tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91269420520784431322024-03-13T14:45:09.284-05:003 Peanuts3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.comBlogger1267125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-58806300617424298962020-11-02T20:59:00.000-06:002020-11-02T20:59:56.898-06:00Exciting news!<p>I cannot believe that it has been over a year since I posted here. Will graduated from college and is in grad school at the University of Texas. Harry is in his second year of college (also at the University of Texas). It is really nice having them both there and they only live 4 blocks apart. Dave switched careers and is now teaching 6th grade math to inner city kids. Kate is 14 and applying to high school!!! And I have started a <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/connecting-with-dr-kim-swales/id1534082388" target="_blank">podcast</a>!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/connecting-with-dr-kim-swales/id1534082388" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-krfVv1F6ITE/X6C_n7VqUiI/AAAAAAAAFEc/A6vxcn5rsJoq416YIwvINuucxVXVE2wSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_6457.JPG" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>With the kids more grown and independent, I was working more and more in my private practice and really loving it. I decided this summer to start a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drkimswales/" target="_blank">professional IG page</a>. </p>
https://www.instagram.com/drkimswales/<div><br /></div><div>And I have also started a podcast called <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/connecting-with-dr-kim-swales/id1534082388" target="_blank">Connecting with Dr. Kim Swales</a>. You can listen to the<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/season-1-trailer/id1534082388?i=1000493169044" target="_blank"> trailer here</a>. We have 5 episodes live right now on Apple, Spotify and wherever you listen to podcasts. The first two episodes are guides for connecting with teens and young adults (although the feedback has been great from parents of children of all ages). We have an episode on marriage, integrative medicine and parenting an athlete. </div><div><br /></div><div>This week we are launching an episode on parenting toddlers. My guest, Dr. Phil Boucher, a pediatrician and father of 5 young children, talks about tantrums and connecting and teaching young children how to express their feelings. I'd love if you go follow me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drkimswales/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and subscribe to the <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/connecting-with-dr-kim-swales/id1534082388" target="_blank">podcast.</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Please leave a comment to tell me if you ever check here and what you have been up to. I would absolutely love to hear from you. And who knows, maybe I'll update more often here too.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-48244491991748686982019-07-11T13:13:00.001-05:002019-07-12T07:56:33.666-05:00A few summer favoritesI have been working a lot this summer and find myself reaching for simple and classic silhouettes that are comfortable and flattering. And although it is HOT here in Houston, my office can be a little cold. Here are a few of my recent favorite purchases.<br />
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I am obsessed with <a href="http://bit.ly/2jBHgdW" target="_blank">these pants.</a> They are so comfortable and flattering and versatile. I bought them in black and white (an ivory shade really and the white ones are lined). For me, they will be year round staples. I am 5'3" and so they come just to my low ankle so they're not as cropped on me but they also come in petite if I wanted a more cropped look. And they are 40% off today and an extra 10% off if your have a card. I'd say they run pretty true to size.</div>
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And I LOVE <a href="http://bit.ly/2Lgl99c" target="_blank">this summer sweater </a>so much. I thought I wanted it in ivory because I like a monochromatic look but in person I loved the flax color the most. I seriously would wear this everyday and if I lived up north, I would buy more colors.</div>
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And one more GREAT deal I found online. I LOVED the thin cotton sweaters that JCrew used to sell every summer. They were perfect for me and for this weather. However, they changed the length last year though and I am no longer a fan. BUT I found these and they are under $20 and fit me perfectly (I wear a small). I have both the crewneck and Vneck. They work with jeans, shorts, pants, skirts. They are a new favorite basic of mine.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079RQJGVZ/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&th=1&psc=1&linkCode=li2&tag=threpean-20&linkId=3d89fd0fdda69581f0b956367663b8b8&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B079RQJGVZ&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=threpean-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=threpean-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=B079RQJGVZ" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/32nGp20" target="_blank">This </a>comes in several colors (I got navy, camel and ivory).<br />
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Also comes in a <a href="https://amzn.to/2XTHorD" target="_blank">very flattering crewneck</a>. I am in love with the fit, weight and price.<br />
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Hope you all are having a great summer. I will be back soon with a family update.</div>
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3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-35948809293705776992018-10-25T13:23:00.002-05:002018-10-26T10:30:17.648-05:00What I have read latelyMy apologies for not posting for a week. I have been battling a serious illness for over a year now. I was completely better and now I have regressed again. So, I am trying to post 2/3 times a week. Keep checking back but please understand If I have not posted, it is due to work and doctors and health stuff. I plan to post a few recipes next and then another installment in the college application process.<br />
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I read a ton. It is one of my favorite things in the world to do. I am in 3 book clubs and I read all kinds of books. I also like almost everything I read so I hesitate to write critiques but I'll try here.<br />
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This week, I have already read these two books:<br />
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As the titles imply, these are about a Southern family of three sisters and their Mom and Grandmom. They live in a coastal town in Georgia and the story revolves around their relationships and trials and tribulations. These are the first two books in a series of three. I loved them. They are light, easy reading and I felt like I knew each of the characters. I want to be friends with this family in real life. The characters are likable yet flawed and the story keeps you hooked. I seriously cannot wait for the third book. If you need something easy to entertain you, these books are great. I highly recommend them especially if you like beachy, Southern Chick-lit (which I love!).<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=threpean-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1501158058&asins=1501158058&linkId=1582226aebcd018aee699de721f1142f&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=threpean-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1501158104&asins=1501158104&linkId=add5a12bcc3bfb279d5d5175488bfde5&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
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Now, if you like suspense and mystery, I read <a href="https://amzn.to/2CF44AI" target="_blank">this one </a>a few weeks ago. It was Reese Witherspoon's book club pick a month or two ago. If you liked Gone Girl and those other twisty, turny dark mysteries, this is good. Sometimes I like them and sometimes they make me too jittery. I liked this one. I like to completely mix up the types of books I read so this is completely opposite of the light ones above. The plot kept me interested and even Dave (who doesn't read much) read it on a long flight and enjoyed it. <br />
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I also really enjoyed <a href="https://amzn.to/2SjYwBd" target="_blank">this book</a> this month. As you know, I am afraid of flying and I was not sure I could handle this book because there is some of that in there. But I ultimately really liked it. It deals with injury, love, recovery, family secrets, strength and redemption. I read this book in about 2 days. I enjoyed it a lot.<br />
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These next two books are so good. I read <a href="https://amzn.to/2CFeYX5" target="_blank">Beartown </a>at least a year ago for one of my bookclubs and I am currently reading the sequel, Us against You (also for bookclub). The author, Fredrik Backman (A Man called Ove) is such a gifted writer. He takes a long time to set the scene and introduce the reader to the large cast of characters in this novel but once he does, you cannot put it down. You feel like you are living in the town and part of the community. Beartown deals with a sexual assault in a small hockey town and is very timely given our current political climate. I read it before the Brett Kavanugh hearings but one of my other bookclubs read it that week and we had quite the lively discussion. I honestly had no desire to read this book given the description but it draws you in. I think this author is so gifted at writing three dimensional characters that the reader grows to love.<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2EIxkJu" target="_blank">Another book </a>that dealt with teen issues and community was All we ever wanted. I like Emily Giffin for her light chick lit books about marriage and motherhood. However, this one was different in that the subject matter was much more serious. It takes place in a wealthy suburb of Nashville. A mother is faced with the possibility that her son (who is headed off to an Ivy league college) has done something horrible. While the subject matter was heavier than her usual books, I really liked this book. It is timely as it deals with sexual misconduct and social media. It deals with all of the pressures that today's teens face. Having a senior in high school, I could empathize with many of the characters.<br />
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I have also ordered several books for Kate from Amazon recently. I typically read on my iPad but I get her the physical books and that is what she prefers. I took a chance on this series and she has loved it! Kate is kind of sick of reading your typical "middle school" books. She has flown through this 3 book series though. It is probably on the easy side for her as it is recommended for 10 and up and grades 5-6. She is 12 and in 6th grade but she loves them. I love that they have a brave young female as the lead character.<br />
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I could go on and on but I am out of time and energy. Let me know if you like these posts and any of your favorite books in the comments please. Have a great weekend!!!</div>
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<i style="font-family: arimo, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Disclosure: Some of the links on my website are affiliate links. Many links on this blog are not. I like to share with you where I get the things I love. I have done this long before affiliate links existed. This means that if you purchase an item from an affiliate link here, I may receive a small commission. I only link to products/companies that I like and use. I have never been compensated in exchange for a blog post.</span></i></div>
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<br />3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-88251553218253433802018-10-17T05:30:00.000-05:002018-10-17T05:30:00.824-05:00a few favorite Amazon findsBeing a homebody, I kind of hate shopping out in stores but I love shopping online much to my husband's dismay. I have found some incredible things on Amazon lately and just have time to share a few with you today but will likely make this a regular feature here.<br />
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First, I am so glad that scarves are back in style. I love them and saved many of my silk scarves from 20 years ago. But I also found a few new ones that I have been wearing non stop.<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2CnCkRd" target="_blank">This one </a>is a beautiful silk square and I have worn it several times already. It was a steal at under $15.<span id="goog_720192932"></span><br />
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That is a terrible screenshot of me wearing it last week. </div>
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This photo also shows the glasses I talk about below.</div>
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I should have taken real photos but haven't had time.</div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2CPEIRN" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KY3C2OOfZkA/W8YbocuwzUI/AAAAAAAAEDM/RaYfUpmF1_4_y_ogsSSy-WffmSJ0XprcQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1513%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2CPEIRN" target="_blank">Scarf</a>//<a href="http://bit.ly/2Ot22KZ" target="_blank">Jeans</a>// <a href="https://amzn.to/2NJpM8I" target="_blank">Eyeglasses</a>//<a href="http://bit.ly/2J3oODe" target="_blank">Sweater</a> (similar, this years' version)</div>
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I have also worn <a href="https://amzn.to/2CPEIRN" target="_blank">this orange one a</a> few times. I love it. It is not silk but looks and feels exactly like it.<br />
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I also have it in <a href="https://amzn.to/2CPEIRN" target="_blank">the most beautiful pale turquoise </a>(series 3 blue) as well as the orange one. I just feel like a pretty scarf can take a very simple outfit and make it much more chic. These scarves are under $10 and really add a lot to my existing wardrobe.<br />
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Oh and I got these earrings a few weeks ago and love them. I posted a photo in my Instagram stories and several people wanted to know more about them. They are lightweight and very stylish. They come in a light color and a darker more traditional tortoise.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=threpean-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07GWPVX91&asins=B07GWPVX91&linkId=dc7b0d5b729520a80598266ac5f58650&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div>
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People have also asked me about my glasses a lot lately. I ordered them both on Amazon too and took them to Costco to have my prescription lenses put in. I have a small face and kind of know the measurements I can get in eyeglasses. I also knew that Amazon is great about returns, if I did not like these frames.<br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2CPJ1wr">These are the glasses </a>that I get the most questions/comments about. I love them. I have a very, very small face so they are probably slightly large for me (see screenshot above). But I think they would fit most faces. They seem universally flattering. I have had mine about a year.</div>
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These are my other glasses that I wear everyday.</div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2CjaFRg">Glasses</a></div>
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Mine are the 47/17/138 size. They are light and super comfortable. I have two pair of this one (readers and distance:)</div>
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I plan to do a whole skin care post soon but <a href="https://amzn.to/2pW6qUp">these masks </a>could not wait. I have not always been the best at skin care. But in the last few years, I have really started taking better care of my skin. I do not think most masks in general are worth the time and money but<a href="https://amzn.to/2pW6qUp"> these </a>really make a difference in my skin. I use this mask about once every week or two. The price is great and it come with 10 masks.<br />
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Okay, the last thing is a supplement. I am NOT a medical doctor but these have been awesome for our family. Please check with your doctor before adding any supplements to your routine.<br />
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This <a href="https://amzn.to/2NJZhji">liquid probiotic </a> is fabulous. Kate cannot swallow pills/capsules and Harry says most probiotics hurt his stomach. These drops are completely tasteless and do not upset anyone's stomach. They can also be used as a spray for your skin for acne. I love these probiotics and am so glad I found them.<br />
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I think I will be posting a recipe I slightly adapted next and then continue the college series. Have a great day.<br />
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<i style="color: #666666; font-family: arimo, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Disclosure: Some of the links on my website are affiliate links. Many links on this blog are not. I like to share with you where I get the things I love. I have done this long before affiliate links existed. This means that if you purchase an item from an affiliate link here, I may receive a small commission. I only link to products/companies that I like and use. I have never been compensated in exchange for a blog post.</span></i></div>
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3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-19127863791195651752018-10-15T19:26:00.000-05:002018-10-16T07:54:55.624-05:00the college application process: making the most of the college visit (part three)College visits and tours are very important in this whole process. Your child needs to get a really good feel for the campus and the environment. We have done lots of local and long distance tours with our boys and more are planned for this year. In fact, in the next few weeks, Dave and Harry will be visiting Tulane and Loyola New Orleans.<br />
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Harry visiting Loyola Marymount in Los Angelos last February (Presidents Weekend).</div>
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He loved it there.</div>
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Unless you are traveling and happen to be near a college of interest, I do not recommend touring a lot of schools before the beginning of junior year. This is strictly my opinion but I will tell you why I think that. Choosing a college is <b><i>extremely </i></b>overwhelming. It will likely be one of the biggest decisions your child has made thus far in life. I think that if we start the process too early, they get burned out and have a more difficult time figuring out what they really want. I also think that talking about and pushing "college stuff" too early leads to tension in the family. You want your kids to be excited to look at schools not get sick of it. Most kids completely change their "list" of schools in their head and if you start too early you waste some time, energy and money. Furthermore, most of the kids touring are juniors and seniors and it is intimidating and changes the "feel" of the tour if you are a freshmen or sophomore. And the feel is really how a lot of people remember the school.<br />
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So, I think junior year is a good time to start visiting schools. Once your child has a list, start locally. College visits can be very expensive. When you factor in days off from school (our school only excuses 2 days for college visits) and work, plane tickets, accommodations, rental cars and meals, they add up. So, my advice is to get a few local visits under your belt first. We have done them in Texas, California, Virginia, Ohio, South Carolina and Louisiana. Dave and Harry are going to New Orleans this month and probably back to CA in the Spring after we know about admissions.<br />
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Me and Will at Baylor 3 or 4 years ago (also Presidents weekend)!</div>
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Furthermore, I advise you/your child to look up how important a "touch" is to the schools your child is applying to. A "touch" is any interaction your child has with the school. It can be an email, attendance at a local information session, meeting with the admissions rep when they visit your child's school or a campus tour. Some schools track "touches" and consider them in the application process. Some schools do not. The reason this is important is that most people cannot afford to visit every single school they are interested in (unless they are local or have a very small list). So, I suggest visiting the schools that count touches and/or the ones your child is most interested in first (before application decisions) and save a few visits for after they are admitted and have their financial package.<br />
