tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96149952024-03-13T14:24:58.845-04:00Bound For ChinaOne mom's ramblings about life and family before, during and after our trip to China to add the newest member of our family.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.comBlogger285125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-35936398231816057352009-05-28T10:01:00.000-04:002009-05-28T22:19:08.222-04:00Check out the Wild Olive Tee'sI would like to promote some really cool T-Shirts. I think these shirts are awesome looking and I think the woman that started this business is pretty cool too (Stephanie is in the process of adopting her 5th Chinese doll and has 4 bio kids too!).<br /><br />Anyway hop on over to <a href="http://www.wildolivetees.com/">Wild Olive</a> and check out these cool t-shirts that come with their very own verses on the back. They come in classic and fitted.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-32557579008173232112009-05-27T17:38:00.012-04:002009-05-27T17:55:33.395-04:00Tennessee Vacation<div>Over Memorial Day weekend we took a mini vacation to Pigeon Forge, TN. We only got to spend a couple days but it was a great get-away. We started out by going horse back riding. Olivia was so excited because it was the first time she has ridden a horse and she got to ride it all by herself (the guide did have a tow rope to help guide her). Thankfully she was in the front with the guide cause after 9 hours in the car with that jabberbox we were happy that someone else got to listen to her chatter for an hour. I told Mike to give the guide a good tip because she earned her money on that ride.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh20Kuq6TeI/AAAAAAAAAwc/xQ-7LBZ8jZQ/s1600-h/Trip09+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340622829550980578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh20Kuq6TeI/AAAAAAAAAwc/xQ-7LBZ8jZQ/s400/Trip09+001.jpg" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340622686745864162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh20CarhJ-I/AAAAAAAAAwM/VP8UUqD-7A8/s400/Trip09+002.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh20GRdQ_FI/AAAAAAAAAwU/q3ZJdrq5McQ/s1600-h/Trip09+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340622752989641810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh20GRdQ_FI/AAAAAAAAAwU/q3ZJdrq5McQ/s400/Trip09+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh2zqSNoGNI/AAAAAAAAAwE/KWpCnwRujwo/s1600-h/Trip09+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340622272156145874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh2zqSNoGNI/AAAAAAAAAwE/KWpCnwRujwo/s400/Trip09+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh2zl8WdEOI/AAAAAAAAAv8/qa7KEFDNJWc/s1600-h/Trip09+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340622197568114914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh2zl8WdEOI/AAAAAAAAAv8/qa7KEFDNJWc/s400/Trip09+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh2zhb27IvI/AAAAAAAAAv0/R0s5TK5KfRk/s1600-h/Trip09+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340622120126456562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh2zhb27IvI/AAAAAAAAAv0/R0s5TK5KfRk/s400/Trip09+007.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh2zcPizE-I/AAAAAAAAAvs/xFwn-DHynbA/s1600-h/Trip09+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340622030921470946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh2zcPizE-I/AAAAAAAAAvs/xFwn-DHynbA/s400/Trip09+010.jpg" border="0" /></a> Next we went to Cirque de Chine (basically a Chinese Acrobat show). That was really neat. Olivia sat for two hours mesmorized. We weren't allowed to take our camera's in but at the end I got a shot of Olivia with a couple of the performers with my cell phone.</div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340623789914590882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh21CoTcDqI/AAAAAAAAAwk/biY-iAABads/s400/Trip09.jpg" border="0" /><br />The girls got to do some swimming in our hotel. We got to meet up with some relatives that live just a few miles from where we were at. We got to eat lunch with Ken and Bev and get some pointers on things to do while we were there.<br /><br /></div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh2zXf1Q9NI/AAAAAAAAAvk/R-un4wPCtiU/s1600-h/Trip09+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340621949394547922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh2zXf1Q9NI/AAAAAAAAAvk/R-un4wPCtiU/s400/Trip09+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh2zSw-Xr3I/AAAAAAAAAvc/0T_WPXIHg6Y/s1600-h/Trip09+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340621868096794482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh2zSw-Xr3I/AAAAAAAAAvc/0T_WPXIHg6Y/s400/Trip09+015.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We also took a drive through some of the Smokey Mountains. Going someplace like this reminds me that I am so small in this world. God's handiwork just amazes me.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh2zOS-CfEI/AAAAAAAAAvU/6vM1VAMjZr8/s1600-h/Trip09+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340621791322864706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh2zOS-CfEI/AAAAAAAAAvU/6vM1VAMjZr8/s400/Trip09+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh2zJBUB6QI/AAAAAAAAAvM/i-01_YEpa2g/s1600-h/Trip09+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340621700683917570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sh2zJBUB6QI/AAAAAAAAAvM/i-01_YEpa2g/s400/Trip09+012.jpg" border="0" /></a> On our way home we took a detour to Bloomington and stopped in to see Katie. We took her out to supper and got to visit for a little bit before heading home to get a little relaxation in before bed. <br /><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-30836535798001052662009-05-25T22:49:00.004-04:002009-05-27T17:58:40.577-04:00ENGAGED!My Baby Boy is Engaged!!!! Evan proposed to his girlfriend tonight while walking on the beach in Florida (they are on vacation with her family). I am so excited. Lexie is an absolute doll and we can't wait to add her to our family!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339959850362577298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 269px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/ShtZMQu1oZI/AAAAAAAAAvE/IvYvnw5XzZU/s400/n209400071_2669.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339959693071542306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 128px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 95px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/ShtZDGxu6CI/AAAAAAAAAu8/wqu6KKcQPYk/s400/s151600841_30361094_4398.jpg" border="0" />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-52300885052219997192009-05-22T10:20:00.018-04:002009-05-22T10:29:50.954-04:00Olivia's 5th Birthday!