tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53369316389668465472024-03-13T21:21:27.763-07:00Life, Experience NeededMy version of life & motherhoodAmanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.comBlogger381125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-69278728600703763192013-04-18T23:14:00.000-07:002013-04-18T23:14:03.541-07:00Looking Through The Eyes Of A 4-Year OldOne of the great things about our new place is having a yard the kids can play in anytime. It's been so nice to have them play outside for hours and come in dirty and smiling.<br />
<br />
However, we need some outside toys. The Easter Bunny was nice enough to bring some outdoor toys but it hasn't been enough to keep Lynden occupied - Alyssa's quite content to dig in the dirt, run up and down the small hill, throw a ball, chase the ball (sometimes I'm shocked as to how much <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/06/who-needs-puppy.html">toddlers and puppies have in common</a>), or just blow bubbles. Lynden, on the other hand, needs more instructions on what to do. <br />
<br />
The other day it was nice out and the forecast was calling for rain the next day so I kicked the kids out to go and play. Every 5 minutes Lynden was asking if he could come in. After saying "no! Go play outside!" repeatedly I came up with an idea.<br />
<br />
I took the memory card out of my camera and told Lynden to go take some pictures (without a memory card it only stores 17 pictures). Here are some of his photos he took<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vheZd4MNaAJIxYUcITX5Gkw862vl0qGvDONq-491OGiWFB1Tw_adsFwl4-Jn2tU-HaD6acIaBrR_ZIxZUPp2-X3qMRhK104_0dy6LzsgdnBk7n_RlqcZzoEK7u-6frKbQgNFZkq61oE_/s1600/P4170001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vheZd4MNaAJIxYUcITX5Gkw862vl0qGvDONq-491OGiWFB1Tw_adsFwl4-Jn2tU-HaD6acIaBrR_ZIxZUPp2-X3qMRhK104_0dy6LzsgdnBk7n_RlqcZzoEK7u-6frKbQgNFZkq61oE_/s320/P4170001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hi Alyssa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXQRTjlwPa1OuVj4Cze22WutRFNxavuUlwn8HMheedzLaVhIUMtyraVXY8HEs3oqwqDiVkqL4zyNIXR3b0vt0B91tGHUzzwcVmDnIa8cHlmGLf8dkTmW-sx1ks-QyXA7hXe6yaWgJqRQr/s1600/P4170002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXQRTjlwPa1OuVj4Cze22WutRFNxavuUlwn8HMheedzLaVhIUMtyraVXY8HEs3oqwqDiVkqL4zyNIXR3b0vt0B91tGHUzzwcVmDnIa8cHlmGLf8dkTmW-sx1ks-QyXA7hXe6yaWgJqRQr/s320/P4170002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spring has sprung</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Wq3PdgTM2sYtsiymn8y3RRN8ymrU9k8QBmg0g1LY5ULRMaT5YoLVKwFAeW5S8zkoO8bKE-oznc8IUtnHGNp49UZ515JgmL37LQxuy1g6rmZu2kgkAqGBvuGp5rGeXDEAAdDuLvtkLrLk/s1600/P4170003+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Wq3PdgTM2sYtsiymn8y3RRN8ymrU9k8QBmg0g1LY5ULRMaT5YoLVKwFAeW5S8zkoO8bKE-oznc8IUtnHGNp49UZ515JgmL37LQxuy1g6rmZu2kgkAqGBvuGp5rGeXDEAAdDuLvtkLrLk/s320/P4170003+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">reminds me of a picture<br />you can see it <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2013/01/wordless-wednesday-bowling-shoes.html">here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNaEICLwqQx0dfyEdhyphenhyphenseAuf6kHTuPkGkoy1gL9sAYuM9aK_MbDJXrK2iAGTrZ3Q_sgySp0rP8kyD4seTvIYZqrVPldL9XZowvhPUUiz84x3fXc41_jNOqZYC_kOzWTqfADeylV6amvN0/s1600/P4170004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNaEICLwqQx0dfyEdhyphenhyphenseAuf6kHTuPkGkoy1gL9sAYuM9aK_MbDJXrK2iAGTrZ3Q_sgySp0rP8kyD4seTvIYZqrVPldL9XZowvhPUUiz84x3fXc41_jNOqZYC_kOzWTqfADeylV6amvN0/s320/P4170004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">grass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnph_Er57yuz2KDlPbZc7AgkXatwQup2U0G_kVjR8vWZCi3fsn0JsNWRw-fOx0WMjCU9gVll4nE24Wmb-NG_iM9aGdoCMdMr4czAT_1peeJ7Ssx7uyqoita50PI2BFmXkxcbu3ARr6zjB/s1600/P4170006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnph_Er57yuz2KDlPbZc7AgkXatwQup2U0G_kVjR8vWZCi3fsn0JsNWRw-fOx0WMjCU9gVll4nE24Wmb-NG_iM9aGdoCMdMr4czAT_1peeJ7Ssx7uyqoita50PI2BFmXkxcbu3ARr6zjB/s320/P4170006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">part of our rock garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-iPJvlP5rS5x3VVkoA-jwvk1dfK-ZuyCM_I4emreJnWHoyRQX_2tErNI1K26CXjIDhmWX0bNB6PbO-BtKQ4ShyLTHS2jzQaOk7XmSiKWAi7LEeqxE5k7tO9rV78VXbEbZ1P3vFhhr3j3/s1600/P4170007+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-iPJvlP5rS5x3VVkoA-jwvk1dfK-ZuyCM_I4emreJnWHoyRQX_2tErNI1K26CXjIDhmWX0bNB6PbO-BtKQ4ShyLTHS2jzQaOk7XmSiKWAi7LEeqxE5k7tO9rV78VXbEbZ1P3vFhhr3j3/s320/P4170007+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the clouds are coming</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EHtk_vVMwt3FJ1Hbog7mqwl-ApflMd6gs-F_gdlnA0fbg5UCSbDmBfnIU6a-wp4tRawaGoLHAPg5bPcH1zgcvjent0D021HJFQIw045dcdUHsH3dESic6AJIBQJA1mGv2Lvjx7xToA-5/s1600/P4170011+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EHtk_vVMwt3FJ1Hbog7mqwl-ApflMd6gs-F_gdlnA0fbg5UCSbDmBfnIU6a-wp4tRawaGoLHAPg5bPcH1zgcvjent0D021HJFQIw045dcdUHsH3dESic6AJIBQJA1mGv2Lvjx7xToA-5/s320/P4170011+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">it's kind of artsy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhSlW3JCQJAdqSBtz_1swidyAtkEcNmys7wp9-qAmPdHCwqsOj6rrI-mrjceizpZp_lgPaHr3shtB5yT5hsqzE8o9u_K3oIzQrdjnJM6zCHb2NQVQhewUBzcP-oZzuLU7-K4amEWEm0K6/s1600/P4170014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhSlW3JCQJAdqSBtz_1swidyAtkEcNmys7wp9-qAmPdHCwqsOj6rrI-mrjceizpZp_lgPaHr3shtB5yT5hsqzE8o9u_K3oIzQrdjnJM6zCHb2NQVQhewUBzcP-oZzuLU7-K4amEWEm0K6/s320/P4170014.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on the go</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWK-5waBduBfYEXcPbAt5Y8y_pXWRnLBqly9u-yIrI-5xYsHvU_a_UBkVwvAyA_fmJ6NHMQkVN7PMXdtlCquknaGHY5DhTglwnbBJJpCJt5ZGjMd_sl24O__Mnp7d6kodD1lhaRV0dpOj/s1600/P4170004+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWK-5waBduBfYEXcPbAt5Y8y_pXWRnLBqly9u-yIrI-5xYsHvU_a_UBkVwvAyA_fmJ6NHMQkVN7PMXdtlCquknaGHY5DhTglwnbBJJpCJt5ZGjMd_sl24O__Mnp7d6kodD1lhaRV0dpOj/s320/P4170004+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm adding this picture because I still don't know what this is:<br />Kale???</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I liked that he was excited to go outside (and take pictures). I told him he could take pictures of anything he wanted and it was interesting to see what he thought was worth taking a picture. Granted I also have a few pictures of shirts, hands, foreheads, blurs, etc, but it was nice to see him have fun. Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-33857389461941283232013-04-17T10:07:00.000-07:002013-04-17T10:07:06.130-07:00Potty Training: Round 2<br />
I had written an entire post late last week about Alyssa's potty training. I complained about how she just was not getting it; she would pee on the potty but would sit there for 10 minutes first or she would sit there and have nothing happen only to pee somewhere else and not care that she was wet. We didn't know how she was doing with pooping because we would recognize the poop face and run her to the potty. I bitched about reading the same books over and over and over again. I was tired of being stuck inside (and it was a beautiful week) and even though I had taken the week off of work to do it I was missing Lynden's karate classes. I was bummed that everyone said "girls are easier than boys" and my girl wasn't. <br />
<br />
Then Saturday night rolled around.<br />
<br />
Alyssa woke during the night crying, which is not all that uncommon since she wants to sleep in our bed. Danny went in and she said "pee", so he took her to the bathroom and she went and her pull up was dry. My 27 month old girl woke during the night to tell us she had to pee! This was Huge!<br />
<br />
She followed it up with her first accident free day on Sunday. <br />
<br />
She woke from her nap the next day crying and said "poo". It was the first time she had told us she had to poo.<br />
<br />
Since then she's figured it out.<br />
<br />
Yesterday we had a partial accident; of course the messy kind. She said she had to poo but as I was pulling down her pants and lifting her onto the potty she was going. The bathroom got a pretty good cleaning after that. <br />
<br />
However, she was bummed about not getting her treat (she was getting 1 Smartie after peeing and 1 Easter treat after pooping). I explained that she did tell mommy she had to go but we missed the potty so no treat. About 5 minutes later she said "poo" so we went back and she went again. She got her treat. <br />
<br />
Today she told me she had to go before going. I think we've hit success (it took 7 days). I know there are going to be accidents but she's got it. <br />
<br />
As she's gotten better we've started cutting back on the pee rewards. If she asks for a Smartie I give her one, if she forgets (most of the time) I "forget" too. If accidents start to become a regular occurrence we will use a sticker chart with escalating rewards since we know she can do it. <br />
<br />
And it's been nice to have her in panties, she loves them, instead of having her bare bum all the time. It just makes life easier. <br />
<br />
I am so proud of Alyssa. <br />
<br />
And I can honestly say that I agree, girls are easier to potty train than boys. <br />
<br />
I'll leave you with a few pictures we had done the day before Alyssa started potty training <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/540691_10152760107590457_119714238_n.jpg" width="232" /> <img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/563045_10152760104495457_175704729_n.jpg" width="224" /></div>
Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-50279295386383323412013-04-08T08:45:00.002-07:002013-04-08T08:45:49.804-07:00English Is Hard!Part of Lynden's karate homework is learning <a href="http://www.dolchword.net/dolch-alphabetical-word-list.html">Dolsch Words</a> (which are the 220 most frequently found words in children's books, excluding nouns, that commonly cannot be sounded out). There are 220 words on his list and for every 20 he learns he gets a stripe on his belt. Lynden has learned 40+ words, which, to us, is incredible at 4 1/2 years old. <br />
<br />
Because of these words we have him ready some stage 1 books and he's able to sound out so many more words because of it. We're quite impressed. <br />
<br />
However, in teaching him English I've come to realize how hard it is. Sure, I speak fluent English and can write and understand it but I'm almost 30 and it's all second nature to me now (granted, I know I am not grammatically correct at all times). <br />
<br />
First, vowels... what the heck?!?!?!? We've taught him a-e-i-o-u-sometimes y are vowels, which really just means they're a bunch of sneaky bastards. They can sounds like a whole bunch of different letters, assuming that make any sounds at all. Silent e... do we really need you?<br />
<br />
C and K, two evil letters that can sounds exactly alike with no rules we can teach our preschooler. Sure, there's a hard C and a soft C, but can you tell me why "catch" starts with a C but "ketchup" starts with a K? <br />
<br />
H - another silly letter. It's all relative to what the letter preceding it. <br />
<br />
And then you get into past tense. Sure, most verbs end with "d" or "ed" but then you get the "exceptions". Tell and told; many times when Lynden was younger we would hear Lynden said "mommy, I already telled you". Do and did; again, I can still hear Lynden saying "I doed (read: dude) it already". <br />
<br />
Thankfully we haven't had to deal with many "exceptions"<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/235805730460997791/"><img class="pinImage" height="400" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/736x/6c/ba/7c/6cba7c0d3934c1aabefd3d9ec9392278.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto; padding: 40px 0px;" width="327" /></a>
</div>
<br />
Come on? Can anyone really explain why these exceptions are they way they are? I'm willing to bet the majority of us can't remember the "rules" to most of vocabulary. <br />
<br />
