Owner: Duckabush Blog URL:http://www.edgren.com/wordpress/ Join Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 02:07:58 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: The musings and ravings of a bloggart family with five children, a homeschooling mama and a computer geek papa; all trying to serve the Lord and survive each day with plenty of laughter (and not too much shoving). Site statistics:Click here
WFMW - Educational Computer Games 2007-10-30 23:40:35 It’s been so long since I’ve blogged, I feel quite out of practice. Is there such a thing as Dead Air on a blog? We were traveling yesterday and completely missed posting our weekly Parenting Tip. Some people would have blogs in reserve and wouldn’t let something as trivial as flying across the country cause a slip in posting.
Those people don’t live in this house.
I’m also drawing a complete blank on today’s Works for Me Wednesday post.
Educational
computer games.
With five children, a programmer husband, and several computers in the home, you can be sure we have invested money in educational computer games.
Some of Our Favorite Educational ComputerGames
Crazy Machines - In this game you build imaginative machines, turn cranks, rotate gears, pull levers, create unique contraptions. You also experiment with gears, robots, explosives, and more in your own virtual lab. The early levels are fairly easy but the game gets progressively harder.
I wish I had a Parenting Tip 2007-11-05 23:51:13 But I don’t. Not today. Not this evening when I’m too tired to be insightful, creative or witty. I thought about about something novel I’m trying with the children. “That would make a great blog, I said to myself, picturing the staged photos that would be perfect with the post. But since I just started today, it seems a little premature to share it with the blogosphere.
“Is this a new rule or an old rule, Mom?” my oldest son asked me last night when I told the kids we were going to try something different.
“Um, it’s not exactly new, no,” I mumbled.
“Oh, I got it. It’s an old rule that you are going to start enforcing,” he nodded sagely.
What does that mean and why did he look so world-weary when he said it? I guess an old familiar family standard is better than a shocking new one. This particular child doesn’t like change so he’s understandably wary when I charge off in uncharted waters, whether Read more:Parenting
Homeschool Blogging Nominations 2007-11-05 03:46:21 It’s time to grab your keyboards, a pot cup of coffee, and some chocolate and head over to Homeschool
Blog Awards. The nominations for this year’s blog awards begin on Monday and continue through the 16th. Voting takes place in the beginning of December and there are prizes for the winners. Prizes, fame and more prizes.
Look at this great list of winning categories:
1. Best Homeschool Mom Blog
2. Best Homeschool Dad Blog
3. Best Blog Design
4. Best Artistic Content Blog
5. Best Crafts, Plans & Projects Blog
6. Best Family or Group Blog
7. Best Encourager
8. Best ‘Live-What-You-Believe’ Homeschool Blog
9. Best Unschooling or Eclectic Homeschooling Blog
10. Best Geographical Blog
11. Best Current Events, Opinions or Politics Blog
12. Best Homemaking or Recipes Blog
13. Best Teen Girl Blog
14. Best Teen Guy Blog
15. Best Teen Group Blog
16. Funniest Homeschool Blog
17. Best Cyber-Buddy Blogger
18. Best Curriculum or Business Blog
19. Best Variety
20. Best Thrifty H Read more:Blogging
Sleepovers, Sick Kids and Tolkien 2007-11-04 02:52:03 Joshua celebrated his birthday this weekend. Pay no attention to the fact that his birthday is in October and it’s November. Nothing like stretching birthdays out, I always say. Especially when it’s MY birthday. Oh yes, and I’m famous for it. Joshua is normally not as birthday obsessed as his mother but the college reunion trip to VA threw his party off by a few weeks.
Friday night Tim gathered Joshua and three of friends and took them out to the Duckabush for a Lord of the Rings movie fest. They met up with a Duckabush friend and spent the evening with Sam, Frodo and their cohorts. I hear they even went to bed at a decent hour.
Well, decent for a sleepover.
Joshua and his friends, missing Austin, who had to leave early.
They managed to fit in two of the three Lord of the Rings movies, which I think is impressive. Grandma provided a delicious cake and there was plenty of food for meals and snacking.
In the mean time, back at home, Rachel was hosting her o Read more:Tolkien
Hard to Be Home Again 2007-11-03 02:53:35 Back to school, laundry, meals and dishes. Thankfully each of those chores come with amazing blessings - children with eager, learning minds; a busy full life; plenty of food in the cupboards and on our table; a purpose and ministry of discipleship.
