tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49181260359903347982024-02-18T20:33:28.192-08:00GrowMatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.comBlogger300125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-89460370377119037982012-09-07T06:01:00.003-07:002012-09-07T06:01:40.512-07:00The Keys, Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Lobster season started Monday, August 6, just after we got down to Islamorada. To say that Brad was determined to find some lobster is probably a pretty good understatement. So, bright and early Monday morning, we headed out on our lobster finding mission...</div>
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And the weather was not exactly perfect, but we were going out anyway.<br />
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We didn't find lobsters the first day (or even the second), but it did give the kids plenty of opportunities to practice their snorkeling. Unfortunately the water was a bit rough, and therefore muddy, so they didn't get to see as much as they usually could have had the water been nice and clear and smooth.<br />
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One of the only drawbacks to the house was that there wasn't a dock for the boat. However, we kept it at the Days Inn marina not a block from the house, and it was the least expensive marina around as well -- a win-win. There were a couple of huge iguanas that hung around the marina.</div>
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The beach at our house was a nice, large place for the kids to play. It was shared with the house next to ours, which is basically connected to ours and owned by the same people who owned our house. If you had a really big party it would make sense to rent both houses, but they had them built in such a way that if your parties were separate, you really couldn't see the people next door. The pool behind Gibson in the picture below belonged to the neighbors.<br />
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Sanders is our little scientist/nature lover, and she spent a lot of time out on the beach looking for shells and whatever wildlife she could find.<br />
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This is the view of our pool from the beach. It definitely isn't as pretty looking at it this way as it is looking from the the pool side out over the beach, but I guess that is one drawback to an infinity pool.<br />
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As they say, the third time's the charm...we got lobsters! Or, I guess I should say, Brad and Joe got lobsters!!<br />
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Brad got someone at the Days Inn marina to teach him how to clean them up, and so he did that once we got back to our beach.<br />
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And then we grilled them up for lunch with some butter and lemon -- talk about fresh catch! They were delicious!</div>
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MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-40204432419934350342012-09-05T19:12:00.001-07:002012-09-05T19:12:14.259-07:00Cleanse and Detox & A Cute Idea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have been feeling pretty blah lately. I have always suffered from migraines, and I thought I had them pretty much under control with a daily prevention medication and another medication for when I actually get one, but they have been out. of. control. lately. I drink one glass of wine or one beer and get one. I eat one sweet thing and get one. I don't eat on time and get one. I go out in the glare of the sun and get one (even with a hat and sunglasses on). I get too hot and get one. I have too much or too little caffeine and get one. I live and breathe and get one. I am basically one walking headache.</div>
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I decided that I need to do something about this, so I am trying to get more exercise, more sleep, and more healthy foods in my diet. I was doing all of the above before, and I think it made a huge difference in my headaches. The only problem I have is finding the time for all of these goals...but I need to make time to feel good.</div>
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Anyway, this morning I tried a new smoothie, called the Cleanse and Detox smoothie. It contains all sorts of stuff that I wouldn't typically put in my smoothies, but I thought that it looked interesting, so I gave it a try.</div>
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Wa-la!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg577xdbQmSh3IIGk0mWFqreFxfU0HGzkKAHIITmoL4I1N38_SL2YYD61tfquDopkfm2v6w6KrPFZiqEGGG-IgHVl3kFXYT2zsYGFP-CoKTV7cCOPRY2lcfbWeGWijYfgw16ixzIOlB9ipe/s1600/IMG_0805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg577xdbQmSh3IIGk0mWFqreFxfU0HGzkKAHIITmoL4I1N38_SL2YYD61tfquDopkfm2v6w6KrPFZiqEGGG-IgHVl3kFXYT2zsYGFP-CoKTV7cCOPRY2lcfbWeGWijYfgw16ixzIOlB9ipe/s320/IMG_0805.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The kids told me that it looked like throw-up, which is just what you want to hear when you are about to eat something, right?! However, it actually tasted pretty good! The recipe can be found <a href="http://skinnyms.com/cleanse-detox-smoothie/">here</a>, and I used everything except the flax seeds or oil because I couldn't find it at the grocery store. I need to make a trip to the natural foods store before I make the smoothie next time.<br />
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In other news, Mary Beth, our babysitter, found this cute idea on Pinterest over the summer, and I finally got around to trying it out...Gibson has to learn sight words for school, just like most other kids do at some point or another. I don't know about you, but it is a pain to make him memorize his sight words, just like it was a pain to make the girls memorize their sight words before him. So, write the words on ping pong balls! Then, instead of just going through flash card after flash card, hand your child a pile of balls, and say "throw me 'who!'" or "throw me 'you!'" or whatever words you are working on. Then your child has to find the word and throw you the correct one. He or she learns to read the words while playing a fun game.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocZWwA0UlcdVsBx85tRBp094Ye6ie0pDIRM0Ea4874Xzl1Jhirlf0Dk8KEOehIsbOMSfJmrTJej2bO4nf7NUXq25vvCFByskVmCQ2U_KtHSgDaWSwtcRFugSwH2SulI_F6DAnCzDMOfmI/s1600/IMG_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocZWwA0UlcdVsBx85tRBp094Ye6ie0pDIRM0Ea4874Xzl1Jhirlf0Dk8KEOehIsbOMSfJmrTJej2bO4nf7NUXq25vvCFByskVmCQ2U_KtHSgDaWSwtcRFugSwH2SulI_F6DAnCzDMOfmI/s320/IMG_0806.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I tell you what, people come up with some brilliant stuff...now if these brilliant folks could just cure my migraines...MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-53610094262362404282012-09-04T17:30:00.003-07:002012-09-04T17:30:46.515-07:00Long Weekend Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Good Tuesday morning! I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend. It was nice to have an extra day to our weekend, but it sure was hard to get up and going for school and work this morning. I sure do hate that 5:45 a.m. alarm.</div>
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Here are some highlights from our weekend: </div>
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Clemson won! Go Tigers!!<br />
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Isn't family time the best?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBkNyJrD_DPF6V_huGtHxJKQCQYzTbwB8cWyiF383YOlBfXhtoMk00bb1-bhAE6vfwdZlEtW886gG2eGD-h4ReK4RWfsffcFyde8NTAKz0AFSB5rQx-gkdcPeznHsAYyP6xNVyUKxHbIs/s1600/IMG_0804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBkNyJrD_DPF6V_huGtHxJKQCQYzTbwB8cWyiF383YOlBfXhtoMk00bb1-bhAE6vfwdZlEtW886gG2eGD-h4ReK4RWfsffcFyde8NTAKz0AFSB5rQx-gkdcPeznHsAYyP6xNVyUKxHbIs/s320/IMG_0804.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Before you go, you have to click over <a href="http://www.stylemepretty.com/2012/09/03/south-carolina-engagement-shoot-from-elisabeth-millay-photography/">here</a> to Style Me Pretty to see pictures of my adorable cousin, Edward, and his equally adorable fiancee, Caroline. These were taken this past summer on our farm and dock. They make me want to go have a tomato fight...go see!MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-57207381311053068262012-08-30T14:41:00.001-07:002012-08-30T14:41:15.440-07:00The Keys, Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ahhh, Islamorada is my happy place. And if you wonder why, look no further than this:</div>
