tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31627614723763735842024-03-13T21:21:13.435-05:00Austin HoneymoonersNewlywed couple from Wisconsin trying to find their way in Austin in new careers and new adventures.The Fallin'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11134130455092861035noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162761472376373584.post-89128552793624865242015-08-11T20:58:00.001-05:002015-08-11T21:11:34.266-05:00Spring/Summer 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've neglected this blog for 18 months, and I'm trying to bring it back. This allows me to remember the highlights from each year since our wedding, to create a visual timeline of key moments.<br />
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Jan-Feb 2014: We actually had 3 snow days and 3 late start days! We only had a dusting of snow, but icy danger the other days, even if for just the morning hours. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQ6wE7gFQwjErg_iPCtzsqCVOQKVMnrx2EI9HRwRRUoy2ir-b0bGZnJGYgaunBas2XlBzrvcPg__z-1ONOlnd588UwNFHSw2aS6XIawns2S5PVeH7c6Dj_OOSjHx4xDeUVzNjei5gt2eX/s1600/IMG_0532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQ6wE7gFQwjErg_iPCtzsqCVOQKVMnrx2EI9HRwRRUoy2ir-b0bGZnJGYgaunBas2XlBzrvcPg__z-1ONOlnd588UwNFHSw2aS6XIawns2S5PVeH7c6Dj_OOSjHx4xDeUVzNjei5gt2eX/s320/IMG_0532.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Year's 2014 6th Street after Shakey Graves show</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXb42pLGOJ9YCkrrZYFnk2ECEmPfIG3zcrMD5DRkQdqEbU_a6PHodAJjNa6iNlzv6G9VJAb0YNvYm8F5EcbtcE3TPAk142mcJOsVYRrTkDww2UI5Sc928bbJbHDUX-RmXkJVnc1YoPVCAq/s1600/IMG_1196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXb42pLGOJ9YCkrrZYFnk2ECEmPfIG3zcrMD5DRkQdqEbU_a6PHodAJjNa6iNlzv6G9VJAb0YNvYm8F5EcbtcE3TPAk142mcJOsVYRrTkDww2UI5Sc928bbJbHDUX-RmXkJVnc1YoPVCAq/s200/IMG_1196.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bartleby loves fires, and maybe hearty chili</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOv1luOMLCFp4693WVG61VMI8KR7a7n2cUI2RlwR9N2NRYy8Vr6-w1FUUJ6XzivuuOD8mi4CKa_75c6qAnHH9NKmqYCAA70lm1QP63xgH13YJ_E5Gljvi_z8dTLDeaBBRJm7hmeMgqpn3u/s1600/IMG_1198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOv1luOMLCFp4693WVG61VMI8KR7a7n2cUI2RlwR9N2NRYy8Vr6-w1FUUJ6XzivuuOD8mi4CKa_75c6qAnHH9NKmqYCAA70lm1QP63xgH13YJ_E5Gljvi_z8dTLDeaBBRJm7hmeMgqpn3u/s200/IMG_1198.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheatsville Staff Party-Josh and Jason</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEZIZAEjc2uioPuSR8McYJ7phwW0aOrIr__-98uIjjjCbFVWIpMVeLH-eipoQVA-HsAQ-AIpklZ1KDRgZ-Mw-Dov_Og8hBFePhGdPWjXoxeO-QCDIa8bFEsgl7uoUVFW2D027sWwvTmfN/s1600/IMG_1200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEZIZAEjc2uioPuSR8McYJ7phwW0aOrIr__-98uIjjjCbFVWIpMVeLH-eipoQVA-HsAQ-AIpklZ1KDRgZ-Mw-Dov_Og8hBFePhGdPWjXoxeO-QCDIa8bFEsgl7uoUVFW2D027sWwvTmfN/s400/IMG_1200.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua receiving his award for Class Clown</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzysJK5Nm2vFxIct9NwfGvKCDBI2ETfMg0zB8zWqu2Gr605yEGw7smvdF3NdQZOH7cKN0YvNB8YGkh35eQ5WC7lsdZDfbUXTmbArYfho6t9OAYdT2zzKx3xafs0r7u9DnSqr9wc6Mu4iYU/s1600/IMG_1205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzysJK5Nm2vFxIct9NwfGvKCDBI2ETfMg0zB8zWqu2Gr605yEGw7smvdF3NdQZOH7cKN0YvNB8YGkh35eQ5WC7lsdZDfbUXTmbArYfho6t9OAYdT2zzKx3xafs0r7u9DnSqr9wc6Mu4iYU/s320/IMG_1205.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petty loves the cold weather!</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCGgoi-2W-OUGQWmbVqfUzUGP8AxFAQM9NZ1oyZKGALQBtY6tR22UdRCC8X5L4LJG5r5_LGbqrwMGlGwhRVCwNn1A8iYIenJ7eEFdIDFmvIeLSieMOaZL_UbarVpo_gjMYttQFkGpV9zN/s1600/IMG_1207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCGgoi-2W-OUGQWmbVqfUzUGP8AxFAQM9NZ1oyZKGALQBtY6tR22UdRCC8X5L4LJG5r5_LGbqrwMGlGwhRVCwNn1A8iYIenJ7eEFdIDFmvIeLSieMOaZL_UbarVpo_gjMYttQFkGpV9zN/s320/IMG_1207.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just as long as this is all the snow he has to deal with!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL74iHBCk6ttD_pGb2g9y4CVb4OLSHINq3KYdTh9BZRGgmMHEp2pVmWU8nm25E73Pkc8yy3iw7ZxhEcGSuudm3mRVDt1glujo_oZKymWgFx-l9VN0rVHSEx9-GR3Ffl4kf9Fx6zl1ez3tP/s1600/IMG_1213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL74iHBCk6ttD_pGb2g9y4CVb4OLSHINq3KYdTh9BZRGgmMHEp2pVmWU8nm25E73Pkc8yy3iw7ZxhEcGSuudm3mRVDt1glujo_oZKymWgFx-l9VN0rVHSEx9-GR3Ffl4kf9Fx6zl1ez3tP/s320/IMG_1213.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jammin' with the guys</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMV16T1CbLIZyxjHjjFwn6sskA1t5SyobYOKFQwyOUuSLWgKNisRj0Nq5yuuoaKLwi78JN9XrS2aLbbHvBQD5tQ8CnabSd-HQi-S_wGjIRlREERORW7xfqm0AHyoPVGIcZN6LstwCR6FOb/s1600/IMG_1217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMV16T1CbLIZyxjHjjFwn6sskA1t5SyobYOKFQwyOUuSLWgKNisRj0Nq5yuuoaKLwi78JN9XrS2aLbbHvBQD5tQ8CnabSd-HQi-S_wGjIRlREERORW7xfqm0AHyoPVGIcZN6LstwCR6FOb/s200/IMG_1217.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New 'do on the new couch!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gae5hDfy2yQcRTOKZjPU5_mK54Q0fOIzGFHioPf8X0sXH-uJiKCjJ9HanJ5kQeGlYkyFQBtaw5Tx1k1VA9Tramky7NUsUV-U5iRkA-cpIaVXrQrTwwhYcCxdPKA9hlR98eXL9ZtwZ3dV/s1600/IMG_1218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gae5hDfy2yQcRTOKZjPU5_mK54Q0fOIzGFHioPf8X0sXH-uJiKCjJ9HanJ5kQeGlYkyFQBtaw5Tx1k1VA9Tramky7NUsUV-U5iRkA-cpIaVXrQrTwwhYcCxdPKA9hlR98eXL9ZtwZ3dV/s320/IMG_1218.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy boy howling</td></tr>
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Spring Break 2014: Mom and Dad came to Austin for a few rainy days, and then I joined them at their hotel in San Antonio for a few nights during the Carpets Plus convention.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLT3F96Bje2QUwvPb7_RHPsSaEPI_kb4vX__3_PFSQjzXgcdbSbMid73XXAGd62s8yH2RnierngrrG8xARwhRIurW0fu5-7dDtuw8n5YpI2o88y_qTX4b9XbL1lipYrzDDzNw3hB4sBih/s1600/IMG_1231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLT3F96Bje2QUwvPb7_RHPsSaEPI_kb4vX__3_PFSQjzXgcdbSbMid73XXAGd62s8yH2RnierngrrG8xARwhRIurW0fu5-7dDtuw8n5YpI2o88y_qTX4b9XbL1lipYrzDDzNw3hB4sBih/s320/IMG_1231.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dairy-free ice cream at Sweet Ritual, after shopping for cowboy gear at Shepler's</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNJYLMj-EOAgwFlLKQc-p9ZfgtOjGViFyXqi4t_pJ7YlX889EVLZbVl7dV3AHfCKa93HuAYzwWggWEAwFphvR8dQD6U8LYdUEukMs7wPWCXUoOujBFCW-Ij7qX6I3fwOu8Cdwq8A9WvtS/s1600/IMG_1232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNJYLMj-EOAgwFlLKQc-p9ZfgtOjGViFyXqi4t_pJ7YlX889EVLZbVl7dV3AHfCKa93HuAYzwWggWEAwFphvR8dQD6U8LYdUEukMs7wPWCXUoOujBFCW-Ij7qX6I3fwOu8Cdwq8A9WvtS/s200/IMG_1232.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnORR8KBFL11K-XXVd66VPcbaTYanLQR6WapjUWW5sBv6lAC-XUOD4JpjMiJE2qZvImhLWpzQd8q0aGWPqd3qS2cczqvn_MGlecWwRDUM-9sLsaaEoTUvcFy5HILWSBx_61YRFoIYhuOoP/s1600/IMG_1233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnORR8KBFL11K-XXVd66VPcbaTYanLQR6WapjUWW5sBv6lAC-XUOD4JpjMiJE2qZvImhLWpzQd8q0aGWPqd3qS2cczqvn_MGlecWwRDUM-9sLsaaEoTUvcFy5HILWSBx_61YRFoIYhuOoP/s320/IMG_1233.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Walk Boat Tour</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCW6Z9g-hdOQwYEY7LxUSa8zll-FKOOxJDdC5EW2HkciX1Bp33HUliGdeC8jGqmhk8O3Kyyr_175ympuMtrh5-r4T-TzkALqZx7Py0DwWKGygAkq35npzOS3C6Tcr121C5Hg1DRJussT7/s1600/IMG_1243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCW6Z9g-hdOQwYEY7LxUSa8zll-FKOOxJDdC5EW2HkciX1Bp33HUliGdeC8jGqmhk8O3Kyyr_175ympuMtrh5-r4T-TzkALqZx7Py0DwWKGygAkq35npzOS3C6Tcr121C5Hg1DRJussT7/s320/IMG_1243.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shopping at La Villeta</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn63C5q8ETVdErB9K6k-ZdG66UqVAB3h5K5LKCRSsRnFUjabFfz85KjM9QTNsyldoktDGa0dZwOeoBlkXBSEjaElFch2mPKO1Vs6graOj37a5hM0i9rwy2ddgfdMmcvPP6oKVi2-t1xwi/s1600/IMG_1244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn63C5q8ETVdErB9K6k-ZdG66UqVAB3h5K5LKCRSsRnFUjabFfz85KjM9QTNsyldoktDGa0dZwOeoBlkXBSEjaElFch2mPKO1Vs6graOj37a5hM0i9rwy2ddgfdMmcvPP6oKVi2-t1xwi/s400/IMG_1244.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cathedral on a beautiful sunny day!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdSHI31FZzNF6TPX1DLTCLXAsFq1yMKlNiCOGhYWDCeVg7OEcedCJYHulPS8j4pcH1S2sY0zjZHOivgMo8Xj4txsh7shh5keBeeFnjONioZz5jYT1oCJkydA2os5M1flmovScyZ_kVngW/s1600/IMG_1245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdSHI31FZzNF6TPX1DLTCLXAsFq1yMKlNiCOGhYWDCeVg7OEcedCJYHulPS8j4pcH1S2sY0zjZHOivgMo8Xj4txsh7shh5keBeeFnjONioZz5jYT1oCJkydA2os5M1flmovScyZ_kVngW/s320/IMG_1245.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Formal dinner</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxZC0AepgrMK-PkjOeF0N8P53gp_kwwjDPFtJd5NgDR6m07bF2TEhtUlfXWo5fQvWn_SlO_A4JDnWqQEYH4dSKCdQIdv0TRHbAzU5zrC0G1VQw3wCwys2fY4Id8Ha5zuRpu78BGVkApT4/s1600/IMG_1248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxZC0AepgrMK-PkjOeF0N8P53gp_kwwjDPFtJd5NgDR6m07bF2TEhtUlfXWo5fQvWn_SlO_A4JDnWqQEYH4dSKCdQIdv0TRHbAzU5zrC0G1VQw3wCwys2fY4Id8Ha5zuRpu78BGVkApT4/s320/IMG_1248.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking tour downtown</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3K-iM_KcFuM9r1LcPsZbvrcpqvJzHsdb9jH8NbMXrucTf3waeefnODzkjGaf-_OMPoB7Ly1WQR1twVcfjpH3MgT6RIfKigEVW8aXKM4F0krB3IEFPZaLZfqJvUEXeFPvcglboIF4crTPM/s1600/IMG_1249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3K-iM_KcFuM9r1LcPsZbvrcpqvJzHsdb9jH8NbMXrucTf3waeefnODzkjGaf-_OMPoB7Ly1WQR1twVcfjpH3MgT6RIfKigEVW8aXKM4F0krB3IEFPZaLZfqJvUEXeFPvcglboIF4crTPM/s400/IMG_1249.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and Dad at Cathedral Square</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUbIJA3MuXBp7YyFkAezVNORq16r0tqRWiAZd8L0Vj6iCh3i0SysvGo4MZgTh1UzKiknRR6RmTm7_LzeyOG_y0FVgAaRwiVAuFhmUezLyHvp9JOrMbyQAu0NPwZe9-X1SFqdMTcEanyOu/s1600/IMG_1253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUbIJA3MuXBp7YyFkAezVNORq16r0tqRWiAZd8L0Vj6iCh3i0SysvGo4MZgTh1UzKiknRR6RmTm7_LzeyOG_y0FVgAaRwiVAuFhmUezLyHvp9JOrMbyQAu0NPwZe9-X1SFqdMTcEanyOu/s400/IMG_1253.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missions tour-monestary arches</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKs3UjgPQJjbN5BPby4ghchCo-fmjNmlazEISnibB6YSypSjXrY9nFQxE0XWbdtmAllVfGsoGYQZfVYi97smjYdOpe0i-EDkmaXaFf5vRs1UixMu93thXQYxc8k3W3t8vQVImRnryUalln/s1600/IMG_1254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKs3UjgPQJjbN5BPby4ghchCo-fmjNmlazEISnibB6YSypSjXrY9nFQxE0XWbdtmAllVfGsoGYQZfVYi97smjYdOpe0i-EDkmaXaFf5vRs1UixMu93thXQYxc8k3W3t8vQVImRnryUalln/s320/IMG_1254.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautifully carved doorway to chapel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii050A7Qh61mHGiPXEV9tn3-fYoSHLW82JOilay2ybKE18EzplQXR7pvMo5M4Qy2NRgBZvrauVPUthayP_UtKlY_4ayHjfa8r7xj7uTikh_iXCo3Wlz48CMW8b_X3U4FvFHgEFFbXl8iZX/s1600/IMG_1255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii050A7Qh61mHGiPXEV9tn3-fYoSHLW82JOilay2ybKE18EzplQXR7pvMo5M4Qy2NRgBZvrauVPUthayP_UtKlY_4ayHjfa8r7xj7uTikh_iXCo3Wlz48CMW8b_X3U4FvFHgEFFbXl8iZX/s320/IMG_1255.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose Window of the chapel</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnO4MMYie5BiH7RaWGBO3w7kbxgvS0wHv14fZLrDS6Gj0Zoau1LNi7ZIcknqMznNR25ECiNw82ChBS06kUi33rm_pK7XqtjD6nqEoReGR1-ivg0vjy2YHRHPsqvXpd48D4CEVvfGHfSHff/s1600/IMG_1258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnO4MMYie5BiH7RaWGBO3w7kbxgvS0wHv14fZLrDS6Gj0Zoau1LNi7ZIcknqMznNR25ECiNw82ChBS06kUi33rm_pK7XqtjD6nqEoReGR1-ivg0vjy2YHRHPsqvXpd48D4CEVvfGHfSHff/s320/IMG_1258.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catching the trolley tour on a windy SA day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1km5hm_vjcya48BJSaKPupyxIs2KLEXNRGxPK-gGrzS9BRcIEBJBjAtRHFl17uccUErpJXXfBG0BQIe_tVFkjxk1ITCEvLNM8KWH86p6zRraUsTXhPPtCuDg8LnBSJLCYlk0BvO2Gylv/s1600/IMG_1447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1km5hm_vjcya48BJSaKPupyxIs2KLEXNRGxPK-gGrzS9BRcIEBJBjAtRHFl17uccUErpJXXfBG0BQIe_tVFkjxk1ITCEvLNM8KWH86p6zRraUsTXhPPtCuDg8LnBSJLCYlk0BvO2Gylv/s400/IMG_1447.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Convention opening night photo op<br />
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On the final Saturday of break, we had free tickets (c/o Twitter and Joshua) to see the Heartbreaker's Banquet at Willie Nelson's Ranch in Luck, just west of Austin. It was the end of SXSW, and we were lucky enough to see Shovels and Rope, Lucas Wilson, and even Willie himself, with lots of family!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6RQ2UFpsXkgdYGUZVp3N5RHMWKaHDMdtDqjG0H5RgJNeEzUiqVNGnwRnbGpEDJZr-8j35g-lLyYS8MT9BvlZG8K_sLEf-ek6vjK-vP4CsZBVxd-EiVuazRNFs6bPCVJsu4MbswlxVWTs/s1600/IMG_1260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6RQ2UFpsXkgdYGUZVp3N5RHMWKaHDMdtDqjG0H5RgJNeEzUiqVNGnwRnbGpEDJZr-8j35g-lLyYS8MT9BvlZG8K_sLEf-ek6vjK-vP4CsZBVxd-EiVuazRNFs6bPCVJsu4MbswlxVWTs/s200/IMG_1260.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McIntosh Room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWvYbt12I9NUF-UvqQZY15THr5QgabMNi8adIJkchzgRLhkE7Zep32Kc_51KUrCX7SQsvVWBX7iOKGDO6iT-g23t-jvlcAhA3uX-mQNPTBl__6AihRZ0kuDsPAFKxlqREfld_Wr78mN6I/s1600/IMG_1259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWvYbt12I9NUF-UvqQZY15THr5QgabMNi8adIJkchzgRLhkE7Zep32Kc_51KUrCX7SQsvVWBX7iOKGDO6iT-g23t-jvlcAhA3uX-mQNPTBl__6AihRZ0kuDsPAFKxlqREfld_Wr78mN6I/s400/IMG_1259.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christie, Ben, Joshua, Sam, and Jason</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWLypgm2D7cQ5QQNSs_XRSFX2WYYqFZ-lveTEgcUOX9PoJH8-09Ts4KiXDbx8f8CSBqFql5zJpvlPxzGiw4V5nzDgu-sMf_3oQrsjHC9Hd_C-P6JqQkV7KJPAK0yn6oaoF49pW6ndnW0Y/s1600/IMG_1271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWLypgm2D7cQ5QQNSs_XRSFX2WYYqFZ-lveTEgcUOX9PoJH8-09Ts4KiXDbx8f8CSBqFql5zJpvlPxzGiw4V5nzDgu-sMf_3oQrsjHC9Hd_C-P6JqQkV7KJPAK0yn6oaoF49pW6ndnW0Y/s400/IMG_1271.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old West film Set turned festival venue</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhYVFFtk1DZJrive4mgiAmYVH6syPzSJ5oPRwN1Ma30STfyz6b2KDLDRI3sw_Gul3uklqJgYaHbRN2LclNDVLg9IOFKEMf8QAOccV3RQMLd6R4la5_nMV35k6uztO_UaQKsQE4oKCrMuA/s1600/IMG_1264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhYVFFtk1DZJrive4mgiAmYVH6syPzSJ5oPRwN1Ma30STfyz6b2KDLDRI3sw_Gul3uklqJgYaHbRN2LclNDVLg9IOFKEMf8QAOccV3RQMLd6R4la5_nMV35k6uztO_UaQKsQE4oKCrMuA/s320/IMG_1264.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for free whiskey</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtsEXFq6dnmjN1uTgxFWziN2UBGgG1RKouCeFwJIRb9Dj2MMpyTM9NLHj6-v6M_WvDBggJmWucrajhlwea1778A4C2DbNbZptgYk9IqDv6GhGurZa2kVjjW3608HKu-44bmmUjxpTxWyN/s1600/IMG_1280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtsEXFq6dnmjN1uTgxFWziN2UBGgG1RKouCeFwJIRb9Dj2MMpyTM9NLHj6-v6M_WvDBggJmWucrajhlwea1778A4C2DbNbZptgYk9IqDv6GhGurZa2kVjjW3608HKu-44bmmUjxpTxWyN/s400/IMG_1280.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willie and Lucas Nelson</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVtl3s7SASzT662TD2almmKOU8OAlrV7F6CGpLg72L5HsOVHAg-d800ERURHh10moXKH6FpRFvfvDVeUFHieKIhyphenhyphenOEi3IzmcvrfRpxiOCLcGegWoTQNFPiUrTDY2oB1T0i8lcBYAXO4Uj/s1600/IMG_1282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVtl3s7SASzT662TD2almmKOU8OAlrV7F6CGpLg72L5HsOVHAg-d800ERURHh10moXKH6FpRFvfvDVeUFHieKIhyphenhyphenOEi3IzmcvrfRpxiOCLcGegWoTQNFPiUrTDY2oB1T0i8lcBYAXO4Uj/s320/IMG_1282.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kerbey Lane on the way home for Joshua and his driver</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7B_gSQ3E6ZGJg3uyKUMHvQFMQRwQK-WiQ0c20mQjYY_CGS5p5Ht3V07vK9CnuCxF2nowiHxsZmwZMjV0HrKpMxLk1chLNGEwQHI1UijuEDYJpjGPKi5gpaYILEXXjaAkZ0acsfgTu5aF/s1600/IMG_1269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7B_gSQ3E6ZGJg3uyKUMHvQFMQRwQK-WiQ0c20mQjYY_CGS5p5Ht3V07vK9CnuCxF2nowiHxsZmwZMjV0HrKpMxLk1chLNGEwQHI1UijuEDYJpjGPKi5gpaYILEXXjaAkZ0acsfgTu5aF/s320/IMG_1269.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTiYr1BjrUvefVstrcJKNZ5-5zN2E4kpuCjEna_WL5EDBctpE1-Es9ewyM5cghezRLA3pyu92X7vOpOEV_UT3GllKnGhKDFkE9g30dS2Uk5kkptuACNdhyphenhyphenUfisjzCX4_vj0BYzLCgW0_a/s1600/IMG_1270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTiYr1BjrUvefVstrcJKNZ5-5zN2E4kpuCjEna_WL5EDBctpE1-Es9ewyM5cghezRLA3pyu92X7vOpOEV_UT3GllKnGhKDFkE9g30dS2Uk5kkptuACNdhyphenhyphenUfisjzCX4_vj0BYzLCgW0_a/s320/IMG_1270.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chapel Stage</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMI6TGhIZbWPjFGevcFmSWUFG0Fs2KXrGzC9CKsb1jQ9zg9S_FKsYd1QZHCyCQJqZ8yB7BjBShkyYFl5x9yyYR8Cma0jGXWnW4qvvPk51MvBxvUpJ4hRGN6sqlQawszYEaw0_qoVhVQtr7/s1600/IMG_1267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMI6TGhIZbWPjFGevcFmSWUFG0Fs2KXrGzC9CKsb1jQ9zg9S_FKsYd1QZHCyCQJqZ8yB7BjBShkyYFl5x9yyYR8Cma0jGXWnW4qvvPk51MvBxvUpJ4hRGN6sqlQawszYEaw0_qoVhVQtr7/s320/IMG_1267.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Festival Poster</td></tr>
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Fun times wrapping up the school year with our fur babies, as always!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnU_KyGxdJBTmM3zGNtCnXjtWA2wjWqxVDaYpyNZjXBzkoCk7wxd5FPPQQHs42qi45tK3O0oe8hzj8JkQRj_1ZFEiLRoyehM6jxXxx5ydUpfNjIGYTnfzPMT3GID62wOvOedazjKR4rip/s1600/IMG_1297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnU_KyGxdJBTmM3zGNtCnXjtWA2wjWqxVDaYpyNZjXBzkoCk7wxd5FPPQQHs42qi45tK3O0oe8hzj8JkQRj_1ZFEiLRoyehM6jxXxx5ydUpfNjIGYTnfzPMT3GID62wOvOedazjKR4rip/s200/IMG_1297.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We found our new favorite park, right on Lake Austin!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDbnMF1H6FAnaBvKKk96O-yonUYyxK4wdfVlX-Tv3EpzMSJaFq6_1EXpPnSLJ85G6bOkGAtnZp9522VloF3aY6Tgs-ahMtxhLk2eLVpwyuda4Bo1YSmGVaTis3koUQyxBhrO4tP_cQvZ5/s1600/IMG_1298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDbnMF1H6FAnaBvKKk96O-yonUYyxK4wdfVlX-Tv3EpzMSJaFq6_1EXpPnSLJ85G6bOkGAtnZp9522VloF3aY6Tgs-ahMtxhLk2eLVpwyuda4Bo1YSmGVaTis3koUQyxBhrO4tP_cQvZ5/s200/IMG_1298.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Bud Isle Dog Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1E8DO_kTCEhAjJZisnuZHlscMWEkRWq9Ga5xRB6p0qS1MTokzPfAJ8aYZ3xEph6uEU-NXEtOSZIjy-E76zSCCaMWjfMrSQBuimgZErFPH4Vlw3CxIqBS7i4uBWeCAyUfSErKxp8xd045/s1600/IMG_1304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1E8DO_kTCEhAjJZisnuZHlscMWEkRWq9Ga5xRB6p0qS1MTokzPfAJ8aYZ3xEph6uEU-NXEtOSZIjy-E76zSCCaMWjfMrSQBuimgZErFPH4Vlw3CxIqBS7i4uBWeCAyUfSErKxp8xd045/s320/IMG_1304.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That time we saw Alicia Silverstone talk at Book People</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdtZAgiTjgtQ5UmP4YFegL-Niwcaqvdm8UJlbHgn59n6kPa2L5n26-6861Xgw0066BYD80ZHpwQMKjGSzcrmVrUXcT0lht-W2iqzGdlh2FCs06MSuyyHXJ97F7QkRCtwtQFYPSls_ua-5/s1600/IMG_1313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdtZAgiTjgtQ5UmP4YFegL-Niwcaqvdm8UJlbHgn59n6kPa2L5n26-6861Xgw0066BYD80ZHpwQMKjGSzcrmVrUXcT0lht-W2iqzGdlh2FCs06MSuyyHXJ97F7QkRCtwtQFYPSls_ua-5/s400/IMG_1313.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking in my short hair</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsVGOeY9R8qaw6eVytm9pNxpuN6CdTnEXs9Tqox0eytl0xSOvG7KXkwBV-fLv3Qj3rVNNUgVL9UxmFUAL5aoPRU6UXTKlk20akywQEPoy3_CIvzL5WO7PdOZBIro3685mQ3JQ7J5AddOs/s1600/IMG_1323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsVGOeY9R8qaw6eVytm9pNxpuN6CdTnEXs9Tqox0eytl0xSOvG7KXkwBV-fLv3Qj3rVNNUgVL9UxmFUAL5aoPRU6UXTKlk20akywQEPoy3_CIvzL5WO7PdOZBIro3685mQ3JQ7J5AddOs/s200/IMG_1323.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geppetto is a--</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pi1PMgrjL3cwqyz6h6qFBHHivp4mT34F8-5N6p4Qo_uV8mwRHhxjlfl32SDRoaRhyphenhyphen3P8R2ae81qdIcl8I_pwIlcO4NYh3dS5oee-o-X4BTbRLaZdAFTfIOaidPhcS6Z1ebIW2XMLNTDO/s1600/IMG_1324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pi1PMgrjL3cwqyz6h6qFBHHivp4mT34F8-5N6p4Qo_uV8mwRHhxjlfl32SDRoaRhyphenhyphen3P8R2ae81qdIcl8I_pwIlcO4NYh3dS5oee-o-X4BTbRLaZdAFTfIOaidPhcS6Z1ebIW2XMLNTDO/s200/IMG_1324.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...wild and crazy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOab9ocLKngzL6RqgDkbHzS8k55jB7UO1qnC2XjXgJfplAXuXMrDz22yoGoQU4wOTDpaf5yAi80LN0X2sK2iAPAzLL0MuSQzUUcCh3OwKQK4xXZbI2pavuvhl5IUZf1XhnlCEqRlrJbrc/s1600/IMG_1325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOab9ocLKngzL6RqgDkbHzS8k55jB7UO1qnC2XjXgJfplAXuXMrDz22yoGoQU4wOTDpaf5yAi80LN0X2sK2iAPAzLL0MuSQzUUcCh3OwKQK4xXZbI2pavuvhl5IUZf1XhnlCEqRlrJbrc/s200/IMG_1325.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...furball!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIy1RdA0lSOtPIxQ206Sva7edVi-1Ql22_5RbrCw_APpitsDCSLIzfJU7mB9L6XeT3ZgmnPbd615K5NoM6pFeeYsKG_6GxqaNcoW3WyuNgHsq_Du3zwgxVcBPtDBh__XplQTqwf8YJtXD/s1600/IMG_1327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIy1RdA0lSOtPIxQ206Sva7edVi-1Ql22_5RbrCw_APpitsDCSLIzfJU7mB9L6XeT3ZgmnPbd615K5NoM6pFeeYsKG_6GxqaNcoW3WyuNgHsq_Du3zwgxVcBPtDBh__XplQTqwf8YJtXD/s320/IMG_1327.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loki loves sunning himself on the balcony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhntu6Aroiq8LSLZA0_mOgyd5LKWc8pu6-mFpe7Xu8DbVul-CTiju8cFdtwLHc7YBG1PybnVthseAHP-FwgL7NUKazDim-nOaIwKbWt9ldX0xL7Hw9s0JtocWVtTw4m0M2UkNmpPc4lzN/s1600/IMG_1338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhntu6Aroiq8LSLZA0_mOgyd5LKWc8pu6-mFpe7Xu8DbVul-CTiju8cFdtwLHc7YBG1PybnVthseAHP-FwgL7NUKazDim-nOaIwKbWt9ldX0xL7Hw9s0JtocWVtTw4m0M2UkNmpPc4lzN/s320/IMG_1338.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bartleby loves to eat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xyheNjvJ7VEWW5vG42dbKPqJR4-G8ngzQ9uueDmk6wGYwzxNFP54Ow23ucCnTAkc3zWU6ZkST_PRnTDOIpy6x_jVmB8Gp5HoOKGDTCr5_c-0X22_R86MTh2cXuivji-Wv56FZFJZoLW_/s1600/IMG_1340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xyheNjvJ7VEWW5vG42dbKPqJR4-G8ngzQ9uueDmk6wGYwzxNFP54Ow23ucCnTAkc3zWU6ZkST_PRnTDOIpy6x_jVmB8Gp5HoOKGDTCr5_c-0X22_R86MTh2cXuivji-Wv56FZFJZoLW_/s320/IMG_1340.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our neighbor downstairs was a friendly veteran with a beautiful garden, Lizard and I will miss his roses!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
At the end of May, Heather, Jeremy and Danielle came for a visit. We celebrated the submission of my National Board portfolio by driving out to The Woodlands north of Houston for a Dave Matthews Band concert, literally at the last minute. We arrived as the first song was playing and danced all night!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDSrp0e5eNMdmgWw9kKtGyMwTACePsz5hWrdae7A1a1Xpw7iUvnlctHqXiDi1kCj0ff6b7ZdtZb23SNoTfg2uq7xIPet6cKAU9_wASkeMBgG6oVRbhPvPWP6tnlBAW6g3KM4BGspFtMKT/s1600/IMG_1051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDSrp0e5eNMdmgWw9kKtGyMwTACePsz5hWrdae7A1a1Xpw7iUvnlctHqXiDi1kCj0ff6b7ZdtZb23SNoTfg2uq7xIPet6cKAU9_wASkeMBgG6oVRbhPvPWP6tnlBAW6g3KM4BGspFtMKT/s200/IMG_1051.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsoaq577ZuqroHOf-xF-jyxMfNNQ6-PkjcTQvEQfLvfvQosC-xOw4ZZ_iXvFMh8CtzF-I5ISPi_K5IMWwt7CSKDsKOZlt6ysP5ltD6Bu2Ti_SDmM4kzwJVsDFRfPQTuxD9liDdhVsxfPb/s1600/IMG_1348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsoaq577ZuqroHOf-xF-jyxMfNNQ6-PkjcTQvEQfLvfvQosC-xOw4ZZ_iXvFMh8CtzF-I5ISPi_K5IMWwt7CSKDsKOZlt6ysP5ltD6Bu2Ti_SDmM4kzwJVsDFRfPQTuxD9liDdhVsxfPb/s200/IMG_1348.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heather, Jeremy, Joshua and Danielle-The Illinois crew</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFvbNerzWTtv-yx4wF2n6pTHq49gowUUF_p2snqUJu0SN4fMVboCib4R_QHJyWX7PX7b_4Dtq4WLV7YyqCWCDGHISD2BXPRAM3DlIbqXBwhn0E7zXysoNdGixFq2TxItBpu1eMrauZ-id/s1600/IMG_1352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFvbNerzWTtv-yx4wF2n6pTHq49gowUUF_p2snqUJu0SN4fMVboCib4R_QHJyWX7PX7b_4Dtq4WLV7YyqCWCDGHISD2BXPRAM3DlIbqXBwhn0E7zXysoNdGixFq2TxItBpu1eMrauZ-id/s320/IMG_1352.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DMB 2014-The Woodlands<br />
