tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41080869173043499592024-02-07T10:21:17.668-08:00Summer ArtAll Year LongRachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.comBlogger422125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-27025477412287257512018-07-01T17:30:00.001-07:002018-07-01T17:41:23.679-07:00Why Thor: Ragnorak is the greatest superhero movie of all time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I know there are more reasons than this, but it seems like a good place to start. </div>
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I love The Dark Knight movies and they meant a lot to me. They still do. I also really love the original Iron Man and Tony Stark has always been my favorite Avenger, until now. I LOVE THOR. And this is why.</div>
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In the beginning of Ragnorak, Thor takes on Surta. But there is still something different about him right from the start. He is funny. He is powerful, he is strong and brave and good, and the music was written for this movie years ago before there was even a Marvel studio. Funny how inspiration comes together like that.</div>
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Then everything starts to fall apart. He loses everything.</div>
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He loses his father, </div>
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his hammer, </div>
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his hair, </div>
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his freedom, </div>
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his Asgard,</div>
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his faith in himself. </div>
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He loses everything.</div>
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And then he comes back. Everything is stripped away, and he comes back. ANd this time he knows he is and who he was meant to be. He comes back stronger, braver, more powerful than ever before. He looks into the darkness and comes back fighting. He finds the strength and believes in the power that is greater than himself. Because he IS the God of Thunder...And THAT'S WHAT HEROS DO.</div>
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ANd then there is just the look on Loki's face when he comes back and Loki sees him and realized no matter what Thor is never going to stop fighting for what is right...and Loki knows it...incredible. And who knows where Loki really is now. I don't even know if he knows. But that whole relationship is so incredible too. I love where he and Loki are at the end of this movie where Loki says "I'm here." And his sacrifice at the beginning of Infinity War. I hope it sticks even though I kind of really love Loki too. </div>
Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-46686067392019566502017-04-28T20:24:00.001-07:002017-04-28T20:24:42.092-07:00Cinderella<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRf6bq4FwF9EOeTdYj2XFJHgyU3PPsRNoBC1W1Eqr7WbEVQipqTq9eRZkxPkBqlzz4itKbny3LZNbOSSM36NcQdmbTOn_8xrEtbbq5UxyqR9PRnDWc_4sKVpYq2kd8XCmjA7WvwFbAXg0/s1600/18157984_10155191195122317_210937234925553432_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRf6bq4FwF9EOeTdYj2XFJHgyU3PPsRNoBC1W1Eqr7WbEVQipqTq9eRZkxPkBqlzz4itKbny3LZNbOSSM36NcQdmbTOn_8xrEtbbq5UxyqR9PRnDWc_4sKVpYq2kd8XCmjA7WvwFbAXg0/s200/18157984_10155191195122317_210937234925553432_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a>My day started with my friend Jen from the school office running into my room and telling me to call my husband right away. Derek crashed on his way to school and knocked out his front tooth. <br />
Poor kid. He was lying on the sidewalk trying to get a hold of me. It was Pirate Day at school and I didn't have my phone with me. I am so grateful for the beyond wonderful people I work with who immediately went into action to cover for me so I could go and rescue Derek. He crashed by my sweet friend Patty's house and I told him to go knock on her door. Luckily she was home and she dropped everything to take care of him until I got there. I walked into the house and he was safe and she was getting him ice and I was so grateful. I got him settled at home, made an appointment for the first dental appointment that was available and ran to the district office for a meeting. I ran back to the school for pirate day, and then headed back to take Derek to the dentist in Lehi because that was the only place available today. I got him checked in and we sat in the waiting room while the last 20 min. of the original Disney Cinderella was on...and that is where I lost it. Sobbing in the waiting room...it was not pretty.<br />
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Sobbing for a few reasons. First of all because life just is life. I am always running short and the whole thing about being there for my kids v.s. working and being grateful for a job and insurance and everything that goes with that security is always on my mind. So much guilt for so many things. But those little mice were trying so hard to get that key to Cinderella so she could just run down to try on that glass slipper. Crying because those birds started to drop the dishes on horrible Lucifer the mean cat to help Cinderella too because they love her so much. They love her because of all she has done for them. They love each other. They would do anything for Cinderella because she would do anything for them. There is nothing selfish or wrong with caring and helping your friends. Cinderella calls for Bruno the dog who is sleeping and the birds don't skip a beat to go and get the dog, and the horse realizes what is going on and gets the dog up. The dog gets up the stairs just in time and Cinderella gets down stairs and when the slipper breaks, she produces the other glass slipper.<br />
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Recently I have been reading a lot about how irrelevant fairy tales are. It is all over social media and in conversations I have in the world. I love fairly tales. The summer after I was in 4th grade my family had this big red book of fairy tales that was over 400 pages long. I wanted to read every fairy tale in that book and I spent my 4th grade summer reading it. I finished it and I internalized it. Fairy Tales are part of who I am. Cinderella is one of those stories I love, and so many people love because of the themes that resonate with so many people. Identifying with oppression and coping with loss and still being a beautiful person inside no matter what life throws at you. Enduring to the end, hoping for a better life, kindness, compassion, friendship, service, love, never losing hope, treating animals and others with love and respect. Identifying fairness, developing empathy, distinguishing Christ like Characteristics of Cinderella contrasted by the unkindness and selfishness of the stepsisters. Having faith in things hoped for. No one ever has to explain to children that Cinderella is the person we should try to be more like. Children know it when they see it. Truth is like that. We know it. It is there in plain sight in front of us. <br />
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While discussing all of this with my husband Jeff tonight he had a very wise perspective; "Cinderella did need to be rescued. Some times in life all of us may need to be. But just as a princess might need to be rescued by a prince, a real man will need a princess in his life to save him too. They save each other. There is nothing wrong with that."<br />
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<br />Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-57348778735275541032016-11-14T18:47:00.000-08:002016-11-14T20:16:18.313-08:00What the world really needsI am at a loss. And I have had noisy thoughts and feelings that I have kept to myself bouncing around in my brain. My social media journey has been long. It has been good. It has been a friend. It has brought a lot of good things into my life. It has also brought hurt, frustration, anger, regret. In fact I am embarrassed. Maybe that is how it is for everyone. But I like to think that I have learned from my experiences. I would hope that, just like in other aspects of my life, I have become better... more enlightened...wiser?<br />
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At the least, I feel like I have become more...empathetic. And I think it is a good thing. <br />
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I remember getting worked up about a topic awhile ago. I was opinionated. I was unsympathetic. I thought I was right. I thought the world was crazy. The world was wrong. And I hurt people I care about. Because no matter what I think, other people also have very complex and lifelong ideas. Good, kind people who are doing good things with their lives have ideas that are actually different than mine. I decided then that my relationships were the very most important thing. They were more important than getting likes on Facebook. They were more important than my prideful ideals of what may or may not be right. I really started listening. I stopped thinking that I was right, and they were wrong. I tried to understand...and most of all, I started doing. <br />
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I am trying harder to focus more on what my job actually is. I am not a brilliant political analyst. I am not a social worker on the front lines seeing people struggle in difficult circumstances. I am not an unbiased journalist, if there is such a thing. But I am a teacher. And my job is to love every one of the children in my class. That is the career that I have chosen. It is not my job to put others in their place, especially on social media. My job is to love, care for, teach and protect. I am good at it. That is what I do.<br />
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I feel saddened by the hate that has risen up everywhere. People who pretend they are good people show the world who they really are with the hate spewing from their fingertips as the criticize people they know nothing about. So many people I know are so mean. I didn't know it. But I do now. You can try to push down who you really are, and cover it up, especially when you are safely behind a computer screen...but the ugly is showing. It's out now. Everyone can see it. And it has nothing to do with being right. It is pride, hatred, envy, vengeance, arrogance, and nothing good will come of it.<br />
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The 3 adults in my family recently voted in the Presidential Election, like so many others. We voted for 3 separate and very different Candidates. We still love each other. We still talk to each other, and maybe the very most remarkable thing is that we understand each other. Because we know that none of us voted for the what was the worst of the candidates. The 3 of us voted for what was the best in them with a hope that something they had to offer would be for good. We all still have that hope. I am proud of my 19 yr. old for voting the way he did. I respect him. He is his own person, with his own opinions, he thought long and hard about who he would vote for. He is such a good kid. My husband also made his choice on relevant issues. I understand them. I appreciate them. I respect them. I voted for the other because I also have very well thought out and complex reasons that are important to me. And now the election is done and in some ways I feel like the world is falling apart, and I am sick. Not about the election results. But because of people. <br />
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I just wish we could try a little harder to all listen more. Try to understand why so many people on both sides voted the way they did. Have we asked? Have we listened? <br />
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How can we put this behind us and come together? <br />
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Maybe this. Love and service. God has everything under control...but what will WE do?<br />
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<a href="https://www.mormon.org/christmas/light-the-world" target="_blank">https://www.mormon.org/christmas/light-the-world</a><br />
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What the world needs. All of us.<br />
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<br />Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-78220564500684040832015-02-09T23:59:00.001-08:002015-02-13T18:32:00.163-08:00No Offense Taken Passion is important. I have passion for a few things in my life. My family, Education, The Arts, America and all it stands for, my Faith. And sometimes I feel like something needs to be said. In response to a most recent quote by Ex-Mormon Feminist Kate Kelly, I feel the need, once again to take a stand for what I believe and to show what few people may be interested to know how I see it.<br />
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In her most recent article from The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/06/gay-mormons-not-the-problem-small-minded-religious-paradigms<br />
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Quote: "S<i>adly, the Mormon faith has become a place that incentivizes the
survival of the least fit. Since strict obedience is demanded and
harshly enforced, only the least talented, least articulate, least
nuanced thinkers, least likely to take a stand against abuse, and the
least courageous people thrive in the Church today</i>"<br />
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Right.<br />
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"<i>Sadly, the Mormon faith has become a place that incentivizes the
survival of the least fit.</i><br />
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<i>Since strict obedience is demanded and
harshly enforced, only the least talented,</i><br />
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<i>least articulate,</i><br />
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<i>least
nuanced thinkers,</i><br />
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<i> least likely to take a stand against abuse, </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfllBsNYFv09RCrxd1Oz-w7EK7T_z7mNVvnpYhzzbEM2wDD_Knm4lFyKvkttYZlnYxLKa9dMMOQyfLwGOEvQ_NaVKQzce2phs-U1fFOxq1SVNmakkvlUUXHa62dVPtNEFz1xvlIsC8QEKE/s1600/smart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfllBsNYFv09RCrxd1Oz-w7EK7T_z7mNVvnpYhzzbEM2wDD_Knm4lFyKvkttYZlnYxLKa9dMMOQyfLwGOEvQ_NaVKQzce2phs-U1fFOxq1SVNmakkvlUUXHa62dVPtNEFz1xvlIsC8QEKE/s1600/smart.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sFS_yaDGfTYoq_-UWXbpwUeUAgDlMCA3YgmxUmkLZaqUr6aBUATGmFX_ScaX4qCWa_7ZXjO-9d8Fr_L4mB4TwyJwMMGxIw7P_CWWNB8b_oiy-dOa7kqUkCNK3SwwX5ePfY55_FrqJP-c/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sFS_yaDGfTYoq_-UWXbpwUeUAgDlMCA3YgmxUmkLZaqUr6aBUATGmFX_ScaX4qCWa_7ZXjO-9d8Fr_L4mB4TwyJwMMGxIw7P_CWWNB8b_oiy-dOa7kqUkCNK3SwwX5ePfY55_FrqJP-c/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><i>and the
least courageous people thrive in the Church today"</i><br />
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It's not that I am offended by these words. Taking offense would be my decision to make. I am not offended. It's more that I just cant believe that someone who screams for acceptance and tolerance would do the exact opposite of what she is preaching in such a public format. It's name calling and profiling an entire population, when she doesn't know me, or any of the women I associate with. We are all individual. We are intelligent, we are strong, we are talented, yet we can still believe.<br />