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That was the view standing on the pool deck looking out over our pool and beach and the Atlantic beyond. It is paradise. <br />
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We had never been to the Keys with kids before. My family has been going to the Keys for years and years. When I was younger, my grandparents would rent a house for the entire month of February, and the rest of the family would take turns going down to visit. However, when we were little, my parents would never take Hunter, Graham, and me. They said that kids weren't allowed south of Orlando, so we would just have to wait until we grew up to go to Islamorada. It was always a grown-up vacation for them. I think I was 14 or 15 the first time I got to go, and I immediately fell in love.<br />
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I thought that Brad and I would continue the tradition of no-kids-allowed Keys vacations, but we don't really have time to take the time off for a grown-ups-only <i>and</i> a family vacation, so we decided we would introduce the kids to one of our favorite places.<br />
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We rented a house for a week with my sister, Hunter, and her family (we invited my brother and his family, but they went on a beach vacation with Elizabeth's family earlier in the summer and couldn't make it). We brought a boat -- which is a must in the Keys. We also brought along our babysitter -- which is a huge bonus for some grown-up time on a family vacation, and, hey, an extra set of eyes is always nice when you have so many children around water.<br />
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Our house had a pool, and I think that was pretty key to our vacation fun. We could wake up in the mornings and head straight out to the pool before breakfast if we wanted! The kids swam like fish all week, Harper learned to swim while we were there, and they practiced their snorkeling skills in the pool before we headed out in the boat.<br />
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The kids LOVED getting to spend time with their cousins, Taylor and Harper. We see the twins pretty often, but we have never spent an entire week under the same roof. They all slept in the same loft, and I think they felt like they were at camp! They really didn't have much to do with us the entire time -- unless they needed something, of course!<br />
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We took Mary Beth, our summer sitter, and she was fabulous to have around. She really blended in as part of the family.<br />
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Brad got a coconut down from one of the trees on our beach one day, and the kids decided that they wanted to try it. I think it took Brad a good twenty minutes to hack into that thing. I worried that we were going to end up making a trip to the ER, and wondering if I should try to go ahead and figure out where, exactly, the closest one was. And then the girls didn't exactly love the coconut milk...but they did like the meat.<br />
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More fun pool/cousin pictures...</div>
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Hunter and the twinkies...</div>
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That's part 1...more to come later!MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-69091768299961640502012-08-22T17:33:00.001-07:002012-08-22T17:33:07.792-07:00Back to School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The kids started school last Wednesday, so that means that we have been back to reality and routine for a full week now. We have had time for some of the newness to wear off, and the kids are realizing that we are actually <i>back in school</i>. You know, homework has started. Mornings are early (really early). It's not all fun and games.</div>
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Summer is <i>so</i> much cooler.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler - 4th Grade</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sanders - 2nd Grade</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gibson - Kindergarten</td></tr>
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But! There is something to be said for being back in school with all your friends -- definitely no boredom around here anymore! There is something to be said about that old routine that gets everyone up and going in the mornings -- no more laziness! And we have so much to look forward to with this fall -- football games, trips to Clemson, birthday parties, field trips, lots of holidays, lots to learn, picking back up with our Bible group, a few more waterskiing weekends before it cools off.<br />
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Okay, school days aren't so bad...MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-3011672178629903962012-08-15T14:56:00.001-07:002012-08-15T14:56:49.198-07:00More Summer...Now That It's Over<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The kids went back to school today, and I am not exactly sure where our summer went. I feel like ours takes a long time to get going with all of the farming that happens at the beginning, and then - BAM! - it's over.</div>
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Of course, it is plenty long enough for the kids to get tired of being with one another and start bickering nonstop, so there's that. School is definitely a welcome break from the constant arguing and meanness that can come out of too much together time. Or is that just my kids?</div>
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But, anyway, let's catch up on the rest of summer...</div>
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I got this picture from a friend who used to work at our packing house. He was in Philadelphia and happened to see this while walking down the street. If you will notice, you can see two of our tomato boxes (the Seasides) in the picture! It is pretty cool to see that your produce reaches so far away!</div>
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I don't think I ever introduced you to Mary Beth, our babysitter, or the person who spent the most time with the kids this summer. Thank God for her, really. She was such a blessing to us and our babies. She kept everyone entertained, and it is so nice to know that your children are entertained when you are working ridiculous hours and can't spend any time with them.</div>
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I did get a chance to have a movie date with my three favorite little people. We went to see Madagascar 3 in 3-D. We went to Five Guys, got frozen yogurt, saw the movie, the whole nine yards. It was a nice little break in our summer routine.<br />
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The kids had a blast celebrating the Fourth of July in a little golf cart parade they have every year near my in-laws' beach house. My kids were on a float with their cousins, and I think they came in third in the parade. Mary Beth helped them make their patriotic t-shirts. <br />
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There were swimming lessons again this summer, and although everyone could swim pretty well beforehand, they are all swimming like little fish now. I am a huge believer in lessons every year -- they can only get better!<br />
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We got in a little visit with our good friends Mark, Jen, and baby Jane. I hate that they live so far away and we only get to see them in little bits and snatches. The kids <i>loved</i> meeting Jane, and I loved getting the chance to catch up with some sweet friends.<br />
