tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21894456149964119912024-02-07T15:04:37.368-07:00Alvin & LauraLaura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.comBlogger131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-60414490180671665062013-07-15T20:38:00.000-06:002013-07-15T20:38:20.416-06:00Vacation Time!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here are my favorite pictures from our 12-day trip to Florida!</div>
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Clearwater beach. The water was warm and the sand was powdery soft.</div>
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Miles and his cousin Luke really hit it off. They swam, demolished sand castles, and wrestled all day.</div>
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Having a blast.</div>
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Clay loved the shallow, warm pools that formed on the beach.</div>
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Disney World Magic Kingdom</div>
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Spent the day with Grandma and Grandpa.</div>
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My cuteness is enough to make me king.</div>
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Look at my strong muscles!</div>
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Feel the rhythm at Animal Kingdom</div>
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About to get soaked on Kali River Rapids</div>
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A great day, a great trip, and no sunburns.</div>
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Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-15402566576568816012013-06-24T19:06:00.000-06:002013-06-24T19:06:17.069-06:00BlackberriesIt's wild blackberry season at our house again, and the most enthusiastic picker around here is the youngest. Clay is such a good blackberry picker . . . he doesn't even need a bowl. As soon as we show him a patch with some ripe berries, he starts marching in place and panting for sheer excitement. Then he grabs every one he can see and stuffs them in his mouth. He'll even venture into the deep, thick woods with me just to taste a few more.<br />
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Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-39315905198429985382013-06-02T14:59:00.001-06:002013-06-03T17:46:49.038-06:00June already?<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here it is, June already. So to recap for the last few months . . .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In <b>March</b> my sister Amber had a baby! Little Stevie B. is Miles' and Clay's first cousin on my side of the fam.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Clay is growing into a busy toddler. He is so cuddly and snuggly! He likes to walk up to friendly-looking moms and church and stand by them until they pick him up and give him a hug. At home<span style="background-color: white;"> <span class="il">Clay</span> walks around pointing at our fish pictures and saying "ish, ish." He likes to bring me books to read to him, and he likes to play keep away with Miles. They take turns throwing his pacifier or bouncy ball, then they run to chase it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In <b>April </b>we enjoyed (yes, really!) a camping trip to the Wichita Mountains. We went with another family in our ward. <span style="background-color: white;">The moms and babies stayed in a hotel. :) We did a fun hike that involved scrambling up a boulder field to the top of the mountain. Miles led the way. He was so animated and cheerful. Although I think he should have drunk more water because he had bad growing pains that night. Apparently he cried until 2 in the morning. Alvin was annoyed about that.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Clay reluctantly started weekly playdates with his friend, Bailey, so Miles and I could start violin lessons. Whenever Alvin and I have discussed our financial goals, I've always reminded him that I want to set aside some money so our kids could take music lessons. And now my dream is being realized! We found a Suzuki violin teacher, and we've been practicing every day and listening to the Book 1 songs. I love it!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In <b>May</b>, Miles completed a year of preschool. H</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">e's had several singing programs throughout the year, but he always sat with his lips zipped. At the final graduation program, Miles sang all the songs! I started crying right there. Here he is, dressed as an "a-a-alligator" for his letter parade.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We took a weekend trip to Dallas, which is only a 3 hour drive. We stayed at the <a href="http://www.greatwolf.com/grapevine/waterpark/overview" target="_blank">Great Wolf Lodge</a> and swam at their indoor waterpark, then we went to a <a href="http://www.medievaltimes.com/dallas.aspx" target="_blank">castle</a> for dinner and a show with knights and horses and jousting. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We had a very wet and stormy spring in Oklahoma this year. I'll have to get Alvin to write about the recent tornadoes, but just so you know, our house and trees are still standing. Even Alvin's two gardens survived.</span></span>Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-62432107888535161252013-03-24T18:58:00.000-06:002013-03-25T12:58:58.767-06:00Trip to the park<div style="text-align: left;">
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I love the mild winters in Oklahoma. They almost make up for the wickedly hot summers. </div>
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This is our friend, Bianca, riding with Clay in my Christmas present.</div>
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Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-20452942439966566432013-03-24T18:42:00.002-06:002013-03-25T12:59:18.230-06:00Happy 4th Birthday Miles!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Miles recovered from his Science Museum accident (see below) enough to enjoy his 1-friend birthday party.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kqkNfX_id71ipeU0GGSwY2tddpiVaY8pxt5sS9CP0nmWUqLY0IXsQfa7bGypVhl77T8A4ILmPjCJgCl0RImFQa8ypm3tSJRvL9PrymqNvcc_OdMDIn6XXzQE31Ar7-1gF7mLDfmsKQIk/s1600/Science+museum+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kqkNfX_id71ipeU0GGSwY2tddpiVaY8pxt5sS9CP0nmWUqLY0IXsQfa7bGypVhl77T8A4ILmPjCJgCl0RImFQa8ypm3tSJRvL9PrymqNvcc_OdMDIn6XXzQE31Ar7-1gF7mLDfmsKQIk/s320/Science+museum+025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
We invited his best friend Adler and Adler's mom over for a special dinner of "Basagna." Miles opened lots of presents (Legos, Curious George story collection, baby zebra, Chuggington track from his fellow train-lover), then we enjoyed cake and ice cream. Miles wanted a leaf cake, and he suggested we go outside and find a leaf that was very flat, and smash it in the cake. I asked him if it was okay if I just drew a leaf on the cake with frosting, and he said that was fine.<br />
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I think the one-friend party was a great idea (thanks, Mom!) and a big success, not to mention much less work for me! The boys had a blast together and loved running around and playing with the new toys.<br />
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Happy Birthday, Miles! We love your energy, observations of the world, and crazy dances. I love playing chase at the park and reading books with you. You really help our family by doing your Morning Chart, unloading the silverware, and helping Clay. We are so glad you came to our family!<br />
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Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-20272688652830180752013-03-24T18:21:00.000-06:002013-03-24T18:23:40.918-06:00At the Science MuseumIt all started with the snow. There was enough of a dusting during the night that Edmond Public Schools cancelled school on February 21, 2013. It was Miles' birthday! I didn't think the slush on the roads would merit a snow day, so I got the kids ready and drove Miles to preschool. We even dressed up extra nice for his birthday spotlight and took a special snack. But when we arrived at preschool, the parking lot was empty.<br />
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So we did the next best thing to celebrate Miles' birthday: <a href="http://www.sciencemuseumok.org/explore.htm" target="_blank">Science Museum Oklahoma</a>. We love it there! Tons of hands-on exhibits and toys for the kids. I just follow them around and let them explore.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8QKXAEddiC30jsvT54BaF6M7U9BudzmqoVg7fmfYqzD1zz24ZJoPJbFJoK3wnP833cPQANFXptqwf8Hm8QVLscGdR3SIudssPDX_3Gfwt1MZeazvNfeIu-dW6bBmLlbSyYkGb-qKAvMP/s1600/Science+museum+012-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8QKXAEddiC30jsvT54BaF6M7U9BudzmqoVg7fmfYqzD1zz24ZJoPJbFJoK3wnP833cPQANFXptqwf8Hm8QVLscGdR3SIudssPDX_3Gfwt1MZeazvNfeIu-dW6bBmLlbSyYkGb-qKAvMP/s320/Science+museum+012-001.JPG" width="320" /></a>Here is Clay trying out the light board. Now that he's walking, he legs take him to try out all the big-kid things he can find.<br />
