tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2918539399164560452024-03-05T21:05:25.302-08:00Being BilingualNicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-48095921657509529132012-12-24T08:14:00.000-08:002012-12-24T08:14:07.921-08:00This will have to doHello dear blog. Will you forgive me my neglect of the past several months? And can I use you as a quick and lazy way to send Christmas greetings? You see, these past several months have been rather crazy. After finishing one big building project, we finally jumped in to work on our own unfinished house. Oh, and grandpa came from France for a two months visit to help. So between homeschooling and keeping house and having a house guest and working at the other house and two terrible rounds of the stomach flu in a month and getting ready for the holidays whilst sleeping, all six of us in one single bedroom, I needed to let something go. You were a victim. And I can make no guarantees that I will not continue to neglect you in the coming months. But for now, I will post some pictures on you for others to see. <br />
This was the closest thing we got to Christmas photos this year. Being at the house has been something like a boys dream come true. I am not sure I can say the same for myself..... Endless piles of dirt and heavy machinery and rides in a digger! I won't mention the endless laundry piles. At any rate- Merry Christmas to all and sundry from the crazy Lewin family!<br />
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Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-82925475107124832082012-09-25T03:58:00.000-07:002012-09-25T03:58:30.580-07:00Sweet and SquishyThese are two words we use to describe the little boy in this house who turned 4 yesterday. Sweet, 'cause he is just really sweet, and squishy 'cause he so soft and cuddly and tender hearted and, well, you get the picture. Unfortuanately, sickly is another word we have to apply to my little Seb. I always love the change to cooler weather, except for the fact that it brings on his asthma. It was so bad this time around that we ended up in the ER last Wednesday, hooked up to breathing machines and being ex-rayed for pneumonia. Thankfully it hadn't gotten as bad as that, but it was a long day, and we were thankful to be released that evening. He felt better by yesterday however, and was able fully to enjoy his birthday festivities.<br />
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These pictures were taken at 0 dark-thirty, because we had a busy day doing some non-birthday related activities. Thankfully, when you are four, you don't feel cheated when you have to spend your birthday at Daddy's worksite. We had cake and gifts with Aunt Vee when we got home last night, but I didn't get any pictures since Steve filmed it. The video is way too long to upload here, but rest assured, he did manage to blow out all his candles, even with his puny lungs.<br />
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Waiting for the great balloon cascade.<br />
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Boys and Balloons- need I say more?<br />
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Mommy reveals some amazing balloon twisting skills.<br />
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Homemade donuts were the order of the day.<br />
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Happy Birthday Sebastien!<br />
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Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-86675924470362248772012-09-06T11:22:00.001-07:002012-09-06T11:22:50.977-07:00My own little Calvin<br />
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Aunt Aubree gave James a book of Calvin and Hobbes for his birthday in June. Still not sure if that was a great idea, but it has been entertaining. <br />
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This was the not so original idea he came up with while I was making lunch today.<br />
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I tried to give him a pretend quarter to see what his great ideas were, but he wasn't having it, so I went on making lunch while he continued to hawk his wares. After a few minutes and still no takers, he changed his prices.<br />
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Still nothing. So he started issuing blank checks to his brothers so they could pay him. <br />
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Etienne paid for the great idea of cleaning the windows. Much to my surprise, he dutifully cleaned windows for the next ten minutes. Who knew that would work? <br />
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He finally knocked his price down so low that I couldn't refuse. I gave him a real penny and he "randomly" selected this particular piece of advice for me.<br />
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How could I refuse? I made him a popsicle. <br />
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And just for fun, here are a few more Calvin sales pitches that I hopefully won't be seeing around my house. <br />
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Have a happy day!Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-5959317524017169602012-09-03T13:04:00.002-07:002012-09-03T13:04:56.113-07:00Coming up for AirSummer used to be my favorite season. No school, warmer weather, vacation- you know, the usual things most people like to think of when they think of summer. Now that I live in the south, summer time seems to be a time of fighting bugs, warding off heat and humidity, and being stuck at home trying to think of indoor things for the kids to do, without the usual distractions that church and school bring. <br />
This summer has also been difficult for other reasons, and I find myself longing for a new start, for the beginning of routine and fresh air. Our family has been plagued with injury, illness, and even death. Constant struggle and upheaval does not make me want to rise to the challenge- it makes me want to hide in a corner, especially when it is 100 degrees outside. I feel like I am sitting around, waiting for the next blow to fall, a blow like last week when a young cousin was diagnosed with cancer. <br />
I have been putting things off- like coming to grips with the fact that I am going to need to homeschool this year, and not wanting to do it. In short, I guess I have been living in fear, stagnating for want of action. <br />
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A couple of weeks ago, I decided I would shake off dull sloth and do a dry run of our homeschool day- just to see if I could sort out a schedule and figure out what other books I needed to get. I was ambitious- I set my alarm for six am and had charts and printouts and what not ready to go. My alarm went off- I woke up sick. Very sick, and the following sinus infection is still dogging my steps. It was like starting a race by running straight uphill. I was tempted to give up- I mean, how necessary is an education really? But life goes on, hope is still there, and perseverance is necessary, even when I don't feel like it. It is September- I am starting school in earnest tomorrow. I have my alarm set for six am again. And fall is coming, with its reminders of change and new perspective. <br />
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This has been a darker post than usual, but it has been a darker time for us. I write this I suppose, for the future, so I can look back and see how God has brought us through the good times as well as the bad. My next post will be cheery and full of all the amzing ideas I have found for homeschooling on Pinterest. Lord help me, I finally got sucked in to Pinterest. Ha! Until then...<br />
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Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-25789766954843874652012-07-12T10:51:00.001-07:002012-07-12T10:51:39.381-07:00Let's PretendLet's pretend I have caught up on my blog by now. Let's pretend that I finished posting pictures of the rest of our wonderful vacation and a family reunion with 11 adults and 14 kids(the average age was 4- can you say exhausted?) Let's pretend that I have updated all the changes in our life right now, the most significant being my sister moving to town to be with us! And let's pretend I took tons of great shots of all our recent attempts at various pools and watering holes to avoid the 108 degree heat. Oh, and a fantastic fourth of July! Now that we have done that, we can relax on a cooler rainy day (thank you Lord!) and catch up with the garden.<br />
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Just one pic today of our afternoon project- Canning Mango Salsa! The only problem is, most of my jars are still filled with strawberry jam. Hmmmm. Does salsa freeze well?<br />
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I am proud to say that the only thing I didn't grow in this picture is the mango. And I did have to buy cilantro this morning because mine got scorched to death in the heatwave. Oh, and garlic- had to buy that too cause mine rotted. Okay, so we are not quite a self-sustaining farm yet, but we're working on it. We just need a cow, and well, some land. <br />
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<br />Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-62037870130324950062012-05-30T14:20:00.000-07:002012-05-30T14:20:06.035-07:00First half of vacationWell, we made it to grandma's two weeks ago. The flight was relatively uneventful, other than arriving at around 1 am, which was of course 4 am to us. Needless to say we have been tired, and fighting the early mornings thanks to a sun that rises at 5 am here. I finally had sense enough to black out the windows with blankets, so we have all been sleeping much better and are getting our energy back. It only took two weeks! We have also been very busy with cousins and what not, so I thought I would post a few pictures before I got overwhelmed with a full month's worth. <br />
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At the airport, waiting for our first flight.<br />
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I kept getting looks from everyone we passed like I was crazy for flying solo with four boys or something.<br />
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A little happy birthday to me (and my big sister.) We are a year and a week apart, and always used to have our birthday parties together.<br />
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A Saturday picnic down by the water on a day so beautiful, I wonder why we ever left this place.<br />
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Collecting crabs!<br />
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And a chilly, drizzly morning at the playground, which helps remind me why the South isn't so bad.<br />
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All in all, it's good to be home. <br />
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<br />Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-25634099012962288222012-05-03T17:58:00.000-07:002012-05-03T18:34:50.348-07:00Peter Pan Syndrome<br />
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Steve left for France this morning. In his prayer over breakfast he said "Lord, help the boys to be good for their mommy- Help James not too be so bossy, help Etienne not to be so rowdy, and help Sebastien not to be so whiny. I'd say he knows his boys pretty well, although I asked him to add a quick prayer that Christian would be through teething soon. I hope his prayers are answered for the sake of my sanity because it has been a rough week for me and my family. Being so far away from my folks and sisters, and Steve being gone makes hard times that much more difficult. There are days when I long for the old and simpler days of childhood- the days when my mom took care of me,and major crises were about things like what we were, or were not having for dinner. Instead, I wake up each morning with the responsibility of trying to figure out what makes these four little men tick. For instance-<br />
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The other night, as I got the boys ready for bed, I looked up at Etienne and noticed how grown up he was looking. In a mock severe tone I told him he absolutely had to stop getting so big- that he was not allowed to keep growing. Instead of giggling in response as I had expected, his face got all contorted and a tear or two escaped. I quickly hugged him, assuring him I had just been joking, but he wrapped his arms around my neck and burst into tears. It took me a while to figure out what he was saying, but the gist of it was that he never wanted to grow up. He just wanted to be a kid forever. I was a bit flabbergasted. I mean, all James can ever talk about is being old enough to drive a car, earn some money to buy whatever he wants, and play video games whenever he can. And here was my second born clinging to the present, seemingly terrified of an unknown future, and wishing he lived in Neverland. <br />
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I tried to convince him of all the great things he could do when he got older, but he wouldn't be convinced. I waxed eloquent, bringing all of my hard earned wisdom to bear, and trying to ignore my own recent longing for the simplicity of childhood. It all proved futile. So I just sat and held him. He only stopped crying when James, annoyed by his incessant weeping, walked by doing a weird dance and making farting noises with his mouth. In fact Etienne went straight from sobbing to laughing out loud which turned into a strange kind of hysterics. But he jumped off my lap to join in the dancing and rude noise-making. Problem solved.<br />
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Oh boys, will I ever figure them out? Then again, if I had known the solution was so easy, would I have used it? I guess I am just not yet used to employing crude humor as therapy. Nor am I sure it's the best way to go about fixing things long term. But I'm learning day by day- that's part of growing up, right? And whether I want to or not, I might as well accept it, because "<i>All children, except one, grow up</i>." <br />
<br />Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-33752173890609357692012-04-26T08:05:00.001-07:002012-04-26T08:05:38.683-07:00Fourth babyI'm trying to think of alternate titles for this post. Perhaps 'The Egg' because of the hideous lump on my baby's forehead, or 'Worst Mother in the World' because I didn't even see this happen, or 'Keeping Up', because he got the lump from trying to catch his brothers. In my defense, he has a large vein that runs down the middle of his forehead, so bumps in this location always look worse than they are.
