tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58599453158288680322024-03-14T03:52:13.107-04:00Touring with the Crists~Our travels with the US Army and adventures along the way~Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-56425627794693030552014-04-23T11:31:00.001-04:002014-04-23T11:31:28.440-04:00Just A Little Update.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Crist family is thrilled to announce that God has once again
answered our prayers in a a wonderful way and we are happily expecting
our 2nd baby, due November 1st, 2014! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Let them thank the LORD for his
steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!" Psalm
107:31</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">(Well, at least 2 of the 3 Crists are excited, lol :)) </span></span></div>
Lou&Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16769007235403413829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-29584234443788175322013-11-02T00:43:00.001-04:002013-11-02T01:03:52.833-04:00Georgia on Our Minds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello all! Its such a beautiful time of year here in Arizona, after the non-stop rains of the summer monsoon month we get the crisp cool mornings, by noon you can sun-bathe in the 80 degree sunlight, and then come the cool evenings with magnificent sunsets filled with mountain peaks, purples, blues, reds and yellows. I love autumn! Anjuli and I take the jogger out several times a week in the morning time, usually right after Lou leaves for work we bundle up and head out for a morning jog. Its been a great way for me to get back into shape, in fact I started jogging in August and am still going strong, actually improving! I have a sweet friend to thank for this, I was going out and doing 2-2.5 miles maximum 3 times a week and feeling like I was going to die. Then, I met Lindsay and learned that she ran...only she ran anywhere from 4-6 miles with <b>TWO KIDS</b> in a jogger! Needless to say, I was impressed! She took me out for a couple of days and before I knew it I was jogging almost 4 miles...more than I've ever accomplished in my life! I'm slow, I'm exhausted during the exercise, the fact that we're 5,000 ft. above sea level is never lost on me....but its been wonderful getting into shape, having more energy, and this week I've started fitting into some pre-pregnancy clothing again so I'm just so encouraged! <br />
Its been a busy few weeks here at the Crist house, I started a blog post during my saga with shingles two weeks ago...but was feeling too loopy on the pain meds to finish it. :) Short story, I was diagnosed with shingles the day I was scheduled to host a baby shower for a friend.....so everything had to be moved to another friend's home last minute and she was gracious enough to host/prepare/and pick up all the pieces while I filled prescriptions, medicated and crashed on the sofa amidst lots of "this hurts!" moments. I'm all better now, and very thankful to be so. I had a suspicion it might be shingles but waking up with a rash/nerve pain/oozing blisters from one side of my abdomen to my backbone confirmed it. After a week with lots of kind offers from friends for babysitting, meals, and Lou taking on the majority of the laundry/kitchen/meals, I felt almost 100% better!<br />
Big news here is our upcoming move...our new duty station is Fort Stewart, GA and we're scheduled to leave Arizona at the end of November, with packing taking place the week of Thanksgiving...yes, we are once again moving during a holiday. :) Its our style...or at least the Army's style. I went to the mandatory meetings this week and signed stacks of paperwork so we will be having the moving company take our home goods to GA while we drive the truck with Escape in tow across country. I think we've figured its a good 4 day trip from here to Fort Stewart, especially with Anjuli. She is generally a good traveler for the first 2-3 hours, but then comes the half hour of painful screaming....before she falls asleep. That hour ALWAYS occurs on our drive home from Tucson, and she has great lung capacity! She's getting so big and I fall more in love with her each day. I was telling a friend that its hard to imagine something so tiny taking up so much space in your heart and thoughts....but its true! :) She is a joy and a blessing and we're just so humbled that God has given us this responsibility to be parents! We took her to a little family pumpkin patch nearby last Friday night, just for the experience.<br />
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She loves animals and has no fear, none! They had a small petting
zoo with farm animals and she was fascinated by them! <br />
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The woman in charge said,"You can go out and pick your own pumpkin, just watch out for the <b>black widow spiders, snakes and scorpions</b>." Yeah, since when is
that the standard pumpkin patch greeting? LOL <br />
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Speaking of Arizona exotic animals, these are a regular at our house!<br />
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These lovely javelinas love hanging out in our front yard after midnight and
eating whatever they can get their snouts on! Sometimes we have a herd
of 12 or more come through, our walls are so un-insulated that you wake
up and it sounds like you're in a barnyard with all the snorting,
grunting and slobbery noises! We have an odd fruit tree by the front
door that they raid every couple of nights-its also directly outside the
master bedroom window. <br />
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Oh yes, I forgot to mention the house! We have a home (tentatively) awaiting us in Georgia! Lou flew to the area over Columbus Day weekend and went home searching, after lots of photos, videos and floor plans were shared we put an offer on a home in the Hinesville area, about 10-15 minutes from the fort. Its a lovely little place that looks like the perfect "home" for us and Anjuli, especially since we should be in Georgia for our record time in one place since being married- 3 whole years! See it in all its "before wallpaper removal and Crist renovations" loveliness <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnRlahaOMUA" target="_blank">here</a>. ;) We're so excited to be closer to family and only about an hour's drive from Savannah, GA.....which I consider one of the most romantic historical cities in the US. :) Our little home to be is under contract and we are scheduled to close December 6th, so prayers for a smooth sale are greatly appreciated! <br />
So many things have happened this year with our families that we've been unable to physically be there for because of the distance, so I'm excited to be back on the East Coast again. I will miss Arizona though. Not necessarily the house here (which we've been informed is to be demolished along with this entire neighborhood the first week of December...hooray!) or the weather and bugs and wild animals, but the people we have grown to know and love. My friends from church and PWOC are going to be difficult to say goodbye to. I have a wonderful ladies' Bible study that I've been helping to facilitate when the teacher is away and we're working through Paul Tripp's book on communication, War of Words. So much conviction in my own life of sinful patterns of communication, conflict and past failings towards others....so much good practical wisdom for the future from the book and my fellow classmates. Bible study days are Tuesdays and although I'm worn out after the morning is over....I am also always so encouraged and strengthened mentally. I take Anjuli with me, and the ladies are so kind to help keep her occupied/distracted when I need help. I'm going to miss them so!<br />
Well, I should close this with a list of everything that Anjuli is doing
and how much she is changing...in the blink of an eye! I have to share
this little video just to give you a peek into her personality and how
much she loves her daddy!<br />
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Just in case you should think everything is roses....our big challenges are her constant issues with constipation. Who would have thought I would spend so much time focused on elimination....but in a baby its a big deal! I drink more than ample amounts of water each day, continuing my habit from pregnancy days...but it still persists. I wonder if it has anything to do with Arizona's incredibly dry climate. I also read that babies with a sensitivity to wheat can be constipated even when breast feeding, so I stopped eating wheat for several days but didn't notice a difference. I was giving her small amounts of finger food style avocados, softened apples and pears, but went back to exclusively nursing just to see if it will help her for the time being. She LOVES food, she grabs at everything and wants to put it in her mouth.....but I think it might be best for now to back off on the more solid food. Another challenge is that she will not drink from a bottle. She won't drink water or juice when I've tried that route for the constipation. The only bottle she snatches and tries to drink from is my water bottle...and she dumps 80% of it down her front, with a big grin! Love that baby girl! Her list of little accomplishments? Sitting up,<br />
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grabbing objects with the 2-finger pincer approach, <br />
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saying "da" when Lou came home one day ;), <br />
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laughing hysterically at us, sleeping for a 7 hour stretch at night,<br />
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getting up on all fours, rocking back and forth,<br />
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standing up while holding on to your fingers......you know, the normal things a baby does that makes you say,"Isn't she amazing, honey?" And we do, all the time. :) Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-47043386476668773002013-08-24T20:40:00.001-04:002013-08-24T20:40:12.694-04:00Ten Seconds in Front of the LensThis is going to be a photos-only blog post...just couldn't resist showing you our spunky girl in action. Constant movement and Anjuli are synonymous! <br />
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Gotta love those feet!<br />
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And the expressions are just terrific, no matter the occasion!<br />
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Not sure about all these crazy toys around her.... </div>
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Fighting Mr. Frog tooth and nail.....never a dull moment with baby girl<br />
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Spit....yes, that's my secret weapon!<br />
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What? I'm being filmed? Why didn't you say so?<br />
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Just chilling on the couch with Daddy....cause that's what we do on Saturdays these days!<br />
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<br />Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-35252771617871174092013-08-12T14:06:00.000-04:002013-08-12T14:06:49.753-04:00Little By Little<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJWRgrALmzMYvK4XmbHMI7lmlw0J9HDOq3JtncJYMHR8lDTOhsnCLYiPuO1BDwqocd_gtlGzYbLDkOIUApycVPJTnzVe-EdDq0jAG-vaxFBPkP7bDn7vkDXuIGSGobkR7SgXZLIpZPH0/s1600/Cara%2527s+Baby+Shower+052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJWRgrALmzMYvK4XmbHMI7lmlw0J9HDOq3JtncJYMHR8lDTOhsnCLYiPuO1BDwqocd_gtlGzYbLDkOIUApycVPJTnzVe-EdDq0jAG-vaxFBPkP7bDn7vkDXuIGSGobkR7SgXZLIpZPH0/s320/Cara%2527s+Baby+Shower+052.JPG" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This weekend, at a friend's baby shower-she is digging that pear slice.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mouth is an excellent place for all fingers and objects within her reach. ;)</td></tr>
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Mom and Dad bought us a Patch the Pirate tape when we were kids and one of the songs was "Little by Little" The lyrics pop into my head all the time now,"Trust in the Lord and start out to climb...reach for the goal one step at a time...little by little, inch by inch, by the yard its hard, by the inch, what a cinch..." Simple enough, but life as a new mom seems to be a series of "inches climbed". I'm always grateful to look back and see progress, but the impatient me wants it to be profound and stunning. It ain't. ;) <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't get enough of her cute little face :)</td></tr>
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Anjuli is now 4 months old! Seeing the dimples pop up in her elbows and knees convinced me that she is truly getting enough nutrition and the development of a double chin has confirmed it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little hands I love</td></tr>
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There are so many things I've learned in the past several months, but what stands out most is how little I do know...haha! Truly, it seems as though you can read and read to try and prepare yourself for something like this but just as in nursing school, "its all theory" until your first real job starts! Then you learn that most of what is in the books isn't practiced by anyone and definitely not to the letter. Which is comforting, because like many things I aspire to...I never manage to continue them without some degree of failure or forgetting or just plain laziness that day. Like my <a href="http://fromfattofitchick.blogspot.ca/search/label/exercise" target="_blank">squat challenge</a> for July, I completed the first 24 days of it and was psyched to be able to look at my neatly crossed off chart on the fridge and say,"Yep, I'm sore but I haven't missed a day!" Then, there was the day I forgot...and because of that failure, I thought,"What's the point, my challenge is ruined!" and missed 4 more days in a row. I was reading devotions the other morning and realized how silly that attitude is, missing a day doesn't mean that we give up entirely....instead it should have given me that much more insight into the human condition-we will never achieve anything perfectly. Not in this life. :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday morning matchies</td></tr>
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So, how are we? We're doing very well. All the cliched remarks about new babies ARE true! OK, not all of them, but the ones about your life changing forever definitely are. :) Changing for the better though. So many new routines we are starting that were never even thought of in our past 5 years of marriage. :) There's the "hold Anjuli while I make supper" routine, the "I think its a good time to mess all over my unsuspecting Daddy" routine, the "nurse the baby before you eat a single bite of food"...etc etc etc.<br />
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Anjuli is now sitting up in the Bumbo and Exersaucer, grabbing at food and taking handfuls of hair...she takes the statement,"Hold on" to mean "hold tight to mommy's hair while hollering" instead of "be patient, dear". She's a determined individual!<br />
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She's babbling and in general is incredibly active all day long, between her naps. She loves eating, and I sometimes feel that I spend most of the day nursing her, in between cleaning and making meals and listing Ebay clothing! But, all that to say that its such a special time...it really is. There are those nights when I'm so ready for bed and I want her to stop stop stop instead of performing her "hourlong-before-bedtime-nursing" stunt, but those don't happen often and they're usually when I've had a long day and she's been fussy. Did I mention that she's drooling? She can soak herself, Lou and I with her amazing salivary glands in a matter of five minutes!<br />
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The first two months after she was born were very roller coaster emotionally for me. I've always been someone who did not do well physically or mentally on less than 8 hours of sleep a night and we weren't getting that, of course. Anjuli started out eating every 2-3 hours and that lasted through most of the first 3 months. All the soreness of new motherhood was felt-wow! At one point I was getting up every time she fussed and Lou wisely suggested that we put her swing right outside the bedroom door at night so she wouldn't wake at every creak and turn. She slept very well in the swing but was incredibly fussy in our bed or her crib. However, all that has changed in the last two weeks! Lou started his Counter-Intelligence course mid July and going to sleep at 9pm while Anjuli was wide awake and jabbering wasn't working....so one night I tried her crib...and it was like a switch had been flipped-she slept 6 hours' straight. Hallelujah! Since then I've started putting her down for naps and bedtime in the crib and playing a lullaby cd on repeat....she does well most nights with a wakeup at midnight and four-five am for feedings. The only nights she wakes every two hours are the ones where we have something planned for the next day....heh heh. I think she knows! So I'm getting more sleep, feeling more awake during the daytime and in general life is good! If I have a rough night, Lou will take her in the morning for 30 minutes or so before work and let me catch a few winks....that makes all the difference. :) His schedule is now the "up at 445am, finish PT and home for breakfast, back at 745 to class and home anywhere from 5-630 at night" ....lather, rinse and repeat M-F. ;)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anjuli helping Daddy make coffee after a rough night-I woke up and heard them in the kitchen so I had to sneak this photo :)</td></tr>
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I do a lot of singing and reading to Anjuli, during morning feeding after Lou leaves for work we read a Psalm and some Old Testament book, right now we're working our way through Ezra and the rebuilding of the temple. Anjuli usually does really well, but there are those mornings where we don't do anything BUT nurse because otherwise the book would be missing a few pages by the end of our devotion time. Its great, its helped me to become much more consistent in my own devotions because I'm not rushing to "start the day"...we get in prayers for the guys and girls deployed, friends with needs, family, etc and just sets the tone for the morning.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No "once a month" photos since birth but I just managed to snap these last month. :)</td></tr>
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After "breakfast" I've been trying to get in exercise. That squat challenge was good but obviously not all-encompassing. I was able to snag a used jogging stroller on Ebay inexpensively, since it was "local pickup only" in Tucson and we made arrangements to get it last Sat. after the auction. I love it! I don't have the severe back ache/pain after jogging that I did and I downloaded an app to use that tracks my progress with GPS while I jog, "RunKeeper". Its a little by little thing, but since I started last Tuesday with the jogger I noticed I've cut 10-15 seconds off my miles/minute routine each time I exercise. Those are the small victories that give me incentive...plus being able to button my pants/shorts again without straining or having "<a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Dunlap%27s+Disease" target="_blank">dunlaps</a>" disease. :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graduation from Military Intelligence Captains Course on May 31st-Anjuli just over 1 1/2 months old</td></tr>
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Lou's counter intelligence course should be ending sometime in late November and we will be moving to our next duty station at that point. Where, you ask? Why...we have no idea! Ha, I don't think that will ever change. :) We should see a list of possible new places sometime in September, make our top "ten" choices and then be told in October if we got any of the above...or a completely different place. But, we're excited to see where the Lord sends us next and are soaking up the Arizona sun and monsoon weather and mountains and sunsets while we're here. :) And now....more pictures of our little sunshine baby!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First swimming pool experience...she had her floppy hat on most of the time and hated it! Its five pm here in AZ and still 90 degrees!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not too sure about this....</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After she did a "rollover" and got a mouthful of water!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuKKO08cSvCgkKkBd4D8tzfljo7V10mC_US_KfFxXLzSGaeEwIfPl4IBn2ZT3giCpCPvhyphenhyphenMSQ7DEdNEE6NRBbOUfsCU7-8FWqg_kV3OUwIczbdypuhCOybkE0u8tuXKL7bzar8-t7Lx4/s1600/Cara%2527s+Baby+Shower+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuKKO08cSvCgkKkBd4D8tzfljo7V10mC_US_KfFxXLzSGaeEwIfPl4IBn2ZT3giCpCPvhyphenhyphenMSQ7DEdNEE6NRBbOUfsCU7-8FWqg_kV3OUwIczbdypuhCOybkE0u8tuXKL7bzar8-t7Lx4/s320/Cara%2527s+Baby+Shower+027.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, I like Mommy's lap better. It feels safer.</td></tr>
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<br />Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-54901337553725844492013-06-27T16:41:00.001-04:002013-06-27T16:41:34.970-04:00Anjuli's Newborn Photos-Ten Days OldThis blog post is going to be pure pictures....really. We just returned from a 2 week vacation to the East Coast and I plan to update it with "trip news" eventually but I wanted to share Anjuli's newborn photos first. :) Our friend Cailin took these as well as our maternity photos and we just loved them! <br />They were shot here in our home and Anjuli was being a real stinker that morning but you'd never guess it from how they turned out! Granted, life here has been hectic enough to keep them off the blog for the last 2 months....but better 2 months late than never! Enjoy. :)<br />
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<br />Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-1878806527116043402013-04-18T07:19:00.000-04:002013-04-18T07:28:19.254-04:00"I Don't Know Nothin' Bout Birthin' No Babies"That's me! And still is, even after the experience of having Anjuli! As I write this, she has just finished her 3am feeding and is lying cuddled up in one of my pillows next to me, swaddled and content. I'm overcome with being a mother after these 5 years of marriage to Lou, I've heard women describe it in all types of ways....but for me its a mixture of wonder and tiny pieces of amazement sprinkled through my day..at this baby who is totally dependent on me to care for her and also her own little person through and through already!<br />
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So, I've been getting a lot of questions about the BIRTH. Tell us the birth story! When are you going to give out the details? I'll try my best! :) Its not that I haven't wanted to share "birth day" pictures and the synopsis, but we've been spending our time doing wonderful and painful things this week...like developing sleep patterns and Mommy/Anjuli nursing education and coordination, etc etc. <br />
Wednesday, April 10th -0345 am. I woke to my alarm, got up to shower and check my bag one last time for our 0500 induction scheduled at the Sierra Vista hospital. I was exactly 41 weeks. I couldn't remember if it was ok to eat before going in but I was so nervous and excited that I decided against it, for the moment. I woke Lou 10 minutes before we were supposed to leave and he did his "ready for the day in 5 minutes" magic as usual.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the grand induction adventure started!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lou trying out the bed, since I was determined to walk around and "get things started" ha!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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We arrived to the hospital at 0500 and went through registration before walking to the OB unit. They have a small, maybe 13 bed unit but its really nice, updated and their staff is so friendly and helpful every time we've had to make a visit. The nurse directed me to my room, we signed stacks of paperwork saying that we would let the staff care for me, etc etc. and not smoke in our room...all that good stuff. She started my IV, took vital signs and at 0600 she started me on Pitocin at 2mu/minute for the induction, as well as a penicillin bolus as I tested positive for Group B strep in the office. The penicillin BURNS, there's no denying it! The monitor showed I was having contractions, but they were irregular when I arrived, just uncomfortable but no biggie. They turn up the Pitocin 2mu every 30 minutes until a regular contraction pattern occurs so she came back in at 0630 and then at 0700. Dr. Kacenga was going to be in at 0730 to break my water and that made me more nervous than anything else. I'm not sure why, maybe it was all the horror stories about contractions being merely "uncomfortable" until your water is broken and then they are straight from the Pit! Or, my mom's tale of T's birth where the doctor broke her water and her cord prolapsed...requiring an emergency c section. Either way, I was silently praying that he wouldn't need to! At that point I realized just how HUNGRY I was...I was starving! So, we ordered me a clear liquids tray of delicious broth...haha, and gingerale. It did have its saving grace, Italian ice in strawberry flavor. Yum. Definitely a bright light in a dark room. I ordered Lou a regular tray and we ate as I stood rocking back and forth to try and help contractions become stronger. Poor Lou, right as he put the first bite of omelet into his mouth, my water broke! It was such a strange feeling, followed by the relief that Dr. Kacenga wouldn't be needed for that part. :) Lou is a trooper, its a good thing his stomach is made of iron as most folks would promptly throw away their breakfast and stay Kermit green for a while. He manfully ate every bite! LOL At that point Dr. Kacenga arrived to check my progress-did I mention that those exams make me want to climb backwards up and off the bed? Its a universal feeling, I believe. The bad news was that I was unchanged from Monday in the office..still 1.5 cm and 40% effaced. He gave me some encouragement and headed out, then my nurse came back, offering me a birthing ball to use at the bedside. The contractions had started becoming more and more uncomfortable at this point so I was glad to try it out and I definitely am a fan of birthing balls now. The only problem with my case was my amniotic fluid. My close friends know that I've carried a water bottle with me since early pregnancy and drink massive amounts (for me, as I don't really like water) of water throughout the day in order to stay hydrated. The high measurement for amniotic fluid on ultrasound is 20 and when they did my ultrasound at 40 weeks I had 17...which explains why Anjuli could bounce around inside so freely for so long! This massive amount of fluid resulted in gushing every time I had a contraction...which meant that Lou ran back and forth getting towels and replacing the ones I had around the ball every 2 minutes-because that's how often the contractions were now. They began getting really painful and I was deep breathing, praying, and moaning...then they picked up and became even closer, every 1-1 1/2 minutes. My amniotic fluid saturated at least 5 hospital towels and it was still coming when I got incredibly sick and ended up in the bathroom...at the same time I started vomiting not just the clear liquids from the morning's tray but also food from the previous night. It was quite the scene. I knew it was coming so I was able to have Lou grab the blue upchuck bags from their spot and didn't entirely make a mess...but my body felt as though it had completely lost control of all functions. I remember sitting in the bathroom clutching Lou's hands and praying that I would survive another contraction! Whew, quite the drama! When the nurse checked on me, we asked her about the bloody show we were seeing-it seemed like quite a bit. No, let me re-phrase that, Lou asked her about it as I was fighting my way through contractions and groaning. From the short walk to bedside from the bathroom I had two and I couldn't seem to catch my breath long enough before another one hit. She turned the Pitocin down and said that they were coming one on top of another so a little too close together for comfort. At that point, she checked me and TaDa! All that pain and suffering was the result of lots of change-I had gone from 1.5/40% at 0730 am to 4.5cm/100% effaced at 1000. I was glad, but it didn't change the fact that I thought I was dying, literally. I've never experienced pain in that way, where my body started cleansing me of everything I had put it in in the last 24 hours! During the check, I vomited again and she asked me,"Are you sure you don't want the epidural? I just want to offer it again." Frankly, I couldn't see myself surviving at this point. Dr. Kacenga and the nurse both seemed to think my labor as a first time mom would be at least 14-16 hours with the induction and it had been only 4...so my brain kept saying "you're only 1/4 of the way through at most". Ahhhhh! I was breathing through the contractions but I didn't feel in control either mentally or physiologically. On the other hand, I really had wanted to attempt it without the epidural and I felt guilty for "caving in" to my weakness. I asked Lou, I remember crying and telling him that folks would be disappointed in me (think there was some crazy pain induced thought process going on there, lol :)) and he assured me that no one would mind, that he felt it would be a good thing for me to have it and not be in such pain. So, I was like,"Yes, I'll take it" and the anesthesiologist popped in 5 minutes later to start it. Those 5 minutes seemed eternity, with 2 more contractions....in fact, I have to say that I felt absolutely no anxiety or pain during the epidural placement (although Lou was in shock about the needle cannula length...he still talks about!) because the pain of the contractions was overwhelming everything else. Once he placed it, it took 15 minutes or so and then....euphoria. I've never felt that before! It was like going from dying slowly and painfully to warm numb drowsiness. Lou said that is when I started talking and smiling again.....and I'm sure he's right. I was disappointed I couldn't continue without it until I had it, it ran beautifully and I lay back and relaxed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hot mess- right after the epidural was placed!</td></tr>
