tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60297293183399316792024-03-13T09:34:43.860+00:00Carpenters' ChaosCarpenter Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01804631517662450719noreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-24101985258633498012012-02-13T17:13:00.000+00:002012-02-13T17:14:14.966+00:00Disney World Surprise!<object width="400" height="224" ><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/10151278311805072" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/10151278311805072" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="224"></embed></object>carpenter's chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16288767742741064491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-37096490804545779852011-09-03T14:51:00.002+01:002011-09-03T14:57:16.802+01:00Baby Steps...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2MupIFLhg0TUCy5U5yWDh3XJV5K0QWc90FSgXkilflQZm9Mcv5nqgtjHdtC81YlZ1GkEBALMesmRHyGQSNX3S77UmcYlnJBE2AabQUONohak9pIO7ZcvazjINfDCo2tF9Reqz-AaQAZH/s1600/210935_10150780112675261_840375260_20470445_5874187_o.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2MupIFLhg0TUCy5U5yWDh3XJV5K0QWc90FSgXkilflQZm9Mcv5nqgtjHdtC81YlZ1GkEBALMesmRHyGQSNX3S77UmcYlnJBE2AabQUONohak9pIO7ZcvazjINfDCo2tF9Reqz-AaQAZH/s400/210935_10150780112675261_840375260_20470445_5874187_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648131633696715522" /></a>Okay so I don't think I did the most direct way of getting this picture on our blog. I took it from facebook. Is there an easier way to do this? Please note little sister in the background trying her best. I believe we will soon have two riders. Tom and I can take no credit for their progress. carpenter's chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16288767742741064491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-62057154535226570762011-09-03T14:32:00.002+01:002011-09-03T14:49:35.665+01:00This girl kills me...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKmWPSGiaCN22FKVqVAUKUTYTUttLGBABuXubwjXeNFdCNx45dXIdamwBMtsRbN6PZb3s04xzCgMx1M2W5PIu-DqJ2OcaUDRRdcwlPj7i-DoCOwx8lHP6r__w90oDW25LyQVLiItF9WUW/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKmWPSGiaCN22FKVqVAUKUTYTUttLGBABuXubwjXeNFdCNx45dXIdamwBMtsRbN6PZb3s04xzCgMx1M2W5PIu-DqJ2OcaUDRRdcwlPj7i-DoCOwx8lHP6r__w90oDW25LyQVLiItF9WUW/s400/IMG_0001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648126115927225042" /></a>This is Ellison... our first born. She is turning seven this year. Tom and I feel like "those" parents who comment daily, "it's going by so fast." Seven feels old! Up until this point it is a lot of child's play, now it feels real. In another seven years she will be doing her own thing until she moves out for college or the next chapter of her life. Seems a little dramatic doesn't it? However, she is already a little adult in training. <div>
<br /></div><div>At the park yesterday she picked up a friend's bike and just started riding it. No instruction other then me saying, "Ellie you just have to keep pedaling or you will lose your balance." I was occupied feeding a baby with one hand and watching Addis punch another child who would not let him play soccer. So Ellie took it upon herself to pick up the bike and take matters into her own hands. A true first born. I would love to show you a picture of her riding but alas I have not figured out how to take pictures from my camera phone and upload them onto my blog. Baby steps I tell myself.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Ellie has started the first grade. Ansley Mills is doing Kindergarten, and Addis is making sure you know he is still around. It is so fun and funny to see three kids in the same house, relatively close in age and all so different in their own way. More to come for sure!</div>carpenter's chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16288767742741064491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-19699950157933065572011-06-09T20:09:00.002+01:002011-06-09T20:37:22.162+01:00Here's the thing...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjIX4npnyijxs8ALXhtAjVZSB8mZ88X7jo3dR5_j9wL2wrq-fckEgnevK4KrrCK1ojvXUleBkq8FRI4QnZRj0pF1PuuSBGm-97R3M2nYwUSlE_Gw-4l64d5hN9rV9uEBEle4nz3TlW4EQ/s1600/break-in-lg1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjIX4npnyijxs8ALXhtAjVZSB8mZ88X7jo3dR5_j9wL2wrq-fckEgnevK4KrrCK1ojvXUleBkq8FRI4QnZRj0pF1PuuSBGm-97R3M2nYwUSlE_Gw-4l64d5hN9rV9uEBEle4nz3TlW4EQ/s400/break-in-lg1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616299859946556946" border="0" /></a>I've said it before...right? Coming back like Britney... bigger than ever.. (see a blog about two years ago!) On April 16<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> around lunch time.. Some idiot decided to wiggle open a locked window and help themselves to our possessions. The haul included our computers.. cameras.. just to name a couple of things. So I have been unable to do much.. However.. some very generous friends hooked us up with some hardware so really that excuse does not cover January-April and then April 20<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> to present. But that is what I continued to tell myself. <br /><br />So the chaos has continued... At present... I asked the kids.. "what do you want people to know about you.."<br /><br />Ellison- She wants you to know that she can read books and cook good and has learned to body surf waves at the ocean.<br /><br />Ansley Mills- nothing<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Addis</span>- He is out of diapers but does not poop in the potty. I will leave the visuals to you for now. However a nasty picture may follow at some point. I can not make any promises. It's all out war! <br /><br />Tom and I just celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary. We are proud to say that at this point we have out lasted some minor appliances (think toaster oven wedding present) and think a major appliance (think dryer) is on its way out and all the while we are holding strong. I feel like I could be back in action but would love some feedback from readers as to what they would like to see featured on "carpenter's chaos..." I look forward to your thoughts..carpenter's chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16288767742741064491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-40871069749110126722011-01-14T20:01:00.004+00:002011-02-17T13:59:36.804+00:00Are Kids Color Blind?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_WTa4MyBK0EXN9O2TTciB6Dx83l6xGdsc4q6Vr9znBCune_FO8tiry2m2_nJobdXXc2ZQeBHVeOiCThddf4vGAuq685h5KdeYCPMkuWuZKk02nWWELtjSazJbqHS7XOTMnF0gunn90j9/s1600/martin-luther-king-jr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_WTa4MyBK0EXN9O2TTciB6Dx83l6xGdsc4q6Vr9znBCune_FO8tiry2m2_nJobdXXc2ZQeBHVeOiCThddf4vGAuq685h5KdeYCPMkuWuZKk02nWWELtjSazJbqHS7XOTMnF0gunn90j9/s400/martin-luther-king-jr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562135508923661218" /></a>This week we've been reading several books about Martin Luther King Jr. Who he was and why he is significant. Most of the books are stories written about his childhood with beautiful illustrations. After reading this book for several days in a row the questions started:<div><br /></div><div>Mommy what is white?- Ellie 6</div><div>Well Ellie in this book the word white is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">referring</span></span> to the color of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">some one's</span> skin....</div><div>I've never seen white skin.. my skin is peachy.. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ansley's</span></span> has some red in it... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Addis</span></span> is dark brown and mommy you are light brown... </div><div>Well Ellie they use that word to be generic... lump a whole bunch of skin tones into one category...</div><div><br /></div><div>Once we got to the part of Rosa Parks...</div><div>So mom is this saying that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Addis</span></span> would have to sit in the back of the bus? </div><div>After I lifted my jaw from the floor... Well yes if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Addis</span></span> lived during that time.. but that was a terrible law and many people realized the foolishness of it and worked very hard for change and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">MLK</span></span> is one of those people. </div><div>Momma I know what they can do... just sit in a seat that does not have anyone in it.. then people would not fight over seats. Ansley Mills 4</div><div><br /></div><div>You know if only it were that easy... Just sit in an empty seat. It seems to me that kids are aware of skin color in the same way they are aware of your shirt color. In our neighborhood skin color comes in every shade and languages vary just as much. So how do I explain racism to my kids? How do I protect <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Addis</span></span> from ever feeling that he is given second and third glances because of his skin color? The short answer is...I can't. However I don't want those to be the reasons why I shy away from these questions. I used to think parenting was hard when they were first born. Hah! That was not parenting.. that was keeping them alive. Funny how your perspective changes...