tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63557524267630961452024-03-18T22:47:45.156-07:00Life as an Average Housewife...Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.comBlogger293125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-72485651863260425132015-03-15T15:17:00.000-07:002015-03-15T15:17:08.601-07:00Christmas 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Teaching school and raising two kids really did a number on me. I am now just getting to our Christmas 2013 post. This was our first Christmas at home as a little family. It was awesome. I think Brannon and I had more fun than the kids did. Waiting for them to wake up made the night seem to last forever. I know one thing, those kids have a daddy that loves them! There were many hours spent in the cold shed (aka Santa's workshop) putting everything together. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsa_MDh8NCxg5b0BYKpSmycbtqXxX1YOJpM_9ix1waURSOhf1Zc20y0qLPguhbw7WRPIOfZxa2NYGdAR92Yj50TiFvTkTFn0ruwLP45CECkQEIW7F1PmqyCUmuBbXVpjFjETWGAw-4d90/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsa_MDh8NCxg5b0BYKpSmycbtqXxX1YOJpM_9ix1waURSOhf1Zc20y0qLPguhbw7WRPIOfZxa2NYGdAR92Yj50TiFvTkTFn0ruwLP45CECkQEIW7F1PmqyCUmuBbXVpjFjETWGAw-4d90/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGldpcDB1QyuQbCDFBk3IvZq9nuyNGZLgOBlm7fRSfOy4IxqIBw9_o7Mlq-XsnUM9ja6goR-o4Q_xciw_DR5O-LXfdfvOMkxgYAfjNuWm3FqR2VFZcdUOv8zOg4hssPi_iQI0ZHcwgn4/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGldpcDB1QyuQbCDFBk3IvZq9nuyNGZLgOBlm7fRSfOy4IxqIBw9_o7Mlq-XsnUM9ja6goR-o4Q_xciw_DR5O-LXfdfvOMkxgYAfjNuWm3FqR2VFZcdUOv8zOg4hssPi_iQI0ZHcwgn4/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68Y4YYtFVB3wsJBgDGTyGtG9WAoyPftOWTN7-N-aeS2yjzPyPBT0RGpIitUr97z-OWWn6aT-Ns0RUst2se6LjJz29WDxQAjKIIdIJ5By__6mDVqUFK88BBycAw68UgGcJpNnIhHVT67M/s1600/DSC_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68Y4YYtFVB3wsJBgDGTyGtG9WAoyPftOWTN7-N-aeS2yjzPyPBT0RGpIitUr97z-OWWn6aT-Ns0RUst2se6LjJz29WDxQAjKIIdIJ5By__6mDVqUFK88BBycAw68UgGcJpNnIhHVT67M/s1600/DSC_0011.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcjEK_HiZVS1J5zoQ-NlsWfe-CB3uXUx1mnBx2vxOETlGYuPSE8VnTGNIdANy8dbxaeWwC4MjkDo_QEVvSzq0p4mYfuWMBehmDLJohA9RAJL-B3TCKKE5TUD3CjhvB79SN3jWIUiX2Fk/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcjEK_HiZVS1J5zoQ-NlsWfe-CB3uXUx1mnBx2vxOETlGYuPSE8VnTGNIdANy8dbxaeWwC4MjkDo_QEVvSzq0p4mYfuWMBehmDLJohA9RAJL-B3TCKKE5TUD3CjhvB79SN3jWIUiX2Fk/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_ByVyk6FDyPa3-e51wwwv_KQq4_q8z5X5ApjlbnsnLAg5NW6ztcaklmeBUsPZrsnpxE9KOEJYpdZQ6K5YK-GBXAzPhzTimp6MRAsCht_RuGHn_jAvVx8iW62sJxsacCJgeKNUNUfba0/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_ByVyk6FDyPa3-e51wwwv_KQq4_q8z5X5ApjlbnsnLAg5NW6ztcaklmeBUsPZrsnpxE9KOEJYpdZQ6K5YK-GBXAzPhzTimp6MRAsCht_RuGHn_jAvVx8iW62sJxsacCJgeKNUNUfba0/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_c-18gt-qHmUNVC9GO9G7W9YjtgQXp43_bVQU9sKsrYSVlKWdfeRPOlfNG6g8xo3J1q8ghNO82hTjRZKtOLFxC-leINZNbRly6FxEdGCpVvqjgu50CZSD96HpzzwyOhXGGzvgy2zC-aA/s1600/DSC_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_c-18gt-qHmUNVC9GO9G7W9YjtgQXp43_bVQU9sKsrYSVlKWdfeRPOlfNG6g8xo3J1q8ghNO82hTjRZKtOLFxC-leINZNbRly6FxEdGCpVvqjgu50CZSD96HpzzwyOhXGGzvgy2zC-aA/s1600/DSC_0017.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
We celebrated the New Year with some sledding on the fabulous hill at the school I taught at. Haiven mostly sat at the bottom of the hill and cried. Not too hard to believe right? The rest of us had a blast and we went back again this year. Taj can't get enough of it. Haiv cried this time too, but at least we got her to try it out a few times this time around. Making progress!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCLr9x_OAqyBiyezFbh0W_P45Ep50DmP5D-vjhfBVD8FwdaILeJdndqDdyt5nawhKfZLCXW5e1ylJggdhqLug6AOYu_62_mWayljf-N_0Kzx05qjyBeghPsBm4dxI3-QHTlPPWouNWYo/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCLr9x_OAqyBiyezFbh0W_P45Ep50DmP5D-vjhfBVD8FwdaILeJdndqDdyt5nawhKfZLCXW5e1ylJggdhqLug6AOYu_62_mWayljf-N_0Kzx05qjyBeghPsBm4dxI3-QHTlPPWouNWYo/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHP1qKAMuek1Q7vR8JuZsuAJNF_s4jxKZCypzL1PCL615ttAsQydC6L-uruUa4IYkltBF0kjYEZKto6YHxWoSoWpQjibv1muSmWJ9-CsS0mSh37Uf0Oqezj6HjJHZeHKS3DmTrQiqTNs/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHP1qKAMuek1Q7vR8JuZsuAJNF_s4jxKZCypzL1PCL615ttAsQydC6L-uruUa4IYkltBF0kjYEZKto6YHxWoSoWpQjibv1muSmWJ9-CsS0mSh37Uf0Oqezj6HjJHZeHKS3DmTrQiqTNs/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-89967240868379020962015-03-15T14:42:00.000-07:002015-03-15T14:42:05.631-07:00A Tea Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Once upon a time there was a grandmother who loved dressing up in funny hats and having tea parties. We feasted on cucumber sandwiches, blueberry scones, apples and caramel, and lemon sweet bread. What better to wash all that down with than little Miss Haiven's drink of choice: apple juice! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is how we chose to party while the boys were off hunting last October. I think our time was much better spent;)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mlyWMa_JplAhrHpIZfRTNbb0F0m-hh7MP0PMubEhiSCTt_RQzrjlxf7ouG2oM_L3M38iIZF5L2gM_DHWofo3MwLBmsmU8V9sYOKf5GZ0wHEZH6ZuBOwYOtFBPzt54lzFlpIJeCegL9c/s1600/DSC_0306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mlyWMa_JplAhrHpIZfRTNbb0F0m-hh7MP0PMubEhiSCTt_RQzrjlxf7ouG2oM_L3M38iIZF5L2gM_DHWofo3MwLBmsmU8V9sYOKf5GZ0wHEZH6ZuBOwYOtFBPzt54lzFlpIJeCegL9c/s1600/DSC_0306.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNOkWSUf6Vvf_CDML2uX-CzeCC3C9mLV5lp23JT7pa0wfWgc6FBSBlfjGcy5aDYggNelktll7Dq8kWaNt06LT1m2OGBtVNsHwXXFy43U65L7diBNo07eCjMM0voG96J4PdjfziDwJFXY/s1600/DSC_0309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNOkWSUf6Vvf_CDML2uX-CzeCC3C9mLV5lp23JT7pa0wfWgc6FBSBlfjGcy5aDYggNelktll7Dq8kWaNt06LT1m2OGBtVNsHwXXFy43U65L7diBNo07eCjMM0voG96J4PdjfziDwJFXY/s1600/DSC_0309.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
Sawyer was only 3 months old, so he got to join in on the party. He was obviously very happy about it!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVB0pmQxEdn_BAY2uRjdCa3mfCsjRXijKOTbWbqh7Hlr-9-iT7GYinHiR_6qpJGbzGNAj08A9jUB1U49T-PwiPtmzUBvZXiNGZJw5sbfdZglqxmNqmKXS0HtrTDzQoTiQUCXv-XpdSa4/s1600/DSC_0315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVB0pmQxEdn_BAY2uRjdCa3mfCsjRXijKOTbWbqh7Hlr-9-iT7GYinHiR_6qpJGbzGNAj08A9jUB1U49T-PwiPtmzUBvZXiNGZJw5sbfdZglqxmNqmKXS0HtrTDzQoTiQUCXv-XpdSa4/s1600/DSC_0315.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
My red ensemble paired well together and it was not hard to imagine that I came straight from a nursing home garden party. My mom chose a light blue/gray hat to really make her eyes pop and accent her Little House on the Prairie-inspired dress.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4STi3nG3H3Ca2pOjTQ71UWznykShroou7Yi0Fnbgn0MzcfCzWRhhYTe6K0lQxY6TKPSmOPEoPIeLWS0IjdwhQRrlY8TnD1V4epI4jTcxYKcK7QuJiSk0Km7EsxNQ9x9aoZExww0yUoU/s1600/DSC_0316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4STi3nG3H3Ca2pOjTQ71UWznykShroou7Yi0Fnbgn0MzcfCzWRhhYTe6K0lQxY6TKPSmOPEoPIeLWS0IjdwhQRrlY8TnD1V4epI4jTcxYKcK7QuJiSk0Km7EsxNQ9x9aoZExww0yUoU/s1600/DSC_0316.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Haiv chose a subtle pink hat (she's not one for making a statement) that accented her satin princess dress. She definitely won the best-dressed award!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JgGPgZ8iEQc8WHYwOdcmayMJrfujcjhWy9TNWb515YuQMTa-NfcyNy-qlrJ-dVjuxyLDbmTZtmeBBtKkoGLMALN7upgGE1J1qFFE_2xmraYGFIVPTyWIGi6NwSJXzolPEGnVmKpNroE/s1600/DSC_0318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JgGPgZ8iEQc8WHYwOdcmayMJrfujcjhWy9TNWb515YuQMTa-NfcyNy-qlrJ-dVjuxyLDbmTZtmeBBtKkoGLMALN7upgGE1J1qFFE_2xmraYGFIVPTyWIGi6NwSJXzolPEGnVmKpNroE/s1600/DSC_0318.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Granny Martha really wowed in that rose-colored floppy hat and her medieval pouf-sleeved shirt, haha<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXAPHCTuFgBl34iXM5sNAzPai7C9CzLQPm4SAMHW3Dr6L2Dexty9BwRnMeQb4xMCg_8vBNKF95YNASzmzU_Ut1XmjE6YWTDjsCmkPI-MMkJA9t5vwrv7ooKcbal0IBbu2RJ-Vkf9C7Sw/s1600/DSC_0320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXAPHCTuFgBl34iXM5sNAzPai7C9CzLQPm4SAMHW3Dr6L2Dexty9BwRnMeQb4xMCg_8vBNKF95YNASzmzU_Ut1XmjE6YWTDjsCmkPI-MMkJA9t5vwrv7ooKcbal0IBbu2RJ-Vkf9C7Sw/s1600/DSC_0320.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-68188217417219953042015-03-01T11:04:00.002-08:002015-03-01T11:04:41.354-08:00That One Time We Went to DisneylandTraveling with kids is not for the faint of heart. This trip was almost two years ago, so I'll do my best to remember the highlights and the not so great things that happened. My parents and my baby brother Easton came as well as my brother Matt and Ali and their boy Camden. My parents and my brother and his wife drove. Brannon and I decided flying would be the best option for us so Brannon wouldn't have to miss too much work. Flying was awful with two kids. The kids were actually not too bad, but packing around luggage and carseats and backpacks and kitties and blankies and sippies all over the airport was less than ideal to say the least! We also took a late flight and didn't actually make it to our hotel until about midnight. That would have been okay if our Magic Morning wouldn't have been the very next morning. After about four or five hours of sleep, we woke up early and even though we were way too short on sleep, we were all full of energy and way to excited to notice how tired we were.<br />
<br />
Disneyland was a blast the first two days. We pretty much had no wait times on the rides and the weather was awesome. Taj loved just about every single ride, except for the Tower of Terror. I still can't believe we took him on that! He didn't cry or make a peep on the ride, but he did say he didn't want to go on that one again. Haiven cried on EVERY SINGLE RIDE except for the lame caterpillar one that just goes around in a single circle and lasts about 30 seconds. There was that one time on the second day we were there that Haiven puked up goldfish crackers while we were waiting in line for the Toy Story Ride. Her aim was so accurate, she covered everybody's shoes and legs within a 20 foot radius in all directions. I was mortified, especially when I saw that her closest victims were wearing open-toed shoes. Yeah, they were not happy. I think Easton got some of the worst of it too because he was holding her when it happened. I just wanted to leave, but my mom came to the rescue and began distributing wipes to everyone who was in the splash zone. I think she was just a little hot and maybe had some motion sickness. Thank goodness that was the worst of it!<br />
<br />
The last day at the park was a nightmare! I don't know how we managed to do it twice, but we did, we came the same weekend as Gay Days TWICE! The first time it was just me and Brannon, so it wasn't too bad navigating the crowds, but this time around there were more people than ever at the park! You could not even walk from one end of the park to the other without it taking about an hour. The lines were so bad, that even the fast pass lines were a TWO HOUR wait. It was so awful that we gave up and decided to go to the beach instead. That was fun! We ate some mediocre beach stand burgers and chicken and played in the sand and water for about two hours. We wish we would have just bagged Disneyland for the whole day and had more time to play at the beach. It was such a fun trip. We will definitely be going back soon! And we will definitely be going a different weekend too!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi813LIpWTpYPoJ0iYZfLa4XIUa7MfeGR3PAJx7Frpq9F_qHoePXzhfU8w2NcHlegd0XVXVhSU73p55tMwdpwWxtdUR5jTasrfTcfCOU8LDHoP7VcTF-8fNzyyh3XG1J27zNpRvH11xdyM/s1600/DSC_0493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi813LIpWTpYPoJ0iYZfLa4XIUa7MfeGR3PAJx7Frpq9F_qHoePXzhfU8w2NcHlegd0XVXVhSU73p55tMwdpwWxtdUR5jTasrfTcfCOU8LDHoP7VcTF-8fNzyyh3XG1J27zNpRvH11xdyM/s1600/DSC_0493.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Headed out bright and early to the park! I think Papa was the most excited of all, haha!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5z1Dr9S7pCdethL0tb8LPdm7UV1FBMLlLQHAXvGNWchSjaRqXhHpDrk3RdtKMN9wdjyk-awJvEM3dCbbP3YjcCbrekN8CWAbgZRS57zrgZLCQhV8Me1BMkUFgRsce8FhxmzCxfrtLVe4/s1600/DSC_0495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5z1Dr9S7pCdethL0tb8LPdm7UV1FBMLlLQHAXvGNWchSjaRqXhHpDrk3RdtKMN9wdjyk-awJvEM3dCbbP3YjcCbrekN8CWAbgZRS57zrgZLCQhV8Me1BMkUFgRsce8FhxmzCxfrtLVe4/s1600/DSC_0495.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
It was all decked out for Halloween, seriously the coolest time to go!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrucBzVTSwWuyqIU0y1UbkrfH3peJkYnpwDgcVPd6ma12qFQX3G-HgiaZiQVXZ0j7sBbdZ7txVptRHDe5x1oSYsXQmvFWGItvlY2YMrWyV-4SevTKjNfjHsb5GNvblu0G_ACk36fLft6M/s1600/DSC_0505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrucBzVTSwWuyqIU0y1UbkrfH3peJkYnpwDgcVPd6ma12qFQX3G-HgiaZiQVXZ0j7sBbdZ7txVptRHDe5x1oSYsXQmvFWGItvlY2YMrWyV-4SevTKjNfjHsb5GNvblu0G_ACk36fLft6M/s1600/DSC_0505.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ehHN7Z-XdYETcMuwwOIsy4Bt16-_1SE9Si3XpasfL2N4xWBdv6SkvGWfnTuLv7xT6sHNGGnp59JaJ-PNW4Trs1GXKWonCJJdy0hrMBH9t5pfu4y5xU52TOyOxtBHWD7SPdL0lMmqI9o/s1600/DSC_0507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ehHN7Z-XdYETcMuwwOIsy4Bt16-_1SE9Si3XpasfL2N4xWBdv6SkvGWfnTuLv7xT6sHNGGnp59JaJ-PNW4Trs1GXKWonCJJdy0hrMBH9t5pfu4y5xU52TOyOxtBHWD7SPdL0lMmqI9o/s1600/DSC_0507.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbLf720A6wZeWaS5zWhvnwwDqbsPtwfokrOrxTbV5OpxlyFIeMs8QqDpTL4unDUQ9o5sMuCaBQYpD0BKnPX9VUHllHEt0635u2mFfhlT1ekVlXHgzfBRlhP8lM7POgKghac_IHWM1yAw/s1600/DSC_0509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbLf720A6wZeWaS5zWhvnwwDqbsPtwfokrOrxTbV5OpxlyFIeMs8QqDpTL4unDUQ9o5sMuCaBQYpD0BKnPX9VUHllHEt0635u2mFfhlT1ekVlXHgzfBRlhP8lM7POgKghac_IHWM1yAw/s1600/DSC_0509.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
There is no way in Hades we will ever ride the teacups, but this did make for a good photo op!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8OSlGA3_WdP8LR1dliZcU1PV8gr15zkw0mTAjSeoP330BYvwqR_f6OLzC_rQ-u_Uo3GNK-VMO4cUeZWvsix4cso8wvqyd-GZLoVszVGFlZqX4YiTz2-x2l8fOGwWt1xLXl4f_KgbO2g/s1600/DSC_0513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8OSlGA3_WdP8LR1dliZcU1PV8gr15zkw0mTAjSeoP330BYvwqR_f6OLzC_rQ-u_Uo3GNK-VMO4cUeZWvsix4cso8wvqyd-GZLoVszVGFlZqX4YiTz2-x2l8fOGwWt1xLXl4f_KgbO2g/s1600/DSC_0513.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mXQx4aGl96ZKmqT_JsgMFGTOMLlyIZH4Oa9-n-xvzPL9tGG9A3Dm8W3CDEiZXQXA4xjlXndubdXcPxteUFUjGi-aQp88z8MqT27yReXy3Ldkxc0s42t9hH41GAa48s4TiQL7uiKZOeM/s1600/DSC_0516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mXQx4aGl96ZKmqT_JsgMFGTOMLlyIZH4Oa9-n-xvzPL9tGG9A3Dm8W3CDEiZXQXA4xjlXndubdXcPxteUFUjGi-aQp88z8MqT27yReXy3Ldkxc0s42t9hH41GAa48s4TiQL7uiKZOeM/s1600/DSC_0516.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
This was one of Taj's favorite rides! He loves Halloween of course!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5pLjSfl50tN_LPJo-nVE8wyTvjJP2KPYXUZ3gAETf2JfFFSom3FWUc2wMQJb1gghUyQAVjFngFF6MCIevTP1vNbM-uY5xRhcQrwxUGjTM0i0Ukc2EejjaxwOyeYbfZO226_-haZdJHk/s1600/DSC_0521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5pLjSfl50tN_LPJo-nVE8wyTvjJP2KPYXUZ3gAETf2JfFFSom3FWUc2wMQJb1gghUyQAVjFngFF6MCIevTP1vNbM-uY5xRhcQrwxUGjTM0i0Ukc2EejjaxwOyeYbfZO226_-haZdJHk/s1600/DSC_0521.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Waiting to ride the tractor ride, which is pretty darn close to that darn teacup ride. You get dizzy and you get whiplash! Go on this very last if you don't want to deal with a headache and nausea for the entire day!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGT1feXVkMokijEfVxOg8-FSwzIKLq1YCRLBN6tazrABbnOHmws3f86cljrPbbJGm5sehgufis1wcjQOOPp9bh_7ewfI4Bbfmg-iT-tnRURPFkaKySkMzhDjf2wjSoi4fCHgeJJOV7A4/s1600/DSC_0523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGT1feXVkMokijEfVxOg8-FSwzIKLq1YCRLBN6tazrABbnOHmws3f86cljrPbbJGm5sehgufis1wcjQOOPp9bh_7ewfI4Bbfmg-iT-tnRURPFkaKySkMzhDjf2wjSoi4fCHgeJJOV7A4/s1600/DSC_0523.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrm_pyFfqmJ09DyLjwNTUb2AOjkgnRvnHXNg-i-iLz-zLSjqFPQpsmKXC8FkWFQNWByh-UrOcv-YxpuGrxW7_gB06CS87MUJ0NAxPPizJrBmcUFZCTQ7UuV0fUTOSApv_8_CBZeuRDq8/s1600/DSC_0526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrm_pyFfqmJ09DyLjwNTUb2AOjkgnRvnHXNg-i-iLz-zLSjqFPQpsmKXC8FkWFQNWByh-UrOcv-YxpuGrxW7_gB06CS87MUJ0NAxPPizJrBmcUFZCTQ7UuV0fUTOSApv_8_CBZeuRDq8/s1600/DSC_0526.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Being in radiator springs was probably one of the best parts of the whole trip!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSptFu3_xV8DNO3hBgIO1DVEYuQMwjMwtD69cGGYvWyrvlPhQoZOPEo8W_ru6yiOiA8OWjcCGl2rOT7FXETRe1yoUaJGhpZumvkRfgTrLoQlf1gfu2sc2bhjSXNzoRIEssoGivv_1044/s1600/DSC_0527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSptFu3_xV8DNO3hBgIO1DVEYuQMwjMwtD69cGGYvWyrvlPhQoZOPEo8W_ru6yiOiA8OWjcCGl2rOT7FXETRe1yoUaJGhpZumvkRfgTrLoQlf1gfu2sc2bhjSXNzoRIEssoGivv_1044/s1600/DSC_0527.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
An epic moment for Taj.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZ-BikacR1voRBjqeb9loaq4Iodc4_J9Qf8zrT64fzhGDIWZgjUlECe-edfQ8RQq764-UF7aqlZuYKa0U6pos-u9_T7D3dT_26qn76zUNWesRB7PkrKtttyvO_6UCjXFzYVJdiWXwTMU/s1600/DSC_0529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZ-BikacR1voRBjqeb9loaq4Iodc4_J9Qf8zrT64fzhGDIWZgjUlECe-edfQ8RQq764-UF7aqlZuYKa0U6pos-u9_T7D3dT_26qn76zUNWesRB7PkrKtttyvO_6UCjXFzYVJdiWXwTMU/s1600/DSC_0529.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHnc7T-VpZZkJt5WOw93up0_QXLdbvyRGqT4yd1Uj61GV8Ri7PLXznQGWPjjwTonr1isGjuL7_B8-P7fswW0pt4e_Pq0FMuQNCWYPxBX3Xk7rUjfYGe7VWZtqcp54Z_mfhRT7YU5y39M/s1600/DSC_0533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHnc7T-VpZZkJt5WOw93up0_QXLdbvyRGqT4yd1Uj61GV8Ri7PLXznQGWPjjwTonr1isGjuL7_B8-P7fswW0pt4e_Pq0FMuQNCWYPxBX3Xk7rUjfYGe7VWZtqcp54Z_mfhRT7YU5y39M/s1600/DSC_0533.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5__CHtwXuTTBX0vTe4TTjmOb2YuRsM4iFwBTYZ2-KVM-FN_UANtVQOA6ScpqMjG0TDmkQmnB7BRKhsyoOcIQO1-OMXPgpRFMM4zrVs8tKfUuMRGnnWfMGxMAKvuyqRFlLwBuj_rgOR2c/s1600/DSC_0534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5__CHtwXuTTBX0vTe4TTjmOb2YuRsM4iFwBTYZ2-KVM-FN_UANtVQOA6ScpqMjG0TDmkQmnB7BRKhsyoOcIQO1-OMXPgpRFMM4zrVs8tKfUuMRGnnWfMGxMAKvuyqRFlLwBuj_rgOR2c/s1600/DSC_0534.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zSrW5iu4AX8O1oupTHwTKvQ_YFEV7dsYIFK_U67kVvgT-cK5cHa9_dU-u8UbAEx-QrhS-_H_bxm82Mk7WYDEqQ7XtLGs7FI1fIFD9cyLEufQfXOnsH8sIyZ1S2wl_MHIhi2Im7gmU6M/s1600/DSC_0538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zSrW5iu4AX8O1oupTHwTKvQ_YFEV7dsYIFK_U67kVvgT-cK5cHa9_dU-u8UbAEx-QrhS-_H_bxm82Mk7WYDEqQ7XtLGs7FI1fIFD9cyLEufQfXOnsH8sIyZ1S2wl_MHIhi2Im7gmU6M/s1600/DSC_0538.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXBVEpyClnXWAY5m01kJ2bVjRWc7uaiqeBQrAWzL5MEwEHW1UUu3Gc2d0kcvIaEc7Xwkl4uMqtWE9e3Kyzbmx4mDm_d33cg8oP3cB7WLMcimqE_QdrHuZrOs8I9BI188i289lY8vKsbg/s1600/DSC_0540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXBVEpyClnXWAY5m01kJ2bVjRWc7uaiqeBQrAWzL5MEwEHW1UUu3Gc2d0kcvIaEc7Xwkl4uMqtWE9e3Kyzbmx4mDm_d33cg8oP3cB7WLMcimqE_QdrHuZrOs8I9BI188i289lY8vKsbg/s1600/DSC_0540.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeer-fr6fQiubXoyjqk4DcMc5_w9KQT-QWPxhfFjTlZkUqF51x0Q7JpP8D90G_BoGjcvDxvil6csI82rwqnn3CYt_xb9aOTIjYOTjyZKbyZF8Cpc1fc7RDCgwCR6IBHSmv3p_KZaJoEP0/s1600/DSC_0542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeer-fr6fQiubXoyjqk4DcMc5_w9KQT-QWPxhfFjTlZkUqF51x0Q7JpP8D90G_BoGjcvDxvil6csI82rwqnn3CYt_xb9aOTIjYOTjyZKbyZF8Cpc1fc7RDCgwCR6IBHSmv3p_KZaJoEP0/s1600/DSC_0542.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQabmXMdYaQfcBG23-ZDXVENkRh-4h_AJguN266qnZIkdcMazc9kboe6p7I0eEWTqrADNEC2LetjDle6KvXgW6BuZn2qhb7ixRL4Pd7TMopJcKNG8WxNyHF-V1aSYqywMLExVS46MHrh0/s1600/DSC_0549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQabmXMdYaQfcBG23-ZDXVENkRh-4h_AJguN266qnZIkdcMazc9kboe6p7I0eEWTqrADNEC2LetjDle6KvXgW6BuZn2qhb7ixRL4Pd7TMopJcKNG8WxNyHF-V1aSYqywMLExVS46MHrh0/s1600/DSC_0549.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyJzOrok6q-5zNWZNsaK2HG2Vw7Xeht1db29K6pJfrN_ZHP1NEHCPJTEHn1pGcyhUZ8VSw6YiOxjxikgNsR4rYq-tivjxHdC4qsJsUH190VPitQ1nfjRos9q5nDqsTxwhN5ym6aLSV1k/s1600/DSC_0553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyJzOrok6q-5zNWZNsaK2HG2Vw7Xeht1db29K6pJfrN_ZHP1NEHCPJTEHn1pGcyhUZ8VSw6YiOxjxikgNsR4rYq-tivjxHdC4qsJsUH190VPitQ1nfjRos9q5nDqsTxwhN5ym6aLSV1k/s1600/DSC_0553.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-mCd5DYSvLDLnKC-pcYy8BwW4GAA79r1ETl6jzd3zqFVcpPLJ7Wg8tWkFBLYwCS0H291r3fSwiA_pdSdXTBupGNNdby5CjjJZeShuTBqTxS6JLqeAU6MgLufhXSL_AxVpd3yh0CIIds/s1600/DSC_0555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-mCd5DYSvLDLnKC-pcYy8BwW4GAA79r1ETl6jzd3zqFVcpPLJ7Wg8tWkFBLYwCS0H291r3fSwiA_pdSdXTBupGNNdby5CjjJZeShuTBqTxS6JLqeAU6MgLufhXSL_AxVpd3yh0CIIds/s1600/DSC_0555.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EDAZwQxYRe5u4upfD6UVr7jvqX4Czm-TFOSagED6NGvLPVh3d-ZytNIJgUSOI7lFHutlKY8_inzlgAuFwtlRZbKpDgQka-aDYVmEVMhQUNjpux89xOyzzXinbTtUkzhFp9kBe2W9uHY/s1600/DSC_0557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EDAZwQxYRe5u4upfD6UVr7jvqX4Czm-TFOSagED6NGvLPVh3d-ZytNIJgUSOI7lFHutlKY8_inzlgAuFwtlRZbKpDgQka-aDYVmEVMhQUNjpux89xOyzzXinbTtUkzhFp9kBe2W9uHY/s1600/DSC_0557.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhNEHPytQTX1Vgo4GTu6h_KJls6VV76CoGS0_tlc4TWp4I5UgNG59mF5aSytDX9SXWW29J3S_A4i_DYN-xfxPYiU4KloI20QY62GKL6HptEWuMmqdgV74otxeoQxotkB5AOPwM0wtWm0/s1600/DSC_0558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhNEHPytQTX1Vgo4GTu6h_KJls6VV76CoGS0_tlc4TWp4I5UgNG59mF5aSytDX9SXWW29J3S_A4i_DYN-xfxPYiU4KloI20QY62GKL6HptEWuMmqdgV74otxeoQxotkB5AOPwM0wtWm0/s1600/DSC_0558.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XwqOGL8SFNVLU_AqInZhhsWHTIzcAMkYSac8PiTjddbAv_aHSwMgCOc0uV6FiSGfy9knVV4OqOhSHa_UOg4WWv3gscbAVClJ1_jFi9aWgmrt1khn1pEomtoutOihVSLs1oeqWg1jIn8/s1600/DSC_0561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XwqOGL8SFNVLU_AqInZhhsWHTIzcAMkYSac8PiTjddbAv_aHSwMgCOc0uV6FiSGfy9knVV4OqOhSHa_UOg4WWv3gscbAVClJ1_jFi9aWgmrt1khn1pEomtoutOihVSLs1oeqWg1jIn8/s1600/DSC_0561.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Meeting Mater was probably even better because Mater is a truck who can tow stuff!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ70xZo-8iijLEXM8TiMjGDG0tGbUJuc6xsIHTdRoJcwow7DE7hSOmXwQU492tlLsmvx0dVjBI5Nm_5UbkA-gMPilo42yfBVa_FBRBe-pozdBsvQNZtPsq5PIMWhJnH0P_Kbhq1Yul_3c/s1600/DSC_0563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ70xZo-8iijLEXM8TiMjGDG0tGbUJuc6xsIHTdRoJcwow7DE7hSOmXwQU492tlLsmvx0dVjBI5Nm_5UbkA-gMPilo42yfBVa_FBRBe-pozdBsvQNZtPsq5PIMWhJnH0P_Kbhq1Yul_3c/s1600/DSC_0563.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1DmT0EnkM-sqsmClKkR4LJ8V5wI1wDL2uMKdRWdzM_0EpQRUC2BmkP6mRfURzPONX1c89Kc_qRzU9l1z7RTvwksMTHVshEEetnDIgdBquyFrk-lrCU3Oo_whasbrMlSDV0Dx5KabCNY/s1600/DSC_0565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1DmT0EnkM-sqsmClKkR4LJ8V5wI1wDL2uMKdRWdzM_0EpQRUC2BmkP6mRfURzPONX1c89Kc_qRzU9l1z7RTvwksMTHVshEEetnDIgdBquyFrk-lrCU3Oo_whasbrMlSDV0Dx5KabCNY/s1600/DSC_0565.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYp5lo5NwVgV_JT6ept0dv1x-6lvP3d7RXl2tq86kGioHTPWEU1PiZYKC5gDN6UL6sGzMZ_ixA4vhbRdmwm-WREb4L39DdXX9E4BavlNfeMuJ28DsdzZWYB-s1861eLTIypPA8NShpqgs/s1600/DSC_0567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYp5lo5NwVgV_JT6ept0dv1x-6lvP3d7RXl2tq86kGioHTPWEU1PiZYKC5gDN6UL6sGzMZ_ixA4vhbRdmwm-WREb4L39DdXX9E4BavlNfeMuJ28DsdzZWYB-s1861eLTIypPA8NShpqgs/s1600/DSC_0567.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
She hated the beach too. We could not win with her! She didn't like the sand on her feet, haha<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jOxZEL_OeweWjOm7cO8nPU4NVlvYphb3gtUlZ-SmyyVDzE5AUyZjObavQeE7Ckn-O2lf5d3eAKlSRKsf6eQ0mKWckoqfJBU2yaiI8wWtStCUygxwARBFNZTXEYMyBkV8kGBu_xTUklc/s1600/DSC_0571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jOxZEL_OeweWjOm7cO8nPU4NVlvYphb3gtUlZ-SmyyVDzE5AUyZjObavQeE7Ckn-O2lf5d3eAKlSRKsf6eQ0mKWckoqfJBU2yaiI8wWtStCUygxwARBFNZTXEYMyBkV8kGBu_xTUklc/s1600/DSC_0571.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJzDTSDlc96Sc8aJuQ1NyS-fA7lwDTwyEfcny1Kqr8stKpORPhMOKYXA8DJ4eFWlSdza30gCW-EJU8UIohCj61k41gkobAXrT2pzY1jQ27Hc-TacFkfRK-mbIhH3wu43nYgFOGJCqtDc/s1600/DSC_0572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJzDTSDlc96Sc8aJuQ1NyS-fA7lwDTwyEfcny1Kqr8stKpORPhMOKYXA8DJ4eFWlSdza30gCW-EJU8UIohCj61k41gkobAXrT2pzY1jQ27Hc-TacFkfRK-mbIhH3wu43nYgFOGJCqtDc/s1600/DSC_0572.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
