tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52469863212543635422023-11-16T01:46:20.898-06:00A Homemade LifeAdventures of the Blankenship family!The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-29869449314199883722010-01-28T22:29:00.002-06:002010-01-28T22:34:30.705-06:00Cousins . . .<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqsLRAEWgUpbWFboJT9XEkuSRDRRVV886iVoVEpjMmvsN7f3cijgK83CfAGtSeTXd5WcPsekElIo-lpvxOt69I3J7VKWwlip2hcQhmkKgrLbFWTGADoLGt7HXuXgJ0eMLDksoAr99hwix/s1600-h/IMG_0465.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432014621819343330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqsLRAEWgUpbWFboJT9XEkuSRDRRVV886iVoVEpjMmvsN7f3cijgK83CfAGtSeTXd5WcPsekElIo-lpvxOt69I3J7VKWwlip2hcQhmkKgrLbFWTGADoLGt7HXuXgJ0eMLDksoAr99hwix/s400/IMG_0465.jpg" /></a> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0XvaxKFxVqRDy5XNfoTXeuiqoz7cxnibj_ctVRh8V0r-QwMKtl1q0yQDYXZG1t1iedcRdp4z97h1cfYD76UhXXca0YDXNN1dn0hL0XNXH0ZgT6UPIurXBs3uZKxul1eE_O6plEXjl0Q_/s1600-h/IMG_0464.jpg"></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Here are my youngest little boy - Ryan (age 3 1/2) and his "baby" cousin, William (age 1 1/2) when we found them cozy in a little tub - sitting together watching T.V. at Aunt Kristi and Uncle Chris' home! How cute are these two??? Ryan enjoys so much having someone younger than him to lead around and play with - since he has always been the Baby around here! It will be fun to look at this when they are both in college!!!</span></strong> <br /><br /><div></div></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-78346146692961911912010-01-02T23:17:00.008-06:002010-01-02T23:55:17.671-06:00After a Respite, I am Back to Welcome 2010!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6XI_jgd554a2aLrSr1v_QLXCIgd6BfonleHsQlqw91HMqBcw4YB3pyIYjw-4EeY3JVXDvkF53k-CQ1UV6Uv7K0hT8HZhmNekCyXm0mmleI9kUMxiuCj7MWmcZw3iUpNO52ENfSG6ZmjY/s1600-h/IMG_6311_edited.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFNQOc9diiQv2q9ynRjzsburLxS3Hm0-Fyka9u8nkHNTpJRUWoCPBjD6tjvSOPKhUtS5ERFCpF47BCdFMTmSNrKyEBidhZBC6JJBHPM0Q8cYJbGdAnWbycY1T94pIlRPjj521ZRRpZPra/s1600-h/IMG_6326_edited.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422384558377013346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFNQOc9diiQv2q9ynRjzsburLxS3Hm0-Fyka9u8nkHNTpJRUWoCPBjD6tjvSOPKhUtS5ERFCpF47BCdFMTmSNrKyEBidhZBC6JJBHPM0Q8cYJbGdAnWbycY1T94pIlRPjj521ZRRpZPra/s400/IMG_6326_edited.JPG" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> A candle that my parents lit on Christmas Eve in Sherry's memory</span></strong></em><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">After more than a year of dedicated blogging about my sweet family's life, I have taken a respite to reflect on the hardest experience I have ever had to face - the suicide of my little Sister on October 24th of this past year. Both Thanksgiving and Christmas came and went, and I struggled through both of them - just grieving for all that we have lost.<br /></div></span><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;">I've spent a lot of time talking with my husband and a couple of very close friends (one of whom helps families deal with grieving all the time through her profession, and another whose husband's sister took her own life in 2004) - trying to make sense of something that will never make "sense". I've spent a lot of time trying to help my parents get through this tradgedy - knowing that no matter what I do, I can't take this horrible hurt away from them. I've spent a lot of time reflecting on my own life, and thanking God for all the blessings I have been given. I've hugged my children tight, and I've been angry with God, my Sister and the world in general - - - that this could ever happen to someone I love SO very much! I've visited with my pastors, with a really good counselor, and I've read books on losing a loved one to suicide. I've searched in God's word for understanding and peace. And over the Christmas holidays, I was able to spend a lot of time with my sister's three children - pouring out all this love on them - and knowing that I would do ANYTHING in the world to bring their Mommy back to them - and us! </span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;">New Year's Day every year marks new beginnings, new opportunities, a fresh start and a clean slate. Although I will never be "over" this loss and knowing that I have a long way to go in working through my grief, I am happy that 2010 is here and have vowed to come back to blogging - something that brings me such joy!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;"> </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;">So - THANK YOU for all of you who have prayed for me and our family, who have taken my kids to play, who have called, texted and emailed me - often just when I needed it most, who brought me meals every day from November 1st until we left town for Thanksgiving, and who have just "been there" through this time. I love you all dearly and appreciate how people have such individual gifts - that together can make such a difference in our lives - especially when we are hurting! </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;"> </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;">Happy New Year!!!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;"> </span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:0;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXDpIgWiD0c7cpqzAA5rIskIyBCny0dTP-395eNzQngWUClV-UrUaS_Yra8on_eo5dpre3QAaZdTvQQdfciejk-cEDk03etVLf38RolIi06D3NS89cez4H9p0AfOe32R3ebbFiR06kIgp/s1600-h/IMG_6301_edited.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 254px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422379896768502978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXDpIgWiD0c7cpqzAA5rIskIyBCny0dTP-395eNzQngWUClV-UrUaS_Yra8on_eo5dpre3QAaZdTvQQdfciejk-cEDk03etVLf38RolIi06D3NS89cez4H9p0AfOe32R3ebbFiR06kIgp/s400/IMG_6301_edited.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><strong> A beautiful ornament that my best friend gave me - in memory of Sherry!</strong></em> </span></div></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-39941254912942352462009-11-02T23:12:00.008-06:002009-11-02T23:28:33.240-06:00Remembering My Sister Sherry - Part Two<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiwYQ164-tqk63avtZWaKT6ZErRSFi04dmnaPWYuVKRznrgvfgYySVybS-l0vZayIbom5xTysuxx8HWla3s9yiWjwLlUkVPxkKbkES_tyUk6_A-r2dzlH2p3SkB91JvQaODpsBkRmJvaE/s1600-h/Sherry+by+Canal.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399744154458702050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiwYQ164-tqk63avtZWaKT6ZErRSFi04dmnaPWYuVKRznrgvfgYySVybS-l0vZayIbom5xTysuxx8HWla3s9yiWjwLlUkVPxkKbkES_tyUk6_A-r2dzlH2p3SkB91JvQaODpsBkRmJvaE/s400/Sherry+by+Canal.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">As I continue to reflect on my sweet sister's last year or two of life, I came across some more pictures that I would like to share:</span></strong></div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBf189m8bQ9qGXkV5LDVcyRwrUhsia0R5ufy00cJ5hyc4W9K5Z0lksnj0xz4829_hkZR8HWlCzKgURFtlzJWgEA5hVAVI3nalcE4wxng0NGn7UAKFl7_ftK-fG1DZrfsU0kq-V6XhMu77/s1600-h/Sherry+Fishing+Boat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399742463301870546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBf189m8bQ9qGXkV5LDVcyRwrUhsia0R5ufy00cJ5hyc4W9K5Z0lksnj0xz4829_hkZR8HWlCzKgURFtlzJWgEA5hVAVI3nalcE4wxng0NGn7UAKFl7_ftK-fG1DZrfsU0kq-V6XhMu77/s400/Sherry+Fishing+Boat.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> Sherry and Rick on vacation - they always loved going down </span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">to the </span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Texas Gulf Coast.</span></strong><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqf5_nvvves6OYBa7QPsr3nUP0meseRcoy17lkrEw8Klqsz8LhLIXhU08b8RXNFJF2fvnhtzOXONuznepEnIoOwqcCWmlBmJAMNOWwieclf1no4An7OQTbOB_WCoElN-v3rGXW49j1Mq2a/s1600-h/Sherry+wedding+family.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399742292460947250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqf5_nvvves6OYBa7QPsr3nUP0meseRcoy17lkrEw8Klqsz8LhLIXhU08b8RXNFJF2fvnhtzOXONuznepEnIoOwqcCWmlBmJAMNOWwieclf1no4An7OQTbOB_WCoElN-v3rGXW49j1Mq2a/s400/Sherry+wedding+family.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> What a beautiful and sweet family - This was two years ago when Sherry and Rick renewed their Wedding Vows. Their children were "over the moon" that their Mom and Dad had made it through some rough times and still loved each other so much!<br /></span></strong><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMD9NQ8yluQmqqPWFn5Rsj3jdjw3SZajpN9nfchGd6pF-_yXLDuDKYCa-lCh7ZstpyfhL_lWcnsLZ5qDyX08YA7B4qiEOWqEfNbBv7zd5_cIK7zaCrJ85E-T6isfTpfTN6sh0qsypZY1t/s1600-h/Sherry+in+Purple+Sweater.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399742291014266594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 97px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMD9NQ8yluQmqqPWFn5Rsj3jdjw3SZajpN9nfchGd6pF-_yXLDuDKYCa-lCh7ZstpyfhL_lWcnsLZ5qDyX08YA7B4qiEOWqEfNbBv7zd5_cIK7zaCrJ85E-T6isfTpfTN6sh0qsypZY1t/s400/Sherry+in+Purple+Sweater.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">One of the last pictures that Rick took of Sherry</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">(in the past couple of weeks)</span></strong> - <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">We just LOVE this picture of her!<br /></span></strong><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbvbphSmipQCN_sAlrFxkDgmvxGfyKr03sj4UR0Dbai7kiIWU6L_YqzmPMahv7IcZ0PX4YwKFV-jr56sccoNBnIpjrdkuu7sGlXTHPDhqesBBfEWOeEsBlXL6BnVw3BPdFSFOwqwarB2e/s1600-h/Sherry+with+Taylor.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399742288341051906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbvbphSmipQCN_sAlrFxkDgmvxGfyKr03sj4UR0Dbai7kiIWU6L_YqzmPMahv7IcZ0PX4YwKFV-jr56sccoNBnIpjrdkuu7sGlXTHPDhqesBBfEWOeEsBlXL6BnVw3BPdFSFOwqwarB2e/s400/Sherry+with+Taylor.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> The last photo of Sherry with her oldest son, Taylor (age 15)</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">- in the past couple of weeks<br /></span></strong><div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVuWAoPUV3Lv520sDuFDOiqiL7GVHE792T3QykhiHr3Hct7s558QaoIU4wCINX9c-AHyjqid_s3Wdscy5SMgjdZcT-atR_ovHVOezE9FRclv84-zTzBFmRG9IUAWSYDzIx7IfKSxmVCW-/s1600-h/Sherry+with+Paul.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399741955706002802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVuWAoPUV3Lv520sDuFDOiqiL7GVHE792T3QykhiHr3Hct7s558QaoIU4wCINX9c-AHyjqid_s3Wdscy5SMgjdZcT-atR_ovHVOezE9FRclv84-zTzBFmRG9IUAWSYDzIx7IfKSxmVCW-/s400/Sherry+with+Paul.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> Last picture of Sherry with her younger son, Paul (age 10)</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKJKS5x1k74y9QXnIidylOP__z-hzXXB27zf-5IHRsAlugVGvde4w0MrcA7E5vIexrV-kUJz4XALneGyZBwC5gle5lLtd5WIo-a2XCe-w7J-NFacNVW4j_dim5BvDO5XgqPt3egMalGX1/s1600-h/Sherry+with+Chloe+and+Princess.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399741951547825026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKJKS5x1k74y9QXnIidylOP__z-hzXXB27zf-5IHRsAlugVGvde4w0MrcA7E5vIexrV-kUJz4XALneGyZBwC5gle5lLtd5WIo-a2XCe-w7J-NFacNVW4j_dim5BvDO5XgqPt3egMalGX1/s400/Sherry+with+Chloe+and+Princess.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Sherry cuddling with her little girl, Chloe (age 8) in the last week or two before she died. They had just given their dog, Princess, a bath.<br /></span></strong><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pfKmlJU1obRn3787jqCg0Ar4zLm8Z1Bf0aICCqttqxej7T0gZvZyrn5-2C48-lE4QLbdnKsj60bY_9MoURdkNkGy-ZAVImeFHYeaKclUwSF8p2ssGMVKUIm0Ufl5TbkvLPNE7ZuAWiQE/s1600-h/Sherry+Fishing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399741494227408994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pfKmlJU1obRn3787jqCg0Ar4zLm8Z1Bf0aICCqttqxej7T0gZvZyrn5-2C48-lE4QLbdnKsj60bY_9MoURdkNkGy-ZAVImeFHYeaKclUwSF8p2ssGMVKUIm0Ufl5TbkvLPNE7ZuAWiQE/s400/Sherry+Fishing.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">That is the best fishing posture I have ever seen! </span></strong><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2_ao3sm_phwjyo8PerMISz41RkL6uMlIdMJq0x5vEdr9cMzJgxb-fOIoIW15vG1u7uMfkBVbtdiBUPWO0TG6tw2M31TeB6abQGdWDJWiNKFJBBJi4taCAh4Ex4DNVyauiRfJSpyvrT0L/s1600-h/Sherry+with+Paul+and+Chloe.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399741488524769378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2_ao3sm_phwjyo8PerMISz41RkL6uMlIdMJq0x5vEdr9cMzJgxb-fOIoIW15vG1u7uMfkBVbtdiBUPWO0TG6tw2M31TeB6abQGdWDJWiNKFJBBJi4taCAh4Ex4DNVyauiRfJSpyvrT0L/s400/Sherry+with+Paul+and+Chloe.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> On vacation with Chloe and Paul<br /></span></strong><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCdf8GKsK1wOhV9caz_qZSCIBo0UchnuLJNY14sRyT0LtT0cj_hpPKuFpmz32POl_33xIF8UjziEB7TDakjbpbpPsrRmPSuTlBMZAiBML58wh4JIpQpUnE5qR3ArcCJpxyVxDCZMTg_rM/s1600-h/Sherry+with+Rick+and+Paul.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399741489096418754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCdf8GKsK1wOhV9caz_qZSCIBo0UchnuLJNY14sRyT0LtT0cj_hpPKuFpmz32POl_33xIF8UjziEB7TDakjbpbpPsrRmPSuTlBMZAiBML58wh4JIpQpUnE5qR3ArcCJpxyVxDCZMTg_rM/s400/Sherry+with+Rick+and+Paul.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong> <span style="font-size:130%;">On vacation with son, Paul, and her husband, Rick. (She looks so happy and content here - and she loved her family fiercely!)</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-24862639527096899752009-11-01T22:39:00.010-06:002009-11-03T00:00:58.333-06:00Remembering Sherry Ann Rudisell Gonzalez - August 28, 1970 to October 24, 2009<span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;"><strong>I have experienced the profound sorrow of losing my precious little sister, Sherry, to suicide this past week. There truly are no adequate words to describe how I have felt these past 7 days since we found out that she had left this world to go on to be with her Heavenly Father. At times, the grief is truly suffocating - it feels as if the burden is too heavy to bear. As I searched through some of my digital pictures, I found some beautiful reminders of the happy times that we have had - even in the past few years with Sherry. Although she fought a long and courageous battle with depression, the nature of her disease was cyclical, so there were many very happy memories that we shared. Here are just a few:</strong></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFHd_7rdoAwhU2fUHMNGmsjnpTBkXXQM7ayIPpzb3kz_ndvNi3Whu-qHAKoq7a7TwNjpkL5Bv4qBjxLHILm7QC3svU_0MBaMDy0MYPmUK6hyphenhyphen2gITqRD43sAs1-ayOGw07OtxKc9sG-53B/s1600-h/SCAN0005_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399374090250312722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 241px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFHd_7rdoAwhU2fUHMNGmsjnpTBkXXQM7ayIPpzb3kz_ndvNi3Whu-qHAKoq7a7TwNjpkL5Bv4qBjxLHILm7QC3svU_0MBaMDy0MYPmUK6hyphenhyphen2gITqRD43sAs1-ayOGw07OtxKc9sG-53B/s400/SCAN0005_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> Sherry and I on the Disney Cruise - a gift from my Parents celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary in 2004! It was truly the most wonderful vacation any of us has ever had!</strong></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif67TyR5kssDkEgklMRMc9WySaKlacQ-iXWHudYEEOHLnbW7_UZQWtKL2VBzRlvD_dyPGgqnqRHXpOQB505jf5mAjNiQmBK8A8jz08rFvkzrmP4FC4EIDTJeQ12bjJfJ-H6Yo0STYkfQt4/s1600-h/DSCN2441.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399373380732085090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif67TyR5kssDkEgklMRMc9WySaKlacQ-iXWHudYEEOHLnbW7_UZQWtKL2VBzRlvD_dyPGgqnqRHXpOQB505jf5mAjNiQmBK8A8jz08rFvkzrmP4FC4EIDTJeQ12bjJfJ-H6Yo0STYkfQt4/s400/DSCN2441.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Sherry was a great - actually a monumental - LOVER of all things DISNEY - but especially Disney World! This is her last trip there - Summer of 2008 (pictured with my daughter, Ashley, her children - Chloe, Taylor and Paul) and our Mom.<br /></span></strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjdKjwbO0BENI0jFVEKgPQj06qpAyw1AhHPnyW2S6iVfWrXuTQInxMqtYwoexuDnUHDJPdlkyGTmFB4oljwXIfVZ-10dlmQgnCMRvdNjHLztEelImMWklA2Nv0RbYEP5Nkua8siptrtV9/s1600-h/DSCN2476.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399373371790342978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjdKjwbO0BENI0jFVEKgPQj06qpAyw1AhHPnyW2S6iVfWrXuTQInxMqtYwoexuDnUHDJPdlkyGTmFB4oljwXIfVZ-10dlmQgnCMRvdNjHLztEelImMWklA2Nv0RbYEP5Nkua8siptrtV9/s400/DSCN2476.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> More Disney World fun in Summer, 2008!<br /></span></strong><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJeru4sMCuCH1qCrRdtGsV6eTkqHZZ_zfacvTHC9ORPsXNyyn5wKSGqmvHM_E7zpv5pUao65BH5v4M0c1ZqjieDRotgQ96-RtUIRJ81iJQUOQyYi7S_KK4chAb-z2OFzmqBeXyjjUcTnQ/s1600-h/DSCN2314.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399373367158077154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJeru4sMCuCH1qCrRdtGsV6eTkqHZZ_zfacvTHC9ORPsXNyyn5wKSGqmvHM_E7zpv5pUao65BH5v4M0c1ZqjieDRotgQ96-RtUIRJ81iJQUOQyYi7S_KK4chAb-z2OFzmqBeXyjjUcTnQ/s400/DSCN2314.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> Sherry and our Mom at Disney World in Summer, 2008!<br /></span></strong><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8GxZ3gZCnqw9vdm4DHAiPzlhc1PhSQfk5UL4rI-kHeHt7LztchVqKAmEBYF15xm9wuudZGb0gc_lYxKcJNyDeI6spHD5gMRiVJIKAdIEbNLYoQIfhjO78f0GbScCsagulL_oU32rQYxp/s1600-h/DSCN2325.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399373352365254514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8GxZ3gZCnqw9vdm4DHAiPzlhc1PhSQfk5UL4rI-kHeHt7LztchVqKAmEBYF15xm9wuudZGb0gc_lYxKcJNyDeI6spHD5gMRiVJIKAdIEbNLYoQIfhjO78f0GbScCsagulL_oU32rQYxp/s400/DSCN2325.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> The whole family - including my Dad - posing with Cinderella after their special lunch in Cinderella's Castle at Disney World, Summer, 2008</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHEZbTzma_4feYDHg8Xg1bGDvnbTA2Zvw2uqeH1ZV8x1ylNdlf_yVZUAxNd0KxfLWJTfUDI0maYiX9pdWR_Xq_-iZq2T3loilb0q5epbjyIXdrvhBb4ndJG8bBILoDnfp5E6oSX8318bT/s1600-h/DSCN2472.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399372370230678962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHEZbTzma_4feYDHg8Xg1bGDvnbTA2Zvw2uqeH1ZV8x1ylNdlf_yVZUAxNd0KxfLWJTfUDI0maYiX9pdWR_Xq_-iZq2T3loilb0q5epbjyIXdrvhBb4ndJG8bBILoDnfp5E6oSX8318bT/s400/DSCN2472.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Sherry and our Mom at Disney World, Summer of 2008</span></strong><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjud7vQoKV1EqrGfAxrn-6Cr-p98qSU7z2zEPXlkZ54N6e8OaQ7Ak3hrrBuXv3YIewQ5U65d7vBXLHkRVsJc6hSNzWAk5u2d2_24tKkfi540PvRAZMM8rA0HD8vQ_tla5eI3JCXOQe9AJu8/s1600-h/DSCN2299.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399372361459891346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjud7vQoKV1EqrGfAxrn-6Cr-p98qSU7z2zEPXlkZ54N6e8OaQ7Ak3hrrBuXv3YIewQ5U65d7vBXLHkRVsJc6hSNzWAk5u2d2_24tKkfi540PvRAZMM8rA0HD8vQ_tla5eI3JCXOQe9AJu8/s400/DSCN2299.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> Sherry and her daughter, Chloe at Disney World in Summer, 2008. Note Sherry's signature Minnie Mouse ears! She always said she loved to go to Disney to relive her childhood! (We grew up in Florida)</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwnDmk7wEXLe_rmm05d2T4nX6fUiszp77sdKKc66aedINg-VFZ8Ah9KOhdaObd2Mae8pvVtVX4SjYkJVVHjL2HOWGjYsfdI19o8fyrL9pitcbD-5mlrHO6vPCo0QM2aMk4aXLMMZFB-XS/s1600-h/DSCN2245.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399372353842991154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwnDmk7wEXLe_rmm05d2T4nX6fUiszp77sdKKc66aedINg-VFZ8Ah9KOhdaObd2Mae8pvVtVX4SjYkJVVHjL2HOWGjYsfdI19o8fyrL9pitcbD-5mlrHO6vPCo0QM2aMk4aXLMMZFB-XS/s400/DSCN2245.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">In front of Cinderella's Castle - Disney World, Summer of 2008<br /></span></strong><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQC0fbuWH_bdacfe_zmAOj6dYcoV1_utXHe1HNYfD1Zx-C7pTlg1g-sqgz8J5aiyBIa3eVvlfQKxYzEVm6uRngQ84S8T0BCtD8To8fwVKS8_75thkKgqimtWh5hKacpCSV1MEPnoykUzz1/s1600-h/DSCF0289_0110.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399372349048700114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQC0fbuWH_bdacfe_zmAOj6dYcoV1_utXHe1HNYfD1Zx-C7pTlg1g-sqgz8J5aiyBIa3eVvlfQKxYzEVm6uRngQ84S8T0BCtD8To8fwVKS8_75thkKgqimtWh5hKacpCSV1MEPnoykUzz1/s400/DSCF0289_0110.