tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49150230424063441142024-03-13T00:09:44.361-05:00be happy for this moment.this moment is your life.Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.comBlogger711125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-42813709600027376372011-07-20T07:54:00.001-05:002011-07-20T07:58:53.340-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending. </span><br />Lazurus Long<br /></div><br />Adieu.<br /><br />All the best.<br /><br />Cheers.<br /><br />Happy trails to you.<br /><br />Toodle-oo.<br /><br />Godspeed.<br /><br />I have been blogging for over six years. Four years here and two years at my old, original blog (where I met what could be considered my very first bloggy friend, <a href="http://oldgeorgiahouse.com/">Natalie</a>). I have loved this community not only because it provided countless hours of "I should be working" entertainment and even my first friends in St. Louis <span style="text-decoration: underline;">(</span><a href="http://fabulousinthestl.blogspot.com/">Heidi</a>, <a href="http://damaskisdivine.blogspot.com/?zx=43c44ebc2588dfd8">Angie</a> and <a href="http://myhusbandswatchingtv.blogspot.com/">Alyssa</a>).<br /><br />But alas, each time I've recently logged in I feel that overwhelming thought of, well, I'm over it. I've logged so many memories in my life here but I often find that I just sit at a blank screen with nothing new to say.<br /><br />My life has shifted. With our recent move to Iowa, I'm now working from home and each second that ticks by is essentially a billable hour that I could be focusing on my clients and work or Nick's business. I have other things I'd like to focus my attention and energy toward. I loved blogging but now it is just another item on my to-do-list.<br /><br />I'm not discounting a future blogging endeavor with more career focused content or even picking up in the future our lives on this personal blog.<br /><br />But for now, I'm done.<br /><br />Au revoir.Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-36762439507385866552011-06-18T07:55:00.000-05:002011-06-18T07:55:17.142-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Random: lacking any definite plan or order or purpose</span><br /></div><ul><li>Congrats to <a href="http://slk7e7.typepad.com/blog/">Sarah</a>, winner of my little Shutterfly card giveaway! She commented that she'd use them for her son Danny's first birthday party, just five months away. Hooray for you, Sarah! I will contact you with more information.<br /></li><li>The weather here has been gorgeous. Sunny most of the day but cool in the morning. I still have yet to make my maiden voyage to the local pool but it's a must do this weekend.</li><li>The Quad Cities Air Show is also this weekend. The Blue Angels will be there and have been practicing over the city each afternoon. It's crazy to be driving down a main road and see a F/A-18 at eye level zooming across the skyline. So cool! We're hoping to go out to the show on Sunday.</li><li>One of my favorite parts about my trip to Florida was seeing Casey and meet her son Eli. Because I hate my camera (here that again, Nick?!) Casey took pictures with her camera and sent them this week. Here are a few of my favorites:</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ccRItf_EPRTQLnUpQD6eGvG0BI9DQK2icrWy3Telste2cw0oYEETMR2vdKdruf2DsPmYzS8GC7Dp6N_3z0O3BQLJYcpPWDJtQws_MpWRcuvIGflT5g9FeDAPuWDBSn9Kk8oysF90pMaD/s1600/Florida+Trip+May+2011+%252816%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ccRItf_EPRTQLnUpQD6eGvG0BI9DQK2icrWy3Telste2cw0oYEETMR2vdKdruf2DsPmYzS8GC7Dp6N_3z0O3BQLJYcpPWDJtQws_MpWRcuvIGflT5g9FeDAPuWDBSn9Kk8oysF90pMaD/s320/Florida+Trip+May+2011+%252816%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619540465062970114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Brought him his first birthday present a little early.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmiuZCLBMTTPShCbspaC3bYjwF29Pc8kplM-1MxesLXlaXnLvPiMQNwR5ylObgA-EKMhk2hfjybgb3xA7w3f7OK4V4i1MGqqHzEeEMtxtaa27loNU4qWwWf93M2g7jhyphenhyphenWG1EE03orcPplE/s1600/Florida+Trip+May+2011+%252818%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmiuZCLBMTTPShCbspaC3bYjwF29Pc8kplM-1MxesLXlaXnLvPiMQNwR5ylObgA-EKMhk2hfjybgb3xA7w3f7OK4V4i1MGqqHzEeEMtxtaa27loNU4qWwWf93M2g7jhyphenhyphenWG1EE03orcPplE/s320/Florida+Trip+May+2011+%252818%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619540473832089218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Auntie-approved annoying toy, a drum.<br />PS to Little Tikes: having the sticks attached to the side don't work so we cut 'em off!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmsJ_xhZu3N0MfCAOIZb3Frnu1-R0yHz43fD0pjEP6pZcMaCS1fmStgkqicQkm-NlG-YZ7E9ExpC3PdkE5zINYxxgMlNoB4O6fGksDyf3j3phhNKHRvDk6q3PBP1oOtvTBC7XZOXSiWiE/s1600/Florida+Trip+May+2011+%252819%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmsJ_xhZu3N0MfCAOIZb3Frnu1-R0yHz43fD0pjEP6pZcMaCS1fmStgkqicQkm-NlG-YZ7E9ExpC3PdkE5zINYxxgMlNoB4O6fGksDyf3j3phhNKHRvDk6q3PBP1oOtvTBC7XZOXSiWiE/s320/Florida+Trip+May+2011+%252819%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619540475762486034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">With Eli.