tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91204791427225398012024-03-14T02:18:35.716-04:00Pay a VisitBack in Columbus, Ohio, after six years in NYC. This time, with TWO kids.Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.comBlogger1503125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-25817292069804338662023-09-05T07:00:00.007-04:002023-09-05T07:00:00.143-04:00Crap Swap 2023<p>It was another successful Crap Swap weekend! Some dozen or so households came together on our lawn Saturday to give away their most precious crap in what has essentially become an "everything is free" garage sale for the neighborhood, with donations accepted for our block party fund. On that end we collected almost $300 from stuff we didn't want anyway.</p><p>The day started like this:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWVFc0Evrc0gxgfFad-I4dEsl8pf7hWoqrSe9cq3614A48k045eY8azk4ii3ItCPJfXuE_6nsE5DVIYXSVSJTzqfb79FKzQdeUJq5V-Q0A44sF3XRyMaWObnnW7_celW4YuuRF9no8WwUp2LdQVlAwKT4z1MNeLh3AHHkLHWGPfLpoOgpoZgfafeF7EnE/s4032/IMG_9822.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWVFc0Evrc0gxgfFad-I4dEsl8pf7hWoqrSe9cq3614A48k045eY8azk4ii3ItCPJfXuE_6nsE5DVIYXSVSJTzqfb79FKzQdeUJq5V-Q0A44sF3XRyMaWObnnW7_celW4YuuRF9no8WwUp2LdQVlAwKT4z1MNeLh3AHHkLHWGPfLpoOgpoZgfafeF7EnE/s320/IMG_9822.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bd1QBvLMhaehJAeXQuio3WkJMbpCsuhHK--xrydOZluxPoubf7W5AtSzeZLcKzplMjel4LikkpB3KtlTn6aWRupf1TJl-tRxGu_389MgLZhnLGuY_GLOH7tMJlog31Q66Ce8EuiPELXptdzubZxUneovdgds0y-CGhfiKFWpT6Z_E4F9FEAVDgqcho0P/s4032/IMG_9823.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bd1QBvLMhaehJAeXQuio3WkJMbpCsuhHK--xrydOZluxPoubf7W5AtSzeZLcKzplMjel4LikkpB3KtlTn6aWRupf1TJl-tRxGu_389MgLZhnLGuY_GLOH7tMJlog31Q66Ce8EuiPELXptdzubZxUneovdgds0y-CGhfiKFWpT6Z_E4F9FEAVDgqcho0P/s320/IMG_9823.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsO2yvn3QdvqAjWiQVJ7E2FpcvAAGq9ZIga4yNURo9O6i6U0EAqxTRxKT1pZ_ekrmzh6TSljFhAFnXOfW9v37Gd8y3koEahxBH-dmHuqDcldKsvoDcbFESEBPcBAPPZ1eC93pdgzDFdPoI4wVthjKoSzs7pU9MkWTqVAha9W7lItEJdUL_D6-1BzbR-NtS/s4032/IMG_9824.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsO2yvn3QdvqAjWiQVJ7E2FpcvAAGq9ZIga4yNURo9O6i6U0EAqxTRxKT1pZ_ekrmzh6TSljFhAFnXOfW9v37Gd8y3koEahxBH-dmHuqDcldKsvoDcbFESEBPcBAPPZ1eC93pdgzDFdPoI4wVthjKoSzs7pU9MkWTqVAha9W7lItEJdUL_D6-1BzbR-NtS/s320/IMG_9824.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3mA5PUPwIb8wZjDgyHEIJLWtOGSC00hgwvr9wvLL5U_txf6wiuhh_-TN0C4fJZejVrXCAW3FViHc2GTbcVsj2gVo01JOJ3yXZLeFW9e-3U4KMpHWA7kXaue5wVdt-VHmjSxgkLxSUTK5kb1BSm2HjgHYFweCpvpITsf1z4vOXzfXFa6iOWU6s-VYNJWB/s4032/IMG_9825.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3mA5PUPwIb8wZjDgyHEIJLWtOGSC00hgwvr9wvLL5U_txf6wiuhh_-TN0C4fJZejVrXCAW3FViHc2GTbcVsj2gVo01JOJ3yXZLeFW9e-3U4KMpHWA7kXaue5wVdt-VHmjSxgkLxSUTK5kb1BSm2HjgHYFweCpvpITsf1z4vOXzfXFa6iOWU6s-VYNJWB/s320/IMG_9825.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Leftovers went to the curb all day Sunday and Monday. By Monday evening this is all that was left:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcQbud3hJIOTeB5krysihR02SD5s_Vm1AQJAT8xwANvO-H1Zi3kpLD6xkTJ8t57CZervyBEm_3Dj3oHPYpClrmK1gYNiHWhwMR3eGWvAeYO5yq-wobat-PxYj5pwea1JmT89gJSeHopEoEZGxqA4xA5_-3kR4OYIaGlBKuOoshLQ32-LZf5Isl_JNbXDR/s4032/IMG_9845.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcQbud3hJIOTeB5krysihR02SD5s_Vm1AQJAT8xwANvO-H1Zi3kpLD6xkTJ8t57CZervyBEm_3Dj3oHPYpClrmK1gYNiHWhwMR3eGWvAeYO5yq-wobat-PxYj5pwea1JmT89gJSeHopEoEZGxqA4xA5_-3kR4OYIaGlBKuOoshLQ32-LZf5Isl_JNbXDR/s320/IMG_9845.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>The day was hot and my legs were sore, but I'm ready to do it all again next year!</p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-198462991429008922023-08-29T07:00:00.017-04:002023-08-29T07:00:00.146-04:00Anniversaries!<p>It’s a month of special dates.</p><p>Tomorrow Paul and I celebrate our 20th anniversary. Twenty years! This is crazy to me, because I remember my own parents’ 20th anniversary, when I was 16 years old. Surely I can’t be anywhere near the age that they were then!</p><p>In addition, last week marked 10 years living in this house, in this neighborhood. Half our marriage, and almost a quarter of my life. We moved here before Edith’s first birthday, and it was the house Atticus came home from the hospital to. </p><p>It’s been a good marriage, it’s been a good house, with many more years yet to come. </p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-1875551978861741242023-08-22T07:00:00.001-04:002023-08-22T07:00:00.158-04:00A Visit Home<p>A few photos from a visit to Defiance earlier this month. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJEWyvp_agBSm2miLqh9iIGAtEGapTtKjjkLg_vHikEZ3YhgUt8Yn8-fp3fNSqIaMv2QQRuIvJBOWNlt4OnCa6trISKkLd9mMkYGgiOX3WAXBKnllb3UE-HlXhDFceEhgeqGbEjnbRvRFNDDANSq0HSMGf0cSpvCjNRotB5dQsjo88nGBmXB1TQCUbsLd/s3088/IMG_9621.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJEWyvp_agBSm2miLqh9iIGAtEGapTtKjjkLg_vHikEZ3YhgUt8Yn8-fp3fNSqIaMv2QQRuIvJBOWNlt4OnCa6trISKkLd9mMkYGgiOX3WAXBKnllb3UE-HlXhDFceEhgeqGbEjnbRvRFNDDANSq0HSMGf0cSpvCjNRotB5dQsjo88nGBmXB1TQCUbsLd/s320/IMG_9621.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfkK90vILYPPkutvLb1tupWCpypHqmQlcAx0sQg1fPT6hY-WXFrxsQ2JUoODknGLCeN3c4OICch3R1ks1DmGkcH_TetduRX10z79rFVhiaYj4akHyEtRUpAVoZA-54gN9WIKneGs7XyOl6TbD0hRqTpwhJXzzVscc29v6FO83-Wpn8Bx_1nCJ4EMSmMJg/s4032/IMG_9625.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfkK90vILYPPkutvLb1tupWCpypHqmQlcAx0sQg1fPT6hY-WXFrxsQ2JUoODknGLCeN3c4OICch3R1ks1DmGkcH_TetduRX10z79rFVhiaYj4akHyEtRUpAVoZA-54gN9WIKneGs7XyOl6TbD0hRqTpwhJXzzVscc29v6FO83-Wpn8Bx_1nCJ4EMSmMJg/s320/IMG_9625.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZgDg8pZ0JRRIhTs_MYhoq1OSMs-5qkj34nU-08w47kUVjM51ns6SU0TwGf8pTEkRDzWQeB6MdDtVE8RDJcabeIIKYO4KKFC0C1VwRFgCHscyg0XZixfPnCoNRc0LOxks8KbFEMzxgtpNugKAl2V9TGOPsJDeVpg7nnL8n60gLBXwJ2LnNcK7kk-pfmGW/s4032/IMG_9639.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZgDg8pZ0JRRIhTs_MYhoq1OSMs-5qkj34nU-08w47kUVjM51ns6SU0TwGf8pTEkRDzWQeB6MdDtVE8RDJcabeIIKYO4KKFC0C1VwRFgCHscyg0XZixfPnCoNRc0LOxks8KbFEMzxgtpNugKAl2V9TGOPsJDeVpg7nnL8n60gLBXwJ2LnNcK7kk-pfmGW/s320/IMG_9639.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwBXxgqISl1FnRQz3meZpkEZLCecLEUDwPMRxlEQE_n55qk9jH0ezk6mWkWUUp29ymqITnNE9Ak3DNgaP7f0AiALWZG_yw5Ul-Qt6KKiaMAfCk0dvrkfQp_REAVHEhPEJb3yc06u3ktrSWKZH_JlcKlhm59nD_VsSZoA0Xdk1mCqYquIrJA_UrUzMhph0/s4032/IMG_9643.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwBXxgqISl1FnRQz3meZpkEZLCecLEUDwPMRxlEQE_n55qk9jH0ezk6mWkWUUp29ymqITnNE9Ak3DNgaP7f0AiALWZG_yw5Ul-Qt6KKiaMAfCk0dvrkfQp_REAVHEhPEJb3yc06u3ktrSWKZH_JlcKlhm59nD_VsSZoA0Xdk1mCqYquIrJA_UrUzMhph0/s320/IMG_9643.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-12529573350958101092023-08-15T07:00:00.048-04:002023-08-15T07:00:00.141-04:00Weekend in LouisvilleThis month marks our 20th wedding anniversary -- if you can't believe it, that goes double for me! While we don't usually do much to celebrate (no gifts, maybe a dinner), this year we decided to do something special.<p></p><p>We decided on a long weekend in Louisville, Ky. WITHOUT KIDS. They've stayed overnight with grandparents before, but this was only the second time we've gone somewhere without them -- the other time being a single night away to go to Cedar Point.</p><p>We dropped off the kids with Paul's mom on a Saturday morning, and the drive to Louisville was a pleasant three hours. When friends would ask what we were going to do there, I would joke that we were planning to do and see everything where kids weren't welcome, and that ended up being largely the case!</p><p>While of course they would have been welcome at the ice cream stand and riverfront park we started the trip at, the rest of the getaway was not kid-approved. We stayed at a nice independent hotel in the very walkable Highlands neighborhood. We went on a bourbon tour at Angel's Envy. Visited Gravely, a brewery with an excellent view of downtown, especially at sunset. Relaxed at a couple of cocktail lounges. Took long walks and took our time. Had some great food. (Will be thinking about that French toast made from biscuits for a while.)</p><p>It was hot. Gosh, it was hot. But it was lovely to spend the time alone with my husband of 20 years, thinking about how we shouldn't wait another 20 years to do it again.</p>
<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbmsNI769YWhcOf9tlOudThZbqO5B1ZuqEpShyO9m4V32_MpCijHyPtXSq8zsLKi2BKxkZ5E2HpZ3m0ZY4u8pgkupkzT2uwJQOy4RhEOyqvVhrLh_6ELF5fLVBsW1Bef05CB0cyVdudF2U-sk5fPHYq_5uGFKPYWZWyNGyXbiMrP_URnOhYDAJX57qaNZ/s4032/IMG_9504.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbmsNI769YWhcOf9tlOudThZbqO5B1ZuqEpShyO9m4V32_MpCijHyPtXSq8zsLKi2BKxkZ5E2HpZ3m0ZY4u8pgkupkzT2uwJQOy4RhEOyqvVhrLh_6ELF5fLVBsW1Bef05CB0cyVdudF2U-sk5fPHYq_5uGFKPYWZWyNGyXbiMrP_URnOhYDAJX57qaNZ/s320/IMG_9504.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_hjcXDpRgONnmB_mTqb26v_mRuzxNZ5w0kskW5Q-ZQdZnNEu2lqY_GHyCXcf_OK2Dcpa9_rPkx03416VkeJdm_8Hpku6ebOB44HCTT7V77PsvA0lYPr8NC0EonnqkYy04wYUk2L_Th2Hj6Q1QNeUVCYgpNL7gTXya2voCeNs4AEuovoeTquHELT8lQ6n/s4032/IMG_9506.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_hjcXDpRgONnmB_mTqb26v_mRuzxNZ5w0kskW5Q-ZQdZnNEu2lqY_GHyCXcf_OK2Dcpa9_rPkx03416VkeJdm_8Hpku6ebOB44HCTT7V77PsvA0lYPr8NC0EonnqkYy04wYUk2L_Th2Hj6Q1QNeUVCYgpNL7gTXya2voCeNs4AEuovoeTquHELT8lQ6n/s320/IMG_9506.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsO_9fhqsfkfHLvZoIW8Dj3bxb2AUHfmIS803QDLYSQo3muj_a9YrjQdIH4KuAb3_jSmFAq1MTMhWIw4iaBK8COh3juddAcVW2VddsNYV6Vi-4DeEDiHjJ6eYdiBfdTEfQQqMMB_CIYRDPMa4W7XaceFQVLW1Wn2gs0uBrSwvQbfpXdNW8FiBpTphznEPk/s4032/IMG_9513.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsO_9fhqsfkfHLvZoIW8Dj3bxb2AUHfmIS803QDLYSQo3muj_a9YrjQdIH4KuAb3_jSmFAq1MTMhWIw4iaBK8COh3juddAcVW2VddsNYV6Vi-4DeEDiHjJ6eYdiBfdTEfQQqMMB_CIYRDPMa4W7XaceFQVLW1Wn2gs0uBrSwvQbfpXdNW8FiBpTphznEPk/s320/IMG_9513.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTgWDMPGA32FkxSnm-s4FsneYSkqEmcamh31yYNPyGcinWGS4VtdajDZY0EguFIwoYrUb6OsxmCesGCV3wNlU1jtrlGeO2voFkWOdXEw63uSon-z7x6wHDpJ3u8v4AyJOPUG3lTA7kR5icXoa9HvN6zJUqZEQuvzHUAoncw_6Xg1J9aYNBbCBgjQjqb9D/s320/IMG_9536.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-31783444747930251342023-08-08T07:00:00.012-04:002023-08-08T07:00:00.151-04:00WDW: Magic Kingdom & Epcot, Part 2The last two days of our Walt Disney World trip was spent visiting Epcot on one of those days and Magic Kingdom on the other. I wouldn't consider any WDW trip a success unless the castle is practically the last thing I see on our last night there.<p></p><p>We arrived at Epcot at 8:30 a.m. and speed walked to Frozen, which had a half-hour line. Then we split up -- the boys to Test Track and the girls to a classic movie about France. I sure hated those movies as a kid, but this year I made a special trip to see it since it's only shown a few times a day!</p><p>We met up for Soarin', lunch and a final ride on Cosmic Rewind. We've been back from Disney for two months now, and I still think about how great that ride was. It really was my favorite amusement park ride anywhere ever.</p><p>Then, air conditioning: indoor rides and movies around World Showcase and over to Soarin' again. Spaceship Earth, of course. Coke samples at Club Cool. (Can you believe that's still around?!) Another walk through World Showcase and souvenir shopping for Atticus.