tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48058131573565654852024-03-13T03:24:39.205-07:00RUSHCAPADES!The Feats, Fiascos, and Musings of the RushesShannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.comBlogger645125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-24893244426209258882020-03-09T22:17:00.002-07:002020-03-09T22:19:44.532-07:008 Year Old Celebrates 2nd Birthday and Brings Thief to (Restorative) JusticeMagnolia's actual birthday only comes around every 4 years so we try to ensure her party is extra special.
Well, I'm not sure we'll ever top the celebration described below. And, for me personally, as the primary designer of this story-driven, spy-themed scavenger hunt, this honestly may be the most gratifying creative endeavor I've ever been a part of. From the team of family that came together to act, help brainstorm, and handle logistics, to the 7- and 8-year-olds whose wholehearted participation made the whole thing magical, everything about the production and reception felt perfect.<br />
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When Magnolia's 6 friends (+ her sister) arrive at our house they enter using the iPad that is set up to take their fingerprints. Then they choose spy disguises and receive their official ID badges.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OTKb1loNAIM/XmLcK51Kk5I/AAAAAAAAD9s/QscVYwDYrMQOz2NkF1OBLt5IW2IwbqsCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/disguised-girl-grid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="425" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OTKb1loNAIM/XmLcK51Kk5I/AAAAAAAAD9s/QscVYwDYrMQOz2NkF1OBLt5IW2IwbqsCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/disguised-girl-grid.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2nd-grade spies in disguise</td></tr>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tFCIE7RHsj4/XmLae-cHkTI/AAAAAAAAD9g/ofi4_ulLbEgacn7iB1xdtCmoRg-PRuLUQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Agent%2BTeresa%2Bgif.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="455" height="318" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tFCIE7RHsj4/XmLae-cHkTI/AAAAAAAAD9g/ofi4_ulLbEgacn7iB1xdtCmoRg-PRuLUQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Agent%2BTeresa%2Bgif.gif" width="320" /></a>In the kitchen, prominently displayed, is the ice cream buffet, with all kinds of candy sumptuously laid out. Once everyone is here, Shannon instructs them to head upstairs, but the stairs are rigged with yarn—I mean lasers—blocking their path and they have to Mission Impossible through without touching any. When they all successfully complete that first training exercise, they watch an orientation video, which is interrupted with an urgent communication.<br />
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Marc Firsht, a known criminal, is on the loose. No specific action is required at this time but everyone is instructed to be on the lookout.<br />
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At that moment, a clatter downstairs in the kitchen—banging, clanking, doors slamming—and then a loud cackle and heavy footsteps as the intruder flees. When the new spies, on high alert, run downstairs, the magnificent ice cream and candy display is gone! And so are all the gifts! Stolen!<br />
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Shannon gets a text on her phone. It's from headquarters: "It is no longer safe to communicate with you at your current location. Security has been compromised. Drive immediately to Magnolia Park to receive further instructions."<br />
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When they get in the car, they are handed a printout of information about the villain:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some villain origin stories are more epic than others. </td></tr>
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At the first stop, Magnolia Park, they are given clues that have them scurrying across the park to tupperwares hidden in shrubs with clues to ponder, codes to decipher, and an invisible-ink map that promises to lead them to their next destination. All are excitedly contributing, brows furrowed, suggestions and guesses voiced confidently among friends.<br />
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They are super smart and figure it all out, with the help of their tool kits which include black light flashlight-pens!<br />
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Shannon loads them all into the vans and tells them they are totally responsible for guiding her, using their piecemeal map, to get to the next destination. Shannon and I are in communication this whole time as I am setting up the clues, scrambling, not ready at all. Did I mention that I was up all night creating this thing and it's still not quite done?<br />
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The lead van, meanwhile is the best kind of purposeful chaos. The girls are trying to hold the pieces of their puzzle-map together to figure out the best route. At one point, Shannon circles a roundabout umpteen times before the girls, frantic, tell her which road to get onto. A little later, to buy me some time, Shannon pretends, twice, to be distracted by an airplane and misses a turn. Much shouting ensues—"Mama! Pay attention!!"—but they eventually get to the library.<br />
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Once inside, they, on the orders of a text-message directive from headquarters, retrieve a tube from a librarian. It contains a riddle that leads them to a cipher taped to the bottom of a table. By solving a math problem, they get the call number of a book, and nearby library patrons are amused by the excited gasps as they near the appropriate decimal on the spines of the books. The chosen book contains a slip of paper, a coded message, spaced oddly and written in backwards letters.<br />