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Let me explain with an example. Will was applying to schools in Texas, Colorado, Virginia, South Carolina and Ohio. We simply could not fly all of those places in one year. In fall of Junior year, Dave and Will flew to Virginia to visit UVA and William and Mary. And then we drove and did lots of Texas visits Spring of Junior year. We waited to see where he got in and what kinds of scholarships he got before any more visits. Then when he had narrowed his choice down to three schools ((winter of senior year), he and Dave flew to visit Clemson and Miami of Ohio. They never even visited the Colorado schools (which worked out well because they were not in the final running). He got into all of his schools but by the time he was making his decision, the Colorado schools were not in his top three so we saved a lot by not visiting them.<br />
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SMU visit February 14, 2015</div>
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Tips for the actual visit.<br />
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1. <b>Try to plan your visit when school is in session. </b> I know this is hard to do sometimes but Presidents weekend and fall holidays are good times to visit. I highly suggest you book the tours well in advance if you go on a holiday weekend like Presidents Day as the tours fill up. We go Presidents weekend in junior year to scope out possible schools and in senior year to confirm schools that they have been admitted to. You want to see the campus in full swing. You want too see the student body and what it looks like on a typical day. I like Friday or Monday tours.<br />
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2. <b>Plan to stay in the area for about 24 hours.</b> The actual "tour" is one very small part of the visit. It lasts an hour or two. Your child cannot make such a big decision based on 1-2 hour tour. Roam the halls of the academic buildings. We have knocked on doors of business and geology professors and started up chats with them. Eat in the dining hall and at the local restaurants and people watch. See if you can get someone to take you through the residence halls (most tours do not do this for safety reasons). Go to the recreation center and strike up conversations with students to see what they like and don't like about the school. See if you can attend a concert or show or student activity. Read the campus paper. Visit the bookstore and the student activity center or office of Greek life. The goal is for your child to see if they can imagine themselves living there for 4 years. If your tour is on a Monday, go a day early and go to church. We have taken our boys to Mass at schools they are considering and I think it has been very helpful. I also suggest a visit to the campus ministry center, Catholic center or Hillel center or whatever your faith based center might be if that is important to your child. When traveling, Dave and the boys have also explored the local city life, hiked and driven around. It is important to get a feel for the whole area especially if it is far from home.<br />
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3. <b>Look at the truly important factors. A tour guide and weather can make or break a tour BUT it shouldn't.</b> I remember our tour at SMU the best. We had the most charismatic tour guide. He was funny and interesting. It was the most gorgeous day with blue skies and sunshine and perfect weather. Everything about the tour was perfect. I was ready to enroll myself. While it was the best tour, it was not the best school <i>for Will</i>. Similarly, if you get a boring tour guide or it is a miserable day, do not transfer those feelings to the school as a whole if possible. That is why I think it is really important to spend lots of time on and around campus outside of just the tour.<br />
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4. <b>Stay near the front on the tour. </b> The tour guide casually chats in between locations/stops on the tour and there are SO many useful nuggets of information you will miss if you/your child is in the back. This is super important.<br />
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5. <b>See if you know a current student and arrange to meet up with them. </b>This is not always possible but I have always asked my friends if they knew any current students at the schools we were about to visit. Honestly, someone almost always knows someone. My kids have often met with a current student for a quick coffee or chat or tour of the residence hall with a student we knew from home or a mutual friend. Anyone know anyone at Tulane or Loyola New Orleans?<br />
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6. <b>Send a thank you email to the admissions person or liaison.</b> I will be honest I am not sure my boys did this every time but I encouraged them to. I think it makes a nice statement and you never know what is going in that admission file. It could count as a "touch."<br />
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This is the cathedral at University of San Diego. </div>
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Harry and Dave attended Mass there on their visit last February.</div>
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I have gotten several emails and direct messages from people telling me how much they appreciate these posts. And I have to tell you, that is why I am doing them. I am so glad they are helping many of you. I have one or two more in this series but I think I will post something fun and light (unrelated to the college process) next. Then, I will post the overall timeline and tips for applications and essays. I love your feedback so leave me some in the comments.</div>
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3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-89005832505034423702018-10-12T09:47:00.000-05:002018-10-14T14:00:30.645-05:00the college application process: testing (part two)<br />
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This is likely the most unpleasant part of the process for many kids and families. For us, it was pretty easy with one son but the other one wanted NOTHING to do with the testing at all. So, what I write about today regarding testing is what worked for us and those around us. I will preface this by saying we were very fortunate and our situation is not typical. Our boys are extremely good test takers and they always have been so we had a good foundation. They ended up doing really well on the ACT and SAT and I think prep had a lot to do with it. However, I have advised clients with children who struggled with test taking and this approach also helped them tremendously.<br />
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Fortunately, the boys' high school offers the PSAT freshmen, sophomore and junior year in October so they get plenty of practice taking it and we could see what their strengths and weaknesses were. Similarly, they offer the practice ACT. If your child's school does not offer these, you can find other places for them to take them. I highly recommend this for a few reasons. First, one of our sons did very well on the ACT but very average on the SAT. Once we knew that, he focused all of his attention and effort on preparing for the ACT. He never even took the SAT. The other son did well on both. So, he prepared for both (much to his dismay). Also, taking practice tests helps you identify areas that your child needs to work on and it can help you set realistic goals for both college admittance and scholarship money.<br />
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I bought <a href="https://amzn.to/2EfW37D" target="_blank">this book</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/2RL6O4Q" target="_blank">this book</a> for the boys and encouraged them to practice a bit the summer before junior year but I did not nag them. Then, in late summer/ fall of junior year, I enrolled one child in the SAT prep course. I timed it so that he would finish the course <i style="font-weight: bold;">before </i>the <b>October PSAT junior year. That is the only test that could possibly qualify your child as a National Merit Scholar. </b>If there is no chance your kids will qualify (which is most of us) then you don't need the prep before this one. It can wait a few months. But if your child scored very well on the practice tests, you might want consider the prep before the PSAT. <br />
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We had a good idea by early Fall of junior year how the boys would do on the ACT and SAT. Harry took the SAT in November and December but his first score was the highest. That is the one he sent to all of his schools. Will took the ACT 2 or 3 times Junior year and I think we sent 2 sets of scores to his colleges and they superscored (combined the highest of each subset). It was really nice to be done with testing by mid year Junior year. They both decided when they were happy with their scores and when to stop taking the test. Honestly, Harry only wanted to take the SAT once but I encouraged him to take it twice. Scores typically increase slightly.<br />
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I think what helped the most with testing was the prep. We used Test Masters for both boys and both of their scores improved significantly. We will use them with Kate when the time comes too. They are reasonably priced, thorough and they get results. We made our boys enroll in the classroom option not the online prep. I think they learn better being there. It is an intense month when they take the prep course but it is only a month. Now, I am not saying they loved the prep classes (well--one boy was fine with them and one hated them) but we think it was well worth the time and money. We knew Will was taking the ACT in early February of junior year so he took the class for the month of January for maximum benefit. Harry took the ACT prep and test the same time of his junior year. He also took the SAT prep in September for the October PSAT and November SAT and did very well. Harry also worked with a math teacher at his school for one or two private lessons. Harry is <i>really</i> good at math and had a great score but there were a few mathematical concepts he had not learned yet in the beginning of junior year even though he was in AC math. It was easy for him to learn those concepts in an hour or two of private tutoring just before the SAT.<br />
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We have several friends who hired private tutors for thousands of dollars and the kids' scores did not change at all or just slightly. Many people here use private tutors but I don't think that was the direction for us. I am sure there are great ones out there. I just did not hear much success locally. From my experience and what I hear from my friends, the prep courses do a great job if your kids do what they suggest and attend the classes. I do think that for most kids, some sort of test prep pays off. Most merit scholarships are given based on test scores and GPA. So, Dave and I figured it was worth a small investment in a prep course because it could end up increasing their scholarships by thousands of dollars each year (And it did!). There are lots of companies out there that do prep but I swear by Test Masters and I have no affiliation with them. We just saw amazing results. <br />
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You should ask around in your area for test prep recommendations. Ask parents of kids a year or two older than yours. I would only pay for a prep course or tutor if you get personal recommendations for great results. Perhaps in your area, private tutoring yields great results. Test Masters and other companies guarantee their course and if your scores don't improve, you can retake the course for free. Both of our kids had the improvements that they predicted. Also, I don't think you need to spend a fortune on test prep. I think our courses were under $500 (which is a lot) but they literally got our boys thousands of dollars by putting them in the highest merit scholarship brackets. Also, the boys were very motivated to do well. They both were applying to several private schools and out of state schools and they knew that academic scholarship money was important. If the cost of a tutor or a prep course is simply too much, at least purchase the prep books and have your child practice those. They really do help.<br />
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Harry took one SAT subject test but it is not necessary unless your child is applying to highly competitive or Ivy League schools. In fact, my suggestion is to look at the schools your child plans to apply to and see what they want. All the schools we were looking at accepted either the ACT or SAT...except UVA (back then they wanted the SAT). And most do not require subject tests. They can help in extremely competitive programs, major and schools though. Our boys chose to send their best scores to the schools and did not send any scores right away. We waited and sent scores once they applied and picked which scores to send where. <br />
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If your chid is in on level classes (not AP) especially for Math and Science, I would wait until the end of junior year or very early summer after junior year to take the SAT and ACT. That would be ideal timing. They can even take it again in September or October of senior year if warranted. Many of the concepts are taught in the Spring of junior year and they will likely do better if they wait.<br />
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So in sum, if your child is in AP classes, start SAT and/or ACT prep early to mid junior year and try to complete all test taking in the junior year. Take each test 2 or 3 times. Many schools will super-score your results and often test scores increase. If your child is in on level classes, start prep in the winter to spring of junior year and take the tests as soon as possible toward or after the end of spring semester. That way all of the material should have been covered in classes. Subject tests are predominantly for kids applying to Ivy league or extremely competitive programs and only in the areas you are very knowledgeable in. They are quite difficult.<br />
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One last note, if your child simply is not a good test taker, do not despair. Many college do holistic reviews and testing is just one component. I have also read about more and more schools not requiring testing at all. It is only one aspect of an applicant. Yes, it is still important but I think it is becoming less important.<br />
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Let me know your thoughts/questions in the comments. I am enjoying blogging again but I only want to do it if people are reading and enjoying it too. Next up: How to get the most out of a college visit.<br />
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<br />3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-13206883895576875852018-10-09T12:18:00.000-05:002018-11-04T14:35:17.675-06:00the college application process: starting the college search (part one)When I asked readers for topic suggestions, several people asked me to share how we handle the college search. I know this will not be of interest to some readers but since we are in the midst of this process with Harry, I thought it would be a great time to write about it as it is very fresh in my mind. This will be a series of posts because it is a long process. Also, I am not a college consultant. I am a Mom who has gone through it twice. With my counseling background, I have considered applying for a job as a college counselor because I love this process but I am certainly not a expert. I am simply sharing how we have done it and what has worked for our family. There is more than one way to approach the college search.<br />
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Let me start by saying I do not think that the four year college experience is for everyone. I used to think it was for most kids but I have seen so many kids suffer and drop out and experience extreme anxiety and depression being far from home and trying to make college work. As a parent, I think being open minded and really listening to your child is very important. We want our kids to be happy and independent and there are many routes to that place.<br />
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I think community college is a wise start for many people. It is economical and for some kids the whole moving to college thing is overwhelming. There is A LOT of drug and alcohol use at college (more than I ever imagined) and for some kids who struggle with those issues or don't want to be around that, community college is an excellent starting place too. Also, many kids have no idea what they want to study when they are 18. My boys have/had so many AP credits that they kind of had to pick a major very quickly. That was very intimidating for Will and he shifted his major around a few times within science (biology, geology and environmental earth science). Starting at a community college buys you some time to explore majors and save money while doing so. So, my suggestion is not to rule it out immediately. <br />
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I also think other options like a gap year, the military, culinary school, heating and air conditioning and plumbing certifications are great options for kids these days. I know that is not the mindset a lot of parents have but honestly, I want my kids to be able to make a living and love their life and work. I am not going to be a snob about how they do that as long as they are fulfilled. One kid we know is studying to repair airplanes instead of going to college and he will earn more more than most people (six figures) doing what he loves. I think that is awesome!<br />
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So, here is how we start. We try NOT to talk about college much at all freshmen year. It is a stressful year simply adjusting to high school. The high school our boys went to is a very rigorous college prep school. It is challenging. All the kids are talking about Stanford freshmen year and comparing PSAT scores and they are stressed enough. So, we just let them get used to high school and do not talk about college this year. They do take a PSAT in October but that is about it for our mentions of college and college prep.<br />
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Starting sophomore year, I attend the college fair at their high school <i style="font-weight: bold;">with our kids</i> just to get some names and places on their radar. We walk around, grab brochures and talk to the reps but it is very low key. There are so many incredible schools out there and most kids have not heard of lots of them. This is great opportunity to get the information while they are not stressed about it. Similarly, if we are traveling and we are around a college, we might take a peek but it is pretty casual. They also take another PSAT in October of this year and a practice ACT at their high school.<br />
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Junior year is when we kick things up in our house. As a parent, I have two goals for junior year with our kids. One is to have regular discussions about what they are looking for in a college and the other is to get the testing process going and hopefully completed. <b><i>My next post will be all about the SAT and ACT but know that we do all of that prep and testing junior year.</i></b><br />
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So, starting in the fall of junior year we have regular meetings with our child. They are typically on Sunday afternoons because that is a time when we are home and relaxed (but definitely not every week). We start by brain storming some things they might want to study and career options. You have to let your child be the one coming up with the ideas. So many parents tell their kids what to major in and that typically ends badly. I used to be a college professor and I had so many kids I advised that were doing poorly and hated their major. When I asked them why they were an accounting major, they said "My Dad told me to major in it so I'll always have a job." I get the reasoning (from Dad) but these kids were miserable. I cannot imagine my kids doing a job they hate for the rest of their lives. I see enough adults in my practice with that problem.<br />
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Certainly, we cannot expect our kids to know exactly what they want to study BUT some colleges don't offer everything. For example, Babson only offers business classes and Georgia Tech is limited in its scope as well (these are simply two examples off the top of my head). They're excellent schools for specific majors but not for others. So, we want our kids to identify a few areas that they <i>might</i> major in because there is no point in looking at schools that do not offer the programs your child is interested in. That might seem 100% intuitive but I know so many families that are alumni of a certain school and they want their kid to go there but don't even know if they have a good program in the desired major. Or people assume a large reputable university has everything. That is simply not true. Plus, our goal is to get them to consider lots of possibilities in the beginning for both major and university. So we have them generate lists of what they <i>might </i>want to study. This was really a challenge for Will as he was not sure. He had several ideas but not one specific major in mind. And that is fine. You look for schools that offer all of the areas of study. I don't think it is wise to push a kid to pick a major at 17 or 18 but they typically can identify a few possible areas they are interested in. Harry knew immediately it would be entrepreneurship. That made step one easy for him:)<br />
