tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60807892374347823592024-03-05T12:06:59.684-08:00Scott Family StoriesAdventures in Happily Ever After from "I do" to mommyhood-and everything in betweenAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.comBlogger536125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-69883366936348191152018-08-24T16:52:00.000-07:002018-08-24T17:19:45.436-07:00Back to School!Evan often comes up next to me to measure how tall he is and tells me how he's catching up to me in height. I have no doubt that he'll outgrow me sooner than later and it's going to be a sad day! That said, another school year has come around and they're another year older, another grade smarter. These boys of mine are growing so fast and in so many ways! It's true that babies don't keep, we now have a third and first grader in the house. In the words of DJ Tanner-oh my lanta!<br />
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Since we've adopted the year round calendar the bigs and I have been back at school for a bit now, but our homeschool co-op has just begun AND Asher started preschool this week, so the traditional back to school pictures are in order! Here are my little men on campus...<br />
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And I can't very well leave out my girl, who is her brother's biggest cheerleader and the apple of their eyes. :-)<br />
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I'm so thankful that homeschooling affords us the opportunity to be together. I know I'm waxing sentimental here, but what a gift it is to see my kids know and love one another. While they do of course have their fair share of those normal "sibling moments," we have a unique opportunity to spend our days together in a way that many families do not. The time, the time, the time-the purposeful, the stressful, the fun, the loud and quiet times, the unplanned and restful times-it's all invaluable. I jokingly say that one of the reasons we homeschool is because I want my boys to do the "Amazing Race" together one day. Meaning simply that I want them to have the type of relationship where they'd WANT to something amazing together like travel the world and have the skills to succeed side by side -and have fun doing it of course! All that to say, it's really cool to see the endearing, every changing-always growing relationships my kids have with each other. I'm so deeply thankful for these days-it's worth paper plates and cold coffee and so much more.<br />
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And so, back to school we go!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-80547479232088115162018-08-20T18:12:00.001-07:002018-08-20T18:17:57.788-07:00Summertime!***EDITORS NOTE-As life goes, this post has been sitting unpublished in my "draft" file and is now woefully overdue! In any case, better late than never-let's get caught up!***<br />
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And just like that, it's mid July and we've already plowed thru the summer! Here are some highlights so far...<br />
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To celebrate another school year in the books we drove to Asheboro for a visit to the NC Zoo. While the weather was a little unpredictable to start, it ended up being a beautiful day!<br />
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The unanimous highlight of this visit was the "Birds of flight" show. Worth every penny! The show was so engaging, and seeing those colorful sun conures right in front of you is awe inspiring-especially through a child's eyes. Not to mention the vast variety of birds had quite the arsenal of impressive hat tricks. We talk often about God as our creator, and how good He is to have made this world full of dynamic and beautiful colors(and sights and sounds) for us to enjoy. What an awesome day it was to soak in God's intricate, intelligent design as we observed these amazing animals up close and personal.<br />
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My sister(auntie Sami as she's affectionally called now) came to NC for a visit. The cousins enjoyed their reunion and we spent lots of time in the water and on the playground between here and Goldsboro. We also had a special visit from Grammy Jane-so fun to see 4 generations side by side!<br />
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We said our goodbyes after a spectacular fourth of July fireworks show on the air force base. I couldn't be more excited for all the adventures that lie before her in Germany. Thanks to modern day social media, she's but a FaceTime call away. :-)<br />
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In other summer headlines, the boys have been swimming the afternoons away on our local neighborhood swim team. To be honest it's been more of a commitment than we anticipated, but I can't express enough how much those boys look forward to practice everyday-Bennett usually has on his swim trunks after lunch! Yesterday we wrapped up the season with a final swim meet, and we couldn't be more proud of our big fish.<br />
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Miss Amelia is 7 and a half months old now(not that I'm counting the days) and is a perfect slice of pie. Really, I thank the Lord everyday for such a content baby! She's just started to put the whole crawling puzzle together and I think she's going to take off anyway -or any minute. She loves toast with strawberry jam for breakfast, and much to mommy's dismay has started pulling bows down from her pretty little head haha!<br />
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Not to be overlooked, we spent the week of the fourth seaside with Chris' family at Topsail. But since this post has already gone long, I'll save our beach getaway for next time!<br />
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PS-We FINALLY broke out the popsicle mold Evan got for his birthday. We made watermelon lemonade pops and they were sweet, sticky success!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-58550256314274592632018-05-03T11:29:00.001-07:002018-05-03T11:32:33.667-07:00Donut Pj's, pink shades and all-5 months laterIt feels like only 5 minutes ago but our girl is 5 months old now!<br />
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She's doing all kinds of big girl things, like sitting up for a bit on her own, blowing raspberries and rolling over from her back to her belly. In other milestones, she's started eating solid foods! We started slowly with baby cereal and just a few weeks later she's eating peas, carrots, sweet potatoes and peaches like a pro. A messy one. ;-) Thankfully she continues to be a super content, happy baby and though she has fallen into a nice nap and nighttime routine, she is pretty flexible. At 5 months she is finding her voice and it' much more high pictched than my boys ever was haha!<br />
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She is mostly sleeping thru the night, but still wakes to eat. She loves to weasel her way into our bed and I don't mind too much either, I'll take alll the cuddles. Nicknames include BG(baby girl), A Cakes, MilaMoo and LiaLulu. She is the apple of her brother's eye and continues to light our life "pink" in every way!<br />
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Folding pink laundry, feverishly scanning the house for "that" matching bow, or buying this sweet, silly purple unicorn bib...I still can't believe that we have a little baby girl sometimes. Baby girl life is among so many other things, just plain fun! I feel so incredibly blessed to be HER mama.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-91262614960961385462018-04-25T11:08:00.001-07:002018-04-25T11:40:15.675-07:00Dear Evan, on your 8th birthdayHappy birthday to our sweet firstborn son, Evan Matthew! Today big brother, you are EIGHT years old! It goes without saying, that you are the coolest 8 year old I know. To my brown eyed toucan lover with the sunglasses and toothless smile-you made me a mama and you will always be my little duck.<br />
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You've grown up so much in these past few years! Your'e an independent reader, you woop our tails almost every time at Sushi Go and even take showers. And speaking of the water, I can't wait to see you take on swim team this summer!<br />
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I love your art and creative spirit, especially the steady hand and attention to detail you apply to your drawings. This year you started playing piano and have learned to type in less than a month. Smart cookie! School comes easily to you, and while math is your favorite subject, those spelling sentences crack me up almost daily. Today you used not one but two of your spelling words(bonus) to write the sentence "My mother has a happy face." Of course it made me smile and hug you tight, to which you replied with rolled eyes"Moooooommmmm."<br />
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As you can tell from the pictures below, you get the goofball gene from your daddy. ;-)<br />
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This year we celebrated your birthday with friends and family Mario party style with a trip to Defying Gravity. You have some pretty awesome friends, great taste in chocolate cake and mad jumping skills thanks to our backyard trampoline.<br />
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Before you were born I picked out your special green blanket and my Linus you will always be. Though I'm sure you will always be tender hearted, I've noticed you grow so brave and strong over this past year. You've tried new things with gusto and skinned your knees enough times to get up and move on. You can ride your bike, roller blade, jump and skateboard with the best of them. No doubt this fun neighborhood of ours full of rough and tumble boys has brought out your inner wild man. Though no matter how much dirt you revel in outside, we can always count on your to have the cleanest shirt at the dinner table and for that we are continually thankful!<br />
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Eight years ago we found out we were having a boy and my world was turned on it's side. We say all the time that God's plan for us is so better than ours, and I am so thankful that He blessed us with not one but three handsome mama's boys! I pray the Lord continues to protect your sweet and sensitive soul as you grow into a young man and leader who is selfless, smart, strong and kind.<br />
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It's a joy to be your mama!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-52419012329716450242018-03-21T12:44:00.000-07:002018-04-06T10:08:04.752-07:004 months old and snow in the Spring!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today this little miss is 4 months old! Where did the time go? In short, to lots of love at home, endless snuggles, so much sunshine and family time(esp tailing her big bros!), in the car on the way to birthdays, grocery stores and church, listening to books with brothers, watching mommy fold clothes and unload the dishwasher, being startled by this sweet and sour two year old...<br />
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Needless to say, it's been 4 full months well spent.</div>
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For her four month birthday Evan and Bennett wanted to celebrate with a princess style party complete with tea time(and fruit snacks), an original fairytale story written and read by Evan, a birthday song and presents of course. Bennett even broke out his birthday wolf ears for the occasion, and various like stuffed animals were in attendance. If you were to look up "cute" in the dictionary(or on Wikipedia), I'm pretty sure you would see these pictures.<br />