He didn't like the way the water stings your feet and legs.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQLw3ANYNg_exc-g5k-Cax_qghhsb5s_5-pioMvEv37JRWfT8yMsFvP0Ew2tymTqoVUInLrIyGGHeLvAMw9WAtFww1ldYLQjhncaOQjhkiBzrl6m6HAXBAcz5V0miB_bcZFAhPCO7juc/s1600/DSC_0577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQLw3ANYNg_exc-g5k-Cax_qghhsb5s_5-pioMvEv37JRWfT8yMsFvP0Ew2tymTqoVUInLrIyGGHeLvAMw9WAtFww1ldYLQjhncaOQjhkiBzrl6m6HAXBAcz5V0miB_bcZFAhPCO7juc/s1600/DSC_0577.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Also the waves were too loud and scary. My gosh, a generation of wimps we are raising!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwE0kptRxPMVTZCszT84hELu6RbgqqW-ldfygyWgcszPXp_w_JfmTzrq4d2gcq3dcPl4YuZbfcBr4S-QUK3jlZ412VUh0hao-L23kwBo1tjVHvTHkEN3xPN3o9YaFDniprqcLK9wjoss/s1600/DSC_0579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwE0kptRxPMVTZCszT84hELu6RbgqqW-ldfygyWgcszPXp_w_JfmTzrq4d2gcq3dcPl4YuZbfcBr4S-QUK3jlZ412VUh0hao-L23kwBo1tjVHvTHkEN3xPN3o9YaFDniprqcLK9wjoss/s1600/DSC_0579.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Probably one of my favorite pics from the whole trip.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7i82YjteUzaiCAKbbaxHZHSDqgPmT5bxlh_VxOahcJrHr0RbqMVxfaC2MBEEMHNew87h-tQgsg4ZJfCMzrh7QXxFtHCKlmgS11gtoMVydpgrGmyJUJ108oj5gU1sxLYtNLsToVUi6bI/s1600/DSC_0592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7i82YjteUzaiCAKbbaxHZHSDqgPmT5bxlh_VxOahcJrHr0RbqMVxfaC2MBEEMHNew87h-tQgsg4ZJfCMzrh7QXxFtHCKlmgS11gtoMVydpgrGmyJUJ108oj5gU1sxLYtNLsToVUi6bI/s1600/DSC_0592.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
See those two yoyos in the background? Those are my brothers Matt and Easton going out way too far and this is shortly before the lifeguards made everyone get out of the water. There was some kind of insane riptide coming in. Smart call lifeguards! Save the dumb tourists!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX61xKhZtJwWaLbPgJk1utlWW9DDwJzAxUiZ1ODozr30k1dxNOpCTh2VJt8BsO9mTKkObhBBVOlcsJGnI_p9zkJecM9z1W4jpgcThm9sIGrFNnX3RRBS-_o_2i_te97I5mM_CyGTcvWlE/s1600/DSC_0599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX61xKhZtJwWaLbPgJk1utlWW9DDwJzAxUiZ1ODozr30k1dxNOpCTh2VJt8BsO9mTKkObhBBVOlcsJGnI_p9zkJecM9z1W4jpgcThm9sIGrFNnX3RRBS-_o_2i_te97I5mM_CyGTcvWlE/s1600/DSC_0599.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
He was much better after grandma buried him in the sand.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTCRlXXhhseQoFHIxbn5u_F1kdCDHjUioWeFXa89PfCZHze1Wa5EAW4rJbVOFY8qCQIDSgfBe5FVPgb5rG0whnH0aMU73nG5W2PNP8ETkbhubn8UIl1t1HbIdziTqIk7T8pwLRUj_pos/s1600/DSC_0607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTCRlXXhhseQoFHIxbn5u_F1kdCDHjUioWeFXa89PfCZHze1Wa5EAW4rJbVOFY8qCQIDSgfBe5FVPgb5rG0whnH0aMU73nG5W2PNP8ETkbhubn8UIl1t1HbIdziTqIk7T8pwLRUj_pos/s1600/DSC_0607.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
My brother Matt and his wife Ali and their son Camden. He tolerated the beach a heck of a lot better than my lot!Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-87192061616912126912015-03-01T10:11:00.000-08:002015-03-01T10:11:55.428-08:00When the Tooth Fairy Comes to VisitSo I cannot believe Taj is already losing teeth! He's actually lost three more since this picture was taken in October. He is about to be the toothless wonder. I didn't lose a tooth until the first grade and even then I only lost one tooth. The tooth fairy brought him a big silver dollar and even left pixie dust all over it. He was kind of annoyed that there were so many sparkles making his bed a mess, haha. Maybe the sparkle touch was a little too "girly" for our boy. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz3iv1Fxci2FNmHXjs5i9luy_qTuoabhgdCCVV3wBtSjlOOffXPGm7zv3FciblQhEGyhqSreCjR0yDjzI9BHjtcmtUONuhF2_F4C1Ge3Uo_L89bBpWl7jfcIbCls_ctd_4N_r8liws6M/s1600/DSC_0214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz3iv1Fxci2FNmHXjs5i9luy_qTuoabhgdCCVV3wBtSjlOOffXPGm7zv3FciblQhEGyhqSreCjR0yDjzI9BHjtcmtUONuhF2_F4C1Ge3Uo_L89bBpWl7jfcIbCls_ctd_4N_r8liws6M/s1600/DSC_0214.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGuM9P2v5RUaCJMMBBTyHuUa-pn1EAsHetgSrSyltiqgJTIZIDniT0t7gnzteiDW3upHDmXzmorVzTEEWXilgTPgZ5k2FPbla5fdSREyWiHnAkeYHQU4tdDmNh6I-gVregoogU4niOP0/s1600/DSC_0215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGuM9P2v5RUaCJMMBBTyHuUa-pn1EAsHetgSrSyltiqgJTIZIDniT0t7gnzteiDW3upHDmXzmorVzTEEWXilgTPgZ5k2FPbla5fdSREyWiHnAkeYHQU4tdDmNh6I-gVregoogU4niOP0/s1600/DSC_0215.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-34502723752895793492015-03-01T10:03:00.000-08:002015-03-01T10:03:14.152-08:00Halloween Carnival Birthday BashWe decided we could get away with combining Taj and Haiven's birthdays again this year (actually last year because this post is SO LATE!). Our kids absolutely love Halloween, so we decided we'd do a Halloween carnival-themed birthday party for them. Holy crap! I had no idea how crazy it can be with 20+ kids all on a massive sugar and pizza high. It was two hours of chaos, but there wasn't a single kid there without a smile on his/her face. I'd call it a success and an every-other-year sort of party. Taj turned the big 06 and Haiven graduated to the Torrential Threes. Here are a few pics to commemorate the occasion!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbms79VBabTN7L4hyphenhyphenJajArI5yHcspS7gLiETuC0sWaWU1944y43IvBLCiTNT1O93hc1hFyFsHLoKcmLG_AGbeZGYJaWOS2kq9nd5OEfkbZP3_qKMJKsrrScD6QEk38x5aX86XXR-PwRA/s1600/DSC_0218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbms79VBabTN7L4hyphenhyphenJajArI5yHcspS7gLiETuC0sWaWU1944y43IvBLCiTNT1O93hc1hFyFsHLoKcmLG_AGbeZGYJaWOS2kq9nd5OEfkbZP3_qKMJKsrrScD6QEk38x5aX86XXR-PwRA/s1600/DSC_0218.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
Obviously the weather was still unusually warm for October! I like her style. I think the boots are a perfect neutral accent to the hot pink flower and frills and the polka dots.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7ZthToNVYv2cOlhM-73OV19-1RFjN4ti_Cin45rXU48365pIThTAZTpaGFEmsStXr7i1x1dcVtOdwL-h3Ma0uykK6GCF1Dj3lnLflS9DyCy-VMDL86DYttpY4B_pPnP9J6E_l02Oq_w/s1600/DSC_0220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7ZthToNVYv2cOlhM-73OV19-1RFjN4ti_Cin45rXU48365pIThTAZTpaGFEmsStXr7i1x1dcVtOdwL-h3Ma0uykK6GCF1Dj3lnLflS9DyCy-VMDL86DYttpY4B_pPnP9J6E_l02Oq_w/s1600/DSC_0220.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7izaK4RxyvnwMYFmJyUCMhHAofzME2wm5zoX3ZJzQHO7xnnVp7CPIWkfWV7Jg9CwCdgdX9nkXX0B4NWTVC6ZNRWXE0EXQq7VZawnW0e7iwi26RyMoUFZYmk0G6r1LsPIMD4h5LU5qEDg/s1600/DSC_0221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7izaK4RxyvnwMYFmJyUCMhHAofzME2wm5zoX3ZJzQHO7xnnVp7CPIWkfWV7Jg9CwCdgdX9nkXX0B4NWTVC6ZNRWXE0EXQq7VZawnW0e7iwi26RyMoUFZYmk0G6r1LsPIMD4h5LU5qEDg/s1600/DSC_0221.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TOoPhjm0Cenu0SKus_j0Sdai3Aac3uneOhH15fxIYtK9IbtVdyGW2HeTkgaRazgmwMCuFtyMYOd1_0lVE5U-ixiAwQQHdvEgCLQJ4dBDhoSAdQ3e7l8P2nUH8nOgHjYEhkA7mD5tDRQ/s1600/DSC_0222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TOoPhjm0Cenu0SKus_j0Sdai3Aac3uneOhH15fxIYtK9IbtVdyGW2HeTkgaRazgmwMCuFtyMYOd1_0lVE5U-ixiAwQQHdvEgCLQJ4dBDhoSAdQ3e7l8P2nUH8nOgHjYEhkA7mD5tDRQ/s1600/DSC_0222.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
She still can't ride this bike. Doesn't get the whole "pedal" concept. Maybe this summer!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8yCfuFb1lEWKoaYJ8g2BvL069EDgQ3zVhajIOd0mcaE8Zb3BQMVkvjw3cwUX9_hpAe-wbr1RBX0J_QS8cC0B7omIuKzHdu_gKF7si7JEQL8sQFS30S-7UNNLlGAqeb6_O4XEUpmdCGU/s1600/DSC_0227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8yCfuFb1lEWKoaYJ8g2BvL069EDgQ3zVhajIOd0mcaE8Zb3BQMVkvjw3cwUX9_hpAe-wbr1RBX0J_QS8cC0B7omIuKzHdu_gKF7si7JEQL8sQFS30S-7UNNLlGAqeb6_O4XEUpmdCGU/s1600/DSC_0227.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
This bike was a little too big back in October, but he OWNS it now! (After a lot of falling over in the backyard too many times to count and scolding us for getting him a bike that is WAY TOO BIG for him, haha)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-iPixuy1A0t1bzuDSqPEfrXkn1Jxxad2i_8DRdHEqOgstxEUo0dDo5KhL59_g_wUqZpWR9Wk4nacnXyaUEenCbSFJS7MzuV3ZgMkpF1RUcLb2B11r2ssEAQruStBtUp7n6l1N52eiw8/s1600/DSC_0228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-iPixuy1A0t1bzuDSqPEfrXkn1Jxxad2i_8DRdHEqOgstxEUo0dDo5KhL59_g_wUqZpWR9Wk4nacnXyaUEenCbSFJS7MzuV3ZgMkpF1RUcLb2B11r2ssEAQruStBtUp7n6l1N52eiw8/s1600/DSC_0228.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGG6qDwP7ThuZpj28K4KMDN7qhnZ4pjcBbPIZ-u4OLD3jXRTYEeM2Trlu-Lguvrbecs08w4xTCrSuZl7EhqTmThCKpcj0RWmZ4shvIE6dMPhpWuVV-4meZuJgO75Jm5o5HFYSG8qypbUI/s1600/DSC_0242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGG6qDwP7ThuZpj28K4KMDN7qhnZ4pjcBbPIZ-u4OLD3jXRTYEeM2Trlu-Lguvrbecs08w4xTCrSuZl7EhqTmThCKpcj0RWmZ4shvIE6dMPhpWuVV-4meZuJgO75Jm5o5HFYSG8qypbUI/s1600/DSC_0242.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
My best friend from my childhood, Sinamin, holding Sawyer boy while we conduct the chaos. She's the best!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LxAIgFxy_egDVvvjjmRz2O4kPUfkqyfeutQcl1YgXoRSOMNYEI7EWe4uX51G9m6ku2hE3K1XV6ixR70BJ91ABq3lP6gvUyeYwBJtcNfzu4ypizHCPRiaPvDE-VXtH039hHrQQEewrfQ/s1600/DSC_0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LxAIgFxy_egDVvvjjmRz2O4kPUfkqyfeutQcl1YgXoRSOMNYEI7EWe4uX51G9m6ku2hE3K1XV6ixR70BJ91ABq3lP6gvUyeYwBJtcNfzu4ypizHCPRiaPvDE-VXtH039hHrQQEewrfQ/s1600/DSC_0240.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQFtCuECbTvGlQM0gHXvARoGrJmQ8n6xmlpaau_ZUD202qwUoCjODuNiKDB6QvHT3-f1XOElY8EcgcC7mcvZw2LRe5pp3lGlszfJKQODSsedsbESA0hyphenhyphenHzWvsRMJKkk4YPMXQ32MvkKw/s1600/DSC_0234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQFtCuECbTvGlQM0gHXvARoGrJmQ8n6xmlpaau_ZUD202qwUoCjODuNiKDB6QvHT3-f1XOElY8EcgcC7mcvZw2LRe5pp3lGlszfJKQODSsedsbESA0hyphenhyphenHzWvsRMJKkk4YPMXQ32MvkKw/s1600/DSC_0234.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
They were so excited they got to wear their Halloween costumes BEFORE Halloween<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kq8Ds9HnHaq1G8Y-lMpG_bZgx7JrOhwXEmKQqrUxGkn-2U9YrUSj4wP2gIzrU0qdM2Vr1U-qCu8bVVrZpotmUSJtzJOQNVuLr-nm1VehRQ1dC5g1MoWPfTE6EtQP3Vx7QL3UtKjEPjI/s1600/DSC_0238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kq8Ds9HnHaq1G8Y-lMpG_bZgx7JrOhwXEmKQqrUxGkn-2U9YrUSj4wP2gIzrU0qdM2Vr1U-qCu8bVVrZpotmUSJtzJOQNVuLr-nm1VehRQ1dC5g1MoWPfTE6EtQP3Vx7QL3UtKjEPjI/s1600/DSC_0238.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
The last picture we have of Haiven with her binkie. Her teeth were glad to see that go!Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-85583890368621318222015-01-01T21:34:00.001-08:002015-01-01T21:34:41.460-08:00A ResolutionEver since I was young, I wanted to change the world. Put my stamp on it, mark my place in it, so everyone would know that I was here. That I lived. I remember at 15-years-old sitting at the foot of my parents bed, like I did every night before bed, and telling them that I was going to be somebody someday. I didn't mean that I would be famous, but that I would be somebody that people would remember. I was thoroughly convinced that God had straight-laced plan laid out for me and that I only had to discover it. It became my mission, my mantra: Find out what it is you are meant to do in this life. I wanted a single answer, a grand one, one that would change countless lives for the better. I took several aptitude tests in school and in college and found them irritating and constricting. Why did I have to be one kind of person? Why did I have to fit inside a box so the computer could tell me what job was best suited for my personality? I actually failed these aptitude tests. The results were always inconclusive. "You do not fit in our box" the computers told me and I was left feeling confident that I was so unique that even a computer could't pinpoint me and yet I was also frustrated because I was no closer to finding out my purpose in life.<br />
I graduated with my Associate's Degree before I graduated from high school, which left me in a unique position. I would enter college as a sophomore and I had no time to dabble in electives to figure out where I belonged in this world. I chose a safe career, a practical one for a mom because I'd always assumed I would be a mother, which I am. Teaching was safe. You get out of school when your kids gets out. You get the holidays off. You get summer! Those are all the "perks" that everyone who is not a teacher will tell you. What they do not know is that it is a full-time job, very stressful, and let's face it, we are working with everybody else's children for 8 hours a day and then our work is still not finished. There is always more planning and for an English teacher, mountains of written work to grade always. The thing is, I don't know that it was my passion. I never liked to waste time and I was eager to begin my college career and get out of there and onto the real world as quickly as possible. I found out teaching was hard, but that was okay. I had always liked a challenge. I loved the kids that I worked for, but I didn't love the job itself.<br />
When I quit teaching to stay home and raise my kids, I had a personal crisis. Becoming a mother was something I had always planned on doing, but I didn't plan on how it would make me feel. I felt love like I never knew I could and I began to worry like I never thought possible. I also began to doubt my place in this world and wonder if this, being a mother, was all I was ever destined to be. It sounds harsh, even ungrateful, but that is how I've felt and it's something I still struggle with today. I felt I had never found my path in life and what I do feel for sure is the passing of time and watching everyone else's lives go on around me. Sometimes I feel like maybe God isn't hearing my prayers. I still feel like that more often that I'd like to admit. It is my biggest struggle even now. I have invested so much of my life and myself into finding out who I am and where I belong and what path is the best one for me that I have let it consume me and tear me down. Enter in depression, the cherry on top, the piece de resistance that makes this conundrum more dramatic than it should be. I perceive that God is not answering my prayers, but I have faith enough to know that He is, just in ways that I am not ready to see yet.<br />
Looking back on my life, I realize that a lot of the choices I made in life were to make other people around me happy. I realize now that I have lived too long trying to get others to like me or be proud of me and in doing that I lost a sense of self. I am not so naive as to not have considered that perhaps I am already on the path that God wants me to be on and maybe I am. Why can't I see that? I am smart enough to know that I do not want to sentence myself to a long life of being a wanderer and life-long obsession with catching hold of that perfect rainbow and consequently missing out on what is happening in the now. The life I live now is very anti-climatic in comparison to what I had imagined for myself. I was going to be digging the pyramids of Egypt and discovering new treasures--I was going to be the first person to survive going through a black hole in space--I was going to be that top notch lawyer that helped those who couldn't help themselves and to put "bad guys" in their place. The list goes on and on. It's ridiculous because none of those things would ever replace my kids or my husband and the love that we have. Maybe at the age of 29 I am finally realizing that those dreams are not what will bring me happiness in life. Maybe, no, I know, that I already have everything I need to be happy. And so my task now is to accept that and to let go of this notion that there is one particular path in this life for me and that I must find it. I am not going to fit into a box, so I am going to stop trying to do that. I am going to trust that I am where I am needed most right now and work to not let the world tell me otherwise. I'm still going to continue doing the things I love to do because I think we all need to do that, but I won't let those things come before my more important things, which aren't things at all, but little people actually and one big kid who I call husband.Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-78856677187424102602014-10-20T11:41:00.000-07:002014-10-20T11:41:32.026-07:00Black Island Farm Pumpkin Patch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If you live in the Salt Lake City area, I would highly recommend taking a trip to Black Island Farm in Syracuse. We bought our discounted passes on KSL deals for $9 bucks! That included the wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch, the corn maze, and the many activities they have for kids (slides, train ride, etc.). The only con to this trip were the mosquitos! There was basically a cloud that followed us out to the pumpkin patch and they are aggressive buggers. I got bit at least four times. So if you go out in the evening, spray on that bug spray and light a few dozen citronella candles to hand out to everyone on the wagon ride and you should be fine. Seriously though, bring bug spray. One woman even joked, "Don't like mosquitos? Didn't you know that mosquitos are Black Island's state bird?" I could only half-way laugh at that because I was in a panic trying to swat the pests away. FYI they DO bite through clothing like leggings, easily, in fact I think they are attracted to people who wear leggings, like me. Minus the mosquitos, it was a great evening. The kids loved picking out their own pumpkins and being pulled by a tractor. It was a beautiful fall evening and worth the bites just to have some Halloween fun.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2J2M3DcdHMDLD1E6gENQ1PExE8iH6o5yg7obTZ7NlC9mwL9n9VlQQXGK9lkQBbtKq8NHZsSyyRqcvRSTJAarRko_LGXRWrRI4_nu1Zd8c9FuN84pUKhyphenhyphenwWkRaB0npvORsPCfric5rf8/s1600/DSC_0248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2J2M3DcdHMDLD1E6gENQ1PExE8iH6o5yg7obTZ7NlC9mwL9n9VlQQXGK9lkQBbtKq8NHZsSyyRqcvRSTJAarRko_LGXRWrRI4_nu1Zd8c9FuN84pUKhyphenhyphenwWkRaB0npvORsPCfric5rf8/s1600/DSC_0248.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJIwVYjSseoSksi0D3J5Zo3DTUtkddBlcLoS1dMOAbZz3sWp0uRvHXXJhnvp5OvHNZWNfFkrPNP6R8fF1FolN7LS8zNbTKFCVuZddHSN87tSt0vofOQUvTjeHM8mQCYVtuwXh-iScmzc/s1600/DSC_0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJIwVYjSseoSksi0D3J5Zo3DTUtkddBlcLoS1dMOAbZz3sWp0uRvHXXJhnvp5OvHNZWNfFkrPNP6R8fF1FolN7LS8zNbTKFCVuZddHSN87tSt0vofOQUvTjeHM8mQCYVtuwXh-iScmzc/s1600/DSC_0250.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Sawyer boy was a good sport, even when he had a mosquito sucking the life blood out of his forehead. That is quite the landing strip for a mosquito though isn't it? <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFXHPC-eUKvBe_pfYiNtQJYARnH3FnfbOrGxnukgsGbvM1yK1kk_z0YRzf5FIZdybVW85pfvJgJrxrVTfDgkIPC3_w-CmtsLVYzfzgQBCf_Tz_nc-oUVrfP2rBMdizOuIdfANODsQKLk/s1600/DSC_0254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFXHPC-eUKvBe_pfYiNtQJYARnH3FnfbOrGxnukgsGbvM1yK1kk_z0YRzf5FIZdybVW85pfvJgJrxrVTfDgkIPC3_w-CmtsLVYzfzgQBCf_Tz_nc-oUVrfP2rBMdizOuIdfANODsQKLk/s1600/DSC_0254.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUpQX-g74QcRxta4ACqeWietl4m9lnOR73Q-Hxm08Yl-IO9XiEDKqbXF2SEMa3H6UwKa5HimRDLXLKCzhVy2k4JZe5XO4nq2_kx6XmfUIGujmH5CwZvENhMt57OaDjPn2lPijLmsYoX0/s1600/DSC_0255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUpQX-g74QcRxta4ACqeWietl4m9lnOR73Q-Hxm08Yl-IO9XiEDKqbXF2SEMa3H6UwKa5HimRDLXLKCzhVy2k4JZe5XO4nq2_kx6XmfUIGujmH5CwZvENhMt57OaDjPn2lPijLmsYoX0/s1600/DSC_0255.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOnTYlxZlEHIAjc5k377dxYP1izziTrGw6rImbBd4-Waopj2dqmjgx7KTXXnFzJ8zoFmGZxAV-wbyewuW63sGP7JL1hxcN6Ce0oeX0VI1mzVe3K-uRp87-anedUCbt3SYl6322QYN6DM/s1600/DSC_0256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOnTYlxZlEHIAjc5k377dxYP1izziTrGw6rImbBd4-Waopj2dqmjgx7KTXXnFzJ8zoFmGZxAV-wbyewuW63sGP7JL1hxcN6Ce0oeX0VI1mzVe3K-uRp87-anedUCbt3SYl6322QYN6DM/s1600/DSC_0256.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Taj found his good friend Ryder from school and they were so excited to get to ride next to each other, well at least Taj was, haha.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEmvtWP3kIQ3V-8kKQ0hBzPh8bokK98Cv4mTTvUyjCqk4Dw9wEOOxQP85BfJad_8proHU1KcsWvBFofhYddTfLFaMH0AzKfI5hdxwGx9kLcO5mU2cZXILfDIGWZhpGxUm-p9XfmTW_rE/s1600/DSC_0258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEmvtWP3kIQ3V-8kKQ0hBzPh8bokK98Cv4mTTvUyjCqk4Dw9wEOOxQP85BfJad_8proHU1KcsWvBFofhYddTfLFaMH0AzKfI5hdxwGx9kLcO5mU2cZXILfDIGWZhpGxUm-p9XfmTW_rE/s1600/DSC_0258.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsoNRnTQ9RzYoSVyJomkLdOgcJm233zsDhr7vZQZ2XsKGK_yji-gHdHbrKyMnL_0jlmm991QMwehnli7LFACfiIVjLAaovgmPrvaoeSj7s_ifiYJ20ssrgl4hR8Tc5qpMgaNfx8c01oo/s1600/DSC_0259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsoNRnTQ9RzYoSVyJomkLdOgcJm233zsDhr7vZQZ2XsKGK_yji-gHdHbrKyMnL_0jlmm991QMwehnli7LFACfiIVjLAaovgmPrvaoeSj7s_ifiYJ20ssrgl4hR8Tc5qpMgaNfx8c01oo/s1600/DSC_0259.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5iI5mv5R84Ck9X0c-ooVabvn14ia79Cfft0Z51sxJrRv8yZFUpBbir44gypG5TihNPtg7r1QUKNO-9N8Qkp8-22X_gJyhHMqRdTpjVq4QZyY67O3tXO7u7DVkcnaw2BsAluy2XjjjMY/s1600/DSC_0260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5iI5mv5R84Ck9X0c-ooVabvn14ia79Cfft0Z51sxJrRv8yZFUpBbir44gypG5TihNPtg7r1QUKNO-9N8Qkp8-22X_gJyhHMqRdTpjVq4QZyY67O3tXO7u7DVkcnaw2BsAluy2XjjjMY/s1600/DSC_0260.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qRiLWJ1GRSeWWtQIY4NvSzej0a9JlZGdmmeJO9Zw1nVMaOMA4D6vYOBjnbVeCDR4KegCjs1_f84jtBh8vw2bpVYs4I9_fGPO0FSJ72nthAH6GblQQsG73haW0DPUrnwI9bTESGn-7eM/s1600/DSC_0263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qRiLWJ1GRSeWWtQIY4NvSzej0a9JlZGdmmeJO9Zw1nVMaOMA4D6vYOBjnbVeCDR4KegCjs1_f84jtBh8vw2bpVYs4I9_fGPO0FSJ72nthAH6GblQQsG73haW0DPUrnwI9bTESGn-7eM/s1600/DSC_0263.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJeZNXghac3vV3gmOYsaz8juS3Ul3YIDwAxpW9QWToxNtW9tVmGglz0U74Ey4HPmTKr3xdZY1V-Ib8yPtAZYQOYPkGsyWhznZoBoXuIG8eRtLro1eNbkkniqhkMsko_7JBX83rMO3cNc/s1600/DSC_0264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJeZNXghac3vV3gmOYsaz8juS3Ul3YIDwAxpW9QWToxNtW9tVmGglz0U74Ey4HPmTKr3xdZY1V-Ib8yPtAZYQOYPkGsyWhznZoBoXuIG8eRtLro1eNbkkniqhkMsko_7JBX83rMO3cNc/s1600/DSC_0264.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPU2Qmvf1bdsEThlK0iHOZ5A93c2gKAgmxHD-x7tkIXn6Gc__w7Cf5XqiKjLw0Y1TJuEhSwqqjg-I_QDHj_NyGRIrUoJylYipT6GGmwvjwhTD0WEwHwgE0rHLaHKTHkp3UyepOB5Anus/s1600/DSC_0265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPU2Qmvf1bdsEThlK0iHOZ5A93c2gKAgmxHD-x7tkIXn6Gc__w7Cf5XqiKjLw0Y1TJuEhSwqqjg-I_QDHj_NyGRIrUoJylYipT6GGmwvjwhTD0WEwHwgE0rHLaHKTHkp3UyepOB5Anus/s1600/DSC_0265.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbNBJ6c-a1GwfpBa1W7NX6_qOEbghHHVduDu0KhlOIgkGmmXahhEe0WAu5ooaBLuhB8MshBx7IgD-Zvz_PnPVA_7TOwh-DvkXsIGl5UkbGG15viwnsbhTpmAO-0QpAnNSMejXWkZ49bY/s1600/DSC_0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbNBJ6c-a1GwfpBa1W7NX6_qOEbghHHVduDu0KhlOIgkGmmXahhEe0WAu5ooaBLuhB8MshBx7IgD-Zvz_PnPVA_7TOwh-DvkXsIGl5UkbGG15viwnsbhTpmAO-0QpAnNSMejXWkZ49bY/s1600/DSC_0267.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
There were hundreds and hundreds of pumpkins. They have a ton of patches too, this was only one of them. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTyAbLyWk5hz8kSc1XKhQBLCjdw6IYFSEHqFIu0Aa99xse8XuUr8T0D1wPbqhac-EI0UEaGJLfhFg6qlqaXYmVIcMkEiGNKhPzs6xSydoS0g9sGtw03OiUGgvUnMtEAnEfSBXbk0dVMs/s1600/DSC_0272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTyAbLyWk5hz8kSc1XKhQBLCjdw6IYFSEHqFIu0Aa99xse8XuUr8T0D1wPbqhac-EI0UEaGJLfhFg6qlqaXYmVIcMkEiGNKhPzs6xSydoS0g9sGtw03OiUGgvUnMtEAnEfSBXbk0dVMs/s1600/DSC_0272.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP94IeQVuCFXJESJHn6riQYp5l7M0FlM5jbJQTtZWNxWZzCCx8__nZrFJKQz9rF6ucr73QRJpKu4RlHwTnyvAB6FD9JH5tjG6zVBwiOoR8xxTd3hp6sn04ngL2K2mrgC7K1nE1pePZfDk/s1600/DSC_0284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP94IeQVuCFXJESJHn6riQYp5l7M0FlM5jbJQTtZWNxWZzCCx8__nZrFJKQz9rF6ucr73QRJpKu4RlHwTnyvAB6FD9JH5tjG6zVBwiOoR8xxTd3hp6sn04ngL2K2mrgC7K1nE1pePZfDk/s1600/DSC_0284.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