</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>carpenter's chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16288767742741064491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-45573001688098830802010-11-12T18:46:00.004+00:002010-11-12T19:31:29.118+00:00Some relationships can only last so long...<div style="text-align: center;">We first meet in the summer of '98. We saw each other from across the room. I thought you and I would hit it off and we did. Once we were introduced there was no separating us. We did everything together. We've traveled.. backpacking in Colorado... New York City... British Virgin Islands.. Ethiopia...Canada...California and countless other domestic locals. From casual everyday life to fancy occasions.. we have seen each other at our best and worst. You left an imprint on me that I have become identified with over the years. Now after 12ish years we must go our separate ways. My husband is overjoyed with our parting. So.. after a torn sole... frayed threading...stains.. smells and various other causalities we should no longer be together. So my beloved Chaco's.. this is where I say goodbye. We had a dozen wonderful years together. Maybe in the future I will met a new you.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6eEiJXFw_VNV9efTH0jgmCERv86X7OGbBCoRcmhacdUkZwKGWMSNHiTsziiRjiCyKcgIJy1b7bRqIsxC7TH1Rrlym_2c2u3W8xv8wWKx5TeiiW-4ln4-NR0wH1YrrBfYy52wdQbcoDsN/s1600/DSC05362.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6eEiJXFw_VNV9efTH0jgmCERv86X7OGbBCoRcmhacdUkZwKGWMSNHiTsziiRjiCyKcgIJy1b7bRqIsxC7TH1Rrlym_2c2u3W8xv8wWKx5TeiiW-4ln4-NR0wH1YrrBfYy52wdQbcoDsN/s400/DSC05362.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538744996778485810" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75kJG16j10INEJH3ePWpKW7MQXPp1eGirXqk7Je6FVXKbjZ0oIBhBTT6rIVU_2vtTI-RJUz6_yKgd2F0aOsGi6x_sigzHivlUUwjc1DYFjQRDfPwhS8iBE1EETKuFXQ7_TadYg1J5f56d/s1600/DSC05363.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75kJG16j10INEJH3ePWpKW7MQXPp1eGirXqk7Je6FVXKbjZ0oIBhBTT6rIVU_2vtTI-RJUz6_yKgd2F0aOsGi6x_sigzHivlUUwjc1DYFjQRDfPwhS8iBE1EETKuFXQ7_TadYg1J5f56d/s400/DSC05363.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538745001301904658" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>carpenter's chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16288767742741064491noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-34897292093356167282010-11-05T11:23:00.004+00:002010-11-05T11:54:52.046+00:00What are you going to tell him....<div style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tqsmgzPFSGKpd74frBfcTcVSDvAB0hCJVbW_qDrCCEGnQff1VQ0yg3U3Uw3SpIdIAkWjRgHPjsokoYj5VQ9j0c47ZI5QsNVGzBjU1nNXPWnPeq9RXVbosXdmQz4wxXHoQaLNK_4m9dEY/s1600/Ethiopian+Journey.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tqsmgzPFSGKpd74frBfcTcVSDvAB0hCJVbW_qDrCCEGnQff1VQ0yg3U3Uw3SpIdIAkWjRgHPjsokoYj5VQ9j0c47ZI5QsNVGzBjU1nNXPWnPeq9RXVbosXdmQz4wxXHoQaLNK_4m9dEY/s400/Ethiopian+Journey.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br />One of my kids favorite video's to watch is "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Addis's</span> Video." Many times throughout the week it is asked for by that title. Created by my husband to give an a way for other to absorb our experience as well as having something for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Addis</span>. As our adoption process was coming to a close and we were nearly ready to leave the question was asked by many... "what are you going to tell him when he gets older?" Interesting.. of course we thought about this and my gut said..."the truth." Innocently when we returned from Ethiopia I was walking Ellie to school and she asked me.. "momma is Ethiopia in your tummy?" Her 4 year old understanding at the time was this... you and dad have been talking about our brother.. you said he was from Ethiopia... you left.. came back with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Addis</span>... Similar to... you talked to me about a baby coming... you left... came back with Ansley Mills.. Man I can see how this would be tricky. The answer then was "God had <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Addis</span> planned for our family just like God had you planned for our family." Let's be honest as parents we are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">wingin</span>' it most of the time.<br /><br />Fast forward two years and here we are with kids who understand things a bit more or at least have more pointed questions. As we watch this video now the question has been asked.. "why would someone leave him in a field?" Heartbreaking right? One time Ellie asked me.."Does <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Addis</span> have another mom?" Calmly (thanks <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Jesus</span>) I just asked Ellie "Do you have another mom?" She laughed and said no... and then said "I get it.. neither does <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Addis</span>." More questions will come.. I would gather that one day <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Addis</span> may have many questions but maybe not. Either is okay. We try hard to share the age appropriate truth to these questions. Sometimes that is really hard.<br /><br />It is important that all of us have an understand of where <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Addis</span> was born. We choose to be a family of five... not two kids with one Ethiopian. Our desire is to always share and be a part of the Ethiopian culture. Living in DC makes that super easy. Our goal is to travel back to Ethiopia as a family. Hopefully more than once! Until then we gather around our computer and take in the gift that each child is to our family. All the kids light up when this video plays...especially <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Addis</span>. How much does he understand? I don't know. What are you going to tell him? The truth. God had you planned for our family!<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none; padding: 0px; background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyrPvWICx5gc_V-1bECXTTUW0J4eIXIf4x7SMEzGq01-gpeJ204Vhp71kkw36U5CawVvDEnkZwTiQgTn5kbYg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>carpenter's chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16288767742741064491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-62821473270327411692010-11-02T16:26:00.002+00:002010-11-02T18:14:04.730+00:00The Hike<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLOQc8TyUxzVHAO_ew1Se7u_zQ_4njtN0QvciR3AFM9vlBnQSFY4a90uz4UJkbMzG3ZQTXfD5C8E-vwzYJ2RawrfoXrDFTNiz_zl6Pk9HFmhaEnUgGKBw4rolv9Ta1ZMsqmXmg6oaWKHx/s1600/DSC05098.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLOQc8TyUxzVHAO_ew1Se7u_zQ_4njtN0QvciR3AFM9vlBnQSFY4a90uz4UJkbMzG3ZQTXfD5C8E-vwzYJ2RawrfoXrDFTNiz_zl6Pk9HFmhaEnUgGKBw4rolv9Ta1ZMsqmXmg6oaWKHx/s400/DSC05098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535015412956105538" border="0" /></a>Our group of ten children and six adults took a day trip to Mt. Shasta and hiked to the natural springs. It was around 2 miles round trip with a pit stop at the spring for cheese sticks.. grapes and good ol' water. This little spot is notorious for local hippies who believe the spring has natural healing powers. Nudity is welcomed. <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2j-mKkz7HZ9F0jtBW41ggsjDhjHQBe0WuHN_rqxwdWUQzfTzDg3bFKJ57pi_HVmvb-vw7mTzkMN-oP1c_WOxp-SwDP09e6MAwh_D5xZTk3ssu52aGDj4L3w6L2_c0nReQ1MGKbqFKdKO/s1600/DSC05099.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2j-mKkz7HZ9F0jtBW41ggsjDhjHQBe0WuHN_rqxwdWUQzfTzDg3bFKJ57pi_HVmvb-vw7mTzkMN-oP1c_WOxp-SwDP09e6MAwh_D5xZTk3ssu52aGDj4L3w6L2_c0nReQ1MGKbqFKdKO/s400/DSC05099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535015405854814002" border="0" /></a>We hit the peaceful spring and in a matter of seconds it was just for us. Everyone else cleared out once our tranquil group sit down for snack.