tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63026812575388320442024-02-20T07:38:01.313-08:00Audi & Sam BrienAudi Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16850090818334511511noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302681257538832044.post-7055845437064248482011-10-06T02:29:00.000-07:002011-10-07T22:49:15.773-07:00Baby Mamma<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qERrbGt4Lf4/To11AeJR9WI/AAAAAAAAAWs/IwKPXW0l4ZM/s1600/DSCN1013.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qERrbGt4Lf4/To11AeJR9WI/AAAAAAAAAWs/IwKPXW0l4ZM/s320/DSCN1013.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">Confession: Almost without exception, I get choked up during Hallmark's Christmas commercials. There is something about the holiday, homey-nostalgia cocktail that gets me every time. Its not Hallmark alone, there is a sappy fever-reducer commercial out there that brings a little tickle twinge to my throat. Even worse is Suburu's commercial about the teenage daughter taking the family car for her first solo ride and all the dad sees is his little 5 year old driving away...</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">My point is--I have always been a little sappy. But since becoming a mamma I am over the top S.A.P.P.Y. If I am exposed to any sort of family scene with a carefully cued musical background, I have to swallow hard and avoid eye contact....</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">So today when Chloe climbed up behind me and wrapped her little chubby baby arms around my neck and barked in my ear while we looked at puppies online I melted. Oh, little baby, don't change! Don't grow up. Don't drive away in our suburu someday...just keep wrapping your little arms around me and we'll look at puppies.<br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><i>I. AM. SAPPY.</i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><i><br /></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HnfcXXvcZ6I/To11AqcA2YI/AAAAAAAAAW0/VMsgmMAAp48/s1600/IMG_0143.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HnfcXXvcZ6I/To11AqcA2YI/AAAAAAAAAW0/VMsgmMAAp48/s320/IMG_0143.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px;"><span style="font-size:130%;">...and I <span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">love</span></span> being this baby's mama.</span></div>Audi Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16850090818334511511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302681257538832044.post-61327409608730850592011-07-12T17:08:00.000-07:002011-07-12T17:33:27.993-07:00A brazen old lady and a baby.<div style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">In June I went home to Idaho for the first time in two years. No matter how long I've been gone there is always something nice about coming home, comforting. Nothing compares to the familiarity of home--Mom and Dad, John Wayne, the garden, our old dog that secretly I've never liked, Mom's white walls, Dad's growing pile of movies...Its like stepping back in time and reclaiming a little piece of childhood.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">My nieces and nephews are bigger now. The two oldest just graduated from high school. I see in them this year's borrowed trends--skinny jeans, 80's metal band hair, blue eyeshadow; they pull it off well, they are cute little hipsters. Today's styles have looped around and gathered in styles reminiscent of my childhood/middle school years...my awkward years. When I looked at them, I felt the generation gap widening, and my illusion of returning home to reclaim my youth shatters a bit. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Even more so after this conversation with one of my niece's 16 year old friends,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Referring to my daughter she said, "Wow! So how old is she?"</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Me: "Ten months."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Young hipster: "Whoa! And you just barely had her?"</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Me: "Well, ya. like I said, I had her about 10 months ago."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Young hipster: "Wow, and you're like 30? You are a strong brave woman to have a baby at <span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span">YOUR </span></span></span>age."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Me: "I'm 31."