tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14213820312761139452024-03-19T04:47:42.003-04:00RannygahootsLife. Chaos. Everything.Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.comBlogger2188125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-59340841001717174822024-02-17T17:45:00.000-05:002024-02-17T17:45:18.685-05:00The last 16<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLszpx2DmNClEe3X4wzJztJvo41_r2zw4dQQv4F_DdhAbHy1gZekP7PCHx7cmYV-wkofYLwNqHmypnhwA1Y4V_DWlCegCQ4K10tBWA2D4L7IuB0VqeZldmMQPhyphenhyphennrRvzKT7HqS7ovypSN04h0XQNYa6ASk_WrfE8iI2G18qPNMfw2oLEraKXtZxzM9KoQ/s4032/20240216_000814.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLszpx2DmNClEe3X4wzJztJvo41_r2zw4dQQv4F_DdhAbHy1gZekP7PCHx7cmYV-wkofYLwNqHmypnhwA1Y4V_DWlCegCQ4K10tBWA2D4L7IuB0VqeZldmMQPhyphenhyphennrRvzKT7HqS7ovypSN04h0XQNYa6ASk_WrfE8iI2G18qPNMfw2oLEraKXtZxzM9KoQ/s320/20240216_000814.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's Onyx's 16th birthday. I wrote this long post about the past year and all the amazing things about Onyx and when I went to add photos the entire post disappeared. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">During the picture retrieving process I realized how few photos I have of just Onyx. They are always spending time with one person or another. <br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqlVoyC1AU0np0a-9RkmHxDavEUAiZL0-4uG20wR_061HV2M0BC8Ypn0I65QFZeAmTXrgDfJmyg9lGD8ZbzpXOibNywFF1rvlvT493JbMkZvBT3D5XGZRoA2o-zTNzAFp2wdxM5Gdv7vLxrvZe3uDeYvLAD6Dxyykc9KOGmr_IyMJeCgaDDGgylWAc8A/s4032/20231108_155617.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqlVoyC1AU0np0a-9RkmHxDavEUAiZL0-4uG20wR_061HV2M0BC8Ypn0I65QFZeAmTXrgDfJmyg9lGD8ZbzpXOibNywFF1rvlvT493JbMkZvBT3D5XGZRoA2o-zTNzAFp2wdxM5Gdv7vLxrvZe3uDeYvLAD6Dxyykc9KOGmr_IyMJeCgaDDGgylWAc8A/s320/20231108_155617.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiaTMnA8n5TtU0wbdFegbzUz2Wv-Eiq8jSrNgb51LtMTC3-DAcQf-hf3RTIxkxtucMRfX9CLw-z6P0DTD3Hb051jlBVdwV1OaLIsxeO6OJqggdcS9xMJo4fhNI4WBQvoBcTmn5l7noySPmoIH9oG-69f3G8BdjmLCjIhAJtHKxf92D8qtva4JtYwm7vU/s4032/20231229_141334.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiaTMnA8n5TtU0wbdFegbzUz2Wv-Eiq8jSrNgb51LtMTC3-DAcQf-hf3RTIxkxtucMRfX9CLw-z6P0DTD3Hb051jlBVdwV1OaLIsxeO6OJqggdcS9xMJo4fhNI4WBQvoBcTmn5l7noySPmoIH9oG-69f3G8BdjmLCjIhAJtHKxf92D8qtva4JtYwm7vU/s320/20231229_141334.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCS2x9nH7I1aYloQbc2uit_VcoqmD9xe7roLCbhQ_kLbz8DsgVobLlLGLlI93PU3J93K_NVlGJvt79nsCj69-DbIAbzZy8jf3WoGKTNBAoSmsUGqKmx9LWuUB30w_f2KuRmhxCTiVoLAz-LBRKSXKbyDkoxfJMAlISWs2oqDRPI_xtcvs62RJYL9VqYI/s4032/20231230_125747.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCS2x9nH7I1aYloQbc2uit_VcoqmD9xe7roLCbhQ_kLbz8DsgVobLlLGLlI93PU3J93K_NVlGJvt79nsCj69-DbIAbzZy8jf3WoGKTNBAoSmsUGqKmx9LWuUB30w_f2KuRmhxCTiVoLAz-LBRKSXKbyDkoxfJMAlISWs2oqDRPI_xtcvs62RJYL9VqYI/s320/20231230_125747.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNryxLLAm-aZ4fSD08C8cl0JAYZd5iOgiq_suSDHxHRXuc2J8MPwcT16BLORY78mGqkOGjI64v72qyYBE423BC5nu9WbWSmmKB7ppinY-o0NyQEdtmbG-6XricMktP9E_qJC8NmBqIKB3cjt96FiTpIw00LOX5-xrTxXiH0plhxJsfnxuERZi28_I2mo/s4032/20240130_215054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNryxLLAm-aZ4fSD08C8cl0JAYZd5iOgiq_suSDHxHRXuc2J8MPwcT16BLORY78mGqkOGjI64v72qyYBE423BC5nu9WbWSmmKB7ppinY-o0NyQEdtmbG-6XricMktP9E_qJC8NmBqIKB3cjt96FiTpIw00LOX5-xrTxXiH0plhxJsfnxuERZi28_I2mo/s320/20240130_215054.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: left;">Onyx's chosen birthday activity was a road trip with</span><span style="text-align: left;"> and I to VT where we spent their birthday visiting one of my bonus kids and </span><span style="text-align: left;">getting a tattoo.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6I1JcyXP7u23RW1YMfR3TJR390x4zw1M7umEEdDRW73gZwwsku9MjZZubhT6WonR1oaE1NypPInqEErHsiBU_MNx6x4XeAJB2sAwAZfvSYSYzCLY4wJxfN4Lpmc0MdEvEweLkjx_nhRD_AD38HTQnCkOnRiOk65p7ljo0o5H0QCUviMnxpW8xD-I15YU/s4032/20240216_120807.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6I1JcyXP7u23RW1YMfR3TJR390x4zw1M7umEEdDRW73gZwwsku9MjZZubhT6WonR1oaE1NypPInqEErHsiBU_MNx6x4XeAJB2sAwAZfvSYSYzCLY4wJxfN4Lpmc0MdEvEweLkjx_nhRD_AD38HTQnCkOnRiOk65p7ljo0o5H0QCUviMnxpW8xD-I15YU/s320/20240216_120807.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's difficult to believe my youngest is 16! After a couple really rough years, I hope 16 goes much more smoothly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sixteen things about Onyx...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1. Onyx is a fantastic artist.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">2. Onyx's love for friends and family knows no bounds.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">3. Onyx loves to cuddle. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">4. Onyx deep dives into topics that interest them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">5. Onyx can find a million reasons why they can and should do something they want to do.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6. Onyx can find a million reasons why the can't possibly do something they don't want to do. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">7. Onyx has a plethora of patience with people of all ages and abilities. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">8. Onyx really loves to cuddle. A lot.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">9. Onyx scares themselves with their own tics.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">10. Onyx has a great sense of humor. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">11. Onyx turns to jello when they laugh really hard.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">12. Onyx is good at eating other people's food. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">13. Onyx is usually up for an adventure. Other times they're down for an adventure. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">14. Onyx has been to the Emergency Room as the result of injuries sustained tipping over in a bucket; standing up; scooting back in bed; holding hands with a sibling; and sleeping. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">15. Onyx consumes only ethically acquired Chick-fil-A sauce.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">16. Onyx is my favorite youngest child. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Happy (belated) 16!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">See you in Lithuania! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-23327199328276108232024-01-30T23:30:00.001-05:002024-01-31T18:34:19.074-05:00[50] THREE: Adopt Zayla<p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpf1MrSJ5O2lEhfmApYbT2tdIZv3MEPaquA-BWzktbybUJ3YAu30128zbTAVTZHt2PkP_LkJ8CEZEsHj8tMxLEhHsFZ-llYlnK1yu5yCw3FwOGq8jeGxmh0FXk0mEd0VHf35XyuQDSKCgH3CiI_GAgaH0QacyoNFNbqNO6r7-IF6UMZYJt5CsFC1Wz78/s2000/Untitled%20design_20240130_121153_0000.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1556" data-original-width="2000" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpf1MrSJ5O2lEhfmApYbT2tdIZv3MEPaquA-BWzktbybUJ3YAu30128zbTAVTZHt2PkP_LkJ8CEZEsHj8tMxLEhHsFZ-llYlnK1yu5yCw3FwOGq8jeGxmh0FXk0mEd0VHf35XyuQDSKCgH3CiI_GAgaH0QacyoNFNbqNO6r7-IF6UMZYJt5CsFC1Wz78/s320/Untitled%20design_20240130_121153_0000.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Today I became a mom to a sixth "child" (legally, that is) through adoption. </span><p></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">234 days ago I met Zayla at a Pride event. Somehow I knew she would be a significant part of my life from my first interaction with her. There was a connection. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">And then she joined us for Austen's 21st birthday at the Renaissance Faire. And then she moved in. And long story short, she's a significant part of our lives, so much so that we asked her to be a permanent part of our family on Thanksgiving Day 2023.</span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">So here we are...Adoption Day began with getting ready...then cinnamon rolls... then a card, and a letter...</span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTN0Z2nHPjkDQzvcQTBzP-Yq6YuSBAWlxmO9LMKcG93llTI10NffJK5IY0A0fYPPDExnMiqXlyxoAzXyuVeRCm5OlT15zqI3O5pezjQMsXlKe1Th9fy4TtAMiciMt26urc2A5ElXQ7GkZQihbbTE8so4sMSJgwE1FlsRBtPCFwBN4gcXxGGz93gXbFQ4/s1471/20240131_002011_0000.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="1471" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTN0Z2nHPjkDQzvcQTBzP-Yq6YuSBAWlxmO9LMKcG93llTI10NffJK5IY0A0fYPPDExnMiqXlyxoAzXyuVeRCm5OlT15zqI3O5pezjQMsXlKe1Th9fy4TtAMiciMt26urc2A5ElXQ7GkZQihbbTE8so4sMSJgwE1FlsRBtPCFwBN4gcXxGGz93gXbFQ4/s320/20240131_002011_0000.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">and a gift...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWaICmmNP6yXwUhRgnhMFnVBnigdH6Ogi-OaCWCiBHsx9S7hbS142UJ1C_rTMayFlx2Pgu0PUiS-6uTjBBOeSZz-_aB_dx1fejlRWVSfnbcDk4hDHY1VPcsreRzoQvNY2aRQaFzj3dsWK0CwT6fYqIWmRk7GiHHm2Fgs9qLb5czs2ar7NBifuUCWx3GI/s4032/20240130_103802.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWaICmmNP6yXwUhRgnhMFnVBnigdH6Ogi-OaCWCiBHsx9S7hbS142UJ1C_rTMayFlx2Pgu0PUiS-6uTjBBOeSZz-_aB_dx1fejlRWVSfnbcDk4hDHY1VPcsreRzoQvNY2aRQaFzj3dsWK0CwT6fYqIWmRk7GiHHm2Fgs9qLb5czs2ar7NBifuUCWx3GI/s320/20240130_103802.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">and then it was off to the courthouse to make it official. The judge was grateful to have such a happy occasion to preside over. Not knowing what to expect, I was glad that it was such a smooth process. Before we knew it, we were stnding outside the court building taking photos with our daughter. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfNORScvMhWrUf1FxlQjZmm4g-wG9mjiCVtnLUlodJrZ6b115P1zEipBNTHoXMDqQq6fQNYsbVAelzBoZG5lrSsJdMTKRba0teoIPSt2DVXz8njjK8NymImzDxa1T8WhBFV_rvY1Tjl7JrdgtmhK9X3XROmKsniQnHqguFfE84-RoMDUulCxg-rKgHo0/s4000/20240130_110252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2256" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyfNORScvMhWrUf1FxlQjZmm4g-wG9mjiCVtnLUlodJrZ6b115P1zEipBNTHoXMDqQq6fQNYsbVAelzBoZG5lrSsJdMTKRba0teoIPSt2DVXz8njjK8NymImzDxa1T8WhBFV_rvY1Tjl7JrdgtmhK9X3XROmKsniQnHqguFfE84-RoMDUulCxg-rKgHo0/s320/20240130_110252.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Even Kermit stopped by the courthouse to offer congratulations!</span><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Shortly after we arrived home, the sushi arrived and we ate too. much. sushi. Sushi comas followed for the majority. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSdxJVxh2LGv_nlhm6BVbP5x-TzUQ6Y8sS4RsrSqABudpTdypq78deejf9XkQWErn557v6eFrlwCMROlWDRnnG9it_2uRsQ2ley1DEpySBz5IWMOwHWXD6k6tk_aqPCYwIjjnTCatC-XkOC8ctFwrj9cgBu88mKLBNzEBQzfgDT0qscJZ-TBv5jW99JY/s4032/20240130_122454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSdxJVxh2LGv_nlhm6BVbP5x-TzUQ6Y8sS4RsrSqABudpTdypq78deejf9XkQWErn557v6eFrlwCMROlWDRnnG9it_2uRsQ2ley1DEpySBz5IWMOwHWXD6k6tk_aqPCYwIjjnTCatC-XkOC8ctFwrj9cgBu88mKLBNzEBQzfgDT0qscJZ-TBv5jW99JY/s320/20240130_122454.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDM4lLXeMAPiOpEzwmL-4ee4SzWTMmrwEDpAAQyqphaZ2L3tOvpK-_cdPHM6dOFhPpoppYEltrAiNlgvlonZOGNV4vNvy9_N2YrzteIu09Ktj_MP0sb827ZEYcENVxHlpyDcseVvB0DRn0Aham8n1OZzozgtEurC9uT6Au0Zy6l3kQQj-vUQwK5zfMklQ/s4032/20240130_205913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDM4lLXeMAPiOpEzwmL-4ee4SzWTMmrwEDpAAQyqphaZ2L3tOvpK-_cdPHM6dOFhPpoppYEltrAiNlgvlonZOGNV4vNvy9_N2YrzteIu09Ktj_MP0sb827ZEYcENVxHlpyDcseVvB0DRn0Aham8n1OZzozgtEurC9uT6Au0Zy6l3kQQj-vUQwK5zfMklQ/s320/20240130_205913.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Zayla, I am incredibly blessed to be your mom and to get to support, comfort, listen to, laugh with, and love you for the beautiful, intelligent, loving, kind, compassionate person you are. I hope that from now on, the joy in your life outweighs the sadness...and that you know that I will be here to love you through everything. </span><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">We can rewrite the stars...</span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6fex3nIViq3F_nPBHv3sCozuVr62ermc97LtcXoSg6-KBAhODTFDViL3GBZkHM8-JyKE1e-aAobU6KZLOU52zhqiVT2ePwo5mS7LxUtS37i3MdGI3rsTaAmL1IC8dwO-3S2T_OqXmwzFff8yMrG49MLy4ZpgmQSmzDEnQJCes4KYZ67c5aHmYYAKZD0/s1748/3_20240131_175827_0002.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1748" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6fex3nIViq3F_nPBHv3sCozuVr62ermc97LtcXoSg6-KBAhODTFDViL3GBZkHM8-JyKE1e-aAobU6KZLOU52zhqiVT2ePwo5mS7LxUtS37i3MdGI3rsTaAmL1IC8dwO-3S2T_OqXmwzFff8yMrG49MLy4ZpgmQSmzDEnQJCes4KYZ67c5aHmYYAKZD0/s320/3_20240131_175827_0002.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehCnT9T_xy4GUGF1bapHR4_NGq8gJpSj2Zy33W2lMehy5Ip9nW8GBu5HyAMfzztlacNRwhB7kcIMYjxebWxa2N5z0OSGZRHnMHeZwwCtzrbWcCAABqe38lt-Ihkjcn0XAGzeg7nxGtExTtqqOXrcQ46RAYsnK57uDKrGAbFlLEQLJMHTqod7Giz5HuOA/s1748/White%20Elegant%20Romantic%20Photo%20Wedding%20Thank%20You%20Card_20240131_180216_0000.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1748" data-original-width="1240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehCnT9T_xy4GUGF1bapHR4_NGq8gJpSj2Zy33W2lMehy5Ip9nW8GBu5HyAMfzztlacNRwhB7kcIMYjxebWxa2N5z0OSGZRHnMHeZwwCtzrbWcCAABqe38lt-Ihkjcn0XAGzeg7nxGtExTtqqOXrcQ46RAYsnK57uDKrGAbFlLEQLJMHTqod7Giz5HuOA/s320/White%20Elegant%20Romantic%20Photo%20Wedding%20Thank%20You%20Card_20240131_180216_0000.png" width="227" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-44582882276053462292024-01-27T23:47:00.004-05:002024-01-28T00:00:06.325-05:00[50] Two: spend more time with mom<p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzZeHf9wfyYgtllf0l40k5krxKXgnrnqXwegzY2VqIoAbCGhAThF642Crw1hZ9s6J4ODMyFXV-pF1PIh-mT7kQKYUfvAkkhzP47yUG2oUWCpqIC0QFwMrkZQHpxlBl1ni3PwannqVcBJkZst_Z8G2pAtFEdh677V4ZIWabfcP6h2mKzSxEslP8UQzEMw/s2048/422441402_10231703097469579_2860381483415520915_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzZeHf9wfyYgtllf0l40k5krxKXgnrnqXwegzY2VqIoAbCGhAThF642Crw1hZ9s6J4ODMyFXV-pF1PIh-mT7kQKYUfvAkkhzP47yUG2oUWCpqIC0QFwMrkZQHpxlBl1ni3PwannqVcBJkZst_Z8G2pAtFEdh677V4ZIWabfcP6h2mKzSxEslP8UQzEMw/s320/422441402_10231703097469579_2860381483415520915_n.jpg" width="180" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">I guess it's true when they say you need to be careful what you ask for. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">On my list of fifty things is "spend more one on one time with Mom." By this, I did not mean it to involve my Dad being in the hospital for several days. Or rearranging my life and missing my kids and ... and ... and... But you know, the rearranging is working out and the kids are mostly adults and can live without their mother for a little while (it's the house that I'm most concerned about). But timing is everything and there are medical appointments to be rearranged or changed to telehealth, and mere days before a Very Important Day, for which I had hoped to have time to plan and plot.</span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Nevertheless, my time with Mom has been fantastic ... and difficult ... and hilarious. Well, hilarious if you have as strange a sense of humor as mine. