tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80666855948401131282024-03-05T06:52:55.135-05:00The Perils of a Working MomWife, mother, RECE, gardener, scrapbooker, blogger, want-to-be writer and photographer. Blogging about the randomness that is my life!
Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.comBlogger225125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-78624282178951141222015-08-21T21:00:00.001-04:002015-08-27T11:36:21.304-04:00What Depression Does To MeI don't want to be at work or at home.<br />
I don't want to be with people or alone.<br />
I don't want get up in the morning or go to bed at night.<br />
I just don't want to.<br />
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There are dishes to do, piles of dirty laundry and floors to sweep.<br />
I could be spending time in my gardens or sitting on my patio.<br />
But I just do nothing.<br />
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I'm not happy or sad.<br />
Everything annoys me or frustrates me.<br />
Otherwise, I feel nothing.<br />
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I feel nothing and I don't care.<br />
That's what depression does to me.<br />
It comes out of nowhere and kicks me in the ass.<br />
And then it stomps on me when I am down.<br />
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Depression makes me think that nothing I do is right.<br />
Depression tells me that there is no point in even trying.<br />
Depression tells me that this is as good as it gets.<br />
Depression tells to give up and spend every day being annoyed and frustrated with everything.<br />
Depression tells me to ignore the people who are important.<br />
Depression tells me to keep doing nothing.<br />
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DEPRESSION LIES!<br />
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I know that there will be better days.<br />
I know that this won't last. I won't let it.<br />
I will not let depression win this battle.<br />
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It would be easy to give in and let depression win.<br />
It would be easy to sit and stare mindlessly at the TV all day.<br />
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Life with depression isn't easy.<br />
I make myself get up and get dressed everyday.<br />
I go to work, put a smile on my face and do what I have to do my job.<br />
I push myself to do what I need to do every day.<br />
I make myself do things that I don't want to do.<br />
Some days it works better than others, but I don't give up.<br />
Tomorrow is another day and I will try again.<br />
Maybe tomorrow will be the day when I find even a couple of minutes of enjoyment in the day.<br />
Maybe the next day will be even better.<br />
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Sometimes it is just a day, sometimes a few days or longer.<br />
Eventually things will be back to normal.<br />
Someday I will wake up and feel things and want to do things.<br />
Then I will enjoy life until it comes back,<br />
Because when you live with depression, you live with depression.<br />
If you are lucky, you can control it most of the time.<br />
But it is never gone and you never know when it is going to rear it's ugly head.<br />
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Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-84589356854291432632014-10-26T20:00:00.001-04:002014-10-26T20:00:50.293-04:00Halloween Playdough<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tNnd5sZhUdnKXl0xg6fK9uIH49T8-piBc6ukNwTD1D2E48zNTcp3bty8JjHe3xCPDzWQVHLgo873AbIKrZnnf5AG4aCL1gHE6HgSRwNnyq3TwRlVdxv-tc6aJq8EpnHLEOfX6FWYtNI/s640/blogger-image--1044545749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tNnd5sZhUdnKXl0xg6fK9uIH49T8-piBc6ukNwTD1D2E48zNTcp3bty8JjHe3xCPDzWQVHLgo873AbIKrZnnf5AG4aCL1gHE6HgSRwNnyq3TwRlVdxv-tc6aJq8EpnHLEOfX6FWYtNI/s640/blogger-image--1044545749.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Liam's teacher asked me to make some "fun Halloween play dough" for his kindergarten class. A little bit of thinking and a trip to the dollar store and we created some orange glitter play dough filled with plastic ants, flies and spiders. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Liam is very excited to take the "bug dough" to school tomorrow. And I can't wait to hear all about it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Play Dough</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">2 cups flour</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">2 cups water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1 cup salt </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">2 tbsp oil </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1tbsp cream of tartar</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Food Colouring</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Mix all ingredients together in large pot. Heat on medium until dough forms. Turn out on floured counter. Dough will be sticky. Knead in extra flour until it is the right consistency. Finally knead in the fun stuff ... Glitter and bugs! (Or whatever you creative mind can come up with!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-79029696180891867222013-12-26T11:38:00.001-05:002013-12-26T11:38:31.809-05:00Christmas Day - Hourly Photo Style<div style="text-align: center;">
A few years ago, Andrea, over at <a href="http://quietfish.com/notebook/" target="_blank">A Peek Inside The Fishbowl</a> started a Christmas Day Hourly Photo Challenge. As someone who LOVES to take photos, I jumped on the chance to join in. The idea is to take a picture every hour on the hour of what you are doing at that moment and then upload them to share you day. I don't take the time to blog the pictures during the day, but I do post them to my <a href="http://instagram.com/nickilynnm" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/NickiLynnM" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nicki.mcilree" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. And now, here they are, blog style!</div>
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9:00am - Let's get this party started!! (Yes, Liam slept in until 9:00am! But only because I kept him up until almost 10:00pm the night before!)</div>
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10:00am (part 1) Good bye old pots, we've had a wonderful 15 years together but it is time you move on. It is not good bye forever, you will now be our camping pots.</div>
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10:00am (part 2) Hello new pots! You look so nick hanging on my wall! Can't wait to get to know you! Thanks Henry!! :) </div>
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11:00am Turkey, get in the oven! </div>
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12:00pm Building ramps for the remote control monster truck that Santa brought! I think Liam may grow up to be an architect or engineer. He is always building stuff out of whatever he can find to build with!</div>
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1:00pm Time to start decorating the birthday cake. After five years of this I still can't believe that Liam was born on Christmas!! </div>
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2:00pm Still decorating the birthday cake. And watching How I Met Your Mother on Netflix. </div>
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3:00pm (part 1) The cake is finished!! For those of you who are NASCAR fans, you will know what it is, but for the rest of you, it is Danica Partick's number, she is Liam's favorite drive. Because she is a girl and she's hot . . . yes, that really is what he say.</div>
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3:00pm (part 2) Cake decorating mess has overtaken the kitchen. Where is that clean up elf that I asked Santa for?</div>
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3:00pm (part 3) Building a Mega Blocks World of Warcraft dragon. </div>
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4:00pm Finally a chance to sit down and relax with a glass of wine and the Dr. Who marathon on Space.</div>
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5:00pm - Turkey's done. Let's eat!</div>
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6:00pm Birthday cake time!</div>
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7:00pm Birthday and Christmas presents from Gabba and Aunties!</div>
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8:00pm Kitten cuddles!</div>
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9:00pm Dr.Who Christmas Special!!! (This is not a picture from the Christmas Special. I was so excited to watch it that I forgot to take a picture! This is a scene from the 50th Anniversary Special.)</div>
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10:00pm The wine is almost gone and Dr. Who is almost over. That means it is almost bedtime for this sleepy mommy!!</div>
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11:00pm One last peek at my Christmas Birthday Boy! And then off to bed!!</div>
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Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-14570883834514826362013-12-22T14:30:00.001-05:002013-12-22T14:30:52.072-05:00Christmas Fun - Grown Up Version - Homemade Bailey's Irish Cream<div style="text-align: center;">
Christmas Fun - Grown Up Version - Homemade Bailey's Irish Cream</div>
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Yes, I said Homemade Bailey's. It doesn't matter how you like your Irish Cream, in coffee or hot chocolate or on the rocks, this recipe will delight you!!</div>
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It is quick and easy to make and cheaper than the real stuff. And I love that I can add as much chocolate as I want! </div>
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It is a great hostess gift for all the holiday parties you get invited to or a nice little addition to a festive gift basket. If you give it as a gift, you should probably include the recipe. Most people that I give it to think it is better than the real stuff and start making their own!</div>
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So, here is the recipe, get out your blender and give it a try!</div>
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Bailey's Irish Cream</div>
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3 whole eggs</div>
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1 cup whipping cream</div>
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1 cup rye</div>
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1 can sweetened condensed milk</div>
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2 tsp vanilla</div>
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2 tbsp chocolate syrup</div>
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Put everything in the blender. </div>
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Blend on high until well mixed.</div>