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha2dS_EZ4I/AAAAAAAAAu0/CjNeHs3u3G8/s1600-h/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+061.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338655022723131266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha2dS_EZ4I/AAAAAAAAAu0/CjNeHs3u3G8/s400/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+061.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha2VQppOaI/AAAAAAAAAus/o6Cq5Z_IsP4/s1600-h/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+043.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338654884657445282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha2VQppOaI/AAAAAAAAAus/o6Cq5Z_IsP4/s400/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+043.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha2KMO3gsI/AAAAAAAAAuk/awq6CRbRJLM/s1600-h/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338654694492832450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha2KMO3gsI/AAAAAAAAAuk/awq6CRbRJLM/s400/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+015.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha2FgIUvyI/AAAAAAAAAuc/HpPFcfK8GdE/s1600-h/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338654613934751522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha2FgIUvyI/AAAAAAAAAuc/HpPFcfK8GdE/s400/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+014.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha2AH_FyOI/AAAAAAAAAuU/jquBHHdqmu0/s1600-h/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338654521554225378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha2AH_FyOI/AAAAAAAAAuU/jquBHHdqmu0/s400/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha1680Ng-I/AAAAAAAAAuM/Q8nNfojiC9A/s1600-h/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338654432656458722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha1680Ng-I/AAAAAAAAAuM/Q8nNfojiC9A/s400/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha12wKFXKI/AAAAAAAAAuE/ZvVpwwpSx98/s1600-h/liv+5th+bday2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338654360539061410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha12wKFXKI/AAAAAAAAAuE/ZvVpwwpSx98/s400/liv+5th+bday2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha1zcmOG6I/AAAAAAAAAt8/mP2s2grRl6o/s1600-h/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338654303748758434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha1zcmOG6I/AAAAAAAAAt8/mP2s2grRl6o/s400/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+034.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha1ckFHgyI/AAAAAAAAAtk/lqE_qKGS2WE/s1600-h/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338653910620406562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha1ckFHgyI/AAAAAAAAAtk/lqE_qKGS2WE/s400/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+020.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha1Xr91NfI/AAAAAAAAAtc/YaX3wywmB5E/s1600-h/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338653826837984754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha1Xr91NfI/AAAAAAAAAtc/YaX3wywmB5E/s400/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha1TTATlKI/AAAAAAAAAtU/UPa6uH4nJPM/s1600-h/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338653751418000546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha1TTATlKI/AAAAAAAAAtU/UPa6uH4nJPM/s400/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+019.jpg" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338654143107985810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha1qGKecZI/AAAAAAAAAt0/c13p--EVnS0/s400/liv+5th+bday1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338654019993030098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha1i7hlTdI/AAAAAAAAAts/umgulmFH3B8/s400/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+026.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha1NbALd2I/AAAAAAAAAtM/OUwO1F4NQNs/s1600-h/liv+5th+bday4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338653650485737314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha1NbALd2I/AAAAAAAAAtM/OUwO1F4NQNs/s400/liv+5th+bday4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha1Jq69OiI/AAAAAAAAAtE/A9RmNWumjVc/s1600-h/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+047.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338653586039323170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha1Jq69OiI/AAAAAAAAAtE/A9RmNWumjVc/s400/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+047.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha1Enf64PI/AAAAAAAAAs8/M6l-IIQRETA/s1600-h/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+048.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338653499221270770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sha1Enf64PI/AAAAAAAAAs8/M6l-IIQRETA/s400/Livi%27s+5th+Birthday+048.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-4216933468121723872009-05-20T10:04:00.002-04:002009-05-21T10:10:25.724-04:00Happy Birthday Baby Girl!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/ShVgxiYTwzI/AAAAAAAAAs0/FIOn0NXQJcw/s1600-h/More....of+MORGANs+046.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338279337476211506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/ShVgxiYTwzI/AAAAAAAAAs0/FIOn0NXQJcw/s400/More....of+MORGANs+046.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Today is my baby girl's 5th birthday!!! Yeah. She is having so much fun. I wished her a happy birthday this morning and she hugged me as if she had won the lottery. Grandma Fetter and big sis Katie called her and sang happy birthday and her eyes lit up and the smile on her face is undescribeable. We had barbeque chicken, wild rice, corn and a plate full of apple slices, oranges and strawberries (the birthday meal she requested). Then cupcakes for dessert. She felt like a princess all day.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We had a family/friend birthday party for her this last weekend and I will post some pictures as soon as I get them downloaded.</div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-77005214978556384882009-05-19T15:35:00.006-04:002009-05-19T15:51:20.567-04:00Fundraiser<div><br /><div><div><div>I have launched a new fundraiser...click <a href="http://www.magfundraising.com/GroupPage.aspx?ep=GdHhmUMkSrtJTlaBCfnDSQ%3d%3d">here</a> to reach the site.