The man driving the tractor picked out a baby pumpkin for Sawyer. They have really nice people working for them!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6WcnV3eotc6fdIDQyLhEUGkogpQ-YqrSBbX7s70BcnnEDFWPWfEfOR8sZwlCCvqY6vF0ZP8f3jVMSDi-mdbKbII9F-2XKgIYSN608BEXI-jAQtpS-Ub9x92aQ6xSGjA0GQjT3avtT2I/s1600/DSC_0286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6WcnV3eotc6fdIDQyLhEUGkogpQ-YqrSBbX7s70BcnnEDFWPWfEfOR8sZwlCCvqY6vF0ZP8f3jVMSDi-mdbKbII9F-2XKgIYSN608BEXI-jAQtpS-Ub9x92aQ6xSGjA0GQjT3avtT2I/s1600/DSC_0286.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQkyEupHgGI1oYcfUag-sN-Pegs2hRbD5Y1o46C_d5uifT6gyaQQG3VBL-3wBbNbKpswDbKZjJ5C28GmGwQ-dEDT4HaDhlp62OBJl0D4WnCxdb91MgG8zP2fh2vzMwuznBBH12FJNWiw/s1600/DSC_0287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQkyEupHgGI1oYcfUag-sN-Pegs2hRbD5Y1o46C_d5uifT6gyaQQG3VBL-3wBbNbKpswDbKZjJ5C28GmGwQ-dEDT4HaDhlp62OBJl0D4WnCxdb91MgG8zP2fh2vzMwuznBBH12FJNWiw/s1600/DSC_0287.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3VTXgRhWwZn7ztzHlKzzCjW7swceGbopgy8CLZvxSA1cGKeJSWl7eF9jreDWwdscXbtt9oYOcmleu8M9Chq5f5cnHPt2H1uXwoX5Ks6yK8-N9xKpt-fiP3NTn88R_7B9n_jUQNJQQ5Y/s1600/DSC_0297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3VTXgRhWwZn7ztzHlKzzCjW7swceGbopgy8CLZvxSA1cGKeJSWl7eF9jreDWwdscXbtt9oYOcmleu8M9Chq5f5cnHPt2H1uXwoX5Ks6yK8-N9xKpt-fiP3NTn88R_7B9n_jUQNJQQ5Y/s1600/DSC_0297.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Taj was pretty proud of his picks. He of course picked the biggest one for himself and then he chose mine for me since I waited with Sawyer on the wagon. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAWS3z1a1-BA443-7Lm0fdtyZ2pgfhyphenhyphenNec7JhRoPsxlr6C9G1h_7jVtRn8e4zVaZKof7Jus53iEk6IvA8F3pKKrusiEAhyphenhyphenb-2mUk41O_lBQ3uLgm7TEiY9fvE145BMUufotBv3BoSC0A/s1600/DSC_0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAWS3z1a1-BA443-7Lm0fdtyZ2pgfhyphenhyphenNec7JhRoPsxlr6C9G1h_7jVtRn8e4zVaZKof7Jus53iEk6IvA8F3pKKrusiEAhyphenhyphenb-2mUk41O_lBQ3uLgm7TEiY9fvE145BMUufotBv3BoSC0A/s1600/DSC_0299.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDlZb7sVJhXzNxXu9_pFOnLqP4H3GqTPEz_6nv2LQTFley8801TDSHnucLFoB9T_xMBbQZWNSXApO7-R8QZCi3dKkYYn2v6zoXwAAWM8cGYpAnS50rh7MTVoMb63kyOg3kvPJ-oxdLhY/s1600/DSC_0297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YLIu_Ijk5nMxQuJUuH8Hm1ogY3nV9gOdk1naa174VF1FDq_2QaK_D3vjYUopvmyqmIaLNq_l8IDNWbELU6JzrBb-rcmwwaanLyfoYbQIrdZimwnHoU8dnHWc5JChu6rgRznQ7POa1no/s1600/DSC_0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<br />Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-28472816666017634612014-10-20T10:48:00.002-07:002014-10-20T10:48:53.764-07:00Blessing Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sawyer was blessed on September 7th this year at our ward in Kaysville. I wanted to at least document the day with some pictures for our family history. I've been doing family history on Sundays and I've run into some pretty cool stories about my ancestors. I wish all of them would have taken the time to at least record who they were, what they did for a living, what they did with their lives, etc. It's made me realize that someday my great great grandkids will want to hear our stories, so I'm making it a point to do better with recording life as we live it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sawyer was blessed by his daddy Brannon--he did such a good job! Sawyer's grandpas and his uncle Matt stood in the circle. I remember that fast and testimony meeting being especially spiritual. Everyone kept commenting afterwards how strongly they felt the spirit there. I love Sundays like that! We have the best friends and family ever!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuQWyqgRIUZ9jHTBK2bVDoPzWxIjSkCSixuS3OFPATKXu9HowHGc94yJOPoQ0In1TUYWcntpPTvBRMyRPksPAVpLH3dyKGAYi4HohFvCoOTqnfurJkymdHulKVJtWocW-MPeFiYDOUCw/s1600/DSC_0151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuQWyqgRIUZ9jHTBK2bVDoPzWxIjSkCSixuS3OFPATKXu9HowHGc94yJOPoQ0In1TUYWcntpPTvBRMyRPksPAVpLH3dyKGAYi4HohFvCoOTqnfurJkymdHulKVJtWocW-MPeFiYDOUCw/s1600/DSC_0151.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
She never swings with us, but she got brave for papa. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Gyls9sbtWBoxoOyRDyUjI__i6EgxfMrVFZLjGjKnw0LVufZkj7kfZIzhbuwZjJnDBdpzeh5R-ZVJt8ZLHLEOOG3RdBq1emWuaF29OAWT-xW4mR0_v1UrkSwyzqUNdHtDP16s5Mv621A/s1600/DSC_0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Gyls9sbtWBoxoOyRDyUjI__i6EgxfMrVFZLjGjKnw0LVufZkj7kfZIzhbuwZjJnDBdpzeh5R-ZVJt8ZLHLEOOG3RdBq1emWuaF29OAWT-xW4mR0_v1UrkSwyzqUNdHtDP16s5Mv621A/s1600/DSC_0154.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
See that nicely painted shed in the background? Brannon, my dad, and my brother Matt painted it in one afternoon. I was worried they wouldn't get it done before the blessing the next day, but they pulled it off and it looks great! Good job boys:)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbrFTUBDs_JCI61eXLJJPJzdijEIM9jBctFCAovjWOwNc53WNxflr2lK6B4y9Uufh7f5yAwRrAsDKVLSyIHZI0RxpuSGantTH85TDEU5Pd4KamUGyUwYi7_QwJ6FJ2VyVRbTsWw22Jks/s1600/DSC_0160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbrFTUBDs_JCI61eXLJJPJzdijEIM9jBctFCAovjWOwNc53WNxflr2lK6B4y9Uufh7f5yAwRrAsDKVLSyIHZI0RxpuSGantTH85TDEU5Pd4KamUGyUwYi7_QwJ6FJ2VyVRbTsWw22Jks/s1600/DSC_0160.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
See this is what we really look like 90% of the time. I think she had a nasty booger or what Taj calls "burgers." <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4oY5z2W-ys8AKtjUYQu1hKKLJnmDWx1Y2pjUV6_bbu-qJkPxVf-LnBBcAdmJTn7iFKjWlpl1Td_57jnuNyl2NkY-0Y298AiFYLT_lkMjcZddKEoqMdyCAqDlsMc_pN3nMrC9urvDtgA/s1600/DSC_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4oY5z2W-ys8AKtjUYQu1hKKLJnmDWx1Y2pjUV6_bbu-qJkPxVf-LnBBcAdmJTn7iFKjWlpl1Td_57jnuNyl2NkY-0Y298AiFYLT_lkMjcZddKEoqMdyCAqDlsMc_pN3nMrC9urvDtgA/s1600/DSC_0168.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Here's our best family of five picture. Better not stare too closely into Medusa's eyes!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseQ9skaJIjwq558qIBAZFKMI9i5RXTa-xRFOwIBOp66rNQGHl-lAhD-ox5YtogLxG7Dd7-b0_HKPyH77Kad_DDSJVTtkX4aF3Obnr_CKILefKdrazI80uwEMEfzg6z4TP3H3Ce_u3LkU/s1600/DSC_0171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseQ9skaJIjwq558qIBAZFKMI9i5RXTa-xRFOwIBOp66rNQGHl-lAhD-ox5YtogLxG7Dd7-b0_HKPyH77Kad_DDSJVTtkX4aF3Obnr_CKILefKdrazI80uwEMEfzg6z4TP3H3Ce_u3LkU/s1600/DSC_0171.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkgY4ZfItVrSbUHtUlYpxzKAbF5eTKD4jpKhUc4B8mbjsbpmAZ1Dpsv0WlojHejhQNXsbq9RfkVyw_uVpiYdqv36voKBhjuhPL4Q-zJVH-16Ypit_1X9OrwpLG9yk6xBLq_lrnIeYjNY/s1600/DSC_0173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkgY4ZfItVrSbUHtUlYpxzKAbF5eTKD4jpKhUc4B8mbjsbpmAZ1Dpsv0WlojHejhQNXsbq9RfkVyw_uVpiYdqv36voKBhjuhPL4Q-zJVH-16Ypit_1X9OrwpLG9yk6xBLq_lrnIeYjNY/s1600/DSC_0173.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
Papa Clint came to town. Taj immediately donned his cowboy gear for the occasion after church to impress Papa Clint, haha.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ncT9b9dZfga4C6gbdK9s6HtCziwitWTPxpP4OVZDPV2OJ0VOdYU8dBT6NyUPw0j5-chzHUAyM9V8p0kHT-kJ1zzVVNSPJWLoUllFshAAFCSp8Aqdt4kH_WaBzux2j8V0UqFnT9zPK_M/s1600/DSC_0197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ncT9b9dZfga4C6gbdK9s6HtCziwitWTPxpP4OVZDPV2OJ0VOdYU8dBT6NyUPw0j5-chzHUAyM9V8p0kHT-kJ1zzVVNSPJWLoUllFshAAFCSp8Aqdt4kH_WaBzux2j8V0UqFnT9zPK_M/s1600/DSC_0197.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysAgpe5kE1Zg3gh6sf5StAVvoPz-qj6RZhBvQQxTgnmg5DptWlyAEG1WwLTcVLeDb50DyjZSgzecaQITjOpLXIVjOtlYZuJOfkmjhEnIuYHEoDv5vWwCPmdAh6lTyY0TTVF_Gxo6FNoY/s1600/DSC_0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysAgpe5kE1Zg3gh6sf5StAVvoPz-qj6RZhBvQQxTgnmg5DptWlyAEG1WwLTcVLeDb50DyjZSgzecaQITjOpLXIVjOtlYZuJOfkmjhEnIuYHEoDv5vWwCPmdAh6lTyY0TTVF_Gxo6FNoY/s1600/DSC_0194.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
We had to get a girls pic with the little man. We are missing my sister Marci--usually she is the one behind the camera at these kinds of things. Man I love my sisters and my mom! Makes me want to consider having a sister for Haiv so that she can know what it feels like to have a sister. Now hurry, someone talk me out of it! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwC4fqiU5ldw1gMekzuh5Ing9qM9Gr76D4ShOs3Kvf898ltmN61rO1pD-Ps7U21RAus_Y_rJQR2y46O0BeNkRRj4cZEUpl0Ghj1KARpjRSGUwBaeM-xs9Y-0VrDkolZ7aMgEzVuRw4Pg/s1600/DSC_0189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwC4fqiU5ldw1gMekzuh5Ing9qM9Gr76D4ShOs3Kvf898ltmN61rO1pD-Ps7U21RAus_Y_rJQR2y46O0BeNkRRj4cZEUpl0Ghj1KARpjRSGUwBaeM-xs9Y-0VrDkolZ7aMgEzVuRw4Pg/s1600/DSC_0189.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGa8mQ21ARyC3F_DQJyC9ORsBGu01M48Ygy6e8ZQstRSpLrV_iXZ55As_fOhhMxG0pBrCLNGdY6UqCqSTnVYwNk6VzBcF6RQmDJkf4emwNo0TmfEzjTa1dCjMU2dG-fUKEwVk5BldjF4/s1600/DSC_0188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGa8mQ21ARyC3F_DQJyC9ORsBGu01M48Ygy6e8ZQstRSpLrV_iXZ55As_fOhhMxG0pBrCLNGdY6UqCqSTnVYwNk6VzBcF6RQmDJkf4emwNo0TmfEzjTa1dCjMU2dG-fUKEwVk5BldjF4/s1600/DSC_0188.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
More drama from Medusa.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYR9bJzdwn9KFVnVLiEtx0k04uirU93Wbbw9-i7-DKLYMd4EEb7MT4qw_GYv7KLBHzjPLGlVneJPkxFv4sYbJ1ow19-GjMVjzShNWCUR2wFD_AIZn_UqHZ45e9NNpNwLy6Ei5KA2RSyk/s1600/DSC_0185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYR9bJzdwn9KFVnVLiEtx0k04uirU93Wbbw9-i7-DKLYMd4EEb7MT4qw_GYv7KLBHzjPLGlVneJPkxFv4sYbJ1ow19-GjMVjzShNWCUR2wFD_AIZn_UqHZ45e9NNpNwLy6Ei5KA2RSyk/s1600/DSC_0185.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
We had all the grandkids here for the blessing except for little Miss Cora Bear. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXDS64d4GFDRdd5a-BiW5ZvcMnZ6GU5edwAxxiZJRJeq-1k7mv0zKTVoYKYKc1_fbiXDJfCIaO5WcGh6dMD9dz-kKogPf7dzhff6LA9znnNjmD3pe6BqsxISweTc67CSNnPUZ91-2msM/s1600/DSC_0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXDS64d4GFDRdd5a-BiW5ZvcMnZ6GU5edwAxxiZJRJeq-1k7mv0zKTVoYKYKc1_fbiXDJfCIaO5WcGh6dMD9dz-kKogPf7dzhff6LA9znnNjmD3pe6BqsxISweTc67CSNnPUZ91-2msM/s1600/DSC_0204.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Sawyer with his Morse grandpas.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUG-kop1TtWCADkAE0FiIafSXxMPn4_OJ8Mduh5sMUVaFRYhrQlZl0mn78LEMJIuGHluQY2oh9QtDs08CWeZgXI0P-AxHmPEto2hqeTkxE6R0nbsfbCFyfolbYl-b4ZX-UJbioJmEUsc/s1600/DSC_0148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUG-kop1TtWCADkAE0FiIafSXxMPn4_OJ8Mduh5sMUVaFRYhrQlZl0mn78LEMJIuGHluQY2oh9QtDs08CWeZgXI0P-AxHmPEto2hqeTkxE6R0nbsfbCFyfolbYl-b4ZX-UJbioJmEUsc/s1600/DSC_0148.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
This is one of my favorite pictures of Sawyer's blessing day. It's hard to tell a person's personality based on a photograph with pasted on smiles, so I love candids like this that portray personalities. Candids are the most accurate photos of all at detailing the human experience.Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-92053837392203864912014-10-08T22:55:00.001-07:002014-10-08T22:55:59.822-07:00Coming UndoneSomething strange happened to me today. I looked at the laundry in my room and realized that I've been trying to get all the laundry done at once for the last two weeks. My mind usually will not rest until all the laundry is done at once, all the house cleaning is done at once, all the shopping is done at once. Today I realized that maybe it's okay not to have it all done at once, that maybe it's okay to stop trying to be perfect. Maybe the Lord is trying to teach me something because it seems like I can't keep any of the balls in the air anymore. Every time I turn around someone is reminding me of something I forgot to do and just when I thought I had everything under control. It's strange to me to feel like my life is a hurricane swirling around me and I'm only able to focus on the debris that hits me in the head on it's way around. It seems like every day I wake up and start working and I don't stop until it's well past my bedtime and even then, there are 100 things that I meant to get done, but that didn't even come close to glancing my radar. It's almost like I have so many distractions (some good, some better, some not so good at all) hitting me on all sides and I'm finding that I'm having a hard time choosing which things are the BEST to confront each day. I'm realizing that time has seemingly sped up even faster, leaving me less time each day to accomplish the things that I think should be done. It's almost like I'm being tested, ("Here's another thing you forgot! or Look here, you haven't checked anything off this list and instead of getting smaller, it's getting bigger, like HUGE!") All of this has made me aware of my weaknesses as a mortal. I will never be able to keep up with it all. It is just not possible to give 100% to every single thing that life requires of us. Some of you may disagree, but I am who I am and I cannot keep up with it all and today I finally decided that it's ok. I don't have to be perfect. I just have to take care of the things that are the most important. Even doing that is hard, but I'm finding that this feeling of being overloaded has shifted my perspective and I feel that with so much going on, I am being forced to choose the BEST of each day because I don't have time for anything more. <br />
<br />
Basically I don't care anymore that I don't appear to have it all together. Have you heard that song "Secrets"? I like that song a lot. The premise of the song focuses on our constant need to hide our imperfections and the things we don't like about ourselves from other people. Why try to force yourself to be somebody you are not? Why do we as human beings feel the need to put on a front around everyone else and give the appearance of perfection? Like we have it all together and we don't make mistakes? Why are we so afraid of other people seeing our weaknesses? Is it because we are so hard on each other? Because there is always someone there ready to point a finger of blame or to criticize? Do we expect perfection not only of ourselves, but from other people as well? Is it because as a society we are generally unforgiving and quick to take offense? Isn't life hard enough in itself without us making it harder for each other? I know I can't change the way other people think, but I can change the way I think. Having a third child has helped me to realize that it is of no worth to me or my family to try to keep up with everything just so I can feel like I'm just as good a mom as that lady on Facebook that posts one moment of bliss right after the other. <br />
<br />
A typical day for me starts with hitting the snooze button at least once or twice and then dragging myself out of bed after a long night with my sweet baby or my stubborn 3-year-old who has decided that she now only needs five hours of sleep and shrieks like a banshee when we tell her that "No, you may not watch a movie at three in the morning!" and said episode usually ends when I cram by postpartum body onto her toddler bed with her and pray that the creaking and cracking sounds are not signs that the bed is about to give way and unload the both of us onto the floor. Anyway, I wake up tired, but I am determined to get Taj to school on time. I have a bad habit of being on time. I don't know why either because I came from a family who's motto was "If you're not early, you're late!" <br />
<br />
Here are some of my secrets: I don't make my kids hot breakfast in the morning (shock! horror!), I'm late to a lot of places, sometimes I lose my temper and yell at my kids, I have a pile of clutter junk on the counter, I haven't dusted my van since we bough it in January, I don't post on my blog regularly even though I want to because I'm too damn tired when I finally get a break, I haven't washed the sheets on the beds for three weeks (disgusting, right?), and the list goes on. Do you know how liberating it was admitting to some of those things? I can hear some people now, "Well if that's all you have to worry about, your life is great!" like life is some competition where we are all vying for trophies that say "I have more problems than you" or "I have more pain than you," all the while exempting ourselves from being sympathetic towards those who we feel are living the "good life" or who "have no reason to complain whatsoever." Having a third child has helped me realize that nobody has it all together and that no matter how good you think someone else's life is, they have their own struggles too that feel just as painful as yours. Nobody has a monopoly on pain in this life, except for the Savior Himself, because He did feel ALL of our pain and He knows EXACTLY how we all feel. <br />
<br />
Could we all be a little kinder, more forgiving, more sympathetic to those in our sphere? Nobody has it all together and appearances ARE deceiving. Everyone has a silent struggle that they are going through. Shouldn't we help each other out instead of driving the daggers deeper with cold criticism? I had two experiences in the last week that restored my faith in humanity. The first is when I foolishly made a trip to Shopko with three kids (I was desperate to find a wrap of some sort to stuff my post-pregnancy belly in and eliminate further inquiries from strangers about when my baby was due) and while checking out, I had Taj and Haiven pulling me from both sides begging me to open their Ring Pops at the same time the cashier is telling me my card had insufficient funds (due to a bank error). I paid with another card and while fumbling with my wallet and trying to get a binkie in Sawyer's mouth so he would quite crying, I saw the cashier pull out a pair of scissors and beckon my kids over so that she could open their Ring Pops for them. I looked at her and before I could say thanks she said, "Everyone needs a hand once in a while." Whoa! Am I that far gone?! Then I swallowed my pride and said "Yes, yes they do." Lesson learned? I am not perfect and it's okay for people to see that and to help me. <br />
<br />
The second event occurred two days ago at the grocery story when I had no other choice BUT to take my three kids with me to get some things for dinner that night or there would be no dinner. Taj and Haiven both insisted on pushing their own cart, you know the little ones for when you only need a gallon of milk and some bread, and I had a big cart with Sawyer's carseat in it and no room for groceries. We got through the checkout line and I realized that I now had three carts to get back out to my car parked in the far corner of the parking lot. I had bought the kids a little treat for being so good and they were no longer interested in pushing the carts. As I grabbed my receipt from the cashier and turned to try to finagle my three carts, I saw a lovely woman standing there waiting and watching us. She had a smile on her face and it was like she radiated light. She said, "Can I please help you to your car?" And she walked over and grabbed one of the carts. Not only did she help me get the carts to my car, but she helped me unload my groceries and then took the carts for me so that I could get my kids buckled in. It was perhaps a small act of service in her eyes, but to me, it was the Lord telling me that He is aware of me because He sent her to help me with such a little problem. If He is concerned with even our smallest problems, then shouldn't we be more open to helping others out with theirs? <br />
<br />
In a nutshell motherhood has helped me realize that 1) It's okay to not be perfect. 2) It's okay to let others help you. 3) You never know what silent struggle someone is going through, so don't be quick to judge. Be quick to lend a helping hand and a smile.Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-35188142977930667162014-09-23T15:32:00.000-07:002014-09-23T15:32:39.640-07:00"My name is T-A-J"My Taj is about to turn 6 years old and I wanted to keep a bit of him preserved right here on the ol' blog for those times when he is a teenager and I wish we were having conversations like the one below. This is a typical conversation that Taj and I have any given moment on any given day and all within a 5 minute time span. <br />
<br />
"Which one is your favorite mom? Deep snow or a little snow?" <strong><em>A little snow.</em></strong> "Tell mine what's my favorite."<em><strong> Okay, what's your favorite?</strong></em> "Deep snow. Mom which one is your favorite? The fourwheeler that drives like this (look at me mom, look at me) with big tires in the snow. Or the fourwheeler with tires that are flat and drive like this (look at me mom, look at me). Why they do that? Why the tires go flat?" <strong><em>I don't know, maybe they ran something over. </em></strong>"Which one is your favorite mom? The race car that starts like this and the doors open like this (look at me mom, look at me) or the car that just does this?" <strong><em>The first one.</em></strong> "Which one?" <strong><em>The one that opens like this and starts like this (picture me repeating the same actions he did for me).</em></strong> "How bout you like the other one? Tell mine what's my favorite." <em><strong>What's your favorite?</strong></em> "The one that opens like (look at me mom, look at me) this and starts like (look at me mom, look at me). It jus won't start. It won't start. It's having a hard time. I fink the battery is dead." <strong><em>Uh oh, you better fix it.</em></strong> "I jus can't fix it. Steve is going to have to fix it. Watch this I'm going to push the gas on this (picture him pushing his foot to the floor and sounding like a Harley Davidson sitting in the garage idling). It's smoking a lot when I gas my race car. It gets smoke on my exhaust pipe when I drive on the dirt. It blows the dirt, but sometimes I drive it on the road and it doesn't get smoke on the exhaust pipe." <em><strong>Not good dude. You might have to drive it somewhere else.</strong></em> "How bout we buy a boat? That would be a good idea huh? And we can jus jus go outside....<br />
<br />
We talk A LOT about cars, trucks, boats, camp trailers, tractors, exhaust pipes, batteries, and whether or not something has a diesel engine or a gas engine. We also talk a lot about Halloween and Christmas and which is my favorite and which is his favorite. He is talking my ear off right now and in the last 10 minutes we've covered topics like race cars, monster caves, ice caves, tires, etc. Once he gets his mind on something, you can be sure you are going to hash it over and over and over again. You have to be careful too to actually listen and not say "Yep" or "That's right" or "Sure" because one time he asked me if he could smoke those "white sticks" when he grows up just like the Ghostbusters do and I told him "Sure thing!" and then when I realized what I agreed too, I had to back pedal mega fast, haha. He informed us that he is going to be a Ghostbuster when he grows up. Please never grow up Taj! <br />
<br />
Taj is very smart when it comes to anything with a motor, that he loves running outside, riding his bike, driving fourwheelers, going down big slides, camping and playing with his little sister Haiven and helping out with baby Sawyer. He is also very sensitive and loves creatures of all kinds. I've had a lot of "roley-poleys," worms, and snails in my house this summer. His graceful little sister Haiven accidentally stepped on his "baby" snail a couple of days ago and he was so upset that he came in the house and told me with watery eyes that he was going to "pray for the snail at bedtime tonight," and he did. He prayed that the snail was with Heavenly Father and that Heavenly Father would make him alive again in our backyard. Taj and Brannon were at the Davis County Demolition Derby a couple weeks ago and witnessed a man get crushed by one of the cars (the man died at the hospital that night). It was pretty traumatic and Taj said a prayer for him too when he and Brannon got back to the truck. We've learned that he is more intuitive than he seems and is so very observant. He notices things that nobody else notices, adults included! His memory is amazing as well. He remembers places and directions like you wouldn't expect a 5-year-old to. It's amazing really. <br />
<br />
