a big day for Joshua... his very first day of first grade! I think we were more nervous about it than he was. <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_vjuCJnw7Kb9Ps43_Xi9Ly1DzyA6ND5hKixuTfumCATddS1HmkV-MVLZ8l9CrblMDUbeUJe2T8Nveij_XNlALLgfvoOfmwntPEGl429hdQfWAv8fD780P1Td3QGJ9SgcQ4K70A/s1600/IMG_0231.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_vjuCJnw7Kb9Ps43_Xi9Ly1DzyA6ND5hKixuTfumCATddS1HmkV-MVLZ8l9CrblMDUbeUJe2T8Nveij_XNlALLgfvoOfmwntPEGl429hdQfWAv8fD780P1Td3QGJ9SgcQ4K70A/s320/IMG_0231.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646011938825386546" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGRqFsXmi-0vstLvpxZvUUuTnWVU_E6i0xEh8hPxXG7eqAOJU-0X3cF6M5njSFhEQ_wMuhG7FiIHnQwAdYSaVmGebBXdg_LT5ZkC6PwMmC_if7W31AITcaolF85aCNG0c7RX7Vg/s1600/IMG_0234.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGRqFsXmi-0vstLvpxZvUUuTnWVU_E6i0xEh8hPxXG7eqAOJU-0X3cF6M5njSFhEQ_wMuhG7FiIHnQwAdYSaVmGebBXdg_LT5ZkC6PwMmC_if7W31AITcaolF85aCNG0c7RX7Vg/s320/IMG_0234.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646012170869806962" /></a><p>We had met his teacher, Mrs. Dobyns, the week before and got to see his super cool classroom, so he was really excited to get started. On the big day we all went together to see him off. It was a bit more of a madhouse than what we were used to since his last school was SO much smaller, but despite the hundreds (and hundreds) of people, everything was very well organized and the chaos was at a minimum. We parked across the street and walked up to his new digs. <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgHXiZm6y-zr4Z_7NLHlo498pYCJALxwJICDwZct-Y8HsPhFKHd36op7CG_FWGFzbPtKUHP3YvgSJAVrZqmQ_WRubAhXClsht0VW5diQ-hYSGb61gdE9avjnOav30hAlaH3w5Uw/s1600/IMG_0235.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgHXiZm6y-zr4Z_7NLHlo498pYCJALxwJICDwZct-Y8HsPhFKHd36op7CG_FWGFzbPtKUHP3YvgSJAVrZqmQ_WRubAhXClsht0VW5diQ-hYSGb61gdE9avjnOav30hAlaH3w5Uw/s320/IMG_0235.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646013763728803634" /></a><p>We found where he was supposed to line up ad before we knew it, he was off to class. He was so brave. He didn't cling, cry, whine or even hesitate to follow his class inside. He had a great first day, and first week, doing a great job on all of his school work and making a couple new friends. He just loves being a Brisas Gecko. :) <p> The following week, Benny started Pre-K at North Phoenix Baptist Church. His teacher from last year, who he loved, moved up to Pre-K so Benny was super excited to have another year with Ms. Debbie. I'm sure it will be a great year for both of them!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-37359123643142285742011-08-20T16:26:00.013-07:002011-08-21T22:55:16.395-07:00Escaping the HeatSeems like just yesterday Joshua graduated from Kindergarten, but before we knew it, he was ready to start 1st Grade. To celebrate the end of summer, we decided to get out of town for a weekend, heading toward cooler temperatures. <p> We jumped in the car Saturday morning and headed up north to Prescott. Since it was the first Saturday of the month, we thought it would be fun to stop at the Home Depot in Prescott Valley and do the Kids Workshop. The kids love doing them so much.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxXhqpVE2PS-lIk68ObI4CVHnnrVc2NgS9X5EqVHALs3f1mpb6QAYKxCKtmNZ6nI4bahyphenhyphenu0-9IapHrCN-Hqzk83MZE94htYcw1FLUkoEotgOUVF896aE7nqGqqNv_V0bkF_D6Hw/s1600/IMG_0208.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxXhqpVE2PS-lIk68ObI4CVHnnrVc2NgS9X5EqVHALs3f1mpb6QAYKxCKtmNZ6nI4bahyphenhyphenu0-9IapHrCN-Hqzk83MZE94htYcw1FLUkoEotgOUVF896aE7nqGqqNv_V0bkF_D6Hw/s320/IMG_0208.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643085244748708594" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXGQK5JaNYCgHd8bF7h86v4qMGrrd-3QZg_EirxQYmp9P791D-mJqcz2QE3p88wJLjTTxeY-XerUgL1XZzEt-RlMgp5AcdC_Af8FgE1vnl8MMCALAhvB_t49wBqSdiLr0UyKnmA/s1600/IMG_0210.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXGQK5JaNYCgHd8bF7h86v4qMGrrd-3QZg_EirxQYmp9P791D-mJqcz2QE3p88wJLjTTxeY-XerUgL1XZzEt-RlMgp5AcdC_Af8FgE1vnl8MMCALAhvB_t49wBqSdiLr0UyKnmA/s320/IMG_0210.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643085391764615346" /></a><p>After our projects were done, we drove the rest of the way into Prescott to Lynx Lake for a nice hike. It is so pretty there!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtFvYRRK6_7f3X92VIDu0dkwPZ1KU7qD93WIkFJbQ1AkActSLH1Wk0blJkb69jR6JAPX64JPo_Gcjh4eCqAteNx0jjNjGPTE7xwHlHVEp_YWaXVdY0bXq7s3SnYNn0JtGM-W6Aw/s1600/IMG_0211.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtFvYRRK6_7f3X92VIDu0dkwPZ1KU7qD93WIkFJbQ1AkActSLH1Wk0blJkb69jR6JAPX64JPo_Gcjh4eCqAteNx0jjNjGPTE7xwHlHVEp_YWaXVdY0bXq7s3SnYNn0JtGM-W6Aw/s320/IMG_0211.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643085953137628610" /></a>
<br /><p>We had an awesome time hiking around the lake, and the kids were awesome, holding up really well on the 2 mile trek. We brought notebooks for both of them to write down the things they saw that they wanted to remember.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOks3Ej-izyYHE8G9uIIZ9NwT8UVKrm-MSZfHhstrmSVoOfCaLqYaGwqDmgwcUOuuO_-SClyRCmDv4fb0JgV62KJIxNXJseaWpPnjbl6U6DNUlqOazEG9MHGPbxsqeGbYS1jxR8Q/s1600/IMG_0215.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOks3Ej-izyYHE8G9uIIZ9NwT8UVKrm-MSZfHhstrmSVoOfCaLqYaGwqDmgwcUOuuO_-SClyRCmDv4fb0JgV62KJIxNXJseaWpPnjbl6U6DNUlqOazEG9MHGPbxsqeGbYS1jxR8Q/s320/IMG_0215.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643086384780544850" /></a><p>We had a couple minor wildlife sightings, including hundreds of beautiful dragonflies in all sorts of colors, some big lizards and a really pretty crane. <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-uDVdmOttYN8C3d3nQy_tWlEZc4rI7rmk65mYR9WNtHs0xIGjk16Ob9bbpnJyAMjsWV7InNO2B8AWAEbAZhWUxQFzqFKGrln4RJnkfFqagRSGYLgf-rFdELtEDTxWX5wtgsERA/s1600/IMG_0564.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-uDVdmOttYN8C3d3nQy_tWlEZc4rI7rmk65mYR9WNtHs0xIGjk16Ob9bbpnJyAMjsWV7InNO2B8AWAEbAZhWUxQFzqFKGrln4RJnkfFqagRSGYLgf-rFdELtEDTxWX5wtgsERA/s320/IMG_0564.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643086838255824610" /></a>
<br /><p>After hour hike we had a picnic lunch, then got back in the car to start making our way toward Flagstaff. It was so nice to be in no hurry to get there, and have no agenda. We took the "long way" to Flagstaff from Prescott, up the 89A. That is probably my single most favorite road to drive in Arizona. You go through forest, canyons, mountains, and the cutest little towns like Jerome, and of course Sedona. By the time we got to Sedona, it was time to get out of the car for a while to stretch our legs, and get a little treat. <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRYvgCYMcdIt4-c8CwRIAPqhYUJK0_fYedksH0XJv3C4JkHhd9LICEoQMf59yVZ43cux8Z6N5e88MsXWOgoos4HiOBYl_T4k6ZkjLAGNN6slUkIluu7w-x_MvMAvGptqnD2Y3DA/s1600/IMG_0222.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRYvgCYMcdIt4-c8CwRIAPqhYUJK0_fYedksH0XJv3C4JkHhd9LICEoQMf59yVZ43cux8Z6N5e88MsXWOgoos4HiOBYl_T4k6ZkjLAGNN6slUkIluu7w-x_MvMAvGptqnD2Y3DA/s320/IMG_0222.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643087851933895730" /></a>
<br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP721E9TJcVE9m2b_ahPMWwMF4CqEU2zXNuwbgUC0UjiJjmmbJyN3gUDjG-BLWb1ks2NLTwXI-7ZLO8KT6L2hWXLXIPAtFwQv4MuRvF98yj0Q_0Oj-ZUY92EyGrYLJ9vPO1vbOKg/s1600/IMG_0221.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP721E9TJcVE9m2b_ahPMWwMF4CqEU2zXNuwbgUC0UjiJjmmbJyN3gUDjG-BLWb1ks2NLTwXI-7ZLO8KT6L2hWXLXIPAtFwQv4MuRvF98yj0Q_0Oj-ZUY92EyGrYLJ9vPO1vbOKg/s320/IMG_0221.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643088064360208722" /></a>
<br /><p>We continued up the 89A, through Oak Creek Canyon (Beautiful!)... <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2JdXIkh8uGcBdXcpZ5xxjtqy_m42jLczNWefK96i3HszPpJmNFXILvXS8EgZOJExkNWAUDn5FQCbtm7IzzsiPayHnU1WnSte5S-vVru5NHRR6MEkNyKRvZqTUmFLqaPKsjsxnA/s1600/IMG_0574.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2JdXIkh8uGcBdXcpZ5xxjtqy_m42jLczNWefK96i3HszPpJmNFXILvXS8EgZOJExkNWAUDn5FQCbtm7IzzsiPayHnU1WnSte5S-vVru5NHRR6MEkNyKRvZqTUmFLqaPKsjsxnA/s320/IMG_0574.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643088457440529842" /></a><p>... and finally reached or hotel in Flagstaff. After getting checked in we went to dinner at the Mormon Lake Lodge south of Flagstaff. It's pretty much in the middle of nowhere and has all sorts of animal heads on the wall, which the boys thought was super cool. <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHMh_YKDX-BAgqWkBs8qUuuNFAhNyVwRka0N4AOIS2cGSwpALfgdJKgjJukBwxSVXXmNHOV5bccjx-I4BFtnv-QL7aTFeFIVYURJhu2jMJH2Y05GQPYA29RGvlt5ZhaHF4qj41A/s1600/IMG_0225.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHMh_YKDX-BAgqWkBs8qUuuNFAhNyVwRka0N4AOIS2cGSwpALfgdJKgjJukBwxSVXXmNHOV5bccjx-I4BFtnv-QL7aTFeFIVYURJhu2jMJH2Y05GQPYA29RGvlt5ZhaHF4qj41A/s320/IMG_0225.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643089102835917490" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwevcSiA3etsffDuFbec38ZhcLRzojztEOjRNEibohFBGBPu2XwxEJSpeynDJ8HzNSj3JMoLLgz9vVIDVnlxwzKQox84keiR5zCEWQZHyoFShBf-9ASqYnQp5rtyl74FZJeTk7Bg/s1600/IMG_0226.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwevcSiA3etsffDuFbec38ZhcLRzojztEOjRNEibohFBGBPu2XwxEJSpeynDJ8HzNSj3JMoLLgz9vVIDVnlxwzKQox84keiR5zCEWQZHyoFShBf-9ASqYnQp5rtyl74FZJeTk7Bg/s320/IMG_0226.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643089247136928882" /></a><p>After dinner, it was pitch black outside, and being in the middle of nowhere, with no street lights, etc. anywhere near, we took the opportunity to show the boys some real stars. The moon was full so the stars weren't as visible as they would be without the moon being so bright, but it was definitely more than we can see in the city.<p>The next morning, we checked out of our hotel, and had a great breakfast at "Mike & Rhonda's The Place". After breakfast we headed back home so we could make sure we had everything ready for the big first day of school the next day. What a fun way to end the summer!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-90749337002971768142011-07-29T22:54:00.003-07:002011-07-29T23:06:31.970-07:00Super ReaderJosh started showing interest and ability in reading rather young. Right after he turned 4 years old we started learning our letters, letter sounds and then sight words. He picked it all up so fast I figured he would be independently reading in no time. But after he started kindergarten and he was learning SO much, his reading definitely slowed, if not stalled, for quite some time. It was like it just wasn't clicking with him, and that with all the other school work he was doing there just wasn't room in that 5 year old brain to fit in excelling reading.<p>Then we started to notice some things that started to concern us a little bit. He would be able to read certain words with no problem, but then simple words, like "we" he would stumble on and just couldn't figure them out. That with a few other red flags had me researching symptoms of dyslexia or other learning disabilities. Not that I was convinced he had any of them, but figured a little due diligence wouldn't hurt anything. My main concern was that he wouldn't be up to par with the rest of the kids in the reading department when he started 1st grade at his new school in August. I talked to his doctor about it at his well check after his 6th birthday, and she gave me some suggestions and some other things to look out for, but didn't seem too concerned about it, so that encouraged me.<p> Then over the summer, something has happened. It's like the little reading switch has all of a sudden been turned on. The man is a reading machine! He is reading everything in sight. He still needs help with some of the larger words, but he is now to the point where he reads by himself. It's too cute, because he doesn't yet read silently, so whenever he's reading a book, even if he's all alone, he reads it out loud to himself. I love it! I feel like any concerns I did have are totally gone and I'm confident he'll definitely be able to hold his own in 1st grade!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-21274649567537846922011-07-23T23:30:00.006-07:002011-07-24T00:08:57.398-07:00Joshua's First Retina RodeoJoshua started wearing glasses when he was just 3 1/2 years old. We've known all along that neither of our kids would probably have a prayer of not needing any kind of vision correction. So I have been taking him for annual visits to the ophthalmologist ever since. This year, I took Benny as well. We weren't surprised to find that he also needed glasses. I was a little sad to put glasses on his little face, but I think they suit him well. <p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5paEFGNn4QiLUagRBuqisigtQfcb4ERra50wTiyOvyq0s0oyl2NVRIxsKKo0g3CbVzor8Sg-uwQOjqGna666afdosQQRirkJcR_0adyXlUJ1QLyvcIBuN3T5vTS_2Cp8EqOqdg/s1600/IMG_0153.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5paEFGNn4QiLUagRBuqisigtQfcb4ERra50wTiyOvyq0s0oyl2NVRIxsKKo0g3CbVzor8Sg-uwQOjqGna666afdosQQRirkJcR_0adyXlUJ1QLyvcIBuN3T5vTS_2Cp8EqOqdg/s320/IMG_0153.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632804347889228290" /></a><p>Joshua also got some new glasses that he thinks are super cool. He is super sensitive to sunlight and must always wear sunglasses when outside or else the poor guy can't function. So his new glasses have the Transitions lenses, which change from regular glasses to sunglasses when exposed to UV rays. They're pretty awesome and he absolutely loves them!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPixmTRNJz_LCvNhOy0JTvNIuEFKJ0Wath5gstsZMxBu1cRUdnUyCsurXbF3qO45n-lihSy53u0enHeIN7WYNEX_sdiTCMjgZ85aUwnl5hxmFboGEVpPir6VrYVlzfYuO3ctwzEA/s1600/IMG_0155.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPixmTRNJz_LCvNhOy0JTvNIuEFKJ0Wath5gstsZMxBu1cRUdnUyCsurXbF3qO45n-lihSy53u0enHeIN7WYNEX_sdiTCMjgZ85aUwnl5hxmFboGEVpPir6VrYVlzfYuO3ctwzEA/s320/IMG_0155.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632805785366612962" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMQaa3hur-s5nbK-H1Y_bKLDC0CFHR8mBhziGzga2u4hkSl3ueUYKNMzKQoTAl93p10bNGjlZlok4mfieQcx1ef8frh0z1nllNvg643FIm2qJfJoOP3LWPmzdvW8HLPOx-GLizw/s1600/IMG_0156.