tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-160883042024-03-07T18:48:50.977-08:00Cristina (Ting) Higgins Herman's BlogLet's laugh and smile as much as we can today, ok? Lord only knows what tomorrow will bring...Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.comBlogger195125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-26738094543714668332016-12-20T14:33:00.000-08:002016-12-20T14:33:07.135-08:00Christmas Desires and Disappointments<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I was listening to the radio this morning
as strangers shared extraordinary efforts they had gone to in order to procure
a special gift at Christmas. As I listened, my mind drifted to recent attempts
at meeting my children’s wild requests, but I soon found myself wistfully
recalling a Christmas of my own, when I was ten years old and living in the
remote town of Awassa, Ethiopia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span lang="EN-US">The town, in this time, had no stores that
I can remember. We bought all our fresh food from the outdoor market, dry goods
including powdered milk and coveted cheese and chocolate had to be picked up in
Addis Ababa, the capital and a four hour drive away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our clothing, books, personal items, games
etc. had all been shipped from Canada. So you can imagine what Christmas gifts
were to look like that year; my mom and I were sewing small gifts, stringing
beads, and baking. My brother helped decorate paper for wrapping, crafted
ornaments for our house plants, and we all looked desperately forward to seeing
the Canadian nurses who worked in the hospital near our town.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">As an adult, I now cringe when I think
about what I did to my parents that year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">You see, it was 1985 and I wanted a Care Bear.
I desperately, passionately, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">needed</i> a
Care Bear. I couldn’t imagine life without the loveable toy that all my friends
had, and I did not. Don’t get me wrong; I was a grateful and happy child. I
knew full well the barriers to buying things at that time in our lives. To this
day, I have twisted big toes from wearing too-small shoes for too long. I
didn’t complain. I loved my days filled with sun, dust, dogs and chickens. I
finished my grade 5 correspondence courses in four months and spent the rest of
my days helping in the garden, climbing trees and washing puppies in the bidet.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">But I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">needed</i>
that Care Bear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I don’t know a lot of details about how it
happened, only that it involved a Korean paper catalogue that needed
translating and a lot of shipping fees. What I do remember is the palatable
excitement in my thumping body when I was presented with the Care Bear-sized
box, the anticipation on my parents’ faces, the smirk from my too-cool brother
watching from the sidelines and the foreign writing on the side of the beat up
cardboard box. I could hardly wait to squeeze the love out of that soft magical
bear, come to fill my days with friendship and wonder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">When I finally got into the box, through
the tightly packaged cardboard and copious bubble wrap, my heart sunk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It was a lamp. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It was a baby blue lamp with Sleepy Care Bear
sitting on a cloud. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I feigned excitement, assured my happiness
to the darting eyes that saw tragedy on the horizon, and dutifully plugged it
in beside my bed, where it sat until returning to Canada. If I’m not mistaken,
it stills sits wrapped in my mother’s attic, awaiting the day of rediscovery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">A couple of years later back in Canada I discovered
that what I really had needed was a Cabbage Patch doll, but by that time I had
learned that there were far more important needs to be met, and shrugged a
disinterested response when queried by friends about my lack thereof. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what stays with me now, as a parent of a
ten year old, is that incredible desire to please a child, guilty of spoiling
or not. That desire to see the smile, the satisfaction of success, even for a
moment, outweighs all efforts made. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Thanks Mom and Dad. It might have taken me
a *few years to realize it, but I love that Care Bear lamp, and all it meant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-22296387907421236402013-03-12T21:32:00.001-07:002013-03-12T21:32:58.564-07:00Remember...<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/03/12/3131.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/03/12/s_3131.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-49892493531657045392013-03-05T20:24:00.000-08:002013-03-05T20:24:01.363-08:00Seattle with KidsWell I keep telling people about the fabulous family day weekend we had with the kids, so I thought I should put it down here so that I can refer the rest of you on to my blog for the info. :)<br />
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Our bank accounts decided that we weren't going to have a sunny vacation this spring, so we decided to do the next best thing and find fun without sun close to home. The plan was to make this a kid-friendly trip without sacrificing food quality (too much), being jailed to a hotel room, or spending copious amounts of time in stores.<br />
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Our mantra for the trip was:<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"One person's mood does not affect the mood of the others." </span></div>
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(This I note, was quite effective in staving off whining, cranking and bitching in most forms and by all parties.)<br />
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Day #1 - Vancouver to Seattle<br />
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We got off to a somewhat reasonable start and except for a lengthy and poorly planned gas and Starbucks detour, made it to the border (Sumas) in good time. The kids and I took out eight movies from the library for the car rides, and they were super content to dig right in to an early morning one. Note: I must admit, I originally thought Rob's car choice was so over the top, but I now absolutely love the "luxury features" including the dvd player. It makes road trips oh.so.easy.<br />
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First stop: our very favorite taco truck, and no, I have no idea where it is except it's outside of Bellingham somewhere on Meridian.<br />
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We took down about 15 of those babies. They are so good, and the kids always love kicking around the fields around the truck. The truck also sells the spicy Mexican candies we love. Mmmmmmm....<br />
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With bellies full we headed back on the highway without stopping until the dreaded Tulalip Outlet Mall. As much as the kids wanted to complain, they ended up loving the hour there as they picked out crazy sweatshirts, bathing suits and new undies. Rob and I were a little disappointed at the selection at the Restoration Hardware store (our purpose for the stop) but pleased with not spending any money.<br />
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As we rolled into Seattle we decided that stopping for an early dinner might be the best thing and hit a pizza joint we had always wondered about. After circling the block for parking (it was 5) we were starting to wonder what was going on, but soon realized that we had stumbled upon a kid-friendly gem. <a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/1/4178/restaurant/Wallingford/Tutta-Bella-Neapolitan-Pizzeria-Stone-Way-Seattle">Tutta Bella</a> was absolutely buzzing with families. Its open kitchen was great entertainment for the kids, the waiters were incredibly patient, and best of all, the happy hour menu was amazing. Everything was $5 or less. We ordered three pizzas (they're small) a salad and a salumi platter. Rob had beer and I had wine (also on the happy hour menu.) Everybody ate really well and had a great time. I would definitely do it again.<br />
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We made it into our Seattle Sheraton hotel with plenty of time to enjoy the pool and hot tub and everybody hit the hay for the night.<br />
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Day #2<br />