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Do you ever look at your children and wonder how in the world they got to be so old? I have been wondering that a lot lately, especially when Mary Beth sent me these pictures from their recent hike. I am telling you, these people look like little grown-ups. When did that happen? WHY are they growing so fast?<br />
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I am really enjoying my time with #shereadstruth. I look forward to my quiet time every day. We are now on a study of Proverbs. <br />
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Brad has finally gotten to a point where he has slowed down. I have even gotten him to do some reading -- which is amazing, if you know Brad. He has read the entire <i>Hunger Games</i> trilogy. I think I am going to move him on to <i>Gone Girl </i>next.<br />
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The kids have gotten to spend plenty of time with cousins.<br />
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Speaking of growing up, we have had two birthdays in our house. Sanders turned 7 on August 2. She and I enjoyed a special Mommy/Daughter day for her birthday -- full of shopping and eating, perfect girl stuff! This girl is beautiful and fun and loving. I hope she always stays exactly the way she is.<br />
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And Gibson turned 5 on August 13. Like I said, where did my babies go? I have had a bit of a hard time that my baby is five-years-old. I had a hard time when he turned two, and I am having a hard time again now that he turned five. Five just seems so old, and kindergarten, too? When I pretend cry and tell Gibson that he is too old, he tells me that he is still my baby and that he always will be -- so then I really <i>do</i> tear up. He knows how to get his mama, and if he wasn't fifty pounds and too heavy for me, I would still carry him around like he was my baby. He is a sweet, loving boy, too -- although he definitely has that rough and tumble boyness to him. <br />
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I don't know what Brad and I did, but we got some good babies...but talk to me in their teenage years, I may have changed my mind by then.<br />
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I went back to blonde, in case you were wondering. For now. My plan was/is to be dark in the winter and light in the summer, but with what a pain it was to go back blonde, it may just have to stay blonde.<br />
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Finally...we ended our summer with a nice little family vacay. We went with my sister and her family to Islamorada. I want to do a full post on that soon (maybe my one post in September!!), but for now, I will give you the Instagram version of the trip...<br />
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We left at 4am Saturday, August 4...obviously not everyone was awake at that point.<br />
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We pulled Hunter and Joe's boat down there, and with all of the stops for gas and then once we hit major traffic on US1 when we finally got down to the Keys, it ended up taking us 12 hours to get there. Brad was really excited about that...especially because he had to drive the entire way. I do not pull trailers behind cars. Period.<br />
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But, it was worth it:<br />
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Oh, and we took Mary Beth, which was an awesome idea. She was a major help and pretty much just part of the family.<br />
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We caught lobster and fish and ate them both:<br />
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And we basically had the most relaxing time ever before having to come home and face a new school year and the reality of routine. I am already trying to plan next year.<br />
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So that was our summer...how was yours?MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-32035044257667803212012-07-13T09:06:00.000-07:002012-07-13T09:06:39.668-07:00#SheReadsTruthThis is going to sound bad.<br />
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During packing season, we take a little break from God.<br />
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Not a complete break -- never a complete break. I still pray often.<br />
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But we don't have the chance to go to church because we work seven days a week. I don't get a chance to sit down and read my Bible because I am always at work when I am awake. I don't get to read the Bible to the kids or do their nightly devotion because I don't get to do the bedtime routine with them because our sitter puts them to bed. We don't have time to memorize our weekly Bible verse like we do during the normal course of the year.<br />
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And I can definitely tell a difference.<br />
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I am crankier. It is easier for me to get in a funk and stay in one. The kids bicker more with each other. I miss the kids, but then when I am with them, I snap at them more quickly. <br />
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We are Christians. We need our daily time with the Lord, plain and simple. It makes a huge difference in our lives.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But he answered, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"</span></i> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Matthew 4:4</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">Anyway, I saw on a blog and through a Facebook friend something that caught my interest. It is a community of women who have all committed to reading the Bible and a series of devotions together and then journaling about their readings. It is called #SheReadsTruth.</span></div>
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I decided to join up, and I am loving it. I can't wait to see what each day's devotion is going to be about, and I look forward to writing in my journal each day -- although I have to say that is a difficult part for me. Sometimes it is really hard to actually write down all of your thoughts and prayers on paper!</div>
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We started a new devotion yesterday, so I encourage you to join up and start reading. This one is on prayer. If you are like me and were taking a little break, this is a great way to get back into reading your Bible. Click on over to <a href="http://shereadstruth.com/">#shereadstruth</a> and see how to get started.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-64872459428682080932012-06-24T17:07:00.000-07:002012-08-15T13:40:20.403-07:00May & June<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, it's been a while. Farming life and the lack of internet at home have both gotten in the way of blogging, so there is a lot to catch up on...</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>May:</b></span></div>
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Brad spent the month of May harvesting blueberries. We all love that time of year because our refrigerator is always full of fresh blueberries, and we eat them by the handfuls. I am so happy to not have to pay for that habit because we would be broke! </div>
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I took a couple of pictures while walking through the blueberry field one day:</div>
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Sanders and Gibson both have summer birthdays, so they got to celebrate their birthdays at the end of the school year. I took the easy way out and had Publix make un-iced cupcakes, so all I had to do was put on some icing. Our counter looked like a cupcake factory for a while! <br />