</div><br /><div>Last year my mom and step dad had a wonderful girl stay with them as an exchange student. Her name is Juliene and she is from the Philipines. She was able to come to the US because of a scholarship that was offered to her. This Spring my mom was able to travel to the Philipines to see Juliene again and got a chance to see her living conditions. We knew she came from a poor family but we never realized how poor they were. While there my mom and step father committed to build Juliene's family a new home (their current home has three rooms, dirt floors and rusty countertops. They have pigs living practically in the next room, which helps to supply some income). They are also trying to help Juliene's mother take her test to become a nurse and want to put Juliene through college. There are 4 children in the family plus their parents. Juliene is an excellent student and a bright and energetic girl. I am kicking off this fundraiser to try to help raise the funds for the above items plus to help provide money for milk, fruit and dental care for the kids.</div><div> </div><div>The fundraiser is an easy and great one. We all have magazines subscriptions. At this <a href="http://www.magfundraising.com/GroupPage.aspx?ep=GdHhmUMkSrtJTlaBCfnDSQ%3d%3d">site</a> you can renew or order new magazines. The prices are as good if not better than the prices directly from the publisher. We will then get 40% of the price added to our fund. Please check it out. Help out Juliene and her family. </div><div>If you would rather donate directly to the fund leave me a message with your email and I will get my address to you.</div><div> </div><div>Below are some pictures of Juliene and her family.... (Juliene is in the purple in the last picture.)</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337623089848107890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/ShML65dRw3I/AAAAAAAAAsU/LojEJ1SfiiU/s400/Philippine%2520-%2520Cancun%2520trip%2520060.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337623167480977010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/ShML_aqZVnI/AAAAAAAAAsc/VqYdqsA9ydE/s400/Philippine%2520trip%2520044.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337623243677882594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/ShMMD2hJ2OI/AAAAAAAAAsk/mSFNsrEvMN4/s400/Philippine%2520trip%2520086.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337623309442850722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/ShMMHrgvn6I/AAAAAAAAAss/iX3moCHFjI8/s400/Philippine%2520-%2520Cancun%2520trip%2520082.jpg" border="0" />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-19991654324794271212009-05-14T08:39:00.008-04:002009-05-14T08:45:14.238-04:00Chicago<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SgwSSjxnOUI/AAAAAAAAAsM/yytjnQcJG3w/s1600-h/MOrgans+First+Pictures!!!!!!+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335659768577472834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SgwSSjxnOUI/AAAAAAAAAsM/yytjnQcJG3w/s400/MOrgans+First+Pictures!!!!!!+018.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SgwSNIDLhJI/AAAAAAAAAsE/EXynYp7iiBU/s1600-h/MOrgans+First+Pictures!!!!!!+057.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335659675235615890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SgwSNIDLhJI/AAAAAAAAAsE/EXynYp7iiBU/s400/MOrgans+First+Pictures!!!!!!+057.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SgwSGrd9xmI/AAAAAAAAAr8/8me8DFMhtiY/s1600-h/MOrgans+First+Pictures!!!!!!+052.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335659564484118114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SgwSGrd9xmI/AAAAAAAAAr8/8me8DFMhtiY/s400/MOrgans+First+Pictures!!!!!!+052.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SgwR-fun5eI/AAAAAAAAAr0/cwJzoOb1sRw/s1600-h/MOrgans+First+Pictures!!!!!!+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335659423893808610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SgwR-fun5eI/AAAAAAAAAr0/cwJzoOb1sRw/s400/MOrgans+First+Pictures!!!!!!+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SgwR6meKoEI/AAAAAAAAArs/sZhUQmer8dI/s1600-h/MOrgans+First+Pictures!!!!!!+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335659356984352834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SgwR6meKoEI/AAAAAAAAArs/sZhUQmer8dI/s400/MOrgans+First+Pictures!!!!!!+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SgwR2nSXPdI/AAAAAAAAArk/pfGcWPTklq4/s1600-h/MOrgans+First+Pictures!!!!!!+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335659288483806674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SgwR2nSXPdI/AAAAAAAAArk/pfGcWPTklq4/s400/MOrgans+First+Pictures!!!!!!+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SgwRyV1IpMI/AAAAAAAAArc/1PMJIddtK4M/s1600-h/MOrgans+First+Pictures!!!!!!+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335659215078335682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SgwRyV1IpMI/AAAAAAAAArc/1PMJIddtK4M/s400/MOrgans+First+Pictures!!!!!!+020.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Katie came home on Monday for a couple days. Yeah! This will be the first summer that she won't be home. She is now living down in Bloomington year round. She finished up finals last week (straight A's again!) and came to see us for a little break. On Tuesday I took all three girls to Chicago for a girls day out. We went to Chinatown and the Lincoln Park Zoo. It was a beautiful day and a nice day to get out and walk and just hang out.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-73443540650370075022009-05-07T10:00:00.003-04:002009-05-07T10:24:45.005-04:00Update #2Okay I promised I would also talk about the positives of apartment living.....<br /><br />About the middle of July I would say I am happy to not be doing yard and landscaping work. I am missing it right now, but I know when it is hot out I will be happy to not have to do it. (Apparently they don't do it here either since the grass is not about 14 inches long.) The utility bills are small. Our highest was about $100 and I think our lowest should be under $50. That is really nice. Even running two woodburners our bills were higher than that in our big house. Smaller living space = faster cleaning time. Can't complain about that. I am getting some exercise using the stairs. I love the location. I am 7 miles from ANY store or restaurant you can think of. We are learning to live with less. When something needs to be fixed I don't have to put it on Mike's to do list, I just call the office. (Unfortunatley Mike does a better job fixing things than these yahoo's).<br /><br />We have Olivia all signed up for kindergarten. Oh man is this girl ready. All she talks about is going to school. She had an assessment test a month ago and the results came back yesterday. She is ready. The one bad thing about kindergarten round up being early in the Spring is that she has to wait 6 months for school to start. It is almost more than she can bare.