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYbsi89w05uJhHI3NkCnKpys9e4i0Nz9J-cC-WXHTpzoBb-knaMH-HoXbpE5nWRKxriHkXwDy4FAOUpOMQTmbhh3FrP_T6H8cB0iVwzHsSolshVqVMoVbp9hkCjdzDe2bbHoLemqIAKDM/s1600/DSC05112.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYbsi89w05uJhHI3NkCnKpys9e4i0Nz9J-cC-WXHTpzoBb-knaMH-HoXbpE5nWRKxriHkXwDy4FAOUpOMQTmbhh3FrP_T6H8cB0iVwzHsSolshVqVMoVbp9hkCjdzDe2bbHoLemqIAKDM/s400/DSC05112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535015397320350706" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Several attempts at a family photo produced this. Thank heavens for digital. Many tears were shed on that hike and twice as many snacks were distributed than calories needed. A couple of potty breaks and countless sit downs. The only thing that got them down the mountain was the lure of a fudge brownie. <br /></div>carpenter's chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16288767742741064491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-83319909729784049612010-10-28T19:08:00.003+01:002010-10-28T19:18:28.965+01:00Our Day at Yosemite<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LwWOLloPqIIPsdH4bqsv-Av6giYU4tbsoBYQcUzGB1hL4ZjdY6TGysRNaqCkDazvLhMSlYKkVBkLj-z1Vf_NRkhwG2oZh13PolViNiLwU8qx8vhJ8LmYhvLMSicNK1JxYVllvX6zWoOc/s1600/DSC05129.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LwWOLloPqIIPsdH4bqsv-Av6giYU4tbsoBYQcUzGB1hL4ZjdY6TGysRNaqCkDazvLhMSlYKkVBkLj-z1Vf_NRkhwG2oZh13PolViNiLwU8qx8vhJ8LmYhvLMSicNK1JxYVllvX6zWoOc/s400/DSC05129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533162785163102690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaeVICpRP-DxaJ8XRxtiqk2_JacuKz_TeaElSN2ZUQpKnzbxov8oQMcP5hZFocu8Mutij4hOnN-QKITbnXzhYy3CB8dv8GtH-x_LYhgRyH1gGojoQzvkNQTUhMM1yK1Za0nRkGCRbFDlY/s1600/DSC05135.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaeVICpRP-DxaJ8XRxtiqk2_JacuKz_TeaElSN2ZUQpKnzbxov8oQMcP5hZFocu8Mutij4hOnN-QKITbnXzhYy3CB8dv8GtH-x_LYhgRyH1gGojoQzvkNQTUhMM1yK1Za0nRkGCRbFDlY/s400/DSC05135.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533162773762185554" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Life seems pretty simple when you just enjoy God's gift of nature. Our day at Yosemite consisted of a little hiking and lots of playing. We saw waterfalls..played in the river.. ate a picnic lunch... got ice cream and soaked up some of the most beautiful scenery.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HafjaOhnHfdMcmM2hAheD0GyIXjJQef6IfiOvh0r9ziRaC2H52-7WpUqjW8zCV-dKfnenKHq0g9VEPECbwBcxpGCc_3FnL6Tbnc4Z5pxixy33XyjMVLqPw_NimE0CJ9PMmn2QfxhMyEx/s1600/DSC05116.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HafjaOhnHfdMcmM2hAheD0GyIXjJQef6IfiOvh0r9ziRaC2H52-7WpUqjW8zCV-dKfnenKHq0g9VEPECbwBcxpGCc_3FnL6Tbnc4Z5pxixy33XyjMVLqPw_NimE0CJ9PMmn2QfxhMyEx/s400/DSC05116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533161210710519074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKINNmtpef3sYVZPS4WJCWxYpG1l8ZK9dr-CBXE1f5nLnw4WEdEIzq974gk3Lfxm3lrGVDFkcYcAUbtA86Pcdj8lF-IJulTF1rrVGpcfdZsrQFZhO-yen4i8ZLYbAahw9aHfiozr9mYZ-3/s1600/DSC05143.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKINNmtpef3sYVZPS4WJCWxYpG1l8ZK9dr-CBXE1f5nLnw4WEdEIzq974gk3Lfxm3lrGVDFkcYcAUbtA86Pcdj8lF-IJulTF1rrVGpcfdZsrQFZhO-yen4i8ZLYbAahw9aHfiozr9mYZ-3/s400/DSC05143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533161205644072370" border="0" /></a>carpenter's chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16288767742741064491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-22817486340588228942010-10-27T18:20:00.004+01:002010-10-28T19:08:38.661+01:00California Rewind<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXErt8XEnIupbTlXosrirhyChZQj4y67satrTH5_grQ9QN3UtcF46ytyqcXxJsWnw2oSJPu8yEYmZqQ-xFaro3OA9_-NivZXFxSLa2i52ogSMvBqiY0aIYmfB5UTB3-4VrBhjKf8lhSGV4/s1600/DSC04904.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXErt8XEnIupbTlXosrirhyChZQj4y67satrTH5_grQ9QN3UtcF46ytyqcXxJsWnw2oSJPu8yEYmZqQ-xFaro3OA9_-NivZXFxSLa2i52ogSMvBqiY0aIYmfB5UTB3-4VrBhjKf8lhSGV4/s320/DSC04904.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532781195652955698" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_379IOPAPOdw0kqyE07e45phaxbqJueGH550d_fiddsd5ZiVYdzXwokxjURQKl4n5Nd2_br_UBYZWhvC9LXtspMHuWvWALNgIM0OlbCN50zLHbDNTAEQ_h0hdGu4lc2YAmIPrbHOUbnw/s1600/DSC04917.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_379IOPAPOdw0kqyE07e45phaxbqJueGH550d_fiddsd5ZiVYdzXwokxjURQKl4n5Nd2_br_UBYZWhvC9LXtspMHuWvWALNgIM0OlbCN50zLHbDNTAEQ_h0hdGu4lc2YAmIPrbHOUbnw/s320/DSC04917.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532781166922076434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This summer our family flew out to California to visit some friends. One family lived near LA and the other Merced. We started in LA and ended in San Francisco. Along the way we were in the central valley area... Malibu... Yosemite National Park.. and Shasta Lake. Kids were in the Pacific Ocean and glacier fed rivers. The house we rented with two other families with kids (um 10 kids and 6 adults) was surrounded by black berry bushes. I sorta fell in love with this California weather... 70's no humidity and lots of sunshine. I swear I would be a better mom and overall person absent humidity. The kids did great! Given the amount of planes trains and automobiles we traveled by... we had no strollers.. no pack n plays and lots of laughs.carpenter's chaoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16288767742741064491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-59969245761108729292010-07-27T18:49:00.002+01:002010-07-27T19:03:14.733+01:00For the Love....<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbOC2YWdAnx4EXmeRMwe8NESZ3sa8KdUvqCq9eyOLiKJsI2AVRnJeLz8GVL3mDiX8ZWN0fhSO-3PyNeLABaEpEYemwAJxsiGGoEFh45ZAI7HdfN1i_Wl_bxOgv-zBz-NIA7es4Tx0KAw/s1600/DSC04867.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbOC2YWdAnx4EXmeRMwe8NESZ3sa8KdUvqCq9eyOLiKJsI2AVRnJeLz8GVL3mDiX8ZWN0fhSO-3PyNeLABaEpEYemwAJxsiGGoEFh45ZAI7HdfN1i_Wl_bxOgv-zBz-NIA7es4Tx0KAw/s400/DSC04867.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498645225097232530" border="0" /></a>So I hope these pictures are not too racey to post but they really feature my children in their "normal" state. One.. they are naked. I can't keep clothes on these kids and with temps in the 100's I can't blame them. Two... these pictures were taken by Ellie and Ansley Mills! They even posed for them.. obviously. However.. these punks crack me up and on a day like today with little humor to speak of (first day back in the real world after three childless days with hubs in mountains) I need a reminder.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5bSO36dWG22icFJleVqxFiWwoWPZLds_ZZXJfTO_fJWvpTOuoUU_e_3TYyXGBcbTO3A1U3VQeFvE_JwEgQzcBfdJWt7CzOZ8jB9TiJhuzVZTYTqBfsin1IDMuzOBU_TYRd9KD2BucTE/s1600/DSC04869.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5bSO36dWG22icFJleVqxFiWwoWPZLds_ZZXJfTO_fJWvpTOuoUU_e_3TYyXGBcbTO3A1U3VQeFvE_JwEgQzcBfdJWt7CzOZ8jB9TiJhuzVZTYTqBfsin1IDMuzOBU_TYRd9KD2BucTE/s400/DSC04869.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498645218752378194" border="0" /></a>Currently my children are obsessed with dental hygiene and love love their dentist! There could be worse things right... well i am not sure how much toothpaste they are currently digesting versus actually cleaning their teeth.. and who thought it was a good idea to make toothpaste taste and look like candy? <br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjiliTSH4x1UPr7m7mocImUH288k5oucuUhCncL3bRYjYiSwSx3LvPfvU0XtdHaEcyksqmTzM4WqGeZ3J0_X6O7lg9hk-w3epgJH8KbFjLggtwTyFB0mFQcWeREU2MHADRFiFXeRqAzU/s1600/DSC04865.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjiliTSH4x1UPr7m7mocImUH288k5oucuUhCncL3bRYjYiSwSx3LvPfvU0XtdHaEcyksqmTzM4WqGeZ3J0_X6O7lg9hk-w3epgJH8KbFjLggtwTyFB0mFQcWeREU2MHADRFiFXeRqAzU/s400/DSC04865.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498645210019423266" border="0" /></a>Please note the gut on my beautiful boy! This man child is huge! His new interest are taking off his diaper and the rule is if you are old enough to take it off and tell me you need a clean one then up on that potty you go! While building our bathroom my over six foot husband installed us a "custom" fit toilet.. only "custom" to those over six feet tall! The rest of us dangle precariously off the end. Other toilets our children encounter are known as "little pottys."