tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30957384259232137252024-02-18T23:14:20.143-08:00Fowlington BuzzI'm a twenty something striving to become the person I want to be "when I grow up". Yes, I may be a wife and mother, but my adventure is just beginning. My motto:
"Live Stronger. Live Greener. Live Simpler. Love."Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.comBlogger332125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-44975579115689507912014-07-16T07:59:00.000-07:002014-07-16T11:03:27.163-07:00Summer of Science: Butterfly Kit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When we began our "Summer of Science" I really didn't have exact plans. However, as we began to participate more in the <a href="http://www.tulsazoo.org/learn/nature-exchange/" target="_blank">Nature Exchange at the Tulsa Zoo,</a> Evelyn began to shift our exploration more and more into Entomology. As her interest in larval and egg forms of different insects expanded, I started looking for butterfly kits online where you could watch the different life stages of an insect.</div>
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I ended up with the <a href="http://www.nature-gifts.com/live-butterfly-kits.html" target="_blank">Caterpillar to Butterfly Kit from Naturegifts.com</a></div>
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The caterpillars arrived along with their kit and Evelyn was immediately engaged. She named all 6 caterpillars: Kirmy, Shirmy, Shanisha, Prince Hans, Bert, and Evelyn Jr.</div>
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We watched as they went from tiny little things....</div>
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To pupating caterpillars....</div>
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To chrysalises...</div>
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Then they moved into Evelyn's room in the large butterfly habitat provided by the kit. Until a few days later....</div>
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....when Evelyn Jr. emerged as a beautiful butterfly.</div>
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Even in the animal world, things don't always go they way you hope developmentally. Poor Bert, as Evelyn called him, was an example of what can happen if a butterfly doesn't fully emerge from its chrysalis correctly. Bert broke the seal on his chrysalis and then got stuck. His wings dried in a crumpled form, making flight impossible and movement difficult. We removed the chrysalis from around Bert once all the other butterflies had safely emerged and placed him in the habitat. He could make it to the feeder and was able to eat so we left him in there. Bert only lived about 2 days (compared to the 2-4 week average life span of a Painted Lady Butterfly) but we learned a lot about caring for special needs animals. We discussed the importance of development in animals and how amazing it is that so many times, everything works just right.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM39Q-bvcGQZ1Xgc_oDPQkpdqLbQsLkCF42MtEriO_wzoSIdXRHL_a64R-6Ek95uKpFupoMnDEOuVbbb0hhNLjo6axJV_1n4TbBul6VIHWAVpT-1xPo8s9iJLU58N3S3RCV_b2VJmxPMHd/s1600/IMG_20140712_124437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM39Q-bvcGQZ1Xgc_oDPQkpdqLbQsLkCF42MtEriO_wzoSIdXRHL_a64R-6Ek95uKpFupoMnDEOuVbbb0hhNLjo6axJV_1n4TbBul6VIHWAVpT-1xPo8s9iJLU58N3S3RCV_b2VJmxPMHd/s1600/IMG_20140712_124437.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Evelyn drew the caterpillars throughout their life cycle and focused on using vocabulary (like pupate, proboscis, chrysalis, emergence) while I took it a step further and recorded data for growth for the caterpillars. I was amazed at how much I did not know about caterpillars. I recommend this kit for adults and children. I promise you will learn something, especially if you haven't done this since Kindergarten.</div>
<br />Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-87548823244580075702014-06-18T14:09:00.002-07:002014-06-18T14:09:24.693-07:00Summer of Science: The Life Cycle of a Squash BugEvelyn and I love spending time in Grandma's garden. We check over the plants, look for any fruits or vegetables that are ready to harvest, and observe wild life whenever possible.<div>
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Two days ago, we were observing Grandma's Squash plants when Evelyn and I noticed some insect eggs on the top of a squash leaf.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitv81I1tjqUpdtTsX4QGFGRIQ8l21BLFeMz6CLUyUqot3wYdgcQXsIBrE6qZIKaeS38SXAVujq0NhFFPtWZ-oqCfZ2KvwqwXPGN3v2_kkhH6I7_vw601fmScrsz4M19yG6RdHpk-Yr0x1Y/s1600/IMG_20140617_080352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitv81I1tjqUpdtTsX4QGFGRIQ8l21BLFeMz6CLUyUqot3wYdgcQXsIBrE6qZIKaeS38SXAVujq0NhFFPtWZ-oqCfZ2KvwqwXPGN3v2_kkhH6I7_vw601fmScrsz4M19yG6RdHpk-Yr0x1Y/s1600/IMG_20140617_080352.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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What kind of eggs were these? Evelyn thought they looked similar to mouth eggs, but were maybe a different shape. We needed more information. We began looking for more eggs as I got out my science notebook. We wanted to know if these eggs were on all of the plants. I made a chart that listed the type of plant, number of egg clusters, and description of the egg clusters. The squash ended up being the only plant type with these eggs and it had 8 clusters.</div>
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As we examined more of the squash plant we lifted up a leaf and discovered...THIS</div>
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We found a group of baby bugs clustered together near other egg clusters.</div>
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We now had three clues. These bugs lay their eggs on squash plants, have amber eggs, and now we knew what the baby bugs looked like.</div>
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A brief online search brought up what we were looking at. Squash bugs. These bugs destroy squash plants. Last year the squash died off before we got any squash off of them. Reading about the squash bugs, we now think we know why. The second generation of squash bugs will lay more eggs, and then those hatchlings will burrow underground for the winter. When spring comes, they tunnel back up and lay eggs in the same area on squash again.</div>
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So these may very well be the decendants of last years squash killers. Having identified the bug, Grandma went and bought appropriate pesticides to allow the squash to be food safe and squash bug safe.</div>
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We also captured two adult squash bugs and made a kill jar. We killed them in fingernail polish remover and have them in a container now to take to the Nature Exchange at the zoo so Evelyn can share what we've learned with the Exchange.</div>
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Since we found examples of all 3 life cycle stages of the bug, Evelyn's science journal entry on Squash Bugs is about the Squash Bug Life Cycle. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfo92IQ38uZlcwtMDtelcgPW854Kq_LMcWa3dDFSbb2PkAgjnGiUSRzs0xtRc26wZ9JaY4h9SMkt3rqXitHAVHfR60IyJ6iHKM0sZm7p2hn5_XoL0rIrDaIMJGSoeNo9CCBpzNzWZOsFG_/s1600/IMG_20140617_174820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfo92IQ38uZlcwtMDtelcgPW854Kq_LMcWa3dDFSbb2PkAgjnGiUSRzs0xtRc26wZ9JaY4h9SMkt3rqXitHAVHfR60IyJ6iHKM0sZm7p2hn5_XoL0rIrDaIMJGSoeNo9CCBpzNzWZOsFG_/s1600/IMG_20140617_174820.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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I sketched images of what we saw and Evelyn colored it, but she does like explaining the life cycle using the picture in her journal.</div>
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We also now have a bug net and bug observation box. Turns out bugs aren't "icky" when you are learning about them and now our outdoor time is filled with calls of "Mom! Look at this really cool insect!"</div>
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Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-15976660815024890152014-06-18T13:57:00.002-07:002014-06-18T13:57:55.422-07:00Summer of Science: Bird Nest Dissection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjdikXTLCeRbysuDN0H2X33z9vfAM1i0p5yKMOdxoLNX8G0lWj4XpyVA3c8pxPb6JSeXap0iG7OReeKUJh-cQh1n3bY034U891d01wiDNwqy0NtJp3AggsSgeygLdg4EweJxeOiPCqH2w/s1600/IMG_20140610_152119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjdikXTLCeRbysuDN0H2X33z9vfAM1i0p5yKMOdxoLNX8G0lWj4XpyVA3c8pxPb6JSeXap0iG7OReeKUJh-cQh1n3bY034U891d01wiDNwqy0NtJp3AggsSgeygLdg4EweJxeOiPCqH2w/s1600/IMG_20140610_152119.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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With all of the storms and high winds that came late spring, my mom ended up losing a tree branch that had housed a bird nest. When she discovered it she brought it over for Evelyn to look at. </div>
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We decided that it would be interesting to see what birds use to build their nests by taking apart this one.</div>
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Our nest consisted mainly of wet and decomposing leaves around the bottom of the nest. The leaves contained tons of little pill bugs, which Evelyn likes holding.</div>
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Evelyn had to hold all of them.</div>
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We also discovered that the nest was made of twigs and long, dried grasses that were wrapped around and around. The eggs that were left in the nest were hallow, smelly, and had dried yoke on the outside. We decided they were probably eaten by a predator.</div>
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The most interesting thing we found was a plastic walmart sac that had been woven into the birds nest. </div>
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Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-8602545954359280012014-06-07T12:28:00.000-07:002014-06-07T12:28:29.235-07:00Basic Addition and Proof<div style="text-align: center;">
Evelyn can do basic addition mentally. She occasionally utilizes finger counting to check her work, but prefers to simply count on in her head. (for example, she thinks 3 + 2, so 3, 4, 5. 5!)</div>
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When it comes to explaining how she knows her answer is correct, she struggles. I want her to be able to explain her strategies and thinking in mathematics, so today we worked on an activity to help her prove her answers when she completes addition problems.</div>
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Here was our set up.</div>
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The notebook has number sentences for basic addition ("2 + (numbers 0-12) =")</div>
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I color coded the addends so that one addend was blue and one addend was yellow. Then I drew green lines underneath the blank space for the sum.</div>
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I also provided silicon muffin cups in blue, yellow, and green. (Makes sense because yellow and blue make green, right?)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJWk3dBTgGwLsNUz1UrsYnXySaRCBeAVKz7DCCiVJoq_EiJ58b-n46Aymeuywjx4hM6S3fj_0M32j0POO9cqNhv6dBg_rsLVABO-eNJ8wBZXg-ZcElrj5xM-XIBUEzT3i7k3vZtToyAYL/s1600/IMG_20140607_115417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJWk3dBTgGwLsNUz1UrsYnXySaRCBeAVKz7DCCiVJoq_EiJ58b-n46Aymeuywjx4hM6S3fj_0M32j0POO9cqNhv6dBg_rsLVABO-eNJ8wBZXg-ZcElrj5xM-XIBUEzT3i7k3vZtToyAYL/s1600/IMG_20140607_115417.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />I added a plus sign and an equals sign to help keep the number sentence structure consistant.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIigoN0tC-OZR6F6wMAFyVfYpIx11YPBFzM3u1vieSSTXJsanTtPe40vj47EOCzCB4Tff5T8kZODACUbLe_R2APb9XiCKbB0Id2g64ElKXGBv0Dj84rgbLccUx4ljwtDORqDXKsMQbp68/s1600/IMG_20140607_120245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIigoN0tC-OZR6F6wMAFyVfYpIx11YPBFzM3u1vieSSTXJsanTtPe40vj47EOCzCB4Tff5T8kZODACUbLe_R2APb9XiCKbB0Id2g64ElKXGBv0Dj84rgbLccUx4ljwtDORqDXKsMQbp68/s1600/IMG_20140607_120245.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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For the addition problem 2 + 4 =, the set up looks as follows:</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPedAOp8TFTDj0dg1reoOFbE_kHvhxTynm0pIJoAFeZIsLxdfeRJKhZc_Hc2oRXov4g-5gRifaaqUJ3kquhuza1achB0lDffR2gwTLm0twJZvvsYuSguFjAoXF_9ibTUglQ1kBw2Arekaj/s1600/IMG_20140607_120412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPedAOp8TFTDj0dg1reoOFbE_kHvhxTynm0pIJoAFeZIsLxdfeRJKhZc_Hc2oRXov4g-5gRifaaqUJ3kquhuza1achB0lDffR2gwTLm0twJZvvsYuSguFjAoXF_9ibTUglQ1kBw2Arekaj/s1600/IMG_20140607_120412.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then Evelyn would combine the blue and yellow containers by pouring both into the green container.</div>
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She could then count the number of pennies in the green container to prove her sum she discovered mentally was correct.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3GFm-rsvNfZZ-mk7cZthEdVCGYPAEPLFS_PqYdB3_BvsmyeaCkJogtctahRTTtkiWTnFB8b-npUWVqz1XUgE3jadr9J7W88vBCdDnASL0hCSoqa-6qWJ_vETXErlR-6sgAbxnx1WQuMQ/s1600/IMG_20140607_120439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3GFm-rsvNfZZ-mk7cZthEdVCGYPAEPLFS_PqYdB3_BvsmyeaCkJogtctahRTTtkiWTnFB8b-npUWVqz1XUgE3jadr9J7W88vBCdDnASL0hCSoqa-6qWJ_vETXErlR-6sgAbxnx1WQuMQ/s1600/IMG_20140607_120439.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Tomorrow, Evelyn will rewrite the math sentences to practice writing numbers and math symbols.</div>
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Bonuses of this activity:</div>
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<li>I was able to observe different addition strategies being used. Sometimes Evelyn would use her "count on strategy" by using one addend she knew ("there are 6 pennies in the yellow, so if I add the other two...7, 8, then my answer must be 8!"). When making 10 pennies to put in an addend container Evelyn put two sets of five because she knew five and five made ten, etc.</li>
<li>This lesson lends itself to understanding the commutative property of addition since it is easy to realize that it doesn't matter what order you dump your addends in the green container, you still arrive at the same sum.</li>
<li>There is a lot of opportunity to talking about conservation of number. You cannot add or take away any pennies when pouring from your addends to your sum. Only the pennies in the addend containers can go into the sum container. </li>
<li>It provides a hands-on way to prove basic addition problems while relating them to written number sentences.</li>
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<br />Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-49331665678881995982014-06-06T10:58:00.003-07:002014-06-06T11:02:04.009-07:00Summer of Science: Floating and SinkingWhen I taught 5th grade Science we had an entire unit on Floating and Sinking. It seems a little silly to me that we are teaching concepts regarding bouyancy as late as 5th grade, however there were several students who still didn't have enough experience with density as a property to understand that it was more than an objects size or weight that determined whether it would float or not. Therefore, it is never to early to start providing those experiences.<br />