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In these meetings, we listen to what our kids think they are interested in and we give feedback about strengths we see in them and how that could relate to a major or a career. We have also set up lunches and conversations with adults we know in these various fields so they can ask questions and learn more. Honestly, our kids didn't always like this but I think looking back they appreciated it. We were introducing them to networking which is crucial. We really see this time as one of exploring possibilities. Once they identify possible areas of study, we move onto the next phase.<br />
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Before I get to the next phase, Dave and I have homework as well in this process While our kids are thinking about a handful of possible areas of study, we examine our finances. We have saved/invested to send 3 kids to college but some colleges are $22,000 and some are $75,000 a year. Dave and I look at the college fund and come up with a range we are comfortable paying. We let our child know that they are welcome to apply to schools that are much more expensive but they have to find scholarships to make it affordable for our family. And you'd be surprised to learn that many of the private schools or out of state schools offer enough scholarships to make them competitive with in-state tuition if your child has good test scores and an above average GPA. Will has so many scholarships that his out of state school is less than both his high school tuition was and in-state university options. My suggestion is to visit the school websites and look for merit based aid and typically you can see what your child would be eligible for based on their current GPA and test scores. Not every school gives that information but many do. I think it is really important to be honest and clear about the budgetary part of this with your child. This is one reason our kids did not apply to any Ivy league schools, they do not give academic scholarships and they cost more than we were willing to pay. We do not qualify for financial aid. We'd like our kids to graduate debt free and remain that way ourselves. This is an excellent time to teach your child about fiscal responsibility.<br />
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Our next phase is having the child identify factors they seek in a college. I want them to pick a university based on the attributes rather than the name. I want them to pick a place they will feel safe and comfortable and thrive. We have them consider things like, do they want to be in a city or small town or in between? Do they want to stay close or go far away? Do they want a small school, medium or large? Will they have good research opportunities or internships nearby? Do they want a religious affiliation? Do they want Greek life? Is it in our budget (or will it be with merit scholarships)? Are they interested in a study abroad program? Do they want a "football" school (lots of kids want this college football game/tailgating experience but some kids don't care.)? Is there a region of the country they prefer? Are they a competitive applicant given their GPA and test scores? Will claimed he would only apply to southern schools. Ha! He picked a northern school. Harry only applied only to schools in warm climates even though there are tons of top business schools up North. He loathes the cold and knew he did not want months of gray winters. They may not have all the answers to these questions but it is good to get them thinking about it.<br />
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Finally, we have them generate a list of about 10-12 schools that offer the areas of study they are interested in and includes the factors they deem important. The way they generate that list is up to them. We have tons of books to reference, they use their school Naviance program and the internet. I think Harry googled the best entrepreneur programs. From that search, Babson and the University of Houston are both in the top five. He ruled out Babson mostly because Boston=cold weather and University of Houston is too local. One compromise school was Baylor. It is ranked very highly for the entrepreneur program but he prefers to be in a city. So he is visiting and applying and might end up there. They weigh each factor carefully against the others. We have told our boys it is about finding a fit. There is not one "perfect school." You look for a handful that have a lot of the things you want.<br />
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The reason we have them generate a list of 10-12 schools is that ideally we want them to choose about 5-6 schools to apply to that we can afford, that they will likely get accepted to and that they will be happy to attended. They research and consider the 10-12 and narrow it down later in the application stage. In the end, Will applied to 8 or 9 schools and was accepted at all of them with academic scholarships. Harry has applied to 8 schools so far and we think he is done. This is definitely more that I think is necessary but several schools waived the application fees so they applied to some that were "maybes."<br />
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My boys did not always love the meetings and the "homework" we gave them to research areas of study and colleges. They rolled their eyes and complained sometimes. But often another parent or teacher would remind them how lucky they were that we were guiding them. Both of their guidance counselors were amazed at how ahead of the process and well prepared they were. The ultimate choice is up to the child where to go but we felt like we needed to help guide them to figure out the best options. And honestly I enjoy helping them with this.<br />
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Let me know in the comments if you have any questions so far. I really value your comments and feedback.<br />
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Next up--how we handled the ACT and the SAT. Then, I will post about getting the most of the college tours. And finally I will post the actual application phase, essays and a timeline.<br />
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<br />3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-31999030081850720052018-10-08T05:00:00.000-05:002018-10-12T09:45:40.734-05:00fall shoe favoritesWhen I asked people what they'd like to see me blog about fashion and parenting were the top two requests by an overwhelming margin. I was kind of surprised at the fashion response but am happy to do some posts on things I like. I have 3 posts planned this week on fashion and the college application process so check back.<br />
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This week we should see the beginnings of cooler fall weather here in Houston (finally!) so I thought I'd start with some things I like for Fall. This summer, I spent some time decluttering (as I do a lot) and I worked on my shoes. I realized that while trends come and go, I tend to stick with a few classics each season. I know booties have been all the rage the last few years but they just are not for me. I am petite and I don't think they're flattering on me even thought they look great on others. But also, I don't think they jibe with the rest of my wardrobe so that is a trend I am skipping. I feel like if you build a wardrobe of quality classic pieces, you can add in a few trends you like here and there. There are things I have had in my closet for over 20 years that I still love and still wear.<br />
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During my declutter, I realized that I wear a ton of loafers, pointy toe flats and ballet flats in the fall. I also like boots, just not booties. When I did my closet clean out, I had a few pairs of loafers that were in bad shape so I knew I needed to replace a few this year. I tend to wear cream, tan and black ones constantly. So here are a few favorites I found and love.<br />
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I wear a lot of cream and winter white and I fell in love with the shoes immediately.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/2OMFp3S" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q38Y4UwKPQs/W7oXSUxQKXI/AAAAAAAAEAA/SmBzpj0vIXMGQzIxKt7cASkZYdYPJiligCLcBGAs/s320/45107964022_1c5500910a_z.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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I love this brand. They make beautiful classic shoes that are comfortable and chic.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/2PjQGp9" target="_blank">This one </a>is currently on sale for half of what they typically run. I would say they run true to size and do not require breaking in. I love that the soles have a protective lining because it is rainy and humid here and I always get my leather soles lined so that I don't slip. This saves me that expense and time.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/2OMFp3S" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="596" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c8oMNW-LVXw/W7odTlDl9AI/AAAAAAAAEAY/SRtgswuF1U4XRt6qyVmpgrtnclZw6b4JgCLcBGAs/s320/30218857127_d29b86a081_z.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/2OMFp3S" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="596" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ouGA1wmj4RI/W7obZ9S0tLI/AAAAAAAAEAM/WlsXOvC8jZccPTgAq-8hQ4OkPsuDQajjACLcBGAs/s320/45156784771_a5c446c145_z.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/2OMFp3S" target="_blank">This shoe</a> is a similar loafer that comes in black, mink (which is the one I have and goes with everything!) and deep wine/brown color. I like the metal bit detail. It reminds me of the Gucci loafer but at 1/10th of the price and honestly I think these are better quality after trying on both brands. I love this shoe in the Mink patent so much!<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/2Pj46lm" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IoU5TAyiv8M/W7oeLuLDvOI/AAAAAAAAEAg/EoynqHOm6A8f6JWvcfM8D0Y60_KvK5snQCLcBGAs/s320/45157238681_358fd061aa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I bought <a href="http://bit.ly/2PiCDjP" target="_blank">these black patent loafers </a>(mine do not have the tassel though) at Marshall's about 2 weeks ago and I LOVE them. So check your local TJ Maxx and Marshall's but if you cannot find them there, you can order them <a href="http://bit.ly/2Pj46lm" target="_blank">here</a> with the tassel. If you prefer a penny loafer instead of the tassel (like mine) you can find them <a href="http://bit.ly/2PjNYAb" target="_blank">here </a>too for under $40! That's what I paid. They are so comfortable and they are classic but a little edgy because of the sole. I have worn them about 5/6 times in the last 2 weeks. I think I will wear these a lot and they will last a long time because of the sole. Here is a picutre of me in mine.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/2PjVM4L" target="_blank">Sweater</a> (favorite purchase this fall~ I got it in navy and gray but the navy is sold out now) /<a href="http://bit.ly/2OMKdpW" target="_blank">Pants</a> /<a href="http://bit.ly/2PjN6eT" target="_blank">Belt</a> Comes in black/brown and navy/orange or navy/cream/ <a href="http://bit.ly/2PjNYAb" target="_blank">Shoes</a></div>
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When doing my decluttering I also realized that I really needed a navy flat. I wear navy a lot and have a navy skirt that I rarely wear because I didn't have the right shoe. I have honestly looked for a versatile cute navy flat for a long time and I recently found <a href="http://bit.ly/2Pe1GnY" target="_blank">this one </a>on major sale and ordered it. It has not arrived yet but I know my size and comfort with Tory Burch so I think it will be great. The best part is it was 60% off. I do not think I will wear the detachable ribbon much. But it makes a pretty option with a skirt.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/2PfIPZS" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="596" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-akTmjSbJCLo/W7oruXca8jI/AAAAAAAAEBo/FUuaw9Rgu3UNb__GqGMlMmAP78EPfJMIQCLcBGAs/s320/45109733602_b7cc3cbafc_z.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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Finally, I love a calf hair or leopard shoe. I have a few pair from past years so I did not need a new one but<a href="http://bit.ly/2PfIPZS" target="_blank"> these</a> are really cute and versatile and gets excellent reviews. Mine are all a few years old but I wear them a lot all fall and winter.<br />
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I love really well made, classic shoes and I do love a bargain. All of these are well under $100 except the navy which are just at $100 (regularly $250). I hope you enjoyed seeing these options.<br />
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My next post is the first of a 3 part series on the college application process. I think the series has lots of useful tips and a good timeline too. I will post other things in between though because I know not everyone is interested in the college application series. But if you have any children in high school or even 8th grade, it should be a good read. Tell your friends who have high school kids too!<br />
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<i style="color: #666666; font-family: arimo, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Disclosure: Some of the links on my website are affiliate links. Many links on this blog are not. I like to share with you where I get the things I love. I have done this long before affiliate links existed. This means that if you purchase an item from an affiliate link here, I may receive a small commission. I only link to products/companies that I like and use. I have never been compensated in exchange for a blog post.</span></i><br />
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3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-37955912501656003292018-10-04T10:50:00.000-05:002018-10-04T15:07:17.002-05:00family updateFirst a giant THANK YOU! I simply cannot believe the number of encouraging and supportive messages I got yesterday (mostly through IG direct messages). You guys know how to make a person feel good. I truly had no idea that many of you really missed our blog.<br />
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I thought I'd give a family update here since many of you said you really miss that. It's long.<br />
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(this was at the MFA Houston Bambu exhibit this summer)</div>
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Dave doesn't have social media so I try to keep his profile low but he doing well. He is golfing a bit, fishing and working. He travels to Spain and France and Israel for work sometimes.<br />
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(Will leaving for his junior year of college in August)</div>
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Will is in his 3rd year of college and doing really well. He turned 21 this summer and we celebrated in PA (post to come). He is in a fraternity which I have mixed feelings about but I think he has found a really healthy balance of activities in college. He is majoring in Environmental Earth Science and Sustainability. He also has a focus (maybe a minor) in Geology and is usually on the Dean's list. He works in a biology lab doing limnology research. I don't know exactly what he does but it involves plankton and larvae and water:) He is involved in some Christian groups on campus and is a Scholar Leader this year. This January he will be doing a J-term study abroad in Italy. As a science major, he could not really do a semester abroad because they do not offer the courses/labs he needs but this should be a fun experience for him. He will be in Rome with a short trip to Florence. He is looking for a summer internship for 2019 in Environmental Science or Sustainability and is willing to go anywhere for the opportunity. So, let me know if you know of any! It is hard to find internships in that field. I am so incredibly proud of the man he has become.<br />
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(A fabulous event Harry planned and put on last Spring)</div>
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Harry is doing great. He finished his 10th and final year at Camp Ozark this summer and had a blast. That place is etched deep in his heart. He is a senior at an all boy college prep school and ready to get on to his next adventure. Lots of you asked about his migraines. They are pretty much gone. He will get one occasionally but overall they are rare. He has become an incredible photographer and focuses mostly on music/concert photography. He is also still an entrepreneur and has so many fabulous business ideas going. Harry is my kid who really did not like reading but once he found books on building businesses and marketing etc, he has his nose in a book a lot. He has applied to 8 colleges (UT, Baylor, Loyola New Orleans, Tulane, Loyola Marymount, University of San Diego, USC and University of Santa Clara). He is super smart and I think he will have some great choices. He refused to apply to any of the excellent business schools up north because he hates the cold! I truly cannot believe he will be gone in 10 months but he never really loved high school and is wise beyond his years. College will be so good for him.<br />
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(Harry went to Seaside this summer with another family and lots of friends.)<br />
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(Kate's elementary school graduation)<br />
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Kate is in middle school and very busy. As many of you know she quit competitive gymnastics and it turned out to be a great decision (going to write a post on this soon). She ended up going back to dance and has just flourished. Last Spring, she was invited to participate in a photography class through Rice University and loved it. She is doing magnet dance, art and gymnastics at her school and she wants to join everything! She dances at our local studio and auditioned for the company this year and made it. She is in 4 company dances this year so she is at the studio 6 days a week. I was very hesitant for her to dance so much but it is about 11 hours a week which is HALF the time she was in the gym. She manages it well with homework and has all A's. She really loves dance and there is none of the pressure that stressed her out in gymnastics. She has a fabulous group of girls she dances with and they are all friends. She is so happy. She still loves to bake but I don't love all that sugar in our house so we have cut down on that a little bit. She bakes for friends and has a few "customers" who pay her for cookies etc. She loves to read and is just a happy 12 year old.<br />
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(Scout is good too. She is almost 12 years old so slowing down a bit but such a sweet dog)</div>
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I am pretty good. I actually had a very rough year. I won't go into specifics but I got very very sick after Hurricane Harvey. I lost weight, couldn't eat and had some serious infections. I have worked really hard to get myself healthy again. I had some relapses and setbacks but I am doing well. I work part time in my office a few blocks from home seeing clients for marriage, relationship, parenting and life coaching/counseling. I also speak about once a month at schools, churches and other organizations on Parenting and Family and Marriage. My most popular talks this year are on Technology and Kids and Boundaries in families. I love my job. There is no better feeling than knowing you are helping someone make their family or marriage stronger. And I have the best clients. I am also in a few book clubs that I really enjoy, a fabulous women's prayer group that meets once a week and I still go to Bar Method for exercise. I try to go about 3-4 days a week but with my health issues it has been sporadic this year. <br />
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So that is where we all are today. As I proofread, I realized that it sounds like a lot of bragging about my kids. Let me add...we have our fair share of talking back and anxiety and mood swings and other problems in our house. We do. I definitely am sharing the ups here. And for the most part, these kids are pretty easy and I am super proud of them in their own unique ways.<br />
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So far people have said they want to see recipes, fashion, family updates and parenting topics. Let me know in the comments if you have other suggestions for blogging topics.<br />
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<br />3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-75007463674539986772018-10-03T15:32:00.000-05:002018-10-07T10:56:17.722-05:00building confidence and taking risks<br />