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Store in refrigerator.</div>
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Makes approximately one liter. </div>
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Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-46464021132292582072013-12-17T20:05:00.000-05:002013-12-17T20:05:03.976-05:00Christmas Fun - Clay Flower Pot Christmas Tree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Christmas Fun - Clay Flower Pot Christmas Tree</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8Z2ePbTPYIm3GYlgGFES1lnyFAgUTAQ_2kXrCoCBj1KSHlrDJA6gDyxH9Q4IzhId-tFaJPtXm7qs9o5euTi7Pjy6PLbw0AGEiC4flp6A0Ed0LmNZlTlQBHxnRo7cacIog-GNkywsyBM/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8Z2ePbTPYIm3GYlgGFES1lnyFAgUTAQ_2kXrCoCBj1KSHlrDJA6gDyxH9Q4IzhId-tFaJPtXm7qs9o5euTi7Pjy6PLbw0AGEiC4flp6A0Ed0LmNZlTlQBHxnRo7cacIog-GNkywsyBM/s320/027.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I found this idea on Pintrest (<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/57280226481401502/" target="_blank">Clay Pot Christmas Tree</a>) and I couldn't resist trying this with Liam this year.</div>
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Not only is it super cute and easy but it is cheap! </div>
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All you need is 3 different sized flower pots, green acrylic paint, two or three other colours of acrylic paint, a foam paint brush, a pencil crayon, a little bit of felt (scraps will work), glue, a star, a wooden skewer and acrylic sealer. I got everything I needed at the dollar store except for the acrylic sealer, I had to go to Walmart for that.</div>
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Here's how to do it . . . with picture!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5FsBCfFIZk9RLe9lDZMBfQpG5ziOvYiozlQXopF3a7fdiXBn106bCb0RXIJXJRdC41RGdE4jQXgMF3PuE8yUIpzp1zbTQQ_18uWjduCukaY8fKX6E8wibTb0CkPZRQ9jcnp_YmN4AdI/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5FsBCfFIZk9RLe9lDZMBfQpG5ziOvYiozlQXopF3a7fdiXBn106bCb0RXIJXJRdC41RGdE4jQXgMF3PuE8yUIpzp1zbTQQ_18uWjduCukaY8fKX6E8wibTb0CkPZRQ9jcnp_YmN4AdI/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Assemble materials.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGVjotpXgIgcb0s3bi2sQANLXlcPKo00TqkDXVFGEGKpuKgxB9rn01QbAk5E-OGIsowxjiL40SLthzmBcjPEUeCaMwLF8GeoPeGBpqhq69kOJQSOdk0XqBHFaBSEKsWMMo3jm5vpNDZE/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGVjotpXgIgcb0s3bi2sQANLXlcPKo00TqkDXVFGEGKpuKgxB9rn01QbAk5E-OGIsowxjiL40SLthzmBcjPEUeCaMwLF8GeoPeGBpqhq69kOJQSOdk0XqBHFaBSEKsWMMo3jm5vpNDZE/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Paint flower pots with foam paint brush.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKmOITSmaNMIr-qsaEb-B8CZ63hO91pJ6s6Elnv5gfvJAQoRKXOQafBRkRl1-6X1KiEN-mQuNl4ZwnVPb38wjD_pvkLFiHslHu-1fLsU3zhJS5ov7eHxg-9vL5v9DsUpNSH9y12AZQwg/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKmOITSmaNMIr-qsaEb-B8CZ63hO91pJ6s6Elnv5gfvJAQoRKXOQafBRkRl1-6X1KiEN-mQuNl4ZwnVPb38wjD_pvkLFiHslHu-1fLsU3zhJS5ov7eHxg-9vL5v9DsUpNSH9y12AZQwg/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Dabbing the brush gives a textured look and better coverage of paint.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEj9EFrYUhpggygzUCYFUxMqkSEC9DJ8qTdiHymKdb4VGEECSxE0Ze_PKhfywlBtTnrq4GicxBeeB3MPxCNfEdqeu5mD9wg2GyCaPHXh6YvSseJy5MBmkmjD9LZH08YesgR3fFdiNRIk/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEj9EFrYUhpggygzUCYFUxMqkSEC9DJ8qTdiHymKdb4VGEECSxE0Ze_PKhfywlBtTnrq4GicxBeeB3MPxCNfEdqeu5mD9wg2GyCaPHXh6YvSseJy5MBmkmjD9LZH08YesgR3fFdiNRIk/s320/014.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtvH_aeewQvqZ0JJzzJ6bHWtQUUvae0VVNjtn4ggTIBpU55FSZ4t0s5Gxd3eA4yVgIeVgD-QH0p9F_0mVajUslTwRO8oA9a7xlVJB_XSawP471CuORqxKfh6LVJGf8k2sJwYT0iF5IwQ/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtvH_aeewQvqZ0JJzzJ6bHWtQUUvae0VVNjtn4ggTIBpU55FSZ4t0s5Gxd3eA4yVgIeVgD-QH0p9F_0mVajUslTwRO8oA9a7xlVJB_XSawP471CuORqxKfh6LVJGf8k2sJwYT0iF5IwQ/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Use the flat end of a pencil crayon to put "decorations" on your tree. If your child is older, they can use a paint brush and paint more elaborate designs. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_f0Vx2b_oXjKrxsK3_9l3NroBoIqg82c8jABLN4x-EmsG6QYQRfFxOcKm057-QUqob_Pv1g2S0XGmNLsrA2ZxcEDROJfsCGJrIUbondVB_e8fmHMhkoORnUh4Ru42Pta5-8rgCX9kaI/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_f0Vx2b_oXjKrxsK3_9l3NroBoIqg82c8jABLN4x-EmsG6QYQRfFxOcKm057-QUqob_Pv1g2S0XGmNLsrA2ZxcEDROJfsCGJrIUbondVB_e8fmHMhkoORnUh4Ru42Pta5-8rgCX9kaI/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Once the paint is all dry, glue some felt pieces around the inside of each pot. This is so that the pots one stick together when stacked. </div>
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Cover all three pots with acrylic sealer and stack. Attach a star to a wooden skewer and place through the bottom center holes of the flower pots.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARqecZXYS1BR24BUXfmy0wfUix6XEs2GUN7pCB0VS4oyrmXnkFo8-9SXNwsGFUylw2bcuIwqFZXUzHQ2UZPvJUj_dZFW9ozR7WusPamYB9yWbQ1yqxBPiVyY1AKj1jKPTywxo8xCv13s/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARqecZXYS1BR24BUXfmy0wfUix6XEs2GUN7pCB0VS4oyrmXnkFo8-9SXNwsGFUylw2bcuIwqFZXUzHQ2UZPvJUj_dZFW9ozR7WusPamYB9yWbQ1yqxBPiVyY1AKj1jKPTywxo8xCv13s/s320/027.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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And there is it, a Clay Flower Pot Christmas Tree!</div>
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I think that one made out of the really big clay pots would make a cool outdoor Christmas Decoration! I will put that on next year`s to do list!</div>
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Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-15337144985118075622013-12-06T15:33:00.000-05:002013-12-06T15:33:08.976-05:00Christmas Fun - Crystal Snowflakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've seen tons of pictures and tutorials around the internet for Crystal Snowflakes made from pipe cleaners, Borax and water. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-3U1fA2oCUffdXV1ghTE0v_dV63Tvs7b4ZXi1JnJZgTaoUcjD_v7FJJOYIq3Bgy92cQtA3Fg_hRqvb8fYpmeM6F8ezG2No1RDAXqBS5WixIw4FTCG-jFQ4sTcwFnAxEBWcNhpwrHSl8/s1600/067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-3U1fA2oCUffdXV1ghTE0v_dV63Tvs7b4ZXi1JnJZgTaoUcjD_v7FJJOYIq3Bgy92cQtA3Fg_hRqvb8fYpmeM6F8ezG2No1RDAXqBS5WixIw4FTCG-jFQ4sTcwFnAxEBWcNhpwrHSl8/s320/067.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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They looked pretty cool and the instructions seemed pretty simple, so I decided to give it a try! Here is goes . . . step by step . . . </div>
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Use three half pipe cleaners, twisted together int he middle to make a snowflake.</div>
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Mix 3 tablespoons of borax to 1 cup of boiling water, stirring to dissolve. Add blue food colouring if desired. (If mixing a large quantity, use 3/4 cup of borax to 4 cups of boiling water.) Liam enjoyed measuring and mixing!</div>
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Hang snowflakes over the top of a container by tying a string to the snowflake and the other end to a dowel, resting across the top of the container. Fill your container with borax solution, making sure to cover the pipe cleaner completely and ensuring that the snowflakes are not touching the sides or bottom of the container.</div>
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Let sit over night. About 4 hours later, the crystals were just starting to form on top of the water.</div>
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Remove snowflakes from borax mixture.</div>
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And there you have it . . . Broax Crystal Snowflakes! Liam was super excited with his crystal snowflakes!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8qL3iUxAU7Zn887z9IvZv_HS-JD6IoOUmbXpLm76Fr0QUdyp39qhqFQt0QOJP5pTf161qwhquau4eS0ZJ8mBPGjPudQfCF0YqfTzzjFyDw0-4uZYmvufTq_4FzI7zpM1ieIb8sHWhqQ/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8qL3iUxAU7Zn887z9IvZv_HS-JD6IoOUmbXpLm76Fr0QUdyp39qhqFQt0QOJP5pTf161qwhquau4eS0ZJ8mBPGjPudQfCF0YqfTzzjFyDw0-4uZYmvufTq_4FzI7zpM1ieIb8sHWhqQ/s200/068.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGACEp1WNy0c9T42OAO5UXh0K_V-Gp_HAd9vOCfLR5L4itvoWdtBpA73HBnNW6T2m9X5XNfcVxazqTtZSLMs_VLFzZwss7W1Hwb6bBg3C1AvtoT32bmfGxmDM0odLDDSUgYzah1X_uys/s1600/069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGACEp1WNy0c9T42OAO5UXh0K_V-Gp_HAd9vOCfLR5L4itvoWdtBpA73HBnNW6T2m9X5XNfcVxazqTtZSLMs_VLFzZwss7W1Hwb6bBg3C1AvtoT32bmfGxmDM0odLDDSUgYzah1X_uys/s200/069.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Overall, the project was just as easy as I expected! I did have difficulty finding a container, the instructions said to use a jar and I didn't have anything big enough, so I used a stock pot and did three snowflakes together. This used considerable more Borax and water than I anticipated. (I used half a box of Broax just for this!) But, other wise, super easy!</div>
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Some of the instructions that I saw before doing this said that they would be done in a couple of hours. This was not the case. If you try it, leave them overnight!</div>
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One other bit of advice if you try this - not only does the Borax form crystals on the pipe cleaners, it also forms crystals on the inside of the container. When I do this again, I will use a disposable container so I don't have to spend an half an hour chipping water out of my pot! </div>
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This is what my pot looked like when we were done. The stuff at the bottom was rock hard and about half an inch thick!</div>
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<br />Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-73663129659977222012013-10-29T19:00:00.000-04:002013-10-29T19:18:26.556-04:00Depression Is . . . <div align="center">
Depression is one of those things that can strike at any time. You never know when or where it's going to rear it's ugly head. It doesn't matter if you are at home or at work, on vacation or at the mall. It doesn't matter what time of the day or night it might be.</div>
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Depression isn't always the same. it can creepy up slowly, bring you down deeper and deeper everyday. Or it can come out of nowhere and slap you upside the head causing a downward spiral. It can last for a few hours, a day, a week, a month - you never know.</div>
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Depression doesn't always have a reason that you can understand. Sometimes it does, there are lots of things, stress, illness, death, etc, that could trigger a period of depression. But sometimes you find yourself in that deep dark hole and have no idea why you are there.</div>