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</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5qzxkohpzOMPhS_nO3j8IWC1om1IHPlOMDPKTe2Bx4wzh8Y9VIaOp5LrZhvsloo4mVJxu0MOQKnEfp8V4WHAh25it8SJrgT26EMwpkeLZSX_kcPHdMFV_uULLLdq0XBza8UGlCY-zRUj/s1600/IMG_1356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5qzxkohpzOMPhS_nO3j8IWC1om1IHPlOMDPKTe2Bx4wzh8Y9VIaOp5LrZhvsloo4mVJxu0MOQKnEfp8V4WHAh25it8SJrgT26EMwpkeLZSX_kcPHdMFV_uULLLdq0XBza8UGlCY-zRUj/s200/IMG_1356.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tall boys</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OJgqmK_Op9x_NWXOt-QKrA2cHkjj7gPBpnfevNLD9qCJmh2eIYR5lW1Ve4Q6P_WhuBBUMojD2K66ZsQWak0hht3gbEKnU69fnRHR2EYYSQ__W_nI-aum1jCAjbxmO7mgNXuZ_c4uErEp/s1600/IMG_1361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OJgqmK_Op9x_NWXOt-QKrA2cHkjj7gPBpnfevNLD9qCJmh2eIYR5lW1Ve4Q6P_WhuBBUMojD2K66ZsQWak0hht3gbEKnU69fnRHR2EYYSQ__W_nI-aum1jCAjbxmO7mgNXuZ_c4uErEp/s200/IMG_1361.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCKi0iHUB2smWpmnrzhOD0UhyphenhyphenrVp4A00nvzggMA31Qg0nwrygvsv9VwSak8wKxn2FwyaQhB1Sgewj0P396lGNxiq-2o74cQ_m7gkutJTLKc5g40T8ItG1t73F8oR2QbcWlYPTYXkcvwRP/s1600/IMG_1366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCKi0iHUB2smWpmnrzhOD0UhyphenhyphenrVp4A00nvzggMA31Qg0nwrygvsv9VwSak8wKxn2FwyaQhB1Sgewj0P396lGNxiq-2o74cQ_m7gkutJTLKc5g40T8ItG1t73F8oR2QbcWlYPTYXkcvwRP/s400/IMG_1366.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsxh9tG4gxcMJqmayC5bas3jd6cSMpxNBiSUVvNB6wHaqUi6L9s1tCf6kqjC30gyLMjRA_I2UEbZzUSVQSrIS2vLXJShQdMwhKUfaZSg1juFbKVRgdIMdGGDNXh25xyj0_3xcbJBdh62C/s1600/IMG_1368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsxh9tG4gxcMJqmayC5bas3jd6cSMpxNBiSUVvNB6wHaqUi6L9s1tCf6kqjC30gyLMjRA_I2UEbZzUSVQSrIS2vLXJShQdMwhKUfaZSg1juFbKVRgdIMdGGDNXh25xyj0_3xcbJBdh62C/s320/IMG_1368.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We happened to go to 6th St on graduation night--oops, it was even crazier than normal!</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTXBHPFaH5elIl_HawL5AFGcRXASF2pniARzdtsmMLKNwb86MsswipPgIv2URFFezTH0wlaBQCeV8audNbR7nb5Z97ZKEUpkqX2nA-sKRfdpUoVZdoAvt8s0Fp69dLE8QBZwlx6aR979Y/s1600/IMG_1373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTXBHPFaH5elIl_HawL5AFGcRXASF2pniARzdtsmMLKNwb86MsswipPgIv2URFFezTH0wlaBQCeV8audNbR7nb5Z97ZKEUpkqX2nA-sKRfdpUoVZdoAvt8s0Fp69dLE8QBZwlx6aR979Y/s200/IMG_1373.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A necessity after a night downtown</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTX4Q48MSRVkIkC17YGIAB6KJ_WybaoAUcBONYxGgK-AakIbs55Njm482oj-7czpb4u9qClIJoRbglZzFnDiLkOTHpITlBflpWmZk5l4AZ4WEotKLcBL1UuPhSizvUtbAeYJKkkWLYXJs/s1600/IMG_1374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTX4Q48MSRVkIkC17YGIAB6KJ_WybaoAUcBONYxGgK-AakIbs55Njm482oj-7czpb4u9qClIJoRbglZzFnDiLkOTHpITlBflpWmZk5l4AZ4WEotKLcBL1UuPhSizvUtbAeYJKkkWLYXJs/s200/IMG_1374.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Danielle turning up..</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8YsOi4F7F17Wb-MEa-aN5BdXwo48AHVbBjYfoLN6nI9xetok9M86tUlvoJs20RLD94bh90ADfMW1lNVan7OrELwBu_wm5VCzCck5m0aELNPT8ZYL0qxyRCviMGqPrFKWYvNKmoaw2m7d/s1600/IMG_1375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8YsOi4F7F17Wb-MEa-aN5BdXwo48AHVbBjYfoLN6nI9xetok9M86tUlvoJs20RLD94bh90ADfMW1lNVan7OrELwBu_wm5VCzCck5m0aELNPT8ZYL0qxyRCviMGqPrFKWYvNKmoaw2m7d/s200/IMG_1375.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...the WHAT!</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEcRcgizak_Evu7rPSTUTLJft2-74H_Awn7cvataGHkiEgHGwDm8ZC2W8ga4pME5lPPl_q6d505gizaQaphcUyxvNZEQ8aP8h1z3QvpGLVTa_dwLw8cDcyhFIPAhYFR7xY-VFyFFO8Vjp/s1600/IMG_1376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEcRcgizak_Evu7rPSTUTLJft2-74H_Awn7cvataGHkiEgHGwDm8ZC2W8ga4pME5lPPl_q6d505gizaQaphcUyxvNZEQ8aP8h1z3QvpGLVTa_dwLw8cDcyhFIPAhYFR7xY-VFyFFO8Vjp/s200/IMG_1376.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She gone!</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK51kWwe4_Ok1Jc6V7bMJiRn3eoZb8qQSoN-4TFa-bJUD7P6Q810DYtEbFte34TYZPg95FJC46szeQdA2X3iErNPCb9Z7lkTxHKkn2TD9UhW6ljqwtEEFBdmYuNbC3VKFJo_NZMRuTqUIP/s1600/IMG_1382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK51kWwe4_Ok1Jc6V7bMJiRn3eoZb8qQSoN-4TFa-bJUD7P6Q810DYtEbFte34TYZPg95FJC46szeQdA2X3iErNPCb9Z7lkTxHKkn2TD9UhW6ljqwtEEFBdmYuNbC3VKFJo_NZMRuTqUIP/s320/IMG_1382.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Party in Lakeway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPKTSCYKMYb7kKVQayUSHUEBzEtY7Jipskrhg9JcH6udI3gO0zeh0qOFr_0V0FYD6rHCqV5uFd0pZrhhtBT5mEbH4Pp3SS7PjxAlMX_7X-h-ZQ1FmTKJfgqtmn5zAnJbXMUQCJ2P9w-tG/s1600/IMG_1386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPKTSCYKMYb7kKVQayUSHUEBzEtY7Jipskrhg9JcH6udI3gO0zeh0qOFr_0V0FYD6rHCqV5uFd0pZrhhtBT5mEbH4Pp3SS7PjxAlMX_7X-h-ZQ1FmTKJfgqtmn5zAnJbXMUQCJ2P9w-tG/s320/IMG_1386.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sundaes at Sweet Ritual</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYmbbBut_YhsnN2w-EBIdFv5-YfIUPLZKRtN6cfWJV5_5YE6qu421YWMLKGFZTvCblLDmGaGGUpsqEYy19bFjnMkckIuPdqO_x6YSdemEl2wt6bni996IBcQtzVVEKMsncTTedSfz50f5/s1600/IMG_1387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYmbbBut_YhsnN2w-EBIdFv5-YfIUPLZKRtN6cfWJV5_5YE6qu421YWMLKGFZTvCblLDmGaGGUpsqEYy19bFjnMkckIuPdqO_x6YSdemEl2wt6bni996IBcQtzVVEKMsncTTedSfz50f5/s200/IMG_1387.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petty's rocking mohawk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0_t5xyPs3t9WeiLG2EBRL2qv10AOgptyOx2DbhbOVEyEB7F37FxCJSKcgctUvFEsg-7-lOPleVEC9oDsyrjzTQi9Zi4afHDc3YlGyCBuXfujx94B5QOsO1cTHfaxcVm2U41SHWB5nic5/s1600/IMG_1428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0_t5xyPs3t9WeiLG2EBRL2qv10AOgptyOx2DbhbOVEyEB7F37FxCJSKcgctUvFEsg-7-lOPleVEC9oDsyrjzTQi9Zi4afHDc3YlGyCBuXfujx94B5QOsO1cTHfaxcVm2U41SHWB5nic5/s320/IMG_1428.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Georgetown Square</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5pATtcMa_vyUQBUi9WYvCFOi0xGdA26LLrtj5IESuud01Z7CNLm6agBSMhtp_Txt5sygaBZ8jADMj8fk-DiRboXVIr0iJaZCXM_Mu8DARQsP478jTYLABCSagDygwLqWo0dXqm9B_8WC/s1600/IMG_1423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5pATtcMa_vyUQBUi9WYvCFOi0xGdA26LLrtj5IESuud01Z7CNLm6agBSMhtp_Txt5sygaBZ8jADMj8fk-DiRboXVIr0iJaZCXM_Mu8DARQsP478jTYLABCSagDygwLqWo0dXqm9B_8WC/s320/IMG_1423.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2J4_yZ0Gz2TE90W94xrvD2jyS3PK07FtezsEu2vssDglSNO83XyLrLUQj4T-lwt2B3GUzugRwETSZhUPZe6urgStMIBiOpce54Eer-7IfZPpofEjqVgW98BY9YY4ytV68nTZq6pTXQVu/s1600/IMG_1424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2J4_yZ0Gz2TE90W94xrvD2jyS3PK07FtezsEu2vssDglSNO83XyLrLUQj4T-lwt2B3GUzugRwETSZhUPZe6urgStMIBiOpce54Eer-7IfZPpofEjqVgW98BY9YY4ytV68nTZq6pTXQVu/s320/IMG_1424.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Williamson county courthouse-you don't want to find yourself here...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDJqsHXlttbGvEXHmRunwOSC0o61cs2_hiz7NfjqrhfaUtEpBC98ny2Wn8UuAVUqMRqQovBV19N0rztboiNa-G2ntN25DwLD0YMxxovMM9IK8mzSj8k9kMDxGZkWYKwyjrbIwqp_zhg3a/s1600/IMG_1405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDJqsHXlttbGvEXHmRunwOSC0o61cs2_hiz7NfjqrhfaUtEpBC98ny2Wn8UuAVUqMRqQovBV19N0rztboiNa-G2ntN25DwLD0YMxxovMM9IK8mzSj8k9kMDxGZkWYKwyjrbIwqp_zhg3a/s320/IMG_1405.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roller Derby!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaW8LTD_G4miBlf7rivjeG5EcSvyyddeFzD16o3Tb2YWOhlvrUY6avsd9KQbnjqzMNO9-rU3B6WRIxWc_1w3MaAH9iNQXqKogYC4IYonOBKxgVffByha-LlD-5YuFMYWnyIX3-7SUo6MZQ/s1600/IMG_1392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaW8LTD_G4miBlf7rivjeG5EcSvyyddeFzD16o3Tb2YWOhlvrUY6avsd9KQbnjqzMNO9-rU3B6WRIxWc_1w3MaAH9iNQXqKogYC4IYonOBKxgVffByha-LlD-5YuFMYWnyIX3-7SUo6MZQ/s400/IMG_1392.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NHS banquet May 2014</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9oij10gw-gIE_dF3ETFK2qFPDVOQXDJcDIs6ZcjqqJw85paWO_pxgUs61HWIB6c7j_rC2C5qcB5gds0glxYC5bxVPj-rm-7xkmLISLQn7zv3zIDfUlKKL77ypA6N_IgPc0jEcdX1bpJU/s1600/IMG_1408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9oij10gw-gIE_dF3ETFK2qFPDVOQXDJcDIs6ZcjqqJw85paWO_pxgUs61HWIB6c7j_rC2C5qcB5gds0glxYC5bxVPj-rm-7xkmLISLQn7zv3zIDfUlKKL77ypA6N_IgPc0jEcdX1bpJU/s320/IMG_1408.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Packing up the classroom after year #2 at Crockett</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbibL6Ej01lgSmedv5DFJ5kusbbwiJmw0RkkmpI23VqaNhQ6W_hUZd5Y3QWK_NVGehGWKGxbZ-5cAU3Mia7lcXqUZPaA3Xgiih-9YcQiVD_CO5TFpNcs6gRT_gWT14yo3_Vd6qP4tBxxD/s1600/IMG_1412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbibL6Ej01lgSmedv5DFJ5kusbbwiJmw0RkkmpI23VqaNhQ6W_hUZd5Y3QWK_NVGehGWKGxbZ-5cAU3Mia7lcXqUZPaA3Xgiih-9YcQiVD_CO5TFpNcs6gRT_gWT14yo3_Vd6qP4tBxxD/s200/IMG_1412.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlJBPkOhbC39P7GXbIZ2-QAmkI4AmShfgr5VFKXy5OX9Ev34r7u084pErBd3KBq7S_PK8kpJ7-Q02O2E3ot0Z6p0d5C_6Jr3PML01WqbCLfnYX5GRHmYG0WbidOFPloqyn-tCMw3ZDQ_9/s1600/IMG_1413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlJBPkOhbC39P7GXbIZ2-QAmkI4AmShfgr5VFKXy5OX9Ev34r7u084pErBd3KBq7S_PK8kpJ7-Q02O2E3ot0Z6p0d5C_6Jr3PML01WqbCLfnYX5GRHmYG0WbidOFPloqyn-tCMw3ZDQ_9/s200/IMG_1413.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56Rs9-G0Or52auy18EYBSALFRA1CwjSf3OabN0oxymqcHU-Pw1otEMK7jPjVZZTyBBNSo-Buz8-RC4C2kbddXXO3Sgdp156C5avaphzPsoVWV5O168L4QftzePq8y_UTq0dM5RBjgobv7/s1600/IMG_1414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56Rs9-G0Or52auy18EYBSALFRA1CwjSf3OabN0oxymqcHU-Pw1otEMK7jPjVZZTyBBNSo-Buz8-RC4C2kbddXXO3Sgdp156C5avaphzPsoVWV5O168L4QftzePq8y_UTq0dM5RBjgobv7/s200/IMG_1414.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE782cGlhN2P6n0mpOhV660AHfvt6JI7FLfMFxaVqxudG0Zv-rS1S8qs3Rg_bPP-AM3vgTfk_yhyphenhyphendI-rQ7MyvD9Ev-1R29njlqqmXGR8OPepYfkNFsZdM5u85BRweq3h1RVAns3gaP8fMw/s1600/IMG_1416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE782cGlhN2P6n0mpOhV660AHfvt6JI7FLfMFxaVqxudG0Zv-rS1S8qs3Rg_bPP-AM3vgTfk_yhyphenhyphendI-rQ7MyvD9Ev-1R29njlqqmXGR8OPepYfkNFsZdM5u85BRweq3h1RVAns3gaP8fMw/s320/IMG_1416.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Congratulations Crockett Cougars class of 2014!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraJYo7DLoaK_JYdzqRkcJzJAtFuDfyvW-OaKnUu7dMIgYUYbbZqXqvgKKnfjpCigBiOuN13_nnF5_8sn0FkXblH0qYOdMway97HdNnMDVW_YP5JdGdHCeuk-HUHOrWd7WtRhErxi5uV73/s1600/IMG_1415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraJYo7DLoaK_JYdzqRkcJzJAtFuDfyvW-OaKnUu7dMIgYUYbbZqXqvgKKnfjpCigBiOuN13_nnF5_8sn0FkXblH0qYOdMway97HdNnMDVW_YP5JdGdHCeuk-HUHOrWd7WtRhErxi5uV73/s200/IMG_1415.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjPDYt-3oNAwXK8KQpyQk-cGZLBKUtRo2z68oAua9jP1kJN-44Qp__Gk6RClTTZVQRDw1zS_eDUt5wTNxXbBeZQ5zxqIGTnHcamhwymCe9R21BN7qIi-HRrLHnuqKsSm6Bv4y5VIW7WPx/s1600/IMG_1417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjPDYt-3oNAwXK8KQpyQk-cGZLBKUtRo2z68oAua9jP1kJN-44Qp__Gk6RClTTZVQRDw1zS_eDUt5wTNxXbBeZQ5zxqIGTnHcamhwymCe9R21BN7qIi-HRrLHnuqKsSm6Bv4y5VIW7WPx/s320/IMG_1417.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hurry up and wait...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DmpRMRJavI0ff86B5wMHP1hMJG2sOnJ6ili3Sp20mD977bT5tdV0Q53SuTFlv6gdRZM-at0OzEcmm0bszS6fn-hIu5lGa8RGfIsvNxugsDpdJ9zYDRCZZWNayFZvPFYK7cJ-_0JXs8lo/s1600/IMG_1436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DmpRMRJavI0ff86B5wMHP1hMJG2sOnJ6ili3Sp20mD977bT5tdV0Q53SuTFlv6gdRZM-at0OzEcmm0bszS6fn-hIu5lGa8RGfIsvNxugsDpdJ9zYDRCZZWNayFZvPFYK7cJ-_0JXs8lo/s320/IMG_1436.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the bats...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnARE_iVVg6URvAxdTZ-lFpEMZz9Lzu17n69u9cEebnOP6ZwNH1fQpbmMeNfI7tryzxRIIkr69vfWgLAIo8VzcPIBP_gUcZkqZVA9Mcoz2tlch9wLUQXratQTmsXQVMrPgaUzX513_EnW/s1600/IMG_1442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnARE_iVVg6URvAxdTZ-lFpEMZz9Lzu17n69u9cEebnOP6ZwNH1fQpbmMeNfI7tryzxRIIkr69vfWgLAIo8VzcPIBP_gUcZkqZVA9Mcoz2tlch9wLUQXratQTmsXQVMrPgaUzX513_EnW/s200/IMG_1442.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for another summer!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWHHMeVaW6o1ax7GebuXOhrSAhQIQobl4x5SfTWR4HIeklOwXad1xCUcsIC_HOUTTriexJWU31Yv9g9H_VN1LdrndBL8LtPUKVhFNFkajAaVtV9ZM6ABHwTXcnneeFsjcYvKZvjEpk671/s1600/IMG_1457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWHHMeVaW6o1ax7GebuXOhrSAhQIQobl4x5SfTWR4HIeklOwXad1xCUcsIC_HOUTTriexJWU31Yv9g9H_VN1LdrndBL8LtPUKVhFNFkajAaVtV9ZM6ABHwTXcnneeFsjcYvKZvjEpk671/s320/IMG_1457.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer and Mandy enjoying pizza during AVID '14 in Dallas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgy-BjO9iYlUf-QfS9SvOYpOHmUAb_9vBD7PMK1aybRAkqtzCD7RqXPIwsYfLkpe8zfw9xorrRxlAsVge4jDz32j7BPJf9dr5zRE5LsEOYSNQ7389M3__KZRMSvtxrZ4nJh4dczT-tvL6o/s1600/IMG_1462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgy-BjO9iYlUf-QfS9SvOYpOHmUAb_9vBD7PMK1aybRAkqtzCD7RqXPIwsYfLkpe8zfw9xorrRxlAsVge4jDz32j7BPJf9dr5zRE5LsEOYSNQ7389M3__KZRMSvtxrZ4nJh4dczT-tvL6o/s320/IMG_1462.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T Rex in the Big D!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlM_sr1PicuGNEsjC4tme_Y7Ar6oiT7YRawDwXHoprumlKNAhMidh3e8Va3JiQN4uAbgL5mQixMfvWKfES2iVOD-wnqlYmGwhvfUiyXwAo_obVOpRmThsDbK-0hOtJDWhfboWphoCF3xT/s1600/IMG_1453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlM_sr1PicuGNEsjC4tme_Y7Ar6oiT7YRawDwXHoprumlKNAhMidh3e8Va3JiQN4uAbgL5mQixMfvWKfES2iVOD-wnqlYmGwhvfUiyXwAo_obVOpRmThsDbK-0hOtJDWhfboWphoCF3xT/s320/IMG_1453.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roaming Downtown Dallas<br />
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After a fun AVID conference in Dallas at the end of June, Joshua and Gepetto and I drove north to Milwaukee to surprise Heather and Danielle for Summerfest DMB show, and then visit Brian and Linda for the 4th.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxJ6-e6JsadS21y94-oGYM9eXE23u2uhd-kqvhTcqHDM67-jstWKTLug5-xX4-PlShC6xOhxmj3TLLgKShlfDj6scqS5HKfK3l_mUxjk4NjCS3cROyUsKn211E9cc3iVuvR9DmlAz7hFf/s1600/IMG_1477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxJ6-e6JsadS21y94-oGYM9eXE23u2uhd-kqvhTcqHDM67-jstWKTLug5-xX4-PlShC6xOhxmj3TLLgKShlfDj6scqS5HKfK3l_mUxjk4NjCS3cROyUsKn211E9cc3iVuvR9DmlAz7hFf/s200/IMG_1477.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new favorite slot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8h5QhY3Qph1u3sf861o2dEzPtdqfd1Sqi6J-pjS9-0NYeJRaJd6vd65RJqa77NwEpNloXU_l3Wv0a3UuwLb4IfW6bZEyNUSjlHCaVlsBr4S_T4e6oG0af5oKb9kkiOpxvgJw5HN2Xw95/s1600/IMG_1475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8h5QhY3Qph1u3sf861o2dEzPtdqfd1Sqi6J-pjS9-0NYeJRaJd6vd65RJqa77NwEpNloXU_l3Wv0a3UuwLb4IfW6bZEyNUSjlHCaVlsBr4S_T4e6oG0af5oKb9kkiOpxvgJw5HN2Xw95/s320/IMG_1475.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potawatomi, morning after Summer Fest and DMB!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfoAvGMA4R139RbAsVEjvXKv4UBDTsmFV8q7cVc2MgWrrWJ6vjtO5XHIStR9tJSESImQ-2I_JlHC-_SQkrU7d9THLrOX6AybBAli_Dk4etfbU4p3PkS54xcOss9WM7kmYAG7zaz82KjjQ/s1600/IMG_1524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfoAvGMA4R139RbAsVEjvXKv4UBDTsmFV8q7cVc2MgWrrWJ6vjtO5XHIStR9tJSESImQ-2I_JlHC-_SQkrU7d9THLrOX6AybBAli_Dk4etfbU4p3PkS54xcOss9WM7kmYAG7zaz82KjjQ/s200/IMG_1524.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pedicures with Momo and Olivia at Anaala</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiez5AEMZMaPZhIbDtm-eIBXqB5K8nbn1EpOQRmRir9INSS6ukiR1xQl2zbeaNhKWstJKBd1-zU1o3huCZhmr-eC0747l2FdcLpk6eBy9_p-G4dHEIfmCKO__rhzdThajdPX1cdttZk1SkN/s1600/IMG_1525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiez5AEMZMaPZhIbDtm-eIBXqB5K8nbn1EpOQRmRir9INSS6ukiR1xQl2zbeaNhKWstJKBd1-zU1o3huCZhmr-eC0747l2FdcLpk6eBy9_p-G4dHEIfmCKO__rhzdThajdPX1cdttZk1SkN/s320/IMG_1525.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hilldale girls' day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTy1ANpCOREJwaBYD1VY8eTqxZ2vEGUs8lEWd_mIIveEG9IjzffU5PBFh8qREYupeZ1acY6Wbj0__nk1qQARqGPxWThJwUVFDNvE2WFyXBoRRWqf4nGL9hY_fRmtfsslEHYeo21KXuGBvu/s1600/IMG_1526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTy1ANpCOREJwaBYD1VY8eTqxZ2vEGUs8lEWd_mIIveEG9IjzffU5PBFh8qREYupeZ1acY6Wbj0__nk1qQARqGPxWThJwUVFDNvE2WFyXBoRRWqf4nGL9hY_fRmtfsslEHYeo21KXuGBvu/s320/IMG_1526.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post-Pedis</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPMle2FY4a8NIH1pD-qcmP2b2YIXfBOA4E_CwKVv-qvsLsrPpW3j4LIpCEeW58dew5cT0frxW23GF9rYnsJSAMKigbOMwdOx6GRAwS9tG9gq4_esoGpQ_BGYOokXrQ8i-i1C3ZVmu35Oz/s1600/IMG_1528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPMle2FY4a8NIH1pD-qcmP2b2YIXfBOA4E_CwKVv-qvsLsrPpW3j4LIpCEeW58dew5cT0frxW23GF9rYnsJSAMKigbOMwdOx6GRAwS9tG9gq4_esoGpQ_BGYOokXrQ8i-i1C3ZVmu35Oz/s320/IMG_1528.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia showing Grant the pony at Eugster's Farm</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0TPVZkRzKIqOXyRpyWQ2n8MO0L7hmmGhmSHfAc8oZGs1k6rKEDLo_5_-donYa9QyVcJh9FfSOQCqBNF7nFlppCtU3iDSbRQAVyVgOFrh9vSnMDNiyKu6Pt0EAbXqyKfIGpyWY-P0lsT7/s1600/IMG_1534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0TPVZkRzKIqOXyRpyWQ2n8MO0L7hmmGhmSHfAc8oZGs1k6rKEDLo_5_-donYa9QyVcJh9FfSOQCqBNF7nFlppCtU3iDSbRQAVyVgOFrh9vSnMDNiyKu6Pt0EAbXqyKfIGpyWY-P0lsT7/s200/IMG_1534.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys love to wrestle</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGOVERz3JZjhYjOTpkHL_z7h8RDZx81rvKveF1oPGPsSFt3aUKL4QGU_fxRgJ_ZqWJyRoVhoPRz3MXPALjBI2jHcN_ZscG_RsvFmQwOjwGIZMoCVO9MFUC3eZ2U9DpC5UO3ZKWBfe0o8Y/s1600/IMG_1539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGOVERz3JZjhYjOTpkHL_z7h8RDZx81rvKveF1oPGPsSFt3aUKL4QGU_fxRgJ_ZqWJyRoVhoPRz3MXPALjBI2jHcN_ZscG_RsvFmQwOjwGIZMoCVO9MFUC3eZ2U9DpC5UO3ZKWBfe0o8Y/s320/IMG_1539.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia's Fairy Garden</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NKK48r19ECut7VXGy-FdvouU6pesNvb3RhkHklbL-hb32qQsCfBGViSZvnj_riSGA2aj0wOErp-M0m06BBK0HW4qcWQsazUzCCPpeccxBVbg6k9ea6SjfacYXRvvaC2BAOIE8n7rMP_i/s1600/IMG_1543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NKK48r19ECut7VXGy-FdvouU6pesNvb3RhkHklbL-hb32qQsCfBGViSZvnj_riSGA2aj0wOErp-M0m06BBK0HW4qcWQsazUzCCPpeccxBVbg6k9ea6SjfacYXRvvaC2BAOIE8n7rMP_i/s400/IMG_1543.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner at Norton's after a fun day on the Lake with our Pontoon boat, tube, and baby jet skis</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJsQaXXLKroisXIR-OKYqVBRsre90sSMJdwgz8xj7DRvuwHBxfxVwQwTnNDAcWJSGd3fqTO1qABXrmcN8ZXsRL1lO-WEkrc237L3dskNIWIJkW51r_-8cVONTkwfrKGt7wPCFeUnfIutk/s1600/IMG_1545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJsQaXXLKroisXIR-OKYqVBRsre90sSMJdwgz8xj7DRvuwHBxfxVwQwTnNDAcWJSGd3fqTO1qABXrmcN8ZXsRL1lO-WEkrc237L3dskNIWIJkW51r_-8cVONTkwfrKGt7wPCFeUnfIutk/s320/IMG_1545.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson joined Grandma and I for a treat at the McFarland House</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0oJSdeGdonRuD7E2bGRYM2kzXX2iFMAaPLfAE2_DgO4C0DLXBb8gKpRvaeR_ykyLufVbC6Tt_8YXUfZE9ZN3QZ5G1lUEHpaqYk4lGGXs4j7FJrZpBvK9CpmYTeL_F7UZWGELyMIAnOmI/s1600/IMG_1553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0oJSdeGdonRuD7E2bGRYM2kzXX2iFMAaPLfAE2_DgO4C0DLXBb8gKpRvaeR_ykyLufVbC6Tt_8YXUfZE9ZN3QZ5G1lUEHpaqYk4lGGXs4j7FJrZpBvK9CpmYTeL_F7UZWGELyMIAnOmI/s320/IMG_1553.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia keeping Grant happy at Connor's birthday party</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisl3hO6xecIwETPj4S8x6p2gQT2k88N9rYUDiwnqd1wX4WAmZO82W4KBZZM8kx0ttXs4XeaCaxbeUz1oWJ7zsv-zVlNA-6vP8BOgCJgdc5nihzB5EeVrEa-Y3auL9f61U0DE37Z3PIE7tb/s1600/IMG_1558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisl3hO6xecIwETPj4S8x6p2gQT2k88N9rYUDiwnqd1wX4WAmZO82W4KBZZM8kx0ttXs4XeaCaxbeUz1oWJ7zsv-zVlNA-6vP8BOgCJgdc5nihzB5EeVrEa-Y3auL9f61U0DE37Z3PIE7tb/s320/IMG_1558.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petty joined the fun at Jac's birthday party</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirH7c5K0z_-V79mgQ7PLK3rCQQReiHzL6U8k3wkN90fLJD3_Jw0xzocESMInWNRVZwn9fSISyIVQlngv21q7ag_cVd7lUfEPOW2WsBZyCIoygy97_6u7caBbG0ulUY8RvgZEEQ6YLRQ9Ht/s1600/IMG_1566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirH7c5K0z_-V79mgQ7PLK3rCQQReiHzL6U8k3wkN90fLJD3_Jw0xzocESMInWNRVZwn9fSISyIVQlngv21q7ag_cVd7lUfEPOW2WsBZyCIoygy97_6u7caBbG0ulUY8RvgZEEQ6YLRQ9Ht/s320/IMG_1566.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset boat tour on Lake Geneva with mom and dad</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_afYFe37s1TBPGx5CNk4nXd9vFyY5kdvUBSVdNdsXB9gj1gi9uDOJ6mDX9UgDmuW0iSgNQ3yeR0bTnEm6kP0BSXl9s6i8H_89rK4ihQJgeKQp-eZhRuNcHRnomP9-T7WUCYt3ljiMlUK/s1600/IMG_1571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_afYFe37s1TBPGx5CNk4nXd9vFyY5kdvUBSVdNdsXB9gj1gi9uDOJ6mDX9UgDmuW0iSgNQ3yeR0bTnEm6kP0BSXl9s6i8H_89rK4ihQJgeKQp-eZhRuNcHRnomP9-T7WUCYt3ljiMlUK/s320/IMG_1571.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brewer game for Mom's birthday with Linda, Brian, Dom, Lou and Dad</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuer2aX0fi3eEPCyhyndXi1p-iNheYzjibbxZNfce_xMntyFTIYPb7265Sj4jn59LtovUfx5rRtJfj78YWPUiUWlF7dZoc58RDh8-EM9KNgpY1g110JrW2EeZcn5_wXW39_4sYUpmXMKpI/s1600/IMG_1579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuer2aX0fi3eEPCyhyndXi1p-iNheYzjibbxZNfce_xMntyFTIYPb7265Sj4jn59LtovUfx5rRtJfj78YWPUiUWlF7dZoc58RDh8-EM9KNgpY1g110JrW2EeZcn5_wXW39_4sYUpmXMKpI/s320/IMG_1579.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petty and I took a road trip to Minnesota and he made some friends</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTegxtszK-lXWibols2KC2-BCCs3hVKct4fPAs4xDS8J-JjmD6dQXbyJRxetqAxhyphenhyphenYVN6kQMK1PPdhBsOkU67FbEzQR1D2raYjFwXdrRIue9J_wqOH_PkvqbKkfVXbaIoT2CZ2KmJ3EdP5/s1600/IMG_1582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTegxtszK-lXWibols2KC2-BCCs3hVKct4fPAs4xDS8J-JjmD6dQXbyJRxetqAxhyphenhyphenYVN6kQMK1PPdhBsOkU67FbEzQR1D2raYjFwXdrRIue9J_wqOH_PkvqbKkfVXbaIoT2CZ2KmJ3EdP5/s320/IMG_1582.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenny and her little guy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzQZPIISEP4PwceBpqBhUxGFWlGez51_dR043j_O_N1O-zDDFu026VED28o-7mJEbqcTkrrSFlaEraDTr_gsNFqsDV8fhtMFUvrwypr-CdN6qqVDuzBbP0DlVJ2mHTwUR7oR1nQ5JFa14/s1600/IMG_1593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzQZPIISEP4PwceBpqBhUxGFWlGez51_dR043j_O_N1O-zDDFu026VED28o-7mJEbqcTkrrSFlaEraDTr_gsNFqsDV8fhtMFUvrwypr-CdN6qqVDuzBbP0DlVJ2mHTwUR7oR1nQ5JFa14/s320/IMG_1593.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner at Graze with Nina, Claire, Ben and Jason</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXqcvVuyKktH9CmHzeig8vNrVNDqCTebg2xiab8JMRfLF-Nqr1hK2AcrYJv4xIa2PHmNwfhyJ2OSBJv9zbFsnNQtjPuC5S_0tOGKlqIFhVuZ7QaSqdAOVVZW6Cc6U7U-6J6Uw85pv4-wM/s1600/IMG_1606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXqcvVuyKktH9CmHzeig8vNrVNDqCTebg2xiab8JMRfLF-Nqr1hK2AcrYJv4xIa2PHmNwfhyJ2OSBJv9zbFsnNQtjPuC5S_0tOGKlqIFhVuZ7QaSqdAOVVZW6Cc6U7U-6J6Uw85pv4-wM/s200/IMG_1606.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain America is ready to save the day</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mSdJHMSVv2UUvZScRwS5ke5qjALlbhvMUhZ4-NPX6PFxOqaOYW-jylQHHuhFhjA5wzD-0aAIOA0xZbguuE39yIZDJiWt2ik1xFWs6D5H0uHXb_TTHPRQKaCGPLGMpZSNKBJtlpslhn-P/s1600/IMG_1619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mSdJHMSVv2UUvZScRwS5ke5qjALlbhvMUhZ4-NPX6PFxOqaOYW-jylQHHuhFhjA5wzD-0aAIOA0xZbguuE39yIZDJiWt2ik1xFWs6D5H0uHXb_TTHPRQKaCGPLGMpZSNKBJtlpslhn-P/s400/IMG_1619.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These 3 drove up to meet Joshua and I before our drive back south...had to hit the Union</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJ6BIODtfq1PtXK9Ixk4nmtiHLqHsazdO8esUG4d-V_NZf7BVTKg1Wlc106G6VYu7E6_OyozdLUwLY_vpAlwo1eE-n5L7iUS1US5u3iNNjooBYYIuvXh14Ms4QqlGxog-HE2esBLSSGUs/s1600/IMG_1478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJ6BIODtfq1PtXK9Ixk4nmtiHLqHsazdO8esUG4d-V_NZf7BVTKg1Wlc106G6VYu7E6_OyozdLUwLY_vpAlwo1eE-n5L7iUS1US5u3iNNjooBYYIuvXh14Ms4QqlGxog-HE2esBLSSGUs/s320/IMG_1478.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linda and Brian showing us the wedding hotel-Joshua is impressed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4JNMoOr-BTOG19PBqRcDTTCzOQJhgyWdZWS4WBLEJvdopqoHTf2WsaDKPAAd5hfKTwhe40oG-4YtMHsqco8MlLFXohlM6Z4v8pDy55KnL6sqNnKQZ5al9Ic0_QKKGUNB2fAh0tyEw9Kd/s1600/IMG_1185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4JNMoOr-BTOG19PBqRcDTTCzOQJhgyWdZWS4WBLEJvdopqoHTf2WsaDKPAAd5hfKTwhe40oG-4YtMHsqco8MlLFXohlM6Z4v8pDy55KnL6sqNnKQZ5al9Ic0_QKKGUNB2fAh0tyEw9Kd/s320/IMG_1185.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geppetto is worn out!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjoAMbzV9fm6XDhCvlF78orTjM6U9zv1bhyqzR3NVuE4TQCpQ2VdGFHOZSKA670fQK4dR8sUKwsugWMPrs-rKCTQip6_fqWh9aa8FCj08atxl45XfXV1drcyLYMpPV-MO-nX-RoVubAff/s1600/IMG_1487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjoAMbzV9fm6XDhCvlF78orTjM6U9zv1bhyqzR3NVuE4TQCpQ2VdGFHOZSKA670fQK4dR8sUKwsugWMPrs-rKCTQip6_fqWh9aa8FCj08atxl45XfXV1drcyLYMpPV-MO-nX-RoVubAff/s200/IMG_1487.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grant is excited for fireworks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22UHUZUULShAN5sdCerXiqM1NNNTPcSipXyNtzLH6unzFBNg72RH_XqELBSDsKUkgkqeZN81fqfrJiGCkwiZUyNCWISttLNHrK0AJs3vd1RuY0qM0NjbXLYTYBX3yDJtpCSNG1gNT31g-/s1600/IMG_1489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22UHUZUULShAN5sdCerXiqM1NNNTPcSipXyNtzLH6unzFBNg72RH_XqELBSDsKUkgkqeZN81fqfrJiGCkwiZUyNCWISttLNHrK0AJs3vd1RuY0qM0NjbXLYTYBX3yDJtpCSNG1gNT31g-/s200/IMG_1489.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncle Joshua is setting things off!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMt9c8StgfM-I5Hwy62rVIGinzWoDg6SLH1bk6IJWD3EmPLMn2iwbHmJTG2R4uk8nFNjYczPLCVA7Hl-F7iVwcN27cqXcOmmzCfn3jfxcvFWJUmDtOGIR7CxgA-oOI7uvbf9Pvqnxos4Q/s1600/IMG_1490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMt9c8StgfM-I5Hwy62rVIGinzWoDg6SLH1bk6IJWD3EmPLMn2iwbHmJTG2R4uk8nFNjYczPLCVA7Hl-F7iVwcN27cqXcOmmzCfn3jfxcvFWJUmDtOGIR7CxgA-oOI7uvbf9Pvqnxos4Q/s400/IMG_1490.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fireworks in PJs at the Lavin's</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOu3bniescEaAdAS7wfgzDnfMKoEFy-Nc6nZ5qA4eSfh7fLDYwHrIj_h3N0irPjX9aurMh160u1VDM1Xdl1ZhyphenhyphenCDY9o1VR1xDmWLd5X7N3-C1L43A2kmDSqlQVX_rxC8GYPjfa3Wpk41l0/s1600/IMG_1512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOu3bniescEaAdAS7wfgzDnfMKoEFy-Nc6nZ5qA4eSfh7fLDYwHrIj_h3N0irPjX9aurMh160u1VDM1Xdl1ZhyphenhyphenCDY9o1VR1xDmWLd5X7N3-C1L43A2kmDSqlQVX_rxC8GYPjfa3Wpk41l0/s200/IMG_1512.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grant as Spiderman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItRAEU5LZ9eorG3M3K_fkKOZImJyx9Ecf121sgpCLsCip-t4z7ESGXl2Kstw0w6v82Vz1kCaW73Y2boF4JJQA0mWB7azKQU5pfYO1qmpvWamIiu9fuqiiRHjse5iNGfOsvZWmLP3iXkBz/s1600/IMG_1513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItRAEU5LZ9eorG3M3K_fkKOZImJyx9Ecf121sgpCLsCip-t4z7ESGXl2Kstw0w6v82Vz1kCaW73Y2boF4JJQA0mWB7azKQU5pfYO1qmpvWamIiu9fuqiiRHjse5iNGfOsvZWmLP3iXkBz/s200/IMG_1513.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Connor has become camera averse at 5 years old</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwW3liminijtfsS-VWmHMPEznDrSWVb3_XBUZ-98ZvhMSRuf9GLc0Z2bLETdnatWhSWVECPSGmAYhQacIXrZbtfl3KpMCApwHusKrF97ykCuN8bkN95FWGSNbogTjkaWbOFdULy3aymS_s/s1600/IMG_1515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwW3liminijtfsS-VWmHMPEznDrSWVb3_XBUZ-98ZvhMSRuf9GLc0Z2bLETdnatWhSWVECPSGmAYhQacIXrZbtfl3KpMCApwHusKrF97ykCuN8bkN95FWGSNbogTjkaWbOFdULy3aymS_s/s320/IMG_1515.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teenage Mutant Ninja Connor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjrwil3zfZDGI5FbsPI7pFGnv8Aj9DNIvDe5X6aNttZHRT18UqDSV8V2YBGkBnlwq1_yewQyDdUw4OGl9Id9RTsiWSY3vYwwLEgSxahqCyAdoEX-8xknSkU18hqt48E9FEsODq58IZ-2p/s1600/IMG_1520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjrwil3zfZDGI5FbsPI7pFGnv8Aj9DNIvDe5X6aNttZHRT18UqDSV8V2YBGkBnlwq1_yewQyDdUw4OGl9Id9RTsiWSY3vYwwLEgSxahqCyAdoEX-8xknSkU18hqt48E9FEsODq58IZ-2p/s320/IMG_1520.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia and her dance class performing at the Art Fair on the Square</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4868QPkzsyaI7MaZ89YNYLqpta2eDgLCYaM41ClLFq1BqBv_Y10wgs1Fo8ANdjy-wTkAEXH9QJU5LgdWGeF2MW2jhVWgO_SFcowqOkvNEFJM5640aKrEvsqgv_4MxlekdrgpNP6K4DNu1/s1600/IMG_1522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4868QPkzsyaI7MaZ89YNYLqpta2eDgLCYaM41ClLFq1BqBv_Y10wgs1Fo8ANdjy-wTkAEXH9QJU5LgdWGeF2MW2jhVWgO_SFcowqOkvNEFJM5640aKrEvsqgv_4MxlekdrgpNP6K4DNu1/s320/IMG_1522.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geppetto and I joined Holly and Lisa at Fete de Marquette</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCr7cjWtDhO6j_17DaEqJdNL79KQGqLENzN9GavuJLj3CEe-uhqDLkGIOyScmmJRBb0u7U78au7-Qq2Ywh6VSJBqDveJ3rlDxpiXoUDe_VRBgfR7mQQzuhgAXXbUZftdjUEqq1pfbqI3x/s1600/IMG_1480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCr7cjWtDhO6j_17DaEqJdNL79KQGqLENzN9GavuJLj3CEe-uhqDLkGIOyScmmJRBb0u7U78au7-Qq2Ywh6VSJBqDveJ3rlDxpiXoUDe_VRBgfR7mQQzuhgAXXbUZftdjUEqq1pfbqI3x/s320/IMG_1480.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4th of July on Lake Michigan, waiting for the Fireworks<br />
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Took a detour to Moscow, Kentucky to see the birthplace of Joshua's Grandma Dorothy<br />
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UW vs LSU Season Kick-off at the Texans Stadium in Houston</div>
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We drove out Labor Day weekend and met Mom and Dad to represent for Bucky</div>
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Before the 8:00 game start, Mom and I visited the Rothko Chapel and McNay Art Museum while Joshua and Dad got some rest back at the hotel. :)</div>
