tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88774612024-03-07T21:48:04.957-05:00Dana Ellis: learning life's lessons the hard way so you don't have toI aspire to be a lot of things: to be more organized, healthier, more supportive, more patient, a Bible scholar, a marketing consultant, a writer.. But my greatest dream was achieved when I married the love of my life and then became the mother of the two most amazing little girls I've ever met. Our days are filled with normal life that some would find mundane. But, when you walk through the mundane with a consuming love for the ones you're with, every new day is the greatest of all.Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.comBlogger479125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-4531512426818881012016-06-25T12:23:00.000-04:002016-06-25T14:18:46.315-04:00To the Bride on Her Wedding Day<div class="MsoNormal">
To the Bride on her wedding day, <o:p></o:p></div>
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Those that love you have been asked
to write to you and give to you, our advice about marriage. I have now typed and
deleted the first sentence to this letter over twenty times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that maybe the most helpful thing
that I can say to you is that I have now been married seventeen years and I’m
still not qualified to give marriage advice. I’m still trying to figure this
thing out, myself. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The truth is: Life is hard, marriage is hard, but I’m pretty sure that doing
life alone is even harder and I’m starting to see that marriage is worth the fight (and believe me, there are plenty of fights). <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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So much goes into making a day like
today just right, and I think that’s an important part of the process. I hope
you look back on today with warmth and fondness but more than that, I pray you
look back on today and see all the things that you would do differently. Actually,
I pray that for you, for every day of the rest of your life; because that’s
what growth looks like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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For your entire life, you have been
surrounded by people who love God and love you. They have taught you good
things about God, and about love, and have showed you good ways to live life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Since those important basics have
been well covered by people that are further along in this journey and wiser
than I, I am going to go ahead and tell you the thing that none of us wants to
admit to you or even to ourselves: You have <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not</b> found "the love of your life" and you are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not</b> marrying your "soul mate" today. It is a hard truth but an
important one. Hear me out because this news does get better but we are doing
you a sincere injustice to hide from you, the fact that a person doesn’t just easily happen upon the, "love of their life" or that the romantic notion that a person just
accidently "finds" their “soul mate” is an absurd and, frankly, a destructive
notion. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The most important part of today is
the promise that you’ll make. The promise is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">so </span></b>important
because, while I don't think you accidentally find a "soul mate", I do think we can spend our lives devoted to one person;
laughing, crying, praying, and working really hard together through good and
bad times. I think if we do that; when our lives are lived, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">then</b>, we might find ourselves with,
“the love of our life”. Sticking with it long enough to live the life that gets
you there, THAT’s what the promise is for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So may your marriage be blessed
with love and happiness. May it be blessed with enough struggle for you to grow.
May you live life together in a way that you one day find yourself with the
love of your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May you one day find
yourself with a legacy of love that causes those that follow behind you to look to you and say, “THAT’S what the promise is for”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Love,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dana<o:p></o:p></div>
Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-9145491528998558342012-08-29T05:51:00.001-04:002012-08-29T05:59:50.903-04:00Welcoming Ella GraceI posted the photos that I took of the day that my niece, Ella, was born (April 4, 2012) quite a while back on facebook. But since I couldn't find it on my timeline. I thought I would post it here so that I can find it when I need it.<br />
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-52255108030914050622012-03-29T05:14:00.003-04:002016-03-04T16:57:17.715-05:00On Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston......<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 15px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">I think there's a certain solace that comes with knowing that someone went down while still on top. For me, with situations like that of Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson, there is an additional grief that comes with the knowing that the pressures of the industry took a toll on them and they were cut short of fulfilling their dreams (they both looked like they were about to make a major comeback). I also grieve the fact that their families have to endure some of the horrible things that people have said about them. I am really bothered by the pleasures that it seems that some people take in watching a celebrity fall off the pedestal that they're on, only because they put them there. I think people forget that these are real people that have real people that love them that are grieving their loss. Death is a natural part of life. It stinks but we all know it's going to happen to us all. But, I have to work really hard to not let seeing someone lack humanity when responding to death turn me into a cynic.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">And as Jewell put's it... "please be careful with me, I'm sensitive and I'd like to stay that way". </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">Blessings,</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">Dana</span>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-37042837123085890242012-03-19T17:34:00.000-04:002012-03-19T17:34:20.435-04:00Happy Cleo Patricks Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cudo's to Pinterest for the rainbow fruit kabob idea! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqW5pvPzggII90g9nKWW0aeqaFsaOeybwg5oqlQD5bh5o1dDJcrm3jyRmaLB0Y93DuCN_6mA5dHiULExTpC7pjhdT3855gGrRtUPT8Jpl-RaUjlKqfPUpcqQ5UnrMeK0ydd5mmEg/s1600/St+Patrick's+Day+fruit+rainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqW5pvPzggII90g9nKWW0aeqaFsaOeybwg5oqlQD5bh5o1dDJcrm3jyRmaLB0Y93DuCN_6mA5dHiULExTpC7pjhdT3855gGrRtUPT8Jpl-RaUjlKqfPUpcqQ5UnrMeK0ydd5mmEg/s320/St+Patrick's+Day+fruit+rainbow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And now caught on camera... Emma and Chloe discover a Leprechaun has used their bathroom...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My children are going to spend their adult life in therapy... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwo6lT6ulV9UY_3hFNh7skLsG1P9GSiI-pRuhfX9JNeMoRv0NTSr4iWwm47P1KwL9hDcQfiygHDlTE' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Blessings,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dana</div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-79060637896180610882012-02-11T06:02:00.000-05:002012-02-11T06:02:35.968-05:00What Kind of Shopper are You?So I made a post yesterday of a photo shoot I did of Emma way back in December. In that post, I said that I had been consumed with school work, none of which anyone would find interesting blog material. But, then I got to thinking... Maybe I'm wrong... A lot of people like to shop and all of us have to (which is the case for myself). So, perhaps you would be interesting in knowing what kind of shopper you are. <br />