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I got a big surprise for Mother's Day this year -- my own iPad! I think I said this before, but I got one for Brad for Christmas the year before last, and I really thought that I would probably be the one to use it more than he would (you know, one of those gifts you give someone that's really for yourself?!?!), but Brad loves the iPad and uses it constantly. And if he isn't using it, then the kids are. So I have been left out in the dust as far as the iPad is concerned...until now.</div>
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The girls had their dance recital Mother's Day weekend. I didn't get any good pictures during the actual recital, but I got a couple before we left the house. They had the cutest costumes <i>ever</i> this time. The only problem with them is they dropped pink sequins all over the house every time the girls put them on.</div>
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What I don't love about May is that I always end up feeling like my head is spinning. The kids are still in school and have a million end-of-the-year activities going on, Brad is never home, my work/commute schedule kicks into high gear, and life just seems to get out of control. I am definitely a mommy who prays for the end of the school year, if just to let some of the craziness die down. </div>
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Once school does get out, I am thankful to get down to the coast and just take a deep breath.<br />
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This summer we moved into the same cottage that we stayed in last packing season. It belongs to my great-aunt and -uncle, and it is in between my parents' house and another aunt and uncle. We miss Brad while he is home busy with his harvest season, but it is so nice not to have to drive an hour-and-a-half to work every day, especially when those work days get really long.<br />
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Our family place on the coast is a little slice of heaven on earth... <br />
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There is an old tabby wall in between the cottage and Aunt Sharon and Uncle Mac's house: <br />
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Our home for the summer:<br />
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The kids love playing in the marsh in front of the house. There are plenty of fiddler crabs for them to catch, or they can just get muddy! Sanders, my little scientist, especially loves it. <br />
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The view is not too shabby from any direction:<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">June:</span></b><br />
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And, of course, the reason that we are there in the first place, the tomato packing season... We started early this year, on my birthday, May 31. It was my first ever packing house birthday, and I have to say I would rather not have a packing house birthday. But, everyone at the packing house made me feel extra special -- there was a pile of gifts waiting for me when I got to work, and our cook made my favorite caramel cake. So, I guess if I had to spend my entire birthday and most of the night at work, then my family definitely made it the best day possible.<br />
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This year held a lot of firsts for us as far as packing season. It was our first year with our new sales team, our first year in our new office, our first year using two new types of software, and our first year changing the way we do a couple of things around the packing house. For the most part, all of the changes were good. There have definitely been some bumps and hiccups along the road, but I think (hope) that most of us would agree that (most of) the changes have been for the better.<br />
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However, at this point everyone is just pretty darn tired. After working such long hours (until midnight or later a lot of nights), it is hard to think positively sometimes. Right now we mostly live off of our caffeine of choice -- iced coffee and Coke Zero for me (and don't forget the cake!) -- and just try to make it from day to day without killing a family member. Tempers can kind of run short.<br />
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But the last tomato rolled across the belt today, so we will be catching up on sleep soon enough. I always think that is a bittersweet moment...<br />
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My children have been living the life as Brad and I have been slaving away. Our babysitter, Mary Beth, keeps them very well entertained. She helped them set up a lemonade stand one day, where they made $45!! (If you don't count the $20 I spent on the lemonade...)<br />
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They have gone swimming at the pool and at the beach. They go to the library once a week and check out plenty of books and Andy Griffith movies. They have gone to the theater to see Brave. They come to see me at the packing house every day for lunch and dinner, and it is a nice little break for me to spend some family time with my babies -- and it is a way for me to actually get to see the kids when they are awake.<br />
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This past week Mary Beth took the kids to art camp. They made some really cute things, like Tyler's Coosaw (or "Cossaw") Farms banner, and they also did some artwork that really impressed me. The girls really enjoyed art camp, but I am pretty sure that Gibson just got dragged along. <br />
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So that, in a nutshell, is our May & June. I make no promises about my blogging future, but I hope to be around more. At least more than once every two months...Happy Summer!MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-54542023158412769522012-05-09T18:50:00.001-07:002012-05-09T18:50:08.005-07:00Summer Supper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I feel like I have been talking about food a lot lately. Which is probably why I need to lose about three pounds before I put on a bathing suit in front of anyone. But that is a depressing thought, so let's move on...</div>
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I made the best dinner the other night. I had been wanting to try <a href="http://www.bluechickadee.blogspot.com/search?q=summer+corn+cakes">this recipe</a> since seeing it on <a href="http://designerbagsanddirtydiapers.blogspot.com/2012/04/summer-corn-cakes-with-tomato-avocado.html">Designer Bags and Dirty Diapers</a>, and it did not disappoint when I finally got around to it...</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">Summer Corn Cakes with Tomato Avocado Salsa</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPc8Xic7X8Inqwi6vwkbeHmOXdtjylFncZluKFuIpOhLwHpiJgDtNBXpxvid_6i2u8t1YG7J0aiGFg4MbWk7YNDlOfnkv467GNXHL1R8EEIz3k6Ab55h_ZzSS5EFY8sBH3tL9qXMjHKnQ/s1600/IMG_0590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPc8Xic7X8Inqwi6vwkbeHmOXdtjylFncZluKFuIpOhLwHpiJgDtNBXpxvid_6i2u8t1YG7J0aiGFg4MbWk7YNDlOfnkv467GNXHL1R8EEIz3k6Ab55h_ZzSS5EFY8sBH3tL9qXMjHKnQ/s400/IMG_0590.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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(probably I should copy the recipe here, but it's too late, and I'm too tired...just click on the link...)</div>
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We, of course, added some fresh blueberries on the side, because no meal is complete at our house these days without fresh blueberries. AND, I tried my first blueberry cobbler, using my peach cobbler recipe and just substituting blueberries. It was <i>really</i> good. I immediately had to take it up to Brad's packing house to get it out of the house so that I wouldn't eat every last bite, which is why I don't have any pictures of it... I would love to know if anyone has a good recipe that is meant for blueberry cobbler. It's all in the name of research!!</div>
<br />MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-83863645124394932062012-05-08T19:03:00.002-07:002012-05-08T19:03:39.713-07:00Today's iPhone Pics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today has been a doozy...just one of those fun, nothing-goes-great days. But, let's just not dwell on that...instead, here are some pictures I snapped with my phone today:</div>