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The day was bright when we woke, but without a lot of sun in the forecast. Nonetheless we all agreed it was a perfect day to hit the zoo. But first, we were off to Capitol Hill to try a brunch spot that came highly recommended. The wait was a bit daunting at first, but we went outside to play some Crazy Cubes and soon enough we were tucked into a comfy corner table with a view. And man was I glad we waited! <a href="http://skilletstreetfood.com/diner.php">The Skillet Dine</a>r has an eclectic menu to be sure, but everybody found something they loved. Rob chose the chilaquiles to stay on his Mexican theme. Mia had a grilled peanut butter and jam sandwich with fries. Lucas ordered a cinnamon role that was the size of his head, no joke. I had the L'il Rob; a delectable sandwich of egg and bacon between flapjacks, drizzled with balsamic syrup with a side salad. Great meal. (My favorite of the whole weekend actually.) <br />
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If you've never been to the <a href="http://www.zoo.org/">Woodland Zoo</a> and you've got kids, you should go. This was our third or fourth trip, and it didn't disappoint. The highlights of this visit were twofold. The first was feeding the penguins. For an extra price and a bit of a wait, the kids got to go with a staff member and drop wee fishies to the hungry penguins. Last time we had fed the giraffes and we still talk about it, so we knew that feeding the penguins would be good.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcpLynH_03M0nUqqd6V0wVAw7Z9Tv9VB0Q3FijIp7klfv_Z5FmPW8fWN5U3la2zGTj4OM3mpDEZ7v7Lr1UfZMFecDInm-NlyXMwNwxy2L4Lz9Rxwa2_1zBrylqF96ybSBPxBb/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcpLynH_03M0nUqqd6V0wVAw7Z9Tv9VB0Q3FijIp7klfv_Z5FmPW8fWN5U3la2zGTj4OM3mpDEZ7v7Lr1UfZMFecDInm-NlyXMwNwxy2L4Lz9Rxwa2_1zBrylqF96ybSBPxBb/s200/026.JPG" width="132" /></a><br />
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The second highlight was the special event they had going for the day. Due to the arrival of Valentine's day that week, the animals were getting Valentines delivered to their enclosures throughout the day. These were absolutely adorable little gifties that arranged from bugs to fruit to popcorn, but all came in hearts and ribbons and bows. I spent a half hour with the gorillas waiting for their treat, and they didn't disappoint. I *may* have been more excited than the kids. It was hysterical watching them open and enjoy all their treats. The kids were amazed to see the adeptness of their problem-solving as well as the silliness of the young gorilla as he jostled and pushed his elders in his attempts to get more snacks. Not great photos as the windows were super dirty.<br />
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There were also four new lion cubs to be viewed, but we caught the end of it and the kids were rather done by then.<br />
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Our dinner choice left a little to be desired, but the intention was good. We had been to the happy hour at <a href="http://www.rockbottom.com/">Rockbottom</a> before and really enjoyed the tasting beers and sliders. So we thought we were being clever doing the same thing; until we realized that the tasting menu was only on weekdays. Nonetheless, a good kids menu, great beer and delicious blue-cheese topped burgers.<br />
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Day #3 and 4<br />
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This was the day the kids were waiting for, so the day began with a lot of excitement. But we weren't to be bullied into diverging from our plans, so we walked down to Pike Place Market to watch some flying fish, eat some crab bennys, check out the magic shop, purchase stuffed snakes and drool over bouquets of gorgeous flowers. All good, but no photos!<br />
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And then, it was back into the car and off we went to find <a href="http://www.greatwolf.com/grandmound/waterpark">Great Wolf Lodg</a>e; the kids' treat for family day.<br />
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This turned into the day of the side trip.<br />
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The first, was to surprise Lucas with a trip over the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacoma_Narrows_Bridge">Sturdy Gertie</a>, which he had been telling us all about. Seriously, the kid's an encyclopedia. He had been studying structures and this bridge was in the unit. He sounded like Wikipedia talking about it, so we just had to have a drive over. (And pay the toll - that was a surprise too!)<br />
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Side trip number two saw us driving down to Point Defiance Park to surprise the kids with go-cart driving. I had my camera with me, but took no photos because my hands were gripping the steering wheel so tightly, and I was laughing so, so hard. I had seriously sore teeth from the freezing cold air hitting my gigantic gaping, snorting mouth, but it was worth it. Rob and Lucas drove together. (Rob was way too big for the car!) And Mia went back and forth between screaming an laughing in mine. So fun.<br />
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After those little diversions, we hunkered down to hit the water park.<br />
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So, if you've never been, you can take my words with a grain of salt. I'm sure that everyone's experience at this kid-crazy place is slightly different. We had riddled our friends who had been with questions and gotten a few tips on how best to navigate the mayhem but still felt rather unprepared.<br />
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When I opened the doors to check in, the noise hit me like a wave of nausea; sudden and surprising, but manageable if I set my mind to it. It was as though every possible noise from every emotion of a child's spectrum of possibilities was resonating through the timber structure. Nonetheless, I set my jaw and joined the long line-up to check in.<br />
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Check-in, except for the fact that I needed an ear-horn to hear the directions, went smoothly.<br />
We piled our stuff onto the airport style luggage trolleys and off we went to find our room. (By the way, I would bitterly complain if our room were anywhere near the elevators at this place. There were THRONGS of children running willy-nilly through the halls, but especially near where the Magiquest stations are set up.<br />
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Ok, I have just realized that this is going to get pretty rambly at the rate I'm going, so here's the low down:<br />
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The Drive: Really not bad if you've got it broken up a bit and have something for the kids to be entertained with in the car<br />
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The Food: Better than we were expecting, and fair prices, but still standard kid-food. The pizza places looked awful so we ate one meal in the restaurant. Honestly, the kids were satisfied (Lucas said the fried rice was the best ever?!) and we managed. Taking lots of healthy snacks for the room kept us well-nourished and we made do with everything else. I think if it were a longer trip we would have had to do some driving to get decent food.<br />
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On site Starbucks: One hour wait ... just saying...<br />
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The "Extras" : There were a lot of things for the kids to want to spend money on despite the "all-inclusiveness" of the water park. The Magicquest looked really cool , but when we were there the line-ups for each station were so long that you could just stand behind and watch the other kids wave their wands and get the clue. Even though Lucas and Mia were keen to try, they saw the reasoning behind it when we offered them each a card for the arcade instead. Haha. The arcade, as much as I detest the concept (almost more than the germs?) was a blast. Both kids found plenty of things to play and earned quite a few tickets. Lucas hit it big on one game and won a thousand tickets, much to Mia's distress. Luckily you can load the points onto your game card and not carry the tickets around! The kids both learned a lesson when they went to buy things with their points and realized their money would have gone further in the gift shop. (Which, by the way, is HUGE and unavoidable.)<br />
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The sleep: We slept some.<br />
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The water park: Worth the money. Lots to do, very manageable line-ups considering how packed the rest of the lodge seemed, well staffed, clean and most importantly; fun. I would have enjoyed slightly warmer water, but nobody else in our crew seemed to care.<br />
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The verdict: It was for the kids, and the kids loved it. All of it. The noise, the food, the entertainment and the time together. We will do it again for sure.<br />
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That's all for now. Seattle with the kids was a blast. Do it. :)<br />
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Ting<br />
