tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48640016372075888232024-03-12T18:49:38.456-07:00ChicapubaFun in ProgressRenee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-40633579472695112712011-03-07T12:23:00.000-08:002011-03-07T13:23:55.024-08:00What we are up to lately....<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_lgxGv-iiEbwJR_48ni6-HVyGvoBO99JudMNN29qTMNjWxlRGY15Z7lz2reP573BF5LGsWdSoKHlnrcSqUAm7IJD3pEmapc1UN95SAEJBia5XT6UBzURNvt_jBMrgTSjqqNB2ViV2So/s1600/XanderKakuro3711.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581450700014030738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_lgxGv-iiEbwJR_48ni6-HVyGvoBO99JudMNN29qTMNjWxlRGY15Z7lz2reP573BF5LGsWdSoKHlnrcSqUAm7IJD3pEmapc1UN95SAEJBia5XT6UBzURNvt_jBMrgTSjqqNB2ViV2So/s320/XanderKakuro3711.JPG" border="0" /></a> Xander working a Kakuro puzzle.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO61orMy9cpK1UXEe-zNZ-nR8tXVfwEhp6kcbZyHY1AIfiY0qwB05QiEx7iPYapHuDFZZmf-Rc4Rl0LRS5G9zm9slbkPdYJdHqBZnRw_LlRV3_o2OT_c0HI68Ne65qK4h8nOTUMDU5Qyw/s1600/Xumeiminecraft3711.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581449876664397874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO61orMy9cpK1UXEe-zNZ-nR8tXVfwEhp6kcbZyHY1AIfiY0qwB05QiEx7iPYapHuDFZZmf-Rc4Rl0LRS5G9zm9slbkPdYJdHqBZnRw_LlRV3_o2OT_c0HI68Ne65qK4h8nOTUMDU5Qyw/s320/Xumeiminecraft3711.JPG" border="0" /></a>XuMei on Minecraft.<br /></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><br /><div align="center">playing with friends</div><br /><br />Halo: Reach<br /><br /><br />Call of Duty: Black Ops<br /><br /><br />Minecraft<br /><br /><br />Little Big Planet 2<br /><br /><br />Kinect games<br /><br /><br />Kakuro<br /><br /><br />Pepakuro<br /><br /><br />Mario Brothers on Nintendo DSi<br /><br /><br />Gilmore Girls<br /><br /><br />Mythbusters<br /><br /><br />Extreme Engineering<br /><br /><br />Segway<br /><br /><br />Solar panels<br /><br /><br />Quidditch<br /><br /><br />Dodgeball<br /><br /><br />Skype with cousins and friends near and far<br /><br /><br />Phineas and Ferb<br /><br /><br />3rd Rock from the Sun<br /><br /><br />Nerf Capture the Flag<br /><br /><br />Puberty<br /><br /><br />Dungeons & Dragons<br /><br /><br />Horseback Riding, Natural Horsemanship<br /><br /><br />Fluxx<br /><br /><br />Uno<br /><br /><br />Monopoly<br /><br /><br />The Game of Life<br /><br /><br />Icehouse<br /><br /><br />Pigmania<br /><br /><br />Luck of the Draw<br /><br /><br />MadGabs<br /><br /><br />Apples to Apples<br /><br /><br />Spoons<br /><br /><br />B.S. (the card game)<br /><br /><br />Dictionaries<br /><br /><br />Bananagrams<br /><br /><br />Pokemon<br /><br /><br />Bakugon<br /><br /><br />Rubiks cube and other puzzles<br /><br /><br />Bucky balls<br /><br /><br />airsoft guns<br /><br /><br />target shooting<br /><br /><br />Legos<br /><br /><br />Lola and all things dog related<br /><br /><br />Evergreen Space and Aviation Museum<br /><br /><br />OMSI<br /><br /><br />The Hobbit<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is a partial list of things we have been interested in or doing for the last 9 months.<br /><br /><br /></div>Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-30574410524118936202010-08-26T17:58:00.000-07:002010-08-26T18:00:06.347-07:00Facebook in your FaceBlog? What blog you say? Perhaps I'll start blogging again. hmmm...perhaps. But only if I can get Facebook to accept my blog URl!! HAHA!Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-24987132511968799892009-11-08T21:55:00.001-08:002009-11-08T21:55:00.718-08:00Ever since I got my new phone I have stopped blogging--- it's easier to post directly from my phone to facebook or Twitter. But I miss the blog. And I still get a lot out of reading other blogs so I want to be able to blog from my phone. I will work on getting photos on here........Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-15210721075988093802009-11-08T21:38:00.001-08:002009-11-08T21:38:46.853-08:00I'm trying to send a picture to my blog from my phone--- it's not working ....Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-73504582162610091272009-11-08T21:37:00.001-08:002009-11-08T21:37:47.662-08:00Hello blog! Are you there?Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-38802702922437008312009-07-06T09:36:00.000-07:002009-07-09T13:50:02.284-07:00Saying YES to LifeSay YES to life (and even though I am tempted to say the universe and everything---that's not what I mean.)<br /><a href="http://sandradodd.com/yes">Saying "YES" more......</a><br />an unschooling concept deceptive in it's simplicity. It doesn't mean say YES to everything all the time. It also doesn't mean be irritated with your kids for asking permission because, after all, aren't they suppose to be free to make their own decisions. It doesn't mean you have to say yes and feel like a martyr.<br />Saying YES has become increasingly challenging for me. I don't have resistance saying yes to more cherries, another Popsicle, a trip to the park.<br />Can I use the camera?<br />Let's watch Mork and Mindy.<br />Can we go to the pool? Well....actually I did rail against this request early in the summer when the temperature had not yet reached the necessary 80's for me to enjoy being sopping wet. I did not want to go and the more I thought about it the more I was mad that I "had to go". Then as I was grumbling about not wanting to go, Xander and XuMei said, "you don't have to go Mom."<br />And all my pissed off resentment melted away and I felt free and light as I walked up to the counter and said "2 kids and one adult".<br />Saying yes----not HAVING to say yes-- wanting to say yes.<br />SO this brings me to the things Chris and I have been saying No to.<br />Can we get chickens?<br />Can we get a dog?<br />No and NO.<br />Why?<br />It's complicated. My Mom lives with us and is in the last stages of her life. Hospice helps tremendously. But the emotional work of helping a loved one die is ours. And really we are not helping her die-- I am standing on the side of the living helping her live as fully and richly as she is able. It is the greatest privilege second only to welcoming new life.<br />As I wrap my head around this process I hold my breath waiting, wondering when it will happen, when will she pass? Will I have any warning? Who will find her? Can I really go on living around her? How to squeeze every moment out of the time we have left without seeming to be saying "good bye" every time I leave her presence.<br />So I keep saying no to bringing more living creatures into our family because it just feels like more work.<br />More food, more clean up, more stress, more worry, more expense, more more more......<br />more laughter, more fun, more smiles, more learning, more love.<br />More life.<br />All this time I have been saying no to life.<br />No more life! Dammit! We are trying to die here! We are trying to not be stressed and not be messy and die.<br />I am not saying that we should bring into our family indiscriminately any scruffy mutt, or squawking meat ball with legs that happens our way----but I am making strides toward expanding our brood. I am reading<a href="http://www.newsketemonks.com/"> books</a>, <a href="http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/">web sites</a>, asking<a href="http://www.janfennellthedoglistener.com/"> people</a> about their experience, and softening my heart to the idea of a dog.<br />I am a quintessential cat lady. So a dog is a big stretch for me. And ultimately, like a lot of things about parenting, a tremendously healing stretch for me. I used to be afraid of dogs. I have learned that my fear is not of the dogs but of the owners.<br />And I don't HAVE to get a dog. I am making a choice. I am choosing to say YES...<br />to life!<br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">To us and our good fortune!<br />Be happy, be healthy, long life!<br />And if our good fortune never comes,<br />Here's to whatever comes,<br />Drink la kayim, to life!<br />~~~Fiddler On the Roof<br /><br />or this one from <a href="http://hannahbearski.blogspot.com/">Diana</a>:<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiOcW_YR1G8<br /></span>Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-13515420247277021582009-06-26T08:53:00.001-07:002009-06-26T08:53:14.085-07:00Just testing this text feature....<br>Testing 1,2,3<br>;-)Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-60504884019530915852009-06-06T13:59:00.000-07:002009-06-29T07:21:50.004-07:00Life is Good and the amazing Schuyler Waynforth<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTe2bLqWkODb6BboF7_adUzavRw932ayXJiLMW540EyoDAm1t6x4alJr76tIpUqlvx5d8ZpybmM6eCwhw2OP8wcF-HXFciRV7Dxfr0bgllaUCilGQojmHmKZUoVKr_nr-vU3_imK9t9Ac/s1600-h/LIGvanpaint.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTe2bLqWkODb6BboF7_adUzavRw932ayXJiLMW540EyoDAm1t6x4alJr76tIpUqlvx5d8ZpybmM6eCwhw2OP8wcF-HXFciRV7Dxfr0bgllaUCilGQojmHmKZUoVKr_nr-vU3_imK9t9Ac/s320/LIGvanpaint.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344341203384684594" border="0" /></a><br />I started this blog about a year ago in response to attending my second Life is Good Unschooling Conference. I saw that blogging was a good way to communicate with other unschoolers and family and friends about this path we are on. It seems fitting to revisit this idea after returning from the 3rd Life is Good Conference.<br />The thing about Life is Good and Unschooling is so many other people have already said what I want to say and better that I just want to link their blogs and be done with it.<br />But there is something pressing me to be able to express this amazing transformation in my life and my children and my family. I am not trying to proselytize--it's been said before (I credit Sandra Dodd) and I'll repeat it here:<br />Not everyone can or should unschool.<br />But if you can....if you can see it as a possibility, if it calls to you at all.....I invite you to jump in!<br />The water feels great (and to my neighbor who has twice told me she thinks I joined a cult--the Kool-Aid is delicious!)<br /><br />Last year I attended a circle chat called Peaceful Partnerships led by Beth Fuller who also moderates a yahoo group of the same name (<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Peacefulpartnerships/">click here</a>) The question was asked, "Do you assume your partner is doing the best they can?"<br />WOW....I had to admit I didn't ---I often assumed the worst intentions of this man I loved. And then the question that really rocked my world, "Do you extend the same compassion to yourself that you want to be able to give to your children and partners?"<br />I came away from that conference learning, growing and changing. Also kicking and screaming and gnashing my teeth as I inevitably do whenever self-growth is the agenda. In the weeks that followed Schuyler Waynforth posted this profound bit in response to a poster having difficulties with her husband, on the Peaceful Partners Yahoo group:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">"At the Life is Good</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">conference Beth Fuller led a circle chat on Peaceful Partnerships. In</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">it she asked who among believed that everyone was doing the best they</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">could with what they had in any given moment. So, I'm going to ask you</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">that question: Do you think your husband is doing the best he can with</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">what he has at any given moment?</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">It is a really important question. Or, maybe not, maybe it is just a</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">question that really resonates with me. I don't do it, I don't believe</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">it, or I didn't. I wasn't among the hand raisers. That question has</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">been sitting with me for almost a month now (has it really been that</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">long?), can I give people the benefit of the doubt to believe that</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">they only and always are responding with the best they have in any</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">given moment? Part of it is that I can't quite give myself that</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">benefit of the doubt. Well, maybe that is all of it. Maybe if I could</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">believe that even in those moments where I am the least of what I want</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">to be, I am doing the best that I can with what I have, maybe then I</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">can extend that trust to other people. "</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> Right now, in front of the television, there are a slew of oragami papers and markers and paper dolls and other bits and bobs from Linnaea crafting one or another thing. As I peer closer I can see a bird she made and drawings she's drawn and planes she designed as toys for the kittens. I will probably go over and tidy it up in a little bit, to keep the pieces safer from folks walking around and to make sure that there isn't food for the ants. It takes only a moment to turn what you describe as rubble into a series of activities, of joyous moments. They are still lifes waiting to be interpreted. I can see the shadow of her sitting there and doing and making and talking and turning to Simon to show him or running to fly the plane she made in the hallway to see if it would fly well enough to engage whichever kitten it was designed to amuse, or calling to me to come and interpret whichever fold the origami book was describing onto the paper she was folding.</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> It isn't rubble, it is her life.</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> I've gotten in social hot water for being to forthright about my feelings about parenting and food, largely. The potential cost for my social faux pas was to Linnaea and to Simon and not to me. Because of that I've worked really hard to change my perspective and thus my approach. One is to recognize that I'm not all that concerned about the parenting, more about the child. That means I can be generous to the child without worrying about what their parent is doing, or at least not so much. It may not seem to make a lot of difference, but it kind of cuts them out of the picture. It allows me to worry less about the parenting and just be the adult I want to be when interacting with the child or children. The other thing that helps is to recognize how lucky I am that I get to do this life. I know that it's not just luck, it's a lot of work and thought and reading and breathing and patience and curiosity and exploration. But I have a life where I can be home</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> or out and about with Simon and Linnaea in ways that so many other people I know just don't seem to be able to manage. And while I am sure if this life was something they really wanted they could achieve it, it is still because of all the wonderful gifts in my life that I am able to do this. It helps a lot to see my life as this wonderful joyous trip that I'm on. Sometimes I screw up, some moments I suck and grouch and say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Who am I to throw stones at glass houses? I get to live with my choices and so do other parents.</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> I try and limit my expression of opinion to appropriate forums. Here is great. Here I'm asked what I think and for help and advice. In other people's homes and lives and company I don't have to be on call as an advisor. And when I'm asked for advice, I need to take it with a grain of salt, and be prepared not to have anything that I say be taken more as a momentary conversation.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">Schuyler</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);" href="http://www.waynforth.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://www.waynforth.blogspot.com</a><br /><br />I wrote her this bit:<br /><br />Hello,<br />I met you briefly at Life Is Good and then again at Mary Gold's house and went bowling with you and your family. My name is Renee. I come with Xander, XuMei and Chris (spouse).<br />I want to tell you how much your words (quote from Peaceful Partnerships) meant to me this morning. They are perfect and I needed to hear them (again).