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The UW Alumni Society put on a fun tailgate at the Texans practice facility, complete with JJ Watt, Bucky and the Texans cheerleaders! It was scorching hot, but a lot of fun!</div>
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The Fallin'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11134130455092861035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162761472376373584.post-398617921273234512013-12-31T00:02:00.002-06:002014-01-04T13:54:38.498-06:00New Year's Recap Fall 2013It is winter break again, and I am provided an opportunity to reflect over another eventful fall in Austin. Joshua has begun a new career bringing local and natural foods to the hipster masses with <a href="http://wheatsville.coop/" target="_blank">Wheatsville Co-op</a>, the only food co-operative in the great state of Texas, and is happier and healthier than ever. They expanded to a second location in August, and Joshua took that as an opportunity to re-apply with the organization he has wanted to work with since our first day in Austin. Now he works at both locations and has been able to see the new store become a success, while sharing perks with me including plenty of their trademark popcorn tofu, Red Rabbit donuts, and countless other treats. We also get to experiment with the newest vegan products, and provide feedback, including some good and some not so good (soy seafood anyone?). He is meeting new, interesting people and growing his beard out longer than any previous attempts, partially in anticipation of Heather's February visit, and partially thanks to the freedom of his new work environment.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tough guys</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua was the face of Ugly Sweater Day</td></tr>
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I am teaching government and sociology for the second year at Crockett High School in Austin, though my yearbook responsibilities have been replaced with roles as co-sponsor of both the National Honor Society, and the senior class. During the fall semester, I filled my extra time mentoring three student interns from UT and continuing with my National Board Certification coursework.</div>
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We hosted Brian and Linda for a long weekend over Labor Day, and had a great time showing them around the city, despite the horrible heat. Our first night together, with Sarah and Pip, we ate at <a href="http://www.guerostacobar.com/" target="_blank">Guero's</a>, and later realized our table was across from Governors Rick Perry and Rick Scott and company. We went on to see our first show at the <a href="http://www.nuttybrown.com/" target="_blank">Nutty Brown Cafe</a>, and our first Monday night Dale Watson show at the <a href="http://www.continentalclub.com/Austin.html" target="_blank">Continental</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guero's with Brian and Linda, Pip and Sarah</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooling off at Jo's on another hot afternoon</td></tr>
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Over the F1 weekend in October, we went downtown to check out the free music and cool cars, some pulling in to valet lanes at the big hotels, others displayed by corporate sponsors. It turned into a wonderful last night of near summer temps, strolling around, listening to Los Lobos and Los Lonely Boys, including a heartfelt La Bamba, along with many locals and many tourists, from Europe, Mexico, and South America. It was a fun feeling, witnessing others experiencing the joys of our city for the first time, no longer seeing ourselves as visitors to Austin. At <a href="http://aus.gingermanpub.com/" target="_blank">The Ginger Man</a>, we found a romantic spot near the outdoor patio, with a perfect view.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Los Lonely Boys</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ba Ba Bamba</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back in Big Sky Country</td></tr>
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Thanksgiving allowed us to take 4.5 days off together, so we took our first true vacation since before we were married. We drove west, and south, near the Rio Grande River and the border, to <a href="http://www.nps.gov/bibe/index.htm" target="_blank">Big Bend National Park</a>, where we hiked and camped for two nights with a cold, underwhelmed Geppetto. It was absolutely incredible, we saw snow-capped peaks, tarantulas, javelinas, deer, roadrunners, and more surprising wildlife. And we nearly saw a mountain lion, and a mama bear with cubs, when we were hiking, just a few minutes too slow. I joined a family from France and Austin grad students in a natural spring on the banks of the Rio Grande and watched a man swim over to Mexico, just to do it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking to The Window</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Window </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Man</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My private chef cooking up chili dogs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4t1REtQaP3u-ark2Dkm0vSuqbmhOhHVC5pCLfNilNPBcFuHZr8vvoEWPIg_uKTTdufLfIKXefutZNqt5M_r3GE3me1ZuQLBYHslyQkNyDaohAMHUgOigOZZEzaKcatoWNLDYu7aNyBP0y/s1600/IMG_1076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4t1REtQaP3u-ark2Dkm0vSuqbmhOhHVC5pCLfNilNPBcFuHZr8vvoEWPIg_uKTTdufLfIKXefutZNqt5M_r3GE3me1ZuQLBYHslyQkNyDaohAMHUgOigOZZEzaKcatoWNLDYu7aNyBP0y/s320/IMG_1076.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petty is less than excited about eating outdoors, and camping in general</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCUNuSQXtJkXOHMqaH9whIL1sapVgBYAh4fFDB4kIPiOjLvWZ-FfkZGWWkBoBrZTCQSRHmEvOnFoXw8iYxnUMA7VZbHK_b22m5ckvPGKPLmiVwZWC-FI1wkrCYx3Vgnuosw6p3vYV5tnQ/s1600/IMG_1079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCUNuSQXtJkXOHMqaH9whIL1sapVgBYAh4fFDB4kIPiOjLvWZ-FfkZGWWkBoBrZTCQSRHmEvOnFoXw8iYxnUMA7VZbHK_b22m5ckvPGKPLmiVwZWC-FI1wkrCYx3Vgnuosw6p3vYV5tnQ/s400/IMG_1079.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the view from the gas station is breathtaking!</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxGJ2v9xZbcEAJJdzF28PKWujmYbnChaFA7pbPVh3ksxyA-bOSxkC6YyT9fJMf2F9WBqaTyXo68hLMgNQPgrONkiYIbMkkQi9S8rju7nrsLyBPnmpEKd10fuSR4t6UN9rt-wuU_PcrwsD/s1600/IMG_1080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxGJ2v9xZbcEAJJdzF28PKWujmYbnChaFA7pbPVh3ksxyA-bOSxkC6YyT9fJMf2F9WBqaTyXo68hLMgNQPgrONkiYIbMkkQi9S8rju7nrsLyBPnmpEKd10fuSR4t6UN9rt-wuU_PcrwsD/s400/IMG_1080.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chisos Valley Hiking</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXivTysgIfofIOJyhCTdwnvDKT5UXUu0UtAqAV98dIfh8pw9o32uungNuiYZpWzaLdmFiNs4g1IEwPwvSIRMpSaWb7nDOsDuwX-VQ4-uJZydAKtL_21ch6zJsqMxkKoyQCy3zuURl8XFbV/s1600/IMG_0441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXivTysgIfofIOJyhCTdwnvDKT5UXUu0UtAqAV98dIfh8pw9o32uungNuiYZpWzaLdmFiNs4g1IEwPwvSIRMpSaWb7nDOsDuwX-VQ4-uJZydAKtL_21ch6zJsqMxkKoyQCy3zuURl8XFbV/s400/IMG_0441.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not snow-just smooth, white rock</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjic2_KAZVpAz-q9UYSUgtSXske-ILARF9Op7GDyV77LT5e10U9P8Knj6lqwJZOWIbhnlP8MMS_BmM5Lsq9BjWEsaJmA3O9RP3tukxpvch7li9wgDXDJCgnPjSQTLFkk9JKpur0-RWLhle2/s1600/IMG_1082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjic2_KAZVpAz-q9UYSUgtSXske-ILARF9Op7GDyV77LT5e10U9P8Knj6lqwJZOWIbhnlP8MMS_BmM5Lsq9BjWEsaJmA3O9RP3tukxpvch7li9wgDXDJCgnPjSQTLFkk9JKpur0-RWLhle2/s400/IMG_1082.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making our way through the mountain pass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUQbVdsuK1BRtGQqBOMUMRU91yCLRZsnMjHi2a8iEqwEyBJTuVRxFy2KSTzOhzqNOiM257fAUegpvJcp8V-7osaanx1nujJBXswc3WdtzvtQi-J39SNCrO8phdG6mST4VvE0ebrxTUFUY/s1600/IMG_1084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUQbVdsuK1BRtGQqBOMUMRU91yCLRZsnMjHi2a8iEqwEyBJTuVRxFy2KSTzOhzqNOiM257fAUegpvJcp8V-7osaanx1nujJBXswc3WdtzvtQi-J39SNCrO8phdG6mST4VvE0ebrxTUFUY/s400/IMG_1084.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nature's never ending color palette in effect</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtjpV4gDiFetWRh3PCr27X6sUmwgWqjbN-XjSBCl9n9UbGAKO92LhWqkkJjZowx90RTp7ZDm2sInKerYjdTRSFhLg2_Bz5o-VEXDBEQSeqQhy-XHIYl7j-LONg26OLAyM0IODMcyXE8v-/s1600/IMG_0297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtjpV4gDiFetWRh3PCr27X6sUmwgWqjbN-XjSBCl9n9UbGAKO92LhWqkkJjZowx90RTp7ZDm2sInKerYjdTRSFhLg2_Bz5o-VEXDBEQSeqQhy-XHIYl7j-LONg26OLAyM0IODMcyXE8v-/s320/IMG_0297.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOm1e2mIqSLtjFjECExivJd4THrFtSKEpEmQqk_cy8RNggD-YynLSbWai7-nT0uRMtZgIZZE3_9uD0jhPlNCWfJbt0TcwV_-A4z62X1-ypMjSikCqylK91BMqqoq1PymQ9-HszSLSnuIB4/s1600/IMG_0206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOm1e2mIqSLtjFjECExivJd4THrFtSKEpEmQqk_cy8RNggD-YynLSbWai7-nT0uRMtZgIZZE3_9uD0jhPlNCWfJbt0TcwV_-A4z62X1-ypMjSikCqylK91BMqqoq1PymQ9-HszSLSnuIB4/s320/IMG_0206.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLY8c4vZNxvG-lWc9L6iHj0ke6F5yr0vQJ9IlelyRxY8d3SttMbdBNMsIe5fDxyGtEGlNSsa36BaW48Y48Z6tLCIkCN71aT5obVWh_6GUiFuKuCX6HWwHk09XN3XN1r8YPHXtmGUEO-GX_/s1600/IMG_0178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLY8c4vZNxvG-lWc9L6iHj0ke6F5yr0vQJ9IlelyRxY8d3SttMbdBNMsIe5fDxyGtEGlNSsa36BaW48Y48Z6tLCIkCN71aT5obVWh_6GUiFuKuCX6HWwHk09XN3XN1r8YPHXtmGUEO-GX_/s400/IMG_0178.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!</td></tr>
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</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0exTZ741TB_e-6pTxijo0K04QFAcrEUvW7CzlzWH-Jn-6IYyvxT4jRKGoo5Kv2gMjQflaWXrQsxgc7FgHcEuGooVtQ-xj573eTR_Vq3tvBUJJAsQYf7JPxovBjbgsseoLU4BVzfOkljBQ/s1600/IMG_1118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0exTZ741TB_e-6pTxijo0K04QFAcrEUvW7CzlzWH-Jn-6IYyvxT4jRKGoo5Kv2gMjQflaWXrQsxgc7FgHcEuGooVtQ-xj573eTR_Vq3tvBUJJAsQYf7JPxovBjbgsseoLU4BVzfOkljBQ/s400/IMG_1118.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petty livin large in Marfa</td></tr>
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<div>
We also camped in Terlingua Ranch, where locals walk their dogs armed with shotguns, and bars are self-service. <a href="http://www.bigbendbrewing.com/verify" target="_blank">Big Bend Brewery</a> of Alpine was a fun place to tour, and Joshua was happy taste-testing their multiple brews, still only available in El Paso, someday maybe Wheatsville. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHPRUfn3AV51hVUUSkBFWn3F4F1OOIO3qQaZMCUF0f3LYxYDx4ZqbxESbphNb4XL7F4CT3Z6BxyK0j8rL6pBKiTuBu05PQETMCqXxDp7Ex7ZEVOtJIfwFyNsePnc8ZqSaYPIjXvc-2OWV/s1600/IMG_1091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHPRUfn3AV51hVUUSkBFWn3F4F1OOIO3qQaZMCUF0f3LYxYDx4ZqbxESbphNb4XL7F4CT3Z6BxyK0j8rL6pBKiTuBu05PQETMCqXxDp7Ex7ZEVOtJIfwFyNsePnc8ZqSaYPIjXvc-2OWV/s400/IMG_1091.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lonestars, margaritas and cowboy music on this Black Friday</td></tr>
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We discovered funky outposts created by refugees from Dallas, Austin and the rest of civilization. The <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVVlaH2ysfthEAMdMI0bbhIsDQnniMNy3aawHzjqE9IbpezadCHZJaDD3p89A-t3xibjlgVIIU2I9q5htKqTkqozpT8f6sm0S2SOsmbmMOurw2tv2UEFoXzUR5CNBzHVZF2oPou6gXCMh/s1600/IMG_1102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVVlaH2ysfthEAMdMI0bbhIsDQnniMNy3aawHzjqE9IbpezadCHZJaDD3p89A-t3xibjlgVIIU2I9q5htKqTkqozpT8f6sm0S2SOsmbmMOurw2tv2UEFoXzUR5CNBzHVZF2oPou6gXCMh/s320/IMG_1102.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteer Taste Tester</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JKmSTIyhiTNV3J7bdzHXD08-BS8X3lA6_3ZUVestjAqgNW4fGtaukuGv-Tim5uu3yRFW39NDh6IwS1S_8EXwaiqze3MrrBMIi99f1lVnmz3Bbmg8WwxYVypS2aqKJmmoetL8U5-xRG5v/s1600/IMG_0377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JKmSTIyhiTNV3J7bdzHXD08-BS8X3lA6_3ZUVestjAqgNW4fGtaukuGv-Tim5uu3yRFW39NDh6IwS1S_8EXwaiqze3MrrBMIi99f1lVnmz3Bbmg8WwxYVypS2aqKJmmoetL8U5-xRG5v/s320/IMG_0377.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beer coaster</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="http://www.marfacc.com/" target="_blank">Marfa</a> is a city full of art, it seemed everywhere we looked was a photo waiting to be taken, it was truly unique, with amazing tacos. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKSHGNrOd79J440Vogif53CC_6jc7CsALw76vyCeE4QKjy4ynYYtzi0kPHVJ3j6qaz1CHYF62zDxbtjzQg5QkdMJuKjiMEoiwR5Bl4k_0yhZFfTa_1FBmBuq-ASmCIaA9S8SJxEgPmZLN/s1600/IMG_0386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKSHGNrOd79J440Vogif53CC_6jc7CsALw76vyCeE4QKjy4ynYYtzi0kPHVJ3j6qaz1CHYF62zDxbtjzQg5QkdMJuKjiMEoiwR5Bl4k_0yhZFfTa_1FBmBuq-ASmCIaA9S8SJxEgPmZLN/s320/IMG_0386.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Presidio County Courthouse</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: right;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ctXzu53IOkBkVJ8NNQ9sVkCyMkCNoF3XXyq9DFKyM_4b_UXHb6VukglTAwSQCXi684pdsex0cw1jRkcpQxwogxJRLrahIFJK7QVD3hauzYzIhtOfRVuMmPqI81ftBeGc1FyonGhJ3erl/s1600/IMG_1115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ctXzu53IOkBkVJ8NNQ9sVkCyMkCNoF3XXyq9DFKyM_4b_UXHb6VukglTAwSQCXi684pdsex0cw1jRkcpQxwogxJRLrahIFJK7QVD3hauzYzIhtOfRVuMmPqI81ftBeGc1FyonGhJ3erl/s200/IMG_1115.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you live in Marfa, are you a Marfan?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBNz0TMKeyxNnSylbDLEgy-lkoRU-OxS8eFb9_Pc2LQ5zdaUScbMGOc5TRgxE6-5Qtg8rvauv99N0rpOFKUQ7pslpUMN6pG-M9rV38aYz6Wd-tjuQWGRbYN7DQjd6JAWUTXZaf4Q8Xxrg/s1600/IMG_1113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBNz0TMKeyxNnSylbDLEgy-lkoRU-OxS8eFb9_Pc2LQ5zdaUScbMGOc5TRgxE6-5Qtg8rvauv99N0rpOFKUQ7pslpUMN6pG-M9rV38aYz6Wd-tjuQWGRbYN7DQjd6JAWUTXZaf4Q8Xxrg/s400/IMG_1113.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funky auto shop turned pizza parlor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhyphenhyphenPvSBXw0_CSRuvbJFsz2llXaVn31KjlsEvncouBLKxgDw4gGeD8Xb7P7lKHwnLAcY0V8VAbNwkXs1U7hHdzp4ApuI9Z0bfm0wOpuiWjpxEM3bUzatfNbeg62PoNqHpLaWBbnq47Hwhu/s1600/IMG_1112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhyphenhyphenPvSBXw0_CSRuvbJFsz2llXaVn31KjlsEvncouBLKxgDw4gGeD8Xb7P7lKHwnLAcY0V8VAbNwkXs1U7hHdzp4ApuI9Z0bfm0wOpuiWjpxEM3bUzatfNbeg62PoNqHpLaWBbnq47Hwhu/s640/IMG_1112.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marfa Chic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11ZPTk0-khrNdA5muHpwUKEdAVHhcEMVuaPJ7bGdj9e2ZfVBrj-ZmrAEx0LeWVfJVqxdnb6OXWT4vcbsaQjkrqZmQ-fqBq3va_EwVIdHvi9pAjLTdGN0Om_ueENlfDTNYvuCzTXwqe9g-/s1600/IMG_1105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11ZPTk0-khrNdA5muHpwUKEdAVHhcEMVuaPJ7bGdj9e2ZfVBrj-ZmrAEx0LeWVfJVqxdnb6OXWT4vcbsaQjkrqZmQ-fqBq3va_EwVIdHvi9pAjLTdGN0Om_ueENlfDTNYvuCzTXwqe9g-/s200/IMG_1105.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So wish this place was open</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYB411QRUYfu4ep1USX8YnjrLEgeM0FuTrbWG2mmdbecKFgjPLs6AepF0GbQNX1pUXfkNTY5WnOhekD1NO5Cb1XTakmp7ixo-22lQR09vQJgnaY6_svMv29-tTNoLjVBEsnh1uJzBwFp-/s1600/IMG_1106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYB411QRUYfu4ep1USX8YnjrLEgeM0FuTrbWG2mmdbecKFgjPLs6AepF0GbQNX1pUXfkNTY5WnOhekD1NO5Cb1XTakmp7ixo-22lQR09vQJgnaY6_svMv29-tTNoLjVBEsnh1uJzBwFp-/s400/IMG_1106.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moustache art?</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtYevETlwsyMSXM0gI9j6u39TtMxRufdgA1ANznlWBw6uxdHNz-4Bds58C5rt7zwt7VMlkSujvrl-GxG8ZPulujFKegmrzDuiyBJ9b1bpHCyWcsBdnBLxtHiyvzXXoA-Y8YrhQ6joItT6/s1600/IMG_1107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtYevETlwsyMSXM0gI9j6u39TtMxRufdgA1ANznlWBw6uxdHNz-4Bds58C5rt7zwt7VMlkSujvrl-GxG8ZPulujFKegmrzDuiyBJ9b1bpHCyWcsBdnBLxtHiyvzXXoA-Y8YrhQ6joItT6/s320/IMG_1107.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marfa Tacos, totally hit the spot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWU4b43KkseRvvyvypgJtfGRe60qdI0vmfVBVb2ldQ6dLAXWdhTxFLEPwBo1BbQ_hyz1AZ7iqa1g-bm5AEFt2G1YdsO7uw0QYVRIyUSzb8KmElrbOrW58o3K5gVtWLnGux9kMr1HckwFzf/s1600/IMG_1104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWU4b43KkseRvvyvypgJtfGRe60qdI0vmfVBVb2ldQ6dLAXWdhTxFLEPwBo1BbQ_hyz1AZ7iqa1g-bm5AEFt2G1YdsO7uw0QYVRIyUSzb8KmElrbOrW58o3K5gVtWLnGux9kMr1HckwFzf/s200/IMG_1104.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-SEVaueJd6UPtAOy7q8lJVv7neWdRlCymLy3ym1lzkFshoVSMKC-b96aVbsJpeMWFE_4WCGBDjSvvu9J-G_uAobYExNugrmvfwZqQfMm0shSPLy35tREcJfD_SZqOuvfwgguo-IkQfZD/s1600/IMG_1110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-SEVaueJd6UPtAOy7q8lJVv7neWdRlCymLy3ym1lzkFshoVSMKC-b96aVbsJpeMWFE_4WCGBDjSvvu9J-G_uAobYExNugrmvfwZqQfMm0shSPLy35tREcJfD_SZqOuvfwgguo-IkQfZD/s640/IMG_1110.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marfa Mural</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our final night was in Fort Davis, where we treated ourselves to a hotel, and thankfully so since the temps dipped far below freezing, and we drove up into the mountains for a star-gazing party at the University of Texas <a href="http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/" target="_blank">McDonald Observatory</a>. It was an amazing experience, and we talked with people who live on the mountain and patrol the night skies all over the world. Afterwards, we enjoyed perfect margaritas at the only bar in Jeff Davis County. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cdEnZmY8P-lFyyU0m2ZC2oeOXTfcPpqmeSls2X3ctrg45dZIq779sbWI-o0BSMRhHylGKsidJc81MBZYPbRSyG1-KBetGJFe6SINMneRn8ZWHrHWJujeKMYYulOD16bN4aAfltlfWTDV/s1600/IMG_1127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cdEnZmY8P-lFyyU0m2ZC2oeOXTfcPpqmeSls2X3ctrg45dZIq779sbWI-o0BSMRhHylGKsidJc81MBZYPbRSyG1-KBetGJFe6SINMneRn8ZWHrHWJujeKMYYulOD16bN4aAfltlfWTDV/s320/IMG_1127.JPG" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petty had to keep warm in his fleece every morning</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZOQiYxYGChDtKcRUpUT0hTXZ2MvlBg2os8Dv4jXWkjj5WODCgnZLcex3p7S_BCiDhRqSPMAGbUfQV9f0Fv0HKruJoXiE_br7TbAh4waJJ1-dxHCe2jLFVpYlpFE6fpsTTN1RTa3gDpEo/s1600/IMG_0366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZOQiYxYGChDtKcRUpUT0hTXZ2MvlBg2os8Dv4jXWkjj5WODCgnZLcex3p7S_BCiDhRqSPMAGbUfQV9f0Fv0HKruJoXiE_br7TbAh4waJJ1-dxHCe2jLFVpYlpFE6fpsTTN1RTa3gDpEo/s400/IMG_0366.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping at Terlingua Ranch</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMfueHTx0vEMwG_QSvRLvbOt3EqT23BwPLpVW9qHCR2tKlWzLxkAUS8xjelGjGd8y0cMFfnQFmyNXquH34TEMJ7_TMkKk8_2KoWlyXi_8KCBFeZRXDhu8WBwHAcHiaNoFFGqwjUO6PmpN/s1600/IMG_0369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMfueHTx0vEMwG_QSvRLvbOt3EqT23BwPLpVW9qHCR2tKlWzLxkAUS8xjelGjGd8y0cMFfnQFmyNXquH34TEMJ7_TMkKk8_2KoWlyXi_8KCBFeZRXDhu8WBwHAcHiaNoFFGqwjUO6PmpN/s320/IMG_0369.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua's requisite camping tools</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStTXLFmR3rP7GqaNkCUGof-QYioSd9hJSYfwaJYiLRP_0USQbMULfHjtrnI9AIh_Kq9kC_eeRGi7-_ySpUk0WraMCLWcyvOHnO9qYP0GxWMBfjD8gK2AyyIx-NrwB4QcNtPl43TBkbnx0/s1600/IMG_0301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStTXLFmR3rP7GqaNkCUGof-QYioSd9hJSYfwaJYiLRP_0USQbMULfHjtrnI9AIh_Kq9kC_eeRGi7-_ySpUk0WraMCLWcyvOHnO9qYP0GxWMBfjD8gK2AyyIx-NrwB4QcNtPl43TBkbnx0/s200/IMG_0301.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which way should we explore today?</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxjC6hrRLbeMM0Aw4eMOdEq975v6gGiqbmIvoRnmAPVRY62VxsS1c5HOfcAoGwcKXB0SsK4JtTsJyFtR4wvaTa4-RXSB3QKS1Lp4xRDi_L3M6K0hk0OPcN6-f5iEcslp3fTGU2AjoMz-Q/s1600/IMG_0170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxjC6hrRLbeMM0Aw4eMOdEq975v6gGiqbmIvoRnmAPVRY62VxsS1c5HOfcAoGwcKXB0SsK4JtTsJyFtR4wvaTa4-RXSB3QKS1Lp4xRDi_L3M6K0hk0OPcN6-f5iEcslp3fTGU2AjoMz-Q/s400/IMG_0170.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petty is unsure about these plants</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxByra_abFm_cdeHP0piUWBU2qWXnqAG7UKAOafE1aF2J5TXvPCMXreqgipLqOrVF-MlHLcqvP6nFrC2UhKInCaf1uNvA43g-25qqLclbbGfm-bFRFVrLu0Ms9LFna5cCZU6WEm6ZQgXT/s1600/IMG_0425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxByra_abFm_cdeHP0piUWBU2qWXnqAG7UKAOafE1aF2J5TXvPCMXreqgipLqOrVF-MlHLcqvP6nFrC2UhKInCaf1uNvA43g-25qqLclbbGfm-bFRFVrLu0Ms9LFna5cCZU6WEm6ZQgXT/s400/IMG_0425.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The plant life in Big Bend was almost alien</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOoaavWXn6FpvczZL6bYbxpRnwC1TkthV80dhxOeHgNmB80FbYcIYS06UBE6Pz7BGKZoTQz4Il953LmLEpKOjBlctlSBAT3M7feq4oYg1nwGRWifKUYH_S1b8ZHPAXtqPesN-9FBBvcjoO/s1600/IMG_0222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOoaavWXn6FpvczZL6bYbxpRnwC1TkthV80dhxOeHgNmB80FbYcIYS06UBE6Pz7BGKZoTQz4Il953LmLEpKOjBlctlSBAT3M7feq4oYg1nwGRWifKUYH_S1b8ZHPAXtqPesN-9FBBvcjoO/s400/IMG_0222.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There really are mountains in Texas!</td></tr>
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</div>
<div>
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<div>
On our last day, we stopped by <a href="http://www.nps.gov/foda/index.htm" target="_blank">Fort Davis</a>, and the original drug store, where I ordered my first chocolate Dr. Pepper fountain soda, and Joshua got his first cowboy work shirt. Despite the crazy busy roads, I would definitely plan a Thanksgiving weekend vacation again. It was great to have a break before the madness of the end of the semester and the coming holidays. On the easy 6 hr drive home, we were already planning our next visit, Big Bend was exactly the escape we have been needing!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Rsq4JV9fJatz70vbk6e-ZMu0q_JxUSMyeZmc1nTKRuQsuviGkdZimZU7L9mXxwyaPB0PREOuTkI6A4qECWpDatR2ItbaCNWpr1PkF72HZ3JW2H5gKE0rdi_KHI9SuQtrndLtZb3F-Sc7/s1600/IMG_0411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Rsq4JV9fJatz70vbk6e-ZMu0q_JxUSMyeZmc1nTKRuQsuviGkdZimZU7L9mXxwyaPB0PREOuTkI6A4qECWpDatR2ItbaCNWpr1PkF72HZ3JW2H5gKE0rdi_KHI9SuQtrndLtZb3F-Sc7/s320/IMG_0411.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise in the Davis Mountains</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuZQGnA5vK6SmGFwapOSlqVlAvmytWPoD-0tHCVNWs2SNRddJV3np3bIyi8-pVHv5I0o2vINDMar6G2AFPxYH01V6qhLwiQ7N73RWsI6TL3Qo6EZ35qFsu1ZGHXbu1LXA7pAcdUegAJXm/s1600/IMG_1119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuZQGnA5vK6SmGFwapOSlqVlAvmytWPoD-0tHCVNWs2SNRddJV3np3bIyi8-pVHv5I0o2vINDMar6G2AFPxYH01V6qhLwiQ7N73RWsI6TL3Qo6EZ35qFsu1ZGHXbu1LXA7pAcdUegAJXm/s320/IMG_1119.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deep fried pickles, fountain sodas and one awesome shirt made this a great stop</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuIGzkf823NNJdo1wq_0fJ-tpz7JyY7f46IyOKxVaDUpO3lL-yYVOFXwENC4NlM4MRH9RJBBl205ybqNL6vvXV-AMnf7udB6r80iKaiY65e-HXd3cE7wEBIDDXJt_-AYxRVNV6NIBc_OM/s1600/IMG_1122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuIGzkf823NNJdo1wq_0fJ-tpz7JyY7f46IyOKxVaDUpO3lL-yYVOFXwENC4NlM4MRH9RJBBl205ybqNL6vvXV-AMnf7udB6r80iKaiY65e-HXd3cE7wEBIDDXJt_-AYxRVNV6NIBc_OM/s400/IMG_1122.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving the mountains behind</td></tr>
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<div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDa9V_eCBBPz-tzcB_XVaiXoM4Rc_BVZtpIOMRnEiVOEDb3daT5m_GzH5BhsedQsMsF-yBXDQkmYvlPveuY7AaSzQ3pzI5pSNi4CFfdp1cLc32uQZQimRX3QPW-VaEFL9Aurcr-PkDZJdx/s1600/IMG_1164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDa9V_eCBBPz-tzcB_XVaiXoM4Rc_BVZtpIOMRnEiVOEDb3daT5m_GzH5BhsedQsMsF-yBXDQkmYvlPveuY7AaSzQ3pzI5pSNi4CFfdp1cLc32uQZQimRX3QPW-VaEFL9Aurcr-PkDZJdx/s320/IMG_1164.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Day at our complex and the fall colors are golden</td></tr>
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<div>
Aside from our vacation, our Christmas gift this year, was a new couch. We have been wanting one for a long time, since the set we inherited from Joshua's mom did not allow the two of us to both lay down, and we could not have guests over comfortably. Our new living room set up is such an improvement, we just watched the incredible Packers-Bears NFC championship game from our new couch, on our new TV, such a clear picture from such a comfy seat, loving our home even more now and excited about entertaining!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuxVTqGyE-p9XfEpW56kQADiTkC2sxZH18qTbes4Cn5da5i1_UowJ38xSFNbZJ7q1_Tk5y1pvVeTnbi-6qN-SNWsDy1reU-ZpSNsimlCiv4RbGF5wZp6GXki7xSw1iloytfCWzKwc02ws/s1600/IMG_1154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuxVTqGyE-p9XfEpW56kQADiTkC2sxZH18qTbes4Cn5da5i1_UowJ38xSFNbZJ7q1_Tk5y1pvVeTnbi-6qN-SNWsDy1reU-ZpSNsimlCiv4RbGF5wZp6GXki7xSw1iloytfCWzKwc02ws/s400/IMG_1154.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luckily the couch cushions are just wide enough for Bartleby's girth</td></tr>
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<div>
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<div>
Joshua's mother joined us for Christmas this year, she just returned to Kentucky, after a week and a half of hanging out, eating good food, shopping, and watching movies with us. While Josh was busy at work, we hit most of the malls in and around Austin, and she also visited the <a href="http://drafthouse.com/" target="_blank">Alamo Drafthouse</a> theater for the first time, Petty's favorite park, and various Kerbey Lane Cafe locations. Geppetto, Loki and Bartleby loved being spoiled, and our apartment has never been so clean!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCuuO48wpj1fFceEsdSo2DITL74dfkJIItAMhhflZ-eOOycAy7NYcZFswhWU1wg2A_W0ZVSRrQ9dFPWObQi4aNqskt5lolCn9v0OL6jsgCRrqKRfcF5un-W_xlL7v20BZX-EOSWfe1WAY/s1600/IMG_1168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCuuO48wpj1fFceEsdSo2DITL74dfkJIItAMhhflZ-eOOycAy7NYcZFswhWU1wg2A_W0ZVSRrQ9dFPWObQi4aNqskt5lolCn9v0OL6jsgCRrqKRfcF5un-W_xlL7v20BZX-EOSWfe1WAY/s320/IMG_1168.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petty has tried so hard to be a good boy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmAXX9qM2Wg-GF_aCY8LLq0_2JvxA8qFVv3ExBDjSQsg0jtmusYWPIwzSSje7eHYscrRcHoIMFFpmg19AffDhHwcSAosuO0_uM1tyJWsnDgzTXEoCzNocTjg0G9x3C_f3rpHzqDi4q8ye/s1600/IMG_1147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmAXX9qM2Wg-GF_aCY8LLq0_2JvxA8qFVv3ExBDjSQsg0jtmusYWPIwzSSje7eHYscrRcHoIMFFpmg19AffDhHwcSAosuO0_uM1tyJWsnDgzTXEoCzNocTjg0G9x3C_f3rpHzqDi4q8ye/s200/IMG_1147.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decorating and dancing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamtJz5MzsISZPMQG3XKjQj6GwMMPEsDCYYn0WIY4DYaxFa5UQlSJZGaWSiHOx5_Jdf7J90fK0jF5k5NtJSc4xgdAOfaKVLsxzIlPMVKtCw-sAP73m6Buo-mU3tOtPScrdeGLWgJPI0VBv/s1600/IMG_1158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamtJz5MzsISZPMQG3XKjQj6GwMMPEsDCYYn0WIY4DYaxFa5UQlSJZGaWSiHOx5_Jdf7J90fK0jF5k5NtJSc4xgdAOfaKVLsxzIlPMVKtCw-sAP73m6Buo-mU3tOtPScrdeGLWgJPI0VBv/s400/IMG_1158.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fredericksburg Christmas Village</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4qaSUykXc4_djal6LjbhUlF2vkZ7t4W-_a2AqZRKdYkcmlKQ5kPsIYCDdRlg3YXohDVNRrFP0YEsFpu8Me-RSvpRaNazETCM8y1RNe8c47ebA5gN2tMuPJBSQBCrZfL2G3XwTEVzelhZ/s1600/IMG_1166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4qaSUykXc4_djal6LjbhUlF2vkZ7t4W-_a2AqZRKdYkcmlKQ5kPsIYCDdRlg3YXohDVNRrFP0YEsFpu8Me-RSvpRaNazETCM8y1RNe8c47ebA5gN2tMuPJBSQBCrZfL2G3XwTEVzelhZ/s320/IMG_1166.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stockings are stuffed!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37up-oq-vILUjjEoA4M4taabqApsnH08t3gzFhWLApaiSLs_NQVlgMSr7Tf0AEJJiHZqPbaoFI1nsbEAHDV-NXRc7ITxHYG-SVJduCvTNxwoNoEU0tIw4JwWYeer07IwiBhoMMWy9kuWA/s1600/IMG_1172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi37up-oq-vILUjjEoA4M4taabqApsnH08t3gzFhWLApaiSLs_NQVlgMSr7Tf0AEJJiHZqPbaoFI1nsbEAHDV-NXRc7ITxHYG-SVJduCvTNxwoNoEU0tIw4JwWYeer07IwiBhoMMWy9kuWA/s400/IMG_1172.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petty enjoying one of his many chews (and Bartleby taking advantage of an empty dog bed).</td></tr>
