tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088013643550145242024-02-07T10:52:46.725-08:00douceur vivreinspirations. whims. obsessions. desires.Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.comBlogger246125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-32586434268082438782021-04-15T20:45:00.000-07:002021-04-15T20:45:07.630-07:00NYC 2018 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAv5vz2KpjTo62BXd2-pAkbm-hIYJk6i6W7g0NB6cMQQ-0QUql96tSmajVoJRk5MHo5Q8DVAqr76L94dXUsaUG_pjIefpxgQ9rBbF5xQuXiCkP2eIf7KkoN04DnVZaaJsyv1iFSCyyUs/s1600/DSCF4907-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAv5vz2KpjTo62BXd2-pAkbm-hIYJk6i6W7g0NB6cMQQ-0QUql96tSmajVoJRk5MHo5Q8DVAqr76L94dXUsaUG_pjIefpxgQ9rBbF5xQuXiCkP2eIf7KkoN04DnVZaaJsyv1iFSCyyUs/s640/DSCF4907-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Was looking through my blog and discovered an old post from over 2 years ago that I had been sitting in queue. 😅 Makes me nostalgic to see how little Sophie was here, and how much has changed in this short span of time. I do have to say that she has progressed from being a screamer on airplanes and car rides, so we’ve made some progress since! Anyway, here’s a photo dump down memory lane and cheers to a brighter future ahead...🤎</div>
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<br />Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-72065385422120117732019-03-25T14:23:00.005-07:002019-03-25T22:22:25.207-07:00Traveling with the Littles.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Edit: I've neglected my blog for a year (can't believe I've had this blog for 10 years now!). This post was written earlier last year, and its been in queue for some time, so I decided to post this for those of you who might be traveling with littles this Spring or Summer break! </span></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Updated tips for traveling with the littles:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">On a recent trip I took with my youngest child, I
experienced what turned out to be the most challenging flight I’ve encountered
thus far. My daughter screamed and fussed at the top of her lungs for most of
the plane ride, and then proceeded to vomit all over the both of us on two
separate occasions. Thankfully, the plane ride was only 3.5 hours long, and the
two people seated next to me were nothing but kind and gracious. That trip
taught me that no matter how long the flight might be, or how many children
you’re bringing on the plane, it’s always best to plan ahead and prepare for
the worst-case scenario. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Our next flight included the entire family—my husband found
an amazing deal to Japan, and as daunting as the idea was of flying for 12+
hours with 3 children under 6, we wanted to go badly enough that we followed
through with the idea. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were
definitely unexpected hurdles, but we managed the best we could. Based on this
most recent trip, I have come up with a list of some survival tips and
suggestions that have worked for our family. I’ve made some updates from </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">my
first <a href="https://douceurvivre.blogspot.com/2016/02/traveling-circus.html">post</a> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">on traveling with children. Hopefully this will lessen some of the
fears associated with traveling with little ones!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>1.</b> </span><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Prepare
for the worst-case scenario, while packing for the best case scenario.</b></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Things happen on the plane that are often
unexpected. Turbulence, delays, faulty electronics, revised seating
arrangements…I’ve realized that as important as it is to pack spare clothing,
diapers and so forth, you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">don’t </i>want
to over pack. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I’ve narrowed it
down to the main essentials of a spare set of clothing for the younger children,
a handful of diapers, baby Tylenol, snacks, wipes, one electronic device with
educational games/shows, travel activity books and a few small toys (yes, that
is my edited-down version).</span><br />
<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">2. If
possible, be the last to board the plane.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Contrary to what the airlines may
tell you when they grant families early boarding access, we have found that
waiting until the end to board provides a much better outcome for your
energetic little ones. Our last flight was delayed a few hours, which feels
like an eternity when the flight is already 11+ hours, so anytime the little
ones are not confined to a seat, is the best case scenario for everyone. If you
have little ones in tow, keep your stroller with you until you board. You can
gate check it upon entering the plane, and they will gladly take it back out
for you when you exit the plane.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">3. Create
the right environment.</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It can be difficult to figure out
when you should be sleeping or being awake during an international flight. So
imagine the confusion our children go through! We typically put the kids down a
couple hours after their meal, especially if it falls close to their naptime or
bedtime schedule at home. This involves turning off all overhead lighting,
electronics, piling up pillows in the nook of the armrest, and cuddling up with
their favorite </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.elliefunday.com/collections/blankets">travel blanket</a> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.elliefunday.com/collections/blankets"></a>(airline blankets work too, hah). We create a resting area by laying blankets
and pillows on the floor - however, you are required to place them back in
their seats when the seatbelt sign turns on (and no one wants to be that
person). Sometimes we may or may not slip in a tablet of children’s melatonin
if needed (shh), which seems to work better for us than the old fashioned benny.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">4. Invest
in extra legroom.</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Traveling in a packed plane can
make anyone claustrophobic, but there are small upgrades you can take to make
the flight a comfier for everyone. I’ve said this in the past, but if you plan
on flying international, paying for Economy Plus can make a world of a
difference when you have little ones in tow. We have used the space to lay
another child to sleep, especially when another is a lap child. Typically, all
you would need to do is pay the upgrade for one adult, and the rest of your
family can benefit (but please do your research ahead of time, as each airline
may have different regulations).</span><br />
<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">5. Sleep
when they sleep.</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The good ‘ole saying everyone tells
you after you’ve had a baby applies when traveling internationally. During the
plane ride, we tried to give the kids naps according to when they would
normally sleep, knowing that they may not be able to rest once we arrive. It is
very tempting to stay up and watch movies for hours while your child is down,
but try and rest if you can, because the journey ahead can be grueling, and you
will need all the energy you can possibly get. A happy Mama (or Dada) makes a
world of a difference. Upon arrival, try to limit the duration of naptime to
help adjust to the time zone. And if you are lucky enough to arrive in the
evening, settle in, keep the lights low and get the kids straight to bed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">6. Go
with the flow.</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sure, this might be the last thing on your
mind when traveling with little ones, but you are still on “vacation,” and
there will always be a slew of unexpected events that may occur. Take for
example our 3 year old, who decided it was a good idea to climb down the bunk
bed face forward and landed perfectly onto the edge of the baseboard and into
the ER. All of this happened within moments of us arriving into the hotel.
Thankfully, he ended up being okay after having a few stitches, and was happy
as a clam when we went to see Mickey that same morning. So my point is, the
unexpected will happen, sleep schedules and eating habits will be completely
thrown into a loop, but that is okay. The last thing we need as parents is the
added stress of worrying about things we cannot always control. And the last
thing anyone wants is to be stuck in a hotel room, waiting for their child to
finish napping. Eventually, children will sleep when they’re tired and eat when
they’re hungry, even if it goes against their standard schedule.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">7. Spark
wonder.</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Prior to going on a trip, we try
and pique the interest of our children (mainly the older ones). We tell them we
will be going on an adventure that might take some time, but will be worth it
once we arrive. For our trip to Japan, we showed them a photo of the flag,
taught them the basic “hello” and “thank you,” and gave them an idea of the
cultural differences and forms of commuting we might expect. We also re-watched
</span><i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">My Neighbor Totoro</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, because we would
be visiting “The Studio Ghibli Museum” while in Japan. Children can sense our
excitement; so include them in your joy of travel by sharing the little things
you notice around you. Even more so than adults, travel opens their little eyes
to a world of limitless wonder and broadens their perspectives.</span><br />
<i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></i>
<i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Below are photos from our trip to Japan, which I've delayed in posting for almost a year now (better late than never, right?) --</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSP6DSCLeYTTwiDjc5LKjIp9iqHm7Do2r1L4BGbVNjCbpeA1-H8haZ7IJnnfsSV6L85RPJQGo53LCK-nP2grwEV6qYZscWmfdlC6q9c5LKifgCtGKRbBFGvmvD7JBNLCwmy-U2q5SHBY/s1600/DSCF6322-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSP6DSCLeYTTwiDjc5LKjIp9iqHm7Do2r1L4BGbVNjCbpeA1-H8haZ7IJnnfsSV6L85RPJQGo53LCK-nP2grwEV6qYZscWmfdlC6q9c5LKifgCtGKRbBFGvmvD7JBNLCwmy-U2q5SHBY/s640/DSCF6322-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWg7VtwP0fRZkHvlr8fe1bccoigj9ALL7Vpm0XoSRSA3IpC_ShBB-FTx45zKfCoxK0BfWNvy_Nd4T6CNUFVQM8HsWVgZRuUU76XATNbxff8Rg9GI3sKHWAXJgRVkQRTvKkW0o-GnWWH0g/s1600/DSCF6325-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWg7VtwP0fRZkHvlr8fe1bccoigj9ALL7Vpm0XoSRSA3IpC_ShBB-FTx45zKfCoxK0BfWNvy_Nd4T6CNUFVQM8HsWVgZRuUU76XATNbxff8Rg9GI3sKHWAXJgRVkQRTvKkW0o-GnWWH0g/s640/DSCF6325-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sibling love.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4mvRtutu_Trob11IKryR-ebMKbX9zQZbSqWvS3FnGD6l1gepYsjzw1ga_j6iH274-SYYAD_0ATBsK2qcrSd7be0c8HzP_HdbWIYg4gxU5nlUhnpNlklzmdtKLGWV3o_aIRvyOItMB_k/s1600/DSCF6452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4mvRtutu_Trob11IKryR-ebMKbX9zQZbSqWvS3FnGD6l1gepYsjzw1ga_j6iH274-SYYAD_0ATBsK2qcrSd7be0c8HzP_HdbWIYg4gxU5nlUhnpNlklzmdtKLGWV3o_aIRvyOItMB_k/s640/DSCF6452.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First day at Disney Sea with this trooper sporting a giant bandaid : P</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VgdG5hkciD54-tn5MDTVUwmvizQAoTtEY_vIcxnDaXHjbhdbKwwcD7upm99WwJr9uTxso7J8YxgDP6ggc0XxIZNwzd0BSTTE5cEeM2JCc4hN9eyd7awPjZKDiRPJblvbYna31Xwhs6U/s1600/DSCF6346-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VgdG5hkciD54-tn5MDTVUwmvizQAoTtEY_vIcxnDaXHjbhdbKwwcD7upm99WwJr9uTxso7J8YxgDP6ggc0XxIZNwzd0BSTTE5cEeM2JCc4hN9eyd7awPjZKDiRPJblvbYna31Xwhs6U/s640/DSCF6346-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
The immaculate Disney "Monorail"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrD79TbvJodAwa4BwG_84w8r-aZbx8UMdCYkwoIHj0S5fMkXrosDdSL3Hwsevd_cO4I5bAb8lFWkfgwxeDsHPQBrImQrS1A3UaesREMXplA6itpW9e9rEeCLTgsk2tlJ0fbCYIrIVl5iU/s1600/DSCF6519-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrD79TbvJodAwa4BwG_84w8r-aZbx8UMdCYkwoIHj0S5fMkXrosDdSL3Hwsevd_cO4I5bAb8lFWkfgwxeDsHPQBrImQrS1A3UaesREMXplA6itpW9e9rEeCLTgsk2tlJ0fbCYIrIVl5iU/s640/DSCF6519-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't be fooled, this child is incredibly dense in weight.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfjbdhy8QQ5doG4lEthlIlVWvWpQJsCGj5lGAf20NmHAJ5AjT8XW0nhJezffSCuB8TEST7KQoDUXWBu2pkD7WStjHDLwu1O2V1tBbAL_TPNiod9-WgLBcWjMiZRrQdv_JYR7w4Qi6qpk/s1600/DSCF7008-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfjbdhy8QQ5doG4lEthlIlVWvWpQJsCGj5lGAf20NmHAJ5AjT8XW0nhJezffSCuB8TEST7KQoDUXWBu2pkD7WStjHDLwu1O2V1tBbAL_TPNiod9-WgLBcWjMiZRrQdv_JYR7w4Qi6qpk/s640/DSCF7008-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having a blast.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGf6-BYXlpZ2A1tqTOWlmddkhmzSMCaWXcCyIgadWxpniAFl9vzb_2JURn19pVQVmqSDaO3OBp5t6qoLWdoj4HPWaykJ2EWqW9otBkSF3aMpxQV818e1WFdv_cbmTEGQqj-gP-Ztn8AzM/s1600/DSCF7931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGf6-BYXlpZ2A1tqTOWlmddkhmzSMCaWXcCyIgadWxpniAFl9vzb_2JURn19pVQVmqSDaO3OBp5t6qoLWdoj4HPWaykJ2EWqW9otBkSF3aMpxQV818e1WFdv_cbmTEGQqj-gP-Ztn8AzM/s640/DSCF7931.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can we talk about the food and snacks at Disney Tokyo?? I could write an entire post devoted to that.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPaCezt-2Aq3ktQ-SwZrw0_tKBvCENI87bnGks-TnchbieqbmcvRatqTGCnIzVU_62ykWVulRAYglO5OAOCT01UYCRCv47wlCn0tiALZrjWDunIHe2SBYiypCdShiMC2HKgJEgO7W1tY/s1600/DSCF6961-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPaCezt-2Aq3ktQ-SwZrw0_tKBvCENI87bnGks-TnchbieqbmcvRatqTGCnIzVU_62ykWVulRAYglO5OAOCT01UYCRCv47wlCn0tiALZrjWDunIHe2SBYiypCdShiMC2HKgJEgO7W1tY/s640/DSCF6961-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melting down...</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcG_a2wzYtLK1SafHA4_6ytpDPULruLh8_vVPqAD_gjg6OwT8IeNzeG86hJ_lsoxH1hke8fd_crvyNG2wtjnCH0ZXO8Q-UypGHa_QFdH4oFekoMfonxt5p6C0iwp1dh58xgek0EXILPo/s1600/IMG_0284-1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcG_a2wzYtLK1SafHA4_6ytpDPULruLh8_vVPqAD_gjg6OwT8IeNzeG86hJ_lsoxH1hke8fd_crvyNG2wtjnCH0ZXO8Q-UypGHa_QFdH4oFekoMfonxt5p6C0iwp1dh58xgek0EXILPo/s640/IMG_0284-1-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHinYGyC455gGLKeUt7IsUffBD52f9Q2gj-8hl_6bt9Dtu5prcR99mfUx9Ysswrj29EWQNepmM9oZufS4qg7GzDQlRx0ri7XIXRHccAfaq29Dg-HCtujW-vheQ-dhtwyyAczWeiX3rWsw/s1600/DSCF7095-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHinYGyC455gGLKeUt7IsUffBD52f9Q2gj-8hl_6bt9Dtu5prcR99mfUx9Ysswrj29EWQNepmM9oZufS4qg7GzDQlRx0ri7XIXRHccAfaq29Dg-HCtujW-vheQ-dhtwyyAczWeiX3rWsw/s640/DSCF7095-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bought these light-up sticks from the 99cent store back home to avoid paying quadruple the price here : )</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUyLaFC90DhTPmsDiKvY7dT9nuwlVC0MGUxL2bOuLSu9Vndg1ZSBvzImtN3aVO_eXTHsnHYAZy3d9TKN99Vz4k9fAnlAJWMrLpyEfjh9oAhw3oFyX1UxJu3AX08ySoboVCuvIe9bEL24/s1600/DSCF7139-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUyLaFC90DhTPmsDiKvY7dT9nuwlVC0MGUxL2bOuLSu9Vndg1ZSBvzImtN3aVO_eXTHsnHYAZy3d9TKN99Vz4k9fAnlAJWMrLpyEfjh9oAhw3oFyX1UxJu3AX08ySoboVCuvIe9bEL24/s640/DSCF7139-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOJIV4qgal4JRniwx8Ja14MEDE7TFst0Ea7VVb6u2_5mTCzVfwfk4eVZHEGUOx00ctvUyCkZQDTt6W3cjvR-sZuqcMkeIrd2wOYFGO_3CUNnTIH8BwCJ0aLYMhxTRH0qb7pbGF5hP7bw/s1600/DSCF7205-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOJIV4qgal4JRniwx8Ja14MEDE7TFst0Ea7VVb6u2_5mTCzVfwfk4eVZHEGUOx00ctvUyCkZQDTt6W3cjvR-sZuqcMkeIrd2wOYFGO_3CUNnTIH8BwCJ0aLYMhxTRH0qb7pbGF5hP7bw/s640/DSCF7205-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tokyo Disneyland</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KlCmLriij27LQ19kOVa7fj19jmVW1KvzLpEF7nEzDB82bRJ52eZntbtNEpc98qz8sHctzdEdc3vmhyphenhyphenEAVGNDWGv5Q1q7zVJ33auZFtCKc26ZAAvj4T_ahH6jp43mqzDCD6OG7oFMJBM/s1600/DSCF7222-1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KlCmLriij27LQ19kOVa7fj19jmVW1KvzLpEF7nEzDB82bRJ52eZntbtNEpc98qz8sHctzdEdc3vmhyphenhyphenEAVGNDWGv5Q1q7zVJ33auZFtCKc26ZAAvj4T_ahH6jp43mqzDCD6OG7oFMJBM/s640/DSCF7222-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-FD2O60pdZXAmhduhQRDGiACaaG-V69HtQW_aj2yXUC-36IIMfTh55JvB421hxiF1DO7lSjan1e4hJmhqUeiomFMOEH_QLs70M5MSwxT6cM3xT4a0btE-IzaAuJFdxB2LMi73AtU6J8/s1600/DSCF7401-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-FD2O60pdZXAmhduhQRDGiACaaG-V69HtQW_aj2yXUC-36IIMfTh55JvB421hxiF1DO7lSjan1e4hJmhqUeiomFMOEH_QLs70M5MSwxT6cM3xT4a0btE-IzaAuJFdxB2LMi73AtU6J8/s640/DSCF7401-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making the most of the only blossoms we saw in bloom (Lukey taking full advantage..)</td></tr>
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<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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMfTiXNz794W_mXtWyw5lMzmmdvSVJ5EniDX6Lce2cWRqb7wNCXkDhYwyLtOXgZ_Vhc1_1a6y4dUk1eZ2GgFxBiGeJOn1uxThqttDptThA6z7Rq1d3_KXMoWj9WjJRgIV6pqzoMOacdY/s1600/DSCF7501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMfTiXNz794W_mXtWyw5lMzmmdvSVJ5EniDX6Lce2cWRqb7wNCXkDhYwyLtOXgZ_Vhc1_1a6y4dUk1eZ2GgFxBiGeJOn1uxThqttDptThA6z7Rq1d3_KXMoWj9WjJRgIV6pqzoMOacdY/s640/DSCF7501.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A visit to the Ghibli museum, which was well worth the 45 minutes it took Dada to get online.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJzESUovd3fGZFjl9GNhcTpTRvpKIBpdjVgSO_KnXyXv5lJCsnSz4QgfkTo_DyXDwgJwTXo7wFW5uh2lKencEZH2lXTnTi9NrDPDUkYChjKMxIOPDLEaMTaDJ5VyNnuB1YUv9f_Q06Qg/s1600/DSCF7515-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJzESUovd3fGZFjl9GNhcTpTRvpKIBpdjVgSO_KnXyXv5lJCsnSz4QgfkTo_DyXDwgJwTXo7wFW5uh2lKencEZH2lXTnTi9NrDPDUkYChjKMxIOPDLEaMTaDJ5VyNnuB1YUv9f_Q06Qg/s640/DSCF7515-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnpwFIZRtw2WmxYIVdYnhmE6EFlFXcFV3Lo-Ce43vSJC9JmHYXSO-hIy8etjcgvc8JBPx17TuMuLDYJSZ2_D9cOG0KgZbAp5AfpldKvWWsHLA1F-Uo9B2Qyb2eHCW7iC_4cJEaUrzREU/s1600/DSCF7541-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnpwFIZRtw2WmxYIVdYnhmE6EFlFXcFV3Lo-Ce43vSJC9JmHYXSO-hIy8etjcgvc8JBPx17TuMuLDYJSZ2_D9cOG0KgZbAp5AfpldKvWWsHLA1F-Uo9B2Qyb2eHCW7iC_4cJEaUrzREU/s640/DSCF7541-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making friends with the robot from Laputa.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8Wz-schXnhWzuYYFCsi8pcPCJJaMI5bHZbVlqYROxprtaKlytgE38dqN1SV2WhO3EQm583s4vOHZ1ZVD42bNTUEVhw08fZ2Us1GUszrvJctzlTbL6o6E0qvwyOrZ0lMjb5u2_jjVGPo/s1600/DSCF7576-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8Wz-schXnhWzuYYFCsi8pcPCJJaMI5bHZbVlqYROxprtaKlytgE38dqN1SV2WhO3EQm583s4vOHZ1ZVD42bNTUEVhw08fZ2Us1GUszrvJctzlTbL6o6E0qvwyOrZ0lMjb5u2_jjVGPo/s640/DSCF7576-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A late lunch at the cutest little cafe from 'Kiki's Delivery Service'.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTmI6JItsL7EfWO-KOErBtJ_1htACiNIWzPSG_epicntaY-t9AjMJnnJvJUdlYS21dx1o_9wZKDsvjWAqC3LyzEolsexy9Fx80SfbgVC6bO9R2Q2-mKpdPUoDdCvJD9YBKm2jW9VxXhU/s1600/DSCF7585-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTmI6JItsL7EfWO-KOErBtJ_1htACiNIWzPSG_epicntaY-t9AjMJnnJvJUdlYS21dx1o_9wZKDsvjWAqC3LyzEolsexy9Fx80SfbgVC6bO9R2Q2-mKpdPUoDdCvJD9YBKm2jW9VxXhU/s640/DSCF7585-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When 2/3 of the kiddos are asleep, you head to Tokyo Station for some of the best ramen.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTANFBAOmsyspgs1VKHAkEbnSSj1bWh8ZVdJtWZdhghyphenhyphen2zKh_p4DUl88WvDvo-lcJUlDaR5kWnV-SM2Du4FXMmaO1OiS17PPlgZwltV7d8nwu4T0kNC9rc5-9sscTtlw9_royG_6mD8i0/s1600/DSCF7589-1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTANFBAOmsyspgs1VKHAkEbnSSj1bWh8ZVdJtWZdhghyphenhyphen2zKh_p4DUl88WvDvo-lcJUlDaR5kWnV-SM2Du4FXMmaO1OiS17PPlgZwltV7d8nwu4T0kNC9rc5-9sscTtlw9_royG_6mD8i0/s640/DSCF7589-1.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVKiL7JyyUI0mTH1TmrlzTmMJS00SL6AI8w-sdmQmYqqRPlEi8qHXj7LeuuUXYCz9cW3Vd0LJq9E0x1ihI_Kr1DnYQUcX7Ti5scDYONoRy1xLHk9lvUc-hmBW9Wu00z0JuBxsMGiyfOU/s1600/DSCF7597-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVKiL7JyyUI0mTH1TmrlzTmMJS00SL6AI8w-sdmQmYqqRPlEi8qHXj7LeuuUXYCz9cW3Vd0LJq9E0x1ihI_Kr1DnYQUcX7Ti5scDYONoRy1xLHk9lvUc-hmBW9Wu00z0JuBxsMGiyfOU/s640/DSCF7597-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDG8bNZD_OZlBfckdRR3MbBu5vO7rihxO32XbtY3OPTd6Vihc_uJAgIRm9JIsXSbJkDkRUSA8IJ2G5c_sWTBMqQlnW09s17qP4ko1wdUqPBuqgzcCagxL7xp0WxUAdFNt3zaLRqcN0zmo/s1600/DSCF7603-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDG8bNZD_OZlBfckdRR3MbBu5vO7rihxO32XbtY3OPTd6Vihc_uJAgIRm9JIsXSbJkDkRUSA8IJ2G5c_sWTBMqQlnW09s17qP4ko1wdUqPBuqgzcCagxL7xp0WxUAdFNt3zaLRqcN0zmo/s640/DSCF7603-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McDees for the kiddos before Mama and Dada get sushi : P</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hmIVjtLmkdT13_C4NolmR_wbGtvlVz8xCOUpZ1lyBmaFJzUsbhTNxI9-y2O1Ljqb6qeQCFaP18bJjS8rHnL-FHHrBtvzrtofmQS8MZVwmWUk_qBZDdG_YFeAoU3Qjogw4GjxcgpOSg8/s1600/DSCF7706-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hmIVjtLmkdT13_C4NolmR_wbGtvlVz8xCOUpZ1lyBmaFJzUsbhTNxI9-y2O1Ljqb6qeQCFaP18bJjS8rHnL-FHHrBtvzrtofmQS8MZVwmWUk_qBZDdG_YFeAoU3Qjogw4GjxcgpOSg8/s640/DSCF7706-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The server was bewildered at how quickly I was ordering, but you can't take your time when you've got antsy kids! I may have over done it, but we ate all of it. Best part was that it was half the price of what we'd pay here in the states, and twice as fresh!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A taste of Paris.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkzf1JX42hvgbSFMa25byeFAaUgBGrUIjvNv3oC_Wid30m0Zx_e0NBXz-h7-5NSxFlrOiamYYtneiajvviN6wuGWeZaYFqrG1ixZeU1kmX-LPtI70UtBeXwgCADM4qec6YERDKVCDWMU/s1600/DSCF7758-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkzf1JX42hvgbSFMa25byeFAaUgBGrUIjvNv3oC_Wid30m0Zx_e0NBXz-h7-5NSxFlrOiamYYtneiajvviN6wuGWeZaYFqrG1ixZeU1kmX-LPtI70UtBeXwgCADM4qec6YERDKVCDWMU/s640/DSCF7758-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only kid that was willing to pose for me during this trip- we all couldn't get enough of these vending machines.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyBriCqftLPmPcNkFCtCFVq980T8MT7giLTNBAvEfF2HrzXx5nnRNaNZnH5l1HOBbAJ_9CF4ZU9prtO1TDlckN1RsH_91q2pjBto8wZ-cIoiaAOFxyBQgIKzWLTc9cmWeA9H4jRjhdOQ/s1600/DSCF7779-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyBriCqftLPmPcNkFCtCFVq980T8MT7giLTNBAvEfF2HrzXx5nnRNaNZnH5l1HOBbAJ_9CF4ZU9prtO1TDlckN1RsH_91q2pjBto8wZ-cIoiaAOFxyBQgIKzWLTc9cmWeA9H4jRjhdOQ/s640/DSCF7779-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couldn't handle the amount of cuteness on every corner.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizxcxbxUHcvO3TCYMv3rq7Yoykz8ZCTWhC0CiV_3HdgJvuMkT-GR4fYx9ccG_LTpWYo_HnF-tND_2I6wC0oI8miBLr3IwZ_VWshU8eYH-yEljmoNU3ac46VztMp6wWqRHUGbdAT5P7lVU/s1600/IMG_0129-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizxcxbxUHcvO3TCYMv3rq7Yoykz8ZCTWhC0CiV_3HdgJvuMkT-GR4fYx9ccG_LTpWYo_HnF-tND_2I6wC0oI8miBLr3IwZ_VWshU8eYH-yEljmoNU3ac46VztMp6wWqRHUGbdAT5P7lVU/s640/IMG_0129-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rare empty Subway moment.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuUV-8kmtWbOBFWGZxk1lHHwBGrKbgj1KWzjzxzovBDcGn-9SzL6dHrKVogaSSc1RWBiJ5Qu7LNmWjj7AFRy8oqXkZJjM4Xc7Gn3CcTxRx9wy2jZKlMuJQtbMS1VSjxIWym_zlJu5YVw/s1600/IMG_0608-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuUV-8kmtWbOBFWGZxk1lHHwBGrKbgj1KWzjzxzovBDcGn-9SzL6dHrKVogaSSc1RWBiJ5Qu7LNmWjj7AFRy8oqXkZJjM4Xc7Gn3CcTxRx9wy2jZKlMuJQtbMS1VSjxIWym_zlJu5YVw/s640/IMG_0608-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harajuku was a bit disappointing- Crowded, full of tourists, and not one person was dressed up! <br />
