tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14279814426682438232024-03-14T03:44:19.221-06:00 journey around the son musings from a queer mama about all things randomaka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.comBlogger249125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-91981217285657972932013-07-11T00:12:00.000-06:002013-07-11T00:12:12.797-06:00 Contemplations: Queer Parenting "One of These Things is Not Like the Other" <br />
On Sunday, May 12, 2013 -- Mother's Day, I got to spend the morning with my son and then leave him with a sitter to be a part of the show called, "<a href="http://www.listentoyourmothershow.com/boulder/" target="_blank">Listen to Your Mother </a>:: A national series of live shows by local writers in celebration of Mother's Day."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzmBARv_xPqAYJhQq_WYG6TcJM5D_HV1OO2gqBjMr3ud0vI1cg2-SAWOWMXw1aA2Ytm2VLkOGmiz5jU77om0RLpsJLE70OOgxot4EQ7RrUVRqAnHSYsc4TQtf1nmAtgBFM-EBT8j-tVmg/s1600/IMG_1010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzmBARv_xPqAYJhQq_WYG6TcJM5D_HV1OO2gqBjMr3ud0vI1cg2-SAWOWMXw1aA2Ytm2VLkOGmiz5jU77om0RLpsJLE70OOgxot4EQ7RrUVRqAnHSYsc4TQtf1nmAtgBFM-EBT8j-tVmg/s640/IMG_1010.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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It was an amazing experience to be a part of this show. I met some amazing people/writers and even got to spend some quality time with one of the doula's who was at Avi's birth. This blog has been a chance to write... mostly it is not me as a <i>writer</i>, but me as an Ema (translation: mother). The LTYM show let me highlight the writer that is the mother. It gave me the spark to write again. To really write. There were even discussions with other mom/writers about starting a writing group. But the daily life of being a stay at home mom with a 3 year old has left me little <strike>time</strike> energy to write and even has taken me away from spending time <i>here</i> on my blog. Truth be told, it is 5 minutes to midnight as I write this. I have found that to be the mother that I want to "show" you on this blog, it means I have to spend less time here. Because being tired doesn't leave me much in the way of patience and bringing my best self to the role of mother. But I digress.<br />
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This is a video of my live reading. I hope you enjoy it.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?index=10&list=PL5oPQWgVdsDlXA4I2EunQfuHMquCR9enx" width="425"></iframe>aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-40355480636273206202013-05-10T05:00:00.000-06:002013-05-10T05:00:03.148-06:00(this moment)<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 2px; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">A Friday ritual. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 2px; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 2px; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">A simple, special, extraordinary moment. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 2px; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 2px; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 2px; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">f you're inspired to do the same, link your 'moment' in the comments for all to find & see.</span></span></div>
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aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-91256474690059766802013-05-08T05:00:00.000-06:002013-05-08T05:00:03.231-06:00yarn along<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Remember this <a href="http://journeyaroundtheson.blogspot.com/2013/02/yarn-and-read-along.html" target="_blank">post</a>? Well, I've been busy. Here are just a few....yes a few of the little critters I've been knitting around here. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cats and rabbit... and one tailless bunny!</td></tr>
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Check it.: Jenn has learned to knit too! She picked it up so quickly and her stitches are evening out!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pajama play time. Jenn with her new needles and Avi with the diggers. </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Joining </span><a href="http://www.gsheller.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #ffc398; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Ginny</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> today.</span>aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-37779206910426595022013-05-06T05:00:00.000-06:002013-05-06T05:00:19.276-06:00then.and.now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: medium;">But what minutes! Count them by sensation, and not by calendars, and each moment is a day. ~~</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: medium;">Benjamin Disraeli</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thursday May 2nd 2013</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-0Jolmvttji5niEFa58IKPZacLPbQuFrcx0X337Di52kca22TKx5xHtkRNkIIAgviQpdo5tY-nQLSKRwdUcru2fGpKCYiHBRNqVOViz6LjB-vSC7A7F8fr-dad2TpfwS1-gm-ClDF37p/s1600/Photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-0Jolmvttji5niEFa58IKPZacLPbQuFrcx0X337Di52kca22TKx5xHtkRNkIIAgviQpdo5tY-nQLSKRwdUcru2fGpKCYiHBRNqVOViz6LjB-vSC7A7F8fr-dad2TpfwS1-gm-ClDF37p/s640/Photo1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saturday May 4th 2013 </td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 26px;">Inviting you to join me in my Monday ritual ::: link up with your own then.and.now</span> </span></span></div>
aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-91278736892151412392013-05-03T05:30:00.000-06:002013-05-03T05:30:00.464-06:00(these many moment)<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #686868; line-height: 21px;">A Friday ritual. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #686868; line-height: 21px;"><strike>A single</strike> Several photos - no words - capturing a moment from <strike>the week </strike>the past several months while I've been gone. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">A simple, special, extraordinary moment. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">f you're inspired to do the same, link your 'moment' in the comments for all to find & see.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNRqVQHPhcTJ1NWiYDKfl3Yb89vIVk6Pap3ymuv7pLBMIX1h9YQLouO70Io_IQM0H0m9kw-CEA_0EuFL69rJiWZ_iq62Q75yykhNv5Vo6FwzuuPNQGfW5t88L2IL4SU2V95NKmG11683v/s1600/IMG_0782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNRqVQHPhcTJ1NWiYDKfl3Yb89vIVk6Pap3ymuv7pLBMIX1h9YQLouO70Io_IQM0H0m9kw-CEA_0EuFL69rJiWZ_iq62Q75yykhNv5Vo6FwzuuPNQGfW5t88L2IL4SU2V95NKmG11683v/s640/IMG_0782.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7hZw45KrINjj7g1IvXxeigNoM3kguJPGfysc4zjovgx3IkDQu8bIO6SdHZUHB0y-cc81rwXsf55P40qnKuoAu5aKgiXLfRT11tejkYnGuKq8zIcUALaeWr86MfEHQfLR2D4Gue4KjzaB/s1600/IMG_0887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7hZw45KrINjj7g1IvXxeigNoM3kguJPGfysc4zjovgx3IkDQu8bIO6SdHZUHB0y-cc81rwXsf55P40qnKuoAu5aKgiXLfRT11tejkYnGuKq8zIcUALaeWr86MfEHQfLR2D4Gue4KjzaB/s640/IMG_0887.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16lcUk8bJ3_5-Zh6AwiDE1OB3UPiqvHwKVjn_CyFbThmU-d-ayVo00fxDQ5ECASRgIqLlJ4sZJBPvRRPmQssHNRhwKmlsduxtwjUEPtoWhMBKscwGBMlg9Qw8UFG8Bv3nvf-sMyotYtCZ/s1600/IMG_1025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16lcUk8bJ3_5-Zh6AwiDE1OB3UPiqvHwKVjn_CyFbThmU-d-ayVo00fxDQ5ECASRgIqLlJ4sZJBPvRRPmQssHNRhwKmlsduxtwjUEPtoWhMBKscwGBMlg9Qw8UFG8Bv3nvf-sMyotYtCZ/s320/IMG_1025.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6s-lznrd0mmp9c2GRWjxKXbawPmgKuUSJOjdoZ0VhhSBREuFS1EYEr9w4WfPEQJdyMqnEq2h34fyYaFD6qo46lfwZ3jJyrBC4Fd8Bz3N8hyphenhyphenPsxFzLubNdjx6gegHlrN_MeP6btzhJgFB/s1600/IMG_1041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6s-lznrd0mmp9c2GRWjxKXbawPmgKuUSJOjdoZ0VhhSBREuFS1EYEr9w4WfPEQJdyMqnEq2h34fyYaFD6qo46lfwZ3jJyrBC4Fd8Bz3N8hyphenhyphenPsxFzLubNdjx6gegHlrN_MeP6btzhJgFB/s320/IMG_1041.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-83696766750487029892013-05-01T05:00:00.000-06:002013-05-01T05:00:19.514-06:00Contemplations: A Civil Union Rant<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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At 12am today, gay and lesbians were lined up at the Boulder