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Hunt and I went walking around the Back Field today, so I checked in on the baby maters, and they are growing like little weeds (although I guess that doesn't really sound good, does it?!?!)</div>
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I have started making my own, very delicious, almond butter from a recipe I saw on Tasty Kitchen, or at least that's where I thought it was, but now I can't find it to link up. It's almonds in the food processor until they turn to paste, sea salt, and honey. That's it. And did I mention that it's delicious?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSX_VWoAlvl4AeRr2RvVUsB_a_gLnglW_GEOu7lXX7RfBffB4KypJH1z20JtHCZXE16AUnTY0WTqJ25QW1-nEIjUjemuwZcNJAVYc3CRBmmHierQ3xi8Q2SR4p3MS45Q_IUaVsvjbbUu68/s1600/IMG_0594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSX_VWoAlvl4AeRr2RvVUsB_a_gLnglW_GEOu7lXX7RfBffB4KypJH1z20JtHCZXE16AUnTY0WTqJ25QW1-nEIjUjemuwZcNJAVYc3CRBmmHierQ3xi8Q2SR4p3MS45Q_IUaVsvjbbUu68/s400/IMG_0594.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I got my hair done today and decided to go blonde for the summer. And I ended up with this non-color:<br />
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I am trying really hard not to be depressed about it, but I hate it. It isn't blonde, and it isn't brown. It is somewhere in between, and it is ugly (hence the ugly faces in the pictures...and we won't even talk about the baggage under my eyes...). I may just wear a bag over my head until I can go back on June 23rd. </div>
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So...that's my day in a (very small, leave out most of the annoying parts) nutshell. Hope yours was lovely.</div>
<br />MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-4009380474642332972012-05-07T19:47:00.001-07:002012-05-07T19:47:40.708-07:00Easter...Yes, I Said EasterI know. It was a month ago. But even if it is just for me to remember, I wanted to post about our first Easter in the new house -- and our first time hosting a family holiday -- here on the old blog. I have already tried to upload these pictures once, and our internet in the boonies wouldn't let me, so I am finally getting around to it now...<br />
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Anywho.<br />
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We spent Saturday night of Easter weekend with my parents. I don't know if you'd call it a tradition, but I think we have done it for the past couple of years. The kids woke up to their Easter baskets in the same place that Hunter, Graham, and I woke up to ours back in the day.<br />
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And we had to have some of the obligatory <i>stand there and look like you love each other </i>pictures before church. Some days those are harder than others. <br />
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We got some really cute pictures of all six of the grandchildren after church. Cute, that is, if you don't care that they aren't all looking at the camera and smiling at the same time. That would be impossible.<br />
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Funny aside -- the kids are all sitting on GranGran's gravestone in our family area of the graveyard. Some kid came up and told Hunter that it is rude to sit on people's graves... I don't really think he would care...<br />
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While it is hard to act like you love your sisters, it is not hard to act like you love your buddies...<br />
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We had a great meal at our house to celebrate after church. My side of the family all went to my grandmother's house, so it was just Brad's parents and sister and brother-in-law at the house, but that was probably plenty for our first time entertaining the fam. Sanders and Tyler did our flowers -- yes, really! Louise brought our main course, Angela brought a salad, and I made <a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/cranberry-strawberry-salad-50400000119881/">Cranberry-Strawberry Salad</a>, macaroni and cheese, and <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/05/strawberry-shortcakecake/">Strawberry Shortcake Cake</a>, which ended up looking like a bleeding heart because I had to use my heart-shaped cake pan (it was the correct depth) and all the strawberries poking out looked like blood...oh well, it was delicious anyway.</div>
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After everyone left, I snapped a couple more pictures of my babies to try to get one where they at least looked happy to be together. Maybe it was the sun in their eyes, but this one will do!!</div>
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We had a very blessed Easter (yes, a month ago), and I hope you did too.<br />
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Alleluia! He is Risen!<br />
The Lord is Risen indeed! Alleluia!MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-15750320516240349502012-05-03T19:15:00.000-07:002012-05-03T19:15:17.306-07:00Had Your Coosaw Berries Yet?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK03-mBzSlJ5dMQei53FOrGyq7jjqJJhial9uPHaNjrTbBzvbVwZPf9G26kvA8gmvaa9wpMJsFqAwaoXsaj90N0HAGrrz4Pfwm6wu0LwbbgDh4lTbVRlUdX_Kdt5QyUxoj7xmvKdY_BXly/s1600/IMG_0588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK03-mBzSlJ5dMQei53FOrGyq7jjqJJhial9uPHaNjrTbBzvbVwZPf9G26kvA8gmvaa9wpMJsFqAwaoXsaj90N0HAGrrz4Pfwm6wu0LwbbgDh4lTbVRlUdX_Kdt5QyUxoj7xmvKdY_BXly/s400/IMG_0588.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Have y'all gotten any of these guys yet? If not, you need to go directly to your local grocery store and look for them! The blueberries are extra delicious this year, and I can say that because I didn't have anything to do with growing them -- but I certainly have a refrigerator full of them, and the kids and I are eating them by the handful.<br />
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I know they are being sold at Publix (although not yet at the Publix closest to me because we are supplied by the Jacksonville distribution center, and right now Brad is only supplying the Atlanta distribution center -- hopefully they will be in all Publix distribution centers soon), BiLo, Fresh Market, Whole Foods, and some IGAs. Go get them while you can!!MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-92040074139018004972012-04-30T19:58:00.000-07:002012-04-30T19:58:22.022-07:00The Usual Catch-Up Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I never mean to allow three weeks between my posts, but life just seems to go by at warp speed these days -- especially now that it is spring and blueberries are ready and we are getting ready for our season on the tomato farm. Work has been taking up most of my time lately, and we won't even talk about how much of Brad's time it is taking up already. You know it's bad when your child (Sanders) says to you "you know how you're always at work, and we are always with Kaitlyn (the babysitter)?" Talk about a knife through a mommy's heart...and why don't they seem to notice that Daddy is always at work, even longer than Mommy?</div>
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Anyway, here's what's been going on, aside from work, since last we spoke.</div>
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Tyler got her braces on. She already had <a href="http://growchristianblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/it-begins.html">the expander and some sort of contraption in the bottom</a>, but now they have added brackets on her top permanent teeth. She has been a real trooper through it all, and she has been great about brushing and flossing and all of the fun extra dental hygiene that comes along with a mouth full of metal. And turning the key in her expander was really no big deal -- I was prepared for the worst, but she was a rock star as far as that went! I am so proud of her.</div>