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Amelia continues to be a great baby. She's really content and flexible, and we are so grateful! The Lord is so so good to us and knew just what we needed from #4, we say all the time that we couldn't have asked for anything better. She is my dream girl in every way. At 4 months, she's falling into a nice sleep schedule. It's proven more challenging to be consistent with naps and nighttime sleep in this season in our life as a family of six. Sometimes that means not being on the go as much or splitting up for activities on the weekend, at other times she just comes along for the ride and we hope for the best. She is our first baby to refuse a paci and at the same time not suck her thumb, so she is slowly but surely learning to self soothe on her own. Though, I'm still holding out hope for her thumb as she finds it every now and then. It throws me back in time with memories of our first thumb sucker, baby Evan. Otherwise, she gets a bit longer and stronger everyday. We haven't had her 4 month well baby check yet but I have no doubt that she's put on a good pound(or 3) since last month. Like her brothers, she carries most of her weight in her cheeks. :-) And while time will tell, I'm pretty sure she'll be a brown eyed girl.<br />
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After 3 boys and seven years of blue plaid, stripes and primary colors, it's safe to say that this lady baby has lots of sweet dresses, bows in every color and plenty of pink! It's really fun to dress her up into twirly girly clothes I bought when I was pregnant and couldn't imagine her wearing. Now she's here, and filling them out so beautifully. :-) Here is one such dress I bought before she was born and I am in LOVE with it. A photoshoot was a no brainer.<br />
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On a last note, I'd like to mention that here in North Carolina, on the second day of Spring, it is SNOWING! These are not the Spring showers I imagined. What even??</div>
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*Update 4/6...After today's appointment miss Amelia is 15 pounds, 2.5 oz and 25" long!**</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-36881128643674343652018-03-07T10:48:00.003-08:002018-03-07T11:00:32.402-08:00February headlines<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
March is here, but I'm not ready to leave February behind! Bennett bear turned 6 years old in a super hero flash. We celebrated with a feast fit for a king at Gigi and Poppy's, then a special Valentines day dinner at our house with Grandma and family. His main gift was a whopping whirlwind trip to his favorite place, Great Wolf Lodge. He'd been planning his birthday at GWL for the last year, so of course we had to oblige!</div>
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Speaking of Valentines, this darling daughter got her first rose from the special man in her life-daddy! Melt.my.heart.<br />
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Amelia is 3 and a half months old now and a doll baby. She is increasingly alert and growing much faster than I would like, practicing sitting in her blue bumbo(sorry girl, you have 3 brothers!) and bearing weight on her legs to stand. She's a healthy little girl with a good appetite and the cheeks to show it! She has brought so much joy to us already, and it's no surprise that I'm loving all the twirly girly things. :-)<br />
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On the school front we've been busy with CC and homeschool, making new friends and seeing the world...ahem, our small piece of it anyways!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-40095049686536084212018-02-06T12:22:00.001-08:002018-02-06T13:03:41.245-08:00Full handsLittle miss is 2 months old already, and Spring is in the air! Not really, but wishful thinking is. :-) It's February 6th and the birth month of my favorite Valentine, Bennett Shepherd. For his birthday this year he's chosen to do a trip to Great Wolf Lodge, sprinkled with a few other family things. Pictures to come-maybe(<i>because, real life</i>)! Fair warning this post may be a little stream of conscious, because it's nap time here, the coffee is hot and I was in the writing way.<br />
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I'm just loving this season of life at home with my kids. The big boys are growing into more independent and interesting creatures, and speaking of creatures we often joke that Asher is our "class pet." Those trying twos have hit in full force, but we are ready and the bathroom plunger is on standby haha! Thankfully the big boys are I make a nice team to tame the wild child that is our sweet and sour Asher Elliot(okay okay, he's mostly sweet!). I jest, but truly the poor toilet has seen its share of foreign objectS lately. Amelia is a doll baby. The boys, big and small, dote on her daily and she really is a dream come true. I am drinking in this baby stage now because it goes by much too fast. Already she's holding her head up more and more, almost rolling to one side and cooing up a storm. We think she's going to be one chatty little girl. Plus, I can't even with all the bows. #obsessed :-)<br />
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We are all forging forward on the homeschool horizon. The flexibility it's given us in this season of life is invaluable. The boys are continuing to thrive in our local CC group, and I just signed them up for Spring soccer. They are currently gearing up for the annual Pine Car Derby with their fun "Rangers" group at church(Bennett just joined as he is turning 6!) and Evan is enjoying his weekly piano lessons. Also, Asher is officially registered for preschool for the next school year! Let the backpack brainstorming begin...<br />
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With four kids under 7 it's no wonder that life seems to be moving quickly. I'm relieved to add that having baby girl join our crew hasn't slowed us down or divided our time too much-those later babies just get more and more flexible! We seem to have found a nice, new stride and I wouldn't change it for anything. Even this morning was a pretty impromptu adventure, full of schoolwork for the bigs, lots of eukalale playing by Asher(it has been thus confiscated for the day), a trip to the library followed by exploring a new park and a mile hike around a new lake, and topped off with hot, heavenly McDonalds french fries. Currently the littles are quietly napping while the bigs are out back jumping on our trampoline with neighbor friends. If someone would just deliver to me a tall White Mocha from Starbucks, it might just be the perfect day! Extra whip cream please, mmmmm...<br />
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At a recent marriage conference we attended through our church, Dr. Paul Tripp reminded me that "gratitude is the DNA of joy." What a great theme for me as I am planting seeds in the trenches of many small children. I am so so grateful for the opportunity have this front row seat to my kids everyday, every moment learning and growing. It's beautiful and fun and funny, give or take the tube of toothpaste in the toilet which I will politely ask my hubby to get out when he gets home. Have I noted that he is an excellent fisherman? ;-) Seriously though the boys did all get fishing poles for Christmas, so I do predict some lake trips in our future. He took them out for their first go recently and they caught some seaweed...everyone has to start somewhere!<br />
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PS-Our little piece of North Carolina was a winter wonderland just a few weeks back, and I just had to share these pictures for posterity's sake-and as a reminder to myself to pick up my real camera more often! I think a snow day blog may be in que..<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-78513027566336899912018-01-19T12:49:00.003-08:002018-01-20T05:17:40.932-08:00Introducing our dream girlI can hardly believe it's been nearly two months since we welcomed our dream girl into the family. Miss Amelia Noelle was born on November 21st at 7 pounds and 5 ounces of pure sugar. Here are some pictures from our first few days together at the hospital. At first glance she looked just like Asher except with a full head of dark hair. <br />
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<i>Sidenote</i>: Per her beautiful dark hair and rosy complexion it's been decided that she will be Snow White for her first Disney princess Halloween.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1iFybiQra0nB87wpNc6E_MGdEzlfuZFio3WSpA59_GtRMvR9A-I6PdgL2ih8G0b_T3F5HgEW-VI53kSrf72ZCidv78KL71u9Ee1DmsV2OdkZcRemJbtyjvVb5zJH-sqICamLTWbS_3I/s1600/2017-11-21_09-54-41_006+%25282017-11-23T03_22_42.088%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1iFybiQra0nB87wpNc6E_MGdEzlfuZFio3WSpA59_GtRMvR9A-I6PdgL2ih8G0b_T3F5HgEW-VI53kSrf72ZCidv78KL71u9Ee1DmsV2OdkZcRemJbtyjvVb5zJH-sqICamLTWbS_3I/s320/2017-11-21_09-54-41_006+%25282017-11-23T03_22_42.088%2529.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2kPmiKTX173xcf0jitSm9I_jLKI9HCon1iTSDmKcdUzZPd6qemr4PlmPajiBmfnP4-o3I1NgGIKu57IR9xUeEw9ZI_BubopBxDrcxZK4iwg5VOkpWaNwU5B9NWOQrSaAzMz4MGLJElY/s1600/2017-11-21_10-29-28_962+%25282017-11-23T03_21_44.333%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2kPmiKTX173xcf0jitSm9I_jLKI9HCon1iTSDmKcdUzZPd6qemr4PlmPajiBmfnP4-o3I1NgGIKu57IR9xUeEw9ZI_BubopBxDrcxZK4iwg5VOkpWaNwU5B9NWOQrSaAzMz4MGLJElY/s320/2017-11-21_10-29-28_962+%25282017-11-23T03_21_44.333%2529.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">"Is she still a girl?" I asked just seconds after her birth from behind the blue curtain. This mom of three boys can still hardly believe her luck! Nice to meet you girl of my dreams. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYP8QSUNdHO1y8nBkXIPz4bSwjR027qvl4b9FqZFY-GHK8y2Yu9RoWSE9Ji4wYJjIKUiioxPoB9pfAwmqQ2emVgBU6rws3_zR2lfJjNT_PMBWEW38wWSkmAd6Z5PV9jCXbJK-f6xXhkA/s1600/2017-11-21_16-59-56_226.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYP8QSUNdHO1y8nBkXIPz4bSwjR027qvl4b9FqZFY-GHK8y2Yu9RoWSE9Ji4wYJjIKUiioxPoB9pfAwmqQ2emVgBU6rws3_zR2lfJjNT_PMBWEW38wWSkmAd6Z5PV9jCXbJK-f6xXhkA/s320/2017-11-21_16-59-56_226.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtrjzY2tr1o_ykiNH08mk4hbAmeAsl4VghqScmezJdP8m-AL4jRhDHekt1IgN5tyZbX9RhGApuIP1wj8y9rYRz1gF5IBYbely2oqP4R1lHYzw-D_Hq-tYf7eIgG_vom6M8MiF9PW-lz8/s1600/2017-11-21_17-06-48_340.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtrjzY2tr1o_ykiNH08mk4hbAmeAsl4VghqScmezJdP8m-AL4jRhDHekt1IgN5tyZbX9RhGApuIP1wj8y9rYRz1gF5IBYbely2oqP4R1lHYzw-D_Hq-tYf7eIgG_vom6M8MiF9PW-lz8/s320/2017-11-21_17-06-48_340.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
Her first bath, and manicure. :-)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGt1dMIW86Zf3h-H2_Kr5jkqnynYMJdDbTBmYtlSO_LKkB7qs03rQCUlfH26fkX3olLmnhW7Sq51Z_aFnK5OsyehK9Z-LyS1lbpg5j2WUphAj_r6LZAtfQ_qK5TprFGcNl7I21iZHPyKQ/s1600/2017-11-22_10-19-34_387.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGt1dMIW86Zf3h-H2_Kr5jkqnynYMJdDbTBmYtlSO_LKkB7qs03rQCUlfH26fkX3olLmnhW7Sq51Z_aFnK5OsyehK9Z-LyS1lbpg5j2WUphAj_r6LZAtfQ_qK5TprFGcNl7I21iZHPyKQ/s640/2017-11-22_10-19-34_387.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Gigi and Poppy with their new grandgirl and the traditional first "Happy Birth-day" cake.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6syU07SzSIIm2TbIDXLqGYp6AaV7CLqtVPk47AunFYq3XU23YCEoHVX2HZ1tiA_bSytV_ReVA00bA-sXs0zMDZQW1-8PqC1upHU7nGNnytwq85XN_1UKII0TxVjCPGWjd9Wu9XVKKM0/s1600/2017-11-22_13-54-49_360.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6syU07SzSIIm2TbIDXLqGYp6AaV7CLqtVPk47AunFYq3XU23YCEoHVX2HZ1tiA_bSytV_ReVA00bA-sXs0zMDZQW1-8PqC1upHU7nGNnytwq85XN_1UKII0TxVjCPGWjd9Wu9XVKKM0/s320/2017-11-22_13-54-49_360.jpeg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBF4_W-V88fbDzH9HtQvjpqZ7T8qMZTdHBzgWI-Uz-J45shjibbWXcEjzeYCSoFXdTPt7O1RjmU-hmUguNVf9QIfR7jWbWcIXL6uME4b5RMK6MaZUCCTa2JurAqlm-KUbCuLz8eUYfsg/s1600/2017-11-23_16-32-21_623.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBF4_W-V88fbDzH9HtQvjpqZ7T8qMZTdHBzgWI-Uz-J45shjibbWXcEjzeYCSoFXdTPt7O1RjmU-hmUguNVf9QIfR7jWbWcIXL6uME4b5RMK6MaZUCCTa2JurAqlm-KUbCuLz8eUYfsg/s320/2017-11-23_16-32-21_623.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">Thankfully, my recovery from this fourth cesarean has far exceeded my (albeit low) expectations. Praise the Lord! In fact, I've told many people that this has been the best recovery of all my babies, and for that we are so grateful. No doubt the amazing meals and support received from family and friends made our holiday homecoming and transition to a family of six that much more smooth and special.</span><br />