With the Internet and texting as involved in our lives as they are the grammar and spelling skills of most people have gone down the toilet. A lot of people can't tell you the difference between "there", "their" and "they're" or when to use "then" vs "than" and most people have no idea how to properly use punctuation, if they use it at all. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/251146116690725729/"><img class="pinImage" height="400" src="http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/736x/ca/c3/63/cac3635bfa5cedbc00e28b4f44f3d41c.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto; padding: 40px 0px;" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I wish our future generations much luck; it's hard enough for my generation and we were taught English and all the rules (I even took an English course in college so it's slightly fresher in my head... even though it was almost 10 years ago) without the distraction of short hand texts. <br />
<br />
However, with all things considered, we are happy with Lynden's learning. He's super eager to learn this words, which helps greatly. When he's playing he takes his words and sits in his room and practices. He has this toy that sounds out letters and he sounds them out on there if he can't remember or sound out the word. He's also taken to teaching Alyssa his words (she knows a few).<br /><br />Not many parents can boast having a child not in <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2013/02/the-kindergarten-decision.html">kindergarten</a> yet who can read simple stories. If it wasn't for his <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2013/02/wordless-wednesday-karate-kids.html">karate</a> I don't know that we would have thought to teach him words before school started. Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-25607731441270579012013-04-03T07:42:00.000-07:002013-04-03T07:42:10.594-07:00Wordless Wednesday: EasterI know, I know... I'm still not back. I'm getting there. To tie you over in the mean time here are some Easter pictures<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8vwQKvCwdZF6-k2DzREOKQGz_eyG7pbK5DnwnoF8MyiDe-Rj7WntLK0B9uYrad_DFM8jlDojt5Rz2EfoIPLehBW0cNdEZ5GsldxaEjqGkrI1Ch9gK_u2vlDMO58Ir4EvdpWTABtVMwZh/s1600/P3306234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8vwQKvCwdZF6-k2DzREOKQGz_eyG7pbK5DnwnoF8MyiDe-Rj7WntLK0B9uYrad_DFM8jlDojt5Rz2EfoIPLehBW0cNdEZ5GsldxaEjqGkrI1Ch9gK_u2vlDMO58Ir4EvdpWTABtVMwZh/s320/P3306234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIfQeGR-Fdr8ZGzfBAss6xoVcTvFdxsyRa4bmASqzKbSPrLtBvpm2PTBpYtCHJ_x3bYOmhCgHCzENcKOkkDc7OiAKudvM2wy4a-XYDE_U_RthGwRgl0yjLgej_pY65JAJfiXYoWYYNius/s1600/P3316242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIfQeGR-Fdr8ZGzfBAss6xoVcTvFdxsyRa4bmASqzKbSPrLtBvpm2PTBpYtCHJ_x3bYOmhCgHCzENcKOkkDc7OiAKudvM2wy4a-XYDE_U_RthGwRgl0yjLgej_pY65JAJfiXYoWYYNius/s320/P3316242.JPG" width="258" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uO1VFiUkjvveT4oqGx5iCEeyaAFB9GY_SY1xgAeL58cDzB91hI2ZndlzQKtdExZLtI3ngFGl0Fwrln2Fz8Wk3QSyhMiWC4XoV-rxlCE_b4M0I64SAqnEGEZnwlx7R5xQTWX0wek6MUM1/s1600/P3316244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uO1VFiUkjvveT4oqGx5iCEeyaAFB9GY_SY1xgAeL58cDzB91hI2ZndlzQKtdExZLtI3ngFGl0Fwrln2Fz8Wk3QSyhMiWC4XoV-rxlCE_b4M0I64SAqnEGEZnwlx7R5xQTWX0wek6MUM1/s320/P3316244.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LuPXSmKqqap4Tq9p6noqov89PpBp2ovtqBqaMz_hMcaFKO7YaEtd5ET9GWcqggHl-Bm6ijv7AsFB-MpzaQODdD34RxW5X1DoOsUnBNK925rkVh94w0FJCyltQO-I2PkNr8Q1OIRHASoH/s1600/P4016246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LuPXSmKqqap4Tq9p6noqov89PpBp2ovtqBqaMz_hMcaFKO7YaEtd5ET9GWcqggHl-Bm6ijv7AsFB-MpzaQODdD34RxW5X1DoOsUnBNK925rkVh94w0FJCyltQO-I2PkNr8Q1OIRHASoH/s320/P4016246.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1a_l3xZY_MZKDKMInyP8JmpsSJORzErD-jzMXSJw3T5njMAkNo1Vlz452K4bwZ2JVCxyWZtGNMS7bYyd6PQwRQngQnN35SU9yEYwvild6-W9vbTGgk3FoEUETpugNHkXCiGcEZ1-_rBU/s1600/P4016251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1a_l3xZY_MZKDKMInyP8JmpsSJORzErD-jzMXSJw3T5njMAkNo1Vlz452K4bwZ2JVCxyWZtGNMS7bYyd6PQwRQngQnN35SU9yEYwvild6-W9vbTGgk3FoEUETpugNHkXCiGcEZ1-_rBU/s320/P4016251.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKOxnMCEvIqEBWjm7tljZu_YAR_nWwmt8RFFMUfM34duEbXNYvueVvhOut2UnHCFmRDuWgxCBEI82iVyNs8WhBNr99rHtr1L11mdKB58yLY4svr24SDH3xPbFLVUHBHHbePHPoKyCdBhb/s1600/P4016250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKOxnMCEvIqEBWjm7tljZu_YAR_nWwmt8RFFMUfM34duEbXNYvueVvhOut2UnHCFmRDuWgxCBEI82iVyNs8WhBNr99rHtr1L11mdKB58yLY4svr24SDH3xPbFLVUHBHHbePHPoKyCdBhb/s320/P4016250.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzP6RIIhkf_EVsuXxtPxTIfmcX7uaNt2ZSHHoMlERAywqNqcMOJa8umQYS3X5vc6HIi2Ihz91rB9E8ormlqSI2nCapC3DFyDjZecpC1Fl-Lxdd0d8al3cPiCDJUMRZqWUfMs8sMkefYOyx/s1600/P4016254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzP6RIIhkf_EVsuXxtPxTIfmcX7uaNt2ZSHHoMlERAywqNqcMOJa8umQYS3X5vc6HIi2Ihz91rB9E8ormlqSI2nCapC3DFyDjZecpC1Fl-Lxdd0d8al3cPiCDJUMRZqWUfMs8sMkefYOyx/s320/P4016254.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcDmxDJ82AY_YlZuLapvO5FpDpNuKnxj4Ws0ScNeBdmWxf_v-EEKXb34336ERJZ8nrlBLm3bZ0-i_4uBx15weV0GNIJFsmlxww3b2plVNCgFlBkvno5WYNUih1LeYB3zFuoAyxSOBpPDj/s1600/P4016253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcDmxDJ82AY_YlZuLapvO5FpDpNuKnxj4Ws0ScNeBdmWxf_v-EEKXb34336ERJZ8nrlBLm3bZ0-i_4uBx15weV0GNIJFsmlxww3b2plVNCgFlBkvno5WYNUih1LeYB3zFuoAyxSOBpPDj/s320/P4016253.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOwxcjQ5oH1AntpVlEtSSxcJOcAG6-ELz4e4kRLCh17pqLFP2qn0p0C0OwyDOSriRvJCNldatgtVOQOghBuP9ZxqyJI4gFXB15Kz5ZuQiQ5W6R5DjzVPQXQSeQCiU9An2ym3etAF88xU3/s1600/P4016259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOwxcjQ5oH1AntpVlEtSSxcJOcAG6-ELz4e4kRLCh17pqLFP2qn0p0C0OwyDOSriRvJCNldatgtVOQOghBuP9ZxqyJI4gFXB15Kz5ZuQiQ5W6R5DjzVPQXQSeQCiU9An2ym3etAF88xU3/s320/P4016259.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoeeRgg6c8S3VJRArTevQT6ZqFTNXKlpFhv8HOkrRDoqUPm7SLBbaDAleAX12siba5MIHwFZNDKuPsDHoINWsDzjslNW2sz4CaSIgoau3HQWckpyPJTSApS3uTMS6ckCKB5ophk0QPmqR/s1600/P4016268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoeeRgg6c8S3VJRArTevQT6ZqFTNXKlpFhv8HOkrRDoqUPm7SLBbaDAleAX12siba5MIHwFZNDKuPsDHoINWsDzjslNW2sz4CaSIgoau3HQWckpyPJTSApS3uTMS6ckCKB5ophk0QPmqR/s320/P4016268.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCXHETTX1VkkOkm5dpXi-ifSTcIZm-u7qu8plpSvTBeRQqpkvei_6bbTXvuJ1oeYYPM5m2tfrfPKVwA-l09gh1cX8aoW5F_get3U0s435KsMnZ7h5mvmnNNqzq-QYwJCJykaUQ8kmiNOg/s1600/P4016270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCXHETTX1VkkOkm5dpXi-ifSTcIZm-u7qu8plpSvTBeRQqpkvei_6bbTXvuJ1oeYYPM5m2tfrfPKVwA-l09gh1cX8aoW5F_get3U0s435KsMnZ7h5mvmnNNqzq-QYwJCJykaUQ8kmiNOg/s320/P4016270.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElPOgNklducEq6r_c5ETtAKis5yvbG7i56apXmbrCWRX_beBCiNjk2EwlaQ-yJNm3FpwLnmPT8VG8tCwCPXrxPN1iN2Y8hDwM7XGE4_kl4XzWr1RsjU58EZujDo4TkPR7MvUfJqHQoU5d/s1600/P4016271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElPOgNklducEq6r_c5ETtAKis5yvbG7i56apXmbrCWRX_beBCiNjk2EwlaQ-yJNm3FpwLnmPT8VG8tCwCPXrxPN1iN2Y8hDwM7XGE4_kl4XzWr1RsjU58EZujDo4TkPR7MvUfJqHQoU5d/s320/P4016271.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgW37z1HSrNOhUU2dffVEU-hxaaIbSSnpvHDzAsxF_RA4Q2i0O7Goh2QjvfcQsLDHJECWHHqwQ75iUQFKGIVju2Lxqe2e3EdKDETTgfdLejh6DnD7a8EQglXqXXzFo9uBSqi-Qsb4uuQz/s1600/P4016272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgW37z1HSrNOhUU2dffVEU-hxaaIbSSnpvHDzAsxF_RA4Q2i0O7Goh2QjvfcQsLDHJECWHHqwQ75iUQFKGIVju2Lxqe2e3EdKDETTgfdLejh6DnD7a8EQglXqXXzFo9uBSqi-Qsb4uuQz/s320/P4016272.JPG" width="205" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJguRzsPyzBhcHu42NgZMPmfoIz-vEID749a8Yd-kCNGpR5vNKUtCkRO_WcxZOYbjIDaN8a4EzTkutSEX9Ciuw6055pbT3GJoNIsO7EiyTEIhBxE2vxp-6iY3R9itfPIjpoQhOG3m-pZs_/s1600/P4016274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJguRzsPyzBhcHu42NgZMPmfoIz-vEID749a8Yd-kCNGpR5vNKUtCkRO_WcxZOYbjIDaN8a4EzTkutSEX9Ciuw6055pbT3GJoNIsO7EiyTEIhBxE2vxp-6iY3R9itfPIjpoQhOG3m-pZs_/s320/P4016274.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphT9sL20217XRxqyvJLXnRwTORIHGQYNq8r8ogGMrtMtqJKIyM4mDBQ_Laffv_qhwWJgzz_WMPmXf7UbxUmKtSs0uuheUpYjvPWYRuaUa2eBOqLvsfZnybSOeP4nvPL8Pd2XmRXrlgJSj/s1600/P4016276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphT9sL20217XRxqyvJLXnRwTORIHGQYNq8r8ogGMrtMtqJKIyM4mDBQ_Laffv_qhwWJgzz_WMPmXf7UbxUmKtSs0uuheUpYjvPWYRuaUa2eBOqLvsfZnybSOeP4nvPL8Pd2XmRXrlgJSj/s320/P4016276.JPG" width="276" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hLOdmQ8p9rVu1nmGg9XELrFK4DQMXvXcj44bpyBgZln8-uc2B7-Nc-bnP4MQAF0uzZiYgX7Cj-l63VaitS3bTybMUifunOvSgbsICHk1jnJmCNyJwCydQjdP54K4seQoU1IpAIRhn0hO/s1600/P4016278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hLOdmQ8p9rVu1nmGg9XELrFK4DQMXvXcj44bpyBgZln8-uc2B7-Nc-bnP4MQAF0uzZiYgX7Cj-l63VaitS3bTybMUifunOvSgbsICHk1jnJmCNyJwCydQjdP54K4seQoU1IpAIRhn0hO/s320/P4016278.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Hope everyone had a good EasterAmanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-31995436697087867722013-03-05T11:30:00.002-08:002013-03-05T11:30:58.616-08:00I'm Back... Sort Of....Ok, I totally lied. I said I'd be back at the end of last week... not so much. Even as I write this post all I can think of are the gazillion of things I still need and want to get done. <br />
<br />
It has been a crazy few weeks (I know I've been AWOL for almost 2 months) but we have moved and settled into our new place quite well. We're still tweaking here and there but the bulk of things are done. <br />
<br />
Even though we're close to the same square footage we had in our previous place it's in a totally different layout and somehow we needed more furniture. We've added a sectional sofa, a 52" TV (it's in Danny's "man cave"), another kitchen table, and 4 stools (which, to be fair, we could have used in the last place). <br />
<br />
We're currently figuring out the little details of getting a deep freeze and dining hutch (little detail being how do we pick them up?). <br />
<br />
It's been fun trying to find new homes for everything; although I'm a little annoyed with the kitchen as a whole. All the shelves (in cupboards, the fridge, and pantry) are all <em>just</em> too short to fit in standard things (milk cartons, cereal boxes, bottle of oil). It also has 2 awkward cupboards, you know the ones where there's a standard cupboard door on it but it's about twice as long with no way to get to the items in the back? I've managed to set it up fairly well (I've only rearranged everything twice so far) but once we get a hutch then it'll all change again. <br />
<br />
I've also had a chance to go through things and purge a lot. Now I get to organize the rest, which will be SO much easier with my huge walk in closet. I've already invested in boxes for the kids rooms to get their closets under control and I've decided to do a lower hanging bar in their closets so they can access it and have the normal bar and shelf for storage. With both their bedrooms being smaller we have to use the space wisely. <br />
<br />
Thank goodness for Pinterest (and Ikea) for ideas. It's helped already and once we start focusing our attention to the yard it'll help even more. <br />
<br />
Speaking of the yard, it's one of the highlights of our new place. At the last house we had a Massive yard but because we were on the top floor the kids had to go down a steep stairs and I couldn't see it from inside the house. Now we not only have a yard that is level but it can be seen from the house, and between the kitchen and yard is an enclosed sun deck. <br />
<br />
It's been hectic but it has been completely worth it. We've been here less than 2 weeks and I've noticed a change in everyone. I'm a lot less stressed (the light helps a lot), Danny's loving his "man cave", and the kids are adjusting well. They love being able to go into the yard or when it's raining head out to the sun deck (we've put a lot of their bigger toys out there). So helpful during our rainy season (9 months of the year... I joke... it's only 8) because it'll be like they're outside but staying dry, which should help with them getting antsy from being inside so much. <br />
<br />