We must have gone on a bad day. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_nYBtna7H8kHRzygyTw8ZQhbCpMGnz-yc1xkFFAtile6DKhgF0zTE4UcSNaZ-bwH7WOPjg2-okSuXbUe2gx_EQmHpxv1Azjd8wYNTDt7dIFZ042hyREEa-yAKgLRjH5OdSr7eBvoDx0/s1600/DSCF7849-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_nYBtna7H8kHRzygyTw8ZQhbCpMGnz-yc1xkFFAtile6DKhgF0zTE4UcSNaZ-bwH7WOPjg2-okSuXbUe2gx_EQmHpxv1Azjd8wYNTDt7dIFZ042hyREEa-yAKgLRjH5OdSr7eBvoDx0/s640/DSCF7849-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They have some of the best popcorn boxes at Disney, which literally took up my entire luggage space.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqNog8_nsf8adcSP2h1rKzTWP0cawRY7jUHlCu-w5Ti_VMZOjmG-IE1Zlj06jpNdMfgO_f4WcPC1RH1tZJpAc48IbktmGH-cFZMipqCPlGTDQV6nLMFxr_pCiVHT6vslEkbWV88mfMxo/s1600/DSCF6943-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqNog8_nsf8adcSP2h1rKzTWP0cawRY7jUHlCu-w5Ti_VMZOjmG-IE1Zlj06jpNdMfgO_f4WcPC1RH1tZJpAc48IbktmGH-cFZMipqCPlGTDQV6nLMFxr_pCiVHT6vslEkbWV88mfMxo/s640/DSCF6943-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ge4rVYl2T9DzgEWervo1BGlYczhHZwrFv5GQgixIwJkXN-E1Z_6v3OjWcCJp22QLiJdwkIzbnREpOnAcDgX458Japoz8QSd6V-wzNsJxXLb2IeWE8auQyI-u9Xrn-VYII0zk5ixyLVk/s1600/IMG_0882-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ge4rVYl2T9DzgEWervo1BGlYczhHZwrFv5GQgixIwJkXN-E1Z_6v3OjWcCJp22QLiJdwkIzbnREpOnAcDgX458Japoz8QSd6V-wzNsJxXLb2IeWE8auQyI-u9Xrn-VYII0zk5ixyLVk/s640/IMG_0882-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2RDQuQ1a1qQTNL6TTlQoizn3EcVXciW_sL3D6bPRrq8hVfyPgW7Yh8h1Nc8q9GuETWUWiubldXRpsTQn_ex7r-akLS5ZRaeBGuwnLw6jofoIDcKi76-i2V0nO9ge9f_eTt8PBlbl5I0/s1600/IMG_3653-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2RDQuQ1a1qQTNL6TTlQoizn3EcVXciW_sL3D6bPRrq8hVfyPgW7Yh8h1Nc8q9GuETWUWiubldXRpsTQn_ex7r-akLS5ZRaeBGuwnLw6jofoIDcKi76-i2V0nO9ge9f_eTt8PBlbl5I0/s640/IMG_3653-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When in Japan, do as the locals do: i.e. matching outfits ^^<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMf-mrzcR3QOporFdZ9ZS2SqFNmqE3vvPkuh4fw1jbuGim-cfJ7MoXEcCqzF3X29MBynN1hpJzqh5BSyZ_Ki5kXUMK5Z7UFVPwrM-eIvO8kroPBiw0Kgjd6Y_defHZgYa6BDtvGl0DHqM/s1600/IMG_0069-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMf-mrzcR3QOporFdZ9ZS2SqFNmqE3vvPkuh4fw1jbuGim-cfJ7MoXEcCqzF3X29MBynN1hpJzqh5BSyZ_Ki5kXUMK5Z7UFVPwrM-eIvO8kroPBiw0Kgjd6Y_defHZgYa6BDtvGl0DHqM/s640/IMG_0069-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIgeoY0KLPW_VMVCt4jdbUD66vBjo5p9WB9Sbdy-5lRsH9vjTYkPFkamzk2xYOsBbtLzSybksRaruQJxW-XJShKaRfQsaTGfQSZ0VjH5M__nrL7nvEr10zeYUu5oShucI2rAgNXiyGJ4/s1600/IMG_3445-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIgeoY0KLPW_VMVCt4jdbUD66vBjo5p9WB9Sbdy-5lRsH9vjTYkPFkamzk2xYOsBbtLzSybksRaruQJxW-XJShKaRfQsaTGfQSZ0VjH5M__nrL7nvEr10zeYUu5oShucI2rAgNXiyGJ4/s640/IMG_3445-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyrqywG5mbtN5K8HY1WBkTOhkHS2QFX1SnhT2z2jPjGrdiadZTkGYlM7OMKeyKOILZQh5OD3BxF_Utx6FKYX0fv7CPdELB3McqeKkDG5sX-X9QgM_gagl4WrNH1NtmbP58-_zGfjBAgE/s1600/IMG_3940.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyrqywG5mbtN5K8HY1WBkTOhkHS2QFX1SnhT2z2jPjGrdiadZTkGYlM7OMKeyKOILZQh5OD3BxF_Utx6FKYX0fv7CPdELB3McqeKkDG5sX-X9QgM_gagl4WrNH1NtmbP58-_zGfjBAgE/s640/IMG_3940.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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Super jet-lagged when we got home, but everyone slept for days...so that was kind of nice! ^^</div>
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Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-57951218735127988672018-03-05T11:38:00.000-08:002018-03-05T11:38:07.176-08:00So fresh and so clean.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IfbMLZzwJe3T-y5PTzGC_U9aGErgONsXPwCL5EH9jakqAM_Id390vdlSnYX0KtLw4j8LJflukkWGvx6-Tp8L5jnI12FhEkRnia6xnWKTr5hNn1YX0BoqcWrH3HayJSqlNhm43scj4LM/s1600/DSC_0184-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IfbMLZzwJe3T-y5PTzGC_U9aGErgONsXPwCL5EH9jakqAM_Id390vdlSnYX0KtLw4j8LJflukkWGvx6-Tp8L5jnI12FhEkRnia6xnWKTr5hNn1YX0BoqcWrH3HayJSqlNhm43scj4LM/s640/DSC_0184-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This isn’t a typical or sponsored post, but I wanted to share an awesome product that’s been helping me with my teeth issues (and I am quite the profitable dental patient) <span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">😏</span>. If you stick it thru, I promise there's an incredible deal at the bottom!</span></div>
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<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I recently vented to my friend, who also happens to be a dental hygienist about my sensitive gums, and she highly recommended <a href="https://www.burstoralcare.com/?srcid=CHL01SCL004-Ng-Dc-G9031059-Sbra-Me-Kburst%20oral%20care&gclid=CjwKCAiA8vPUBRAyEiwA8F1oDG2gwDH5Qlz1Dq7epXqFruANZPiv4lT-k1LpTHBesKdt7RfZr3iZiBoCAY0QAvD_BwE">Burst Oral Care</a> to me— I was previously using another popular electronic toothbrush, and it started getting a little too abrasive for my gums. It’s been half a year, and so far I’ve been noticing a huge difference in my gums. Plus, the clean and sleek design makes brushing less of a mundane task each day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This company will also ship you brush head refills for $6 (shipping included!), so you don’t ever have to run out. The rechargeable battery lasts for 4 weeks, and only takes an hour or so to fully charge. The added plus is that their brushes contain deactivated charcoal, which removes more bacteria than any typical brush, AND brightens your teeth over time! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another product to check out are their whitening strips, which only contain a handful of ingredients— compared to other major brands, and are also effective without being harsh on sensitive teeth. It got rid of all my wine/coffee/tea stains in 5-7 minutes each day for 1 week. You can also use 2 sets for 2 weeks to see maximum results. And if you're planning on buying the toothbrush, they’re offering the strips for 10.99 within the first 10 minutes of ordering their toothbrush. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are my results from the whitening strips... ^^</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn08tZTFQQXubRZjYVIfC2hQv_pI7oO57tGoqPL998Lk8nDkzFz1E9EBcbXR9Vh_o4YtebNhfC7oT68_dhfwm-j1Mh0FyeGODJFK0EyHwgBq1cRESXmL-gN-ZUKzJ7eo8YBaJmLt-HCBk/s1600/burststrips-beforeafter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn08tZTFQQXubRZjYVIfC2hQv_pI7oO57tGoqPL998Lk8nDkzFz1E9EBcbXR9Vh_o4YtebNhfC7oT68_dhfwm-j1Mh0FyeGODJFK0EyHwgBq1cRESXmL-gN-ZUKzJ7eo8YBaJmLt-HCBk/s320/burststrips-beforeafter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My friend is currently offering an amazing discounted price of 39.99 for the electric toothbrush set (which is less than half of what you'd pay for your typical sonicare brush), and whitening strips are 14.99 if you decide to purchase those separate from the brush. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Treat yourself and your teeth by heading over to the <a href="https://www.burstoralcare.com/">Burst</a> website, and put in this special code: <b>S8D4TB </b>at checkout! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks for reading, and let me know if any of you decide to try out their products : )</span></div>
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<br />Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-7869831659406329532018-02-02T22:54:00.000-08:002018-02-02T22:54:07.298-08:00Salvaging a Vintage Gucci Bag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xHNFcm3_S_9y34BV97N_qJJfyMxaxD42k2g-7Bxfqr9OSd22aLb58xTLbUWZ2l6-q5NOBkH6bTqaCJZz6OJGlcO1vxEHztRADZL3kpXHv9IyKpFrjvRfS1iDaMsWPQ60eX-490tWXLc/s1600/DSC_2799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xHNFcm3_S_9y34BV97N_qJJfyMxaxD42k2g-7Bxfqr9OSd22aLb58xTLbUWZ2l6-q5NOBkH6bTqaCJZz6OJGlcO1vxEHztRADZL3kpXHv9IyKpFrjvRfS1iDaMsWPQ60eX-490tWXLc/s640/DSC_2799.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0chdr911FT_OvlNV3_9ucjjhQaoU0J3EdN-fNcwiNBoNI9q5WQCCS9Hi_hCVOB7RStWmzQxUCQxNwX2Pqh5L_C3e0r76dlrghYljZhDpq3pIyHlGRHoy_9KO7nUNq-8iwZJIAim-MVHw/s1600/DSC_2808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0chdr911FT_OvlNV3_9ucjjhQaoU0J3EdN-fNcwiNBoNI9q5WQCCS9Hi_hCVOB7RStWmzQxUCQxNwX2Pqh5L_C3e0r76dlrghYljZhDpq3pIyHlGRHoy_9KO7nUNq-8iwZJIAim-MVHw/s640/DSC_2808.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I've been meaning to post this last year, but just got around to finishing up this post! : P Anyway, I scored this vintage <a href="https://www.gucci.com/us/en/">Gucci</a> at a <a href="http://www.fashionmamas.com/">Fashion Mamas</a> Flea Market this past Fall. However, it needed a bit of work. If any of you own or have seen a vintage Gucci from the 70s-80s, they're a beauty from the outside, but the interior almost always has some sort of sticky flaking issue, based on the coating they applied to the bags during that time period. Unfortunately, this issue makes for almost an unusable bag, due to the stickiness and flakes that land on nearly everything it touches.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CE3p1aMLSqBXVE5gPTvLcg_FmJTTo74dG4vAuiIX3frBkhUJrUFJ0dCuQlPVgk25A_G5xh-efj8Byo-JxDUU-Qc00wrop4UPLeBkjvsnmaP6f9vUJ3yi1k9EeHeGVelCUQ24BDj104I/s1600/DSC_2809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CE3p1aMLSqBXVE5gPTvLcg_FmJTTo74dG4vAuiIX3frBkhUJrUFJ0dCuQlPVgk25A_G5xh-efj8Byo-JxDUU-Qc00wrop4UPLeBkjvsnmaP6f9vUJ3yi1k9EeHeGVelCUQ24BDj104I/s640/DSC_2809.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>You'll need:</i></div>
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a stiff bristle brush</div>
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a pair of plastic/latex gloves</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Green-All-Purpose-Cleaner-32/dp/B01HNCCI9I/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1516664229&sr=8-5&keywords=simple+green+cleaner">Simple Green</a> cleaner</div>
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a handheld vacuum</div>
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newspaper</div>
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tons of patience </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVjACPXrli4O5Z29ZXZbGw0m9EHXZqg-dDYosVQtSou0n0zGHvU1D0rq7dVLUk5lTHDltwsd1hXvS48ZzAa54c50vNYjAR1d6eiFPec6T2z8j20zmeh01_cidZUFXeUjUsLTH-0p1eDY/s1600/DSC_2821.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVjACPXrli4O5Z29ZXZbGw0m9EHXZqg-dDYosVQtSou0n0zGHvU1D0rq7dVLUk5lTHDltwsd1hXvS48ZzAa54c50vNYjAR1d6eiFPec6T2z8j20zmeh01_cidZUFXeUjUsLTH-0p1eDY/s640/DSC_2821.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">Line your workspace with newspaper, trust me you'll want to include this step! Put your gloves on before you begin (I learned this the hard way and it took acetone </span><span style="text-align: center;">+ tons of soap</span><span style="text-align: center;"> to remove the black grime off my nails) Start off by brushing the residue left behind from the coating of the interior. Depending on the bag, you may be able to pull the interior out to make it easier to work with. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyzix4d1pBEVcU-0bUJc4oWvN8C99R3zihnWkQgWAeiIgzv8CeHRdIb7CPiAc5fv62U7fZO7womcfV8IXcflyOwrR1pcSz_ef3YPKekuyzYJuwVI_Yarjry1ySihhPoL6Y9nz4TsN86Y/s1600/DSC_2829.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyzix4d1pBEVcU-0bUJc4oWvN8C99R3zihnWkQgWAeiIgzv8CeHRdIb7CPiAc5fv62U7fZO7womcfV8IXcflyOwrR1pcSz_ef3YPKekuyzYJuwVI_Yarjry1ySihhPoL6Y9nz4TsN86Y/s640/DSC_2829.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">Take the hand-held vacuum cleaner (or hose attachment) and suction off the excess flaking left behind as you go along to eliminate the amount of mess you'll need to clean up afterwards.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sZbNBjBPgUOGct7F18APPgfzxnA-l0K9UIgyWsMzVop-jcF45LItKyLtrcP7Uh89kEGWEeLh0t9i1zQGv5Sk_RLWMk6_NXlZOG3xS6Dm6ZiB4ASvC3hFLaLavL2KFBXC8xjbkHehYGA/s1600/DSC_2854.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sZbNBjBPgUOGct7F18APPgfzxnA-l0K9UIgyWsMzVop-jcF45LItKyLtrcP7Uh89kEGWEeLh0t9i1zQGv5Sk_RLWMk6_NXlZOG3xS6Dm6ZiB4ASvC3hFLaLavL2KFBXC8xjbkHehYGA/s640/DSC_2854.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once the coating has been removed, there might be a sticky residue left behind. This bag had a ton of stickiness that left black smudges everywhere, so I sprayed Simple Green on the troublesome spots and gently wiped with a wet cloth as I went along. Unfortunately, there is a scent that it leaves behind, but it dissipates over time. I also did something shocking, since I was able to partially pull the interior out-- I gently rinsed the interior under the sink. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfoVz60ELrXO_uKn-xN-BFPY1oNnquyJfB3LuV1C_b6cvkrgdBls01YqxYc0ZreCeeSnXwCdHRAElHHT9_U5j6PRVEeZZr_cEU6fBDm45SQBzrM5gCcNOvthbouPbclF7yB2ccrMQ6mdk/s1600/DSC_2875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfoVz60ELrXO_uKn-xN-BFPY1oNnquyJfB3LuV1C_b6cvkrgdBls01YqxYc0ZreCeeSnXwCdHRAElHHT9_U5j6PRVEeZZr_cEU6fBDm45SQBzrM5gCcNOvthbouPbclF7yB2ccrMQ6mdk/s640/DSC_2875.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZCc4sbas4ZndM0Hbc2wVN86vuUd1NfjUoNKjsUgYRpoO0xaKMUg3gC0POIaKt7ywrTYiiwGaGCS0V_DGGPDA3HCFQ02ZHY62obecVmfBN2QgXPhRsWemnKgOhJE8Rm0HlE1m3Yk5GSQ/s1600/DSC_2880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZCc4sbas4ZndM0Hbc2wVN86vuUd1NfjUoNKjsUgYRpoO0xaKMUg3gC0POIaKt7ywrTYiiwGaGCS0V_DGGPDA3HCFQ02ZHY62obecVmfBN2QgXPhRsWemnKgOhJE8Rm0HlE1m3Yk5GSQ/s640/DSC_2880.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi683BhFmqjb9FkamTq7g6nkt3IO4_9miprfINTyiY8Ge4Q07pz_dBO3KDIGAb2tHXXvP3v5vteQneOEJeWL2pZvUexNENMJEv5__9yPCY-wGZ8GMTP6_l5bavRHHB8l3xLBOnEdz_KJy0/s1600/DSC_2890-1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi683BhFmqjb9FkamTq7g6nkt3IO4_9miprfINTyiY8Ge4Q07pz_dBO3KDIGAb2tHXXvP3v5vteQneOEJeWL2pZvUexNENMJEv5__9yPCY-wGZ8GMTP6_l5bavRHHB8l3xLBOnEdz_KJy0/s640/DSC_2890-1-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Et voila! Here is the final result. What you should be left with is a soft, felt-like material. It probably took me a good 2-3 hours (after I put the kids down, of course ^^) in total to remove all that gunk left behind, but it was well worth the extra patience in saving this vintage beauty.<br />
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If any of you attempted to try this at home, please let me know how it went for you, and if there are any other cleaning products you'd recommend. I'm also curious to know if anyone has ever sent their vintage bag to the professionals (probably the best idea if it is an highly treasured bag), and what the end result was like!<br />
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 42px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 4162px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 42px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 4162px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-50520024314370680312018-01-29T09:30:00.000-08:002018-01-29T09:30:00.625-08:00Bonjour, 2018.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8tmW5zTIk08MDVfZ3k3I65-em0bTWrOrVyhkDSJvakuUuSPf3lIkAHBwEKzsb66GPwegumgPSQXm2YtIrjTgoq-I37Xb-QTOyTIz8JUZJgQIym_X_09ue0GGq8NrJ3oRPQJ07zd4d-s/s1600/DSC_4781-1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8tmW5zTIk08MDVfZ3k3I65-em0bTWrOrVyhkDSJvakuUuSPf3lIkAHBwEKzsb66GPwegumgPSQXm2YtIrjTgoq-I37Xb-QTOyTIz8JUZJgQIym_X_09ue0GGq8NrJ3oRPQJ07zd4d-s/s640/DSC_4781-1-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56rgLPKteS-tatiFU30zfdVZ-wwYn6_kwm8mQFv09e5Mw9_apzkwhjWisRwOwhsO8DquffoHIu3kn8Cgs5QaZfFqnBHoLbi2qlLwAepG3G11UIGPcNFppZOF6JpH_BWqypD160n0B-8o/s1600/DSC_4662-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56rgLPKteS-tatiFU30zfdVZ-wwYn6_kwm8mQFv09e5Mw9_apzkwhjWisRwOwhsO8DquffoHIu3kn8Cgs5QaZfFqnBHoLbi2qlLwAepG3G11UIGPcNFppZOF6JpH_BWqypD160n0B-8o/s640/DSC_4662-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Happy New Year! Can't believe 2017 just flew by and now we're ending the first month of 2018. There were high-highs and low-lows-- but honestly, most of it went by with a blur. Life with three crazy kiddos certainly kept us all on our toes, and we spent most of the year adjusting and surviving. </div>
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Speaking of time, there was a particular question I was challenged by this year: </div>
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"What activities made you lose track of time?" </div>
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There are many things that distract and pull me away from the present, and my challenge for myself this year is to be more mindful of how I should be spending the time God has entrusted me with. And beyond the distractions, how am I letting these things saturate and shape my mind, therefore influencing my heart? </div>
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But one of the things I do hope to do more often is write in this blog during my leisure time, so hopefully there will be more than a few posts this year! ^^</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJ-_Cj5Cd-orXPsYfGkG9ERkTEInqFLEZt5_dQurNUj2wq_t7sQ4117pyTCISMregCSOXJERSD3pUbGnRzHsGAc0lDI6n032LXze4weofANCiVoHa0igzNnCSeuJ2qJMzu-GlWmWVIaE/s1600/DSC_4708-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJ-_Cj5Cd-orXPsYfGkG9ERkTEInqFLEZt5_dQurNUj2wq_t7sQ4117pyTCISMregCSOXJERSD3pUbGnRzHsGAc0lDI6n032LXze4weofANCiVoHa0igzNnCSeuJ2qJMzu-GlWmWVIaE/s640/DSC_4708-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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On a side note, we didn't get around to doing family greeting cards this year, but here are some outtakes of our "joyful family," taken by my brother (major props to him for taking our photos under 15 min before the sun set!) that I finally got around to editing. : )</div>
<br />Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-14877651458994152682017-11-22T23:09:00.003-08:002017-11-22T23:10:03.573-08:00A Holiday Giveaway!! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Tickets, tickets please!! </i></div>
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Our family had a blast at the Orange Empire Railway Museum for the <i><a href="https://douceurvivre.blogspot.com/2017/11/all-aboard.html"><b>A Day with Thomas</b> </a></i>event in Perris, and now that Christmas is just around the corner, they will be featuring their holiday event-- <b><i>The Train to Santa's Workshop</i></b>,<b> </b>which begins in December. </div>
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Our family has yet to attend this event, but I would like to gift a family with <i>4 passes</i><b> </b>to check out this event for the holidays during the opening weekend (available dates: <b>December 1, 2 or 3</b>). All you need to do is leave a comment below, with your email and preferred date, so that I can contact you for more info. I will choose a winner at random on November 27th. Best wishes and Happy Thanksgiving!</div>
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A bit more info below:</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Families embark on a magical train ride to visit with Santa Claus himself at his "North Pole Workshop". Select weekends in December, ride the train from the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, where Santa's Elves will lead families in singing Christmas carols, play holiday trivia games and tell stories. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Santa greets the guests as they arrive at the workshop. At the workshop, children will be able to play in a play area and enjoy craft activities. Other activities include Thomas the Tank Engine play tables, a visit and photos with Santa, and cookies and hot chocolate. <span style="color: #28324e;">Before boarding the train guests can visit with Mrs. Claus and enjoy refreshments at Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen at Pinacate Station, see the model railroad layout, write a letter to Santa and shop at the vendor booths and the museum gift shop.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The event takes place on <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_774267002" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">December 1</span></span>, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, & 17 with train departure times: <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_774267003" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">11:00</span></span>, <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_774267004" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">1:00</span></span>, <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_774267005" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">3:00</span></span>, <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_774267006" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5:30 & 7:00</span></span> on Saturday and Sunday and <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_774267006" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">5:30 & 7:00</span></span> on Friday. The most in-demand trains do fill up fast, so advance purchase is recommended for our guests. Prices are ages 12 and up, $20; ages 2-11, $15.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/z3viVvKP8EM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z3viVvKP8EM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-42792094960703895742017-11-07T21:00:00.001-08:002017-11-07T21:25:45.525-08:00All aboard!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlH-9ic9g6d8JnsQb24k3nhxDVUnLA7smlOREEyEnoWal6ipEFuaQPECfJueArXjgOgBOrYQRGzr-rwfw0Dy028DOCL8kVGB-UmPdXnAqox4YYwwN-8_Mf4lDA6kbqm_cT_z2c42MmSI/s1600/DSCF3885-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlH-9ic9g6d8JnsQb24k3nhxDVUnLA7smlOREEyEnoWal6ipEFuaQPECfJueArXjgOgBOrYQRGzr-rwfw0Dy028DOCL8kVGB-UmPdXnAqox4YYwwN-8_Mf4lDA6kbqm_cT_z2c42MmSI/s640/DSCF3885-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As far as I can remember, my oldest son has always been fascinated by trains - but once he discovered the train with a friendly face, he was over the moon. And then when Lucas was born, his peace offering to his big bro was an audible and mobile Percy the train (the "peace" didn't last quite as long as we had hoped). Fast forward a couple of years later, the younger one is now able to play with his brother, and things have been a bit more peaceful here in our household. </div>
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So imagine our excitement when we found out it was that time of year when Thomas and his buddies make their grand appearance at the the <a href="http://www.oerm.org/thomas/">Orange Empire Railway Museum</a>?? We scored tickets the day prior, and changed our initial plans for celebrating Sophie's first birthday (sorry, your brothers got to decide how you were going to spend your birthday this year). </div>
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It took us an hour in a half to arrive from our area to Perris (How many one-year olds can say they went to Perris for their birthday?? ;)), and we found the perfect parking spot out front (parking is free!). We decided to arrive in the afternoon, so that the kids could nap in the car, and we could avoid the early morning crowd. It worked out quite well for us, since a lot of families were leaving at the time. Our first choice was to wait for the next ride inside Thomas the train, which had a schedule by the hour or so. Once inside this vintage train, our oldest was in such a trance that he threw a fit when we took him away from the sites for a photo -__-. </div>