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Is there anything sweeter than a sleeping baby?! Maybe tiny baby hands...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9959ILOgEFncBormdoey6KtRXIUAZRiCycAwB_ldUsHMm_rJvHYe6dWZPKoX0kdHxFpM4dQ6OwWuqrMPV7u08a_AoJyGaLBF2IKcrfRD2c-v1AEuovNHUs1HnttuamgQyfMsJi9E4kQ/s1600/DSC_1305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9959ILOgEFncBormdoey6KtRXIUAZRiCycAwB_ldUsHMm_rJvHYe6dWZPKoX0kdHxFpM4dQ6OwWuqrMPV7u08a_AoJyGaLBF2IKcrfRD2c-v1AEuovNHUs1HnttuamgQyfMsJi9E4kQ/s640/DSC_1305.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
As far as newborns go, Amelia is a lovely baby. She's been a great nurser from hour one and sleeps wonderfully at night-thank you Jesus! Of course she wakes to eat, but goes right back down easily and without a fuss, and at 2 months old is already giving me consistent 5-6 hour stretches of sleep. At her one month well baby appointment she was up to a whopping 9 and a half pounds and is continuing to grow and thrive in every way. This lady baby graced us with her first smiles at 4 weeks old and is already cooing up a storm...I predict girly giggles on the way soon!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPc8zw9CQ1OW2WUky5fhkz7zObTQ9V8Li1ECjeCMlM88EHzZTW04h2Dpqfxus-E4UbpCzg4ZABG38UdrW-_OLLqZAvpc81nAkljVi86-zHfM6LU3gCdgGC4sLO3cglQYvcEgfx60OeKA/s1600/DSC_0045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPc8zw9CQ1OW2WUky5fhkz7zObTQ9V8Li1ECjeCMlM88EHzZTW04h2Dpqfxus-E4UbpCzg4ZABG38UdrW-_OLLqZAvpc81nAkljVi86-zHfM6LU3gCdgGC4sLO3cglQYvcEgfx60OeKA/s640/DSC_0045.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
As far as her personality goes, the Lord has truly blessed us with the most content babe. He certainly knew what we needed from number 4! She must know how loved and adored she is! Her big brothers dote on her daily, and as the saying goes she is truly daddy's girl and mommy's world.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhPz3BPF44Z7f0H7JMad9fjBpDVBLyXmz9fYSd65ygfUwnB-uIqfpBJbdd5L8Vz8CL6KTZxlB-fXObmCZyOIOL1WQIdcPfUc8wR_n4jb01uxFrl6CTfo8czUKV1WCdnyIVxC4Di1WfaU/s1600/2018-01-03_11-13-26_305.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhPz3BPF44Z7f0H7JMad9fjBpDVBLyXmz9fYSd65ygfUwnB-uIqfpBJbdd5L8Vz8CL6KTZxlB-fXObmCZyOIOL1WQIdcPfUc8wR_n4jb01uxFrl6CTfo8czUKV1WCdnyIVxC4Di1WfaU/s400/2018-01-03_11-13-26_305.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sometimes I wish I had a forcefield to protect her from her brothers, other times I think "who doesn't love a good smothering every now and again?"</div>
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This new baby stage is my absolute favorite, and knowing she's our last little one makes it all the sweeter. I have a feeling we're going to need to watch out because this one is going to be spoiled rotten! Having a girl has always been a dream of mine and I feel so incredibly blessed to be her mommy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRGI4SgiJwzgi0PCzCA3JBr3s5NXsO6oNoX204I4wMHj1ikvFnetBHdk4V6TlddM4Lvjx0Jpjaq3mSrBFPwbdMOVWoWC6BY_ufV4O_6k0AkZY2q0mDHHVgbceAa7wUZFnXO63AqQJUVA/s1600/IMG_0068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRGI4SgiJwzgi0PCzCA3JBr3s5NXsO6oNoX204I4wMHj1ikvFnetBHdk4V6TlddM4Lvjx0Jpjaq3mSrBFPwbdMOVWoWC6BY_ufV4O_6k0AkZY2q0mDHHVgbceAa7wUZFnXO63AqQJUVA/s400/IMG_0068.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ps-Girl shopping is the BEST!</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-46329140587805307542017-11-16T16:22:00.003-08:002017-11-16T16:25:18.850-08:00Asher is two!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzKDZPy1_2c5wNdRF4EOyCOqxREHaq8SVQ5LDXTPukB_imBceVXA6vZzmuakbevpO4OGZfVIMATB9JJq9vzUbTihZk6XTuD7cpQiNW40U6LveFfjUmhP50V7Scc8WbfmWvTtTc53HvGc/s1600/DSC_1254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzKDZPy1_2c5wNdRF4EOyCOqxREHaq8SVQ5LDXTPukB_imBceVXA6vZzmuakbevpO4OGZfVIMATB9JJq9vzUbTihZk6XTuD7cpQiNW40U6LveFfjUmhP50V7Scc8WbfmWvTtTc53HvGc/s640/DSC_1254.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This soon to be big brother is TWO years old today! We are so thankful for this beautiful boy of ours. He loves his the great outdoors, animals, cookies and all things musical. A true boy at heart, he is all about balls and bikes. Though he plays the shy guy while we're out and about, he is a goofball at home and has the sweetest smile and best laugh. And not to mention-awesome hair! Beloved by his brothers, he is spoiled rotten-and he knows it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Two weeks ago we celebrated his birthday in Fall fashion with friends and family- just in case baby girl decided to make an early debut. It was a perfect Fall afternoon and Asher loved playing with his sweet little friends in our backyard. We are so thankful for all of the thoughtful gifts and love for this growing boy of ours.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit;">Happy birthday Asher, we love you!</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-34277670267237770252017-11-07T18:55:00.002-08:002017-11-07T19:30:36.720-08:00Baby girl updateIt's November and that means it's baby girl's birth month! God willing, we will meet this little lady on November 21 via scheduled Cesarean. While I'm not at all looking forward to the surgery and recovery, I'm pleased to say that most of my anxiety has been overwhelmed by the sheer excitement and anticipation of meeting her. Can I just say here that shopping for baby girls is SOOOO much fun?!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkY9ksjOBsDRTQvWXvJF4kUd5BPDKKU-6rFZslo9ZxsvmuDZz1URTzHJKDkueAYS4X-xBPqvjAh0XfpKHiG7iH47jUcsUOm1oTtR9v1ocBCSQSBb5NB2F3U3zA1Ds1ekxjMmQFo6NJNdc/s1600/happiness-s-buying-baby-clothes-yes-it-is-jaclyn-5563876.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="489" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkY9ksjOBsDRTQvWXvJF4kUd5BPDKKU-6rFZslo9ZxsvmuDZz1URTzHJKDkueAYS4X-xBPqvjAh0XfpKHiG7iH47jUcsUOm1oTtR9v1ocBCSQSBb5NB2F3U3zA1Ds1ekxjMmQFo6NJNdc/s400/happiness-s-buying-baby-clothes-yes-it-is-jaclyn-5563876.png" width="388" /></a></div>
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Just kidding...but seriously. ;-)</div>
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As we enter the homestretch, I have to note how thankful I am that this has truly been an easy pregnancy so far. Of course, it's not been completely without those lovely back aches and pains, but overall I feel really good and would even say it's been the least strenuous of all four. The difference? I can only attribute it to being active and busy with my boys. In any case, I am anxious to reclaim some nighttime sleep and better mobility!<br />
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Here's a few bump pics from the last few months...it's bittersweet knowing this will be the last of them, but on some level that has made this season all the more special.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hqnUbd0gD8EJPCn2iSC3IbN2-Dt8xRw3ufY5ydDPw-AZzVTZJ2hjUwzL1o48kzXnotMvhp_maPZqUJbLXdwsU89Jag75OCbuOe9fKxVNyG9gWCOre70Gvo99I-7NTPETFf5cwFjmjvo/s1600/IMG_8247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hqnUbd0gD8EJPCn2iSC3IbN2-Dt8xRw3ufY5ydDPw-AZzVTZJ2hjUwzL1o48kzXnotMvhp_maPZqUJbLXdwsU89Jag75OCbuOe9fKxVNyG9gWCOre70Gvo99I-7NTPETFf5cwFjmjvo/s400/IMG_8247.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The picture above is with the Reynolds gals over fancy tea and delicious treats. My mom did a fabulous job planning a special tea to honor baby girl and it was great to reconnect with cousins and aunts.<br />
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And here I am below at 36 weeks. This pic was taken at my sweet prayer shower thrown by lovey friend Sarah and church home group. I am so thankful to share this new life alongside such amazing women and mamas! Baby girl is so loved all ready. I can't wait to introduce her to the world, to friends and family who have richly blessed with gifts, showered us in pink and prayers and sweet words of encouragement.<br />
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No doubt we have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-18390314447975739902017-11-05T18:33:00.001-08:002017-11-05T19:00:09.786-08:00Fall FestivitiesRipe with crisp mornings, gorgeous color and memories for the making, Fall is surely my favorite season. Sandwiched in between the state Fair and Halloween, October has been packed with plenty of fun family festivals, beautiful days and wayyy too much sugar. It's our first year celebrating Halloween in Apex and on top of a few community and church events we attended, we hit the jackpot trick or treating in our neighborhood. The boys are really blessed to be living in such a safe, family friendly hood where many of the houses went all out decorating. For me, I'll call it a day with my pretty purple mum and save the real decorating for Christmas. :-)<br />
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Here's a few pics from our church's annual "Reformation Day" party, Chris' work sponsored family Fall Festival and a local trunk or treat. The boy's were swimming in candy even before the 31st! What can I say, we do it up...<br />
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Our red power ranger, transformer and little monkey had a blast walking around with friends on Halloween night after pre-gaming the night with a pizza party in our shared cul-de-sac.<br />
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Seriously, this year shall go down as "Candy-geddon"! So.much.candy. I have to note here that 2017 was our first year to actually carve pumpkins with the boys. In the past we've decorated them with sticker faces and other kid friendly craft kids(much to mom's delight!), but this year the boys were super excited to carve their own jack-o-lanterns. Where reality met the road, they were excellent at scooping out the insides, and left daddy to do the rest. Good job honey!<br />
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On the downside, having kiddos with allergies and asthma is no fun when the seasons change, especially in a state that can't quite make up it's mind about what season it is! It's been a rough patch dealing with chronic coughs, colds and scary asthma flare ups. In any case, I'll choose to be grateful in this new month of November for the gift of modern medicine and again, all the joys awaiting us still this Fall-Asher's second birthday and the arrival of baby girl just to name a few!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-68055899550084793252017-10-26T05:39:00.000-07:002017-10-26T05:39:58.445-07:00The State Fair Reel-2017<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-56200385696636091302017-09-29T16:28:00.000-07:002017-09-29T16:28:54.614-07:00Flashback FridayRemember that time I didn't blog for almost an entire year? I'm sorry to say I missed some pretty big milestones and hence, here's a fun flashback to that time when Asher first started walking. He was by far our latest walker, so those precious first steps were a BIG deal. Is there anything cuter than a baby who has just learned to walk? That awkward baby Bambi phase is my fave!<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="900" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/211103084" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe>