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I have cooked some good recipes that I wanted to share through some links...</div>
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These <a href="http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/2011/01/31/buffalo-chicken-rolls/">buffalo chicken rolls</a> were awesome. And easy. Two words I love when describing a recipe. </div>
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This <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/roasted-tomatoes-shrimp-feta-10000000780294/index.html">Roasted Tomatoes with Shrimp and Feta</a> makes my mouth water when I think about it. It is easy, too, if you can get past peeling the shrimp. I am the world's worst shrimp peeler, so it takes me forever. I try to always have shrimp when Brad will be home to peel them, but I have done it twice for this recipe...it's that good that I will go through the effort! </div>
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This <a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/ziti-with-spinach-cherry-tomatoes-gorgonzola-sauce-10000001835257/">pasta</a> is an old standby, and I love, love, love it. I could eat it once a week, I think. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0oYKZG5iu_4J7XqBP93AJzzIBWCHfZUOagpq00xmQfGlfDxlfQXCiSErVF6z5iJRI9vrWKJsHxuPHfx8KS0-r0anTRA3NiX6qigoOf_rTC_xMQ7uaH3DQP8_Sr90Zg0QiHhFq0DLIqFo/s1600/IMG_0542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0oYKZG5iu_4J7XqBP93AJzzIBWCHfZUOagpq00xmQfGlfDxlfQXCiSErVF6z5iJRI9vrWKJsHxuPHfx8KS0-r0anTRA3NiX6qigoOf_rTC_xMQ7uaH3DQP8_Sr90Zg0QiHhFq0DLIqFo/s400/IMG_0542.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This past weekend I went to the wedding of one of my best guy friends from high school. If you count the fact that our mothers went to lamaze classes together, I have known Justin since we were in utero, so he is really one of my oldest friends. Justin married one of my brother's old girlfriends, so it was all of my old friends and Graham's old friends in one place. It was great to see so many people from high school and to catch up on everyone's lives. Most of us keep in touch pretty often, and we all know how Facebook makes the world so small, but I hadn't seen some of my friends since college! <br />
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Most of the weekend you could find the kids and me here...</div>
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We finally got to spend some time at the beach when it was actually warm (last time we went for the afternoon, it was freezing!) -- in fact, it was pretty perfect. The kids are at an age where I can pretty much sit in a chair, look at a magazine, and relax. (Of course, I keep my eyes on them, but I don't have to be quite as crazy about it as I was even last year; they just are growing up too fast.)</div>
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We also enjoyed our first watermelon of the year, but what do you know, I grabbed a seeded one from Brad's packing house. But, at least the kids got to practice their seed-spitting skills.</div>
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<br />MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-70886083371656193692012-04-10T18:55:00.000-07:002012-04-10T18:55:55.043-07:00Spring Break 2012!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's Spring Break around here, but sadly we don't get to do anything like this:</div>
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or this:<br />
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this year (or any year for that matter). Instead, this is proving to be my busiest work week yet this year, Brad is gearing up to pick blueberries early, and the weather isn't quite as warm as the summer-like temperatures we have been having recently. </div>
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But, I do hope to work like crazy for the first half of the week to try to get at least a little bit of time to enjoy with the chickens before they go back to school. I'd love to try out this new fro-yo place in a nearby town and take the kids to a movie...I'd love to get to the beach one day (<i>if</i> it's warm enough!)...I'd love to get Gibson some summer clothes since he has grown like a weed over the winter...I would love to spend some time reading books, watching movies, and playing outside with the kids at our house before I get too busy and can't...I'd like to <i>enjoy</i> spring break!</div>
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One thing I am enjoying, though, even if I am having to work like crazy? Sleeping <i>past</i> 5:45 am! That early alarm is going to be a tough pill to swallow next Monday morning...</div>MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-43015105131216270852012-04-09T19:11:00.000-07:002012-04-09T19:11:07.710-07:00Happy Easter!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Of course I'm a day late, but I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating our Risen Lord. We had a great celebration with family -- our first time hosting a holiday at our house -- after my favorite church service of the year (although Christmas Eve is up there...). </div>
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I have a lot to share about our day, but it is going to have to wait for another post. However, suffice it to say there will be more funny pictures like this...what in the world is Gibson doing?!?!</div>
<br />MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-44806173918703542652012-04-06T18:35:00.002-07:002012-04-06T18:35:29.760-07:00Good Friday<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Come and Mourn</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">O come and mourn with me a while; all ye now come to the Savior's side;</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">come see the One who frees us all; the Lord of Life is crucified.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have we no tears to shed for Him, while soldiers scoff and foes deride?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Upon the cross He bears His pain, the Lord of Life is crucified.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seven times He speaks, seven words of love; His silence too, cries out to all.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His words of love our hearts receive. The Lord of Life is crucified.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">O love of God, O sin of man, in this dread hour true strength is found.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is with love we triumph still. The Lord of Life is crucified.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope on this, the holiest day of our year, you have come into contact with the crucified Christ, and His Sacrifice on your behalf has stirred your heart. Happy Good Friday.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-37247755706779093392012-04-05T18:08:00.002-07:002012-04-05T18:08:54.966-07:00SERIOUS Decision Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am having a major hair dilemma. I am wavering back and forth about what to do. And here is what is plaguing me...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>BROWN..... </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxAFDKlQz8lPcjcaKI6aZgmFVOx4F7P7vGy06TgBm8-jPFbhJmsuNqHCy0No86Tz3ap6NFwNkvTqbRhgvlgNMaJ2bM3FNLv7zTrW__6b2ZUHs4oSRjteXR0YNwjfseKddvsp4AKm_ftZk/s1600/419940_3402930713441_1275050662_3270963_947556916_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxAFDKlQz8lPcjcaKI6aZgmFVOx4F7P7vGy06TgBm8-jPFbhJmsuNqHCy0No86Tz3ap6NFwNkvTqbRhgvlgNMaJ2bM3FNLv7zTrW__6b2ZUHs4oSRjteXR0YNwjfseKddvsp4AKm_ftZk/s400/419940_3402930713441_1275050662_3270963_947556916_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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or</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>YELLOW?</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(as Gibson calls it)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uOmEqrze8wR5U3Q2hYAJmS96gvPONU0WemxYetiJE_LlmRIZAXQjL949eh1Ih6F2uekwh_Lpnxj_trf-TCGFNYlp22RTa0pY15ROHHAMWzKur99oSkPKcJQU63W1lPyX5wU-5Q8C10Rz/s1600/IMG_9074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uOmEqrze8wR5U3Q2hYAJmS96gvPONU0WemxYetiJE_LlmRIZAXQjL949eh1Ih6F2uekwh_Lpnxj_trf-TCGFNYlp22RTa0pY15ROHHAMWzKur99oSkPKcJQU63W1lPyX5wU-5Q8C10Rz/s400/IMG_9074.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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Do I want to go back to being a blondie for summer? Or do I want to stay my new, darker self? I change my mind from one minute to the next, and I have until Wednesday to make a "permanent" decision.<br />