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Maybe we just all get something that you cant. Maybe we understand things a little bit more. I admire all of these women so much because of the questions they have asked and the difficult things they have faced. Yet they have still managed to come through trials with their faith intact. They thrive, because of their faith. I will stand with them. Their acts speak for themselves. They, like so many other women I know who endure and understand on a deep level who they are and what their faith means. I know lots of other women like them. They do not fit the description you choose to label us as. Such a harsh generalization only brings your true colors to light. Once again, those who scream tolerance the loudest really are the least tolerant of all. <br />
<br />Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-65715664226786101402014-06-22T21:23:00.000-07:002014-06-22T21:36:31.592-07:00I almost hijacked a facebook friends post....But decided to move it here since it ended up being so long. Facebook can be such a hostel place sometimes. It is so hard to sincerely share opinions and ideas when we are all hiding behind our computer screens where we feel safe and willing to take risks that we often regret. There are so many hot topics right now, and everyone is weighing in because we all feel safe. Most of the on-line arguments I see are counter productive and mean spirited. They are emotionally triggered and that is the place where people are coming from. People are angry. People are hurt. People are protective. But no one, in my opinion, ever wins an online argument. And I have watched quite a few over the last few days. I see a lot of pride on both sides. Everyone feels that they are right. Formed opinions are going to stay that way. We are all just trying harder to prove what we already know. At the same time, these types of things have helped all of us to be more aware and to form ideas and opinions that become more concrete the more we talk or write about them. I believe Jesus Christ is the head of the church. I believe the prophet speaks for him. I also believe Jesus Christ alone will judge everyone when the time comes. I do not believe the Ordain Women Movement is sanctioned by God. I choose to follow the prophet. I think Kate Kelly's actions are based on pride and disillusionment. That being said, I feel for them that so many in their movement have been hurt and disregarded by idiots and imperfect people who have made mistakes. But I see them as a bunch of angry women who just got mad instead of trying to do what they are asking others to do. Understand. Because in my opinion they really don't. And mormon leaders are not "afraid". It is either the Church of Jesus Christ or it is not. And we cannot demand or appoint ourselves to make changes so the gospel suits our lifestyle so we feel better about ourselves. Kate Kelly is not a prophet. She speaks for herself and the people she represents. She has appointed herself. That is not how God works. THat is the only issue I am willing to take on right now because it's all I feel like I need to take on right now. BUt I am not willing to judge anyone personally. ANd I have decided to be kind and empathetic to those who have a different outlook than mine. Because different points of view really have helped me to more perfectly form mine. But lets just all be nice. Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-68348764405759017442014-06-20T17:25:00.000-07:002014-06-22T07:27:34.523-07:00RolesAt what point do we stop just ignoring what is wrong, and do something about it? I am all about keeping quiet and brushing things off and feeling sad for misguided souls. But at what point is it important to stop being silent and standing up for what I believe is right? This "sisters in silence" vigil outside temple square this Sunday is one of those things where I ask myself, do I just let this go? Do I allow some 100+ women I don't even know to speak for me? Do I allow them to say that I am "cowardly and oppressed" because I am not a part of their movement and they understand something I don't?<br />
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I have never in my life felt discriminated against or unequal in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have asked more questions and struggled with issues on a personal level. I have been angry with my ward leaders at times. I have prayed about things personally, asked family, friends and church leaders for help. I have come to terms with many things, and still struggle with others. But I believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored. I want to be like Jesus Christ. I want to do what he would do and what he wants me to do. I question my decisions and ask myself if my points of view are based on pride. Sometimes they are. Sometimes I don't care. Sometimes I may not realize it. But what I do realize is that this Ordain Women movement is built completely on pride. It is all "what about me?"<br />
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I do feel bad for some of these women. I do. I feel like the church is run by people who are just trying to do their best. We really are all The Lord has to work with. Leaders make mistakes. People say things they shouldn't. We all stumble and fall and offend and get offended. I have gone to church leaders when I have been angry...at them! I have confided in others and asked for help. I have questioned doctrine in the middle of Gospel Doctrine class. I have asked questions and searched for answers my entire life. I have left in the middle of sacrament meeting because something made me so mad I couldn't stand to be there any longer.<br />
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I guess the difference between me and some of these other women, and I am only speculating, is that I have known and do know some truly wonderful men who are true followers of Christ. Starting with my sweet Father who taught me the gospel and sometimes worked 2 and 3 jobs to take care of his family, and still found time to fulfill every church responsibility he had. I am sure the last thing he wanted to do was to go to church and sit on the stand and go to meetings all day on Sunday. I am sure on his only day off he would have much rather have stayed in his pajamas and watched football. In fact, most of his free-time was spent serving others. Finding apartments for missionaries to live in, working at the temple, helping whoever needed it. Struggling through life as best he could, making mistakes, and looking to Christ to make things better and to help him find the strength and the answers he needed when he needed them.<br />
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My brother who has always been my best friend. Another guy who works hard to support his family, loves his wife and his children. All 5 of them. He carves out time in his crazy schedule of work, starting up a new business, and family responsibilities to be Bishop of his ward where he has been yelled at, called names, and has done whatever has been asked to do. He is sincerely so much better than I am in so many ways. He loves Jesus Christ and has told me often when I am angry with circumstances that I have had in the church that I, am the problem. He is probably the only one who could tell me that and get away with it. And so far, he has always been right.<br />
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I know he is right because he tells me I am the problem, and logically tells me why, and then asks me to think about it and pray about it. He also usually has an applicable parable or scripture off the top of his head that he can relate to me about what ever it is I am struggling with. It usually applies. And yes, he really is that wonderful. Of course he is not perfect. And I am not <b>always</b> wrong. Sometimes he talks me through issues that I have right. But he is always able to remind me that all of us are just doing the best we can. We are all the Lord has to work with.<br />
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As a Sister Missionary in Chile I saw first hand how plenty of 19 yr. old boys don't understand what it means to be a Priesthood Holder. I also saw amazing young men who didn't know how to make sense of it all try their best everyday to be a true follower of Christ. I saw them struggle with how to make right decisions. I saw them humbly try to teach others how to find happiness. I saw them serve, be kind to children, be loving and patient and giving to all they met. I asked them for help. Of course there were idiots and jerks. But I was drawn to the good hearted and devoted. They were my listeners, my supporters, my helpers, my protectors. My deepest respect for men in general comes from the examples of these sweet elders who were my friends. <br />
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My husband. I have never loved anyone more than I love Jeff. He has helped me in so many ways. He has stood by me, defended me, looked out for me, healed me, loved me in spite of all of my crazy. And I do have a lot of crazy. He has made me strong, brave, successful, happy, hopeful, complete. Life is hard and it is always a struggle. Things just keep coming. It never stops. We continue to stumble forward, not knowing the best way to do the whole parenting thing, marriage thing, life thing. I appreciate him so much for his commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He fulfills his responsibilities in the church not because that is how he wants to spend his free time, or to show off to all his friends how important he is, but because he loves Jesus Christ and will do whatever needs to be done. Whatever is asked of him. He is committed. Just like so many other men I know.<br />
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Like my Bishops. All of them. From one of my first Bishops back in Michigan who let his daughter come to my house when other members of my ward were to scared to let their kids come play on my side of town. (I grew up pretty poor just outside of Detroit) To a Bishop who validated a new baptist member who had just been baptized. The new guy started singing a gospel song and wanted us all to sing along in testimony meeting and I was so embarrassed for the guy. But then my amazing Bishop got up and validated the whole thing, and in that moment taught me that testimony meeting is in large part about tolerance and pride. Pride when one may think that what they have to say is more important than what someone else may have to say. We all need to be heard. <br />
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I have had sweet and extremely tolerant Bishops when I was a self-centered brat during my college years, when it was really all about me. And my Bishops in recent years who have listened to me complain about my problems, looked to for advice, and tolerated me with divine patience as I questioned them angrily and struggled to come to terms with things that are not right and are beyond my control. I have never felt anything but an outpouring of love and kindness and a willingness to serve and help. This is what Bishops do.<br />
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Youth leaders who have helped me with my boys more than they could ever fully understand. Amazing, unselfishness, committed men who care and show genuine concern. They have willingly intervened during some of my families difficult and uncertain times to be a true friend and guardian angel. I love them so much. <br />
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I understand the importance of Gender. As a mother of boys exclusively I know that I worry about them just as much as any mother of girls worries about her daughters. I want them to be happy, successful, and confident. I want them to know who they are and what they are capable of. I am defensive and protective of who they are. All of who they are. I want them to be respected and individual. I want them to honor women and eventually be good husbands and fathers and contributing members of the community who serve and help whoever they can. I want them to be followers of Jesus Christ and treat people they way he taught us to treat each other.<br />
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I do not pretend to know why men have been called to hold the priesthood. Or why it is entirely reserved for them. I do not pretend to speak for anyone but myself. I do not have technical reasons, or persuasive arguments. All I know is how I feel. And I feel at peace with the whole thing. I feel that through Faith, I too can see miracles. I can talk to my Heavenly Father and he hears me. I have all of the blessings of the Priesthood because of the Priesthood. I feel respected, loved, admired and equal. And I feel tired. Because really, I do too much as it is. The last thing I want to do is go and set up all the chairs on Sunday morning before the meetings start. But I appreciate all the boys who do.<br />
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<br />Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-43349340312527186142014-03-16T22:37:00.001-07:002014-03-16T22:40:24.808-07:00Cats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I always thought of myself as a dog person. Dogs are wonderful, sweet, loyal, loving. But they are a lot of work. When we lost our sweet dog Rex, I knew it would be awhile before we got another dog. My life had changed so much, from stay at home mom to full time teacher. No one was ever home to be there for a dog. </div>
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So last November, right before Thanksgiving, I left to go grocery shopping, and without even thinking about it, decided to go look at cats at Petsmart. I got there and saw Charlotte. She was so small and sweet in cage there. I hadn't planned on getting a cat that night, in fact, I thought I was allergic to them, which I am. But I didnt care. I wanted her. I left with her. <br />
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She turned out to be a real brat. She hates to be held, rarely likes to be petted, but she has caught 3 mice since she has been here. I hate mice. Sometimes I wonder if there is something wrong with her because she is such a brat. She likes to be in the room with us. But always on her own terms. Clint had an allergic reaction to her when we first go her and broke out in hives. He has gotten better. He is allergic to lots of things. But we are keeping the cats and just dealing with the symptoms.<br />
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IN the summer, Derek decided he wanted his own cat. I decided I wanted a sweet one. I had a sweet one growing up, and a bratty one. Pretzel was the sweet one. He was my sisters black and white tuxedo cat. We thing Pretzel just went somewhere to die when he was old and toothless. He was such a sweet and patient cat. And a good mouser, protector, and friend. Then we got Tiffanee. She was awful. Long haired, snotty, useless. <br />
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I was hoping to find one like Pretzel. Derek and I answered an ad on KSL for kittens at a farm in Riverton. We drove out to the farm and found 7 kittens that were all so different. All of them darling. We saw Wilson asleep under the stairs and Derek picked him up. It was instant love. Wilson was so tired from playing all night. I tried to talk Derek into getting the sweet little striped kitty, that I ended up bringing home too and talking my friend Clare into adopting, because people with small houses really should not have more than 2 cats.<br />
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Charlotte did not eat or drink for 3 days after we brought her home. She just hid under things and ran from everyone. Wilson was just the opposite. He ate right away, and even rubbed up against Charlotte right away and won her over quickly. They were almost immediate friends.<br />