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/211103084">Asher walks!</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user16493306">Rebecca Scott</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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He took his first steps in our Morrisville townhouse at around 15-16 months, and hasn't looked back since. :-)<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-68284490082917981842017-09-19T10:56:00.002-07:002017-09-19T11:02:40.265-07:00Summer sun and sandNow that school is in full swing and it feels like those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are behind us, I wanted to take a pause and share some of our fun summer highlights. Namely, our two big beach trips! The first we took to Fort Fisher with my family. We were so excited to share a whole week at the beach with Gigi, Poppy, my Grandma from FL and the McCune family(my sista!) all the way from TX. We started off the week with a cupcake gender reveal, and enjoyed lots of fun times on the beach, playing outside, hanging out at the local rec center, seeing sharks at the aquarium and more.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surprise!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evan loved boogie boarding-this was no doubt the best $10 we spent all summer!</td></tr>
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Sisters and cousins.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gigi and the big boys-can't go wrong with Batman capes!</td></tr>
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Less than a week after we got back from the beach with my family, we headed out to Topsail to celebrate Chris' cousin's special wedding day. We enjoyed even more sunny, sandy days with the Scott family, toured the Sea Turtle rescue center with the boys and Aunt Paige and were so thankful to be a part of Gracyn's beautiful beach wedding.<br />
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Aunt Catherine and the boys!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEwyIVXGuQiN0vDL9y8Xbj2u4ulzW6r8rFr3kk_3w-9ryGkWOuZT6MGxxKIhiFHnGV4z0qzo2wKTzdYfCUvovDS_nn02ItJ0VPhqTs62MQYnS-7Rus0Kv1FCj5ODu6qX7vaikWMI1eoI/s1600/IMG_6913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEwyIVXGuQiN0vDL9y8Xbj2u4ulzW6r8rFr3kk_3w-9ryGkWOuZT6MGxxKIhiFHnGV4z0qzo2wKTzdYfCUvovDS_nn02ItJ0VPhqTs62MQYnS-7Rus0Kv1FCj5ODu6qX7vaikWMI1eoI/s640/IMG_6913.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Dapper Asher-just missing his shades!</div>
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Learning about sea turtles...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach hair don't care! </td></tr>
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More cousins!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6B6ViMzF7jm3agqdMs_ho_FE6K2qNbf_14R_8U3tkr3z0Meq6eH1AQOn9ERmBscV5tbi5Nlc-XdZuU3CxTxo65BANVX5xB2PeQDiJF4a5_sQfL9XXSuXlZv115T1qAjYf_m8B8ShZByE/s1600/IMG_6975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6B6ViMzF7jm3agqdMs_ho_FE6K2qNbf_14R_8U3tkr3z0Meq6eH1AQOn9ERmBscV5tbi5Nlc-XdZuU3CxTxo65BANVX5xB2PeQDiJF4a5_sQfL9XXSuXlZv115T1qAjYf_m8B8ShZByE/s640/IMG_6975.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
In other summer news, we celebrated many family birthdays, and the boys had lots of fun at different VBS and science summer camps. We moved to Apex in June and continue to love our new home and neighborhood. Until next time, sayonara summer!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-39848629392032058372017-09-12T12:10:00.001-07:002017-09-12T12:10:21.663-07:00Back to blogging<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hello dear blog, long time no see! Instead of trying to capture the last year that's flown by "unblogged," I'm going to pick up right here with the present. Tuesday, September 12th finds us living happily in Apex, NC, loving our church family at Sovereign Grace, homeschooling a second grader and kindergartener with a very active toddler underfoot and looking forward to the arrival of our sweet surprise baby #4-a girl!</div>
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Look at these handsome young gentlemen on their first day of school! This year we are excited to travel down a new road in our homeschooling journey and have joined a local chapter of "Classical Conversations." If you're not familiar with the methodology behind Classical, Christian education, I encourage you to <a href="https://www.classicalconversations.com/node/112663">click here</a> to learn more. I mention this because it will no doubt color a big part of our at home studies and I hope to blog lots of fun CC resources in the future. Every Monday we attend our CC co-op and the boys have loved it so far! </div>
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<i> First day in "Foundations."</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVu6hrOD_Hd6XMQdLWW4MzkAHSaNVruzX5WRTMx002_r9CDaa1DsIglLY5Sg1kg2VvU5w2QZDV_HODKW99J4nGCXk5XdOcXWcgNCrnrAWQqyw84nG2Rbt3qn2bN-mKfdyt_UNHPuv47o/s1600/IMG_7533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVu6hrOD_Hd6XMQdLWW4MzkAHSaNVruzX5WRTMx002_r9CDaa1DsIglLY5Sg1kg2VvU5w2QZDV_HODKW99J4nGCXk5XdOcXWcgNCrnrAWQqyw84nG2Rbt3qn2bN-mKfdyt_UNHPuv47o/s320/IMG_7533.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzM6vbF-y4qYbyFUGLc6KMmbhTaCMeYIxdTXVwRvfV1sgmTM8_nSp6KT5Ky0mOvAO9WVudmzQFFBWY2Kr9q2coOh9ecy41UwxTlU3jQm6PUG0zEohoa5cs0ISQl2BFVN3sf5kwb7kp6c/s1600/IMG_7534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzM6vbF-y4qYbyFUGLc6KMmbhTaCMeYIxdTXVwRvfV1sgmTM8_nSp6KT5Ky0mOvAO9WVudmzQFFBWY2Kr9q2coOh9ecy41UwxTlU3jQm6PUG0zEohoa5cs0ISQl2BFVN3sf5kwb7kp6c/s320/IMG_7534.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Asher is quickly approaching the trying/terrible/tenacious/terrific twos(you pick) and is too stinking cute for his big boy pants. Just this weekend he transitioned out of our 8yr old beloved crib and into his own toddler bed. I'm happy to report that despite a few nap time gliches, so far so good. He adores his brothers, his special fox blanket, and all things musical. Interestingly, while he continues to grow into Evan's twin by appearance(the side by side pictures could be featured in "The Twilight Zone"), his personality is very much like Bennett's. For one thing, he was made for the shade and loves to be outside. While he goes by many nicknames(a record number really) his current is "cookie" because he a little cookie monster and has quite the sweet tooth-I must admit he comes by it honestly! Otherwise his favorite foods include strawberries, Chic-Fil-A, and playdough. :-)</div>
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As I mentioned earlier, we moved! And hit the jackpot of family friendly neighborhoods. There are so many kiddos on our cul-de-sac that my big boys spend most of their time outside riding bikes, scooting scooters, jumping on our trampolines and having all sorts of wild adventures with friends. All I need now is an upright dinner bell or megaphone to call them in every afternoon(and a blindfold for when I see them swinging on trees by sheets and bungee cords). You really can't put a high enough value on that!<br />
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In other current news, we are almost 30 weeks along with baby girl!!! I've had a great pregnancy so far and though those annoying pregnancy aches and pains have certainly kicked in, I can't complain! After three boys we were over the moon excited to welcome a dash(or more like tsunami sized splash) of pink into our home. No doubt she will be a treasure to her adoring brothers. I'm so thankful for this gift of new life and very much looking to forward to not being the only girl in the house anymore!<br />
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Godwilling I will not completely fall off the blogging wagon again and will be back soon with a quick look back on our whirlwind summer. Like when we took this trip to the beach...<br />
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and this one...till next time! :-)<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-43010169238824884492016-12-07T12:35:00.002-08:002016-12-07T13:01:27.334-08:00One and doneJust like that, Asher turned one on November 16th. Yes, this post is late- but better late than never! Here's the traditional birthday video below, I can hardly believe a year has past. It seems like just yesterday he was cuddled under last year's Christmas tree.<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hv1S8k3sE-A" width="560"></iframe>
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As I reflect on this past year with this third boy of ours, I have nothing but abundant thanks for every precious day passed. It's true you know, the more babies you have the more you realize that they don't keep! I can say without regret that I have truly hugged this babe tight and savored up every chunky bit of him.<br />
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At one year old, Asher Elliot is silly, thoughtful, content and loved. He is a people person and has the BEST smile. His disposition is somewhat serious and laid back most of the time(thank God for an easy baby!) and that makes his dimples all the deeper when he smiles and laughs.<br />
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His favorite food is anything cold and sweet, most recently a vanilla frosty from Wendy's. While he isn't as into the television, he does love Elmo and has started to become interested in turning the pages of his board books. Other favorite interests include bathtime and any kind of ball. More than anything though, he loves and is adored by his brothers. Nothing beats spending time with the big boys-little do they know they are all each other's best gift!<br />
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We are so thankful for you sweet Smash, happiest birthday love!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-21761164687003329032016-11-04T11:55:00.001-07:002016-11-04T12:23:40.614-07:00Once-a-Week Unit Studies by Homeschool Legacy<center style="text-align: left;">
If you are a fan of unit studies, you will love using the historically rich and engaging<a href="http://homeschoollegacy.com/product/cooking-up-history-with-the-founding-presidents/"> Once-a-Week Micro-Studies</a> from <a href="http://homeschoollegacy.com/">Homeschool Legacy.</a> These compact unit studies are so easy to sprinkle on top your regular homeschool routine, and really help to bring history to life. </center>
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<a href="http://homeschoollegacy.com/"><img border="0" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXCZtxrkMt6dX_FzS-4_AYbJLxfdygH5iZATlVJAIYYYlEF8xrNMrBOda0RtlwTXXQjOYsekI7F40z7kbg2tIgFoHp37XJOzhWMTZHtYgfgKwk6OMhuyQwdwc4bjnPxFMdiUORlilpAs/s640/HLBANNER2.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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The <a href="http://rebeccascott.blogspot.com/2016/11/once-week-unit-studies-by-homeschool.html">Once-a-Week Unit studies</a> are very low maintenance and yet so much fun to incorporate into your homeschool day. I love that they are intended for the whole family to enjoy together with great read aloud suggestions and user friendly activities. Whenever I come across materials that embody the whole idea of the "one room schoolhouse" I wholeheartedly embrace it-Homeschool Legacy offers just that. The Unit Studies are designed for 2nd through 12th grade and to be used-you guessed it-just once a week! Similarly, the Once-a-Week Microstudies are geared towards 1st thru 8th graders, to be used in 3 separate 30 minute lesson times. </center>