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At this point, with all the library clues planted and found, I make a quick appearance (as myself) to the group, hoping they won't realize I've been, and will be, absent from most of the party. Then I slip away again as they pile into the girls bathroom to hold the code up to the mirror and use the cipher to decode it. Again, they are super smart. I didn't make these things easy. The code tells them their next destination: Costco.<br />
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Once there, headquarters instructs them to get some lunch and await further instructions. This whole time my parents have been driving their own car and meeting us at each location. This time they meet me early at Costco so I can get my mom into costume and set her loose.<br />
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It takes a little coaxing to get her to agree to the public silliness but she is a good sport. Meanwhile, ramping up the intensity after a brief reprieve, our pizza-eating heroes receive another text from headquarters. Other agents, it turns out, have been tailing Marc Firsht. He is in Costco, to buy *more* ice cream, which he is keeping in a locked case, but our agency has stolen the key to one of the locks and have hidden it for us amongst the shelves.<br />
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Another text: a senior agent (Grandma) in disguise in Costco is trying to give them another message (the combination for the other lock on the ice cream case). Our heroes must find her so she can inconspicuously drop the note on the floor for them, but they must avoid being seen by Marc Firsht.<br />
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Seven little girls in disguise SWAT teaming it through Costco on a Saturday receive their final directive from a grandma in Groucho glasses.<br />
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They pile back into the vans and head to their final destination, their school, where Firsht is headed to eat his ill-gotten ice cream. They've guessed he'll be at the playground, but when they arrive and tiptoe through the forest he's nowhere to be seen. His case, however, is sitting right there, unattended, atop the playground. And all the presents! They sprint—the ones who are brave enough—to retrieve it, then hide in a little wooden fort a ways away.<br />
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Firsht comes back moments later and is increasingly frantic and devastated to discover his ice cream is gone.<br />
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Some of the girls work to figure out the combination lock, while others keep their wide, wary eyes on Firsht. As he wanders around, woebegone, the girls are unsure what to do. Feels weird to have an ice cream party while the guy you just stole your ice cream back from is wailing nearby!<br />
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As the actor playing Firsht, I'm unsure too. Should I just exit stage left so they can enjoy their ice cream in peace? That doesn't feel right, though. Thankfully, some of the grown-ups suggest the girls come tackle me and invite me to their ice cream party.<br />
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Maybe such extravagant magnanimity for a criminal is naïve and ill-advised, but their readiness to forgive and extend radical hospitality was truly inspiring. For many of them, among the mix of intense emotions today has been legitimate fear—while there are suspicions that this villain is really Magnolia's dad in costume, no one, even my own kids(!), is totally sure—yet despite their fear they are so ready to forgive!<br />
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They jump out of the fort and start yelling after Marc. He takes off across the soccer field, afraid he's in trouble. They pursue, yelling things like "We wanna share!! We wanna share!!"<br />
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When they catch up, they group-hug him and convince him to come back to the fort.<br />
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The ice cream is a little melty, but there's plenty for everyone, even the parents who are now arriving to retrieve their children, and it tastes that much better with a little reconciliation on top.<br />
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If you have 9 minutes, I highly recommend watching the video below to see a little more of the girl's enthusiasm, and trepidation, and courage, and cleverness, and astonishment. Full screen is best.<br />
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<br />Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17679063995953399932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-80191449085800621702015-09-08T19:27:00.000-07:002015-10-12T19:28:03.861-07:00It starts with an H...<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Walking to the car after school...</div>
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<b>Magnolia:</b> Mama, today was super exciting. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Me:</b> Why? SASH? *see footnote </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Magnolia:</b> No a <i>bonus</i>. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Me:</b> I don't know. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Magnolia:</b> Kaleia doesn't have it. It is <i>new</i> for 2nd grade. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Me:</b> You'll have to tell me. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Magnolia:</b> It starts with H... </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Me:</b> Health? <i>I think I remember they start health in 2nd grade along with PE.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i></i><b>Magnolia:</b> No...it ends with a k... </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Me:</b> Homework. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Magnolia:</b> YES! My first homework! </blockquote>