We are grateful for Taj and his unique perspective on life. He always brings our attention to the little things and helps us to recognize the importance of slowing down to enjoy the small things in life. He loves hanging out with his family and he is so forgiving, which I'm very glad for since he is the first child and we are still trying to figure out what the heck we are doing. We love you stud!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzofgNs-j3J_QN089b_ElVieH9HAWsQ2pnXIzzQEbW2ntxjcdO6gdcPAKlq1O8PP-jXpM-456nK5G3bSqjRPmBwjibw_i21ZFJtZeXwiqU8iTOfhkXKZ4K4e76K8ZyA9bwW8w1o-VWq_M/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzofgNs-j3J_QN089b_ElVieH9HAWsQ2pnXIzzQEbW2ntxjcdO6gdcPAKlq1O8PP-jXpM-456nK5G3bSqjRPmBwjibw_i21ZFJtZeXwiqU8iTOfhkXKZ4K4e76K8ZyA9bwW8w1o-VWq_M/s1600/photo.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
This is his first day of kindergarten. His teacher is Mrs. Piper and when she called his name on the first day, he proudly shouted, "My name is T-A-J!" <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwx8tqWChNUxpZMwJpyrjPlOldm-jG7OiQ3SHHXkm4Z4luXLxsP3eCSDhHU6LgS5qS8TwKwyq_MwzCOZpbb1zh1kfQcfClJ43ZQMtjNEvBSj0VHJgd_xC09IIo-hCABM9I4xmRwK8p6K0/s1600/photo+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwx8tqWChNUxpZMwJpyrjPlOldm-jG7OiQ3SHHXkm4Z4luXLxsP3eCSDhHU6LgS5qS8TwKwyq_MwzCOZpbb1zh1kfQcfClJ43ZQMtjNEvBSj0VHJgd_xC09IIo-hCABM9I4xmRwK8p6K0/s1600/photo+(4).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here he is waiting to go inside with his cute little classmates. He told me this week, "How bout you jus jus stay in the van and I can walk to my line by myself." And so it begins...another year and he will be too embarrassed to give me a hug and a kiss goodbye. </div>
Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-61032974397472886592014-08-13T07:56:00.000-07:002014-08-13T07:56:28.324-07:00Welcome to the World!Our little man FINALLY made his debut three weeks ago today on July 21st at about 2:15 in the afternoon. It was a perfect, sunny day and I was glad to be indoors and getting this baby boy out and not outdoors suffering in the heat. Sawyer Clinton Morse weighed in at 7 lbs. 10 oz. and was 21 in. long. I told Brannon that I thought for sure he would be my biggest and he was. I swear that this pregnancy was MUCH harder this time around. I can't figure out if it's because I'm just getting older or if pregnancy just gets harder every time. We are 99.9999% sure he is our last baby and so I chose to stay the extra day in the hospital and to have more one on one time cuddling him. I held him pretty much the entire time I was in the hospital and the nursery staff had to practically rip him out of my arms to do all the usual newborn testing. I love those first hours with a newborn (minus the crazy afterbirth pains--which do get worse with every pregnancy by the way!). It really felt like heaven on earth, holding his little spirit so close to mine without interruptions from my other two littles. <br />
<br />
Labor and delivery went really well. I labored without meds until I was about a 6 and by that time I just asked for the epidural so I didn't have to be third in line for it. After the epidural, it was smooth sailing from there for the most part. The only scary thing was Sawyer's heart rate kept going WAY down with every contraction after I had the epidural. It was a little worrisome and when I finally pushed him out, he wasn't breathing and we saw the reason why his heart rate kept going down--his cord was wrapped around his neck. My doctor was quick though and it was only a moment before our little man cried out. He basically scared the crap out of us, but only for a second. My doctor, Dr. Sumsion, is a rock star! If you live in my neck of the woods and are needing an excellent OB/GYN, definitely give him a try! Sawyer boy was born with a head full of dark hair and he looks so much like Taj and Haiv did when they were born. You can definitely tell they are siblings. The kids are so in love with him and constantly fight over who gets to hold him. Taj is constantly smelling him and then asking me what Sawyer smells like. My response: "Like heaven." I love new baby smell. On the downside, Taj then smelled me and asked me what I smelled like and I told him I smell like a "mom," haha. He told me I smell like a hat and when I asked him whether it was a clean hat or a dirty hat, he replied "clean," so at least it was a CLEAN hat. <br />
<br />
Recovery has been a little rockier than my last two pregnancies. The afterbirth pains were horrendous for about two weeks and I ended up in the ER five days after I had Sawyer because I was passing blood clots the size of golf balls, which felt like giving birth all over again. I've never taken Percocet in my life, but this time around I actually filled the prescription and it didn't even touch the pain. Spending five hours in the ER is really fun with a newborn--surrounded by sick people, drunk people, and stuck in a cold, little room located right next to the bathroom made this trip especially exciting. A perfect way to kick off your new life at home with a new baby, right? Thankfully for us, my sister happened to be in town and watched the littles while Brannon went with me to the hospital. <br />
<br />
Anyone else out there get hit hard with postpartum depression after they have their kids? I get nailed with it every time and I tried preparing myself mentally for it this time around, but it's still really hard. I feel like I battle depressing and extremely discouraging thoughts about every minute of the day. Plus, I feel irritable and my whole body feels like a pile of trash. Throw in sleep deprivation (little man has colic:/), spells of crying for no reason at all, and the postpartum body that is newly embellished with some awesome pin-striping and that droops and sags in places it shouldn't and won't fit into anything but sweats, and you get the picture. It's not a pretty picture. It's like mother nature hits you with everything at once. She has no mercy. You would think you would get some kind of break after going through 10 months of pregnancy, labor and delivery, breastfeeding, etc. I guess the Lord thinks women are pretty strong and that's why we get the honor of bearing the beautiful burden of childbearing. Honestly, could you imagine a man going through this?! Most of the men in my life think they are dying when they have a cold. My mom always said there is nothing worse than a sick man and I think she's right. All this aside, I have two VERY active kids who wake me up at the crack of dawn, just when I finally get Sawyer to sleep and am praying that the Lord will have mercy on me and let me get an hour of sleep before I have to face another day. Having three kids is HARD. I did not read the fine print when I signed up for parenthood, but that's probably a good thing. I can do hard things though, right? I just keep telling myself that this stage won't last forever and to TRY to at least enjoy the good moments before they are gone, especially since this is our last baby.<br />
<br />
I'm pretty darn proud of myself for doing this post actually. This took a lot of mental effort and willpower. Depression kind of robs of you of willpower or the desire to do anything at all, but I've been fighting it and will continue to. Things that have helped me (even though every cell in my body screams "NO I DON'T WANT TO!!!") are to make the beds, open the blinds and curtains, do a couple house chores a day, get ready for the day (shower, put on clothes that don't smell like milk), and to take the kids to the park or on a walk. Brannon has helped me immensely by doing household chores and watching the kids so I can have an hour to myself at the gym or shopping or doing absolutely nothing. I think that helps to still make time for myself so I don't lose myself in all the motherhood demands of me, especially right now. I'm so thankful for him. I don't know how single parents do it, but kudos to you! I hope I'm not too much of a "Debbie Downer," but this is my reality and I'm just trying to make the best of it, which is the most that anyone can do right? <br />
<br />
What really gets me through this is knowing that God knows me and hears my pleas and has sent me help in the form of caring friends, family, and neighbors. He's blessed me with tender mercies like my kids abstaining from fighting for pretty much an entire day or me scoring a two hour nap because I was able to get my two youngest down for a nap and my oldest stayed entertained for that whole time, and when I got texts or phone calls or letters just at the right time. All these little things show me that He hears me and cares about me. Some people wait for God Himself to show up and help them out or to give them a "sign," but what they don't realize is that God is sending help. He just does it through other people. That's why it's so important to stay close to the spirit. When you feel prompted to do something for someone, you'd better do it now, because you really don't know that person has been pleading for a sign that God hears their prayers. You may be that answer. Thanks to all of those who have been my answers. I don't want to be so distracted with the struggle of depression and the mundane of motherhood that I forget to enjoy the time I have NOW with my babies, so again, thanks to those of you who have helped to make my life a little easier so that I can more fully enjoy being "mom." <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgT8VfhQIxIXzHiNs3DoefFNGUI1-5hb1Ax5xW1fUpBrFayf5swXkShgHUoOW9vjiTmP8i2JdMRuRclJ1BJt-S21D6vqFWW5kcVEBvA5y0EnIDDo7gb5eOsNUDVsthJzjJITlZWvnFqPI/s1600/Dr.+Sumsion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgT8VfhQIxIXzHiNs3DoefFNGUI1-5hb1Ax5xW1fUpBrFayf5swXkShgHUoOW9vjiTmP8i2JdMRuRclJ1BJt-S21D6vqFWW5kcVEBvA5y0EnIDDo7gb5eOsNUDVsthJzjJITlZWvnFqPI/s1600/Dr.+Sumsion.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdzouGdzBl5nMKJTi9DSnFPc69LDWQOJc7kckT-bBMQ36D70uW5pd1JeTFyX4YG9izBdDzAPymzz9yB4KJBACvtf6U6NgkrDRFRfMyvcxI0CGfxfI5pDcVr3XcF-YhWnNgK8rHXiYMeI/s1600/Going+Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdzouGdzBl5nMKJTi9DSnFPc69LDWQOJc7kckT-bBMQ36D70uW5pd1JeTFyX4YG9izBdDzAPymzz9yB4KJBACvtf6U6NgkrDRFRfMyvcxI0CGfxfI5pDcVr3XcF-YhWnNgK8rHXiYMeI/s1600/Going+Home.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVUYhWMyMlWwjWMh6HvTx1wKaFJJOV6_4skB1Kwcn8piQtJCFnacUMQ3KFsj_nuf-pBxfA6dHvKnSMujV-zAiB1S7Lux1yujpuKknUvLz_Hpmh4zvRlGXXHUqNRiGc2TZASpLvbcfryw/s1600/Sawyer+and+Momma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVUYhWMyMlWwjWMh6HvTx1wKaFJJOV6_4skB1Kwcn8piQtJCFnacUMQ3KFsj_nuf-pBxfA6dHvKnSMujV-zAiB1S7Lux1yujpuKknUvLz_Hpmh4zvRlGXXHUqNRiGc2TZASpLvbcfryw/s1600/Sawyer+and+Momma.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTRxUEJta-yK-TWpLhVxOq_GyaJtJrnN0_09VPNT2KO13vI0jHiFjzxhBqDLu2Jr87FAQm2uwJtNH1aKgIS9ViR6h_q7pzP3fa6P0FLOkcohz6ZBT2SV6wHcpMzwr7wsKJxlyHpBgkDM/s1600/Soaking+up+the+sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTRxUEJta-yK-TWpLhVxOq_GyaJtJrnN0_09VPNT2KO13vI0jHiFjzxhBqDLu2Jr87FAQm2uwJtNH1aKgIS9ViR6h_q7pzP3fa6P0FLOkcohz6ZBT2SV6wHcpMzwr7wsKJxlyHpBgkDM/s1600/Soaking+up+the+sun.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3jZ3XlVm5UAFmZWW7YpjEvUUxY-GSNcVVIpiIqw58Hy_qSNSCrNal9ntIt42Vv-dhwHQnS3hVMSERoVOBDGxsiAXjixkEyXwFtSLPsTESNr-vJ2O2mt5iM7avk7G3H0bkv5iWLmXq4c/s1600/Little+Sleeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3jZ3XlVm5UAFmZWW7YpjEvUUxY-GSNcVVIpiIqw58Hy_qSNSCrNal9ntIt42Vv-dhwHQnS3hVMSERoVOBDGxsiAXjixkEyXwFtSLPsTESNr-vJ2O2mt5iM7avk7G3H0bkv5iWLmXq4c/s1600/Little+Sleeper.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJETlw3KFSSNI_ygmEIWBozYthiMABeWT0exP9wcW1Wr3y1o_EAAwpdVyguNitxkWP4tqAuhkuRecEsOvQtKhQO941Vj7BmWHTk3qtBIi1pJ6wslRq5qBdeyI2ze-B0osfB-lHECLXbpY/s1600/Sawyer+Boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJETlw3KFSSNI_ygmEIWBozYthiMABeWT0exP9wcW1Wr3y1o_EAAwpdVyguNitxkWP4tqAuhkuRecEsOvQtKhQO941Vj7BmWHTk3qtBIi1pJ6wslRq5qBdeyI2ze-B0osfB-lHECLXbpY/s1600/Sawyer+Boy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaMJxn2lAbjCplt95XsRfBAs3tEWbi81HGcxCOy9vphjC-y7dkmjc18SBIvn_P1oTVBgpY-lOkD1pZFQsX8xUE8jKxnapL5XEC7P4ptjZKxROSkDuvZkX8jd9vruDlNiLBOFd5AqqknY/s1600/All+Three.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaMJxn2lAbjCplt95XsRfBAs3tEWbi81HGcxCOy9vphjC-y7dkmjc18SBIvn_P1oTVBgpY-lOkD1pZFQsX8xUE8jKxnapL5XEC7P4ptjZKxROSkDuvZkX8jd9vruDlNiLBOFd5AqqknY/s1600/All+Three.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-27427274830545689632014-07-17T16:33:00.001-07:002014-07-17T16:33:39.003-07:00Motherhood is hardToday has been one of those days. All of you who are moms out there know what I'm talking about. The kids won't stop fighting, they want my constant attention, they want to be fed, they want to be held, they want their bums changed and wiped, they want boogers wiped off their faces, they want to go on a walk in 95 degree weather, they want to drip popsicles all over the kitchen floor, they want to dump goldfish and chips all over the couch and the floor, they want to shake my huge belly to wake the baby up and see if he has hiccups, they want to make sure that I can't sit down for five whole minutes to rest my aching, swollen, 39-week-pregnant feet...basically they want to be kids and I can't figure out why I'm having such a hard time with it. <br />
<br />
Motherhood scares me sometimes, like right now. It seems the past two weeks have been especially trying and I don't know if it's because I am SO ready to get this baby out, but scared at the same time of having to figure out how to juggle three kids, or if it's because I'm having a hard time adjusting to a mommy schedule vs. a work schedule. I'm beginning to think that maybe I'm the one who needs a little more structured time. Maybe waking up whenever the kids get me up (which has been early the last month) is not the best idea. I usually wake up grouchy and eager to turn on PBS cartoons for the monkeys so that maybe I can go back to sleep for a half hour. Even then, I wake up feeling worse and the feelings perpetuate throughout the day. I feel guilty for using the TV as a babysitter. I feel like they watch too much TV right now anyway, which is not good. Nobody has to tell me that. This summer heat gets me down worse than the winter cold. <br />
<br />
I even planned out activities for each weekday for my kids for June and July hoping that maybe I could avoid the summertime blues and boredom. We do park day and a picnic once a week, summer movie clubhouse once a week, parks and walks at night, the AirForce Museum, the train museum, Boondocks, we tried out a splash pad, and we even made our own bouncy balls and sand art vials--which is really going out on a limb for me. I feel like things have gone stale and that all I end up doing by the afternoon of each day is getting after my kids for fighting and for driving me crazy! <br />
<br />
Sometimes I wonder about my abilities as a mother. It gets hard to keep up with the everyday demands of childhood. I don't know how my mother ever had five of us and I catch myself every day saying things and doing things I swore I'd never do when I was a mom. Boy how wrong and naïve I was about the concept of motherhood. I'm not saying I regret my choice to become a mother--I'm just saying that it's one hell of a tough job--the toughest job I've ever had and ever will have and some days it might be good to know that I'm not failing at this job because it is also the most important job I will ever have. Maybe that's why I stress so much about whether or not I'm a good enough mom or if I'm doing my best each day to make sure they are not only taken care of, but feel loved, by me. Sometimes I think most of our day is spent doing the mundane and that maybe too many days go by without real quality time. It's hard to keep up with the responsibilities of maintaining a household, taking care of kids, and a husband. <br />
<br />
I'm not so insensitive as to not recognize that there are a lot of women out there who would give anything to be in the same situation as me--a wife and a mother. I know that blessing doesn't come for every woman and I am grateful for these callings in life, truly I am, but sometimes a girl just needs to vent. I think after taking my kids to two OB appointments this week and two dentist appointments, that I maxed out my patience card and my nerves. You can only explain so much to a 5-year-old about an exam to check the cervix for dilation when he's sitting in the same room. The horror! Taking two young kids with me to an appointment like <em>THAT</em>! Taj was especially curious about the gel the doctor put on his gloves and he loudly questioned if the doctor put that stuff on so my bum didn't get sore. Yes he did Taj, that's EXACTLY what that stuff is for! <br />
<br />
Please tell me that I'm not going to implode when this third baby comes. All I hear from everyone is that the third one is THE hardest--thanks a lot people, not very encouraging for a mom on the edge already! Please someone tell me that it gets easier, or is that just the natural man in me crying for the easy way out? I'm very observant of the moms around me and it looks like you all have it "together," much more than I do. I know I shouldn't compare, but sometimes it's impossible to NOT to! This is me in my moment of weakness. This is me saying that I'm not going to give up just yet on myself as a mom. I'm going to keep plowing through and hoping for that ray of sun after the storm. Maybe our little man will be that ray that calms the storm inside me. <br />
<br />
<br />
Thank goodness the dentist is actually fun for these guys, a tender mercy indeed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9oowVI6WQIoZFP0_uj1_Qm_vBD00XUB9RMqJ6IJtj1rtWmfhyphenhyphenm4Oi4gfdumO2PbiJxFdoVylOX-mb6QvKgrPTOeXg6hOtGylMXcVyp_MuP9hSlwdeqrSoOiCObDSBy2wYQ1R2X-wC0c/s1600/Haivi+Dentist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9oowVI6WQIoZFP0_uj1_Qm_vBD00XUB9RMqJ6IJtj1rtWmfhyphenhyphenm4Oi4gfdumO2PbiJxFdoVylOX-mb6QvKgrPTOeXg6hOtGylMXcVyp_MuP9hSlwdeqrSoOiCObDSBy2wYQ1R2X-wC0c/s1600/Haivi+Dentist.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6Qgd0NAlHkNyIoblmZQ7GIwhNvNdSWIERAZ6Nnlz8o5FKq_07xM5qwmtcMKEi6Oset7q5Pu2V2FhmjVVPxIXIPaJPMtMjSEmq4gbJAcsjIIPAiN1pIzR_b-WrDd-uOoF7rTJxXrhzj0/s1600/Taj+Dentist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6Qgd0NAlHkNyIoblmZQ7GIwhNvNdSWIERAZ6Nnlz8o5FKq_07xM5qwmtcMKEi6Oset7q5Pu2V2FhmjVVPxIXIPaJPMtMjSEmq4gbJAcsjIIPAiN1pIzR_b-WrDd-uOoF7rTJxXrhzj0/s1600/Taj+Dentist.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-59056681209909922642014-07-09T20:10:00.003-07:002014-07-09T20:10:58.761-07:00Pioneer Day 2013 Parade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
If you read my previous post, then here is the proof in pictures that the Plain City 4th of July Parade was pretty much the same as a parade you would see in Monticello--note the tractor picture of Taj with a big grin on his face. For a kid that is obsessed with motors, gears, levers, and tires, small town parades are the jack pot for him because we get to see A LOT of moving farm machinery in a small town parade. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We usually spend the 24th in Monticello every year. It's kind of the one holiday that everyone tries to make it back home for. It's right up there with Thanksgiving and Christmas, only somehow I think the kids think a parade and candy and fireworks are a little more fun than turkey and stuffing. This year we won't be able to make it, which is a HUGE bummer because I really wanted to be there for my 10 year class reunion and catch up with some old friends. I catch up with old friends every year anyway over the 24th--you just need to go to the annual softball tournament and you can pretty much run into MHS alumni from every class that ever attended MHS. Besides missing my old friends, the kids are going to miss out on jeep rides, four wheeler rides, and playing with Papi, my parents' old golden retriever. Little man is set to make his appearance any day now (I hope!), so heading south will not be on the agenda this year. Thank goodness we found Plain City because at least we can still take the kids to a parade. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here's to hoping the next post will be a debut of little man!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7JVYbpcMLospb1dtNKe6fhqp-qMYcfjdLD9ixsjpvikNyFoLvHNgqgImkgooyV02phsK43E0JeVum5vAlDijLpUTS5wsVyy6K_c4fn9sTFS3WWCUdiaz7fYyU7UsXrcj6au3a0mkLbY/s1600/DSC_0351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7JVYbpcMLospb1dtNKe6fhqp-qMYcfjdLD9ixsjpvikNyFoLvHNgqgImkgooyV02phsK43E0JeVum5vAlDijLpUTS5wsVyy6K_c4fn9sTFS3WWCUdiaz7fYyU7UsXrcj6au3a0mkLbY/s1600/DSC_0351.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0knFSRe06jSgv1W3qNGSzz0Rlmx_9kn6H7WFjUPmivNIKF_CFE7IIj3vrYo8EFA6-gBcyJvMFPqJZE9-Gc4fAOi3brJT1GJQ-jD_pDvWvIeOa8446CIg3qmc4rAYxm3i-WJX9gP-H8o/s1600/DSC_0354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0knFSRe06jSgv1W3qNGSzz0Rlmx_9kn6H7WFjUPmivNIKF_CFE7IIj3vrYo8EFA6-gBcyJvMFPqJZE9-Gc4fAOi3brJT1GJQ-jD_pDvWvIeOa8446CIg3qmc4rAYxm3i-WJX9gP-H8o/s1600/DSC_0354.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
She wasn't two yet in this pic. I love those little piggies in her hair and it makes me sad to think that she won't ever be this small again. Why does watching your kids grow up have to be painful???<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpA3rlc5E3fxK9ll_Z_ywpaVyvI4RJs7rAZuWop0w8oaia3jxwOPz-Dw6b0sInYH6EPERVKWDLHWjcGevKx-o-c8bIB9oKg0Hx0wg3Or5-VTF-MHWsa-TtS9IDNRczPL0USikcfRm8S8M/s1600/DSC_0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpA3rlc5E3fxK9ll_Z_ywpaVyvI4RJs7rAZuWop0w8oaia3jxwOPz-Dw6b0sInYH6EPERVKWDLHWjcGevKx-o-c8bIB9oKg0Hx0wg3Or5-VTF-MHWsa-TtS9IDNRczPL0USikcfRm8S8M/s1600/DSC_0361.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
He looks so small here too. He's going to be 6 years old this year and he's starting kindergarten. I don't know how I'm going to handle having him gone EVERY day to school. I'm definitely going to miss driving around an assortment of jeeps, trucks, four-wheelers, trailers, motorcycles, and boats up and down the stairs and around the coffee table in the living room with this boy while Haiven naps in the afternoon. He has quite the imagination-never grow up Taj!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTj_JXcUXOVzhLJcV5WDkk2QVTZaaK55I-YP2lm8V3z-BUWTD7CxOM_iLNhGN7vgkM0fKQ4kHhpRtjpvPrpCF38zuCI_Ddr1LpFtoLU9u4eKLNCtCmIG6EYyhwMjDHxpJpK-HePfu6gk/s1600/DSC_0365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTj_JXcUXOVzhLJcV5WDkk2QVTZaaK55I-YP2lm8V3z-BUWTD7CxOM_iLNhGN7vgkM0fKQ4kHhpRtjpvPrpCF38zuCI_Ddr1LpFtoLU9u4eKLNCtCmIG6EYyhwMjDHxpJpK-HePfu6gk/s1600/DSC_0365.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Me and my Granny Martha. She's known as "Granny" in my house because the kids got too confused with two "Grammas" in Monticello. I sure do love this ol' spitfire of a grandma!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialhv3Modh8LVRaSBNXTjLJJ9z4KX3HoVzduUhYOedg6W-SHFOKHKmV2FGfz7T-XPTrYTOJUHr48Te0jiypHHTXZlTObwFs6tWU129loL9dEALMOI3tWjGm4l2a5AO5avyJDGS-uO7VJ0/s1600/DSC_0367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialhv3Modh8LVRaSBNXTjLJJ9z4KX3HoVzduUhYOedg6W-SHFOKHKmV2FGfz7T-XPTrYTOJUHr48Te0jiypHHTXZlTObwFs6tWU129loL9dEALMOI3tWjGm4l2a5AO5avyJDGS-uO7VJ0/s1600/DSC_0367.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
My brother was new daddy in this pic. Kids grow up fast in one short year and now his little man isn't so little anymore and he's into EVERYTHING! That boy is an accident waiting to happen. I forget how busy little boys can be. He's reminded me of what I have to look forward to when this little guy finally decides it's safe to come out!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTC6y60q7nlF4VTxzh2VlZuxVsXrUBtRJ2WE3RcdQ-ihaO7Zfbkrhrva8UGd66-_nTl-jN7R_eRvfhIHQ6xEATr9c77ohyw8awvsTdmhiJm5O275JIBLyFWKc58EWs22a3VDmbm1GBRc/s1600/DSC_0375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhdIMlfIXXoHXjJkq1xU6oW2AAignsYacECHZB9VkEN5_iEplcldelr_8tMK4L2ocHULOwva8Sxh2hK9hO-WZvlRIjzxzO0EEKiW6G0rCTvW9yuscEYjpKI_Ko3y77xkdwdy5gGzbtEg/s1600/DSC_0334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhdIMlfIXXoHXjJkq1xU6oW2AAignsYacECHZB9VkEN5_iEplcldelr_8tMK4L2ocHULOwva8Sxh2hK9hO-WZvlRIjzxzO0EEKiW6G0rCTvW9yuscEYjpKI_Ko3y77xkdwdy5gGzbtEg/s1600/DSC_0334.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