<br /><br />Morgan gets out of school on June 10th. The summer I am sure will be full of things and activities. I know she is going to want to go back to Middlebury a bunch for things going on there. She is really doing well here though too. She made the honor roll again, she has a best friend, Courtney, that lives across the street from us so they are always hanging out together. Yesterday they walked to the park to play tennis. She loves her youth group pastor. She seems to like most of her teachers too. I am really proud of her and how fast she was able to adjust. She is such a great kid. She is growing up so fast and she is the spitting image of her older sister. UGH! Boys beware. Dad is gonna be on the warpath.<br /><br />Katie is finishing up her finals this week. She is coming to stay with us next week before she starts her summer classes. She is doing great too. She should make the Dean's list again this semester, has her internship set up for next year and this summer will start applying to the Physical Therapy schools for her graduate school. She broke up with her boyfriend of almost 3 years last month and has been struggling some with that.<br /><br />Evan is busy working! Lots of hours. He is planning something big for this month, but I can't tell yet.<br /><br />Mike is stressed out at work, but glad to be working. He won't be working the hours this year that he has in the past, but with the economy the way it is, we are just glad to be getting a paycheck.<br /><br />Thanks for checking in. I will try to do better.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-64738186229340581442009-05-06T09:33:00.001-04:002009-05-07T10:25:08.419-04:00Update #1 and negativesOkay Okay I know I am really lagging here on the blogging agenda. A whole month! I skipped a whole month. Now I am sure a few of you are thinking...wow she must be really busy...she hasn't had time to blog. LOL!!! I know the majority know the truth. I am a slacker! I am on the computer everyday. Sometimes several hours a day. I faithfully read all my favorite blogs but to sit down and write something here....I guess you could say I have writers block. I feel like my life is so boring I can't think of anything to write about. (How many times have I already said all of this?)<br /><br />Sometimes I feel like I can't blog if I don't have some good pictures to post. Sadly my pictures are HORRIBLE compared to my bloggy friends. I really want a new camera. I looked at mine the other day and realized I have such a bad outdated camera (it has only 3.1 mega pixels) that my cell phone has a better camera in it. No wonder my pictures are always so crappy. I gotta save up for a new camera.<br /><br />We are doing well. STILL waiting for our house to sell. We are getting very few showings at this time, so I am not counting on much happening there. We have been in our little apartment now for 6 months and it is okay. There are many things that I don't like. The girls share a bedroom so Olivia is up every morning at 6:30 cause that is when Morgan gets up. We have so much of our stuff packed away that I can't find anything I need (see next story). I can't paint my stark white apartment so I feel like I am living in a hospital. The parking is terrible here. If you come home any time after 8:00PM you have to park a couple buildings over. We have no handicap people in our apartment building so everyone uses the handicap spaces. (Yes, it is sad and yes even we do). Well yesterday Mike went out and had a parking ticket. UGH! We have been parking like this for 6 months along with everyone else. In fact the handicap spaces are normally filled too. They are just like other spaces for us. (Besides our apartment building is not handicap accessible anyway. To get to any apartment you have to use stairs!) Crap!!! There goes $50. They haven't mowed the yard yet this spring. (Evidently the mowers are being worked on.) Well at this time when I put Annie out to go potty, you just see the grass moving where she is walking. The poor dog probably feels like she is in a jungle. Thankfully the apartments are pretty quiet. The only noise that really gets to me is the upstairs apartment. The first 4 months they were quiet. These last two months I think there is a family of elephants living up there. I am sure of it.<br /><br />(Okay here is your story). A couple weeks ago I realized I didn't have Mike's summer clothes tub out. Didn't know where it was. I dug around for a couple hours and finally found the dumb thing. It was under our patio table in the back of the storage garage. In fact it was wedged under there. The support bars from the table were holding the lid down. I had cleared a path to the table, the table was piled high with stuff and I was hot sweaty and mad. I contemplated just going and buying Mike a new summer wardrobe, but knew that was not possible. I cleaned the table off a little so that it could be lifted about 2 inches. Problem now was that I couldn't lift the table and get the lid off the tub at the same time. So, I waited until Mike got home and we went out together. He lifted the table while I laid on my back, on the pallets lining the floor, wedged between his legs cause there was barely enough room for both of us in that little corner. When he lifted the table I worked quickly to unsnap and slide the lid off the tub. Mike then put the table down and I continued to lay on my back and hand him clothes from the tub 1 or 2 pieces at a time until it was empty. So now we have an empty tub in the back of the garage...but at least we have his clothes. (I am glad I have a crappy camera...those would not have been good pics.)<br /><br />Well, I will post again on the positives so that you all don't think I have a real negative outlook on life. :)Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-49094578895938833822009-03-24T10:00:00.013-04:002009-03-24T10:20:33.423-04:00Our Mini Reunion<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>This weekend Morgan, Olivia and I made a trip down to Kentucky. We were part of a little reunion with our adoption group. When we went to China there were several families that traveled together. We got several of those families together to celebrate our "Gotcha Day" in China three years ago. It was so much fun. I have not seen any of these little "babies" for three years and they are getting so grown up. Olivia is the oldest of the group by almost a year (and still the littlest!). <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316754894416680978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/ScjoaDeGmBI/AAAAAAAAAqE/EXCKnqVwfa8/s400/girls2.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>Sophie, Makana, Gianna, Emily, Ava and Olivia</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316755233469125218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/ScjotyigUmI/AAAAAAAAAqU/1dpqh4Z6ovI/s400/march09+031.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Sophie eating pizza!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316757128512244482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/ScjqcGH_iwI/AAAAAAAAAq8/FC77Wavr8yE/s400/march09+052.