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The museum itself was full of toy model trains, retired antique trains, all up close and personal. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5XxYxYVF5eNarmMldY3raH8QZwbGrWWSxJULN7tqyN5R_-jYZ2z6avznJKNglnlkDJYHeJ9hDqA6VDBe0_D9zu50sS-aNCdLMS1UG6edTitOdc-X9wPhDIPt2fobRyoNxLQe-opDZU8/s1600/DSCF3657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5XxYxYVF5eNarmMldY3raH8QZwbGrWWSxJULN7tqyN5R_-jYZ2z6avznJKNglnlkDJYHeJ9hDqA6VDBe0_D9zu50sS-aNCdLMS1UG6edTitOdc-X9wPhDIPt2fobRyoNxLQe-opDZU8/s640/DSCF3657.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZhSr3NNbcUgOfnHLO9jOpjzfTKd1kzuC1f-ESZpUuffMWAqyh7fMKFYE80G1IVvQktvc1BNWBEEberAxdnyIn-rRVGxNhcWy6D8hyHcxoCT1rqpGO6ZeARYHP_sVSfYZ6ViKj4NRyQs/s1600/DSCF3686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZhSr3NNbcUgOfnHLO9jOpjzfTKd1kzuC1f-ESZpUuffMWAqyh7fMKFYE80G1IVvQktvc1BNWBEEberAxdnyIn-rRVGxNhcWy6D8hyHcxoCT1rqpGO6ZeARYHP_sVSfYZ6ViKj4NRyQs/s640/DSCF3686.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA-ymHblYL7Ck89GXgW7VR7_Tppbykx8wpKWJXGAAvuk0Hz4CbPwy6fM4RPTXu8mpJ25AlsDnMkzJ3JXhf_ZbzrjdgoGnqo7nTdhBS5JmCIfxGx7EQGrInjPNU_1LsB42NTUmzE9Zmxs/s1600/DSCF3771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA-ymHblYL7Ck89GXgW7VR7_Tppbykx8wpKWJXGAAvuk0Hz4CbPwy6fM4RPTXu8mpJ25AlsDnMkzJ3JXhf_ZbzrjdgoGnqo7nTdhBS5JmCIfxGx7EQGrInjPNU_1LsB42NTUmzE9Zmxs/s640/DSCF3771.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEB9D02JvYnawAzqhdcxDDM5IOCGm7iynkfxywUznuQLaefgVKpkk3_2votr_nnnTzRQVaB5rQb6SrGkBpikTlh4hJp7Ak-vxMDjoYpU1nXwf8UKpGs6kyduhLqj_AGjIzeClMAj81QY/s1600/DSCF3822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEB9D02JvYnawAzqhdcxDDM5IOCGm7iynkfxywUznuQLaefgVKpkk3_2votr_nnnTzRQVaB5rQb6SrGkBpikTlh4hJp7Ak-vxMDjoYpU1nXwf8UKpGs6kyduhLqj_AGjIzeClMAj81QY/s640/DSCF3822.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtaYcp6jv5POxbxi58Lf2H7Ns6sri4eyA_UT38Wx5QrmJ-ivHjMxyM4HmBSUEYu_ap6uqJsXblpHTK9dt2k62THW0ircxvF1jOk4sCSRu_LrDA0QrwrT-F62ctqjfqcS0BjCfWtNS9CU/s1600/DSCF3861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtaYcp6jv5POxbxi58Lf2H7Ns6sri4eyA_UT38Wx5QrmJ-ivHjMxyM4HmBSUEYu_ap6uqJsXblpHTK9dt2k62THW0ircxvF1jOk4sCSRu_LrDA0QrwrT-F62ctqjfqcS0BjCfWtNS9CU/s640/DSCF3861.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A real, live Sir Topham Hatt!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OcfKA6cn1WwZoQVo_ilDDCyxrGnz5LG53RmNEh9k0dfvx4yWPljknF5dfbKHcHODpces7QyrfSSkHwcPTPZjxPbBpcetQb5WpM1khRspcjb9m_cFIAICZHPu8ueGCVxvNC3FBQ6riWI/s1600/DSCF3985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OcfKA6cn1WwZoQVo_ilDDCyxrGnz5LG53RmNEh9k0dfvx4yWPljknF5dfbKHcHODpces7QyrfSSkHwcPTPZjxPbBpcetQb5WpM1khRspcjb9m_cFIAICZHPu8ueGCVxvNC3FBQ6riWI/s640/DSCF3985.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">We rode on the classic trolley, complete with a bell located on the floor of the trolley - the conductor asked for volunteers to ring the bell, which was quite the hit for children and adults alike.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAphuSAniYSUAKEQIP1ebjz5vZmsMJ5SKRmG9VojguRA2uF2rWz-3gTKq_GYlkU2S11M_-teO3VpLyP0KgTMmuL0PV94Z_vC1EVNqvzRXMAVoYHrOnLpEGYfySt81FT3wDGw7z3CbsOwU/s1600/DSCF4003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAphuSAniYSUAKEQIP1ebjz5vZmsMJ5SKRmG9VojguRA2uF2rWz-3gTKq_GYlkU2S11M_-teO3VpLyP0KgTMmuL0PV94Z_vC1EVNqvzRXMAVoYHrOnLpEGYfySt81FT3wDGw7z3CbsOwU/s640/DSCF4003.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite was looking at all the old vintage ads inside the trolley</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qXpQ3aS0gXNpUnkggfEn3tYPPtyGy1U8-R3ug8oLypWCFDyDbGaoiIAYih2xOZp7YwEQ7k4EVTbS5nU3FnOJAD8df22JoiYjVPaJqDIu-AiXbRvjthZtp202zfpnD98f-oHoxpbkQGE/s1600/DSCF4020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qXpQ3aS0gXNpUnkggfEn3tYPPtyGy1U8-R3ug8oLypWCFDyDbGaoiIAYih2xOZp7YwEQ7k4EVTbS5nU3FnOJAD8df22JoiYjVPaJqDIu-AiXbRvjthZtp202zfpnD98f-oHoxpbkQGE/s640/DSCF4020.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Various interactive displays of antique railway signals</td></tr>
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<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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzeb9y1Zmma-tW6WtRvCzHmdXn8q0kfqhYYChh-buOl4TzuFKTSP5qhfEEsKeFBzzuHoi71yrAfbXkt5DCrdjw2ggG54rX8z_nu04YBb_Ohc9T2-iqYU_ZJr9nZgF8aETTMobNHfoj8cs/s1600/DSCF4043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzeb9y1Zmma-tW6WtRvCzHmdXn8q0kfqhYYChh-buOl4TzuFKTSP5qhfEEsKeFBzzuHoi71yrAfbXkt5DCrdjw2ggG54rX8z_nu04YBb_Ohc9T2-iqYU_ZJr9nZgF8aETTMobNHfoj8cs/s640/DSCF4043.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hungry? There was a row of desserts, snacks and hand-held meals reminiscent of the LA County Fair.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmcy1n4MLQaIl8rCVa62A8v9k0rW4d039Uwh4HqQqtYBxOsGz86ax4V4dScbqW8EAJp5lW_XVqwyxCdQpu-NUb3Yt1QfAu2H8-vDf9Isq9xG8EKnx5zk40Rjhpj8IXjHM8xBLOs51XBc/s1600/DSCF4048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmcy1n4MLQaIl8rCVa62A8v9k0rW4d039Uwh4HqQqtYBxOsGz86ax4V4dScbqW8EAJp5lW_XVqwyxCdQpu-NUb3Yt1QfAu2H8-vDf9Isq9xG8EKnx5zk40Rjhpj8IXjHM8xBLOs51XBc/s640/DSCF4048.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqrhp5Gg1VhyphenhyphencuXeaEe_g2KlESdffIE-GS_CoFryxkY6mMC-l574hRR7eTUa_gr0mCefXri20n1h81erZNVwYkCsVvyTVksD70dEV83YkanLQtqzZsn202bSeRIFdwATjpHilTPkypvw/s1600/DSCF4061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqrhp5Gg1VhyphenhyphencuXeaEe_g2KlESdffIE-GS_CoFryxkY6mMC-l574hRR7eTUa_gr0mCefXri20n1h81erZNVwYkCsVvyTVksD70dEV83YkanLQtqzZsn202bSeRIFdwATjpHilTPkypvw/s640/DSCF4061.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My kids have a thing for tattoos (temporary, of course).</td></tr>
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<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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxbEvKqxIfPhevMGLKkg8Oi-gW3iCfhk-2kYWoPjGrEGWtoUGHBJYqbauqkEjn3jgTEk6AsKTN7sq_5yK853yl3foqgfStm4dGrcyV0XdDbgG3zW3wdAJI7_nXRnxpah4zzNjGnEGMAU/s1600/DSCF4094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxbEvKqxIfPhevMGLKkg8Oi-gW3iCfhk-2kYWoPjGrEGWtoUGHBJYqbauqkEjn3jgTEk6AsKTN7sq_5yK853yl3foqgfStm4dGrcyV0XdDbgG3zW3wdAJI7_nXRnxpah4zzNjGnEGMAU/s640/DSCF4094.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The imagination center was full of toy train tables for the kids to play with</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-KlvCQt5WLVS5K6t-K9gS_tytAZne3QCX3txjMS9J7sxvbBrQX6Jy62uuEWXmslCm08x_5o1T_jHA-GZcXfa70K4r6SD0D5mAMCI-uq8HyprBdXsoOxog45i1wAmPhOD76mNSI1HZn0/s1600/DSCF4111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-KlvCQt5WLVS5K6t-K9gS_tytAZne3QCX3txjMS9J7sxvbBrQX6Jy62uuEWXmslCm08x_5o1T_jHA-GZcXfa70K4r6SD0D5mAMCI-uq8HyprBdXsoOxog45i1wAmPhOD76mNSI1HZn0/s640/DSCF4111.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little petting zoo with animals from a local farm</td></tr>
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<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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFHLCZgVKSFmxg9UavAOh3NU9l6zXqbYer4Oc0jK4rwL48KWVlKKMSrOygbT3G5LrXrz5wkfsSTPezC4xyPO7uO5WW-hpfNjWWZRUbWNyRINjg2gjPIHfVr6iBnFaTYehkSm6xn5LRY0/s1600/DSCF4141-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFHLCZgVKSFmxg9UavAOh3NU9l6zXqbYer4Oc0jK4rwL48KWVlKKMSrOygbT3G5LrXrz5wkfsSTPezC4xyPO7uO5WW-hpfNjWWZRUbWNyRINjg2gjPIHfVr6iBnFaTYehkSm6xn5LRY0/s640/DSCF4141-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids blew off all their energy running in and out of the haystack maze</td></tr>
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<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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG79p1AK3vB9Mii5BuZLboJqPEPmSM6XqC5uk3V4Ytj-VPaSYnrZITQf2MW80aBWCTWqWFPxipEpB4RzqQNBzVW3NPa9Daz0MdhOBFPgPD7iAFwhopn8s4-1s3SpFg3Nu88MvQKNXP2go/s1600/DSCF4158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG79p1AK3vB9Mii5BuZLboJqPEPmSM6XqC5uk3V4Ytj-VPaSYnrZITQf2MW80aBWCTWqWFPxipEpB4RzqQNBzVW3NPa9Daz0MdhOBFPgPD7iAFwhopn8s4-1s3SpFg3Nu88MvQKNXP2go/s640/DSCF4158.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The themed gift shop was probably the most popular with all the kids, featuring a "build-your-own" box set of mini train cars, and exclusive Thomas the Train toys. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRoaVj0T7HuxPc4QQXYwND8FaaK_NqHOz5UAC0W4N1jwoRnBPWFS1kSs9JqbPPEW7rYoNUrQeWkOHBMAMIVcaSdze4enFR84ZDz2qwsjc1bo3ef99KYDYMQ_pwQc8-MIY13KZqt42nnw/s1600/DSCF4162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRoaVj0T7HuxPc4QQXYwND8FaaK_NqHOz5UAC0W4N1jwoRnBPWFS1kSs9JqbPPEW7rYoNUrQeWkOHBMAMIVcaSdze4enFR84ZDz2qwsjc1bo3ef99KYDYMQ_pwQc8-MIY13KZqt42nnw/s640/DSCF4162.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parting is such sweet sorrow...<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><br /><a href="http://www.oerm.org/thomas/">A Day Out with Thomas</a></b><br />
<br />
This is a yearly event, so climb onboard before the last train leaves!<br />
<br />
Event held from November 4, 5, 10, 11, and 12 2017<br />
<br />
2201 S. "A" Street Perris, CA 92570<br />
<br />
info@oerm.org | 951.943.3020</td></tr>
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<br />Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com02201 S A St, Perris, CA 92570, USA33.7601476 -117.231834400000038.2381131000000032 -158.54042840000002 59.2821821 -75.923240400000026tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-23273194496813103782017-09-01T14:18:00.002-07:002017-09-02T12:00:21.889-07:00We all scream for ice-cream!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5XRKYm9j0z71wLux4rZ3ELo8KIWX7gzADcFPDtfNc8DO4MOlUohWANZmmGvjN240oIXP2uznVpL-0ZTnGN9xh_oOuZsregTaNCIvqZkNxVsCudBhgEpawjK9AnsMdD6HINBsfe3E4cY/s1600/DSC_2678-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5XRKYm9j0z71wLux4rZ3ELo8KIWX7gzADcFPDtfNc8DO4MOlUohWANZmmGvjN240oIXP2uznVpL-0ZTnGN9xh_oOuZsregTaNCIvqZkNxVsCudBhgEpawjK9AnsMdD6HINBsfe3E4cY/s640/DSC_2678-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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When a good friend scores tickets to the pop-up <a href="https://www.museumoficecream.com/">Museum of Ice Cream</a>, you find a way to drop everything and go (including the Hubs, though it was probably for his benefit ^^). Regardless of how old you are, how can you say no to jumping into a pool of sprinkles?? Either way, I don't know what we were thinking, but we decided to shuttle five kids (all in carseats) to downtown LA between the both of us into our minivan. Our scheduled time slot was mid-morning, which actually worked out perfectly with 4/5 of the kiddies' nap times (the youngest napped on the way). </div>
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We arrived early to avoid the long line, and to prepare the kids for what may have ended up being torture for us parents. After the museum curator gave us the ground rules (no touching the bananas and gummy bears...with kids? riightt), they released us into the mouth-watering world of ice-cream. </div>
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The experience felt like one was on a Willy Wonka Factory tour, minus the oompa loompas and creepy Wonka factor. The kids went bananas (literally) after all the eye candy that surrounded them, and the cherry on top was the treat that greeted them in each room (which also doubled as a bribing tool for "good" behavior). Each room was filled with IG/photo opps, and I found myself taking several hundred photos on our camera. The grand finale was the sprinkle pool, which we had to pry each of the kids out, some kicking and screaming, after our few minutes were over. </div>
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I wish I could say the kiddos all passed out on the car ride back, but it must've been the sugar high that kept 4/5 awake the entire trek back! However, everyone did knock out that evening, including Mama (and woke up completely sore). Unfortunately, the museum is leaving Los Angeles, and tickets for their next destination (SF!!), are also sold out...but would we go back? Most definitely, except this time I would probably bring the Hubs with me so that I can better enjoy my frozen treats ; ). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdt_DNDEMydqBll-y4dVXtHODrXfdlyAAHHBITV8wQVx8aG998tZrZxyhY4NdAa-jHQXW0aE5pP6EsIsPF1dFfG0NXf3jwUc_zg2-jn7raJOrFufV5NX6dY5Jw9RJ7-oq6wmrCIqX3Xi8/s1600/DSC_2395-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdt_DNDEMydqBll-y4dVXtHODrXfdlyAAHHBITV8wQVx8aG998tZrZxyhY4NdAa-jHQXW0aE5pP6EsIsPF1dFfG0NXf3jwUc_zg2-jn7raJOrFufV5NX6dY5Jw9RJ7-oq6wmrCIqX3Xi8/s640/DSC_2395-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho56jW7V4Sp9soZJIX3gZRbog8pUheRuAl-Yyc8ln4fOWuqB8CeeQjy-XLAyGcSTBp6qqr7nULvxU_bNGnP5YDGUBrJ205UZ9m8UvQhE8EXkE7XIXakfndyJg6ZgluhlOB9DYvxBeZpWY/s1600/DSC_2562-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho56jW7V4Sp9soZJIX3gZRbog8pUheRuAl-Yyc8ln4fOWuqB8CeeQjy-XLAyGcSTBp6qqr7nULvxU_bNGnP5YDGUBrJ205UZ9m8UvQhE8EXkE7XIXakfndyJg6ZgluhlOB9DYvxBeZpWY/s640/DSC_2562-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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ice-cream squad</div>
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Ice-scream Queen</div>
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<b>Tips for having a sweet experience:</b><br />
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* Arrive early, factoring in traffic - about 30 minutes is a good amount of time to find parking (valet is a great choice if you have lots of little ones to unload) and get in line.<br />
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* Bring a camera. Yes, the iPhone has a great built-in camera, but should you want to print or blow-up some of these colorful moments (and believe me, there are endless opportunities), that's when quality makes a huge difference.<br />
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* <i>For the littles:</i> pack an extra set of clothing for those ice-cream dribbles, though they do make for better photos ^^. Strollers are also allowed, so pack it with your water bottles (to rinse down all that sugar!), spare clothing/diapers/wipes, sling and whatever else is needed for survival. And don't feel bad if you end up eating half of your child's ice cream in order to prevent a sugar high (guilty). What I SHOULD have packed was a leash for my second one (sounds wrong, but I did lose him for a good few minutes. Luckily his scream was loud enough to be heard from the next room...bad mama!).<br />
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* Take your time. I know you're given a time slot, and you may feel as though you're being herded like cattle, but no one's gonna tell you you're taking too long in each room. And if you've got the littles with you, everything takes double (or triple) the amount of time.<br />
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* Expect souvenir sprinkles for weeks to come. I found them in their diapers, pockets, unmentionables, etc...it's the gift that just keeps on giving, and brings back fond memories each time : ).<br />
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* Most importantly, have fun! As much as we all wanted to capture all the eye-candy, be sure you have time to also enjoy the moment, cameras aside...for it all goes by much too quickly.Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-48421862891800889162017-06-24T23:48:00.000-07:002017-06-26T23:47:04.281-07:00A tour of Miss Sophie's bedroom.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last summer, we were renovating our bathrooms (future post coming soon....hopefully!) and realized we also needed to turn our former guest room into our little girl's bedroom. As anyone who has gone through renovations can tell you, they can add up in cost, so we needed to decorate on a tight budget. This meant that we would be hitting up the major chain furniture/home decor stores- i.e. IKEA, Target, Amazon, etc.</div>
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But admittedly so, these are some of our favorite places to shop, so it wasn't a major issue. The only question that always drives me is, "how do you personalize what may appear generic or blah?"</div>
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I am no where near being an interior designer (I'm actually quite horrible in terms of spatial intelligence), and I don't tend to stick to "themes." But with Pinterest being a kick-starter to get the creative juices flowing, I decided on some focal color schemes to tie it all together, and added the pieces (many gifted!) to complete what is now Miss Sophie Grace's bedroom. </div>
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In all honesty, it was her oldest brother's temporary bedroom for awhile (until he started complaining about the amount of girlyness around him), and she still hasn't really moved out of our bedroom ^^. It isn't quite "complete," and I've been swapping random knick-knacks on the shelves. However, it's functional and the room will continue to evolve and grow along with her!</div>
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<i>All wall shelves, baby crib and mini table lamps are from <a href="http://www.ikea.com/">IKEA</a>. </i></div>
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<i>The midcentury-style dresser (replaced with raw brass knobs found on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy</a> was on clearance (last I checked, it's still on sale!) from <a href="https://www.target.com/p/millsboro-6-drawer-dresser-walnut-threshold-153/-/A-50069475">Threshold, Target</a>. </i></div>
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<i>Stuffed unicorn head, pink penguin, pillows and wall clock, also from <a href="http://www.target.com/">Target</a>.</i></div>
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<i>Amelia the bunny blankie from <a href="http://www.elliefunday.com/">Elliefunday</a>.</i></div>
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<i>Little house-shaped shelves and Lightbox on clearance from <a href="http://www.michaels.com/">Michaels</a>.</i></div>
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<i>All books (some second-hand) and stuffed cloud pillow from<a href="http://www.amazon.com/"> Amazon.</a></i></div>
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<i>Gold polka dot wall decals from <a href="https://polkadotwallstickers.com/products/metallic-gold-polka-dot-wall-decals">Polka dot wall stickers.</a></i></div>
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<i>Glitter eyelashes wall decal, DIY.</i></div>
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<i>Watercolor calligraphy art made by a dear friend.</i></div>
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<i>Wallcolor from Benjamin Moore (I actually don't remember the color, will have to look it up if anyone is interested!).</i></div>
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<br />Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-27684838983830515802017-05-11T14:46:00.001-07:002017-05-11T14:49:40.967-07:00One, two, three.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Three kids. I still can't believe it. Six months later, I still pinch myself whenever I see three sets of eyes staring right back at me. So what is life like with three kids under five? Surprisingly enough, we're all still alive (can't say that all my houseplants are), and the transition from one to two was actually tougher than two to three. Many of the factors revolved around several transitions our family was going through during that time, and the most challenging part was our oldest child rebelling and scoffing at the idea of sharing his throne with his baby brother. There were many dark moments during that time when I felt so alone and completely incapable of raising my children.<br />
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Fast forward to the transition of having three kiddos, and I still feel incapable of most days. Often times, us Mamas are guilty of portraying parenthood on social media as being a walk in the park (literally, figuratively), filled with eventful, craft-filled days and excursions. And yes, there are wonderful moments that we don't want to forget, and use it as a bragging tool to pat ourselves on the back, but it is merely 10% of our days. Don't get me wrong, being a Mama to the littles is too indescribable for words, and I would never trade it for my life pre-children (I still have my moments). However, it is the hardest job I have ever had to take on, and there are no real "lunch or potty breaks" involved. When you think you've got it down, an event seems to knock you back down on your feet-- take last week for example, when I silently cheered myself on for getting all three kids out the door and into the van somewhat on time, and then realized when I heard a loud scrape, that I had left the trunk door open as I was exiting the garage...ouch.<br />
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On the other hand, having three littles definitely hasn't been easier physically-- in fact, it can be extremely physically taxing. Emotionally, I haven't been as much of a train wreck, but I do have my moments, especially when the Husband is out of town. Never have I whined and complained as much as I do now (probably explains the Hub's extensive wine collection, heh heh ^^), and clearly it is something I need to work on. And just when I am filled with Mama-guilt, thinking I'm the only one feeling these awful feelings, I connect with other Mamas and realize this "thankless slavery" (as one Mama terms it) truly is the ultimate form of sanctification. It is a glimpse of what it means to "lose your life" for the sake of little beings that sometimes seem ungrateful and more devilish than angelic. I find myself fighting against my nature of wanting to hold onto myself pre-kids for selfish reasons, and it is a constant battle. It makes marriage feel like riding with the training wheels still attached.<br />
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So how is a Mama to survive? Some things that have helped me get through the transition...<br />
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<i><b>Reach out </b></i><br />
Again, no Mama can live on an island, and it truly does take a village to raise a child or children. We've been extremely thankful for our church community and friends who have brought us meals during the early months of transition! There were a couple weeks when I was battling major pinkeye (thanks, Lukey!) and feeling miserable, and it was such a blessing to have meals lovingly delivered when we needed it most. I am also thankful for my fellow Mama friends out there, who lend an ear or time out of their busy schedules to empathize/sympathize/rant/pray with me. I honestly don't know where I would be without their support.<br />
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<b><i>Let go</i> </b><br />
There isn't enough time in the day for all your checklists to be completed, and curveballs will always throw you off schedule. I've learned that I need to be okay with not getting everything done, and I'm also learning to stop being so darn hard on myself when things aren't completed (hello, laundry!) by the end of the week. And who's going to tell if the kids haven't bathed in a couple of days? ; ) I'm not SuperMom, nor will I ever be, and I have to be okay with that. My priority needs to be making sure the kids are alright, alive and fed. Sure, we are also responsible for teaching and guiding our children, but we cannot control every situation and how these little people may respond with their big personalities. Control shouldn't be our motive, but so much of our energy is put into "controlling" our children, especially in a public setting. The Hubs sent me a link to <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/focus-on-the-family-daily-broadcast/id290803395?mt=2&i=1000383766697">this podcast </a> on disciplining with love, and I found it to be most encouraging and relieving.<br />
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<i><b>Tune-out </b></i><br />
We are flooded with a plethora of information in this day and age. And all of a sudden, everyone is telling you how you should or shouldn't raise your child. I've let the criticisms and opinions of others get to me (some with well intentions), and I find that it has been mostly unproductive and discouraging in bringing up a child. The controversies and biases with discipline, diet, sleep, emotional, spiritual and physical upbringing of children are enough to drive you mad. Yes, there are great nuggets of information that ARE helpful, and I think it's always good to read and do your own research when it comes to parenting. However, there isn't a cure-all, one-size-fits-all solution for every child. I still find myself experimenting and seeing what works best with <i>each </i>child, and I still don't have answers to many things...but the more I let the outside noises affect how I raise my kids, the less empowered I feel as a Mama.<br />
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<i><b>Heart Matters</b></i><br />
On the contrary, one of the best advice I've received was from a more seasoned Mama, who told me she was praying for the Lord to change her son, only to realize the Lord was telling her that she was the one that needed to change. For some reason, that really resonated with me, as I have been struggling in guiding my oldest child. It caused me to pause and wonder, "is most of my angst coming from whether or not my child's behavior is a reflection of my parenting and self-worth?" If so, that is a huge amount of pressure for a child, and they can sense it. How my child behaves does not define who I am as a person. A bigger question I've been trying to ask myself is, "what is going on within their hearts that is causing the actions that follow?"<br />