The work isn’t the problem. I’m glad to be home. I missed the children and love being a mom again. It was a bit strange to be pseudo college student, plus I don’t think I really fooled anyone. Fifteen years are a little hard to hide.
How’d I end up back in class and where are all the other students?
No, my difficulty right now is staying focused on my healthy eating and exercising. I don’t WANT to go to the Y and workout. I don’t WANT to stick to my eating plan and record my food. Frankly, I’m SHOCKED that I was so disciplined for an entire month. Who was that person? Surely not me. I’m lazy. I want to stay home and read my book. Pass the chips and salsa, is what I have to say Read more:Again
Homecoming 2007-11-11 02:18:11 After eight days away from our children, Kathy and I were agreed: it was time for them to come home.
Too bad Grandma and Grandpa brought them home in the van — this way would have been more stylish.
We thoroughly enjoyed our break away from our duties as Mom, Dad, programmer and teacher, but as the days slipped away, our hearts returned to our little family. In short, we missed ‘em.
Brick paths and brick buildings under a cool October sky …
We are spiritually and relationally renewed; or if not, it wasn’t from a lack of trying. The church leadership retreat challenged the depth of our commitment to our Lord, and helped us to build some closer relationships with the staff and ministry leaders. Our trip to the east coast was a delightful mix of catching up with old friends and revisiting old haunts without feeling too er, old.
It was wonderful to connect with Rachel and to see several other good friends, like Emily and Dave.
I had hoped for a little mor Read more:Homecoming
Rock Stars Siblings 2007-11-09 01:41:13 The stomach bug continues to wind its unpleasant fingers through the family. It seems to be a long, tiring but mild illness. Tim and Joshua have ceased to complain of stomach cramps and pains but Rachel is taking longer to recover. She spends most of her evenings lying on the couch. I’m ready to have my Punk Rock Star back with us.
‘Cause you never know when you need someone around with ATTITUDE!
Rachel holds a very special place in David’s heart. When she is sad, it troubles him deeply. He misses her when she is off with friends and is very concerned for her well-being. On Sunday Rachel and I stayed home from church. When Tim and the other children returned, David tore through the house looking for Rachel. He wasn’t content until he had hugged her and checked on how she was doing.
After all, she taught him that steely eyed, COOL look. Give Rachel a brush, and boy can she belt out the tunes.
I mean, parents are nice and all that, they do feed you and
Such Great Advice 2007-11-08 02:23:28 Okay, you all are amazing. Friends, family and total strangers chimed in on yesterday’s blog to suggest great ways to transform our family’s eating from junk food happy to healthy, fit and vibrant.
Instead of sticking with snacks like these:
Austin (my sweet friend, Jodi’s, son) checks out some serious candy options in downtown Williamsburg.
…instead I guess we have to bring these kind of “treats” into the home:
Fruit, veggies and more.
I was so encouraged by all the helpful comments. A hearty thank you to everyone who responded. This morning Sarah and I went to the store and I made sure to fill up my grocery cart with plenty of fruits and vegetables. The kids gobbled down the apples and oranges like starving urchins and everyone enjoyed a big salad this evening.
I think I forgot that a healthy lifestyle requires continue work. I don’t know why it should be so surprising, the laundry doesn’t ever end (Hooray, I did 6 loads of laun Read more:Great
WFMW - Backwards Day 2007-11-06 22:40:13 Hooray, it’s another Backwards
Day at Rocks in My Dryer. Instead of doling out sage advice and tips on lofty topics like diet/exercise, better sleep w/fans, and coffee, YOU all get to guide me with your wisdom.
I can hardly wait! I need lots and lots of help in almost every category. Well, I do have ‘blogging until 1 in the morning’ down pat so I have a few things figured out. Still, that leaves all sorts of other areas in which I am pathetic and desperate.
Rachel rallied from her on-going stomach flu in order to take Mia for a walk this morning.
After much thought, list making and soul searching, I’ve decided to beg for your ideas on healthy eating for the family.
Please!!
David is a great baseball player, but he obviously needs more veggies to keep him strong and healthy.
How do you get your children (and husbands, God love ‘em) to eat vegetables?
What kind of healthy snacks do you serve during the day?
What things are you willing to pay extra fo
Pancake Conspiracy 2007-11-15 21:42:54 For the past two years and more, my beloved Kathy has carefully regulated the foods she eats. As with many frothing fanatics enthusiasts, it wasn’t long before her critical attention fastened on those around her with less healthy eating habits.