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<br />Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-24793301022154612182013-02-24T12:20:00.003-08:002013-02-24T12:20:55.289-08:00Fabric FrenzyI haven't sewn in ages. And honestly, I've never been any good at it. But there remains in me a desire to craft and somehow be successful with what I create. Ha - that's what <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/">Pinteres</a>t will do to you I guess. So recently I found myself on a glorious sunny day (of which we have had so few) at my very favorite fabric store buying squares of the most joy-filling fabric. Although I haven't actually done anything more than wash and iron the pieces so far, I am filled with happy just to look at them and imagine what I might one day produce.<br />
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The above have plans to be transformed into a skirt for Mia. </div>
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The birds on the far left were made into a new kitchen curtain. </div>
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So if you are ever in the hunt for great fabric to inspire, I suggest you head over to <a href="http://www.spoolofthread.com/">Spool of Thread</a> and peruse their selections.<br />
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And by the way... don't be surprised if you never see a blog post with the finished products!Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-28555037848226221352013-01-19T22:35:00.001-08:002013-01-19T22:35:24.809-08:00Tubing!What a sunset! And also what a lovely way to end a great day. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/01/19/3012.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/01/19/s_3012.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-73692646578018246432013-01-18T18:54:00.002-08:002013-01-18T18:54:31.011-08:00Roberto's PostThe post goes out to Roberto. :)<br />
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Why, you ask Roberto?<br />
And who, you ask, is he? Haha. A friend and a bestie's hubby is the answer.<br />
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The answer to why it goes out to him is because he asked me why I wasn't writing any more. And no-one has asked me in a long time. In his honest question I found the impetus to try again to chronicle the everyday, the memorable and the gobbledygook that permeates my brain.<br />
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So here's to you Roberto.<br />
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Thank you for kicking my butt...gently and kindly.<br />
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Love Ting<br />
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PS - I'll try not to fall off the band wagon again.Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-16223115699337917472013-01-18T18:51:00.001-08:002013-01-18T18:51:31.029-08:00A New Year<br />
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Our first Christmas in our new home was wonderfully smooth and relaxed. We burned a lot of firewood, drank a few too many cocktails and played a lot of board games. We spent the weekend immediately after school ended and immediately before Christmas in Whistler skiing, which was a fantastic choice. It meant that everything that needed to be done had to be done before we left. When we rolled back into town on Christmas Eve, we dropped off our ski gear at home while the kids waited in the car, picked up our bag of gifts for family and drove to my mom's in toques and ski gear. Although we may have been a little stinkier than past years, it turned into a great plan!<br />
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Post Festivus we enjoyed some hiking, snowshoeing and a lot of lounging. An ankle I sprained in the fall began to act up again, which slowed us (me) down a little, but it probably wasn't a bad thing.<br />
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We even had enough good weather to get into that craziness that we call our garden and start doing some cleaning and dreaming for Spring.<br />
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Look at that mess! I anticipate spending a lot of time battling ivy, blackberry and bamboo this year!<br />
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Lucas managed to lose ANOTHER tooth about 15 minutes to midnight on New Year's Eve, which has truly left him with an empty mouth. Hysterical. I think a portrait session may be in order soon!<br />
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Our dear, dear Pillo is really showing his age this winter. His hearing is deteriorating quickly and we are seeing more bouts of dementia along with a decreased appetite. Except for tired joints and very slow walks, he seems to be out of any pain, so for the time being we will just love him as much as we can and make sure his every day is full of happy.<br />
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These are such crappy photos, sorry. They always look great on my iPhone and then I see them on the computer and realize they aren't that great. I'm dreaming of a new camera again...hahaha.. but for now just need to remember to lug around my good one instead of my telephone.<br />
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Still holding my kids close... Love to all. xo TingCristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-35412982804699352482012-12-23T16:02:00.001-08:002012-12-23T16:02:18.987-08:00Almost readyWell, we are ready for Christmas. <br /><br />For the first time in years, I feel that we are calm and relaxed; the way we should feel at this time of year. <br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/12/23/2250.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/12/23/s_2250.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />This one has lost so many teeth it's puréed turkey for his holiday dinner. ;)<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/12/23/2251.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/12/23/s_2251.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />This one, who now speaks only half French and half Mia-nese, has been a truly helpful elf full of love and joy. <br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/12/23/2252.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/12/23/s_2252.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />We have crafted, feasted, visited, skied, movied and played. <br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/12/23/2253.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/12/23/s_2253.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />The kids have spent their allowances on thoughtful gifts for all they love. <br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/12/23/2254.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/12/23/s_2254.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/12/23/2255.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/12/23/s_2255.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />And we are ready to celebrate another season of Christmas. <br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/12/23/2256.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/12/23/s_2256.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />May each of you enjoy peace and calm at this time of craziness. Keep your kids close. <br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Here%20and%20There&z=10'>Here and There</a></p>Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-10888097172209097372012-05-04T12:49:00.003-07:002012-05-04T12:49:55.323-07:00Hey There...Remember me?<br />
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I used to write this blog.<br />
Like actually, sit down and type words , sentences and paragraphs that I thought were somewhat interesting or important into the field and the publish these thoughts with photos.<br />
Innovation has its limits I suppose!<br />
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I recently read someone's comment that Facebook killed the blog, and I'd have to agree that it may also have influenced my blogging. That, and life, of course!<br />
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I'd like to recall why I started this thing, where it took me, and perhaps why it petered out.<br />
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The blog was started when we moved to Mexico. I used it as a seriously effective way of showing my community of friends, family and acquaintances what we were up to. It generated a lot of comment and more importantly a real connection to people. It was my life line to my world at home in Vancouver. As it progressed, I realized that it had become a beautiful memoir of our days. Its charm, I feel, lay mostly in the regulatory of postings that allowed me to elaborate of smaller, more elaborate details rather than a general catch-up.<br />
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Unfortunately, a summary of the sweet chocolate- chunks of life is what it became over time. I began to see a more restrained practice of relegating the trials and successes of life; marking the milestones of the lives of the kids in particular. To my senses, it began to lose the essence of life that it had once held. I couldn't keep up with all the events. I didn't want to record many of them, and I lost the self-regulated "permission" to post about trivial aspects of life that often absorb my psyche. Bummer. And thus the random Facebook post about kids' quirks or broken dishwashers. Boring.<br />