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I had to do what is called the VALS survey for one of my marketing classes. It uses a series of questions to group people into target markets based on personality predisposition for innovation and the resources that are available them. Once you take the survey, you can click on "VALS types" and see a description of each type. <br />
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I found my results to be, as with any other personality test I've taken, to be quite bizarre but probably accurate. Which would explain why even I can't figure me out. Anyway, to avoid skewing the results for anyone else that might like to take it, I will give anyone that might possibly see this a chance to take it and report my results at a later point and time. I'd love to hear your results and whether you thought they were accurate.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.strategicbusinessinsights.com/vals/presurvey.shtml">VALS SURVEY</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Blessings,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Dana</div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-63255611032836203692012-02-10T06:50:00.000-05:002012-02-10T06:50:22.489-05:00Guitar Photo Shoot<div style="text-align: center;">Taken December 6th 2011</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Back in September, I started working on a marketing degree. While I do still write quite frequently, Consumer Behavior is hardly blogging material and coming here to write for leisure after I've spent my week doing case studies and writing research papers seems equivalent to working out after track practice during my college track days. There just isn't much of a desire to run five miles because the coach told you to and then leave track practice and go work out for fun. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I've still managed to capture a lot of daily life by camera. But all the pictures that I've taken since November are hanging out and twiddling their thumbs in my Photoshop Organizer. Hopefully I will get a chance to catch up on those some time in the near future. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">For now, I am posting the only pictures I've managed to edit since I started school. Emma started taking guitar lessons in September and she really seems to have a natural talent for it (from her daddy no doubt). So, we played around, pretending to be doing a photo shoot for her album cover. I did manage to get Chloe in a couple but for the most part, she was more interested in playing than taking pictures. Emma's guitar shoot also ending up lending itself to a personally suited Valentine's Day card which was great since I had vowed not to do anything with any new pictures until I post my Christmas pictures. </div><br />
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</div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-27887500394373933632011-12-22T08:20:00.001-05:002011-12-22T10:28:35.302-05:00It's a Conspiracy!Wow, it's been so long since I've been over here. For record keeping sake, I wanted to get over here and make a short note of our three day Christmas tradition. Watch the video below to see how it all got started. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/G97w6Mc6b2I" width="640"></iframe><br />
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To read more about our rethinking of how we approach Christmas, see our first <a href="http://danaelaineellis.blogspot.com/2008/11/christmas-will-be-different-this-year.html">Christmas of Presence in 2008</a>.<br />
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I will be back soon with pictures of our activities.<br />
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If you're a friend on facebook, you can view our digital Christmas Card there. There are pictures of other children on there that I don't have permission to share publicly. <br />
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Blessings,<br />
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DanaDanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-60862617631010206282011-10-25T09:58:00.000-04:002011-10-25T09:58:43.547-04:00Little Pink Lady<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Emma in her get up for 50's Day for Red Ribbon Week at school. I think I have more fun putting these costumes together than she does wearing them. Cutos to the costume store downtown for the "Pink Ladies" jacket and scarves. Kids costumes on sale for $2.00 Score! The rest came from around the house and the pants, they're Chloe's.. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlHGJM0Na9oYluTLhMKvMyqAJaSTyrsPQMfCd1iFY-ZBpMVGw0aQOMqdoFYOdz7P0gJKZqICgT6LiAg3Pj0yqC_wDWO9RyprPXuSQnsURzu6myBbouP4ay3ZhCk-GRjVyUykY3g/s1600/50%2527s+Emma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlHGJM0Na9oYluTLhMKvMyqAJaSTyrsPQMfCd1iFY-ZBpMVGw0aQOMqdoFYOdz7P0gJKZqICgT6LiAg3Pj0yqC_wDWO9RyprPXuSQnsURzu6myBbouP4ay3ZhCk-GRjVyUykY3g/s400/50%2527s+Emma.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-7742563247914794092011-10-03T14:24:00.002-04:002011-10-03T23:41:53.423-04:00Happy Birthday/First Day of School<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJkHfD40OFTtF-2rLIAgH6e_E29I_PXuvAjixZW5uwH5py3sCSAP7Sfe7sYjoWkDqxWEr5YJDriMhWA4m7wWCAEvIWtNGuSxCHCUEytIOY9Qx1yFJZ3n-b2v1GHb6aJFG0NkQBw/s1600/Chloe+Age+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJkHfD40OFTtF-2rLIAgH6e_E29I_PXuvAjixZW5uwH5py3sCSAP7Sfe7sYjoWkDqxWEr5YJDriMhWA4m7wWCAEvIWtNGuSxCHCUEytIOY9Qx1yFJZ3n-b2v1GHb6aJFG0NkQBw/s400/Chloe+Age+4.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>Surprise a blog post! One that is over a month late but do you know what that means? It means that shortly after these events took place, I started back to school myself.. My only goal with the blog these days is to record the major events that will go in "The Ellis Family Yearbook". And, if I come across a fun idea and find the time to get over here to share it, then yay! Truly though there are many blogging momma's out there that I'm counting on to keep me up on the kiddy things while I'm a student too and I assure you, they can handle it much better than I can until I figure out a way to install more hours in a day. But, more on that later.. This post is for my baby so I'll make this about her.. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My Chloe Anne turned 4 on August the 30th. And since we decided to go ahead and keep her back in school because of her late birthday, that meant that she started 3 year old preschool on her 4th Birthday which for our little social butterfly meant that she got her cake and ate it too! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So we filled her room with balloons for her to wake to and stuck a candle in some heart shaped cinnamon rolls and then got ready for the first day of preschool... </div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">The backpack that Chloe used last year was just the perfect size and Aunt Jan had personalized it so we weren't ready to retire it. I jazzed it up a bit by adding a pair of wings and my dollar store addition made the records in Chloe's book. It also turns out that taking cupcakes the first day of preschool isn't a bad way to introduce yourself and just as suspected Chloe loves preschool, her teachers and loves "keeping the boys in line" (as her teachers say) even more. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Chloe's birthday falling right at the beginning of the school year makes having a birthday party with school friends difficult. So while I had the help of Nonna and Aunt Denise for a weekend visit, we had a birthday party with just church friends and gave the water slide a run for it's money to finish the summer off. We have hopes for a tea party play date with the girls from her class once we get the chance to get to know everyone. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAMRe7keYf5LgBNi2MDQbCD3pLTmWx6z8mUO6RR6ptaI0-ZNNxP2DYHeJmd32a_HYVj3-fbMZgaZ_CZb-pDtBLqgQYI-axb5uhNExBhLtN5H65GBWhAqOiVfByPV1l2qwpMbzXQ/s1600/Four+Years+Old_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAMRe7keYf5LgBNi2MDQbCD3pLTmWx6z8mUO6RR6ptaI0-ZNNxP2DYHeJmd32a_HYVj3-fbMZgaZ_CZb-pDtBLqgQYI-axb5uhNExBhLtN5H65GBWhAqOiVfByPV1l2qwpMbzXQ/s640/Four+Years+Old_edited-1.jpg" width="348" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you to everyone that helped make Chloe's birthday special. I don't think a smile has left her face since!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-328251115799617752011-08-26T08:26:00.003-04:002011-08-26T08:58:08.545-04:00The Very Hungry Caterpillar and a Cupcake Holder Lampshade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Emma and I did several projects over the summer that ended up being a little bit too difficult for Chloe to fully participate like:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> turning this</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12Z_IvrXU6WvZzJfikOpFTqtjpCxeUDF9BrGsdpK4dbguss-XScdc4wbjrfl61W7i9WktH2oR3MfjKcKIXPYlPN18xxjy5u1LNE58gHTvb_5zwNckLMUamye_vUIn7-96rIKFjQ/s1600/Emmas+lamp+before_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12Z_IvrXU6WvZzJfikOpFTqtjpCxeUDF9BrGsdpK4dbguss-XScdc4wbjrfl61W7i9WktH2oR3MfjKcKIXPYlPN18xxjy5u1LNE58gHTvb_5zwNckLMUamye_vUIn7-96rIKFjQ/s640/Emmas+lamp+before_edited-1.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Into this</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBZuN2c0gF8fr1WFPYSa47pYHk5fuNgbaEXiu3FOocB_DekO__-M0_5ZfEvOp7qxURv8H4quR6_bu1Lgd10mV4gqw_LVhyKN3SnYBx1M2w5d09RxtvQ_uHH1s6ScvzQLjyJya5Q/s1600/Emmas+lamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBZuN2c0gF8fr1WFPYSa47pYHk5fuNgbaEXiu3FOocB_DekO__-M0_5ZfEvOp7qxURv8H4quR6_bu1Lgd10mV4gqw_LVhyKN3SnYBx1M2w5d09RxtvQ_uHH1s6ScvzQLjyJya5Q/s400/Emmas+lamp.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is so simple to do. All you need is a good deal on a lamp, some cupcake holders, and some earring posts and backs (pack of 30 pieces at hobby lobby for $1.99), and spray paint. We spray painted our thrift store lamp ($1.49) and then turned the cupcake holders inside out and pinned them on the shade.. Easy Peesy... But, since it involved spray paint and sharp things, it was a little bit too old for Chloe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, I scouted out a few things that I could gear specifically for Chloe to do in the couple weeks we've had between Emma starting school and Chloe starting. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, I came across this oh so cute "Very Hungry Caterpillar" on Pinterest and, after reading the story, I got to work on painting hands... When we finished the handprint caterpillar, Chloe commented that she wanted to make the butterfly too. And what do you know but the next time I went on Pinterest, a friend had posted a picture of a footprint butterfly... So low and behold</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A complete metamorphosis! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAe4eoPqhfjlIafc-DHiDrBDfi1fyGqV59tnnOGEUX5RB5WaZzZdOXLdourIEQy7X-EQ8gh6Rid929Q8-gBBf3O5MfY11rM0gsRpi-_tMnD48JQX5esdmGUxEuZ2LPiL_CcscWtQ/s1600/DSC_7724_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAe4eoPqhfjlIafc-DHiDrBDfi1fyGqV59tnnOGEUX5RB5WaZzZdOXLdourIEQy7X-EQ8gh6Rid929Q8-gBBf3O5MfY11rM0gsRpi-_tMnD48JQX5esdmGUxEuZ2LPiL_CcscWtQ/s640/DSC_7724_edited-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WW-fcZf5EuEUvO0shFquzHExf5N50vMKfKUkb0Sc1cKhP-RF40EQ7FRDR_qgMct1xvXOigkx9gph6pOgAnTiTbLMfkaum6f3vAUaGVnRKcxCYxEyUadZ2dnGbPLrY0O12myX-Q/s1600/Email+Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WW-fcZf5EuEUvO0shFquzHExf5N50vMKfKUkb0Sc1cKhP-RF40EQ7FRDR_qgMct1xvXOigkx9gph6pOgAnTiTbLMfkaum6f3vAUaGVnRKcxCYxEyUadZ2dnGbPLrY0O12myX-Q/s200/Email+Signature.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-22552802992597453862011-08-24T05:50:00.003-04:002011-08-24T06:27:39.074-04:00Emma Donate's Locks Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Taken June 16, 2011</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Posted August 24, 2011</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We cut off Emma's hair once before to donate to <a href="http://danaelaineellis.blogspot.com/2009/04/emmas-donation-to-locks-of-love.html">"Locks of Love"in 2009</a>. At that time, she immediately started letting it grow so that she could donate it again. It seems as if it takes just a little over two years to get another 10 inches to donate.. Since I didn't think that her hair would be in real great shape after a summer of swimming, we decided to go with the 8 inches that <a href="http://pantene.com/en-US/beautiful-lengths-refresh/Pages/default.aspx">Pantene Beautiful Lengths</a> requires. I guess this will an every two years or so ritual. I'm so proud of her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIlHYAGW4C166xAUWNOeR36HbUf0-YllVknpuYUsdkYl13ynUL1Jn92K3FMTBwU5PLR9sPO1iSMuFTTgagTM7tsg29kmpN_hk-WiUXgJ6sOLIH0rvATAb77ozlrdWMhLh54OTig/s1600/Emma+Donates+Locks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIlHYAGW4C166xAUWNOeR36HbUf0-YllVknpuYUsdkYl13ynUL1Jn92K3FMTBwU5PLR9sPO1iSMuFTTgagTM7tsg29kmpN_hk-WiUXgJ6sOLIH0rvATAb77ozlrdWMhLh54OTig/s640/Emma+Donates+Locks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Blessings,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJB-hxgsLBV31AHsfFeJTpKErWZSBhCs5LbYgzqplMYmzHRi3Q70qAWxvVM-bVQbzbQ7Ze4HPqzZDHo5I5ibD81yb4jhHUKmbjTCONCWrqRD6OKwspGgRMADSDCLqFD1kcvFEYg/s1600/Email+Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJB-hxgsLBV31AHsfFeJTpKErWZSBhCs5LbYgzqplMYmzHRi3Q70qAWxvVM-bVQbzbQ7Ze4HPqzZDHo5I5ibD81yb4jhHUKmbjTCONCWrqRD6OKwspGgRMADSDCLqFD1kcvFEYg/s200/Email+Signature.