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We sat and talked, then Lou turned on HGTV's "Love It Or List It" and we laughed about the owners of the "un-liveable (in their minds) homes" as they complained about the color of a room's wall, or exclaimed that they "couldn't live here, we need at LEAST 5 bedrooms and 4 baths and this home is just too small" of the 4,000 square foot dwellings they were shown. We wondered aloud what they would think of our 1400 sq. ft Fort Huachuca house with its leaking drains, linoleum tile over concrete in EVERY room, drain roaches and concrete exterior walls that make it almost impossible to decorate! :) I'm afraid we had very little sympathy for the dis-satisfied show participants. At noon, my nurse re-checked me and I had progressed to 8cm! At 10cm you're allowed to start pushing so she was optimistic I would be delivered much earlier than expected. Yay! It was so difficult to imagine being a mommy at that point. I had so much excitement but it still felt so unreal that this child who had spent the last 9 months inside me would be meeting me, today! I kept speculating on who she would look like, whether she would have hair? (I was bald when I was born) Lou assured me she'd be beautiful! (And he was right, she is!)<br />
At 3pm I was 10cm and began the pushing process. I was numb from the waist down due to the epidural but I could still center my pushing somewhat...I asked my nurse for a mirror to be able to push effectively and that helped me tremendously. We did several pushes through the contractions and then she called Dr. Kacenga to come from his office, which is just a few blocks away. He arrived close to 330pm and while he gowned and gloved we continued, Lou supporting me on one side and my nurse on the other. It was a strange feeling to be at that stage of the labor, wondering if I was "doing it right" and the excitement building as she moved down the birth canal. And then, she was there! Her head was showing and Lou said,"Kim, she has hair!" so I reached down and felt her little fuzzy head...I think that threw me into overdrive...I just wanted her out! She arrived- at 346pm, covered in vernix and goopy-ness....and I babbled, "Here, lemme have her, lemme have her!!!" I remember grabbing at her and Dr. Kacenga and the resident laughing at me as I wouldn't let her go....I never thought I'd be that anxious to hold an unwashed newly born baby (I thought perhaps I would want her cleaned up first?) but it didn't matter a bit at the moment that she was covered in gunk, I just wanted her in my arms and to see her, for the first time! She was beautiful, angry and screaming!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">30 seconds after she was born!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonderful new life shared together!</td></tr>
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Just beautiful! Up to that point (since we hadn't had a 3/4D ultrasound) our last ultrasound had been for fluid check only so I wasn't sure what she looked like...just a vague outline from our 24 week one. I can't get enough of her! She's this amazing little bundle of joy from the Lord and I can't imagine anything better than having her as our own!<br />
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She weighed in at 7 lbs. 9 oz and is very long, 20.5". Lou cut the umbilical cord. :) Her apgars were excellent, 9/9.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So unhappy with us! :)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I had some tearing (2nd degree) from delivery but all in all I'm so thrilled with how everything went, the nursing staff at the hospital was so good to me, I started taking the Ibuprofen/Vicodin Dr. Kacenga prescribed that evening in order to pre-medicate before the pain became severe...it seemed to work super well and I've been very sore at times during the healing process but its not unbearable. They took my iv/epidural out after delivery, let me get up through the night and feed her on demand. She spent the night rooming in with us and I hated to let her go out of my sight, even for the pediatrician's exam. :) I was exhausted though after delivery and the adrenaline wore off! I took this picture just to remind myself of how zoned out I was that night! It makes me laugh. :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nurse said my heartrate went into the 130s when I delivered and stayed there for half an hour so once it dropped, I felt like I'd just run a marathon!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I was released home the following evening after we successfully had the requisite number of dirty/wet diapers and her nursing was going well. :)<br />
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I've been here ever since getting in the groove with our little blessing and feeling better and better each day! I am amazed at how well I feel, how much energy I have!<br />
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Some wonderful changes for me involve: more sleep (shocking, I know, with a newborn-but before her birth I was getting less than 4 hours a night), being able to eat anything and everything without having reflux and heartburn, walking without pain, no more trips to the bathroom every 15 minutes! Its amazing! I love it, and her!<br />
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:) Lou and I spend an inordinate amount of time admiring her,"Isn't she beautiful? Yes dear. She's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!" :) Thank you all for prayers throughout this process, for praying back when Anjuli was only a name in a novel, through the infertility treatments, through the pregnancy and now for her healthy birth! We can't wait to share her with you all on our visits home, our little blessing!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Growing every day-her favorite sleeping pose after a morning feeding!</td></tr>
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PS- This blog will now be dedicated to all things baby Anjuli, lol. Seriously, be prepared for a lot of that but also I plan to keep you updated on our lives in general and where the army takes us next. :)Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-56599198010653331352013-04-07T01:28:00.000-04:002013-04-07T01:32:45.345-04:00Forty + (Almost) Free Food!Hi there friends! So today is Saturday, its 9:30pm in Arizona time (we're 3 hours earlier than EST) and this is not a birth announcement. :) Anjuli's due date came and went uneventfully, at my 40 week appointment on Wednesday they were pleased that everything is looking good and she is continuing to be her active self, but wanted to begin non-stress tests twice a week to monitor her activity, schedule my next appointment for Monday, and then begin talk of an induction.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of those dreadful self portraits...but Lou had a full class schedule on my due date. :) 40 weeks</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">!</td></tr>
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I was disappointed to find that I haven't dilated or effaced more (1cm and 50%) since my 38 week exam but she is considerably lower so progress is being made. I went in to our little hospital on Thursday for the non stress test which consists of being hooked up to two monitors for an hour-one that measures Baby A's heartrate and the other that shows both movement and contractions. I had spent most of the morning in bed after getting very little sleep, so my contractions were few and far between. Anjuli is amazingly active, and her heartrate stays around 140 when she's chilling but as she moves it elevates to the 180s...which like I said, is a lot! No wonder I feel drained at times of all energy! There's plenty of amniotic fluid around her and she's still a girl, according to the ultrasound. :) Just has to finish her cooking time.....<br />
I have been fluctuating between, "I must rest up for labor" and "I must get this baby born" for the past few weeks...so some days I have amazing amounts of energy and others its a struggle to get the basic daily tasks done. Last night I had some very restful sleep- I discovered if I play my "Fernando Ortega" Pandora station on my phone and place it next to my belly, Anjuli jumps up and down on my bladder for the first 10 minutes but after that it seems to put her to sleep. Amazingly wonderful discovery after quite a few restless nights! (She lives off her own special version of in-utero '8 Hour Energy' starting at 11pm, I've decided. :)) So, I have done that for the last two nights and gotten at least 5 hours of sleep. This morning I was energized and rested enough to head out to the "Market on the Move" here on post. It was the first time it has been organized here in the area and I was curious to see the results, as they said that they had over 36,000 lbs of produce donated. :) They advertised "60 lbs of produce for $10", so my two (also very 8+ months' pregnant) friends/neighbors Lindsay and Sarah joined me in my Saturday morning quest. :) There were hundreds of folks standing in line when we arrived to the site and we ended up waiting for a little over an hour but we spent that time chatting about: Bar vs Bat Mitzvahs, chick flicks, pregnancy massages, Walmart bikes, Alaskan geography....etc etc etc and the time went by fairly quickly. :) At the front of the line, we were handed a poker chip token to cash in-showing that we were paying customers, two large fruit boxes and directed to one of five different table lines. The produce available was vegetables only but they had an ample selection of cucumbers, peppers, summer squash, zucchini, tomatoes and I ended up bringing home these two boxes full to process.<br />
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In the meantime I had some of those breathtaking contractions start. Whew....they do take your breath away! This is it....I hoped! So, I got home with my loot and began processing, determined to stay on my feet and keep them going, but also get all my vegetables blanched and frozen for meals later on....just so they wouldn't rot as I lay in the hospital.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peeling tomatoes after blanching for freezing-assembly line!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished! Whew....plenty of good stuff for Lou's future dinners. :)</td></tr>
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The contractions lasted for the next 2 1/2 hours and then abruptly stopped...which by that time I was grateful for. So much for that! That left me with only one option-NAP. And I took advantage of it. :) Meanwhile, in North Carolina my sister in law Christie was laboring and had her baby, a little boy named Thomas James! (Tommy for short). He has a full head of hair and is 7 lbs, 11oz at 37 weeks!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tommy with daddy Jim, look at that beautiful hair!</td></tr>
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I'm wondering how much bigger Anjuli will get in these remaining days....as I have started craving carbs like nothing I experienced earlier in the year! My sweet friend Mikki sabotaged all good nutritionally healthy eating intentions with this stash of Wawa goodies that arrived in a care package yesterday from Kentucky!<br />
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How can I resist all this Tastykake goodness at my fingertips! Hopefully I haven't added an extra lb to Anjuli's weight with my lack of self control, lol. <br />
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I finished this little sign to hang over her crib and although we still need to put it up....I'll be more than glad to postpone that task for a ride to the hospital instead. :) Lou keeps saying,"Just let me know when your water breaks, ok?" And I will, I assure him!<br />
Hope you all have a restful weekend and beautiful Sunday of worship! We haven't been able to get out to church for some time but we are enjoying listening to <a href="http://www.sermonaudio.com/source_detail.asp?sourceid=redeemer" target="_blank">Redeemer Church Blacksburg's</a> online sermons each Sunday, what a blessing modern technology can be when utilized wisely. :) Hope to be updating this again soon with lots of pictures of sweet baby redness! Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-61150355665447173852013-04-03T04:29:00.000-04:002013-04-03T04:29:19.279-04:00The Waiting GameNormally I pride myself on my patience...that is, my outward patience. I have decided that I'm actually not a patient person but I'm good at faking it most days. Like when I'm at the grocery store and the clerk decides to inspect and comment on each item I place on the belt....What I'm not good at faking is patience over Anjuli's impending arrival. If I knew a day...I could patiently wait, right? But each day starts with,"Boy, I feel terrible" or "Boy, I feel great!".....followed by,"What if this is it?" I've had a lot of those lately and I think Lou is more than humanly patient because he gets to listen to all my hormone crazed reasoning over why or why not I'm in early labor, pre-labor, maybe going to have labor???? pretty much throughout each day, at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Due date is Wednesday the 3rd, today is April 1st and I've been having contractions throughout the day, but not regularly. This makes me excited! My friend Lindsay and I walked this morning (she's 3 weeks behind me in her pregnancy) for 2 miles and I was psyched because I ached from back to front and back again...only time in my life that I get excited about hurting so badly! No baby in sight yet...but the night is young, haha! When I saw the doctor 2 weeks ago I was a centimeter dilated and 50% effaced but my next appointment is Wednesday and I feel like she's been moving lower and lower down each day. She was head down and snugly planted but you'd never guess that from the kicking and acrobatics that go on non-stop!<br />
Last week we got the "slate" with the list of next duty stations after graduation. Lou's graduation from Military Intelligence Captains Career Course is May 31st and the slate basically gives the students 20-30 different assignment possibilities at various forts in the US and overseas. You choose your "top ten" choices and explain why you're requesting them in the paperwork submitted to the branch manager. Just because you want a location doesn't guarantee that you will be assigned there....or even anywhere in your top ten. It really depends on the army's needs and your perceived skills....plus some random who knows what thrown in to make it interesting, lol. Our slate was pretty dismal by most standards....with overseas assignments being all in Korea. The CONUS (continental united states) stations ranged from Ft. Drum in NY to Ft. Richardson in AK! We were supposed to hear back about our assignment on Friday, but since it was Good Friday no ones' hopes were too high. The army tends to give out information that changes from one briefing to the next.....and the only constant in our lives is that nothing is constant. :) Instead, the assignments came out today and we will be staying at Fort Huachuca until December! Lou had requested a class after graduation in order to allow for Anjuli to be older during our next move...and they assigned him to a Military Counter Intelligence course which runs from July-December 2013. This will be good for his resume and career goals, but it will mean a very WARM summer for us. :) Fortunately, unlike Kentucky the humidity is next to nil so it will probably feel cooler than summer 2012 was! So, what this means as far as our next assignment??? We probably won't know where we're headed next until November. And that's ok. <br />
So....that's the latest on our little family..for tonight. Tomorrow there might be big news, but until then....... we wait. :)<br />
Update: this is the next day (Tuesday)... Well, today was almost an exact opposite of yesterday. I woke up with plans to walk, go to Bible study and clean out the refrigerator in prep for Lou's weekly shopping trip. Its been great to make a list and hand it over, knowing that he will be back in less than an hour from the commissary. Man on a mission, let me tell you! Instead, I barely climbed out of bed in time to throw together breakfast, began crying at the breakfast table, and ended up spending most of my morning lying in a lawn chair in our enclosed courtyard, trying to sleep through contractions. Lou's idea...he knows how much I love the sun and usually its a winner. Today everything hurt so much and I was so exhausted I couldn't focus on even the basics. I ended up showering and crawling back into bed at 11am, only to wake up at 5:30 with stronger contractions. I also had this overwhelming craving for fried chicken, even though I know,"Eat light if you think you're in labor" is one of the 5 basic labor rules. Lou ran out to Burger King, which is less than 3 blocks away and brought back those "crazy bad for you" but delicious chicken strips, fries and a coke. I don't know if it was a mixture of hormones and pain from contractions or just pure hunger after not having eaten today, but I was a hysterical mess tonight. Sobbing about the house being dirty, being in pain, not being able to eat without getting nauseated, not having done anything all day, not having any makeup on or my hair fixed, failing to answer friends' text messages....you name it, I cried about it. I'm so blessed to have Lou here for me, in spite of my craziness he holds me and assures me that he loves me just the same...and that can do a lot for a pregnant woman's morale. :) That and chicken from Burger King. These contractions have been frustrating because I can't seem to time them. There's no tidy "oh, its starting" moment, only a "I can't breathe" feeling at some point followed by "wait a minute, I can breathe again" realization later on. I can't tell by pressing my abdomen because (not to brag) the doctor affirmed my conviction that I have really hard abdominal muscles in general...so they always feel hard. Before I got pregnant my stomach was the flat part of my body, nice and toned unlike most of the rest of me, though through no virtue or dedicated exercises of my own. Now, it remains rock hard even though its 12" wider than it was pre-pregnancy. All this to say that I spent most of tonight walking back and forth through the house, deep breathing, and then at 10pm was seized with an urgent need to clean the bathrooms and mop the floors. And yes, I did it. And then the contractions stopped. So.....the bathrooms look sparkling clean now, which is nice because part of my crying session was related to our staying in this house for another 8 months. It IS a good thing to be staying until December, but the realities of the old housing aren't glamorous. There's no regulation of heat/cold, no insulation, the paint is 15-20 layers' thick with peeling at every seam/doorway/window, the floors are stained and chipped plastic tile, impossible to keep clean, all the exterior walls are concrete and make decorating a challenge, and the cockroaches in Arizona are drain roaches, which means that unless you pour bleach down all the drains and close them each night....you're going to see roaches. These aren't insurmountable challenges, but with the door closed to our leaving in June/July for new horizons and a new duty station, today they seemed so. <br />
Anyway friends, I know you have been wondering and emailing about Baby Girl...so I thought I'd update the blog before the big event occurred, just to let you know it hasn't happened yet! Lord willing, we'll be holding Anjuli by the end of this week as I'm very ready to meet her and also be un-pregnant. :)<br />
Love,<br />
KimKim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-49133030390272377562013-03-10T20:44:00.001-04:002013-03-10T20:44:45.473-04:00Precious MemoriesOur photos came back this week and I'm so happy we decided to capture this special time on camera with neither of us behind the lens! Our photographer Cailin of Cailin Powell Photography did such a beautiful job, you'd never guess it was 50 degrees and a "blustery windy day"...it looks idyllic in the photos. We are less than 5 minutes from our little house on post, with a glimpse of the Huachuca Mountains in several of the pictures. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sunlight filtered through beautifully in these shots!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorites!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one is so special too, although its hard to choose a favorite!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A for Anjuli- A little wall hanging I made of paper roses</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy holding the matching baby shoes-love the contrast between his big capable hands and these tiny things!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1fYFfjO7Kd_I8wINeVq7OSBaVb7H_7JF8pP_HI1oFnu51tWa3yYeZ-JNLQ9m1xnG4CcVtCa3diOR_f-T8v4KGxGZEyKrRwbF53HxXh2FOQmmTocguGv2UjQsvLxSdaZPQ8Q0Uv_mOx0/s1600/CPP_8026-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1fYFfjO7Kd_I8wINeVq7OSBaVb7H_7JF8pP_HI1oFnu51tWa3yYeZ-JNLQ9m1xnG4CcVtCa3diOR_f-T8v4KGxGZEyKrRwbF53HxXh2FOQmmTocguGv2UjQsvLxSdaZPQ8Q0Uv_mOx0/s320/CPP_8026-Edit.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goofing off as we hold our own baby pictures up-who will Anjuli resemble?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found this dress at the local Goodwill, its not a maternity dress but I fell in love with it! The necklace is a combination of my late grandma's costume jewelry brooch and the necklace I wore on our wedding day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the props we used because of their significance-both the Messers and Crists enjoy a good game of Scrabble! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anjuli at her last ultrasound shortly after we arrived to Fort Huachuca, Arizona</td></tr>
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Hope you enjoyed the slide show! :)<br />
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<br />Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-27149063275404827272013-02-28T12:12:00.002-05:002013-02-28T12:12:44.953-05:00"All My Days"I have had Psalm 139:16 on my mind much this week. Its beautiful, encouraging, and strangely enough, something that I need to be reminded of often! :) The NIV puts it this way,"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Just the idea that every single episode in my life has been planned and thought out by God before I was even in this world...wow! I had read it before and loved the wording, even thought about having it in Anjuli's nursery as there were so many "steps" we took prior to becoming pregnant with her...and yet how not a one of them was a surprise to the Lord. Oddly enough, I read it again this week in my Bible study book in reference to our worry/anxiety about our situations, just focusing on whether we are really trusting the Lord in everything understanding that he already is in control...or are we careless in the way we (read I) dismiss our tendency to worry worry worry....by considering it a special virtue,"I'm a planner...I'm just a perfectionist" etc etc. It was good for me to read! (PS. The 2nd from last sentence is a "Pauline" sentence...over 40 words. lol) <br />
Life is full of the unexpected. A Virginia friend died Thursday morning unexpectedly. We hadn't "talked" in over a year but she was one of those friends that you don't have to talk to weekly in order to feel that closeness. I still remember our little visits, how she encouraged me in my walk with the Lord, how she always brought a life and energy to the conversation that was wholly Christ focused. She didn't just have that energy with talk, she was full of it when it came to action as well...we put together a "<a href="http://wizzley.com/fun-italian-dinner/" target="_blank">foreign language dinner</a>" for the homeschool teens one year and planning/executing it was such a blast with her! She was quite a bit older than me and I used to shuttle her sons and my brothers to different events, usually ending up visiting with her at the tail end of chauffeuring or pick up. She was a beautiful Christian woman who loved people and her family and it showed in her life and conversation. I know that she is rejoicing in the Lord now, but I ache for her family, losing such a precious gift in a mother and wife.<br />
I wasn't feeling super well last week but Thursday morning I felt particularly bad. I told Lou I felt crampy and achy all over, almost as though I was flu-sick. I spent the morning at the house and then at 1 went to a friend's across the street for our weekly "juicing" date. In the midst of crafting talk we decided to run over to the post thrift store and look for baby boy themed receiving blankets. We rented a table at a craft fair the 2nd Saturday in March so we've been making little all things baby projects for the past couple of weeks, just for fun mainly. :) I felt worse as the afternoon went, so I went home to lie down and rest around 3:30 and discovered that I was bleeding. I haven't had any problems this pregnancy with that so I called the doctor's office and explained the situation, was told to go to the hospital for monitoring immediately. Providentially, Lou came home from classes right as I was texting him and he drove me over. I had to laugh later as I looked at my "hospital bag" I scatteredly packed in those 5 minutes. Pajamas, socks and Bible were the only things that made it into it....no contact solution, shower supplies, etc....this whole "hospital bag" prep is something I'll need to get together soon! Anyways, long story short, they put me on the monitor and asked me if I was in pain, I said,"Well, I always have some pain so I'm uncomfortable but its been that way for a while now." And then they told me I was contracting every 1-2 minutes! Yikes! I felt yucky, like I said, but my contractions apparently are more of a "lower back ache, shortness of breath, cramping" kind than that whole "your stomach gets rock hard" indicator. They ran tests and did an ultrasound that showed Anjuli happily playing away inside! She was shaking her little fists up by her head and kicking as usual, praise the Lord. After that I felt much more relaxed inside, just reassured by the heartbeat sound on the monitor and her movement. The ultrasound showed no problems with the placenta and its not near the cervix so they weren't able to definitely state a cause for the sudden bleeding. They kept me until Friday afternoon, gave me lots of fluid...just enough to swell my fingers and toes nicely...and sent me home on semi-bedrest with Procardia for the contractions. I was only having 3-4 an hour when they discharged me, and over the weekend I spent much of my life on the couch. I can be up for 20-30 minutes on my feet before they kick in strongly and so I have been getting up for: meal cooking, shower, minor cleaning, laundry switches, and doctor appointments. :) Lou has taken over the grocery shopping and much of the tidying/cleaning around the house. Its so good to have him to rely on, even though I chafe at times at not being able to do these things.<br />
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I spent my weekend making strawberry lavender sachets out of a stained vintage quilt top I bought in Kentucky at an auction for $7. I love re-purposing vintage material, it seems such a waste to not use it and what fun patterns!<br />
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Tiny strawberry tops took patience....two for each strawberry. Since I had a LOT of couch time, I made 40 of these little fragrant fruits!<br />
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Yesterday at my appointment my doc said he would allow me to stay home as long as I paced myself and continued along the same as the weekend. Normally I don't think it would be as big of a deal but the hospital for "complicated pregnancies" is 90 minutes' away in Tucson and many of the doctors send their moms there if they are having early issues-before 36 weeks. Really praying I won't have to go to Tucson. :) I feel very comfortable with my doctor and his willingness to work with me is reassuring through these little bumps and surprises. He is keeping me on the Procardia but said I can discontinue it next week when I'm 36 weeks' along as they won't be worried about me/Anjuli's health at that time even if I deliver. I'm glad, I had wanted to try my "gentle birth" formula my sister in law Christie recommended but I wasn't planning to take it alongside a medication so I can still start it next week and he's fine with it. He said,"Gentle Birth...who wouldn't want to try it out with a name like that?" :) <br />
So, I'm working from the couch a lot! Ebay listing from a Rubbermaid tub of clothing I had photographed several weeks back, crafting for the little show....thinking about last minute things I need to buy ie. order online to be ready for Anjuli, its all coming faster and faster!<br />
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Just had to toss in this photo of the magnificent changing table Lou built-has a little spot for the changing pad and extra diapers and wet wipes as well. Just beautiful!</div>
Lou has been granted 3 days' leave when I deliver so we're trying to coordinate plans, as Mom, Dad, Jess and Corrie are planning to drive their RV across country to see us and their little granddaughter! Baby due dates, definitely not a set thing! :) Actually, no dates are set in our lives.....really. We should be given a list to fill out of our "top requests" for next duty station assignment, originally it was to be in late Feb/early March I believe? Now with changes to the war in Afghanistan and other personnel adjustments the assignments aren't being announced until April, the end of April from what we hear. Lou graduates from the Military Intelligence Captain's Career Course at the end of May so that gives us maybe a month to coordinate packing/moving plans, etc. It should make for a busy time, especially with "little girl" in the picture now! I'm sure it will come together as it always does, and its just another reason to remind myself,"All my days........." :)<br />
Lou has almost finished the crib, its a beautiful piece of work and he spent a lot of time contemplating the best way to assemble it in order to make it function as a "co-sleeper" as well.<br />
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The entire front side is removable and it adjusts to our bed height, so we can attach it to the mattress and have a little "cage" for Anjuli during the night...I keep telling him it reminds me of our Fisher Price circus train lion cage...in a good way, of course! :)<br />
