tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88347246071785768132024-03-05T19:03:13.778-08:00Eva's WorldAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16206881844272607801noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8834724607178576813.post-36559539755316215602011-03-15T10:54:00.000-07:002011-03-15T10:54:25.855-07:00BirthdaysMy children just celebrated their birthdays recently. Vivi turned 2 on February 20 and Luke just turned 5 on March 14. Jon discovered that Luke is destined to be a physicist as his birthday is not only Pi Day (3.14) but also Albert Einstein's birthday. I just looked up Vivi's birthday to see if she shares her special day with anyone famous. Kurt Cobain, Cindy Crawford, Patty Hearst, and Ansel Adams. So she has the potential to be a world famous supermodel/possible musician who does drugs (who doesn't?), fakes her own kidnapping, and is an awesome nature photographer to boot. (I'm personally hoping for the photographer...)<br />
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So besides mourning the infant years and lamenting over how fast my children are growing, I was reflecting upon my role as their mother. All through my life, even with my own family or in my various circle of friends, I've always had this feeling of not really belonging 100%. I always felt like I either got by or got along well with others, but this doubt of whether or not I fit in well always hung over me and still does. Perhaps I can chalk it up to my need to be perfect in whatever role I assume--relative, friend, co-worker, nurse, etc. But where I have absolutely no doubt is in my role as a wife and mother. Granted, I always have that question looming over me of "Am I a good enough wife or mother?". But what I never question is that I was destined to be Jon's wife and, as a result, become the mother of Luke and Vivian just as they were destined to collectively be the family God blessed me with. I cannot envision them NOT being in my life. They are the central purpose to my being and, aside from the one triune God with Christ and the Holy Spirit, my family is my own personal Alpha and Omega. They are my beginning and my end. I hope I do them proud in my endeavors to be the wife and mother of our small, special little family.<br />
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And the children do me proud with every year that passes. Vivian is a very loving little girl who definitely knows what she wants. If she didn't get what she wanted, she lets you know in a very big way. It's a fine line between being spoiled and self-assured, but I hope that in my efforts fall on the latter side of that line as I raise her. She loves music, reflecting the passion for rhythm and song that is undoubtedly the Filipina coming out in her. She's also very loving. Right now she's in a hugging phase and I adore it. She still has the squishy, soft body of toddlerhood that makes hugs so extra-special. Luke is analytical and likes things done in a certain way. He shows such an early interest for various aspects of science and soaks up all he learns like a sponge. He will be the one to see things in black and white, much like his engineer father. He is also becoming more in tune to God and it makes my heart smile. Praying the Lord's Prayer with him is always a joy. <br />
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I hope that Jon and I raise them both up to be productive members of society, confident in their abilities and always aware of the fact that we love them for who they are regardless of the flaws that all humans will have.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16206881844272607801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8834724607178576813.post-85745492377662366802011-02-24T14:13:00.000-08:002011-02-24T14:13:26.558-08:00Our Summer Vacation Part 2--OBX<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> We spent Labor Day weekend of 2010 in the Outer Banks--Nags Head, NC to be more specific. The last time we were in the Outer Banks was for our first anniversary back in 2002, when we explored Ocracoke and Hatteras in addition to Kill Devil Hills. After our short weekend in Ocean City, Jon was eager to relive the summer vacations of his youth by returning to the Outer Banks. He always said how he missed spending an entire week at the beach when his family used to vacation at the Outer Banks. After our little visit to Ocean City with all ridiculous stores and restaurants lining the main drag, I never understood staying at the beach for that long. But Jon said he could stay a week in the OBX and now I know why. There's still some of those crazy restaurants and shops but not as much. You can choose to be more remote or closer to that part of "civilization"(if one could call it as such). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> There was one evening when Jon wanted to stay in because of the Hokies game. I was restless because it was a gorgeous clear night where a walk on the beach guaranteed a clear view of the stars or even the Milky Way. The sky fulfilled its promise, showing me the vast expanse of starlit beauty while my fellow mortals on earth lit bonfires on the beach, their discussions drowned out by the roar of the ocean waves. I walked on the cool, wet sand, alongside the scampering of the little sand crabs who felt more securing coming out in the darkness of night. There was something about standing on that beach, knowing that on the other side of the endless ocean was another continent or two and how I wished I could be on the other side, exploring different countries. More importantly, I wished that my children would someday travel the world, getting exposed to the different cultures and customs of different countries so they would be aware that the Earth was made up of more than just the United States of America. So I offered up a prayer to God that night, that He guide my children around the world, to learn the different faces of the rest of God's children in the world, be exposed to their customs, so that they learn we share this fragile Earth with others and are not superior to others simply because of the country they live in. I hope He was listening.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> With all the bright lights of Ocean City, there was no way I could have had such a beautiful evening on the beach under a blanket of so many stars. I may not be able to spend a week in Ocean City but I can return to the OBX and stay for a week or more in a heartbeat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I think the pictures speak for themselves:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy and his little girl by the water</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out with the kids beachside</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizj7Fw6xcmVv1_tZAMr18Y9x-I91ciMp_mnd8EUm9RVxhuwgAlQV1GBrE4-J6tLkdQhKSnVUgERPzAJQlc39oDcyiVdkzRze2a506hflPfa5fk41jvIPLZfSszGyiD5HRE_VGh61lTMCo/s1600/DSC_0206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizj7Fw6xcmVv1_tZAMr18Y9x-I91ciMp_mnd8EUm9RVxhuwgAlQV1GBrE4-J6tLkdQhKSnVUgERPzAJQlc39oDcyiVdkzRze2a506hflPfa5fk41jvIPLZfSszGyiD5HRE_VGh61lTMCo/s320/DSC_0206.