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*SASH stands for Science, Art, Shop and Homeroom -- this happens once a week and is always anticipated with excitement.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-34650611862776255312015-09-02T08:00:00.000-07:002015-10-10T07:39:32.422-07:00First Day of School 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I still can't believe these two are both in elementary school.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Kaleia</i></span></b><br />
<u><b>Favorites</b></u><br />
<b>Food:</b> Pizza with pineapple and ham<br />
<b>Treat:</b> Chocolate Pudding<br />
<b>Color:</b> Blue<br />
<b>Book:</b> Bob books and The Book with No Pictures<br />
<b>Movie:</b> Rio 2<br />
<b>Song:</b> ABCs<br />
<b>Activity:</b> Draw<br />
<br />
<b>My best friends</b> are Natalia and Eleanor (but these rotate regularly).<br />
<br />
<b>This year I want to:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>learn </b>how to read. </li>
<li><b>try</b> to do a whole sentence by myself. </li>
<li><b>start </b>playing the guitar. </li>
<li><b>make </b>a big stuffed animal. </li>
</ul>
<b>When I grow up</b>, I want to be vet or a doctor and I will still be a Mama.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Stats</b></u><br />
43.2 pounds ~ 3 feet, 10 inches ~ shoe size: 12 ~ age: 6 years, 2 months<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCCJSMgIjW8/Vhkar3C2CTI/AAAAAAAAFoo/5FT4vkvl23M/s1600/V__AA61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCCJSMgIjW8/Vhkar3C2CTI/AAAAAAAAFoo/5FT4vkvl23M/s400/V__AA61.jpg" width="300" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Magnolia</i></span></b><br />
<u><b>Favorites</b></u><br />
<b>Food:</b> Fondue, then crepes<br />
<b>Treat:</b> Mud Pie<br />
<b>Color:</b> Coral<br />
<b>Books:</b> The Secret of the Ginger Mice<br />
and The Spies of Gerander<br />
<b>Movies:</b> Big Hero 6 and Rio 2<br />
<b>Songs:</b> "Happy" by Pharrell Williams,<br />
"Volcano" by U2,<br />
"Ship to Wreck" by Florence and the Machine<br />
<b>Activities:</b> Learning and Sports<br />
<br />
<b>My best friends</b> are Clementine and Nivriti.<br />
<br />
<b>This year I want to:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>learn</b> about the forest and the brain.</li>
<li><b>try</b> to find a fidget that will help me but not distract me.</li>
<li><b>start</b> going to chess club.</li>
<li><b>make</b> a forest model.</li>
</ul>
<b>When I grow up</b>, I want to be a doctor and have a farm.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Stats</b></u><br />
54 pounds ~ 4 feet, 2 inches ~ shoe size: 1 ~ age: 7 1/2 years old<br />
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I guess I had a first day of school too -- my 33rd one.</div>
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-25655654832569781852015-06-22T21:00:00.000-07:002015-10-10T07:46:16.052-07:00Sisters...splash sillily in the summer.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Click to see more goofy poses</div>
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<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-84757897958274509562015-06-16T20:03:00.000-07:002015-09-14T21:59:30.465-07:00Kaleia Sights a Germ<br />
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<span class="s1">I never know if it is Kaleia's eye condition, her active imagination, or that she seems to have little regard for accuracy or fact. Whatever the reason, she often leaves me speechless. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">"I saw a germ today. It was pink and it had a tail." -- Kaleia, age 5</span></blockquote>
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-32025585385247046432015-06-16T16:48:00.000-07:002015-09-14T19:12:05.008-07:00Squawking Squatters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Each spring a Robin comes back to this nest on our patio. I'm glad and amazed that our dog and two kids don't scare them away so we can watch them grow. </div>
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<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-60191664961776185602015-06-12T20:20:00.000-07:002015-09-15T20:28:31.793-07:00Last Day of School 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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And that we are now done with the Beehive (kindgergarten)!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Attempt at a "normal" smile for Mama</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'll definitely take this one home!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chillin' with a popsicle</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I don't want it to end!"...Or maybe it was "I don't want anymore pictures!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My big girl finished with first grade!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Always ready to learn even on the last day!</td></tr>
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-53771576833030912352015-06-11T19:56:00.000-07:002015-09-14T20:00:44.177-07:002015 Kindergarten Olympics<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Kindergarten Olympics--a much anticipated Catlin Gabel spring event--was a success! Kaleia Rush enjoyed each of her events, ending the day with a celebratory popsicle. During the opening ceremonies and after, Kaleia proudly waved her flag of hearts and stars, and symbols of her entire family, including dogs Trudy and Otis.</div>
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Kaleia excelled at balancing. </div>