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Aren't you so glad this wasn't a <i>real</i> problem...MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-29234929623643371722012-04-03T18:59:00.001-07:002012-04-03T18:59:26.285-07:00Recognize These People?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On January 1, I told myself that I was going to be <i>so much better </i>about taking pictures of my kids this year. For the past couple of years -- really since Gibson has gotten to be older than a toddler -- I have kind of fallen off the picture taking wagon. I will do really well for a couple of weeks or so, then I won't take any.</div>
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But, I've done worse...much, much worse.</div>
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I have hardly taken any pictures since my commitment to take pictures. So, I got out my camera while we were playing in the yard the other day and took some quick pics of the kids being silly -- and I re-committed myself to taking more pictures...let's see how long it lasts!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyRjTrR8oURxU2Y0vlfQvkXBCu34z10vY6pR5vrweZmAjgUF4wGPV9tVvmACa_pIFbOgTE61VHd6yjyG-qBlp5KUV2TBadNFxNl78mceiRbXBKaeAY9Fi7FCKONZg8FkaO2ItAQltzsn-/s1600/IMG_9579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyRjTrR8oURxU2Y0vlfQvkXBCu34z10vY6pR5vrweZmAjgUF4wGPV9tVvmACa_pIFbOgTE61VHd6yjyG-qBlp5KUV2TBadNFxNl78mceiRbXBKaeAY9Fi7FCKONZg8FkaO2ItAQltzsn-/s400/IMG_9579.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-22796823491804808212012-03-30T20:05:00.002-07:002012-03-30T20:05:52.885-07:00It Begins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In some ways it seems like a million years ago, but in others it seems like just yesterday that I was at my orthodontist's office pitching a fit because he wouldn't take my braces off when I wanted him to do it.</div>
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Now my child is there, in that same orthodontist's office, getting her own set of braces. Or at least, her own set of dental torture devices. We haven't quite gotten to the braces yet -- those come in two weeks. We started off this Monday getting two teeth pulled... </div>
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(I say "we." I mean Tyler. I would have been a big, fat baby about this whole ordeal, but Tyler handled it like a champ. I am <i>really</i> proud of how well she did!)</div>
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Poor girl bled all afternoon after getting those teeth out. She had to walk around with this gauze in her mouth, and I couldn't understand a word she said. Little did I know that that was just practice for later on in the week...</div>
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On Wednesday Ty got to skip the entire day of school because she had to go get her torture devices put in. The first one is a palatal expander. I escaped ever having to have one, but both my sister and brother had them, and I remember the horrors my mom went through turning the key in that thing every night. Now I'm doing it. It's not fun.<br />
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Tyler also has this contraption in the bottom of her mouth that is supposed to pull the bottom of her jaw forward. It has this big, plastic part that covers all of her bottom teeth, and so she sounds like she is talking with something in her mouth at all times. That and she drooled all over the place for the first two days.<br />
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This is what her mouth looks like now:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2metRxTDkMUnlPbWoHJ_ryfzSVBn3ZCAYgJPNGK12E-tlImF8pnLwyxHMMp7i0Yj84NMRvWAQMCSl6n2JntRdX41JA1C7pYTKYMRpcaprTysu1Ci-jizo8lh8sx0Qw7zqsrSApUCbkX1s/s1600/IMG_0504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2metRxTDkMUnlPbWoHJ_ryfzSVBn3ZCAYgJPNGK12E-tlImF8pnLwyxHMMp7i0Yj84NMRvWAQMCSl6n2JntRdX41JA1C7pYTKYMRpcaprTysu1Ci-jizo8lh8sx0Qw7zqsrSApUCbkX1s/s400/IMG_0504.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Or it is what her mouth looks like until we go get the braces on her top permanent teeth in two weeks.<br />
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And to think, this is only child 1, phase 1...we get to do this at <i>least</i> 3 more times!MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-73432300499155631002012-03-28T17:23:00.000-07:002012-03-28T17:23:41.393-07:00Snaps from the New House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In some ways I feel like we have settled right in to life in the new house. In other ways I feel like we have a long way to go. Here's a brief tour...</div>
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I need something to hang over this chest in the entrance and a new lampshade, but my Easter bunnies are out!</div>
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The living room is coming along...<br />
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There are these little messes still leftover in a couple of places, the dining room and kids' den to name a couple:</div>
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Normal life (never-ending laundry!) goes on in the kitchen:<br />
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My closet is one place that's pretty well organized...at least there's one place, right?!?!<br />
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We'll get there...eventually.</div>MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-53699183231044560322012-03-27T18:34:00.001-07:002012-03-27T18:34:49.183-07:00Mmmmm...Muffins!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My sister, Hunter, and her twins came to stay with us Friday night while her husband was away turkey hunting, so Saturday morning I made a couple of batches of muffins using <a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/03/insanely-good-blueberry-oatmeal-muffins.html">this recipe</a> from Skinnytaste -- one batch with blueberries and one without because my weirdo sister doesn't like blueberries*. They were absolutely delish and low fat until I added the topping from <a href="http://tastykitchen.com/blog/2012/03/lemon-blueberry-crunch-muffins/">this recipe</a>! By the way my kids gobbled up three or so muffins in one sitting, I would say they loved them. I have made another couple of batches without the topping since then, and we are steadily working our way through those.</div>
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Mornings are more fun with company! We loved having some cousin time while Taylor and Harper were here. It is definitely a treat to have a house big enough to hold guests, so now we just have to do it more often!</div>
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* My changes to the recipe/notes:</div>
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-- With blueberries: I used sweetened almond milk because that's what I had on hand, so I added a little less honey. I also added in some lemon zest.</div>
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-- Without blueberries: Same as above except I added extra lemon zest and a little bit of lemon juice to give the muffins some sort of flavor besides just oatmeal. </div>
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-- Even with the cooking spray, the muffins stuck really badly to the liners. </div>
<span id="goog_375485100"></span><span id="goog_375485101"></span>MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-1915413786599894742012-03-22T17:56:00.000-07:002012-03-22T17:56:38.168-07:00Songwriter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ty can add songwriter to the list of things she wants to be when she grows up (fashion designer and makeup artist if you're keeping track...). She sang a song for us that she had written the other night, but I couldn't really understand what she was saying because she got embarrassed and quiet and giggly.</div>