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> New Year's Eve, 2005 - After Sherry, her husband, Rick, and Steve and I went out to a wonderful dinner in Dallas!<br /></span></strong><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfY2tzbObQVTC0QmO0b8tywzHmlrMGryNkceJ_Sqmc6yXBPn1hPrJpFbCmV2ldb3JDoyMb7G3vsBWPVoLEVI1BEk1q6j6UeI0Vv2Si5dCQW8FYSMU2gB3yqlT2ZH2oOX5W2NScKRVt9j0C/s1600-h/DSCF0194_0037.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399371263326049666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfY2tzbObQVTC0QmO0b8tywzHmlrMGryNkceJ_Sqmc6yXBPn1hPrJpFbCmV2ldb3JDoyMb7G3vsBWPVoLEVI1BEk1q6j6UeI0Vv2Si5dCQW8FYSMU2gB3yqlT2ZH2oOX5W2NScKRVt9j0C/s400/DSCF0194_0037.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> Cuddling with my sweet Baby Jack - Christmas, 2004</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFG79amk7xm0mEagNjPY6_3a4hh-8iV9r0DJCsOgjoye-LlNdaP9OCfWzR0Lyg5fhTpfkqSzVCV0pXfkFZff-i1fe96Epl4h8t6Xw34qqZC_oe217WE-0EZTE1j65pFYxMuDU6LW0kaBFj/s1600-h/DSCN1134.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399371263446465522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFG79amk7xm0mEagNjPY6_3a4hh-8iV9r0DJCsOgjoye-LlNdaP9OCfWzR0Lyg5fhTpfkqSzVCV0pXfkFZff-i1fe96Epl4h8t6Xw34qqZC_oe217WE-0EZTE1j65pFYxMuDU6LW0kaBFj/s400/DSCN1134.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> Easter at my Parent's Home - 2007</strong><br /><br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZC9wFZ8pBWu5UbhUkNcg4op67rT5-IqIuE1pEnougRTVcbwlc7Wy26maufuly8eT01JPC5kbIdwf3Quo3iVyAkrAxvsjVrBXCQSFA7RcXkntILhbwkJphd2f0F2AnCtcpO4wgPN0SsZN/s1600-h/DSCN0597.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399371259192292882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZC9wFZ8pBWu5UbhUkNcg4op67rT5-IqIuE1pEnougRTVcbwlc7Wy26maufuly8eT01JPC5kbIdwf3Quo3iVyAkrAxvsjVrBXCQSFA7RcXkntILhbwkJphd2f0F2AnCtcpO4wgPN0SsZN/s400/DSCN0597.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> Father's Day Lunch at Saltgrass Steakhouse with our Dad - 2007</span></strong><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwkKfSAmClYAGQBKBR9MmuQg-Wth0TVrJRaScGY6aZYIarPhe5rWclRE0atm5lhZgOq_L4KF7_rbTjf3xtiSza4TAlZux25USDMBQwRzIkkHwSAC-xQ7jxbO4sENEgAJrtidT5RDUTiB_/s1600-h/DSCN0601_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399371251824968290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwkKfSAmClYAGQBKBR9MmuQg-Wth0TVrJRaScGY6aZYIarPhe5rWclRE0atm5lhZgOq_L4KF7_rbTjf3xtiSza4TAlZux25USDMBQwRzIkkHwSAC-xQ7jxbO4sENEgAJrtidT5RDUTiB_/s400/DSCN0601_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Father's Day Lunch, 2007 - Sherry and I with her oldest son, Taylor</span></strong><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzT-KsIIXi0E-cWmPZhDtJpp14T3BzuyYYdM44NiO36sWF5SVc1njYZGiLoCUQ1h7MBjtDNxIJl8iSIxCTcF_7S-c2PzeSnfnQyx101PWAqhGwHpUxz1P37Meiu2lfZHHsZN5-NZPcs8D/s1600-h/DSCN0018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399371244671486898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzT-KsIIXi0E-cWmPZhDtJpp14T3BzuyYYdM44NiO36sWF5SVc1njYZGiLoCUQ1h7MBjtDNxIJl8iSIxCTcF_7S-c2PzeSnfnQyx101PWAqhGwHpUxz1P37Meiu2lfZHHsZN5-NZPcs8D/s400/DSCN0018.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> Sherry and her husband Rick, with my youngest baby, Ryan - January,2007 (She was so excited to get a day-pass from her Rehabilitation Center to have a family lunch together)</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5OV-nHhWme58bChBoMpFVBobeT-xgNDNAl646pxl-cUt-YNCwA5zqAkWWMnksIU3bGRefXN7f6A_gPcAh12pvnRsNNWSlLIe9yylWQtsqbceC5D74lcHwRWvu5Qi_eMXAN6fl7R3j__y/s1600-h/IMG_0803_edited.JPG"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399369656276201042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 254px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5OV-nHhWme58bChBoMpFVBobeT-xgNDNAl646pxl-cUt-YNCwA5zqAkWWMnksIU3bGRefXN7f6A_gPcAh12pvnRsNNWSlLIe9yylWQtsqbceC5D74lcHwRWvu5Qi_eMXAN6fl7R3j__y/s400/IMG_0803_edited.JPG" border="0" /></span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> Sherry's lasting legacy - her three beautiful children:</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Paul, Chloe and Taylor<br /></span></strong><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yoqFzzSicWhIAtGKKvJsUaWPltiguUY7nq0fS09yq_fdqKm4afN7xkS8jzv6n1aqAivlvaPG2FZwyi3_MpIprJJnurwTccIk68A4hS-xAGuUBEH1oP6tODl_gO7KReaJYEA_R6GESO54/s1600-h/IMG_2253_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399362271378713746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yoqFzzSicWhIAtGKKvJsUaWPltiguUY7nq0fS09yq_fdqKm4afN7xkS8jzv6n1aqAivlvaPG2FZwyi3_MpIprJJnurwTccIk68A4hS-xAGuUBEH1oP6tODl_gO7KReaJYEA_R6GESO54/s400/IMG_2253_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Fun times with Sherry less than a year ago - Thanksgiving week, 2008. I was playing like the "Paparrazi" with my new camera! </span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">She just laughed and laughed!<br /></span></strong><br /><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELs7nNtOrcH5lWWQTeC65w5u4xedL-xDDYJRzJU5ZC92X7O9UqpqchcH5PO6HqJykmZbcfi2cdO0r3pLFLOlB1FGDVuJqj78TkPbMmCgxYD_t5ur8P3Un1qVXQyBUIlywVaWF52aW8Nvn/s1600-h/IMG_2231_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399362263414917522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELs7nNtOrcH5lWWQTeC65w5u4xedL-xDDYJRzJU5ZC92X7O9UqpqchcH5PO6HqJykmZbcfi2cdO0r3pLFLOlB1FGDVuJqj78TkPbMmCgxYD_t5ur8P3Un1qVXQyBUIlywVaWF52aW8Nvn/s400/IMG_2231_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Celebrating Chloe's 8th Birthday, November, 2008 - </span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">at American Girl Doll Place in Dallas</span><br /></strong><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGFSnXeast4OZqeqTcVs7Yq1nIAPHLf92N6WTgJ18fm-AIQxLvSDacIXoVo_aQy-RTvkdUucSwHiNECRBzivcvxiQXZuulOssVxx1xyekT2p9Wa7-ElROnHCBdj0YTl_Ghso69Z44rQzP/s1600-h/IMG_2229_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399362261200309874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 257px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGFSnXeast4OZqeqTcVs7Yq1nIAPHLf92N6WTgJ18fm-AIQxLvSDacIXoVo_aQy-RTvkdUucSwHiNECRBzivcvxiQXZuulOssVxx1xyekT2p9Wa7-ElROnHCBdj0YTl_Ghso69Z44rQzP/s400/IMG_2229_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> More Chloe's Birthday Party at American Girl Doll Place - November, 2008 - We had a WONDERFUL time together!</span></strong><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVTJaC0VmXywvCzbcP7CaQt7lOYO25feTxDAbFQBV8jkxEwCq19YxOIjK2IFuskYj_ZqF2AEWmXpTSiF84zXzOVT1JOdQ3hP3ASrsBvHNvPVDUS9mJUrGMvh8RPdlAE2ftdAidkgQw1Wu/s1600-h/IMG_2214_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399362251765414162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 324px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVTJaC0VmXywvCzbcP7CaQt7lOYO25feTxDAbFQBV8jkxEwCq19YxOIjK2IFuskYj_ZqF2AEWmXpTSiF84zXzOVT1JOdQ3hP3ASrsBvHNvPVDUS9mJUrGMvh8RPdlAE2ftdAidkgQw1Wu/s400/IMG_2214_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">This is the way I like to remember my sweet Sister - smiling and enjoying her family! Although that smile masked periods of grave depression and deep sadness, we will always remember her laugh, her fun spirit, her outspokeness, her passionate love, her commitment to her children and the always special place she will hold in our hearts forever! </span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><em><span style="font-size:180%;">We will miss you, Sherry - </span></em></strong></div><div><strong><em><span style="font-size:180%;">but you will NEVER, EVER be forgotten. </span></em></strong></div><div><strong><em><span style="font-size:180%;">Our world is a better place for having you in it!</span></em></strong> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-258528043798878212009-06-21T23:22:00.005-05:002009-06-21T23:49:44.400-05:00Be "Christ" to Others - Sr. High Mission Trip '09<span style="font-size:85%;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmcSoBjW223bOHCFcs_wyKXxQKrGOqIyBW-sFKpbIIJYRltsGVXXFKRexisz30_G-HwPnvEzhJSeNlfxYd5dtF4x7aTlOOUydAyAIlAahSMN8ULxLgly1gh_myvWfnaiq-mHgrsJ860uC/s1600-h/van+girls.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350006361894151122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmcSoBjW223bOHCFcs_wyKXxQKrGOqIyBW-sFKpbIIJYRltsGVXXFKRexisz30_G-HwPnvEzhJSeNlfxYd5dtF4x7aTlOOUydAyAIlAahSMN8ULxLgly1gh_myvWfnaiq-mHgrsJ860uC/s400/van+girls.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Well - it's hard to believe but this Summer marks the 5th Mission Trip that our sweet daughter, Ashley, has gone on with our church, and she had an amazing experience this year! The kids went to New Orleans to help the continued cleanup and rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina . . . 4 years ago!!! There were some logistical difficulties and challenges on the trip, but the kids came away very grateful for how blessed their lives are and a new appreciation for the difficult circumstances that many fellow Americans live in! Here are some pictures of Ashley's trip:</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNncCfDUqUePWgLe1ppjPxj-gLuA8Q19NyeCDkBYis2LBtC8kq64CswNg6OPW-WSNtuGrD0l8ee5SlSLhRdmrOjKnn-1yQU8zWUgveTXZIH1TxLAzu7lFMHj16dewMXu7kaisCxF5PnUEG/s1600-h/ashley+becky+liza+addie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350006358123401650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNncCfDUqUePWgLe1ppjPxj-gLuA8Q19NyeCDkBYis2LBtC8kq64CswNg6OPW-WSNtuGrD0l8ee5SlSLhRdmrOjKnn-1yQU8zWUgveTXZIH1TxLAzu7lFMHj16dewMXu7kaisCxF5PnUEG/s400/ashley+becky+liza+addie.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Ashley and 3 of her best friends in the whole world: Liza, Becky and Addie</span></em></strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRX2Ug9H5W0cC92QoJSK_II1kViNECOv4A1DV57cq_kRm3KB8mjeArH0_N750ljc0jx32YwcBuYoGAc-R_a6-OY9PXvintyXLTiVHQGRfbOlvpRrer0rNEaBQo6o7ru4pt7THJbktShDAi/s1600-h/ashley+dork+on+van.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350006353046140514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRX2Ug9H5W0cC92QoJSK_II1kViNECOv4A1DV57cq_kRm3KB8mjeArH0_N750ljc0jx32YwcBuYoGAc-R_a6-OY9PXvintyXLTiVHQGRfbOlvpRrer0rNEaBQo6o7ru4pt7THJbktShDAi/s400/ashley+dork+on+van.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Our silly girl on the 10 hour bus ride!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBD52D5iUDqWfEUn1IEaSSOskKUjSdGz99qooBATBIjl6PFQLKJd7a1Gv6prKr0Ox3RYkyPq6aEgdnsUoxtbmvA7ORR70s6PfFkmiIUpP7MWQfcmeK3QwY66e3DWTBQLWvUarV-V724ng/s1600-h/ashley+on+van.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350006346755310578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBD52D5iUDqWfEUn1IEaSSOskKUjSdGz99qooBATBIjl6PFQLKJd7a1Gv6prKr0Ox3RYkyPq6aEgdnsUoxtbmvA7ORR70s6PfFkmiIUpP7MWQfcmeK3QwY66e3DWTBQLWvUarV-V724ng/s400/ashley+on+van.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Enjoying music - thank heavens for her IPOD!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIPMqEidpl987N1lGvWR20DCynJk1YmaXQfG3QPrDm02Tr7aZbSRMNpdjSrxveOpR-kjBwtZStnoW4olb4RAaAK814XwGVwyl1o5ZNN7fXcuMGp3PNAyVOV6HamF32ZHkZn9JSMkMFisW/s1600-h/4+years+later.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350006116014011970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIPMqEidpl987N1lGvWR20DCynJk1YmaXQfG3QPrDm02Tr7aZbSRMNpdjSrxveOpR-kjBwtZStnoW4olb4RAaAK814XwGVwyl1o5ZNN7fXcuMGp3PNAyVOV6HamF32ZHkZn9JSMkMFisW/s400/4+years+later.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> 4 year later - so much of New Orleans was still in complete disrepair!!!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSkxrDWtyy2zhEsvhW5kDNI3ofEhAKE21hM7OWJV8T-qFde0ezeZs5YzLTSH9wm5bv9ihyphenhyphenLTJstw-Oe9_-CRKGeyH8EhTzqARYYkosORq1zyRPX9DG1h1MVm6dhcL0v8iNcOwMxN7w1Vd/s1600-h/ashley+at+worksite.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350006104387802978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSkxrDWtyy2zhEsvhW5kDNI3ofEhAKE21hM7OWJV8T-qFde0ezeZs5YzLTSH9wm5bv9ihyphenhyphenLTJstw-Oe9_-CRKGeyH8EhTzqARYYkosORq1zyRPX9DG1h1MVm6dhcL0v8iNcOwMxN7w1Vd/s400/ashley+at+worksite.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">This year the kids had to work in some VERY difficult conditions!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGtP33lxIn2VKPZWnXeDu0naEE3LJLvjWDIP4xAVTx1usFj25xa51sx2gHDKFOaKlp2UNSB3ARXFb-FJUz4zXgSD3d3z_YJ0Xxh1zPrvm6Xe3g0x2ZD6N76V64pgIK8WJ39tpX1Y3Z0tb/s1600-h/sheetrock+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350006098784459042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGtP33lxIn2VKPZWnXeDu0naEE3LJLvjWDIP4xAVTx1usFj25xa51sx2gHDKFOaKlp2UNSB3ARXFb-FJUz4zXgSD3d3z_YJ0Xxh1zPrvm6Xe3g0x2ZD6N76V64pgIK8WJ39tpX1Y3Z0tb/s400/sheetrock+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Ashley has become an EXPERT "Sheetrocker" - according to many adults on the trip! Her skills honed over the past 5 years have become in high demand!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmwrtM5ifeNuJmHU8w0TOvWQ5t3mmcd55c-aSt8OjkkEQ06Y4PR1GxkC5qC7ZBj0WufV9sCALQ0pAzNprFodBPOc_wYpLq1m5MeeFv7mamDG1VRx0UydORLcXg-KsQnbmpQYZliksH1p7/s1600-h/sheetrock+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350006096064220514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmwrtM5ifeNuJmHU8w0TOvWQ5t3mmcd55c-aSt8OjkkEQ06Y4PR1GxkC5qC7ZBj0WufV9sCALQ0pAzNprFodBPOc_wYpLq1m5MeeFv7mamDG1VRx0UydORLcXg-KsQnbmpQYZliksH1p7/s400/sheetrock+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Look at her focus!!!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCepXQcT9LmVjfZahA8Y82BvaSM7h8zjimJ_9RgeW03KLO91l3X5RPK5g12u9c9SHdnr2q0vKawCAdbdotfJoNOxjj5A7gOVOTaVFiTrT-ei7jw0kToqXR8VKBltKdbK4RNZVHizmQpJvZ/s1600-h/roomies.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350006095884589314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCepXQcT9LmVjfZahA8Y82BvaSM7h8zjimJ_9RgeW03KLO91l3X5RPK5g12u9c9SHdnr2q0vKawCAdbdotfJoNOxjj5A7gOVOTaVFiTrT-ei7jw0kToqXR8VKBltKdbK4RNZVHizmQpJvZ/s400/roomies.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Ashley and her "roommates" on "Tye Dye Scrubs" Wednesday!!!</span></strong></em></div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLb3YKCLzRntK6S5uysqBnCX7FaDOdKRzDtCft4DvABk13WYodRB9X8Qfi1kJJ-tdckPs2WZIjBXAUrzjxX-hHy8z6mUWvfrHaPM9q-fhcGhu-q78h-x9zVcGUXrGKzFEo3B3uHVTwrFc/s1600-h/large+work+group.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350005658671769282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLb3YKCLzRntK6S5uysqBnCX7FaDOdKRzDtCft4DvABk13WYodRB9X8Qfi1kJJ-tdckPs2WZIjBXAUrzjxX-hHy8z6mUWvfrHaPM9q-fhcGhu-q78h-x9zVcGUXrGKzFEo3B3uHVTwrFc/s400/large+work+group.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> The Work Team at Ashley's worksite!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6et9k3Czj15xATo7dFBT-ss8XDCeZBOOH98RJZhR8kv8ry9UPTrxljfstsfjmTkzUpoujeFGdMjIPBmu_p3j4uUcMGyfwmeEpmm01R71ChSbItSjweyTmE_lwshDWT3AFqWIZMSg2kah9/s1600-h/addie+ashley+becky+by+lake.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350005656067191234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6et9k3Czj15xATo7dFBT-ss8XDCeZBOOH98RJZhR8kv8ry9UPTrxljfstsfjmTkzUpoujeFGdMjIPBmu_p3j4uUcMGyfwmeEpmm01R71ChSbItSjweyTmE_lwshDWT3AFqWIZMSg2kah9/s400/addie+ashley+becky+by+lake.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">The kids also got to relax a little after their long days of work!!! </span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkevxKE5MTfgcvyOmw1BrH5JRcbZPeMwZ2KvQ7aZau3eb7eqhKScuy61UF2U4QudP2YlR3y22bCplvMloBEbNlAh6-6-ghiXc7EqcH8Z8RqL-aKC84hqohX97zdDBp7ArmvMXLiFLM7nRs/s1600-h/french+quarter.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350005657037962338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkevxKE5MTfgcvyOmw1BrH5JRcbZPeMwZ2KvQ7aZau3eb7eqhKScuy61UF2U4QudP2YlR3y22bCplvMloBEbNlAh6-6-ghiXc7EqcH8Z8RqL-aKC84hqohX97zdDBp7ArmvMXLiFLM7nRs/s400/french+quarter.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Fun in the "French Quarter"!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1-mqfJOFQyyMPf3ZfN92v_CQXypL1vIA_m3QRvvHz0HymNPeW4ZAwCMu6uv3lHiyV7ghErBXwCF29gtU82buKjnbul-nOi_NIa_seQMrIO8Mdjs-Lv6mShYkyR8FqkvGqyFhPEsxfTuA/s1600-h/cafe+dumond.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350005652708674834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1-mqfJOFQyyMPf3ZfN92v_CQXypL1vIA_m3QRvvHz0HymNPeW4ZAwCMu6uv3lHiyV7ghErBXwCF29gtU82buKjnbul-nOi_NIa_seQMrIO8Mdjs-Lv6mShYkyR8FqkvGqyFhPEsxfTuA/s400/cafe+dumond.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Enjoying Beignets at Cafe Dumond!! - YUM!!!</span></em></strong><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHysqrkW9WvreFtiZuWI_o71W09vgegsCZrLsiar31tGt_mEXuuCcPWUPPpDPq0NYGIFJo0O7bffdi0dsqo7Y3Gzmoj2hB9q1bBc-2KX4GxVSipOSB0niRp4Y2kKp_yIGsbHhGgkGk9XM1/s1600-h/beniets.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350005647871386786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHysqrkW9WvreFtiZuWI_o71W09vgegsCZrLsiar31tGt_mEXuuCcPWUPPpDPq0NYGIFJo0O7bffdi0dsqo7Y3Gzmoj2hB9q1bBc-2KX4GxVSipOSB0niRp4Y2kKp_yIGsbHhGgkGk9XM1/s400/beniets.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> She seems to be having a little too much fun with those Beignets!</span></strong></em></div><div><strong><em></em></strong> </div><div><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></em></strong> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Overall, we are so grateful that Ashley had such a great experience! And we are all VERY happy to have her back home with our family!!! Here's what she put as her Facebook Status upon her return to Texas:</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><strong>"Home from mission trip. It opened my eyes to the way people live, the hardships people face on a daily basis, and how very blessed I am. I have a whole new perspective on life after this trip. It has a permanent place in my heart, and I will never forget everything I have witnessed and everything I have learned. The Lord our God is good!"</strong></em></span></div><div align="left"><em><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></em> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">That would make any parent proud!!!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">. . . just another day in the life . . .</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-21472604195244359802009-06-14T22:26:00.004-05:002009-06-14T22:35:59.353-05:00What a PUP!!!!<span style="font-size:130%;">Oh - how I ADORE our Golden Retriever, Wall-E!!!! We adopted him at the end of February, and in 3 1/2 short months, he has WON OVER OUR HEARTS!!!! This little guy is just the BEST dog for our family and we thoroughly enjoy every day with him! He is happy, calm, patient, loving, loyal - and can even put up with little Ryan (our VERY rambuctious 3 year old!)</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywyCE6Z5EttYCoMnfC42fqEvRp9PAcAdbSJ7MtCJIwP_jV3yydYMvi0Ij4y71nZBuX9eULRL5pAYrAIfUCRfUmApboCoN6a-w9txXaruDD-4iREdW07dzuT4vmhpK-8NZTn-ya74Wgf2s/s1600-h/IMG_3769_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347390813696509634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywyCE6Z5EttYCoMnfC42fqEvRp9PAcAdbSJ7MtCJIwP_jV3yydYMvi0Ij4y71nZBuX9eULRL5pAYrAIfUCRfUmApboCoN6a-w9txXaruDD-4iREdW07dzuT4vmhpK-8NZTn-ya74Wgf2s/s400/IMG_3769_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Running and playing with Mommy in the back yard!!!</span></strong></em></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSJiYGmoyoa4kOE-uBmINx6Am4PwOa6vQZ8djbouW1CW47fhe0ooz1HtonKj6naEjg2XjaPXKqkzU5EJxQM3PplqpSZiWjv7Rptig7fKlQPhEoAZ2orwVkUjWsCC7ivPc4a2jRN67oXe9/s1600-h/IMG_3771_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347390812833116290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSJiYGmoyoa4kOE-uBmINx6Am4PwOa6vQZ8djbouW1CW47fhe0ooz1HtonKj6naEjg2XjaPXKqkzU5EJxQM3PplqpSZiWjv7Rptig7fKlQPhEoAZ2orwVkUjWsCC7ivPc4a2jRN67oXe9/s400/IMG_3771_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> "Exploring" in the grass<br /></span></strong></em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwr68SugZmtr-wzX4SQpfFXkmjiDGPBlpg0piaFg075wXYCo2yndMX-hfvvmVoY72If5jzQzzFX-3Fo2zyCQozRJymddbz1EQOBSPdywKWVolFobZk3dt8U9HXlc1CgntxgfCq_hleiBnv/s1600-h/IMG_3774_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347390803498027650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 274px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwr68SugZmtr-wzX4SQpfFXkmjiDGPBlpg0piaFg075wXYCo2yndMX-hfvvmVoY72If5jzQzzFX-3Fo2zyCQozRJymddbz1EQOBSPdywKWVolFobZk3dt8U9HXlc1CgntxgfCq_hleiBnv/s400/IMG_3774_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> What a handsome boy!!!