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Derek named him Wilson right away after a character in a darkish video game because he was black. We loved the name and new it was just right for him right away. And I was impressed with Derek for naming him such a cool name instead of "Midnight" or "Blackie". T.S. Eliot, the famous poet who wrote all about cats says that the cats choose their own names and then let you know. That was most likely the case for Wilson.<br />
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He sleeps with Derek, and usually cries a little when Derek leaves. Both the cats meet us at the door when we come home. The like to kiss the first person who comes in the door. If I hold Wilson when I come home, he literally takes all my stress and worry away. I dont' know how he does it, but he does. He loves to be held like a baby. That could be becasue when he was a baby, people held him constantly. He is used to being loved. And he really does love us. Sometimes he just cant get enough love. Sometimes he likes to just be left alone. But he never minds if we pick him up. He never gets upset, or impatient. I just love him so much and he makes me so happy because he is just so sweet. He is playful, and has a cheerful little "meow". Poor Charlotte just has trauma. I know she wants us to love her, but at the same time she doesn't. All shelter kitties probably have trauma. Poor things. But Wilson loves her and has helped her. Clint really loves Charlotte and the 2 of them kind of understand each other. Pets are just so good for kids. And they are good for adults too. I just love my kitty so much. Wilson does so much for all of us. So does Charlotte in her own way. Animals are such amazing things. And I am so glad they are part of our lives. Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-15364699034396244472014-02-02T16:47:00.000-08:002014-02-02T16:47:09.120-08:00Sweet First GradeI still can't believe how much my first graders teach me every day. <br />
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I have a few children this year, and every year, that are a bit more difficult to love. All of them are individuals with unique personalities and characteristics. All of them are little, and want approval and acceptance, and love. And I can say that I do honestly adore all of them. Sometimes it is just difficult to remember that every day. Some are easy-going, happy, clean, and learning comes easy. Some are excited, talkative, playful, and creative. Some are shy, nervous, struggle with academics, and lose interest easily. Some are rough around the edges, noisy, impulsive, and emotional. But we are all in this together every year. And it surprises me how much I depend on some of my sweet kids to help all of us get through and thrive as a complete class. We are all in this together.<br />
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A few days ago I decided that I really did need help with one of my students. I had tried various techniques to try to reach him. Some would label him as aggressive, impulsive, loud, and difficult. Desperate for some help, I pulled aside a few of my more centered and well-adjusted kids. I asked them individually to be a friend to the this boy. I told them he needs to learn how to be a good friend and a good student and I told them that I needed their help.<br />
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Just as I expected, they were eager to do whatever they could. For no other reason then me just asking them. I saw them helping him to follow rules, playing with him at recess. Explaining assignments during independant time, and re-explaining our class policies with kindness to him when he forgot.<br />
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One of the sweet girls I asked to help noticed immediately when he was on task during singing time and made sure he got the chance to go up to the front and be the leader right away. I was so impressed with her for looking out for him that I pulled her aside again to thank her and tell her how proud I was of here for being such a good friend. I don't always give rewards, but I gave her a sucker to just really let her know the depth of my appreciation.<br />
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Right before lunch while we were I line, I noticed her quietly going up to this same boy, and giving him that sucker.<br />
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I try very hard not to cry in front of my students, but the level of compassion was just so strong from this beautiful little girl that I just lost it. The rest of the class started worrying to make sure they were happy tears. I just told them all its because I have the best class in the world and I really do appreciate each one of them so much.<br />
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It is just amazing how those sweet little kids can solve problems and come up with their own ideas of how to make the world a better place. Our classroom becomes more beautiful every day. Even though we all continue to make mistakes, and there are still tears sometimes, and tempers flare, we really care about each other. How could we not with such amazing kids. I feel so lucky to be where I am and to do what I do. There are times, especially at the beginning of the year when I feel so overwhelmed and stretched so thin. I have so many goals to complete and things I would like to do but just cant fit in. My home and personal life are scaled back to the bare minimum. I find myself constantly apologizing to my own family for falling short in so many ways. But they believe in what I am doing. And I love them for it. And I love my sweet little class more and more every single day.<br />
<br />Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-38839458423707518772013-12-15T00:54:00.002-08:002013-12-15T00:56:58.687-08:00Frozen<div id="fb-root">
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Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-77594248615936498842013-08-15T23:14:00.000-07:002013-08-15T23:14:12.504-07:00Girls Camp 2013 and a Bag of Dirt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7D0ndIqiL5G_Nk19YvIFN7BK17AtA3OUkmQ72YDtKRQJI-ts39kz1sm6YwxTPKx0HOOemHF9xU4gn6Zd-HZNAinyzVvXpAMqhtdzMz_vd7o_2v4apGeiYa7ZJfL7og2TuymcJdcRSoqx6/s1600/IMG_1723+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7D0ndIqiL5G_Nk19YvIFN7BK17AtA3OUkmQ72YDtKRQJI-ts39kz1sm6YwxTPKx0HOOemHF9xU4gn6Zd-HZNAinyzVvXpAMqhtdzMz_vd7o_2v4apGeiYa7ZJfL7og2TuymcJdcRSoqx6/s320/IMG_1723+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Girls Camp was amazing this year. I feel so blessed to know some of the most amazing and beautiful girls.<br />
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It was a hard camp. It was really primative, and I had been battling kidney infections all summer that turned into something more serious. I didn't want to deal with it. I wanted to fulfill my responsibilities and get on with life.<br />
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I got a shot from my Dr. and promised I would have the CT scan when I got back. I am so glad I did.<br />
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We went high up into the mountains, and it was beautiful. Wildflowers were everywhere. It rained a lot, but that helped out with the flies, so it was a blessing in it's own way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtaqwAQwpc_tvtPDQkkKFAJZMCeytqKaF5nFBUiiPdhPudh8IrdmAgwkN4HWhN3ivmqv-qxQBccmLtcdxrO3Tg0d4ITsyWo68080mf99HyMDgn4TjLmobGFvg43_12Wv7Bb0iEcewpPPS/s1600/2013-07-17+17.10.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtaqwAQwpc_tvtPDQkkKFAJZMCeytqKaF5nFBUiiPdhPudh8IrdmAgwkN4HWhN3ivmqv-qxQBccmLtcdxrO3Tg0d4ITsyWo68080mf99HyMDgn4TjLmobGFvg43_12Wv7Bb0iEcewpPPS/s320/2013-07-17+17.10.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
On the second day, we participated in the 3 mile hike. The Stake leaders made it into a treasure hunt where we recieved tokens at different stops that represented each of theYW values. It was very creative and meaningful. The only rules during the hike were to stay on the trails, ask for help if we needed it, and to help each other. <br />
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We walked along, enjoying the activity and each other. It was hot and some of the girls were struggling. There were 2 guys on 4-wheelers just off the trail who were offering the girls treats and drinks to get them to step off the path. I didn't really realize what was going on at the time. But I needed help for one of my girls who was not going to make it unless she got something from the tent that we had left at the campsite. I asked the guys if they were mobile, and if they could go to the campsite to get an item from the tent. <br />
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As one of the guys was packing up to help me, the other guy shoved a snickers in my hand. At that point I felt like it would be rude not to take it. So I did, and then they handed me a bag of dirt! I asked why I needed it. They told me I would find out soon.<br />
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It wasn't long before I figured out that the bag meant I had screwed up. I didn't mean to, and I was mad. I was just thinking of someone else and trying to help them, and now I had this bag of dirt I had to carry around. I felt like people were looking at me and judging me. Whether they actually were or not I don't know, but I felt it. And I didn't want to carry around that stupid bag of dirt.<br />
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I did for awhile. I even tried to hide it sometimes. I let people know I was just trying to help! I saw the camp director as we were walking down a trail. A few other girls had bags of dirt too. I told her I had a problem with my dirt.<br />
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She smiled and asked me why I was carrying it. I told her the guys told me I had to. She asked me if I wanted to carry it. I said no. Then she said, "well then give it to me."<br />
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Was it really that easy?<br />
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It was. I asked if the other girls in my group could give her theirs as well. They all gave it away. She took it from us and all we had to do was to give it up.<br />
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Never in my life has The Atonement made more sense.<br />
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The director then told me that my journey was over, and that I had to leave the girls and come with her. It took me a moment to realize what she meant. I said goodbye to the girls, and walked with the director to the top of the highest peak in the camp. It was beautiful there. I waited with the other leaders for our girls to finish the hike and join us.<br />
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I was so happy and excited when I saw my group of girls making their way up the mountain. And I noticed that no one was carrying bags of dirt, and in all honesty, I couldn't remember who had even had them to begin with. It didn't matter.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-E3W5mEjvh17q4oTETQcq-8BP-WVdTRuiMzgqSpPhn1qLOqVH8RI4WypJw1uDaoU-RF_GqL9II_FjmqyotaE7xISQJUY9FsoqHARtAGT2jEvTUDtvukJ3fHtpSkn5-YxDCgV5jqzWKzWA/s1600/2013-07-17+11.52.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-E3W5mEjvh17q4oTETQcq-8BP-WVdTRuiMzgqSpPhn1qLOqVH8RI4WypJw1uDaoU-RF_GqL9II_FjmqyotaE7xISQJUY9FsoqHARtAGT2jEvTUDtvukJ3fHtpSkn5-YxDCgV5jqzWKzWA/s320/2013-07-17+11.52.23.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8a0AHE1306X1tmqnzbvb92B705l7MENoZBJmh0Ja-Q2KwDVNmX1tC1KQBczwksLRXOmGgIlVndVoQu4-K4Dq5p5dtzBf6l7TZAskPiBTAY0uU1GVE73RhULjrrFv1_yw4DMRPSMy089a4/s1600/2013-07-17+11.51.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8a0AHE1306X1tmqnzbvb92B705l7MENoZBJmh0Ja-Q2KwDVNmX1tC1KQBczwksLRXOmGgIlVndVoQu4-K4Dq5p5dtzBf6l7TZAskPiBTAY0uU1GVE73RhULjrrFv1_yw4DMRPSMy089a4/s320/2013-07-17+11.51.38.jpg" width="213" /></a>I gave letters that we, the YW's presidency and I had written to each girl. They found a quite spot among the wildflowers to read all about how wonderful and they are. Then we took a few minutes to look at the view below. <br />
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It would be difficult in this place to doubt the love that Jesus Christ has for us all. It would be impossible in this moment to not feel his love.<br />
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I was not able to finish the entire week. I ended up in the ER the following day to deal with my neglected health problems. But I am so grateful for my experience there. And I will never forget that moment when I realized I don't have to carry any dirt around with me. All I have to do is give it away.<br />
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And I love these girls!Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-19532817555800898482013-04-27T21:31:00.000-07:002013-04-27T21:31:08.957-07:00War HorseSo I have not done a public post for a long long time. I still blog, but started just keeping things more private, just for myself. I have changed a lot in the past 2 years. And I have realized one thing that I know for certain. Life is hard. But no matter how dark things get, something will come to help us get through it. <br />
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I read somewhere that people who can lose themselves in movies do not have a firm grip on reality and are somewhat neurotic. Knowing that everyone falls into some kind of spectrum in some kind of mental illness, I will accept that as I write how I feel about the movie War Horse.<br />
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I thought about this movie all throughout the last year. How during a time of War, when people were suffering all kinds of physical, emotional and spiritual anguish, this horse would come into their lives for a short time. He was always there. Even though he didn't lift the burden, he was a beautiful presence in their lives. I also noticed that the people who found this horse were all good, decent people just trying to do what was right. It was a beautiful message, and one I have thought about over and over again. <br />
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My life has not turned out the way I have planned. But in some ways, it is even better. I see improvements I need to make in many areas. I need to take better care of myself and my body. I need to be more patient with the sweet children that are in my care everyday.<br />
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I have taken to say that I love my job, but hate working. Only because so many things have gone to the wayside at home. I used to feel like I was a really great mom. Now, I am just a tired mom. Entering into the adolescent phase partnered with a full time consuming job has made me feel like I pretty much fall short every single day. <br />
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I have watched many other friends struggle with life changing events and feel like I need to be more helpful and supportive to them. But I feel like I am functioning at full capacity, and sometimes I just feel like I want to lock myself in my room and sleep for days at a time. During this past winter, there were several Saturdays I did do just that. Winter has been long, dark and cold. But on days like today, when the sun is out, I work in the yard with Jeff, and plan out an herb garden, my heart feels happy. Summer is coming. It is almost here!<br />