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He takes it all in stride...of course...just like our hospital stay, when the nurse was placing my iv and he said with a serious expression,"One thing I'm concerned about, will she be out in time to make dinner tonight?" I love this guy, even though he is a stinker! :) He knows just how to get a rise out of me and he loves to wait for the reaction...my nickname these days is,"Little Miss Fat Belly" only because 99% of the people in my life see me and say,"Wow, you're tiny!" (The other 1% say,"Wow, you're really waddling!") He says its helps to balance my perception since being a first time mom I want to look pregnant...and also it serves as a term of endearment. This is the same man who calls his little sister "Fatness" and his brother "Toots", so I'm feeling the love. ;) He makes me laugh every day, inadvertently or intentionally. For instance, 2 days ago I FINALLY washed our hall bathroom rug...I normally take it outside and beat it against the cinder block wall to get the sawdust/debris out of it. That day I washed it and hung it to dry, then put it back in the bathroom late at night. The next morning he went into the bathroom and exclaimed,"Ooooh, I like this new rug! This is nice and fluffy!" Heehee, I had to tell him that no, it actually wasn't new but simply spanking clean for a change. When we package Ebay clothing for shipment he inputs the weight/prints the labels while I fold and and put each piece in the right size mailer. In order to cross check that we're sending out the right item (since we have 450 pieces of inventory) I have him read the description from the "sold" section...and invariably he reads,"Secret Service" in lieu of the "s/s" I use to abbreviate a "short sleeved" item. He does that intentionally! Like I said, he keeps me laughing every day!<br />
Our photographer texted me that the maternity pictures should be finished sometime this week so next post will be unlike any other of mine....no words, just photos! :) Well, I probably shouldn't promise that but it won't be as wordy, I'm sure.<br />
God bless you during this week!<br />
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PS. We're still guessing as to who Anjuli will favor...:)Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-64993161833420860302013-02-13T11:04:00.003-05:002013-02-13T14:28:46.046-05:00"Oh Marilla, Such a Jonah Day"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ever have one of those days where you feel like you're taking a ride on Anne Shirley's rollercoaster? Yesterday was one for me, and they so rarely happen that it caught me by surprise when at 3pm I was on the verge of tears from frustration. Yes, I do cry a lot these days...and normally its over puppies, sad stories and movies, but today it would have been a,"I want to smash a lot of things" kind of cry. It didn't start out that way. It was a good morning, one of those rare Arizona snow days.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from my kitchen window...before the night's worth of snow had fallen! </td></tr>
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Monday afternoon it began snowing and it continued through the night, beautiful and cold. By 0430 am Fort Huachuca's post page on Facebook announced a late start at 10am and PWOC was cancelled. I've been going to PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel) since the "semester" started in January. Its my first experience with them, at Fort Knox my day at the pregnancy center conflicted with their meeting times. Now that we're here and I have more free time, I really wanted to be involved in a womens' study and meet fellow Christian army wives in our short stay at Huachuca. I'm so glad I did, we are working through a study by Jerry Bridges on "Respectable Sins" at the moment, and with the dozen women in my small group its been just so good to read, have to think through and deal honestly with the questions he brings up. Wow, you'd think I'd be even more sanctified than normal since I'm in Bible study, and not have bad days, right? Haha! <br />
In the morning, I processed 10 lbs of London Broil. I've been finding it at our Safeway on a tremendous sale every couple of weeks, 2.50 a lb if you buy it in bulk so the last time I exuberantly purchased 20 lbs of meat....only to realize that I MUST process and divide it into meal portions....quickly! It is a wonderful meat though, very lean and scorned by sophisticated chefs as a lousy tough poor man's choice. I love it! I found an excellent rub recipe, <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/sweet-and-spicy-london-broil-recipe/index.html" target="_blank">Sweet and Spicy London Broil</a> and with a little experimenting got it to a point where after it "settled" for the 10 minutes tented with foil the interior was a delicate pink, perfectly done. I ended up broiling mine (we have a gas oven) for 7-8 minutes on each side as opposed to the 6 mentioned so its something you may need to adjust slightly based on your oven/broiler. I line my pan with aluminum foil and then I have almost NO cleanup. Its great.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Possible combinations arranged, meat beaten with an ice pick, water bottle at hand to continue "hydrating" :)</td></tr>
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I also played around with various marinades....I have one with soy sauce, brown sugar and garlic (its the Cadi Vance special :)) one with lemon slices, brown sugar, vinegar and lots of pepper, a 3rd mixture of vinegar, mustard, orange juice and then a hot and spicy one with Lou's favorite sauce, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sriracha_sauce" target="_blank">"rooster sauce"</a> found in the Asian food aisle, soy sauce, garlic, onion, and a little honey. I also made a chili pepper/cocoa mixture for the first time, so I was excited to get it all done before lunch and still feel human!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love to see the progress in meal planning....even though it can feel like a lot of work at the time!</td></tr>
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I started having those Braxton-Hicks again after I finished washing several loads of laundry and I thought to myself,"I'm overdoing it, I should lie down" but I wanted to finish all my little "goals" for the day so I stubbornly kept moving. I think I'm having them based on what I've read and hear from friends, but sometimes its hard to know. I do know that when they start, my lower back aches unbearably in the same area where I had a back injury in high school....so it can be very tiring.<br />
Goals....Valentines is tomorrow...and this is where I had my "moment". I had carefully packaged and weighed the boxes I planned to send my beautiful nieces and nephews (all 18 of them!) to figure out what would be the most economical way to send their candy and granola. Candy, because I remember the excitement as a kid when I got candy from Grandma for Valentines and Halloween, granola because I didn't want to only rot their teeth on the holidays! I have been dehydrating strawberries for the past several weeks with great success and combined them with our family recipe for granola out of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/From-Gods-Natural-Storehouse-Alternatives/dp/0891918183" target="_blank">From God's Natural Storehouse</a> cookbook. Not only delicious but healthy....relatively speaking. :) Priority vs. priority flat rate vs. Regional Rate A boxes....I got it all figured out, the boxes packed and sealed to the max...labels printed with the correct addresses and they were ready to send, Voila! Lou offered to take them to the post office but I told him it would just take me "a couple minutes" and I didn't want to make him late for class, so off I went...also I had a rendezvous to purchase some burlap from a local Sierra Vista woman. I arrived to the post office and stood in line for 20 minutes, somehow there were 20 people waiting...which is a rare thing. Got to the window and stacked my boxes, breathing a sigh of relief that I still had 10 minutes' grace time! The postal worker looked at the boxes and said,"Oh, we don't mail these anymore...we can only send them based on weight...and these will run you around $18 apiece." Ackkkkk! I'm never a huge fan of mailing boxes but I had carefully researched my options and decided the "Regional Rate A" were the best choice...less costly than flat rate even though they were being sent to the furthest zones from AZ for the most part. She casually said,"Well, you can just slip them into flat rate mailers and re-address them, that shouldn't take long." I'm not sure why today it seemed the end of the world...maybe it was my swelling feet, hurting back, the fact that I'd spent all that time at home packing and re-packing stuff into boxes that would work best...or that I was supposed to meet someone in 10 minutes who was a 5 minute drive away...and had stood in line 20 minutes prior to this, but it was a huge deal inside. I had many things I wished to say that could not and should not be said. I amaze myself sometimes with how uncharitable I can be inside...while maintaining a semblance of composure on the outside. I'm a good hypocrite! Reading Bridges' book is making me more aware of those moments when I want to jump up and down and shout, and how God is still hard at work in my life...and that's a really good thing! So, I took the boxes back out to the car since I was out of time, slowly began backing out of my parking spot only to have the woman beside me also start backing out, unaware that I was halfway behind her....in fact she would have backed into me but I managed to honk my horn! Long story short, I purchased the burlap, ran back to the post office, relabeled, taped and repackaged the boxes...stood in line and shipped them...and they should be there by Valentines. It all sounds so simple and uncomplicated when I type it out, and downright silly to be angry. And it is. Its funny how little things can affect me so much at times. I wonder if some of it is hormones and yet I suspect that a great deal of it is my sin nature. I'm thankful that God is much more patient with me than I am with people at times! <br />
I have to say that my day ended with a lovely little surprise, my mom sent me a text that sent me into tears with the words "long distance baby shower" and this photo attached.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awwww....love this pretty stuff!</td></tr>
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I had been talking to her earlier about needing to find more 0-3 month baby clothing before Anjuli arrives and she took it upon herself to put together this beautiful layette for me. My mom has amazing baby clothing shopping "skills"! I can't wait to see our little girl wearing all this lovely pink girly clothing....and of course I'm a huge fan of the little sailor dress. :) I'm 33 weeks today and feeling more and more "bigger" each day.<br />
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Lou took me to the gym for several swimming lessons and the feeling in the water is wonderful, weightless compared to my norm. I am finally learning how to swim, its good to get over my fear of drowning.....because prior to this Lou said that my only goal in water seemed to be "not to drown" instead of actually propelling myself effectively towards the opposite end of the pool. He is a very patient instructor. :) <br />
Lou is almost finished with the changing table/dresser he built-just putting some last coats of paint on the drawers.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The humble beginnings...it will have 3 large side mounted drawers and the top is built to drop the pad inside, as well as hold diaper wipes, etc. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st coated and sitting outside our kitchen door so the oil based paint fumes won't fill the house! </td></tr>
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Next he's going to start the "crib project", and he says its none too soon.....time is flying by and she'll be here! We're having a little photo session on Sunday afternoon with a local photographer, and I made these little things to incorporate into one or several of the photos.<br />
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We're having them taken in a canyon nearby with some excellent views of the mountains so it will be a fun time, I'm sure! Can't wait to share them with you all!<br />
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<br />Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-10688764604149865832013-02-04T02:02:00.000-05:002013-02-04T14:54:54.300-05:00Finding The Balance Between KidHistory 6 & Jack LalanneOne of my all time favorite Youtube videos has to be <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh0NLQJfAYU" target="_blank">"KidHistory #6"</a>, friends introduced us to the whole "KidHistory" series and Lou and I cried laughing watching this particular one, it brought back a lot of "growing up" memories for Lou. We had to share it with Mom Crist and the family because most of the nutritional drinks/foods shown in the movie Mom either made or makes and her boys are not slow to voice their disapproval of "health food". Once Mom was adhering to the George Malkmus "Hallelujah" diet in an attempt to improve her health and the menfolk in the house all started demanding "dead food"...meaning meat, instead of the "live food" salads and vegetables she was giving them. So, it will come as a surprise to many folks who know how Lou prizes his meals that we started eating "live food" by choice here in the last month! We've been trying to eat healthier these days... we didn't consciously start 2013 with that as one of our "resolutions", in fact we're not resolution makers as a general rule. It started back in the fall with me integrating more vegetables and fruits into our diet in an attempt to keep my digestive system working. Sad fact is, the "Canfield stomach" is a legend in our family (my mom's side of the family) and we attribute most of our stomach problems, digestive problems, gallbladder issues to this catch-all phrase "Canfield stomach". :) It covers all the fun things like irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, reflux, gallbladder flare ups, constipation, etc. I have my own share of these delightful issues and hopefully will not shock you all when I tell you that since becoming pregnant I've had to take medicines to "normalize" my system...in fact, it tends to completely shut down with any length of road trip, plane flight, restaurant food....which doesn't sound like a big deal, but can be incredibly uncomfortable and make one feel like a nursing home resident, daily emphasis being on elimination! There, now that the nurse is speaking....hopefully I haven't grossed you out too much but it provides a background into why changing my diet became a thing of paramount importance. :)<br />
I had been reading a lot on integrating dietary fiber, switched to eating lots of oatmeal, fiber filled vegetables and purchasing foods based solely on fiber amounts listed, and still it was ineffective. I began drinking water in large quantities, from morning til night and even having a 16oz bottle by the bedside that I would down by morning...still no consistent results. I would tell Lou,"Oh, this says it has 25% of my daily fiber intake, this should be great for me!" only to have him tease me,"Yes Kim, but the normal person's daily requirement is 1/10th of yours...." and sadly enough, it seemed all too true. :)<br />
We have a Netflix subscription and saw the movie "Hungry for Change" listed as a suggestion after finishing "Freaky Eaters". Our movie tastes tend to be incredibly eclectic, as we're watching "Construction Intervention", "Dr. Who" and "Undercover Boss: Canada" at the moment, but we gravitate towards documentaries, mysteries and fix it upper shows as a general rule, with some blood and guts military/spy thrillers thrown in randomly! Anyways, "Hungry for Change" was intriguing to us, we don't buy things/theories simply because we watch them but it brought up some good points as far as pre-packaged food is concerned and we decided then to start eating even more "live foods" to see if it helped us increase energy/overall feel. From that movie we saw several of the people interviewed had been in the documentary "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" and decided to watch it as well. I enjoyed it immensely, and while Joe Cross obviously went all out in his attempt to regain his health, it was encouraging to see his protegee, Phil Staples, a normal man with serious health problems also become so dedicated to restoring his health that he stuck with the juicing diet! If you haven't seen the film, its truly amazing because Joe does his 60 day juice fast while traveling through some of America's best food cities....I watched him walk down the streets of NYC past pizza joints, doughnut shops, he is a man with incredible will power! Check out this <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/joe-cross-fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-2013-1?op=1" target="_blank">site</a> for a synopsis, or better still, watch the movie for free on Hulu.com! :) It makes me laugh now to hear myself and Lou talk about juicing because if you didn't know us, you'd think we were those folks that buy into every new invention/diet idea......we're not. However, we started talking about Joe's metabolic and physical changes brought about and just how remarkable it was. I said,"Lou, what if after Anjuli's birth, once I've recovered we try a little juice fast, maybe just 7-10 days." He came up with the idea of starting something now, on a much more balanced scale, skipping lunch for an entire week and instead juicing. So, we decided to give it a whirl! I printed out a stack of suggestions for juice combinations, which once we tried....several were delicious and some were downright horrible! I bought a combination of vegetables and fruits for juicing: red apples, granny smith, lemons, limes, beets, kale, collards, parsley, cilantro, spinach, cucumbers, carrots, celery, and ginger.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arranging a week's worth of juicing ingredients to make for a smooth assembly line process!</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_1256549947"></span><span id="goog_1256549948"></span>The magic ingredients I consider to be: GINGER and LEMONS/LIMES. You can make almost any drink palatable with the infusion of one or other, plus they are excellent for you. Lou said he would have never thought of the ginger, but he's a huge fan of it now! So, we did it...and we starved the first 2 days, until I decided to introduce a "snack on the side" to go with our lunch juice. Its usually mini sweet peppers or triscuits with hummus, toasted almonds with sea salt, or tortilla chips with homemade salsa/pico de gallo. This helped us tremendously...and by the end of the week Lou lost 5 lbs, mainly around his stomach area. For me, it wasn't about losing weight but gaining some energy during this pregnancy, and oddly enough, even though we juiced and I didn't end up drinking all the "fiber" pulp as a result, by the 3rd day I was completely regulated and was able to stop taking my colace, which I'd been dependent on for the entire pregnancy so far! I also saw a decrease in the swelling in my feet, which had been noticeable since our trip back east over Christmastime. I really saw this as a breakthrough, something that encourages me I'm getting healthier on the inside and as a result will be in better condition when Anjuli arrives! So, I wanted to write this blog post to give you all a heads up on some of the changes we're making and how good it has been for us, its really been a wonderful thing! We didn't want to go all out and change everything about our diet because I feel that switching 100% leads to a short lived exuberance followed by burnout, but in this case I think we're on the right track. Vegetables and fruit can be so expensive, but so is poor health in the end. Its fun to try different varieties of juice combinations, I tend to dislike celery and prior to this the only "juicing drink" I had was a combination of celery, carrots and apples, very sweet and with that celery "zing". Now we're doing a lot of these types of combos:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissfxKrdcgT3IS49iJvHQ4PMUPN8i0C4_Y7kbJLPmb3worBhSCNmukKHQPIUDgSBniKi3pq3dw-1NzdsfRQcDp40sNx8UYuWcLbgkjucvE47cqzUKQWGXfuvdn-2sHDWKqOXLH3l22XPM/s1600/2013-01-27+12.39.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissfxKrdcgT3IS49iJvHQ4PMUPN8i0C4_Y7kbJLPmb3worBhSCNmukKHQPIUDgSBniKi3pq3dw-1NzdsfRQcDp40sNx8UYuWcLbgkjucvE47cqzUKQWGXfuvdn-2sHDWKqOXLH3l22XPM/s320/2013-01-27+12.39.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have a two person process, I wash everything in the right side of the sink and transfer to a bowl on the left after cutting off brown spots, quartering, trimming stems on a small cutting board balanced in the center-then Lou takes it directly to the juicer set up on the left and runs it through. Works well for us with minimal mess!</td></tr>
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Juice for (2) 12 oz glasses:<br />
1 cucumber<br />
2 red apples<br />
5 carrots<br />
1 lemon<br />
5 leafy stems kale<br />
3-4 handfuls spinach<br />
1 stalk celery<br />
We taste it and if it needs a little more sweetness...we add another apple or carrot. If the "green" is not evident we add a few more kale or collard stalks. Collards are actually amazing in juice, they taste nothing like the "southern collards" I remember eating as a kid, bitter and just downright gross!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4cvnkf6-kw-U_AKNqx6CLpoatFaNbQh67WbFn8qBRHN9TL4R9si1nYT2cK_Ntl2fipaNcSESw1avtOYYarDicqZf4o16iUOt3e6VrEunsqjwL9DVxLLhYDL8fG3iKHoNSpK49N1mdus/s1600/2013-01-17+11.57.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4cvnkf6-kw-U_AKNqx6CLpoatFaNbQh67WbFn8qBRHN9TL4R9si1nYT2cK_Ntl2fipaNcSESw1avtOYYarDicqZf4o16iUOt3e6VrEunsqjwL9DVxLLhYDL8fG3iKHoNSpK49N1mdus/s320/2013-01-17+11.57.13.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I know its green...but what else is about it?" Favorite KidHistory quote. :)</td></tr>
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Here are a couple of other recipes we've played with and found to be good:<br />
<b>Carrot-Kale Combo</b><br />
1 Green Apple<br />
3 Handfuls spinach<br />
6-8 Kale Leaves<br />
4 Large Carrots<br />
1 Piece Ginger (thumb sized)<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Green Lemonade</b><br />
1 Green Apple<br />
3 Handfuls Spinach<br />
6-8 Kale Leaves<br />
½ Cucumber<br />
4 Celery Stalks<br />
½ Lemon <br />
You can substitute a thumb size piece of ginger for the citrus in the juice and its a totally different drink. I never peel my lemons/limes, just wash them and quarter them along with the other fruits. We're continuing to juice at our lunchtimes during the week, even if we eat a small meal with it. We've consumed over 4 bags of spinach, 25 stalks of kale, 15 collards, 2 bags of red apples, 2 bags of granny smith apples, 10 lbs of carrots, 10 lemons, 2 limes, 8 cucumbers, ginger, and 2 heads of celery since we started on January 14th. Although I'm not a proponent of exclusive juicing, I'm also honest enough to admit that we'd never have consumed all those had I bought them at the store and prepared them with dinners/lunches, etc. They would have invariably sat and wilted until fridge cleaning day, for the most part. :) I also discovered much about herbs through this, for example, parsley is excellent for vitamin c/a and vitamin k, while cilantro is a strong anti-oxidant and cleanses the body of heavy metals, while serving as an antibacterial/antifungal agent. Even just a small amount in the juices or chopped and put in our morning omelet helps...every little bit helps. <br />
Hope this little blip into our January experiment encourages you if you're wanting to get
healthier but hasn't made that initial step towards it....try a 7 day
"juice at lunch" experiment and check out the changes for yourself! We use the Juiceman Jr. juicer we were given as a wedding gift, but there are many good ones out there....I'm sure that a friend will let you borrow theirs as well! My two neighbors and I have started a once a week "juicing get together" to try new recipes and mixtures, just for the fun of it. :) I'll let you know if we come up with something amazing, lol.<br />
Next update promises to be about Baby Anjuli, Lou's school and moving possibilities.....Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-16318471396184605192012-12-19T12:07:00.001-05:002012-12-19T13:56:46.567-05:00Weekly Blogging....a Lost Cause!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wow, look at what month it is! I have decided that I am not a natural born blogger...even with the best of intentions added to no more nursing work or volunteering....I still can't manage to post more than once a month! But, in my defense we have been busy here in Arizona. :) Its just a different kind of busy! Making a concrete bunker into a home, creating little things for our house that I've had crammed in the back of my mind...waiting for that free time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2o1yNTFISw2ZIrVK3c8niqoz_48-hpHOHcLVs_NdoeN7Mv8YTorgb20Bf4-1Hz3ZFi8DV2KqGQi9mF388EVIa_yHSBlJB6sIyrFYMwGSNdBW_TV2QcBGNHFtGyYq9yq2g1NgiiOF50oY/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2o1yNTFISw2ZIrVK3c8niqoz_48-hpHOHcLVs_NdoeN7Mv8YTorgb20Bf4-1Hz3ZFi8DV2KqGQi9mF388EVIa_yHSBlJB6sIyrFYMwGSNdBW_TV2QcBGNHFtGyYq9yq2g1NgiiOF50oY/s320/053.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little touches to the kitchen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyzepPX8w6FLXwEWA6tbwZEMbKEQKexMdXXSS8a013A5sRm09iDLCgFXNLmi0GQMY4v4cs-2J6mrgwEVf6_tbSLshjk_AxWJJL5_aIwJsfUDa2nhL_MOmlhX9wHABw-GP5VGkwqK83ng/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyzepPX8w6FLXwEWA6tbwZEMbKEQKexMdXXSS8a013A5sRm09iDLCgFXNLmi0GQMY4v4cs-2J6mrgwEVf6_tbSLshjk_AxWJJL5_aIwJsfUDa2nhL_MOmlhX9wHABw-GP5VGkwqK83ng/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rose wreath I made from antique book pages-a 16 hour affair! This entire wall is a Goodwill/Ross project-costing me $40 which warms my thrifty soul!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKPajKjgHfmZMiFTcn8s4D0m44Rwpr1Koy4eG7NxcGGcWM9KzleVm2P_yEu0QZJhBJjh7Wwng981IxFmsIg2iCCTulMN7LliNUXAygY46KwyGfCzYzV-62Ycx9YAkzgTklZOeIZ0N3N4/s1600/December+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKPajKjgHfmZMiFTcn8s4D0m44Rwpr1Koy4eG7NxcGGcWM9KzleVm2P_yEu0QZJhBJjh7Wwng981IxFmsIg2iCCTulMN7LliNUXAygY46KwyGfCzYzV-62Ycx9YAkzgTklZOeIZ0N3N4/s320/December+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our dining room with sewing projects in motion...and this beautiful sign a friend made me.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazjRFazKUxBRaR65Keq6HUt3fXBpOHdGayvsZAYgLXutcdf71RusdsU1aaPF4ZeHvF_INQGLiCrdQFvrPjw0_uQtwvRbbyqgy9xuYSYjQn60EJivQmeXyZSXGl4iYkeenUdApYeSFcGY/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazjRFazKUxBRaR65Keq6HUt3fXBpOHdGayvsZAYgLXutcdf71RusdsU1aaPF4ZeHvF_INQGLiCrdQFvrPjw0_uQtwvRbbyqgy9xuYSYjQn60EJivQmeXyZSXGl4iYkeenUdApYeSFcGY/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And something to brighten the front door! (again, a thrift store finds/Target ornaments project)</td></tr>
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And so, in the midst of all that, no blogging took place! :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFbcM5PUyeYbqXJwSe3rZjq_XtGC5Bdv6pYWUvtEc5As95DRZ0-4SakcIIapPYjU92jxEv4YtHLeGnxGWLfghPF5ZVYy_VWijNrJ5k5TH-r39TSAem3lBHlIQcvaPEz7TNNXWT7dZ6ck/s1600/Grand+Canyon+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFbcM5PUyeYbqXJwSe3rZjq_XtGC5Bdv6pYWUvtEc5As95DRZ0-4SakcIIapPYjU92jxEv4YtHLeGnxGWLfghPF5ZVYy_VWijNrJ5k5TH-r39TSAem3lBHlIQcvaPEz7TNNXWT7dZ6ck/s320/Grand+Canyon+044.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Admiring the Grand Canyon...between restroom stops. :)</td></tr>
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Our trip to the Grand Canyon the 1st week of November was breathtaking! Beautiful! I can't really do justice to the beauty of that scenery, photos are inadequate...but it was lovely.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMijDRdD6LqiTIGp7ronpw2DN0_EmGSvZmriXQ3oRxzkh15b3kI-Sex6Ogq3N6EUlc9puiZlRlWIG1jJfpBrlxIMwPAYTsG5IJ7cNR3Cc82vI1AlyvfCt6RItl3W9XTZ6BmbhPugp4J1g/s1600/Grand+Canyon+080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMijDRdD6LqiTIGp7ronpw2DN0_EmGSvZmriXQ3oRxzkh15b3kI-Sex6Ogq3N6EUlc9puiZlRlWIG1jJfpBrlxIMwPAYTsG5IJ7cNR3Cc82vI1AlyvfCt6RItl3W9XTZ6BmbhPugp4J1g/s320/Grand+Canyon+080.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such a beautiful array of colors-this is the South Rim of the canyon.</td></tr>
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What isn't so lovely are the realities of pregnancy and the Grand Canyon combined. :) Baby Anjuli settled down for a long rest on my bladder and I can't believe I didn't drive Lou crazy with the number of times I had to find a restroom....that would be AT LEAST four times an hour. Yes, not particularly glamorous or funny....but definitely a major and memorable part of the trip!<br />
At the end of November we had leave to travel the 5 hours to El Paso TX and spend Thanksgiving with my friend Whitney and her husband Frank! So much fun squeezed into half a weekend's time! It was like a piece of home-being able to sit and talk with a dear friend who knows your family, your family's names, where they are in life and not having to explain, as you do to all new friends,"Well, my sister...and this is my little sister...yes, she is .....and her husband..." I never realized how exhausting it can be to tell one's life history over each year to new friends in new places! Anyways, we had a delicious Thanksgiving dinner, some heart to heart catching up (the girls, that is ;)) and the next evening we visited Cattleman's, a bonafide ranch/steakhouse where your meat is running on the hoof only hours before they serve it to you! Lou ate there as a student in 2005 when he was training at Fort Bliss and he even told me about it during our dating months....it made that kind of an impression on my meat loving husband! How fun to get a chance to visit...and yes, the steak was AMAZING! So was their cole slaw with pineapple...sounds weird but I loved it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NV2RM1j6sikaIEIWWQH_7qKxkA7i4CMMXBnl3UTWvMKnzOE6lICXRVA9mt-gdOzSvys9LMOFFvA3InuDZaAtQ7Vo4_6-m_EOAfMAifvxXq4a5kfIs1v1wDw4uyqJZu2dbJA7zvoALs0/s1600/December+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NV2RM1j6sikaIEIWWQH_7qKxkA7i4CMMXBnl3UTWvMKnzOE6lICXRVA9mt-gdOzSvys9LMOFFvA3InuDZaAtQ7Vo4_6-m_EOAfMAifvxXq4a5kfIs1v1wDw4uyqJZu2dbJA7zvoALs0/s320/December+018.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views are lovely here, I took this from our kitchen door this morning!</td></tr>