</p><p>We ordered food from France just before a downpour, ate in a small covered arcade and waited til the last moment to get in line for the Remy ride before closing, only getting a little wet as we headed for the line. The posted 65-minute wait was only 20 minutes, and we were in the second- or third-to-last "train" to go. The fireworks were just ending as we walked to the Skyliner and headed for the hotel.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Dbzdmbkvg6EYEVuloe7wIBsE2b1zYPXtsHcKr2-NU2QGtAiKIkgMQ1FDxw7kLhZ4ev7ibbN0qIJTLUwikXAQSkDO4BXa-KfnOD1FMHpAzMTdbhE1QfcZmZDiq1gh3ot-Aqto5JwgMiqPfvtQ7bdl9m0sFiLWwb3zAmnVCv_h8MOK91XCHOWXaoEd-oHz/s4032/IMG_9186.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Dbzdmbkvg6EYEVuloe7wIBsE2b1zYPXtsHcKr2-NU2QGtAiKIkgMQ1FDxw7kLhZ4ev7ibbN0qIJTLUwikXAQSkDO4BXa-KfnOD1FMHpAzMTdbhE1QfcZmZDiq1gh3ot-Aqto5JwgMiqPfvtQ7bdl9m0sFiLWwb3zAmnVCv_h8MOK91XCHOWXaoEd-oHz/s320/IMG_9186.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DiYq6QvdZdQ7wm9x2xrHaA7ZaBD2ueUZwbv2V1YUeff0ybiN4mTyxpygV9LTmBDQ9LHB0njIBPIoFaWTCoz9jshr6CQfa4CSkxiy5I397q9Y3X7NB_OSYUh4qp5EKOQ3ekuU_L2psHInbsgp5YF0jtHjmPG11W5iNIDM0Pdp68q8xkjrgqhBZw5Voxql/s4032/IMG_9199.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DiYq6QvdZdQ7wm9x2xrHaA7ZaBD2ueUZwbv2V1YUeff0ybiN4mTyxpygV9LTmBDQ9LHB0njIBPIoFaWTCoz9jshr6CQfa4CSkxiy5I397q9Y3X7NB_OSYUh4qp5EKOQ3ekuU_L2psHInbsgp5YF0jtHjmPG11W5iNIDM0Pdp68q8xkjrgqhBZw5Voxql/s320/IMG_9199.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHk-_eehYj7DaK4Mtb1hT8LMRvGoWbDoD3gskIB-tQO3DmZqERx5rYdNKBTE48-bru3uooT1jlUpAlUCnAFQIjTCRNho3X2iLJZGLROL1wr5DIBE6O2bv1KbmvE1ZyGxCHAiIuzQefSgLlOdIFdpm4WighNEWK4BSiSBvSF6kD6UTL4XVaPplUvd0ggkJ/s4032/IMG_9207.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHk-_eehYj7DaK4Mtb1hT8LMRvGoWbDoD3gskIB-tQO3DmZqERx5rYdNKBTE48-bru3uooT1jlUpAlUCnAFQIjTCRNho3X2iLJZGLROL1wr5DIBE6O2bv1KbmvE1ZyGxCHAiIuzQefSgLlOdIFdpm4WighNEWK4BSiSBvSF6kD6UTL4XVaPplUvd0ggkJ/s320/IMG_9207.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jwKQftTtb_j17OGaWCNDZvfLJEIoHOnZ9fxL8uKqkHuGOpuDn5E93HJyIIWwQC1wj-AY8hGAWdiD07IzcDG7N51G-d8YJLb5ZECGnpQR8tGyTC3hqwbazXXvSbcsvTKey_IuzLuoSHs5oDiuhkOQGecSgW7N2B3SrJMK8R9QRv-170KgqJ43anTtCpmZ/s4032/IMG_9208.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jwKQftTtb_j17OGaWCNDZvfLJEIoHOnZ9fxL8uKqkHuGOpuDn5E93HJyIIWwQC1wj-AY8hGAWdiD07IzcDG7N51G-d8YJLb5ZECGnpQR8tGyTC3hqwbazXXvSbcsvTKey_IuzLuoSHs5oDiuhkOQGecSgW7N2B3SrJMK8R9QRv-170KgqJ43anTtCpmZ/s320/IMG_9208.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXq0RwNjRhWmjmc9htpKJPIQdgPjqYlsu1ob2atHePI6XnBt-YOCsQcbndNr_5_V-bBeV0nXvN7PkNiThdg5ZsaXUiiCs1nuWS91AaKqN1LBuFBtX3tMgsrFmGXYMwlRnzB8Hg4f9pot9-SCGLMHIgisWvsuoqKO6xoNHa7TzivWNcFweFQh_B9iacHxi/s4032/IMG_9214.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXq0RwNjRhWmjmc9htpKJPIQdgPjqYlsu1ob2atHePI6XnBt-YOCsQcbndNr_5_V-bBeV0nXvN7PkNiThdg5ZsaXUiiCs1nuWS91AaKqN1LBuFBtX3tMgsrFmGXYMwlRnzB8Hg4f9pot9-SCGLMHIgisWvsuoqKO6xoNHa7TzivWNcFweFQh_B9iacHxi/s320/IMG_9214.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>On our final day in the parks, we arrived to Magic Kingdom even before the 8:30 a.m. rope drop and stayed until the magical end. It was a great day for rides -- Peter Pan was down (again, just like our first Magic Kingdom day) when we got there, but we took a chance and stayed in line. It was the right call -- it was up in 10 minutes and we rode it twice by 9:05.</p><p>Pirates was a 15-minute or so wait -- another good call since it was closed most of the rest of the day. We followed it up by about everything else we could hope to do, except we couldn't convince the kids to ride Haunted Mansion again! We even got on 7 Dwarfs twice during the fireworks, and at the end of the fireworks Peter Pan was basically a walk on. We even got another Small World ride in, plus the last carousel ride of the night.</p><p>Leisurely we made our way down Main Street, got Edith's souvenir and took photos. It was the first and only time we walked through the castle all trip! A perfect end to a -- not exactly relaxing, not exactly perfect -- but wonderful trip all the same.</p>
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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCW9BJqCpQ5ENRlshjhxy2MUiLAYIyEE_0gVVhvsCJXGMW3h-6U557vbo-XivTOkwGevsTW3WIKeEU76ij6h9CpchsDdEU1D-SXiC-Q5sFnxihTWqeHecYWMnhuEj9RZWZj-O7aaA7sSh_eZkLdvDlDJ8WVa0qQyFnHVEFtL9eQY9ViC4Q6oNgdzOu0Rj5/s320/IMG_9255.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyqvHVOSIr3ae5YVi2cwOh6CzSBgwx1NzMb-Rx2JVl2WOAlvELF01XosUwVplclHf0ny_RZMFuuwoO3_QKgWUeqMVz7H--4Q0GmTvsaFU-HBAVY0U9msGf_8FyaxE3UP70txcDcTuYfAjUCG7Lcj8e1e7JF7f5P5dKHt50TAYNDP9R3ffZAKXBYAfWg0W/s4032/IMG_9265.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyqvHVOSIr3ae5YVi2cwOh6CzSBgwx1NzMb-Rx2JVl2WOAlvELF01XosUwVplclHf0ny_RZMFuuwoO3_QKgWUeqMVz7H--4Q0GmTvsaFU-HBAVY0U9msGf_8FyaxE3UP70txcDcTuYfAjUCG7Lcj8e1e7JF7f5P5dKHt50TAYNDP9R3ffZAKXBYAfWg0W/s320/IMG_9265.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-40473116500264186162023-08-01T07:00:00.015-04:002023-08-01T07:00:00.138-04:00WDW: Hollywood Studios<p>We arrived to Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios at 8:30 a.m., but I would have been happy to get there even earlier! We started with two Star Wars rides -- Rise of the Resistance and Smuggler's Run. After that, there's not much to say except we rode every ride and saw every show exactly once.</p><p>Not a disappointment exactly, but I was hoping to ride at least a few of our favorites again. A surprise favorite of mine and Edith's was Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railroad -- not a thrill ride by any means, but very cute. We all like Slinky Dog Dash (in fact, we ended the night there), and Paul and Atticus both rank Rock 'n' Roller Coaster among their top. The kids don't care for Tower of Terror, but at least they agreed to ride it once!</p><p>The weather was hot, and the park was certainly crowded. I'm glad we fit everything in, but it's hard not to compare it to our last WDW and Disneyland trips, when we fit in multiple faves and (at WDW) had free Fastpasses to speed up at least a few rides. The slow standby lines at several rides scattered among the parks were the biggest disappointments of the trip.</p><p>We did encounter a little rain on this day, but luckily it fell while we were in or heading to shows. Lightning cut the Indiana Jones show short, but that was the biggest casualty. A successful day overall.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5__71yUKjUju1MAHaXY8IxglEG5cmf24VQrpAXH9rmFQ5m9M6cdnH_pBoUsmU5wjalnal947k_gtrZO0m1inwfnCY9h4c9BRLX4DtIfFVTHQQMv2Yur7_lGIJiqg0-f1Ylk904WRHeCW-K2YUBqiWWlggYTvSxii3oYABOGWF3gW_F2Mybu_R_cDnSnMP/s4032/IMG_9171.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5__71yUKjUju1MAHaXY8IxglEG5cmf24VQrpAXH9rmFQ5m9M6cdnH_pBoUsmU5wjalnal947k_gtrZO0m1inwfnCY9h4c9BRLX4DtIfFVTHQQMv2Yur7_lGIJiqg0-f1Ylk904WRHeCW-K2YUBqiWWlggYTvSxii3oYABOGWF3gW_F2Mybu_R_cDnSnMP/s320/IMG_9171.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhlu8gLn8hn85amcwBtryxTBbohJp2Vdur9g58-xltHYlmcJbtTR8459i6x0AqHDG9DHS2gt8Vbth5dCFLsEjab0eavylia-jnQCBFRkz1kInrTfhy-Bp2xr_IavgPHVVnLPvQbPg5Xxx93cmooGIBaS2gpSO52EZ6QGTZHXCOtmFNZRqH0xnsSc236XY/s4032/IMG_9180.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhlu8gLn8hn85amcwBtryxTBbohJp2Vdur9g58-xltHYlmcJbtTR8459i6x0AqHDG9DHS2gt8Vbth5dCFLsEjab0eavylia-jnQCBFRkz1kInrTfhy-Bp2xr_IavgPHVVnLPvQbPg5Xxx93cmooGIBaS2gpSO52EZ6QGTZHXCOtmFNZRqH0xnsSc236XY/s320/IMG_9180.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_m2WVlHhfqGEsHNYcGhuQNYPngH37aYdWqU7l8uv_2ZmNT2FLvu5sIGZ9gjC6Q4NyQsFCuvHFz708PI3VzuDOkPUO77WjKfc5rV2qMv_n_yDYvSA4id4Kw5l6UOu_pqI36iSMxkPkiAJ_pO_k_61JHqWlZIYzGoDDIUftNiOIe3GWBj1vH7Xpkw5O1ENt/s4032/IMG_9182.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_m2WVlHhfqGEsHNYcGhuQNYPngH37aYdWqU7l8uv_2ZmNT2FLvu5sIGZ9gjC6Q4NyQsFCuvHFz708PI3VzuDOkPUO77WjKfc5rV2qMv_n_yDYvSA4id4Kw5l6UOu_pqI36iSMxkPkiAJ_pO_k_61JHqWlZIYzGoDDIUftNiOIe3GWBj1vH7Xpkw5O1ENt/s320/IMG_9182.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafqpQ2npuRWbl_nHZNFpzqdZWvS5XfYxcWlbgKNn0n2Mnqg6xFmr3edkGKomvfXX9wHq0HPpGMmcZtee_T_RNf4Pu-jWsKtYLzLr3KHjFWaiz0YZvgDFc1ES9gSDB2hCNkmZD5XAzRAx0cIEvDn8SglSR4KYM1u73WL25gLvrNRIzggke2DBYyB8LYUcJ/s4032/IMG_9184.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafqpQ2npuRWbl_nHZNFpzqdZWvS5XfYxcWlbgKNn0n2Mnqg6xFmr3edkGKomvfXX9wHq0HPpGMmcZtee_T_RNf4Pu-jWsKtYLzLr3KHjFWaiz0YZvgDFc1ES9gSDB2hCNkmZD5XAzRAx0cIEvDn8SglSR4KYM1u73WL25gLvrNRIzggke2DBYyB8LYUcJ/s320/IMG_9184.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-89762924167670940352023-07-18T07:00:00.024-04:002023-07-18T07:00:00.144-04:00My Birthday<p>My birthday was this past weekend, but instead of mulling over the fact that I'm a year older, I'm thinking about what we were doing 10 years ago.</p><p>A decade ago this week, Paul was just starting a new job in Ohio while baby Edith and I remained in New York for one final week, packing up and waiting for the movers. The following weekend Paul drove back to Ohio to pick us up and we moved back for good.</p><p>Ten years! I had tears in my eyes when we left Brooklyn, but I haven't regretted the decision (although I thought that I would). It was a good choice.</p><p>A lot happened between the ages of 22 and 32: I got married. We lived in New York for more than half of that time. Edith was born toward the tail-end of that decade.</p><p>But maybe 32 to 42 was just as eventful: We moved back to Ohio just days after that birthday. I started a freelancing career. Atticus was born a couple of years later. We built strong friendships and a community that supports as ... and vice versa.</p><p>No one likes getting older after a certain age, right? But I'm eager to see what the next 10 years bring.</p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-82974472776766308392023-07-11T07:00:00.019-04:002023-07-11T07:00:00.146-04:00WDW: Free Day!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8-eNideMu1AZu_l475jauwSgahnrwEhfDs_yvN1pFpriFg5KMjxYfFi0tzZv6oJrOOIVhJtWJuFz0uFvvljs7k80bkvEgCuB5WR5YoB84Ctt_p0S2-Z8DlinQi3ZexKOVBczCR1nGxnUiKI9zQ4ugVT2IAXeUVPWfPT9aB4OoOtYjQXvwVTOuaProTVM/s4032/IMG_9169.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8-eNideMu1AZu_l475jauwSgahnrwEhfDs_yvN1pFpriFg5KMjxYfFi0tzZv6oJrOOIVhJtWJuFz0uFvvljs7k80bkvEgCuB5WR5YoB84Ctt_p0S2-Z8DlinQi3ZexKOVBczCR1nGxnUiKI9zQ4ugVT2IAXeUVPWfPT9aB4OoOtYjQXvwVTOuaProTVM/s320/IMG_9169.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset view from our hotel at Pop Century</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Wednesday was the park-free day of our weeklong trip to Walt Disney World. But even then, sleeping in meant only until 8 a.m.! When we were all ready for the day, we took the Skyliner from our hotel to Hollywood Studios, and then a boat toward the Swan and Dolphin hotels. From there it was a short walk to the Fantasia Gardens mini golf course. It was the first time we'd used the free passes that always come with our Disney reservations, and also the first time that the kids had ever played mini golf anywhere. Not only that, but it was the only time all week that we had to get out our disposable rain ponchos, during a downpour that lasted a hole or three. Before long the sun was shining again.</p><p>We then walked through the Boardwalk area, but it was too hot to linger. We grabbed a bus from there to Disney Springs for lunch and shopping. Stopped at Gideon's Bakehouse on a whim and ordered two half-pound cookies, which ended up being a steal at $6 apiece. The triple chocolate cookie was one of the best things I've ever eaten anywhere, even if I did have to wait about 30 minutes in line for it!