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Tonight we will ring in the New Year's at an Austin institution we have yet to visit, <a href="http://www.theparishaustin.com/" target="_blank">The Parish</a>, to taken in the sounds of local musician <a href="http://shakeygraves.com/" target="_blank">Shakey Graves</a>. It will be a true #ATX NYE in the environment we have come to identify with and love. In 2014, we look forward to visits from Heather, Danielle and Jeremy, as well as my parents and maybe more to help us through the challenges of the spring semester.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFrqn_k9tpCBgnj-caHz4-3QhJZzXN0QQ0a9HtEiw-9q2fun6_fHODdAUkCh_0Tp_roT0HeJUdimeTPRRTejdNKdmmO59yWgJdOsbxX2z4n94bZSZ0PJPJEgdrlr5qCWQRB8Hvimo9xNG/s1600/IMG_0532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFrqn_k9tpCBgnj-caHz4-3QhJZzXN0QQ0a9HtEiw-9q2fun6_fHODdAUkCh_0Tp_roT0HeJUdimeTPRRTejdNKdmmO59yWgJdOsbxX2z4n94bZSZ0PJPJEgdrlr5qCWQRB8Hvimo9xNG/s400/IMG_0532.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the midst of ATX NYE 6th Street mayhem</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1GrwQq4FScy-v2juWvK2kF9L8b-6YmgphyphenhyphenZDsDfeiW87dn-gARb6WdJjOXXUQVd2s5uJ6w0P6WNEWwqAw1jB2oSy2vigcRUbdyl-AFuG7PVJg_UwGq4wNIzI4AKnRjj1Kp3VKF5SCjVt/s1600/IMG_1182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1GrwQq4FScy-v2juWvK2kF9L8b-6YmgphyphenhyphenZDsDfeiW87dn-gARb6WdJjOXXUQVd2s5uJ6w0P6WNEWwqAw1jB2oSy2vigcRUbdyl-AFuG7PVJg_UwGq4wNIzI4AKnRjj1Kp3VKF5SCjVt/s320/IMG_1182.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Year's Eve at The Parish</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7ztYMwcVjkhaiRJUDaXTu-gFbXM2IXW7KLb5cgqwhD4y6Rs1-84hlrhEJ37sdKCZzmZho5wDnvEB-yFVP9PDUYXUJfUcOZGpfALRb6pyAV9xFIU1j9cVwoXWZNyHD72eqpgGNtJAgYQD/s1600/IMG_1187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7ztYMwcVjkhaiRJUDaXTu-gFbXM2IXW7KLb5cgqwhD4y6Rs1-84hlrhEJ37sdKCZzmZho5wDnvEB-yFVP9PDUYXUJfUcOZGpfALRb6pyAV9xFIU1j9cVwoXWZNyHD72eqpgGNtJAgYQD/s320/IMG_1187.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worth braving 6th Street for Shakey Graves<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6dNfID8v9_DkKPlDoMeU_ntXnAKo_wfyWt89ur8XYDtlrZpwZYPX0d5oznuTMQsO_9ImOSXLB3UE9HZ9DaLBl5C2hey01r4613jK4KwWaPq7DfF_MQDOSEffDu5OvooS-YYsTXCo1F-T/s1600/IMG_0966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6dNfID8v9_DkKPlDoMeU_ntXnAKo_wfyWt89ur8XYDtlrZpwZYPX0d5oznuTMQsO_9ImOSXLB3UE9HZ9DaLBl5C2hey01r4613jK4KwWaPq7DfF_MQDOSEffDu5OvooS-YYsTXCo1F-T/s320/IMG_0966.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's to a clean start in 2014!</td></tr>
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The Fallin'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11134130455092861035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162761472376373584.post-80753253413229142532013-07-16T23:59:00.003-05:002013-07-17T00:40:52.512-05:00Take a load off<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Summer is finally here again, which means I have time to look around and assess. I feel myself settling down for the first time in a long time, and it is a strange sensation for this former backpacker. We moved in October, just across the hall, to a perfect two bedroom apartment for us to stretch out into, though still small enough to prevent us from becoming pack rats. I survived my first year of teaching high school, and I look forward to more (sans yearbook). I seem to have found my teaching niche (the grade level and subject that is the best fit) with 12th grade Government and I am grateful.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19lNLggut7x_sh9rkLte2fwxb6W91fkIs0wO4W2ZvcOmoL2zceZM40yizMn53msCvmCwVeYn0ubEhJMjmDgBO_H4p_8sYwQfGkpn4dWyd7tKkOhJcn0hiaGXPLN3L8jIO2Zvxuhvmt3xS/s1600/IMG_0966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19lNLggut7x_sh9rkLte2fwxb6W91fkIs0wO4W2ZvcOmoL2zceZM40yizMn53msCvmCwVeYn0ubEhJMjmDgBO_H4p_8sYwQfGkpn4dWyd7tKkOhJcn0hiaGXPLN3L8jIO2Zvxuhvmt3xS/s200/IMG_0966.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My yearbook students remembered my birthday!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2Ex0Eeh-1k0_CODS7_TI5NZnhiwv_pJ7mH1ZVcsxK2VnDEgZtWyVhFDYsQEGh-bvxkOtU3McWfI8Zm_PjJlEYsRqDGkl_n4xL7BYNcb_T1jhcDtgHnPpIr-F1oF5J3b0dx7_L8HFjaF2/s1600/IMG_0764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2Ex0Eeh-1k0_CODS7_TI5NZnhiwv_pJ7mH1ZVcsxK2VnDEgZtWyVhFDYsQEGh-bvxkOtU3McWfI8Zm_PjJlEYsRqDGkl_n4xL7BYNcb_T1jhcDtgHnPpIr-F1oF5J3b0dx7_L8HFjaF2/s320/IMG_0764.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My classroom at Crockett HS</td></tr>
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After coming to the realization that waiting to have a baby before making my next career move could leave me in limbo indefinitely, I applied for the <a href="http://www.nbpts.org/" target="_blank">National Board of Professional Teaching Standards </a>(NTPTS) certification program through <a href="http://www.austinisd.org/" target="_blank">Austin ISD</a>. <br />
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It is an opportunity unique to this school district that will help me through the complicated, demanding process of earning this national level certification over the next 18 months. So...trying to slow down my brain, take it all in, and maybe finally go through those boxes in my closet. Since we moved last fall and both started new jobs, it has been a whirlwind.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lOfwXz-SfDzivOD9HGgFYcobTa7GjSlSn7CPgkSI8upWQAcZCJEe0_jCGy1c0B9YSMiUTomysjbroed9eFpn04lq3y18EJmFtumlAJC2ZhNl-ImZ2Fg45u0xd1O7lLxzSMOJUWqwg35v/s1600/IMG_1057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lOfwXz-SfDzivOD9HGgFYcobTa7GjSlSn7CPgkSI8upWQAcZCJEe0_jCGy1c0B9YSMiUTomysjbroed9eFpn04lq3y18EJmFtumlAJC2ZhNl-ImZ2Fg45u0xd1O7lLxzSMOJUWqwg35v/s200/IMG_1057.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eddie Vedder & Glen Hansard Nov. 2012</td></tr>
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2012 ended with some great memories. We said a sad, but excited good-bye at <a href="http://www.handlebaraustin.com/" target="_blank">The HandleBar</a> to Kelly and J.R. as they moved to L.A. with Petty's furry friend Fiona to pursue their dreams. In November, we saw <a href="http://www.eddievedder.com/" target="_blank">Eddie Vedder</a> and <a href="http://www.glenhansardmusic.com/songofgoodhope/" target="_blank">Glen Hansard</a> at Bass Concert Hall on the night after seeing our first Longhorns game across the street at Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, which happened to be the game in honor of the recently deceased legendary coach and stadium namesake, <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=darrell%20k%20royal&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CEAQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.statesman.com%2Fnews%2Fsports%2Fcollege-football%2Flegendary-coach-darrell-royal-dies-at-88%2FnSzM2%2F&ei=7yTjUfqONobprgHl0YDIAg&usg=AFQjCNHCA16X4wVLtyo-a-_zHnJkIAIA_Q&sig2=iq-GTA1YaecU_-Dwh9f5Og&bvm=bv.48705608,d.aWM" target="_blank">Darrell K. Royal</a>. Historic game, incredible concert, and lots of good food in between. Definitely reminded us why we love living here.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hook 'em Horns!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Alamo shot never gets old</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alamo square decked out for the holidays</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaW8a29DLw-8GTCbVoZpRCKVP-i7nk2vz6l8syMHKpONlQiQhvcoKaBYsFgKEkn39x8zFe2UmOJska9Y4FuyAIuM-MN7YcMafo7F3As9-PhwPfqJ_wJQ0Brk0Fenbz5ZAHVN8Z_sq8bApw/s1600/IMG_0814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaW8a29DLw-8GTCbVoZpRCKVP-i7nk2vz6l8syMHKpONlQiQhvcoKaBYsFgKEkn39x8zFe2UmOJska9Y4FuyAIuM-MN7YcMafo7F3As9-PhwPfqJ_wJQ0Brk0Fenbz5ZAHVN8Z_sq8bApw/s200/IMG_0814.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first fireplace!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnyup5UgARbd2_Qee-ZyCCMs7wyK2UrKCXDLjXTepVt3PVWfqWRUBcVwqEs-plTgyNkvUZr1Qy9mGqao3ig01STU5pIIQmU2xQdn8k_GwoU_MmYl-UT3UlQzsXB7JnRTq6QV04s7fCAm7/s1600/IMG_0754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnyup5UgARbd2_Qee-ZyCCMs7wyK2UrKCXDLjXTepVt3PVWfqWRUBcVwqEs-plTgyNkvUZr1Qy9mGqao3ig01STU5pIIQmU2xQdn8k_GwoU_MmYl-UT3UlQzsXB7JnRTq6QV04s7fCAm7/s320/IMG_0754.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel balconies lit into a holiday message in San Antonio</td></tr>
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<br />
After a relaxing overnight stay at the Riverwalk in San Antonio, Joshua and I went our separate ways over the holidays, he drove north with Geppetto to meet up with his family in Kentucky and I flew south to meet my family in Fort Myers. It was a much-needed getaway, and I tried to take in every moment, especially with Olivia, Connor and Grant. We had lots of fun in the jumpy house at Marti and Steve's and later at the pool and for Connor and Grant's first beach experience.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGy-5P3CNndU89sCuqsCjXtoFnd0BqXmw3HrlWnP0wR2sYxBmnj-KDBAP0v_yWizpoUJTJi3tYfbjLcA-Kmcrk5cRC7iC6fBKknZaCxe-vpG2A8DC1f2irfytxHeyn4cV_YpxEnKwlF2Qh/s1600/IMG_0769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGy-5P3CNndU89sCuqsCjXtoFnd0BqXmw3HrlWnP0wR2sYxBmnj-KDBAP0v_yWizpoUJTJi3tYfbjLcA-Kmcrk5cRC7iC6fBKknZaCxe-vpG2A8DC1f2irfytxHeyn4cV_YpxEnKwlF2Qh/s320/IMG_0769.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandpa and I watching the Packer game at Ron Daio's in Ft Myers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaZFIbKgbtCcAST5NoL3VvDHKR4A8_EMkJ0r7p1I2NBvpNDu5TXuQNGPjWdP5M9cCuLuDrYhTi43NXMlryXR0kivknqpVkZR7JZ0mcF73ROA5mhSuDZTLWimAafpqC6pjqc5hcovVH04s/s1600/IMG_0783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaZFIbKgbtCcAST5NoL3VvDHKR4A8_EMkJ0r7p1I2NBvpNDu5TXuQNGPjWdP5M9cCuLuDrYhTi43NXMlryXR0kivknqpVkZR7JZ0mcF73ROA5mhSuDZTLWimAafpqC6pjqc5hcovVH04s/s320/IMG_0783.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad and I at the pier in Ft Myers Beach on Christmas</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGQwxZd8IMF0n4MoFDMCXgzi-Qd8xmvmFTxAtddrkZAr5Z-wuNJB25rDUTseJB3YzX-hxRovtuAz0V1FbeQmjRrp5Ps1stIYdjvblWc_3wca5jpmA7gFwVlpGbZIznRtFT0PY9HNAQifE/s1600/IMG_0788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGQwxZd8IMF0n4MoFDMCXgzi-Qd8xmvmFTxAtddrkZAr5Z-wuNJB25rDUTseJB3YzX-hxRovtuAz0V1FbeQmjRrp5Ps1stIYdjvblWc_3wca5jpmA7gFwVlpGbZIznRtFT0PY9HNAQifE/s320/IMG_0788.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Connor sporting his new glasses at the condo</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQCCNJpdLCks67AZy8sbf58mOVa0rXhLRfgHtOFZ_pbMuKQHNrTspJOo3ZGITESFTWwWo_CWqHIne5Cqzmuc1_6LaPv_EIYsIn9P3lONKSsXfSxDyYOSLb3xjUfi5Ulg73g91gw27e9Nf/s1600/IMG_0809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQCCNJpdLCks67AZy8sbf58mOVa0rXhLRfgHtOFZ_pbMuKQHNrTspJOo3ZGITESFTWwWo_CWqHIne5Cqzmuc1_6LaPv_EIYsIn9P3lONKSsXfSxDyYOSLb3xjUfi5Ulg73g91gw27e9Nf/s400/IMG_0809.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sisters on vacation!</td></tr>
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In February, we had a romantic date night at <a href="http://www.gruenehall.com/" target="_blank">Gruene Hall </a>to see <a href="http://alejandroescovedo.com/" target="_blank">Alejandro Escovedo</a>. It was a fantastic show, and we left with a great souvenir signed by the famous San Antonio crooner. At the end of the month, we hiked to the top of <a href="http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/enchanted-rock" target="_blank">The Enchanted Rock</a> near Fredericksburg, 10 yr. old Geppetto needed help on the boulders going up, but enjoyed the breeze and the view from the summit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5xhlBMTGMxxs0-36NR8SmQGopxKsIukvLD-iFpQfO-zgSsb3si7ReGb9Sab6iveEQ_ZXY8jz12oJxInuJn9VZSK_uWzoSIPNlvROKd4tA6x5g2Fc6jG5owlEv0L7pnDRIhE7gaADVO1J/s1600/72597_10200645772491853_1565136588_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5xhlBMTGMxxs0-36NR8SmQGopxKsIukvLD-iFpQfO-zgSsb3si7ReGb9Sab6iveEQ_ZXY8jz12oJxInuJn9VZSK_uWzoSIPNlvROKd4tA6x5g2Fc6jG5owlEv0L7pnDRIhE7gaADVO1J/s320/72597_10200645772491853_1565136588_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua at the summit</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtU6GHsK4fSXzxbiVIMu-quh01tFaBGdhhtrOCyBvOa_YEvcRllf3YPucfrLSuWcSdKDt18IkBOCsUJh3Xxalziccm8lxGRb1T3Dklw7n1Nm6YRrpAQ1b1bUPG2aWU7h8O7T7oYhRYAak/s1600/544336_797601400358_1010099331_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtU6GHsK4fSXzxbiVIMu-quh01tFaBGdhhtrOCyBvOa_YEvcRllf3YPucfrLSuWcSdKDt18IkBOCsUJh3Xxalziccm8lxGRb1T3Dklw7n1Nm6YRrpAQ1b1bUPG2aWU7h8O7T7oYhRYAak/s320/544336_797601400358_1010099331_n.jpg" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petty was the talk of the trail in his backpack</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTlf-PwHK02lzb2DLOqBDuo7fn9z7dpDYb7bbdZanlVx2YoaMZxEOECR2oEWTyvcUlkHfHgeiOxBDj0IKmbxAD8UkhHoLjHtEXD3Zzzq5EpziqioRC4BovRj8vtJ43bP6ccv_lmMRxL_X/s1600/540874_10200645769411776_926254589_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTlf-PwHK02lzb2DLOqBDuo7fn9z7dpDYb7bbdZanlVx2YoaMZxEOECR2oEWTyvcUlkHfHgeiOxBDj0IKmbxAD8UkhHoLjHtEXD3Zzzq5EpziqioRC4BovRj8vtJ43bP6ccv_lmMRxL_X/s320/540874_10200645769411776_926254589_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petty atop Enchanted Rock</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrDy8HkaqiW_QgOYZBm99v7sd8YUWLpEAcIrrnMHq3LZIKX9y7RFZw7r3uY-BVHXnEY9q4MCBTxY2VjZyArEAlQgumAt84uS6GTYy3N6Odvn58B8_TroBM0TGai8eN85iwK6456NtVGjc/s1600/538191_792631794488_122281658_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrDy8HkaqiW_QgOYZBm99v7sd8YUWLpEAcIrrnMHq3LZIKX9y7RFZw7r3uY-BVHXnEY9q4MCBTxY2VjZyArEAlQgumAt84uS6GTYy3N6Odvn58B8_TroBM0TGai8eN85iwK6456NtVGjc/s200/538191_792631794488_122281658_n.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"J&J Por Vida"</td></tr>
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<br />
Spring break in Austin means South by Southwest Festival is in town, and this year we had Jeremy, Heather and Danielle here to take in the music, food and madness with us. From <a href="http://www.kerbeylanecafe.com/" target="_blank">Kerbey Lane Cafe'</a>s queso and <a href="http://www.threadgills.com/" target="_blank">Threadgill's</a> laid back outdoor venue, to <a href="http://eatdrinkdocs.com/#home" target="_blank">Doc's</a> to watch the Badgers defeat the Hoosiers in the NCAA finals and <a href="http://www.guerostacobar.com/" target="_blank">Guerro's</a> for yummy tacos, and all of our favorite food trailers, it was a splendidly calorie-laden week. Geppetto was spoiled over the weekend at Midtown Groomers while Joshua and I joined everyone at the Courtyard downtown. It was a relaxing escape right in our own city.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxeIt2Qjkj6jsl56fyWo_zuL3eumwWUxeG8UHpVpowkAvGCOhPrwXMkgZUzhFSQOuneaXlWob-uNE-k8GbDElrVzEFWbjWpJi5ozXZwdcQZe8nowNvjyCrd-PB34rjR9GYygsCcBL12wD/s1600/577233_10200778937020883_1227724118_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxeIt2Qjkj6jsl56fyWo_zuL3eumwWUxeG8UHpVpowkAvGCOhPrwXMkgZUzhFSQOuneaXlWob-uNE-k8GbDElrVzEFWbjWpJi5ozXZwdcQZe8nowNvjyCrd-PB34rjR9GYygsCcBL12wD/s320/577233_10200778937020883_1227724118_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st night at SXSW, boys night out</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrObPYZO53B3ZTrz9YWh-8HSgvl2dBYAFzdqSUiAkwosQ4T2Gh9KZ79rPbAAqSOmVyJRCltsY1n112EkUYAlOW8rF9XGPrje8rbouA5qEyQ_erRT7ylhbH0sKCaakXWNrfvzi7B0yrcFOD/s1600/IMG_2476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrObPYZO53B3ZTrz9YWh-8HSgvl2dBYAFzdqSUiAkwosQ4T2Gh9KZ79rPbAAqSOmVyJRCltsY1n112EkUYAlOW8rF9XGPrje8rbouA5qEyQ_erRT7ylhbH0sKCaakXWNrfvzi7B0yrcFOD/s320/IMG_2476.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fallins outside of Threadgill's after a day of music at SXSW</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwN2Jg_256B3K3WNYt7O9_8Jnp2YeXTUdJVhZXwv2fSll1bMPL1kiW8-FGitXjLfAnrF_5VQs8_UeQI2AtxYUWhHDuEB5lZEgqKNaBBY8iNrpI8uljsXI1FbxapQJCnhBuANE4Si3fB9yk/s1600/IMG_2478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwN2Jg_256B3K3WNYt7O9_8Jnp2YeXTUdJVhZXwv2fSll1bMPL1kiW8-FGitXjLfAnrF_5VQs8_UeQI2AtxYUWhHDuEB5lZEgqKNaBBY8iNrpI8uljsXI1FbxapQJCnhBuANE4Si3fB9yk/s400/IMG_2478.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Illinois crew take on South By</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33udg-4eTRXGrLOnfxEeYZrhxA8-blffq4xxmMjLnXryF4ym3dIt9DVH9Tl9Dq4JZq-eHtQ64gIkqpLxtT6lXq5mq5-_LKngqgt4r-MElBCBmXEhOWhn8xBawl8GG0hXHwZTUB4c-iXzy/s1600/IMG_2480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33udg-4eTRXGrLOnfxEeYZrhxA8-blffq4xxmMjLnXryF4ym3dIt9DVH9Tl9Dq4JZq-eHtQ64gIkqpLxtT6lXq5mq5-_LKngqgt4r-MElBCBmXEhOWhn8xBawl8GG0hXHwZTUB4c-iXzy/s320/IMG_2480.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Danielle and Boobie</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNM2pT1EIml1471_CbRi-g03yqSNuuwVWR14-CRDrmpqwNmmjbKBmorbLNWiM2ZXZXQDduga6rFzyXDkUtcqntHy4T3ZtG3G2RYK5_4JJmzyVAqND8vqnmrZV9rjZVwPTsYikjlwB3kEOu/s1600/IMG_2489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNM2pT1EIml1471_CbRi-g03yqSNuuwVWR14-CRDrmpqwNmmjbKBmorbLNWiM2ZXZXQDduga6rFzyXDkUtcqntHy4T3ZtG3G2RYK5_4JJmzyVAqND8vqnmrZV9rjZVwPTsYikjlwB3kEOu/s200/IMG_2489.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tito's Vodka Trolley keeps your thirst quenched at SXSW</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0akVEjs3jN5zsgSQ7urLJHO76g5OCTypmGLioGO2vlgyI-Fy6PEyrMyxYGnjUU6Wbvw8KPTPV6GcP_vrrClxPywNEhAbplPtdxJDEo3J_9_Cp37skyBnda5zZ2XPjsPlqOD_zIDBH_0MM/s1600/IMG_2486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0akVEjs3jN5zsgSQ7urLJHO76g5OCTypmGLioGO2vlgyI-Fy6PEyrMyxYGnjUU6Wbvw8KPTPV6GcP_vrrClxPywNEhAbplPtdxJDEo3J_9_Cp37skyBnda5zZ2XPjsPlqOD_zIDBH_0MM/s200/IMG_2486.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shakey Graves at South By San Jose</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyp64UKqc7ivWjXDXYHt0SCJrNnPcNVLvbN7NKDGOukQzOmuWRXgiF6vSazP5zZPDQ214HAXekcehq4S6vQ634F2m5UpAjhlEFsqmPuk6oq44MFL6eaV2X0bVHatMJ35kRo-BoCn2lItJ/s1600/IMG_2490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyp64UKqc7ivWjXDXYHt0SCJrNnPcNVLvbN7NKDGOukQzOmuWRXgiF6vSazP5zZPDQ214HAXekcehq4S6vQ634F2m5UpAjhlEFsqmPuk6oq44MFL6eaV2X0bVHatMJ35kRo-BoCn2lItJ/s320/IMG_2490.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Danielle and Heather outside Jo's, in front of some of Austin's famous street art</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaG4MMyzCNRBa03I6zZ7MOc1aBOiCXt0ZBoX_L37TW2Q6OONq8WFS6giOOaoauSbudKKEQr1RcHU5mdkSE46MCddXpTFvMD6zu_IOs6iozQC2CFInYAuSbXrwZaeZkG9LbKLeXGfwIaFIg/s1600/IMG_2494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaG4MMyzCNRBa03I6zZ7MOc1aBOiCXt0ZBoX_L37TW2Q6OONq8WFS6giOOaoauSbudKKEQr1RcHU5mdkSE46MCddXpTFvMD6zu_IOs6iozQC2CFInYAuSbXrwZaeZkG9LbKLeXGfwIaFIg/s400/IMG_2494.JPG" width="351" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gang at Auditorium Shores</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrE-C-GKnuBjaB5a6oLsGPzxWRPV7Fs_UgcGmDJT0_d9_JxpFqeP1GU2iIoGxuxDx7qhFNHpSWyrvaUmUyvatuA63l2tJZyWXyyTn_xQsTN4OCB2hm4t19uXMZWYupbq2aD4izK-Ow_Axf/s1600/IMG_2475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrE-C-GKnuBjaB5a6oLsGPzxWRPV7Fs_UgcGmDJT0_d9_JxpFqeP1GU2iIoGxuxDx7qhFNHpSWyrvaUmUyvatuA63l2tJZyWXyyTn_xQsTN4OCB2hm4t19uXMZWYupbq2aD4izK-Ow_Axf/s320/IMG_2475.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fallins 4, Austin 0</td></tr>
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In April, I took a few breaks from the madness of standardized tests and finalizing the yearbook, first to run away to Wisconsin for Tanya's bachelorette party and bridesmaid shopping in Milwaukee with Karen and Peggy, as well as an afternoon with family, including my first time meeting Dom and Hillary's adorable little girl Mia. Then, at the end of the month I spent my rainy birthday weekend in Houston with Joshua and Geppetto. We tried the veggie delights with dinner at <a href="http://www.lovinghut.us/" target="_blank">Loving Hut</a>, visited the <a href="http://www.mfah.org/" target="_blank">Fine Arts Museum</a>, and returned to our favorite vegan buffet, <a href="http://ilovepeppertree.com/" target="_blank">The Pepper Tree</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CyXyCcTyBVicrECH-abYZirtfwO7rkF4b02cALfi1mJ-unzF2IAeoPF2Qw8Mv0KEAoL1S0-eZLlq4xdIS_OoCP4ibDmIDqeglYmxE1bm2LZeJfb189GXqd_23c_RhZ07FxCSTD4V2JUg/s1600/IMG_1375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CyXyCcTyBVicrECH-abYZirtfwO7rkF4b02cALfi1mJ-unzF2IAeoPF2Qw8Mv0KEAoL1S0-eZLlq4xdIS_OoCP4ibDmIDqeglYmxE1bm2LZeJfb189GXqd_23c_RhZ07FxCSTD4V2JUg/s200/IMG_1375.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No Texas road trip is complete without a stop at Buc-ee's</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9toLhZelJZIuX1Iro9TMR3SHJ7sD09MvLLzIDUrZKcaK2hUapp2A9HMwhqtrueJb0qJzMbsZp3fxe1rqRBdfmQL49_dOk_nKoWRRhPphqF3GSnx2tuSIPPlTRtE52FVTogpXLuLxFAWuJ/s1600/IMG_0908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9toLhZelJZIuX1Iro9TMR3SHJ7sD09MvLLzIDUrZKcaK2hUapp2A9HMwhqtrueJb0qJzMbsZp3fxe1rqRBdfmQL49_dOk_nKoWRRhPphqF3GSnx2tuSIPPlTRtE52FVTogpXLuLxFAWuJ/s200/IMG_0908.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loki turned 12, still the same Firestarter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaUGHdZJAb6xhsE_ooCeAPy2q62wCIc3BCdAPTFMtBJsjNwBepncxzfkS5kZCNQEBLbLruBcFU0BmcarTXP0oHnpPuNxAf6uR8OM1dLFiO17qsdSZssoDwb3Yb73a6_U71mPzWDUQsakn/s1600/IMG_1393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaUGHdZJAb6xhsE_ooCeAPy2q62wCIc3BCdAPTFMtBJsjNwBepncxzfkS5kZCNQEBLbLruBcFU0BmcarTXP0oHnpPuNxAf6uR8OM1dLFiO17qsdSZssoDwb3Yb73a6_U71mPzWDUQsakn/s200/IMG_1393.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impressionism love at Museum of Fine Arts</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPixrZVPavmhE9DiqJpuqKg89d4pVBXpgeHsg8Q65CPPzPCTvrBXtdh3ZOL5_j-Wy8yU2TAFK8xUB7YkTVOBN_fGbHAXM6g6EmYfEDt1vHMRdA6hYbUlyUbkVR2xJBORgILnBSCuAsc3g/s1600/IMG_1394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPixrZVPavmhE9DiqJpuqKg89d4pVBXpgeHsg8Q65CPPzPCTvrBXtdh3ZOL5_j-Wy8yU2TAFK8xUB7YkTVOBN_fGbHAXM6g6EmYfEDt1vHMRdA6hYbUlyUbkVR2xJBORgILnBSCuAsc3g/s200/IMG_1394.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petty and I having breakfast in bed in Houston on my 35th</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhih480bRWWZz9yLIeXeCLYdmA0_zp_ptAsgvzGghHcdv-y9WPo_E1cSVmFHC7Hdn9EHCqwdaH-vky4VnXpMZmjW4YUqH-Xu6paWbLWMyQbXKcWC4wKrQwZUhoGvE3KAbpiDNUe6A_USW/s1600/IMG_0965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhih480bRWWZz9yLIeXeCLYdmA0_zp_ptAsgvzGghHcdv-y9WPo_E1cSVmFHC7Hdn9EHCqwdaH-vky4VnXpMZmjW4YUqH-Xu6paWbLWMyQbXKcWC4wKrQwZUhoGvE3KAbpiDNUe6A_USW/s320/IMG_0965.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geppetto stops to smell the bluebonnets</td></tr>
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Our spring continued to be full of musical memories with the <a href="http://www.austin360.com/weblogs/austin-music-source/2013/may/17/scene-report-klru-gala-and-tribute-lloyd-maines/" target="_blank">KLRU Lloyd Maines tribute concert</a>, which included performances by our favorites Natalie Maines and Ben Harper, Joe Ely and The Dixie Chicks! It was definitely one of our top concerts in Austin, especially since it was at the <a href="http://acl-live.com/" target="_blank">Austin City Limits Live</a> theater in the W Hotel, love that venue! We also scored free tickets to Shakey Graves at the <a href="http://www.austinchronicle.com/photos/paper-cuts/2013-04-16/shakey-graves/" target="_blank">Chronicle Paper Cuts</a> showcase at The Palm Door, and got up close and personal with our local favorite singer/songwriter/harmonica and guitar player. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqS6fg2h4yY_SWN5jfcUcwZVYiWN_v7X7IuODdgpHi9PpsvOQRmzCQASPK6stxRFg4XINtZEAjioakHsOrDTbQpnjy2KD9HSn1nXJso1WGCf8MHHIyQmQF6SIvOBycaaMhsY_EVf5H5ax/s1600/IMG_1370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqS6fg2h4yY_SWN5jfcUcwZVYiWN_v7X7IuODdgpHi9PpsvOQRmzCQASPK6stxRFg4XINtZEAjioakHsOrDTbQpnjy2KD9HSn1nXJso1WGCf8MHHIyQmQF6SIvOBycaaMhsY_EVf5H5ax/s200/IMG_1370.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shakey Graves</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpdnnkKcVr43_Ojx83MaBEruerU2VLpdY-UPcFgAHWCR264-iXunVapM9OQPobbAgiWN1eFKjnZpICS5u74PTnuqeLDeyykwhaTOINkhAVlLPD13ZeZWXMgYUCacQf40a5Q7kZ8efHouX/s1600/IMG_0971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpdnnkKcVr43_Ojx83MaBEruerU2VLpdY-UPcFgAHWCR264-iXunVapM9OQPobbAgiWN1eFKjnZpICS5u74PTnuqeLDeyykwhaTOINkhAVlLPD13ZeZWXMgYUCacQf40a5Q7kZ8efHouX/s320/IMG_0971.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weeknight concert smiles</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5N0A9MbgIoMQyY3akjKL6bMGNR5P2Du0tblq3TmF81JjX4jP1AS3doe1iqC4uiRsfqbMYt-GH_icT7c58rkBCTlsExj3Aj2wrx5XIno56pNqesT29toIOG50fNYxrBG6TBNTt870_bys-/s1600/IMG_1465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5N0A9MbgIoMQyY3akjKL6bMGNR5P2Du0tblq3TmF81JjX4jP1AS3doe1iqC4uiRsfqbMYt-GH_icT7c58rkBCTlsExj3Aj2wrx5XIno56pNqesT29toIOG50fNYxrBG6TBNTt870_bys-/s200/IMG_1465.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua and Mick @ ACL Live<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYBsDg-vScJKlHiLm_bI9Z36eGM-8SvTe8PrH_EGiI1wz5r021_sayI3f9piFcClVZSjXrS8WRKoPvvj29ZIPLXx5aX2R9BkJEcZ2NVj2sqjoCnAS0Ry89JQzP2bhEBWlL9StPgI3KQDS/s1600/IMG_0974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYBsDg-vScJKlHiLm_bI9Z36eGM-8SvTe8PrH_EGiI1wz5r021_sayI3f9piFcClVZSjXrS8WRKoPvvj29ZIPLXx5aX2R9BkJEcZ2NVj2sqjoCnAS0Ry89JQzP2bhEBWlL9StPgI3KQDS/s200/IMG_0974.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janis and Jaclyn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnrjwxmulW-FdVjVFwdsmBuvBTYnS-2lghhMRSDqFyRlwwBDQ4rfJonAAoBZB17BpfDlq6ivPSBVRBqF-QLDrvHC0Hpmyr54Tz3y-_YczUKVlZg-ry1YCYVpKjxGDeljYWJmoXO7w3HOo/s1600/IMG_1419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnrjwxmulW-FdVjVFwdsmBuvBTYnS-2lghhMRSDqFyRlwwBDQ4rfJonAAoBZB17BpfDlq6ivPSBVRBqF-QLDrvHC0Hpmyr54Tz3y-_YczUKVlZg-ry1YCYVpKjxGDeljYWJmoXO7w3HOo/s400/IMG_1419.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Margaritas outside ACL Live pre-Dixie Chicks</td></tr>