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqHKZ43U8I0mL94YCuXKltH4QxN3ST55uFx0YkX1S26AUGhm_O45svWs-GhhXB-aKIEFgRp6fHa6mnhpOss-UeOtaNxCq_Z1wVdZJVBDsMnJ9WXs5mpFouxLDVzx-y3RJmx_oDMkuIn7n/s1600/Florida+Trip+May+2011+%252822%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqHKZ43U8I0mL94YCuXKltH4QxN3ST55uFx0YkX1S26AUGhm_O45svWs-GhhXB-aKIEFgRp6fHa6mnhpOss-UeOtaNxCq_Z1wVdZJVBDsMnJ9WXs5mpFouxLDVzx-y3RJmx_oDMkuIn7n/s320/Florida+Trip+May+2011+%252822%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619540481961551618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">With Eli and Casey.<br /></span></div>Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-91543384082630580612011-06-15T06:42:00.000-05:002011-06-15T06:42:00.616-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Every dog must have his day.</span><br />Jonathan Swift<br /></div><br />A local bloody mary mix company called Irish Dog is hosting a summer contest featuring dogs wearing sunglasses. I posted a photo of Winnie sporting my aviators and she needs your vote. Just click <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=661198206937&set=o.121778116889&type=1&theater">here</a> and "like" her photo. The photo with the most "likes" by June 30 wins!<br /><br />Let's beat that little Pomeranian that's in the lead and show them that a classic hound is stylish frames is a perfect summer staple!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtH0gk_27m71dr7ysgzhNM8MP9UDIPpMlLtMc-25j8vghJ0ptMzm3umF9vaXdTC0B1AmoTSFG3MVhqXYyxFhe2Tf77hmMmOSMARysO5cJbso-j4vDJMo8l8lVYynmczI1rfDi7HMZJ8_i7/s1600/Picture+015.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtH0gk_27m71dr7ysgzhNM8MP9UDIPpMlLtMc-25j8vghJ0ptMzm3umF9vaXdTC0B1AmoTSFG3MVhqXYyxFhe2Tf77hmMmOSMARysO5cJbso-j4vDJMo8l8lVYynmczI1rfDi7HMZJ8_i7/s320/Picture+015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617861490855956450" border="0" /></a>Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-91399750006198254902011-06-13T19:35:00.001-05:002011-06-13T19:38:32.948-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Golf is so popular simply because it is the best game<br />in the world at which to be bad.</span><br />A.A. Milne<br /></div><br />On Friday, we joined in on the summer event of Couples Twilight Golf at Nick's club. He's never played in it before so we invited two couples to play with us. The theme was Mexican Fiesta so after nine holes of golf (in the rain!) we enjoying a great dinner in the clubhouse with tacos, chips and salsa plus tons of other good stuff.<br /><br />Even though Nick is a golf professional, he's usually so busy with work during the season it's rare for him to be playing a lot of golf. And, because it is what my husband does for a living I hardly play so it was great for us to get out on the course with some friends!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqEXt0CE05Lop6tjQsaIpN2JMmlOrp2wup9sDRbVwPyMoDEtHdFp66fD3nquMGa9-nS_6AJd86KWqMD8JpeoT3gFqcD6-sNPVeXlOB9g6XrY2He6DMRPcK_ogcVkqJnkWKL4sB_elWker/s1600/Picture+017.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqEXt0CE05Lop6tjQsaIpN2JMmlOrp2wup9sDRbVwPyMoDEtHdFp66fD3nquMGa9-nS_6AJd86KWqMD8JpeoT3gFqcD6-sNPVeXlOB9g6XrY2He6DMRPcK_ogcVkqJnkWKL4sB_elWker/s320/Picture+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617863531883997842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">What's the line about how nice it is seeing a man in his element?<br />I love watching Nick play golf. He's a rockstar.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6U5RnX578dADlJ1TQQ3TIVyy44b5Pt6ndDzXqu1e4DVgcReBEniOPo4aixYz050WDlFhXhpM_syTdXGNH8U7BfKLJy7XTZG1QydThsxb62ANSCiFXyZzRwsr23ZC0VfHlrHDadLlzw0a/s1600/Picture+019.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6U5RnX578dADlJ1TQQ3TIVyy44b5Pt6ndDzXqu1e4DVgcReBEniOPo4aixYz050WDlFhXhpM_syTdXGNH8U7BfKLJy7XTZG1QydThsxb62ANSCiFXyZzRwsr23ZC0VfHlrHDadLlzw0a/s320/Picture+019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617863545050579250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The three guys on the green.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2hY7d_RPSYWyZ4PQeelcFR_VPNqDZhyR9yw7V4vhBv4QIxB24Ea_7DHJnJCRs25Qm8eRdveD_EpZej7XT6k04Z7HHjBoF1NbRbarXB5FX0ZNLi0YRaGORPYaHVk3WdJfoGpWy2Jul31z/s1600/Picture+022.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2hY7d_RPSYWyZ4PQeelcFR_VPNqDZhyR9yw7V4vhBv4QIxB24Ea_7DHJnJCRs25Qm8eRdveD_EpZej7XT6k04Z7HHjBoF1NbRbarXB5FX0ZNLi0YRaGORPYaHVk3WdJfoGpWy2Jul31z/s320/Picture+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617863542724828882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">We hit from the tee and ran for cover. Ladies' do not appreciate golf in the rain.<br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqEXt0CE05Lop6tjQsaIpN2JMmlOrp2wup9sDRbVwPyMoDEtHdFp66fD3nquMGa9-nS_6AJd86KWqMD8JpeoT3gFqcD6-sNPVeXlOB9g6XrY2He6DMRPcK_ogcVkqJnkWKL4sB_elWker/s1600/Picture+017.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4siBPsIINdG2XZzv93lhc_LKX0VoTPU1qfrW9kxGdmuTXohFN4AOai6VIWrDuo3Ka3MAsiXRcwqeGg4Q3Bj2Rkk8YCBgtKYDBroha2zKLIjf4Gbqk72iaoZcTyK5LLK-ccJwvUSUExv9/s1600/Picture+023.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4siBPsIINdG2XZzv93lhc_LKX0VoTPU1qfrW9kxGdmuTXohFN4AOai6VIWrDuo3Ka3MAsiXRcwqeGg4Q3Bj2Rkk8YCBgtKYDBroha2zKLIjf4Gbqk72iaoZcTyK5LLK-ccJwvUSUExv9/s320/Picture+023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617863526745963586" border="0" /></a>Florence and Mike, our very first Quad Cities friends<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(I know Florence from Tri Delta in Naples).