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If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I recently coordinated a book club for Moms with daughters in middle school and high school. The goal was to bring a group of women together to read some books on raising tween/teen girls. We could share our triumphs and our struggles and prepare ourselves for these years as they often come with unique challenges. This month we read <a href="https://amzn.to/2zQgAf3" target="_blank">The Confidence Code</a> and our daughters read <a href="https://amzn.to/2Njw4eX" target="_blank">The Confidence Code for Girls</a>. I cannot recommend these books highly enough and honestly the information is relevant whether you are raising boys or girls. Today, I am going to share two main things I learned from the book that can help you build confidence in your children and yourself.<br />
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Having studied psychology, I thought I knew a lot about confidence but this book got me to think about it in a different way. Confidence is a complex and muddy construct. It is not the same as self esteem or self image, although they are related. Confidence is part genetics, part nurturing and environment, part hormones (testosterone makes us take more risks) and part choice. Yes, that is right, we can choose to become more confident. <br />
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The book is laden with interesting interviews, examples and research and I found all of it fascinating but two parts have stayed with me the most. One is about risk taking and the second is about decision making.<br />
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The authors conclude that part of building confidence is the ability to take risks. I think I am a rather confident person. I make decisions easily and I don't question my decisions (another key component of confidence). <b>But I rarely take risks.</b> If there is a choice between safety and risk, I choose safety EVERY TIME. If I find something I like at a restaurant, I order that same thing every time. I don't push myself outside of my comfort zone at all. And I have kind of rationalized this as "I like what I like." But this book reminded me that I need to take more risks in my life.<br />
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<b><i>"Nothing builds confidence like taking action, especially when the action involves risk and failure. Risk keeps you on life's edge. It keeps you growing, improving and gaining confidence. By contrast, living in a zone where you're assured of the outcome can turn flat and dreary quickly. Action separates the timid from the bold." </i></b><br />
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<b><i>From The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman, pg 141</i></b><br />
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The authors found that by taking small repeated risks, we build up confidence. And by offering our children "graduated exposure to risk" we are giving them opportunities to succeed and to learn from small failures. They state, <i style="font-weight: bold;">"Confidence, at least the part that is not in our genes requires hard work, substantial risk, determined persistence and sometimes bitter failure (Kay and Shipman, pg 123)."</i> I realized that I am not doing myself nor my kids any favors by living my life risk free. I do an okay job of letting my kids take appropriate graduated risks but I will admit it is not my initial instinct. My instinct is to protect them fiercely. However, my end goal is to raise strong, independent confident people. So, I have been able to push them to take risks and deal with my own anxiety about it. However, I am less likely to do the same for myself.<br />
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One of my children is a fabulous risk taker. In fact, in 66 days, on his 18th birthday, he is going to jump out of a plane and skydive! While I am having heart palpitations simply writing that, I am SO PROUD of him. He is looking fear in the face and doing something that scares him. He forces himself to do scary things every day and he is inspiring me to face some of my own fears and take some risks too. All of my kids are better risk takers than I am. And I am proud of all of them. Kate is applying to be a student ambassador at her brand new school this week even though she doesn't know anyone else doing it. Will is trying so many new things this year and looking for internships all over the country and traveling abroad this January. But I have not been a good role model for them as far as this goes. I am a huge encourager but I would like to model bolder, more risk-taking behavior. So, I am taking their lead and I am going to try to push myself to take graduated risks every week. Honestly, making the video on IG when I have a cold and writing this post after a two year hiatus even felt risky for me. But I am also making an appointment with yet another professional to help with my fear of flying. I plan to ask my kids weekly what brave things they are doing and how they are pushing themselves. And I plan to show them that Mom is taking risks too.<br />
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The second area that we can help our kids become more confident in is decision making. The ability to make decisions and feel good about our decisions (even if they don't work out) is key to confidence. How does this translate into parenting? We need to empower our kids with more decision making opportunities. I see so many parents making every single decision for their kids. I think they do it for ease and to save time but let me tell you that when they get to high school or college, there are huge decisions they need to make on their own. We need to let them practice with small decisions while they are young. We need to communicate and remind them when they have made good decisions. And when they make a bad one (and we all do), we need to help them reframe it to see what that decision taught them for next time.<br />
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There are so many other fabulous nuggets of wisdom in this book but I wanted to share just a few today. I encourage you to take more risks in your life and support your kids in doing so too. Let me know in the comments one risk that you'd like to take.<br />
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Note: <a href="https://amzn.to/2zQgAf3" target="_blank">The Confidence Code</a> is for adults and <a href="https://amzn.to/2Njw4eX" target="_blank">The Confidence Code for Girls</a> is best suited for middle school girls.<br />
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<i style="color: #666666; font-family: Arimo, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Disclosure: Some of the links on my website are affiliate links. Many links on this blog are not. I like to share with you where I get the things I love. I have done this long before affiliate links existed. This means that if you purchase an item from an affiliate link here, I may receive a small commission. I only link to products/companies that I like and use. I have never been compensated for blog posts.</i><br />
<br />3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-21275858078706348672016-11-20T12:02:00.002-06:002016-11-21T07:17:46.100-06:00After the college Drop off (part two)On the way home, We drove to Shana's house again for a night. We really enjoyed the time with them. Kate rode one of their horses and she loved it. Shana's husband, Michael was so kind and patient working with her (and it was 100 degrees out!).<br />
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The drive home was easy but the first month without Will was hard. <b>REALLY HARD</b>. See, for reasons I won't go into here...I have made a really conscious effort to build a close family. Aside from having a relationship with God, it has been my number one priority. I know it may not be chic to say this but being a good wife and mother are the most important things to me in this life. I wanted to give my children unconditional love, healthy boundaries, a faith filled home, values and traditions. I try every single day to have meaningful connections with each one of my children. I have been intentionally working at this since the day they were born. Honestly, there is nothing that comes before the five people in my house (except God).<br />
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So, after working for 19 years to connect with Will, it was hard to disconnect. Will is a really good kid (all of my kids are) and these last two years of high school, he matured a lot. He did not need the rules and the discipline of parenting. He came to me for advice and just to talk. Almost every night, he would sit in my room and we would talk. I knew all of his friends and his teachers. He would tell me funny stories about things that happened in class or at water polo practice. Even though he was gone a lot (he was super social and involved in high school), I always knew where he was and what he was doing.<br />
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And then all of a sudden, I didn't. I had no idea who his friends were. I did not know anything about his classes or activities. We did not talk everyday. Will was busy making new friends and figuring out the campus and clubs and his classes. He was immersing himself in college life (as he should have been). And me, well I felt lonely. I missed our daily talks. I did not get sad when I saw his empty bedroom or place at the dinner table. I could handle not seeing him physically. It was the connection I missed. The connection that I worked tirelessly to build for the last 19 years.<br />
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That first month or two, Will was very busy and I don't think he gave much thought to us at home. And that is okay. In fact, it is good. It means we have done our job. We raised him to be independent. This is what we hoped he would do at this point in life. It still hurt though.<br />
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I cried. I cried often around 10 o clock every night because that is when we used to talk. I teared up when I watched The Office on Netflix because he is the one that got me hooked on it and we used to talk about it all the time. I missed my son. I missed our friendship. It was very difficult and I felt weak and almost embarrassed that I missed him so much. After all, I had my career and volunteer work and friends and my husband and other two children to occupy my time and bring me joy. But, I was somewhat depressed. I even told myself that if it did not better, I would go talk to a counselor.<br />
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For as long as I can remember, Will used to ask me every single day how my day was but in September and part of October, no one asked. Dave and Harry and Kate are thoughtful and kind but Will was the one who asked me every single day how my day was. Boy, did I miss that.<br />
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We had an agreement that we would talk every Sunday and for the first 6 weeks that is mostly when we communicated. It was not enough for me but I did not want to be a nagging Mom. I did not want to guilt him into talking to me. But I did send him texts from time to time.<br />
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Then one day, Will started calling more and texting more. He started texting and asking "How was your day, Mom?"(Dave may have prompted him to do this). I started asking him to tell me all about his new friends. He started telling me about all of his professors and classes. I made a bitmoji (with Harry's help) that is totally obnoxious and silly but I send him bitmojis to make him laugh. I think mostly he laughs AT me but that is okay too. He sends me pictures now when he and his friends go do fun things. So, now I know what they all look like and a little about them. They seem like great people.<br />
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We don't talk or text every single day but our close and frequent communication is back and that is the hallmark of our relationship. Will is my talker and it was so hard not having that communication with him in the beginning. I missed it more than I can express.<br />
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My relationship with each of my children is unique and special so I am sure that my adjustments and what I will miss will be different as each child leaves the nest and depending on how far they fly. But I wanted to put this experience out there for others who are going through this or will soon. And honestly, I had no idea how I would feel so this all caught me by surprise. I don't think we can ever know what it will be like until we go through it. But I want people to know that if it is really hard, you are not alone.<br />
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I am so proud of Will. When he registered for his dorm, he joined a living learning community (LLC) for Outdoor Leadership. Will only became "outdoorsy" in the last few years but choosing this LLC was so good for him. He was placed on a floor with other kids in Outdoor Leadership and they became fast friends. He has found a group of kids in Ohio who seem to have the same values and interests as he does. He is thriving. I could not be more proud of how he has adjusted to college life. There have been some bumps in the road and I am sure there will be more. But he goes to Mass. He washes his sheets. He has gotten involved and made friends. He gets along with his roommate. He works part time. He doesn't skip his classes. This Mama is happy.<br />
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And I get to see him Tuesday night. I have not seen him in 3 months. I cannot wait to have the whole family under one roof for a few days!<br />
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Here are some photos of his first semester at school....<br />
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He went white water rafting in TN as part of his Outdoor Leadership seminar. He loved it.</div>
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One of the football games. Harry was visiting that weekend!<br />
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He and his friends go to a lot of the hockey games. They love them!</div>
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This was a party for the campus fashion magazine and some of Will's friends model/write for it.</div>
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Canoeing in Indiana for Outdoor Leadership with his roommate, Will.<br />
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As you can see, he is happy. And I am happy.<br />
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Happy Thanksgiving!</div>
3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-9647138436068337832016-11-11T19:27:00.001-06:002016-11-11T19:52:53.292-06:00Taking Will to College (part one)This post is so long overdue. I kept writing it in my head starting the week after we took Will to college but each week I felt a little different and I wanted to get it right. It felt important to me to share the feelings I experienced for two reasons...one is that I like to keep this as a memory book of sorts for our family. And secondly, I wished that I had been more prepared for what I would feel and experience these last few months (that will be in part 2). I know that every single parent has a unique relationship and therefore a unique experience of launching their children. But this is our story.<br />
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First of all, the timing of when we took Will to college was tough. We needed to leave on Kate's first day of school. We would have loved to take Harry with us on this trip but he was already 2 weeks into school. He is a sophomore at a rigorous college prep school so he could not miss the week of school to drive up to Ohio and back. So, he stayed here with family friends. He and Dave did get to fly up in October to visit Will for a weekend though. <br />
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Kate did not feel comfortable staying here without us and her principal and teacher both agreed that she could miss the first few days of school without falling behind. So, August 22nd was Kate's first day of school and her school requires that everyone be present on day one at least until attendance is taken. We took her to school that morning. Then, Will and I went to his favorite local place for breakfast tacos as we were simply passing the time until we could pick Kate up from school and hit the road for Ohio. At 9:30 (official attendance time) we picked Kate up and starting driving northeast. It was actually a really fun road trip. <br />
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<i>First day of 4th grade photo.</i><br />
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<i>Will walking his little sister into school (for the last time ever!)</i></div>
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<i>All packed up and ready to go!</i></div>
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<i>Will really did not bring that much to school (especially compared to what girls bring!)</i><br />
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Our first stop (after driving for 12 hours) was Franklin TN. Luckily, it was on our route and I had an even bigger reason for wanting to stop there. Shana is a fellow adoptive Mom who had one of the first blogs about her experience adopting Sophie Lu from China. I remember vividly when I found her blog as we were waiting for our referral for Kate. It was so awesome to find another Mom going through the same process as we were going through. We quickly became "blog friends" and after Kate came home and was having trouble sleeping, I emailed Shana and asked if we could talk about attachment and sleep issues. Then we starting talking on the phone. And we never stopped. We have become the <b><i>best of friends</i></b> but we had never met in person. So imagine my joy when I realized that we would be driving right through TN on our way.<br />
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I will admit that I was a tiny bit nervous. We have such a wonderful and deep friendship and I really did not want that to change. Well, our visit was FABULOUS! We had the best time with Shana, Michael and their kids. Everyone got along so well and we just laughed and laughed and laughed. It was perfect. In fact, we loved it so much that we stopped on the way home and extended our trip by a day to spend more time with them.<br />
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<i>Kate, Sasha, Sophie Lu and Ollie</i></div>
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<i>Kate loved the farm life!</i><br />
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<i>Dave and I really love downtown Franklin too!</i><br />
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<i>Shana, Kate and I doing our splits:) And yes, we can both totally do the splits, with wine!</i><br />
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After a visit with Shana and her family, it was time to head to Ohio and get Will moved in. We did however have another friend to visit along the way. My friend, Amie lives very close to where Will is going to school. We were friends with Amie when we both lived in Keswick, VA (Charlottesville area). We had not seen one another in several years but it was so easy to reconnect. Amie opened her home to us and we actually stayed there the night after we dropped Will off. But I really wanted Will to reconnect with Amie and her family too since they live so close to Miami.<br />
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We had a great lunch with Amie and then headed to Oxford. I'll be honest, I was starting to get nervous. Will is our oldest son and he and I are so close. We talk about everything. Somehow in the last two years, Will needed me less as a parent and a close friendship grew between us. I was terrified of saying goodbye to him. But I tried to hold all of that in. This was such an exciting time for him and I did not want my emotions to get in the way.<br />
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We pulled up to his dorm.<br />
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Since move in day was technically the next day, the campus was empty. We paid a small fee to be able to move in the night before (worth every cent). We pulled right up to the dorm and found his tiny, tiny room. A guy (Alex) on his floor who also moved in early volunteered to help us unload Will's things. I swear it took 20 minutes flat to get everything up into his room and about another 30 minutes to set it up. It was the easiest move in in the history of dorm move ins.<br />
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<i>Isn't that rug awesome? It is really old and worn. </i><br />
<i>We found it at an amazing thrift store in a really nice part of town. I love it.</i></div>
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See that knit blanket at the end of the bed?<br />
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Well, Miss Kate spent all summer knitting that for Will to take to school. It is HUGE. Red and white are his school colors. It was the most thoughtful gift and he loved it. Here are some photos of when she gave it to him (right before we left)</div>
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And more dorm room pics...</div>
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After we got Will moved in, we ran a few errands, checked into our hotel and went uptown to eat dinner. Kate was so good during this trip. Parts were definitely boring for a 10 year old but she was a trooper and never complained. </div>