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<br />
At the end of May, we had some nasty weather, postponing the Dave Matthews Band show at the <a href="http://austin360amphitheater.com/" target="_blank">360 Ampitheater</a> by one night so Joshua took his Uncle Kenny as I was already in Wisconsin for the coming Memorial Day weekend. The next week we did get the chance to enjoy the amazing ampitheater together, it is located on one of the corners of the new F1 racetrack, and we were front and center for the <a href="http://www.gracepotter.com/" target="_blank">Grace Potter and the Nocturnals</a>, and the <a href="http://www.theavettbrothers.com/" target="_blank">Avett Brothers</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUU9VYWaIIzhqWmJHhrcpB451kAatBGfRlxpYr8BV3Y7w8IYx9euUUO-IZLauLbbY1bta_aJxEsGK6TAfts3Q3HcZRUqCTvUXKX_bPjTye_89Ojilz8gVhlmTStY2hOFYck3RtwDhw8v1/s1600/IMG_1533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUU9VYWaIIzhqWmJHhrcpB451kAatBGfRlxpYr8BV3Y7w8IYx9euUUO-IZLauLbbY1bta_aJxEsGK6TAfts3Q3HcZRUqCTvUXKX_bPjTye_89Ojilz8gVhlmTStY2hOFYck3RtwDhw8v1/s200/IMG_1533.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Austin 360 Ampitheater</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmeUtiipORUXnF84CelQW6-3n1lXjv8NQm4GqO7xlrq_zGHGR7lmECI5-TQu0KEInYnedX_GbkJoqhiGBoKeP0urhHgf4PGoTPVrwtF3MyIgZ0Ql31BQ83JlgfR6GVqvJufzn9Jx8pKBT/s1600/IMG_1520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmeUtiipORUXnF84CelQW6-3n1lXjv8NQm4GqO7xlrq_zGHGR7lmECI5-TQu0KEInYnedX_GbkJoqhiGBoKeP0urhHgf4PGoTPVrwtF3MyIgZ0Ql31BQ83JlgfR6GVqvJufzn9Jx8pKBT/s320/IMG_1520.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In front of the colorfully lit race tower</td></tr>
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Over the Memorial Day weekend, our 3rd anniversary, we went back to Wisconsin for the beautiful wedding of Tanya and Matt at <a href="http://www.stoneharbor-resort.com/" target="_blank">Stone Harbor Resort </a>in Door County. It was a perfect opportunity to reconnect with family and friends, some of whom Joshua hadn't seen since our wedding. He also was happy to reconnect with his favorite beer, <a href="http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/index.cfm/beers/OurBeers/Beer/spotted-cow" target="_blank">Spotted Cow</a>, and I enjoyed an old fashioned or two. The cool weather was a welcome change, and we got to spend some time playing with our adorable niece and nephews. Surprisingly, we also found a quaint little Mexican joint with the best bean tacos we could ask for. All in all, fabulous way to kick off the summer!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcKfqAwdHDD8t7mcL1ItyHnth39fe_1b8BsJ5-2TqpaniZNTQfmO7kqScHmRnZKCAbEGnrcZMtkx0QazACXHUxwu4kInmqHDjYFMcSGL_j5mpwmb35bYFd_O0pKhhOd5aJZ16kGQwwNMG/s1600/IMG_1483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcKfqAwdHDD8t7mcL1ItyHnth39fe_1b8BsJ5-2TqpaniZNTQfmO7kqScHmRnZKCAbEGnrcZMtkx0QazACXHUxwu4kInmqHDjYFMcSGL_j5mpwmb35bYFd_O0pKhhOd5aJZ16kGQwwNMG/s320/IMG_1483.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miss Olivia shows off her moves</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8uG3bZjPLTJ1589eiwEqAAL93n_i2_Cx5crVHA4BavvexH97EKLkMX7Wa50sPcg6f4KJECUtbn4Q4Ov26J4h77lxoHovRICJj_0e1Z5aSh-iY-wgc6N0wLrLeRWgSzaKwe5pv6Kab3GI/s1600/941388_10151686803868530_72944201_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8uG3bZjPLTJ1589eiwEqAAL93n_i2_Cx5crVHA4BavvexH97EKLkMX7Wa50sPcg6f4KJECUtbn4Q4Ov26J4h77lxoHovRICJj_0e1Z5aSh-iY-wgc6N0wLrLeRWgSzaKwe5pv6Kab3GI/s400/941388_10151686803868530_72944201_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncle Joshua and Aunt Jaclyn with Grant, Olivia and Connor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie07OuOgqMJ09shi4lS5ObOHzAeTGonpnGhnn5s_qIjZK0DmSGPlptk-E4ovwgPBSFzG_U2bQeaJw_BZi26ozdEyIwWt55lEPurH3-DWgjRoMPAryxe3h9JBd6G8oH686nsVbqw8ez_POt/s1600/IMG_2540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie07OuOgqMJ09shi4lS5ObOHzAeTGonpnGhnn5s_qIjZK0DmSGPlptk-E4ovwgPBSFzG_U2bQeaJw_BZi26ozdEyIwWt55lEPurH3-DWgjRoMPAryxe3h9JBd6G8oH686nsVbqw8ez_POt/s200/IMG_2540.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flower girl and the bride walking Main St Sturgeon Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjh3fA4WIPf_x9pR-fq192M023DbQG55IFHVqKbIqFVBBKu0uScLur5ZS_Tsar5JBQEXEvOpUq15oWt5a_TRGTvY3dVOTZMcPxhiUHvlUIf9qxNTEMvtW4kGvyLx7h4pOkyVV-VOM84iry/s1600/IMG_1485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjh3fA4WIPf_x9pR-fq192M023DbQG55IFHVqKbIqFVBBKu0uScLur5ZS_Tsar5JBQEXEvOpUq15oWt5a_TRGTvY3dVOTZMcPxhiUHvlUIf9qxNTEMvtW4kGvyLx7h4pOkyVV-VOM84iry/s200/IMG_1485.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua's welcome home gift</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQujpw7W52Tm5LAYfZ8vKNYIefYyOP0kWO6AygJzTS9W3Cvf7kvFc_PTvhQOQy1RoanR97wXJtPdYVEs7ulVpLNzbgHEO_5px3CJh7aRGaUqWVcGsuLGNxr4hBSbXmdrdfK-mgmtUTqjT8/s1600/IMG_2560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQujpw7W52Tm5LAYfZ8vKNYIefYyOP0kWO6AygJzTS9W3Cvf7kvFc_PTvhQOQy1RoanR97wXJtPdYVEs7ulVpLNzbgHEO_5px3CJh7aRGaUqWVcGsuLGNxr4hBSbXmdrdfK-mgmtUTqjT8/s400/IMG_2560.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trolly ride with the Lancasters around scenic Door County, the beach was my favorite</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSZSKHGpbaCnQO3hAd9E4zutLNACjiWal8tt9yPZiQ9TXP0SBbn4QSwdsk2FhT7yyg1ygKKLkXSfWefMQ_BOsktTyb4e75H9CrfwlOAld5rsZ7A-sUwceIG_BU_WnV3A79r-FAdqlHQB_/s1600/IMG_2571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSZSKHGpbaCnQO3hAd9E4zutLNACjiWal8tt9yPZiQ9TXP0SBbn4QSwdsk2FhT7yyg1ygKKLkXSfWefMQ_BOsktTyb4e75H9CrfwlOAld5rsZ7A-sUwceIG_BU_WnV3A79r-FAdqlHQB_/s320/IMG_2571.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every bridesmaid wants a moment with the groom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3mANUtIRt3z27Bn4_0c7ZpSYsQSK2jRlh34DkOXQPWCan6D4pXK8h7RP3cWsNWqKnfJafjFk6WY42Qt0x_folCGt6i_mhHKoGrEQIZD7wn23N68yHzIOtV8MRDD9A0fS2TPOV80JxzFv/s1600/IMG_2576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3mANUtIRt3z27Bn4_0c7ZpSYsQSK2jRlh34DkOXQPWCan6D4pXK8h7RP3cWsNWqKnfJafjFk6WY42Qt0x_folCGt6i_mhHKoGrEQIZD7wn23N68yHzIOtV8MRDD9A0fS2TPOV80JxzFv/s320/IMG_2576.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evidence that I got him on the dance floor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCMSSDITNlubZvWVQqu1Us5OAWynABGiCetDR2ehLu6x3TBH48SQdnblGlFvPXV8ozMMcKJCC3OXDBFV9_Jsxfw8gkzKF7q6pEFIOIKJu8xbS0Zv2MUkE8ks4nH8crW9QM-ij77igtAPn/s1600/IMG_1502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCMSSDITNlubZvWVQqu1Us5OAWynABGiCetDR2ehLu6x3TBH48SQdnblGlFvPXV8ozMMcKJCC3OXDBFV9_Jsxfw8gkzKF7q6pEFIOIKJu8xbS0Zv2MUkE8ks4nH8crW9QM-ij77igtAPn/s400/IMG_1502.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua and I outside the cute country church</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3ZEPZCyAmeETJWhq1tr9rD0lxmU-QUOP7QyTzb2Ya334_jtbQsnkDPJu_jHe-E6EtltrHt2NLK8TanqdZZc70bT6V8Vmy1Kpo49Jg8h5EjwZyxbtbuI9hXnf2gAC6MaxxgVhJ5DyyiUS/s1600/IMG_2562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3ZEPZCyAmeETJWhq1tr9rD0lxmU-QUOP7QyTzb2Ya334_jtbQsnkDPJu_jHe-E6EtltrHt2NLK8TanqdZZc70bT6V8Vmy1Kpo49Jg8h5EjwZyxbtbuI9hXnf2gAC6MaxxgVhJ5DyyiUS/s640/IMG_2562.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McFarland gang pre-entrance to the reception at Stone Harbor Resort</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTc7npn6NnoG3Ll5dw-lBNj6YZZ1NB9b3MUbkE8ZqBdSE-kilqVMyfYOCMRFLzxXYmAJqRX0Z82k5AwGjRBrRF-MQSAma421VSEBefZD_Ac1bUhfhDtGanZGJGvp3CWeJKN1B6SWo28af7/s1600/IMG_0919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTc7npn6NnoG3Ll5dw-lBNj6YZZ1NB9b3MUbkE8ZqBdSE-kilqVMyfYOCMRFLzxXYmAJqRX0Z82k5AwGjRBrRF-MQSAma421VSEBefZD_Ac1bUhfhDtGanZGJGvp3CWeJKN1B6SWo28af7/s320/IMG_0919.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visit from our neighborhood lizard</td></tr>
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<br />The Fallin'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11134130455092861035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162761472376373584.post-64953451726537523332012-09-23T15:25:00.000-05:002012-09-23T16:38:52.161-05:00Summing up our Supersonic Summer<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilH35IoqO7I6YBVRMe4VZfmrUZ7ijIc-xUAaXpHxoqQ_7_92O4Kmu0rf31KBoI0GZ0KDCrP1uiZTEn9CDCs3RvISoMdCfoWFp7GA_EQOP0SGlQiKZDn89OGCE8kUkyYeyMAzoYMTK1nTn6/s1600/IMG_0697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilH35IoqO7I6YBVRMe4VZfmrUZ7ijIc-xUAaXpHxoqQ_7_92O4Kmu0rf31KBoI0GZ0KDCrP1uiZTEn9CDCs3RvISoMdCfoWFp7GA_EQOP0SGlQiKZDn89OGCE8kUkyYeyMAzoYMTK1nTn6/s200/IMG_0697.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua's Mustang Island friend</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vnyv-BcOP7yTcHNl6pqRLEKuB53vO9dXqgvt1-3l5EmrfIk3vtT8GxEvxIkDVFZshUnv3osHgUQnXKHmXvG0vfSWFa4n6XCyC0M3Qcl7run3NG2By-CFT3iATdBL69MCgYUNtIhLsWYm/s1600/IMG_0688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vnyv-BcOP7yTcHNl6pqRLEKuB53vO9dXqgvt1-3l5EmrfIk3vtT8GxEvxIkDVFZshUnv3osHgUQnXKHmXvG0vfSWFa4n6XCyC0M3Qcl7run3NG2By-CFT3iATdBL69MCgYUNtIhLsWYm/s200/IMG_0688.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tasting the saltiness of a steady seabreeze</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKA6KxKIS0TvfcVG97pLVn5FsGas81VdgGl77ZpsNA7TtBXiLPkjcrtzrsDy2l7gQVP1kMhEwXupZIC24Bmo5sASjOoBOugUhk-N87V4cl0Fgo_Bx-Sss5mJYa5qWEyuNfR33qd04pWBDu/s1600/IMG_0681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKA6KxKIS0TvfcVG97pLVn5FsGas81VdgGl77ZpsNA7TtBXiLPkjcrtzrsDy2l7gQVP1kMhEwXupZIC24Bmo5sASjOoBOugUhk-N87V4cl0Fgo_Bx-Sss5mJYa5qWEyuNfR33qd04pWBDu/s320/IMG_0681.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petty's first time at the beach, very wary of the waves</td></tr>
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<b><i>Summer 2012</i></b> is officially over, and it was so action-packed, so transitional for us that it was almost dizzying. It began with my future as a French/journalism teacher with Hays CISD uncertain and Joshua working hard in North Austin as an assistant business office director, then ended with both of us landing new positions-for me, a high school social studies position with Austin ISD and, for Mr. Fallin, a promotion to business office director at a San Antonio facility. After lots of applications, resume updates, interviews, and anxiety over our futures, we are excited and striving to keep this positive momentum going. <br />
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<b><i>June</i></b> started with me trying to unwind from the stress that comes with the end of the school year, and trying to force myself to study for the French certification exam that I attempted one last time on Bastille Day, July 14. Joshua and I squeezed in a few nights out doing Austin things, enjoying the summer weather before the inevitable intense Texas heat arrived in full force. We took Geppetto to Blues on the Green, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Kelly and JR decked him and Ona out in glow stick collars once the sun set, and they got a lot of attention for their rave-ready cuteness.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsnuHspiNpfS2Lcj-ZK1APrcSVym3cABPt8chzjT75RduYWDuRbEjSTktAQCwvDorIuXlnpgBKERkvo_Cj4a-qKQDN7i8NFO_dVF2RbCR8IpbwB5j0Xkn7kwqAbLlTK3197JJ7Pcxokr1/s1600/IMG_0750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsnuHspiNpfS2Lcj-ZK1APrcSVym3cABPt8chzjT75RduYWDuRbEjSTktAQCwvDorIuXlnpgBKERkvo_Cj4a-qKQDN7i8NFO_dVF2RbCR8IpbwB5j0Xkn7kwqAbLlTK3197JJ7Pcxokr1/s1600/IMG_0750.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Johnny's guitar has seen lots of playtime</td></tr>
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<b><i>At the end of the month</i></b>, Joshua's mom arrived for her first visit to Austin. We love showing off our city, and the longer we are here, the more places we discover. We introduced Tammie to iconic places like Kerbey Lane (known for their queso, pancakes, and 24/7 hours), Bouldin Creek Cafe, Amy's Ice Cream, the Hey, Cupcake trailer, The Oasis on Lake Travis, and a blues show with some local legends at The Saxon Pub. It was incredibly hot while she was here, though we did get one overcast day to lounge at the pool while Joshua toiled away at the office. Petty and the kitties loved having someone else around to give them treats and attention, of course, and I enjoyed the distraction from the job search.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFH8dOhs6Jac3ChOz0Pr2wNFJVo2wgr3fbhmb_SlvWrm7YJpbZDN8e0LA0ZfLed77fi03h8VY0jCcvQYIxTw14BHppIr4F7JP5IWll9vgEdQIvCdUZYBbWmcgK2CU3XCvpnyldq9wYOB3l/s1600/IMG_0450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFH8dOhs6Jac3ChOz0Pr2wNFJVo2wgr3fbhmb_SlvWrm7YJpbZDN8e0LA0ZfLed77fi03h8VY0jCcvQYIxTw14BHppIr4F7JP5IWll9vgEdQIvCdUZYBbWmcgK2CU3XCvpnyldq9wYOB3l/s200/IMG_0450.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time for breakfast!</td></tr>
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Tammie's sister Pattie and her husband Tim joined us for <b><i>the 4th</i></b> and we discovered a few new Austin gems. The Mesquite Grill satisfied Tim's taste for some BBQ, and the recommendation from Guy Ferreri on Triple D was spot on, the screen door and monster bowls of chilli were authentic Texas. The tip for Matt's El Rancho led us to some great Tex-Mex, including french fries with onions and jalapenos. (As a new Texan, I'm realizing that just about anything is good with a little pepper kick). Pattie and Tammie loved the fun shops on South Congress, and we satisfied our sweet tooth at the Big Top Candy Shop.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSUdym8e_GCLipetaVbE6s0FQl7QiVC1J0CFalM0yHpdu7vgSl6RVXj4BUD77bI-8gaWB2egL2v8BKuYAaDXJFH2-shybjQRREcgVUqlQvDaLX2MXBSdo71mJRSC5n3i8ItBAosqCARIg/s1600/IMG_0493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSUdym8e_GCLipetaVbE6s0FQl7QiVC1J0CFalM0yHpdu7vgSl6RVXj4BUD77bI-8gaWB2egL2v8BKuYAaDXJFH2-shybjQRREcgVUqlQvDaLX2MXBSdo71mJRSC5n3i8ItBAosqCARIg/s320/IMG_0493.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy Californians with their crazy nephew</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSK3Du2RtD40VheE1ZUuB_j3YX_5nP2EFtjZXLA-T3s7KZREGsVXOBmWKSZVdDcrbYBODlX9V2HCVPzgtQgdQO8tqq6kTk43ierISdFQe9FXAjfr8WFR-m4rqNy4zr-DrNl-RW-WEgrzm5/s1600/IMG_0495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSK3Du2RtD40VheE1ZUuB_j3YX_5nP2EFtjZXLA-T3s7KZREGsVXOBmWKSZVdDcrbYBODlX9V2HCVPzgtQgdQO8tqq6kTk43ierISdFQe9FXAjfr8WFR-m4rqNy4zr-DrNl-RW-WEgrzm5/s200/IMG_0495.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooling off in the shade oft he Ginger Man</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">After drinks at the Ginger Man and Iron Cactus, we tried to check out the bats, but they seemed to be waiting for the festivities to die down before making their appearance, so we left downtown for the new hot part of town, the east side. A favorite local musician of ours, Dale Watson, who reminds me of a unique combination of Elvis Costello and Johnny Cash, was crooning while girls dressed like 1950s style pin-up models in cowboy boots danced the two step on a dance floor decorated with holiday lights and Joshua and JR took advantage of the Lonestar/whiskey combo special. It was the best people watching of the whole day, we could have stayed all night taking in the crazy scene, but our stomachs were growling and it was way past bed time. On the way home, we stopped at Kerbey Lane for a late night meal to end our perfect 4th and squeeze in a few more calories to our tally (a visit to Austin can definitely add a few pounds, to both the tour guides and the travelers. :)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKf-OzNjSODvRt1tU3eN7uVaC7nlO3JJHnh0Ema5Vjs2T_XB0KaTPQMDTDo2Mzgn85jC_e2ilESdj98OD_LlFosgWmRiGDkWDAqJKnaWLZURNuCRIlpauor7PHVySfinIdDqJhkGmiVJg_/s1600/IMG_0499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKf-OzNjSODvRt1tU3eN7uVaC7nlO3JJHnh0Ema5Vjs2T_XB0KaTPQMDTDo2Mzgn85jC_e2ilESdj98OD_LlFosgWmRiGDkWDAqJKnaWLZURNuCRIlpauor7PHVySfinIdDqJhkGmiVJg_/s400/IMG_0499.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dale Watson rocking it at The Sahara on the 4th of July</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgurm7e6XUCHjVtT2gQY_lidZZwiQq5onhEsDkMmIQuYHSz6qDKyI0X7HQN9qJuMcfCHxarZq0RK_ogE2UQmszPPI_iyCbFOvgr66NOmBjaz8z2rYodUtbJZBZT5WoqDA48R2R1orsybcP/s1600/IMG_0504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgurm7e6XUCHjVtT2gQY_lidZZwiQq5onhEsDkMmIQuYHSz6qDKyI0X7HQN9qJuMcfCHxarZq0RK_ogE2UQmszPPI_iyCbFOvgr66NOmBjaz8z2rYodUtbJZBZT5WoqDA48R2R1orsybcP/s320/IMG_0504.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JR and JD</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_EzHHtHkpTjHKgetOOzzNh4qZV9oa1_qp5yc2OAGsxeP7vPP_gTXPU8EgkG6sPFykyKiUz3AWfnT6Q3I2guMagKZ-0nDQNF7BkR20momHwHZ9eUVOIr7rZG-A37r3zVqdc9zX5bmB6dY/s1600/IMG_2293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_EzHHtHkpTjHKgetOOzzNh4qZV9oa1_qp5yc2OAGsxeP7vPP_gTXPU8EgkG6sPFykyKiUz3AWfnT6Q3I2guMagKZ-0nDQNF7BkR20momHwHZ9eUVOIr7rZG-A37r3zVqdc9zX5bmB6dY/s320/IMG_2293.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fallin crew enjoy their Spotted Cows on the lawn</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><i><b>The next day</b></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> Mr. and Mrs. Fallin, along with a certain Pomeranian, left for another cross-country road trip in good old Elliewood. After leaving Geppetto with Grandma and Grandpa in McFarland, we met up with friends and family for a fun-filled weekend of Dave Matthews Band at Alpine Valley. We saw two amazing concerts, and spent our days catching up with Joshua's sister and brother, and their Illinois crew-Danielle and Kenny, Kristen and Allen, Jamie and Mickey, and Chooch. Brian met up with us on the lawn on Saturday night for his first Alpine experience. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERqBVEfYHktPa-zmDoD7KgIepuus-vOZeeli3aTtzMO1n-Avff4ZX-iwVCVfhqromBsQvUy_I6bWjddWRYlLKhnvuBiOTBsEnc2fe2J4xxCM3dSWCciPkbLUJkAps3J4uNsAeKQvHnIvq/s1600/IMG_2290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERqBVEfYHktPa-zmDoD7KgIepuus-vOZeeli3aTtzMO1n-Avff4ZX-iwVCVfhqromBsQvUy_I6bWjddWRYlLKhnvuBiOTBsEnc2fe2J4xxCM3dSWCciPkbLUJkAps3J4uNsAeKQvHnIvq/s320/IMG_2290.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tailgating on the second night</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokivlqfOHHNRYqtbgw7Uf8-nz2M9gUjb9wrJSYx5jryABwaouil0Dt3jDFDu6NYMRAn2aQEuYdm-NtrMMkeQ0nh0PeKjN90_jz-vzRFds1X1F5NtaqKXAbXTsKvNenE6wOb6X4F5wtbfo/s1600/IMG_2301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokivlqfOHHNRYqtbgw7Uf8-nz2M9gUjb9wrJSYx5jryABwaouil0Dt3jDFDu6NYMRAn2aQEuYdm-NtrMMkeQ0nh0PeKjN90_jz-vzRFds1X1F5NtaqKXAbXTsKvNenE6wOb6X4F5wtbfo/s320/IMG_2301.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alpine Valley Saturday show</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua with the girls at Mareva's</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7bxVXABZKBGqaCP1_eMpXgFe1EfWeNW0t3U3K7Hen8wQLSMNeG8RL1xvxOpVeNcPDM0kRpx1kjpqMcmEN78z7bepCUXNob19lMr9rrYxFUR-p0OfEZnxXyA8jL-f6roHG3KxMh2F6GoJ/s1600/IMG_2326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7bxVXABZKBGqaCP1_eMpXgFe1EfWeNW0t3U3K7Hen8wQLSMNeG8RL1xvxOpVeNcPDM0kRpx1kjpqMcmEN78z7bepCUXNob19lMr9rrYxFUR-p0OfEZnxXyA8jL-f6roHG3KxMh2F6GoJ/s320/IMG_2326.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Connor chatting up Grandma over mac'n cheese</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">We finished off Joshua's first real Midwest visit since our move with two days hanging out with my family and Peggy, Nina and their kids. Joshua hit it off with our one year old nephew Grant from the first moment they met and was holding him and carrying him around before I could even get out of the car (it took me days to build up that much trust with the little guy). Olivia and Connor showed Uncle Joshua their newly decorated rooms, and their awesome playroom.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span">The <b><i>drive back to Austin</i></b> included an overnight stop in Illinois for dinner at Mareva and Joey's. Baby Cecelia seemed to be very comfortable in Joshua's arms, and Julia showed us how big she's gotten since we last saw her. The next night, we stayed with Tammie and Bob in Eddyville, and visited with Josh's Grandpa and Grandma. Joshua got to itch his trigger finger, target shooting with Bob. Geppetto stayed behind for his summer retreat in the woods of Kentucky with Delilah.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgjcGz04j6n9Qa88dAgpju6WspSwag8bZ0c7SbQpRciXgJ96HP9GYFT_RZ_kq6MEwR4PVoMw5hmbYYhUsC0DZm-IxPtnKOsbY0jfw-l9hIIBgaUmiifQmO1fApMCBHyARuZZkTpTq62OX/s1600/IMG_0527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgjcGz04j6n9Qa88dAgpju6WspSwag8bZ0c7SbQpRciXgJ96HP9GYFT_RZ_kq6MEwR4PVoMw5hmbYYhUsC0DZm-IxPtnKOsbY0jfw-l9hIIBgaUmiifQmO1fApMCBHyARuZZkTpTq62OX/s200/IMG_0527.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shootin' cans</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglu083KWy68oERQ5WlICFVF4Jg1X4JqtF_tgttT4i59Rizc15mr9QlHCMAF_doaWHo_Or7swsygYWtx2185udVrIY2BsEtVCL8gX_8tKo_Ptboonoor-vZFtFYj2DdsIQFS_9SP7dWJTlB/s1600/IMG_0528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglu083KWy68oERQ5WlICFVF4Jg1X4JqtF_tgttT4i59Rizc15mr9QlHCMAF_doaWHo_Or7swsygYWtx2185udVrIY2BsEtVCL8gX_8tKo_Ptboonoor-vZFtFYj2DdsIQFS_9SP7dWJTlB/s320/IMG_0528.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catching up with Grandma</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUx3hrMSImbxdREs7NMhBz71FsMWnsDEtbdq_PGOMPtpFURhyphenhyphenGShfbmtLD7zfAgXf48q2YlAgb1CaMAc2uUiCT9vSTo67O1oApOaAVcPOxKQXuo8JhL1QgKI2MNbGDanqWCsjn1wvcFFb/s1600/IMG_2334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUx3hrMSImbxdREs7NMhBz71FsMWnsDEtbdq_PGOMPtpFURhyphenhyphenGShfbmtLD7zfAgXf48q2YlAgb1CaMAc2uUiCT9vSTo67O1oApOaAVcPOxKQXuo8JhL1QgKI2MNbGDanqWCsjn1wvcFFb/s200/IMG_2334.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nina and Mateya got silly with us</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">On Saturday, <b><i>July 14th</i></b>, though I longed to be back in Wisconsin at Connor's construction-themed 3rd birthday party, I was at Texas State University in San Marcos with dozens of other hopeful foreign language teachers, testing in a room for 5 grueling hours. </span>The next morning, I was on a plane to Madison, trying to put my nagging thoughts about each answer to rest once and for all.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span">My <i><b>two weeks in Wisconsin</b></i> were packed, I tried to see as much of my friends and family as possible. I spent a few nights in Verona with the Lavins, sleeping in Olivia's pinktastic bedroom, and surprising Connor when he awoke--"Why are you still here?" The whole Peters/Lavin clad had a memorable day on Green Lake on the one day of my trip that saw clouds and temps below 80, hey, at least we didn't need to worry about burning. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJEX22bngUYye8TrwY8kqRtuVNzWPbq8PKMDZ7KogxqPfs0uXTCh5_18MP5RgjqNRCbFGIuTem2guWfacOgNdKqb65DXopn_q6aonaUnmSzNX13JucXYZ-ThdujHfNNYJ-n-15AgoqJSk/s1600/IMG_0536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJEX22bngUYye8TrwY8kqRtuVNzWPbq8PKMDZ7KogxqPfs0uXTCh5_18MP5RgjqNRCbFGIuTem2guWfacOgNdKqb65DXopn_q6aonaUnmSzNX13JucXYZ-ThdujHfNNYJ-n-15AgoqJSk/s320/IMG_0536.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angel face</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQnfJh4KyWayziKG_7A1tRqeWbe0abWIJrta6e4tcbi_tGj9fxgFP_3ybVuCqWZ_ODwg4i38r2IIBLO938BATQDUT8zPeoQNvjBfWxBLKrjJg7w4heHg7h1s8h3nX7iVRBrtUzNyvYV0p/s1600/IMG_0553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQnfJh4KyWayziKG_7A1tRqeWbe0abWIJrta6e4tcbi_tGj9fxgFP_3ybVuCqWZ_ODwg4i38r2IIBLO938BATQDUT8zPeoQNvjBfWxBLKrjJg7w4heHg7h1s8h3nX7iVRBrtUzNyvYV0p/s320/IMG_0553.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain Olivia keeps warm in her frog towel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All smiles when we are together on the Lake :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Connor helps Grant with opening their birthday gifts</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnAPqw_-n_8i2RdASDK3odpqxRh3eM8le8D3YuHVmWZQ0iXkPn0p3d8FUYEQ2nCHUsCG6gC8chbPSvY-ni178FHev6ujIqCbUFnc9iVfOJYyVQOO4QZ77-mdYhT2-pnjoiQUY-7UO00Uc/s1600/IMG_0532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnAPqw_-n_8i2RdASDK3odpqxRh3eM8le8D3YuHVmWZQ0iXkPn0p3d8FUYEQ2nCHUsCG6gC8chbPSvY-ni178FHev6ujIqCbUFnc9iVfOJYyVQOO4QZ77-mdYhT2-pnjoiQUY-7UO00Uc/s320/IMG_0532.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandpa with a happy Captain Connor</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">I took a <b><i>drive up to Oshkosh</i></b> for the chance to catch up with Molly, Holly and Kristen, and their adorable kids, including Baby Sydney. Nina brightened me up with a fabulous new 'do, and I had a fun afternoon with Mike in 'Tosa before meeting Tanya and Matt and Pierce (and even Ben and Julie for a bit) at Tyranena Brewery in Lake Mills for a picnic and a Kissers show. Tanya, Peggy and I met up in Johnson Creek for an extended happy hour and serious gabfest. I also squeezed in dinner with Holly and Lisa, a few visits with my Grandparents, and some Food Network with Mom and Dad. Phew!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJL5GmJBGT7XV4rgAM7z2oTcjrignIxpMmAWWZgwfLQfT9oGOL4uJx4Ltz5uHGSyvRajLyw9n9otHgRaCgqwjCII82JPOSHrlNxtnZYOy3vsXUdjLzJzqFrg0BN9vi6mxWO8zsUJOhsWP/s1600/IMG_0563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJL5GmJBGT7XV4rgAM7z2oTcjrignIxpMmAWWZgwfLQfT9oGOL4uJx4Ltz5uHGSyvRajLyw9n9otHgRaCgqwjCII82JPOSHrlNxtnZYOy3vsXUdjLzJzqFrg0BN9vi6mxWO8zsUJOhsWP/s320/IMG_0563.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving Anaala with my new 'do</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grant's pool at Gma and Gpa's</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner at Riley's Pub in Green Lake after a day on the water</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Connor keeping us smiling on Grandma's birthday</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wlPRLuUnUkj01VRq61h5IkmRGkGR9oE0RlT7V_WPquMJ-uSZ92WugFew3ewDhzKmSRCCL2y9SOFpxvK1V7_61iIenmGfmqPucsg6SzpravDoaiHxNAmdxvcTq0gyMyRyc5AMWfDseQhyphenhyphen/s1600/IMG_2356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a>To make <b><i>the journey back to ATX</i></b>, I had our newly purchased Dodge Caliber hatch back, filled with stuff (all good stuff, that I was grateful for, still more stuff just makes me dread our next move). After hitting a nasty storm in Southern Illinois, I finally arrived back at the Trumbull Compound in Eddyville to rest before the long second leg of my first solo cross-country drive, and to pick up Geppetto from his retreat with Grandma and Grandpa. Turns out that he had become buddies with Bob while I was away, and had gained a little belly and the nickname 'Meatball'. Day 2 of driving went well with my audiobook from Grandpa and Grandma Peters (<em>Killing Lincoln</em>) and Geppetto reminding me to stop every few hours. We were in Dallas by 10 pm, and just had to keep going to get home, arriving back in South Austin by bar time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out with Kate and Baby G</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grant is always ready to go</td></tr>