You would think the two tough guys in the picture could have mustered up a smile--come on guys the parade was a little more exciting than that! That's my dad and brother by the way and their personalities are much livelier than depicted. My mom looks beautimous of course and happy to be there with her number one fan on her lap!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAaKbPjMZ-zXTc9XaTIqM-MOn2f0vF9dj4_vDgucRAUdXSoer5OxYOoAdO-x1F6LwrpJPd3j64jC3ufgZRE7LrfY8Lpu6vj3LymaXVGZ2bdbeVKZwspUj9TUhN9kEI6IQ3dSM-1_6fek/s1600/DSC_0338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAaKbPjMZ-zXTc9XaTIqM-MOn2f0vF9dj4_vDgucRAUdXSoer5OxYOoAdO-x1F6LwrpJPd3j64jC3ufgZRE7LrfY8Lpu6vj3LymaXVGZ2bdbeVKZwspUj9TUhN9kEI6IQ3dSM-1_6fek/s1600/DSC_0338.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-F3bg8w9CQnY3DyppgO-aBK2aQugOUNNjbpavgAhRswxtwmMW9hZuhT-z69CBHRRwqf184RMFwDhVRfeBFnya0pCuTFZSelq_NSrNv5muK7ShF6Ahp_0uy9vjDyW7InC3dObPAM9oEI/s1600/DSC_0355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-F3bg8w9CQnY3DyppgO-aBK2aQugOUNNjbpavgAhRswxtwmMW9hZuhT-z69CBHRRwqf184RMFwDhVRfeBFnya0pCuTFZSelq_NSrNv5muK7ShF6Ahp_0uy9vjDyW7InC3dObPAM9oEI/s1600/DSC_0355.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpe8p7_mWkBzllYAKoefsBU9SMpjjRRI2tJ0zEn4mWJeeD79bvtmMdumHO-zWIBl5DHccxVSvFGF1HM8rI_A8utR3LXuemijebY7OHujvGaDaRwyTl-F9e4q0nNg40_vQrDS51gXuDUjc/s1600/DSC_0358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpe8p7_mWkBzllYAKoefsBU9SMpjjRRI2tJ0zEn4mWJeeD79bvtmMdumHO-zWIBl5DHccxVSvFGF1HM8rI_A8utR3LXuemijebY7OHujvGaDaRwyTl-F9e4q0nNg40_vQrDS51gXuDUjc/s1600/DSC_0358.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-81191903995178165562014-07-09T19:30:00.000-07:002014-07-09T19:30:10.529-07:00Happy Freedom Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswZEC39-qn3qQi6bTtaXXNqr71REgnA0jKbpzsjkPwlPFy4Ml0S6WcXeUZ3KYQjJBJvhQhMY-IbOeTqPg0I7LO0Cx77EsfhNOS2TpAcVGGuso8N9018xWzF_3MQ7m1dBQGhxuHMOw-YY/s1600/DSC_0101.JPG" height="214" width="320" /><br />
<br />
This year we decided not to brave the enormous crowds and hot temperatures at the annual 4th of July Parade in Kaysville. We've attempted watching the Kaysville parade twice and both times were epic fails. First of all, we didn't know you had to set up chairs 24 hrs in advance at exactly midnight the day before if you even hoped to get a glimpse of a float. The chairs line main street of Kaysville and they're at least four or five rows deep. The most coveted spots are where there will be shade of course, so there is some logic to the chair placement. You forget to set up chairs and sorry, but your SOL. You will see nothing but the backs of peoples heads and the tops of canvas shade canopies. We know because that's what happened to us. <br />
Second of all, there are so many people there that your kids don't have a prayer of obtaining even one piece of that nasty salt water taffy or a tootsie roll. You even try to get close to the road and you have to fight off three rows of kids, not to mention the super staunch parade police that rain down their fury on any child that steps over the line to grab a dum-dum. <br />
ANYWAY, this year we decided we actually wanted our kids to be able to see a parade AND to get some candy too, so we headed north to Plain City, a small town that reminds me of home. We knew we were in the right spot when all we had to do was follow the crowd to the main drag in town only 30 minutes pre-parade and easily find a spot to set up camp. This is such a neat little community and it reminded us so much of home. There was a nice family across the street giving away free scones, fresh fruit, and ice-cold bottled water before the parade began. I was extremely grateful because I had to skip breakfast so we could make it to the parade in time. We tried to offer them payment and they of course refused. People are different here, definitely small town, and it was good to feel like we fit in. The kids loved the parade which mostly consisted of horses, bikes, tractors, trucks, four wheelers, and a smattering of floats. It was just like a parade you would see in any small town in Utah, totally reminded us of Monticello. I'm pretty sure we will be going back for the 24th and next year for sure! All you other city folk stay put though--Plain City is ours now. Go find your own small town to celebrate in! <br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUlvvGHOfMoNmrCBW4aFzkY6VK6MlSgp1f-s0ZL40OPAhWaWh85XaJGpUGedQOr3aoFMTKyDDL0uihX89YkeTnzlo-UfLyrvmWSLRAoCvlV3PlIRRltaKnHhXLSxx4GgOv96ND81JboI/s1600/DSC_0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUlvvGHOfMoNmrCBW4aFzkY6VK6MlSgp1f-s0ZL40OPAhWaWh85XaJGpUGedQOr3aoFMTKyDDL0uihX89YkeTnzlo-UfLyrvmWSLRAoCvlV3PlIRRltaKnHhXLSxx4GgOv96ND81JboI/s1600/DSC_0085.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVN-cOXxsELPzCdc_iINfCf5Fiw1CziAkPuWd1JXuWPP0-tsjlkmqSy0sOqcjGBnLMuzU158pUFNEAYOtJ2gzO18UehPolR4AFbOEdTPbjcGNxvY5M7momhwbzUfsTZc7fB8mfHr-P7oc/s1600/DSC_0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVN-cOXxsELPzCdc_iINfCf5Fiw1CziAkPuWd1JXuWPP0-tsjlkmqSy0sOqcjGBnLMuzU158pUFNEAYOtJ2gzO18UehPolR4AFbOEdTPbjcGNxvY5M7momhwbzUfsTZc7fB8mfHr-P7oc/s1600/DSC_0088.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDC8fnYvTz9XQY7ETD3tmpbqpOV0pGAeWP73CzgsVUe1NjVnisenJH7hJ43sP8qrVpaxreXPzN-iwaY-HUwItlZMVBIJVsQU6PE-sP0yoIVIrWwUMiKuSCi1si9EQCzucx0Dljo8VfhKQ/s1600/DSC_0091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDC8fnYvTz9XQY7ETD3tmpbqpOV0pGAeWP73CzgsVUe1NjVnisenJH7hJ43sP8qrVpaxreXPzN-iwaY-HUwItlZMVBIJVsQU6PE-sP0yoIVIrWwUMiKuSCi1si9EQCzucx0Dljo8VfhKQ/s1600/DSC_0091.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Haiven was definitely into the free candy part of the parade. She actually picked up most of the candy. I practically had to dump Taj out of his chair to get him to pick up a piece of candy--it was okay though because Haiv had them both covered. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOO1fiFM1EUmlbwRtzmQ4lE_Va_fUlOocopR8tDUBoSlTG9fRxtZsfgt9yhCwGfY3mRj2L36mEnjoMQpjbQpEJOkCHIZmpAWtfQLJWHKxT-Ak00UFyEJG9wTA0Ypu3bEHsIBAduQvDQo/s1600/DSC_0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOO1fiFM1EUmlbwRtzmQ4lE_Va_fUlOocopR8tDUBoSlTG9fRxtZsfgt9yhCwGfY3mRj2L36mEnjoMQpjbQpEJOkCHIZmpAWtfQLJWHKxT-Ak00UFyEJG9wTA0Ypu3bEHsIBAduQvDQo/s1600/DSC_0094.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9XiZkpjM5ZYeRQ2uTx0eudyd7RR1C1Fg3714Ouks6IX2YHkCUqd5tJduZYKtGZ_WQlOqENs71BzUDHdPfMwfUfeI7KbVt6PynpW7KB5-sr7zpkSB7Y8nF_fToLL1gLN6KJsmMX8ocdg/s1600/DSC_0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9XiZkpjM5ZYeRQ2uTx0eudyd7RR1C1Fg3714Ouks6IX2YHkCUqd5tJduZYKtGZ_WQlOqENs71BzUDHdPfMwfUfeI7KbVt6PynpW7KB5-sr7zpkSB7Y8nF_fToLL1gLN6KJsmMX8ocdg/s1600/DSC_0095.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNsWWzN_1qQaRQHgIxK7E9A3x4gzA0BYCgbuCjmA2yOvpZ7SXENePO3RFFTvUB_DNzw0pZAT2_U8CgB1Lrt6xMFuyDOjyFv9_hpL195mfuv2ixwFP6iWFTpDxSyjSbaXljN0NkefQXBY/s1600/DSC_0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNsWWzN_1qQaRQHgIxK7E9A3x4gzA0BYCgbuCjmA2yOvpZ7SXENePO3RFFTvUB_DNzw0pZAT2_U8CgB1Lrt6xMFuyDOjyFv9_hpL195mfuv2ixwFP6iWFTpDxSyjSbaXljN0NkefQXBY/s1600/DSC_0105.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
It's pretty obvious what Taj loved most about the parade. We are still talking about the tractors we saw that day. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-7FRpQBs-6iaMH3H2ER4qYlawWSD-w6_SbJNXI8UW5r_DQ5u8f-xF4mRgltf5qvhULqDEGAgdBbZeAM9Ynb7RJDeXVssjOat6ARMA5fnKOxVGEpGZiCsbpayHGRPYIG7Doc4Wtorc9w/s1600/DSC_0111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-7FRpQBs-6iaMH3H2ER4qYlawWSD-w6_SbJNXI8UW5r_DQ5u8f-xF4mRgltf5qvhULqDEGAgdBbZeAM9Ynb7RJDeXVssjOat6ARMA5fnKOxVGEpGZiCsbpayHGRPYIG7Doc4Wtorc9w/s1600/DSC_0111.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3oTSk1t7kwq7r_w3IkvA7JUabkBTcViUd5Mf0EcuTmwxdx0FuwlGlwZ6Coua72IwNduZRgYZwU1xHLPqyhNf3K28Fr7RXgNGSqN-AyTqfWb5GO7tptjsw3EvFuWa-oqApoQ6Lr0mYwE/s1600/DSC_0114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3oTSk1t7kwq7r_w3IkvA7JUabkBTcViUd5Mf0EcuTmwxdx0FuwlGlwZ6Coua72IwNduZRgYZwU1xHLPqyhNf3K28Fr7RXgNGSqN-AyTqfWb5GO7tptjsw3EvFuWa-oqApoQ6Lr0mYwE/s1600/DSC_0114.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Probably one of my favorite pics! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gwNhISmI-QKPtN5lm9qN44ZHl6cfVnVJra05HrhUat9Jt8omYIIIo4Fq7WnFNxIsdPMC3akc1uN_wrFOacFaiRJV1Rd5ynwWgeobdiTCtdBVI-1lQGWkvZ1JazdXUmR1wR2sFTdBkU8/s1600/DSC_0117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gwNhISmI-QKPtN5lm9qN44ZHl6cfVnVJra05HrhUat9Jt8omYIIIo4Fq7WnFNxIsdPMC3akc1uN_wrFOacFaiRJV1Rd5ynwWgeobdiTCtdBVI-1lQGWkvZ1JazdXUmR1wR2sFTdBkU8/s1600/DSC_0117.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgwuUHHqJ3-t4b1VszxsAZr4JbPd1ibqijoNfms7vz0PT5YpuQ_oV_APPSYplSpw4JTGcla8IfNCyTcqmTVdg6R6w_UBXo8e_MeyZb49kbUAbZH8MIQqjPl_2TZW4_YMyw9FL_ykPFho/s1600/DSC_0121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgwuUHHqJ3-t4b1VszxsAZr4JbPd1ibqijoNfms7vz0PT5YpuQ_oV_APPSYplSpw4JTGcla8IfNCyTcqmTVdg6R6w_UBXo8e_MeyZb49kbUAbZH8MIQqjPl_2TZW4_YMyw9FL_ykPFho/s1600/DSC_0121.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
The kids especially loved the dog on the four-wheeler. Poor kids, they would kill to have a dog, but I just CANNOT even fathom cleaning up after a dog right now, especially now that I will have THREE monkeys to take care of instead of two. I can barely handle my kids poop and puke--there is no way I can handle a dog's! Yuck! Someday when the kids get older and can deal with the fun realities of owning a pet, THEN they can have one! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Rhe3baLybj20S-D5eXgN51hKbj_mGAMqn7yGwjHP7QeQmO54f3SWqXChfd49HDUuuOeL85ZI5BDdLDI1hEG8c5CkUFg1YAgYARdgG-39qU-B336Qv8c55qFOMpnhI0fm7iDBUv4O2oc/s1600/DSC_0122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Rhe3baLybj20S-D5eXgN51hKbj_mGAMqn7yGwjHP7QeQmO54f3SWqXChfd49HDUuuOeL85ZI5BDdLDI1hEG8c5CkUFg1YAgYARdgG-39qU-B336Qv8c55qFOMpnhI0fm7iDBUv4O2oc/s1600/DSC_0122.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Haiv was not loving the fire trucks and police cars blaring their sirens and horns. She was absolutely terrified and I think her daddy was loving every minute of it. </div>
Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-10701190814257602872014-07-02T15:33:00.004-07:002014-07-02T15:33:35.446-07:00A Day at the Lake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Last summer when we visited Papa and Grandma in Monticello, we spent an afternoon at the lake, Lloyd's Lake that is. You won't see any boats or jet skis on this lake, but you will find mud and LOTS of it! Oh and mosquitos too, which turned our afternoon into about half an hour. It's pretty obvious who had the most fun and who cried the whole time because she got a little mud on her toes and fingers. She is so girly and I LOVE it! We are pretty positive that we are done having kids and so knowing that Haiv will be my only girl makes me cherish these moments more than ever. I would probably be okay to have a 4th if someone could guarantee me I would get a girl, but alas there are no guarantees when it comes to babies and the thought of having three boys to wrangle gets me biting my nails with a mixture of anxiety and fear, so three it is! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
If I weren't so great with child, I would take them back for the annual Pioneer Day celebration in Monticello and we would try out the lake again. I know a certain little boy that would have no qualms with getting muddy a second time around. All those pictures of him smiling and laughing? That's Taj being a regular ol' big brother and laughing at his sister's obvious distress at having mud all over her. He's standing over my shoulder laughing at these pictures right now--such a boy! Sometimes I wish we lived in a small town like Monticello where I grew up. We've found that it's a lot harder to get into the wild up here in the city. Seems like we have to drive and drive just to find a trail to hike or a lake to walk around and even then, these places are crawling with people. I guess we took for granted how easy it was to take a 5 minute walk and be alone on the mountain if you needed some space. It's no wonder my kids never want to come home when we visit Monticello--there's so much to do and explore OUTSIDE! They never watch tv while we're there and it seems like we do too much of that up here. There is just something about growing up in the country that cannot be replicated in a city. If only it were easier to make a living in a small town!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UFVD4CzoHaCA7S3eg9ngqkXKYW7kQYLwQ9NHENBeXth393eVp15PoEFqCaQamK99QvezmgPzsd1jfPhjYCX10DzhKfOlH48PdTP99qcd9Ffo9ff41Gd6Xh35NGFnKzJWd2AdW5fz34w/s1600/DSC_0269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UFVD4CzoHaCA7S3eg9ngqkXKYW7kQYLwQ9NHENBeXth393eVp15PoEFqCaQamK99QvezmgPzsd1jfPhjYCX10DzhKfOlH48PdTP99qcd9Ffo9ff41Gd6Xh35NGFnKzJWd2AdW5fz34w/s1600/DSC_0269.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEd8HzJv6xx9QPUJ1yGcWgNQZExEcGgnOoaVEihI6oTeiOYMrx5pa-Yjj0H5J-eAhdpzrzqO2ZNTlNuMV1cMwAoFx94oi-W1CzHowXFQ4d5if04rmH-pSE5r5ZKdEEWo7vEYP8_rynonY/s1600/DSC_0273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEd8HzJv6xx9QPUJ1yGcWgNQZExEcGgnOoaVEihI6oTeiOYMrx5pa-Yjj0H5J-eAhdpzrzqO2ZNTlNuMV1cMwAoFx94oi-W1CzHowXFQ4d5if04rmH-pSE5r5ZKdEEWo7vEYP8_rynonY/s1600/DSC_0273.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBftd7fZaOYefI_J9gtQojmH3rsUsur61hN65w2RzYWVqjpit9keeFbrITTJKJp-GcYIX2Dat5fSEXE1uI9VHE_rlhIhInkuxRhmP1QxJIKKmSHdqKCUd7y_-7TQ6_2WHlhGgXAVl0ZEQ/s1600/DSC_0279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBftd7fZaOYefI_J9gtQojmH3rsUsur61hN65w2RzYWVqjpit9keeFbrITTJKJp-GcYIX2Dat5fSEXE1uI9VHE_rlhIhInkuxRhmP1QxJIKKmSHdqKCUd7y_-7TQ6_2WHlhGgXAVl0ZEQ/s1600/DSC_0279.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHT7NxplsYIeSs9mGv2Tbw4aFLu7OsQ7fOVFJBF5gW1kXkGvYdAzSaONFuQieDfSoTbS0uBl7gxvuKAU46jxdI7iLrozIgaPKJhCgrKEGNctdVG8Zp47CGzTxqPm8TuRzUuAza8CH20E/s1600/DSC_0288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHT7NxplsYIeSs9mGv2Tbw4aFLu7OsQ7fOVFJBF5gW1kXkGvYdAzSaONFuQieDfSoTbS0uBl7gxvuKAU46jxdI7iLrozIgaPKJhCgrKEGNctdVG8Zp47CGzTxqPm8TuRzUuAza8CH20E/s1600/DSC_0288.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WD5gf8ZIxMfWyfq3ZzWa8ylgcsvlRKAnbIziLAaiKKzFED0gj548sp1ewiWCvfESAGmxvb2bofI3qLt0A0L1xYF6eiqZXdFNZUDmvWzoTxodES986C8EKiZqUbThAQ0_oJa0f6W1axc/s1600/DSC_0289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WD5gf8ZIxMfWyfq3ZzWa8ylgcsvlRKAnbIziLAaiKKzFED0gj548sp1ewiWCvfESAGmxvb2bofI3qLt0A0L1xYF6eiqZXdFNZUDmvWzoTxodES986C8EKiZqUbThAQ0_oJa0f6W1axc/s1600/DSC_0289.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1Dper81RzeT9CAnbM84qgtyaI8OzuonMx6mjd-MBfLTw2JNmeeQQ5JoO48eQQTTVteRwjXIYO2XmRSc2Wad4AvMmufZsy4eeqpE7ZU7q6NTCf08q8xCWuiHwngJGGbDJZ3akhQPEm74/s1600/DSC_0291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1Dper81RzeT9CAnbM84qgtyaI8OzuonMx6mjd-MBfLTw2JNmeeQQ5JoO48eQQTTVteRwjXIYO2XmRSc2Wad4AvMmufZsy4eeqpE7ZU7q6NTCf08q8xCWuiHwngJGGbDJZ3akhQPEm74/s1600/DSC_0291.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksGDluKN1qE0hOq5pCGgNqIx3Vj5-da-QmELfdibhq2-PSX0xUd-U18hNrgmK8XRH9g8a7Nd7kKzcrbVn32CuXugdJKlo9tunyCCNKWAkjAdHid8Dpqj20llJAjA9u1yFDK1gTwPRELo/s1600/DSC_0293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksGDluKN1qE0hOq5pCGgNqIx3Vj5-da-QmELfdibhq2-PSX0xUd-U18hNrgmK8XRH9g8a7Nd7kKzcrbVn32CuXugdJKlo9tunyCCNKWAkjAdHid8Dpqj20llJAjA9u1yFDK1gTwPRELo/s1600/DSC_0293.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqddA3ZixmiMU3zcVaxCu4Rh2WnpRk5b617KynMsDN0pxXxpDV9PhBcQy4KHsuQaWTGAnsQopnIzgkDjs4KJhB0zOCpSTL2YWRMk7vEcB1dAyCWJCU65uX7jbgIOmzCzQUJFzR300sAc/s1600/DSC_0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqddA3ZixmiMU3zcVaxCu4Rh2WnpRk5b617KynMsDN0pxXxpDV9PhBcQy4KHsuQaWTGAnsQopnIzgkDjs4KJhB0zOCpSTL2YWRMk7vEcB1dAyCWJCU65uX7jbgIOmzCzQUJFzR300sAc/s1600/DSC_0298.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlk0RQOSpvLF2O4jlDCGetvzEZp456QTJcIuv7vefyOUVfL5mbFkl-KhL8qjnmzxbzFlYxUeqryk0Z7O7yyAMz9SRe4FxjSBSorbAo8EWvmF04bZix_lS7eKGRWAWoZ5ouqU8O82CxCIE/s1600/DSC_0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlk0RQOSpvLF2O4jlDCGetvzEZp456QTJcIuv7vefyOUVfL5mbFkl-KhL8qjnmzxbzFlYxUeqryk0Z7O7yyAMz9SRe4FxjSBSorbAo8EWvmF04bZix_lS7eKGRWAWoZ5ouqU8O82CxCIE/s1600/DSC_0299.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoru7tG5Hsybvob7Oc15Jd9Hf9e0xrieABBNCWg7VK57NHKrj8gFP19Zb6borNIzN6y6eJGhyphenhyphenR6i_fU2HQ2Y8RvVsbn_x_9w4kqvBgHMiffznoEYoH8lgBVxW8J488VuI-HMEDVPVISeQ/s1600/DSC_0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoru7tG5Hsybvob7Oc15Jd9Hf9e0xrieABBNCWg7VK57NHKrj8gFP19Zb6borNIzN6y6eJGhyphenhyphenR6i_fU2HQ2Y8RvVsbn_x_9w4kqvBgHMiffznoEYoH8lgBVxW8J488VuI-HMEDVPVISeQ/s1600/DSC_0300.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkAT0IB765qGLtjSMV_C2NkHV290qx-ZrPBebzWipY2dLNI2-ObHU6RHhtGbLmTFeZ0J1Ptq1FjAWP6KIQa-J5lvO_16S3IqTXpKpDq5cJSD2CA8jqOuBJrZ6w7T76Y9YnJnHR_hnSG0/s1600/DSC_0305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkAT0IB765qGLtjSMV_C2NkHV290qx-ZrPBebzWipY2dLNI2-ObHU6RHhtGbLmTFeZ0J1Ptq1FjAWP6KIQa-J5lvO_16S3IqTXpKpDq5cJSD2CA8jqOuBJrZ6w7T76Y9YnJnHR_hnSG0/s1600/DSC_0305.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqy602e-DpSEhMK7OEVQtKYLXK0gyaeG_49LLMt00I1KQvin9L2y9azyDejXYU44GiO32RGYH5rt1RwBrFxSPNWywt_Bt1hwFV2DONYk5LT5YIY2DXnQ2g4A_Cm_47uFPZqNx5FJ1ZcVo/s1600/DSC_0306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqy602e-DpSEhMK7OEVQtKYLXK0gyaeG_49LLMt00I1KQvin9L2y9azyDejXYU44GiO32RGYH5rt1RwBrFxSPNWywt_Bt1hwFV2DONYk5LT5YIY2DXnQ2g4A_Cm_47uFPZqNx5FJ1ZcVo/s1600/DSC_0306.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOEqrxKgBhiWU3vo6ftPn002x_RkbHwdcuEyVCXKoTz7bV3GfaZalvEDeJxFCKDOYvRlGBcj0YfUJ7U1fkkSbB2dJ4npVMcTJDnAcIi4Pmn_vYTaevi99ys22chqUR0-C6ctPejtTTsc/s1600/DSC_0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOEqrxKgBhiWU3vo6ftPn002x_RkbHwdcuEyVCXKoTz7bV3GfaZalvEDeJxFCKDOYvRlGBcj0YfUJ7U1fkkSbB2dJ4npVMcTJDnAcIi4Pmn_vYTaevi99ys22chqUR0-C6ctPejtTTsc/s1600/DSC_0308.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6pNrL7Zx4KUCQLFi6xBgtDXdwboSAjnxzThGSff-wg47XC82aKF0xF5ETwhMNFsynUTdA1UYmnQ7jt-R02aMOWA8TH48xINCyK8qcFJkCEYVfh0Dr6L-rPsEp7ucU-BH4NPkpKNw2tA/s1600/DSC_0312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6pNrL7Zx4KUCQLFi6xBgtDXdwboSAjnxzThGSff-wg47XC82aKF0xF5ETwhMNFsynUTdA1UYmnQ7jt-R02aMOWA8TH48xINCyK8qcFJkCEYVfh0Dr6L-rPsEp7ucU-BH4NPkpKNw2tA/s1600/DSC_0312.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNomZ8qSlbiGswNixlseN3pXlCYYnouvqv0V1uf9lS_kU9PoJTzwoHlPk5zwoQ3_KNN8Q55ZoPTpfsO6CoDb_H2aPmRi4sB0kmXQAexnBlPcXtkSFa6aaBqcoX2fDJDTXFzqQwEuOd0eM/s1600/DSC_0319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNomZ8qSlbiGswNixlseN3pXlCYYnouvqv0V1uf9lS_kU9PoJTzwoHlPk5zwoQ3_KNN8Q55ZoPTpfsO6CoDb_H2aPmRi4sB0kmXQAexnBlPcXtkSFa6aaBqcoX2fDJDTXFzqQwEuOd0eM/s1600/DSC_0319.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ozHgGCoDc6Qo0ObNWUp0FogGbQTU47-l6eAYwPHxTe0xF8vot44jOBZHwTKavhvdyiz_Xn-RwZw3-RkdIv93nuXX2XQCQj95FMeUC_1OU_8J8KfBBjnpUrO1vFttZRakUxyNIgI25JQ/s1600/DSC_0325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ozHgGCoDc6Qo0ObNWUp0FogGbQTU47-l6eAYwPHxTe0xF8vot44jOBZHwTKavhvdyiz_Xn-RwZw3-RkdIv93nuXX2XQCQj95FMeUC_1OU_8J8KfBBjnpUrO1vFttZRakUxyNIgI25JQ/s1600/DSC_0325.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfIayxU2BFXPw6r1BYEtqedZF61nyEUHraULVlXuEqEdFRg_67sNFfeM9qO2DzIb3S7UuOMyMj2jHPR6fNl5IhV5F32FDAsgt6iXhOb094WtfnWP3_nHIE8RNeAlnKvWEJ3awiNKkezE/s1600/DSC_0338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<br />Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-2473869562885474372014-07-02T14:56:00.000-07:002014-07-02T14:56:09.924-07:00Cheap Sunglasses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
What kid doesn't love a pair of cheap sunglasses? These pictures were from summer of last year and amazingly we've only lost the camouflage safety glasses (which really isn't a tragedy because Brannon used to sport them too even though I told him he looked like an insect when he wore them) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Haiv still sports the glasses in these pictures, so yay us for not having to purchase another pair this summer to get lost or broken!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAltr5-rUe0fPz9pwBU9axZjY8jMdWpzReMqdKVLBbcaP0bCNxoku7djGmcPmUD9MlfLZ3QlYuLeL3FuJXvIrWuGd83rrkNgEJ0LDSvWOfeyOf50UxG9gSfTZs6wN_DowGvW91oaTogQ/s1600/DSC_0215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAltr5-rUe0fPz9pwBU9axZjY8jMdWpzReMqdKVLBbcaP0bCNxoku7djGmcPmUD9MlfLZ3QlYuLeL3FuJXvIrWuGd83rrkNgEJ0LDSvWOfeyOf50UxG9gSfTZs6wN_DowGvW91oaTogQ/s1600/DSC_0215.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXzll2wyEdDTCoqIuIsa51b4B9pFpaccRPW8mjkf-GLpMf41vOwuoT_ra1TmPDLCZKLo7cj3ZKnpAq-pFmhUIap5QW4DGu1fKy7dfZAdGeanhhCBdiwciKHt95H0WVaU8ErlWlU0I4OI/s1600/DSC_0220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXzll2wyEdDTCoqIuIsa51b4B9pFpaccRPW8mjkf-GLpMf41vOwuoT_ra1TmPDLCZKLo7cj3ZKnpAq-pFmhUIap5QW4DGu1fKy7dfZAdGeanhhCBdiwciKHt95H0WVaU8ErlWlU0I4OI/s1600/DSC_0220.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEqy6GPQP0S3dBPK22I7Qrz4T9uMiRpKnoaL6NTYgwyGMvIE9IZWRm-bJafNEmbNDvrQJWEoxPRVevAcZHVHdZXOVgWucIp9I_9kNuHVybrVZWrp7Okb_UqK2h3ekeIoPFDAVxjUE_M8/s1600/DSC_0223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEqy6GPQP0S3dBPK22I7Qrz4T9uMiRpKnoaL6NTYgwyGMvIE9IZWRm-bJafNEmbNDvrQJWEoxPRVevAcZHVHdZXOVgWucIp9I_9kNuHVybrVZWrp7Okb_UqK2h3ekeIoPFDAVxjUE_M8/s1600/DSC_0223.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOsP5DzNo1c4kYA0v8eTfrvkmKBl0Sw8aJSJpr7yK3depmuAJ3KP0NPurTBxc2i9IkPhz1BY5LgcakMqCoZ6QVx4a1IF9wpEvwCTQhpjtkSJksKbLdnb8eEKPFX5xQhV808cd6I6Jb1Y/s1600/DSC_0228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOsP5DzNo1c4kYA0v8eTfrvkmKBl0Sw8aJSJpr7yK3depmuAJ3KP0NPurTBxc2i9IkPhz1BY5LgcakMqCoZ6QVx4a1IF9wpEvwCTQhpjtkSJksKbLdnb8eEKPFX5xQhV808cd6I6Jb1Y/s1600/DSC_0228.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-74959617925916119992014-06-29T15:41:00.004-07:002014-06-29T15:41:57.974-07:004th of July 2013/Baby Blessing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These pics are from the 4th of July last year. Our favorite part about the 4th is definitely the fireworks (and the food). Fireworks are super expensive, so we just get enough to put on a show that any 5-year-old would enjoy. Aerials aren't needed to impress this bunch. Throw in a few fountains, some sparklers, and a smoke bomb or two and we're good to go! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZEhEbwYqN38fdxDYGsZU5cXiJK7bYtAvBsJjPb4ff-7U7MYZVvCHYtLwJdTeT6Pmdqx-TVk2Tuq01Fuiv2DTY8D9IsCuvDsw-7mgukWQ0ZVc0uKOoLDnRyvP3JOmRiTisCSGq4Wzdt8/s1600/DSC_0124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZEhEbwYqN38fdxDYGsZU5cXiJK7bYtAvBsJjPb4ff-7U7MYZVvCHYtLwJdTeT6Pmdqx-TVk2Tuq01Fuiv2DTY8D9IsCuvDsw-7mgukWQ0ZVc0uKOoLDnRyvP3JOmRiTisCSGq4Wzdt8/s1600/DSC_0124.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzyEGP-VhiIQOs-WVsaoGksPWuxsQdY0FR8bjO0ZElGc-7InVMNRpMRL_ZnXUurs2foAU7nnr0GV1rHExQCn4WsPB-mL9Wx8lxgFX_lV-FkeKvFUYitJWHiSgYhbatcbCSNeji7Ewa4U/s1600/DSC_0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzyEGP-VhiIQOs-WVsaoGksPWuxsQdY0FR8bjO0ZElGc-7InVMNRpMRL_ZnXUurs2foAU7nnr0GV1rHExQCn4WsPB-mL9Wx8lxgFX_lV-FkeKvFUYitJWHiSgYhbatcbCSNeji7Ewa4U/s1600/DSC_0137.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Little Miss Thing was so scared of the fireworks that we just had to put her to bed and then finish our show. I'm hoping she's outgrown it a bit this time around, but I doubt it! She is THE biggest scaredy-pants I've ever known. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAK2QjN3Bmyujf4o6WiDHvPCRzSdn3ktQQYTWNCV4s6K2gl6p-cK-ohJdmv2zEbJoOnv-zA3t8tdXE0aFZaMB5Q8VJfyKeEmA_y9jfdtrJmW_CGiWE4hYC1fytlrduOG4-PC5wdVQJ72A/s1600/DSC_0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAK2QjN3Bmyujf4o6WiDHvPCRzSdn3ktQQYTWNCV4s6K2gl6p-cK-ohJdmv2zEbJoOnv-zA3t8tdXE0aFZaMB5Q8VJfyKeEmA_y9jfdtrJmW_CGiWE4hYC1fytlrduOG4-PC5wdVQJ72A/s1600/DSC_0143.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
Aww, the classic sparkler pic. I actually hate that particular type of sparkler Taj is holding. All of a sudden it began crackling and spraying sparks EVERYWHERE. Pretty sure they were meant to be held while wearing a fire-protective suit. We ditched the rest of the box in the trash. I didn't even get sparklers for this year's show--seems like someone is always getting their hand burned on those stupid things anyway. <br />
<br />
<br />