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Since we love learning about the presidents, my boys were excited to review the Once-a-Week Microstudy "<a href="http://homeschoollegacy.com/product/cooking-up-history-with-the-founding-presidents/">Cooking Up History with the Founding Presidents."</a> Who knew that Thomas Jefferson helped introduce french fries and creme brûlée to America? Thank you Mr. President, much appreciated!</center>
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<a href="http://homeschoollegacy.com/product/cooking-up-history-with-the-founding-presidents/"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89kzbd-QsAyC1HdKWqm5KeeLyOfR0J_sX6ZTHMRj_sSxEUmDDq54hwelSYcNLQqyVjfCH7Oont1expvrAy7i-FkdW2M0J5u-pVME-KfYXxFaShnhhUcquwwjHD-wHtM5LVn_DbSM3Ed4/s640/Cooking-Up-History2-580x780.jpg" width="474" /></a></div>
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This interesting study on our founding fathers came in a 21 page downloadable packet, and covered cooking through the lens of George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. We especially enjoying baking up a delicious cherry pie in honor of George and Martha Washington! Cooking is a great hands on activity that you can do while talking about history. In my experience it's always a plus to give my boys something productive to do with their hands as they hear-helps to focus that fidgeting!</center>
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Aside from favorite foods, this unit study also did a great job providing a biographical sketch of each president, included links to videos, explanation of language words, and other fun facts.</center>
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I also have to note that these "grab and go" easy downloads come at a great value. The <a href="http://rebeccascott.blogspot.com/2016/11/once-week-unit-studies-by-homeschool.html">Once-A-Week Micro Study</a> we reviewed is only $12 and is available in paperback OR conveniently as a digital download. Other titles in the Unit Study series include:</center>
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<ul>
<li>Christmas Comes to America</li>
<li>Birds of a Feather</li>
<li>Knights and Nobles</li>
<li>Lewis and Clark-from Sea to Shining Sea</li>
<li>Victoria and her World</li>
</ul>
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...and so much more! You can get ready for Thanksgiving by adding the Once-A-Week Microstudy "<a href="http://homeschoollegacy.com/product/thanksgiving-with-the-pilgrims-once-a-week-micro-study-grades-1-8/">Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims"</a> by <a href="http://www.homeschoollegacy.com/">Homeschool Legacy</a> to your schedule!</center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-12430893539559042262016-10-23T16:55:00.001-07:002016-10-23T16:55:28.540-07:00The State Fair 2016The sights, the sounds, the smells...nothing comes close to the NC state fair! A hallmark of Fall, we were all excited to go to the fair this year and eat our share of kettle corn and cotton candy. As usual, it was an experience.<br />
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Over the years we've built up our own tricks and trades of the infamous North Carolina state fair. We know where we park, have our favorite fried foodie stands, and by now have developed our own family fair route of sorts. To avoid the crazy crowds, we go during the week and midday. However, as much planning you can put into a traditional outing like this, there are some things you just can't control and don't plan for. This year, it was the near 90 degree weather in October. And so, we took home pink faces for souvenirs!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTHJz931ZQkE71qO-kPB_kTBS7XUhb9s3v_EThw2F807B11gA7MBo9QZRs8xaOBo7vFL85sLY0pvTQ4Q2ZZ93TfiLuzB6VB7S9A13-235qCkqE2gWDCBFNkV1E9p5sOSnI7fasBKtQak/s1600/DSC_0854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTHJz931ZQkE71qO-kPB_kTBS7XUhb9s3v_EThw2F807B11gA7MBo9QZRs8xaOBo7vFL85sLY0pvTQ4Q2ZZ93TfiLuzB6VB7S9A13-235qCkqE2gWDCBFNkV1E9p5sOSnI7fasBKtQak/s640/DSC_0854.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asher's first fair!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQuazZO9-DtcCvDxLN-Ed32HCVjwRWt1ss5hgJheZT5i_uWfsPybN4UH9tmuCGw_iosQ6roiurKwS_ShyphenhyphenNTyPikCo6zFZpcp-6EyUZmDt2sCYmuksbu_16i5N3djhL7q2G85gC3VCMNw/s1600/DSC_0858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQuazZO9-DtcCvDxLN-Ed32HCVjwRWt1ss5hgJheZT5i_uWfsPybN4UH9tmuCGw_iosQ6roiurKwS_ShyphenhyphenNTyPikCo6zFZpcp-6EyUZmDt2sCYmuksbu_16i5N3djhL7q2G85gC3VCMNw/s640/DSC_0858.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNWgD-CodAlAV0vpBjVBhAv83v9umWJhd1Wu4GPZoRg2cosHECX8IYipr1I0lYfBT1E6_PgmAtZzjsviJhbFCHY9td5kKrLY6jZAYVvAxQLT2SmocS2tTxQFczPFndymXxNDDg7RtD5I/s1600/DSC_0859-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNWgD-CodAlAV0vpBjVBhAv83v9umWJhd1Wu4GPZoRg2cosHECX8IYipr1I0lYfBT1E6_PgmAtZzjsviJhbFCHY9td5kKrLY6jZAYVvAxQLT2SmocS2tTxQFczPFndymXxNDDg7RtD5I/s640/DSC_0859-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtNH9GNbEfmSZl0FtQtjTP2PrCh5eNZmHwIARqc0Je-d3xOiXVY6IXDOR8d1ukhvtvFQLykz4p7L_NRqw_fOLw4FaQauB_gO-IjiS6BDCRpRICVZ7VetS4ejtUg_OvhWJTiQIoy4RDxM/s1600/DSC_0861-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtNH9GNbEfmSZl0FtQtjTP2PrCh5eNZmHwIARqc0Je-d3xOiXVY6IXDOR8d1ukhvtvFQLykz4p7L_NRqw_fOLw4FaQauB_gO-IjiS6BDCRpRICVZ7VetS4ejtUg_OvhWJTiQIoy4RDxM/s640/DSC_0861-2.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...because it's tradition.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2IDLiSWNs8QI4Wh1gf4G-BZEfbxKYpxsyQCYsRQ1STYql78QUKqQwe73PH3WiRMGc62USnnOt39A7iwGAj-RYPgNk7ywfCvyLoLuVF0wGHdBZ7cdRQZJXsMhyphenhyphensHRxLXtMdh1_h5ogtw/s1600/DSC_0860-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2IDLiSWNs8QI4Wh1gf4G-BZEfbxKYpxsyQCYsRQ1STYql78QUKqQwe73PH3WiRMGc62USnnOt39A7iwGAj-RYPgNk7ywfCvyLoLuVF0wGHdBZ7cdRQZJXsMhyphenhyphensHRxLXtMdh1_h5ogtw/s640/DSC_0860-2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFk7bkW3IdHAzcTQZBxnTcJmj-ysZZbWFIxGzAjLh756VqZe-3hzYRv_ZewDRCq8SWpVHDNqXK0ePhX0W9us-58Y6V3uji8sT20wMKSigLG5HfFthHkDWuIqes2OMMipfo6Bmo2StVip4/s1600/DSC_0869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFk7bkW3IdHAzcTQZBxnTcJmj-ysZZbWFIxGzAjLh756VqZe-3hzYRv_ZewDRCq8SWpVHDNqXK0ePhX0W9us-58Y6V3uji8sT20wMKSigLG5HfFthHkDWuIqes2OMMipfo6Bmo2StVip4/s640/DSC_0869.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Future pilot?? I wonder...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz81oxCu6Qh6FByPuVC74B_l2oYVF5dzRb9WShsEIfSbD8bKcoSxcuJLx5CfDTJsD8L8mq7uni7h29GTrvPgABTSrOfpWWVHIFwYTOWaD7NpwrZLZNgv-gMvEsVvMVGrfBKVWT7ZWdABY/s1600/DSC_0874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz81oxCu6Qh6FByPuVC74B_l2oYVF5dzRb9WShsEIfSbD8bKcoSxcuJLx5CfDTJsD8L8mq7uni7h29GTrvPgABTSrOfpWWVHIFwYTOWaD7NpwrZLZNgv-gMvEsVvMVGrfBKVWT7ZWdABY/s640/DSC_0874.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother Nature was a new addition this year</td></tr>
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In ride news, the boys rode their first roller coaster this year. Chris said they were probably the most terrified pair on that kiddie coaster, which made their reward all the sweeter. If asked they will say that was their favorite part of the fair, and that it was "SO COOL!!!!!"<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFe-GgZ_PwFEunyZPEO5BKT8Dcyk5msQBvff7VBkw0QHFbtqEcNWDMBHeVphUgRs0O5FY0UZi6w2ShljRagjOiO6K_MJirs5OXsHOG1vkq26KxKBWRkQZRb0PNORefictuodp9gMEtY8/s1600/DSC_0887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFe-GgZ_PwFEunyZPEO5BKT8Dcyk5msQBvff7VBkw0QHFbtqEcNWDMBHeVphUgRs0O5FY0UZi6w2ShljRagjOiO6K_MJirs5OXsHOG1vkq26KxKBWRkQZRb0PNORefictuodp9gMEtY8/s640/DSC_0887.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The carousel will always be my favorite ride.</td></tr>
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Last but not least, our traditional family photo at the hush puppy mill. We started taking this picture over 9 years ago on one of our first dates to the fair. Suffice it to say, it has changed a lot!<br />
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Another fair in the books...next year we will not miss the ribbon fries or pig races. Always something to look forward to. :-)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-42744143380902470102016-10-19T11:09:00.000-07:002016-10-19T11:12:16.624-07:00Educeri Lesson Subscription Service, a Review<a href="https://educeri.com/">Educeri.....Educeri a division of DATAworks</a> offers lessons for grades k-12 in a wide variety of subjects available with the <a href="https://teach.educeri.com/lesson/">Educeri Lesson Subscription Service.</a> For those multi sensory learners out there, using a tool like this helps to reinforce and explore concepts in a new way.<br />
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<a href="http://www.educeri.com/"><img alt="Educeri Lesson Subscription Service Reviews" border="0" height="129" src="https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2016%20TOS%20Crew/10%20-%20October/17%20Educeri/Educeri%20Logo_zpsicbcmya1.jpg" width="400" /></a></center>
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There are over 1000 ready to teach lessons available with the <a href="https://teach.educeri.com/lesson/">Educeri Lesson Subscription Service.</a> As an example of the variety provided, here is a screen shot of a simple search I put in customized to our homeschool. That is, first grade + language arts. </center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYzETDmQgYf20DUzajhfHwNaYrZx_d_5xivSV3Dwosl1IklUFrNvkHPLXJg0fzbDwBy1YFvCxeo7aS3xVQ5iNETn5EbcZbxpPbPGwNOKbcz7ePqkGjStmzawTv6rNsW4tfcrkvFyG8ZY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-10-19+at+1.50.01+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="515" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYzETDmQgYf20DUzajhfHwNaYrZx_d_5xivSV3Dwosl1IklUFrNvkHPLXJg0fzbDwBy1YFvCxeo7aS3xVQ5iNETn5EbcZbxpPbPGwNOKbcz7ePqkGjStmzawTv6rNsW4tfcrkvFyG8ZY/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-10-19+at+1.50.01+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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As a mom to a first grader, I loved that the lessons are very colorful and utilize fun characters and bold prints to visually engage the student with whatever concept he/she is working with. </center>
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<a href="http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/educeri-lesson-subscription-service-educeri-a-division-of-dataworks/" target="_blank"><img alt="Educeri Lesson Subscription Service Reviews" border="0" height="241" src="https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2016%20TOS%20Crew/10%20-%20October/17%20Educeri/Grade%203_zps4syyw6ob.jpg" width="320" /></a></center>
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Organized by grade level and subject, lessons are easily navigated by teacher and students alike. Also, each lesson comes with an easy to download handout to print for extra practice. This is a huge bonus for those of us who are more tactile learners, and can be helpful for the younger ones who aren't using the computer as fluently. </center>
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<a href="http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/educeri-lesson-subscription-service-educeri-a-division-of-dataworks/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Educeri Lesson Subscription Service Reviews" border="0" height="400" src="https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2016%20TOS%20Crew/10%20-%20October/17%20Educeri/More%20than%201000%20Handouts_zpsgzuu8ysr.jpg" width="359" /></a></div>