<br />Negotiations play a huge role in this house. And kids are the best at stalling and seeking the limits to your negotiating powers. So as they were laying down to have quiet time today I told them you can't get out of bed. However.. you can read books.. do a puzzle...lay quietly... you don't have to sleep but you need to stay in bed and let your body rest... So for the next few minutes questions came at me like gun fire..."can we get up if we have to use the potty?" "What if someone is crying can i comfort them?" "mommy are you going to get lonely..." "what do you do when we have quiet time" "are you going to let us know when it's over" "can i get up and get more books if i am done with the ones i have" all of those i answered with if you have to get out of bed then no...<br /><br />"Mommy what if the house is on fire? can we get out then?" I kid you not! <br /></div>Carpenter Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01804631517662450719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-32213022417943841732010-06-30T23:04:00.003+01:002010-07-01T00:04:32.229+01:00Oh Addis....<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wvPX8iu6_cWqOk-B3fi-qexkkVLM2RC2jyemsq9XbBq-Ih15KXS68knsgxpzKw-xZm9xb1AFBVd5N0VxpzzOVUmJXp1_Gen1trUIATo1bEiZvss_gCfwAH3JTfpNPsWuyeUsRopjVH0/s1600/Addis+011.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wvPX8iu6_cWqOk-B3fi-qexkkVLM2RC2jyemsq9XbBq-Ih15KXS68knsgxpzKw-xZm9xb1AFBVd5N0VxpzzOVUmJXp1_Gen1trUIATo1bEiZvss_gCfwAH3JTfpNPsWuyeUsRopjVH0/s400/Addis+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488691394934068434" border="0" /></a><br />Oh Addis... We are nearing our two year anniversary of receiving "the call." That magically moment when the sweet voice on the other end says we have a child for you. Really it is right up there with peeing on a stick and seeing two lines! (information over share?...perhaps) This photo above was one of the first images of our sweet (wild.. strong willed... energetic.. always hungry...) son. <br />Addis has been talking up a storm...trying to use the potty.. run i mean runs...jumps on his bed...chews on his lovies..and sneaks around the house in the middle of the night.. and no it is not sleep walking... Addis experiences life head first and hands on! Most activities are a contact sport and no matter how much we feed him he continues to worry that he might not get enough... Addis has rocked our world and we are grateful to God for making this sweet boy for us! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvxgOqEAZTeUVF5UHHScCMyUD6xfFbU8Wwk-P5P6ykPQLZn5FtJcDAbZ5d-yUMnvzdUjcldYiX8XmDZQoL8QKu7kIilxJlYEB0YDJpgBMDtfAGO4QJiy4-O45lh2i1r0Fx2cAS8a9cBc/s1600/DSC04871.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvxgOqEAZTeUVF5UHHScCMyUD6xfFbU8Wwk-P5P6ykPQLZn5FtJcDAbZ5d-yUMnvzdUjcldYiX8XmDZQoL8QKu7kIilxJlYEB0YDJpgBMDtfAGO4QJiy4-O45lh2i1r0Fx2cAS8a9cBc/s400/DSC04871.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488696965962420690" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I refer to Addis most days as our man child. He is off the charts in height! He is three months past his second birthday and wears 3T clothing and the same size shoe as Ellie! <br /></div>Carpenter Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01804631517662450719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-9655774028004611852010-06-29T20:54:00.003+01:002010-06-29T21:18:51.263+01:00Try a Tri....<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTU_myD3yR0yyqiqmKg6lVhxBiCmeZPYH5xq3hBX25a3DZzapXsnRc7BK_xkanqQNb3ifTEIo-AxwURA6f7f40k6g44CL4UDCGNh5W477SJEme-XIuhTMunkikArJ6AuyygEZKRJ8Va9M/s1600/slider-sprint.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTU_myD3yR0yyqiqmKg6lVhxBiCmeZPYH5xq3hBX25a3DZzapXsnRc7BK_xkanqQNb3ifTEIo-AxwURA6f7f40k6g44CL4UDCGNh5W477SJEme-XIuhTMunkikArJ6AuyygEZKRJ8Va9M/s400/slider-sprint.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488287433896451170" border="0" /></a><br />Two weekends ago..father's day to be exact... Tom and I completed our first triathlon together. Now when I say together I mean the same race. Not holding hands like some of you may think.... If you have followed our blog you might be thinking wait I have heard this before... Well you have.. Two years ago we were training for our first Olympic triathlon. However... we unable to compete because we were in Ethiopia bringing home our son. A wonderful trade off to say the least. But that dang tri was still hanging over our heads. Tom has done several and finished well. The boy is tall and can swim! Still he was pressing me to join him.<br />Training for the Olympic tri was tricky but I was excited about doing it so I was somewhat faithful to a workout that included all three elements. This time I was chasing three kids.. cussing my hubs for signing me up and refusing to swim first thing in the morning. With two weeks to go I decided to swim in our local pool and see just how swimmy I was feeling. Now I don't know about your public pool but our pool in the city has both posted and unposted rules. There is one slow lane and one fast lane and three other lanes that just say circle swim. I could post a whole entry on the verbal fights (in various languages) that have taken place in the handful of times I have been there.. but the pool itself is great. After one attempt at a swim I found myself thinking I can not quit.. even if I die I would feel like the biggest lame O if I did not stick it out. Not to mention how much money these dang things are! So if nothing else I at least wanted my shirt! <br />Attending packet pickup to get our numbers..swim cap.. and rack our bikes. I thought...OH SHEET... NO turning back now.. As we opened our information we noticed we had to arrive at 3AM to catch a shuttle. I have to admit it was fun to be up with Tom before the sun getting ready to "compete" in our first race together. Tom's heat went into the water nearly 25 minutes before me. (for those of you who don't know its swim.. bike.. run) So as I am standing there in a swim suit with my age in a black permanent marker on my calf.. which by the way is quite humbling.. especially when Tom's age is four years my junior according to them... my heart is racing.. and not in the good way. They lead our heat to the edge of the sweet Potomac River (ohhhhh ack!) and into the water we go. As we tread water for three minutes or so waiting for the gun to send us out I am thinking my legs are tired and that turn around point looks further away.. is it floating...<br />The gun goes off and legs and arms start to fly.. It's swim or get swum on.. I start off freestyle then breast ( i can't see and i am swimming in zig zags..) then freestyle then breast stroke... Wait I am forgetting to breath.. my goggles are foggy.. I get hit in the head... the person in front of me is screaming for a canoe to come and get her.. dear God it is as if I am fleeing a war scene. Okay so that my friend is merely my point of view as a newbie who forgot or refused to train (which I would NOT suggest). When I rounded the last turn and could see the ramp to get out of the water I swam faster than I ever had before. I made it! I was out of the water and jogging towards my bike. In my head I am thinking I know now I can at least finish. And I did. And sweet Tom was waiting for me at the finish. I will do another one... and this time I will prepare. <br /></div>Carpenter Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01804631517662450719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-35074469331865687122010-06-18T21:46:00.002+01:002010-06-18T21:55:58.298+01:00More Than ABC's...<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dws5qSVJOtjOelwOUYNUVC5HCI-zXD6Znpj30AVh4LbYNzr-UKzsn0TGlzyCrwUHdssHrA37jVebRfI3a_8ig' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br />Here we are nearing the end of the school year (yes she is still in school) and one evening while Tom was working late Ellie begged to show me what she learned at school. Now being a solo parent in the evening hours leaves you slightly tempted to do what it takes to keep the peace. I happened to have the camera handy and asked if I should film it for dad. She said "momma say go when your ready..."<br /><br />I tried so hard not to laugh it was both precious and scary. Does anyone know what song that is? If so please tell me... I wanted to google it and was afraid what would pop up on my computer with the lyrics I was able to identify.<br /></div>Carpenter Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01804631517662450719noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-68894269773677829692010-05-26T19:10:00.002+01:002010-05-26T19:47:25.443+01:00Every once in a while...