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<i><b>Look up</b></i><br />
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This has been the most important realization for me -- I used to think I had my life somewhat in control, until the littles came along. I've noticed that when I don't begin my day with prayer, I'm a hot mess. I cannot do this mammoth-sized task of raising children on my own, and it takes a super-natural being to help me fight my daily battles. Oh, and grace! I am constantly in need of His amazing grace for me, especially when I fail and lose my cookies, which happens more often than I'd like.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tri-pod photo of the fam (best way to get family photos without anyone missing, even if it is a little blurry ^^) </td></tr>
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Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-16991370075381111862017-04-13T10:16:00.001-07:002017-04-13T10:16:33.024-07:00Chasing Butterflies at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQz7nEP6r0iPssBFAhfDaGP0vWoW3G7RvWZ3wiDBauWWcp0sp0PcmMwh4J25zRahRhR0olAtI82eCFGaX6AcLeaJkC7xQM_QBsDjSxL15JJfGcLOZct0gswFgOpnNl0XyrSinZsN8m9fg/s1600/SD_SafariPark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQz7nEP6r0iPssBFAhfDaGP0vWoW3G7RvWZ3wiDBauWWcp0sp0PcmMwh4J25zRahRhR0olAtI82eCFGaX6AcLeaJkC7xQM_QBsDjSxL15JJfGcLOZct0gswFgOpnNl0XyrSinZsN8m9fg/s640/SD_SafariPark.jpg" width="534" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our family decided to make the trek to preview the
new Hidden Butterfly Jungle* exhibit at the San Diego Safari Park. Since it was
our first time to the Safari Park, we were so excited that we forgot to grab a
map at the entrance, and had a bit of a difficult time navigating the location
of the Inner Jungle, as there weren’t a lot of signs leading to the Inner
Jungle. However, the staff were all very friendly, and directed us towards the
right direction. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When we arrived at the entrance, we were each handed a
butterfly guide with photos of the various types of butterflies inside. As we
stepped through the double doors, we were transported into a magical rainforest
greenhouse full of vibrant foliage, flowers and of course, butterflies. Our
kids have been really into caterpillars and butterflies lately, so they were
ecstatic to see the large amount of butterflies fluttering around-- especially
the larger, exotic species that we typically don’t see around here. We spotted
several large Common Blue Morphos, Giant Owls (they really do look like owls,
and camouflage so well with the branches!), Rusty-Tipped Pages and several
more. JJ was also intrigued by all the ladybugs crawling about, while
the younger one was into chasing the butterflies that were crawling on the
floor, or swooping in front of his face at eye-level. We also had some
opportunities with butterflies landing on the kids’ hats and backs, but the
moment was so quick that we missed most of the photo-ops! </span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Some helpful tips:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Wear bright, bold colors and patterns to attract
the butterflies</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Tell your children to stand still for a possible
butterfly landing!</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Head to the exhibit early on in the day, as
there may be less people</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Strollers need to be parked outside, so plan on
wearing any children that are not yet mobile </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Bring a camera with a fast shutter lens to
capture the butterflies landing on you or the children!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Some photos we captured of these beauties!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkGAtfCGfA-EvOKMwCg8SNffikNOl4UTYuskWaZeEd8RUF1UjIYZlFpULt_FUlvfQzhbDe4XMy7PhltAiaoYYmC5nfjhOopMHzD8nTZ0irPId9uJshXZ5V4-YQhtpEnU6Yw2SP9wXYuw/s1600/DSCF8001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkGAtfCGfA-EvOKMwCg8SNffikNOl4UTYuskWaZeEd8RUF1UjIYZlFpULt_FUlvfQzhbDe4XMy7PhltAiaoYYmC5nfjhOopMHzD8nTZ0irPId9uJshXZ5V4-YQhtpEnU6Yw2SP9wXYuw/s640/DSCF8001.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMJPyM9IYJjBr5pTzhE7tsZFR4N160os1WjV-Azyc6AyImaF0WKekLwMnN-AjJmSmwNJN3EwCx4XlxVDk8Ld6_d_fcDpwRrSPEOHZzRX31ZIAWiDqkmY41kJTSFkqLSBQHNB52oNPwAE/s1600/DSCF7978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMJPyM9IYJjBr5pTzhE7tsZFR4N160os1WjV-Azyc6AyImaF0WKekLwMnN-AjJmSmwNJN3EwCx4XlxVDk8Ld6_d_fcDpwRrSPEOHZzRX31ZIAWiDqkmY41kJTSFkqLSBQHNB52oNPwAE/s640/DSCF7978.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*<a href="http://sdzsafaripark.org/butterflyjungle">The Hidden Butterfly Jungle</a> is open daily at 9am-5:45pm, from March 11 through April 23. </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e332f;"><b>San Diego Zoo Safari Park</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e332f;"><b>15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido,CA</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e332f;"><b>92027</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e332f;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="text-align: start;">Catch them before they flutter away! ; )</span></span></div>
<br />Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-13233406414860022052017-03-22T17:38:00.001-07:002017-03-23T14:15:33.216-07:00Sweet Bebe Sophie <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On a sweet November evening of last year, we welcomed our third child, <b>Sophie Grace</b> into our crazy family. Of all the birth stories previously written on this blog (<a href="https://douceurvivre.blogspot.com/2013/03/our-birth-story.html">here</a> + <a href="https://douceurvivre.blogspot.com/2015/05/welcoming-baby-lucas.html">here)</a>, hers was by far the shortest. We had been praying that labor would short and somewhat sweet. To be honest, I hadn't fully prepared mentally for her birth, like I had for my first child or even second child. Perhaps for that reason, I felt a bit wimpish when labor began to pick up in intensity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Early labor started on a Friday afternoon, around the same time we were supposed to leave to go on a boat ride (could you imagine if we had gone?) with some of my husband's co-workers. I actually didn't notice when I started getting the contractions, because I was tending to my second one. My in-laws had come over shortly after, as they were going to watch the boys as we were about to leave for the boat ride. Timing-wise, this was perfect, since we had no idea when my labor would start, and the whole thought of having the two kids with me alone while it happened, terrified me a bit. But to have the Hubby home AND my in-laws over to watch the kids was an answered prayer in itself, and looking back, it's funny how much I often worry about things that are totally out of my control, but the Lord knew it would all work out in the end!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After a couple hours of consistent, but painless contractions, we decided to head closer to the hospital to walk around, just in case we encountered another near car-birth experience again. We decided to drive to the mall to walk around, and soon my contractions began to pick up in speed and intensity, spacing at 3-7 minutes apart. I was feeling nervous about the timing of the contractions, so we headed to the hospital. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was a rather quiet evening at the hospital this time, with one other patient in L+D. We got situated, and the nurse told me I was only 4cm, which was shocking to me, because some of the contractions started to get uncomfortable. They told us we had 2 hours to walk around the halls before they would check me again, and if I didn't progress, they would send me home. I felt disappointed, but the nurse encouraged me with the fact that labor would speed up quickly after 5cm, since this was my third one. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We walked up and down the hospital hallway for a little over an hour, and my contractions started to become more painful, and each step becoming more unbearable. The thought of staring at another set of hospital tiles made me queasy, and I began feeling weak, imagining different scenarios, worrying that I would be going through the same pain for hours (and feeling as though my pain tolerance has decreased). Mike prayed for me, asking the Lord to show me grace with a shorter labor this time around. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I decided to go back to the room to sit down and rest, and that was when my mom called to ask how I was doing. I remember telling her I was about to have a big contraction, and so she hung up the phone (haha). Afterwards, the nurse told us to let her know if I began to feel the urge to push, which happened right after she left the room. The nurse ran back in, and started paging the doctor, who was in the OR with a patient who was having a C-Section. Holding back the urge to push has always been the worst feeling, and I was ready to push the baby out, doctor or no doctor! After what felt like an eternity, the doctor rushed in and told me to push once, pause and push again. And just like that, our <strike>screaming</strike> sweet little girl (with a big set of lungs) was born!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Holding our baby girl in my arms was just as sweet as the first time I held my boys. Seriously, the feeling of holding and meeting your child for the first time never gets old. I can see why some are willing to go through it over and over...the addiction is real, folks. Even though babies all look the same, there was something daintier and more fragile with a girl-- from her slender little fingers to her soft, pink cheeks, sweet smell and higher pitched cry (a bit shrill at times), I loved every bit of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of my biggest fears with having a third has been the whole jealously issue that our first child experienced when our second one was born. So, so many folks had been praying hard over us and our boys-- that they would love and protect her. And by God's grace (see the common theme here?), the boys have been nothing but sweet to their baby sister, even smothering her a bit too much at times. She is incredibly blessed, and we are even more blessed and thankful to have her in our family. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our first set of family photos taken by my awesome brother, Spencer (he took these all under half an hour)!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXhCH_HZ4j9Ti3u1mR5-3VJSODrlNdY0oqN7N_sidZCla_tI9Il5TDu2GQrU-Yy5ashsb1B7F4cNgKqLg4Dwx_6CSlG1ZSE11q_5rqy5DgxIWHMbdsuS2CFOAoIjykZFo2PNehDmAZfA/s1600/DSC_6653-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXhCH_HZ4j9Ti3u1mR5-3VJSODrlNdY0oqN7N_sidZCla_tI9Il5TDu2GQrU-Yy5ashsb1B7F4cNgKqLg4Dwx_6CSlG1ZSE11q_5rqy5DgxIWHMbdsuS2CFOAoIjykZFo2PNehDmAZfA/s640/DSC_6653-1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cannot tell you how long it took to find a decent Christmas photo with everyone somewhat looking at the camera</span></td></tr>
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Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-40107014106323454722016-10-19T14:08:00.002-07:002016-10-19T14:08:59.835-07:00Fall is finally here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bJh0DXbyqpVwY6ex_ZYJhIZ2acNcii4cBl7ZxvQIOuRpMD0JCRk6b8xTJHlENKq5EMnlIfJKdphhRzH55RL3dASxlE7GtG49SKnclrwEhnBZjOczdOLEWB5wLWYzZzHfobl3fZM5rGA/s1600/DSCF5786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bJh0DXbyqpVwY6ex_ZYJhIZ2acNcii4cBl7ZxvQIOuRpMD0JCRk6b8xTJHlENKq5EMnlIfJKdphhRzH55RL3dASxlE7GtG49SKnclrwEhnBZjOczdOLEWB5wLWYzZzHfobl3fZM5rGA/s640/DSCF5786.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We recently took our somewhat annual trip to <a href="http://www.oakglen.net/">Oak Glen Orchards</a> to visit the apple orchards in honor of a <i>very warm</i> Fall, here in sunny California. This was also the first time we went on a weekend, and boy was it crowded! Thankfully, we had prepared lunch and snacks for a picnic, so the boys just ate while we were waiting in line to press apple cider (which took about an hour!). It was the first time for us, and everyone had loads of fun helping. And in the end, you get a big basketful of apples worth of juice!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gathering apples for our cider! Lukey was <i>really </i>good at taking the apples out of our basket and putting them back in the washbasin -__-</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting in anticipation after all the hard work...</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzV_A81BqxGikWcgeDf6OBDy9o_ByhcQ3AtYNBU6wJbQ5AwOoim6GA13kS7xDR-2rmEdMk5jf621ncUsvA8JqY4aG5vNhlygearcEsj6BRpjqgL23lnX5vlM2FQE3N1xAJxSZssrf4Wg/s1600/DSCF5851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzV_A81BqxGikWcgeDf6OBDy9o_ByhcQ3AtYNBU6wJbQ5AwOoim6GA13kS7xDR-2rmEdMk5jf621ncUsvA8JqY4aG5vNhlygearcEsj6BRpjqgL23lnX5vlM2FQE3N1xAJxSZssrf4Wg/s640/DSCF5851.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama + bebe gotta have their apple cider donuts from<a href="http://www.snow-line.com/"> Snowline Orchards</a>.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 42px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 552px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 42px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 552px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-56220473101222683642016-10-18T14:53:00.002-07:002016-10-18T15:14:42.935-07:00Party of 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZozWIIlMlNPbp8nxjrw8U24qs4FGi3EFjmorEoaIuA1Hqidzh9rLL7CkcLbm0Fbv5FYiEzR87JmuyLgzhNaw5QxI6GSS1aXWGmqltDpq5iGzHxuG5ju-g6j6nWfNvOOTyG-iU00qSc4o/s1600/DSCF4905-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZozWIIlMlNPbp8nxjrw8U24qs4FGi3EFjmorEoaIuA1Hqidzh9rLL7CkcLbm0Fbv5FYiEzR87JmuyLgzhNaw5QxI6GSS1aXWGmqltDpq5iGzHxuG5ju-g6j6nWfNvOOTyG-iU00qSc4o/s640/DSCF4905-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Back in early February of this year, I found out I was pregnant with our third child. For a couple of weeks prior to discovering the shocking news, I had a strange feeling something was up, but the test results kept coming back negative. My cycle had been completely off the previous month, so I waited and took another test a week later...and that was when I saw the faint line that usually tells no lies.<br />
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Part of me was shocked, but another part had expected it, due to the symptoms I had been feeling. All I could think about was the fact that my youngest was still 9 months old, and I had just delivered him last year! The best part was that I was getting used to wearing <i><a href="http://www.elliefunday.com/blogs/news/8-tips-for-styling-the-bump">normal</a></i> clothes again. But the thing was, I had <i>just </i>warmed up to the idea of having another child, and thought we would wait a bit and enjoy our Party of 4 until the right time came along. I suppose the Lord has a sense of humor, because he probably knew I would change my mind if I had let the idea marinate any longer : ). Mike was probably just as shocked as I was, if not more! Sometimes our plans don't always work out the way we think they will, but we trust that God knows best...and having had two unborn babies in heaven, we take each life seriously and we're thankful for the little person that is growing within me.<br />
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Now the thing with having three children who are still in full-sized carseats, required an upgrade in the car department. We were driving around a Mazda Cx5, which is a midsize SUV, and it would <i>not</i> accommodate the three carseats we would need. We were quite bummed about that, having drove our car for only a few years since our oldest was born. The car had grown with us and we loved it dearly. And then the inevitable had to happen: we needed to trade in our beloved car in order to purchase a minivan (gasp). In the past, I had told myself I would most likely never want to purchase a minivan because I grew up driving one and they were unwieldy, bulky and generally "uncool." Well, I guess when push comes to shove, and you become a parent, you learn to make "sacrifices" and choose what is practical. True, we could have purchased a larger SUV, but after realizing how tight it would still be, we decided to go big.</div>
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We haven't regretted our choice to purchase a "<a href="http://www.toyota.com/sienna/?&srchid=sem%7CGOOGLE%7CSienna%7CModel_Sienna%7CMBid_Sienna_General_E%7CSienna_Evergreen_MY17%7CSienna_MLP&gclid=CKGUmMKq5c8CFcy-fgodjq0AOg&gclsrc=ds">Swagger-Wagon</a>," and even took it out for a road trip test drive to NorCal with the fam. I must say that it was rather nice to be able to fit everyone, including my extended family into one car! We didn't have to hold back when it came to packing the essentials for the children, and Mama even got to pack a few extra pair of shoes ; ). We expect to take this big baby on several more trips down the road-- and the day we have to get rid of it will be most bittersweet.</div>
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Our trip to Brugge, which was a few hours away from the Netherlands, was a magical experience...perhaps on par with Disneyland, but minus the rides. Mike had already visited during college, and was raving about how much he loved this place. In the evening, when all the lights were lit, it felt like a walk down main street. I know they do a lot of renovations (I hear the swans were added too) to this town in order to make it tourist-worthy, but we soaked it all up!</div>
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For our stay, we found a little <a href="http://www.leplatpays.com/">B+B</a> which was a self-sustained farm located just outside the city. The place had great reviews, and pricing was very modest. What made their breakfast so impressive was the fact that our hostess prepared mostly everything from scratch-- from the cheeses to the yogurt, jams, milk from their own cow, fresh eggs, quiches, sweet breads and she even took her apples to have them juiced fresh at a local juicery! The room was what you would imagine a farmhouse loft to look like, but minus the filth and smell. It was incredibly spacious for our family, and it gave us a small taste of what life would be like, living on a little farm. Our oldest son loved seeing all the animals (even though the pigs sort of frightened him) and chasing the chickens. In the morning, they allowed us to watch the cow being milked using an electric pump (I had much empathy for the cow!), and then our hostess took the milk to be low-pasteurized. If anyone is ever thinking of visiting this beautiful, quaint town, I highly recommend <a href="http://www.leplatpays.com/">Le Plat Pays</a>!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWy3MB6G7rfH9J92Q65hnHFs4Z7cb3KKBJ9Qr5SBtoHUr5UraIR0R3XuJcQkWlOUCuP7rjBaHl8O-SU9rLalLcpq1IGCxzUL0HuTInKuw3cqZn7JuDSUN2gg6fXknBcOkMuY_Tdz0noOQ/s1600/DSC_3287-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWy3MB6G7rfH9J92Q65hnHFs4Z7cb3KKBJ9Qr5SBtoHUr5UraIR0R3XuJcQkWlOUCuP7rjBaHl8O-SU9rLalLcpq1IGCxzUL0HuTInKuw3cqZn7JuDSUN2gg6fXknBcOkMuY_Tdz0noOQ/s640/DSC_3287-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Breakfast spread each morning at our B+B farmhouse<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This building facade was several hundred years old, and currently houses a candy shop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Qzrn1b7wz3D8K9fIBY8_g9GPmTnS_21swfjMU27XAJAK9wRd1epIVkQgR9IB7nmN-Hp0KW-UgOeNO01KTcBWK_oMYzGHkH89p0Ky2rbKkwE5s18mnBDyAwK9SRJPz-IYx-P_5yTx0SQ/s1600/DSC_3182-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Qzrn1b7wz3D8K9fIBY8_g9GPmTnS_21swfjMU27XAJAK9wRd1epIVkQgR9IB7nmN-Hp0KW-UgOeNO01KTcBWK_oMYzGHkH89p0Ky2rbKkwE5s18mnBDyAwK9SRJPz-IYx-P_5yTx0SQ/s640/DSC_3182-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visiting the heart of Ghent, an old Medieval town next door to Brugge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyV01ImhnDd-Ot_d31YVBILNM6OVvZWdbmaDbZVcaHKp5aRoovB6iVDhHUjsSAUa2KMgV95fEM3BUEWS64obwv3ztewjWlTm6Vy0MGgCvlbp7q9BB7hQ5ee-s-N2Ukyu5S8L-KG3MmYZs/s1600/DSC_3178-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyV01ImhnDd-Ot_d31YVBILNM6OVvZWdbmaDbZVcaHKp5aRoovB6iVDhHUjsSAUa2KMgV95fEM3BUEWS64obwv3ztewjWlTm6Vy0MGgCvlbp7q9BB7hQ5ee-s-N2Ukyu5S8L-KG3MmYZs/s640/DSC_3178-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tiny soup n' sandwich shop bustling with locals- this was perhaps the most challenging dining location, as there was no space to put our stroller, and we even had a few nasty glares from customers who were unhappy about where we initially placed our folded-up stroller! Thankfully, we encountered some kind folks who gave us their space...-__-</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIx5X2YIPWvx_HaBKoDA5vcT1sT0ANl-f2ypHlvczGc6M78m6Pt9ez1qdz3aYLCbXQ8xV6xPMLOY8YKfO9biOpzl1NcxI57fR6dsDxb4qcxq70ZNxLIlp6pnSOfB3mrydZQjuENmbkDA/s1600/DSC_3205-1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIx5X2YIPWvx_HaBKoDA5vcT1sT0ANl-f2ypHlvczGc6M78m6Pt9ez1qdz3aYLCbXQ8xV6xPMLOY8YKfO9biOpzl1NcxI57fR6dsDxb4qcxq70ZNxLIlp6pnSOfB3mrydZQjuENmbkDA/s640/DSC_3205-1-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Liege waffle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-q4bM7MM8CvYbJLTMSdZsTyrT1EzTrMEgAOTHzrGHKErU67LoArGwhnNLeZ7XzRGJ7GdguMZkF2dcpoxkjjOwMRLght7nKW-aYJvof9CsXx6fyZwGr6I0goBHX8gy4PeF12HcUj2KFA/s1600/DSC_3245-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-q4bM7MM8CvYbJLTMSdZsTyrT1EzTrMEgAOTHzrGHKErU67LoArGwhnNLeZ7XzRGJ7GdguMZkF2dcpoxkjjOwMRLght7nKW-aYJvof9CsXx6fyZwGr6I0goBHX8gy4PeF12HcUj2KFA/s640/DSC_3245-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mix of old and new</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEEgjp46PyfOJSg9uPOl9rFH9z_a26VmyceDGT-Qq-ZVl5FY7BZa2qvOOPtRjlrjr9Ysp3w5vpYBo_B0pVNl9jxJzv_4Sx2VMjwmw2niUd5pmJA0eA7Ikbq7ivDMyDLd9uC0yLQbLhk4/s1600/DSC_3253-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEEgjp46PyfOJSg9uPOl9rFH9z_a26VmyceDGT-Qq-ZVl5FY7BZa2qvOOPtRjlrjr9Ysp3w5vpYBo_B0pVNl9jxJzv_4Sx2VMjwmw2niUd5pmJA0eA7Ikbq7ivDMyDLd9uC0yLQbLhk4/s640/DSC_3253-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our favorite French girl drove all the way from Bretagne to meet up with us ^^</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wxxiWfZF1UVH6bhjjcpOLDZ9N6V0cmX9WT7E-KbsUCpLoBmx7gVobCvly9iSPpcMtYRaDB2jAVC6Tu8Xi4qPERWVyfSCty70BE5ZPvVKT3RKSsD1m_06wkTtaJrdyhkJmzFvP65jsJs/s1600/DSC_3267-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wxxiWfZF1UVH6bhjjcpOLDZ9N6V0cmX9WT7E-KbsUCpLoBmx7gVobCvly9iSPpcMtYRaDB2jAVC6Tu8Xi4qPERWVyfSCty70BE5ZPvVKT3RKSsD1m_06wkTtaJrdyhkJmzFvP65jsJs/s640/DSC_3267-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brugge in all its picturesque glory- can you spot the swans?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKcaUIaxUkNlI80kbcMcjsr6YtALAPEr6ChPUNrwOg1FWRE-iC9CtjUF1v8iAh13iB5uF5ZcVXJXRaaGaqjyhjT8uoZe6EmC9DyIn_vd7342kvCpnsRM7zfYT115sTPyUKASKZN3KJRw/s1600/DSC_3303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKcaUIaxUkNlI80kbcMcjsr6YtALAPEr6ChPUNrwOg1FWRE-iC9CtjUF1v8iAh13iB5uF5ZcVXJXRaaGaqjyhjT8uoZe6EmC9DyIn_vd7342kvCpnsRM7zfYT115sTPyUKASKZN3KJRw/s640/DSC_3303.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our hostess pasteurizing milk from their cows</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApLqJUH33-wsl_1jXEtXy1nYhwl79uZznNlhCq4s9jeTwF3A6rfVmxtuCv0usEKKOx6WOgMDN7nXzpuzPPrMihAAAd38Hx2MkHc8lldnzp6USmmsbbbxyqIR2vE4BpWcwE-gOEUPL5H4/s1600/DSC_3339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApLqJUH33-wsl_1jXEtXy1nYhwl79uZznNlhCq4s9jeTwF3A6rfVmxtuCv0usEKKOx6WOgMDN7nXzpuzPPrMihAAAd38Hx2MkHc8lldnzp6USmmsbbbxyqIR2vE4BpWcwE-gOEUPL5H4/s640/DSC_3339.