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Presenting . . . our birthday boy! Miles turned 4 on February 21. <br />
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He hid in this dark room, then threw open the curtains and ran out. Many times. The last time, he ran straight into a table. With his mouth. Oops! <br />
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It hurt him really badly. His tooth cut his lip and bled all over. I tried to mop it up with a wet-wipe while he screamed. Some nice museum patrons kept an eye on Clay while I dealt with Miles. Eventually, we left the museum, went to see Alvin at work for some extra TLC, and discovered that Miles' front tooth had been bumped out of place. Then I spent the rest of the afternoon calling dentists and taking Miles to get his tooth inspected. Fortunately, it was a baby tooth. Fortunately, it wasn't knocked too far out of place. And fortunately, it didn't get infected or broken. At this point, one month after the accident, his tooth has turned gray, but looks like it may stay in his mouth for a few more years. Maybe he can be a pirate for Halloween.<br />
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Now Miles will always remember that on his fourth birthday, he went to the Science Museum and broke his tooth!<br />
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Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-45363304053314972302013-01-20T15:27:00.001-07:002013-01-20T15:27:24.879-07:00We've been ...Well, I feel I should explain where we've been the last month or so. It's a place called "Busy!" Maybe you've been there? It started with a quick Thanksgiving trip to Arkansas, then a trip to Salt Lake City, Utah to visit extended family. Primary was rather consuming with binders and manuals and class lists to prepare for the new year. I'm only the secretary, but half of the presidency was gone with brand new babies. Then Christmas, of course, followed by Clay's first birthday, and a baby shower for a friend.<br />
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So now that the end-of-year rush is over, will things slow down some? I don't know. But my to-do list is considerable shorter, so I can ease off the gas for a few weeks, at least. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. We sure enjoyed ours and feel so fortunate to have celebrated it with family in Utah and our own children here in Edmond. Kids sure make Christmas magical.<br />
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Visiting my grandparents in West Valley City. They gave Miles and Clay toy cars.<br />
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My grandma has a stocking for each child (5), grandchild (30), and great-grandchild (still counting).<br />
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Christmas Nativity. Jesse made a great shepherd. Amber was a 5-months-pregnant Mary.<br />
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If only this shot had a mirror so you could see how the camera man elicited such genuine smiles!<br />
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Now that we live outside of Utah, we actually made a point to go see the lights at Temple Square. My memories of doing this as a child center around one word: COLD. But this time, we bundled up, spent half our time inside the City Creek shopping center, and drank hot chocolate. And the weather wasn't even that cold. By the end I had to unzip my coat to cool off!<br />
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Our camera man even got a smile out of Grandpa this time!<br />
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Back in Oklahoma, we stumbled upon this awesome ornament. Sponsored by one of the big oil companies, of course.<br />
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Santa made a great display of gifts for Christmas morning. Alvin got a Wii, I gave Miles some pulleys and rope and helped him rig up a system across our living room, Clay loved his ride-on toy, and I got the best present of all: a Chariot stroller/bike trailer.<br />
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Clay, on his first birthday.</div>
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He got two presents, and one we had to take back to the store. Good thing he's just one! I think when he's older we'll let him choose a non-December date to celebrate his birthday.<br />
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And the baby shower! This was the first baby shower I ever threw, and it was a blast. You can't go wrong with an under-the-sea theme. Miles and Clay loved the decorations that I put up a few days early. We didn't play any games at the shower, but everyone helped cut out and glue felt fish to make a mobile for the baby's nursery.</div>
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<br />Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-88026966442375441522013-01-06T19:18:00.001-07:002013-01-06T19:18:08.712-07:00Our Little Photographer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Wow! It's been a bit since I posted. I was going through our Christmas and winter photos and ran across these that Miles took. Completely unedited. I should pay him, even if he is only a couple months shy of four!</div>
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And a lovely one of Alvin gathering firewood behind our back yard.<br />
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<br />Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-30439878735986414832012-11-18T19:27:00.003-07:002012-11-18T19:27:45.504-07:00ToddlingNovember 16, 2012 Clay officially took his first steps! He is 10 1/2 months old. He was standing next to a chair, and the look in his eyes said, "I want to get to that piano bench where my mom is sitting. If I just let go and pick up my feet . . ." So he took a couple steps and lunged toward me. It was momentous. I immediately called Alvin to report the news.<br />
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Clay gets a kick out of standing and balancing for a few seconds by himself. His faces lights up with that open-mouthed grin.Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-41529561796768380892012-11-15T21:00:00.001-07:002012-11-15T21:00:55.905-07:00Our little guy<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve been thinking about Clay lately.
He is 10 months old. That’s
almost one year! He doesn’t talk and say
funny things for me to report (yet!), but he has his own personality, and I
want to record some of the things that make Clay Clay.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">Clay has always been a good laugher.
He started laughing early and heartily – maybe two months old. He responds to tickling, pat-a-cake, kisses
in the swing, funny noises, and “boo!” He always has a big, open-mouthed smile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">Clay takes things in stride.
Miles likes to knock him over when he’s sitting or standing, or yank his
pacifier out of his mouth (isn’t that what the little handle is for?), and Clay
mostly doesn’t complain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">Anytime Clay
and Miles are in the back yard together, I know the hose will get turned on (by Miles) and Clay will get sprayed (again, by Miles). And Clay puts up with it! I guess he thinks that’s just the way things
are. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">Clay really likes Miles, and he
watches him attentively. He loves to
wake up Miles from his nap by crawling on him and laying on his head, which
usually produces a shove and a “Clay don’t!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">Clay </span><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">hates</i><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"> getting his diaper
changed and screams every time. He will
arch his back and roll over unless I lay him on the floor and pin him down with
my leg. He doesn’t like being buckled in
his car seat, but he loves standing up to play in it. He doesn’t much like shoes but has gotten
used to some very soft leather slippers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Clay will sit with his back at a wall or loosely-closed door and repeatedly bump his
head against the wood. He likes to put
the knob on Miles’ tow truck in his mouth and crawl around with the rest of the
toy hanging out his mouth from the tow cable.