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I feel like this kid, more than any of the others, has something to prove. He is way ahead of his brothers when they were this age- walking, trying to talk, and just trying to be a big boy way too soon. I often find him turning circles in the middle of the living room as his brothers race past, trying to decide which way to go so he can join in. But he is always too slow, and he gets so frustrated he just screams.
Another difference with this baby is that he is his daddy's boy all the way, and not just in looks. He prefers Steve over me any time. If daddy is at home, then daddy is the one he wants. I am not sure why this is- but it is kind of nice for a change. I'm just a little worried that he's going to flip when Steve leaves next week for a month. Yep, that's right- Steve gets to go to France to see his family for the month of May.
I was so jealous of this fact that I booked myself and the boys some tickets to go see my family for a month. So hah! Wait, who wins in this situation? Did I just commit to a five hour plane ride with four boys? Without Daddy? Gulp. Oh, but Grandma is at the other end.Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-24861756166211001412012-04-16T15:14:00.002-07:002012-04-16T15:49:29.683-07:00Hide 'n SeekThis game has become very popular around our house since Sebastien can 'count' now. The rules are basic. Hide under mom's covers for an indeterminate amount of time, mumbling random integers and then go find your brothers who are almost always hiding in the same place. Who knew life could be so fun? And who knew sixty-hereIcome was a number? <br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/40485086?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/40485086">Untitled</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1747146">nicole lewin</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-79096479053166753252012-04-13T09:43:00.005-07:002012-04-13T10:26:49.422-07:00Etienne and EasterThis year Easter week coincided with Etienne's 5th birthday, which it hasn't done for the last few years. It made for a very busy week which I am still recovering from- hence the late photos. <br />We had a quiet party for Etienne. His breakfast of choice?- cinnamon rolls. I asked him what kind of a party he wanted, and all he said was he wanted to be king for the day. So I made him a crown made out of tin foil. He was thrilled. I wonder how long that kind of excitement will last. We also had a picnic at a local park to feed the geese and walk along the edge of the stone wall surrounding the lake. Again- how long will the thrill of such an outing survive? I mean, they just couldn't get enough of walking the edge of that wall. He is so easy to please, that boy. Whenever I ask him what he wants to do for his birthday, he gets overwhelmed by the number of options and gets a little panicky. In the end, he said he didn't care what kind of a cake he got, just so long as there were m&ms involved. <br /><br />Saturday morning was a church-wide breakfast and Easter egg hunt. Well, as James noted, it wasn't so much of a hunt as a race. The eggs were just lying on the ground everywhere, so the whole hunt took about 45 seconds. They had a blast though. Some dear friends had invited us for Easter Sunday, so we spent Saturday afternoon at their house helping preparing Easter dinner. Easter day itself was really lovely- 72 degrees and sunny. The perfect combo for an outdoor feast of lamb and many other goodies. There was also another egg hunt for the kids, and a wonderful afternoon of good company and quiet conversation. I wish I had taken better photos, but here is a quick slideshow if you are interested. Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="288" height="192" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fsnlewin%2Falbumid%2F5730929524846523777%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-35732964191330523592012-03-31T13:53:00.018-07:002012-03-31T17:04:56.914-07:00Let it grow, let it grow, let it growWell, since we didn't get any snow this year, or any cold weather for that matter, our first garden post is a good deal earlier than last year. We kept waiting for the cold to come and finish off the final remnants of our last year's garden, but it never did. And I am still nervously watching the ten day forecast for any freak April freeze that could destroy what we have planted. But it looks like we should be pretty safe. I hope so, cause things are coming up like there's no tomorrow. <br /><br />Here's a little tour if you are interested. As you come through our front gate you will be greeted by these sunny poppies that I planted last April. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-LqEuUXkmVQ0tUkBQVI5DsykNBVnMZXtghGeUxZDR11mxD6UfL-3nzVw4bDXTAoHGAIS8mpDhJiQb-HWLdxGef5yhHnyPj2Xe4X6uWWTYUmI9z0qGTrPOseCxF90Z7L2DSDJcLvUr_pD/s1600/DSCN0848.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-LqEuUXkmVQ0tUkBQVI5DsykNBVnMZXtghGeUxZDR11mxD6UfL-3nzVw4bDXTAoHGAIS8mpDhJiQb-HWLdxGef5yhHnyPj2Xe4X6uWWTYUmI9z0qGTrPOseCxF90Z7L2DSDJcLvUr_pD/s320/DSCN0848.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726170711922354850" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbxtsnJ7lNkXWu1e7Pcl77hcUj4xUFQFkuEins-VjddWK9sYibKwnfKkaoz5uOHTYPiaKHTFV6dhsti-1WKA0i6vBc6SOUjERnYPEkuUypdRjJzhHR8k2QzLloLWL45i-0V0iEp2-TaUG/s1600/DSCN0847.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbxtsnJ7lNkXWu1e7Pcl77hcUj4xUFQFkuEins-VjddWK9sYibKwnfKkaoz5uOHTYPiaKHTFV6dhsti-1WKA0i6vBc6SOUjERnYPEkuUypdRjJzhHR8k2QzLloLWL45i-0V0iEp2-TaUG/s320/DSCN0847.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726170697449991410" /></a><br /><br />Yes, you heard that right- last April. I planted them along with the sunflowers, but the sunflowers grew so fast and big that these little guys didn't stand a chance in their shadow. After we cut down the sunflowers, they tried again, and managed to grow some leaves before "winter" hit. Then they just waited patiently for several months until this spring, when they were glad to see I decided against twelve foot monster flowers and exploded into life. They have made an impact I guess. I was walking the other day about six blocks from my house, and a woman I had never seen greeted me with a "Hey you! You're that lady aren't you? That lady with the poppies!" I had to laugh.<br /><br />Along the other side of the fence are the green beans and of course zinnias.<br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVViJt-py-h-FvIpBrx5xszGs6guWvRYiVJu4N7g53EzFzYavXm-ZzI8HFtFWZLsNXB1WvaizhOVZ7kjV_KxzDHTImrSTI4Ht_xGg_QxY99Epu430DGfqWic_3zPxNLIicXOVbFxGgKDbY/s1600/DSCN0846.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVViJt-py-h-FvIpBrx5xszGs6guWvRYiVJu4N7g53EzFzYavXm-ZzI8HFtFWZLsNXB1WvaizhOVZ7kjV_KxzDHTImrSTI4Ht_xGg_QxY99Epu430DGfqWic_3zPxNLIicXOVbFxGgKDbY/s320/DSCN0846.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726172477541924050" /></a><br /><br />I had saved some dried beans from last year's crop and was very pleased to see them spring up right away this year. I felt so frugal, you know, saving a buck-fifty or something. And also very pioneerish. I mean, if the worst happens, I know that I have an infinite supply of green beans to feed my family, right?<br /><br />Our potted plants have increased in number and variety. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikv4PCyXKTYdaTkL59sF_YL7JVs5WiFaCSLzga_6PWDsxqCYOlDTdoC4QtcoQABCsjtJCvudVE9pk8vaokuTB7wImjfCkYXDLHngwAmHTPWDczLWlpoUpTcayS9dPaW7t1ZO1Zx5gO_mNw/s1600/DSCN0853.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikv4PCyXKTYdaTkL59sF_YL7JVs5WiFaCSLzga_6PWDsxqCYOlDTdoC4QtcoQABCsjtJCvudVE9pk8vaokuTB7wImjfCkYXDLHngwAmHTPWDczLWlpoUpTcayS9dPaW7t1ZO1Zx5gO_mNw/s320/DSCN0853.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726174074515022162" /></a><br /><br />It's kind of bad that we live about two blocks from the best nursery in town, because it is always tempting to stop by on the way home, just to grab one thing of course. Yesterday, Steve brought home a fig tree! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOHOkBAROcq8YAzQjRZZbbSYhchQFQKu9ktgzL3Q-biOiyHr2MwUsfOGviNCaDVLsRVetaElqs1IdCH05JcH2waZOSXvtsV3CA0Z_m63hqv6dQ0RWtx6Vv9Zs-_93efz6PqruB9_5L4X5/s1600/DSCN0840.