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going for a stroll along the beach...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfAuux7II1nKhhoVpi9i67Q6iUX1BV9ZzhPgFNBHeyi01r-yNLtPrj9It2z0agTzm5Qk1jof_1FQ9cfVaTNz_b2jlSM4EC2W9ilitED_6P911iGG_PyJZLKG4qRehPNiBSRRJl-g39z8/s1600/DSC_0217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfAuux7II1nKhhoVpi9i67Q6iUX1BV9ZzhPgFNBHeyi01r-yNLtPrj9It2z0agTzm5Qk1jof_1FQ9cfVaTNz_b2jlSM4EC2W9ilitED_6P911iGG_PyJZLKG4qRehPNiBSRRJl-g39z8/s320/DSC_0217.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...although the last time we were at the OBX we didn't leave stroller marks. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHLJQrBsokHPHbYnXhoiRrnIHFq2a_QNQDTueoHvGmrRvt3Z8QAVZfqLrrnglRyvg__BPymnRxrBiuL8RopQd0YAcgyHSeqVhwWcxwWZeDHVjbzZzDvVj_NI0xi48ObYH1ec753amP0Y/s1600/DSC_0225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHLJQrBsokHPHbYnXhoiRrnIHFq2a_QNQDTueoHvGmrRvt3Z8QAVZfqLrrnglRyvg__BPymnRxrBiuL8RopQd0YAcgyHSeqVhwWcxwWZeDHVjbzZzDvVj_NI0xi48ObYH1ec753amP0Y/s320/DSC_0225.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vivi showing off her beach diva abilities</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWr1NlOd5aTZ4MeGyO1F9ZeNnu-3w6peuCosiVXDoIBv4O9XLKJYdmzqamP0jzjxZLYZUVTG99vzZe5qSyvrrCjPMXJO0wf2395lAtptzzjbGJfUA27e-LwZyBiWsOG9obPA8OW8d67fw/s1600/DSC_0239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWr1NlOd5aTZ4MeGyO1F9ZeNnu-3w6peuCosiVXDoIBv4O9XLKJYdmzqamP0jzjxZLYZUVTG99vzZe5qSyvrrCjPMXJO0wf2395lAtptzzjbGJfUA27e-LwZyBiWsOG9obPA8OW8d67fw/s320/DSC_0239.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love baby footprints!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinh9e2cSp8AubqThgDsadWuTUro-ElP3Tz0ZryWxO7v-qckdCXBUd5E9j_KTirYYN_-VdSkXL-dCBnZAJSnuQiWzjAoosNfyGhFxHlVOWFP5j8_LExm5aeI7SObUINN-hToxJ6FGfCGA4/s1600/DSC_0299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinh9e2cSp8AubqThgDsadWuTUro-ElP3Tz0ZryWxO7v-qckdCXBUd5E9j_KTirYYN_-VdSkXL-dCBnZAJSnuQiWzjAoosNfyGhFxHlVOWFP5j8_LExm5aeI7SObUINN-hToxJ6FGfCGA4/s320/DSC_0299.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Wright Brothers Memorial in Kill Devil Hills</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3YOebZQx2s5DUCy76G5awZb3ADsrEIuQ5tWUUr5n8Ce0wjU7HHl5il9IhMdFFx7tbC40BEIQ08FB7mg6Sq20czAUbsQ1SzgOrXMiv-u9Ko-7rj10IEwDVXK_nF-kVinwmRj5U-wEtqs/s1600/DSC_0306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3YOebZQx2s5DUCy76G5awZb3ADsrEIuQ5tWUUr5n8Ce0wjU7HHl5il9IhMdFFx7tbC40BEIQ08FB7mg6Sq20czAUbsQ1SzgOrXMiv-u9Ko-7rj10IEwDVXK_nF-kVinwmRj5U-wEtqs/s320/DSC_0306.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup, even bunny made the trip. Never leave home without him!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTk55LHUabyF6fRAYGXs3hjTioKn7RfnEOTpi8kdYDWzx5TKjNUxAAzhyphenhyphenrczIfqQN7BIfqBkHGbSbDrUss2LhglNfk7YDzCClMn16Qs1l5a375gpdDZWHleOU_B1JAlo_uMDaxnsY344E/s1600/DSC_0316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTk55LHUabyF6fRAYGXs3hjTioKn7RfnEOTpi8kdYDWzx5TKjNUxAAzhyphenhyphenrczIfqQN7BIfqBkHGbSbDrUss2LhglNfk7YDzCClMn16Qs1l5a375gpdDZWHleOU_B1JAlo_uMDaxnsY344E/s320/DSC_0316.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying sunset on the bay after dinner.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCe7UbTdiKHA_p5mfLYeoQNbFzJtTHhA9J0750a_SvMV_a6kh_dw9DTWyDJ90hjwQZFw6k9MNdc681V7iNG1D4K2nyP9dYCVfMbmzUKMQxCMaFSLIr-o6d5lrA7Omz9JQTN9zo2TK1r0g/s1600/DSC_0322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCe7UbTdiKHA_p5mfLYeoQNbFzJtTHhA9J0750a_SvMV_a6kh_dw9DTWyDJ90hjwQZFw6k9MNdc681V7iNG1D4K2nyP9dYCVfMbmzUKMQxCMaFSLIr-o6d5lrA7Omz9JQTN9zo2TK1r0g/s320/DSC_0322.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy showing Vivi where the dolphins were playing out in the water...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BUV31YXZ6hAfb40Zk4Xbx7mUvOiFhOkf18jNNCizFO3Nv6uj__h3m2-Q8DK8xzl8healOM1a4OGlbJAlDJtO4D1jBJ9QDmOelxHY3FqDwvKdhn5SVRp3G2q63LqacpuiVmbH72VKJ4o/s1600/DSC_0324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BUV31YXZ6hAfb40Zk4Xbx7mUvOiFhOkf18jNNCizFO3Nv6uj__h3m2-Q8DK8xzl8healOM1a4OGlbJAlDJtO4D1jBJ9QDmOelxHY3FqDwvKdhn5SVRp3G2q63LqacpuiVmbH72VKJ4o/s320/DSC_0324.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A great sunset shot of Jon and Vivi...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfQ_oaReJ-SrejAWajH6tw7KdPWTqbqk0qDKnDTIAKGcmxzjm0d4FvNxB2OWQ150bfyw5QlVhohoSoUxyvvatcfHiXwxt21EGQkpFqDR5scKc5Wc6jjkIPPAcoMJaRPN5c4uUlRTviIA/s1600/DSC_0331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfQ_oaReJ-SrejAWajH6tw7KdPWTqbqk0qDKnDTIAKGcmxzjm0d4FvNxB2OWQ150bfyw5QlVhohoSoUxyvvatcfHiXwxt21EGQkpFqDR5scKc5Wc6jjkIPPAcoMJaRPN5c4uUlRTviIA/s320/DSC_0331.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a sunset stroll back on the beach...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYHB2UYgJRF7L_Bzmn3VOtAUjGHWNM6WyOeopkxzqVnPafvp4KpND_YphC1Z9kg9tKKZPfOJlipXd6ZbJ69xmhxX_uYlmQurQB75WZLuzotqYHjQx6w32chpiwfX2DUznm9GBQpsuyRw/s1600/DSC_0335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYHB2UYgJRF7L_Bzmn3VOtAUjGHWNM6WyOeopkxzqVnPafvp4KpND_YphC1Z9kg9tKKZPfOJlipXd6ZbJ69xmhxX_uYlmQurQB75WZLuzotqYHjQx6w32chpiwfX2DUznm9GBQpsuyRw/s320/DSC_0335.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beauty of sunset at the beach...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA42JCJbNDBxQZziGbSD9hJ3Wf7iepyVWxbFp7H3zo_u8ycakNYU8vSsetRisB3z69XkkRzddWeHcUguqFWbEFIoNnm_L5pb00DG4LbzSPBv8P_BVtFD6OHTeARc7fO9Jh7n8zaihK93w/s1600/DSC_0338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA42JCJbNDBxQZziGbSD9hJ3Wf7iepyVWxbFp7H3zo_u8ycakNYU8vSsetRisB3z69XkkRzddWeHcUguqFWbEFIoNnm_L5pb00DG4LbzSPBv8P_BVtFD6OHTeARc7fO9Jh7n8zaihK93w/s320/DSC_0338.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying the kite--isn't the beach gorgeous?<br />
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</tbody></table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16206881844272607801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8834724607178576813.post-27678553652387045712011-01-31T17:15:00.000-08:002011-01-31T17:15:57.364-08:00Perspectives Do you ever hold your children and wonder how you actually helped to create them? Everytime I play around with Luke and I'm tickling him in the ribs, I often think "Wow, I helped to create each and every rib". Or I watch Vivi sleep with her full lips forming a perfect "o" and I'm amazed by the fact that the lungs inflate with every breath were made by my egg and Jon's sperm. Naturally, all the credit goes to that omnipotent and omniscient Creator, God Almighty.<br />