</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfP5_SouuXG7GC2_zGIITOzq8i6xzshmt2OfYuT9l_T6bgGZwk1C-15pfDTEECuLAoMyjUzmPfjBbzCubmPguOrq50bCZygB1pwVp4QRIYj2yBpoc3ipkYMQ_d8N9cwIbHApK_2gKPzh_/s1600/Picture+027.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfP5_SouuXG7GC2_zGIITOzq8i6xzshmt2OfYuT9l_T6bgGZwk1C-15pfDTEECuLAoMyjUzmPfjBbzCubmPguOrq50bCZygB1pwVp4QRIYj2yBpoc3ipkYMQ_d8N9cwIbHApK_2gKPzh_/s320/Picture+027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617863553048492850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Ben rocking his Poncho mustache. Getting in the fiesta spirit.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqIcPWKy67li02s-3cy0bFIv7CYsPSs2swvE3LrbHqd0LAVr26ZoGdMFCvzf-Jm0fIpC5fxi6ys-V04PKBCbVoK5UNBBlQwpljBVChNu_x14cnoqdCYvNDdeR5ePWCVMH5QjkrLs48p3B/s1600/Picture+031.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqIcPWKy67li02s-3cy0bFIv7CYsPSs2swvE3LrbHqd0LAVr26ZoGdMFCvzf-Jm0fIpC5fxi6ys-V04PKBCbVoK5UNBBlQwpljBVChNu_x14cnoqdCYvNDdeR5ePWCVMH5QjkrLs48p3B/s320/Picture+031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617863829847082370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">My favorite golf pro. Ole!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwRZ5fPWmbR88FHRDj2plTdcGIHI1W4yr9ckvNkrosyjIZVR5OeHt3cWn46V3F7lYhgvSzzletW7rwissR_H0HBPAr9oFVh7ARZI0KCcc0j1ncNwKfLErsQZ8p2JtjbErVl4h_8uh1Meg/s1600/Picture+033.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwRZ5fPWmbR88FHRDj2plTdcGIHI1W4yr9ckvNkrosyjIZVR5OeHt3cWn46V3F7lYhgvSzzletW7rwissR_H0HBPAr9oFVh7ARZI0KCcc0j1ncNwKfLErsQZ8p2JtjbErVl4h_8uh1Meg/s320/Picture+033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617863834049736514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Our whole group.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-61204822070797721392011-06-11T07:14:00.000-05:002011-06-11T07:14:00.636-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I get mail; therefore I am.</span><br />Scott Adams<br /></div><br />I've written before how I love a great piece of mail. A birthday card, thank you note and a non-emailed invitation - all make me smile!<br /><br />So thanks to Shutterfly, I want to offer a little giveaway for 30 free 5 x 7 <span style="font-size:78%;">(flat or folded, must be ordered by June 30, 2011)</span> cards. They have plenty of darling designs that you can select from including announcements, holiday cards and invitations for just about any event.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.shutterfly.com/img_/publishing/styleSwatches/ssc/photocard/PHOTOCARD-115-4137-MERCHLARGE_FRONT-v1269384660000108986.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 361px;" src="http://www.shutterfly.com/img_/publishing/styleSwatches/ssc/photocard/PHOTOCARD-115-4137-MERCHLARGE_FRONT-v1269384660000108986.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.shutterfly.com/img_/publishing/styleSwatches/ssc/photocard/PHOTOCARD-109-4070-MERCHLARGE_FRONT-v126575195500059568.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 360px;" src="http://www.shutterfly.com/img_/publishing/styleSwatches/ssc/photocard/PHOTOCARD-109-4070-MERCHLARGE_FRONT-v126575195500059568.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.shutterfly.com/img_/publishing/styleSwatches/ssc/stationerycard_folded_5x7/STATIONERYCARD_FOLDED_5x7-27104-1864-MERCHLARGE_FRONT-v126938773600051909.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 361px; height: 500px;" src="http://www.shutterfly.com/img_/publishing/styleSwatches/ssc/stationerycard_folded_5x7/STATIONERYCARD_FOLDED_5x7-27104-1864-MERCHLARGE_FRONT-v126938773600051909.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />To enter, I'm going to keep it simple. Just leave a comment about how you would use your 30 free cards. If you're a follower, let me know and I'll throw in a second entry.<br /><br />I'll randomly draw a winner Wednesday, June 15. Good luck!Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-2165027878471005792011-06-10T08:10:00.000-05:002011-06-10T08:10:22.081-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Home is not where you live but where they understand you. </span><br />Christian Morgenstern<br /></div><br />Last weekend I was fortunate enough to take the time to head to Florida. I spent time with my mom and old friends in Sarasota and then headed down to Fort Myers and Naples to meet with clients and see college friends.<br /><br />It was so nice to be home again after more than a year (yikes!) so I tried to relish and enjoy each day doing something different that I loved. For a full week, I think I did pretty good except I didn't get to catch a beach sunset or eat a Publix sub (sad!).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiih-kMR8tBErlS2jK_aVG_2aU9O67ZhOAbO1JYM67-Yc83A0TeKttJp4k1CWt4iaQ5YvAa0wagmVsq_Wl_KuIzdgKVMfb6kJvNaortafIteG75jyY3u2eWOPJrjpCltgrwZ-UdvyOtZIFd/s1600/Florida+May+2011+%252832%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiih-kMR8tBErlS2jK_aVG_2aU9O67ZhOAbO1JYM67-Yc83A0TeKttJp4k1CWt4iaQ5YvAa0wagmVsq_Wl_KuIzdgKVMfb6kJvNaortafIteG75jyY3u2eWOPJrjpCltgrwZ-UdvyOtZIFd/s320/Florida+May+2011+%252832%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616225219716139698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">At home with my mom.