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOHOkBAROcq8YAzQjRZZbbSYhchQFQKu9ktgzL3Q-biOiyHr2MwUsfOGviNCaDVLsRVetaElqs1IdCH05JcH2waZOSXvtsV3CA0Z_m63hqv6dQ0RWtx6Vv9Zs-_93efz6PqruB9_5L4X5/s320/DSCN0840.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726201871178838306" /></a><br /><br />I never know what that man is going to bring home next.<br /><br />This is a funny little tree that is very special to me. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7W23edxqYbdFYA12bm0uEkl3hNhtz4qgZlf40x2G1e27z_O6_5YnFq5iQbc4RJwrKq2ALShBARfEyGhu1GTgSQibcyFmdlfMBCGAP1-yx3mnxMUF38-UTLb5YaBD_PmRqYutGuXev4DA/s1600/DSCN0841.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7W23edxqYbdFYA12bm0uEkl3hNhtz4qgZlf40x2G1e27z_O6_5YnFq5iQbc4RJwrKq2ALShBARfEyGhu1GTgSQibcyFmdlfMBCGAP1-yx3mnxMUF38-UTLb5YaBD_PmRqYutGuXev4DA/s320/DSCN0841.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726203747756517186" /></a><br /><br /> Once when my mom and dad were visiting a cousin in California, they noticed her curly willow tree and really liked it. My cousin gave them a cutting to bring home with them, and it rooted and grew like crazy. When we moved away from that house, they took a cutting with them and planted it at the new house, where it is now a rather large tree. My older sister wanted one too, and took a piece home with her. When she came to visit last March, we asked if she could sneak a few cuttings from her tree in her baggage. They survived and this is the result in just a year. It's the tree that keeps on giving. <br /><br />My irises made a much better showing this year than the last.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafe5oK-BQbOUixuw6KKjKN_d0ljm78Mx6Y18VGtcQga650FlsG-VTFMzMiRdzBOdmo0wRxJHdxlinOjoaW3DNV_O8jMj5-KEZ5eagvYp1QWzpX2nwcFXRcxnxtgk_ClhQgPE4mW2b4pOh/s1600/DSCN0817.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafe5oK-BQbOUixuw6KKjKN_d0ljm78Mx6Y18VGtcQga650FlsG-VTFMzMiRdzBOdmo0wRxJHdxlinOjoaW3DNV_O8jMj5-KEZ5eagvYp1QWzpX2nwcFXRcxnxtgk_ClhQgPE4mW2b4pOh/s320/DSCN0817.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726205737643970354" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_BIbE9382NfZbb_OUVGagSiP-3K9yhtn92BAFXznJC9fbO19N4HQS2W8y8BJMs_BP8hIj60W-LKtusTT8D-5W0Da9rNRaGxib8lqCq0dncI1O4e1s8DifTbm9ybxtU0HNKgNTnHAhob7/s1600/DSCN0819.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_BIbE9382NfZbb_OUVGagSiP-3K9yhtn92BAFXznJC9fbO19N4HQS2W8y8BJMs_BP8hIj60W-LKtusTT8D-5W0Da9rNRaGxib8lqCq0dncI1O4e1s8DifTbm9ybxtU0HNKgNTnHAhob7/s320/DSCN0819.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726205733566969554" /></a><br /><br />And I know, like we didn't have enough strawberries already.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0jy0ig2pWUF0s5FTGe17ScYg-qu24eJ9y1Os5ivB2k1nBBWS-qFua6XImA_glZAPQ4b09RMPwbmp3SQcLLAZ-4Y_fn1jzdcxdwPYUnK3fINJ_NvOWEFlS3xEOfPcV9InWaqfLSFHR88q/s1600/DSCN0852.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0jy0ig2pWUF0s5FTGe17ScYg-qu24eJ9y1Os5ivB2k1nBBWS-qFua6XImA_glZAPQ4b09RMPwbmp3SQcLLAZ-4Y_fn1jzdcxdwPYUnK3fINJ_NvOWEFlS3xEOfPcV9InWaqfLSFHR88q/s320/DSCN0852.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726206456624673042" /></a><br /><br />Our planter boxes are similar to last year- radishes, beets, lettuce, chard, brussel sprouts, onions, peppers and of course tomatoes. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPaWR5_33EaQXbKF22lZAUQ2jfxnBSQKX5uVxYRWzRinmdWCXOHl1ffkEpOWidaMF-6f6I51RfInJmSxCw71McdH0FuKP-wekGIhQWQI6GVSLSYwGaE38tg_xffehLJWiwHBiGC_e3kVd/s1600/DSCN0850.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPaWR5_33EaQXbKF22lZAUQ2jfxnBSQKX5uVxYRWzRinmdWCXOHl1ffkEpOWidaMF-6f6I51RfInJmSxCw71McdH0FuKP-wekGIhQWQI6GVSLSYwGaE38tg_xffehLJWiwHBiGC_e3kVd/s320/DSCN0850.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726210124621534114" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02Ta9thkTJn0Dm1gDWv_iTF_q3SPmVnHGprTpGVYHVL3KfyCofw3gbLodhu5_FvwNf0P79yFYo2zpaa9ZR0GOrOHLjpYYmBvTvnSzofB8DOdW7E8byw-mbTD9krCTAPY4y4ZYFJRNi1AK/s1600/DSCN0849.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02Ta9thkTJn0Dm1gDWv_iTF_q3SPmVnHGprTpGVYHVL3KfyCofw3gbLodhu5_FvwNf0P79yFYo2zpaa9ZR0GOrOHLjpYYmBvTvnSzofB8DOdW7E8byw-mbTD9krCTAPY4y4ZYFJRNi1AK/s320/DSCN0849.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726210114699124034" /></a><br /><br /> What we planted in the farthest box was kind of an accident. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvdg5VwCnm85UdnmO-2ZiJykEYDAHMbh_9RkeoT8J5z5g4HXBdOVfkA-J-U4WNqhChruJwdgXRVKNUgsvV9lc74ZryyFCjUsFOhQCIZ4scphdwZXBzexWvD1zulfyc1pgnGuGqZ_J7NmN/s1600/DSCN0851.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvdg5VwCnm85UdnmO-2ZiJykEYDAHMbh_9RkeoT8J5z5g4HXBdOVfkA-J-U4WNqhChruJwdgXRVKNUgsvV9lc74ZryyFCjUsFOhQCIZ4scphdwZXBzexWvD1zulfyc1pgnGuGqZ_J7NmN/s320/DSCN0851.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726212301958306946" /></a><br /><br /> We had been steadily adding to our compost for over a year, and it was finally ready to add to the garden. The last box had a lower dirt level so I threw it all in there and mixed it up. I guess we didn't let it compost fully or something, because after a couple of weeks we started seeing serious growth going on, and it wasn't weeds. I do not exaggerate when I say there were at least fifty tomato plants starting up, well over fifty squash (at least we think it is squash- could be cantelope or cucumber as well) basil plants, sunflowers and zinnias and even two or three peach trees from discarded pits. (The big bush is my rosemary that survived the winter nicely.) <br />We toyed with the idea of letting it all just grow and see what would come, but remembering last year and the explosive growth of the squash and tomatoes, we decided to let the squash (or cantelope or cucumber) win the battle early. I did transplant the peach trees though. They are so cute and I am curious to see if anything will come of them. Gardening can be such an adventure!<br /><br />As I was coming in from watering, I just had to snap this shot. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmtlGWrcGG0wY1g3QTkRTyAHr_8OxmvcVM1X2FVvdw-E4obQLCpt3wzcZma5XFxReD29WHziGpXYBHvBug0CSMGDrtm_wQ0pJAdbGlWsjW5u1asQc8EpO0uQb9-WgtCtj_WiqSrHzAMuR/s1600/DSCN0844.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmtlGWrcGG0wY1g3QTkRTyAHr_8OxmvcVM1X2FVvdw-E4obQLCpt3wzcZma5XFxReD29WHziGpXYBHvBug0CSMGDrtm_wQ0pJAdbGlWsjW5u1asQc8EpO0uQb9-WgtCtj_WiqSrHzAMuR/s320/DSCN0844.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726213421167078258" /></a><br /><br />All my little kiddos boots all in a row, ready to put on little feet that can't wait to help mommy dig in the dirt. Do you like Christian's little yellow boots? My older sister gave them to me because she was done having kids. Do you think I should give them back?<br /><br />Happy gardening!Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-83504337243248119782012-03-14T12:25:00.009-07:002012-03-14T12:50:48.914-07:00When life gives you strawberriesSo the local grocery store was selling strawberries at .79$ a box this week. I love strawberries, the kids love strawberries, and even more, I love cheap fruit. I bought a dozen boxes. This seemed like a lot, but we also love jam, so after gorging ourselves on fresh ones, I made what was left into some delicious strawberry, vanilla bean spread. But it only made three jars, and something in the back of my mind kept nagging me that I wouldn't be finding .79$ strawberries again any time soon. I checked the store flier, and it was the final day of the sale. Panic! Steve had the van and wouldn't be home until after they closed! I gave him a call and asked him, if it wouldn't be too much trouble, to swing by the store on his way home and grab a few more boxes. No big deal of course, but if he had the time you know. He came home an hour later, with this.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKTQF-s7rGl1JBDTM0bsTLvHNcBmGxkd_ZsXF5IyKHhQ7oQOUC-qOCfIZuIAgyw7HmlyHe2YFYUZtAcduYjhZfRZGRHg9lp-0KtvELQ1HVxT976spdbL64SO-ZY6BY_cNloQA5SOUHi2X/s1600/DSCN0816.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKTQF-s7rGl1JBDTM0bsTLvHNcBmGxkd_ZsXF5IyKHhQ7oQOUC-qOCfIZuIAgyw7HmlyHe2YFYUZtAcduYjhZfRZGRHg9lp-0KtvELQ1HVxT976spdbL64SO-ZY6BY_cNloQA5SOUHi2X/s320/DSCN0816.