County Clerk and Recorder’s office to get their civil union licenses. Parties
were being held, organizations were offering free officiating of civil union
ceremonies, our friends were there to celebrate, even my straight Rabbi was there in support of us queer couples. But we
weren’t there. <o:p></o:p></div>
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While YES, this <b><i>is</i></b> big news for Colorado -- which in the past has been named, (by the glbtq community),
“<a href="http://blogs.denverpost.com/opinion/2013/03/22/days-best-from-hate-state-to-great-state/35514/">the-great-hate-state</a>",
I still have a bit of a bad taste in my mouth about it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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At first I thought I was just being cynical because we don’t
get enough sleep in this house, so not wanting to stay up until midnight just
makes me feel old. And tired. Then I thought it was because of the
rollercoaster ride that our relationship has been on since the birth of our
son. Everyone says it changes everything, but you can NEVER know <b><i>how</i></b>
it will change. And shit… has it changed. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuY8VF7ZdL061ojb6HZLpNn2YPRU2ojYL2MRjV748ceiS5qcrPyyN0a_mfWpwDpdjsD0svaTRAHfEgfhdOF4IVBrzGv7h4kzl7yISQhATW7xWJakAoOBDNyKlvDoZefzAIyzN5-ePtExB/s1600/45630_458817907672_3530711_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuY8VF7ZdL061ojb6HZLpNn2YPRU2ojYL2MRjV748ceiS5qcrPyyN0a_mfWpwDpdjsD0svaTRAHfEgfhdOF4IVBrzGv7h4kzl7yISQhATW7xWJakAoOBDNyKlvDoZefzAIyzN5-ePtExB/s640/45630_458817907672_3530711_n.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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And then I thought my cynicism was because we
are sometimes on the same page about baby number two and then in the blink of
an eye, we are shelved in different library systems. And then I thought it was because what we did
to ensure that we had medical power of attorney, parental rights, and
other protections costing us thousands of dollars to our lawyer, case worker,
and court fees, now gay and lesbian
couples can get for $20 and a few signatures. But it’s not even that. I’m thrilled
to be a shoulder that younger glbtq folks can stand on to get closer to having
equal rights. God knows I stood on the shoulders of <s>thousands</s> millions
of glbtq folks who endured the unspeakable so that I may live in <i>relative</i> safety and comfort as an OUT
queer family in our liberal crunchy town. The fact is that civil union is still SEPARATE AND STILL NOT EQUAL. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We do gain some rights, lots of rights…. And they are
important rights. But we do not gain ALL of the more than <a href="http://preview.hrc.org/issues/5478.htm">1,138 federal rights, protections
and responsibilities automatically granted to married heterosexual couples.</a>
The law says that we can adopt children as a couple now, but it doesn’t clearly
state anything about parental rights. My understand is … that if we continue to
live in Colorado, then Jenn will have rights to any additional children we have
(without needing to do <i>another</i> 2<sup>nd</sup>
parent adoption). But if we cross the state line, then our rights go right out
the window. How is that fair?<o:p></o:p></div>
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And… we already got “married”/”commitmented” or whatever you
want to call it…. FIVE AND 1/2 Years ago. And there is no way my size 10 butt
will fit into my size 6 wedding dress. (DAMN, I did love that dress)! So if I’m
not thrilled about this civil union thing, you may understand why. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVPt5XFZ916g1zRqmR0LmFQwPgvxPWONAQr7kB0OL994ja-HbLHctchvpgLD7HOcUkwBQSJGrCUoMduhlTZ04PWDYxrkHByf1MgT2VgXOD62XqYURARkqFAbM0jcHQ5i0j5p36Emz6fwY/s1600/203_23573402672_4422_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVPt5XFZ916g1zRqmR0LmFQwPgvxPWONAQr7kB0OL994ja-HbLHctchvpgLD7HOcUkwBQSJGrCUoMduhlTZ04PWDYxrkHByf1MgT2VgXOD62XqYURARkqFAbM0jcHQ5i0j5p36Emz6fwY/s640/203_23573402672_4422_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And Jenn and
I are having a hard enough time coming together to plan a date night, so the thought
of planning a civil union ceremony (even if it is just us with or without a
handful of family/friends) feels daunting. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvj-2o2m4f3rZa-NBkJ4DqHSig6Sk0rf5KbwYjbnraw_xhnQ1cJebKTVBD__I1VKNJgHDptlqwXc8ctN_JF1pIiYmCWaJYvhRKnLkb97t-DvY2BXYIoNtjIaNSkyB4TqlMOXf9242zCYs/s1600/203_23573392672_3845_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvj-2o2m4f3rZa-NBkJ4DqHSig6Sk0rf5KbwYjbnraw_xhnQ1cJebKTVBD__I1VKNJgHDptlqwXc8ctN_JF1pIiYmCWaJYvhRKnLkb97t-DvY2BXYIoNtjIaNSkyB4TqlMOXf9242zCYs/s640/203_23573392672_3845_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Okay, so maybe I’m <strike>a bit</strike> cynical. Maybe I do need more sleep and need to get to the gym more often to get rid of the grumps.... But I don’t think it’s <i>all</i> without
reason. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-44028243994607161402013-03-23T15:01:00.001-06:002013-03-23T15:07:49.527-06:00Here I am.....<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Here I am. I've been away. I am really kind of still away. Don't worry, I'll be back. In the meantime, thanks for checking in on me and letting me enjoy all of your blogs. </div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9hgLCscCCFQiAUgSGzv6QwldKW5IEz2PCI8drFzA00GXezpcusOXVjqo1Rco0netBEtmSdO_QQZChdXC3KuiojKZbbCUrqdb1aBF2dqHB-YFFIHj9p6MVCJ6A8f9fYEmPaXum2Ks2tzY/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9hgLCscCCFQiAUgSGzv6QwldKW5IEz2PCI8drFzA00GXezpcusOXVjqo1Rco0netBEtmSdO_QQZChdXC3KuiojKZbbCUrqdb1aBF2dqHB-YFFIHj9p6MVCJ6A8f9fYEmPaXum2Ks2tzY/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise on Wonderland Lake March 2013</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-48856420093860330882013-02-15T05:00:00.000-07:002013-02-15T05:00:01.442-07:00(this moment)<br />