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_FOBY7G1HhB7t3VpwoHXOv12eVIIxHlg2-w9N4jwnRHarUNOkEFWrTSkwHbUJ-uPYoxaetq_dtRNDtW-HLUC-JpyOZUWc3FIkLzQVHbqtagxks-TZooGeMpkR9nSLy2mNF8rXKxw1oU/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_FOBY7G1HhB7t3VpwoHXOv12eVIIxHlg2-w9N4jwnRHarUNOkEFWrTSkwHbUJ-uPYoxaetq_dtRNDtW-HLUC-JpyOZUWc3FIkLzQVHbqtagxks-TZooGeMpkR9nSLy2mNF8rXKxw1oU/s400/010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475644611319736082" border="0" /></a><br />Every once in a while as a parent you feel like you might be doing something right. This feeling happens rarely these days at our house so when it did I had to capture it on camera. As I was cleaning up the kids asked if they could help. Being the control freak that I am I usually say no. However how are they ever going to learn if I do not say yes and on top of that the Spirit struck and I realized they wanted to feel needed. So I gave them some jobs. Ellie is asking me if she can vacuum the ants off our counter tops... Love it..<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Uuwh9lewSyLq7jxyVx-oJVx3Xc8MKqTIZOWVtCHgevQOqban7CViMv8Z-KWOgYydKz7RCfqPkpaJcvemxsJKACyODoBZCPD4CMyS0P7TF-jXfXGGUpi6L5c84OIZKzgIbqVzsvwmr7o/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Uuwh9lewSyLq7jxyVx-oJVx3Xc8MKqTIZOWVtCHgevQOqban7CViMv8Z-KWOgYydKz7RCfqPkpaJcvemxsJKACyODoBZCPD4CMyS0P7TF-jXfXGGUpi6L5c84OIZKzgIbqVzsvwmr7o/s400/011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475644138378141202" border="0" /></a><br />Ansley Mills was tasked with scrubbing down our table while Addis was given a towel to dry it off. <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2BnDU40IxtTal8FgaT26LGvUeCNyZh1toyz6DVuFscY1RGvoYvbZn7WHQiuA9jLmH7ZZnon-JoBkrPBc7hxryDfRL6itjCDLp7Vy-Q2NFtmh_Zkfx697WNK-xruqNRfpgKvRJY31fFo/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2BnDU40IxtTal8FgaT26LGvUeCNyZh1toyz6DVuFscY1RGvoYvbZn7WHQiuA9jLmH7ZZnon-JoBkrPBc7hxryDfRL6itjCDLp7Vy-Q2NFtmh_Zkfx697WNK-xruqNRfpgKvRJY31fFo/s400/005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475644134320303874" border="0" /></a><br />No Ellie did not just come back from dance class... This was her "work" outfit. <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpu4srriTrZ_tUaYPVpD2XPMZrIZe16MtrvWMuEPA-IOpIX74W7bzQH61GgOZ1hsvGYrp5pUVZZ8TRseeci6j7lwcphchSpoUd8y1JejlS_TtYeW9O495k2OrnwMxzL1uN1qNPDplspC0/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpu4srriTrZ_tUaYPVpD2XPMZrIZe16MtrvWMuEPA-IOpIX74W7bzQH61GgOZ1hsvGYrp5pUVZZ8TRseeci6j7lwcphchSpoUd8y1JejlS_TtYeW9O495k2OrnwMxzL1uN1qNPDplspC0/s400/004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475644125908481250" border="0" /></a><br />Again the table team hard at work. Now the day before this and the day after nothing brilliant happened. However on this day (thanks for digital we didn't have to wait for proof of life) something worked. I dare say it will be repeated anytime soon or that I produced this great fruit in my children. But I will let the world know or at least those that read this... that on that day the Spirit moved in this house! Praise God...<br />And the reason for all the.... is our coma key has officially died.... not that i am good at punctuation to begin with. <br /></div>Carpenter Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01804631517662450719noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-65685607944194373052010-05-19T19:06:00.002+01:002010-05-19T19:22:22.139+01:00We Had a Berry Good Time!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3Q89asl2DZzTctt2dQ6WYVoO2Cxb6dXgcdvwDMr217hpOqwpI9VyM73FD-IRBYcc_1HC1LO26ZhMM-bGdjG9J-MX21ijcEx3hYNS87zRheVp6qKcB6dFGj32IYN2ddmfTJm-XIBKJLA/s1600/may+2010+004.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3Q89asl2DZzTctt2dQ6WYVoO2Cxb6dXgcdvwDMr217hpOqwpI9VyM73FD-IRBYcc_1HC1LO26ZhMM-bGdjG9J-MX21ijcEx3hYNS87zRheVp6qKcB6dFGj32IYN2ddmfTJm-XIBKJLA/s400/may+2010+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473045100115152754" border="0" /></a>This is our third annual trip to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Shlagel</span> Farms for strawberry picking. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Addis</span> does not quite understand that this is a cut out and so he is trying to lick and eat it! This farm does everything organically so you can eat while you pick. This is not what you need to tell my crew! I feel as if I should pay double what they charge me because my three kids literally eat their weight in berries! <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcPlULlq57d8NHilRRUCIJ2qLCdr408leS5KPR36Oen3n_eGijZHq53ExSj1YE4KS9zea4FXKlU1910y6oo2ke7cd-QfVMobkjMh9blhU3QqEUErPbVeGebkG6eqh5R3Xn-WSG68Bh6A/s1600/may+2010+002.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcPlULlq57d8NHilRRUCIJ2qLCdr408leS5KPR36Oen3n_eGijZHq53ExSj1YE4KS9zea4FXKlU1910y6oo2ke7cd-QfVMobkjMh9blhU3QqEUErPbVeGebkG6eqh5R3Xn-WSG68Bh6A/s400/may+2010+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473045094904968274" border="0" /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclLtz5MGCJ3YdNykl4Tb-cJGHRPxgereyRF2xa5naBUZ01A5cXIBwq_gw04mjT4HySksBgR8AP4_-L5MXF3FsaapIJ20aafocYz_WE9zS_wLeFOL92j5hEqU9hUEztlEpsZC7JCsyjEY/s1600/may+2010+001.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclLtz5MGCJ3YdNykl4Tb-cJGHRPxgereyRF2xa5naBUZ01A5cXIBwq_gw04mjT4HySksBgR8AP4_-L5MXF3FsaapIJ20aafocYz_WE9zS_wLeFOL92j5hEqU9hUEztlEpsZC7JCsyjEY/s400/may+2010+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473045093288361378" border="0" /></a>Ansley Mills and her friend Nora were pulling the berries out of our box faster than we were putting them in. Last year we were able to can some very tasty jam however this year the berries did not last three days. So there will be a return trip that is strictly for jam purposes. <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1PusWQ8KGR8UouFVMHT0-WUfYO-74nNLiWM1nJMJTdWbxNGCgpgJEGp1QKPsVVJoYuyrqJZTKnC_LgGk-NlOCCZrCHldJ5c3piT4SQotZoper_2eqXU1-lyVjesO7WdABXumbJ6pbr8/s1600/may+2010+005.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1PusWQ8KGR8UouFVMHT0-WUfYO-74nNLiWM1nJMJTdWbxNGCgpgJEGp1QKPsVVJoYuyrqJZTKnC_LgGk-NlOCCZrCHldJ5c3piT4SQotZoper_2eqXU1-lyVjesO7WdABXumbJ6pbr8/s400/may+2010+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473045080428690674" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Addis</span> also discovered the absolute bliss in local produce. He was a very efficient picker and eater. But have you ever changed the diapers of a kid who has eaten nothing but berries for 12 hours! It is not a pretty site! The day was picturesque not too hot..no bugs..nice breeze...and since there was no shortage of "snacks" no one was whining about being hungry. If only we could pick berries everyday!<br /></div>Carpenter Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01804631517662450719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-37032772915660606612010-05-12T20:06:00.004+01:002010-05-12T20:28:21.060+01:00SPROUTS<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhXDufjgnLUNgXu8eohanOLKb1NVC3k8q_gYIY6DKmW-dusghI3cvL5XXKG0OznfqJ9zLrPd0zMmQG_mWQ6v9iUEwL9ekx-ZTxjXOJjZubQmaOs7HO9tmkdt7ky-PwwJpZG4UX92WOw4/s1600/sping+2010+016.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhXDufjgnLUNgXu8eohanOLKb1NVC3k8q_gYIY6DKmW-dusghI3cvL5XXKG0OznfqJ9zLrPd0zMmQG_mWQ6v9iUEwL9ekx-ZTxjXOJjZubQmaOs7HO9tmkdt7ky-PwwJpZG4UX92WOw4/s400/sping+2010+016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470462842338760658" border="0" /></a>Living in DC has many perks. One hidden gem is the National Botanical Gardens SPROUTS program for kids ages 3-5. This free program is designed to expose <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">pre</span>-school aged kids to the wonders of growing vegetation. Each week the staff provide a craft...story time.. nature walk and snack around a botanical theme. <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfWVcJHKcFBfZ6T6VTY_2v1twp7wGiz_2K0maGyNSQQdBpy_Q_YlreKtvwAwhpsZtkuJR3Us2-BheVdqT3bHMCpCljIuTo2VnF_eWepaDYc24BHh02Jpg_GC-ioXD9zz2ueq7OOKTs2c/s1600/sping+2010+018.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfWVcJHKcFBfZ6T6VTY_2v1twp7wGiz_2K0maGyNSQQdBpy_Q_YlreKtvwAwhpsZtkuJR3Us2-BheVdqT3bHMCpCljIuTo2VnF_eWepaDYc24BHh02Jpg_GC-ioXD9zz2ueq7OOKTs2c/s400/sping+2010+018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470462837856370242" border="0" /></a>The theme this week pictured here is color. The kids made a color wheel... read a story about how plants get their color... went looking for the colors in their color out in the gardens... crushed petals with a rock and fabric to get the dies from the petals.. and ate berries of various colors! The staff are some of the most lovely people and really engage the kids calling them by their first names throughout their time together.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga010asnFOcJlKuMOvG-tGyeVu8x3p6Ixthn14rmbjWgMbvFvZ8rbIuAxxECtgIQytKDrGTVTZDPdAKIoKUZu9pLZlhiik1BujyPhZEzUwS6XwYTlSUVL16YmB0UtZzeRKUfkFqTNmhd4/s1600/sping+2010+019.