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719838251160689362" /></a><br /><br />I was a little dumbfounded. I mean, 24 lbs of produce!!! This in addition to the twelve I had already purchased. And produce that rots perhaps more quickly than any other. Well, it was a challenge I accepted gladly. <br /><br /> This is a picture of my kitchen early this morning.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihgsB6iniVfheeXOil8O285rqfRLgrYJl1Gp787sVbrw5RA2fel2fCpzCyketLzTOfw9dgVbuOQFvAL3Mpu9mNW0BTTlJbuMnYBj53lOLzr576WdiiRBiNoUdqKZxCA42tAsN8UppX60f/s1600/DSCN0824.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihgsB6iniVfheeXOil8O285rqfRLgrYJl1Gp787sVbrw5RA2fel2fCpzCyketLzTOfw9dgVbuOQFvAL3Mpu9mNW0BTTlJbuMnYBj53lOLzr576WdiiRBiNoUdqKZxCA42tAsN8UppX60f/s320/DSCN0824.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719839310740545778" /></a><br /><br />I called it 'still life with strawberries'.<br /><br />This was my kitchen a few hours later.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzcC3cPSBuzTM4fE16NW_40bJwz-JxWugH-csjBmP7Xw_g19frsG0WT9O-pC5eR6-skuyklVvAaZ8H6ZTLuSarPOvEC5tcyHBBc4xtlt9PNhpJTelWlVtqtAozI3TEYh6PFg0cryhuEQC/s1600/DSCN0828.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzcC3cPSBuzTM4fE16NW_40bJwz-JxWugH-csjBmP7Xw_g19frsG0WT9O-pC5eR6-skuyklVvAaZ8H6ZTLuSarPOvEC5tcyHBBc4xtlt9PNhpJTelWlVtqtAozI3TEYh6PFg0cryhuEQC/s320/DSCN0828.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719840079770923506" /></a><br /><br />It seemed to ask "Is it really worth it?". <br /><br />This is my kitchen currently. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hXAvAOxS7HhFHMMEjs8CaPezFWefr0e5ITqJl-8520IYP73MmMWpp8ooXEVWWqCbuyiOrR3-K1jV5MoWseOmP7yZC4kfeXa23YYqJIfdZO305T2mX06NhcqRa86QtHcf_EaxWgeT1L-A/s1600/DSCN0831.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hXAvAOxS7HhFHMMEjs8CaPezFWefr0e5ITqJl-8520IYP73MmMWpp8ooXEVWWqCbuyiOrR3-K1jV5MoWseOmP7yZC4kfeXa23YYqJIfdZO305T2mX06NhcqRa86QtHcf_EaxWgeT1L-A/s320/DSCN0831.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719841973887459058" /></a><br /><br />It says to me- "Fifteen jars of jam, 2 gallon bags of frozen berries for smoothies, 1 lovely bottle of strawberry syrup, a large pan of 'fruit leather', the remnants of some tasty strawberry lemonade we made for lunch, not to mention four pounds of fruit remaining to enjoy. I think you could say it was worth it."<br /><br />Anybody got some shortcake? I'll bring the berries.Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-16686225384582627502012-03-02T10:31:00.012-08:002012-03-02T11:08:17.329-08:00Tornado distractionWe are having tornado warnings again today. Those things never used to phase me until last April and the bad storms we had. Now I jump every time the wind blows the door shut, and I try not to think about the fact that we have no basement in this house. So, to distract myself, I will blog a bit in between staring at the weather channel. <br /><br />I thought I should make some mention of my baby turning one last week- well almost two weeks ago now. I tried to get a good photo shoot of him for the occasion, but he is so wiggly that they are kind of blurry. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCs7LtbaxodcO9YWfshvF_fazX2a1P5ork9AkNDSkvmGabraFttBh6rbNErXMpGtmXOYCwOlkxuzhVV73Av4-BwFjSzIAbYBYudk3V_379wN8JU43w0wKCkltM9vBYokJHPhV2s4z6ZakN/s1600/DSCN0791.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCs7LtbaxodcO9YWfshvF_fazX2a1P5ork9AkNDSkvmGabraFttBh6rbNErXMpGtmXOYCwOlkxuzhVV73Av4-BwFjSzIAbYBYudk3V_379wN8JU43w0wKCkltM9vBYokJHPhV2s4z6ZakN/s320/DSCN0791.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715371771952496642" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nWF2D5qgk5GPdvDuGyqmtLDQhtb8mJt1Mx5Mh9vkOmlzLisbO9RWkbnUDUJtL66wvlzx8AX4KbpDcD8clBkv0haWf_pRCW_N-l43tQgc6gp6mei6BUcruisZtFdUvy6-7XNlDYVtSPAN/s1600/DSCN0796.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nWF2D5qgk5GPdvDuGyqmtLDQhtb8mJt1Mx5Mh9vkOmlzLisbO9RWkbnUDUJtL66wvlzx8AX4KbpDcD8clBkv0haWf_pRCW_N-l43tQgc6gp6mei6BUcruisZtFdUvy6-7XNlDYVtSPAN/s320/DSCN0796.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715371777757861890" /></a><br /><br /> He took his first wobbly steps on leap day, but still much prefers crawling. That is sooner than all of his brothers by about five months. I guess he has a lot of keeping up to do. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmld56BP77cEWJsEbCy5ERkMb4of0qeDvoNumN0QFbAC1v_Fpz1QjdHwK75EF3boyGjKznj6pkU6GI3K15er-CR7nZatyaqkroCjpaqmr5rFXUmxeSdeKycHsJbgJHR4kKeMBfD97xLRa/s1600/DSCN0805.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmld56BP77cEWJsEbCy5ERkMb4of0qeDvoNumN0QFbAC1v_Fpz1QjdHwK75EF3boyGjKznj6pkU6GI3K15er-CR7nZatyaqkroCjpaqmr5rFXUmxeSdeKycHsJbgJHR4kKeMBfD97xLRa/s320/DSCN0805.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715372454489148626" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm8qfWJwQ9zj87VR42b4CTyDxY8bPXOoYCdAgDqKYuI7W81bshgA4M044B_gij7aixjv6PNdMEoJYXqxWv0USmvN3rtrK3aLvtvorH_17oZFjC5IqOd1m0hppqUHqHXr3rHD0t1NUsBCO/s1600/DSCN0806.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWm8qfWJwQ9zj87VR42b4CTyDxY8bPXOoYCdAgDqKYuI7W81bshgA4M044B_gij7aixjv6PNdMEoJYXqxWv0USmvN3rtrK3aLvtvorH_17oZFjC5IqOd1m0hppqUHqHXr3rHD0t1NUsBCO/s320/DSCN0806.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715372445123398946" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-taUvVrxHvJb0QY6JGZjlwOA7yF8cXG8IOHIRQHt7i6n3Xu5PKgg7_vLU_NR4S-w9Y-rSBgu1VP9SbOqN4A1SFrdy51BXyvZ6QozxzQei9Mm-EYNhyphenhyphenQxnDzVSgCwmzo38mjtcbPIwDSAy/s1600/DSCN0807.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-taUvVrxHvJb0QY6JGZjlwOA7yF8cXG8IOHIRQHt7i6n3Xu5PKgg7_vLU_NR4S-w9Y-rSBgu1VP9SbOqN4A1SFrdy51BXyvZ6QozxzQei9Mm-EYNhyphenhyphenQxnDzVSgCwmzo38mjtcbPIwDSAy/s320/DSCN0807.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715372443509990178" /></a><br /><br />Happy birthday sweet boy!<br /><br />I have also not mentioned the fact that we just returned from the craziest road trip on record. We went to Florida with my sister, her hubby and all of our kids (ten in all) in one fifteen passenger van. I am trying to decide if I want to write up all the details on that. Needless to say it was an adventure, but I can't believe how much fun we had, even with all the chaos. If I don't get around to posting, here are some pictures from my sister's blog. http://8dawsons.blogspot.com/<br /><br /><br />I am already starting to dig up the yard for this year's garden. I can't believe it is time to think about planting again. We had such a mild winter that some of our plants are still going out there- swiss chard, cilantro and strawberries all winter long! How weird is that? I think our front yard is secretly a greenhouse. <br /><br />Well, I think the warnings are over for a while- so I can breath a bit. Call me crazy, but it's just a little unnerving when your weather service is telling you that severe, tornado- spawning thunderstorms are imminent in your area. I think it's something about the word <span style="font-style:italic;">severe</span>, or maybe <span style="font-style:italic;">imminent</span>, or it could just be the phrase <span style="font-style:italic;">tornado-spawning </span> that's getting to me. Who knows.Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-46683988368629481092012-02-27T11:03:00.008-08:002012-02-27T11:26:42.273-08:00Utter Disaster....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_uTBIDg6Qr5b6YXOGxKDP7Qtkh5Q0WC-mj7AMTg9PWQK5wuu7trT03hyphenhyphen7scYvHevfyTq8uDPYsUUgcqpOtQh0xxaPokhjED_CO6h6zJBNRArREi4wiuHQek-UZokUW_MOKNegetMLI0s/s1600/DSCN0789.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_uTBIDg6Qr5b6YXOGxKDP7Qtkh5Q0WC-mj7AMTg9PWQK5wuu7trT03hyphenhyphen7scYvHevfyTq8uDPYsUUgcqpOtQh0xxaPokhjED_CO6h6zJBNRArREi4wiuHQek-UZokUW_MOKNegetMLI0s/s320/DSCN0789.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713897756542624498" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwcDEQmFkchJ2ERPSeQsX6C0SldEX4RM4MnLeOrcNtvj8NMWEIgGxchwVbpD2HaK0k3TLViBI8t-G2fyUyFNJRdE91wboJy-M2YV5n2jdQ35tsxkMGnyH0LFagU8ZqBdgmRlhVvVtJ159t/s1600/DSCN0785.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwcDEQmFkchJ2ERPSeQsX6C0SldEX4RM4MnLeOrcNtvj8NMWEIgGxchwVbpD2HaK0k3TLViBI8t-G2fyUyFNJRdE91wboJy-M2YV5n2jdQ35tsxkMGnyH0LFagU8ZqBdgmRlhVvVtJ159t/s320/DSCN0785.