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2727562991282190871" itemprop="description articleBody" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 742px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #686868; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #686868; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">A Friday ritual. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #686868; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">A simple, special, extraordinary moment. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">f you're inspired to do the same, link your 'moment' in the comments for all to find & see.</span></span></div>
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aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-83399090972602019722013-02-14T05:00:00.000-07:002013-02-14T05:00:00.376-07:00Happy Valentine's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-79763289916117123992013-02-13T05:00:00.000-07:002013-02-13T05:00:11.362-07:00Yarn and Read Along.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So my needles have been sitting in my office for the past.... hmmm... three years I would guess. I had a scarf that was half done just waiting to be finished and for someone to help me cast off. You see, as a young girl, when my grandmother taught me to knit, she always cast on and off for me. I'm sure she did try to teach me, but it was the thing I always struggled with. Along with my needles, yarn, and half finished scarf there was also a sheet of instructions for casting on and off (that I had printed off also about three years ago) which I tried to follow in vain.<br />
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But as I was recently inspired by <a href="http://littlecoffeebeans.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Lisa</a> and <a href="http://www.motheringwithmindfulness.com/" target="_blank">Kim</a> to get my needles out again, I knit the remainder of the scarf and was ready to start something new. With my newfound inspiration, I decided to search youtube for instructions to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqqaIgvohcI" target="_blank">cast off</a>. Two minutes later, I had a finished scarf and was ready to start something new. Youtube <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=697Pe0ti93A" target="_blank">cast on</a> instructions to the rescue and I was on my way. It's amazing what a little bit of inspiration can do. So I'm working on this scarf and finally breaking out of the scarf world and also working on knitting a stuffed kitten similar to <a href="http://img0.etsystatic.com/000/0/5214261/il_fullxfull.193631912.jpg" target="_blank">this</a> one.</div>
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On the reading front, I've been loving <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Homemade-Living-Canning-Preserving-Chutneys/dp/1600594913" target="_blank">Ashley English's Canning & Preserving</a>. I decided that this year, I'm going to venture into canning in effort to <a href="http://journeyaroundtheson.blogspot.com/2013/01/taste-of-tuesday-sun-dried-tomatoes.html" target="_blank">not let anything from our garden go to waste</a>. I feel that by reading up on how to can now, I'll be able to gather most of the supplies that I don't already have by perusing thrift stores and get some confidence under my belt before I actually begin. I already feel a new found confidence. </div>
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Additionally, I'm loving <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Times-Sun-Guiding-Through/dp/0967571308/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219906740&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Seven Times the Sun by Shea Darian</a>, a recommendation from <a href="http://onemamasjourney.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mom to 5 over at One Mamas Journey</a>. When this book first arrived in the mail, I just felt completely overwhelmed flipping through it, but after it sat on the counter for a few weeks, I picked it up again and after reading the introduction which reminds, "Begin where you are, and when there are new rhythms and rituals you wish to bring to your child's day, choose one thing at a time", I felt encouraged again and have been really loving this book. </div>
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Avi modeling the scarf I finished.</div>
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On Avi's bookshelf, we have been loving When Lightning Comes in a Jar by <a href="http://www.patriciapolacco.com/index.htm" target="_blank">Patricia Polacco</a>. I am in love with her stories, Many of which take place in Michigan, where I grew up. (Other favorites of her's include Thunder Cake and The Bee Tree).<br />
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All I See Is Part Of Me by Chara M. Curtis is such a sweet story about the interconnectedness of the world. I have overheard Avi remembering pieces of it out loud during his play.<br />
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And lastly, Winnie-The-Pooh and Some Bees by A.A. Milne. If you remember all the controversy I caused back <a href="http://www.patriciapolacco.com/index.htm" target="_blank">here</a> when I said that Avi didn't even know who Pooh was. Well, we are loving these stories now. Avi always giggles when Christopher Robin says, "Silly ol' bear".<br />
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Joining <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/" target="_blank">Ginny</a> today.aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-52689080163931316642013-02-08T05:00:00.000-07:002013-02-08T05:00:00.442-07:00(these [Nine] moments)<br />
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So here is a little bit of Thursday for Friday. </div>
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All of the following photos were taken in one day. It was a great day indeed!!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> ~Thornton Wilder</span></span></div>
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Excitement with a side of nerves :: Riding the city bus.</div>
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I bit of outdoor water play :: Colorado winters.</div>
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"A drink of water for you snail" :: I love his kind heart.</div>
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A fun find after all the snowmelt :: He was loving this beat up ol' football.</div>
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We've been doing a lot of <a href="http://journeyaroundtheson.blogspot.com/2013/02/contemplations-potty-training.html" target="_blank">this</a> around here :: and he likes his privacy. </div>
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Slowing down :: Noticing beauty all around.</div>
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A little weathered but they work just the same :: I <i>love</i> hanging laundry.</div>
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And I have the best helper in the world :: "We are doing work Ema.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">I am in love with this little man!!!</span></div>
aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-250584577480743592013-02-05T05:00:00.000-07:002013-02-05T05:00:10.435-07:00Contemplations: Potty Training.<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://journeyaroundtheson.blogspot.com/2013/02/thenandnow.html" target="_blank"> Yesterday's post</a> clued you into what's been happening in our home these past few weeks. </div>
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Here are my accompanying contemplations. </div>
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When Avi was 1 and 1/2 years old, I felt on top of the potty training thing. We had been doing <a href="http://journeyaroundtheson.blogspot.com/2011/11/elimination-communication.html" target="_blank">Elimination Communication</a> with him since he was just <i>8 weeks old</i>. I was confident that we were making good decisions and what we were doing was working. Now that Avi is 2 and 1/2, I look back and realize a few mistakes I made that caused a little bit of a halt in being diaper free. (And sure, I know that I could have done "everything right" and we might still be where we are, but nonetheless, maybe my experience could help someone else).<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My biggest regret is that we first purchased a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.babybjorn.com/us/products/bathroom/toilet-trainer/toilet-trainer/" style="text-decoration: underline;">toilet seat</a> (which sits atop the toilet) instead of a freestanding <a href="http://www.babybjorn.com/us/products/bathroom/potty-chair/potty-chair/" target="_blank">potty chair</a>. Now, I had gotten to know Avi's cues pretty quickly. Seeing him begin to grunt and become red faced, I would pick him up and carry him to the bathroom and lift him onto the toilet. This worked fine until he began walking and didn't want me to pick him up and carry him to the toilet. He began to say something to the tune of, "Avi walk himself". And then I would hold his hand and we would walk to the bathroom together. But still, he was dependent on me to help him onto the toilet. "Avi walk himself" was soon replaced with, "No, no, no". It wasn't long before he began to prefer to poop in his diaper. I felt horrible. Hadn't we come so far? Sometimes I'd go 10 weeks without having to change a poopy diaper. And now he was pooping in his diaper??? Where had a I gone wrong? In the moment it wasn't completely clear, but I also wasn't completely oblivious. So I finally bought the freestanding potty. In hindsight it's easy to see -- of course, a child needs a potty chair that is his size. One that he can sit down on without any help. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">And then when Avi turned two, I got a little over zealous in my own efforts and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"> created a paradigm for him to "hurry up and grow up".</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> More about that </span><a href="http://journeyaroundtheson.blogspot.com/2012/07/1000-days-ah-ha-moment.html" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. I put on my own breaks and just left the matter of potty training well alone. Though he did continue to sit on the potty (the potty chair and the big toilet) every now and then.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">After about a month of slowing down, I began to communicate even more with Avi. We talked about him growing bigger and that someday he wouldn't have nee-nee (breast milk) anymore. And in the process of three months of talking, Avi, at 28 months, was ready to be done with nursing <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(and so was I)</span>! That was last October. It was a beautiful ending to nursing that we did together via discussions. And over the last two months, we have been talking again... this time about the potty. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">In that time, I did more research, talked with other mamas, and read books (I like <a href="http://www.smartpottytraining.com/book.html" target="_blank">Diaper Free Before Three</a> the best). Last week, I went on a potty training supply/readiness binge:</span></span><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"> I ordered another bjorn potty (got sick of carrying the one we had upstairs and downstairs) and even let Avi pick which color he wanted.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">I ordered a travel potty for the car.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">I ordered two mattress covers for his bed.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">I bought a new wet bag and dug out our two old ones (for wet/soiled underwear on the go).</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">I set up the diaper pail again (for wet/soiled underwear). </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">I bought a dozen or so more cotton <a href="http://www.hannaandersson.com/category.aspx?id=little+boys+1-6+years_underwear&cm_re=Spring%202013-_-Mouse%20Over%20Navigation-_-Little%20Boys%201-6%20years%20Underwear" target="_blank">trainers and unders</a>. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">I got about a 1/2 dozen <a href="http://www.bummis.com/us/en/training-pant.php" target="_blank">waterproof training pants</a> (which we wear over the cotton underwear when we go out of the house). These are a godsend!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"><i>And</i> I arranged a meeting with Jenn, myself, and our nanny so that we could all be on the same page about our approach. </span></li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He likes his privacy. Thus I'm often checking in on him through the crack beneath the door. </td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">So Avi is no longer wearing a diaper, (except for nap and bed), and we are all finding our new rhythm which includes using the potty (a lot!). Our first outings without diapers were hugely successful which helps me as much as it helps him. I can see how this gentler shift is so much better for Avi and for me/us (and my patience). And I can also see how this is, indeed, a <i>shift</i> and see him testing his boundaries a little too. All part of the process. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">I'm grateful for the place we are in, for the communication that is happening (amongst us all) and for the milestones we are reaching. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">I feel like we are finding our way again.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;"> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">Last night:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">Ema: W<i>hen the timer goes off, it will be time to head upstairs to brush your teeth and get ready for bed.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Avi: A<i>nd sit on the potty.</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Ema:<i> Yes, and sit on the potty.</i></span></span><br />
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<br />aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-47438321691037475992013-02-04T05:00:00.000-07:002013-02-04T05:00:09.008-07:00then.and.now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But what minutes! Count them by sensation, and not by calendars, and each moment is a day. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Benjamin Disraeli</span></span></div>