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And now where do I go? Do I archive my words. Store them in a virtual retainer to be recalled with memory?Is this book done? Do I open it again? Re-create it? I really have no idea. Heehee...no truly, I do have ideas, but haven't decided where to go with them.<br />
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Ideas:<br />
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- take up where I left off<br />
- begin a different blog<br />
- post only photos<br />
- walk away<br />
- start a novel :)<br />
- ???<br />
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I know the words won't go away - they never do. I recite them in my head if paper, screen or person won't hear me.<br />
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Any suggestions?Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-66770783545076573282012-01-04T14:45:00.001-08:002012-01-04T14:45:01.843-08:00Photos<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/01/04/2325.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/01/04/s_2325.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Lunch with my man. <br />Man we're happy school is back in. :)<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/01/04/2326.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/01/04/s_2326.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Bandidas, Commercial drive. <br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/01/04/2327.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/01/04/s_2327.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />A muddy play at QE.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/01/04/2328.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/01/04/s_2328.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />A fulfilling day so far. <br />And fun photos to prove it!<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/01/04/2329.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/01/04/s_2329.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-9875744506007907032012-01-04T14:38:00.001-08:002012-01-04T14:38:54.197-08:00InstagramThis is how the new year has started; sleepy! <br /><br />Such is this time if year for me. Wet, cold and blah. <br /><br />But this new app makes me happy. <br /><br />Photos to follow. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/01/04/2312.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/01/04/s_2312.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-36965256081608182032011-10-16T17:18:00.000-07:002011-10-16T17:46:41.473-07:00Happy Birthday Lucas!<div style="text-align: center;">The little guy turned 7 last weekend, so we celebrated this weekend with a wild and crazy birthday party of glow bowling, cake and pinata. Amazingly, we survived. Last year I swore I would never do another large boys' birthday, but I found myself in the same predicament all of a sudden with 15 kids <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">RSVPing</span> yes for the party. Yikes. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately the morning had gone poorly at Lucas' soccer game. Lucas received a hard ball to the face in goal and he couldn't turn himself around to get past it - which ended in frustration for all. We consequently started our birthday proceedings grumpy The result of which was my telling him that his <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Spongebob</span> pinata would get no arms as a result. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lol</span>. Regardless, I thought the results of the previous evenings late-night crafting was fairly decent.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2k9Tq8nVkEt7efXsAFAj6_DoJTaOFd8Faa96JwyZ-O5OEaHPRgcUg_rLUZeXMCsAO32DEM1Qia5vEbh5ewLYe-vsJOWnufvd8IomeTHjr3NKB1mHIhQvEFEsSpR9adG7Lo0J/s1600/lucas%2527+7th+002.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2k9Tq8nVkEt7efXsAFAj6_DoJTaOFd8Faa96JwyZ-O5OEaHPRgcUg_rLUZeXMCsAO32DEM1Qia5vEbh5ewLYe-vsJOWnufvd8IomeTHjr3NKB1mHIhQvEFEsSpR9adG7Lo0J/s400/lucas%2527+7th+002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664252908205259538" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The saving grace for the party and my sanity (besides the weather) was Rob. He deftly undertook the job of entertaining the kids with a game of "Robert Says" to whittle away the time until the glorious moment up pick-up. He was my hero! </div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbC-LxnbOTmP_MhXXOPKMvnxEuhwMG8K0hoX7zjUsW6McsXFXEBwTppka5VNIS1NazacBH2GmKCGnb79wizPw3q8qCJ42qknTWoS6m91C7-EBG9Ozb47QAyOgEyK-4RzxDiWu/s1600/lucas%2527+7th+004.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbC-LxnbOTmP_MhXXOPKMvnxEuhwMG8K0hoX7zjUsW6McsXFXEBwTppka5VNIS1NazacBH2GmKCGnb79wizPw3q8qCJ42qknTWoS6m91C7-EBG9Ozb47QAyOgEyK-4RzxDiWu/s400/lucas%2527+7th+004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664252904936206834" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">All in all, the party was a success with very few injuries, entertained kids, and a happy birthday boy.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But... could someone please remind me to make it smaller next year!!!</div>Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-13490848347749299222011-10-10T19:59:00.000-07:002011-10-11T23:44:51.001-07:00A lot to be thankful for<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1I5RonM8PCd4KxkKSz-sEzxvmvh1iihZkgKH8KX5PpCddwOfYH_WEdmGCG_TMErCM3ksO4jUimuWCtfCpN3mFeNB-EffzNyqhGM8_l5W-GqsulBCf_ywRHpyrQ-M63hq1_Kc/s1600/109.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1I5RonM8PCd4KxkKSz-sEzxvmvh1iihZkgKH8KX5PpCddwOfYH_WEdmGCG_TMErCM3ksO4jUimuWCtfCpN3mFeNB-EffzNyqhGM8_l5W-GqsulBCf_ywRHpyrQ-M63hq1_Kc/s400/109.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662070698300803282" /></a><br />What a cliche!<div><br /></div><div>However it has been a hell of a year and yet there still resonates in me a deeply grounded understanding that life is giving and good and that all that is, simply is. Sigh....</div><div><br /></div><div>I feel that it was about this time last year that life went to pot for me. But now that I look back on the fall of 2010, I realize that I had heaped way too much onto my plate. I was working full time at school plus had taken on a part-time contract facilitating workshops in high schools for a research project. I had organized and hosted a huge 70<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> birthday for my beloved mom. We had committed to a confused rescued three-month old puppy. Mia's part time participation preschool hours were sucking up my free time with duty days and evening meetings. Lucas had just been diagnosed and we were only starting our journey to understanding how we could help him be more successful. I was playing hockey, Mia dancing, Lucas swimming and playing soccer and Rob busily working away at a pretty new job.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was a lot. </div><div><br /></div><div>Period.</div><div><br /></div><div>And so, I put my head under the sand, dug deep and began to breathe. </div><div><br /></div><div>Breathe, breathe, breathe, breathe...</div><div><br /></div><div>That's all I've done all year since, really.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've hardly seen friends. We've not had a lot of adventures. We quit a lot of activities and we busied ourselves instead with fortifying foundations of health and well being.</div><div><br /></div><div>And that's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ok</span>. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>So here we are a year later on Thanksgiving weekend. Lucas has just turned 7 and is finding himself more every day. The puppy is one. Mia is successfully settled in kindergarten. Rob is well-established in his job. I'm working a little less and learning to balance a little better.</div><div><br /></div><div>My head, dare I say, is coming out from under the sand and we are getting there..</div><div><br /></div><div>And as I emerge and see things that make me smile again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Like a weekend that went well. </div><div>All of it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Very few disasters, tears or upsets.</div><div>Goals of laundry, marking and exercise were met.</div><div>Cookies were made. Dogs were walked. Friends were played with. Phone calls made.</div><div>We slept in.</div><div><br /></div><div>Breathing feels nice now. Not hard.</div><div><br /></div><div>A journey never ends of course. And I write this with the knowledge that things get better after they get worse. And that's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ok</span>.</div><div><br /></div><div>People surprise me. </div><div>Like my students. One class of young '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">uns</span> liked a new novel so much that they decided to buy it with their own money and study it together. </div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ummm</span>... really?