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713894089695066898" /></a><br /><br />..... is what happens when mommy finally catches up on Downton Abbey.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8kLeqieTFVK5IfBmm1TJd3sPvw7K-1wW1PB3J9P9rJxCHAIP4rWXA-bhQWvIhbOtoqpGLdojGXigGovI1kDndhMSTkh20vraGZPEE1qxu8A8fiCf8Sbedddg606Tw5IHeQkX7vWhWUDr/s1600/DSCN0786.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8kLeqieTFVK5IfBmm1TJd3sPvw7K-1wW1PB3J9P9rJxCHAIP4rWXA-bhQWvIhbOtoqpGLdojGXigGovI1kDndhMSTkh20vraGZPEE1qxu8A8fiCf8Sbedddg606Tw5IHeQkX7vWhWUDr/s320/DSCN0786.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713898015489120530" /></a><br /><br />Not to mention the baby feels free to graze on crayon-laden carpets. <br /><br />Thank goodness Season Two is over. Now back to life.Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-67330612005766103122012-02-13T17:14:00.000-08:002012-02-13T18:14:40.454-08:00Muck RakingI swept my kitchen on Saturday, y'all. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisseCR7xYylAj52ucdSlVpvDSWhyphenhyphenDCB9pKQ091rL3YpUhGNOBBU9RGB7gCUSpBLDXhRYmTj1bGUuH8QiyY9rUjtdu6oYVXGrtlxyTIVuou3bGCHT7aR1kgxdMdgg6rOxixTCA_WLz5FK9q/s1600/DSCN0644.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisseCR7xYylAj52ucdSlVpvDSWhyphenhyphenDCB9pKQ091rL3YpUhGNOBBU9RGB7gCUSpBLDXhRYmTj1bGUuH8QiyY9rUjtdu6oYVXGrtlxyTIVuou3bGCHT7aR1kgxdMdgg6rOxixTCA_WLz5FK9q/s320/DSCN0644.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708793848412865490" /></a><br /><br /> As in Saturday 48 hours ago, not Saturday 10 days ago. I've been thinking I will leave the pile there and maybe it will make an impression on the boys. They will see it and become so overwhelmed with remorse that they will promise never to make a mess again. Good idea? No, you're probably right. They would shuffle right through it unawares, and what doesn't get kicked back to where it was a few moments before, would probably end up in the baby's mouth. <br /><br /> Do you ever let something like a pile of dirt shape your thinking for an hour or two? Suddenly it mirrors all the things in your life that are unfinished, thankless, needing to be done again tomorrow. It signifies all the frustrations you have during the day with your naughty little boys who peel all the onion papers off 10 lbs of onions, shred the cotton off dozens of q-tips, stick stickers all over the furniture, and wipe boogers all over the walls. (sorry to be graphic, but it is cold season around here.)<br /> <br />Have you ever seen the movie Amelie, where the guy she wants to meet is late, and within 30 seconds, she has concocted a dreadful history in her head about what might have happened to him? I think he ended up in her imagination as an exiled sheep-herder in Afghanistan or something. My imagination went a little wild with that dirt pile tonight, and suddenly all the little problems and difficulties in my life became a looming mountain- perhaps in Afghanistan somewhere- who knows. <br /> I knew in the back of my mind all of the reasons why I should be thankful for that pile, for the little onion-peeling hands that more often than not fill my life with gladness. But sometimes I have to remind myself not to be like the man in Pilgrims Progress who spent his days bent over, raking muck, while the joys of earth and heaven went by unheeded around him. <br />I really didn't mean to pontificate like this over my nightly sweepings, but jotting it all down on 'paper' helps ground me back in reality. And perhaps tomorrow I will joyfully help create the snowstorm made out of q-tip heads and wipe the runny noses before grubby fingers beat me to it. Just so long as they leave the onions alone.Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-33918631666640408352012-02-06T11:58:00.000-08:002012-02-06T12:12:58.618-08:00Where there's a will....."Mommy, will you peel my orange for me?"<br /><br />"Not right now Etienne, mommy's busy. And you know how to do it yourself."<br /><br />"Yes, but I always squirt juice in my eye when I do it."<br /><br />"Well, give me a minute and I can help you."<br /><br />Apparently a minute was more than he could stand waiting for his orange, because I found him engaged in peeling it a short while later- with protection.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6EjZjubbXDebMf9CtFgFv9OV-luTPHwPtIWfNQEpOUoGo0XAD3T4G7f5npLc3BETLFt_gEw6rCtOmWliAoglUqTENIjZP36S2kU1RjHqSRXPLn-5QwTSKLLpGSVdCTqIG0KyuXHyZGlk/s1600/DSCN0640.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6EjZjubbXDebMf9CtFgFv9OV-luTPHwPtIWfNQEpOUoGo0XAD3T4G7f5npLc3BETLFt_gEw6rCtOmWliAoglUqTENIjZP36S2kU1RjHqSRXPLn-5QwTSKLLpGSVdCTqIG0KyuXHyZGlk/s320/DSCN0640.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706116310466629394" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFcbRc0ajc9BZ0N1MHf3dWeT5nPUq5eBZuhGI3LdHUBxed3KZcABCZa_s92KW_gG6VMBbngNrR-5DCRrnwYI5bjLl6q_7WXi5_v5l_m6uZDaRzEcHALV7wqflNINNBe1ujvQgi_ppb4WD/s1600/DSCN0641.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFcbRc0ajc9BZ0N1MHf3dWeT5nPUq5eBZuhGI3LdHUBxed3KZcABCZa_s92KW_gG6VMBbngNrR-5DCRrnwYI5bjLl6q_7WXi5_v5l_m6uZDaRzEcHALV7wqflNINNBe1ujvQgi_ppb4WD/s320/DSCN0641.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706116304531390914" /></a><br /><br />You can imagine the pride I felt in seeing this child of mine improvise a squirt shield out of my clear plastic quilting ruler. I raced for my camera to capture such an innovative moment. Move over Thomas Edison, here comes my boy.Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-62392913726482451982012-02-02T12:58:00.000-08:002012-02-02T13:21:48.247-08:00Ah, the irony<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjFsmnDXToq5KOJylnog_BICi1T3hwNn5XNn48alu7NoLQV9Gxve0XJ_B98ZWtBNHetxAb1MmBFkp3z3p5syxMw8oCmWMvndU2834H4tTbDs9WZSFWxLDaLs_Te0fQ252cVH5_ZVWBtub/s1600/DSCN0629.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjFsmnDXToq5KOJylnog_BICi1T3hwNn5XNn48alu7NoLQV9Gxve0XJ_B98ZWtBNHetxAb1MmBFkp3z3p5syxMw8oCmWMvndU2834H4tTbDs9WZSFWxLDaLs_Te0fQ252cVH5_ZVWBtub/s320/DSCN0629.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704646492726114146" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPyyu1JYbsjACoWtulVHFcE03-HkqUMXIvMNNEzVsUHlR3MQIWfEVDPfMCA45vhtxa2musLw-CrFW1yF6MgBfU9ZePpVPr6dcDeQHH8uYZGIPS78_0yKw9fOmJ_VxDpUrDMz6zkfPA8fH/s1600/DSCN0630.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPyyu1JYbsjACoWtulVHFcE03-HkqUMXIvMNNEzVsUHlR3MQIWfEVDPfMCA45vhtxa2musLw-CrFW1yF6MgBfU9ZePpVPr6dcDeQHH8uYZGIPS78_0yKw9fOmJ_VxDpUrDMz6zkfPA8fH/s320/DSCN0630.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704646483588547410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHA4LyJENfIC6jXdWJeWSJMMNIwMxsg7dRw1UpKASSD4RLI5hpS8cYd8jD5Q3M7Oa2H5MWIMq16ce-nMFrtIskQ_yP9B9EelvKEuscWJyD8U5tLqIQwnlN8EUNJyY_DpXPw_fNvZTCW3Z/s1600/DSCN0635.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHA4LyJENfIC6jXdWJeWSJMMNIwMxsg7dRw1UpKASSD4RLI5hpS8cYd8jD5Q3M7Oa2H5MWIMq16ce-nMFrtIskQ_yP9B9EelvKEuscWJyD8U5tLqIQwnlN8EUNJyY_DpXPw_fNvZTCW3Z/s320/DSCN0635.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704648401272567634" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-WjXxaX9bdf4Kd2tUdxn4m6TMhpAuqrUSgXupxToryJZZuZan3PvRFhVXw4g4vUEcwBQxGVEtOYogt_6wcfMkx3wL6Hcq02_BTD24dprWFQQI6WmMPg6EK3PTApgUJpgXSzomQ-ZgsrM/s1600/DSCN0634.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-WjXxaX9bdf4Kd2tUdxn4m6TMhpAuqrUSgXupxToryJZZuZan3PvRFhVXw4g4vUEcwBQxGVEtOYogt_6wcfMkx3wL6Hcq02_BTD24dprWFQQI6WmMPg6EK3PTApgUJpgXSzomQ-ZgsrM/s320/DSCN0634.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704646472641865970" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8uoLq5-1TbrdxD2IBPbpg7khmUstQo3_6ZAnWKFInCw_uz_yaPy7xTU_fNKMynHHjewbTGnUEiRD0bDl9DTtlIEGPyG9xEDdGBjqab_sRtHBzgU4-yQFfzHu8tlq8bEA8duLCRlBtqV6/s1600/DSCN0636.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8uoLq5-1TbrdxD2IBPbpg7khmUstQo3_6ZAnWKFInCw_uz_yaPy7xTU_fNKMynHHjewbTGnUEiRD0bDl9DTtlIEGPyG9xEDdGBjqab_sRtHBzgU4-yQFfzHu8tlq8bEA8duLCRlBtqV6/s320/DSCN0636.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704648712368810722" /></a><br /><br />"But mom, I dropped my ball in the mud and just needed to get it clean!"<br /><br />(I also love that he avoided both door mats but nailed the bath mat and used the toilet to step on instead of the footstool right in front of him.)Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-78923788480796096922012-01-27T07:24:00.000-08:002012-01-27T08:28:23.165-08:00January MiscellanySo January went where? Still looking for it. And still trying to remember what we did with it. Oh yes, we did do a few things. I think it was mostly gearing up for the great project- the great work to begin on our huge unfinished house that I haven't blogged about for a few years now because just thinking about it made me a little bit crazy. If you got our Christmas letter, you remember that we received some funds to recommence work on our house. So we have been attempting to begin, but so far it feels like we are spinning our wheels a bit. After several days of cleaning up and organizing and prepping to replace all the wire that was stolen a year or so back, we were broken into again. Thankfully, there was no new wire up yet to steal, but we have had to focus on amping up the security on the house since it is obviously being watched. This may or may not include moving our rottweiler over there, just to introduce him to the neighborhood you know. It definitely includes a fence and security system that will allow us to alert the authorities should someone attempt to break in again. <br />Another thing we did in order to help simplify our lives was to take James out of school. We debated a lot as to whether or not this would help minimize craziness, but so far we feel we have made the right decision. And James is loving homeschool. Since he is such a fan of filling out papers and getting all his work done right away, it leaves very little for me to do except, of course, put stars on things. <br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOT2UUAE2gdgWhdtcmcLPZbVbCwokBIPdOzsYXiXDP7Pf-gZA47Fo_jM-wYrzDAg49T_tbjgxKQ6zJiopdG4nEX9tNDpwlMk9pODfyljw85_eZblomPEVLGBPqu7ZA_F7hqKwM226txuHz/s1600/DSCN0627.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOT2UUAE2gdgWhdtcmcLPZbVbCwokBIPdOzsYXiXDP7Pf-gZA47Fo_jM-wYrzDAg49T_tbjgxKQ6zJiopdG4nEX9tNDpwlMk9pODfyljw85_eZblomPEVLGBPqu7ZA_F7hqKwM226txuHz/s320/DSCN0627.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702336404917951538" /></a><br /><br />Since we've been slow to get going on the big house, and since it has been the rainiest January that I can ever remember here, I've been a little stir crazy. So I started a few projects. One of those was to attempt a rudimentary mastery of french pastry- again. Many times over the past ten years of life with my pastry-loving husband, I have tried to attain that elusive, ethereal, epitome of baking- the croissant. But after so many failed attempts, I gave it all up in despair. I mean, who can stand all that butter going to waste? But after an inspiring blog post at my new favorite food blog, Annie's Eats, and a sigh of longing from my husband, I tried again. And this time- success! Well, at least the beginnings of success. I was so excited that I made a triple batch of dough (please don't ask me how much butter was contained therein) and froze it in sheets, like the puff pastry you can buy in boxes at the store. I've been playing around with it, and this morning we enjoyed pain-au-chocolat with strawberries. Not bad for a Friday morning.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDb0YVDzZXGuRc4QRpxaKbyqYNgP7RTgAXYobtjQIOZckV5PvQeba04ShP9nMnbZp1wy4Gd0yH_nP3Zsi0kMt7dJyvZ1SNAqzX_KSXdlp8X79MWdKXQG24Iv0DsV2NeO5fLP7xRrqsrjkv/s1600/DSCN0618.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDb0YVDzZXGuRc4QRpxaKbyqYNgP7RTgAXYobtjQIOZckV5PvQeba04ShP9nMnbZp1wy4Gd0yH_nP3Zsi0kMt7dJyvZ1SNAqzX_KSXdlp8X79MWdKXQG24Iv0DsV2NeO5fLP7xRrqsrjkv/s320/DSCN0618.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702343542756296434" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJR_gHE0trFUQqvyctCaJdJUdVZTaG0HCt4yKYXtgdYfgPdDqe2AodaFElak4vnGYHbHWt_0aqm74Xc42yJXuyGiqhjA9_OY3RMJ28xOFfouxRPrSlzZ2Fjun65I75GQ502DK0kbiK-2lO/s1600/DSCN0620.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJR_gHE0trFUQqvyctCaJdJUdVZTaG0HCt4yKYXtgdYfgPdDqe2AodaFElak4vnGYHbHWt_0aqm74Xc42yJXuyGiqhjA9_OY3RMJ28xOFfouxRPrSlzZ2Fjun65I75GQ502DK0kbiK-2lO/s320/DSCN0620.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702343539134299874" /></a><br /><br />I also started (and finished) a baby quilt. I love making quilts, but starting a big one always takes over my whole house and my life. So I content myself with baby ones. My mother is an incredible seamstress and makes beautiful quilts for all her grand babies, but that means all the nephews and nieces on my side of the family are taken care of, bedding-wise. So I started making them for the nephews and nieces on Steve's side of the family. It's a nice gift to send since it is lightweight and unbreakable and sometimes needs to be sent as far away as the Indian Ocean. This one is only going as far as the north coast of France for my sister-in-law's third child- a girl. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0o_zee2YIkvVsM3-EkjXqA8TtMTjyQf6FIgnBa3NXjm2xH38AMVW12mQkNid8s1AEVdUUOaRGsZGyEl0yFHQpE7pXz8iaoHa44_1AShq1I9YgOBXkcmebcaRZy6_c5F_BFr3TJeE16_4s/s1600/DSCN0621.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0o_zee2YIkvVsM3-EkjXqA8TtMTjyQf6FIgnBa3NXjm2xH38AMVW12mQkNid8s1AEVdUUOaRGsZGyEl0yFHQpE7pXz8iaoHa44_1AShq1I9YgOBXkcmebcaRZy6_c5F_BFr3TJeE16_4s/s320/DSCN0621.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702346153668014898" /></a><br /><br />I delight in making girly things, and I obviously don't get the chance very often. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUvDDZnxoI1qJgQ3tVeNZQ8inDUtucrHJynFD6Wz3lg1jv0ZZUZp3o5PCXe6jK9v2sUF5piel4QiDselfz2-bNzD-c1AIiOMHFF3cUFb8SCaLCHEu2kvPDQvMiXj5-NY7weo3WFniRTnY/s1600/DSCN0623.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUvDDZnxoI1qJgQ3tVeNZQ8inDUtucrHJynFD6Wz3lg1jv0ZZUZp3o5PCXe6jK9v2sUF5piel4QiDselfz2-bNzD-c1AIiOMHFF3cUFb8SCaLCHEu2kvPDQvMiXj5-NY7weo3WFniRTnY/s320/DSCN0623.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702346523534822786" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6VpwFRb-sP8WFrWm97-wLhM_xK1rkhywP-MFEAmQpWgcO_M756Y1u23Gdo3gSxpj2u_aL6rHlyIjOjX0dzkKRzI5EfsKIcW4uW9XIuFLkgZRuV-osDcFpE8Ur13QH7cT9GmHI-BQf2yi/s1600/DSCN0622.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6VpwFRb-sP8WFrWm97-wLhM_xK1rkhywP-MFEAmQpWgcO_M756Y1u23Gdo3gSxpj2u_aL6rHlyIjOjX0dzkKRzI5EfsKIcW4uW9XIuFLkgZRuV-osDcFpE8Ur13QH7cT9GmHI-BQf2yi/s320/DSCN0622.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702346520581170178" /></a><br /><br />It turned out to be sort of reversible too, since when I outlined the individual flowers on the front, they are traced on the back too. And I love how the green edging turned out. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDqrN5TARRvCRrMh-QzTweNZ-8n1MY4Yq2nyuZhuRCnz-M53OEzt_wS7tZHqwKA64Uucx7z29GbhjE2oDk3cVoVHnCruw_NeDlVZvxn7hLABAm0IUZx-Nia7UDZfkxj8S5u4WNU40Kxa4/s1600/DSCN0624.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDqrN5TARRvCRrMh-QzTweNZ-8n1MY4Yq2nyuZhuRCnz-M53OEzt_wS7tZHqwKA64Uucx7z29GbhjE2oDk3cVoVHnCruw_NeDlVZvxn7hLABAm0IUZx-Nia7UDZfkxj8S5u4WNU40Kxa4/s320/DSCN0624.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702346976201845330" /></a><br /><br />Anyways, this kind of thing helps me whenever I get the urge to sigh for frilly dresses and flowery decor, or to repine because the only sewing I do for my boys is patching the knees of tattered jeans. <br /><br />So I guess that was January. How was yours?Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-84335150700896234632011-12-31T12:14:00.000-08:002011-12-31T15:37:05.843-08:00Play DaysIt's been a quiet week around here- going nowhere and lots of playing with new stuff. We are resting up for the new year, which looks to be somewhat busier than the norm, which is saying something. But I don't want to think about that 'til tomorrow.<br /><br />We had a lot of fun picking out Christmas gifts for the boys this year. A few were duds, like the remote control car that died almost instantly and had to be taken back, and the cheap dollar store toys the boys 'bought' for each other and broke within hours. But mom and I picked out this winner months ago when she was in town, and I have been hiding it ever since. <br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdYecefHqir8OXEqm_6_rCPt0R9743Kjber1duBR_DtaQWd33uN8z_DUnyinc2aZq7DHSqnY0nF0ZOgO30spCEDmtxYTSHOIb7wrIeYyT21hra318id5XvVfPu-UGX-Bn8dcz_c_8xGLH/s1600/DSCN0551.