<br />I have been reading several message boards/unschooling groups for the past year and I know you from your posts. Thank you for putting yourself out there, for admitting that sometimes you are "the least of what you want to be" (this is so helpful to me right now as I am being the least of what I want to be). And reminding me of the key element I came away from the conference knowing----I must extend the same compassion to myself as I expect to extend to my partner and children. Somehow in the jumble of life I forgot.<br />Thank you Thank you Thank you.<br />Renee Cabatic<br /><br />And she wrote back to me:<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">Oh, yay!</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">Of course I remember you. I was just, today, sitting upstairs on the bed looking through the Life is Good directory and seeing you thinking about Chris' dance mat gliding. And wondering about your secret blog. And thinking about your fantastic smile and how you danced at the barefoot boogie and your recharge time. Many things, all at once.</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">I'm glad that what I wrote meant something to you. It means a lot to me to get to write it. It makes it feel more concrete, more directed, more future making of the now, if you know what I mean in my lack of clarity. Let's try again, if I write it, somehow, it becomes a truth that I want to maintain. There we go. By saying it aloud, by telling 196 (or how many members there are of Peaceful Partnerships) folks how I feel, I become obligated to try and make my words and my reality coincide. I like that sort of accountability.<br /></span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">Thank you for writing.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">Yay!<br /></span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">Schuyler</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">www.waynforth.blogspot.com</span><br /><br />So that brings me back to the reason I want to be able to write about unschooling. Even though I am on a path and changing and questioning all the time, "if I write it, somehow, it becomes a truth I want to maintain." I want that sort of accountability too!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOB_iBAGBFpPgL_-ZqRa4QC6aAkkH9D6SjZ0rUDTj3Al_E83OTsbHDGDTH_qINprpSDAbIL2COuIMVBp2_qIHb4M9WlbdPAuaifJ5c7ASqhwGpNRgqru5l03pk6kHP0cW1LVUl90c-nME/s1600-h/LIGhotelwiring.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOB_iBAGBFpPgL_-ZqRa4QC6aAkkH9D6SjZ0rUDTj3Al_E83OTsbHDGDTH_qINprpSDAbIL2COuIMVBp2_qIHb4M9WlbdPAuaifJ5c7ASqhwGpNRgqru5l03pk6kHP0cW1LVUl90c-nME/s320/LIGhotelwiring.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344341207924704210" border="0" /></a>Xander finding electrical wires in the floor of the Hotel lobby at Life is Good. Connections, making connections.Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-52855226864278212072009-05-08T19:17:00.000-07:002009-05-10T10:08:16.808-07:00It's a BrickHouse!!<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>and a brick apartment complex:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9-kSuE0UH5bEE09nh3tvCSoC530P2T09xToZ9AlUNfPfuXAP0Cefh9Awb8A5x5EW3oqrtZaoCkQb4sZVaGtroDSNII_d7CgymEAcXloiwzZ3JYwGo-VC1Z9dm35emc_8I7m90vU2UVU/s1600-h/P1010398.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9-kSuE0UH5bEE09nh3tvCSoC530P2T09xToZ9AlUNfPfuXAP0Cefh9Awb8A5x5EW3oqrtZaoCkQb4sZVaGtroDSNII_d7CgymEAcXloiwzZ3JYwGo-VC1Z9dm35emc_8I7m90vU2UVU/s320/P1010398.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334239606456200594" border="0" /></a>and a brick castle:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXiTtDaY9_5fyuPoFtxbi-kjWjRG4wH-dynzPLqVdkPJqVuZy-ropvH-1xtEuUYXB0Bd23n1o6dp3u0U5GVicsV3LlmvjUs9841qimiTa0HQULhVIMB2uw9vO8Ic5csY336mwjptWf9o/s1600-h/P1010406.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXiTtDaY9_5fyuPoFtxbi-kjWjRG4wH-dynzPLqVdkPJqVuZy-ropvH-1xtEuUYXB0Bd23n1o6dp3u0U5GVicsV3LlmvjUs9841qimiTa0HQULhVIMB2uw9vO8Ic5csY336mwjptWf9o/s320/P1010406.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333646214028168354" border="0" /></a>and a brick roller coaster:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFJF8UJh0bygWHf0FQ5CTOvdG7DmKg2qq-v2Ya7hTCHmlRG5F8OOdPmqECVNhDJ3naUDlevup-j-cicibU1-PVpPB72VQQ3D864Ib4oNJlOGj9E636zGCqkoB-BCr5vhuHzm9DQXOhmI/s1600-h/P1010411.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFJF8UJh0bygWHf0FQ5CTOvdG7DmKg2qq-v2Ya7hTCHmlRG5F8OOdPmqECVNhDJ3naUDlevup-j-cicibU1-PVpPB72VQQ3D864Ib4oNJlOGj9E636zGCqkoB-BCr5vhuHzm9DQXOhmI/s320/P1010411.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334239613585552194" border="0" /></a>and a brick marimba playing robot: <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoqwKJG5JBASZweA1RvbRY4BG2Zr_uaTzw37SHDz7T6UD-_gIkdR3yDjL0MGToQDuO5-P1KPNiIdlI9_PNj5ONatMRFmx-tJ_0sYJ5FpDgZ7GLhxNzl6PeLPhxNfcjTmdoh_M4emRdB0/s1600-h/P1010410.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoqwKJG5JBASZweA1RvbRY4BG2Zr_uaTzw37SHDz7T6UD-_gIkdR3yDjL0MGToQDuO5-P1KPNiIdlI9_PNj5ONatMRFmx-tJ_0sYJ5FpDgZ7GLhxNzl6PeLPhxNfcjTmdoh_M4emRdB0/s320/P1010410.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334239607147121538" border="0" /></a>and a brick massage lounge chair:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtJHonpBLb96oL_1q1kJP-KSmW-vpAq8JWRjPqZhJkCZGNXRu8GctbGWhgeJGTP6PHUvgI8h3_5CfesMaYAAkmCPDdqL1-8UZLR-Ha7jqxvcY8-Pv3kHnNsBo5YbdogWAyKYotXqoUsg/s1600-h/P1010403.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtJHonpBLb96oL_1q1kJP-KSmW-vpAq8JWRjPqZhJkCZGNXRu8GctbGWhgeJGTP6PHUvgI8h3_5CfesMaYAAkmCPDdqL1-8UZLR-Ha7jqxvcY8-Pv3kHnNsBo5YbdogWAyKYotXqoUsg/s320/P1010403.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333646212493227282" border="0" /></a>and a brick orchard:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EaSX0mlHp3LacQKYw5hcj-jPcUNg-7putrONajtORIxHVCbmj7v-no9rXV4SdBFkLgWJH-C0A95YCITBZeCAMpf3mxoATONuvi69c0LtspjAumc32x5aw5Wo8f27jshsKWxt6m-YOJ0/s1600-h/P1010399.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EaSX0mlHp3LacQKYw5hcj-jPcUNg-7putrONajtORIxHVCbmj7v-no9rXV4SdBFkLgWJH-C0A95YCITBZeCAMpf3mxoATONuvi69c0LtspjAumc32x5aw5Wo8f27jshsKWxt6m-YOJ0/s320/P1010399.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333646209393140626" border="0" /></a>and a brick work of art:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3O7TChTYr_aNBRyP_OGp0EoFv5R8s3O-kM5DzHsmau74BME-UtiC6jtKe8EWn_im0H_RyZkQMg4DgMzJJ7ktqJvf-adCWSicWygxRVz54q-jbl1wsM5xalKonoV-kSSGfOuL7mPRUyM/s1600-h/P1010389.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3O7TChTYr_aNBRyP_OGp0EoFv5R8s3O-kM5DzHsmau74BME-UtiC6jtKe8EWn_im0H_RyZkQMg4DgMzJJ7ktqJvf-adCWSicWygxRVz54q-jbl1wsM5xalKonoV-kSSGfOuL7mPRUyM/s320/P1010389.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333646203544417522" border="0" /></a>and a brick space needle:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEqiCL9hECg6rsvwLo-DHjPFDjeh1xFmOMjSU3K1cZ06YH46amm458CcaCiqGPc6IT6tCwZZwoS3eeo1cNVKufWDP_HY0ncUTBJslyaBbgGkFLOvJWS03I4f1HTbR7GZlIt0X7xVGCEc/s1600-h/P1010397.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEqiCL9hECg6rsvwLo-DHjPFDjeh1xFmOMjSU3K1cZ06YH46amm458CcaCiqGPc6IT6tCwZZwoS3eeo1cNVKufWDP_HY0ncUTBJslyaBbgGkFLOvJWS03I4f1HTbR7GZlIt0X7xVGCEc/s320/P1010397.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333646193768509090" border="0" /></a>and a brick city block:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHpwlWDx6QElJb20z7v0sMqFxvKkAfaR_8c6qyRfJDQ9J9riqcUHvGT5WwIm8Gpgka-FFBxE-DoQBYID-V4uO_zTiFF_b9E0whprfySkewi2lbHJuy7Z7TTGEvIpQGORn66aXQFxBY8w/s1600-h/P1010396.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHpwlWDx6QElJb20z7v0sMqFxvKkAfaR_8c6qyRfJDQ9J9riqcUHvGT5WwIm8Gpgka-FFBxE-DoQBYID-V4uO_zTiFF_b9E0whprfySkewi2lbHJuy7Z7TTGEvIpQGORn66aXQFxBY8w/s320/P1010396.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333644458115404386" border="0" /></a>and a brick bonsai tree:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaenKUge9-HmEbxbriUyXoRb8DC19swMarOu0fN77vkSZiq1Y55VP8pdaISo37Wscj5cPwuJu99pBjip-bwfqsOXerPetW_3SlL3RCAf74ujj-2Dsjbl5k1GSOE2vyVIo472AQ2A7ITo/s1600-h/P1010393.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaenKUge9-HmEbxbriUyXoRb8DC19swMarOu0fN77vkSZiq1Y55VP8pdaISo37Wscj5cPwuJu99pBjip-bwfqsOXerPetW_3SlL3RCAf74ujj-2Dsjbl5k1GSOE2vyVIo472AQ2A7ITo/s320/P1010393.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333644455504436834" border="0" /></a>and brick cartoon characters:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDX7enJ47IV8BXEM_r3IP-t8bML9v-4JhssZvidtRUrVELBL_uUMfk0tAhBijo5cm4b0UFGpqmG_ZUu0YllT8JmD7Q5SPI2CIUMLu4qto86bwIw_CgpRk03JKjw_TotmaWCHQQ_yFXIZs/s1600-h/P1010391.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDX7enJ47IV8BXEM_r3IP-t8bML9v-4JhssZvidtRUrVELBL_uUMfk0tAhBijo5cm4b0UFGpqmG_ZUu0YllT8JmD7Q5SPI2CIUMLu4qto86bwIw_CgpRk03JKjw_TotmaWCHQQ_yFXIZs/s320/P1010391.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333644449966481794" border="0" /></a>and a brick Taj Mahal:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6-rrjkkda0es3Idcnq93fMqXQ2q5QgZbxIX-H-PJ6aGRg6Ut0F-M3vz5cYvCUTBsyNq3IATeLiCTVZz-hAEaLWJmjsQ99X0FdKLDxtAE705RmsZ33JucTCVE7kQORiZ0u8UnMERm5xg/s1600-h/P1010388.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6-rrjkkda0es3Idcnq93fMqXQ2q5QgZbxIX-H-PJ6aGRg6Ut0F-M3vz5cYvCUTBsyNq3IATeLiCTVZz-hAEaLWJmjsQ99X0FdKLDxtAE705RmsZ33JucTCVE7kQORiZ0u8UnMERm5xg/s320/P1010388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333644444755155922" border="0" /></a>and a brick Eiffel Tower:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYTnfgk0cDPxveTrvISkIS5arBbq64tNR7I_VnAXHJ89CktGD7IHUeH8_E9Z8mBlTyleB5aeTSG7q18R6x1ssWEw7ecFDHVUduVA01ACkltCQmU0PohTwRdilbmkotg1aOSSz42hJ4-U/s1600-h/P1010387.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYTnfgk0cDPxveTrvISkIS5arBbq64tNR7I_VnAXHJ89CktGD7IHUeH8_E9Z8mBlTyleB5aeTSG7q18R6x1ssWEw7ecFDHVUduVA01ACkltCQmU0PohTwRdilbmkotg1aOSSz42hJ4-U/s320/P1010387.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333644442534546594" border="0" /></a>and tired Brickfest attendees:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9LOnc9K5jY6j6K2MZkUtzzSmtoFV9tYrb2dC1cTb2JWB4cntqnGrkksVxl1davMrvOP6oUjS5u_Qxnsz1w6kyzf9iFhK4BH9RIgNK-fTzlOX_9VRbh9MmsmBtW8H53pzMyfh8kosGWc/s1600-h/P1010415.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9LOnc9K5jY6j6K2MZkUtzzSmtoFV9tYrb2dC1cTb2JWB4cntqnGrkksVxl1davMrvOP6oUjS5u_Qxnsz1w6kyzf9iFhK4BH9RIgNK-fTzlOX_9VRbh9MmsmBtW8H53pzMyfh8kosGWc/s320/P1010415.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334239615382986274" border="0" /></a>Everything made from Legos. Except the people...unless they are Lego people....:)<br />I usually build simple square car like things with 4 wheels and then race them across the kitchen floor. I never even considered building a massage lounge chair.....I better get started!<br />What is the coolest thing you've made from Legos?Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-26063229349173448192009-05-06T20:48:00.000-07:002009-05-07T08:48:05.187-07:00Backwards Blog Post<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9AmpEfKJIkFpn_lxJDkcx_hQluFl5GZFn5ySY9FFUw2pXHXK75qSl7dnTqhFk1UxjvCXvLLHQS7_qzPxGHIEvwyOGTEpLfONWGA7O1tWAwMmSw3WcuYrTIGPrG5ZXkBFZz0I7wmk1vsw/s1600-h/P1010389.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9AmpEfKJIkFpn_lxJDkcx_hQluFl5GZFn5ySY9FFUw2pXHXK75qSl7dnTqhFk1UxjvCXvLLHQS7_qzPxGHIEvwyOGTEpLfONWGA7O1tWAwMmSw3WcuYrTIGPrG5ZXkBFZz0I7wmk1vsw/s320/P1010389.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332920603453979906" border="0" /></a>Just a hint of <a href="http://www.brickfest.com/">Brickfest</a>--more on that later. Because before I tell you that story I have to tell you this story:*<br />Grammie Pam and Grandpa Brian got Xander and XuMei an incredible experience for their 8th birthday,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErL3aNK6seSUKvBjX7N2uZf0wqD97Xh4JyPuDESTX7qySdo9xmWvumaQ8mIFsk43SSiLS2a9uVfk6hZ-IfRd0wWj2vTPVny4H5MEwyYndTwbS-V3oQCuyng9_pwc-lVQcRpryD_U-7M8/s1600-h/P1010381.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErL3aNK6seSUKvBjX7N2uZf0wqD97Xh4JyPuDESTX7qySdo9xmWvumaQ8mIFsk43SSiLS2a9uVfk6hZ-IfRd0wWj2vTPVny4H5MEwyYndTwbS-V3oQCuyng9_pwc-lVQcRpryD_U-7M8/s320/P1010381.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332920597128574898" border="0" /></a>Spending the night at the Oregon Coast Aquarium!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZ6OKb55A2T8iBuWvGIgdeuCWSeSnTWJCxavtF1D4-rMYNMq5ykKaTdv8dQnc5_wLpAagEgeXASgDHdUW9G8a27TWKuA7ar1TVEttsR2AR7ONO2MMzx8bBxCbWfQ__E0El5a641f99Q0/s1600-h/P1010368.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZ6OKb55A2T8iBuWvGIgdeuCWSeSnTWJCxavtF1D4-rMYNMq5ykKaTdv8dQnc5_wLpAagEgeXASgDHdUW9G8a27TWKuA7ar1TVEttsR2AR7ONO2MMzx8bBxCbWfQ__E0El5a641f99Q0/s320/P1010368.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332920594370514898" border="0" /></a>We learned plankton is any animal or vegetable that can't move against a current (so technically speaking that means I am plankton!:)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwWHA3V3v2L6zXZdT9ofSKXwz9cyhCwO0HSiYYpGEdKvnz_4EUsfXvsYZkTcv3BL_-DKJslcf7NIviAFxBsC0ZhxZAP-T12xnj6rizt5cOBTU9w0PPnpYwEWKmPBBy-8bgzEbF3r9DZM/s1600-h/P1010338.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwWHA3V3v2L6zXZdT9ofSKXwz9cyhCwO0HSiYYpGEdKvnz_4EUsfXvsYZkTcv3BL_-DKJslcf7NIviAFxBsC0ZhxZAP-T12xnj6rizt5cOBTU9w0PPnpYwEWKmPBBy-8bgzEbF3r9DZM/s320/P1010338.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332920583549526818" border="0" /></a>Using toothpicks, sponges, silly putty, beads and rubber bands we attempted to make a neutrally buoyant object:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKTC4je2FSjZmASirgV8oBnC-NdDxoFujySdaT0ECTHwNkE_uCOOqDB9t2lMakLfpcw7RhFdMmP2Lv34M_c7r8SshLjEAxsEoN_1n6q6gPqdf1V_sBXV8hsoE09-hDkJ5YaN7loWe5Qk/s1600-h/P1010335.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKTC4je2FSjZmASirgV8oBnC-NdDxoFujySdaT0ECTHwNkE_uCOOqDB9t2lMakLfpcw7RhFdMmP2Lv34M_c7r8SshLjEAxsEoN_1n6q6gPqdf1V_sBXV8hsoE09-hDkJ5YaN7loWe5Qk/s320/P1010335.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332920574984308354" border="0" /></a>Exploring the aquarium at night:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQK-siqG1Dp-2c9Z57shpSOiAFxfhaAJiPl3K6Dqx1A9xm_cNAbdweG3T7sOFL2omKwbceENNzo0U7BhCTGAj4GqfK2nluVIvvr9Kn7dMYbSULYLM24rqDA7iAP-Rd_kmnriCKlFVKCA/s1600-h/P1010372.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQK-siqG1Dp-2c9Z57shpSOiAFxfhaAJiPl3K6Dqx1A9xm_cNAbdweG3T7sOFL2omKwbceENNzo0U7BhCTGAj4GqfK2nluVIvvr9Kn7dMYbSULYLM24rqDA7iAP-Rd_kmnriCKlFVKCA/s320/P1010372.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332770921488268066" border="0" /></a>My Family behind the flounder tank:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOBV6MgiUWxDPtMYVe8qbmkRkkDZtiBmr4QkX951Zvuo86YuspmrWGGcl_ne9rif23X6Hlu-cYEBFwcTWUSFhUZ8oMbX3H3pLnl5SRF91oSYCbzhqEZ3Bueye05Enw-fU2gtTkjfxG8I/s1600-h/P1010351.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOBV6MgiUWxDPtMYVe8qbmkRkkDZtiBmr4QkX951Zvuo86YuspmrWGGcl_ne9rif23X6Hlu-cYEBFwcTWUSFhUZ8oMbX3H3pLnl5SRF91oSYCbzhqEZ3Bueye05Enw-fU2gtTkjfxG8I/s320/P1010351.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332770917299277282" border="0" /></a>Thrilled to pieces:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCo9s6J9uajNWh_N5swxhCYMuC6yug2rr6eL9RUzy9YAjFNCfrFr5Q2GR3BbA3TxjXDIOdSOgH6_JCXl04ygM5JggaG8EPKsioji001k3ykTnBPDJJb-zL_UleIMk74oWkwzokG2mB9aE/s1600-h/P1010331.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCo9s6J9uajNWh_N5swxhCYMuC6yug2rr6eL9RUzy9YAjFNCfrFr5Q2GR3BbA3TxjXDIOdSOgH6_JCXl04ygM5JggaG8EPKsioji001k3ykTnBPDJJb-zL_UleIMk74oWkwzokG2mB9aE/s320/P1010331.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332770912562478082" border="0" /></a>Somewhat skeptical of the prospect of sleeping in the tunnels of the deep shark tank:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBJkpu9Ty26lUmQwudPVClzre_4gIfQM7oUjP0ezgZXniUOXk0XVaXjfoaPS33qkCIgebi2cCR6xt2kUgTK8pqmNJlr3og1QKuTAEP40GAS_06iGbB6OO_pOt8nhPgva3AEakdUCieyg/s1600-h/P1010330.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBJkpu9Ty26lUmQwudPVClzre_4gIfQM7oUjP0ezgZXniUOXk0XVaXjfoaPS33qkCIgebi2cCR6xt2kUgTK8pqmNJlr3og1QKuTAEP40GAS_06iGbB6OO_pOt8nhPgva3AEakdUCieyg/s320/P1010330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332770910107897490" border="0" /></a>We ended up not sleeping in the tunnel, which turned out to be good because it was super cold in there. We were in a conference room adjacent to the tank so got to experience the sharks without the cold.<br />Before that we started a bunch of seeds:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmzf8YDcI-YLzOaTQk4LzSWOvSABqI_2Dc5E3sisr7W3apNt2NKvN-Y1avfrvRLemif_Pz7KtHNsiwIIR3CWRtwunQx7MOpsYLm-Qw0yqNwbGl73pTMZq-LYDjpcKFsqTlNvfsVuF428/s1600-h/P1010326.