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQk2_GJXxEtupaBqGYEj5_Xsd917hJbE8wdFhIEdQMjBoexk9h4GwrHrZ0fM6o88sx9r9zvvrgD38t82-Vxjr0-hTbC8_E_Z9-IBzHWKMwWcGn66nEi05pqgqwMQekFDfyBSGcdXHLuOo/s1600-h/IMG_3777_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347390798358214130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 335px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQk2_GJXxEtupaBqGYEj5_Xsd917hJbE8wdFhIEdQMjBoexk9h4GwrHrZ0fM6o88sx9r9zvvrgD38t82-Vxjr0-hTbC8_E_Z9-IBzHWKMwWcGn66nEi05pqgqwMQekFDfyBSGcdXHLuOo/s400/IMG_3777_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><strong> "Okay, Mom - - - you wore me out tonight!!!"</strong></em><br /></span><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">We feel that God really blessed us by bringing Wall-E into our lives! He was adopted from Dallas-Ft. Worth Metro Golden Retreiver Rescue (</span><a href="http://www.rescuegoldens.org/"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.rescuegoldens.org/</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">) and they really got us the perfect fit! He is a TRUE member of our family!!!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">. . . just another day in the life . . .</span><br /><br /></div><div></div></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-21801751421962567662009-06-14T21:57:00.004-05:002009-06-14T22:06:08.917-05:00Our Backyard - My Little Haven on Earth!!!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSvtdjwix-ZQY8UjPi7wafq5cH_Gv4qAH-wJ9Tf2zopAO_LJVk_m-b51f9USIWNssdQoi-E7XKm0DFntbb2SKHH3199K3lf7wyfbXefr6IUeHFl5zmuPYJFkL689TgkK29-UKoApl37lJ/s1600-h/IMG_3773_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347384606178112146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSvtdjwix-ZQY8UjPi7wafq5cH_Gv4qAH-wJ9Tf2zopAO_LJVk_m-b51f9USIWNssdQoi-E7XKm0DFntbb2SKHH3199K3lf7wyfbXefr6IUeHFl5zmuPYJFkL689TgkK29-UKoApl37lJ/s400/IMG_3773_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Our back porch - one of my favorite places in the world to be!!!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5HymV0ZBRmjd51x1TEnJIzcRlG6JUddFl58yEOD8YyNvQeIemCfoaahuLUUmG4yYVlAPFUcS0sWRWp4694HYYReVPZIWg_CgHqC_KhMbRBj8osSzigmZxcWGtJVEx-GAG3CHFsEZVBjx/s1600-h/IMG_3759_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347383612643085442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5HymV0ZBRmjd51x1TEnJIzcRlG6JUddFl58yEOD8YyNvQeIemCfoaahuLUUmG4yYVlAPFUcS0sWRWp4694HYYReVPZIWg_CgHqC_KhMbRBj8osSzigmZxcWGtJVEx-GAG3CHFsEZVBjx/s400/IMG_3759_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">With two little boys in our family, we get the opportunity to spend a LOT of time outside! (I think it's just in the male DNA to want to be in the outdoors!) Lucky for me, I get to spend a great deal of my "outdoor time" in our backyard - which has become a true haven for us and our kids! I've been in fancier back yards, or those with pools and perfectly manicured landscaping, but our back yard is HOME for our family! And our boys play out there for hours on end!!! . . . and I get the privilege of watching them and playing with them - in the sandbox, in the garden, on the swingset, lunching on the back porch, watching and feeding the birds, or racing through the sprinklers! How lucky am I?!?!?<br /></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">. . . just another day in the life . . .</span></div></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-38213679995756051482009-06-14T20:38:00.009-05:002009-06-14T22:24:44.411-05:00As The Garden Grows . . .<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIch2K_OTbhJ9u_feKg0xilZpCOd7z6vWBmbhBA8i0I_0567jmd5ojehCXUcx8CZnzuoyg0DBz0ol2jAAvQLhZfoUaONM1owTbq77MaTBf6sNhGWo1h-XDa_6mR4OnBmlRBV6RN6OSzofA/s1600-h/IMG_3760_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347388507141523394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIch2K_OTbhJ9u_feKg0xilZpCOd7z6vWBmbhBA8i0I_0567jmd5ojehCXUcx8CZnzuoyg0DBz0ol2jAAvQLhZfoUaONM1owTbq77MaTBf6sNhGWo1h-XDa_6mR4OnBmlRBV6RN6OSzofA/s400/IMG_3760_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Well - 5 weeks in, and my 36 Square Foot Kitchen Garden is coming right along! We cut some tree limbs off that were shading the garden area and the extra sun seems to be really helping things along! </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisyGvM8t4oMfd-U4pf7YbTdZll23bDjmOW-pD_cYNDFQY7cLvcaPFOW572ZXR_ncBs4v5GaiofgAMw_Yc8yHV2BcrJE88uoFL7NJIFX1X0kR91Qoexz_z_9fZ0BMuNiUz3xhsGOD8oE48/s1600-h/IMG_3761_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347387531074464594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 254px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisyGvM8t4oMfd-U4pf7YbTdZll23bDjmOW-pD_cYNDFQY7cLvcaPFOW572ZXR_ncBs4v5GaiofgAMw_Yc8yHV2BcrJE88uoFL7NJIFX1X0kR91Qoexz_z_9fZ0BMuNiUz3xhsGOD8oE48/s400/IMG_3761_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><em> The zuchinni on the back row and my various herbs are really doing well!</em><br /></span></strong><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8WSMMGLKzRWkV7fTUxNzL2X7dckF9iQcXA-re9zWD10hQ3N7Z6McnC6UEVVmgsaSHEtwJ6HhvBkRsnmgrzgkOPM-AEV_Tzj7-Pk66GUUSknmNw_Htv4oGaAt6HryUDnzhTcXB1K_bMId/s1600-h/IMG_3762.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347387527793431538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8WSMMGLKzRWkV7fTUxNzL2X7dckF9iQcXA-re9zWD10hQ3N7Z6McnC6UEVVmgsaSHEtwJ6HhvBkRsnmgrzgkOPM-AEV_Tzj7-Pk66GUUSknmNw_Htv4oGaAt6HryUDnzhTcXB1K_bMId/s400/IMG_3762.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Ryan says, "Look Mommy - a baby pepper on our jalepeno plant!"<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXNVkyL67uL2KlRvbVzuWFv9VU17JNRDs50K1K3thFdRrcOk1EHmSQ3TmFZrBYUqNIH-HhcoCAsJL_eKieKHuKMfUAP7IgKT7NfOlw6BgS_KMR46Zbq9VkGUz-k0gNLkcZcG1U9kk65YD/s1600-h/IMG_3763_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347387519443163650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXNVkyL67uL2KlRvbVzuWFv9VU17JNRDs50K1K3thFdRrcOk1EHmSQ3TmFZrBYUqNIH-HhcoCAsJL_eKieKHuKMfUAP7IgKT7NfOlw6BgS_KMR46Zbq9VkGUz-k0gNLkcZcG1U9kk65YD/s400/IMG_3763_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Jack holding our first "respectable" sized pepper! </span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqkV_hsuIcc7K-JsNuNAvOKqCItM4KtYMIP7MUZbyCCrNlO8TGixjpJVSmhbx087T_slv_vAFhCgxZ9ly4Fjc0CMmtfcHTu55_5fYIZCKfPWXf2mAOPLNEdK8a1FcmhQmxloqOYWBKdj_/s1600-h/IMG_3764_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347387297682751378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 255px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqkV_hsuIcc7K-JsNuNAvOKqCItM4KtYMIP7MUZbyCCrNlO8TGixjpJVSmhbx087T_slv_vAFhCgxZ9ly4Fjc0CMmtfcHTu55_5fYIZCKfPWXf2mAOPLNEdK8a1FcmhQmxloqOYWBKdj_/s400/IMG_3764_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> The boys LOVE to go out to the garden EVERY day to check the progress!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0-kj5k5RYzwH_viAjTi21TKST4zqg52CVlGfSYrt87GXAogjBAHwApswdc3v_teubfkRjg8-ez-CQeLaaX5roejUNcsAeMRIUxgqfgXRjZtqWjw7ZNK9abD4uLz4l6oh8pam_YX5zbMP/s1600-h/IMG_3765.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347387290710217266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0-kj5k5RYzwH_viAjTi21TKST4zqg52CVlGfSYrt87GXAogjBAHwApswdc3v_teubfkRjg8-ez-CQeLaaX5roejUNcsAeMRIUxgqfgXRjZtqWjw7ZNK9abD4uLz4l6oh8pam_YX5zbMP/s400/IMG_3765.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">FINALLY . . . it is starting to actually LOOK like a real garden!!!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcUDHjsXEgPunCTes-7sj0zoRJZ1rC8oKZZ5mItfzUSj-5B_OKJ06Hi5l0bhxakOrCfWnn13QSSdr7glxLT4jK-uLzjDzl1X5xJLlDwhCH_tZpVnVtCjMwuWdsRss309UhXmXOa6KkEJl/s1600-h/IMG_3767_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347387286108452114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcUDHjsXEgPunCTes-7sj0zoRJZ1rC8oKZZ5mItfzUSj-5B_OKJ06Hi5l0bhxakOrCfWnn13QSSdr7glxLT4jK-uLzjDzl1X5xJLlDwhCH_tZpVnVtCjMwuWdsRss309UhXmXOa6KkEJl/s400/IMG_3767_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">One of the boys' favorite tasks is to go out and cut the appropriate herbs for whatever we're cooking for dinner at night! They just LOVE that they get to eat food that we grew ourselves!!!<br /></span></strong></em></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Overall . . . the Garden was a WONDERFUL idea - and worth all the work!!!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">. . . just another day in the life . . .</span> </div></div></div></div></div></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-40443265662436097982009-06-14T00:33:00.007-05:002009-06-14T00:56:59.599-05:00Let The Swimming Lessons Begin!<span style="font-size:130%;">For the past two Summers, we have taken Jack to a WONDERFUL Swimming Coach - and this year, little brother, Ryan, gets to join in the Summer Fun!!!! Both boys have had a WONDERFUL time swimming - and after their first week, they are making awesome progress!!</span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZYJwvkVaA-oMmFH8I4_v6NyA2KOX6xAO9agP4Po0EkCUHu1xH1ls8kq0uRaEuJHKVbmJSz5IrsT5q7YhNZUm6zBgA0BnMymC8sUoKOjqFD6NcvKegLvEewboYyAeY6LzWC_mExujuJdV/s1600-h/IMG_3710_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347054440414416626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 292px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZYJwvkVaA-oMmFH8I4_v6NyA2KOX6xAO9agP4Po0EkCUHu1xH1ls8kq0uRaEuJHKVbmJSz5IrsT5q7YhNZUm6zBgA0BnMymC8sUoKOjqFD6NcvKegLvEewboYyAeY6LzWC_mExujuJdV/s400/IMG_3710_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">The boys with their cool new swim goggles!</span></strong></em><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xRHtBDpJ-bNOaUTYLihD10CJ2jV2sT_uWk63MAbgC39TNFNoBIdxAslND-EBz7_iYm3a5oDvoF3mBoSCoQTq9b7BMZ6fwpF-unV7G4ag-Ew9YFLXfg09RtE-sxYiwvRTkqQk6_6wOHlf/s1600-h/IMG_3714_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347054438298550178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xRHtBDpJ-bNOaUTYLihD10CJ2jV2sT_uWk63MAbgC39TNFNoBIdxAslND-EBz7_iYm3a5oDvoF3mBoSCoQTq9b7BMZ6fwpF-unV7G4ag-Ew9YFLXfg09RtE-sxYiwvRTkqQk6_6wOHlf/s400/IMG_3714_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Ryan learning the hand and arm position to "streamline"</span></strong></em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnkZ2jpv2k9SS_lPIvN-jW9kPX6OMPo8F4qhwkU0PcIx7v4a_fFmXRdEtg1BXoAiMkGd6oiN-BHkVaTynzb-EiadWgGXxSPqOAywxVHcpilbxt2tv3tc4yBnM3MJ7rCtsahF-MLStylKx/s1600-h/IMG_3721_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347054432238207890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnkZ2jpv2k9SS_lPIvN-jW9kPX6OMPo8F4qhwkU0PcIx7v4a_fFmXRdEtg1BXoAiMkGd6oiN-BHkVaTynzb-EiadWgGXxSPqOAywxVHcpilbxt2tv3tc4yBnM3MJ7rCtsahF-MLStylKx/s400/IMG_3721_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Ryan learning to do a "dead bug" float on his back<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WN1zjfUzZZ_Lm-SgFC9nCzBshwRy6TvgCl5uXtlw1t2laNPrP5qx_IkEgYjP6XGqQwaJk_jee66HGP9s5uUSSrgKlMrul3P8Sxs15n6yro8hSP4yHM788LOhvDjzqqC8kA82KHmgLe_P/s1600-h/IMG_3723_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347054182436603330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WN1zjfUzZZ_Lm-SgFC9nCzBshwRy6TvgCl5uXtlw1t2laNPrP5qx_IkEgYjP6XGqQwaJk_jee66HGP9s5uUSSrgKlMrul3P8Sxs15n6yro8hSP4yHM788LOhvDjzqqC8kA82KHmgLe_P/s400/IMG_3723_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Ryan loves his teachers! </span></strong></em></div><div><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></strong></em><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJ7kDKLJ6rOyVxNNsltY-WRlEcL4h58Wt_YBCVEcn0U6rDwsSsU-Sw6Wr2QbvUkMW6vUCx6F_hAiLOen14B0w6y4o4SRAc_u_wLRZYo5mxKHU8-616gr0sWSHU-3jWhEVz5-oRqr0JFvw/s1600-h/IMG_3726_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347054175896963218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJ7kDKLJ6rOyVxNNsltY-WRlEcL4h58Wt_YBCVEcn0U6rDwsSsU-Sw6Wr2QbvUkMW6vUCx6F_hAiLOen14B0w6y4o4SRAc_u_wLRZYo5mxKHU8-616gr0sWSHU-3jWhEVz5-oRqr0JFvw/s400/IMG_3726_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Ryan learning to kick!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1v9jIKBrPtEKDLNYJN9Lc0mnnS3xsczBSZFrMJxnqXFBCjb-Z6g8QdIJ5Z45MXmh8joPGZ7RELzCHwGaBBhirnNqjxi2_J22g2twuzl9o7YylG78Ti_liwsQYAVc2N1PMl_4DJXGLGdS/s1600-h/IMG_3727_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347054162443433186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 314px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1v9jIKBrPtEKDLNYJN9Lc0mnnS3xsczBSZFrMJxnqXFBCjb-Z6g8QdIJ5Z45MXmh8joPGZ7RELzCHwGaBBhirnNqjxi2_J22g2twuzl9o7YylG78Ti_liwsQYAVc2N1PMl_4DJXGLGdS/s400/IMG_3727_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Look at all that splashing!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Yllau1RDNQrfaEbe4YFNg_lsDaQ_FAnd3FtBNjCrNDtg1WZDVinm6VumI7Aw2FZKzZzrqj_Ak7tgJE8x6Mhl3VVz-XCVRmpkHNoqOBo7S8MtrQVLvM9sPqsvw93iLgoHXwpQmbM85I9g/s1600-h/IMG_3733_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347054162631628514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 258px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Yllau1RDNQrfaEbe4YFNg_lsDaQ_FAnd3FtBNjCrNDtg1WZDVinm6VumI7Aw2FZKzZzrqj_Ak7tgJE8x6Mhl3VVz-XCVRmpkHNoqOBo7S8MtrQVLvM9sPqsvw93iLgoHXwpQmbM85I9g/s400/IMG_3733_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Ryan learning arm movements </span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-B6Uu9JT_fDCllC29mY7YxkZvJQApLRt2skDRJraQU80j6qqHvuImySEOtIE0cA-TPXDOR9rQ6BBMjjdlaUbCpQsZMtLS-1IMtTU3Wo27lT1jBbQ8vWxOuFIUUmk4_apTTZRLxBqG1Ksg/s1600-h/IMG_3734.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347053796740616338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-B6Uu9JT_fDCllC29mY7YxkZvJQApLRt2skDRJraQU80j6qqHvuImySEOtIE0cA-TPXDOR9rQ6BBMjjdlaUbCpQsZMtLS-1IMtTU3Wo27lT1jBbQ8vWxOuFIUUmk4_apTTZRLxBqG1Ksg/s400/IMG_3734.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Ryan taking time out of the pool to spend time with the Coach's doggie!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEymifIHXRZcVABwULAlDAfBB4DDQRS22152ohI4eBi6gRniqUDiDOUct0fsztxONIkmsFj2VRHUXjPgkSmE7zdhKnDHyX6WcbHydHI3v-qe1H5s2KNtiAajnIVRcqCJgdGcMrzO9WPyf/s1600-h/IMG_3737_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347053789880610930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEymifIHXRZcVABwULAlDAfBB4DDQRS22152ohI4eBi6gRniqUDiDOUct0fsztxONIkmsFj2VRHUXjPgkSmE7zdhKnDHyX6WcbHydHI3v-qe1H5s2KNtiAajnIVRcqCJgdGcMrzO9WPyf/s400/IMG_3737_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> He's really working on his arm positioning!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBayXt1gNWhtWx0IqwDiD5O8f4iVO8bZHWepmiXcSA9iVvCEtFWYToCW6I0P5USeNQVllkHl1L1J8XhPyZULd3kwIGleXWER-BhfIydN2vMaOSPTlzxw_F6a2onMujcS6IS4gE7eSe6Zx/s1600-h/IMG_3738_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347053786523528562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 263px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBayXt1gNWhtWx0IqwDiD5O8f4iVO8bZHWepmiXcSA9iVvCEtFWYToCW6I0P5USeNQVllkHl1L1J8XhPyZULd3kwIGleXWER-BhfIydN2vMaOSPTlzxw_F6a2onMujcS6IS4gE7eSe6Zx/s400/IMG_3738_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Now it's Jack's turn, and he is the life of the swimming lesson - always has something to say!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfAs6480iHXGj0oRUIAAZDORNshg8eV5SWiy1IHMJ9bFziPvoNeUn0d0mIjVBnCVTwex-JZth-CiBFLUfVLIg-ULZq3f2EmE9YUPZNaNAucvUksrsXv6Ije8SB1HXyKRTwagCgIMlsh4m/s1600-h/IMG_3740_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347053780000495730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 290px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfAs6480iHXGj0oRUIAAZDORNshg8eV5SWiy1IHMJ9bFziPvoNeUn0d0mIjVBnCVTwex-JZth-CiBFLUfVLIg-ULZq3f2EmE9YUPZNaNAucvUksrsXv6Ije8SB1HXyKRTwagCgIMlsh4m/s400/IMG_3740_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Jack jumping in the water on his own!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxl8Q9Y0oPJ5Zt5V3rU9mUeT94-PhC1GUCb0ITHUzm1VAd-BnMEKWgOSQcXFd-5mqXHTBvDXAHIG-Y22l-MKUtywPDVcHxkKG8p2-M2Plqv8RLT5A331axAmNen4Xhlhlmu7mbqGbTW8x/s1600-h/IMG_3741_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347053778130030562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxl8Q9Y0oPJ5Zt5V3rU9mUeT94-PhC1GUCb0ITHUzm1VAd-BnMEKWgOSQcXFd-5mqXHTBvDXAHIG-Y22l-MKUtywPDVcHxkKG8p2-M2Plqv8RLT5A331axAmNen4Xhlhlmu7mbqGbTW8x/s400/IMG_3741_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Jack doing a great job on his "dead bug" float!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SAv4XbLEwOtk0kq-QlfBnwKNI8iVVt9021edFBJXPYl2lm9e8S9KbqsdNcUUj-8h-p4stl4v9R5sP_HFH4RjHYrKZdhtbyinAvpGD4xK3mJNZsU7tapZ_nI05cSJtgMK2kqPhjqAQjyr/s1600-h/IMG_3742_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347053174998727010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 297px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SAv4XbLEwOtk0kq-QlfBnwKNI8iVVt9021edFBJXPYl2lm9e8S9KbqsdNcUUj-8h-p4stl4v9R5sP_HFH4RjHYrKZdhtbyinAvpGD4xK3mJNZsU7tapZ_nI05cSJtgMK2kqPhjqAQjyr/s400/IMG_3742_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Jack is having SO MUCH FUN this year in his lessons - he's come a LONG way!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2V66NGWaIkIJ_scar7_Bsfo-m1scwScs4qJpUuUkAWPRpuEUsDLTPa8-YHOBxLhz41xIa43-XvwWKKoFYN_Q6WsLEmB8dQBz39jFaLb5WxZJM5jZ0tXMuaLm4oNZbjK57o76AcfUVhyphenhyphen5J/s1600-h/IMG_3744_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347053176910743986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2V66NGWaIkIJ_scar7_Bsfo-m1scwScs4qJpUuUkAWPRpuEUsDLTPa8-YHOBxLhz41xIa43-XvwWKKoFYN_Q6WsLEmB8dQBz39jFaLb5WxZJM5jZ0tXMuaLm4oNZbjK57o76AcfUVhyphenhyphen5J/s400/IMG_3744_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Jack doing his "streamline" - - - PERFECTLY!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZWrWVQPCn-ZCSnWYF0GEUGjfscTvNNPiRvSPLqkab9W-T1uiRx9z2OxGgyFTtsXhT0Ub_y5oQnzHiJ1MASChTll4T5X8fAvLA2BzvexNwETYPIPhPoqR6yJME9w2HrQPqRUR1ZuC_NOB/s1600-h/IMG_3746_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347053173329814530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 331px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZWrWVQPCn-ZCSnWYF0GEUGjfscTvNNPiRvSPLqkab9W-T1uiRx9z2OxGgyFTtsXhT0Ub_y5oQnzHiJ1MASChTll4T5X8fAvLA2BzvexNwETYPIPhPoqR6yJME9w2HrQPqRUR1ZuC_NOB/s400/IMG_3746_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Hooray!!!! Good job, Jack!!! </span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCcL8PBhsCs9oiVuhrcHlh-FX9XIRjyOzBJj-3Z9veBAX4aPV7YLpgo4GImfjL1t4xtCnw7f7bISss6Lbx3KFMgp795f0AIKd02VdsWj6GMeXjRYSc6QEEO3N7LhUggEOhRsidhHqprL1/s1600-h/IMG_3748_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347053166612504258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 318px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCcL8PBhsCs9oiVuhrcHlh-FX9XIRjyOzBJj-3Z9veBAX4aPV7YLpgo4GImfjL1t4xtCnw7f7bISss6Lbx3KFMgp795f0AIKd02VdsWj6GMeXjRYSc6QEEO3N7LhUggEOhRsidhHqprL1/s400/IMG_3748_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> Working on arm stroke positioning</span></em></strong><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eFNeTDQt0YPewhwtlOH7QaP_z7BYXdl7syGyInGm6gn5tSx5MpVJDvC1cUUCYHJ6zAtAukXyN0SS397IpD097CX_EoRGxj9ytiSXxpbF5nzZuGWOQhZgXPhwVIDMkjtVw-xAP1TNVgK6/s1600-h/IMG_3750_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347053162910427106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 296px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eFNeTDQt0YPewhwtlOH7QaP_z7BYXdl7syGyInGm6gn5tSx5MpVJDvC1cUUCYHJ6zAtAukXyN0SS397IpD097CX_EoRGxj9ytiSXxpbF5nzZuGWOQhZgXPhwVIDMkjtVw-xAP1TNVgK6/s400/IMG_3750_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Jack pays such close attention to his instructors!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxuozW0Q8vV9k9X9Q5A2V5sy4EdW1fAV0TyTDFl4Hjd2SUWjvmiYjTKCz2s8a66O93aeZhc0NFupC1ovf2eH2irZc2y_z1dAYgAKcVbcoSZz_rjRThBYRdix-FYvdfAYxootMopF8EZG_/s1600-h/IMG_3752_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347052743060626866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxuozW0Q8vV9k9X9Q5A2V5sy4EdW1fAV0TyTDFl4Hjd2SUWjvmiYjTKCz2s8a66O93aeZhc0NFupC1ovf2eH2irZc2y_z1dAYgAKcVbcoSZz_rjRThBYRdix-FYvdfAYxootMopF8EZG_/s400/IMG_3752_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Jack swimming out on his own from the stairs to his coaches!