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdYecefHqir8OXEqm_6_rCPt0R9743Kjber1duBR_DtaQWd33uN8z_DUnyinc2aZq7DHSqnY0nF0ZOgO30spCEDmtxYTSHOIb7wrIeYyT21hra318id5XvVfPu-UGX-Bn8dcz_c_8xGLH/s320/DSCN0551.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692392533318467970" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsdP7rUzYB0H8Z93zwhuGD9qiT9QNfehMedbCcJ-8RC5u7Sh9roM-KyTojgBh14NzMwW3ZzslFJJCJ3ZT-cGDpwsQgUpB-jxOfvxkFlPbZGuP9vQu7CqE-S7_er3q6cyojhNkn5ZqKnAH/s1600/DSCN0553.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsdP7rUzYB0H8Z93zwhuGD9qiT9QNfehMedbCcJ-8RC5u7Sh9roM-KyTojgBh14NzMwW3ZzslFJJCJ3ZT-cGDpwsQgUpB-jxOfvxkFlPbZGuP9vQu7CqE-S7_er3q6cyojhNkn5ZqKnAH/s320/DSCN0553.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692392538112638450" /></a><br /><br />The boys actually love playing with doll houses, but I couldn't find any that weren't pink and frilly. What could be more manly than a rocket doll house with elevator included to transport various astronauts and aliens? And I love that all the boys love playing with it- even the baby. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9vdvDurvvTE9dwfultZti77LuppqlzEemTE0YP723dRHyk17A7dn2pzHFnOOQtUW3iH9nxoiz8o14DNcCs-DBWoDs97expHy08EwLcRksCgYb1gTJ6vu1ESGec0CzKqFXqOfPFVyCDYz/s1600/DSCN0558.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9vdvDurvvTE9dwfultZti77LuppqlzEemTE0YP723dRHyk17A7dn2pzHFnOOQtUW3iH9nxoiz8o14DNcCs-DBWoDs97expHy08EwLcRksCgYb1gTJ6vu1ESGec0CzKqFXqOfPFVyCDYz/s320/DSCN0558.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692393163212740162" /></a><br /><br />I also got the boys some little chests with their initials on them, filled to the brim with art supplies. I didn't realize Etienne was really interested in art, but he has hardly stopped coloring since. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3p_sickW8UphEMOuJrypBCM9wfD0aDRoPHPIm2UHijedDhmKBayeXUVdF2lxxpiE7PQwufw3yqxf7WhNWsUQl7DLUU-_KDmnf7P_BmXV5DvHQJwcR1lPa7X4h00bksxTIsCGEaj9ekgX/s1600/DSCN0554.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3p_sickW8UphEMOuJrypBCM9wfD0aDRoPHPIm2UHijedDhmKBayeXUVdF2lxxpiE7PQwufw3yqxf7WhNWsUQl7DLUU-_KDmnf7P_BmXV5DvHQJwcR1lPa7X4h00bksxTIsCGEaj9ekgX/s320/DSCN0554.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692393789662843874" /></a><br /><br /> The weird thing is, he always colors inside the lines. It's a little unnerving for a four year old. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHnDR-hJr4yW9SrbWLbmN5o3pEgAYbPmZqLuo2ccGmhFHRAnQpvEuDcDptjrmL4cvfjzqMyAPAykmAGTfrnFowgdBcZSLFhGz4iMV3JzKV98fnUQg8CfM5tFGiWgFJNbV0ggI4zn7aPGc/s1600/DSCN0574.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHnDR-hJr4yW9SrbWLbmN5o3pEgAYbPmZqLuo2ccGmhFHRAnQpvEuDcDptjrmL4cvfjzqMyAPAykmAGTfrnFowgdBcZSLFhGz4iMV3JzKV98fnUQg8CfM5tFGiWgFJNbV0ggI4zn7aPGc/s320/DSCN0574.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692395716788090354" /></a><br /><br />My favorite gift we got for the boys was the k'nex roller coaster. I enjoyed k'nex when I was a kid, and we have decided to go the k'nex route, rather than legos for our boys (at least at this juncture.) I had been looking for a cool set for a while, and Craigslist had a big roller coaster for a steal, but it was already sold by the time I asked. So I got another one at Walmart- not so impressive, but not too expensive. The day I brought it home, the lady from Craigslist called and told me the first buyer had fallen through and did I still want the bigger roller coaster. I decided to go for it, and hid the other one in the car to take back. Of course I forgot about it, and the kids found it a few days later. They brought it in, raising it high in the air and absolutely ecstatic. It was then my painful duty to tell them we had to take it back. Amidst the tears and wails, I tried to explain to them that they needed to trust that mommy knew best, and they wouldn't be sorry. I think they doubted me right up to Christmas morning. The coaster from Walmart had 400 pieces, the one I got had 2500. And Steve and I had a blast putting it together with them. Granted, it took a couple of days, and it is taking up almost the entire bedroom, but it was worth it. And it actually works!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvBCpUE5CVBGBM8Pk4MVnWXw36G3FtfJb1vRbDAw-WoLk4FIWJ1rptfzl2agdoAxHmmHV_eNp2A06Y-QwgJvoFyyj7hAEe9Ixa314ozIuwHgk0Uxq-K9OVEhegGHwjBUn-atOm-sRAvy_/s1600/DSCN0562.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvBCpUE5CVBGBM8Pk4MVnWXw36G3FtfJb1vRbDAw-WoLk4FIWJ1rptfzl2agdoAxHmmHV_eNp2A06Y-QwgJvoFyyj7hAEe9Ixa314ozIuwHgk0Uxq-K9OVEhegGHwjBUn-atOm-sRAvy_/s320/DSCN0562.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692437181954017042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxs8sL1F-UXq6XmtpeRe0ioQarxlFBy5P57uAml-W5TzD6uo0FD8z1uJ1tq8YTYkLHfAZi6ygeviOrIvetkj53vTZ3Ix7vsOjIkdDGLcezoWhJGRLVSrsvYnJueL-DYrjUSO1iNxRlIWMj/s1600/DSCN0564.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxs8sL1F-UXq6XmtpeRe0ioQarxlFBy5P57uAml-W5TzD6uo0FD8z1uJ1tq8YTYkLHfAZi6ygeviOrIvetkj53vTZ3Ix7vsOjIkdDGLcezoWhJGRLVSrsvYnJueL-DYrjUSO1iNxRlIWMj/s320/DSCN0564.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692437179307521026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPhle6V2xAsFSst4xv1QX-M4Zd4Mq9F9rRR3kErq7_HVJEYzq2pvQ1-9mEEVTi3FttHiq-lY43ooubYFpFE8HGQXLE2CHugMva3XwEnsoeQuQ-ipAQ5_9O63Ax5MHO90ODGb7tRzbDpQR/s1600/DSCN0563.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPhle6V2xAsFSst4xv1QX-M4Zd4Mq9F9rRR3kErq7_HVJEYzq2pvQ1-9mEEVTi3FttHiq-lY43ooubYFpFE8HGQXLE2CHugMva3XwEnsoeQuQ-ipAQ5_9O63Ax5MHO90ODGb7tRzbDpQR/s320/DSCN0563.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692437198286003122" /></a><br /><br />Steve and I decided not to get each other much this year, but he did buy me these wonderful new shoes. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9nsKByHQUQpnW6aKE5uQkNpK6sTGnYlwsUYJ-SokhXIFXC799a7-4JRA6ITWdcKbr1jXciAY_eC-welEsTefM7nx8h5rRYvAcSiuEsPFIHZ603QCZ-HUi16fDjdTHErsF4gdwqq5otwJ/s1600/DSCN0556.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9nsKByHQUQpnW6aKE5uQkNpK6sTGnYlwsUYJ-SokhXIFXC799a7-4JRA6ITWdcKbr1jXciAY_eC-welEsTefM7nx8h5rRYvAcSiuEsPFIHZ603QCZ-HUi16fDjdTHErsF4gdwqq5otwJ/s320/DSCN0556.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692438435424371426" /></a><br /><br />I just love the cuffs with the buttons!<br /><br />And my mom got Steve this indoor lemon tree. We hope it will actually produce some fruit, but if not, it's still a lovely little tree and smells great. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4LI2Rvtuk-eu-cPaGU6CJr2HEj9ltKI_Et865cqTYdcBiPoEcaoN2IpqNAAXAaAr5nAzkrn5XyKegrhzu-fkJwyOCAsBuYI1_gQ-sGlYODXvYTZFwAckJLvJ0yEF-7B-4uaLv1zcaEjk/s1600/DSCN0568.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4LI2Rvtuk-eu-cPaGU6CJr2HEj9ltKI_Et865cqTYdcBiPoEcaoN2IpqNAAXAaAr5nAzkrn5XyKegrhzu-fkJwyOCAsBuYI1_gQ-sGlYODXvYTZFwAckJLvJ0yEF-7B-4uaLv1zcaEjk/s320/DSCN0568.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692438712325668706" /></a><br /><br /> We got the pot at the local nursery for five bucks! Couldn't have found a more appropriate one, eh?<br /><br />So all in all, we had a very Merry Christmas. We are looking forward to 2012, and to putting our poor wilting Christmas tree out of its misery. <br /><br />Oh, and Santa also delivered a few teeth. Thank You!<br /><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQzepj9BhFr1CNw-nl90J9MkNe9khIkMSYz2fvhyphenhyphenwC0CigvWS76S9fxD8dlz_o_RgGFrBnTYM_IkXyOMoH7K5FqSeR8hI0fkWAlCHvvd9PyK6cc-tdl39Jq1GpS427aiDpac2ifSbjNJ8/s1600/DSCN0573.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQzepj9BhFr1CNw-nl90J9MkNe9khIkMSYz2fvhyphenhyphenwC0CigvWS76S9fxD8dlz_o_RgGFrBnTYM_IkXyOMoH7K5FqSeR8hI0fkWAlCHvvd9PyK6cc-tdl39Jq1GpS427aiDpac2ifSbjNJ8/s320/DSCN0573.