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Depression can hit you in so many different ways. It can make you sad, like sit in a corner and cry all day kind of sad. It can make you angry, like explode at everyone who looks at you kind of angry. It can make you not care, like the world could come falling down around you and you just shrug your shoulders. It can make you clueless, like so clueless that you don't even notice that you are being miserable to everyone around you. It can make you self absorbed to the point where you don't care that the guy in front of you slammed on his brakes to avoid hitting a child, all that you care about is that your purse fell on the floor and spilled when you hit your brakes to avoid hitting him. It can make you withdrawn to the point where all you want to do is stay in bed.</div>
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Depression effects EVERYTHING - your family, your friends, your job, your pets, your home life, your social life. No one can tell you what to expect or how you are going to feel or react.</div>
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Depression is unpredictable. There is no one treatment that works for everyone. Life becomes a rollercoaster of medications, therapies and strategies to try and keep in control of your life. Some days it works, some days it doesn't.</div>
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Next time someone tells you that they suffer from depression, don't tell them that you know how they feel because you don't and you never will. Instead, ask them how they feel and LISTEN! </div>
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Even if you suffer from depression yourself, you don't know how they feel and you never will. You understand what it is like to live with this horrible mental illness not knowing when it is going to turn on you again, but nobody suffers the same way. </div>
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Depression is something different to everyone who suffers from it.</div>
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Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-80669102572962337192013-09-11T15:23:00.001-04:002013-09-11T15:23:19.337-04:00I Remember - 9/11/01<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuD36EDHlSBDndk9PA4IUktyQjyGgAJ3R97WxnTB4cBxKBETAEWCw3HYNNVqFqJPoqvARTrFiDplZSzx7OGvCD2MF5gm7W7gi1QGn4N1_wnBKUrc7sKSdVtvyJrYUgJbdxfXEkGuPxpAs/s1600/911NorthTower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuD36EDHlSBDndk9PA4IUktyQjyGgAJ3R97WxnTB4cBxKBETAEWCw3HYNNVqFqJPoqvARTrFiDplZSzx7OGvCD2MF5gm7W7gi1QGn4N1_wnBKUrc7sKSdVtvyJrYUgJbdxfXEkGuPxpAs/s320/911NorthTower.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I remember bring at work, in the playground with a group of sweet, innocent toddlers when a co-worker came outside and told me about the first plane hitting the World Trade Centre.</div>
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I remember not exactly know what the World Trade Centre was or what the twin towers looked like or how big they were.</div>
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I remember thinking that it was a horrible accident - who would have thought of anything else before that day?</div>
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I remember another co-worker coming out and telling us that another plane hit the second tower, that both towers were engulfed in flames and that there would be hundreds of casualties.</div>
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I remember wondering what were the chances of two planes crashing into two buildings that close together. Terrorists never crossed my mind. </div>
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I remember parents dropping of their children sharing all sorts of news reports with us - some would end up being true, others, not so much.</div>
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I remember the utter shock and disbelief when I actually realized that this was not an accident.</div>
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I remember being told that shortly after rescue workers entered the tower to help people, the towers collapsed, first one and then the other.</div>
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I remember knowing that this was a horrible tragedy but not really having a clue how big it really was.</div>
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I remember hearing about the plane crashing into the Pentagon.</div>
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I remember hearing about the plane that crashed into the field in Pennsylvania.</div>
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I remember becoming more and more worried with each new piece of information.</div>
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I remember wondering if we were safe here.</div>
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I remember my husband telling me not to go anywhere on my lunch break.</div>
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I remember going home and eating supper in front of the TV watching news coverage.</div>
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I remember feeling sick to my stomach as I watched video replays of the second plane crashing and the towers collapsing, knowing that even though we couldn't actually see anything, that was a video of people dying.</div>
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I remember seeing the video of the President reading to a group of school children as someone whispered to him.</div>
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I remember the look of shock and horror on George W Bush's face.</div>
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I remember footage of people, running from the collapsing buildings, so covering in dust and ash that you couldn't tell if they were black, white or any skin tone, everyone was grey.</div>
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I remember footage of firefighters running towards those buildings to help anyone they could get to.</div>
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I remember that hundreds of those firefighters did not make it back out.</div>
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I remember that thousands of people lost their lives that day.</div>
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I remember that even more people lost loved ones that day, many who's bodies were never even found.</div>
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I remember that the events of that day have forever changed how we look at the world.</div>
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Every time I see a picture or video of the NYC skyline, with or without the Twin Towers, I REMEMBER and I ALWAYS will.</div>
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But I will never completely understand the enormity of this horrific event or the number of people who were touched first hand but this act of terrorism.</div>
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<a href="http://www.geekphilosopher.com/GeekPhilosopher.com/photos/photos.aspx" target="_blank">GeekPhilosopher: Instant download of free stock photos, images, backgrounds, and desktop wallpapers. Pictures can be used for personal and commercial web sites.</a>Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-41920439374156283352013-08-30T13:46:00.001-04:002013-08-30T13:46:59.600-04:00The End Of An Era - Good Bye Daycare . . . Hello Big Boy School<div align="center">
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Four years ago, almost to the day, my baby was started daycare. He was eight months old and I was a week away from going back to work - at the same daycare.</div>
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<em>Liam's first day of daycare - August 31, 2009</em></div>
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Four years seems like a long time, but it also seems to have gone by in the blink of an eye. </div>
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After a year in the infant program, a year in the toddler program and two years in the preschool program, with me working in the same building for three of those four years, today is my baby's last day of daycare. He is almost ready to start school.</div>
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<em>Liam's Preschool Graduation</em></div>
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My little boy, who has come to daycare with my for four years will now have to get on the school bus and go to school all by himself. </div>
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I am excited for him to embark on this new adventure - to learn new things, to make new friends, to explore a whole new world. </div>
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But I am also sad. He is growing up far too quickly. I won't get to see him with his friends every day. He won't be there to run and give me a hug when I go into the room that he's been in for the past year. I won't know what he's done every day and if he's listening to his teachers or not. I won't be able to kiss his bo-bos. I know that I am very lucky to have had him here at the daycare where I work. I know it is a luxury that most working parents don't have. But it still makes me sad.</div>
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And I have to admit that I am a bit worried for him. What if he is scared on the bus? What if he doesn't like his teacher? What if he doesn't make new friends? What if he needs me and I'm not there?</div>
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I am pretty sure that my worries will amount to nothing. He is excited about going to big boy school. He loved going on the school bus for our daycare field trip. He's been trough countless daycare teachers in four years and they have all adored him and he's loved them all. He is super social and he makes friends with kids anywhere we go. </div>
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I think this is where I have to admit that I need him here more than he needs me here. Even when he was a toddler and we were in the same room almost all day, everyday, he was content to do his own thing most of the time.</div>
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September will be a month of big changes and many new routines. I expect that there will be a lot of chaos as we adapt to these changes and learn new routines. I am sure that there will be tears (probably most of them will be mine!) but there will also be lots of excitement as we embark on this next stage of life. </div>
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Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-79391905055851766812013-02-10T17:29:00.001-05:002013-02-10T17:29:12.893-05:00Baking Bread<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I love to bake. Liam loves to help me bake. So, yesterday, I decided to bake a batch of whole wheat bread. And of course, my little man was ready to help.</div>