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Mom has Alzheimers and her short term memory isn't so spiffy. Whilst in the Emergency Department with Dad, she asked what the plan was eleventy-nine billion times. Every 27 seconds or so. There was a pair of sisters a couple of stretchers down the hall who probably heard my various iterations of The Plan eleventy-one million times. "We're waiting for Dad's test results, which should be here in an hour or so, and then we find out what's happening next. Jim will pick you up in an hour and take you home to eat dinner. If Dad needs to stay at the hospital overnight, I will come to your house and stay with you until Dad comes home in a day or two." When one hour became an unreasonable amount of time to Mom (after me saying it for over an hour), I changed it to 45 minutes ... then half an hour ... until finally Jim arrived and whisked her away to dinner with himself and two of her grandkids. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">And, of course, it's been me and Mom ever since I arrived at my parents' house that night after it was clear that my Dad would soon be admitted. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">We stayed up late watching Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and sipping vodka martinis (ok...a martini for her and a convincing glass of water with ice for me, as I'm not a martini fan). And she got up early in search of her beloved. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Over the course of the next few days, we fell into a sort of routine. Up in the morning, breakfast and meds, shower every other day, and washing up the in-between days. Mom is allowed to complain as much as she wants about showering, as it's' obviously payback for all the complaining I did about taking baths as a child. I wash the breakfast dishes and she dries. We head out the door to visit Dad in the hospital, and once she's had all she can take of the hospital, we return home for lunch.</span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Our afternoons are filled with reading and looking through photo albums and putzing around the house. We have dinner together and then settle in on the couch to watch a movie together. More Harry Potter. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">The one thing she is certain to remember in some form is that martinis and movies go together. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Then it's time to get into pjs and settle into bed. Most nights I sit with her in her bed and we each read a bit. Then she bids me goodnight and I remind her that I'll be in the room next door and will leave my light on so she can find me when she needs me. Each night, we have a 2 or 3AM check in and then go back to bed. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Realizing I need a couple hours to pick up prescriptions and groceries, my friend Renee comes to the rescue and spends some time with Mom. That evening, right as I'm about to start dinner, I get the call that I can pick Dad up from the hospital. Renee helps us out the door and soon we're back home and Mom barely leaves Dad's side. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Tomorrow will make a week since I've been to my home, a week since I've seen a couple of my kids, and two days before the Very Important Day. I'll stay and cook up some freezer meals and do some cleaning and make sure Mom and Dad will be set for a trial day completely on their own. Then we'll develop a new routine, which will include me spending part of each day with Mom, helping her through showers (or letting her "get away with" skipping a shower for a day), sharing memories, running errands together, going out for coffee, and getting up to our usual shennanigans. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">(And yes, we already know that the two of us shouldn't be allowed to do anything together because we always get up to something!)</span></p>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-59073184312552413362024-01-20T14:01:00.039-05:002024-01-20T20:30:50.120-05:00twenty days in<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvbTpM6aF4ik1G2SaoKdi9A7cpiVVRu4gwtd0X_HsIfUTo95ckBaUBtHawee5DIRLD-LDSrAXKERWcj5LpOGNM-a4CDjyfKdciiAQ_7dhUWbVIIHkXbtcxYMux4ABykYtQTQkWPUaG0Jpb2BbSXfFPZRtZbRFpfhpDDgA4MoODoFvrn-n5UnFJ3Ahqbc/s4032/20231212_182830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvbTpM6aF4ik1G2SaoKdi9A7cpiVVRu4gwtd0X_HsIfUTo95ckBaUBtHawee5DIRLD-LDSrAXKERWcj5LpOGNM-a4CDjyfKdciiAQ_7dhUWbVIIHkXbtcxYMux4ABykYtQTQkWPUaG0Jpb2BbSXfFPZRtZbRFpfhpDDgA4MoODoFvrn-n5UnFJ3Ahqbc/s320/20231212_182830.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">We're twenty days in and I'm done with this year ... until I'm not. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">The end of 2023 to the present was a labyrinth of emotions. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">We lost one of the children we had gained last year when he decided he needed to do something different with his life that didn't involve joining our family through adult adoption as planned. We gained a teenager for twelve days shortly thereafter, and the ebb and flow of sadness and anger and happiness and joy made the processing of everything that was happening more difficult, but also brought much needed diversion and laughter. I had a brain MRI which yeilded somewhat concerning results that require more testing. The fifteen passenger van needed new brakes (and brake lines and .. and ... and...) and once that was fixed, the Subaru went into the shop, also for brakes. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">We celebrated Kotamas and the new year and Jim's birthday and Zayla's birthday. We said goodbye (for now) to Dakota. We celebrated our 28th anniversary. I landed in the Emergency Department the next day, leaving hours and hours later with referrals to two additional specialists. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">We played games and laughed until we cried. We had heart to heart talks and cried until we laughed. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">The Subaru was declared not worth fixing. Now we're down to one vehicle. Some doctors offices have yet to return my calls. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">I finally have much needed medical appointments. Animated conversations and laughter often fill the house.</span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">I spent the past two days at my parents' house, helping out while my Dad isn't feeling well and spending quality time with Mom, including celebrating her birthday. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Vascillating between deep sorrow and great joy seems to be happening at an ever quickening and exhausting pace. Some days I want to get off. Others, I'm happy to continue the ride. </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p><br /></p>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-17210911826434312852024-01-06T04:00:00.004-05:002024-01-06T21:17:27.742-05:00First Birthday <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcDE1fNvbEKuP21osSRg2zuDpz_Ub3TpP1q_CE9II8Vz_at9WecXzsQ2VUJK0-um-BvKrvWR7J5RG-vE0JjMDzYk22GOovUYBMvb8v5MJYH5a4OfrNKM0Lxqv6mYsTN-pw308GkBD0xATUPlsKnuusOYrf1u_xTBJW8f37gpfYAyTB6KDmbsC68JaGRfQ/s4032/20240103_182451.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcDE1fNvbEKuP21osSRg2zuDpz_Ub3TpP1q_CE9II8Vz_at9WecXzsQ2VUJK0-um-BvKrvWR7J5RG-vE0JjMDzYk22GOovUYBMvb8v5MJYH5a4OfrNKM0Lxqv6mYsTN-pw308GkBD0xATUPlsKnuusOYrf1u_xTBJW8f37gpfYAyTB6KDmbsC68JaGRfQ/s320/20240103_182451.