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from Belfry Tower </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAgjZgEKlV1JSVwfRH1jPiG0eq-ie8ZsJ-vz2XO5CAy201p-HA7KJJFY5xILQtSndkuWty74CwuRb3lI0Hv7EnvUxZueWro1_67pdWMAhD5L8yp-W52_KDJ9M06SH1Tg6BSsZQYhmFXk/s1600/DSC_3374-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAgjZgEKlV1JSVwfRH1jPiG0eq-ie8ZsJ-vz2XO5CAy201p-HA7KJJFY5xILQtSndkuWty74CwuRb3lI0Hv7EnvUxZueWro1_67pdWMAhD5L8yp-W52_KDJ9M06SH1Tg6BSsZQYhmFXk/s640/DSC_3374-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thechocolateline.be/en/home-2">The Chocolate Line</a> -- Had the most interesting flavors, such as Cuban cigar! :O</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art during tea time with Morgane : )</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JJ was entertained while we sampled beers ^^</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The route to our farmhouse never got old</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our host, showing JJ Mama cow and Bebe calf</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcoMl5SGINpOiZEkxZUv0Wz60Wd1BpLg-g9b66eGrKrsPx476JDLKlgJ12W6QOqoNR2vWXSqLicAgOCD08yiZf3XqzO_2WDeDdBOFt4MacqWxJyOcpAM6O9VyodIPcue70isG2DNwnxU/s1600/DSC_3519-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcoMl5SGINpOiZEkxZUv0Wz60Wd1BpLg-g9b66eGrKrsPx476JDLKlgJ12W6QOqoNR2vWXSqLicAgOCD08yiZf3XqzO_2WDeDdBOFt4MacqWxJyOcpAM6O9VyodIPcue70isG2DNwnxU/s640/DSC_3519-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All smiles after breakfast</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 42px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 3510px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 42px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 3510px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-83614093678668716452016-09-03T09:08:00.003-07:002016-09-03T14:20:32.435-07:00Old Photos from our Trip to the Netherlands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSna9M_8qQQUECX4QT5HgX6_11XhoIXn0u6lEdJ6-uCAPW_6ZrAo-Hr1cuw0AKLVRq-x3oDNH88eMmfwppG8QUNyz8Ncdpv27A88xIQp0Sm_qE_vYKuI4VxH0x9kfeTo06TJpjcbXVX4/s1600/DSC_2732-1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSna9M_8qQQUECX4QT5HgX6_11XhoIXn0u6lEdJ6-uCAPW_6ZrAo-Hr1cuw0AKLVRq-x3oDNH88eMmfwppG8QUNyz8Ncdpv27A88xIQp0Sm_qE_vYKuI4VxH0x9kfeTo06TJpjcbXVX4/s640/DSC_2732-1-2.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1fr_piWIhg85liJ6zPwY8if-x-zQqd0HGewWv-KfgET1lNhy7ArTDJr9x-99-nYmsqzMC4r-GdCtqzYFU5Sr9q3YDuki6fjjG1q3BQetIm-hWeewoII08r31dWgzSpsSk859V3fb3Xw/s1600/DSC_2739-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1fr_piWIhg85liJ6zPwY8if-x-zQqd0HGewWv-KfgET1lNhy7ArTDJr9x-99-nYmsqzMC4r-GdCtqzYFU5Sr9q3YDuki6fjjG1q3BQetIm-hWeewoII08r31dWgzSpsSk859V3fb3Xw/s640/DSC_2739-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Stroopwafel hot off the press</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't tell you how many people asked to take a photo of this pretty Dutch girl ^^</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Demo for the kids on "How to make drinking chocolate."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTywBnzksHGleqv4k2SYRePPFPvmOTiyJ48oPiElzwt_NLM04jA6CgaAJf7cmXIsmOs01PsxHYb66o12alLMm7HGw51wJP2oQoG4yl5ER8QmA6H7LvCSeleh0aydyJ4CcVf8BqFPh6E0/s1600/DSC_2749-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTywBnzksHGleqv4k2SYRePPFPvmOTiyJ48oPiElzwt_NLM04jA6CgaAJf7cmXIsmOs01PsxHYb66o12alLMm7HGw51wJP2oQoG4yl5ER8QmA6H7LvCSeleh0aydyJ4CcVf8BqFPh6E0/s640/DSC_2749-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gloomy, drizzly day for visiting the windmills</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSu9y_9pmkJSBO_j45OByPdhV2V3CRldhs3exUQFVvZGjlFLeDpy6zDrnI1y7_Nmqp6aaoiv3NAv3LzXBZha4KlgYc1eAuAcCKm6rwh0z7kZMA77_zkibpRmtGusyEx7CM_sw1FBcfl7E/s1600/DSC_2752-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSu9y_9pmkJSBO_j45OByPdhV2V3CRldhs3exUQFVvZGjlFLeDpy6zDrnI1y7_Nmqp6aaoiv3NAv3LzXBZha4KlgYc1eAuAcCKm6rwh0z7kZMA77_zkibpRmtGusyEx7CM_sw1FBcfl7E/s640/DSC_2752-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We climbed inside a windmill!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinY0DDFVZ81V7IQ17Mwo5XSb7OTPZwH_E3Qw8wqluA3Udrde2DqlkrJXEs5ptU-Gxlqx8BtFfeEcK05GH8kWlmkTRgg6CVE8h178hgswsE6dAbWWAH_CnD4Mqc8X4wjSBAPtGoJ2Lf7Rs/s1600/DSC_2827-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinY0DDFVZ81V7IQ17Mwo5XSb7OTPZwH_E3Qw8wqluA3Udrde2DqlkrJXEs5ptU-Gxlqx8BtFfeEcK05GH8kWlmkTRgg6CVE8h178hgswsE6dAbWWAH_CnD4Mqc8X4wjSBAPtGoJ2Lf7Rs/s640/DSC_2827-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And more windmills...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnya9ikIC9eYBF3g70NTigzkLB7X742LqIj0-CqbhiMhy3SThnMyZk9k_BPJNPoCyFlSqWAXNekXzBG-dB5sPjidSfpscs6lOpj6xB2mea4MdcG4Xrp10CKWjq1uXcZgJ3WmAW6MGgH9c/s1600/DSC_2842-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnya9ikIC9eYBF3g70NTigzkLB7X742LqIj0-CqbhiMhy3SThnMyZk9k_BPJNPoCyFlSqWAXNekXzBG-dB5sPjidSfpscs6lOpj6xB2mea4MdcG4Xrp10CKWjq1uXcZgJ3WmAW6MGgH9c/s640/DSC_2842-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our little room in the woods of Putten, Netherlands</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqMLBP_gVPtIE4DkqEwdkVtYKuVCfpin-WNx6S1JUW_6SLPrTEV9tqLP4rxegzPTdqy3pwlecSz9BALPjSzp5VHtqWDB6rhhESKp2x0LZVcE3bYgjD_VCmhGGGvWN3V6xpAfT1Wdd7_8/s1600/DSC_2904-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqMLBP_gVPtIE4DkqEwdkVtYKuVCfpin-WNx6S1JUW_6SLPrTEV9tqLP4rxegzPTdqy3pwlecSz9BALPjSzp5VHtqWDB6rhhESKp2x0LZVcE3bYgjD_VCmhGGGvWN3V6xpAfT1Wdd7_8/s640/DSC_2904-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fell in love with the thatched rooftops</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZj-wjw4rcuhKBfirKd5F-Dg2D-94JG9Jpzl5f_8qIWUVB0YADbtUUc4V-yx_dnJjLZmcukuFoZVdsZL_vnQ9fiDJLvJxcdl7pMKvOCGOWT1UXToQkCQ1n_SWtiHkZe9dVEEn0l_2BsVs/s1600/DSC_2908-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZj-wjw4rcuhKBfirKd5F-Dg2D-94JG9Jpzl5f_8qIWUVB0YADbtUUc4V-yx_dnJjLZmcukuFoZVdsZL_vnQ9fiDJLvJxcdl7pMKvOCGOWT1UXToQkCQ1n_SWtiHkZe9dVEEn0l_2BsVs/s640/DSC_2908-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Into the fairytale-esq woods</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTn5E3TKmzT1SpD90Fty0YVyJFKnc3mWoY71HcOn5D3nqwrDFAaxsATjhvHsSCBC6nx-xhSIUhCZUq_jZNTk25qJ1hCkTROGNLS8titnf-BR0PdgY2q_oQfVHReqIcgMBeNRcPs6HzwvA/s1600/DSC_2940-1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTn5E3TKmzT1SpD90Fty0YVyJFKnc3mWoY71HcOn5D3nqwrDFAaxsATjhvHsSCBC6nx-xhSIUhCZUq_jZNTk25qJ1hCkTROGNLS8titnf-BR0PdgY2q_oQfVHReqIcgMBeNRcPs6HzwvA/s640/DSC_2940-1-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collecting acorns to leave a trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5zjwWKLF-prUZmXkR2Dq03ZKSxjdmEbEaE_pq4tzFqc5JSQxglBeV5AsUZBauW0MNfpUxvhaCjDeSUBWTLJ-FPtelto4xO7tUAuK10c6b58fbhSAILlmHJvLn-zj4dmSjJUD5k3IPGA/s1600/DSC_2957-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5zjwWKLF-prUZmXkR2Dq03ZKSxjdmEbEaE_pq4tzFqc5JSQxglBeV5AsUZBauW0MNfpUxvhaCjDeSUBWTLJ-FPtelto4xO7tUAuK10c6b58fbhSAILlmHJvLn-zj4dmSjJUD5k3IPGA/s640/DSC_2957-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magical 'shrooms</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryd2U-NsrXYt9k97AW_j06QlsHRjXETV1lapAF5BcfEU9hyphenhyphenhbv67kiCmMkphQRK4OpexZkSioi-NeA_3qg044XK31hu8o3hZHTSZdaBD0SGxzzczTvSCG0acVGy4Vte9LfTgRHZ63Ga8/s1600/DSC_2960-1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryd2U-NsrXYt9k97AW_j06QlsHRjXETV1lapAF5BcfEU9hyphenhyphenhbv67kiCmMkphQRK4OpexZkSioi-NeA_3qg044XK31hu8o3hZHTSZdaBD0SGxzzczTvSCG0acVGy4Vte9LfTgRHZ63Ga8/s640/DSC_2960-1-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couldn't get enough of these beauties (and we didn't dare to touch or eat them!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6E9lR7Ti7knOYcsKPeeOqr1gHQNA3SpwklgwVKnajoRTX9pGsYx2IGaJjE7TDYCI22HYcCKKMQ8z1zocfNb_SqDGak1EIMOW1m9Aqzzma08KhrtusH5Ukp05DQR4j3sMRJ__PifH628I/s1600/DSC_2974-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6E9lR7Ti7knOYcsKPeeOqr1gHQNA3SpwklgwVKnajoRTX9pGsYx2IGaJjE7TDYCI22HYcCKKMQ8z1zocfNb_SqDGak1EIMOW1m9Aqzzma08KhrtusH5Ukp05DQR4j3sMRJ__PifH628I/s640/DSC_2974-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missing Lukey at this age...they grow too quickly!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7P_CfdZ1vN_1-x3TCMstVNhzrBeXNzGmsxEGoUQDlwBVok5iVbJRewkXApHlRUcKvjlIWW35OpuLGhyBDZVj670X82bZas34nunHnQT0H0GRGtzNQ9rE7JGUr69lKsYGlGaFxcyX9uNU/s1600/DSC_3109-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7P_CfdZ1vN_1-x3TCMstVNhzrBeXNzGmsxEGoUQDlwBVok5iVbJRewkXApHlRUcKvjlIWW35OpuLGhyBDZVj670X82bZas34nunHnQT0H0GRGtzNQ9rE7JGUr69lKsYGlGaFxcyX9uNU/s640/DSC_3109-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elburg</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harderwijk</td></tr>
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Yes, these photos are very much delayed from our trip last year in October to the Netherlands-- old enough to be considered throwbacks. We went as tagalongs for Daddy's business trip. I've been meaning to post the rest of these photos since my <a href="https://douceurvivre.blogspot.com/2016/02/traveling-circus.html">other post</a>, but never got around to it. So here I am nearly a year later, getting hit hard by the travel bug and decided to revisit these old memories. </div>
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To be honest, when Mike first suggested that we come along with him to the Netherlands, I wasn't all too excited. Sure, I had never been there, but other than the thought of windmills, wooden clogs, and the infamous Red Light District, I didn't know what else there was to see and do there-- and especially because I would be toting around two little ones on my own in a foreign little town up in the woods, an hour away from Amsterdam. </div>
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Needless to say, we ended up going anyway as we usually do; I'll always choose travel over being at home! After our first few days in Amsterdam, we rented a car and drove into this little town called Putten, population: 24,148 (as of 2014), where Mike ended up having his work conference. There was something magical and fairytale-esq about being in the woods. The amount of greenery and fresh air was very different than the Redwood trees we typically saw in California. This place would be our home for the next several days, and we took our time to explore each day. </div>
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Since breakfast was conveniently provided by the hotel, I took the children to grab breakfast each morning. Every time we walked into the dining room, all eyes were upon us. We were one of the only foreigners with black hair in a sea of platinum blonde (au natural) and gray. But after flashing a nervous smile, accompanied by my loud, boisterous children, the stares turned into warm smiles. We were often approached by the older folks, who would carry on a conversation with us in Dutch, which I wish I was able to understand! </div>
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I was a bit nervous on my first day out with both children-- I had the stroller ready for the younger one, plus the <a href="https://store.ergobaby.com/baby-carrier?gclsrc=aw.ds">Ergo carrier </a>inside the stroller as a back-up in case the older one grew tired of walking. I brought along a makeshift doggy leash for the older one as well, attaching it to his belt-loop and to the stroller (you can never be too sure with toddlers). All the street signs were in Dutch, and since I am the worst with directions, I carried a small map with me. The stroll turned out to be quite refreshing, and the homes were beautiful, with well manicured lawns, some even reminiscent of the maze in Alice in Wonderland. People in passing were very friendly and often waved to us. Their tiny downtown area was walkable within less than 10 minutes, and I even stumbled upon a neat little store called <a href="http://www.hema.be/">HEMA</a>, which reminded me of a cross between IKEA and Target. However, communication was definitely a struggle, as most locals were older in age and only spoke Dutch. </div>
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On the third day, I grew brave and ventured out to get dinner with the children, because Mike typically had work dinners to attend. It was a Monday, and nearly everything was closed, except for an Italian pizza shop on the other side of downtown. I made the mistake of leaving at dusk, and by the time our pizza was ready, it was already dark out. I ended up making a wrong turn and was lost for about 15 minutes, enough to put a good scare in me! The town seemed relatively safe, but when you're carrying one child and have another in the stroller while being in a foreign place, it's enough to put you in a sweaty panic. Thankfully, we found our way back onto the big street, and we rushed back to the hotel to eat our nearly cold pizza.</div>
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After that incident, I was a little afraid to head out into the thick of the forest with the kids on my own, and I wasn't sure if the whole leaving breadcrumbs behind would actually work out ^^. We ended up visiting the forest on our last day in Putten, when a wife of a fellow co-worker from Switzerland decided to come with us. Being an extrovert, having another adult to accompany us really did make a world of a difference!</div>
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As much as I love visiting big cities, there was something about the smaller towns that captured my heart. Visiting the Netherlands far exceeded my initial expectations, and gave me a greater appreciation for the raw beauty found in nature. We had no "itinerary," or set sites we <i>needed</i> to visit, and we took advice from locals (which is never a bad idea). People were incredibly friendly, even though we didn't understand half of them. The drives were also a treat because they were filled with "color," as we drove across neighboring towns. Gorgeous autumn leaves all lined in a row, and grassy fields with grazing cows (no corn-fed beef!) and other small animals were the norm. One of our best meals there for a modest price, was found in the historic fishing town called <a href="http://www.holland.com/global/tourism/article/elburg-4.htm">Elburg</a>. The biggest highlight of our trip to Putten was having the opportunity to sit in during a sharing done by Brother Andrew (his book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Smuggler-Brother-Andrew/dp/0800796853"><i>God's Smuggler </i></a>is an inspiring read), the founder and visionary for the organization Mike works for. To this day, that trip was possibly one of my favorites, even despite the challenges of toting the littles with us. But seeing how much they also enjoyed the trip (primarily JJ, since Lukey was only 6 mos old), made it even more worthwhile.</div>
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I recently heard that a study was done to compare the amount of joy one receives through traveling vs. buying material goods. The results were that travel outlasts and exceeds the short-lived instant gratification through buying material goods. I guess their point was to save up so you can travel and build lasting memories, which I would agree with 100%! Not to say that travel is the means to happiness, but if you were to put the two the side by side, traveling would probably be the better investment. I'm sure that even includes traveling even an hour from your own city-- there is always something new you can discover!</div>
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First flight without the kiddos...wait, whaat?! Yes, its been about 5 years since we've traveled anywhere further than 2 hours driving distance without the kids. But strangely, when the husband comes home and tells you he bought tickets to Chicago for $30 roundtrip per person, you consider bringing the kids; or maybe just one child. He told me I was crazy, but the thought of leaving both children at home (with grandparents of, course) made me anxious. Part of me was jumping up and down at the thought of a getaway without having to worry about packing and toting the kiddos with us, let alone scheduling our days to work around nap times and bed times. Another part of me worried about whether or not they would survive without us-- i.e. sleeping and eating plus fear of Mommy and Daddy never coming back.<br />
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They were all valid concerns, some may have been irrational, but I'm sure every Mama runs through a list of "what ifs," anytime they leave their little cubs behind. After checking in with my in-laws, and having a pep-talk from Mike, I agreed to the idea (it didn't take too much convincing). He reminded me of our past marital counseling sessions, when our counselor had told us it would be ideal for us to plan a mini getaway yearly-- without any children. Of course this isn't always doable, considering the time, money, energy and babysitting that would be involved in order to make this "getaway" possible. It is an investment, and is something to consider for the sake of our marriage. Fortunately, we were blessed to have willing grandparents who were able to stay at our place with the kiddos for a few nights (I may or may not have left them with a 5-page instructional...), and thankfully no one starved or ended up in the ER. There were however, bouts of tears the first night, in which they told us not to call or FaceTime again for everyone's sake!<br />
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All in all, our little getaway was a good refresher for the both of us. Even though neither of us could really sleep in or stay up late (our bodies have been kid-trained), we found rest in other ways. The time spent focused on each other helped us to better appreciate the other person, and reminded us of the reasons why we were together in the first place. Sometimes in the midst of all the busyness and chaos we encounter each day, it's easy to forget that we are one team, playing for the same team. I would highly recommend this for any weary parents out there!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Came <a href="http://littlegoatchicago.com/diner/menu">here </a>for a goat milk latte - can't say it wasn't all too bad...</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9i4fFnkqQMiJYgxLbEVkin8uGqA4zgQgJN_RDqtev9yuA5Gze_54QTc51yrlMW6chOOdb_juOQvnpgvcah5kVHdf9Nv217sD0RMFw14OkVUuPcZ_fzisgl55euuWE9tx4IXjVJkI70OQ/s1600/DSCF4139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9i4fFnkqQMiJYgxLbEVkin8uGqA4zgQgJN_RDqtev9yuA5Gze_54QTc51yrlMW6chOOdb_juOQvnpgvcah5kVHdf9Nv217sD0RMFw14OkVUuPcZ_fzisgl55euuWE9tx4IXjVJkI70OQ/s640/DSCF4139.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrK29jLiEU-g1MvVkIExLpN-H89-Hs7i8W_qAz74UpVxMwVCoIFuNv5qsa4OdFJevwAoYRF_rsWdSHr68lB05y261ryYwbDFfGsU-8QDzKm7FpMCIT5iB7eEK49QvLMJX-sQcprV04rQ/s1600/DSCF4166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrK29jLiEU-g1MvVkIExLpN-H89-Hs7i8W_qAz74UpVxMwVCoIFuNv5qsa4OdFJevwAoYRF_rsWdSHr68lB05y261ryYwbDFfGsU-8QDzKm7FpMCIT5iB7eEK49QvLMJX-sQcprV04rQ/s640/DSCF4166.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't leave without trying a Chicago dog!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisl6Qw4agUndIdy7QWWUdgvXA0lgxKBXHmlu8gEzvZHIrHcwc-zJFKO_A9eCTKHHwzAr0VYAvWP8eAjBMT7M_ZnSpqbXCDXN84qqbqW2MpoT11pOyim-tj9mCCily3sdw8V4zNp1eu9SA/s1600/DSCF4173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisl6Qw4agUndIdy7QWWUdgvXA0lgxKBXHmlu8gEzvZHIrHcwc-zJFKO_A9eCTKHHwzAr0VYAvWP8eAjBMT7M_ZnSpqbXCDXN84qqbqW2MpoT11pOyim-tj9mCCily3sdw8V4zNp1eu9SA/s640/DSCF4173.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caught a Cubs game at the legendary Wrigley Field</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeRAK8XYGCCl_MyHHADej-zhtwUPRHbspXpgJ5SQA8zao2RCrcPpcTmSJuX0R2RywrdVsA4l99aJbPzSqEZM635RxZzl9ECKAjCbkD4X1EDXsxUMp-ubD6bN7B0oWMGf6R1n3yyruvUs/s1600/DSCF4192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeRAK8XYGCCl_MyHHADej-zhtwUPRHbspXpgJ5SQA8zao2RCrcPpcTmSJuX0R2RywrdVsA4l99aJbPzSqEZM635RxZzl9ECKAjCbkD4X1EDXsxUMp-ubD6bN7B0oWMGf6R1n3yyruvUs/s640/DSCF4192.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These budding tulips were all over the streets of downtown!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oyjlcUJ5N2bUxx8v4NlmdybGTS4MH0gIZdB5_tRYxucMAvBnPLMIufJmjazvbHhHTGJuBlvpHI6-MurZf4RSPh7Hxvk9tr6o3OCtIlRyK8i4frgmcfJRKCEjjblXO6VeNj6zzd7CSI4/s1600/DSCF4230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oyjlcUJ5N2bUxx8v4NlmdybGTS4MH0gIZdB5_tRYxucMAvBnPLMIufJmjazvbHhHTGJuBlvpHI6-MurZf4RSPh7Hxvk9tr6o3OCtIlRyK8i4frgmcfJRKCEjjblXO6VeNj6zzd7CSI4/s640/DSCF4230.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For some reason, both of us never came across this fountain the first time we visited Chicago.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk85E06C0eUvWBm21UsRGE3SqZTOOsmnhrJIKO2UNUerBtHXB96vtlCplgG-bituP3abvP2KXdZ4yxVsaonHkXnPfh-dsz-MQHA6ITmYaIUXacQ6Z3dDzs_6Pc8e6_Lxpv0VM5SSSJQ3s/s1600/DSCF4236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk85E06C0eUvWBm21UsRGE3SqZTOOsmnhrJIKO2UNUerBtHXB96vtlCplgG-bituP3abvP2KXdZ4yxVsaonHkXnPfh-dsz-MQHA6ITmYaIUXacQ6Z3dDzs_6Pc8e6_Lxpv0VM5SSSJQ3s/s640/DSCF4236.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvdfYr8vWaMkadXqA1c2jsO-9Vino6_GIwSlPHsh7W0D1QUWacGbqiZzzA3PNWp7LH2zM6hk5bMCiocsw9oLH1NvTCNmMxG7G8yuZKfiXej3YLnM5AQU48KXBui3-6fv9hQIvlTaVBMg/s1600/DSCF4252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvdfYr8vWaMkadXqA1c2jsO-9Vino6_GIwSlPHsh7W0D1QUWacGbqiZzzA3PNWp7LH2zM6hk5bMCiocsw9oLH1NvTCNmMxG7G8yuZKfiXej3YLnM5AQU48KXBui3-6fv9hQIvlTaVBMg/s640/DSCF4252.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you spot us? : )</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUeD7gKME6Pvb9U3Jp65iJlA431FNGWW2Ua4XJ2lTIHP0pdczSWnaag14fgrlTcAJw5s_6CQeUjBGG2mSiKz6QqqFvwkAURXSe2_dYBfJby9J2b6SDdwBDFasbQYSvK5Vs9RHTxQRC_cI/s1600/DSCF4258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUeD7gKME6Pvb9U3Jp65iJlA431FNGWW2Ua4XJ2lTIHP0pdczSWnaag14fgrlTcAJw5s_6CQeUjBGG2mSiKz6QqqFvwkAURXSe2_dYBfJby9J2b6SDdwBDFasbQYSvK5Vs9RHTxQRC_cI/s640/DSCF4258.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narcissism at its finest.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dOM2ftQsfAfTTnAvp9fIfr8Zs2g2SDxfX7ku7WS59cwwCdx3cdShfQeqf2c3vfR5-POANo2Sk1I3ex7DFhHqNTbGOyoZ6caK2G0H9f47FjEU5wq5fJbOxgiHbEwRv-Y9C-sjoLXUafs/s1600/DSCF4320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dOM2ftQsfAfTTnAvp9fIfr8Zs2g2SDxfX7ku7WS59cwwCdx3cdShfQeqf2c3vfR5-POANo2Sk1I3ex7DFhHqNTbGOyoZ6caK2G0H9f47FjEU5wq5fJbOxgiHbEwRv-Y9C-sjoLXUafs/s640/DSCF4320.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little tip for <a href="http://auchevalchicago.com/">Au Cheval</a>: Come early and have their burger for breakfast instead of waiting several hours for lunch or dinner!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTgq6czl4o2xSUy0bQma6ygMv6xsPJj7Z3RNWYVlt9HSXKHgYVyMXvQRX53XEfANTP9kX5BWe3wu9sGHp70yJxwy0T1_tj5o4RMZY9S_boDM06WcEXjqaQD_Mbd0V7jDiD2ZIWvbJ3wQ/s1600/DSCF4321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTgq6czl4o2xSUy0bQma6ygMv6xsPJj7Z3RNWYVlt9HSXKHgYVyMXvQRX53XEfANTP9kX5BWe3wu9sGHp70yJxwy0T1_tj5o4RMZY9S_boDM06WcEXjqaQD_Mbd0V7jDiD2ZIWvbJ3wQ/s640/DSCF4321.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sawadacoffee.com/">Sawada Coffee</a> - Eclectic coffee shop with ample seating and a delicious matcha latte</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRG0MASFAJW8oELcJmitXLzK7w067QCmDGH8lHfFOqnnwZZS6wbQzPWst_XwFwHO_rs3RsP1tBfWOgwdMr-62UidsT_5eXBB7f5DTAXHj2OejFVvjUQiqYYWjuoRPVniOj3JZMWSy-LcE/s1600/DSCF4324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRG0MASFAJW8oELcJmitXLzK7w067QCmDGH8lHfFOqnnwZZS6wbQzPWst_XwFwHO_rs3RsP1tBfWOgwdMr-62UidsT_5eXBB7f5DTAXHj2OejFVvjUQiqYYWjuoRPVniOj3JZMWSy-LcE/s640/DSCF4324.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dVzdnpo_NRQNlu0iTtY129fxX5Okh-qp9dbZe09QW-Hcf6cRtGwhbd52e_B-wGfw7jLqFpq5ofbDLqT550kdaIIztsBPD_Ak5Zslsouzn59VTsTANNhZubofRSyBjZTt-58JNVn-6_4/s1600/DSCF4328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dVzdnpo_NRQNlu0iTtY129fxX5Okh-qp9dbZe09QW-Hcf6cRtGwhbd52e_B-wGfw7jLqFpq5ofbDLqT550kdaIIztsBPD_Ak5Zslsouzn59VTsTANNhZubofRSyBjZTt-58JNVn-6_4/s640/DSCF4328.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finding a little piece of Paris wherever I go...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJQdnmsyBI6lDKhlfeETnP2k8hyphenhyphenjBK4aKYN3gSpWCLRWszr63OUfeEguDf9s475uGo1jYIc86nDNpKqGRU1IQy7eBL5sQecn3sG3JTERG4s7IuqArobTKmwXwqZYuXsTE76ys9FLQlns/s1600/DSCF4330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJQdnmsyBI6lDKhlfeETnP2k8hyphenhyphenjBK4aKYN3gSpWCLRWszr63OUfeEguDf9s475uGo1jYIc86nDNpKqGRU1IQy7eBL5sQecn3sG3JTERG4s7IuqArobTKmwXwqZYuXsTE76ys9FLQlns/s640/DSCF4330.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thewormhole.us/">Wormhole Coffee Shop </a>- Transport back to the 80s with an actual DeLorean chilling on top, play Nintendo in the back and admire all the kitsch 80s memorabilia; a must for any 80s child!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUh4dn3hSkV23ZRpUnT00-N0VfJTbbBf8uP8pyIstJjfShsuGvA9nY8__sA2WQIHt0s7Rt8aBSva_IwqGVQrRIuE4iOlSN4OdhTemXVbCBhOswmj8sRy5WrFMXZ60YfBqBkqlhiVvajc/s1600/DSCF4291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUh4dn3hSkV23ZRpUnT00-N0VfJTbbBf8uP8pyIstJjfShsuGvA9nY8__sA2WQIHt0s7Rt8aBSva_IwqGVQrRIuE4iOlSN4OdhTemXVbCBhOswmj8sRy5WrFMXZ60YfBqBkqlhiVvajc/s640/DSCF4291.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglU-y7SkmTkEmpXsSw9iSRVQKpVrmRnadLBCjVPODB9hQaTEs9UP7f2QFrK-z5Zqzj3pA4XO7v8v49iTlA1MiH7bSHzQwtFc8eTrAqxVh6Nc56z11QGXdM_Nxm_JIYs2_oTwiULaLVy8k/s1600/DSCF4199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglU-y7SkmTkEmpXsSw9iSRVQKpVrmRnadLBCjVPODB9hQaTEs9UP7f2QFrK-z5Zqzj3pA4XO7v8v49iTlA1MiH7bSHzQwtFc8eTrAqxVh6Nc56z11QGXdM_Nxm_JIYs2_oTwiULaLVy8k/s640/DSCF4199.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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-<i> Fin</i> -</div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 13289px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 13289px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></span>Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-76621952193318281712016-05-21T22:11:00.004-07:002016-05-21T22:17:06.641-07:00To Texas Y'all<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabtMWFvxMtlbOFyWBjZXL2iOrJUejAFx1lsa6cuqT-HC65ikpWyFgBSOp2uTkusSHBJWm3SCT6-lU4dmXL0SZHVsSqSoqLFLN7iiNGHvJpb0BbUJl1RTkJf97sWUUXiR-mAAvo5zE2FI/s1600/DSCF3469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabtMWFvxMtlbOFyWBjZXL2iOrJUejAFx1lsa6cuqT-HC65ikpWyFgBSOp2uTkusSHBJWm3SCT6-lU4dmXL0SZHVsSqSoqLFLN7iiNGHvJpb0BbUJl1RTkJf97sWUUXiR-mAAvo5zE2FI/s640/DSCF3469.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Ever since my little sis made the move to Texas (sad face), we've been wanting to visit her and my bro-in-law. So when we found out that Mike was having a work conference in Dallas, naturally we decided to make a family trip out of it with all my sibs included (well, really with the addition of one more). There is something to be said about traveling with family that makes things feel more natural and comfortable when you're away from home. You can do and say what you feel, which makes decision-making that much easier. I guess we've been through the good and the ugly together, so there is no reason to hide...thank God for family!</div>