So, while I have a few posts prewritten, I may still be sporadic while I'm in the final stages of setting up house. I'm hoping the bigger things are done by next weekend when we have our "come check out our new digs" party. Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-35875668436888090542013-02-20T08:54:00.001-08:002013-02-20T08:54:20.615-08:00Wordless Wednesday: Karate Kids<div style="text-align: left;">
So, I know this is "Wordless Wednesday" but I should explain a bit. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
As I've mentioned before Lynden started karate last month (he LOVES it). Alyssa is right into it as well; when Lynden practices at home she's right there with him, punching, kicking, bowing, etc. During classes she pushes a chair right up to the counter so she can watch Everything Lynden does. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A few classes ago Alyssa was the centre of attention at one of her brother's classes when she was participating in the viewing area. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Last night, during Lynden's class, the kids were practicing palm thrusts and kneeing and one student yelled "kias" loudly and the sensei commented on what a great "kia" that was. So, all the kids started hollering "kia" while beating up poor Bob (the dummy). </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Alyssa, not to be left out, also called out"kia", a few times, loudly. The sensei was impressed with her that he awarded her with her own belt. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
To say she was thrilled was an understatement. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/427268_10151498219553428_2077726221_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">her belt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/525512_10151498220158428_2104876246_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"KIA!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/644388_10151498220508428_1031775892_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is an old picture<br />you can tell by Lynden's hair</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/14051_10151498218378428_1125826839_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my karate kids</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-26721999722434032332013-02-13T08:37:00.001-08:002013-02-13T08:37:19.288-08:00The Kindergarten DecisionDanny and I went back and forth about registering Lynden for French Immersion or sticking to English. <br />
<br />
There's a lot more perks to being in French Immersion but we were worried about us not speaking any french, about hearing about how a lot of French Immersion students have a hard time with basic English skills (granted, I think most of us aren't grammatically correct 90% of the time), and how Lynden would adjust to it. <br />
<br />
Another issue we had was with our move we change catchment areas for our French Immersion school, which is beyond ridiculous since the one that's not in our area is 1.5 blocks from our house and the school we could get into is 14 blocks from our house. The school in our area does not have the best reputation. While talking to many different people I heard nothing good about our catchment school - it's over populated, in a not-so-great-area, and has a lot of problem children. <br />
<br />
The Friday before French Immersion registration started I asked Danny, for the umpteenth time, what direction he was leaning.<br />
<br />
We didn't leave it until the last minute at all.<br />
<br />
After more discussion we decided to put our name on the French Immersion waiting list for our desired school (the one next to our new place) at our catchment school (you have to register there). We were expecting a waiting list at our catchment school since I was not willing to camp out the night before. <br />
<br />
Registration day I headed to the school 2 hours after registration started. When I arrived there was no line up, not even another parent registering their child, so I was quite shocked when I was told there were still spots left and we were guaranteed a spot (at our undesired school). <br />
<br />
After speaking to the administrator I enrolled him (listing the other school as our #1 pick; we're on the waiting list but I'm not holding my breath for this year). <br />
<br />
So, Lynden is enrolled in French Immersion. We will do Kindergarten at our catchment school and come next spring we can put in a transfer request for Grade 1, at which point there are more classes and we will most likely get in. <br />
<br />
It will be so much nicer being able to walk to and from his school every day than having to a) take public transit every day, twice a day or b) having to buy a second car in a rush (we want to find the right vehicle for us this time). <br />
<br />
That's how we decided on French Immersion; basically left it up to the universe. If he was suppose to get in he would. If we didn't we would have happily enrolled him in English (at the other school within 2 blocks from out new place). <br />
Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-52952515570422621752013-01-25T10:01:00.000-08:002013-01-25T10:01:13.636-08:00Isn't That Pinteresting - Moving EditionNow that we're moving I've been looking to Pinterest for ideas on furniture ideas. We have an extra room that we can use as a media room and a small dining area we can put out table, but that leaves a large hole in the kitchen. <br />
<br />
Of course you get quite sidetracked while looking for things on Pinterest, but here are some ideas I like for our new place<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pinned Image" height="200" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/upload/168181367306590992_1attsB0Y_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643410085973/">mason jar toothbrush holder</a><br />
easy to clean</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pinned Image" height="320" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/3799980906526838_yjG6bkz2_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643409340643/">crate coffee table</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pinned Image" height="320" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/34128909647136063_99UDZGvT_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643409530574/">storage from bookcases</a><br />
We have a space for this, <br />
but I think it'd be better in a kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pinned Image" height="320" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache0.pinterest.com/upload/462041242990317284_4LZAR9pe_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643409985007/">Picture Wall</a><br />
Love this!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pinned Image" height="320" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/23221754298743085_iW37TySL_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643410001141/">Pallet Sofa</a><br />
Love, but it would take up too much room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pinned Image" height="320" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec6.pinterest.com/upload/280841726732669439_8dC6ESSs_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643410019620/">Laundry Room</a><br />
The shelf and rods are great</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pinned Image" height="320" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/102668066476867685_kTFXEW7f_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643410085966/">Night Stand</a><br />
Put a power bar in the drawer<br />
Declutters the top</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pinned Image" height="320" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/upload/277393658268879381_gYAuV0FW_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643408695980/">Ruler Growth Chart</a><br />
I WANT this</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pinned Image" height="293" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec6.pinterest.com/upload/108086459777982769_ZFhwKp28_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643410110961/">Shelves for cars</a><br />
Love the idea but it could cause fights with the kids<br />
I might just do one for Lynden's Cars cars</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pinned Image" height="320" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec6.pinterest.com/upload/253609022736717765_BhCFDooB_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643409409022/">Toy Storage</a><br />
So clean and crisp looking</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pinned Image" height="320" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec6.pinterest.com/upload/75153887502251102_xRTZ1L7A_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="198" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643409056712/">Hanging Shelves</a><br />
Would be perfect for a little girl<br />
who is all about her babies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pinned Image" height="640" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/205828645439725993_NdnvqTfa_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="316" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643408671895/">Closet Ideas</a><br />
The kids have smaller rooms<br />
so we have to plan better for storage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pinned Image" height="180" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/upload/259308891016546545_W6pt0jTt_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643410085970/">Outdoor Race Track</a><br />
PERFECT for Lynden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My <u>ALL</u> time favourite and I am making Danny makes this for me, just a bit shorter to go in our kitchen. This way the kids can play playdoh, paint, crafts, etc. And when we do our holiday dinners we have extra seating for the kids or to put food on. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Pinned Image" height="640" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/43839796343493567_kTMJIke7_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="212" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643410009026/">Play Table</a><br />
LOVE everything about this</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So many ideas and I'm super anxious to move in to see how much room we actually have to do some of these things. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://pinterest.com/amanda_imbery/"><img alt="Follow Me on Pinterest" height="28" src="http://passets-lt.pinterest.com/images/about/buttons/follow-me-on-pinterest-button.png" width="169" /></a>Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-56587639754336089042013-01-24T10:35:00.000-08:002013-01-24T10:35:13.652-08:00Different Thoughts All In One PostI've been a bad blogger and I'm going to continue to be for the next bit. We're moving at the end of next month so we're getting ready to start packing (I need my lists don't you know). However, there have been things I've wanted to blog about, just not enough time (or energy). I'm going to give you the cole's notes version instead<br />
<br />
**We've enrolled Lynden in karate. Danny got on this band wagon a few weeks ago and after watching a class and meeting with the sensei twice Lynden officially starts on Thursday. He's pretty excited and it's nice to see him excited about starting something new. <br />
<br />
**Speaking of starting something new, Danny and I have been back-and-forth and then back-and-forth again on Kindergarten. English or French Immersion? We cannot decide. Every time I think I've decided on one I get swayed the other way again. It's not like I'm waiting until the last minute or anything (French Immersion enrollment is Monday at 7:30). What did you decide? Why? I need all the help I can get.<br />
<br />
**Alyssa's vocabulary continues to astound me. Every day she's picking up more and more. My current favourite is she calls Lynden "nee-nee" and Alyssa "aha", and when you tell Lynden to say sorry she says "sorry nee nee". Even Lynden's started to tell her she's not the one who needs to say sorry, but it's still adorable. <br />
<br />