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Today for science time, we did an activity to test out some household items and whether they would float or sink.<br />
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I pulled some assorted items:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTI135FgO3AqtmzMtdKAoAE_XXRWV2IEx5N_pEygRED7sE09HMGneT5KKCe32W2tvWR_A7cprFaH6fEbW_En8XTiYo30F1jwfuo2CZl9Bthyxk8dLM9mqfDuX5neuTd8Zu3v3VmeIIyPG/s1600/IMG_20140606_121216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTI135FgO3AqtmzMtdKAoAE_XXRWV2IEx5N_pEygRED7sE09HMGneT5KKCe32W2tvWR_A7cprFaH6fEbW_En8XTiYo30F1jwfuo2CZl9Bthyxk8dLM9mqfDuX5neuTd8Zu3v3VmeIIyPG/s1600/IMG_20140606_121216.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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We have here:</div>
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A leaf, an outlet cover, a silicon muffin cup, a rubber band, a knife cover, a paper clip, a quarter, a plastic lid, and a penny</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgQpfg5UxzRTUS7O2691M6q520YGIlerVzBfDw1t2cDf4Kh6Xg06PAr5BCZu23dvyHe1uQlYcaYNK_Nb4STseLCGpXB7dcWOFPQyt1difuqekq8HlukUhL0Z-mY82Vh6ekeiNbDlK-BBo/s1600/IMG_20140606_121228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgQpfg5UxzRTUS7O2691M6q520YGIlerVzBfDw1t2cDf4Kh6Xg06PAr5BCZu23dvyHe1uQlYcaYNK_Nb4STseLCGpXB7dcWOFPQyt1difuqekq8HlukUhL0Z-mY82Vh6ekeiNbDlK-BBo/s1600/IMG_20140606_121228.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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I set up a testing station with a bucket of water, slotted spoon for item retrieval, absorbent pad (this is designed to set washed fruits and vegetables on without leaving water all over your counter) and a dish towel.</div>
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We set up our journal page to record the object and whether it was a prediction or a result and then provided two columns: one for floating, one for sinking.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBh9E0SfXxiAprSvYmWxOTO7zJTVHy_bT-_EqN0Ws8t7jO_m_K56GwrXMhshKZam2L8pgSQZqujoE4y5CYAcsiwYChqZxq7C9oTbqmD5uDK7JhUZKYODyU01eAjS2vU72IelS_DO0sJGE3/s1600/IMG_20140606_122525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBh9E0SfXxiAprSvYmWxOTO7zJTVHy_bT-_EqN0Ws8t7jO_m_K56GwrXMhshKZam2L8pgSQZqujoE4y5CYAcsiwYChqZxq7C9oTbqmD5uDK7JhUZKYODyU01eAjS2vU72IelS_DO0sJGE3/s1600/IMG_20140606_122525.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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At the end of my page in my journal, I recorded what I noticed about the objects that float and what I noticed about the objects that sank. In the remaining space, I recorded the definition for the word "Density". If I were doing this with a class, I would have provided that vocabulary word at some point when students described the idea, so this seemed a logical place to write it.</div>
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Evelyn's journal looked slightly different.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3kylrscedRbYxI_Bv9BaWSht2qw6F078U4c6zfN1Z9uRhB5GXInB_0KgMM2a3JxtwuHbhEWuJIJjabwNZd2weng_vlCY121CK92ROtEwm2W3GmHEKWBiRK8dsBL-3Wm_iqaXuUEc8_q-/s1600/IMG_20140606_122532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3kylrscedRbYxI_Bv9BaWSht2qw6F078U4c6zfN1Z9uRhB5GXInB_0KgMM2a3JxtwuHbhEWuJIJjabwNZd2weng_vlCY121CK92ROtEwm2W3GmHEKWBiRK8dsBL-3Wm_iqaXuUEc8_q-/s1600/IMG_20140606_122532.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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I had her draw her own dividing lines and also fold her paper to create columns. I wrote the words in and checked where she told me to for each guess and result she had. I did, however, make her write the date. I'm pretty big about writing the date on things. It's a habit I want her to have early.</div>
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Then to help her reflect, we simply talked about what she learned and I wrote down what she said.</div>
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Evelyn was focused on "plastic" vs. "metal" as she classifies the two things. She said plastic floats and metal sinks. When she got to the rubber band, she determined that rubber is like plastic and then predicted from that association that a rubber band would float like the plastic did.</div>
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Then I created a t-chart and asked her to write three things that she discovered would sink and three things that would float. (Writing practice anyone?)</div>
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To help her with item spellings, I put my journal under hers with the desired item lined up at the top. She could then look to see what order her letters needed to be in. </div>
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Her results.</div>
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This was kind of lack luster compared to the excitement that was leaf rubbings yesterday, but it was raining and wet outside so this was a decent substitute for outdoor science observations.</div>
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Store this in rainy day plans! We can repeat it with different items. Maybe try a deflated balloon and a blown up balloon or test a piece of cloth and watch what happens over time!</div>
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Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-77500392589255346392014-06-05T18:39:00.003-07:002014-06-05T18:39:40.076-07:00Summer of Science: Leaf RubbingsOne of the tools that I would like to improve at using in my classroom is a Science Notebook. I know that last year I tried to work on building science journals with my students but I didn't have a narrow enough focus to really have the journals become useful.<br />
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So I decided that I would start keeping one of my own, as an adult, to see how I used it in real life and what I would like it to look like. As always, I decided that if I can do it, Evelyn can do a kid version of it.<br />
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Today we had our first "science time". I started small with something easy: leaf rubbings!<br />
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The first thing we did was write the date in the upper right hand corner of our journals. Then, we picked a leaf. I showed Evelyn how to put it on the page under the one you want the image on and to place the leaf smooth side down so you get the best product possible. Then I helped her hold her page while she creating a rubbing.</div>
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We repeated this process in our notebooks until we had a sample from each of the trees out our house.</div>
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For Evelyn, the pictures we created were enough. I wanted to go through and identify the exact species of tree that each of them came from.</div>
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Arborday.org has program on their website that allows you to identify trees based on repeated classification, sort of like a dichotomous key.</div>
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While examining one of our little specimens, we discovered something amazing!</div>
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EGGS!</div>
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These were on the bottom of a leaf from our Pecan Tree. Evelyn remembered from the book <u>Eggs</u> we checked out from the library that these were insect eggs and probably a moth egg. </div>
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And let me tell you - those eggs REALLY got Evelyn and I's research drive into gear!</div>
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We landed on this website:</div>
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www.mywildlifefriendlygarden.com</div>
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In this <a href="http://www.mywildlifefriendlygarden.com/june2012.shtml" target="_blank">post</a> the author discusses moth eggs and has several pictures. At the bottom we really enjoyed the photo showing moth eggs over time. We learned that moth eggs are white when they are laid but gradually change color as the larvae grow until they are ready to hatch out! We think ours were at the hatching stage and upon closer look, think several may have already hatched.</div>
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Just a day of leaf rubbings that turned into some pretty fun scientific research.</div>
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Here are my pages from the leaf rubbing:</div>
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I learned the words "lobe" and "sinus" as they relate to leaf shape descriptions.</div>
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I noticed that there were different patterns to the leaf veins in the Crepe Myrtle and Peach Tree Leaf. </div>
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Now I'm working on reflecting on the day. I'm going to add what I learned about the eggs and tape in our photograph of the eggs we observed along with one of moth eggs at different stages.</div>
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Evelyn's book just has the different rubbings she did. Her descriptions are things like "big", "green", "small", and "round" which are perfectly find at her age. Good practice regardless...and dare I say...fun?</div>
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Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-21921576494172317222014-06-05T11:24:00.002-07:002014-06-05T11:24:38.502-07:00Writing Process from an Early Age<div style="text-align: center;">
Evelyn is not a fluent reader by any means. She can write letters when you spell something for her. She makes wonderful inferences from illustrations and photographs. Using those strengths, it is quite possible for her to be a writer. </div>
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This project requires:</div>
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Strong parent support and involvement</div>
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Printer</div>
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Camera</div>
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Paper</div>
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Pencil</div>
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Publishing Supples (I recommend a small binder, page protectors, and stickers)</div>
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A story worth telling</div>
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A lot of the students I work with struggle with the idea that revisions and proof-reading matter. They turn in their rough draft equivalents without giving a second thought to the quality of their writing. I want Evelyn to begin her writing experiences with the idea that your best work is often not your first work.</div>
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So we decided a few weeks ago that it would be nice to write a book about going to the library to share with her classmates. </div>
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Evelyn loves the Summer Reading Program and many of her friends haven't done it before so she wanted to tell them about the library so they would maybe try the reading program.</div>
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With this idea in hand, we started recording ideas. We would go to the library and then I would ask Evelyn what she liked about the library or what was important about the library. I'd record her statements using my phone's voice recording system. There were some real gems.</div>
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When it was finally writing day, we went to the library. We took pictures while we were there of all of the things Evelyn thought were important. When we got home, we printed off the pictures.</div>
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I printed off two pictures per page so they were about 5 x 3 photos. Then we cut them out and laid them on a table with plenty of space.</div>
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Here's were early literacy skills come in. Ordering events is an important skill. So step 1 for Evelyn was to put the printed pictures in the order of the steps we follow when we go to the library.</div>
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She worked hard to get them just the way she wanted. When she felt she was done we would go through and talk about what was happening in each picture to make sure that it made sense. This allowed her to correct anything that wasn't exactly where she thought was best.</div>
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When she had successfully ordered her photos, we wrote our rough draft. I asked her to tell me the story of going to the library using each picture. I wrote down the words she spoke as her first rough draft. </div>
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Once we had the first draft, we talked about using transition words. She had worked on transition words at school this was easier for her. We made those adjustments to make our story clear. Then we went through and changed some of our pronouns. We talked about sentences like "I read it at home." What we really want to say is "I read a book at home" or "I read my new book, <u>The Rainforest</u> at home." After changing our rough draft to include clearer words, we were ready for the next step.</div>
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I typed all of the rough draft sentences we had written, putting line breaks in between each sentence. I also typed all of our sentences from our "Pre-Writing" where we had recorded her ideas about the library on my phone. Then I printed them and cut out the pieces of paper so we had one sentence on each strip.</div>
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Next, I read each sentence to Evelyn and she placed the sentence underneath the photograph she thought it made the most sense with.</div>
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When pages had more than once sentence, we went through and read the sentences again to make sure they were in the right order. Some sentences needed to go before others.</div>
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Now that we knew how we wanted our sentences to look on each page, I typed a final copy for her to put in her book next to the pictures and we went shopping.</div>
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We picked a nice little two ring binder that was purple and some page protector sheets that fit inside it. We also got letter stickers and decorative stickers for the book.</div>
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Evelyn and I put the pages in her book together and then I worked on putting her title on the spine and front of the book while she illustrated a cover. (It's our car and the two of us in it on the way to the library). Then she put her decorative stickers in her book.</div>
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The last step for us was to create a dedication page. Evelyn wanted to dedicate her hard work on this book to her friends at her preschool.</div>
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Once we finished the book, we brainstormed ideas for the next one she'd write. Her favorite proposal so far is Evelyn and Dad go to Starbucks.</div>