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdCCspjBsPYURlp_4ScNCZnkAe1xaPW6itubpRq1w9f9-waFbjmEUqtL6acJuJ6BOdMlkhrFxe5gf9s0HqValnq-UToMrv1hNHceBxmGbNJd_hgT3iMqRRpy6eh0P2b6WhL9nO473E9Gt/s1600/Florida+May+2011+%252811%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdCCspjBsPYURlp_4ScNCZnkAe1xaPW6itubpRq1w9f9-waFbjmEUqtL6acJuJ6BOdMlkhrFxe5gf9s0HqValnq-UToMrv1hNHceBxmGbNJd_hgT3iMqRRpy6eh0P2b6WhL9nO473E9Gt/s320/Florida+May+2011+%252811%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616226097800530866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Black Lab #3 of my life - Francis!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OqhJed14QnWOewVWSqL50wlap4AUMQlRayses1dbdBrvMi7YlFFNLmriUEUcIzdJ7YYVTMtcqgq0KbQu1asS1-wTRFfkt8J4pLRFwg7VIpAfkgH0Ljn0BG5I8kyyZQLLg-kzgn7YFc_v/s1600/Florida+May+2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OqhJed14QnWOewVWSqL50wlap4AUMQlRayses1dbdBrvMi7YlFFNLmriUEUcIzdJ7YYVTMtcqgq0KbQu1asS1-wTRFfkt8J4pLRFwg7VIpAfkgH0Ljn0BG5I8kyyZQLLg-kzgn7YFc_v/s320/Florida+May+2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616226114078123042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Visiting my favorite veteran on Memorial Day.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-or-1nSlf40_aOFmHqKWhKTx2NVixJl_wdeh_NgfPI71GxV6HwXJg1QYwRztOTTD_dnyDlMliyPiJrJWZFMAFZ9noKvAu9tWMiGaXXvjj-uc8ovvRi6En_0D2F2fWv8fauFCCHYUZsrU/s1600/Florida+May+2011+%252814%2529_picnik.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-or-1nSlf40_aOFmHqKWhKTx2NVixJl_wdeh_NgfPI71GxV6HwXJg1QYwRztOTTD_dnyDlMliyPiJrJWZFMAFZ9noKvAu9tWMiGaXXvjj-uc8ovvRi6En_0D2F2fWv8fauFCCHYUZsrU/s320/Florida+May+2011+%252814%2529_picnik.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616225531258322914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Beautiful Sarasota Bay.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiRUTc22QTAyIqB3BIaqIsd98L-4LDwj_0pCTB0ZMvy95K5wTLvHEXVe0l8Bz3d5o6CjwW9Nzka5mMHxl9t-I6mLkO2U7KDiyUjaoglbaJUiVXzOflOkvFo7jeDlkkItQQuBidh6eONU4/s1600/Florida+May+2011+%252812%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiRUTc22QTAyIqB3BIaqIsd98L-4LDwj_0pCTB0ZMvy95K5wTLvHEXVe0l8Bz3d5o6CjwW9Nzka5mMHxl9t-I6mLkO2U7KDiyUjaoglbaJUiVXzOflOkvFo7jeDlkkItQQuBidh6eONU4/s320/Florida+May+2011+%252812%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616225542649077122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Hanging out with Mr. Ringling on St. Armands Circle.<br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzC0TifU1Fn4HvTcZoCxJuu8w0lv9OkZlQaY1s6Oqe1deRCk4G5eKwh7aFRKmbaOcmYRE8bohHAoqJaaQycc-lbZax1M-TkoKi16SguUcW4kkC2pyx9eRs_QeYsoIAdxvuVntSjg1WqlWD/s1600/Florida+May+2011+%252815%2529.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaK_jtU7bssUzz9BsVx9dvG8837JuvX4L6QoaQQSTZ9v2zoo3hCosV1gmzEpp-Tz1QzzIOvVHT-H7MMqyrMUtZmsOp-1CdvYntL5LknM0Q8zkC-TUX1Liac5tBdFG2-lY_J104tVJ4ols/s1600/Florida+May+2011+%252816%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaK_jtU7bssUzz9BsVx9dvG8837JuvX4L6QoaQQSTZ9v2zoo3hCosV1gmzEpp-Tz1QzzIOvVHT-H7MMqyrMUtZmsOp-1CdvYntL5LknM0Q8zkC-TUX1Liac5tBdFG2-lY_J104tVJ4ols/s320/Florida+May+2011+%252816%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616225520288346802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Exploring Siesta Key Village.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuj2JHmCQSYSKBDV5q1AaoEDzkxAXjytJttXSU4LrldPoSfYhJRf-LlZv3XniwgLWKvCTlt3lN4_SdFQ3CPqUJGKXBL-4mtr41idndzr_1YT6PrFbsk5wczbiEb_1bL58yd4QvySmMWCo/s1600/Florida+May+2011+%252817%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 177px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuj2JHmCQSYSKBDV5q1AaoEDzkxAXjytJttXSU4LrldPoSfYhJRf-LlZv3XniwgLWKvCTlt3lN4_SdFQ3CPqUJGKXBL-4mtr41idndzr_1YT6PrFbsk5wczbiEb_1bL58yd4QvySmMWCo/s320/Florida+May+2011+%252817%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616225513107701714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lunch with my high school friend, Amanda.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzC0TifU1Fn4HvTcZoCxJuu8w0lv9OkZlQaY1s6Oqe1deRCk4G5eKwh7aFRKmbaOcmYRE8bohHAoqJaaQycc-lbZax1M-TkoKi16SguUcW4kkC2pyx9eRs_QeYsoIAdxvuVntSjg1WqlWD/s1600/Florida+May+2011+%252815%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 205px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzC0TifU1Fn4HvTcZoCxJuu8w0lv9OkZlQaY1s6Oqe1deRCk4G5eKwh7aFRKmbaOcmYRE8bohHAoqJaaQycc-lbZax1M-TkoKi16SguUcW4kkC2pyx9eRs_QeYsoIAdxvuVntSjg1WqlWD/s320/Florida+May+2011+%252815%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616225528183889586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Siesta Key Beach.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEye3c_oCKaHUUWg8VOcCa0leJtBZyEshLbBJK88E1rnqm_4RVZhR8moSlNf7UxqiCp4_qR4PQrYPNaazHMljar1IMteQykbfH9oFB2gUJf84BqVEuShyphenhyphenvTwct8EWOKKSnZ1gttsAyrCkA/s1600/249656_660192866647_60600178_35165847_5001956_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEye3c_oCKaHUUWg8VOcCa0leJtBZyEshLbBJK88E1rnqm_4RVZhR8moSlNf7UxqiCp4_qR4PQrYPNaazHMljar1IMteQykbfH9oFB2gUJf84BqVEuShyphenhyphenvTwct8EWOKKSnZ1gttsAyrCkA/s320/249656_660192866647_60600178_35165847_5001956_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616225210102785250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Down in Estero, dinner with college friends/sorority sisters Melissa and Ashley.