He likes to dig in and eat the dirt from Alvin’s big coffee tree. He puts his toy cell phone next to his ear,
even though he seems too young to have figured that out. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;">He
loves frozen peas and carrots, he prefers Kix over Cheerios, and he likes to
pretend bananas are soap.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> Today he shared his pacifier with me. How sweet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Here's to you, Clay! Thanks for joining our family and bringing such contagious smiles.</span></div>
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Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-41679679545764650162012-11-11T21:01:00.002-07:002012-11-12T17:56:31.787-07:00Crazy dancingWe got to do some FaceTime with Alvin's mom and dad today. What a great invention, FaceTime! Miles informed me that while he was talking to Grandma and Grandpa (which he requests to do <i>by himself</i>), he showed them a crazy dance that was "really super fun." I didn't see it, but I imagine it involved hopping on one foot while rolling his arms. Miles said it was called, "We didn't start the air conditioner." Remind you of <a href="http://alvinlaura.blogspot.com/2012/11/we-didnt-start-fire.html" target="_blank">anything</a>?<br />
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P.S. I made <a href="http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com/posie_gets_cozy/2012/08/some-recipes-ive-been-meaning-to-share.html" target="_blank">this cake</a> today, and it really is what it claims. I actually ordered the cocoa powder from Amazon, and it's intense, rich flavor was definitely worth the weirdness of buying a grocery item online.Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-57583661394024523442012-11-09T09:55:00.000-07:002012-11-09T09:56:42.033-07:00One step back . . .<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDqbMPqtvP6_P8Vnwtx49t-aCbh39HRLTBmMaV8qKUmUl31HIYoQgsxpDlORU-dSXV1Wic52UiPARGMu_GoFyX6BTxieysUxIqtTmq5VrgXobRfYjvO5K8Hlijh9OCGm_LrRVu94wacJX/s1600/spider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDqbMPqtvP6_P8Vnwtx49t-aCbh39HRLTBmMaV8qKUmUl31HIYoQgsxpDlORU-dSXV1Wic52UiPARGMu_GoFyX6BTxieysUxIqtTmq5VrgXobRfYjvO5K8Hlijh9OCGm_LrRVu94wacJX/s1600/spider.jpg" /></a>One morning Miles was naughty and tormenting Clay. Extremely vexed, I said, with great emotion, "Dang it, Miles!"<br />
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Now Miles sings, "And the dang-it, dang-it, daaang-it, went up the dangit again."<br />
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Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-14745442767220373242012-11-09T09:42:00.000-07:002012-11-09T09:56:04.995-07:00Growing up and growing out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVa04swTimk7LrW2hd0b9tPVQr4pEsLj63Pl_eWyp0GGyXiEtz36w8Z3Hj-BpyBY_C5SUW5yhg-7-HajvfpBHGd938WukxpLh2fAeEe7OR2qM-dB4ANKCKf1__gcPJNkJf1dvMRveGwCck/s1600/Soccer+154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVa04swTimk7LrW2hd0b9tPVQr4pEsLj63Pl_eWyp0GGyXiEtz36w8Z3Hj-BpyBY_C5SUW5yhg-7-HajvfpBHGd938WukxpLh2fAeEe7OR2qM-dB4ANKCKf1__gcPJNkJf1dvMRveGwCck/s320/Soccer+154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Clay is now 10 months old and getting into things . . . literally. He loves <span style="color: #351c75;">going higher</span>: climbing the stairs, standing on Miles' tricycle, and climbing on the little kid picnic table. If we didn't keep bathroom doors closed, he'd unroll our toilet paper and splash in the toilet bowl. One day at the Science Museum, I propped him up at the <span style="color: #351c75;">water table</span> and let him soak himself. He loved it!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhge4irAwh8tM7joC05OVuyAQZxIc_9NYj_NzuQXpRbHNarjJrAjbmh6OPY0BBdlj3wRXeAwzb8PTQQPn8UfP80Q3eG8kVsGpcQeAkLbut0MhEU1pxrY6xFkPBrOYmudwTo7_Pn_jP5Iu-I/s1600/Soccer+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhge4irAwh8tM7joC05OVuyAQZxIc_9NYj_NzuQXpRbHNarjJrAjbmh6OPY0BBdlj3wRXeAwzb8PTQQPn8UfP80Q3eG8kVsGpcQeAkLbut0MhEU1pxrY6xFkPBrOYmudwTo7_Pn_jP5Iu-I/s320/Soccer+029.JPG" width="240" /></a>We had high hopes for Miles when we signed him up for 3-yr-old soccer. A bunch of his friends from Nursery are on the same team, and one of the moms is the coach. He loves to run around and kick the ball, but as soon as the <span style="color: #351c75;">whistle</span> starts an actual game, he becomes immobile. His friend, Adler, would also rather sit on the sidelines and play with a train than get in the middle of the soccer action. Oh well. It was a great learning experience for all of us.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLV9dcmIPI76nI_SHb5Mw8FZeFzl8IS8CJq7fFmwD8x0r-OmbgnZnTXFf190MeNsDiIROU9ITbxkdj5r1jQWmjrNFMmSfsg7csyCkUNsOBsWsCiklXIiJONFscp06_YiQpzxMTq-Clm7a/s1600/Soccer+141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLV9dcmIPI76nI_SHb5Mw8FZeFzl8IS8CJq7fFmwD8x0r-OmbgnZnTXFf190MeNsDiIROU9ITbxkdj5r1jQWmjrNFMmSfsg7csyCkUNsOBsWsCiklXIiJONFscp06_YiQpzxMTq-Clm7a/s200/Soccer+141.JPG" width="200" /></a>Here's a picture of my growing-out hair. Alvin, who gave me the blue shirt, was very nervous when I told him I was going to get it trimmed. My hair, that is. I reminded him that the overall length is increasing, and shorter layers make it manageable.</div>
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<br />Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-33541531926566284352012-11-09T09:36:00.000-07:002012-11-09T09:36:36.653-07:00Two steps forward . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Family scripture study is a goal we are working on. We rotate between illustrated Bible stories and repeating short verses in The Book of Mormon. The hardest part is remembering to do it. It seems like we're always dashing off to do something in the evening. </div>