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Here is the proud author with her finished work.</div>
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<br />Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-20098270424837213232014-01-26T16:34:00.001-08:002014-01-26T16:34:21.054-08:00Blue Thumb<p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">My newest professional goal for myself has really been to provide more exciting opportunities for students to have real and practical math and science experience, particularly for young women. Our media specialist at school heard about an organization that monitors streams and creeks in Oklahoma so the two of us along with two other <strike>nerds </strike>highly professional science and math teachers at our site went for a two day training in Norman with Blue Thumb.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Day 1 we spent the morning learning about Blue Thumb and what they do. They are a volunteer based monitoring group that preforms chemical, biological, and physical monitoring of streams and creeks in Oklahoma, providing reports and information to conservation groups around Oklahoma. They covered basic environmental observations and how to identify different standards for weather, wind, etc. at a site.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Then, despite the fact that it was freezing and there was about a 3/4 inch ice sheet covering Bishop Creek, we borrowed some of their waders and went out to learn about proper sample gathering procedures as well as setting a dissolved oxygen sample.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1/1506587_10101685004704032_1979774564_n.jpg" width="264" height="352"></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">We didn’t have to climb over any rip-rap but did encounter some floating detritus (yay new vocab words!) It was frigid, but we still had a great time! Here’s me, rinsing our sample water container with creek water.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli"> <img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1656110_10101685004439562_263616513_n.jpg" width="288" height="381"></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">The next day was much warmer and spent in the lab learning all about the different chemical tests we will run on the creek near our school with our students. Can I just say, we enjoyed it so much, I may have to adopt my own creek site after a few months of the students working on this because I’m going to be jealous that they get to do all the work!</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1044384_10101685004993452_1245814277_n.jpg" width="391" height="293"></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">And after a some demonstrations using educational models we “graduated!”</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img alt="" src="https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1560778_10101685005123192_2038339228_n.jpg" width="640" height="480"></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">I cannot wait until we get some photos and videos of us working with the kids and taking care of our own creek!</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">This is a great organization! They provide all the training and materials, so check out </font><a href="http://www.bluethumbok.org"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">www.bluethumbok.org</font></a><font size="4" face="MV Boli"> or </font><a href="http://www.conservation.ok.gov"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">www.conservation.ok.gov</font></a></p> Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-11094512588989719782013-09-08T07:25:00.001-07:002013-09-08T07:58:43.405-07:00Lunches for the Whole Family<span style="font-family: mv boli; font-size: medium;">We are trying to all take our lunches to school or work on Monday through Thursday each week. On Fridays, Doc has academics and lunch is provided. On Fridays, I eat lunch at Mazzio’s with the rest of the teachers at my school as our week end celebration. Little Bird takes her lunch every day to do school.</span><br /><span style="font-family: mv boli; font-size: medium;">We set this lunch goal for TWO very important reasons:</span><br /><span style="font-family: mv boli; font-size: medium;">#1 Taking your lunch is cheaper than buying it at school/going out to grab lunch</span><br /><span style="font-family: mv boli; font-size: medium;">#2 Taking your lunch is healthier than take out/pick up/ready made options</span><br /><span style="font-family: mv boli; font-size: medium;">The biggest secret to doing this is that we prepare every side dish on Sunday after we get groceries.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: mv boli; font-size: medium;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: mv boli; font-size: medium;"><u>Doc and I’s Sunday Night Lunch Prep</u></span><br /><span style="font-family: mv boli; font-size: medium;">We pick 1-2 fruits and 1-2 vegetables for the week. Then, we wash everything and split it into Take N’ Toss containers which are just about perfect for portion sizing.</span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=witeachea-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B000096M2Z" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div>
<!-- Adsense End --><br /><span style="font-family: MV Boli; font-size: small;">I use a vis-a-vis marker to label them and put all of the side item containers in one of our drawers in the refrigerator that is reserved for lunch items.</span> <span style="font-family: MV Boli; font-size: small;">I use small containers to provide “dips” for the fruits and vegetables, which are normally either hummus or plain Greek yogurt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: MV Boli; font-size: small;"><u>Little Bird’s Sunday Night Lunch Prep</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: MV Boli; font-size: small;">To prepare things for Little Bird, I fill these amazing apple sauce pouches. I used to purchase the pouches at the store that were disposable. I found the price of the packs of 4 squeezable apple sauces to be a bit overwhelming. Over $1.00 for a side item for Little Bird’s lunches was a bit more than I wanted to spend. I found reusable pouches online. Squooshi pouches work amazingly well! They are easy to clean and I’ve already broken even on cost. I DID write “DO NOT THROW AWAY” on the lids and pouches to prevent any issues with them being tossed in the trash at school. </span><br />
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<!-- Adsense End --> <span style="font-family: MV Boli; font-size: small;">I buy large, organic apple sauce containers and send these pouches in my daughter’s lunch. I prep the pouches on Sunday and then refill as we go through out the week.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: MV Boli; font-size: small;">I love the Planetbox system and so do her teachers! At her age, lots of children still need help opening different parts of their lunches, but I can pack everything in divided compartments that all open when she opens the box. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-16rd16_kMIY/UiyOo8TzIgI/AAAAAAAAC4U/DdlAjQKE1-E/s1600-h/IMG_9839%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_9839" border="0" height="244" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XsUeOYmg5x4/UiyOpno3auI/AAAAAAAAC4c/4jrlNfMB1HQ/IMG_9839_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_9839" width="184" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: MV Boli; font-size: small;">Also, Little Bird is doing an amazing job of packing her own lunches. She helps pick the foods she’d like to eat and where they go. I use these silicon muffin molds to divide up foods (and make them bright and pretty). </span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=witeachea-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0032AM7OW" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div>
<!-- Adsense End --> <span style="font-family: MV Boli; font-size: small;">With as much done ahead of time as possible, all we have to do is stick to our routine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: MV Boli; font-size: small;">1. ) So our evening routine is generally that Little Bird and I make dinner. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: MV Boli; font-size: small;">2.) Doc comes home and we eat dinner together at the table. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: MV Boli; font-size: small;">3.) We all work together to clean the kitchen. Doc does the dishes and cleans up the counters. I pack entrees for Doc and I’s lunches as I put away leftover food from dinner as we often take leftovers. Otherwise, I make wraps, sandwiches, or other options for lunch. Then I simply grab 1 fruit, 1 vegetable, and 1 dip for each of us from the fridge and throw them in the lunch bags.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: MV Boli; font-size: small;">4.) Little Bird sprays the table down and wipes it off. When she finishes, she comes into the kitchen and helps me pack her lunch. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: MV Boli; font-size: small;">That means that in less than ten minutes, we normally have the kitchen clean, food put away, and lunches made and in the fridge for the next day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: MV Boli; font-size: small;">We are on week 3 of this and so far it’s gone really well, but we definitely plan well and make sure we stick to our routine.</span><br />
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Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-25572787166246502402013-09-07T13:24:00.001-07:002013-09-07T13:24:13.334-07:00Simplifying Housework<p><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Doc works. I work. Little Bird goes to school full time. We are exhausted in the evenings. By the weekend we just want to spend all our time relaxing and enjoying each other. Let’s just say that none of us are ever in the mood for housework.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">So before I went back to work, we did a big overhaul of the house. We reorganized everything. We cleaned out closets and cabinets and pantries and erred on the side of minimalism. </font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Little Bird was given a chore chart to ensure that I spent less time cleaning up after her and that she assumes a role as part of the family in sharing the family work.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">We set goals to keep the kitchen clean and the house de-cluttered during the week by actually cleaning as we went daily and not allowing ourselves to get sloppy.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">So Sunday is our “work day”. Work for us means dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, and laundry. Now that we are on our 4th Sunday of preparing for the week, I’m happy to say that we’ve kept it manageable. We normally get the “work” done in less than an hour and then just have to change laundry loads throughout the day. So far, so good. Let’s just hope we keep it up. </font></p> Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-77524039261581433472013-09-07T12:27:00.001-07:002013-09-07T12:27:54.711-07:00Back to Work, Back to School, Refocus and Embrace Planning the Future<p> </p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">It has been a while since my last post, but rest assured plenty has been going on.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">I think too much to put in one post. </font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">So look forward to posts on:</font></p> <ul> <li><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Lunches for the Whole Family</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Quick and healthy dinners you can make EVEN on a week night</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Simplifying Housework when everyone works full time</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Fall recipes I adore</font></li></ul> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">And then hopefully once I get all of those finished, I’ll have some time to post about the difficulty of envisioning a future after child loss and how Doc and I have overcome the reluctance to pursue and seek out plans for our future. The next year will bring some GIANT changes for our family and I can’t wait until we can start announcing those changes.</font></p> Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-17352881048351770732013-07-20T16:27:00.001-07:002013-07-20T16:27:06.362-07:00Rocky Mountain National Park - 2013<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8Q1zu1uiyi4/UesclqhNYlI/AAAAAAAAC0E/7aJ3Yl013B8/s1600-h/IMG_9785%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="MV Boli"><img title="IMG_9785" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_9785" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RjYsoStMmeQ/UescmastDDI/AAAAAAAAC0M/fB2X7o4Yq8Q/IMG_9785_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="528" height="364"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="MV Boli">Doc, Little Bird, and I just returned from our weeklong vacation to the Rockies! This trip was very different for us because it was the first time Doc has been able to go camping with Little Bird and because Little Bird is now potty trained, so there was a lot of putting on shoes and jackets mid-night and trekking to the bathroom.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="MV Boli">We hiked from Bear Lake up to Nymph, Dream, and Emerald Lake. The footing is loose on these hikes so I told Little Bird that we couldn’t carry her because it wasn’t safe. She’s too big for a backpack carrier now, so she just had to tough it out.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="MV Boli">We drove along Trail Ridge Road up into the alpine area and admired the views. We also sucked on lifesavers and drank lots of water to cope with the altitude changes.</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NGS1BhHEgWFJOHSgupEM4yxRrqEryd2uam4A2BuNlVr7BldPV7SqOJKsYuiLIhK1oe2tojL22rSIkeFkryqQQ1MjEJ_87SLwpM5bH2YLCeHfdr85To6KcS8K4qnTnDG4FTLckACNGIoe/s1600-h/IMG_9502%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="MV Boli"><img title="IMG_9502" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9502" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WmA4nw94lBk/Uescnad188I/AAAAAAAAC0c/a6TfIxv0AIk/IMG_9502_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="334" height="231"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="MV Boli">We made s’mores. Frequently.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="MV Boli">I built an awesome fire. Doc built the other fires that were also cool…but maybe not quite so ragingly cool as mine.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="MV Boli">We hiked up to Alberta Falls where Little Bird did some bouldering and rock climbing. Seeing the “happy water” as she put it together was pretty incredible. This was easily my favorite thing.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="MV Boli">We saw bears, elk, deer, marmots, ground squirrels, chipmunks, coyotes, dozens of birds, and amazing wildflowers.