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga010asnFOcJlKuMOvG-tGyeVu8x3p6Ixthn14rmbjWgMbvFvZ8rbIuAxxECtgIQytKDrGTVTZDPdAKIoKUZu9pLZlhiik1BujyPhZEzUwS6XwYTlSUVL16YmB0UtZzeRKUfkFqTNmhd4/s400/sping+2010+019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470462819258380146" border="0" /></a>The sweet staff assumed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Addis</span> was three and allowed him to participate. This week's project was painting and we let him watch! However they are gracious to allow him to be involved as much as he can. He does great with the eating part! <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLZfXV3HLeFdZe2yWtSbfu4l7A4gURIGTh8NTcCP44enbTj5UOc3N58zIXX1AyHFtTFrFdYppkKMfp60chJpHsDP7HVFthRpBnDrDQ_eivIT1CF_M_OPlh22uH-rXJMIGNgV1VcURW_8/s1600/sping+2010+021.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLZfXV3HLeFdZe2yWtSbfu4l7A4gURIGTh8NTcCP44enbTj5UOc3N58zIXX1AyHFtTFrFdYppkKMfp60chJpHsDP7HVFthRpBnDrDQ_eivIT1CF_M_OPlh22uH-rXJMIGNgV1VcURW_8/s400/sping+2010+021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470462817439862914" border="0" /></a>Here they are looking at plants that grow in the water and noticing their color. I just wonder if we are going to graduate SPROUTS before <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Addis</span> jumps in or not. This is just one of the many wonderful free programs that we are trying to take advantage of in DC. Next on our list is a similar program that is run by the Smithsonian Art Institute. I have some great friends who give me a heads up on where and when these things become available. I seem to find out about them after they happen. So thanks Meghan!<br /></div>Carpenter Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01804631517662450719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-25891310240680639412010-05-11T19:43:00.003+01:002010-05-11T19:59:30.579+01:00Watch Em' Sleep...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xZi2DZF4CiSgbXWvKtV0RYxCLq2DtrO3aAs7vLn4amg2GuR_bLhg_-MYiT7m52J6ppphxpAl6MiooeuCmIpunb0g5YbCPYGXK7AJuaVYQvbraWOssjESb-L1EAumoX04FZ-3wlGWKzA/s1600/sping+2010+002.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xZi2DZF4CiSgbXWvKtV0RYxCLq2DtrO3aAs7vLn4amg2GuR_bLhg_-MYiT7m52J6ppphxpAl6MiooeuCmIpunb0g5YbCPYGXK7AJuaVYQvbraWOssjESb-L1EAumoX04FZ-3wlGWKzA/s400/sping+2010+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470085359222092578" border="0" /></a>After several failed attempts to wake <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Addis</span> up for breakfast... I did what any thoughtful Mom would do and I got our camera. Mind you it was not the weekend when we strongly encourage the kids to sleep in for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">every one's</span> sake. Our son NEVER misses an opportunity to eat!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gAM4wpxvhqGrprsKsHD-4iPK_VR-GoXKttb-xtYCk3JbalFaT2Ceifyl44zxWv7fHm93m1cG3tApLrKnOB-zk69mKKljpFvo-buF7AxtGHI1yQZR_7f1hGdu4hold7-aU3gk7tdikBQ/s1600/sping+2010+003.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gAM4wpxvhqGrprsKsHD-4iPK_VR-GoXKttb-xtYCk3JbalFaT2Ceifyl44zxWv7fHm93m1cG3tApLrKnOB-zk69mKKljpFvo-buF7AxtGHI1yQZR_7f1hGdu4hold7-aU3gk7tdikBQ/s400/sping+2010+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470085353138853346" border="0" /></a>Is this the face of a future teenage moment or what?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9m0xnfVsnHKE_eY8OFz7m_2ITZhvgeOFGY_oqF8Wsegq3CrtsUBrSZ3ad-Rd4Q1lS4ooW8Lye9UMm8Nfs6ERatnM3EEmnPPyiOj4Eozzoq2cv709AKgOpe29Ar6IqDEHYKI7fGZCJm4/s1600/sping+2010+005.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9m0xnfVsnHKE_eY8OFz7m_2ITZhvgeOFGY_oqF8Wsegq3CrtsUBrSZ3ad-Rd4Q1lS4ooW8Lye9UMm8Nfs6ERatnM3EEmnPPyiOj4Eozzoq2cv709AKgOpe29Ar6IqDEHYKI7fGZCJm4/s400/sping+2010+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470085345464981090" border="0" /></a>So there have been a few occasions when we go into <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Addis's</span> room and he is clearly in the midst of a sleep cycle. He gives us looks like this... The "don't even try it" or the "go ahead and try look"... After this picture was taken <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Addis</span> stayed in bed for another hour and a half. At 9:30<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">AM</span> I had to take him out of bed and dress his limp body. Somewhere around 11:30am he woke up and started joining in our day. I seriously felt like I was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">draggin</span> a stubborn teenager out of bed only I was bigger and stronger. Which by the looks of this 2 year old is not going to be much longer. This is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Addis</span> sporting his 3T pj's and big boy bed. <br />So what is new with our chaos? Well I don't know why I continue to be surprised that days seem long however at the same time months go by and I wonder where did that go? So the kids (ages 5.. 3 1/2.. and 2) have been exercising their verbal independence on a very regular basis. However at the same with a limited vocabulary and reasoning skills there has been high levels of frustration around the house. A wise woman (Barbara <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Comstock</span>) told me that on those really hard days go watch em' sleep. So there have been many evenings and early mornings where I have peeked in on them. I tried to get pictures of the others but failed. So friends when you have those days.. watch em' sleep...<br /></div>Carpenter Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01804631517662450719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-79877033694258246852010-02-18T23:44:00.004+00:002010-02-19T15:01:15.279+00:00So... What Else Did We Do?<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XbEK_-W1sfKzxXdZg4wgX8JMRSnbA0uDSQimBExbcIwBJ9mS8S6aETraV4r4H5sq-2jm2I2rFU5i1KGNHbwiK9eT5tMKlUEpWKYm1TJOyf4f8-jFKWtF89dhKfYVPzPF-eK02IQxD2c/s1600-h/DSC04676.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XbEK_-W1sfKzxXdZg4wgX8JMRSnbA0uDSQimBExbcIwBJ9mS8S6aETraV4r4H5sq-2jm2I2rFU5i1KGNHbwiK9eT5tMKlUEpWKYm1TJOyf4f8-jFKWtF89dhKfYVPzPF-eK02IQxD2c/s400/DSC04676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439735625083006610" border="0" /></a>This is what 40 inches of snow looks like in your backyard. This was when the snow was still pretty and fluffy, however now it's melty, icey and dirty.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheX8INLHBAhgYEzY63Lp6wAjQFsFvMKCCCHJn3_v3HY3frGGwohEtIaxy8MegpCGxaxPYGMKosb1BT81RsxW-ZcxGakqXCgJEp-bn-xB35l0I0tzkeTw9pLaNatSejB67BfyZMJBmffGI/s1600-h/DSC04672.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheX8INLHBAhgYEzY63Lp6wAjQFsFvMKCCCHJn3_v3HY3frGGwohEtIaxy8MegpCGxaxPYGMKosb1BT81RsxW-ZcxGakqXCgJEp-bn-xB35l0I0tzkeTw9pLaNatSejB67BfyZMJBmffGI/s400/DSC04672.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439735604461770114" border="0" /></a>Ansley Mills helped me make a birthday cake for Tom. He wanted a box yellow cake and Duncan Hines Chocolate frosting. Boring... However some great friends walked over to surprise Tom and eat cake! I really did not want a whole cake trapped in the house with us...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNvlGaMt7yI0y0gXrFV3Ay6vj_O3QmSLIVUpeQ3LjMEl6Db2XAIBmdzmNQ_k18sv0nB0WUNBDDuS6-_8M9qQkr0AT8iCc04-Jczdp214mmqzNZ4bdUIEHiCMp-OCKBDVkKpFzQXMxM0Y/s1600-h/DSC04667.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNvlGaMt7yI0y0gXrFV3Ay6vj_O3QmSLIVUpeQ3LjMEl6Db2XAIBmdzmNQ_k18sv0nB0WUNBDDuS6-_8M9qQkr0AT8iCc04-Jczdp214mmqzNZ4bdUIEHiCMp-OCKBDVkKpFzQXMxM0Y/s400/DSC04667.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439735597481278834" border="0" /></a>Our dining table served purposes during our indoor snow vacation. Some of it's functions included but were not limited to: a place to eat, a fort, a place to hid, play room, jail, and swimming pool.<br /></div>Carpenter Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01804631517662450719noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-66200901240437480072010-02-17T21:41:00.005+00:002010-02-18T12:27:58.788+00:00Did I Mention It Snowed...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3u701ZDuwK0Pb5hZdtfECHnU7B9sXog6TyMXja3Y7CNgXdvQpJLLQ1vICioz-oADs_Ujld1Ox0NGzJv08QKAGjuvZMdeVaPair9fDexFqmqDuO2bpyCUx0JqXT8K606rqMxNOdzuDLJM/s1600-h/IMG_9505.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3u701ZDuwK0Pb5hZdtfECHnU7B9sXog6TyMXja3Y7CNgXdvQpJLLQ1vICioz-oADs_Ujld1Ox0NGzJv08QKAGjuvZMdeVaPair9fDexFqmqDuO2bpyCUx0JqXT8K606rqMxNOdzuDLJM/s400/IMG_9505.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439337694341003090" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDzWM8LxFy9dY0PVcIQfkHNPz52f8wsvTQViHn2fRmpF-HTkpb22YR9K79MFI-_M9xx0n99HHRjhlUG__Iij2KLqM6sLk-fs4pc04eXBDCqYdbNjLZu1vwt6hyphenhyphen08d-1cxFahF78by6kk/s1600-h/IMG_9485.