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There is no other place like Texas, and each city had its charm. We embarked on a mini tour of a few cities in the Lonestar State. Most of the people we encountered were incredibly friendly with their Southern hospitality, making us feel right at home! <span style="text-align: center;">Here is our little travel photo diary of some of our favorite moments : )</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNenQvhyphenhypheny2h0exsC0alrHc5Ja80VyPcwJtYe2NmYgksoSXFt3b-TUG3UBZxaMA4GgArOBTSsyMKpgpfvBDl-Rdve-eQ36NoIISW_KpCWYKHEma4tw2edQnkJW8_QNnnefYLXgCZMVbuA/s1600/DSCF3212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNenQvhyphenhypheny2h0exsC0alrHc5Ja80VyPcwJtYe2NmYgksoSXFt3b-TUG3UBZxaMA4GgArOBTSsyMKpgpfvBDl-Rdve-eQ36NoIISW_KpCWYKHEma4tw2edQnkJW8_QNnnefYLXgCZMVbuA/s640/DSCF3212.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The interior of the adorable mid-century home we borrowed from <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/?af=43720035&c=A_TC%3Dfmeb9dyr2w%26G_MT%3De%26G_CR%3D100808697856%26G_N%3Dg%26G_K%3Dairbnb%27%26G_P%3D%26G_D%3Dc&gclid=Cj0KEQjwjoC6BRDXuvnw4Ym2y8MBEiQACA-jWZcivZxA23qek8aPePrshHpMJxOUByU_rAQHGQjAq4gaAp2w8P8HAQ&dclid=CLya3Z_u7MwCFddqfgodINkKyA">airbnb</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYJeUB_BBFtJ-cBxfLdl__IdRqi7P5CW13PSyIuY-sSOPAh9yBw33QwmcdHfHp6C1-bY4gMwF-Q-1uAHeePVUJVieV35Qugf66aQn7AKoJ2lAxa0uvYCBike48lwOBP59yFJGD3iLdjo/s1600/DSCF3230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYJeUB_BBFtJ-cBxfLdl__IdRqi7P5CW13PSyIuY-sSOPAh9yBw33QwmcdHfHp6C1-bY4gMwF-Q-1uAHeePVUJVieV35Qugf66aQn7AKoJ2lAxa0uvYCBike48lwOBP59yFJGD3iLdjo/s640/DSCF3230.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's not doing what you may think he's doing ^^ (he was sending secret messages to an invisible friend)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPTCZUwWv-UwHXu4hv2bIO32xhART0RJAQQwwWAgXBO4H6O4xzlT5MwnBiuaRdsB8HWE3NcbQAufbPcwyuzaRQ86CsEch7b__F5AAdGeEA9utT9idFnsG9qD75rduz7hhm7TyzWXaAfg/s1600/DSCF3237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPTCZUwWv-UwHXu4hv2bIO32xhART0RJAQQwwWAgXBO4H6O4xzlT5MwnBiuaRdsB8HWE3NcbQAufbPcwyuzaRQ86CsEch7b__F5AAdGeEA9utT9idFnsG9qD75rduz7hhm7TyzWXaAfg/s640/DSCF3237.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun with Auntie M + Uncle M</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphtXJ6bURUMREDjqNH38_URzqiufT4ms6loA-8Ku0jRfjsoKi_m2zvudUV8xqzD2hbnccUtsgKmXHhbKiBPFLIUUcgOLm5206GMp5QKZXX1Jumqwr6iJCJ1RRpiWdEHATV7RA8Ancq7g/s1600/DSCF3283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphtXJ6bURUMREDjqNH38_URzqiufT4ms6loA-8Ku0jRfjsoKi_m2zvudUV8xqzD2hbnccUtsgKmXHhbKiBPFLIUUcgOLm5206GMp5QKZXX1Jumqwr6iJCJ1RRpiWdEHATV7RA8Ancq7g/s640/DSCF3283.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just like Uncle Spencer : )</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEZZH1hzLQf3NL5gT4kHpgICiRm7P9C621Z_v_ANbBu0CYqK4RoArz5x5wgm4mJ35_yDvKQEhPMN-ozoKhEwb-0ERi0iTe6G4iP_T0YUWMnQkuaQDVsOWc1kEG6nSXU7UDZjK2rXpL20/s1600/DSCF3510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEZZH1hzLQf3NL5gT4kHpgICiRm7P9C621Z_v_ANbBu0CYqK4RoArz5x5wgm4mJ35_yDvKQEhPMN-ozoKhEwb-0ERi0iTe6G4iP_T0YUWMnQkuaQDVsOWc1kEG6nSXU7UDZjK2rXpL20/s640/DSCF3510.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family photos taken by Mel in front of our home away from home</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1zQ0NqLRHqynSwN8_g7Fcy18Q3xVwK0_07CRQGASHmQN7pGtv7SAOS85abRXqINNlBXWIdbg4nyWsc1qVD56vHJ1XrlNynJDn9VQPx-hW5N029M2X7nXUVrlBRUw-7lONCiaTfL4qzI/s1600/DSCF3521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1zQ0NqLRHqynSwN8_g7Fcy18Q3xVwK0_07CRQGASHmQN7pGtv7SAOS85abRXqINNlBXWIdbg4nyWsc1qVD56vHJ1XrlNynJDn9VQPx-hW5N029M2X7nXUVrlBRUw-7lONCiaTfL4qzI/s640/DSCF3521.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Franklin BBQ in the comfort of the home</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT50r19gyZ0hxcMXvrE4uWyFk_MEQxbyNn-aU7UxNB1QVSSSPKYPIUebI1A4mC503tRL8uZa4ra4xVNaQvNW0yGIWxkLbdSwUKcYOasUoXDwo8op8B7Saa72QA_c-yw_2DD6-wlfd5vew/s1600/DSCF3536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT50r19gyZ0hxcMXvrE4uWyFk_MEQxbyNn-aU7UxNB1QVSSSPKYPIUebI1A4mC503tRL8uZa4ra4xVNaQvNW0yGIWxkLbdSwUKcYOasUoXDwo8op8B7Saa72QA_c-yw_2DD6-wlfd5vew/s640/DSCF3536.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The birthday boy all smiles</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejmigUQXzXfY8vEG30fDxC3CIpsK5ffr2-zWiWlu4BT8wPfPuE1aSPp-5d8d7e1Ixy7rHlYgT0KKNdV_g15I4GuZDZ6t5-SIYHUfa-jSgU7YoqpPGb16WoT6H9q_ttMSzfFjzJ8QrOZY/s1600/DSCF3617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejmigUQXzXfY8vEG30fDxC3CIpsK5ffr2-zWiWlu4BT8wPfPuE1aSPp-5d8d7e1Ixy7rHlYgT0KKNdV_g15I4GuZDZ6t5-SIYHUfa-jSgU7YoqpPGb16WoT6H9q_ttMSzfFjzJ8QrOZY/s640/DSCF3617.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PaPrENzQL0TGdFlEnPdjQNwns7MPOfZ7-9yG8ReO-Z01nsgkLQb11uS_R8VJFR5DUQAszbyzsX8sky3POR1UGRkx0DToH_a7shJcYl1kJdR6nTgifkrcMO1_jO9hyMzyUDE6O0S6a1U/s1600/DSCF3620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PaPrENzQL0TGdFlEnPdjQNwns7MPOfZ7-9yG8ReO-Z01nsgkLQb11uS_R8VJFR5DUQAszbyzsX8sky3POR1UGRkx0DToH_a7shJcYl1kJdR6nTgifkrcMO1_jO9hyMzyUDE6O0S6a1U/s640/DSCF3620.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rain in Texas was no joke.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvUkZMxwLFuzAKHrBh-XVPkaAO9-e1yK4m_zOxFqlHj-0wBKNStZxqCvrKhF96zd667JrcLNJeQ7vHt9W0xBWgtYcdsxRxB3LLaVLtQAsjntIKU3e5RxSVTN2aasi4-d9gS1op4Qrs34/s1600/DSCF3638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvUkZMxwLFuzAKHrBh-XVPkaAO9-e1yK4m_zOxFqlHj-0wBKNStZxqCvrKhF96zd667JrcLNJeQ7vHt9W0xBWgtYcdsxRxB3LLaVLtQAsjntIKU3e5RxSVTN2aasi4-d9gS1op4Qrs34/s640/DSCF3638.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">State Capitol Building</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyBdrs4kE5TzHi8zM2oK1-D7LfXiV-e4hb-zSC03CZZUyXuIepVEdMuvT4S9N3Lb7JqYwl3UHJH-jWLI3rLhb1_ZqYAEPpQLvupoSn0zPi7xOyH6ISBlw2aPhT5il9uDGbfH2P_Y7mFo/s1600/DSCF3640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyBdrs4kE5TzHi8zM2oK1-D7LfXiV-e4hb-zSC03CZZUyXuIepVEdMuvT4S9N3Lb7JqYwl3UHJH-jWLI3rLhb1_ZqYAEPpQLvupoSn0zPi7xOyH6ISBlw2aPhT5il9uDGbfH2P_Y7mFo/s640/DSCF3640.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because the floors were cool</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xAF-yP3_hVMSSXax3y2BoI0X49MbLE1G248tDC4Zk-ap10cbci0ahRgsE26ZXjaTBEuO-DD-STw1nmm5znqPHs415EYwPmj67BXMhOXJjpmahb-niM5Lr9Dy8MPXqG_8XDsB2M3Cmy8/s1600/DSCF3652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xAF-yP3_hVMSSXax3y2BoI0X49MbLE1G248tDC4Zk-ap10cbci0ahRgsE26ZXjaTBEuO-DD-STw1nmm5znqPHs415EYwPmj67BXMhOXJjpmahb-niM5Lr9Dy8MPXqG_8XDsB2M3Cmy8/s640/DSCF3652.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Detoxing" with the sibs after BBQing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6wzga4fv4jXz0MIsEAUGq0jmfQ2Ddf15BDBKtwfZwZ_yrE5g6YqEG5EVQvRlAE9kK4BtsR7TYc_fPNbwBIOyuuTuvdregtbv4mOZd5fYd7coFWLpglRzjSTdX9ZzmWqbOJ5MEsuYIC8/s1600/DSCF3658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6wzga4fv4jXz0MIsEAUGq0jmfQ2Ddf15BDBKtwfZwZ_yrE5g6YqEG5EVQvRlAE9kK4BtsR7TYc_fPNbwBIOyuuTuvdregtbv4mOZd5fYd7coFWLpglRzjSTdX9ZzmWqbOJ5MEsuYIC8/s640/DSCF3658.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BBQ is serious business over here</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgwVFmkr33ltNH4j8vXfRxxaQHuZ7sOi7IL3lOGrMsFvPZEMsM7Bv7hqwAwmF-qigG1Y-qk8QYebmMNhLTjo_IO9GqTnlhjncSf43K7wceDQaAAUQs8fONT6RsOggjkfi_86dmWRCqyQ/s1600/DSCF3667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgwVFmkr33ltNH4j8vXfRxxaQHuZ7sOi7IL3lOGrMsFvPZEMsM7Bv7hqwAwmF-qigG1Y-qk8QYebmMNhLTjo_IO9GqTnlhjncSf43K7wceDQaAAUQs8fONT6RsOggjkfi_86dmWRCqyQ/s640/DSCF3667.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://saltlickbbq.com/">The Salt Lick</a> - We went when it was thunder storming, and there was hardly a wait!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqeNz1aoTLVpn2gZATHfmc7zKYa0HbFDVgQ1uT4kQjrS15cgnbLRlAABZroh2YieGKBekiIUr69WE-b1jZ8WyAgXFIBPJixJbT7-vJSzOT5ojtnWGuGjJdJ5E32zt0BmoWbZgkMZiO_o/s1600/DSCF3671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqeNz1aoTLVpn2gZATHfmc7zKYa0HbFDVgQ1uT4kQjrS15cgnbLRlAABZroh2YieGKBekiIUr69WE-b1jZ8WyAgXFIBPJixJbT7-vJSzOT5ojtnWGuGjJdJ5E32zt0BmoWbZgkMZiO_o/s640/DSCF3671.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibN_rwOLXt-6ciCANV5RpQ6rwMvwnANA1WyhWWMNF4v9Q9cmqrlfS9DnCxjRWEIUfgxNEZgZ4IdoFAHM4bc4XETV269foXsDFYtv4f93CFDTZRZYMw4FeRWFwm9P86nnMu1wMVYUfZNrI/s1600/DSCF3703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibN_rwOLXt-6ciCANV5RpQ6rwMvwnANA1WyhWWMNF4v9Q9cmqrlfS9DnCxjRWEIUfgxNEZgZ4IdoFAHM4bc4XETV269foXsDFYtv4f93CFDTZRZYMw4FeRWFwm9P86nnMu1wMVYUfZNrI/s640/DSCF3703.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matching with Auntie M</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLHRC913QplhjyFd0r-BB5jC2T1DZdmG3H29Wyy0wOLe_sLtDg0BofSckT9pod_zpLL5RpbtUH3KvOkzTnW-W8QHc8uvR-aj-FJZP1fvTDCfYUWJqjkrD8uYATCVCokTUcSIovv4gjUU/s1600/DSCF3736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLHRC913QplhjyFd0r-BB5jC2T1DZdmG3H29Wyy0wOLe_sLtDg0BofSckT9pod_zpLL5RpbtUH3KvOkzTnW-W8QHc8uvR-aj-FJZP1fvTDCfYUWJqjkrD8uYATCVCokTUcSIovv4gjUU/s640/DSCF3736.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burgers for a change</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpWCuDZrQBtYjaFTh_efvTiCGPv-ssj98bGe5O0106Q3LNAyLDCbHVAgMoevLoiDra5DmkJQkDlccNXooHINVMNi3AseTODoCwW6b2o5WCtsbYdbGw0kbCH69jvQGx0fIGs6OXs_b5zE/s1600/DSCF3762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpWCuDZrQBtYjaFTh_efvTiCGPv-ssj98bGe5O0106Q3LNAyLDCbHVAgMoevLoiDra5DmkJQkDlccNXooHINVMNi3AseTODoCwW6b2o5WCtsbYdbGw0kbCH69jvQGx0fIGs6OXs_b5zE/s640/DSCF3762.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Austin skyline</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5YnuxW5KNQQ0dtChuxgOZJy39M1J78OLXACHXKhKr4aGxJQ0jCIyUpKqftBO044Z7EVbczvUoa8C2gHxq01J3z1kyZxy1xgZyxRGB-np5ZlYca-UdFmO2CLEuaI65RWB6BcUbzeQGIE/s1600/DSCF3764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5YnuxW5KNQQ0dtChuxgOZJy39M1J78OLXACHXKhKr4aGxJQ0jCIyUpKqftBO044Z7EVbczvUoa8C2gHxq01J3z1kyZxy1xgZyxRGB-np5ZlYca-UdFmO2CLEuaI65RWB6BcUbzeQGIE/s640/DSCF3764.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnlykilwAbRG91Tve-Nnebq62wIIZaxTx3P6WfIKwAgbZke1BphxuAa1iF8KugwIRqTNz9qId9rPSFjBZdeGuj_99nob7q5rplp8g1OdZgxOzWjw1wgLRNJ5_FtJmSRHDQjaHyJ4PPxM/s1600/DSCF3809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnlykilwAbRG91Tve-Nnebq62wIIZaxTx3P6WfIKwAgbZke1BphxuAa1iF8KugwIRqTNz9qId9rPSFjBZdeGuj_99nob7q5rplp8g1OdZgxOzWjw1wgLRNJ5_FtJmSRHDQjaHyJ4PPxM/s640/DSCF3809.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRb7GgRmYnqALuBMZJ687IstYNam-MF-Dx1ySWcAvOwuK9309DD_8yn7yfaNJv8c5D2uJrk91TRax1Xd-qTf6fyZJ8f-lBALbKQoJhyphenhyphenPp1gzw0JjarnG3njTQUhs8ouNnqfnqJO-A5dDI/s1600/DSCF3826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRb7GgRmYnqALuBMZJ687IstYNam-MF-Dx1ySWcAvOwuK9309DD_8yn7yfaNJv8c5D2uJrk91TRax1Xd-qTf6fyZJ8f-lBALbKQoJhyphenhyphenPp1gzw0JjarnG3njTQUhs8ouNnqfnqJO-A5dDI/s640/DSCF3826.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visited the <a href="https://shop.magnoliamarket.com/">Magnolia Market</a> - my first time hearing about it from my sis (I've been living under a rock)!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQ952YRb_Et6BI6recHGaK4rEqau6DGbligCavlHOdrGViQhnS0GY3FXHgPclMJIL4flD_4jhWnpLjPHG0bs9u_G1LHa8cQ7eKTcPKrdb0BGGM5We3m4mEHZiySkrOkHg4hRxczooRig/s1600/DSCF3846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQ952YRb_Et6BI6recHGaK4rEqau6DGbligCavlHOdrGViQhnS0GY3FXHgPclMJIL4flD_4jhWnpLjPHG0bs9u_G1LHa8cQ7eKTcPKrdb0BGGM5We3m4mEHZiySkrOkHg4hRxczooRig/s640/DSCF3846.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgt23aU_Q_tPew3DLNCqXbfN0RlfRe7L9_3YrCtdH6iR0P4w-Isz75SRNisWvaq4z_GWaW4OlffgYcmoj3rAxRCgXaVxLbAyOE09E9CodsQTpb1CkE4LpmDj1N8EruOZqrcLfhSEb28Uk/s1600/DSCF3857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgt23aU_Q_tPew3DLNCqXbfN0RlfRe7L9_3YrCtdH6iR0P4w-Isz75SRNisWvaq4z_GWaW4OlffgYcmoj3rAxRCgXaVxLbAyOE09E9CodsQTpb1CkE4LpmDj1N8EruOZqrcLfhSEb28Uk/s640/DSCF3857.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pies upon pies...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SYa3BcKy9GuVghRV11UX7xHR3F87cEP0Bki65abKQd4746D2gkoMqMCTfOAGT_HVVGmQTQST8YeYHT_-k4InFt-ky56oCXbrDRSfQMMyA3kU2aOKTIuf-DTNgy3LNW4yqCgU4IcP-_s/s1600/DSCF3868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SYa3BcKy9GuVghRV11UX7xHR3F87cEP0Bki65abKQd4746D2gkoMqMCTfOAGT_HVVGmQTQST8YeYHT_-k4InFt-ky56oCXbrDRSfQMMyA3kU2aOKTIuf-DTNgy3LNW4yqCgU4IcP-_s/s640/DSCF3868.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McKinney: a historic and quaint little town, became one of my favorites</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYV-3GgGwrcdu4U9A50pI_y76D0P1bCFn8toonJjm8Vzdv52E8I_j4d50PZ3kPouUf58nHYM1lGhQcPSQipH7_VivtREObatY5optCTbBi60Pz-k1KxsYxqI8qOk6kJMKIEHuvCCAxXDw/s1600/DSCF3897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYV-3GgGwrcdu4U9A50pI_y76D0P1bCFn8toonJjm8Vzdv52E8I_j4d50PZ3kPouUf58nHYM1lGhQcPSQipH7_VivtREObatY5optCTbBi60Pz-k1KxsYxqI8qOk6kJMKIEHuvCCAxXDw/s640/DSCF3897.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90LhlsrCangp8qOWe_vHTdbGR2yx-pyVDXK1aV0Brmey5xoy5w_m7d_LqcNaZR1Ra99xJSBdDpXjHMSJaKnYFffIyIuNU9-d66ufs3TJKDwvJ8jd2R2GGSoFS6_7uYB77wLDNDXg60hU/s1600/DSCF3900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90LhlsrCangp8qOWe_vHTdbGR2yx-pyVDXK1aV0Brmey5xoy5w_m7d_LqcNaZR1Ra99xJSBdDpXjHMSJaKnYFffIyIuNU9-d66ufs3TJKDwvJ8jd2R2GGSoFS6_7uYB77wLDNDXg60hU/s640/DSCF3900.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can we borrow these two for every meal? ^^</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKUSiJtoNJeaOfDuQyRrNxfiAAfJiegB9WnZ-cwrPDSpoE_nyNcksFYHD3oia3P6UkOq1aa7OaDvPRidS_ZvsyFUYQk0yB85KQ7JBdJtH6Jjfg2CUMa7ZOX-sTmwI2XUCxPc17PBRqU8/s1600/DSCF3922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKUSiJtoNJeaOfDuQyRrNxfiAAfJiegB9WnZ-cwrPDSpoE_nyNcksFYHD3oia3P6UkOq1aa7OaDvPRidS_ZvsyFUYQk0yB85KQ7JBdJtH6Jjfg2CUMa7ZOX-sTmwI2XUCxPc17PBRqU8/s640/DSCF3922.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reunited with my childhood friend of 25 years</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1w5MfGCTJgmbg8BoxDH4EsJswgeFkJJw4ksIAbyy4vE5aeZdS8JtWzgZUX-RjYRGJdpMay0KEf9fUnujSqUzIvZjP9rstu41Znlz4g8_YynJLgg7DyNG9ghJK1lpieGTXcTYtk_YNa00/s1600/DSCF3941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1w5MfGCTJgmbg8BoxDH4EsJswgeFkJJw4ksIAbyy4vE5aeZdS8JtWzgZUX-RjYRGJdpMay0KEf9fUnujSqUzIvZjP9rstu41Znlz4g8_YynJLgg7DyNG9ghJK1lpieGTXcTYtk_YNa00/s640/DSCF3941.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">- Fin -</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D508801364355014524%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D7662195219331828171%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-MU49EtsIlis%2FVzVekOc4_LI%2FAAAAAAAAFPA%2F5u7oQqWQYMAeSASptQgk4g73IXNYBPe0gCKgB%2Fs640%2FDSCF3469.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=dX0N3aRCSuJo&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 140px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D508801364355014524%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D7662195219331828171%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-MU49EtsIlis%2FVzVekOc4_LI%2FAAAAAAAAFPA%2F5u7oQqWQYMAeSASptQgk4g73IXNYBPe0gCKgB%2Fs640%2FDSCF3469.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=dX0N3aRCSuJo&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 140px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D508801364355014524%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D7662195219331828171%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-MU49EtsIlis%2FVzVekOc4_LI%2FAAAAAAAAFPA%2F5u7oQqWQYMAeSASptQgk4g73IXNYBPe0gCKgB%2Fs640%2FDSCF3469.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=dX0N3aRCSuJo&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 140px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D508801364355014524%23editor%2Ftarget%3Dpost%3BpostID%3D7662195219331828171%3BonPublishedMenu%3Dposts%3BonClosedMenu%3Dposts%3BpostNum%3D0%3Bsrc%3Dlink&media=https%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-MU49EtsIlis%2FVzVekOc4_LI%2FAAAAAAAAFPA%2F5u7oQqWQYMAeSASptQgk4g73IXNYBPe0gCKgB%2Fs640%2FDSCF3469.JPG&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=dX0N3aRCSuJo&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 140px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-25410250588303230192016-05-12T08:00:00.000-07:002016-05-12T08:00:02.061-07:00Some thoughts on Motherhood...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUZqHX1zF07Yc-Ji1RyeGVRZDNaATxyHGCgF_wPqsqIdksAApw2yH86uT2Xpdxs5jhlM4XxFLsPkeDEM_UJv3PcnMiEkwhrAtJS3nl4BaOhNGHS4kBYfyRJSDh8xXXhSf4hcNTGVX-AI/s1600/DSCF3397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUZqHX1zF07Yc-Ji1RyeGVRZDNaATxyHGCgF_wPqsqIdksAApw2yH86uT2Xpdxs5jhlM4XxFLsPkeDEM_UJv3PcnMiEkwhrAtJS3nl4BaOhNGHS4kBYfyRJSDh8xXXhSf4hcNTGVX-AI/s640/DSCF3397.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Our second son just turned one last month, and the past year leaves me with bittersweet, nostalgic memories. It has been a challenging year albeit, but not without many sweet moments and lessons learned. I strongly believe that one of the reasons why the Lord gave us children is to not only teach us about His love, but to refine and sanctify us. If you think you've got it all together, children are there to bring you humility. Never have I been stretched beyond the limit when it comes to love and patience, or feel so emotionally and physically tired that it's like I am living in another person's body. Never have I been pushed to the point of anger and rage that I scare not only my children, but myself. On the flip side, never have I experienced such joy and love for another human being to the point of willing to give up one's life for the sake of another (and I don't know if the Hubs even qualifies, jk). </div>
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The life of <i>any </i>Mama is never a walk in the park. For me personally, being a full-time stay at home Mama to a baby/toddler and toddler has had its challenges and moments. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful and grateful that I have the opportunity to stay home with these precious children before they are off to school, but it has taken me awhile (and it's an ongoing battle) to settle into my role as a "Mommy." I constantly struggle with Mommy guilt -- wanting to stay home with the littles to teach them and watch them develop, but I also covet developing a career and the life we once lived before kids came into the picture. However, having children in our life was the path we decided to take, and the challenges come with the package. </div>
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Being a Mama can be a thankless job, and often times is made even more difficult based on the criticism you receive from those around you. Everyone (and I am sure most mean it from a helpful standpoint) seems to have an opinion when it comes to how you rear your children, and I have difficulty letting the opinions and judgment of others not get the best of me. And at the end of the day, only a Mama knows her children best. Everyone has a background story, and we strive to do the best we can.</div>
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So why do we do it? The fruit of our labor is often unseen or delayed, but we do it because we hope and pray that one day there will be fruit-- and that our children will grow into their full God-given potentials as selfless, respectful, giving, loving and hard-working individuals. For me, my prayer is that they would love the Lord with all their heart, mind, soul and strength (Mark 12:30), and to love and serve His people. It's a mammoth of a task, which is why people say it takes a village to raise a child. However, it seems as though our world and communities are growing further and further apart. Families are spread out, and in the midst of our busyness we isolate ourselves, using social media as our source of superficial connection. </div>
