tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67015523274420504672024-03-13T10:14:14.374-05:00100 Pitchers of HoneyShereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-22402939198230949922014-08-21T18:55:00.003-05:002014-08-21T18:55:52.107-05:00brainsWalking by the bedroom, I hear Abraham and Anderson involved in pretend play. Abraham is enthusiastically describing a creature, but can't remember the name of it.<br />
<br />
Abraham: It has a shell like a turtle, but it's not a turtle. It doesn't go in water.<br />
<br />
Anderson: A tortoise?<br />
<br />
Abraham: No, it's <i>like</i> a turtle but <i>never</i> goes in water.<br />
<br />
Anderson: Yeah, a tortoise never goes in water.<br />
<br />
Abraham: It's not a tortoise.<br />
<br />
Me: An armadillo?<br />
<br />
Abraham: YES! Thank you, Mommy!<br />
<br />
I can read his mind. ;)Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-4899136940688712332014-04-15T16:58:00.001-05:002014-04-15T16:58:16.668-05:00Doing whatever you want<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>A conversation today between Abraham and me.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Abraham: Mama, I
would be super happy if we could have one day of just riding on rides and
watching shows and playing on the phone and eating as many treats as we want.
And then going to the store with a bunch of money and buying a lot of toys.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: That would be
fun, to have one day of just doing whatever you want.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Abraham: Yeah, we
need a break of doing the things you want and just do what I want to do.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: Maybe we could
have one day during the summer of just doing all the things you want to do.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Abraham: Yeah, that
would be great! Let’s do it during the summer. If we can have a day to do
whatever I want, I want to go to Disney World. For six days!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: Well, I guess I
should have said, we could have a day to do whatever you want in Nashville.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Abraham: Well, if we
can have a day to do whatever I want in Nashville, then I want to build a
Disney World! In our backyard! And we can get somebody to make Mickey ice
creams. And we could have Darth Vader ice cream and F ice cream and Batman ice
cream….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: F ice cream?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Abraham: …and
Superman ice cream, and Avengers ice cream…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: Wait, F ice
cream?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Abraham: You know,
like the letter F.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: But why F and not
any other letters?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Abraham: Okay, what
about F and G?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Abraham: We’re going
to make a Death Star right that we get in a giant Star Destroyer and zoom into
space and then we’ll be in the Millenium Falcon zooming around and we can have
costumes and we can bring ice cream there but it only has to be Avenger ice
cream. Mama, there’s something strange about the Hulk ice cream because it’s
super hard.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>And there was more, about fighting giant robot super heroes
and building roller coasters but it was impossible to record...</i><o:p></o:p></div>
Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-83104859890164944992014-02-01T08:08:00.002-06:002014-02-01T08:08:28.493-06:00I blame schoolMe, after yet another bit of bathroom humor from Abraham: "Abraham, why is 'booty' so funny to you?"<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Abraham: "Because - booty booty booty booty booty booty booty booty booty booty booty booty butts."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Me: "I see."</div>
Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-85809265099521600892014-02-01T08:05:00.000-06:002014-02-01T08:05:08.345-06:00The Force is with usThanks to Spotify, we have been listening to the Imperial Death March pretty regularly around here, and 80% of Abraham's games are somehow related to Star Wars. The other day, he was playing by himself and alternating between characters. Here's a bit of the dialogue that I caught that made me laugh. Probably only other Star Wars nerds will find this funny, but I had to record it anyway.<br />
<br />
As Obi-wan, "If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine."<br />
<br />
As Vader, in a deep voice, "That's not true."Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-60073536618151224412013-12-06T21:14:00.001-06:002013-12-06T21:14:42.580-06:00Bedtime chatsLast night at bedtime, I asked Abraham if he was ready to say prayers. Stretching out on the bed, he said, "I'd rather just tan my pelt in the sun."<br />
<br />