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-37260016384754787692011-08-19T11:40:00.003-04:002011-08-19T12:15:24.983-04:00The Second Day--Emma's First Well, we got off to a rocky start in more ways than one. <a href="http://danaelaineellis.blogspot.com/2011/08/it-was-first-day-of-third-grade-and.html"> Emma missed her first day</a> because she was running a fever and in the chaos of taking care of her, I forgot to charge my camera battery. But, we got back on track and staged these pictures after school and that's why they're so bright.. I mainly wanted to capture the smart fashion sense that she's developed. The outfit that she settled on wearing her first day of school was actually a dress of Chloe's that she wore as a shirt with a pair of capri pants. I'm not sure if she realizes what this will obligate her to later down the road in the little sister department but it works to her advantage for now. <br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, Emma bounced back just fine and absolutely loves the 3rd grade. She will switch classes for Math and Science this year and loves both of her teachers. She will also be in the gifted and talented program and is so excited to see what that is all about. She ended up with several of her friends in her class and it appears to be a formula for a great year. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79YzKzfRlKLh1ClCiHJptXpD6XhDRkjU0_NMIehPK6uYmrvB7A_VFmxQcPkxBoZXsBHzFc4hnEx3Py7ylNjNa18F8CYQxvQEDaezc5MppKF5eN-UGE6BbJZ_PrEUUIEnuz8uxVA/s1600/Emma+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79YzKzfRlKLh1ClCiHJptXpD6XhDRkjU0_NMIehPK6uYmrvB7A_VFmxQcPkxBoZXsBHzFc4hnEx3Py7ylNjNa18F8CYQxvQEDaezc5MppKF5eN-UGE6BbJZ_PrEUUIEnuz8uxVA/s400/Emma+1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
As far as extra curricular activities go, she talked about doing cheerleading but eventually landed on taking guitar lessons. I was excited about that decision because Chloe is playing soccer and I wasn't looking forward to spending every day at the Rec. Center. And, we all know that Taylor Swift was cooler than the cheer captain because of the fact that when she was on the bleachers, she was also holding a guitar.. Emma will also continue to do Jazzercise at school like she did last year.<br />
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Here is my age progression storyboard that I like to do every year... It can also serve as an advertisement for True Green Chem lawn and a sprinkler system. We ditched the lawn service to make room in the budget for Chloe's preschool and our sprinkler system broke. I'm pretty sure it's a simple fix that Adam's done before. But he's ended up having to mow the grass less and our water bill has been lower.. So, I think we inadvertently kept pushing it to the bottom of our To Do list... Even though our yard looks like a brown mess in the middle of all of our neighbors beautiful sea of green and we are "that neighbor", it does have it's positives...<br />
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I came across some fun treat ideas to put in her lunch box for the first week of school.. I think it got me major "fun mom" points. She even said that some kids were saying she was lucky. Go me :-). I still remember random little things that my mom did for me to let me know that she thought I was special like baking miniature cakes for tea parties with my dolls so I always look for ways to imprint those kind of memories in my girls. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cupcake shaped sucker, "3rd Grade is a piece of cake"</span></i>. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5C3da91qKDAGuN3mmcpjrTUAxcd2VbUI8GoaIRg9NClMO8PmLroaty4zkLnYMbUiyF4LBU65DI840M-rUgKKj_7mNDBUqxSCSyp0ZA7a_Qgr7xygn6w8ld4hhw_JQVsdz0hi7g/s1600/3rd+grade+is+a+piece+of+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5C3da91qKDAGuN3mmcpjrTUAxcd2VbUI8GoaIRg9NClMO8PmLroaty4zkLnYMbUiyF4LBU65DI840M-rUgKKj_7mNDBUqxSCSyp0ZA7a_Qgr7xygn6w8ld4hhw_JQVsdz0hi7g/s320/3rd+grade+is+a+piece+of+cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Swedish Fish "You are O-fish-ally a 3rd Grader</i>"</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfFw2ZShQip71F4oNxrE4tTWh3oq7rDKvOuzoGB3VfMaMjeIUDJOoJGPiKW-HpZPhDEggfojAIg6VX74oB91-z_DFYjeDR3X6AzvtqXq1dZvJHxkm5mvW2_lR1PIAT5c_U59IQg/s1600/O-fish-ally+a+3rd+grader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfFw2ZShQip71F4oNxrE4tTWh3oq7rDKvOuzoGB3VfMaMjeIUDJOoJGPiKW-HpZPhDEggfojAIg6VX74oB91-z_DFYjeDR3X6AzvtqXq1dZvJHxkm5mvW2_lR1PIAT5c_U59IQg/s320/O-fish-ally+a+3rd+grader.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Starbursts "You're a 3rd Grade Super Star"</span></i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>And my favorite: Rainbow Sour Tracks and Rolos</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>You're the gold at the end of my rainbow...</i></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6Yo66QCQFLbsNhryuXkqRyX4v8Drd0jHBOUsXVe5whz9iLziiyuqAe_PWXWJhB3xWyMBIEm_4tLLCnD0nZginhwbdBtXj7i3SHW119GCVfnPXD1-b3LcJBldXmqGCHbIAm8eiA/s1600/lunch+box+treat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6Yo66QCQFLbsNhryuXkqRyX4v8Drd0jHBOUsXVe5whz9iLziiyuqAe_PWXWJhB3xWyMBIEm_4tLLCnD0nZginhwbdBtXj7i3SHW119GCVfnPXD1-b3LcJBldXmqGCHbIAm8eiA/s320/lunch+box+treat.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><br />
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Looking forward to having her home for the weekend and sleeping in!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCnI2qtTvPryX72pKbXR8BBZHGpeKXPh6tWnELsegJM_DKFQ02P-_qU7SajlYeTZBOXSdb9xAbS0bTEQHVPQ2F2zyT_97aQKgwdZj2E60cvYY8ZqSE_qaNe1q_6_Ohpa4RGYzYw/s1600/Email+Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCnI2qtTvPryX72pKbXR8BBZHGpeKXPh6tWnELsegJM_DKFQ02P-_qU7SajlYeTZBOXSdb9xAbS0bTEQHVPQ2F2zyT_97aQKgwdZj2E60cvYY8ZqSE_qaNe1q_6_Ohpa4RGYzYw/s200/Email+Signature.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-73812431814254535612011-08-18T13:53:00.002-04:002011-08-20T13:10:36.498-04:00Initial Rag Wreath<div style="text-align: center;">The girls and I had an absolutely marvelous summer. We crafted and created and swam and played and I just enjoyed them so much. It was a refreshingly recovery from last summer since much of the past year has been a blur of going through the motions as I tried to get a grasp on the grief that I was experiencing from all the tragedies that our family and friends experienced in the year or so before. I'm finally beginning to feel like myself again. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyway, I have a lot of catch up posts to do including Emma's "real first day of school". But, this is what I did on her first day back to school with a little "help" from my little hot mess that I call "My Chloe Girl". </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Pa_iLMnKkwMVMdgTu0TeQLDHCQXzxeW4h5qtq7fhGJLhIUz-2HWyi_M9Q5nFCis5rjWaVIA6O-wW4wxk5Evb0BgYDzqr9XKelqTmpa1IqPS2CKMEiNStF7-eWay9_UB75Z5hpg/s1600/Rag+Wreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Pa_iLMnKkwMVMdgTu0TeQLDHCQXzxeW4h5qtq7fhGJLhIUz-2HWyi_M9Q5nFCis5rjWaVIA6O-wW4wxk5Evb0BgYDzqr9XKelqTmpa1IqPS2CKMEiNStF7-eWay9_UB75Z5hpg/s400/Rag+Wreath.