A few more pics of our handsome little guy...

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He's been a great little sleeper so far...
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and loves to be all-cozied up and snuggled...
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He was wide-awake for much of this afternoon,

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so I got some great shots with those bright blue eyes!

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He makes so many cute little faces that we already just adore...

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We call this the "Pop-eye"...

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(appropriately named because he "pops" one eye open to check things out

and see if there's anything going on worth waking up for!)

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Such cute little yawns...

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And of course, The "Stinky Face"...

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(We'll let you guess why!)

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And who can get enough of those sweet little feet?

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...We love him from head to toe!

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And here are a handful of my fave Images from his Birth-Day, yesterday...
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I will always remember that Bronson was born on a Sunday...

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Matt and I were joking that I didn't even "Labor" enough to break the Sabbath!

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I felt so great I could have walked right out of my Room and taken him straight home!

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Here he is with Mommy & Daddy...

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You can see where he gets his good-looks... Woot-woo!

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(What a Hot Dad!)
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Big Brother Trev was the first to get to hold him...

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He was all smiles!

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Then Kade got his turn...
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and couldn't wait for his photo...

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He and Alli counted all his fingers and toes to assure us they were all there...

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Baby Brons loved Alli right from the start...

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He wouldn't take his eyes off her!

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Dayne, on the other hand, was maybe a little too excited,

and thinks of his baby brother as more of a "pet" than a "buddy"!

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We had such a fun afternoon with our little family...

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and everyone was WORN OUT

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by the time it was over!

He's Here!

We did it!
Another beautiful and absolutely perfect Baby Boy...

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Bronson Micheal Staker
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Sunday October 5, 2008
9:36 am
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8 pounds 19 1/2 inches
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Blue Eyes and just-enough Dark, Curly Hair
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Short Labor, FAB-ulous Epidural, 5-Second Delivery
(Not lying... Literally 1/2 a push!)
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Wonderful, Perfect Day!
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Picture me smiling with a happy sigh...
(People should NOT be allowed to have babies this easily... It really should be illegal to be this lucky!)
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Daddy was fantastic,
Grandmas & Grandpas all approve,
Big Brothers already adore him...
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We are feeling so very blessed...

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Tired, but definitely blessed!
...More later!

Little Bruiser...

So these pics don't REALLY do it justice,

but Little D got his first-ever "Shiner" ...

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Yeah...

He somehow rolled over the pillow barricade

and out of his new Big-Boy-Bed at about 4 am the night before last...

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Thankfully, his roommate, Big Bro T, was a Hero and came running full-speed down the hall

to tell a still-sleeping Mom & Dad that D was "stuck".

And indeed he WAS really quite STUCK!

It took even ME a few long seconds to unwedge him from the little crevice he had rolled into

(which, FYI, we are now packing with pillows at bedtime to prevent a recurrence!).

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Well, as you can see here, THANKFULLY, there seems to be no permanent damage.

(Just the black-eye, which is already looking so much better!)

He woke up happy and smiling as ever

and hasn't hesitated for even a second about getting back into his new bed.

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...Phew! (Because the crib will soon be re-occupied!)

Cutie Patooties...

Just had to show off a few faves from my current

Top-Secret Project...

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Hint, Hint...

Make sure to e-mail your current address if you want one of Baby B's

"Ooh-so-darling-already-and-he's-not-even-born-yet" Birth Announcements!

Counting Down...