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"Do you really have to take my picture?"</div>
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"Hey mom, what is this stuff and why is it growing??"</div>
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"This is HARD to stir!"</div>
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"Really? I can use my hands?"</div>
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When baking with a 4 year old boy, one must always be prepared for unexpected dough monster attacks!</div>
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Whole Wheat Garlic Herb Buns</div>
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Whole Wheat Bread</div>
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Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rasin Bread</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ovSelq51IulGCfvJwxzz4GN3Nnnxy0e_Gzw3sRrFq6qI3x2MEYGWavndeKNe5AVlOtAqLH7GdgQX-jhJxz_vbfvOZwLq7cQShsMlBmiIGWTNyIHCtH9obY9JIcTyhURwfC9XzO4HEJk/s1600/P2090259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ovSelq51IulGCfvJwxzz4GN3Nnnxy0e_Gzw3sRrFq6qI3x2MEYGWavndeKNe5AVlOtAqLH7GdgQX-jhJxz_vbfvOZwLq7cQShsMlBmiIGWTNyIHCtH9obY9JIcTyhURwfC9XzO4HEJk/s320/P2090259.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Everything baked and ready to be eaten.</div>
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"We made this? Really?</div>
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Here is the recipe I use. I have no idea where it originated, it is the recipe that my mom has used for as long as I can remember!</div>
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Whole Wheat Bread</div>
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1 cup lukewarm water</div>
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2 tsp. sugar</div>
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2 tbsp. yeast</div>
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Combine above ingredients and let rise for ten minutes.</div>
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Meanwhile, heat:</div>
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1 1/2 cups milk</div>
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1/2 cup shortening</div>
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Once shortening has melted, add:</div>
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1/2 cup brown sugar</div>
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2 1/4 cups lukewarm water</div>
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Mix well and add yeast mixture.</div>
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Gradually add:</div>
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6 cups whole wheat flour</div>
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6 cups white flour</div>
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Knead dough for 10 minutes. Let rise until doubled in size.</div>
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Punch down dough. Cut into 4 pieces.</div>
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Let rise 15 minutes.</div>
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Shape and place in greased pans.</div>
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Let rise until doubled in size.</div>
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Bake at 400F for 30 minutes.</div>
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Lightly glaze loaves with shortening or butter.</div>
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Yeild: 4 loaves or 4 dozen rolls.</div>
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For garlic herb bread/rolls: </div>
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Knead one teaspoon garlic powder and one teaspoon Italian seasoning into one loaf before shaping. </div>
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For Cinnamon Raisin Bread:</div>
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Mix 3 tablespoons brown sugar with 2 teaspoons cinnamon.</div>
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Knead cinnamon sugar and 2/3 cup raisins into one loaf before shaping.</div>
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Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-67333134405278930832013-01-30T12:07:00.000-05:002013-02-07T09:10:55.991-05:00Conversations With Liam - The Driller Bug Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
When you have a four year old with a very active imagination, you never know what the next conversation is going to be about or when you might have to have it. This one happened at 3:00 in the morning yesterday.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVqtBLbz4fMJHOnY24zbQjaD9Ols4glvnqMCaETpfUsaYAZgEVg7P_d8xOlrHhQbXAAzITDUpW7vWovwqJ3c-6dF9Jf201C9c9dKJF1zpfJLlLc-XE2bBqOOZKiVm-VHq-biqlOC-RIo/s1600/181883_10152349082770468_1886680845_n%255B2%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVqtBLbz4fMJHOnY24zbQjaD9Ols4glvnqMCaETpfUsaYAZgEVg7P_d8xOlrHhQbXAAzITDUpW7vWovwqJ3c-6dF9Jf201C9c9dKJF1zpfJLlLc-XE2bBqOOZKiVm-VHq-biqlOC-RIo/s320/181883_10152349082770468_1886680845_n%255B2%255D.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Liam: "Mommy, MOMMY, MMOOMMMMYY!"</span></div>
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Me: Stumbles out of bed and across the hall. "What's wrong?"</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Liam: "Turn on my actual light."</span></div>
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Me: Turns on light. "What's wrong?"</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Liam: "Come sit with me."</span></div>
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Me: Plods across the room and flops onto the bed and closes my eyes, realizing that the boy is not upset, he is happy and full of energy. </div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Liam: "Mommy, sit up and open your eyes. You need to look at me."</span></div>
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Me: Slowly sits up. "Why aren't you sleeping?'</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Liam: "Mommy, a long time ago, when I was a baby a driller bug drilled these two fingers."</span></div>
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Me: "What?!?"</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Liam: "A long time ago, when I was a baby a driller bug drilled these two fingers."</span></div>
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Me: "What is a driller bug?"</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Liam: "A driller bug is a green bug with four legs that goes 'chut chut chut bzzzzz' and drills."</span></div>
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Me: "Umm, OK, where did you see a bug like that?"</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Liam: "I saw it a long time ago when I was a baby, when it drilled these two fingers. But it's OK. WHen I grew up and was a three year old, the thing the driller bug gave me when it drilled into my fingers died and fell off."</span></div>
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Me: "Ummm, that's good."</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Liam: "I think the driller bug is under my bed or a big rock."</span></div>
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Me: "There is no driller bug under your bed."</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Liam: "What about a big rock?"</span></div>
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Me: "I guess there might be a driller bug under a big rock somewhere."</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Liam: "No, Mommy, under my bed. Is there a big rock under my bed? A giant rock?"</span></div>
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Me: "No, there ar eno rocks under your bed."</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Liam: "There is something under my bed. It is either a driller bug or a big giant rock."</span></div>
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Me: "No, there's not."</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Liam: Leans over and looks under the bed. "You're right. It must have disappeared."</span></div>
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Me: "Can you go back to sleep now?"</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Liam: "Yep, good night Mommy."</span></div>
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Me: "Good night Liam." Turn off the light and close the door.</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Liam: "MOMMY!"</span></div>
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Me: Open the door. "What?"</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Liam: "You forgot to say I love you."</span></div>
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Me: "I love you Liam."</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Liam: "I love you too."</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">So, I have no idea where I was when the driller bug was drilling into my baby's fingers. Or why I didn't notice when the "thing" died and fell off. But there you have it. The Driller Bug Story. The fun things I do at 3:00am!</span></div>
Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-37731528287917573362012-12-31T11:47:00.000-05:002012-12-31T11:47:03.340-05:00Christmas and a Birthday - Hourly Photo and Instagram Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Christmas Day - Hourly Photo and Instagram Style</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70c_2_01IZKE9iDVUBKxy49Zdia2o3h94xK6Em5L1IdcjVqoqBh0WmQA2tp6LHFlTFtp9V4xlTVqgliMbm3769GDotJC3k7i0i5pZErF1KITPHnbvISY4E4jU0zowX_vRVGe7D6M3dzA/s1600/091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70c_2_01IZKE9iDVUBKxy49Zdia2o3h94xK6Em5L1IdcjVqoqBh0WmQA2tp6LHFlTFtp9V4xlTVqgliMbm3769GDotJC3k7i0i5pZErF1KITPHnbvISY4E4jU0zowX_vRVGe7D6M3dzA/s320/091.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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8:00am - Opening Presents from Santa.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXNatOD0hetgBTK4SkSVp7IESN9LqWtHCbBJb_mtVcF1AIiKF9ATx4TRLT4x_qLaJlgoDl4FSYVp6qFuy1VKMV-fySV4TmkJmGBE1lGZhRcMNh49PpqXQDIWhVNoh5RSnw93g-FLKXqs/s1600/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXNatOD0hetgBTK4SkSVp7IESN9LqWtHCbBJb_mtVcF1AIiKF9ATx4TRLT4x_qLaJlgoDl4FSYVp6qFuy1VKMV-fySV4TmkJmGBE1lGZhRcMNh49PpqXQDIWhVNoh5RSnw93g-FLKXqs/s320/092.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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9:00am - Playing with presents!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ix1R-rACnCfgWLwgjIsvkfL9b-YLFdmg6Npj5RsBI6wo5Lli4xIBWLWDxnQurxRMK2DzP2I2EUpQc42xjyZx6sVUsbtH0dNylO0sVwqepokPGxTzVU-O8l0d2e7FlZDQ8XuQE2o7g7c/s1600/094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ix1R-rACnCfgWLwgjIsvkfL9b-YLFdmg6Npj5RsBI6wo5Lli4xIBWLWDxnQurxRMK2DzP2I2EUpQc42xjyZx6sVUsbtH0dNylO0sVwqepokPGxTzVU-O8l0d2e7FlZDQ8XuQE2o7g7c/s320/094.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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10:00am - Getting organized to go to my Nana's house and then my parent's house.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57dhqjR3d93g9S74lkKKt-ZIqxAks8yVbx8qAtmSoJ1rEBL8sgDuCozI1khzXUSf0uZISCtlKcg0tzMn1j_Y9JA_wvsDp-_BLgOqhYM2aZPOMQg7PH6GvD7_AHGxq1joAb5L5ntVje8w/s1600/098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57dhqjR3d93g9S74lkKKt-ZIqxAks8yVbx8qAtmSoJ1rEBL8sgDuCozI1khzXUSf0uZISCtlKcg0tzMn1j_Y9JA_wvsDp-_BLgOqhYM2aZPOMQg7PH6GvD7_AHGxq1joAb5L5ntVje8w/s320/098.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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11:00am - Silly Birthday Boy on his way to Grandma and Grandpa's.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJ5C9mos_8vBaQTun4v17ImrDlKoKZYadzoRu2FZw-fJ48_OvroL19rZIswGvB-5gJuVQxI9imWT7Gld84zmeZr2gl7SKil360Dc6NOcKjLN1yj17rLUM5sEzHBO8GwuxsndK03dm97A/s1600/101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJ5C9mos_8vBaQTun4v17ImrDlKoKZYadzoRu2FZw-fJ48_OvroL19rZIswGvB-5gJuVQxI9imWT7Gld84zmeZr2gl7SKil360Dc6NOcKjLN1yj17rLUM5sEzHBO8GwuxsndK03dm97A/s320/101.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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12:00pm - At my Nana's house for Christmas lunch.</div>