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana;">We celebrated her first birthday along with her 29th. I took lots of photos ...Zayla with a photo of her and her brothers given to her as a gift...Zayla making a face because she knew I was taking a photo. But my favorite photos are the candid ones. The ones she looks at and doesn't recognize herself. The ones where she is able to glimpse a little bit of the beauty I see when I look at her. </span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana;">Zayla, </span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana;">I'm so glad you're here and I'm so glad you're <i>here</i>. You, my daughter, are loved beyond measure. I cannot express to you what joy you bring to my life. Of all the gifts that I'd love to lavish on you, the most important ones don't come in fancy wrappings. I wish you health and healing; peace and safety and strength and the ability to be gentle with yourself throughout this journey you've found yourself on. I wish you deep, cleansing breath and patience with this process of becoming. I can barely wait until three weeks and three days from now when we make legal what is in our hearts.</span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana;">I love you and will be here for you should you need me. For always and forever and no matter what!</span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana;">Happiest of Birthdays! </span></div><div><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: verdana;">💜Mom</span></div>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-24217588280486722342024-01-01T04:00:00.001-05:002024-01-06T00:25:57.150-05:00[50] One: reboot<p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyWP2idjQkJ3HEWFHD8vez5wVYvQL1OsFAnWMWYrTcUL6YqM-_U7oziRyQpWKaO_nvnHYi4_d_YvPwqIIsmKNkJTaQ_q1Elms2YeH4eJ8YDglA296aMjP4gLlwWmRNZgdA2l4qjM7JbEp9pJPCGZoJBEaqCw-0R8A9c9ZqLrj3z3Ix5xFDpFyH22BdJA/s4032/20231231_154938.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyWP2idjQkJ3HEWFHD8vez5wVYvQL1OsFAnWMWYrTcUL6YqM-_U7oziRyQpWKaO_nvnHYi4_d_YvPwqIIsmKNkJTaQ_q1Elms2YeH4eJ8YDglA296aMjP4gLlwWmRNZgdA2l4qjM7JbEp9pJPCGZoJBEaqCw-0R8A9c9ZqLrj3z3Ix5xFDpFyH22BdJA/s320/20231231_154938.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">A new year is the perfect time to reboot. One of my 50 things this year is to reboot ... to start from scratch; to forgive others and myself and wipe the slate clean; to discover new ways of doing things that work for myself and my family. </span><p></p><div>So here's to letting go of negative thoughts and emotions and starting anew!</div>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-11364043776422582032023-12-31T18:56:00.001-05:002023-12-31T18:56:00.123-05:00[reason 365] Fifty<p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpebSh0LAf1M0_FaUT033Ox2dwyOyr-kqEAufB0LWaLXdN_1bUdovtlICYE0N5ErZifqpiAe5Fh3U6PcI0OjoHuJ4sAkD89KFw5jKlPyiPIM713ZqKq-qH3dYQi6pmLBKCvGaviZC5Z39y5R_UaaY87H7R-xNHmlZvqakG1ReiaYudOjNoTlcL71GcNs/s4032/20231230_145738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpebSh0LAf1M0_FaUT033Ox2dwyOyr-kqEAufB0LWaLXdN_1bUdovtlICYE0N5ErZifqpiAe5Fh3U6PcI0OjoHuJ4sAkD89KFw5jKlPyiPIM713ZqKq-qH3dYQi6pmLBKCvGaviZC5Z39y5R_UaaY87H7R-xNHmlZvqakG1ReiaYudOjNoTlcL71GcNs/s320/20231230_145738.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Today is the last day of 2023 ... and I have now entered my fiftieth year of existence. It's time for a new "word of the year" and that word is "fifty."</span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">In 2024, I'm going to write fifty blog posts about fifty things that I accomplish. I have a list of those things, which may be updated or changed depending on health, finances, etc. The list includes adopting Zayla, making a snow angel, and reading fifty books. That last one is incredibly daunting, considering I didn't get through a single book in 2023. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Some of the things are mundane. Some are incredibly ambitious. Some scare the crap of out me, and some will be accomplished with great joy and celebration. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Fifty.</span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">At one point we didn't think I was going to make it to 48, and here we are ramping up to celebrating my fiftieth!</span></p>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-47211913612401853462023-12-30T18:50:00.002-05:002023-12-30T18:50:34.011-05:00[reason 364] birthday shenaniganery [uncaptioned]<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJkE1otr5Ory5eprzXyzZred76RYlslCLM8mlaUrLEBzDckpMZlGmRzOo3m2c8QSHXeE2_G0j-VkDdpvI4KhzTF4YvHcQFkABmkXSmUuUOLlvhKdBfJ2eJkGctS0IeeR9XxBSUg-ANQtoyIOSwLup0U0uGy6dk5VuJZd8GuI8eLeupNjtMuDN0qcoyZ0/s4000/20231230_165201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2256" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJkE1otr5Ory5eprzXyzZred76RYlslCLM8mlaUrLEBzDckpMZlGmRzOo3m2c8QSHXeE2_G0j-VkDdpvI4KhzTF4YvHcQFkABmkXSmUuUOLlvhKdBfJ2eJkGctS0IeeR9XxBSUg-ANQtoyIOSwLup0U0uGy6dk5VuJZd8GuI8eLeupNjtMuDN0qcoyZ0/s320/20231230_165201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPFH0rbCv-knxORJSAqOtgBIVYuWUBUQJ-yillgJqrbNchQEP_FisB5b4tnLGTkDc2eouIZ-thBYainIIdIi9LivZFofgXtyZyBAv2N25EUSHKdacZTlkuhhHDlKX0YUnFW_GIP88j8KAhcjGPgELlVax7vRAXrFzukle1nOERVYirNLLX_wr5ztxDz0/s4032/20231230_153158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPFH0rbCv-knxORJSAqOtgBIVYuWUBUQJ-yillgJqrbNchQEP_FisB5b4tnLGTkDc2eouIZ-thBYainIIdIi9LivZFofgXtyZyBAv2N25EUSHKdacZTlkuhhHDlKX0YUnFW_GIP88j8KAhcjGPgELlVax7vRAXrFzukle1nOERVYirNLLX_wr5ztxDz0/s320/20231230_153158.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlX-onynNQo2BFNC2aKcTQkYgYVRBjUEDDKkPeUikFTScheDJI8aWxn8CCKdvPeQ1NoSOyYpFLIgYrstkQ9FTSky93tBlAg_n5VniHPpGE7xHDiqKopbtgdcG4iIvjCH-ePuVIut_KHNSi9zem0WT5sjR3NWJN-POp6LNfYzDcnWd_oysS59TDl5GUYX8/s4032/20231230_145738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlX-onynNQo2BFNC2aKcTQkYgYVRBjUEDDKkPeUikFTScheDJI8aWxn8CCKdvPeQ1NoSOyYpFLIgYrstkQ9FTSky93tBlAg_n5VniHPpGE7xHDiqKopbtgdcG4iIvjCH-ePuVIut_KHNSi9zem0WT5sjR3NWJN-POp6LNfYzDcnWd_oysS59TDl5GUYX8/s320/20231230_145738.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJPwG_Of4pstzfJttULHO6E5lI0x6DMND28dSXj8-THzDLh_qAP168NISTBdDw9ozgvvQ-rixSAR2C5rkgLf79ULLeOKDNzpWtzjBY7Zek_nTVTex_7JWMqbbEVphtljUwy4GGs04BxOzHVEPvz9dRHw_1nhQYUc5aKOQ_t5p_0f1yXRq3duXi1RqJss/s4000/20231230_140938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2256" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJPwG_Of4pstzfJttULHO6E5lI0x6DMND28dSXj8-THzDLh_qAP168NISTBdDw9ozgvvQ-rixSAR2C5rkgLf79ULLeOKDNzpWtzjBY7Zek_nTVTex_7JWMqbbEVphtljUwy4GGs04BxOzHVEPvz9dRHw_1nhQYUc5aKOQ_t5p_0f1yXRq3duXi1RqJss/s320/20231230_140938.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXNjABM8TqF3w-bCLizqaeyUMB4ACjODV7RycYhT_ssXmIguwg-Jq4nND2TcU_hth2fMjDseV23kXZKO2eZQ0N1MmqynNpfHDe-qHQvWimIipUR_uSarKxaFNTbgzFcHpKdE1xD48dXDVeuIA3YBdsg6ReGbuqXmbg6tF3TIu0Qk8ZAcZoGTY_Au73qg/s4032/20231230_140247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXNjABM8TqF3w-bCLizqaeyUMB4ACjODV7RycYhT_ssXmIguwg-Jq4nND2TcU_hth2fMjDseV23kXZKO2eZQ0N1MmqynNpfHDe-qHQvWimIipUR_uSarKxaFNTbgzFcHpKdE1xD48dXDVeuIA3YBdsg6ReGbuqXmbg6tF3TIu0Qk8ZAcZoGTY_Au73qg/s320/20231230_140247.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPaVYDn7bet_d6fMkex577haUETlo1ug7STxBoffzWuha9jfiHfD0a0yjFPwUphh9ASWMm-zMGtG875da6NLTD_zjDxBXbxxvsLnbqjekSuBlAeFcEedrpIFi5_HWwdFI8DZu903sENiKLbLB59N43xu7pxd1rSgVEga9mI2-tZ0ZNjgMTxeKv7i_DAY/s320/20231230_112748.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQ1o2gEijqOmLDcxgH9hvM0zlbwKPBIunIpLSUL3ccCEtgx7W8kzu14J7agOMjEA75zp-l4Aosl_sWxHVqrphbfxKEj-_WFAid5SMMO2-SXQGJ67s5y9ClxiBCRdI_8Va3IENn-icUiTvR5V637dfs0BsOEWhNBPrzluQyObBEl4DZZxO8gUVjsNC_-k/s4032/20231230_112747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQ1o2gEijqOmLDcxgH9hvM0zlbwKPBIunIpLSUL3ccCEtgx7W8kzu14J7agOMjEA75zp-l4Aosl_sWxHVqrphbfxKEj-_WFAid5SMMO2-SXQGJ67s5y9ClxiBCRdI_8Va3IENn-icUiTvR5V637dfs0BsOEWhNBPrzluQyObBEl4DZZxO8gUVjsNC_-k/s320/20231230_112747.