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The other hardest part is getting Miles to sit still. He climbs all over the couch or races around the living room. Anyone have a couch seat belt or a straight jacket? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhip0UIiGN3PfawOQ1Gqvp4xZ-iKVKcRBcrFZQEc0kAM5B1BA8592nqC9e7vuF6cGybWZZlfy3K8Q5z7qNVmKJhKn8SCDD07KwIuRlZQ62r9uexPn7lEuMpS5T_iYWeR5Ns6e2qJcfSU6Md/s1600/Samson+Story+Childrens+Bible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhip0UIiGN3PfawOQ1Gqvp4xZ-iKVKcRBcrFZQEc0kAM5B1BA8592nqC9e7vuF6cGybWZZlfy3K8Q5z7qNVmKJhKn8SCDD07KwIuRlZQ62r9uexPn7lEuMpS5T_iYWeR5Ns6e2qJcfSU6Md/s200/Samson+Story+Childrens+Bible.jpg" width="200" /></a>A while ago, Alvin tried to tell the story of Samson. I thought Miles would be fascinated by the pictures of a lion and a burly man. But neither the lion nor our cajoling could make our wiggle worm sit still.</div>
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Fast forward a week. Clay was crawling down the hall away from Miles and me. Miles said, "If Clay crawls away, I can go get him." He does like to pick up Clay and tote him around. I said, "Yes, because you are so strong. Why are you so strong?" Miles replied, "Because my hair is <i>so</i> long."</div>
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I was dumbfounded. Then I laughed out loud for a complete minute. The things your kids hear when you think they're not listening.</div>
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Here's another Miles story. One morning he was being rather naughty. I lost my temper. After <i>I </i> took a time out, I apologized to Miles for yelling at him when I was frustrated. I said, imploringly, "Miles, sometimes I don't know what to do when you don't obey."</div>
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"Hey, Mom!" he answered. "How about you ask Heavenly Father. He will help you!"</div>
Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-18387288429551472072012-11-07T13:11:00.002-07:002012-11-07T13:11:43.812-07:00Enjoying some nice fall weather with my two monkies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CIym2dKMGdaqyVY-vwytOtgwxkBMuht5jouOMa11aeEJgDZkt6DvPdNcLb7Zoft5TVSUsKQUkYYkgbkGgDuLZuDOw4Qwt4sXDDLx8A-XFkNAge_lvVqE4EHnr1Uo4tyl4IY_Np1nNZ4b/s1600/Soccer+144-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CIym2dKMGdaqyVY-vwytOtgwxkBMuht5jouOMa11aeEJgDZkt6DvPdNcLb7Zoft5TVSUsKQUkYYkgbkGgDuLZuDOw4Qwt4sXDDLx8A-XFkNAge_lvVqE4EHnr1Uo4tyl4IY_Np1nNZ4b/s320/Soccer+144-001.JPG" width="256" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgqxlBkIs0_obNeeiBomahKHtgC2nQqIFKyFwc5BuaI-GYx4iKP9wjsLErXPYwG_DyJLTNmpq5tRhNHhK8rz4l_j9XVZ73crsZcgubyI1vxnNBcxN5fAuqkiO4rYNpNS_G6O0oOngiktt/s1600/Soccer+145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgqxlBkIs0_obNeeiBomahKHtgC2nQqIFKyFwc5BuaI-GYx4iKP9wjsLErXPYwG_DyJLTNmpq5tRhNHhK8rz4l_j9XVZ73crsZcgubyI1vxnNBcxN5fAuqkiO4rYNpNS_G6O0oOngiktt/s320/Soccer+145.JPG" width="255" /></a></div>
<br />Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-48341096088561053962012-11-07T12:42:00.001-07:002012-11-09T09:56:42.032-07:00We didn't start the fire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopApsW4IHXJRxcVZw1u5PFon5mOdaCVqaFsXGBW7X_X43XhXakZdDG1PGHP0XRH-TxAWTVxbQXpbfPRIMQmedWuT81cUMByy_Xaql9Hxb6DBOByZhyphenhyphenn04qbt9VdY5RRIpkUnQL0hkHake/s1600/Soccer+084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopApsW4IHXJRxcVZw1u5PFon5mOdaCVqaFsXGBW7X_X43XhXakZdDG1PGHP0XRH-TxAWTVxbQXpbfPRIMQmedWuT81cUMByy_Xaql9Hxb6DBOByZhyphenhyphenn04qbt9VdY5RRIpkUnQL0hkHake/s320/Soccer+084.JPG" width="256" /></a></div>
One of the benefits of marriage is an expanded music CD collection. Alvin got classical piano, and I got Billy Joel and Simon and Garfunkel. Have you ever heard <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Didn't_Start_the_Fire" target="_blank">We Didn't Start the Fire</a>? It has a snazzy beat, and Miles asks me to play it over and over whenever we're driving in the car. I wonder if his fascination with the song has something to do with his Halloween costume . . .Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-27911743472563598162012-11-07T12:35:00.000-07:002012-11-07T12:35:22.944-07:00Group Costumes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Are you a believer? This year we are.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxZhEmLCm_sLid_iYLOTVJOLYv4gPAWZVCZyXPFPk3fVDajmJTQ3noseh4xOlQvFgkQUdp0V3g5LSM0eq9Ierdg7YIyWES26TDB51hVK7fM8hIU9pATB3cOWiboqcrNG6r_a7HZYb4x69/s1600/Soccer+187-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxZhEmLCm_sLid_iYLOTVJOLYv4gPAWZVCZyXPFPk3fVDajmJTQ3noseh4xOlQvFgkQUdp0V3g5LSM0eq9Ierdg7YIyWES26TDB51hVK7fM8hIU9pATB3cOWiboqcrNG6r_a7HZYb4x69/s320/Soccer+187-001.JPG" width="256" /></a></div>
Alvin carved the lovely pumpkin on our porch. We left out a bowl of candy and all went trick-or-treating together. It was fun, but Alvin had to cheer on Miles (and me) to go to more than a handful of houses to get more candy. Here's a closer look at Clay, in case you didn't guess his costume.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAVsFGAV0SGsY8Vr5txVvdzUCTFOnFO51QvWSNf1RL_cmW2HxmX_lMvfU01DQra15qYpwBnfE2TLAk3gqXH_xQFVqn1OUZ6-kRsM94thZsPOCHc4sB9NLmlP9dinzf-Tn744AnftLS10W/s1600/Soccer+179-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAVsFGAV0SGsY8Vr5txVvdzUCTFOnFO51QvWSNf1RL_cmW2HxmX_lMvfU01DQra15qYpwBnfE2TLAk3gqXH_xQFVqn1OUZ6-kRsM94thZsPOCHc4sB9NLmlP9dinzf-Tn744AnftLS10W/s320/Soccer+179-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
If we had two more kids, they would be a dalmatian and a hose.Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-90483155722614640692012-09-16T10:26:00.001-06:002012-09-17T11:25:57.399-06:00Mountains Fix (Our Trip to Utah)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
August 2, 2012</div>
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We just
returned from a 12-day trip to Utah! Our goals? </div>
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1. Spend time with family</div>
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2. Reconnect with old friends</div>
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3. Hike in the mountains</div>