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMQaa3hur-s5nbK-H1Y_bKLDC0CFHR8mBhziGzga2u4hkSl3ueUYKNMzKQoTAl93p10bNGjlZlok4mfieQcx1ef8frh0z1nllNvg643FIm2qJfJoOP3LWPmzdvW8HLPOx-GLizw/s320/IMG_0156.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632805895666425106" /></a><p>While we were at the ophthalmologist's office, the doctor said that Joshua's optic nerves looked large, which would mean there was a pressure issue, or it could mean nothing, so we were sent to a retina specialist to have a little more extensive check. At the retina specialists' office, they took an OCT scan of Joshua's eyes which showed some abnormalities. The doctor said these kinds of abnormalities were something normally found in a 50 year old, not a 6 year old. Joshua's sensitivity to light kind of hindered the physical eye exam. The poor guy was trying so hard to keep his eyes open, but he just couldn't. In light of the abnormalities shown in the OCT scan, the retina specialist wanted to take a good look at his eyes, and thought that putting Joshua under general anesthesia was the way to go. We scheduled the procedure at Phoenix Children's Hospital. Joshua was so super brave! We showed up at the hospital and were taken into preop, where Joshua was given a total of 12 eye drops in each eye. But he took them like a champ! <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeq0aLIaNQRdcoSJBt5XwuoCxvshs7wwrKzYA2L2q2h-gtQ7Nt1ABcMDiK4RKsaV5PbxTwVwyp8ZAALb7lqslfCkmGC2mqAr3VFpzwCAck8WQlZZ1yCFfSFdVDYnMIvm6PNKwlA/s1600/IMG_0177.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeq0aLIaNQRdcoSJBt5XwuoCxvshs7wwrKzYA2L2q2h-gtQ7Nt1ABcMDiK4RKsaV5PbxTwVwyp8ZAALb7lqslfCkmGC2mqAr3VFpzwCAck8WQlZZ1yCFfSFdVDYnMIvm6PNKwlA/s320/IMG_0177.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632809416648028450" /></a><p> The hospital was so great. They had a child life specialist who came in and talked to him about what the operating room would look like, the mask they would use to help him go to sleep, and also offered him some movies to watch while we waited for the doctor and anesthesiologist to be ready for us. <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmscOZk6zh4O9SQhN5wlQQ_e_yIKlM2CxtoVA-_eJJslKaIjGlVdayAtykrnS87CP9j38-tyuTr_VWrMu7J4yVUtgyidRDQX2zzZxycYxEje4qdkCd7epkSEK1W3XOyFJNDVV7g/s1600/IMG_0178.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmscOZk6zh4O9SQhN5wlQQ_e_yIKlM2CxtoVA-_eJJslKaIjGlVdayAtykrnS87CP9j38-tyuTr_VWrMu7J4yVUtgyidRDQX2zzZxycYxEje4qdkCd7epkSEK1W3XOyFJNDVV7g/s320/IMG_0178.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632810362050133218" /></a><p>Finally it was time to roll. Joshua got to take a ride on his bed back to the OR, which he thought was pretty cool, and he wasn't scared at all! After about an hour the anesthesiologist came out and told us Joshua was in recovery and resting comfortably. We found out that his retinas had some weak spots that the doctor had to use the laser on to strengthen them. All part of being part of the Duncan family! When Josh finally woke up, he was in a bit of pain, saying his eyes felt like fire and his brain hurt, and did throw up a couple times, but after some pain meds was a bit more comfortable. We came home and he pretty much drifted in and out of consciousness the rest of the day, but didn't complain too much more of pain or nausea. This was yesterday. He slept well all night and this morning woke up just about good as new. His eyes are still a little red and he says they still hurt a little, but otherwise he was perfectly normal!<p>The doctor sounded a little concerned that he had to take any kind of action at Joshua's young age, but early intervention is definitely the key to keeping Joshua's eyes healthy, and we will do whatever it takes to keep his eyes in tip top shape!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-46012555306359131252011-07-23T23:14:00.009-07:002011-07-23T23:30:30.958-07:00Happy 6th Birthday, Joshua!Joshua had the best birthday party this year! We celebrated the big 6 with a bowling party! It was so much fun! Lots of friends, and even his kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Harren, came to celebrate with him and enjoy some bowling, pizza and of course cake. <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zdwBWLEIjMvBtp2oN_WvcMjM62YpQkzNOrR_ZX091EcLky42uhA5ywHmJKrvTs_T-2xrH5FOHDZX4PmVqygY_V7hFqAdiJqkdXNIC5QusfwPEOpxYDDWk524CZ9G6X5vpyig0Q/s1600/IMG_6527.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zdwBWLEIjMvBtp2oN_WvcMjM62YpQkzNOrR_ZX091EcLky42uhA5ywHmJKrvTs_T-2xrH5FOHDZX4PmVqygY_V7hFqAdiJqkdXNIC5QusfwPEOpxYDDWk524CZ9G6X5vpyig0Q/s320/IMG_6527.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632799540486649090" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvkHOn8OxplsSPglXaVt21DVje1u_VbXPPWJhtTyEb_1NjMfjsDufzZE_KqSbi6fVshK4yEtKGa-YTNy1o-p0BlTEHnH6KKjGpYx53DsBbgb_0UyOSowcWOYbqOARw6xa83R6kg/s1600/IMG_6528.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvkHOn8OxplsSPglXaVt21DVje1u_VbXPPWJhtTyEb_1NjMfjsDufzZE_KqSbi6fVshK4yEtKGa-YTNy1o-p0BlTEHnH6KKjGpYx53DsBbgb_0UyOSowcWOYbqOARw6xa83R6kg/s320/IMG_6528.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632799685792879026" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyaD2_ZDxMhKckcvRduIVaB-M9DhdWGp73rmZTVBD0qptZL9YANwltWJrvKYMOV33nN_JZIAVCfJ_D_E8ETsz4hw6doIZHGEBv3eH4EIasjsCt9Db0i13-KWaNLHFpTI6EPkxxA/s1600/IMG_6524.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyaD2_ZDxMhKckcvRduIVaB-M9DhdWGp73rmZTVBD0qptZL9YANwltWJrvKYMOV33nN_JZIAVCfJ_D_E8ETsz4hw6doIZHGEBv3eH4EIasjsCt9Db0i13-KWaNLHFpTI6EPkxxA/s320/IMG_6524.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632799813194821442" /></a><br /><p>Benny was probably the cutest bowler I've ever seen. He would push the ball down the alley and wait in a squat to see how many pins he knocked over. It was so super cute! <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTNED5W5lSGorl4umXTVqgEisjgDaSTArtHz3I0xqnpK3kwkdf3MiFoTsoFvimX0sxadjucKUDERgMnBvOhp9CGEFWaNjO_H3WVeB_OeP5ssHjMQ8P5BnPlyz9vpe3vEfmXnfhA/s1600/IMG_6526.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTNED5W5lSGorl4umXTVqgEisjgDaSTArtHz3I0xqnpK3kwkdf3MiFoTsoFvimX0sxadjucKUDERgMnBvOhp9CGEFWaNjO_H3WVeB_OeP5ssHjMQ8P5BnPlyz9vpe3vEfmXnfhA/s320/IMG_6526.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632801566685846226" /></a><p>When I asked Joshua what he wanted for a birthday cake, his one requirement was that I also made "cake pops", so I decided to combine the two and set up a cake pop bowling alley on his cake. It turned out so cute, and suited the party perfectly!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRT4UwTKROeTGwJ8z1WYCLqpI9cen5laQi3fbp9D32jJsocQlnAZMDGVOdjo0gp7CKlwJ68MdxJ0xLRSoTxf5tldlLxWWffoTgLZ4G8nPnxJxXkrK8PK0ThnwWOhoMdf3gnLIPQ/s1600/IMG_6535.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRT4UwTKROeTGwJ8z1WYCLqpI9cen5laQi3fbp9D32jJsocQlnAZMDGVOdjo0gp7CKlwJ68MdxJ0xLRSoTxf5tldlLxWWffoTgLZ4G8nPnxJxXkrK8PK0ThnwWOhoMdf3gnLIPQ/s320/IMG_6535.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632800377095328770" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHv9uW94-gl0Tuw-JqfsftoFvM2rudzMvUm-jIPwdANXF3-as4Lpw0RKW44ZPFiSw8jJCnLnGFQAkfBweiOGpXIo7NCPBPiQVXpfHK5Ddh2J8Be88cKXWxuM9pO0SumHj7oGsvmQ/s1600/IMG_6541.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHv9uW94-gl0Tuw-JqfsftoFvM2rudzMvUm-jIPwdANXF3-as4Lpw0RKW44ZPFiSw8jJCnLnGFQAkfBweiOGpXIo7NCPBPiQVXpfHK5Ddh2J8Be88cKXWxuM9pO0SumHj7oGsvmQ/s320/IMG_6541.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632800667089412994" /></a><p>The day ended with a few games in the arcade!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsn36QbAwFXlFSQ9CszEC1_HsxXqUApdlvPzeC63W9ryhCyEBlRK24J1iOaPkZEvkNaOqA2dPYTBnurEh5NwQyi3k-zsAn5Uetc50gL_wLGMfNoTXUFhF_CYA9GwPvBVnZ07OIA/s1600/IMG_6554.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsn36QbAwFXlFSQ9CszEC1_HsxXqUApdlvPzeC63W9ryhCyEBlRK24J1iOaPkZEvkNaOqA2dPYTBnurEh5NwQyi3k-zsAn5Uetc50gL_wLGMfNoTXUFhF_CYA9GwPvBVnZ07OIA/s320/IMG_6554.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632802149334749394" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_azcYEaRKfxAZJFZWJKU1Y4RsWQYBPqNLLVRoDTxX9KVHyMB8ZwbQlEoy-_HgvW3t1c59o7lky8k17mk4jXisTuDBBkklTvfXf3mNUUy2Xth_jGYSwl-LlHDOX3ZxPb8JXnX9Q/s1600/IMG_6555.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_azcYEaRKfxAZJFZWJKU1Y4RsWQYBPqNLLVRoDTxX9KVHyMB8ZwbQlEoy-_HgvW3t1c59o7lky8k17mk4jXisTuDBBkklTvfXf3mNUUy2Xth_jGYSwl-LlHDOX3ZxPb8JXnX9Q/s320/IMG_6555.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632802287300528402" /></a><br /><p>What a perfect way to celebrate a truly amazing little boy! Happy birthday, Joshua!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-36697686425167836682011-07-23T22:34:00.014-07:002011-07-23T23:13:41.255-07:00Joshua's Kindergarten GraduationIt is unbelievable how quickly Joshua's kindergarten year passed us by. It seems like just yesterday we were watching him take his first steps into the kindergarten room and learning how to say the pledge of allegiance. Before we knew it, the school year was over and it was time for his graduation into 1st grade! <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhmlgWF-0-SYBtMlRMabGS8J8QZvL3wH94LIStJX4Ez8WYAyK0taDCDqdDaPDuzEJPks66ZN71XyC9QlI22sdia_xwMlV8CTBbAKU_ERccNqaB0zyWEFHk9WsQp6OgTM5TJe7oQ/s1600/IMG_6432.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhmlgWF-0-SYBtMlRMabGS8J8QZvL3wH94LIStJX4Ez8WYAyK0taDCDqdDaPDuzEJPks66ZN71XyC9QlI22sdia_xwMlV8CTBbAKU_ERccNqaB0zyWEFHk9WsQp6OgTM5TJe7oQ/s320/IMG_6432.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632792431663588642" /></a><p> The graduation ceremony was incredible, and really showcased all the wonderful things they learned throughout the year. They showed us all the Italian they learned, like colors, counting, days of the week, months of the year, and even the "30 Days Has September" poem. They all did awesome! They also sang the "Can't Spell Hippopotamus" song and all read a story aloud to the crowd to show us the awesome reading skills they had developed throughout the year. <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijq8-A5Oa8S7RGvliBrbpX4NbWBWIn9kqKEJTHpBPhSA-bQJheHulaS18k5Yi3dS5RoQGA7p7nqDkfOqem6h1HfVERIQHZZxzedZpbBYYWFuO2h49hvGWLMtGQWPHuYPlnHmr5_g/s1600/IMG_6443.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijq8-A5Oa8S7RGvliBrbpX4NbWBWIn9kqKEJTHpBPhSA-bQJheHulaS18k5Yi3dS5RoQGA7p7nqDkfOqem6h1HfVERIQHZZxzedZpbBYYWFuO2h49hvGWLMtGQWPHuYPlnHmr5_g/s320/IMG_6443.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632792772365076418" /></a><br /><p>Then it was time for the big moment, the handing of the diploma!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PvLQKrf4lcEBGMKHLGs3Xfrb-wtNCw00_zTPP_QyBqTjTqun6BJse1-0uymUAsu91WHu79A6e7TAnjD1sG5nIIRl7wTv79aABn0a2sYPpeqhU94PQCqb9jCz91lpeGQHhRdSig/s1600/IMG_6452.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PvLQKrf4lcEBGMKHLGs3Xfrb-wtNCw00_zTPP_QyBqTjTqun6BJse1-0uymUAsu91WHu79A6e7TAnjD1sG5nIIRl7wTv79aABn0a2sYPpeqhU94PQCqb9jCz91lpeGQHhRdSig/s320/IMG_6452.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632793712550493554" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0SLUw2emoGTaUjKjzpUVS3NgwsZfd8XqhYSPyf_qHCKEY0eZ7O6ZFc-nyZjKyKxKOnl5uCvQxcm5-aEeitsoiYKsTGcl6SR4SrtniL4E6Zd50PJV3aIpOA1pbbIQD_KMlCvwmQ/s1600/IMG_6453.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0SLUw2emoGTaUjKjzpUVS3NgwsZfd8XqhYSPyf_qHCKEY0eZ7O6ZFc-nyZjKyKxKOnl5uCvQxcm5-aEeitsoiYKsTGcl6SR4SrtniL4E6Zd50PJV3aIpOA1pbbIQD_KMlCvwmQ/s320/IMG_6453.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632794022106281122" /></a><p><br />Joshua had the greatest teacher for Kindergarten, and we thank her so much for a wonderful year. Joshua made Mrs. Harren a special book telling her all the things he loved about Kindergarten. It was so sweet! <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRwOYVzubxhifazUf95tZpmPWT5lHliXb5Epd88UY6dH5Fp4EdRuqxg7sCfrt-Ww8lafZe38mgqCXLE1h26-z62wqeGG1rhquAJwF-lLkJACUgPJP_XJF16FrxH7DAfK5uFid-Q/s1600/IMG_6456.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRwOYVzubxhifazUf95tZpmPWT5lHliXb5Epd88UY6dH5Fp4EdRuqxg7sCfrt-Ww8lafZe38mgqCXLE1h26-z62wqeGG1rhquAJwF-lLkJACUgPJP_XJF16FrxH7DAfK5uFid-Q/s320/IMG_6456.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632795030291749826" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1F7kALpdzf1Yvzm6L8pICrtGe8NQbWe_2NK67Auqv-u-J96rfR_0MPuAlNijME-3HvwQSSYWB2M3kqNMjv8QNAa1WN5lsLwBG8KjZPHVa2C2GdjSBBUMPBt2ubsSIWEboMgdpyA/s1600/IMG_6457.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1F7kALpdzf1Yvzm6L8pICrtGe8NQbWe_2NK67Auqv-u-J96rfR_0MPuAlNijME-3HvwQSSYWB2M3kqNMjv8QNAa1WN5lsLwBG8KjZPHVa2C2GdjSBBUMPBt2ubsSIWEboMgdpyA/s320/IMG_6457.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632795199092150658" /></a><br /><p>All of Joshua's grandparents came and celebrated his special day with him, too! <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuaKJvRpr0dmmEmt8iZQEjP8pXNA3qLXJ8h_YWqXTmvR2Jr9inHHsWiXEA-07YrusCIK2N4K_qEoxNG4bYRAEWN9RR0rEVHe9KuWJy3PjkdEbdBqqDOsBtaksf3Gi3On_Zhvs-Q/s1600/IMG_6460.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuaKJvRpr0dmmEmt8iZQEjP8pXNA3qLXJ8h_YWqXTmvR2Jr9inHHsWiXEA-07YrusCIK2N4K_qEoxNG4bYRAEWN9RR0rEVHe9KuWJy3PjkdEbdBqqDOsBtaksf3Gi3On_Zhvs-Q/s320/IMG_6460.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632795573640696258" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNZeLcbKXr-_4tou713kTtylXK8BwhxnCpHOVMHmvYiGCmZ7O5vK-uZSgO6b87G6cTEHTe3fU5JWoFudZZU6nfHa0zaxnLvgwljlr9vm9-xkoJKFZ1JosnzbOQuzuf-QcNCYG4A/s1600/IMG_6461.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNZeLcbKXr-_4tou713kTtylXK8BwhxnCpHOVMHmvYiGCmZ7O5vK-uZSgO6b87G6cTEHTe3fU5JWoFudZZU6nfHa0zaxnLvgwljlr9vm9-xkoJKFZ1JosnzbOQuzuf-QcNCYG4A/s320/IMG_6461.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632795717997771010" /></a><p> Following the ceremony was a cake reception. I was so honored to be able to make the cake for the celebration. Since there were only 7 kids in the class, I decided to put all of their little faces on the cake, and personalize it as best I can. It was a huge hit. <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvE-6tmbQo85ZbgCVz2MbxhHwey7Jrnu67UF52A4yFGVuP_Og7TUwMiTP9lolNyAtJHsM8jx72q-QbPs6qRQ9ez6Q3RN8DqV-mf4TAgkwIm9Y3Q8Ez9iU9fLj3ilhqltFt_87hA/s1600/IMG_0398.