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Apparently I am a strong, tenacious woman brazenly traversing the wild unruly territory of motherhood at the withered old age of 31. It was hard not to laugh right out loud. Instead I smiled a tight lipped smile, pushed play on John Wayne's, 'Mclintock' and slipped back into my 'coming home, I'm still a kid' illusion...</span></div></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">So here I am, a crazy old lady with a chubby little baby.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_-q-efNAuU4/ThziDkIj84I/AAAAAAAAAV4/DXdujnQTvV8/s1600/DSCN0132.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_-q-efNAuU4/ThziDkIj84I/AAAAAAAAAV4/DXdujnQTvV8/s320/DSCN0132.JPG" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">brave.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><br /></div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Audi Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16850090818334511511noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302681257538832044.post-61273287848372331912011-07-08T12:37:00.000-07:002011-07-08T12:42:05.575-07:00Cannon Beach!<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vFY08wtAwew/ThdcxVv9lEI/AAAAAAAAATg/XML6t87gtRA/s1600/IMG_9563.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vFY08wtAwew/ThdcxVv9lEI/AAAAAAAAATg/XML6t87gtRA/s320/IMG_9563.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2I0jm4CO5v0/ThdcxsVe9oI/AAAAAAAAATo/i_2p88HpfDQ/s1600/IMG_9545.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2I0jm4CO5v0/ThdcxsVe9oI/AAAAAAAAATo/i_2p88HpfDQ/s320/IMG_9545.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OON7z3VdTKc/ThdcyNpY2-I/AAAAAAAAAT4/Bm6FRg9wtAM/s1600/IMG_9549.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OON7z3VdTKc/ThdcyNpY2-I/AAAAAAAAAT4/Bm6FRg9wtAM/s320/IMG_9549.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XKz5Ce5z9DI/ThdcyTwlHxI/AAAAAAAAAUA/stCEyp1sDA8/s1600/IMG_9551.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XKz5Ce5z9DI/ThdcyTwlHxI/AAAAAAAAAUA/stCEyp1sDA8/s320/IMG_9551.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jlqqWy04IDA/ThdcyoY6RTI/AAAAAAAAAUI/idF6RA3d7DU/s1600/IMG_9571.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jlqqWy04IDA/ThdcyoY6RTI/AAAAAAAAAUI/idF6RA3d7DU/s320/IMG_9571.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ydDNxaY33E8/ThdczfkbheI/AAAAAAAAAUY/yE96ZPy-6xo/s1600/IMG_9582.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ydDNxaY33E8/ThdczfkbheI/AAAAAAAAAUY/yE96ZPy-6xo/s320/IMG_9582.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-stD8DdZrQ7c/Thdcz5PqHdI/AAAAAAAAAUg/pB4wnhu51pk/s1600/IMG_9589.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-stD8DdZrQ7c/Thdcz5PqHdI/AAAAAAAAAUg/pB4wnhu51pk/s320/IMG_9589.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e-oU-7RDYoU/ThdczwYGwTI/AAAAAAAAAUo/Kzztb6ig0zI/s1600/IMG_9592.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e-oU-7RDYoU/ThdczwYGwTI/AAAAAAAAAUo/Kzztb6ig0zI/s320/IMG_9592.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hC4YESvfdQg/Thdc0RVMWzI/AAAAAAAAAUw/fc6sH54g7Cg/s1600/IMG_9597.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hC4YESvfdQg/Thdc0RVMWzI/AAAAAAAAAUw/fc6sH54g7Cg/s320/IMG_9597.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DGLz6FIfBTw/Thdc0zgtXWI/AAAAAAAAAU4/QJlnQy-bxBE/s1600/IMG_9600.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DGLz6FIfBTw/Thdc0zgtXWI/AAAAAAAAAU4/QJlnQy-bxBE/s320/IMG_9600.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wtEqpl4vodk/Thdc1Pv8wjI/AAAAAAAAAVA/OKc5ZZ7OdTM/s1600/IMG_9603.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wtEqpl4vodk/Thdc1Pv8wjI/AAAAAAAAAVA/OKc5ZZ7OdTM/s320/IMG_9603.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-stZ96yN16G8/Thdc1QA33WI/AAAAAAAAAVI/nRBHB2rru-M/s1600/IMG_9606.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-stZ96yN16G8/Thdc1QA33WI/AAAAAAAAAVI/nRBHB2rru-M/s320/IMG_9606.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HaKHRdCN-WA/Thdc1wqOe2I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/EsQgXrFptmE/s1600/IMG_9622.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HaKHRdCN-WA/Thdc1wqOe2I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/EsQgXrFptmE/s320/IMG_9622.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Audi Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16850090818334511511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302681257538832044.post-3933649546029923562011-06-12T20:05:00.000-07:002011-06-12T20:07:11.151-07:00Little Orange Lady<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px">We bought a bag of oranges a little while ago and I let Chloe play with one of them for a little bit before her bath. She looked so cute in her shinnies holding the bright orange I had to post it.