**Alyssa is getting closer and closer to starting potty training. The only things stopping me from doing it now is her fear of sitting on the potty and the move next month. We've decided to start in April. <br />
<br />
**We went and saw Cirque Du Solei's Amaluna last week. We had Fantastic seats and the show was incredible. It's amazing how talented the performers are. The swimmer was unbelievable, the tight rope walkers are crazy (I can barely walk on solid ground with heels on, forget on a tight rope), the leaping men we're spectacular, and that was the most intense stick braiding. Ever. Seriously. If you get a chance to go, go!<br />
<br />
**Lynden's been practicing his letters lately. That kid astounds me; we hadn't worked on them since before Christmas and he's just about mastered them. We just need to work on his patience (we had a small meltdown over them not being perfect. I never thought I'd see a kid so upset about having to take a break from writing)<br />
<br />
** My <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2013/01/dear-orchid.html">orchid </a>bloomed. I was quite relieved to see a flower and not some egg sack hatch. <br />
Seriously though, does anyone know what I should be doing with it?<br />
<br />
**Danny and I went to school with a guy, Kurtis, who has 2 kids, around our kids ages. He's an incredibly talented artist and he's recently started a Tumblr page about the funny things his kids say. If you want a good chuckle, check outs <a href="http://kurtisfindlay.tumblr.com/">Kids, Eh?</a>. It's so nice to see it's not just my kids (my favourite has to be punching the poop out - Lynden tells us it's eating, which is why it takes so long).<br />
<br />
Other than that, I've got nothing. It's been pretty laid back, which is nice because at some point I am going to have to start going through things, purging, packing, and cleaning. So, please forgive me while I post sporadically over the next 5-6 weeks. Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-60984240066544647352013-01-23T09:57:00.001-08:002013-01-23T09:57:48.274-08:00Wordless Wednesday: Bowling ShoesLynden had his monthly field trip with his preschool. This month was bowling.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9jhfIg5lnhCGYK0XCI6PTT9ydV2RZWdHjgr-lq0KAG6LQhjc3P5VwSXfwO8jjLZelKrOGRetcqwWvKTEIdcIKImTm96kkap8yss9ueYLuvyVG-Drnqtq8Gp5YJHZdnWadAOFVliLX6BK/s1600/IMG231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9jhfIg5lnhCGYK0XCI6PTT9ydV2RZWdHjgr-lq0KAG6LQhjc3P5VwSXfwO8jjLZelKrOGRetcqwWvKTEIdcIKImTm96kkap8yss9ueYLuvyVG-Drnqtq8Gp5YJHZdnWadAOFVliLX6BK/s320/IMG231.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-65049694501139291992013-01-15T20:03:00.002-08:002013-01-15T20:03:46.649-08:00Tuesday Topics: 8 Shows<div style="text-align: center;">
As I was reading through some blogs I found this great link up for <a href="http://theaustinfamilydiary.blogspot.ca/2013/01/tuesday-topics-week-3-eight-tv-shows.html">Tuesday Topics</a>. This week's is 8 shows and, being a TV addict, I had to share my 8 favourite shows that I'm currently watching.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>1. Sons of Anarchy</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="201" data-width="251" height="201" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRw-SXjs07vHDksiyE-8748SOsElms06nBniPyyIJybqII1S9BE" style="height: 201px; width: 251px;" width="251" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you have not seen it yet, what are you waiting for? It's Brilliant!! Danny asked me if I wanted to try an episode about a year ago and I agreed, not knowing anything about it. I was hooked before the opening credits. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's well written, well acted, and intense. All around brilliant. You need to watch SOA. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>2. Fringe</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="272" data-width="185" height="272" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRgHms7eufNo2bxEInxE11aFx-kqpiR1RpdCX4QmzVvG2PnzCHg4g" style="height: 272px; width: 185px;" width="185" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We've been on a big Fringe kick lately, mainly because it's ending this coming Friday (I am not ready for it to end). I started watching half way through Season 1 and it's right up my alley - if you were a Lostie you'll like Fringe. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>3. Big Bang Theory</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="183" data-width="275" height="183" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTaH2ohvlKWGKslz0PIZ4pBSLtHvO6Pzbbz8YjPksBWBUE_aA6V" style="height: 183px; width: 275px;" width="275" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's probably one of my favourite comedies right now. Although, am I the only one predicting a drinking problem in Penny's future? There's hardly a scene without her drinking in it. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>4. Criminal Minds</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="201" data-width="251" height="201" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS6Qih0b9hjISE0B_7pxsyh7oC9ZhSu3EcBIAoLnSjgEQD53Cz3" style="height: 201px; width: 251px;" width="251" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've watched it from the beginning, which says a lot because after all the drama a few years ago with some of the actors it really did take a toll on the show. I adore the characters and find the whole idea of the BAU so intriguing. I am really looking forward to the big bad guy they're leading up to, especially since the last 2 repeat bad guys were incredible story lines (Doyle and The Reaper). </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>5. Grey's Anatomy</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="253" data-width="171" height="253" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSsG-mVv1Jm4c3uFl02NW0Rp_cINECEsg2VInaC0V9_iS6PpQro" style="height: 253px; width: 171px;" width="171" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yes, I watch Grey's. It's another show I've watched from early on, but I do feel like it's dropped a lot in the last few years. But every time we get close to a season end and I think that'll be it for me the season finale gets me, every time. They really know how to do some great finales. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>6. Once Upon A Time</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="168" data-width="300" height="168" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSz2aXE3J5ySqzcN8kIRleMOsc7iFhbgYKPNZoQGdItZTTSlys1Jw" style="height: 168px; width: 300px;" width="300" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Another J.J Abrams show (to be honest I give most of his stuff a try since I liked Alias and Loved Lost) with quite a few Lost actors. It's intriguing and like most of his shows you really have no idea who's good or bad, where the story is going to go, or how you got to where you are. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>7. Storage Wars (original and Texas)</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img class="rg_i" data-sz="f" name="AR2DzkV6KH3u1M:" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRCoEZ46M9jaDyobkh-2E5LWyvh89vhkK5cm7SDxgs3SvwSyIbiIQ" style="height: 160px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: -7px; width: 213px;" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Am I the only one who thinks what they do is pretty cool? Where else can you "score a lick" as good as what Darryl did a few weeks ago (over $300,000 in one locker)? It took me awhile to get into the Texas episodes, but this season I like the competition between Jenny and Mary. Besides, it's fun saying "Yuuuuup"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>8. Supernatural</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="194" data-width="259" height="194" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSHEgQoUY8tHtTrerTt_BMms6na5_q8Kz76aqLFCnp-jGRT3nHKfA" style="height: 194px; width: 259px;" width="259" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Let's face it, the only reason I watch this show is because of Jensen Ackles. Hell-o! I keep hoping I'm going to run into him on the way to Lynden's preschool since a) there's been a lof of filming in the main court and b) the show is filmed in Vancouver. </div>
Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-61143157782974531142013-01-15T08:44:00.000-08:002013-01-15T08:45:19.984-08:00Dear OrchidDear Orchid, <br />
<br />
You poor thing. You didn't really stand a chance. Here you were, sitting in a store a little over a year ago thinking "wow, this good looking guy is buying me to take home to his loving wife for her birthday. What a lucky gal. I'm going to be so happy." <br />
<br />
Oh, you poor thing.<br />
<br />
You didn't know what you were getting yourself into or else you would have hid. I am sorry I don't have a green thumb... or anything that could be mistaken for any gardening talent. <br />
<br />
You see, I was once given an African Violet from that same good looking guy and when he brought it home I said "thank you, I'm going to kill it" and lived up to that promise. In less than 2 weeks. I don't even know how that happens.<br />
<br />
I was then given a small rose bush from a friend of mine about a month later. Again I said "thank you, I'm going to kill it", but after feeling so bad about the previous plant I was determined to try a lot harder. <br />
<br />
Oh, I miss that rose bush. We were both determined. It survived being dumped numerous times by my cat (it eventually had 1/3 of the dirt it came with), who also enjoyed munching on it when she could. When it became warmer out I put it on the deck to get more sun (and save it from that pesky cat - it's a good thing she was cute). With the sun also came wind, lots of wind. That poor plant fought with everything it had to survive having even less dirt. After about 6 months it finally gave up, and I could not blame it. <br />
<br />
I've tried growing herbs and small vegetables, all with no luck. (I've been told I under water, I've been I over water, I'm just lost)<br />
<br />
After that I told people no more plants. Flowers, fine (they die anyways) but no more plants. I tried to protect all future living plants from entering my world of doom. <br />
<br />
So, I was surprised when you, my orchid, were gifted to me. I was told you were chosen because I only had to water you about once a month. <br />
<br />
I read the little info sheet you came with and tried to keep you alive. <br />
<br />
It took about 10 weeks for you to lose all your flowers. I googled (and pinned) articles on how to grow your flowers back and followed those instructions with no luck. <br />
<br />
There you have sat, on my window sill, doing nothing, for almost a year. Then, about 3 months ago I noticed some new grown under the leaves (which is impressive since I hadn't watered you in way too long. I won't say how long in fear of having you taken by an orchid protection society). <br />
<br />
Then, the week before last I noticed this<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bhOCXSzeUmA/UPTcENEyAaI/AAAAAAAADHk/S7ZYbW94a4Y/s1600/P1146128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bhOCXSzeUmA/UPTcENEyAaI/AAAAAAAADHk/S7ZYbW94a4Y/s320/P1146128.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new growth!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9EUBGk3cu4U/UPTcEG4z8QI/AAAAAAAADHo/Hfob94_zQvQ/s1600/P1146130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9EUBGk3cu4U/UPTcEG4z8QI/AAAAAAAADHo/Hfob94_zQvQ/s320/P1146130.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my flowerless orchid<br />
Does anyone know what's growing out the bottom?<br />
Are they roots?<br />
Should I be repotting?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Orchid, what the heck?!?!? I watered you last week for the first time in Way too long (seriously folks, months upon months) and you have new growth? Possibly new flowers? What the heck?!?!? It's been a year! <br />
<br />
You are not encouraging me to take care of plants if this is what happens when I ignore them. <br />