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Perhaps if we all made an effort to be mindful of other Mamas, to be part of this large "village," it would make a world of a difference-- to encourage rather than discourage, to empathize rather than to judge, to bring up rather than to tear down, to offer a hand to a Mama in need, rather than walk away, and to keep one's opinions to themselves unless asked. So the next time you see a screaming child or children accompanied by a frazzled Mama (or even Papa!), offer them a smile or word of encouragement. Our words and actions can make a bigger impact than we may realize. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NjIFFn2dsPAR14OXQ1eL3GnQGMQW3pNPY7lrL_AvVVcMtqfAPTMC89jpIdP67odUfTF56qIl2B0XByxkWxemJsg27tW8tFoyQCDcRQG1N3jKTjUIaOEaaGMTRGrd8eTNVFKH-ptW124/s1600/DSCF2201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NjIFFn2dsPAR14OXQ1eL3GnQGMQW3pNPY7lrL_AvVVcMtqfAPTMC89jpIdP67odUfTF56qIl2B0XByxkWxemJsg27tW8tFoyQCDcRQG1N3jKTjUIaOEaaGMTRGrd8eTNVFKH-ptW124/s640/DSCF2201.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our overly energetic, creative, sensitive, sugar addict -- wonder where he gets that from? ^^</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56Nq55MvR-K3Le_JQS3mz1yK_VB6UcbzQOpTLmx_c2mgvxdf0GPhoTZEsPy0otv8SOejq15iqZe5v0Zmy5F3RqZJRexfld92cPzY4PGilEfTEtsqXDy9pxmeiBE-pmVf33qExjnr7f1w/s1600/DSCF2873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56Nq55MvR-K3Le_JQS3mz1yK_VB6UcbzQOpTLmx_c2mgvxdf0GPhoTZEsPy0otv8SOejq15iqZe5v0Zmy5F3RqZJRexfld92cPzY4PGilEfTEtsqXDy9pxmeiBE-pmVf33qExjnr7f1w/s640/DSCF2873.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How could you not love a face like that? ; )</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SogopuAneU1uB9PIPcmoXC5pshpQO2rUbb-0zK9wBbYXmVE8xdrVQQertb7RWzEEgqvg2ULXfT6BP3WN6ULjm24lbeqO3PJoF3PVPauO718GVcYa7j0H2Rty6AiQtWA62cy5ZvLBHUk/s1600/DSCF2296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SogopuAneU1uB9PIPcmoXC5pshpQO2rUbb-0zK9wBbYXmVE8xdrVQQertb7RWzEEgqvg2ULXfT6BP3WN6ULjm24lbeqO3PJoF3PVPauO718GVcYa7j0H2Rty6AiQtWA62cy5ZvLBHUk/s640/DSCF2296.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This silly, giggly, joyful, laid-back boy has been such a blessing. As long as he is well-fed, all is good in the world.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBztem5uwJj5ajbUIT0OBO2uTeQnFh7H_NJKzkUg2f5gTk0uf8lECj7WopDVWuj1e96mwyoie8vDfyCGF8Ite8fjLNn9kXhgnKmrz6drlOpKc9rWP2NIewfyBXULJfKbNuIs29ye0oVs/s1600/DSCF3611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBztem5uwJj5ajbUIT0OBO2uTeQnFh7H_NJKzkUg2f5gTk0uf8lECj7WopDVWuj1e96mwyoie8vDfyCGF8Ite8fjLNn9kXhgnKmrz6drlOpKc9rWP2NIewfyBXULJfKbNuIs29ye0oVs/s640/DSCF3611.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think every Mama struggles with the idea of wanting their little ones to grow up and become independent, but when we realize how quickly they've grown, we wish we could take back time.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpSA1qnHL17LDFLsCUMOboApGyXiOMDg_HuAyc6G7ZspPfJFYEcDAQD8mjPt1Lqbhw_5LwSSYYfSbL5p97iNDvdpC2hfqeJwiyanvPZ9f2KPGX6iwpT3XyAtL5mSD6GnZUCV8I_UBkLo/s1600/WWWU5618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpSA1qnHL17LDFLsCUMOboApGyXiOMDg_HuAyc6G7ZspPfJFYEcDAQD8mjPt1Lqbhw_5LwSSYYfSbL5p97iNDvdpC2hfqeJwiyanvPZ9f2KPGX6iwpT3XyAtL5mSD6GnZUCV8I_UBkLo/s640/WWWU5618.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A few months ago, Mike was given the opportunity to travel to the Netherlands for business. The travel bug must have hit us hard (or the lack of sleep kicked in), because we ended up making a spontaneous decision for me to tag along with both children. It was either we all go, or stay home, and no matter how challenging the trip would be, I was desperate to break up the mundane routine. After our last trip overseas with #1, we figured it would be years before we would have the chance to travel internationally, so this was a huge unexpected blessing.</div>
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Some of you have asked how we survived traveling with the littles and honestly, Mike and I still don't know how we managed to get through. But with many prayers and by God's grace, we somehow did without losing anyone or killing each other. We are by no means pros when it comes to traveling with the littles, but I will share some things that worked (and didn't work) for us as we traveled across the pond. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6azi2GKTRQMJLoOE-NMmLEe4vHGrVOmMjvf17XIw3SqUrh4AHxmJ8jVkdMfCEV3uLZnX8achVNBd3SUY9x4ZT90P3k84cKJAiFUFbbBzH2SjFBZ9U7hlnKZvxBHbC_07hTmYbYB-yeo/s1600/KFPZ1629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6azi2GKTRQMJLoOE-NMmLEe4vHGrVOmMjvf17XIw3SqUrh4AHxmJ8jVkdMfCEV3uLZnX8achVNBd3SUY9x4ZT90P3k84cKJAiFUFbbBzH2SjFBZ9U7hlnKZvxBHbC_07hTmYbYB-yeo/s640/KFPZ1629.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 duffles stuffed with carseats, 2 luggages of stuff, 3 carry-ons and 2 extra cargo we should've left at home...kidding ^^</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3R0IgxhXVX88rQ8TnxBKgCjl1u4FfmZjdFv9Bd4xXHR44rFRCT8LH-_Bm1VXsFz2ZLT23LN4h-FqedHC1YAUlqF3QdtiJ7C-WxLj3y_oPHKSKnk-naI7XHPQq7HJSyPku_kUP3AF6r0/s1600/NOOO2059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3R0IgxhXVX88rQ8TnxBKgCjl1u4FfmZjdFv9Bd4xXHR44rFRCT8LH-_Bm1VXsFz2ZLT23LN4h-FqedHC1YAUlqF3QdtiJ7C-WxLj3y_oPHKSKnk-naI7XHPQq7HJSyPku_kUP3AF6r0/s640/NOOO2059.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Pack</b> </div>
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Pack light. Okay, I know this is nearly impossible when you're packing for children, but try to eliminate as much as you can in order to make your life easier (sounds like an oxymoron). We packed the main essentials such as pain and cold meds for the littles (conversions and ingredients can be stressful), clothing, security blankie, anti-bac wipes, passports, credit cards with chips, extra cash, camera and VITAMINS. After dealing with illnesses on our last <a href="http://douceurvivre.blogspot.com/2015/02/babymooning-in-pacific-northwest.html">babymoon</a>, we loaded up on vitamins especially for our germ-snatching toddler. I know everyone has their own opinions on this, but we swear by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Child-Life-First-Defense-4-Ounce/dp/B00016RLRS">this immunity booster</a> when taken daily (and prior to). Lighten up on your own load to make room for the littles. I literally brought one pair of shoes, the ones I wore on the plane (oh the sacrifice). </div>
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Invest in a good, sturdy umbrella stroller with a recliner (for naps!), since most places overseas are not stroller/wheelchair friendly (especially in locations with old, historic buildings). On our last trip overseas with JJ, we bought a poorly constructed umbrella stroller with wheels that kept locking in on us early on. The cobblestones also probably didn't help. The hubs did some research this time and we really liked the <a href="http://uppababy.com/g-luxe/overview/">UppaBaby G-Luxe</a>. It's rather pricey for an umbrella stroller, but you can cash out on those cc points for Bed Bath Beyond gift cards AND use a coupon (order in-store ;) ). Being from sunny SoCal, we don't think much about the weather, but if you're traveling to a cold/rainy/windy location, invest in the <a href="http://uppababy.com/accessories/g-series/rain-shield/">rain shield</a>. It was a lifesaver for our infant (and tot, too!) When boarding, keep your child in the stroller and gate check it when you enter the plane (without the child, of course).</div>
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If you are going to rent a car, try to bring your own carseats, as the safety laws are different in each country. You also don't know what kind of carseat you'll get (or what it's been through). If you have multiple children, this might be trickier. We took advice from parents on a travel forum, who suggested you place each carseat in a separate duffle bag, making it easier to carry and keeping it clean (and maybe stuffing in a diaper or two?). Genius. </div>
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Pack an extra bag for the plane ride with spare clothing, diapers, wipes, meds, baby food (if applicable) and a mini backpack full of toys/activities (preferably new and inexpensive) and snacks for your toddler. We experienced a diaper blow-out with the baby and toilet accident with the toddler all on the way there (of course -__-). Ideally, just keep a diaper on your potty-training toddler and maybe double-diaper the baby.</div>
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One more thing: if you have a mobile toddler, an ID bracelet/dog-tag (and a leash while you're at it) will help ease the mind, especially when they don't know how to write or memorize any info. We really love the one <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Allergenic-Stainless-Locomotive-Bracelet-IDB-05/dp/B0061F9414">here</a> from Amazon, it's stainless steel with a cute locomotive engraved on the front side. They will also include engraving for you, all for less than twenty bucks. </div>
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<b>Fly</b></div>
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If you can afford it, business class would probably be the way to go (just make sure to pass out earplugs!). But if you're like us, being crammed in economy with screaming children could be enough to cause you to want to jump off the plane. For a small fee, you can pay for economy plus for just one passenger (the person who is booking the flight), and it gives you some extra leg room. Believe me when I say those extra few inches made a world of a difference when traveling for 12+ hours on a plane, especially if you're like my husband, who has Daddy Long Legs. Speaking of economy, if you plan on traveling often, sign up for an airline credit card that enables you to stock up on mileage (BONUS: some airline credit cards give you enough starting points to travel up to 2 roundtrips domestically, or nearly 1 roundtrip overseas). Just be sure to pay off all your credit cards. We are not advocates for cc debt!</div>
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If you have a small toddler, you can lay out blankets and pillows from the airline onto the floor and create a mini bed for them to sleep on. Have them bring their favorite <a href="http://www.elliefunday.com/">blankie</a> to snuggle up in, and try to follow their normal bedtime routine (brushing, story time). A bribe here and there wouldn't hurt either. In a perfect scenario, the toddler wouldn't be moving around in his sleep. Since we had the middle row, I had to use my foot to block his head most of the time, to prevent him from smacking into the food carts. The window row would have been most ideal, but they were unavailable to us at the time.</div>
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As for the baby, we put him in his brother's seat to sleep in, cushioned by more airline pillows. Some airlines provide you with a lovely, hanging bassinet. However, <a href="https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/">United Airlines</a> has some of the saddest bassinets we've seen (if you can call a "duffle bag" a bassinet). We had to improvise, and in the end it worked out for the best. We also brought the <a href="http://store.ergobaby.com/">Ergo</a> carrier with us, to rock the baby to sleep while standing in place, or walking down the aisles. </div>
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<b>Stay</b></div>
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We love <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/?af=43720035&c=A_TC%3Dfmeb9dyr2w%26G_MT%3De%26G_CR%3D100808697856%26G_N%3Dg%26G_K%3Dairbnb%27%26G_P%3D%26G_D%3Dc&gclid=CJ-d5uugjcsCFQeraQod28QAGQ&dclid=CJ-Bg-ygjcsCFReHfgodhjUDiA">AirBnB</a>, but this time around, we decided to make things easier by booking hotels and B&Bs, since we were moving from place to place.<b> </b>Mike had found a quaint and economically priced little boutique hotel for our stay in Amsterdam. Once our cab dropped us off and we unloaded all the luggage and littles, climbed up all the steps into the tiny hotel lobby with all our luggage and littles, to our dismay, we found out (after they had kindly served us tea and coffee, and JJ nearly knocked over a teacup), that the reservation was for the following week (face palm). And they were completely booked for the week. Now imagine the look of my fatigued, jet-lag face after traveling 24 hours total with two little ones... and the agony and regret Mike must have felt. I figured it was best to keep my mouth shut. Next time, BOTH of us will be double/triple checking the dates. Thankfully, the hotel concierge was completely gracious, and offered to help us search for another hotel with availability. We ended up finding one (less darling, but pricier) that was closer to the main sites, which worked out just fine. </div>
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In regards to time change and all that jazz....we've read online that you should start adjusting your children a couple weeks in advanced, changing their hour for bedtime each day. I'm sure it worked out beautifully for those parents, but to us, all that scheduling sounded horrid. We are firm believers of shocking their poor little systems by allowing them to sleep whenever they want on the plane (which is usually very minimal for bedtime hours), and keeping them awake (by stuffing their faces with food) as long as possible during the day. Allow them to nap when needed, as it also gives you some time off to enjoy your new environment in peace. In the evening, they are usually so exhausted from air travel, that they pass out in their beds. But just when you think you're in the clear, be prepared to wake up more often in the middle of the night, as they may wail and cry from the adjustment. This may go on for a day or two, but usually by the third day they will have adjusted. </div>
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We usually don't bring a baby bed (pack n' play) with us when we travel overseas, since we have limited space, but most hotels will accommodate you with an infant bed if you call and ask ahead of time. Sadly, our 6-month old at the time refused to sleep in the hotel baby beds, so we ended up co-sleeping with him. The bright side was that our toddler was still small enough to fit in the baby beds : ). </div>
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<b>Eat</b></div>
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We usually plan out the places we want to try ahead of time, especially ones that require advanced reservations. That way, we don't have to wait in lines while the littles grow impatient and meltdowns begin. It is always a good idea to let the maitre d' know you have children, so they can prepare (or send you to the back of the restaurant, heh) a convenient space with highchairs for them. Most places we've visited have been very friendly and welcoming towards children, but it isn't always the case. If you know your meal will take longer than an hour, bring the goodie bag full of treats + toys to entertain, and if you brought an iPad or iPhone (hey, no shame there), save it as a last resort (we all get desperate). As for the infant, there's not much you can do when they wail...and they usually will at the most inopportune times. That is when you can "gracefully" exit the restaurant and return when they have calmed down. At the same time, sometimes it's easier just to stumble into the first restaurant you see the locals dining at, and you could be in for a pleasant surprise. When in Rome.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shameless selfies with my six-month old, still fresh before the jet-lag</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toddler on the floor, baby in the seat, and two parents unaware of what's in store...<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">With that said...here are some of the "happier" moments whilst in Amsterdam --</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for a new cab after our hotel mix-up ^^</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGhk4lViFBYvtxZaaNsUp2T7DYsU0KVAy62yJNLnUjxg3tT-qnQ0ZIEnkMjcGp6yTB95h6mF-CX9TLOx8Zzow253bSMZIgJ1YM-UrS1pNwCFL5QeHRW-KzIxImfftQWqhHySFHLunT7k/s1600/DSC_2491-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGhk4lViFBYvtxZaaNsUp2T7DYsU0KVAy62yJNLnUjxg3tT-qnQ0ZIEnkMjcGp6yTB95h6mF-CX9TLOx8Zzow253bSMZIgJ1YM-UrS1pNwCFL5QeHRW-KzIxImfftQWqhHySFHLunT7k/s640/DSC_2491-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hyper jetlag </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for <a href="http://www.pancakesamsterdam.com/?language=en_us">Pancakes!</a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCR7hFfWUD7KgpGcT_AjPiG4ONEgZ4RltKestecpZIjf73G5SMbrnEC54fGoU87jn8YaCsE351jkUe6wYmIZ3Tm_NToz3Z_LlvqPTZD4BzXmUaup-B5t2dOLQ8nx-EjryVX5VdEMf4Rc0/s1600/DSC_2513-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCR7hFfWUD7KgpGcT_AjPiG4ONEgZ4RltKestecpZIjf73G5SMbrnEC54fGoU87jn8YaCsE351jkUe6wYmIZ3Tm_NToz3Z_LlvqPTZD4BzXmUaup-B5t2dOLQ8nx-EjryVX5VdEMf4Rc0/s640/DSC_2513-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Met some mums (one feeding the bebe inside the bike trailer, very typical Dutch!) while I was walking with Lucas in the carrier - it is a heartwarming feeling when you realize how small the world becomes once you're a parent. </div>
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Parenthood is a universally shared experience.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmNAtoFW3H_HbgrdIahjXxCzaL2-Zh5Hs5MZDjFCuFnfEg-L8pszPoCoYQnuciDyQ2leum1STqZgt3oD610afVT2EHBwjEVP4cibE5URSu9UYkWCdBHvpYeYR6ihxpaBZ6AtuSP1LhP0/s1600/DSC_2532-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmNAtoFW3H_HbgrdIahjXxCzaL2-Zh5Hs5MZDjFCuFnfEg-L8pszPoCoYQnuciDyQ2leum1STqZgt3oD610afVT2EHBwjEVP4cibE5URSu9UYkWCdBHvpYeYR6ihxpaBZ6AtuSP1LhP0/s640/DSC_2532-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical JJ with a mischievous smile and a mouth full of cream</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPcvvSv4ycSxhxLD4zgxy0tzjUuSVTGUPrqThD5qUXfM7bJvgdnosNaYGbA6_6rCT0xKfuzLDESobABxfoY8fjjRWAHWF7eRssna93RooUV6Pk03GqErVp2CZkT1J2gUAjuuKmrN1IR0/s1600/DSC_2522-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPcvvSv4ycSxhxLD4zgxy0tzjUuSVTGUPrqThD5qUXfM7bJvgdnosNaYGbA6_6rCT0xKfuzLDESobABxfoY8fjjRWAHWF7eRssna93RooUV6Pk03GqErVp2CZkT1J2gUAjuuKmrN1IR0/s640/DSC_2522-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sadly, some of the only tulips we saw in Amsterdam during the Autumn season</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5HayupnR_EG31EUEaHcWgUqIWP-OEb8ecOE-XST6Bx0M_snOILdxtZgtumph7RniUyyqZMxAFYsAM1d1VVC-AMnOuXbPouUMXbpRX_Sbu7uyqJYY-XVhc-264bz5Ra_rCDPoLkluGRk/s1600/DSC_2528-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5HayupnR_EG31EUEaHcWgUqIWP-OEb8ecOE-XST6Bx0M_snOILdxtZgtumph7RniUyyqZMxAFYsAM1d1VVC-AMnOuXbPouUMXbpRX_Sbu7uyqJYY-XVhc-264bz5Ra_rCDPoLkluGRk/s640/DSC_2528-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dutch apple pie at <a href="http://www.winkel43.nl/">Winkel's</a>-- we had to order to-go because the seating was inside a tiny little bar several steps up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljIxOyqFknomvou4Nw1wulAXm7pRsg_ZTbX9APGnf-HOJW6TeYAGEAKR3VYFIVLM9DFCjtNUMiw4rbOzbxtXZ8ktimpWNSOa571srOjjjNySXH7y4VHhc2xxcB6hEaCGNbPSiTvEyFDk/s1600/DSC_2538-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljIxOyqFknomvou4Nw1wulAXm7pRsg_ZTbX9APGnf-HOJW6TeYAGEAKR3VYFIVLM9DFCjtNUMiw4rbOzbxtXZ8ktimpWNSOa571srOjjjNySXH7y4VHhc2xxcB6hEaCGNbPSiTvEyFDk/s640/DSC_2538-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stroop waffles with a sweet syrup filling, a Dutch favorite!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-34fTeQxzOF0A8r47qoHs_2U8YMV8xYdKOfUmSCVEuojLrozGi3DaAr7bgQn1iA2p1zorlZ71bJw1jBssvFsnuA_VGy_V_PXTA1AFMS4TWoEBCEnemFJ7Cfr8dpAx2DNSizk3H2PvQ8/s1600/DSC_2547-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-34fTeQxzOF0A8r47qoHs_2U8YMV8xYdKOfUmSCVEuojLrozGi3DaAr7bgQn1iA2p1zorlZ71bJw1jBssvFsnuA_VGy_V_PXTA1AFMS4TWoEBCEnemFJ7Cfr8dpAx2DNSizk3H2PvQ8/s640/DSC_2547-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being a Mama sometimes has me feeling like this...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDk1VYBbWLmmF4aU7lK87XsBlXuI-2wrsIsRHau5NOYp2Jf6X2Oo8uW-lessBYWiP3fu43fK-TOHK-7XgwGoM-bDP3bDsGI69hBSRc0vcg6JzQktLQFgtEUscvFVWHlAK6hTAYTYgrOk/s1600/DSC_2557-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDk1VYBbWLmmF4aU7lK87XsBlXuI-2wrsIsRHau5NOYp2Jf6X2Oo8uW-lessBYWiP3fu43fK-TOHK-7XgwGoM-bDP3bDsGI69hBSRc0vcg6JzQktLQFgtEUscvFVWHlAK6hTAYTYgrOk/s640/DSC_2557-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
The infamous Red Light District -- We went when the littles were asleep for obvious reasons. Even if it's legal over there, it is still a sad and disturbing sight to see. My initial romantic thoughts of Amsterdam changed drastically after encountering this side of town. </div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhak3q07aw6fqsnDpWr2FDPzRtdL61n4PTeS5nVpIBrZkb8dziEeMuAeO62AmMNLmof8AUJsgTUmgv_3qqdY6lQikpDjrdFlqzta4ugluTxPdj4pRZt-wrbO4b_DjhiU-D8vdATOyrgoJY/s1600/DSC_2570-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhak3q07aw6fqsnDpWr2FDPzRtdL61n4PTeS5nVpIBrZkb8dziEeMuAeO62AmMNLmof8AUJsgTUmgv_3qqdY6lQikpDjrdFlqzta4ugluTxPdj4pRZt-wrbO4b_DjhiU-D8vdATOyrgoJY/s640/DSC_2570-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jacketz.nl/en">Jacketz Oud</a> - Gigantic spuds stuffed with all sorts of goodness, making it a delicious, inexpensive meal.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxD7TIszd1f134kR36m1EbNsuVsZBT7C7czR9hbE0qp8IC2WRc6PLdJjBRBkpqkmgBiQA_qd8zdRpMO9i268o0dALq4iGAYFbqLbm1IptVl4Y5qaVzaKNowYAvp2SL3w7wk30qTV_rxE/s1600/DSC_2585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxD7TIszd1f134kR36m1EbNsuVsZBT7C7czR9hbE0qp8IC2WRc6PLdJjBRBkpqkmgBiQA_qd8zdRpMO9i268o0dALq4iGAYFbqLbm1IptVl4Y5qaVzaKNowYAvp2SL3w7wk30qTV_rxE/s640/DSC_2585.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
We made the mistake of visiting the <a href="http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en">Van Gogh Museum</a> in the evening, and ate a plate of Dutch pancakes for dinner -- Thirty minutes in, I was ready to pass out onto the floor from the jet-lag. </div>
</td></tr>
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<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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu48KbWsKz193PwBa-R61KCTa2vDwmAIsOXfvpxiEwxCpCs5AE5W6oz3UjvCq8mJrUTPzipZi4thG1NC9eIsivMNIIhvo_HwyFVPmi9UcA97Gk2KU7LNmuTQPO3qAVpbswd-idGjgWxQE/s1600/DSC_2596-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu48KbWsKz193PwBa-R61KCTa2vDwmAIsOXfvpxiEwxCpCs5AE5W6oz3UjvCq8mJrUTPzipZi4thG1NC9eIsivMNIIhvo_HwyFVPmi9UcA97Gk2KU7LNmuTQPO3qAVpbswd-idGjgWxQE/s640/DSC_2596-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1 down, 2 to go!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwvU_Z1jABwDaB8H8WVeV7zJFMoC3vShEUD8ohtXRCSZFcgO4OzeeJFoFuLBFjyNhCT6ptA0yYC135XAyQ-K0oYEih1WrYlOaX_uXvVoXiAVCSGxfuBzaNAKbZ_bjJlQNhjst61XjHo4/s1600/DSC_2605-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwvU_Z1jABwDaB8H8WVeV7zJFMoC3vShEUD8ohtXRCSZFcgO4OzeeJFoFuLBFjyNhCT6ptA0yYC135XAyQ-K0oYEih1WrYlOaX_uXvVoXiAVCSGxfuBzaNAKbZ_bjJlQNhjst61XjHo4/s640/DSC_2605-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxn0onRjvO88LkjW5LAM4oDhbGWcnjSwxNVV-tjDxwdqPP4dXlYYJLmsD0DKZ-EpksWoqOkIBhwaSb70nc31XbZqqQJBxdXrbgyTlZ8_I8UVNgDJueTSJS6lU5GNkw-YHz8juXy33X1UE/s1600/DSC_2608-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxn0onRjvO88LkjW5LAM4oDhbGWcnjSwxNVV-tjDxwdqPP4dXlYYJLmsD0DKZ-EpksWoqOkIBhwaSb70nc31XbZqqQJBxdXrbgyTlZ8_I8UVNgDJueTSJS6lU5GNkw-YHz8juXy33X1UE/s640/DSC_2608-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Took a stroll in the beautiful <a href="http://www.amsterdam.info/parks/vondelpark/">Vondelpark</a>, the Central Park of Amsterdam.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvQj6sMDx37Fc9C3iLTY_TFu11tSwCBULuyYB3eQxhmOUScCWOTaosw6Q4v13fV4Mn8_Qfnq74uS4Lveb__Ty5C7b0jBjPqOIjMvcBQn79Y2xdHq8vgUEVaxqdPhyphenhyphenxD82ZSu_3mDFFfk/s1600/DSC_2667-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvQj6sMDx37Fc9C3iLTY_TFu11tSwCBULuyYB3eQxhmOUScCWOTaosw6Q4v13fV4Mn8_Qfnq74uS4Lveb__Ty5C7b0jBjPqOIjMvcBQn79Y2xdHq8vgUEVaxqdPhyphenhyphenxD82ZSu_3mDFFfk/s640/DSC_2667-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No matter how hard my OCD kicks in every time he stomps in a puddle, I have learned to resist and hold back (most of the time at least). </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPwqAG2m9CbPtT9H2xoXnIIvoNJoX9dFIOwGk7Rjb1wKATgZbXg4E_dBL9_Yd_H-dHF4X-KV6DmA2LnnXJbHANGwCA9JRXxrE8Xti3617v9X1ZYfypjFhB6YXp3xu6Yf1sr65PgNoUI4/s1600/DSC_2601-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPwqAG2m9CbPtT9H2xoXnIIvoNJoX9dFIOwGk7Rjb1wKATgZbXg4E_dBL9_Yd_H-dHF4X-KV6DmA2LnnXJbHANGwCA9JRXxrE8Xti3617v9X1ZYfypjFhB6YXp3xu6Yf1sr65PgNoUI4/s640/DSC_2601-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
- Goede Nacht! -</div>
Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-91842096216760089862016-01-29T21:27:00.002-08:002016-01-29T23:28:27.245-08:00Finding Forgiveness<div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWK0sWsXYDmx635w1y2_dqtOoLftwgwMq_hiCqmsgefoo8dImfF0MOYGaHQvqp6Vk8-gTbLwp5yyF3SU5Pn7zfWpPc2bD9jf-nXZme6vlqqGwT-7xV-3bawDih_alXohNpsyZl-bZDRI/s1600/IMG_9574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWK0sWsXYDmx635w1y2_dqtOoLftwgwMq_hiCqmsgefoo8dImfF0MOYGaHQvqp6Vk8-gTbLwp5yyF3SU5Pn7zfWpPc2bD9jf-nXZme6vlqqGwT-7xV-3bawDih_alXohNpsyZl-bZDRI/s640/IMG_9574.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">It has been over a year since my Grandma passed,
and her story still stands out to me today. As a little girl, I will never
forget her long, perfectly manicured nails (which she did herself) that were
constantly in shades of red, mauve and pearlescent pink. Since I wasn't allowed
to wear nail polish at the time, I always begged her to let me
"borrow" her nail polish, and she would never say "no."