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<i>While we were waiting for our table Kate and I spotted a rainbow. </i><br />
<i> I chose to take that as a sign that God was telling me it would all be ok. </i><br />
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After dinner, I insisted we get Graeter's ice cream uptown. It is made in Ohio and it is my favorite ice cream of all time. I <i>might </i>have had it 3 times in 24 hours on this trip!<br />
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Then, we went to Walmart to get Will some snacks and last minute things. I know it sounds silly but we had so much fun in Walmart at 10 pm that night. We were all tired and silly and goofing around. I have a little video of it somewhere. It sounds dumb but it was a fun little memory. </div>
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The next day, we took our time having breakfast, picking up Will's text books and walking around campus. The dorm room is SO SMALL and we wanted to give Will's roommate time and space with his parents to get settled. It would have been really challenging for us all to be crammed in there at the same time.<br />
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<i>Will is a lifeguard at the rec center so I enjoyed seeing where he was going to work.</i><br />
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<i>They walked across campus like this. I walked behind with tears in my eyes.</i><br />
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Once we knew Will's roommate was all moved in, we headed back to the dorm to meet him and his parents. Will's roommate is also named Will. They have so much in common. I really thank God that they became roommates because it seems like a great fit. They get along well and have become good friends. We met his parents (they're from Indiana) and we all went to lunch together. They were all so nice.</div>
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<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><i>Big Will and Little Will. There are actually 5 Wills on their floor. </i><br />
<i> Apparently it was a popular name that year!</i>
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Then, it was time to say goodbye. The thing I had dreaded for months was the goodbye. I just did not know how I would handle it. I did not want to be a sobbing mess. After all, this is what we hoped would happen after 19 years of raising Will. But still, it is hard. We said our goodbyes at the car.</div>
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Kate definitely sniffled after we drove off. I think it was tough for her to say goodbye. Dave and I did surprisingly well. I don't think I cried at all. The truth is I felt SO happy for him. As he showed me around his new campus and town, I realized why he picked Miami University. Everything about the school was so impressive. I was a college professor for years so I am tough critic but I could see that it was the perfect place for Will. People were so friendly, welcoming and helpful. The campus is gorgeous and the college town is so quaint. It seemed like the quintessential college experience. I had peace in my heart that Will was exactly where he was supposed to be.</div>
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After we dropped Will off we went to explore a nearby park. About an hour later we realized he forgot all of his banking documents in the car, so we had to drive back and give them to him. So we had one more quick goodbye and off we went to stay at Amie's house. Amie made us a delicious dinner and we all went to get Grater's which is the best ice cream in the world and could cheer up anyone. She was such a gracious hostess on what could have been a tough night for us. Thank you Amie!</div>
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All in all it was a really fun and memorable trip. In part two, I write more about how the weeks were after we got home. And honestly they were very tough for me. I will post it tomorrow or Sunday.<br />
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3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-25496147956306755522016-05-20T10:56:00.000-05:002016-05-20T13:09:11.854-05:00The Senior Prom (s)This month Will and Elizabeth had her prom and his prom. She goes to the all girl school and Will attends the all boy school across the parking lot. They each have their own prom.<br />
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First up was Elizabeth's prom... I want to preface these gorgeous photos by saying it had been a ROUGH week. Houston flooded badly and Elizabeth's family's property flooded so badly that she was taking a boat to get to a road to get to school. Then the boat was stolen! One of their animals drowned in the flooding. It was awful. She also got sick and had pink eye in these photos. All that to say that I think she looks fabulous but I know that she had a very difficult week and was not feeling great. I felt really bad for her.<br />
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I was really hoping to get a good photo when Will handed Elizabeth her bouquet. I made the bouquet for her and was hoping she loved it. She did love it but I did not get a good photo.</div>
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Elizabeth and her Mom.<br />
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Will's best friends are baseball players (but Will is not). Unfortunately, the baseball players had a game the night of BOTH proms. So, we don't have big group photos of Will's closest friends.<br />
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But for Liz's prom they did get a small group together for dinner at a restaurant and some photos...<br />
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You can see more photos of this prom <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/albums/72157667401790286/with/25989307653/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Two weeks later was Will's prom. Again his friends had a baseball game and so they (the players) arrived late at Prom. Will made reservations for a nice restaurant for he and Elizabeth and they met up with their group at Prom and the after party. Thankfully, it was a beautiful week and everyone was doing much better.<br />
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Once again I decided to make Elizabeth's bouquet. I was Mother's Day weekend so I tried to get the flowers a day or two early. I was so worried they would not last but they did beautifully in the refrigerator.<br />
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A friend asked me to help make flowers for her sons' dates too.<br />
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I took a lot of photos because it was a gorgeous evening and we had lots of time. <br />
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I typically pin the boutonniere. It was very sad to me that this is likely the last one I'll pin on Will (maybe until his wedding?)<br />
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They had a great time at prom. In fact, Will has had a lot of fun with all of the end of year festivities.<br />
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As I type this blog post, Will is getting his cap and gown and rehearsing for graduation and baccalaureate mass. I have so many feelings y'all. Happy, sad, proud, scared. I know this is the place we work so hard to get our kids to. Will is a great kid. He is graduating with high honors. He has really grown into a kind and accomplished young man. If I cry tears, they are not tears of sadness...they are tears of a mix of emotions. I just cannot believe that we are at this point. It is surreal.</div>
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I have told you all on the blog before that it was a private little joke between me and Dave that when Will was a baby,<i><b> every</b></i> day Dave would walk in from work say something like "Did Will fill out his college applications yet?" Or I would be ready to share some accomplishment (like his first smile or rolling over) and I would say, "Guess what Will did today?" And Dave always replied "Apply to college?"</div>
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And now that time is here. It is just so hard to believe it. It will be quite a weekend for us. I am sure I will post some photos on IG. And I'll be back next week with more posts.</div>
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P.S. Harry was my photography assistant. He took some shots and helped me a lot. He has gotten really into photography and I love sharing that hobby with him.<br />
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<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-1230155377290180282016-05-14T15:07:00.000-05:002016-05-14T18:15:34.948-05:00Here we go..Will is about to graduate!I truly do not even know how to begin this post. <b>Will is graduating from high school next week</b>. As I type that sentence I feel this strange emotion that others call bittersweet. Bittersweet does not seem to capture all that I am feeling though. I wish there was a word for "smiling through your tears" because that is what I feel. I wish there was a word for feeling happy, excited, proud, nervous and about to throw up all at the same time. And while I know that his graduation and exciting journey to college is all about him and not about me, I still have these huge rushing waves of emotion that I don't quite know what to do with. So, I am going to write some of them here. It's going to be long. And I'm probably going to sound like I am bragging about my son. But if a Mom can't brag the week of her son's graduation, when can she brag?<br />
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Will is our firstborn. He came into this world a few weeks early with a true and full knot in his umbilical cord. He came into this world with a big lump in between the layers of his skull that had to be removed when he was 6 months old. He was the easiest baby for about 3-4 weeks. Dave and I thought (and actually uttered) "Wow this parenthood thing is a breeze!" Yeah, God chuckled at that because almost overnight Will became the most difficult baby in the world. He had an <b><i>extreme</i></b> case of colic. This child screamed at the top of his lungs for about 8 hours a day non-stop. If he was awake, he was screaming. It was awful. I thought I was losing my mind.<br />
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<i>{Will 6 months old...just hours after having part of his skull removed}</i></div>
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I remember the pediatrician telling me it would only last a few months and I replied, "Can he live with you until then?" And I was 100% serious. I recall going to the grocery store one night after Dave got home and I could still hear the screaming in my head even though Will was at home with Dave. I was losing my mind. Similarly, I recall taking Will to a baby store as I was desperate to find something (colic drops, a pacifier, anything) to make him stop screaming. Of course, as I was perusing the aisles, Will was screaming bloody murder. Another woman glared at me and said, "Can't you make him stop?!" I wanted to punch her. I was at the lowest point of motherhood and she knocked me down even further. I looked her in the eye and said "Don't you think I would if I could, lady!"<br />
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Just as the pediatrician predicted, the screaming stopped and Will morphed into a busy and curious toddler. He was so inquisitive and smart. He still had some issues resulting from that bump in his head and we spent many hours over the years in occupational therapy and speech therapy. But he was such a happy, active and funny boy. He was my buddy. I did not have brothers or boy cousins so he taught me all about little boys. Will was an incredible sleeper. He had two speeds, asleep and FAST! He napped for four hours every afternoon. Each afternoon when he woke up, we would go outside. We lived on a cul de sac with a lot of kids. Will was so funny. He would collect rocks and leaves and grass and seed pods and fill his pockets with them everyday. He also wanted to go door to door knocking and saying hello to everyone on the street. As soon as he could talk, he told us he wanted to be a scientist like his Daddy when he grew up. He knew the geologic eras and every type of dinosaur as a toddler. People were amazed with his scientific knowledge. And we did not teach him those things.<br />
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I had no idea back then that all that play was shaping who he would become. He is super social and outgoing (like the little boy knocking on doors) and he is about to study Science (with a sustainability scholarship) in college.<br />
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Will had a tough start to school. I will never forget a phone call I received when we were applying to some private pre-school programs here in Texas. Will had to take an IQ test but he was probably only 3-4 years old. We assumed he would do very well. If you ever talked to him, you would know he was bright. Well, one day a school director called me and told me that Will was denied admission but she wanted to explain why. Will had an extremely high "knowledge IQ" but his "performance IQ" was 30 points lower. And even though the performance IQ was still above average, it was a red flag. Apparently, Will knew a lot but he had a hard time demonstrating his knowledge. I will never forget sitting in my car crying hysterically realizing that something was not connecting for him. The woman explained to me that he could have a hearing problem, vision problem or a learning disability. She said that a 30 point difference is a huge gap and that we need to figure out what was causing it.<br />
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We had lots of testing done on Will over the years and I am not sure we ever really figured out what caused that gap. Yes, he has a little ADD (never medicated) and he cannot memorize rote material. He was wiggly and busy in grade school. But we never really had a clear sense of what was going on. We taught him organizational skills and gave him neuro-vitamins and supported him emotionally. And he bloomed. It was long and slow and at times painful, but he bloomed.<br />
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Will bloomed into an amazing young man. In middle school, he became really involved with the youth group at our church and started doing a lot of volunteer work. He joined the swim team and participated in geography bees (which he was so good at but had no interest in pursuing at the national level). He was an officer in National Junior Honor Society. I started to see more glimpses of who he would be today.<br />
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And then he started high school. Will was admitted to a very rigorous college preparatory school for boys. It is nationally ranked among the best. He really only knew a few kids who would be going there. I will admit that I was a bit nervous about how he would fare. I was not sure it was the right fit for him but he loved it when he toured and he had no doubt that it was the right place for him.<br />
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High School has been amazing for Will. He found himself. Strake Jesuit high school provided the perfect environment for Will to grow into exactly who God wanted him to be. While I would never call my kids "popular," Will became extremely involved at his Jesuit high school. He developed amazing friendships with his peers and close relationships with teachers and administrators. He became a leader. He was a leader and team captain in swimming and water polo even though he was not a starter. He was president of Young Conservatives and a founding member of the Spirit club. He helped lead freshmen orientation and probably holds the school record for having prospective students shadow him for a day (he loved the free lunch that came with that). He was always giving tours at open houses and other events. Will LOVES his high school. The activity that meant the most to him though was leading retreats. It is an honor to be chosen to lead and plan the freshmen retreats and the Kairos retreats and Will has done this as many times as possible. He will miss that tremendously. He has done all this while being on the honor roll and in National Honor Society the whole time. I have tears rolling down my face as I write this because I could not be more proud of my son.<br />
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I do not share all of this to brag. I share this to remember the journey and how we got here. I share this for other Moms who have a busy "hyper" little boy who might be struggling. I share this so someday he can read this when he is a Dad and he will know that it all works out. See, in those challenging infant and toddler days and in the moment when he was denied admission to pre-school, I had no idea who God was shaping Will to be. I just had to trust in Him. We did trust. We chugged along praying and trusting and providing Will with unconditional love and support along the way. And here he is. He did it!<br />
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Last night, Will came into our room and sat at the end of the bed to talk to me about his day (he does this every night-I am so blessed). <b>He told me that he was chosen to do the first reading at his Baccalaureate Mass next week for graduation. </b> I was stunned. Will does not win the highly coveted athletic or academic awards at his school. He never has. There are so many bright stars at this school. But this meant the world to me (and hopefully to him). Apparently faculty and staff choose who does the readings at the graduation Mass. And Will was chosen. When I see him up there next week doing that reading, I am sure that I will reminisce about the hours of speech therapy and the the parent teacher conferences that I dreaded in the early days. I know that there will be tears of joy that he has come so far. To me, this is such an honor for Will. It says that they really see Will for who he is. He embodies the motto of his school "Men for Others."<br />
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This boy looks good on paper and in photos. But what I know is his heart. He has a compassionate and beautiful heart. He works hard. He loves to help others. He loves politics and social justice. He loves nature and his family. He lives his faith out loud. We have such a special relationship. He comes to me daily asking how my day was and sharing funny stories from school. He asks me for advice all the time. We talk about everything. You have no idea how much I am going to miss that when he leaves in August. I have never been one to think parents should be friends with their kids but Will has become my friend. Don't get me wrong, he still knows I'm the boss. And I have rules and expectations. But we have a friendship too.<br />
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Will has chosen to attend Miami University in Oxford, Ohio this Fall. And while he might have struggled to get admitted to pre-school, he was accepted to every university he applied to. And he received significant academic merit scholarships to all but one. He has come a long way. Miami University offered him some really great opportunities (one of them being a 5 year Bachelor/Master degree). I am so excited for him to begin this new chapter of his life.<br />
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Many of you have watched Will grow up on this blog. He was just 9 years old when I started blogging. Many of you have prayed for him and all of us over the years. Thank you so much for that. We appreciate it more than you could ever know.<br />
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Here is a little stroll down memory lane. All of the photos were either scanned in or a photo of the photo with my phone. Much of Will childhood was "pre-digital." And there are gaps in elementary school where I have photos but they are not in albums or scrapbooks or on the blog:( So they did not make it here.<br />
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{ June 22,1997. He had a full head of hair at birth!}</div>
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{Baptism, October 1997}</div>
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{Will loved riding the golf cart with Dad}</div>
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{We used to go to parks all the time and Will would just run and run!}</div>
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{Will learned to swim early as we had a pool in our backyard. Who knew he would end up on the swim team and water polo team for all 4 years of high school?}</div>
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{This was on our front porch one afternoon after Will's nap. This is that stage where we would walk the neighborhood every day when he woke up as we waited for Dad to get home. He is pulling away to go explore in this photo}</div>
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{Will has loved being a big brother. He and Harry were SO close. Then they grew apart for a few years and now they are close again.}</div>
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{Will and Uncle Moon looking at a turtle at a science museum in Philadelphia. Will has always LOVED science museums. One year on his PK4 field trip to the science museum, he hijacked a kid or two and took them on his own tour. I don't think they chaperones were amused.}<br />