<br />
I am super excited to see what's going to blossom; feel free to hurry it up. <br />
<br />
And, I promise to go back to caring about you and trying to keep from having to wait so long to see your pretty flowers again. <br />
<br />
Sincerely, <br />
<br />
Your gardening-challenged owner<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
P.S. If any readers out there can give me tips on keeping it alive and healthy <strong><u>please</u></strong> share. I don't know if I should be moving it to a larger planter or not - the last ones I transplanted died of shock, which was a shame because one of them was my tomato plant from <a href="http://optimisticslacker.blogspot.ca/">Rikki</a> (from the <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/04/covert-robin-gift.html">Covert Blog Swap</a>) and I managed to grow it from the seeds. <br />
<br />Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-20180156474832838352013-01-14T08:57:00.000-08:002013-01-14T08:57:00.682-08:00Someone's 2!It seems like just yesterday I was holding my sweet daughter for this first time<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GPpm3LkPHq11GRH9bqMsS3nhfytGWTRSK68TEgjMn7D6hZkXLVFK0AVJWLPkfibUIQqA82e14eVed6Z9wdGcQJxzuh3bVVzWn2D0FVT21o0kgliFuM9kCaVZEWh9-hizGhp_Rqx3nxJx/s1600/DSCF9862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GPpm3LkPHq11GRH9bqMsS3nhfytGWTRSK68TEgjMn7D6hZkXLVFK0AVJWLPkfibUIQqA82e14eVed6Z9wdGcQJxzuh3bVVzWn2D0FVT21o0kgliFuM9kCaVZEWh9-hizGhp_Rqx3nxJx/s320/DSCF9862.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
And today she is 2!! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/58257_10151406023593428_1010411765_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stylin' in her pretty party dress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My, how time flies. <br />
<br />
And I have to say she's too darn tootin' smart. Her vocabulary has improved greatly over the last 2 months. It seems every day she's saying something new, or singing a new song. She's figuring out more and more things. And, my favourite part, her <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2011/07/can-you-imagine.html">imagination</a> is developing. <br />
<br />
I loved watching Lynden's come to light (he was older) and I still love it - they're both developing it more and more, and to their own personalities. <br />
<br />
There is something truly wonderful about being able to witness someone's personality develop. <br />
<br />
But I digress. <br />
<br />
Happy 2nd Birthday my sweet and beautiful girl!Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-36668944205868388942013-01-11T12:29:00.000-08:002013-01-11T12:29:07.813-08:00Pinteresting Recipes #5: DinnersHere are some more reviews on recipes I've pinned. <br />
<br />
<u><span style="color: #0066cc;"></span></u><br />
<div class="description">
<a href="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/upload/151855818655356007_hmO2zidh_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pinned Image" border="0" height="200" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/upload/151855818655356007_hmO2zidh_c.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643408190217/">Roasted Butternut Squash and Bacon Pasta</a> </div>
<br />
Another not great recipe (Lynden hated the squash). I think it's way too much squash, not enough bacon, and don't use it as a topping; mix it in. The flavours were overpowered by the squash (hence the too much squash) so you lost the pasta amongst it. I doubt we'll try this one again. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643409249520/">Baked sweet and sour chicken</a><br />
<a href="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/177751516512324089_mlCBUUBS_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Pinned Image" border="0" height="150" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/177751516512324089_mlCBUUBS_c.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
I was looking forward to trying this since Lynden is all about Chinese Food these days. It was pretty good. The kids and Danny enjoyed it. I felt it was missing pineapple and Danny thought it was too sweet (it does call for a lot of sugar). I think this one could end up a keeper if I can tweak it to satisfy everyone. <br />
<br />
I made the fried rice at the end of the recipe to go with it and it was a HIT. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643409448269/">Slow Cooker Bacon-Wrapped Apple BBQ Chicken</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/79305643409448269_0JtdYGcu_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pinned Image" border="0" height="149" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/79305643409448269_0JtdYGcu_c.jpg" width="200" /></a>I wasn't thrilled with it, which is shocking since it's a Six Sisters recipe. If you haven't checked out their blog you are missing out. 95% of the time I see someone wonderful on Pinterest (food related) it's from them. <br />
<br />
Back to the recipe: wasn't thrilled. The bacon wasn't crispy (I prefer crispy bacon, not that I say no to bacon...ever!) and I think it would have been better if it had been. The BBQ and apple combo was nice but not strong enough for a slow cooker meal. <br />
<br />
I will say this, it comes out looking Exactly like the picture, which was a nice change. If we try this one again I think I am going to do it in the oven instead. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://media-cache-ec6.pinterest.com/upload/259519997248181933_PuFMHVnj_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Pinned Image" border="0" height="200" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec6.pinterest.com/upload/259519997248181933_PuFMHVnj_c.jpg" width="199" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643409208495/">Crock Pot Pizza Casserole</a><br />
<br />
Again, wasn't thrilled with it. But... I didn't make it in the slow cooker, and I am not sure how it would do in a slow cooker since it only calls for 3 hours on low. If I started it before I left for work it would have been on warm for twice as long as it cooked. <br />
<br />
I also did not have pizza pepperoni - I don't know if it affected the flavour or not. It wasn't enough tomato paste; I think pizza sauce would have been better. I don't think this will get a second shot. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/upload/195625177534536237_4bGoo7Ic_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pinned Image" border="0" height="200" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/upload/195625177534536237_4bGoo7Ic_c.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643408982794/">Honey Apple Pork Roast</a><br />
<br />
Made this on a Sunday, which are my go-to-slow-cooker-days (since Danny and I both work until 6) and it was pretty good. I liked that the roast didn't just fall apart once it was cooked (that's the only thing I don't like about slow cooker roasts, I want slices of roast not a pile of shredded meat) and the apples were a nice compliment to it. <br />
<br />
Next time I'm going to add some potatoes and carrots to the pot to make it a true one dish meal. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/79305643409715911_0k66vx0j_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Pinned Image" border="0" height="200" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/79305643409715911_0k66vx0j_c.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643409715911/">Chicken with Black Beans and Rice</a><br />
<br />
This was good (another one that comes out looking like the picture). Good flavour and an easy one dish meal. It was a bit small for us, so next time I might serve with some additional veggies or salad. You can always change up the seasoning. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643408599132/">Caribbean Dump Chicken</a><br />
<br />
I am really liking the dump chicken recipes, but this one wasn't as nice as the last one. Every now and again you'd get a great bite it would be followed up by a plain one. I don't think it's so much the recipe but the fact that I didn't let it marinade. If you try any recipe from this site and don't freeze it I recommend prepping it the night before and letting it soak in the flavours. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/485966616010696815_75gQ3Xcd_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pinned Image" border="0" height="200" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/485966616010696815_75gQ3Xcd_c.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643409807989/">Garlic Lemon Pork Chops with Mushrooms and Onions</a><br />
<br />
This recipe gets points for being something different than the every day pork chops and it took no time to make. However, both Danny and I felt it was too much lemon. If we make it again I'll leave out some of the lemon and see if it makes it better. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
No sweet recipes this time around. With the holidays I stuck to my go to recipes (not that they worked well for me). I've got a few I've got my eye on to try over the next bit. <br />
<br />
{On another note: I'll be getting back to posting new stuff next week}Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-15285814704047533832013-01-09T09:02:00.000-08:002013-01-09T09:02:34.574-08:00Wordless Wednesday: AlyssaIn time for Alyssa's second birthday on Monday here are some of my favourite pictures from the last year<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG23IWLZTs3gZZDOebJ91M9MIoMSJ-3F1KahuumvG2wl7OIkiqezzWUjabo1cH_3ZKml6dkltwy6QyFcI57T7p_R0JlCs2bLophQqftTRFnfCfMdL4LctS55Wr4t5k5AUUXB83nwjhmAXX/s1600/P1143467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG23IWLZTs3gZZDOebJ91M9MIoMSJ-3F1KahuumvG2wl7OIkiqezzWUjabo1cH_3ZKml6dkltwy6QyFcI57T7p_R0JlCs2bLophQqftTRFnfCfMdL4LctS55Wr4t5k5AUUXB83nwjhmAXX/s320/P1143467.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMI4wNh8hI6ccg3LotBFudovmI551clrYcW1gYlqNsGBkQelj8J-ZnlK-C6neoinO-WMtFp6dZiw9YBG0luSsAWrwONi01GLOHBSNXdRkxxjQc4MNfZS2lJyLiL8AsuUP6ZLsvxNDF9pdJ/s1600/P2123669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMI4wNh8hI6ccg3LotBFudovmI551clrYcW1gYlqNsGBkQelj8J-ZnlK-C6neoinO-WMtFp6dZiw9YBG0luSsAWrwONi01GLOHBSNXdRkxxjQc4MNfZS2lJyLiL8AsuUP6ZLsvxNDF9pdJ/s320/P2123669.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVTOFzTTKq1NJldweaojjGU79mbZGWYX4EjguhyWqFPZ9df161cv0iUc6-9I8M_7gQzuvPxhnUQYMSLBQuDvRk-glqg-3n_NsTUH1M-WqGiau405WByrpn-hvG8UjLHMUr6Qn_eTDT_Fn/s1600/P3243795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVTOFzTTKq1NJldweaojjGU79mbZGWYX4EjguhyWqFPZ9df161cv0iUc6-9I8M_7gQzuvPxhnUQYMSLBQuDvRk-glqg-3n_NsTUH1M-WqGiau405WByrpn-hvG8UjLHMUr6Qn_eTDT_Fn/s320/P3243795.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjMm9Wzpvc_Ca3LBP5N0S1bOeYIEDK5XyxiLVxtRxnT-APdhtc8NmI2mD5IL3h3ShxobXUNmkAdIH1DpGF0jLNJ3fDr-00DYdS1LY7MccSsyeqQQ4EyorRdVXBajndOQvIyPvcOF-DYHq/s1600/P3253830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjMm9Wzpvc_Ca3LBP5N0S1bOeYIEDK5XyxiLVxtRxnT-APdhtc8NmI2mD5IL3h3ShxobXUNmkAdIH1DpGF0jLNJ3fDr-00DYdS1LY7MccSsyeqQQ4EyorRdVXBajndOQvIyPvcOF-DYHq/s320/P3253830.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9MEUu8-tW-lfWwJbhOGhZtPVr-g5bFrDA9XuBJNtMjNPEuv2o9-5WihVFUqDHLAfYUtdT67eITe7M_w7lOBS1Cwp2roPXpgka4qCf7tH4K_euohFYKp-YeXKtaa8dSgYfdk_Nk5dSDuh/s1600/P5104118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9MEUu8-tW-lfWwJbhOGhZtPVr-g5bFrDA9XuBJNtMjNPEuv2o9-5WihVFUqDHLAfYUtdT67eITe7M_w7lOBS1Cwp2roPXpgka4qCf7tH4K_euohFYKp-YeXKtaa8dSgYfdk_Nk5dSDuh/s320/P5104118.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xRybaqidddQtoLnxA1W3OYIaMtP4_ymAFeSKKn527tKK2g-IOScbweYcAfOqZtSuJoLPA9c_P3NX7WqIV8D0ym-kSqQ7aECO4QL_8PWUndf0oJTaIKBZT1k13MrlUt71STgcKLqKfZ7s/s1600/P5194191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xRybaqidddQtoLnxA1W3OYIaMtP4_ymAFeSKKn527tKK2g-IOScbweYcAfOqZtSuJoLPA9c_P3NX7WqIV8D0ym-kSqQ7aECO4QL_8PWUndf0oJTaIKBZT1k13MrlUt71STgcKLqKfZ7s/s320/P5194191.