tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44883709863009353172024-03-13T21:57:24.651-05:00CLENDENEN & COMPANYTOTALLY POINTLESS & RANDOM STORIES
FROM TRAV'S CHICKS
** LORI ** MADELINE
** ZELLA ** VIOLET ** THOMASLorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.comBlogger339125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-67090189088766979852014-03-24T23:40:00.001-05:002014-03-24T23:40:41.029-05:00Four Little Monkeys....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-72765108915131422402013-08-22T22:55:00.000-05:002013-08-22T22:55:02.405-05:00First Day of School 2013<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://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vIFFOEyLt9M/UhbceGfvP3I/AAAAAAAAmRA/NxAO07Xgh7A/s1600/madelinesecondgrade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vIFFOEyLt9M/UhbceGfvP3I/AAAAAAAAmRA/NxAO07Xgh7A/s320/madelinesecondgrade.jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Madeline, 2nd grade</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zella, 1st grade</td></tr>
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<br />Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-86297421499063694182013-08-20T06:00:00.000-05:002013-08-20T06:00:12.652-05:00School ShoppingWhen Madeline started school we started a tradition of going on a "special day" to go school shopping. It is something we all look forward to each year! We get to shop, eat lunch, laugh and just hang out together. Oh, and we ALWAYS take lots of photos. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thomas enjoying his first Icee and silly straw.<br />
He is not old enough for preschool (thankfully!) but he got to get a treat on a recent trip to Target.</td></tr>
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Madeline is going into second grade this year. She is excited for art class and being in the same class as her best friend. She is a little nervous about homework.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Madeline and Mama on our lunch date.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two goofballs.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Zella will be in first grade. She is excited about, well, EVERYTHING. Because Zella that is just how Zella is. She is nervous about not having her best friends (cousin Gracie and Kiera) in her class.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zella and Mama</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock stars!</td></tr>
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Violet will be in four-year-old preschool this year four mornings a week. She is excited to see her "boyfriend" Riley almost every day. She is nervous about being away from mama because she wants to stay with me FOREVER and never ever move away. She had very specific instructions for our photos:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aXg88P64hi8/UhGMmfsjoxI/AAAAAAAAmQA/9a8JlY5yb3c/s1600/cheers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aXg88P64hi8/UhGMmfsjoxI/AAAAAAAAmQA/9a8JlY5yb3c/s320/cheers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheers Violet!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3BnUCawhhbU/UhGMo2ys8TI/AAAAAAAAmQI/PKinHC8WbjI/s1600/goofy+faces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3BnUCawhhbU/UhGMo2ys8TI/AAAAAAAAmQI/PKinHC8WbjI/s320/goofy+faces.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silly faces</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DAVhrv6eRRU/UhGM2FHOHCI/AAAAAAAAmQQ/EzIdBINpAB4/s1600/angry+faces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DAVhrv6eRRU/UhGM2FHOHCI/AAAAAAAAmQQ/EzIdBINpAB4/s320/angry+faces.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now show me angry!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7mHjezK-5Zg/UhGM8lGFZaI/AAAAAAAAmQY/5dbVuHaFnbs/s1600/french+fries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7mHjezK-5Zg/UhGM8lGFZaI/AAAAAAAAmQY/5dbVuHaFnbs/s320/french+fries.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Now eat French fries!"</td></tr>
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This summer has been a little crazy to tell you the truth. There have been moments when I have been ready for school to start. But now that the time is here I am going to miss them like crazy! What a privilege and honor to get to stay at home with this four crazy kids. Thomas and I are not going to know what to do with ourselves during our quiet mornings. (On second thought, *I* will still be here and I'm not that quiet. Neither is Thomas for that matter!)<br />
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Good luck girls!<br />
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<br />Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-34673754072700434672013-08-19T06:00:00.000-05:002013-08-19T06:00:14.163-05:00Songs In My Head<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/soRko8U4uho" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-79711497191534434072013-08-18T21:49:00.002-05:002013-08-18T21:49:39.816-05:00Five Things<h2>
Five things we loved this summer...</h2>
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<li>Watching the sunrise over the pasture and cornfields. Somehow the light seems more golden at our new place.</li>
<li>Cuddling with our four new kittens.</li>
<li>Spending HOURS in our l a r g e driveway riding bikes, playing with sidewalk chalk and putting on various "shows".</li>
<li>Playing on the big new swing set. It even has a tornado slide!</li>