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She was a confident jumper.</div>
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Kaleia loved the hurdles--just like her grandpa! Also like her grandpa, her tongue was visible during every event.<br />
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Catching and Throwing on the other hand were quite a challenge. A generous 4-grade judge made some accommodations for her and her partner allowing the games to continue.</div>
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No one quite understood the dress-up relay. </div>
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Finally, Kaleia made one lap around the track right as the whistle blew.</div>
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It was a perfect day with kindergarten friends,</div>
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with undivided attention from her parents, and a gold medal!</div>
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-43077722009573351022015-06-11T19:39:00.000-07:002015-09-15T20:29:00.270-07:00Lower School Spirit Week 2015<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b>Spirit Week by Magnolia</b></span><br />
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<span class="s1"><b>Spirit Week </b>is a week where you dress up in clothes you wouldn’t usually go to school wearing. Spirit week is the last week of school. It’s run by the 5th graders. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Monday </b></span>was Pajama Day. I wore my favorite nightie. Kaleia kept thinking I wasn’t dressed for the day because I was in pajamas and I usually am in clothes. Mama didn't get a picture of this day.</div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Tuesday </b></span>was hero day. I dressed up as Jesus. It was very hard to get on because Mama kept changing her ways of making it stay on and switched the blue robe thing, etc, and I kept having to put it on and it fell off, and once I had to go the bathroom.</div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Wednesday</b> was Wacky Wednesday. I wore a purple shirt and yellow/orange/red zig-zagged shorts and a white tank top over the purple shirt. Kaleia kept thinking that you took off your clothes and whacked people with your clothes. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Thursday</b></span> was Spirit Day. Spirit Day is when you wear lots of Catlin Gabel colors and stuff. I wore blue shorts and blue underwear, mostly white socks, and a tie-dyed white and blue Catlin Gabel shirt.</div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Friday</b> there isn't any dress up because it is graduation day for the 5th graders and they are the ones planning Spirit Week. The 5th graders need to wear nice clothes. So we just will wear normal clothes for the last day of school.</span></div>
Magnoliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09919681771990364511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-14353408793513820462015-06-10T21:04:00.000-07:002015-09-15T21:34:38.382-07:00Food Museum: Goats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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The Catlin Gabel first grade class spends the spring studying food for their science and social studies units--farm to table style. In groups, they choose a type of food of interest (fruits, vegetables, bread, meat, dairy) to research. They conduct interviews while on fields trips to a local grocery store and a farmer's market. Parents come to class and teach each group how to make a food from their category: dried fruit, jam, pickled veggies, loaves of bread, jerky, yogurt, and ice cream. Then groups create a "Food Museum" with activities and informational posters. </div>
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This was one of my favorites from this year: "chickens and things you make them in to." </div>
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Originally, Magnolia choose dairy, but then she wanted to specialize in goat products. Her teacher allowed Maggie to branch off from her group to create her own food museum--I love that about our school! Now, this girl is now passionate about goats. </div>
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She worked hard during work time and some of her free time on her exhibit, agonizing each evening, worried she'd wouldn't finish before the parent viewing event. Magnolia, and her teacher, were incredibly proud that she pulled it off. When I got to the event, as she showed me her museum, I realized why she had been worried, and was overwhelmed with pride myself.<br />
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She didn't just create the one required information poster or activity. Magnolia had made <b>three</b> informational posters,<br />
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an Interactive "Fun Fact" board, </div>
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AND a goat game to test your new knowledge!</div>
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She really knew her stuff!<br />
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Some things I learned about goats from her exhibit:<br />
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<li>Goats have rectangular pupils to help them see in the dark</li>
<li>Goats discovered coffee beans</li>
<li>Goats are picky eaters</li>
<li>Each breed of dairy goat gives a different flavored milk</li>
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-85284340533686728092015-06-06T22:00:00.000-07:002015-09-14T22:02:23.738-07:00Blake + Rachel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blake and Rachel, we wish you many, many years!</td></tr>