While I’m not quite in Scott’s league with his love for Cheese, I certainly enjoy food a lot more than is good for me. I almost never wake up hungry, and I’m often at work an hour before my thoughts turn to breakfast. At the office, culinary options are minimal, and I often settle for Diet Coke and Pop Tarts, known in Olympic circles as the Breakfast of Also-Rans® ™.
It didn’t take long for Kathy to suggest that I eat some of her healthy pancakes for breakfast, instead of my sugar-saturated fare. Her pancakes come fortified with egg, blueberries, steel-cut oats, and a variety of other complex grains which defy the body to metabolize them in less than five or six hours.
I tried ‘em:
“Hey Read more:Pancake
, Conspiracy
Where Did the Evening Go 2007-11-15 02:48:01 Well, it wasn’t spent blogging, let’s just get that right out in the open. No laundry was done or dusting, mopping or sweeping. The house was pretty much completely ignored as was fitness, Bible study and school organization.
The hours went by, though, I’m pretty sure of it as it’s now midnight. Let’s see, what did I do?
I think basically I read lots of email, blog postings and comments.
It sounds pathetic, I know, but we receive so many wonderful comments on the blog that it is a joy to dialogue with readers and fellow bloggers. I try to visit other blogs on a regular basis, comment when I can, and connect with as many internet friends as possible.
It can take a LONG time. I guess that’s where a good portion of the evening went, in making bloggy connections. I never regret the time reading, laughing and gleaning wisdom from other bloggers.
I even stumbled on some fun giveaways this evening:
Boo Mama’s Jewelry Bag
Rocks in My Dryer Week
WFMW - A Girls Weekend Away 2007-11-14 00:15:20 This weekend I had the delightful pleasure of sneaking away with some girlfriends. It wasn’t an official Women’s Retreat or a Homeschooling Conference. There was no business that needed attending or meetings scheduled for the entire weekend. We had a wonderful time and I knew immediately that this would be the perfect topic for this week’s Works for Me Wednesday post.
Planning a Girls
Getaway Weekend
Find a friend with a birthday. This should not be difficult as most people have birthdays. It is helpful if the birthday girl has parents with a timeshare or a second home at the beach. This keeps costs down considerably. Improvise as necessary with both the birthday friend and the accommodations.
Michelle was the birthday girl who organized our weekend away.
Hand off children to the beloved, helpful, and thoroughly capable spouse. If you do not have children or spouse, please skip this step. If your spouse is not helpful or capable (I’m presuming they ar
Tuesday Tips for Parenting - Cooking Creates Memories 2007-11-13 00:15:38 Last week I was too tired to post a parenting tip. Such laziness! I repent of my sleepy ways. Never again will I choose sleep over blogging.
I have asked two friends to come in as Guest Bloggers for our Tuesday
Tips for Parenting
. I can’t wait! They are both amazing moms and I know you will love them and learn from their wisdom and experience. Thankfully this is a very slow time of year for families and moms in particular, so they have plenty of time to come by and share some thoughts with us. Ha! In other words, I’m not sure when we will welcome them to the blog, but I hope it will be soon.
In the mean time, let’s talk about COOKING with Children.
Cooking with your children is a fantastic way to train them in practical life skills, create memories, enjoy parent/child time, and participate in something that benefits the entire family.
This creation was definitely worthy of a photo.
Not only that, but you get to sit back and relax and let someone else take car Read more:Creates
WFMW - Laughter 2007-11-20 21:55:31 Our family likes to laugh. I’d go so far as to say our family loves to laugh. We might even be addicted to laughter. It’s a sickness but we’re getting help. One source of help is a Christian comedian we recently discovered by the name of Tim Hawkins. He has several cds and dvds for sale on his website. We watched all the clips and then searched for more on youtube.com and godtube.com. He has some hysterical songs online including, Things Not to Say to Your Wife, Kid Rock and Parents are People.
Disclaimer - humor is a personal expression and people differ on what they find amusing, appropriate and relevant. Tim Hawkins material is relatively family friendly and from a Christian source, but it is humor and therefore might benefit from previewing.
Pop over to Rocks in My Dryer for other Works for Me Wednesday ideas.
Kathy
Tuesday Tips for Parenting - Smile 2007-11-20 10:47:31
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. (Proverbs 15:30)
I was getting in to the van one day a few months ago and I happened to catch a glimpse of my reflection in the car window. I was frowning. There was a little pinched frown in between my eyebrows.