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0DmnoTvmOlOOttIBJdwJ_qB83TKoKaIrNhW_3bz0rA77KSw5h6WHVZhI74NFSHai8er0nI7UmFaMecaIeQWnrTI4binQ_nkxucdz1v_mvMfIjRMWLBncfHyMD3hW4zpFJz5rfzRF-7ij/s1600/P5264274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0DmnoTvmOlOOttIBJdwJ_qB83TKoKaIrNhW_3bz0rA77KSw5h6WHVZhI74NFSHai8er0nI7UmFaMecaIeQWnrTI4binQ_nkxucdz1v_mvMfIjRMWLBncfHyMD3hW4zpFJz5rfzRF-7ij/s320/P5264274.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6c5CLh_eSOmYrn9wucRy_uiGpfQ0MHAhne62Tkz0tzgHqqu1wkFUnXjGtA-SBRZQSAElyeIgbsWLSw0eMlLnG7VS9_eFiQ8ObiROCUQTCEuRONR9LQUy7FyrMyKrHqxBy1FGicRery8P/s1600/P7064693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6c5CLh_eSOmYrn9wucRy_uiGpfQ0MHAhne62Tkz0tzgHqqu1wkFUnXjGtA-SBRZQSAElyeIgbsWLSw0eMlLnG7VS9_eFiQ8ObiROCUQTCEuRONR9LQUy7FyrMyKrHqxBy1FGicRery8P/s320/P7064693.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxM55j-jOdOfrO8nxCdiTZsLhS46B1f6Hl1oQ-lWkBhXqh7kcrOa3zbvoV5_Oonzip_vkQEXB78fI7M2Y80N0th7cbcm1UBqZj_HJv1wfGzRAgBWRtL2dw3uH_SCdYUPxHXYgSzMXibFjJ/s1600/P7274807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxM55j-jOdOfrO8nxCdiTZsLhS46B1f6Hl1oQ-lWkBhXqh7kcrOa3zbvoV5_Oonzip_vkQEXB78fI7M2Y80N0th7cbcm1UBqZj_HJv1wfGzRAgBWRtL2dw3uH_SCdYUPxHXYgSzMXibFjJ/s320/P7274807.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptn4zve382R4awA_JOiMB8Ei0HRt0cSlXW0qFgamnoT-SNX857iT_XcMJjOF_iYVX0LOOiI8PWFYNDWp5ouvXCSxdGz3jeevVt2567SouJgRgocUHnEkBo5_wOTgAnbrx8X9qs5pN5nFB/s1600/P6024378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptn4zve382R4awA_JOiMB8Ei0HRt0cSlXW0qFgamnoT-SNX857iT_XcMJjOF_iYVX0LOOiI8PWFYNDWp5ouvXCSxdGz3jeevVt2567SouJgRgocUHnEkBo5_wOTgAnbrx8X9qs5pN5nFB/s320/P6024378.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyON9maSvm4xooljT9NMLWXCPbmfJLB0h8pL5oGrPU83pyjUh96CUwci9qfCCYMBi0D-dNQqMbu629PgOcN6P8opvkWCFb6qqH-hEnLvpcTVzhNFTvt_GpoJGx930jqMmRF-a8flGYbk0I/s1600/P4013899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyON9maSvm4xooljT9NMLWXCPbmfJLB0h8pL5oGrPU83pyjUh96CUwci9qfCCYMBi0D-dNQqMbu629PgOcN6P8opvkWCFb6qqH-hEnLvpcTVzhNFTvt_GpoJGx930jqMmRF-a8flGYbk0I/s320/P4013899.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gPYNkwWZnQtZ6XKKgo8CieuWV0tJJugSyXLkfcxKy8QEnuAcq7_womxDiwZTV0zmt7ZhCL1S-i67HFgCPLVehw-inJ1b2pQy_5Xt5J1sMRIDPZ4X6y-arQMWopvxGRiIPTxlty5OOxiI/s1600/P7144719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gPYNkwWZnQtZ6XKKgo8CieuWV0tJJugSyXLkfcxKy8QEnuAcq7_womxDiwZTV0zmt7ZhCL1S-i67HFgCPLVehw-inJ1b2pQy_5Xt5J1sMRIDPZ4X6y-arQMWopvxGRiIPTxlty5OOxiI/s320/P7144719.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisK3iWRKQx_cha_5f_ZrNa4gvsyPP8EhMR_iLCOQR8Dg4IoT06KLT6wrFz5YrwJrGvaIbe7nRxwhGPUhlCGBcfbmfzs91jFHqduVdk-rK_AW78M4S722aIj9C47OGHMVkQucBci6qXkmae/s1600/P8054896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisK3iWRKQx_cha_5f_ZrNa4gvsyPP8EhMR_iLCOQR8Dg4IoT06KLT6wrFz5YrwJrGvaIbe7nRxwhGPUhlCGBcfbmfzs91jFHqduVdk-rK_AW78M4S722aIj9C47OGHMVkQucBci6qXkmae/s320/P8054896.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDK1LDXUUlVRPf77KylH9cPInKOPx2ylUAyw_zJ3tSD3WWAcalK5qgzNhaMa7i74YtnMDKiAAtzqSIb9Q4wjXRB3-Zlio3vvqoaBkFJYFkqo1RsfXqmZK2O9H1b6DSxiDvM5zW1AauJHm/s1600/P8064988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDK1LDXUUlVRPf77KylH9cPInKOPx2ylUAyw_zJ3tSD3WWAcalK5qgzNhaMa7i74YtnMDKiAAtzqSIb9Q4wjXRB3-Zlio3vvqoaBkFJYFkqo1RsfXqmZK2O9H1b6DSxiDvM5zW1AauJHm/s320/P8064988.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMpYRZ-9gTR08CpX_p3bXqkilO4Xm0PLe4nfik2w5Jb0XLGdi5R61tUrDsuVIMD70xNRN8Yr0Vm3SXEgVo8FHntifZBLG12jEb1davVZUROfuU3WIbQ8TOVkesjiBiIZ_xP13Ny1mE5A6/s1600/P8065033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMpYRZ-9gTR08CpX_p3bXqkilO4Xm0PLe4nfik2w5Jb0XLGdi5R61tUrDsuVIMD70xNRN8Yr0Vm3SXEgVo8FHntifZBLG12jEb1davVZUROfuU3WIbQ8TOVkesjiBiIZ_xP13Ny1mE5A6/s320/P8065033.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtWpCqcyaoyV8K0fDHWh2vx-C-i6bmaygGaENJxaP2LWw_c8STm0lQx2ujmgMbtXuDoiB6f51kcG8KoKXECJBuiTRqdyO59hs24uF2mDX-JK0nWe9_WIU9b5SVhJODVDXAKnfsVNUZ10c/s1600/P9235298-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtWpCqcyaoyV8K0fDHWh2vx-C-i6bmaygGaENJxaP2LWw_c8STm0lQx2ujmgMbtXuDoiB6f51kcG8KoKXECJBuiTRqdyO59hs24uF2mDX-JK0nWe9_WIU9b5SVhJODVDXAKnfsVNUZ10c/s320/P9235298-002.JPG" width="254" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhPenslaj_Gvodq7E7UKCUaJ18bPnb7OW6-ch8au0kbjY6upP7MmZnBRYMXQys6UCVa9T-dO4TMWnxkSen37GcHrSyuHzM1-LdeSHQKTX_15UJPhbv3OtB6oyk_PF_j7x4iNNmGcjxoQI/s1600/PA155570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhPenslaj_Gvodq7E7UKCUaJ18bPnb7OW6-ch8au0kbjY6upP7MmZnBRYMXQys6UCVa9T-dO4TMWnxkSen37GcHrSyuHzM1-LdeSHQKTX_15UJPhbv3OtB6oyk_PF_j7x4iNNmGcjxoQI/s320/PA155570.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1V0pPWvTFEQDRUBRvoOQwDT0NyP6hsG9xNvOWnJxISoGMrBXP-oplbMyDQWlYP9bRuP61LEtBUm-9gPK9qcvw_zzlY01C4x_wL2ON3dJwTIqSDp_5gxjMzYt5l4wGAqozTAfFk1uyKq7/s1600/PA165595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1V0pPWvTFEQDRUBRvoOQwDT0NyP6hsG9xNvOWnJxISoGMrBXP-oplbMyDQWlYP9bRuP61LEtBUm-9gPK9qcvw_zzlY01C4x_wL2ON3dJwTIqSDp_5gxjMzYt5l4wGAqozTAfFk1uyKq7/s320/PA165595.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOJDK8aa5zRflPhFuJIpnBScqPeJuUXCIP8lb4KuAGGs45iBeUx8fJy6J4WG7Y7Kg1pH74tPRNSLduSjzyImAxOXlujugsstUdzCWubVrIRue5w-uo6mL6iJLV-b_P9vk5SsY9lSwcSCe/s1600/PA165619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOJDK8aa5zRflPhFuJIpnBScqPeJuUXCIP8lb4KuAGGs45iBeUx8fJy6J4WG7Y7Kg1pH74tPRNSLduSjzyImAxOXlujugsstUdzCWubVrIRue5w-uo6mL6iJLV-b_P9vk5SsY9lSwcSCe/s320/PA165619.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="212" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/223152_10151190409416418_385459574_n.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/546081_10151189186716418_334068063_n.jpg" width="233" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9aDwMheY4Ce02AkqvOHMgCDq6IYu-o9WcOWdvUBWqZC1oNJFHBFy4NTmags1NZjN9-e7LkL84jxdnXWiMhh8dYOA0j5J1XJnl7TxfOJ5-_8wqhektJ-y46RmwPuHd02VR1UpIepFbO4n/s1600/PC085872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9aDwMheY4Ce02AkqvOHMgCDq6IYu-o9WcOWdvUBWqZC1oNJFHBFy4NTmags1NZjN9-e7LkL84jxdnXWiMhh8dYOA0j5J1XJnl7TxfOJ5-_8wqhektJ-y46RmwPuHd02VR1UpIepFbO4n/s320/PC085872.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-77125787634174586632013-01-03T08:47:00.001-08:002013-01-03T08:47:26.125-08:00Resolution - 20132012 was not a great year for us. It was a year of recovery for us. Before we moved back to the coast we dug ourselves a very large hole and the last year and a bit has been us climbing out of it. The light is at the end of the tunnel for us, which is beyond exciting. <br />
<br />
2013 will be bring us a fresh start in so many ways. And we plan on taking advantage of it, as a family. <br />
<br />
Here are some things we've decided to focus on in 2013:<br />
<ul>
<li>Continue with <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2013/01/resolution-update-december.html">tracking our food waste</a> (mainly me).<br />Hopefully we can learn from last year and bring our final total down dramatically. I'm sticking on monthly meal planning and I've even made my own printable grocery list template to help keep it all organized. </li>
<li>Focus on more family time.<br />More time with the kids one on one. When Lynden turned 2 we started having a family day on his birthday. With Alyssa turning 2 this month we're going to start the tradition with her. We're planning on having more family outing (sometimes just one on one, sometimes all together), and focusing on more family time together.</li>
<li>Focus on more couple time. <br />Danny and I have been through a lot in the last 3 years and we're going to get back to spending time with eachother, as a couple. By the time mid February rolls around we'll have had a few child free evenings. </li>
<li>Limit our frivolous spending.<br />We're not stopping, as where's the fun in that? But, we're aware of it and we're going to make a plan to limit it and spend wisely when we do want to treat ourselves. </li>
<li>Limit our eating out.<br />We're really bad for getting lazy and ordering take out at the last minute. We've talked and we've agreed to budget for eating out once a month. Which, in turn, means we need to be better about sticking to our meal plans and actually cooking. It "should" help with eating left overs better, which should lead to less wasting of food. </li>
<li>Start saving for Disneyland.<br />We've talked about taking the kids to Disneyland and we've finally decided we're going in 2015 (Alyssa will be 4 and Lynden 6). We have a plan to start saving money. </li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ec6.pinterest.com/upload/237072367854394667_YlbogOLY_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pinned Image" border="0" height="320" id="pinCloseupImage" src="http://media-cache-ec6.pinterest.com/upload/237072367854394667_YlbogOLY_c.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/79305643409961105/">Disney Jar</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As for myself, I'm planning on staying on top of house work more (I'm really unmotivated to do any of it), starting to work from home, start using my sewing machine, and focusing more on the kids during the day. <br />
<br />
I'm bad for reading blogs, puttering around on Pinterest, wasting time on Facebook and promising to do stuff with them and running out of time. I am going to make it a point to do something with them each day, even if it's play doh, baking, a craft, or just playing. Lynden starts Kindergarten in 9 months and I don't want to regret not spending more quality time with him before he starts school. It's the whole reason I opted to not go back to work full time; to enjoy spending time with my kids. <br />
<br />
Some other things I'm thinking about (I'm working on changes in waves - I figure you'll more likely stick to things if you don't try to change too much at one. And the stuff we've decided to focus on are really 2 new things, just with subcategories). <br />
<ul>
<li>Being more active - Kinect while it's freezing out with spring bringing more walking and tennis (also doubles as couple time)</li>
<li>Eating better - making more of our own foods (I need a deep freeze) and eating less junk (that hardest part for me as I have a terrible sweet tooth). I really like the idea of trying the <a href="http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/take-the-10-day-pledge/">10 Day Pledge to eat Real Food</a></li>
<li>Decluttering our house - I know I said this last year but I'm feeling really good about getting a fresh start that I need to do it. Danny took our broken computer away from out computer desk and it feels so much better. This week I'm doing our bedroom (now that I have my closet back) and it's going to be awesome. Over the next while (probably one a week) I'll be working my way through all the bedrooms, living room, kitchen, and our entry way. Purging all the junk we don't need but can't seem to get rid of. Hopefully by doing this now when we move this spring/summer it'll be less work. </li>
<li>Get started on some of the Pinterest projects I keep saying I'm going to do. Part of it is the fact I have no "crafty" supplies, so I have to buy everything. But, I am going to pick one project and once I'm done I'll see what supplies I have and pick my next project from there. My first task is to make curtains for the kids rooms (with my sewing machine). </li>
</ul>
<br />
So, that's where I'm starting the year at. What goals/resolutions have you set for 2013?<br />
<ul>
</ul>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-36840862780974367532013-01-02T08:16:00.000-08:002013-01-02T08:16:44.080-08:00Resolution Update: December I know I'm a tad late with this. <br />
<br />
We left off in <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/12/resolution-update-november.html">November</a> with me having $19.89 to come in below my target of $200 of wasted food for the year. <br />
<br />
<strong><u>Food We Tossed:</u></strong><br />
<br />
1 cucumber: $0.99 (It was rotten within 2 days of buying it)<br />
2 heads of lettuce: $1.98<br />
1 red onion: $0.65<br />
Mashed potatoes: $0.32<br />
Macaroni: $0.65 (Danny made a whole box of macoroni noodles for 2 people)<br />
Fridge clean out #1: $10.17 <br />
Ginger Cookie batter: $3.24 (it was the shortning that made this so high)<br />