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had been searching around Pinterest for a cute wreath idea for our front door. I'm just not your typical flowered wreath kind of girl and I was looking for something that just struck my fancy. Well, eventually, I decided to compile a couple of ideas together and this is what I came up with. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I posted a picture of this on my friend <a href="http://janeyandmehappily.blogspot.com/">Jay's</a> facebook wall and my friend <a href="http://bigelowpartyofthree.blogspot.com/">Heather</a> requested a tutorial. So, I'm going to do my best to give you one.. I always have intentions of taking pictures step by step when I do something like this and then I get in the zone and get in a groove and I forget... But, this was so unbelievably easy that I think it could be done with no picture instructions at all. But none the less, I do have a couple..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chloe and I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday and we started out with a ball of scrap fabrics in fall, green, browns, yellows and reds and an initial which was on sale for 50% off of 2.99! Score! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheULH0db9bd6Xp9530LTxzwICY6V2wWLLCEF7_2NhbLh5sj-uZXyObA-3vPLvqY-K6asFsX9BNUifv0YQ2MyPkmHOXZbHCAGmXJd5r4086k00zP2yqJO8Y5SVaoHGeSvn51BrVvg/s1600/Wreath+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheULH0db9bd6Xp9530LTxzwICY6V2wWLLCEF7_2NhbLh5sj-uZXyObA-3vPLvqY-K6asFsX9BNUifv0YQ2MyPkmHOXZbHCAGmXJd5r4086k00zP2yqJO8Y5SVaoHGeSvn51BrVvg/s400/Wreath+2.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Side Note: though I've become a bit of an organizing junky (not by nature but as a coping mechanism to my husband's ADD), you could never tell it by walking in our front door because my dining room is always functioning as either an art or a photography studio and more often than not, looks like this. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I spray painted the "E" with Krylon spray paint that I used to create the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdBljrm4d9qRtbAhNyOLjV_Xv6LfQo_fxR1oHs97i4y6npZ2hwlJEhNpTc4mlzSSggKkZVoXhzr18D2G01xbvuEE7FQpJHJVvE5ZNL46VmWGBpRtBNCyZjUmTon1-LJ2gBmbqSQ/s1600/Shrek+the+Halls.jpg">Shrek head pieces</a> for our Christmas play last year. The color is "Ivy Leaf" but we affectionately call it "Shrek green" and that's a more appropriate description. I tied a piece of yarn to the "E" before I spray painted it so that it would also get painted and would serve as a way to attach it to the wreath</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was delighted to find a wire hanger after digging through all of the closets. I'm not sure why I had it but you can usually get them free from the cleaners. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9OyTio4u8khLu5HnGDk9DYBAC2i-QcGMcBBSpCpp4xdxAlKnAN0d-gI-GJ0A9l2qj5JfcUWKP2wdK-08F6DOhtFdLcPr5ISgUgkRHIfA_SZbYNI-jSIynOyOCcV-gnRfPZmjZQ/s1600/wreath1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9OyTio4u8khLu5HnGDk9DYBAC2i-QcGMcBBSpCpp4xdxAlKnAN0d-gI-GJ0A9l2qj5JfcUWKP2wdK-08F6DOhtFdLcPr5ISgUgkRHIfA_SZbYNI-jSIynOyOCcV-gnRfPZmjZQ/s320/wreath1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I sort of shaped the hanger into a circle using wire pliers. Then I just went to town tying on scraps of fabric. (This is where I got excited and forgot to take pictures).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Once I got it all together, I decided that the "E" looked too plain so I pulled out the white circle stickers that I used to make everything polka dotted for <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwflh9B9hlKvJFuB9wJPtKeJqruzqhWCrmUTButfT9X7jkywuj-5iF9g1pn1OQ-DMtxG_iasqL6VFp2gX_wVVzFn9qwPTfvPxGtCa9EouNU5xItAhqadhAeSXgivfOhiKMPOVb7A/s1600/Untitled-1_edited-6.jpg">Chloe's "Pink Polka Dotted" Birthday Party</a> last year. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And waa laa, a polka dotted E.. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And there you have it, a wreath that is me and cost about $7.00 to make and is very much my style. Could be cheaper for you if you actually sew and already have scrap fabric! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvB9c5TkC8XwDLo0vEWj3lyHvgL3_WluVAqBIZXuws8frYQBi82SFT61URS60OnrkpOucA3lbqsIkZyiEzb61dWVmiB8T6e55h6exXKlxVCChY2J1JIN513Zcmm-8DmdEV0qPCw/s1600/Email+Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvB9c5TkC8XwDLo0vEWj3lyHvgL3_WluVAqBIZXuws8frYQBi82SFT61URS60OnrkpOucA3lbqsIkZyiEzb61dWVmiB8T6e55h6exXKlxVCChY2J1JIN513Zcmm-8DmdEV0qPCw/s200/Email+Signature.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-55430263454493239982011-08-15T12:37:00.002-04:002011-08-15T15:40:47.788-04:00It Was the First Day of the Third Grade-- And Emma was not there...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Because my friend, Sam is finishing up her Early Childhood Education Degree and goes to school in GA and GA starts back to school a week earlier than we do and Sam was working with the teacher that she'll be interning with to set up her classroom, I had <a href="http://thebipolarexpress71.blogspot.com/">Ron</a> and Sam's kids the last two weeks of summer. By the end of the second week, the kids were acting like brothers and sisters and were tired of being cooped up inside together because of my fear of taking all four kids out by myself. But, since we had two of the kids that were in our youth group years ago in Panama City, Andrew and Holly, who are now fabulous adults, arrive on Tuesday and I had Holly as an extra set of hands, I developed a brilliant plan.<br />
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Since GA was already back in school, I knew it would be an opportune time to catch Chuck E Cheese's on a low crowd day... PLAN NOT SO BRILLIANT.... Emma contracted some kind of stomach virus. And though she only threw up once, her fever keeps returning... So, she missed her first day of school.. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYFV99lmdQWJgSB84-RlORQGC2JItm_3BjlXrMIypkls-N-o33jWb6aqCo-DwKA4oGiHLUms4O2RFclIk_jT77QOirTqeg8Tcf3B47AUB0Jm2Bgv4pKYaH4jmgivNi6fPff2zLw/s1600/First+Day+Third+Grade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYFV99lmdQWJgSB84-RlORQGC2JItm_3BjlXrMIypkls-N-o33jWb6aqCo-DwKA4oGiHLUms4O2RFclIk_jT77QOirTqeg8Tcf3B47AUB0Jm2Bgv4pKYaH4jmgivNi6fPff2zLw/s640/First+Day+Third+Grade.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
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I tried to pull a Billy Madison and go for her. I walked into the classroom and her teacher said, "Hi, I'm crazy" and I instantly knew it was going to be a wonderful year. I replied that I was Emma Ellis' mom and that I was crazy too and was prepared to stay and be a substitute 3rd grader but her teacher (whom I think we're going to love), graciously took her materials saying that she would use Emma's as the example set up..<br />