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJl9_4AWxCUK1PkL2DgnwdtLHGs4fi4ohTsvVLLLigJFmHo5jApUXG-UywEVfZBp4JNSaPRPLMVZVPrzalvIgGRgH6iYB5HxQ32-DqF-R3sGvyNY226WCejYI5j7MAfLyT1KthorWy6GGX7P_TTVadHkwvFAvLXSvL75VmnaQ3wI8XbJgToZd3M6rBFE/s4032/20231230_112739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJl9_4AWxCUK1PkL2DgnwdtLHGs4fi4ohTsvVLLLigJFmHo5jApUXG-UywEVfZBp4JNSaPRPLMVZVPrzalvIgGRgH6iYB5HxQ32-DqF-R3sGvyNY226WCejYI5j7MAfLyT1KthorWy6GGX7P_TTVadHkwvFAvLXSvL75VmnaQ3wI8XbJgToZd3M6rBFE/s320/20231230_112739.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-75972892326769760192023-12-29T18:43:00.001-05:002023-12-30T18:44:58.386-05:00[reason 363] waffles with wafflez<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jHC1aDe80FAJm4oBjtO-QnzJgnqvr_L_VBYwJxYF2IiD7tcxmnOA7Ji48-_iuQzDwsad_Qv5rpM6sEMOEHea_QcAUn1ajFCxBjy8rfZ7uizXzmtQCFk10CysZdtec1bc_E6jvBv-9E2C_YkKhrM3qy_7pkfP4kBJIEXtJuCSEFyeapVDKUYBJKVrhQw/s4032/20231229_130941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jHC1aDe80FAJm4oBjtO-QnzJgnqvr_L_VBYwJxYF2IiD7tcxmnOA7Ji48-_iuQzDwsad_Qv5rpM6sEMOEHea_QcAUn1ajFCxBjy8rfZ7uizXzmtQCFk10CysZdtec1bc_E6jvBv-9E2C_YkKhrM3qy_7pkfP4kBJIEXtJuCSEFyeapVDKUYBJKVrhQw/s320/20231229_130941.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Sloppy Waffle has amazing waffles. Onyx, Dakota, and I split three different kinds of waffles because we couldn't decide what to order. <p></p><p>Ans then at Target ...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0BamtwFZkZTxwiffstMKNn6318r7_ggiH07Y8YsXtCcoaXwO_TcHFPWDmG9uTBkbeO15Nvx48G8VvVy6beD7R6JGb7ZSqTpd4weeLSWDfJca6T4laSVPmULEi_t0TECYIpVafxk8Cb1Ih-XIH_mF6MJP727m65GXaigleLEC0MFq8popZXapBYaayqE/s4032/20231229_143859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk0BamtwFZkZTxwiffstMKNn6318r7_ggiH07Y8YsXtCcoaXwO_TcHFPWDmG9uTBkbeO15Nvx48G8VvVy6beD7R6JGb7ZSqTpd4weeLSWDfJca6T4laSVPmULEi_t0TECYIpVafxk8Cb1Ih-XIH_mF6MJP727m65GXaigleLEC0MFq8popZXapBYaayqE/s320/20231229_143859.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-3235234682169194322023-12-28T01:34:00.003-05:002023-12-29T01:43:50.303-05:00[reason 362] kotr shenanigans<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KzxN3-ydiNzBxGkBdfTNNFsR7JjF_WOBndBezALRRdrfS1reFWI-BKw1-F5V4ZXpHU9wbhbpsB8YzW43plpYrOVAosx7Fn5OBLOrkVHSe_hqcQtnMFTP-BdI5UwZ17_6itq0NS_QGHAhmwVARl4qPepH2ucH_vehq4Szdbcdc0oGQwlSrKRS2Sn2msw/s4032/20231228_181623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KzxN3-ydiNzBxGkBdfTNNFsR7JjF_WOBndBezALRRdrfS1reFWI-BKw1-F5V4ZXpHU9wbhbpsB8YzW43plpYrOVAosx7Fn5OBLOrkVHSe_hqcQtnMFTP-BdI5UwZ17_6itq0NS_QGHAhmwVARl4qPepH2ucH_vehq4Szdbcdc0oGQwlSrKRS2Sn2msw/s320/20231228_181623.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Onyx and Dakota spent six and a half of their first two days together creating a masterpiece. Not on the Magnadoodle of Onyx's childhood, which was re-discovered at Gramma and Papa's house, but on Dakota's new iPad.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWexV12UtCACnqVzOtc1Nk1FaBeCoezh1cGNp_K73NNvVPN3qRdrvhMOgK6S4CVkvRv3uyZCgFA-YdBkwHLwk3FurlHi5pdcpiF0trtXBzilLIFFyW2khwwR79LnqROfge9qfFMBONVD3QJnSLtKd7Nx02epUhuiI18T9Qmt00kX1336sn0kDH8B4ox0/s4032/20231228_201849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWexV12UtCACnqVzOtc1Nk1FaBeCoezh1cGNp_K73NNvVPN3qRdrvhMOgK6S4CVkvRv3uyZCgFA-YdBkwHLwk3FurlHi5pdcpiF0trtXBzilLIFFyW2khwwR79LnqROfge9qfFMBONVD3QJnSLtKd7Nx02epUhuiI18T9Qmt00kX1336sn0kDH8B4ox0/s320/20231228_201849.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The two created an all Kermit version of the Lord of the Rings poster for Zayla. They then showed them ... on the iPad ... their creation. Zayla was both surprised and impressed and at one point asked or commented something about getting a poster printed. Little did she know that we were, very shortly therafter, picking up the poster version. <p></p><p>She may have been slightly, but delighfully, surprised...</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihch_4ty95PRbhmCaT1UWmwPEHNv8hYEWS3m0oEIH74rfN8FYMuYkchGUDnf3ePkuuyutzsrjbBEQUDdV461oQHN1yOie-79By5wJQzWnvAQLfwgMOzb2R-apmgbeLuyZRJb22pKHlAXoi0NLyzuXAq9GBqot4-7NqgDY6m-VOMhDX5-eCvZpeldVRAxE/s1920/VideoCapture_20231228-221143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihch_4ty95PRbhmCaT1UWmwPEHNv8hYEWS3m0oEIH74rfN8FYMuYkchGUDnf3ePkuuyutzsrjbBEQUDdV461oQHN1yOie-79By5wJQzWnvAQLfwgMOzb2R-apmgbeLuyZRJb22pKHlAXoi0NLyzuXAq9GBqot4-7NqgDY6m-VOMhDX5-eCvZpeldVRAxE/s320/VideoCapture_20231228-221143.jpg" width="180" /></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/AVvXsEj85XtLXyht3REtx71mEqRPREKuH4FsVrkqHfScJtCSyazEv7TpTkO-1tRB5Q22BvtsYyMqya4PtHG9rFn36KBpMJud-UgnzJG07vevqRD17Mypo2I_N-FwMJvwwKUAB93JlvHYUuXiI0EMlL1BFQeZKLlXUrrAxnt1Wh25o5tO3bkjp50S8tuKTn2I07Y/s4032/20231228_210325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85XtLXyht3REtx71mEqRPREKuH4FsVrkqHfScJtCSyazEv7TpTkO-1tRB5Q22BvtsYyMqya4PtHG9rFn36KBpMJud-UgnzJG07vevqRD17Mypo2I_N-FwMJvwwKUAB93JlvHYUuXiI0EMlL1BFQeZKLlXUrrAxnt1Wh25o5tO3bkjp50S8tuKTn2I07Y/s320/20231228_210325.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-5128513176179328212023-12-27T01:00:00.000-05:002023-12-29T01:52:43.555-05:00[reason 361] weha shenanigans<p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"> <br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKpjhfytjAdZ7zK-ymKL9ebeio0Ymjb33UUcaQ1zcOhLvGS6X9z-eAQiTw7tXniK5vxRFKSZ-nPqjILj9D8euIQ-wVzhN-J86BDdT-AV1gDppVxF2EAFOpDVwBCdEBYsfqYyD7FnXKB4mFKmLXy9rOxOtmDnZM9-MnAQM8y3sflRgCTwjiGpxIIXZ-dA/s4032/20231227_124326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKpjhfytjAdZ7zK-ymKL9ebeio0Ymjb33UUcaQ1zcOhLvGS6X9z-eAQiTw7tXniK5vxRFKSZ-nPqjILj9D8euIQ-wVzhN-J86BDdT-AV1gDppVxF2EAFOpDVwBCdEBYsfqYyD7FnXKB4mFKmLXy9rOxOtmDnZM9-MnAQM8y3sflRgCTwjiGpxIIXZ-dA/s320/20231227_124326.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">On the Second Day of Kotamas, Onyx and Dakota and Zayla and I went to the Claypen in West Hartford for some pottery painting fun. </span><p></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Upon leaving, we met up with Zayla's younger brother, William, and the two of them went to a restaurant to meet up with their older brother to eat good food and catch up. I felt like I'd met William before, but couldn't place where or when I might have done so.</span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Later that evening, Zayla asked if I'd mind picking her up, and I was happy to do so, especially since it meant that I might meet her brothers. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">As they exited the restaurant, I immediately felt like I'd met Nick before as well - a similar feeling to what I felt when I met Zayla ... and William for that matter ... for the first time. Like they are family. Introductions and hugs completed, Zayla finally emerged from the restaurant to the three of us chatting happily. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">I feel so blessed to have met these two amazing, kind human beings whose love for their sister is so evident. They feel like family for each other, and to me. I hope they know that they're always welcome in our home, at our family gatherings, etc. because they are family. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOTIpcPHn7HXhGosuX54gRiWIxs0jUaczceBrk1DGlnnwUr89IYErGJyiNV4TgDogsmNocGM-oJasDmABTJ7vWRHycVIa0uYHXSuhUIcX4JnjHvN9HXyEuJBFUSx6F2tACXxXzaoAvmJ_gHdC8nw8bs50OzolwS4h4LVjerrx3mPnNeEtwtl-Jgqg_2Y/s4032/20231227_221427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOTIpcPHn7HXhGosuX54gRiWIxs0jUaczceBrk1DGlnnwUr89IYErGJyiNV4TgDogsmNocGM-oJasDmABTJ7vWRHycVIa0uYHXSuhUIcX4JnjHvN9HXyEuJBFUSx6F2tACXxXzaoAvmJ_gHdC8nw8bs50OzolwS4h4LVjerrx3mPnNeEtwtl-Jgqg_2Y/s320/20231227_221427.