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We are becoming fast friends with Sierra Vista, the little town outside the fort. I'm not sure how many people live there, but they have the basics...a Walmart, Target, grocery stores, thrift stores, fast food...and even a Coldstone Creamery, which we hadn't seen since we left Virginia! The mall has a Sears and Dillards and that's about it, its even smaller than "Towne Mall" in E-town, which we Fort Knox folks thought was the smallest mall ever! The nearest "big" town is Tucson and its an 80 minute drive from here so we still haven't made it that far. :) Sierra Vista has a large Hispanic population and then just plain "Arizonans", but in spite of it being a little dusty/dirty most of the people are friendly. We discovered the Goodwill, of course, and were shocked at its exorbitant pricing list: dresses are $13, tops $6-8 depending on their perceived worth and so on and so on...it was quite a bummer and we saw our Ebay business fast dwindling. But, I discovered the Salvation Army Family Store one day and was amazed to find that my prejudice towards Salvation Army thrifts was not entirely grounded in fact- this one is neatly organized, 1/4 of the price of the Goodwill and has regular sales! So, we're back in business. Which is nice as I am no longer planning to work in nursing with baby coming in April and the Ebay business provides a flexible and stay at home situation for me. :) <br />
Speaking of Baby-we have a name. :) She is Anjuli Lisette Crist. Anjuli is a name I fell in love with after reading "The Far Pavilions" by MM Kaye while I was in Pakistan. I broached it with Lou, a little worried he might find it too "strange" but he likes it as well, so we have a win-win! :) It means "gift of God" and that's definitely true! Her middle name, Lisette, is a diminutive of my friend/sister in law Betsy's name, Elizabeth. Betsy and I have been friends since before college as nursing students and I wanted our girl to have something of her name. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOueD2JRGb7HuWDh_eUFVxiQeW_LAEYm_pfArld5_-lCKryfEvAMohD1tcciREXKTUCCtj6SyTugafe5TB8ELDEViKMFHzg0hknyHKFrcMOK7mZMdOKR_txXtN8mX5N6ZVFtMWMsgnYs/s1600/December+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOueD2JRGb7HuWDh_eUFVxiQeW_LAEYm_pfArld5_-lCKryfEvAMohD1tcciREXKTUCCtj6SyTugafe5TB8ELDEViKMFHzg0hknyHKFrcMOK7mZMdOKR_txXtN8mX5N6ZVFtMWMsgnYs/s320/December+001.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">25 weeks today!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHpugpUDZcs6icjsM5Vz8_HqTZeYaIPFExjL7hEvhMhBiJXlmn28IQQi6PM9NpzgKExJpzIF4tdbs-oDKb2ZU-_uMM5vKrW2vElAFG5hhUs8CzELx2Q__QxvPo8_98lM4P6RkTUv-aHA/s1600/Baby+Anjuli+20+weeks+006+%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHpugpUDZcs6icjsM5Vz8_HqTZeYaIPFExjL7hEvhMhBiJXlmn28IQQi6PM9NpzgKExJpzIF4tdbs-oDKb2ZU-_uMM5vKrW2vElAFG5hhUs8CzELx2Q__QxvPo8_98lM4P6RkTUv-aHA/s320/Baby+Anjuli+20+weeks+006+%25232.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And to compare....the 20 weeks photo I never managed to post. :)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Anjuli is doing well, I saw her on ultrasound yesterday and she is measuring right at 25 weeks, active as can be! I'm feeling well, just needing an afternoon nap many days and having general pregnancy related hiccups...but nothing dramatic! I weighed in at 152 lbs. this week, pre-pregnancy I'm usually at 138 lbs. so the doctors are pleased with that as well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajQ3-7BXJp-8HESGH6m1GCPCSCfBTDF8HI0G1O3eK-4xlNvyDl6ziaGr1sNoIUDcR-yiaaMV4EI_H6QcuNO3uSG1l56ZLQYWOAqlM3ogtScEjvYf1cRBFUue5SsaNVm6L1hX3dtccDFE/s1600/Baby+Anjuli+25+weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajQ3-7BXJp-8HESGH6m1GCPCSCfBTDF8HI0G1O3eK-4xlNvyDl6ziaGr1sNoIUDcR-yiaaMV4EI_H6QcuNO3uSG1l56ZLQYWOAqlM3ogtScEjvYf1cRBFUue5SsaNVm6L1hX3dtccDFE/s320/Baby+Anjuli+25+weeks.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little hand is balled into a fist, but most of the ultrasound she was moving, mouth open and all limbs in motion!</td></tr>
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She loves to kick 24/7, in fact its hard to tell when she sleeps! If Lou uses a hammer or his power tools, she jumps at the sound! He felt her kick for the first time on the 10th of this month and since then he's been amazed at all the hopping around our little girl does. :) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YG0Hxl_gltpZTQBcsz4F97cgJYLZ6PF4A9riqY0AvSUe7fBzLC9DudeKWPbv3AxhkkQho-gZHpfCqN7mcMMPY4RKT3tccEitvATn_4W-nUDiaO3qtqrdTBWnAT-c7kLM8whlDG76c4c/s1600/December+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YG0Hxl_gltpZTQBcsz4F97cgJYLZ6PF4A9riqY0AvSUe7fBzLC9DudeKWPbv3AxhkkQho-gZHpfCqN7mcMMPY4RKT3tccEitvATn_4W-nUDiaO3qtqrdTBWnAT-c7kLM8whlDG76c4c/s320/December+017.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lou hasn't let his lack of a garage hold him back, although he dreams of the day when it will again be a reality! For now, his tools are covered and tarped down each night when he's finished. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But in his spare time between classes/work he builds projects like this little family photo shelf for me. :) Yes, I have a treasure of a husband! Now its my job to get these photos updated and matted- 1 down and at least 5 to go!</td></tr>
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Good news came our way this week, we'd been praying about our house in Kentucky and finding a renter since we moved here. There were a lot of homes up for sale and rent in our area that were standing empty, so we were prepared to plan for an extra mortgage payment each month in addition to our housing costs here in AZ. But, our property management company called and they have tenants moving in on the 21st of this month, relocating from out of state. What a blessing to have it rented before Christmas! The husband is employed in Louisville and his work is supposed to last several years at least, so we're just very thankful thus far for the Lord's provision in this.<br />
Although we are a 4-5 day trip by car from friends and family on the East Coast, we have made friends here on post and even in our little neighborhood, which has several other soldiers going through the same course Lou is taking. The Lord provides wherever we go, and although I miss my KY, VA and NJ "peoples" dearly, I'm thankful for the new opportunities these friendships create! My new friends Emily and Rebekah join me for walks, exercise, and sharing in re-purposing/cooking projects, as well as just spending time with their little ones, Nate, Levi and Lexi.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lou and little neighbor Nate setting up the lights on our tree. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nate was fascinated, he calls it the "Santa Tree" and painstakingly hung the ornaments- 3-4 to a branch. :)</td></tr>
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We also can take advantage of the gym, post exchange, post office, gas station, and commissary being within 5 blocks of our house! The gym offers free classes (they were $3 a class at Fort Benning/Knox) so I'm able to go to spin class twice a week and have tried some aerobics and zumba as well. It feels so good to be able to be active and I want to stay healthy as possible for Baby Anjuli's growth and birth. :) Lou has been running in addition to his physical training 5 times a week and he has lost 15 lbs since arriving here, we both feel so much better physically. I'm going to start aqua classes at the gym pool when January and my 3rd trimester arrive....but was haunted by the whole bathing suit search. There really are so few choices for maternity suits at a decent (non $150) price...but I found some cute pieces at Lands End right after Thanksgiving, ordered a size up with some trepidation and was amazed to find that they fit perfectly over the baby bump, were modest, and with the sale cost less than a Walmart suit! Yay for terrific sales and high quality bathing suits. :) My final obstacle to water classes has been hurdled and I must do them. Now that my readers know, I will be held more accountable...in my own mind anyway. :)<br />
The hardest adjustment so far in AZ has been in finding a church home. We had such a good church family in our last three states that its disheartening at times to worship on Sunday and come home feeling as though we still need "church". We've spent some Sunday afternoons watching RC Sproul's online teaching series and that helps but its not a substitute for gospel preaching and friendly kind people! We've tried several different churches and the on post chapel, and are now attending a church in Sierra Vista but we frequently get the "How long are you guys here?" followed by "nice knowing you" end to the conversation once they hear we're in the area for the next 7 months or so. I never took it for granted in Kentucky or Georgia, but now I value it even more that our church family never made us feel as though we weren't worth their time getting to know...since we would only be there for a short while. I LOVED that about them! Oh dear, this sounds terribly "me me me" and I don't mean for it to, could be a combination of missing friends and pregnancy hormones but it isn't always sunshine and singing in this Army adventure so tonight you're getting that side of it. :) Anyways, we'd appreciate prayers about that.<br />
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Our 5th year wedding anniversary was this Saturday- the 15th of December. Time truly does fly when you're having fun! When I look back, I can't imagine these years without Lou and I'm so happy to have shared them with him! The man who knows just how to tease me, who patiently puts up with my tendency to over-organize, over-analyze and over-worry. Who works tirelessly, uncomplaining, and always goes the extra mile to make things "just so" because he knows how much I love neat corners and exact measurements. :) Who loves me when I'm sick or well, busy cooking happily in the kitchen or lying on the couch crying because I'm too sick to cook or clean the house and its driving me crazy! Who prays and reads with me.....he's definitely God's gift to me! We celebrated in our usual fashion- by doing things that are special to us....which meant dinner out at a little pizza and wings place, followed by ice cream at Coldstone-chocolate milkshake, and then the 9pm showing of The Hobbit at our local theater. By the way, my usual lament,"That's not anything like the book!" wasn't heard during this movie; I thoroughly enjoyed both the story and the casting. :) <br />
Well, dinner is finishing, as is Lou's Company of Heroes game with his brother Jesse so I will see you faithful blog readers later! Possibly before January....but don't be shocked if not. :) Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas remembering God's greatest gift, the giving of his Son! "<span class="maintext"><span class="firstword">God's</span> gifts put man's best dreams to shame", a favorite Elizabeth Barrett Browning quote of mine. </span> Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-65756603600041798872012-11-04T23:29:00.005-05:002012-11-04T23:29:44.955-05:00And We Have Arrived!Hello again guys, here we are getting ready to set off on a "grand adventure" as Pooh would say and I wanted to update you on our new place in Arizona before we head to the Grand Canyon tomorrow! Our move went fairly smoothly, we spent 4 days on the road after leaving Kentucky on October 25th.<br />
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I took this as we prepared to pull out of our driveway and head towards the southwest! The drive was 27 hours/ 1750 miles so we broke it up for easier traveling.<br />
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We arrived at Sierra Vista/Fort Huachuca, Arizona last Sunday. The fort is represented by the red star at the bottom of the state, its approximately 15 miles from the Mexico border.<br />Dave and Erica (our Kentucky friends who moved here several months back) generously let us stay with them and take over their little home until our belongings arrived Tuesday. Yay for good friends wherever we go! We checked our house out on Monday, and on Tuesday at 830 am the movers arrived...and from there, chaos reigned at 118 Madden Street! :) Our home looks pretty cream in these photos but I'm planning to update with the "after" ones once we get it all arranged.<br />
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The kitchen through the doorway leading to our outside enclosed area...it may look small but the cabinet space is well designed, giving me more room than our Kentucky home's kitchen!<br />
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Looking through the kitchen mini "bar"/cookie/dough rolling counter into the dining room.<br />
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Living room...note that there is a LOT of cream and cinderblock! :)<br />
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The never ending hallway that houses the 3 bedrooms and 2 baths....a fort home classic.<br />
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Love this laundry space with built in shelving!<br />
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Bedroom #1- for storage of army gear, tools and unlisted Ebay clothing.<br />
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Bedroom #2- office area, bookshelves, my sewing/calligraphy/scherenschnitte table.<br />
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Bedroom #3- Master bedroom has our furniture and Baby Girl's too. <br />
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We take this picture at every new home! :) Master bathroom...it will make you chuckle as it has a fabulous enclosed 1960s stand in shower with a hole entrance...<br />
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This closet is in the hallway and is amazing, it fits every bit of my 450 Ebay listings with room to spare! I was able to sort them in neat stacks by brand and type and am so pleased with it!<br />
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And of course, this fellow at the end of the hallway was more than happy to demonstrate its immense length, at attention, of course. :)<br />
The unpacking went very smoothly considering the change in home size/lack of a garage and general "I am worn out" feelings! We spent the entire day unpacking boxes and finished around 530 that evening. Then we decided to hit the local Home Depot, eat dinner and come back to the house for more task completing. HA! We found this absolutely wonderful Mexican "fast food" place in Sierra Vista, the town outside the gates of the fort. This joint, Rodolfo's Taco Shop, didn't have a swanky atmosphere but the food was amazing, authentic Mexican salsa and homemade chips....Lou had two steak burritos that nearly "done him in" and I had a chicken taco 3x the size of a normal one. I think we will forever view Taco Bell differently now! After a meal like that, just getting to Home Depot was a struggle and once we finished there, we headed back to the Huffmans' and fell in bed at 8pm....to sleep until 6 the next morning! Here we are on Mountain Time but they don't observe Daylight Savings Time in Arizona so we're 3 hours behind the East Coast half the time and 2 hours now that "fall back" has occurred. This week has been a flurry of activity, here tonight marks 1 week of being in Arizona and we are thankful to have much of the house situated, the Ebay business back up and running, and a little leave left to take 4 days to go to the Grand Canyon! I'm so excited! I've been feeling a little winded when I exercise but I'm sure most of it is related to the altitude change. Here we are 5000 feet above sea level, while in Vine Grove we were 500 feet above! Today Lou and I took a 40 minute walk to the top of the little summit on post, we walked there the first night we arrived and the scenery takes your breath away.<br />
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I look at it and it brings to mind Psalm 8, "When I consider the works of your hands.......what is man that you are mindful of him?" Truly amazing place to be.<br />
Some interesting tidbits about the area, there is typically a monsoon season in the mid summer-fall and then no rain for the rest of the year. Even on cloudy days the natives say,"Its not going to rain until Feb. and then just a little, you have to wait until monsoon season." The temperature changes are dramatic. I wake up cold and wearing fleece, then change to shorts and a tank around 11am, then back to fleece at 6-7 at night when the sun begins to set. <br />
When we return home to Huachuca on Friday I plan to start the Tricare transfer process and get a referral for the ob/gyn, I'm halfway through my 19th week and feeling better than I have in a while, with more energy and clarity of mind. Its wonderful not to struggle with Kentucky allergies, I think they affected me more than I realized! Baby girl seems to be staying active and keeps me guessing where I will feel her poking next! We have a name picked out for her and the little corner in the master bedroom with all her "goodies" that I love to look through, including the dresser Lou made, now stuffed with baby clothing from generous friends!<br />
Thanks for all your prayers on our move and for safety throughout the process~<br />
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Last picture of our little Kentucky home....<br /><br />Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-63938566062898872692012-10-18T21:58:00.000-04:002012-10-24T09:10:48.895-04:00Baby Crist's Gender Ultrasound....boy or girl?Tonight we had our ultrasound, and even though I'm just 16 weeks, 1 day the results were pretty conclusive! Baby Crist was jumping around back and forth, kicking, standing on h___ little head, sucking h___ thumb and in general keeping it lively in the ultrasound room! Lou was able to hear the heartbeat for the first time and of course we recorded it for future enjoyment. Here is Baby Crist's photo op!<br />
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So, ____ started out by lying down in a semi-normal pose.....then reverted to....<br />
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standing on h____ head and wiggling feet and arms back and forth! <br />
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That got old after a few seconds so back to head down with hand in and around mouth.....followed by.....<br />
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The disappearing act! Just a sweet little foot with toes is visible!<br />
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And in preparation for October 31st, the eery "skeleton leg with foot attached" floating in the uterus.... (but not scary at all, just darling!)<br />
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And then a hand with a tiny white thumb that poked into h___ mouth for several seconds.<br />
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Finally, there was just no posing for the camera-only a little bottom with the evidence plainly captured that we're having a little......<br />
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I can't wait to meet our little baby girl, she may be tiny but she's full of life and such a gift from the Lord! <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">"</span>For you formed my inward
parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I
am fearfully and wonderfully made.Wonderful are your works; my soul
knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being
made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes
saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span> Psalm 139:13-16 </span></span>Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-69630676295758802202012-10-18T05:14:00.003-04:002012-10-24T09:13:26.147-04:00We're Moving OnThis week has been so busy its hard to keep everything straight! We were assigned a house at <a href="http://www.zip-area.com/arizona/fort_huachuca/" target="_blank">Fort Huachuca, Arizona</a> last week after making our application, its a <a href="http://www.mountainvistacommunities.com/images/stories/floor_plans/cav_park_6_cgo/floorplancavpark6.pdf" target="_blank">3 bedroom, 2 bath</a> concrete block affair with a definite desert bunker look to it....<br />
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...but its large for us and its location is within easy walking distance of many post amenities, including the post exchange (think department store) and commissary (non-fancy name for grocery store. :)) I've already "met" the girl who lives across the street from us via Facebook's army wives page and she was sweet enough to send me pictures of her home's interior to give me some ideas about furniture layout, etc. I'm sure it will be completely different from KY but its only for 7-8 months and anything can be made "homey" in that amount of time with enough pictures and curtains hung. :) Because the home is 50+ years old they are giving us a reduced rate on our basic housing allowance deducted each month so we will have a little leeway when it comes to renting our little home here in Kentucky! We did decide to rent it since the economy is still so bad here, homes are for sale and not moving in our area. The rental agent came on Thursday to inspect it and give us pointers in renting quickly. We purchased a "new" preowned fridge to match the kitchen and Lou also installed shelving in our bathroom closet, which for us had been the "weigh station" for the past two years-just a scale in the cubby. It looks great, and so did the fridge after we washed and cleaned it inside and out! The rent they suggested will be a little less than our current mortgage payment so we'll be supplementing it with our income for the time being, hopefully we will see an improved economy in the US over the next few years. :) We have been paying the mortgage down steadily since Lou deployed and now owe about $50,000 so that's encouraging if we needed to sell quickly.<br />
This past weekend was also one of being able to catch up with dear friends, my friend Rachel drove 10 hours from PA to see the "Georgia girls" and spend several days with us! Rachel, my friends Cheryl and Carrie and I all met as newbie wives when our husbands were in the infantry officer basic course together. We have, along with our other Georgia army friends, kept in contact since then but we've only managed to see Rachel once or twice since her husband was assigned to Fort Drum, NY while ours ended up here at Knox together.<br />
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We had such a good time reminiscing about the "old days" that were all of 2.5 years ago (ha!) and then about all the new developments in our lives. I think we girls share a strong bond not just because of our new "nervously wanting to get the army ways right" status when we arrived to Fort Benning, but also our sistership in Christ. Its amazing to have friends who pray for and with you, who will drop anything to help you in a crisis moment-and these girls have always been there during training and deployment, losses and joys!<br />
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How exciting to be able to share the news of our baby on the way with them-my friend Cheryl is several weeks ahead of me in her first pregnancy and I'm sad that we won't be in the same place when the little ones arrive. But, this is a normal change in Army life (moving) and it will also bring many adventures and new friends, of that I'm sure. :)<br />
Promotion time! I promised you that story and some photos back 2 posts ago....and I will not disappoint! After having the ceremony postponed 4 times due to minor emergencies on the company's part and meeting conflicts, on October 9th we drove to the motor pool on Fort Knox at 9am. It was a chilly Tuesday, temperature around 38 degrees so all that worry about "what to wear" was immediately discarded in favor of "what's warm in my closet?" :) My friend Cheryl offered to come and take photos-and at 0930 that morning I pinned my husband as a Captain with Delta Company present.<br />
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So proud of him!<br />
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The promotion ceremony is literally a 5 minute ritual, culminating in the pinning of the new rank to the soldier's hat and exchanging the velcro patch on his jacket.<br />
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It felt like forever as my hands were cold and I couldn't get the pin on the hat straight without a struggle!<br />
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Lou's post speech was short and sweet-completely typical of him! "Well, I figured I'd milked the lieutenant spot for 8 years....so that was long enough." It does feel like its been forever, what with this being 18 months late! :)<br />
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This is he and his platoon sergeant, SGT Hawkins. They were together through the entire deployment and are still very close, there's a bond between the men who have deployed together that rarely is broken. I'm so grateful that he had a good sergeant with multiple combat deployments during his time as platoon leader, I know that Hawkins looked out for him and his men as though they were his brothers. That means so much to me! <br />
Baby time! Baby Crist is growing, I'm sure of that as I continue to remain sore and achy but I think I'm feeling more baby movement fluttering in there as well! My appetite has gotten better, I struggle with eating after cooking the food, but I crave food when I'm out running errands or appointments. I'm 4 lbs heavier than my pre-pregnancy weight and that also seems to be in keeping with guidelines, as I was 16 weeks yesterday! Wow, hard to believe we're already this far along. :) Baby Crist is now 5" long and weighs about 5 oz. He will begin to hear sounds in the next several weeks so I've decided to start teaching Lou all the lullabies (hehe) and read aloud a little just for the fun of it. I've taught a class on fetal development at Clarity Solutions for Women for the past several months and one of the supplemental dvds in particular is fascinating! It chronicles studies performed in the 80s about fetal development week to week and they recommend that you begin singing to your baby as soon as he can hear, as then he will recognize the songs when born and they will be more soothing. I'm curious to see how (and if) it works! :) They also talk about father involvement during pregnancy and how babies whose fathers talked to them inside the the womb recognize their daddy's voice and turn towards it in the delivery room. So, I'm enjoying experimenting at the moment with all this! Tonight is my ultrasound with Lynn at Clarity (did I mention its 4am and I can't sleep, hence the update! :)) and we're hoping to get a possible gender peek! In some babies its apparent as early as 13 weeks, but the doctor's practice is not to do this ultrasound until week 18-20 so this is a "just for fun before you leave and go thousands of miles away forever" one. :) I'll keep you posted on how it turns out!<br />
Lou finished the baby dresser yesterday and I <b>love love love</b> how it turned out! :)<br />
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First coated with Benjamin Moore's "paperwhite" in oil base. Super soft gray white in color.<br />
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I saw these brushed nickel handles on another dresser and loved their simplicity and versatility, plus this makes the pieces empty canvases that I can dress up with colorful accents! The rest of the furniture building will be postponed until we're unpacked and settled in AZ.<br />
<b>Moving Date: Next Thursday, October 25th! </b><br />
<br />Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-89353406564091332322012-10-16T20:34:00.002-04:002012-10-24T09:13:10.463-04:00We Interrupt This Cold.....(Disclaimer-I wrote this two weeks ago on Columbus Day weekend and forgot to publish it until tonight, haha! So, just imagine yourself at the start of October. Not much has changed, I still am fighting the cold mentioned, but on the mend. :) And packing, yes packing is the main focus of our lives this week!)<br />
Hi again friends! Can you believe it, this must be a record....2 posts in less than 2 weeks. Well, I blame it on the above. There isn't much you can accomplish when you're sick, but it takes little effort to sit at the computer and type. I caught the same dreadful cold/flu Lou struggled with last week and its been a roller coaster of symptoms: sore throat, severe headache, sinus drainage, congestion, fever and chills. But, the good news is that I've locked myself into my little house and spent the time trying to prepare for moving...by organizing and labeling shelves while drinking hot tea...and trying not to complain aloud, at least for the most part. Today I worked on the fridge/freezer, trying to determine meals for the next 2 weeks until moving time. I think we may only need to go shopping for milk, eggs and butter, at this point.<br />
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Still not sure if I'm taking my love of organization to an unhealthy level, but its enjoyable nonetheless!<br />
While I worked on the kitchen and pantry this morning and afternoon, Lou was busy with his own woodworking project in the garage. (One of the blessings of Army life in garrison- 3 day weekends become 4 day weekends! Drawback? No holidays recognized during deployment.) He has started making the baby's furniture, beginning with this chest of drawers that I envisioned and described to him in minute detail, lol. Its going to be simple but beautiful, and he is a careful craftsman so all the drawers will work correctly and the construction will be solid. Lowes, once again is the place where we spend most of our extra money. :) Wood, drawer slides, extra router bits....it all comes together.<br />
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I'm planning on (Lou) painting it a soft gray, at this point. I like the neutrality of gray in a baby's room, but there's always time for me to fall in love with a different color and change my mind! Thinking knobs from Hobby Lobby are a must, maybe something along <a href="http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/red-ceramic-round-knob-with-beaded-edge-446971/" target="_blank">these lines?</a> Or how about <a href="http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/red-and-white-ceramic-knob-with-metal-center-226027/" target="_blank">this?</a> Noticing a trend? Definitely not <a href="http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/resin-black-and-white-dice-knob-220590/" target="_blank">these!</a> Wow, there are some dreadful choices out there. :)<br />