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bvrP_h0hPdc/UescoDNZwwI/AAAAAAAAC0k/1tVLLiDrzdw/s1600-h/upclosebear%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="MV Boli"><img title="upclosebear" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="upclosebear" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WTpfn1Yl0YI/UescolonznI/AAAAAAAAC0s/NzV6-7Kl2M4/upclosebear_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></font></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-D9SGDeYw8DI/UescpFtz4OI/AAAAAAAAC00/XTfe2f5pdbA/s1600-h/IMG_9253%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="MV Boli"><img title="IMG_9253" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_9253" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-u3I4D1W_4FY/Uescpm2-TfI/AAAAAAAAC08/5yws9bAaaCs/IMG_9253_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></font></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-k4D1KZICUuM/UescqD7OhMI/AAAAAAAAC1E/kARfGsS-92I/s1600-h/IMG_9604%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="MV Boli"><img title="IMG_9604" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_9604" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-i7-NNd09o2k/UescqpNd2oI/AAAAAAAAC1M/lMtE3wcFT-4/IMG_9604_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" height="164"></font></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CxJRcanPfoo/UescrEbHqBI/AAAAAAAAC1U/DgNdhm7731g/s1600-h/IMG_9473%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="MV Boli"><img title="IMG_9473" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_9473" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Bme-DAm-RDo/Uescrs7hWvI/AAAAAAAAC1c/u0Bq4TsNUwc/IMG_9473_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="268" height="186"></font></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-I5WBk1QsjY0/UescsF779yI/AAAAAAAAC1k/ZS6y1IMZhl0/s1600-h/IMG_9911%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="MV Boli"><img title="IMG_9911" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_9911" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--FUs3z9zGww/Uescsnt5D-I/AAAAAAAAC1s/3q0M6iRJhQo/IMG_9911_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="269" height="186"></font></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PIFwxiFUE1c/UesctPmr0UI/AAAAAAAAC10/OsIKSn0VpAI/s1600-h/IMG_9941%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="MV Boli"><img title="IMG_9941" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_9941" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bbiRBc9Bb_Q/Uesctq2S6kI/AAAAAAAAC18/915V-3dOPko/IMG_9941_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="190"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PIFwxiFUE1c/UesctPmr0UI/AAAAAAAAC10/OsIKSn0VpAI/s1600-h/IMG_9941%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="MV Boli"></font></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PIFwxiFUE1c/UesctPmr0UI/AAAAAAAAC10/OsIKSn0VpAI/s1600-h/IMG_9941%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="MV Boli"></font></a> </p> <p><font size="3" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p><font size="3" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p><font size="3" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p><font size="3" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p><font size="3" face="MV Boli">We celebrated my aunt and cousin’s birthdays. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="MV Boli">We drove A LOT.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="MV Boli">We slept in a nice little tent.</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlROnmpAWo_GuvS1XxLV6b4dhml3E9YXINDy5wm6-hd0sBhBvD8v7iG2qKZcEo5xLEgVT6ewqAc_xeLZWmhPfe2p53biKlvJu-2Npq352aFTHb0x8qvYAI6HNQEQdfqetv3U-vmCA51A0/s1600-h/IMG_9967%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="MV Boli"><img title="IMG_9967" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9967" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1mka3YimPt0/Uescu6gGp3I/AAAAAAAAC2M/wB-dvWnYhSo/IMG_9967_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="481" height="332"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="MV Boli">The best thing about this trip though was how much better it made me feel about the time we’re making up with Little Bird.I love that my daughter is the type to want to climb boulders and be amazed at chipmunks and become irate when we explain that people killed beavers to make hats (her response was that beavers don’t want to be hats and want to be with their families and alive). I love that she can do 12 hours in a car like a champ. I love that she ignores the bridge and decides to try hoping across stones instead. I love that she has an incredible sense of adventure and still wants to hold my hand while we hike. I love that she sleeps in a tent like she sleeps at home and when I’m carrying her back from the bathroom at 2 AM, scanning for bears and trying to get back without falling over, that I can point at the sky and she gasps and says “there are so many stars! They are beautiful!”</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5X1JaanK5MmELTnGbCEgSjheNMGXstlZz6bRyDVfl3Elaqe8JuSo-Svnll9gvT7i0Rcc2SbhQXXCk7cO9cCvXBl0SPE8F_J-DcooTIDlW2Xp-yiYWQQl9YtMYYT6OBvS2GftgqsSgv9r/s1600-h/IMG_9651%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="3" face="MV Boli"><img title="IMG_9651" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9651" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-28NrR7vcBn8/UescvxO1V5I/AAAAAAAAC2c/uKc-MynGHOU/IMG_9651_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="374" height="258"></font></a></p> <p><font size="3" face="MV Boli">Even though she is still grieving and has been having a harder time controlling her anger and sadness at losing her brother, she finds joy. She is in awe of the world. She loves fiercely. I’m proud of her.</font></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNVNency2mXe247ZtZI316AIE_tJBkKqRC9AymVJo0BHwYWatvs51Nuorl2YO0sNpJHYV7cqRX6mVCQbe-6CUtig2iSoJpBifbsSXval1DPJGNlTJ8PGgqdyXBgFY0FjzXGurfJwHKjtj/s1600-h/IMG_9288%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9288" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9288" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-M2t89hc5V24/Uescwz6Tb-I/AAAAAAAAC2s/gj9uxBSHfwI/IMG_9288_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="410" height="283"></a> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEqqa4_YiswWVhK4F0h8khiQLlphT-iwlOSO7OWUeZzDDikLajHGzb-gcOSS2J4PUjGlbfTx85CloaUnbO8IoKejUkbNHLICPdGoQpsuqFccOFc6ec_Liz-sqY5AKu3HQi-8O3I5JQ0rf/s1600-h/IMG_9770%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_9770" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_9770" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sqJShikdq2k/UescyBVFc_I/AAAAAAAAC28/UqaJelRr8s8/IMG_9770_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="417" height="288"></a></p> Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-76485044060153469042013-06-29T19:13:00.001-07:002013-06-29T19:13:26.776-07:00I am a Badass<p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Let me begin with a giant thank you to my friend Lizzy! I recently had a status update on Facebook warning that I was experiencing some grief relapse and I may be reflecting that on my updates in the near future so I gave warning. Then came a message asking for my address and a few days later, a lovely book.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">“You Are a Badass” by Jen Sincero</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">The humor and frankness of this author has been exactly what I needed. I am a badass.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">I honestly don’t exercise to be skinny. I do it to feel like a badass. When I feel strong I feel like a badass.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">I wear high heels because the way I walk in them makes me feel confident and strong. I feel like I can take on anything.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">I do things like the Warrior Dash, marathon vacationing, summer reading programs, and delve into home cooking because doing those things makes me feel strong. Confident. Capable. And darn it, it makes me feel like a badass. I made a freaking quiche. What could be more badass?!</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">AND. THAT. MATTERS.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Life dealt me a crappy blow. I can’t let it be my excuse. I can’t sit in the dark and be sad. I can’t not take chances or seek happiness because I know all to well that life can take deeply. I can’t. </font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">I do it for me. Because I’m awesome. Not just because I took care of Rowan or because my family has someone managed to hold together or because we still find joy. I’ve been awesome for a long time.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">I’m awesome because I never apologized for being a talented actress back in high school when that was my thing. I never apologized for being book smart either, despite the fact that the boys in my class didn’t like it. I’m awesome because I wasn’t looking to find love or a spouse when I met my husband, but I didn’t run away from it. I embraced the chance of a real partnership. I’m awesome because when I got sick and had to drop out of college, I got better, got a job, and worked while going to school until I could get scholarships back and go to school full time. I’m awesome because I mothered Little Bird. I’m awesome because I started student teaching two weeks after she was born because I refused to settle and was willing to work to have it all. I graduated with an infant in tow. I got a job teaching in an impossible hiring climate. I’m awesome because I am a great teacher and I am improved by working at a school full of them. I’m awesome because I carried a child I knew I would bury one day to full term despite the stresses that could have shortened that pregnancy. I’m awesome because I mothered Rowan. I’m awesome because we made his life worth it and loved him. I’m awesome for looking death in the face when it took my son from me and I AM FREAKING AWESOME because I get out of bed every morning, smile without faking it, laugh and share joy, and move foreword, looking for new ways to be a badass.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">I’m awesome because I keep reaching. I keep searching and exploring. I keep loving. I keep living. I’ve surrounded myself with awesome people a who have reminded me how awesome I am when I needed it, even when it’s sending me a book to remind me that I’m a badass when I start to forget. I’m going to make it through this period of grief relapse like I made it through the original one. I’m going to lean in. I’m going to be open to my thoughts and feelings. I’m going to move through it this time like I did last time. Like a badass who loved their son and misses him deeply.</font></p> Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-31392893956780786632013-06-17T09:19:00.001-07:002013-06-17T09:19:31.255-07:00Off the Bucket List: Summer Reading Program<p> </p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Ok, first off, I would totally be lying through my teeth if I said that Little Bird read these books. I read them all to her. We reread a lot of them. She would “read” pages she had memorized OR (my favorite) use the pictures and flip through the book giving me a retelling in her own words. Some of them we read enough she could just about recite the whole thing. So essentially, the summer reading program was an opportunity for us to learn about the library system, get some new books to read (and get rid of when I got sick of rereading them), and get excited about some solid non-fiction books.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Today we happened to magically show up at the Library right before the scheduled Story Time. Mom win! I love it when luck makes it look like I’m better at filling up the summer days with good activities. Today was all about bugs. They sang songs, did storytelling with pictures, read several books, and danced. Score! By the way, the story time room is amazing. You can see the animal mural and there is a giant tree they go inside for story time.</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KYfxJ83SjbYBUsgA8zdj52xNO4r0xszMbOLaboOtADD8sdnSSlc7LFyIbHs7GJ57vYwCK3tMO1tHs2hqMIYc3jOq2vbUX2_MNQR_nKxhnVxiLNSfrJa44dJAxYceSozl1nT9JD1X9HCE/s1600-h/storytime%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><img title="storytime" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="storytime" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YEN_A3mLm5k/Ub83DzwnFaI/AAAAAAAACzY/UeDnCWCrqpc/storytime_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="273" height="370"></font></a></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">After story time, we picked out our next six books and turned in our completed 20 list for our prize.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Here are the 20 books we have read so far this summer. Any with a * by it is one I loved and highly recommend.</font></p> <ol> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Little Owl Lost*</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">The Little Red Hen*</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">The Bremen Town Musicians</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Who Needs Love?</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">The Moon Might Be Milk*</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Girl, You’re Amazing!*</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Over the Green Hills</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">It Looked Like Spilt Milk*</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">The Toll-Bridge Troll</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Wabi Sabio</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Slippery, Slimy Baby Frogs* (lots of mating information in here, FYI)</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Iron Hans</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Lady Bug, Lady Bug</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Different Like Coco*</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Creepy Things are Scaring Me</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Home Sweet Home*</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">If the Dinosaurs Came Back</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Who Says Women Can’t be Doctors?</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">What is an Athlete?</font></li> <li><font size="4" face="Meiryo">The King’s Stilts*</font></li></ol> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">So, the library dished out their prizes today to a very enthusiastic 3 year old. Here is Little Bird holding her 20 book prize of a Prairie Dog she named Sophia.</font></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRxFp5yRe9HbsJIVcdDkwWYYXOkPIVGYJN0S0f8G83jtLPaXkZLo7d3h1xuhN6ealK6cf5Cfz-cAtBZ0_ryDrvLF4UPeugd3arQ4GzTuqNZgyhdwRJLFyMhJ7hy5gsRyDP-Zu1B-ug_I7/s1600-h/prairiedog%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="prairiedog" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="prairiedog" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Z1qUIK08iEM/Ub83Et5heKI/AAAAAAAACzo/JwbXkug-Vuc/prairiedog_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="325"></a></p> Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-60827945215356828262013-06-14T13:04:00.001-07:002013-06-14T13:04:52.073-07:00Off the Bucket List: Kansas City Vacation<p> </p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Kansas City was meant to be our “easy vacation” compared to DC/New York where we were hardcore drilling through all of the things to do and see.