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PVT2iSwaUZU/TfV-annsaVI/AAAAAAAAARk/f49fMZy_XSM/s1600/IMG_8278.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PVT2iSwaUZU/TfV-annsaVI/AAAAAAAAARk/f49fMZy_XSM/s320/IMG_8278.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I just like her.</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BrUvDUZ2C1I/TfV-a7sbU-I/AAAAAAAAARs/YetV31xeHr0/s1600/IMG_8287.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BrUvDUZ2C1I/TfV-a7sbU-I/AAAAAAAAARs/YetV31xeHr0/s320/IMG_8287.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER">And her chubby little rolls.</div>Audi Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16850090818334511511noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302681257538832044.post-58112684601392182952011-02-21T17:16:00.001-08:002011-02-21T18:18:27.023-08:00More Christmas Adventuring...<div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;">I didn't get to see my family much while we lived in DC, so I was very excited to have my momma in Arizona ALL of December! <span style="font-size:85%;">(no sarcasm intended, I was genuinely excited to have this sweet little lady around!)</span> She stayed for a week with each of my sisters that live down here. While she was with us we took her to see <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Montezuma's Well</span> and <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuzigoot</span></span>, two Sinagua ruins just a few hours North of us.<br /><br /></div> <a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gsckHDhO3sk/TWMQ-yFAIhI/AAAAAAAAAQs/Povjdq92vYY/s1600/IMG_6274%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gsckHDhO3sk/TWMQ-yFAIhI/AAAAAAAAAQs/Povjdq92vYY/s320/IMG_6274%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576319434395492882" border="0" /></a> <div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TdbtB5SmNuU/TWMQ-2dcAmI/AAAAAAAAAQk/f3YyHbG_WPE/s1600/IMG_6277%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TdbtB5SmNuU/TWMQ-2dcAmI/AAAAAAAAAQk/f3YyHbG_WPE/s320/IMG_6277%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576319435571724898" border="0" /></a>The well itself is actually a sinkhole with a constant mysterious flow of water that runs into it. Over a million gallons of water flow into this hole <span style="font-size:130%;">every day</span> that is unaccounted for, as of yet scientists have not been able to track its source. This mysterious water flow gives the place a magical, mystical appeal. It is a small little ruin, but still fascinating to wander around.<br /><br /></div><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-si8OmOi7EeI/TWMQ-pcYRyI/AAAAAAAAAQc/CNj97c_qrU8/s1600/IMG_6288%2B-%2BVersion%2B2%2B%25281%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-si8OmOi7EeI/TWMQ-pcYRyI/AAAAAAAAAQc/CNj97c_qrU8/s320/IMG_6288%2B-%2BVersion%2B2%2B%25281%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576319432077625122" border="0" /></a> <a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g1wTpj7MQxE/TWMQ-YaDroI/AAAAAAAAAQU/XIXgR02MbB4/s1600/IMG_6300%2B-%2BVersion%2B4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g1wTpj7MQxE/TWMQ-YaDroI/AAAAAAAAAQU/XIXgR02MbB4/s320/IMG_6300%2B-%2BVersion%2B4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576319427504483970" border="0" /></a> <a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6lUtPcXIVuA/TWMQrMb-gyI/AAAAAAAAAQM/PNd30qZXKHU/s1600/IMG_6310%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6lUtPcXIVuA/TWMQrMb-gyI/AAAAAAAAAQM/PNd30qZXKHU/s320/IMG_6310%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576319097873793826" border="0" /></a> <div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5KK3ou1uhVE/TWMQps8wiTI/AAAAAAAAAQE/rsNzsaQ5WN0/s1600/IMG_6320%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5KK3ou1uhVE/TWMQps8wiTI/AAAAAAAAAQE/rsNzsaQ5WN0/s320/IMG_6320%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576319072241486130" border="0" /></a>This is another likely storage space at the base of the well.<br /></div><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7i6ThkG7Pfs/TWMQpj9c-HI/AAAAAAAAAP8/TjBQD_jncQA/s1600/IMG_6323%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><br /></a> <div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nmuOh_vMjh0/TWMQpWfuUGI/AAAAAAAAAP0/VQydOA-aLpQ/s1600/IMG_6324%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nmuOh_vMjh0/TWMQpWfuUGI/AAAAAAAAAP0/VQydOA-aLpQ/s320/IMG_6324%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576319066214125666" border="0" /></a>My sweet momma.