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6_j-ocalPhN7c7KFbwzB6HlJRpzicNnzgikfCcUJQtt4H4BHgulGIJnIAS9oFh9vMl6PZ6i8Bbi_37b529qdgWO8f5UwbqtGGJ6nX5cIq7c1KOYhSMWqsWIFpncidKnfYMmvpObmABPI/s1600/Florida+May+2011+%252821%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6_j-ocalPhN7c7KFbwzB6HlJRpzicNnzgikfCcUJQtt4H4BHgulGIJnIAS9oFh9vMl6PZ6i8Bbi_37b529qdgWO8f5UwbqtGGJ6nX5cIq7c1KOYhSMWqsWIFpncidKnfYMmvpObmABPI/s320/Florida+May+2011+%252821%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616225236168523714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Gorgeous, relaxing morning on Bonita Beach.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kSAMu6wRVhntvXO9LqflxP-wWUBn_rt2J6QIXxyap4ovxgaCs2T4kJPiVIO533OhIYmNHGzka0GaCOWCJFjOSeQeHVY24-OnLHc4Za3xzslw0FySPlhCpvPynutLVHjr_99Ed8vltoL8/s1600/Florida+May+2011+%252831%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kSAMu6wRVhntvXO9LqflxP-wWUBn_rt2J6QIXxyap4ovxgaCs2T4kJPiVIO533OhIYmNHGzka0GaCOWCJFjOSeQeHVY24-OnLHc4Za3xzslw0FySPlhCpvPynutLVHjr_99Ed8vltoL8/s320/Florida+May+2011+%252831%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616225225474073714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">View from our lunch at Doc's on Bonita Beach.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRth7DTzxlF8jzv1hnYtlDhUwSGOyQ7BjmF3lT7v4p7Ezm2RMgNWhfJnzNO60s_p2xS58vgaqhQlIve5FmnKWCd79PbvWA3sPjGwz5TF8Ko5Xf5teKmgnMypZydJeiKrcr7exqe6XRo4gt/s1600/248305_660192901577_60600178_35165848_5065366_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 203px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRth7DTzxlF8jzv1hnYtlDhUwSGOyQ7BjmF3lT7v4p7Ezm2RMgNWhfJnzNO60s_p2xS58vgaqhQlIve5FmnKWCd79PbvWA3sPjGwz5TF8Ko5Xf5teKmgnMypZydJeiKrcr7exqe6XRo4gt/s320/248305_660192901577_60600178_35165848_5065366_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616225205037603106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Dinner out in Naples for my final night in Florida!<br /></span></div>Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-56594438845206715832011-05-29T08:07:00.001-05:002011-05-29T08:07:54.004-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">G.B. Stern<br /></div><br />Sunday gratitude:<br /><ul><li>all of the US military, past and present (including my father), for their service.<br /></li><li>I'm leaving for Florida TODAY!</li><li>homemade blue cheese dressing.<br /></li><li>having fun with our first non-parental weekend guest, <a href="http://happyforthismoment.blogspot.com/2010/04/twas-easter-sunday.html">Luke</a> from St. Louis.</li><li>bunches of daisies in old mason jars around the house.<br /></li></ul>Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-53784304992622228032011-05-27T07:55:00.003-05:002011-05-27T07:55:00.451-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The greatest truths are the simplest, and so are the greatest men. </span><br />Julius Charles Hare<br /><br /></div><the greatest="" truths="" are="" the="" and="" so="" julius="" charles="" span=""><div style="text-align: center;">Happy 32nd birthday <span style="font-size:78%;">(oh my goodness, my husband is 32!)</span> to the most funny, gracious, kind and hardworking man I've had the pleasure to not only know but to marry and spend my life with each day.<br /><br />Happy birthday, my darling Nick!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAiT9uKkqvNl6TzuVy_YPAgBjSk2DVKWQSqTmUob76gNm8ktWND9XDlu7flK1Kc3vO0D2GGqfXX1u7AGqY_mfyVurJHwC13FDxRx0T5vR6iQ-whT1El3m4WSGr6oV72JkAwd-XSYndxZ4U/s1600/DSC_0049lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAiT9uKkqvNl6TzuVy_YPAgBjSk2DVKWQSqTmUob76gNm8ktWND9XDlu7flK1Kc3vO0D2GGqfXX1u7AGqY_mfyVurJHwC13FDxRx0T5vR6iQ-whT1El3m4WSGr6oV72JkAwd-XSYndxZ4U/s320/DSC_0049lr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610854640127007330" border="0" /></a><br /></div></the>Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-43178940294459651462011-05-25T21:54:00.000-05:002011-05-25T21:55:04.271-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thank you, St. Louis</span>.<br />Mark McGwire<br /></div><br />With the rain pouring down here in the Quad Cities, I'm tending to lean toward reminiscing. So, here are some things I really miss about summer The Lou':<br /><ul><li>My huge pink peony bush in the front yard heavy with blooms. It brought me weeks of girly-flower happiness throughout my house and on my desk at work.</li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6s0eWJVzsChvdU10pLeEwkz4ASjZUltNvXaFSfTxki90PNXBsiIZL6GHxvjfoMxW-RZTIejeB6mftpT0WZumt9uBLvStCAxOY-mSXRIXOVjWTskqDDDqGBQzo3DrYqkxgBPCMOMHNu0o/s1600/100_0002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6s0eWJVzsChvdU10pLeEwkz4ASjZUltNvXaFSfTxki90PNXBsiIZL6GHxvjfoMxW-RZTIejeB6mftpT0WZumt9uBLvStCAxOY-mSXRIXOVjWTskqDDDqGBQzo3DrYqkxgBPCMOMHNu0o/s320/100_0002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610849032701019538" border="0" /></a><ul><li>Grant's Farm Clydesdales.</li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKb9BFR1UD7tR9CHKWq9Yc0K0PwLHy4vkeCv-Kc1_nkt7q2iJsnlQ4P9VTSq5f1bCV1DXPNVWZNxw5AiQ2tDXtuqubJ-BIdeLsZ8_7e5J50-ZQe7oRti3NPz84IVoI0g0h04cN-X5vkgw/s1600/Mom+Aug+Visit+%25284%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKb9BFR1UD7tR9CHKWq9Yc0K0PwLHy4vkeCv-Kc1_nkt7q2iJsnlQ4P9VTSq5f1bCV1DXPNVWZNxw5AiQ2tDXtuqubJ-BIdeLsZ8_7e5J50-ZQe7oRti3NPz84IVoI0g0h04cN-X5vkgw/s320/Mom+Aug+Visit+%25284%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610849050447074914" border="0" /></a><ul><li>The Soulard Farmers Market: Amish-raised beef, homemade ham and cheese sandwiches on flaky croissants, pots of sweet basil for $1, banjo music filtering through the air.