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We wore ourselves out, but <i>Mission Accomplished</i>! Parts of the trip were very nice, and parts of it were about as miserable as I
had feared (see below). Miles and Clay were good sports for having their normal routine thrown to the wind. They caught cat naps between activities in the rental car, and Miles loved sharing an air mattress with Alvin! </div>
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Some things
I enjoyed: </div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: purple;">Hiking to
Timpanogos caves.</span></b> Miles hiked 1 ½ miles
up the steep trail all by himself! He
plead a few rides on Alvin’s shoulders on the way down. I carried Clay in the mei tai, and boy, were
my legs tired after that. The same day
we went to Seven Peaks water park, and it was hard to muster energy to climb
the stairs to the water slides.</div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><b>Cooler
temperatures and no humidity.</b></span> I had
forgotten how stifling humidity can be until I experienced its absence. We spent several days at high elevation (at
the cabin in Fairview and hikes in the Wasatch mountains), so we got to enjoy
daytime temperatures in the 70s (opposed to 100s in Oklahoma). Nighttime at the cabin even got to the
40s! What a relief. Although Clay wasn’t used to that. We bundled him up at night, but I think
feeling the cold air on his face woke him.
He screamed both nights we slept in the tent. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: purple;">Celebrating
Pioneer Day on the 24<sup>th</sup> of July.</span></b>
We spent the day in Fairview, which was a first for me. It was lovely! All the festivities, and none of the crowds
or traffic. They even threw candy and
otter pops at their parade. There was a
really good feeling in the town, and they hosted free games with prizes for the
kids.</div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><b>Shopping at
The Corner Station in Fairview.</b></span> My
favorite toy store. Miles loved it, too,
because he got to play with the demo toys, and I bought him a firefighter
costume. I also bought birthday presents for my mom (a
scarf and necklace), Amber (a word-building game), and Jeni (a tin top and toy
zeppelin, to match her vintage theme), and a game for our family (Pass the
Pigs).</div>
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<b><span style="color: purple;">Biking with
my old actuary boss.</span></b> He’s a road biker,
and he recently purchased a tandem bike.
So he took me for a ride near the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon. Two-horsepower is great for hills (we being
the horses).</div>
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Some things
I <i>didn’t</i> enjoy (are there things <i>you</i> hate about travelling?): </div>
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Extreme
fatigue</div>
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No quiet, private, dark place for midday naps</div>
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Interrupted
naps ("Mom, is it time to get up yet?")</div>
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Sleeping on inflatable mattresses</div>
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Clay
screaming at night</div>
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Did I mention being tired?</div>
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Miles wore earplugs to the Demolition Derby.</div>
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Grandma and Grandpa hiking near the cabin, Fairview Canyon.</div>
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Anderson Family cabin, just in case you forgot what it looks like.</div>
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A visit to Kennecott Mines. (I stayed home to catch up on sleep.)</div>
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Favorite past-time of the next generation.</div>
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Taking Birtchers' scooter for a spin.</div>
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Hiking to Cecret Lake at Alta.</div>
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Ahh, altitude.</div>
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More altitude!</div>
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Clay getting ready to crawl. He officially started crawling at 7 months (two months behind Miles). But he started cruising the furniture, too, so we'll see if he walks sooner.</div>
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Jen, Lucy, Clay, and Laura. Lucy was born 2 weeks before Clay.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5teca2jTCPF8CVTZ3QPmAtnbjYCemzMVBpDJBSuDmKVHByltIj5v0g3sOhutyrv5qMZ-S-IAh-pmAkQUCBe-zRF4k0zIJsFr_7bhh58zX36cQopOogoGR5n1t1Ew3wyELY-icTGeOeZ92/s1600/Utah+trip+245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5teca2jTCPF8CVTZ3QPmAtnbjYCemzMVBpDJBSuDmKVHByltIj5v0g3sOhutyrv5qMZ-S-IAh-pmAkQUCBe-zRF4k0zIJsFr_7bhh58zX36cQopOogoGR5n1t1Ew3wyELY-icTGeOeZ92/s320/Utah+trip+245.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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A mid-hike snack with Oma.</div>
Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-52180384323949217962012-09-11T22:49:00.001-06:002012-09-11T22:49:47.590-06:00Miles' Bedtime Book<object width="425" height="425" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf"/><param name="flashvars" value="configXMLURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=wAbt2rZo1bsmbXnNA&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="quality" value="best"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><embed width="425" height="425" align="middle" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" name="wrapper" quality="best" menu="false" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="configXMLURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=wAbt2rZo1bsmbXnNA&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true" src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf"></embed></object><p style="width:425px;margin-top:0;text-align:center;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=wAbt2rZo1bsmbVzo&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=118">Click here to view this photo book larger</a><div style="margin-top: 10px; width: 425px; text-align: center;">Start your own Shutterfly <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-books" style="color: #6666cc;">Photo Book</a> today.