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmzf8YDcI-YLzOaTQk4LzSWOvSABqI_2Dc5E3sisr7W3apNt2NKvN-Y1avfrvRLemif_Pz7KtHNsiwIIR3CWRtwunQx7MOpsYLm-Qw0yqNwbGl73pTMZq-LYDjpcKFsqTlNvfsVuF428/s320/P1010326.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332770907539696930" border="0" /></a>And before that we made a lemon battery:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VUR1zu1vad7YfAopFFnv1KkJ3U3-5juq4ZWwcr8SiOPnDrTFStlJKsHw0KVEU6X_NX0-MNBK8h5tUf_PYk5_B8t4qRa-vThBKiHVt3nIOBwI3FplCX4nPOpUDl02TmORCi_3kA9a2gk/s1600-h/P1010224.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VUR1zu1vad7YfAopFFnv1KkJ3U3-5juq4ZWwcr8SiOPnDrTFStlJKsHw0KVEU6X_NX0-MNBK8h5tUf_PYk5_B8t4qRa-vThBKiHVt3nIOBwI3FplCX4nPOpUDl02TmORCi_3kA9a2gk/s320/P1010224.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332768863984247922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlAj2V4MwUUgA0pHppYvQ4qR1IKk8v6mooskkwv0b3mdSQzvUXj3TT_FC9wzU9qpBgPXjWqfIXUYRWCodW7I1yuK0hk6X_h-uCMkYGZhkuZpmRbUqhMcK5rmisGL9YJu_cgt_QJlMKuI/s1600-h/P1010222.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlAj2V4MwUUgA0pHppYvQ4qR1IKk8v6mooskkwv0b3mdSQzvUXj3TT_FC9wzU9qpBgPXjWqfIXUYRWCodW7I1yuK0hk6X_h-uCMkYGZhkuZpmRbUqhMcK5rmisGL9YJu_cgt_QJlMKuI/s320/P1010222.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332768860273967154" border="0" /></a>And before that we had lunch at Sunny Side Up with our friends Shelley and Kara and Shelley's girls Lauren and Sara.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8kIa6Y95IyFxUq8rtgDbHugWabFSxD_ND81GFrkxX8Co3PXULfYzyHiP9KniuaJWlhuGW3NuAHIKZo4Lr5NcwLivDwe3FpIiWhyphenhyphen974hRJwZIdbRI0sHaYkF-yVhbjZYit5Mfj8MVqig/s1600-h/P1010286.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8kIa6Y95IyFxUq8rtgDbHugWabFSxD_ND81GFrkxX8Co3PXULfYzyHiP9KniuaJWlhuGW3NuAHIKZo4Lr5NcwLivDwe3FpIiWhyphenhyphen974hRJwZIdbRI0sHaYkF-yVhbjZYit5Mfj8MVqig/s320/P1010286.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332768855761520930" border="0" /></a>Shelley and I are training for the Portland Marathon in October and Kara is a tri-athlete so she is graciously helping us with ...well...everything (especially motivation). XuMei took awesome pictures of all of the restaurant,and all of us.<br />Here is Kara:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLfHUROsJ5FtQpHFiqImVdfJKEAobVh3ucPuxBOb7koI_m809Rds4lrV3Vr4Esb6mRPeJin7grZ4i8XGbEX7W6NSleSa17u-HFKpFHV91y6DicTj-vqSShKbsDOk3Jp_mio2dsWrLWw0/s1600-h/P1010281.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLfHUROsJ5FtQpHFiqImVdfJKEAobVh3ucPuxBOb7koI_m809Rds4lrV3Vr4Esb6mRPeJin7grZ4i8XGbEX7W6NSleSa17u-HFKpFHV91y6DicTj-vqSShKbsDOk3Jp_mio2dsWrLWw0/s320/P1010281.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332937877062332754" border="0" /></a>Here is Sara:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAZpLv4Ycam0LlKQpleRAxrGkajEVKWQjgxCAG6NjcOOX_JIdq_PNTuJSCdIfsDp7S_UkKKwYzpZ0o4-hC4Qji9Kvcdk7EId_rTOMl7uof_UEpRDt19cOlW2B4m9bb4g_BJsw-5mfj4k/s1600-h/P1010262.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAZpLv4Ycam0LlKQpleRAxrGkajEVKWQjgxCAG6NjcOOX_JIdq_PNTuJSCdIfsDp7S_UkKKwYzpZ0o4-hC4Qji9Kvcdk7EId_rTOMl7uof_UEpRDt19cOlW2B4m9bb4g_BJsw-5mfj4k/s320/P1010262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332768853254117442" border="0" /></a>And a very happy Lauren:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7uOh7j_ABkKQGqnxtOhLbJ-cwhiDvHd2w27mFd3Y7Nkg8YAJ4ucODTPepM6rI1vmDVb0QInPznby0iXhNwVmll0I-MPKRaSg_C8tWCIj0p3r30Eo2pa-jzLqN8pL4-Dkix9k9NJ_QMA/s1600-h/P1010297.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7uOh7j_ABkKQGqnxtOhLbJ-cwhiDvHd2w27mFd3Y7Nkg8YAJ4ucODTPepM6rI1vmDVb0QInPznby0iXhNwVmll0I-MPKRaSg_C8tWCIj0p3r30Eo2pa-jzLqN8pL4-Dkix9k9NJ_QMA/s320/P1010297.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332768843560758562" border="0" /></a>Before that we had a few warm dry days and I bought a bubble machine--which I SERIOUSLY LOVE A LOT. It makes me sooooo happy. It is like looking at a crackling fire or a lively fish tank. Mesmerizing, relaxing, and beautiful. The kids alternately try to catch the bubbles, whack the bubbles, shoot the bubbles and mist the bubbles. Here they were whacking with badminton rackets.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7e9XzO763ZNFQOsp2z1pptdfAp9Obsg9ef_GaVlYWu4b3YsiVsI3hL83HpohNgpeF4AG9uiyp_qn29vQEVYXSPf9tTivIOwVtkkrv4YXK_VRZzzaxC65jRU0LBTiE3HgBpCq8Lt35BE/s1600-h/P1010215.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7e9XzO763ZNFQOsp2z1pptdfAp9Obsg9ef_GaVlYWu4b3YsiVsI3hL83HpohNgpeF4AG9uiyp_qn29vQEVYXSPf9tTivIOwVtkkrv4YXK_VRZzzaxC65jRU0LBTiE3HgBpCq8Lt35BE/s320/P1010215.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332766818667460178" border="0" /></a>Before that we had The Incredible Hessel Family over to play. We had been watching a Food Network show called Chopped, where chefs compete to create the most delicious dishes using 3-5 ingredients of the judges choosing. I chose marshmallows, whipped cream, graham crackers, tapioca pudding and bagels.<br />Team Noah and XuMei and their creation:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqQiFglE0V0ScWJDqZVYOwmYaOq1VhlXbwdCulCItzYJDC0_1jqS6E_iNt_i03H4abx825s4cjOoDAawdLi4xRTt_hyjP7COhvmxjdik3gXLjWkMiobvQ90Pab7ozFyhyzuTz0C5v5ig/s1600-h/P1010189.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqQiFglE0V0ScWJDqZVYOwmYaOq1VhlXbwdCulCItzYJDC0_1jqS6E_iNt_i03H4abx825s4cjOoDAawdLi4xRTt_hyjP7COhvmxjdik3gXLjWkMiobvQ90Pab7ozFyhyzuTz0C5v5ig/s320/P1010189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332766809303293122" border="0" /></a>Team Willow and Xander and their masterpiece:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkOvGIf2FIvEtMxGcrq0AO4JWjbHn0GT4E3SAkWTv5Wcy-ol3qnU3BO0RO5kHzLOkiiidrFeqfDNWZwToDfN1p8zKe9j4cPzUsyyNvaYSSwNQtzHKcKeClW4ALJ_TfuavDfOEJb3ErYs/s1600-h/P1010187.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkOvGIf2FIvEtMxGcrq0AO4JWjbHn0GT4E3SAkWTv5Wcy-ol3qnU3BO0RO5kHzLOkiiidrFeqfDNWZwToDfN1p8zKe9j4cPzUsyyNvaYSSwNQtzHKcKeClW4ALJ_TfuavDfOEJb3ErYs/s320/P1010187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332937889266163666" border="0" /></a><br />Before that we had been reading these:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdVo75oVwoN5hUzT8veOKS_-qWuMNYz1l3r-_Ka0XLmmAWrJL-GhHxzurOxk4eYXsX-xP-sHqF7U2RLXugoOkoO96paxi9zgdpzTwtrpj3-Dm7UU2b3YFxpgieR3_8TDM5wXaltJNuGM/s1600-h/P1010176.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdVo75oVwoN5hUzT8veOKS_-qWuMNYz1l3r-_Ka0XLmmAWrJL-GhHxzurOxk4eYXsX-xP-sHqF7U2RLXugoOkoO96paxi9zgdpzTwtrpj3-Dm7UU2b3YFxpgieR3_8TDM5wXaltJNuGM/s320/P1010176.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332766801059729298" border="0" /></a>And so interested in chemistry, we made polymers:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv20ErgehhN_-lQ1A-qdreB_hwxcAoNRk-B1I3-BKKNB0lQP-fwz2KrL8JqzMoaehsCpreWAX4MalQbYHcuLtm0vhgIAnbw-NYV6tR8_JDsD0ZANlF31KD7szRSobeG9VR9jFNlLM7Ec/s1600-h/P1010168.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv20ErgehhN_-lQ1A-qdreB_hwxcAoNRk-B1I3-BKKNB0lQP-fwz2KrL8JqzMoaehsCpreWAX4MalQbYHcuLtm0vhgIAnbw-NYV6tR8_JDsD0ZANlF31KD7szRSobeG9VR9jFNlLM7Ec/s320/P1010168.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332766793924255010" border="0" /></a>Mad scientists negotiating:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7mdqQHtVdlgjBcwdr2xbz7uEsX-T9_wzgraQifWT5V42U5HEDFVAinXRoExXqnknst9sGyJhCCHgm2cXL7I_WLFyGTF54OfjUinMudMuGFLZMFDMsJM_k14a_f3mOh06zH1iIIKyLUA/s1600-h/P1010174.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7mdqQHtVdlgjBcwdr2xbz7uEsX-T9_wzgraQifWT5V42U5HEDFVAinXRoExXqnknst9sGyJhCCHgm2cXL7I_WLFyGTF54OfjUinMudMuGFLZMFDMsJM_k14a_f3mOh06zH1iIIKyLUA/s320/P1010174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332030393962265218" border="0" /></a>AND Before all of that, the two most amazing people I know turned eight:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4qScciaAJW3J7MfETrj375oNFOC6fNNYmpVxjwQxHvdEZLiOvrkcnHyQ81QOoBn_39vIkFdX6OsejXbWkX0uJXFebQ08s7DVBZRmrVCMwNFtJkffkcfdF0zOIM6FBl7unM3fO0eORIA/s1600-h/P1010146.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4qScciaAJW3J7MfETrj375oNFOC6fNNYmpVxjwQxHvdEZLiOvrkcnHyQ81QOoBn_39vIkFdX6OsejXbWkX0uJXFebQ08s7DVBZRmrVCMwNFtJkffkcfdF0zOIM6FBl7unM3fO0eORIA/s320/P1010146.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332030389338827874" border="0" /></a>We had a pokemon party and ate Pikachu cupcakes:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaDfbs4onzazpWjJ0h7hBpApHpBoF1NiVonfyC9zfz-3g12JTpk3oCu0aRosckzbjBpIK4leLtDUT6AlO3kEm2WtGmRyDCnk-fLv8UFyuzVjuPHm5BNVM6jmWJ2VHJ5wP6K_kk-_rL9I/s1600-h/P1010135.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaDfbs4onzazpWjJ0h7hBpApHpBoF1NiVonfyC9zfz-3g12JTpk3oCu0aRosckzbjBpIK4leLtDUT6AlO3kEm2WtGmRyDCnk-fLv8UFyuzVjuPHm5BNVM6jmWJ2VHJ5wP6K_kk-_rL9I/s320/P1010135.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332030386699807074" border="0" /></a>Making the cupcakes was great. It was an assembly line. XuMei cut out ears, Xander colored them, I frosted faces and Xander put the ears on.<br />Before that I discovered my 2 sweet cats who pretend to hate each other cuddling in private:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1ICz6p3bv98BWJoTJyt_SBpQ9iYWYqZs5q-_B5q3LLQQeBGtJVR7CALDxakRZi9YfRKAk7WYg9sYscHrgrB2jBnwouS1_kBFJ-8IeJc0FHSnCxrYeeoCXTLfS6Vh_zT0-5BXSbiovJU/s1600-h/P1010027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1ICz6p3bv98BWJoTJyt_SBpQ9iYWYqZs5q-_B5q3LLQQeBGtJVR7CALDxakRZi9YfRKAk7WYg9sYscHrgrB2jBnwouS1_kBFJ-8IeJc0FHSnCxrYeeoCXTLfS6Vh_zT0-5BXSbiovJU/s320/P1010027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332030381167936786" border="0" /></a>And before that XuMei got glasses:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEkcpfxWaK6hRNBhLp7-fvVUqi2zBWyTgNwUMFOS-a-U8xuvkukJ5VmNY6mX-Pb633Suq10E_tbZqqgXqJ8FU5yjgsp8ADZjmlxPd_oTldsdyV9tQ-eP72bvtCPrMwaUYzmL8d0mVpj8/s1600-h/P1010016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEkcpfxWaK6hRNBhLp7-fvVUqi2zBWyTgNwUMFOS-a-U8xuvkukJ5VmNY6mX-Pb633Suq10E_tbZqqgXqJ8FU5yjgsp8ADZjmlxPd_oTldsdyV9tQ-eP72bvtCPrMwaUYzmL8d0mVpj8/s320/P1010016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332030374244869794" border="0" /></a>*Thanks to <a href="http://www.pilkey.com/">Dave Pilkey</a> and the <span style="font-style: italic;">Adventures of Captain Underpants</span> series for inspiring my extra crunchy backwards blog post .Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-41859543226354169752009-04-08T10:23:00.000-07:002009-04-08T11:49:31.488-07:00Sushi making with cousin Sara<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nsckdnqfGg_XtNiEwn7-NWZRGX2eyb_uVwxezsRV5Phu1kPH4JorjDfsXEfT0qWRV4lUu8l6hVoeizoX2FuueWvjICZzwrTu1B55EnQtqsR6-GRJ0CpCQpu3y4Ezi6LoXhqWKGEpuiQ/s1600-h/P1010464.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nsckdnqfGg_XtNiEwn7-NWZRGX2eyb_uVwxezsRV5Phu1kPH4JorjDfsXEfT0qWRV4lUu8l6hVoeizoX2FuueWvjICZzwrTu1B55EnQtqsR6-GRJ0CpCQpu3y4Ezi6LoXhqWKGEpuiQ/s320/P1010464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322377657354760242" border="0" /></a>Sara is back from Japan and the whole family converged to celebrate her and all things Japanese. Especially food. And candy. Lots and lots of candy.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZlL8fPFxcInsXXKwWbTRKe7SDlUMUBIcNsQh428TTTjgkqNybaN1416DIGZ4y2O4DKcHt2VzDgG2uGBNNmLeS02ojOCTlza28EJNw37CcWnwUG0AYR5URR0Bw4q1eDQ-2uLUffGkz8s/s1600-h/P1010472.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZlL8fPFxcInsXXKwWbTRKe7SDlUMUBIcNsQh428TTTjgkqNybaN1416DIGZ4y2O4DKcHt2VzDgG2uGBNNmLeS02ojOCTlza28EJNw37CcWnwUG0AYR5URR0Bw4q1eDQ-2uLUffGkz8s/s320/P1010472.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322377646796730018" border="0" /></a>Xander made a Fire Nation roll:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9FjdFVtJwbvpDG2XE8CmPkGTj7vZ0LvAHG4BKt6kroAcXsZuyqIXLwazYUvCBNYILEVe3WzFTL-4rnDiVhBRg-Y6xZswUNaUuGZ3s4GJ0zfmlSTNVJx5fcNeIQttpBxXd_QYlQ7v1ao/s1600-h/P1010473.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9FjdFVtJwbvpDG2XE8CmPkGTj7vZ0LvAHG4BKt6kroAcXsZuyqIXLwazYUvCBNYILEVe3WzFTL-4rnDiVhBRg-Y6xZswUNaUuGZ3s4GJ0zfmlSTNVJx5fcNeIQttpBxXd_QYlQ7v1ao/s320/P1010473.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322377649121665746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3sHZ_Q4QQLGTgsPKU2kNkCBztcfAg3JJmSg4SLjKDsIRr2HZC3Y822mq5KmHPGtXqxFy-_mNKXWRa1_9Sx7dybWGBGxmPuG3_EIZLBBm9gwWAeaLXpofkrkcBYshzu-8FV88E38bE34/s1600-h/P1010479.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3sHZ_Q4QQLGTgsPKU2kNkCBztcfAg3JJmSg4SLjKDsIRr2HZC3Y822mq5KmHPGtXqxFy-_mNKXWRa1_9Sx7dybWGBGxmPuG3_EIZLBBm9gwWAeaLXpofkrkcBYshzu-8FV88E38bE34/s320/P1010479.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322377645563331842" border="0" /></a>Beautiful and delicious.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiUZKCcUK0bJ3jNcZsu-f5RYUFY6qk1nRYqTSp5hNLh-OiUxqxX0JKFQGtsIbc747DofkJucEk_9KiTN_IxZvuMCxpUeHYajPE7DYEO5W9sp_6QNWzJyPp5EfgYe2c1UguClJtRptwLk/s1600-h/P1010481.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiUZKCcUK0bJ3jNcZsu-f5RYUFY6qk1nRYqTSp5hNLh-OiUxqxX0JKFQGtsIbc747DofkJucEk_9KiTN_IxZvuMCxpUeHYajPE7DYEO5W9sp_6QNWzJyPp5EfgYe2c1UguClJtRptwLk/s320/P1010481.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322377633753118066" border="0" /></a>Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-61259554534028538182009-03-11T17:42:00.000-07:002009-03-11T18:48:49.285-07:00What we are up to:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1BbUGDzYH7c47-MClmp3Vc_-NJFYuvNR0k6qOA2iOFsV5XnuJqP09zje_gpf-hUosqrktvxcbv8teB-RSZHl0LJC7tqvVpox_5ZSL_m6roCjmmwRgPuqd0ysy12E9k8l8Z7-TTvs6iE/s1600-h/P1010079.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1BbUGDzYH7c47-MClmp3Vc_-NJFYuvNR0k6qOA2iOFsV5XnuJqP09zje_gpf-hUosqrktvxcbv8teB-RSZHl0LJC7tqvVpox_5ZSL_m6roCjmmwRgPuqd0ysy12E9k8l8Z7-TTvs6iE/s320/P1010079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312104883861769970" border="0" /></a>Tissue paper spring flowers.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQARMwvVSv9AadsMoQNBNZtUCioX0atsEMESkOaAQ0kCWc-adA1mhF2dhAieWpGhbHFfk-6RgyRre3syW92bEl60bRQ9sytMwRa-OUBd_GQw8EC3ZCCaA13MDgGjpqjYN5WHvd0os9GQ/s1600-h/P1010080.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQARMwvVSv9AadsMoQNBNZtUCioX0atsEMESkOaAQ0kCWc-adA1mhF2dhAieWpGhbHFfk-6RgyRre3syW92bEl60bRQ9sytMwRa-OUBd_GQw8EC3ZCCaA13MDgGjpqjYN5WHvd0os9GQ/s320/P1010080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312104552144699682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSGutDlFzQE32oEeXaz8Fs6fKQqrQwo6ghpFXg9a_6_rnq-YszhyBznFqGVMPP23IoRwIF3VmhawPTbDvsxFGmcmKvBbEe2wQ2sjiEnH8S_s0msVlCpvgm1xe_Fp0fiVYsB-6ipX-pIk/s1600-h/P1010081.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSGutDlFzQE32oEeXaz8Fs6fKQqrQwo6ghpFXg9a_6_rnq-YszhyBznFqGVMPP23IoRwIF3VmhawPTbDvsxFGmcmKvBbEe2wQ2sjiEnH8S_s0msVlCpvgm1xe_Fp0fiVYsB-6ipX-pIk/s320/P1010081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312104147066563506" border="0" /></a>Nerf dart modification and bullet making resulting in epic dart wars:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6bG2q5I0Y7VPr9Cq_YhmKQSByvm0-tL43x6Qls-NsfgeL1It1IAszk4XYsz1GjFnHMYeoncfoj50bf9yNM-rm_5yuJSXLmuovTUIxXpaMccHYsUeJyCgy0a6MtIt-bdUJWJgzV70h1E/s1600-h/P1010083.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6bG2q5I0Y7VPr9Cq_YhmKQSByvm0-tL43x6Qls-NsfgeL1It1IAszk4XYsz1GjFnHMYeoncfoj50bf9yNM-rm_5yuJSXLmuovTUIxXpaMccHYsUeJyCgy0a6MtIt-bdUJWJgzV70h1E/s320/P1010083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312103768269195586" border="0" /></a>Come on down to the Marble Cafe:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrC2LGCgc7AM4_5iBRdmNygidMxKxPvN42imKZD3W2dMv6cvfUKhoYmyZnxim_4WbOgIH68hzKDPZpoxs6oFNiqK9nqFq-2Wf9QQIc0Ti4-KXm_sV2yUOTuVht2aG6WzxmW_LFXCUMSr4/s1600-h/P1010084.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrC2LGCgc7AM4_5iBRdmNygidMxKxPvN42imKZD3W2dMv6cvfUKhoYmyZnxim_4WbOgIH68hzKDPZpoxs6oFNiqK9nqFq-2Wf9QQIc0Ti4-KXm_sV2yUOTuVht2aG6WzxmW_LFXCUMSr4/s320/P1010084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312103415666568130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHIEvRcg148EWmQ5SFpvix7ob5mGgw6ULWUiGZ-bXSSaAB6cr_mrRzhdbKgyiNzFUbKzWYCmc1v8FCxYgd0O-KpzDxd7YRc9NCPjXPVqzvFDkV2zUr85fE0BoKS2_MylPHJNZiZyXB4w/s1600-h/P1010085.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHIEvRcg148EWmQ5SFpvix7ob5mGgw6ULWUiGZ-bXSSaAB6cr_mrRzhdbKgyiNzFUbKzWYCmc1v8FCxYgd0O-KpzDxd7YRc9NCPjXPVqzvFDkV2zUr85fE0BoKS2_MylPHJNZiZyXB4w/s320/P1010085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312102662565663346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYrXzIsX_hlahYGX5LwOnlS8Jpy3A48bGpuLmUbMPAOW7_Lg0kFNDW4en24VpGvXuIT4ZcXDxwnCRni2Y-3FTBXV-1p9tMiIAcX1M_o7njRs_8dyV2DvI4p7gmpkFMI28UVo8HZLp2Fo/s1600-h/P1010089.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYrXzIsX_hlahYGX5LwOnlS8Jpy3A48bGpuLmUbMPAOW7_Lg0kFNDW4en24VpGvXuIT4ZcXDxwnCRni2Y-3FTBXV-1p9tMiIAcX1M_o7njRs_8dyV2DvI4p7gmpkFMI28UVo8HZLp2Fo/s320/P1010089.