I can't remember exactly what month is was that my brother blessed his first baby, but I found these pictures from the big day. I do recall my brother starting the blessing off wrong and all us VERY irreverently trying not to laugh. How rude, right?! That's my family for you. You can be sure that you will never take yourself too seriously with this bunch. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0N68aO6w1L83rfSGlu0aHaCgiuDU1g2x7sqF3Gp9jnQYZ4QXvb-CgNCMlcIfXVTqBBvI8x1F48j_ECBuULCL8xnwt8ov6lCIfMb7zogySShof6oxzld8fipmQN-Q3wah1EtUzwum1Do/s1600/DSC_0152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0N68aO6w1L83rfSGlu0aHaCgiuDU1g2x7sqF3Gp9jnQYZ4QXvb-CgNCMlcIfXVTqBBvI8x1F48j_ECBuULCL8xnwt8ov6lCIfMb7zogySShof6oxzld8fipmQN-Q3wah1EtUzwum1Do/s1600/DSC_0152.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
We are just missing my sister Marci and her hubs Brian. They have since added a fourth grandchild to the mix, Little Miss Cora Mae. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOAnQUhuqp0WkInFIKkEd5XjXVKM81Gl8zgbc9nzcbgx9QMyOMjcZRbKPL87UZWMn7Hvrzyi7bXPYrJvwavpqKMnU7uRKVpOCx0N_0PvdqZ8PgI_MR6yF7P_0I21mshSnzUsbER7BSng/s1600/DSC_0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOAnQUhuqp0WkInFIKkEd5XjXVKM81Gl8zgbc9nzcbgx9QMyOMjcZRbKPL87UZWMn7Hvrzyi7bXPYrJvwavpqKMnU7uRKVpOCx0N_0PvdqZ8PgI_MR6yF7P_0I21mshSnzUsbER7BSng/s1600/DSC_0169.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
My parents with the grandbabies. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3rGUPHYRKbZr4RygGfoBLJrT4SSZHWdOU_9_NUqExiML_PxinCnfMduw4kluWnQC8kEqy63Ub-yZwBAzYdtOn8FlTU-8ugoB0c9k0A86Sm1SFOirAVTDTaFfA1bp66tKir9Wa5lY-ns/s1600/DSC_0181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3rGUPHYRKbZr4RygGfoBLJrT4SSZHWdOU_9_NUqExiML_PxinCnfMduw4kluWnQC8kEqy63Ub-yZwBAzYdtOn8FlTU-8ugoB0c9k0A86Sm1SFOirAVTDTaFfA1bp66tKir9Wa5lY-ns/s1600/DSC_0181.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
Obviously my kids adore my dad. He's been a celebrity in our house since Taj was born and I don't think he minds that in the least. It's nice to feel adored, right? <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSId-PXxvYdm9w_4Ypbt7uTHfophNp7oU6legu8YPhkN9KYVVRiacxn437V_7nuq8n_lFt4hQol1WO3_tftDlphsLS1Odm47As6qLJLQGHWzum5_HROBHwtLBJIWgut6nA3RubfwadXM/s1600/DSC_0185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSId-PXxvYdm9w_4Ypbt7uTHfophNp7oU6legu8YPhkN9KYVVRiacxn437V_7nuq8n_lFt4hQol1WO3_tftDlphsLS1Odm47As6qLJLQGHWzum5_HROBHwtLBJIWgut6nA3RubfwadXM/s1600/DSC_0185.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBIypZlI46iae0QFj_dMfznbEUTz1Iuq6tXhWJt4IYXOruLO2FYJgETir3VP4wg1NN7N0OXgPasQJAaQxKtI2Tl1EKnF7396o_zGfeyycgsl_pfK_OW0uuU6GehyD3GT2tEC2J1PIOx0/s1600/DSC_0192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBIypZlI46iae0QFj_dMfznbEUTz1Iuq6tXhWJt4IYXOruLO2FYJgETir3VP4wg1NN7N0OXgPasQJAaQxKtI2Tl1EKnF7396o_zGfeyycgsl_pfK_OW0uuU6GehyD3GT2tEC2J1PIOx0/s1600/DSC_0192.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-6975423512607748542014-06-29T15:14:00.004-07:002014-06-29T15:14:56.701-07:00Forgotten Moments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's amazing how much a person can forget over the course of a year, say for example, how small their kids use to be and the everyday moments that made up our lives. These are just some photos that I found that didn't ever make it on the blog. I taught Jr. High at South Ogden Jr. High a second year last year and with that came a few new responsibilities at work and even less time at home to do the things that I used to do. I found that working even part-time was extremely draining when coupled with taking care of kids and our home. I focused all my energy on my kids and my job and that left room for little else, which would explain my absence on the blog for so long. I don't know how single moms do it, but if you know a single mom, help her out, give her a break because raising kids and working is the hardest thing I've ever done and I'm not alone! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Working was a good out for me and it helped me to advance my teaching license so that if or when I go back to teaching, that I can be competitive and not stuck in the same pool as entry-level teachers--not that entry level teachers are bad, but I'm too old be considered entry-level and I graduated from school WAY too long ago to be hot-of-the-press like all those new education grads. I didn't think I would stand a chance of getting a job, so upgrading my license was a good thing in the event that something ever happened to Brannon or his job. It will give me the advantage I need to get a job if I ever need to. So to all you moms out there with professional licenses, DON'T LET THEM LAPSE! You never know when you might need it and I know as a teacher that if I were to let my license expire, it would take a lot of time and money and more school to get it renewed and it's just not worth it, especially if you need a job NOW. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I remember when I first dropped Haiven off at daycare my first year back at teaching. She was 10 months old and she cried, A LOT. It was awful. Those first three months back working were hell every time I had to leave these two at daycare and I wondered if what I was doing was worth it. I wondered if it was worth it when Taj would ask me why I was leaving him there. It hurts too much to think about the 20 months that I lost with them because I chose to go to work. They grew up fast in those two years and as I look at these pictures, I realize that there is no way I will ever get that time back. These pictures were from last summer, my time off with them. We tried to pack a lot in that summer before I had to go back to work. The only thing that keeps me from being too hard on myself is the fact that I have chosen to stay home for awhile now. I achieved my goal of upgrading my license and gaining valuable teaching experience that will help me if going back to work ever become necessary for me. I used to think that being "just a mom" wasn't enough for me to feel accomplished, but not I realize that being a mom is the only occupation that will ultimately be the most fulfilling "job" that I ever do in this life. No job out there can compare with what being a mom has done for me. I've grown and progressed in ways I didn't think possible and been strengthened in areas that I didn't even know were weak. These two have made me a better person and I now realize the great responsibility I have to lead and guide them through this life safely. That's a HUGE responsibility, but I'd rather be putting all my efforts into my family instead of a career. I can't fathom facing my Father in Heaven and having to tell him that I cared more about my career instead of my family. I think that I will have gotten the whole point of life all wrong and have done a major disservice to my kids and family. The whole reason we are here is to help each other make it back, not to further our own selfish desires. If at the end of my life I can say with full confidence that I did everything I could to raise my kids right and to help them gain a testimony of their Savior, then I'll feel that I've done my job, the most important one: being a mom. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I used to be obsessed with finding out what career I'm meant to do in this life. I made it my life's quest for the last seven years to figure that out and I never seemed to get an answer. I prayed hard, I searched, I pondered and prayed, and still no definite answer--at least that's what I thought until I realized a small voice had been telling me the whole time that now was the time for being a mom--that now was not the right season to pursue dreams of no eternal consequence. Until I read an article on FB titled "Am I Enough," I didn't realize how little I valued my job as a mom. I didn't realize that my kids are enough to make me feel accomplished, that I didn't need a worldly title or recognition to feel accomplished. Why couldn't my kids be enough? I felt immediate remorse and shame over all the time and energy I spent pursuing things that I felt were more worthy goals than taking care of my own children. I'm just thankful that I finally got it and that I figured it out before my littles grow up and leave me. So I guess you can say that I have a fresh take on motherhood and I'm am thankful for the privilege and honor of the title mother. I can say with full honesty and not an inkling of a doubt that being a mom is all I want to do for the rest of my life. I know there will come a time when I will have more time to pursue other interests, but for now, all my best is going to these guys. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
All of these pictures are from Summer 2013</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGQlnQxvajXqoW6bSfiXmY03PMGhkg9eVpbQ1NUaN6ibroo1tFBk0zbpECzFdyhyV9jcAebk6CcIx9A__2USk5LY6cKz52xkdqeCy85Ul8ar42RDxFPnCM_ApmZvjBV28hOLeMHnbCeo/s1600/DSC_0060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGQlnQxvajXqoW6bSfiXmY03PMGhkg9eVpbQ1NUaN6ibroo1tFBk0zbpECzFdyhyV9jcAebk6CcIx9A__2USk5LY6cKz52xkdqeCy85Ul8ar42RDxFPnCM_ApmZvjBV28hOLeMHnbCeo/s1600/DSC_0060.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV81MBuYrQfND_w2lmI7pA2H0jP_GN11B_wHTaH585-V_c_DL5tyXUAfBM_j3C7ZmyfvR1n3c3zalwu0eZR_mG5VLf2irITsf_J41v0WZPnLJFdHhzOtEFJUQFp51b3Q_pX78Q8oarGoc/s1600/DSC_0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV81MBuYrQfND_w2lmI7pA2H0jP_GN11B_wHTaH585-V_c_DL5tyXUAfBM_j3C7ZmyfvR1n3c3zalwu0eZR_mG5VLf2irITsf_J41v0WZPnLJFdHhzOtEFJUQFp51b3Q_pX78Q8oarGoc/s1600/DSC_0030.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdl4pXwfTR7lv7NMUGfFkU6OQ0WATGRAQs5zIT0G7ypczaYfAAFXTB3f5LUjufZH6vpbKviM_DUifeMIkc8gY7kWGyFzPMLnzlyidDo9MKjOTx274ic04Fey66w3TEqaqpOXlXuFHp_8/s1600/DSC_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdl4pXwfTR7lv7NMUGfFkU6OQ0WATGRAQs5zIT0G7ypczaYfAAFXTB3f5LUjufZH6vpbKviM_DUifeMIkc8gY7kWGyFzPMLnzlyidDo9MKjOTx274ic04Fey66w3TEqaqpOXlXuFHp_8/s1600/DSC_0102.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJjayOXmCww4SpPXiCFa_BqF0gY6eH8Pih0xcA9eh6duuLNeczkFb6VW63oKhWL2ZT2_Ym1s61UiRxJ19ba1usrNr5FIyCUu5Tpt_WUyTZGhlPe3LeZtu7Fg9Q4037zauEuDsHb5ScYE/s1600/DSC_0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJjayOXmCww4SpPXiCFa_BqF0gY6eH8Pih0xcA9eh6duuLNeczkFb6VW63oKhWL2ZT2_Ym1s61UiRxJ19ba1usrNr5FIyCUu5Tpt_WUyTZGhlPe3LeZtu7Fg9Q4037zauEuDsHb5ScYE/s1600/DSC_0103.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30Ep4Z8dgmnBciuz0E0qW65PU4Kd668kosLICMHE6jNMi47DkzW7XLeF7HcDzEbNApLubeDko4iXHdscVBS2fyJL99VfvVtQqSuCdy2R83sb8LMD-_1ftBK55aaITaXhb18MTfx-fU3A/s1600/DSC_0109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30Ep4Z8dgmnBciuz0E0qW65PU4Kd668kosLICMHE6jNMi47DkzW7XLeF7HcDzEbNApLubeDko4iXHdscVBS2fyJL99VfvVtQqSuCdy2R83sb8LMD-_1ftBK55aaITaXhb18MTfx-fU3A/s1600/DSC_0109.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-55624172865046417292014-06-24T14:09:00.000-07:002014-06-24T14:09:22.030-07:00SabbaticalSo I guess you can say that I've been on sabbatical for the last year. A lot can happen in a year and I realize that I am quickly coming up on a year since I last posted. Holy crap! I didn't realize HOW long I've been away from the blog. Obviously, there is some catching up to do and I have already chewed my fingernails off and eaten a dozen Oreos today contemplating how many posts it is going to take to get caught up. My goal is to get caught up before this baby comes in the next two weeks. Didn't know I was expecting? Oh well, add that post to the list! I've also decided to stay home from teaching for awhile, so I'm hoping to get back to my regular blogging ways of posting at least once week. So I guess you could say the Morse Family blog is up and running again. New updates and posts coming soon! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZjVr_9OXBCE8DBSqRigHYtIi0XGV7qANhDSCIekHdN93OArkSan5UJ6YKEiVyjqAOg3rBzXoaC5R4aYnw5qXQWC3wJt-YozYndbcLLa6QYk85eWHcHXkbXXq9j_sXRrolMzDQP8Qqsw/s1600/Taj+and+Haiv+Muscle+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZjVr_9OXBCE8DBSqRigHYtIi0XGV7qANhDSCIekHdN93OArkSan5UJ6YKEiVyjqAOg3rBzXoaC5R4aYnw5qXQWC3wJt-YozYndbcLLa6QYk85eWHcHXkbXXq9j_sXRrolMzDQP8Qqsw/s1600/Taj+and+Haiv+Muscle+Pic.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-33644655161251478582013-06-30T17:01:00.001-07:002013-06-30T17:01:18.246-07:00June in Pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uHjeFxElmtBbGWu9a9ra6I18w8TCM3yJnW1GtbMh3s39Wt2BkeOfSUoONZ0MbHI_3kpO9-TzZhfJhesc4PNVpQ19-kf0mgmeoq-JeD5zJdCcSmkSR_cLGvrWrG0ngpz2u7NHHjIJC6g/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uHjeFxElmtBbGWu9a9ra6I18w8TCM3yJnW1GtbMh3s39Wt2BkeOfSUoONZ0MbHI_3kpO9-TzZhfJhesc4PNVpQ19-kf0mgmeoq-JeD5zJdCcSmkSR_cLGvrWrG0ngpz2u7NHHjIJC6g/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+033.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
So Taj graduated his second year of preschool the end of may. I had WAY cute pics of the program and him with his teachers and all that was eaten up by my senile computer, so I made him at least stand in our living room for one picture. Obviously he was a lot more enthused about graduating the day of!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VvLH5cxcm1C_o7RTqhhYqp_2zPr462LbS8IffQ6sV3mjWkPYu3_LesFOXowZLom8gRpI8ccXmQ_LDNhueNnsSGESgYAaTj_LB4dOYdpcyZTcGtzF7r2zfDZ6D_6SY_hqVMxSpNHMIm4/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VvLH5cxcm1C_o7RTqhhYqp_2zPr462LbS8IffQ6sV3mjWkPYu3_LesFOXowZLom8gRpI8ccXmQ_LDNhueNnsSGESgYAaTj_LB4dOYdpcyZTcGtzF7r2zfDZ6D_6SY_hqVMxSpNHMIm4/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+035.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
Taj and Haivi loved helping me with Brannon's anniversary surprise. I knew those expensive balloons would double as entertainment, so I got my money's worth.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimd_Iq4SfsqjlObxrjeJJZChrFFezitpb2GFUcPPMw5J5AL29H9aKtNpeNwnEjpi4GEhy0j2THeY-fBDu6gBEUj2H2VX12rfeZDzlRGJIe55RQUqnOVGu8o154FEzg6o6Sjs3Q82yELcM/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimd_Iq4SfsqjlObxrjeJJZChrFFezitpb2GFUcPPMw5J5AL29H9aKtNpeNwnEjpi4GEhy0j2THeY-fBDu6gBEUj2H2VX12rfeZDzlRGJIe55RQUqnOVGu8o154FEzg6o6Sjs3Q82yELcM/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+037.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraSbunyZjh6ML_yAeseQdUXmk1oAp2AqE9hY9LnCxvT9up5MYtGiJ0kkvUPpY5hFIBiZWF-lIzmbfYB-eNS1dGW_2UwQ8Czv7JZaNAcf5oXFrUioHfAfWHSeQyt7CO2uWl66mGd4CoPM/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraSbunyZjh6ML_yAeseQdUXmk1oAp2AqE9hY9LnCxvT9up5MYtGiJ0kkvUPpY5hFIBiZWF-lIzmbfYB-eNS1dGW_2UwQ8Czv7JZaNAcf5oXFrUioHfAfWHSeQyt7CO2uWl66mGd4CoPM/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
June 2nd was our 8 year anniversary. Holy crap, that time went by fast! I got this lovely idea off of Pinterest. I love that place. When I don't have it in me to be creative, Pinterest does the work for me. The idea was to buy one balloon for each year you've been married. On the end of each balloon, you tie a memory you have of the two of you together. Then you release them in your bedroom and vwala! It looks amazing and it looks like you spent lots of time on it, but really you didn't AND it's an awesome way to surprise your significant other. Bran was pretty impressed. I could tell, so I just stood in the corner and patted myself on the back while he read each of the memories. A cheaper alternative is to buy regular balloons. You could buy colors that signify certain emotions or events for each year. I will probably do that the next time around because I really don't want to spend $50 bucks on balloons and I'm sure Brannon would be happy if I didn't either.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCPKnvM8gqUBAVhKGcbxF0h60Fwv38GnqmqHD3k-Rw2ykPCTCRg8j27gxCUKLN_zreeYaDqTQPXv3iLWA9IOytLpEUNcBek4vR1pQHNIS-jLUxM536HMJM7JE1nhsdrv3WCPWqvb9III/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCPKnvM8gqUBAVhKGcbxF0h60Fwv38GnqmqHD3k-Rw2ykPCTCRg8j27gxCUKLN_zreeYaDqTQPXv3iLWA9IOytLpEUNcBek4vR1pQHNIS-jLUxM536HMJM7JE1nhsdrv3WCPWqvb9III/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The second part of his gift was this: a 52 Things I love About You book made from a deck of cards. Again, Pinterest is genius! It really didn't take me long to come up with 52 things, in fact, there are about 100 things in this book. I just typed the little messages in columns on Microsoft Word and then printed them out and cut them up. ModPodge is fantastic for not only gluing the messages on the cards, but for helping to preserve them as well. You can tell by the picture that I did a coat over the top. I hole punched the cards and then bound them together with some rings I bought from the office section at Target. It took me about an hour or so to do it, so it was pretty snappy and it's something that is super sentimental. He took it to work with him and I imagine that when he gets bored, he sits there in his office chair perusing it's contents. Again, I could not help but pat myself on the back with both hands this time. Thank you Pinterest for making me look good!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vfzAyaHdRVambk2TVploIi_LhyhOAkPr4-Qzdyz34VxEHPKq24cX121Utvh-y_DFi9E94IWgMdgX2K-U0IJz6QUjgnZDhWjYBE2psYQAXSGv6Z44XSUrayML9t3zS1UgvI4aEVo12HM/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+044+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vfzAyaHdRVambk2TVploIi_LhyhOAkPr4-Qzdyz34VxEHPKq24cX121Utvh-y_DFi9E94IWgMdgX2K-U0IJz6QUjgnZDhWjYBE2psYQAXSGv6Z44XSUrayML9t3zS1UgvI4aEVo12HM/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+044+2.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
Haive loves her Minnie and her kitty. Her cat is not pictured here, obviously, but she carts those two "babies" of her around everywhere we go. I have to wash them at least once a week, sometimes more often. Her favorite thing to do is nuzzle the cat's mouth. You can tell too because after one week, it is gray, with bits of food stuck in its fur. She is very generous too and loves to unexpectedly shove the said kitty's dirty muzzle in your face so you can give it kisses to. Word to the wise? Make sure you have your mouth closed or you'll pick up a funky virus that may or may not leave you hugging the porcelain for days.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5_Uu9Qqi4-8Bv5VBG91RRCfnMme11kW675k2GCA_XtFyF5jj-EnwLeXwKtI8mxmhef832_rSbRDSEKzP4BWRKjVPtDHXh-4X8grNuciQXne0JmVcVwtgyoHH6B87m6B2cv4naBzqgoM/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5_Uu9Qqi4-8Bv5VBG91RRCfnMme11kW675k2GCA_XtFyF5jj-EnwLeXwKtI8mxmhef832_rSbRDSEKzP4BWRKjVPtDHXh-4X8grNuciQXne0JmVcVwtgyoHH6B87m6B2cv4naBzqgoM/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+049.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
Taj's dentist is awesome! I was so worried about taking him to get his teeth cleaned, but they were amazing. Here he is showing off the balloon sword his hygienist made for him to calm him down. They did the cleaning and the exam with him sitting in my lap and his head in their laps. I was super impressed with this office and would recommend to anyone. After it was all over, he got a token to get a prize out of the prize machine. How creative is that?!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJ1t2_fqK1x5WdxVv6HJZ8cwYnXxbFnWRgbLa2AZZ_C9FNZS3iZoPpDHJjBJrCrNuFAlOJ_BPKsJtwBCMHq6xnWVkdR5BD-KNCYh4y-KDgoy5q_Oz1Gnhzz6aAY2iEic3Br5ggRAJEsY/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJ1t2_fqK1x5WdxVv6HJZ8cwYnXxbFnWRgbLa2AZZ_C9FNZS3iZoPpDHJjBJrCrNuFAlOJ_BPKsJtwBCMHq6xnWVkdR5BD-KNCYh4y-KDgoy5q_Oz1Gnhzz6aAY2iEic3Br5ggRAJEsY/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+051.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
He's doing his best to show off his "cwean teef."<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIB6Yr2gso8awJPMV5JukLZTv6GCylutGj_D2Y6eXsKPXNnau1a-XfBVYpp_PcBPEcaKJJFl6ZAv6Aln8pHbG1Rskf0-oWk-qHB-0_QaegNlGTjgW7T_-UbnEXSs5u6jSDaUU920Qq-0/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIB6Yr2gso8awJPMV5JukLZTv6GCylutGj_D2Y6eXsKPXNnau1a-XfBVYpp_PcBPEcaKJJFl6ZAv6Aln8pHbG1Rskf0-oWk-qHB-0_QaegNlGTjgW7T_-UbnEXSs5u6jSDaUU920Qq-0/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
For Father's Day Pinterest rocked the house again. I'm starting to think that a certain Mr. Morse is pretty darn spoiled. He got a "snack-attack" kit for work, a treasure box that was hand-painted by Taj and Haiven with small toys in it to represent each of them. He also got a hand print and a picture from each of them. I splurged this time around and bought him one of those big-faced watches that I've seen him admiring on the wrists of other guys for the past year now. If I had the money, I would be surprising people with presents all the time. I love giving much much more than I do receiving, the whole surprise factor is my favorite part.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pq8VdodyCGHq00R_JVuVkIZqDHGsRGNzF2w9GvXC_F6pwDBsPJmrM0NfvR9chWs6YRiTHJ6IO4IMBQ3cJlhQ84X0IRSG48WrN-ZN3x7y5UzBKW5onn1-eqAQ9lII-gwpsFQWEJoJRHw/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pq8VdodyCGHq00R_JVuVkIZqDHGsRGNzF2w9GvXC_F6pwDBsPJmrM0NfvR9chWs6YRiTHJ6IO4IMBQ3cJlhQ84X0IRSG48WrN-ZN3x7y5UzBKW5onn1-eqAQ9lII-gwpsFQWEJoJRHw/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This picture will tell you how our summer is going. No, he is not bored, he is just exhausted from running helter-skelter all over the place. I signed him up for field trips once a week with his friends at daycare and then we go somewhere fun at least once a week. So far we've been the the Air Force Museum, Classic Fun Center, Boondocks, and all kinds of parks. We will eventually make it to the Train Museum in Ogden, The Treehouse (also in Ogden), the Dinosaur Park, and a splash pad or two. For his field trips he has already been to the Clark Planetarium, an aquatic center, Nickelcade, Classic Fun Center, and this coming week he'll be heading to This is the Place park to milk a cow, ride a train, you know, the whole "farm" experience kind of thing. I'm so glad we decided to sign him up. He is having such a great summer!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6e48GbNwGFel4yDswCGh0GtAAyLzXsDBbJugSqKBw0GNi69RtH-rzq99-S0F0zzL1YOPqyGUah17slHxIxvOiO9h2YhzwRT_LxLmVDrndgO_3tG9mAJK8Cc7OP9JT9eBBCFCZWCg7l4/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6e48GbNwGFel4yDswCGh0GtAAyLzXsDBbJugSqKBw0GNi69RtH-rzq99-S0F0zzL1YOPqyGUah17slHxIxvOiO9h2YhzwRT_LxLmVDrndgO_3tG9mAJK8Cc7OP9JT9eBBCFCZWCg7l4/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This picture I am not happy about. You see the redness and the swollen bump on his neck and the red mark on his chin? This is from some kid he said "squeezed" his neck at daycare. I of course was way fired up about it and demanded that he be sent back to his old class with the younger kids. Apparently two boys were singling him out and picking on him every day he was in their class. Taj is still learning how to communicate with others and how to read other people's emotions and that is why I don't like him with older kids. This is why I am nervous about school for him. I don't want him getting singled out because he's "different." I know it's going to happen, so I guess we need to start teaching him how we handle those situations, so that he is not a victim all the time. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1L2uZlyj0HB1QjV-5fK_CXBTiKwMbGl7B357PTrieDRDCYNLacfvIPhzm8SGZLoJknbZEgojQf1GAMUwhy2FbmgzFatYdJoHggeYPQtCcaMpZ_u_vEC9ezhjkZIGtrA3FpvpynKRXE8/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1L2uZlyj0HB1QjV-5fK_CXBTiKwMbGl7B357PTrieDRDCYNLacfvIPhzm8SGZLoJknbZEgojQf1GAMUwhy2FbmgzFatYdJoHggeYPQtCcaMpZ_u_vEC9ezhjkZIGtrA3FpvpynKRXE8/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I love that face!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OzkZHD4todaU48xv1L27RoRbbfubxhqj29cpgD45ah_kIxURBK3oBXRmdm2dOAxLzk10_DjoEmSGI9sxA-fDql9kosI1aUblyHQ3b7XqMXoA0mO3_yAG0cA-h0HoKyxDPt8ps-kN1sY/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OzkZHD4todaU48xv1L27RoRbbfubxhqj29cpgD45ah_kIxURBK3oBXRmdm2dOAxLzk10_DjoEmSGI9sxA-fDql9kosI1aUblyHQ3b7XqMXoA0mO3_yAG0cA-h0HoKyxDPt8ps-kN1sY/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+058.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Taj is VERY good at riding his fourwheeler, almost too good. It scares me. That boy also knows how to start about anything and how to drive most anything with an engine in it. I'm afraid that we may have a little "gear head" on our hands. That of course if fine by me. He can be our little mechanic when things break down. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgc_0-obwUc64kO_1TevDr8xK1LridjhUFsWRL3UZABSGoP5X7eMwx30pDs0lqmWmt5YNlIJ2WYqfXnrLtTGqnsadaOW1IhQu8p4Mm-ObJhXIPgUSgviRjGCJU7STQvwg5JePcA9_v8e8/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgc_0-obwUc64kO_1TevDr8xK1LridjhUFsWRL3UZABSGoP5X7eMwx30pDs0lqmWmt5YNlIJ2WYqfXnrLtTGqnsadaOW1IhQu8p4Mm-ObJhXIPgUSgviRjGCJU7STQvwg5JePcA9_v8e8/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I have a feeling that I will be seeing more pictures like this as they grow up. She loves getting rides from her big brother and he is careful with her. He always waits for her to wrap her arms around his waist before he'll take off. He usually only has patience to take her around for one lap, but that is usually good enough for her. So if you ever see them cruising together in our backyard, don't panic! He's good at it and if he does happen to bump into something, they are on the grass, so it's a soft landing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ujQsiUPNHEnbT8l3_HkDShL1DGeQ9TmQPdPmR9sTzGZG0iAILe1LUiq0JGGo0ZucfNIKoYKMW6xn_zRD0jILAjl5c4qHCidT2OQddOkKkvtwZwclBP9IPAT9tFewyLAf6zut8uJWDV0/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ujQsiUPNHEnbT8l3_HkDShL1DGeQ9TmQPdPmR9sTzGZG0iAILe1LUiq0JGGo0ZucfNIKoYKMW6xn_zRD0jILAjl5c4qHCidT2OQddOkKkvtwZwclBP9IPAT9tFewyLAf6zut8uJWDV0/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+066.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is what happens when big boys play on the monkey barks. We were having a lovely time at the park last Sunday until Brannon went to jump up on the playground equipment to help Haiven down the slide. He failed to see the monkey bars above him and smashed his face right into one of those cold, metal, bars. His nose bled from the inside out. The top of it had a huge gash and it bled for a good half hour. I'm pretty positive he broke it because it was still bleeding from the inside for days after it happened and it's still really tender. He doesn't seem too concerned about it being a little crooked, so I guess we won't go get it fixed unless it really starts bothering him. Poor guy. The kids were pretty much traumatized and they didn't fight me at all when I threw them in the bike trailer so we could high-tail it home. We did learn something new about Taj from this experience. He is just like his daddy when it comes to seeing blood. Taj has never really seen blood like that before, so he didn't even know to call it blood, so it was very interesting when he turned ghostly white and said "my beebutton huts, I go way down." The poor kid was green for a little while. He definitely does not handle bloods well and I guarantee that is a trait he literally inherited via genes from his daddy. Crazy how strong those genes can be! Haivi was fine, she's like her momma. She was concerned about him though and kept peeking her little, or should I say, big head, in the bathroom to check on him.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFjtp50YFpPAx6AcMbJYRt6MreuqkY4wb7I3NyhmJ3wOvIvOEir_Q31VPceySxwUBF_7UZj2_AGT76lQsxhJqOzHr1jqRMtf-2Ajm79IzDlIIdBYODBrRWwgCSYQ6Oua0PQNFXomcRIQ/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFjtp50YFpPAx6AcMbJYRt6MreuqkY4wb7I3NyhmJ3wOvIvOEir_Q31VPceySxwUBF_7UZj2_AGT76lQsxhJqOzHr1jqRMtf-2Ajm79IzDlIIdBYODBrRWwgCSYQ6Oua0PQNFXomcRIQ/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+071.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