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvE-6tmbQo85ZbgCVz2MbxhHwey7Jrnu67UF52A4yFGVuP_Og7TUwMiTP9lolNyAtJHsM8jx72q-QbPs6qRQ9ez6Q3RN8DqV-mf4TAgkwIm9Y3Q8Ez9iU9fLj3ilhqltFt_87hA/s320/IMG_0398.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632796904399031042" /></a><br /><p>The kids were so cute when they saw it. They were all so excited to see their faces on the cake. They all were saying "I see me!" So cute!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvJ6KTGj0u1X6zn7VDHfKfy5HGW2eBPTtyiJYWW-GEiVg7TesqLV4pNqyGSajsqijSNZz915bar7cvExUUvL-ZTepG7Lf16daKW8cq1PqSXqR8FmzfHWQ9avdPif0o55VE__fgg/s1600/IMG_6438.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvJ6KTGj0u1X6zn7VDHfKfy5HGW2eBPTtyiJYWW-GEiVg7TesqLV4pNqyGSajsqijSNZz915bar7cvExUUvL-ZTepG7Lf16daKW8cq1PqSXqR8FmzfHWQ9avdPif0o55VE__fgg/s320/IMG_6438.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632797572832060930" /></a><p><br />After graduation we let Joshua pick where we got to go have a special dinner, and he picked the "Cafe", known to most as the buffet. :) <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aT0BCMkWRV2lhyphenhyphenn9IptHifAC4V9BjVuj0nFZ0tKzUz5IUkcWO9S00FiZMPMj_Alh7xM85tYAYrd8TA3sv2X-gZx5x7EQJpO8mWaBcnejlY5NdL9qLUTPpfd_6Pxhyphenhyphen3-Rt8L0fw/s1600/IMG_6464.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aT0BCMkWRV2lhyphenhyphenn9IptHifAC4V9BjVuj0nFZ0tKzUz5IUkcWO9S00FiZMPMj_Alh7xM85tYAYrd8TA3sv2X-gZx5x7EQJpO8mWaBcnejlY5NdL9qLUTPpfd_6Pxhyphenhyphen3-Rt8L0fw/s320/IMG_6464.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632796219503478194" /></a><p>It really was an amazing year and we are so happy we kept Joshua at North Phoenix Baptist Church for Kindergarten, because we were completley blessed by it! Now on to 1st grade and a brand new school!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-77149044622934625852011-07-23T22:25:00.003-07:002011-07-23T22:34:50.791-07:00Wilton Method Instructor!At the end of last year, I took the Wilton Method classes at Michael's, and found I was actually pretty good at it! My teacher and new friend, Hollie, had been asking me to become a teacher ever since I finished the classes. In May I finally accepted and am now teaching classes 1-2 times per week at the Ahwatukee Michael's store!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67OIHKXJblXYWzWz4JTK5moz5kqNAwZRahtthfHChCEVct8lMlq-m3ZMOSbs-hxEOS2oHX6xLI_WcpnpiFytFWt_UiGHIYGS7tRZlaTr2YshEKHb1TwJjsO0QxKVx7JNRelCb7A/s1600/IMG_6402.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67OIHKXJblXYWzWz4JTK5moz5kqNAwZRahtthfHChCEVct8lMlq-m3ZMOSbs-hxEOS2oHX6xLI_WcpnpiFytFWt_UiGHIYGS7tRZlaTr2YshEKHb1TwJjsO0QxKVx7JNRelCb7A/s320/IMG_6402.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632787041084772530" /></a><p>I am having a total blast teaching other people how to do something I am so passionate about myself. I have already gotten to meet so many great people, and have made some great new friends. Plus, it's a great gig. I get to make some extra money, plus get employee discounts at both Michael's and the Wilton online store, which has really come in handy with all the cakes I have been making for my business! And all for just a couple hours of work per week. Not a bad gig!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-64682833772639524572011-07-23T21:44:00.007-07:002011-07-23T22:24:44.270-07:00Winter/Spring GardenIt's so great to live in a climate where we can grow things all year long. We had a super successful winter garden this past year. Carrots, spinach and some awesomely huge, and tasty, snow peas. <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHT9s1QDoXV0Uq_NEnD_Ko29gbPc95GeSf1tE_drwL41NhIJpDWBmuOfNXUC8gHjhVaCa9Dezioszti0Olf8uIP-sJoSyJxNgDoeh5ZIXVIqJ5fKEezf-edhEGVX8yJuArkVuUgA/s1600/IMG_6296.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHT9s1QDoXV0Uq_NEnD_Ko29gbPc95GeSf1tE_drwL41NhIJpDWBmuOfNXUC8gHjhVaCa9Dezioszti0Olf8uIP-sJoSyJxNgDoeh5ZIXVIqJ5fKEezf-edhEGVX8yJuArkVuUgA/s320/IMG_6296.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632777996678630578" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3g0NFJm4w1lyQD8kpXUx5lmuQ3IdX2hK5aWC0CBwwCvul5kdDuGaGF-7NCGZe4Ncx0aDfMt_qlHzAIiC6SJkFO-zrzIhlS8NMIjuYKoKY2U9jwf3LOwCSxFg0o-uxpPNjbJ4Sw/s1600/IMG_6297.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3g0NFJm4w1lyQD8kpXUx5lmuQ3IdX2hK5aWC0CBwwCvul5kdDuGaGF-7NCGZe4Ncx0aDfMt_qlHzAIiC6SJkFO-zrzIhlS8NMIjuYKoKY2U9jwf3LOwCSxFg0o-uxpPNjbJ4Sw/s320/IMG_6297.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632778264993792418" /></a><p>Thanks to the garden, Joshua discovered this love of spinach. Ever since he tasted the spinach from our garden, he can't get enough!<p>In addition to the garden, we finally planted a couple citrus trees in the backyard. We decided on an orange tree and a pink grapefruit tree. Orange Tree:<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJPy1orZvrV98q8WziJDRAM1zYy6CYb_Udah6vKP9ttKVeNNqJym6eVWT-E4X7bjIv92Az9ZXj9FvuLcL_6WjhkZ3QkW3jFOUFZTT2uijUIxrsNSAhyphenhyphenQYfYiUltDLYV1JFZMs9A/s1600/IMG_6311.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJPy1orZvrV98q8WziJDRAM1zYy6CYb_Udah6vKP9ttKVeNNqJym6eVWT-E4X7bjIv92Az9ZXj9FvuLcL_6WjhkZ3QkW3jFOUFZTT2uijUIxrsNSAhyphenhyphenQYfYiUltDLYV1JFZMs9A/s320/IMG_6311.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632779948754472610" /></a><p>Grapefruit Tree:<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxv4wybRsdr9fmEhor2B70SZmFd2D_CDm369_FUqYeeeZ1N-CMmnzNJpFlO04dSXMRqFNKO_EaWne58VbAWJ73zocxldZCaw4C4R1GISBhoIBSUFfuPZX7939pqyvlohEl0Tb-A/s1600/IMG_6316.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxv4wybRsdr9fmEhor2B70SZmFd2D_CDm369_FUqYeeeZ1N-CMmnzNJpFlO04dSXMRqFNKO_EaWne58VbAWJ73zocxldZCaw4C4R1GISBhoIBSUFfuPZX7939pqyvlohEl0Tb-A/s320/IMG_6316.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632780524261247266" /></a><p>We planted the trees back in March. The orange tree is doing great. Unfortunately, it looks like the grapefruit tree has succumbed to the heat, so it will probably have to be replaced once the summer is over.<p>We also have gotten two grape vines. They are still young, but hopefully next year we'll have some yummy homegrown grapes!<p>Our spring garden just wasn't super successful this year. We planted tomatoes, zucchini, and corn. Everything sprouted and grew tall, but nothing other than the tomatoes...<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5EaUi8dtkjd_wxhNyOnGJPHVLPoy-yeb5flPoTgDTGyZTQl3tHs12iItyi7ECdZrjb5yO0DjbNWXIAPGKVdEPOeQzupnp3OkMS5hiZgeBRjkuo1qHjEgX795ycD1t_7Vr7_FbQ/s1600/IMG_0171.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5EaUi8dtkjd_wxhNyOnGJPHVLPoy-yeb5flPoTgDTGyZTQl3tHs12iItyi7ECdZrjb5yO0DjbNWXIAPGKVdEPOeQzupnp3OkMS5hiZgeBRjkuo1qHjEgX795ycD1t_7Vr7_FbQ/s320/IMG_0171.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632784922965714738" /></a><p> ...was exceptionally fruitful. We got a couple good zucchini (which were delicious cooked on the grill!), but we certainly didn't have an abundance of zucchini (thanks to the bees stealing my pollen!), and our corn cobs just didn't grow kernels, which kind of made them look like "hillbilly teeth". LOL! Oh well, gardening is still fun! :)The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-33446439543338276292011-07-23T21:22:00.004-07:002011-07-24T21:34:48.279-07:00Welcome to 2005!We aren't the "Keeping up with the Jones'" kind of people. Our technology is never the latest and greatest. We typically keep our stuff until it dies and we are forced to upgrade. The TV in our living room was originally purchased in about 1997 (no joke) and probably weighed about 150 lbs. We have be praying for something to go out on the darn thing to force us into the upgrade we so desperately wanted but couldn't justify. At the beginning of this year, we decided to say screw it, and bought a brand new HD TV. Of course with that, brought many other upgrades, HD DVR, Blue Ray, and we can now officially say we have entered 2005! <p>But we couldn't stop there! We have also finally given in to the world of the "Smart Phone". Our cell contract was up earlier this year, and we decided to bite the bullet and got ourselves iPhones. How we survived without them this long I'll never know! How wonderful it is to be able to find anything we need in unfamiliar areas, have driving directions available wherever we are, and I can't lie, being able to have 8 simultaneous games of Scrabble going at once is pretty cool! :)<p>We still have a few things around here to upgrade, i.e. the TV in our bedroom that I got as my high school graduation gift! But we're definitely moving up the technology ladder lately, and having a great time doing it!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-27981348076917185412011-07-23T21:05:00.006-07:002011-07-23T21:22:36.327-07:00Home MakeoverWhen our house was damaged in that huge storm last January, we learned how horrible the windows on the south side of our house were (you know it's bad when you have to make sure your windowsills are stuffed with towels whenever the forecast called for rain!), and the door in our bedroom to the backyard we knew had definitely seen better days. In April we bit the bullet and decided to replace it all! What a difference it makes!<p>Before:<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzaUt7cUT79jE4PFZxN8s6u14cF-Ca9M2vIib1xUcDjL3IZB3MvkEb2AEdib-cKpvP591r9EwS5H1G0i3X8Vuj2zCJtlow2bVdKWSrSMXrIYLd1hAyosXbn-RvFg-ill2cnJwuw/s1600/IMG_6378.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzaUt7cUT79jE4PFZxN8s6u14cF-Ca9M2vIib1xUcDjL3IZB3MvkEb2AEdib-cKpvP591r9EwS5H1G0i3X8Vuj2zCJtlow2bVdKWSrSMXrIYLd1hAyosXbn-RvFg-ill2cnJwuw/s320/IMG_6378.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632767661817421330" /></a><p>After:<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-u915JEALb1EmtJqy16jAula6nU1XIJD5tUjwv-OiwponfqQvTCOzVaBiXazaOwCpBIhDuNzBOlfz1Ha2k-VtYGYxG7GfLEH2qKCFyn6sffXwqo_ytWmjIe_TaZgB_08ZfsRyMQ/s1600/IMG_6382.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-u915JEALb1EmtJqy16jAula6nU1XIJD5tUjwv-OiwponfqQvTCOzVaBiXazaOwCpBIhDuNzBOlfz1Ha2k-VtYGYxG7GfLEH2qKCFyn6sffXwqo_ytWmjIe_TaZgB_08ZfsRyMQ/s320/IMG_6382.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632767848958558418" /></a><br /><p>Before:<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKaL51Ilt8kVbxHwZ5253GXiOsCU-5raM5ZV9UxRn7HwcI_anK_tELDwkAydBOIMyPdhD1cVelnsGXi5EzZp2bTsKfMMB6KrPzboQF2wZFgcc5JJhwtV0FCYRW-lTkAfK_pCWcg/s1600/IMG_6380.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKaL51Ilt8kVbxHwZ5253GXiOsCU-5raM5ZV9UxRn7HwcI_anK_tELDwkAydBOIMyPdhD1cVelnsGXi5EzZp2bTsKfMMB6KrPzboQF2wZFgcc5JJhwtV0FCYRW-lTkAfK_pCWcg/s320/IMG_6380.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632768112385961890" /></a><p>After:<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsU0vLgYM2wAncjK_Z6peeqb74s9mr_k8pKINcC-oGWFqR8AmvLxgXMicwsfWvy1T2gsQ3fcXrZ9ZLcjFcHXUQ2tI-wY-Fy61kyG7LTu5i57c2uXoJN4rqCHysyql5RWGgmWpWQ/s1600/IMG_6383.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsU0vLgYM2wAncjK_Z6peeqb74s9mr_k8pKINcC-oGWFqR8AmvLxgXMicwsfWvy1T2gsQ3fcXrZ9ZLcjFcHXUQ2tI-wY-Fy61kyG7LTu5i57c2uXoJN4rqCHysyql5RWGgmWpWQ/s320/IMG_6383.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632768267705615106" /></a><br /><p>Before:<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbfDE_Z2DJKQzfT9k5zBPORLJmL9nCsykF40wq8HqHDfNUPGoQSfTLORWdTB8LZ95IZXsff4AscvG36JBEfu6bbMHc5iflJBCFxd1LSNtYqKWNITqw5hFJx9DJBemVBzjJ-ohsg/s1600/IMG_6381.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbfDE_Z2DJKQzfT9k5zBPORLJmL9nCsykF40wq8HqHDfNUPGoQSfTLORWdTB8LZ95IZXsff4AscvG36JBEfu6bbMHc5iflJBCFxd1LSNtYqKWNITqw5hFJx9DJBemVBzjJ-ohsg/s320/IMG_6381.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632768514370313890" /></a><p>After:<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjQm2xAaGsyQoGaymVyhrJ4Tc89X7NzCOUx9mqO_WyEzDznfI3YBvyqhmFvsx3kOvk82xDiuFHNzbD4uihgxJ0j62cNWnkqi-TOkzXXkdEMNO1vdpI3xB0rsjJqxbq2OMy5EKIQ/s1600/IMG_6385.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjQm2xAaGsyQoGaymVyhrJ4Tc89X7NzCOUx9mqO_WyEzDznfI3YBvyqhmFvsx3kOvk82xDiuFHNzbD4uihgxJ0j62cNWnkqi-TOkzXXkdEMNO1vdpI3xB0rsjJqxbq2OMy5EKIQ/s320/IMG_6385.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632768644589833538" /></a><p>My friend, Ricky (who I have known since 1st grade) has is own window company and did the work for us. He did a fantastic job and cut us a great deal. We are so happy with this home improvement. And it is already saving us money on our energy bill! Home ownership is always a work in progress, especially when you have a 25 year old house. We've got a lot left to do on our house, but we're pleased with the progress we have made so far!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-50791313946310967832011-03-29T13:33:00.003-07:002011-03-29T13:36:23.783-07:00Do I Still Have a Blog???I just realized it's been 2 months... 2 MONTHS!!! since I've blogged. Ugh! I hate falling this far behind, and I have so much to share. But I really don't know where I can find the time to get caught up! We are kid-free this weekend (thanks, Grandma and Grandpa!) so I hope to be able to devote a little time to getting caught up. So for anyone out there still checking in, please check back soon. I promise I will have some new posts soon! :)The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-33514611813902098932011-03-15T13:30:00.003-07:002011-04-14T13:23:05.438-07:00Fitness Quest 2011No, I haven't totally abandoned our blog. It just seems my time to sit down and write has been very scarce these days. But it's for good reason! For the last few months I have had a nagging thought in my subconsious that 1) I'm not getting any younger; and 2) my weight had become a little more difficult to control. So right after Christmas I decided to get serious about taking care of myself. I had noticed some of the weight that I lost a couple years ago had crept back, and I really wanted to get rid of it and get back down to where I was before. But more than that, I wanted to feel healthy. I didn't want to be sluggish and tired anymore. So I started working out, and adjusted my eating habits, and after a few weeks I had lost about 10 pounds! I'm really proud of myself for keeping it up for nearly 4 months now and have definitely noticed a change in my energy and strength levels. And to top it all off, I just bought 2 pairs of shorts in a size 6!!! I go through highs and lows of my motivation to work out, but so far, even in the totaly unmotivated times, I've been able to get myself back into it. I don't really feel like I need to lose any more weight (although I wouldn't cry if I lost 5 more pounds or so...) so now I'm just trying to focus on being healthy. I hope that now that I have found my groove, I can keep it up and continue challenging myself with more intense workouts to get a stronger, healthier me!