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabxmMix6qsQsD9BJMhXecF6sVeknD5pyMCTsWBv5ydoreHYcaCqgXA6kyMnKItHkO7kc4Yd1OvDfWsM1Nia2sA3ruQK1kjrUtq-UCy8zn9ukE1V7EMG11zVkIX3dqhtM3oHqkwFmIapWWavCjESDMSv6i5AA-fbRL-usg_gSwe2wmOJIYJVTUXjvCI5Vn/s4032/IMG_9164.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabxmMix6qsQsD9BJMhXecF6sVeknD5pyMCTsWBv5ydoreHYcaCqgXA6kyMnKItHkO7kc4Yd1OvDfWsM1Nia2sA3ruQK1kjrUtq-UCy8zn9ukE1V7EMG11zVkIX3dqhtM3oHqkwFmIapWWavCjESDMSv6i5AA-fbRL-usg_gSwe2wmOJIYJVTUXjvCI5Vn/s320/IMG_9164.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nlQXorzv0NsbBrA3qDqGlmYmiQvo1YHUhmjrqjSrcRMpgY16VLcULi-Okk0N9-lHyb-ZJBFReFZftJxJT9qBkVb-JlAuiFBtX-E7fUcL8IZI1uVGBuhhOgsRkyhgxfYqdO6s_924psxXNDmLlpLSOgaiOTKh9dueql7XVHQl4eSvOmgXKLH3mEmZ9K2N/s4032/IMG_9166.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nlQXorzv0NsbBrA3qDqGlmYmiQvo1YHUhmjrqjSrcRMpgY16VLcULi-Okk0N9-lHyb-ZJBFReFZftJxJT9qBkVb-JlAuiFBtX-E7fUcL8IZI1uVGBuhhOgsRkyhgxfYqdO6s_924psxXNDmLlpLSOgaiOTKh9dueql7XVHQl4eSvOmgXKLH3mEmZ9K2N/s320/IMG_9166.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Back at the hotel, a storm closed the pool so swim time for Paul and the kids got delayed until after 7 p.m. But all in all it was a refreshing rest day.</p><p>A few photos from around the Pop Century Resort earlier in the week:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdbLTkMxKgwnEEClK_F0Zr3bGE1obRRhDx7DCXGDvBCweJN5tp4UVZry0p6t_fDAsGDlhH-Zc5fbCv0cBWjkuojFZN-t9dbVh5EPnXZxW7rX6ga3yh5Y8nw1uVSdkqu8PV3mZlaiz1Rcx0O_nDKp_yZpweq9kTmrPCF4KwR9O2-lGij5PhwD24cRUMm2x/s4032/IMG_9058.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdbLTkMxKgwnEEClK_F0Zr3bGE1obRRhDx7DCXGDvBCweJN5tp4UVZry0p6t_fDAsGDlhH-Zc5fbCv0cBWjkuojFZN-t9dbVh5EPnXZxW7rX6ga3yh5Y8nw1uVSdkqu8PV3mZlaiz1Rcx0O_nDKp_yZpweq9kTmrPCF4KwR9O2-lGij5PhwD24cRUMm2x/s320/IMG_9058.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKWFMQsjzfV60sTjMb2pn-WxdMP7INv5FRYZRk-dKbUV_NwTwkJyqAs1556OnvtCIdL4NGy5A8pcZVeKl_-MqSV943NJS-OMgoSI2p4B4uf-8wMpiHezjFkq9smuaaXWV9ph8mBNH8ldevlg_Foi7_G1ESfr7k-L_-xkyLztWcPfQeOlFWp39puJ4fln9/s4032/IMG_9059.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKWFMQsjzfV60sTjMb2pn-WxdMP7INv5FRYZRk-dKbUV_NwTwkJyqAs1556OnvtCIdL4NGy5A8pcZVeKl_-MqSV943NJS-OMgoSI2p4B4uf-8wMpiHezjFkq9smuaaXWV9ph8mBNH8ldevlg_Foi7_G1ESfr7k-L_-xkyLztWcPfQeOlFWp39puJ4fln9/s320/IMG_9059.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPS5Xah8p-LSVINs7TiQW7aJsajNLPvA2FDHWTqyN-aPPVR0OotLxiOVPVL42BElLa-crSVSqvNQo4AiLlhoAHpW4HuF3P_cFcTIdHBqkb_BGb6ITEKVulDc-NyszHMmUnJfXF_rA0Xf6ewMQhLnEoGGBTixciAUVSceIJsC0cjuCXi6tUgIK_VMldfEB/s4032/IMG_9065.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPS5Xah8p-LSVINs7TiQW7aJsajNLPvA2FDHWTqyN-aPPVR0OotLxiOVPVL42BElLa-crSVSqvNQo4AiLlhoAHpW4HuF3P_cFcTIdHBqkb_BGb6ITEKVulDc-NyszHMmUnJfXF_rA0Xf6ewMQhLnEoGGBTixciAUVSceIJsC0cjuCXi6tUgIK_VMldfEB/s320/IMG_9065.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ooeTEYL50HdZL31vw-f78KxiG7j1zztqLvVGRuv88-s3ntOrJ3DPtGJ7pB6DvfbuJMQ5UahJoTUl0YzTUZ1hXve2W1mzEh5bioIAY6JatBcKhLOD0Cl7QPCl_ClN3gxNrh15aHzOfabCj5Z4OzAKzuu8MKNvedf05JyMZHnjWureEzOdL59MInfhISk7/s4032/IMG_9066.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ooeTEYL50HdZL31vw-f78KxiG7j1zztqLvVGRuv88-s3ntOrJ3DPtGJ7pB6DvfbuJMQ5UahJoTUl0YzTUZ1hXve2W1mzEh5bioIAY6JatBcKhLOD0Cl7QPCl_ClN3gxNrh15aHzOfabCj5Z4OzAKzuu8MKNvedf05JyMZHnjWureEzOdL59MInfhISk7/s320/IMG_9066.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-12153077384508557142023-07-04T07:00:00.010-04:002023-07-04T07:00:00.141-04:00WDW: Magic Kingdom & Epcot<p>We had planned two full days at both Magic Kingdom and Epcot -- they are my very favorite parks! And we made the most of them, staying from beginning to end.</p><p>But Magic Kingdom got off to a slow start. First, I failed to get tickets to the Tron roller coaster in the 7 a.m. virtual queue (although I snagged them at the 1 p.m. drop), Paul had to turn back for his forgotten coffee when we were almost to the Magic Kingdom bus at our hotel, and Edith was less than thrilled about putting on sunscreen. Then Peter Pan wasn't open during early entry, causing us to waste time backtracking to Space Mountain.</p><p>The day improved. Between 8:30 a.m. and 11 p.m. we rode every major ride except for Peter Pan (down for much of the day) and Small World. We got Tron tickets in the afternoon queue and rode 7 Dwarfs twice in an hour during the fireworks. It was objectively a successful day, but it hardly felt complete without Peter Pan, my favorite of all Magic Kingdom rides. (I was more than repaid later in the week, but more about that in a future post!) The kids, however were well pleased, probably nearly as happy with the funnel cakes with strawberries and whip cream that counted as our supper than with any single ride.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqMX-BKka0xlordRaIFFSORlHZchY76-D-pBooqMm38d1sy6qLAwlXZgsjcVQlzMtQVf7WtbyK2cQayn7U49iCojD1ve-m8a4TiFjwvKkXEDNOI3bhPVUPvR3mMQQ2V67TmkR__qLie5JkshwnlbQ4iwdRH5AHo04T4CCVfgJXz8O5gqLoYiPhAZW8DTM/s4032/IMG_9100.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqMX-BKka0xlordRaIFFSORlHZchY76-D-pBooqMm38d1sy6qLAwlXZgsjcVQlzMtQVf7WtbyK2cQayn7U49iCojD1ve-m8a4TiFjwvKkXEDNOI3bhPVUPvR3mMQQ2V67TmkR__qLie5JkshwnlbQ4iwdRH5AHo04T4CCVfgJXz8O5gqLoYiPhAZW8DTM/s320/IMG_9100.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6v4H8aKVZC-Z5Jp7nMySWDevZLoTgV9hyP0pIhtRITC_Uz1BbTGSGNh0P-vWkiUzwsu2psRD7VuiVcs2R1Bni2cBmAjjJh9GfdKcpLLExKwK04kAYvzlrsqzd82FA7_-DQ_0j7hki-NURAwG7ttJQiRixFAJ9C42Aqy6wjkYCmePUufCgUlG8m6pVC-_/s4032/IMG_9102.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6v4H8aKVZC-Z5Jp7nMySWDevZLoTgV9hyP0pIhtRITC_Uz1BbTGSGNh0P-vWkiUzwsu2psRD7VuiVcs2R1Bni2cBmAjjJh9GfdKcpLLExKwK04kAYvzlrsqzd82FA7_-DQ_0j7hki-NURAwG7ttJQiRixFAJ9C42Aqy6wjkYCmePUufCgUlG8m6pVC-_/s320/IMG_9102.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipX8ERbL3g24DEMSYq5JBHGSEG_FaIectOeCoKE2VSdmefLCQ8-eRDuItz3YenhzSI4Ed2T4aHh88s273gMVmKeW2vQaYqzBxrkVnOmJdqOzRbQDHfBanLUXtdglEj84PWzgJfjWWyZRIhyD8Tb2O6-hDDAVBSLTF12k6Ngtc7dKktIzUSHdQphUieueQZ/s4032/IMG_9109.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipX8ERbL3g24DEMSYq5JBHGSEG_FaIectOeCoKE2VSdmefLCQ8-eRDuItz3YenhzSI4Ed2T4aHh88s273gMVmKeW2vQaYqzBxrkVnOmJdqOzRbQDHfBanLUXtdglEj84PWzgJfjWWyZRIhyD8Tb2O6-hDDAVBSLTF12k6Ngtc7dKktIzUSHdQphUieueQZ/s320/IMG_9109.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvK9m0s-CHche8flYjByphtHWgZfm4V4PETw-F4LQO9EPU9zwwAC81a1V_93PI_gHtjZ9683fjUZhcotNwf3fDpYWNa5hDxg1Zw_ss9jtOb85qDI-AVGPYYiMKFOS3CSZR1e2lGYurQso_Ekck9OhFRWSzhhf4BXa_a2XA4WC-RiYP_JH7YvWyZ5GeqMX/s4032/IMG_9125.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvK9m0s-CHche8flYjByphtHWgZfm4V4PETw-F4LQO9EPU9zwwAC81a1V_93PI_gHtjZ9683fjUZhcotNwf3fDpYWNa5hDxg1Zw_ss9jtOb85qDI-AVGPYYiMKFOS3CSZR1e2lGYurQso_Ekck9OhFRWSzhhf4BXa_a2XA4WC-RiYP_JH7YvWyZ5GeqMX/s320/IMG_9125.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4tmgBSh3mmhJ3KpJHQpAzBn-hU_HA22DoiSnJMfV1k6kXTOFVj5V5SbIDfMNulBi_qfaKJ5Lhy87kjAsXh0DnrhZx89SSATGbgs64wU-yosoLi7E6SuKcS9qAsnxVk5VPuyhKET1IIqQ8LL6dmVFHJ-35pcAQjfZwDTCVQkERD6NkDB-dK3QelYxgH-M/s4032/IMG_9132.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4tmgBSh3mmhJ3KpJHQpAzBn-hU_HA22DoiSnJMfV1k6kXTOFVj5V5SbIDfMNulBi_qfaKJ5Lhy87kjAsXh0DnrhZx89SSATGbgs64wU-yosoLi7E6SuKcS9qAsnxVk5VPuyhKET1IIqQ8LL6dmVFHJ-35pcAQjfZwDTCVQkERD6NkDB-dK3QelYxgH-M/s320/IMG_9132.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXm6J-ttqspVsERJqzNd_1PBUBR8LtvdtmUIZAXKMsQnV84v9sURh93fqFXg9Su7wPt008fCpGE6UGgaR37a3eK912vbbyZE6TAR4fYShWe54t0Nkv3ycT3b3ZPekw_0FMQl0mG1M_svQnZ1EPa8Oqph2BkRkJA4aPdF3JkKuah-uERCG0X_yBqRGYHGn/s4032/IMG_9141.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXm6J-ttqspVsERJqzNd_1PBUBR8LtvdtmUIZAXKMsQnV84v9sURh93fqFXg9Su7wPt008fCpGE6UGgaR37a3eK912vbbyZE6TAR4fYShWe54t0Nkv3ycT3b3ZPekw_0FMQl0mG1M_svQnZ1EPa8Oqph2BkRkJA4aPdF3JkKuah-uERCG0X_yBqRGYHGn/s320/IMG_9141.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>The next day was Epcot. We "slept in," which still meant we got to eh park at 9 a.m. after a very enjoyable Skyliner ride. Even the (newish) Remy ride in France was an hour-long line by that time, but oh well. Then it was time to cross the park to make our early boarding time for Cosmic Rewind (another virtual queue). I purposefully didn't read much about the coaster, and I'm glad I kept it a surprise -- it was the best new ride I've ridden in a long time, anywhere. Highly recommend.</p><p>We finished the front of the park with short waits, plus Mexico. The rest of the day was something of a bust. Frozen was an hour wait when we entered it around 6 p.m., and we were tired. Then we had supper and meandered along World Showcase and watched the fireworks from the Japan pavilion. Taking the Skyliner back to the hotel sure beat a bus, but I think the day taught me that three days in a row at the parks might be too much, at least in this kind of heat. But the next day was a free day!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIGHcOASPFXDq6I61NbP_vl7-m1_JdjeqccW5JoF3zOKz86vmF7DDTzX2hwovIJc_iI4dbLd16wwMA4wZsVB8gsj-oF6-4B818estZaDlIgz7ysPQvNr41f38O2HitHYXsQPDFxap8R-IIFWEf2EbThqtuJVOZVW1SXkUe0PS3PgCCW_7C4XRxNWp21HY/s4032/IMG_9148.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIGHcOASPFXDq6I61NbP_vl7-m1_JdjeqccW5JoF3zOKz86vmF7DDTzX2hwovIJc_iI4dbLd16wwMA4wZsVB8gsj-oF6-4B818estZaDlIgz7ysPQvNr41f38O2HitHYXsQPDFxap8R-IIFWEf2EbThqtuJVOZVW1SXkUe0PS3PgCCW_7C4XRxNWp21HY/s320/IMG_9148.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDjdzQ0fxYPJa4BkugZBRppkll2Q2jFBcVuLLwDA_xV_AcVZf4jlGMB0Y5uljW902Vi-0sDtYpZ2S8iABj8bjG67iNK9TNvQbpXrFsY6i1VkEnp92aEilS9JwYYJSjwNdKEIYZW6Zjx4djljZ125ZIIZolX41kLJj9a4jbDwZGJ66zUI8FX96_U5sVaUb/s4032/IMG_9151.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDjdzQ0fxYPJa4BkugZBRppkll2Q2jFBcVuLLwDA_xV_AcVZf4jlGMB0Y5uljW902Vi-0sDtYpZ2S8iABj8bjG67iNK9TNvQbpXrFsY6i1VkEnp92aEilS9JwYYJSjwNdKEIYZW6Zjx4djljZ125ZIIZolX41kLJj9a4jbDwZGJ66zUI8FX96_U5sVaUb/s320/IMG_9151.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfN7ajxAQaeNsJmbfg9kHRRo8yzyTSHURYqYJmN4oGvGOJ49RwIq8DEYv0dtPsPGehK0OGHVkGQSk5N9nfLq7JsuwFifiUYqtOGI-UD5dz5ctDrpyE-Sk83-mZuaUNhwfGEUKFKfb84Dhj2YCEF53SBuydG9SL1XFiuzN_MfhvlLzSNKLYTpFxi93-ezsA/s4032/IMG_9155.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfN7ajxAQaeNsJmbfg9kHRRo8yzyTSHURYqYJmN4oGvGOJ49RwIq8DEYv0dtPsPGehK0OGHVkGQSk5N9nfLq7JsuwFifiUYqtOGI-UD5dz5ctDrpyE-Sk83-mZuaUNhwfGEUKFKfb84Dhj2YCEF53SBuydG9SL1XFiuzN_MfhvlLzSNKLYTpFxi93-ezsA/s320/IMG_9155.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>More about that later. And now: Photos from Animal Kingdom that I forgot to attach to the previous post!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmYfpxtH1AEaRNSApMK0cmcfvhkBiZSFVtucKsKATR8GtXsiVyPmG_NoEz5luiarlF_V6Wh0qL1LRmKHpAivJTzh1nZ_R0ZrRlh84BTDfVFqtzA8nlummTQJabDD6nhP4ZgIKmN7NK5jRCqGcyhi96bDYgHbWblraqLXhDBaPpZhWxue1NXwcXuwTVP1q/s4032/IMG_9075.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmYfpxtH1AEaRNSApMK0cmcfvhkBiZSFVtucKsKATR8GtXsiVyPmG_NoEz5luiarlF_V6Wh0qL1LRmKHpAivJTzh1nZ_R0ZrRlh84BTDfVFqtzA8nlummTQJabDD6nhP4ZgIKmN7NK5jRCqGcyhi96bDYgHbWblraqLXhDBaPpZhWxue1NXwcXuwTVP1q/s320/IMG_9075.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaRmXJNkQVihKzl6DRfsi47rx-plqwOKhyx-3PVP7Kqp8ImJmL3wZ_CK6aVVd_zPHFBHSnDpN7kDjk7aSPHe9KEcvAlaj8XFfSi9Lx4ttkJMVNvYRfDFXPMO9sjFQDICfP9c_nqOgczSFhwGzriHAJHKqwegesU5xuSACEeH7Dh-jDAmAVdb-XnQr2bJs/s4032/IMG_9084.