Why was I frowning? The children were busy buckling themselves in their seats, we were off to an event of some sort, we weren’t terribly late, it wasn’t a Bad Hair Day, I had my faithful pink travel mug full of coffee; there was NO REASON for me to be frowning.
I began to sneak little peeks at myself, in mirrors and windows, throughout the week. I discovered that more often than not, my face arranged itself in a little frown. I was shocked. Is this the expression that greets my children and my husband on a daily basis? Is there some underlying trouble or concern in my life that would cause me to have a constant frown on my face? Am I doomed to be branded a sour puss (wrinkl Read more:Tuesday
, Parenting
, Smile
Small Group 2007-11-19 02:24:13 Our SmallGroup
/Bible Study/Fellowship Group/Home Group (what do you call them?) tries to meet once a week. We are currently in between studies. We had a fantastic time going through the Love and Respect dvd series and then we did a 5 week study by Ray Vander Laan. I’m not sure what we’re going to settle upon next.
This is how we spent tonight’s small group:
1) Snacks (always key) - fresh carrots, homemade chocolate chip cookies, hot cider, pretzels and Breton crackers.
2) Worship - Ray led us in an amazing time of singing and prayer. All of the children joined us (the family room was FULL of people) for the singing. What a blessing to have a skilled worship leader in our midst.
3) Memory Verses - the group is trying to add scripture memory work to our lives. Each week everyone is encouraged to memorize three verses. When we come together in group, there is time to recite the verses (and receive applause, of course). When the children in AWANA show up their pa
Only 34.5 Pictures a Day 2007-11-18 02:14:45 Heading to the white board, Joshua did some math calculations to see how my 11K pictures averages out for the year. It’s day 321 of Project 365, so if you take 11,000 and divide it by 321, you end up with close to 34.5. Hmmm, since I haven’t been taking many pictures these days (18 today, 5 yesterday and 2 on Thursday), I guess there must be some weeks when I am very picture happy. A Snap Happy, Camera Lovin’ Mama!
This morning we went to Michael’s for their Saturday craft workshop.
Thankfully we aren’t listing how many GOOD pictures I have taken this year or how many BLOG-Worthy pictures, or even how many EMBARRASSING shots.
20 Great pictures
3500 Bad pictures
That leaves me with 7480 average, not particularly note-worthy pictures.
What a legacy for the year!
We joined some friends from the Hey Kids Club.
I had a lengthy conversation with a friend this week about scrapbooking and faith journaling. I was impressed with her idea of recording the me Read more:Pictures
Family Photo 2007-11-17 03:31:52 This year I am bound and determined to get some professional pictures taken of our family. Yes, I know, you were worried that I didn’t have quite ENOUGH photos of all of us. Project 365 is hurrying to a close and I have taken over 11,000 pictures this year.
11,000 pictures.
In one year.
Does that seem like a normal number? What about if you are a serious blogger? An intense scrapbooker?
Help me out here, folks! What is the most amount of pictures you’ve taken in a week, month, year, decade? I know my friend Casey took an extraordinary amount of photos when she went across the US with her family this past summer. Surely 11,000 pictures is pretty average for a busy family of 7, it’s probably even a bit low in some respects.
I’m just a normal, camera lovin’ mama, right?
Right?
Okay, my children are NOT allowed to answer.
And neither is Tim.
The more I learn about photography, the more I appreciate true masters of the art, and the more I covet fancy c Read more:Family
, Photo
What do you wear? 2007-11-26 03:27:59 So let’s say you have five children, and I’m speaking hypothetically, of course, and you were heading off to the photography studio this week, and, again hypothetically, it’s been, oh, 9 years since you took a professional family photo …
WHAT WOULD YOU WEAR???
Help me out here, beloved internets! On Wednesday we’re getting our picture taken. I am NOT ready! The boys all need hair cuts. I haven’t even begun to figure out what we’re going to wear and I think we’ve all gained at least 5 pounds over Thanksgiving (we’re overachievers that way).
A friend suggested I look at portraits online to get fresh ideas, so now, instead of sleeping, doing laundry, or unpacking from our Thanksgiving weekend, I’m obsessing over how to create the Perfect Family Look. There’s a lot of pressure, this being something we only do once a decade.
Decision to Make
Jeans or Khakis
White shirts or black
Bare feet or shoes
Everyone in pants or th
Happy Thanksgiving! 2007-11-24 23:33:27 We’ve had a wonderful Thanksgiving
. It has been delightful to have a full weekend in which to savor these times, fleeting though they may be. I only wish we had a houseful of cousins, aunts and uncles and far away friends to make the day truly complete.