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">I inherited a crazy type A personality with regards to vacationing from my father. I want to be packed with a detailed itinerary a week before we leave. I don’t want to waste time on vacations trying to decide what to do when or searching for a place we can purchase forgotten items. After all my planning still led to a repurchase of everything for Little Bird when her suitcase was stolen in DC, I made a conscious effort to “lighten the hell up” about this trip. We packed the day before. I made a general list of things in the area that looked fun and that was it!</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><strong>Day 1</strong> – We got up. Got around. Loaded up the car after breakfast with my dad and sisters, and then drove at a leisurely pace to Kansas City. When we got there it was almost dinner time, so we needed a place to eat. I used my favorite kid travel website </font><a href="http://family.go.com/travel" target="_blank"><font size="4" face="Meiryo">family.go.com/travel</font></a><font size="4" face="Meiryo">. This website is run by Disney and makes finding food/hotels/attractions for specific age groups pretty easy in most major cities in the USA. I picked “Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant”.</font></p> <p><a href="http://www.fritzskc.com/" target="_blank"><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant</font></a></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">As soon as you get here, you will discover that this restaurant is all about the trains and the food is just a part of it. They serve American food like hamburgers, hotdogs, and grilled cheese with fries, shakes, etc. The food was good, but not amazing. You go to this restaurant because the railways lining the restaurant support train engines that bring your food to a platform above your table, which then lowers. There are trains all over the restaurant including a big engine out front. It was definitely an exciting start to our trip. I’d say kids from infants to probably 6 would really enjoy this restaurant. That said, I’m 26 and I really enjoyed this restaurant. This restaurant is inside Crown Center.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/419158_10101227399024482_1909423913_n.jpg" width="295" height="222"></font></p> <p><a href="http://www.crowncenter.com/" target="_blank"><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Crown Center</font></a></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">This is like a mall for kids. There are lots of kid friendly stores, a kid friendly live theater, fun themed restaurants, and an area where exhibits set up. Currently there was a free Curious George exhibit featuring lots of science activities. If you visit Crown Center and spend $25 at any of the businesses, you get 3 free hours of parking at the parking garage.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><strong>NEW VACATION TRADITION!</strong></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><strong>Day 2</strong> we got up. I was feeling a bit stressed and crazy because we didn’t have a plan. I wanted a plan! Where was the plan?!?! So I told Little Bird that today, Dad was the leader. Every time she asked questions about where to go or what we were doing, I defaulted. Doc decided we were going to Legoland and Sea Life. I relaxed. It was extremely nice to know I wasn’t responsible for decisions. So nice in fact, that we decided Day 3, Little Bird could be the leader….more to come on that.</font></p> <p><a href="http://www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/kansascity/" target="_blank"><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Legoland*</font></a></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">As a parent, this was a waste of money. It was expensive. The rides were too scary for Little Bird. They had a big playland you needed socks for. If you don’t have socks, you can buy them for $5…so just bring socks. Not knowing that there was a sock requirement, we pretty much just played with legos. The novelty of the place was fun, but I don’t know if we’ll go again. Little Bird really liked it, but I feel like our time could have been better spent.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/971459_10101228975295622_1936586627_n.jpg" width="264" height="201"></font></p> <p><a href="http://www.crayolacafe.com/" target="_blank"><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Crayola Café and Store</font></a></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">The Crayola Café and Store located inside Crown Center had a really nice menu. The food was healthier than a lot of other options and all delicious. The décor was fun and you could do some pretty intense coloring while you waited. Good value for the price.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><img style="float: left; display: inline" alt="" align="left" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/1006186_10101228970679872_2101642925_n.jpg" width="230" height="174"></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><img style="float: right; display: inline" alt="" align="right" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/945590_10101228971143942_242242461_n.jpg" width="236" height="181"></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"></font> </p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"></font> </p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"></font> </p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"></font> </p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"></font> </p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"></font> </p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/954879_10101228971463302_1073412284_n.jpg" width="242" height="184"></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"></font> </p> <p><a href="http://www.visitsealife.com/Kansas-city/" target="_blank"><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Sea Life</font></a><font size="4" face="Meiryo">*</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">This aquarium was wonderful! There were lots of “interactive aquariums” where you could walk under or in the middle of the fish. Almost everything was at a level where Little Bird could see it herself. They had a quiz you could complete by scratching off the correct multiple choice answer and exchange for a medal at the end of the aquarium. Doc, Little Bird, and I all really enjoyed it.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/5586_10101228966014222_400053148_n.jpg" width="358" height="271"></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">*If you go to either of these places, buy tickets online before you go or you will have to wait OUTSIDE to go in one family at a time to purchase tickets. We waited 30 minutes outside before we were allowed in the building.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><strong>Day 3</strong> – Little Bird is the boss</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">So we decided to try something out and let Little Bird be the leader. In the morning, we told her she was the leader so she could pick what we did. We could go to the water park or to the science center. She decided we should go to the water park and get cupcakes. So we packed up for the water park! She got to decide that we would stop at the QT to get drinks before we went. She picked which attractions we went to and when at the park. She also got to pick where we ate for lunch. After the waterpark, we were too tired to go eat cupcakes so we just had pizza at Imo’s. She did a great job as leader. </font></p> <p><a href="http://www.schlitterbahn.com/kc/" target="_blank"><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Schlitterbahn Water Park Kansas City</font></a></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Ok, to be honest, it’s about 6 slides and some pools. But the pools are pretty awesome for kids. There were lots of slides and waterfall mushrooms. They had a “lazy river” that pulsed waves out. This was Little Birds favorite and I’m pretty sure we did it 8 times. The food there wasn’t horribly priced and there was plenty of shaded tables for us to sit at. It’s more expensive ($110 for our family for 1 day) but we thought it was a good splurge.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">As the leader, Little Bird got to take the picture.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/184461_10101231214882472_2033373701_n.jpg" width="212" height="282"></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><strong>Day 4</strong> </font></p> <p><a href="http://www.sciencecity.com/" target="_blank"><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Science City</font></a><font size="4" face="Meiryo"> </font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">This was easily my favorite place. There were a lot of hands on activities and it was fun for Doc and I too! There were tons of different themed areas, from space, to optical illusions, to dinosaurs, to wildlife, to trains, to a 3D printer…awesome. Plus they had a Aliens and Androids exhibit that was ridiculously fun for Doc and I. This was one of my favorite places to go. It’s located inside of Union Station.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/971255_10101232680709942_237034580_n.jpg" width="196" height="258"></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">So not the laid back vacation we’d thought about, but still an amazing time. We may have walked in the door exhausted, but Little Bird just smiled and said “Let’s go on another vacation tomorrow!”</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">…guess we’re doing it right.</font></p> Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-31488028075403223122013-06-07T11:56:00.001-07:002013-06-07T11:56:49.103-07:00My Weight Story<p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Ok, so a long long time ago, when I started college, I weighted between 120 and 125lb. I ate healthily and was pretty active, but I was a stick.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dzypzVIz5xU/UbIsvFwYrLI/AAAAAAAACx0/fokwJl7D69M/s1600-h/startingcollege%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><img title="startingcollege" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="startingcollege" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BJHDvBx_pI4/UbIsvsG9CjI/AAAAAAAACx8/SoyYl1HruAI/startingcollege_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="185" height="244"></font></a></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">In college, I gained what I like to call my Freshman 10. I weighed between 130 and 135. I ate pretty crappily, but I was active and felt like I actually looked far healthier than I had before. People didn’t ask me if I had an eating disorder or bug me about being underweight anymore. I liked it.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/233_560946870982_3441_n.jpg" width="222" height="294"></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Then I got pregnant, gained some weight, had a miscarriage, and became immediately pregnant afterwards. I gained 30lb by the day before Evelyn’s birth. 165lbs.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/11153_710850413082_6074557_n.jpg" width="227" height="301"></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">After Little Bird got here, we were a busy family! I was trying to work really hard to finish college and graduate as well as find a job and Doc was in medical school. Around our daughter’s 1st birthday we decided to do p90x to get both of us back in shape. I had managed to get my weight down to about 135-140, but wasn’t as toned as I wanted to be.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">We got 60 days into our 90 day workout challenge, and OOPS! Pregnant again! So I backed off the workouts and just continued to stay active.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">With Rowan, I gained 30 lbs and ended up right at 170 when all 9lb 3oz of him was born.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">I tried to eat healthily, especially since I was pumping while he was in the hospital. But sitting by someone’s bedside for 4 months doesn’t allow you to exercise much. When Rowan was home, I was a full time nurse mom with my daughter to take care of as well. I didn’t sleep, let alone exercise. I couldn’t leave the house to go grocery shopping so I was at the mercy of whatever someone could bring to my house. I hit about 140 and stayed there. I didn’t look bad, but I knew I wasn’t fit and I desperately wanted to get back in really good shape, ALL the way back to my original pre-pregnancy weight.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">SO…I don’t mind my stretch marks, and I apologize if they offend you, but here is the change I saw and wanted to see in my body.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">I started my really serious work in January. I worked out as often as I could and started really watching what I ate. I cut out a lot of extra carbs and tried to up my fruits and vegetables. I drank more water. I started at 137lb. I knew that 135 might be the best I could do, but it took me two months to get there. This was me at 135lb in March.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-v2z3LFw-1Po/UbIswPimozI/AAAAAAAACyE/_epjvVouojE/s1600-h/2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><img title="2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JWN3yaHZnZU/UbIswVTByyI/AAAAAAAACyM/U39SEvqsS4A/2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="325"></font></a></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Then I really ramped it up. I started Les Mills Combat training and found my groove. Weight training added into the cardio really started giving me the toning results I wanted and I FELT strong again. This was me at the beginning of May, and you can tell by my expression that I was thinking “not bad, lady, not bad at all.” This was me at 132.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QeAyPrs5j1k/UbIswwGgA9I/AAAAAAAACyU/Aj3Ojcqwss4/s1600-h/3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><img title="3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="3" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GoC9xLbzYqo/UbIsxcq0jHI/AAAAAAAACyc/N-eDJWTEUcQ/3_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="247" height="335"></font></a></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Since then I’ve been maintaining my healthy foods and exercising. I bike with a trailer to take Little Bird to and from the playground and dance class. I do weight training when I watch TV. I try to get a little cardio in now and then even though it’s harder now that it’s summer and my daughter is home all day. Two weeks ago, I hit it. 130lb. My weight I love and feel healthiest and strongest at. The weight where I love my pictures and the way clothing fits. Normal weight according to BMI for me should be somewhere between 18.5 and 24.9. My current weight puts me at 21.6. I definitely don’t feel like I need to lose anymore! I’m there!</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">It’s been 18 months since I gave birth to Rowan. It’s been a solid 5-6 months of really hard work to lost 7 lbs. I’m happy that I kept at it. I didn’t think I could drop down to 130 again, but I did it healthily and am proud that I stuck to it!</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Just to compare, here is me in 2005 and then me now, 7 years and two 9lb + babies later in 2013.