</div><div>And the other class. </div><div>The ones who frustrate me daily because I just can't get into the swing of the split level I'm teaching.</div><div>They all want to take my class again. They like me. Really? I thought I was doing a crappy job. </div><div>And the grade ten class in the summer that raised $300 bucks for Red Cross African famine relief when I suggested quietly that a donation would mean more than us eating cookies on our last day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sigh. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is always sadness and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">disappointment</span>. </div><div>October has seen a death in the family. And breast cancer.</div><div><br /></div><div>But.</div><div><br /></div><div>My world is good. </div><div>People envelope me in their warmth.</div><div>And with that I can emerge a little less scarred.</div><div><br /></div><div>And for that...</div><div><br /></div><div>I am thankful. </div>Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-3124889610164772972011-08-24T19:36:00.001-07:002011-08-24T19:36:29.841-07:00Savary Island year fourWe are deep into week two at our favorite piece of paradise. So far we have had great weather and lots of beach time with very few glitches. As usual an abundance of wildlife has thrilled us; seals, sea lions, snakes, starfish, crabs, eagles, herons, woodpeckers, Sand dollars, and lots of deer. <br /><br />Sadly, Hunter had a run in with a mama deer who did not like his naughty aggression. She clobbered him in his rear and took out a grand portion of butt. Rob and Mia spent a large part of their day driving him to the vet in Powell River where he will stay overnight and have the tissue connected tomorrow. Pour little guy... But it kind of serves him right for being such a pest. <br /><br />Well, we're off to get the kids to bed - Mia with a fresh bee sting and us with bellies full of Rangoli and Reisling, yum!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/24/4475.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/24/s_4475.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-49515243064231073652011-07-31T10:32:00.000-07:002011-07-31T10:42:57.503-07:00Finally Summer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rj016wA2MkQ1SqFPP_VaqeRwOa53FyUWYRCbXLwT8nMVuseI2rm4XNJwtKuESOw2Zh12KKBMUcbAySxAVDdV16dkM34RtQO1emmG4mwivKMDWmYKLPwha0RTUW0gpEmGBMx1/s1600/027.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rj016wA2MkQ1SqFPP_VaqeRwOa53FyUWYRCbXLwT8nMVuseI2rm4XNJwtKuESOw2Zh12KKBMUcbAySxAVDdV16dkM34RtQO1emmG4mwivKMDWmYKLPwha0RTUW0gpEmGBMx1/s400/027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635573163808354610" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4r4OUENkGhyphenhyphen6K11AwjJjIey0eS3NML-JVWSqH1NOQyoEm0BW2SEXwPb2BIm70ry-ssPkboODp87UuhFJfcZbfHRLo-QoJ7JXjrDgx1BZKH6-zCtGq5WUYcRKndP7Ky_xH2EX/s1600/024.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4r4OUENkGhyphenhyphen6K11AwjJjIey0eS3NML-JVWSqH1NOQyoEm0BW2SEXwPb2BIm70ry-ssPkboODp87UuhFJfcZbfHRLo-QoJ7JXjrDgx1BZKH6-zCtGq5WUYcRKndP7Ky_xH2EX/s400/024.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635573163150309490" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37l9wL6UlBityIwKkfr4qyS0IDoSaQ4z_3tZKZBcdT-irvItRTdRVnYgno-6ojjBrBdts2sGigLAYG2WXlu9UyeZ-80BxA40K-RNTCbFVLn8SRWjv1ZkAvzh5gahfaMmkK9ye/s1600/016.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37l9wL6UlBityIwKkfr4qyS0IDoSaQ4z_3tZKZBcdT-irvItRTdRVnYgno-6ojjBrBdts2sGigLAYG2WXlu9UyeZ-80BxA40K-RNTCbFVLn8SRWjv1ZkAvzh5gahfaMmkK9ye/s400/016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635573156089795250" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_-tNpHqetnLYMKDxzR2F_AhivlAuo7VCSdNh_c7j16u6UknWmnKF1dB3NeqpIw-X2r1Fb4gYBtPafwRbkxYeGsIs-VrprT7M1ETvLEhF-KMZ9j-fqhRAYb-tUz3t5-JsmnGn/s1600/007.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_-tNpHqetnLYMKDxzR2F_AhivlAuo7VCSdNh_c7j16u6UknWmnKF1dB3NeqpIw-X2r1Fb4gYBtPafwRbkxYeGsIs-VrprT7M1ETvLEhF-KMZ9j-fqhRAYb-tUz3t5-JsmnGn/s400/007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635573152551470994" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuQxycehsrSne2W35-rK4u0VR1zVHIWCypTZi8Sd6P8flSKSwWU1mNkIQGFtEFg_9x1jqxTWx236rwlpwybOrkPpIJ7anLKO5tDh1q2-PsZ7NuU09MENEEgFOcNThVQDCCD_r/s1600/006.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuQxycehsrSne2W35-rK4u0VR1zVHIWCypTZi8Sd6P8flSKSwWU1mNkIQGFtEFg_9x1jqxTWx236rwlpwybOrkPpIJ7anLKO5tDh1q2-PsZ7NuU09MENEEgFOcNThVQDCCD_r/s400/006.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635573150363984050" /></a>Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-51365225910560073882011-06-06T16:10:00.001-07:002011-06-06T16:10:29.062-07:00SicknessDaddy has hockey fever. We are all worried about him, but are assured it will pass soon. <br /><br />Lucas' class has caught it as well, as you can see. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/06/3907.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/06/s_3907.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-50816276002863973552011-05-17T16:00:00.001-07:002011-05-17T16:00:19.769-07:00Lucas is now writing his own Captain Underpants. <br />Watch out Dav!<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/05/17/3290.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/05/17/s_3290.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-27258849057721102952011-05-11T19:56:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:41:11.252-07:00Music to my Ears<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSs_Tm5gPUAHoNjyUyVjSvCFr4-5AqOxFw6bnb-Gbe19Pko5PhCY4eSewkYzdWCyTweBPsU6Gw-vJrd-I32GwxrdgNfRcBHPqA1jcoCVT0Vfd-YW5snJQeSuZBKePmwOoM0ie/s1600/mainimage_captainunderpants.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 235px; height: 353px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSs_Tm5gPUAHoNjyUyVjSvCFr4-5AqOxFw6bnb-Gbe19Pko5PhCY4eSewkYzdWCyTweBPsU6Gw-vJrd-I32GwxrdgNfRcBHPqA1jcoCVT0Vfd-YW5snJQeSuZBKePmwOoM0ie/s400/mainimage_captainunderpants.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605661058592979682" /></a><br />Rob and I are sitting upstairs catching up on the day whilst listening to Lucas read through the vents. We are amazed with his increased ability and grateful to all his teachers who have supported his journey through literacy this grade one year. I myself remember struggling with reading and sobbing tears of frustration when left to my own devices at Duthies in Arbutus Village after being told to find a book I could read before we left! (No offense Mom, I'm sure you were near and as frustrated as I was!) It was such a break-through to me when I realized I could indeed read, and the skill quickly developed into a love for a medium that remains one of my very favorite. Indeed to this day there is little else better than sinking into a good book. <div><br /></div><div>So today I say thank you to Dav Pilkey, author of the Adventures of Captain Underpants series, for although I frown upon any book that uses gimme or wanna, I am thrilled that my son is sitting up reading, and asking to be allowed just a little more before bed!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-12864892541082986852011-04-23T22:36:00.001-07:002011-04-25T22:11:45.568-07:00A Seattle GetawayRob and I left town yesterday to spend some quality time together. After a 3.5 hour border wait, we made it to Seattle for a great gastro-pub dinner. In our funky room at the Hotel Max, Rob fell asleep after the movie was running playing for about a minute. A good sleep later, we shared a light breakfast, picked up a big wine order and headed downtown to have a walk around. After parking our car well underground, we got into the elevator where Rob decided to have a little jump. Many springy bounces later, our elevator became stuck, and this is where we remain at this point while the rest of you enjoy the warmest Saturday we've seen in months.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/04/23/4153.jpg"><img src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/04/23/s_4153.jpg" border="0" width="210" height="281" style="margin:5px" /></a></center><br />We may not have Internet connection, but at least we have our iPhones. I'm guessing at least an hour, but it's been 40 minutes so far and they just banged on the wall to say the elevator company was on it's way. Not sure this was what we had in mind for quality time!<br /><br />Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br /><div><br /></div><div>Update: Well I guess Carol was just in requesting an update; we are NOT still in the elevator. It took an hour and a lot of patience, but we were released with nary a scrape or a piddle in our pants. (Although the latter was constantly on my mind!) After we got up to level ground we decided we were too hungry and needed to head back in the car and get to our chosen lunch spot. The parking attendant was incredulous that we didn't think we should pay for parking, so we swallowed our pride and paid for our experience. Truly unbelievable! The drive home took twice as long as the drive down... but the border wait was shorter coming back and the Easter bunny arrived Sunday morning without a hitch. Next time we may tale our mini-vacation downtown?