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692438213358499154" /></a>Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-8099232663574785632011-12-26T16:47:00.000-08:002011-12-26T17:04:33.578-08:00Christmas EveThis year was the first we have ever spent without going home to see my folks and sisters. It was difficult for me in a lot ways, since we have no family in town. I am used to a huge family affair, but we made the best of it and had a sweet time. It was definitely the most laid back Christmas we have ever had, and I sure didn't miss the jetlag. These are some shots from Christmas eve and early Christmas morning. I didn't get a lot of shots of the boys opening gifts after church, since I was trying to rein in the chaos most of the time, but I will try and post some of their gifts at a later date. Hope you all had a Merry Christmas! <br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="288" height="192" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fsnlewin%2Falbumid%2F5690600222638703377%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-58149176631520732042011-12-24T05:43:00.000-08:002011-12-24T05:46:01.525-08:00Merry Christmas!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_FoQbjma1rEsAElf8zZNWob_Me75wQdPc1tox5r2RgQ2l67aoMht-sr1memN3uMLl2jHib0C_GQbIr8Pd0-JPVANAlAyD2FMLQMht_E0CijHF7mGwW-aZsWRjVB3kVUXZvzXQDROZpK9/s1600/052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_FoQbjma1rEsAElf8zZNWob_Me75wQdPc1tox5r2RgQ2l67aoMht-sr1memN3uMLl2jHib0C_GQbIr8Pd0-JPVANAlAyD2FMLQMht_E0CijHF7mGwW-aZsWRjVB3kVUXZvzXQDROZpK9/s320/052.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689690542592628930" /></a><br /> <br /> From Steve, Nicky and a wreath of boys.Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-21726167309500138242011-12-17T12:20:00.000-08:002011-12-17T12:31:47.826-08:00A surplus of kissesI bought a huge bag of Hershey's kisses from Costco a few weeks ago, and have been thinking of ways to get rid of them ever since. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoa46zgWyHRrzpJUdxcILYiDrdQCbLzz8cm6seRbE5Y2vhqwDnVQ9cU4fSz5Y576FT9orhxBRu-SOWMZNqDugPryIzrrZrE55UMuRFlBMY7L8OCQ7CWF-evRpPjyxdy7jiUihvhE7Opkap/s1600/030.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoa46zgWyHRrzpJUdxcILYiDrdQCbLzz8cm6seRbE5Y2vhqwDnVQ9cU4fSz5Y576FT9orhxBRu-SOWMZNqDugPryIzrrZrE55UMuRFlBMY7L8OCQ7CWF-evRpPjyxdy7jiUihvhE7Opkap/s320/030.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687195593943736866" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7h8dmoIjKLSz2aP7g9oINPE5KvQ9pDZ6czfRc7pbP-CYUVCCuH87Sg6BaSGw0glPxPa0i4w6qE9eDAOPToyVvJ0TpfZC8DPu4xVJHREMrxtzk7fIJ_6C_SnugSTHLzBUxngk1ZrCuWacq/s1600/032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7h8dmoIjKLSz2aP7g9oINPE5KvQ9pDZ6czfRc7pbP-CYUVCCuH87Sg6BaSGw0glPxPa0i4w6qE9eDAOPToyVvJ0TpfZC8DPu4xVJHREMrxtzk7fIJ_6C_SnugSTHLzBUxngk1ZrCuWacq/s320/032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687195589384134450" /></a><br /> <br />They are a pretty versatile little chocolate drop, either on top of a peanut butter cookie, inside of a walnut cookie, or just melted in a blob with nuts. And the kids love unwrapping and sticking them on things, so they are an easy way to get kids involved without all the rolling, cutting out, and frosting that sugar cookies entail. Believe it or not, every one of these treats has already been given away, and I need to make more. I haven't even eaten one!Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-22927970157008984132011-12-12T11:24:00.000-08:002011-12-12T12:50:34.421-08:00Star of the Show???Last night, my boys participated in their first ever church Christmas program. They were not looking forward to it. I guess they don't have a lot of my genes, because the thought of standing in front of all those people and singing seemed to terrify them. They all assured me over and over again that they would go up front if they had to, but they wouldn't be singing. That is why this video of Etienne surprised me so much. I didn't have a good view of James and Sebastien- you will see them occasionally behind their teacher, but Etienne was front and center in more ways than one. I am not sure if he was nervous, trying to grab all the attention, or simply in his own little world. Of one thing I am sure. This kid marches to the beat of his own drum, literally.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/33552704?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/33552704">Untitled</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1747146">nicole lewin</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-83182772107715390252011-12-09T13:16:00.000-08:002011-12-09T13:21:32.199-08:00All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvoV6lDS8ltNIp6kjyPuGmMgbExkA4lyMnRWZDiTmWR5tgE4QpOogD_re0EG757pS1UnpG0A4lUYqxFgZmMR_ADCK_KAQS34MOHH1WsNWLYMwqEwRYg4wvsnhLzhRXSy7hYk0xd4uhBVdL/s1600/031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 151px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvoV6lDS8ltNIp6kjyPuGmMgbExkA4lyMnRWZDiTmWR5tgE4QpOogD_re0EG757pS1UnpG0A4lUYqxFgZmMR_ADCK_KAQS34MOHH1WsNWLYMwqEwRYg4wvsnhLzhRXSy7hYk0xd4uhBVdL/s320/031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684241715174357698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnoZjRtdw4xnzIUxDfIPjvr2xKaIyn7orinetCQjEtVxk2ewcVYCRyONfqRpcHUFkJf7z3m9Pt64Sh2e_rVjRqtvv4FnFM0rRZPfowfowjA1E3eozQ9063VPipe5IGTxEunQMmWrFS7qf/s1600/028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnoZjRtdw4xnzIUxDfIPjvr2xKaIyn7orinetCQjEtVxk2ewcVYCRyONfqRpcHUFkJf7z3m9Pt64Sh2e_rVjRqtvv4FnFM0rRZPfowfowjA1E3eozQ9063VPipe5IGTxEunQMmWrFS7qf/s320/028.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684241711188823906" /></a><br /><br />Sorry for the graphic nature of these photos, but they nicely convey the misery that's been going on around here for the last few weeks. <br /><br /> I am hoping Santa will deliver a little earlier than the twenty-fifth.Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291853939916456045.post-74878279984815081452011-12-02T12:49:00.000-08:002011-12-02T12:56:43.438-08:00Just follow the trail....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMbxZvZmM1X1i1M0fnsfHnvfDZPOSsXzYJi4e3sflU3TbzXseScAwMy7-YuVlGR-2VnqyboXoS0CF3C_Sw0BGkrL015Lk795LWvpQ_MfnST93asWcrlJ62JzAylyoZUd38k5o7j2nHFN2/s1600/025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMbxZvZmM1X1i1M0fnsfHnvfDZPOSsXzYJi4e3sflU3TbzXseScAwMy7-YuVlGR-2VnqyboXoS0CF3C_Sw0BGkrL015Lk795LWvpQ_MfnST93asWcrlJ62JzAylyoZUd38k5o7j2nHFN2/s320/025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681637349325505090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoM_P7dxiQxM8GqfwUl742NwPeQ4qDEEDtqYubQ7v1kf7BM5W154BbUMTzhZOpfxMdVe_7W_1-HjnScTXVyTpBFGCCDqlMpJO8qVMYHMlFKQ0lKZ-ajz01zfXfD9z1Th8ns2AkUJv70-g/s1600/027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoM_P7dxiQxM8GqfwUl742NwPeQ4qDEEDtqYubQ7v1kf7BM5W154BbUMTzhZOpfxMdVe_7W_1-HjnScTXVyTpBFGCCDqlMpJO8qVMYHMlFKQ0lKZ-ajz01zfXfD9z1Th8ns2AkUJv70-g/s320/027.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681637347164296658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1j4yzVh0L_pFmbaiD6cAOcPOvP0q94sK3cURk9R450zSKwkvWg4A_ZkBpJJnGP5HeUiLDanLV47ZsS5h7UKs6Hd_GtBJNpfB69kxdgk-vgpvLGDZVRBp30CX0SJ8iY9bJwYTEjtrKhB1P/s1600/028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1j4yzVh0L_pFmbaiD6cAOcPOvP0q94sK3cURk9R450zSKwkvWg4A_ZkBpJJnGP5HeUiLDanLV47ZsS5h7UKs6Hd_GtBJNpfB69kxdgk-vgpvLGDZVRBp30CX0SJ8iY9bJwYTEjtrKhB1P/s320/028.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681637338768491554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ2el91VbnVZdrv3wMmDE3e1IPqGj-MR2-YJ_dJEhdt_9ufJ00FL0tSOe2Dar9q5Yr_6ZcDfQKwmIIyQb4iDwosZI6jDGmF9qPF9XdktX5tLPwxnjlZngZdbNSXrgekXOanu6Fj1NnUBf/s1600/029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ2el91VbnVZdrv3wMmDE3e1IPqGj-MR2-YJ_dJEhdt_9ufJ00FL0tSOe2Dar9q5Yr_6ZcDfQKwmIIyQb4iDwosZI6jDGmF9qPF9XdktX5tLPwxnjlZngZdbNSXrgekXOanu6Fj1NnUBf/s320/029.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681637323514171170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJMU6Nh1vGaBsQoj64_737OLLkf4ewPsBKpxRinooyC_Tj1dbDXyV1URr5gucbWRx9Gq17znr_KzPM4M54hU34VxQ62f2OeS0yByKDWtjTZWp5mZ3MkCYoiAmyJW40uZe9Kf5hezD7V58/s1600/032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJMU6Nh1vGaBsQoj64_737OLLkf4ewPsBKpxRinooyC_Tj1dbDXyV1URr5gucbWRx9Gq17znr_KzPM4M54hU34VxQ62f2OeS0yByKDWtjTZWp5mZ3MkCYoiAmyJW40uZe9Kf5hezD7V58/s320/032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681637319085178610" /></a><br /><br />and let satsuma season begin!Nicole Lewinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847852687454490251noreply@blogger.com2