Hey, out there! Long time, no post, aye?
I guess I unintentionally took a little "Hiatus" from the blogging world!
We are still alive, here at the Staker household... counting down to our new little guy!
Just ONE WEEK to go!
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This one is for you, Janey...
Thanks to you (and Martha Stewart, 8 years ago), for the cah-yewt photo idea! I hope we did it justice!
And thanks to Alli for patiently and spontaneously taking our photo this afternoon...
(Baby Bronson and I are tough customers!)
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Well, I thought I'd better post SOMEthing because I am getting daily e-mails from concerned friends who wonder why I've dropped off the face of the planet...
(Thanks by the way! I love you all, too!)
So for the record, I am great... (We all are, actually!)
...Just in the midst of my "Nesting Craze"!
I do this every time... Hibernate a little to prepare myself for the upcoming arrival.
(More on that in a future post, I promise!)
Baby Bronson will be here before we know it... Still lots to do, but I am glad.
I have strategically kept myself ridiculously busy...
It keeps my mind off of being uncomfortable and prevents me from starting to feel anxious.
It may sound crazy, but I actually really enjoy this part!
I just keep reminding myself, "Easier in than out!".
I can still sleep (another advantage to staying busy... if I am exhausted, I never have trouble sleeping!), use both hands to do things and go out to run errands on a moment's notice without packing a diaper bag!
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So, sadly... I am just being REALLY selfish with my time!

(BUT I am feeling so productive!)

Just wait til you see what I've gotten done around here! LOTS of back-burner projects...

(You know, the ones I have been trying to get to forever!)

Don't worry though, I will definitely update everyone on what we've been up to...

I have taken a bi-jillion photos, of course!

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Sufficeth to say, that mostly, we are just busy living "life" and enjoying all of our boys activities... (Such a fun, fun time! I wish I could just freeze our family right where we are!

I truly LOVE the stages each of our boys are in... They are just so much fun!)
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Although, admittedly, it has just not left me with a whole lot of blogging-time!
BUT I decided I'd rather be busy "living" life with my family and friends,
rather than just sitting around "blogging" about it!
(I figure I can always catch it up later... before I print our blurb-book!)
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So stay tuned...
One of these days (when I am sitting down long enough),
I will fill in the holes and then publish/post like 2 months worth of stuff! :)
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Life is good~

Home Stretch?

Yep... it's official...

I caught myself waddling today. Actually "waddling".

(Which I typically make a conscious, concentrated effort NOT to do!)

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We must be on the Home-stretch...

Just over 5 weeks until Baby... WOW! I have a LOT to do!

St George Underwater

Gunlock

Don't worry Ross and Liz...Greg was in good hands with us in St.George! Glad we ran into him to keep him safe and out of trouble! Ross, do you have a policy on Greg? :)

Soldier of Truth and Righteousness...

For Family Home Evening tonight,

Trevan taught us about putting on the whole "Armor of God",

as taught in the Bible by Paul...

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We talked about each piece and what it represents as he put it on

and then had fun tossing "Fiery Darts" at him (aka: orange and yellow markers)

as we shouted different "temptations" and he deflected them with his

"Shield of Faith" , "Breastplate of Righteousness" and "Sword of the Spirit" .

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The boys said this was the best FHE ever!

(If you have boys, you can pick up these plastic dress-up Armor sets at most Costume shops for about $10... )

A-MAZ-ing Race...

One word... WOW!

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Yeah... it truly was THAT incredible!

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If you missed this, you MUST watch it!

Click here...

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We cheered... We celebrated... We watched it over and over... truly history in the making!

It made us proud to be Americans!

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GO TEAM USA!

Squaw Peak...

So we followed this...

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And ended up here... At the top of the World!

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(Well, okay... the top of Provo/Utah Valley at least!)

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Kade & Trev have never seen the entire cityscape before and were in awe...

Trevan asked if it was bigger than New York City...

(Uuhhhh... not quite, Buddy!)

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But pretty, still the same!
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I'm not much of a Landscape Photographer,

but I had fun taking a few shots of the beautiful view...

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The clouds were so cool!

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The boys and I were actually the "Designated Drivers/Shuttle"

for Matt's Priest's Quorum, who biked one of the trails tonight for their YM Activity.

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What a bunch of tough guys...

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Matt and Len, their "Fearless Leaders"...

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And check out this HOTTIE! Woot-woo!