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1:00pm - My Dad carving the turkey.</div>
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2:00pm - Dessert time! So many choices.</div>
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3:00pm - Time for presents!</div>
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4:00pm - Arriving at Mom and Dad's house.</div>
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5:00pm - Relaxing at my parent's house.</div>
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6:00pm - Lego building, a great way to pass time until dinner!</div>
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7:00pm - Time for Birthday Cake! Happy Birthday Liam! (Liam turned 4 at 7:02pm)</div>
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8:00pm - My brother, Quinten, modeling the new hunting apron that mom made him.</div>
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9:00pm - Driving home. Too dark for a real photo!</div>
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10:00pm - Taking inventory of Liam's gifts so he can write thank you notes!</div>
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11:00pm - Admiring the quilt my mom made for Liam. She also made him a tote bag filled with activity books! Awesome!</div>
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12:00am - Good night and Merry Christmas!</div>
<br />Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-74189058029604896882012-12-17T21:15:00.001-05:002012-12-17T21:20:57.944-05:00Christmas Favorites - Mulling Spice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Some how crazy amounts of time have passed and it is December 17th. A week from now it will be Christmas Eve. A week from now I will be begging an overexcited three year old to go to sleep so that I can do last minute wrapping and probably decorate a birthday cake, because that three year will be turning four the next day. So, it is double excitement for this boy who knows that "December 25" is his birthday AND that Christmas comes on HIS birthday. Because you know, being a "the world revolves around me and me alone" three year old, his birthday must have come first!</div>
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In an effort to slow down and enjoy the season, I am going to take some time this week to share some of my holiday favorites with you!</div>
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Mulled apple cider is something that I've had around the holidays for as long as I can remember. Mom would dump a jar of home pressed apple cider, that we made the previous summer from the apples from my Papa's orchard into the slow cooker. She's throw in a couple of cinnamon sticks and and is she had them, a handful of cloves. It was simple and it was good. </div>
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Then I grew up and on a trip to Niagara on the Lake, years ago when we lived in Hamilton and could go visit the wineries whenever we wanted, we bought a bottle of mulling wine with a package of spices. And it was so good! I have been hooked on Mulling Spices ever since. About two years ago, we discovered that Mulled Cranberry juice with Ameretto or Rum was a perfect Christmas drink. </div>
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Normally, I buy an already made mulling spice mix but this year, I decided to make my own. And I don't know if it was the freshness of the mixture or what but I think it is the best I've ever had. </div>
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And it was fun to make ... I mean really, who doesn't have fun smashing things with a hammer?? Oh, and also cheap (enough of all ingredients to make a double batch was $10 at the Bulk Barn) and easy!</div>
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First you take the hammer to a bag of cinnamon sticks.</div>
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Don't put that hammer away yet, next you get to smash up some nutmeg. I always wanted to buy whole nutmeg, just because it is cool, but never had a reason until now!</div>
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Cinnamon Sticks and Nutmeg ... starting to smell really good!</div>
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The Allspice is a little trickier because it is small, the hammer didn't work so well. So, for this I used my marble rolling pin and just rolled it back and forth over top of the buds. </div>
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Cloves and dried orange peel are kind of boring, there is absolutely no smashing or crushing involved, they just get dumped in as is.</div>
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Throw it all in a bowl together, mix it up and you are done!</div>
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Put it in a little jar and it makes a good gift, but once you try it, you aren't going to want to give it away because it is SO GOOD!</div>
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Mulling Spice</div>
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6 cinnamon sticks</div>
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1 whole nutmeg</div>
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1/2 cup whole cloves</div>
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1/2 cup whole allspice</div>
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1/4 dried orange peel</div>
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Add two tablespoons of spice mixture to four cups of beverage (apple juice or cider, cranberry juice or red wine).</div>
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Put in slow cooker and simmer for a couple of hours. Serve hot. (Can also be done in a pot on the stove for about half an hour if you are in a hurry.) Longer = more flavour. </div>
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For red wine, add 1/2 white sugar or else it will be very bitter.</div>
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For the grown ups, add a shot of ameretto or run to your apple or cranberry juice when serving. </div>
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<br />Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-74472797132674529712012-11-05T21:13:00.001-05:002012-11-05T21:20:05.515-05:00Procrastination Is My Middle Name<div style="text-align: center;">
Procrastination is my middle name and it is way past time to change that. </div>
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At home it is five minutes at my computer before I do <insert task, chore, anything that needs to be done here> and next thing I know it is 10:00pm and I should be in bed. But I have successfully avoid the task that I was supposed to do. Damn it, I'll do it tomorrow ... after I check my e-mail, facebook and twitter and I should probably check here for comments (even though I get e-mail notifications) and something interesting may have happened on twitter or facebook while I was doing that.</div>
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At work it is a quick break from whatever task is melting my brain to organize a pile of papers into proper files and next thing I know the office looks like something has exploded in it because I have decided to organize while taking a break from the brain melting task. Organizing which no doubt involves making piles of things that I don't want to deal with at the moment and will procrastinate finishing until some day when I am procrastinating doing something else. </div>
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(Right about now, I hope my boss doesn't read my blog! Although, if you are reading, I assure you that all the really important, time sensitive stuff gets done on time. Usually, I think!)</div>
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So, please people, I need some suggestions, what is a better middle name for me to adopt? Procrastination just isn't working for me anymore. It is bad enough that I procrastinate when it comes to things that I don't like doing or that cause my brain to melt, but when it comes to doing things that I like, that's a sign that it is getting a little out of hand.</div>
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I should go start making Christmas cards . . . but I think I will go get a drink first and then check Facebook and Twitter. By then it will be too late to be bothered starting. Maybe tomorrow would be a good time to start. Or next week? I still have a month before they have to be in the mail . . . </div>
Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-66076862938556658202012-11-04T17:35:00.001-05:002012-11-04T19:17:42.594-05:00From Pumpkin Patch to Pumpkin Pie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our journey from Pumpkin Patch to Pumpkin Pie started a couple of weeks ago. On a sunny Saturday morning, we went to <a href="http://www.millersfarmandmarket.ca/" target="_blank">Miller's Farm</a> in Manotick in search of pumpkins.</div>
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We took the wagon to the pumpkin patch to look for the perfect pumpkin.</div>
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Although there were lots of great pumpkins in the field, all of the REALLY big ones were already at the store area and we wanted a REALLY big pumpkin! We came home with a 40 pound pumpkin.<br />
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Then it was time to get that pumpkin cleaned out and turned into a Jack-O-Lantern for Halloween. Once all the guts were removed, it was carved into a scary face, as per Liam's instructions.<br />
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As is the case with all good Jack-O-Lanterns, when Halloween is over, so is their life.<br />