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The best thing out of all that 'stuff' in the car, as far as Joshua was concerned, was his bass amp, which had been sitting in Dan and Nina's garage for two years. He immediately brought it up and plugged in his guitar, I was happy to see him so giddy and into his music groove. I jumped back into my own groove once I was rested up from my journey, searching for the perfect teaching job, or just any secondary social studies job within a reasonable commute. Soon I was deep in applications, letters of intent and internet searches. It was exhausting, and I struggled to keep my anxieties from taking over.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petty's summer trim</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua sporting his bday gift-a Grateful Red T</td></tr>
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Next came a fun weekend celebrating <b><i>Joshua's birthday</i></b>, including dinner at the first Thai restaurant we ever tried in Austin, and another Dale Watson show, this time on the roof of Uncle Billy's overlooking Lake Travis, with JR and Kelly. <br />
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The following day, I dropped Joshua off at the airport for his <b><i>week in Denver</i></b> for the annual Emeritus conference. He got to experience the mile high elevation, as well as a Rocky's game and some microbrews while rubbing shoulders with the higher ups.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelly and I at Uncle Billy's</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dale and the boys between us and the sunset over Lake Travis</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Texas' oldest Live Oak tree, Goose Island State Park<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After countless sleepless nights, and a rollercoaster of emotions, I was able to end my contract with my former district and accept an offer from Crockett High School in South Austin, teaching Government and Sociology (and serving as yearbook advisor, can't escape that one). My commute has gone from an average of 30 minutes to 10 each way, and I am teaching subjects that I have a strong background in through UW and Norwich to students who are young adults rather than adolescents. It was for those reasons that I had to jump on the position...even after learning that I had passed my French certification exam (c'est incroyable!).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The AISD school year kicked off with the Superintendent giving the Convocation from Crockett to the entire district, beginning with this fun video parody of "Call Me Maybe", starring some of my new students:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.austinisd.org/announcements/watch-call-me-maybe-music-video">http://www.austinisd.org/announcements/watch-call-me-maybe-music-video</a></span><br />
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Outside our apartment, sporting Joshua's new hat</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We decided to celebrate with a <b><i>weekend camping trip</i></b> to the Gulf before school started, and after I finished my two weeks of training with my new district and campus. Goose Island State Park gave us a taste of the sea and our first night sleeping in Elliewood since moving to the Lonestar State. It seemed romantic and spontaneous, and we enjoyed a picnic of Josh's delicious barbeque seitan at sunset overlooking the bay, but then we remembered what sleeping in the Element in hot, sticky weather is like, with Geppetto panting next to our heads. By 10am we were back in Austin, though we did stop to see the 1000+ year old Live Oak tree on our way off the island.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our summer ended with one last road trip, over <b><i>Labor Day weekend</i></b> to surprise Tammie for her birthday. Jeremy and Heather arrived the night before, and she was really excited to see us all. We hunkered down in the thunderstorms left behind by Hurricane Isaac, played Wii, watched movies, and cooked yummy comfort food, perfect weekend.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petty taking in the sites</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The iconic Caldwell County Courthouse in Lockhart</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petty found the shade at our Goose Island campsite</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gulf shores</td></tr>
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Yesterday marked the <b><i>first day of autumn</i></b>, football is scheduling our weekends (Go Pack go! and C'mon Crockett Cougars!), and the weather is finally cooling with high temps in the 80s-90s. We have been getting back into the rhythms of the school year, and both of us are struggling to stay ahead of our demanding workloads. Taking advantage of this city helps us escape, like last Thursday night's Chris Robinson Band show at Antone's, an amazing rock concert in a packed downtown bar. Austin City Limits music festival is just a month away as well, but next on our horizon is our big move across the hall to a 2 bedroom unit, can't wait to spread out and have room for guests!<br />
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The Fallin'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11134130455092861035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162761472376373584.post-80735628720366848122012-06-07T18:41:00.000-05:002012-06-08T14:43:31.985-05:00Springtime Resurgence-Recap2012 has proved to be a very exciting year of growth for both Joshua and myself. Steady income, challenging work environments, and a sprinkle of weekend travel and concert-going has invigorated us after over a year of stress and uncertainty. This year began with our first holiday season away from other family since 2003/2004 when we were living in Wellington, NZ. It was a little lonely, but we were so tired from hectic work schedules, it was a relief to know that we had a few days with no plans. Working together in the kitchen, me taking the role of sous chef to Head Chef Joshua, we created a Christmas feast to gorge on for a few days. <br />
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The next day, we drove to San Antonio to visit Mission San Jose, one of the four San Antonio Missions, run by the National Park Service. It is still an active Catholic parish church, with many of its parishioners descendants of the Native Americans who built it and the surrounding missions in the early 1700s after Spanish monks, sponsored by the monarchy, braved the Texas frontier. We tried to capture some of the architectural beauty still visible today with our cameras. <br />
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For New Year's Eve, we hit up one of Austin's oldest, most legendary clubs, Antone's, to see Gary Clark Jr. He is a local guitar player/singer/song writer who is starting to get serious national attention. We took a bus downtown, I wore my sequined skirt, and we had a New Year's to remember. The show was great, including the opening blues singers, and so were the margaritas, seriously amazing bartenders. Somehow, we got lucky after stumbling around for a while, and found a cab to see us home safely not much after bar time. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy New Year's!</td></tr>
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In January, we spent a work week apart while Joshua was in San Diego getting in training for a new software program at his company. He got to see the Pacific again and even got out one night to see the Alabama Shakes, a band we had vainly waited in line to see just a week before in Austin. I was busy trying to pull together the yearbook after a nearly wasted first semester, and I was going strong with student council too, selling Val-O-Grams and preparing for our Lock In. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from our balcony at Tween Waters</td></tr>
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February brought a much-needed get away to Captiva Island, Florida for my cousin Dominick's wedding. It was a fun-filled long weekend, catching up with family we hadn't seen since together since our own nuptials and trying to keep up with them all at the bar. :) The resort allowed us to do our own thing, catch up poolside or at the breakfast buffet, all with the beautiful weather and sea breeze maintaining a completely relaxing environment. I definitely recommend a destination wedding to anyone who may be considering it...your guests who attend will love you for planning a fabulous vacation.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. and Mrs. Dominick Marino</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We clean up pretty nice after a night at The Crow's Nest!</td></tr>
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That Florida escape helped me get through another month until spring break. Mom and Dad were in San Antonio the same week, so we took them out to a real cowboy bar in the tiny old town of Gruene to see Texas legend Joe Ely. Gruene Hall has the original wooden floor and signs and wood-burning stove to make you feel you have stepped back in time. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe Ely rocks the stage under the Texas flag</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JBwO3NndkjFtsBbP9sswoyLy7KV3M8L-O4smQOHJfZuaAfqPG-oIIBqZi7sUKBUYIEyiOYA1PAMMcmnQxSYgzNb8FVPnhTdNrvBV-zwsfOGj0lfmo0Hgyp0qSsE40oDDSsrh-_crmb99/s1600/IMG_0370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JBwO3NndkjFtsBbP9sswoyLy7KV3M8L-O4smQOHJfZuaAfqPG-oIIBqZi7sUKBUYIEyiOYA1PAMMcmnQxSYgzNb8FVPnhTdNrvBV-zwsfOGj0lfmo0Hgyp0qSsE40oDDSsrh-_crmb99/s320/IMG_0370.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best find in San Antonio-yummy, homestyle, organic vegan food at The Green-gotta love a restaurant with their own garden!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from our River Walk hotel</td></tr>
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I stayed with Mom and Dad a few more days in San Antonio, and Mom and I shopped nearby and braved the tourist-crazy River Walk. It was a lot of fun-we saw the bar where Teddy Roosevelt rounded up the Rough Riders, had a few great margaritas, got some new clothes, checked out cool galleries and more. I just felt guilty days later when we learned that Mom's cold was actually pneumonia and she had been going strong with me all week, despite being terribly sick, what a trooper.</div>
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Spring break ended back in Austin for South by Southwest's music festival. Joshua and I spent two days downtown scoping out a variety of bands at very different venues. Friday we wandered around from Waterloo Records to Wando's to Sixth Street with some local friends showing us some new places. It was crowded everywhere with people from all over the world, so many accents and trendy clothing and hairstyles, it could make you dizzy. Then, we walked across the bridge to Auditorium Shores to enjoy our picnic dinner from Whole Foods and listen to The Counting Crows. It was a fun, romantic evening, but the Crows were a dread-locked disappointment and we had walked at least five miles over the course of the day, so we headed back to our car early to rest up for Saturday.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdASHTG6FCQddrUD2jkwOXRXtacKOak6czJ-Ridf0tRRQijyXY-OlDJUycQv8spudFQOmRl9wP8x4lVc8rDu9fDccbRi3LQg_a2MpJ6CAjufnyz7Xs8rDOGHkYjCTe1W1ra-ACk1MY-SJ7/s1600/IMG_0388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdASHTG6FCQddrUD2jkwOXRXtacKOak6czJ-Ridf0tRRQijyXY-OlDJUycQv8spudFQOmRl9wP8x4lVc8rDu9fDccbRi3LQg_a2MpJ6CAjufnyz7Xs8rDOGHkYjCTe1W1ra-ACk1MY-SJ7/s320/IMG_0388.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjYMBk2bZb7XWf9TwC7Wn8_EN9ekgK6JxIghXyMmtMTKhXunKYrbLGNxrnd7Iwx7iBh8b-S8nuEDthYL1LB1a35PYnNYCMlEXjCfFf1p4QTS24EP7R4yGe849QWciLBWtHfrxm8CmItmL/s1600/IMG_0385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjYMBk2bZb7XWf9TwC7Wn8_EN9ekgK6JxIghXyMmtMTKhXunKYrbLGNxrnd7Iwx7iBh8b-S8nuEDthYL1LB1a35PYnNYCMlEXjCfFf1p4QTS24EP7R4yGe849QWciLBWtHfrxm8CmItmL/s320/IMG_0385.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freshly stamped hand after getting in just before showtime</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gary Clark Jr. rocks it</td></tr>
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Saturday we were back downtown by 10am to secure a parking spot and a place in line outside one of our favorite venues in Austin-The Mohawk. On the line up were Gary Clark Jr, Blitzen Trapper and The Roots, among others. Waking up early and witnessing the emptying of the porta-potties ended up all being worth it when we walked in and scored the perfect spot to take it all in-above stage left. We camped out there all day, holding our perfect vantage point for the headlining Roots. Although a few people tried to elbow their way in, we held our ground and saw Questlove and the Boys from spitting distance.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2v-LufGuRgsDOJ2fTS2HW5NlgeoNQem8F_rLNFS9WUB2TRHTDj0mAzQRPRD_Bj3ZxNZUHpDFTg0fUFO0aP7lickItH6QMQbbxtcqTdyDZ0Unok5MGiUkIlocjtwuLfoefxCl71UiiUR8/s1600/IMG_0287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2v-LufGuRgsDOJ2fTS2HW5NlgeoNQem8F_rLNFS9WUB2TRHTDj0mAzQRPRD_Bj3ZxNZUHpDFTg0fUFO0aP7lickItH6QMQbbxtcqTdyDZ0Unok5MGiUkIlocjtwuLfoefxCl71UiiUR8/s400/IMG_0287.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Questlove sporting an Austin City Limits shirt</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVol-lzKjpjMjNJ2VMRBnOtGMAlYlkSolgnraVTb6wSNPpdxTaE4dIBtUMSrYAA3jr0uLxkCZUmTr7tTPEwp00LyqVrSa7o8jiPNFDFuxTRAkzl205TuWoA0kAVhz5rSXNHh4-3N_M_iR/s1600/IMG_0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVol-lzKjpjMjNJ2VMRBnOtGMAlYlkSolgnraVTb6wSNPpdxTaE4dIBtUMSrYAA3jr0uLxkCZUmTr7tTPEwp00LyqVrSa7o8jiPNFDFuxTRAkzl205TuWoA0kAVhz5rSXNHh4-3N_M_iR/s320/IMG_0299.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tuba player worked it </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKdosqPqoiS765fmYhyphenhyphenEHxTZC-AAvyfaOsGwX8koTH4WOvDx9C2zqkeEQO_T4qn9YR23E4qmzC62LgwwUguSMYufsa_z6hPp8RFRN3A_P-Js5RjIMjC87N0gGvdJ5ekPPg24wU8m_7m07/s1600/IMG_0295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKdosqPqoiS765fmYhyphenhyphenEHxTZC-AAvyfaOsGwX8koTH4WOvDx9C2zqkeEQO_T4qn9YR23E4qmzC62LgwwUguSMYufsa_z6hPp8RFRN3A_P-Js5RjIMjC87N0gGvdJ5ekPPg24wU8m_7m07/s320/IMG_0295.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRCf2f7bkwY759j3qSoiS8AKfMBoFg4dzHRfSiJBqreKS0Nkeo-RNIRG_4UyKxHIxnrYN71QWX86x2d_QCnm9Q-UH-MBJ4oOXfRlMPBolpqBqgyfgiegYhGo69j_Att0lrdtp6OsGcHBw/s1600/IMG_0460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRCf2f7bkwY759j3qSoiS8AKfMBoFg4dzHRfSiJBqreKS0Nkeo-RNIRG_4UyKxHIxnrYN71QWX86x2d_QCnm9Q-UH-MBJ4oOXfRlMPBolpqBqgyfgiegYhGo69j_Att0lrdtp6OsGcHBw/s320/IMG_0460.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua scored a set list</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMgCAJx3a9iiqyraZJYHDLm2S2eOExy9z0BpotkjVWe6LNLhhOy1DQrVJ8l6ycKF-I9sS3HUZcA6jZTEy7OuLipicFYSGu-daKQmo_KdeeEBLyYi3Jp4JmEyJhVfLPOZtLQv-UJrDhpT9/s1600/IMG_0340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMgCAJx3a9iiqyraZJYHDLm2S2eOExy9z0BpotkjVWe6LNLhhOy1DQrVJ8l6ycKF-I9sS3HUZcA6jZTEy7OuLipicFYSGu-daKQmo_KdeeEBLyYi3Jp4JmEyJhVfLPOZtLQv-UJrDhpT9/s320/IMG_0340.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua at The Clay Pit pondering his pakora...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcJlSfSIzop3S6QKvz3OL_u7jGAlnk0jiGP35oYT5r-1SYC6pv0rxqOlvrTFsLUjUDttuuolnQnL0aUbGhQNAZiJssNOJUYF8wmrLwF0e7Ld23wyt8lr0cYVahEwIv6HEQ2a263ypfetE/s1600/IMG_0331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcJlSfSIzop3S6QKvz3OL_u7jGAlnk0jiGP35oYT5r-1SYC6pv0rxqOlvrTFsLUjUDttuuolnQnL0aUbGhQNAZiJssNOJUYF8wmrLwF0e7Ld23wyt8lr0cYVahEwIv6HEQ2a263ypfetE/s320/IMG_0331.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All dressed up<br />
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The adventures continued following our amazing spring break week. We worked hard throughout April as I finally, after several weekends of all night work, finished the yearbook editing and Joshua clocked overtime hours at another facility. We even put in a joint effort at the student council lock-in, working as co-chaperones for the first half of the night. It was intense, directing a group of 50 13-15 year olds in games inside and outside, and monitoring a scavenger hunt that included Joshua hiding in dark hallways and scaring students as they searched for clues. </div>
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For my birthday, we hit the town, dinner at The Clay Pit, a wonderful Indian restaurant, followed by drinks and people watching on Sixth Street. JR and Kelly, Caroline and Jordan all joined us for margaritas and checking out the mayhem. There were bachelorette parties, leftovers from Eeyore's Birthday, Spurs playing on the jumbo screen, people being over-served, live music, and more craziness, just another typical Austin weekend. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCjKspe7Td3_slhYG1t2mT43uvEYyl0zufofIGLJrulvNNI3D2RISOsNnablUfJYOMC16SbeMsKVJeiA8ihA8ayDg7FZ177EQbB4iicOfIUMZAD_eakddjui44h4l9ewwgVVUY67JMjj5/s1600/IMG_0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCjKspe7Td3_slhYG1t2mT43uvEYyl0zufofIGLJrulvNNI3D2RISOsNnablUfJYOMC16SbeMsKVJeiA8ihA8ayDg7FZ177EQbB4iicOfIUMZAD_eakddjui44h4l9ewwgVVUY67JMjj5/s320/IMG_0344.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the show Joshua got this great shot with the capitol dome in the background</td></tr>
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The next weekend, the celebration continued with a Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers concert at the Frank Erwin Center on the UT campus. We sang and danced and rocked out, so much fun! It had been years since our last Petty show, so we were thirsty for American Girl and Last Dance and the many other favorites that they dug out for us to enjoy,<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WT1miw-3cOZ9Ho6uqN6EOBdKtyp72GBMVdj_I5j3Lnblk5OtsqW0OltA1-S-2NS6BKGulwyctFroYvS4SfWUihRT4c9a5uAMpHCwB4WvvAm9VRIjhlDIeydKFg3nP8GO7PCtgyKLYjbk/s1600/IMG_0342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WT1miw-3cOZ9Ho6uqN6EOBdKtyp72GBMVdj_I5j3Lnblk5OtsqW0OltA1-S-2NS6BKGulwyctFroYvS4SfWUihRT4c9a5uAMpHCwB4WvvAm9VRIjhlDIeydKFg3nP8GO7PCtgyKLYjbk/s320/IMG_0342.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Ready for Petty!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPd4G0txyem0uXeV-X-OOh0TjpNGVw1PRREVnge4cAPzxRBO8QVBMrK1YyW0at7vZsbq4IDAp_ULmjT6xXtPZza3L3hogTn4yJpkJgrA_QQdV75ujt_p044SfujTaDvqtxPxUaTSQ1sbg/s1600/IMG_0346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPd4G0txyem0uXeV-X-OOh0TjpNGVw1PRREVnge4cAPzxRBO8QVBMrK1YyW0at7vZsbq4IDAp_ULmjT6xXtPZza3L3hogTn4yJpkJgrA_QQdV75ujt_p044SfujTaDvqtxPxUaTSQ1sbg/s320/IMG_0346.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a>Wait, there's more, I'm telling you, spring is the busiest time of year in the land of triple digit summers. Next up, Relay for Life! After fund-raising for weeks, we raised over twice as much as last year, $5000+ from our middle school team alone! Thanks to all who supported our team, we ended up as the 2nd highest earning team at the Buda/Kyle RFL. Because we met our goal, our supportive principal allowed students and teachers to dye their hair unnatural colors for the final 2 weeks of school (normally against school rules). So I went from the above look to the below look with my stylist and some violet hair coloring. I chose violet because it would show up best on top of my current color and because Grandma Jack used to like a poem called "When I'm an old lady", which included a line about dying her hair purple and other things she would do to show that she was free. It has been a lot of fun having purple hair, though it is slowly fading out, it looks different with the lighting or what I'm wearing, I'd keep it longer if I could get away with it.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our WMS RFL team, or as many members as we could round up!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Relay for Life morning, violet hair and tie-dyed team shirt, check!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7mN5Kccj5SKpwveFJPISgobrOLJpZwFF8D4nkuidb54vuKQWV-jSbWwM8MLQnnkPeV4QKt4XuHrBCFPwlC2QHzogd9pWY6iEsDxQ72YssUj8vwGlEhc-Lntyd2_D4N8gQKd9tpQsWgvb/s1600/IMG_0349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7mN5Kccj5SKpwveFJPISgobrOLJpZwFF8D4nkuidb54vuKQWV-jSbWwM8MLQnnkPeV4QKt4XuHrBCFPwlC2QHzogd9pWY6iEsDxQ72YssUj8vwGlEhc-Lntyd2_D4N8gQKd9tpQsWgvb/s320/IMG_0349.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Relay for Life just cannot be contained indoors!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Relay was moved indoors due to the soggy conditions of the track and field it is normally on, and thunderstorm warnings. I didn't get the full effect, so I hope to walk again next year. Still, it was very moving to see all the luminarias in decorated bags light up the hallways and see the students' reactions to the memorial service. Some of them have seen the horrible truth of cancer at a very tender age and it is hard to see that pain. At the same time, it was therapeutic to listen to their stories and share my own. Once I began counting up the many people I have known affected by this disease, it was a little overwhelming. It seems like the list multiplies every year...</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luminaria bag decorated for Grandma</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgU7Ian6dqgS03gHLgfCjs7fm5SOB8L4KWIYf1TQKCuojHousa5iQNCy4pMFIn-VPWw6zHw2KINdY8Fqru1peThypP8ICWpvbgSLOKjB3jhdbn3gPK0aQrhJ82ZY8Te8hG7t2BhWalV0X/s1600/IMG_0355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgU7Ian6dqgS03gHLgfCjs7fm5SOB8L4KWIYf1TQKCuojHousa5iQNCy4pMFIn-VPWw6zHw2KINdY8Fqru1peThypP8ICWpvbgSLOKjB3jhdbn3gPK0aQrhJ82ZY8Te8hG7t2BhWalV0X/s320/IMG_0355.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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The next day, we relaxed downtown, breakfast at Whole Foods, walking the lake trails, and touring record stores in search of a good find, which turned up in a Prince album at Waterloo Records. Geppetto was finally feeling better after a long recovery from a back injury earlier in the year, so he got a much needed grooming, leaving him very happy, with a rainforest-scented mohawk.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMblsjRtqvc3EhUvqr3hzUr2cSB8g6UCN3Szwf-n1l7bl1hXAaC3gE2tCIT5kxOtA2jRRs4TRHB0m2-lbwpfZQJ51vkRv4kFeCgOt_TGBvti_y3yaDN149WJADtv3RUUs5cWrJ7qmpSta1/s1600/IMG_0356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMblsjRtqvc3EhUvqr3hzUr2cSB8g6UCN3Szwf-n1l7bl1hXAaC3gE2tCIT5kxOtA2jRRs4TRHB0m2-lbwpfZQJ51vkRv4kFeCgOt_TGBvti_y3yaDN149WJADtv3RUUs5cWrJ7qmpSta1/s320/IMG_0356.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The following weekend called for a road-trip, destination--Dallas!</div>
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Saturday morning, May 19, I was up and at the ACC testing center at 7:30 AM to take the Social Studies 8-12 certification exam. It was 4.5 hrs, 130+ questions, but I felt like I knew most of them and left fairly confident. Joshua and Geppetto picked me up at 1:00 and we headed north. Petty guarded the hotel room while Joshua and I found the Gexa Pavillion downtown, near the Cotton Bowl arena. Luckily for Joshua, they had a great selection of local beer, and luckily for me, there was Dave Matthew's own Dreaming Tree wine, which I really enjoyed despite normally avoiding chardonnay. Oh right, did I mention that the reason for this road trip was to see the Dave Matthews Band tour kick-off, our first show since The Woodlands as new Texans, back in September 2010? Well, if you haven't gathered it yet, the reasons behind our road trips are usually based on concerts, historical sites, visiting friends, or a combination thereof.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just another violet-haired fan enjoying a little vino before the show</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dallas bed head</td></tr>