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-91646506724419057852011-01-29T12:48:00.017-07:002011-01-29T13:40:47.970-07:00Belated Christmas RecapI am still so behind on blogging! Before we are officially in February I thought it might be a good idea to finally post about Christmas!<p>As events go, this Christmas was just about the same as last year, but the excitement level was through the roof this year!<p>One thing we like to do during the Christmas season is go see the light display at McCormick Ranch Railroad Park. We had talked about having a play date there sometime with Benny's little girlfriend Maddie, so we thought it would be fun to invite their family to come along with us (Maddie's dad couldn't come so her mom brought a friend along to help out). The night we went turned out to be the opening night of the light display, so the lines were unbelievably long. But the kids sufficiently entertained each other so the hour long wait just flew by. Here we are ready to go! <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsdbewPGF9bPy8EYm6_M0Uusk_REG8dYQBNnizMuDazJTnAyXepEgV4F4LGFXcCEkbhSq-p42aBlTQaTC3Zl-4doDzP2takwHPmgu9e-xZxyDzvv6nCCOC-3uuXmZu6SCbbRaZg/s1600/IMG_6024.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsdbewPGF9bPy8EYm6_M0Uusk_REG8dYQBNnizMuDazJTnAyXepEgV4F4LGFXcCEkbhSq-p42aBlTQaTC3Zl-4doDzP2takwHPmgu9e-xZxyDzvv6nCCOC-3uuXmZu6SCbbRaZg/s320/IMG_6024.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567700070525914050" /></a><p>The kids loved the train ride and the lights, and when we got off the train, they loved to dance to the live music and ride the carousel. <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-j7B7o1Sq6XJ91HDnqHAzbeaSFJGww1OShzk8Nh-mfm8J_9hSqmcdKeDffqd7vPRB20Zm059R8fi_4-voqezPaIwN5jmOlWwnTkMGX_Mh6LsYtcL2owJtc3IBZ7DR2JPphIAdA/s1600/IMG_6038.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-j7B7o1Sq6XJ91HDnqHAzbeaSFJGww1OShzk8Nh-mfm8J_9hSqmcdKeDffqd7vPRB20Zm059R8fi_4-voqezPaIwN5jmOlWwnTkMGX_Mh6LsYtcL2owJtc3IBZ7DR2JPphIAdA/s320/IMG_6038.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567701058443701506" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRqt7iMNKplGFsgDs-QEuOoVcdhhRWYq1NoOq2dfG2WkwPpxDgaWJOW6EAPO4Mw2r8hWA_zsgcEI30FpG7PplbWlk6qoXQDOmxi9qEWL81nhY8wjaPO5f6WmSpFqLeq27YkUQTA/s1600/IMG_6031.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRqt7iMNKplGFsgDs-QEuOoVcdhhRWYq1NoOq2dfG2WkwPpxDgaWJOW6EAPO4Mw2r8hWA_zsgcEI30FpG7PplbWlk6qoXQDOmxi9qEWL81nhY8wjaPO5f6WmSpFqLeq27YkUQTA/s320/IMG_6031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567701273192691794" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4ydMIcSWltrI97iR-j6qiKoWPRp9BBYhU63-DqmyWk3-aLRlIrNIaVrQ39_f-68wnc0SKOLzYVNRYuwDQHbSdGjzEjcNo-eRoOq0Zrftjo2LhGv0_7-n_y7Lg3D2Mz8WnrYh6Q/s1600/IMG_6041.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4ydMIcSWltrI97iR-j6qiKoWPRp9BBYhU63-DqmyWk3-aLRlIrNIaVrQ39_f-68wnc0SKOLzYVNRYuwDQHbSdGjzEjcNo-eRoOq0Zrftjo2LhGv0_7-n_y7Lg3D2Mz8WnrYh6Q/s320/IMG_6041.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567702030829929074" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipy9MjfnbKwNptCLdX_T849a7ZA_cYy2sG7D2IhjHsHNT9MjIUIFfLpKzpK_qWrOD9AjYAOIc7aroBG5zbPud9Vy_xs9HMYyVr2AciQ1nCe6ZMn9vrU98CkoDl2QCv2-FuObGREw/s1600/IMG_6044.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipy9MjfnbKwNptCLdX_T849a7ZA_cYy2sG7D2IhjHsHNT9MjIUIFfLpKzpK_qWrOD9AjYAOIc7aroBG5zbPud9Vy_xs9HMYyVr2AciQ1nCe6ZMn9vrU98CkoDl2QCv2-FuObGREw/s320/IMG_6044.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567702197786970194" /></a><br /><p>When the big day finally rolled around the boys could hardly stand it! We spent Christmas Eve morning visiting my Grandma. We don't get to see her very often, and it is always a treat for her to see the little ones. Although it can sometimes be a challenge to have the boys over there, they did a great job, so afterward we rewarded them with lunch at McDonalds. After a quick nap, we were ready to keep rolling with the Christmas festivities! We went to church, and again the boys were superstars. Joshua was even clapping and singing along with the Christmas carols. After church we headed out to Grandma and Grandpa B's to celebrate with that branch of the family tree. It is always so fun to get all of the cousins together and watch them all enjoy their new toys! <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fF9G3Ga9a1K4HM9YOYezT5l29NzyvRZBGvHf19PktQnDIGIvjgpHlG5Jn4jokjmRubpysRCOajclVARmLgOXYTiSseib1z4zSjr13e92wxNaQCqrOfN5Ryi4m65yQwRO61brPg/s1600/IMG_6096.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fF9G3Ga9a1K4HM9YOYezT5l29NzyvRZBGvHf19PktQnDIGIvjgpHlG5Jn4jokjmRubpysRCOajclVARmLgOXYTiSseib1z4zSjr13e92wxNaQCqrOfN5Ryi4m65yQwRO61brPg/s320/IMG_6096.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567704210488751714" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIq6ozYCbMyRbuF5yA5VyZyMsVYnN9q_mba7_8Sv3Bi2ro3sAPPTsMUk-mgMdNHEN-aTRY-4JtT4199H2ko9ZlLkoq3knTHBgBPMMyQ4mvrFybhtoYoHPcnW26rJ1WCrzPzR9ow/s1600/IMG_6097.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIq6ozYCbMyRbuF5yA5VyZyMsVYnN9q_mba7_8Sv3Bi2ro3sAPPTsMUk-mgMdNHEN-aTRY-4JtT4199H2ko9ZlLkoq3knTHBgBPMMyQ4mvrFybhtoYoHPcnW26rJ1WCrzPzR9ow/s320/IMG_6097.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567704462340506674" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_MvIolza-PbZyZX4Ss477YjvbXkO2jvHqzeDq9FN4s9A9r12fij7bsKS8HCKaLWbHduhP_eHF80CuP1-E7VCxQzBWpCQ8sNh7DqWVqxSuJPbZ603fhjVI71_sJ9HdvgJIUkuQA/s1600/IMG_6101.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_MvIolza-PbZyZX4Ss477YjvbXkO2jvHqzeDq9FN4s9A9r12fij7bsKS8HCKaLWbHduhP_eHF80CuP1-E7VCxQzBWpCQ8sNh7DqWVqxSuJPbZ603fhjVI71_sJ9HdvgJIUkuQA/s320/IMG_6101.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567704822899464034" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiA7vvZrmBjKaQkLziQTBIcyMn4lQgSsKzlVy6J9o_viyGeOI68F4Zw6nRu9dGJmUn4vHX0VmXzwF4T4xe-1gcHwokb-AJVrN4iL6juNhu9I2_AoeH9NM8Pmdi6hqlTihZ-FxsmQ/s1600/IMG_6102.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiA7vvZrmBjKaQkLziQTBIcyMn4lQgSsKzlVy6J9o_viyGeOI68F4Zw6nRu9dGJmUn4vHX0VmXzwF4T4xe-1gcHwokb-AJVrN4iL6juNhu9I2_AoeH9NM8Pmdi6hqlTihZ-FxsmQ/s320/IMG_6102.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567705037811423026" /></a><p>We can usually count on the kids completely wearing themselves out at Grandma and Grandpa's house, but not this year! They were completely wired the whole way home, talking about the fun they had, and that Santa was on his way. But even though they were so awake, they got in bed at lightning speed when we got home. In fact, Joshua even tucked Ben in before he jumped into this bed. It was too funny. They both went to sleep without a peep. Benny woke up at about 7:00 and so we went in to get Joshua up. It was like the kid was on a springboard! He was waiting so patiently for us to come get him, but was definitely ready to go! We spent the morning opening our gifts and stockings, and just having a lot of fun together.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNUhgEFk1VrFROGIWlUWgIQV3enugHr63iHXo7e_tGyyoRBHfEPOLE-eoyI6eMa3JaAkaA7yF1D6EiYfvpqd550YNWzuOLhIH1eKGJNFN9p9RkQBY83RiCnIg3A0FdEPQPZc8bw/s1600/IMG_6105.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNUhgEFk1VrFROGIWlUWgIQV3enugHr63iHXo7e_tGyyoRBHfEPOLE-eoyI6eMa3JaAkaA7yF1D6EiYfvpqd550YNWzuOLhIH1eKGJNFN9p9RkQBY83RiCnIg3A0FdEPQPZc8bw/s320/IMG_6105.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567706867566162658" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfUs9zzEui-pgSw1keXTi529apmUPpiKr1UDHP_vLDgLDPkXilCxYuYFmpxDxa8xbTyjwSL09bVSci994r8Ug1z-pFjgUEuGqF7iLhdildY5PQtJa11CchRc2Sv5EPNThuq0JNw/s1600/IMG_6109.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfUs9zzEui-pgSw1keXTi529apmUPpiKr1UDHP_vLDgLDPkXilCxYuYFmpxDxa8xbTyjwSL09bVSci994r8Ug1z-pFjgUEuGqF7iLhdildY5PQtJa11CchRc2Sv5EPNThuq0JNw/s320/IMG_6109.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567707085823592226" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8QP85T9AnGwxM-eOj_Q5rX6_mSq7Dki0dUSCJovRmrygxryQntlszKEb2inuKhXxBGJejuL4BMZ8i-Z-TmnNK9fahGlDic2WePVedLvfm8Q2Q3b0rjkL3bfGc63cHeOhmHRQGw/s1600/IMG_6110.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8QP85T9AnGwxM-eOj_Q5rX6_mSq7Dki0dUSCJovRmrygxryQntlszKEb2inuKhXxBGJejuL4BMZ8i-Z-TmnNK9fahGlDic2WePVedLvfm8Q2Q3b0rjkL3bfGc63cHeOhmHRQGw/s320/IMG_6110.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567707324679510690" /></a><p>Grandpa and Grandma Maple and Auntie Andrea came over for breakfast. We had a nice time visiting and sharing more gifts. The rest of the day was spent hanging out, playing with new toys. <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvS2zpRImV4xRrYP1s5RnZkOsmI3EXaShM_oGBu6OkZfpNKAnp_Bc6sAdnBTB7Q-BMHZ1qlUkdWCxswN-u4u57z1XjoOv_7cTPBlsgmDq9K-dUD3U-6lZOYd2Vt4rAdOH0udvSqQ/s1600/IMG_6112.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvS2zpRImV4xRrYP1s5RnZkOsmI3EXaShM_oGBu6OkZfpNKAnp_Bc6sAdnBTB7Q-BMHZ1qlUkdWCxswN-u4u57z1XjoOv_7cTPBlsgmDq9K-dUD3U-6lZOYd2Vt4rAdOH0udvSqQ/s320/IMG_6112.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567707938533888258" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxBdpqzsM6E15IBPGI4an-dB15brdMHRqQ0uzpkW1Cp353GZKXwYlimswWX4JIDlhey91lk5c8qZqLXl8TlMlsIehOdE7dtuXpkpfFn1TxhJeiADU9h7ulZbtlepEitYOJQK_2g/s1600/IMG_6114.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxBdpqzsM6E15IBPGI4an-dB15brdMHRqQ0uzpkW1Cp353GZKXwYlimswWX4JIDlhey91lk5c8qZqLXl8TlMlsIehOdE7dtuXpkpfFn1TxhJeiADU9h7ulZbtlepEitYOJQK_2g/s320/IMG_6114.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567708103190252114" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdOmJE7wXwi_qJpfTIdxEOca6yFFZDmrr-tdRdI04V7jekSNT3m74p-7uSC7JuzosSrn5zC6hoWa1Cs9QecJQwivRtFp9W4m18yBLhTEdNSDTMdU8u-b7F0YpZQiGh4-wdhj8Hw/s1600/IMG_6116.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdOmJE7wXwi_qJpfTIdxEOca6yFFZDmrr-tdRdI04V7jekSNT3m74p-7uSC7JuzosSrn5zC6hoWa1Cs9QecJQwivRtFp9W4m18yBLhTEdNSDTMdU8u-b7F0YpZQiGh4-wdhj8Hw/s320/IMG_6116.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567708421535559714" /></a><br /><p>This Christmas, I decided to go on strike and declared that I would NOT be making Christmas dinner. So we went and had a wonderful family dinner at Bucca di Beppo, and was it ever good! I'm sold on going out for Christmas dinner! :) After dinner we carried on our Christmas night tradition of driving around looking at Christmas lights, and enjoyed some Christmas cookies and cocoa along our way. It was the perfect end to the perfect day.<p>The next day Christmas continued when we all gathered at my parents house for dinner. The kids all love getting together and pretty much entertain themselves, giving the adults some nice chatting time as well. My mom made a delicious prime rib with all the fixings and we all ate and drank and were very merry! :) <P><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7qk7cYa9Ahz7ShaT9RFmwfbftW5xQY0aE-7hZoSYynWFPtGqITJDTfBYm1lah4sEpT9rfgnFdwakGw8vHwEUxo5t3YFQUsrhpWU0ieOHxtpLbIY75F3BA1lHYgztZMvukHrfMg/s1600/IMG_6119.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7qk7cYa9Ahz7ShaT9RFmwfbftW5xQY0aE-7hZoSYynWFPtGqITJDTfBYm1lah4sEpT9rfgnFdwakGw8vHwEUxo5t3YFQUsrhpWU0ieOHxtpLbIY75F3BA1lHYgztZMvukHrfMg/s320/IMG_6119.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567709758590050962" /></a><P><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCa3g_UUgUGi6sK-hkOBrRDi5kAYznyiE7X28ZyzD_YFwELVSBNMhj2O_-9LA4DbSYEbUJhij46WKlGsLMIHbroRj9cWVok2o46L-laHnM01PDYzF73HmSml-6UZiP7QJeVqaugA/s1600/IMG_6128.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCa3g_UUgUGi6sK-hkOBrRDi5kAYznyiE7X28ZyzD_YFwELVSBNMhj2O_-9LA4DbSYEbUJhij46WKlGsLMIHbroRj9cWVok2o46L-laHnM01PDYzF73HmSml-6UZiP7QJeVqaugA/s320/IMG_6128.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567710231177915922" /></a><P>It was such a great time, and THIS time, they were sufficiently spent.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI347NvLbs_qCDZ26miEtNv6rvX6N329P033CQTjj49CLOp2-sVYiIh-Sm5RXDOW_ohaAooPChCDksTVZOGoqmMFXZDmYs6a-5v0qzHOYPcmHU2HsZldtNSo1X8lCrpcb3OY53Ng/s1600/IMG_6129.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI347NvLbs_qCDZ26miEtNv6rvX6N329P033CQTjj49CLOp2-sVYiIh-Sm5RXDOW_ohaAooPChCDksTVZOGoqmMFXZDmYs6a-5v0qzHOYPcmHU2HsZldtNSo1X8lCrpcb3OY53Ng/s320/IMG_6129.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567710513145989762" /></a><br />It really was the best Christmas ever!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-82310846400166609992011-01-24T13:24:00.002-07:002011-01-24T13:45:54.881-07:00Vigilanty Santa PhotographerI don't really think of myself as "cheap", but definitely thrifty. I have this way of sort of rating the importance of the things I can spend my money on, and there are just some things I won't pay for. For instance, the Chandler Mall has a train that drives around the ground floor of the mall. For me to take my kids on this train would cost us nearly $10... To ride a train....around the mall. I would much rather take that $10 and say, buy a DVD that we could all enjoy over and over. It just seems to make more economic sense to me. My kids have come to accept this about me and have stopped asking for certain things after I've made it clear that Mommy doesn't spend money on that. <p>With that being said, I have always loved to get a picture of my kids with Santa. It is just one of those things that marks the holidays for me. So when the kids balked at seeing Santa when we went to the Polar Express, I asked them if they wanted to go see Santa at the mall, and they told me they did. So one Monday night we loaded everyone up and went to go see Santa at the Chandler Mall.