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The 40 pound pumpkin turned Jack-O-Lantern was destine to be cut into pieces ... <br />
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... put in a 350 degree oven ...<br />
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... and baked for an hour.<br />
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As if that wasn't enough torture for poor Jack, he was then peel and chopped into smaller pieces ...<br />
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... tossed in the food processor ... <br />
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... and made in to puree.<br />
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And that my friends, is what we used to make a lovely pumpkin pie for dessert!<br />
(And A LOT left over to go in the freezer for future pumpkin goodies!) <br />
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Pumpkin Pie Filling</div>
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1 cup pumpkin puree</div>
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1/2 cup sugar</div>
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1/2 tsp salt</div>
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1 egg</div>
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1 cup milk</div>
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1/2 tsp cinnamon</div>
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1/2 tsp ginger</div>
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Mix all ingredients together and bake at 375 F for 50 minutes.</div>
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For a large deep dish pie, double recipe.</div>
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Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-74435931882976033472012-11-03T20:53:00.003-04:002012-11-03T20:53:50.596-04:00Allergies<div style="text-align: center;">
My eyes itch and water.</div>
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My nose is stuffy and drippy.</div>
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My throat is dry and scratchy. </div>
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I feel like I have blown my nose a million times today.</div>
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My eyes are bloodshot.</div>
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My nose is red.</div>
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I have taken allergy medication.</div>
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I sit here sniffling.</div>
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I wait for it to start to work.</div>
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I hope it kicks in before I scratch my eyes out.</div>
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Because I really do like being able to see. </div>
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I really think my allergies are trying to kill me tonight.</div>
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I really hope they don't succeed.</div>
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Because I have things to do tomorrow.</div>
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And the next day and the day after that.</div>
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So, allergies, if you are reading this, </div>
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Please, get the message.</div>
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I want you to GO AWAY!</div>
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Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-48423647183693330272012-11-02T22:07:00.001-04:002012-11-02T22:10:23.134-04:00Six Word Friday - Questions<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://mymemoryart.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
Questions</div>
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Everywhere I turn there are questions.</div>
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Questions being asked. Questions needing answers.</div>
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All day long, home and work.</div>
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I feel bombarded by the questions.</div>
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Sometimes answers are easy to give.</div>
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Sometimes I silently look for answers, </div>
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to impossible and even ridiculous questions.</div>
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Sometimes I just want to scream:</div>
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"Go figure it out for yourself."</div>
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Sometimes I really don't understand why</div>
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the question is even being asked.</div>
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Sometimes I am happy to help,</div>
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to find an answer for someone.</div>
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It all depends on the question</div>
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and why it is being asked. </div>
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Who? What? When? Why? Where? How?</div>
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The questions will never, ever end.</div>
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Some will bring joy and excitment.</div>
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Some will bring angry and frustration.</div>
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Some will bring indifference and boredom.</div>
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But they will always and forever</div>
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Be an everyday part of life.</div>
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This post was written as part of <a href="http://mymemoryart.blogspot.ca/p/six-word-fridays.html" target="_blank">Six Word Fridays</a> at <a href="http://mymemoryart.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">My Memory Art</a>, take a minute to pop over and see some other "Question" posts.</div>
Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-75141636321496318982012-11-01T20:26:00.000-04:002012-11-02T22:12:03.514-04:00Halloween Fun!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Every year, Halloween gets more and more exciting! Two years ago, we Trick or Treated at 2 houses because every time someone opened their door, Liam cried. Last year, we had to be right beside him to knock on doors, ring door bells and take the candy when he decided to be shy. This year, he was a pro! Walking up to houses by himself, knocking on the door, saying Trick or Treat and Thank You and having a wonderful time!</div>
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Here is our Halloween adventure in photos!</div>
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Miller's Farm in Manotick. Liam would have played on the hay bales all day if we hadn't reminded him that we were there for a pumpkin!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GLzoPkppc1mTjCBt-cnjrYXnLG9aBperaF3sJEqq7bJ5YHDil7XrMs40sr6k2t5se8ZmPXePJ9l71YFOfXx_C7Zl3Hzyx2JEP2OAQezo-fzWaKb4O3jQ5i9dZQ-Tr67XwvNSOPIei_s/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GLzoPkppc1mTjCBt-cnjrYXnLG9aBperaF3sJEqq7bJ5YHDil7XrMs40sr6k2t5se8ZmPXePJ9l71YFOfXx_C7Zl3Hzyx2JEP2OAQezo-fzWaKb4O3jQ5i9dZQ-Tr67XwvNSOPIei_s/s320/023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Checking out the pumpkin patch. So many pumpkins!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCE5cXXrRdCayX4VclKIRslelgbCOM_Y2K2X1hjuTWZSBDrI7GMypFMC_Xo2m4bPYDCu0iee6_Ky-93P-2q3uSGaCcy0zKe0gwsPMk_l7wpIZ-FeOTZONkol4JRCMshlrqck4ONZGw_E/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCE5cXXrRdCayX4VclKIRslelgbCOM_Y2K2X1hjuTWZSBDrI7GMypFMC_Xo2m4bPYDCu0iee6_Ky-93P-2q3uSGaCcy0zKe0gwsPMk_l7wpIZ-FeOTZONkol4JRCMshlrqck4ONZGw_E/s320/025.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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"I want these two. One can have a happy face and one can have a scary face."</div>
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"You want me to put my hands in there? I don't think so!"</div>
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"Are you sure I have to touch this stuff? It is like slime."</div>
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"I guess it's not so bad after all."</div>
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The scary pumpkin. (We got a small pumpkin that was supposed to be the happy face, but it started to rot before we craved them.)</div>
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Captain America . . . ready to save the world . . . if you have candy!</div>
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"Come on people! There are more houses to go to, lots more houses."</div>
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Captain America and all his goodies. We told him that he could choose 2 things to eat before bed. He was very good about it but probably only because he was too exhausted to put up a fuss! We stopped Trick or Treating because he asked to go home to bed! I don't ever remember asking to stop Trick or Treating, we were always trying to talk Dad into one more house! But then again, I don't remember being three years old! When he finally went to bed, Liam was very sad that he couldn't wear his Captain America suit to bed!</div>
Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-885843869975694232012-09-23T13:55:00.001-04:002012-09-23T13:55:37.634-04:00Conversations With Liam<div style="text-align: center;">
As time goes on, conversations with Liam get more and more interesting. He is just over 3.5 years old and he loves to talk. My mother will tell you that he gets that from me. She always said that once I started talking, I never shut up and I find myself saying the exact same thing about Liam on a regular basis. <br />