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April 2011</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-GZuOQaEYPNRv7cf9-d-UQ7Vk6JaPcu31MRt0R727c8xyQ-SdcND9lv2j50SSQNNQ5MdrXZMQM0edjZ35udoudUUTgv2O1SPxDa8xSRNrI-Y3i5_pYPU1LJUynhV4O1kfDg4X446WwcT/s1600/IMG_0278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-GZuOQaEYPNRv7cf9-d-UQ7Vk6JaPcu31MRt0R727c8xyQ-SdcND9lv2j50SSQNNQ5MdrXZMQM0edjZ35udoudUUTgv2O1SPxDa8xSRNrI-Y3i5_pYPU1LJUynhV4O1kfDg4X446WwcT/s640/IMG_0278.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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February 2013</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px;">Inviting you to join me in my Monday ritual ::: link up with your own then.and.now</span> </div>
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aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-27275629912821908712013-02-01T05:00:00.000-07:002013-02-01T05:00:08.421-07:00(this moment)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #686868; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #686868; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">A Friday ritual. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #686868; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">A simple, special, extraordinary moment. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">f you're inspired to do the same, link your 'moment' in the comments for all to find & see.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPy4yh_-Ygaf5ptZDREErdGK1prg9LP_uKyhXLWFFQfyC-aRhJ3rJSswul-GLckqmaZCjz1x2YZ4_KORW3giOWtJaXbMtIQ37Dne5npBfrxPrG37dYE7rLSjdBoYFm5x1OBqYIyOVWtmh/s1600/IMG_0211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPy4yh_-Ygaf5ptZDREErdGK1prg9LP_uKyhXLWFFQfyC-aRhJ3rJSswul-GLckqmaZCjz1x2YZ4_KORW3giOWtJaXbMtIQ37Dne5npBfrxPrG37dYE7rLSjdBoYFm5x1OBqYIyOVWtmh/s640/IMG_0211.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #686868; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Joining </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #686868; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.soulemama.com/" style="color: #91bf40; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Soulemama</a></span></span></span></div>
aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-78514177783863700672013-01-29T05:00:00.000-07:002013-01-30T07:37:52.469-07:00Contemplations on Being Grown UpA while back I visited <a href="http://boundforhomeblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/back-to-earth.html" target="_blank">Amanda over at Bound for Home</a> and she had the song <i>Back to the Earth</i> by Rusted Root on grooveshark (still don't know how to use this feature on my blog). It was 1994, two years since I graduated high school and moved 1306.09 miles from my hometown. My childhood friend, Jennifer Mackowiak, who had worked in a music store (remember those?), told me through a letter (and those?), or a long distance phone call (and those?), or on a trip home about Rusted Root. "Get their album", she said. "You'll love it". <br />
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And I did! <em>When I Woke</em> became part of the soundtrack to my life, along with Tori Amos' <em>Under the Pink</em>, Indigo Girl's <em>Swamp Ophelia</em>, Luka Bloom's <em>Turf</em> to name a few. Life was easy and complicated then. I felt so young. I remember asking my sister, (who is 10 years older than me), when she felt like an adult? "I still don't", she told me. I didn't believe her. She was married after all... and they had plans to start a family. She sure seemed like an adult to me. <br />
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But hearing that song for the first time in a long time, I now understand what my sister meant. I have felt it -- that feeling of knowing I may never feel like an adult -- many times. I felt it on my wedding day, after my son was born, everytime I vote, and when I interview for jobs. I also see it when I'm in the classroom -- some of my students are my age, some older, but many... most weren't even in kindergarden when I was buying my first Rusted Root album. I feel my age when I look in their eyes - no indication of the dark circles to come.<br />
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I will celebrate by 40th birthday in 14 months. I am married. I have a son. I have a graduate degree. I still don't feel like an adult and everytime I hear one of those songs from my 20 year old soundtrack, I (don't) feel it even more!!<br />
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<br />aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-83644593380737007872013-01-28T05:00:00.000-07:002013-01-28T05:00:11.881-07:00then.and.now<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">number.fifteen </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> But what minutes! Count them by sensation, and not by calendars, and each moment is a day. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Benjamin Disraeli</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKw7vbOzmIC6M1ovcbFqDldYafy3k6pSixKFNy1lSNnpzvwqWzEwJy8VoWIam-Vtd1KnGOD5vY99iSmEDGTyJbjvQQguMIFadHIN3rx1d9SXFTfOdf1D4tMCpfkXJjLaDz2G34krinPNk/s1600/DSCN7613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKw7vbOzmIC6M1ovcbFqDldYafy3k6pSixKFNy1lSNnpzvwqWzEwJy8VoWIam-Vtd1KnGOD5vY99iSmEDGTyJbjvQQguMIFadHIN3rx1d9SXFTfOdf1D4tMCpfkXJjLaDz2G34krinPNk/s640/DSCN7613.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large; line-height: 23px;">September 7th 2011</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFC27uzulY8mINuoi62y2VQk8_k_sfS7kOQrxpgOwAWF347KmXJHr7SIplZ6sbqdmrNxzzXFU9ycBDQkuMZkiBOGUlLsdNj-MS_eexjx6JdVIKpAew06em4gx44UBWTj-khZqHNgJoNk/s1600/IMG_0647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFC27uzulY8mINuoi62y2VQk8_k_sfS7kOQrxpgOwAWF347KmXJHr7SIplZ6sbqdmrNxzzXFU9ycBDQkuMZkiBOGUlLsdNj-MS_eexjx6JdVIKpAew06em4gx44UBWTj-khZqHNgJoNk/s640/IMG_0647.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large; line-height: 23px;">January 27th 2013</span></td></tr>
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<div style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px;">Inviting you to join me in my Monday ritual ::: link up with your own then.and.now</span> </span></span></div>
aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-84475912369144613892013-01-25T05:00:00.000-07:002013-01-25T05:00:09.257-07:00(this moment)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #686868; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #686868; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">A Friday ritual. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #686868; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">A<strike> single</strike> few photos - no words - capturing a moment from the week. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">A simple, special, extraordinary moment. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">f you're inspired to do the same, link your 'moment' in the comments for all to find & see.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd90m4HqkvPDJMNg5Ls1HbiwihXm8MDmcGsLgEDLYeK_UJtgYFtcfy3vdQsUtb9ZhVlm0Z2javSMgdxDaNdS7txByYoxNMe3xWl7272Q-cz5RzhOxbcMLlAYi_6A5nvAD8gLHhEvbiTJM/s1600/IMG_0165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd90m4HqkvPDJMNg5Ls1HbiwihXm8MDmcGsLgEDLYeK_UJtgYFtcfy3vdQsUtb9ZhVlm0Z2javSMgdxDaNdS7txByYoxNMe3xWl7272Q-cz5RzhOxbcMLlAYi_6A5nvAD8gLHhEvbiTJM/s640/IMG_0165.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-37138914910056454672013-01-21T05:00:00.000-07:002013-01-21T05:00:00.536-07:00then.and.now<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">number.fourteen</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"> But what minutes! Count them by sensation, and not by calendars, and each moment is a day. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Benjamin Disraeli</span></div>