<p>For the last couple of years there has been a sign that asks you to please refrain from using personal cameras, in an effort to get you to purchase their "professional" photos. However, purchasing WAY overpriced pictures of Santa does not rate very high on my importance meter, and I just simply refuse to do so. I have always asked politely if I could take my own picture and have never been refused.... until this year. The not-so-nice photographer informed me in a not-so-nice way that taking pictures of my child with Santa is prohibited and if I wanted a picture I was going to have to purchase it. So, I checked out the prices and almost fell over. It's one thing to charge $5 for a photo in a paper frame. That I would have been all for. But the prices were astronomical! I'm talking $23 for 3 small photos, and if you wanted a digital copy of the photo (which is all anyone is really interested in these days) it would cost upwards of $40!!! I just looked at her and laughed. No way, Jose! I was so mad that this company is turning the fun of Christmas in to a disgusting racket. I felt I had to make my little statement right then and there. Out came my camera and a picture I took of Josh on Santa's lap, not even coming close to trying to be sneaky about it. The girl looked so annoyed I thought she might sick a mall cop on me and have me kicked out of there! It's not a good picture and was taken more on principal than to get any kind of decent picture. I guess our days of getting pictures with Santa at the mall are over. I knew the day would come, but that somehow doesn't make me feel any better about it. Bah humbug!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-44312107345972221472010-12-31T14:14:00.003-07:002010-12-31T14:19:18.678-07:00Annual Cookie PartyEvery Christmas the boys love decorating sugar cookies (and so do I!) so we make it a little party each year. They do such a great job!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_95vVK8c5tWQpgOSp6OJbMJ2hr-gd70xvAjDIjXMh-muBjOtVSJN15QhbboCvYu6uDdh-DsGc5uvkKDlUFQ9GT1aWhZdGfuFkS88gcEtCI7qv_UaeE7FguhSiWvsKTOhmzDsdw/s1600/IMG_6078.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_95vVK8c5tWQpgOSp6OJbMJ2hr-gd70xvAjDIjXMh-muBjOtVSJN15QhbboCvYu6uDdh-DsGc5uvkKDlUFQ9GT1aWhZdGfuFkS88gcEtCI7qv_UaeE7FguhSiWvsKTOhmzDsdw/s320/IMG_6078.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556958237135377378" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLiMPHpdlrD7zZHPIu898hKd0g2JqMKFEUiOcN9tVZTzhUwSSevRJnwCWx0CEMMn_LBBU3cdPahUGjMQN7fIrZNmVTuWYjllunO2WLQ_kJ0B2tH09nH8qb9l2N3i501CrdDADIg/s1600/IMG_6082.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLiMPHpdlrD7zZHPIu898hKd0g2JqMKFEUiOcN9tVZTzhUwSSevRJnwCWx0CEMMn_LBBU3cdPahUGjMQN7fIrZNmVTuWYjllunO2WLQ_kJ0B2tH09nH8qb9l2N3i501CrdDADIg/s320/IMG_6082.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556958473331528050" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIK_1kgAWe68Thh_CrwCvfUhPb5A2LrQGHHtWKs8J5c5mxoCj9oVIMvSM598H5rI8jpAsefdxs1iM-6eforE5xxtNyhQ1twKKY1TDUn0I3WCyXHgLHnv4IsFGMLPlzCm6VryYyQ/s1600/IMG_6084.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIK_1kgAWe68Thh_CrwCvfUhPb5A2LrQGHHtWKs8J5c5mxoCj9oVIMvSM598H5rI8jpAsefdxs1iM-6eforE5xxtNyhQ1twKKY1TDUn0I3WCyXHgLHnv4IsFGMLPlzCm6VryYyQ/s320/IMG_6084.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556958772124231538" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9gkDa5k6RUtre6rUMPHfIr0kLrDltFBSvlDclp9g1UiZgrKRxYXT3cqh-ZOO4ExsvRrhhEsLc-B422cd-SqVJdR6e3uAnm2HtoX87Kd4SkOYarv_zbNeA45nxBSQ3mJjOeAd8Q/s1600/IMG_6085.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9gkDa5k6RUtre6rUMPHfIr0kLrDltFBSvlDclp9g1UiZgrKRxYXT3cqh-ZOO4ExsvRrhhEsLc-B422cd-SqVJdR6e3uAnm2HtoX87Kd4SkOYarv_zbNeA45nxBSQ3mJjOeAd8Q/s320/IMG_6085.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556958931751696898" /></a><p>Santa sure did love them!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-13393275956205900792010-12-31T13:58:00.005-07:002010-12-31T14:12:46.115-07:00Christmas FunOne of the things we love to do during Christmas time is go to the McCormick Stillman Railroad Park to see their light display. This year we thought it would be fun to invite a friend to come along, so Benny's little girlfriend, Maddie, and her mom came with us. Although we went near the middle of December, it ended up being the first night of the light display, so the line was incredibly long and took over an hour. But since the kids all had each other to play with it really wasn't bad. We finally got on the train and the kids had a blast with each other!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ez_s13m5bu8iRoLmGmqXy8FNbQCv4hEMNXqtmt_DM3DYGJx2hfoBpYdJbjiWGADDO4a87kW8jasgN8iYlNqyiFCNT2kAm2v7MiL5sOVzb85v4VbIQWEnot-kA6tAhGcMZRlrdQ/s1600/IMG_6023.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ez_s13m5bu8iRoLmGmqXy8FNbQCv4hEMNXqtmt_DM3DYGJx2hfoBpYdJbjiWGADDO4a87kW8jasgN8iYlNqyiFCNT2kAm2v7MiL5sOVzb85v4VbIQWEnot-kA6tAhGcMZRlrdQ/s320/IMG_6023.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556955824725196290" /></a><p>The light display, as always, was awesome. They really do a great job putting it together.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmsTyQO85U5Etw3Pa7eyOXik4ukUGtj-SnmSKoS2hUj8qN-J9pirVnR4W-2rgHtBNc_vA3cbN_KL4xHBcu6cC0F_FsmXclTXkTGnbCf8-T9xfieTc6waiIhASiKzju20g7yQ-kg/s1600/IMG_6030.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmsTyQO85U5Etw3Pa7eyOXik4ukUGtj-SnmSKoS2hUj8qN-J9pirVnR4W-2rgHtBNc_vA3cbN_KL4xHBcu6cC0F_FsmXclTXkTGnbCf8-T9xfieTc6waiIhASiKzju20g7yQ-kg/s320/IMG_6030.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556956135917634626" /></a><p>After the train ride, we rode the carousel...<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT06VOX7N5O2HNSAHoN6NT0kx7MM7mQO9Xy34CucE9ifP_-BtcfVafoKNRa4ryENwhUOZT-_gFR_8d3Do2D-KQpfenc7SFkkkT0ccdkErgxAPiPBjHOPlpaCaPhmUUxT9rLo1QMg/s1600/IMG_6031.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT06VOX7N5O2HNSAHoN6NT0kx7MM7mQO9Xy34CucE9ifP_-BtcfVafoKNRa4ryENwhUOZT-_gFR_8d3Do2D-KQpfenc7SFkkkT0ccdkErgxAPiPBjHOPlpaCaPhmUUxT9rLo1QMg/s320/IMG_6031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556956367285096162" /></a><p>and the kids got their boogie on to the live music.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jJOl2I-u-6OckiMmvUewKfs8av25CsbBZs6qUVI1G6UPZE8rasgi3PDNQe5UU-gG0Mzh_JUEzDQihixeiJrY3rgSETF3bX__B6Nnv-NcYkWid2qwoTEPNFSma4OZgPkEsl26Uw/s1600/IMG_6038.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jJOl2I-u-6OckiMmvUewKfs8av25CsbBZs6qUVI1G6UPZE8rasgi3PDNQe5UU-gG0Mzh_JUEzDQihixeiJrY3rgSETF3bX__B6Nnv-NcYkWid2qwoTEPNFSma4OZgPkEsl26Uw/s320/IMG_6038.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556956831091083426" /></a>
<br /><p<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4lWb2Wmc-Shye9BqInPV47ronWalcsQPljnS3huB2pMhN0GS_5zrf9wi-5JrDQkOsGq1NhLVqbl3autj38dh1Unun1YZMJQp_cdTU2fc-l0bwVGIbjQqLQy_hAOGIQAt6HAycw/s1600/IMG_6018.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4lWb2Wmc-Shye9BqInPV47ronWalcsQPljnS3huB2pMhN0GS_5zrf9wi-5JrDQkOsGq1NhLVqbl3autj38dh1Unun1YZMJQp_cdTU2fc-l0bwVGIbjQqLQy_hAOGIQAt6HAycw/s320/IMG_6018.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556957018768517058" /></a>
<br /><p>It's always a good time at the railroad park! Merry Christmas!
<br />
<br />The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-4920673363192503052010-12-31T13:48:00.003-07:002010-12-31T13:58:51.282-07:00Great Season, Dragons!Joshua had a great first season of soccer! His final game was on December 11th. It was so fun to see his improvement over the season. He totally understood the rules of the game, and surprisingly, was a pretty darn good goalie. He had a lot of fun and got to make some new friends, so all in all, I'd say soccer was a success for him. Go Dragons!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43aiU1HgcX0WNr4UJNIUW_j1dJG-C81se6LYq2nUV4iWrI33gKbX6CgTFVuicAcJ2gbHiIo17sa48ZLLx4PvCD1XI6udmZE_vKktokd7WL_qWiVB3hdrkvrfLHNVQWVcpWqW8Ag/s1600/IMG_6061.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43aiU1HgcX0WNr4UJNIUW_j1dJG-C81se6LYq2nUV4iWrI33gKbX6CgTFVuicAcJ2gbHiIo17sa48ZLLx4PvCD1XI6udmZE_vKktokd7WL_qWiVB3hdrkvrfLHNVQWVcpWqW8Ag/s320/IMG_6061.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556953321832314434" /></a><p>Of course I had to make a cake to share with the team to celebrate a great season.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLTWNh9LKqX8Va_yIxlkN5zKWkUfnZdhJVd78gL5FPCJAgh36xVzf5FhTHGRk_7Qa0QW36fOoki6BmshRCKqCJ5o0Py3b923TCzq2ovm8nabF6xgjWLTjQizJEAkOXhR5KZlTzg/s1600/IMG_6062.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLTWNh9LKqX8Va_yIxlkN5zKWkUfnZdhJVd78gL5FPCJAgh36xVzf5FhTHGRk_7Qa0QW36fOoki6BmshRCKqCJ5o0Py3b923TCzq2ovm8nabF6xgjWLTjQizJEAkOXhR5KZlTzg/s320/IMG_6062.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556953653716262994" /></a><p>Great season, Dragons!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-5448992577477510632010-12-31T12:50:00.028-07:002010-12-31T13:47:32.328-07:00Polar Express!Over the last couple of years we have really wanted to take the boys on the Polar Express train ride in Williams, Arizona, but we had wanted to wait until they were both old enough to enjoy it... not to mention that it sells out so fast we usually have missed our chance for tickets. I was determined to go this year, and actually remembered to book our tickets far in advance. What made it so much more fun was that we went with some good friends of ours whose 2 little boys are the same age as ours. I can't even begin to say how much fun we had!<p>Since all tickets are done by Will Call, we were advised to get to the station early in the day to pick up the tickets to avoid long lines. So we left that morning and drove up to Williams (about 40 miles west of Flagstaff) and got to the station at about 11:00. It was great because we were pretty much the only ones there. <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2iDI9rn51YaNXvmnCzAU-lW0YAM4KDGYpAUCiJHx0IA1G74I1t7ixhF3Hgx2XqqlZEAMahv4skLcSKwkT_os4K23t9gpMvj9HGmGHQNABZ662w89uX-gt1FPSE2exCxlSmhOIaA/s1600/IMG_5844.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 243px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2iDI9rn51YaNXvmnCzAU-lW0YAM4KDGYpAUCiJHx0IA1G74I1t7ixhF3Hgx2XqqlZEAMahv4skLcSKwkT_os4K23t9gpMvj9HGmGHQNABZ662w89uX-gt1FPSE2exCxlSmhOIaA/s320/IMG_5844.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556938492851125266" /></a><p> We got to peruse the gift shop for a while, and try on some of the fun winter hats.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaHsZQY2mSl5abtPC6i0SN9_uhhVZarQi4KHc6HUTumFqTB7sdfX3WqsMCAD-ifJ2-zI3DIt47OPOHh7XbW5c9nkiKeVZOYoDc8zMrPguzHZeMVAJOA8qBCx6Q8aLTYxeLvXrbw/s1600/IMG_5846.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaHsZQY2mSl5abtPC6i0SN9_uhhVZarQi4KHc6HUTumFqTB7sdfX3WqsMCAD-ifJ2-zI3DIt47OPOHh7XbW5c9nkiKeVZOYoDc8zMrPguzHZeMVAJOA8qBCx6Q8aLTYxeLvXrbw/s320/IMG_5846.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556938695997283410" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxKhKmqolo2v7eF_Yzjxb1VvZl_kwhloQjizNs4UbbHOoxQPNsb7dsVUG_F0SrnMSskPvU5FzVppZVcn9JZ31a2mapmwq2NfFOHwL9-_r86GL10glwL_3VlOeHD3Z290_lKuFlw/s1600/IMG_5848.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxKhKmqolo2v7eF_Yzjxb1VvZl_kwhloQjizNs4UbbHOoxQPNsb7dsVUG_F0SrnMSskPvU5FzVppZVcn9JZ31a2mapmwq2NfFOHwL9-_r86GL10glwL_3VlOeHD3Z290_lKuFlw/s320/IMG_5848.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556938849779433874" /></a><br /><p>After getting our tickets we checked into our hotel. We opted out of the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel package and decided to save a little money by staying down the street at the Holiday Inn. I'm glad we did. Our room was comfortable, large, and much more secluded than the GCR. There had been a snow storm moving through a few days before. And even though a lot of it had melted, there was a big patch out behind the hotel... perfect for little boys to play in! So when our friends arrived at the hotel, we all spent at least an hour playing in a 1-2 inch deep patch of snow. It doesn't take much to entertain the little ones!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQK1si66A8-Hpjewtn62yjyc6d2yNrmJWj1kpdL-05F6mzdjHSc-vgf1iKort9AODNn4JJgLkOlKeynVXLojG4SHMXkP1EO90NmExE0JiNd_lnGx5_AY1j2PjhfAayn5TPvGPqA/s1600/IMG_5853.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQK1si66A8-Hpjewtn62yjyc6d2yNrmJWj1kpdL-05F6mzdjHSc-vgf1iKort9AODNn4JJgLkOlKeynVXLojG4SHMXkP1EO90NmExE0JiNd_lnGx5_AY1j2PjhfAayn5TPvGPqA/s320/IMG_5853.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556939887392920402" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaP6IhrvU6vwyVKRE-b7LIOun2CX9M5clSTjA_-U9oGrtvdm1YDOabcrcpsSu_b8Dahopxl3iFQuWox2Uo2xsHHmca6oGbEjOm7Nr2Yi3PJzwPVMg807Q-R050_b5djxqI3BOsvw/s1600/IMG_5855.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaP6IhrvU6vwyVKRE-b7LIOun2CX9M5clSTjA_-U9oGrtvdm1YDOabcrcpsSu_b8Dahopxl3iFQuWox2Uo2xsHHmca6oGbEjOm7Nr2Yi3PJzwPVMg807Q-R050_b5djxqI3BOsvw/s320/IMG_5855.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556940192240585266" /></a><br /><p>After playing in the snow we all headed back to our rooms to suit up in our jammies to head down to the train station. The weather was beautiful, and the station was less than 1/2 mile away, so we decided to walk down. It was great!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gIHVLQV2h6K31-Le576ev6nOMNHg61yADde7N_Rf2_Xg5PY4C_1ohPZrud2zz7ybI7eEjywxvT2Y6ZAsi2dHRlqUlu-4rwncnZUAYmXYsawDYgzioWIz-gB9AaEYS9hnmNTyiA/s1600/IMG_5865.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gIHVLQV2h6K31-Le576ev6nOMNHg61yADde7N_Rf2_Xg5PY4C_1ohPZrud2zz7ybI7eEjywxvT2Y6ZAsi2dHRlqUlu-4rwncnZUAYmXYsawDYgzioWIz-gB9AaEYS9hnmNTyiA/s320/IMG_5865.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556941164011301714" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEUYatlTnj66JnS7mFIGSnmb-NsTCLpDr5tItg2GHXk2FruJ2FGDn3NySh6lbpUAz3NADd5EckJWrlOB8WaRbGtwatspBG2Zb7j3skL8_7WAxoT5Cyn_e-kKF9gHwERZJL_DSJw/s1600/IMG_5867.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEUYatlTnj66JnS7mFIGSnmb-NsTCLpDr5tItg2GHXk2FruJ2FGDn3NySh6lbpUAz3NADd5EckJWrlOB8WaRbGtwatspBG2Zb7j3skL8_7WAxoT5Cyn_e-kKF9gHwERZJL_DSJw/s320/IMG_5867.