Tonight, after prayers, Abraham hugged me and said, "I love you so much I just want to hug you forever!" Which, naturally, led to talking about death and the immortality of the soul. Then Abraham asked most crucial question of all. "Mommy, will we be able to finish all the popcorn we made before I die?"Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-32191802717698410782013-09-24T19:41:00.002-05:002013-09-24T19:41:33.932-05:00On the existence of God...and dragonsWe were having a little discussion tonight about Anderson's lack of belief in God, something that Abraham knows about already, but tonight for some reason was asking more questions. Then I left the room, and he and Anderson talked a little more. When I came back in, Abraham told me his plan. He said:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
“This weekend I’m going to take Daddy to a special Baha'i class
that’s just for me and Daddy so he can learn about God by fighting dragons. I’m
going to let out a lot of dragons and if Daddy defeats them, then he believes
in God. It’s twenty-two dragons. And you’re gonna have to drive me there.”</div>
Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-9357073351724675442013-09-09T15:37:00.000-05:002013-09-09T15:37:00.277-05:00Summer in Photos<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HhUAMepLBUU/UizcUYf3tXI/AAAAAAAAAlw/y9cww61Yreg/s1600/IMG_2541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HhUAMepLBUU/UizcUYf3tXI/AAAAAAAAAlw/y9cww61Yreg/s640/IMG_2541.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Popsicle!</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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SQ0yP9vpL8s/UizcfAp14DI/AAAAAAAAAmA/V3yhxmlD3Fo/s1600/IMG_2516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SQ0yP9vpL8s/UizcfAp14DI/AAAAAAAAAmA/V3yhxmlD3Fo/s640/IMG_2516.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking</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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-loseOUVEing/UizceMZokcI/AAAAAAAAAl4/7LcGzDkunGs/s1600/IMG_2563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-loseOUVEing/UizceMZokcI/AAAAAAAAAl4/7LcGzDkunGs/s640/IMG_2563.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another hike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CuiIrk3PFV8/UizfX692g4I/AAAAAAAAAmM/NEPrsE76aHc/s1600/IMG_2688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CuiIrk3PFV8/UizfX692g4I/AAAAAAAAAmM/NEPrsE76aHc/s640/IMG_2688.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Self-portrait on the first day of school</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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dLTPx5_nxOU/UizfZibIdSI/AAAAAAAAAmU/HimBEYnUSxo/s1600/IMG_2709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dLTPx5_nxOU/UizfZibIdSI/AAAAAAAAAmU/HimBEYnUSxo/s640/IMG_2709.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First day of preschool</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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YxvM00NPU8E/UizfZsENr4I/AAAAAAAAAmY/i0ZayNHDeyg/s1600/IMG_2719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YxvM00NPU8E/UizfZsENr4I/AAAAAAAAAmY/i0ZayNHDeyg/s640/IMG_2719.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After school, tree climbing</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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s2hqyXQoEao/UizfaaZlDFI/AAAAAAAAAmk/-mAOTmGxGoU/s1600/IMG_2749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s2hqyXQoEao/UizfaaZlDFI/AAAAAAAAAmk/-mAOTmGxGoU/s640/IMG_2749.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After school at the East Nash Farmer's Market. He told the guy at the ice cream stand,<br />very nonchalantly, that he had a dead cicada in his car. True statement, but pretty random<br />conversation starter. ;)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-65418612839540025572013-09-08T15:19:00.000-05:002013-09-08T15:19:15.685-05:00Things Abraham wants to be when he grows upAn ever-growing list that I have been compiling.<br />
<br />
1. Artist<br />
<br />
2. Doctor<br />
<br />
3. Builder<br />
<br />
4. Chimbly Sweep<br />
<br />
5. Dog-Catcher (will kill them and eat them)<br />
<br />
6. Collector of SoundsShereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-51702200887415829622013-06-03T16:08:00.000-05:002013-06-03T16:08:00.755-05:00WisdomMe: "Abraham, do I have a bruise on my forehead? Look, do you see anything here?"<br />
<br />
A: "No."<br />
<br />
Me: "Are you sure? I feel a lump right here, and it hurts when I touch it."<br />
<br />
A: "Then don't touch it."<br />
<br />
* * *<br />
<br />
Me: "You have so much energy right now! Where did you get all that energy?"<br />
<br />
A: "From God."Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-61966892132957302442013-06-02T14:58:00.000-05:002013-06-02T14:58:44.156-05:00Quotes"The monster isn't full of meat. It has chicken, rice and macaroni."<br />
<br />
*<br />
<br />
"I want to play a teeny bit more. Teeny teeny. Teenier than a crumb."<br />
<br />
*<br />
<br />
"I love you bigger than an alligator's tail!"<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
*</div>
<br />