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312100223436211762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxJlwpSDF2_Yy8wtYZcNE5Dexwj8w3kAAyBQJrj9rF9SCwzKdbwk8xpPVtt1Qmksiz8XWhtliUv-RGWg2jEt1SXf2044GMOyQUWoW80N-i721-ywXFdpmyT9Z68hjLbfERAtWW_F1ikI/s1600-h/P1010091.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxJlwpSDF2_Yy8wtYZcNE5Dexwj8w3kAAyBQJrj9rF9SCwzKdbwk8xpPVtt1Qmksiz8XWhtliUv-RGWg2jEt1SXf2044GMOyQUWoW80N-i721-ywXFdpmyT9Z68hjLbfERAtWW_F1ikI/s320/P1010091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312100214866762226" border="0" /></a>Marble Cafe food wrapped To GO.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtn19gLxjBd1gFkEeLfiWDb-H-cdTSqiqROQf-mpu2ZhoEccRJX3V-GcjcibZCIs-venQP8FBm32G96-cohxA25XTRgYJjmcVoK6Fkuak17e4_AEC84AwB5jcEfsZDUBWRdZMRb4mxytc/s1600-h/P1010092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtn19gLxjBd1gFkEeLfiWDb-H-cdTSqiqROQf-mpu2ZhoEccRJX3V-GcjcibZCIs-venQP8FBm32G96-cohxA25XTRgYJjmcVoK6Fkuak17e4_AEC84AwB5jcEfsZDUBWRdZMRb4mxytc/s320/P1010092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312100212438382962" border="0" /></a>Making money. Notice the 100$ bill dude is less happy than the 1000$ dude. You should see the facial expression on the googolplex bill!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-zGQ83iGnDbASIjuhUZPDdoxJSzJcVWcR_-Fhaoj-yry_c7wVQ22AmpcTMP8kJq88eRAks6C_JLaFj6ucP1zRq_Dc8u1Nm4nVRhAdW-KiGtO-qiFa5hmMe3X5hEj95J2bqaegUteu9A/s1600-h/P1010095.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-zGQ83iGnDbASIjuhUZPDdoxJSzJcVWcR_-Fhaoj-yry_c7wVQ22AmpcTMP8kJq88eRAks6C_JLaFj6ucP1zRq_Dc8u1Nm4nVRhAdW-KiGtO-qiFa5hmMe3X5hEj95J2bqaegUteu9A/s320/P1010095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312100206719267474" border="0" /></a>XuMei made rainbow gift tags, Xander wore it as a bracelet.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqne3FxFs6yfEerbAezQmqt9of-ip_m-0mXOguAxWiM5yyRE20X7vHrROHxdO6PUErH3Jiun1WmR5P6fvE5MWVJJXV5r9MnY2sKWQISMeS-Gp_dikVxUYqTlybmigXan9VXk10AATTtI/s1600-h/P1010099.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqne3FxFs6yfEerbAezQmqt9of-ip_m-0mXOguAxWiM5yyRE20X7vHrROHxdO6PUErH3Jiun1WmR5P6fvE5MWVJJXV5r9MnY2sKWQISMeS-Gp_dikVxUYqTlybmigXan9VXk10AATTtI/s320/P1010099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312100201846785506" border="0" /></a>Cascading dominoes on the kitchen floor:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVgs0cjfY8LhVCRoSmT2v0aorvUaMI4mylbAuVTlhbhdox81_oo8cDgJMoXDwYMAES1f28WeiGlC_O6D0RqIKCO9TvfCLHiDglTAX9e-fCCbMdzHd-mWnvWt6Uc2i7G_ngN6mhkdZi6QM/s1600-h/P1010105.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVgs0cjfY8LhVCRoSmT2v0aorvUaMI4mylbAuVTlhbhdox81_oo8cDgJMoXDwYMAES1f28WeiGlC_O6D0RqIKCO9TvfCLHiDglTAX9e-fCCbMdzHd-mWnvWt6Uc2i7G_ngN6mhkdZi6QM/s320/P1010105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312099079097887474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2lyAxNFfuuLEY7QT0Sc0EHW1uiToVH0gAUvg6EVsx8027G-I7iuMk9aejuC6EuYGmwL83nj4cSUsjyaDXy1TM_MS_t8LytKKUIbY77RF2PMck3CjyaWAqAFLocdIiCmawdW21Wols8Q/s1600-h/P1010106.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2lyAxNFfuuLEY7QT0Sc0EHW1uiToVH0gAUvg6EVsx8027G-I7iuMk9aejuC6EuYGmwL83nj4cSUsjyaDXy1TM_MS_t8LytKKUIbY77RF2PMck3CjyaWAqAFLocdIiCmawdW21Wols8Q/s320/P1010106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312099068282692866" border="0" /></a>The sun came out so out came the magnifying glasses:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJrZ9paBIRqPNFmXFX_QYXJeNShCYKWxAJZ-L7EnbEW_EJ6XYvvozvJxmmyE6itqNHEVteYA2gPznsZs1ZoOmtHWruhkA1DZrvV5OfhVR5tDnTXCe6cyUj-ZTxElOS8zSRdbN1EEx-bE/s1600-h/P1010115.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJrZ9paBIRqPNFmXFX_QYXJeNShCYKWxAJZ-L7EnbEW_EJ6XYvvozvJxmmyE6itqNHEVteYA2gPznsZs1ZoOmtHWruhkA1DZrvV5OfhVR5tDnTXCe6cyUj-ZTxElOS8zSRdbN1EEx-bE/s320/P1010115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312099062467469330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFqstnLcck6_qbUGL4MFpne0Hh_NYMAFdMyJYayKB5ZAr4yZUkqCatY_xhuIBkspdf1r-t5uxrXLBTyY41ruPutnakk6XSutR3pIWCPXYkK850L77XJf3gY3TXstpPoKb3IvFNaLGSj8/s1600-h/P1010116.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFqstnLcck6_qbUGL4MFpne0Hh_NYMAFdMyJYayKB5ZAr4yZUkqCatY_xhuIBkspdf1r-t5uxrXLBTyY41ruPutnakk6XSutR3pIWCPXYkK850L77XJf3gY3TXstpPoKb3IvFNaLGSj8/s320/P1010116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312099053475119090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYxDLcl-R6cEe-dJKDMPtkanXQJEvEoZTlJuhJ7dM4UlLKQTMH9IjFjeM-3cdYsM5x9GgjH4i9nlMYJwjdZNX4pEC2om3oPkqb8NXENv4clnWMQjOo4YjJLlWKXIMHz6aP_lcyB9JO7A/s1600-h/P1010117.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYxDLcl-R6cEe-dJKDMPtkanXQJEvEoZTlJuhJ7dM4UlLKQTMH9IjFjeM-3cdYsM5x9GgjH4i9nlMYJwjdZNX4pEC2om3oPkqb8NXENv4clnWMQjOo4YjJLlWKXIMHz6aP_lcyB9JO7A/s320/P1010117.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312099049738779538" border="0" /></a>"I got smoke!!!"--Xander<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ69rQnhcBbtQCG3k-d8b1VsD4qQnTeAbAseB5PAVtk2nNLHA-mA6xdsgRut8wy5wyr6uNAVh4zu2KkX79GPvHIIm7eRtKxJeAwivd6gUEDbkPbwLYozV4ofMkqt2azAYJTxnexOq8j50/s1600-h/P1010119.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ69rQnhcBbtQCG3k-d8b1VsD4qQnTeAbAseB5PAVtk2nNLHA-mA6xdsgRut8wy5wyr6uNAVh4zu2KkX79GPvHIIm7eRtKxJeAwivd6gUEDbkPbwLYozV4ofMkqt2azAYJTxnexOq8j50/s320/P1010119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312097705703304418" border="0" /></a>and fire!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOJOqhIKKVsRAMAlYxKqcyhpcW_PCKz9lRssSEJonNuArz9DfFTxpHTDGO8sR0gZE_mt53i1e-PIc_ZytqPmqeh5Hdce_5_hSuVG7EE6VBpsWcayiWGz4umMIncb20wxZAnFUF-Tfsfc/s1600-h/P1010122.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOJOqhIKKVsRAMAlYxKqcyhpcW_PCKz9lRssSEJonNuArz9DfFTxpHTDGO8sR0gZE_mt53i1e-PIc_ZytqPmqeh5Hdce_5_hSuVG7EE6VBpsWcayiWGz4umMIncb20wxZAnFUF-Tfsfc/s320/P1010122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312097692121547874" border="0" /></a>After fire there is carbon (with a little addition of some artist's charcoal) they did finger print dusting:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqx-zA3dgukvViu25qJLteCliDNcS6d3aMMRPBCe6zGLPpAdOkHISQxC6wdEXOg5R-PNdx2yQ3gRsitLOgIyKuBcDXL13Hr1pbuBmfFdW_KKKTSQiQRCXl9sEaiB2G7gG58aq2Hal64Q/s1600-h/P1010123.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqx-zA3dgukvViu25qJLteCliDNcS6d3aMMRPBCe6zGLPpAdOkHISQxC6wdEXOg5R-PNdx2yQ3gRsitLOgIyKuBcDXL13Hr1pbuBmfFdW_KKKTSQiQRCXl9sEaiB2G7gG58aq2Hal64Q/s320/P1010123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312097686239520146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9545r19rAkuvHmuujNk1X6RA_9quLXcwkRtYF4UmY23UCBUT9yvKJK0tpFy1GmAjCM9nPbML5j-aabN0Q0c4Khchuta1DbfboJyoj190WV11yNqtZBt5OCG01kFVR30P7z30xhorvfs/s1600-h/P1010124.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9545r19rAkuvHmuujNk1X6RA_9quLXcwkRtYF4UmY23UCBUT9yvKJK0tpFy1GmAjCM9nPbML5j-aabN0Q0c4Khchuta1DbfboJyoj190WV11yNqtZBt5OCG01kFVR30P7z30xhorvfs/s320/P1010124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312097684184293522" border="0" /></a>CSI: Corvallis<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3z4eQez8fijfbLiz-JKDBKmenI_-4IkfiSk7Uf6z_ZZNea7oVkYRbg6iaFWN6dSn1xqvU5dZnm5o729Z0JfJp0hnS7to7G0QFAjjX-bOabh9Q880QBgLA4MnPQy2lU3eX_7va-QX9Vc/s1600-h/P1010130.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3z4eQez8fijfbLiz-JKDBKmenI_-4IkfiSk7Uf6z_ZZNea7oVkYRbg6iaFWN6dSn1xqvU5dZnm5o729Z0JfJp0hnS7to7G0QFAjjX-bOabh9Q880QBgLA4MnPQy2lU3eX_7va-QX9Vc/s320/P1010130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312097677755853106" border="0" /></a>XuMei and I are working on a song that follows the 6teen theme song only it's about being 8 and being unschooled:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4zBqWXrfy-8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4zBqWXrfy-8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-24883644631521947582009-03-04T18:30:00.000-08:002009-03-07T15:42:54.782-08:00If I'da known you were comin', I'da baked a CAKE!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOZZBnkOzAr_Ze2d008Wl1d0YW1-jG7PpqmVCRvYGC5GDG9SONYXwRTMH1nVZ5EK4Ow1Gte3OGaaIg0IeechMSPSbH3HPMAOeT3CyaE871nSXazITOqQryJ8F50dseNdZn9t1mbn5tbE/s1600-h/P1000714.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOZZBnkOzAr_Ze2d008Wl1d0YW1-jG7PpqmVCRvYGC5GDG9SONYXwRTMH1nVZ5EK4Ow1Gte3OGaaIg0IeechMSPSbH3HPMAOeT3CyaE871nSXazITOqQryJ8F50dseNdZn9t1mbn5tbE/s320/P1000714.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309535410776182434" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Xander</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">XuMei</span> and their two friends made a cake. They did it without a recipe. They thought about what they know about food and cake and baking and they added ingredients. There was discussion and disagreement about what should go into the cake so some smaller cakes were made to allow for different combinations of ingredients.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZC1eXzWmAvvEU0MPgdL-Rh9BmZYgadyZOh19YcnvQqRzXGfAZoU5rMLBj2ktySOFWWTVxiyvLa6hEMyha81FaI3bt8ut3dWVwmoMgwHzYDwlU7lbiSBQOLIycIeeOd8k7YyVcIeY_WBw/s1600-h/P1000717.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZC1eXzWmAvvEU0MPgdL-Rh9BmZYgadyZOh19YcnvQqRzXGfAZoU5rMLBj2ktySOFWWTVxiyvLa6hEMyha81FaI3bt8ut3dWVwmoMgwHzYDwlU7lbiSBQOLIycIeeOd8k7YyVcIeY_WBw/s320/P1000717.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309532116125074802" border="0" /></a>Where to put the toppings? And which tasty treats on what sections of the cake?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOQ19rRAKPCj7dSbLWU__SZVMfLyQ9OQKGRI1qjyNe2DdbeTFHkr-pElKRAFseou48p_iYbKvbL7-i3OpNKl9jO8mYxoHn-HWmOMmieqxErmCiFIdWuA1jQq6l8is2qpAAqGOgt9t8zk/s1600-h/P1000718.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOQ19rRAKPCj7dSbLWU__SZVMfLyQ9OQKGRI1qjyNe2DdbeTFHkr-pElKRAFseou48p_iYbKvbL7-i3OpNKl9jO8mYxoHn-HWmOMmieqxErmCiFIdWuA1jQq6l8is2qpAAqGOgt9t8zk/s320/P1000718.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309532114431131362" border="0" /></a>What should the frosting be?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFr2HjvwGoN-dagRFFwal84DyTvdE_FNSEgQOFyLz73vOE9MJB_j8vT6wkwtQCwr2icu8rrLMnG1nBCAQrtkVKlTGbSgk0jQV3ae3F_CW2iOYg46VVCdlDOpjiBSkeiJkO6NA26PhIUo/s1600-h/P1000720.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFr2HjvwGoN-dagRFFwal84DyTvdE_FNSEgQOFyLz73vOE9MJB_j8vT6wkwtQCwr2icu8rrLMnG1nBCAQrtkVKlTGbSgk0jQV3ae3F_CW2iOYg46VVCdlDOpjiBSkeiJkO6NA26PhIUo/s320/P1000720.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309531388967766786" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Xander</span> took his cakes off the top to avoid the dairy. <br />Everything is better with sprinkles.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP30jtftDGiQ-LtMQXDe65mytqysJMEkFoRPpvROOj3EW3j5oLFO03tu-qFmegi8vQQ5DDotMrtpFMbA6e2cyvxJ4Xa5-0CtaHFFskVeqH6EgUOQAMvC8EelrgKkrimP_9d4SB5HTDiIA/s1600-h/P1000723.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP30jtftDGiQ-LtMQXDe65mytqysJMEkFoRPpvROOj3EW3j5oLFO03tu-qFmegi8vQQ5DDotMrtpFMbA6e2cyvxJ4Xa5-0CtaHFFskVeqH6EgUOQAMvC8EelrgKkrimP_9d4SB5HTDiIA/s320/P1000723.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309531377842942034" border="0" /></a>The cake was delicious, very sweet and filled with fun. Very little of it was actually eaten, though. The joy was in the making.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4L678Df8eB-netjE4OaY06ws59cZ4CyatX52hecgNc_Rd0IAU56NzFTtqsoCpknlstdMIDq3lHdZDKfm4l-ReScevTh91eOrT8JHXNbHwq7YKwQZiDLJ8xXSg7AKC61hY9qqYnW3S1HQ/s1600-h/P1000724.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4L678Df8eB-netjE4OaY06ws59cZ4CyatX52hecgNc_Rd0IAU56NzFTtqsoCpknlstdMIDq3lHdZDKfm4l-ReScevTh91eOrT8JHXNbHwq7YKwQZiDLJ8xXSg7AKC61hY9qqYnW3S1HQ/s320/P1000724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309531369925956338" border="0" /></a>I was reminded of this cake baking day when I came across a page on Sandra <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Dodd's</span> site called:<br /><a href="http://sandradodd.com/cake">Cake as Sacrifice</a><br />fascinating stuff, cake....:)<br /><br />Since this cake we have baked several other cakes. <a href="http://www.joyofbaking.com/LemonFrostedLemonCake.html">Lemon Cake</a>, and <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Crazy-Cake/Detail.aspx">Vegan Chocolate Cake </a>most recently. The Vegan Cake was awesome and led to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">discussions</span> about chemical reactions so now I am researching the best<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thames-Kosmos-645014-CHEM-C3000/dp/B00007B8M6"> Chemistry set</a> and finding more science experiments we can do at home. Xander is watching <a href="http://www.krampf.com/members/robert-krampfs-experiment-week">Robert Kampf </a>--The Happy Scientist, <a href="http://www.brainpop.com/">BrainPop</a> and various You-tube videos on chemistry and other science related topics.<br />XuMei is exploring commerce and economy. She made hundreds of bills and priced everything in our house. It is a store and a bank. She also created debit and credit cards. They have both become interested in very large numbers.<br /> "Infinity is a concept Mom, not a number. What is the largest actual number."--Xander<br />So off I go to Google<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Largest_numbers"> largest numbers</a> and we are learning about googol, googolplex, Graham's number, large number notation, exponentiation, tetration. <br />All that and a little cake!Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-53840660486364263662009-03-04T12:04:00.000-08:002009-03-04T18:29:40.867-08:00Monkey Platter!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0_eYvRNgUlRYSfWOB-IdHF0y1Z8Y8AwVSHC0OkfFknxW5jvMkLsSMuHqXg5TaFk8_GexByH6QAD5xq7tmjtx0UoxD0cljlVBw1lCVenpDeySNHUg8gf0oruhDWqkpwPlNaJLpJNlLNA/s1600-h/P1010030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0_eYvRNgUlRYSfWOB-IdHF0y1Z8Y8AwVSHC0OkfFknxW5jvMkLsSMuHqXg5TaFk8_GexByH6QAD5xq7tmjtx0UoxD0cljlVBw1lCVenpDeySNHUg8gf0oruhDWqkpwPlNaJLpJNlLNA/s320/P1010030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309427416204006530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugEWQxmQDS6mZ_cR-C0Vw_6DqG3c8Jj_lz87U7RnkbhJWzt3gR1SCHHHN8lob_6nrBZlQVCpZi9SZwLuc26tInvmm6i9MiLzoH4dsMQL1ROevU1lXeu6-Ln3jC3bbCgnrjflcEI8_4ZY/s1600-h/P1010031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugEWQxmQDS6mZ_cR-C0Vw_6DqG3c8Jj_lz87U7RnkbhJWzt3gR1SCHHHN8lob_6nrBZlQVCpZi9SZwLuc26tInvmm6i9MiLzoH4dsMQL1ROevU1lXeu6-Ln3jC3bbCgnrjflcEI8_4ZY/s320/P1010031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309427431532250130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-Xonnb61kJW8qakwLVTxrA9Qao1qV8IpDm5Cfq2y1YQACP537R85pZHUkM6Meak-MBZR4FhPmXCD_-LY_nHH0vtbOlYdYVoCwiE8yflgsylU8cNhVf7PQlWa5IyOX_L_Iuw6r4YdZ68/s1600-h/P1010032.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-Xonnb61kJW8qakwLVTxrA9Qao1qV8IpDm5Cfq2y1YQACP537R85pZHUkM6Meak-MBZR4FhPmXCD_-LY_nHH0vtbOlYdYVoCwiE8yflgsylU8cNhVf7PQlWa5IyOX_L_Iuw6r4YdZ68/s320/P1010032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309427426820164946" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8QkaypgjbP6YdXRuquAl2MtnMjOCn4BLMqx81pLxKIT2vIeC7waAz1SDa63gq_sjX1s76Gs09GgTdB77_vbsz_ww2QFyOojEnh5NU9d1ao-W8cBPU-3shHqIMOp2Z5BsS__ZIz9t5MU/s1600-h/P1010033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8QkaypgjbP6YdXRuquAl2MtnMjOCn4BLMqx81pLxKIT2vIeC7waAz1SDa63gq_sjX1s76Gs09GgTdB77_vbsz_ww2QFyOojEnh5NU9d1ao-W8cBPU-3shHqIMOp2Z5BsS__ZIz9t5MU/s320/P1010033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309427418959653874" border="0" /></a>Inspired by <a href="http://sandradodd.com/eating/monkeyplatter">Sandra Dodd</a>.Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-78983356961075055412009-02-16T12:19:00.000-08:002009-02-16T12:39:09.443-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YJnLu6VusFBrON_AId3-iJ-iGBIO_kn_l27iLlDKmt8iH0w5Rl_y9PSuM45rFMi6yT-R_BZsOxf88ytBwPPwt4iMiq-UClMxTd_kanmp1xEC1wFtITxsUsvclUqn3Rz_4MuX3pc9VrY/s1600-h/P1000861.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YJnLu6VusFBrON_AId3-iJ-iGBIO_kn_l27iLlDKmt8iH0w5Rl_y9PSuM45rFMi6yT-R_BZsOxf88ytBwPPwt4iMiq-UClMxTd_kanmp1xEC1wFtITxsUsvclUqn3Rz_4MuX3pc9VrY/s320/P1000861.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303494840811312866" border="0" /></a>It was a hair raising experience.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUyGdIaFDOkPrbis0sbQO-Zga8h2RYPYPhTzOoKLDQAPJr644rnCUJ9K2WWCDPafi1_RjVFpi_boDrOV6QcqW3ZpV7jxpAx9oGrzyvYzGLbewfpPTk9C3WYGwyJNNwV3-wefuNx1qnwo/s1600-h/P1000844.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUyGdIaFDOkPrbis0sbQO-Zga8h2RYPYPhTzOoKLDQAPJr644rnCUJ9K2WWCDPafi1_RjVFpi_boDrOV6QcqW3ZpV7jxpAx9oGrzyvYzGLbewfpPTk9C3WYGwyJNNwV3-wefuNx1qnwo/s320/P1000844.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303493881227724482" border="0" /></a>It made my hair stand on end.