</div>Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-50820499718371079642011-03-31T14:10:00.001-07:002011-03-31T14:10:41.634-07:00Spring Break GoodtimesAlthough I must admit to looking forward to Monday just a little, Spring break has been great so far. I was initially rather disappointed that Rob couldn't get any time off to go anywhere but in the long run I think it has been a blessing. The kids have really slid nicely into the rhythm of slower days with less rushing, and I have loved being able to drink the whole pot of coffee every morning! Miraculously the two monsters have also found a happy place in their relationship and have been caught playing together for longer and longer periods of time. Wonderful! I'm keeping my optimism high for a great spring.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/03/31/2215.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/03/31/s_2215.jpg' border='0' width='320' height='320' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-20272746979880249932011-02-19T09:24:00.000-08:002011-02-19T09:43:02.299-08:00Things I Love<div style="text-align: center;">It has been a hard year for all of us.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But still, there are wonderful things all around us.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are some everyday things I love.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBV0YZHYDzkUKoF4v7krRdQzKGhTlGf0GbpJ1KHbiHeRHEmYz3AkZ0gM1XzODbPBOBctxhcFhVMJrqfbO8YcU9ZIJodZWXRA1iyZj7BTfKZ-yPrrXIyWC5C5WHlGa72c7GEZc/s1600/093.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBV0YZHYDzkUKoF4v7krRdQzKGhTlGf0GbpJ1KHbiHeRHEmYz3AkZ0gM1XzODbPBOBctxhcFhVMJrqfbO8YcU9ZIJodZWXRA1iyZj7BTfKZ-yPrrXIyWC5C5WHlGa72c7GEZc/s400/093.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575454624179530930" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Everyone absorbed in their own medium. Mia playing on Starfall, Lucas playing Plants vs. Zombies on the i-phone and Rob working.</div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjd-tfqikAh6EzXzhzMXDzxDcKlALgVbGFaYEfgOmviqbeb6EdNYVubLpvqgB_REHGnrtbVzOvEYH7ByFw7-aqGoyDSVuIBVphLr4JFbvS3zkDo7ZWojfcS0F6zub5I-Q_6lRU/s1600/046.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjd-tfqikAh6EzXzhzMXDzxDcKlALgVbGFaYEfgOmviqbeb6EdNYVubLpvqgB_REHGnrtbVzOvEYH7ByFw7-aqGoyDSVuIBVphLr4JFbvS3zkDo7ZWojfcS0F6zub5I-Q_6lRU/s400/046.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575454609751086690" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My dogs. How I love my dogs and the countless hours we spend in the forest together. They keep me sane on many a day. (Except for when hunter is on a chewing tirade!)</div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfat0HaP7g1TjXLDH-QYub6lu0E5x8udddkdDwK3WVnLUT43MzAgRSZfeRsmWBnOXjDK16mDIY2R7529iVkV4biNowVchnE3-eZG2kAi5udDMA9tWlipQXbGZ7biQIJvoeZDoW/s1600/053.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfat0HaP7g1TjXLDH-QYub6lu0E5x8udddkdDwK3WVnLUT43MzAgRSZfeRsmWBnOXjDK16mDIY2R7529iVkV4biNowVchnE3-eZG2kAi5udDMA9tWlipQXbGZ7biQIJvoeZDoW/s400/053.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575454599828117202" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">How often Mia is dressed up like a bunny. Often she can be found delivering home made paper Easter eggs to all. I find them in the pockets of all my things.</div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi48PUVUNU-Cqk_ZBKswvu0IBD3qGzSeJLFex-iZN6X-_hJJ8TXedxX_MabK5CYKcXia5DQteHJpuH3dG9R3kWtKyPDUairvuGsvOr0A1A9cWSn35sj4FgzxW8HkvL6it9cPoy/s1600/051.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi48PUVUNU-Cqk_ZBKswvu0IBD3qGzSeJLFex-iZN6X-_hJJ8TXedxX_MabK5CYKcXia5DQteHJpuH3dG9R3kWtKyPDUairvuGsvOr0A1A9cWSn35sj4FgzxW8HkvL6it9cPoy/s400/051.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575453956571213570" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Lucas reading. And reading. And reading. This makes me blissfully happy and proud.</div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CchWLAV8Q_aAmCpCaq_1T907OcfEYaQ1zj2QsyICQmuTp4J53JcqZiJge_0A-1CjvvLHzeuHR064N8Ldqi-XzpJVtbN5OgL_gwZ-41jwPDOBkyBC-SeZ5k46WvJm6RhyphenhyphenySNL/s1600/048.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CchWLAV8Q_aAmCpCaq_1T907OcfEYaQ1zj2QsyICQmuTp4J53JcqZiJge_0A-1CjvvLHzeuHR064N8Ldqi-XzpJVtbN5OgL_gwZ-41jwPDOBkyBC-SeZ5k46WvJm6RhyphenhyphenySNL/s400/048.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575453958977439234" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Food. Good food in particular. Like these llapingachos and fried eggs. Mmmmmm.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_0tc-TVVK7HPPbG8PYn4f1YP8saTJs7Xy0_ylWyD4-zfiN_UhP1_j8ckuy0vbUnkR91wmJ9VUEaVHBIz4u8VkfeV9XUpXJt1SUPNgrZbS_WMaeiShBfuONKiKckbP5WvBRqH/s1600/035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_0tc-TVVK7HPPbG8PYn4f1YP8saTJs7Xy0_ylWyD4-zfiN_UhP1_j8ckuy0vbUnkR91wmJ9VUEaVHBIz4u8VkfeV9XUpXJt1SUPNgrZbS_WMaeiShBfuONKiKckbP5WvBRqH/s400/035.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575453952753766594" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How I can actually mark 30 essays a week in these conditions. Honestly, is this not multi-tasking at its best?</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMl2AewSwx09LNndaQnO5tbskGiDKP0w86JT5D618caNrwYrnf3VYFf1WqX53Q3XqxlAYO3ZjgYyD3CWf2gWpY6gpbT4XqU4x0aHRxSW4RCtedxG9X48-owak5XFsOuMfkkNj/s1600/029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMl2AewSwx09LNndaQnO5tbskGiDKP0w86JT5D618caNrwYrnf3VYFf1WqX53Q3XqxlAYO3ZjgYyD3CWf2gWpY6gpbT4XqU4x0aHRxSW4RCtedxG9X48-owak5XFsOuMfkkNj/s400/029.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575453941052469010" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Smiles, which make us all happy.</div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbBpoesoVEpHLz0Ouomy9MoZ099y3PSB9Hi48a8DgAhblqEbzJWD3bcsLQGwH9NXpYLzEV74pEvXLUWeUzlC8ZC9tNHkT7sGtSeR7J6naKx7kNYJaoHvstj564JTSCkXcoAF1/s1600/027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbBpoesoVEpHLz0Ouomy9MoZ099y3PSB9Hi48a8DgAhblqEbzJWD3bcsLQGwH9NXpYLzEV74pEvXLUWeUzlC8ZC9tNHkT7sGtSeR7J6naKx7kNYJaoHvstj564JTSCkXcoAF1/s400/027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575453937167947458" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ample supplies of red pens and mechanical pencils. These were all Christmas gifts. No joke.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And finally, no picture, but the sun. The healing sun reminds me that the spring will soon be here.</div>Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-70854313623033127652011-01-08T22:06:00.000-08:002011-01-08T22:43:47.033-08:00It's been a Loooonng Time...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmn1ZEJyGH-F3BDFHqcHguiRxwX7UNC9lKBd7fyvte4K9pbvkUGWhfYAkbjvXuyeZ74BW_ZhH4xsXShwaEbTCestw7bsJB_D47tCHvwLyICaofQgbjTbO372wcV5-brxd_S21N/s1600/Ting.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmn1ZEJyGH-F3BDFHqcHguiRxwX7UNC9lKBd7fyvte4K9pbvkUGWhfYAkbjvXuyeZ74BW_ZhH4xsXShwaEbTCestw7bsJB_D47tCHvwLyICaofQgbjTbO372wcV5-brxd_S21N/s400/Ting.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560068475481598130" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Not up for writing too much yet - there is so much to catch up on and I don't know where to start and what to skip. Here are some photos to get me started and show you that we are still here! lol</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">First up is my purple hair which the kids love because it smells like Popsicles and I love because it averts viewers gaze from my grey.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Vm-arJ2abHk0H_I67GBpI4e5bBd4PFbhe7focayy6ZhDVFdLJ3BvJoK1v0DET7wD8LdIEQT2AQLt35E-wmrep4QR_Iojk6MEjekXgprMiE5SnsVqY_vsZxW30Y1E8zgHRG6U/s1600/108.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Vm-arJ2abHk0H_I67GBpI4e5bBd4PFbhe7focayy6ZhDVFdLJ3BvJoK1v0DET7wD8LdIEQT2AQLt35E-wmrep4QR_Iojk6MEjekXgprMiE5SnsVqY_vsZxW30Y1E8zgHRG6U/s400/108.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560068197225384706" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mia choreographed and danced an amazing dance piece with her dance partner and friend for their dance school's Christmas show. They were AMAZING and Rob and I were jumping out of our seats with excitement and surprise! </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6Ixch5QRTQjuLLj-R9MLBBE-1tZX6BmKy5MrIswkbehllGAU2s922wJPUB2p6kJTl7SyU1BhofdeiEQXUByZdOBFt2KdPYRTxhfVog0vQfg4j9CzZMgZC6SurjGklABZ2q2f/s1600/127.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6Ixch5QRTQjuLLj-R9MLBBE-1tZX6BmKy5MrIswkbehllGAU2s922wJPUB2p6kJTl7SyU1BhofdeiEQXUByZdOBFt2KdPYRTxhfVog0vQfg4j9CzZMgZC6SurjGklABZ2q2f/s400/127.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560068189055068050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVojQR28qTLZYi9_8uqht898m49C7XEEMD_7SkTy4W5tnBtJz1FpCRluCxIxSNcKmqhOIa-QifSKu6kc99rSEGI13jImMxB8hvewjR6ljelPMC5qWJou_acWfYMqGx65C6uNT/s1600/129.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVojQR28qTLZYi9_8uqht898m49C7XEEMD_7SkTy4W5tnBtJz1FpCRluCxIxSNcKmqhOIa-QifSKu6kc99rSEGI13jImMxB8hvewjR6ljelPMC5qWJou_acWfYMqGx65C6uNT/s400/129.