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This weekend we returned to Bellingham and Camp Firwood to celebrate with some of our closest friends. Blake was instrumental in getting Brian and me together and stood by our side in *both* of our weddings. Since then, he has been a constant friend -- the only non-family member to stay in all of our houses, including Beijing. We are just getting to know Rachel, but our family has already grown fond of her.<br />
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Brian was excited to give a toast to his friend. </div>
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The quote of the night: "talked him off the monastic ledge"</div>
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I enjoyed catching up with dear friends throughout the entire weekend. </div>
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The girls played and danced and got a first glimpse at the special place where their parents' relationship began. </div>
<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-35241526365292536172015-06-03T19:02:00.000-07:002015-10-10T07:40:54.784-07:00Word of the week: Consider-it<b>Consider-it</b> (noun): a substance made by removing water or other diluting agent<br />
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"Apple puree consider-it, apple juice consider-it, natural strawberry flavor, strawberry consider-it, citrus pectin, lemon juice consider-it..." </blockquote>
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-- Magnolia (7), reading the nutrition information, a current favorite past-time </blockquote>
Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-65392671637920049752015-05-30T19:15:00.000-07:002015-09-15T21:03:13.445-07:00Kaleia "Logic" - Reason to Want to Die <div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Magnolia (7): No one wants to die. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Kaleia (5): I used to want to die. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Me: Why did you want to die? </span></div>
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<span class="s1">K: I wanted a new family.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Me: You wanted a new family? You didn’t like your family?</span></div>
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<span class="s1">K: No, I just wanted to see what it was like to have a different one. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Me: You know you don’t get a new family when you die. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">K: Yeah, but I would get to meet lots of new people in heaven. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Me: True…but you know you can meet lots of new people here too. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">K: Yeah.</span></div>
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-59958429595196580682015-05-28T21:00:00.000-07:002015-09-15T21:02:37.291-07:00Incriminating Digital Evidence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We received an email from Kaleia's kindergarten teacher alerting us to the fact that Kaleia had her camera at school today. I thought it might have been unintentionally left in her backpack after our weekend trip. When I talked to Kaleia, she convinced me that she didn't bring it to school on purpose and that she didn't know it was in there. I totally believed her until I downloaded the pictures and found these...</div>
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This last one must have been her friend the photographer for the above photoshoot. Little stinkers.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-43603149159324577062015-05-23T21:56:00.000-07:002015-09-15T06:56:31.103-07:00Fairy Visit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Kaleia, as half-fairy, attends fairy school in the middle of the night and is our resident expert on fairy life and the wishes of the queen fairy. In this interview, Kaleia introduces us to a fairy she has caught. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzhLC78F-iXGDfsipDhta6QjegY2tNuhb-FlDpFvX80qdwvCp0PhQLV8sS9dt9bGUft-RzfoHMs18dAKOQuVw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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P.S. Forgive the low quality of the video -- and length! I just couldn't cut any material! The technical difficulties with this video roadblocked my blogging the last few months, but now we should be rolling again. </div>
<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-22710686992421200402015-05-21T20:57:00.000-07:002015-06-01T21:07:43.654-07:00It is finished!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Extra curricular activities, including housecleaning, came to a halt recently as I frantically worked to finish my renewal entries for my National Board teaching certification. Last year was just too hard, on too many levels, to take advantage of the first opportunity to renew, so this was my only shot. The process was less rigorous that the first go-around, but now I have two kids and a more demanding job. I finished my four papers, which included videos and work samples from my teaching, with 43 minutes to spare! That sentence makes it sound too easy. To provide some perspective, my mother's day and birthday present requests were for time to write and editing services. I've skipped the girls soccer games and fallen very behind in every area of my life.</div>
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I would not have been able to finish without my dear friends and former Bellingham colleagues, Amanda and Scott. They provided valuable feedback and support from afar. But most of all I would have been lost without Brian. He put his pursuits on hold the last few weeks to help me with my writing, handle more of the parenting, and put up with my near nervous breakdown moments. His Facebook status during the thick of the editing indicates he might have been nearing a breakdown of his own. </div>