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAJu3cW5mqkcZ_DlIGMlJbcbaXWY6gvZQ4jbqtipx-0fGoZI82qQYZwhi2kgWo0VlRi-lqqZmh_N1w6KpkTmC9lkielOfHkGZtgj0NQp_XMNWl_2jmlhm_8KMyneNImpP-7PLTV7axoE/s1600-h/P1000842.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAJu3cW5mqkcZ_DlIGMlJbcbaXWY6gvZQ4jbqtipx-0fGoZI82qQYZwhi2kgWo0VlRi-lqqZmh_N1w6KpkTmC9lkielOfHkGZtgj0NQp_XMNWl_2jmlhm_8KMyneNImpP-7PLTV7axoE/s320/P1000842.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303493876878482466" border="0" /></a>The hair was flying.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJdPxlXu9ixRsz-YJMfYIK406XT_jb8s73ZEbTJxrs2fjtMAIFPgasR0bGjQ7NKdY7qXv1MuGcWJUr1b_1A7rP0HKLKGVj76TUjYOs0GtYtsXeSYY5s1JICQewkErpTvZH3nEcgCWSB4/s1600-h/P1000840.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJdPxlXu9ixRsz-YJMfYIK406XT_jb8s73ZEbTJxrs2fjtMAIFPgasR0bGjQ7NKdY7qXv1MuGcWJUr1b_1A7rP0HKLKGVj76TUjYOs0GtYtsXeSYY5s1JICQewkErpTvZH3nEcgCWSB4/s320/P1000840.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303493871347949746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylN4EDVpEaAUsCmVwLOSUMCitugd4YSTmSWpIBc13XxutCXsEWnWUqBggERfmlfFU9H7JgmziIGLEMCTNucHaDvkry-0x8sc16nyVrv9MtWxaxj5fsYFDv-NNDA-jMeDo41e-Sfkw0SI/s1600-h/P1000838.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylN4EDVpEaAUsCmVwLOSUMCitugd4YSTmSWpIBc13XxutCXsEWnWUqBggERfmlfFU9H7JgmziIGLEMCTNucHaDvkry-0x8sc16nyVrv9MtWxaxj5fsYFDv-NNDA-jMeDo41e-Sfkw0SI/s320/P1000838.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303493865130478482" border="0" /></a>Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-63914414961537536652009-02-14T11:37:00.000-08:002009-02-16T12:18:37.372-08:00Happy Birthday ChrisC!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div>Thank you ChrisC. Thank you for making me laugh. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for giving me Xander and XuMei, and the opportunity to stay home and be with them. Thank you for being the kind of Dad I wish I had had, and by being that Dad healing me and so many old wounds.<br /> Thank you for being silly.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgax6HGncpXQ6KyaQyH6b5i1sw97ktDw0RNWp1yWt6fKpcfat5R_szs2yPNODIIkh9cqJZW3EFv9VYDDae6fVR8RmLN3RO6D-8XJHhFDb8Cfs_31-mtZ1Z3WamhnpEuYjc8rB4en78LY3A/s1600-h/P1000813.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgax6HGncpXQ6KyaQyH6b5i1sw97ktDw0RNWp1yWt6fKpcfat5R_szs2yPNODIIkh9cqJZW3EFv9VYDDae6fVR8RmLN3RO6D-8XJHhFDb8Cfs_31-mtZ1Z3WamhnpEuYjc8rB4en78LY3A/s320/P1000813.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302743543036291314" border="0" /></a>Thank you for being smart and kind and sensitive. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjYUwmuRuhmyUi9Ot4L_EGAgPEU-WxWlUPaxJRl6s0Lj-mwfiydLZJ4HwPqd2oKbfzDEzAyiyNP8dVXtBJsganGZ7AjVQksyQuQ_9UPvZmd-qu-VX6OB8MHuxJeKkPxOUNwH9aIIdiKM/s1600-h/P1000819.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjYUwmuRuhmyUi9Ot4L_EGAgPEU-WxWlUPaxJRl6s0Lj-mwfiydLZJ4HwPqd2oKbfzDEzAyiyNP8dVXtBJsganGZ7AjVQksyQuQ_9UPvZmd-qu-VX6OB8MHuxJeKkPxOUNwH9aIIdiKM/s320/P1000819.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302742375335685858" border="0" /></a>Thank you for being funny and goofy and my own personal "lazy eyed psycho".<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8k3qo0BNJooTPMW77uSevNUEtaZupoVJF9dg2USDg3ifHGQeN5mjjLjirSpkca0c9QBV_mczSkj0TJQZ2gDxBoUd-rR-DcYPVfWvI6t7F8tmopjHuIUg3l6gAXAJYVzYDT_dl4jn-GE/s1600-h/P1000823.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8k3qo0BNJooTPMW77uSevNUEtaZupoVJF9dg2USDg3ifHGQeN5mjjLjirSpkca0c9QBV_mczSkj0TJQZ2gDxBoUd-rR-DcYPVfWvI6t7F8tmopjHuIUg3l6gAXAJYVzYDT_dl4jn-GE/s320/P1000823.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302742366423377506" border="0" /></a> I laugh so hard when I see this picture of you...thank you..:)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpYML5kr8NycrL50ec27pSmZxOG84SNsqHbRR11Wz3Z90B0IwtVn4fEyqP6IHDHaeFHPBNMlM6Wk2srwjmHiQI7yBs2hsQSrNqXGwTrpyUnKGlz6KqzwNI8_KpWFIJvNMxULqemciPXc/s1600-h/P1000824.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpYML5kr8NycrL50ec27pSmZxOG84SNsqHbRR11Wz3Z90B0IwtVn4fEyqP6IHDHaeFHPBNMlM6Wk2srwjmHiQI7yBs2hsQSrNqXGwTrpyUnKGlz6KqzwNI8_KpWFIJvNMxULqemciPXc/s320/P1000824.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302742360475779906" border="0" /></a>Thank you for laying on the kitchen floor playing "HA HA" with us. This is all four of us laying with our heads in each others laps and then me trying to hold the camera up and take a photo of it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIx-z0G9xYYAhrlXdgJ9RBhwvLpGTRAGkx9UTFcCPxrMWmFfIcwSWo-KStxuSzR4xTGZx3F9r2Moc2LTsRlV9P6-ml9jB4l9LTB1syxayI1KAguQ-62TJkpDJYXcYK7agz6Ygr6eqIcI/s1600-h/P1000830.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIx-z0G9xYYAhrlXdgJ9RBhwvLpGTRAGkx9UTFcCPxrMWmFfIcwSWo-KStxuSzR4xTGZx3F9r2Moc2LTsRlV9P6-ml9jB4l9LTB1syxayI1KAguQ-62TJkpDJYXcYK7agz6Ygr6eqIcI/s320/P1000830.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302742344373416994" border="0" /></a>I used to be sad and lonely and now I am not and a whole lot of that is because of you. Happy happy birthday!Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-24854097160068161712009-02-14T11:22:00.000-08:002009-03-04T18:26:42.624-08:00Day ? Random Photos: Uzhorod, Ukraine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZiFWuu9NkaDRzK7O3q8cqSYaO0h3wUmndB9SE7U2V-Q1hqMpPWXJz16DKLmgoBagiXpXon72_SzOjSul6GNIiMuZGIW35XEOdUuhkOtDrvMxnl4TDdEJFIHnpfKLx43q7KliuUW8giE/s1600-h/PA044590.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZiFWuu9NkaDRzK7O3q8cqSYaO0h3wUmndB9SE7U2V-Q1hqMpPWXJz16DKLmgoBagiXpXon72_SzOjSul6GNIiMuZGIW35XEOdUuhkOtDrvMxnl4TDdEJFIHnpfKLx43q7KliuUW8giE/s320/PA044590.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302739298617685154" border="0" /></a> Towards the end of our trip I started just taking pictures of everything. Things we walked past everyday. The view from our hotel window. I know how quickly life overwhelms me and how easily the memories would fade. I also knew I would miss things about Uzhgorod. And people, I especially miss the people.<br /> I do not miss worrying about the water. Above is a photo of the inside of our water filter. It started out white. Every night Chris would pump and filter enough water for all of us to brush our teeth and drink the next day. We weren't certain what would happen if we drank the water but we had heard enough stories to be cautious. I forgot frequently and brushed with water out of the tap, also I drank soda and juice with ice, presumably from tap water, with no ill effects.<br /> There were NO ILL effects from the alcohol--none. No hang overs, no headaches, nothing. I am not a huge drinker but I did a bit of celebrating and usually I suffer miserably but not with their good vodka and cognac. I tried to drink and eat local products and aside from catching a cold on the plane on the way home I was a healthy traveler.<br /> In the small local grocery store there was a wall of vodka:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIEWOCSJUVOeirHVSOfBFqYkiESBf2QBvTJntGeZCgWhw9pVsCQc47oG4dUH93Xa2lR0DDCbBcbXZIdYTcvjqW5ywYNWLCH52QwbHBgxQBd1YwK8UK2BfrCMOTetFPGJy4cb5WBMHCCs/s1600-h/PA054608.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIEWOCSJUVOeirHVSOfBFqYkiESBf2QBvTJntGeZCgWhw9pVsCQc47oG4dUH93Xa2lR0DDCbBcbXZIdYTcvjqW5ywYNWLCH52QwbHBgxQBd1YwK8UK2BfrCMOTetFPGJy4cb5WBMHCCs/s320/PA054608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302738753166609362" border="0" /></a>Through the window at the pharmacy next to the hotel:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoeLKrrqDzH2_u2k2ByQUbRSZMAyvVadVsKRhQpRAx3cc_gMY4qGb-NaJa9RTGf0-Aojrt9deE1FRgz8_gG2kyGk4fgKTIfL5bzEJVFwK6GTFZ1UyQfX1mu_C9z42iS0yTG5mWRI5Ng0/s1600-h/PA054607.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoeLKrrqDzH2_u2k2ByQUbRSZMAyvVadVsKRhQpRAx3cc_gMY4qGb-NaJa9RTGf0-Aojrt9deE1FRgz8_gG2kyGk4fgKTIfL5bzEJVFwK6GTFZ1UyQfX1mu_C9z42iS0yTG5mWRI5Ng0/s320/PA054607.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302738751404912450" border="0" /></a><br /> The pharmacist would not let me take a picture inside the store so I tried to get it through the window. Look at the pink figures on the box slightly left of center. Look very closely. Enlarge it if you want. It is a medicine like Viagra. It made me giggle.<br /> Below is a syringe on the cobblestone street just outside the pharmacy. Xander reached to pick it up. I yelped before he touched it and we talked at length about not picking up used medical equipment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSWbqrc8mfwn5o-Loqd0FoJqcFmiNmFOY6MjfbA_NkomiW6itfGj7gL_2OuLCd6NRfo4BSuir7HhmvbvYMv2AESfMZaJIJkKr3f7lDj-O2hkL5coegdFrc84tWNV7mGMNB7za44YFAD4/s1600-h/PA054606.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSWbqrc8mfwn5o-Loqd0FoJqcFmiNmFOY6MjfbA_NkomiW6itfGj7gL_2OuLCd6NRfo4BSuir7HhmvbvYMv2AESfMZaJIJkKr3f7lDj-O2hkL5coegdFrc84tWNV7mGMNB7za44YFAD4/s320/PA054606.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302738744038260770" border="0" /></a>Dried fish in boxes at the market:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfd9a3KQacctDzYCUj6rUPtuFi03xRXYcVhzgneHot0dSc02ray6hTj3dO3Na7wZF8FKlze1dGa51K-UgEigWDcBVrfACdY37z51-5qNOrHq_aS53X1NH-AgMTYBsqjDfnN62JzKtqOc/s1600-h/PA054605.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfd9a3KQacctDzYCUj6rUPtuFi03xRXYcVhzgneHot0dSc02ray6hTj3dO3Na7wZF8FKlze1dGa51K-UgEigWDcBVrfACdY37z51-5qNOrHq_aS53X1NH-AgMTYBsqjDfnN62JzKtqOc/s320/PA054605.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302738743383759810" border="0" /></a>Fruit at the market:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUmsStNwEN0esXM1hPr98VV4iX04wyaVsPfXLRNXkWjvdnv2w5YPK45nNLGkO98Hzc4iWw4hMiE02qVGsbnM548VEOqVSASQ1AffV6116gKw3CM_9FFSi6y5ff7LYeLenMmDhQLmZQSo/s1600-h/PA054604.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUmsStNwEN0esXM1hPr98VV4iX04wyaVsPfXLRNXkWjvdnv2w5YPK45nNLGkO98Hzc4iWw4hMiE02qVGsbnM548VEOqVSASQ1AffV6116gKw3CM_9FFSi6y5ff7LYeLenMmDhQLmZQSo/s320/PA054604.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302738170103500978" border="0" /></a>The market was sometimes so busy I couldn't even get through the people. Here it was a slow day:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2KQ-u4Ndqxh24Bg1pNd85m8C88IHkfqq-OtkGwdRP6UDDGsvzTg9UDAhCEEC3oMzsp3djKU8BDpZlJJTpqwBQby8r-uGGAKCB_ik3aic1rvoQXnFtclEuP0OMbi6znae-ocSq_279UQ/s1600-h/PA054603.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2KQ-u4Ndqxh24Bg1pNd85m8C88IHkfqq-OtkGwdRP6UDDGsvzTg9UDAhCEEC3oMzsp3djKU8BDpZlJJTpqwBQby8r-uGGAKCB_ik3aic1rvoQXnFtclEuP0OMbi6znae-ocSq_279UQ/s320/PA054603.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302738165289896674" border="0" /></a>There was a building around the corner from the hotel that was under construction. We saw several construction projects underway through out the city and Chris and I were amazed at how almost all of it is done without the aid of power equipment and tools.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBOoJUCDpSQoiIuoB6f8lqFL-2CTFgPIrZrxdrTP7Nsz3ge73rpZS_0k2Sk0qcoFr4QQcdS74lBXucKCJXWZIBA1lzOQI3Xup7aColENZ2octhnmdzMDOSo9HAIqJmVaLPnlGMYNFsAI/s1600-h/PA054602.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBOoJUCDpSQoiIuoB6f8lqFL-2CTFgPIrZrxdrTP7Nsz3ge73rpZS_0k2Sk0qcoFr4QQcdS74lBXucKCJXWZIBA1lzOQI3Xup7aColENZ2octhnmdzMDOSo9HAIqJmVaLPnlGMYNFsAI/s320/PA054602.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302738161634917794" border="0" /></a>The view from the third floor of the Hotel Atlant.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyG0ZpdLbWhU5pHp3lFPBuyuaY5NRYQR5JlK4CsFm8gStVrkB8HaAwrVkB7eNg0WZcyLp2k0s2OzETwaGoU_Mkm-ipnhyphenhyphenpzneZK5nzZue9sZM7KJ0n8BAaWwhCQN7grrG4Qlhgbit0Tkw/s1600-h/PA054601.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyG0ZpdLbWhU5pHp3lFPBuyuaY5NRYQR5JlK4CsFm8gStVrkB8HaAwrVkB7eNg0WZcyLp2k0s2OzETwaGoU_Mkm-ipnhyphenhyphenpzneZK5nzZue9sZM7KJ0n8BAaWwhCQN7grrG4Qlhgbit0Tkw/s320/PA054601.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302738157465534914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHp7eLYJmPzYo4xfD2LaIkcYgsZqFBC8FS_QZ1D0pvqfQ0xsyK3esgKceRoz6oYfW8OoS2BLrJ6aMhMZyUjFFBHwr0vT-_7989Sn8_xo6cOndVOwrYEksmrF6vPdk_CBpnqZFYoVSr8I/s1600-h/PA054600.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHp7eLYJmPzYo4xfD2LaIkcYgsZqFBC8FS_QZ1D0pvqfQ0xsyK3esgKceRoz6oYfW8OoS2BLrJ6aMhMZyUjFFBHwr0vT-_7989Sn8_xo6cOndVOwrYEksmrF6vPdk_CBpnqZFYoVSr8I/s320/PA054600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302738155668104498" border="0" /></a>Casino:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqGzuwwC-31r_FQPo91tgU9kAZiCcw1iftHKZZhuzdO1Mpgo8e0MUg8ay3Sqoh0FqVcmOF8VV1sPOvjqul-4_frvL7mBbrhAMQn3lyOJzn4VCxSztlrx8EyURd0KBXqAPiICwcGpMvO0/s1600-h/PA054598.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqGzuwwC-31r_FQPo91tgU9kAZiCcw1iftHKZZhuzdO1Mpgo8e0MUg8ay3Sqoh0FqVcmOF8VV1sPOvjqul-4_frvL7mBbrhAMQn3lyOJzn4VCxSztlrx8EyURd0KBXqAPiICwcGpMvO0/s320/PA054598.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302737337758264866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZElV_rphbpwuhScGDHaCDHQFLY3se0UpwErSnN-vD7iAbDW_RBJU2IHu5l8x8BY4UYxgc0ufgHbbRvBog7Ml4aWHF_ReJcfAWAgvogb5lyhMQ8wj46CpHxNv_QUAz8MJUeLK9sVTUNM/s1600-h/PA054597.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZElV_rphbpwuhScGDHaCDHQFLY3se0UpwErSnN-vD7iAbDW_RBJU2IHu5l8x8BY4UYxgc0ufgHbbRvBog7Ml4aWHF_ReJcfAWAgvogb5lyhMQ8wj46CpHxNv_QUAz8MJUeLK9sVTUNM/s320/PA054597.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302737333971508306" border="0" /></a>A church spire off in the distance:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSu-fk-po84d2KB3XHHkP_wlbOKDQe_ZWUoOZA0n68SMBMyaWTmyONXBsrJwBldZGUPh-yup8eVHC5fTWDlxuIryHFLpuTdCL-qRCZn4BWUHOSXS1TF0SiIGXqhDFRbaW_ymrTRsnrnPY/s1600-h/PA054596.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSu-fk-po84d2KB3XHHkP_wlbOKDQe_ZWUoOZA0n68SMBMyaWTmyONXBsrJwBldZGUPh-yup8eVHC5fTWDlxuIryHFLpuTdCL-qRCZn4BWUHOSXS1TF0SiIGXqhDFRbaW_ymrTRsnrnPY/s320/PA054596.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302737331246850482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8pQfxdnxMCB2yASz9QemBIZyzpl9_lMr23IlXDlWrifllAs1RH9BFg2427RV2kSY4toJgfChLPpw3rxVdERYq9rwm3oYIHUdAWUyx1STV_Z7_GqpVBKDUyiVQRuuH9vh09RDvjkkxhA/s1600-h/PA054595.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8pQfxdnxMCB2yASz9QemBIZyzpl9_lMr23IlXDlWrifllAs1RH9BFg2427RV2kSY4toJgfChLPpw3rxVdERYq9rwm3oYIHUdAWUyx1STV_Z7_GqpVBKDUyiVQRuuH9vh09RDvjkkxhA/s320/PA054595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302737326597622722" border="0" /></a>XuMei and Xander walking toward the Philharmonic.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CyOw0FCnNKO6LUVxo8NDfVIHvf9yd8awP0IFLuVzsKLtqKykoNKD45LpSUfv9dy-9bnftQg9XLHV4LrlV9M2_stGZOsc7wSKmjcRjWvkGz4QDfRmgFwJo3wEOzNUnbeETP8Pd4F1O2U/s1600-h/PA054593.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CyOw0FCnNKO6LUVxo8NDfVIHvf9yd8awP0IFLuVzsKLtqKykoNKD45LpSUfv9dy-9bnftQg9XLHV4LrlV9M2_stGZOsc7wSKmjcRjWvkGz4QDfRmgFwJo3wEOzNUnbeETP8Pd4F1O2U/s320/PA054593.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302737316584236002" border="0" /></a>Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-82676189015858118762009-01-28T11:33:00.000-08:002009-02-09T13:15:28.889-08:00Day 8 & 9 or both: Uzhorod, Ukraine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XghszD3H5wuM6Q49RHSPq9PMMZU8BI8WZ3E_i7o3IOCA8bWdqncqVMgX8xkbIwFhxmW5tf6HbseKfnfCdr43xOqWDh3mrpEFUi-UMKrkCUJGmgdPVTNiZedGLOGjl4rmdRcOKBsoCe8/s1600-h/PA044506.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XghszD3H5wuM6Q49RHSPq9PMMZU8BI8WZ3E_i7o3IOCA8bWdqncqVMgX8xkbIwFhxmW5tf6HbseKfnfCdr43xOqWDh3mrpEFUi-UMKrkCUJGmgdPVTNiZedGLOGjl4rmdRcOKBsoCe8/s320/PA044506.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296439880421203682" border="0" /></a>This was the first day of the "CITY DAYS"celebrations. It was the 1115 nth birthday of Uzhorod. Chris had gotten up and out early to play with the Maharimbas. The kids and I slept in and slowly worked our way to where I thought the band was playing. This is a town square, with a huge TV screen. Many performances were happening here but I didn't see any of the band members or anyone else we knew.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4Vt3xaWBaE8XS7aHabJEVAjXZlTo9QSq19AFb1iix-F2luUSA2lgt5UTkjdWNsD5-d7FSaF7YNA3aeg5sx2xBykF3kVLXQ-FcUGxho48wSf3DlGO7_blVhOsEOiQgvzIre_NXe18HTc/s1600-h/PA044507.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4Vt3xaWBaE8XS7aHabJEVAjXZlTo9QSq19AFb1iix-F2luUSA2lgt5UTkjdWNsD5-d7FSaF7YNA3aeg5sx2xBykF3kVLXQ-FcUGxho48wSf3DlGO7_blVhOsEOiQgvzIre_NXe18HTc/s320/PA044507.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296439871748294610" border="0" /></a>Local artizens displayed their wares for sale.