1 orange: $0.16<br />
2 mandarins: $0.23<br />
6 baby yukon gold potatoes: $0.50<br />
Fridge Clean out #2: $5.27<br />
Rum Balls: $1.26<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Monthly Amount:</u></strong> <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
$25.42<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Year to Date:</u></strong> <br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="more"></a><br />
$205.52<br />
<br />
Damn! I was close. The ginger cookie batter and rum balls burns me, for a slew of reasons; I didn't get my annual ginger cookies (the rum balls were for someone else) and without them I would have been $1.02 over my goal. <br />
<br />
<strong><u>Average Monthly Total:</u></strong><br />
<br />
$17.13<br />
<br />
<br />
All things considered I'm not unhappy with it (I'm not thrilled either). It was an eye opening experience and I think it's helped us realize how much we actually throw out. I will continue to keep track (I don't know if I'll post on here or not) and hopefully I can see that number drop even more. <br />
<br />
Check in again tomorrow to see what we have planned for 2013 (I do mean "we"; we're working on things as a family this year). Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-6371334280164563702012-12-31T09:10:00.000-08:002012-12-31T09:10:02.573-08:002012 <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KmNyxFDiVhNe1qWGkvB1WkkqsfYh0MMrfjB7_hJ3jSMLwdqf9wQvsyOf9Ik1y_5y2TWtvyogOzZjx-MuuqnVlxwfY4iJOAH6__C3oI0qMA3OSftPMZymgQA_ae_52xaYgrd50rZBKLxA/s1600/P1143467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_62bsmw="3" height="175" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KmNyxFDiVhNe1qWGkvB1WkkqsfYh0MMrfjB7_hJ3jSMLwdqf9wQvsyOf9Ik1y_5y2TWtvyogOzZjx-MuuqnVlxwfY4iJOAH6__C3oI0qMA3OSftPMZymgQA_ae_52xaYgrd50rZBKLxA/s200/P1143467.jpg" width="200" /></a>January:<br />
- <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/02/very-late-birthday-post.html" target="_blank">Alyssa turned 1</a><br />
- <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/01/i-was-so-close-again.html" target="_blank">Alyssa started walking</a><br />
- I decided to <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/01/closing-chapter.html">not return to work</a><br />
<br />
<br />
February:<br />
- got some great <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/02/valentine-photos.html">photos of the kids</a><br />
<br />
<br />
March:<br />
- <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/03/seriously-get-f-out.html" target="_blank">the month of sickness</a><br />
- <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/04/out-and-about-weekend-on-island.html" target="_blank">weekend trip to the Island</a><br />
- Alyssa's hair was finally long enough for <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/03/pig-tails.html">pig tails</a><br />
<br />
April:<br />
- <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/04/easter-weekend.html" target="_blank">Easter</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9Q5Zt78WdSkP2fovcz-J59y-K1ebU9uk03rlL9HnfGW4sTO3GA3JUplyxK2rHM_cxEC12P47lCj_fkSgC2x5quyxAY5h74i6yqtCcZqnOhNOOK3Nz8yxY9jJtROSLglZDlYKvwxZyKrY/s1600/Valentine+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_84rwrz="2" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9Q5Zt78WdSkP2fovcz-J59y-K1ebU9uk03rlL9HnfGW4sTO3GA3JUplyxK2rHM_cxEC12P47lCj_fkSgC2x5quyxAY5h74i6yqtCcZqnOhNOOK3Nz8yxY9jJtROSLglZDlYKvwxZyKrY/s200/Valentine+1.jpg" width="200" yda="true" /></a>May:<br />
- <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/04/re-opening-chapter.html" target="_blank">I went back to work</a><br />
<br />
June:<br />
- Danny headed to <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/06/while-hubbys-away.html">Montreal for 2 weeks</a> for work<br />
<br />
July:<br />
- my sister in law got engaged!<br />
<br />
August:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVMZdl-eMp1ZZwdCd9U-DdqP5JuDGKpB35HBMlk7h_cgaXjFhf8HBcwPQojWTOL9qz5lYnHNddy4dPAwCqCKKFlkg6hNl5y2AZXethn1JeeD0fadEoJCMEh4MAC9NoIJH5xY6lQ4rlon8/s1600/P3243795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_ty3001="7" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVMZdl-eMp1ZZwdCd9U-DdqP5JuDGKpB35HBMlk7h_cgaXjFhf8HBcwPQojWTOL9qz5lYnHNddy4dPAwCqCKKFlkg6hNl5y2AZXethn1JeeD0fadEoJCMEh4MAC9NoIJH5xY6lQ4rlon8/s200/P3243795.jpg" width="166" /></a>- lots of <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/09/3-short-months.html">summer fun</a><br />
- another trip to the island<br />
- <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/08/another-notch-in-metaphorical-head-board.html">Metallica</a> {this has become the #1 blog post}<br />
<br />
September:<br />
- Lynden started <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/09/some-updates.html">preschool</a><br />
- Lynden<a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/09/wordless-wednesday-4-years-old.html"> turned 4</a>!<br />
- My nana turned 100!<br />
<br />
October:<br />
- Thanksgiving<br />
-<a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/11/halloween.html"> Halloween</a><br />
- <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/10/leaves.html">Fall arrived</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_yYaQJJRCS-m2UpnLab3wi0lJsbdYFY4f8W7K2sAAUQd73_9utTNPxrO25FdiWBzCPZ_Y89r2mLpRYMPDQkX-3aQ8Cw-7N6cRUj_bbjnB8xI0NxgMb4KPb-nDCJbpfFKUycM2kslelHK/s1600/P9115275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_uid_42b0vv="3" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_yYaQJJRCS-m2UpnLab3wi0lJsbdYFY4f8W7K2sAAUQd73_9utTNPxrO25FdiWBzCPZ_Y89r2mLpRYMPDQkX-3aQ8Cw-7N6cRUj_bbjnB8xI0NxgMb4KPb-nDCJbpfFKUycM2kslelHK/s200/P9115275.JPG" width="200" /></a>November:<br />
- was a quiet month (besides some more birthdays)<br />
<br />
December:<br />
- <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/12/dash-hes-here.html">Dash returned</a><br />
- Christmas<br />
- <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/11/cans-for-comments.html">Cans for Comments</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Hope everyone has a Fantabulous 2013!!<br />
Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-14736262555543041902012-12-28T08:05:00.000-08:002012-12-28T08:05:12.154-08:00TGIF: Co-Hosting!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FHpRKIQ5cClE2ZEF8FZa71mSmVS-ejaq6iPjpmwedC4yCkrTlMqOqKEyKGbOmZfhfvKGqEDUjInIYh8J2O-7kGJja6-oPC5entSJYs84TtkUwSM6oSpH3KFuo82JczRwiIw4UQO9UB0/s1600/tgifsmall+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FHpRKIQ5cClE2ZEF8FZa71mSmVS-ejaq6iPjpmwedC4yCkrTlMqOqKEyKGbOmZfhfvKGqEDUjInIYh8J2O-7kGJja6-oPC5entSJYs84TtkUwSM6oSpH3KFuo82JczRwiIw4UQO9UB0/s200/tgifsmall+(1).jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: center;">
Welcome back to the TGIF Blog Hop, hosted by <a href="http://www.funnypregnantlady.blogspot.com/">Funny Postpartum Lady</a>, <a href="http://www.overworkedsupermom.com/"><span style="color: magenta;">O<u>verworked Supermom</u></span></a>, and <a href="http://www.youknowithappensatyourhousetoo.com/"><span style="color: red;">You Know It Happens At Your House Too</span></a>!<br />
<br />
<br />
TGIF Blog Hop is a great way to gain new followers and bring more traffic to your blog.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;">It's also a great way to meet other bloggers and get great tips, ideas, and read cool blog posts.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>HOW DO YOU SIGN UP?</i></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Easy....Just follow a few simple rules:</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
- Add your blog link to the linky</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
- Follow the 3 Hosts (<a href="http://www.funnypregnantlady.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent;">Funny Postpartum Lady</a>, <a href="http://www.overworkedsupermom.com/" style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: magenta;">O<u>verworked Supermom</u></span></a>, and <a href="http://www.youknowithappensatyourhousetoo.com/" style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: red;">You Know It Happens At Your House Too</span></a>)<br />
<br />
-And follow today's Co-Host:<br />
<br /></div>
<center>
<a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Life, Experience Needed" src="http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z436/AmberGioiaSmith/LifeHeader3-3.jpg" /></a></center>
<center>
</center>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
- Visit as many blogs on the list as<br />
you can and leave a comment. Let them know if you've followed them so they can return the favor. Also, if someone from the blog hop follows you, you should return the favor!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
- Post our button on your blog....remember, the more people that find our hop, the more followers you can gain!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;">
<div>
<div style="font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
<center>
</center>
Every Friday we will put up a new linky, so be sure to</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: center;">
<div style="font-size: 14px;">
stop by and add your blog. Please email me at Funnypostpartumlady@aol.com if you are interested in cohosting the bloghop. We are Accepting CoHosts for January!!!</div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;"> Starting next week, next year I should say, the TGIF Blog Hop will have a new look!! There will be a new button and a twist to the HOP! </span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;"><b>Have a Happy New Year!!!</b></span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14px;">
<b style="font-size: x-large;">Grab Our Button! </b></div>
</div>
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://www.funnypregnantlady.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="Funny Pregnant Lady"><img alt="Funny Pregnant Lady" src=" http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SKLEDYkHMVw/T707k_5Vp9I/AAAAAAAAA5U/kpbnEk3-Nts/s1600/tgifsmall.jpg " /></a><center>
</center>
<center>
<textarea id="code-source" name="code-source" rows="3"><center>
<a <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">href</span>="http://www.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">funnypregnantlady</span>.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">blogspot</span>.com/"><<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">img</span> border="0" <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">src</span>=" http://2.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">bp</span>.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">blogspot</span>.com/-<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">SKLEDYkHMVw</span>/T707k_5Vp9I/AAAAAAAAA5U/kpbnEk3-<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Nts</span>/s1600/<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">tgifsmall</span>.<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">jpg</span> "/></a></center>
</textarea></center>
</center>
<!-- start LinkyTools script -->
<script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=177597" type="text/javascript"></script>
<!-- end LinkyTools script -->Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-2425830378947149202012-12-24T09:19:00.003-08:002012-12-24T09:19:38.098-08:00Dash: Final DaysToday is Dash's last day with us. We have had a lot of fun with him this year and cannot wait until he comes back next year. <br />
<br />