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qj1nEkTX5nE/UbIsxuBXubI/AAAAAAAACyk/xm0ewYt2Yr8/s1600-h/startingcollege%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><img title="startingcollege" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Me in 2005" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VUI96XJoNFE/UbIsyEsQ1II/AAAAAAAACyo/PvtoP8fHbzw/startingcollege_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="245" height="330"></font></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fa8NrpHKPqY/UbIsymQhCSI/AAAAAAAACy0/4XXdmgWniik/s1600-h/3%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><img title="3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="3" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-n7QFe7ALBXI/UbIszKSqLnI/AAAAAAAACy8/kJvAPvxfz64/3_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="247" height="335"></font></a></p> Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-39379640108088047852013-06-05T06:43:00.001-07:002013-06-05T06:43:32.206-07:00Rain, Rain, Go Away<p>Seriously. I have more cabin fever than my daughter.</p> <p>I just want the ground to be dry enough for a blanket and the sky to be quiet enough for an outdoor nap. </p> Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-60834666872645312592013-06-03T06:55:00.001-07:002013-06-03T06:55:51.139-07:00Off the Summer Bucket List: Renaissance Faire<p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaEmI856it227AWo_3Rq6zAA8QxzbB43gAONz_fuZADWOqVPzEVzNcdEX841FsRyh1wHp-UzFN8OB955n2hb0wqR-Y9rX_UmJxIBcYM9okaWcyUX0FLNIMSCQ2QpL3dlPWZ19jMzKDMoK/s1600-h/renfaire%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="Meiryo"><img title="renfaire" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="renfaire" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MyAY9PekI9A/UaygZTsoyiI/AAAAAAAACxk/BewyOUaA10Y/renfaire_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="466" height="360"></font></a></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">The first day of June was a day I’d be really looking forward to.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">In my middle school years, I went every year. My friends and I would dress up and caravan down to Muskogee where we would dance, eat, watch shows, and shop.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Now I’m “an adult” (yeah, I still feel a need to put that in quotes) and my sisters have hit their middle school years. So it seemed only fitting to share the tradition!</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">We ended up with two cars because 9 people would not fit in my mom’s van. Doc drove the other vehicle (and took the picture). The girls who travelled with us are long time family friends. Our families travelled to China together. We have always seen each other at least once a year for China Heritage Camp, but now that my family is back in Tulsa, we get to see more of these kiddos that I’ve always kind of viewed as nieces (except the ones I’m literally a sister to…I view them as sisters).</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"> Some of the girls wanted to dress up, some of them weren’t too sure about it. We arrived early at the Faire and headed in to watch a Juggler and start the Queen’s Quest, where you follow riddle clues and collect the Queen’s hair ribbons which have been scattered around the grounds.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">We saw some really neat goods in tents, smelled some amazing foods. Some of the girls shot bows and arrows at the archery range. All of them got up on stage with the Gypsy Camp and learned a few belly dancing moves. We danced around the May pole, chatted with the Queen, feasted on fresh bread and turkey legs, tried “real” root beer (the girls were not fans), one of the girls was almost drafted as a servant, we saw a 33lb bunny, a giant and beautiful owl, hawks, horses, peacocks, and a parade. </font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">I had a blast. I think the girls did too.</font></p> Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-20644805213821051182013-05-24T07:18:00.001-07:002013-05-24T07:18:18.577-07:00Summer Bucket List 2013<p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">1.) Oklahoma Renaissance Faire</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">2.) Story time in the Park</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">3.) Woolaroc Kid’s Fest</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">4.) Oxley Nature Center Children’s Walk</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">5.) Go get Grandma’s Puppy</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">6.) Kansas City, MO Family vacation</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">7.) Complete Summer Reading Program</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">8.) Midsummer Party</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">9.) Camping in the Rockies</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">10.) Rowan Remembrance Party</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">11.) Bike/Picnic on Riverside Day</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">12.) Take Doc on Adventure Date</font></p> Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-5634878384413652142013-05-24T07:10:00.001-07:002013-05-24T07:10:54.201-07:00Preparing for Summer<p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Today is Little Bird’s last day of school, which means that I am working hard at home doing things I don’t like to do with her at home.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Child Free Preferably Activities</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">1.) Cleaning out child’s room for donations.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Sometimes I like to do things like toys with Little Bird at home. I like her to be a part of choosing toys that we are ready to give other children a chance to play with. Sometimes it can be hard, but she always impresses by making good choices when she is a part of the process. I do NOT like to clean out clothes with her. Ever. If she loves a dress, it doesn’t matter if the sleeves are so tight her arms turn purple, she will insist that it still fits and it’s her favorite and it’s beautiful. So in the last few days, I cleaned out all of her clothing by discarding all of the clothing items that were riddled with holes or worn and donating the clothing that was gently used.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">2.) Cleaning out my bedroom.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Do you remember how much you liked to get into your mom’s shoes/jewelry/clothes/jump on her bed/knock over laundry baskets, ya know, all things that impede the process of producing a clean and neatly reorganized bedroom.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">3.) Cleaning out the study.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Little Bird LOVES coloring on papers she finds out. Not the best idea to sort papers and supplies with her armed with a marker. It’s a swipe and dash to a quiet corner to destroy things I’d like to keep intact and sorted.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo"></font> </p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">My favorite project I’ve worked on this last week was Little Bird’s closet. I resorted her toys, which I do every few months to make sure that things she is interested in and finds challenging are readily accessible and easy to put away. Since we don’t allow TV during daylight hours during the summertime, I want lots of choices available for her. You can only “color” so much.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Meiryo">Tomorrow starts a long, fun summer. There will be some truly rough days ahead with the anniversary of my son’s death coming up faster than I’d like to remember. But it’s also a summer of celebrating the fight. Our family is still together. We have a lot of life ahead of us.</font></p> Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-46230524029762980322013-05-21T08:28:00.001-07:002013-05-21T08:28:13.194-07:00Road Trips this Summer? Learn something handy!<p> </p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Little Bird has been working hard to learn her 50 states at school. She has been learning them in Alphabetical order. She was chanting them in the backseat when I suddenly got super excited about teaching her a song I learned in elementary to help me remember the 50 states in order. So now she’s learning it. She’s about halfway through but we have road trips to work on it this summer! Here’s the song for those interested.</font></p> <p> <div id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:7799af26-4513-44fc-8dec-5ba72de08920" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><div id="365c1393-491c-441d-81a5-077882f96353" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUFeVKeKRQc" target="_new"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-y_mEor9v6oU/UZuSilRx_HI/AAAAAAAACw8/djWJlQcQjXE/videob4bde139a957%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('365c1393-491c-441d-81a5-077882f96353'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/uUFeVKeKRQc?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/uUFeVKeKRQc?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">AND – if you are a super star, here are the states and capitals courtesy of Animaniacs!</font></p> <div id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:df196403-4909-4450-98d8-091f129b0c0d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><div id="4623670f-e7b5-4e7a-a4d6-c8e85a7e5e8d" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSvJ9SN8THE" target="_new"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-V0Jz6mxM9bE/UZuSjAUqkCI/AAAAAAAACxE/bejG4is2fN8/video73e652d00b30%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('4623670f-e7b5-4e7a-a4d6-c8e85a7e5e8d'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/MSvJ9SN8THE?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/MSvJ9SN8THE?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <p>Animaniacs also has a wonderful multiplication song and “Nations of the World” song.</p> Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-30021779481144888792013-05-19T15:29:00.001-07:002013-05-19T15:29:24.630-07:00Some Friendships are Like Tides…<p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">…and you can’t keep them from rolling out no matter how hard you try.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">The older I get the more I treasure friendships. The more I really appreciate the ones that are full and healthy and thriving. The more I am frustrated when friendships start to wane.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">When we see movies, there is a long theme of BFFs. Friends that you grow up with, have houses next to, grow old with, and even have sisterhoods with in your old age (YA YA!). It seems common place to have sleepover and braid your hair, talk about boys and your first kiss, share a limo to prom, go to college with, have them be your maid of honor, end up pregnant together, raise your kids together, retire together, all with the same friend. </font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">That isn’t how my life has been. I remember my first “best friend” from 2nd grade. I remember my next “best friends” from 5th-7th grade when my middle grade years turned me into a kind of self-righteous “can’t be friends with everyone” jerk and I mean-girl broke up with a girl who was a wonderful friend to me. The other one moved.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">I remember 7th-12th grade where I met what I thought were those BFFs. Then I moved to Texas. We went to different colleges. I got married and had kids. Ya know, different directions in life.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">I made a very few good friends in Texas. Those 2 years built a couple of friendships with people I love to see or hear from, despite none of them living nearby.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">I met friends in college. Amazing friends. Some I am still close to. Some have become distant. Some I only see at weddings (PLEASE someone else get married so we can do this again).</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">I have made new friends since. Friends from work. Friends from the heart community. Friends from Doc’s medical school and residency.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">And you know what? I’ll probably see several of those fade out after residency ends too.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">But here’s the amazing thing. Those best friends from 5th-7th grade? We’ve reconnected thanks to Facebook. I’m overjoyed to follow what’s going on in their life and see their beautiful children. The girls I thought were BFFs? We still talk some. I still love hearing from them. The college friends? I like seeing them too. </font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">There is only one person who I expect to be with me forever. One BFF. One person I know that I will take our kids to the park with, and maybe go on vacations with, and sit on the porch when we’re old with. My husband. Everyone else can fade in and out and I’ll be so happy when we’re really clicking and enjoying our friendships, and probably a little sad when we no longer are.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">I don’t look at friends I’ve become distant to over the last year badly. I’ve had a lot of major changes in my life. So have many of them. Sometimes you grow apart. That doesn’t mean anyone did anything wrong. It doesn’t mean you need to find new friends and tell them to screw off because it’s not easy anymore. Sure, it might not be “fixable” right now, but maybe it doesn’t need to be.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Maybe we just need a few years to reconnect, and be excited to follow their life again. Maybe even be a part of it once more someday.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">When the friends you have let you down, when they head in a direction you can’t follow, or you can’t really connect with them, or when things just are so stressful because your relationship is disappointing now, it doesn’t mean you need to cut them out. Maybe it just means you don’t force it.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">It means it’s time to move forward, reconnect with old friends, make some new ones, and let that relationship ease out, so it can come back in later when you won’t disappoint each other. When it’s time.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Some friendships might not rekindle later. And that’s ok. Nothing beautiful can last forever. But that doesn’t mean that the time I’ve had with each of my close friends, whenever we were close in life, doesn’t still bring warmth to my heart when I think about it.</font></p> Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-44357079889570639452013-05-06T12:25:00.001-07:002013-05-06T12:25:31.561-07:00STOP TWISTING YOUR HAIR!<p>My daughter twists her hair when she’s sleepy. She twists her hair in her sleep and as all hair twisters know, when it gets too tightly wrapped, it can tear out. In clumps.</p> <p>Essentially, we’ve had our daughters hair cut several times to try to balance out the clumps of missing hair. What else can you do? She does it in her sleep! I can’t sit by her bed and keep her hand out of her hair…</p> <p>…but I can put a hat on her.</p> <p>Which is exactly what I did. Now she sleeps in a soft knit hat that has animal ears. She plays with the ear on her hat, not her hair, which is by the way, finally growing in.