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Beautiful Emily.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316757684369140290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 86px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Scjq8c2mqkI/AAAAAAAAArU/KnhrG6qtxm8/s400/makana1.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>The hostess...Makana<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316757575514875250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 86px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Scjq2HVuZXI/AAAAAAAAArM/vFUSiHCrJbo/s400/gianna2.jpg" border="0" />Funny Gianna.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316756292708397426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 86px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Scjprcg08XI/AAAAAAAAAqk/0nXq_RW7UD0/s400/ava1.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Hilarious Ava. What a doll. A little Chinese girl with a southern accent. TOO CUTE!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316755325437535538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/ScjozJJe5TI/AAAAAAAAAqc/aiXp5NjoKSk/s400/liv+%26+ava.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Olivia and her buddy Ava.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316755116812127986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Scjom_9TzvI/AAAAAAAAAqM/kdmQpADNBzA/s400/march09+069.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Olivia and Ava putting on tattoos.</p>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-24098045719853921182009-03-19T13:35:00.001-04:002009-03-19T13:39:18.469-04:00Before and AfterChester got his summer cut...<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/ScKDA_0vVFI/AAAAAAAAAp0/ObU0Jh_hTzA/s1600-h/January09+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314954563406484562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/ScKDA_0vVFI/AAAAAAAAAp0/ObU0Jh_hTzA/s400/January09+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314954663784848338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/ScKDG1wzm9I/AAAAAAAAAp8/-TVSfyVxsak/s400/march09.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-55906520050668723992009-03-13T23:16:00.002-04:002009-03-13T23:19:03.031-04:00Gotcha Day AnniversaryThree years ago today Little Miss Olivia Guan was placed in our arms in China and we became a family of 6.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sbsh56V1dUI/AAAAAAAAAps/O9FcuWxm9Mo/s1600-h/March09+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312877464210732354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/Sbsh56V1dUI/AAAAAAAAAps/O9FcuWxm9Mo/s400/March09+012.jpg" border="0" /></a> Olivia March 2009<br /><div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-25129736678330733952009-03-02T11:05:00.005-05:002009-03-02T11:22:04.167-05:00New Family Members....temporarily!Okay so here is the scoop. For Christmas we bought Evan a couple Bearded Dragons. As a kid he always wanted a lizard. There was no way I was gonna have any reptiles living in my house so we always said no. Well, he is on his own now...living in his own apartment. So, mom gets this great idea to surprise him with a couple easy to care for pets. I think he really liked them. The biggest problem is that there is something he wants/likes more than his pets......his girlfriend (soon to be fiance'). He is an EMT so he is at work a lot (24-48 hour shifts) so he said he was having a hard time taking care of them and getting them fed etc. I hated the thought of these little creatures dying so I said I would take them back. He said "That would be great, Lexie will be happy." Ah-ha! The girlfriend has all the pull. :) So this weekend we picked them up. The plan is to try to sell one of them right away. I will feed the other one for a while and either sell it or Katie might take it. They are currently about 8 inches long but will grow to 18-24". They are pretty fun to watch and feed. I have not touched them yet. Mike will hold them and Olivia likes to pet them. I don't touch them and Morgan stands on the couch when they are out in case one "gets loose". HAHA! So meet Sherman and Willie....<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SawEWb6WF3I/AAAAAAAAApk/1iM8GDzAEQE/s1600-h/march09+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308622844259080050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SawEWb6WF3I/AAAAAAAAApk/1iM8GDzAEQE/s400/march09+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SawESPAbtVI/AAAAAAAAApc/du-nXQ194fs/s1600-h/march09+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308622772075476306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SawESPAbtVI/AAAAAAAAApc/du-nXQ194fs/s400/march09+003.jpg" border="0" /></a> The picure above is at night. For some reason Willie likes to sleep standing up. Last night when I went to bed this was his position. Standing up hanging on to the little tree. This was still his position when I got up this morning.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SawEOtfpYTI/AAAAAAAAApU/UzQrgI9lM1s/s1600-h/march09+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308622711539982642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SawEOtfpYTI/AAAAAAAAApU/UzQrgI9lM1s/s400/march09+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The night before this was his position all night. Propped in the corner in what I call the "You are under arrest" pose. He was like this all night. I don't get it, but if he is comfy... I guess all is good.</div><div></div><div>They love crickets and little mealworms. They will also be getting a diet of greens and veggies. I have discovered that crickets are VERY expensive. (About 12 cents each and they can eat 15 each a day...you do the math). I have found a place to get them wholesale. I gotta buy 250 minimum. That means I will have a tub of crickets in my little apartment. Most people don't know that crickets STINK! I can't wait for nice weather so they can sit outside on the patio.</div><div></div><div>Anyone in the market for a bearded dragon????</div></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-25057160928807689462009-02-22T21:33:00.003-05:002009-02-22T21:33:45.841-05:00Happy 23rd Birthday Evan!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SaIK_PRbY0I/AAAAAAAAApM/RnIdHUk0Vhs/s1600-h/n209400071_2669.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305815392543531842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 269px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SaIK_PRbY0I/AAAAAAAAApM/RnIdHUk0Vhs/s400/n209400071_2669.