<br />Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-27358582241686465042012-02-10T23:39:00.000-08:002012-02-10T23:50:00.632-08:00The light<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5F-5ipkoTQo?fs=1" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" width="459"></iframe><br />I was just having a typical afternoon of art at school. Working on projects, singing along to beautiful kids music, soaking in all of the creativity and gentle compliments of encouragement my kids were giving to each other. Feeling overcome with peace, happiness and love for all of them. And knowing I was where I was suppose to be. Like the song says, "<span style="font-style: italic;">the world has shifted</span>" Realizing that my world has shifted into something else I did not expect it to be. There has been a price that has been paid, and I am grateful that Jeff is available to pay it for me at home while I am here...But I felt like at that moment all of the words of the song came so powerfully...and I have been led here. It is just a small part to play in the grand scheme of things. No more important than so many other things that so many others are doing...but it is my part. And it is messy, difficult, wonderful, exhausting, exhilarating, challenging, and perfect. This is my life. "<span style="font-style: italic;">now that I see you</span>".Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-32658272260020749732011-12-18T13:19:00.000-08:002011-12-18T13:28:59.097-08:00UnderstoodJeff came up last night from his office and told me he just sent me a link I had to watch. He knows me really well. He knows what my type of music is and knew I would absolutly love this song and the video. He was right. He knows me. It is a rare thing to really be understood. I am thankful everyday for my relationship with him. I feel lucky. And I love him too!<br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IOu0DuxFAT0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />High Def Version: http://www.kinagrannis.com/Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-44056493804171807722011-11-06T11:40:00.000-08:002011-11-06T12:18:05.209-08:00This week<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgRD3a6IoH9fTYolPOsOWZZUDiBYvDHzHIwaWSdV8Ccl6-vBnUsvyP6AD_F35opRPFhPw91dJ06FCQxED12847QlBbn5_TnFnbTJ92TUA81dIMzh1HzrclkOgXiuGjb2SrsakPgLKxsqa/s1600/IMG_8164.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgRD3a6IoH9fTYolPOsOWZZUDiBYvDHzHIwaWSdV8Ccl6-vBnUsvyP6AD_F35opRPFhPw91dJ06FCQxED12847QlBbn5_TnFnbTJ92TUA81dIMzh1HzrclkOgXiuGjb2SrsakPgLKxsqa/s400/IMG_8164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671978721940340306" border="0" /></a>This week I finished my first report cards and had my first parent/teacher conferences. I have amazing parents. I was a little nervous at first. And I was nervous about my report cards too. But it's over now, and I feel pretty good about the entire thing.<br /><br />After conferences, and working four 12 hour days back to back, I got my first "comp" day. Something I never got working at Private School. And as much as I loved working at my first school, which happened to be private, I love my new, public school about 100 times more. I have always absolutely adored my students, in every school I have ever taught in. That is not the issue. It is more that I have an amazingly supportive principal who seems me more as a professional, and not as someone who needs to be taught how to teach in a certain way.<br /><br />I am grateful for my experience in private school. In many ways, that is how I learned to be a good teacher. But it was painful and exhausting at times. And kind of bad for my self-esteem.<br /><br />I am learning now that there are several methods that can be used to teach the same thing. All can be equally effective. I strongly believe the main factor for any child to be able to learn is to just be in a compassionate classroom where students can safely take risks and not be afraid to learn. A happy place where learning happens because you are immersed in it. Where there is more to evaluating you students than just giving them tests. Where they can learn at their own pace, and be the very best that they can be.<br /><br />I am still working out the kinks in how my classroom works, but it is moving along nicely, and I am loving every day.<br /><br />Teaching is a hard job mostly because you are "on" every day. Every minute. Performing in front of the class. The hardest thing for me is just getting ready and starting. Then once I am in it, I'm there. And it's kind of like a high. The day zooms past, and the time is always short. I always run out of time. Which really is a good thing.<br /><br />At first, I was trying to walk with one foot in both of my 2 worlds. Trying to hold on to everything I have built up over the past 6 years until everything changed. It was awful when Jeff lost his job. And the uncertainty of everything. Looking back, it is amazing how everything has slowly fallen into place. And I feel so thankful to Heavenly Father who knew where I should be headed all along. But I couldn't keep up with everything in both worlds. My home life has been stripped down to the bare minimum. My Martha Stewart experiments and neighborhood parties have been put on the back burner for now. My house will get clean maybe once every 2 weeks...but the upside is that no one is really here anymore to mess it up.<br /><br />This long weekend, which included my "comp" day allowed me to re-connect with some of my old hobbies...spending a few hours on Facebook and Pinterest, watching the kids play in the snow and taking tons of pictures...staying in my sweats all day and not doing my hair and make-up was so nice. I looked awful when I went to Target, but just really didn't care. But most of my free-time was spent researching how to help some of my kids read better and understand money. Figuring out what kind of party I can have when we study fairy tales in February...thinking of what I am getting all of the sweet kids in my class for Christmas...finding music for our holiday program...and cutting out patterns for our next art project. I am now almost "in" with both feet!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrS7jf2HNmfRAFSnAF1ijbwzfxVpiBAesn8KhzGERgui5vnteGUF-57TrJPRxjOr0HHy6dEQx5KFFqEZTcvZOroa_h_BOiWiIzaGdxaMSl1hEAazMp57WgtkP7GXoCMMhpAfwDiPAAVT2d/s1600/087.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrS7jf2HNmfRAFSnAF1ijbwzfxVpiBAesn8KhzGERgui5vnteGUF-57TrJPRxjOr0HHy6dEQx5KFFqEZTcvZOroa_h_BOiWiIzaGdxaMSl1hEAazMp57WgtkP7GXoCMMhpAfwDiPAAVT2d/s400/087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671978730794977858" border="0" /></a>Oh yeah, it was Halloween too! It's been 15 years since I actually bought a Halloween costume for myself. Clint was The Riddler, and pretty much put that whole costume together himself. Pretty cool. Derek had an assortment of superhero costumes to wear and decided to go with Iron Man...he is my personal favorite, after all.Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-20808289859139014802011-10-29T09:03:00.001-07:002011-10-29T09:12:55.275-07:00*I* think he's funnyI want to try to do better and keep track of the funny things my kids say. Because they are both pretty funny!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AmL9n4aW4Bz0HKgLj8Z43wVbqHdx1fQn5O4sM2XO95bgeURwee5GT-np9PRnFOkNwzNFW3G-wz3cDGp_fQNCsa5wCUp5gQICZGfZomGV4OlUStgkc6rO_uWxnCXWuX7zEENXGUzhWD3T/s1600/039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AmL9n4aW4Bz0HKgLj8Z43wVbqHdx1fQn5O4sM2XO95bgeURwee5GT-np9PRnFOkNwzNFW3G-wz3cDGp_fQNCsa5wCUp5gQICZGfZomGV4OlUStgkc6rO_uWxnCXWuX7zEENXGUzhWD3T/s400/039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668947242740259330" border="0" /></a><br />While driving up the canyon last Sunday on the way to Quarry Bend:<br />Derek: Mom I lost my homework folder<br />Me: No you didn't, its on the kitchen floor.<br />Derek: No it's not. I lost it.<br />Me: I know where it is, Derek.<br />Derek: Well, if it's lost you will just have to buy me some new homework<br />(Everyone in the car laughs)<br /><br />Jeff: Mom loves Derek the most, and everyone else in the family is 40%<br />Clint: (High-fives Jeff) "Hey 20%"<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeIPlCgmYEIOx0skXPrOdjElSHRI6nyG3_FYqDArVlWWDYeL_dRWR827cjAB5_oPkNCtJ3lxt-7-ldneHmfu_47W-V1hAYvWYgwfvzj6BQmelwwhSuVKA76N52B2oECDn1HoR3oyux5pH/s1600/061.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeIPlCgmYEIOx0skXPrOdjElSHRI6nyG3_FYqDArVlWWDYeL_dRWR827cjAB5_oPkNCtJ3lxt-7-ldneHmfu_47W-V1hAYvWYgwfvzj6BQmelwwhSuVKA76N52B2oECDn1HoR3oyux5pH/s400/061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668947558729731362" border="0" /></a><br />Derek: (While playing Zombieville on Jeff's phone)Can I buy Doodle jump?<br />Jeff: NO<br />Derek: So you don't love your son?<br />Jeff: (nothing)<br />Derek: Okay, I'm telling momRachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-86718056279530973492011-10-12T19:58:00.000-07:002011-10-14T06:09:23.983-07:00Mistakes"Ellie and Zach are finished with 6 min. solution"<br />The reason I gave my class when they asked why Zach and Ellie were paired up with a few of my readers who were struggling.<br /><br />Some of my other high reading level girls had daggers coming out of their eyes for Ellie and Zach.<br /><br />"But why are THEY done?!!" whined Josh, right before he started crying from frustration.<br /><br />My class has been at each other for the past few days. Name calling, poking, pushing, tattling, mean comments, dirty looks. We have been together all day, 5 days a week, for the past 7 weeks. The honeymoon was definitely over. I realized I had made a mistake by putting Ellie and Zach above the rest of the class with that simple announcement, even though they have passed off all of the reading assignments in fast time. They had begun to read so fast that they were slurring words, and skipping expression and comprehension all together. I put them with slower readers to help them as well, I just said the wrong thing to the rest of the class.<br /><br />I realized I had made a mistake. Now how to fix it. I told the class that even though Zach and Ellie were the fastest readers, it didn't mean they were the best readers. It's true. Trinity was the only one in the class who scored 100% for accuracy on the CBM test they had just taken last week, even though her time had been a little slower. Kemry has the best scores for math. Aryanna by far has the best penmanship. Wes is the friendliest...<br /><br />Everyone had been upset by me putting Ellie and Zach in a position of superiority that I made evident to the entire class. Now I had to fix it.<br /><br />Zach was willing to help. "Just because Zach is one of the fastest readers, doesn't mean he is the best" he was perceptive and realized others felt bad, and he was willing to try to make it right with me. "Yep," he agreed "Mrs. Bingham always tells me to slow down" he said with a smile.<br /><br />"Thank you to Zach" I whispered to myself. But it wasn't enough. I looked around and realized that I needed to do more to correct my mistake. I took a deep breath and apologized for announcing the new jobs of Zach and Ellie. I pointed out to everyone that Zach and Ellie did not score the highest in the class on some of the tests. I said that all the students in my class were all wonderful and all good at different things. I looked around the room and prayed that I would be able to come up with at least one good thing for each of them. Some of them would be harder than others.<br /><br />I started with Brynlee and" what a beautiful singing voice she has". "Trinity is the most meticulous and neatest student I have ever known. Tanner is FUNNY! Ella is about the kindest girl in the world. Ary is an amazing artist. Zach has a great memory. Ellie is an awesome reader. Brooklyn is a comedian, Kemry is a super gymnast, Tatyana is a mother to the entire class."<br />Then I came to Hunter. He has a pretty rough home life. He goes to resource and works hard every day for very little result. He works hard in class, and still, lots of times doesn't understand. But he always tries his very best. It is an ongoing theme when he tells me he really can't do what I ask him to do and I tell him to try his very best, he does. So when I came to Hunter, I looked at him, and I could tell he was afraid that I wouldn't have anything to say.<br /><br />I said: "Hunter TRIES harder and works harder than anyone in this class..."<br /><br />He went down on his desk and started to cry.<br /><br />The feeling of love that was suddenly in our class was so strong and overwhelming...I choked down my own tears, and continued with how Haley was the best dressed, and Payton was the bravest one. Kennedy spoke and expressed herself so well, Julie loved her family so much, Wes was so outgoing and friendly with everyone. Josh is hilarious. Eli is so respectful and kind. Austin is so thoughtful and sharing...<br /><br />The bell rang and I sent everyone to lunch and came back to my room and cried. After a good 10 minuets I washed my face and went to the faculty room to go and get a diet coke so I could pull myself together. I ran into the DK teacher who works with special needs kindergarten kids. She could tell I had been crying, and I was embarrassed and just told her it wasn't a bad thing, but just a really good feeling and experience I just had. I tried to tell her a little about it before I started crying again. She just understood and said when we pray for our kids, and then somehow we get an answer to that prayer, it can really be a powerful thing. I told her to stop because she was making it worse. We both laughed a little and then I cried on my way back to class.<br /><br />I was able to pull myself together before my kids came back. We had a good afternoon because the good feeling stayed for the rest of the day.<br /><br />The last few min. of class, I was playing music while my kids were coloring in their planets for the last activity of our space unit. I was walking around, looking at the beautiful colors they were using, and the music was playing and everyone was enjoying each other. Now I have not had many days like this, and I know there will be many days that are hard and trying, but it was good today. And I looked outside of myself somehow, for just a moment, and realized for a split-second what kind of a place my classroom was and realized...it really is kind of a beautiful place. And I am really where I am suppose to be. And it is a good place to be.Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-24168085109021945202011-09-22T20:01:00.000-07:002011-09-23T20:52:00.616-07:00My New LIfe<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtLvmyIEjz46ZYiyR9azMgK2txLowMcOX-4EJ7rCj3tsnX34A4oJQJj6k3dEn2Rv_lgf3E79qiBYCebFln8tyGrWaiT7GeKaMKnaMNrYvmmrJyjWUyfGOJhR7R4OKumj7_fFe8il_HPoC/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtLvmyIEjz46ZYiyR9azMgK2txLowMcOX-4EJ7rCj3tsnX34A4oJQJj6k3dEn2Rv_lgf3E79qiBYCebFln8tyGrWaiT7GeKaMKnaMNrYvmmrJyjWUyfGOJhR7R4OKumj7_fFe8il_HPoC/s400/006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655764995435767090" border="0" /></a>I'm tired. That would be the one word I use to describe my feelings right now. I am not tired in necessarily a bad way. I mean, I am exhausted. Emotionally, mentally, physically, and just about any other way there is to be tired. But at the same time, I feel content. I would be a basket case if I had had to go back to work sooner, when Derek was little. Even though I was working part time from the time he was 4. 3 if you count the year I worked as PTA President. That is just as consuming as a part time job.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nqvtHRtYCo_gEXEpXJeIQxQsneTTm-QEAXFenHM3oD5p8jueFC6utkcWn1dmPeKkx7YslsnJLdwoK9EJPzIzQA06EFjc6qTdF1Y6YMfGQig61WmY9-ucSspuxqGLNju3CVHpvn2Rb8q5/s1600/020.