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">My hope is that we will all be able to spend more time together getting to know each other. And that they will someday truly understand the love I have for Zayla - my daughter. I will forever treasure the dragon vein agate bracelet, and the loving presence they both exude. </span></p><p><br /></p>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-68137134204195804352023-12-26T00:43:00.035-05:002023-12-29T01:00:39.269-05:00[reason 360] importing Christmas gifts<p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUn9azhN4JLwiZbwL_fi44uk2auDI6N93JJjXlymUx_IpLqyxkjSXQfOxppFtcJ5vCDFXeNnOE1NMH_vbRbVx6Fsch9vK2DqbDd8CYvHrTr40VFKIvNO__K9LHwVAdJDOgvmK38FAap1EMx0jz8RW4x6hL91cPXIEKKAWLPz3ZV5gozXBh-2KSRKwFjUk/s1920/VideoCapture_20231226-200131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUn9azhN4JLwiZbwL_fi44uk2auDI6N93JJjXlymUx_IpLqyxkjSXQfOxppFtcJ5vCDFXeNnOE1NMH_vbRbVx6Fsch9vK2DqbDd8CYvHrTr40VFKIvNO__K9LHwVAdJDOgvmK38FAap1EMx0jz8RW4x6hL91cPXIEKKAWLPz3ZV5gozXBh-2KSRKwFjUk/s320/VideoCapture_20231226-200131.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Onyx's Christmas gift this year was Dakota. </span><p></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">We paid for half their plane ticket and are springing for a bunch of activities while he's here as gifts for them both. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Too bad they're not getting along...<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtc5S0314Fre6vB-89K40Hq6zkNy3qD7QHum3EFivfuY46pOjF4CZ0356IOWvDIzDnOnt9vGVkWoffMi4UL6ODFB0l5qTlT9a0AvByST-ndaeNETrRK-dI232mgs9zzQ3Xwv2Q4tKT9BHUGlvv0Q39sWWcGsHZXqt26ODmdeDRUrGHj6h22o5wSF-6_E/s4032/20231226_194346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtc5S0314Fre6vB-89K40Hq6zkNy3qD7QHum3EFivfuY46pOjF4CZ0356IOWvDIzDnOnt9vGVkWoffMi4UL6ODFB0l5qTlT9a0AvByST-ndaeNETrRK-dI232mgs9zzQ3Xwv2Q4tKT9BHUGlvv0Q39sWWcGsHZXqt26ODmdeDRUrGHj6h22o5wSF-6_E/s320/20231226_194346.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7AfmL9pOfGH70XQV19-Yfbwkiq7kok6mBasOoSZjr8kUI8MNOUR1BEFegLEjRz3lPRYBZks1_hLkn_3WZFejO807mJt0tpz1SRebRJLfkYrgCUsyEaEi_-4w84k-nKt8-CMoeQqrFug1kuINlDm3jA-CtONwn29oyJfxBX2ZUryuuD-BC0eEDaDcge4/s4032/20231226_194341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7AfmL9pOfGH70XQV19-Yfbwkiq7kok6mBasOoSZjr8kUI8MNOUR1BEFegLEjRz3lPRYBZks1_hLkn_3WZFejO807mJt0tpz1SRebRJLfkYrgCUsyEaEi_-4w84k-nKt8-CMoeQqrFug1kuINlDm3jA-CtONwn29oyJfxBX2ZUryuuD-BC0eEDaDcge4/s320/20231226_194341.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVDz8mj-MqZVHNeagnGlxeamA1IQAyAj4Yql2nMuHCmWcoxLrmK6wCOaqs8-p_t6XQKr6VHcUTUiNbDAqmLUJGcSDjCQwFAOPgQX8f8LJCxPUClbsEJyFCG2oHe4U-zVA3jy-BUHRMBE_imyd71iQSVaDB6_uwLeZJ0nhBd2VnGW8RGBtjlo15xl4EHA/s4032/20231226_194334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVDz8mj-MqZVHNeagnGlxeamA1IQAyAj4Yql2nMuHCmWcoxLrmK6wCOaqs8-p_t6XQKr6VHcUTUiNbDAqmLUJGcSDjCQwFAOPgQX8f8LJCxPUClbsEJyFCG2oHe4U-zVA3jy-BUHRMBE_imyd71iQSVaDB6_uwLeZJ0nhBd2VnGW8RGBtjlo15xl4EHA/s320/20231226_194334.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">They've known each other for two and a half years. They met in person for the first time today. So far, they have been in a state of disbelief at the fact that the other is an actual real person, they've started some shenanigans that will benefit one of Onyx's siblings, and they have successfully become a part of our family.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-83861869578258555302023-12-25T23:33:00.014-05:002023-12-29T00:26:55.838-05:00[reason 359] Christmas<p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7978A8dMGFaUOGbUz6l27zExEdq1Ev4__4EtNbYvqD743J29IxOdUYPUQSBuUfck_CZ8qRSgGR2Ds_91X8XD6aIQtKf0xgPXLrNya0WmGYZ6YfnaM828cqmvB0JFrx-SYYKr0ElyOAFA0iwuAlj3vgmnqlAyoJzSSpcoK3h7LCRk8opIJGYKiabmVQE/s4032/20231225_083607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7978A8dMGFaUOGbUz6l27zExEdq1Ev4__4EtNbYvqD743J29IxOdUYPUQSBuUfck_CZ8qRSgGR2Ds_91X8XD6aIQtKf0xgPXLrNya0WmGYZ6YfnaM828cqmvB0JFrx-SYYKr0ElyOAFA0iwuAlj3vgmnqlAyoJzSSpcoK3h7LCRk8opIJGYKiabmVQE/s320/20231225_083607.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHBmxcvgdJSyjT3cDg0C8eGGDwxbSfGWcU-0NrK1H5p-0bu-9glncWStEC6qbrVvgevK6Gxp-pcAAJ_ncxT4GBuAGXPY9dQh4wR20jFW8wHKPydp5P3jaLCOw1glKPNQp_Oo2KSV3r-1sfhdrHFWz5PRSy8YeycBIKn0aF-47uwbLfbCRZrTPiWCniT8/s4032/20231225_004258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHBmxcvgdJSyjT3cDg0C8eGGDwxbSfGWcU-0NrK1H5p-0bu-9glncWStEC6qbrVvgevK6Gxp-pcAAJ_ncxT4GBuAGXPY9dQh4wR20jFW8wHKPydp5P3jaLCOw1glKPNQp_Oo2KSV3r-1sfhdrHFWz5PRSy8YeycBIKn0aF-47uwbLfbCRZrTPiWCniT8/s320/20231225_004258.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ph_WYX2KLVowxUsRvtMCzIJHPS4jMyfAcIT-UDdjpqrtnQxzV4TEBt8SI1sw3YIfUZJpPegVLHJLEOELNoxvin5euOTD9j9zchslR4eebDJaHWpJ8KbHVCVHBMlXCc7RYk37FZA3qJLbCi8Y2iyEdK2jARqSOac2w0elcTsyxovK8qbajDH9DyZrHkA/s4032/20231225_004249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ph_WYX2KLVowxUsRvtMCzIJHPS4jMyfAcIT-UDdjpqrtnQxzV4TEBt8SI1sw3YIfUZJpPegVLHJLEOELNoxvin5euOTD9j9zchslR4eebDJaHWpJ8KbHVCVHBMlXCc7RYk37FZA3qJLbCi8Y2iyEdK2jARqSOac2w0elcTsyxovK8qbajDH9DyZrHkA/s320/20231225_004249.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">I love Christmas. And giving gifts. Especially gifts that mention asking people about bagels. </span><p></p>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-70236133275136168602023-12-24T23:19:00.015-05:002023-12-28T23:29:24.846-05:00[reason 358] socks<p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJXp5-RGI5JY0e0Q1bZqrchXD4MY3VU_tcjML74tRcMIeqNPs3Yuwxg1xGGGTNO0bBLtfaBzNn9yBb8UoktmksW69qKymTORQraDnF2vkYoJx4mzYq-oG0LIyxuEdsFjbbuoj54GTNRR3SBoZQnNjS1VkT6FZ0JsLtn-cP4Gnx0sUMp3fJ4dm4r_K53k/s4032/20231224_101309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJXp5-RGI5JY0e0Q1bZqrchXD4MY3VU_tcjML74tRcMIeqNPs3Yuwxg1xGGGTNO0bBLtfaBzNn9yBb8UoktmksW69qKymTORQraDnF2vkYoJx4mzYq-oG0LIyxuEdsFjbbuoj54GTNRR3SBoZQnNjS1VkT6FZ0JsLtn-cP4Gnx0sUMp3fJ4dm4r_K53k/s320/20231224_101309.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Sprinkle socks. Need I say more?</span></div><p></p>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-80722347509257695552023-12-23T23:11:00.013-05:002023-12-28T23:19:45.214-05:00[reason 357] it all started with a gallon of buffalo chicken dip<p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyX0IYtoZN1bcqCuR6PYNEp6qvG422ZdUrQ0pRd6Fo5aJnePMKI_rPwkHaVHA8cFjZOm560LtW18Rvd4CE2Q9EDMhIcEZ5ko24iiAoAKXFKSy33TFJssyd_iTsf0ev7JsA5Tq7o4SVr57cSeN2rGIofMgYgPjBT72xLGQuHgXdSmCZi-iYiDSdDk1JfU/s4032/20231223_180441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyX0IYtoZN1bcqCuR6PYNEp6qvG422ZdUrQ0pRd6Fo5aJnePMKI_rPwkHaVHA8cFjZOm560LtW18Rvd4CE2Q9EDMhIcEZ5ko24iiAoAKXFKSy33TFJssyd_iTsf0ev7JsA5Tq7o4SVr57cSeN2rGIofMgYgPjBT72xLGQuHgXdSmCZi-iYiDSdDk1JfU/s320/20231223_180441.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEh_NFwTbNaih4mM4eN2zcG52vUO1BvAu0O04bTuHSqWjqaQgulhAz0AAiopkcIKID0jxOJs6gG9rjE63B_v21HAKiXsDUmKo1Dvbknd4FTAVE9YwMjccwiete_AQIQU2-oyPkI7_x35ofaFBqVPa5Vrv-shq4LclMi_0kUbg6zqcXOVX8VGV0OlsyFw/s4000/20231222_212954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2256" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEh_NFwTbNaih4mM4eN2zcG52vUO1BvAu0O04bTuHSqWjqaQgulhAz0AAiopkcIKID0jxOJs6gG9rjE63B_v21HAKiXsDUmKo1Dvbknd4FTAVE9YwMjccwiete_AQIQU2-oyPkI7_x35ofaFBqVPa5Vrv-shq4LclMi_0kUbg6zqcXOVX8VGV0OlsyFw/s320/20231222_212954.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAKAFMjVnDpB_zRAHaw3aIosAClOJvsR7QNu_UcTGSkCjEOo6aQNKc5mlwYXwinLHea-cjfApmml6VxluaybXPtul3LzwMlQUtqlT6ZHHJ_e0BV7XvxXzIASb0Oga4oV1EW-7w2SrmmnNkL8DPsclD9EeW-Lco2LJyR8WGKUC8ZRtKdiJdI5OQ1blQ3U/s4032/20231222_194044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAKAFMjVnDpB_zRAHaw3aIosAClOJvsR7QNu_UcTGSkCjEOo6aQNKc5mlwYXwinLHea-cjfApmml6VxluaybXPtul3LzwMlQUtqlT6ZHHJ_e0BV7XvxXzIASb0Oga4oV1EW-7w2SrmmnNkL8DPsclD9EeW-Lco2LJyR8WGKUC8ZRtKdiJdI5OQ1blQ3U/s320/20231222_194044.