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But I still marvel at that. The science of their bodies--each breath they take in as they slumber peacefully, the grasp of the fingers, the delightful song of their laughter. It's beautiful and I'm so grateful that Jon and I have been blessed with their presence. It is a gift and I know to not take it for granted. In my line of work, I've seen how easily dreams can be crushed. I know my children and be called back to their Creator whenever He thinks it's their time. I can only pray that my children outlive me. But for now, I delight in their very existence and spoil them with as much love as possible.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16206881844272607801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8834724607178576813.post-45852820461281259562011-01-31T17:10:00.000-08:002011-01-31T17:10:48.816-08:00Beautiful Day The song "Beautiful Day" by Edwin McCain is playing and it's appropriate. Today has been a beautiful day. It's the first day in a long while that the day has ended on a good note. No melancholy, no overwhelming sadness or despair. After months of patience in the presence of irrational thoughts and a depression that has felt like a lead weight in every fiber of my being, I feel like the new medication is putting me on a path to wellness. <br />
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Depression came after me like a bloodhound, hunting me this past summer. It rolled in like fog, a slight mist at first and, before I knew it, I was submerged in such a dense cover of fog that I struggled to find the right way forward, stumbling with each step, my rational mind tired of battling the irrationality of depression. I tried to ignore it, look past the little snips of irrational thoughts that would start to nag and nip at my rationality before I pushed them aside. In the fall, I could no longer push past the heavy weight of the disease. JK Rowling's literary creations of dementors is quite appropriate, thoughtless creatures who seek only to suck all the happiness out of every fiber of your being, leaving only a shell of what you are behind. Having gone through the experience of depression herself, cheers to that apt description Ms. Rowling. You have truly nailed it on the head. <br />
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Months of experimenting with different doses of Prozac and resuming talk therapy did nothing to calm that inner turmoil that seemed to escalate. The irrational thoughts were winning, to the point of trying to convince me that my physical existence was worthless and that its absence would not be felt by anybody. Thank God my rational mind piped in that while friends, acquaintances, and family out-of-state might not notice, my husband and children would deeply mourn the loss of a wife and mother. And that was the turning point where I told my therapist and physician that my drug therapy needed to change--drastically. <br />
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I write of this publicly for nobody else but my children. I hope someday in the future you will come across this and find some sort of explanation for why you may have memories of Mommy being abrupt, easily frustrated, constantly tired, and always wanting, <i>needing</i>, to rest. As young children, you are energetic and deserve the best attention possible from your mother. The disease of depression takes that away from me, as well as from my family. My suffering affects those who love me and have to live with the depression that weighs heavily on my shoulders. <br />
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But my medication has been changed to one whose dosage, as my physician says, can be more easily fine tuned to respond to my depression. It comes with it significant risks, such as cardiac arrythmias, and thus requires close monitoring. If such potential side effects are the risk I take in bettering myself for my family, then so be it. Luke and Vivian, you are the absolute joy of my life and desire to be better for you and your father alone. The reason that depression has not won yet is because God has planted that seed of knowledge in my being that all children need their mother. You, my lovely little darlings, are what ground me to this physical earth. I have to fulfill my job as your mother to guide you to adulthood properly until God, and not the evils of depression, calls me home to Him from this life. <br />
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And I am thoroughly enjoying the two of you now. Luke, you are almost 5 and have a mind like a sponge. You soak in all these facts from the PBS shows, especially Wild Kratts. You really like that one now. You keep informing me of the habits of wild walruses, monarch butterflies, the honey badger of Africa, etc. It's amazing. You are a wonderful big brother to Vivi and help me immensely simply by listening to me. You are open to learning more about God and I am grateful for that. I love that you still want to cuddle up with me and have no qualms about telling me or your father, out-of-the-blue, that you love us. It warms our hearts. I cannot get over how big you are. You are getting so tall and acting like such a little man, it saddens me that you are not that little baby Daddy and I brought home almost 5 years ago. Our firstborn is growing up at such an alarming pace. It's both humbling and just a joy to behold.<br />
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Vivi, you're starting to talk more. "Tan-chu mommy"(Thank you, mommy), "Me me, mommy" (Excuse me, mommy). It's simply adorable. And you have this game that you play at dinnertime where you fix us with this darling stare and you hold it until we stare back at you. We had a church dinner last night and you demonstrated this game to everybody at the table to their great delight. You are excited to see me in the morning ("MOMMY!"), and your kisses are so sweet and soft. Your delicate skin is just as lovely to kiss back when I cover your face with kisses. And I marvel at the sheer beauty of your creation every time I stroke your hair or hold your soft body to mine in a simple hug.<br />
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Depression may try as hard as it can to win, but the two of you are my greatest weapons against it. The knowledge of that warms my heart and infuses my spirit with a strength that can only come from God Himself.<br />