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaRmXJNkQVihKzl6DRfsi47rx-plqwOKhyx-3PVP7Kqp8ImJmL3wZ_CK6aVVd_zPHFBHSnDpN7kDjk7aSPHe9KEcvAlaj8XFfSi9Lx4ttkJMVNvYRfDFXPMO9sjFQDICfP9c_nqOgczSFhwGzriHAJHKqwegesU5xuSACEeH7Dh-jDAmAVdb-XnQr2bJs/s320/IMG_9084.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFknu3y202Gps-yo9fdxKAT3gavsjW4P57j_mYZkk6GzgXno_QudHaGY6R5OkoDEPY32H-xa_1N0sDcHW1kB9JKeO9yZ_3cJS7nbhdOp-zegWvLkhqVUpLPj-R1zgY3c7TZqllKOCo4d-O7t3tPjWgDRaBtFQru-f3Wluk3O6gr_jyIcKxASSXxBruDK2/s4032/IMG_9086.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFknu3y202Gps-yo9fdxKAT3gavsjW4P57j_mYZkk6GzgXno_QudHaGY6R5OkoDEPY32H-xa_1N0sDcHW1kB9JKeO9yZ_3cJS7nbhdOp-zegWvLkhqVUpLPj-R1zgY3c7TZqllKOCo4d-O7t3tPjWgDRaBtFQru-f3Wluk3O6gr_jyIcKxASSXxBruDK2/s320/IMG_9086.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-71133721060085714262023-06-27T07:00:00.005-04:002023-06-27T07:00:00.149-04:002023 Block Party<p>Saturday was the annual block my neighbors have held for years and I’ve headed up for — I don’t know? — maybe five years or so. It was a long, fun day as usual, with a few surprises.</p><p>First of all, the weather. For once, it was lovely. Usually it’s miserably hot, and sometimes there’s a giant rain shower. And mosquitoes, always mosquitos. But this year it was pretty mild, maybe 80 or so, with only a little light rain (and a rainbow!) and few bugs in sight.</p><p>And second, the sparkles. Our driveway hosted a craft table, and a neighbor or two brought down containers of glitter. Which, of course, were promptly spilled all over our driveway. So thick that I could make designs with the air vac when I took a turn to sweep them up. There are sparkles on the porch, in the yard, up and down the street and even on our kitchen counters. I will be finding them for years.</p><p>But it was fun to catch up with neighbors I haven’t talked to in a while and hang out with the neighbors I know, love and see almost every day. Of course, the kids loved the piñata and riding their bikes up and down the barricaded block. And when the kids went to bed, we stayed up way too late with our friends. Til next year!</p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-3534307422270855192023-06-20T07:00:00.014-04:002023-06-21T13:41:27.069-04:00WDW: Getting There, Animal Kingdom<p>Walt Disney World in the summer -- I had never been there then and never had a great desire to, either. Don't get me wrong: I love Disney World. But we have mostly gone later in the year, either in September or November. Or spring break when I was younger. Either way, not in the heat of summer.</p><p>Our trip earlier this month changed that. And despite temperatures in the 90s, it wasn't as bad as I expected. Oh for sure the sun was hot -- it sometimes felt like the sun's rays were pricking into my skin -- but in the shade it wasn't so bad. Yes, there were moments during the last couple of days that it felt like the humidity was sucking the breath out of me, but we were in air conditioning most of the time. Have I convinced you to go on a June trip to Florida yet?</p><p>The weather wasn't as bad as I feared, but I still wouldn't take the chance of going later in the summer unless there was a very compelling reason. The crowds also weren't as low as our November trips, but we rode everything we wanted to ... maybe just not as many times as we would have preferred to ride them, in some cases.</p><p>Anyway, I'll break down our trip over a few posts. Overall, we spent two days each at Magic Kingdom and Epcot, and one each at Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. I awoke earlier on each park day than I typically do at home, and went to sleep earlier as well, exhausted. But it was a rewarding time.</p><p>We caught a 9:45 a.m. Saturday flight out of Columbus and landed in Orlando around noon. The kids were eager to go swimming, but that got delayed til after supper thanks to a storm that shut down the pool. We stayed at Pop Century Resort, so we couldn't resist a quick Skyliner ride before bed, and we even managed to catch some fireworks from the sky.</p><p>On Sunday we went to Animal Kingdom, and that night Atticus said it had felt like we had already been on vacation for a week! It was a full day, and an early one. We were out the door by 7 a.m. to catch a bus for the park's 7:30 opening. We hit all of the main rides in the morning and the shows during the heat. Atticus loved Flight of Passage and Edith Expedition Everest (which we got walk-on rides onto in the evening before the 8 p.m. close, in addition to the morning ride). </p><p>Great start to the trip!</p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-48437897231514868692023-06-13T07:00:00.001-04:002023-06-13T07:00:00.136-04:00A Disney World Vacation<p>I’ll keep this short today — we just got back Sunday evening from a week at Walt Disney World, and I need a vacation from vacation! I got up earlier than I normally do and walked miles longer — mostly in 80- to 95-degree heat. But we had a blast despite the weather and crowds. A few photos today, and more next week:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQLH2c3jBBYCvOXGBAA_cjD2hkLBSjqimEG6bSfI-CwMMQjboidtGVuXVoXZVaMMpLEP7DV9G1BTRXUVR9U3D3vlYwiK7MLDJLV5u-H3WfOeqtaiIF6Eu1eaCqoDNFJIuEkqNHsRD2xOjm93de5TExQkyeBl1Dwf88rjvdu81bgPcTqXAdJslNFEe7w/s4032/IMG_9098.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQLH2c3jBBYCvOXGBAA_cjD2hkLBSjqimEG6bSfI-CwMMQjboidtGVuXVoXZVaMMpLEP7DV9G1BTRXUVR9U3D3vlYwiK7MLDJLV5u-H3WfOeqtaiIF6Eu1eaCqoDNFJIuEkqNHsRD2xOjm93de5TExQkyeBl1Dwf88rjvdu81bgPcTqXAdJslNFEe7w/s320/IMG_9098.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_3K3jUnhDt1HHGxSt1KAdv0xVIftpa_N1J2mUNlnah_f0qOttchQeAT-i5SEdOzAL7UvlsLeqrGH4JNIb7HmdDK4dOnEDCHNgXGPKy_XeoETArLtaYoEE_US2TBhTEIvrzI_IYd3d4ravmxpy-4de0ktfQpnrjwsunygjgCRCALPLJFXuB0iP9e4jw/s4032/IMG_9100.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_3K3jUnhDt1HHGxSt1KAdv0xVIftpa_N1J2mUNlnah_f0qOttchQeAT-i5SEdOzAL7UvlsLeqrGH4JNIb7HmdDK4dOnEDCHNgXGPKy_XeoETArLtaYoEE_US2TBhTEIvrzI_IYd3d4ravmxpy-4de0ktfQpnrjwsunygjgCRCALPLJFXuB0iP9e4jw/s320/IMG_9100.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFP1ncQbAkE7qeusFf089xcZdpVfBOOYdvUUNIooneKdEGYiWKwvlkjhxzNrso1xb6lpXHFen1rY0vtLSI7MpJE8IqdNliWBK4FMMIjPNGDnjcao5MHAsmAmHKjCKSjyEkp93HxyXD9qAwj3sR56XeQrfuhuYGQy8jO9h24TgTSAp66CiKCwL024dKw/s4032/IMG_9141.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFP1ncQbAkE7qeusFf089xcZdpVfBOOYdvUUNIooneKdEGYiWKwvlkjhxzNrso1xb6lpXHFen1rY0vtLSI7MpJE8IqdNliWBK4FMMIjPNGDnjcao5MHAsmAmHKjCKSjyEkp93HxyXD9qAwj3sR56XeQrfuhuYGQy8jO9h24TgTSAp66CiKCwL024dKw/s320/IMG_9141.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSW5trEjHxySBsDhBFTciVh_CIov2zppQm8r-_yaKhdjEw00IsNsd1D-NMAgMvEYoz5JxFvaHOUBHeihtIewHGUFJkmNZfibilOgq1LsUE1C3ZzK1uuxkOSjyYTP31lVTcXR4rPNcwQMCebN0iDjPy4us_DqVk0lr-CRonJdqM4xZZJsSL9ypvbrIbiQ/s4032/IMG_9164.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSW5trEjHxySBsDhBFTciVh_CIov2zppQm8r-_yaKhdjEw00IsNsd1D-NMAgMvEYoz5JxFvaHOUBHeihtIewHGUFJkmNZfibilOgq1LsUE1C3ZzK1uuxkOSjyYTP31lVTcXR4rPNcwQMCebN0iDjPy4us_DqVk0lr-CRonJdqM4xZZJsSL9ypvbrIbiQ/s320/IMG_9164.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34sJ3z0m3oB4gPqBUtAnXe1rHbMy846FfZJ5xX2FCuqXVGW5BTkewCme9S3w0W2ZtaYYmCay1dyNFre3go-ivEfytORIyo334BWl6Y7o3zgYTEqHEpnRdaid1FFy1u9_sffvwNZFE4O5kOBRI6nXI6gisneS7gvrI6OFicXYaQL7I90dIuINQKfE2Ng/s4032/IMG_9169.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34sJ3z0m3oB4gPqBUtAnXe1rHbMy846FfZJ5xX2FCuqXVGW5BTkewCme9S3w0W2ZtaYYmCay1dyNFre3go-ivEfytORIyo334BWl6Y7o3zgYTEqHEpnRdaid1FFy1u9_sffvwNZFE4O5kOBRI6nXI6gisneS7gvrI6OFicXYaQL7I90dIuINQKfE2Ng/s320/IMG_9169.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACNxoHjK8wgPWR716spBTZW82fJx_unAaqfRT0EdGBRdOtb5VtUh78pDkspoaTL0Hb3FYCGd9HAaEyuJD2ZBDotnG7JdhLs0L95g9d3fJx-8p4-BMXzWDlNi4ii4Wkz-gnqHF47mWDxUdfQAHPB3_GOTorDlKd7uKALQXPQ6X6F_VL1n5pKN27MEC9Q/s3088/IMG_9237.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACNxoHjK8wgPWR716spBTZW82fJx_unAaqfRT0EdGBRdOtb5VtUh78pDkspoaTL0Hb3FYCGd9HAaEyuJD2ZBDotnG7JdhLs0L95g9d3fJx-8p4-BMXzWDlNi4ii4Wkz-gnqHF47mWDxUdfQAHPB3_GOTorDlKd7uKALQXPQ6X6F_VL1n5pKN27MEC9Q/s320/IMG_9237.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-61975458598997134752023-05-23T06:50:00.003-04:002023-05-23T06:50:30.195-04:00Edith’s Spring Archery Tournament<p>Congratulations to Edith, who won second place in a community archery tournament this weekend! Of the eight participants, I think she was both the shortest and the youngest, and I know the winner was 16 years old to her 10.</p><p>This is her second trophy in as many tournaments this school year, and she keeps getting better. There were four rounds, and this was just one — obviously she was aiming at the bottom left:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUqD-Ekr5p_Z_F8wgRBFJgWYp6_MdA9rLi0lYtMrEX9gD3l_FTFAuGMB92MABVQPityxP_IXGArMoOCAa3VnfrugqJk17sJ-Op8OoiGn2RdPTHQkBNUY6OSTlHOwhSSM4EgP9eHABgpNdwneifSL6ipNi1q7w0aDAK8MjyO56pJ27_9whFs_CCqiyuw/s4032/IMG_8973.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUqD-Ekr5p_Z_F8wgRBFJgWYp6_MdA9rLi0lYtMrEX9gD3l_FTFAuGMB92MABVQPityxP_IXGArMoOCAa3VnfrugqJk17sJ-Op8OoiGn2RdPTHQkBNUY6OSTlHOwhSSM4EgP9eHABgpNdwneifSL6ipNi1q7w0aDAK8MjyO56pJ27_9whFs_CCqiyuw/s320/IMG_8973.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>She was thrilled!</p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-16977577086808573752023-05-16T07:00:00.012-04:002023-05-16T07:00:00.143-04:00Museum After Museum in Washington, D.C.<p>So I skipped a few weeks writing about April's long weekend in Washington, D.C., but here it is -- our whirlwind tour of a few of the Smithsonian museums!</p><p>After about eight hours of touring the monuments followed by a food truck lunch, it was 3 p.m. Many of the Smithsonian museums close around 5:30 p.m., but they are free so we felt no qualms about popping in one to check it out. So on Easter Day we checked out the National Museum of Natural History. We only stayed about an hour. It was fine but extremely crowded.</p><p>The next day we headed to the American History museum just after breakfast. We spent much longer than I expected there -- about four hours, including lunch. Highlights included the flag that inspired the Star-Spangled Banner, along with a display of dresses worn by First Ladies. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgul8MYIMWPu2NanI7NokPBUshF9tJhkOAQeSpcz28eEup1z8U7vGVLcaKd1MRT--EmggmxfSrGXCS1Q4lqNZw7yoQ4aew6mc7A-9aWY29Z2c0QN9NbPy6lIufhGObLrTtxs3Iy3RAgRf2SSCeoFMhG5tMwUwG-CJ2q5RNro_JeVPymSTQhtfeiYifA8w/s4032/IMG_8543.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgul8MYIMWPu2NanI7NokPBUshF9tJhkOAQeSpcz28eEup1z8U7vGVLcaKd1MRT--EmggmxfSrGXCS1Q4lqNZw7yoQ4aew6mc7A-9aWY29Z2c0QN9NbPy6lIufhGObLrTtxs3Iy3RAgRf2SSCeoFMhG5tMwUwG-CJ2q5RNro_JeVPymSTQhtfeiYifA8w/s320/IMG_8543.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75pb_xibFOOp_oyV8GHMCICvoK1gKUSWixlCdMkYHqFKddwOCkbLhXybicY0BTPj-oCI59czRHuqCDDAeRl2Smwjh7eMzJ-9g_c10W9HCftP0fdnrum1xQTSe5Ni4y58WRP5BJx74kl1F0c6p8Oq2h5iBi7raHSUvrNYFoNTeqCQZHdDhUaZ_s-h4dg/s4032/IMG_8548.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75pb_xibFOOp_oyV8GHMCICvoK1gKUSWixlCdMkYHqFKddwOCkbLhXybicY0BTPj-oCI59czRHuqCDDAeRl2Smwjh7eMzJ-9g_c10W9HCftP0fdnrum1xQTSe5Ni4y58WRP5BJx74kl1F0c6p8Oq2h5iBi7raHSUvrNYFoNTeqCQZHdDhUaZ_s-h4dg/s320/IMG_8548.