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-68391172606535559682009-02-21T21:24:00.011-05:002009-02-22T21:32:34.840-05:00Day in ChicagoSo today we spent the afternoon in Chicago. Tomorrow is Evan's birthday and his girlfriend decided to surprise him with a trip to Chicago. We made arrangements to meet them in Chi-town and then take them out to eat (all a surprise to Evan). We went to town early and hung out at the Children's museum. Here are a few pics from our outing.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305814153104069378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SaIJ3GACEwI/AAAAAAAAApE/AL6cqt4cmi8/s400/February09+018.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305813953022895250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SaIJrco9pJI/AAAAAAAAAo0/lIJ2aLrGgPo/s400/February09+011.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305814085597092674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SaIJzKhHW0I/AAAAAAAAAo8/kfVKsTg5bqM/s400/February09+019.JPG" border="0" /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305813881859099938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SaIJnTiMTSI/AAAAAAAAAos/dsE4NAegFUA/s400/February09+010.jpg" border="0" /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305813820138858274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SaIJjtm8JyI/AAAAAAAAAok/jfeEbfT7Dxk/s400/February09+008.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305813759565631378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SaIJgL9KD5I/AAAAAAAAAoc/W8s42Fe7zow/s400/February09+007.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305813696319262562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SaIJcgWDD2I/AAAAAAAAAoU/aLix2alJwYE/s400/February09+006.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305813632122257986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SaIJYxMSgkI/AAAAAAAAAoM/-X6-dpyHolI/s400/February09+005.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305813567318876386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SaIJU_x9YOI/AAAAAAAAAoE/wBkbTQezRr8/s400/February09+001.jpg" border="0" />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-21120106604223985992009-01-31T23:05:00.003-05:002009-01-31T23:23:51.372-05:00Ramblings...<div>I love facebook! I have been on it for a year or so but haven't really done much with it. The last couple of months I have been on it several times a day. Slightly addicted actually. I have been connecting with so many people. Many of them from my high school days. Many are just my friends and church family back home that I don't get to see anymore. There are even a few from our adoption group that I haven't seen in almost three years. It is great. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I keep saying it but I really mean it. I want Spring to come. I like having a white Christmas. But other than that one week of Christmas, I would be fine with temps above 50 the rest of the winter. I guess the writing is on the wall....once retirement age hits I will be a snowbird and fly south for the winter.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We are all adjusting to our move. Morgan has had the hardest time, but sheis actually coming around even faster than I thought. Thirteen is such a tough age to deal with change. Especially when you have to leave everything/everyone you love behind. She is making friends at her new school. She even had a friend come and spend the night last night. She is getting there. It isn't home yet, but I think her major fear of not fitting in is past.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I am enjoying being unemployed more than I thought. I don't know how much longer that will last though. I have inquired about bus driving here, but the pay is about $6.50 less an hour. That is hard to take. Doing the same work (maybe even tougher work because of the area) and making that much less....I don't know it just doesn't excite me much.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>What I have been doing some checking into is going back to school. Nothing fancy or too long of a commitment. I am looking at becoming an MA (Medical Assistant). Less schooling than a nurse but about the same type of work. I would be most interested in working in a doctors office or a clinic. Don't really want hospital hours. The main thing I have to get worked out is finding child care for Olivia. Part of the problem is that she is suppose to start Kindergarten next fall so I need to decide if I put her into a daycare with a Kindergarten program or find out if there is a daycare that she can go to after school. I wish they had all day Kindergarten like back home. That would make it easier.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We are really settling in to our new church. Each week we feel a little less like strangers. Tomorrow we are having a Super Bowl party at the Pastor's house. We are in a small group with him and his wife. We normally have the Super Bowl party, but since we are in this dinky apartment right now it will be a while before we are hosting any parties. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Well, I better sign off...I feel like I have been on the computer all day. :)</div><div>I wil leave you with one of my favorite pics...</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297679683657686562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SYUjmp44XiI/AAAAAAAAAn8/oWPUJPdNewE/s400/Livia.jpg" border="0" /></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-36224968306144471242009-01-25T15:34:00.002-05:002009-01-25T15:36:26.794-05:00Happy Anniversary Sweetheart<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SXzNGA4nimI/AAAAAAAAAn0/9yeDOhhI9LQ/s1600-h/misc.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295332765081242210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SXzNGA4nimI/AAAAAAAAAn0/9yeDOhhI9LQ/s400/misc.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Today Mike and I have been married for 23 years!!! I can't believe how fast the last 23 years have gone by. I can't believe how young we were too!!! Just kids!</div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-51971624073805984452009-01-20T17:10:00.004-05:002009-01-20T17:30:00.717-05:00Winter Wonderland<div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SXZMq96TMqI/AAAAAAAAAnE/0YlWGvGMlo8/s1600-h/January09+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293502713077904034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SXZMq96TMqI/AAAAAAAAAnE/0YlWGvGMlo8/s400/January09+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SXZMezyBauI/AAAAAAAAAm8/6og4lRL16_w/s1600-h/January09+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293502504200399586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SXZMezyBauI/AAAAAAAAAm8/6og4lRL16_w/s400/January09+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>UGH! It just keeps snowing and is cold. I am ready for Spring. The temps are a little better here, but we got a few more inches of snow today. Being here at the apartment has made winter seem harder this year. #1 I am missing my woodburners. I don't miss lugging in the wood and getting up at night to add more wood, but I do miss the bone warming heat. The "It is so cozy in here" feeling that you don't even care that it is 15 below outside. #2 I am really missing my garage. Having to go out every morning to either chip ice off of my car or scrape off the snow is a real pain. At first I didn't even want to start it to warm it since it is in a parking lot and once it is started, I can't lock it. Well, after the first week of freezing temps I didn't give a flying rip if someone took my car. It needed to be preheated.