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uEkSatUZRvs/TWMQpI5weOI/AAAAAAAAAPs/oSoXWahJjlE/s1600/IMG_6336%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uEkSatUZRvs/TWMQpI5weOI/AAAAAAAAAPs/oSoXWahJjlE/s320/IMG_6336%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576319062565222626" border="0" /></a>Chloe doesn't share my fascination with old places yet, she slept through most of it...<br /><br />After we left the well, we drove about 15 minutes North to the <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuzigoot</span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;">(Apache for 'crooked water')</span> ruins. Normally there is fee to enter this site, but because the visitor's center was under construction, there was no fee, no rangers, and no other people around. We had the place almost entirely to ourselves.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BwHPFG1_1oU/TWMQI-uSxLI/AAAAAAAAAPk/k42KlCpo1Ts/s1600/IMG_6339%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BwHPFG1_1oU/TWMQI-uSxLI/AAAAAAAAAPk/k42KlCpo1Ts/s320/IMG_6339%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576318510076970162" border="0" /></a>This is the view just below the ruin, right before we started climbing up.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lhF9n4bze8w/TWMQIpj0whI/AAAAAAAAAPc/H_x4SexkRF8/s1600/IMG_6342%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lhF9n4bze8w/TWMQIpj0whI/AAAAAAAAAPc/H_x4SexkRF8/s320/IMG_6342%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576318504395915794" border="0" /></a>This is what you see as you look out from the top.<br /><br /></div><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mBw36FtZ49A/TWMQIX8CBAI/AAAAAAAAAPU/fLCTNxc-lMI/s1600/IMG_6348%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mBw36FtZ49A/TWMQIX8CBAI/AAAAAAAAAPU/fLCTNxc-lMI/s320/IMG_6348%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576318499665609730" border="0" /></a> <a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q1UyhXaS7ew/TWMQIeAznDI/AAAAAAAAAPM/woMqSpboIwE/s1600/IMG_6354%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q1UyhXaS7ew/TWMQIeAznDI/AAAAAAAAAPM/woMqSpboIwE/s320/IMG_6354%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576318501296249906" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PJOJKwH3p4Y/TWMPuNN6j1I/AAAAAAAAAOc/oa_WSLdlK0w/s1600/IMG_6388%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PJOJKwH3p4Y/TWMPuNN6j1I/AAAAAAAAAOc/oa_WSLdlK0w/s320/IMG_6388%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576318050111229778" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YmmKQLvh4pw/TWMQIChRyCI/AAAAAAAAAPE/1ry3z_cQ3rA/s1600/IMG_6355%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><br /></a> <a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QtdN3PcF-bQ/TWMPvLlnLwI/AAAAAAAAAO8/FaEXBpQiv5c/s1600/IMG_6364%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QtdN3PcF-bQ/TWMPvLlnLwI/AAAAAAAAAO8/FaEXBpQiv5c/s320/IMG_6364%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576318066853621506" border="0" /></a> <a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-odcgs_FvFVk/TWMPuyhQFtI/AAAAAAAAAO0/1VfRyhbKnzw/s1600/IMG_6370%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-odcgs_FvFVk/TWMPuyhQFtI/AAAAAAAAAO0/1VfRyhbKnzw/s320/IMG_6370%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576318060124444370" border="0" /></a> <a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CkyKUcmKbik/TWMPutPCEPI/AAAAAAAAAOs/3tv_5MDOcws/s1600/IMG_6371%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CkyKUcmKbik/TWMPutPCEPI/AAAAAAAAAOs/3tv_5MDOcws/s320/IMG_6371%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576318058705850610" border="0" /></a> <div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4eh3ygxM7f8/TWMPufboZZI/AAAAAAAAAOk/Fk59-G-Gl_g/s1600/IMG_6377%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4eh3ygxM7f8/TWMPufboZZI/AAAAAAAAAOk/Fk59-G-Gl_g/s320/IMG_6377%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576318055000597906" border="0" /></a>This ruin was once an estimated 110 room village with an amazing view.