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Most lessons are presented in what I would refer to as "slideshow" style, and are very colorful. While there is no audio provided, the concepts are easily laid out for the teacher to dictate. If your child is older and reading fluently on his own, the lack of sound is probably less of an issue. Here is a screenshot below of an example of a slide in the "Blending Sounds" lesson. You can see that the dictation style makes it easy to clearly communicate the concept with your student. </center>
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Overall I did enjoy using <a href="http://www.educeri.com/">Educeri</a> and would recommend it as a reliable resource to have at your fingertips when you need to fill in a quick lesson plan. The variety of subjects offered over all grade levels and easy at home or on the go access-plus printable materials- makes this a great homeschool tool.</center>
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Check out <a href="http://www.educeri.com/">Educeri...Educeri a division of DATAworks</a> on social media at the links below:</center>
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<span style="background-color: #f0f4f7; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.479999542236328px;">Facebook: </span><a class="bbc_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/educeri/" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(168, 182, 207); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #334466; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.479999542236328px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/educeri/</a><br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.479999542236328px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f4f7; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.479999542236328px;">Twitter: </span><a class="bbc_link" href="https://twitter.com/teacheduceri" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(168, 182, 207); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #334466; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.479999542236328px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/teacheduceri</a><span style="background-color: #f0f4f7; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.479999542236328px;"> @educeri</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.479999542236328px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f4f7; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.479999542236328px;">Pinterest: </span><a class="bbc_link" href="https://www.pinterest.com/Educeri/" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(168, 182, 207); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #334466; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.479999542236328px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.pinterest.com/Educeri/</a></center>
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And, to see what the crew thought, be sure to read more reviews by clicking the banner below.</center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-77161866236498671812016-10-12T07:18:00.002-07:002016-10-13T05:28:14.491-07:00MyFreezEasy-a Review<center style="text-align: left;">
Freezer cooking has always seemed pretty intimidating to me. Enter the <a href="https://myfreezeasy.com/join/">MyFreezEasy Freezer Meal Plan Membership</a>. When I saw that the Schoolhouse Review Crew would get a chance to review this online program, I jumped at the chance to up my meal planning game. <a href="http://myfreezeasy.com/">MyFreezEasy</a> brings freezer cooking to your kitchen and offers a variety of recipes for all taste buds.</center>
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Learning to meal plan and freezer cook is such a valuable skill to hon in the kitchen, and will prove your friend many times over in those busy seasons. Plus, it saves time and money! Like I said, the freezer cooking part has always left many questions swirling through my head and so I never fully tackled it. Back when I was very pregnant with my #2, I made a few "beginner" type freezer meals since I knew cooking would not be at the top of my priority list after baby boy made his entrance. Once our meals from friends slowed down, it was so incredibly nice to simply pull out a meal, thaw and throw it in the crockpot. Fastforward four years, and I am finally getting back into the idea thanks to <a href="http://www.myfreezeasy.com/">MyFreezEasy. </a></center>
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<a href="http://myfreezeasy.com/"><img alt="MyFreezEasy.com Freezer Meal Plan Membership {MyFreezEasy}" border="0" src="https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2016%20TOS%20Crew/10%20-%20October/10%20-%20My%20FreezEasy/MyFreezEASY_zpsavqc4mhw.png" /></a></div>
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If you're a visual person like myself, <a href="https://myfreezeasy.com/">MyFreezEasy</a>
offers lots of videos on their website to help you better understand
the art of freezer cooking. In these "how to" style videos you will
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Erin Chase, the brains behind this delicious operation, has done a wonderful job organizing and presenting all of the meal plans and recipes on her website. Each new month offers a pre-designed meal plan that offers 5-10 recipes to make 10-20 meals. Each plan includes the recipe, grocery list, assembly instructions and labels in case you choose to freeze for later. If you have special nutritional needs, modifications are also included to make meals gluten or dairy free. </center>
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Plans include:</center>
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<li>Traditional Meals</li>
<li>Gluten Free Meals</li>
<li>Clean Eats Meals</li>
<li>Chicken Only Meals</li>
<li>Ground Beef Only Meals</li>
<li>Slow Cooker Meals</li>
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<a href="http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/myfreezeasy-com-freezer-meal-plan-membership-myfreezeasy/" target="_blank"><img alt="MyFreezEasy.com Freezer Meal Plan Membership {MyFreezEasy}" border="0" src="https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2016%20TOS%20Crew/10%20-%20October/10%20-%20My%20FreezEasy/July-Meal-Plans640x640_zpssnohnyv9.jpg" /></a></center>
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How it works is simple. Prep(you can't get out of that!), freeze, thaw, and eat-voila! Instructions are clear also that you can simply prepare and enjoy, the the most "bang for your time" comes in the freezer cooking. In about an hour the goal is to make up to 10 meals to stock your freezer with-think about it ladies, you could spend an hour making just one meal!<br />
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If you know me at all you'll know I'm not the most adventurous eater and can be sort of picky about food. While there is a TON of variety offered here, I just found a handful of recipes that I liked and were different enough from what our family usually eats. That is not to say that someone else wouldn't love the "all chicken plan." With the premium membership, you also have the ability to "create your own" meal plan, and that was especially helpful to me. </div>
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<a href="http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/myfreezeasy-com-freezer-meal-plan-membership-myfreezeasy/" target="_blank"><img alt="MyFreezEasy.com Freezer Meal Plan Membership {MyFreezEasy}" border="0" src="https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2016%20TOS%20Crew/10%20-%20October/10%20-%20My%20FreezEasy/MyFreezEasy%20Printable%20Sample_zpso43h8llp.jpg" /></a></center>
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The <a href="https://myfreezeasy.com/join/">MyFreezEasy Freezer Meal Plan Membership</a> is $95 a year or $10 monthly, and includes a bonus side dish cookbook. Happy cooking!</center>
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To connect with <a href="http://myfreezeasy.com/">MyFreezEasy</a> on social media, see the links below:</center>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.479999542236328px;"><b>Social Media Links:</b></i><br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.479999542236328px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f4f7; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.479999542236328px;">Facebook: </span><a class="bbc_link" href="http://www.facebook.com/freezeasy" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(168, 182, 207); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #334466; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.479999542236328px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/freezeasy</a><br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.479999542236328px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f4f7; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.479999542236328px;">Instagram: </span><a class="bbc_link" href="http://www.instagram.com/freezeasy" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(168, 182, 207); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #334466; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.479999542236328px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.instagram.com/freezeasy</a><br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.479999542236328px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f4f7; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.479999542236328px;">Pinterest: </span><a class="bbc_link" href="http://www.pinterest.com/5dollardinners/freezeasy" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(168, 182, 207); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #334466; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.479999542236328px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.pinterest.com/5dollardinners/freezeasy</a></center>
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And, be sure to click on the banner to check out what the rest of the crew thought. </center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-51749685109450619162016-10-11T18:26:00.003-07:002016-10-12T05:19:38.962-07:00Happy Fall Ya'll!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello blog! As per usual, I am woefully behind on keep things up to date-I blame motherhood...and Netflix. Fall is here, and we are loving the crisp morning air and pumpkin cheerios. I can hardly believe that October is upon us so soon-it happened overnight! To start, we bid farewell to September with our fourth annual Brother's Day celebration. It was Asher's first and the boys were so excited to welcome him into this fast growing Scott family tradition of ours.<br />
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This year Brother's Day included the delicious Duck Donuts, our traditional cookie cake, Mellow Mushroom and more-yes, it quickly turned food themed lol! Otherwise we got to read to dogs at the library, exchanged lemurs for gifts(inside story), and the big boys went to the movies to see "Secret Life of Pets." Sugar + animals=win win. The day was topped off with an afternoon bike ride since Bennett had just gotten his new bike the day before, and it was perfect. It's our goal that these special days will make for lifelong memories and serve to knit these boys closer in brotherhood and friendship. I hope too that every September 17 beyond our four walls will bring them back together to do something fun and grand and adventurous, because that's what you do on Brother's Day. </div>
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Things are chugging right along on the school front. Since we homeschool year round, we have already had our first track out and are now hitting the books again. Today we talked about R-changed vowels, drew jack-o-lanterns, solved word problems, watched videos online about erosion and the letter Q, read about King Sargon of Akkad and Snoopy the flying Ace(a la Charlie Brown) and more. Truly, these are precious days.</div>