What else...well, I mentioned the jackhammer activity last post. Now we have a new walkway with stepping stones where the crooked chipped concrete used to reside! Its simple but effective. The gravel matches the gravel in the driveway-all 17 tons of it!<br />
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I pruned my rose bushes willy nilly several weeks ago, then had remorse as I thought I should have researched a little before doing it. But, as it turns out they took to it very well and bloomed like crazy! In fact, all the flowers are doing well EXCEPT the plant I place strategically in front of that dreadful "green pipe with a white top" on the right side of the flower beds, in an attempt to hide it. It died....how funny is that? :) I like to think that green pipe was placed there to keep me humble! <br />
Speaking of lawns, we had new neighbors move in several months ago. The first several weeks they kept us guessing by keeping MOST of their belongings on the front driveway and back yard, spread out like a professional yardsale. Yardwork and mowing appear to be at the bottom of the priority list, so I was thrilled last week to see them out cutting the grass, pruning the trees in the front yard and tidying up! The next morning I awoke to this:<br />
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Even the prunings were used in the "yard art"! Ha! The witches and ghosts hanging from the porch I did not manage to capture in this photo have their own constant sound effects, but nothing equals the man in the top hat at the organ. This organ PLAYS! Yep, no matter what time you open the front door...the sounds of haunted organ music pipe across the lawn....repeating every 20-30 seconds. Now I'm a little disappointed we're going to miss seeing Thanksgiving and Christmas decor this year!<br />
Speaking of which, we're moving! Officially! On Tuesday I was driving to Clarity and got a call from Lou. He had just gotten word that they re-instated him in the Nov 15th course and we were to report to Arizona by the 5th of November! Can you believe how quickly things change around here? Its normal, too, that's what makes it even stranger. Lou's (pomp and ceremony) promotion ceremony has been rescheduled twice due to Army personnel conflicts but we still received orders for AZ yesterday and I immediately relayed all the necessary paperwork via email to the housing office at Fort Huachuca. Now to wait and hurry! We have to coordinate housing, moving of our goods, and travel from here to there- all to occur around October 25th, give or take a few days. I'm really excited to begin this phase of our journey! Although, it does mean a lot of goodbyes to people I love here in Kentucky and we will be 38 hours from Mom and Dad Crist in New Jersey, and a "mere" 31 hours from friends and family in Virginia! I'm sure we will be doing more flying! :)<br />
I was 14 weeks pregnant on Wednesday! I finally managed to get a "pregnancy" photo taken for the memento book, but I have not been taking "weekly" belly photos. It just doesn't happen! :)<br />
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(And now my friends, soon to follow is the post with all the details about promotion ceremony, moving, and wrapping up our time in Kentucky!)<br />
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<br />Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-2525884092676432962012-09-29T21:02:00.001-04:002012-09-29T21:02:31.983-04:00The End of the Month, again!Wow, another month has almost come and gone....Kentucky has changed a little from hot and humid to hot and humid some days with torrential Noah's ark necessary flooding rain and thunderstorms other days! Today it was overcast and barely reached 70, so fall is definitely on its way in! The bugs are too, as we are noticing a lot of new varieties entering the house any way they can manage and popping out at unexpected times....usually 7am breakfast preparing time. :)<br />
How are we? Still in limbo here, but not nearly as "limbo-ish" as we were last week! Why, you ask? Well, the long awaited moment arrived.....here's the scoop on our move. We are supposed to be in Arizona at Fort Huachuca (actually were supposed to leave at the beginning of October per this summer's schedule) but we've been waiting to receive Lou's promotion to captain in writing, official and all that. This particular promotion is a timed one, so according to our general calculations it was already at least 15 months overdue...but the paperwork was "in transit" and "who knows where" kind of places whenever Lou made inquiries. In order for them to "cut orders" for us to go to the captain's career course in AZ Lou had to be a captain....and although he was, he wasn't. Hope that's not too confusing, haha! Anyway, September was halfway gone and still no sign of this piece of important paperwork, so they cancelled his Nov. 15 class date in AZ and gave him a new Jan. 2013 class date...hoping that he would have everything he needed by then. Well, this week he came home with the amazing news....Yes! Paperwork in hand, signed by all the illustrious persons in the army and even better, BACKDATED to March 2011....over 18 months overdue! Shocking, yes, but we weren't too surprised. :) At times I teased him that he wasn't ever going to change rank, I'd always call him "LT"...but then when I sewed his "1LT" rank patches on his uniform so he wouldn't have to use the velcro ones anymore, then I was sure the promotion would come that week. But that was 2 months ago....and so at least I didn't have the enviable task of replacing them the next day with "CPT" patches. :) Also, 18 months overdue means that at some point all the money we would have received during that year and a half will be paid...sometime before 2018....I'm hoping! :) We might be leaving here for AZ the first week of November now, but I'll keep you posted. So, look for promotion ceremony pictures to come soon, as soon as we have the ceremony. I'm so proud of Louis, he's an amazing soldier but even more than that, he's an amazing husband and Christian man. Today he was up early working on the front sidewalk....<br />
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We rented a jackhammer and he spent the morning chopping it all up, loaded it in the truck with some friends' help and then went to Lowes to purchase yard materials. When he got home, he raked out the gravel we had delivered....there were 17 tons dumped on our driveway! After he finished that, he created a walkway with paving stones and gravel, edged it in timbers and finished up by mowing our lawn....did I mention that my husband amazes me? He is such a hard worker...he never complains but just keeps on going and going. Sometimes watching him from the kitchen window as I wash dishes, I get all choked up, humbled that this man loves and cares for me. OK, enough tears for the moment! :)<br />
On to the baby....he's still in there kicking and squirming....I know its awfully early to feel him but I was certain I felt movement this afternoon after we finished lunch and I lay down to rest. I was perfectly still and I felt these strange "fluttery" sensations...so I checked my heartbeat and it was normal...after several seconds they stopped. I'm still convinced! I went to see the OB/Gyn on Monday at Ireland Army Hospital at Fort Knox and they had me slapped into "OB orientation" before I knew what hit me. Lots of paperwork, lots of "what diseases run in your family" questions....by the time I finished I realized again just how diseased we ARE! :) At the end of the questionaire, an ultrasound tech asked me my due date and then whisked me into the little room next door, where I got to see this!<br />
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Our little baby was so active, bouncing back and forth, kicking and crossing its little legs, hands moving around its mouth! Made me cry with happiness! I was 12 weeks, 5 days at that point but the little guy measured 13 weeks, 1 day so he's definitely growing just fine. His heartbeat sounded beautiful...151 beats per minute. Can you believe he's just 3" long at this age? And yet perfectly formed....all your works are marvelous, Lord. Lou said he's going to be 10 lbs when its time for birth but I object. :) Strongly. BTW, we keep calling the baby "he" but we won't know for a couple more weeks so I will let you know if we'll need to send her for counseling later in life b/c of the gender confusion! :) Speaking of Ireland, they don't complete all your prenatal exam, ultrasound, labwork, and testing in one visit...so guess how many times I was there this week? Yep, that would be correct.....3 appointments in one week! I did talk with the doctor though about my battles with nausea and vomiting, I explained that I had tried both homeopathic and naturalistic, wives' tales and far east, nutritional and mental methods that folks have bestowed on me, all to no avail. I've been sick most days since my 5 week, usually the nausea lasted from 9ish in the morning until 7-8 at night, and it has been exhausting. So, she prescribed Zofran for it and I must say that it has worked wonders for me. I still have periods in the afternoon of nausea and food smells do make me gag but I'm not throwing up and I feel human again in the morning/noonish time! Yay! Its so wonderful and I'm grateful for every small blessing, even in the form of a little round pill to be swallowed twice a day! :)<br />
Many things have happened this month...like the sweet little shower my Army girls gave me for Baby Crist.<br />
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The theme was "Cute as a Button" and everything coordinated to match, I loved it!<br />
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Even the cake had little pastel fondant buttons....and the guys joined us at the end of the shower for a family barbecue.<br />
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Most of my Army girls and I met at Fort Benning, and then we were fortunate enough to all be stationed together here in Kentucky. I'm going to miss them so much....again, tears. I think I've become 10x as emotional since I became pregnant...but then again, my friend Cheryl says,"Kim, you cry when you hear a sad story about a puppy"...so maybe I've just always been this way. :)<br />
We also spent part of September cat-sitting for our friends who are paving the way for us in Arizona already, Dave and Erica. They are also completing the captain's course so I will have a buddy there waiting when I arrive, how awesome is it that the Lord continues to place our friends in places to encourage and support us while we're so far from our birth families. We met Dave and Erica at Grace Church before the deployment and it was great to have Erica here while the guys were in Afghanistan. Their kitties survived their time with us and actually, while Gus thrived from the beginning, even Teddy (who hated me after my cat Missy attacked him last time he stayed with me for a month and would hiss at my coming) became sweet natured and would climb in my lap for petting while I sat at the computer! Gus has talent, let me tell you!<br />
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He would sit in front of the counter each morning as I made Lou's lunch sub, and as I laid the meat out to toast it, immediately go into his "begging" position! What's more, he can hold this for 20-30 seconds....and if you hold the meat towards him, he dances on his hind legs across to his food bowl....totally the funniest thing ever!<br />
Teddy, on the other hand, is not a poser or performer...but he is beautiful...as evidenced below.<br />
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We were sad to see them go...but our moods brightened as we considered that we no longer would have cat hair wafting across our living room or scuffles in the night between Teddy and Gus as they fought for the alpha position. :) <br />
Lou also found time to put in a new tile entry way, discarding the old linoleum 90s patterned floor in the process. I love the new look!<br />
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We also had some sad times in September, on the 9th Lou's Dad's mom, Mom-Mom passed away at her son's home in Florida. She had suffered a stroke years ago and was unable to live independently but she was a beautiful kind sweet woman to those who knew her well, even up til her death. <br />
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We are glad to know that we will see her again someday, fully restored and no longer suffering from the pains and illnesses that plague us all here on earth. They flew her body back to New Jersey, her home with Pop Pop for so many years. We drove there for the funeral and spent several days with our family, it was so nice to see everyone, although the occasion was a sad one.<br />
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This photo is one with Pop-Pop from right after WW2, he is also Louis John Crist, Lou was named after him. Wasn't she a beautiful woman?<br />
On the way to NJ we broke the trip into two parts and spent the night at Aimee and Andrew's house. Look at their kids, aren't they growing like weeds?? Just the cutest guys, they were all certain we were going to have a camp-out on our air mattress and sleep in the same bed, but alas, the parents gave them the "No" and they contented themselves with telling stories and acting out until bedtime!<br />
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We also stopped to see my Grandma Canfield in Woodbridge, VA on our way to NJ. I hadn't seen her since before our wedding, so it was good to be able to catch up a little and show Lou around "the beach house", where we would stay while we were visiting Grandma and Grandpa as kids!<br />
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Many many other moments in September have been memorable, but I'm out of time and space and memory! I'll be sure to keep you all posted as we prepare to leave Kentucky for the Southwest! God bless!<br />
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<br />Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-78311614011651541142012-08-30T20:55:00.001-04:002012-08-31T18:23:22.219-04:00The End of an AugustHello there everyone! Hard to believe summer is nearly at an end and we're heading into September...except for the continued high temperatures and humidity in this part of Kentucky. I'm excited for September since that should bring lots of cooler nights and moving adventures! I'll try to catch you up on our month-the Cliffs' Notes version.<br />
First, an update on Baby Crist. We went to Florence KY today for our 9 week ultrasound. All went well, I've been pretty sick feeling lately but nothing too terribly dramatic....the baby's heartbeat is strong on the ultrasound and we could see his little arm and leg buds-he has a head half the size of his body...but that's normal for this stage of development. He will be growing toe and fingernails this week as well as hair follicles-and he may look enormous on film but he's barely over an inch in length! Dr. S_____ talked with us about our upcoming move the first of October and suggested that we see the Fort Knox OB/GYN before we leave, but for now our visits to Cincinnati/Florence are at an end. It was a little bit of a emotional moment for us as we thanked him and the staff there for everything done. They are so very kind and I'll miss the friendly openness of their office, plus the fact that we never sat in the waiting room for an appointment longer than 10 minutes! Efficiency-amazing!<br />
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Our new due date is April 3,2013...but who worries about them anyways? I read a statistic quoting that only 5% of babies that are born on their due date. I told Lou he'll probably be born on April 1st....just to start off with a bang! Florence has a Red Robin, one of Lou's favorite restaurants, so of course we headed there afterwards to celebrate...then on to the Goodwill to stock up on Ebay inventory. :) Our traveling activities are sounding very similar by now to our long term readers! <br />
Speaking of due dates-with our move coming up, we were hashing out what to do with our two outdoor kitties, Missy and Jasper.<br />
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Being the kind of cats we lovingly named "our welfare cats", we worried about leaving them to fend on their own with a rental family or if the house was vacant. Their favorite activity is lying on the back deck sunning themselves and waiting for moment from the house that suggests a possible food bowl filling! My sister in law Betsy agreed to keep them while we're in AZ and last Friday I made the 8 hour trip to Rock Hill, SC to deliver them, spend a few days with family, and hopefully be there for my sister Debbie's delivery.<br />
First, the cats. Yikes. A friend loaned me a medium dog crate for the journey-as I hated to keep them in the tiny cat carriers I had on hand for the entire trip. I lined the back of my Escape with a waterproof tarp, set the carrier in it, set up the litter pan in one corner (with minimal litter), a puppy pad in the other and put water and food dishes on that side. All that done, Friday morning when I left I located Missy and put her in first, then went back inside to bring out Jasper-my high spirited fight loving male cat. When I managed to put them both in the cage and lock it...what ensued looked like a living reenactment of a tornado? hurricane? tornadocane?......Cats, fur, litter, water and food all blurred together in a flash of sheer "we must escape somehow from this" production that ended in the cats meowing and yowling for the first hour of our drive down the interstate! Forget that cats normally are clean animals who disdain water and dirty fur. These ones looked like abused asylum inmates by the time I got to SC! They managed to mix litter and water together and dip random pieces of fur into it....when I stopped for breakfast I opened the hatch to give them a piece of sausage to placate them...they stared past me like zombies-no interest whatsoever-just sheer psychosis. Happy ending though, after spending two days hiding out on Betsy's lawn away from sight once we arrived, they discovered her back patio and began showing up for their feeding as normal. Whew, I was really so worried for those couple of days! Did I mention that we have Gus and Teddy, our friends' cats living with us until the 15th of September? So, we are not cat-less but Gus and Teddy are cats of a different stripe than our bums! They live inside exclusively, love to kill flies, and jump up to the sky on all 4s when Lou startles them. :) <br />
My visit to Rock Hill was a fun one, as I was able to see my brothers John and Daniel, sister Debbie, brother T and sister in law Betsy. John and Daniel are both starting work at different local area Walmart stores in the management department. They will be living in the area for a while so at this point I think South Carolina is the new state of Messer-dom, now that most of us have moved from Virginia. :) We had breakfast out at Cracker Barrel Saturday morning and then spent the entire day (8 hours' worth) walking in town as Debbie attempted to put herself into labor. No go....Wes (their soon to be born son) stubbornly would not cooperate! :) Debbie's husband Ryan is deployed to Afghanistan this year so she moved temporarily from Fort Lewis, WA to be with family while he's gone.<br />
We girls had a terribly lazy weekend, Grandma Austin (Betsy's mom) had taken all Betsy's and Debbie's kids for a mini Mom vacation until Tuesday, so the house was strangely quiet and things we normally do, like fixing food, bottles and baths all stopped for several days! Instead we took walks, shopped, ate, watched NCIS re-runs and reminisced about old times! Mom, Lee and Melissa were able to stop for a night's stay on their way home from the annual beach trip-so we had our "puzzle" time together-one of Mom's, Debbie's and my favorite slow time hobbies. We also squeezed in a fun shopping night out with my sister in law Christie at the Charlotte mall. It was a nice time for relaxing. Tuesday Betsy and I drove back to Virginia to pick up most of the kids (these are T and Betsy's 6 beautiful little munchkins below). We had a trip full of memories as we passed the college we attended nursing school at, the hospital where we worked, the gas station we always stopped at since it was the cheapest place in the county! Driving up I-81 always fills me with nostalgia and who better to share it with than Betsy, my dear friend and sister! :)<br />
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We left 3 of Betsy's girls: Kate, Ashlynne and Bekah with Grandma Austin as Debbie still hadn't gone into labor and made the 3 hour drive back to Rock Hill. On the way we had good news from Debbie, she had her doctor's appointment that afternoon and was able to get an induction time for the next morning-hoorah! I had to leave that morning to head back to Kentucky and Lou but she went to the hospital, started labor and had Wes by the time I was halfway home! The best part was that Ryan was not on a mission, so he was able to watch via Skype during the entire labor and delivery-such an answer to prayers!<br />
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Wes is a beautiful little boy, he weighed 7lbs, 6 oz. Betsy guessed his weight exactly, I was 2oz off, rats! :) <br />
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Baby Wes looks a bit miffed in this photo but I'm sure there will be many more smiling ones to come if he's anything like his older sister Lily and brother TJ! The photo below was taken before Ryan deployed in April-but they haven't changed much! <br />
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It was wonderful to see family and visit, but also good to come home to Kentucky with my little house and big husband waiting for me. :) I feel somewhat as though I haven't stopped driving for the past week, since I was in the car 8 hours Friday, 7 on Tuesday, 9 yesterday and then 6 again today with our trip to the specialist! Whew, I'm ready to stay home for a while. :) Lou was a trooper while I was gone, cleaning, feeding and entertaining cats, working and just being the all around sweetie that he is. This morning he got up and spent the morning cleaning and washing my car after its long journey, checking all the fluid levels, etc. before driving to Florence. :) I love seeing friends and family during travels but its hard to be separated from my Lou for any amount of time after our year apart! <br />
In closing, I know April was a while ago, but this just came out recently and I wanted to share it with you all! I was so thrilled to be a part of my friend Whitney's wedding this spring, she and her husband Frank are now living in El Paso, TX and we hope to see them very soon! El Paso is "just" 5 hours from our new fort in AZ and when it comes to the southwest and Texas, 5 hours' travel is an afternoon jaunt! :) This movie was produced by the Hedrick Brothers Productions as a memory of their wedding day. They are located in southwestern Virginia and have a Facebook page as well if you want to check out more of their work!<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="225" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/46623102" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="400"></iframe> <a href="http://vimeo.com/46623102">Frank + Whitney</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/hbproductions">Hedrick Brothers Productions</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
I think that's all the news around here for now, but if we have any excitement I'll be sure to update you all! God bless! Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-14935793480499298942012-08-11T18:57:00.001-04:002012-08-11T19:01:32.516-04:00A Picture of Life at 6 WeeksHow do you begin to write about one of the most important things to happen in your short life here on earth? I've hashed it over in my brain trying to come up with profound phrases and poetic language, but everything sounds so trite when I try to express myself aloud.<br />
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Talking with Louis about this coming baby is a comical interaction- I find myself saying (multiple times in the day), "Isn't it amazing? I'm so excited? Its crazy that there's a baby inside me right now!" and he concurs, just as excitedly so I don't feel quite so much like a broken record.<br />
It feels like its been a lifelong journey, but that's an exaggeration, of course. Lou and I will be married 5 years on December 15th. We always wanted children, I remember talking over the # question when we were dating. (Doesn't everybody? Or is it just us weird homeschooled kids with poor social skills, haha) It was the 4th of July and we arrived to Hand & Hand Park in Blacksburg early so we sat on the tailgate of his pickup truck and talked. He asked me,"How many kids do you see yourself with?" and I responded,"Oh, I always wanted to have 12, you know, a dozen of them...but now I think I'd probably do better with 8"....haha, my poor husband. He calmly swallowed, paused and said,"How about 4, that seems like a manageable amount." Wow, weren't we in blissful ignorance! So, the time came, we were married...we grew up a little and started realizing how much of our lives were spent in forming ideas that were neither realistic or necessarily in our best interest spiritually. We decided to wait and see what God had for us, baby-wise. So, we waited. And then, after Lou's graduation in 2009 we were stationed at Fort Benning GA the following January 2010. By this time, we wondered if there might be something going on underneath the surface, perhaps hormonal imbalances on my part...because I've always had weird unexplainable problems healthwise it just seemed like a good idea to have a check-out. Too bad medical check-outs aren't like the department store, where you leave with some beautiful things for your home and you, even if your wallet is lighter! Instead, at Benning while Lou was either in the field for his infantry officer training or at Ranger School for May-July, I saw a specialist who ran multiple tests and completed different studies to check my ovulation schedule, tubal and general health status. When Lou returned from the field he was also tested. The final results were given to us in September 2010, with the words,"You'll never be able to conceive naturally, really in vitro is your only option." This news came as we were traveling to Kentucky for a house hunting weekend, and it was difficult to hear. We cried tears over our situation and prayed, but just left it at that, as we were moving to Kentucky in the next month. We also didn't have $15,000 lying around the house for in vitro- as it isn't covered by the army medical insurance. So, we arrived in Kentucky in October and Lou deployed to Afghanistan on January 15th. Prior to his leaving, we discussed babies and such and decided to spend the year of his deployment researching facilities, procedures, and costs, saving money and gathering information for when he came home. This was a low point in 2011 for me. I struggled with my fears over Lou's safety a lot, and when I would begin researching, a tiny voice would ask,"What if he doesn't come home? Then this is all for naught, you know. You shouldn't even both, he might not be here next year." I know that it was Satan's way of demoralizing and defeating me, and at times it was very effective. I would shut down the computer and lay on the bed sobbing and asking the Lord to keep Lou, that I didn't mind not having a baby as long as he came home to me. Graciously, the Lord brought him back and before he even returned I had become strong enough to both talk with people about the in vitro process and figure out the best route to take in this journey.<br />
In March of this year we traveled to Cincinnati to meet with a specialist at the Institute for Reproductive Health. I had read about the clinic and was impressed with the reviews it received as well as its rates-with its "no patient refused treatment" rule, it was not padding its success numbers as so many infertility clinics do, by picking only more promising patients. We went and saw the doctor, who after reviewing our records from Georgia and talking with us, leaned forward across the desk and said,"You know, I think that the numbers here aren't so dramatically poor to make in vitro our first option. Would you guys be open to trying intrauterine insemination first?" We were of course open to any suggestions, and began the trial month in April. We were allowed 4 months of IUI as it is known prior to having to progress to the in vitro process. The IUI was much simpler, much less painful and also cost $600-700 per month, as opposed to the $12-15,000 for in vitro. We started, and each month I arrived at the end only to not be pregnant. During the months I would experience hot flashes, night sweats, hormonal changes and emotional "rollercoasterism" (haha) because of the medications. My dear Lou took all these in stride. This big strong guy that I married became the dishwasher un-loader, laundry washer, and took on a host of other jobs that I routinely do because of my nausea, exhaustion or what have you. He really saw it as a labor of love and I'm so thankful that he is the man God chose for me to walk this path with! <br />