"The two rules are: don't mess up and don't stop doing it."Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-38874027049683162132013-05-17T17:34:00.000-05:002014-02-01T08:05:43.600-06:00vignettesAnderson is grilling outside. Abraham is with him. Then I hear a small knock on the door. I open the door and say, "Oh, hello!" as though it's an unexpected visitor. Abraham hands me a bag and says quite seriously, by way of explanation, "Daddy wanted me to give this to you. I'm not a friend."Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-68296676284465788902013-03-18T19:40:00.000-05:002013-03-18T19:40:42.653-05:00transcendental springHe wants to eat everything outside. Every green leaf, every stick and flower. We have one lone spinach plant that has survived the winter, and every time he passes by, he pulls off a leaf to eat. So today, as he's making and tasting a potion in his water table, I remind him we only eat plants from our garden. So he walks all the way around to the front yard to grab two baby handfuls of baby spinach, adds them to the brew, and chows down. "My potion's so good I'm crying!"<br />
<br />
Then I show him how to identify the patches of wild green onions growing all over the yard. These you can eat, too, my dear. Show him how to pull near the roots and find the tiny white bulbs. He hates onions on his plate, but outside, from the ground, he has no hesitation and declares, "These aren't spicy like regular onions."<br />
<br />
On the first nice day in weeks, we've been outside for four hours. Ate lunch outside. Painted outside. Peed outside (well, he did). But mostly just explored. He's gloriously filthy. I'm sitting in the sun.<br />
<br />
I flashback to my own childhood. Picking wild blackberries along the fence. Sucking honeysuckles. Eating tiny crab apples. Making clover necklaces and climbing trees. It sounds decadently Southern, and yet timeless, placeless at the same time.<br />
<br />
That's what I want for him, my son. Not soccer and piano and gymnastics (unless he really wants them), but hours outside, being that translucent eyeball, that self-reliant man, feasting from the earth. Coming finally to bed, sun-kissed and soiled.Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-49127227297007064032013-03-12T09:05:00.000-05:002013-03-12T09:05:00.419-05:00ConversationOn emotional self-awareness: "I don't want to go because I'm feeling grumpy. If I go I would just destroy everything."<br />
<br />
On delicious food: "Does the salad have salad grease on it?"<br />
<br />
On board games: "The game is called 'Mouse, run to get the cheese before a missile comes, or a zapper!'"<br />
<br />
On love: "Mrs. Simin, I love you! I will love you even when you are old!"<br />
<br />
On flattery: "Your name is lovely, too."Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-27716177028631924012013-03-10T08:54:00.000-05:002013-03-10T08:54:00.261-05:00Love"I really love Naw-Ruz and nothing else, just Naw-Ruz. I really love it. And Ayyam-i-Ha and Halloween and Star Wars and Christmas and Ayyam-i-Ha and fasting days! <i>(pause)</i> And regular days!"<br />
<br />
A: "We really need food to live."<br />
Me: "And water. We need both."<br />
A: "And we need love!"<br />
<br />
"I always love you every day. Even when I'm captured."Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-65346762169823487122013-02-26T22:21:00.001-06:002013-02-26T22:21:28.249-06:00Happy Ayyam-i-Ha!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 19.200000762939453px;">I wanted to share a little bit of our Ayyam-i-Ha preparation and celebration! Abraham is now old enough to really get into it, so it's been a lot of fun coming up with activities and starting family traditions.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 19.200000762939453px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 19.200000762939453px;">First step in building holiday anticipation - decorations! Abraham decorated the house with cut-out hearts and stars, which was easy for me and gave him complete ownership over the process. I also liked that this also meant the decorations were down at his eye level, so he could enjoy them.</span></div>
<br />
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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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b6Zvnbkfkaw/USeOcY2BtnI/AAAAAAAAAcM/T63PB6W3QpI/s1600/IMG_2204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b6Zvnbkfkaw/USeOcY2BtnI/AAAAAAAAAcM/T63PB6W3QpI/s400/IMG_2204.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posing so I could snap a photo.</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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2gqV9QAQDgU/USeOdvcQYiI/AAAAAAAAAcY/6W6WAisVy80/s1600/IMG_2206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2gqV9QAQDgU/USeOdvcQYiI/AAAAAAAAAcY/6W6WAisVy80/s400/IMG_2206.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made the pinwheels actually for a baby shower, but with the idea in mind<br />of keeping them up for Ayyam-i-Ha decor!</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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JB1CMkVWmsE/USeOeGSx7xI/AAAAAAAAAcg/-CIfvoDzIEE/s1600/IMG_2208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JB1CMkVWmsE/USeOeGSx7xI/AAAAAAAAAcg/-CIfvoDzIEE/s400/IMG_2208.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The one on the bed was "for Daddy."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gDmMr1eGiMU/USeOiYsaGxI/AAAAAAAAAdc/t8SVhTXKHxE/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gDmMr1eGiMU/USeOiYsaGxI/AAAAAAAAAdc/t8SVhTXKHxE/s400/062.