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>The Air and Space Museum was one of the few (or only, I'm not sure) museums that required a timed ticket. Unfortunately by the time I got around to claiming them a few weeks before we left, only 3 p.m. was left. It ended up being plenty of time, probably because half of the museum was closed for renovations. The highlight there included seeing the real Wright Flyer -- a must as an Ohioan! Paul and Atticus especially enjoyed the space exhibits.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcQr3Is1oZGJ0DgtZRnSWv1afyysEjCfxo0DPXpwkfe6l_N6L0xdpW15_E7ELFteVeOJt83yo_XoKsazQdSDzVgIRIK3l7MJYVtMwQ7Vf2cbiOLOizPGji6zO8ivL2NmZJWPWKXZCoPBZnnFS-ETGLKtZFySyTDV_lwtkHh8E9o1paQaC-8y6HjaQ9A/s4032/IMG_8554.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcQr3Is1oZGJ0DgtZRnSWv1afyysEjCfxo0DPXpwkfe6l_N6L0xdpW15_E7ELFteVeOJt83yo_XoKsazQdSDzVgIRIK3l7MJYVtMwQ7Vf2cbiOLOizPGji6zO8ivL2NmZJWPWKXZCoPBZnnFS-ETGLKtZFySyTDV_lwtkHh8E9o1paQaC-8y6HjaQ9A/s320/IMG_8554.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiE8j_L1PYVQjMtnJlWGz8_qNYsMSYyhjeTPxehAlf3uHwKVivbo3cmxhyEYM4K08E9OtCvfHQ89hqcjww70Q-BvdR7bruLtfttUbFacyadZazuBjeGXm50sGM4guHVUCxCpwQfHtMY2fQ09nHXXV4zAzSfPgzzhetLTWdQWpQLvsP-EDH4BuPnC11IQ/s4032/IMG_8556.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiE8j_L1PYVQjMtnJlWGz8_qNYsMSYyhjeTPxehAlf3uHwKVivbo3cmxhyEYM4K08E9OtCvfHQ89hqcjww70Q-BvdR7bruLtfttUbFacyadZazuBjeGXm50sGM4guHVUCxCpwQfHtMY2fQ09nHXXV4zAzSfPgzzhetLTWdQWpQLvsP-EDH4BuPnC11IQ/s320/IMG_8556.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi_iSk6HI9FxxHM9YdXzU72aadjlnyKnzajxY2XKdYza3lFLT1SfGdN_KHcrzaAwYHLLQT9U9D9aGVKvOtR8uxtoX75o4sTWn8BZ4cZcGnlKA4Gc0dqrlREZkHDEpj4_qlw0vEdHjeVhfil5axKO6wjz0YIh-G3T_qRTQf-3CXw6rH5we65iFjWCe8A/s4032/IMG_8560.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi_iSk6HI9FxxHM9YdXzU72aadjlnyKnzajxY2XKdYza3lFLT1SfGdN_KHcrzaAwYHLLQT9U9D9aGVKvOtR8uxtoX75o4sTWn8BZ4cZcGnlKA4Gc0dqrlREZkHDEpj4_qlw0vEdHjeVhfil5axKO6wjz0YIh-G3T_qRTQf-3CXw6rH5we65iFjWCe8A/s320/IMG_8560.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Not a museum of course, but we followed them up that day with a walk around the Capital Building and a glimpse of the Supreme Court building behind it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnhAEKDNs0wgHxJ5dbk0sZ0_EaGUuwHOGENGB2ZwO7U4R3YP7Gu-noHi28LfYMQ4NhlBXoteLKpE41kdYdxVIe-jwvVKkifexe_fRXCVjN7ErhtGK64LJhKBAtxeP9a5X84ewZTW30BtbuL2TBE_F0j0hKvRGwvhV0lijPYyRGsFAgtIZpDlvr09SOQ/s4032/IMG_8599.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnhAEKDNs0wgHxJ5dbk0sZ0_EaGUuwHOGENGB2ZwO7U4R3YP7Gu-noHi28LfYMQ4NhlBXoteLKpE41kdYdxVIe-jwvVKkifexe_fRXCVjN7ErhtGK64LJhKBAtxeP9a5X84ewZTW30BtbuL2TBE_F0j0hKvRGwvhV0lijPYyRGsFAgtIZpDlvr09SOQ/s320/IMG_8599.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppA5G0yX10kJsch_ggwu2liP-hnIT30rHGdP824FUz-_ZDw_OgC_sdqEaNuXLjoaU2lF7PqzSoSTIWceT1q4um89vb8vpfSoLwdbzfuWzpFMsdFZj4NzdSIl0O6TlwuhGmlp60eP6SK6nUp85Hheg5dNFhJX7qxsDNSE2_afEYx3Xa-TnhFFdrD5xYA/s4032/IMG_8573.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppA5G0yX10kJsch_ggwu2liP-hnIT30rHGdP824FUz-_ZDw_OgC_sdqEaNuXLjoaU2lF7PqzSoSTIWceT1q4um89vb8vpfSoLwdbzfuWzpFMsdFZj4NzdSIl0O6TlwuhGmlp60eP6SK6nUp85Hheg5dNFhJX7qxsDNSE2_afEYx3Xa-TnhFFdrD5xYA/s320/IMG_8573.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAzDpmxze53Z8wifdt9wzEm-pK6kOVkPBPOKYAkljX0lIFrStFmoNAv_foe2oVLPdF0pti_OwndRK7T0S6qrcCnMRXrSQF3sEUT4GpsnlJTfeoVkhXliLM1iVEEgUPJodHcje3Um2xUJGl-iOh7o0izwnBNzfJqZ9dUw_kGzbRw2gs7GKvvyOtnLrMg/s4032/IMG_8576.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAzDpmxze53Z8wifdt9wzEm-pK6kOVkPBPOKYAkljX0lIFrStFmoNAv_foe2oVLPdF0pti_OwndRK7T0S6qrcCnMRXrSQF3sEUT4GpsnlJTfeoVkhXliLM1iVEEgUPJodHcje3Um2xUJGl-iOh7o0izwnBNzfJqZ9dUw_kGzbRw2gs7GKvvyOtnLrMg/s320/IMG_8576.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qpc_s6l4EHWtlP-8SMjhtmzy5GV76mMdNGfAFgfNKaFsV2N7cd1fUW6kmnJoS56sCo1YubfCVhm9PnRNKP7_rAzaNSMaw-7O6RgvKOYx8hwBKiNhHbGw9ZQBD_wvezkcMYyk-6YO6erB2TpJTP85QsjseUPQ45vN86qWqEGd2-nCKy6jTx4-zMHEWg/s4032/IMG_8581.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qpc_s6l4EHWtlP-8SMjhtmzy5GV76mMdNGfAFgfNKaFsV2N7cd1fUW6kmnJoS56sCo1YubfCVhm9PnRNKP7_rAzaNSMaw-7O6RgvKOYx8hwBKiNhHbGw9ZQBD_wvezkcMYyk-6YO6erB2TpJTP85QsjseUPQ45vN86qWqEGd2-nCKy6jTx4-zMHEWg/s320/IMG_8581.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSdvyB5cd5w6TBSYRqO9GL2TTDYB-DkY2rN_q9stTn6kCcqZhXjMqgZHpwRY6I-sOFRC3eYmJNDxrtJuWG_l-eFBLobpC2JOIOnszy_eBUrIC-MnTmLKIhOeuei5-lNI5kD6YGXaPPGH1teYuBLctsMY1E0q7fy6jrxuoINGzBDb76QJFkNgPSfN7Ag/s4032/IMG_8596.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSdvyB5cd5w6TBSYRqO9GL2TTDYB-DkY2rN_q9stTn6kCcqZhXjMqgZHpwRY6I-sOFRC3eYmJNDxrtJuWG_l-eFBLobpC2JOIOnszy_eBUrIC-MnTmLKIhOeuei5-lNI5kD6YGXaPPGH1teYuBLctsMY1E0q7fy6jrxuoINGzBDb76QJFkNgPSfN7Ag/s320/IMG_8596.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The next morning we dropped off our luggage to our car and walked the few blocks to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery. We viewed the Presidential portraits and a sampling of all others.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYCX26wcTEOz9AF15XfZGq2l7PlRQaXCQYMDcGYe0TZtzUhUP5nIb7IpWGdVueaWtv8IcbLqHUL0SEL26Ia8nKOaY5ii-piIoYanooMWqWqY7BSUpMbZ_q7W8WFb5pE1oWCwYUw286m-8fxG9gOBtb5yZf4P7Gj5ReiVl8S6BrS6MHHX-IFlbjYXK0g/s4032/IMG_8603.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYCX26wcTEOz9AF15XfZGq2l7PlRQaXCQYMDcGYe0TZtzUhUP5nIb7IpWGdVueaWtv8IcbLqHUL0SEL26Ia8nKOaY5ii-piIoYanooMWqWqY7BSUpMbZ_q7W8WFb5pE1oWCwYUw286m-8fxG9gOBtb5yZf4P7Gj5ReiVl8S6BrS6MHHX-IFlbjYXK0g/s320/IMG_8603.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ye66-TscQjIwbQPVH8xnZy3ctJ_xSpdWkXqHa5BhaLHQoNKAn25pdaARMAGgmP6hUKe3osGzPaEZYaO9fA9VQE-0ksaD2rdFcAX6nQ5aLO0qQ_6XNlaNLjwu-4nEbKTx-sIhvgeXLpP8y2MaIwNv4puXe8dzBG6kltxFWxq0CInlzM48qyWLHQnAZw/s4032/IMG_8604.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ye66-TscQjIwbQPVH8xnZy3ctJ_xSpdWkXqHa5BhaLHQoNKAn25pdaARMAGgmP6hUKe3osGzPaEZYaO9fA9VQE-0ksaD2rdFcAX6nQ5aLO0qQ_6XNlaNLjwu-4nEbKTx-sIhvgeXLpP8y2MaIwNv4puXe8dzBG6kltxFWxq0CInlzM48qyWLHQnAZw/s320/IMG_8604.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Worn out after a busy 4 1/2 days, we were in the car heading home by 1:30 p.m. What a wonderful few days! It was the trip I remembered taking to D.C. as a kid, and I hope our own kids got just as much out of it.</p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-41790768564039097692023-05-02T07:00:00.004-04:002023-05-02T07:00:00.149-04:00Atticus's First Communion<p>Saturday was a special day in our family, and for Atticus especially. He received his First Communion! We celebrated at home with family after a special mass for our church's second graders.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoggq3AkIcJhicXlIlepujFvOLzGwGJlSniFnpmnbkOub7OzxmpcoM-ge5Yiw9-IKBHdyLous6cNST7nssKtCEGRPpCqm-IynksqgwnlvQ0ZQKnlHboI9W0swRtXvhRdVIhgI_v1PhOA3gakvSRwAQdmxoJUgYe8RDppuQT6PqlT7689ZKK7D3phCjA/s4032/IMG_8744.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoggq3AkIcJhicXlIlepujFvOLzGwGJlSniFnpmnbkOub7OzxmpcoM-ge5Yiw9-IKBHdyLous6cNST7nssKtCEGRPpCqm-IynksqgwnlvQ0ZQKnlHboI9W0swRtXvhRdVIhgI_v1PhOA3gakvSRwAQdmxoJUgYe8RDppuQT6PqlT7689ZKK7D3phCjA/s320/IMG_8744.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47ILVqWQUzz_7qTjjGzDamJYRablBH53_pOpkMJ1tzuITO0OuKT5XkmbGMqKhQoAkzW_urkqkh9nTx0t6b9pfi8SAbjrhHJIBdK3a3WvKhDODILakLCVGbHoHXdh7Mhlge8SNmu6yIN7V8zjKhAVeGSN7pNzl5in0tbZQZadIl5TxenkSEKgG9AcMgw/s4032/IMG_8794.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47ILVqWQUzz_7qTjjGzDamJYRablBH53_pOpkMJ1tzuITO0OuKT5XkmbGMqKhQoAkzW_urkqkh9nTx0t6b9pfi8SAbjrhHJIBdK3a3WvKhDODILakLCVGbHoHXdh7Mhlge8SNmu6yIN7V8zjKhAVeGSN7pNzl5in0tbZQZadIl5TxenkSEKgG9AcMgw/s320/IMG_8794.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAUMntK2G719X0fyeT1f8BvwQmIECr-X6QSz1zTaEUzNOqqe8-I3xo77sCqKZEwzKA0LEsrFWhXPXrGpWQQJC1wxeORNIsV9FEaMvyC2cDqssGYKnwZ7mq0esHEs1Ii3zExVzYDmLUN1aQxwKvAJOjFMOQcUZy0tLSsv0-TM_4jeZQVub4FW8cg8nSQ/s4032/IMG_8804.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAUMntK2G719X0fyeT1f8BvwQmIECr-X6QSz1zTaEUzNOqqe8-I3xo77sCqKZEwzKA0LEsrFWhXPXrGpWQQJC1wxeORNIsV9FEaMvyC2cDqssGYKnwZ7mq0esHEs1Ii3zExVzYDmLUN1aQxwKvAJOjFMOQcUZy0tLSsv0-TM_4jeZQVub4FW8cg8nSQ/s320/IMG_8804.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizz2cX6NH9GJALdtLDIyAbs2hzzUeRVMbOI6scwHUQVKp9_4VOUJnRc7HBwZCRxZrq0OF98MQpiRXtjIDh7Ls054fih_8XfTeZdBt94Roi_ag7hE2IvAj7uzFcQYeDqD94BS3YFkPhNf6cYGRo99b1vCRx5CTcVbx3VFa0oeY1o_DwxZoo_Fxm8unH5Q/s4032/IMG_8811.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizz2cX6NH9GJALdtLDIyAbs2hzzUeRVMbOI6scwHUQVKp9_4VOUJnRc7HBwZCRxZrq0OF98MQpiRXtjIDh7Ls054fih_8XfTeZdBt94Roi_ag7hE2IvAj7uzFcQYeDqD94BS3YFkPhNf6cYGRo99b1vCRx5CTcVbx3VFa0oeY1o_DwxZoo_Fxm8unH5Q/s320/IMG_8811.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-29835074414682378312023-04-25T07:00:00.018-04:002023-04-25T07:00:00.148-04:00Walking the Memorials of Washington, D.C. -- with Kids<p>We arrived in Washington, D.C., on a Saturday evening. If it were just Paul and me, I would have dragged him around to see the monuments at night. But since we had a 10- and 8-year-old with us, we walked 20 minutes to the National Mall to see the Washington Monument lit up in one direction and the Capitol in the other, then returned to our hotel.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsb8vkvVCkbxhbwCOvEJHSh13MKzAWtL6KqFHnf-AB8K0kCZxw1Px37FAA9FL0UqtdODxDUJDt4C9eh3zF3YoVE2niRBWb8l6X9Hk9P5Wo4f4Suk7OYNZY7dhhExFs93aPJUPxRqrpfpLOKTUcoEb3WVa7uhkwjTihBgOk7nK2Dj4_zvbR8g7sdW-Nug/s4032/IMG_8444.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsb8vkvVCkbxhbwCOvEJHSh13MKzAWtL6KqFHnf-AB8K0kCZxw1Px37FAA9FL0UqtdODxDUJDt4C9eh3zF3YoVE2niRBWb8l6X9Hk9P5Wo4f4Suk7OYNZY7dhhExFs93aPJUPxRqrpfpLOKTUcoEb3WVa7uhkwjTihBgOk7nK2Dj4_zvbR8g7sdW-Nug/s320/IMG_8444.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FkuRFCduV5ORmXbvnOzcrGATyn-CReNfYquxmKYNJ-9938Xy06mmlIBlHQmlk_Nx9a_i4F1Ys9JpdAjPdDNpX5FDePwyfFGKcfFu0-Al03qxdS9SgJlKTk3H7KzjHKviNfCdpZJQHvhNreWiqGeqiM3-SmP6Y14FVEy-HCXKiVI7J1pW3VUAmj8hZw/s4032/IMG_8446.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FkuRFCduV5ORmXbvnOzcrGATyn-CReNfYquxmKYNJ-9938Xy06mmlIBlHQmlk_Nx9a_i4F1Ys9JpdAjPdDNpX5FDePwyfFGKcfFu0-Al03qxdS9SgJlKTk3H7KzjHKviNfCdpZJQHvhNreWiqGeqiM3-SmP6Y14FVEy-HCXKiVI7J1pW3VUAmj8hZw/s320/IMG_8446.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Sunday was Easter, and we had special plans -- 10 a.m. tickets to the top of the Washington Monument. We were out the door around 8:30 to take a few photos at the White House first, and then off we went.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscdU53-norO0YXu7W2ggbHWtxb018ZE9kJRbAbKkENC9W6nhluokFPQfyvXL1Sf3pxjqh6Hna3Kaxp2E0Vz8nUB5XDFjC2noP00oyLLnrhGfrEYgXBZNIUZAxBZHwiUtZ6-A75KWvKx-ghLb1qefYC8Qqh32VLomeHYJR1XvR9JXAW_M6nI5wn5kwfw/s4032/IMG_8458.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscdU53-norO0YXu7W2ggbHWtxb018ZE9kJRbAbKkENC9W6nhluokFPQfyvXL1Sf3pxjqh6Hna3Kaxp2E0Vz8nUB5XDFjC2noP00oyLLnrhGfrEYgXBZNIUZAxBZHwiUtZ6-A75KWvKx-ghLb1qefYC8Qqh32VLomeHYJR1XvR9JXAW_M6nI5wn5kwfw/s320/IMG_8458.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFt9GODZfOck5E7BBboXS1shB-UuttMAGuuR5tyTqhVEhl-m28RfCwDM-7jpUX1C_AiXEvt72EzbrMvSIx77eAQc8WfY9OckzoovHmanQoENmAR5OICMvy8lToGQhWWalCVjYMdtkviwSOEoBEXd_Sd0A_bU0c__YNy80ULHbDj1803v18_oP-PlxcA/s4032/IMG_8461.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFt9GODZfOck5E7BBboXS1shB-UuttMAGuuR5tyTqhVEhl-m28RfCwDM-7jpUX1C_AiXEvt72EzbrMvSIx77eAQc8WfY9OckzoovHmanQoENmAR5OICMvy8lToGQhWWalCVjYMdtkviwSOEoBEXd_Sd0A_bU0c__YNy80ULHbDj1803v18_oP-PlxcA/s320/IMG_8461.