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I put these treats together to give to the class just to remind them that Emma was on her way.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLahburubgqR0eG-yXTX3IQHsajRA4urmPLcRhWS_11_i5STsFRv6SgiDBj511YhEBDqcPeEdqkgp0IMaHHqzCmi-_cCHONXRQIA4VBzS81OZCnwvXzVxHD1Ru1Pej2OMb0zYQ7Q/s1600/Smartie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLahburubgqR0eG-yXTX3IQHsajRA4urmPLcRhWS_11_i5STsFRv6SgiDBj511YhEBDqcPeEdqkgp0IMaHHqzCmi-_cCHONXRQIA4VBzS81OZCnwvXzVxHD1Ru1Pej2OMb0zYQ7Q/s640/Smartie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Emma was devastated at first, putting this event into the same category of worst things that have ever happened to her as Rotavirus and broken leg. But, being the optimist that she is, quickly decided to make lemonade out of lemons and is using this last day off to finish up the second Harry Potter book.... She knows almost all of the kids that are in her class this year. And really, she has the confidence to walk into a room full of kids that she doesn't know anyway so I think we'll survive.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJ8Ct41MGUG0hWOZJUvuf287FJ4Ofya8geXtiPJ3GbrjnRvKDSAtSTPuwgbqoENgA2dDJA8RlCS6lOdIaiGbfySMnWwgfaf-VF8zmUcqamg3pcb5FNt8AF9QT5-ylVyCgRYLfMA/s1600/Email+Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJ8Ct41MGUG0hWOZJUvuf287FJ4Ofya8geXtiPJ3GbrjnRvKDSAtSTPuwgbqoENgA2dDJA8RlCS6lOdIaiGbfySMnWwgfaf-VF8zmUcqamg3pcb5FNt8AF9QT5-ylVyCgRYLfMA/s200/Email+Signature.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-20992866124788287212011-08-08T04:36:00.000-04:002011-08-08T05:36:33.903-04:00The No Title PostWill words ever come again? I don't know...<br />
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We're in the midst of living a life that we are constantly trying to figure out as we go.. A life where things happen that I'd like to ignore so that we can soak up every second we have with the love that we've made. The two beautiful little girls that are spunky, and a amazing, and completely exhausting.. The ones that turn another year older every time we turn around.. I can't ignore life, but I want to steal every second that I can. I can't sleep but I can't write either... So I'm going to go crawl back in bed next to that little person that crawled into my bed and woke me up to begin with and try to memorize how her little body feels lying next to mine. To imprint it in my memory. Because it won't be long before it's much bigger and I'll be longing for the memory that, no matter how hard I try, to put into words here, can only be captured through experience... Too much life to write down... Maybe, one day, when they're unavailable to me, when they're off doing bigger and better things, I'll write about the memories... But for now, they're mine to cherish.. So I will go and write these memories upon my heart :-)...Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-82001129630875720112011-07-29T10:01:00.003-04:002011-07-29T10:16:34.627-04:00More Pinterest Summer Fun-- Reading Fort<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLriwpaqFUz0Hr2HT1CpV2R9WzO2Pfiy8YfyZRe2EHJabxzO8NlvDvOSxhcd9THSys8641gU6G5lSBdvuYlIaa5b7T_GHUBfbdueBpaxyIOy0tc9Q8146NMifri2VjoRNfvd5dBw/s1600/Reading+Fort_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLriwpaqFUz0Hr2HT1CpV2R9WzO2Pfiy8YfyZRe2EHJabxzO8NlvDvOSxhcd9THSys8641gU6G5lSBdvuYlIaa5b7T_GHUBfbdueBpaxyIOy0tc9Q8146NMifri2VjoRNfvd5dBw/s960/Reading+Fort_edited-1.jpg" width="639" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not like a fort had never crossed my mind but sometimes it takes a visual for motivation... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJ8Ct41MGUG0hWOZJUvuf287FJ4Ofya8geXtiPJ3GbrjnRvKDSAtSTPuwgbqoENgA2dDJA8RlCS6lOdIaiGbfySMnWwgfaf-VF8zmUcqamg3pcb5FNt8AF9QT5-ylVyCgRYLfMA/s1600/Email+Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJ8Ct41MGUG0hWOZJUvuf287FJ4Ofya8geXtiPJ3GbrjnRvKDSAtSTPuwgbqoENgA2dDJA8RlCS6lOdIaiGbfySMnWwgfaf-VF8zmUcqamg3pcb5FNt8AF9QT5-ylVyCgRYLfMA/s200/Email+Signature.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-55668993417540965202011-07-28T19:07:00.001-04:002011-07-29T10:08:44.421-04:00I Believe I Can Fly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-6Jmo8WebxPzOrTdvHmO5HRamrzQE-fXITqBfHFo8DpsYjUtjJAp-sVL9vHCWA33QQtojPdRlE2OqHVwiwmmTSZVBCXe_P1ndiO5d4k__JYoc99O1Khh7ebkQO4tj9sqi55zXQ/s1600/Butterfly+Chloe_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-6Jmo8WebxPzOrTdvHmO5HRamrzQE-fXITqBfHFo8DpsYjUtjJAp-sVL9vHCWA33QQtojPdRlE2OqHVwiwmmTSZVBCXe_P1ndiO5d4k__JYoc99O1Khh7ebkQO4tj9sqi55zXQ/s640/Butterfly+Chloe_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqvpNnwazSs255sBTfSjjjPvHGbFsp0SO98A_8xK_3zBmf1M79iAKjHxQSGONBHlBNUahJ1qn7HsWbe4hvU6E-sNypkmqCEx7dU-c_CRtDxKQHfv5wu237JpRFdaYk52w_5dOuw/s1600/Emma+on+a+rooftop_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqvpNnwazSs255sBTfSjjjPvHGbFsp0SO98A_8xK_3zBmf1M79iAKjHxQSGONBHlBNUahJ1qn7HsWbe4hvU6E-sNypkmqCEx7dU-c_CRtDxKQHfv5wu237JpRFdaYk52w_5dOuw/s640/Emma+on+a+rooftop_edited-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Feeding more Pinterest addiction...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz8CDI73xbv3MZ664TozzozzMI6ouFcIi-jAUQPCm3MinoUyzadYJ8X4nr6ofQbZoiqKXZHcf6zhAO3dom2aoLg0lmu9ugSQ0bT2SLFnQ1PW3nPmmjpItJjSs2jmmDIw4KR2ZkA/s1600/Email+Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz8CDI73xbv3MZ664TozzozzMI6ouFcIi-jAUQPCm3MinoUyzadYJ8X4nr6ofQbZoiqKXZHcf6zhAO3dom2aoLg0lmu9ugSQ0bT2SLFnQ1PW3nPmmjpItJjSs2jmmDIw4KR2ZkA/s200/Email+Signature.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
</div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-80643054472161018382011-07-25T19:06:00.001-04:002011-07-29T10:09:23.884-04:00Summer Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswFBIHIPj0dPRjbGB3E2gvraCxEW897IybYuOg8DvM2vQ9vXGlRPeiaOvlT7NBz5QMG6Y1Plc3Aj7KNFjYXCLVk9ACqwrtJ4fsO2Sh8vzGOJVrXQEIz9YWckGN1NNNPHLGFid6g/s1600/Water+Balloon+Pinatas_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswFBIHIPj0dPRjbGB3E2gvraCxEW897IybYuOg8DvM2vQ9vXGlRPeiaOvlT7NBz5QMG6Y1Plc3Aj7KNFjYXCLVk9ACqwrtJ4fsO2Sh8vzGOJVrXQEIz9YWckGN1NNNPHLGFid6g/s640/Water+Balloon+Pinatas_edited-1.jpg" width="638" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you <a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz8CDI73xbv3MZ664TozzozzMI6ouFcIi-jAUQPCm3MinoUyzadYJ8X4nr6ofQbZoiqKXZHcf6zhAO3dom2aoLg0lmu9ugSQ0bT2SLFnQ1PW3nPmmjpItJjSs2jmmDIw4KR2ZkA/s1600/Email+Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz8CDI73xbv3MZ664TozzozzMI6ouFcIi-jAUQPCm3MinoUyzadYJ8X4nr6ofQbZoiqKXZHcf6zhAO3dom2aoLg0lmu9ugSQ0bT2SLFnQ1PW3nPmmjpItJjSs2jmmDIw4KR2ZkA/s200/Email+Signature.jpg" width="200" /></a>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-16139580223349510832011-07-18T03:38:00.019-04:002011-07-18T05:29:55.873-04:00Things That Make Life Worth LivingIt appears that from here on out, my life will be a never ending coming up short catching up on this blog...<br />