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Here are just a few of the conversations that have occurred over recent months.<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Liam: "I need two mommies."</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me: "Am I not good enough?"</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Liam: "No, I need two mommies."</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me: "Why do you need two mommies?"</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Liam: "Because I am a little boy and little boys need two mommies and a daddy."</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Henry: "Who do you you want your other mommy to be?"</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Liam: "I don't know, you can pick. But you can be my one daddy."</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me: "Do I get to be one of your mommies?"</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Liam: "Yes, but I need two mommies. Daddy, who is my other mommy going to be?"</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Henry: "I have to pick now?'</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Liam: "Yes, I need another mommy soon."</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Driving home, Liam could see smoke from a bush fire, he said: </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"Look at all that smoke, it must be a volcano. I want to go see the volcano right now."</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He frequently tells me the following:</span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"When I grow up, I want to be Tony Stark because he had a lot, a lot of money, he is really smart and he's IRONMAN!"</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are a lot of made up words in our conversations lately, but everyone has a meaning.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Liam: "Mommy, is that a shickhitter?"</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me: "Huh? What's a shickhitter?"</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Liam: "It's a small, very tiny, little digger machine. You should know that."</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Friends of ours, Ashley and Danny recently got engaged, Liam will be their ring bearer, although I don't think he has any idea what a wedding or a ring bearer is, he has plans for their special day.</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Liam: "Ashley should get married in a princess castle."</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: "No, Ashley's not getting married in a princess castle."</span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Liam: "OK, I want Ashley and Danny to get married on a horse. Actually on two horses, one for Ashley and one for Danny."</span><br />
<br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Liam wants a castle:</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Liam: "Mommy, I really think we need a castle."</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Me: "Really?"</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Liam: "Yes, a big one."</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Me: "Where are we going to find a castle?"</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Liam: "We'll have to build one. I want to build it with you."</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Me: "I don't know how to build a castle."</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Liam: "That's OK, it's easy, really easy. First you get all the parts and put the parts together and then you put the top on. Then you put lots of toys inside. You put in the floor and paint it. They you put the walls on and paint them. And you have to put on a top that you can walk around on. That's a castle."</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Me: "What colour are you going to paint it?"</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Liam: "We can paint it red or blue or grey or any colour, really."</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Me: "But what colour do you want to paint it?"</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Liam: "Well, red, I think red is good."</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Me: "What colour are you going to paint the floor?"</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Liam: "Well, blue of course."</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Me: "are you going to live in your castle?"</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Liam: "Sure. I want you to live in my castle with me."</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Me: "OK. Who else is going to live in your castle?"</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Liam: "All the kids from preschool."</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Me: "All of them?"</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Liam: "Of course."</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Me: "What about Daddy?"</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Liam: "Well, sure, Daddy can live with us."</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are some farms close by that use propane canons to scare birds out of the corn fields. Here is Liam's interpretation of the situation.</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"That noise is to make the birds fall off the corn so that the farmers can get the corn and feed the corn to the cows in the winter because cows are hungry in the winter."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I really never know what he is going to say next. I wish I could always have a paper and pen near by to capture some of the stories that he tells because I can never remember them all. </span><br />
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Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-74845795852912525622012-07-25T09:00:00.000-04:002012-07-25T09:07:19.460-04:00Wordless Wednesday - Saunder's Farm<div style="text-align: center;">
This past Saturday we met up with my sister, Teanna and my nephew, Denver at <a href="http://www.saundersfarm.com/" target="_blank">Saunder's Farm</a>. We have never been before, I looked at their website last Halloween and thought that it was a little too expensive for what Liam would have gotten out of it at that point. And I honestly didn't know until about a month ago that they had summer stuff! I always just thought of them as a Halloween activity!</div>
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I wasn't sure how the day would go, Liam and Denver really do get excited to see each other and have fun when they are together but I was worried that at a place like this with so much to do, the difference in age (Liam is 3 and Denver is 7) would prove to be too much to keep them together and both happy. I was pleasantly surprised at how content they were to do most things together. </div>
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The boys had a wonderful time and Liam is already asking to go back again.</div>
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Seeing as how this is supposed to be a Wordless Wednesday Post, I guess I should get to the pictures! (I don't do the Wordless part of Wordless Wednesday very well!) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-rRAuMpl40ZknKx9DqD-TQS0N9wiO2kIIUxA8Ccihv1S9RyZJXLJl_F2aMmTY-49gOnozZDHXRVSvgFK1ukcpeQTkzDPs8v2AWTWGpPDsLF3nsYQLU70Sga_CNIYgHjdeXjE2MhIJoE/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-rRAuMpl40ZknKx9DqD-TQS0N9wiO2kIIUxA8Ccihv1S9RyZJXLJl_F2aMmTY-49gOnozZDHXRVSvgFK1ukcpeQTkzDPs8v2AWTWGpPDsLF3nsYQLU70Sga_CNIYgHjdeXjE2MhIJoE/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I wasn't sure we were going to </div>
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"It's OK, we don't have to go anywhere else, we can just play here all day!"</div>
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"Umm, I got up, but how do I get down?"</div>
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"This is supposed to be challenging? For who?"</div>
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"THIS. IS. AWESOME."</div>
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"No, I'm not going to fall, I'm good!"</div>
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I'm not going to lie, I had a blast on the jumping pillows and would have spent more time there if the boys hadn't lost interest!</div>
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Mazes from the look out tower.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyGBoTNvjwthyphenhyphennlWw9f0Vd9Tb1bojlj4J-bQYrmSGNP2MDPo2AMUbx9b88-IS7a2tawTaqKTVRfqD4LWUvClljfwCviWuDv5-pkPJtegW6C0_MS0Xtp24wPtfBsycGba4lxeTPmHNwEM/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyGBoTNvjwthyphenhyphennlWw9f0Vd9Tb1bojlj4J-bQYrmSGNP2MDPo2AMUbx9b88-IS7a2tawTaqKTVRfqD4LWUvClljfwCviWuDv5-pkPJtegW6C0_MS0Xtp24wPtfBsycGba4lxeTPmHNwEM/s320/035.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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"I can find my way through here, no problem!"</div>
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"Just follow Denver, he knows where he is going!"</div>
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Liam wasn't too sure what to think of the splash pad. He's never been to one before and isn't a fan out getting sprayed with water.</div>
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He did however have lots of fun spraying the water and running around the edges!</div>
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Witch's Mountain Slide. I was very surprised to see Liam go down by himself! It is very high and very fast!</div>
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After a few runs on his own, he talked Auntie Teanna into a couple of rides.</div>
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And even one with Mommy, but then he requested Auntie Teanna again!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTi-weNHQiYNgh-ssOC98ebJ0bvj_TZcEfNFPFguXM5Fv2LuuccXpatucOiej87lhvJeEb_SPFQu710oFsk7jnrLsg3EOkRUvE8J5orLVxVZ8I5gFpoGyu-DmKamDRL_zybAZDEqgoDDM/s1600/099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTi-weNHQiYNgh-ssOC98ebJ0bvj_TZcEfNFPFguXM5Fv2LuuccXpatucOiej87lhvJeEb_SPFQu710oFsk7jnrLsg3EOkRUvE8J5orLVxVZ8I5gFpoGyu-DmKamDRL_zybAZDEqgoDDM/s320/099.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYHWzloSIdQMDFOIuE7eCs2uQ8guVJ56KB3utwzna8-tMBqYUsEM-lLZwD1zcHIJ_BYPExb_5Xv_AOfyJnytDH2gTAWAo_KUAAv4SARRSxCyYH-2xj7BPQNl2rH15-unT_T6nfgYxNOI/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYHWzloSIdQMDFOIuE7eCs2uQ8guVJ56KB3utwzna8-tMBqYUsEM-lLZwD1zcHIJ_BYPExb_5Xv_AOfyJnytDH2gTAWAo_KUAAv4SARRSxCyYH-2xj7BPQNl2rH15-unT_T6nfgYxNOI/s320/050.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Much like the tree house when we first arrived, we weren't sure that we were ever going to get to leave once the boys found the pirate ship play structure! </div>
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<br /></div>Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-36230034629465541752012-07-13T22:20:00.001-04:002012-07-13T22:20:53.151-04:00Six Word Fridays - FOUND<div style="text-align: center;">
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Found</div>
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An opportunity I did not expect.</div>
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New challenges, new confidence, new experience.</div>
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New insecurities, new obstacles, new struggles.</div>
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Pros and cons. Positives and negatives.</div>
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Changes in every direction, every day.</div>
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I know I will make mistakes.</div>
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I will learn. I will grow.