</p> Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-36520420530533350692013-04-23T14:31:00.001-07:002013-04-23T14:31:08.708-07:00Day 5-6: New York City<p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Part of the reason for our trip to the Northeast was a scouting mission. We are approaching the end of Doc’s 7 years of medical training here in Tulsa. We have a year left and it is time to think about the future. Our plans include the possibility of graduate school for me and a desire to live somewhere different for a few years.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">One of the strengths of living in the Northeast is their transit system. Amtrak is awesome. Metro railways are awesome. The prospect of living a life that was not automobile dependent is intriguing.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">So we decided to try it out authentically. We woke up early Thursday. We took the Metro to Union Station. We boarded a train on a platform (and I quelled my impulse to yell Harry Potter lines while dragging Little Bird along the train). Train travel is amazing. You can get up and move around. There is a food car. There is no take off and landing. Also, you don’t have to show up two hours early for your train. In fact, I was shocked at the lack of formality in train travel. We didn’t have to pass through security. We didn’t check our luggage (we loaded it on the train car with us) and the only do random ID checks. This type of travel with a child was fun. Extremely fun.</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEd2AeR_j5ax3MhEFWqRz_CzwL6t3bbyFxbMKRgUX4QFLTX-7-81goH3QwJ7Lug6UIBMbCR1iZw9GjDUZZBA-6EvdfZmdrq84YTtsHGp0UgnbqKNj3GlkjdpQPXVTr45Pg956IzKeAJN4/s1600-h/IMG_2430%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2430" border="0" alt="IMG_2430" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5M2ksfXqJ3M/UXb9SrdCgqI/AAAAAAAACqw/hhtHO7DiQKg/IMG_2430_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="367" height="284"></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Once we arrived at Penn Station in New York (which was icky…compared to Grand Central), we took the Subway to our hotel in Times Square. Luggage on the Subway in NYC is NOT luggage on the Metro in DC. We will take cabs with luggage in the future, despite the extra cost.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">We met our friend, Amanda, at our hotel and spent the rest of the day with her, and later her husband, Pat.</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnF3gio1NJLGwhBj_MDigB8D3Q4pE4Ja9ZTY_Pc-KU_5Q-Xpjy73IlUNk7jL0BOXM79NKHpT0gOSN6psp33XKaIRpSpl46hQIpO19K5Mfs9ijSEfPA2aRxVT95jG-JhocpYn3X1iyuiuRt/s1600-h/IMG_8818%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8818" border="0" alt="IMG_8818" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SJh0OhkO76s/UXb9TxSb7VI/AAAAAAAACrA/KtWRhwQ1FRk/IMG_8818_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></font></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYjfBhbXMctf_gFmPers02wFp8l4Ov8kZcQzO3V8pXuR3OSvDppgYuQl3aENh1my7KRxS79P6nI-jxftTooDoqVVKOVjQYq_PtatKCEa8iAyLljrvLnemkwdsYsEp0t7aYEdk70Qx2Dmi/s1600-h/IMG_8811%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYSIyAbv9flFFu-aVSJlN7hhgboOcqAQ8W7wdHrUP4cxiWtSRxX2d2iN7ypxF5R3KbbVxenkwC1t-gzfzbrqdn_IFWsrktM2n-p-w2GF-S4qkXYz-rPgb1hLZ8_heG88Alo5Wbak1LWP-/s1600-h/IMG_8816%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8816" border="0" alt="IMG_8816" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vDwoV7YakCw/UXb9VPukXBI/AAAAAAAACrY/1Atea_7K6Vs/IMG_8816_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></font></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3_H3fuaH9WJZUGNsntWWlLeAFeRYt4mBQun2sRWxZhexucDtvfZb76Vb3mCNV8NubLIwMn7Khz0Vwlbq6lItKYATk1aHEw1B_gMcvrAbNUElZgVzStg_ZyxDp5AGDIuV2qT3_yVeAU6f/s1600-h/IMG_8811%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8811" border="0" alt="IMG_8811" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETBwm0f9AUHF8g51jlCLdQB9KCk9VuBpT8X7w7qdwJcBIcoJeN68sRhZ8DkPFjmsrfmUJp0TX5_23HZHjvjabwI1omOR2UPhuC6AtRQ5EO5KoZs0lpLvCIJYdPWLyvo6PftGC5-3cRcZT/?imgmax=800" width="396" height="274"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Suffice it to say, Little Bird and Amanda are now #1 best friends.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Let me say, that I am extremely happy we went to New York last fall without our daughter. Even though we had an amazing guide, we were far more comfortable in the city with her since we knew our way around a bit better than first timers.</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26yxhLwpWab8xaGiRRirwlQuY7QojsDaNqe3PWdiiVTgHRTfqbzFS0vl4Z4UZEKbl18SJeB_InC8O8xj0Q18_KubDguqhP_Nj-yPZD18i8K6M7kgsoFVthBsu5uPTD1uquYH5akb8UglW/s1600-h/IMG_2431%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2431" border="0" alt="IMG_2431" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UsnSpAUZczo/UXb9XafkoOI/AAAAAAAACr0/ZaF5zt0KVy8/IMG_2431_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="239" height="324"></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">We had to eat some New York Pizza.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQuQ-sP4wlABltyc8nMJT81ZOo0nfX3WJTzbQeRw_daHEICG-233DOJFrzj5yuhghvoh3v45RCQvqexibEevyQ6JtC9zgdUvDZnfW-uCU49D6D96ebcs7ScvtcjDHutqpWTEyqFrtJHwu/s1600-h/IMG_2432%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2432" border="0" alt="IMG_2432" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ns2984ecDEM/UXb9YQFGN8I/AAAAAAAACsE/wMKfDyvElNk/IMG_2432_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="402" height="311"></font></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-X0eHxaZqbuQ/UXb9Y18bQLI/AAAAAAAACsM/YyPjnJ7y3YQ/s1600-h/IMG_8771%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8771" border="0" alt="IMG_8771" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7ihWDm6LNnE/UXb9ZY8Zi5I/AAAAAAAACsU/XtVo_v6wnuE/IMG_8771_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></font></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4S1DzRcTZmvhmMEbdgTd6nS33FIW7ie8BwxvlXjLG73Re2aYhnu38Q_k-0E9wh8Re8zEJoPlJam-IAFhaBnLtM_NVzYmXNyBhdsuUokI4klLkfmcz26-18RZ3B8rB9JdvbJ2Xi7MZEHk/s1600-h/IMG_8767%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8767" border="0" alt="IMG_8767" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0WPIm_XmLFM/UXb9aYlrRuI/AAAAAAAACsk/ue7JUiB3Tyg/IMG_8767_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Central Park</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRwd5hfC1tHicLWo_mEQDEO1d7lpIBTZ6nEllXh_fHI8buKezt-gVXE3rX0WW-asGKHDE-Poti5M1_sawJYqF2vWrEHFSxbjiArABW0emXhV6LV2H1TsO8BfP1YaaIJKq9tPOIknYqwu5I/s1600-h/IMG_8774%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8774" border="0" alt="IMG_8774" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aVTrDfpacEA/UXb9beF1rDI/AAAAAAAACs0/LmACu5KFTZU/IMG_8774_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="377" height="260"></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohicSehMmX4BEE8scL_Z1dAjztTPCinn8pwAr2R8s6jqce5QSqvMV4WkdCCAF7x23tdp5FCiMQzQUZ4hys5YkGeKZyTzWIGNMMjAITOY7SHCvn_ENYV7pPMnIko47ONdqDHSa6RLbbCpD/s1600-h/IMG_8783%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8783" border="0" alt="IMG_8783" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Q_Yq2DnRB-Y/UXb9cYs8y4I/AAAAAAAACtE/2MVQp_aUVzI/IMG_8783_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="378" height="261"></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4OW49t232UyDHkl5V1_NtfDip60tZrF1Zl_5fKk5pRQHp-_IwdSuxxnaGnTTZBYQ7t_LedemR3lJLGrisKXL8dwIfmNRNwJNEFMpFvOgSBMvbmwIG04gf6uETXC61YJG02QucPNsHUNX/s1600-h/IMG_8789%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8789" border="0" alt="IMG_8789" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-beeDQBtQ4GU/UXb9dnSU8VI/AAAAAAAACtU/bQcqS4gVbc4/IMG_8789_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="368" height="254"></font></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNokDwP_8s5I2whng2BJvJMDUtwu2hc4rZp4wgp0t-DDDflT95DA-MZIVwuQbn3wkz8oF2iZtxoG0MbTZOqu1LOX-NXXorNJ8yuIZ8dYRkZEr0wdAWVPWhglMBsrVyaytwCVoHvzrUbGKm/s1600-h/IMG_8800%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8800" border="0" alt="IMG_8800" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XmADuE2ryMM/UXb9eajCX-I/AAAAAAAACtk/M7LZtOjeVtg/IMG_8800_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="242" height="368"></font></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPW9uy_kRSCSUz9G_asEUeNcPKaMN7aAAmOx2-_PMUia2GHa4cn6uoItIlW4g2D3TRWkk99R4CAqi16uJtSz3G8FPB3hoOd8UiEAavB5LPRKXCHeTZnL5nnH3wwBj-YTYhjBnvCmF6PEuy/s1600-h/IMG_2439%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2439" border="0" alt="IMG_2439" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Tt1J7rkPBYw/UXb9fWwxSnI/AAAAAAAACt0/6q2YR1dwC_I/IMG_2439_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Disney Store at Times Square</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivH-0CRc-e6FRTATm3yAEMOYdumZh_QhkNTN5ZpXAg0326tCoQs0Zs-XyGEN7QKZg6fhM_Pgl7XcWRahSaK89BLHM2oyKXpq08k4EiO1jpkjUVDPCvWLMeK-PkwPIRbVtxOgzwOz08c6Wo/s1600-h/IMG_2443%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2443" border="0" alt="IMG_2443" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aM5PvUBZBO4/UXb9gAQ64dI/AAAAAAAACuE/tLdIhemmj9s/IMG_2443_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="352"></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwo27JyPqH0DN80fJrd5q6PBYew50XajBcqItGlVpXpOPTf0-rjc7XyLVsilIujHg2VHK0VVVFyKAKDYJSzCMgC-6kuUUWRgjHs9BYu2P1UMP_N1Mjzay4is2HB23rQJAS8W6GaMHKMga/s1600-h/IMG_2449%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2449" border="0" alt="IMG_2449" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rr56N_c55Io/UXb9g05AJ_I/AAAAAAAACuU/MXkGrxMQALk/IMG_2449_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" height="337"></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">I mentioned that Little Bird and Amanda are BFFs, right?</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIekJIaT1xsLih0JcKTLT4oLIug_UkDTXXzae_FBPuhfbubIvt2kO2-rqv0RDx3w4sgB8C3PcG0GRmpygY9O-SfLVsqBbYXPE_PrTmNE1XkVKOk7puCckhi_bv7S2m66iFkDS_AQ_jYFK0/s1600-h/IMG_2447%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2447" border="0" alt="IMG_2447" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lVuEcD0_OMI/UXb9h4cICbI/AAAAAAAACuk/Cj_GkMeCjAg/IMG_2447_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="273" height="370"></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BAyORtfpdZTBZ8N7JQBMiRukcTfau6D2R2Y85f1omPQ2Ez88SFvIyLdW6eMLpP87RyfJYPwT21cN4QV0VNZYdOcntwhAe8pKqe239wOXGrukjJGjH7UfnPMp-_HiVryqgv9Q2MFflkKo/s1600-h/IMG_2450%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2450" border="0" alt="IMG_2450" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fydYRshHGAM/UXb9jDt8XHI/AAAAAAAACu0/_YFtqke3ndo/IMG_2450_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></font></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnAch3nm82eIENl4QdTKpU_REwy_Umq40mljOlhmiWtq4zAba9UuF2Resvcie3gdkJmBbmHtgV5k68fBOn5x1-ZHbFEeE47lfynbMf9iE17JJWiAT_sd0O7Jn0b-9rmvHzS3pbltSWUvn/s1600-h/IMG_8856%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8856" border="0" alt="IMG_8856" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Q3AUZj1W3vg/UXb9kBin4EI/AAAAAAAACvE/txKLWxmyVVc/IMG_8856_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpXPSkYyHXzzf3H5dS3bckEQGLRLr4YdpOnOjUN7lRfxPoImytz3NEo6rpvuv40ylwb4ekLYfB53DBgl5AiY6ZwC5VEtvQYQB6a2S99-y_Lm3bYPJb5XVHmaikMvhypmJ5U7csovePhbE/s1600-h/IMG_2449%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Walking to Rockefeller Center and the NBC Store</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1S92V4eWlR8LTWLWFeMFkkfTg1hYiVtcnm-Iyo1YHIjH7UnPfiIWZND_K57oDety_1vg7fkZwyyfYU6-Mc86ufGLgehaSCb_Gd1hiIh8YdJnBFOJ51Sp-au6733cI2boUvrKmmBLvLxdG/s1600-h/IMG_8891%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8891" border="0" alt="IMG_8891" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yAPu3iZ-898/UXb9lq3QuGI/AAAAAAAACvY/1CgWjQ9uey4/IMG_8891_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="426" height="310"></font></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3ftTXjDOn_j6Zd5AgurOLbmcpQAcgY-b-z1hh3vU-cPB-BN_Fp74EZyUOx1SN4BG1wzjJ-kSCeLNBkjrK4Wz7Rv8CZDGCSNE_Lqf840Hp4cu4lcZCZtvq0p71AJ4F8NtTz_YkhsRRsGL/s1600-h/IMG_2454%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2454" border="0" alt="IMG_2454" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wZksKBa-Xew/UXb9m42TXAI/AAAAAAAACvo/afH8o2P8dq8/IMG_2454_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="333"></font></a></p> Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3095738425923213725.post-83614068107394611242013-04-23T12:33:00.001-07:002013-04-23T12:33:43.732-07:00Day 3 and 4: Washington DC, cont.<p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">If you haven’t taken a Double Decker bus tour in a major city before, I highly recommend it. We bought a 48 hour pass to use a hop on/off tour with Big Bus tours. You ride on the top of the bus where you can get a good view and the buses stop at each of the major attractions to let people on and off. Buses run about every 20 minutes, so you generally do not have to wait very long for the next bus. We spent our last two days in D.C. utilizing this tour service to get around and to see some of the sites that are a bit “out of the way”.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CeaxPTgsteI/UXbhghPlu3I/AAAAAAAACiQ/NNOTgYWVlNc/s1600-h/IMG_8500%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CeaxPTgsteI/UXbhghPlu3I/AAAAAAAACiY/HvSbRliVWv4/s1600-h/IMG_8500%25255B1%25255D%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8500" border="0" alt="IMG_8500" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kFDLls8xFL0/UXbhhlk00RI/AAAAAAAACic/on3r1ttmpA0/IMG_8500%25255B1%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="312"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Union Station</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbaN3kHmXz4296rVr2GIKEKISMeX-x0x6ErXWZ_e11a4sSk92NGn-pDE7p4qnJ9RK_LbUDpldS61GWyJgS3UTOfgRG6hkzwxKamYYoyNKqYCG42UB3awrs01HXgSiM_5vi5rmbKQf5d0j/s1600-h/IMG_8523%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQozf9zgZlAOM76S50eBHNlHHjNbQeecSr4lsK-aEr3LdF5CYO2PwT6vDaP1IeEgyW0_8HfgtC2kee6cI1V6f5kbfiow3EB6s35dvSo6mGdARd1fQWb2WMW_qRaRTGDO4oeEMEPgxtCik/s1600-h/IMG_8523%25255B1%25255D%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8523" border="0" alt="IMG_8523" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Xbq-3QntcW0/UXbhi3ffsiI/AAAAAAAACiw/drPRis4Szdw/IMG_8523%25255B1%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="297"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">The Capital Building</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYUaPUT5HPpeFiWjYAUDglAwlui4fSR56wevMnXYHBQvW4TfZKTFnp2MzdpsG-3KrEX4tnugaF-qsSu2yHF7refxk_nLtPlEui5TUWIqm8wtjqsKIGVxMPbfaUyapC8LtVrMpa9pA3Vj1/s1600-h/IMG_8520%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6x6BPle90bjQdU3ZXSeLNl34MO-OseGw_0eGJAUaARQgzy22a2ZsgUUN_SJG8CKNyklhEE8rRbuF0U0ZTqu5Q-_ooMiJgVattkWAtTdCRlnh6bMjMwu4fl5_LtyVnE7Y3b86bSfy7zS7d/s1600-h/IMG_8520%25255B1%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8520" border="0" alt="IMG_8520" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nTXFexUtS60/UXbhkAxLR-I/AAAAAAAACjE/hHIgFdQJugk/IMG_8520%25255B1%25255D_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="230"></a></font></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLa1LLo8V0_ImibRgalbsvbJXCZ6jd-NWFp2M2q0yC631s32WYWIYw22RHMY7pS8VgGeFDYXK1YFnY_XVUsajfLDEaQfRsFIRkl4EKJaBewdJgarMmMsIAZr8ROCrhoPCmJhHb5NoL6-aj/s1600-h/IMG_8626%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8626" border="0" alt="IMG_8626" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iOPod8jkcaQ/UXbhlA7q7HI/AAAAAAAACjU/fBqSWi-VH0k/IMG_8626_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">The Bus</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFyxnNvgBYkqfOecjpv264zCMy824eHvknd8jWZSmn_JQkhLW3EpWc_pqdYaTRfosTkt1vcOjHrPbryM8gT9q8uJRniQ5wfW1cnojT70IcJdH7Q6p53jAzUUGv2oELG_dkMSuLbAWfdmY/s1600-h/IMG_8525%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICwXj6DQbP9_XhS-OgmAC_iJHKeSujg-exTaIQqo-xuweVTrMa3hbgd5lHKW_f2EgmuzU3p749RexEZNUMqD5yPE-bitdIMs0-fhkry9n99HAXUOtSjNBhYS4B8Zac9Cm62QZ-bSibM64/s1600-h/IMG_8525%25255B1%25255D%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8525" border="0" alt="IMG_8525" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qJ7LOWQh80M/UXbhmQeQbMI/AAAAAAAACjo/uIrGmf3Z944/IMG_8525%25255B1%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="434" height="300"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Statues of Generals are everywhere.