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But for now, here's an experience that should not go unrecorded. I recently had the honor of being there to photograph my friend <a href="http://hyperactivelu.com/">Lu's</a> fourth child and first girl's first moments. This was Lu's fourth C-section and because of the difficulty of the procedure and possible complications (which she had none of praise God), I wasn't able to be in there for the birth. But I was waiting right outside to follow her through those first moments. What an experience it was to be able to share this experience with my sweet friend. Thank you for letting me share such a sweet moment with you <a href="http://hyperactivelu.com/">Lu</a>! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03XdtxvXb9sTSfxp7F7kMBy52ZXUggomL69PAThcF7k_v6PmidXWSiVcEfx9KivGJG-5Mw_VH5V7eXCPPlmCsIit3UkqyCf6V-vywUDDy0hRMm5O1Kk_enc9fhF-HsQ0qLWSByA/s1600/Email+Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03XdtxvXb9sTSfxp7F7kMBy52ZXUggomL69PAThcF7k_v6PmidXWSiVcEfx9KivGJG-5Mw_VH5V7eXCPPlmCsIit3UkqyCf6V-vywUDDy0hRMm5O1Kk_enc9fhF-HsQ0qLWSByA/s200/Email+Signature.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-37567583882454834572011-06-30T16:56:00.001-04:002011-07-29T10:10:30.397-04:00Happy 8th Birthday Emma!Commentary coming once I find the time to think straight enough to put my tears into words ;-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUD7BKBPvdFv722q4cObQ229oRj60nxNeSCKTofn0oEcpum-vALW2X2DThsoJXhLwHAwqLC6ap1znRHWwGwXI8wKLgjDRrA_KOWY76WTVxIr-y1S-JqgcLMHpn3bIRXJM4dLAsA/s1600/Happy+Birthday+Emma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUD7BKBPvdFv722q4cObQ229oRj60nxNeSCKTofn0oEcpum-vALW2X2DThsoJXhLwHAwqLC6ap1znRHWwGwXI8wKLgjDRrA_KOWY76WTVxIr-y1S-JqgcLMHpn3bIRXJM4dLAsA/s640/Happy+Birthday+Emma.jpg" width="548" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz8CDI73xbv3MZ664TozzozzMI6ouFcIi-jAUQPCm3MinoUyzadYJ8X4nr6ofQbZoiqKXZHcf6zhAO3dom2aoLg0lmu9ugSQ0bT2SLFnQ1PW3nPmmjpItJjSs2jmmDIw4KR2ZkA/s1600/Email+Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz8CDI73xbv3MZ664TozzozzMI6ouFcIi-jAUQPCm3MinoUyzadYJ8X4nr6ofQbZoiqKXZHcf6zhAO3dom2aoLg0lmu9ugSQ0bT2SLFnQ1PW3nPmmjpItJjSs2jmmDIw4KR2ZkA/s200/Email+Signature.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-84148986616574503532011-06-26T08:23:00.000-04:002011-06-26T08:23:36.078-04:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span id="aptureStartContent"><span class="body">Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="aptureStartContent"><span class="body">C.S. Lewis</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="aptureStartContent"><span class="body"></span></span><span id="aptureStartContent"><span class="body"></span></span><span id="aptureStartContent"><span class="body"> </span></span></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-10390489812994719152011-06-23T11:34:00.001-04:002011-06-23T11:35:07.884-04:00Sum Sum Summertime<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nq4zJO2tjOD7qv75zccJJWn_KeHVhTN00PBsLWBYZz5iYTkNdX_yKrQzhG7r6QJfhNCrvWCpNVfWmhrm5AMlHXOozXKLTAzOdxEc6Ql8DxXXFEPOA5gzP0Dmr4rOOp_aR5K3bQ/s1600/Hello+Summertime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nq4zJO2tjOD7qv75zccJJWn_KeHVhTN00PBsLWBYZz5iYTkNdX_yKrQzhG7r6QJfhNCrvWCpNVfWmhrm5AMlHXOozXKLTAzOdxEc6Ql8DxXXFEPOA5gzP0Dmr4rOOp_aR5K3bQ/s640/Hello+Summertime.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-47485252481055745062011-06-20T22:44:00.003-04:002011-06-20T23:12:54.209-04:00Room Redos and what my blogging lost to...This is part of what has me so far behind on blog posts. I was trying hard to get organized before the kids got out of school for the summer. Though I didn't get all that I wanted done, I did make a significant dent in things.. We gave both of the girl's rooms a makeover and I'm in the process of putting labels on EVERYTHING... I am not naturally, a label kind of obsessive girl... But I have found that I live in a house full of nerds and though they won't listen to a word that I say, they love to read and for the little one that doesn't read yet, the pictures work wonders! In fact, the labels have worked so well, I am in the process for making some for every room in the house. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chloe's Room</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Chloe had previously been in a full sized bed that was just placed on a frame so that it was low to the floor. My mom had saved my bed from when I was little. Since it had been kept in an out door storage building, it needed a bit of work..</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Before</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVBXlXgCRlMnHLXmb95V1giJx8xglZFNel_IXEoyJcxgPYKUG249SPY4vEcvuutk2xZZ9xtUqdGlGu-CR_eQSqWHJp9rxkZeq5QZzN2VZz3fb9_0iSZ62XP6sZEALmA_Dg6Lk3w/s1600/+Chloe%2527s+Bed+Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVBXlXgCRlMnHLXmb95V1giJx8xglZFNel_IXEoyJcxgPYKUG249SPY4vEcvuutk2xZZ9xtUqdGlGu-CR_eQSqWHJp9rxkZeq5QZzN2VZz3fb9_0iSZ62XP6sZEALmA_Dg6Lk3w/s400/+Chloe%2527s+Bed+Before.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">After</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Jg4Fj4Ly792QfSYpV6rJy_qWd2nTXju4MR7IvB1VK8e-YbX-M-VNkL9iVfj0qYxLIDQQL8854JTev2N26Od9zzT6NYUqRWZWSl33DVvCgnxedhO76sVQ_I_IWeF0hqZ4nQRxKg/s1600/DSC_5884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Jg4Fj4Ly792QfSYpV6rJy_qWd2nTXju4MR7IvB1VK8e-YbX-M-VNkL9iVfj0qYxLIDQQL8854JTev2N26Od9zzT6NYUqRWZWSl33DVvCgnxedhO76sVQ_I_IWeF0hqZ4nQRxKg/s640/DSC_5884.jpg" width="426" /> </a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">labels for Chloe's room</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3-DHsJ6rGLT26GOeAzkfxM4PodSb2pf7Gq4-pLDV7Zfv-gIlcDuHz8paSgFyN1drumgPc-n3QwIXPge_wAMF80ygPWUnTQ2oAnw7OS3sMBo45-5HL5NFE9f7rP_TPPqZry6KCg/s1600/bathing+suits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3-DHsJ6rGLT26GOeAzkfxM4PodSb2pf7Gq4-pLDV7Zfv-gIlcDuHz8paSgFyN1drumgPc-n3QwIXPge_wAMF80ygPWUnTQ2oAnw7OS3sMBo45-5HL5NFE9f7rP_TPPqZry6KCg/s400/bathing+suits.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Emma's Room</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Emma was in a loft bed which is now working as a great space for rubbermaid storage boxes in our garage. (Pictures coming soon).. For Emma, we brought down the bedroom suite from the spare bedroom that Adam's mom had given us. Don't worry, you can still come visit us, there's still a bed up there... Not being in the mood to paint the very pink walls, I decided to combine a hot pink and orange to grow it up a little bit for her... I ran into a little snag when I went to remove the tacky border (I really should have gotten a picture of this one) that was put up by the previous owner... They had painted almost to the ceiling, leaving about a inch of bare wall.. Since I've been unsuccessful in getting a good match to the paint, I <span class="me"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">acquiesce</span>d. </span></span>Though I detest wallpaper borders, I put up a thinner, polka dotted border. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmArp80akyeMUpu0LAi3tnzKOPyhFQ946oQjHK-Er5Tl9OWh7QR438iQYGiNJ5V1ke957rVhqthOizf53EbcTLvKgc-SACsJHrXxQkKKtIDgi4dQoSMeVCOsLI66ZN7JlDUpkkg/s1600/Emmas+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmArp80akyeMUpu0LAi3tnzKOPyhFQ946oQjHK-Er5Tl9OWh7QR438iQYGiNJ5V1ke957rVhqthOizf53EbcTLvKgc-SACsJHrXxQkKKtIDgi4dQoSMeVCOsLI66ZN7JlDUpkkg/s640/Emmas+room.jpg" width="425" /> </a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Recently, we added the picture that I made Emma for her birthday. It contains a quote from one of my history favorites, Eleanor Roosevelt. Did you know that during the Civil Rights movement, in a public meeting in Birmingham AL, Eleanor Roosevelt once straddled the aisle between the segregated black and white sides, refusing to place value on a person based on their color? Wasn't she the coolest?