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">You have to be careful what you say in my presence. One of our bonus kids mentioned, months ago, that they wanted a gallon of buffalo chicken dip. So what did we give them for Christmas? A gallon of buffalo chicken dip! All eleven pounds of it. </span><p></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Another "kid" mentioned their love of Kermit and how much they'd love a Kermit puppet. They even went as far as to contact a friend who had one to inquire where they got it. By the time they contacted said friend, their Kermit puppet was already on the way. So we surprised them with it the very day it arrived.</span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Oh...and we made sugar cookies. </span></p><p><br /></p>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-53752928033267490832023-12-22T01:01:00.001-05:002023-12-22T01:01:00.130-05:00[reason 356] twenty-five<p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdfbj70dF4mR6LOqgwTjX8_0lcJBRQiSgIjVjtLAvdTCAqr0wgH6_pawteb1UidcVCoEQ_29AT2sxHdeLLXZhs91IrBK5E-tWEa5ErDSAo28ts0_B500naPaRTpY-k8JpHnhAIssrNMNmS_GbZm-rqI4T00Gn5TklJeYp3aAM4P27x8psIwTlOrdDizI/s960/249490_4687006862271_1054966130_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdfbj70dF4mR6LOqgwTjX8_0lcJBRQiSgIjVjtLAvdTCAqr0wgH6_pawteb1UidcVCoEQ_29AT2sxHdeLLXZhs91IrBK5E-tWEa5ErDSAo28ts0_B500naPaRTpY-k8JpHnhAIssrNMNmS_GbZm-rqI4T00Gn5TklJeYp3aAM4P27x8psIwTlOrdDizI/s320/249490_4687006862271_1054966130_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Happy 25th birthday, Alex!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">I got some nice photos of you this year with your actual face in them. Not a jack o lantern. Not a puppet. Just your handsome face. And perhaps Rachel's face, too. I may have also edited you into a few photos of your siblings. It's been quite the banner year in that regard, come to think of it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">I think I got more nice photos of you in your first five years of life than in the rest of the subsequent twenty. But that's ok. It's not like everyone who hasn't seen the above photo before didn't have to go back and really look at it to discover that your face does not appear in it! </span></div><br /><p></p>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-36527879261998592272023-12-21T22:58:00.044-05:002023-12-28T23:11:07.572-05:00[reason 355] because some days it's difficult to find a reason<p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"> ...and so I have all the other reasons to look back on.</span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">It began with one seemingly innocent text and didn't end. I'm actually writing this a week later and it's still not over. I don't know if it ever will be.</span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">One of my kids ... a young adult who I love as my own, who I supported through some pretty tough stuff, who can't imagine how big of a piece of my heart he's taken with him, spoke what he believes is his truth and walked out of our home and presumably our lives. To this day, I hope he comes home. I'm sad that he left so hurt, feeling as if I somehow didn't care about or love him, even after all we'd been through. Not able to receive my love or hear how I rearranged my life for him over and over again because I genuinely love him and care about him and was/am so proud of him for doing what he needs to do for himself. I wonder if heading in the direction of self care and acceptance of love from others is just too scary a place for him to go right now. When you're used to chaos and uncaring, it's difficult to see a way to love and acceptance. </span></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">I have no photo for today. No reason to live other than because I want to be here should he ever decide to return. If that's next week, next year, or next decade, I hope he knows that he is loved here. He is accepted here. He has family here. Always.</span></p><p><br /></p>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-43510379615200637402023-12-20T22:47:00.009-05:002023-12-28T23:32:02.413-05:00[reason 354] shiny mandalas<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlOZXAlcNXGp_u9bv43sT61GXKzrjDp4o-7iaXpUO-2m9elURbkNspnyv0gMO3WrtHWznXpvNM1N2lYh1Yy1M2zeYdO5B-QjmgN6HJdiYN67WPWBpJnT5JyJjSHR6Jy8_23rIJjtz6ZKeMoBxHxmErlSRI7-HVbMLGqc3mpLcov1X7GvmCue_4V-O4dM/s4032/20231220_175249.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlOZXAlcNXGp_u9bv43sT61GXKzrjDp4o-7iaXpUO-2m9elURbkNspnyv0gMO3WrtHWznXpvNM1N2lYh1Yy1M2zeYdO5B-QjmgN6HJdiYN67WPWBpJnT5JyJjSHR6Jy8_23rIJjtz6ZKeMoBxHxmErlSRI7-HVbMLGqc3mpLcov1X7GvmCue_4V-O4dM/s320/20231220_175249.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This mandala was under the Christmas tree, and the lights made it glow. I couldn't help but take a moment to enjoy it and to take a quick photo.</span><p></p><p><br /></p>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-86391285774238316502023-12-19T21:48:00.027-05:002023-12-19T21:48:00.128-05:00[reason 353] potatoes & having a date<p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinX_apFSEWehP2M7jzOi9cPJ_QDniEXTQJoqCBZu6vv4IpVoFTDklrIKKABZWl670nj6QsJicU63h9ugn3DNBR3coH-VVAX0w-X9Bl5Lfze8WCqmZ7jADrNWbcagrnYosOFQvQZXFHIyQa_sWXRZsx-uIzk0lTNhsbdn-S32lJh75M_hrH8e6Hr2tfB0g/s4032/20231214_182922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinX_apFSEWehP2M7jzOi9cPJ_QDniEXTQJoqCBZu6vv4IpVoFTDklrIKKABZWl670nj6QsJicU63h9ugn3DNBR3coH-VVAX0w-X9Bl5Lfze8WCqmZ7jADrNWbcagrnYosOFQvQZXFHIyQa_sWXRZsx-uIzk0lTNhsbdn-S32lJh75M_hrH8e6Hr2tfB0g/s320/20231214_182922.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Life is weird. There times in life when problems seem insurmountable and at the same time you get knews of something joyful and life-changing. During those times, for most of my children, a dinner of potatoes is just the right thing. Potatoes are at the same time comfort and celebration. And that's what we needed the other day as we were navigating a sort of ending, yet rejoicing in a simple piece of mail containing news of our adoption date. </span><p></p>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-17940255696134399742023-12-18T21:38:00.002-05:002023-12-18T21:38:18.015-05:00[reason 352] peppermint bark<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeA5oHfeDzYvdp2-vOdZWFiYh96H-LUX7RiWtK5OI6vPvpKuNJNN492aFsgMR-li1HG52vCNlYK-A7TAKoolk2xstArqw_saO8OPVyUDcBRJ4RZQIG029F2zKewhbsg8sIjdh_ZCx1n65SrODnAfCJdJQcBrvYjmoOg9ynFAaiG7K8zW3vUEhvz-WzTE4/s4032/20231218_204644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeA5oHfeDzYvdp2-vOdZWFiYh96H-LUX7RiWtK5OI6vPvpKuNJNN492aFsgMR-li1HG52vCNlYK-A7TAKoolk2xstArqw_saO8OPVyUDcBRJ4RZQIG029F2zKewhbsg8sIjdh_ZCx1n65SrODnAfCJdJQcBrvYjmoOg9ynFAaiG7K8zW3vUEhvz-WzTE4/s320/20231218_204644.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">This child suggested that one of the activities we should do this Advent was making peppermint bark. I texted everyone in the family to let them know peppermint bark making was happening. One helper...not this child ... emerged and helped with the candy cane unwrapping and smashing portion of the evening. </span><p></p><p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Somehow, once the work was done, the one who suggested the activity decided to emerge from their coccoon and help ... lick the bowl,<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KI_CFCyGj3-ry43iF_6HjT1bHdA58Os2lvx77-1GQVsPK0A-KLb8Sh5aonDNIVS3DZze9u2h_J3tk3XggcpsOuLstt_pTbL3aCAT6utpN0Xe4QD9dNwUWgNtzOLbIMn5RBQAeqKBAppRLOR7VFysV7E3UExOg0vomiKERc-76P9I07yT8KpXjInskH0/s4032/20231218_204647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KI_CFCyGj3-ry43iF_6HjT1bHdA58Os2lvx77-1GQVsPK0A-KLb8Sh5aonDNIVS3DZze9u2h_J3tk3XggcpsOuLstt_pTbL3aCAT6utpN0Xe4QD9dNwUWgNtzOLbIMn5RBQAeqKBAppRLOR7VFysV7E3UExOg0vomiKERc-76P9I07yT8KpXjInskH0/s320/20231218_204647.