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6AExrvUolYYvB1AObPTfXtnaCZ83dXIq-fmKj_RmlxuKA4Rq6iU0uPj2xi2fIwyADzZSf5C3n_HPyz66i7cNCfQ2vMNidmBsL7UvcOqnIF8SZRmEw5B0qn1UKgaQamQxp95Zt86GjBGUbnI4Kk3GOejUWpVFhevXRwbFYSCOXM1Jc6Qd_jteeq8LFw/s3088/IMG_8464.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6AExrvUolYYvB1AObPTfXtnaCZ83dXIq-fmKj_RmlxuKA4Rq6iU0uPj2xi2fIwyADzZSf5C3n_HPyz66i7cNCfQ2vMNidmBsL7UvcOqnIF8SZRmEw5B0qn1UKgaQamQxp95Zt86GjBGUbnI4Kk3GOejUWpVFhevXRwbFYSCOXM1Jc6Qd_jteeq8LFw/s320/IMG_8464.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The Washington Monument tickets were difficult to get -- free, but released a month in advance and gone in minutes. I was lucky to snag four. It ended up being a highlight of the trip. It was a clear, bright, sunny morning, and the views were magnificent.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0v983yRdxT8IKrRqsOtHYzSOPeFD1hGlnmYWiCHV2EUHovgBz0IOuXWekHvAJ8nBiNxS7nisoaJVEqko-m0NcoP0ZJph8VVBdcJSJwbR5k003Kmj2DSxs8E1_xPBgiJ_hHvCkv3hel86CoxkoUYyp4COv2fYp1UCDUoFy9ocoCCI2mLgEYVGUcoosA/s4032/IMG_8469.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0v983yRdxT8IKrRqsOtHYzSOPeFD1hGlnmYWiCHV2EUHovgBz0IOuXWekHvAJ8nBiNxS7nisoaJVEqko-m0NcoP0ZJph8VVBdcJSJwbR5k003Kmj2DSxs8E1_xPBgiJ_hHvCkv3hel86CoxkoUYyp4COv2fYp1UCDUoFy9ocoCCI2mLgEYVGUcoosA/s320/IMG_8469.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruHMKZC1mRikXPpYJVu2BGgysgrtUP5m2G13Iw-I4i7xQ30rCaMvHqDtsfrM-ViL3xb_0SabB4qvdXa_WMkivDWWwpmR2KGRk1xQrv-wNc86LVsLOI6tG29_LggTVa6hwf3pp_TZl34BjjROzBfU0BCK32muFGFw4Qg9qByX24eOKo4ha7_Pz-Ri_pw/s4032/IMG_8471.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruHMKZC1mRikXPpYJVu2BGgysgrtUP5m2G13Iw-I4i7xQ30rCaMvHqDtsfrM-ViL3xb_0SabB4qvdXa_WMkivDWWwpmR2KGRk1xQrv-wNc86LVsLOI6tG29_LggTVa6hwf3pp_TZl34BjjROzBfU0BCK32muFGFw4Qg9qByX24eOKo4ha7_Pz-Ri_pw/s320/IMG_8471.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTW0GPvdVQHfYKDG9umbA5l2FY5j1sgZPFSMV2XjmH1-DLcMxVmLgvWHfLqzuxiT6cyOLwyVgUHcA2MIliMTl4ZnoQe9VqsY4nv0T1pl1Zp4BHHmNWxtOgh074_4attzuhCnW0gGgtuX1JGgX_Ss7htac-JcEHXiMmETY5rufsbtMsKOcGVcs5f-sCLQ/s4032/IMG_8472.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTW0GPvdVQHfYKDG9umbA5l2FY5j1sgZPFSMV2XjmH1-DLcMxVmLgvWHfLqzuxiT6cyOLwyVgUHcA2MIliMTl4ZnoQe9VqsY4nv0T1pl1Zp4BHHmNWxtOgh074_4attzuhCnW0gGgtuX1JGgX_Ss7htac-JcEHXiMmETY5rufsbtMsKOcGVcs5f-sCLQ/s320/IMG_8472.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCHMStQRQuQxl8xxgPjuvAdolOolLyE5qVM2KG1H-qaqE3RRydW5LaCo6UJRo8vd21EpERe1xhSCooz3jkshVworu2zl6LlwNMI6G5XZOoS_If9225GPdaCFoRQxjImwB2c_DmkFLu91byKuISll2fVmnhL37dxQh8bBiIk2y6WMRh6qtSNXWAfcBNA/s4032/IMG_8473.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCHMStQRQuQxl8xxgPjuvAdolOolLyE5qVM2KG1H-qaqE3RRydW5LaCo6UJRo8vd21EpERe1xhSCooz3jkshVworu2zl6LlwNMI6G5XZOoS_If9225GPdaCFoRQxjImwB2c_DmkFLu91byKuISll2fVmnhL37dxQh8bBiIk2y6WMRh6qtSNXWAfcBNA/s320/IMG_8473.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4X3lnFn1nlSZatcrOXVgLELQRDktYS2wOd2o5oVrq_sk4FAh8tlNwDsw9zRYOdrscROC5Nv43182gaXXT3NRNr3GdZiGrtG4ifU5YCfDReaqDXdHIMVwBmoRldaDVVkLrpvByjh0vgcaQrDVPbaAAcrtIFJVeizKmL5xZ1uXaOW0dAIDXgWR81BHLZQ/s4032/IMG_8474.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4X3lnFn1nlSZatcrOXVgLELQRDktYS2wOd2o5oVrq_sk4FAh8tlNwDsw9zRYOdrscROC5Nv43182gaXXT3NRNr3GdZiGrtG4ifU5YCfDReaqDXdHIMVwBmoRldaDVVkLrpvByjh0vgcaQrDVPbaAAcrtIFJVeizKmL5xZ1uXaOW0dAIDXgWR81BHLZQ/s320/IMG_8474.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQO8RKGZGfHp447R51LN1WSsw4hovIX4vvPS4VVT87tmYImEZ5qpltq77Y4e7RzSq6HQyMQahxvAyp8WlJGGN7qOwaJrUid6dyC9QTNDoB_LSs2geEDftbi8VAKDqSl2NzHZFvV9vS9NhyoDASS1QBRdXEIZOk1OPjkoa5Q-x2M0lbEEY8Off4wlDcw/s4032/IMG_8479.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQO8RKGZGfHp447R51LN1WSsw4hovIX4vvPS4VVT87tmYImEZ5qpltq77Y4e7RzSq6HQyMQahxvAyp8WlJGGN7qOwaJrUid6dyC9QTNDoB_LSs2geEDftbi8VAKDqSl2NzHZFvV9vS9NhyoDASS1QBRdXEIZOk1OPjkoa5Q-x2M0lbEEY8Off4wlDcw/s320/IMG_8479.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSgR94TPibwnxIFCZOAiuf9MBKSCzgXdNU-PjXAwNe1DYurqTvygjsOF3nL4q5i5Ej269lvKLMg68mvQgp_PNbwdu_lWoStHpJ-x9unJurMQ_hcmvgPTp7qgJO6eb2dNZgVdmB8WfNoPwvxzBBv5exanvHtGM07xLmSIiKy1CCaaEv-6N6q2oJS7U5g/s4032/IMG_8483.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSgR94TPibwnxIFCZOAiuf9MBKSCzgXdNU-PjXAwNe1DYurqTvygjsOF3nL4q5i5Ej269lvKLMg68mvQgp_PNbwdu_lWoStHpJ-x9unJurMQ_hcmvgPTp7qgJO6eb2dNZgVdmB8WfNoPwvxzBBv5exanvHtGM07xLmSIiKy1CCaaEv-6N6q2oJS7U5g/s320/IMG_8483.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>We were on our feet for eight hours that day, touring the series of memorials and monuments around the Reflecting Pool and Tidal Basin. In order: Washington, World War II, Vietnam, Lincoln, Korean, MLK, FDR and Jefferson.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCg9T0IHYvxiinz55iO6QEBA0CSDfdJR0dzOBbx0YvlUaP-ugj3RTm10UuWZcf8lO4eBJV-KZM1peCFOZVI98GgLn_sQGFb7Gy8uH-0BbfoXIcOXa0eZw2E6T4cv_wZM6MFq-u7s993VdkEUTeLH4PJeAgYPiCUJaf8pOjK6up_GsMf1b0XcEAyVPBQ/s4032/IMG_8488.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCg9T0IHYvxiinz55iO6QEBA0CSDfdJR0dzOBbx0YvlUaP-ugj3RTm10UuWZcf8lO4eBJV-KZM1peCFOZVI98GgLn_sQGFb7Gy8uH-0BbfoXIcOXa0eZw2E6T4cv_wZM6MFq-u7s993VdkEUTeLH4PJeAgYPiCUJaf8pOjK6up_GsMf1b0XcEAyVPBQ/s320/IMG_8488.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30MDGObVjwbnCzBPvquUHQU98af--5j7R44qah6z2ffsp-UYJUYYhWJgFCAU8EQdnT6nOG1OEMzsN-C7tuLjWE3z008Gr13u1B-BUfDvm2i_TpEETnbYzpUUNDI6YqbC2e_QpyCtGb_Zl6Qsy_ExIAffIv999J5de0beFU2gkomgS7bm41w_WtrA_rQ/s4032/IMG_8504.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30MDGObVjwbnCzBPvquUHQU98af--5j7R44qah6z2ffsp-UYJUYYhWJgFCAU8EQdnT6nOG1OEMzsN-C7tuLjWE3z008Gr13u1B-BUfDvm2i_TpEETnbYzpUUNDI6YqbC2e_QpyCtGb_Zl6Qsy_ExIAffIv999J5de0beFU2gkomgS7bm41w_WtrA_rQ/s320/IMG_8504.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvC19ZVDkRL0ZMRgAfbpVK9YMMc6RuCv8rZYpkujSfEjQKWbErt9UwUDSSaiJjtnzeEzo4BJyRSOyvtbZ7DuJDQe9kYmbsGImHBN31oqGAx6e2UKJMc7hea6JlKg_EC1oCUiLQx5t2EnMlk1g4w1B09sAcFRcH_8x8_dqAb0JJsCqVn_NtINqmc1i5DQ/s4032/IMG_8508.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvC19ZVDkRL0ZMRgAfbpVK9YMMc6RuCv8rZYpkujSfEjQKWbErt9UwUDSSaiJjtnzeEzo4BJyRSOyvtbZ7DuJDQe9kYmbsGImHBN31oqGAx6e2UKJMc7hea6JlKg_EC1oCUiLQx5t2EnMlk1g4w1B09sAcFRcH_8x8_dqAb0JJsCqVn_NtINqmc1i5DQ/s320/IMG_8508.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SK92w4w-pPFH2gV87TT4MY_bES0mujDv1035n4uQYV-1eCbPC8TJJOm1mtM-YvLPISf71s3WjdgZREXcnRFnZOGXkMg1YG6W0LzwPNlJAgpXIjoGNNi4_2Msalc7ewhsSl2fgbAYDK3_aqUDC_SjoSSsLyhMoP2HfbrI-bm5vuDmZAt8uCdek_V7uw/s4032/IMG_8522.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SK92w4w-pPFH2gV87TT4MY_bES0mujDv1035n4uQYV-1eCbPC8TJJOm1mtM-YvLPISf71s3WjdgZREXcnRFnZOGXkMg1YG6W0LzwPNlJAgpXIjoGNNi4_2Msalc7ewhsSl2fgbAYDK3_aqUDC_SjoSSsLyhMoP2HfbrI-bm5vuDmZAt8uCdek_V7uw/s320/IMG_8522.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLLQgNxpmsgW28bp3al0sDjIW7OD6YbykQKLZfLaK1BTEH2Y4VfUPvprN5WtG20Wt0fUoZb1xOaO-vp-Pdbvf9wJ74Cqs8cny0CxPGjK9k7qXU5HbOrksMc3nJJ0w0RnfqKL1rR6YXMoZg17q73dEJxim0Baabs-XDoMJKcLr6-y6ywIizoMjr7oooA/s4032/IMG_8524.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLLQgNxpmsgW28bp3al0sDjIW7OD6YbykQKLZfLaK1BTEH2Y4VfUPvprN5WtG20Wt0fUoZb1xOaO-vp-Pdbvf9wJ74Cqs8cny0CxPGjK9k7qXU5HbOrksMc3nJJ0w0RnfqKL1rR6YXMoZg17q73dEJxim0Baabs-XDoMJKcLr6-y6ywIizoMjr7oooA/s320/IMG_8524.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>My purse was full of snacks, which kept the kids from grumbling too much. (Atticus just constantly asked for food! Edith demurred, got hangry and then was instantly in a better mood after a snack.) The whole DIY tour took about four hours from hotel to the Jefferson Memorial, with the Washington Monument taking about an hour alone.</p><p>We ate at one of the many food trucks near the Mall -- a far cry from the puny hot dog stands I remember from a trip to D.C. as a kid. Then it was off to the National Archives, where we saw the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights and even the Magna Carta.</p><p>It was a day full of history -- perfect for a fourth- and second-grader. Next week: The museums.</p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-19589710741161434062023-04-18T07:00:00.057-04:002023-04-18T07:00:00.178-04:00A Cold Day at Rehoboth Beach<p></p>Last week was spring break for the kiddos, and we took full advantage of it by driving east! We first spent a day at Rehoboth Beach, Del., followed by three days in Washington, D.C.<p></p><p>A beach trip is often on the calendar for spring breakers, but not one like this. It was COLD when we arrived around 5 p.m. on a Friday afternoon -- around 50 degrees, I think, and certainly chilly enough to wear a hoodie under my winter coat. Our hotel included a small balcony that we unfortunately never got to use. Luckily the hotel's pool was indoors, so the kids took full advantage. Of course there was no beach swimming in that weather!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6j1ixCRQuwWN2Oni3QRc1w_lcPkTMhGNObttMeTDon3Sxe0BXAr3MsdWjHDBR-9btirk5OKPw88DWQsi77v-m2QbsHIrU-32pZlusTw3tCTKObX0k2tW1Z74c3x0AsAqWymmw_PZMGfFB9IjS-sxqJwIoH4zZ7iQqhSSOG75JeONkV3lFxgHW0yjAg/s4032/IMG_8382.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6j1ixCRQuwWN2Oni3QRc1w_lcPkTMhGNObttMeTDon3Sxe0BXAr3MsdWjHDBR-9btirk5OKPw88DWQsi77v-m2QbsHIrU-32pZlusTw3tCTKObX0k2tW1Z74c3x0AsAqWymmw_PZMGfFB9IjS-sxqJwIoH4zZ7iQqhSSOG75JeONkV3lFxgHW0yjAg/s320/IMG_8382.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pGqaHeD-PVUkZdaVrVFVmFj98PXbiO8drSjETx2d4aI9B_i7RmPBPjcvShzGWLnxlQue4C3vIrjqonYVIIqpiFp2uzYy92In-O3DpUtTZykINH5VdJcGQcDI0nyn6tpQIfyEUzUWiNEJZHAkR70JZlep_bXR4eU1XxQ1OmBtEYC0iXrmiRLnlNLg-w/s4032/IMG_8386.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pGqaHeD-PVUkZdaVrVFVmFj98PXbiO8drSjETx2d4aI9B_i7RmPBPjcvShzGWLnxlQue4C3vIrjqonYVIIqpiFp2uzYy92In-O3DpUtTZykINH5VdJcGQcDI0nyn6tpQIfyEUzUWiNEJZHAkR70JZlep_bXR4eU1XxQ1OmBtEYC0iXrmiRLnlNLg-w/s320/IMG_8386.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE1Rg_rQm3HJE1KsD0P0wQxNiQ6t9HwgckUeLDlp19mZQLCmbZxB7OfbQ-h6dZtRnPKgA7RQILiE7g3ogEJSFutAf0eJayjWOV8Kkik9IXas6QuJ5nTtfEGFrXp2YcqH-MMgfpWTGdy4ZHnwMKSmjww-75o-QnhBziS-glLpVwFoq_pMWjpgCFOwnNQ/s4032/IMG_8392.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE1Rg_rQm3HJE1KsD0P0wQxNiQ6t9HwgckUeLDlp19mZQLCmbZxB7OfbQ-h6dZtRnPKgA7RQILiE7g3ogEJSFutAf0eJayjWOV8Kkik9IXas6QuJ5nTtfEGFrXp2YcqH-MMgfpWTGdy4ZHnwMKSmjww-75o-QnhBziS-glLpVwFoq_pMWjpgCFOwnNQ/s320/IMG_8392.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoqJHZSEjClqsqogU8oB8WKvmiwgjoon6n1Dzkm8hoGBLWRZjuXf7IZf-kWVwOiOGCMzu8Fez2gjhYaDwG9Anh1-gO6LSH-G2XZXl3TgG6_G4LEf6D4YbTzJUzOAbVmR9P56hjkiTxb3yN-3ijEbPTKP5kw5KRH_RLOi8tOPWFG8ZGeq0weg-s5bj9g/s4032/IMG_8393.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoqJHZSEjClqsqogU8oB8WKvmiwgjoon6n1Dzkm8hoGBLWRZjuXf7IZf-kWVwOiOGCMzu8Fez2gjhYaDwG9Anh1-gO6LSH-G2XZXl3TgG6_G4LEf6D4YbTzJUzOAbVmR9P56hjkiTxb3yN-3ijEbPTKP5kw5KRH_RLOi8tOPWFG8ZGeq0weg-s5bj9g/s320/IMG_8393.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>That evening we took a quick look at the boardwalk and the Atlantic Ocean before ordering a pizza. The next morning wasn't any warmer, but at least it was sunny. We walked along the beach with the kids darting to and from the foam and water, collecting shells. They each picked out a gummy snack from Candy Kitchen, and Paul got a big box of taffy. There were plenty of people around but it certainly wasn't crowded -- I can only imagine what it must be like in the middle of summer!