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{This one cracks me up. I told you Will loved dinosaurs. I think he is imitating the dinosaur. Look at Dave! He was photobombing back in 2000 before it was a thing!}<br />
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{At a science museum with my sister}</div>
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{Will's first preschool class photo. He is 2nd row center. He sure did love Miss Peggy. He called her Miss PAYYYYGY with a southern drawl.}<br />
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{Will played with these dinosaurs forever. Once when we were cleaning the playroom, he decided to pass them on to a friend and then immediately cried hysterically regretting it. I should not have let him make that decision. That was tough. I had to call and ask for them back. I still feel bad about that and Will still has them to this day.}<br />
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{Will met one of his best friends when they were just 5 months old. We met at story time at the library and Will and David have been buddies ever since. They will graduate together next weekend.}<br />
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{Will and Dave in Colorado}<br />
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{Will's first day of real school. Not Mother's day out}<br />
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Pre-school Mother-Son breakfast.<br />
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{1st day of 3rd grade?}<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/26409301323/in/dateposted/" nbsp="" title="DSC_0014"><img alt="DSC_0014" height="428" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7611/26409301323_5f3b4940a0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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{This is one of my favorite photos of Will. He took me out on a date. I blogged about it <a href="http://3peanuts.blogspot.com/2007/09/date-with-my-will.html" target="_blank">here.</a>}<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/2655637761/" nbsp="" title="Aug2006_picts 071"><img alt="Aug2006_picts 071" height="480" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3226/2655637761_82e750707e.jpg" width="360" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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{Will is so close with his Mimi. This is on his 1st holy communion}<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/2655637797/in/photostream/" nbsp="" title="Aug2006_picts 068"><img alt="Aug2006_picts 068" height="360" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3011/2655637797_bc467c3b95.jpg" width="480" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/2798039545/" nbsp="" title="First Day of School 2008"><img alt="First Day of School 2008" height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3057/2798039545_5049845a4b.jpg" width="334" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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{First day of school 2008}<br />
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{Will and his 5th grade teacher}<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/3576431133/" nbsp="" title="DSC_3107"><img alt="DSC_3107" height="333" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2445/3576431133_e5c95f9cae.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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{5th grade graduation from a school he went to for only 1/2 a year. But he adjusted so well! Here is <a href="http://3peanuts.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-will.html" target="_blank">a letter </a>I wrote to him that day.}<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/5861564092/" nbsp="" title="14will0496"><img alt="14will0496" height="428" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3101/5861564092_444bba66c1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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{14th birthday}<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/6073417422/" nbsp="" title="DSC_1742"><img alt="DSC_1742" height="333" src="https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6076/6073417422_83e0c13b0e.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/7255550838/" nbsp="" title="DSC_0187"><img alt="DSC_0187" height="334" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7226/7255550838_b551f5e910.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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{favorite middle school teacher}<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/7255549768/in/photostream/" nbsp="" title="DSC_0191"><img alt="DSC_0191" height="334" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/7255549768_aac492ff05.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/7946940992/" nbsp="" title="3 teeth_9109"><img alt="3 teeth_9109" height="333" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8449/7946940992_97322853f2.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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{freshmen year}<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/7791279492/" nbsp="" title="willmomorient_8994"><img alt="willmomorient_8994" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7272/7791279492_5e697088e7.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
{Will and me on the1st day of freshmen orientation}<br />
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{Will and his oldest and best friend, David on the first day of freshmen year}<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/26766576082/in/photostream/" nbsp="" title="Untitled"><img alt="Untitled" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7546/26766576082_cc5e0607b2.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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{Here is a photo of Will and David last day of senior year}<br />
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{And with their brothers the last day of senior year. David is REALLY tall BTW!}<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/8108686985" nbsp="" title="homecoming_9811"><img alt="homecoming_9811" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8184/8108686985_84beb57264_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
{Freshmen homecoming}<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/9567200490/" nbsp="" title="willsch_4831"><img alt="willsch_4831" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7413/9567200490_26d7859113.jpg" width="333" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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{1st day of sophomore year}<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/12269798035/" nbsp="" title="cot13_6402"><img alt="cot13_6402" height="426" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5536/12269798035_b37153133b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/15447423417" nbsp="" title="DSC_8770"><img alt="DSC_8770" height="426" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3948/15447423417_01d71cb77d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/17648267520" nbsp="" title="IMG_7119"><img alt="IMG_7119" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7677/17648267520_8d00a0e8c0.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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{Junior ring and cross day}<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/16277853769" nbsp="" title="cotflare15_9618"><img alt="cotflare15_9618" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7297/16277853769_cbc70a4ecd.jpg" width="333" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/15844334753" nbsp="" title="cotguys9633"><img alt="cotguys9633" height="426" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7299/15844334753_08b8882598_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/17524822251" nbsp="" title="Prommw_0206"><img alt="Prommw_0206" height="426" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8693/17524822251_4d1f28fd49_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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{Junior Prom}<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/16909977314" nbsp="" title="Prom_0267"><img alt="Prom_0267" height="640" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5349/16909977314_2653d46655_z.jpg" width="426" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/21754200839/in/photostream/" nbsp="" title="hocogame_1539"><img alt="hocogame_1539" height="426" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5649/21754200839_605a980e70_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
{Senior Homecoming}<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/21328962013" nbsp="" title="DSC_1655"><img alt="DSC_1655" height="426" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/769/21328962013_70250b6f8e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/17108333379" nbsp="" title="waterp_7063"><img alt="waterp_7063" height="427" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8687/17108333379_b2e4cd3321_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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{water polo...Will about to score!}<br />
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I have lots of posting to do and will promise to put a couple posts this week (Senior prom, easter, Mother's day, etc). It will be a busy and sentimental week. I am so glad I have this blog as I have years of memories here.</div>
3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-77442226852230829382016-04-06T17:03:00.000-05:002016-04-06T18:50:23.634-05:00Homecoming video 9 years!I am so embarrassed that I have not posted since January. I have so much to share....Will's college decision, Easter etc. But two days ago was Kate's "Special Day."<br />
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Kate and Dave and Will came home from China on April 4th 2007 so we consider that our forever family day. I let Kate decide whether she wants to celebrate or not. And some years we have done nothing. Some years we go get ice cream or a mani pedi. One year she wanted to go to tea at a hotel.<br />
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This year, Kate wanted to bake cupcakes for her friends at the gym. And she wants to go to the Heritage Society (an historical museum type place) next weekend. We also ordered pizza (her choice) this weekend and Dave made Kate's favorites slow smoked ribs on the grill. It is always her call for what we do this day,<br />
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Kate had some practice testing at school so I could not sneak her out for any fun adventures but I did go have lunch with her yesterday.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/25635205944/in/datetaken/" nbsp="" title="Untitled"><img alt="Untitled" height="500" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1543/25635205944_2cb60dbf16.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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We also baked red velvet cupcakes and brought them to the gym.<br />
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Will was goofing around in the background while Kate frosted the cupcakes.<br />
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And I know most of you have seen this but I have some new followers too so I thought I'd post it just in case. Have some tissues. People tell me it makes them cry.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/21788103" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/21788103">Untitled</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user2704222">Kim S</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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Kate has been such an incredible blessing to our family. She is truly an amazing little girl. I know that all Moms say that but honestly everyone says it about Kate. She has the most pure, kind and giving heart I have ever known. She is really funny and makes our whole family laugh every day. She is completely optimistic and always thinks the best of others. Her brothers and Dad wrestle her around and give her a hard time but she never lets it get to her and just rolls with the punches. She was a tough toddler (you can go back and see those posts when she was 2-3) but she is the easiest and sweetest little girl there is now. She is my buddy and I feel incredibly blessed and honored to be her Mom. 3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-16052896075097299412016-01-30T10:49:00.000-06:002016-01-30T10:59:32.569-06:00Family NewsI will post Christmas 2015 photos this week. I have never skipped blogging about a Christmas and I can't start now.<br />
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Let's see what is new at our house...<br />
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Will has heard back from all of the colleges he applied to. He applied to 8 schools. He was admitted to all of them and got academic scholarships at 7/8. The only school that did not award a scholarship was Texas A & M (it is a GREAT school but it was his safety school as it is close and extremely reasonably priced). It is too big for him though.<br />
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He has narrowed his options down to four schools and is visiting some this month. I think he will have a decision by the end of February. Let's hope.<br />
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I have started gathering a few things for him for college as I see them... towels, a travel bag, etc... little by little. I think starting to get some things ready is helping me deal with reality. I know it might seem silly but it helps me. I plan to make him a supplement/medicine box. I keep all sorts of natural supplements and vitamins here and the kids always come to me asking...Mom, what can I take for XYZ? So, I am going to make him one with all our regulars to take to school.<br />
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I am happy/sad about this phase. I know this is what we work so hard for as parents. He is an amazing kid with great values and awesome options. He is stepping out into adulthood. It is still <i>really</i> hard to start letting go.<br />
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Will just finished up varsity swim season and has moved right into water polo. It is weird knowing this is the last time he will be in organized sports like this as he will not swim in college. He is leading two weekend retreats this month (confirmation and Kairos) and I am so proud of him. That is where Will really excels and it is what he loves doing. I hope he finds opportunities for Spiritual Leadership in college. God gave him a gift for that.<br />
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Will and Elizabeth went to her Winter Formal this month. I did not get good photos. It was dark and rainy that evening and I got a new camera and ended up returning it as it would not focus. Anyway...here are some shots. They looked fabulous. Elizabeth is really a beautiful person.<br />
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I began this blog 9 years ago on January 7, 2007. Can you believe that? I have 9 years of family memories on this site. Thank you for hanging around that long. I know a lot of people have probably stopped checking in as I don't write that frequently anymore. But I am so grateful for the friendships I have made from the adoption community and the blogging community.<br />
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Kate is busy working on gymnastics, crafting, knitting and her science fair project. She is looking at the difference between tap water and alkaline water on cut flowers. Let me just say now...I loathe the science fair at this age. I think that participating in ONE science fair in 5th grade or higher is a great idea. At her school it is mandatory in 3, 4 and 5th grades. That is too much. Kate LOVES science but this is killing it for her.<br />
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She is making sweet little hand made boxes for Valentine's Day for each kid in her class. Then we will fill them with something.<br />
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Here are a few phone pictures of Kate..<br />
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{At a fun Spa birthday party}</div>
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Kate knitted this blanket for herself over Christmas break and Scout loved it.<br />
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So being the sweet thoughtful girl that she is...she knit Scout her own little blanket...<br />
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These are the Valentine boxes she is making completely by hand.... I think she has 20 more still to make!<br />
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Harry is doing well. He is as entrepreneurial as ever. I don't think I am allowed to post about this businesses here though. He is currently playing lacrosse at his high school but he is not loving it right now. We will see if he continues or finds something else to do in high school. I do strongly encourage my kids to play a sport or be involved in their school community but I also want them to be happy so I don't "force" them to do something if it is not right for them. He will find his thing. It may be lacrosse and it may not be.<br />
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Harry got his driver's learning permit this month too...<br />
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I simply cannot believe how quickly these kids are growing up!<br />
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I spoke at a women's retreat this month on marriage. I was dreading it as the retreat was right after Christmas and I was pressed for time to prepare. But it ended up being such a blessing and honor to have the opportunity to share with these women. God has made His calling so clear to me as I love getting to do what I do for a living. When I am speaking or working with clients, it never feel like work. It always feels like I am right where God wants me to be. And trust me there are many times in other areas of my life that I don't feel that way.<br />
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Life is really busy in our house right now. Three kids, three sports, senior year activities, two working parents. It is a good busy. A full and blessed life. I know it is all going to shift a bit in the next 6-8 months so I am trying to be fully present in the here and now.3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-28444806575519351762015-12-31T10:43:00.001-06:002015-12-31T10:43:31.830-06:00Harry's birthday, Caroling and Gingerbread Houses <div>
Our Mom's group at church carols every year to the local senior citizens. Over the years, we have gone to convents, senior centers, home bound parishioners, and the fire station. It varies. This year was a sentimental one for me. See, we split into groups and for the past several years, we have have gone with the same few families. These families are our very good friends, fellow parishioners and neighbors. My son, Will and his best friend, David have been doing this since they were toddlers. We missed the years in VA but other than that we have done this about 16 years. I knew this would be Will and David's last year as next year they will be away at college. Sniff, sniff.</div>
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Will is not smiling in that first one...but my friend's eyes are closed in this one....<br />
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Here (below) we are caroling to the sisters in the convent.<br />
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And at a senior center.<br />
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After the singing, we all go out for pizza and salads are spend some time together. I LOVE this tradition. We always do it on a Sunday afternoon in December and sometimes it is hard for the kids because they are studying for midterm exams. But we have always made it a priority. I love seeing the smiles on the seniors' faces. They especially love the little children.<br />
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Another thing that happened this month is Harry turned 15! WHAT?! How did that happen? He was only 5 when I started this blog!<br />
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And he is so cute. He is doing great his freshmen year in high school. He is happy, earning awesome grades and making lots of new friends. He also has a great little business or two going (he's my entrepreneur). His birthday fell during the week and he was busy studying but I made his favorite meal (meatballs, sausage and pasta) and brownies (his request). And he kind of has his permit. Well, he took he classes and passed the test. We just need to go pick it up from the DMV (not fun). Yes, Harry will be on the roads!<br />
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Another one of our Christmas traditions is making gingerbread houses.<br />
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We have tried homemade gingerbread and various kits but the Trader Joe's ones never let us down. They are solid. In fact, Harry and Will tried to destroy them (see bottom of post) and they could not.<br />
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The cast of characters: Harry, Amy, Will, Eden and Kate. Will's girlfriend was supposed to come but could not at the last minute. We missed her.<br />