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /> </span><p></p>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-24261102007953965812023-12-17T21:31:00.012-05:002023-12-18T21:34:08.029-05:00[reason 351] Good News<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEw4dBAHRFVyxSK0S9H2cLCkkoxCKzSLJERHNiSNgJ0qK4mHfjbYj4nnwLdlWkz0B_CwiKLdC6sYjEeWGTZ6_YJJorEWgMnD6AfLV_NUOOAOnlb14PQgDG1W2MZY4bqZZUP3T6hEa1G5ELKQ6U-ZqQsNoVSBVClAldfZtEbUI1cRs2he8wEf9v-47ydJY/s4032/20231217_192727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEw4dBAHRFVyxSK0S9H2cLCkkoxCKzSLJERHNiSNgJ0qK4mHfjbYj4nnwLdlWkz0B_CwiKLdC6sYjEeWGTZ6_YJJorEWgMnD6AfLV_NUOOAOnlb14PQgDG1W2MZY4bqZZUP3T6hEa1G5ELKQ6U-ZqQsNoVSBVClAldfZtEbUI1cRs2he8wEf9v-47ydJY/s320/20231217_192727.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We went on a double date with my parents at the Good News cafe. The lobster bisque is to die for. It was great spending time with my parents and husband while enjoying good food. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4HtgHDm9Lr1KWLOONtRqe0XIbKJcICQFYdwvdNheL8CrXAMZ8qFfP9YSHNyKIshCy3T1Ra72-qxpGJqlseOP1XYMdEx618hgImuZMTHkdopvRMpZKBx4upSs6PPO28AsW8Paed1GxVwrVfIFo-uZDRArEdbTdpEQAgrEwMyCiIjv0_dve0WiWECaV_8/s4032/20231217_183238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4HtgHDm9Lr1KWLOONtRqe0XIbKJcICQFYdwvdNheL8CrXAMZ8qFfP9YSHNyKIshCy3T1Ra72-qxpGJqlseOP1XYMdEx618hgImuZMTHkdopvRMpZKBx4upSs6PPO28AsW8Paed1GxVwrVfIFo-uZDRArEdbTdpEQAgrEwMyCiIjv0_dve0WiWECaV_8/s320/20231217_183238.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3wLV-kg1Qi4cF581WZh7y_SJq2Cf01hzwYVoHpqPhmI9h6tflpqC07WkwxKaNq3_Mq5yzuRHPyvxeVvO2T8p0G0YzYCF2U0Y7hbVYwuTxeqOyRhbAG7Y8wvJq3djMdlTWn56fUYYuoN8aLlIMCJNoEgLMyiZ_zTdcruThT-dSnPRz9Irk9ZSXM-96xM/s4032/20231217_183032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3wLV-kg1Qi4cF581WZh7y_SJq2Cf01hzwYVoHpqPhmI9h6tflpqC07WkwxKaNq3_Mq5yzuRHPyvxeVvO2T8p0G0YzYCF2U0Y7hbVYwuTxeqOyRhbAG7Y8wvJq3djMdlTWn56fUYYuoN8aLlIMCJNoEgLMyiZ_zTdcruThT-dSnPRz9Irk9ZSXM-96xM/s320/20231217_183032.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-26360492255814250882023-12-16T21:26:00.012-05:002023-12-18T21:31:16.467-05:00[reason 350] going out<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0b7zxvZecC7jsPI9uryjAyXPqXvNcvrFuBIHxZz47beCfGikXgY9cxsFtSjT0h2JIjBrV5Lj2sRGIK1c9csDghtSh7-owQb2DhG24jWt6FgWCERxxGHHRWI03bgARLpAHjJzdVpnNulZ1W0Qs6OUbIfXKZS2FKAj1bHQSvg01DdL7CUs98qA2gn0ysGg/s4032/20231216_143406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0b7zxvZecC7jsPI9uryjAyXPqXvNcvrFuBIHxZz47beCfGikXgY9cxsFtSjT0h2JIjBrV5Lj2sRGIK1c9csDghtSh7-owQb2DhG24jWt6FgWCERxxGHHRWI03bgARLpAHjJzdVpnNulZ1W0Qs6OUbIfXKZS2FKAj1bHQSvg01DdL7CUs98qA2gn0ysGg/s320/20231216_143406.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /> One of my kids asked me if I wanted to go out for a little bit the other day. We ordered hot beverages and as I waited for them to be made, Zayla went next door to get a bit to eat. I met here there and we sat at a table and chatted as we enjoyed a small smackerel. It was so nice doing something just the two of us.</span><p></p>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-79544909449030900422023-12-15T21:14:00.014-05:002023-12-18T21:26:22.368-05:00[reason 349] doctors who listen<p><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"> <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FBUJy-Gp82pfgwnaWeYknSYo9AU8dIxO2SXh5qoTSuBWpMEzGUgw4TJFXt44gLLUcjfIvsWsM2m7__BjrZttn7fcreW3UaIir9cp5tKNMVIVzN9UtwzCTcsklYv2XnkBHnQ0TA56l-219EGMRJU3aX2DX9L-YOaWHZboZLMMI0l_LbQ9ue1x8FENkHs/s3264/20200126_130931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FBUJy-Gp82pfgwnaWeYknSYo9AU8dIxO2SXh5qoTSuBWpMEzGUgw4TJFXt44gLLUcjfIvsWsM2m7__BjrZttn7fcreW3UaIir9cp5tKNMVIVzN9UtwzCTcsklYv2XnkBHnQ0TA56l-219EGMRJU3aX2DX9L-YOaWHZboZLMMI0l_LbQ9ue1x8FENkHs/s320/20200126_130931.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">I had an appointment with my neurologist today that was over an hour long. We discussed a ton of things, ordered a head MRI, put me on a new medication, and ... something else I can't remember. It feels so good when the doctor listens to my concerns, voices his own concerns, gets clarification not only of my medical stuff, but of what my life is like in case a medication might interfere with my abiity to function in some capacity. </span><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">I love leaving a doctor's office feeling heard and seen.</span></div><div><br /></div>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-30770572278348847792023-12-14T21:00:00.015-05:002023-12-18T21:14:44.527-05:00[reason 348] sexy Tyrone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETO_8dqPa5AVPHxpuuC-nEQh6FuXT9nqy6zCHLX-S7x2U8gojUaPg9oFhCInHrwNk3VEsUJMlqQTWyAo18WEf42CVM8SZiNNzSNwsFCB71rNOJ6DZ7aM03IDIh9U211NpYJRs8EwFyhf9VodxsFNVwnufrmiAEj6ocBzJx8xJeqIIdxV8nUhlW-AFSdg/s4032/20231211_202915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETO_8dqPa5AVPHxpuuC-nEQh6FuXT9nqy6zCHLX-S7x2U8gojUaPg9oFhCInHrwNk3VEsUJMlqQTWyAo18WEf42CVM8SZiNNzSNwsFCB71rNOJ6DZ7aM03IDIh9U211NpYJRs8EwFyhf9VodxsFNVwnufrmiAEj6ocBzJx8xJeqIIdxV8nUhlW-AFSdg/s320/20231211_202915.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana;">Our kids' Christmas gifts are in bags that I got once upon a time in a thrift store. The bags say To: [insert name here] From: Santa. None of the names on the bags are names of my children. I do not have a Silas, nor a Kara or Lucille. This year, I decided to spice things up a bit and put name tags on the bags. These name tags also do not have my children's names on them. Well, they do, but they don't. One bag in particular has a tag that says Sexy Tyrone. This, of course, is the tag that the children noticed. And my husband wants to know who this Tyrone person is. The first person to question the name tags caught on quickly. The rest will have to wait until Christmas to find out who sexy Tyrone is.</span><div><br /></div>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1421382031276113945.post-53074051599182069022023-12-13T11:17:00.041-05:002023-12-18T21:00:14.803-05:00[reason 347] counting down<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_up7xu764VDx1EiSJ8e8QQUJVAMowZKvhB3oS_01_E-V6BX254uMuBIs1sNopaPvN6eOmYuWvq2L3tFkLDGpx5vjyr_oSeC2mdKhMQ60h4HQFO5yItJBTbUkXkaSleLbjWL4GGq3YwxmcQOCCnm-Oak2NYNyKMCbNhPJZRSaS_WHZiWHkEwL9caDHAW4/s4032/20231211_104300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_up7xu764VDx1EiSJ8e8QQUJVAMowZKvhB3oS_01_E-V6BX254uMuBIs1sNopaPvN6eOmYuWvq2L3tFkLDGpx5vjyr_oSeC2mdKhMQ60h4HQFO5yItJBTbUkXkaSleLbjWL4GGq3YwxmcQOCCnm-Oak2NYNyKMCbNhPJZRSaS_WHZiWHkEwL9caDHAW4/s320/20231211_104300.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>We celebrate a lot of things in our family. This year we get to celebrate the 12 days of Kotamas beginning with Dakota's arrival in New England on December 26. We have activities planned for Kota and Onyx, things to keep them busy, but also a lot of free time for them to just hang for a bit. <div><br /></div><div>Not only are we counting down the days to Christmas, but we get to count down to Kotamas as well.</div><div><br /><p></p><div><br /></div></div>Rannygahootshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09342946089663052434noreply@blogger.com0