Dash has slid down the banister<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EmGdHNk0Amvjqfj3uoCWjK5A-MQV_snYnIzLkwpTZzk29DvZT2wnEgdR9LUaEGBWHnGaEHMqudZ93tYFS9LmlW0bTWNPIVUzVZkFD7b_vXBjNWovYLCYvqN8Didn-sr78cUZz55DfacC/s1600/PC226032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EmGdHNk0Amvjqfj3uoCWjK5A-MQV_snYnIzLkwpTZzk29DvZT2wnEgdR9LUaEGBWHnGaEHMqudZ93tYFS9LmlW0bTWNPIVUzVZkFD7b_vXBjNWovYLCYvqN8Didn-sr78cUZz55DfacC/s320/PC226032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgwnpMFPD4T_LHwJajVYP68JLxNgwI2eOmtva0jS4Fqm11M7QqUOq0SJmBKooXw7D52DI-tm3pbCHG66TJNf-oqyP9JIhFqQDTFlE3scyx9nadK4QfDjEi-YtP4EFRsWkrDUJxyQZ72FY/s1600/PC226034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgwnpMFPD4T_LHwJajVYP68JLxNgwI2eOmtva0jS4Fqm11M7QqUOq0SJmBKooXw7D52DI-tm3pbCHG66TJNf-oqyP9JIhFqQDTFlE3scyx9nadK4QfDjEi-YtP4EFRsWkrDUJxyQZ72FY/s320/PC226034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This morning we woke to a scavenger hunt<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPv0GdYDabsRDymeU5U2GsTlhmxuKE2tmTyCMqHsQFlchYEjoEA0atjg3HXJu7nSlvQ4RtL1RMmGR6GEn6h6CjAVzkuHay1K5K0qJB44ICbuShnnYoJCIq-Eo5tH2N_picP0o-K896KhT5/s1600/PC246037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPv0GdYDabsRDymeU5U2GsTlhmxuKE2tmTyCMqHsQFlchYEjoEA0atjg3HXJu7nSlvQ4RtL1RMmGR6GEn6h6CjAVzkuHay1K5K0qJB44ICbuShnnYoJCIq-Eo5tH2N_picP0o-K896KhT5/s320/PC246037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GbzVoIiQN7RTlrgSpF6m_n_H6gyATt5Tw-dpC_ohFQ-RrSk9QxtANuVtmWKlNggixftSI-_BHQVofiQa9r8vPU7f7ZDxHJULHy_JFS-TyfOXSrONGP4lbGrFd2XoUs0ITRSLHwEdkJoj/s1600/PC246038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GbzVoIiQN7RTlrgSpF6m_n_H6gyATt5Tw-dpC_ohFQ-RrSk9QxtANuVtmWKlNggixftSI-_BHQVofiQa9r8vPU7f7ZDxHJULHy_JFS-TyfOXSrONGP4lbGrFd2XoUs0ITRSLHwEdkJoj/s320/PC246038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GWmv1YdCSd7rVW7RvhLzhtuomnUO0JQHTMsEL9hjnagXVtm_M3nUHvUQ98MJKgI4D162CsJcyGR52IPwV9kZuwdDm2ND_5h-hvLvqG4UXeSLlHDHmDDH6YrlWvXSz2LXF7BLhNUDe5OO/s1600/PC246039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GWmv1YdCSd7rVW7RvhLzhtuomnUO0JQHTMsEL9hjnagXVtm_M3nUHvUQ98MJKgI4D162CsJcyGR52IPwV9kZuwdDm2ND_5h-hvLvqG4UXeSLlHDHmDDH6YrlWvXSz2LXF7BLhNUDe5OO/s320/PC246039.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I must say Lynden surprised me; he knew exactly where to look for every hint Dash left. I thought the last two hints would stump him; "I wish I could have gone to preschool with Lynden" (Lynden's backpack) and "Look in some of your favourite hiding spots while playing hide and seek" (under Alyssa's crib) - Lynden got both at once. <br />
<br />
The final surprise?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholG6PSdlztQIePG7s3v1ZqQg_lRtyDDJOpLbyqKCm3LNA6hqSmsn9C7ZSfjPS7cQnKb3w3xpPAergehLhdRoZMdwW-zIjoP5XzHUBsE9-I-W2u3gdy_kE-I96rzWRq0w4RLjCaSlXmniy/s1600/PC246042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholG6PSdlztQIePG7s3v1ZqQg_lRtyDDJOpLbyqKCm3LNA6hqSmsn9C7ZSfjPS7cQnKb3w3xpPAergehLhdRoZMdwW-zIjoP5XzHUBsE9-I-W2u3gdy_kE-I96rzWRq0w4RLjCaSlXmniy/s320/PC246042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxRLQW3ukS2CErxJ9UhJM6XLIQAjP8NzKJiDO1Sm1yZpzqDT9yQqfiKuWzZ6ba1I28ebGiTzjeK-bwmLqoiCXI3QFoB7aqpryyHhsi_vrrzQAT5ZJAiWgPdTQrSsOc4Q2AAK8AhLW8u9q/s1600/PC246043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxRLQW3ukS2CErxJ9UhJM6XLIQAjP8NzKJiDO1Sm1yZpzqDT9yQqfiKuWzZ6ba1I28ebGiTzjeK-bwmLqoiCXI3QFoB7aqpryyHhsi_vrrzQAT5ZJAiWgPdTQrSsOc4Q2AAK8AhLW8u9q/s320/PC246043.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Christmas pajamas!!<br />
<br />
Lynden's looking forward to having Santa come tonight, even though it means Dash is going home.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
From my family to yours, Merry Christmas!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85J4NqUKmnT2rBwbUk9L4V5_P9qPbIp9aAj4f7P5JQRg4ykvba0WGxSslwxCHm0bcCKTld14jBNfoNmLpiQYYYE8g1P4zyGb2mWUOIDTkP9foZTDye_M8x-QPbL1pylmXoPuhyphenhyphenigOQ2e0/s1600/Imbery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85J4NqUKmnT2rBwbUk9L4V5_P9qPbIp9aAj4f7P5JQRg4ykvba0WGxSslwxCHm0bcCKTld14jBNfoNmLpiQYYYE8g1P4zyGb2mWUOIDTkP9foZTDye_M8x-QPbL1pylmXoPuhyphenhyphenigOQ2e0/s320/Imbery.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-43195585819369957952012-12-21T07:56:00.001-08:002012-12-21T07:56:05.974-08:00Dash: Getting CloseThis morning we woke to a message from Dash<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDYYxIU7SAacsJlMhEgy3kjf71joXGA2VkRTcvvAyRSU3mGnmQHnh5vpQa9MmJAqR2PQpKzqJS2wUjaIV46OSSIphMJesebeN5p9ENCtn9vEArntGzCwYF6CjrsLUdn0G25SMdscwILTM/s1600/PC216028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDYYxIU7SAacsJlMhEgy3kjf71joXGA2VkRTcvvAyRSU3mGnmQHnh5vpQa9MmJAqR2PQpKzqJS2wUjaIV46OSSIphMJesebeN5p9ENCtn9vEArntGzCwYF6CjrsLUdn0G25SMdscwILTM/s320/PC216028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloP7ik-J0fiLvWbSOUU-_aBEcwIPqar8i0y09kBRrVyh_rE_cFAiZpw7oy36I64UeGoWDJvZU49QBZJ8PZeet9_naqx_gX4CjwcDzOKf3ODFniAm6u66ML0O9rwtFout3400dTBzbVo-p/s1600/PC216029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloP7ik-J0fiLvWbSOUU-_aBEcwIPqar8i0y09kBRrVyh_rE_cFAiZpw7oy36I64UeGoWDJvZU49QBZJ8PZeet9_naqx_gX4CjwcDzOKf3ODFniAm6u66ML0O9rwtFout3400dTBzbVo-p/s320/PC216029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-5191010183012135842012-12-20T20:47:00.004-08:002012-12-20T20:50:48.611-08:00Cans For Comments Donation<a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/12/cans-for-comments-starts.html">Cans for Comments</a> went pretty well. I cannot thank you all enough for the comments. We had 2 additional blogs join us, and I've heard a few more are participating this week. <br />
<br />
In total I received 59 comments and gained 16 new followers; that equaled 59 cans and $3, which I decided to turn into more food.<br />
<br />
Now, bad blogger here, I did not take a picture of my donation. But I swear I did buy it and donate it - I have witnesses.<br />
<br />
Tuesday the annual CPR holiday train rolled into town. The kids, my grandma, and I headed down and dropped the donation off, while taking in the celebration. There were hot dogs, hot chocolate, train whistles, pretty lights, Santa and his (slightly creepy looking) elves, and some good tunes. <br />
<br />
I have not heard from all my co-hosts, but <a href="http://sharylovesyou.blogspot.ca/">Shary</a> donated 12 cans and <a href="http://nuggetonabudget.blogspot.ca/">Kera</a> donated 6 toys, 23 cans, and an <u>impressive</u> $103!!!<br />
<br />
If you participated and donated, please link up below so we can all see how well you did.
<br />
<br />
If you are participating in Cans for Comments now feel free add to your link as well
<!-- start InLinkz script -->
<script type="text/javascript">
document.write('<script type="text/javascript" src=http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=223935&' + new Date().getTime() + '"><\/script>');</script>
<!-- end InLinkz script -->Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-23532165699703701162012-12-20T08:19:00.000-08:002012-12-20T08:21:12.101-08:00Dash: 2 DaysWednesdays are hectic days, so I opted to not post yesterday. Have no fear, you will not miss out on Dash antics<br />
<br />
Wednesday:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiX9lOLNWrXgX52-k33RCmzd3UP-vnr6SujNUaOP_rBs7mGSZ_wRFKiKjngmsKW-CFN1sjH7pvJLRPla4EYs5LbYse8uOFw3nDQ1QI8t5TSUoB0Mp2swyO8Zxo_iCJFLIlX9fRtwa2DDua/s1600/IMG163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiX9lOLNWrXgX52-k33RCmzd3UP-vnr6SujNUaOP_rBs7mGSZ_wRFKiKjngmsKW-CFN1sjH7pvJLRPla4EYs5LbYse8uOFw3nDQ1QI8t5TSUoB0Mp2swyO8Zxo_iCJFLIlX9fRtwa2DDua/s320/IMG163.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Guess Dash was looking <a href="http://lifeexperienceneeded.blogspot.ca/2012/12/dash-video-from-santa.html">forward to snow too</a>, not that we got any. <br />
<br />
Thursday:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikn2h_tE-wKRWEBFleP40lxAHM734ALB5wIMisUzajN0HkSsp5Zv9OosDyQvQ9n8CkFKVMMz7pusQehZBR9VUNFt_YE_rmcvEg-PryWA7GXgaQcdV32pn_LltqHQ2Db5zMfrP4MlHjbBXc/s1600/PC206026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikn2h_tE-wKRWEBFleP40lxAHM734ALB5wIMisUzajN0HkSsp5Zv9OosDyQvQ9n8CkFKVMMz7pusQehZBR9VUNFt_YE_rmcvEg-PryWA7GXgaQcdV32pn_LltqHQ2Db5zMfrP4MlHjbBXc/s320/PC206026.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hiding in the stocking</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I did not take this picture. And Dash is not sitting in the stocking properly because he kind of forgot to move until 7am so he quickly scrambled into it. <br />
<br />
Tomorrow we will be revealing our donation postsAmanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-78254072562755147192012-12-18T12:08:00.001-08:002012-12-18T12:08:36.340-08:00Dash: Video From SantaFirst: It snowed last night. Lynden woke up and I told him to go look outside. He said "Snow! My wish came true." When I asked him why he wished for snow he told me "I want to make snow angels and snowmen". <br />
<br />
Tomorrow he might be able to actually get to play in the snow (we're expecting more tonight, which is good for the kids but terrible for the city - we do not seem to handle snow well on the coast)<br />
<br />
Second: Dash<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4qjkoL9B0AGqECbhVIki92KHK6nCWKs2FOlj3DHXcZWaOsKzEbSoTc56gV0tH4v99ibEkVlBDWp1sustVKgQ4VyB7jKLRvUOIhlAO6wR6BgN1iVk3pgaUFg7KlM0Q_REpEti9_yF88CW/s1600/PC186025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4qjkoL9B0AGqECbhVIki92KHK6nCWKs2FOlj3DHXcZWaOsKzEbSoTc56gV0tH4v99ibEkVlBDWp1sustVKgQ4VyB7jKLRvUOIhlAO6wR6BgN1iVk3pgaUFg7KlM0Q_REpEti9_yF88CW/s320/PC186025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We received our annual video from Santa. (The videos get better and better every year). When Santa said "Hello Lynden" his eyes got BIG! <br />
<br />
{I tried to post the video on here but no luck}Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336931638966846547.post-90063597249365694382012-12-17T09:11:00.000-08:002012-12-17T09:11:03.209-08:00Dash: The Best FindI wanted to wait until Lynden found Dash this morning to post this. It took over an hour, and would have taken longer if I hadn't "helped".<br />
<br />
This is where Dash hid last night<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnUXaiKWruxnZyhEzxMGiM9O6ZUcMwX7kxIx4-po0EjIcrjxOQveznli4hWuyhwOA4r18nYzVNt6knrvx6PhOfjBvbaoYEKhi5JmsJV4VQwhAw3lOX8IuVlcNBzmVCfbHEgM7l_OQ1pEY/s1600/PC166015.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnUXaiKWruxnZyhEzxMGiM9O6ZUcMwX7kxIx4-po0EjIcrjxOQveznli4hWuyhwOA4r18nYzVNt6knrvx6PhOfjBvbaoYEKhi5JmsJV4VQwhAw3lOX8IuVlcNBzmVCfbHEgM7l_OQ1pEY/s320/PC166015.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWKA_Tb0vHywPP83K5vf814srrMqpzyEIqGJpKPPMUmhUBtgt2tGBlEUzFUYG4DcE-5Mcnefty1oyaZzExfLMK-iSYfnAp96roJPRLwzFwa1rJP9w8WNMuNPrzARpg5_oReHDBusjS405/s1600/PC166013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWKA_Tb0vHywPP83K5vf814srrMqpzyEIqGJpKPPMUmhUBtgt2tGBlEUzFUYG4DcE-5Mcnefty1oyaZzExfLMK-iSYfnAp96roJPRLwzFwa1rJP9w8WNMuNPrzARpg5_oReHDBusjS405/s320/PC166013.JPG" width="151" /></a></div>
<br />
This morning Lynden could not find him... anywhere. He looked in all rooms, downstairs, even in the fridge and still nothing. I was determined to let him find him on his own. <br />
<br />
Even Alyssa joined Lynden in searching rooms calling "Dah, are you?" (Alyssa speak), and still no luck. <br />
<br />
Lynden eventually decided to stop searching and play with his car ramp and cars. <br />
<br />
I took the following picture:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnUXaiKWruxnZyhEzxMGiM9O6ZUcMwX7kxIx4-po0EjIcrjxOQveznli4hWuyhwOA4r18nYzVNt6knrvx6PhOfjBvbaoYEKhi5JmsJV4VQwhAw3lOX8IuVlcNBzmVCfbHEgM7l_OQ1pEY/s1600/PC166015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77KBdlCjQlKz-s78EnSjRhrKUec11MVZ4dOK8gGlPgHhFUrzlkZBunqa4b9xJTZu0eYykWWpAs_SPZlX0hMKWT47US97w7DVzPSd04TMvOs0ST3bglkm53Pvs98KgmLWeubBbkA98OFNI/s1600/PC176016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77KBdlCjQlKz-s78EnSjRhrKUec11MVZ4dOK8gGlPgHhFUrzlkZBunqa4b9xJTZu0eYykWWpAs_SPZlX0hMKWT47US97w7DVzPSd04TMvOs0ST3bglkm53Pvs98KgmLWeubBbkA98OFNI/s320/PC176016.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lynden, look up!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After breakfast I showed the picture to Lynden and asked him who he saw in the picture, to which he said "me". I asked him if there was anyone else in the picture; I was told "no". I told him to look closer. After scanning the whole picture, 3" from his face, he quietly said "Dash" and slid off my lap and ran into his room. <br />
<br />
I think it was my favourite finding of Dash so far. Amanda @ Life, Experience Neededhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09396631536329825699noreply@blogger.com3