</li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvouwtRLl-2IyqJaq5OJrlCriqVg1jvGYroYQIz5PVCYT0BdjY2yuvR5fq4QC04cGsYo4afOUs2fECQurYvfohQIy-E96so3Jom9enQZZSPCcijF8bzo1qkf3Cvyp__GktPZtRydRrpmkn/s1600/April+25.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvouwtRLl-2IyqJaq5OJrlCriqVg1jvGYroYQIz5PVCYT0BdjY2yuvR5fq4QC04cGsYo4afOUs2fECQurYvfohQIy-E96so3Jom9enQZZSPCcijF8bzo1qkf3Cvyp__GktPZtRydRrpmkn/s320/April+25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610851180284425250" border="0" /></a><ul><li>Lunch on the deck at The Boathouse watching the ducks and the paddle boats.</li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUq4xPP4f42HGglnC-y2Q0wWNsFplvnt08hVpmtiiftwQisMAZM6W81KV4gI_-MxRrrOJA5tsgvfyVpT4u7Con2x2B23X1CcvOUjcz2Yuuf-HUxD1TFw2bGXDMiVGbZXxjk5l3oBk22TTo/s1600/August+Visitors+%25288%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUq4xPP4f42HGglnC-y2Q0wWNsFplvnt08hVpmtiiftwQisMAZM6W81KV4gI_-MxRrrOJA5tsgvfyVpT4u7Con2x2B23X1CcvOUjcz2Yuuf-HUxD1TFw2bGXDMiVGbZXxjk5l3oBk22TTo/s320/August+Visitors+%25288%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610851173711501730" border="0" /></a><ul><li>Concerts in Station Plaza in Kirkwood on balmy summer nights with tailgating chairs and dinner on our lap. If you're close, don't miss 'em.</li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9Q859Pnz94n4vq7JE9f29wCj1ZiwYxgN0McYiXjRrlwNTP5CvSItuttMGN1eJEs2ktXm3eAH90A2oRlhHRECQzMVuinotNyV-aH5JZ-w-iYCWZ0FLrcOveG7eNW7mjkD3DRjgMUc9rzx/s1600/6.10.10+Upload+%252832%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9Q859Pnz94n4vq7JE9f29wCj1ZiwYxgN0McYiXjRrlwNTP5CvSItuttMGN1eJEs2ktXm3eAH90A2oRlhHRECQzMVuinotNyV-aH5JZ-w-iYCWZ0FLrcOveG7eNW7mjkD3DRjgMUc9rzx/s320/6.10.10+Upload+%252832%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610849052744387762" border="0" /></a><ul><li>Heading down the Busch Stadium on any random weeknight to buy scalped tickets on South Broadway and catching a Cardinals game from where ever we got the best deal.<br /></li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtDQNVoBuEIYdSAxecI-wK929BmvQj1l4i8sy_eOcGRn3l8_xCMX3PTfroiC-ySTVC4L9w05jy34PmGF5earPCmV_p-pKol1xazegnNlc8TneX6peAf9unCYCys5E8vGYSib0sOLlfDNx/s1600/June+27+upload+%252815%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtDQNVoBuEIYdSAxecI-wK929BmvQj1l4i8sy_eOcGRn3l8_xCMX3PTfroiC-ySTVC4L9w05jy34PmGF5earPCmV_p-pKol1xazegnNlc8TneX6peAf9unCYCys5E8vGYSib0sOLlfDNx/s320/June+27+upload+%252815%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610851157874987106" border="0" /></a><ul><li>Getting all hot and sweaty watching fabulous Broadway musicals outdoors at The MUNY.</li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujBU-HMA5Hp8JszGKPtqQQCeWPqmGczcmdrRK3BdKRp41IxVxI9MMMDtd9y6MZapK5-xZm9BOB95WlnUVB5XDqVtFEMfsEyr-p_wr7LxmHwJJJmHpDnR0X2nJJTypJL4nGoVBixnEVrVW/s1600/June+27+upload+%252816%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujBU-HMA5Hp8JszGKPtqQQCeWPqmGczcmdrRK3BdKRp41IxVxI9MMMDtd9y6MZapK5-xZm9BOB95WlnUVB5XDqVtFEMfsEyr-p_wr7LxmHwJJJmHpDnR0X2nJJTypJL4nGoVBixnEVrVW/s320/June+27+upload+%252816%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610851170547381122" border="0" /></a><ul><li>Outdoor festivals in the parking lot of Schlafly Tap Room.</li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxKTXyLIq5l-wa6McnY6fwmNWeC1Lr3VJM7xuJJ8e4hsAxGzmvJ6v_zOm1ueMdBrpwxgnJJK5PRPZHyrm1dnRqVFKxYHeRwch9zHBz97I5J8wqN0rE5mhV-iX0qfewQ1NriAyriIRS00_/s1600/Memorial+Day+Weekend+%25282%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxKTXyLIq5l-wa6McnY6fwmNWeC1Lr3VJM7xuJJ8e4hsAxGzmvJ6v_zOm1ueMdBrpwxgnJJK5PRPZHyrm1dnRqVFKxYHeRwch9zHBz97I5J8wqN0rE5mhV-iX0qfewQ1NriAyriIRS00_/s320/Memorial+Day+Weekend+%25282%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610849039527909538" border="0" /></a><ul><li>Nino the Clown, the Flying Pages and a corn dog at Circus Flora.</li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaJUjk2X4JG2bANhnZvbGbyOAui66rig18FFP9JY9QLYwmpGZUfRfYwbRlBsWEDLOE0I1krfWH0uFo29HbETCLVcoxwKjo4os-TmfNJyJBIQH-PV5Hf6_gnt_jj-A2epmummPFa3gGOvV/s1600/6.20.10+2+%25283%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaJUjk2X4JG2bANhnZvbGbyOAui66rig18FFP9JY9QLYwmpGZUfRfYwbRlBsWEDLOE0I1krfWH0uFo29HbETCLVcoxwKjo4os-TmfNJyJBIQH-PV5Hf6_gnt_jj-A2epmummPFa3gGOvV/s320/6.20.10+2+%25283%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610849062051320146" border="0" /></a><br />As with everywhere in the Midwest, the city comes alive in the summer. I'm looking forward to making new memories and favorite things here too. But, gosh darn it, I will always love St. Louis summers!Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-44230791789114163482011-05-22T12:57:00.000-05:002011-05-22T12:58:08.863-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">G.B. Stern<br /></div><br />Sunday gratitude:<br /><ul><li>picking out a few segments of ribbon by the yard in cute patterns, colors and textures.<br /></li><li>being surrounded by pansies and pearls hearing stories from Tri Delta alumnae about college life in WWII.</li><li>solo Sunday matinees. </li><li>long walks with Winnie listening to Dave Ramsey podcasts.