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After an amazing show, including many of our favorite songs, including "Loving Wings" as an opener, "Save Me" and "If I Had it All", "So Damn Lucky" and a few new songs off their upcoming album, we headed back to our hotel room and 'crashed'. :) The next day, we hit the Spiral Diner and Bakery for their wonderful vegan breakfast, including a chocolate chip pancake appetizer, amazing tofu scramble and homemade sodas from their own fountain. We took a few bakery goodies to go, and then drove a few miles to one of the historic Dallas landmarks we had decided to check out, Daley Plaza and the surrounding area, which made up the parade route that saw the assassination of JFK. It was a surprisingly small, compact area: the plaza, the corner, the 6th story window of a book depository, the infamous grassy knoll (complete with its resident conspiracy theorist/historical exploiter), and a few blocks away, a poignant, simple memorial to the President, which reminded me of the Rothko chapel in its use of lines and stone to protect and send a strong message of peace and hope.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDoPCNFIlgvDCTNXKC2nuApHcvCJnXZ34LW4gkWIpmsEFBZBTCRY-TuoCVAySQmhFEemYmC4HFwssfy_4DlfJ4NhjP5DS7HlW8Qk-AH2nPhme5z0UB11Yw6vXt2ZPAx9I79llgJOEh_a_/s1600/IMG_0371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDoPCNFIlgvDCTNXKC2nuApHcvCJnXZ34LW4gkWIpmsEFBZBTCRY-TuoCVAySQmhFEemYmC4HFwssfy_4DlfJ4NhjP5DS7HlW8Qk-AH2nPhme5z0UB11Yw6vXt2ZPAx9I79llgJOEh_a_/s320/IMG_0371.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua smirking at Spiral Diner</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdClEeLNUhQK-gaUOH-tB2bKkFzgsGeba1N7TGQbej50dv9S1YHoinGhnHK_4QnTm-iSCUf2aUKU59JDfKUWGQOGsbRG_0bvRk0h1sTqPYcK1kHC8ezxI4Yv6df-js9NGXMgx49hmwTdU/s1600/IMG_0373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdClEeLNUhQK-gaUOH-tB2bKkFzgsGeba1N7TGQbej50dv9S1YHoinGhnHK_4QnTm-iSCUf2aUKU59JDfKUWGQOGsbRG_0bvRk0h1sTqPYcK1kHC8ezxI4Yv6df-js9NGXMgx49hmwTdU/s400/IMG_0373.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petty and I on the "Grassy Knoll"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-StnAaCBZTy8zf7cdDWYY2EhQ4Iy0ekw7YbZL2QR_TFKm8jsj5J_5YWac8cg1Veu5rS9A_YEkELJCSBKYjg_zkO9ORB-x8imIGfH1y1eoUkLbMwh3ZtZdJdVj-5cxLh4p_Sc912PwFRq/s1600/IMG_0372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-StnAaCBZTy8zf7cdDWYY2EhQ4Iy0ekw7YbZL2QR_TFKm8jsj5J_5YWac8cg1Veu5rS9A_YEkELJCSBKYjg_zkO9ORB-x8imIGfH1y1eoUkLbMwh3ZtZdJdVj-5cxLh4p_Sc912PwFRq/s320/IMG_0372.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua takes it all in</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxm7LQ8TU_30i86IK5kh7Q_2-xSNUlXcW_ymQ2OtFvnoFC_LkSAdGLMiG8Vx4c9yQfzRlU9r1T_v_ag9O8b3WvwXFAs1UJ3TZNBK-GIwbPwFP5xBrvYW04uMYjKRSkl-W7OL4oEtdC0OvB/s1600/IMG_0374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxm7LQ8TU_30i86IK5kh7Q_2-xSNUlXcW_ymQ2OtFvnoFC_LkSAdGLMiG8Vx4c9yQfzRlU9r1T_v_ag9O8b3WvwXFAs1UJ3TZNBK-GIwbPwFP5xBrvYW04uMYjKRSkl-W7OL4oEtdC0OvB/s400/IMG_0374.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqx5pi9GpXpG-iNFXlvBjzA13NCSv0lMloXdx8tiOp1JuwQrWTRfy1yBrQd8dZQb2GPrfM_Ky7ikchcLuMiR3Lt3__DTGKV2o1wXUU6aAV6hmD3Te9LbBum3HoRDwoxSTYsl3khPcdL-o/s1600/IMG_0395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqx5pi9GpXpG-iNFXlvBjzA13NCSv0lMloXdx8tiOp1JuwQrWTRfy1yBrQd8dZQb2GPrfM_Ky7ikchcLuMiR3Lt3__DTGKV2o1wXUU6aAV6hmD3Te9LbBum3HoRDwoxSTYsl3khPcdL-o/s320/IMG_0395.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65I2iTTZcOryt7XOZxYttc346NhGp5Evl8IC-g6cZANyHlRecuE_OOH0OwHdEJH49IB9qrHZGkX9wj68nAGChDpCtpovdqAtXkdZz00EQIbgf4wUUYGJeyg0QSOXkjxn_AzNVuMjNOEkf/s1600/IMG_0394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65I2iTTZcOryt7XOZxYttc346NhGp5Evl8IC-g6cZANyHlRecuE_OOH0OwHdEJH49IB9qrHZGkX9wj68nAGChDpCtpovdqAtXkdZz00EQIbgf4wUUYGJeyg0QSOXkjxn_AzNVuMjNOEkf/s320/IMG_0394.jpg" width="240" /></a>How did we top that weekend in Dallas? ...we just added to the month the following weekend by taking a day trip out west to Fredericksburg and the heart of Hill Country. With only a week of school left and beautiful weather beckoning, we had to get away, if only for a day. The Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, which we have decided will always be when we celebrate our anniversary, we drove west, stopping first at Pedernales State Park where we picked up our State Park pass and a little sunburn after a hike down to the falls and back, which turned out to be much more of a work out than we anticipated when we left with only a single bottle of water and no pack. It was a gorgeous view as we walked down, and we met families from around the world along the way. We took our shoes off and enjoyed the water swirling past our feet...there hasn't been that much rain lately, so it wasn't much of a current, still no swimming allowed at the top of the falls.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLEbNb2Qj7xK-O2Ip0U7OQlDyCYR0pMmXN0CoycE_bRcN5w14uIh3nycpYB3wdXNERmdB257u7yVB7xCQQoZfEDoVagKBUTOE_011j1dBvnreoQHeq17csON0MdLGdMwLIJ8GlKM0PJCG/s1600/IMG_0397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLEbNb2Qj7xK-O2Ip0U7OQlDyCYR0pMmXN0CoycE_bRcN5w14uIh3nycpYB3wdXNERmdB257u7yVB7xCQQoZfEDoVagKBUTOE_011j1dBvnreoQHeq17csON0MdLGdMwLIJ8GlKM0PJCG/s320/IMG_0397.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ijNvRRc8MehCKiRbcDP6vqF1_raJZ3LiY3Kln26HoL_oAzMhLYgaBG3ZuQCqLT-g1HtJ0Ee8qS-x5HmR9hP0uFTmpyOntrxHr6fUzsrKarQSNBfg6OnaB699xnobj2Cc-H5P6da5XcKP/s1600/IMG_0399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ijNvRRc8MehCKiRbcDP6vqF1_raJZ3LiY3Kln26HoL_oAzMhLYgaBG3ZuQCqLT-g1HtJ0Ee8qS-x5HmR9hP0uFTmpyOntrxHr6fUzsrKarQSNBfg6OnaB699xnobj2Cc-H5P6da5XcKP/s320/IMG_0399.JPG" width="320" /></a>Next up, we drove on to Johnson City, and then Fredericksburg, passing a dozen or so vineyards along the way. We stopped at one that we liked the look of, and it turned out to have a great white wine we both liked the tasting of called Texas Dirty Girl, which felt appropriate after our hike. We took a bottle, and tried one of the peach bellinis as well, made by blending white wine with fresh local peaches and ice. We sipped our bellini outside, taking in the view of the vineyard and sounds of the country music band playing on the nearby stage. It was a perfect afternoon, capped by a stop at a roadside farm stand for some peaches, which Joshua tuned into peach pancakes three-ways for Sunday breakfast (diced up in the batter, sliced on top of the pancakes, and infused in the syrup, I married a culinary genius!).</div>The Fallin'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11134130455092861035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162761472376373584.post-68304056988151873002012-06-07T13:37:00.001-05:002012-06-07T13:37:54.893-05:00Springtime Resurgence-School's Out!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNFp8Gnl8Gmfslz-L38I0f2qCPQVUDt2NlRGwFtbZ_1S999BQPf7ITD9SoC6ulWDVqHXLZSZgQu_E8C3y-PXE_YCEMy-bsmke4jT9gPiPHML2e1kfAfRUqMynTsh8HKP4Ej688YX-MUnK/s1600/IMG_0449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNFp8Gnl8Gmfslz-L38I0f2qCPQVUDt2NlRGwFtbZ_1S999BQPf7ITD9SoC6ulWDVqHXLZSZgQu_E8C3y-PXE_YCEMy-bsmke4jT9gPiPHML2e1kfAfRUqMynTsh8HKP4Ej688YX-MUnK/s200/IMG_0449.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geppetto-"I need tummy rubs!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loki and Bartleby-"Wake up Mom!"</td></tr>
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Wow, my first post of the year and we are already six months deep in 2012. It is Thursday, one week since my last day of Teaching Year 2, and I am slowly calming down from the frazzled, anxiety-ridden state I found myself in by the end of the semester. Gradually, I'm getting used to this new routine of Joshua going to work and me staying home, deciding what project to tackle. I'm usually awakened by a few furry faces, as you can see above, who are also adapting to this new routine.<br />
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Friday I packed up my room into boxes, clearing out every nook and cranny to prepare for my move across the building and the new computers all the faculty in the district will receive-yay, finally time to say good-bye to my floppy disk drive and hello to a faster processor! Joshua and Geppetto picked me up and we bid Room 194 farewell, time to move on.<br />
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To celebrate our accomplishments in this fourth semester, and the start of summer, our little family drove to Corpus Christi to finally see the Texas coast and the Gulf of Mexico. As we followed our GPS through the rural highways from Kyle and listened to the radio, I slowly began letting go of the responsibilities that were finally out of my hands. I got out the map and was pleasantly surprised to see that we were headed straight for a town out of our family's stories-Beeville-where Aunt Marti was stationed during her navy years and my parents, sister and I visited her, creating some of my first memories of Texas. It is still an area that time seems to have forgotten, we stopped at historical markers to read of booming periods during the frontier and railroad eras. </div>
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We enjoyed our night at the Holiday Inn with Joshua taking in the flatscreen and Geppetto loving the vastness of the King sized bed. The area was bustling with families enjoying the start of summer vacation, and, as it turned out, a Haliburton convention reminding us that we were in big oil country.</div>
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Saturday morning, we woke up early, and headed out to see the USS Lexington, which is docked in Corpus Christi Bay and is now a museum. The longest serving Essex-class air craft carrier it was commissioned in 1943 and in service through 1991, despite quite a bit of action in the Pacific Theater, including a kamikaze attack and a torpedo hit. It was nicknamed the "Blue Ghost" for its color and the fact that it eluded the Japanese for so long. Joshua and I were in awe at the absolute enormity of this vessel, and of the lifestyle that the sailors aboard endured. It gave me an even greater sense of respect for Grandpa Strope, his brothers, and the many others who have served in the navy and marines. We climbed the well-worn ladders, which Grandpa says they would slide down on their palms, swinging their legs to the side, crazy sailors...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiknZd5Qgq4f866nOEKKV5aCwGCtkVxVsl1oxbfY3vWqpsA4Tz6L_EQqSf_TdokJac2EkgqLLWPKzNWU1d0JkXehHeyA80E3ZejRz0HgqtTplIYfBYMe9FHR_iav8vJtXdfk9cuwQOYS2_/s1600/IMG_0422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiknZd5Qgq4f866nOEKKV5aCwGCtkVxVsl1oxbfY3vWqpsA4Tz6L_EQqSf_TdokJac2EkgqLLWPKzNWU1d0JkXehHeyA80E3ZejRz0HgqtTplIYfBYMe9FHR_iav8vJtXdfk9cuwQOYS2_/s200/IMG_0422.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5SFL-1MGJy5hsc6c2q_nNN93TLmW4rIpzBgSk097j8Zw-R-tD1C8oHpUiaVPduInjUagtTzPRbqi7A7uE2fCilwcs-JBBLiXtFN8rXH5yrjyJLndcVrtVaNVdZnf08ySpy4Mnqr-Y8EO/s1600/IMG_0420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5SFL-1MGJy5hsc6c2q_nNN93TLmW4rIpzBgSk097j8Zw-R-tD1C8oHpUiaVPduInjUagtTzPRbqi7A7uE2fCilwcs-JBBLiXtFN8rXH5yrjyJLndcVrtVaNVdZnf08ySpy4Mnqr-Y8EO/s200/IMG_0420.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua taking in the Captain's view</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a turn at the wheel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua was way too excited to sit in the gunner's chair</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBcieGSnEgxUQ8jpNyQE0Zgle_MS_fJEDZEuhHNoLXFGjgi28E9BzctMnfDtRKfIljh_cW-c27XOpCsXOMFHgMtwO7T7yV0k6meg9jZn00EdXgchOQbSqnwZvF1BBViH2HePUHMKhWHyN/s1600/IMG_0445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBcieGSnEgxUQ8jpNyQE0Zgle_MS_fJEDZEuhHNoLXFGjgi28E9BzctMnfDtRKfIljh_cW-c27XOpCsXOMFHgMtwO7T7yV0k6meg9jZn00EdXgchOQbSqnwZvF1BBViH2HePUHMKhWHyN/s400/IMG_0445.JPG" width="400" /></a>After an action-packed morning, we headed downtown for lunch at one of the only veg-friendly options we could find--Urban Fare Cafe--where we chowed down on falafel, daal and a mango smoothie. It was just what we needed before we headed to the beach, driving a little south, we hit the Gulf of Mexico and Mustang Island State Park. The awesome thing about Texas State Park beaches-you can drive on the beach! So, we drove through the aisle of vehicles and found our own spot, popped open the hatch back and enjoyed the sea breeze and sound of waves crashing. Geppetto got his first taste of seawater, and we can now add waves to the list of things he doesn't like/is afraid of. Even a few inches of water around his little paws was too much, so he sniffed around piles of sea debris further inland and walked up and down the beach with us, at a safe distance from the water. We took a nap in this relaxing environment, made a mental note to bring a tent, towels, and books next time, and then began the 3 hour drive back to Austin. We passed a half dozen state parks between the Gulf area and San Antonio, so we will be back...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petty loved the Gulf-from a safe distance</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIg-71xUls_O3fRDiZFHvhMWcbsM-nefB5oo8xl2I2VBNrpjEGIsAm24BNDumNJXC_dbelMonkdGw3wGepnEvuFfiio9nEkgdaPUFcOzoWiH12BuQlD4UsJU1Hj20FxEWIjd15q0g7x0w5/s1600/IMG_0444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIg-71xUls_O3fRDiZFHvhMWcbsM-nefB5oo8xl2I2VBNrpjEGIsAm24BNDumNJXC_dbelMonkdGw3wGepnEvuFfiio9nEkgdaPUFcOzoWiH12BuQlD4UsJU1Hj20FxEWIjd15q0g7x0w5/s320/IMG_0444.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
</div>The Fallin'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11134130455092861035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162761472376373584.post-8212880624239118422011-12-20T13:01:00.002-06:002011-12-22T15:26:34.560-06:002011-We're glad to see you go!The start of this year found Joshua and I at our lowest point, desperately trying to survive this economy, like many others. My first year of teaching happened to be one of the most dramatic in the state and nation's recent history, with extreme budget cuts leaving many educators out of work or facing new challenges in the classroom. I am fortunate enough to be working in a district that went out of its way to save teaching jobs, and my contract was renewed for another year.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFh6qNS2mjnlce-AWDYa9iVheVFlbaXOpoxMOZNtA3im4Xf2BZdqJlLbw3aZ85Xg62GJckamN_xHYdrVH3hV9WoYlZuaYaalLeQKRW3S1MakBvUXJ3nE0bpEXOjTAMDvHof6eyc3xVSPje/s1600/IMG_1846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFh6qNS2mjnlce-AWDYa9iVheVFlbaXOpoxMOZNtA3im4Xf2BZdqJlLbw3aZ85Xg62GJckamN_xHYdrVH3hV9WoYlZuaYaalLeQKRW3S1MakBvUXJ3nE0bpEXOjTAMDvHof6eyc3xVSPje/s320/IMG_1846.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>At the end of the school year, we had visits from Heather, as well as Tanya and Matt. We enjoyed a fun night together starting with dinner on Lake Travis, and then on to the outdoor venue in Bee Cave known as The Backyard for Willie Nelson's birthday concert. It was a much-needed fun weekend that allowed Joshua and I to show off this wonderful city to loved ones.<br />
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</div><div>A few weeks later, I completed my mega-portfolio and passed my state exams, leaving me certified as a Generalist for 4th-8th grade in the state of Texas. In June, a few days after finishing my first year of teaching, I flew to New England to attend the required one week residency for my Master's of Diplomacy from Norwich University in Vermont. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpZR5BCIOkhmfJFg04euYQQdxsrUxNE9FDvpGLJ4ftY5fc1mdNQ_KMzSSTqg7FQGDKbPMOTIcAXNpzNly6D7EOj_wSBPH9_l-GRo6o2smUa26VfguYDoC40ikxuXnUcFrSMw-xhpWaUds/s1600/IMG_1864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpZR5BCIOkhmfJFg04euYQQdxsrUxNE9FDvpGLJ4ftY5fc1mdNQ_KMzSSTqg7FQGDKbPMOTIcAXNpzNly6D7EOj_wSBPH9_l-GRo6o2smUa26VfguYDoC40ikxuXnUcFrSMw-xhpWaUds/s320/IMG_1864.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhas9wVJHf9Iji3WZyqVs8X3fYbnqz0vEDru5g4bXRrjY10iY0ND-5tsAyj14qUhcPFMJo2wvicjrusTzGM4hRbfm6a37JKnjjOdX0mDslxwFcr2ozPg3wlauIOr9U_GBBj4jrDCM1QL6Q2/s1600/IMG_1893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhas9wVJHf9Iji3WZyqVs8X3fYbnqz0vEDru5g4bXRrjY10iY0ND-5tsAyj14qUhcPFMJo2wvicjrusTzGM4hRbfm6a37JKnjjOdX0mDslxwFcr2ozPg3wlauIOr9U_GBBj4jrDCM1QL6Q2/s320/IMG_1893.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQ35r3kKiCCXOtnQieXJFOshZt0V4p2EIfuYOSzb1d6xg1QlwJqYVdZuVrlLpcneRDHOhqhyphenhyphenQuF8cDzpM_0VwDUqckFIXb3uD_2Xq06MamtyxYjgarrfneg8HL_az04diXCc9K1vwWtxf/s1600/IMG_1901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQ35r3kKiCCXOtnQieXJFOshZt0V4p2EIfuYOSzb1d6xg1QlwJqYVdZuVrlLpcneRDHOhqhyphenhyphenQuF8cDzpM_0VwDUqckFIXb3uD_2Xq06MamtyxYjgarrfneg8HL_az04diXCc9K1vwWtxf/s320/IMG_1901.jpg" width="240" /></a>The campus was beautiful, and the cool Vermont weather was a welcome relief from drought-striken Texas. Although the trip was an unwelcome expense for Joshua and I, it was an amazing experience that left me feeling very positive about my future and provided an opportunity to be inspired by my fellow grads, who are also facing obstacles and looking for ways to put their new degrees to work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-ZHjMNt7V8l0H0ENORTl_W47MM69RDkt8YPXwy97D7QBnf4QRwNC9sxuc10q91YjWQFhyphenhyphenEtX4DudhBF8BZwU59P6mtckyaR1entVm-Q2TX79wI9Z_YOA6jpLfs4WG0iotXAhNvYtb1ya/s1600/IMG_1894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-ZHjMNt7V8l0H0ENORTl_W47MM69RDkt8YPXwy97D7QBnf4QRwNC9sxuc10q91YjWQFhyphenhyphenEtX4DudhBF8BZwU59P6mtckyaR1entVm-Q2TX79wI9Z_YOA6jpLfs4WG0iotXAhNvYtb1ya/s320/IMG_1894.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Joshua and I enjoyed the following month by seeking out cheap ways to have fun, and taking advantage of our central apartment location before our upcoming move to the south side of the city. And, yes, we gave the furry boys mohawks to beat the insane summer heat... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pXY__FJcW-XhomyqBmiKXGpopqFd1cncmTQ6ox59NOdvVcKXLjc5Y97ZFqIreLDBrTeD-h0y4iG0cdyMB5lxx8Q1HQWGNzfxPRXRuoTOXoU0hsKRyz_Ri9jhKKCTBQrCta373aHPw9V_/s1600/IMG_1947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pXY__FJcW-XhomyqBmiKXGpopqFd1cncmTQ6ox59NOdvVcKXLjc5Y97ZFqIreLDBrTeD-h0y4iG0cdyMB5lxx8Q1HQWGNzfxPRXRuoTOXoU0hsKRyz_Ri9jhKKCTBQrCta373aHPw9V_/s320/IMG_1947.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSomO81Vo7uBoODrLD689J4995iwx9QAMIbZaZE2yK6mLQkV58p6VAPSidfVS3lO0tXwwiKh4DOyommLbp6m8tAtSIXGblh7KxajBl2rN89YYXiQc00UbfQgcbuGAa6t7gpjqRces5ySdA/s1600/IMG_1910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSomO81Vo7uBoODrLD689J4995iwx9QAMIbZaZE2yK6mLQkV58p6VAPSidfVS3lO0tXwwiKh4DOyommLbp6m8tAtSIXGblh7KxajBl2rN89YYXiQc00UbfQgcbuGAa6t7gpjqRces5ySdA/s320/IMG_1910.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course, he was still actively looking for a permanent position and I was completing my final semester at Norwich online. Eventually, one of my new connections led Joshua to an interview, and a new career at a senior living facility in northwest Austin. He was still in the application stages when I flew home to visit my family and wait for the arrival of our new nephew. The new job in a new industry has taken Joshua through an experience not unlike my jump into education last year. He has learned a lot in his first 5 months, and he's just getting started. He's working in the business office, working with healthcare providers and insurance companies, and mingling with the friendly residents whenever he can.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; background-color: white; color: black;">While I was back in Wisconsin for 4 weeks, I was lucky to spend a lot of time with my beautiful 7 year old niece Olivia, and adorable 2 year old nephew Connor, as well as their new brother Grant, who arrived on July 27. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3hLSMlrK3rw8sxc2PXuaLsQWhA0PebLZyiIOyce6FXWG0o8LcpGLWfkq9grrXlbzofuo1MPrxzT-qGb14P_w0Tr4Ou0fFBErFgDWDlPLOduchEyhgNhEpv0Q3x5dV03Zg1egC8G35-UZ/s1600/IMG_2038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3hLSMlrK3rw8sxc2PXuaLsQWhA0PebLZyiIOyce6FXWG0o8LcpGLWfkq9grrXlbzofuo1MPrxzT-qGb14P_w0Tr4Ou0fFBErFgDWDlPLOduchEyhgNhEpv0Q3x5dV03Zg1egC8G35-UZ/s400/IMG_2038.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: white;">I also tried to catch up with as many friends and family members as possible, and I stood up in Ben and Julie's wedding, which was an adventure in itself...Rain storms and a slow chairlift ride to the top of a ski hill do not mix, though they do result in good stories and more reason to start drinking before dinner.</span></span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEice7rf6rz-Lz8n1aUDyUc3oVOAnX-lKHRk9tFhP6BwsMujIAKPv19LvSKQsp0sysxJVdvFqPBNSClfqgcD9DVxl_HZ495sV91D25-OAvvBxtG_VbKKBjIolqmA5r_D8bOjk0aT9haHm1m7/s1600/IMG_2059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEice7rf6rz-Lz8n1aUDyUc3oVOAnX-lKHRk9tFhP6BwsMujIAKPv19LvSKQsp0sysxJVdvFqPBNSClfqgcD9DVxl_HZ495sV91D25-OAvvBxtG_VbKKBjIolqmA5r_D8bOjk0aT9haHm1m7/s320/IMG_2059.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GEmZ4QQGzCPctiZUEuXz97N2gTtaEtjUvMNaDx9LNnQ3yCyPWH76gvu1WbJaYiul6BRqzfV8qrthKm8gEc0u8JMPnCdm_9ZTDJyJKiUhyphenhyphenQu1lCBMeSDdaKOXMHLgEcMs-_P9O9Vhr1p2/s1600/IMG_2063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GEmZ4QQGzCPctiZUEuXz97N2gTtaEtjUvMNaDx9LNnQ3yCyPWH76gvu1WbJaYiul6BRqzfV8qrthKm8gEc0u8JMPnCdm_9ZTDJyJKiUhyphenhyphenQu1lCBMeSDdaKOXMHLgEcMs-_P9O9Vhr1p2/s320/IMG_2063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_mMGUL7gzuqNRf_7J9o_sgOxE_NHnT1bAmpjaC4BRvy0l1CsASkDrqREoRialfzr_EM_XvNrWbh1HLK1fHXnMhaNquB5_C0aeVIHhGD_4B3R_frGCeaZxHz2cVKzbeLk_iQ9-xXxwGeY/s1600/IMG_0094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_mMGUL7gzuqNRf_7J9o_sgOxE_NHnT1bAmpjaC4BRvy0l1CsASkDrqREoRialfzr_EM_XvNrWbh1HLK1fHXnMhaNquB5_C0aeVIHhGD_4B3R_frGCeaZxHz2cVKzbeLk_iQ9-xXxwGeY/s320/IMG_0094.jpg" width="320" /></a>When I came home to Austin, it was to a new apartment in the south side of the city. Joshua's sister and brother came down to help him move us over his birthday weekend. Of course, I cannot thank them enough, especially considering the triple digit temps that they were working in. Our new place is wonderful, we finally have all the amenities that we couldn't afford downtown (Geppetto loves the dog park!) and we have found a new favorite Thai restaurant nearby.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The fall was a busy one for us, as we tried to get our new schedules in sync. I am teaching a new class this year, journalism, as well as French, and producing the yearbook, co-sponsoring student council (which I started last spring), and sponsoring a UIL academic team. All these new things made this semester nearly as busy and stressful for me as last year, which was frustrating (I thought this was supposed to get easier!). Bartleby does a good impression of me grouchy and tired:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOkXBJ8890fY35kKJa2UY-yujM3KWTh7rHAkFWYh8muo6kaq-bCV99V7d8n3_chmjtCSYvTX7cxJ9uOJ51ZoqWTx7MmEsJ195MS9Diu48Axg-K09HGp-CkVqYAU2QLUFMmZzbrWkgr0K7/s1600/IMG_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOkXBJ8890fY35kKJa2UY-yujM3KWTh7rHAkFWYh8muo6kaq-bCV99V7d8n3_chmjtCSYvTX7cxJ9uOJ51ZoqWTx7MmEsJ195MS9Diu48Axg-K09HGp-CkVqYAU2QLUFMmZzbrWkgr0K7/s320/IMG_0027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At any rate, visits from Jaime, and Heather and Danielle in October and my dad, plus Colleen, Rob and Emma in the November helped get me through my third semester as a teacher and Joshua's first few months in the health care field. Call us if you are in the area-we want to show you this city!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc996X7xq83aMHsJm9UkOAxAmo7G-jReWioYG0_l0xGYX6hoQHSzApT_ietPPQTmRqs3mHR_6fzO0P_9mFoxEOBYiez7RBK6TIo0FDLgQNA6-86-WId1h0CIEEgqBJZ9ssOfoDc0O2FyK-/s1600/IMG_0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc996X7xq83aMHsJm9UkOAxAmo7G-jReWioYG0_l0xGYX6hoQHSzApT_ietPPQTmRqs3mHR_6fzO0P_9mFoxEOBYiez7RBK6TIo0FDLgQNA6-86-WId1h0CIEEgqBJZ9ssOfoDc0O2FyK-/s200/IMG_0087.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our fall concerts included seeing Buddy Guy at the new Austin City Limits theater in the fancy W Hotel downtown, Bon Iver (Eau Claire's favorite hipster) at the beautiful Long Center at Auditorium Shores on Town Lake, and an amazing line up of local musicians at a concert to raise money for victims of the Bastrop fires, including Willie Nelson, George Strait and THE DIXIE CHICKS!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6T7BGgKROcIOHET6cyXfzbFmJ7cJVFxpDYZl3g6V_1AlVuTMujuKn5dRWBzDEU29ELlReVOxbLRpYmHz3TWJD0KzvQ2SHB1qC7zCirLAypsiNyMWaJPLGGMmFoiGjde-mBio1wpYAHCHT/s1600/IMG_0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6T7BGgKROcIOHET6cyXfzbFmJ7cJVFxpDYZl3g6V_1AlVuTMujuKn5dRWBzDEU29ELlReVOxbLRpYmHz3TWJD0KzvQ2SHB1qC7zCirLAypsiNyMWaJPLGGMmFoiGjde-mBio1wpYAHCHT/s320/IMG_0013.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5r01LOpjGfKP-byh9Dz_fL-TRVoR3dLD8lfnW2SIH36p1EbhGPt740BxGXOV8ZzFP9rPku4tduXDKZmnUzw9YSWv-gJozzXxtYt8vzusm1gpc4UgK1hag_z4S0XL30PgA4Arq3UzaI_62/s1600/IMG_0030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5r01LOpjGfKP-byh9Dz_fL-TRVoR3dLD8lfnW2SIH36p1EbhGPt740BxGXOV8ZzFP9rPku4tduXDKZmnUzw9YSWv-gJozzXxtYt8vzusm1gpc4UgK1hag_z4S0XL30PgA4Arq3UzaI_62/s320/IMG_0030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our fall road trip was an October Saturday in Houston. We had a great time visiting the Rothko Chapel to see works by Joshua's favorite painter, and we stumbled upon the impressive Menil Collection nearby. A tour at the St. Arnold's brewery and lunch at the delectable Pepper Tree left us loving this city.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkA9cyFU4kZDfaJV23VSbyYZdVUzfprbzIRoVXyv5g8r1kPEN1WveDI15Z8aLugbk2PQlb2TUCRvBlGQ8DPvR-_gasXDB8uSDyEdov0psj6fmAxQR6jqTL6fmSzd9blz0mPKDWbthwvXx/s1600/IMG_0093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkA9cyFU4kZDfaJV23VSbyYZdVUzfprbzIRoVXyv5g8r1kPEN1WveDI15Z8aLugbk2PQlb2TUCRvBlGQ8DPvR-_gasXDB8uSDyEdov0psj6fmAxQR6jqTL6fmSzd9blz0mPKDWbthwvXx/s200/IMG_0093.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Joshua and I enjoyed Thanksgiving at home, cooking a delicious feast and cheering on the Packers. Christmas day, we plan to do the same thing, but with new recipes. We love to cook, love watching cooking shows (The Next Iron Chef is our current favorite), but we rarely have time to dedicate to trying new things in the kitchen and spoiling ourselves with mouth-watering bites. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, while we will miss our families and friends all across the country, we will make the best of it by getting use out of all those wonderful kitchen gadgets we received as wedding gifts. :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9o8FSpbrWwA-s4CVwTWHLYWj8x7nS7efGzunGlAaV3xfCqcrdhldYaLYmfe3jpUA8D4ALIEVuJsluWmPxAIIy4XeUHppj826DQzPWlcVzH-7oKIw5K0Mb8pfVHi3NrMtK5_gz4UB_vp1/s1600/IMG_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9o8FSpbrWwA-s4CVwTWHLYWj8x7nS7efGzunGlAaV3xfCqcrdhldYaLYmfe3jpUA8D4ALIEVuJsluWmPxAIIy4XeUHppj826DQzPWlcVzH-7oKIw5K0Mb8pfVHi3NrMtK5_gz4UB_vp1/s320/IMG_0106.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">New Year's Eve, we'll be checking out an up and coming Austin musician, Gary Clark Jr., at one of the city's legendary clubs, Antone's. I always look forward to going out in the city for an evening of good food and good music, one of the main reasons we moved to the Live Music Capital, and I'm grateful that we have come far enough in 2011 to comfortably enjoy our new home. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-kb7GwMqWPiqBCevi0FaNbm7WDekiuuMoykdSTZy94YK_1pspuRvU43dATeFAK880m0WomIzsBG3salALKyZdTNP0vtS5T6k9e7ubRkbW0Z1bwuKe9H0SLQ92dbaWBTGILV9k3oCLW80/s1600/IMG_2116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-kb7GwMqWPiqBCevi0FaNbm7WDekiuuMoykdSTZy94YK_1pspuRvU43dATeFAK880m0WomIzsBG3salALKyZdTNP0vtS5T6k9e7ubRkbW0Z1bwuKe9H0SLQ92dbaWBTGILV9k3oCLW80/s320/IMG_2116.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy New Year's to our friends and family! May 2012 bring new opportunities and adventures! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As a wise man said-- <i>Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