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDzWM8LxFy9dY0PVcIQfkHNPz52f8wsvTQViHn2fRmpF-HTkpb22YR9K79MFI-_M9xx0n99HHRjhlUG__Iij2KLqM6sLk-fs4pc04eXBDCqYdbNjLZu1vwt6hyphenhyphen08d-1cxFahF78by6kk/s400/IMG_9485.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439337686400230834" border="0" /></a>Pulling kids in sleds was our mode of transportation for several days.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBSDRlofBFD8cMAGu-hiimhHxCCf2F6gy3djBx2gRDYCgzCUWqSNBjwM5Hae3Qbu2p61irYZ7Az365tiF19_-fMj1msEFLvoRk1x6vSIpmXV_h1_I8VElIJZtdPTeod2yY5Q867NZZPM/s1600-h/IMG_9473.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBSDRlofBFD8cMAGu-hiimhHxCCf2F6gy3djBx2gRDYCgzCUWqSNBjwM5Hae3Qbu2p61irYZ7Az365tiF19_-fMj1msEFLvoRk1x6vSIpmXV_h1_I8VElIJZtdPTeod2yY5Q867NZZPM/s400/IMG_9473.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439337677150759282" border="0" /></a>Standing in what is normally the dog area the kids play with an igloo built by some over zealous parents. Their friend Lucy is in the background.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVVkLQNsE78GGK_eKO5lOQQSipp51lkENJK9ZcvPNVsLIBHF3cjGDv8Znz0FabgFFtRmWaV3UMLfq1b2LvaHuDGvkxBL-4iB1jVYKsTlfYLNHt1Ewr0Y1t7FK0L5sG9jUc4YOLhr5fCY/s1600-h/IMG_9469.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVVkLQNsE78GGK_eKO5lOQQSipp51lkENJK9ZcvPNVsLIBHF3cjGDv8Znz0FabgFFtRmWaV3UMLfq1b2LvaHuDGvkxBL-4iB1jVYKsTlfYLNHt1Ewr0Y1t7FK0L5sG9jUc4YOLhr5fCY/s400/IMG_9469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439337663253171362" border="0" /></a><br />Addis did not really enjoy the cold or snow. He did not smile once this entire outing. Lucy is the tall friend who is also our neighbor. We have great neighbors! Her sweet mom, Amy, took these pictures because I'm a dead beat parent. Thanks Amy!<br /></div>Carpenter Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01804631517662450719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-10282836852979208162010-02-16T19:52:00.007+00:002010-02-17T12:34:49.506+00:00I Don't Even Know What Day It Is...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis21zyqDJJkhRj42JeJVIuQGhyphenhyphenjjj-pZobGKY5fA44Y5G3S1CKKmnfa3PA7m7C1fYt6t_1BN3nprEusVs3moSWkOrVAce8u60eM9itD6U5bHlip5-gjmVaWRC7L8mhInG_i10-X1pD4BE/s1600-h/DSC04665.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis21zyqDJJkhRj42JeJVIuQGhyphenhyphenjjj-pZobGKY5fA44Y5G3S1CKKmnfa3PA7m7C1fYt6t_1BN3nprEusVs3moSWkOrVAce8u60eM9itD6U5bHlip5-gjmVaWRC7L8mhInG_i10-X1pD4BE/s400/DSC04665.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438932180656731010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNyPsQRUgEe21GGBfX1y8PhuX8ZEg8LNvzjWN_nFsvUVzNcD5otDsG9x6fogv1QK2EOSnNumPU5e1ekQSI5o5epfB3_XY1TDv4LEl6PQkutFLrUIoGiqp1yXG1Jrm9taJ0M80yiCHIMw/s1600-h/DSC04676.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNyPsQRUgEe21GGBfX1y8PhuX8ZEg8LNvzjWN_nFsvUVzNcD5otDsG9x6fogv1QK2EOSnNumPU5e1ekQSI5o5epfB3_XY1TDv4LEl6PQkutFLrUIoGiqp1yXG1Jrm9taJ0M80yiCHIMw/s400/DSC04676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438932175741942226" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgS_GlNFyVkDkgqsAcygF7LNy0wHETlNC6ZMWK6P8OrC8seHlUK3-8N18Q9zoe2JIFX4oRzerVbFhQcIToW31CHdjTC1y0V89Xd_xX_0fPqsftx3zXxwY9bsWRzLi0kkRmyN0zppjngU/s1600-h/DSC04664.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgS_GlNFyVkDkgqsAcygF7LNy0wHETlNC6ZMWK6P8OrC8seHlUK3-8N18Q9zoe2JIFX4oRzerVbFhQcIToW31CHdjTC1y0V89Xd_xX_0fPqsftx3zXxwY9bsWRzLi0kkRmyN0zppjngU/s400/DSC04664.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438932171999457618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iavBX1AoZXUlkdSUmV7tTvVyq8A0HXg3kJ4X3bLim9rh5C0BJ6y5fW1CtiQ-fRkVX3eYPWNbAoLkpgL2555noGFe9lxj_7FSCHzRMonfu2VIIL2khJyfaGxpDNTm98lzYsWWO2jToqs/s1600-h/DSC04669.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iavBX1AoZXUlkdSUmV7tTvVyq8A0HXg3kJ4X3bLim9rh5C0BJ6y5fW1CtiQ-fRkVX3eYPWNbAoLkpgL2555noGFe9lxj_7FSCHzRMonfu2VIIL2khJyfaGxpDNTm98lzYsWWO2jToqs/s400/DSC04669.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438932163031793234" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I really think these pictures do not need explaining. </span><br /><br /></div><br />Growing up in Cincinnati they (the weather junkies) would often make threats that a "big one" was coming only to disappoint time and time again with slush covered streets. So when the weather alerts were being broadcast I found myself tempted to call their bluff and not "stock up." Friends, am I ever glad I braved the traffic and grocery madness! Police were at the store to make sure things did not get out of hand in the parking lot and once inside the store. "Words" were being exchanged as customers reached for the quickly disappearing items on the shelves. Managers being blessed out for lines up to thirty people deep. It was a site indeed and lucky for me I had three little shoppers too, but there was no mercy for our "starving" family. We waited and waited with the best of them. Thankfully, in preparation for our outing I strategically dehydrated our children so as not to spend our time in the facilities. Next stop was the public library to load up on books, shows and music. Now we were armed and ready!<br /><br />So in one afternoon it started to snow... And a few days later it stopped, dumping a mere 40 + inches in DC. Friday February 5th the city came to a halt. Minutes turned into hours, hours turned to days and days to weeks. First impression: Man this is going to be great no school, no work, no commitments, and no place to go. Second impression: All of us cuddled together reading and getting a ton of things done around the house (ie. clean out that closet, sort and organize recipes). I had big plans... High hopes... First Reality/Question: What in the world are we going to do with all this time on our hands? Do we even like each other? Second Reality/Question: How in the world have we been trapped in the house and not really "accomplish" one thing? I mean we spent the greater part of our time in pj's and I somehow managed to compile six loads of laundry (none of which got done). At several points we really had no clue what day it was.<br /><br />So what did we do? <br />We did take the kids out in the snow a few times. Based on our last experience with deep snow and three shorties our expectations and hopes were more measured. Getting around our neighborhood to the park or for a walk was Tom and I pulling the kids on sleds. Every afternoon at the bewitching hours we watched a family movie (the Bee Movie, Cars..you get the idea). Tom and I burned threw three seasons of Lost on dvd (we gave up years ago and recently re-upped our commitment) and are almost up to date (no spoilers please). Some very generous friends (thanks anne marie and sarah) babysat our kids so I could take out Tom for his birthday and a Valentines brunch. Cocktail "Friday" happened a few more times than there were Fridays. We thought about getting in shape and cresting the hump of being organized. So now we wait and watch as the snow turns from powder white to nasty black and slush. We have a bet going in our house as to when the last bit of snow will melt... Any guesses?Carpenter Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01804631517662450719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-16219267930301251822010-01-11T22:56:00.003+00:002010-01-11T23:11:06.180+00:00Nightmares...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRr_23kj53oGvuIuJboDBEpX07UGkzQIPAoPIGKyuCDvD3e_glbu6F07sUvLThvR98OIerLtkMkamT2u5JbxWbZpNnvvKyzp6B2MUitmYKOJs-BhcZLWmuDgihjnUy8lv2ZOFjROaBccQ/s1600-h/fall+09+045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRr_23kj53oGvuIuJboDBEpX07UGkzQIPAoPIGKyuCDvD3e_glbu6F07sUvLThvR98OIerLtkMkamT2u5JbxWbZpNnvvKyzp6B2MUitmYKOJs-BhcZLWmuDgihjnUy8lv2ZOFjROaBccQ/s400/fall+09+045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425620798783993010" border="0" /></a>Ansley Mills has been our tough to love child as of late. Precious dear that is going through "the three's" at our house. We fondly remember Ellie going through this stage a couple of years ago but without this degree of stubbornness. I love that she is different from her sister and her strong will is and will be an asset in certain life situations. However, her middle of the night meltdowns that last anywhere from ten minutes to an hour is NOT one of those circumstances. Nothing will calm her down, nothing. Last night (after a whole week of solid sleep praise God) she awoke at 4am screaming. Her messaging could not be dis-ciphered and Tom tried his darnedest to interpret. After a few minutes she was yelling my name and since I was up I thought I'd go and see if I could offer some assistance.