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbahYuvuXVRmk1eff0I3KN_0Q41GaPXXziqPdHbZz2Z08-3p48_VYbiDn3aJ47FBlggwH__IYqF8doJ9YaHjJeT6ATL0kufCqaUnVw-CNHY-8_RrFgUJYu3yIotL7hoND5fbgWoTsO1GD/s1600-h/IMG_3753_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347052737260589042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 260px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbahYuvuXVRmk1eff0I3KN_0Q41GaPXXziqPdHbZz2Z08-3p48_VYbiDn3aJ47FBlggwH__IYqF8doJ9YaHjJeT6ATL0kufCqaUnVw-CNHY-8_RrFgUJYu3yIotL7hoND5fbgWoTsO1GD/s400/IMG_3753_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Jack got a little scared because he swam a long way by himself! Poor little guy! </span></strong></em></div><div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3smTKfh5YBHgZaq81CFUuYrA-Y2mGJxrr69LRPK6i6APSq0Kg-eYZUpGzXc4er1G-tv0JVBc1ND6pr6PWK11ibICRLTD32xlxsmGshYWvHQ84MeOkmkn6oFtJMQB2Gm_8meifffc9_jr/s1600-h/IMG_3755_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347052732594718626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 282px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3smTKfh5YBHgZaq81CFUuYrA-Y2mGJxrr69LRPK6i6APSq0Kg-eYZUpGzXc4er1G-tv0JVBc1ND6pr6PWK11ibICRLTD32xlxsmGshYWvHQ84MeOkmkn6oFtJMQB2Gm_8meifffc9_jr/s400/IMG_3755_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Getting ready to jump into the deep end of the pool off of the diving board!<br /></span></strong></em></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-rcgCtlYpHSEjWgZ_Noh5E3mnZeXnzvY7yc5rCLkIWNPWijkUDnCpeltrMTvGHdJyKZ-CQcJcbA6hk5rDF3qJzZxaQnHJVrfrz-PpMxI1i3ut3Olw-5HNdr72fwxt5ufvwPz6SQJtSnO/s1600-h/IMG_3756_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347052727306729410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 313px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-rcgCtlYpHSEjWgZ_Noh5E3mnZeXnzvY7yc5rCLkIWNPWijkUDnCpeltrMTvGHdJyKZ-CQcJcbA6hk5rDF3qJzZxaQnHJVrfrz-PpMxI1i3ut3Olw-5HNdr72fwxt5ufvwPz6SQJtSnO/s400/IMG_3756_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Great jump - - right into the hula hoop circle! (It's hard to believe Jack will do this - since last year, he was scared to death to jump off the board!)</span></strong></em> </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCdYHVNhbDzH67_0w6PjkQsYpFr7aEgN8A6SVIwKTXGEhwxKgH3raQuo_OKbMCKZK-5BSY67w0BKbS0zPV_X5efkld4Z3wDToqOTrVDh1OI77UXuoParg5U_DpH74BvPZCI4Hwhuq-R1v/s1600-h/IMG_3758_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347052723670104034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCdYHVNhbDzH67_0w6PjkQsYpFr7aEgN8A6SVIwKTXGEhwxKgH3raQuo_OKbMCKZK-5BSY67w0BKbS0zPV_X5efkld4Z3wDToqOTrVDh1OI77UXuoParg5U_DpH74BvPZCI4Hwhuq-R1v/s400/IMG_3758_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Jack swimming on his back after the jump into the deep end!</span></strong></em></div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong></div><div> </div><div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong> </div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">We are SOOO proud of our boys! It's so fun to watch them grow and thrive!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">. . . just another day in the life . . .</span> </span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-72063006178022193952009-06-04T21:29:00.008-05:002009-06-04T21:45:01.985-05:00Two Long Years, Several Thousand Dollars, Sore Mouth . . . A Perfect Smile: Priceless!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Dtk2Bz_lAVxU468wJKCoWaaZ65Fr70RPkeVb4GQWl6vjdCpT85D0s__vYZ0u0cBkR-o1zHSg-q2LKosE9dJSb7wUPsPsY5-VSx-zP-cJIa6CxYs1Fgo4KkhVDxdbC5XtFZiMIywV6vYY/s1600-h/IMG_3694_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343666235984413954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 254px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Dtk2Bz_lAVxU468wJKCoWaaZ65Fr70RPkeVb4GQWl6vjdCpT85D0s__vYZ0u0cBkR-o1zHSg-q2LKosE9dJSb7wUPsPsY5-VSx-zP-cJIa6CxYs1Fgo4KkhVDxdbC5XtFZiMIywV6vYY/s400/IMG_3694_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><span style="font-size:130%;">Does this girl have the most <span style="color:#ff6666;"><strong>BEAUTIFUL smile</strong></span> - - - or WHAT?!?!? After two years of braces, our sweet daughter, Ashley, got her braces removed today - -- and she has even further evolved into a gorgeous young woman! I was so proud of how well she did everything the Orthodontist told her to do. She was "relgious" in wearing her rubberbands, etc. and everyone agreed: she got AMAZING results! Good girl!!!</span></div><div></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoNHu66NxzzDqiRVF1bnfExVbEF9hwE0PiGOMlhBz4DeV-UrmstzqzRCfF7x7UxGfKsKRZMfHtocrqzYCdKyXsBik5lVBcwZPmbbKF6J74doZbBiHRwDeYurUz-t6mNVmLsOXXoJgHeZk/s1600-h/IMG_3680_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343666079026824898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoNHu66NxzzDqiRVF1bnfExVbEF9hwE0PiGOMlhBz4DeV-UrmstzqzRCfF7x7UxGfKsKRZMfHtocrqzYCdKyXsBik5lVBcwZPmbbKF6J74doZbBiHRwDeYurUz-t6mNVmLsOXXoJgHeZk/s400/IMG_3680_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Ash and her good friend, Addie, BOTH got their braces off on the SAME DAY (different doctors and totally not planned together!) This is them BEFORE their "removals"!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpRhajzA0ZxJFjb5VsTnf2f3xHzGdUvFsTC_7uSJVSkxEQX5gJLbAHg8RuRAIljCjc9t2Ga5nMia0VGzzs6Ld8j6Jlc1wjALecc4DxgkZfaYLBDymkz1DC3zN39Bdoz4T8SvgzVJ9LqOK/s1600-h/IMG_3682_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343666067712631378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 278px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpRhajzA0ZxJFjb5VsTnf2f3xHzGdUvFsTC_7uSJVSkxEQX5gJLbAHg8RuRAIljCjc9t2Ga5nMia0VGzzs6Ld8j6Jlc1wjALecc4DxgkZfaYLBDymkz1DC3zN39Bdoz4T8SvgzVJ9LqOK/s400/IMG_3682_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Ashley and all her girlfriends together - BEFORE the braces came off. All these girls celebrated tonight after the two last girls with braces finally got them removed!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRU7F1x3Ke8L4EcMgl8E-iHTxP3-SVDm2QF5Hy4sVgiyp55J0LLTKsq2V1nbm1JOLRUJw5uzjrDz1ksR00TTVcvINU3QII9LBGI0iEsIjWrBJV_rQ_WZjH8c47x6SjFVM2jgL2F5Xxinvn/s1600-h/IMG_3686_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343666069336757122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRU7F1x3Ke8L4EcMgl8E-iHTxP3-SVDm2QF5Hy4sVgiyp55J0LLTKsq2V1nbm1JOLRUJw5uzjrDz1ksR00TTVcvINU3QII9LBGI0iEsIjWrBJV_rQ_WZjH8c47x6SjFVM2jgL2F5Xxinvn/s400/IMG_3686_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">In the car on the way to the Orthodontist</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMd3zXtlwJJplnyiTgu4TLEvWS6_SqTpkSlHDlFzjVM3I_dBDcAeHdRhQcqNSp9Ld_JZ93-gr9xmosQBmhan3FMspx0HVQ0HfR55yu0Tff1XGtQUUGlNQWOF6J-bv5P-1YJTviZy4ClJGc/s1600-h/IMG_3684_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343666063042284466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 328px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMd3zXtlwJJplnyiTgu4TLEvWS6_SqTpkSlHDlFzjVM3I_dBDcAeHdRhQcqNSp9Ld_JZ93-gr9xmosQBmhan3FMspx0HVQ0HfR55yu0Tff1XGtQUUGlNQWOF6J-bv5P-1YJTviZy4ClJGc/s400/IMG_3684_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Outside in front of the Orthodontist's office</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGc2rn5vO03UelZq-gYoPpV59lGvCVgqjgumeeBbDfUCu6H6Kyvl17pvKuLJfTjMhfXXJwUojBRyzI79xvTD3-tlRYdahhg2fjxUWXxBNuuxw4dGh_kGuxmefV-5b6ZlAJz6Ao7_k8vGz0/s1600-h/IMG_3688_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343665750049799010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGc2rn5vO03UelZq-gYoPpV59lGvCVgqjgumeeBbDfUCu6H6Kyvl17pvKuLJfTjMhfXXJwUojBRyzI79xvTD3-tlRYdahhg2fjxUWXxBNuuxw4dGh_kGuxmefV-5b6ZlAJz6Ao7_k8vGz0/s400/IMG_3688_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">In the chair getting ready to "get down to business"<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnLFcqOKlFrGEa_tJGedelIxpLmOx_QNgheojjmApo87oEur9SpXQO2fstekioflzVOjS3vnLQoDTC95l-pGrml2-ZhnJyuASkR7uPP4ha2xRFrkafeOvYc7H7ZOPZSwRIyjbKBbOr2t7/s1600-h/IMG_3690_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343665749272580386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 326px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnLFcqOKlFrGEa_tJGedelIxpLmOx_QNgheojjmApo87oEur9SpXQO2fstekioflzVOjS3vnLQoDTC95l-pGrml2-ZhnJyuASkR7uPP4ha2xRFrkafeOvYc7H7ZOPZSwRIyjbKBbOr2t7/s400/IMG_3690_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">The braces are coming off! </span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyO9hhrmExWT-lwBWXyFnZh2TxRFZrEuF4cTWtL4JfADOTmD8zXNrsAlAvIcOKx1T4Mp0G9eQZFII1-d4UW3Jc8b_YejchBmdjSECi_kcTbpFgnMJTqzdMN1ke05s-rpiepAH4W4tAg9ne/s1600-h/IMG_3692_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343665744258537362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyO9hhrmExWT-lwBWXyFnZh2TxRFZrEuF4cTWtL4JfADOTmD8zXNrsAlAvIcOKx1T4Mp0G9eQZFII1-d4UW3Jc8b_YejchBmdjSECi_kcTbpFgnMJTqzdMN1ke05s-rpiepAH4W4tAg9ne/s400/IMG_3692_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Ashley did NOT enjoy have the impressions made for her retainers!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelV_yXdfJE2bBDGzY656MAoA8eOuJCn9iPqwEd4xdSlX4NH8JpXv6UMi2wreUmCmho-mYmavmJSlfWeKw3AxxOBC6R1y8ZrIk21eylxpBU0ukYJ1BmLtOwXVstYG2emQOuxwWLBvRhbo5/s1600-h/IMG_3693_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343665737612865042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 272px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelV_yXdfJE2bBDGzY656MAoA8eOuJCn9iPqwEd4xdSlX4NH8JpXv6UMi2wreUmCmho-mYmavmJSlfWeKw3AxxOBC6R1y8ZrIk21eylxpBU0ukYJ1BmLtOwXVstYG2emQOuxwWLBvRhbo5/s400/IMG_3693_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">A PERFECT smile!!!</span></em></strong><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVqWXvquDnKNSK-LhL9TtEVk4WAKo7heSSmY2QxbrqtrX0ENwtQASmeZDKxWHoOHbtYIkLjsVGRQMxIIfYLxgYMeZsYDerTMZo0ExhFD_z061vdiEtafac3XMDkbaAazYcJcJELhePCO4/s1600-h/IMG_3683_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343665735568203762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVqWXvquDnKNSK-LhL9TtEVk4WAKo7heSSmY2QxbrqtrX0ENwtQASmeZDKxWHoOHbtYIkLjsVGRQMxIIfYLxgYMeZsYDerTMZo0ExhFD_z061vdiEtafac3XMDkbaAazYcJcJELhePCO4/s400/IMG_3683_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Great work, Dr. Schroeder and Staff!!!! THANKS!</span></strong></em></div><div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong></div><div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">. . . just another day in the life . . .</span><strong><em> </em></strong></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-64289163926347727192009-05-27T19:51:00.005-05:002009-05-27T20:42:54.562-05:00Could I Be a FARM GIRL????<span style="font-size:130%;">Okay . . . my sweet husband just breaks out into deep, bent-over, belly shaking laughter at the mere <strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">THOUGHT</span></strong> of me being a <strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">FARM GIRL</span></strong>, but you know - as I am going through life, there is something more and more appealing about growing your own food and the whole simplicity of farm life! Now - before you all laugh, I KNOW I am truly a city girl by nature - - - I like to get my nails done,and nothing feels much better than a one-hour massage after a girls' lunch at The Cheesecake Factory, but my latest passion has become creating, building, and growing my own vegetable and herb garden. I've fallen in love with the concept of <strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">square foot gardening</span></strong> (google it sometime) - where you can get a great harvest from a surprisingly small space. </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSxHBTLW0uuwo7DldSmNCTuM9M-VheIoXtsyGHp98VM89SXjN6gDOW6ivhuLZfJS6Zb2fnaa_yp2pfCPI2kT_fzZF4OAmch08w3UxFChrQZP99NKtZ1JPDlGGLrWgLf3Kd4CcYUY96pid/s1600-h/IMG_3679_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340671669976344658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSxHBTLW0uuwo7DldSmNCTuM9M-VheIoXtsyGHp98VM89SXjN6gDOW6ivhuLZfJS6Zb2fnaa_yp2pfCPI2kT_fzZF4OAmch08w3UxFChrQZP99NKtZ1JPDlGGLrWgLf3Kd4CcYUY96pid/s400/IMG_3679_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;">This is my garden - now about 3 weeks in - grown from seeds! I plotted it out using a really neat tools on Gardener's Supply Company's website (</span><a href="http://www.gardeners.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;"><strong>www.gardeners.com</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">), then prepared my beds and now I have 36 square feet of tomatoes, peppers, onions, okra, green beans, squash, eggplant, carrots, and a variety of herbs!</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXb-O0TgXG3JyW2Nq0QVYBpRd_coyYo1ZTVuxe1nxWZbQJUiOhrgZVVeNfC9nLKHt8SsMYEnIkUd0iFyjzI14CPP6iipByv1fGQNv3W1y76DSTrdjvl2QyHjteW-IBpp7YtwdIJOAT0AkB/s1600-h/IMG_3678_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340671665496735122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXb-O0TgXG3JyW2Nq0QVYBpRd_coyYo1ZTVuxe1nxWZbQJUiOhrgZVVeNfC9nLKHt8SsMYEnIkUd0iFyjzI14CPP6iipByv1fGQNv3W1y76DSTrdjvl2QyHjteW-IBpp7YtwdIJOAT0AkB/s400/IMG_3678_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> We'll see how the harvest goes this Summer - - - should be interesting! I thought about adding a couple of chickens to the Blankenship Farm - but that idea was promptly put to rest by my again hysterically laughing husband (who actually DID grow up in the country - and KNOWS what chickens smell like!)</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">. . . just another day in the life . . .</span> <div></div></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-3988389369020498262009-05-27T19:36:00.003-05:002009-05-27T19:50:57.747-05:00Preschool Pool Party!!!! Wheee!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaCC_Gl4-7i1ftVZJH_pxOTs3Q7qhyynamAKzAck95SOwEJExwRkvPN1UXlDUMRilODpNWIbi-CeM1ji4dELpoHKfLDmwuNP80_IvOnFIstYyG34LK6nA-tbb7pyiDQhvcnvU1YyQo9z0/s1600-h/IMG_3676_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340668182609888610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 276px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaCC_Gl4-7i1ftVZJH_pxOTs3Q7qhyynamAKzAck95SOwEJExwRkvPN1UXlDUMRilODpNWIbi-CeM1ji4dELpoHKfLDmwuNP80_IvOnFIstYyG34LK6nA-tbb7pyiDQhvcnvU1YyQo9z0/s400/IMG_3676_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;"> </span></strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">TODAY</span></strong> was a <strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">GREAT</span></strong> day and a little <strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">SAD</span></strong> day at the same time!!! We had the privilege of having Jack's End of the Year Preschool Party at a classmate's home - and the kids had an absolute blast! The sad part comes in as I think about the fact that all these precious little ones - many of whom have grown up together for the past 5+ years since they were babies - will all be separated and going to different elementary schools for Kindergarten in the Fall. With the joy of an amazing preschool comes the sadness when those preschool days end. But <strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">TODAY</span></strong> was <strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">SO MUCH FUN</span></strong> - we all LOVED every minute of it!!!</span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYEcU987rg20COcqGXg1r7c9vt1u7Cc_uRHjt4Ui1s6ZCvu0qZYJ8Ph1qVhLhjS6scopBzgvrWps71u8XOfcqf0ag_buO_vzWhemubYgspYtriXXoSJPRTEqEBuD5kO6xmXJYAABcZaL8/s1600-h/IMG_3671_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340668176779812002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYEcU987rg20COcqGXg1r7c9vt1u7Cc_uRHjt4Ui1s6ZCvu0qZYJ8Ph1qVhLhjS6scopBzgvrWps71u8XOfcqf0ag_buO_vzWhemubYgspYtriXXoSJPRTEqEBuD5kO6xmXJYAABcZaL8/s400/IMG_3671_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Jack LOVING hanging out on the noodle!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWETBNrgqIJwRsTsTdZFRPp9bCsbIbwkWiz17xVjoIkPnI46i_ExYWWfwnoqs9n-jy-NKQNXiVOE-wUROV9cW158ndFb_wVrHGN7dsNFn1kcATLhTtjOJ8yYmUxYHfrObE8-S-8kBOxaGo/s1600-h/IMG_3668_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340668176100251362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 263px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWETBNrgqIJwRsTsTdZFRPp9bCsbIbwkWiz17xVjoIkPnI46i_ExYWWfwnoqs9n-jy-NKQNXiVOE-wUROV9cW158ndFb_wVrHGN7dsNFn1kcATLhTtjOJ8yYmUxYHfrObE8-S-8kBOxaGo/s400/IMG_3668_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> One of Jack's friends making an enthusiastic jump from the diving board!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtPamB0HgdMaYaUNRlQNt9a3zqxzyW-Y7DExTpaZv_f_utakS10wSxxjaKgZBJ2f6CxGpUT8Sr6NnWvLLgoMRhpJX72ZBTCDQvhmTHkcdQbuY4F2nLIKGp1YFKA_hpIcH7cG5bZ1Y2gzg/s1600-h/IMG_3670_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340668168610488274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 330px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtPamB0HgdMaYaUNRlQNt9a3zqxzyW-Y7DExTpaZv_f_utakS10wSxxjaKgZBJ2f6CxGpUT8Sr6NnWvLLgoMRhpJX72ZBTCDQvhmTHkcdQbuY4F2nLIKGp1YFKA_hpIcH7cG5bZ1Y2gzg/s400/IMG_3670_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> This little girl is simply adorable!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGvkoa5HVTSJxSQy4JGzprYyjt1mP0vH80hoCsLzpOr7TbEDsP_Drg8FDqhj6O2yz23nkGPGLsxDqJEXsLWOo_2XpUK6svs4zVsLXzR9GGE9LwhW1NWd4s8JzuJeFTR5uUN-YKVsPS2DB/s1600-h/IMG_3665_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340668162309338898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGvkoa5HVTSJxSQy4JGzprYyjt1mP0vH80hoCsLzpOr7TbEDsP_Drg8FDqhj6O2yz23nkGPGLsxDqJEXsLWOo_2XpUK6svs4zVsLXzR9GGE9LwhW1NWd4s8JzuJeFTR5uUN-YKVsPS2DB/s400/IMG_3665_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> Ryan loved drinking from the dolphin fountain by the pool!<br /></span></em></strong><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jsaf4yHAFREEjqYwpynewZtOjAALF4XOj1gklSUoBqu8KMCCzU4sU2ZwfVwjBlVC6g7wwhRBhbTu49QMkDcDn2qAXFsL6CtxjffW9rPSSm8qecZbtgQiXJ1RF1TbtRTNDPmTVmqacdSo/s1600-h/IMG_3660_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340667773295492882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 248px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jsaf4yHAFREEjqYwpynewZtOjAALF4XOj1gklSUoBqu8KMCCzU4sU2ZwfVwjBlVC6g7wwhRBhbTu49QMkDcDn2qAXFsL6CtxjffW9rPSSm8qecZbtgQiXJ1RF1TbtRTNDPmTVmqacdSo/s400/IMG_3660_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Jack and two of his best buds hanging out in the water!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLY356Lh8-bPTJddMKgMZJwv1cQ92_e13mrpDgabEuEPrjz7VS5bnkPkXILhmFRSAwdrGXFnRXXpLS_M_gq9V5sk9RiMKYtQ0eJlo14jB4Re2f0dgbT4wzdLAoeWyGQ35NM5PIW8IzyNTv/s1600-h/IMG_3664.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340667771553651778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLY356Lh8-bPTJddMKgMZJwv1cQ92_e13mrpDgabEuEPrjz7VS5bnkPkXILhmFRSAwdrGXFnRXXpLS_M_gq9V5sk9RiMKYtQ0eJlo14jB4Re2f0dgbT4wzdLAoeWyGQ35NM5PIW8IzyNTv/s400/IMG_3664.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Is this the most adorable cake?!?!?!? Our whole lunch was DELICIOUS!!!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9StMrK2cn5kUx011BjHjWG_hoJqsNFjkdyD1jXNVITiR_GOh0PphfwUWxBQg8AsJsf34oc2sVS85Lj1WdEoEMmTY4q1p1EYtMhZ94ZOvKlRIM7id7TPGp89-EhFWaQshesOb3TOFGz779/s1600-h/IMG_3658_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340667760231284738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9StMrK2cn5kUx011BjHjWG_hoJqsNFjkdyD1jXNVITiR_GOh0PphfwUWxBQg8AsJsf34oc2sVS85Lj1WdEoEMmTY4q1p1EYtMhZ94ZOvKlRIM7id7TPGp89-EhFWaQshesOb3TOFGz779/s400/IMG_3658_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Baby Ryan just taking it all in!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pujNvkD4tAZF3xgxh1h0_6bTJnGhr14ClLYOyqBYRXtSNDXuyrE9A8hyphenhyphen5VqLCA6BmwW0KUz5WWh31FrOyzYpXJXNSdhy98A11vKr00Sejvl4ptotY62UNOyd3L1DEtQrlBrYspFVIBpE/s1600-h/IMG_3672_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340667756166380434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pujNvkD4tAZF3xgxh1h0_6bTJnGhr14ClLYOyqBYRXtSNDXuyrE9A8hyphenhyphen5VqLCA6BmwW0KUz5WWh31FrOyzYpXJXNSdhy98A11vKr00Sejvl4ptotY62UNOyd3L1DEtQrlBrYspFVIBpE/s400/IMG_3672_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Jack did love that noodle!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXUSj8MK27kMtjibR3VjbQaWfi80kYrIKwnrBrODf3vuhlzz54OPNkLbmo_ZurUG1ksokai82MsGAL9fZciORbpiXrpXeaheN9FIECVQNn7CHSc9bX3JEpXndH7Q8vRuc2GQJs7ms2zaJ/s1600-h/IMG_3667_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340667751008038626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXUSj8MK27kMtjibR3VjbQaWfi80kYrIKwnrBrODf3vuhlzz54OPNkLbmo_ZurUG1ksokai82MsGAL9fZciORbpiXrpXeaheN9FIECVQNn7CHSc9bX3JEpXndH7Q8vRuc2GQJs7ms2zaJ/s400/IMG_3667_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Ryan exploring the pool - complete with a life jacket AND float!!!