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Avi and Carter :: When 3 months made a difference.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 25px;">Carter and Avi :: And today.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px;">Inviting you to join me in my Monday ritual ::: link up with your own then.and.now</span> </span></span></div>
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aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-47414219846875964672013-01-18T05:00:00.000-07:002013-01-18T05:00:06.046-07:00(this moment)<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #686868; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">A Friday ritual. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #686868; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">A simple, special, extraordinary moment. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">f you're inspired to do the same, link your 'moment' in the comments for all to find & see.</span></span></div>
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aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-23506730947533477832013-01-17T08:22:00.000-07:002013-01-17T08:22:35.246-07:00NINE<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder</span></span></div>
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A few of this weeks treasures with some random musings along the way!!</div>
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Lamb splits and giggles</div>
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I wrote this note to Avi on a yellowing leaf I pulled off of one of our houseplants. Every time Avi sees it, he says, "My leaf note from Ema". It melts my heart. I had to photograph it as it's slowly wrinkling and drying out...and might end up in the compost bin.</div>
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We've graduated to the booster seat. This little bird is growing at tremendous speeds these days.</div>
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Our girls still reliable in these continuous below freezing temps. (And we don't heat our coup)!</div>
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<a href="http://journeyaroundtheson.blogspot.com/2013/01/contemplations-gender-stereotypes-and.html" target="_blank">Contemplations</a> that this magical moment brought.</div>
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Tea for two. </div>
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The last bit of Hanukkah took place in our house this past weekend. One more present from Grandma and Grandpa that we were waiting for the perfect time to open. Avi has painted and chalked at his new easel everyday since. Thank you so much G and G!!!</div>
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The concentration and detail of his work. Important work. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://journeyaroundtheson.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-teeter-totter-inspired-by-mj.html" target="_blank">My own personal teeter-totter</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> I invite you to join me in my Thursday ritual.</span></div>
aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-41611731799619370202013-01-16T05:00:00.001-07:002013-01-16T05:00:09.002-07:00Contemplations :: Gender Stereotypes and Kidlets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday, in effort to help a friend find some winter
boots, Avi and I hung out in the shoe department of a consignment store for
about 15 minutes. He began by stuffing his cars into the shoes – a beloved
pastime at home. I love when I’m getting ready to leave the house and find his
loving gestures unexpectedly meeting my feet. It wasn’t long before he grabbed a pair of black,
sparkly high heels and brought them to me, “Take off my shoes, Ema”.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOJhUiz1dE8p3MB7eDxg0NMU2jonFocwI2g18_U6ODK79SaL8djgyh_rbURDY-rb3mFNC7o4Ex0eamtpa4F9PGxJKywrMJSK-lJhvPEUymqYdt9XeS8EqTBo0zFReM-GTsCPF8IUlRCY/s1600/IMG_0045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOJhUiz1dE8p3MB7eDxg0NMU2jonFocwI2g18_U6ODK79SaL8djgyh_rbURDY-rb3mFNC7o4Ex0eamtpa4F9PGxJKywrMJSK-lJhvPEUymqYdt9XeS8EqTBo0zFReM-GTsCPF8IUlRCY/s640/IMG_0045.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Before long, he was walking in these high heels proudly
through the store. Finding himself in the mirror and having a private
conversation. “Do you like these?” he asked. “Yes, I do,” said his
reflection. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My heart melted a little as I watched him walk effortlessly
in these shoes. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That’s my son. </i>I love
that my boy was drawn to a pair of shoes that I would never in my life, not
even for a costume, wear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZkavTBtetZtOx2D2QgST9Oyt7CfhLk9q9rrH9jynPXjwctNi00-h8C-cTTCuEW1Nv7JzDGvYZ61J6iOptbdq31yUw-sk4DHDTqTFN1pvTkWV1HakBVLU0hvnRemmAR1asrpydqG_-ls/s1600/IMG_0049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZkavTBtetZtOx2D2QgST9Oyt7CfhLk9q9rrH9jynPXjwctNi00-h8C-cTTCuEW1Nv7JzDGvYZ61J6iOptbdq31yUw-sk4DHDTqTFN1pvTkWV1HakBVLU0hvnRemmAR1asrpydqG_-ls/s320/IMG_0049.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uhcmWEW71kkTVbP3zMB_TdrI8OOAx4YdpZLtaO1IfigWiLAgZ8ipZ2ApDH2Lg3AMbs11Q3z_Vyv2D1bUxSXK21q0j4dMn50rasbDFvrn3Z0rw5JxYS8bjMu6k9hupEpuUMHLuEJYjIE/s1600/IMG_0044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uhcmWEW71kkTVbP3zMB_TdrI8OOAx4YdpZLtaO1IfigWiLAgZ8ipZ2ApDH2Lg3AMbs11Q3z_Vyv2D1bUxSXK21q0j4dMn50rasbDFvrn3Z0rw5JxYS8bjMu6k9hupEpuUMHLuEJYjIE/s320/IMG_0044.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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But quickly I thought of our society and of older
generations that question this behavior. The time my mom said, “Don’t you mean,
handsome” when I called my newborn son beautiful. The judgment of others that
my son has a stroller (a gift from my mom – good job mom) and a baby doll or sews buttons or
loves his ironing board. The exaggerated apologies when people are corrected
that my long-haired beauty isn’t a “she” (Note: I rarely correct). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or that we encourage the whole spectrum of
feelings. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I know many parents are raising their boys with dolls and
girls with trucks these days, but because I’m queer… and our son has a two mama
family… I think there is an unfounded fear that if we don’t raise our son to be