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YmmKQLvh4pw/TWMQIChRyCI/AAAAAAAAAPE/1ry3z_cQ3rA/s1600/IMG_6355%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YmmKQLvh4pw/TWMQIChRyCI/AAAAAAAAAPE/1ry3z_cQ3rA/s320/IMG_6355%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576318493916252194" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GPGi_q8hwSI/TWMbMgxOM4I/AAAAAAAAAQ0/_Gy-TOIaRUo/s1600/IMG_6323%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GPGi_q8hwSI/TWMbMgxOM4I/AAAAAAAAAQ0/_Gy-TOIaRUo/s320/IMG_6323%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576330665383572354" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;">It was really fun exploring with my momma, I love this lady!<br /></div> <a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S_GxZbsPgY4/TWMO-0aH3PI/AAAAAAAAAOE/OhLXKX7pTXk/s1600/IMG_6288%2B-%2BVersion%2B2%2B%25281%2529.jpg"><br /></a> <a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6UEWN8sJngs/TWMO-rmQz9I/AAAAAAAAAN8/7_a3WYHz9zA/s1600/IMG_6277%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><br /></a> <a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FBTbxc75nls/TWMO-QiL_8I/AAAAAAAAAN0/1CNf_XiLiGw/s1600/IMG_6274%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><br /></a>Audi Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16850090818334511511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302681257538832044.post-15768097153959083222011-02-19T22:00:00.000-08:002011-02-20T00:24:34.434-08:00Christmas Break Adventures<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xg_wt747H08/TWC5W1ZYMmI/AAAAAAAAANs/LbkvDcICnDc/s1600/IMG_6209%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RwD41-QOv30/TWC5W470t5I/AAAAAAAAANk/Bj7baipybbg/s1600/IMG_6226%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Over Christmas break Sam and I decided to explore Arizona a bit. We drove up to <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >the</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Superstitions</span>, pulled over on the side of the road and started hiking. We didn't have a destination plan, but serendipitously found Canyon Lake,<br />beautiful. </span><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sBkLqYWbKLw/TWC1C1dd5HI/AAAAAAAAAM0/byNx8Dth5iQ/s1600/IMG_6769%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sBkLqYWbKLw/TWC1C1dd5HI/AAAAAAAAAM0/byNx8Dth5iQ/s320/IMG_6769%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575655398999712882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mVvIkypHzbs/TWC0WnmcB9I/AAAAAAAAAMU/5ERl7842a-4/s1600/IMG_6862%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mVvIkypHzbs/TWC0WnmcB9I/AAAAAAAAAMU/5ERl7842a-4/s320/IMG_6862%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575654639364999122" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >The weather was amazing and Chloe was the perfect little travel companion.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;">I love <span style="font-size:130%;">love</span> love the desert this time of year.</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dIKoLI8YDqw/TWC1DCTcnuI/AAAAAAAAAM8/ozzTtsGM4uI/s1600/IMG_6762%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dIKoLI8YDqw/TWC1DCTcnuI/AAAAAAAAAM8/ozzTtsGM4uI/s320/IMG_6762%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575655402447347426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cf1UebQKH-Q/TWC0XanOzyI/AAAAAAAAAMs/Q7X02GXKV8I/s1600/IMG_6743%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cf1UebQKH-Q/TWC0XanOzyI/AAAAAAAAAMs/Q7X02GXKV8I/s320/IMG_6743%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575654653058535202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V-rm88jv4sE/TWC0W8xbLAI/AAAAAAAAAMk/d3LpBbQVdjk/s1600/IMG_6856%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V-rm88jv4sE/TWC0W8xbLAI/AAAAAAAAAMk/d3LpBbQVdjk/s320/IMG_6856%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575654645048224770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pF9VdtUBUVc/TWC0WmWvCEI/AAAAAAAAAMc/KKMlPXDIx0k/s1600/IMG_6879%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pF9VdtUBUVc/TWC0WmWvCEI/AAAAAAAAAMc/KKMlPXDIx0k/s320/IMG_6879%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575654639030700098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mVvIkypHzbs/TWC0WnmcB9I/AAAAAAAAAMU/5ERl7842a-4/s1600/IMG_6862%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >A few days later we decided to drive out to <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Goldfield Ghost Town</span>. Its an obvious tourist trap town and I loved every minute of it! Only the mine and the foundations of the buildings were authentic from the original town, the rest was rebuilt for our touristing pleasure. </span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iEZEOpe49Bw/TWCykvJRtEI/AAAAAAAAAL0/PyKY_xeas_8/s1600/IMG_6934%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iEZEOpe49Bw/TWCykvJRtEI/AAAAAAAAAL0/PyKY_xeas_8/s320/IMG_6934%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575652682885084226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We were expecting this little white church to be a quaint historical place of worship...not so. Inside is a shrine to Elvis and all of his movies--apparently a few were filmed in this area. And for a small fee here in this church the King himself will preform your nuptials. I feel cheated that I didn't know about this sooner.