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We are in two different co-ops here, and have already had a fun field trip to the fire station with one. I may have to dub October "community helpers" month as we are also visiting a recycling plant and the police station this month. A few days after visiting the firestation, Evan was asked to create a town in his geography class(with our church co-op). I smiled as he told me that he named his town "FireWest," as I knew immediately from where his inspiration came. I am also always humbled by these kind and brave men and women who take the time to encourage and educate our kiddos. Thank you Cary Fire Department!</div>
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Our other co-op meets weekly at our church and both boys have really come to look forward to seeing their friends on Wednesday mornings. Speaking of church, we are grateful to have found a new church home and have been so encouraged taking membership classes there. The boys have made fast friends and so have we-this has been an immense blessing in this transition from Wilson to Morrisville, and we are so thankful!</div>
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As we turned the page to October we had some unfriendly germs visit. I'm not sure from where they came but rest assured we've a small battalion of OTC meds to fight them off with. Bennett had the worst of it and was hit with strep and a side of Scarlet Fever. No typo there-Scarlet fever, what?!! Thankfully it turned out to be a mild case, and we know now to be very proactive if he ever catches strep again as his special dna is more prone to those types of crazy complications. I should also note that all of this transpired in a hurricane. Over the weekend Matthew swept up the coast and his NC hard with massive flooding and devastation. Though our immediate area did not experience as much flooding, we lost power for almost two days. To loose only a freezer full of food in the midst of such loss of life and property, we are continually thankful. <br />
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In other news, did I mention that Fall is here? This afternoon it was 66 and sunny outside. It was just perfect, and I look forward to embracing the outdoors a little tighter in the days to come. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The raccoon hat has returned! It will be a sad day indeed when these boys are too cool for animal hats. Also, this one is closing in on 11 months!</td></tr>
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With a wedding around the corner, the state fair, births, birthdays, homecoming and Halloween, I know the rest of October will fly by. In the spirit of enjoying the everyday moments, I'll leave you with a snapshot of the big boys. What are they doing you ask? Here they are, in all their glorious naivety, trying their very best to "blow up the house." With a bike pump...#Ican'teven<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-24581386840199402882016-09-16T10:46:00.000-07:002016-09-16T14:00:29.563-07:00Double digit boysToday Mr. Smoosh himself turns 10 months! In case you didn't know, these first double digits are a huge mile marker in the mommy world. He has 4 teeth, a distinct taste for ice cream, and is entering that mobile and mischievous stage with gusto.<br />
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Here's a sweet glimpse of all three boys at 10 months, dare I say Asher is slowly but surely taking on his own unique look. Here's a blast from the past.<br />
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Evan at 10 months...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ipCE0tBRHOov_V3Gw1sWV8zY2Pr-x9hWZ8W3NQnzip_8-7skFBpN5DXB2Crs8mkvTeZesxUCdR754c2mU2ZsXWOPI4U0nusNUFiZ4FTgPN0ud9jzQuj4OVVT0yPmzA77R8q0RdnoYVU/s1600/DSC_1407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ipCE0tBRHOov_V3Gw1sWV8zY2Pr-x9hWZ8W3NQnzip_8-7skFBpN5DXB2Crs8mkvTeZesxUCdR754c2mU2ZsXWOPI4U0nusNUFiZ4FTgPN0ud9jzQuj4OVVT0yPmzA77R8q0RdnoYVU/s640/DSC_1407.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Bennett at 10 months...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6yJOC2O5o0y0K2rI4_KlY6Cxnr_b68_AVIwc0iht7bvIQSGc9_48xdKiGTv9pwbMO0dDcHCU6tJvRCzosoDMm9JFPpyQu0rU1bhMyqFN5cT89qu2GeUEIL8mDPh5cl_dFq6T1qTUJBQ/s1600/untitled-2-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6yJOC2O5o0y0K2rI4_KlY6Cxnr_b68_AVIwc0iht7bvIQSGc9_48xdKiGTv9pwbMO0dDcHCU6tJvRCzosoDMm9JFPpyQu0rU1bhMyqFN5cT89qu2GeUEIL8mDPh5cl_dFq6T1qTUJBQ/s640/untitled-2-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Asher at 10 months...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only two more months to the big "1!"</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-61526011670204593912016-09-07T17:36:00.002-07:002016-09-08T05:18:18.919-07:00Exploring the stars with Apologia-a review<center style="text-align: left;">
We were so excited to get our hands on <a href="http://www.apologia.com/168-astrono">Exploring Creation with Astronomy, 2nd Edition</a> from <a href="http://www.apologia.com/">Apologia </a><a href="http://www.apologia.com/">Educational Ministries</a> to review. I have long been a fan of Apologia, and knew from the start of our homeschooling journey that we would eventually use it for our science curriculum. After exploring this new Astronomy course with my first grader over the past few months, we are happy to join the chorus of praises and sing that it not disappoint! </center>
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<a href="http://www.apologia.com/"><img alt="Apologia: Exploring Creation with Astronomy Review" border="0" src="https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2016%20TOS%20Crew/04-20%20Apologia%20Writers%20in%20Residence/apologia-logo.jpg_zpswpuj9gxg.png" /></a></div>
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The new and improved <a href="http://www.apologia.com/168-astrono">Exploring Creation with Astronomy, 2nd Edition</a> is part of the Young Explorer series and is geared towards students grades K-6. For this review we received:</center>
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<li>Student textbook</li>
<li>Note booking Journal</li>
<li>JR. Note booking Journal</li>
<li>Audio CD</li>
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<a href="http://www.apologia.com/168-astrono"><img alt="Apologia: Exploring Creation with Astronomy Review" border="0" src="https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2016%20TOS%20Crew/09%20-%20September/06%20-%20Exploring%20Creation%20with%20Astronomy%202nd%20Edition/Exploring%20Creation%20with%20Astronomy%202nd%20Edition_zpsjju4xhux.jpg" /></a></div>
The sturdy hardback textbook offers an in depth astronomy course complete with beautiful, breathtaking photographs. As you learn and "explore creation" through astronomy, <a href="http://www.apologia.com/">Apologia</a> is faithful to point to its creator and teaches from a biblical center and worldview. What I also appreciate about the textbook is how fluidly it reads. While incredibly comprehensive, its conversational style reads with the ease and enjoyment of a living book. This top quality textbook includes 14 lessons and covers the sun, moon, each of the planets, stars, space travel and more. I really enjoyed the small "think about this" excerpts within the chapters-they make for great talking points with your kids! </div>
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<a href="http://www.apologia.com/168-astrono"><img alt="Apologia: Exploring Creation with Astronomy Review" border="0" src="https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2016%20TOS%20Crew/09%20-%20September/06%20-%20Exploring%20Creation%20with%20Astronomy%202nd%20Edition/homeschool-curriculum_zps7jjrqwlz.jpg" /></a></center>
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Because we love all things multi sensory, the audio CD element was an awesome addition. It is a complete and engaging reading of the textbook by the author herself, Jeanine Fulbright. We casually (and by casually I mean on the way to the grocery store) listen to the chapter readings of the CD after we've read the textbook and completed any related notebooking activities and/or experiments; in this way the audio reading acts as a last layer to further "seal" the information.<br />
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The student activities were also huge hits with both of my boys. They are easily outlined and you can complete most experiments with the help of common household objects. Most importantly, they are FUN! One of the first ones we did was to create an original mnemonic device to remember the names of the planets. Of course we came up with all kinds of silly sayings, and ultimately landed on "Master Velociraptor Evan Matthew Just Sat Under Noodles." #SixYearOlds. :-) It's safe to say my kids were pulled in from chapter one. More than that, they were excited to start learning about astronomy. Below is a picture of Evan standing under our next project, a balloon model of the solar system. </div>
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Since my kids are younger, I read aloud the from the textbook before moving to journal time. We primarily used the "junior" version of the notebooking journal, which is perfect for for those younger kiddos. It's a wonderful and well done complement to the student text and Evan really enjoyed the journaling in it. Both notebooks are BIG(300+ pages) and boast a variety of fun, full color activities to reinforce the lessons. The copywork, crosswords and coloring pages were right up our first grade alley. We also enjoyed making the "mini books." And for mom, a suggested schedule is included in the notebook for ease of planning. </center>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.apologia.com/168-astrono"><img alt="Apologia: Exploring Creation with Astronomy Review" border="0" src="https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2016%20TOS%20Crew/09%20-%20September/06%20-%20Exploring%20Creation%20with%20Astronomy%202nd%20Edition/astronomy-2nd-edition-junior-notebooking-journal_zpsqxorbwgb.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can view sample pages of this notebook <a href="http://www.apologia.com/astrono/468-astronomy-2nd-edition-junior-notebooking-journal.html">HERE</a>.</td></tr>
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Apologia has put together an excellent science cirriculum in <a href="http://www.apologia.com/168-astrono">Exploring Creation with Astronomy, 2nd Edition</a>. If you're looking for a comprehensive, competitive and Christ centered science curriculum-this is it. It presents science and astronomy in a way that captures your attention-both in it's engaging text and gorgeous photographs- and inspires students to learn more. Without a doubt I will continue to use this book beyond the time of this review.</center>
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To read other reviews on this homeschool science curriculum, click on the banner below:</center>
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<a href="http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/exploring-creation-with-astronomy-2nd-edition-apologia-educational-ministries-review/" target="_blank"><img alt="Exploring Creation with Astronomy, 2nd Edition Review" border="0" src="https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/TOSCrew2011/2014TOSCREW/2014%20CREW%20BANNERS/clickformorereviews600x160_zpsc2cf0855.png" /></a></center>
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And, be sure to check out <a href="http://www.apologia.com/">Apologia</a> on social media at the links below:</center>