</li></ul>Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-70098478202716635412011-05-20T08:17:00.001-05:002011-05-20T08:17:00.538-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">And what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days.</span><br />James Russell Lowe<br /></div><br />Reasons why I know I will love June 2011:<br /><ul><li>I'm heading to Florida for the first time in over a year to visit my mom and make a weekend trip to see Melissa and meet with some clients.</li><li>Continuing the Florida love, here is what I'm really looking forward to while I'm there: breakfast on the kitchen couch with my mom + dogs, seeing Casey's son, Eli, toddle across the room, snacks and a sunset at Point of Rocks, chatting with my godmother, Sue, on her patio on Siesta Key, a Publix sub, purchasing my (eighth?!) pair of my <a href="http://happyforthismoment.blogspot.com/2008/09/quickest-way-to-know-woman-is-to-go.html">favorite black heeled</a> sandals and some 97% spandex (it makes all the difference) tees at Miromar Outlets, dipping my toes in the water and collecting shells on Bonita Beach with lunch at Doc's and/or The Fish House to follow. </li><li><a href="http://happyforthismoment.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-hard-to-imagine-bigger-desert-oasis.html">Ashley's</a> son, Logan, is due June 25!</li><li>Hosting a baby shower for my sister-in-law. Much to my monogramming dismay, they don't know the gender, but it will be a cute celebration anyway!<br /></li><li>Heading down to St. Louis to stay with my dear friend, <a href="http://happyforthismoment.blogspot.com/2010/04/there-is-no-psychiatrist-in-world-like.html">Sarah</a>. The trip not only means time to catch up with her but also the <a href="http://happyforthismoment.blogspot.com/2010/04/life-expectancy-would-grow-by-leaps-and.html">Soulard Farmers Market</a>,<a href="http://happyforthismoment.blogspot.com/2008/08/ice-cream-is-exquisite.html"> Ted Drewes</a> and Trader Joe's (with a cooler to truck my things home, I have no shame).</li><li>Having our "only/first" Quad City friends join us for Couples Twilight Golf at Nick's club. The theme is "Margaritaville" which, in my book, means I will get to unabashedly wear my Brooks Brothers pink whale pattern pants and a lei with my golf shoes.</li></ul>Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-74337168321744339612011-05-17T16:05:00.000-05:002011-05-17T16:06:05.976-05:00<div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">But I prefer to think of Iowa as I saw it through the eyes of a ten-year old boy... filled with the wonders of Iowa's streams and woods, of the mystery of growing crops... days should be filled with adventure and great undertakings, with participation in good and comforting things.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Herbert Hoover<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div><br />This past weekend we took advantage of Nick's last day off for the next eight or so weeks and headed to visit his parents for a quick overnight trip. We were able to catch up with some of his high school friends (+ wives + kids) for dinner, then spent the night at his parent's house and enjoyed breakfast with them the next morning.<br /><br />On our way back home we had the whole day so we stopped into West Branch, Iowa. As the birthplace to our 31st President Herbert Hoover in 1874, there is a beautiful historic site and a cute downtown. We had lunch at a local pizza place and then walked through the historic site which was the Midwestern farm community where he was raised. The former president, along with his wife, are buried up on a hill at the site. Under beautiful oaks, overlooking the prairie I'd agree that it would be a lovely place to spend eternity.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6TGVBKT26gTTp2Yl9cgLL6c6A2CHolZnu1EtL1AoJFLyNXkQ5em57z8yOc-xDfcL-O3FNNq3NkzJhKm0Q-K7vDX0DjGumznik_4UKFRFD62stdL2Jgb5RrUKtpUxNKvmsb8MeD1eaY7W/s1600/Picture+013.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6TGVBKT26gTTp2Yl9cgLL6c6A2CHolZnu1EtL1AoJFLyNXkQ5em57z8yOc-xDfcL-O3FNNq3NkzJhKm0Q-K7vDX0DjGumznik_4UKFRFD62stdL2Jgb5RrUKtpUxNKvmsb8MeD1eaY7W/s320/Picture+013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607790959944101090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Downtown West Branch.<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozPvQRwD1KnbGxtYv0en4pbartKRYlz4kScn_CSD5j3roRvRg6-ev_zDL96JJ0fPthrZmGyrprDZJdUmVlRkyCfcFvgV3s2LC8dyGIpXQAlyZ-Or9B1_lxVKOLp8UDr6p-Ort5XC15DJM/s1600/Picture+034.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozPvQRwD1KnbGxtYv0en4pbartKRYlz4kScn_CSD5j3roRvRg6-ev_zDL96JJ0fPthrZmGyrprDZJdUmVlRkyCfcFvgV3s2LC8dyGIpXQAlyZ-Or9B1_lxVKOLp8UDr6p-Ort5XC15DJM/s320/Picture+034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607788367633355010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Main street.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClNZMMB_LcHfqF8X2tP3Rl3P58FIIP14HJsTv7l80tiEc83NFNB5B3Jr6VtyTYa2nsKwsVZLEjqtMqPHXg3RR51E97dsWTCHlAWCQy8q-ZMtsaYjbaMJvB0fB_Bjze2nqRiHjHQZGxqTS/s1600/Picture+014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClNZMMB_LcHfqF8X2tP3Rl3P58FIIP14HJsTv7l80tiEc83NFNB5B3Jr6VtyTYa2nsKwsVZLEjqtMqPHXg3RR51E97dsWTCHlAWCQy8q-ZMtsaYjbaMJvB0fB_Bjze2nqRiHjHQZGxqTS/s320/Picture+014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607790953216617538" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JJ9X384rD7v5-0j8hr9BAFVwjxWkj_KFWba3BR_IEqgrPJuUq3GAJLutgzSvO4yINIVxlPSKsW0TeA8CY0pDMt7I_aYWpetx-yp44q-i6rf0W6KOcrm8WGaLL1NuFvmc0tZhLax4Rk2F/s1600/Picture+015.