<li>Picking and eating raspberries and mulberries.</li>
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Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-68142662238313176522013-08-09T14:07:00.001-05:002013-08-09T14:07:19.527-05:00Time FliesSomeone once told me that when you're a parent the days are long and the years are quick. They were right! Our long summer days have flown past and school is about to start soon. I looked around this blog last night trying to find a particular photo and I got sucked into the past. It was so fun to read all the little things about daily life with the kids. It made me want to blog again to document this awesome time in our lives so here I am.<br />
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I am just going to pick up where I am instead of trying to play catch up. But I WILL tell you one major thing that has changed since I blogged in January. NO, we are not having another baby. :) We MOVED to an acreage on the edge of town in Britt. That is right, people. A FARM in town. Best of both worlds! We moved in April/May and it has been crazy busy. We love it at our new place!<br />
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A blog comeback would not be complete without photos...<br />
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So what's new with you?Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-66053588166079379922013-01-08T00:40:00.000-06:002013-01-06T00:41:17.575-06:00Family photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This sweet, goofy family of mine has been very busy. Thankfully we took time for some family photos. (We haven't had our family photo taken since Violet was three months old!) <br />
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Travis & I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary! </div>
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Mama and her girls. :)</div>
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More photos to come...</div>
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Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-58081406737405813622013-01-06T00:40:00.000-06:002013-01-06T00:40:00.837-06:00Happy New Year<h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Thirteen things I'd like to do in 2013:</em></span></h2>
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<li>Show in actions and words how much I care about my family and friends.</li>
<li>Remember to reply, not react to stressful situations.</li>
<li>Take better care of myself so I don't get as easily frustrated or overwhelmed.</li>
<li>Take more pictures!</li>
<li>Blog more.</li>
<li>De clutter my house (the children keep growing but the space does not).</li>
<li>More dates with my cute hubby.</li>
<li>Do a better job of keeping in contact with my friends.</li>
<li>Get more sleep.</li>
<li>Say YES to playing with the kids more.</li>
<li>Raise even more money for Prevent Blindness Iowa's Vision Walk. Can't wait to join in this cause with my family again. The kids really got into it and I am so proud of them!</li>
<li>Play the piano more.</li>
<li>Persevere when I want to take the easy way out and give up on these goals!</li>
</ol>
Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-28851960549571840722012-09-19T05:30:00.000-05:002012-09-19T05:30:04.579-05:00Remembering Summer 2012 Part 1Madeline got to play t-ball again this year and this time they had a few actual games. She had a lot of fun and we all enjoyed watching her play.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Madeline</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thomas, Violet and Zella hanging out</td></tr>
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We spent a lot of time outside playing (especially in the tree house). </div>
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The girls also love to play tea party.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our dog Josie is always near by in case someone drops a cookie.<br />
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Thomas loves walks with Papa.</td></tr>
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The girls picked flowers almost every day and love to arrange them for me.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zella snuggling with Thomas.</td></tr>
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We made a "Summer List" this year of fun things (big and small) that we wanted to do. We almost finished the list and had a lot of fun doing it. <br />
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More later,<br />
LoriLorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-77356886369689574572012-09-17T23:52:00.000-05:002012-09-17T23:52:26.504-05:00Turns Out<ul>having four kids makes life really busy. So busy I haven't updated this blog all summer. There has been lots of change since I wrote last.
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For instance:<br />
<li>Zella got to quit patching her lazy eye for 8 (!) hours each day. Woo hoo! Her vision improved by two lines. Her opthamologist was very surprised and happy with the results. And so were we!!! I am very proud of her for sticking with it and having a great attitude about it.</li>
<li>Thomas patched his lazy eye for two hours a day. Patching didn't improve his vision or eye turn so he got glasses when he was ten months old. (Much more on this subject later) He looks adorable in his blue glasses and keeps them on for the most part.