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the placement of these two hearts together.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-st4zuZ6gFzg/USeOaS5JkWI/AAAAAAAAAbw/MQksaxjhM5c/s1600/IMG_2198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-st4zuZ6gFzg/USeOaS5JkWI/AAAAAAAAAbw/MQksaxjhM5c/s400/IMG_2198.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So patient for me to snap another photo! :)</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MsO6KLEO2Bs/USeOjK4WYcI/AAAAAAAAAdo/LDhIFe3Fhv8/s1600/066.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MsO6KLEO2Bs/USeOjK4WYcI/AAAAAAAAAdo/LDhIFe3Fhv8/s400/066.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ayyám-i-Há is a Baha'i holiday celebrated from Feb. 26 – Mar. 1. It is a time devoted to spiritual preparation for the Baha'i Fast (which begins March 2<sup>nd</sup>), celebrating and praising God, hospitality, charity, and gift-giving</span>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.80000114440918px;">"It behoveth the people of Baha, throughout these days, to provide good cheer for themselves, their kindred and, beyond them, the poor and needy, and with joy and exultation to hail and glorify their Lord, to sing His praise and magnify His Name…"</span></i></div>
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Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-8598782324713535412013-02-22T08:52:00.000-06:002013-02-22T08:52:00.149-06:00overschedulingAfter hearing about some friends who are enrolling their three-year-old in several activities (ballet, etc), Anderson and I started talking about whether we should enroll Abraham in soccer this year, or what kinds of things we might want to enroll him in the future. Our take on it was more to see what he's interested in and follow that, rather than arbitrarily signing him up for something and hoping that he likes it. So when he came into the room while we were talking, I asked him, "Would you want to join a soccer team with other kids and play soccer?"<br />
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"Yes."<br />
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"Do you want to do ballet?"<br />
<br />
"Yes."<br />
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"Do you want to learn to play an instrument, like piano?"<br />
<br />
"Yes."<br />
<br />
"Violin?"<br />
<br />
"Yes."<br />
<br />
"Guitar?"<br />
<br />
"Yes."<br />
<br />
"Do you want to take a dance class?"<br />
<br />
"Yes."<br />
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"Do you want to ice skate?"<br />
<br />
"Yes."<br />
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"Rock climb?"<br />
<br />
"Yes."<br />
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He was rapid-fire agreeing to everything, so we started getting extreme. "Go mountain climbing?"<br />
<br />
"Yes."<br />
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"Jump out of an airplane?"<br />
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"With a parachute?" he asked.<br />
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"Yes." I said.<br />
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"Yes." he replied.<br />
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"Without a parachute?" I asked, to clarify.<br />
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"Yes." he said.<br />
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Okay then! We've narrowed that down!Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-61366289745264614142013-02-19T08:47:00.001-06:002013-02-19T08:47:10.803-06:00meditations on immortalityWe were eating lunch when out of nowhere, Abraham says with surprise, "Mommy, we're NOT dying!"<br />
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I simply agreed, deciding not to go in the more morbid direction of arguing that we are all slowly dying, with each passing day. You know, because he's 3. But this assertion of his runs along the same lines as other questions that come up some time like, "Why am I still small?" "Am I four yet?" "Why is Gabriel still a baby?" Time is moving too slowly for his liking. For me, I can't believe how fast he's grown.<br />
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THINGS ABOUT ABRAHAM<br />
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1. He likes to negotiate. He's got his own opinion and is not afraid to share it. For instance, he asked me around snack time, "If I eat two carrots, can I have some chips?" I said, "Sure. Do you want two carrots or one carrot and one celery?" "How about just one carrot?" "But you said two." "How about no carrots, just chips?" What! He's the one who brought up carrots to begin with! And he still had to negotiate it down.<br />
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2. We had a dance party the other day. Not to Raffi or Disney songs, but The Smiths, Juanes, Ok Go, Andy Grammer. Kid's pretty eclectic; pretty diverse selection. Just need some techno and rap to round it out. I'm accepting toddler-friendly recommendations.<br />