This past month, July, was the final month before we were to move on to the in vitro process. We had the procedure done towards the beginning of the month, and even then I wondered if we should even bother or just move on to the other since we were moving in early October and I wanted to make sure we had enough time to complete the procedure here at Cincinnati with the doctors we liked and were familiar with. Our doctor assured us that we'd have adequate time for in vitro and we went through July as all the other months, talking about it from time to time but mostly just waiting for the end of the month to come. I mentally had already blocked off all August and was gearing up emotionally for in vitro. Lou prayed each day for us to have a baby but I was already set that it wasn't happening until we put out the big bucks. God works in mysterious ways, you know! :) We were with Lou's folks camping in West Virginia when the time came and I happened to have a pregnancy test in my purse, that my dear friend Lynn gave me a previous month "just in case" while I was at Clarity, the womens' pregnancy center I volunteer at each Tuesday. How ironic at times to be working around so many pregnant women and girls, many in unexpected situations, while all my pregnancy tests were coming up negative. I'll tell you, it really makes you stop and think and ask God many questions!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgE6frQgvJTmSINHNTAtxEJf61wrbyk6IBLkwqwZcvYMXKzjpI5bLZPBik1ZcEqqrAxTNDwJv-C795fKjcXVMzTQXUkv3E5i8NPLfoBwKZjLmZqQz0cRm80b4fneQEVV9PltXk3ezahXU/s1600/West+Virginia+Trip+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> Well, I took the test early on the last morning of our stay so I could take ibuprofen if it was negative, for the drive home. I left it on the counter and went back to bed, getting up an hour later to chuck it, as usual and to my surprise-two pink lines!! I couldn't have been more shocked! I run pregnancy tests at Clarity often so I know exactly what to expect but I just stood there, not believing my sleepy contact-less eyes. Once it sank in, gone were all the creative ways I had planned on telling Lou, poof from my brain. I had one thought,"I must tell him." However, Lou was still asleep....as it was before 7am. Lou doesn't wake up easily from sleep...as Pastor Vance can attest to. Once, while Lou was living with the Vances in their basement apartment, thieves broke into the basement and stole his laptop right off his desk! Lou slept through it all, but Pastor Vance claims that the thieves actually didn't take it from his desk, but had to climb over his bed to get to it, laying a kiss on his sleeping cheek in the process! lol. Well, I carried the test into the bedroom and held it clenched in my fist while I gently woke him. Then I stuck it right under his nose (like a kid would hold a bug under one's nose) and said,"Look what I caught in the bathroom!" For some reason, I have this horrible habit of falling into prank mode at serious moments...and this was one of them. He jumped and bounced back, then his eyes focused and he was like,"You're pregnant?" Rejoicing ensued. :) Well, we couldn't hold it back so we told Mom, Dad, Jess and Cor at the breakfast table- it was a beautiful ending to a wild 4 wheeling in the mountains of West Virginia 4 day vacation! (See photos below of our muddy post ride state!)<br />
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When we arrived home, the clinic had me go to the fort hospital for blood draws, both on Friday and Monday. The Friday stick bruised me pretty well in the left antecubital and the girl on Monday exclaimed in horror over that bruise as she drew blood from the right. Oddly enough, the bruise she gave me was twice the size of the left one...but I do bruise easily. The doctor's office called to say that my HCG levels rose dramatically from Friday to Monday, from 128-960 and all was well. These high numbers have people speculating about the possibility of multiples. Each month with the medication I took I would produce 3 eggs according to the ultrasounds, so there is a slight possibility...... I've always wanted twins, even as a girl. I read "Jack and Jill" by Louisa May Alcott and announced that I would have a boy and girl and name them "Jack and Jill" when I grew up. Now, I'm pretty sure I WON'T be naming them "Jack and Jill". :) But, I still love the thought of having twins.<br />
So, tomorrow is the big day. I'm going to Clarity in the evening with Lou to see the heartbeat on our little one for the first time. Or little ones, depending on who you talk to. I'm not going to post this blog until tomorrow night, because I want to include an ultrasound picture with it and let you know how many they are, gulp! But, in the meantime we're rejoicing that God has preserved our little guy thus far and amazed at his goodness to us, his children! To be continued.........on August 10th..........<br />
Hello again folks! This blog was NOT updated on the 10th as planned..I'm blaming my evening "morning" sickness on that one. After our ultrasound yesterday evening I was up late baking for a friend's bridal shower, but the nausea makes me half as speedy as normal in the kitchen! But, baby....here is the little fellow!<br />
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See the little blurry "lentil" in the middle of the black oval? That's my uterus and that's the little guy hanging out inside. What a surreal feeling to be watching this on the screen and see the little heart beating. The heart is a huge part of the baby right now-when it beats it looks like two little mittens clapping together. The heart rate was 122 so that's strong and healthy. The wonder of new life is amazing!<br />
Lynn also got a photo of the yolk sac, which is formed prior to the placenta to nourish the little guy. At this point, the yolk sac is larger than the baby and when viewed at 6 weeks, it resembles a "diamond ring". :) Best diamond ring I ever was given! <br />
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Yes, at the moment we're only seeing one in that picture, and that's just fine with us! We couldn't be happier with God's blessing on us and look forward to sharing more pictures of his ultrasound viewed life with you all, our dear friends!<br />
Lou and KimKim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-16623956910462236442012-05-02T12:33:00.002-04:002012-05-02T12:33:43.833-04:00The Kitchen Cabinets-A Family Affair<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Dear Blogger Readers,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm a frightful blogger, I've discovered! I've been planning to update you all much sooner than this but its been just under 4 months since Lou came home and life hasn't stopped since then! Today's blog is all about our March/April project, which I loved seeing take shape but which also consumed many after work hours for Lou, who thrived on it! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lou at home in his little workshop ie. garage :) Nothing more attractive than a hardworking man!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lou's parents were discussing new kitchen cabinets and told Lou about the amazing amount of $$$$$$$ that such things end up running to. For instance, did you know that a handy drawer trash/recycle can holder can run you $500? Doesn't strike me as a luxury item but apparently in the world of Lowes/Home Depot kitchen cabinet installation, its just that. :) By the time Mom and Dad Crist pared their cabinets down to something close to realizable, they had lost all the cute "cubbies" and "extras". Lou came up with a solution,"Oh, I'll build you all some cabinets." LOL, I'm sure there are some smiles at that statement! But, this is my Lou we're talking about, so these cabinets weren't slapped together with 16 penny nails and some Elmers....although a lot of glue/fasteners were used in their creation! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The humble beginnings of a cabine<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">t</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lou has always wanted to build furniture, and for Christmas/homecoming I bought him a router/stand and then he supplemented each trip to Lowes with various helpful pieces for his workship, the latest being a table saw and drill press. He read several books religiously, kitchen cabinetry books littered our house, especially the bathroom, his favorite reading spot. :) </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAyySP1nxQ3cypdPmJ4lFtyaBiZVslelqgAXoMDqKI76FZn2sH_bZGQATnYUn2IY2phMjvKrzT_jxf8NB7-Lv1dmDkrbzNSFlm9Ch3bKBzmw0Da5c7789ZVYUywu_gQl3F91PDYmFDCk/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAyySP1nxQ3cypdPmJ4lFtyaBiZVslelqgAXoMDqKI76FZn2sH_bZGQATnYUn2IY2phMjvKrzT_jxf8NB7-Lv1dmDkrbzNSFlm9Ch3bKBzmw0Da5c7789ZVYUywu_gQl3F91PDYmFDCk/s320/DSC_0001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This set was designed for over the stovetop area.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For almost 3 weeks, he worked using the blueprints Dad Crist sent him to build custom sized cabinets. (I provided the moral support, nutrition, and sat on boards to stabilize them as he cut.)</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful inset hinges he measured and fitted to a "T"!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Then, at the end of March we packed up all our tools, managed to fit all the cabinets, them, our suitcases and a 4 wheeler in our pickup truck/pull along flatbed trailer and caravan-ed our way to New Jersey, where we spent 2 weeks installing and perfecting them! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> He built the drawers for the bases in New Jersey as well as some of the other more finicky pieces. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The
old kitchen had been in much use for the past 24 years and the cabinets
were a particle board combination, so the years had not been kind to
them!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhOolYDvpwp6ftlFIGvZKuE7wZXwXOHoQJ-TPDPFU-E6iZaqD0YiiZO5_2-02pTKNUMYa2pnxVqcQASVwAb8tuWWaUfbhLokh2te5JKvzs_sumzBYRyFVnVrmRaN1U4IyMZrGDwgagRg/s1600/DSC_0125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhOolYDvpwp6ftlFIGvZKuE7wZXwXOHoQJ-TPDPFU-E6iZaqD0YiiZO5_2-02pTKNUMYa2pnxVqcQASVwAb8tuWWaUfbhLokh2te5JKvzs_sumzBYRyFVnVrmRaN1U4IyMZrGDwgagRg/s320/DSC_0125.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two of the three amigos-Lou and his cousin Mark, also known as "General" in the COD world. :<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">)</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Dad, Lou, his brother Jesse and their cousin Mark worked
tirelessly on this masterpiece! They tore out the old cabinets, replaced
flooring where there had been water damaged, re-routed crazy plumbing,
installed new lighting, and installed the cabinets.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpzRw8VDyEn0FfhM7XepCdjc01eY9rG1qQFsf3mR47x28deakBKUh0cZhDTdgWjQe5NUyjQ50OV7Od1AswxiwM_yBCinJDt1-1O9cvezpsKulnB_YKb6p97qjP0cRbhLM5ZDUO3G5LpQ/s1600/DSC_0115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpzRw8VDyEn0FfhM7XepCdjc01eY9rG1qQFsf3mR47x28deakBKUh0cZhDTdgWjQe5NUyjQ50OV7Od1AswxiwM_yBCinJDt1-1O9cvezpsKulnB_YKb6p97qjP0cRbhLM5ZDUO3G5LpQ/s320/DSC_0115.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working hard as always<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">!</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYqMun986U-vyKqTn4bClxO3XQkb6SZ1bRwLsQ-pVT-iUSNRulehGAw-PS4jne_ZPSV6TLm6JuCZ56QYzVTfakLiuAxGs55msBjdUVMCX0259Dppvlozkx3li6uPBM2_8WSkFqeLoKDE/s1600/DSC_0142.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYqMun986U-vyKqTn4bClxO3XQkb6SZ1bRwLsQ-pVT-iUSNRulehGAw-PS4jne_ZPSV6TLm6JuCZ56QYzVTfakLiuAxGs55msBjdUVMCX0259Dppvlozkx3li6uPBM2_8WSkFqeLoKDE/s320/DSC_0142.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lou and Jess intent on the leveling process.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDHJIRzciRzP8Fx6dGTLwJdcQYgqTtJncn-G28g3CsbgjxiURxSjsGtxqd3819_z3PngT4GWmI0KFNjqgjT8wWXlNEadHuwTUX-S23riGRldrscG4lUmHaP-1n8PzsykXdKBvPCZNxvU/s1600/DSC_0145.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDHJIRzciRzP8Fx6dGTLwJdcQYgqTtJncn-G28g3CsbgjxiURxSjsGtxqd3819_z3PngT4GWmI0KFNjqgjT8wWXlNEadHuwTUX-S23riGRldrscG4lUmHaP-1n8PzsykXdKBvPCZNxvU/s320/DSC_0145.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A slight family resemblance! </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mom, Corrie and I admired and offered lots of compliments to help speed the process along. :) </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_PkACUylkZ4K0B3Qv7akjhn7Aa99F6U2I9BqdUx-MAPzsQawVX6jI2LNaFlxhU-1Vt-yLCjUyePc6Mw2sJO7kSG-3hWdWZuS5NuT-8WKXK0PIYX_h0BZ6QSfBAdW1eiciByp0zsfRFE/s1600/DSC_0258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_PkACUylkZ4K0B3Qv7akjhn7Aa99F6U2I9BqdUx-MAPzsQawVX6jI2LNaFlxhU-1Vt-yLCjUyePc6Mw2sJO7kSG-3hWdWZuS5NuT-8WKXK0PIYX_h0BZ6QSfBAdW1eiciByp0zsfRFE/s320/DSC_0258.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still in the process, just need a little paint and some pretty knobs/pulls!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We weren't able to complete the painting and handle installation by the time April 11th came along and our trip was at an end, but I just got the final product photos from them this morning....so here they are!!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilySAVWANDpjOSCMtLbgr5vdoIFaAKiBrNOUS3kTJqvqb9nXTEYqqFViANlZanHJwp4GzGt4vBn6SL51Fx7LrY6qKZkRFoBlOUnRZqerM4Q9n7UyQhD3EQKkF8YAR87uXfynZH9chm8ZE/s1600/kitchen+001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilySAVWANDpjOSCMtLbgr5vdoIFaAKiBrNOUS3kTJqvqb9nXTEYqqFViANlZanHJwp4GzGt4vBn6SL51Fx7LrY6qKZkRFoBlOUnRZqerM4Q9n7UyQhD3EQKkF8YAR87uXfynZH9chm8ZE/s320/kitchen+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>BEFORE DEMOLITION</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBXJh57Jj33O8DpkR-qK3qoQIgWArFBvKd__8t8wdjc628XT-5Gd2B9Itzmhs1DRungGw8p3xIeEWwbg95RO9CdFWrystCvEjcXg8efITRW5Gf1TFyfo6tX4ZBtUfMpLv0yq60iH5c-E/s1600/kim+cabinets+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBXJh57Jj33O8DpkR-qK3qoQIgWArFBvKd__8t8wdjc628XT-5Gd2B9Itzmhs1DRungGw8p3xIeEWwbg95RO9CdFWrystCvEjcXg8efITRW5Gf1TFyfo6tX4ZBtUfMpLv0yq60iH5c-E/s320/kim+cabinets+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>AFTER</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We found some lovely little delft blue and white knobs at Hobby Lobby, as the cabinets are a soft buttery yellow they went perfectly with Mom's theme! </span></span><br />
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The drawer pulls are an especial favorite of mine.<br />
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The smaller cabinets on top all open and close normally, and they are decorated with smaller coordinating porcelain knobs from Hobby Lobby. <br />
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Dad's favorite sign is hung above the kitchen sink window in this decorative display box Lou built for them, teehee! He always reminds me of this truth when we come to visit. :) Mark installed the inset lighting and also the undercabinet lighting.<br />
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Still needs just a little paint and a stove hood, but it looks stunning!<br />
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Partially opened and to the left of the dishwasher is their own trash/recycling pull out drawer that Lou created, as well as the cubbies above on the left to hold Dad's "important documents". :)<br />
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We're so very pleased with how it all turned out! Lou did mention that he might lay off cabinets for a while on our drive home to Kentucky, for at least a month anyways! Just in case you might think this is all we did, we did manage to spend our Easter Sunday with a wonderful morning sermon and worship followed by lunch.......<br />
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with the Olson cousins and Grandma Grace, good conversation, and delicious food. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter Bonnets and Best!</td></tr>
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This shot Corrie took is so fun I had to share it with you! I love how it focuses in on Mom Crist's pearls and the whisking of the gravy.<br />
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We were also able to spend some time with Lou's cousin's family and <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWp70wtUmT9_ssj2cWe0dl5TRRg0T2wBpSMn11lK3vplBhKRJX-vm4CQiP9oR2Rj7Dfi_xoDNvKKywUCb91wMW4lRMI9pysUI_kSeJdaa_fG0nNvxY6T_thMW-_syVfCgFvFXHLIQRpoo/s1600/DSC_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWp70wtUmT9_ssj2cWe0dl5TRRg0T2wBpSMn11lK3vplBhKRJX-vm4CQiP9oR2Rj7Dfi_xoDNvKKywUCb91wMW4lRMI9pysUI_kSeJdaa_fG0nNvxY6T_thMW-_syVfCgFvFXHLIQRpoo/s320/DSC_0078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Uncle Bob and Aunt Judy came for a visit!<br />
All in all, it was a great time....Lou and I even squeezed in a trip to Atlantic City, NJ for what everyone goes to Atlantic City for, right? I mean thrift store shopping, of course! Wow, we (Lou and I) were in awe, managing to fall into a Salvation Army full of treasures-cashmeres and brand names. We walked out $350 invested in clothing for our Ebay site, an incredible 2 hours' worth of rack searching! Speaking of which, I'd better finish this up and begin listing! Hope you all enjoyed our latest project and I'll be blogging again soon with pictures of my friend Whitney's lovely wedding in Virginia...or with pictures of our new painting scheme for our home here in Vine Grove, Kentucky! Until then, may the Lord bless you all in life's little adventures!<br />
Kim for the CristsKim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-54595034256141308062012-01-10T19:12:00.003-05:002012-01-10T19:25:49.103-05:00Anatomy of a Soldier's Homecoming<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dear Interested Readers and Fans,</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">1LT Louis John Crist arrived home safely to Fort Knox on January 2nd, 2012 at 0130am! The brigade was coming home, we were told in December, but the dates were not set and we weren't even sure when he would leave country (country is code for "Afghanistan"). The standard procedure was that the main contact person each soldier designated during deployment would receive a 72 hour, 12 hour and 4 hour phone call from the automated E-Army messaging system. The 72 hour call was to let me know that the plane carrying Louis had left Manas, Kyrgyzstan, from there he would fly to Germany and the 12 hour call would come to announce that the plane was in the air from Germany to the United States. The plane landed in Bangor, Maine for a layover and then on to Louisville Airport, its final destination. When the information was disseminated to us families awaiting our soldiers, we were told that we would receive a 4 hour notification. This call would let us know that the soldiers had indeed landed in Louisville. From the airport they were taken by bus on an hour long drive to the fort, placed in a secure location and completed necessary paperwork and exams prior to being driven to meet their families. In the meantime, the families gathered at the large auditorium of the gymnasium on post with signs, flags and mounting excitement! The 3/1 Brigade flew back home in multiple flights which were days apart and called "Main Body" followed by a number. Lou was on "Main Body Flight 7", but that flight # was changed several times in the last week prior to the men leaving Afghanistan. The change in flights and numbers leads to mass confusion as wives and families cannot be certain their soldier is on an actual flight until they get the "72 hour notification". At that time, the wheels of the plane have left the ground and there is no opportunity for changes on the roster. All this leads to a LOT of nervous anticipation in the last weeks of deployment! Flight information, times and locations cannot be posted online or emailed because of the need for security. How devastating it would be to expect to welcome your soldier home and then instead receive a call that his plane had been targeted by terrorists. The frustrating part of this is that families and friends really have no idea when the guys are coming, how the process works, and they miss out on being able to participate unless they are local. I had several notifications of Flight #7 leaving on a specific date and then a subsequent notification would inform me that it had been postponed to a later date, only several hours later to be told that it was moved back up again! Lou's family decided to make the drive from New Jersey earlier in the week and they came in on Saturday, New Years Eve. We heard a rumor that Lou's Welcome Home ceremony would be held at midnight on New Years so we all played it safe on the Eve and had an early(ier) than midnight bedtime! The next morning on our way to church I got the 12 hour notification, but much to my dismay the Welcome Home Ceremony was announced to be at 9 am the following morning. I couldn't understand the discrepancy so I verified it with our point of contact and the message had been mis-recorded, it was after all to be sometime around midnight! Poor Mom was disappointed that there was not to be a night of rest after all, but instead we would be up and about waiting at the gym come midnight, however I don't think I would have slept a wink had they changed the times....Dad was teasing me about Mom hacking into the system to change the time just so we all could sleep that night! :) We spent the day counting down possible hours, decorating the house, and putting finishing touches on Welcome Home signs and banners.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg329ae-03A7QnA3XaFoHzk9S_ZssVi9e-4iXXQp2vTIZwiZr4fT_VFpyOOFg0T9Q3N_YSH1R0OU6SfxPJJzfcDYhBevM71FHLZAheWMBGV1MGu1NhpJ-rcZHIvKIIKqYXmmWSQ2PDy8Fs/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+251.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg329ae-03A7QnA3XaFoHzk9S_ZssVi9e-4iXXQp2vTIZwiZr4fT_VFpyOOFg0T9Q3N_YSH1R0OU6SfxPJJzfcDYhBevM71FHLZAheWMBGV1MGu1NhpJ-rcZHIvKIIKqYXmmWSQ2PDy8Fs/s320/Crist+welcome+home+251.JPG" width="213" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jess and Dad discovered Oceans' 12 for the first time and went from 12 to Ocean's 11, passing the time. Mom and I tried to nap a little, but I'm not sure I ever did. We finally received the "4 hour out" call which stated that the ceremony had been moved to 1 am. So, a little after 1130pm we bundled up and drove to the fort. Several of my dear friends were there to celebrate homecomings too, it was a night of such excitement and nerves!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL17cOaGDgKfXEE0iGUg24y0mSOekZWkhWy45XL5gujj5h1fN49BWX1nyL377m_65MeWtA4AQ6ROkr9fUHOw13jq6jli25njGhmhdvAjKeZKXHw-c77I_BlFTH2hJ4ZqAZxDNq0ZmLjpI/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL17cOaGDgKfXEE0iGUg24y0mSOekZWkhWy45XL5gujj5h1fN49BWX1nyL377m_65MeWtA4AQ6ROkr9fUHOw13jq6jli25njGhmhdvAjKeZKXHw-c77I_BlFTH2hJ4ZqAZxDNq0ZmLjpI/s320/Crist+welcome+home+235.JPG" width="213" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHR2U4ghi7vdqiJZPBNeUEt6q2_aJ5iVo9DDzvL5jPnC_8sD8qUWV58InLVAavg6eGN-8G7PzEVDtxQ8mxXVkH98gn6Juzolc9n1YUHv84GUrh849w0xLW-RQD0Y3LduPJLpSLpkQsbE/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHR2U4ghi7vdqiJZPBNeUEt6q2_aJ5iVo9DDzvL5jPnC_8sD8qUWV58InLVAavg6eGN-8G7PzEVDtxQ8mxXVkH98gn6Juzolc9n1YUHv84GUrh849w0xLW-RQD0Y3LduPJLpSLpkQsbE/s320/Crist+welcome+home+245.JPG" width="213" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMN7Y5wt24LqZPjl8BxEmXxxWkptaqi94UgjUSuvYltRMV0Pd_lchQE-Kh7rbpukhs9y6hLDeRsnI5rvE1cMV_LL31fPD3G69pplqxyYffCx6_VM7DvZoZkssto4-GbrrRugK6t0njKX0/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+238.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMN7Y5wt24LqZPjl8BxEmXxxWkptaqi94UgjUSuvYltRMV0Pd_lchQE-Kh7rbpukhs9y6hLDeRsnI5rvE1cMV_LL31fPD3G69pplqxyYffCx6_VM7DvZoZkssto4-GbrrRugK6t0njKX0/s320/Crist+welcome+home+238.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpkHToNSl95rzwJ0p7Y18mHULZZu5H2GGM7f-u83yrwZn9dhBp_-W9NIka3iNBhvjP_pW3WGZd8GJqvg4a1jG8uyJtLLPasMbomnJOx-MhQEi1a2Oc8R5bfeVFafRJA9ykZmML6b4g4Q/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpkHToNSl95rzwJ0p7Y18mHULZZu5H2GGM7f-u83yrwZn9dhBp_-W9NIka3iNBhvjP_pW3WGZd8GJqvg4a1jG8uyJtLLPasMbomnJOx-MhQEi1a2Oc8R5bfeVFafRJA9ykZmML6b4g4Q/s320/Crist+welcome+home+246.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As it turned out, one of the colonels and several other higher ranking officers were on Main Body #7 so the auditorium was packed, no seats to be had! We ended up standing on the left side of the building towards the front but I found a small hole in the bleachers and climbed up balancing precariously on my 4" heels. I'm thankful I decided to live dangerously that night and wear them as it made me tall enough to actually see what was going on amid the throng and Lou spotted me as well! :) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFwgMHZ5Yn2YkkeeWW_A2SV6nT0_OXZOcL1nIfWlSfjPUq_bOGSmPpjJjLx6biGtfaQgDVgKHyvPco1HRnmLoy6dey4AGA8LyRCjx1INlpuU5cICSUx099AaPHSCkALSPhLgLAmcCnms/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFwgMHZ5Yn2YkkeeWW_A2SV6nT0_OXZOcL1nIfWlSfjPUq_bOGSmPpjJjLx6biGtfaQgDVgKHyvPco1HRnmLoy6dey4AGA8LyRCjx1INlpuU5cICSUx099AaPHSCkALSPhLgLAmcCnms/s400/Crist+welcome+home+258.JPG" width="266" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">At this point we're all just standing and waiting, the soldiers come in behind a large screen and are supposed to be hidden from sight but the folks in the highest bleachers can see them file in and they start a cheer that fills the entire auditorium and sends shivers through you! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SOVqWTCGEUbDnvZ5-6WgC2U_Q9Fi9KlNaLn19imY_Vsigfer7VcH4gYA1xBnikq3TpKdkwEzjuNJbgzlWZJKRDmyHaAerZkumFq2QsO4A0YpZ3TnsbLjCgbiydx-gKaXCp5-pyvCJDc/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+259.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SOVqWTCGEUbDnvZ5-6WgC2U_Q9Fi9KlNaLn19imY_Vsigfer7VcH4gYA1xBnikq3TpKdkwEzjuNJbgzlWZJKRDmyHaAerZkumFq2QsO4A0YpZ3TnsbLjCgbiydx-gKaXCp5-pyvCJDc/s400/Crist+welcome+home+259.JPG" width="266" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Mom is just minutes away from seeing her beloved son, alive and smiling!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21VYjbuSzZHDq5MBvikMfhvf_J5pLlbh3OqSn7LJMDbOjTBoETWNNg8aKx72-Tn3JMaJs8YvoyHvydKp3aq8WPTdCKM6VraOj1EYzZ3R_t09QBLVl7B-ziejLmn8emRoDs3BnGx-AjGI/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+262.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21VYjbuSzZHDq5MBvikMfhvf_J5pLlbh3OqSn7LJMDbOjTBoETWNNg8aKx72-Tn3JMaJs8YvoyHvydKp3aq8WPTdCKM6VraOj1EYzZ3R_t09QBLVl7B-ziejLmn8emRoDs3BnGx-AjGI/s400/Crist+welcome+home+262.JPG" width="216" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Corrie took great care in cutting and decorating several different signs for the homecoming, Lou's platoon is the "Penguins", patterned after the Madagascar Penguins, a group of secret operatives who say things like,"Smile and Wave" or "Cute and Cuddly, Boys" to disarm the enemy! Lou loves the Penguins and quoted them incessantly when he became platoon leader. The movement caught on, eventually he created a penguin craze that prompted the platoon's name change and even their own personalized T-shirts!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Dcw4-qeiwC6JTaG1lnjmahj7yE6efqzeAvVplq1TZWQHN8lo-ne2bsrXorB974vsB9RylVYyGyx4Mg7Pt8ibueKRzaMBb9-EN9aK5Si1wcH-ymxk2jpzqtgECcICmsM0uKIhEIqcVo4/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Dcw4-qeiwC6JTaG1lnjmahj7yE6efqzeAvVplq1TZWQHN8lo-ne2bsrXorB974vsB9RylVYyGyx4Mg7Pt8ibueKRzaMBb9-EN9aK5Si1wcH-ymxk2jpzqtgECcICmsM0uKIhEIqcVo4/s320/Crist+welcome+home+264.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The crowd was cheering and shouting as the boys filed in behind the curtain. Music playing...I think it was Toby Keith's Courtesy of the Red,White and Blue but its all a bit of a blur right now. Dad waited for a pause and then shouted,"Louie" with all his lung capacity.....later Lou said that he heard it loud and clear through the din!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0Rptci_FfW-_KPYUg0pYnKltEwRZpSZolNeA3GZq8VjX6Yy82kbzXxYodttjI34qr9P7BwB_24EwONGKLW51GzthyphenhyphenG5Ix4Bz73onOtWU94bn7XnVjVfFQqk_TIxCyaAhprH6tcyRDeI/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0Rptci_FfW-_KPYUg0pYnKltEwRZpSZolNeA3GZq8VjX6Yy82kbzXxYodttjI34qr9P7BwB_24EwONGKLW51GzthyphenhyphenG5Ix4Bz73onOtWU94bn7XnVjVfFQqk_TIxCyaAhprH6tcyRDeI/s320/Crist+welcome+home+276.JPG" width="320" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the anticipation was overwhelming, I think we just couldn't believe the day (night) had finally arrived! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTFgLmFuymi5hGK-3m7zudqv-QpqPV0VyJ21Ab6vecprtRoxJ655BAs-BAN8LdkYOOxDa7VuOOF_9ixMIJz11QaJ8u4Owp0we3vf-HV-smWgU29vsHOulKvpStuR38pMvby5kECpjMf0/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoTFgLmFuymi5hGK-3m7zudqv-QpqPV0VyJ21Ab6vecprtRoxJ655BAs-BAN8LdkYOOxDa7VuOOF_9ixMIJz11QaJ8u4Owp0we3vf-HV-smWgU29vsHOulKvpStuR38pMvby5kECpjMf0/s320/Crist+welcome+home+271.JPG" width="213" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcA6gn9jzqjC5E0G6SsNHunSiYORT79n_tr63NGLliQE1RaJ5d44pCx_8u0JozvFafczLnOiVTB2k4CJnSco_mUtC9sABrtjrbXk3HdnDpfAabSJMuZjFxaeWTSHg5nNn-89RN_sduY0/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcA6gn9jzqjC5E0G6SsNHunSiYORT79n_tr63NGLliQE1RaJ5d44pCx_8u0JozvFafczLnOiVTB2k4CJnSco_mUtC9sABrtjrbXk3HdnDpfAabSJMuZjFxaeWTSHg5nNn-89RN_sduY0/s320/Crist+welcome+home+293.JPG" width="213" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The curtain began its slow agonizing rise....American Soldier playing.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoq4w6QWhPBgWVuL_Tv1YxFhJL1xMHIyXxl6IbpIvgKh5t3iqhytoJkKpQRWV-evUdOmk6c-t4MUDsbNWn-oOH0IXWGAqNzc6lWWEDb7B0f4M9kJmCRZaEn6a-4ersjXlgeKPbvxXb8g/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoq4w6QWhPBgWVuL_Tv1YxFhJL1xMHIyXxl6IbpIvgKh5t3iqhytoJkKpQRWV-evUdOmk6c-t4MUDsbNWn-oOH0IXWGAqNzc6lWWEDb7B0f4M9kJmCRZaEn6a-4ersjXlgeKPbvxXb8g/s400/Crist+welcome+home+294.JPG" width="266" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> We're all hoping for a glimpse of him...but there are over 300 camouflaged soldiers in that group. Unless he's over 6'5", he's nicely um, "camouflaged". </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLdooE1FkKxVKTUAY5jaRCioGeKB5wnBdOSfZGVZs9RThdBpXK2M_Y0FxMyEVZigFEfWuHhieuxAneyqmda-4fVUAZ3qOBOSFgAi1bPbLN1vMSi5_lWAO0-m2wVW0oCxgJ_EjPgxrhnY/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLdooE1FkKxVKTUAY5jaRCioGeKB5wnBdOSfZGVZs9RThdBpXK2M_Y0FxMyEVZigFEfWuHhieuxAneyqmda-4fVUAZ3qOBOSFgAi1bPbLN1vMSi5_lWAO0-m2wVW0oCxgJ_EjPgxrhnY/s320/Crist+welcome+home+303.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JQW03D48NjzpEHBVNa6TlVMNPTHwZuwRgYVsOmOG0m0Aw9wIoGRy8RTYhNYQTlw3sjQ7pTS1TF5OKy0pdtLVufDdldL43EBRWUus8-0S3aDKGpQcP23QlVkXMIblZRn90ab1xOvj_38/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JQW03D48NjzpEHBVNa6TlVMNPTHwZuwRgYVsOmOG0m0Aw9wIoGRy8RTYhNYQTlw3sjQ7pTS1TF5OKy0pdtLVufDdldL43EBRWUus8-0S3aDKGpQcP23QlVkXMIblZRn90ab1xOvj_38/s320/Crist+welcome+home+307.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I think I see him...although its so hard to tell. I see this familiar ear shape...and then his eyes....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Z8IxEfYoxRX6lyhJDObydmdkXoc7Dzj6hbj194akWqWCMYY43LXCV9yq_jI4oi0spU8Fcjueh6Ro_pMtledkDV9OJRj2r-C_fuQ9nC2n1LLL0ftxkvyF7klCoZlt-ZiHuQuJE8LdepI/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Z8IxEfYoxRX6lyhJDObydmdkXoc7Dzj6hbj194akWqWCMYY43LXCV9yq_jI4oi0spU8Fcjueh6Ro_pMtledkDV9OJRj2r-C_fuQ9nC2n1LLL0ftxkvyF7klCoZlt-ZiHuQuJE8LdepI/s320/Crist+welcome+home+310.JPG" width="320" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now we're all straining trying to pick him out of the crowd. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtozGwoD_GzmbS7xrt3btjatmklxBIDaQH7aot1uLCGlYe4N-joNGctpr_W6783YJ_g_Hpi1QMZtQoaoGy3lWIqG_iC38XmpUBqY5xhnkwCnNF6E-twl-xCGGgYBzQHZ72T7C6tIXVleU/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtozGwoD_GzmbS7xrt3btjatmklxBIDaQH7aot1uLCGlYe4N-joNGctpr_W6783YJ_g_Hpi1QMZtQoaoGy3lWIqG_iC38XmpUBqY5xhnkwCnNF6E-twl-xCGGgYBzQHZ72T7C6tIXVleU/s320/Crist+welcome+home+315.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The music continues and the emotions are electric in that room</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-XuyKyTfWVjcGNzaTrQhk0MnMu4suSkuIpezJ_UTDsuLa3gWpr_ScLQ1BLW5N562Z4p4kKn2fs9kDVN38uitHnVy7Vd_DliH-gkIQFVvA2WYVRY8HnOIKFpBe_cc73WqU2elBfKdzcQ/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-XuyKyTfWVjcGNzaTrQhk0MnMu4suSkuIpezJ_UTDsuLa3gWpr_ScLQ1BLW5N562Z4p4kKn2fs9kDVN38uitHnVy7Vd_DliH-gkIQFVvA2WYVRY8HnOIKFpBe_cc73WqU2elBfKdzcQ/s320/Crist+welcome+home+322.JPG" width="213" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> And I couldn't believe I was laying my eyes on him "3rd row from the left, 3rd back" in real life and that he was really home to stay....so I did what any sensible person would have done in that moment...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkKKDVVFw_2UCnCpsIBh65C96aXd1ZAFA_wcIx2KO8NmAvtu0DbJkwk59uGbgLCfGKa9v_lPcEFTX9peRK9BE0yh6rGgjrd6AXCoAr1WjRKU1VR5E0JM505QV_pBfs37jq425yEp7RlQ/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkKKDVVFw_2UCnCpsIBh65C96aXd1ZAFA_wcIx2KO8NmAvtu0DbJkwk59uGbgLCfGKa9v_lPcEFTX9peRK9BE0yh6rGgjrd6AXCoAr1WjRKU1VR5E0JM505QV_pBfs37jq425yEp7RlQ/s320/Crist+welcome+home+324.JPG" width="213" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> The whistling and shouting continued as the music played on.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAV6-gHiy0HZN-SbeHmpHeryEH60zpc-TlJ1EWcs7hiWuvFh3M_AVefg45vMXDiWk2uuq3OaeN1gYiMXMEeHW8fydBcsMrkDRDQ4S_J8YaIC4i9x9eMfxeYKHQc8vyGlPinIRMntu_4U/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAV6-gHiy0HZN-SbeHmpHeryEH60zpc-TlJ1EWcs7hiWuvFh3M_AVefg45vMXDiWk2uuq3OaeN1gYiMXMEeHW8fydBcsMrkDRDQ4S_J8YaIC4i9x9eMfxeYKHQc8vyGlPinIRMntu_4U/s320/Crist+welcome+home+328.JPG" width="213" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Then the soldiers must stand at attention as the Star Spangled Banner plays...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-e_eyTerKIojIOvTrARRBinvw0cLQsLX51The7ab4hXHPXDm1uHgDkfk545x8x_NSjoPIquzSS-TURgFMsLOHvJp7DiSswdudjhcCj5mmqUjX94pdhtZp8FkeQNxLWXj5P8oBFPujuzc/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-e_eyTerKIojIOvTrARRBinvw0cLQsLX51The7ab4hXHPXDm1uHgDkfk545x8x_NSjoPIquzSS-TURgFMsLOHvJp7DiSswdudjhcCj5mmqUjX94pdhtZp8FkeQNxLWXj5P8oBFPujuzc/s320/Crist+welcome+home+331.JPG" width="219" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwH7CuAC8IsTOddhbC-nfL5ayQEKdFBJ9oZfuSOPj9um72aM4UloARUqfM8fj9QLtyrmHx_na5ANrULuYY4hUPph33vnmHrMvPJRGCf0aUw2Eq1HW2zmXNmzYTzLW27yECiYuc0rMREI/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwH7CuAC8IsTOddhbC-nfL5ayQEKdFBJ9oZfuSOPj9um72aM4UloARUqfM8fj9QLtyrmHx_na5ANrULuYY4hUPph33vnmHrMvPJRGCf0aUw2Eq1HW2zmXNmzYTzLW27yECiYuc0rMREI/s320/Crist+welcome+home+332.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> And we're all thinking,"Hurry up, hurry up!" Speeches that were incredibly and uncharacteristically short were made, then we were told to "Go Get Them!" I jumped off the bleacher without spraining my ankle in the process and fought through a milling crowd to the man I thought was my husband....and fortunately it was him, not a random soldier who happened to return my crazy jumping up and down, laughing and waving with a smile at attention. What a blessing to have him in my arms! What a night! What a reunion! Words cannot describe it all......</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNoLsUmd6O2RDP4QX27fme6z1XIuH5m9cMJsUF0m_pUKfSS6JSR3KzVlQvu2ilrRoWQeiOiHPSFkHl4-lcJrrL54spACljGDWLmfRG1fmdd-Ez36M43zzf5HCyO3rOZ-reifMpxcO6uQ/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNoLsUmd6O2RDP4QX27fme6z1XIuH5m9cMJsUF0m_pUKfSS6JSR3KzVlQvu2ilrRoWQeiOiHPSFkHl4-lcJrrL54spACljGDWLmfRG1fmdd-Ez36M43zzf5HCyO3rOZ-reifMpxcO6uQ/s320/Crist+welcome+home+345.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oknh_AMSYx9U9hSoh5gPwyNxkKNXMJ4eX0OHqyKCj6MTPNvbtuQHCBAACU-pyXjV98tgPkVI8WFin3G-dY7ahzwlQ2O9rHEtKJUPoHWiB5UROGYAqP_2L6zUMj6irsSn7veSV0OiYsk/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oknh_AMSYx9U9hSoh5gPwyNxkKNXMJ4eX0OHqyKCj6MTPNvbtuQHCBAACU-pyXjV98tgPkVI8WFin3G-dY7ahzwlQ2O9rHEtKJUPoHWiB5UROGYAqP_2L6zUMj6irsSn7veSV0OiYsk/s320/Crist+welcome+home+353.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYcsFh1Px67xcjJU9AFrFZT-7eMWoOlctlV1IB5S09zQQvDdHD9DSxvwGOdQgOVLqy_TPmbs3U-dgiwH2Qs2k3CUe34oMImAaJLTnganEqoGhp1kcA3YZoBifkBg-Uvzn7dwR0IqfOLo/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYcsFh1Px67xcjJU9AFrFZT-7eMWoOlctlV1IB5S09zQQvDdHD9DSxvwGOdQgOVLqy_TPmbs3U-dgiwH2Qs2k3CUe34oMImAaJLTnganEqoGhp1kcA3YZoBifkBg-Uvzn7dwR0IqfOLo/s320/Crist+welcome+home+355.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWU0k6C__6IMJRw_CCDzX8Iq42zoF-rc2V4kY4xkKuCSGVdY6RSFkDXKIITI5pMJoS1WVb1opciqDiRUQA8WvZc0t9nI2S2HpcgzsWiBoT9LxVELvnjpQBRNi0NCl8BEcamLAoICLHClQ/s1600/Crist+welcome+home+382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWU0k6C__6IMJRw_CCDzX8Iq42zoF-rc2V4kY4xkKuCSGVdY6RSFkDXKIITI5pMJoS1WVb1opciqDiRUQA8WvZc0t9nI2S2HpcgzsWiBoT9LxVELvnjpQBRNi0NCl8BEcamLAoICLHClQ/s320/Crist+welcome+home+382.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">After what felt like an eternity of waiting and wondering, 2011 was at an end.......</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Welcome Home Baby!</span> </div>Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-83322034945710843572011-10-17T23:07:00.001-04:002011-10-17T23:25:31.463-04:00Pictures, Not Pitchers....I remember reading a book as a teenager in which the word picture was consistently mispronounced "pitcher"...I can't remember what book that was, but I feel as though it must have come from a Lucy Maude Montgomery or Louisa May Alcott novel. Country folks in those books mispronounced with a vengeance! Here in Kentucky I've been asked more than once,"You from eastern Kentucky? You ain't got an accent." Yes, from the east. No, not from east Kentucky. :)<br />
So speaking of pitchers and what not, while Lou was home, we decided to have some taken. I found a girl at Fort Knox who was more than willing to do a shoot and all we needed was a location. I was stumped when she told me,"Pick out a place that is meaningful to you guys" since we had gotten to Kentucky in October 2010, Lou deployed in January...and in those 3 months we had spent the majority of our time either remodeling the house or at Lowes purchasing materials to remodel with. "Meaningful place..Umm, Lowes? No, guess that won't do. How about our yard? Our house?" Both are meaningful but not exactly what she probably had in mind. :) In the end, when Lou came home I still hadn't found a spot but Mom and Dad's great idea to ride bikes in West Point, KY, a town about 10 minutes away, yielded us the perfect location! Historic for many reasons, West Point is situated on the Ohio River as you head up to Louisville and at this point in time its mainly known for its tendency to flood and literally be under water during fiercely rainy spring seasons. In fact, this spring I took a picture of the water as it covered most of the town's homes' first floors. From the road, it appears to be a run down and poor community, with lots of yard debris and peeling buildings. But, if you venture past 31W's peek and into the streets closer to the Ohio River, there are beautiful historic older homes and scenery to be excited about! At one particular house, Meriweather Lewis spent the night and Jenny Lind sang on its front porch. General Sherman housed his troops there....not that I'm a Sherman (wo)man but for all you Civil War buffs, thought you'd enjoy this tidbit. :)<br />
Enough history, I wanted to share with you all the beautiful photos she took that morning. This was halfway through Lou's R and R and as I look at these photos now I have such good memories of that day and the amazing man I am blessed to be married to! Most were shot as candids as we goofed off and walked around. Lou was in rare form that day and we laughed more than normal! Hope you enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8weIIb28_2yZPmxUrKD8Mv3zzo50ixXpztLH5lQ13aG6aKGo-Rnw7prMEhr7e5oCPpBMRe_pk1CinZM22RGCMFWAsORbOQhqdJGEFnwmgv2Vgi8S958DrWvuMfGBHEUrpVkds6JCKzFI/s1600/Crist+family+006+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8weIIb28_2yZPmxUrKD8Mv3zzo50ixXpztLH5lQ13aG6aKGo-Rnw7prMEhr7e5oCPpBMRe_pk1CinZM22RGCMFWAsORbOQhqdJGEFnwmgv2Vgi8S958DrWvuMfGBHEUrpVkds6JCKzFI/s320/Crist+family+006+%25282%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlooking the Ohio River but not each other...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLNcKNFX3aP7KWTCWiUX2A3jJ-GiY4GY_EarFmZyjJSpbeWXMnhirOZYxsjdfpydYFCpxUp4hDNVw3hMbTgpnOeRHee68C4Uo2SAkEBkxyu9MTFeOoz1E1t37LHcTSn5U29O0kz6RLeY/s1600/Crist+family+010+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLNcKNFX3aP7KWTCWiUX2A3jJ-GiY4GY_EarFmZyjJSpbeWXMnhirOZYxsjdfpydYFCpxUp4hDNVw3hMbTgpnOeRHee68C4Uo2SAkEBkxyu9MTFeOoz1E1t37LHcTSn5U29O0kz6RLeY/s320/Crist+family+010+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So happy to be together again...Lou teasing as usual!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxmVXmNWvLrsPwIcG74bWhxQ8AL1gzervOok0sI0ssHOKZru1LnfG64m7hdyX8aZ3Sf8nNVkPIFMcx_3KSOvGsGh1s_6_cIBZ31YKW5yv2Blh8Z9FWZR9IwkKDubScNvaSA3Q7sAjGqA/s1600/Crist+family+019+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxmVXmNWvLrsPwIcG74bWhxQ8AL1gzervOok0sI0ssHOKZru1LnfG64m7hdyX8aZ3Sf8nNVkPIFMcx_3KSOvGsGh1s_6_cIBZ31YKW5yv2Blh8Z9FWZR9IwkKDubScNvaSA3Q7sAjGqA/s320/Crist+family+019+%25282%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What an amazing and loving man I'm married to</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgia4YJP98-vsxJXbR9Xh3rgkwfiI_yEjHG1iBBZ0WIB4wlQcdPfdBXOvx0ug4rC1x9p8KwWnrdTKnznjUi4M1SV2cVG6UkS6J8_8HcTEFWrGmQuhNEfjp5zD5Vd_KeSRAQ3kM_HKd0NXE/s1600/Crist+family+023+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgia4YJP98-vsxJXbR9Xh3rgkwfiI_yEjHG1iBBZ0WIB4wlQcdPfdBXOvx0ug4rC1x9p8KwWnrdTKnznjUi4M1SV2cVG6UkS6J8_8HcTEFWrGmQuhNEfjp5zD5Vd_KeSRAQ3kM_HKd0NXE/s320/Crist+family+023+%25283%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've changed over these last 8 months, but our love is just the same</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MvhmSU4KcO0TjM6-P7I_bkC6PU3VxIqgX4BffMtPSM54b2baDTK54fR1wzLTj64_AgEiXAZ0cWN39l4wDqTsPO9yQwu4TMHTO31tOQbmMGjHSqYkkfaE5QxyvXzbN99G5xN5Hkdy0Sk/s1600/Crist+family+026+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MvhmSU4KcO0TjM6-P7I_bkC6PU3VxIqgX4BffMtPSM54b2baDTK54fR1wzLTj64_AgEiXAZ0cWN39l4wDqTsPO9yQwu4TMHTO31tOQbmMGjHSqYkkfaE5QxyvXzbN99G5xN5Hkdy0Sk/s320/Crist+family+026+%25282%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So, I told Lou on the way there,"I want to get some kissing pictures, Honey" and he was like,"Kissing pictures?? What is this?" But then, as soon as the shoot started he went all out and the results made for romantic photos!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWmauv4o7q-zHisCMVCjMzjSOLz7Lhi1tz0N1a1bjAqJ2lrl2CHWOXhmvaY_0m5_2xwJcYdsokNujqO3qtL29O7AhUSUc0JQPyAs6ckIvpLtCZ9oRWd7hwkww5LR2C-n-LVzxgsho7GM/s1600/Crist+family+033+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWmauv4o7q-zHisCMVCjMzjSOLz7Lhi1tz0N1a1bjAqJ2lrl2CHWOXhmvaY_0m5_2xwJcYdsokNujqO3qtL29O7AhUSUc0JQPyAs6ckIvpLtCZ9oRWd7hwkww5LR2C-n-LVzxgsho7GM/s320/Crist+family+033+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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"Cheeks" is what Lou calls this..he sticks out his cheek for a kiss and says that with a little boy asking for candy look!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJ7RQosqWhZqZ-pxjttIX1nb4yUojHsJz0aMt8zi7OIP0iKDjKBZwTMDxU55d8yDZP19iaUENyOvDng9yiUqRAee2JpgwI801xr4GKqEKY70ap_CRAu2UPHlIM7iqwm7_dXOjRfxh5FQ/s1600/Crist+family+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJ7RQosqWhZqZ-pxjttIX1nb4yUojHsJz0aMt8zi7OIP0iKDjKBZwTMDxU55d8yDZP19iaUENyOvDng9yiUqRAee2JpgwI801xr4GKqEKY70ap_CRAu2UPHlIM7iqwm7_dXOjRfxh5FQ/s320/Crist+family+028.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And like a little boy, I'm pretty sure he was acting up at this point!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_aKozb9p8jvidjSlyRTAdmJTCuk-gbvO2e2ArARY-a_bbE0KxqGvuvgEM6BKYes4aBGnGkngJA9-3_4SEns1vfumHaJu9NNmNW1zUU1mXP45ziH1e1E3sjDigld6FhK2RSF1YltKnV0/s1600/Crist+family+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_aKozb9p8jvidjSlyRTAdmJTCuk-gbvO2e2ArARY-a_bbE0KxqGvuvgEM6BKYes4aBGnGkngJA9-3_4SEns1vfumHaJu9NNmNW1zUU1mXP45ziH1e1E3sjDigld6FhK2RSF1YltKnV0/s320/Crist+family+039.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could stay in this moment for a long time</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEflMmWJHxIYjRWca8RnqtleQI-fK6kb-J3HpOkqQ_KrJY-dCthfmVXtvxw6MDxzHNZzxoaDt0QKiuQ94No7dMKSjsU1C0rPYYBcNFSCwtdK5hQrl3XvXfBdThvXyuvf3kRorSHgh4xA/s1600/Crist+family+048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEflMmWJHxIYjRWca8RnqtleQI-fK6kb-J3HpOkqQ_KrJY-dCthfmVXtvxw6MDxzHNZzxoaDt0QKiuQ94No7dMKSjsU1C0rPYYBcNFSCwtdK5hQrl3XvXfBdThvXyuvf3kRorSHgh4xA/s320/Crist+family+048.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was an outdoor chimney...so we climbed in...like normal people do. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPq6JmUlqyOVQmJ-Gx72sINY6zZb2uMvlYPUdy7gg2fc8pjWfWsULBdnyi6pihlMKWQqlhpFwYuZimQzapC3MAArdT0AMuH4S5Gc8ieXHJlKKNIhXZYzujaJ_pV6o_a1sTBQ5f3SKobA/s1600/Crist+family+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPq6JmUlqyOVQmJ-Gx72sINY6zZb2uMvlYPUdy7gg2fc8pjWfWsULBdnyi6pihlMKWQqlhpFwYuZimQzapC3MAArdT0AMuH4S5Gc8ieXHJlKKNIhXZYzujaJ_pV6o_a1sTBQ5f3SKobA/s320/Crist+family+058.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"How much do you weigh again??" I think we should have had this photo shoot BEFORE we spent an entire week eating anything and everything our hearts desired!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyK4FUuaFoKhVyce4Zvq_Cd26g_WEmZ2xbeYosp2p2oU1Mc8bEuqHOOjJ8hDsXPXefLrCnGl0xZ40eCfoFiPS_S1wtSvSe-VPqZSnndmyZ_NqOHNKrTeXf5FeuO1HG4co2GE1ZrV6tys/s1600/Crist+family+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyK4FUuaFoKhVyce4Zvq_Cd26g_WEmZ2xbeYosp2p2oU1Mc8bEuqHOOjJ8hDsXPXefLrCnGl0xZ40eCfoFiPS_S1wtSvSe-VPqZSnndmyZ_NqOHNKrTeXf5FeuO1HG4co2GE1ZrV6tys/s320/Crist+family+059.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Multitasking....he can do it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghRDsHrvVwWex87VQfHsD6_es3g12rdrtUhqw2Wf06RrGPMor1bXwBysXsiwUWxfdjYPTWuHRBmvgqNAFj6xVP4hyphenhyphen_y8D7vw87i3dD6uK31WCc1btRoP4zIZyhtsN4hvre8Goo98JBm4/s1600/Crist+family+078+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghRDsHrvVwWex87VQfHsD6_es3g12rdrtUhqw2Wf06RrGPMor1bXwBysXsiwUWxfdjYPTWuHRBmvgqNAFj6xVP4hyphenhyphen_y8D7vw87i3dD6uK31WCc1btRoP4zIZyhtsN4hvre8Goo98JBm4/s320/Crist+family+078+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Danger-this railroad is active...and a train came through about 10 minutes later. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6h4PvqG9EpCUjKs4bwa-xdNtTtSgID6ZG0AAuoHjyRj-g4YD69V9mG5kar8GfyUVoydafDTMS0Z8Bhgc3cRchuGT4YRsK_ELBaF971DJFpjTS97ZX9KN_cznpkGWh2wdFbUq0wF6Yr-s/s1600/Crist+family+081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6h4PvqG9EpCUjKs4bwa-xdNtTtSgID6ZG0AAuoHjyRj-g4YD69V9mG5kar8GfyUVoydafDTMS0Z8Bhgc3cRchuGT4YRsK_ELBaF971DJFpjTS97ZX9KN_cznpkGWh2wdFbUq0wF6Yr-s/s320/Crist+family+081.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My husband. What a man!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqx360pAC8oGiwtEm6S_OXu6YMtU-ovOkClBmFpVruu8rzjohiOdV0o_787AYiXNV25YOLhrLjyZkfleJbAt2oHKxwFCePLxr2_Mnm91lNjGenOABRBdSw6S2-0AHPRqzlPXDQw_kp8g/s1600/Crist+family+083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqx360pAC8oGiwtEm6S_OXu6YMtU-ovOkClBmFpVruu8rzjohiOdV0o_787AYiXNV25YOLhrLjyZkfleJbAt2oHKxwFCePLxr2_Mnm91lNjGenOABRBdSw6S2-0AHPRqzlPXDQw_kp8g/s320/Crist+family+083.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe we should have been looking for trains....</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IpOMQj8N3_nDUl0Yb7ngxKzRkZfAZ1uiNaE82-Rn_xwb1ihRwBxtj-zWoZPG5997QPbY1PuP8tG3pBQEKT314BrveB_rU-mXmW_Hl6kFZRyFYAZTxPm-Dhdq6yJk__mzoMXE0gAqlDY/s1600/Crist+family+086+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IpOMQj8N3_nDUl0Yb7ngxKzRkZfAZ1uiNaE82-Rn_xwb1ihRwBxtj-zWoZPG5997QPbY1PuP8tG3pBQEKT314BrveB_rU-mXmW_Hl6kFZRyFYAZTxPm-Dhdq6yJk__mzoMXE0gAqlDY/s320/Crist+family+086+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Instead of plunked down in the middle of the tracks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvGUKlK5BhfWiK5GBOvzD2CLomaJRFlzUT9jjlz1FqeTiuLGZ5i1jXvt1ZvKQtXgo7hQ6mjkJkVPZoYicGrDlchtkD7gb4aQ38stRHFLKkz8JJzsCMCEpeGVKp_iqzTzwtUmZ4tQuPgM/s1600/Crist+family+092+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvGUKlK5BhfWiK5GBOvzD2CLomaJRFlzUT9jjlz1FqeTiuLGZ5i1jXvt1ZvKQtXgo7hQ6mjkJkVPZoYicGrDlchtkD7gb4aQ38stRHFLKkz8JJzsCMCEpeGVKp_iqzTzwtUmZ4tQuPgM/s320/Crist+family+092+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But railroad tracks make for really cool pictures! I just love looking at Lou in these, seeing the laugh lines....</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFOEHuTrv4neNADQP2dkxoNnotj1X0itbXF2zHncYEXmXya72UN05ECUvIy1I3URkZOTSLwrEfF5iWg515mEd7MEYT1-JpD0KsO2PDizjmXZJ6inS5gFO4h3CZ0pSc4lzFoEbhCasTnA/s1600/Crist+family+100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFOEHuTrv4neNADQP2dkxoNnotj1X0itbXF2zHncYEXmXya72UN05ECUvIy1I3URkZOTSLwrEfF5iWg515mEd7MEYT1-JpD0KsO2PDizjmXZJ6inS5gFO4h3CZ0pSc4lzFoEbhCasTnA/s320/Crist+family+100.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again, walking into danger....</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_KKjIIqClnGsfJHgm-dWGsaI0xlDv8-Nuu-icP6SGm-591swQEt_r7X_N_X4aSCTchfu2Fz_bPozvgYNunhZ-dbTY8FJ8uLHy9EdnqcgWObrr5sWvUr9pVYASf7zR4As6dMn5hBauss/s1600/Crist+family+106+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_KKjIIqClnGsfJHgm-dWGsaI0xlDv8-Nuu-icP6SGm-591swQEt_r7X_N_X4aSCTchfu2Fz_bPozvgYNunhZ-dbTY8FJ8uLHy9EdnqcgWObrr5sWvUr9pVYASf7zR4As6dMn5hBauss/s320/Crist+family+106+%25282%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember that comment about kissing? I think he got the message....</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsN8AVYylhxJb78B9iBUzlpKfzpCIqGIDqhT3_MrLnVd3ZgvZBuR817t4v39fMvDRLFo6eDLhmT5J2yWEIITogTh4kj5qXPxq-YHwz5IzQWZThcU_7A1hw_uhS0loQWJlOF_yaUKq6rqU/s1600/Crist+family+111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsN8AVYylhxJb78B9iBUzlpKfzpCIqGIDqhT3_MrLnVd3ZgvZBuR817t4v39fMvDRLFo6eDLhmT5J2yWEIITogTh4kj5qXPxq-YHwz5IzQWZThcU_7A1hw_uhS0loQWJlOF_yaUKq6rqU/s320/Crist+family+111.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Under the bridge, fortunately there are no hobos or trolls around...although there are some weird finds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEM7eNriPc71oWQH5uL0WEc39kw5y3gx5K6s2x5WlCwJxdyytlIc440OQHHtsU4RmkYyijNeRw86HXhZwuFAvlw_-39hmQDYkiHpA34752xVr7Xsd0HkvYht1rkGXqwcVgKT1Marah4E/s1600/Crist+family+128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEM7eNriPc71oWQH5uL0WEc39kw5y3gx5K6s2x5WlCwJxdyytlIc440OQHHtsU4RmkYyijNeRw86HXhZwuFAvlw_-39hmQDYkiHpA34752xVr7Xsd0HkvYht1rkGXqwcVgKT1Marah4E/s320/Crist+family+128.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So happy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjw4fb5os1vfUviTNOlKut4PGcMtFNnh_Rev1MQBu96hOlmi6YwHjxgjVTP7TaDMSfDZNWKKCMIicl-JbKHQxdXpxb-9zFY4D13bWenqhxklA1NBO0NCkd_wbwKZ0_EqTc4-kdh5vn7g/s1600/Crist+family+136+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjw4fb5os1vfUviTNOlKut4PGcMtFNnh_Rev1MQBu96hOlmi6YwHjxgjVTP7TaDMSfDZNWKKCMIicl-JbKHQxdXpxb-9zFY4D13bWenqhxklA1NBO0NCkd_wbwKZ0_EqTc4-kdh5vn7g/s320/Crist+family+136+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More cheeks, because who could resist him!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LplzEl6Gk_rdTsKmhTgOQse4s7-LZLcXM573qxkOxGwJywyGfW211vnJV1_wSD-Kdkh4XOYVeBgwnc7-M2higNaLs2OfVhj225x7Q9iFAlG2MvloIMWbUbMyQygs7gUh4KDNLlmq4LU/s1600/Crist+family+139+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LplzEl6Gk_rdTsKmhTgOQse4s7-LZLcXM573qxkOxGwJywyGfW211vnJV1_wSD-Kdkh4XOYVeBgwnc7-M2higNaLs2OfVhj225x7Q9iFAlG2MvloIMWbUbMyQygs7gUh4KDNLlmq4LU/s320/Crist+family+139+%25282%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love you, Baby!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVACh2IiY6IE7NaqawM87Z-yP35BLVhKLcdufeJjW496WpPcNJVpiGQQMJIadOwaM7m0zoTkNngFeYYiSoiYZyG8QpMnKHrlcoWM1GSJ9WvKiK1_MNJqyMc-8bTFwGuffV6Dk9c_Uksfk/s1600/Crist+family+166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVACh2IiY6IE7NaqawM87Z-yP35BLVhKLcdufeJjW496WpPcNJVpiGQQMJIadOwaM7m0zoTkNngFeYYiSoiYZyG8QpMnKHrlcoWM1GSJ9WvKiK1_MNJqyMc-8bTFwGuffV6Dk9c_Uksfk/s320/Crist+family+166.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And one goofy Sound of Music style shot, just for the sake of it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> There were over 150 photos taken, many of them are similar and I tried to pick out some of my favorites....but I liked them all! All in all, we declared this mission a success! The last good professional photos we had were from our engagement 4 years ago so it seemed like a good time to update. God has been good to us both and we're so excited for the time to come....90 days until touchdown!Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-77516687265007576272011-10-09T22:20:00.001-04:002011-10-09T22:21:51.683-04:00First Deployment Anniversary- 98 Days Away...<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hello there dedicated readers...I know its been some time since I left anything on this site, but last it was to announce the upcoming R& R of Lou....which has come and left again so quickly. He arrived to the Louisville airport on September 1st, at approximately 4:28 pm. I was there and had been since 2:30-but I managed to hold in the jitters until right as the plane landed! The airport is a relatively small one, and as a military spouse you're allowed to get a special "unboarding pass" to the gate that the plane is landing at, so instead of hanging out in the main baggage pickup/taxi area-you get to see your hubby as he walks down the hallway into the terminal. I sat with the passengers waiting to board the next flight to Atlanta and tried to look nonchalant as I waited, but it was pretty difficult. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It was an amazing time! Seeing the man I love come down that aisle and in the flesh-I hadn't seen him in 8 months....(speaking of Lou, we pause here for an unexpected 8:30pm call from the above mentioned man-so good to hear from him tonight!) was absolutely one of the best moments in my life.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sqFqKaYVIBc6Os4gVSPXsLPZc7bzUNZ-gfwf8Iq0d12qsSD5WAlRKjx-jOQClQYbNhdQ6G6e2vrtGs_vCPd3PO3junlsXgHDcSKVDw0zsSUKelneZeZWxq4lonsEvrIjp7dBvSLzVCQ/s1600/September+2011+%252812%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sqFqKaYVIBc6Os4gVSPXsLPZc7bzUNZ-gfwf8Iq0d12qsSD5WAlRKjx-jOQClQYbNhdQ6G6e2vrtGs_vCPd3PO3junlsXgHDcSKVDw0zsSUKelneZeZWxq4lonsEvrIjp7dBvSLzVCQ/s320/September+2011+%252812%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxE1lwksM1KilBepC_p2kdyXchxW3AVTFklSvQnwWKiUrtA8ZtJsArHfrgo1HTkOJ2KStcdDnHQ4S7sHMZ_7t4pRf4GPZ_GBwER-s2CRgYedzb83diITpikHvTSm_i1TT1GXLo1itHwU/s1600/September+2011+%252813%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxE1lwksM1KilBepC_p2kdyXchxW3AVTFklSvQnwWKiUrtA8ZtJsArHfrgo1HTkOJ2KStcdDnHQ4S7sHMZ_7t4pRf4GPZ_GBwER-s2CRgYedzb83diITpikHvTSm_i1TT1GXLo1itHwU/s320/September+2011+%252813%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgwEQvrS8mEdz-0vAMeKVDK151Anq5QP4RmLx5VHo03MBndTldCNxzDpDaetWoi0cQa2sgJpbKfy4YS2qh9bMJ8mNqYjwBtyw0FcHSKTBnFwZjLUo_p4rA6qM6b1uZS2x0m_oNndlPPQ/s1600/September+2011+%252814%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgwEQvrS8mEdz-0vAMeKVDK151Anq5QP4RmLx5VHo03MBndTldCNxzDpDaetWoi0cQa2sgJpbKfy4YS2qh9bMJ8mNqYjwBtyw0FcHSKTBnFwZjLUo_p4rA6qM6b1uZS2x0m_oNndlPPQ/s320/September+2011+%252814%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The gentleman in blue in Picture #1 came up to me as I hopped up and down from foot to foot waiting. He said,"You must be waiting for someone important" and I babbled characte<span class="text_exposed_show">ristically, "YesI'mwaitingformyhusband<wbr></wbr>whohasbeeninAfghanistanfor<wbr></wbr>thelastsevenmonthsandiscom<wbr></wbr>inghometodayforhismidtourl<wbr></wbr>eave!" with lots of hand motions included, of course. :) Then the stewardess got in on the act and started announcing any military-appearing mens' appearances as they neared the entrance,"Does he have brown hair and glasses?".....etc etc...and then when Lou came out of course I saw him right away and he was smiling and then I started crying and that man had this entire little group of businessmen clapping! It was funny and sweet and wonderful! And then once I stopped sobbing, they shook his hand and thanked him as we left the area. :)</span></span></span><br />
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show">The time forward is just a blur of happy memories mixed with catching up, waiting and patiently (sometimes impatiently) trying to sort through all that has happened to us in this year. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKDy78_uwvcCKo51AIQp1wP7TyWqqiYmLY9w5wi1cqsS_XJNIe4yX3XwZmlBSqFmluCJDHDwtFrVfLMVSZp_6UCdpaGCWopUFxQXAIuXoR8gKIdN8KLIz0NdlLq_dOYyLtMxwT2i_19Y/s1600/September+2011+%252820%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKDy78_uwvcCKo51AIQp1wP7TyWqqiYmLY9w5wi1cqsS_XJNIe4yX3XwZmlBSqFmluCJDHDwtFrVfLMVSZp_6UCdpaGCWopUFxQXAIuXoR8gKIdN8KLIz0NdlLq_dOYyLtMxwT2i_19Y/s320/September+2011+%252820%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Second day at home, already busy taking care of our little place.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtpLV3kMXJfp4u8OXRxGgULCHeAOREJFRe4uqyHBr-Sr9hxemx7jPL8p0uDrqjsi3USRBDZpJWSqtFAZWkVBFP5cNHwXQID8pO52Iady0erJTe_WejV0HYVKGz0sdQTx4RlS1qJ-mS-w/s1600/September+2011+%252822%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtpLV3kMXJfp4u8OXRxGgULCHeAOREJFRe4uqyHBr-Sr9hxemx7jPL8p0uDrqjsi3USRBDZpJWSqtFAZWkVBFP5cNHwXQID8pO52Iady0erJTe_WejV0HYVKGz0sdQTx4RlS1qJ-mS-w/s320/September+2011+%252822%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Working hard, doing the work of 2 in a fraction of the time. My husband is a wonderfully hard worker!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IW69Tu7mXLnmkCTZnSVWnspPYelMPa8r-D5aUcfl-Ba1-G-Ud3TDBbMPfY9xqwTTCnoA_ko1KhgdnZIoDwlYoPTyTagFh6GnYpWEowH6DTsPQFxBCdzuLSLz_RBzaaPvjsuNHVJIZqM/s1600/September+2011+%252826%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IW69Tu7mXLnmkCTZnSVWnspPYelMPa8r-D5aUcfl-Ba1-G-Ud3TDBbMPfY9xqwTTCnoA_ko1KhgdnZIoDwlYoPTyTagFh6GnYpWEowH6DTsPQFxBCdzuLSLz_RBzaaPvjsuNHVJIZqM/s320/September+2011+%252826%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Off to buy supplies and flowers for the front beds! Our favorite date spot is Lowes and we ended up there on R&R several times!</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknbDZMdsGXQ2XVq4Q1taUkMJcRyiHkhpZw9g52zhUh0HveSds86eE72pkGYrJUJKF7RLfVHMnGvyDFo_jXNiYGKnNz7hYbS19aQxqTsqj1mEny8PKaVtNvWlXlhmWYK7iDSKhvJMEvtU/s1600/September+2011+%252828%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknbDZMdsGXQ2XVq4Q1taUkMJcRyiHkhpZw9g52zhUh0HveSds86eE72pkGYrJUJKF7RLfVHMnGvyDFo_jXNiYGKnNz7hYbS19aQxqTsqj1mEny8PKaVtNvWlXlhmWYK7iDSKhvJMEvtU/s320/September+2011+%252828%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">After a long day's work, stinky but so happy to be together.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show">With all this yardwork came a magnificent bonfire, and we are very blessed that we didn't manage to burn the place down-because I've never seen the remains of 5 shrubs and a tree that sat out in the sun all summer burn so brightly and high! We piled them up Saturday afternoon and decided to light it after dark...perhaps roast marshmallows...and this was the result</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOR0nOiHRNl6ePmgGoySIQIL3_Ohqa6MuefiKhd2kRAYaOMzlhNk6ik8dKrWe5CJS1NvlZfvjWteheRiHaTLcZiXPC1deCL7Buqz5DhPYHk1GmKNz1ffz3XVfEcgFJTZZAdmeSruxo7JA/s1600/September+2011+%252830%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOR0nOiHRNl6ePmgGoySIQIL3_Ohqa6MuefiKhd2kRAYaOMzlhNk6ik8dKrWe5CJS1NvlZfvjWteheRiHaTLcZiXPC1deCL7Buqz5DhPYHk1GmKNz1ffz3XVfEcgFJTZZAdmeSruxo7JA/s320/September+2011+%252830%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMm3koCHwviqnQcw2elM7IIlwLhLKd2DbDmHtxmAY27dv7cw7yZD7QtdYudswaWC6f7dRxHNtxHdmn4hSuSy6V9rRGB6VKYQd1Hf4QRGIX3nZz50xGSyiOj52m7p1imZjizitWws_zauU/s1600/September+2011+%252834%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMm3koCHwviqnQcw2elM7IIlwLhLKd2DbDmHtxmAY27dv7cw7yZD7QtdYudswaWC6f7dRxHNtxHdmn4hSuSy6V9rRGB6VKYQd1Hf4QRGIX3nZz50xGSyiOj52m7p1imZjizitWws_zauU/s320/September+2011+%252834%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show">See the little man to the right? That's my 6 foot tall hero..in contrast to a fire that looked almost Old Testament in its proportions...I was reminded of my childhood idea of what the "pillar of fire" resembled in the Israelites wanderings through the wilderness.</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi969r4lwICPDNUo7KAllPl8KEFCBquBQuzWukLEo6tJXwjTeHuBc33pgDQFEfZJoO-RU-4Plw0zHdZTOs3oG6FWo9wLXs9xNNf5FxMoyTZh-Ul52QfazPqQKYG-lINSpmzap2e9qjvoKI/s1600/September+2011+%252853%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi969r4lwICPDNUo7KAllPl8KEFCBquBQuzWukLEo6tJXwjTeHuBc33pgDQFEfZJoO-RU-4Plw0zHdZTOs3oG6FWo9wLXs9xNNf5FxMoyTZh-Ul52QfazPqQKYG-lINSpmzap2e9qjvoKI/s320/September+2011+%252853%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show"> Then of course we had Japanese out at Kansai's Hibachi and Sushi, followed by</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhXLv-NbbIbQ6rSlNOhSe77BH3AS1xLRcDeKVMiv80e4J7du9rmZEOl2D1UREp04AKqe1w_Y7TEpth3-Drk4FLHn0Gmm9EJCBfMowJ86cgp_7nIYQkCppqI2mvxNORPLx04H6ASmytdQ/s1600/September+2011+%252856%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhXLv-NbbIbQ6rSlNOhSe77BH3AS1xLRcDeKVMiv80e4J7du9rmZEOl2D1UREp04AKqe1w_Y7TEpth3-Drk4FLHn0Gmm9EJCBfMowJ86cgp_7nIYQkCppqI2mvxNORPLx04H6ASmytdQ/s320/September+2011+%252856%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show">Lou's Chinese Chicken, here at home...along with many other foods...so much in fact that by the time Lou left he had gained 18 lbs and acquired a cute muffin top that he proudly showed his men! He has since twindled to his former pre-R&R weight.