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My Man has become quite the Night Rider, lately!

He usually goes biking up the Canyon several evenings a week (2-4)

and loves scoping out new trails to try with his buddies.

(They actually ride with helmet lamps late at night! So fun for them!)

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And of course, as we shuttled back up to get the other cars,

I couldn't resist taking a few more photos of the gorgeous night-time view...

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A rare sight for me, that he enjoys all the time...

I'm going to have to get him to let me tag along more often!

Great to be 8!

Kade-o had his Annual Well-Child Check-up this morning...

He's growing like a weed!

53 inches tall...

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and 56 pounds...

(Stringbean... He still has a few to gain back from being sick a couple weeks a go...)

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He has perfect eyes...

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And seems healthy as can be!

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Yea! He's 8 and feelin' great!

Sigh... pretty feet...

Thanks to Cheryl for squeezing me in to her already busy schedule

and giving me a good excuse to indulge in Lunch and a Pedicure this afternoon...

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(Wait...who am I kidding? I can't even reach my feet... isn't THAT an excuse at this point?

And, honestly, I never need an "excuse", anyway, do I?!)

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Cheryl's French Toes turned out just darling... I am totally jealous!

I can't WAIT to be able to do them again!

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(I, on the other hand, am still growing out a bruised big toenail that went completely purple

after I stubbed it really hard last Spring. I have had to do a darker color to cover it for over a year!

But it is almost done. Yea! ...So maybe next time!)

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So thanks to this dear and wonderful woman, who is solely (no pun intended!) responsible

for my always beautifully maintained feet...

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Kristi Liam at ProNails has been doing my Gel-Pedicure monthly(-ish) for nearly 3 years now and trust me... She is the BEST! AND I just adore her!

Good CLEAN fun!

While were were picking up this morning,

I handed Trevan a pile of his laundry to take to the Laundry Room

and told him to go put it in the Washer, so I could start a load.

He disappeared down the hallway.

A few minutes later, I found that same pile in a heap on the Laundry Room floor...

Rolling my eyes, I picked it up to finish the job.

As I opened the lid to the Washer, I nearly hit the ceiling...

I literally about peed my pants as he popped out and said, "Boo!"

(It would have been the funniest video!)

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Just for laughs, we repeated the trick, this time on an unsuspecting older brother...

Same result... Kaden about had a heart attack!

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We are still laughing!

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What a little stinker!

How is it possible?

I put a toy sword to Kaden's chest this afternoon and said jokingly,
"Hello.... My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my Father... Prepare to die."
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He looked at me like I was an idiot and said, "Mom... What are you talking about?"
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I realized with horror that my boys had NEVER seen the best movie of all time!
Never even heard of it!
A travesty! I could not believe it!
We rushed upstairs to remedy that little problem... right away!
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I quickly introduced them to Wesley and Buttercup...

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Two hours later, I breathed a sigh of relief...
And, as I knew they would, they'd LOVED it!
(Really... Pirates, a Fire Swamp, sword-fighting, a giant, The Pit of Despair... what's NOT to love?)

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They spent the rest of the afternoon dressed in black chasing each other around with plastic swords and really bad spanish accents! :)

Kaden's Perfect Day!

There are few days that actually qualify to be called "perfect"...

This was one of them for our family!

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Kaden had a wonderful Baptism

surrounded by family and friends who love him

who came to show their love and support of his decision.

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Here's a look at his darling invitations... I loved how they turned out!

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He and his Daddy looked so handsome all dressed in white together!

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The men who stood in the Priesthood Circle to help confirm him...

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What an awesome group of incredible guys!

(Back Row: (Left to Right)- Dear Friend/Home Teacher Ross Schofield, Daddy Matt, Grandpa Joe Cotton, "Uncle Pete" Ron Kaas

Front Row: (Left to Right)- Kade's Idol Greg Schofield, Cousin Jeff Bench, Man of the Hour Kaden Staker, Grandpa Larry Staker, Cousin Kelly Kaas

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Kaden with "honorary" big sister, Alli...