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560068187945543010" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lucas has grown and grown and grown. he's having some wonderful success with reading, swimming, riding a bike with gears (and I can barely keep up!) and growing muscles as you can see from the picture!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEkqI-OcAyEy0qNf9Y04qDYAaNocDGIBU4g2P1P0VYWz5upqgm9FyX4T5HuOpiz71gR3w9r6ZkuskTRmpx-Du-rZhs4WwfN-h56Td4pki_66EX6fn3kh9Lg4jVjOtmd7XA4Nw/s1600/096.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEkqI-OcAyEy0qNf9Y04qDYAaNocDGIBU4g2P1P0VYWz5upqgm9FyX4T5HuOpiz71gR3w9r6ZkuskTRmpx-Du-rZhs4WwfN-h56Td4pki_66EX6fn3kh9Lg4jVjOtmd7XA4Nw/s400/096.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560068180753673090" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Christmas was blissfully quiet.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7swDan0aOqskpWpVvAShHG_UwMtQTHXB5oizOX9-obG4fBX3DyW6LfjrJlFkvB4f9XDmGawgzSlPMmY_ghWgqdPdUx-um0Kp2_k6WgNCVZtLANVjVn9N_Qxs09BfKbuGwvgMW/s1600/056.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7swDan0aOqskpWpVvAShHG_UwMtQTHXB5oizOX9-obG4fBX3DyW6LfjrJlFkvB4f9XDmGawgzSlPMmY_ghWgqdPdUx-um0Kp2_k6WgNCVZtLANVjVn9N_Qxs09BfKbuGwvgMW/s400/056.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560068172425694594" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">These are totally out of order, but Mia turned 4 years old! Wow!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaU0Kc_xgatwkc03MHt0g8q35sv6K18Hi31djh17WZraVhnKGfhYtQ5YnThmRM9LKZz1uJo_85OcYpTaFKGvxizqXJug_JtSH97oduBlVm6QA-1o_rKA8HrR2qZFB-beqJ3nHe/s1600/463.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaU0Kc_xgatwkc03MHt0g8q35sv6K18Hi31djh17WZraVhnKGfhYtQ5YnThmRM9LKZz1uJo_85OcYpTaFKGvxizqXJug_JtSH97oduBlVm6QA-1o_rKA8HrR2qZFB-beqJ3nHe/s400/463.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560065519936361410" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We got a puppy who the kids named Hunter. His Mama was a Coonhound and his rascally Pops left without a trace so we don't know who to send the bill to.... We rescued him from a kill shelter in North Carolina. He doesn't like our rain here much but is enjoying our beaches and forests, so he says. He also wonders how his Mama got replaced by an overly furry black and white senior male. Pillo pretends to dislike Hunter but secretly loves the cuddles and walkies. And hey, what big brother doesn't love a little sibling to boss around?!</div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLCKy2C3zaXKXZeeGYFuXVzfC1LrJ_bYSk9P7AihVkRRCHG0GhDQx6EZeQDiw5VoqDeWyPgj1qIGIR1ZeXT9CI-AWO5q46LrexoDqKolN_1YbcxNvV1p-IGbyPHuhhBRucFYT/s1600/459.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLCKy2C3zaXKXZeeGYFuXVzfC1LrJ_bYSk9P7AihVkRRCHG0GhDQx6EZeQDiw5VoqDeWyPgj1qIGIR1ZeXT9CI-AWO5q46LrexoDqKolN_1YbcxNvV1p-IGbyPHuhhBRucFYT/s400/459.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560065513068283586" /></a><br /></div><div>Mom turned 70 and the boys came from Toronto (and Boston) to celebrate. We had a blast!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoMvqe31idx-2Zwu3u4YGMkIhDK6RWE46B8Qr2adVCrOG60SQkIXawV6v27trQgA93rHcTjNT8Vs-x2CE3RfvLLJNrmVZ4w4bXtaSMWpnDzohYaVC4Yi0bpTep7oLdVn7eQhf/s1600/378.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoMvqe31idx-2Zwu3u4YGMkIhDK6RWE46B8Qr2adVCrOG60SQkIXawV6v27trQgA93rHcTjNT8Vs-x2CE3RfvLLJNrmVZ4w4bXtaSMWpnDzohYaVC4Yi0bpTep7oLdVn7eQhf/s400/378.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560065511136437586" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Everybody participated in Movember.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHzq8MPR_1iXtwopyoA1C-7BwcQnhpX1v1Oy9ejOFPO-AX_zNh-165sH36ls_uuu0JEroBjLH8uuoMbG4tSR7L5uTFvs8Huhq4Aq6JkRk7FjItr11pSjQaJ8SyNavaLsF4-ds/s1600/356.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHzq8MPR_1iXtwopyoA1C-7BwcQnhpX1v1Oy9ejOFPO-AX_zNh-165sH36ls_uuu0JEroBjLH8uuoMbG4tSR7L5uTFvs8Huhq4Aq6JkRk7FjItr11pSjQaJ8SyNavaLsF4-ds/s400/356.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560065504046483842" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Lucas turned six with an awesome climbing party. Rob took three time-outs from the party and we secretly thanked our lucky stars that we would only ever have to do one sixth birthday for Lucas. Large groups of six year old boys are beyond my wrangling capabilities.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpiEcIPQWt0COIxqfR7ySWMCQqK1ewVqrXzSA-WFs_bdE0ZX-nusc1Q5mZGwVFAGOyhmQv837X60hyphenhyphenIzKBu7Fu_LgTJzxzgU0IJZaZ-Arn8MD-3PV8n8HUSK-0W4e4zybUaD-/s1600/313.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpiEcIPQWt0COIxqfR7ySWMCQqK1ewVqrXzSA-WFs_bdE0ZX-nusc1Q5mZGwVFAGOyhmQv837X60hyphenhyphenIzKBu7Fu_LgTJzxzgU0IJZaZ-Arn8MD-3PV8n8HUSK-0W4e4zybUaD-/s400/313.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560065497734656594" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Snails became pets and were finally named, labelled and released bearing permanent tattoos. They have not been seen since but we are eagerly awaiting their spring return. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That's all for now, but I have high hopes to return with more poignant stories and crazy photos for you all. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Until that time, I wish you all a Happy New Year. May it bring much joy. Lap it up. :)<br /><br /></div>Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-14356163246214542232010-08-30T20:54:00.000-07:002010-08-30T21:13:18.561-07:00Savary Year Three<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4udCjdnK3DAVIhWvhJRWI797wiEGG4PhFtonOdJ7W5zWDOkJHNkS2bWqejbDMclop1QUiLpQGbyQhg6AAQa3eyxBURvIxqmOSJ6GTcjD2ZXcob-jIl-4bVncYM06dh-hzRrg/s1600/089.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4udCjdnK3DAVIhWvhJRWI797wiEGG4PhFtonOdJ7W5zWDOkJHNkS2bWqejbDMclop1QUiLpQGbyQhg6AAQa3eyxBURvIxqmOSJ6GTcjD2ZXcob-jIl-4bVncYM06dh-hzRrg/s400/089.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511422101958338514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeT91_4PSFnfFSoiPSYQvzlSmEsZdct4u2-jFtQZPv-26T3-h1KEd5SMRRbRm9HitfbKbhlvOAezXeNoByd_ZVliicolwTNr0jI5HNhc9KdkncRpOvSV7r5A-1-9Y7VRGBNbEi/s1600/024.JPG"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVs5EY3q__27j4uRDy2gHkHsRLUm2nME1srRh-YuzBibC1-W89UyB2DszGqApO-sYkTftRfwvtrWf6c_6gQutWDGxmTenwImXHlEGnkhVyhAPxFQ-n90eFSngDP-QvQ-gg3j1U/s400/145.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511419333177743362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOKM6ovI12DLcnAPIo91UOZZdrdcoVkQbKIHkUjX84epZLuocHHGjapGP77x2FQUfJUAjDSVW42cYsPuCY7MZZkOUJLU8m3HF_RrhyKmOWCTLnudl89i-3bkXlnhLt6fcKnrG/s1600/150.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOKM6ovI12DLcnAPIo91UOZZdrdcoVkQbKIHkUjX84epZLuocHHGjapGP77x2FQUfJUAjDSVW42cYsPuCY7MZZkOUJLU8m3HF_RrhyKmOWCTLnudl89i-3bkXlnhLt6fcKnrG/s400/150.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511419324056779682" /></a>Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-79630937322176179852010-08-08T21:00:00.000-07:002010-08-08T21:17:18.914-07:00Productivity is the product of???<div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxURLngZCSoBFhWKaEkrzlhttrrTRwYhMqNuN382e7FedKKTRXnj41cs2bJAGjP4yrNQLqTYiIYf8YHPXwsjojZ8PYp4ZXm9sGKb5N4mCxOyD2yWeBDXQ_oBhtUEOCfJVO98h/s1600/015.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxURLngZCSoBFhWKaEkrzlhttrrTRwYhMqNuN382e7FedKKTRXnj41cs2bJAGjP4yrNQLqTYiIYf8YHPXwsjojZ8PYp4ZXm9sGKb5N4mCxOyD2yWeBDXQ_oBhtUEOCfJVO98h/s400/015.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503257165076196498" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a><br />I have had a busy, busy week, and I'm not sure why. After weeks of lethargy and apathy towards all thing domestic, I suppose that the arrival of August brought with it a big slap of reality and wallop of truth that the summer days are growing few and I need to get my house in order! With that in mind, and after taking all my "good" consignment to the store, I set about pillaging and plundering the dark recesses of our home for all stuff unwanted, forgotten, not needed or simply outgrown. I ended up with a basement full of "stuff," a desire to purge, a hunger for cash and the insanity of thinking a yard sale would solve it all. So today, on the rainiest of weekends we've seen since Canada Day, I set about manifesting my dreams in soggy reality. It went well. I came home with only half the stuff I left with and a pocketful of cash that the kids have pretty much pre-spent. How they see the sale of baby items as their return... well I'm not sure, because to me, the sale of things like a breast pump, baby carriers and potties all speaks of endless nights and days of work for meeeeeeee... but hey - who am I to judge?<div><br /></div><div>My week also consisted of beginning a sewing class, making a batch of pickles, and attending a wedding; not to mention marking a class of English essays. Oh yes, and I also read a novel.</div><div><br /></div><div>Why can't I be like this all the time?!</div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOpBhQV7CEMCT2AvDir4YsmiAM07YKosjUVqzNKeg3gZ2KYHz5jqzE3mFImeHNqryq-v2sdsh_HCAeDoWZC4QeNoZkXGc_iiTn7FI3qLJrOv5rDtBX3JEZk403XszQmVATSmg/s1600/014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOpBhQV7CEMCT2AvDir4YsmiAM07YKosjUVqzNKeg3gZ2KYHz5jqzE3mFImeHNqryq-v2sdsh_HCAeDoWZC4QeNoZkXGc_iiTn7FI3qLJrOv5rDtBX3JEZk403XszQmVATSmg/s400/014.