</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixP1c-XYgM7ehKaXNMe9dwttFrHiaz4NLG7uGI5QYPKIQq1cU3mlvAyMkgLtnUKVSi-8tHv-7kxFmd_n1DpAoWq-8vKyGV-SnbsSd3ULz0p8cRB_NVS7z-NKvXR4_lQ-4-Mk2k1fIJXO8/s1600/September+2011+%252859%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixP1c-XYgM7ehKaXNMe9dwttFrHiaz4NLG7uGI5QYPKIQq1cU3mlvAyMkgLtnUKVSi-8tHv-7kxFmd_n1DpAoWq-8vKyGV-SnbsSd3ULz0p8cRB_NVS7z-NKvXR4_lQ-4-Mk2k1fIJXO8/s320/September+2011+%252859%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show"> </span></span></span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show">4 days into leave, Lou's family were able to come all the way from Jersey and stay close by for much of the time. They camped at Camp Carlson about 5 miles away and we all took day trips to various eating, kayaking and swimming spots in the western Kentucky area.</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VBUWR1jpOhfFaqW24gSCINRf84wzQDxTiDk4WzphCudrld81_BY9NZ86iEjNo3mQbrCq5gzR5ia1_dAMQLk8_XHOpr0Lqknlx-_eWiHfnS8qJcwILUTZZmz0qKir7-FFtR_SW8UIe-Q/s1600/September+2011+%2528169%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VBUWR1jpOhfFaqW24gSCINRf84wzQDxTiDk4WzphCudrld81_BY9NZ86iEjNo3mQbrCq5gzR5ia1_dAMQLk8_XHOpr0Lqknlx-_eWiHfnS8qJcwILUTZZmz0qKir7-FFtR_SW8UIe-Q/s320/September+2011+%2528169%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFcfvkzuohp498wiMBAA37O15sZFr9-IZUZPM2OxZB6tCw960y2zOWHlL0ILAeIFjPHEtWsxr2nAdHBLamwIfoUR1WmdUx8nnYIpuxovpUsMPfVNiP2xusHp02L0yVU6HDuzqx7CMDuo/s1600/September+2011+%2528161%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFcfvkzuohp498wiMBAA37O15sZFr9-IZUZPM2OxZB6tCw960y2zOWHlL0ILAeIFjPHEtWsxr2nAdHBLamwIfoUR1WmdUx8nnYIpuxovpUsMPfVNiP2xusHp02L0yVU6HDuzqx7CMDuo/s320/September+2011+%2528161%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyxMsu_q9ZsMirfIR0OtqMVgemxz13xKjabaK7zcdkuIjMOALzJNp_yE6qK94jEn1IDwNZ75Dk0blI4HIKql1Az2gXlQAilSKra69ZpXKapoDHIOGUkJkBNF0XJWF7Iqj8qPtNVn3aKA/s1600/September+2011+%2528135%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyxMsu_q9ZsMirfIR0OtqMVgemxz13xKjabaK7zcdkuIjMOALzJNp_yE6qK94jEn1IDwNZ75Dk0blI4HIKql1Az2gXlQAilSKra69ZpXKapoDHIOGUkJkBNF0XJWF7Iqj8qPtNVn3aKA/s320/September+2011+%2528135%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show">We even managed to fit in some Scrabble competitions-this is the boys' characteristic "tickle Corrie" routine! :)</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnI-2hyVFXiwkutuXyqgGzNqX9c2eOoWu1md3KVtzx1Upju8Vn9CHoIhZwHTC4IwGYS-q5GnzLSGYg4oDPTNWBKsyjrWMncCiBOV0GwFbJZf4OPz-KfRRd73Qjb9jN5Hyu2GxmMl9UObs/s1600/September+2011+%252880%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnI-2hyVFXiwkutuXyqgGzNqX9c2eOoWu1md3KVtzx1Upju8Vn9CHoIhZwHTC4IwGYS-q5GnzLSGYg4oDPTNWBKsyjrWMncCiBOV0GwFbJZf4OPz-KfRRd73Qjb9jN5Hyu2GxmMl9UObs/s320/September+2011+%252880%2529.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show">And more eating, at a German restaurant in Radcliff with the largest pretzel appetizers we have ever laid eyes on! So delicious!</span></span></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5A359BBGK1VX9SoO7Gf-Cd80Nr5XDXY7jTZsFsLUlxirbIJWn5UBo7y2tTgVE9uZs7X6t6RO8_n95GKCE317dyLOuFJNHTR_KcqG5OYAgXoAi_UKJ9wtiuo2S5qs0TncNhKk_X879Mzc/s1600/September+2011+%252879%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5A359BBGK1VX9SoO7Gf-Cd80Nr5XDXY7jTZsFsLUlxirbIJWn5UBo7y2tTgVE9uZs7X6t6RO8_n95GKCE317dyLOuFJNHTR_KcqG5OYAgXoAi_UKJ9wtiuo2S5qs0TncNhKk_X879Mzc/s320/September+2011+%252879%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show"></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lou enjoying some Koenig Ludwig, a true German....teehee..</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNydNR5pvVQbEtOK3FVkFtc2hcYR6McH6sCwzJrVXEAdpwzdMBrWB7U4zwPSA-KRnmCv44XaS4VvG_IL5lv2H9usw28iWZUPiikVuPahIOCA6QKw5aDomKeQnbRgaE002qhuQXjHV15qU/s1600/September+2011+%2528120%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNydNR5pvVQbEtOK3FVkFtc2hcYR6McH6sCwzJrVXEAdpwzdMBrWB7U4zwPSA-KRnmCv44XaS4VvG_IL5lv2H9usw28iWZUPiikVuPahIOCA6QKw5aDomKeQnbRgaE002qhuQXjHV15qU/s320/September+2011+%2528120%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8nKwpRg-o4wG7e42aB6B83qxEjEgWjwShK2Qkfc2_PK6vT-9HJAzDC-l1rvrS8qZDmczFvHNFU9wm7JIC699O8XbLPspreI0fo2VYsgOBRDm0H060UtzKt9XOu-FhO8hQoDWVEJRsJA/s1600/September+2011+%2528121%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8nKwpRg-o4wG7e42aB6B83qxEjEgWjwShK2Qkfc2_PK6vT-9HJAzDC-l1rvrS8qZDmczFvHNFU9wm7JIC699O8XbLPspreI0fo2VYsgOBRDm0H060UtzKt9XOu-FhO8hQoDWVEJRsJA/s320/September+2011+%2528121%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> More good times spent in the great outdoors......</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawJE66C2kHFO-H-Yp2bSBBYGoZUfqSl_M_j3MHAVkhNkvurtq_uHS_5eBVe5WhDpGmEGVROGuvQniZIdXmsfFu7Z5laf0852_ZGtMNoZgSNCimn6hKqJfwj0jaCJb7Ac0rLo31Qp1m8E/s1600/September+2011+%2528190%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawJE66C2kHFO-H-Yp2bSBBYGoZUfqSl_M_j3MHAVkhNkvurtq_uHS_5eBVe5WhDpGmEGVROGuvQniZIdXmsfFu7Z5laf0852_ZGtMNoZgSNCimn6hKqJfwj0jaCJb7Ac0rLo31Qp1m8E/s320/September+2011+%2528190%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Campfires with family.......</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRm_1qs8W5CrEnln-nRrkc9q-wuJdqImdP9h0hqQeRlS4vbRg4vSATAFk2WczDw9Lh71bq-0TXTrboyri9XrpCfk9OlE9sAKKYSjBXibgGoXhyphenhyphenCCyWd5t0XcyUh76MTCxOxFJ9szeLqY/s1600/September+2011+%2528192%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRm_1qs8W5CrEnln-nRrkc9q-wuJdqImdP9h0hqQeRlS4vbRg4vSATAFk2WczDw9Lh71bq-0TXTrboyri9XrpCfk9OlE9sAKKYSjBXibgGoXhyphenhyphenCCyWd5t0XcyUh76MTCxOxFJ9szeLqY/s320/September+2011+%2528192%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">More kayaking, this time we did 7 miles down the Green River near Mammoth Cave, KY. Beautiful!</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6Vnq-MSiRlHSJ8moTFQ8HZddjI0FepzfBhmxXJO3gEldzpxEPricvaeAZcC4Z2SwQ-sMacoTz3NZ9JVjT2z4kDEdaGCUlrx3SItfc6bjPcnv52ArbRPexyczDPYoQjVWzuvjBUMcdeQ/s1600/September+2011+%2528206%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6Vnq-MSiRlHSJ8moTFQ8HZddjI0FepzfBhmxXJO3gEldzpxEPricvaeAZcC4Z2SwQ-sMacoTz3NZ9JVjT2z4kDEdaGCUlrx3SItfc6bjPcnv52ArbRPexyczDPYoQjVWzuvjBUMcdeQ/s320/September+2011+%2528206%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm not sure what Lou was up to here but he couldn't stop laughing so it must have been mischief!</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhORUO3fVMkIJhoTHGnsyeH9GsibMFp1G0ZmgsPjaW45VfSn666tvtCKOpOFnIJV4c_PciYTrbaIFJiP3H09xh0N5PFV3O-sxeWXDshwuc5Jbfy_Mb6KbFA1QKFYrPawMMR8lSloQ7Ouk/s1600/September+2011+%2528210%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhORUO3fVMkIJhoTHGnsyeH9GsibMFp1G0ZmgsPjaW45VfSn666tvtCKOpOFnIJV4c_PciYTrbaIFJiP3H09xh0N5PFV3O-sxeWXDshwuc5Jbfy_Mb6KbFA1QKFYrPawMMR8lSloQ7Ouk/s320/September+2011+%2528210%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Taking Lou's shirt at its word(s), literally! On Thursday, we said goodbye to Mom and Dad Crist, Jess and Corrie, and started the mental prep for Lou's departure as well. Our time together was so full of happiness and thankfulness to God for keeping us safe, its hard to describe it. It was as close to perfect as life on earth could be, we decided.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lou had to be back in Louisville by 9am Saturday, September 17th. The night before we went through the "haircut ritual", something we do before every big event, it seems. The night before Ranger School, right before deployment, and now Lou added to it shaving off his 16 days' worth of beard....</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2mqlt95VgCtmXLT59Ofgr_SfTtFVOyPwv7Nj8tspmj1pxrehR4smpe3l3wkEODbqLpeorH0gevPUDjA0fkhT9Gry4l1wKZiWrV8af97g1U8MR63bhVC0sWexbO17PupYnSGoE2kMjFM/s1600/September+2011+%2528228%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2mqlt95VgCtmXLT59Ofgr_SfTtFVOyPwv7Nj8tspmj1pxrehR4smpe3l3wkEODbqLpeorH0gevPUDjA0fkhT9Gry4l1wKZiWrV8af97g1U8MR63bhVC0sWexbO17PupYnSGoE2kMjFM/s320/September+2011+%2528228%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I was sad to see it go, but not as sad as I was to see HIM go! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVNhOc7hlS_O3sKnIcAjjWqatpN2QKflIytGt-pklJB9B0v4GSjVuBcOGL_cpM5Rmu7GumzOfgkpmpSFXM_CGHlb3l7genb209M_amt2ZsuZUtIF7VDB9djeNug24yYXL8xtteBiJBeQ/s1600/September+2011+%2528230%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVNhOc7hlS_O3sKnIcAjjWqatpN2QKflIytGt-pklJB9B0v4GSjVuBcOGL_cpM5Rmu7GumzOfgkpmpSFXM_CGHlb3l7genb209M_amt2ZsuZUtIF7VDB9djeNug24yYXL8xtteBiJBeQ/s320/September+2011+%2528230%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My dear sweet husband, the toughest man I know and yet so tender with me.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPHXOBVxwJW85XoMEXg_Lf82DJLk7YJxO0EDJua45a1qiZ0uQ4wEJa2ZVGM1Mbi8uE_mevo3bCLVLui4D_FA8CKzkRoSOIvV5Vp_NyVNcuFhpAt7MtZzyoMFClA_JLIOpx_MiyBcQgi4/s1600/September+2011+%2528234%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPHXOBVxwJW85XoMEXg_Lf82DJLk7YJxO0EDJua45a1qiZ0uQ4wEJa2ZVGM1Mbi8uE_mevo3bCLVLui4D_FA8CKzkRoSOIvV5Vp_NyVNcuFhpAt7MtZzyoMFClA_JLIOpx_MiyBcQgi4/s320/September+2011+%2528234%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> Waiting for the plane to depart Saturday morning.....</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2QsERyL08T4DUMDszPs2nLhJUfjSodFt-UKtJWTuSpSCJB7AsfU78t0DGbn3106uhsskEmgk7XYtiLZCddCgj5R9qdGqQ3InFSC-cXoHc0P6sT-tQQ89WhcYyOt6EtVV7M2kyxU951s/s1600/September+2011+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2QsERyL08T4DUMDszPs2nLhJUfjSodFt-UKtJWTuSpSCJB7AsfU78t0DGbn3106uhsskEmgk7XYtiLZCddCgj5R9qdGqQ3InFSC-cXoHc0P6sT-tQQ89WhcYyOt6EtVV7M2kyxU951s/s320/September+2011+%25281%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My last sight of the man I love and am honored to be loved by! God bless and keep you, my Lou! 98 Days to go.....more or less! </span></span><br />
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</div><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span class="text_exposed_show"></span></span></span>Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5859945315828868032.post-29965997120206182482011-08-23T12:58:00.001-04:002011-08-23T13:02:26.526-04:00A Week of Beach-Warning: Multiple Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today's blog is a 50 snapshot commentary of our family's annual beach trip to Laguna Christian Retreat at Panama City Beach, Florida. We go and spent a week in the cottages surrounded by white sands and (hopefully) blue water! The set up is great for families as the houses are within yards of each other, dotted over a checkerboard of basketball courts, volleyball courts, in ground pools and picnic table lined patios. This year we were missing some of the clan as Ryan and Debbie are living in Washington State at Fort Lewis, Crissy and John had work conflicts and Lou is deployed....we missed having everyone but it was still a terrific time of relaxing and catching up on life.</span> I arrived home late last night and am still in the unpacking process, especially since I shopped for my Ebay business en route....too many Goodwill bags floating around this place!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">EXCITING BREAKING </b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">news from Kentucky is that Lou is scheduled to be coming home at the end of this week! That doesn't mean he'll actually be here then but it is a step in the right direction. The travel from there to here can take up to 5 days because of planes/schedules. I'm looking forward to spending a wonderful 15 days with him here...one of the reasons why this blog is merely pictures with captions...no novel time with everything that I need to plan! There was a mix-up in his leave dates between battalion and the powers that be, originally he was to leave today but that was changed a couple days ago. I have re-started my countdown clock and have many missions to complete.........Enjoy the photos of Florida!</span></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ginny: "Ooooh, where did you get those flip flops?" Maria: "TJ Maxx."</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ginny loved the sand but was crazy about water!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNWMgkPDRji4kV_Am1VPItlqALgm1UQMpL1pb_pu45J6RkEaRoRsED1_Tph_tv0to_c0nKAB5-fLLlvWjSXUPeuz4cVDSyO6hNwDwhYEcqlFRhmBYBjkwoOje_rPl2Xmw6vQKNdjfdKo/s1600/100_0770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNWMgkPDRji4kV_Am1VPItlqALgm1UQMpL1pb_pu45J6RkEaRoRsED1_Tph_tv0to_c0nKAB5-fLLlvWjSXUPeuz4cVDSyO6hNwDwhYEcqlFRhmBYBjkwoOje_rPl2Xmw6vQKNdjfdKo/s320/100_0770.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maria wasn't so sure...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running from the waves!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bets and Me</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim and Christie</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T and Bets</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvBaOE-dbaIWgDFcAZqOST-RmYgjS5SAQYmmU5hxdH8IYalOCYPhVvWMA_SZbau7jh9_zwbUSibzorVIiD6_3DqL0u0D_b1YE4wr9-2v3DiOdK-vkZSzDRGI3OOXyCOCpPZRfWPtQrKw/s1600/100_0828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvBaOE-dbaIWgDFcAZqOST-RmYgjS5SAQYmmU5hxdH8IYalOCYPhVvWMA_SZbau7jh9_zwbUSibzorVIiD6_3DqL0u0D_b1YE4wr9-2v3DiOdK-vkZSzDRGI3OOXyCOCpPZRfWPtQrKw/s320/100_0828.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunt Aimee with Betsy and T's youngest, Brady</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOYxzXp6ueTAQTyC6XYMQr7b297B1R56kzYH5XLuQUaxeO4Lw5gZT5qYFFlqj6bdgFobfgiY-sZuzLkrVrQhy09srNicbC5u0bcbl8UMnk5DmsGtmfX9RY4CcYd9443rHYd-Rm5FM2xM/s1600/100_0832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOYxzXp6ueTAQTyC6XYMQr7b297B1R56kzYH5XLuQUaxeO4Lw5gZT5qYFFlqj6bdgFobfgiY-sZuzLkrVrQhy09srNicbC5u0bcbl8UMnk5DmsGtmfX9RY4CcYd9443rHYd-Rm5FM2xM/s320/100_0832.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy Andrew and Ginny</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ppUVenUeZu15THDwRB0uziawWYkQXK3hc3I9RYFOTkvOFhhaaJMiEcpd_b_lUQY5P2x6IK3yRkoHrB1pv2esLhWO1rUfT03-9YKGGUeW4Nh0_3U8hlVcnbVgsiTv4UGlHRzWd4pJJQo/s1600/100_0866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ppUVenUeZu15THDwRB0uziawWYkQXK3hc3I9RYFOTkvOFhhaaJMiEcpd_b_lUQY5P2x6IK3yRkoHrB1pv2esLhWO1rUfT03-9YKGGUeW4Nh0_3U8hlVcnbVgsiTv4UGlHRzWd4pJJQo/s320/100_0866.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids were a little excited about the pinata!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOv7m7ZmqATD1C0d2lAsVIn1w3sBPnBl9-oj_Q-3XoxVAEkHJkeLi9QLvfcJiYmocXZ_KoWz4jc8ofKv4h-mPGnNzFRFSmiaBdKiZvi3U0xu6d93yg0sgsjGZZ73g_oFTlI2ayc9X0otQ/s1600/100_0896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOv7m7ZmqATD1C0d2lAsVIn1w3sBPnBl9-oj_Q-3XoxVAEkHJkeLi9QLvfcJiYmocXZ_KoWz4jc8ofKv4h-mPGnNzFRFSmiaBdKiZvi3U0xu6d93yg0sgsjGZZ73g_oFTlI2ayc9X0otQ/s320/100_0896.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But it took He-man Daniel to destroy it after their muscles gave out before the pinata did!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtf9H6uKg0BUSwDidIeBJJzxazpfAd6Sr7tKzT9P23NdTalgVMFLXheK40bjX7Cxt6fauayfVUOZEMRoaqZK4LDvEy0z2nfs2Me9JAo-i2aG778aUc6BC6c9SDgBZw95Ql8hr4GX7F-KI/s1600/100_0898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtf9H6uKg0BUSwDidIeBJJzxazpfAd6Sr7tKzT9P23NdTalgVMFLXheK40bjX7Cxt6fauayfVUOZEMRoaqZK4LDvEy0z2nfs2Me9JAo-i2aG778aUc6BC6c9SDgBZw95Ql8hr4GX7F-KI/s320/100_0898.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kate was in the line of fire :)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9ERbSUtqkaOJ6e3x3B5jdkdsIrni1_30cYMR7vEYH2dclDN-0HjnoyH5dxDHVAnBtdnQ7w_wjoTu1Ad-RocniRKnk9brAgw02f3W1KS1pW95rFFiRJCozxAvyl-33Qq-SS5fLTB2oQ0/s1600/100_0932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9ERbSUtqkaOJ6e3x3B5jdkdsIrni1_30cYMR7vEYH2dclDN-0HjnoyH5dxDHVAnBtdnQ7w_wjoTu1Ad-RocniRKnk9brAgw02f3W1KS1pW95rFFiRJCozxAvyl-33Qq-SS5fLTB2oQ0/s320/100_0932.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T and baby Brady!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqsHEuoT-KvkBwkbTkZwN4a-ewoLd3fDpmlkbPHx4mLKb1U_guO8kaVA3PZRsX6oc1n4jG11kY6Xs1x8HkA7OB_1XCgWCqrrcenCNRJhZ-NA_rmOnPLcoMCi1ve2nm37CUUmA7pRUKYM/s1600/100_0944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqsHEuoT-KvkBwkbTkZwN4a-ewoLd3fDpmlkbPHx4mLKb1U_guO8kaVA3PZRsX6oc1n4jG11kY6Xs1x8HkA7OB_1XCgWCqrrcenCNRJhZ-NA_rmOnPLcoMCi1ve2nm37CUUmA7pRUKYM/s320/100_0944.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bets and Brady</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kBTirPDL7kPsVw1WWI4BsbxdOVfLi92uibEPP-LAbA_ievkY7G53Z5xd0_0Ee-VxYrpIzPw_xlmH-dyJJxEEZxl7ivOCuGhTGy5Rsz7sanM7yVPW1Sn4jzQ6tJWcsvaqZufGiVeY2tw/s1600/100_0954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kBTirPDL7kPsVw1WWI4BsbxdOVfLi92uibEPP-LAbA_ievkY7G53Z5xd0_0Ee-VxYrpIzPw_xlmH-dyJJxEEZxl7ivOCuGhTGy5Rsz7sanM7yVPW1Sn4jzQ6tJWcsvaqZufGiVeY2tw/s320/100_0954.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The T Messer Family-minus Ashlynne, Debo and Bekah...Grandma gave them a "home vacation" so Mommy and Daddy could have a little time at the beach to relax.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UENBFPMaXpxvfucGIZdCBFUoylGx1_tQzmpZv0Xv9bAiFldbmyZqZhv1juYncbUS0vg7oQI4Id_4YY8V0K6Usc-l-lON0qi8UoeyEVLjYorlHyhMGSNd9SjdUE0RTtyC6U6OcXa3_Lo/s1600/100_0966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UENBFPMaXpxvfucGIZdCBFUoylGx1_tQzmpZv0Xv9bAiFldbmyZqZhv1juYncbUS0vg7oQI4Id_4YY8V0K6Usc-l-lON0qi8UoeyEVLjYorlHyhMGSNd9SjdUE0RTtyC6U6OcXa3_Lo/s320/100_0966.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brothers.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvax9EtkuO9GdGIJuiPcH8CPSeWNO-YEOZfCTTCTK6xZCb8X_ufuwdjdnD-GhA0IvaBFO0L8yVYM-1FYSxuYObbDbv1LUYacZ-Pialpzja_cfMRlZvG_cGbFwklvV581Hkvz5fRNvPxU/s1600/100_0972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvax9EtkuO9GdGIJuiPcH8CPSeWNO-YEOZfCTTCTK6xZCb8X_ufuwdjdnD-GhA0IvaBFO0L8yVYM-1FYSxuYObbDbv1LUYacZ-Pialpzja_cfMRlZvG_cGbFwklvV581Hkvz5fRNvPxU/s320/100_0972.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugs anyone?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwAW0baR1QtPX-d9KNzz8fUi0kIY8TwPBPsjdcdviCUtgB93XnTo13ObyH-SdtEt6KpXlkGpY5KPyZumpLryLNhdJPog6CkDuhSHu94Ypi_v0ywpdXVvmpvLUw8Mrwzvfjd9qujh7HFs/s1600/100_1013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwAW0baR1QtPX-d9KNzz8fUi0kIY8TwPBPsjdcdviCUtgB93XnTo13ObyH-SdtEt6KpXlkGpY5KPyZumpLryLNhdJPog6CkDuhSHu94Ypi_v0ywpdXVvmpvLUw8Mrwzvfjd9qujh7HFs/s320/100_1013.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After multiple attempts to get a good family shot</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkKqhwx_mhEdHm8Cve0lQdFiiduZX6DCMUtI0826ZewhgNp-quHxfny4jU8ja4te3Yr7ZJgsChMFCe5FGCrhUuslgM5Ad2fCAza3pQzXbj3f44hVOSzRJYENIm0mx-BZi8JYr3peWvqU/s1600/100_1016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkKqhwx_mhEdHm8Cve0lQdFiiduZX6DCMUtI0826ZewhgNp-quHxfny4jU8ja4te3Yr7ZJgsChMFCe5FGCrhUuslgM5Ad2fCAza3pQzXbj3f44hVOSzRJYENIm0mx-BZi8JYr3peWvqU/s320/100_1016.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container"><tbody>
<tr></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I focused on the cooperative members of the James Messer clan. :) </td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtZVihbHUtw2_orqgiU7DGmRvPeh2A5O4gXl8vPnHxYTYbV7u8rCoaG_EW-VWe0Qvh2hlIb1uvK5FFPjET5OANhSxT2Fg8a29wgEmtTH81Zr6MZRo-VNVOgxwJWn6Qhs7Bpm-hSRK4W0/s1600/100_1039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtZVihbHUtw2_orqgiU7DGmRvPeh2A5O4gXl8vPnHxYTYbV7u8rCoaG_EW-VWe0Qvh2hlIb1uvK5FFPjET5OANhSxT2Fg8a29wgEmtTH81Zr6MZRo-VNVOgxwJWn6Qhs7Bpm-hSRK4W0/s320/100_1039.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahhh, finally! :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQb6Sjts40Kprib4WOBWAmBzy8os6hJob3VVMgGPGMUm4U1wiraqcceoiCpjC4kNfnJAXgiDADqrEquHH130ZrrFO4LJgq1LUEjAxrlwSdTf6UxO_g8DNQbsAujoanvvXof2R4_tKYm4/s1600/100_1057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQb6Sjts40Kprib4WOBWAmBzy8os6hJob3VVMgGPGMUm4U1wiraqcceoiCpjC4kNfnJAXgiDADqrEquHH130ZrrFO4LJgq1LUEjAxrlwSdTf6UxO_g8DNQbsAujoanvvXof2R4_tKYm4/s320/100_1057.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Andrew and Aimee Cutright Clan</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUd7aa604NrZC48UQ2vyKx16HBpc3yibsxgVyw8DHEe1ZfOxeb6xsZfFsg5rllhEuEys8IR8exxLiTopqZUv3ZtFfQQCwlQ9zYB70EhKoiWJgmLWJTFNBFD0lAb_fa_mEvfIOtyRKB9g/s1600/100_1066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUd7aa604NrZC48UQ2vyKx16HBpc3yibsxgVyw8DHEe1ZfOxeb6xsZfFsg5rllhEuEys8IR8exxLiTopqZUv3ZtFfQQCwlQ9zYB70EhKoiWJgmLWJTFNBFD0lAb_fa_mEvfIOtyRKB9g/s320/100_1066.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVdVDgfGYOmr1iwY6Oq-Ev5qrdlPhyv9wFx_LZ86oKATG9FVaWstDAvdJhWV-j6IGuekT02eLN2Lct_DFamGUozmoNJZu9adE-_dtiRzwYU3etZyhysgljTui1udXLUMq_8fd2H71reY/s1600/100_1077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVdVDgfGYOmr1iwY6Oq-Ev5qrdlPhyv9wFx_LZ86oKATG9FVaWstDAvdJhWV-j6IGuekT02eLN2Lct_DFamGUozmoNJZu9adE-_dtiRzwYU3etZyhysgljTui1udXLUMq_8fd2H71reY/s320/100_1077.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aren't those little blonde boys adorable? They stole my heart. :)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbzFjm2M9njLjmrHOfWegRm-By_WKhOvTctck-224U27dTQpFhUHfo3DosYp02Klow8l_8tJzI2Bvdqf0Rd_dF42k6oalwYP_nffAOU9__se81AaNhXs6fU_GwLz2cxCI56TRK7mInkk/s1600/100_1094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbzFjm2M9njLjmrHOfWegRm-By_WKhOvTctck-224U27dTQpFhUHfo3DosYp02Klow8l_8tJzI2Bvdqf0Rd_dF42k6oalwYP_nffAOU9__se81AaNhXs6fU_GwLz2cxCI56TRK7mInkk/s320/100_1094.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom's family still at home: Stu, Melissa and Lee</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioU4d7eh5_NSltFVxfWfC4SAsHUZPNEOxhI6ODKmKtV9DYiyWsrrgaSVx2V6kLRr3GxCqf8-CZ9cu4lHcJPBF1vBZKkGb2tkrCVQ_Tr4IssdzDq8NycTgrJ6_ai49TVvANLvfDSYS5dwI/s1600/100_1114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioU4d7eh5_NSltFVxfWfC4SAsHUZPNEOxhI6ODKmKtV9DYiyWsrrgaSVx2V6kLRr3GxCqf8-CZ9cu4lHcJPBF1vBZKkGb2tkrCVQ_Tr4IssdzDq8NycTgrJ6_ai49TVvANLvfDSYS5dwI/s320/100_1114.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of the gang's here! We're missing: Crissy, John, Debbie and Ryan with TJ and Lily, 3 little Messer girls from T's house and Louis and me. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lUG2kXFjTQu6KGWGsc7Ka6RUAJMEjNZ4ksjWO7JuwU0QQnIcz9GnPKt8-YUFVLsZQROlPLfvVqRfD6Wh4XmBxLHcv-dl_Ai-Hgx913bD5uR9TlSfeYH5xA5XXs2a-rPF3VI5w4Xuw1k/s1600/100_1127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lUG2kXFjTQu6KGWGsc7Ka6RUAJMEjNZ4ksjWO7JuwU0QQnIcz9GnPKt8-YUFVLsZQROlPLfvVqRfD6Wh4XmBxLHcv-dl_Ai-Hgx913bD5uR9TlSfeYH5xA5XXs2a-rPF3VI5w4Xuw1k/s320/100_1127.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brothers Drew and Ceddie. Can you resist them? Nope!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMXf46nX1Gv_ZVFwhliSc2uLr8Vs6x-C_VOeJ7tnkZAA6fe6Ot0XrHh59FhHWRdrsFaCjWpFiswpR2pShEI3Zd1F2CltMKnjFsTobih0PeDiANrWH2xdgHgwy0stHSDhL4kl0luiVHD0/s1600/100_1129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMXf46nX1Gv_ZVFwhliSc2uLr8Vs6x-C_VOeJ7tnkZAA6fe6Ot0XrHh59FhHWRdrsFaCjWpFiswpR2pShEI3Zd1F2CltMKnjFsTobih0PeDiANrWH2xdgHgwy0stHSDhL4kl0luiVHD0/s320/100_1129.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love Maria's hair! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pVvF1y4zHaYp8lfWBCt2Bai7Fa_4RYmXwuKtafWF-EfZhsPD5AoF1K-AJ3zLVIrWCIpTgI8MF2Cj6s6pQiOBNIknL7wQz7go9S3mNoR-0dZkXQIIowSgyXxkalTe1GXMZR2hB8eai7o/s1600/100_1156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pVvF1y4zHaYp8lfWBCt2Bai7Fa_4RYmXwuKtafWF-EfZhsPD5AoF1K-AJ3zLVIrWCIpTgI8MF2Cj6s6pQiOBNIknL7wQz7go9S3mNoR-0dZkXQIIowSgyXxkalTe1GXMZR2hB8eai7o/s320/100_1156.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ginny eyes the inflation plug</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABJLbOA7OPTqA1iIF6Mf4NfzwGDn09IrHxS_jUuJsdAJ_5bnuDyXmpRi5cRCf4j4OI95LGtmrY0gttt1ubJUCQP4hYTXaCxWbiwHFZ26mNq9NFHoxc42shyphenhyphenkWLGrXsnjdK6KFjNhiSDU/s1600/100_1157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABJLbOA7OPTqA1iIF6Mf4NfzwGDn09IrHxS_jUuJsdAJ_5bnuDyXmpRi5cRCf4j4OI95LGtmrY0gttt1ubJUCQP4hYTXaCxWbiwHFZ26mNq9NFHoxc42shyphenhyphenkWLGrXsnjdK6KFjNhiSDU/s320/100_1157.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"This ain't that hard"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zwJdJg_oelYOwVPYdDClXlkatsfLUt06D3pivKuxrwoN8nUaOyMA1qdmTpjeaVO_ZDjJ_IPwACg-11TutmaAaxsuM4ZzGwPjGf9tDpyS1DWxRWBQwznF23rlFdmY9CvtIkyTODJmFgw/s1600/100_1159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmDuJAttD2txA4Ka1J4zY_Cz3l9NfuhWRQo3hMi_NbR6EIWdO3MClULj2Pksv602AhcwXJbokdV5rDnZfL5TLywk2ObmsSe_LwGlKSPzgfY7c9XhnvZwNCdAlkEwpJ59nUADCipk9UXY/s1600/100_1190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmDuJAttD2txA4Ka1J4zY_Cz3l9NfuhWRQo3hMi_NbR6EIWdO3MClULj2Pksv602AhcwXJbokdV5rDnZfL5TLywk2ObmsSe_LwGlKSPzgfY7c9XhnvZwNCdAlkEwpJ59nUADCipk9UXY/s320/100_1190.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousins Lizzie Messer and Brady</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjC2arCOXRJm9g7aZKGhbH9wCu9YaQD0yUG86MVt-ntcRxyRp0lGPRfKNocoPkSr1NlfxmkOcOpP_3rOhhGyNHajxBFsoPEjjfe3d7Mf193GWwHj21AFQbntJjc57A5pokvGhqQSpSAc/s1600/100_1214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjC2arCOXRJm9g7aZKGhbH9wCu9YaQD0yUG86MVt-ntcRxyRp0lGPRfKNocoPkSr1NlfxmkOcOpP_3rOhhGyNHajxBFsoPEjjfe3d7Mf193GWwHj21AFQbntJjc57A5pokvGhqQSpSAc/s320/100_1214.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suddenly realizes that help is near..."Mama! Daddy!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBHYs4YvP6MJjfZi6t2sc2yeClK89WsEx2W6_hKp4KKPp11dNZ7TBBJ93F-iBvnBvjGSY5IzikvlyFvcDoEqih5Fl_Lm2vOia7seVC3LOvBl-PwsH8jPeT2d-8LHeinsxzfuP7spJusI/s1600/100_1225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBHYs4YvP6MJjfZi6t2sc2yeClK89WsEx2W6_hKp4KKPp11dNZ7TBBJ93F-iBvnBvjGSY5IzikvlyFvcDoEqih5Fl_Lm2vOia7seVC3LOvBl-PwsH8jPeT2d-8LHeinsxzfuP7spJusI/s320/100_1225.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girls' lunch out!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSNOey7pXYmyv_7okoEHpNfRswsPSd7DjfsQF4urwZYh8Fu0uTSGlbfL_74UnYHg9DIEeNQrD_SCl_IxhVBFK9ps9cOYdl_K9I3Fetaq_R9GJtOCgbmjGDIsxSIDFud3V_Q1wU3yPy14/s1600/100_1227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSNOey7pXYmyv_7okoEHpNfRswsPSd7DjfsQF4urwZYh8Fu0uTSGlbfL_74UnYHg9DIEeNQrD_SCl_IxhVBFK9ps9cOYdl_K9I3Fetaq_R9GJtOCgbmjGDIsxSIDFud3V_Q1wU3yPy14/s320/100_1227.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Other Side"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXY7ij50ApdoLX4x0rM1BBUzDkycpLJzYGNUXeaChbUi7TJV8DJ2t4PHgE9EHMRkO0Ty7TLZRiDfEKRuYYNHidIIrCMH9Ruaab_MxKyE24xk8hS1CmxriBT2qLK9-QWnXW506VT_XT74/s1600/100_1231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXY7ij50ApdoLX4x0rM1BBUzDkycpLJzYGNUXeaChbUi7TJV8DJ2t4PHgE9EHMRkO0Ty7TLZRiDfEKRuYYNHidIIrCMH9Ruaab_MxKyE24xk8hS1CmxriBT2qLK9-QWnXW506VT_XT74/s320/100_1231.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night at Pier Park Carnival on the beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEE0O1CjDbDkAsCfvQMLMslx5y_f_IXbISAK9YNcb7rxEqFYguKvqvd5hNaalKJr1tnAPLXxgBiG_vAn64sh1C21YOBAR041y2-_fa9mBuoTAa283rZOzqxh6r6WkCvWWWxbFLprFF00/s1600/100_1232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEE0O1CjDbDkAsCfvQMLMslx5y_f_IXbISAK9YNcb7rxEqFYguKvqvd5hNaalKJr1tnAPLXxgBiG_vAn64sh1C21YOBAR041y2-_fa9mBuoTAa283rZOzqxh6r6WkCvWWWxbFLprFF00/s320/100_1232.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYOnK2oSu4rpTOrFSp03a5jW2_bAuCxfWf1hHtKKGCra6QctJzgA8dyqWM4Mu4qigXkoWVsMixpn7lEp0wtLFcRg9Vj7eyd2zl0L4bL_mtNdMVvGPT6mbNNZX9FtVw6PCzBYX8vVc_0E/s1600/100_1244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYOnK2oSu4rpTOrFSp03a5jW2_bAuCxfWf1hHtKKGCra6QctJzgA8dyqWM4Mu4qigXkoWVsMixpn7lEp0wtLFcRg9Vj7eyd2zl0L4bL_mtNdMVvGPT6mbNNZX9FtVw6PCzBYX8vVc_0E/s320/100_1244.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May May was suitably awed!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyEtis2wk8sh997nw4EAdOK0Jp2R5Z4H-JzxBs0DcucOtv3JiRAs1OpdaBq2uRk71H7vccZnajKe9OyuIrmOArnhQr_xLmbpXYhk_Z3vOHmHRzDCglblDNltqdAGy-tW1z5IWuQmeSzA/s1600/100_1267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyEtis2wk8sh997nw4EAdOK0Jp2R5Z4H-JzxBs0DcucOtv3JiRAs1OpdaBq2uRk71H7vccZnajKe9OyuIrmOArnhQr_xLmbpXYhk_Z3vOHmHRzDCglblDNltqdAGy-tW1z5IWuQmeSzA/s320/100_1267.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjomg4aV9Y4S0Oujp-be-Jp7vccrZYReJNOTdKVTWzR2b3xQaVgCmu6seY0nLw4U98uT49MdcWxs0Hxd-EDe2ZE3xXsCFHICx2SoNH2P94EPcT1Wx1EQlLAUmiI-_RNr6hzuIWb0wyMw/s1600/100_1271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjomg4aV9Y4S0Oujp-be-Jp7vccrZYReJNOTdKVTWzR2b3xQaVgCmu6seY0nLw4U98uT49MdcWxs0Hxd-EDe2ZE3xXsCFHICx2SoNH2P94EPcT1Wx1EQlLAUmiI-_RNr6hzuIWb0wyMw/s320/100_1271.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FL_uW0coQriBycKmOqjOyYa3EMgn_GeZr2VZ-dyOe0qiZtuqWciRDLD2PuWPcDUwUPHKpJhLU-n1ZsSZ5hNnLDkrEGf8PftJTwFz0vkGvhTGos4wT5P8jzopggi0KjsiyqQQaq1dvtM/s1600/100_1317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FL_uW0coQriBycKmOqjOyYa3EMgn_GeZr2VZ-dyOe0qiZtuqWciRDLD2PuWPcDUwUPHKpJhLU-n1ZsSZ5hNnLDkrEGf8PftJTwFz0vkGvhTGos4wT5P8jzopggi0KjsiyqQQaq1dvtM/s320/100_1317.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All Smiles at this Point!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUMh0uRqblxRq6qyEYMJo6QKG5wJ8_fdLW1NV2_mmqNJ6THzSkhjPNFBuBgdAMUrcUPjI-ToQeYf750p_tOe27ghF8dcuqr783OX1wLxCFy8rjU-BLe9ql3NEVU6MDCWSFEG3iHRPEr4/s1600/100_1333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUMh0uRqblxRq6qyEYMJo6QKG5wJ8_fdLW1NV2_mmqNJ6THzSkhjPNFBuBgdAMUrcUPjI-ToQeYf750p_tOe27ghF8dcuqr783OX1wLxCFy8rjU-BLe9ql3NEVU6MDCWSFEG3iHRPEr4/s320/100_1333.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that beautiful blonde hair!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHldvC4IPNcxJoKa8am5RaJ1BbJ0vLGmeeAOkV7tH4p-_yWlbu2AcHCBBqFjHZO0uPBTaZ2orI5gTyalxU92JCpTLm-SAVv8_A4ceziA9j0P3tr4nU9Ib0T7AhSEQrv7S2wwkbrc-Ttc/s1600/100_1337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHldvC4IPNcxJoKa8am5RaJ1BbJ0vLGmeeAOkV7tH4p-_yWlbu2AcHCBBqFjHZO0uPBTaZ2orI5gTyalxU92JCpTLm-SAVv8_A4ceziA9j0P3tr4nU9Ib0T7AhSEQrv7S2wwkbrc-Ttc/s320/100_1337.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dan the Man :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zwJdJg_oelYOwVPYdDClXlkatsfLUt06D3pivKuxrwoN8nUaOyMA1qdmTpjeaVO_ZDjJ_IPwACg-11TutmaAaxsuM4ZzGwPjGf9tDpyS1DWxRWBQwznF23rlFdmY9CvtIkyTODJmFgw/s1600/100_1159.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zwJdJg_oelYOwVPYdDClXlkatsfLUt06D3pivKuxrwoN8nUaOyMA1qdmTpjeaVO_ZDjJ_IPwACg-11TutmaAaxsuM4ZzGwPjGf9tDpyS1DWxRWBQwznF23rlFdmY9CvtIkyTODJmFgw/s320/100_1159.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OgSRyQoCEKqvzckLqbK8VZkO-S9XpQB0BL7nF4xyhSp21kmih7cg071hMfnB__H7vQ-MyYLHo33kZd_QSiAXsrfsuRSf1J9xnUhx_Y_zDcHAyWYYyiwML2eNmmtD4pNV3OCn4FCe3H8/s1600/100_1341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OgSRyQoCEKqvzckLqbK8VZkO-S9XpQB0BL7nF4xyhSp21kmih7cg071hMfnB__H7vQ-MyYLHo33kZd_QSiAXsrfsuRSf1J9xnUhx_Y_zDcHAyWYYyiwML2eNmmtD4pNV3OCn4FCe3H8/s320/100_1341.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect end to a week-the kite is actually flying! No kite eating trees in residence at the beach. :)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
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Kim Cristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179231226367819200noreply@blogger.com3