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I will find solutions, fix errors.</div>
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I will do lots good things.</div>
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I have already done good things.</div>
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May be for a short time.</div>
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May be for a long time.</div>
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I don't know, no one does.</div>
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It's one day at a time.</div>
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But it really doesn't matter.</div>
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It is where I am now.</div>
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As long as I am there,</div>
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I will enjoy. I will succeed. </div>Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-35454487489861940012012-07-02T11:31:00.000-04:002012-07-02T11:31:08.926-04:00Where Does Time Go?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It has been almost 2 months since I have written a blog post here. How is that possible? As the days, weeks, months, years go on it seems as though time just keeps going faster and faster. Sometimes I wish I would just slow down but I know that's not going to happen. I do know that I need to learn to make more time for the things that are important to me . . . writing, scrapbooking, reading are a few things that come to mind. However, making more time for the "me" things is a work in progress. In the mean time, here's what's been keeping me busy and away from the blog for the past two months.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I started a new position at work. I am now Acting Supervisor of our preschool building. Although it took me just about as far away from my comfort zone as I could possibly get, it has been a welcome change. There have been lots of new challenges and I am learning a lot. As of right now, it is a temporary position and we have no idea how long it may last but I am going to enjoy it while it does and take the opportunity to learn everything I can about the job so that I can do it again if the need arises.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The whole family got together for a BBQ at my parents place for Mother's Day. With my youngest brother in college in Lindsey, my youngest sister going to college and working in Peterbourgh, my other brother doing shift work as a firefighter, my other sister only having her son every other week, and us living almost 2 hours form my parents, this doesn't happen very often.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EackNvnCMGoQzgjk-jdS1MGdhh2lg6dukFFzp1s7kmq7tokvTNSUlmCDKOGJdmFgxo8OEhiy8gav4hc1hUlpNIwnFx2rqBvckKrqVKXalSAKAfMxaOd2rZHVKuJWAAYeB3EAKWQzgsk/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EackNvnCMGoQzgjk-jdS1MGdhh2lg6dukFFzp1s7kmq7tokvTNSUlmCDKOGJdmFgxo8OEhiy8gav4hc1hUlpNIwnFx2rqBvckKrqVKXalSAKAfMxaOd2rZHVKuJWAAYeB3EAKWQzgsk/s200/051.JPG" width="200" /></a>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">We all had a great time and there was even a family game of monkey in the middle with a football. Give that I am very uncoordinated and as athletic as a stick, I choose to stay on the side line and take pictures!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">As always, I spent a weekend (and lots of time before the weekend) helping with the <a href="http://www.newmoonrabbitrescue.ca/" target="_blank">New Moon Rabbit Rescue</a> garage and bake sale. Although it was a long, busy and exhausting weekend, it was a hue success.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then came gardening! Well, gardening started with that week of unseasonably warm weather we had in March, but in May I planted the vegetable garden which means much more time is spend playing in the dirt! You can read all about my gardening adventures (and see lots of photos) on my gardening blog, <a href="http://myalmostgreenthumb.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">My Almost Green Thumb</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">We spent a weekend camping in June. Henry and I have loved camping since before we were married. Liam loves anything that he can do outside, loves fishing and going to the beach. Camping is a perfect little get away for us. We enjoyed the weekend at Fitzroy Provincial Park and are looking forward to get out and doing some more camping this summer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOprFB6aPP0niyvj1LBxbUO9SKjG21xHBIjZLRELTj8InlnMNUDT_7L4U2WnrQV96KeD5krJf4qnmtPeabXih93MBCIQvc_URovtrpGPLNmAU3ebKWn6M6uL8nwccWCndp-03MN78HeE/s1600/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOprFB6aPP0niyvj1LBxbUO9SKjG21xHBIjZLRELTj8InlnMNUDT_7L4U2WnrQV96KeD5krJf4qnmtPeabXih93MBCIQvc_URovtrpGPLNmAU3ebKWn6M6uL8nwccWCndp-03MN78HeE/s200/073.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbHhwOR8SclJeN4n4xmGZvbyPcbYM5v5pVDfGJGjX_fSbcDYXuiNeVkYKgkqLCKzStWSZjltNeVa1V59i5cLk9AA0yAbt7Cdzuc1pax6g895YmzhEReE2Njp1_ob8faEYrI2ys23VJPw/s1600/137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbHhwOR8SclJeN4n4xmGZvbyPcbYM5v5pVDfGJGjX_fSbcDYXuiNeVkYKgkqLCKzStWSZjltNeVa1V59i5cLk9AA0yAbt7Cdzuc1pax6g895YmzhEReE2Njp1_ob8faEYrI2ys23VJPw/s200/137.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">We celebrated Liam's birthday. Christmas is far too busy to fit in a birthday party, so we opted to do a half birthday party for Liam this year. We had a BBQ, hung out outside and it gives him a chance to get summer presents. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It has been a fun and busy start to the summer. And I expect it to stay that way! We have lots of things we want to do around here (build a new shed, expand a flower garden, put in a shade garden . . .) and I am sure there will be lots of picnics and trips to the beach and other fun stuff.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-46463491879549470692012-05-04T22:21:00.000-04:002012-05-04T22:21:58.287-04:00Six Word Fridays - Charge<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">This week’s </span><a href="http://melissacamarawilkins.com/blog/six-word-fridays/" style="background-color: white; color: #892935; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">Six Word Fridays</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> topic: CHARGE. Charged up? Charge on! Lead the charge.</span>
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<a href="http://www.melissacamarawilkins.com/blog/category/six-word-fridays"><img src="http://www.melissacamarawilkins.com/sixwordfridays" /></a></div>
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In Charge</div>
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Next week is when things change . . . </div>
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Am I ready for this change?</div>
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I don't really know them yet.</div>
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They don't really know me yet.</div>
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But we will be thrust together.</div>
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They will look up to me.</div>
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They will be asking me questions.</div>
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They will be following my guidance.</div>
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I will have to have answers.</div>
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I will have to have solutions.</div>
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I will have to lead them.</div>
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Am I ready for this change?</div>
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Do I have what it takes,</div>
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To really, truly be in charge?</div>
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I am ready to work hard.</div>
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I am ready to be challenged.</div>
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I am ready to learn again.</div>
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I won't always have the answers.</div>
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But I will find the answers.</div>
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I won't always have the solutions.</div>
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But we will all work together.</div>
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There will be headaches and times</div>
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that I just want to scream.</div>
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But,</div>
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I know I can do this.</div>
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I know I will enjoy this.</div>
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<br /></div>Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-82148979853472948112012-04-27T11:12:00.002-04:002012-04-27T11:12:38.402-04:00Are YOU Listening? Seriously, are YOU?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I am participating in the <a href="http://momalom.com/2012/04/five-for-five-topics-revealed-finally/">5 for 5</a> writing series at <a href="http://momalom.com/">Momalom</a> where bloggers write a post a day for five days about a given topic. Today's topic is LISTEN.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The twist on today's 5 for 5 post is that it is also <a href="http://melissacamarawilkins.com/blog/six-word-fridays/">Six Word Friday</a> over at <a href="http://melissacamarawilkins.com/blog/">Melissa Camera Wilkins' Blog</a>! </span></div>
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Listen, hear, feel, understand and write.<br />
The voices, stories in your head,<br />
Let them out. Set them free.<br />
Share your stories with the world.<br />
Write them, Blog them, Journal them.<br />
Share your creativity with the world.<br />
Don't just keep it to yourself.<br />
This is me, trying to share,<br />
Some of the voices, stories memories,<br />
that bounce around in my head.<br />
Read, enjoy, comment, come back again.</div>Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066685594840113128.post-33188621816605221042012-04-26T21:08:00.001-04:002012-04-26T21:08:47.962-04:00My Rambling Thoughts On Age<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />I am participating in the <a href="http://momalom.com/2012/04/five-for-five-topics-revealed-finally/">5 for 5</a> writing series at <a href="http://momalom.com/">Momalom</a> where bloggers write a post a day for five days about a given topic. Today's topic is AGE.</span><br />
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<center><a href="http://momalom.com/2012/04/five-for-five-topics-revealed-finally"><img border="0" src="http://momalom.com/five-for-five-button.png" /></a></center><center><br /></center><center>We all know what age is. Simply put, it is the number of years we have been alive. </center><center><br /></center><center>We all know that there are certain rights of passage that come with certain ages. </center><center><br /></center><center>Four year olds get to start school. </center><center>Sixteen year olds get to learn to drive. </center><center>Eighteen year olds get to vote. </center><center>Nineteen year olds get to drink. </center><center><br /></center><center>As child there are always things that you want to do but can't until you are older. </center><center>How many times did you tell your parents that you couldn't wait to be an adult and move out on your own?</center><center><br /></center><center>As an adult, there are so many things that you could only do when you were younger.</center><center>How often do you wish you could be a carefree child again?</center><center><br /></center><center>I think back 20 years, to when I was 15 and thought that my parents were old and my grandparents were really old. Now that I am the age that my mother was then, it really doesn't seem that old. And then I realize that my parents are around the age that my grandparents were at that same time and I wonder why I ever thought that classified as REALLY old. Time really does change ones perception of age and what is old.</center><center><br /></center><center>A few years ago, I was at a Brownie Meeting, my first year as a leader, and had this conversation with three of the girls:</center><center><br /></center><center>Keira: "Nicki, how old are you?"</center><center>Me: "How old do you think I am?"</center><center>Katrina: "You are old enough to have a husband and a house."</center><center>Keitha: "You must be really old then!"</center><center>Keira: "But not as old as our moms because you aren't old enough to have kids yet."</center><center>They all huddled together and whispered for a moment and looked at me again.</center><center>Katrina: "We think you are 19."</center><center>Me: "Good guess girls!"</center><center>Keitha: "Are we right?"</center><center>Me: "Nope, but let's just pretend that you are!"</center><center>(The 30 year old me was very happy to pretend that I was 19 again!)</center><center><br /></center><center>And there you have it, my migraine induced random thoughts about AGE! (By the way, right about now, on day two of this monthly migraine, I would love to go back to an age before I started getting these lovely headaches!)</center><center><br /></center>Nicki McIlreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11993677546652650035noreply@blogger.com1