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It is a beautiful day, indeed...<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16206881844272607801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8834724607178576813.post-20465588380488876782011-01-26T20:29:00.000-08:002011-02-24T13:29:34.995-08:00Our Summer Vacations 2010--Part 1 The Midwest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpIszFSh8_jqW9lwoDKkwi-jbcizmM1zUaJHU04hZRKG2VFYGCAHSE2nlLtL-NJLry51AZAgIjOU-UGkk7NkB1xs1ZTseo4HXgsO5r2C0kVT2yOK7qSGEzPYQ2sSRaElHNJXf6if08eM/s1600/DSC_0273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpIszFSh8_jqW9lwoDKkwi-jbcizmM1zUaJHU04hZRKG2VFYGCAHSE2nlLtL-NJLry51AZAgIjOU-UGkk7NkB1xs1ZTseo4HXgsO5r2C0kVT2yOK7qSGEzPYQ2sSRaElHNJXf6if08eM/s320/DSC_0273.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We spent 10 days in the IL/WI/IN area. It was really exciting getting to see Chicago and Milwaukee again. We were the uber Chicago tourists for a couple of days there--Field Museum, taking a water taxi to Navy Pier and then walking over to the Air and Boat Show, eating dinner at Gino's East all in one day. Luke claimed he didn't like Sue the T-rex at the Field Museum but a few days later was roaring like one with a new friend. He also said he didn't like the Air and Boat Show. I somehow find that hard to believe being that it was the Blue Angels...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHn4gN2b3jl8yOwBOJmz9mOhY35zv1_eOkREeb50vXEl-Jai9StJTllFNNxWuw7P8PoXPFEuZLAl3oQdGXEg0IzX1yHETQJ34mI2wSdGdaZL51AihwEnzNnBKAXOVyCWrm23HqA6DGYY/s1600/DSC_0235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHn4gN2b3jl8yOwBOJmz9mOhY35zv1_eOkREeb50vXEl-Jai9StJTllFNNxWuw7P8PoXPFEuZLAl3oQdGXEg0IzX1yHETQJ34mI2wSdGdaZL51AihwEnzNnBKAXOVyCWrm23HqA6DGYY/s200/DSC_0235.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkk4zHD1x9yvR4biktgdmB-uFn0zdoRbi-OJz54uYbNaSEaacHF69S_8rwah7x5VsuH47_l1HNDFulMDYkDwIMa8wq9cpRN-198IzTPKFaPxbSX60IGp9gCD8Vv3I3g2b4fHhL06dAHM/s1600/DSC_0209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkk4zHD1x9yvR4biktgdmB-uFn0zdoRbi-OJz54uYbNaSEaacHF69S_8rwah7x5VsuH47_l1HNDFulMDYkDwIMa8wq9cpRN-198IzTPKFaPxbSX60IGp9gCD8Vv3I3g2b4fHhL06dAHM/s200/DSC_0209.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-0TVhKmgrHQj9JO6pluLbQUPf82b9qUF4mIJmtJjzm4CCF63nKo51R-PmvFafuQvEK4xTXC0BoFe8T7EzE1L9kU2OTB5knSvrMyNeOAIWRu9N9YL18W4K8b6ydJLOIymLgrLVtFdKyM/s1600/DSC_0215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-0TVhKmgrHQj9JO6pluLbQUPf82b9qUF4mIJmtJjzm4CCF63nKo51R-PmvFafuQvEK4xTXC0BoFe8T7EzE1L9kU2OTB5knSvrMyNeOAIWRu9N9YL18W4K8b6ydJLOIymLgrLVtFdKyM/s200/DSC_0215.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">my future paleontologist and dino-phile...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9rZtqpwkBUQAiA6ClXDHFs8yZAmUm2_gMoQ7ix_28fyLhPMzVbXtWVGtdCnyELWUI4HtyJQr4qBh-JNTycy5VwB4F1BhXthfkN0LGBzt7L-1B4eIFqD4fnZLk5bpDDuW93PreVuMIoNc/s1600/DSC_0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9rZtqpwkBUQAiA6ClXDHFs8yZAmUm2_gMoQ7ix_28fyLhPMzVbXtWVGtdCnyELWUI4HtyJQr4qBh-JNTycy5VwB4F1BhXthfkN0LGBzt7L-1B4eIFqD4fnZLk5bpDDuW93PreVuMIoNc/s200/DSC_0267.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1wObDIrQ3Lr9BkSaFH6uQRg4kfXVW0lD3fN_iCMcTRkScCP8q5ZEOvkYeKKaanH71bPz9-8keaaktOpuc6a0CBA7BqHlW4kIR9yl6ACYQWbLZn_wflghTR3kvNDCV9zWCJ2ONydexoE/s1600/DSC_0259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1wObDIrQ3Lr9BkSaFH6uQRg4kfXVW0lD3fN_iCMcTRkScCP8q5ZEOvkYeKKaanH71bPz9-8keaaktOpuc6a0CBA7BqHlW4kIR9yl6ACYQWbLZn_wflghTR3kvNDCV9zWCJ2ONydexoE/s200/DSC_0259.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Views of my kind of town...</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/AVvXsEj1DMGXgjVqpI3rdIWPctTapDronnwO2Wo3YgaqpknG4RSn7uDlYouP6GsV4coAO97wV6-8Sj_9jn1GUVIG2qeQVZD_OoHcn-xk6-ZWxGeN8ODn_7NLrCItHw1zu6XVS1p2k8wuYUyjdJE/s1600/DSC_0277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DMGXgjVqpI3rdIWPctTapDronnwO2Wo3YgaqpknG4RSn7uDlYouP6GsV4coAO97wV6-8Sj_9jn1GUVIG2qeQVZD_OoHcn-xk6-ZWxGeN8ODn_7NLrCItHw1zu6XVS1p2k8wuYUyjdJE/s200/DSC_0277.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br />
<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/AVvXsEhQ9gjeR0TmRMcEXgYKJQflMNdNW6Pa8r2nHwFPq9gK1I5iCZ11Yx5OA6KPovUiZ57wY43trE8UW7-7QMnd9TSMms7TKPPxtHJqlOwg_9LtjIbwm3VvZsx8XEF-h81KF0imjczyWSP9WZg/s1600/DSC_0330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9gjeR0TmRMcEXgYKJQflMNdNW6Pa8r2nHwFPq9gK1I5iCZ11Yx5OA6KPovUiZ57wY43trE8UW7-7QMnd9TSMms7TKPPxtHJqlOwg_9LtjIbwm3VvZsx8XEF-h81KF0imjczyWSP9WZg/s200/DSC_0330.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJk4cat9exmDSap-N0DfPDHEWq_a4cyr50IGzOESlVAc5ZIZkVufIwxnogEklxTvaynQNTxpd1KBTZqeotcJ0kbh-KP28bRQuFHhyphenhyphenOt_b6oGau4KjGhBgKiVtKrPJSzKrjAlyyVUFDsWc/s1600/DSC_0314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJk4cat9exmDSap-N0DfPDHEWq_a4cyr50IGzOESlVAc5ZIZkVufIwxnogEklxTvaynQNTxpd1KBTZqeotcJ0kbh-KP28bRQuFHhyphenhyphenOt_b6oGau4KjGhBgKiVtKrPJSzKrjAlyyVUFDsWc/s200/DSC_0314.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Angels at the Chicago Air and Boat Show</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_K0PUbr6lQWk4lGogVq3HOzYZc7hRBxBNnH9Dh_hRDZbcKOCftpZrFhv6GGKAnEipSPcFtBBOmxHXR-j0yonrDCaLMQEhalGlz6j9HOSSGKJmDpRREcztHPolovJkuBlSGL6ozvXLDkI/s1600/DSC_0335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_K0PUbr6lQWk4lGogVq3HOzYZc7hRBxBNnH9Dh_hRDZbcKOCftpZrFhv6GGKAnEipSPcFtBBOmxHXR-j0yonrDCaLMQEhalGlz6j9HOSSGKJmDpRREcztHPolovJkuBlSGL6ozvXLDkI/s200/DSC_0335.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Gino's East</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfu0VswHqvnZ049_kHumWobEiHjjDRb5TYmljMcVzg4ZifS5AKu_dKrIAEC78HHFVezhcv2rlX1rSgX2bpa6YhN1oj-CnqzsOm-kyBwH1gOU1xbpyjANQhE0xOxZvmLpYtCnRZkFN-OJo/s1600/DSC_0339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfu0VswHqvnZ049_kHumWobEiHjjDRb5TYmljMcVzg4ZifS5AKu_dKrIAEC78HHFVezhcv2rlX1rSgX2bpa6YhN1oj-CnqzsOm-kyBwH1gOU1xbpyjANQhE0xOxZvmLpYtCnRZkFN-OJo/s200/DSC_0339.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vivi was unimpressed, though..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Another day we headed to the Shedd Aquarium where you just can't go wrong as far as the kids are concerned. We watched a feeding in the main tank, the new Fantaseas show, and Luke got to spend a few minutes as a penguin! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMrHAyeTRbBpHa8ioiA0pfE5kPA6dvZsqQwx4HKKyKRYb58B7YPfQ5cs-6UuIdwK2EtUAWcTqIcBEHYtK5DoR4xr6YUDMB-xJjiC50mwXX8ctVgu6we1ow__4xWzF7XTuyxS0hhUqAg8/s1600/DSC_0485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> We also checked out the Philippine reef exhibit at the Shedd which was nice to show Luke. He doesn't remember our trip to the Philippines back in 2008 but telling him a little bit about the underwater treasures of the mother country, as well as having a permanent exhibit to return to, made me feel reassured that there is something of his Filipino heritage he can tap into.</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMrHAyeTRbBpHa8ioiA0pfE5kPA6dvZsqQwx4HKKyKRYb58B7YPfQ5cs-6UuIdwK2EtUAWcTqIcBEHYtK5DoR4xr6YUDMB-xJjiC50mwXX8ctVgu6we1ow__4xWzF7XTuyxS0hhUqAg8/s1600/DSC_0485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMrHAyeTRbBpHa8ioiA0pfE5kPA6dvZsqQwx4HKKyKRYb58B7YPfQ5cs-6UuIdwK2EtUAWcTqIcBEHYtK5DoR4xr6YUDMB-xJjiC50mwXX8ctVgu6we1ow__4xWzF7XTuyxS0hhUqAg8/s200/DSC_0485.