<br />I walked into her room and knelt by her bed and after a few attempts at speaking, she hissed through tears, "momma give me back my ice cream!" Then proceeded to lose it again. I held back my laughter and calmly explained I had not taken any ice cream from her. Then we talked about dreams for a minute and asked her if she had a dream that mommy took her ice cream and she nodded. Now this isolated event is funny but the funnier part of all this is that this is the THIRD time she has awoken in terror over mommy taking her ice cream. Now the truth is I can not remember taking ice cream from her. The other truth is that ice cream is my favorite food and I would not put it past me to encourage her to share some with me. What does this say about my parenting that my children wake themselves frightened that mommy is stealing their ice cream...<br /></div>Carpenter Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01804631517662450719noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-85678366506259030152010-01-07T23:08:00.002+00:002010-01-07T23:23:36.318+00:00Three Little Candycanes..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Oa3tifA2_2wfCkPDdoJK9gtsc9LF66lq2n_xUk1NZptF36buRjLZLGMPodC38UcjhaVdV2jRX0h-Ao4QdVWLb5Eh4DsClISWeGt7Pt6P0a9vqw-ld8Ptd0WxGtRbNVdwIsJz1-TIGbQ/s1600-h/052.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Oa3tifA2_2wfCkPDdoJK9gtsc9LF66lq2n_xUk1NZptF36buRjLZLGMPodC38UcjhaVdV2jRX0h-Ao4QdVWLb5Eh4DsClISWeGt7Pt6P0a9vqw-ld8Ptd0WxGtRbNVdwIsJz1-TIGbQ/s400/052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424139267396948354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_t02RLy1D-Yxvinm7RgXR-QPVHP7tyNgRBiVXyX-oEB9YbafYvgaSx2mxBe-o2mvMKU8XdzwEfmbW-yxqo_RjJn4cNjZS1ZuJg0rIMYQ-o-a4M6cp_0HNWTeat54cBHbnT8MABT6MsXI/s1600-h/050.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_t02RLy1D-Yxvinm7RgXR-QPVHP7tyNgRBiVXyX-oEB9YbafYvgaSx2mxBe-o2mvMKU8XdzwEfmbW-yxqo_RjJn4cNjZS1ZuJg0rIMYQ-o-a4M6cp_0HNWTeat54cBHbnT8MABT6MsXI/s400/050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424139256505672002" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKWjC53HJlY5Xs457JeDrsUzm46rwcop7dz1CaJ74w8Z5yEVBExKE4D6kRX3jlQRv6wZnc9_cDjw8a43ItEA7IhRwhBs41IuqPFr5TvQ6PxsQuYVPxzMOBEfIBDUthRYmlvEXqznlZ-w/s1600-h/051.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKWjC53HJlY5Xs457JeDrsUzm46rwcop7dz1CaJ74w8Z5yEVBExKE4D6kRX3jlQRv6wZnc9_cDjw8a43ItEA7IhRwhBs41IuqPFr5TvQ6PxsQuYVPxzMOBEfIBDUthRYmlvEXqznlZ-w/s400/051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424139250436613714" border="0" /></a>Matching Christmas pj's from Mia! I am not ashamed to admit that they wore these pj's for at least a week until Christmas Day. They became known as their "around the house" wear.<br /></div>Carpenter Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01804631517662450719noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-78112035982316078452010-01-05T16:41:00.005+00:002010-01-06T21:22:35.157+00:00The 20 Incher...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha54s9n5nQiIfDp2ZweOdrl-GvpSrBTSlpmefRBRkAeLLss2ky2Yy9nFcRm4jhhYxDpxPdG3BYs4hWUFXfg-nodmV3gO9AmJlCOClLYhKNek4pCV6Z5GuXjpEsry-Z4lCq1U6pV3sB8GY/s1600-h/038.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha54s9n5nQiIfDp2ZweOdrl-GvpSrBTSlpmefRBRkAeLLss2ky2Yy9nFcRm4jhhYxDpxPdG3BYs4hWUFXfg-nodmV3gO9AmJlCOClLYhKNek4pCV6Z5GuXjpEsry-Z4lCq1U6pV3sB8GY/s400/038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423306430247378978" border="0" /></a>This is the front of our house and the mound in front is Tom's car!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimA22GXMP7r6u1HXogmWkCxU9qEdzVPKdrzcTfMUUGzQMpdhrIPN1T1AlT3pWnCkBzM_io8DBxnqGGnP8cqbONGB3EonQ9vicQjPLv8Vg1rs_Enk4cdd9eIuJk2uOLbpmbebhG8RW6mbo/s1600-h/043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimA22GXMP7r6u1HXogmWkCxU9qEdzVPKdrzcTfMUUGzQMpdhrIPN1T1AlT3pWnCkBzM_io8DBxnqGGnP8cqbONGB3EonQ9vicQjPLv8Vg1rs_Enk4cdd9eIuJk2uOLbpmbebhG8RW6mbo/s400/043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423306414024818162" border="0" /></a>A trail that was eventually made by dog walkers. I felt sorry for those dog walkers and how far they had to reach down to collect the poo.<br /><br />The Friday before Christmas DC was getting predictions that we'd be at the center of the season's "big one." I did not get wind of this until the day before and let it roll off my back as typical hype by bored under-stimulated weather folks. However, like most folks I planned an emergency run to the grocery store. After calling Tom to see what his must <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">haves</span> need be if indeed we were snowed in I loaded up the kids and we were on our way. The stores were a mad house! I mean come on they were calling for 15-20 inches but that was never going to happen. I passed carts full of bottled water, bread and eggs. My cart had three kids, coffee, beer and milk! Enough said...<br />We headed out to a Christmas party around 7pm and there was nothing, not even a flake! However, a couple of hours later the first flake fell and by golly if it did not snow for the next 24 hours straight! It was one of the most beautiful sites to behold. Everything shut down and created a scene only known to Norman Rockwell. The kids were dying to get outside and explore this new adventure. Getting them ready took 45 minutes, created several meltdowns and a few "i need to use the potty." Actual time spent outside creating lifelong memories... five minutes and several "I hate the snow!" We felt like we lived in the pioneer days as we loaded all the kids onto a sled and trekked over to a friend' house for dinner and drinks that keep you warm. Only a lone police officer stopped us and asked if we needed help. Precious.<br /></div>Carpenter Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01804631517662450719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029729318339931679.post-7383957656541116682009-12-27T01:36:00.002+00:002009-12-27T01:53:48.900+00:00Cincinnati For Christmas!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTr7RKv3wlReSMcvJ2SQoS6-mN6OuMYfB_6a0w0yY6lPhbFMVWajh7GFc0gwdHJZaEJBO3MqBPxfXl0gEvW_098CFvUr3lrLyaEFkHi9wZSGg467OwRpsIozmo8JtbU5ZVTYQBE1yGLpQ/s1600-h/cincinnati3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419724173497890898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTr7RKv3wlReSMcvJ2SQoS6-mN6OuMYfB_6a0w0yY6lPhbFMVWajh7GFc0gwdHJZaEJBO3MqBPxfXl0gEvW_098CFvUr3lrLyaEFkHi9wZSGg467OwRpsIozmo8JtbU5ZVTYQBE1yGLpQ/s400/cincinnati3.jpg" /></a> Merry Christmas to all a few days late. Last week DC was pummeled by a winter storm that gave us 20 inches of snow. It was wonderful, really socked in tight. Althought we got a little stir crazy it really helped us slow down and reflect upon our Savior's birth. After five hours of shoveling our car out and clearing part of the alley, the family van was ready to head west to Cincinnati Ohio to celebrate Christmas with my parents. </div><div align="center">The packing of the bags and car was a feat of stamina, patience and timeouts. I successfully failed to pack presents, kids meds, and "outfits" for the kids. We rolled out on time and swung by Dunkin Donuts before hitting the interstate. As we are crossing over the 395 bridge Ellie calls from the back, "did you give Ansley Mills her car medicine?" Great call Ellie, our sweet little Ansley Mills is a true urban tot, she gets sick anytime we are in the car over 20 minutes. I reason it is because she literally spent the first year of her life in the car a handful of times. However, gracious Ellie's reminder is we were too late and it was thirty minutes later and we had our first pull over! Notice I said first...</div><div align="center">After several "clean up" stops, a few false potty alarms, lunch/gas, snow and traffic we made it to Cincinnati in nothing shy of 9 hours. We ate dinner and practically went to bed. The following day I met up with several girls whom I grew up with and some of their children. It was so surreal to see friends and their kids! Man are we getting old. Each day was spent with some quality time with family. A real gift! I usually only see them once a year and all on one day, this breaking it up as the first chance in a long time to see each section of our family. Christmas morning was so much fun watching the kids open gifts and thank Jesus for giving them gifts on His birthday! We have very generous family members who lavish on us and we are grateful for them. So now we are packing up and gearing up for the "joyride" back to DC. Tom and I have decided to do a "life audit" and reeve up for 2010! <br /></div><div align="center"></div>Carpenter Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01804631517662450719noreply@blogger.com2