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503258479396537570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2HXPN6_nV2AUqKsPeXD1FAqwY2C0FqwX38rOSvWHhW5Nd0vvVRSVC7JHLMKO7MB2G2gHvrtF2EDaNso9c8jNvMfKS0tosthRHGbg2Dw_7lx-AwUthNjJ7rcKCem-_2Q3PqgW/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2HXPN6_nV2AUqKsPeXD1FAqwY2C0FqwX38rOSvWHhW5Nd0vvVRSVC7JHLMKO7MB2G2gHvrtF2EDaNso9c8jNvMfKS0tosthRHGbg2Dw_7lx-AwUthNjJ7rcKCem-_2Q3PqgW/s400/002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503258470997164226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouppzD3XapVuqjgcaZcnbfguNvMSaB_kXsB9R3631FzTvRnSHObA4IIy4immRr_7zth7T3YbX3ZUeFldIIE8OfvrdAGubpU3BdiUJufB7Ncqi3T57bsFBL-f7cgGA08JbGgm9/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouppzD3XapVuqjgcaZcnbfguNvMSaB_kXsB9R3631FzTvRnSHObA4IIy4immRr_7zth7T3YbX3ZUeFldIIE8OfvrdAGubpU3BdiUJufB7Ncqi3T57bsFBL-f7cgGA08JbGgm9/s400/004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503258465081449890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYCGOHPi_YSWdkW_xZoSBN7hHVe_dECohtdC-coFNtV0-Jsvl73ysJO3499RGtXC5pqG6ckadtuUUh9maHDV480Qsz5EgsuHXo2GEFh1u9G4dUbROpOvw_RPRKUPTKK0BqGfv/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYCGOHPi_YSWdkW_xZoSBN7hHVe_dECohtdC-coFNtV0-Jsvl73ysJO3499RGtXC5pqG6ckadtuUUh9maHDV480Qsz5EgsuHXo2GEFh1u9G4dUbROpOvw_RPRKUPTKK0BqGfv/s400/001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503258455254587170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxURLngZCSoBFhWKaEkrzlhttrrTRwYhMqNuN382e7FedKKTRXnj41cs2bJAGjP4yrNQLqTYiIYf8YHPXwsjojZ8PYp4ZXm9sGKb5N4mCxOyD2yWeBDXQ_oBhtUEOCfJVO98h/s1600/015.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16088304.post-74009764788427680692010-07-28T18:37:00.001-07:002010-07-28T19:22:50.099-07:00Summer Adventures Part I<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QRyjjWnGwrBt9siTCAIHJdiKDtjRns6sLixkXxP4DZSxytAtOgl2vvJOCSNYOOjkUJdxMw-eSW9Rrtj0n7PvyqWxd-EuFb6VG5-ID6S1ft4CYjXK_9S2sIVS3ZdPU_yB6u3f/s1600/025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QRyjjWnGwrBt9siTCAIHJdiKDtjRns6sLixkXxP4DZSxytAtOgl2vvJOCSNYOOjkUJdxMw-eSW9Rrtj0n7PvyqWxd-EuFb6VG5-ID6S1ft4CYjXK_9S2sIVS3ZdPU_yB6u3f/s400/025.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499143822679878034" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4vtaqNIKlvR8dZVwtjuFwd_ua_2K3F5pHx7WPc9PMJpdxpV1NACLmoRoAKZRzhwkfFptuPdv3ryGKkTJuIFpbDZmZq2OoYgbH4zZnWrY__50hs2KniGzmPGakxeou3_3-A6o/s1600/063.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4vtaqNIKlvR8dZVwtjuFwd_ua_2K3F5pHx7WPc9PMJpdxpV1NACLmoRoAKZRzhwkfFptuPdv3ryGKkTJuIFpbDZmZq2OoYgbH4zZnWrY__50hs2KniGzmPGakxeou3_3-A6o/s400/063.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499143813082538482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivupAd1WBCOJg6-XnbgMocF3QafEeT2RSF-bIMlXUyB40b5QYHSW1gdpUUPXcarhcsQycqJdnA0joHm57G9UeZlb2NJ6SbfUfWYk-0Q7jyOXp9hhq_3yD-WzESnz6Fam6SmrCv/s1600/035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivupAd1WBCOJg6-XnbgMocF3QafEeT2RSF-bIMlXUyB40b5QYHSW1gdpUUPXcarhcsQycqJdnA0joHm57G9UeZlb2NJ6SbfUfWYk-0Q7jyOXp9hhq_3yD-WzESnz6Fam6SmrCv/s400/035.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499143804686288210" /></a><i>Sorry about the blurry pic. One thing about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">blogspot</span> is that editing photos once they have been uploaded is an impossibility in terms of placement as well as permanence.</i><div><br /></div><div>These photos are from a crazy fun weekend wandering the sea-to-sky in a `borrowed` van that we bid for the use of and successfully won at Mia`s preschool`s silent auction in the spring. It was a riot travelling around in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Westfalia</span>; slow, bumpy and way too far away to pass the kids anything from the front seat, but we all loved the novelty of sleeping in it at night. Campsites were at a premium and since we had not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">pre</span>-booked anything, we ended up in a couple of weird places. The kids were so great about the adventure of it all, and equally thrilled with our odd choices of parking spots. We loved the knowing looks from other camper van owners, the contraptions of the van itself and the knowledge that we could pretty much park it and relax anywhere we wanted. Which we did! Such a joyous weekend of nothing but slow paced moving and swimming was a wonderful break from the everyday and two nights felt like a week.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMitMy1yUBgjUgPf49YwW_izjhb6Rbqi8iLGRgykmZjJB3sntlnxXp0PKHKcYULrkUVz8e-j96sVJcQuEJ7HMlndKnvJwC2Be7j2qOdCLayoraz1t49qLrq98xpeswraomDO0V/s1600/024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMitMy1yUBgjUgPf49YwW_izjhb6Rbqi8iLGRgykmZjJB3sntlnxXp0PKHKcYULrkUVz8e-j96sVJcQuEJ7HMlndKnvJwC2Be7j2qOdCLayoraz1t49qLrq98xpeswraomDO0V/s400/024.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499143799512805746" /></a><br />The weather has been amazing! After the wettest, coldest spring in my short memory, summer hit with full force and we have been sucking up the rays and fun ever since.<div><br /></div><div>After my last post, summer school began and I hunkered down to the job of getting 29 adult students in eleventh grade English whipped into shape in a short six weeks. This is no small undertaking as the classes are long, the weeks are short and the summer breeds ambivalence, slothfulness and exhaustion; the latter being formed from late nights up watching fireworks, drinking wine, sitting on beaches and in my case trying to get kids to sleep when they are too hot too sleep. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ok</span>... you got me; they all apply to me except the fireworks watching. Fireworks bore me. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Lol</span>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Truly, I have a wonderful class of very eager students who are devouring their assigned readings, doing all their homework and even thanking me for my insightful lessons. I am very grateful and slightly humbled (as usual) as I had entered the summer term feeling very burnt out and worried that I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">couldn</span>`t or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">wouldn</span>`t give my best to my students this summer. However when students work so hard it really makes me do the same and the resulting relationship is gold. I only have two and a half weeks to go with this set, and I am already lamenting the fact that I will have to say goodbye to this group.</div><div><br /></div><div>After classes are done for the day (11 am - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">yay</span> me!) I have the rest of the day to play with the kids. We have been swimming and visiting parks and doing lots of just hanging out. Lucas had a week at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Southlands</span> Young Farmer Camp. His week was an amazing experience for all of us. The camp was so relaxed and calm - the farm itself seemed to veil us in a speed reminiscent of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">un</span>-named illegal narcotics that will have to be edited from this post when the kids are old enough to read it. The effect was delightful on us all as Lucas slipped into a relaxed week of harvesting fruits and veggies, chick holding, baking in the Cobb oven, feeding goats, chasing frogs and dragonflies, planting, pony riding, beekeeping and all sorts of other delightful things I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">wasn</span>`t privy to. Mia and I hung out at the farm as much as we could and pet the horses as much as they would let us. As she was disappointed that she <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">couldn</span>`t do the camp, she got to have a pony ride mid week. Fantastic fun for all of us including <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Pillo</span>, who got to sniff all sorts of delightful farm smells and hang out in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">doggie</span> paddock.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAt9FDy1AfFkelmrDekjreTblGEE6jZjse9boEk5f6L44e_07FinPtqZU5djk0ED3IfRgA8NSDnAe8W4AdaHgpV04lIrV8zvniXorYt-tUPIwblJDxiXXqCAV-Q7kNUgUcCqZ/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAt9FDy1AfFkelmrDekjreTblGEE6jZjse9boEk5f6L44e_07FinPtqZU5djk0ED3IfRgA8NSDnAe8W4AdaHgpV04lIrV8zvniXorYt-tUPIwblJDxiXXqCAV-Q7kNUgUcCqZ/s400/007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499142195686605986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ2ABohZQyHxyricLJReeLat0j8uA8txJYL5VMrQ_-wyEm9wAgoEKTGL2qxw4fPeJJsuVGuEZ1PUO9RGqp6-AKoH5P3UUxTPLO-1LnaOb9e3fBo85GRvVuR4SPAvrTIpd2696/s1600/012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ2ABohZQyHxyricLJReeLat0j8uA8txJYL5VMrQ_-wyEm9wAgoEKTGL2qxw4fPeJJsuVGuEZ1PUO9RGqp6-AKoH5P3UUxTPLO-1LnaOb9e3fBo85GRvVuR4SPAvrTIpd2696/s400/012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499142187135485842" /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Cristina Hermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13825759163592259902noreply@blogger.com0