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But then she wrote the words down. The song could be finished -- it is short and seems to just stop -- but what she has is really good. She gave this sheet to a man in the praise band at our church, and he is going to put music to it if I can get a recording of Tyler singing it.</div>
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In case you can't read the words, they are:<br />
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God puts a fire in your heart,<br />
He takes the power away.<br />
He can here (hear) every song you sing<br />
and every word you say.<br />
Tell Him your sins so He can forgive them,<br />
forgive them.<br />
Every time you pray He rejoices...<br />
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(I added the punctuation)MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-46863125350234035652012-03-19T19:39:00.000-07:002012-03-19T19:39:02.144-07:00Recent Reading List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have been doing a good bit of reading lately, and I thought I would share some of my recent reads with you.</div>
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I have to start with <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hunger-Games-Trilogy-Boxed-Set/dp/0545265355/ref=pd_sim_b_1">The Hunger Games</a> </b>series. I have seriously had my nose in a book for a week now as I devoured all three of the books as fast as I could while doing everything else that I need to do during the day -- work, take care of the kids -- you know the drill. I am not sure why it took me so long to read these books, but I am glad that all three were out when I decided to pick up the first one so I didn't have to wait between books. And the movie comes out Friday!!!</div>
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<b><u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Joy-Novel-Lisa-See/dp/140006712X">Dreams of Joy</a></u></b>: This is the sequel to Shanghai Girls and is one of our Reading Club books this year. One thing I love about Reading Club is that I pick up books that I probably would not have otherwise read, and this is one of those. </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cutting-Stone-Abraham-Verghese/dp/0375714367"><b>Cutting for Stone</b></a>: This is another Reading Club book, and one of the complaints among the ladies has been that there is too much medical jargon in the book. While it is true that there is a lot, I didn't mind it at all and thought for the most part it added to the story -- some of it probably could have been left out, though. </div>
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cutting-Stone-Abraham-Verghese/dp/0375714367">I've Got Your Number</a>:</b> I love Sophie Kinsella for quick, light reads (most of the time), and this book did not disappoint. I read it in a day or so. Very cute.</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Wall-Story-Broke-Barriers/dp/0345495802"><b>The Invisible Wall:</b></a> Pretty good but way too long and dragged out. </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Paris-Wife-Novel-Paula-McLain/dp/0345521307"><b>The Paris Wife</b></a>: WHY did she put up with Ernest Hemingway? This book makes marriage look so depressing...</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bride-Bargain-Deeanne-Gist/dp/0764204076">A Bride in the Bargain</a>:</b> Deeanne Gist is another author whose books I will read for a light, fun read. She is a Christian author, and I happened on one of her books in K-Mart, of all places, when I was looking through the paperbacks a couple of years ago. Since then I have read several of her books, and they have all been good. </div>
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Any good books I am missing out on?</div>
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<br /></div>MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-64216318614485419712012-03-13T19:03:00.001-07:002012-03-13T19:03:45.180-07:00We're All Hitched!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This past weekend I went to Charlotte for the wedding of my last close girlfriend at Clemson. I always love getting together with these girls, and we try to do it as often as possible, though that is hard to do now that we all have jobs, husbands, and kids.</div>
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Friday night most of us met up and ate dinner at this tapas place where we could order the entire menu for something like $230, so we took that challenge. And then we proceeded to feel like gluttons because the waitstaff brought us plate after plate after plate of food. It was like speed eating. We were stuffed before they even brought everything out, but everything was really good -- or at least everything that I tasted. </div>
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They had a photo booth at the reception, and I love a photo booth. They just allow for all sorts of craziness. You're just never so cool as you are in a photo booth with a sombrero and a fake mustache.</div>
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I did manage to trip and fall in the <a href="http://growchristianblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/what-happens.html">middle of the reception</a> <a href="http://growchristianblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/big-fun-was-had-by-all.html">again</a>. This time it wasn't down stairs, thankfully, but it was in front of many more people. So embarrassing. And I managed to scrape up my knees and elbows, but I didn't hurt myself as badly was when I fell down the stairs at my last sorority sister's wedding. I'm like a total wedding klutz...</div>
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Now we just need to find our next excuse to get together!MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4918126035990334798.post-16757967396667795652012-03-06T18:39:00.003-08:002012-03-06T18:39:50.321-08:00I Needed a Little Happy...This past weekend was one of those really long, dreary ones. It rained all. day. long. Saturday, and the day just seemed to drag on and on and on, especially because Brad was in Tampa at a trade show and wasn't around to help me entertain bored children. <br />
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So, when the kids finally went to bed Saturday night, I added a little color to my life by watching Breaking Dawn (soooo good) and doing a little retail therapy...(totally not what I needed to do, but totally worth it...)<br />
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The<a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/clothes-dresses/24220790.jsp"> dresses</a> above are actually the same dress and are from Anthropologie. I got the one on the right, in cream, and I thought it would be really cute for Easter with some colorful necklaces. I also think it could look cute with <a href="http://www.jcrew.com/womens_feature/NewArrivals/blazersandvests/PRDOVR~37852/37852.jsp">this blazer</a>. If I like it, though, I <i>may</i> have to go back and order the one on the left, which the website says is red but all of the reviews say is orange. </div>
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I have also been wanting to try the colored denim trend, so I got the <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/clothes-denim/20471538.jsp">purple pair</a> above. I am really not sure how I will feel about wearing color on the bottom half of my body like that, but I am going to give it a try -- that will definitely be injecting some color into my wardrobe!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">All photos via <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/index.jsp">Anthropologie</a>.</span></div>
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<br /></div>MatersandMelonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12435195504052809654noreply@blogger.com1