<br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I LOVE this quote... </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpII-kMMteGWA3suJ6o5KBLBcjZ9JoYQQJJjY5Z04jvX-UooN8kL7-SWMaRbFMgSa8cysoB574Fq7uCd-joUUMww_356_yEYgBNpT8qCL-H9zjZ39216QcUkJ_9OP9Y4Rbd5myw/s1600/Emmas+bedroom+16+x+24_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpII-kMMteGWA3suJ6o5KBLBcjZ9JoYQQJJjY5Z04jvX-UooN8kL7-SWMaRbFMgSa8cysoB574Fq7uCd-joUUMww_356_yEYgBNpT8qCL-H9zjZ39216QcUkJ_9OP9Y4Rbd5myw/s640/Emmas+bedroom+16+x+24_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">labels for Emma's room</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUp0DUPPG3P-Ew8Prr-m2MxVbUdweWW0Ki842-ZX4zD9UFmSGg4etaBjWnfHy-ExD4ElbFeOONzBZB-Od8TlCypSRoeqTBsoL3wI47-PtKXjUNw1eMXXEjpN16SkZQwsWRrywrHQ/s1600/socks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUp0DUPPG3P-Ew8Prr-m2MxVbUdweWW0Ki842-ZX4zD9UFmSGg4etaBjWnfHy-ExD4ElbFeOONzBZB-Od8TlCypSRoeqTBsoL3wI47-PtKXjUNw1eMXXEjpN16SkZQwsWRrywrHQ/s400/socks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">labels on everything... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4txl_MBJ9khN8U0_qp_hWGfwFfG5ProZkSqvhznzDqgmGPAskpAOmKAaFdPLAzi0cnaB7LkHy7rDxkelrBNaiZRELRI5EWz8Ori9H5kFSgyKWBr6TAbCNuCG6CgDK8SmgimYb1g/s1600/label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4txl_MBJ9khN8U0_qp_hWGfwFfG5ProZkSqvhznzDqgmGPAskpAOmKAaFdPLAzi0cnaB7LkHy7rDxkelrBNaiZRELRI5EWz8Ori9H5kFSgyKWBr6TAbCNuCG6CgDK8SmgimYb1g/s400/label.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Playroom</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguV94ezaoyKXBELUgIC1lVU_X6d7KQpr0dZ6cxdOaVQRoM_DJO4q80pH36Pk-D3T_TymFDWb5WWEZOCtsXIQsgcRtzCq-KgunOzGlAZf5UCbC2Dyoyd_3rZcxkjgEvkBfKAEM62w/s1600/DSC_5524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguV94ezaoyKXBELUgIC1lVU_X6d7KQpr0dZ6cxdOaVQRoM_DJO4q80pH36Pk-D3T_TymFDWb5WWEZOCtsXIQsgcRtzCq-KgunOzGlAZf5UCbC2Dyoyd_3rZcxkjgEvkBfKAEM62w/s640/DSC_5524.jpg" width="425" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">more labels</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4zLzWglktji8_7mVaOm2BGV2xKrA8ZtqPB54N-RwHl-phyphenhyphenO6Y6NYLHFXy25_JXgKZ19xpDeqaBEHBWEUvy6o_MrZIQN_LEApo-7lCLCkbQho-bt7nxm4OrzJRe3M8d4_Vpk6sQ/s1600/DSC_5521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4zLzWglktji8_7mVaOm2BGV2xKrA8ZtqPB54N-RwHl-phyphenhyphenO6Y6NYLHFXy25_JXgKZ19xpDeqaBEHBWEUvy6o_MrZIQN_LEApo-7lCLCkbQho-bt7nxm4OrzJRe3M8d4_Vpk6sQ/s400/DSC_5521.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">labels for playroom </div><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQdL4K74J2WeWHucxU2x69wnrhfTa5ZAprfbhWzlQAXncprOjzqSlhO3UcnfnLAdahQJFfdbntt9lw-k4lg1diKJ47dx2cX0ssL9x0sXsTi2TlqeqhO29sIW-mujOWmpJqWfpyw/s400/Blocks+l.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Master Bedroom</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>And, I added some shelves to the office space in our bedroom to try to keep things from stacking up on the desk... Adam came in later and put some brackets up because the floating shelves didn't hold the weight I wanted them to hold. I eventually want to paint my $10 yard sale desk a de-stressed vintage aqua.. But for now, we're going for function.. Maybe one day, I'll bring it all together in beauty like those slick decorating blogger mommas... But that will surely be after I finish the degree I'm about to start working on. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn_MP7iLaBiXrpBCnwETrjbpU9wRn2Z-dwgaOE2RAhbWFKz84-EbsQ20sIoHqayoiMhvFfI1vS0sf7W4uKECnlZGQPkQTooHiPAwxuYxTTbHuxIrv0iABWP_-En3MloyABmjsWg/s1600/DSC_5514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn_MP7iLaBiXrpBCnwETrjbpU9wRn2Z-dwgaOE2RAhbWFKz84-EbsQ20sIoHqayoiMhvFfI1vS0sf7W4uKECnlZGQPkQTooHiPAwxuYxTTbHuxIrv0iABWP_-En3MloyABmjsWg/s640/DSC_5514.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
I also have worked out a great laundry room system and a fun homework/project space for the girls that I need to take pictures of... <br />
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And since I'm, once again, officially a college student.. I hope to finish things up in between the time that the girls go back to school and I start classes in September... <br />
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Hopefully, I will be back with a follow up post... But considering the fact that there's still a Christmas post I haven't done, no promises that will surely be broken made here..<br />
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Blessings,<br />
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DanaDanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-14582475305877286202011-06-13T08:09:00.000-04:002011-06-13T08:09:34.218-04:00Wrapping Up Second Grade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxti2kWfs-pXGmTjEJKTb4Fxivhw5ryY1ygvAPVY4UTXkp3E9__4snJLdP66OLRFJSbBafRNw6D8axNARfu1nkJKBswnYLbmvxajgKDR_zrU7qxQ-IhmC5BgtkiqACfphDkPakg/s1600/Wrapping+Up+Second+Grade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="531" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxti2kWfs-pXGmTjEJKTb4Fxivhw5ryY1ygvAPVY4UTXkp3E9__4snJLdP66OLRFJSbBafRNw6D8axNARfu1nkJKBswnYLbmvxajgKDR_zrU7qxQ-IhmC5BgtkiqACfphDkPakg/s640/Wrapping+Up+Second+Grade.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Please excuse the black boxes. I try hard to protect their location and not post pictures of kids without parents permission</i>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Summer has officially began.. I'm going to try to go back through the mounds and mounds of pictures that I haven't posted over the past few months and get them in place.</div><br />
Emma, racked up on awards at second grade awards day. I think we all take it for granted that she's going to get the academic and behavior awards. I do realize that one day, this could change and I'm going to really realize how much for granted I took this. But, we knew up front that she had achieved those awards. The big surprise was the Art Award. I am so proud of the way she pours herself into everything she does. But I think because of the circumstances, we were all most excited about this award. She was so disappointed that she didn't get it in first grade and she left the awards day that day vowing to "get it next year". I love that she sat her mind to it and achieved it. She's smart, there is no doubt. But, it's her determination that testifies to her character. I love that about her. She so often amazes me. <br />
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Blessings,<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaN-7jCHySR0Hl4l-HDsmIf0wB2lJeTuziDi_v9V6ANkQLM7QoM2TpdF7zR4OT0Kb9HrZ9RanSwHOlWaxVgCFwTphyTkuIi27HEvKWvgjk96yS9VIuGqt2jgA9apCgEUShaXo0A/s1600/Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaN-7jCHySR0Hl4l-HDsmIf0wB2lJeTuziDi_v9V6ANkQLM7QoM2TpdF7zR4OT0Kb9HrZ9RanSwHOlWaxVgCFwTphyTkuIi27HEvKWvgjk96yS9VIuGqt2jgA9apCgEUShaXo0A/s200/Signature.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8877461.post-27195343203397779212011-06-12T12:15:00.001-04:002011-06-12T12:15:32.095-04:00<div style="text-align: center;">"An individual Christian may see fit to give up all sorts of things for special reasons - marriage, or meat, or beer, or cinema; but the moment he starts saying the things are bad in themselves, or looking down his nose at other people who do use them, he has taken the wrong turning."<br />
--C.S. Lewis </div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06199572539645442950noreply@blogger.com2