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Last Thursday was Morgan's last day of the Semester at her old school. Today was suppose to be the first day at her new school. Even though there was no school on Friday for the middle school the high school had a snow day because of dangerous temps. That messed up the middle school schedule so their semester doesn't end now until tomorrow. UGH! They could have told us that before we got up at 6 AM today and got to the school by 7! So, we went back today after lunch (they only have half days today and tomorrow) and Morgan got her schedule, locker assignment and got to walk around the school. She doesn't have to start until Thursday now. </div><br /><div>This is really dragging things out. I am getting really frustrated with all her moodiness. I do feel bad for her. I know she is nervous to start a new school and sad to leave the old, but her ups and downs are leading me to insanity. </div><div> </div><div>Here is a picture of my little guy Chester just cause he is cute. ;) </div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293506557145649746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SXZQKuLeElI/AAAAAAAAAnM/hZJo9cKOSrw/s400/January09+001.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-47632311085010909322009-01-16T16:07:00.001-05:002009-01-16T16:08:39.249-05:00Morgan's Music VideoMorgan had to make a music video for her music class. She picked on of her favorite songs and put pictures to it.<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZUmiJv8Bew">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZUmiJv8Bew</a>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-26794506754033011712009-01-14T11:08:00.002-05:002009-01-14T11:13:41.298-05:00China, baby!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SW4PKn7KmII/AAAAAAAAAm0/0fiRpbH19Xk/s1600-h/3194093010_da977969ff_o.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291183287397161090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SW4PKn7KmII/AAAAAAAAAm0/0fiRpbH19Xk/s400/3194093010_da977969ff_o.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>My friend Rebecca & her hubby Andy are in China right now getting her little boy. Little Owen is such a cutie. You can see him on their blog. <a href="http://www.ourfamilyjournal.com/">http://www.ourfamilyjournal.com/</a></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-54633713461773547642009-01-14T09:46:00.006-05:002009-01-14T09:50:53.901-05:00Olivia's dance and tumble<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SW37pO8iAHI/AAAAAAAAAms/AW8wW1j-rzw/s1600-h/december+08+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291161823035392114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SW37pO8iAHI/AAAAAAAAAms/AW8wW1j-rzw/s400/december+08+025.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SW37iHtifDI/AAAAAAAAAmk/tmanzLw5-yM/s1600-h/december+08+030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291161700834376754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SW37iHtifDI/AAAAAAAAAmk/tmanzLw5-yM/s400/december+08+030.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SW37a-ObDCI/AAAAAAAAAmc/FU04XElkTek/s1600-h/december+08+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291161578028862498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SW37a-ObDCI/AAAAAAAAAmc/FU04XElkTek/s400/december+08+033.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SW37Tmx-9uI/AAAAAAAAAmU/meX1fnYD3Bo/s1600-h/december+08+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291161451476481762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SW37Tmx-9uI/AAAAAAAAAmU/meX1fnYD3Bo/s400/december+08+035.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SW37MxCFNzI/AAAAAAAAAmM/JSGNsMGpVo4/s1600-h/december+08+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291161333969270578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SW37MxCFNzI/AAAAAAAAAmM/JSGNsMGpVo4/s400/december+08+034.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />*Sorry for the blurry pics. I have a crappy camera and my zoom doesn't really work.</div></div></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-49231163707832809182009-01-02T16:25:00.013-05:002009-01-05T19:26:56.064-05:00Christmas at Evan's Apartment<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6IybauFDI/AAAAAAAAAmA/BBpuUDUs5BU/s1600-h/december+08+073.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286813412514206770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6IybauFDI/AAAAAAAAAmA/BBpuUDUs5BU/s400/december+08+073.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6IWUYeJyI/AAAAAAAAAl4/VsL8n4UxVgA/s1600-h/december+08+065.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286812929589389090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6IWUYeJyI/AAAAAAAAAl4/VsL8n4UxVgA/s400/december+08+065.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6IL_HmSiI/AAAAAAAAAlw/PVAfuGKEayM/s1600-h/december+08+067.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286812752082782754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6IL_HmSiI/AAAAAAAAAlw/PVAfuGKEayM/s400/december+08+067.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6H_C6gagI/AAAAAAAAAlo/_heMgo9ZgzQ/s1600-h/december+08+054.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286812529763314178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6H_C6gagI/AAAAAAAAAlo/_heMgo9ZgzQ/s400/december+08+054.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6H1PkGTEI/AAAAAAAAAlg/tKQanwds08Q/s1600-h/december+08+055.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286812361360297026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6H1PkGTEI/AAAAAAAAAlg/tKQanwds08Q/s400/december+08+055.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6HqeQqm8I/AAAAAAAAAlY/Aekp_5Ny8WM/s1600-h/december+08+071.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286812176326761410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6HqeQqm8I/AAAAAAAAAlY/Aekp_5Ny8WM/s400/december+08+071.