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nqvtHRtYCo_gEXEpXJeIQxQsneTTm-QEAXFenHM3oD5p8jueFC6utkcWn1dmPeKkx7YslsnJLdwoK9EJPzIzQA06EFjc6qTdF1Y6YMfGQig61WmY9-ucSspuxqGLNju3CVHpvn2Rb8q5/s400/020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655764993775939938" border="0" /></a>I am starting to just now get a handle on my new life. I am trying to find a balance, now that after almost 5 weeks I have found my footing. I am still stumbling a lot. And I often have fear rise up when something happens at school that makes me think of my time working 7 years ago at a private school that was exactly like Crunchum Hall in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Matilda</span> by Roald Dahl. But my new school is nice. So are the kids and the parents, and the other teachers. It is a nice place to work. I am hard on myself and know what I am capable of. I have a lot of big plans, but no time to make them happen. I feel I am a good teacher. I am in my element. I feel confident, and competent. And my pay-off every day is imediate from 22 of the most adorable kids I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2teKC5KjsbQQ_fJIc9GDC0kDpdiRvBzyP4N3B5nTHM_YomVudHfS1Pvnve6YRTnL_YmhdHARgZm_jTlvh1yHIZ8BSB-Mk2mJ0Icabz-wykEZGl6v4z0MTM7EEycCr723nzxj18YYh9U0o/s1600/023.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2teKC5KjsbQQ_fJIc9GDC0kDpdiRvBzyP4N3B5nTHM_YomVudHfS1Pvnve6YRTnL_YmhdHARgZm_jTlvh1yHIZ8BSB-Mk2mJ0Icabz-wykEZGl6v4z0MTM7EEycCr723nzxj18YYh9U0o/s400/023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655762695147616034" border="0" /></a>At first, I missed my old life horribly. Hanging out at the park with Derek and his friends, being the one in charge of schedules for my kids. Dreaming up fun things to include the entire neighborhood. Making really great memories for my kids and their friends. Following Martha Stewart recipes and craft projects to make my home a home. Going to lunch with girlfriends, and having time to watch movies at night with Jeff. Now I run from 7:00 AM to 6PM at night, come home and prepare lesson plans, find teaching ideas, do dishes and laundry, correct papers, answer emails, and try to connect with Derek and Clint about something before 8:30 PM when I get them in bed. I love my story time with Derek and it has become more sacred than ever. Clint usually listens too, or a least reads a Batman comic book in the same room. I have great boys. I miss them.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfV2w6pau5XqUF5mni1LWgm4sKo1iDIckVF7DanSWXamrSes-bGkGXhd9ToAjWmyhOGQzYDPjYz8cI8j0cZDgR1Rr_Wq3k_V_HcaD1URNVe0ueLcsIodELexcAxbhZclQDnRo23HaKPfhb/s1600/027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfV2w6pau5XqUF5mni1LWgm4sKo1iDIckVF7DanSWXamrSes-bGkGXhd9ToAjWmyhOGQzYDPjYz8cI8j0cZDgR1Rr_Wq3k_V_HcaD1URNVe0ueLcsIodELexcAxbhZclQDnRo23HaKPfhb/s400/027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655768315575545026" border="0" /></a>I miss Derek. But remind myself that he would be at school all day anyways. I miss Clint, but he has so much going on in his own life right now I would just be watching him run in and out constantly. He is such a great kid. Early morning seminary, National Honors Society, Guitar lessons, Cross Country Team, Scouts, MESA, Chess Club, Lawn Mowing, Homework, he is pretty amazing. I am so lucky.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmo1q7WbpPKZRUdVaykiXYnJVZFcxrGamXkik2B0tMIdfKP0xP7wZiE04l3jRssBACzJVXbRp1eZZAN7FwDhwGxg_kysL9sSzfcoPAvyl2RcesH6c45tlKGJx2PR2FvcG_G4kP3fgWl8i/s1600/026.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmo1q7WbpPKZRUdVaykiXYnJVZFcxrGamXkik2B0tMIdfKP0xP7wZiE04l3jRssBACzJVXbRp1eZZAN7FwDhwGxg_kysL9sSzfcoPAvyl2RcesH6c45tlKGJx2PR2FvcG_G4kP3fgWl8i/s400/026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655762690629548722" border="0" /></a>Jeff sent me flowers at work yesterday. I ended up hiding them because I felt a little embarrased. He is pretty wonderful too. He is in school full time and still doing tile when he can. I am not sure how much my paycheck is going to add up to. Especially since we will be paying for insurance now. But I am hoping it will be enough.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgDXf0KPVpfl1TDrPvqsTy16uw-5vbOgM3MajV5tD4ry6MdpPHtQBVBM5Zb0bAfL_2VwQU-yLqVlPFbcQ5iqKSTZdyn_kYcX7yCdqVp3yLOQ7W7IlvTjCqbgsGyFRXVe8GomcM5Fub31b/s1600/025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgDXf0KPVpfl1TDrPvqsTy16uw-5vbOgM3MajV5tD4ry6MdpPHtQBVBM5Zb0bAfL_2VwQU-yLqVlPFbcQ5iqKSTZdyn_kYcX7yCdqVp3yLOQ7W7IlvTjCqbgsGyFRXVe8GomcM5Fub31b/s400/025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655768310352070866" border="0" /></a>When I think of how we got to this place, where we can stand on our own feet again, and how everything has pointed me in this direction for so long, it makes me grateful. It has not been fun. And it is still to early to see how it is all going to work out. But I know my life is unfolding as it should. I am trying to focus on the things that matter most and be happy in the moment I am in. Petty things don't bother me as much. I have cut most of the drama out of my life, and am in a peaceful place where I am focusing on my family, my kids in my class, and my trip to Disneyland!!! We need to have things to live and work for...and now I have mine. Life is good, because we make it that way no matter what we have to deal with.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hFWMN9J4BOV1B7671E8Bpu65UkZiPVawQxVkdEuGJ2J2dSMGTpJBa81afdfRzx_MPR7TewZQNAJtU2cIdRy2ErejPbZQ2sXsifuFy8l_klB9-KzbsixegomkrH29u550ZBIxfWPaZkLX/s1600/021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hFWMN9J4BOV1B7671E8Bpu65UkZiPVawQxVkdEuGJ2J2dSMGTpJBa81afdfRzx_MPR7TewZQNAJtU2cIdRy2ErejPbZQ2sXsifuFy8l_klB9-KzbsixegomkrH29u550ZBIxfWPaZkLX/s400/021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655762708836929442" border="0" /></a>There is joy to find in the journey, and I am going to find it with the ones I love the most. That includes my family, friends, and 22 of the sweetest faces I get to see every day.My classroom is a happy place, and I don't think my students know how happy they make me. And it's worth it all.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGDF3Vz-M6gTg_utNnyEK8LKmJOl5xX6R7PYXyHNuOULoPaQCrUv_wbRDxRSBuYdgkQT7He8TVDVp85BZdrOOZSBQeHXzzFJPbyrHUp71QZimiAuYLPfBdGtuTsepQZwZgLokQJvsKYQS/s1600/028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGDF3Vz-M6gTg_utNnyEK8LKmJOl5xX6R7PYXyHNuOULoPaQCrUv_wbRDxRSBuYdgkQT7He8TVDVp85BZdrOOZSBQeHXzzFJPbyrHUp71QZimiAuYLPfBdGtuTsepQZwZgLokQJvsKYQS/s400/028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655762681409402738" border="0" /></a>Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-65999516846679709482011-07-26T11:52:00.001-07:002011-07-26T12:38:58.227-07:00PioneersLast week while Jeff and Clint were gone to scout camp, Derek and I did some fun things too. One of the things we were able to do was to go to This Is The place Park, thanks to my friend Karla, who gave us a 2 for 1 coupon.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGQneXxV23RYlhApoNNiv4TNaO9iIcg2iyQ4p-gVUz5JTTVZVjT9Xdzz9HE7BjH_M4DuHK6ODX3sUe9-Vwmjx7WFGwJhqLNMeWQJEIxk6H5g5Mthr2Mgc3pVdQ1B9Tcr2h1RxCIkq6c6q/s1600/060.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633740473892688674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGQneXxV23RYlhApoNNiv4TNaO9iIcg2iyQ4p-gVUz5JTTVZVjT9Xdzz9HE7BjH_M4DuHK6ODX3sUe9-Vwmjx7WFGwJhqLNMeWQJEIxk6H5g5Mthr2Mgc3pVdQ1B9Tcr2h1RxCIkq6c6q/s400/060.JPG" /></a> It was hot. But fun. We saw our cute neighbors who work there, Skylar (below) and Brook who drives the train and gives tour guides.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4xNxnMotgShxtNnv4pfTbaRRZptojAjzj9UesYAjU6fQy5ibHOqHOr2QVLZSBGdbCR9DGwZphQdWswHxh1gm8IxNlymN7MHUAG37wnEqDfITE2yrdM8n6hqdYQ6BAP3gNVYRNwH_RMuI/s1600/057.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 269px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633740342996171810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4xNxnMotgShxtNnv4pfTbaRRZptojAjzj9UesYAjU6fQy5ibHOqHOr2QVLZSBGdbCR9DGwZphQdWswHxh1gm8IxNlymN7MHUAG37wnEqDfITE2yrdM8n6hqdYQ6BAP3gNVYRNwH_RMuI/s400/057.JPG" /></a> Derek rode horses and saw baby animals. We rode the train and walked along the old-fashioned streets and talked about the Pioneers.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHgSS1xz1SG-u6o9OAivvdQ6nN4KgspTyGWUKP-2N8c4S3HAzmVid5_eA3J9gATTBi1nRqbF9OsxqfF2kOBSQK-4Q51A3pNpp4RrG5zoeRSZ4ILeU3P_qx8CEgVLHQqNvC6jgIbdc7SoH/s1600/061.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 275px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633740341721805842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHgSS1xz1SG-u6o9OAivvdQ6nN4KgspTyGWUKP-2N8c4S3HAzmVid5_eA3J9gATTBi1nRqbF9OsxqfF2kOBSQK-4Q51A3pNpp4RrG5zoeRSZ4ILeU3P_qx8CEgVLHQqNvC6jgIbdc7SoH/s400/061.JPG" /></a> Derek asked about the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bingham</span> Copper Mine and wanted me to tell the story about his great grandfather, one of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bingham</span> Brothers, who discovered it. I have told him the story before. How Sanford and Thomas <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bingham</span> discovered copper in the canyon.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRx36On0yLrhEBu1H3d69hmEpYCyQTH2hnAjdrC_EQQ4PwWIJZYUq_bAx32Ktg04LduZNKvSfnXL_Huqcy9HcAjXDpQGxNe4OnAEeOSTzBPGAxuEcOueZgeCu5wYP8kHPe0HFRjqxnzPgh/s1600/064.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 281px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633740335436157890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRx36On0yLrhEBu1H3d69hmEpYCyQTH2hnAjdrC_EQQ4PwWIJZYUq_bAx32Ktg04LduZNKvSfnXL_Huqcy9HcAjXDpQGxNe4OnAEeOSTzBPGAxuEcOueZgeCu5wYP8kHPe0HFRjqxnzPgh/s400/064.JPG" /></a> They went back to report it to Brigham Young. They told him there could be gold there. They were very excited to mine for it. But the Prophet, Brigham Young told them to leave it...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJm0QjbbhsFFkfJqdDHN20RoiVTm1DrzpIjrUPq3b0KmJJGq-CptDJtghGbcRPpR_1OPW1cq6fqG8gmNd1oQW2vUqK-xGr9AlD5H2mnZ4rboZvUaZcuOG1OIMW1Udp9WyMrXHaXPoGyXt0/s1600/066.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633740330147968594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJm0QjbbhsFFkfJqdDHN20RoiVTm1DrzpIjrUPq3b0KmJJGq-CptDJtghGbcRPpR_1OPW1cq6fqG8gmNd1oQW2vUqK-xGr9AlD5H2mnZ4rboZvUaZcuOG1OIMW1Udp9WyMrXHaXPoGyXt0/s400/066.JPG" /></a> ...And they did. There was more important work for them to do. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633740327669005714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9N-D5x4EoHAwmJZFazW-A126LM432vCmjB-Pqu9YMxn7cGVIPZ0a7LtNt59QWJzxcIIlseNf9buiRLd7hOWyvmbTUtq9Op0ARYrn_JsjgmrQ0h388hsIUNpvWU8QQF4Z7yzcs0lAIr7s8/s400/072.JPG" />For some reason, when I told Derek this time, at this moment, in this place, I just really felt gratitude and understanding more than ever before. Just realizing how truly amazing it was to be a part of something so wonderful. Something bigger than all of us. More valuable than a fortune of gold and copper. Something so important and powerful and beautiful, and perfect that others had forsaken all <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">worldly</span> pursuits to make it a reality<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633736825795539682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQv6CYWx07jlSpA9DFPnj_ZAENfgfaPtKVgfHk58hSMHRF2OeWft_H0b3DoX6D_v6LAAY2AsGiNunRN1hsNnCqdZWYgkdU82DTkgjYIbD9g0nyy6a461UUGwBxx_EnGw1pGHz7ZXcgAHFl/s400/075.JPG" /> I sometimes feel a disconnect on Pioneer day because I have no real "Utah Pioneer Heritage". But I know that it doesn't really matter where my blood line came from, I have a claim to all of the blessings that any other member of the church has because of my belief, and my effort to live it and be a part of it. <br /><br /><div><br /><div>I find myself getting defensive of others who don't respect and appreciate what the pioneers have done for everyone who now lives in Utah, and for those who are now Latter day members of the Church.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KnsU7PitWz1-Im-Zq8JUhKLsFK7_Kb7SS_pqs2StgvRCvUNbeJWDW6oxLqZJ0BX4FeBAZSxVL4JoTnf3ZSlzk6TVtDG85zeauA13Qw1BmEwnpf_TqTIeaKThdYoxGNks8HZ1tsZ3NY7l/s1600/077.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 258px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633736819680288738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KnsU7PitWz1-Im-Zq8JUhKLsFK7_Kb7SS_pqs2StgvRCvUNbeJWDW6oxLqZJ0BX4FeBAZSxVL4JoTnf3ZSlzk6TVtDG85zeauA13Qw1BmEwnpf_TqTIeaKThdYoxGNks8HZ1tsZ3NY7l/s400/077.JPG" /></a> I do celebrate Pioneer Day, July 24, in my own way. We don't go to the Parade, or the Fireworks. We have a quite day at home, with a BBQ with friends or neighbors. And we do remember, and give thanks for all of the sacrifices that were made so we can have a beautiful place to live here in the mountains. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3z8f9uPYKnCcoNRL0BB7Rqm37rBfWM1bayMbZqYsmkR9XmbDj4iVtJ9qtv6KkBkvGShGRQ1fc3wES9YtmlxHvIt7NkKEzVmZx2I-HG8H2CckgCbQNPaNu3-FbX3qDuKQrKwhKihftXzTr/s1600/079.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633736814210886818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3z8f9uPYKnCcoNRL0BB7Rqm37rBfWM1bayMbZqYsmkR9XmbDj4iVtJ9qtv6KkBkvGShGRQ1fc3wES9YtmlxHvIt7NkKEzVmZx2I-HG8H2CckgCbQNPaNu3-FbX3qDuKQrKwhKihftXzTr/s400/079.JPG" /></a> We remember how lucky we are to live in a community where so many know us and support us. A place where we fit in. A place where my boys can learn who they are and not only understand what it means to be a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bingham</span>, but to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. <br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMMRpZtw7kSt5RyYYrccf_JBTvqQRlZXKGUfPY4PAykemJotERXpsnlCEMHHwHXpBebzOjc8mblgVM6_lCL3C2mCv6S8Kr9Hb_FBdTcRRgJRYwUJv5ZgO2V_csNuiDfwcpllCAka3qE8u/s1600/088.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 255px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633736811370969826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMMRpZtw7kSt5RyYYrccf_JBTvqQRlZXKGUfPY4PAykemJotERXpsnlCEMHHwHXpBebzOjc8mblgVM6_lCL3C2mCv6S8Kr9Hb_FBdTcRRgJRYwUJv5ZgO2V_csNuiDfwcpllCAka3qE8u/s400/088.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br />And no one better say anything bad about those Pioneers!Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-78837079219904044932011-07-25T15:02:00.001-07:002011-07-26T17:48:31.411-07:00Pirate Party 2011Derek found a map floating in a pirate bottle in the kiddie pool this morning!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUTnHAFd7_Wu_g6DCOqkwcaGnjMaUZhDDbzKs5NaES3K4NHVpzThqULTQZJ23vGjL9ELJrsB7u79Nc6kRHHZMEtz1yxXqvOWZGpYrG51hDnPJ3SBl6H0LuaEZrSQw1QRn8sRTwN2j09hC/s1600/026.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 258px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633723331512228722" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUTnHAFd7_Wu_g6DCOqkwcaGnjMaUZhDDbzKs5NaES3K4NHVpzThqULTQZJ23vGjL9ELJrsB7u79Nc6kRHHZMEtz1yxXqvOWZGpYrG51hDnPJ3SBl6H0LuaEZrSQw1QRn8sRTwN2j09hC/s400/026.JPG" border="0" /></a> It's a good thing there were some other pirates around!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgUnYuePtbYOBcJtQVGuYHDM5fZ6lRzwAZOlKu6Uvv9T0qEDLgDnpKK4hKOrMQeRdG-1PCJlCBTqfXwDliwixUkTy4tG7xXbC4qzE1O6n65P6fuXQ2Fr5OJvN24cCWxuJy-1Wtemey4rU/s1600/024.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 258px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633723327159707378" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgUnYuePtbYOBcJtQVGuYHDM5fZ6lRzwAZOlKu6Uvv9T0qEDLgDnpKK4hKOrMQeRdG-1PCJlCBTqfXwDliwixUkTy4tG7xXbC4qzE1O6n65P6fuXQ2Fr5OJvN24cCWxuJy-1Wtemey4rU/s400/024.JPG" border="0" /></a> Pirates ready for adventure!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEU7oP1ujlduFnb7Zkw4jqKoHCV559r9KQ36FowneCukL861YlgJtWKCJL2kSEj1zAxvblCNgCe1UQzUsye8TbGE7WpVIdOF4L_uU_fzhKlbyjvNgVxcFO19TNPi6SxMolGn_U2ng2LSFk/s1600/027.