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I won't find out if I pass until December 2015, but that's out of my hands. For now a huge weight feels lifted and I can start chipping away at all that has been postponed. </div>
<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-15547630484062835482015-05-17T21:01:00.000-07:002015-06-02T19:31:30.812-07:00Word of the week: Tasumi<div class="p1 tr_bq">
<span class="s1"><b>Tasumi</b> (noun): A long high sea wave caused by an earthquake, submarine landslide, or other disturbance </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Magnolia: Papa, are we on the highest floor?</span> </blockquote>
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<span class="s1">Brian: Yep. </span> </blockquote>
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<span class="s1">M: Good.</span> </blockquote>
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<span class="s1">B: Why “good”?</span> </blockquote>
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<span class="s1">M: Because it says if there’s a tasumi to go to the highest floors.</span></blockquote>
A few seconds later...<br />
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<span class="s1">B: Maggie, if you were pronouncing a word wrong, would you want someone to tell you?</span> </blockquote>
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<span class="s1">M (happily): Papa, I know I’m pronouncing a word wrong.</span> </blockquote>
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<span class="s1">B (laughs): Which word?</span> </blockquote>
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<span class="s1">M: Tasuemi</span></blockquote>
Sometimes we wonder how much to correct these mistakes and how much to let them just figure things out.<br />
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-23945773765681471732015-05-16T20:12:00.000-07:002015-05-30T21:19:29.634-07:00Sisters...watch scary movies together.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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They're watching the Lego Movie.</div>
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Usually this scene is reversed with Magnolia comforting Kaleia during a "scary movie."</div>
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I hope they always lean into each other or hold hands when things are scary. </div>
<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-73431966644928247412015-05-15T21:15:00.000-07:002015-05-30T21:19:13.457-07:00Pet Day 2015: Best WaverTrudy attended Pet Day today at Maggie's school. She was awarded a certificate for "Best Paw Wave to Say Hi!" We think every pet received an award, but we aren't telling Trudy.<br />
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<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-16002108391036510052015-05-14T21:06:00.000-07:002015-05-30T21:08:19.789-07:00Origami Dogs from Around the WorldYay! The powers of the internet! Magnolia was very excited to have friends and family sent in pictures of their origami dogs after her instructional video.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MOokxiWkE30/VWqIXiLHzeI/AAAAAAAAFQg/at_WvqsfdHw/s1600/11267249_10205871805527652_609879890_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MOokxiWkE30/VWqIXiLHzeI/AAAAAAAAFQg/at_WvqsfdHw/s640/11267249_10205871805527652_609879890_n.jpg" width="467" /></a></div>
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Sent in by our friend Jemma in New Zealand</div>
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Sent in by Maggie's Nana in Washington</div>
<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-90395474353409414582015-05-10T07:00:00.000-07:002015-05-30T20:55:42.775-07:00Prayers for MotherhoodThis has been one of those weeks where the reality of motherhood makes my pre-kid romanticized vision laughable. One of those weeks where more than once I've had to say or do things I never imagine.<br />
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"Mom, can you check my bum? I have these weird bumps." </blockquote>
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"That's dried poop. Please don't scratch it. Head to the bathroom." </blockquote>
The battle my family has waged against a nasty stomach bug has left loads of laundry, dirty floors, stinky garbage, and discarded meals, all adding to the craziness of trying to finish up my renewal process for my National Board Teaching certificate during a super intense time at school with more responsibilities than usual.<br />
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One of those weeks, where I'm reminded that the sacrifice of motherhood is one opportunity I have to practice the self-denying love of Christ. All I can do is take a deep breath and pray for mercy and strength.<br />
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The last year and a half, <i>The Ascetic Lives of Mothers: A prayer book for Orthodox Moms</i> has become one of my go-to prayer books, helping me put my thoughts and feelings into words to pray during times like these. Though it should be entitled "The Ascetic Lives of Women: A prayer book". It is full of encouraging scripture and stories of women of faith with themes that transcend the realm of motherhood such as anxiety, depression, financial strain, enemies, pride, forgiveness, and safety. I've adapted the prayers for situations with my siblings, co-workers, and my husband and many times through them I have found calm and focus as I poured out my heart.<br />
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When I woke up this morning, a prayer shared at a women's retreat by a favorite blogger, Molly Sabourin, came to mind and seemed fitting for Mother's Day:<br />