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">We will miss all our friends greatly next school year, but are so glad for our friendships!!!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">. . . just another day in the life . . .</span> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-19555275347971684392009-05-24T20:53:00.008-05:002009-05-24T21:29:46.635-05:00Old MacDonald Had a Farm - And on That Farm He Had a Birthday!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzethxgq3etsSW2ek4MU8KBcP7YTilOlOuX4_TJYWLcI1Ecbw8ztNjU7TxUvD5ujplX34zL5VtdvIy3A7b55LqJ6i7OBoxMX83kP_yukJX9BrQ2-ELljuZuNd9bQg9mdNQm9Rr0XRTIT1/s1600-h/IMG_3617_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339578103827146610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 223px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzethxgq3etsSW2ek4MU8KBcP7YTilOlOuX4_TJYWLcI1Ecbw8ztNjU7TxUvD5ujplX34zL5VtdvIy3A7b55LqJ6i7OBoxMX83kP_yukJX9BrQ2-ELljuZuNd9bQg9mdNQm9Rr0XRTIT1/s400/IMG_3617_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Yesterday, we had the pleasure of hosting an "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" (as he puts it) 3rd Birthday Party for our youngest, little Ryan! After 3 children, we had never had a Petting Zoo OR Pony Rides at a party, but I guess like many other babies of the family, our littlest boy just broke us down. He is truly the biggest animal lover of all our kids and literally sings "Old MacDonald" about 50 times a day! So. . . Steve and I decided that if we were ever going to do it, this was the year! (And I found a really good deal from a great family ranch, which didn't hurt either).</span> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOwRLnTHQFNwr_mMEwBUZJOPIOPtMpzEabdSLGq0K7mfrnBCrTxQxjT5CClFJ-0OC6ZKQmYSsx7gqhzGf9Q1_jIdpvFhFAU-oxKlEVTImQtRHMpwQuamde_SBBZT3l8szQ2xLFs3Zq03C/s1600-h/IMG_3628_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339577114215609698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 364px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOwRLnTHQFNwr_mMEwBUZJOPIOPtMpzEabdSLGq0K7mfrnBCrTxQxjT5CClFJ-0OC6ZKQmYSsx7gqhzGf9Q1_jIdpvFhFAU-oxKlEVTImQtRHMpwQuamde_SBBZT3l8szQ2xLFs3Zq03C/s400/IMG_3628_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> This little boy had a WONDERFUL time - enjoying all HIS friends (not just friends of his brother's or sister's) and getting all the special attention!<br /></span><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjrqnsoxxKpwCLdKBa4Z3lt4QYM0Wu0tkccwpMeBGW9EB2nZGVe222CSYEUySln9hs0vWmm8IHk-vwnGyaedwscaAaJkimuVMUoeh_72zEFl6GJYgwA68BXG6UQtd0NELekHlVC8C0CjA/s1600-h/IMG_3629_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339577109075550658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjrqnsoxxKpwCLdKBa4Z3lt4QYM0Wu0tkccwpMeBGW9EB2nZGVe222CSYEUySln9hs0vWmm8IHk-vwnGyaedwscaAaJkimuVMUoeh_72zEFl6GJYgwA68BXG6UQtd0NELekHlVC8C0CjA/s400/IMG_3629_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> Just look at the excitement on this boy's face! (And a happy Mom and Big Sister - whose efforts paid off!)<br /></span></em></strong><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KLCliJsufUFhU7fJm0j4Wd9zYgTDKbUH3cpuGIQW-csOiHY1WCM6CRzmHaHi4tS8qcL8yAr5tjd8344sHZCQ6YdG42R0J8L1aihFJS_kKWnhszoB7EQzvTcP5EY4W32Kn3arswRxQFWN/s1600-h/IMG_3620_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339576574063972786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 264px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KLCliJsufUFhU7fJm0j4Wd9zYgTDKbUH3cpuGIQW-csOiHY1WCM6CRzmHaHi4tS8qcL8yAr5tjd8344sHZCQ6YdG42R0J8L1aihFJS_kKWnhszoB7EQzvTcP5EY4W32Kn3arswRxQFWN/s400/IMG_3620_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Ryan on his Pony Ride!!!<br /></span></em></strong><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENwEi45eBcVbB0I12uovXD_UMvOEwokmc-OaNVAK-k98p82WNuwv_wDQEbgk7OgtoZnJffyLdbZpQmXVkwiLPyxaNR5pp4DzdmOGm0sd846_gvonJLHtABNrXtjK-ZSHotemqHZYH830Z/s1600-h/IMG_3654_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339576569911430290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENwEi45eBcVbB0I12uovXD_UMvOEwokmc-OaNVAK-k98p82WNuwv_wDQEbgk7OgtoZnJffyLdbZpQmXVkwiLPyxaNR5pp4DzdmOGm0sd846_gvonJLHtABNrXtjK-ZSHotemqHZYH830Z/s400/IMG_3654_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Our decorated front door - Welcome to "Blankenship Acres" (Steve said that sounded like a retirement home!) HA!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWbhTh7QUBaszahnclf_YqvFhYseNZrGPs9ZDEnRlWs3bzrpPRhpKi9Rlznn1r9YryozjTj42ILVMxZlTu0m28cbmyA-2x39mvkq39rre5G3pqVSyIHEx2ElxiZwDMLbRSRO6lTvZclQO/s1600-h/IMG_3655_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339576564981901314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 244px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWbhTh7QUBaszahnclf_YqvFhYseNZrGPs9ZDEnRlWs3bzrpPRhpKi9Rlznn1r9YryozjTj42ILVMxZlTu0m28cbmyA-2x39mvkq39rre5G3pqVSyIHEx2ElxiZwDMLbRSRO6lTvZclQO/s400/IMG_3655_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">These are the ADORABLE candles I found for Ryan's Cake! (How CUTE are these?!?!)</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HoJH95vavtKlCCp-ZxJ6yCozdFVOzFLtNMlZFOp9sKq0HcJY3SPF5hCflukvatYtBXnHs9ejZOFa8ylfOBkBKnPJfuFVxLAZBxf1hLmx5tev_5eHTpV4PVlWcur8Kq9ANcxaaRmQ-fQ6/s1600-h/IMG_3589_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339576560899970130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 285px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HoJH95vavtKlCCp-ZxJ6yCozdFVOzFLtNMlZFOp9sKq0HcJY3SPF5hCflukvatYtBXnHs9ejZOFa8ylfOBkBKnPJfuFVxLAZBxf1hLmx5tev_5eHTpV4PVlWcur8Kq9ANcxaaRmQ-fQ6/s400/IMG_3589_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Jack having his turn on the pony ride!<br /></span></strong></em><div><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u></div><br /><div><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuosngQmE2MZqyGhuBxRegXgHFBcoSYUbYororW-cLsiGbd68sZrc6rS6bFMvJ-u9aps4bJ7zaL20JlR07IamU3TMNU2SXauLd4_1TZORiD3GNpZfMKuJYn5oaGOkLeArH2FoYWZC9qn8/s1600-h/IMG_3590_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339575893945592866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 303px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuosngQmE2MZqyGhuBxRegXgHFBcoSYUbYororW-cLsiGbd68sZrc6rS6bFMvJ-u9aps4bJ7zaL20JlR07IamU3TMNU2SXauLd4_1TZORiD3GNpZfMKuJYn5oaGOkLeArH2FoYWZC9qn8/s400/IMG_3590_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Ryan petting a Bunny Rabbit (his favorite) in the Petting Zoo!<br /><br /></span></strong></em><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXjYqURVN9rGnAHak-2F88KqSHdUROC3K-qWqe8Tmc4_QILZYTrTbfQbY4anYStzcqMrGxErD2kb8c6WQDluZvwfshizoF2azMfcMm0ezXTTLDhyFlWmadtU6_K1GioY8bM2nCWvAd9-b/s1600-h/IMG_3619_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339575886592703794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 336px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXjYqURVN9rGnAHak-2F88KqSHdUROC3K-qWqe8Tmc4_QILZYTrTbfQbY4anYStzcqMrGxErD2kb8c6WQDluZvwfshizoF2azMfcMm0ezXTTLDhyFlWmadtU6_K1GioY8bM2nCWvAd9-b/s400/IMG_3619_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">"Farm Fresh" Refreshments for our guests!<br /><br /></span></strong></em><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQSShTD9lKUErALH36v3Ajx2LwwheHk-eYHKh0mM8WdmiTBmdD0L2fs78MnvYZmy7w6hIz84VMDJ_cJoWr7Ounq65raaCC36jyfEu3wdZYTNc_h7dPbbCW1ZRVn_Dw46TiWSSmS1fhBWY/s1600-h/IMG_3618_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339575881060774562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQSShTD9lKUErALH36v3Ajx2LwwheHk-eYHKh0mM8WdmiTBmdD0L2fs78MnvYZmy7w6hIz84VMDJ_cJoWr7Ounq65raaCC36jyfEu3wdZYTNc_h7dPbbCW1ZRVn_Dw46TiWSSmS1fhBWY/s400/IMG_3618_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">More goodies for guests to snack on!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopUV5DnjPMyFlXl9mYNM2rDH6Wfk0-oiAWsWmnlwmzuvDv_pifL8bAAFOzZ6W2LAhKEF_YNahJwLSXk7c9WFc1zXO7dqUxCeT3ueDW5ZMZdwyIA7XZfeqnc0c0Dq_C5Ex1FAxaQ-a-An9/s1600-h/IMG_3615_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339575875083269218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 248px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopUV5DnjPMyFlXl9mYNM2rDH6Wfk0-oiAWsWmnlwmzuvDv_pifL8bAAFOzZ6W2LAhKEF_YNahJwLSXk7c9WFc1zXO7dqUxCeT3ueDW5ZMZdwyIA7XZfeqnc0c0Dq_C5Ex1FAxaQ-a-An9/s400/IMG_3615_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">My Mom and Dad with some of the children - while enjoying the FARM themed Puzzle and Book and Activity Table! It was a LOT of fun!<br /></span></strong></em><div><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u></div><div><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u></div><br /><div><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4E3lHm5DHtkUienqrBZOEa4qrgYO1svPBnc8oTg5B24ZoOXj3DGVaTQz_bm16N4MvLqAlinLbVINilHu2o2oyWfqXqCOtVZ7tGhSU753xBnpNnrkG4KYNPHwfQj217-Z4UnHA4oTQ0zof/s1600-h/IMG_3623_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339575315062136546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 275px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4E3lHm5DHtkUienqrBZOEa4qrgYO1svPBnc8oTg5B24ZoOXj3DGVaTQz_bm16N4MvLqAlinLbVINilHu2o2oyWfqXqCOtVZ7tGhSU753xBnpNnrkG4KYNPHwfQj217-Z4UnHA4oTQ0zof/s400/IMG_3623_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Two of Ryan's special friends from church enjoying the water table!<br /></span></strong></em><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yFHO0Xv7iarXziuIcVqFDllCvRm5Hd79Elb5_0VWRc4L52g_xO0KZk9jP8K_AEhC7e0sqI7tjhqec-yUy-jnYiuJmV6Ls5olAksGHpzZqPDz6mYhWkyKog_RlP9x5AueWciLaWgYW36f/s1600-h/IMG_3602_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339575312549953778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yFHO0Xv7iarXziuIcVqFDllCvRm5Hd79Elb5_0VWRc4L52g_xO0KZk9jP8K_AEhC7e0sqI7tjhqec-yUy-jnYiuJmV6Ls5olAksGHpzZqPDz6mYhWkyKog_RlP9x5AueWciLaWgYW36f/s400/IMG_3602_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">One of Jack's best friends - dressed perfectly for the party!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqz5p3ULPYdbRaNqU3l7f6jPLfxDS9aEDcpEbxEz-khII3HxsfxA6XGRs4SWFt6EyiuJRcW2W8QTAHpoDtWtWaqIOJsaL_LJQJCSi7awyCI0jbC-1AzVJhZ3bO8EN7H7vaA5yQB963UZPa/s1600-h/Kristi+9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339575306708564722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqz5p3ULPYdbRaNqU3l7f6jPLfxDS9aEDcpEbxEz-khII3HxsfxA6XGRs4SWFt6EyiuJRcW2W8QTAHpoDtWtWaqIOJsaL_LJQJCSi7awyCI0jbC-1AzVJhZ3bO8EN7H7vaA5yQB963UZPa/s400/Kristi+9.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Jack on yet another pony ride - - - he couldn't get enough!!!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkQ0BUQGXptnzN7qPX4azYu-IuRADXp16qlL3QWzBQX9CkT8ZN6wM01Q-3pxDVd-fvfOpFPAZXnZqRswLuxkL0OjZPBOE517Hcf7Hq8HtDJuhODjVRq2ahqy4bLx85kUDZxCFBJCi1Qks/s1600-h/Kristi+10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339575301017667746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkQ0BUQGXptnzN7qPX4azYu-IuRADXp16qlL3QWzBQX9CkT8ZN6wM01Q-3pxDVd-fvfOpFPAZXnZqRswLuxkL0OjZPBOE517Hcf7Hq8HtDJuhODjVRq2ahqy4bLx85kUDZxCFBJCi1Qks/s400/Kristi+10.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Cousin William and Uncle Chris watching all the activity going on!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJR4d1S2i9N7rO1wwX0F_ghYoVTN0K4dR2dCjRa2AQPlOSowywCwSVQxCh2NylINSFusoflRwNBTNE06lVDfiSJzNyTEx-Duhy2qjePs-c_lVNVMlQoGUGDpOD5oYal4j2mTZ0de1Y9XJs/s1600-h/Kristi+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339575302713263170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJR4d1S2i9N7rO1wwX0F_ghYoVTN0K4dR2dCjRa2AQPlOSowywCwSVQxCh2NylINSFusoflRwNBTNE06lVDfiSJzNyTEx-Duhy2qjePs-c_lVNVMlQoGUGDpOD5oYal4j2mTZ0de1Y9XJs/s400/Kristi+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">The Petting Zoo - it's strange to see goats, ducks, bunnies - - - and even hear a rooster crow - in your own backyard!!!<br /></span></strong></em><div><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u></div><div><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEjzYFd0eo1G5_DqSieB2wl7FL8fgRG9X8Kfhq7YQPcUc6oIDc3TVOBMnTGpJ7Ianks2aizMAEBL2VR2cG9sa4Hpj3hT4QuZvvCCfh7fEh4MzU0JzOyFv9bJOQNzqLsjRZmBxF_FTCjTw/s1600-h/Kristi+4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339574838201297698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEjzYFd0eo1G5_DqSieB2wl7FL8fgRG9X8Kfhq7YQPcUc6oIDc3TVOBMnTGpJ7Ianks2aizMAEBL2VR2cG9sa4Hpj3hT4QuZvvCCfh7fEh4MzU0JzOyFv9bJOQNzqLsjRZmBxF_FTCjTw/s400/Kristi+4.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Everyone enjoying the Party in the backyard!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEuSTFQHt6wVxWcIwgxraYYy1P0pwzcp_ga1ouut9rO9YZ6tvF6tGE-rD87CNIDJk5DEw_KegmN7iBW3gL_LXGV_npdJyiIZ8_2GaA3MB-68kUoch1mXrPArw6lQ7Kh2IaIJZR-CX4gpD/s1600-h/Kristi+11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339574834495290114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEuSTFQHt6wVxWcIwgxraYYy1P0pwzcp_ga1ouut9rO9YZ6tvF6tGE-rD87CNIDJk5DEw_KegmN7iBW3gL_LXGV_npdJyiIZ8_2GaA3MB-68kUoch1mXrPArw6lQ7Kh2IaIJZR-CX4gpD/s400/Kristi+11.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">My friend who decorates cakes just outdid herself on this one!!! It was just PERFECT!!!</span><br /></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMYj5ZMekOC32RqW2pRmKX5r9wvQSqj6TzWyzrXDFUrOZJTyHgy_DT4K1B-j0yqx8sBfe3Icb06DcptdqtMTsCXFFU69BvVKSV_TXkfsy01s1QcVKydPawiFpPcXQbDZVr7w0BKQW8GpQ/s1600-h/IMG_3626_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339574833643425714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMYj5ZMekOC32RqW2pRmKX5r9wvQSqj6TzWyzrXDFUrOZJTyHgy_DT4K1B-j0yqx8sBfe3Icb06DcptdqtMTsCXFFU69BvVKSV_TXkfsy01s1QcVKydPawiFpPcXQbDZVr7w0BKQW8GpQ/s400/IMG_3626_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Ryan admiring (and sneaking a taste) of his Birthday Cake!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSQYKwS7GdRusXnhwwUDFga1tOehvllacBHaNm_6s4nDGEbnn7Fe35sQ17faDdqQCQ1J-9bf4lxX5cKx3Zf77aGiE9tMBtAHHA_GjAEHCWrKvAUOK5P7kgDQMCROxGHrVZqKG6HpunSOw/s1600-h/IMG_3631_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339574830859607970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 279px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSQYKwS7GdRusXnhwwUDFga1tOehvllacBHaNm_6s4nDGEbnn7Fe35sQ17faDdqQCQ1J-9bf4lxX5cKx3Zf77aGiE9tMBtAHHA_GjAEHCWrKvAUOK5P7kgDQMCROxGHrVZqKG6HpunSOw/s400/IMG_3631_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Ryan had a lot of FUN opening his presents from his friends and family!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EdEb7ppuV7yM0-8_Qt8g_YRwgFkBTgdXK6umYlgY4o1Fh2KXX3AFYvwLH4q02aN_uXaLReS4zR-W3e964MvUNFOc1tfdjPDYViGKNImNuwJF3xCrMbTi0mhq1kGnhyu5JeVL8Njeglly/s1600-h/IMG_3632_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339574827330963890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 308px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EdEb7ppuV7yM0-8_Qt8g_YRwgFkBTgdXK6umYlgY4o1Fh2KXX3AFYvwLH4q02aN_uXaLReS4zR-W3e964MvUNFOc1tfdjPDYViGKNImNuwJF3xCrMbTi0mhq1kGnhyu5JeVL8Njeglly/s400/IMG_3632_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">More presents with friends!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">The party was a huge SUCCESS for Ryan and his sweet friends, but it will probably be the last full-blown Birthday party at our home (which makes me a little sad!) I just LOVE to have young children's parties at home, but they are a LOT of work, and as the kiddos get older, it becomes much more pragmatic to have them held elsewhere. But - I guess since livestock were involved in this one, we went out with a BANG! Even with all the work, it was a true PRIVILEGE to give our little boy this gift! We are so grateful that God blessed us with this wild, energetic, funny, creative and one-of-a-kind child three years ago! Our lives will NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN!!!!!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">. . . just another day in the life . . .</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-71541915009051946952009-05-24T19:35:00.003-05:002009-05-24T19:53:33.937-05:00Ahoy, Matie!!! ARGGGGGHHHHH!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMIWnbe1dgHABPAN5Rj9BwYZe0-67yGNOoV9EGZMfDQqFKExCwLMHyLaLKR8QoMdlpXqJc0CcxbGl7qSKPZqM_EBD_aBqWbPnceEJKafynX0M9Qbe0EUDrsHb76Unf4LWlq-Z7wIZoI40/s1600-h/IMG_3511_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339556969188965106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMIWnbe1dgHABPAN5Rj9BwYZe0-67yGNOoV9EGZMfDQqFKExCwLMHyLaLKR8QoMdlpXqJc0CcxbGl7qSKPZqM_EBD_aBqWbPnceEJKafynX0M9Qbe0EUDrsHb76Unf4LWlq-Z7wIZoI40/s400/IMG_3511_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">We recently attended one of our boys' friend's Birthday Party - - - which was a Pirate theme - and our two little guys had a marvelous time!!! They especially LOVED the hats and the TRAMPOLINE!!! Our friend has a HUGE backyard with a full playground-sized play fort - which was disguised that day as a Pirate Ship - complete with a skull-and-crossbones flag! What a fun event for our little guys!</span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MwXZu5VSmGx9SRPavl2-kJ05MuVsDsmjNfIOvJOKxvUZey0MNeqJIxXW8KDBj7T3H_0irCIscWUDamTGMXhPfkzBwL_T0B-hBvan4z9anpRxp7RRnq5EE2_FKpf9qD1xLg3vO6BxkBC8/s1600-h/IMG_3514_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339556961775619010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MwXZu5VSmGx9SRPavl2-kJ05MuVsDsmjNfIOvJOKxvUZey0MNeqJIxXW8KDBj7T3H_0irCIscWUDamTGMXhPfkzBwL_T0B-hBvan4z9anpRxp7RRnq5EE2_FKpf9qD1xLg3vO6BxkBC8/s400/IMG_3514_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Pirate Jack jumping on the trampoline!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrsVnr6FT7QWCNkPsbpzNVq5mLVWSjyEXPqQPdzQlz9rBvOdSFJI0uFVX-rF5jphSR2CIN-0zs8hvIcIQhbmHZ3ouu7vX2flsBtgSaMi6qHLG63Cyb6gWUm9Lyzf6o8vEM_fyEzeBOm7g/s1600-h/IMG_3516_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339556957143736002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrsVnr6FT7QWCNkPsbpzNVq5mLVWSjyEXPqQPdzQlz9rBvOdSFJI0uFVX-rF5jphSR2CIN-0zs8hvIcIQhbmHZ3ouu7vX2flsBtgSaMi6qHLG63Cyb6gWUm9Lyzf6o8vEM_fyEzeBOm7g/s400/IMG_3516_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Pirate Ryan taking a turn on the trampoline!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfJ881XZTXL0UsUtwCkLpDVCCu4ut-XvQEM6G9g0BB1HnjE_ZV_f0CN4iICXd4UoWZn3gj0Kk2vwMmT8mMozwoQ6WndD1okm1H1VMO2HB6-28JMWArveBxMvaOYUa1ya2cuzCwDnnTKtH/s1600-h/IMG_3513_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339556954120623810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 281px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfJ881XZTXL0UsUtwCkLpDVCCu4ut-XvQEM6G9g0BB1HnjE_ZV_f0CN4iICXd4UoWZn3gj0Kk2vwMmT8mMozwoQ6WndD1okm1H1VMO2HB6-28JMWArveBxMvaOYUa1ya2cuzCwDnnTKtH/s400/IMG_3513_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong> <span style="font-size:85%;">Pirate Jack got a little wild on that trampoline!<br /></span></strong></em></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The boys had SUCH a great time that they really wanted to know if we could "pay and have one of our parties at this house"! I just cracked up, but told our friend she might have a new business - renting out her backyard for birthday parties!</span></div><div><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">. . . just another day in the life . . . </span></div><br /></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-18959767598244846072009-05-14T21:39:00.003-05:002009-05-14T21:54:54.029-05:00My Mom Retires!!!<span style="font-size:130%;">Today was my Mom's <strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6666;">Retirement Party</span></strong> - as she is nearing her official "retirement" from a career in public education that spans several decades!! Starting in the mid-1960's, my Mom has taught various grades of Elementary School, Gifted and Talented kids, was a Reading Specialist, an Assistant Prinicipal (at two Elementary Schools) and has been Principal of Clifton Early Childhood School in Irving, Texas for the past 4 years! (And I'm sure I've left something out!)</span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lo5_WRMPuJ1R7FDM9tYiOAz72R8vjV5Tam86wPut2XxmZczPeRFf1LhVQwIAVzb0wOZmiqXLeOWToNrWBGgRkdWb0SqyJO7h6IHm1uWDAkWLoI-SFiRZE9pmV7UK334ID5kmrvRhdhso/s1600-h/IMG_3582_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335875677814059234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 276px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lo5_WRMPuJ1R7FDM9tYiOAz72R8vjV5Tam86wPut2XxmZczPeRFf1LhVQwIAVzb0wOZmiqXLeOWToNrWBGgRkdWb0SqyJO7h6IHm1uWDAkWLoI-SFiRZE9pmV7UK334ID5kmrvRhdhso/s400/IMG_3582_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">We were THRILLED that we got to be with Mom on her special day of celebration!