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 262px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633723322480829346" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEU7oP1ujlduFnb7Zkw4jqKoHCV559r9KQ36FowneCukL861YlgJtWKCJL2kSEj1zAxvblCNgCe1UQzUsye8TbGE7WpVIdOF4L_uU_fzhKlbyjvNgVxcFO19TNPi6SxMolGn_U2ng2LSFk/s400/027.JPG" border="0" /></a> The map got wet. But it wasn't really a map. It just had the first piece of a map with a letter telling us that the writer of a map was beginning to be turned into a zombie. He had the treasure, and would share, but needed to be saved first. We needed to not only find the place where the treasure was burried, but also find a cure for the zombie!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVxw5HEL7gkqQgwWTuhGR8o-OeaSPwnhIhvX0Xx4vjq3H0_gheDA2wKazrPP4zogG7PqeGX_X6YbHmvk8ILB73T-uLgWtlyWKKiXXFOHDBEqpKv1moE0a_8bgNgWYDuz2c88ns_fvEFmm/s1600/040.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633723320979423058" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVxw5HEL7gkqQgwWTuhGR8o-OeaSPwnhIhvX0Xx4vjq3H0_gheDA2wKazrPP4zogG7PqeGX_X6YbHmvk8ILB73T-uLgWtlyWKKiXXFOHDBEqpKv1moE0a_8bgNgWYDuz2c88ns_fvEFmm/s400/040.JPG" border="0" /></a> Pirates are ready!!!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XKDvW42xp4p51WLQYsejHBjb-PpGUNnc0i_LQ6BKOxExAIavzSdOM_Qtzw2WV6mj421nBWSCH-sumrGHYHC9BgybAZ47zfV8FjC8_VeFuxn8f2_gsahbXFs2QT2059bZ2zkl7Dmo77Bf/s1600/037.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633723312372491570" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XKDvW42xp4p51WLQYsejHBjb-PpGUNnc0i_LQ6BKOxExAIavzSdOM_Qtzw2WV6mj421nBWSCH-sumrGHYHC9BgybAZ47zfV8FjC8_VeFuxn8f2_gsahbXFs2QT2059bZ2zkl7Dmo77Bf/s400/037.JPG" border="0" /></a> One by one they found the clues in the surrounding yards<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoda1YXGomBT4BRf7wY7Rmvet5cxERNXOOo1JYFVQ_wzD7TyPlzazfCwqw_ydobrpmIrOAqe-yNU0DhDc_q_uT6JHiZIe0xUA9-UJDipGd1p2SwHt7cREJAfzPydIGlS_KVOrVJXTCctLe/s1600/044.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633722618498127698" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoda1YXGomBT4BRf7wY7Rmvet5cxERNXOOo1JYFVQ_wzD7TyPlzazfCwqw_ydobrpmIrOAqe-yNU0DhDc_q_uT6JHiZIe0xUA9-UJDipGd1p2SwHt7cREJAfzPydIGlS_KVOrVJXTCctLe/s400/044.JPG" border="0" /></a> Inside a swing set,<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccvpBi_1l0azbUGjww8w3oV5TqoFw6hT008W798Xc_6DOvlIOST2rW5JZ-Sbmq8nhggLWIqgqeQP1xUpTNmlq6jnyH-aoq9c33_6iWoubKRKcjp-foL71zcvHf95h7lIgKQrpqrePLRAy/s1600/045.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 263px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633722612766595890" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccvpBi_1l0azbUGjww8w3oV5TqoFw6hT008W798Xc_6DOvlIOST2rW5JZ-Sbmq8nhggLWIqgqeQP1xUpTNmlq6jnyH-aoq9c33_6iWoubKRKcjp-foL71zcvHf95h7lIgKQrpqrePLRAy/s400/045.JPG" border="0" /></a> Under a Trampoline, In an apple tree, in a neighbors freezer...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gpxpCbb_uzlCDG0Phckk7emqPIG4TTVEZs_NxrN26QQ3ksyIx0vlLgrtdUnP-XyCOTzZTxM590UTFFAYk2yiowZl7WfrrDnIEKxyeTbXyIa2wsKZAukj5K7Vwo3wPCHIWgIU1dMUIzmI/s1600/046.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 248px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633722608914422258" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gpxpCbb_uzlCDG0Phckk7emqPIG4TTVEZs_NxrN26QQ3ksyIx0vlLgrtdUnP-XyCOTzZTxM590UTFFAYk2yiowZl7WfrrDnIEKxyeTbXyIa2wsKZAukj5K7Vwo3wPCHIWgIU1dMUIzmI/s400/046.JPG" border="0" /></a> And in a shed. Each piece of the map had a clue on the back that led to the next piece of map.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVGVJml8XaXdskyRI1aAm9csOiK3sPUc5IOsaRtSOH8nEN3XwJlNWDl4pbU9X6rOpw12zCb6ha9hhdzkgIfpFwGXMJ-K1gntbVSAEiydkUrllL4y0o_kepT3DTmoxwP3YqE7NcY6G_s7c/s1600/053.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 263px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633722601692627698" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVGVJml8XaXdskyRI1aAm9csOiK3sPUc5IOsaRtSOH8nEN3XwJlNWDl4pbU9X6rOpw12zCb6ha9hhdzkgIfpFwGXMJ-K1gntbVSAEiydkUrllL4y0o_kepT3DTmoxwP3YqE7NcY6G_s7c/s400/053.JPG" border="0" /></a> Finally all of the map pieces were put back together, and they could see where the treasure was. And the last clue said something about rootbeer being the cure for the zombies...we found a pack of rootbeer in the neighbors fridge!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYMFgKp3yU8dsBYeEOMdInKcIBPqQiA433KeYE_4Vpw2fGYaXw8a2tCtir0m0oGiKczMPG9Z2tzd1Fu65brFSXYpj0SMDJy28UtefJ5T11ngsNzbDspYxxYyO6kuSSTa4swQxqkWHsozq/s1600/070.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633721970673291506" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYMFgKp3yU8dsBYeEOMdInKcIBPqQiA433KeYE_4Vpw2fGYaXw8a2tCtir0m0oGiKczMPG9Z2tzd1Fu65brFSXYpj0SMDJy28UtefJ5T11ngsNzbDspYxxYyO6kuSSTa4swQxqkWHsozq/s400/070.JPG" border="0" /></a> Zombies were gaurding the treasure and had water guns! But the rootbeer worked!!!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDpZgtCzkAryXDJdp-aTXroAQ9oYJXyIp9nj_u7XxiI5ItFCrVzXI1w3tkpBYm0X9wPhzsYV2LC3UafJqY3SRCKcSJiSDhq7EXaLqunVcZJh6WklrljljEoMEHqnh5r2kHa7C2OyDvcEM/s1600/082.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633721966533425506" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDpZgtCzkAryXDJdp-aTXroAQ9oYJXyIp9nj_u7XxiI5ItFCrVzXI1w3tkpBYm0X9wPhzsYV2LC3UafJqY3SRCKcSJiSDhq7EXaLqunVcZJh6WklrljljEoMEHqnh5r2kHa7C2OyDvcEM/s400/082.JPG" border="0" /></a> And then the zombies even helped us dig up the treasure!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCkMJxZURcEt4TQJeUTXAXGUO56Cr4Hzu475sxpJ8dBDFjST9utVxtuhwadJjVHStqyLXhd0WusIXf0ZF2V0rIEyRuUPr4hM6hrRDzIS2kuvu6fIlXaQoid2sOG7BVtTk_C0GjWrWIfVP/s1600/090.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633721963277896210" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCkMJxZURcEt4TQJeUTXAXGUO56Cr4Hzu475sxpJ8dBDFjST9utVxtuhwadJjVHStqyLXhd0WusIXf0ZF2V0rIEyRuUPr4hM6hrRDzIS2kuvu6fIlXaQoid2sOG7BVtTk_C0GjWrWIfVP/s400/090.JPG" border="0" /></a> There were gold coins, candy, rings, beads, and lots of other treasures that all the pirates shared.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2d2qZHYCaZdctKigMRBdIHLx6lrNchdZOZCfRv1eGpfPrNlGv0rry8yOdjvE_dnmIfLbdhlzFuvcDL0fl5KjwbcvBm2Qy47XfJ0hrA06MEO6aCh0xu_C5pji4LH_hAY_TMWmZQeOY16Cc/s1600/092.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633721954457333410" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2d2qZHYCaZdctKigMRBdIHLx6lrNchdZOZCfRv1eGpfPrNlGv0rry8yOdjvE_dnmIfLbdhlzFuvcDL0fl5KjwbcvBm2Qy47XfJ0hrA06MEO6aCh0xu_C5pji4LH_hAY_TMWmZQeOY16Cc/s400/092.JPG" border="0" /></a> But don't try to take anything away from THESE pirates!!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FzEmhTGc-S6L5IhCv1PJ27hzykiTEhusxLDe27fFYOrBZO059Urf7lmbaq-3ppKpCo_-V_F-7cf8a21Z-4Iplj9YrRF6b0JQ3V2K4K4G4Qq79ZXgGOqu01PpkMfRlQZ6jVEyFgxLs1Mn/s1600/104.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633721947214891938" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FzEmhTGc-S6L5IhCv1PJ27hzykiTEhusxLDe27fFYOrBZO059Urf7lmbaq-3ppKpCo_-V_F-7cf8a21Z-4Iplj9YrRF6b0JQ3V2K4K4G4Qq79ZXgGOqu01PpkMfRlQZ6jVEyFgxLs1Mn/s400/104.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br />**This activity was a great idea for my 13 yr. old and his friends who helped to bury the treasure, and then guard it for all the little kids in the neighborhood. They really liked participating and helping this way.Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-74275157174468493122011-07-18T09:53:00.000-07:002011-07-18T10:46:06.771-07:00Fairy Tale PrincessesRedd Riding Hood isn't a Princess<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8w0yZiSt1FDRtzjqEO9Wx_sTFZ9-qSu9WAThyphenhyphenKlUiZgsOYDayMRC3Z9Gtv-lbPqNHpynum1xQzort1eu16W-bldP-bUNXDt2xp95x8FHNbW-7WqiB7YW5fx1cy2D0nTyV1swIVsaGhup/s1600/007.jpg-2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630737763485724018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8w0yZiSt1FDRtzjqEO9Wx_sTFZ9-qSu9WAThyphenhyphenKlUiZgsOYDayMRC3Z9Gtv-lbPqNHpynum1xQzort1eu16W-bldP-bUNXDt2xp95x8FHNbW-7WqiB7YW5fx1cy2D0nTyV1swIVsaGhup/s400/007.jpg-2.jpg" /></a> But she looks like she could be<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6L2SodduEaPNpO8395068TcRrsewoElHBKaCcuo7gRWsVCaBfK3sdvo6quk-8zmKSOV4vCtCD2XXqc4vzRHp-pxd7qzI0448684moGDqdB6foR17b8ZQQgbPB3oeTfYGIWqSqYdBnP7I/s1600/011.jpg-4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630737758336163906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6L2SodduEaPNpO8395068TcRrsewoElHBKaCcuo7gRWsVCaBfK3sdvo6quk-8zmKSOV4vCtCD2XXqc4vzRHp-pxd7qzI0448684moGDqdB6foR17b8ZQQgbPB3oeTfYGIWqSqYdBnP7I/s400/011.jpg-4.jpg" /></a> Snow White...I wish I had a redder apple. I tried Photoshop, but it just looked way to fake. I will re-shoot some with a better apple<br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-37-TRn8z3mkqzIdX4-6Uu388HxAZbiUICEbPbrrUuR-O1ofekXjMuhe7RxB1CcfAVMlpCAOc1xH1ZwtxHpPKYJvqWqelrQ_r8Y6fAfX6NGjWOVZzf6kKCnRqSUEq69MEdSlgN_TTk_b2/s1600/016.jpg-5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630737752727236066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-37-TRn8z3mkqzIdX4-6Uu388HxAZbiUICEbPbrrUuR-O1ofekXjMuhe7RxB1CcfAVMlpCAOc1xH1ZwtxHpPKYJvqWqelrQ_r8Y6fAfX6NGjWOVZzf6kKCnRqSUEq69MEdSlgN_TTk_b2/s400/016.jpg-5.jpg" /></a> But Laney still makes a pretty Snow White<br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 296px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630737750306835106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsM-0vYKCLow00S53ILpxUR1KmlicWFDQeh_xffG2bK2EDlO2JfwqnWS5jeR_iIGup7F6BXt5T-naYT0XeFmTlXDRf2wMHmF6jkkCfd642EDZH4hqDt8YLwOG5GRPfaGept3uDRW1w1CPE/s400/017.jpg-4.jpg" /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisaP9Uf1xutLD0_cIxzVCD__1nV1-XofHgWCM5EyDwyo_UUXQCoth7BbSfCGsMSJ5iQKMFQzcHRJ2m8L9wFZGrY4qMqxSLK9EV_sMDz46BwhfmicErEXww5w6_Boix5Ymd9VlhPDuaAFUn/s1600/020.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 265px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630737491148699842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisaP9Uf1xutLD0_cIxzVCD__1nV1-XofHgWCM5EyDwyo_UUXQCoth7BbSfCGsMSJ5iQKMFQzcHRJ2m8L9wFZGrY4qMqxSLK9EV_sMDz46BwhfmicErEXww5w6_Boix5Ymd9VlhPDuaAFUn/s400/020.JPG" /></a> Ching Ching makes a pretty Snow White too.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5N0RGmx_50opVfyvs1I6enHW8KwPvy9ilDa1VZjWAK9L2v9_Zn_dQeAa3LACvpy9S3H5EZMs2g_4NLD5yXG6vn7oQUOMpMKGVBUTyzX0ZlA-1VwDfO70UarU0n3a5g5T7Ekx3aupgcvb/s1600/023.jpg-8.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630737484216117266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5N0RGmx_50opVfyvs1I6enHW8KwPvy9ilDa1VZjWAK9L2v9_Zn_dQeAa3LACvpy9S3H5EZMs2g_4NLD5yXG6vn7oQUOMpMKGVBUTyzX0ZlA-1VwDfO70UarU0n3a5g5T7Ekx3aupgcvb/s400/023.jpg-8.jpg" /></a> She could even pass for the evil queen here.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS68rQ1M5SUoe6oqLoQjmJ4vqvNZEmATbwbhe6102Ue_PpucPDZpuTzIkQkou3s2_7yqAJlu29yZNeMygCgn6XByz6C9Zpoo-Q8U-Jdfq4yL2v-9LSzAuOfHsRZYZEWd8aIA7JGPRmtwB5/s1600/026.jpg-6.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630737479574886546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS68rQ1M5SUoe6oqLoQjmJ4vqvNZEmATbwbhe6102Ue_PpucPDZpuTzIkQkou3s2_7yqAJlu29yZNeMygCgn6XByz6C9Zpoo-Q8U-Jdfq4yL2v-9LSzAuOfHsRZYZEWd8aIA7JGPRmtwB5/s400/026.jpg-6.jpg" /></a> Snow White lost in the woods<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHpvcqzhMhHWTi3EHKBRKjcL-a-V3V0Wt5E6BWIz28MJv9z_rABx5N61sMl_0PWiSjs0qlfc79pHSlO9wxJmPMBfU3tSzlEH6Q9xkC3Iha2z23V0HpySBuC5ZB3uUkpAaXi76cv15KlVj/s1600/028.jpg-7.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630737476555113074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHpvcqzhMhHWTi3EHKBRKjcL-a-V3V0Wt5E6BWIz28MJv9z_rABx5N61sMl_0PWiSjs0qlfc79pHSlO9wxJmPMBfU3tSzlEH6Q9xkC3Iha2z23V0HpySBuC5ZB3uUkpAaXi76cv15KlVj/s400/028.jpg-7.jpg" /></a> And after the apple...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDXnvEk98RmiUna7CVn15U4CG82Jgvj0Ra7t_azyRKmWxGkICiSK0y9V-02wN9B9ThHdj7ApA53c5j2K4Ld8VuVPjb310XetG5vhxfc0qVPmdXhG_v8ZpQvTrXTGzMYV2wnWTmGGnOJYn/s1600/052.jpg-bw.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630737472462700834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDXnvEk98RmiUna7CVn15U4CG82Jgvj0Ra7t_azyRKmWxGkICiSK0y9V-02wN9B9ThHdj7ApA53c5j2K4Ld8VuVPjb310XetG5vhxfc0qVPmdXhG_v8ZpQvTrXTGzMYV2wnWTmGGnOJYn/s400/052.jpg-bw.jpg" /></a> Sleeping Beauty in my old Wedding Dress<br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630737032228807602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxixwozXZmVMQ9dIYxSazxNDfkpNovcHb6yXmtW1eVByngrKu-V_1O4aMcFaxcqI2AF9XjF1-e9mN0wqNqEXsuzrcSI517wkcjdkqycOtKFH9jntVluz-jx6Q49aVA4y76sDxdgex6he2/s400/089.jpg-bw.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjTxg9De3n1ZaddixhCmy5H88pjZE5pRM1Vz1MOwhHCHFq0Ab57M10bAJXCvDrTUb3qn67WrvFfnrfMJJs4Sz2hPbypQUfCUDfEc_esoZ93oSkcILI-8AN3gGJ8bo5CufwoTPQxyAFGHJ/s1600/093.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630737029048086242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjTxg9De3n1ZaddixhCmy5H88pjZE5pRM1Vz1MOwhHCHFq0Ab57M10bAJXCvDrTUb3qn67WrvFfnrfMJJs4Sz2hPbypQUfCUDfEc_esoZ93oSkcILI-8AN3gGJ8bo5CufwoTPQxyAFGHJ/s400/093.JPG" /></a> Laney had the greatest expressions<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmHqvekXJqBfkpFBAlovjrOz6q1HWMqJHe4ct2pwLCVrrq9XqQiZ2XMVtxnUlVooXEeBD41p4GlTmNT8_4ca7MN1RxLlzufo9wMYMdvX5SdcE7O6jl1h8s2HXVVa1hfFKDGGJ6cNJlfR3/s1600/094.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630737022038339010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmHqvekXJqBfkpFBAlovjrOz6q1HWMqJHe4ct2pwLCVrrq9XqQiZ2XMVtxnUlVooXEeBD41p4GlTmNT8_4ca7MN1RxLlzufo9wMYMdvX5SdcE7O6jl1h8s2HXVVa1hfFKDGGJ6cNJlfR3/s400/094.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6FF6Ywyk0_PYkOy6XgDiFDoUkesEane3CaCsXZ6tsMACnJYexhEGNg35J9EwNox28yJoEtaaJWDkt9o8-C5Ogj7WqBx8bbhSGB9Cid60d21o2r_eGoHFXvqxMmJxlZOwxegk4Dt-K4hK/s1600/095.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630737016013814034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6FF6Ywyk0_PYkOy6XgDiFDoUkesEane3CaCsXZ6tsMACnJYexhEGNg35J9EwNox28yJoEtaaJWDkt9o8-C5Ogj7WqBx8bbhSGB9Cid60d21o2r_eGoHFXvqxMmJxlZOwxegk4Dt-K4hK/s400/095.JPG" /></a> It's fun to be a Princess!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-14321954726762001342011-07-16T20:47:00.001-07:002011-07-16T21:50:49.938-07:00Harry's Final StandWe had the biggest Harry Potter Block Party ever! Since we have our own charter of Hogwarts in the neighborhood we decided to show our support and stand with Harry one last time!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguekTrikSKzGY_RcCT3x24L7D2JuuSdZFZLfmzkto5duvZmRfs884nAaSPx0CVPwAMfIVZPyBQoE_NeurhVCWlKtYbBEGy74dekzK3CUS2YiLxO0Dp3oWe6kVuF1EHEH1EpnbRYtOBJMn8/s1600/111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 304px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguekTrikSKzGY_RcCT3x24L7D2JuuSdZFZLfmzkto5duvZmRfs884nAaSPx0CVPwAMfIVZPyBQoE_NeurhVCWlKtYbBEGy74dekzK3CUS2YiLxO0Dp3oWe6kVuF1EHEH1EpnbRYtOBJMn8/s400/111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630169096443999266" border="0" /></a>Each wizard <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">received</span> a scroll written in invisible ink (white crayon) with a note attached that read: To reveal the secret message, you must paint the scroll with wizards blood, or a few drops of food coloring in some water works too.