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We also visited the Marquette campus and walked around a bit. Luke was unimpressed and more focused on trying to find a place to play ball with Jon. I however became very nostalgic and was attempting to explain to Luke why Marquette was important to me because of who I met here. I don't think it fazed him at all. The decision to come to Marquette was a very pivotal one for me. If I didn't go to MU I might never have found out about Holy Family Services, I might never have decided to go to Panama City with my girlfriends that fateful week when I met Jon, and I could very well be going through life without my best friend and Parkinsonian-gait partner, Tara. So it holds a dear spot in my heart.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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While I didn't run into anyone I knew on the MU campus, I was able to catch up with Julie, my college roomie, as well as my best friend Tara and our friend Roger from the College of Nursing. Tara currently lives in ME and was on her way to MN. So for our paths to intersect back in IL is quite ironic. <br />
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And speaking of nostalgia, any trip to the midwest really ends up being a reunion of sorts with close friends and family. There were some pleasant surprises this trip around. When we went to visit the kids' godparents, Jun and Eileen Paredes, and their family, we also caught up with my Ninang Nina Recker (Eileen's sister) and her daughter, Julia Recker. The Reckers have been living the Navy life around the world with my Ninong Steve and were visiting from Japan this time around. Of course, as you can see from the pics, things get a little crazy when Kuya Jun is hanging around the kids.<br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And of course, the main purpose for any IL visit is for the kids to see Lolo and Lola...</div><br />
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In Indiana, we visited with our Samala/Castillo/Ola cousins and ate at BUB's home of the Big Ugly Burger Challenge where Man vs. Food taped. <br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Jon and Tito Doc went out to play golf (I think that was the highlight of his weekend) while I took the kids to the Indianapolis Children's Museum with the Castillos. (I think we got a little too carried away in the Barbie and Rock 'n' Roll exhibits...)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Family photos...</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbVgB29HK8abNwqfgPYbOuqMyg2GahxVkyfY5gWNjVpjK71G1q1kinxgJntgXcoGVPn2qxTms61FG_tQ7xonB1zbCa3mCH-L1ljfPFyWsftnGvTfMnLckuSQhRCDlLVq8VdUzaiFrABg/s1600/DSC_0023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbVgB29HK8abNwqfgPYbOuqMyg2GahxVkyfY5gWNjVpjK71G1q1kinxgJntgXcoGVPn2qxTms61FG_tQ7xonB1zbCa3mCH-L1ljfPFyWsftnGvTfMnLckuSQhRCDlLVq8VdUzaiFrABg/s200/DSC_0023.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIak4NaF2zN1rovP6neFpv2lC5lqMWfII8iqWj1q6ASWlAljhNX9taWEtowxt6UKqHF9oR4zIRKtaeKY1PriZ7puKSMwMuVcSOSHGP_VEQJbB7dha3ZhrAU6JcDOy1HmcqJQkmHnepYNo/s1600/DSC_0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIak4NaF2zN1rovP6neFpv2lC5lqMWfII8iqWj1q6ASWlAljhNX9taWEtowxt6UKqHF9oR4zIRKtaeKY1PriZ7puKSMwMuVcSOSHGP_VEQJbB7dha3ZhrAU6JcDOy1HmcqJQkmHnepYNo/s200/DSC_0018.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">at the IN Children's Museum--my little dinos</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/AVvXsEhJtJDWjlPidJMhp__b-Dl2vw3lhDhLjlOGhHZSeBOES5G89f0inOa_V-oR-0PDdXfEQGHKBxKm6A_yNx4083qvnMxn3tjJYVRNtu2PKxAys1PNKHKRUyvWQEMws_5e7rIWwztl__aKjH8/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtJDWjlPidJMhp__b-Dl2vw3lhDhLjlOGhHZSeBOES5G89f0inOa_V-oR-0PDdXfEQGHKBxKm6A_yNx4083qvnMxn3tjJYVRNtu2PKxAys1PNKHKRUyvWQEMws_5e7rIWwztl__aKjH8/s200/DSC_0033.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyI90KBet2dVy-KE1SZ1uMK-cd5JJomC5M50LcSHPy5A6nHohVu174Jerrsr19GfwKtIbVITBpUe2vsztv0cC5T8Vc2aG2uuEWh3udnBWprxDSHyL6uzM__CTi8NazwfMcesigwJRjSBE/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyI90KBet2dVy-KE1SZ1uMK-cd5JJomC5M50LcSHPy5A6nHohVu174Jerrsr19GfwKtIbVITBpUe2vsztv0cC5T8Vc2aG2uuEWh3udnBWprxDSHyL6uzM__CTi8NazwfMcesigwJRjSBE/s200/DSC_0031.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"> Dale Chihuly exhibit--Luke channeling his inner Chihuly...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQp1UWf224dIxr2fUCHi9X1XtKxlJ7Z80b921VYiiT13hJY_eNGQ1M4_EBJeBxWYH4qs3bpdoFn_EryWhs9w3AsLLrq-FDST4GbehTz9jmOzDEq4ugGj2KhCTOYiK1TpC8x4a36ShwfA/s1600/DSC_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQp1UWf224dIxr2fUCHi9X1XtKxlJ7Z80b921VYiiT13hJY_eNGQ1M4_EBJeBxWYH4qs3bpdoFn_EryWhs9w3AsLLrq-FDST4GbehTz9jmOzDEq4ugGj2KhCTOYiK1TpC8x4a36ShwfA/s200/DSC_0035.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfq0x5HcpI6TJPWGLga4HOJO5l500yCTDzm4gfYItjjVBj4V0Ahp3kPXuCz47ii30QIq6rAQfAXhhkBMcs7sksmMOmNTt0s0fgXZjwAyzBrHCoWHFlW0xDpICz1PY8cdWJNIKN0PcBJ4/s1600/DSC_0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfq0x5HcpI6TJPWGLga4HOJO5l500yCTDzm4gfYItjjVBj4V0Ahp3kPXuCz47ii30QIq6rAQfAXhhkBMcs7sksmMOmNTt0s0fgXZjwAyzBrHCoWHFlW0xDpICz1PY8cdWJNIKN0PcBJ4/s200/DSC_0038.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Working Barbie's front desk...even Luke got in on the action</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6mH6RzWf1HxzWX24U6lJ8agrKLOwQZ-3cqQPWJ9kwLdCd4OwsnnztT5SLPKCadsR2qq__B8U0f0uLzCsPOKwVwsuaT_QKLp88KPToqji8iBofUQJqT10Gcsv2_C0J6ESR-7eIMO5xEI/s1600/DSC_0061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6mH6RzWf1HxzWX24U6lJ8agrKLOwQZ-3cqQPWJ9kwLdCd4OwsnnztT5SLPKCadsR2qq__B8U0f0uLzCsPOKwVwsuaT_QKLp88KPToqji8iBofUQJqT10Gcsv2_C0J6ESR-7eIMO5xEI/s200/DSC_0061.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCFcXvugt8pU-UaiGYBC99ylqCbt8ubrd7zlM6ZBgNnlZLck0hHEP2HstMs_WLFD2-jCujWQqiq9cjTJmW5-E4n8YVyIf2IKr-A65guf874l5lMYQbhZ4IufKU47fGrEDAsnwdt-Rm7k/s1600/DSC_0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCFcXvugt8pU-UaiGYBC99ylqCbt8ubrd7zlM6ZBgNnlZLck0hHEP2HstMs_WLFD2-jCujWQqiq9cjTJmW5-E4n8YVyIf2IKr-A65guf874l5lMYQbhZ4IufKU47fGrEDAsnwdt-Rm7k/s200/DSC_0062.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div> Cza working the Barbie catwalk<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoZHe08duuIEsALFcXBOLqD4Wn1Vpw9E3zhxSsQjpePfwl6ioRQwYrbgTxVM_XqIFKarehHYTOhEJk7QAVGJt73PVEegv0vUg56Bi9xUVZRV803GBCc2yQhGZICHKzbKZj6LT3jt2Sms/s1600/DSC_0069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoZHe08duuIEsALFcXBOLqD4Wn1Vpw9E3zhxSsQjpePfwl6ioRQwYrbgTxVM_XqIFKarehHYTOhEJk7QAVGJt73PVEegv0vUg56Bi9xUVZRV803GBCc2yQhGZICHKzbKZj6LT3jt2Sms/s200/DSC_0069.jpg" width="111" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AY6CCaHmN4-S1lb4-AghgBBEoXMcjvxJjUUYJFqgcih4VmktAnwzdu0_mfZWD7_DGIURdjMzWf34FBoALgLQuvBu53iTwLgYDcY11zsJAxljdljNMrHexUJ3eNcQbnsBahuCn0s7vvI/s1600/DSC_0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AY6CCaHmN4-S1lb4-AghgBBEoXMcjvxJjUUYJFqgcih4VmktAnwzdu0_mfZWD7_DGIURdjMzWf34FBoALgLQuvBu53iTwLgYDcY11zsJAxljdljNMrHexUJ3eNcQbnsBahuCn0s7vvI/s200/DSC_0071.