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3. He asks why. ALL the time. About everything. I am endeavoring to really appreciate this quality rather than allow it to exhaust me. I don't KNOW why that guy is wearing a red shirt. I really don't. But along the same lines, when he asks me what a new word means, the English teacher in me is so so psyched about it. I will define words all day long for you, my dear! I hope he will always be so bold about asking questions, and not fall into the habit many of us have of not asking for fear of looking ignorant, and so ignorant we remain.<br />
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4. He says beautiful kind things that make my heart explode. Today we were reading a book that was about finding your talents. I asked Abraham what his talent is and he said, "Serving people." So lovely!<br />
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5. Some days, he gets completely eaten alive by his parents. He is the cutest ever! Sorry, all other boys! :)<br />
<br />Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-85041987643070315882013-01-16T08:53:00.003-06:002013-01-16T08:53:52.490-06:00fun and games"What if there were noses all over the toilet and all inside the toilet? And noses all over you! And noses all over me! And noses all over the town and all over the place! And noses all over superheroes!"<br />
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* * *<br />
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A: This bat wants some dinner too.<br />
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Me: Well, you can share some of yours with him.<br />
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A: No, he wants his own plate.<br />
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Me (drawing the line at serving a plate of food for a toy, but trying to be diplomatic): Well, I don't think bats like to eat the same kinds of food that people eat.<br />
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A: (pause) Mommy, it's just a toy.<br />
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* * *<br />
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And now, a couple photos.<br />
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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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cQgvbhJUZgo/UPa-SShFTEI/AAAAAAAAAa4/TnFbGRmaCvw/s1600/Christmas+2012+101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cQgvbhJUZgo/UPa-SShFTEI/AAAAAAAAAa4/TnFbGRmaCvw/s400/Christmas+2012+101.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fishing with Grandy over Christmas break</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fbPWTYHsWZg/UPa-S1w486I/AAAAAAAAAa8/KBUvJcM10f4/s1600/Christmas+2012+105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fbPWTYHsWZg/UPa-S1w486I/AAAAAAAAAa8/KBUvJcM10f4/s400/Christmas+2012+105.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Outside shirtless the day before Christmas!</i></td></tr>
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<br />Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-78844969775695542232013-01-03T19:01:00.003-06:002013-01-03T19:01:52.433-06:00happy holidaysAbraham's grandma, Cookie, was telling him the story of the three little kittens who lost their mittens. Afterwards, Abraham asked me, "Are Cookie's cats sad?" I said, "Do you mean the cats in the story or real cats?" He clarified, "Not the cats that talk and...make pie!"<br />
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"Does the Bominal Snowman have meat inside him?"<br />
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"Reindeer the Rudolph"<br />
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Singing softly to himself in bed, "Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny booger!"<br />
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Back home, after the holiday travels, "When is it going to be a holly jolly Christmas again?"Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-21406961171059712892012-12-20T16:30:00.000-06:002012-12-20T16:30:01.349-06:00Me: "What did you do?"<br />
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Abraham: "I'm not going to tell you because I don't want you to be disappointed in me."<br />
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* * *<br />
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Conversation after some undesirable behavior on his part. What a vocabulary. :)<br />
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"Mommy, are you mad at me?"<br />
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"No."<br />
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"Are you unhappy?"<br />
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"No."<br />
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"Are you frustrated?"<br />
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"No, I'm fine."<br />
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* * *<br />
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Another Abraham story that he told me after tucking me into bed.<br />
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"Once upon a time, a boy was walking in the woods. He said, 'Hmmm,' and then went back home."Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-67928445110781596852012-12-18T16:24:00.001-06:002012-12-18T16:24:15.362-06:00it's a guy thingMe: "Yeah, shoe starts with S. Actually, two letters together make the 'sh' sound, S and H. Can you think of any other words that start with 'sh'?"<br />