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibN6OfY-p2cFGk7-pss2kH8v5siHp7G_ilCdl-heKSwmadgVZnu2grwBNkpx5y9i_78RM9z2gac80FHZcFTpqaaBgT3xNL9d4dg7iLFfA1BqnK-3CRCz41L_FBPKu1Z_8CYUDeY717IylI/s1600/021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibN6OfY-p2cFGk7-pss2kH8v5siHp7G_ilCdl-heKSwmadgVZnu2grwBNkpx5y9i_78RM9z2gac80FHZcFTpqaaBgT3xNL9d4dg7iLFfA1BqnK-3CRCz41L_FBPKu1Z_8CYUDeY717IylI/s400/021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630173083247807474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVMtgRpzEpQCfjt9g0cqLJUui8BsuXnM0CvbVaYGYbELJ-UO33B7_yuO9buVErYtcJib7FHGD_a33wKnQQR5A-v3BDwrLrDvSCVdfiYc4dQVnewW9y6m5p41j4oixH1SHVzi3KBKWgvNM/s1600/022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVMtgRpzEpQCfjt9g0cqLJUui8BsuXnM0CvbVaYGYbELJ-UO33B7_yuO9buVErYtcJib7FHGD_a33wKnQQR5A-v3BDwrLrDvSCVdfiYc4dQVnewW9y6m5p41j4oixH1SHVzi3KBKWgvNM/s400/022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630173075497640802" border="0" /></a><br />The note just read: Calling all wizards, stand with us! Hogwarts (address) (time and date)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9GvnbavoCNre5vPVdwIJ3UKRbrXX4XvELhfQCO9w8l2_RFCVTgFb7ECuUawNvbkfMGNMsRpqK0BO1bVnm7rD1jZ73r58wG5bNH-Ji6LL2P8ajXfKkOE6z7NLKxv3PJngk2xiUyNpw8db/s1600/024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9GvnbavoCNre5vPVdwIJ3UKRbrXX4XvELhfQCO9w8l2_RFCVTgFb7ECuUawNvbkfMGNMsRpqK0BO1bVnm7rD1jZ73r58wG5bNH-Ji6LL2P8ajXfKkOE6z7NLKxv3PJngk2xiUyNpw8db/s400/024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630173072069076354" border="0" /></a><br />Since I was in charge of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Slytherin</span>, I didn't get all the photos I wanted so I will still try to recap as best I can.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgQeCBG17ka1XO6ZWu_NcLCSQ2dgI5Ih6hhFibWRTsLcdYqvS2trfbNRLStIG3H4YZAXl7WR5MUqBhg5qbtPXQ5GuwLkVxX80mdX8lT4gVPfDesMtmq9DLwDDKvBVzxcAKqvN9rfXFU6E/s1600/073.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgQeCBG17ka1XO6ZWu_NcLCSQ2dgI5Ih6hhFibWRTsLcdYqvS2trfbNRLStIG3H4YZAXl7WR5MUqBhg5qbtPXQ5GuwLkVxX80mdX8lT4gVPfDesMtmq9DLwDDKvBVzxcAKqvN9rfXFU6E/s400/073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630169326269975890" border="0" /></a>We started at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Diagon</span> Alley and made wands with thin dowels and wooden beads glued on the handle part, with colored smaller beads <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">in between</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfCXFffOBIEW4UCIQI7wFQjcu-4SQzcejT2o35pY03M9lcav90yUHOzkPS4HImRfPnBjyzhjGirK_D9yxjIvXWtx7TeA2bdVh4BtUQpHUd6sTSsdaerK90JcVjLtkak-3eq_J2tTPyqw6/s1600/081.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfCXFffOBIEW4UCIQI7wFQjcu-4SQzcejT2o35pY03M9lcav90yUHOzkPS4HImRfPnBjyzhjGirK_D9yxjIvXWtx7TeA2bdVh4BtUQpHUd6sTSsdaerK90JcVjLtkak-3eq_J2tTPyqw6/s400/081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630169325557998002" border="0" /></a>There was also Berti <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Botts</span> candy Shop where wizards got every-flavored beans.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDDGp7kEgSBbOOV29Ka3ishixrlCBjWwV_5jf-FKUz-SpCcgWB9eLyOVAQMhQJ9BvAeVSCA0r9bDt4L2c7bozLUs1rogHxURd1pM8-97_BbtWuXhAHfcDfEJQjLwSdR1imiblIfO7GudB/s1600/071.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 257px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDDGp7kEgSBbOOV29Ka3ishixrlCBjWwV_5jf-FKUz-SpCcgWB9eLyOVAQMhQJ9BvAeVSCA0r9bDt4L2c7bozLUs1rogHxURd1pM8-97_BbtWuXhAHfcDfEJQjLwSdR1imiblIfO7GudB/s400/071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630169332619177010" border="0" /></a>A few Death Eaters showed up, but they were reformed and ended up helping in potions class<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uE8KE6Sr35sL4g2ZCoSruQjtE0RDQUviDmEvxRGnmhs395Y3wMtcPvjCVw5_EDUF1aM7AL3uVqG2EpH0MN2GtK6zu7ikLpxwpAEhxKO2d77YT9joHzAIBhEqEx8kS1db4pvbCdA9MFi0/s1600/096.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 346px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uE8KE6Sr35sL4g2ZCoSruQjtE0RDQUviDmEvxRGnmhs395Y3wMtcPvjCVw5_EDUF1aM7AL3uVqG2EpH0MN2GtK6zu7ikLpxwpAEhxKO2d77YT9joHzAIBhEqEx8kS1db4pvbCdA9MFi0/s400/096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630169108155991010" border="0" /></a>There were quite a few celebrities who arrived...Luna <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Lovegood</span>, and Professor <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Trelawney</span> to name a few...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGo2bzB0ecK3AN2lJ-zvUAc2-XZzMlaxv3UarvMaxX_C_Us9g850u-TXg3ZctgjAmgkoB9iBeBfw0YuruOUycTml7ejo6EH0xqzyi-_lEHLigTkQxMzSmnD0WxOdbdx8-7q8dtUX6YAN1m/s1600/113.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/AVvXsEjGo2bzB0ecK3AN2lJ-zvUAc2-XZzMlaxv3UarvMaxX_C_Us9g850u-TXg3ZctgjAmgkoB9iBeBfw0YuruOUycTml7ejo6EH0xqzyi-_lEHLigTkQxMzSmnD0WxOdbdx8-7q8dtUX6YAN1m/s400/113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630168885078277218" border="0" /></a>Wizards also made spell books, that were already bound together, they just needed to add a back and a front with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">card stock</span> and decorate them. There was a page for autographs, and some pages for photos that parents could download from facebook later. There were also pages to glue directions for potions that they would get in potions class.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IIilz82cyg5nvbuG-UEE1dKBXckGHOg1pG6NXpDy1MmxE__bfUqxMO2soft5aQlcLdzfoUUTkD91nVoYnHVtWi2QVk7rLhWTorpBqNv-rJB8VYAjNxB8aSHtxHVNoFr9eXMzwS-plhky/s1600/104.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IIilz82cyg5nvbuG-UEE1dKBXckGHOg1pG6NXpDy1MmxE__bfUqxMO2soft5aQlcLdzfoUUTkD91nVoYnHVtWi2QVk7rLhWTorpBqNv-rJB8VYAjNxB8aSHtxHVNoFr9eXMzwS-plhky/s400/104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630169105196861954" border="0" /></a>Then we moved on to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Ravenclaw</span> to be sorted.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewxDmHeAbiHeN3H_3hGpN7K8IinME0XV4A9z3x-wxu5l-IxL-CTWWInjpfLzNJM2qwFim4UMJEb3GiJC__lMWQmrsQ0zzBHJcNF5jkhV803xj3_pdblM5jLNDSPF3hlmXBgHmVJ0BDnUg/s1600/115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewxDmHeAbiHeN3H_3hGpN7K8IinME0XV4A9z3x-wxu5l-IxL-CTWWInjpfLzNJM2qwFim4UMJEb3GiJC__lMWQmrsQ0zzBHJcNF5jkhV803xj3_pdblM5jLNDSPF3hlmXBgHmVJ0BDnUg/s400/115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630168879379143890" border="0" /></a>The 4 houses were in the sorting hat on folded card stock and each student sat on the stool and I shook the hat over their heads until one of the slips of folded <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">card stock</span> came out with the house name on it.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRHi1B04N1JaxXc5Z_rW4gprRhpwejg7GVmhl-M5SgQ_u3pDeDBmGJ1M2EKygRgmKghp5jyn64aE7VUDuRUXMvdQtxK5msMiR1WNkRpU6Inpk7tYuS-WSj-iGgk8WE2HolU0m8MSisND2/s1600/135.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRHi1B04N1JaxXc5Z_rW4gprRhpwejg7GVmhl-M5SgQ_u3pDeDBmGJ1M2EKygRgmKghp5jyn64aE7VUDuRUXMvdQtxK5msMiR1WNkRpU6Inpk7tYuS-WSj-iGgk8WE2HolU0m8MSisND2/s400/135.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630168870898610130" border="0" /></a>The the wizards colored <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">card stock</span> ties with elastic around the neck the same colors as their house colors. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Gryffindor</span>: Red and Gold/ <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Ravenclaw</span>: Blue and Bronze/ <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Slytherin</span>: Silver and Green/ <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Hufflepuff</span>: Yellow and Black<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEyGsLwBrlgFE73L6eaUYjzmrGOUJm5KUgTCE9aAwrC3Vjl_yxeQ4-ENYz76UUXpFPnUXbCzSd12kRCaXfCwFBe7TAFJMJ8LzoPIiSdLbeCzdDLZUgmgGiN_Nh4d_9cKmNJtSHYBQquuY/s1600/268.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEyGsLwBrlgFE73L6eaUYjzmrGOUJm5KUgTCE9aAwrC3Vjl_yxeQ4-ENYz76UUXpFPnUXbCzSd12kRCaXfCwFBe7TAFJMJ8LzoPIiSdLbeCzdDLZUgmgGiN_Nh4d_9cKmNJtSHYBQquuY/s400/268.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630167587773926450" border="0" /></a><br />Then we moved to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Slytherin</span>. I made signs like this for all 4 of the Hogwarts Houses<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCOGXrg5IeNHdYla73HUeuz9HC2SfZe3xYtQNTlh5FwHou77wrTZRnboNtPSFC9PzShJvL5JzPkXq4XaSFUWSIVvO7_tUXfIZtmgU3nN2YXnjJ8hPlyKzUxyMfm1CezzWzWYpr-Nqo0q6/s1600/150.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCOGXrg5IeNHdYla73HUeuz9HC2SfZe3xYtQNTlh5FwHou77wrTZRnboNtPSFC9PzShJvL5JzPkXq4XaSFUWSIVvO7_tUXfIZtmgU3nN2YXnjJ8hPlyKzUxyMfm1CezzWzWYpr-Nqo0q6/s400/150.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630168581288943986" border="0" /></a><br />Potions class consisted of making <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Oobleck</span>: 2 parts cornstarch, 1 part water, with a little food coloring mixed in. And Soda Potions with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">mentos</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Any</span> kind of soda concoction you can think of, with a little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">mentos</span> thrown in.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4P4mjTzhJxHAVWRbtmknrGENfZSA2xPpXLGqWEnQ8uUSOdodLavsbPnFf8HHx2sS6eJoXPeQjBG-0TC5iizQJpOtRVwKaOtSf-iPOeXQMYP3F952J0a2_oIMhlndNvddl0rWX2j83Ss5/s1600/153.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4P4mjTzhJxHAVWRbtmknrGENfZSA2xPpXLGqWEnQ8uUSOdodLavsbPnFf8HHx2sS6eJoXPeQjBG-0TC5iizQJpOtRVwKaOtSf-iPOeXQMYP3F952J0a2_oIMhlndNvddl0rWX2j83Ss5/s400/153.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630168574322928370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2mdYnvTTNVazUvfUMPZVSlBh47WOwRrlXxrurDyOX-gsdd4ZYEcUu7fu71E23VPNRq4xu2uwft1SFD7jRzI2EEmIImmbG0_4T5ZoqyxrynnAzbLK4nT1apfIamXVXOdvOG0Qg8NFmKq7/s1600/159.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2mdYnvTTNVazUvfUMPZVSlBh47WOwRrlXxrurDyOX-gsdd4ZYEcUu7fu71E23VPNRq4xu2uwft1SFD7jRzI2EEmIImmbG0_4T5ZoqyxrynnAzbLK4nT1apfIamXVXOdvOG0Qg8NFmKq7/s400/159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630168567972675330" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmD4xxvG8iF2ELqsY08q-Hr4iLNDI7BMMN2rl4lE1qjAOo5RDr5HTnZWcYdWNR7zU10xce9DNOcY_ekhYcaogcBhkDg4qMat45ysG9kzjjcW41U6-QH0qbEutODa8nvqBo8lpkLHOmEe5/s1600/160.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmD4xxvG8iF2ELqsY08q-Hr4iLNDI7BMMN2rl4lE1qjAOo5RDr5HTnZWcYdWNR7zU10xce9DNOcY_ekhYcaogcBhkDg4qMat45ysG9kzjjcW41U6-QH0qbEutODa8nvqBo8lpkLHOmEe5/s400/160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630168569291644882" border="0" /></a>Did I mention Hermonie and Harry were there?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLHH1PjkEfY9J3WDq07QVQeetJOqeL8iD64PHStwSJHYK3CwfGn2DvRHotzRswAOiYQHardBQM0X6BojpzEdo885DaJOKx35bWwLI3SxCqPSVxL-gqg80pz-ejE1kPN2z-oyOCkejIp7B/s1600/192.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLHH1PjkEfY9J3WDq07QVQeetJOqeL8iD64PHStwSJHYK3CwfGn2DvRHotzRswAOiYQHardBQM0X6BojpzEdo885DaJOKx35bWwLI3SxCqPSVxL-gqg80pz-ejE1kPN2z-oyOCkejIp7B/s400/192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630168298620792738" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguU23YDTaIUtQo2b-u6pvCVCgKMZzouACcuVzT2jD7UWkz15z3QZ67iNuXZxTdoYr33W4J959PWwmCaafHx6iyRDq8oi1mAcisKd03wiSvgr-WsvoGQ27R4Bwmo9SssIlJlJvX_-RHaxY2/s1600/212.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguU23YDTaIUtQo2b-u6pvCVCgKMZzouACcuVzT2jD7UWkz15z3QZ67iNuXZxTdoYr33W4J959PWwmCaafHx6iyRDq8oi1mAcisKd03wiSvgr-WsvoGQ27R4Bwmo9SssIlJlJvX_-RHaxY2/s400/212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630168294731334690" border="0" /></a>Oobleck looks like this<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjRBXkMGR8h47NQmCM_zuH-vnRBKWSyH7-m88mi3pZPnnASUcSquOSnKCMv9KiG-eRCSPINUn0oBpwkZvZxcBrWOyKMPSPIXBjsDMhSNU_0LgGQyY8sW5HNHkYE3iZEZ5I4fIGc7LpUM-/s1600/166.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjRBXkMGR8h47NQmCM_zuH-vnRBKWSyH7-m88mi3pZPnnASUcSquOSnKCMv9KiG-eRCSPINUn0oBpwkZvZxcBrWOyKMPSPIXBjsDMhSNU_0LgGQyY8sW5HNHkYE3iZEZ5I4fIGc7LpUM-/s400/166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630168301768905394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqRcStC6GUHrdzSLYaxI7moxsPuiu2FDd7OSZsFbszTaxi94CDi2iJQU_al37EQyD-9srPlg9BDIyOANRqAdsrJvZElUCHd2RPZbED6aKSu5OS3ZU3ZwdcPsNJw1WsIalt-jBoWJuBvPW/s1600/214.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqRcStC6GUHrdzSLYaxI7moxsPuiu2FDd7OSZsFbszTaxi94CDi2iJQU_al37EQyD-9srPlg9BDIyOANRqAdsrJvZElUCHd2RPZbED6aKSu5OS3ZU3ZwdcPsNJw1WsIalt-jBoWJuBvPW/s400/214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630168289104761346" border="0" /></a><br />Drink Potions<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4d6inLKIVbJ18HjfKK2BV2LHrU5e5p_2Zqm9yuxerv1T0atylX5jFvzJkUH4zjTK-cc5lBlcvf0K7nNxlesiLA5eZymnN9jEO03NErXAksQPKyi4sPhAaoPSNYMYBqsi4AvEoJYgd48bi/s1600/216.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4d6inLKIVbJ18HjfKK2BV2LHrU5e5p_2Zqm9yuxerv1T0atylX5jFvzJkUH4zjTK-cc5lBlcvf0K7nNxlesiLA5eZymnN9jEO03NErXAksQPKyi4sPhAaoPSNYMYBqsi4AvEoJYgd48bi/s400/216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630167614778482162" border="0" /></a><br />Then it was off to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Hufflepuff</span> House to make the giant spiderweb.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPczgNwVDpRF7StKE4EUQs_N0hApRL1gssEIrRwU0ZqVyAUceme1cJ772536pdJl95bEilQmRiUdGTJWyYmFr9lGkcpEcwZI72kKCGfCW8QO2eF7MS1-6_wOf1lP40g8guDsoa5DhMq2Je/s1600/227.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPczgNwVDpRF7StKE4EUQs_N0hApRL1gssEIrRwU0ZqVyAUceme1cJ772536pdJl95bEilQmRiUdGTJWyYmFr9lGkcpEcwZI72kKCGfCW8QO2eF7MS1-6_wOf1lP40g8guDsoa5DhMq2Je/s400/227.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630167609586309586" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28RJUHjfO2sE6ww8yvIiGoV0c1BwcBFNYgGXCMTWSfp_70u4byR60fwAv3YNB3kwdnMdYECtjCukWaezmSxSlIiIwQmpYsoELH8ZoBuEc3NvQaM80xFoF6aW60lZTUMv1WkcHtIfZkB7n/s1600/228.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28RJUHjfO2sE6ww8yvIiGoV0c1BwcBFNYgGXCMTWSfp_70u4byR60fwAv3YNB3kwdnMdYECtjCukWaezmSxSlIiIwQmpYsoELH8ZoBuEc3NvQaM80xFoF6aW60lZTUMv1WkcHtIfZkB7n/s400/228.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630167602178018770" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Fv1YId1SfkWAlXaXtKhUVpihJYxaTKibjv_usd3TcedzCFr0C2vCC1GPdMCfIyOdq0ZmTJ0eBq38y6XFMFlYpYgJjLt7DDxkP14RYUcVHHE83Ui3tX2HuQL5UXYpUIFOv8DQZpyKSA13/s1600/258.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Fv1YId1SfkWAlXaXtKhUVpihJYxaTKibjv_usd3TcedzCFr0C2vCC1GPdMCfIyOdq0ZmTJ0eBq38y6XFMFlYpYgJjLt7DDxkP14RYUcVHHE83Ui3tX2HuQL5UXYpUIFOv8DQZpyKSA13/s400/258.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630167591020151474" border="0" /></a>After 2 hours of fun, we were finally headed off to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Gryffindor</span> for Transfiguration class with body paint and water fun.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNr0dJEG3q-47gotik2jD78gPy7usg_FtKz2MtkRVhYN0QJUbrRqJV6y7x9lPCJkdKrbpuhyphenhyphenFtb1-RSwl__HHF9ClC6A-MqW3x95Ag0Yzk3_v2MJDrqH7lt0W_ln8H9kF98ISWtUUMUJP/s1600/270.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNr0dJEG3q-47gotik2jD78gPy7usg_FtKz2MtkRVhYN0QJUbrRqJV6y7x9lPCJkdKrbpuhyphenhyphenFtb1-RSwl__HHF9ClC6A-MqW3x95Ag0Yzk3_v2MJDrqH7lt0W_ln8H9kF98ISWtUUMUJP/s400/270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630167006345156514" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFy5jqfVS2rr3Kmr3W0MVp7Q_osopxJMOzf3kxtXWKCqK4qmByDKMu1cen1B28wS4tSYXzdutOX2Yww3ty-ra0TJ8X9mA7nO1nZPUeX3YVZsFNQrP0vHywAAl_lS5if-_iDSNtwenbnp1V/s1600/289.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFy5jqfVS2rr3Kmr3W0MVp7Q_osopxJMOzf3kxtXWKCqK4qmByDKMu1cen1B28wS4tSYXzdutOX2Yww3ty-ra0TJ8X9mA7nO1nZPUeX3YVZsFNQrP0vHywAAl_lS5if-_iDSNtwenbnp1V/s400/289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630166997853954578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4etDJGMec4qnpy1HsKnTXkdEnalchfZvtXXe-inffxM-yZoqOGop7KLNA4zHQMyqYNoIj7GodPMUplUJ8HM0A9yaV2m5ji-dtohrX6Lt9Bg-5oVgNSR25w1WjfkBH-3QOioiHsn7Npn03/s1600/322.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4etDJGMec4qnpy1HsKnTXkdEnalchfZvtXXe-inffxM-yZoqOGop7KLNA4zHQMyqYNoIj7GodPMUplUJ8HM0A9yaV2m5ji-dtohrX6Lt9Bg-5oVgNSR25w1WjfkBH-3QOioiHsn7Npn03/s400/322.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630166577412534594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJb80CGp_Ii_yAih4lSfzvd0dA1fDba9yjnLm5aV4tEauP7cqa1asWwrvXsaA75W84Iy9SppierAA46FZP-8m4G9MGulheE9aX_GL6jqW8EW7MmEEU5KkFI4zUFdla5ATSesK76DyzKBk/s1600/329.