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6HevfxffI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/_1R2ocZ41ps/s1600-h/december+08+058.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286811974795099634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6HevfxffI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/_1R2ocZ41ps/s400/december+08+058.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6HS2lTdVI/AAAAAAAAAlI/8Aqz7qFPF5g/s1600-h/december+08+064.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286811770538915154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6HS2lTdVI/AAAAAAAAAlI/8Aqz7qFPF5g/s400/december+08+064.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6HIi5bHAI/AAAAAAAAAlA/K8GQQ3M5bn8/s1600-h/december+08+052.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286811593455901698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6HIi5bHAI/AAAAAAAAAlA/K8GQQ3M5bn8/s400/december+08+052.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6G-9S3B7I/AAAAAAAAAk4/1GsWft8B-R4/s1600-h/december+08+059.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286811428743219122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6G-9S3B7I/AAAAAAAAAk4/1GsWft8B-R4/s400/december+08+059.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6G0zJ3WOI/AAAAAAAAAkw/2tjAnGO0-Cw/s1600-h/december+08+069.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286811254222444770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6G0zJ3WOI/AAAAAAAAAkw/2tjAnGO0-Cw/s400/december+08+069.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6GrR3dUNI/AAAAAAAAAko/wxQjxCBQp04/s1600-h/december+08+075.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286811090668048594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SV6GrR3dUNI/AAAAAAAAAko/wxQjxCBQp04/s400/december+08+075.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-18544725959441557912008-12-30T23:24:00.002-05:002008-12-30T23:36:01.255-05:00What a crazy 10 days!Last Sunday (the 21st) we woke up to no electricity. That wouldn't be a real big deal but we had the night before picked up two bearded dragons (lizards) for Evan for Christmas. These particular lizards need 100 degree heat lamps on them. Since we didn't know how long we would be without electricity we decided to pack up a day early and head back to Middlebury. We were staying with my brother and his family. They don't have Internet so I was going through some major withdrawal.<br /><br />We had Christmas with Mike's family on Monday night and Morgan still had school on Tuesday. We basically just hung around Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday night we spent the night at Evan's apartment. We got up Christmas morning and had a wonderful Christmas with all the kids. I made lunch for us and we spent most of the afternoon just hanging out. THat evening it was back to my brother's for Christmas with my dad and his new wife, my mom and step dad and my brother and his family. That night we went to my dad's to spend the night because my mom was staying with my brother. Friday we got iced in most of the day. We finally made it back to my brother's to spend more time with mom. Saturday we just hung around and that evening we got to Evan came over with his girlfriend and we got to meet her for the first time. We enjoyed the evening with all our kids.<br /><br /> The next morning dark and early Mike took Morgan and I to church to board a bus. The two of us were on our way to Grand Rapids Michigan for a three day youth conference (I was one of the chaperones). It was a great and very tiring three days. When Mike picked us up this afternoon at church we made a beeline for home. I am so tired of living out of suitcases. I am tired of sleeping in different beds. I am tired of not being able to cook in my own kitchen. It is so nice to be home.<br /><br />I hope to be posting some pictures in the next couple of days. My camera is dead so I will get to it soon. <br /><br />Tomorrow Katie is coming along with one of her college friends and Sunny her boyfriend. They are spending the night in OUR apartment and then on New Year's Day taking the train to Chicago for the day. MORE CRAZINESS! :)Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-57396093537206332722008-12-13T09:18:00.005-05:002008-12-13T09:22:22.318-05:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SUPFDliIGaI/AAAAAAAAAkY/-WOdYQKDzow/s1600-h/december+08+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279279853613881762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SUPFDliIGaI/AAAAAAAAAkY/-WOdYQKDzow/s400/december+08+015.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SUPE3O8QPMI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/xj-EajNa6-g/s1600-h/december+08+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279279641391021250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SUPE3O8QPMI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/xj-EajNa6-g/s400/december+08+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SUPEuq3kNoI/AAAAAAAAAkI/_G07e3TA84U/s1600-h/december+08+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279279494268728962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SUPEuq3kNoI/AAAAAAAAAkI/_G07e3TA84U/s400/december+08+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SUPEoYh7wGI/AAAAAAAAAkA/kKcYZRXCwXw/s1600-h/december+08+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279279386266943586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SUPEoYh7wGI/AAAAAAAAAkA/kKcYZRXCwXw/s400/december+08+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SUPEgGQge9I/AAAAAAAAAj4/svBe-s8AD50/s1600-h/december+08+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279279243923061714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SUPEgGQge9I/AAAAAAAAAj4/svBe-s8AD50/s400/december+08+014.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SUPEXvGIMaI/AAAAAAAAAjw/Xe44_N0oryc/s1600-h/december+08+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279279100266557858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SUPEXvGIMaI/AAAAAAAAAjw/Xe44_N0oryc/s400/december+08+020.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9614995.post-24704980045773338362008-12-11T09:22:00.000-05:002008-12-13T09:24:23.600-05:00Olivia's new best friend....<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SUPFXF7yT0I/AAAAAAAAAkg/U29X9Z8IvJs/s1600-h/december+08+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279280188728954690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kyb7ct6_l4U/SUPFXF7yT0I/AAAAAAAAAkg/U29X9Z8IvJs/s400/december+08+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Olivia has a new best friend here in our new town. We had her over</div><br />for a play date the other day.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02092501403171266838noreply@blogger.com1