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556941491269523074" /></a><p>The Schnabels<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJx1KiD4Vw85oF_LrYHtV6oDAmCXZ3wnQdS5yVEB2k4U_0LnG4rIdhVmxLP5s8iyNlMVUh9Dp405qgZiUakj491yzjCnappUZ4zHukcEs-PHbXWWN3B8m3sxU7SOFpeaTCiA9HZg/s1600/IMG_5868.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJx1KiD4Vw85oF_LrYHtV6oDAmCXZ3wnQdS5yVEB2k4U_0LnG4rIdhVmxLP5s8iyNlMVUh9Dp405qgZiUakj491yzjCnappUZ4zHukcEs-PHbXWWN3B8m3sxU7SOFpeaTCiA9HZg/s320/IMG_5868.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556942097652307586" /></a><p>Inside the station they had all sorts of activities for the kids. We attempted to go see Santa and take a picture, but both of the boys chickened out right when it was our turn. Benny decided a few minutes later that he wanted to try again, and worked up a little more courage this time, although he still didn't want to sit on his lap.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsIN8zmPCc9Hsmf8NggzBDjE2qwJX9V3F5pNncCxbkGN36ihulLN7J_B_HuKwCHnY90fA9lkQnvyVeJxtbldYEA7o56kOyjxBihyphenhyphenr5Du0MZYXOXmp_QRmFnEWYCKIHP25B7ViCg/s1600/IMG_5871.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsIN8zmPCc9Hsmf8NggzBDjE2qwJX9V3F5pNncCxbkGN36ihulLN7J_B_HuKwCHnY90fA9lkQnvyVeJxtbldYEA7o56kOyjxBihyphenhyphenr5Du0MZYXOXmp_QRmFnEWYCKIHP25B7ViCg/s320/IMG_5871.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556942676662199234" /></a><br /><p>Josh still was not interested in visiting Santa, especially when he learned that there was coloring in the other room.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6DK3hjcKm0aoVfY-P1vfXyBM_RkgxHEhSKsbTlbTbp6vT3sVvsw4hn7jkqTMALgw1I6deMtmreTQAq2AUy3RP3o1w0BeBN-sj2miQdJ539dmhhDH6Tnu53eiHCQ8e6zHR_OTlg/s1600/IMG_5869.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6DK3hjcKm0aoVfY-P1vfXyBM_RkgxHEhSKsbTlbTbp6vT3sVvsw4hn7jkqTMALgw1I6deMtmreTQAq2AUy3RP3o1w0BeBN-sj2miQdJ539dmhhDH6Tnu53eiHCQ8e6zHR_OTlg/s320/IMG_5869.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556943203528962146" /></a><br />One of the other activities available was to make an ornament to hang on the Christmas tree. Both of the boys had a lot of fun making their ornaments.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIHEQiAQgXogjpr041yP5RAN1Rtal_WdoDL3xiPdJhwL15tC9NHHjt6SsiIQmgWejxtLJeBVGLZ375xw8r6dA0bxKsjixCO6Di1TMrQsZfF1H8AheV7-p1BUnq5MIfp9jSInveg/s1600/IMG_5872.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIHEQiAQgXogjpr041yP5RAN1Rtal_WdoDL3xiPdJhwL15tC9NHHjt6SsiIQmgWejxtLJeBVGLZ375xw8r6dA0bxKsjixCO6Di1TMrQsZfF1H8AheV7-p1BUnq5MIfp9jSInveg/s320/IMG_5872.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556943565936227554" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJTcJ7SkuqLDFN66aM_90OzkBHKWcVli-rwEo5cEtBxecxcDOMTnPkiaxzeYLhW5hHuNqkOCwq81QpUXpyN4kHc20w2LGrbJq8PQNmWQO6OWRn7XkNqsfX3rvc4JVlfaJziguaQ/s1600/IMG_5875.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJTcJ7SkuqLDFN66aM_90OzkBHKWcVli-rwEo5cEtBxecxcDOMTnPkiaxzeYLhW5hHuNqkOCwq81QpUXpyN4kHc20w2LGrbJq8PQNmWQO6OWRn7XkNqsfX3rvc4JVlfaJziguaQ/s320/IMG_5875.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556943802926574914" /></a><p>After coloring, Benny went to visit with Mrs. Claus for a minute. Josh was still not interested. Oh well! <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPoX_Eywrf1HKjrfjsBOXTq89UXomkvrf7IP9QqjC7nnBr3eJVbCKCHn-an63LaLeHbakY6ISEOuRY5hY89xcqlESsXEncy49JVQjr8bE8EZUYmERdmf1XYX76qRN4lqMzD44mw/s1600/IMG_5879.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPoX_Eywrf1HKjrfjsBOXTq89UXomkvrf7IP9QqjC7nnBr3eJVbCKCHn-an63LaLeHbakY6ISEOuRY5hY89xcqlESsXEncy49JVQjr8bE8EZUYmERdmf1XYX76qRN4lqMzD44mw/s320/IMG_5879.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556944211206152274" /></a><br /><p>Pretty soon the train arrived!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOA6QiHrACmYCjD0iBcRGC0bZGswO2ZkJlepdJgLZCoMmaxSBt4L4tENkyWPOP8_gNuvuSdI89rEY8-KSG4G_doY_PvJHNKDPbEvUEK_FgJ2D6QxJ2H9mciHuEAITsspbM6B8GA/s1600/IMG_5882.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOA6QiHrACmYCjD0iBcRGC0bZGswO2ZkJlepdJgLZCoMmaxSBt4L4tENkyWPOP8_gNuvuSdI89rEY8-KSG4G_doY_PvJHNKDPbEvUEK_FgJ2D6QxJ2H9mciHuEAITsspbM6B8GA/s320/IMG_5882.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556944425091524786" /></a><p>The train ride was so much fun. We got to eat cookies and drink hot chocolate...<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErKR8whd69WQ-bJ0EGeEW5niU1znZlNLPd9-tEpVYruT8x6gvroDAgjR2LdtOJDubwkfrbr147NIR6eiaO4KAZiTWCbS_2-1gr16lr9-BfJ3PYmsS_mYpRIGQowrPQXI_y1jpcg/s1600/IMG_5906.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErKR8whd69WQ-bJ0EGeEW5niU1znZlNLPd9-tEpVYruT8x6gvroDAgjR2LdtOJDubwkfrbr147NIR6eiaO4KAZiTWCbS_2-1gr16lr9-BfJ3PYmsS_mYpRIGQowrPQXI_y1jpcg/s320/IMG_5906.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556944851493767074" /></a><p>And we got to hear the Polar Express story.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMuNNWTCllZyKhNgHlM9CSuJSlakWj4hfWgGd7AL_Z2l_HzN7em0fanu3-ONwqyzKqE2WTTYQefabWTknuNyq26ap5VUl2J518PKOB5LOLz-HmtM4Yeblxs5rAINmaGrLdtCFeg/s1600/IMG_5909.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMuNNWTCllZyKhNgHlM9CSuJSlakWj4hfWgGd7AL_Z2l_HzN7em0fanu3-ONwqyzKqE2WTTYQefabWTknuNyq26ap5VUl2J518PKOB5LOLz-HmtM4Yeblxs5rAINmaGrLdtCFeg/s320/IMG_5909.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556945139880669026" /></a><p>And having great friends to share it with made it all that much more fun!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJ3qc4uWggi3n24XYHnHwqaDtPPTcCDUZmfaEg6r5ofNqjQlk_I1si035AvmxX9sOT3H9Ps80Etf3PlepmeDv4vfVVKokR4txOgALd6WVXPsvNVuOs8DfL70wTNLdyk1cmZ28eg/s1600/IMG_5895.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJ3qc4uWggi3n24XYHnHwqaDtPPTcCDUZmfaEg6r5ofNqjQlk_I1si035AvmxX9sOT3H9Ps80Etf3PlepmeDv4vfVVKokR4txOgALd6WVXPsvNVuOs8DfL70wTNLdyk1cmZ28eg/s320/IMG_5895.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556945361323070658" /></a><br /><p>Pretty soon, we were at the North Pole!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3ifW-Nb1r6iqkFbq-uljGTX4tnYfDqIlIDSHJB5L_3xQsyjcDJsHdvgzJwrTyKR6R2bYACNW6K-eoOwNjQrCuIH-eOy2NaDTLBhkRo91Jms4MmBWymCgF0yNSMCYENvJ1s6nUA/s1600/IMG_5918.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3ifW-Nb1r6iqkFbq-uljGTX4tnYfDqIlIDSHJB5L_3xQsyjcDJsHdvgzJwrTyKR6R2bYACNW6K-eoOwNjQrCuIH-eOy2NaDTLBhkRo91Jms4MmBWymCgF0yNSMCYENvJ1s6nUA/s320/IMG_5918.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556945961178521330" /></a><p>Santa got on the train at the North Pole and came through all the cars, and gave each child a special gift. The kids were so excited for Santa to come!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihK0N_caWjdqpvGXcW2gpmKih0gBdZ5tzQYc6PVRLid-NJ5LJMYWMsWiICvp5xh40ShTSR4yeaInGFCGN5rntZNyDCqneGLka0jNefIIfwkLVlZeL3ebc9c9cY693emyaWLzfpg/s1600/IMG_5923.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihK0N_caWjdqpvGXcW2gpmKih0gBdZ5tzQYc6PVRLid-NJ5LJMYWMsWiICvp5xh40ShTSR4yeaInGFCGN5rntZNyDCqneGLka0jNefIIfwkLVlZeL3ebc9c9cY693emyaWLzfpg/s320/IMG_5923.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556946756295334930" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjm0SSm8t2qqunaKILDgQp-fnZ_XJ1v0PxpBnZ8cq7TwA3feNMUT1leJdbAWbFa9ML64pIjftwfnxJ3J-Bep2cb8B3dPCA_RrogMuW608ElY2h54gtnyDytxrerh554ufe3-gCg/s1600/IMG_5926.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjm0SSm8t2qqunaKILDgQp-fnZ_XJ1v0PxpBnZ8cq7TwA3feNMUT1leJdbAWbFa9ML64pIjftwfnxJ3J-Bep2cb8B3dPCA_RrogMuW608ElY2h54gtnyDytxrerh554ufe3-gCg/s320/IMG_5926.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556947065370590146" /></a><p>The gift, of course, was a bell. If you can hear the bell, you still believe!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsZVnfkqA1WKPooifqDPmGW3wr9W7AUoKkuBSoUngLh-aQbUCWoStvJ1lX_xjc15amj5UUpsJ0CxRX-lxBSPbAp-6jOnbjIRzWYG0K3HmIP1Pg3GKygxIKJ08hZhdnGrAcFwLzw/s1600/IMG_5928.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsZVnfkqA1WKPooifqDPmGW3wr9W7AUoKkuBSoUngLh-aQbUCWoStvJ1lX_xjc15amj5UUpsJ0CxRX-lxBSPbAp-6jOnbjIRzWYG0K3HmIP1Pg3GKygxIKJ08hZhdnGrAcFwLzw/s320/IMG_5928.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556947485462522274" /></a><p>After Santa came through we spent the rest of the trip back to the station singing Christmas carols. It was a lot of fun.<p>The next morning we all met for breakfast at a little local restaurant with really yummy food. Thankfully they had a table big enough for all 8 of us!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aRp0T3biDrH1F_e0Bm7NfNgnEYGhjANPyp21eDwgdNz7eiTXleMjvUBS_k1IAZeGuzm0JoS7c-G4hSr1NFTibVutu1Shx1bM0fddTgi9bmX6m6lZaY7N3CrDWCBJDQkxC2Jc_Q/s1600/POLAR+EXPRESS+DEC+2010+045.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aRp0T3biDrH1F_e0Bm7NfNgnEYGhjANPyp21eDwgdNz7eiTXleMjvUBS_k1IAZeGuzm0JoS7c-G4hSr1NFTibVutu1Shx1bM0fddTgi9bmX6m6lZaY7N3CrDWCBJDQkxC2Jc_Q/s320/POLAR+EXPRESS+DEC+2010+045.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556948017786140130" /></a><p>Before heading back home, we stopped at a new wildlife park in Williams called Bearizona.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWb13GCznx_Z3A50uWf19DV_AMfCLEldXstFMhF4c_El8d6DbdTXNAzFWMBlLd3Uz8mdpj0Pj7bCpjMOosg0k5C_1g6ICR2gzjosfk_iy8yDVjqGj0lyTvJhgIY7fx3B12WGT9A/s1600/IMG_5994.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWb13GCznx_Z3A50uWf19DV_AMfCLEldXstFMhF4c_El8d6DbdTXNAzFWMBlLd3Uz8mdpj0Pj7bCpjMOosg0k5C_1g6ICR2gzjosfk_iy8yDVjqGj0lyTvJhgIY7fx3B12WGT9A/s320/IMG_5994.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556948456261276802" /></a><br /><p>Bearizona is a drive through park, with all sorts of animals, including wolves and black bears.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78QutouuVL8eeOLbilSiHHJYRQDBCH7zggrLs5RfNXaisebkGuXmOEucIdIerpacvZMFaPNb_lbHkUVrDFatniE2b-IkcEVx7EiLmzKP9f9xZfyJCXgUWlqurRnbFsTgAEZUoqw/s1600/IMG_5956.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78QutouuVL8eeOLbilSiHHJYRQDBCH7zggrLs5RfNXaisebkGuXmOEucIdIerpacvZMFaPNb_lbHkUVrDFatniE2b-IkcEVx7EiLmzKP9f9xZfyJCXgUWlqurRnbFsTgAEZUoqw/s320/IMG_5956.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556948985367591442" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggo0zdjxlV1Js0a4AzpRDfzBvg-lVE_VQU2BGatBroHTbhmfJEG_WpNxff7e70pQ_CP1XfRI9CZnqfVe2oihCJTfhRbOLLr_zpeFyZywrQWqOKdcoXD2cy5IEWKhJMwVEEY-BV5g/s1600/IMG_5975.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggo0zdjxlV1Js0a4AzpRDfzBvg-lVE_VQU2BGatBroHTbhmfJEG_WpNxff7e70pQ_CP1XfRI9CZnqfVe2oihCJTfhRbOLLr_zpeFyZywrQWqOKdcoXD2cy5IEWKhJMwVEEY-BV5g/s320/IMG_5975.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556949231189623698" /></a><p>There was also a walk through area with bear cubs, fox and bobcats. We got there right at feeding time so everything was awake and active.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMBdv-4Iil_vnrENR1VOo4_NfvagJ8kkhAYwdxZZhDRdlus7_IdjX3M_kdrUjEI9lSiJuZO7_gBb5vqebNdafifvn8QYoZvHUZMqLgQN7-gc1OWs9wIo2vA2LWwt94ru9uOSHAA/s1600/IMG_5981.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMBdv-4Iil_vnrENR1VOo4_NfvagJ8kkhAYwdxZZhDRdlus7_IdjX3M_kdrUjEI9lSiJuZO7_gBb5vqebNdafifvn8QYoZvHUZMqLgQN7-gc1OWs9wIo2vA2LWwt94ru9uOSHAA/s320/IMG_5981.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556949920560367154" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dSBgKWIy5ZotrgtxQUtmBkeaXzYB7PELKhtLTK3axK0CzhcTtMnNQaHEICohJ8ENY9zH7Mw2FpB5l656fkv2L-2rX7SEaaVliob_N9cu3vRB5xdtKNn1dYDKMOubNTTveKrlhg/s1600/IMG_5988.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dSBgKWIy5ZotrgtxQUtmBkeaXzYB7PELKhtLTK3axK0CzhcTtMnNQaHEICohJ8ENY9zH7Mw2FpB5l656fkv2L-2rX7SEaaVliob_N9cu3vRB5xdtKNn1dYDKMOubNTTveKrlhg/s320/IMG_5988.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556950120640232786" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvbUhRPdfylYcKpcH6SPCQ6JHZ186a17ex68TMryj0HwNfF1Pn63UgKieitSu9KPwpkw7c0y-0b0xvp3xOznFVmuMw6uwcN24_Wbi_YhDO7IN774nTMRF3X8d5ziyIWvsAUzHcA/s1600/IMG_5985.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvbUhRPdfylYcKpcH6SPCQ6JHZ186a17ex68TMryj0HwNfF1Pn63UgKieitSu9KPwpkw7c0y-0b0xvp3xOznFVmuMw6uwcN24_Wbi_YhDO7IN774nTMRF3X8d5ziyIWvsAUzHcA/s320/IMG_5985.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556950333811469362" /></a><br /><p>And of course, these little animals!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-ytgdQgHzBRqpnnFwBvZXXViFup23WNnVUHP2qW1qObGKU-Iuvi8gQqPmhc_h34uGq2JPCGrxYQj0bnSAGZOHSIZIxxKpsvOAQDYzZfId4fKQTQzyxuhZTa2-JApvkFbBY_jHg/s1600/IMG_5977.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-ytgdQgHzBRqpnnFwBvZXXViFup23WNnVUHP2qW1qObGKU-Iuvi8gQqPmhc_h34uGq2JPCGrxYQj0bnSAGZOHSIZIxxKpsvOAQDYzZfId4fKQTQzyxuhZTa2-JApvkFbBY_jHg/s320/IMG_5977.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556950655125096882" /></a><p>It was a blast! I'm so glad we did it!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-13398485908937937522010-12-31T12:48:00.002-07:002010-12-31T12:50:50.244-07:00Open for BusinessI have successfully completed my cake decorating courses, and I still really really enjoy making and decorating cakes. So, I have officially opened up my little side cake decorating business. Check out my cake blog at <a href="http://www.tasteandseecakes.blogspot.com">www.tasteandseecakes.blogspot.com</a>. I've had so many fun projects already and I look forward to many more in 2011!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-39271544806668943142010-11-29T13:47:00.002-07:002010-11-29T14:03:16.711-07:00Copper's OverhaulCopper (our beagle) was our first "child". When it was just the three of us we doted on her and gave her tons of attention. We brushed her teeth and got her regular cleanings, made sure her vaccinations were up to date and that she always had a new squeaky toy to play with. But ever since the human children have come around, Copper has moved on down the totum pole and we just haven't taken as good of care of her has we should have.