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<li>We had a crazy busy summer...t-ball, arts and crafts, fishing vacation at the cabin, week at Grandma's house complete with annual trip to the zoo, bible school, county fair, Hobo Days, etc. etc. etc.</li>
<li>Madeline Zella had their dance recital.</li>
<li>We participated as a family in the "Light the Night for Sight" vision walk for Prevent Blindness Iowa. We raised $750 in three weeks to help screen kids for strabismus and amblyopia (cross-eye and lazy eye). It was an amazing project and we plan to participate next year.</li>
<li>Zella caught a pig in the greased pig contest at the fair and won five dollars. :)</li>
<li>A new school year started. Madeline is in first grade, Zella started kindergarten, and Violet is in three-year-old preschool two mornings a week. It has been an adjustment for all!!! My house is VERY quite during the day now and I am still not used to it. (Quite being a relative term, of course. Violet and I are still here and we both are loud and talk a lot. Ha!)</li>
<li>Madeline lost her first tooth.</li>
<li>Zella learned how to tie her shoes.</li>
<li>Thomas has seven teeth, learned to walk, talk and turned ONE!!!!</li>
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I have a lot to catch up on and I hope I get the chance to. If not, I want to pick up where I left off before my days as a mama to little ones passes me by too quickly. This blog is my personal memory keeper and scrapbook. <br />
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And if I were to remember the summer of 2012 in one word it would be "WHIRLWIND".<br />
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More later,<br />
Lori<br />
Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-63256814978598077352012-06-11T22:01:00.001-05:002012-06-11T22:02:56.316-05:00Songs In My HeadA combination of two of my favorites: Mumford & Sons and one of my fav hymns. Love it!<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zNzO6LCyiIY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-11877966522024349272012-06-07T21:07:00.002-05:002012-06-07T21:07:18.815-05:00Tree HouseWhen we bought our house almost six years ago we were excited the back yard had a tree house. Travis has done a lot of work fixing it up and it looks great. The only think left to do is paint. (Unfortunately he won't get a lot of help from me...I am afraid of heights!) The deck and staircase he built is awesome. (I forgot to take pictures but will soon.)<br />
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The kids have been spending hours playing in their tree house since summer vacation started. I know they'll make a lot of great memories of their tree house clubhouse this summer.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Madeline sweeping the deck.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nttGORHkKVU/T9Fcxy92NZI/AAAAAAAAh8I/4W0VKrgEYSY/s1600/homesweethome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nttGORHkKVU/T9Fcxy92NZI/AAAAAAAAh8I/4W0VKrgEYSY/s320/homesweethome.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zella giving her doll the tour.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ta-da!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kx5iFCqc19E/T9FdGIWMouI/AAAAAAAAh8Y/CrJhHi5Wp2E/s1600/tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kx5iFCqc19E/T9FdGIWMouI/AAAAAAAAh8Y/CrJhHi5Wp2E/s320/tree.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Violet loves how part of the tree shows.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IRk6R4fSkwU/T9FdSWMMl4I/AAAAAAAAh8o/VZsj0rcuQ7k/s1600/reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IRk6R4fSkwU/T9FdSWMMl4I/AAAAAAAAh8o/VZsj0rcuQ7k/s320/reading.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How cute is this? </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z9dyuVVQTac/T9FdZ3Y1MrI/AAAAAAAAh8w/9I5A__n-wD0/s1600/vilorim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z9dyuVVQTac/T9FdZ3Y1MrI/AAAAAAAAh8w/9I5A__n-wD0/s320/vilorim.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zella taking a turn with my camera.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x53vLvk-UrI/T9FdlahxIkI/AAAAAAAAh84/-6b1wM2rb7g/s1600/zella+ma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x53vLvk-UrI/T9FdlahxIkI/AAAAAAAAh84/-6b1wM2rb7g/s320/zella+ma.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Violet</td></tr>
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Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-58427844818828974402012-05-30T23:23:00.000-05:002012-05-30T23:23:00.574-05:00Something To Think About<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v0wEGJlfYJA/T78PN7Sfj-I/AAAAAAAAgcs/iFk8efYrCHM/s1600/dysfunction.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v0wEGJlfYJA/T78PN7Sfj-I/AAAAAAAAgcs/iFk8efYrCHM/s320/dysfunction.png" width="320" /></a></div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-10385531252347771902012-05-28T07:00:00.000-05:002012-05-28T07:00:01.567-05:00Things I Am Learning Are Not NormalApparently it is not normal to:<br />
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have a dance party in your living room/kitchen/back yard/car at a moment's notice (and not care if others are watching)<br />