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</div>The Fallin'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11134130455092861035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162761472376373584.post-82880189651716792082011-03-16T19:42:00.000-05:002011-03-16T19:42:37.776-05:00Spring FeverWith all of the ups and downs of the past year regarding my career switch-from applying to several alternative certification programs around the country, to interviewing with Texas Teaching Fellows and taking my state exams, to applying to a dozen districts in the Austin area, waiting to learn my fate in the coming budget cuts may be the most unnerving. It will be bittersweet to have made it this far, and complete my certification, yet find myself unemployed. As nearby districts like AISD make their cuts, the competition for available positions will increase and I could easily find myself fighting for a waitressing job like I was last summer.<br />
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Spending my spring break in Austin, remembering why I fell in love with this city last year, is helping to keep me calm. My mom arrived Friday and Joshua and I had four days to show her the best parts of this city. We took her to Kerbey Lane Cafe the first night and drove her around campus and the strip of Guadeloupe, a highlight for her was the Party Barn, the drive-thru liquor store. On Saturday, we walked the growing number of booths of the farmer's market and listened to the live music while enjoying a fresh baguette and hummus from The Mediterranean Chef. Then we headed to South Congress where we wandered through art galleries, vintage shops and more before savoring crepes from one of the many amazing food trailers Austin has to offer. We went out to take in the circus of 6th Street for the start of the South by Southwest festival, and mom loved it! We danced to live music at Friend's and Joshua got his locally brewed beer at Lovejoy's. We capped the night off with fried goodness from Whataburger, mmmm!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dru7TvoLpS179jN8ie_dG15XawuxskbxfXG8ZkwIrJVYPulmw-7rjyG8_B5jnOdJkC_RSQuq0XSOpK1Is6fr526EHeB29ysUjhZDkMXSRBRyfgh9o7hch-RBUhxAs5D1r2jfqkPUSFuP/s1600/IMG_1806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dru7TvoLpS179jN8ie_dG15XawuxskbxfXG8ZkwIrJVYPulmw-7rjyG8_B5jnOdJkC_RSQuq0XSOpK1Is6fr526EHeB29ysUjhZDkMXSRBRyfgh9o7hch-RBUhxAs5D1r2jfqkPUSFuP/s320/IMG_1806.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Yes, when people visit Austin, they find themselves eating and drinking a lot. It is hard not to indulge in a city filled with such culinary creativity. On Sunday, Joshua and I showed mom some of our own inspiration with cornbread waffles for breakfast, along with apple compote and Joshua's French press. I took her to the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center where we walked a few miles and took in the rustic southwest landscape and some gorgeous spring color and smells. The bluebonnets were vibrant, and the Mexican plum trees smelled incredible. Next up, we took Geppetto to the dog park at Auditorium Shores where he barely escaped from an overly excited, mud-covered spaniel. Once he was worn out, we headed to Whole Foods on Lamar where we had trouble decided what to treat ourselves to. We sat outside and talked until dusk, then we realized we should get home to Joshua. He was starving, so we ended the night with pizza from Conan's and a movie-Blades of Glory, to end our night with laughs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We slept with the windows open every night and woke up to sunshine and the sound of birds singing, I love spring! On Monday, mom and I slowly made our way to the capitol to join the other spring break tourists for a tour and a little history lesson. As if the Texas capitol didn't already look big enough, I learned that most of it is underground, making it the biggest state capitol by far. Joshua picked us up and we headed west to Lake Travis for sunset at The Oasis, which a few of our friends recommended. It was a spectacular view of the lake and the sunset, and with more decks and tables than I have ever seen before, we were not surprised to learn that it is the 3rd largest restaurant in the US. So, it is true, everything is bigger in Texas! :)</div><br />
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</div>Tuesday, we slowly got ourselves together and my heavy head told me that all of this time outside has not been welcomed, my allergies were kicking in. Of course, the bottle of pinot grigio last night while we watched The Fighter, probably didn't help. Mom and I took Geppetto for a walk around the neighborhood and Joshua made his famous Pad Thai for lunch, yum! On the way to the airport, I took mom to Toy Joy to see all of the cool toys and enjoy some homemade cubano/vanilla softserve. Just a few more tasty calories for the road, which she seemed to like as much as I did.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVh2F-bul2z2bLb1hGxcq1Cps4FwJPghvCq5k6YAtgDO5gESeZrkAkbbnVC2olvXjlFgAf6Wd3fCbSVITYae4jM15RcFzZFdFYwWgTh2_JKeaHniQYuiX5i_cQRoBt_kdpprHkdn9UyBxk/s1600/IMG_1804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVh2F-bul2z2bLb1hGxcq1Cps4FwJPghvCq5k6YAtgDO5gESeZrkAkbbnVC2olvXjlFgAf6Wd3fCbSVITYae4jM15RcFzZFdFYwWgTh2_JKeaHniQYuiX5i_cQRoBt_kdpprHkdn9UyBxk/s320/IMG_1804.JPG" width="320" /></a>It was hard to say goodbye to mom, but I am so glad that she was able to stay as long as she did and she had the chance to fall in love with this city too. Showing her around reminds me that moving here was a good decision, and this last year has been a positive experience, no matter what happens with my job. Taking risks and setting high expectations brought me to a career that I love in a city full of new tastes and sounds and sights to discover. I look forward to taking in as many more as I can in the coming days of South by Southwest with Joshua...Wu-Tang Clan, Kanye, vegan cookies, mmmm, can't wait!The Fallin'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11134130455092861035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162761472376373584.post-32643103887348596632011-02-04T16:14:00.002-06:002011-02-04T16:21:19.160-06:00Second Semester Snow DayThe school year is flying by, and I find myself already one month into my second semester as a teacher. It has been an eventful 2011 already, and I am starting to feel overwhelmed. At work, new challenges are coming my way, reminding me that teachers must be unfailingly flexible and patient. Many students were out with the flu, some for a week at a time. I have managed to stay healthy somehow (fingers crossed)!<br />
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I am now a co-sponsor for the student council, which means meetings every Monday and Wednesday after school, plus extra little projects like our upcoming anti-bullying week. In addition, lots of professional development is scheduled this semester. I have had at least one day of meetings or seminars every week, and have several more coming up in February. It is all very helpful, and it all counts towards the required hours for my certification. The difficult part about taking a day away from the classroom is planning for a substitute, it is a surprising amount of work to set someone else up to do your job.<br />
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The final months of my certification program are ahead, which means finalizing my portfolio and completing all of the paperwork the state of Texas requires of me. I am excited that shortly after my birthday, I should have my teaching certification! Unfortunately, this has become a stressful time to be employed by state or local government, due to the shrinking budgets everywhere. Austin Independent School District has already cut 450 jobs and is looking into closing over a dozen schools. Our district has told us that cuts are coming and they will inform us once any decisions are made. We are much smaller than Austin, however jobs will certainly be cut, it is just a question of how many. I am trying to focus on just completing my program right now, just concentrating on what is in my control.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqs-ishL4AOcwaRxhRAdJueHfv_ccF6cFEciWCNBzP43wtXUq55WHOaMuFok9D0jgFR9oqck-lSXoekcXYBGTE4QtRNIVyHUCkcFchBqblQPGK8cnv2Vp7GTVepDdr5qwyQC_bNBCQgwx/s1600/IMG_1795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqs-ishL4AOcwaRxhRAdJueHfv_ccF6cFEciWCNBzP43wtXUq55WHOaMuFok9D0jgFR9oqck-lSXoekcXYBGTE4QtRNIVyHUCkcFchBqblQPGK8cnv2Vp7GTVepDdr5qwyQC_bNBCQgwx/s320/IMG_1795.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Up until this past week, the winter here has been very mild. These pictures show us at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on Sunday when it was in the 80s! We are scoping out ideas for my mom's visit during spring break. <br />
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It has been getting colder since Monday, with temperatures below freezing for nearly three days now. A dusting of snow last night led to all of the schools, universities and government offices to be closed today. I am very glad to have been saved from driving to work on unplowed, unsanded roads with a bunch of people not accustomed to driving in the snow. It was like a skating rink on most of the roads until everything started melting this afternoon.<br />
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Joshua continues to improve his cooking, spoiling me with homemade goodies. We have been on a Pad Thai kick lately, along with Ahloo Gobi, seitan sausages, chocolate pecan waffles, and Pho asian noodle soup. Mmm, yum! Geppetto hates the cold weather, but loves the fact that we are spending more time than usual snuggling with blankets on the couch.The Fallin'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11134130455092861035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162761472376373584.post-54407152013150989552010-11-30T22:40:00.000-06:002010-11-30T22:40:56.703-06:00"Stress"As a first year teacher, I have a series of seminars to attend care of my district's human resources department. We have already had our first three, and they have been much more helpful than I anticipated. We have subs for the day, and we learn new strategies, and we get to talk with other first year teachers at our grade level and just vent our frustrations. It is amazing what a relief it can be to just vocalize what you are going through...in fact, talking to friends is one of the stress relievers that we learned at the last seminar.<br />
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During the unit on stress and anxiety, we all took a test to gauge our stress level over the last twelve months. There is a long list of life events, each assigned a points value, and you add up your points to see what category you fall in. I was reminded of the roller coaster of emotions that the last year has been filled with. Wedding, moving cross-country, changing careers, and losing grandma were the big ones, of course. Then there are other things that I tend to forget count, like the health of family members, job security, a new work environment, and trying to make new friends. By the end of the test, I was left unsure how to feel about my score that was quite literally, off the charts. <br />
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All of us first year teachers had to come up and paste dots on the bar graph to represent our score, and my dot was off the paper, up on the wall. One comforting thing was that I was not alone, there were a handful of other dots joining me off the paper. It reminded me that everyone checks the box yes for most of the things on that test at some point in their life. We all go through good periods and not-so-good periods...maybe I should be looking forward to the positive period that has to be coming my way. The other comforting thing was that I also scored pretty high for job satisfaction...so I am putting myself (and Joshua) through a period of mental anguish with my decision to switch careers via Texas, but I am enjoying it somewhat? <br />
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This brings me to another one of the stress-relievers from the seminar that I realized I already take advantage of whenever appropriate, laughing at yourself. It's true, stepping back and realizing how ridiculous you are/life is can relieve some pent up anxieties.<br />
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Ok, it's after 10, way past Mrs. Fallin's bed time...The Fallin'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11134130455092861035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162761472376373584.post-36068686501398380582010-11-01T23:06:00.000-05:002010-11-03T21:21:45.101-05:00The madness and mayhem<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After a few hours of training, I began to get overwhelmed...after a few weeks, it was ridiculous. I was simply keeping my head above water in the beginning, trying to find my bearings. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A few months in to my first year as a teacher, I am getting a system down. I know my responsibilities and I try to get them done a little better and faster every week. Continuous improvement, a concept that Trek and John Burke taught me well. It is the hardest and the longest that I have ever worked, though I wouldn't change any of the decisions which we made over the last year that got us here. I love the challenge of teaching, and I find it invigorating to have a job that changes from day to day. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So what does being a teacher entail? Don't you get to leave at 3:25 every day with no worries? Don't you get all those inservice days off? Not a chance, I am working more hours than I ever have before...last week was my hardest yet, and I figure that I clocked 65-70 hours of work and commuting. My current motivation is the week-long Thanksgiving break, when I can finally have time to clean my apartment and organize my life.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My responsibilities include </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">creating lesson plans</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (each plan includes 12 categories to be filled out for each day of the week) for each of my three classes (ELA, French Explorers and French I). I also have to create or photocopy or find any worksheets, rubrics, flashcards, games, tests, quizes or other </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">materials necessary for each lesson. </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Each class gets a new </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">seating chart</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> every grading period, or as needed if there are lots of problems. Every 2-3 weeks (halfway through each grading period), progress reports are mailed out and report cards go out every grading period or 5-6 weeks, and it is my responsibility to </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">get all grades entered</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, with comments, by the deadline for each of my 6 classes. I am always </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">checking my e-mail </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to keep up with messages from parents, teachers, and staff. Students with</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> behavior problems</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> get phone calls or e-mails to their parent or guardian. Every week, I have a </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">meeting</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> with my department, and a meeting with just my fellow 6th grade ELA teachers for planning future lessons. Every other week, I have a meeting with the 6th grade teachers to discuss specific student issues. Every grading period, I meet with the English department head, and my mentor. Every month, there is a faculty meeting. I have 6 </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">professional development</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> all-day meetings for first year teachers in my district spread throughout the school year. There are also several other professional development days for all faculty throughout the year.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In addition to all of these school and district requirements, I have to complete my teacher certification by attending meetings 2-3 evenings/month and completing regular homework assignments. Every 6 weeks, I am observed by formal observers and my principal. At the end of the year, I will present the portfolio that I am slowly building in order to earn my certification.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am also taking on more work by teaching a homebound student 2 days/week after school (extra pay!) and next semester I will be the co-advisor for student council. I really want to get to know some students and be more of a role model. It is actually hard do to this as much as I would like during class, simply too many students and too little time.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So you can see why I don't spend much of my down time keeping up with my blog. :) I try to spend evenings enjoying time with Joshua, Geppetto, and even Loki and Bartleby. Usually laundry or some housework is squeezed in, some mindless TV online, and some good food a la Joshua. Sometimes we catch a football game at Conan's, our favorite pizza place where we often have the TV to ourselves. Our weekends are spent relaxing as much as possible, exploring new parts of the city, talking long walks, doing errands, going to the farmer's market, and maybe seeing a good concert or movie.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We saw Dave Matthews Band on a Friday night in September. The show was in Houston, so Joshua picked me up right after school and we ate dinner in the car. We arrived just in time for the opening act, and we saw an amazing show. I crashed on the way home (way after my usual 10:00 bedtime), and Joshua got us home safely. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Two weeks later was the Black Crows at Stubb's downtown...I had bought us tickets for Joshua's birthday, and we had a blast. They even performed with a few local legends, including the keyboardist for the Rolling Stones. A few weekends later was Austin City Limits Festival, thousands of people were in town and it was nuts just trying to drive around. We saw one of the bands, School of Seven Bells, perform at a club called The Mohawk. We took the bus downtown, saw a great show outside under the stars, gawked at all the crazy hipsters, and then enjoyed a nice fall evening on our walk home through the UT campus. The music scene in Austin is truly authentic, one of a kind, and, along with the cuisine, is our favorite part of the city. After the show--how about a veggie dog with sauerkraut and a pickle or some popcorn tofu and homemade soy softserve? It definitely feels like a musician/vegan foodie paradise to us sometimes...hope this isn't just the honeymoon phase.</span><br />
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</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;">After a very stressful 23 minutes with the assistant principal, the head of the English department, and the athletic director, it was over and my head was spinning, replaying all of my answers. I was afraid to lift my arms too high when I shook their hands because I felt like I had been sweating enough to leave rings under my arms. Another agonizing week passed before I heard back from the assistant principal--he had been working out some details with the HR department, and it was all taken care of, could I start training on Monday?! It took getting my ID badge and signing up for my benefits a few weeks later to make it feel official, I was a 6th grade English teacher/6th-8th grade French teacher! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;">I could not have asked for a position closer to what I wanted--French is great because it is an elective without an official course map to follow. I have the liberty to make my own lesson plans, in the order that I see fit, following only an outline from my fellow Hays school district French Explorers and French I teachers. I get to encourage kids to take an interest in the world outside of Texas and teach them about the diverse cultures of the French-speaking world. English is also a great course because it is a core class (along with math, science and social studies) and it is the core of the core classes, reading and writing are the basis of learning, so it is a really important course to teach. It is also good to have an essential class like ELA on my resume because it shows that I can handle teaching the basics. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
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</span></span></div>The Fallin'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11134130455092861035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162761472376373584.post-61842113679907098792010-08-09T17:35:00.001-05:002010-08-09T17:58:48.313-05:00Tanya's Tasty Visit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwr_91G9IowczY0qrT8891nETT_FNIFDWx7I-CYC9a1zgvMvpm4CZAcIMyi14tsM5KJ6Vn_WZd0naI3J7fANUcDhQn-buRDZjsGTgBPPKfMoMQjdp3Gbowfqi3GVPRfHlaeGeHEihJOD8/s1600/IMG_1671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwr_91G9IowczY0qrT8891nETT_FNIFDWx7I-CYC9a1zgvMvpm4CZAcIMyi14tsM5KJ6Vn_WZd0naI3J7fANUcDhQn-buRDZjsGTgBPPKfMoMQjdp3Gbowfqi3GVPRfHlaeGeHEihJOD8/s320/IMG_1671.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had our first house guest over the weekend! Tanya arrived on Friday afternoon, and our first stop was the flagship Whole Foods. We were overwhelmed as always at the amazing grocery store, and ended up with tacos and a grilled tofu panini, among other treats. Back at home, we relaxed in the a/c with Joshua, then enjoyed his yummy taquitos w/ a side of grilled zucchini and roasted kale chips for dinner. Next up was drinks and live music at The Saxon pub on South Congress St. We listened to the talents of Rocco DeLuca and more, then got sleepy and headed home, with a stop by Toy Joy for soft serve. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Saturday morning, it was banana-pecan waffles and more relaxing...as you can tell this was a food-centered weekend. Tanya and I left Joshua to hit some of the many vintage stores of Austin, thinking that the frequent a/c in the shops would make the forecast of 107 degrees with the heat index somewhat more tolerable. We had fun, but the temps kept us moving slow and we were soon enjoying refreshing beverages at a retro place called The Snack Bar. A few courses later, including seitan satay and rosewater-pistachio cake, we developed the strength to face the outside again and made our way home to Hyde Park. The energy sucked from us, we hung out in the confines of the a/c for a few hours before going out for dinner and drinks. Only one round of frozen coconut drinks at the Hula Hut on Lake Austin, and we were ready for bed. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We treated Tanya to a breakfast platter before her flight out just to top off the weekend calorie-intake and got some great and much-needed photos of the gnome. Thanks for being our first visitor Tanya and for bringing us some normalcy and positivity to our crazy Austin </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">summer.</span><br />
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</span>The Fallin'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11134130455092861035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3162761472376373584.post-55189002555483275332010-08-03T14:20:00.000-05:002010-08-05T20:27:48.681-05:00"The Waiting is the hardest part"Tom Petty said it best with this song.<br />
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Joshua and I have been in Austin for 2 months now, unfortunately still unemployed. I completed the 6 week summer training program for my alternative teacher certification and worked as a student teacher in two summer school classes. From mid-June to July I was in a pre-K/pre-1st ESL classroom on the south side of Austin. It was overwhelming at first, but I caught on and was teaching lessons after the first week and working a lot with them in small groups. From mid-July until yesterday, I was working with 9th grade ESL students, many of them were refugees from Myanmar, and a few from Congo and Iraq. They worked very hard to get the right answer, the difficult thing as a teacher was to show them that knowing how to find the answer is more important than the answer itself. The teacher told me and the other volunteers that they made incredible advances over the summer in literacy and fluency and she wants us to come in and work with them during the school year if we are able to. I would love to, but of course, finding a full-time job is the priority now and she certainly understands that.<br />
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Last Thursday, I had a huge break through in the form of a call for an interview! Now I finally know that I am doing something right with my cover letters and I do have a chance of getting hired as a teacher. It was a huge wave of relief, then frantic panic as I only had 2 hours to prepare for the interview. Since then, I have been waiting, staring at my phone and my inbox, hoping for a positive response, nothing yet. I continue to apply for other positions, though with an Austin district hiring freeze, the possibilities are few at the moment. I am also looking for part-time positions in restaurants, have had a few interviews, but no luck yet. Joshua and I are learning the unfortunate reality that this is a very tough city and a tough time to get lasting work.<br />
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We keep trying to stay positive. When one of us gets down, the other tries to boost their spirits. We are a great team and good things are bound to happen if we are determined.The Fallin'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11134130455092861035noreply@blogger.com0