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Prego Barbie!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJ9qXicLtnBN81aemk8mjkD1Rd-Mnpfjge005d7EBgdsmn5bBe46vm_2JKwWscVUxTVrR_ivSfXTPztud88-_W3nBZlI4Sur10bRkgEjv1zeZVAj_ql7HWWm6Wb9Xz2dS5h78QznBslM/s1600/DSC_0075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJ9qXicLtnBN81aemk8mjkD1Rd-Mnpfjge005d7EBgdsmn5bBe46vm_2JKwWscVUxTVrR_ivSfXTPztud88-_W3nBZlI4Sur10bRkgEjv1zeZVAj_ql7HWWm6Wb9Xz2dS5h78QznBslM/s200/DSC_0075.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Rock and Roll!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjbOyLMEII-AKB4cUcuVN9KfxBOLiR33K9MSbFdgho1kbINENy6eQWifNukfnyYE9Ti7-ohDzCxvirtROQutdU17OCPhyphenhyphenp2cNyt1gmoicpyF8ds-ASADFs2474GuixNUPs8foS0OHR1g/s1600/DSC_0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjbOyLMEII-AKB4cUcuVN9KfxBOLiR33K9MSbFdgho1kbINENy6eQWifNukfnyYE9Ti7-ohDzCxvirtROQutdU17OCPhyphenhyphenp2cNyt1gmoicpyF8ds-ASADFs2474GuixNUPs8foS0OHR1g/s200/DSC_0087.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwADoKUTfGVxCvO3nG2jJnrV10ntnKWvA0yhajqpI41uiRIONhEkZh6FqOGiO5ON3GYv2naI6qmutgGc5gzGBmapR1Jgb-nd89auojAuCjjeBT3JxC4igG6-ncRJRPT5UvcVJvDmAhWY/s1600/DSC_0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwADoKUTfGVxCvO3nG2jJnrV10ntnKWvA0yhajqpI41uiRIONhEkZh6FqOGiO5ON3GYv2naI6qmutgGc5gzGBmapR1Jgb-nd89auojAuCjjeBT3JxC4igG6-ncRJRPT5UvcVJvDmAhWY/s200/DSC_0094.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
"Landing" in Egypt<br />
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</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16206881844272607801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8834724607178576813.post-41939579972347094702010-08-03T19:47:00.000-07:002010-08-03T19:47:04.439-07:00OC family vacation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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We took our first beach vacation as a family in Ocean City, Maryland. It was only for a weekend but two days at the beach and everybody had a blast! Jon and I forgot how much we truly love being by the ocean (not the gulf or a river but an ocean). And Luke and Vivi had a lot of fun playing in the sand and water. Luke enjoyed constructing his "city" of sand, running around, and actually braved some of the waves on a boogie board, albeit in the more shallow area. Vivi just enjoyed being a little explorer, as always. She loved touching the sand, waving the sand toys around, and climbing in and out of her very own beach chair. She wasn't too keen on being in the water by herself but made that delightful baby laugh when she was being held while we were in the water. Jon and I both enjoyed riding the waves, regardless of how many wave wedgies I got in my swimsuit. Sun, sand, and surf--doesn't take much to make the Thompsons happy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My muscle men</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOdgZg0e870wUd-dcH18Gc7ePMEid6oZnSavolDZis3sJu_5w8R1zX_hf07GtCJOFQ2ZOl_NhzJNgCbqdHdXm5ArRzoqrZ_vFCj-ZRGMpZuHv-SaXAcmUlZVO2vRYWIYU5RVSrD6kGBM/s1600/DSC_0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOdgZg0e870wUd-dcH18Gc7ePMEid6oZnSavolDZis3sJu_5w8R1zX_hf07GtCJOFQ2ZOl_NhzJNgCbqdHdXm5ArRzoqrZ_vFCj-ZRGMpZuHv-SaXAcmUlZVO2vRYWIYU5RVSrD6kGBM/s200/DSC_0056.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">me and my kiddos</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke's city of sand</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZD2MuMCPYOSBtokrgVmCnas0rmbhO69Q5diSBSak1gG2IXx0Wb9RmHjTsHTMF_3adrdoWE1yxk3GwfSYwpV4hPibFpfUQnjaxhNfiG3u6FvlkgoOiW_tjQVQqAR50t3q6aj2Tcd3Gd5s/s1600/DSC_0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZD2MuMCPYOSBtokrgVmCnas0rmbhO69Q5diSBSak1gG2IXx0Wb9RmHjTsHTMF_3adrdoWE1yxk3GwfSYwpV4hPibFpfUQnjaxhNfiG3u6FvlkgoOiW_tjQVQqAR50t3q6aj2Tcd3Gd5s/s200/DSC_0019.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vivi getting comfy in her beach chair</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jon helping with the "city" construction</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vivi on the boardwalk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamMPAwec5C3Ewk0SlYF6jqw_OJ0ktYrkljol43cNaft7G3cURRiHC5h_0kCspc11C6ZcsztZQCu_v662ahX_f3C_PXgyKkq11XdDEoa-nqcjU9yLHwYmodAgpnbc91wOnQXKe-2nh03A/s1600/DSC_0097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamMPAwec5C3Ewk0SlYF6jqw_OJ0ktYrkljol43cNaft7G3cURRiHC5h_0kCspc11C6ZcsztZQCu_v662ahX_f3C_PXgyKkq11XdDEoa-nqcjU9yLHwYmodAgpnbc91wOnQXKe-2nh03A/s200/DSC_0097.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke on the boardwalk</td></tr>
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Luke's highlights:<br />
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1. His tattoo of a crab he got at Fish Tales. We named it Cooter.<br />
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2. Luke met his favorite superhero, Spiderman.<br />
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Really, what's not to like, right?<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16206881844272607801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8834724607178576813.post-49573510820039429442010-05-24T22:21:00.000-07:002010-06-21T21:22:57.753-07:00Why? and Diva tastes...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2oq1TYvAxP0n2p4UbfnXEc5nwwEx3ObgVpwpE84vS2D7qI02UlJ6j6kelaH71dC0JQ4yXYdvYm6L444Bb-m6T1YLX-1rGby0oWSk6GcUBYdC06Az0L3VZ06oVBOJulkKD4NH1I_-o6Q/s1600/DSC_0101.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2oq1TYvAxP0n2p4UbfnXEc5nwwEx3ObgVpwpE84vS2D7qI02UlJ6j6kelaH71dC0JQ4yXYdvYm6L444Bb-m6T1YLX-1rGby0oWSk6GcUBYdC06Az0L3VZ06oVBOJulkKD4NH1I_-o6Q/s320/DSC_0101.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475119681011595874" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"> This is Why.</span><br /></a><div><br /></div><div> Why the Dinosaur, to be precise.</div><div><div><br /></div><div> Luke made him as a sand art project at his friend Sarah's birthday party. He christened his project Why shortly after Sarah announced that her stegosaurus sand art project was named "What". Hmm, wonder why?