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Abraham: "Shereen!"<br />
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Me: "Yeah! And shoot." (Why is that the first word that came to my mind?)<br />
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Abraham: "Shoot?" (He is interested.)<br />
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Me: "Like shooting a rocket up into space!" (Trying to save it.)<br />
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Abraham: "Or shooting bullets into fire?"<br />
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Me: "...Yes..."<br />
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Abraham: "Or shooting guns and lava and lasers!"<br />
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Me: "....Yes..."<br />
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Abraham: "And zappers and electricity!"<br />
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Me: "....."Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-34708594010925798112012-12-11T14:01:00.001-06:002012-12-11T14:01:22.328-06:00Abraham saysAbraham is at an age where he says some pretty hilarious and/or impressive stuff on the daily, so I've been trying to write things down when I can. This is just a small sample of what I get to experience on everyday. I'm not even sure if all these will be that funny to anyone else, but they really crack me up.<br />
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At the park, talking to a much older kid, Abraham says to him, "I like your shirt."<br />
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* * *<br />
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Abraham asks, "Could you get me a glass of water?" I reply "Sure." Then I get a blue plastic cup from the cabinet, pour some water and hand it to him. He takes a sip, then looks at the cup and says, "I said a glass."<br />
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* * *<br />
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At Sunday devotions, after he'd reached his limit of sitting still, he leans over and whispers in my ear, "I love you very much, but this is taking a long time!"<br />
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* * *<br />
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"The farmer killed all the chickens that were doing bad things and brought them to the store for us to buy and eat."<br />
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* * *<br />
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"I'm thinking about Christmas trees and snowmen."<br />
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"Why?" I ask.<br />
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"Because I want them to exist."<br />
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* * *<br />
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And finally, a very sweet moment that made me proud. We were at the library playing at the playground outside, and Abraham started playing with a little boy about his age. Then when we went inside to look at books, he saw the boy again. The boy's mom was occupied taking care of a baby. The boy kept asking her to come watch him do a puzzle, but she said she couldn't at the moment. Then Abraham went over to the boy and said, "I will watch you so you won't be sad." Then the boy's mom had to walk away for a few minutes and told him she would be right back. But after she left, he started calling her. Abraham said, "Don't worry, she will be right back. I will stay with you."Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-59671981944905296592012-11-05T08:59:00.000-06:002012-11-05T08:59:00.603-06:00Construction sensory bin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We found a fun way to bring some sand/digging/construction activities indoors now that it's getting chilly. The water didn't stay in the pond long, though! Also I forgot to add any "guys" which I think would have kept his interest for longer. He enjoyed it though!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FbgFsZrUckE/UIfzgoSIl9I/AAAAAAAAAaA/--P2Q2Fea3I/s1600/Fall+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FbgFsZrUckE/UIfzgoSIl9I/AAAAAAAAAaA/--P2Q2Fea3I/s400/Fall+028.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kKGINlAN9PM/UIfzivtzFeI/AAAAAAAAAaI/P9TR_VfnKPE/s1600/Fall+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kKGINlAN9PM/UIfzivtzFeI/AAAAAAAAAaI/P9TR_VfnKPE/s400/Fall+029.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pushing dirt.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GQs9pY9xcZI/UIfzkbjicRI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/WA0dDB3X9ac/s1600/Fall+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GQs9pY9xcZI/UIfzkbjicRI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/WA0dDB3X9ac/s400/Fall+030.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Filling the truck with rocks.</i></td></tr>