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He is really concentrating...<br />
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The finished products. <br />
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The adults judge the houses based on three categories: Creativity, neatness and something else I cannot remember. Anyway, Eden won. <br />
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I am thinking we should not judge them next year.<br />
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Will and Harry like to blow their houses up (or shoot them with air soft guns or run over them with RC cars--boys will be boys). So they took them outside and tried to explode them with fireworks.<br />
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The thing would not blow up! It did decapitate a ginger woman though. Just saying these things are sturdy!<br />
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After the gingerbread houses, we took Kate and Eden to a dance performance. Kate is taking contemporary dance and her teacher was in a show. Kate enjoyed it and was so excited to give her teacher flowers after the show! I feel bad because Kate loves dance and would love to continue and be challenged with a good dance class but there simply is no more time with her gymnastics schedule. She has been moved up to optionals and her practice time has increased again.<br />
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And here are a few photos of my Christmas decor. I had a bookclub luncheon here in December and this was my table...<br />
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The salad I made for the luncheon. Mixed greens, shrimp, green apples, pomegranate seeds, crumbled goat cheese and candied pecans. SO good! I also made Thai butternut squash soup and cannoli cake.<br />
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And here is some of my family room...<br />
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I hope everyone has a lovely and safe NYE. I will try to keep the posts going to finish out the year. I still have to post about Christmas Day! Happy New Year.3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-3137993038956838402015-12-30T18:04:00.001-06:002015-12-30T18:04:27.280-06:00Grandma's Christmas Butter cookies<div>
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My Mom has a recipe for my grandmother's butter cookies. My Mom made them (with us) every year for Christmas. They are kind of a lot of work and very unhealthy so we have not always made them. They are also FULL FAT (butter and crisco) and full gluten (hello 9 cups of flour!). And you know we don't usually eat like that. So some years we make them and some years we don't. This year, we did.<br />
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Kate and Elizabeth cutting the maraschino cherries.</div>
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The dough gets mixed by hand and typically my Dad or Step-dad or Dave or Will has done this because it takes a bit of strength. Kate really wanted to do it this year. So, she tried and she did it really well. Girl is STRONG and determined.<br />
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Kate and Dave were trying to put flour on each others' noses....<br />
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Hands were washed many times. No worries. I am kind of a germaphobe.<br />
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Harry is the BOSS of the cookie press. We used my grandma's original old press. It is finicky but we have figured it out over the years. Harry has the magic touch.<br />
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I have to say that Elizabeth picked it up quite well too.<br />
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She definitely brought her A game.<br />
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These are the little moments I treasure in life. Right here.<br />
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First batch going in...<br />
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It appears as though I never got any photos of the finished cookies. They were quite delicious.<br />
I cannot believe I did 2 blog posts in one day. And I have another one ready to post tomorrow!<br />
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3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-72992086738138880372015-12-30T12:44:00.000-06:002015-12-30T13:51:18.472-06:00Christmas Eve 2015I still have a few Christmas-y events (cookie making, caroling) to post but was sitting in front of the fire today and felt like posting about our Christmas Eve.<br />
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Christmas Eve is probably my favorite day of the year. I clearly remember as a late teen and in my early twenties looking around church on Christmas Eve and seeing all the young families. I know this will sound weird but I could not wait to have my own family. I would look around and imagine being married and bringing my children to Christmas Eve Mass. My Dad never really went to church with us and my parents divorced when I was an adolescent so I had big dreams of a family and family tradtions. And now each Christmas Eve I actually tear up at Mass because I am overwhelmed with gratitude for my family. We are not perfect. We bicker and get on each others' nerves but my family surpasses anything I could have dreamed of. I have a thoughtful, funny and giving husband and three incredible kids. I really do count my blessings.<br />
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So we take a few photos before Mass. I got a new camera that I am struggling with it so I made Dave practice before the kids came down.<br />
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Dave and Scout.</div>
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It was really really warm so Harry wore shorts to Mass. A Mom has to pick her battles. <br />
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Me and my peanuts.<br />
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I LOVE these pants. Harry teased me that they are not very Christmas-y. They are silk and the color is rhododendron (hot pink!) and I wanted to wear them all season but we had a lot of rain and I was afraid to wear them in the rain.<br />
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We looked for a neighbor to take a quick of of the whole family but could not find one. <br />
Harry was making us laugh so hard as he took a few. He can be <i>very</i> funny sometimes. He told us to pretend we were a family.<br />
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After mass, we came home and had some of our favorite Italian food for dinner. Then we hung stockings and the kids opened a gift. I had my shutter speed too low so all of the photos are blurry...<br />
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I was most excited to give Will his nutcracker this year. Will is trying to figure out what to major in and what career path to chose. He will major in science but he often jokes about wanting to be a shepherd. It has become a big family joke that he will be a shepherd. So, when I saw a shepherd nutcracker a few months ago, I bought it immediately.<br />
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Kate loves to bake and cook so hers was easy too.<br />
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Finding a nutcracker for Harry was hard. He has a fishing nutcracker and lacrosse. He is such an entrepreneur but they don't make a nutcracker for that! I try to make it meaningful. He is really good at gingerbread houses so I got this one.<br />
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But then I realized I gave him a different gingerbread one last year. Oops! I might be done with the nutcrackers. The boys have so many and it is getting harder and harder to find just the right one.<br />
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After that we read Twas the night before Christmas. Will read it this year. <br />
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I am SO bummed this is out of focus because my kids were genuinely enjoying each other. <br />
This was candid!<br />
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And Dave read the story of the birth of Christ.<br />
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Then Kate and I sang Silent Night (and the boys plugged their ears);)<br />
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We went up to the media room and watched Home Alone 3 after that.<br />
We had watched Home Alone 2 a few nights before and really enjoyed it.<br />
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I absolutely LOVE the week between Christmas and New Year. We laze around and spend a lot of time as a family. It is perfect. I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and are enjoying this week too. More soon.</div>
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3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-12710435292872511492015-12-24T08:41:00.000-06:002015-12-24T08:41:47.196-06:00Merry Christmas!Today, I am doing the same things everyone else is….preparing for our Christmas day meal (we host dinner), wrapping last minute gift arrivals and spending time with my family. Then we will go to Mass and spend tonight home together doing all of our traditions. I love spending this time together more than anything in the world. <br />
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I know I am sporadic in my blogging at this stage of life. But I still value the relationships I have made here in the blog community and the adoption community. Some of you have become very dear real life friends to us. I am grateful for that. I wish you all joy and health and love this Christmas season.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!</span></div>
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3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-71801828662615557012015-12-23T14:37:00.001-06:002015-12-23T14:37:04.265-06:00Teddy Bear Tea 2015Kate and I have been going to the Teddy Bear tea at the St. Regis Hotel now for several years. This year would be our 6th time going. However, when I called they were 100% booked. I called early but apparently it has gotten VERY popular over the last few years. I was heartbroken. See, every year I think Kate is not going to want to go anymore but every year she is super excited. She and her friend Eden have gone together for the last 5 years and they both say they will never be too old for it. We really love this Mommy-daughter day with our friends.After being put on the waitlist, I got awesome news that they added more teas and had a few cancellations so we got it. Whew!<br />
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I got a new camera right before the tea and I'll be honest, I have a lot of learning to do. This one is a bit different with the settings than my last one and I am still figuring it out. So, I had a very hard time getting my subjects in focus. (I since figured out the incorrect setting it was on). So, my photos of this event are "practice" ones but special memories nonetheless. So, there will be lots of pictures:0)<br />
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Amy and Eden<br />
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We were the first ones there and the girls were so excited to see Muffy, the Ice Princess. <br />
We love Muffy. And she remembers us from year to year.</div>
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After, seeing Muffy, they saw the Teddy Bear. Kate used to be afraid of him. </div>
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So glad she is not afraid anymore!</div>
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Eden's Dress can be found <a href="http://bit.ly/1OaGYB2" target="_blank">here</a>. I got Kate's on Zulilly last year.</div>
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The girls wasted no time getting to the hot cocoa and sweets.</div>
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Kate was excited to find a plaid cookie. We both love plaid.<br />
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Limbo!<br />
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My fun and crazy friend, Amy even jumped in. I love her. She makes me laugh.<br />
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Then it was time for Muffy's Magic show....<br />
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Even though they have seen it several times, they still laugh.<br />
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Muffy chose Kate to help her out...<br />
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but Kate knew how to make the wand stay up (it was supposed to fall).<br />
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A few Mama selfies...<br />
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And just to keep it real...I was struggling with my camera and frustrated that the lens was struggling to focus. Kate was SICK of pictures but none were in focus. I am asking for her patience here (in a not so patient way:) Just wanted to show you that we are a normal family with normal bickering too.</div>
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After the tea, Amy came over for some champagne and to hang out and then Dave and I headed to a christmas party. I simply wore the same thing...<br />
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But it is always nice to try and get a picture of the two of us!!!<br />
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3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-9342000046322909522015-12-13T08:31:00.000-06:002015-12-13T08:31:01.496-06:00The Nutcracker, Thanksgiving and Minted Winners etc.So much has been going on. It was our 20th wedding anniversary, Harry's 15th birthday. I had a little surgery. Everyday, I think I will post but between work and family and life, it does not happen as often as I'd like. So, I will try to catch up.<br />
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First, Thanksgiving….<br />
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Harry did (at the very last minute) organize his annual neighborhood/friend <a href="http://3peanuts.blogspot.com/search/label/Turkey%20Bowl" target="_blank">Turkey Bowl</a>. I was not 100% sure he was doing it and he overslept a tad. Anyway, he went and had fun. Dave brought the kids kolaches and doughnuts but I stayed home this year (so no photos). I caught up with my sister and Mom on the phone and cooked for Thanksgiving instead.<br />
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We always spend Thanksgiving with Dave's brother and sister and their families. Sometimes it is in Houston and sometimes it is in Galveston at the bay/beach. This year we went to Galveston.<br />
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When we arrived the turkey was cooking and my nephew decided to take all the "kids" on a Sunset cruise on the boat. My niece and nephew are in their mid twenties and they are AWESOME with my kids. They always have been. I am really close to them too. So, Auntie Kim went on the cruise with the "kids." The legal girls all had mimosas so we called it a mimosa cruise. Our boat captain and the kids had water and San Pellegrino.<br />
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Harry, Will, Cousin Jamie, Cousin Olivia, Brittany (Jamie's long time girlfriend), Kate<br />
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Of course Auntie Kim needed some photos on our boat ride.<br />
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Kate was not amused.<br />
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Me and some of my favorite gals.<br />
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Dinner was fabulous. Dave's brother and sister both have homes in Galveston so they do the turkey and big sides. We bring a few sides and desserts. It was delicious and it is was fun spending time with everyone. We played some games (Apples to Apples, etc).<br />
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The next day, we drove back home and put out tree up in a matter of about an hour or two.<br />
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I had other things decorated but we typically wait until after Thanksgiving to put up the tree. We take turns every other year with what goes on our tree. The even years EVERYTHING (like 7 bins) of ornaments and family memories go on. That takes a ton of time and no one really helps me (except Kate). The odd years, we just do sliver, clear and white and that goes MUCH faster. I love our tree this year.</div>
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Thanksgiving weekend, Kate and I go to The Nutcracker at the Houston Ballet. This was our fifth year to attend. (<a href="http://3peanuts.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Nutcracker" target="_blank">You can see past years here</a>). This was the last year for this particular production/rendition of the Nutcracker. Next year, the Houston Ballet will have all new sets, costumes and choreography. So we tried to really soak in every detail. We absolutely LOVE this Mommy-daughter tradition each year. Kate adores the music and the dancing. I was not sure she would when she was so young but she always has.</div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1O3hwiF" target="_blank">Kate's dress (same brand, very similar style)</a><br />
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My beautiful sugar plum fairy who was so sick of photos:)<br />
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I always love to have photos before we go. Most of the year, I am behind the camera but around the holidays I try to get into photos with my kids and husband so they will have them down the road. I actually drive them ALL crazy because I am so picky with my camera and settings and stuff but hopefully they take it in stride.</div>
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Kate and I get to the theatre and then we reserve our intermission snack and table. We pre-order our drinks and a little treat for her (a salted caramel cupcake this year) and they are all ready for us at a reserved table at intermission.</div>
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Cutest little date there is.<br />
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This was at the theatre. They have a giant tree and a giant gingerbread house.<br />
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Onto other things...Will was accepted this week at another school. He got into SMU and was awarded The Founder's Scholarship. We are so incredibly proud of him. Will is smart but he is also extremely involved in school. He is captain of water polo and swim team, president of the young conservatives, a retreat leader and much much more. He has made great choices in high school and it is awesome to sit back and watch these opportunities come his way. He is still waiting to hear from three more schools but so far he has been accepted everywhere he has heard from.<br />
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My boys were tour guides at the Open House at their high school last week. I thought they looked so handsome. They both LOVE their high school.<br />
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And <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=793581&u=459638&m=17025&urllink=&afftrack=%22%3EFoil-Pressed%20Holiday%20Cards%3C/a%3E" target="_blank">MINTED </a>chose the three winners of the $100 gift card contest last week. They emailed the winners directly. But the winners are<br />
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Alyson R<br />
Leigh B (who introduced herself to me via email this week)<br />
Stephanie S<br />
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Thanks for entering. I am thrilled for you.<br />
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I am off to Mass but plan to work on a few blog posts later today on Christmas caroling, gingerbread houses and Harry's birthday and the Teddy Bear tea! Happy Sunday!</div>
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3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-55517790388134592492015-11-26T09:12:00.002-06:002015-12-28T15:08:47.055-06:00 Santa Visit and Christmas-y IdeasI hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving. We did and I will post about it tomorrow. I tend to post a lot more this month because we have so many fun Christmas traditions that I like to record.<br />
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We typically go to see Santa the day before Thanksgiving but due to a fishing trip for the boys, we went a night earlier. This was a somewhat emotional trip for me as Will had promised me that he would go see Santa until he went to college. That means this was the last year all three kids would go see Santa. I know it is kind of silly but we have gone to see Santa every year since Will was born. I LOVE going to see Santa as a family. We always make a day or night out of it by going to eat and walking around window shopping and having fun family time.<br />
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Here is Will's first and second trip to see Santa.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/23348296685/in/dateposted/" nbsp="" title="2071240163_12deec555c"><img alt="2071240163_12deec555c" height="500" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/683/23348296685_423f06bdfd.jpg" width="353" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/22980366339/in/photostream/" nbsp="" title="2080063805_5364eb107b"><img alt="2080063805_5364eb107b" height="352" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/634/22980366339_bce794ba26.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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You can see he was not too happy that second year.</div>