“manly” (whatever the F*** that means) that he will be gay. (gasp).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I do many things to challenge gender stereotypes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I change gender of some of the diggers and
excavators and bulldozers in his books. (Why do diggers all have to be male
anyway?) I change the words of dated books, firemen become firefighters,
mailmen are mail carriers, etc. In the telling of the Three Little Pigs, our
woodcutter who gives the pig sticks is a women, so is the farmer who gives the
pig straw and the mason who shares her bricks.</div>
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Gandhi said, <i>Be the change you wish to see in the world.</i> In raising my son to know that a women can be a wood chopper and cry when he is hurt or sad and push his dolls in the stroller and sew buttons on fabric, I do so because I want him to grow into a man who is respectful to women, can express his emotions, and be loving to his own children and a jack and jill of all trades. This is the change I want to see in the world. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietuzc4z-65cfeutxpBnHQxlsP-4CGVqdc0cuD5gDHt5dSfOpNvgg_BMddMV6-ya71ms-_EVRKldS-w6eE4ogBHxFeZncxfSnEvqFD0m1B5scJJsfzKkFnN8E_eLkNcFb_JhHwX1P-CZk/s1600/IMG_0057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietuzc4z-65cfeutxpBnHQxlsP-4CGVqdc0cuD5gDHt5dSfOpNvgg_BMddMV6-ya71ms-_EVRKldS-w6eE4ogBHxFeZncxfSnEvqFD0m1B5scJJsfzKkFnN8E_eLkNcFb_JhHwX1P-CZk/s640/IMG_0057.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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And if I someday I am blessed to have a daughter, I will do the same, so that she grows to know she can be as strong as a bulldozer and express her feelings and know how to build something amazing with her tools.aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-84963276778365017622013-01-16T05:00:00.000-07:002013-01-16T05:00:18.882-07:00the teeter-totter: inspired by MJ<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>"Too long have I lived in the shadowy darkness of longing, of wishing, of wondering. Too long have I been frozen and too afraid to unleash the deep, inner workings of my creative soul. No one should be so starved. Not me, not you, not anyone. Leave the shadow behind and don the wings that were meant for you and only you. Bring to life your purpose, your gifts, your passion, and hide in the darkness no more." </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">These beautiful words by MJ over at <a href="http://www.wanderwonderdiscover.com/2012/09/messages.html" target="_blank">Wander Wonder Discover</a> have stirred something deep within. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qfofdvIcFFNbms488LTFz1DFDOT-72M68CCJEPUCbw6efqsa1L6-L5N26O8JTN2HSEnf89JmsN3E_xXbT5HwDAZsulupoQvH9EPKoL5wmUVGecZX12v5q1dFx_GH_ODJDPrNqe5H2Ug/s1600/IMG_5327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qfofdvIcFFNbms488LTFz1DFDOT-72M68CCJEPUCbw6efqsa1L6-L5N26O8JTN2HSEnf89JmsN3E_xXbT5HwDAZsulupoQvH9EPKoL5wmUVGecZX12v5q1dFx_GH_ODJDPrNqe5H2Ug/s640/IMG_5327.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Sunset :: Tungabhadra River near Hampi, India</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 18px;">I have been shackled by my own insecurities. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I stand in the cool air and watch the evening (verb) of day time and night time - the light slowly dipping and the dark slowly rising. In this shift, there exists but a moment when both day and night are balanced - each one on the opposite ends of a teeter-totter - neither one with feet touching the ground. Perfectly balanced. Then day continues to dip beyond the fulcrum pushing night higher so. I stand in darkness. I imagine the fulcrum of my soul's longings. On one end is the longing, the wishing, the wondering in the darkness. On the other end is the action, the doing, the possibilities.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I feel like I have spent so much time trying to cherry drop my insecurities, that I have failed to see how I am still suspended.... my feet far from the ground and no awareness of my own wings to free me. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I thought I was 'winning' but realize now that I am just getting in my own way. <i>Yes yes, Julie, honor those beautiful places in your life.. you are a good mother. A great mother. and you are an amazing educator. Those things aren't meant to be dismissed. </i>But being defensive about what it is that you do well is only you getting in your own way. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">What you, that is I, need is balancing... honor the dreaming, longing, wishing... by stepping from the darkness of your insecurities and watch as the darkness dips and let the daytime of your longings rise. Rise into action, doing, possibilities. And notice the moment....the evening (verb) of night to day. Hear the chickens wake. The birds' songs. And then step into the sunlight and sing your own song. YOU, that is me, cannot hide any longer. It is time. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Sunrise :: Boulder, Colorado</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-13553233115278324932013-01-14T10:26:00.000-07:002013-01-14T10:26:39.023-07:00then.and.now: sandbox<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.4;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">number.thirteen</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 25px;">But what minutes! Count them by sensation, and not by calendars, and each moment is a day.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 25px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 25px;">~Benjamin Disraeli</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 25px;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_Pdp1mlPOqBU9PkGpTT1Uldo3VExt6i5z9AfiKsa6PEthUy_G3VpUtqnh7lGTqAkY7hvzX2tbSmh0XHhqZe5P9mJdQnyTJdnMLRjMAXz6mbWiWWT8GCSWeKWeFjzoQFH3s1jP8QbU3k/s1600/DSCN4103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_Pdp1mlPOqBU9PkGpTT1Uldo3VExt6i5z9AfiKsa6PEthUy_G3VpUtqnh7lGTqAkY7hvzX2tbSmh0XHhqZe5P9mJdQnyTJdnMLRjMAXz6mbWiWWT8GCSWeKWeFjzoQFH3s1jP8QbU3k/s640/DSCN4103.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 25px;">a babe in his sandbox</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJNeTltFC7WOxOnDHNOlnrlHfxquYg18fH1PuP2f9nCGSIWTcpxoDPJMa0vgSZvTWQWOGEUE2Mj5xL0LOgRO4GD29d3W6Omh3fskdQeF7ffX7-Azfu2tDZtFzXceqM9Z1AEajbucVcn4/s1600/IMG_9742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJNeTltFC7WOxOnDHNOlnrlHfxquYg18fH1PuP2f9nCGSIWTcpxoDPJMa0vgSZvTWQWOGEUE2Mj5xL0LOgRO4GD29d3W6Omh3fskdQeF7ffX7-Azfu2tDZtFzXceqM9Z1AEajbucVcn4/s640/IMG_9742.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 25px;">a boy in his sandbox</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 25px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: #666666; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px;">Inviting you to join me in my Monday ritual ::: link up with your own then.and.now</span> </span></span></div>