I love this picture because it captures her fire. She is not just a "spitfire," she is a raging bonfire! That girl has more fight and spunk in her than anyone else I know. She's tough and I have no doubt that she will be able to look out for herself just fine. My worry is that she may be too tough sometimes, and we will probably have to work on teaching her that we treat others the way we want to be treated. Every time I pick her up from daycare, the first thing one of her teachers says is, "Haiven had a hard time this morning. She wouldn't quit hitting the other kids." Great, thanks for that. My kid's a bully. Did she do anything good today, for once? You can tell that I get a little annoyed hearing that same sentence as soon as I walk in the door. It's only one particular teacher, but I'm on the point of yelling, "Well, what do you want me to do about it? I wasn't here when it happened, so how can I fix it?!" However, I know if I did that, she would then figure out where Haiven gets half her fire.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-BDCoASBxJHRL9R43cTOmShP3q7vJQLXLSemJidSb6rKxIhoeuqFAilFZBnEBGgeyNHzlDwJ5WbFKbGYkxbFTmPlTuw0-JUijzW0ndsNiasIrbURIi9GAc-qqeufaxPBEJS3a-_x1-s/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-BDCoASBxJHRL9R43cTOmShP3q7vJQLXLSemJidSb6rKxIhoeuqFAilFZBnEBGgeyNHzlDwJ5WbFKbGYkxbFTmPlTuw0-JUijzW0ndsNiasIrbURIi9GAc-qqeufaxPBEJS3a-_x1-s/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+078.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuAnkkCOCkcoHya8vbOUiBKiJb_MNXLysFcWCgmHofEoPrdsBWwWCeoi0fQs9g4IFr2MqNoPgQoT3Zd5sFQYYGtUJ2qpFFp4vyeLTlX4L8KwluxmXgRyPScJMk8_GnoXEp-mTT4f8bXw/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuAnkkCOCkcoHya8vbOUiBKiJb_MNXLysFcWCgmHofEoPrdsBWwWCeoi0fQs9g4IFr2MqNoPgQoT3Zd5sFQYYGtUJ2qpFFp4vyeLTlX4L8KwluxmXgRyPScJMk8_GnoXEp-mTT4f8bXw/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+077.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
It's a darn good thing she has that irresistible sweetness about her too or we'd have to donate her to the homeless shelter. When this girl feels like it, she can be heaven on earth and melt your heart by wrapping those little arms around your neck and offering you a kiss of her own free will and choice.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPyNKQVO4JWE_BW18YwI4ueppZIAza0OoO8QOWanjgLktxr58h2dAebngHlCP4mWMfL8AMQVxGDDsPUZ6mW0jGpwXr4XXCX0_E63TeC3CSEII1-j8vVW6fkQeQdjk-Wox-pi1RX5HGAk/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPyNKQVO4JWE_BW18YwI4ueppZIAza0OoO8QOWanjgLktxr58h2dAebngHlCP4mWMfL8AMQVxGDDsPUZ6mW0jGpwXr4XXCX0_E63TeC3CSEII1-j8vVW6fkQeQdjk-Wox-pi1RX5HGAk/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+079.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
I love her piggies. I think I always end up taking pictures of her when she has piggies in her hair.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWX9M2PdR4NtE_wAH24m4FF4FD4n96xZrjcrJgSTq6E33WNZ-5KlSAEvAgASOJhC2LY9gCD62ADusUltvwJIChKHDT7EQG1R9nt5J-ssPFLEvEqSPW23mS6bsWBF8Sb05TJJD0RqMDFc/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWX9M2PdR4NtE_wAH24m4FF4FD4n96xZrjcrJgSTq6E33WNZ-5KlSAEvAgASOJhC2LY9gCD62ADusUltvwJIChKHDT7EQG1R9nt5J-ssPFLEvEqSPW23mS6bsWBF8Sb05TJJD0RqMDFc/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+082.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
I can't remember if this is a real conversation or not. It was pretty intense though and he wandered around the shed (like his daddy does when he's on the phone) before parking his hiney on the the tail-light of one of his grandpa's Harley's. I love that boy so much!<br />
<br />
July is going to be so much fun! The only way I get through this awful heat is because of the July holidays. I love summer in Utah!Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-20009139903497595042013-06-02T15:56:00.001-07:002013-06-30T15:16:03.210-07:00We are cyclistsWe have decided to be cyclists. We, or should I say, Brannon took hiself down to the Costco and bought us some "<i>real</i>" nice bikes. And a trailer for the kids. Love that place. Who doesn't? It's like a one-stop shopping experience. You can buy anything there that your little heart desires. We desired bikes because we are both tired of carrying around those darn spare tires that only seem to get bigger and never smaller. We were in a pickle you see because who in the heck has time to exercise when you've got two kids and jobs and a house and a yard to take care of? I don't get those people who spend hours upon hours at the gym. They must not have real jobs or they don't have kids. If they do have kids, then they are probably neglecting them. A great solution, we thought, would be to take up cycling and get a trailer for the kids to ride in. Those first two weeks were glorious. We had raw rumps and every muscle ached, but it felt good because we knew our bodies were actually getting some exercise. Then the "newness" and "fun-ness" of it all wore off and the kids decided they couldn't stand to be in such close quarter with each other. A half-hour bike ride turned into 30 minutes of torture for all involved as we sailed down the road with a screeching and cackling trailer. Haiven does the screeching and Taj does the cackling. When you have to stop every 2 minutes to see who's touching who and who's "wooking at me" or "bothuwing me," all that's left to do is to turn hide and head home as fast as you can before it gets too violent in the back.<br />
Brannon suggested that on Memorial Day we go for a bike ride. I was down with it as long as we could figure out a way to separate the gremlins. We pulled out an old bike seat and problem solved. We rode the Bridal Veil Falls trail up Provo Canyon and I can guarantee that it did not disappoint. We were surrounded by steep mountain sides lush with vegetation and rode along side a lovely little river on a paved, shaded path. When we got to the falls, there were quite a few people there who had the same idea as us, but there was still plenty of room for us to have our own little corner of the shallow end of the falls for the kids to play in. We passed two parks on the way up and on the way back when Taj announced in the middle of the ride that he had to "poop," we thought no prob! We stopped in at a campground bathroom and when Taj and I opened the door and stepped into fresh sewage that had flooded the entire bathroom, I told him there was no way in hades we were going in there and that he'd have to pinch those bum cheeks of his together until we could find another bathroom. The kid was a champ and managed to wait until we found a more "sanitary" place for him to do the deed. Other than that, the weather was perfect and it was a great day. Haivi only screeched once and there was no complaining on Taj's end either. It was an 8 mile ride round-trip, but wasn't to strenuous. I guess I can say that because I wasn't pulling the trailer and I didn't have Taj on my bike in the seat either. Bran had both kids and I tell you, I was so proud of my man when I looked back at the top of a steep hill and saw his hat turned backwards (that means he's down to business) and him standing up on his bike pedaling with all his might to get those kids up that hill. There were about five hills like that and he never stopped once. I wouldn't be surprised if we made that ride a family tradition every Memorial Day. So if you every see two white bikes pulling a yellow bike trailer on the side of the road, please honk the horn to encourage the Morse Fam to pedal strong.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfelMtdRywNmUkKD_Ig6FDx0aoWkRF18zeyK8Re5m1R23pdr1t2vSeZHVprdmPr6WO7vrWetEXZDliYnQAkRBPAIhmw5cJWF-Al4KYeo7woypDdWId5YPKnNJ9m6h1qw7s4XAQaZTBVg/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+005+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfelMtdRywNmUkKD_Ig6FDx0aoWkRF18zeyK8Re5m1R23pdr1t2vSeZHVprdmPr6WO7vrWetEXZDliYnQAkRBPAIhmw5cJWF-Al4KYeo7woypDdWId5YPKnNJ9m6h1qw7s4XAQaZTBVg/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+005+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1RcOAlJB2LB0GkO2cCjCsg9CUAcpH8cW33jxwLViUGH0xqhY7gHzaCLB5ePMBy7XlPJSCmq5yBrEgjC2EubASzm-uhtPSu_mL7RKUhtIhsfC_DU1IKk586U0FUIg-c89EDj2zhC16zg/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1RcOAlJB2LB0GkO2cCjCsg9CUAcpH8cW33jxwLViUGH0xqhY7gHzaCLB5ePMBy7XlPJSCmq5yBrEgjC2EubASzm-uhtPSu_mL7RKUhtIhsfC_DU1IKk586U0FUIg-c89EDj2zhC16zg/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+015.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmidjLw7ynGc4z5Knk3CWgE6IAzRJjkJV2-8vb9pbPzN6d9ua1jhTo89sUBfyT4apVHkJwSarP6sEa5Aw9Fhl7fUnr8N4manzCpAMzeNxzMDIDVSa8OEswrDVjrS-AL4QJgHazIPHz7AY/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+017+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmidjLw7ynGc4z5Knk3CWgE6IAzRJjkJV2-8vb9pbPzN6d9ua1jhTo89sUBfyT4apVHkJwSarP6sEa5Aw9Fhl7fUnr8N4manzCpAMzeNxzMDIDVSa8OEswrDVjrS-AL4QJgHazIPHz7AY/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+017+2.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKF8aC4J5MHmsgIFiUqlDxrROzjwUPfSpSoLNh8NpUmzZEa3XdNq2rzi-C9YYsJpqUg1GNHsgxMSzYDTk0QcEGLEu-tcH9xy-zMpmTW2IhNTV5hbLRpPUNZxOX_cT257kiaL5oNNVUbE/s1600/June+2013+Pictures+2+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKF8aC4J5MHmsgIFiUqlDxrROzjwUPfSpSoLNh8NpUmzZEa3XdNq2rzi-C9YYsJpqUg1GNHsgxMSzYDTk0QcEGLEu-tcH9xy-zMpmTW2IhNTV5hbLRpPUNZxOX_cT257kiaL5oNNVUbE/s320/June+2013+Pictures+2+023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-51630533174152132412013-06-02T15:25:00.002-07:002013-06-02T15:25:53.868-07:00Good IntentionsWell summer break has not started off with a bang as I had hoped it would. Much of that is due to my own lack of ambition, but I've resolved to not spend the rest of our summer like we did that first week. Items that I should have had completed by the end of the first week? 1. Clean the house top to bottom. 2. Get all the laundry caught up. 3. Detail the car myself. 4. Plant a garden and 5. Do something fun with my kids every day. 6. Get caught up on the blog.<br />
The house did get cleaned, but I wouldn't call it top-to-bottom. We are functional and sanitized at this point. The washer broke down after my first load of laundry and flooded the basement. Wet, old carpet=nasty, musky, moldy, smellier old carpet. I spent all day at the laundry mat with the kids and a giant, black hairy spider and all kinds of bacteria. I'm not sure if our clothes were cleaner after that trip. Detail the car? Ha! Well I did throw away a plastic wrapper off a sticky bun and a few old receipts, so I guess that is progress. Who knows what kind of weevil colonies are are multiplying in our car as a result of a school year's worth of food crumbs. I really hate bugs, so that will most definitely get done this week, I hope. Planting a garden did not go as planned either because it rained pretty much every day, all day last week. We had brief moments of sunshine, but it was never long before the clouds came rolling back in. That really put a damper on the exercise thing too. I couldn't take the kids out on a bike ride in the pouring rain and as a result, the small spare bike tire around my waist has grown into a trailer tire. I'm not about to let it get much bigger so I've cut down on the nacho cheese sauce and popcorn and jalapeno bites. Think I'm kidding? I'm not. I'm an emotional eater and just having the washer break down was enough to send me into a week-long binge. So you can imagine that I just ate more and more when I did not manage to get the car detailed or to plant a salsa garden.<br />
Then we come to my blog. I love writing. I love preserving families memories and I definitely consider it worth the time and effort to keep this up. I decided I'd procrastinated enough and downloaded 300 pictures of the last two months of our lives on the computer. With that done, I thought, alright now to the fun part--actually posting on the blog. Little did I know that this whole time my computer was plotting against me as well and got all senile on me. It "forgot" where it put those 300 pictures that included Taj's preschool graduation and many other irreplaceable moments. I was literally devastated when I clicked on the folder and all I saw were those horrific three words: "Folder is Empty." Wha? Whawhawha? WHAT?! My heart was broken into pieces to have lost those pictures and then of course all I could think to do was to go upstairs and throw some poppers in the oven and consume 300 deep-fried calories of jalapenos and cream cheese. I shut down the computer and restarted it, hoping the ol' dinosaur would wake up and remember where it put my pictures. It did not and also notified me that I had "successfully" cleared out 200 mbs of space. Hmmm, must of slipped my mind because there is no way in HELL I did that! Can you guess what happened when I went back into my pictures folder to search for the lost 300? I discovered that ALL albums starting with the letter A had been deleted. They are gone, no where to be found. That's the moment I exercised great restraint and kept myself from hurling the ol' silver dinosaur through the wall of our basement and out into the front yard. I will never trust it again, which is why I don't dare download more photos on it right now because I'm afraid they will be lost in cyberworld forever. Some geeked-out hacker is probably having the time of his life stuffing flaming hot cheetos down his gullet, all the while hysterical laughing and picturing my confusion, shock, and rage at the discovery of the missing files. Well I hope he snorts one up his nose. No slurpee in the world will put that flame out. So rest assured family and friends who actually read this blog, that I have not abandoned my post. You WILL see regular posting from here on out, I hope.Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-12388159559220557412013-04-07T22:29:00.002-07:002013-04-07T22:29:43.574-07:00CandidsThese pictures speak for themselves. Boy am I glad we were blessed with kids with HUGE personalities. I love them so much. They are my life:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xuivXjUbHuxcNNCzpS-aCqUxd2spxMYOzWtuHiptnQ9t-QhVTtEbUZAU-t4YiVNLyv-uBkjMrQpdLsRz9FuFhy9gNtKRlgcmJbmbdPyAADsOSRL3OpZEMEdIe6wAEi900ZQhaQFuihQ/s1600/March+and+April+2013+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xuivXjUbHuxcNNCzpS-aCqUxd2spxMYOzWtuHiptnQ9t-QhVTtEbUZAU-t4YiVNLyv-uBkjMrQpdLsRz9FuFhy9gNtKRlgcmJbmbdPyAADsOSRL3OpZEMEdIe6wAEi900ZQhaQFuihQ/s320/March+and+April+2013+009.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
These boots had to go: he like them way too much:)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB683J2OT0qoB9ObVmExCfb8sXDljIr5tzlzL_lx3ONcipFUbeRt0J7JrFJfc6wljTQ7818wTWAhSqOLO4MhZR_JpCjztB9AB4JFVP4-uk9-IPguEpFGXXVQudErSPdasTT9RTYHoix4k/s1600/March+and+April+2013+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB683J2OT0qoB9ObVmExCfb8sXDljIr5tzlzL_lx3ONcipFUbeRt0J7JrFJfc6wljTQ7818wTWAhSqOLO4MhZR_JpCjztB9AB4JFVP4-uk9-IPguEpFGXXVQudErSPdasTT9RTYHoix4k/s320/March+and+April+2013+007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2_oMjzLvy4o1iHPndZK5ZY-MO6k2g8YwRSNAH3DeVUjWFDjLQL7Ld9D5vllQUaypawb_hfwNRHjaTad6HgoK03xaCHf6rpN_NMUnjyDocG0hERI6Zw8WN4Zzs54np8T995ORLIv-J0k/s1600/March+and+April+2013+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2_oMjzLvy4o1iHPndZK5ZY-MO6k2g8YwRSNAH3DeVUjWFDjLQL7Ld9D5vllQUaypawb_hfwNRHjaTad6HgoK03xaCHf6rpN_NMUnjyDocG0hERI6Zw8WN4Zzs54np8T995ORLIv-J0k/s320/March+and+April+2013+002.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2J16G-xlDGr8VbT7Qh3wGeKPihQ_rnZSeCrErxSohyphenhyphen6f-G3RKCO9j2c5ZfmeuXTMPfi4dHXWKU2_V2AgQq7CiTdv-pvSHj9sWffrggQ93G0t8uagVgIfzAgeV9k2Zw8r1giNU_txY3w/s1600/March+and+April+2013+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2J16G-xlDGr8VbT7Qh3wGeKPihQ_rnZSeCrErxSohyphenhyphen6f-G3RKCO9j2c5ZfmeuXTMPfi4dHXWKU2_V2AgQq7CiTdv-pvSHj9sWffrggQ93G0t8uagVgIfzAgeV9k2Zw8r1giNU_txY3w/s320/March+and+April+2013+012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtzPQ3rW3w9YM8hjuLmgkkHXRK2zt_g0wDZviNSjpuayEn0S1iuzuDK6YJZXJF8hioxtaeGcIcrn6Mq3xREiEoj6cZi2ONwN44UE_VIVa3T7gdxphl7-KD1lUfNc7y9NlKmZahYnd8Pc/s1600/March+and+April+2013+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtzPQ3rW3w9YM8hjuLmgkkHXRK2zt_g0wDZviNSjpuayEn0S1iuzuDK6YJZXJF8hioxtaeGcIcrn6Mq3xREiEoj6cZi2ONwN44UE_VIVa3T7gdxphl7-KD1lUfNc7y9NlKmZahYnd8Pc/s320/March+and+April+2013+018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakyQKHmJ38w1gCRYjNpPLHQ2GyQxrakTSJTH42hSgBAdInJbpnv5HIeIOiXJFw05Zfm-w0J6Dyi6WYHs5oVcDOr9R_Y75_kymqpZnQjIghbhgjB84wYyaY8HMF9cRdEeF7RLpjuZbE9A/s1600/March+and+April+2013+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakyQKHmJ38w1gCRYjNpPLHQ2GyQxrakTSJTH42hSgBAdInJbpnv5HIeIOiXJFw05Zfm-w0J6Dyi6WYHs5oVcDOr9R_Y75_kymqpZnQjIghbhgjB84wYyaY8HMF9cRdEeF7RLpjuZbE9A/s320/March+and+April+2013+025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
He really didn't want his picture taken here, what's new?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQA-8UR1h46bn5qpnYhwarYqJrio-Wlu7bHCwo6uXytYwWh0R3Krn0WMZyN-gqKnZOcO9p4sZKID42Ct5WHNMnlreL879QxDqVeJRdx5fSrKmPltGKWc8MttlxXkfrZ2_yxBGE09ac1RU/s1600/March+and+April+2013+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQA-8UR1h46bn5qpnYhwarYqJrio-Wlu7bHCwo6uXytYwWh0R3Krn0WMZyN-gqKnZOcO9p4sZKID42Ct5WHNMnlreL879QxDqVeJRdx5fSrKmPltGKWc8MttlxXkfrZ2_yxBGE09ac1RU/s320/March+and+April+2013+022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The snow was melted enough for his first fourwheeler ride of the season.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3lLjhELF5mFhANesG9y5sHiPgOAiGCLzNQ0jsgY8Vyhi-VMXAikYhhE1-0nWfbTT0Gxbay2JJuSBFrPzPYp3bHDvJm4bOXm5NIO2WY0LF3kAbzDoRFQf3FZx9l0d1IkBnK1L6Ad0wg4/s1600/March+and+April+2013+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3lLjhELF5mFhANesG9y5sHiPgOAiGCLzNQ0jsgY8Vyhi-VMXAikYhhE1-0nWfbTT0Gxbay2JJuSBFrPzPYp3bHDvJm4bOXm5NIO2WY0LF3kAbzDoRFQf3FZx9l0d1IkBnK1L6Ad0wg4/s320/March+and+April+2013+044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Someday his wife will thank me.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KApxnD-N1-1bacAhu6X2Eg_2ljxVCMTkipadEIwgSJJCIpQuBSZi6Mg8aVZIsI7XOQesS4WM_Aywx3399PYxQPPNuF82q3Afh58v1W3kCyrzvWjoh22klLP_mdX5MHoLJQL5ryULQkU/s1600/March+and+April+2013+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KApxnD-N1-1bacAhu6X2Eg_2ljxVCMTkipadEIwgSJJCIpQuBSZi6Mg8aVZIsI7XOQesS4WM_Aywx3399PYxQPPNuF82q3Afh58v1W3kCyrzvWjoh22klLP_mdX5MHoLJQL5ryULQkU/s320/March+and+April+2013+029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This kid has skills--he put the attachment on himself and went to work on the couch without any prompting from me, love it!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqMGJf1WepcYVpeUsXsDe_Fy15qldeWtkgXVEXwQniJO8KWgX-lFPrPJ6c6HcWM1K-lyPYY3jWGMWJzwOgIGj1H7RDycJanwyB6f-dztgguVvsZtJXgqsDT8530CYRt6-AmYO78RF5Rw/s1600/March+and+April+2013+073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqMGJf1WepcYVpeUsXsDe_Fy15qldeWtkgXVEXwQniJO8KWgX-lFPrPJ6c6HcWM1K-lyPYY3jWGMWJzwOgIGj1H7RDycJanwyB6f-dztgguVvsZtJXgqsDT8530CYRt6-AmYO78RF5Rw/s320/March+and+April+2013+073.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YH1YTiZ-dEO-rPOEi5qBYYM0sn0xIHZ6rHD6S2YvoLQiStgRfLy4MKdm8C25WfC8zPAo1FNmRLaV9cffucascNjkaJ2AA1AX0H7PU5UjBPzHXPbvSOml5vrtyJTFmCLIhMqFfoVGvuY/s1600/March+and+April+2013+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YH1YTiZ-dEO-rPOEi5qBYYM0sn0xIHZ6rHD6S2YvoLQiStgRfLy4MKdm8C25WfC8zPAo1FNmRLaV9cffucascNjkaJ2AA1AX0H7PU5UjBPzHXPbvSOml5vrtyJTFmCLIhMqFfoVGvuY/s320/March+and+April+2013+077.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Best ride of her life, can't you see it in her face?!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAn23Ff9uZnmGBzhN5MqDNQP77KlRTN7YJJdofM4t3-Y80QikxoPUWg3puTxxSqLVlm3J21WFWiLvJ1YWpB6G_gejEU2TZviUyEmHCl0Aguv7LowyDsUZ7K867YLepsylJIGBBXkv3xWs/s1600/March+and+April+2013+080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAn23Ff9uZnmGBzhN5MqDNQP77KlRTN7YJJdofM4t3-Y80QikxoPUWg3puTxxSqLVlm3J21WFWiLvJ1YWpB6G_gejEU2TZviUyEmHCl0Aguv7LowyDsUZ7K867YLepsylJIGBBXkv3xWs/s320/March+and+April+2013+080.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0OQTTN2CuCN4ZWnSmJBzDwlWaHaOhExbcO0AFwsZFDmwqzB0PXxaxH_WNxIFBOTiZGmq7PZO5ZaJsROjgyd4M6hXxG80GBa4OxN6WcQlhHgD4j61XBoQeisNYhgxGIzF7VuXjt2mh7o/s1600/March+and+April+2013+094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0OQTTN2CuCN4ZWnSmJBzDwlWaHaOhExbcO0AFwsZFDmwqzB0PXxaxH_WNxIFBOTiZGmq7PZO5ZaJsROjgyd4M6hXxG80GBa4OxN6WcQlhHgD4j61XBoQeisNYhgxGIzF7VuXjt2mh7o/s320/March+and+April+2013+094.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I looked outside to check on the little monkeys and found this scene. Haivi was definitely enjoying herself! If Taj wasn't so good on the fourwheeler, I would never let him do this with her.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8b58N1flt2T3nNug2rhy0pV3XI9xxiVkygUdqoBLFkWb3_WKK0jErR0fl5XCHROcs6vUwGaPBy601IyUV9BEZfOfNAX2__rZRaCCuKdqKb10u-YV9Y78ziE4Dbjvxrknch05gBvtb2c4/s1600/March+and+April+2013+097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8b58N1flt2T3nNug2rhy0pV3XI9xxiVkygUdqoBLFkWb3_WKK0jErR0fl5XCHROcs6vUwGaPBy601IyUV9BEZfOfNAX2__rZRaCCuKdqKb10u-YV9Y78ziE4Dbjvxrknch05gBvtb2c4/s320/March+and+April+2013+097.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8RdmHUdtK-VDPsYQ0qVo58rcVRGu9-8WFdAxhij6QLpOOHcEFa-WZyUVEBnQBeE7-prj3FUa_mCJHvoQ1b48KSzHCFLgbMvFVbtzbyEo3Zp-bv-VaPbGGkR6WBPu9RnB01s1V5q6E_I/s1600/March+and+April+2013+099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8RdmHUdtK-VDPsYQ0qVo58rcVRGu9-8WFdAxhij6QLpOOHcEFa-WZyUVEBnQBeE7-prj3FUa_mCJHvoQ1b48KSzHCFLgbMvFVbtzbyEo3Zp-bv-VaPbGGkR6WBPu9RnB01s1V5q6E_I/s320/March+and+April+2013+099.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