</div></p>Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-12541453050418297682012-08-12T20:13:00.002-06:002012-08-12T20:14:10.372-06:00Salute to a Smiley Baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-30670593651712178952012-07-15T21:11:00.002-06:002012-07-15T21:15:51.409-06:00Oklahoma has . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Wildflowers</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFF08SGLT0FiyKoDlH-z-NDYoEei9kkIYnhEN52638P_72tg2szUissGkQ21IGvW3GQcvK-myvSSlqRZeoIHGgqJ7pp2O1zTDfIxtp7SXfr6rX7JmoQCBeRW1YSRAGeVpRMfSaaVVRRNv/s1600/Lawton+and+Pops+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFF08SGLT0FiyKoDlH-z-NDYoEei9kkIYnhEN52638P_72tg2szUissGkQ21IGvW3GQcvK-myvSSlqRZeoIHGgqJ7pp2O1zTDfIxtp7SXfr6rX7JmoQCBeRW1YSRAGeVpRMfSaaVVRRNv/s320/Lawton+and+Pops+058.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://route66news.com/2007/08/08/top-of-the-pops/" target="_blank">Pops</a> (my sister, her husband, and my mom came to visit)</div>
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Forests just beyond our yard</div>
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Mountains! Near Lawton. Who would have known?</div>
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Crop-damaging hail storms</div>
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Lots of parks and swings</div>
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Hiking! But you have to drive a ways to noteworthy trails.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eAKXFLJycYWUCZHz6Z8y3_yv_mhet1s_3mzPDnBjTWgEUdkNwJ8NUWmu9mwmnB9H7BVbjH-SWk7irtFvSK3DvUBXA9wAwmLY-2golr3Kzx1YTka6o5Y6pgZqqxpAsGOl1QzR1Ijmi4dC/s1600/Lawton+and+Pops+065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eAKXFLJycYWUCZHz6Z8y3_yv_mhet1s_3mzPDnBjTWgEUdkNwJ8NUWmu9mwmnB9H7BVbjH-SWk7irtFvSK3DvUBXA9wAwmLY-2golr3Kzx1YTka6o5Y6pgZqqxpAsGOl1QzR1Ijmi4dC/s320/Lawton+and+Pops+065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Funky lizards (we saw this guy on our hike)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihChvBd1eFznsIU4E1neWju7rmZAnYTcAm-9zjWKSP6CALlljttIIwTv9ZK4I1wiOiC6QkvHrFFAT8eOw3hWhYk34HsK0thOfX4E9dg08ECGGe99OXN_EIpluLOlPi80V4UkK5trKfO8hC/s1600/Lawton+and+Pops+077-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihChvBd1eFznsIU4E1neWju7rmZAnYTcAm-9zjWKSP6CALlljttIIwTv9ZK4I1wiOiC6QkvHrFFAT8eOw3hWhYk34HsK0thOfX4E9dg08ECGGe99OXN_EIpluLOlPi80V4UkK5trKfO8hC/s320/Lawton+and+Pops+077-001.JPG" width="256" /></a></div>Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-5818808609524811932012-06-25T21:12:00.000-06:002012-06-25T21:14:47.071-06:00Today. . .I caught Clay on his hands and feet, <i>almost</i> ready to launch into a crawl. He will be six months old in 4 days. His favorite past-times are blowing slobbery raspberries and watching Miles' crazy antics.<br />
<br />
I asked Miles, "Whose toothbrush are you using?" (It looked too big to be his.)<br />
He said, "I'm using dad's toothbrush because it has queakers. I like the queakers." <br />
I guess he likes the <i>squeaking</i> sound the rubber makes in his mouth.<br />
<br />
Clay loves being one of the "big people" at mealtime. He sits in his booster seat at the table and tries to maneuver peas or Cheerios or beans from his tray to his mouth. I can tell he thoroughly enjoys it. It's worth the extra mess.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JZDlaRz_eUq6nAiuHbEAhHmv_HsEaKkLUXehugSV0Q3qo6ejvNiGXoD4TfURBqVQZ4TDeEpHP_fDkhat8MUmQldQgAOfMELxMEKIGLazIzoC7nmUtg62gZbvixwf-rlSTm8PO5MD_xgY/s1600/2012-06-25+Lawton+and+Pops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JZDlaRz_eUq6nAiuHbEAhHmv_HsEaKkLUXehugSV0Q3qo6ejvNiGXoD4TfURBqVQZ4TDeEpHP_fDkhat8MUmQldQgAOfMELxMEKIGLazIzoC7nmUtg62gZbvixwf-rlSTm8PO5MD_xgY/s400/2012-06-25+Lawton+and+Pops.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Miles was extremely amiable when he woke up this morning because he knew he'd be going to Adler's house to play. We are so lucky to have a fellow three-year-old train lover in the neighborhood.<br />
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And the adults around here. . .<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAwhLAleV_rcSJnc8ZwmPIRvGERCdT4zMJX3-KJRGIhtjHhseRNuNnYl1XsX2fzZM971OvzTMnY4NoP8hxCvrPTFjyZReOlxxo5P3XhrV17xY2Qtx_BWpFw5NBtWkDs52M4rD4EASr9ph/s1600/Lawton+and+Pops+160-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAwhLAleV_rcSJnc8ZwmPIRvGERCdT4zMJX3-KJRGIhtjHhseRNuNnYl1XsX2fzZM971OvzTMnY4NoP8hxCvrPTFjyZReOlxxo5P3XhrV17xY2Qtx_BWpFw5NBtWkDs52M4rD4EASr9ph/s320/Lawton+and+Pops+160-001.JPG" width="143" /></a>Alvin got a raise and a bonus at work. He sweetly said I could have half of the bonus, since I work so hard for our family, too. He bought three pairs of dressy work shoes, which I thought were well-deserved, since he's been wearing some that are 5 years old (brown) and 12 years old (black).<br />
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I swam laps at Gold's, did laundry, stored a bunch of Miles toys in hopes of reducing the daily clutter, and dressed up Miles as a pirate while Alvin prepared an FHE lesson (entitled "I Will Obey").<br />
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Our air conditioner ran nonstop since 7 am, and it was still 81 degrees inside the house.<br />
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<br /></div>Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-63942295325600964702012-06-17T16:01:00.001-06:002012-06-17T16:04:32.272-06:00Let me tell you about my dad<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Father's Day!</span></b></div>