</div><div><br /></div><div> Luke has become VERY protective of Why. In fact, the morning after the party, Luke got up early (again). Jon got him settled by the television, accompanied by Why, of course. Later on, when Jon came downstairs for good, Luke told Jon "I was protecting Why from predators, Daddy." This morning, Luke was without Why when I came downstairs. When I asked where he was, Luke told me, with a very serious face, that Why was still sleeping because "he needs his rest because he had a busy day playing at Peter's house yesterday." A sand art Triceratops needing his beauty rest. I love it! It is so endearing to see my 4-year-0ld boy as a caretaker. He has always been thoughtful and caring as a big brother to Vivi. And this is not the first time he's taken to "fathering" a toy. He went through a phase of caring</div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6aooXekVNr4recbC9EcMpeI6EHSo4D_RXdQotKxpNBLMz2_lGc6Lg4Ba0m1noAOQp5Bd3SAvuMHUpa3B5w2hg0Lj9LPHyEONNn90UKUHBYlkxTGh7CxutQdiuFGIjmjZgwkZm41NZ2Y/s200/DSC_0067.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475082599658960802" /><div>for a stuffed dog he named "Barkie" (perhaps as a nod to Curious George's friend "Sharkie"). He pulled me to the couch to show me how he tucked in Barkiefor a nap. "See, Mommy? Barkie is getting his rest."</div><div><br /></div><div> I've decided that Luke is going to be not just a wonderful big brother, but an equally awesome dad one day.</div><br /><div><br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJeylm4dBFmZWhRJx71R1uOBYugQc2pwsOrKuePwqv8V5cjTXEvLyTV0DzudJPXNfE89yjqndlmkIFzuG_o9Xe3AH-M7eEQflSXEUFue6fsDKscw13TTI8T_F73zINjIGjsGEKWh53Ws/s320/DSC_0068.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475121685887108434" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmYEVMYJgGAdyp7MSui4UZjkHag8M9VhZH8S_DR4WVUD4sCOvodSgVLmpHs04pYe6sbnisSA_unwc3niq61443rd055N9zvmDitDg2O-iNXlcWJJVQiU1Oyt30RglMfFr_pwcz6pFKBE/s320/DSC_0069.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475121697203550226" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div> Vivi, on the other hand, is developing some very rich tastes. She is definitely demonstrating that she has some specific preferences, just like her mama. At church, she went for a brownie I was eating instead of the fruit and crackers we had for her. "A typical girl--goes for the chocolate" said a lady from church. At brunch, I had ordered Crab Benedict and guess who was reaching for my crabmeat? Yup, little Miss Vivi. Jon and I pity the fools who date her 16 years from now--they'll need deep pockets if her tastes persist. At a Little League Fun Day, Vivi reached for my Starbucks cup like it was ingrained in her American female DNA to gravitate to a Starbucks beverage. I tried hiding it from her but the little girl sure is stubborn. Here's Vivi taking a liking to my Starbucks cup:</div><div><br /></div><div> :<img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYzxLJde7RWysMJXxTOjJgpR9nRbg5SQ-q4nFiZX5t3JaDqsWyQJI8oACB_bylgea9nEVRl-JE2rWbcv8LGU4qvLNGMOsaCIjCgAhHHe0jz-3t_-cjwvjTkIjX3AwoURlR7_H78ZK5Yw/s320/DSC_0035.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485443787285220370" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zYujnkY7aPnwEBgzA2T0qlXq2pb_TSnfyLRrOcEia8NVWqEW4g2Y_1ILIaQoGQZJiiEuH2938tXvJrJZuYtB3qvEtU-Qp_UWz1BRzaE-Hhq5pNu1GjCEtuj11kSXtRKGYOELBFlq75I/s320/DSC_0036.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485442304972010642" /></div><div><br /></div><div> And she's also displaying a Diva vibe. If she's wants something and you offer her the wrong thing, watch out. She does a little dance where she bends over, walks backwards, and shakes her head "No" simultaneously to let you know when she's unhappy. I have no idea if this is how I acted when I was her age or if Jon (or any other Thompson) did. But she got it from somewhere and it's very humbling to watch your children display personality traits that perhaps you turn a blind eye to. But she is now running with purpose towards us to give us a kiss or a hug. And she is enthralled with her big brother, Kuya Luke. She adores him and just loves to play with him. She has this delightful laugh when she is having so much fun playing with him. It's the type of laugh that emits pure joy. Your heart just soars at the sound of it. She definitely demonstrates her hardheaded toddler tendencies, shaking her head and shrieking her opinion at you. But, like any girl, she knows how to melt your heart with her winsome smile and a twinkle in her eye.</div><div><br /></div><div> Jon and I are in <b>so</b> much trouble with a capital T...</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16206881844272607801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8834724607178576813.post-4975431813178538772010-05-18T18:25:00.001-07:002010-05-18T18:58:19.010-07:00May 16, 2010 Sundays seem to agree with the kids...<p class="mobile-photo"><br /></p><p class="mobile-photo"><br /></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;font-size:medium;">My kids in their Sunday finest...</span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvP3A5zvoEWJBEMyKP3OjDwn8W9jzL-23wtzjA4GB-UMiURZLU_AzGhfAidx1TuUF3CxOh2D3HwuCH_LZhER4woswzUP5h-EDQH_QhYosKVEhIVruWvuqKMv5QQW02zTZi1V8JtjV3RVA/s1600/DSC_0079-738557.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvP3A5zvoEWJBEMyKP3OjDwn8W9jzL-23wtzjA4GB-UMiURZLU_AzGhfAidx1TuUF3CxOh2D3HwuCH_LZhER4woswzUP5h-EDQH_QhYosKVEhIVruWvuqKMv5QQW02zTZi1V8JtjV3RVA/s320/DSC_0079-738557.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472786219389743298" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGBnrzWQAcP2z67H791m9a2ixmxf1JMI6zqH9UbWTj_ksyaFR54KwJSSSxP1tadAFeBbgAeFe_32yeSh28tb_8I-UREhRL9owXyrfuRwdCK3hd4PVpL9dcJJ7ersOzi9mMNSOFAINo24/s1600/DSC_0081-740308.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGBnrzWQAcP2z67H791m9a2ixmxf1JMI6zqH9UbWTj_ksyaFR54KwJSSSxP1tadAFeBbgAeFe_32yeSh28tb_8I-UREhRL9owXyrfuRwdCK3hd4PVpL9dcJJ7ersOzi9mMNSOFAINo24/s320/DSC_0081-740308.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472786228252490354" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIFDjE_GILQzxJtcC0zFz8rnNSR2ofae8BpUYdDjJHnATIffff-XmrrW4NAXNUUXU9i6moPjUJUFQYp4lIWbuzSmH-ndKGiEhKF4O1v_4FNRtkfpRYOBZNGov30OAa-fx19IF7qebJMs/s1600/DSC_0083-741529.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIFDjE_GILQzxJtcC0zFz8rnNSR2ofae8BpUYdDjJHnATIffff-XmrrW4NAXNUUXU9i6moPjUJUFQYp4lIWbuzSmH-ndKGiEhKF4O1v_4FNRtkfpRYOBZNGov30OAa-fx19IF7qebJMs/s320/DSC_0083-741529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472786235597116594" /></a></p><span style="font-family:Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><br /></span> </span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16206881844272607801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8834724607178576813.post-54989925251115709052010-05-18T18:09:00.000-07:002010-05-18T18:54:54.578-07:00Small blessings...<div>Have you ever watched your child chase a butterfly? It is the simplest joy I have found, right up there with a child's laugh. Luke was helping Jon dig a ditch in our yard on Saturday and I pointed out a butterfly flying over the ditch. He started running after it, giddy with delight, looking back at us with the biggest smile on his face. It was a true high point of the day.