</span></em></strong><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwi7NrGmB4GQJ58Q7Cc6k9zAFAV_33CzsrP-bp1dNYIBLMTJ-pNjaGeCiqmG_4gUBKviesS8ZhZ2AWwVll64wrngyKdgKsqAO__BL1fraphEZigP6VPI0dPtpb59EzoP3lbEW0qHnu3VF/s1600-h/IMG_3574_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335875674248690018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 271px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwi7NrGmB4GQJ58Q7Cc6k9zAFAV_33CzsrP-bp1dNYIBLMTJ-pNjaGeCiqmG_4gUBKviesS8ZhZ2AWwVll64wrngyKdgKsqAO__BL1fraphEZigP6VPI0dPtpb59EzoP3lbEW0qHnu3VF/s400/IMG_3574_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Steve and Ashley are always the "life" of the party!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlmevWO64ReIfQosIkilq_9Sowe1vHwj0Vuk2Q5I-u5CkBa1aVBaOfaLPpvupLnI6UnxUBH5LdVfYC3KtIGUc8emobLpdHSnNwK0tuaQQLChDhcD4sdCfvOPOOodz6d0MHxRovifY5iMc/s1600-h/IMG_3583_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335875667512502002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 269px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlmevWO64ReIfQosIkilq_9Sowe1vHwj0Vuk2Q5I-u5CkBa1aVBaOfaLPpvupLnI6UnxUBH5LdVfYC3KtIGUc8emobLpdHSnNwK0tuaQQLChDhcD4sdCfvOPOOodz6d0MHxRovifY5iMc/s400/IMG_3583_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Steve, Ashley, Jack, Ryan and I gave Mom a very heartfelt gift - - - We are setting up the <strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Mary Rudisell Scholarship Fund</span></strong> to provide a scholarship to one graduating Senior each year who attended Clifton School when they were young. We thought Mom could help determine criteria and select the recipients and this would be a way for her to "live on" for many years to come in the lives of the children she has loved so much!</span><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrV4PGJhp761GDInCqK66KzL2wJGdcCqKZyXtKgfFwj1FtEjmJEC07iZu69SP7x-zSvr9QVsPQGeABdsaL7tHfb4Op3iSpsyUprJ1IZQ0uCgNU-SbeDd6eaEOuwWM9H3yY7RcUhFxiD-KB/s1600-h/IMG_3584_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335875669526188834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 305px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrV4PGJhp761GDInCqK66KzL2wJGdcCqKZyXtKgfFwj1FtEjmJEC07iZu69SP7x-zSvr9QVsPQGeABdsaL7tHfb4Op3iSpsyUprJ1IZQ0uCgNU-SbeDd6eaEOuwWM9H3yY7RcUhFxiD-KB/s400/IMG_3584_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Mom with her former Principal, Ron Jennings!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0P29kWlw-3AL8ezgp7QMNzlsTRblnHGye3UA3YT1rFVmASWr1BBcJu973drLZsc2aiEPzDBXEHZdw_jrycRmmz1te1C_WaBmCO2LHMYiDF1WhYS-Y5fV3uED6lhyphenhyphenk1dHizIiDuYhGwaCJ/s1600-h/IMG_3575_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335875332328637490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 283px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0P29kWlw-3AL8ezgp7QMNzlsTRblnHGye3UA3YT1rFVmASWr1BBcJu973drLZsc2aiEPzDBXEHZdw_jrycRmmz1te1C_WaBmCO2LHMYiDF1WhYS-Y5fV3uED6lhyphenhyphenk1dHizIiDuYhGwaCJ/s400/IMG_3575_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Mom and Dad with Mary Hart - another former Principal and dear friend!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6oRjMR4xPZvP8J3VoqRgQ59tVFkb192XSPIpqP4zdlLDVNwavlAGvu6rYlGiJN8MApKOcBDu0b5Lqsw8qWecUjQOBYEZhdohbHd7r-hW52WgcfhMy7A0QZj2HcwLyaMR9wpycSn2x09Q/s1600-h/IMG_3576_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335875328150410722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6oRjMR4xPZvP8J3VoqRgQ59tVFkb192XSPIpqP4zdlLDVNwavlAGvu6rYlGiJN8MApKOcBDu0b5Lqsw8qWecUjQOBYEZhdohbHd7r-hW52WgcfhMy7A0QZj2HcwLyaMR9wpycSn2x09Q/s400/IMG_3576_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Mom enjoying the "Presentation" by her school teachers and staff!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdrqqnsmz5VCxTOZXCoTXfIc6zb4g5qWHE9ZCnvhyphenhyphenWqyDLvDWQ21V3ekoP4W40x60bCTYd8pUxBZo5Goppjl9IO6E1M7SuEmEUkKhpu_PYhAC1gJ6cuiOJmLulqT84QmM68XoA_jUjsGi/s1600-h/IMG_3579_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335875329305457234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 279px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdrqqnsmz5VCxTOZXCoTXfIc6zb4g5qWHE9ZCnvhyphenhyphenWqyDLvDWQ21V3ekoP4W40x60bCTYd8pUxBZo5Goppjl9IO6E1M7SuEmEUkKhpu_PYhAC1gJ6cuiOJmLulqT84QmM68XoA_jUjsGi/s400/IMG_3579_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">She LOVED opening the beautiful presents and cards!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIW4E_V-EB-hqvlUc2MdBwdtMuSVHSfys5wfOs-sxBZ3yQmo7hY92tUg2HkTjL8iQSqvv-HV1ExsDK1JbU0p0NBQIEm7lsp-kezJpbR9jNjAIKwF8zahWCoV7KmXeALIk1f9mibts8Co9/s1600-h/IMG_3580_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335875322812460530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 289px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIW4E_V-EB-hqvlUc2MdBwdtMuSVHSfys5wfOs-sxBZ3yQmo7hY92tUg2HkTjL8iQSqvv-HV1ExsDK1JbU0p0NBQIEm7lsp-kezJpbR9jNjAIKwF8zahWCoV7KmXeALIk1f9mibts8Co9/s400/IMG_3580_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">The Clifton School Teachers and Staff gave her an engraved clock!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">What a wonderful celebration of a Career well done!!!! </span><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6666;">Congratulations, MOM!!!<br /></span></strong></div><div></div></div></div></div><br /></div></div></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-73909128569511664902009-05-12T23:54:00.005-05:002009-05-13T00:12:53.216-05:00Jack Goes To "Kindergarten Roundup"!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41AkYrXFcQGVggedYBP9L11HZFmsNNNZ1ktUocKH2rBGpBZwa1omHW1QNppyWfHM-hZU6uT-l7OutbLjIuQDrwnTMZQQlBgqwqL4Lzao-Jv2VVmBiDvPJlV8SeSeGOn2dPQGCS9tSVH3n/s1600-h/ges+stars.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335168898251660706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 86px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41AkYrXFcQGVggedYBP9L11HZFmsNNNZ1ktUocKH2rBGpBZwa1omHW1QNppyWfHM-hZU6uT-l7OutbLjIuQDrwnTMZQQlBgqwqL4Lzao-Jv2VVmBiDvPJlV8SeSeGOn2dPQGCS9tSVH3n/s400/ges+stars.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;">It is hard to believe, but tonight Steve and I took our oldest son to register for Kindergarten at Grapevine Elementary, the same elementary - just down the street from our home - that Ashley attended all those years ago. It's been 5 years since she "graduated" from 5th Grade at GES, and she still has very fond memories of her time there!</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5BftZZIGTBcFodyqsZPeCkUmoDXTxGbptThzeD4Na3Ya2piFBWQJeZCjaLBes8-3_QJ59ZUWjczSsB6kd8h6bpoYrYWHm1gu1rghdIRJJIn6e61KNldYfnvfscFA3eJi5-39X19CQt0a/s1600-h/IMG_3566_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335168896896321730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 294px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5BftZZIGTBcFodyqsZPeCkUmoDXTxGbptThzeD4Na3Ya2piFBWQJeZCjaLBes8-3_QJ59ZUWjczSsB6kd8h6bpoYrYWHm1gu1rghdIRJJIn6e61KNldYfnvfscFA3eJi5-39X19CQt0a/s400/IMG_3566_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;">Jack did absolutely AWESOME during the kids' time at Kindergarten Roundup. He made some new friends, participated enthusiastically and engaged in all the activities and was just so excited to be at the "BIG School." His outgoing personality really shined tonight, and we were thrilled to see how ready our little guy was for this next chapter in his young life!</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha68dO1k3UTYqSW_2wBoXeOdM8h3-uvlFOF9MCaD8TWvZzhjWza_aTOmQti3tOHDTKI-1FSPXElZlnzvMpfD2ugIIJD7WI-_3cVXSKJxEJEhND6x7y-3L3HCP9pro9grnAvr1JM7Wr9m3P/s1600-h/IMG_3573_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335168894696941362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha68dO1k3UTYqSW_2wBoXeOdM8h3-uvlFOF9MCaD8TWvZzhjWza_aTOmQti3tOHDTKI-1FSPXElZlnzvMpfD2ugIIJD7WI-_3cVXSKJxEJEhND6x7y-3L3HCP9pro9grnAvr1JM7Wr9m3P/s400/IMG_3573_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;">What was really funny was that the last time I posed with little Jack for a picture at Grapevine Elementary was when Ashley was a 5th grader and he was a tiny baby (just 5 months old when she left). It's hard to believe that all that time has gone by! (Some of the ladies in the school office remember when he was born and could not believe he was this old either!)<br /></span><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPCE57PJ35rPWyBNm3G15cWCEW7J6mQvAoURGMzkJcsnkgiPLYW_tnMwwlAxDKY0HdqbalI-b6wbBCoBTdfMNifUx3RDZ7LJVXhvGP9tWyQiiK4UOlBc6ALxanVrknd-FxsG9etqnz1Fc/s1600-h/IMG_3570_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335168548751055010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 274px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPCE57PJ35rPWyBNm3G15cWCEW7J6mQvAoURGMzkJcsnkgiPLYW_tnMwwlAxDKY0HdqbalI-b6wbBCoBTdfMNifUx3RDZ7LJVXhvGP9tWyQiiK4UOlBc6ALxanVrknd-FxsG9etqnz1Fc/s400/IMG_3570_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><em> Daddy was so proud of his "little man" tonight!</em></strong><br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMPu0ybCzxQG1M46O5dzqxZhtk9Dh17w2NjUONY6-8w7xtIzDpQhIFWzFI9blE9KpaQnZFAxKdwDm311H22KXxZf0Lj7YCK-buYHsCVT2Ns3B_ac6Agy-ev2U3cRGQsDbzL1ikhAo-4Rp/s1600-h/IMG_3567_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335168546184465522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMPu0ybCzxQG1M46O5dzqxZhtk9Dh17w2NjUONY6-8w7xtIzDpQhIFWzFI9blE9KpaQnZFAxKdwDm311H22KXxZf0Lj7YCK-buYHsCVT2Ns3B_ac6Agy-ev2U3cRGQsDbzL1ikhAo-4Rp/s400/IMG_3567_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Jack was just so enthralled by the water fountains! He just LOVED his newfound independence!</span> </em></strong><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcirMkjexpmsEau7XDpXgB9wjncL1trhzsXIEzHX5oXJ3gRomsj5aZpZ2YFEtwF0x8RnCh2hiF4XAUN4zle4aa0fitd8DfAfALyUvLEUWTMlxTd1jjWW56lGVcQ3fzZ54nDcTN5jPL0lLw/s1600-h/IMG_3571_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335168542184032658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcirMkjexpmsEau7XDpXgB9wjncL1trhzsXIEzHX5oXJ3gRomsj5aZpZ2YFEtwF0x8RnCh2hiF4XAUN4zle4aa0fitd8DfAfALyUvLEUWTMlxTd1jjWW56lGVcQ3fzZ54nDcTN5jPL0lLw/s400/IMG_3571_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Jack was beginning to get goofy by the end of the night. Here he is being "short" with Mommy!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgz1XlZsJOtr8i-Hf8HFMF_xJuZtVkKWkS-IE1a3faT3r71wW2n0H8EdHI5PNoO64FDVQs7_bNQ-BghLfbSfilSbzGi5GjoCNycg_uJzA4_0QQILPtfmPuv6hEcPKhTyJdQoUAfRd19HL1/s1600-h/IMG_3569_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335168536161574658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 284px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgz1XlZsJOtr8i-Hf8HFMF_xJuZtVkKWkS-IE1a3faT3r71wW2n0H8EdHI5PNoO64FDVQs7_bNQ-BghLfbSfilSbzGi5GjoCNycg_uJzA4_0QQILPtfmPuv6hEcPKhTyJdQoUAfRd19HL1/s400/IMG_3569_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> His favorite silly face!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq88uBj0hLyrhzz59bow0bnTBQAZqh2dBwU_TMwBFFLg2Z2xMRMaZaCPvjP2mk4C98M6ruFIjqJImt5ryELl5hPFuok_k3ArTv8wv1sEBhl4d56yRMrHaEgZ8t0g5M8bXcQ-mb8WwzEAn/s1600-h/IMG_3568_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335168534953389090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 264px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq88uBj0hLyrhzz59bow0bnTBQAZqh2dBwU_TMwBFFLg2Z2xMRMaZaCPvjP2mk4C98M6ruFIjqJImt5ryELl5hPFuok_k3ArTv8wv1sEBhl4d56yRMrHaEgZ8t0g5M8bXcQ-mb8WwzEAn/s400/IMG_3568_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Here he is still playing around right before we left to go home!</span></strong></em><br /><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">I am so proud of my little boy - - - but know that this is the only one of many steps on his road to growing up! I just LOVE LOVE LOVE this child!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">. . . just another day in the life . . . </span></div></div></div></div></div></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-86728051844744774472009-05-10T15:06:00.003-05:002009-05-10T15:23:39.301-05:00Mother's Day - A Day I Really Treasure!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUffK-2FO-yk2gy5CFm8xIJjbHSUzHU4n-3t3sVcP4LCzlvr30BqYHTjdzMtIzkhSV_xcsOYpp34W_tvmap_puEKXv3AONbHTUdk1hWa2uUEzMVUYqlytr0FFWE0aLviTvSb1WQT7VLPlh/s1600-h/IMG_3549_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334290035105528578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUffK-2FO-yk2gy5CFm8xIJjbHSUzHU4n-3t3sVcP4LCzlvr30BqYHTjdzMtIzkhSV_xcsOYpp34W_tvmap_puEKXv3AONbHTUdk1hWa2uUEzMVUYqlytr0FFWE0aLviTvSb1WQT7VLPlh/s400/IMG_3549_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Today is Mother's Day, 2009, and I really feel like I have to be the luckiest Mom in the world to get to have a hand in raising these three beautiful gifts from God! Being a full-time Mommy and Wife has really enabled me to find my true "calling" in this life! I have had the privilege of seeing so many special firsts, getting to always be there for Ash after school as she has grown up through Middle and High School, spend countless hours playing, teaching, learning and loving these three precious human beings! I couldn't ask for a more important job - a more tiring job - or a move treasured job! "Mommy" is a word that I NEVER get tired of hearing and I am grateful beyond words for the opportunity to help shape the lives of Ashley Taylor, Thomas Jackson and Ryan Hamilton - both in the good times and in the tough times! I thank God every day for my blessings!!!</span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XKyUbQAuh-YfSB3ngmvuO-k4LOsVprBA9PRZcYF5sxS2V91qxjy-A5I4s01oxtwwSTjGUQyCf3px4gR0NosYsuAs0RbBe6ttDhEPmXgV3yj8TBHU3rkUYsPWtdIlOme91r-LnJys_z36/s1600-h/IMG_3547_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334290031049738338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XKyUbQAuh-YfSB3ngmvuO-k4LOsVprBA9PRZcYF5sxS2V91qxjy-A5I4s01oxtwwSTjGUQyCf3px4gR0NosYsuAs0RbBe6ttDhEPmXgV3yj8TBHU3rkUYsPWtdIlOme91r-LnJys_z36/s400/IMG_3547_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> I just LOVE Ryan's "smile" he has been working on! (What a funny little guy!)<br /></span></strong></em><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><br /><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><br /><br /><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXHU_BxyVsmUKC2nyvUMk2PJtkBwTFktc4BbphiiC9YlUANMGp8cJpV7i7Ve1OToWrxUEBRF28HglRDH6xQk-AWTnYEsO50GlwHUImycmSU4-TekSe_tXCFS7ZV9tzM0eSBdhrsJEtIIt/s1600-h/IMG_3544_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334289617638338290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 252px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXHU_BxyVsmUKC2nyvUMk2PJtkBwTFktc4BbphiiC9YlUANMGp8cJpV7i7Ve1OToWrxUEBRF28HglRDH6xQk-AWTnYEsO50GlwHUImycmSU4-TekSe_tXCFS7ZV9tzM0eSBdhrsJEtIIt/s400/IMG_3544_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> My little girl is all grown up and almost Sweet Sixteen! She has been SOOOO sweet to me all day today!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7RF1KWw_Y2ZtkEA47Ls1X5aokaoVAHIaX_byL30-aRi0o8dNzRErQgCcO1erBbJnFM-QTSoFnBvH2l4vDuYSDmI3XKzg6MO5j0w1ufh5_Kt48tYw07aXiHFbqQlZDkksxcZIUx3V5EvHn/s1600-h/IMG_3545_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334289613896377890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 296px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7RF1KWw_Y2ZtkEA47Ls1X5aokaoVAHIaX_byL30-aRi0o8dNzRErQgCcO1erBbJnFM-QTSoFnBvH2l4vDuYSDmI3XKzg6MO5j0w1ufh5_Kt48tYw07aXiHFbqQlZDkksxcZIUx3V5EvHn/s400/IMG_3545_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> My Mom, my Daughter and Me!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3aVf4Yz2JieqHchOB5nCXK_AKZWJzyW5zFiU3P_6s-OXEU_WAlRCPBDQ2mOX33Y5QKQk8qSMfI3xYn9CD8Q1jNzQJz3t2MRBxoNv41ba3O76UUrufIExWKSW-502wEsNI7rkg100oCXt/s1600-h/IMG_3555_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334289612824838978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3aVf4Yz2JieqHchOB5nCXK_AKZWJzyW5zFiU3P_6s-OXEU_WAlRCPBDQ2mOX33Y5QKQk8qSMfI3xYn9CD8Q1jNzQJz3t2MRBxoNv41ba3O76UUrufIExWKSW-502wEsNI7rkg100oCXt/s400/IMG_3555_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">My Mom with me and my sweet kiddos in Mee-Maw and Gran-Gan's backyard before a wonderful steak lunch after church! YUM!!!!</span></strong></em></div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHag2_F6KP1ySpNGYSoOJ4ALNJ9YSeLCU7h8h9Nv7RFoWGTWc2V1Q8ksPOHH2iUk_WLVs3jZSm0erkFksdLE_zIMwUrSTRBV42HDr1oPktgsK2-czqtE8vmY91zWAH0ijNzx8OfZdc9D1O/s1600-h/IMG_3561_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334289606319498866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHag2_F6KP1ySpNGYSoOJ4ALNJ9YSeLCU7h8h9Nv7RFoWGTWc2V1Q8ksPOHH2iUk_WLVs3jZSm0erkFksdLE_zIMwUrSTRBV42HDr1oPktgsK2-czqtE8vmY91zWAH0ijNzx8OfZdc9D1O/s400/IMG_3561_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Me and my BOYS!!! Today - Jack gave me the gift of taking me out on his very first official "DATE" (to "The Meat Place" - aka La Hacienda Ranch) on a future evening of my choice. Ryan gave me the gift of spending an afternoon together at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field in Dallas. What FUN I will surely have with these little gentlemen!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMarUXPvsbNSzjPqtDM_TCN_aMN2zBy2oD3hC2jvzmJmDwbuMlWr1AsGUtE5NknAmaGdc8TvPx4akyiU4ZpZtujLROpzxeBi50_SPFhDQPsDwdkwcgiSJ1KoevKC_NVPsHwpDqNvt-IkR/s1600-h/IMG_3565_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334289603582231314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 305px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMarUXPvsbNSzjPqtDM_TCN_aMN2zBy2oD3hC2jvzmJmDwbuMlWr1AsGUtE5NknAmaGdc8TvPx4akyiU4ZpZtujLROpzxeBi50_SPFhDQPsDwdkwcgiSJ1KoevKC_NVPsHwpDqNvt-IkR/s400/IMG_3565_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><em> <span style="font-size:85%;">This year, I made my Mom & Steve's Mom a very special gift, "Our Family Favorites Cookbook" - a compilation of treasured family recipes, stories and pictures. It was truly a labor of LOVE. I also shared copies of the book with Steve and my sisters as well as Ashley (for her future home!)</span></em></strong><br /></div><div align="left"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">HAPPY Mother's Day everyone! </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">. . . just another day in the life . . .<br /></span><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div></div></div><br /></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-56821296031583569102009-05-09T18:44:00.004-05:002009-05-09T18:55:58.018-05:0010th Grade Choir Banquet. . . Our Fairy Princess!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP28k9-vHmQKH6YSagJtzta_71uyC67LJHPpFf_QPOOmXUcjKJXp4tU5TAwtoygNOelX8QGU_9_UQ_Itzpn_jc498SHNI7gq8U3cHu5Qxw7-FeqKAg5pap8f8H9GcOPJRIjdW2dOuXxZbj/s1600-h/IMG_3518_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333975429690166402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 258px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP28k9-vHmQKH6YSagJtzta_71uyC67LJHPpFf_QPOOmXUcjKJXp4tU5TAwtoygNOelX8QGU_9_UQ_Itzpn_jc498SHNI7gq8U3cHu5Qxw7-FeqKAg5pap8f8H9GcOPJRIjdW2dOuXxZbj/s400/IMG_3518_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Well . . . here we are again at that time of year - Banquets and Proms! This year, Ashley and a wonderful group of her friends are all going together to the Colleyville Heritage High Choir Banquet. She has been searching (with Mommy assisting when needed) for the perfect "Fairy Tale" dress and accessories. And by the the way she looked this evening, our daughter really is a Princess from a Fairy Tale!</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Enjoy all the pictures that Mom made her endure:</span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDcaPrZK9C4IvbCQKEjNfYqc4AbwxgallUtd5Itwj2F1tMAWZPQSwxtIX4Rs7-6oNZuDj7CWW3mj1W5ApSYj-8zbgqAIEIuMsInAkNoQJyXKZ6q8hvcwaPhfZYY-Kz5rR7qJWDFO4KByX/s1600-h/IMG_3521_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333975423305922690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 243px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDcaPrZK9C4IvbCQKEjNfYqc4AbwxgallUtd5Itwj2F1tMAWZPQSwxtIX4Rs7-6oNZuDj7CWW3mj1W5ApSYj-8zbgqAIEIuMsInAkNoQJyXKZ6q8hvcwaPhfZYY-Kz5rR7qJWDFO4KByX/s400/IMG_3521_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Photographs in the front yard (in the same spot where we take first day of school pics every year since she was in second grade!)