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHNujBG2aIZzR69PKEZwAiUZau44p0AJK_XBCy3XiANuGIjhPILvVNgkaad_FN17HUjg3r8k5sBD5m9wjluFAoSw4VMXWxuD_Xw9-X9fEi3duCXdW42i_f8dxyw5Ck2Do4zLbkk5lSXYI/s1600-h/IMG_8531%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOlL8Cg4_rGLOzur4VHIY6YyHroRA-_BWCeocNGgN0RTHfztevOPmSdlbTSEEcwysEZULUa5ZwB5fPe98pO9u9TP_Jgn4PL655A2kxBfER3AHQDjHsRlTEuwTAKG4IpyBsIhFEGmhSWKG/s1600-h/IMG_8531%25255B1%25255D%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8531" border="0" alt="IMG_8531" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3CHTDwzZ2ns/UXbhnvqAmwI/AAAAAAAACj8/Lf2IuQb2VCk/IMG_8531%25255B1%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="449" height="312"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kAuB_ZZiBtc/UXbhoM5bFNI/AAAAAAAACkE/6XYA0OvB3qw/s1600-h/IMG_8544%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kAuB_ZZiBtc/UXbhoM5bFNI/AAAAAAAACkM/w-8qiTY-SbI/s1600-h/IMG_8544%25255B1%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8544" border="0" alt="IMG_8544" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-82d0D74b2Vs/UXbho53_jzI/AAAAAAAACkQ/J1GWQ--FBOw/IMG_8544%25255B1%25255D_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="284" height="213"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuBluA7CDuCQWsDd8c_9BBHzOOqhKMnR4ijllim7nDgCQlyBIxY-5x8Y-N3wzo9ARBPzVp6HpU_bFBbhp2wNgZZcnFXZ4KocMIItq_BR7fWW6F1VcUoyU1D7uTtDrTXaaAirbICvaVpyX/s1600-h/IMG_8555%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseYQr4810b3EnC8DZFNQWYQKg46o6NgVX4fOCXOB3SN80OShyphenhyphen2seY7nMolGerCCclaLVxq0xVSpt5rrhRzaNPr2Zw_Evlw4SNRzUmaSOLvUqaqqNFe_rdfzbtO0AgwUEfGhVkvYHRfVsm/s1600-h/IMG_8555%25255B1%25255D%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8555" border="0" alt="IMG_8555" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IOiWXrJGs4o/UXbhqH-xG3I/AAAAAAAACkk/5gAG5nhnTuM/IMG_8555%25255B1%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="226" height="340"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3os0V-JWlJg/UXbhq6TTCxI/AAAAAAAACks/nkOgbbwpSkE/s1600-h/IMG_8562%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3os0V-JWlJg/UXbhq6TTCxI/AAAAAAAACk0/Oo4BmWLCYgc/s1600-h/IMG_8562%25255B1%25255D%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8562" border="0" alt="IMG_8562" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-C19EzRNho9A/UXbhsk1oEeI/AAAAAAAACk4/Jecest_A7Sw/IMG_8562%25255B1%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="284" height="195"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0F-DsW0zkBA/UXbhtJctI5I/AAAAAAAAClA/pZkA6_c42xQ/s1600-h/IMG_8566%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0F-DsW0zkBA/UXbhtJctI5I/AAAAAAAAClA/pZkA6_c42xQ/s1600-h/IMG_8566%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0F-DsW0zkBA/UXbhtJctI5I/AAAAAAAAClI/ESyCIaJWUpE/s1600-h/IMG_8566%25255B1%25255D%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8566" border="0" alt="IMG_8566" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nEPOamQTL1g/UXbhuTbXYMI/AAAAAAAAClM/GQBk0TaUD0M/IMG_8566%25255B1%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="251"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-N53H0pHaoUA/UXbhu9bI-zI/AAAAAAAAClU/A6TqB7Ikzx8/s1600-h/IMG_8611%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-N53H0pHaoUA/UXbhu9bI-zI/AAAAAAAAClc/LvzJNIfavYg/s1600-h/IMG_8611%25255B1%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8611" border="0" alt="IMG_8611" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NA2gg1qcyeI/UXbhvkUza5I/AAAAAAAAClg/_5Hg3jFWtSc/IMG_8611%25255B1%25255D_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="451" height="322"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">The Jefferson Memorial</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8ebEWzoLOSU/UXbhwA1HypI/AAAAAAAAClo/Zhk-le9iKwU/s1600-h/IMG_8613%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8ebEWzoLOSU/UXbhwA1HypI/AAAAAAAAClw/r0_G7ekQzzA/s1600-h/IMG_8613%25255B1%25255D%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8613" border="0" alt="IMG_8613" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uncYGRjF_fA/UXbhxDL_X8I/AAAAAAAACl0/nJL3oGBQ6oM/IMG_8613%25255B1%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="202" height="307"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Inside the Jefferson Memorial</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOFjYss2d9y06Bq-vMnesg6Y1J1wOcS6snGkrtGAemQN7JFfQ4frHayIVW361OBr23o2P3l9_1-If400c1qP_9c8JSf0c4I5BqpXFpRnUEHDxCBQ780h_vVeost287eA9QQLzdubbUtEJ/s1600-h/IMG_8628%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-i50eNSS0RMmkaDabKB-0gjcmEXl_98j7Pl1w0w_xucZdM76HDlguJWgjwAk1eKUwNsSMMXdjct2nm_Jxfa6fLvXL_FU9LNZrnB6fN_Rdw_vDYbpf2LGPTVVuyz_cb0PIyQWxEe7p00w/s1600-h/IMG_8628%25255B1%25255D%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8628" border="0" alt="IMG_8628" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-elP5vexLsXs/UXbhykINrNI/AAAAAAAACmI/MZGQWRIRacE/IMG_8628%25255B1%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="408" height="283"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">FDR Memorial, full of waterfalls</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWffNjZ_TCtZc53Y97nboikUd3cpnBx3MNkTwiGTVyvL5y856Mw4saL3jWTAyANYWYdbmsPFpfV2GmIsh8fx9d5r9jFVAg2rcx9rmwKUyJPecIvHhWgVL3khC3BMPknr8HObxKgEvtZ1J8/s1600-h/IMG_8648%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGdNx3glWJNcnHyBUdsgzVGZcHIdpm1iWe2gISqmeWrSqFtSc-kARALi2lz2JWOi2Hmd-uggNos2R4K0k5rkP4kVkIznuZjfd7zZZ8zktxhy2D3drAu8vtIVmwEU4O2rRZmqowTtvcI7s/s1600-h/IMG_8648%25255B1%25255D%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8648" border="0" alt="IMG_8648" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Eu017t-SzGY/UXbh0JT6F3I/AAAAAAAACmc/-PRZdAq2xoE/IMG_8648%25255B1%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="386" height="264"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDua6-ePnc8oOKiQGqTldSQ4vaCVV2hIV0CLXbmMc9d1NSOkxpN1UDag4WWqfqoE4jIZ4Dtl8ARj5-RU1PtCTUBvGERjBG1GB7lDOdLP4VKvzAWS9xNpF9c5I_nQESgerSbxR7ZsLmr5JF/s1600-h/IMG_8665%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOV0lS0Af_PhiuXETRrrQuL8Zcw3oW3JtxsQpMxAOLG_vob78wVEz2PvHNgeKZQuhxiToprHzpU1cNSLMySVkV3-fZwBMl3CMvV22nxiMwaC8GaOjZ9Vj8KOenAf2Id-tIgjRB3xwG8766/s1600-h/IMG_8665%25255B1%25255D%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8665" border="0" alt="IMG_8665" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6cXOmSgg0IQ/UXbh1ulAesI/AAAAAAAACmw/xvVKsNpZ47k/IMG_8665%25255B1%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="381" height="263"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWASapf5KQPcU_TJ16BNmIXCdlLvmVC29AtXSORdrv-VBteuJkAae_KKE7jk_xQ_Ij22CMyyjiFp6vmpOcpSO2aTE7XuqvtAjncMjEA0cNL5pTKlyh4-KH8q6UIF6fWGGaryFBQEhXSvUC/s1600-h/IMG_8644%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8644" border="0" alt="IMG_8644" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Pw2ljuOivp0/UXbh2TCYN7I/AAAAAAAACnA/tqNoznKYBKQ/IMG_8644_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></font></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUQ7kJHOOKkctBxxr-X3leukb5mifgVUfIzahxtmtZPmZlTiN3hmLdsIIbLsODQ8Woq3jBuBJ0Gpolr2h7CHRGOu4b3SaXgc_r199ohsj5s3TdX4MWhVpY8npvnaWGAEMqBl9RhFJpcJZ/s1600-h/IMG_8639%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8639" border="0" alt="IMG_8639" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ndCdaXkVf3Y/UXbh3C55f8I/AAAAAAAACnQ/63w-Oe-1Mbs/IMG_8639_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Cherry Blossoms Everywhere</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4bznbD4TefguQlgkAsLedv4cvtuHttm9jrjNJzu8f8qlfYszQFEkvwEb5ykPOUnmTARwmIceAmAcyC3ou3e4emmEzahG9jg0chz42SyauPZSX2kcCcT09DVCw4zh7QdhO8d3YTCrMHrY/s1600-h/IMG_2392%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qMF0w0v6IMmp_c5RqQ12I3QqHgVeGXRUXx2jQB3cx9lAy7oYjNgUfpFc5IVLXxWI-Or9O9PYR3SIWEltqIYr_Z576djABEGB-chel-1JptRsuoFWXYqwC4PVSMkUEVAyFST5xjxwOOGt/s1600-h/IMG_2392%25255B1%25255D%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2392" border="0" alt="IMG_2392" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xQz_yn6mWB4/UXbh4jnm96I/AAAAAAAACnk/x-Vf_OoLc0M/IMG_2392%25255B1%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="289" height="391"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">We asked Little Bird to stand like the statue of Martin Luther King, Jr. Art is open to interpretation right?</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEEq4U_gajkKlgevpp62D1_R9xAvyk6AIUAiYDcy7WxUa4BS1vWExKihEDhWYLpmw4Fl33fPEyNx5xTutQbJ3VSAIR1soCfZpHIZE7QNatATMq8Dwdeh8wZIANibD6Nkk32LSHjyAdJep/s1600-h/IMG_8737%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hqDUUWtLq2k/UXbh5KE2tlI/AAAAAAAACn0/_cqxbGfdoEk/s1600-h/IMG_8737%25255B1%25255D%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8737" border="0" alt="IMG_8737" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zuDxre51EBM/UXbh6MYKzyI/AAAAAAAACn4/8KdRfgt5yj8/IMG_8737%25255B1%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="262"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">The White House from the South Lawn</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCjolpUDWLFxUJy_PSRInLkFLWHckfsU8_ijfMOtIFSKkMfhpxEr7irzuwBhWI_vzFnMat_W26RW9KwXw6RTsKa9uu0An0yS44T1N0BPzECQXczODWHcdFmQ__8bej95BgfPb0TqLNjlH/s1600-h/IMG_2409%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFpzv5fVSzcfJICJc9cxAfQsGhmpoxYx_41N8qv8WvNQz0EFyi8baBR0xXmY6zIZ5CNIfzEaN-0TtPPqjS7JLaJ5wyc5WZtWmx_XipRLTNOijm8zmVVaguOqRPtoJFGrz37wsH1UU-jYr/s1600-h/IMG_2409%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2409" border="0" alt="IMG_2409" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-l7F0wd5DUw4/UXbh7S4QMKI/AAAAAAAACoM/qdTI4FQHGZ0/IMG_2409_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="260" height="352"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Snack time is important.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4l3U6cSZJQC0PdlttHJs-InqUp1fNQDO7ZHntPGUS3K0qG1utCRyFeJup1GiEijNMmI4BybpVRGoSoFqJEodLpYY80QZHaSSmcb1crEwK709OXHp-N95SLPAOiBiSapilVrFHaEmfwGd/s1600-h/IMG_8743%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAZMkxZGnpLe754XO2SGREimSlK6ydNoDjGQf156-wd_1zvvxaQuLEg-qDh7Lr-WZI9yQxz4BuQUh6t-bUiESBC6LAtFXQd_6jDtQYio_3NphK_NqlW7ijxst8AyU0S8IegMt86Ok3K18/s1600-h/IMG_8743%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8743" border="0" alt="IMG_8743" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BOO016nnkzU/UXbh83_w3oI/AAAAAAAACog/CsSOvzHYW7A/IMG_8743_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="351" height="243"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">Ford’s Theater, and not pictured is “Lincoln’s Waffles” across the street.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pne3JIRhB8E/UXbh9Hj7NII/AAAAAAAACoo/d7vM3tNP_Ow/s1600-h/IMG_8751%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pne3JIRhB8E/UXbh9Hj7NII/AAAAAAAACow/SCU99_k-VL4/s1600-h/IMG_8751%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8751" border="0" alt="IMG_8751" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1k4EnC7OmiQ/UXbh-I0ldYI/AAAAAAAACo0/P-jt2L9fRgY/IMG_8751_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="276"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">The National Cathedral. This is the one place I wish we’d hopped off the bus to see, but we were all too tired by the time we got there.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5wkZ98tHqIU/UXbh-mTDdOI/AAAAAAAACo8/qUTPGtIGcm4/s1600-h/IMG_2417%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5wkZ98tHqIU/UXbh-mTDdOI/AAAAAAAACpE/w1hFsr_91DQ/s1600-h/IMG_2417%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2417" border="0" alt="IMG_2417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dH37InJLwHJ1G-yQ7D2rzJrjO3u_tuYnMID-N6amiBARfnhc4ynONc2T9lbSFXtE_aE5qxCyVbMmDpZtRyBIJqQWfN_UlDEdYW1LI4ufurS4ojMSEO-B3v20AfMLBssTCpLAZ88npthY/?imgmax=800" width="250" height="339"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">The National Zoo</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ndWnmUMM4GI/UXbiAYhe3YI/AAAAAAAACpQ/LDtDt5EIuO0/s1600-h/IMG_2420%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ndWnmUMM4GI/UXbiAYhe3YI/AAAAAAAACpY/KxUgjgVr8aM/s1600-h/IMG_2420%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2420" border="0" alt="IMG_2420" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xsWR1QcN6hU/UXbiBZVXgTI/AAAAAAAACpc/WPdvkWgpTH8/IMG_2420_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="461"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">The Pandas</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7-ggkK5S5JM/UXbiBx1oIbI/AAAAAAAACpk/6-7Re1Vv9-k/s1600-h/IMG_2423%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7-ggkK5S5JM/UXbiBx1oIbI/AAAAAAAACps/Y8gCNUXjblU/s1600-h/IMG_2423%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2423" border="0" alt="IMG_2423" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QnONxzSdBzo/UXbiC_57SuI/AAAAAAAACpw/jwosZjKidfs/IMG_2423_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="403" height="312"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3StvRuWX6Kc/UXbiDfQo4EI/AAAAAAAACp4/DAsWCFwsZh0/s1600-h/IMG_2425%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3StvRuWX6Kc/UXbiDfQo4EI/AAAAAAAACqA/I3bXTSzMr2E/s1600-h/IMG_2425%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2425" border="0" alt="IMG_2425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKD_oJsxSZaYVGpCA_G7nRA8rJCIdwUV9qew-rpdJRtaLm2BdZEmq1uKd8kRvXqDnEYioL60_JyCt4krEkBDsQM5mN_ipGiPnMIuSmtbjL352VRTwN3wLeDW0xBUoxJkYDL_r_k9tQj15/?imgmax=800" width="273" height="370"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">The Original Georgetown Cupcakes, where TLC’s DC Cupcake is filmed.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4Fi6yU9Q9SQdjlZ0N4rBzso5_PaZC7Fu88NzWx-AMQYeSJHh-ZJOPzR773qHLuqfjOrzBMUjiFyAOhkx8dw9Oesu0fihgt6AN7bVO_ABgVF0wC-PXuyd7ImQx81w7U3e502mSKSx9OI7/s1600-h/IMG_8762%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font size="4" face="MV Boli"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2m9Ca0sLLZVge7ghXGujhXhZrTQxcxzaYyofa9QmnHl2PRfE5gNQzcjFpAsP_MvjvVhyphenhyphen9U3-Er7WSYNRm1cvYpEjsQpj0iGwspd8a7_CZxwasaMpJi38KqUCxmIeArGT6CQxT1SUEUNB/s1600-h/IMG_8762%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_8762" border="0" alt="IMG_8762" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2_KpKrj6V_k/UXbiFrAjJRI/AAAAAAAACqY/_VinwVDtnvo/IMG_8762_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="422" height="291"></a></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" face="MV Boli">And yes, this is how we ended each day.</font></p> Elle Fowlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06087578826371082842noreply@blogger.com0