</span><br /><br /><br /></span></span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aOGfFf9KSbg/TWC5WibWwFI/AAAAAAAAANc/XjO_DIinxWg/s1600/IMG_6181%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aOGfFf9KSbg/TWC5WibWwFI/AAAAAAAAANc/XjO_DIinxWg/s320/IMG_6181%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575660135534477394" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PxoQDo6zeVY/TWCwFZ3HGyI/AAAAAAAAALU/JRcRk3P0oGU/s1600/IMG_6218%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PxoQDo6zeVY/TWCwFZ3HGyI/AAAAAAAAALU/JRcRk3P0oGU/s320/IMG_6218%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575649945572547362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >On the weekends every hour on the hour from high noon to four, they stage a gun fight. The guns are really loud and we were a little nervous that Chloe would scream through the whole thing and annoy the people around us, but...</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L01f1ZGS48w/TWCwE2zmM5I/AAAAAAAAAK8/U7VVtoAx21c/s1600/IMG_6199%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L01f1ZGS48w/TWCwE2zmM5I/AAAAAAAAAK8/U7VVtoAx21c/s320/IMG_6199%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575649936162567058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">...she slept right through it. </span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Strange that she'll sleep through a gunfight, but if we sneeze during her nap time at home.</span>..</span> </div> <a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9M-smI3HxA/TWCwFEDZ3WI/AAAAAAAAALE/Rndgl7F9aJ4/s1600/IMG_6201%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9M-smI3HxA/TWCwFEDZ3WI/AAAAAAAAALE/Rndgl7F9aJ4/s320/IMG_6201%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575649939718528354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ue23GlVoZ90/TWCykk00NSI/AAAAAAAAALs/6-hK39pMFh8/s1600/IMG_6234%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ue23GlVoZ90/TWCykk00NSI/AAAAAAAAALs/6-hK39pMFh8/s320/IMG_6234%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575652680114910498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lRlMjAS6Iw8/TWCykQ0jDSI/AAAAAAAAALk/oyiQPPiUQPc/s1600/IMG_6229%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lRlMjAS6Iw8/TWCykQ0jDSI/AAAAAAAAALk/oyiQPPiUQPc/s320/IMG_6229%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575652674745077026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LCDgdh50hBI/TWCwGLZfntI/AAAAAAAAALc/PGDg6k4IFKQ/s1600/IMG_6232%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LCDgdh50hBI/TWCwGLZfntI/AAAAAAAAALc/PGDg6k4IFKQ/s320/IMG_6232%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575649958870097618" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lEognifnzVg/TWCwFNpUvKI/AAAAAAAAALM/RW4VJW7V0SA/s1600/IMG_6215%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lEognifnzVg/TWCwFNpUvKI/AAAAAAAAALM/RW4VJW7V0SA/s320/IMG_6215%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575649942293494946" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RwD41-QOv30/TWC5W470t5I/AAAAAAAAANk/Bj7baipybbg/s1600/IMG_6226%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RwD41-QOv30/TWC5W470t5I/AAAAAAAAANk/Bj7baipybbg/s320/IMG_6226%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575660141576238994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PxoQDo6zeVY/TWCwFZ3HGyI/AAAAAAAAALU/JRcRk3P0oGU/s1600/IMG_6218%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xg_wt747H08/TWC5W1ZYMmI/AAAAAAAAANs/LbkvDcICnDc/s1600/IMG_6209%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xg_wt747H08/TWC5W1ZYMmI/AAAAAAAAANs/LbkvDcICnDc/s320/IMG_6209%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575660140626457186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lEognifnzVg/TWCwFNpUvKI/AAAAAAAAALM/RW4VJW7V0SA/s1600/IMG_6215%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9M-smI3HxA/TWCwFEDZ3WI/AAAAAAAAALE/Rndgl7F9aJ4/s1600/IMG_6201%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9M-smI3HxA/TWCwFEDZ3WI/AAAAAAAAALE/Rndgl7F9aJ4/s1600/IMG_6201%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L01f1ZGS48w/TWCwE2zmM5I/AAAAAAAAAK8/U7VVtoAx21c/s1600/IMG_6199%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><br /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9M-smI3HxA/TWCwFEDZ3WI/AAAAAAAAALE/Rndgl7F9aJ4/s1600/IMG_6201%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><br /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aOGfFf9KSbg/TWC5WibWwFI/AAAAAAAAANc/XjO_DIinxWg/s1600/IMG_6181%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><br /></a>Audi Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16850090818334511511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302681257538832044.post-1558653537494750402010-12-01T13:36:00.000-08:002010-12-01T14:45:24.474-08:00Rewind: Chloe's Birthday!<div style="text-align: center;">Chloe turned 3 months old a few days ago. <span style="font-size:130%;">3 months!</span>! I guess I can see how that much time has gone by already, but motherhood still feels really fresh to me. I'm a little behind on blogging her progress, so here's a few snap shots of her first day with us.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbBNr8-eGI/AAAAAAAAAHk/es9B76_rrSc/s1600/IMG_3745%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 255px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbBNr8-eGI/AAAAAAAAAHk/es9B76_rrSc/s320/IMG_3745%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545832432034281570" border="0" /></a>...this is a pic of me and Sam after the epidural, when I was able to curve a half smile.<br /></div><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbBOtB1VjI/AAAAAAAAAH0/V-zlQDypsfY/s1600/IMG_3764%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 255px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbBOtB1VjI/AAAAAAAAAH0/V-zlQDypsfY/s320/IMG_3764%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545832449502959154" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbBN8XtnDI/AAAAAAAAAHs/yrggVKVfS4Y/s1600/IMG_3748%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbBN8XtnDI/AAAAAAAAAHs/yrggVKVfS4Y/s320/IMG_3748%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545832436441390130" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbJ9jwqwQI/AAAAAAAAAIM/e19Er8_zLJY/s1600/IMG_3816%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbJ9jwqwQI/AAAAAAAAAIM/e19Er8_zLJY/s320/IMG_3816%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545842050561917186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbBPFECAqI/AAAAAAAAAIE/1uaNzodm8ok/s1600/IMG_3806%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbBPFECAqI/AAAAAAAAAIE/1uaNzodm8ok/s320/IMG_3806%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545832455954629282" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbJ94UUN0I/AAAAAAAAAIU/4Wcw0eb4MtM/s1600/IMG_3827%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbJ94UUN0I/AAAAAAAAAIU/4Wcw0eb4MtM/s320/IMG_3827%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545842056080144194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbBOtB1VjI/AAAAAAAAAH0/V-zlQDypsfY/s1600/IMG_3764%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><br /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbJ_LPqrxI/AAAAAAAAAIs/wYfRlo4fZ8M/s1600/IMG_3886%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbJ_LPqrxI/AAAAAAAAAIs/wYfRlo4fZ8M/s320/IMG_3886%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545842078340787986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbJ-zeXYSI/AAAAAAAAAIk/-oZNsd1pmRs/s1600/IMG_3882%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbJ-zeXYSI/AAAAAAAAAIk/-oZNsd1pmRs/s320/IMG_3882%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545842071959986466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbBN8XtnDI/AAAAAAAAAHs/yrggVKVfS4Y/s1600/IMG_3748%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbJ-IZpvzI/AAAAAAAAAIc/ZtsUs95oERs/s1600/IMG_3863%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbJ-IZpvzI/AAAAAAAAAIc/ZtsUs95oERs/s320/IMG_3863%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545842060397494066" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbBNr8-eGI/AAAAAAAAAHk/es9B76_rrSc/s1600/IMG_3745%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: right;">More recent pics to come!