<p>A few weeks ago, Copper came down with a horrible cough. It was the kind of cough that came from deep in the belly and just sounded miserable for her. We decided it was bad enough to warrant a visit to the vet (where she hadn't been in close to 6 years). She must have understood us when we told her where we were goiing. She absolutely refused to put on her leash and get into and out of the car. As soon as we were in the door she was trembling uncontrolably. She refused to move her legs so I had to carry her the whole time! Poor thing was scared out of her mind, but at least that made it easier for them to examine her. She let them do whatever they wanted without so much as a peep because she was so scared. The diagnosis was possible Valley Fever (which thankfully turned out negative) or some other upper respiratory infection, as well as a raging ear infection in her left ear. When they told me she had an ear infection, it was like a little light bulb went off. So that's why she will sometimes yelp if you pet her head the wrong way, and why she doesn't seem to hear us very well anymore. We had just attributed that to the fact that she is 12 years old.<p>During her examination, I was scolded about the condition of her teeth. Some people might have been offended by the mild tongue lashing I received, but frankly, I knew I deserved it. They were really bad. Trust me. So we decided to purchase an annual health plan for her that included a dental cleaning and would ultimatley save us money with everything else we needed done that day. We left with many lovely prescribed parting gifts.<p>Thankfully the cough disappeared pretty quickly and the ear infection was gone in a couple weeks. After getting the clean bill of health, she was ready for her dental cleaning, which we did on Saturday. Nothing is ever as easy as it sounds, is it? During her cleaning they found 11 infected teeth that need to come out. If they don't the infection could spread to her internal organs and could ultimately be fatal, so we of course plan to have that done. Poor girl is going to need Doggie Dentures! They assured me she will be able to continue to eat her dry food after everything is all healed up, even with missing all those choppers, and that removing these teeth would greatly improve her quality of life. So that's next on the to do list. By the time 2011 rolls around, Copper will have had the complete overhaul! She'll be a whole new puppy!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-91287262006242523182010-11-29T13:25:00.003-07:002010-11-29T13:45:08.858-07:00Happy Thanksgiving!The holiday season is officially in full swing, and it couldn't have been brought in any better than it was with our thanksgiving celebration. It was truly a wonderful weekend full of family and friends. We have so much to be thankful for! (Unfortunately, not one picture was taken of the festivities all weekend. I should be shunned from the blogging community!)<p>I have long ago conceded the Thursday of Thanksgiving to other family members. I love to make the food and have lots of people over to enjoy it, but it just doesn't work out that way with the other sections of the family. So what I have started doing is celebrating Thursday with family at someone else's house and then cooking my own meal on Friday for whoever would like to stop by. This has affectionately come to be known in our house as "Thanksgiving Friday".<p>This year we spent Thanksgiving day with Andrew's family in Avondale. It is always a blast getting together with the family out there. The kids love any chance they get to play with their cousins, so they were in heaven all day, and loved having their own children's table.<p>Funny story of the day: We had just arrived at my mother-in-law's house, and people were slowly trickling in behind us. We had been told that it would be a full house for dinner, and often times they will invite friends from church that we don't know, so it's not really a rarity that we would be sharing Thanksgiving with complete strangers. So, we were all hanging out together when the doorbell rings. Andrew answers the door and finds 4 people he doesn't recognize, all carrying side dishes and looking very confident about being there, so he lets them in because, as I said, that isn't unusual. So they all come into the kitchen and start introducing themselves to everyone, and everyone is looking around saying "who are these people". Then my father-in-law starts giving them a strange look and realizes they are in the wrong house. Maybe you had to be there, but it was so funny! We joked that if they were going to crash Thanksgiving, at least they brought their own food!<p>After filling up on dinner and dessert, it was time to go home and crash for the night to begin the next day's fun!<p>For our Thanksgiving Friday, we invited our small group from church to come and share in our meal, and they all happily accepted. The total head count was 10 adults and 10 kids. It sounds crowded, but it was so much fun! The kids had a blast playing football and other various games in the backyard, and which left the adults some time for good conversation and fellowship. The food all turned out really well and everyone seemed to enjoy it. I so wish I would have taken a picture of the turkey. it was beautiful. I've made quite a few turkeys in my day and while they have all been tasty, none have turned out LOOKING so good.<p>After dinner the guys took the kids to the park while the ladies hung back and cleaned up. It sounds so 1950's but it really was a good time, and I was so happy to have the help with the mound of dishes! Then of course it was time to dive into the pie! This year I made my very first fruit pie, a caramel apple pie, and it turned out so yummy! I'll definitely be making that again!<p>So another successful and fun filled Thanksgiviing is in the books. I am so excited for this Christmas season, and I hope we can make the most of every opportunity to create lasting memories for our family! Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to you and yours!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-44553268479789631752010-11-08T21:41:00.015-07:002010-11-08T22:09:16.746-07:00Kindergarten Fun!A couple weeks ago, Joshua's kindergarten class had planned a field trip to Mother Nature's Farm in Gilbert, and I planned to go with them. Unfortunately, on the day of the field trip it was raining, so his teacher decided to postpone the trip to the next day. Since the kids all had their hearts set on a fun day, she decided to take them over to the Family Life Center on the church campus, where there is none other than a roller rink! This was Joshua's first time on roller skates. All things considered, it sounds like he did pretty well. His teacher, Mrs. Harren, was nice enough to take some photos of their little adventure.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLmzx8emd0ngAaamkAiKH0__5UptRtSJTTTAGCkjcZIpoAy7cHHCr_ExBk7ppnc3kNatMSWku2YID8orAdkY95oq6G5FxRzmCQKwbFluTmDlfznudQCqbMr7tjcIp7bSRw5gMcg/s1600/Skating01.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLmzx8emd0ngAaamkAiKH0__5UptRtSJTTTAGCkjcZIpoAy7cHHCr_ExBk7ppnc3kNatMSWku2YID8orAdkY95oq6G5FxRzmCQKwbFluTmDlfznudQCqbMr7tjcIp7bSRw5gMcg/s320/Skating01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537406808219918146" /></a><p>I think there was a lot of this going on that day...<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCUi25dT8uKsz0otXUbz_hCXoj-1wluHPiDypyFTojYSALpPq7CN2ArKQkqT-fILUWuv7hXgI_a812uBzwuwLXvhiDTdodjsF4lRZKIoYvflQJCFkkzf3s3Gi1ZyxrHXqsDsETg/s1600/Skating03.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCUi25dT8uKsz0otXUbz_hCXoj-1wluHPiDypyFTojYSALpPq7CN2ArKQkqT-fILUWuv7hXgI_a812uBzwuwLXvhiDTdodjsF4lRZKIoYvflQJCFkkzf3s3Gi1ZyxrHXqsDsETg/s320/Skating03.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537407005773145138" /></a><p>See?<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhky1BANOzqRBEzzZt_xiA0FherK59JC7sk1oEfeRh7sG8lN5n_g7L_83K-zywH6OklGnx9pLMYDk7y4_wPDBD144HgI8-rvSEGZ_fuQwoos559ADNEnBFxEkvDWw46y685PfV-sg/s1600/Skating07.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhky1BANOzqRBEzzZt_xiA0FherK59JC7sk1oEfeRh7sG8lN5n_g7L_83K-zywH6OklGnx9pLMYDk7y4_wPDBD144HgI8-rvSEGZ_fuQwoos559ADNEnBFxEkvDWw46y685PfV-sg/s320/Skating07.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537407249881945010" /></a><p>Josh quickly learned that holding onto the wall prevented taking so many tumbles.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTngPpJbdPDd5yZmeMZdzEm2NObhwd4XVmMY_t7ZQ8FOL5Y5cboPwnfM_oYegwZHLuyVEoAV30QdvI9Q2lp7_E6VlsTPZqmGqJvUIMG-HeMB_Uwdpo0BEcxwQKW5jNX4C3vasSg/s1600/Skating12.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTngPpJbdPDd5yZmeMZdzEm2NObhwd4XVmMY_t7ZQ8FOL5Y5cboPwnfM_oYegwZHLuyVEoAV30QdvI9Q2lp7_E6VlsTPZqmGqJvUIMG-HeMB_Uwdpo0BEcxwQKW5jNX4C3vasSg/s320/Skating12.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537407481047293506" /></a><p>His little friend, Ava (who is completley head over heels in love with Josh) is a more experienced skater than most of the other kids. She was trying to help Joshua, and told him to let go of the wall and skate over to her, promising to catch him if he fell. Mrs. Harren caught this precious photo.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSfI3n-SZ5BrqrPPFn9OZtMsV7AU-OrV2NIjqXKVRSanAbcUEcEO1KFiZMpOZDC-c2mNDdcKH8s43URxUq1-Yi3EWJs1J5kJC5sqxWI7N8G-GYWUNgVRhyphenhyphenEGRISPZ2St3hQZC8w/s1600/Skating13.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSfI3n-SZ5BrqrPPFn9OZtMsV7AU-OrV2NIjqXKVRSanAbcUEcEO1KFiZMpOZDC-c2mNDdcKH8s43URxUq1-Yi3EWJs1J5kJC5sqxWI7N8G-GYWUNgVRhyphenhyphenEGRISPZ2St3hQZC8w/s320/Skating13.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537408048574391186" /></a><p>It wasn't the farm that everyone had planned, but a fun day was had by all anyway.<p>The next day proved to be sunnier, and so the farm was a go! It was such a cute little place, complete with hayride, pumpkin decorating and farm animals. It was a blast!<p>Here's our group of cute kindergarteners!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDz2ZnB1U1X1Zv82FqbB2xCMkm-W4fvsOeDiAtaO9jgjEtNEMJzEk3Bj3JBtI7ON04-pmM3-09Y815v9NfMZELvwFMxHIFUOqsURmSvf_mCSlg16Tsun8D2DEN5-lJPzSg-Fg4Ig/s1600/IMG_5672.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDz2ZnB1U1X1Zv82FqbB2xCMkm-W4fvsOeDiAtaO9jgjEtNEMJzEk3Bj3JBtI7ON04-pmM3-09Y815v9NfMZELvwFMxHIFUOqsURmSvf_mCSlg16Tsun8D2DEN5-lJPzSg-Fg4Ig/s320/IMG_5672.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537408731438063938" /></a><br /><p>First order of business was a hayride.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbRTCXg6ZWPXaAk3zkYOCRtWO30DglLnP-AE7Y5YDTzz0nCp4dchPcP2foQZjLURg_NlhPNTe4OOrUwv0aIKC8DKPdKXiIp2l7cmu56w07yDpKDT19XCpvWEPEo-LIgNDSyXftw/s1600/IMG_5675.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbRTCXg6ZWPXaAk3zkYOCRtWO30DglLnP-AE7Y5YDTzz0nCp4dchPcP2foQZjLURg_NlhPNTe4OOrUwv0aIKC8DKPdKXiIp2l7cmu56w07yDpKDT19XCpvWEPEo-LIgNDSyXftw/s320/IMG_5675.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537409490391271410" /></a><p>The hayride dropped us off right in front of all of the animals. We found out that a litter of piglets had been born just 5 days before. Aren't they the cutest?<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpv2KkdY6GvBT1sMUj9QvHLLJEXwzMjpcv8btja1q7Y4UU5n_avADXwkTZKTCt5C-hTZ5kgMTAcdS_0FW2RBuJcEiG2SVHaQlqH1QYFWi-dmGhz7CE5Teg2HNQtGxGsCjWfcfuQ/s1600/IMG_5703.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpv2KkdY6GvBT1sMUj9QvHLLJEXwzMjpcv8btja1q7Y4UU5n_avADXwkTZKTCt5C-hTZ5kgMTAcdS_0FW2RBuJcEiG2SVHaQlqH1QYFWi-dmGhz7CE5Teg2HNQtGxGsCjWfcfuQ/s320/IMG_5703.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537410179079711314" /></a><br /><p>The rest of our day was super fun too. The photos can pretty much speak for themselves. <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFF-cfnhmWKwhv85JMzM0ADpI-1kBq-Tei2Uxk-ce1K2r2gqFTxyB0idcErCQ408bXig99q4g-qsga_T3F0zBN0rsYy1pqXYIp-7ySINE1TIi4uNfSmBjqzmR2qTtO91EFj7FrKA/s1600/IMG_5685.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFF-cfnhmWKwhv85JMzM0ADpI-1kBq-Tei2Uxk-ce1K2r2gqFTxyB0idcErCQ408bXig99q4g-qsga_T3F0zBN0rsYy1pqXYIp-7ySINE1TIi4uNfSmBjqzmR2qTtO91EFj7FrKA/s320/IMG_5685.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537411045710326258" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs74XkzrQcIBrcu-oP4dPzLt9P6edowzg_thpaIFPHLj5d39e9-LUxrDVuY01rO_HPnZcBLbLChiI51sHNre4Sz97bkkRARLhPaaqYpEYyxehTMnml-qqFeWOGfwhAuE6RaxScmQ/s1600/IMG_5690.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs74XkzrQcIBrcu-oP4dPzLt9P6edowzg_thpaIFPHLj5d39e9-LUxrDVuY01rO_HPnZcBLbLChiI51sHNre4Sz97bkkRARLhPaaqYpEYyxehTMnml-qqFeWOGfwhAuE6RaxScmQ/s320/IMG_5690.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537411232610794002" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWI95Js8yV0XrXPKkCoodXaVYF_jT2YZDWCzQK3Dn3Cu8Bgtjx9zFH8ztxrPeV6WHu_zVXlfoNLY4VLQW7SBv-XTqaJVQbIXvdZZqdbZ59SYaXpngXsdNbiXjPMSci4ZKBuKtA_Q/s1600/IMG_5694.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWI95Js8yV0XrXPKkCoodXaVYF_jT2YZDWCzQK3Dn3Cu8Bgtjx9zFH8ztxrPeV6WHu_zVXlfoNLY4VLQW7SBv-XTqaJVQbIXvdZZqdbZ59SYaXpngXsdNbiXjPMSci4ZKBuKtA_Q/s320/IMG_5694.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537411520330211730" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTm4h_qkZZF06Tavkc4O8vYMjTkoN72McsDjx73Q9plt5oA2ODsCUBauXAX0V8P2pkm0AQOUmgQ_tcMP5B8X97cVtjp76wXAMqDUbe5Ol0Iwz8td-zR6bl2MEqnjIP9EwbdS-dQ/s1600/IMG_5711.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTm4h_qkZZF06Tavkc4O8vYMjTkoN72McsDjx73Q9plt5oA2ODsCUBauXAX0V8P2pkm0AQOUmgQ_tcMP5B8X97cVtjp76wXAMqDUbe5Ol0Iwz8td-zR6bl2MEqnjIP9EwbdS-dQ/s320/IMG_5711.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537411717002205986" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeYlkci1XRM3HorQGvbM5cA9bRy_ByGecX8S9TNVFlGzxNx0kxmV7liy9QsFu-p0tQtWfLl0DAY9dsRJ5Zr-UC0OsOpo5CnJYACTrj3Pd3igEzfgcQu4GMCsHmYfOfR5c3_OOUg/s1600/IMG_5721.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeYlkci1XRM3HorQGvbM5cA9bRy_ByGecX8S9TNVFlGzxNx0kxmV7liy9QsFu-p0tQtWfLl0DAY9dsRJ5Zr-UC0OsOpo5CnJYACTrj3Pd3igEzfgcQu4GMCsHmYfOfR5c3_OOUg/s320/IMG_5721.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537412066475171410" /></a><p>We had such a great time. I hope I can go on a few more of the field trips this year so I can spend more time with this great bunch of kids!