Here he is: Steven Michael Cannon, with his first daughter, Laura.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRLMuov73-4DzYll9vFOfzr4ew8gy2P4l2qb6HY14I_pv3O2x-ClUIJZgagtVTF7TK5VnZHtB2FfkoKWUkD2eon5Tv8j1lNwwJkwR42xSDc0-tEgNT0auNQw2gCMjpjUvRwDnU4gsAeJU/s1600/2033+(1280x877)-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRLMuov73-4DzYll9vFOfzr4ew8gy2P4l2qb6HY14I_pv3O2x-ClUIJZgagtVTF7TK5VnZHtB2FfkoKWUkD2eon5Tv8j1lNwwJkwR42xSDc0-tEgNT0auNQw2gCMjpjUvRwDnU4gsAeJU/s400/2033+(1280x877)-001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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He was born in 1955, and he died in 2005 at age 50 from lymphoma. If my dad were here today, he would have
a sleek Apple computer, an iPad 4, and all of the family history apps. He would work in the Family History
Department at the Church, he would have read Thomas S. Monson’s biography and
the latest David McCullough novel, and he may have finally convinced his own
dad to take a sailing class with him at the Great Salt Lake. He would be looking forward to a family
reunion with his thirty-something nieces and nephews. He would be glad to finally have three sons
(even if they are only in-laws), and he would have visited me in Oklahoma and
enjoyed a good root beer at Pops.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhkZK7Gu8gCmSc2yWbBlZ6z-_RuLLcUf1s-ZkObgOF7iFJ2bQXY_Q38FEFaEXy89yd3uv5wTvfJQs5ODLrPxvKCfpLgp2Tcw2q2JySpZn4nyGcS2Z2iLvULIdKS8ojW0oE_tLmx3Bz-gl/s1600/B0000009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhkZK7Gu8gCmSc2yWbBlZ6z-_RuLLcUf1s-ZkObgOF7iFJ2bQXY_Q38FEFaEXy89yd3uv5wTvfJQs5ODLrPxvKCfpLgp2Tcw2q2JySpZn4nyGcS2Z2iLvULIdKS8ojW0oE_tLmx3Bz-gl/s400/B0000009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Today, thinking about my dad, it strikes me how similar we were. My dad never pushed me to follow in his
footsteps, but he was very pleased when I, of my own initiative, took up similar
interests and experiences. For example,
my dad and I were both Sterling Scholars in mathematics. I went to BYU (his alma mater) and majored in
mathematics (his minor). We’re tidy, more introspective than talkative, and we laugh heartily at a good joke.</div>
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In 9<sup>th</sup> grade, I announced
to my parents that I wanted to join the Cross Country team. Apparently, my dad had run in high school,
too. To get me to and from the
twice-a-day practices, my dad drove me and my bike to school every morning at
5:30. I ran, went to classes, ran again,
and rode my bike home. (At least it was
downhill!) When I quit Cross Country in
12<sup>th</sup> grade, I kept up my morning runs . . . with my dad and our dog.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CUHByCYHAyrGf37GjRfckTMU4HFp9Dp0x9_oJwxfipZRngTf7YSRZ7169CDHBTwhF2zSahN3C2W5TpSWQG7aEGsRxCzZkMyqMDrGkjEUrq08Hr5a2EMr3N8_NTruACB_A3OWmKv1q3iN/s1600/B0000072-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CUHByCYHAyrGf37GjRfckTMU4HFp9Dp0x9_oJwxfipZRngTf7YSRZ7169CDHBTwhF2zSahN3C2W5TpSWQG7aEGsRxCzZkMyqMDrGkjEUrq08Hr5a2EMr3N8_NTruACB_A3OWmKv1q3iN/s320/B0000072-002.jpg" width="255" /></a> Hungry for more outdoor adventures, I
joined the Mountaineers Club. My dad
joined with me. He came on our hike to
Lake Blanche in the Wasatch, and we canoed down the Jordan River together. While my friends planned graduation trips to
Disneyland and Las Vegas, I planned a backpacking trip to Capitol Reef National
Park. We tackled Mt. Olympus and Mt.
Timpanogos together, too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfLzDJAIN8af9tI9YhXugYZguQIU84PAUgAfyMBNrlM6X2uGXkf-NMTYKvTpVOueGc2ApyIdOlj2lHBo6pw_FUwCfhls4mCGXWXWFX0lbiHTkGR5WmjB4xijEaXEHRCTVYexi5GpLiXri/s1600/B0000045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfLzDJAIN8af9tI9YhXugYZguQIU84PAUgAfyMBNrlM6X2uGXkf-NMTYKvTpVOueGc2ApyIdOlj2lHBo6pw_FUwCfhls4mCGXWXWFX0lbiHTkGR5WmjB4xijEaXEHRCTVYexi5GpLiXri/s320/B0000045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Just before I turned 21, I announced that I wanted to go on a
mission.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">My dad, delighted, was certain my
choice would bring blessings to me and my family.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I went to a Spanish-speaking mission in New
Jersey.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Every week, I received a
page-long typed letter from my dad with scriptures, encouragement, and . . .
lessons from his own mission to Argentina.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ulTCiqyGHe7UqEOX4LS_Fw4MeDNvr624WHNWzck64_cjtzgsEH6kZQ0aXdoC8nSfFrY6V6gvPaIYonEG3ZJ19jonSa1g0pmMJX_p9yl6LnU95xi3fkTqQDwWuAZYnyKmADlatp3kbHbx/s1600/735+(1280x977).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ulTCiqyGHe7UqEOX4LS_Fw4MeDNvr624WHNWzck64_cjtzgsEH6kZQ0aXdoC8nSfFrY6V6gvPaIYonEG3ZJ19jonSa1g0pmMJX_p9yl6LnU95xi3fkTqQDwWuAZYnyKmADlatp3kbHbx/s320/735+(1280x977).jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZic7bXafTI7_iRNvARgrkh5QEwnwqH_SKP6XNzGNXJk8SODrw0J5fHroAtjSoklxpEXHB7PNXG4PXx82zjO-LC5Kc3YbYjf5pDiCpRn39i3dsIv61hbwBHZKeON8eHgZjkGZljQlF5VoW/s1600/B0000093-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZic7bXafTI7_iRNvARgrkh5QEwnwqH_SKP6XNzGNXJk8SODrw0J5fHroAtjSoklxpEXHB7PNXG4PXx82zjO-LC5Kc3YbYjf5pDiCpRn39i3dsIv61hbwBHZKeON8eHgZjkGZljQlF5VoW/s400/B0000093-001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Our family went on lots of weekend road trips to Utah's national parks. My dad liked to work in visits to the local cemeteries so he could mark the locations of ancestors' headstones on his GPS. You can see my sisters are not big fans of hiking.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5XAV3QAtn8XHcLueLDhsbVCu5A1SJQ6PSRL7toeaMvx-XKHtfNQqMUl3CtaiIc6Icb8ISDILaOx0vGhR_ZRhWmLd8kv1rH0obgP8NDqTRNe7hw0_-FsTuDvQXfymRamClPd48oa3Lojt/s1600/2666+(1280x1185).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5XAV3QAtn8XHcLueLDhsbVCu5A1SJQ6PSRL7toeaMvx-XKHtfNQqMUl3CtaiIc6Icb8ISDILaOx0vGhR_ZRhWmLd8kv1rH0obgP8NDqTRNe7hw0_-FsTuDvQXfymRamClPd48oa3Lojt/s320/2666+(1280x1185).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Victim of a prank while napping! My dad fell asleep SO easily. When we were younger, my sisters and I would fill his hair with plastic barrettes while he snoozed on the couch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-A5KdSUmuYprc9Ef-137OhjqzsNdYF82MlNJYFaiZOVdOIofsAhPROTKiPVFvgCKV5hrh9RE4emwX_eoZwU8YlYcoaV0TcBPnUmGInnaS9IQaVGdkJD0xKoyBIVCPmrTh183HMvZuWZF/s1600/Scanned+Photo-3_edited.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-A5KdSUmuYprc9Ef-137OhjqzsNdYF82MlNJYFaiZOVdOIofsAhPROTKiPVFvgCKV5hrh9RE4emwX_eoZwU8YlYcoaV0TcBPnUmGInnaS9IQaVGdkJD0xKoyBIVCPmrTh183HMvZuWZF/s200/Scanned+Photo-3_edited.tiff" width="200" /></a>When we found out my dad had cancer, I took off a semester of college to help my mom take care of him. I was 24. One of my sisters had just left on a mission, and the other was attending Southern Utah University. It was hard to watch my dad get so sick. He didn't complain much; he was just very meek. </div>