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Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-8402661665347267822012-10-25T08:54:00.000-05:002012-10-27T08:55:56.006-05:00Abraham has really been getting psyched about Halloween, so I came up with a couple little activities to fuel his interest: making pumpkin and ghost faces with magnets and a Halloween sensory bin (inspired by <a href="http://pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/2010/10/halloween-sensory-box.html" target="_blank">this post</a>).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PYdgsYc8_rA/UIfxHE-OGLI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/pL1wjyVWQMo/s1600/Fall+094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PYdgsYc8_rA/UIfxHE-OGLI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/pL1wjyVWQMo/s400/Fall+094.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I just cut out a pumpkin from construction paper, taped it to the fridge,<br />then glued black paper to a magnet ad we got in the mail and cut out shapes.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z_5TWlPJ1pI/UIfxFiSfJiI/AAAAAAAAAZI/QcKLNbUSlvA/s1600/Fall+093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z_5TWlPJ1pI/UIfxFiSfJiI/AAAAAAAAAZI/QcKLNbUSlvA/s400/Fall+093.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Abraham decided he needed to use ALL the pieces to make a face.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tp5C_QFMGsw/UIfxN9g7crI/AAAAAAAAAZo/Bv1XOgxThHE/s1600/Fall+103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tp5C_QFMGsw/UIfxN9g7crI/AAAAAAAAAZo/Bv1XOgxThHE/s400/Fall+103.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I really like this cute face he made. It has a mustache. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4wffwtLYZeI/UIfxJqzoacI/AAAAAAAAAZY/NvDwrJ7qTMg/s1600/Fall+095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4wffwtLYZeI/UIfxJqzoacI/AAAAAAAAAZY/NvDwrJ7qTMg/s400/Fall+095.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Halloween sensory bin - we had the black and white beans left over from<br />another sensory bin, I picked up a few little things from the dollar store, and<br />dyed some rice orange via <a href="http://www.africanbabiesdontcry.com/2012/03/tutorial-how-to-make-rainbow-coloured.html" target="_blank">this method</a>.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--RXM9gArdgI/UIfxL1-7-BI/AAAAAAAAAZg/yiwQlQqYe6I/s1600/Fall+096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--RXM9gArdgI/UIfxL1-7-BI/AAAAAAAAAZg/yiwQlQqYe6I/s400/Fall+096.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I made the ghosts out of packing material. I planned to use tissue paper<br />but couldn't find any white.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Roh96XGb4do/UIfxSQag9FI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/L4k3eMICK_0/s1600/Fall+104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Roh96XGb4do/UIfxSQag9FI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/L4k3eMICK_0/s400/Fall+104.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>In typical Abraham fashion, this turned into a role playing activity with<br />the skeletons. They have made their way out of the bin and all over<br />the house, including the bathtub. :)</i></td></tr>
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Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6701552327442050467.post-78240138311484355232012-10-24T08:39:00.000-05:002012-10-24T13:49:23.835-05:00Seasonal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">We have really been enjoying the fall weather and trying to get outside as much as possible. We went on a little nature walk around our yard the other day, collecting cool leaves, flowers, and acorns. Then we made a quick batch of cinnamon play-dough that smells delicious. (The play dough recipe I use is <a href="http://www.theimaginationtree.com/2011/02/strawberry-sparkle-play-dough.html" target="_blank">here</a>, but in this case I added cinnamon and no food coloring. It's a really great recipe. Stays soft for a long time even if (often) left out.)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rI0yEyZSZjQ/UIfuf1TCSEI/AAAAAAAAAYU/E1zCQzF3V9w/s1600/Fall+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="474" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rI0yEyZSZjQ/UIfuf1TCSEI/AAAAAAAAAYU/E1zCQzF3V9w/s640/Fall+001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Concentrating</i></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7_yrpiGZDiE/UIfugtRQdYI/AAAAAAAAAYc/5sIntqMj610/s1600/Fall+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7_yrpiGZDiE/UIfugtRQdYI/AAAAAAAAAYc/5sIntqMj610/s640/Fall+003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DUcPlA7vU7U/UIfuhipOahI/AAAAAAAAAYk/gCdOGxFLMoc/s1600/Fall+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="474" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DUcPlA7vU7U/UIfuhipOahI/AAAAAAAAAYk/gCdOGxFLMoc/s640/Fall+005.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Our collection</i></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fnDosoAhLmI/UIfuieIkeDI/AAAAAAAAAYs/qpPjAOPkc20/s1600/Fall+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fnDosoAhLmI/UIfuieIkeDI/AAAAAAAAAYs/qpPjAOPkc20/s640/Fall+006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ehPsiVCmZmg/UIfujEVo_fI/AAAAAAAAAY0/_cyXJvULlsU/s1600/Fall+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ehPsiVCmZmg/UIfujEVo_fI/AAAAAAAAAY0/_cyXJvULlsU/s640/Fall+007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Shereenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06836347627511569082noreply@blogger.com0