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6pK78VDXSaOj5HNL8-y4gTAZrmlvsl8jqxqgz5u2i09FppBbGpqyHwpctJAaanjuvNa7t0W94cu4BDr5Gi-or3SdVF5_c4FbzqdpsYfU7lYdx3XoDpMSaaQWh-o_wNwMGh75POnjkS_UCIAgOEVSrvDQYYJKWZInXRdCP7mkkctl6ksEn5aEDcX83g/s4032/IMG_8400.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6pK78VDXSaOj5HNL8-y4gTAZrmlvsl8jqxqgz5u2i09FppBbGpqyHwpctJAaanjuvNa7t0W94cu4BDr5Gi-or3SdVF5_c4FbzqdpsYfU7lYdx3XoDpMSaaQWh-o_wNwMGh75POnjkS_UCIAgOEVSrvDQYYJKWZInXRdCP7mkkctl6ksEn5aEDcX83g/s320/IMG_8400.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjdREEuYvUoGFeFPOG1HSrVnSIF-cBwNBLgHa3hit_iIMcgyvhS1UlkOs6fEZIIgvryIXNchTIVgwGh1nj7YCf1op5akAmQSuqrS1-sk_G7xh6Zu9FAnSRkCuRrf4rs6nfsrlnSlkO4Bi6WRXlywdpkGyRiugXWnT9qvu5bkQSKxh33Ffkq0cYf6zxQ/s3088/IMG_8407.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjdREEuYvUoGFeFPOG1HSrVnSIF-cBwNBLgHa3hit_iIMcgyvhS1UlkOs6fEZIIgvryIXNchTIVgwGh1nj7YCf1op5akAmQSuqrS1-sk_G7xh6Zu9FAnSRkCuRrf4rs6nfsrlnSlkO4Bi6WRXlywdpkGyRiugXWnT9qvu5bkQSKxh33Ffkq0cYf6zxQ/s320/IMG_8407.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzvNOYPRigBZ7m0lU_vVlqn7bzA6lfvswMZ4HtIeSMK15PRAyBC92v4cYN-oUpFEkGorWNgNhF_d5n2OTciuwO-A6TrqGUUmXcIzb4lj4pDv1iMbjP5tKUVftHWKk0KegGunZ3gv9tr_63_M7bXyqE3kRQE8DRqrQhrvWinhEQJs4mObXSggq3TVueQ/s4032/IMG_8411.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzvNOYPRigBZ7m0lU_vVlqn7bzA6lfvswMZ4HtIeSMK15PRAyBC92v4cYN-oUpFEkGorWNgNhF_d5n2OTciuwO-A6TrqGUUmXcIzb4lj4pDv1iMbjP5tKUVftHWKk0KegGunZ3gv9tr_63_M7bXyqE3kRQE8DRqrQhrvWinhEQJs4mObXSggq3TVueQ/s320/IMG_8411.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKdn8qF45ZJUMzJ7H5h6lkLSQORDh5gWDYWo7ibEr8oSRS9Hzs26kFsvmbX-Za5stfdg88b1ZTcUpSBmc_zYjgwu-7kuvqLFv4AAxXx4efupxnDMbTHPSqoJ3UZ5qEUhIAPSngkYTdBt-Vd9KSfEJFAabdfg4uadTO8VZAPqJPjfoNI2TpgCFnOd5nQ/s4032/IMG_8412.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKdn8qF45ZJUMzJ7H5h6lkLSQORDh5gWDYWo7ibEr8oSRS9Hzs26kFsvmbX-Za5stfdg88b1ZTcUpSBmc_zYjgwu-7kuvqLFv4AAxXx4efupxnDMbTHPSqoJ3UZ5qEUhIAPSngkYTdBt-Vd9KSfEJFAabdfg4uadTO8VZAPqJPjfoNI2TpgCFnOd5nQ/s320/IMG_8412.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0ZndcD6bDSnH-4TkVvGZfuIMdsi4yKNEmrzumsfHgDmmWrZ2eULM2FFaN1X9owJDF9jHpldLHz2mqSbe4gyDXxH6e9dxDiukbgaTWx8jqCpYnxiJ7iOg0p9slwcqQXF9lhJB2MT_f48CJ5OvL-edoGuYNQzlZNDtaEFRgfq_1rS4McN40lHFtaHkBQ/s4032/IMG_8437.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0ZndcD6bDSnH-4TkVvGZfuIMdsi4yKNEmrzumsfHgDmmWrZ2eULM2FFaN1X9owJDF9jHpldLHz2mqSbe4gyDXxH6e9dxDiukbgaTWx8jqCpYnxiJ7iOg0p9slwcqQXF9lhJB2MT_f48CJ5OvL-edoGuYNQzlZNDtaEFRgfq_1rS4McN40lHFtaHkBQ/s320/IMG_8437.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>All in all, it was my perfect beach day -- all the sights with none of the swimming.</p><p>We left Rehoboth proper around 11:30 a.m. and drove to the Dogfish Head brewing and tasting room a half hour down the road in Milton. We sampled some brew while waiting for the 1 p.m. tour. Lunch there afterward was delicious; I ordered one of the best veggie burgers ever. Bought some drinks to take home before we left.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPvGAhs0Afi5swOBKyywqlQAiBN_ETGOsaLghemr0kXq48OGxfk6s6OHd15Dpg6dvFWMioeHzX3h9x9xAEtSD-Kwpf_Bot5Vjje8mDoj1m73U9tivuqQjBdcY9oVWtr6SCf5ReSMrwHk1I1Ho1VizQ9vxSAR4dlTb9-AAg_vjZYYSp2H3omg30j10NQ/s4032/IMG_8429.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPvGAhs0Afi5swOBKyywqlQAiBN_ETGOsaLghemr0kXq48OGxfk6s6OHd15Dpg6dvFWMioeHzX3h9x9xAEtSD-Kwpf_Bot5Vjje8mDoj1m73U9tivuqQjBdcY9oVWtr6SCf5ReSMrwHk1I1Ho1VizQ9vxSAR4dlTb9-AAg_vjZYYSp2H3omg30j10NQ/s320/IMG_8429.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLf-5VnSTMSOYbhuI_NeidaOehzFtn3YS3RkdKWpNZ8jw3MCGrbsFshwBBUMDo4iZlJzkyDOo-QsbcNbnutRMg6aKj8WMn2O9nEh6P5yKwdsxlgfD8oWJzHePPDlB-l7sLq8IhhEN--xhYou92DGDMPSAgNF418Qn8hiRthVnVquPsSqTOA8Z9i7NwA/s4032/IMG_8436.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLf-5VnSTMSOYbhuI_NeidaOehzFtn3YS3RkdKWpNZ8jw3MCGrbsFshwBBUMDo4iZlJzkyDOo-QsbcNbnutRMg6aKj8WMn2O9nEh6P5yKwdsxlgfD8oWJzHePPDlB-l7sLq8IhhEN--xhYou92DGDMPSAgNF418Qn8hiRthVnVquPsSqTOA8Z9i7NwA/s320/IMG_8436.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Next week: Washington, D.C.!</p><p></p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-78232363650082529362023-04-04T07:00:00.024-04:002023-04-04T07:00:00.184-04:00Atticus Turns 8!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVUB8gTvzfscyHbP_mQvXCbKried_JzZg2UDcL57FAOwX5Jb1ol6yHlakFUIo9rhe_8ZJmkoAlAVMhcOKkMm6i4L2jjebm2lbaLUVuvRyN0h-c4o9CNSqQ93p5ExX8k50F0EHbvXHjDiAvhtaeFp62hOmE8sX_ce0RnQPnXb4aZK9SHLlpy3yFDhxdw/s4032/IMG_8355.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVUB8gTvzfscyHbP_mQvXCbKried_JzZg2UDcL57FAOwX5Jb1ol6yHlakFUIo9rhe_8ZJmkoAlAVMhcOKkMm6i4L2jjebm2lbaLUVuvRyN0h-c4o9CNSqQ93p5ExX8k50F0EHbvXHjDiAvhtaeFp62hOmE8sX_ce0RnQPnXb4aZK9SHLlpy3yFDhxdw/s320/IMG_8355.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Our bright and bubbly boy who loves silly jokes and crazy facts turned 8 this weekend! He celebrated with a few friends at the playground last Wednesday when classes were canceled for the day, and again with family on Sunday.</p><p>He's a little chatterbox who often needs to be reminded at school to stop talking to his friends. (Just like his mama used to be!) He loves recess and Boy Scouts and chess, and he can name every penguin fact known to man.</p><p>Legos are probably his favorite indoor toy, not counting the video game system that has all of the old classic Nintendo games. His birthday cake was shaped like Kirby, and nowadays he's trying to defeat StarTropics. He has bonded with his dad by reading Paul's old Nintendo Power magazines from when he was a boy.</p><p>He's quick to smile and laugh, and loves to make others do the same. Here's hoping he does so for many years to come!</p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-28240907579055757612023-03-28T07:00:00.001-04:002023-03-28T07:00:00.173-04:00Hello, New Tree!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsSR_cOBj059JpWTH2mNBRTUzA-qp2FBTo_JvhA3V2mOTHKJpD6rsVHxbzpM90xCZ5Sy_8LdvG9pYmv_r2C2avj2URwioLH8qzagoWEmaW0YprlD57I5XrLQ9BbbhsHotMnZ8XAPTOIjER_wr1snxdadl4191CY7bHCEgs0TWESLj4dCet1_8r6qb-g/s4032/A8B3E5FD-926B-475C-8439-847C395CC129.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsSR_cOBj059JpWTH2mNBRTUzA-qp2FBTo_JvhA3V2mOTHKJpD6rsVHxbzpM90xCZ5Sy_8LdvG9pYmv_r2C2avj2URwioLH8qzagoWEmaW0YprlD57I5XrLQ9BbbhsHotMnZ8XAPTOIjER_wr1snxdadl4191CY7bHCEgs0TWESLj4dCet1_8r6qb-g/s320/A8B3E5FD-926B-475C-8439-847C395CC129.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Exactly 11 days after our large old maple was chopped down from our front yard, we planted a new red maple to take its place.</p><p>I didn't want to waste any time. Our yard has looked so empty since the former disappeared. Even though we won't get the full benefits of the shade and height of its replacement for many years, I couldn't bare to see such a large empty space for long.</p><p>We planted a Matador maple on Sunday, which already stands taller than we do. It's on the opposite side of our yard, so it will change the entire look of our space. One of its key features is long-lasting red, red leaves in the fall, so I'm looking forward to having something to look forward to as the weather grows colder!</p><p><br /></p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-79185760703025766912023-03-21T07:00:00.058-04:002023-03-21T07:00:00.178-04:00Goodbye, Tree<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: center;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsR5-srjkto6Z618skU7drI3v6zQsREwOcRnlhNwg1FN-MbLJCZG_-W8lqcJsqkyGN0R_CN9zfqLymIzvx1v3oXuOC5c63UxceND0ZeN-M71NrcgZSdracq97r-oJUsBPc5BBVV8xOvZ7r1ZvJqAiOJ1iinvklN8nvCTlTrS3Fk0oPPOKWSC-jlhIOkw/s4032/33EC5659-F3E5-4EA9-8F04-F5F61C457A82.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsR5-srjkto6Z618skU7drI3v6zQsREwOcRnlhNwg1FN-MbLJCZG_-W8lqcJsqkyGN0R_CN9zfqLymIzvx1v3oXuOC5c63UxceND0ZeN-M71NrcgZSdracq97r-oJUsBPc5BBVV8xOvZ7r1ZvJqAiOJ1iinvklN8nvCTlTrS3Fk0oPPOKWSC-jlhIOkw/s320/33EC5659-F3E5-4EA9-8F04-F5F61C457A82.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">Wednesday was a sad day in our household -- the large maple in our front yard was cut down.</span></div><p></p><p>We made the decision to do so last fall, but it didn't make the day any easier. I know we did the right thing -- a large branch would fall down every year or two, and we held our breath anytime there were high winds. Not to mention that it grew right above our sewer line, causing another set of problems! Still, the tree towered over our house and was a big part of our lawn.</p><p>Almost a week later, I'm still down in the dumps when I walk down our street and see the big empty spot. But I do like the clear view from our porch and windows, and it's nice not to worry that a giant limb will bust through our roof. We have enough firewood to last for years. Plus, we are already narrowing down what kind of tree we want to plant next and hope to have it within the next month. Time rolls by.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdOozUdJksmjIQGt6-lx6d9L6j7jKyTCjE8vR5WTGV0NW-XhCtaRXcpABAUD1BHnh7EbBYAGWjpgmP2ppHDhx85y__zl3GzPM9H_imvcvO39laV44spxCRxIdPuKnBdr388H_H361Z3BSpb_N49dmbOyDS4K50V0GC9B5QNGoQxeFSk-pmk27ZpGsmQ/s4032/EBD179DC-DC7B-4B13-A8D7-32AEA526CEBF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdOozUdJksmjIQGt6-lx6d9L6j7jKyTCjE8vR5WTGV0NW-XhCtaRXcpABAUD1BHnh7EbBYAGWjpgmP2ppHDhx85y__zl3GzPM9H_imvcvO39laV44spxCRxIdPuKnBdr388H_H361Z3BSpb_N49dmbOyDS4K50V0GC9B5QNGoQxeFSk-pmk27ZpGsmQ/s320/EBD179DC-DC7B-4B13-A8D7-32AEA526CEBF.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5eTr2CujtpBpzmwVvBmB9oAvKaB_5oaGRp96a8WT9eAN_33vIL1Eu4FeOTatpnjTLnZm6C3R0ZqlkTTZ_1xNij06LVQ-9SGc-EbOhqs2vzaL3dzoq0OWXbj9_Qk-Hrb8vSYduL1pSPO0itoCFclVyEyYWA39mg010f27k2kXrFK9Mn6gkGqLarjxRQ/s4032/DEA77753-6FCD-4E68-A89B-B3C175DBC6DF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5eTr2CujtpBpzmwVvBmB9oAvKaB_5oaGRp96a8WT9eAN_33vIL1Eu4FeOTatpnjTLnZm6C3R0ZqlkTTZ_1xNij06LVQ-9SGc-EbOhqs2vzaL3dzoq0OWXbj9_Qk-Hrb8vSYduL1pSPO0itoCFclVyEyYWA39mg010f27k2kXrFK9Mn6gkGqLarjxRQ/s320/DEA77753-6FCD-4E68-A89B-B3C175DBC6DF.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyJNf65ASkV1I-AUJfR3O98utTSBZ-aibT2HqDpJcJdJ_sWIEuq5o51f2U2ouSiC3OpiKVFVhbsA4cZD1bd25ue0HjlxUINJJOuTHTdy7_iQ6-PinNiFUwnZfXztU2Lj0JcYdmjD-kvrwQYEhrW6nl8JPbbakMF7q1C06iVi7i6jIOEvibb59KEstLg/s4032/1F203F55-A132-4D6F-BC88-D8E29D1102EA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyJNf65ASkV1I-AUJfR3O98utTSBZ-aibT2HqDpJcJdJ_sWIEuq5o51f2U2ouSiC3OpiKVFVhbsA4cZD1bd25ue0HjlxUINJJOuTHTdy7_iQ6-PinNiFUwnZfXztU2Lj0JcYdmjD-kvrwQYEhrW6nl8JPbbakMF7q1C06iVi7i6jIOEvibb59KEstLg/s320/1F203F55-A132-4D6F-BC88-D8E29D1102EA.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVbGugxrp0XUWHBCB3wr1E7NRnGweYjchU7p70KyMFIODp7NvsRgXw3Pt7OXW17NXKfJQ__KHhbQHKBsrG7pj7rLi_Chteq8qE3tH2BrOHDMOHhj5aqZm0t6OWsmpXRHlMDFlf-CW_KS7KJN-DjXTzGF62CfRKIBgMKXa7PAk1JGqFwoQT-ggoI9l1A/s4032/640CDF6C-2B55-42B6-B163-FB19715EAA71.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVbGugxrp0XUWHBCB3wr1E7NRnGweYjchU7p70KyMFIODp7NvsRgXw3Pt7OXW17NXKfJQ__KHhbQHKBsrG7pj7rLi_Chteq8qE3tH2BrOHDMOHhj5aqZm0t6OWsmpXRHlMDFlf-CW_KS7KJN-DjXTzGF62CfRKIBgMKXa7PAk1JGqFwoQT-ggoI9l1A/s320/640CDF6C-2B55-42B6-B163-FB19715EAA71.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-50338652571095703842023-03-14T07:00:00.006-04:002023-03-14T07:00:00.174-04:00A Weekend Apart<p>It was boys vs. girls in our household this past weekend, and each team is pretty sure that they're the ones who had more fun.