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I love reminiscing about my dad and smiling about the fun things we did together! I miss him - I wish he could have come to my college graduation. I wish he could have met Alvin and Miles and Clay. But . . . I know he is aware of me and cares about me. I imagine he is very busy and happy in heaven. And I KNOW I will see him again! He will always be my dad, and when we are reunited, our relationship will resume and grow stronger throughout eternity.</div>
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P.S. Now I have an amazing stepfather. He just biked 300 miles from South Jordan to St. George, Utah. I love him! But that is a story for another post.</div>Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-40916221840218323452012-05-27T16:50:00.001-06:002012-05-27T16:50:39.884-06:00Spring in Edmond<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Spring in Edmond, OK is good for . . .</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EiG3b8bmnk9GAgNkD_YzJbQDjiZnn6MA2g2UtV64mNca_yiDPA96unQD5c6qSkSFEMFBJCrst94fGByiTKz-9ipdACEWyfyVYmeLWlpzWhqbvZ6aPRrApClNIR0Nl4208vWpZ2FpAEE-/s1600/Edmond+spring+010-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EiG3b8bmnk9GAgNkD_YzJbQDjiZnn6MA2g2UtV64mNca_yiDPA96unQD5c6qSkSFEMFBJCrst94fGByiTKz-9ipdACEWyfyVYmeLWlpzWhqbvZ6aPRrApClNIR0Nl4208vWpZ2FpAEE-/s320/Edmond+spring+010-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: left;">...enjoying flowers. Our neighbors brought them when they came to dinner.</span><br />
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...splashing in the mud. That bare spot in the back yard is getting more use than the lawn!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaC9APx8IyY9YOuSq0z3TDW3K1cE6l7Inl58U4qdzSeQQA2yKtxCf7rI2OCq7-QUSStsVYdf9jxFufvShmkp3Zk6hyphenhyphen_TXiideYvgqNIxoKO2vrBJc8m1HIFMk24iPRyRGSkHXpkXF3g_-/s1600/Edmond+spring+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaC9APx8IyY9YOuSq0z3TDW3K1cE6l7Inl58U4qdzSeQQA2yKtxCf7rI2OCq7-QUSStsVYdf9jxFufvShmkp3Zk6hyphenhyphen_TXiideYvgqNIxoKO2vrBJc8m1HIFMk24iPRyRGSkHXpkXF3g_-/s320/Edmond+spring+018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
...swinging with a friend. Owen (left) is wearing Miles' red shirt because his own clothes were casualties of the garden hose.<br />
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...growing up! And watching mom eat dinner outside.<br />
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...picking wild blackberries in the forest behind our house. Watch out for ticks!</div>
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...eating blackberries. And making jam with the rest. Yum.<br />
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...hanging out with mom while she cooks.<br />
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...finding a clever (and free) way to display Miles' artwork. This involved a trip to a bamboo patch and a thorough study of clove hitches and lashings in <i>Essential Knot Tying for the Outdoors</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj473Ytu2XyoezTqJGIPefIuwTgV_hXrAEZebJjlPnw7TMjLKXz9oaL4gd1RiyqiLRi27GObM52e7-mwt7WmJaJS44EmQ8vKo_Vh6Q361fBaejgmXGpnHBpv0vB479ARVrizxRQa2CnQNn1/s1600/Tree+Swing+120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj473Ytu2XyoezTqJGIPefIuwTgV_hXrAEZebJjlPnw7TMjLKXz9oaL4gd1RiyqiLRi27GObM52e7-mwt7WmJaJS44EmQ8vKo_Vh6Q361fBaejgmXGpnHBpv0vB479ARVrizxRQa2CnQNn1/s320/Tree+Swing+120.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
...camping with dad. These two planned to attend the Fathers and Sons campout, but the location was 2 1/2 hours away. Instead, Alvin and Miles drove 5 minutes to Arcadia Lake, set up the tent, built a fire, threw rocks in the lake, and gave me and Clay the night and morning off.<br /><br />Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2189445614996411991.post-38961832975726590062012-05-03T14:14:00.001-06:002012-05-03T14:14:05.618-06:00Tree Swing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6SuJZy3Not7hC3tg0rG8xYcuaGo0DIm8xspvyFI2mJbKFxf5jkflINImF41E8YStWk92EtaqWth27qwpItpyGNjXuLEGDQX-Ar8rsTGCq03CVuPbYgtaKgqsU3rPiiflM55ONdJt8vrd/s1600/Tree+Swing+140-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6SuJZy3Not7hC3tg0rG8xYcuaGo0DIm8xspvyFI2mJbKFxf5jkflINImF41E8YStWk92EtaqWth27qwpItpyGNjXuLEGDQX-Ar8rsTGCq03CVuPbYgtaKgqsU3rPiiflM55ONdJt8vrd/s320/Tree+Swing+140-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Swinging on a regular swing set is fun, but something magical happens when you hang some ropes and a wooden seat from a <i>tree</i>. The high branches afford a greater pendulum, the leaves shade and shelter, the flat seat doesn't squish your hips, and the tree limb gently bounces under your weight. <br />
If you want to make your own, try these sources for information: <a href="http://www.dannylipford.com/how-to-install-a-tree-swing-safely/" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.animatedknots.com/swing/index.php?Categ=household&LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com" target="_blank">here</a>.Laura Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14084378746586579203noreply@blogger.com1