<br /></span></em></strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytlv32fi8f3o8aeZUv-LdNAtkQaj6_gQ3g2rhc7bQbW30rxh3dh9cpXK6VIW9Upl6sK0uh4vVqTZpqnEoYTh_R2aQEeEvLOh8drba6kKvODJtPmC_ogkyYgzVujaFJcgfkO3Ua5ER1TUZ/s1600-h/IMG_3525_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333975422839505058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 269px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytlv32fi8f3o8aeZUv-LdNAtkQaj6_gQ3g2rhc7bQbW30rxh3dh9cpXK6VIW9Upl6sK0uh4vVqTZpqnEoYTh_R2aQEeEvLOh8drba6kKvODJtPmC_ogkyYgzVujaFJcgfkO3Ua5ER1TUZ/s400/IMG_3525_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Ashley's dress was just exquisite! We LOVED all the details!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u></div><div><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u></div><div><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDah7mB9iBpNIpwtgHFW2sucwN30WWpdSGmw1PLFawTUzEXwGrcaa1hRZXgDaRbWsb4ubUAQf0gvijlZ4lD868ldmqyaMTUh6F9q9rOTwiEE0KCz-ipXfQuU_kvDHiqxNfxboGpnqv-KV/s1600-h/IMG_3527_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333974990450406242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDah7mB9iBpNIpwtgHFW2sucwN30WWpdSGmw1PLFawTUzEXwGrcaa1hRZXgDaRbWsb4ubUAQf0gvijlZ4lD868ldmqyaMTUh6F9q9rOTwiEE0KCz-ipXfQuU_kvDHiqxNfxboGpnqv-KV/s400/IMG_3527_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">What a sweet girl!</span> </strong></em></div><strong><em></em></strong><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7WdBvXScn7brPlw3_iISdy120agBmsqVklja2XODJ9JNqyGBOSzXoJowCH7HFxiIk0orjAmGs4raUTr8zBl4Nme8-rBQZabMXwYtyE1f0IAINy0uPOxBaP0N2nl3SXn79z1W0ZKL63zt/s1600-h/IMG_3538_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333974986518423938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7WdBvXScn7brPlw3_iISdy120agBmsqVklja2XODJ9JNqyGBOSzXoJowCH7HFxiIk0orjAmGs4raUTr8zBl4Nme8-rBQZabMXwYtyE1f0IAINy0uPOxBaP0N2nl3SXn79z1W0ZKL63zt/s400/IMG_3538_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">The three LOVES of our lives!!!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAAQlj2H754-HgbTSlwUnVNesgMtK7ktlRvlGdNKkYcKUVyiiNF9JbOHIBh8ntOdNFuLfUKGGvZ1gqli_wxS3Tr6QkRoAp9bL3xrV0AMLdMkE8yAnIjCAoqgeyL-d8cFX1pcJR8IzIM9y/s1600-h/IMG_3539_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333974985013961410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 244px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAAQlj2H754-HgbTSlwUnVNesgMtK7ktlRvlGdNKkYcKUVyiiNF9JbOHIBh8ntOdNFuLfUKGGvZ1gqli_wxS3Tr6QkRoAp9bL3xrV0AMLdMkE8yAnIjCAoqgeyL-d8cFX1pcJR8IzIM9y/s400/IMG_3539_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Ashley and her good friend, Bailey! They look SOOO grown up!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicD1uW5Ybanbt_lo7w1TcaeI4EYXN28YHu279Qi3aRTQfqtOeB6YiYwzGPyS0NU3-BxEWJIiWFZsMu1_UtC2UMyupUhcfyuOhPMF8t57calhSqWuch1W6ZrhIhLQWq1XWgfYW_JfSxIulC/s1600-h/IMG_3531_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333974976519989554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicD1uW5Ybanbt_lo7w1TcaeI4EYXN28YHu279Qi3aRTQfqtOeB6YiYwzGPyS0NU3-BxEWJIiWFZsMu1_UtC2UMyupUhcfyuOhPMF8t57calhSqWuch1W6ZrhIhLQWq1XWgfYW_JfSxIulC/s400/IMG_3531_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Waiting to go!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsE2qrlP7mSE_JVNEjFhCINStQDZlOJ_AZOcKU8gfjtGG9S7hVXPi4C5SXV5spvI3vzpPzZ6tGi8wREMd_mqVw5m9YruPHFsg_X6_QhpGg0qDFzhxy034tkl4FFpZC2WnN7WGMgzppfP-/s1600-h/IMG_3534_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333974975526710706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 294px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsE2qrlP7mSE_JVNEjFhCINStQDZlOJ_AZOcKU8gfjtGG9S7hVXPi4C5SXV5spvI3vzpPzZ6tGi8wREMd_mqVw5m9YruPHFsg_X6_QhpGg0qDFzhxy034tkl4FFpZC2WnN7WGMgzppfP-/s400/IMG_3534_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">It's amazing to see your children when they are almost "all grown up"!!! (And a little sad, too!)<br /></span></strong></em><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">We shall see how the evening turns out when her Daddy picks her up at 11:00 tonight!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">. . . just another day in the life . . .</span></div><div align="left"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-27565800480651218862009-05-06T20:16:00.004-05:002009-05-06T20:36:10.756-05:00Jack's "Special Day" at Preschool!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6yHQzGexme3vVKBEUO7JdDw4dATMKd-TCVCKFKcU6g0M_SBV3FEbSoqcjOIY80qeBI2UCyZNTLhn1GrS3xYeCNx2E7-7ib6SdbBw46TAoTqjnMHnnEVjAih91-8WzaGX-tpGx_DKExjz/s1600-h/IMG_3470_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332886744952042738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 276px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6yHQzGexme3vVKBEUO7JdDw4dATMKd-TCVCKFKcU6g0M_SBV3FEbSoqcjOIY80qeBI2UCyZNTLhn1GrS3xYeCNx2E7-7ib6SdbBw46TAoTqjnMHnnEVjAih91-8WzaGX-tpGx_DKExjz/s400/IMG_3470_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> This is our <strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6666;">SPECIAL</span></strong> Jack on his <strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff6666;">SPECIAL Day</span></strong> at Preschool! It is a tradition at they boys' school that each child has one Special Day during the school year and this little guy just LOVED his day this year. Both Mom and Dad came to enjoy the day with him - like we have always done - but this year his big sister, ASHLEY, got to come to his day - and even got to read his favorite book to the class. What a great time!</span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_Xy7AVuTwWptGIpDU2Ss1-32eVD7-PEm0GzYf5rNc95hluoOMsG8zQ55SfiE9X7Mc-6z3s8zBSAYJl_hPa895jSrG7MT7LSJK8e-_GiLl1rIqjquuKxQ-oJ924sbf9HW07q24neDQUge/s1600-h/IMG_3471_edited.JPG"><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332886742883078674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_Xy7AVuTwWptGIpDU2Ss1-32eVD7-PEm0GzYf5rNc95hluoOMsG8zQ55SfiE9X7Mc-6z3s8zBSAYJl_hPa895jSrG7MT7LSJK8e-_GiLl1rIqjquuKxQ-oJ924sbf9HW07q24neDQUge/s400/IMG_3471_edited.JPG" border="0" /></span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Jack was the "Star Student" and Line Leader for the day!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13n-dlOyOF-FK-FqLJUKQsQL9jH6juxgc5EqXCs5y8atm07QZxEnbxa1qRYBXnT9i_WTcDUO8cb8GDI7q8A2-TVfO63woXSSVSWTvzaUKdC5v-nFf9Od_BfuhLhSbLLJyclLbRx-mKU-T/s1600-h/IMG_3475_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332886491155614642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 293px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13n-dlOyOF-FK-FqLJUKQsQL9jH6juxgc5EqXCs5y8atm07QZxEnbxa1qRYBXnT9i_WTcDUO8cb8GDI7q8A2-TVfO63woXSSVSWTvzaUKdC5v-nFf9Od_BfuhLhSbLLJyclLbRx-mKU-T/s400/IMG_3475_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Jack LOVING the attention from Mrs. Ward! (This precious teacher came to school this day ONLY to be there for Jack's day - as she was in the hospital the entire day before getting an infusion for her aplastic anemia. She left from school at noon this day to get another infusion. This meant SO much to our family and to Jack!)</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCTC4aIawoAjwFpTM2N8AXtbzh4yUBGsgMS18fb8mcKnEV5PtgIObsszYrAUh29GPjMFRllr_TMjVm4VFDUJv4oX_eNkfQFdxAFlxOm1FsToXzlUzjYkNAlmoidpTYXqsCFbUONICLfFC/s1600-h/IMG_3476_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332886488828499394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCTC4aIawoAjwFpTM2N8AXtbzh4yUBGsgMS18fb8mcKnEV5PtgIObsszYrAUh29GPjMFRllr_TMjVm4VFDUJv4oX_eNkfQFdxAFlxOm1FsToXzlUzjYkNAlmoidpTYXqsCFbUONICLfFC/s400/IMG_3476_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Ashley reading "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" - a book that she reads Jack almost every night before bed!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcIgNmjrLzCz5cUQ0QFAazr2_mLKRDf4Xzfan3HKIAaMFtL6Z6v4m_P_raRi8PA710ErJCwHw-02l30RJSawkoiB0qL3ZwDdV8B15J0p9aUEusmB1Vv0_PtGcSRK4M43SagTRXGql0tS1/s1600-h/IMG_3479_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332886484983325346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 281px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcIgNmjrLzCz5cUQ0QFAazr2_mLKRDf4Xzfan3HKIAaMFtL6Z6v4m_P_raRi8PA710ErJCwHw-02l30RJSawkoiB0qL3ZwDdV8B15J0p9aUEusmB1Vv0_PtGcSRK4M43SagTRXGql0tS1/s400/IMG_3479_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Jack enjoying his favorite story being read to the class!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DNttKG1yTr1etENF3NDFNqYYwyMo_LpZQMQYQ317RmL8pH6E1JlvgG_PfYXrl73tFofBLGo2Yww5juPpHiUGuFEL4Zc1HtXXx52YNE6idMu3ZAUdunTHEXhcb4gVVE_8fusTl8w8888m/s1600-h/IMG_3481_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332886477441880226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 289px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DNttKG1yTr1etENF3NDFNqYYwyMo_LpZQMQYQ317RmL8pH6E1JlvgG_PfYXrl73tFofBLGo2Yww5juPpHiUGuFEL4Zc1HtXXx52YNE6idMu3ZAUdunTHEXhcb4gVVE_8fusTl8w8888m/s400/IMG_3481_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Ashley is a wonderful - and very expressive reader! The kids LOVED her!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7C-Jb472hdf45UBlDOvFoSyU6nWAYUsZcEjs9C1HWVpPHGBJ4KdouDWHzsAJ_4RYHOxnB-loguBzjTwxbvyp00lLuM22efeUfAUW_TOYrtjQ3H12HpKhJj1AcYA7Ozd-lEgmJXKy0Bz0k/s1600-h/IMG_3485_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332886149659927762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7C-Jb472hdf45UBlDOvFoSyU6nWAYUsZcEjs9C1HWVpPHGBJ4KdouDWHzsAJ_4RYHOxnB-loguBzjTwxbvyp00lLuM22efeUfAUW_TOYrtjQ3H12HpKhJj1AcYA7Ozd-lEgmJXKy0Bz0k/s400/IMG_3485_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Mommy and Jack showing some of Jack's favorite photos to the class!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqeL1hjZniC0ujtOZN8OXpW92_N7zKtS7PhKlVghNTUpzkQWV4H7EKEQEKYyX7SSYQnirnzXqY3lUBGxlrtY8kvEaDVd_lUDV2xZyIUPv3ZmfgUaewrr8vMCJ4ySGvwIf5okqfpYyiyd-/s1600-h/IMG_3486_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332886144417565058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqeL1hjZniC0ujtOZN8OXpW92_N7zKtS7PhKlVghNTUpzkQWV4H7EKEQEKYyX7SSYQnirnzXqY3lUBGxlrtY8kvEaDVd_lUDV2xZyIUPv3ZmfgUaewrr8vMCJ4ySGvwIf5okqfpYyiyd-/s400/IMG_3486_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Mommy and Jack telling the class about the time Jack fell into the Shark and Stingray tank!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidY4zEFy7L2HJy2d8vbzufp5-tDViLaW1T7E3bzEt19QsWlrU5qhWK7rj-Z3XeE7mBXhiPsXk1UgTZR2XvXNkBbL7tTSLs81gkxqbRvYQl9oboAH3VWfY3NCCBspS2eHG-Mo0XaqQEeT7/s1600-h/IMG_3490_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332886138490697666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 272px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidY4zEFy7L2HJy2d8vbzufp5-tDViLaW1T7E3bzEt19QsWlrU5qhWK7rj-Z3XeE7mBXhiPsXk1UgTZR2XvXNkBbL7tTSLs81gkxqbRvYQl9oboAH3VWfY3NCCBspS2eHG-Mo0XaqQEeT7/s400/IMG_3490_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">We served brownies and Capri Sun Roaring Waters drinks on Transformer plates! Here is Jack with his good friend Corbin!</span></strong></em></div><div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeKyj_hoXCCQAYBy0WFpcMBSHswMb9Y7RDFOvciNSbeDsxK5ltvV0dtBeAi9mKsNVXV09sKnG_lJioOAt4Glt4_Rwnb-GMVcVmH2-cvvrwFHtxRw2sPAQUbBjvotF1S_ksxDu14PTgScF/s1600-h/IMG_3493_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332886141966016594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeKyj_hoXCCQAYBy0WFpcMBSHswMb9Y7RDFOvciNSbeDsxK5ltvV0dtBeAi9mKsNVXV09sKnG_lJioOAt4Glt4_Rwnb-GMVcVmH2-cvvrwFHtxRw2sPAQUbBjvotF1S_ksxDu14PTgScF/s400/IMG_3493_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Jack with two proud parents!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigs0gg3LibPOkVju_P8LxTodTz7HCHVVPjJk9cf8n7gXikF721_D6W0ZPvsoWQpb6K9CT_UrHgfgIHUAplkgJu0clhf-KtXxTll99NQ7ULhKv1Uc79prFTy_9tntX4bxzdAlR7DsLTJOK/s1600-h/IMG_3492_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332885740735036066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 284px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigs0gg3LibPOkVju_P8LxTodTz7HCHVVPjJk9cf8n7gXikF721_D6W0ZPvsoWQpb6K9CT_UrHgfgIHUAplkgJu0clhf-KtXxTll99NQ7ULhKv1Uc79prFTy_9tntX4bxzdAlR7DsLTJOK/s400/IMG_3492_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Daddy LOVES his little guy!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCGjwXzBNMQD5nmO4mBt8Q2A_6JK1bLZsEqZJ8bLKc3NeDubxSoGBmI0BDfruj-9TeyYvKhuUhSrtnfOVHzrRhr6lttsa1LiOyHi6gJ8ry1ApmA_d6FnRwcnOT0XhW8qDQzFpeGUAFY7J/s1600-h/IMG_3494_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332885734574966930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCGjwXzBNMQD5nmO4mBt8Q2A_6JK1bLZsEqZJ8bLKc3NeDubxSoGBmI0BDfruj-9TeyYvKhuUhSrtnfOVHzrRhr6lttsa1LiOyHi6gJ8ry1ApmA_d6FnRwcnOT0XhW8qDQzFpeGUAFY7J/s400/IMG_3494_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> What a fun little boy with his Mommy!<br /></span></em></strong><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqlcPDMfFshajTd8iwmCFMtGArQOwX9oPpGB8uayAYexW2Gb-7QLoOXJhWInUQeBYZRm3Se2DoENsbPeG1ojklZ1xQE7K_poupO5AXylp0cF9W-SZ2zA9uHPgrwH66gclneW-ceOiA7gZ/s1600-h/IMG_3496_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332885730409556898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 273px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqlcPDMfFshajTd8iwmCFMtGArQOwX9oPpGB8uayAYexW2Gb-7QLoOXJhWInUQeBYZRm3Se2DoENsbPeG1ojklZ1xQE7K_poupO5AXylp0cF9W-SZ2zA9uHPgrwH66gclneW-ceOiA7gZ/s400/IMG_3496_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Jack got to do the Calendar and the Weather for the class!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUyGWJsCO1Mv4ZmL8uOCObQAxqDlGYlbLLFMKBXSxkDlZr76jaDYG1Ad67a3MeuthA-3IeWadXlEeMz7Z12Z2g4pUsAr_87R98VLuNVG0e1Wql5jSUhTbAOxngMmcZRHnUCN5Dsn36dak/s1600-h/IMG_3502_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332885727623802786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 249px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUyGWJsCO1Mv4ZmL8uOCObQAxqDlGYlbLLFMKBXSxkDlZr76jaDYG1Ad67a3MeuthA-3IeWadXlEeMz7Z12Z2g4pUsAr_87R98VLuNVG0e1Wql5jSUhTbAOxngMmcZRHnUCN5Dsn36dak/s400/IMG_3502_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Jack also got to lead the class in the Pledge of Allegience!</span></strong></em></div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong></div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong></div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong></div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong></div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong></div><div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong> </div><div align="left"><em></em> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">This was an AWESOME Day for Jack and for us!</span></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-21570571580865364922009-05-06T20:00:00.003-05:002009-05-06T20:14:59.931-05:00Jack's Final Preschool Open House & Program!<span style="font-size:130%;">Why is it so very hard when your child grows up and begins to become everything you hope for him, that you feel such a tug of sadness??? Our oldest son is about to "graduate" from Preschool at the end of this month and move on to Kindergarten in August. He is a wonderful little boy, has grown so much and is absolutely ready for this next chapter in his young little life. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">But - as we attended the last Open House and Program for him at his Preschool, there was more than a touch of sadness and wanting to hold on to these precious young years. It is such a special time with children - those toddler and preschool years, and since I had my first preschooler some 10 years earlier, I have learned to really appreciate and enjoy every minute of the time I have had with Jack. I am already going to miss these carefree days as his life changes by going to "big school" in the Fall. Here are some moments from his special night at school:</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bG-SdvggiA5j-kfNH3UtMMEEIq42Uhp0e2Rv2VuhnJc3oTFtbEq0x7-zMK9bn5rPlt-V7rOriFFqDNKLskTWdVW5Ek2qbUplE7fJI1EkJBHrOS9aE88ISLgjAjtZFFgNVc2Sy_NOQbEA/s1600-h/IMG_3452_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332881494502975922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 290px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bG-SdvggiA5j-kfNH3UtMMEEIq42Uhp0e2Rv2VuhnJc3oTFtbEq0x7-zMK9bn5rPlt-V7rOriFFqDNKLskTWdVW5Ek2qbUplE7fJI1EkJBHrOS9aE88ISLgjAjtZFFgNVc2Sy_NOQbEA/s400/IMG_3452_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Jack with Mrs. Ward and Mrs. Luther - his WONDERFUL teachers!!!</span></strong></em></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvodHgxOuFJ6UcPLjdGT112QkqmuvVC5QcvBLm872yrCCPo1mTQ3EyKdDAj9EZIAypZnn5s7gnjKZmYhbsSt4MwF96Wq563BSYvjZPIRRWqEiMlT2A0bb7qr9_qVrNV4BUne0zdJxmxe3o/s1600-h/IMG_3455_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332881487469394130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 324px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvodHgxOuFJ6UcPLjdGT112QkqmuvVC5QcvBLm872yrCCPo1mTQ3EyKdDAj9EZIAypZnn5s7gnjKZmYhbsSt4MwF96Wq563BSYvjZPIRRWqEiMlT2A0bb7qr9_qVrNV4BUne0zdJxmxe3o/s400/IMG_3455_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> The kids marched into the chapel "clapping" plastic plates - quite an entrance!<br /></span></strong></em></div><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7F_69XD-g96_72CP3CIyvWddnUlBcYvgrX2xMOdGUc_Sxd5RVLjWMzzBLG_aAIeNwwRghQn6lFQrpuQyfnId8f5KIbUuKZTcezRFxjIavki5fBbsrSHLvdqo07XY3pRgBA6jiwF3KBKE/s1600-h/IMG_3453_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332881312042326450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7F_69XD-g96_72CP3CIyvWddnUlBcYvgrX2xMOdGUc_Sxd5RVLjWMzzBLG_aAIeNwwRghQn6lFQrpuQyfnId8f5KIbUuKZTcezRFxjIavki5fBbsrSHLvdqo07XY3pRgBA6jiwF3KBKE/s400/IMG_3453_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Baby Ryan just conked out in the car and slept on Steve's shoulder for much of the program!</span></em></strong><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvK2GlX8gnteBsff1_Nw6P2kqOqdr8AO3C4GuijCr0T7bEQvYOcHtMuiEzP10cj9DFEHtTadxSifAWpbil7_W_sP4SswjAks9Y6unkOY75-lSJo7uWqrd_VEYLfvxsce3luNmNImYm08W/s1600-h/IMG_3456_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332881292638379826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 283px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvK2GlX8gnteBsff1_Nw6P2kqOqdr8AO3C4GuijCr0T7bEQvYOcHtMuiEzP10cj9DFEHtTadxSifAWpbil7_W_sP4SswjAks9Y6unkOY75-lSJo7uWqrd_VEYLfvxsce3luNmNImYm08W/s400/IMG_3456_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em> <strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Ryan was not too happy when he woke up from his "nap"!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJIbYy978seNUA_C2OlRiF3IotQZa8TvQ4oKsGcxZF0npDjcKWWr-ou8bQJ42LYabLRNKaxlacBIs7Q-ai-ibitSzDeq9VEIF-PjeTV8pHjBRjM2Mf1LzZ9-pVxR4HBMLCrKWGDmt3OkN/s1600-h/IMG_3464_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332881287515427394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 294px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJIbYy978seNUA_C2OlRiF3IotQZa8TvQ4oKsGcxZF0npDjcKWWr-ou8bQJ42LYabLRNKaxlacBIs7Q-ai-ibitSzDeq9VEIF-PjeTV8pHjBRjM2Mf1LzZ9-pVxR4HBMLCrKWGDmt3OkN/s400/IMG_3464_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Aunt Kristi, Uncle Chris and Cousin William came to enjoy Jack's night!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYG0mjQLFG5tt6ku8PSDqaiVddLatuj120Aq7duabzS0QLX5qpBtCnxd82uHacnZiymU51tu5n3Xzx_6LdwXGkK4hbMtqo__AXFShYj9wAX8BmTusWYAn-j9ym_9w11QyMg3VtUKV4tcN/s1600-h/IMG_3468_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332881258628274418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYG0mjQLFG5tt6ku8PSDqaiVddLatuj120Aq7duabzS0QLX5qpBtCnxd82uHacnZiymU51tu5n3Xzx_6LdwXGkK4hbMtqo__AXFShYj9wAX8BmTusWYAn-j9ym_9w11QyMg3VtUKV4tcN/s400/IMG_3468_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Mommy enjoyed every moment with Jack on this occasion!!!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffef4mV93lobyXTaEyirGNdGTIkGVQbw00L-RS-WumKq7dT9jwYXFbomMvU-ZdT1haAHd6k0wbo7C7rhyyzqr2qoupbL_9EA8xR3C3cJJX1LfbzDOEcWlulIaIRKJT_1f7JAUii6KVQzD/s1600-h/IMG_3469_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332881253500224562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffef4mV93lobyXTaEyirGNdGTIkGVQbw00L-RS-WumKq7dT9jwYXFbomMvU-ZdT1haAHd6k0wbo7C7rhyyzqr2qoupbL_9EA8xR3C3cJJX1LfbzDOEcWlulIaIRKJT_1f7JAUii6KVQzD/s400/IMG_3469_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Oh . . . how I LOVE this little boy!!!