Our internet connection is slow and sludgy out in the country and I’ve been having trouble loading my pictures. By the time I grab my email and read a few notes, the evening is half over and I’m exhausted. I’m beginning to suspect I’m not a real person without my high speed internet and the blog. Talk about spoiled.
Now that the weekend is almost over, I’ve finally managed to load some pictures and found time (amidst the relaxing and loafing) to post a blog. I’m eager to return to my computer and catch up on all the Thanksgiving news. My heart is full of thanksgiving for all the blessings God has bestowed upon our family. My prayers are with our friends and family who are struggling w Read more:Happy
Pictures 2007-12-02 03:08:13 Tim and I spent hours (okay minutes) reviewing the family pictures we received yesterday from the photographer, once the Blogosphere Taunting Police (BTP) finished questioning him, and reluctantly released him on his own recognizance.
“Let that be a lesson to you, Mister,” they warned him sternly. “Some of your blog readers don’t take kindly to that kind of taunting, and one or two of them have friends in high places.” Tim was a little shaken by the hours he spent under the interrogation lights, down at BTP headquarters. But I digress.
The pictures are GORGEOUS!!! Can I say that when it’s my own family? Is there any possible way that I can be objective?
Well, I take a LOT of pictures of my beautiful family and I rarely (okay never) call them GORGEOUS. Cute, sweet, dear, fun maybe, but not GORGEOUS.
I have to put in a huge plug for our photographer, Crystal. She did an outstanding job on our family portraits. She is currently working part ti Read more:Pictures
Too Much Coffee 2007-12-01 03:49:47 When Tim and I began this blog in 2004 we set up the usual categories - family, Bible study, reviews, etc - we never thought to include Coffee
as a topic heading.
What were we thinking? If you do a search for coffee on the Duckabush Blog, more than 30 posts come up. Obviously they aren’t all strictly ABOUT coffee, but coffee is mentioned in some way, shape or form.
I guess if you’re going to give up sleep in favor of blogging (and I’m speaking hypothetically), you need some help from caffeine to survive.
Or so I’ve been told.
Of course, it turns out my love of coffee isn’t just a self-indulgent quirk, it inspires others. I received an email today from Holly, a Seattle blogger, who thought of me while she was buying her coffee creamer today.
She thought of me. While she was buying coffee creamer.
And she emailed me to suggest a fantastic coffee combination - peppermint mocha.
Some people long to make a difference in the world through their mi
The Pictures Are Here! 2007-11-30 15:51:09 We recently had a photo shoot, about which Kathy wrote: Why Models Never Smile. It was quite the family outing, right up there with cutting a Christmas Tree or going to the Pumpkin Patch, but with none of the fun.
Actually, the photographer was pretty funny, working hard to get us all to smile or laugh, bossing us around in fine style, and keeping a running count of the number of times Joshua rolled his eyes. She tried to steal my Diet Coke, though, which was not quite so amusing — photographers need to know where not to cross the line.
Today the disk with the pictures arrived in the mail. Kathy saw the mailman coming (and even tried to wait for him) but had to go out, and so the disk was left for me to discover. “It’s a good thing Tim isn’t tempted by that sort of thing,” she consoled herself. “He’ll have no trouble waiting until I come home, so we can look at the pictures together.”
I called Kathy as I ripped open the envelope Read more:Pictures
Even Night Owls Should Watch the Caffeine 2007-11-30 01:47:47 It’s cold and wet here in western Washington. Not only is it raining, did I mention it’s cold and wet, but it’s also dark by 4:30 pm. This does not suit my night owl nature. I like it in the middle of the summer when the sun is bright and shining until late in the day.
Thankfully I have friends who aren’t daunted by silly things like bedtimes and schedules. Oh no, these girls know how to live. All of which means last night I was ordering coffee at Starbucks at 9 pm and heading off for a 10 pm move. Yes, a 10 pm movie! On a school night!
The heady night life of a homeschooling mom.
A few notes to self:
Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT drink Starbucks regular coffee at 9 pm. Even ordering it 1/3 regular, 2/3rds decaf is too much. As a night owl you will NOT fall asleep in the middle of a movie. You do NOT need caffeine to stay awake. The caffeine, however, will insure you do NOT fall asleep. For hours.
Do NOT leave the computer turned on with email loaded Read more:Night
, Caffeine
Now I Know Why Models Never Smile 2007-11-29 04:59:57 They’re exhausted. It’s hard work being beautiful. Really, do you ever see professional models smiling? I think the more money they’re paid, the less they smile. Being haughty and angry is terribly chic these days.