Walks to the local 7-Eleven for ice-cream with her and my siblings were a weekly
tradition. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">My Grandma was always a very private person, only
sharing tidbits of her personal life with us. Even though she lived with us,
she sometimes came off rather cold and distant. However, we knew she loved us
deep down inside, as my Grandma just had a different way of showing it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Her story is a tragic one during a time of
political unrest in China. My Grandfather was the headmaster of the school at
which my Grandma taught, and they had recently conceived their second child (my
father), when my Grandfather was turned in by a relative to the authorities and
killed. As a result, she was a widow most of her life, raising my father and
his sister nearly all on her own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">My Grandma hardly spoke of my Grandfather, even
though decades had passed. There were no photos left behind to recollect his
memory, as I am assuming it was too difficult for her to reminisce. They say
that even when someone passes away, you continue to make new discoveries about
them. It wasn't until after my Grandma's passing, that I began to understand
more of who and why she was the way she was. She spent most of her life as a
social worker, specializing in working with orphans. I often wondered if her
work in helping others allowed her to find some sort of healing from her past. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">No one but God, would have been able to empathize
with the pain and sorrow of what she had gone through when losing my
Grandfather. I wish I took the opportunity to ask her about her past-- how she
coped with the feelings of betrayal from a relative, along with the burden of
losing a spouse, and when healing and forgiveness took place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I have never dealt with learning to forgive on the
level my Grandma had to go through, but I was reminded of her story after she
passed. <i>Forgiveness</i> has been a recurrent theme the Lord has been
hammering in me for the past few years. I've heard the word plenty of times
growing up in the church: Christ died so that our sins would be forgiven-- the
concept of <b>grace</b> never became personal for me until I left for college,
and then it was demonstrated to me again through my own husband. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I have learned to receive such undeserving grace,
but yet the past few years have had me holding onto past hurts. I felt entitled
to my ill feelings towards certain friendships I had invested in, that had
grown distant through our own pride and misunderstandings. I allowed the seeds of
bitterness to take root within my heart. However petty and insignificant the
reasons behind my unforgiveness were, I could not seem to let things go. It
wasn't until someone painted an illustration for me, revealing that unforgiveness
was like drinking the poison that was intended for the other person. That
really struck a chord, and I began to open my eyes to see the damage I was
doing not only to others, but to myself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">It has been a slow learning process, these past few
years...and I am still learning today. Choosing to forgive is a daily quest,
and I find myself struggling, even with my own children. Love does not come
easy, but I am reminded that there <i>is</i> a perfect love out there. And it
holds no record of wrongs. It is kind, it protects, it <i>doesn't</i> dishonor
others, it isn't self-seeking, nor easily angered. It doesn't delight in evil,
but <i>rejoices</i> with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always
hopes and always perseveres. Most importantly, love <i>never</i> fails (1 Cor.
13:4-8). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">The ultimate definition of love is found through
The One who created love and exemplified it through dying on a cross for broken
people like me. I find myself asking: </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>If Christ died not only for
sinners, but for those who ridiculed and despised him, who am I to hold
judgement and unforgiveness towards others</i>?</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<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;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrF7FExb7_e-V_Ak_0AX3GNtrnx5Llr8RbSHIUu6pgZvFIxqpSZrUHfq8fG_JeKpSstHxx_jVJddJkkylHXClf3NjLDirDEdhoiRHLCI0h6teh2vpLtdvnUxhJBVVIlBWXJchM64Xa78/s1600/IMG_1056.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrF7FExb7_e-V_Ak_0AX3GNtrnx5Llr8RbSHIUu6pgZvFIxqpSZrUHfq8fG_JeKpSstHxx_jVJddJkkylHXClf3NjLDirDEdhoiRHLCI0h6teh2vpLtdvnUxhJBVVIlBWXJchM64Xa78/s640/IMG_1056.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am looking forward to the day when I will see her in heaven -- renewed and completely restored.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="passage-display-bcv" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: x-small; margin: 0px; padding-right: 10px;">| Ephesians 4:31-32 |</span></span><i style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-weight: 500;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="text Eph-4-31" id="en-NIV-29304" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Get rid of<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29304A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29304A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29304B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29304B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span> <span class="text Eph-4-32" id="en-NIV-29305" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Be kind and compassionate to one another,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29305C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29305C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.</span></span></i></h1>
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Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-51824127976647547112015-08-28T18:34:00.000-07:002015-08-28T18:34:47.296-07:00The Gift of Being Present<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiEAAlGHOUfOH3H_koN85fDMEOATMMnWohmD-36SkJ1U455VeWRqJC3edPgtkj2eRJMXap1vj2SQuTRSX4m9qR8OFpfjIOkWlcWlK3r_ZlSVPjYH7iWn3M7nSnRKefTVdL_F0bMTjoN4/s1600/IMG_9063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiEAAlGHOUfOH3H_koN85fDMEOATMMnWohmD-36SkJ1U455VeWRqJC3edPgtkj2eRJMXap1vj2SQuTRSX4m9qR8OFpfjIOkWlcWlK3r_ZlSVPjYH7iWn3M7nSnRKefTVdL_F0bMTjoN4/s640/IMG_9063.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Last month set us up for a scare when JJ had a febrile seizure for the first time. He had a fever that day, so we decided to give him a bath. After singing and playing merrily along, he grew quiet and refused to get out of the tub. My husband called me into the bathroom to finish bathing him. That was when he went underwater, and appeared to be motionless. I felt my heart drop into the pit of my stomach. I began to panic, and immediately lifted him out of the tub. We called 9-1-1 and the operator asked us a few questions and gave us instructions. When my husband tried opening our son's mouth, he clamped down hard onto his finger. At that moment, we realized he was having a seizure and laid him on his side. I remembered my younger brother going through a seizure when he was a little younger than JJ, and felt slight relief, knowing that he would most likely be okay. The operator calmed us down and had us check for breathing, which he was doing on his own. He began going in and out of consciousness and ended up falling asleep as the paramedics and fire department arrived. The paramedics drove us to the ER, where they checked him out and looked for signs of an infection (which they couldn't find). They concluded that his seizure was caused by a quickly escalating fever, and said that in the future we would need to be more aggressive in alternating between fever reducers to keep his fever down. </div>
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That night I could not sleep peacefully, as I replayed the incident over and over in my mind. What would have happened if we left him for more than five minutes? The thought made me feel sick to my stomach. Earlier that morning, JJ had told me he was feeling sad and wanted me to hold him. I held him for a minute and told him I needed to make him breakfast. Looking back, I felt overwhelmed with guilt. If something horrible had happened to my baby, how much regret would I have had for not spending more time holding him while I could? I know I'm being a bit dramatic, but I couldn't help but think about the what if's. All he wanted was for me to be present, and the Lord clearly revealed my constant struggle to be present- not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. </div>
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They say on average, most children barely receive 3 minutes of undisrupted time with their parents without distractions (iPhones, laptops, household duties...). It is the sad reality of being part of a tech-media-savvy generation. Being a stay-at-home-mom, I'm physically present all day, and sometimes the endless needs can feel overwhelming. I tend to have a Martha complex when I'm at home, trying to tie all the loose ends to ensure our home is in place and everyone is well fed. However, I am learning (and fighting through) to take the time to fully be in the present, to focus on quality versus quantity. And this carries on over beyond my children, but also in my relationship with God. How difficult it is to sit and be still... </div>
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On a side note, other than the ER scare, the transition has been less intense and we are beginning to adapt to the new bebe. JJ thoroughly enjoys spending time with his baby brother, but there are still times when pangs of jealousy arise, as expected. Below are some iPhone (mostly) photos of some of the more pleasant moments...^^</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My tan bubba ^^</td></tr>
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Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-52224750551547691802015-07-10T15:04:00.000-07:002015-07-10T15:04:11.000-07:00Make a statement.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Its been awhile since I've posted anything style-related, but even though I am now a Mama of two, I still enjoy dressing up every now and then to get out of my daily uniform, which typically consists of sweats and a t-shirt (shocking, I know). Since my shopping challenge a couple of years ago, I have made a commitment to only purchase what I see myself wearing for more than just a couple of years. There have been some regrets here and there, things that have landed as donations at our local thrift store, or sold online at <a href="http://www.thredup.com/r/JH0PR5">thredup.com</a> (a really great website to sell and purchase from btw).<br />
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However, I am still redefining my own individual style, which has definitely changed over the last few years. As I went through my closet to clear out the clutter, I found that there were several items I had not worn in the last year- those items were the first to go. I also sorted through all the crazy costume-y stuff I used to wear when I was young and child-free, and ended with a ton of basics. These are the items I resort to when I don't want to think a whole lot about what I put on (which lately, is most mornings). Because I have been building my wardrobe around good, solid basics, I find that accessories and statement pieces have been my go-to when in need of making an outfit look less blah. I have always been one to accessorize with jewelry, but shoes and bags can also make a statement without being over-the-top.<br />
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A friend recently introduced me to <a href="http://oradelphine.com/">Ora Delphine</a>, an up and coming handbag company that produces stylish, yet quality leather bags for reasonable prices. So when I saw this green pony haired leopard clutch on their website a few months back, I immediately gravitated towards it. It was unique without being flashy or loud, and the versatility of this clutch is what drew me in - wear it with the gold chain to make it dressier, or dress it down by removing the chain altogether. It also came with a black leather strap as another option. The best part is that the clutch is large enough to hold all my basic essentials, which is muy importante, because after all, what is the purpose of a bag if it can't hold anything in it?<br />
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<a href="http://oradelphine.com/">Ora Delphine</a> is having a summer sale at the moment, and I've collaborated with them to give you an <i>additional </i>50% off sale prices with the code <b>DV50</b> from now until the next weekend! Their styles range from basic, bold to trendy and fun. You can find a similar version of my leopard clutch as a <a href="http://oradelphine.com/collections/sale/products/eva-convertible-clutch-emerald-cheetah">wristlet</a> on sale as well : ).<br />
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I decided to pair the clutch with a silk pistachio colored <a href="http://www.buffaloexchange.com/">blouse,</a> my torn/ripped/well-loved <a href="http://www.hm.com/us/">skinnies</a> with a skinny belt and <a href="http://www.lastcall.com/index.jsp?ecid=LCSGTM__XX">strappy heels</a>.<br />
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Don't mind the little one stirring up a ruckus in the background! ^^</div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D508801364355014524%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dsidebar&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-kCrpGv_UJcM%2FVZ9tfVXffwI%2FAAAAAAAAEyc%2FkOssJG7PwRs%2Fs640%2FDSC_0884-2.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=dX0N3aRCSuJo&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D508801364355014524%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dsidebar&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-kCrpGv_UJcM%2FVZ9tfVXffwI%2FAAAAAAAAEyc%2FkOssJG7PwRs%2Fs640%2FDSC_0884-2.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=dX0N3aRCSuJo&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D508801364355014524%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dsidebar&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-kCrpGv_UJcM%2FVZ9tfVXffwI%2FAAAAAAAAEyc%2FkOssJG7PwRs%2Fs640%2FDSC_0884-2.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=dX0N3aRCSuJo&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblogger.g%3FblogID%3D508801364355014524%23editor%2Fsrc%3Dsidebar&media=https%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-kCrpGv_UJcM%2FVZ9tfVXffwI%2FAAAAAAAAEyc%2FkOssJG7PwRs%2Fs640%2FDSC_0884-2.jpg&xm=h&xv=sa1.37.01&xuid=dX0N3aRCSuJo&description=" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 18px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-21200098037133609422015-06-02T16:07:00.000-07:002015-06-02T16:07:43.863-07:00Pushed to the Limit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Don't let this photo fool you, but life with two young children for the past six weeks has been a challenge to say the least. I had been warned by seasoned parents that the transition from 1-2 kids would be exponentially difficult, so I was bracing for it physically, but hadn't anticipated how it would also be emotionally draining. I suppose every parent has a different experience, and no one child is alike, but it seems like the general consensus here is that raising children is no walk in the park. And speaking of, the first time I decided to take the both of them for a walk in the park, my oldest fell flat onto the cement when he refused to listen to me about going uphill. The end result was blood streaming down his nose, in addition to a giant goose egg emerging on his forehead hours later (thankfully he hadn't broken anything).<div>
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I laugh uneasily now, looking back and thinking about how I thought that the terrible two's weren't really too terrible with JJ. Since his brother has arrived, we have seen a different side of him that makes us wonder if he had been waiting to unleash this animal at the most inopportune time. My husband and I joke (sometimes seriously) that we want to send him off to boarding school. Though he had always been gentle with other babies, we were in for a surprise when ours came along. What would start off as gentle caressing and kisses turned into grabbing, pulling and head bopping/smacking his poor little brother. The actions would increase when there were visitors and he sensed that his attention was threatened. Eating on his own, sleeping through the night and having dry diapers in the morning have become past luxuries. We started off by giving him "extra" attention by playing with him or taking him out exclusively. But after seeing little to no improvement, our patience wore thin and we began scolding him, putting him in multiple time-outs and taking toys away. We also tried telling him over and over again that we love him and he is special to us. He must've sensed our bi-polar responses. However, once I felt as though we were moving forward, another event seemed to push us several steps backwards. </div>
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I recall the early weeks when I was nursing the little one, and JJ demanded to have my attention by attacking his little brother. I tried my best to remain calm by attempting to play with him using my other free arm- but he just wouldn't have it and began to cry big tears, causing the baby to cry. I looked at him and began to cry myself, feeling helpless and at a loss for wisdom. There have been a few more similar incidences, resulting in mini breakdowns. This morning was one of them, especially upon hearing that a close relative felt that I couldn't properly teach my toddler how to love his brother..and the events that followed this morning seemed to confirm that statement. </div>
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But just when I feel that I cannot take anymore, the Lord brings a friend or two into my life to give me a sense of hope and encouragement, reminding me that He is there and that he cares. And it is times like these that place me on my knees, crying out in repentance to God for losing it with my child and desperately seeking his wisdom. Being humbled by my own pride, I am reminded that it has been awhile since I've been at this point of desperation for God, needing him every moment of my seemingly mundane day. </div>
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I know it is still too early for us to have "figured out" this whole parenting thing once again (if anyone ever has), but I am learning to take it day by day. My husband told me he recently read about how we will forever be complacent until we are stretched, and though it is painful at the time, it is only then that we grow and experience what the Lord is trying to teach us. If anything, being a parent has truly brought out the worst (and maybe sometimes best) in me. I guess in hindsight there is something worthwhile that can arise out of all this. We are constantly being refined until the day we die, and knowing that gives me a sense of hope to overcome my daily battles as a parent. </div>
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<i>To the parents of multiples, I have much respect and admiration for you, and this desperate Mama warmly welcomes any advice or suggestions (I am all Googled out, and yes I am too lazy to begin a new book on parenting...don't get me started on the number of unfinished books I have lying around)!</i></div>
Davinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204145287891320953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508801364355014524.post-30008159738314513122015-05-14T22:17:00.001-07:002015-05-15T17:11:26.177-07:00Welcoming Baby Lucas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On April 16th, we welcomed in our second baby boy, Lucas David. His arrival was quite a process, very much unlike the typical textbook labor I experienced with <a href="http://douceurvivre.blogspot.com/2013/03/our-birth-story.html">my first labor</a>. What felt like "labor," began a few days prior, with Braxton Hicks occurring sporadically starting early Tuesday morning. The following day resulted in similar contractions that grew stronger, but nothing consistent enough to be labeled as active labor. They were starting to become a nuisance, so I decided to try ignoring them and going about my day. </div>
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The third night, I was awoken by contractions that were beginning to feel slightly painful, causing me to sit up and breath through each one. I woke the husband up once again (I was starting to feel like the boy who cried wolf) to tell him I thought today would really be "the day." He got up with me and we watched "Modern Family" (it has become a tradition with each labor) to take my mind off the contractions. By 4am, they were coming every 5-7 minutes and growing stronger. We ate breakfast and decided to go for a walk to speed things along, stopping to breath during each contraction. After walking for some time, I was beginning to feel exhausted from the lack of sleep the previous nights. We sat down on the park bench and the contractions stopped the entire time I rested. We walked back home and by then, I only had one contraction within 20 minutes. I began to feel frustrated, as each of these contractions seemed to lead to false hope of a real labor. I began to desperately pray that I would not be in "labor" for days on end. </div>
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I decided to take a nap to rest and take my mind off of the contractions and had a few strong ones while I was resting. Afterwards, my husband suggested that I soak in the tub to relax, as that seemed to trigger labor the first time around. We lit candles and played some relaxing piano music, the same playlist I labored to in the past at the hospital. Being in the warm water was soothing and actually helped ease some discomfort during the contractions. I could see why some women choose a water birth, I would too if our hospital provided bathtubs! At this point, my contractions came back feeling stronger and lasting longer than the previous ones. I laid in the tub for what was probably two hours before deciding to get out. When I went outside to talk with my mother (she ended up staying with us to take care of JJ after the first day of false labor), I experienced a few more of the same contractions that didn't enable me to speak. She glanced at the clock and saw that they were coming every 5 minutes, so she went to the yard to call my husband to come back inside. Apparently he was jumping in the jumper with our oldest son, thinking it was false labor once again, so he took his time putting the equipment away. By the time he went inside, I had a big contraction and began to feel the urge to push. He took one look at me and knew it was time to head to the hospital. </div>
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We rushed out of the house as fast as we could, and from what I could remember, the ride there resembled one out of a car chase movie. Since it was late in the afternoon, rush hour had already begun. The husband weaved in and out of lanes and "safely" ran a red. The entire time I was focusing on breathing through the strong contractions and keeping my mind off the pain. I tried visualizing a steady stream with trees all around from Psalm 23 and surprisingly this helped. </div>
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When we arrived at the entrance of the hospital, my husband left the car in the passenger drop-off and we made a mad dash for the elevator. I hobbled into the lobby, which was unusually packed with people. I gave the nurse my name and was pleasantly surprised to see my doctor on call! They gave me one of the last rooms available and the walk from the door to the bed felt like an eternity. After I changed into the hospital gown, the nurse made a comment that the bed wasn't a drop-down delivery bed. I suppose they ran out of rooms, but there was no way I was moving at this point- we would have to manage without the convenience. One of the nurses came in to check me and told us I was 9.5 cm, basically ready to push (the involuntary pushing had already begun). She yelled down the hall to call the doctor in, and several more nurses rushed in. The anesthesiologist came by and asked if I wanted an epidural, which was quite humorous considering the fact that I was about to push, and the epidural would be counterproductive. I graciously declined. Afterwards, one of the nurses stabbed my wrist with a needle and blood came spewing out, as she had hit the wrong nerve a couple of times. I recall her telling me to try and put pressure on it, but my focus was elsewhere. They opted out on the IV. </div>
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By this point I was waiting for them to prop me into the right position to push. They moved my body diagonally, my legs dangling off the side of the bed. The doctor grabbed her tools and they told me I could officially begin pushing. I was laying flat on my back with my knees propped up, possibly the most uncomfortable pushing position. I was tired of waiting and the thought of going through another contraction made me anxious. I pushed through the first contraction and even harder during the next, and it was then that our already mischievous baby boy made his grand appearance late afternoon. It was instant relief as they placed his little body on my chest to hold for the very first time, something I didn't have the chance to experience with my first due to minor complications. I was in awe, shock and numbness all at once. Unlike what you typically see on the tube, I never felt the mushy-gushy weepy feelings upon seeing my children for the first time. The feelings usually settle in slowly over the weeks, months even. Every experience is unique for each Mama, but still miraculous to witness nonetheless. Giving birth is one of the most challenging experiences (first of many!) a Mama will go through, but the light at the end of the tunnel (literally) bears tremendous blessings.</div>
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Its been nearly a month since little Lucas was born, and time has gone by slowly, yet quickly. Being a second-time mama does have its benefits, as you tend to recover sooner and have less anxiety about the things you worried about the first time around. However...the transition going from 1 to 2 can be brutal. We were told that it not only becomes double the work, but it is also exponentially more difficult. And that statement remains true thus far, as we have all been learning to adjust to our new addition (more on that later). </div>
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Challenges aside, it has been rather nice to have this sweet addition to our little family. Seeing the way his older brother interacts with him is heartwarming, though brief (it doesn't take long for his gentle caresses to turn into pinching and squeezing). Being a second sibling does have its advantages though (and cabin fever hit us harder this time around)- this little guy has already seen the likes of Disneyland (don't tell the grandparents!), yummy eateries, a drive-in movie and Target/Costco runs all within the early weeks of his life here in this big bad world...and there are more to come! We feel extremely blessed (and terrified) to be entrusted with yet another one of these precious little ones. </div>
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Some recent photos of our growing family... </div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The fruit of the womb is a reward.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So are the children of one’s youth.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">They shall not be ashamed,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But shall speak with their enemies in the gate."</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">- Psalm 127:3-5</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoAQbkyZJeYtmDpW4tGIFJlau9kh3B8KCZnSyELfT4dMlEXaWljOLEEygO_orQStWJUDq0WTzFEpskMcVA6VmgZv75YzeecJwXVRch_lkffpSx85vFYlFO4cDq8G9ggZTK3tDGOSG7UOw/s1600/DSC_0076-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoAQbkyZJeYtmDpW4tGIFJlau9kh3B8KCZnSyELfT4dMlEXaWljOLEEygO_orQStWJUDq0WTzFEpskMcVA6VmgZv75YzeecJwXVRch_lkffpSx85vFYlFO4cDq8G9ggZTK3tDGOSG7UOw/s640/DSC_0076-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Proud older brother</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsF9Yxnj-uNMTB0bDBPyA2M0pPnenG5OYmXt53uUnN9pkqVQ2cJMZZjfsVvNG1cRSyoNT-hcv3YEbOyvPetFO_rJfgNEGw8wmSQho54jRV6Dvc7kOP59hiiI9w2PFYfc0xADIcukEWD5U/s1600/DSC_0146-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsF9Yxnj-uNMTB0bDBPyA2M0pPnenG5OYmXt53uUnN9pkqVQ2cJMZZjfsVvNG1cRSyoNT-hcv3YEbOyvPetFO_rJfgNEGw8wmSQho54jRV6Dvc7kOP59hiiI9w2PFYfc0xADIcukEWD5U/s640/DSC_0146-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCHkeI8MsCaZLZDRLXf2IAy95yz_4KTcM1MAKZ8uyoCzquOGn2xybliFDuaym76sEwRu8Ea8pGUHvk8MVvtvSklgmvrsakHgkOxCJ_qKYtGXbWnP8deXdiJdJJIyibUJJ-3wsdL2LKcA/s1600/DSC_0067-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCHkeI8MsCaZLZDRLXf2IAy95yz_4KTcM1MAKZ8uyoCzquOGn2xybliFDuaym76sEwRu8Ea8pGUHvk8MVvtvSklgmvrsakHgkOxCJ_qKYtGXbWnP8deXdiJdJJIyibUJJ-3wsdL2LKcA/s640/DSC_0067-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8BSBcsh7d5sKO6QaqB7BhacuxcfOWX7oyqxUGYZ3ze0SEDZahvGvrfWr7o_bsInjnmD0EGbudELk1qNrWWLdLddvO0IQ4xSUGop7RO70q9m-Qyz4hzdQFcn06_zpKovBV7OLQPA_kBw/s1600/DSC_0149-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8BSBcsh7d5sKO6QaqB7BhacuxcfOWX7oyqxUGYZ3ze0SEDZahvGvrfWr7o_bsInjnmD0EGbudELk1qNrWWLdLddvO0IQ4xSUGop7RO70q9m-Qyz4hzdQFcn06_zpKovBV7OLQPA_kBw/s640/DSC_0149-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7UQuaPfj2OkDc_kQztN6GwuI9UeNI_j5HEOEWAeGwUJ5orzK8Ux4oh9jJAGr4UniAHnpnLMIGaKuPBdL6HREQk2u2to-cWZRn7eRK1ixtqtX5Od-4YtJBxSFL29RMPJqS_iFFhB6ydA/s1600/DSC_0244-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7UQuaPfj2OkDc_kQztN6GwuI9UeNI_j5HEOEWAeGwUJ5orzK8Ux4oh9jJAGr4UniAHnpnLMIGaKuPBdL6HREQk2u2to-cWZRn7eRK1ixtqtX5Od-4YtJBxSFL29RMPJqS_iFFhB6ydA/s640/DSC_0244-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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First drive-in movie with the entire fam!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QOGUjRhpRxqY7aG5YZOxgh08gs35Xe9c9RYRulsOS3Ysp7-DWnERhAE6oRqJFGhr4Jsy8kAXHi4rJFfa5qcCL346sM0OJNFfmJmP9paRTlKPNW8SOam-SFA4gx0Bh0thcIMDVmDT6K8/s1600/DSC_0246-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QOGUjRhpRxqY7aG5YZOxgh08gs35Xe9c9RYRulsOS3Ysp7-DWnERhAE6oRqJFGhr4Jsy8kAXHi4rJFfa5qcCL346sM0OJNFfmJmP9paRTlKPNW8SOam-SFA4gx0Bh0thcIMDVmDT6K8/s640/DSC_0246-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUB4VPvNqeFwfNdwBBmKevfp-xRJ7InD1yAQ9H2g4s0nYT3htMJOlRykam6XoPh_DuogQQbocBF5JVf8cnlfYuh5zwQqRwqgJGaTbzpPDmLeN-Exj5wYs7y7wr0qunu-crGHNSUnOL3Og/s1600/DSC_9991-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUB4VPvNqeFwfNdwBBmKevfp-xRJ7InD1yAQ9H2g4s0nYT3htMJOlRykam6XoPh_DuogQQbocBF5JVf8cnlfYuh5zwQqRwqgJGaTbzpPDmLeN-Exj5wYs7y7wr0qunu-crGHNSUnOL3Og/s640/DSC_9991-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is how we do family nap-time</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEwXI-fxDe5ZHu7dAm48nWwOFDO3TnP_9hqhL9Cn9vhyGG7Ay90eXqYjxr_nGAOX9eEwFCq0Pvo-pKeOQTssQLG07GWxGpmJkTEuARmr94rRBSWyF-6vL4A4_rP3-xuANWaV7ooPBypAc/s1600/DSC_0182-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEwXI-fxDe5ZHu7dAm48nWwOFDO3TnP_9hqhL9Cn9vhyGG7Ay90eXqYjxr_nGAOX9eEwFCq0Pvo-pKeOQTssQLG07GWxGpmJkTEuARmr94rRBSWyF-6vL4A4_rP3-xuANWaV7ooPBypAc/s640/DSC_0182-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Wonder who was responsible for this?</div>
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Can never get enough of that newborn smile (even if it's involuntary, can we just pretend it isn't?)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10jucHlsVz0bXnx4RzP08yS_E8jtk6iNpG_sxTH06KPvTjRYP7D8fyP2s8NDF6gDfRQeQWekc3ea_W6k6IQ7BXs31xTD0vaDL18eCQOen2XmOTeHeh1WresUgG6txO86Euf6tG2DKMyY/s1600/DSC_0296-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10jucHlsVz0bXnx4RzP08yS_E8jtk6iNpG_sxTH06KPvTjRYP7D8fyP2s8NDF6gDfRQeQWekc3ea_W6k6IQ7BXs31xTD0vaDL18eCQOen2XmOTeHeh1WresUgG6txO86Euf6tG2DKMyY/s640/DSC_0296-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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JJ found himself a "baby" to take care of too : )</div>
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Never wake up a sleeping baby...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6SbOfWhfT7qp2_iyOEzMJbq-1TRcgnd9fQarehU8EJFSGWlaqVcpWWW0P9woa49Z1HMBhUSEY4r0sjPFNfAxYbR-yIUfwMopK7ZpnPhStz9tgJ_lBoeECs6EPc_O0R0cZe4oDp-CjCg/s1600/image1-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6SbOfWhfT7qp2_iyOEzMJbq-1TRcgnd9fQarehU8EJFSGWlaqVcpWWW0P9woa49Z1HMBhUSEY4r0sjPFNfAxYbR-yIUfwMopK7ZpnPhStz9tgJ_lBoeECs6EPc_O0R0cZe4oDp-CjCg/s640/image1-2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I leave you with this endearing quote... { Handwritten by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheGildedPage">TheGildedPage</a> }</div>
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