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-31488043902572283922010-10-28T13:49:00.003-07:002010-10-28T14:32:14.441-07:00Elusive SleepWow, am I ever behind on blogging! I hate when I have so much to write about and no time to write it. I'm always sure I've forgotten something! I'll do my best to get caught up after my upcoming crazy weekend.<p><br />With that being said, onto today's post!<p><br />My kids have always been very good sleepers. I mean, really good sleepers. Between the two of them, I can remember only one night that we were up until all hours with a crying baby, and that was when Joshua was only a few days old and I was naughty and ate some green chilis. Other than that, there have been no sleep issues in our house. Once they hit the toddler years, they both transitioned seamlessly into their beds and we have never had the fights to get them to stay in their rooms once they have been put down for the night. The only issue we've ever had is with Ben wanting to try to go potty a few minutes after he went to bed. I'm telling you, we've had it good. So good, that we have totally been taking it for granted. And you know what happens when you take something for granted? POOF! It goes away!<p>It all started a couple weeks ago. We were putting the boys to bed as normal, but this night it all went wrong. Ben decided he was NOT going to go to bed. He was pulling out all the stops. Kicking, screaming, asking for drinks of water, tissues, to go potty. All while crying his little eyes out. My favorite was when he said he needed Daddy to cut his toenails. What? Now that there is a new one.<p> So we pretty much ignored his demands and were just waiting him out, putting him back to bed if he came out. This went on for the better part of an hour until he finally gave up. At least for a little while. When he would wake up throughout the night, he decided he was NOT going to be the only one awake and we started it all over again. Not fun! This went on for a few days.<p>One night he event went so far as to get himself completely dressed before he came out of his room. It was about 11:00, when we heard his bedroom door open (he's not quiet about it!) and when I went to put him back to bed I saw he was wearing a t-shirt and shorts and was sitting in his doorway putting on his sandals. When he saw me he asked "Mommy, can I be awake?" I don't think so, buddy!<p>We were wracking our brains trying to figure out what might have triggered this, as it started so suddenly. The only change in environment we could think of was that we had recently put him back on Singular as it looked like his allergies were getting ready to kick back up. Out of desperation, we tried taking him off of it. After a few nights, things started to mellow out a bit, although he was still waking easily. The last couple of nights have been the old, peaceful Ben. So, we're thinking the Singulair was the culpret. And thankfully his allergies have settled back down so that it's not affecting him negatively to be off of it. Hopefully it will stay that way, but if not, we'll roll with it and deal with it as best we can. Ah, the joys of parenting!The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-85842501969378344642010-10-17T21:17:00.013-07:002010-10-17T21:44:46.252-07:00Payson 2010Every summer we like to try to take a Saturday and visit Grandma and Grandpa B while they are camping up in Payson. It's a short drive away and gives us a chance to beat the heat, if only for a day, and spend some fun time with family. Because of swimming lessons and everything else we had going on this summer, we weren't able to get up there while the weather was really hot, but we wanted to make sure we got up there at before the camping season is officially over for the year.<p>The weather was absolutely beautiful! The boys got to ride their bikes around, and we took a fun nature walk around the campgrounds.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KPDIMGpplLEaB116u_oVjqkagHpsrsyomJcAZLNYFUmRdZ9qUKBmyJ6rBP6WiqCiOzoxOPANNZkHRh6_Gerf-c89O3Ib1CdspESSUOwZ-gbVAJegtClukhUf616l0jT2WFjErA/s1600/IMG_5617.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KPDIMGpplLEaB116u_oVjqkagHpsrsyomJcAZLNYFUmRdZ9qUKBmyJ6rBP6WiqCiOzoxOPANNZkHRh6_Gerf-c89O3Ib1CdspESSUOwZ-gbVAJegtClukhUf616l0jT2WFjErA/s320/IMG_5617.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529237976972155938" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhJOx2ZJkty4XIVmgy9bTzaFyn29eWq7I3YqlK3KQuoMnrwl15bQGvkMXCAtBnZAJfVuLv2LZK26r4iECGe_UGbeib7OcgHtEsIBtnzTnyWlLDiVFCKK7DJ54HTTIUkw550bLqQ/s1600/IMG_5619.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhJOx2ZJkty4XIVmgy9bTzaFyn29eWq7I3YqlK3KQuoMnrwl15bQGvkMXCAtBnZAJfVuLv2LZK26r4iECGe_UGbeib7OcgHtEsIBtnzTnyWlLDiVFCKK7DJ54HTTIUkw550bLqQ/s320/IMG_5619.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529238228599389922" /></a><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOW4eF3PsKZKgkeSUozfEU7BQDdnd6O8tSusdhyeFw4u90HVC_AKEb8XSaab0IuAXGypXLkWsZo3bCnxyKtl3JjnJS9huq_VjtZVKYIEH80Ceeq8vQKVb7QYIe6SeL-VFBJaMQ1Q/s1600/IMG_5626.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOW4eF3PsKZKgkeSUozfEU7BQDdnd6O8tSusdhyeFw4u90HVC_AKEb8XSaab0IuAXGypXLkWsZo3bCnxyKtl3JjnJS9huq_VjtZVKYIEH80Ceeq8vQKVb7QYIe6SeL-VFBJaMQ1Q/s320/IMG_5626.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529238482941707666" /></a><p>After a long day of exploring, Grandpa made some yummy hamburgers and hot dogs for dinner, and afterward we did everyone's favorite camping pastime.... roasting marshmallows and making s'mores! The boys loved helping Grandpa build the fire.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmonAHJdIUCIgAP9wa-60_9jPwDdbrOxcbJf3ABVm5n6ZSDlJeFq6KcNq2XziYW8fQxx5HyPb-DYeMwZOuEX8TZO0k0X2rtkWxKiMeU-aWJi3ehcse12gk6AZHGCGTfrG4DLJBGg/s1600/IMG_5632.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmonAHJdIUCIgAP9wa-60_9jPwDdbrOxcbJf3ABVm5n6ZSDlJeFq6KcNq2XziYW8fQxx5HyPb-DYeMwZOuEX8TZO0k0X2rtkWxKiMeU-aWJi3ehcse12gk6AZHGCGTfrG4DLJBGg/s320/IMG_5632.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529239047407451202" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVsBrGZqL9Nldu45asiYjSeidO10Ni5Rv0hafVmqlKqsFHdtoXa6CkM14Q-HwHMiOda32zr9yKD3r4qOZ_xHYFy-3A1IU0VTFBiGJX431Y2_i8m6S_ngubVOBosHfSRbSznpfnw/s1600/IMG_5634.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVsBrGZqL9Nldu45asiYjSeidO10Ni5Rv0hafVmqlKqsFHdtoXa6CkM14Q-HwHMiOda32zr9yKD3r4qOZ_xHYFy-3A1IU0VTFBiGJX431Y2_i8m6S_ngubVOBosHfSRbSznpfnw/s320/IMG_5634.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529239275113213682" /></a><br /><p>Benny didn't want to wait for his marshmallow to be roasted!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoUiH-W5MYmStknDDdWYyBJfFf6Dd3JRyc2UK3M56FKkLu7Y5mAlc9kyv_6Ccb1oj4mCNG8caEtIVpA36LzYh05W_YK3mx4I__WZW7cy72UKroqlpAMJh8qzssSfJsgPaBQq8CQ/s1600/IMG_5640.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoUiH-W5MYmStknDDdWYyBJfFf6Dd3JRyc2UK3M56FKkLu7Y5mAlc9kyv_6Ccb1oj4mCNG8caEtIVpA36LzYh05W_YK3mx4I__WZW7cy72UKroqlpAMJh8qzssSfJsgPaBQq8CQ/s320/IMG_5640.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529239722278529378" /></a><p>Mmmmm... S'mores!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtbf7HwGuexUQVivyBQCRBGKsEyOA_p3wUkex_PmOxLk6RTOMbxudFM7Ibcho3ZUp-bGUVNVHzVts6hBaO8ETr8eOxhSwuVN1YIauMKkz2hep-K8VHGmlBpUpZlmxjTPZ5ycvTg/s1600/IMG_5644.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtbf7HwGuexUQVivyBQCRBGKsEyOA_p3wUkex_PmOxLk6RTOMbxudFM7Ibcho3ZUp-bGUVNVHzVts6hBaO8ETr8eOxhSwuVN1YIauMKkz2hep-K8VHGmlBpUpZlmxjTPZ5ycvTg/s320/IMG_5644.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529240026105942114" /></a><p>Here are a few more photos of our fun day.<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBxc1Tm4mcBJtnZoQFqejHJA3lEDxrrDCVDeBOpur2XgSr0JCs2wYEQueGnU3CDhRKwWkn9tUNHDaYULPXuA8jOAyRNnLZlAJtORx51snWel-OupdeyjO4MtDHqd29HgLLZbYwA/s1600/IMG_5630.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBxc1Tm4mcBJtnZoQFqejHJA3lEDxrrDCVDeBOpur2XgSr0JCs2wYEQueGnU3CDhRKwWkn9tUNHDaYULPXuA8jOAyRNnLZlAJtORx51snWel-OupdeyjO4MtDHqd29HgLLZbYwA/s320/IMG_5630.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529240318456007762" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnaF-DbWk92OAyRUhEOXcjEe3pZj8cBMQe6eeWSs3TKl6d25Yebgy5KDC-Kj-e1y08O6wvr6ktFGMzFMc-GI5Ze2jBiKK6RRQgO8d7Wa8kuwtYYwO0ZOy91ru1iP3X002I2zz4w/s1600/IMG_5645.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnaF-DbWk92OAyRUhEOXcjEe3pZj8cBMQe6eeWSs3TKl6d25Yebgy5KDC-Kj-e1y08O6wvr6ktFGMzFMc-GI5Ze2jBiKK6RRQgO8d7Wa8kuwtYYwO0ZOy91ru1iP3X002I2zz4w/s320/IMG_5645.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529242296487635010" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOn7qgIZHHEJKglJ__zSghmvqpXwpQ4OPqFpPpfcu1uZEdONyiEy4Gg6DlK3zeXkVBtBLgG0KrlZTIJe2viw0arPdbpUKd47mNdtMACCQm8U5V0Lwm3PvGQ1VfSQoqt6zqGDa-g/s1600/IMG_5646.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOn7qgIZHHEJKglJ__zSghmvqpXwpQ4OPqFpPpfcu1uZEdONyiEy4Gg6DlK3zeXkVBtBLgG0KrlZTIJe2viw0arPdbpUKd47mNdtMACCQm8U5V0Lwm3PvGQ1VfSQoqt6zqGDa-g/s320/IMG_5646.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529240651548021746" /></a><br /><p>Of course before we left we had to take our annual photo with Grandma and Grandpa in front of their trailer (watch the boys grow up right before your eyes!)<p>2008<p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIDXexA9rcTgFzJ-iZePhVd-cbmPPoi9bRhpDmRf-YjQYFpZcmCetxC0Hi1b95O5JWhIPJ9eyFab6Lu88XuV9myLUz0cqR61EtgD5jzmWriepoPC8nm90b9Kla6vbQJN75lh1nw/s1600/IMG_2057.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIDXexA9rcTgFzJ-iZePhVd-cbmPPoi9bRhpDmRf-YjQYFpZcmCetxC0Hi1b95O5JWhIPJ9eyFab6Lu88XuV9myLUz0cqR61EtgD5jzmWriepoPC8nm90b9Kla6vbQJN75lh1nw/s320/IMG_2057.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529241347691995602" /></a><br /><p>2009<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlSyfhQDx7liey0xrWyqU7rLx68DwFoQ5pljWdaMjHtUUd4U4Bh9-2HlOrvW1oVa-YlAHe6AslgFSqnKhPOrN3LkM7JYe74W7bYaEP2LFzAX7fX-VCQTphLFalwxYXkCWapL8Fg/s1600/IMG_3746.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlSyfhQDx7liey0xrWyqU7rLx68DwFoQ5pljWdaMjHtUUd4U4Bh9-2HlOrvW1oVa-YlAHe6AslgFSqnKhPOrN3LkM7JYe74W7bYaEP2LFzAX7fX-VCQTphLFalwxYXkCWapL8Fg/s320/IMG_3746.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529241553733652018" /></a><p>2010<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDhUfDnR1KwjzJRkuhukrC1QDN_80eaJeqPwAdzDNqIhusgI1_f_IAAegB5iQVHT__0BHSsCoLzMURS6xryhLPHDMpMqmI0kQ1-xum_53pej-rHpJj2JarQKtl1nHemwC6oa9xg/s1600/IMG_5648.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDhUfDnR1KwjzJRkuhukrC1QDN_80eaJeqPwAdzDNqIhusgI1_f_IAAegB5iQVHT__0BHSsCoLzMURS6xryhLPHDMpMqmI0kQ1-xum_53pej-rHpJj2JarQKtl1nHemwC6oa9xg/s320/IMG_5648.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529241824661523010" /></a>The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14519409.post-28537808484388867262010-10-17T20:59:00.007-07:002010-10-17T21:17:18.697-07:00Soccer Star!Joshua has officially started his first organized sport. We've been wanting to get him into something for a while now, but like with so many other things, it was just hard to get our act together! We thought soccer might be a good fit for him, so we went for it. How cute is he in his soccer uniform! <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjGn__EDVt4MCKjAZ9m9GXHqiMcytZ1BoT1KR-v3X6KsACruCIG8nWTKNR0q-GOpFVZzrTnrgDbEEna3jyMT8cYL5subnIdOJNJziBVZn_nTv-hnZ4f0YmLyZBhDL1IeUXBwoYg/s1600/IMG_5658.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjGn__EDVt4MCKjAZ9m9GXHqiMcytZ1BoT1KR-v3X6KsACruCIG8nWTKNR0q-GOpFVZzrTnrgDbEEna3jyMT8cYL5subnIdOJNJziBVZn_nTv-hnZ4f0YmLyZBhDL1IeUXBwoYg/s320/IMG_5658.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529232369000177170" /></a><p>At the first practice, the kids decided their team name should be the Dragons. Josh was a little disappointed because he wanted to be the Tigers, but he still thinks the Dragons are pretty cool. He's doing so well! He had his first game yesterday (against the Dragon Sharks), and got a few good kicks of the ball in. It was so fun to see him out there!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiWc-hbqV91bVAu0hghzJLFnyS45W5AJ5RuzzUpPRC4PbaOQMfjpOVDey0dO3jZpb_o4xVv3T9yOYEJu1aUC7wC6ZoSfgvzH5qVepvc0_r-HjXAiRTXcM3GhxbvgGhpmKjM7gEw/s1600/IMG_5662.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiWc-hbqV91bVAu0hghzJLFnyS45W5AJ5RuzzUpPRC4PbaOQMfjpOVDey0dO3jZpb_o4xVv3T9yOYEJu1aUC7wC6ZoSfgvzH5qVepvc0_r-HjXAiRTXcM3GhxbvgGhpmKjM7gEw/s320/IMG_5662.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529233368619705954" /></a><p>At half time it was time for a quick snack!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4WI2zq1T6UEBDqBegQyVmpoVos5j8_tDuPkKcAdOj9L-K2QRhveAbYitDclv6c7yUiNt10OMTd7RRGa0TPClza5Kc7zJG0a5rtt2UIKoAiTkTVwBTdvQkFa54Gfr-LVV2jOvJA/s1600/IMG_5664.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4WI2zq1T6UEBDqBegQyVmpoVos5j8_tDuPkKcAdOj9L-K2QRhveAbYitDclv6c7yUiNt10OMTd7RRGa0TPClza5Kc7zJG0a5rtt2UIKoAiTkTVwBTdvQkFa54Gfr-LVV2jOvJA/s320/IMG_5664.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529233683628133746" /></a><p>He really had a great time, and definitely worked up a sweat!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7UhY-lziL7I1VMyo8br3W4gLQsUcSf1eq8-XqLKGNUXK79fPdnVO08ViMkXTjdwhJmYpq98WKQ-W6xomqIv-JItQ_wemsA3H0XQzmmYyyBDuhqEY1pm0U1G1OBXsVtmM5VxCJQ/s1600/IMG_5667.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7UhY-lziL7I1VMyo8br3W4gLQsUcSf1eq8-XqLKGNUXK79fPdnVO08ViMkXTjdwhJmYpq98WKQ-W6xomqIv-JItQ_wemsA3H0XQzmmYyyBDuhqEY1pm0U1G1OBXsVtmM5VxCJQ/s320/IMG_5667.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529234195912269010" /></a><p>Although no official score is kept, our count was a 2-2 tie. Game 2 is next week, and we're so excited to see him get some more time on the field. Go Dragons!<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29T-qnAnWzOMA9FEkPYxzLaiR0KDQmbimNTARtR5MWQ3UA1eMLgeGwGoDYIw1aJTMCFi2t2fG0HJyIxqr0XJWB02QdRM1t9UUOwir1WGeARqnPFk_7je6_9o1h5xNvbngCtYzGA/s1600/IMG_5666.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29T-qnAnWzOMA9FEkPYxzLaiR0KDQmbimNTARtR5MWQ3UA1eMLgeGwGoDYIw1aJTMCFi2t2fG0HJyIxqr0XJWB02QdRM1t9UUOwir1WGeARqnPFk_7je6_9o1h5xNvbngCtYzGA/s320/IMG_5666.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529234883300590354" /></a>The Mapleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04627384072539339316noreply@blogger.com0