I wonder if they have servants (or mothers) to pick up their clothes after a photo shoot.
I also wonder where Sarah put the other shoe.
Do fashion models wash their own dirty clothes? Maybe that’s why they’re always grimacing in those magazine ads. Too much laundry and too little time between the parties.
At least David’s clothes ended up in a laundry basket.
A good stylist is critical to the success of a celebrity.
Of course, until any of these kids actually BECOME celebrities, they are stuck with Mom as hair dresser, stylist, make-up artist, and assistant.
David and Daniel are some of my best customers. Okay, they don’t pay and they fuss a good part of the time, but then they don’t have a choice on how their hair Read more:Smile
How Could I Have Forgotten? 2007-11-26 21:24:03 There is a slight problem with blogging and letting the world (such as it is) read your rambling thoughts of photo despair; when you make a mistake you have to do some serious retracting.
Tim reminded me today that we took family portraits in March of 2006 when his sister was visiting from Georgia.
You have got to be kidding me!!!!! How could I have forgotten? We even have a lovely picture hanging in our entry way. I’m so embarrassed. My only excuse is that it wasn’t in a studio. Pretty pathetic, if I do say so myself. Tim’s mother made all the grand daughters gorgeous skirts and we were all coordinated in white, red and black. We took hundreds of pictures, with at least 5 cameras.
Sigh.
Please excuse my terrible lapse in memory. Hanging head in shame and heading to the store. Do they stock brain cells anywhere near the children’s clothing?
Someone in WA
Read more:Forgotten
Tuesday Tips for Parenting - Christmas Gift Ideas 2007-11-27 02:27:46 I can’t believe December is literally racing around the corner. This weekend a friend suggested I write something about Christmas
gift ideas for kids. You know, the gifts that will actually hold the children’s interest and survive more than a week or two of playing. Classic toys that have proven to be fun and timeless.
I thought this was a fantastic idea, especially the part about how it should all be organized by age with suggestions for each grade level. Great, wonderful, excellent idea, except for one thing. I don’t have time to write this amazing blog. This particular friend is not only a serious bargain shopper, but a woman of discerning, good taste, so I asked (begged, pleaded) if she would email me the list of gifts that have been favorites in her family. “I’ve started writing down a collection of ideas, including catalog clippings, several times,” she said, “but I just don’t have TIME to finish.”
Obviously what we moms Read more:Tuesday
, Parenting
, Christmas Gift
A Collection of Images 2007-12-09 01:53:32 One of the joys of watching your children grow and mature through the years is delighting in their emerging gifts and skills. As a amateur photographer and obsessive blogger, I am thrilled when my children share in my hobbies.
How else would I enjoy such photographic treasures as these?
Joshua helped me get the Christmas lights up today.
Name this talented photographer .. creative self-portrait!!
Oh yes, and this little gem of a picture:
I’m awfully glad they caught that on film. Nothing like looking through the eyes of a six year old boy at the world around you.
Or at least the driveway. Modern art, I guess.
And then there’s this one:
Oh wait, no one in my family took that picture. I borrowed a WONDERFUL camera from a friend and this is one of her shots.
And this one:
What a gorgeous picture!
Of course, these family shots are much more interesting:
Look at Daniel perform stunning feats of athletic prowess! I thought that could only be done through Photosho Read more:Images
My Littlest Homeschooler 2007-12-08 02:48:47
This is one of Sarah’s Bestest Friends, Tarah.
Kathy
Project 365 - Day 341
Missing Mark 2007-12-06 23:24:35 Today is my brother’s birthday. Well, by the time I post this blog entry, it will no longer be his birthday where he is, but who’s counting? It is, as they say, the thought that counts.
Mark always was a snappy dresser.
I’m sure I’ve written about him before, but I miss him a lot. He’s stationed in Norway, after only one year living locally; I do wish I’d made better use of that time. We played some games and Laser-Tag together, and celebrated various holidays with him and his family, but it wasn’t quite enough. At the time, we had hoped he might choose to retire here, maybe after a three- or four-year tour at Fort Lewis, and so it didn’t seem so urgent that we see each other right now.
Mark sure looks young (and shaggy) in this picture (left), from our wedding.
Mark has been a good brother to me; I frequently encourage my boys to be good brothers ‘like Uncle Mark was to me’. He protected me, encouraged me, taught me t Read more:Missing
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