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<span style="background-color: #f0f4f7; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Facebook: </span><a class="bbc_link" href="https://facebook.com/apologiaworld" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(168, 182, 207); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #334466; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://facebook.com/apologiaworld</a><br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f4f7; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Twitter: </span><a class="bbc_link" href="https://www.twitter.com/apologiaworld" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(168, 182, 207); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #334466; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.twitter.com/apologiaworld</a><span style="background-color: #f0f4f7; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> @apologiaworld</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f4f7; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Pinterest </span><a class="bbc_link" href="https://www.pinterest.com/apologia/" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(168, 182, 207); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #334466; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.pinterest.com/apologia/</a><br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="background-color: #f0f4f7; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Instagram: </span><a class="bbc_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/apologiaworld/" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(168, 182, 207); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #334466; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/apologiaworld/</a></center>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-75732964703252676482016-08-30T11:53:00.004-07:002016-08-30T13:00:48.932-07:00The Caterpillar Chronicles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It all started with a cup of caterpillars. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKKG1uEHZpg9aLNx1ppbmPJvusavcCERtdCvNXK09FT3XnR7x8-xjZ1gLeYlAyFrUsImtMuqbOMRTzeT_DmhCI5P1dRoFqK4xjxkrtQVHhKQz9Hy271hBiWPXzdGwCZeP5-zEmaghcmY/s1600/caterpillarbegin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKKG1uEHZpg9aLNx1ppbmPJvusavcCERtdCvNXK09FT3XnR7x8-xjZ1gLeYlAyFrUsImtMuqbOMRTzeT_DmhCI5P1dRoFqK4xjxkrtQVHhKQz9Hy271hBiWPXzdGwCZeP5-zEmaghcmY/s320/caterpillarbegin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
They arrived as tiny eggs, and over the course of about two weeks transformed before our eyes-at our table side even- into beautiful Painted Lady butterflies.<br />
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The process is really amazing to see up close and personal. Four out of the five eggs we received turned into butterflies. What happened to "Tiny," we will never know(of course, many a story has been told). On that note, we affectionately named them all. "Ronald" was by far the most popular in the group, and by the end of it all we were calling every caterpillar in that cup Ronald.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kusF_S0HaGzPXEnaCfCd_nbVfk7gxq_E4mJAtu1_pE3m8p9f14vqzD_ROPuaOd3Zah0p-hpN0_935jBgEr_7wel6lVPTCP53USqVy5jnDX38LysBmjg1gM18MFMYImX31UOT0A5xpjk/s1600/catepiller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kusF_S0HaGzPXEnaCfCd_nbVfk7gxq_E4mJAtu1_pE3m8p9f14vqzD_ROPuaOd3Zah0p-hpN0_935jBgEr_7wel6lVPTCP53USqVy5jnDX38LysBmjg1gM18MFMYImX31UOT0A5xpjk/s400/catepiller.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Day by day we observed mother nature in action, with little to no help from us. It's a small sort of miracle to see one thing completely change and become a whole new creation. </span></div>
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These guys grew FAST! Basically, the cup comes with all the food they need to grow. And grow they do. It was so interesting to see these guys move and roll around up close!<br />
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Once they're ready, the wiggle on up to the top of the cup and hang in an "J" shape. I'm sure Bennett will always picture his "j's" like this. It's there that they form their chrysalides, and begin the metamorphosis into butterflies.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17</span></i></span></td></tr>
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After the outer shell of each chrysalis had hardened, we(Chris) carefully transported the cocoons to the butterfly house. We furnished their new home with flowers and apple slices, and then waited. The kit we bought from Insect Lore also comes with a pipette to feed your butterflies. You can make homemade nectar easily enough with sugar and water, but we mostly let the butterflies dip their long proboscis' in left over banana slices.<br />
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It was very exciting to come downstairs every morning to see the progress with each passing day. Try as we might, we missed the magical moment they emerged from their chrysalides-I think they were waiting till our backs were turned! One by one the came out of their chrysalides as new butterflies. Their wings were paper thin, beautiful and full of wrinkles to start. We watched them grow in strength, size and even color over the next few days before we released them into the wild world outside. It was pretty amazing.<br />
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To watch them grow in each stage, both as butterflies and caterpillars, was so interesting to the littles AND the bigs in this house. I am not a buggy person by any bend or stretch of the word, and will admit I was full of the heebie jeebies when these crawly critters arrived on our doorstep. But when it was time to let this new creatures fly, even I was a little sad to see them go. I took a few videos below, it was a fun and special moment!<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="600" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/178750217" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
<a href="https://vimeo.com/178750217">Butterfly release!</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user16493306">Rebecca Scott</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="600" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/178750177" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
<a href="https://vimeo.com/178750177">Letting the butterflies fly #2</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user16493306">Rebecca Scott</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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I remember reading somewhere that experiencing things hands on, outside of a textbook, moves information from the left brain to the right. Or rather, from short term to long term memory. I'm so thankful for the flexibility that homeschooling offers us and the many opportunities we have to take learning outside of our textbooks or four walls. While you can't always make that happen, this one is a winner and an A+ learning experience. Alongside our fun family project, we also visited the butterfly observatory at the Durham Museum of Life and Science. Interestingly, Evan is still skittish in the big butterfly house(he comes by it honestly) but was very hands on and comfortable with our own butterflies. He took many pictures of them on top of our yellow cabinet, read to them, drew them, fed them, and was all around a very brave friend and protector while they underwent their transformation. As for Bennett, we are thankful the butterflies survived him hehe.<br />
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Every now and then we catch sight of a new "Ronald" around the neighborhood, and always wave a friendly hello to our fluttering friends.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080789237434782359.post-57185651361149162432016-08-24T18:29:00.002-07:002016-08-24T18:36:41.200-07:00Nine monthsOur sweet smooshy Asher <i>sm</i>Elliot is already 9 months old. As far as I'm concerned, he is growing much too quickly and I agree wholeheartedly with my big boys who think their baby Asher should stay a baby forever. None of this crawling and pulling up and getting into the dog bowls business.<br />
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At 9 months this boy is on the go and ready to roll. He pulls himself up on just about everything, and is seen mostly standing in his crib these days. Sleeping is for the birds he says.<br />
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This third boy of mine may be my most difficult sleeper, but he is for sure turning into an awesome eater. His appetite does not quit and he's using his two teethe well to chomp down on just about the same table food we have. Like his mama and brothers, he favors fruits over the veggies but enjoys everyone in the squash family. I would say his top favorite foods are blueberries, chicken, and rainbow sherbert ice cream. <i>Say what?</i> I meant peas and spinach...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlIitdz8cyZxh91AtpGsfp0zNS4A-sOJ9bx1Y4JMBwRKBwjFJiqpMhbSETZVJYXAkkl1Nq896RBrh1fujZ5o7tcyT1oEPLCMf9wZlMsmAe40i8EQ_oTevztsg4vFdXWY8FRYvTLKlyqM/s1600/DSC_0729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlIitdz8cyZxh91AtpGsfp0zNS4A-sOJ9bx1Y4JMBwRKBwjFJiqpMhbSETZVJYXAkkl1Nq896RBrh1fujZ5o7tcyT1oEPLCMf9wZlMsmAe40i8EQ_oTevztsg4vFdXWY8FRYvTLKlyqM/s400/DSC_0729.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabY2IOcghA0H2lO6vuI8D1ayV3dqL086w4mlsrZ6iavFioU2_AdRcxFib7EEM50-7DBYNDmDv92MWVWWADRCYS_tApuxfzvS7IPm0B9FJLQczaUZS5bgjGXh3lkWf1v-Oa-O1zNPVfTQ/s1600/DSC_0735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabY2IOcghA0H2lO6vuI8D1ayV3dqL086w4mlsrZ6iavFioU2_AdRcxFib7EEM50-7DBYNDmDv92MWVWWADRCYS_tApuxfzvS7IPm0B9FJLQczaUZS5bgjGXh3lkWf1v-Oa-O1zNPVfTQ/s400/DSC_0735.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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His nicknames include: Smoosh, Smash, Smish, Ashey and...Butter Biggens. :-) When he's not eating, this little one loves the fresh air. We go outside quite a bit and he is always happy in the sun. I tried to take these pictures above this afternoon and he was just too captivated by his older brothers to cheese for me. </div>
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I was worried this third boy of ours would feel like a third wheel to the dynamic duo that is my bigger boys, but I couldn't have been more wrong. Asher is the adored up and down and all around. Evan and Bennett love their little brother so much-they often tell me from the backseat how glad they are that we got Asher for a baby brother, and just as often fight over who gets to play with or sit next to him. They are proud of him and eagerly tell strangers in the grocery store all about their little brother, and the way this baby smiles up at them something tells me the feeling is mutual. A random aside-just yesterday Evan was giving Asher a hug and Asher pulled his hair pretty good, enough to make Evan cry(it doesn't take much lol). When I was explaining to him that Asher was a baby and still learning not to pull hair, he told me that it wasn't because he pulled his hair that he was crying, but rather he was worried that he wouldn't be able to hug him anymore. Sweet! In any case, brothers are the best.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When your big brother crashes your walker jam,</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and the other one sits on your car...</td></tr>
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In other 9 months news, we were once again thankful to get a great report from his pediatrician at his well check. Weighing in at 20 pounds and meeting all of his milestones, we've got ourselves a healthy, happy boy-praise God! These are precious times.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy 9 months stud muffin!</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08988744016258842224noreply@blogger.com0