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TPbBNr8-eGI/AAAAAAAAAHk/es9B76_rrSc/s1600/IMG_3745%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.jpg"><br /></a>Audi Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16850090818334511511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302681257538832044.post-42951399683799768752010-11-04T00:09:00.000-07:002010-11-04T00:22:32.497-07:00Squishy Face<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TNJeYidxsFI/AAAAAAAAAHI/TvscPajTlbc/s1600/IMG_4347+-+Version+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TNJeYidxsFI/AAAAAAAAAHI/TvscPajTlbc/s320/IMG_4347+-+Version+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535590667653328978" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Lately Chloe likes to cradle her head in the crook of my neck. She'll squish her little chubby cheeks right next to mine...and I love it.</span></span><br /></div>Audi Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16850090818334511511noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302681257538832044.post-42699993435249784632010-10-23T23:49:00.001-07:002010-10-24T00:24:22.446-07:00Cloth Diapers...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TMPdKOrh9gI/AAAAAAAAADc/X8g4FeO3Ixk/s1600/IMG_4607+-+Version+2+%282%29.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TMPXgxipavI/AAAAAAAAADU/CYy2B1_yXpQ/s1600/IMG_4623+-+Version+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TMPXgxipavI/AAAAAAAAADU/CYy2B1_yXpQ/s320/IMG_4623+-+Version+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531501725395544818" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We recently changed to cloth diapers. It was our plan all along. They are better on the environment, but our real motivation is they are just cheaper and we're on a budget. We were given quite a few disposable diapers as gifts when Chloe was born and are just now breaking into our stash of cloth provided by Sam's fantastic Mama.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Chloe wasn't too impressed with my first attempt...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TMPXgc52QLI/AAAAAAAAAC8/HSyr6fBwXTU/s1600/IMG_4598+-+Version+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TMPXgc52QLI/AAAAAAAAAC8/HSyr6fBwXTU/s320/IMG_4598+-+Version+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531501719855710386" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TMPXgpDHsbI/AAAAAAAAADM/S0ujjNne2eM/s1600/IMG_4607+-+Version+2+%281%29.jpg"><br /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TMPdKOrh9gI/AAAAAAAAADc/X8g4FeO3Ixk/s1600/IMG_4607+-+Version+2+%282%29.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TMPdKOrh9gI/AAAAAAAAADc/X8g4FeO3Ixk/s320/IMG_4607+-+Version+2+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531507935150208514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />We could use a little practice....</span></div>Audi Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16850090818334511511noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6302681257538832044.post-19119644964443761952010-10-20T03:41:00.000-07:002010-10-20T04:56:27.822-07:00Late Nights and New Beginnings...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TL7TzmQm9sI/AAAAAAAAAC0/CgetU7Vn5x0/s1600/IMG_3899+-+Version+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_01IOa5Gte38/TL7TzmQm9sI/AAAAAAAAAC0/CgetU7Vn5x0/s320/IMG_3899+-+Version+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530090275854546626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Writing this first post feels a lot like the first page in one of my journals...an awkward self introduction for an audience that already knows me or knows enough about me that the usual formality is unnecessary. So this first post, like most of my new beginnings will be a little awkward... </span> <span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /><br />I haven't been sleeping lately. Mostly because we brought litt</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">le Chloe home to live with us. She slept all</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>through the night the first day we brought her home from the hospital. In fact, she slept soundly the whole first week. Right up until I stopped taking the high dose pain meds the doctor prescribed...who knew?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Ever since we've become</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> two late night ladies; and for some reason I am starting a blog at 4 in the morning. Its seems only right that late night blogging would accompany motherhood...so here goes!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span>Audi Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16850090818334511511noreply@blogger.com5