"Doffin" I get squeaky kisses in my face from doffin at least three times a day.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33j4ZdZGD9JUwiTfmPPIqcEr2yvcmK9m0ZGa-X3W6UW5OEfJrmcYHCMvVbihft3HDeVy5wY9CGFsy1glaJTjG_rGja243kUmbvxxyeYA5lW7leE81kph2hZ5FibyrKRG1YwtUBx-u13U/s1600/March+and+April+2013+121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33j4ZdZGD9JUwiTfmPPIqcEr2yvcmK9m0ZGa-X3W6UW5OEfJrmcYHCMvVbihft3HDeVy5wY9CGFsy1glaJTjG_rGja243kUmbvxxyeYA5lW7leE81kph2hZ5FibyrKRG1YwtUBx-u13U/s320/March+and+April+2013+121.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPclgUKxzQBeQGnOqhJCQqLVtUxLMmJj-n0aJQZ9ai0hsybB5AuBzB240GEX3HKNU0Hc3jrIKbPKK9YsgLQf2ZYBRNxShdmvDCcIJe4f0J3a-WNd99hbKvTN7CTzC4ewpYfU7bsmB8gOQ/s1600/March+and+April+2013+126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPclgUKxzQBeQGnOqhJCQqLVtUxLMmJj-n0aJQZ9ai0hsybB5AuBzB240GEX3HKNU0Hc3jrIKbPKK9YsgLQf2ZYBRNxShdmvDCcIJe4f0J3a-WNd99hbKvTN7CTzC4ewpYfU7bsmB8gOQ/s320/March+and+April+2013+126.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjUoftATBFL8wVyfawt7oT1Nw9Ja7ZXZ57o-tRvZxmvuAvFfREHHJ2K_4nsAsGnn8yaFIy8WLuSSVWDrY0Zl2NzU6-IlnthYdKhENPM88YjKA2tI9r97OYf0Ft31wr47MXKzZW8JYTfs/s1600/March+and+April+2013+136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjUoftATBFL8wVyfawt7oT1Nw9Ja7ZXZ57o-tRvZxmvuAvFfREHHJ2K_4nsAsGnn8yaFIy8WLuSSVWDrY0Zl2NzU6-IlnthYdKhENPM88YjKA2tI9r97OYf0Ft31wr47MXKzZW8JYTfs/s320/March+and+April+2013+136.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisIDdSF1BxnuFbaYx-OuarPy3EJKG7a3354x-9xSfEAOxRO4ahs15iQck0FUsQV0BAtEu_4xXIjloW4RPsCH7u7zKVv5bnXci3qvKxBQfitYrkpFd2daM1HaAqhAeB8xd7xr_QmErzr8/s1600/March+and+April+2013+142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisIDdSF1BxnuFbaYx-OuarPy3EJKG7a3354x-9xSfEAOxRO4ahs15iQck0FUsQV0BAtEu_4xXIjloW4RPsCH7u7zKVv5bnXci3qvKxBQfitYrkpFd2daM1HaAqhAeB8xd7xr_QmErzr8/s320/March+and+April+2013+142.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjafHh_y8f5XqbycPLXvbvn3j1djTF6pCY7r4LLyaGCfY_y1Ash8D9rtuZbW1I0_Z57klMkeyefWsfLuDiix98bktGKndoiQleL4yXQT5DyLgo_MYDY1SoR3YvZQre492b58nZep8qzo/s1600/March+and+April+2013+140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjafHh_y8f5XqbycPLXvbvn3j1djTF6pCY7r4LLyaGCfY_y1Ash8D9rtuZbW1I0_Z57klMkeyefWsfLuDiix98bktGKndoiQleL4yXQT5DyLgo_MYDY1SoR3YvZQre492b58nZep8qzo/s320/March+and+April+2013+140.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSywbZA-J24cJLiE-AfM1Mei8HOzW_Zt1EQxeObyedblHSsL-nzdegbAuptpcid3tVWTk7yyVB5GlRAd7GjK25j85QmVn4851goKpFJSJxnEfaGqIz35cCOuJFWgrhuDkcJ1lB6r_79oE/s1600/March+and+April+2013+263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSywbZA-J24cJLiE-AfM1Mei8HOzW_Zt1EQxeObyedblHSsL-nzdegbAuptpcid3tVWTk7yyVB5GlRAd7GjK25j85QmVn4851goKpFJSJxnEfaGqIz35cCOuJFWgrhuDkcJ1lB6r_79oE/s320/March+and+April+2013+263.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Haiv was pooped after so much Saturday cleaning. It got quiet and I found her relaxing in the armchair in the living room.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2c_A2uxnYiVzYde_hmM1ULSVzvMtovozzLINk7z9f1tExJOgWMYsTqIjoEgdUo4odZT1NoKhd2uJ9B6oUuzt_OP_9THdk4nTIrsSMvtb8IFA9aiOP3tpkAFWzOUJnKk2StVG62aKcKhA/s1600/March+and+April+2013+265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2c_A2uxnYiVzYde_hmM1ULSVzvMtovozzLINk7z9f1tExJOgWMYsTqIjoEgdUo4odZT1NoKhd2uJ9B6oUuzt_OP_9THdk4nTIrsSMvtb8IFA9aiOP3tpkAFWzOUJnKk2StVG62aKcKhA/s320/March+and+April+2013+265.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This boy knows how to work!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTr8PSvIOmdg929HcUG6MUqIQWOcXK3fozaC-SdxS99CrYxDn7JkV1Ph5KQ39OqwPwZEgGIK4wqDZEwui9MBsvRER8NxsW22G7xykq5zDt86bAfZQw99h8U2_6P9lLEfir-JOe0Bxye0/s1600/March+and+April+2013+267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTr8PSvIOmdg929HcUG6MUqIQWOcXK3fozaC-SdxS99CrYxDn7JkV1Ph5KQ39OqwPwZEgGIK4wqDZEwui9MBsvRER8NxsW22G7xykq5zDt86bAfZQw99h8U2_6P9lLEfir-JOe0Bxye0/s320/March+and+April+2013+267.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-66024071048870610832013-04-07T22:13:00.001-07:002013-04-07T22:13:51.141-07:00I Traded in My ScarSo last weekend I traded in my 5 year old scar on my neck from my trachea resection in 2007 for a new one. My old scar had adhered to my neck where I had a trache and it never really bothered me until I started teaching and talking for long periods of time. With my old scar, every time I talked, swallowed, sneezed, coughed, laughed, etc., the scar would move on my neck and cause a pulling, tearing, and burning sensation. I didn't think there was a fix for it until I met with Dr. John Bitner. He told me we could take some fat from my stomach, remove the old scar, and place the fat between my trachea and my new scar to keep it from adhering to my trachea again. When my insurance company wouldn't cover the procedure because they called it "cosmetic," Dr. Bitner opted to do the procedure for FREE. Can you believe that? I really didn't feel worthy to accept a gift like that...I mean we are not down and out in the dumps or anything like that. He told me he will take whatever payment the insurance company will give him and call it good. How cool is that? He is such a good guy to do this for me and for my students. Maybe I will even be able to read to my students out-loud now. I haven't tried it yet to see if my voice will hold up, but I think the new scar will help. I am so grateful for tender mercies like this. He has done such a great service for me and I will forever be grateful to him for his kindness. Here are the pics I had Bran take:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnPxKsY1loxlQZGEh3eiN4Nm1K6bLcCXnE62Amib0RzqjEPlGhoNk417wMBitePXTFC4zCBknlt1zkaczsYwYcR6Gxh4nzjGr3jalH7ULjQ6vACDOqGWeOxS_34t_JD-fshpw_LttXM0/s1600/March+and+April+2013+101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnPxKsY1loxlQZGEh3eiN4Nm1K6bLcCXnE62Amib0RzqjEPlGhoNk417wMBitePXTFC4zCBknlt1zkaczsYwYcR6Gxh4nzjGr3jalH7ULjQ6vACDOqGWeOxS_34t_JD-fshpw_LttXM0/s320/March+and+April+2013+101.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
There is tape over this, so you can't really tell, but the scar is much thinner and cleaner looking. My neck kind of looks like it has a little spare tire from the fat, but Dr. Bitner says that will go down as my body absorbs the fat (probably go right back to where it came from, dang it!).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIn6NMc3b1UNTDOvp0BtFGYeBC7wvkVuvEkAiK_bpb0zqHjtLEO0P6o6XHOzSZ59oK5Fr42GMXPeU2dZ0LbBBRvCtfyRp749fUDNEGIlyV7QKnZ4Xhl67fF6Btsz7gsgMVnGBl_GeHns/s1600/March+and+April+2013+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIn6NMc3b1UNTDOvp0BtFGYeBC7wvkVuvEkAiK_bpb0zqHjtLEO0P6o6XHOzSZ59oK5Fr42GMXPeU2dZ0LbBBRvCtfyRp749fUDNEGIlyV7QKnZ4Xhl67fF6Btsz7gsgMVnGBl_GeHns/s320/March+and+April+2013+100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
That incision on my stomach is about 5 or so inches long. I think I pretty much got half of a tummy tuck. My stomach looks really weird now and I told Brannon that I'm going to have to hit the pavement to lose the fat that is still hanging out on the other half.Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6355752426763096145.post-67076379336288395852013-04-07T22:00:00.001-07:002013-04-07T22:00:41.352-07:00Belated EasterI realize that my posts are becoming fewer and far between, which is a reflection on the current state of my mental status: borderline crazy! I have one and a half months left of teaching school this year and things are really getting down to the wire. End of Level testing is in about three weeks and I'm hoping and praying that at least half of my kids out of each class have learned enough to pass with at least average scores. They always say that the first year teaching you just have to survive. I never wanted to be one of those teachers, but it's looking like it's coming down to that with only a month and a half left of school. If my kids have learned anything, I hope it's that they have learned that they matter. Some kids, that's all it takes for them to start believing, to start trying, and to see that they CAN become more than what they see around them.<br />
<br />
I did manage to get myself together enough to pull Easter together for the kids. Easter egg hunting really clicked for Taj this year and he couldn't pick up eggs fast enough. Haivi got the concept, but preferred holding onto the eggs in her hands and not putting them in her basket. She threw a fit if we tried to get her to put the eggs in her basket, which is true to her nature. She is definitely a-do-things-her-own-way-and-on-her-own-time kind of girl. She is not even two years old yet and already she is a teenage diva. I am not exaggerating. Her favorite words are "no" and "mine" and a hair-raising banshee shriek that sends the neighborhood's stray cats scattering for cover. She does have her moments when she will so sweetly bestow kisses and allow a few minutes of snuggle time. She flaunts her ability to fart with a waterworks show in the bathtub each night. She thinks it's hilarious...I do not. I have told her time and again that I do not condone such unladylike behavior and all I get in response from her is more toots and looks that would have killed me dead several times over if, using the cliche, looks could kill.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrxBSAegihD0Zr-wmDgl0q5D6QDl3XVZ76uVubuBLr2GcKMHDBraEMfhID8GgsVuDJWzyTW4Gv07CuxXQxiXSwTz-9oUbxnDYG55oHCdOIyksJKyqqQglvhmu7O6VF1y7RL3TIPWe_YI/s1600/March+and+April+2013+135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrxBSAegihD0Zr-wmDgl0q5D6QDl3XVZ76uVubuBLr2GcKMHDBraEMfhID8GgsVuDJWzyTW4Gv07CuxXQxiXSwTz-9oUbxnDYG55oHCdOIyksJKyqqQglvhmu7O6VF1y7RL3TIPWe_YI/s320/March+and+April+2013+135.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
How is it possible for so much sass to be packed into such a tiny body? You probably don't believe me and think that I am exaggerating when I talk about how feisty she can be. I was actually slapped repeatedly by her tonight as I tried to trim her fingernails and toenails...go thing she's cute:)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQeWN8WFGah9WQIlKp3vRcyFSZSyqgOzfzS8GX7XtfuF949lBRRSdscv6DwAw55_YSfv82-OmGHEag2WuchFXlOh_hEEpRZgYlxmLcWcHFkLAwyoFplgTmrps6oiMxoAiuWBQziexDnU4/s1600/March+and+April+2013+147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQeWN8WFGah9WQIlKp3vRcyFSZSyqgOzfzS8GX7XtfuF949lBRRSdscv6DwAw55_YSfv82-OmGHEag2WuchFXlOh_hEEpRZgYlxmLcWcHFkLAwyoFplgTmrps6oiMxoAiuWBQziexDnU4/s320/March+and+April+2013+147.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDxkyW0dNSG78jNRJpEigVLQn5g91pzOsDwmklzlF2AzWBfSwB_yLfO78V-IDgRYmU6szlpRg4nVJzON36aSbcWeGhyI1Ssa6XC7aM4DA6N5fXJ2PlfjEdz5BNfqJrK5tq72wFoWMR7A/s1600/March+and+April+2013+154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDxkyW0dNSG78jNRJpEigVLQn5g91pzOsDwmklzlF2AzWBfSwB_yLfO78V-IDgRYmU6szlpRg4nVJzON36aSbcWeGhyI1Ssa6XC7aM4DA6N5fXJ2PlfjEdz5BNfqJrK5tq72wFoWMR7A/s320/March+and+April+2013+154.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Every Easter we head over to our neighbor's house across the street for a massive Easter egg hunt. There are literally hundreds of eggs and lots of kidlets to pick them up. There are also prize eggs with numbers on them. At the end of the hunt, each child goes and picks a prize from the prize table according to the number on the egg they picked up. This is super fun for the kids. How cool are our neighbors to think this up? They are seriously the best neighbors ever! They are like the party grandparents. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4vtuTa43Ir4jJjNM_RDQ03lDvUFFUlDk-5QB5J8E2RGTg9zVZHVzEjWFrFmjB-UWo5hG-xC3UFd-RefMH2uU4aqSLE4_vLRqEGCjbkPOJ_v2paXke14vSso-kWuA7s-lxVlBnFcPRXA/s1600/March+and+April+2013+161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4vtuTa43Ir4jJjNM_RDQ03lDvUFFUlDk-5QB5J8E2RGTg9zVZHVzEjWFrFmjB-UWo5hG-xC3UFd-RefMH2uU4aqSLE4_vLRqEGCjbkPOJ_v2paXke14vSso-kWuA7s-lxVlBnFcPRXA/s320/March+and+April+2013+161.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifr2Sc7YnNVwPaKGg8mde5YA_9475muxR7P84HccLvevOE9XO_9_RxknfTUvN28x66cs2mqBThbZi0v4zWMU276O9dQbHzrKbXXxqH3YvMaEsCXeA_l9I_F2frh4GWxBogAQyFSeM1I8w/s1600/March+and+April+2013+174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifr2Sc7YnNVwPaKGg8mde5YA_9475muxR7P84HccLvevOE9XO_9_RxknfTUvN28x66cs2mqBThbZi0v4zWMU276O9dQbHzrKbXXxqH3YvMaEsCXeA_l9I_F2frh4GWxBogAQyFSeM1I8w/s320/March+and+April+2013+174.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfDLA7ZojguRQBHKj8rENARe_B_GLL4wX1aT6NirYSTM-2FVbsX6jH_wW0gY90jh9bKFMWIBUtpaUWDaixawxqBlCEZaSy7PIGb1-msO8b3c95F5DDY6x7D-cpVOqSAqv6GROcPKuIT8/s1600/March+and+April+2013+167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfDLA7ZojguRQBHKj8rENARe_B_GLL4wX1aT6NirYSTM-2FVbsX6jH_wW0gY90jh9bKFMWIBUtpaUWDaixawxqBlCEZaSy7PIGb1-msO8b3c95F5DDY6x7D-cpVOqSAqv6GROcPKuIT8/s320/March+and+April+2013+167.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
I think Taj picked up way too many eggs, but there were still a ton lying around, so we figured it was okay.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzcxwEA7F45QNCzJouErmcFw1S-1ePveMGoM2Iwhod7oBvujQks8bfuOj11_sre5XOK82sOwWqrk-lK4NWwebrmql9s6KPHqJC163ERiDRcV4a0QJpd0-nJOOE6LSqwEZAEcqmI7zYYc/s1600/March+and+April+2013+169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzcxwEA7F45QNCzJouErmcFw1S-1ePveMGoM2Iwhod7oBvujQks8bfuOj11_sre5XOK82sOwWqrk-lK4NWwebrmql9s6KPHqJC163ERiDRcV4a0QJpd0-nJOOE6LSqwEZAEcqmI7zYYc/s320/March+and+April+2013+169.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZDNTH0abnDrxNSepSUV8Ml_p0SVz8lahcGcy8zNYzrXe_1-GDdDPZ1QGX_JN68Y3PMB8T0WlKllxltgumDuVMmssBERYym4lThfJSQzDq5-_WMrDtevuJrI8stV2Wlo1pA8ctO6Mdyg/s1600/March+and+April+2013+177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZDNTH0abnDrxNSepSUV8Ml_p0SVz8lahcGcy8zNYzrXe_1-GDdDPZ1QGX_JN68Y3PMB8T0WlKllxltgumDuVMmssBERYym4lThfJSQzDq5-_WMrDtevuJrI8stV2Wlo1pA8ctO6Mdyg/s320/March+and+April+2013+177.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJ5zXESsD-fIbGVLsxgMf_eIeKjwSZYykESWSEnPt5wHuyl7g8_6y04he3e4ns6mV4IewyyxVkwoSMOgtefMjXeKk9HeGfZjgeZ9BACci9tfRBx_tKxs3EXN5UMhKU1MeMtX30b0sKWI/s1600/March+and+April+2013+181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJ5zXESsD-fIbGVLsxgMf_eIeKjwSZYykESWSEnPt5wHuyl7g8_6y04he3e4ns6mV4IewyyxVkwoSMOgtefMjXeKk9HeGfZjgeZ9BACci9tfRBx_tKxs3EXN5UMhKU1MeMtX30b0sKWI/s320/March+and+April+2013+181.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
How cute is this? She has her daddy whipped!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPi69hwJwyVUe1xj8qEhJkH1Qwee6Ue_XxIsDtqBvGrryo-H4S4csAifKNchhbG_5y4KSHx6vcBCyXvVxid45XnBQAO1ijL488nVH4L4DWJVFzMo0PTYDcq0ZReY7qJeAGoN56BvPAA4E/s1600/March+and+April+2013+183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPi69hwJwyVUe1xj8qEhJkH1Qwee6Ue_XxIsDtqBvGrryo-H4S4csAifKNchhbG_5y4KSHx6vcBCyXvVxid45XnBQAO1ijL488nVH4L4DWJVFzMo0PTYDcq0ZReY7qJeAGoN56BvPAA4E/s320/March+and+April+2013+183.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
Haivi chewing on her prize-a paparrazzi bracelet...now maybe she won't slime all of my bracelets!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoW2dy7ok7IzxkC7P_WCONTL7dvZK15_C3JMgLZqVBtZa0fgsvOwGu_zvuv6FBTdY0wfxBIeAaGYbuCbcXCmP6GEZrcIC3aQGshKYCReQqWIIqheuNJ4xTvjk1AjYSdSjU1duQCmCrQTY/s1600/March+and+April+2013+195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoW2dy7ok7IzxkC7P_WCONTL7dvZK15_C3JMgLZqVBtZa0fgsvOwGu_zvuv6FBTdY0wfxBIeAaGYbuCbcXCmP6GEZrcIC3aQGshKYCReQqWIIqheuNJ4xTvjk1AjYSdSjU1duQCmCrQTY/s320/March+and+April+2013+195.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
Taj chose a water gun, typical boy of course!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwoIfuDDDDLhhEUUaqolWaA39X3W4p9LONyHagkXfVK80zlYrZe-rx34MWHu6paRjA4kfbpSkcEkSWZippEiDF7ODn6Mn1PpNWRykOgfOITiB3JMspuXC406jYyG-zwlEbAghWi_f9m4/s1600/March+and+April+2013+199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwoIfuDDDDLhhEUUaqolWaA39X3W4p9LONyHagkXfVK80zlYrZe-rx34MWHu6paRjA4kfbpSkcEkSWZippEiDF7ODn6Mn1PpNWRykOgfOITiB3JMspuXC406jYyG-zwlEbAghWi_f9m4/s320/March+and+April+2013+199.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecVsXULJxcVEyk4YBxUx6hKcQ0OMeU2WiaFMbZRWiejcFlBFeTs4cqT3hB2Euj2s_T6dteseY8sGcTpRKNRIxqLH3Z7eYFFdiE1wSIYezt0knl2mGFd7GYz3Qm_UyIHyTUwdKkJFD3SM/s1600/March+and+April+2013+191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecVsXULJxcVEyk4YBxUx6hKcQ0OMeU2WiaFMbZRWiejcFlBFeTs4cqT3hB2Euj2s_T6dteseY8sGcTpRKNRIxqLH3Z7eYFFdiE1wSIYezt0knl2mGFd7GYz3Qm_UyIHyTUwdKkJFD3SM/s320/March+and+April+2013+191.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuv-kJyeNdDWQcNY5YEErU9m4KL4KYfrCJvrbB-n7dYX6DbP2qD0XYlyG-B7LwKTl-YVlmGtEptYAamxlo4BX3mhMls15LUGMYvhh6HHqf-JsCSBhIT7HD4fSzJev6pLS_Z5uM8H_0M30/s1600/March+and+April+2013+248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuv-kJyeNdDWQcNY5YEErU9m4KL4KYfrCJvrbB-n7dYX6DbP2qD0XYlyG-B7LwKTl-YVlmGtEptYAamxlo4BX3mhMls15LUGMYvhh6HHqf-JsCSBhIT7HD4fSzJev6pLS_Z5uM8H_0M30/s320/March+and+April+2013+248.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRkcl6R0n15-55UOh8XFty7zJsOv0Zlkv63Zffli22zSJ-G6hm9N4SbaHBJ4MyC4ofCN1aJWWHKPjVWudBV7323lBXQfSMkze1GjRDq4L38wdkIGQUYEVHfc0auDVzpe2ef0GbbDT5Yg/s1600/March+and+April+2013+216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRkcl6R0n15-55UOh8XFty7zJsOv0Zlkv63Zffli22zSJ-G6hm9N4SbaHBJ4MyC4ofCN1aJWWHKPjVWudBV7323lBXQfSMkze1GjRDq4L38wdkIGQUYEVHfc0auDVzpe2ef0GbbDT5Yg/s320/March+and+April+2013+216.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
The little turkey would not pose for a picture. She is holding her very own cell phone, complete with about 12 buttons and about a 10 song playlist with the most popular nursery rhymes on the charts.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokH9INaunnVMbw_haWasdRVpCXpVzwnfpbfGhPeiqgm2nAW2u6l9jPe3wZHraArQqFmmHclQysmvGT830a9R4RSnYLYz-Ua3GUJZWjyE-9iijyDBoonQRevr2X5w2zG5tHfomCTp0hrs/s1600/March+and+April+2013+225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokH9INaunnVMbw_haWasdRVpCXpVzwnfpbfGhPeiqgm2nAW2u6l9jPe3wZHraArQqFmmHclQysmvGT830a9R4RSnYLYz-Ua3GUJZWjyE-9iijyDBoonQRevr2X5w2zG5tHfomCTp0hrs/s320/March+and+April+2013+225.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
Look. At. That. Stance. This boy KNOWS how to hunt an Easter egg<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-x3PzHdzODU4Sy5-anrDOZYxvU2As_ErH5qonZC_EsFVR1tEstWlsI78JbyujKCyzvfm709CU0k_WZO0fGvtIaOVKWC5M4FsfzEb0ZovWyLhbgBYpKHCK9f-bLxmkY2ucQP8uSIhk0o0/s1600/March+and+April+2013+208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-x3PzHdzODU4Sy5-anrDOZYxvU2As_ErH5qonZC_EsFVR1tEstWlsI78JbyujKCyzvfm709CU0k_WZO0fGvtIaOVKWC5M4FsfzEb0ZovWyLhbgBYpKHCK9f-bLxmkY2ucQP8uSIhk0o0/s320/March+and+April+2013+208.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
He was very adamant that I get a picture of the bird<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDeCWecouSOs0MLbr2AeWVTl5W5BZeWtARvrjemJL9q4znscOmWHxi7gE1C8wdh6KXR8gM6bdqesrm_cfT8DqCvby9t2t_BlaXEFnc_oLwcL7lHF3eVL2HQZ5Os8tXxhmzh4LCJui43FU/s1600/March+and+April+2013+204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDeCWecouSOs0MLbr2AeWVTl5W5BZeWtARvrjemJL9q4znscOmWHxi7gE1C8wdh6KXR8gM6bdqesrm_cfT8DqCvby9t2t_BlaXEFnc_oLwcL7lHF3eVL2HQZ5Os8tXxhmzh4LCJui43FU/s320/March+and+April+2013+204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqX14u-tNKUs1THsn9w8xHi7Y5tfn9EEvvPnkU7Qg2vHAv_GMVJVPB_TbvuSWpyVg12Am7l7mdLzg5JMi-6nGaeOuwrTBvmkyTcxlhLEYB0EwrEPfu9UosjgGE52oZlOWoSHz1BP7DTQ/s1600/March+and+April+2013+233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqX14u-tNKUs1THsn9w8xHi7Y5tfn9EEvvPnkU7Qg2vHAv_GMVJVPB_TbvuSWpyVg12Am7l7mdLzg5JMi-6nGaeOuwrTBvmkyTcxlhLEYB0EwrEPfu9UosjgGE52oZlOWoSHz1BP7DTQ/s320/March+and+April+2013+233.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2P-g8NaMUINJKTIpXfpHz-nDGo9Zt0CMdJ69kEucyjiTb_Kx7fOJuuelGdJ9NXnx3oV8eT-GSbBjS1xFXnBoF6E9Ea0QPlTppw01CKVEU4_Ty_ZtwdCtOtSIbnb1dgsYFxjX3BTGJZE/s1600/March+and+April+2013+246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2P-g8NaMUINJKTIpXfpHz-nDGo9Zt0CMdJ69kEucyjiTb_Kx7fOJuuelGdJ9NXnx3oV8eT-GSbBjS1xFXnBoF6E9Ea0QPlTppw01CKVEU4_Ty_ZtwdCtOtSIbnb1dgsYFxjX3BTGJZE/s320/March+and+April+2013+246.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
Taj's haul from our own Easter egg hunt. The golden egg actually had REAL money in it, can you imagine? $0.80 is big time for a four year old.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOfbUTiMACbz3uEHYOXPRIVo7JLUqjOt9n-7wchr8tL-bfSWWg0WgYhIIdhw_HXSynr5CVRH13bX7QzO1q9XdNQX08yZbnODUxRJEGfzAoUGAvS4EyPJsua9880ZHrGANDfXNp8WrPNw/s1600/March+and+April+2013+236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOfbUTiMACbz3uEHYOXPRIVo7JLUqjOt9n-7wchr8tL-bfSWWg0WgYhIIdhw_HXSynr5CVRH13bX7QzO1q9XdNQX08yZbnODUxRJEGfzAoUGAvS4EyPJsua9880ZHrGANDfXNp8WrPNw/s320/March+and+April+2013+236.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMqXYS88TH_jtLEsCGa2y17A2bDbkzqgIooUOl3o3Upl2OvYzMMBBdm3527lfCB510rgVdp80kicUhhamazAKC64suLRzvrkMUZTn4A5boskgg9JKJBvDeBqLUeVNalOC6RY8lPDw4Gg/s1600/March+and+April+2013+223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMqXYS88TH_jtLEsCGa2y17A2bDbkzqgIooUOl3o3Upl2OvYzMMBBdm3527lfCB510rgVdp80kicUhhamazAKC64suLRzvrkMUZTn4A5boskgg9JKJBvDeBqLUeVNalOC6RY8lPDw4Gg/s320/March+and+April+2013+223.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
This is how here daddy dressed her. I say this is ragdoll cute:)<br />
<br />
Taj on the other hand is much more manageable and negotiable. He is exceedingly more talkative these days and I frequently get congratulated for brushing my teeth, driving the car, getting dressed, or going to the bathroom. "You go peepee mama??? Oh Good Job Mama!" I feel like a superhero every day because of Taj. That boy knows when to give praise where it's due! A big accomplishment for Taj lately is that he is finally wanting to "play" with other kids and us too. Every night either me or Brannon plays trucks, tractors, cars, or fourwheelers. "Bwandon wanna pway twucks?" How could you refuse a request like that? Taj calls Brannon "Bwandon" several times a day. I'm sure he does it because he hears me call his daddy Brannon. We are also to the point with him where it's not a good idea to let him see either of us getting into the shower. He's FULL of all sorts of fun questions: "Mama, what's dat?" or "Daddy you have big one?" The kid can't stand when a door is locked, but I don't know any other way to teach the concept of privacy. I think he's getting it though because he likes the door shut when he goes No. 2. Another cool development is that he knows his last name. If you ask him, "Taj, what is your last name?" Usually his reply is, "No, es Taj!" I don't think he understands the question, but if you say, "Is your name Taj Morse." He'll say, "Yes, es Taj's Mose." We figure that he is at about a 2 1/2 to 3 year old level. It's almost as if his brain turns language around in his head because he does not understand or speak sentences in typical sentence structure. I told Brannon that Taj speaks Jigsaw Puzzle: key words here and there and then he leaves it up to you to put the pieces together . I find it's easiest to communicate with him by saying every word that comes to mind that sounds close to what he's trying to tell me. Once I hit the nail on the head, there is a small celebration and we continue onto deciphering the next word or sentence. We are really pleased with the progress his is making socially and we are glad that he will have a third year of school before he starts kindergarten. I have a positive outlook on the whole thing and believe that we can have him nearly caught up with his peers when he starts school for real.<br />
Overall, our Easter weekend was perfect. The weather was amazingly warm and the kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Holidays are SO much better with kids!Michelle Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339948794888476495noreply@blogger.com0