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJb80CGp_Ii_yAih4lSfzvd0dA1fDba9yjnLm5aV4tEauP7cqa1asWwrvXsaA75W84Iy9SppierAA46FZP-8m4G9MGulheE9aX_GL6jqW8EW7MmEEU5KkFI4zUFdla5ATSesK76DyzKBk/s400/329.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630166570599414130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIryjz72yPDWSUa1NiaXxEiwsjnw1ND5Bx-oB-JNMdBsL1NrYrVYWfr69Je7bKwCxyr5ethyphenhyphen2HtyIzfEp7ELqU9nRTlsr1URHxxMRfoM3S8Sv11SnUvi2wjC6OBYQxmJUC8st4bnvxQfLB/s1600/333.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIryjz72yPDWSUa1NiaXxEiwsjnw1ND5Bx-oB-JNMdBsL1NrYrVYWfr69Je7bKwCxyr5ethyphenhyphen2HtyIzfEp7ELqU9nRTlsr1URHxxMRfoM3S8Sv11SnUvi2wjC6OBYQxmJUC8st4bnvxQfLB/s400/333.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630166567731196402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFjQQeZLxgf6M03mnOhlVMtjG5NnREgkk9u9XfdgoLwR0nIcPtIyU5hfbFU4mmyW1i6DZpG9X0ShCkroVfhq8-5Ftzmm7sTqkUQ1LITT8LfdsoIFp3FBCOjp3WTQDjLQSwgV81Aa8mCmj/s1600/318.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFjQQeZLxgf6M03mnOhlVMtjG5NnREgkk9u9XfdgoLwR0nIcPtIyU5hfbFU4mmyW1i6DZpG9X0ShCkroVfhq8-5Ftzmm7sTqkUQ1LITT8LfdsoIFp3FBCOjp3WTQDjLQSwgV81Aa8mCmj/s400/318.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630166583409399506" border="0" /></a><br />It was the best Harry Potter Premier Part EVER!!! Cant wait to see Deathly Hallows 2.2! What a way to Celebrate!!!!!Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-22903356579765179382011-07-13T11:00:00.000-07:002011-07-14T09:52:42.575-07:00How to make a Fairy dress from a plastic bag<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpKarH11wG6Gb3Pq7djExnu21iO91E4XVlhMM-FewGZLgfg_UNHl3yrUo9CIRRbfJPMJ4sHkiKgpEMi8x_HP2rCxhlmpcU82fOGimNEua3_liaegyd4AD14jn0FH057gYIRHT8c1GNgmO/s1600/025.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 276px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628740050875341042" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpKarH11wG6Gb3Pq7djExnu21iO91E4XVlhMM-FewGZLgfg_UNHl3yrUo9CIRRbfJPMJ4sHkiKgpEMi8x_HP2rCxhlmpcU82fOGimNEua3_liaegyd4AD14jn0FH057gYIRHT8c1GNgmO/s400/025.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I don't have a daughter of my own. I am very lucky to have the 2 amazing boys that I have and not a day goes by that I don't think about how grateful I am to play with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Lego's</span> and color in Transformer coloring books. But I feel overwhelmed with the love that I feel for the daughters in my neighborhood who are not my own, but whom I love as if they were. I love the parents who welcome my boys into there homes and let there children come to play and visit in mine. There is something so beautiful about the power of a good and caring community that continues to provide hope for a future nation, where children who have had the opportunity to have fulfilling childhoods will grow with minds full of imaginations and problem-solving skills to tackle the issues that the future will hold. Memories that they can hold on to so they can face the world with confidence ready to take on all the needs and demands of society with wells full of hope and love for others. Knowing that they can re-create the same type of environment that they grew up in, but on a larger scale. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Believing</span> in the possibilities of the Future, moving forward with a beautiful vision of they way things can be. It is our responsibility to provide them with that. I am so glad I live someplace where we do.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72gYLb5pFVj4R2clfTyljcxZpPGl2pLGSNo8X3STrlrkG42iNUEcG_SYtA67vTFMQ63xw7c9w5yGQfFH0tMfW6SKilMoQWEZVmznZNqi6eOlopIGeYOQBtuZl73wbe3iXcvm7klAbBGoB/s1600/017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628728567940883858" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72gYLb5pFVj4R2clfTyljcxZpPGl2pLGSNo8X3STrlrkG42iNUEcG_SYtA67vTFMQ63xw7c9w5yGQfFH0tMfW6SKilMoQWEZVmznZNqi6eOlopIGeYOQBtuZl73wbe3iXcvm7klAbBGoB/s400/017.JPG" border="0" /></a>This all began with Delaney and Derek in my kitchen talking about Dragons. I took out the garbage bag under the sink and wondered if I could make a fairy dress out of it. I have seen pictures of black garbage bags turned into dresses by some kids in a magazine. White was much prettier.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbLJUtetCbRg4jS_wt14HM2iKmltlAiC8IWicx1LXdHQpz1isrnEXCBeTaGAlqAK43jHq14EwpOrpJvPiHmDJkVMdx69Rprv60dUtEudtHzVwagi4YldU7v6aPkl7LvqX8Hn85ETyKfTb/s1600/053.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628728266690514850" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbLJUtetCbRg4jS_wt14HM2iKmltlAiC8IWicx1LXdHQpz1isrnEXCBeTaGAlqAK43jHq14EwpOrpJvPiHmDJkVMdx69Rprv60dUtEudtHzVwagi4YldU7v6aPkl7LvqX8Hn85ETyKfTb/s400/053.JPG" border="0" /></a>Delaney was a willing participant, with her own ideas of how to make the bag work. We used the first one to cut holes for head and arms in the top.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOh8c18CIv2T_KgnodckvLm32i6LGoV0Fll00ucQRtb3Tl6qYs3AU8dfrtQRCPGoYdQNssNaMKm_dHXr6rEOqS2yru-FaQ85Xqt_jxd-2varvkSSjPZvpXSfrOJJs8qsmPDnz0M_YjC-Sk/s1600/043.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628727824073841490" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOh8c18CIv2T_KgnodckvLm32i6LGoV0Fll00ucQRtb3Tl6qYs3AU8dfrtQRCPGoYdQNssNaMKm_dHXr6rEOqS2yru-FaQ85Xqt_jxd-2varvkSSjPZvpXSfrOJJs8qsmPDnz0M_YjC-Sk/s400/043.JPG" border="0" /></a>Then we started shredding them for strands and tied them all over the dress. We made a belt around her waist and poked holes along the neck line and added more.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVtoLHh4662xGf-hoQUGNa4_ZI3LuV1cVBlxAV8T3ggsK7kWCni9aCb9D3nKZLCff_HXTViPaFbYekG6sHRA8G77v3yrBTO-XToXFBc3okDqLASwOvpOq9b4ZCytIkzREg5Pc77VE8sT6/s1600/014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628727822539712850" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVtoLHh4662xGf-hoQUGNa4_ZI3LuV1cVBlxAV8T3ggsK7kWCni9aCb9D3nKZLCff_HXTViPaFbYekG6sHRA8G77v3yrBTO-XToXFBc3okDqLASwOvpOq9b4ZCytIkzREg5Pc77VE8sT6/s400/014.JPG" border="0" /></a>I cut one garbage bag into 3 long strips and braided real flowers into it and then tied it around her head.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3x6ESIAhqShMZGKFgtywAo-La9hY2FLXi-famgskYwcE881hSGHpGkybZ2nofc8lbRDJLxIi02guDdmMB6c5vi4qvhlIt_rU26euA5nT9enReFtkpqV7J8ztYT1fcSmuQt-LCKRdj4X0/s1600/038.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628725529723677858" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3x6ESIAhqShMZGKFgtywAo-La9hY2FLXi-famgskYwcE881hSGHpGkybZ2nofc8lbRDJLxIi02guDdmMB6c5vi4qvhlIt_rU26euA5nT9enReFtkpqV7J8ztYT1fcSmuQt-LCKRdj4X0/s400/038.JPG" border="0" /></a>She makes such a pretty fairy.Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-90643887734681864052011-07-13T00:33:00.000-07:002011-07-14T09:52:13.130-07:00Tree Fairy Tea Party<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsTH_ItvSZt4agYF_EwJ3cBs0s4NWj8yKHWLwzUub0BMRTH3etTfVQehzYyKlmoAat4lwTcIFSPJnT95iNY26RnWS0nUK96j_vUGuk6CaHbkNRxyiceJKD7fGrj9g4kAqtSyCXOcaRSTb/s1600/037.jpg-55.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsTH_ItvSZt4agYF_EwJ3cBs0s4NWj8yKHWLwzUub0BMRTH3etTfVQehzYyKlmoAat4lwTcIFSPJnT95iNY26RnWS0nUK96j_vUGuk6CaHbkNRxyiceJKD7fGrj9g4kAqtSyCXOcaRSTb/s400/037.jpg-55.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628738667317862610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLKcYbnjV6_QGXLnbfmf7PnRIeK2ShMZAIawcrDLHpAeX6zRDDRmVUBoIDxejpBZcH_mCt2KEgqkNQbhQgGPYaJ_g6q7iyOvqFqkbEc3oVi62jL3igUeM2JWGTzDYxteqbbBl3P11eezi/s1600/012.jpg-22.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/AVvXsEhyLKcYbnjV6_QGXLnbfmf7PnRIeK2ShMZAIawcrDLHpAeX6zRDDRmVUBoIDxejpBZcH_mCt2KEgqkNQbhQgGPYaJ_g6q7iyOvqFqkbEc3oVi62jL3igUeM2JWGTzDYxteqbbBl3P11eezi/s400/012.jpg-22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628738374786610210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkKUADegzOrAISwHS86BqZtdNOa-700u8rW0I2cLEkM0B0SQF4oBd0nVuOdO3dXonRXFrVqLjk1GoWM5Nwjt0xWZw0EsV4DYSU7X81h9ZNWSMdTPe2Kb-uXt_uQvTyCNO5JFlEfPG077p/s1600/022.jpg-9.jpg-22.jpg"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBz9fspRjeYIiq1vQ0wAmjjfcqnmBPxfq1EVBvdT4buKmQGEMGFn-dTzW902Mr4KWMgS2s3-pdngcZO3yOL3whMB1wy3QunUqgPHd22FDATtZqliShGjF1Id33Smm11zDkmmC2Io4VNUD8/s400/119.jpg-66.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628737200356682690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3F4RQGRn3sKCG7GYrM04KDzPWKteMSf7GpJ8me5yMURZebxV5vJq_3qik5Ij-PCk8YGspJNnTjSVnewB8_Kcs12MYBvMoz3CRaNaigVDKizPabq3XRwB00d25JJ6EjalMqB3ryIcIwci/s1600/125.jpg-77.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3F4RQGRn3sKCG7GYrM04KDzPWKteMSf7GpJ8me5yMURZebxV5vJq_3qik5Ij-PCk8YGspJNnTjSVnewB8_Kcs12MYBvMoz3CRaNaigVDKizPabq3XRwB00d25JJ6EjalMqB3ryIcIwci/s400/125.jpg-77.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628737198283307922" border="0" /></a>Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-14923694354101556242011-07-13T00:19:00.000-07:002011-07-14T09:51:47.840-07:00Midsummer night's dream<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFpC8zZNceVvZIsvhAdwO2XMhE5u2huTB7EPmrZq_CIjC1k7_0_BUx52oGp-WzJw6dCkJtI94eaReLe2SZ3jjTda_UxHYsY8TzyfsK6Vt0NyJi-qY7rg9iSMlbuDc3X7QL3I11uBV1ntk/s1600/052.jpg-6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFpC8zZNceVvZIsvhAdwO2XMhE5u2huTB7EPmrZq_CIjC1k7_0_BUx52oGp-WzJw6dCkJtI94eaReLe2SZ3jjTda_UxHYsY8TzyfsK6Vt0NyJi-qY7rg9iSMlbuDc3X7QL3I11uBV1ntk/s400/052.jpg-6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628735012875967522" border="0" /></a>My darling little niece Leah came over to visit and I just had to try the fairy dress on her too!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtKqCLp26dVaQRvdQBt5ok_hmxg3-h4D5E0NX5cuLNx3q_L0jI9C61FwfR7o9VsDR5QUIWg2C_9nUeDPFSlaoxgSvAsZberHbDDFADH_kP9SP9RoIQYuHXkMzlpzqBj_04xNBg5qGFBnJ/s1600/010.jpg-6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtKqCLp26dVaQRvdQBt5ok_hmxg3-h4D5E0NX5cuLNx3q_L0jI9C61FwfR7o9VsDR5QUIWg2C_9nUeDPFSlaoxgSvAsZberHbDDFADH_kP9SP9RoIQYuHXkMzlpzqBj_04xNBg5qGFBnJ/s400/010.jpg-6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628734826294648866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYqs9BkH20Yg6D5r7V-2f5a9FOKDuEaHW3-r5Yf8MNN3Asu4_mGoO87E7ZcgARNaQux3NXxOhQ68H6hbym5fS3wwii6zRfAWsSzISQe9Owms3qtETbN7yD7jApk4xOB2JPrruGnS20SnP/s1600/022.jpg-4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYqs9BkH20Yg6D5r7V-2f5a9FOKDuEaHW3-r5Yf8MNN3Asu4_mGoO87E7ZcgARNaQux3NXxOhQ68H6hbym5fS3wwii6zRfAWsSzISQe9Owms3qtETbN7yD7jApk4xOB2JPrruGnS20SnP/s400/022.jpg-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628734821041292194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7iI6vxKOrXK7vJnPYXCChFBt1bhPrldkSdYAfgGwbJjFfpsZCC0_7xT4SJCUkBHbycLw_-QKGmETMZi9trD3qajr0b2F6Tmi7DNB-FySILQPMxShT7jEe0IVNZKP8l72BxyxJMPVdU_x/s1600/007.jpg-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7iI6vxKOrXK7vJnPYXCChFBt1bhPrldkSdYAfgGwbJjFfpsZCC0_7xT4SJCUkBHbycLw_-QKGmETMZi9trD3qajr0b2F6Tmi7DNB-FySILQPMxShT7jEe0IVNZKP8l72BxyxJMPVdU_x/s400/007.jpg-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628734793199398354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs93GIuzjdKuV6yayjlxndquSeCwTFxfZ0D1y0A-ZqrgYDiyO3Q6tLuqiwN1Qzi27iEP4Eqq-GFHRxxuJPTu9xlK764PnCus0_dPlRIvatwC3VER04fTBbnWFzPHwD2xUCb8nCosBgJpa6/s1600/035.jpg-55.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 264px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs93GIuzjdKuV6yayjlxndquSeCwTFxfZ0D1y0A-ZqrgYDiyO3Q6tLuqiwN1Qzi27iEP4Eqq-GFHRxxuJPTu9xlK764PnCus0_dPlRIvatwC3VER04fTBbnWFzPHwD2xUCb8nCosBgJpa6/s400/035.jpg-55.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628734835862319394" border="0" /></a>Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108086917304349959.post-25970497917215256382011-05-27T16:59:00.000-07:002011-07-14T09:51:14.000-07:00Change"You know how you have that fear in the back of your mind that even though you have done everything you can to get your teaching certificate, the state would find some problem with your application or with the 100 educator points you have worked so hard to get, or some other loophole that you overlooked and they would deny your application and you wouldn't have a job anymore next year??? Well, I don't have to worry about that anymore...It's official, and it came in the mail today. And.....Derek won a medal in the science fair after I prepped him all weekend for being a good sport when he didn't win...Somehow, I think I can get through the rest of the hard stuff, at least for today."--taken from my facebook page last Tuesday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoxcqxPGNzL4c1LLwPmWiRsdJp_9g1xgHGoVfBmJxhMUcnctFF4rouGHCRyuDELe9X-Bsz2OQWznIvoI2TaqPjyZAoxEud_neRwuGtyavXEx27yTz6wyb49UwTTyC_w_nCo_HgssFWhat/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611558973110218530" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoxcqxPGNzL4c1LLwPmWiRsdJp_9g1xgHGoVfBmJxhMUcnctFF4rouGHCRyuDELe9X-Bsz2OQWznIvoI2TaqPjyZAoxEud_neRwuGtyavXEx27yTz6wyb49UwTTyC_w_nCo_HgssFWhat/s400/011.JPG" border="0" /></a> My life is about to change.<br /><br /><br /><div>I know teaching is what I am good at. I know it is what I am suppose to do. It's just that it is hard to say goodbye to the old life I have had for the past 6 years that I have loved so much. So many days after Derek was finally born, I just couldn't believe how lucky I was to have 2 amazing boys, and a wonderful husband who supported me to be the kind of mom I wanted to be. </div><br /><br /><div>Sometimes I would pray and feel like I wasn't doing enough in the world to make a difference and would ask Heavenly Father for guidance so I could do more. I always had a very clear thought in my mind as a response to enjoy every minute with my kids, because this is what I was suppose to be doing, for now. And with time, more would come.</div><br /><br /><div>I did love and enjoy all of it. There were times where it was hard. Money has always been tight, and I have gone without, but my kids never did. And I have the pictures to prove it, and I am so grateful I do.</div><br /><br /><div>This last year has been hard and full of twists and turns. Jeff losing his job has by far been the most difficult. Every month I have written a tithing check, praying that somehow, by some miracle we would get through the next month. And so far, we have. What has been the most difficult is my loss of time that I used to have. Re-certifying and picking up all the extra hours at work has been hard. I miss my time with Derek most of all. Hanging out all day with him, really talking to him, having fun with him and his friends, walking to the park, playing outside all day...</div><br /><br /><div>I teach writing on Monday and Tuesday afternoons to a class of 5th graders. I love it. I really do, but it sucks my creativity, and patience, and there is not a ton left for when I get home for my own kids. And then there are the car repairs that need to be taken care of, and I still don't know how...there are dealing with Jeff's bad days, shuffling my kids around to do what I have to get done during the day at work and classes. Then there are still my old insecurities that have always been with me that manifest themselves even stronger and uglier when things get hard. And I still don't know how to break the debilitating hold they can have over me.</div><br /><br /><div>I am feeling overwhelmed with the amount of preparations that I need to make for next year teaching 2nd grade. I am so grateful for the job, and it is a miracle how it has happened, and I would have never pursued it if Jeff hadn't lost his job. I know it is what I am suppose to be doing, but today I just miss Derek. And I worry about whether or not I will be able to do a good job, and be a good mom. It is hard to do both. I just hope I can.</div>Rachel Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535193254405225815noreply@blogger.com2