</div><div><br /></div><div>And then, the next day, we were getting ready for church. We always put Vivi in a dress, it can't be helped. She just looks so adorable in a dress and church is the perfect excuse to put her in one. But Luke insisted on wearing his "suit"--a tie and a navy blue jacket I found for him. I can't even describe it well enough to do it justice. I believe the photos will say it all.</div><div><br /></div><div>This past weekend just reminded me how joyful my life is and how much my children contribute to that. Children approach life full of love in their hearts and embrace all aspects of it. Luke will just laugh at anything. And he is such a loving child. After I had already kissed both kids on my way out today, Luke raced out the front door because, as he said, "I wanted to give you one more kiss." Luke also notices all the details. Today, I was dressing Vivi in a bright playdress and Luke said "Mommy, Vivi is very beautiful today." </div><div><br /></div><div>And Vivi is beautiful. Well, Vivi was appropriately named--her name is associated with the word "alive". Her giggles just melt your heart despite her very diva-esque qualities. If she's not happy, she lets you know and won't stop wailing until she gets what she wants, which is usually to be held. In sixteen years, she probably won't want to be seen with me. So I'm going to hold my little girl for as long as she'll let me.</div><div><br /></div><div>God has truly blessed us with such beautiful children. I really have to be more mindful of that. Our time on earth is finite and we never know when He will call any of us back home. So this past weekend, I was reminded to live in the moment--my children are healthy, beautiful, and full of life. I see God in them and for that I am thankful.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16206881844272607801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8834724607178576813.post-16270710625764967832010-05-10T18:28:00.000-07:002010-05-10T18:51:54.262-07:00May 9--Mother's Day 2010This was one of my favorite Mother's Day ever...<div><br /></div><div>It started off with Jon's famous orange scones, omelettes, and coffee for breakfast accompanied with a new gold chain necklace for my cross and new silver hoop earrings with pink pearls. I was also the lucky recipient of Luke's homemade photo frame and hemp necklace with cute beads that he made at school. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then it was off to church where my sermon went off without a hitch. I actually got some nice compliments. A couple of people said I missed my calling as a preacher. I didn't really take them seriously until Jon mentioned that that thought crossed his mind while I was speaking. Hmm, a seed has been planted. Masters in Nursing or Divinity. It won't be answered right away and will require a great deal of prayer. My favorite quote I used for the sermon is taken from Dante's Divine Comedy. He writes that God is "el amor che move il sole e l'altra stelle"--the love that moves the sun and other stars. I'm quite confident He'll lead me down the right path.</div><div><br /></div><div>But the best part was heading up to DC with the family for the day. We ate lunch at 2Amy's in NW DC, close to the National Cathedral. Yummy neapolitan pizzas made from fresh dough that was chewy and crispy, topped with fresh arugula, authentic salami, or crispy pepperoni and glued together with ooey-gooey cheese. Jon has since mentioned that he would rather eat at 2Amy's instead of Ben's Chili Bowl. For someone who loves his chilidogs, that's saying something. </div><div><br /></div><div>Afterwards, we headed over to the National Mall to take advantage of the sunshine and wind for the inaugural flight of Luke's Blue Angel kite. We may have had a a few crashes here and there (one right in the middle of a very understanding group of people) but it was a beautiful day to be in the shadow of the Washington Monument, with views of the World War II Memorial, the Reflecting Pool and Lincoln Memorial.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was pretty low-key after that. Since it was "my day" as Jon insisted, I browsed around Barnes and Noble. There is something so calming to me about being surrounded by books and music, even if I don't buy anything. It's like yoga for my brain--it wants to be surrounded by books. Cookbooks, poetry, fiction, gardening--I just crave books. So a good bookstore is just like heaven on earth to me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dinner and groceries at Whole Foods. Nothing spectacular there. But there is a satisfying serenity to having spent a good day with my family. My heart felt light and my spirit was content doing simple things with my extraordinary family. To me it was a nice Sunday afternoon that just happened to be Mother's Day.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16206881844272607801noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8834724607178576813.post-20598355481070742662010-05-10T18:09:00.000-07:002010-05-10T18:28:38.425-07:00May 10Today Luke watched "How to Train Your Dragon" and I must say I am so proud of him. It was pretty scary for a 4-year-old and I insisted we finish what we started. He stayed until the end, even if he did have to bury his face into my chest and made me cover his ears. But I expected nothing less from my delightful son. In one afternoon, he helped me paint a wall in our family room, modeling his plain paint strokes into a "boat" and couldn't wait to show his Daddy the "special wall we made for him. Daddy will be so happy!" Luke declared that my smoothie was "so delicious, Mommy!" And while we were watching the previews, he kept saying "Are you kidding me?" or "Oh my goodness!" My favorite for today was listening to my son quietly sing the song he learned from school:<div><br /></div><div> "Ho-ho-ho-ho-sanna, Ha-ha-hallelujah,</div><div> He-he-he-he saved me, I found the joy of the Lord."</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm so proud of him...</div><div><br /></div><div>Vivi, however, is becoming a mini-me, growing more and more stubborn just like her mama. Poor Jon's in trouble. She really doesn't let up if she's not happy about something. To say she let's you know if she's upset is a serious understatement. But at dinner tonight, little Vivian showed how much she really follows in her Mama's footsteps--attacking pork ribs with a vengeance. She got her little hands all around the rib on my plate and kept biting at it, even when there was next to nothing on the bone. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm so proud of her...</div><div><br /></div><div>And to top it off, my husband wants to make chocolate souffles right now...</div><div><br /></div><div>Ahh, this is a fabulous day-after Mother's Day.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16206881844272607801noreply@blogger.com0