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aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-74953366341697505522013-01-11T06:47:00.000-07:002013-01-11T06:47:25.752-07:00(this moment)<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #686868; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">A Friday ritual. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #686868; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">A simple, special, extraordinary moment. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">f you're inspired to do the same, link your 'moment' in the comments for all to find & see.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBf8NHamCfGCLoorCj0XmBQONAxvtF2Jg0TbM6oWHtzsb7-eMWR2ArWLyuQwH7WleXhJbY-ZxdiFsOviXxWxV4a0GX1piXmxm-4qL3EXfKNnKca81EuIMrghfbM3lWphM9rXRpKWZ9EUE/s1600/IMG_9862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBf8NHamCfGCLoorCj0XmBQONAxvtF2Jg0TbM6oWHtzsb7-eMWR2ArWLyuQwH7WleXhJbY-ZxdiFsOviXxWxV4a0GX1piXmxm-4qL3EXfKNnKca81EuIMrghfbM3lWphM9rXRpKWZ9EUE/s640/IMG_9862.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427981442668243823.post-80729828309530434942013-01-10T15:00:00.000-07:002013-01-10T15:00:53.929-07:00Nine<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Josefin Slab'; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder</span></span></div>
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My Thursday Ritual. I invite you to join me.</div>
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A few of this weeks treasures with some random musings along the way!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhts-2vH-0d4w8OF2Kf8SGHnLJBpCK2sXSSMiRAXfCVjRCQu8n1xPZgI1y7QuKL2ybVf-nkhm8uQT5IcLS4apDJeT_Yknq4GgF1sqO007K-qKCezNENWa4VmUX_9nvh9Qt1X1h9iF-IhPg/s1600/IMG_9645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhts-2vH-0d4w8OF2Kf8SGHnLJBpCK2sXSSMiRAXfCVjRCQu8n1xPZgI1y7QuKL2ybVf-nkhm8uQT5IcLS4apDJeT_Yknq4GgF1sqO007K-qKCezNENWa4VmUX_9nvh9Qt1X1h9iF-IhPg/s640/IMG_9645.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Avi and Michelle (our beloved Nanny) working in the kitchen together. I am so grateful for the laughter and love that Michelle brings to Avi and that Avi brings to Michelle. She has been traveling this past week with another family that she works with and how we have missed her. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXJ-lzfhpEKnEuRI8QeR-YPOkniVbdW8XvciZJ6bT8K37r8-LdxTX9KOyMp6_LNals1sEGBlUltqSfWLlC5HOO07uVT_6O-zaxEbDIWEnGuG0i3iRrcPTCoWss7-0-Rvb0yWuG2DYQIo/s1600/IMG_9680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXJ-lzfhpEKnEuRI8QeR-YPOkniVbdW8XvciZJ6bT8K37r8-LdxTX9KOyMp6_LNals1sEGBlUltqSfWLlC5HOO07uVT_6O-zaxEbDIWEnGuG0i3iRrcPTCoWss7-0-Rvb0yWuG2DYQIo/s640/IMG_9680.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Creating the time to cook and eat a delicious breakfast. Soothes the soul.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAxgPKTlfQYdS2_oxKnk814egpL_vRUwDgQq6NJq1Ch-rd75KF_3fbwucqrtXbC8w4utw2a0Pj1zl3wLKerpsfjaY0A4NY4PavqN2jdmTr2y3y9H6bVi6OkNdBUlAsRRuqA_DP5xdZBY/s1600/IMG_9652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAxgPKTlfQYdS2_oxKnk814egpL_vRUwDgQq6NJq1Ch-rd75KF_3fbwucqrtXbC8w4utw2a0Pj1zl3wLKerpsfjaY0A4NY4PavqN2jdmTr2y3y9H6bVi6OkNdBUlAsRRuqA_DP5xdZBY/s640/IMG_9652.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Many of our community contributed to the cause to bring this <a href="http://journeyaroundtheson.blogspot.com/2012/12/bring-melissa-to-boulder.html" target="_blank">magical friend to Boulder</a>. She thought she'd stay for a week... but we've convinced her to stay until July! So grateful to all of those who helped. Melissa, we are glad you have arrived! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEFaLnUtnBIpkRez0kDC2Kp487d317j5iyHxb70VLPLzheXX4WwB5SpgZpZFYvieSXsUswcolvcSDZPNBSus6g-R8NrLikKZhr1YQOv_ADHjRc7ndDq_2rtOsigAvcjuqZDIY-VKucww/s1600/IMG_9733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEFaLnUtnBIpkRez0kDC2Kp487d317j5iyHxb70VLPLzheXX4WwB5SpgZpZFYvieSXsUswcolvcSDZPNBSus6g-R8NrLikKZhr1YQOv_ADHjRc7ndDq_2rtOsigAvcjuqZDIY-VKucww/s640/IMG_9733.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Learning to wait....</div>
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. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkxNqjjAtqdSEFJUoJnb0OvCnCPyj-qQrRgYfFbP71el_3GXkFm0inj5ORP6-AXw_Q8ScdyAFgj3MiRp_p9bZOF__Sno0syw8Cp9IIdckSnm2srzlGQ3ATQw8fxKIeTnRVP0seQ9c-CM/s1600/IMG_9736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkxNqjjAtqdSEFJUoJnb0OvCnCPyj-qQrRgYfFbP71el_3GXkFm0inj5ORP6-AXw_Q8ScdyAFgj3MiRp_p9bZOF__Sno0syw8Cp9IIdckSnm2srzlGQ3ATQw8fxKIeTnRVP0seQ9c-CM/s640/IMG_9736.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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... to have moments likes these. </div>
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Which have Avi waking in the morning saying, "Can I go to Carter's and eat popcorn"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oOP8JtGuCYXyAKNMWZeQxu_OOBCage2yixfXtPcEFhX3eLOtIBOlvtK9omH5l-J6EWHfS0xgvY2Ie-z8c7-QK7Sj7KijJmJnj0n2OA1TSnsye2P_0Djg0ENvTlEhahJlBHZZjc9hghY/s1600/IMG_9705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oOP8JtGuCYXyAKNMWZeQxu_OOBCage2yixfXtPcEFhX3eLOtIBOlvtK9omH5l-J6EWHfS0xgvY2Ie-z8c7-QK7Sj7KijJmJnj0n2OA1TSnsye2P_0Djg0ENvTlEhahJlBHZZjc9hghY/s640/IMG_9705.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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My silly lovely goofed so much that this was the best shot of our family at the park the other day. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4b72BTgcoSFg30gmrOtsm0d0bTQGbQloGux-1Fx3tF8vcDBsIstYu5OHQgK0OrlBX4bHm8vFghwTOktxul_L73xgFoSZxbk_w22waYtIZkJJ0XnxrJd_ADwbgtxdDlVc9280DY0TWQBY/s1600/IMG_9884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4b72BTgcoSFg30gmrOtsm0d0bTQGbQloGux-1Fx3tF8vcDBsIstYu5OHQgK0OrlBX4bHm8vFghwTOktxul_L73xgFoSZxbk_w22waYtIZkJJ0XnxrJd_ADwbgtxdDlVc9280DY0TWQBY/s640/IMG_9884.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Love!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqavXsew3sSvd-MZQVjbmkJ7HpRSmkDInCQYvZeV_jQyYq16JZJ4ATcSploHC0nGTEa9wAWuPjTfADeiBg7vay0amZvEb3bewiMSO34gCKiNgvjcITz1SLCO37oaErFK7GbwUBJ0z7CY/s1600/IMG_9929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqavXsew3sSvd-MZQVjbmkJ7HpRSmkDInCQYvZeV_jQyYq16JZJ4ATcSploHC0nGTEa9wAWuPjTfADeiBg7vay0amZvEb3bewiMSO34gCKiNgvjcITz1SLCO37oaErFK7GbwUBJ0z7CY/s640/IMG_9929.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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We have been blessed with the <a href="http://journeyaroundtheson.blogspot.com/2012/02/geese.html" target="_blank">geese</a> flying over our home and neighborhood so much lately. </div>
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We love the geese!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZdSRF2quQKTJ4l2DuJKPiuykT5kC8p4MX32i-n3T655IILwl0KZ_o5wCNPvQiQAaLQmdly7469sGwHfRyUZVr_pcdjJ8ALAt5rgbBZRkYnCAlZUa5eQTtmm6Tcfso5h3cSfCBn9ixVA/s1600/IMG_9903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZdSRF2quQKTJ4l2DuJKPiuykT5kC8p4MX32i-n3T655IILwl0KZ_o5wCNPvQiQAaLQmdly7469sGwHfRyUZVr_pcdjJ8ALAt5rgbBZRkYnCAlZUa5eQTtmm6Tcfso5h3cSfCBn9ixVA/s640/IMG_9903.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I adore the shadow of his hair on his face!!</div>
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aka Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16689003623617230351noreply@blogger.com5