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpdVxbPBditI5Jq44ag2Gd1tuggJHtvQi7Zjr_SIaf_8NCtoEzhhGRqga9ce8gynC5wh5DuqeivXuMYCPFZ0kYsWkFgygNtI42VuQCXWLTW4EjBtzqwYbpsddhgLG7X9yD3gMQV6StFQ/s1600-h/PA044508.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpdVxbPBditI5Jq44ag2Gd1tuggJHtvQi7Zjr_SIaf_8NCtoEzhhGRqga9ce8gynC5wh5DuqeivXuMYCPFZ0kYsWkFgygNtI42VuQCXWLTW4EjBtzqwYbpsddhgLG7X9yD3gMQV6StFQ/s320/PA044508.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296439857521520306" border="0" /></a>It was a cold and rainy day but we traipsed through town and over the river and finally we heard a sprinkling of marimba music! We found them!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYfg4k_XR7vOhCor4wd_4Kmji397KpJsG02o0aEHhzLLcxLWdVTnQTA05d4rhnQW2OkhX4qBNL6DBOYQo77wwpob-9jxA2In6LXk6CnlgTgzhiTp9qAIORCyI8DutaTJn9Ibum96vWkU/s1600-h/PA044509.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYfg4k_XR7vOhCor4wd_4Kmji397KpJsG02o0aEHhzLLcxLWdVTnQTA05d4rhnQW2OkhX4qBNL6DBOYQo77wwpob-9jxA2In6LXk6CnlgTgzhiTp9qAIORCyI8DutaTJn9Ibum96vWkU/s320/PA044509.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296439359798428354" border="0" /></a>They were playing for an enormous and very happy crowd.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4O1cjo23kRoz7s_XLPeJhrISNDVt0kpZSUn_5HS0HTZyCEqrROqSQsUKDYxhXnFWIa1pP9D12nL3IkZnD1p6vgnEiM33hiHozg7B4IK_oPBMtEUeW-gsj5m0cNQXImyi1cQ92Fr96NE/s1600-h/PA044516.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4O1cjo23kRoz7s_XLPeJhrISNDVt0kpZSUn_5HS0HTZyCEqrROqSQsUKDYxhXnFWIa1pP9D12nL3IkZnD1p6vgnEiM33hiHozg7B4IK_oPBMtEUeW-gsj5m0cNQXImyi1cQ92Fr96NE/s320/PA044516.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296439355820493250" border="0" /></a>So happy!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dC3RYV1i1IiyvUimrMlpAD9OvaR18lPsLkKnxgO0Rh5xIpkAQFzYNO-STxkhMem2RXloP0cHsHYqyvIGuLxhPKs4q07oc7Z4HiuL6cr1HxsTaxIkmWTiG_XzAYRusZGQ4ck4yZYBftk/s1600-h/PA044518.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dC3RYV1i1IiyvUimrMlpAD9OvaR18lPsLkKnxgO0Rh5xIpkAQFzYNO-STxkhMem2RXloP0cHsHYqyvIGuLxhPKs4q07oc7Z4HiuL6cr1HxsTaxIkmWTiG_XzAYRusZGQ4ck4yZYBftk/s320/PA044518.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296439346662877234" border="0" /></a>Logan, Theresa, Hailey, Hanks ear, and Chris. The man way behind and to the left of Chris is Igor the bus driver.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOToCr3c-5MyCBMO7RO5cfT6wZPWfAKvRvrur9X_lJL9nBaPhHqXZtDQ5VcYmdUGrg0vKTFYKiTJazbE0HZOFb7RnNrpfxDNAezng5fmqkw0MEI5Ic38WGDX1N5CD3oD_9jGOK8LFnEaI/s1600-h/PA044520.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOToCr3c-5MyCBMO7RO5cfT6wZPWfAKvRvrur9X_lJL9nBaPhHqXZtDQ5VcYmdUGrg0vKTFYKiTJazbE0HZOFb7RnNrpfxDNAezng5fmqkw0MEI5Ic38WGDX1N5CD3oD_9jGOK8LFnEaI/s320/PA044520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296439345583322274" border="0" /></a>XuMei, Lisa and Xander dancing to the music.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyXS5R4LIDUFdfrLgqH46vA7kKy4Idtui6yqAiGKVDWrvps7gr_6RnCBBxrztLdpbAsdknf2kfpkLENIAtgAr0R6P1WubqsxPPaQ1bK5NcBaYVz550f-lb2vuD8HBYRd2T_0PthFKrQM/s1600-h/PA044522.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyXS5R4LIDUFdfrLgqH46vA7kKy4Idtui6yqAiGKVDWrvps7gr_6RnCBBxrztLdpbAsdknf2kfpkLENIAtgAr0R6P1WubqsxPPaQ1bK5NcBaYVz550f-lb2vuD8HBYRd2T_0PthFKrQM/s320/PA044522.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296439336710209346" border="0" /></a>Lisa is trying to get XuMei away from the very drunk man who is trying to take XuMei by the hand to dance. XuMei refused and was shocked that he wouldn't listen.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AP73KxnW0aXSzsU4-vdoBFIVOZ9_UbXxciIaQuHa0_HE_RZK8oZMR-xXNMAFEhF6QtUHNp_ZjFU10EJWVpC8YCcf9X4ILs8b8vLyPdmzw6ZaH4AOp7C6SnHUjTbQ8j99mkqeQreFDXg/s1600-h/PA044523.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AP73KxnW0aXSzsU4-vdoBFIVOZ9_UbXxciIaQuHa0_HE_RZK8oZMR-xXNMAFEhF6QtUHNp_ZjFU10EJWVpC8YCcf9X4ILs8b8vLyPdmzw6ZaH4AOp7C6SnHUjTbQ8j99mkqeQreFDXg/s320/PA044523.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296438593353452562" border="0" /></a>After the concert Lisa asked us what we were hungry for and we said "Hamburgers!" We walked very far and tried one place--they were full so went to the second best place in town to get burgers. This is such a great picture of Chris I wanted to add it but XuMei is tanking here because she is so hungry.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_PaCJ3pWRxGf8laB7ZxwtIRs8RLbQcUpw9p2BWVgI1nDCVHypkoANaJJYGjGrE2TW38sUIt58lEYFobRdAuEETNncd2-jgBfLRPKnZicIwGHFR1wFazu9Gp-yu6O5D0lcf57RW522dA/s1600-h/PA044526.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_PaCJ3pWRxGf8laB7ZxwtIRs8RLbQcUpw9p2BWVgI1nDCVHypkoANaJJYGjGrE2TW38sUIt58lEYFobRdAuEETNncd2-jgBfLRPKnZicIwGHFR1wFazu9Gp-yu6O5D0lcf57RW522dA/s320/PA044526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296438580231989186" border="0" /></a>Lisa and Hailey happy we succeeded in finding burgers!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDj1PaViDrzU4KLeWaF-iEHZU6aM7VL-USdFBMe684MEdkogh757sg1iSBYou9PK2rLtsOKJiU9HEUFFmEc1Ndyhmol2XXyPWkMUKs3NgbsOGG8vmRFNi2__hBCg6e-t8cY4DiXxBsmrY/s1600-h/PA044527.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDj1PaViDrzU4KLeWaF-iEHZU6aM7VL-USdFBMe684MEdkogh757sg1iSBYou9PK2rLtsOKJiU9HEUFFmEc1Ndyhmol2XXyPWkMUKs3NgbsOGG8vmRFNi2__hBCg6e-t8cY4DiXxBsmrY/s320/PA044527.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296438579938854098" border="0" /></a>Xander is thrilled!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MMQYNnu1zFWL0VbyjeNvSg2lZPnRBzTZHFETgIuUOAvIlKUBqJbaJh4kTfZMvmZ_zdcU65BSpMRfCc_QyX_X7V84g3EEegHk8HXoX4suVlZgnhr48OSjbRSRrEVQwdsNg8D1bVLmZQs/s1600-h/PA044528.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MMQYNnu1zFWL0VbyjeNvSg2lZPnRBzTZHFETgIuUOAvIlKUBqJbaJh4kTfZMvmZ_zdcU65BSpMRfCc_QyX_X7V84g3EEegHk8HXoX4suVlZgnhr48OSjbRSRrEVQwdsNg8D1bVLmZQs/s320/PA044528.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296438569934846450" border="0" /></a>And here they are! First thing is they didn't have anything on the menu to go with them-- no fries, chips or potatoes of any sort. Only salads and pizza's! The buns were homemade and the burger patty fried to a blackened crisp with tons of vegetables on it--like cole slaw and cucumbers. But it was DELICIOUS!!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJpGURVuzQgkfCEEasU0DZH4MvnfUj0vCORPuE9vGL0t4gUx2nb8JDHJzEMGLAKxhzDQINSEAATlnYQG8FBMaglXPMM42K65YQbmBChpzpMRggm8LbHYr29nBNuSIsYJEGOltuiKP-hA/s1600-h/PA044533.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJpGURVuzQgkfCEEasU0DZH4MvnfUj0vCORPuE9vGL0t4gUx2nb8JDHJzEMGLAKxhzDQINSEAATlnYQG8FBMaglXPMM42K65YQbmBChpzpMRggm8LbHYr29nBNuSIsYJEGOltuiKP-hA/s320/PA044533.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296438568198876914" border="0" /></a>Happy girl with a much anticipated burger!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKuujBCrzIXNPdA8fPjkqAxF2Kn2TzRg_KT7bb6Fx0na8P9Pvcj6SKwr33pVrnq2S4cX87qQ2j5eW6aLHJXVbAfPICWbEemmjyhoow6NlKEEbEtU5MDgrIfNme_PsNqWwAicZCjjSqbE/s1600-h/PA044535.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKuujBCrzIXNPdA8fPjkqAxF2Kn2TzRg_KT7bb6Fx0na8P9Pvcj6SKwr33pVrnq2S4cX87qQ2j5eW6aLHJXVbAfPICWbEemmjyhoow6NlKEEbEtU5MDgrIfNme_PsNqWwAicZCjjSqbE/s320/PA044535.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296436765347641042" border="0" /></a>Yum!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt04nLu4iwXNno5urZjufxoPNyunZ6KG-7vqh9c4AgaIZPIsSMpurDe08hn3DsyOx_yYCFAQVYazxhGGk6JBK0cMH_Ad5k1JF71P6jcBZ_k5Y25TD-jnc9LUWScBTkVyeMNJ-jnzNms8g/s1600-h/PA044536.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt04nLu4iwXNno5urZjufxoPNyunZ6KG-7vqh9c4AgaIZPIsSMpurDe08hn3DsyOx_yYCFAQVYazxhGGk6JBK0cMH_Ad5k1JF71P6jcBZ_k5Y25TD-jnc9LUWScBTkVyeMNJ-jnzNms8g/s320/PA044536.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296436761104344130" border="0" /></a>In this shot you can see how overcooked my burger was.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMyZnTgEhaqGiKmrNu11HH3_bl5iKYMCe-3JqUWcEvPMWOujXDwETRFsXTkIqBkFDU4jebZNu12V8EqN4iMuvDJItlgzeqezdk29V-HFK8iNf5hPZ6w0BcsR6nSgQAFb1ZoizMHMmwds/s1600-h/PA044537.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMyZnTgEhaqGiKmrNu11HH3_bl5iKYMCe-3JqUWcEvPMWOujXDwETRFsXTkIqBkFDU4jebZNu12V8EqN4iMuvDJItlgzeqezdk29V-HFK8iNf5hPZ6w0BcsR6nSgQAFb1ZoizMHMmwds/s320/PA044537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296436764269784418" border="0" /></a>Lisa, her sister and Hailey.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RLGlHelczaqVyUXSAKLvh6FA2RO9SdMRxAhQedy4WZrd4erIwTwYfuyEZGXT24el4Rx66n-btvb9qWk-BJTZhFXl1y9WFQeNvXKV4Ba7xYlS1oX_eYl4-R327H9qkreEzsNYQ9D9WA0/s1600-h/PA044541.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RLGlHelczaqVyUXSAKLvh6FA2RO9SdMRxAhQedy4WZrd4erIwTwYfuyEZGXT24el4Rx66n-btvb9qWk-BJTZhFXl1y9WFQeNvXKV4Ba7xYlS1oX_eYl4-R327H9qkreEzsNYQ9D9WA0/s320/PA044541.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296436752367050994" border="0" /></a>After lunch we walked through the crowds of City Days. The market was going strong. This butcher is weighing what looks like a quarter of a pig.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mljVRnONZHwMFt3NnZkoTFt6z5QDA-fEXw7KBMdyIgLavRdXjW7pC287Xs2faJugD6u8PcUEHInu6QE2FrMZbX2XcSwIQTXLm89PX8yqM62_FofGzNRg1f0cxAej1UNB6k9F0nOGqEg/s1600-h/PA044543.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mljVRnONZHwMFt3NnZkoTFt6z5QDA-fEXw7KBMdyIgLavRdXjW7pC287Xs2faJugD6u8PcUEHInu6QE2FrMZbX2XcSwIQTXLm89PX8yqM62_FofGzNRg1f0cxAej1UNB6k9F0nOGqEg/s320/PA044543.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296436743116202914" border="0" /></a>Inbetween the striped blue sweater and the shiney olive green coat you can glimpse a bit of an elaborately braided and decorated loaf of bread.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqhm_7akB1ZXzge7lOXjqEtE0FdBf21l0RMaJ3TuQdXTP2xZMx5zH5-3yiKqtkfkAEKwqU4tU_a8nk4CAzhokouO1_OH2gBTBxy1xHjBwcVeOeU0De51ilm9RkmM8acN6NpG8U6ujgd4/s1600-h/PA044544.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqhm_7akB1ZXzge7lOXjqEtE0FdBf21l0RMaJ3TuQdXTP2xZMx5zH5-3yiKqtkfkAEKwqU4tU_a8nk4CAzhokouO1_OH2gBTBxy1xHjBwcVeOeU0De51ilm9RkmM8acN6NpG8U6ujgd4/s320/PA044544.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296436104043062834" border="0" /></a>Bags of produce for sale.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YZVsZo64n14TmnPw5rPkrJIGvF6aYn8PxGsZa3jH9Ba2FTMOxA6rRR_MQ8rCtEHsf6OGztZNiwS5S1oZuJdPEkm_1lYXyLLY5c_zPZ368Zw1EOG7c0pLF_UaBdRGw_jQLB-Yo9yp0kg/s1600-h/PA044545.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YZVsZo64n14TmnPw5rPkrJIGvF6aYn8PxGsZa3jH9Ba2FTMOxA6rRR_MQ8rCtEHsf6OGztZNiwS5S1oZuJdPEkm_1lYXyLLY5c_zPZ368Zw1EOG7c0pLF_UaBdRGw_jQLB-Yo9yp0kg/s320/PA044545.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296436102902847474" border="0" /></a>Vegies and flowers.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5xee4YqsD1p4euQBUqNtV9iTLbvFmwcwsUBscxpfMwA8uhLliAENYY53M_tSuB3s-KWpL1l4h27yQQ3xgPjc5SarNgnjVwZXV1Hi_qD1Ffiv98kd-Cd9b96PlRnumc9W8Pjd4Qdy5V8/s1600-h/PA044546.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5xee4YqsD1p4euQBUqNtV9iTLbvFmwcwsUBscxpfMwA8uhLliAENYY53M_tSuB3s-KWpL1l4h27yQQ3xgPjc5SarNgnjVwZXV1Hi_qD1Ffiv98kd-Cd9b96PlRnumc9W8Pjd4Qdy5V8/s320/PA044546.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296436101849341858" border="0" /></a>Metal working was happening at the market also. Xander wanted to stay here all day but we were soaked and cold so only stayed for 1/2 and hour.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQvm7OD2mzGEs8lnDoGjamflBE-1erotHek9gSObrnwskJBPmgymN5LA8hxn2qusWiIHP1vTtiTqTokNy7LUWC4h_A2BNbdKHY_piSuN7NAeCuG10iiQZh2JdPEZqlDqxRrnCILOjBn0/s1600-h/PA044548.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQvm7OD2mzGEs8lnDoGjamflBE-1erotHek9gSObrnwskJBPmgymN5LA8hxn2qusWiIHP1vTtiTqTokNy7LUWC4h_A2BNbdKHY_piSuN7NAeCuG10iiQZh2JdPEZqlDqxRrnCILOjBn0/s320/PA044548.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296436097556052354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsp0BE2enGcmIvnsoNLA4ZfpEJd_mCL9yNDBbIs-cOQQrKpn576z3UjASMk-Wz5EHAwoT6A-o16HDg-kOHpuX3EpNs28Gkjth-L4-kX2aArsNdvuJXX90gfXNjBs0PjxOGf354-E9tZVA/s1600-h/PA044549.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsp0BE2enGcmIvnsoNLA4ZfpEJd_mCL9yNDBbIs-cOQQrKpn576z3UjASMk-Wz5EHAwoT6A-o16HDg-kOHpuX3EpNs28Gkjth-L4-kX2aArsNdvuJXX90gfXNjBs0PjxOGf354-E9tZVA/s320/PA044549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296436090258930098" border="0" /></a>We went to the location of the next gig. The old Jewish synagogue turned music hall across town. They call it the Philarmonium. We were wet and bedraggled and had no one with us to prove our connections so they wouldn't let us in. So we watched a marching band arrive out front.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hIOBeqU0UnQrsURZiuDm3rLe5gSsgK48W_ji1TPdwc4dhEUCXK84jGmWXnuJRkw_mhIiU2pPqL3bckYEqgqPKrIA1ZCesatS3wMXBZ9LR3eulBNKqUu-huW8o-W2o80NrvkJVdNH9kU/s1600-h/PA044550.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hIOBeqU0UnQrsURZiuDm3rLe5gSsgK48W_ji1TPdwc4dhEUCXK84jGmWXnuJRkw_mhIiU2pPqL3bckYEqgqPKrIA1ZCesatS3wMXBZ9LR3eulBNKqUu-huW8o-W2o80NrvkJVdNH9kU/s320/PA044550.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296435390238401602" border="0" /></a>It was seriously cold and these girls were impressive.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_C00CeYoZnUIto5dLh9jqmlshduEloJUM9Lw45q7uywOTtIXixqdC93L6Y1GiL_4SCdCC91S9jcLx66AxMs2zmhiYHxGgP2rIyTY2Zxq4jOy-UgyYsohFUIyLNo8nALyW6Be-1wJnxc/s1600-h/PA044552.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_C00CeYoZnUIto5dLh9jqmlshduEloJUM9Lw45q7uywOTtIXixqdC93L6Y1GiL_4SCdCC91S9jcLx66AxMs2zmhiYHxGgP2rIyTY2Zxq4jOy-UgyYsohFUIyLNo8nALyW6Be-1wJnxc/s320/PA044552.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296435385849684082" border="0" /></a>Lisa and XuMei watching the show.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zRXplG6d9PWRM4AsL1Sf62DnplQnglZzigv2eltY_h7tsrUVzqR0c-YriNF0EBT6tTpkgnT__XMWw_M2C6U8beMXe7V1uN8zZiQFaNuNAYtmkrxrEEPuoS4Vsjud8UZJjHF6GqWfOVQ/s1600-h/PA044553.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zRXplG6d9PWRM4AsL1Sf62DnplQnglZzigv2eltY_h7tsrUVzqR0c-YriNF0EBT6tTpkgnT__XMWw_M2C6U8beMXe7V1uN8zZiQFaNuNAYtmkrxrEEPuoS4Vsjud8UZJjHF6GqWfOVQ/s320/PA044553.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296435377679453698" border="0" /></a>Finally other folks with the band and more translators showed up and we were abe to get in. Back stage some traditional dancers were preparing to perform.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gfc4BTiNLo8F4mW9GSlhECENFjaQZj7pbjUPjvwuKKdNapph8hLb_Fq0xfwSVyKi9mtY5hBXCcXwsBwtMZ5j8bu91SBB7iIpnV3QXwuX3mct411rEY5bGwpgMrdsfXH3em0X7R2xXM4/s1600-h/PA044554.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gfc4BTiNLo8F4mW9GSlhECENFjaQZj7pbjUPjvwuKKdNapph8hLb_Fq0xfwSVyKi9mtY5hBXCcXwsBwtMZ5j8bu91SBB7iIpnV3QXwuX3mct411rEY5bGwpgMrdsfXH3em0X7R2xXM4/s320/PA044554.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296435375980494722" border="0" /></a>The Maharimbas on stage at the Philharmonium.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSeW9R9uVqxd_ZG_Pw1aBaXIFHkzwEtJyn9YJ9ywZ8Dgi3OELopWGPyP0fJifbVCZL6kj34i6mVNSYrc3zlFYxtkE_vpPC-VDgvXUWmSrWJ5jBqaVSL1ChvZXlD_l_-pVWfCsU89FR7EY/s1600-h/PA044555.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSeW9R9uVqxd_ZG_Pw1aBaXIFHkzwEtJyn9YJ9ywZ8Dgi3OELopWGPyP0fJifbVCZL6kj34i6mVNSYrc3zlFYxtkE_vpPC-VDgvXUWmSrWJ5jBqaVSL1ChvZXlD_l_-pVWfCsU89FR7EY/s320/PA044555.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296435372043509474" border="0" /></a>The audience was full of swankly dressed dignitaries and city officials.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvgZgQhr3pQ5shi-C148XTo1ngGuhyfYLGFWjOhXOFUBriWF_KM1GIuSlSiVlOG3L9LBdNRgocgREsVgierKFaIXK9y4VqDKrc8tl0b7Jj-qkr1IOpBeY3UCZw3hhgNWe9S5b3T98l94/s1600-h/PA044556.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvgZgQhr3pQ5shi-C148XTo1ngGuhyfYLGFWjOhXOFUBriWF_KM1GIuSlSiVlOG3L9LBdNRgocgREsVgierKFaIXK9y4VqDKrc8tl0b7Jj-qkr1IOpBeY3UCZw3hhgNWe9S5b3T98l94/s320/PA044556.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296434501842126674" border="0" /></a>After the concert we walked across the bridge with Lisa and she showed us these locks that couples place here sometimes as part of their wedding ceremonies and sometimes just as a romantic jesture.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUcMabY_q2sit5mrTohLyw_agvMK2EFiAqFywLpeYrcnRlU7OR7hnw3u3K8UfdaDz0xtVh6kzMbIKGOe-yraVF2g230hlvtcaxmehvgRbTuFuQbrC4Iyo2XfYU7f8XosXTMcgsmzHioY/s1600-h/PA044560.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUcMabY_q2sit5mrTohLyw_agvMK2EFiAqFywLpeYrcnRlU7OR7hnw3u3K8UfdaDz0xtVh6kzMbIKGOe-yraVF2g230hlvtcaxmehvgRbTuFuQbrC4Iyo2XfYU7f8XosXTMcgsmzHioY/s320/PA044560.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296434499812971858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBtF6PhPrVRF5F0krstmqfqaw2s90z2fku2IyYp_3nx1NMKvah3TEfZNuu5F0A48V6PT4hjsIdQd31-QaECQ05AiEhTqYjEh-NuQkaeYeE-Hx6pcCPYy7TaVibGh-MAEmdt12B5dpiog/s1600-h/PA044561.