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And favorite Babysitter, Cassie...

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And here's a peek at my latest "little project"...
A couple of weeks ago, I was looking around for a Baptism Book for him.

I couldn't find one I "loved" anywhere, so I decided to make one for him.

An afternoon Photo Session and a couple of sleepless weeks later... wah-lah!

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It has been so fun to do and I hope it will be a treasured keepsake from his momentous day!

I am so grateful for everyone who helped and offered input!
Thanks to all the Grandmas and Grandpas who took time to send their kind words and testimonies for Kaden. And thanks to my friends who shared their ideas... I knew what I "wanted" to do and had my outline, rough draft and most of the photos done, but it was nice to have input before I finalized my layout and designs! So a special thanks to Shannon Taylor and Gretchen Knell, both friends who's Baptism Books I borrowed, and Heather Gibb, a fellow-photographer (who collaborated on Gretchen's book), who I borrowed a couple "shot ideas" from at the last minute! They were the perfect finishing touch! Thanks, Ladies! I loved your creativity and it sure helped to inspire mine!
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Thanks so much to everyone who came to share this special day with Kaden and our family...

We are so proud of you Kaden!
You are an incredible young man... We love you and are so happy you made this great decision.
We loved sharing your "perfect" day with you!

Awfully far from home, ain't ya, Bambi?

Imagine my surprise when I looked out our back window
and found THIS face staring back at me!
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Silly, I KNOW, but I grabbed for my camera and yelled for the boys to come see... Quick!

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It's not evra dayee that us city kidz see wahld critterz a-wanderin' though our yard
a-munchin' on our them-thar bushes-a-owrz!
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We live a good several miles from the eastside foothills where they usually frequent, after all.
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So we had a few magical minutes watching them, watching us!
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And pardon my non-deer-saavy- lingo, but there were 2 young bucks
hanging out up on our back rock-wall... (Look close!)
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Note the big 5-pointed horns/antlers on the far right, in the shade... he was the "look-out", I think.
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I jokingly told Kaden to go get his new cross-bow and we'd eat this guy for dinner...
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You should have seen his face... I thought he was going to cry!
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(Yeah... we're a bunch of softies... NOT a drop of Hunter-blood amongst us!)
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This little fawn wandered and galloped all over the place! Soooo cute!
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Trevan wanted to go out and pet it!
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And didn't understand why it ran away when he climbed into the window to get a closer look... City Slickers! I guess they have a few things to learn! :)

Happy, Happy Birthday, Cheryl Dear...

One of my favorite people in all the world had her Birthday last week...

We neighbor girls finally found a night when we could take her out to celebrate for a belated Birthday Dinner.

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PF Changs... always a treat!

And despite our onery waiter (seriously, sooooo rude!), we managed to have a fun Girl's Night out!

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So Happy, Birthday Cheryl!

You know I love you to pieces... you are truly one one of the most sincere and genuine people I know. Such a wonderful friend to everyone.

I am blessed to have your friendship and influence in my life. I can always count on you!

...Not to mention, you $ave me thousands in therapy!

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AND you love treats as much as me!

(Yeah... it's all about that Great Wall of Chocolate! Mmmm!)

Ummm... ooops!

Anyone having a bad day?.

Yeah, I guess it could be worse... THIS could be your house and car!

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I drove by this mess on my way out and about this morning... glad it's not anyone I know!

Still, sooo SAD!

Sweltering...

I am currently grateful for 2 things...

(Everything else I am pretty sure I could live without!)

1- The modern miracle of air-conditioning...

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And 2- The wonderful man who is going to show up sometime tomorrow to fix ours!

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(Seriously, it's the end of July, people... It's 100 degrees outside!

And do I need to remind you that I am 7 months pregnant?

NOT a good time to come home from vacation and find the AC out!)