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And here are the photos from this year. They are all iPhone pictures.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/22980179999/in/dateposted/" nbsp="" title="IMG_9261"><img alt="IMG_9261" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5711/22980179999_f3df81fab2.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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The kids goofing around</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/23321988376/in/dateposted/" nbsp="" title="IMG_9259"><img alt="IMG_9259" height="500" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/659/23321988376_b900af7f61.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/22719736974/in/dateposted/" nbsp="" title="IMG_9255"><img alt="IMG_9255" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5739/22719736974_0a5ca56d49.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/23239763992/in/dateposted/" nbsp="" title="IMG_9248"><img alt="IMG_9248" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5674/23239763992_3ba6919c6e.jpg" width="375" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/23265546771/in/dateposted/" nbsp="" title="IMG_9254"><img alt="IMG_9254" height="500" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/769/23265546771_55dc6ae4fc.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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After we saw Santa we walked around and looked at the decorations and window shopped. It was fun family time. We played around in the Apple store and Brooks Brothers. Then we went to dinner. It was really nice. I thought I would cry at Santa but the photographer lady (who was very nice) talked to me so much that I was distracted and not 100% in the moment. I guess it was good because I did not get upset and my memories are more of the time we spent as a family that night.</div>
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Now onto some Christmas shopping ideas because after all it IS Black Friday!<br />
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So this summer I read a book (as did the rest of the US) about de-cluttering. The book is really good and I did a ton of de-cluttering. The book is called <a href="http://amzn.to/1YxHDzR" target="_blank">The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. </a> The key is to only keep things that bring you JOY. I really ask myself a number of questions before I bring something new into our house now. The book has really been good for me. It would make an excellent Christmas gift for someone who need to organize and de-clutter.<br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/1YxQGRh" target="_blank"><img alt="51H8x07Fd7L._SX351_BO1,204,203,200_" height="499" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/572/22979473229_783bb664c3.jpg" width="353" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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I mention the book because it has made me so much more intentional in what I purchase. So if I buy something, it was something I really loved and felt like I would use. I want to share with you some great deals I have found.<br />
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I like nice quality clothes and accessories but I also try to keep the "trendy" pieces on a reasonable price point.<br />
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This is by far the best thing I have purchased recently. As I mentioned in my last post, most of my jewelry was stolen in a break in a few months ago. I LOVE chunky fun jewelry and I had quite a collection of pieces that I wore constantly. They were not worth anything to the thieves but I wore them a lot.<br />
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Anyway, <a href="http://bit.ly/1MTptB5" target="_blank">this necklace </a>is so awesome. It arrived this week and I planned my Thanksgiving day outfit around it (but the weather did not cooperate). It is on major sale today so the price is awesome. I think I'll order another one to give as a gift.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1MTptB5" target="_blank"><img alt="Untitled" height="250" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5827/23216003752_095d168e7c.jpg" width="250" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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I will admit that I am kind of addicted to plaid this season and I see everyone else is too. <br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1MTmJDU" target="_blank"><img alt="Untitled" height="500" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/743/23027869040_a97a79b72d.jpg" width="385" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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I LOVE this <a href="http://bit.ly/1IjpHPS" target="_blank">tartan plaid pencil skirt.</a> It is on sale (30% off today) <a href="http://bit.ly/1IjpHPS" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://bit.ly/1MTmJDU" target="_blank">here</a>. I ordered one and plan to wear it to work and for some holiday occasions.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1XiqoFz" target="_blank"><img alt="Untitled" height="400" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/645/22696832553_bd4488509e.jpg" width="303" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Keeping with the plaid theme. I love <a href="http://bit.ly/1XiqoFz" target="_blank">this scarf</a> (above) as it is lighter weight and the tassels make it really cute.<br />
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There are a million plaid scarves out there this year at every price point and I think they make a great gift for a woman of any age (teen to grandma) and one size fits all. I usually have one or two on hand for last minute gift giving. <a href="http://bit.ly/1HpKiap" target="_blank">This one</a> is a great price and would be a good gift for babysitter or teachers.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1HpKiap" target="_blank"><img alt="17399802" height="243" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5811/23215750052_50a231d36a.jpg" width="243" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1HpKYwK" target="_blank">This one </a>is a great deal too.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1HpKYwK" target="_blank"><img alt="49172797" height="243" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5831/22695806354_74c4e78089.jpg" width="243" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Another thing I wear all winter long is these vests. I have one in cream, tan, red and olive green. I bought the tan one first from a high end store and paid a lot for it. Then I found these and they are just as nice at a fraction of the price. They changed the pattern a little this year but I really like it. <br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1IjwPMf" target="_blank"><img alt="cn10195605" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5647/22956670869_8488fe0930.jpg" width="375" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1OtuSBs" target="_blank">This is THE best money I have ever spent.</a> I had heard people rave about these for years and I could not see the big deal. Well, I finally bought one a few years ago and I wear it constantly. I even found a kids one for Kate that she lives in. We call them "our cozy." In fact I have mine on right now while I write this post. I wear one mostly around the house but I also wear it to barre class and running errands. It is lounge wear technically but it looks like a sweater. It is THE SOFTEST thing you will own as it feels like a soft hug. It would make a very special gift for someone and it comes in lots of colors. I am not a big fan of the ombre ones. I have either cocoa or pewter and it is super neutral. I also want to add that mine is not this long at all and I am rather petite.</div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1OtuSBs" target="_blank"><img alt="_10116757" height="500" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/655/22697671083_e4388d4217.jpg" width="326" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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Mine fits more this this.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1OtuSBs" target="_blank"><img alt="_8420784" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5826/23029018320_cc93ba9d96.jpg" width="326" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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And since I am on the "cozy" theme. <a href="http://bit.ly/1Ois38n" target="_blank">This is another really special purchase.</a> I had always wanted <a href="http://bit.ly/1Ois38n" target="_blank">linen sheets</a> but they can be very pricey for a king size. So, when I saw these on sale right before my birthday, I knew that was what wanted. <br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1Ois38n" target="_blank"><img alt="img-1" height="500" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/733/23029084140_b3a270de9d.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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I LOVE them. I wish I bought them years ago. They are so soft but cool and crisp too. Now I wish all of my sheets were this linen.<br />
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Each year, people ask me about the cute holiday dresses I buy for Kate. Honestly, I start looking in September at local boutiques, places like TJ Maxx and Marshalls and Nordstrom. As Kate gets older, it gets harder to find a few holiday dresses. She wears them to The Nutcracker Ballet, The Teddy Bear tea, our Santa visit, Christmas parties, etc. Each year I buy two and then she usually has a few that still fit from the year before.</div>
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I found these that I really like this year. I love <a href="http://bit.ly/1MInuSm" target="_blank">this dress.</a> It is beautiful and it is only $26 on sale right now.</div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1MInuSm" target="_blank"><img alt="_11350025" height="500" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/602/22720236703_c5d09bdfa5.jpg" width="326" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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It also comes in a <a href="http://bit.ly/1OuWBSu" target="_blank">silver metallic</a></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/23264903741/in/dateposted/" nbsp="" title="_11329981-1"><img alt="_11329981-1" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5817/23264903741_1f7d5aa3fe.jpg" width="326" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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This <a href="http://bit.ly/1OuWWof" target="_blank">brocade fit and flare</a> is on sale too<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1OuWWof" target="_blank"><img alt="_11136874" height="500" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/766/22719130124_0a6bf48105.jpg" width="326" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1HsmSRN" target="_blank">This one i</a>s adorable and it comes in toddler, little girl and big girl sizes.<br />
<a href="http://bit.ly/1HsmSRN" target="_blank"><img alt="_11462738" height="500" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/769/23347567785_aa8016bca3.jpg" width="326" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1OkjQR4" target="_blank">This plaid one is really cute too.</a><br />
<a href="http://bit.ly/1OkjQR4" target="_blank"><img alt="_9855930" height="500" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/608/23321525666_1a55c50bda.jpg" width="326" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1IeiYwa" target="_blank">This one</a> is darling too.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1IeiYwa" target="_blank"><img alt="_11507978" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5673/22720611423_5494e85ca2.jpg" width="326" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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And Kate has this <a href="http://bit.ly/1Tasjpf" target="_blank">gold lame dress</a> and it is so cute. It is on sale right now.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1Tasjpf" target="_blank"><img alt="E5494_MF4956-1" height="500" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/748/22719454754_b192cd2da7.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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I plan to post about our Thanksgiving tomorrow. Don't forget to enter the Minted contest in my last post. They are having great sales today too. Click on the sale on my sidebar.<br />
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<i>Disclosure Note: This post contains some affiliate links and if you purchase items after clicking on links I will receive a small commission from the company (at no cost to you). I only link to products or companies I have used and loved. Thank you.</i></div>
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3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-19287267332691451672015-11-23T05:30:00.000-06:002015-11-25T07:45:37.357-06:00Minted GiveawayThis time of year, you know I am all about the tradition and Christmas cards are a big part of that in our family. I don't know why they mean so much to me but they do. I love getting them from all my friends and family members and seeing how everyone has changed (or not) over the years. In fact, I save them all which is definitely a problem.<br />
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For that last few years, I have collaborated with <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?u=459638&b=120126&m=17025&afftrack=&urllink=www%2Eminted%2Ecom%2Fel%2Fhol%5F3peanuts2015" target="_blank">Minted </a>for our family cards. I used Minted years ago when they first came on the scene and I have had the best customer service and love my cards every year. So, this year, we are using Minted again. <br />
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Sometimes, I am on the ball and order my cards in September (not kidding) and some years (like this year) I still have not ordered them. It doesn't matter. <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?u=459638&b=120126&m=17025&afftrack=&urllink=www%2Eminted%2Ecom%2Fel%2Fhol%5F3peanuts2015" target="_blank">Minted</a> ships quickly and I always get them in plenty of time. They also seem to always have a special or sale going on which I appreciate too.<br />
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This is our card from last year. I love it. I vary back and forth between these ornament types and the traditional ones. But I think these ornament types are my favorite.<br />
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<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?u=459638&b=120126&m=17025&afftrack=&urllink=www%2Eminted%2Ecom%2Fel%2Fhol%5F3peanuts2015" target="_blank"><img alt="1c5ede3c9fec416d8ea0b53e86ccd460" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7519/16090559412_d7c82aa309_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?u=459638&b=120126&m=17025&afftrack=&urllink=www%2Eminted%2Ecom%2Fel%2Fhol%5F3peanuts2015" target="_blank">Minted </a>has agreed to team up with me again this year to offer <b><i>three</i></b> of my readers a $100 credit. I am so excited as the <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?u=459638&b=120126&m=17025&afftrack=&urllink=www%2Eminted%2Ecom%2Fel%2Fhol%5F3peanuts2015" target="_blank">Minted site </a>has so many awesome products now from stationery to art. <br />
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Here are just a few design from this year that I played around with....<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/3peanuts/22732776777/in/dateposted/" nbsp="" title="MIN-MBJ-HFS_A_FRT"><img alt="MIN-MBJ-HFS_A_FRT" height="337" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/642/22732776777_e4946a4382.jpg" width="243" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?u=459638&b=120126&m=17025&afftrack=&urllink=www%2Eminted%2Ecom%2Fel%2Fhol%5F3peanuts2015" target="_blank"><img alt="MIN-YZC-HFS_A_FRT" height="245" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5709/23137299972_e070a94bbe.jpg" width="338" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?u=459638&b=120126&m=17025&afftrack=&urllink=www%2Eminted%2Ecom%2Fel%2Fhol%5F3peanuts2015" target="_blank"><img alt="shape_curved-frame-a7_P" height="337" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5767/22831114650_91b144618f.jpg" width="243" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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To enter, go<a href="http://www.minted.com/el/hol_3peanuts2015" target="_blank"> </a><a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?u=459638&b=120126&m=17025&afftrack=&urllink=www%2Eminted%2Ecom%2Fel%2Fhol%5F3peanuts2015" target="_blank">here</a> and fill in your name and email address. <br />
Minted will choose 3 winners after the contest closes and they will notify the winners.</div>
3 Peanutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9126942052078443132.post-57050694103144290092015-11-21T11:06:00.000-06:002015-11-21T11:37:10.274-06:00Exciting newsAs usual these days, we have had a lot going on at our house. It is prime gymnastics and swim season. And it has been college application "season" too. Will has applied to 7 schools. We have heard from 3 of those so far. I am proud to report that he has been accepted to Baylor, Colorado School of Mines and Texas A & M thus far. And he was awarded the President's Gold Academic Scholarship at Baylor. It is quite an honor and we are so so proud of him. He is still waiting to hear from all the schools before he makes his decision but it is such a relief to know that he has three excellent options already! I am really proud of him.<br />
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I also wanted to let you know of a few things on my "things I love" list lately. I plan to post some each week for Christmas ideas.<br />
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Our house was broken into a few months ago and all of my jewelry was stolen. It was devastating. I was crushed. The material loss was tough but the feeling of invasion and the loss of precious memories associated with the jewelry is really what has haunted me. There were so many things that were special gifts from Dave or the kids or passed down from his parents. I have worked through it and know it is only "stuff" and that I have all the things in life that matter. I have even prayed for and forgiven the thieves. But, it still stings a bit. Anyway, I am very slowly replacing some costume pieces as they stole ALL of that too.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1YmtbKM" target="_blank"><img alt="E6481_EC8333_d1" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5752/23173812685_f5e18c696d.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1YmtbKM" target="_blank">This necklace</a> is very versatile. It adds sparkle without being overwhelming. I have worn it with denim, plaid flannel and silk shirts. It is on sale (code SHOPNOW) and it would make a great gift.<br />
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I ordered <a href="http://bit.ly/1QA63Hn" target="_blank">this cape</a> on a whim because I had a birthday credit and I LOVE it. It is so chic and the perfect weight if you don't want a heavy coat but it is still chilly.<br />
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I also wanted some plaid flannel pajamas this year. I almost ordered <a href="http://bit.ly/1jd6Dwj" target="_blank">these</a> as they are beautiful (and 30% off with code SHOPNOW). But they are a pretty thick, warm plaid. Here in Houston, it is rarely cold enough for me to wear those. As much as I love them, I think I would be too hot in them here. I was disappointed as I love them and Kate really wanted to get them for me for my birthday (last week). <br />
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But his week, I found <a href="http://bit.ly/1kNc46I" target="_blank">these</a> while shopping. They are super soft and a lighter weight which is prefect for me. And the price was great too.<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1kNc46I" target="_blank"><img alt="26399931" height="480" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/575/22779756767_2e897f6670.jpg" width="480" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1kNc46I" target="_blank">Light flannel plaid Pajamas</a></div>
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And if you are looking for <a href="http://bit.ly/1lAC8lB" target="_blank">matching family pajamas</a> at a great price point, they have them too.</div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/1lAC8lB" target="_blank"><img alt="50298618" height="243" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/725/23147937566_950388835a.jpg" width="243" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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I'll be back Monday with a great giveaway from Minted. <br />
They are giving away 3 gift credits of $100 each to Three Peanuts readers.<br />
Have a great weekend!</div>
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