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBtF6PhPrVRF5F0krstmqfqaw2s90z2fku2IyYp_3nx1NMKvah3TEfZNuu5F0A48V6PT4hjsIdQd31-QaECQ05AiEhTqYjEh-NuQkaeYeE-Hx6pcCPYy7TaVibGh-MAEmdt12B5dpiog/s320/PA044561.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296434483258849298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgV2GL1EdDOK162DMR4dKiAngHJYdZBV9t940zXIpcb9xjz11P0GrgQSXGnkQzymrP8Ohw72P9uHwOYc9bFQqGOTIN5FkWO9von5I8aksXK4Kcd9ZQlZ4b9HX-WdaDCi5ZowsEPR7DNx4/s1600-h/PA044562.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgV2GL1EdDOK162DMR4dKiAngHJYdZBV9t940zXIpcb9xjz11P0GrgQSXGnkQzymrP8Ohw72P9uHwOYc9bFQqGOTIN5FkWO9von5I8aksXK4Kcd9ZQlZ4b9HX-WdaDCi5ZowsEPR7DNx4/s320/PA044562.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296434465209557234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Nk8UcMYOky64QcqKSZ9zhJkCX3xh1hyphenhyphenrNWfnhDIjCeHgPVS17rXpCBwhWadh_NbxaJu5RL9sDI_esXrRRxzFNOjRyBmtm4q_c_uhTUDtIPzoAseF2UOnss1eng5Mbg6F9x-4zx2ujkE/s1600-h/PA044563.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Nk8UcMYOky64QcqKSZ9zhJkCX3xh1hyphenhyphenrNWfnhDIjCeHgPVS17rXpCBwhWadh_NbxaJu5RL9sDI_esXrRRxzFNOjRyBmtm4q_c_uhTUDtIPzoAseF2UOnss1eng5Mbg6F9x-4zx2ujkE/s320/PA044563.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296434455515861010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUHAfMjkCvqUqkTOa0KQr6yJsZFZgDPs673MXGR5EKYu4RFXKfHrf164YPCcVLmnHn9jXpE2uviQHkUU0dbM9ak6b9bKoEAOXWhWoSEs4vMhE7JyT4wy-E110LO0XAQ4y7VqO12yzvoM/s1600-h/PA044564.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUHAfMjkCvqUqkTOa0KQr6yJsZFZgDPs673MXGR5EKYu4RFXKfHrf164YPCcVLmnHn9jXpE2uviQHkUU0dbM9ak6b9bKoEAOXWhWoSEs4vMhE7JyT4wy-E110LO0XAQ4y7VqO12yzvoM/s320/PA044564.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296433690885939634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPSHf0QkIJBWslCfVuqsU6P44inhJ9Fv7CDhOB2v1mPAWHvK9VcauxKERRmTRG1tHH39FlEbwSdL2T_1e1kqDxw4TZKEJV5Wu4MT5wlVN2HY0uyNTPmud2loCVYsQXqh-Oqng8uqHhJQ/s1600-h/PA044565.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPSHf0QkIJBWslCfVuqsU6P44inhJ9Fv7CDhOB2v1mPAWHvK9VcauxKERRmTRG1tHH39FlEbwSdL2T_1e1kqDxw4TZKEJV5Wu4MT5wlVN2HY0uyNTPmud2loCVYsQXqh-Oqng8uqHhJQ/s320/PA044565.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296433693722724050" border="0" /></a>Then we walked down a very well known street in Uzhorod and looked at the sculptures.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xrcubBgS1XsubhxBgXnfV0A17tKwR27eRVOomWuZYP5R6MtQ1IS61fdvXZtSv_dbScEQY8-bv-qDVwhXNmaLMNJBr2za_-jlpdKEY4XkHfR-ZNAuEJUDsnjB8ymJdwLqzLA2isZN8mI/s1600-h/PA044570.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xrcubBgS1XsubhxBgXnfV0A17tKwR27eRVOomWuZYP5R6MtQ1IS61fdvXZtSv_dbScEQY8-bv-qDVwhXNmaLMNJBr2za_-jlpdKEY4XkHfR-ZNAuEJUDsnjB8ymJdwLqzLA2isZN8mI/s320/PA044570.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296433676636261522" border="0" /></a>Heart Moose and XuMei.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmoU7EvGoTIOnYy0AnffBXuTs55-PpYFzXna1pC7P4ZqS6TUiL-POypX1WUTMtinbHD7ameFgKs94LrqH0a-0UmuUW6oHPwIEaNxH0HXC_MHpK_TG4UJH0aaduh_Vop-35JA-P9s3GNk/s1600-h/PA044571.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmoU7EvGoTIOnYy0AnffBXuTs55-PpYFzXna1pC7P4ZqS6TUiL-POypX1WUTMtinbHD7ameFgKs94LrqH0a-0UmuUW6oHPwIEaNxH0HXC_MHpK_TG4UJH0aaduh_Vop-35JA-P9s3GNk/s320/PA044571.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296433669630603618" border="0" /></a>Heart Pig and Lisa.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7t5I5cYKeKijGjKwHtMigQSrFK16WtsJFq7tO4anFJKHVOK6sNSDMdVuBYlGHClSrCzdbLQ9zd71jdPlnJCUB6lUidvkUGs8D8mgqweWF8atGm3P3-r8ILVaIsqhqABd5q6mUf7PUYmE/s1600-h/PA044573.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7t5I5cYKeKijGjKwHtMigQSrFK16WtsJFq7tO4anFJKHVOK6sNSDMdVuBYlGHClSrCzdbLQ9zd71jdPlnJCUB6lUidvkUGs8D8mgqweWF8atGm3P3-r8ILVaIsqhqABd5q6mUf7PUYmE/s320/PA044573.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296432842404350402" border="0" /></a>That gorgeous church again. This church has been being built for like 10 years and is still under construction. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfbcVvNlMDuCsNf75u0V9Es5uHcaZAkFCBStrxghpBijWJ8fyo5Hh-5vP1HnoZcu-v-JOYMMWlBU_2xLkiN4kSIUe4fncVmXorZCVM-ytYAVnizYp0f08EQYmCyw2zmGAUR1buXGydsg/s1600-h/PA044574.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfbcVvNlMDuCsNf75u0V9Es5uHcaZAkFCBStrxghpBijWJ8fyo5Hh-5vP1HnoZcu-v-JOYMMWlBU_2xLkiN4kSIUe4fncVmXorZCVM-ytYAVnizYp0f08EQYmCyw2zmGAUR1buXGydsg/s320/PA044574.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296432834484623554" border="0" /></a>Then we saw a shop with belly dancing outfits hanging out front. XuMei has wanted one of these for a couple of months now. I haven't been able to find one in a little girl size and I don't sew. We went in and the proprieter of the store recognized Lisa as part of the band and showed us the cell phone video footage he took just that very morning of the Maharimbas at the City Days celebration. We laughed and he offered us a deal on this outfit:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qqQZKPhzxAWikexUSH3e8C-eyX1oz-hc5ZGR-svoBsCafFFcdlvvPLPpnOJUiHZNoZUA-seCntIjlZzzwpp7zcxL0Lcqzo9HoiNUnMn36nTI4gfp-qVmuB64qYm2npB9FCr04AS3lWY/s1600-h/PA044575.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qqQZKPhzxAWikexUSH3e8C-eyX1oz-hc5ZGR-svoBsCafFFcdlvvPLPpnOJUiHZNoZUA-seCntIjlZzzwpp7zcxL0Lcqzo9HoiNUnMn36nTI4gfp-qVmuB64qYm2npB9FCr04AS3lWY/s320/PA044575.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296432822875116898" border="0" /></a>Ira, Steve, Jolene, Peter, and Theresa winding down in the hotel.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN084Rb6Z5-asVDicnngUxOHoV5JSs3c3_lb3Dh0aHJdEaQTw622Ylms-mS2-Mb4BTXgtWnGYNMF6_SzRgnsZf2WG8jrkwoFGZALcSrtvEsneI_S5yCTMhLtVzpmkObeDjgJjw2kVoPu0/s1600-h/PA044576.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN084Rb6Z5-asVDicnngUxOHoV5JSs3c3_lb3Dh0aHJdEaQTw622Ylms-mS2-Mb4BTXgtWnGYNMF6_SzRgnsZf2WG8jrkwoFGZALcSrtvEsneI_S5yCTMhLtVzpmkObeDjgJjw2kVoPu0/s320/PA044576.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296432823869072402" border="0" /></a>Logan, Sara, Liesl, Jack and Hank.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70zH9SoJOojdal5Z3Jv2tRSRhdaCksnn0S_1PV970tMfHnyMTBeLkal1ynrj2Z9njS6DoaYsbEyzYHV3Qf1-opXnI-sapxb-scNN2TFbya2cASRO2S81C0g1Cm5unHFvt-ef10X3ZRzE/s1600-h/PA044577.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70zH9SoJOojdal5Z3Jv2tRSRhdaCksnn0S_1PV970tMfHnyMTBeLkal1ynrj2Z9njS6DoaYsbEyzYHV3Qf1-opXnI-sapxb-scNN2TFbya2cASRO2S81C0g1Cm5unHFvt-ef10X3ZRzE/s320/PA044577.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296432821404439330" border="0" /></a>I think Chris, Xander and XuMei are wrestling, but whatever they are doing they are entertaining us.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkPQdBLnmaKAhFD2tGpYtCzvDKqT3qF3bAnZk9FvQbT5jU6K_jFoTd6l2KzZVHZIktLVY4VTy_WslxBggSqDgfW2QsIc5dDl0ssCKLymF_p-EGCZODbUYtr1MdecHjluOeQ5FJJdhdaE/s1600-h/PA044581.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkPQdBLnmaKAhFD2tGpYtCzvDKqT3qF3bAnZk9FvQbT5jU6K_jFoTd6l2KzZVHZIktLVY4VTy_WslxBggSqDgfW2QsIc5dDl0ssCKLymF_p-EGCZODbUYtr1MdecHjluOeQ5FJJdhdaE/s320/PA044581.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296431995194862050" border="0" /></a>In the middle of our revery we hear loud booms and run to look out the window. Fireworks are going off and we can see them from the hall window.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVD475_PZ1ZTtZGbqrUsTHbDw6pLvTGWKeaQMDU6u6HIXCTXkBGJ8BPxVBNPMGimw4oneITvanp_BLilwWkDxk0rO6YHHfMDb3pacJgIIy1B0HjhGWeTGMgpTFm916tecqDcPvo2rJjoY/s1600-h/PA044585.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVD475_PZ1ZTtZGbqrUsTHbDw6pLvTGWKeaQMDU6u6HIXCTXkBGJ8BPxVBNPMGimw4oneITvanp_BLilwWkDxk0rO6YHHfMDb3pacJgIIy1B0HjhGWeTGMgpTFm916tecqDcPvo2rJjoY/s320/PA044585.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296431988597472002" border="0" /></a>OOOh, AAAAh, WOOOW......<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtdACdf-iFej_QaKTVjA3IfReXXtVLDSSOY90-flPErWEOxyHgCFLlQGn8xlTMNFSF4NuJOOpfvNF3EdDo2kqxStdyLY0ETrlA3pVcWxatAo3BVdjDp5JU_24UIAWIeHLRSYaCrmVHek/s1600-h/PA044586.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtdACdf-iFej_QaKTVjA3IfReXXtVLDSSOY90-flPErWEOxyHgCFLlQGn8xlTMNFSF4NuJOOpfvNF3EdDo2kqxStdyLY0ETrlA3pVcWxatAo3BVdjDp5JU_24UIAWIeHLRSYaCrmVHek/s320/PA044586.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296431981262400450" border="0" /></a>I like this one, this one is my favorite.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECn0T2AGRPsHOgFFnYD4zVpDF1HThzcE0JCN22W2bsNXDS8dSN_XiCT5rQ4aqYpuf3BGm176k3QUpkqCgYnDkuukeq6bCu0r6mGoArLfuJBgNc1gI-t3BqwRsipA2Upw6_bK1McIZUks/s1600-h/PA044587.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECn0T2AGRPsHOgFFnYD4zVpDF1HThzcE0JCN22W2bsNXDS8dSN_XiCT5rQ4aqYpuf3BGm176k3QUpkqCgYnDkuukeq6bCu0r6mGoArLfuJBgNc1gI-t3BqwRsipA2Upw6_bK1McIZUks/s320/PA044587.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296431976717266498" border="0" /></a>Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-80107936573167891922009-01-26T09:17:00.001-08:002009-01-26T09:17:26.891-08:00Chicapuba<span id="pyzam-familysticker-start" style="display:none"></span><br /><p><a href="http://www.pyzam.com/toys/view/familysticker"><img src="http://www.pyzamstuff.com/family_images/e/e7/7b9b9eeeaaabce17d45812bc76871f.png" border="0" alt="Pyzam Family Sticker Toy" /></a><br/><br />Get your own <a href="http://www.pyzam.com/toys/view/familysticker">Family Sticker Maker</a> & <a href="http://www.pyzam.com/myspacelayouts">MySpace Layouts</a>.</p><br /><img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://stuff.pyzam.com/misc/CXNID=1000015.10NXC.gif" /><br /><span id="pyzam-familysticker-end" style="display:none"></span><br /><img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bHQ9MTIzMjk5MDEzMTMyOCZwdD*xMjMyOTkwMjQxNTAwJnA9MzkwMSZkPWZsYXNodG95cyZuPWJsb2dnZXImZz*xJnQ9Jm89ZTljYzUwNTkyYzA3NGU*ZWI3MjJlOTU2ZWE1YWU2NzY=.gif" />Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-67547152225242282152009-01-25T20:19:00.000-08:002009-01-25T21:38:38.835-08:00Day 7 or 8 or both: Uzhorod, Ukraine<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>Meet the two most amazing people I know:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgcZ5TF5mmjgmMUORqksRsLtG3ndySBKqyfscJQ9gF36aI6EAmE4GGyw439QTjzXGM_EY58kMLWhhLjKU35i_gOHLVTwwZXuORODG2DozVXiDVVH6JXv7KjGxX-Mepu__UJHHltxm5zw/s1600-h/PA024432.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwgcZ5TF5mmjgmMUORqksRsLtG3ndySBKqyfscJQ9gF36aI6EAmE4GGyw439QTjzXGM_EY58kMLWhhLjKU35i_gOHLVTwwZXuORODG2DozVXiDVVH6JXv7KjGxX-Mepu__UJHHltxm5zw/s320/PA024432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295454748555449538" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxoD_2jMP2U_SFVESRqJv_YW-eVCambTbFccve7nxYXomnit7eF66gR4_MLNYnmH3viHExdR58gYr8UtrpFbF2wK9-M-xFEhYgTdI_996fI-I9zjGHgCKilEPf8VV44SmTlUJJE-8LFg/s1600-h/PA024431.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxoD_2jMP2U_SFVESRqJv_YW-eVCambTbFccve7nxYXomnit7eF66gR4_MLNYnmH3viHExdR58gYr8UtrpFbF2wK9-M-xFEhYgTdI_996fI-I9zjGHgCKilEPf8VV44SmTlUJJE-8LFg/s320/PA024431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295454754449714242" border="0" /></a>A sweet stray dog who hung out by us as we played at the exercise equipment "park".<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fMwUOr0bgZVyLLg6auWUJ7bv3fjBEXoLtY59Mj1AfVkwWSLy-kAX4kN5rDXCHzinc1gBWz7eF3uOsLpU4rb2uozN52fBwzB3E9oNr8M6tcCixpsh-mgl9ZQhwRB_Mydk1-li2QPeWAg/s1600-h/PA024433.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fMwUOr0bgZVyLLg6auWUJ7bv3fjBEXoLtY59Mj1AfVkwWSLy-kAX4kN5rDXCHzinc1gBWz7eF3uOsLpU4rb2uozN52fBwzB3E9oNr8M6tcCixpsh-mgl9ZQhwRB_Mydk1-li2QPeWAg/s320/PA024433.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295454743422810226" border="0" /></a>An apartment building:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiraVms1JvpvCTHskbYjOfFAAX-lq_dGU78xY9EkuhvzVg_7wco4Chvia8DGGBa3tr9DNx285z1qcRbsf9Z4kgPH6NCS0DfNWnm4PSHi8bubOKBzb7aEDZA4-rQdyc2zs4FkXlZRLeO_c/s1600-h/PA024437.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiraVms1JvpvCTHskbYjOfFAAX-lq_dGU78xY9EkuhvzVg_7wco4Chvia8DGGBa3tr9DNx285z1qcRbsf9Z4kgPH6NCS0DfNWnm4PSHi8bubOKBzb7aEDZA4-rQdyc2zs4FkXlZRLeO_c/s320/PA024437.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295454737918911202" border="0" /></a>Chris wore his Utilikilt and I would walk behind him to see all the hilarious responses. Men in skirts are very rare.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwUYGNfr_S1rA0hyphenhyphens0V1bGlfDNnMySpc8st4WfrTPKH9JH8l0uATlMvChkywtarHenTj5l6VpAfMlnYozySXLLCVAEIwpW57APaHnYFPcGxjtKovCDFPtu637eV5TiBcFa2dF1DB0UJY/s1600-h/PA024438.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwUYGNfr_S1rA0hyphenhyphens0V1bGlfDNnMySpc8st4WfrTPKH9JH8l0uATlMvChkywtarHenTj5l6VpAfMlnYozySXLLCVAEIwpW57APaHnYFPcGxjtKovCDFPtu637eV5TiBcFa2dF1DB0UJY/s320/PA024438.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295453998610945234" border="0" /></a><br />A typical church spire.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIPBW4WbTrx0a9-nU-eZ9hWAnScHzwONEQ4eQRc7bl_82Y5FwYQm7JT_pRatueATK_Fajgtrx2qr9voA5l-yqoJ1e18eQxL8xRkwATnIBenbAOFnrfUd_517IrHjan3W66_BriJw-3GY/s1600-h/PA034449.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIPBW4WbTrx0a9-nU-eZ9hWAnScHzwONEQ4eQRc7bl_82Y5FwYQm7JT_pRatueATK_Fajgtrx2qr9voA5l-yqoJ1e18eQxL8xRkwATnIBenbAOFnrfUd_517IrHjan3W66_BriJw-3GY/s320/PA034449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295453979510797554" border="0" /></a>XuMei wanted to go shopping.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFON5Vi-QyDzJ9Uvh6mhb27kISBLMRBA-OP_YJ0kXheeS1zHwrUfRVvzDg-ScAwdqV-hPMGqljB_wrLtNzZR9GKuS1OlvPCaCHmxtSL2ffT2ID1lKshHwRaMS0uaCQhdCqmBie61FlSZM/s1600-h/PA034453.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFON5Vi-QyDzJ9Uvh6mhb27kISBLMRBA-OP_YJ0kXheeS1zHwrUfRVvzDg-ScAwdqV-hPMGqljB_wrLtNzZR9GKuS1OlvPCaCHmxtSL2ffT2ID1lKshHwRaMS0uaCQhdCqmBie61FlSZM/s320/PA034453.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295453971825955554" border="0" /></a>Chris in between gigs. I love this picture of him. He is surrounded by Cyrillic writing. Totally incomprehensible to me......a little like him. Because of him I am in another country. Because of his love of music and membership in the Maharimba band, his hours spent planning and in meetings and his hard work my family got to travel and experience this amazing country and culture. Thank you ChrisC.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59s9spcifGHTMTRM3mQNzbhBV9P3RToIk62zsot6Sn8PxxXJaNNEh0itAxkvLotsFSsJCuu_HVnt7ufj1YBSPUQwGI11RM-jYX06vuk2PiJL6pUgssrJ0aCDZAxrlGXnIbcXyuaV_a84/s1600-h/PA034458.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59s9spcifGHTMTRM3mQNzbhBV9P3RToIk62zsot6Sn8PxxXJaNNEh0itAxkvLotsFSsJCuu_HVnt7ufj1YBSPUQwGI11RM-jYX06vuk2PiJL6pUgssrJ0aCDZAxrlGXnIbcXyuaV_a84/s320/PA034458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295453963403684962" border="0" /></a>This became our favorite snack food. Pork Roast flavored chips. It was like the pill in Willie Wonka's chocolate factory. The one you pop in your mouth and then you experience the whole meal from pea soup to pot roast. Delicious.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqGpPa7mg4addd7epQsiykUO6RzVrBN9q-1hBt5ovXw74YHX0V0Gxlf7dpfV9PWXQK-6lz8q5aWAKnGjWgnRN-xnCKsvb82-quu_BgHMKztd1mIo0HhxYQO97O5bnH3Nswkwds5_I7HU/s1600-h/PA034461.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqGpPa7mg4addd7epQsiykUO6RzVrBN9q-1hBt5ovXw74YHX0V0Gxlf7dpfV9PWXQK-6lz8q5aWAKnGjWgnRN-xnCKsvb82-quu_BgHMKztd1mIo0HhxYQO97O5bnH3Nswkwds5_I7HU/s320/PA034461.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295452218769868722" border="0" /></a>At the Children's Palace auditorium we waited with friends and translators for an enormous show to start.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlL4Ii5r3T9uOmLoc0ccmtgCbVTtDA1TDXgh9sK60Npb-8GC-cQwub7zz7OWiUDyAKvIXrLwuESrKZtTefMKZHp2e2GQPROD5GGasOreAOrfyryImDfisTydA6kHxPTcLreWleRfplhOE/s1600-h/PA034464.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlL4Ii5r3T9uOmLoc0ccmtgCbVTtDA1TDXgh9sK60Npb-8GC-cQwub7zz7OWiUDyAKvIXrLwuESrKZtTefMKZHp2e2GQPROD5GGasOreAOrfyryImDfisTydA6kHxPTcLreWleRfplhOE/s320/PA034464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295452214321175858" border="0" /></a>There was much speachify-ing and then many wonderful acts. Dancers, musicians, singers and more from the Rehabilitation Center, the Chaslivtsi Orphanage and other schools.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6pDLYJ-zvy2lEzLWsYIPdTlFXE0erx03g6kzqC2g-HMGSoyb-x31Xy_NEOna7hdTH3E7-50HLSISbVS6seB7fqdanhraq-1HPWeGAQ278YgYnlPHEt4Nj2h6EEIv3hSD_pQQC3r4sQk/s1600-h/PA034470.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6pDLYJ-zvy2lEzLWsYIPdTlFXE0erx03g6kzqC2g-HMGSoyb-x31Xy_NEOna7hdTH3E7-50HLSISbVS6seB7fqdanhraq-1HPWeGAQ278YgYnlPHEt4Nj2h6EEIv3hSD_pQQC3r4sQk/s320/PA034470.