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O heavenly Father, make me a better parent. Teach me to understand my children, to listen patiently to what they have to say, and to answer all their questions kindly. Keep me from interrupting them or contradicting them. Make me as courteous to them as I would have them be to me. Forbid that I should ever laugh at their mistakes or resort to shame or ridicule when they displease me. May I never punish them for my own selfish satisfaction or to show my power. Let me not tempt my children to lie or steal. And guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate by all that I say and do that honesty produces happiness. Reduce, I pray, the meanness in me. And when I'm out of sorts, help me, o Lord, to hold my tongue. May I ever be mindful that my children are children and I should not expect from them the judgement of adults. Let me not rob them of the opportunity to wait on themselves and to make decisions. Bless me with the bigness to grant them all their reasonable requests and the courage to deny them privileges I know will do them harm. Make me fair and just and kind and fit, o Lord to be loved and respected and imitated by my children. Amen. </blockquote>
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Be encouraged, <b>new mother</b>, and do not lose heart, <b>seasoned mother</b>, or think that the trials you are facing in your calling will disqualify you from the prize. Pray for patience, <b>mother-to-be</b>, for the Lord knows the desires of your heart. Pray with faith, <b>grandmother</b>; approach the throne room of Christ, dear <b>godmother</b>, for the children you have been entrusted with. Dear <b>Women</b>, the Lord Himself holds your hand and wants you to succeed through His love, by the power of His Cross, through the prayers of His holy Mother and all the saints. *<br />
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Lord, have mercy on us all.<br />
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*Adapted from <i>The Ascetic Lives of Mothers</i>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-72241069586802889702015-05-09T12:49:00.000-07:002015-05-11T06:36:51.198-07:00How to Make an Origami Dog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you make an origami dog from my instructions, send me a picture!</div>
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<br />Magnoliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09919681771990364511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-2586910151911150532015-05-07T06:22:00.000-07:002015-05-08T06:26:45.646-07:00Sisters...play soccer together. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After a little finagling, we got both girls on the same soccer team -- the Pink Pandas! They LOVE playing on the same team!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YaVNB-8MN0w/VUvUqCZp_0I/AAAAAAAAFN4/Q2rI0uetdFg/s1600/WP_001797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YaVNB-8MN0w/VUvUqCZp_0I/AAAAAAAAFN4/Q2rI0uetdFg/s640/WP_001797.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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This 2-minute video of little kid soccer is probably too long for most folks. The last minute is the best if you only want to watch some of it. Kaleia is in pink shorts, glasses and wears #2. Maggie has black shorts and wears #3. </div>
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This was there first game -- April 11th</div>
<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-70749226321560484562015-05-04T14:00:00.000-07:002015-05-30T21:23:22.568-07:00The Unusual RecessTHE UNUSUAL RECESS by Magnolia<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Giu8rvZOR0k/VWqMoa5n5BI/AAAAAAAAFQs/N9HCELxFr6s/s1600/IMG_3938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Giu8rvZOR0k/VWqMoa5n5BI/AAAAAAAAFQs/N9HCELxFr6s/s400/IMG_3938.JPG" width="400" /></a>One day at recess something unusual happened. As I was walking out of the lunch room, I saw my friend, Clementine running out in the Fir Grove. I met up with her and asked, "Why are you in the Fir Grove?" Clementine answered, "Because the playground is closed." Then I asked, "Why are you running around?" Clementine answered, "Because I think some boys are spying on us." Then I said, "O.K. I'm going to put my lunch box away."<br />
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After Clementine and I met up again, we talked more about the boys spying on us. The boys were spying on us by hiding and then running toward us. When we saw the boys hiding and running, we ran away.<br />
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The hiding and running kept repeating for all of recess. I liked it but I couldn't tell them that because it wouldn't be fun any more if they knew I like it.<br />
Magnoliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09919681771990364511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4805813157356565485.post-52056846915084158752015-05-02T09:19:00.000-07:002015-05-07T09:19:55.258-07:00Sister Superpowers<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I bring the groceries in from the car to the bottom of the stairs and the girls take them to the kitchen. Anything too heavy for them, I bring up on my last trip. It is a good system. </div>
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Today, I was imagining carrying the heavy 25 pound bag of rice myself. </div>
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Instead I hear a voice reminiscent of childhood superhero cartoons, "This is heavy. I think this needs to be...a <i><b>sister-thing</b></i>!"</div>
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With their strengths combined</div>
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04372512714828625358noreply@blogger.com1