</p><p>The boys went on a scout camping trip. The weather could have been better -- they woke up to a layer of snow on Sunday morning -- but Atticus had a blast. They learned about maps and how to use a compass, slid down a mossy rock like a slide and ate plenty of snacks. The weather was chilly, but they had rented what sounds like a primitive cabin, so at least they were cozy.</p><p>Edith and I stayed behind and had big plans to eat sushi and donuts -- mission accomplished. We went shopping and finally watched several episodes of the newest version of The Babysitters Club TV adaptation. (Surprisingly good! Now I'm sad it was canceled after only two seasons.)</p><p>Atticus returned home tired and with a pile of muddy clothes. Edith was ready for the boys to go on their next campout about as soon as they got back. How convenient that Paul and I each have a kid aligned to our interests!</p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-24780314587281246302023-03-07T07:07:00.002-05:002023-03-07T07:07:48.380-05:00Hints of Spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcuG_Yng4JDZAQ7pUlVJoI99uGQHNl3TLgIEBr5J1ajFnZqPeNK8ZdROYVXaqj2n3d9ZeRfRC7h2B5cvAGJyz7QVAUpHgdPGlyI1BOwcq6RS2h4hPXSeQVxPOK-EW6y9VOF94fbs2LpLjn_GZORgiHGyEyl6irFP_qf6pNj09WKwH6jIg_ibzeibE-w/s4032/CFFF87A4-95A7-4DC4-A580-4340EFABBB9E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcuG_Yng4JDZAQ7pUlVJoI99uGQHNl3TLgIEBr5J1ajFnZqPeNK8ZdROYVXaqj2n3d9ZeRfRC7h2B5cvAGJyz7QVAUpHgdPGlyI1BOwcq6RS2h4hPXSeQVxPOK-EW6y9VOF94fbs2LpLjn_GZORgiHGyEyl6irFP_qf6pNj09WKwH6jIg_ibzeibE-w/s320/CFFF87A4-95A7-4DC4-A580-4340EFABBB9E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>March is here, and we actually have gotten some spring-like weather already.</p><p>Last week Atticus and I spent the time during Edith’s archery class outside at the park. And yesterday reached about 70, so I dug out the cushions for the porch furniture out of the basement … and we actually used them. What a nice change to being stuck indoors. </p><p>Alas, I awoke this morning to a temperature just above freezing, and the overnight temps for the next week look even lower. What do they call a day like yesterday — fool’s spring? Call me a fool, but I’ll take it. I’m ready to bask in the sunlight again, and stay outside late. (Yay for the time change this weekend.) it’s always a long winter. </p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-58455671176556645912023-02-28T07:00:00.012-05:002023-02-28T07:00:00.176-05:00Photos: Fall 2022 - Winter 2023<p>When the calendar flips to March, spring is here in my mind -- even if Mother Nature doesn't yet agree. Here are some photos from last fall and this winter that may or may not have made it onto the blog. In no particular order ...</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUe9ZSduiUdnYIKA8n55uFqJiGKMLIuih146FPYWa_aCv8VoBEf5FQ_1bpCQs-uIM1XIljpjwoa4IJca03zk53RLemoPsSLbUyO0429UfVZdpIVDd7pPG3WEl6sQrYrGsie34lJjGFPXq2PJyDr5lqlkZOronuyCOwFVq6VaL10nVARc397ovz0amwMQ/s4032/4AA8B687-37F0-493A-B069-209A471E7296.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUe9ZSduiUdnYIKA8n55uFqJiGKMLIuih146FPYWa_aCv8VoBEf5FQ_1bpCQs-uIM1XIljpjwoa4IJca03zk53RLemoPsSLbUyO0429UfVZdpIVDd7pPG3WEl6sQrYrGsie34lJjGFPXq2PJyDr5lqlkZOronuyCOwFVq6VaL10nVARc397ovz0amwMQ/s320/4AA8B687-37F0-493A-B069-209A471E7296.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oCZn0VPXVyy0Ir6-dd-iSFPGTUKAHW7ehsnd1DdHS8BU3Pff5zd7m-TZyX2ODuTpPdrNf_zvD1q0ZitMWrSy7OSwSz3eXSdKEqibfDNvFPPXGxJ2uSzNeZTMY8Yp5FcVczZse0p9-ESnoRdnx2_b40jeguWDaSktN3EemGRFXfjCo3nqUQ-jJLCt-A/s4032/6B28EC6C-4601-4498-A77B-6789FC096C0A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oCZn0VPXVyy0Ir6-dd-iSFPGTUKAHW7ehsnd1DdHS8BU3Pff5zd7m-TZyX2ODuTpPdrNf_zvD1q0ZitMWrSy7OSwSz3eXSdKEqibfDNvFPPXGxJ2uSzNeZTMY8Yp5FcVczZse0p9-ESnoRdnx2_b40jeguWDaSktN3EemGRFXfjCo3nqUQ-jJLCt-A/s320/6B28EC6C-4601-4498-A77B-6789FC096C0A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxKPUxP4mE5LU7NabG75OMfISa1g9pzKfl5dHqhakw7zyZYVC3d6GR7hYcewxmjYe3Z8MRcuAHdX3YcfXLlFO_Bz0iXAaFYSJ6djalBOzs8tqK5LXHVBojr4LCmrWfIDfhsZornKM-4-h_UqxCKPD0g9KHoxKzEW1rAHAUvhHjm9pj6GSejgL5tEUnw/s4032/6C8F685D-B969-4EED-B40B-EEE765EAFD80.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxKPUxP4mE5LU7NabG75OMfISa1g9pzKfl5dHqhakw7zyZYVC3d6GR7hYcewxmjYe3Z8MRcuAHdX3YcfXLlFO_Bz0iXAaFYSJ6djalBOzs8tqK5LXHVBojr4LCmrWfIDfhsZornKM-4-h_UqxCKPD0g9KHoxKzEW1rAHAUvhHjm9pj6GSejgL5tEUnw/s320/6C8F685D-B969-4EED-B40B-EEE765EAFD80.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wearing my coat!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqB_XcfRW_3gStL0Ol4SBgzt6hxq82kHWAw2hGVkrFlj-WnsvQikiapLDBgtAuZaLCmu4Wfgj5zMoYhuK2s3sJmSp4ml7qwxuIsL1YtISE5Fz5hXwmhs_MwRVijjjhbv06ahqieEUGcOYJ2PJj2mgPQiwzt6_NYT2ZQhXcIA2P5dUCdFvKU6uyWM6AQ/s4032/6D329EE7-A038-4135-B4B0-7B79BF9E7B2E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqB_XcfRW_3gStL0Ol4SBgzt6hxq82kHWAw2hGVkrFlj-WnsvQikiapLDBgtAuZaLCmu4Wfgj5zMoYhuK2s3sJmSp4ml7qwxuIsL1YtISE5Fz5hXwmhs_MwRVijjjhbv06ahqieEUGcOYJ2PJj2mgPQiwzt6_NYT2ZQhXcIA2P5dUCdFvKU6uyWM6AQ/s320/6D329EE7-A038-4135-B4B0-7B79BF9E7B2E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-w5DHjHyRHn52J2Kh599jJ3iz0FkvX4kFrLBiftO_NbNTFPFVWbscw9CzGTh9FilqUCJhJtWCH8Ee0j9FhKxEG8ZmIt_aALl7ZqnNUPVrOpHqqL1-hTcT5DhI2h9q2INruRv1xBkfD1VPwvyOTKvvk9pmYEiiGGxcNuRa02xKRVWP7_cer0-CRsyZQ/s4032/440DE244-7F2F-4BDA-9F32-6396AF0C1074.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-w5DHjHyRHn52J2Kh599jJ3iz0FkvX4kFrLBiftO_NbNTFPFVWbscw9CzGTh9FilqUCJhJtWCH8Ee0j9FhKxEG8ZmIt_aALl7ZqnNUPVrOpHqqL1-hTcT5DhI2h9q2INruRv1xBkfD1VPwvyOTKvvk9pmYEiiGGxcNuRa02xKRVWP7_cer0-CRsyZQ/s320/440DE244-7F2F-4BDA-9F32-6396AF0C1074.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVASOM2t3Ks8beZNyJ_VmiDDpGRsUfB7Dr15QhLC_22Iqy4Pq98lrRuoh56p5kmSRGWk9m_bB-7MOVF3t1_ztavS2Og-y_5TfVcSF5Pt-0n4bualIQsxsgHVJHiSpuKav02MBhLgXYdUa0LicVyM0WPpqL_F5IGXqmaJ2bHsxHOt83BcLU9fRJRJrvA/s4032/569F444B-E963-4BFC-AD4E-9B444179215F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVASOM2t3Ks8beZNyJ_VmiDDpGRsUfB7Dr15QhLC_22Iqy4Pq98lrRuoh56p5kmSRGWk9m_bB-7MOVF3t1_ztavS2Og-y_5TfVcSF5Pt-0n4bualIQsxsgHVJHiSpuKav02MBhLgXYdUa0LicVyM0WPpqL_F5IGXqmaJ2bHsxHOt83BcLU9fRJRJrvA/s320/569F444B-E963-4BFC-AD4E-9B444179215F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncsOwutn_gqHRhgVywzQapRMG5EUkeiVjjnp0F3mRTyigfQp6-UqLTCbFukuN_RRDMrCLIqB7s23I4Vi1_7D675BaLvxyZoUGv1RhsqjTtVHCIFxshg2Oj1c-FdbCFkdSg-NEQKJiAFLs1EJj_BVK8nC79ITnF96Kpus_sOKvkmyHtZ4x4ztIB6ZfLw/s3604/768CF500-B502-427B-A2C6-85B44A442124.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3604" data-original-width="2713" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncsOwutn_gqHRhgVywzQapRMG5EUkeiVjjnp0F3mRTyigfQp6-UqLTCbFukuN_RRDMrCLIqB7s23I4Vi1_7D675BaLvxyZoUGv1RhsqjTtVHCIFxshg2Oj1c-FdbCFkdSg-NEQKJiAFLs1EJj_BVK8nC79ITnF96Kpus_sOKvkmyHtZ4x4ztIB6ZfLw/s320/768CF500-B502-427B-A2C6-85B44A442124.jpeg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too sad.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2pr6JVn1RIGeIMllJ63Dyf6LBNsL7oPX9kD3AUN01BeSQHlO5oj2aPGdvs30FZDNsTyvfsclfcgBFOcfJGp8DlxbyowTdM2TK7pVpnZDiN4XFWk3ZNY8-1Uzl4YWzt_SuUOviKAAQc4cnPcCrqXlPrt5mXxZze75tEu7lky-8N_SGj32wzAc-5dCTw/s4032/A3701D1B-9EA7-46AC-A0C0-5A756D841C3E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2pr6JVn1RIGeIMllJ63Dyf6LBNsL7oPX9kD3AUN01BeSQHlO5oj2aPGdvs30FZDNsTyvfsclfcgBFOcfJGp8DlxbyowTdM2TK7pVpnZDiN4XFWk3ZNY8-1Uzl4YWzt_SuUOviKAAQc4cnPcCrqXlPrt5mXxZze75tEu7lky-8N_SGj32wzAc-5dCTw/s320/A3701D1B-9EA7-46AC-A0C0-5A756D841C3E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27ItpZvFCEuQNmM3ykAz8W8jDWnO1ET_D56Ucpf6NICvP4l7cJQn1fVh3yjEoAsjP6as6s7tH7Hob1MAaj97BvLarYqsVXSM7rRJrmwqOesiRi4HtkdKqu8TRL82O3SWhn94SKve4Gxmj2kIL1KnpKPDTqjkoYYs6LkGul4ZuGzx-MQIDBh1C4Y-ixA/s4032/B46E14B9-8D37-4544-9F6A-C61D4315F07C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27ItpZvFCEuQNmM3ykAz8W8jDWnO1ET_D56Ucpf6NICvP4l7cJQn1fVh3yjEoAsjP6as6s7tH7Hob1MAaj97BvLarYqsVXSM7rRJrmwqOesiRi4HtkdKqu8TRL82O3SWhn94SKve4Gxmj2kIL1KnpKPDTqjkoYYs6LkGul4ZuGzx-MQIDBh1C4Y-ixA/s320/B46E14B9-8D37-4544-9F6A-C61D4315F07C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiit9DVSm9P90YUE_JHvp-gHi6Nz48ZbBjEDdyLweeo3Uknf13xZZ2FznmKSNCHg2bFoudaqWzq5uxNLVCCFusmwwXQWKec7-cdKAl1RGTuPfS0s4ostyp3mehprlqlAxyARunM_XLKccoSyE3TnptYSEPnDgBANC5GQqa9LwiIMVElccp1P80of-Bt9A/s4032/C41DB48F-3FE3-4021-94CC-7F10DFC86E50.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiit9DVSm9P90YUE_JHvp-gHi6Nz48ZbBjEDdyLweeo3Uknf13xZZ2FznmKSNCHg2bFoudaqWzq5uxNLVCCFusmwwXQWKec7-cdKAl1RGTuPfS0s4ostyp3mehprlqlAxyARunM_XLKccoSyE3TnptYSEPnDgBANC5GQqa9LwiIMVElccp1P80of-Bt9A/s320/C41DB48F-3FE3-4021-94CC-7F10DFC86E50.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To be clear, she was aiming for a group, not a bullseye!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFp_cGAdMUEEnpALeMIsk83Qb7NAMxcbono3tqL6Xl1Ry5U0gp6hHMt1jqZWiYptCFK8snMdQvdqD9i_5ze7ouw0pmHVqIpSh9_RCILdo38MyAMy511cBAQO7upZkaGGMFQGQTKZqa-6xSIRZ1WDoSdTRldtPtzYuVRi7vvsEdukCi6N3VUUGnDL_fwQ/s4032/CD7D54CA-B56F-4465-AFF0-DDA87F0BD96B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFp_cGAdMUEEnpALeMIsk83Qb7NAMxcbono3tqL6Xl1Ry5U0gp6hHMt1jqZWiYptCFK8snMdQvdqD9i_5ze7ouw0pmHVqIpSh9_RCILdo38MyAMy511cBAQO7upZkaGGMFQGQTKZqa-6xSIRZ1WDoSdTRldtPtzYuVRi7vvsEdukCi6N3VUUGnDL_fwQ/s320/CD7D54CA-B56F-4465-AFF0-DDA87F0BD96B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajKFKLNdG7NzbmNdYutCst6WlOiwbKDutvipWmlMMjSTNmAVc4lAwY7HIOh1syrnSw9lHiZnTCoCqbA90ffVKDfOvUNtg3EGm78-LXHYZ4rRu1Tkx1SRI05bmyDGHQT4L32ixfv_5-szSnZjEookgQIdNT2b0M93dbDHhF0wWLW2qWBb34xen9hn1tA/s4032/F49DAE7F-FA54-4338-80A7-EE5588F9945C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajKFKLNdG7NzbmNdYutCst6WlOiwbKDutvipWmlMMjSTNmAVc4lAwY7HIOh1syrnSw9lHiZnTCoCqbA90ffVKDfOvUNtg3EGm78-LXHYZ4rRu1Tkx1SRI05bmyDGHQT4L32ixfv_5-szSnZjEookgQIdNT2b0M93dbDHhF0wWLW2qWBb34xen9hn1tA/s320/F49DAE7F-FA54-4338-80A7-EE5588F9945C.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-4222637794943456942023-02-21T07:00:00.001-05:002023-02-21T07:00:00.187-05:00President Books!<p>Another Presidents Day, another presidential biography! And I actually made a mistake last year. I had said Ford was our next biography, but I had forgotten that we had read a book about him the previous June. So there was a long dry spell between that tome and our most recent book, on Carter. I just finished it a few days ago, knowing that the holiday was coming up.</p><p>Now we’re in our lifetimes! Well, not mine yet — Carter left office a few months before I was born — but Paul’s at least. Reagan is next.</p><p><br /></p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9120479142722539801.post-70676619170563547332023-02-14T07:00:00.001-05:002023-02-14T07:00:00.186-05:00Pinewood DerbyLast year Atticus joined Cub Scouts, but we were still in the midst of the pandemic and events were rather scarce. The annual Pinewood Derby was even over Zoom. <div><br /></div><div>But this year things are mostly back to normal, and the derby was held this weekend in person. Good mom that I am, I took no photos. But Atticus had fun and was more successful than last year, when he decorated his car with markers and put no thought into the engineering.</div><div><br /></div><div>This year he and Paul watched YouTube videos and designed a slick black vehicle that came in first on several heats. He ended up second fastest among the second graders. A great finish!</div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683484767364547710noreply@blogger.com0