</span></strong></em></div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong></div><div> </div><div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">I thank God daily for our wonderful Preschool, for Jack having just the PERFECT teachers for him each year, for people who really appreciate this child and have contributed so much to helping him become who he is! I am mostly grateful to God for lending me this precious boy to raise and fall in love with - - - over and over again!!!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">. . . just another day in the life . . .</span></div></div><br /></div></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-7883083753161932782009-05-05T22:49:00.004-05:002009-05-06T00:46:46.178-05:00Once Again - Steve is "Father/Husband Of The Year"!!!<span style="font-size:130%;">What is a husband to do when his wife is WAY behind on everything thanks to double pnemonia - TWICE, the flu, a broken foot, etc. etc. etc.???? He packs up the two little boys of destruction (HA!) and takes them AWAY - - - anywhere but at home - - - for a fun filled weekend with DAD!!! </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">And that's just what my dear husband did! He took the boys to a nearby 4-star hotel (complete with a rooftop pool) - for only $48 per night on Priceline, took them to learn how to bowl (another post alltogether), to newfound parks, to enjoy the coolest thing called "room service" where they make a pizza just for you and actually bring it to your hotel room (for only $11), to Denny's for breakfast and McDonald's for dinner. What more could 2 little boys want? </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">And what a GIFT for me to get caught up - or at least moving in the right direction.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AE4cEnV2uNclerfMtN1o-6hwkLHjA_C_p5165j-9eGZRIHuSjvf72H3kqmD5T_0GS4nCFdNbMll82vBhSDtIKkrhX_C4t2w-P9DTZjMZorNH2Z85dxdHIeVqQlFIOeSROCWmZ_5d6Cta/s1600-h/IMG_3449_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332553264201676498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AE4cEnV2uNclerfMtN1o-6hwkLHjA_C_p5165j-9eGZRIHuSjvf72H3kqmD5T_0GS4nCFdNbMll82vBhSDtIKkrhX_C4t2w-P9DTZjMZorNH2Z85dxdHIeVqQlFIOeSROCWmZ_5d6Cta/s400/IMG_3449_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSld8Ag0oV81ASU5Qq1GoLIVU6AXK34WYnTl7v5lowMhWqIz_5lKR6azNeSemQUBQwbHx4L2VocamvTbJ7Xr2JPdrJ_WrO2-kNGd4kXkq5HLc_bb4597085Wedy1HRRBKbQbXuqBqJdkw9/s1600-h/IMG_3450_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332553260084207762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 294px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSld8Ag0oV81ASU5Qq1GoLIVU6AXK34WYnTl7v5lowMhWqIz_5lKR6azNeSemQUBQwbHx4L2VocamvTbJ7Xr2JPdrJ_WrO2-kNGd4kXkq5HLc_bb4597085Wedy1HRRBKbQbXuqBqJdkw9/s400/IMG_3450_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Would you want to be cooped up in a hotel room with these two little guys?</span></strong></em></div><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></strong></em><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;">The great result - other than our life and our house getting in much better & organized shape - was that our boys just really bonded even more to their Dad. That was really wonderful to watch!</span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">. . . just another day in the life . . .</span></span></p>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-21066823688163913662009-05-05T22:44:00.003-05:002009-05-05T22:48:55.522-05:00I Sometimes Don't Know What To Make of This Boy!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzyR1k_txQ5L5uFPOJrYadAcNdRtucig-vT1U-ioo11uSu8VEGzst8C6NBHg0Td2jLs2x8LjAEt-KCgkdtPrsrMq97xgAlPR8VFrsqqd9wY9g5to6IibO_54prEvTtFlzkGFSjlVaNsLq/s1600-h/IMG_3445_edited.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332551968563932066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzyR1k_txQ5L5uFPOJrYadAcNdRtucig-vT1U-ioo11uSu8VEGzst8C6NBHg0Td2jLs2x8LjAEt-KCgkdtPrsrMq97xgAlPR8VFrsqqd9wY9g5to6IibO_54prEvTtFlzkGFSjlVaNsLq/s400/IMG_3445_edited.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">This is my eldest son - - - dressed up in full regalia for "Wacky Wednesday" during "W" week at Preschool! Not only did he want to wear his shirt backwards and striped socks with plaid shorts, but he just had his heart SET on wearing his underwear on his head. I insisted that he could only wear boxers, so I at least drew the line there!<br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN688jJl1Y08TNVfMqx0O_Vv6gIAG_yqPGKvYU9y9_D_mZxEGo-TjYmZDudW0KK0-8USmLho5OY_vqsML9EbzjDrM8fsNnqFs-J010tyOGZPUJbiE9emQpH_yv3E6UpwpiCPj3R4Vs8GSP/s1600-h/IMG_3446_edited.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332551964612534802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN688jJl1Y08TNVfMqx0O_Vv6gIAG_yqPGKvYU9y9_D_mZxEGo-TjYmZDudW0KK0-8USmLho5OY_vqsML9EbzjDrM8fsNnqFs-J010tyOGZPUJbiE9emQpH_yv3E6UpwpiCPj3R4Vs8GSP/s400/IMG_3446_edited.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> One of my friends deemed this picture be titled "College Preview Day"! - - - Oh, let's hope not!</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">. . . just another day in the life . . .</span> <div></div></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-73085756943567134692009-05-05T22:35:00.003-05:002009-05-05T22:43:48.634-05:00Sometimes Kids Just Need Some Wide Open Spaces!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2XOJQEOyCjX_6OxzUr9RWym7HYYLmPxKpuaKMF2LJIfHeSNHSwgbZdj0XKaADnAGVKBPJzuBxAEiPv40QxLFUsS2XUtfeaSw0f-G__tyZN6OLwSzTmBbyBsB2MgfUBRaderd2zLqJAQ5/s1600-h/IMG_3444_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332550136919176018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2XOJQEOyCjX_6OxzUr9RWym7HYYLmPxKpuaKMF2LJIfHeSNHSwgbZdj0XKaADnAGVKBPJzuBxAEiPv40QxLFUsS2XUtfeaSw0f-G__tyZN6OLwSzTmBbyBsB2MgfUBRaderd2zLqJAQ5/s400/IMG_3444_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> Once again, the boys and I found ourselves at our very most favorite park, Parr Park!!! I think that this park has to be what heaven would be like for these little boys right now. Living in a metropolitan community like ours (although Grapevine DOES feel more like a small town - that just happens to be in a metropolitan community), kids don't get to live out on a big patch of land like country kids do. So . . . I love to take them to this park to play - - - and just simply RUN in the WIDE OPEN SPACE! They have the most wonderful time, and I have the most wonderful time watching them!</span><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4kZIUm7TnICPtLb4wGFB7RXwKhxzx8KUmZS2so0AzQ1_chx4yGE3SpqMl-aRijD3LYnnn-Axh8UjD_f0cS1dIC2vDjo2RXXJRXGzfwfPXx7cnWB90XYkjez8SiUjzbfvrV0HYAn78Oke/s1600-h/IMG_3440.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332550129268695858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4kZIUm7TnICPtLb4wGFB7RXwKhxzx8KUmZS2so0AzQ1_chx4yGE3SpqMl-aRijD3LYnnn-Axh8UjD_f0cS1dIC2vDjo2RXXJRXGzfwfPXx7cnWB90XYkjez8SiUjzbfvrV0HYAn78Oke/s400/IMG_3440.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Ryan trying his hand on the "obstacle course"</span></strong></em></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZ3IgEldEICU-5BXLJmfO1FVfMCkwE_LQJSkpiUc6XSzspUwXZVwDxDztw1rstAqXzzVwDfRU6Cpn7KDff1Xrmmxb3SuBIlNFRML2pCTTJpooeKq0PUKrur7Yc-wpkkqo_KlsU2wElnfu/s1600-h/IMG_3438_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332550122224064786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 312px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZ3IgEldEICU-5BXLJmfO1FVfMCkwE_LQJSkpiUc6XSzspUwXZVwDxDztw1rstAqXzzVwDfRU6Cpn7KDff1Xrmmxb3SuBIlNFRML2pCTTJpooeKq0PUKrur7Yc-wpkkqo_KlsU2wElnfu/s400/IMG_3438_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Jack just scares me to death when he does this!</span></strong></em></div><div><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> (But he LOVES it!!!)<br /></span></strong></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQv98ijtt6kEVR0hMfBJLaGc6kCACU0nwyQ30K5CkCfsdbY0oiD5OPJFEapJa9_rpZH2okCm5pJBbjTXP3TZ_GJK-yDvnL12YaWb_FbT2MtoFcpgPPH8aX0xSMIWAGiMsKSf3KrXvhvzJ/s1600-h/IMG_3443_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332550120965410226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQv98ijtt6kEVR0hMfBJLaGc6kCACU0nwyQ30K5CkCfsdbY0oiD5OPJFEapJa9_rpZH2okCm5pJBbjTXP3TZ_GJK-yDvnL12YaWb_FbT2MtoFcpgPPH8aX0xSMIWAGiMsKSf3KrXvhvzJ/s400/IMG_3443_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Jack doing some more climbing! (If we lived in the country, I know this boy would LIVE climbing trees!)</span></strong></em><br /></div><div></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">. . . just another day in the life . . .</span> </div></div></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-36132603736537824362009-05-05T22:09:00.004-05:002009-05-05T22:34:49.282-05:00Joe T's - - - A Spring Tradition Continues!!!<span style="font-size:130%;">These first two pictures were taken of our son, Jack - four years ago, when he was one year old and just learned to walk. We were having a special lunch with him at Joe T. Garcia's on a beautiful Spring Day!</span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkFoJWuBnGvCzu-kBdngBuAE3tP_51-8djVF-83lNw_awKTRsMK8-lyR06-fp-84B_jHYS2eEi9Fk6qSaCMLzDM-fjUBT4txBaL4rDDhfL9dDxCGKU11ImdpgWBFwNzDw3dl1-7ElQMVh/s1600-h/DSCF0364_0168.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332546636032783282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkFoJWuBnGvCzu-kBdngBuAE3tP_51-8djVF-83lNw_awKTRsMK8-lyR06-fp-84B_jHYS2eEi9Fk6qSaCMLzDM-fjUBT4txBaL4rDDhfL9dDxCGKU11ImdpgWBFwNzDw3dl1-7ElQMVh/s400/DSCF0364_0168.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Our little Baby Jack-Jack with Daddy!</span></strong></em></div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQm36RSitwyCGIvaN4FAm52ZnXiovPsbaiyWXLTV1N_xmhEY1G41-eRo25V7gqM8HanST6_ENS_bfunuuSTKTFn74UWjHh99WkxDLBhHCXQcGYhDGURj254aU_n2W0rOBJEKfGhk6I134P/s1600-h/DSCF0366_0170.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332546636485681682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQm36RSitwyCGIvaN4FAm52ZnXiovPsbaiyWXLTV1N_xmhEY1G41-eRo25V7gqM8HanST6_ENS_bfunuuSTKTFn74UWjHh99WkxDLBhHCXQcGYhDGURj254aU_n2W0rOBJEKfGhk6I134P/s400/DSCF0366_0170.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Oh how I loved this little baby!<br /></span></strong></em><br /><p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOltxr5gFWPjrmL_NRut8Tms8OgRMXdj4xar8QxY8_Fs41xghvcQ7gRUz-bMxHCBTpm2dDQxtvC5F_ufhpfs3KJWk_t4oDTZNMfQgefoUO9ZxxmN0JDZrAZYftvD3UtY5HQP9hmH-rMu75/s1600-h/IMG_3422_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332543605285101218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOltxr5gFWPjrmL_NRut8Tms8OgRMXdj4xar8QxY8_Fs41xghvcQ7gRUz-bMxHCBTpm2dDQxtvC5F_ufhpfs3KJWk_t4oDTZNMfQgefoUO9ZxxmN0JDZrAZYftvD3UtY5HQP9hmH-rMu75/s400/IMG_3422_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Joe T. Garcia's has got to be one of the coolest places to go to lunch on a beautiful Spring day (although it's pretty nice in the Fall as well). Ever since I started staying home after we had Jack and Steve started his own business 5 years ago, we have made it a tradition to take one or both of the boys to lunch there on one of the first beautiful Spring days of each year! And this year was no exception. Jack was home for his weekly "Mom and Jack Day" - while Ryan was in Preschool and Ashley was in High School, so he was the lucky child this year!</span><br /></p><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32pLjf9KeMmQww-T7s-2bTbDFTVw1S8rOn247IyB-MJ67caGJE60HNi8qyWlopGZZFTmyEjaYj4eZ01EbGcr-L4lftUwaHSo6eMkSrw8hRtXxjXq0Rtag_9ez2p5pbs4hIuYwy8RSMCGq/s1600-h/IMG_3432_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332543597105119170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 334px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32pLjf9KeMmQww-T7s-2bTbDFTVw1S8rOn247IyB-MJ67caGJE60HNi8qyWlopGZZFTmyEjaYj4eZ01EbGcr-L4lftUwaHSo6eMkSrw8hRtXxjXq0Rtag_9ez2p5pbs4hIuYwy8RSMCGq/s400/IMG_3432_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Jack and I just LOVE the beautiful flowers that were EVERYWHERE!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMUvpVALpcWQ_CKY5rwOP2YJmgHTcKSJOpwFftssGsGWqkEirQpEQFDuKN9Hh-CUVvfMYTg7i7E9mhtmrHyQGn0LqN1YTrRxKdDIJfkLflrEnWwTvAwH5apyQo1ipC3SskR0FI9yrxyd5/s1600-h/IMG_3424.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332543590355243634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMUvpVALpcWQ_CKY5rwOP2YJmgHTcKSJOpwFftssGsGWqkEirQpEQFDuKN9Hh-CUVvfMYTg7i7E9mhtmrHyQGn0LqN1YTrRxKdDIJfkLflrEnWwTvAwH5apyQo1ipC3SskR0FI9yrxyd5/s400/IMG_3424.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">This little boy has my LOVE of photography!<br /></span></strong></em><div><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u></div><div><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u></div><br /><div><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZo0qKjZjxtv7zmdHXpWaDiUCETmZmM99LACG3bBhUcvmR2neVBQO3ej6W-dUKHe9g0f-A1J8xwQ5XfG7wp9dodIhElI4keFa8p_46d4TlkahJ0nkj6aFElyb70A18tjYYobJn0PzPAJv/s1600-h/IMG_3426_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332543247789095026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 352px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZo0qKjZjxtv7zmdHXpWaDiUCETmZmM99LACG3bBhUcvmR2neVBQO3ej6W-dUKHe9g0f-A1J8xwQ5XfG7wp9dodIhElI4keFa8p_46d4TlkahJ0nkj6aFElyb70A18tjYYobJn0PzPAJv/s400/IMG_3426_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Enjoying a realaxing lunch!</span></strong></em> </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59cE5PjzYGEH5IZzQ3mOrbk1irbGtpBOlKhBTiY6qT2yIUbvFxWMyXlJumAYuyEbLDcld4DAZi2b5_cBNyp7JdfYqgRgwAQauvJw_QveyH-k6w3TiaVGMlJn22gZ21xEehG1fn9zFdnT5/s1600-h/IMG_3425_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332543240585874706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 314px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59cE5PjzYGEH5IZzQ3mOrbk1irbGtpBOlKhBTiY6qT2yIUbvFxWMyXlJumAYuyEbLDcld4DAZi2b5_cBNyp7JdfYqgRgwAQauvJw_QveyH-k6w3TiaVGMlJn22gZ21xEehG1fn9zFdnT5/s400/IMG_3425_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Father and Son - just hanging out together!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHWSMzEWiIo7_J9Xzadt7KRxibCMDXhigYriiKART_5UYVUhRvsEAs5nrl6s5OYWfNV0HVDy4R84Sw5qjR1sLAI0oCl3lXqXHBRyRxITvbKGwvtE-Ca-bWJmBMc8D1uXrAiDxXqksgZAn/s1600-h/IMG_3427_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332543232511829778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 271px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHWSMzEWiIo7_J9Xzadt7KRxibCMDXhigYriiKART_5UYVUhRvsEAs5nrl6s5OYWfNV0HVDy4R84Sw5qjR1sLAI0oCl3lXqXHBRyRxITvbKGwvtE-Ca-bWJmBMc8D1uXrAiDxXqksgZAn/s400/IMG_3427_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> I just can't spend enough time with these kids!!!</span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfn967oa9vLZuhyphenhyphenWfHkbM4kgDL7eKHheu-bS0u8Tf2cjn_x45-86qez-t4lecQNVX6u5zcNFWxFSVZeCWdtNB12UlIhyntl9Ib8LgxApwHcALxokhhfil6XwG5CDgAjtH959fF7Km4C6kp/s1600-h/IMG_3429.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332543229829796114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfn967oa9vLZuhyphenhyphenWfHkbM4kgDL7eKHheu-bS0u8Tf2cjn_x45-86qez-t4lecQNVX6u5zcNFWxFSVZeCWdtNB12UlIhyntl9Ib8LgxApwHcALxokhhfil6XwG5CDgAjtH959fF7Km4C6kp/s400/IMG_3429.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> Deep conversation with a 5-year-old! </span></strong></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_Wp8sprFxOtlV_By3_04S8tfBf_pQ9VmzOwneXhwiM0AeVgavnvxV0yqR_kpSQx5Y9DRTKsXanER7nbg7cCq-xpfNO3vIOqt8-0ymtO6oZv_opz5l1jcQseOTs6xOyIeJ0s5QJt8Q-96/s1600-h/IMG_3433_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332543224988051154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 291px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_Wp8sprFxOtlV_By3_04S8tfBf_pQ9VmzOwneXhwiM0AeVgavnvxV0yqR_kpSQx5Y9DRTKsXanER7nbg7cCq-xpfNO3vIOqt8-0ymtO6oZv_opz5l1jcQseOTs6xOyIeJ0s5QJt8Q-96/s400/IMG_3433_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Along with the flowers, Jack LOVED the many fountains, too!</span></strong></em><br /></div></div><br /></div><div align="left">I can't wait until next year! Since Jack starts Kindergarten in the Fall, I guess little Ryan will be the lucky child who get's to accompany Mom and Dad for this extra fun (and tasty) tradition! Then, eventually - I guess it will just be me and Steve. Now that's a fun thought, too!</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">. . . just another day in the life . . .</div></div><br /></div></div>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5246986321254363542.post-42698609794979725062009-05-05T21:58:00.003-05:002009-05-05T22:08:48.357-05:00Star Wars . . . Not so sure I want the "FORCE" with us!<span style="font-size:130%;">I admit that before we had our two little boys, I had little experience with male children. So - it's not surprising that the wonderful world of <em>Star Wars</em> (as well as <em>Transformers</em>, etc.) were quite foreign to me. I mean, I saw <em>Star Wars</em> in the movies when I was growing up - it was practically a cultural phenomenon. But . . . I never really EXPERIENCED <em>Star Wars</em> until this past year. My little guys are just taken with it. We finally had to pack up the Play Station since Jack just couldn't focus on anything else as long as his "Lego Star Wars" game was in the house. I have no problem with fantasy play, and <em>Star Wars</em> does have some really good teaching moments about good versus evil. We use it all the time in teaching Jack about controlling his anger like Luke Skywalker --- not letting his anger control him like Darth Vader. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">As a parent, it's just really hard to know where to draw the lines, when too much is too much, and how to best direct your kids' curiosity and interests. I guess I do hope The "Force" is with me as I navigate this new path with my boys!</span><br /><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><br /><div align="center"><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRruMgylA6Tiiqr2aVAXewyEzfCfpMxn8y2ldhYxvJqArlnm8MbzFhTaBtHq_gghnbjuyKTZTHRU-plzTFrFq6X-zRnMf6WdUA-tzkj16SKCR_DjwZNcvEdxhmkLYP9AH_ukKhNjRjZJL/s1600-h/IMG_3415_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332540338967677090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRruMgylA6Tiiqr2aVAXewyEzfCfpMxn8y2ldhYxvJqArlnm8MbzFhTaBtHq_gghnbjuyKTZTHRU-plzTFrFq6X-zRnMf6WdUA-tzkj16SKCR_DjwZNcvEdxhmkLYP9AH_ukKhNjRjZJL/s400/IMG_3415_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> Jack in his new Darth Vadar costume (He plans to wear it for Halloween, too!)</span></em></strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYF8TOvaogfQLSJ-AUYWu3caV5Eur6OU4SgOlNB_S3ccOOEfkBjIHicb6cFOGszcDFS3MJVr0dTb8otftB-vJYNUMazMFw8HAlG1Qr6iF9xahyphenhyphenhYl2VG-Lu92-kD3tiGzgMEzWF49Ym2C/s1600-h/IMG_3416_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332540330431947474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 284px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYF8TOvaogfQLSJ-AUYWu3caV5Eur6OU4SgOlNB_S3ccOOEfkBjIHicb6cFOGszcDFS3MJVr0dTb8otftB-vJYNUMazMFw8HAlG1Qr6iF9xahyphenhyphenhYl2VG-Lu92-kD3tiGzgMEzWF49Ym2C/s400/IMG_3416_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Ryan had to get a mask and light saber like his brother, but he saved some of his money for his "bank" money. (Already a saver - we're so proud!!!)</span></strong></em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1_io62_A7XbUu6934CfIjp4N_HrEJv3uV4aXhyphenhyphenncv6NHw-WEkanU8duzpD8wE4gUsLMmNGCfHJLG928xcojl3xo5iOSv0SIt_59U-mChgDCuo8NSF8j8Wxbs7Fw0tFN4991D4nM2lOVT/s1600-h/IMG_3420_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332540328516670450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 285px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1_io62_A7XbUu6934CfIjp4N_HrEJv3uV4aXhyphenhyphenncv6NHw-WEkanU8duzpD8wE4gUsLMmNGCfHJLG928xcojl3xo5iOSv0SIt_59U-mChgDCuo8NSF8j8Wxbs7Fw0tFN4991D4nM2lOVT/s400/IMG_3420_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Our two little Star Wars fans!!!! </span></strong></em><br /><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></strong></em></div><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">. . . just another day in the life . . .</span></span></p>The Blankenship Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14180055062977612393noreply@blogger.com0