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always have a song in your head (Always. No. Matter.What.)<br />
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sing random songs from the 90's to your children as part of their bedtime routine (or camp songs you learned in girl scout camp 20 years ago)<br />
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turn on the dining room light when you let the dog outside or you won't remember to let her back inside<br />
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setting an alarm on your phone for ANYTHING you need to remember, including but not limited to: taking medicine, putting patches on or off two children, picking someone up or taking them to an activity, starting meal preparation, feeding pets, making an important phone call<br />
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There are more but I think I'd better keep some to myself! I guess you could say I have a lot of quirks!<br />
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<br />Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-39802575950282130422012-05-26T22:36:00.000-05:002012-05-26T22:36:00.361-05:00Songs In My HeadLove, love this song.
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<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0ycw4uaXPRU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-65276149129058063162012-05-24T22:03:00.000-05:002012-05-24T22:03:25.346-05:00Little BuddiesAll the girls adore Thomas and each day (usually several times a day) there is a fight over whose boy Thomas is. Shouts of, "He's MY BOY!", "NO. He's MY boy!" are common.
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I hate to break it to them, but he's MY boy. Mama makes the milk, people. And gets up in the middle of the night. AND changes poopy diapers. I think that qualifies me as his favorite.
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Violet and Thomas living it up in the tub.</div>
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Madeline, Thomas and Zella--resident cheeseballs.</div>
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It has been fun to see the girls be so kind and caring with their little brother. They live to make him laugh and always brag if they get him to giggle or show both dimples when he smiles.</div>
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We are very lucky!</div>
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More later,</div>
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Lori</div>
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</div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-75510696078053115942012-05-17T06:00:00.000-05:002012-05-17T06:00:12.078-05:00Something To Think About<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NA1Urg2aKCk/T6yVLv6DSrI/AAAAAAAAfXg/rk-2xC1MwN0/s1600/MargaretYoungQuote2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="213" width="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NA1Urg2aKCk/T6yVLv6DSrI/AAAAAAAAfXg/rk-2xC1MwN0/s320/MargaretYoungQuote2.jpg" /></a></div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-71172072182350833172012-05-13T05:30:00.000-05:002012-05-13T05:30:00.599-05:00Songs In My Head<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TdN5GyTl8K0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-8152846225848605752012-05-11T23:30:00.000-05:002012-05-11T23:30:02.593-05:00Something To Think About<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qt6HvaEBB0U/T6yS1R0AR4I/AAAAAAAAfXI/8M1E8gGAqpc/s1600/be+cheerful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qt6HvaEBB0U/T6yS1R0AR4I/AAAAAAAAfXI/8M1E8gGAqpc/s320/be+cheerful.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-15075414377972871232012-05-10T23:15:00.002-05:002012-05-10T23:15:49.866-05:00Growing Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Easter!</div>
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Thomas (aka Trav's mini-me) after breakfast</div>
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<br />Violet Leone happy as can be.<br />
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Zella checking out her eggs on Easter morning. She's wearing her Tangled cloth eye patch. </div>
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Miss Madeline playing dress up. She is equal parts serious and goofy.</div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-4708419649864630702012-05-10T22:55:00.002-05:002012-05-10T22:55:47.626-05:00I'm Just Going To Pretendthat I haven't taken an unforeseen blogging break. I will ignore the time that has passed and the pictures and stories I have not posted. <br />
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I won't mention that Violet got her tonsils out and had a hard time with it. I won't bring up all of the crazy things I have done due to little sleep (like forgetting to remove Thomas' dirty diaper before putting a new diaper on him). I won't go into detail about Thomas' baptism. I won't talk about having two kids wearing eye patches to strengthen lazy eyes.<br />
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I'll just put words on the page and hit publish so I can get out of this rut and move forward.<br />
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Because I have got to get back into blogging so I can share all the hilarious and sometimes embarrassing stuff that comes out of Violet's mouth. That girl has ATTITUDE.<br />