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295452214244853874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKordrdVR7B3vOIOsuzHbvs8_JezAvGGsZ8Lqx2tlzygQj4pOZKV0ocASDRDNQJyiMkGiCNhroxju0GixZgYjnvGuIW0gmcEw-ebgVp1K6GYX7K25PTDNA_aFVbM8I1Ml4OKjP0aspugg/s1600-h/PA034480.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKordrdVR7B3vOIOsuzHbvs8_JezAvGGsZ8Lqx2tlzygQj4pOZKV0ocASDRDNQJyiMkGiCNhroxju0GixZgYjnvGuIW0gmcEw-ebgVp1K6GYX7K25PTDNA_aFVbM8I1Ml4OKjP0aspugg/s320/PA034480.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295452211696404402" border="0" /></a>Acrobats:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgL28O04ihPcrfrSb53RMY-yGiTwztrf-kIyZ-Cmk1SOHA3yzra_quUT22LfW4xaXlWJIBHw7UPsLHxuWVFPiTa38m_dAom39HgzSHaXKxJZrhAwzcfDC5OK_7WQs1Dwl5a4qSb3wg-Cc/s1600-h/PA034485.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgL28O04ihPcrfrSb53RMY-yGiTwztrf-kIyZ-Cmk1SOHA3yzra_quUT22LfW4xaXlWJIBHw7UPsLHxuWVFPiTa38m_dAom39HgzSHaXKxJZrhAwzcfDC5OK_7WQs1Dwl5a4qSb3wg-Cc/s320/PA034485.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295452208221996322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1emYptjW3ECohNrBtvnvi0elcnleAnJq7Cl7-Q8HLgsnbDYX0orWYsnbggMTztpij8moQwrK1axwLLBLKJC2kITom15RnXjecgUt_f0-o-awp2cGlE-MIA-NpTWmkAAqJfMVt4rCGXV8/s1600-h/PA034486.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1emYptjW3ECohNrBtvnvi0elcnleAnJq7Cl7-Q8HLgsnbDYX0orWYsnbggMTztpij8moQwrK1axwLLBLKJC2kITom15RnXjecgUt_f0-o-awp2cGlE-MIA-NpTWmkAAqJfMVt4rCGXV8/s320/PA034486.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295451182466557794" border="0" /></a>Liesl celebrated her birthday in Ukraine.<br /><br />She had a fabulous cake.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7cDaBSt1fK028vY-qQyYULsVJhOzCFuEDVUxwdMKRDL7O8bScPcii13tlqBhNd9WCzJMjzxnRU3QNrTe7axOD6IcZay79_T3XHGijfRZl9-6C7XBk_LtJrS7NEDvA_FoCqvUvfE_Iwg/s1600-h/PA034500.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7cDaBSt1fK028vY-qQyYULsVJhOzCFuEDVUxwdMKRDL7O8bScPcii13tlqBhNd9WCzJMjzxnRU3QNrTe7axOD6IcZay79_T3XHGijfRZl9-6C7XBk_LtJrS7NEDvA_FoCqvUvfE_Iwg/s320/PA034500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295299140956772802" border="0" /></a>Balloons:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJVFMViFVgKDN1sJnfJtEYCA870FQD7eV-Fll3dYy-lpLjRGmHL5qBT93zTqZwLgOtsuLLEu9Xnqqp8l7cVPOEY2FKArc-ZAwN0cRQt-dozgRmaOSt4ZdM9ef0rN-bzTuN33Qv9Q7dgY/s1600-h/PA034498.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJVFMViFVgKDN1sJnfJtEYCA870FQD7eV-Fll3dYy-lpLjRGmHL5qBT93zTqZwLgOtsuLLEu9Xnqqp8l7cVPOEY2FKArc-ZAwN0cRQt-dozgRmaOSt4ZdM9ef0rN-bzTuN33Qv9Q7dgY/s320/PA034498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295299153823588402" border="0" /></a>And a party in her room.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvX8wnERDscmhTAvst429ltOC5vkbCRxx6PFYkKeT8Uj8ZdydzdceY1wohNtdCO1gpE2UZPwK_1gLR5dROraSOsz9SL4PloWjQV4yXslzNYd9Qc6fYWZpx9_uCQTScH-8F6ucHG3wVGs/s1600-h/PA034502.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvX8wnERDscmhTAvst429ltOC5vkbCRxx6PFYkKeT8Uj8ZdydzdceY1wohNtdCO1gpE2UZPwK_1gLR5dROraSOsz9SL4PloWjQV4yXslzNYd9Qc6fYWZpx9_uCQTScH-8F6ucHG3wVGs/s320/PA034502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295299133861091138" border="0" /></a>Did I mention the fabulous cake?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGDhYqZKKpUq40OwWtXAg5Vv8xi1xq0U1PaSHuVuX4VEfsw5oNWUxp-w69272YEeKyEbVg0Us7L1uFYzvVrGVXb70DLWRNZfcuS_kqeazPgNuIG3aDM9qX5sQgJdTGal1ftezl5QRvVQ/s1600-h/PA034504.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGDhYqZKKpUq40OwWtXAg5Vv8xi1xq0U1PaSHuVuX4VEfsw5oNWUxp-w69272YEeKyEbVg0Us7L1uFYzvVrGVXb70DLWRNZfcuS_kqeazPgNuIG3aDM9qX5sQgJdTGal1ftezl5QRvVQ/s320/PA034504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295299127315286482" border="0" /></a>Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-68860315840568159992009-01-19T13:42:00.000-08:002009-01-19T14:28:18.144-08:00XuMei Horseback RidingXuMei curry combing Gabe.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWT_9AveCyXR3LBN5ZMWDX0t_lRoqE5Jl-tk55F9YmfouzKJ4NWGPQxGcYzgjBNvNwZU3zdmJXP7GeeoK_Ztnt4SNAc7hcQIdojw2IzyccdiqmbyyAcex7sbSpTqynR9zzqETiiQKQsJg/s1600-h/P1000596.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWT_9AveCyXR3LBN5ZMWDX0t_lRoqE5Jl-tk55F9YmfouzKJ4NWGPQxGcYzgjBNvNwZU3zdmJXP7GeeoK_Ztnt4SNAc7hcQIdojw2IzyccdiqmbyyAcex7sbSpTqynR9zzqETiiQKQsJg/s320/P1000596.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293126080192220354" border="0" /></a>First Ride.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXYwnKVAosS9sn3aR1yEeUcZTaB_12UNaXBa6FPBpMgigLFa8cjbbjeJfP_z9r74ZGnAvMPHYsr7h5T1PLaqWHRiwq1qIkmqSR73ogpePOHq47Z68x1Tas27D39u0a9mQfoJhjCc0I0I/s1600-h/P1000609.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXYwnKVAosS9sn3aR1yEeUcZTaB_12UNaXBa6FPBpMgigLFa8cjbbjeJfP_z9r74ZGnAvMPHYsr7h5T1PLaqWHRiwq1qIkmqSR73ogpePOHq47Z68x1Tas27D39u0a9mQfoJhjCc0I0I/s320/P1000609.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293127805720857522" border="0" /></a>Getting to know Gabe.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib38pb-zQ4q06mnszPB2uL2I4hFkyWi9iihxe7Le5SCoAv7KAqLvNM7sL2idl0gF_U6wI9Z6ns1SW06VOfqHjPwHocdotlyO8ZeUTzeACl12bz8A6S1rlWPQKZPBgfWfcjD15Ijo7PZ3Y/s1600-h/P1000606.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib38pb-zQ4q06mnszPB2uL2I4hFkyWi9iihxe7Le5SCoAv7KAqLvNM7sL2idl0gF_U6wI9Z6ns1SW06VOfqHjPwHocdotlyO8ZeUTzeACl12bz8A6S1rlWPQKZPBgfWfcjD15Ijo7PZ3Y/s320/P1000606.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293127795305935650" border="0" /></a>Giving Gabe some love.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0mpkUzNh7FWaauyZzcl3mtmIeue5GtUfO_947fZiVM3JOQeaLhMDG5aP1IiDPnzSL-fLGyrW2Wi_BFHNBFXsHbztmNqLX4vIwDoR3goOZtDvunEE06D5iMapvbYOsvsnfW5SXJfgAzU/s1600-h/P1000607.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0mpkUzNh7FWaauyZzcl3mtmIeue5GtUfO_947fZiVM3JOQeaLhMDG5aP1IiDPnzSL-fLGyrW2Wi_BFHNBFXsHbztmNqLX4vIwDoR3goOZtDvunEE06D5iMapvbYOsvsnfW5SXJfgAzU/s320/P1000607.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293127782154940594" border="0" /></a>Happy Girl on a curious Gabe.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBms0btHnCbk0W3mNcLI0Dnr0Say75nUa7GNwKmagrpG1cxDmccfjeqLC1gcrj9aKcHXwYQeY0wvBRJbN4H1f8sBKuMSMGIGKQy7Vp5AFyBjRBHyto6bHjNndFu7JYOX53_6X_WfelR8/s1600-h/P1000599.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBms0btHnCbk0W3mNcLI0Dnr0Say75nUa7GNwKmagrpG1cxDmccfjeqLC1gcrj9aKcHXwYQeY0wvBRJbN4H1f8sBKuMSMGIGKQy7Vp5AFyBjRBHyto6bHjNndFu7JYOX53_6X_WfelR8/s320/P1000599.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293126088449166402" border="0" /></a>Riding bareback led by Robin.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBe24OfZDqtoy0SyTetLKeL-zOWgm5Ga4v-yNof-eVCvUyk7uggGVmqXaLRwIUsrhepBXlR-bqh2dLjIGLWSy12GcOiFfwZeag9sFkT6UyoDeD4_1WwBsFDuK8rWKG2WhKX65AO8xOMRw/s1600-h/P1000618.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBe24OfZDqtoy0SyTetLKeL-zOWgm5Ga4v-yNof-eVCvUyk7uggGVmqXaLRwIUsrhepBXlR-bqh2dLjIGLWSy12GcOiFfwZeag9sFkT6UyoDeD4_1WwBsFDuK8rWKG2WhKX65AO8xOMRw/s320/P1000618.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293128324760603922" border="0" /></a>Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-91666264422758624642009-01-19T13:06:00.000-08:002009-01-26T07:58:12.759-08:00Hood RiverXander and XuMei spent the night in Hood River. They spent hours with cousins David and Jesse building elaborate Lego cities, Zoos, Military Bases, and Space stations.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0PUy59-hxhCJEu781MRW2gCGh2RljmEcpJnBNN_H38D_Nu4j7jJYCHAz6JEoIcXirldF-irjSTCYESui-1LHqpg6x-9O1MsYIDTmEQgc2t2o1bkSKx5unJFvlZ3XUFUJrSN7bPo-LpI/s1600-h/P1000511.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0PUy59-hxhCJEu781MRW2gCGh2RljmEcpJnBNN_H38D_Nu4j7jJYCHAz6JEoIcXirldF-irjSTCYESui-1LHqpg6x-9O1MsYIDTmEQgc2t2o1bkSKx5unJFvlZ3XUFUJrSN7bPo-LpI/s320/P1000511.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293117740508741186" border="0" /></a><br />Elaborate Zoo:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWNnoUTmK8G9VZssxS2iBcnH0c46kXIggXrKKnMh2LTGMV7j1SGVUnleu2RDOyiUX8k_mEbfhrxCLrhX944xS2v4p6yexyUGUrNXlbDfFFnebHS29FB5H82_3HO-wBFxc71bM0TgfVPo/s1600-h/P1000506.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWNnoUTmK8G9VZssxS2iBcnH0c46kXIggXrKKnMh2LTGMV7j1SGVUnleu2RDOyiUX8k_mEbfhrxCLrhX944xS2v4p6yexyUGUrNXlbDfFFnebHS29FB5H82_3HO-wBFxc71bM0TgfVPo/s320/P1000506.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293115673378328466" border="0" /></a><br />Elaborate Military Base:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPN8nQmmE1Ywu_2mGBqnPA12-ZE9faZVnVBZ_9qGaCgHZzFr0pITxH7WF-xrgoFx7Tg5pI59LswGKbxIJCRoPoI8dXIWTbr_ZpObSdsNX0qE6ra41KHYFHKwU8DYROXdSjNx0QWupnLQU/s1600-h/P1000520.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPN8nQmmE1Ywu_2mGBqnPA12-ZE9faZVnVBZ_9qGaCgHZzFr0pITxH7WF-xrgoFx7Tg5pI59LswGKbxIJCRoPoI8dXIWTbr_ZpObSdsNX0qE6ra41KHYFHKwU8DYROXdSjNx0QWupnLQU/s320/P1000520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293117848459214786" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then Uncle John drove us up Mt. Hood to a sledding spot called "Little John". Thanks for that since I don't have four wheel drive and haven't driven in the snow for 10 years.<br />The slope had been packed down hard and had moguls. Wicked, evil, icy, ass crunching moguls.<br />They didn't bother XuMei and Xander, probably because they are lite enough to not hit hard. But David walked up the hill grimacing and asked me, "Is it possible to bruise your butt?"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYOHiIEgqO7LgY4_RdL7g_oYj_R3sLrdnfcwhw-A50XhXaCGOs3q7gfVkfMAfbRp9bdD_EGbjhfKvtuSrhdmraWUUzO2iu2TlRmESMVE23-KD25DmavgsEAka_n8MFnIbH_i5VWJxPCI/s1600-h/P1000523.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYOHiIEgqO7LgY4_RdL7g_oYj_R3sLrdnfcwhw-A50XhXaCGOs3q7gfVkfMAfbRp9bdD_EGbjhfKvtuSrhdmraWUUzO2iu2TlRmESMVE23-KD25DmavgsEAka_n8MFnIbH_i5VWJxPCI/s320/P1000523.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293117033669667410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslc1gQhJKEGqnq6kfzNPM63NrSD68FahKfT_QWR7ACjDmlDzFA_8gJ-XSybl0tADS2MpklDGdV_9TQMXDFJ9DQHVivUbfMHQNZZ5F4ud5S3dODiub6bU_odj8vFykboDezZ1BafQyAcI/s1600-h/P1000534.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslc1gQhJKEGqnq6kfzNPM63NrSD68FahKfT_QWR7ACjDmlDzFA_8gJ-XSybl0tADS2MpklDGdV_9TQMXDFJ9DQHVivUbfMHQNZZ5F4ud5S3dODiub6bU_odj8vFykboDezZ1BafQyAcI/s320/P1000534.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293117026416235346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJg_L5rR_GY6izpCJ2TYrtVDc4YKnb4HKs3Fqj_-42ouTNaEbgMA5IDB-i4nCvFeAkABxg5DFfHz7OQvsI-YMn00h7NPObZiUmeXaf3nmTU-JMp1MJwajzTZ3cplfrzsLamo20TR8qbm0/s1600-h/P1000532.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJg_L5rR_GY6izpCJ2TYrtVDc4YKnb4HKs3Fqj_-42ouTNaEbgMA5IDB-i4nCvFeAkABxg5DFfHz7OQvsI-YMn00h7NPObZiUmeXaf3nmTU-JMp1MJwajzTZ3cplfrzsLamo20TR8qbm0/s320/P1000532.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293115718890171122" border="0" /></a>Even though David looks like a snow terrorist,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHQoWHwZ2hXxF7-ovy8CvteaNb2Cp_-nwnJ0EUPbwzh_YTASbTc2IiDGgdhwtNRIacUjUox5X9S-G_VBzL6kolcclIU2KyR7h5PqFvAjbkgPSe-Rtqfcba1XXEoSOfxdHtaQvZMJAgCQ/s1600-h/P1000528.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHQoWHwZ2hXxF7-ovy8CvteaNb2Cp_-nwnJ0EUPbwzh_YTASbTc2IiDGgdhwtNRIacUjUox5X9S-G_VBzL6kolcclIU2KyR7h5PqFvAjbkgPSe-Rtqfcba1XXEoSOfxdHtaQvZMJAgCQ/s320/P1000528.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293115708534350546" border="0" /></a>he makes a beautiful snow angel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvcIsOvd-wkoPIS6zgMIdk2q9k3RissOWziThYge3oUGGs6sV-m2xkARy9jcIcIo50WYHjdQbXLBPu0zWPyMvt4cixfyfuX53glJyOBRrpDbj2guo6sAr1F7SnyulrcEeymQnCVKb2rs/s1600-h/P1000537.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvcIsOvd-wkoPIS6zgMIdk2q9k3RissOWziThYge3oUGGs6sV-m2xkARy9jcIcIo50WYHjdQbXLBPu0zWPyMvt4cixfyfuX53glJyOBRrpDbj2guo6sAr1F7SnyulrcEeymQnCVKb2rs/s320/P1000537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293117042215751234" border="0" /></a>Traipsing through a winter wonderland.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpR2_I385iMutfVR14Rpfn0hhmZ9gLZYoFyvyHry-0SyGbzHr6evDSR1ydrxYPRUYVYY_ES6r5PlqH9TS4nQW2jfDqCB25sGbYQs0ER-mOCJJofxVjXx8YPNzAtu4NXZz6yhTWN04RX8/s1600-h/P1000547.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpR2_I385iMutfVR14Rpfn0hhmZ9gLZYoFyvyHry-0SyGbzHr6evDSR1ydrxYPRUYVYY_ES6r5PlqH9TS4nQW2jfDqCB25sGbYQs0ER-mOCJJofxVjXx8YPNzAtu4NXZz6yhTWN04RX8/s320/P1000547.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293117045266663058" border="0" /></a><br />XuMei with her cousin doggy Big Mac.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-H1F9XirtGjez1f9wklpcwiGERWpTXCz-jshe0-rPz1I2x60c-Nd9ODC18KTYVCZyUVpwfvXoOM8JdI-U3IonLahh89WigHU3KGnqdvRUjMKuPry_9HVHL841tE0DEJbcdvRkr8hUU-Y/s1600-h/P1000504.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-H1F9XirtGjez1f9wklpcwiGERWpTXCz-jshe0-rPz1I2x60c-Nd9ODC18KTYVCZyUVpwfvXoOM8JdI-U3IonLahh89WigHU3KGnqdvRUjMKuPry_9HVHL841tE0DEJbcdvRkr8hUU-Y/s320/P1000504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293115640753439554" border="0" /></a>Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-84310520668128193462009-01-16T10:02:00.000-08:002009-01-16T14:53:12.650-08:00Freckly Foreigner<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxpZRqSFAH5W5_mFKc2WUnQ-fgJgUwYqDnTy4q03HajpDzD3zMsdVbibE030_wjD8YjfQ1IV0Zf0tO1tTI4F77sS86El-g94n0yAgvjrSFVCsYF08vidtyyA-fRWCmZmUS7VCgEtruhY/s1600-h/P1000571.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxpZRqSFAH5W5_mFKc2WUnQ-fgJgUwYqDnTy4q03HajpDzD3zMsdVbibE030_wjD8YjfQ1IV0Zf0tO1tTI4F77sS86El-g94n0yAgvjrSFVCsYF08vidtyyA-fRWCmZmUS7VCgEtruhY/s320/P1000571.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292023518955194482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzG39AusKUnIOHuwATECMAChjg7vUwSJL7l0dDONemzUNNrdrm-yQAD2MHyVYDr6iAF0um8ZrLA3Y4wyHv0g3BCq6R8TWNORabuXCyrj5xZeZW2ZvD2CoEQc7dTpneQYVG8X6Js0DGeM/s1600-h/P1000493.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzG39AusKUnIOHuwATECMAChjg7vUwSJL7l0dDONemzUNNrdrm-yQAD2MHyVYDr6iAF0um8ZrLA3Y4wyHv0g3BCq6R8TWNORabuXCyrj5xZeZW2ZvD2CoEQc7dTpneQYVG8X6Js0DGeM/s320/P1000493.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292023513334711538" /></a><br />This is my amazing niece. Check out her totally hot freckles. She is ordering food at a drive through for the first time. Later this month she leaves for Japan. She is going to blog about it here:<br /><a href="http://frecklygaijin.blogspot.com/">http://frecklygaijin.blogspot.com/</a>Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-11125688444175096892008-12-23T13:21:00.000-08:002009-01-14T16:41:42.682-08:00Santa, Tears and an ElephantI had a dream.<br />Santa came to town and he was a tiny elfin man with a big ass, red suit and always grinning. He said I was a brown-noser because I told him I believed in him and he could see right through me.<br />Cut to next scene:<br /> Santa has turned into a stuffed elephant. I cry tears that drip onto the elephant and it turns back into Santa.<br />Then Santa sprinkles blue sparkly dust on my nose and flies away giggling.<br />What to make of this?<br />For entertainment I reviewed <span style="font-style: italic;">The Dream Book: Symbols For Self-Understanding</span> by Betty Bethards. <br />The book had the following as the entries in the Dream Symbol Dictionary:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Santa</span>- A humorous way of saying a gift is being presented to you.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Cry</span>-Release of stress and tension, frustration; if tears of joy may be resolving a problem, working through blocks; or emotional release from appreciation of beauty, integration of life, filling up with wonderment.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Elephant</span>-Powerful part of self which can be gentle, helpful or destructive. Destructive only when frightened, so if elephant is angry, examine fears. Also, keep the positive lessons for growth, forget the negative dross of experience; you do not have to remember everything, even though the elephant never forgets.<br /><br />It makes perfect sense to me!!!:)Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864001637207588823.post-18684538513790307032008-12-19T13:12:00.000-08:002008-12-24T11:39:52.944-08:00I'm In Love With 2 Italian Guys.Their names are Mario and Luigi. <br />They're runnin' through my head.<br />One of them wears green, the other red. <br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VDBpQVhCMb8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VDBpQVhCMb8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Renee Cabatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01594991077638154980noreply@blogger.com0