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Happy day, Internet. We'll catch up soon.<br />
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More later,<br />
Lori<br />Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-39159167067675709702012-03-14T23:16:00.001-05:002012-03-14T23:16:45.431-05:00Things I've Done Since I Last Blogged*Went to a hotel by myself with all four children (Travis had to unexpectedly go to a funeral visitation.)<br />
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*Developed a cyst on the top of my foot (on the tendon).<br />
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*Fell down an entire flight of stairs in my house.<br />
Three days of awful pain. I could barely move and could not stand up straight. And of course this happened while Travis was gone.<br />
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*Survived a week alone with the kids 24/7 while Travis was in Colorado for work<br />
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*Took Violet to a pediatric hematologist to confirm she doesn't have a rare blood disorder that we knew she didn't have. (At least Travis and I had a fun overnight trip to Iowa City with just Violet and Thomas while Madeline and Zella stayed with Granny)<br />
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*Managed to not cuss at the Sears repairman who told me it would be over two weeks before my washing machine was fixed. (STILL waiting for parts. I detest Sears.) I did, however, tell the repairman that I was going to take a deep breath so I would not cuss at him. <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Things That Need to Happen SOON Before I Lose My Mind:</span></strong><br />
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*have washing machine fixed<br />
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*Have Violet's tonsils removed (she just had strep AGAIN!) Now that we are cleared from the hematologist I NEED to have the surgeon schedule her surgery. Poor girl is miserable.<br />
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*Have the cyst disappear so I can walk and exercise without pain<br />
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*Have Thomas sleep through the night. Mama needs some SLEEP.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Hilarious Things That Happened to Lighten the Stress I've Felt The Last Month:</span></strong><br />
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*The podatrist thought I was a serious runner who overexercises for hours a day. Not to be mean to myself, but there is no way I look like a runner. I informed him I hurt my foot walking 30 minutes a day on the treadmill and dancing to MC Hammer's "You Can't Touch This" on the Wii. (For real, that is the truth.) <br />
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*The podiatrist told me to have complete rest and stay off my foot for TWO weeks while utlizing ice and elevation. I literally laughed. I have four kids! Two flights of stairs! My husband out of town! Sorry doctor but that is not possible.<br />
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*Violet has started saying "I'm SHOCKED" in response to almost everything anyone says to her. That little girl requires all of my patience (and then some) but has a great sense of humor!<br />
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*Thomas started laughing after he passes gas. Dimples included. Super cute. (Even though it is smelly!)<br />
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So there you go. My crazy few weeks summed up in a super long, wordy post.<br />
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Big thanks to my sisters Karen and Bonnie who helped me at the hotel, and to my mom for letting me borrow her washing machine for a couple days. Thanks also to Travis who took nine loads of laundry (not even all of it!) to the laundry mat for me. He was Mr. Mom for a couple days while I laid on the couch with a heating pad on my shoulder/back and ice on my foot. I do not recommend falling down the stairs while having a painful cyst on your foot. Not a great combo!<br />
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More later,<br />
Lori<br />
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<br />Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-6743767410475016972012-02-25T22:45:00.000-06:002012-02-25T22:45:18.483-06:00Thomas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HP8-JE85MGY/T0m4phEEvzI/AAAAAAAAfRQ/UU5NgP2kmUU/s1600/Clendenon+Family--388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" lda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HP8-JE85MGY/T0m4phEEvzI/AAAAAAAAfRQ/UU5NgP2kmUU/s320/Clendenon+Family--388.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-23355561666532373652012-02-25T22:39:00.000-06:002012-02-25T22:39:11.805-06:00Violet - Three Years Old<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846423422060873426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488370986300935317.post-89319304336328504262012-02-08T22:32:00.001-06:002012-02-08T22:32:17.424-06:00Zella<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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