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JJ9X384rD7v5-0j8hr9BAFVwjxWkj_KFWba3BR_IEqgrPJuUq3GAJLutgzSvO4yINIVxlPSKsW0TeA8CY0pDMt7I_aYWpetx-yp44q-i6rf0W6KOcrm8WGaLL1NuFvmc0tZhLax4Rk2F/s320/Picture+015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607792597104299858" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMxaJWJqN9jwlu0WWf1QKk6XfgNMo3W_alyNRe0RHT_C8tRzKFsz5lYKaqyPf89tOUzaPao1kumVsFnhyh2yz4A70KOfUMYFXFfj0Jl3WbZ_Xb_xbaxv9o49PTXvPki3xj3a3fqlZ4lSy/s1600/Picture+017.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMxaJWJqN9jwlu0WWf1QKk6XfgNMo3W_alyNRe0RHT_C8tRzKFsz5lYKaqyPf89tOUzaPao1kumVsFnhyh2yz4A70KOfUMYFXFfj0Jl3WbZ_Xb_xbaxv9o49PTXvPki3xj3a3fqlZ4lSy/s320/Picture+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607789328935297762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Heading</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">up the hill to their memorial.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0ePB85dCly5DCGDXigHPIjDQRNP0vM_n989JoQN1GYBWpKg1ngwCUNS9G2RHW8fSU3ASJbf6uji2iFzp2p2HUPBPT_LDwuf5dEHJhjyAGouzqJbWHnffl_R3FfYvFbhklZMrdF4IwuWW/s1600/Picture+019.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0ePB85dCly5DCGDXigHPIjDQRNP0vM_n989JoQN1GYBWpKg1ngwCUNS9G2RHW8fSU3ASJbf6uji2iFzp2p2HUPBPT_LDwuf5dEHJhjyAGouzqJbWHnffl_R3FfYvFbhklZMrdF4IwuWW/s320/Picture+019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607789323395887906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Graves of President and Mrs. Hoover.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RIDIvoPk5VBwvZcN8BL4NKtiiTmqHmrhbMzsMdQG2CZ6S50o0yHF7rQDOJPMrH8xGBunj144YCgFW6bu-t1zhHZNmV1NLW2qel82opK-sbPKrVwt1G_shfdHVy98p0y8k6VondX3hSh6/s1600/Picture+023.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RIDIvoPk5VBwvZcN8BL4NKtiiTmqHmrhbMzsMdQG2CZ6S50o0yHF7rQDOJPMrH8xGBunj144YCgFW6bu-t1zhHZNmV1NLW2qel82opK-sbPKrVwt1G_shfdHVy98p0y8k6VondX3hSh6/s320/Picture+023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607789319847333458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">With my favorite prairie dog.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIC_5rczYxsdwSXM3dkzySFRx1GM3qwtZb4mUNPbXL7iQF8VVTqS0g5jovUQU5PAS5nOo-gjsw7Fi1KyavPMwpm2yYMECVx3s-eLdSvQdE-EX2j93bq-wEGlF9UbkJAZSiLPxU40HPag8/s1600/Picture+024.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIC_5rczYxsdwSXM3dkzySFRx1GM3qwtZb4mUNPbXL7iQF8VVTqS0g5jovUQU5PAS5nOo-gjsw7Fi1KyavPMwpm2yYMECVx3s-eLdSvQdE-EX2j93bq-wEGlF9UbkJAZSiLPxU40HPag8/s320/Picture+024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607789312379113618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Hoover Presidential Library</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjdB0eu6kaVaWy4gZtklXxhx02fypoM7AmoYpx3eiGRnnYR6Ir-MUxMJ20UV4LBg4J84lNw5Gb1NBKGg9BlCE_9TBGL7beVahtwV8N60Bio3Zn58RYZ3bqBdHibkWn5oLTCv6oapLUhAZ/s1600/Picture+025.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjdB0eu6kaVaWy4gZtklXxhx02fypoM7AmoYpx3eiGRnnYR6Ir-MUxMJ20UV4LBg4J84lNw5Gb1NBKGg9BlCE_9TBGL7beVahtwV8N60Bio3Zn58RYZ3bqBdHibkWn5oLTCv6oapLUhAZ/s320/Picture+025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607789304624078930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Nick walking ahead with Winnie on the site.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixf9bKgLz6wCYt9qNvfFaMiZ4WYER552gWD7ThzS5eC9Q8rbt8j96tX6NFZb-ZtW13Ue0pOAktMqMlPs-XKVwdW1ybbIh-iXHTY5lRohynJBbuJSBEMQ1LbtqoiZg58dtVUI4kyFju-lyS/s1600/Picture+027.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixf9bKgLz6wCYt9qNvfFaMiZ4WYER552gWD7ThzS5eC9Q8rbt8j96tX6NFZb-ZtW13Ue0pOAktMqMlPs-XKVwdW1ybbIh-iXHTY5lRohynJBbuJSBEMQ1LbtqoiZg58dtVUI4kyFju-lyS/s320/Picture+027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607788395869137954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The town meeting place (aka the Quaker church).</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRe5mfUhiyAP01xerHhMfZYeJE96S1uU4oe2bJXRiBvJ8rsYGQmSwpO3_FFDq6AbX-Vb0AxEG3s1afF75k7uGVLGp2etu7nh0WmZRD6BwMhGVWqAboH6aEqVTgof9Ulzb3ic4bOpzCm0n/s1600/Picture+029.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRe5mfUhiyAP01xerHhMfZYeJE96S1uU4oe2bJXRiBvJ8rsYGQmSwpO3_FFDq6AbX-Vb0AxEG3s1afF75k7uGVLGp2etu7nh0WmZRD6BwMhGVWqAboH6aEqVTgof9Ulzb3ic4bOpzCm0n/s320/Picture+029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607788388168394498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Two-room birth home of Hoover.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BRJG3zbE2lXtn64ape-QeJfO6YOYwwe6zBhZvMrZzGuLJnq7P7_Pv6AuMYwVZOlp_EgZV_yaPY1J8WUgNoXaL7jSLxPj7iLt62pE2tvyJce5KvPX6xswHHBs-nKDtG_uNAf8OHUwrSwh/s1600/Picture+031.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BRJG3zbE2lXtn64ape-QeJfO6YOYwwe6zBhZvMrZzGuLJnq7P7_Pv6AuMYwVZOlp_EgZV_yaPY1J8WUgNoXaL7jSLxPj7iLt62pE2tvyJce5KvPX6xswHHBs-nKDtG_uNAf8OHUwrSwh/s320/Picture+031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607788381248298130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Out back!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RKgLIndwDWoyCYLSmmXtHVuhJaNg4l61p8m0b4fsxHJ-3TcVo3bSOB0YglaiT-LGFz8NLlSJcRFjbmC3WcZSGDxiTL_GhFw9cSBdqp1V9KtXlPooJ2Gpi9k_eBXFmxtC-2X12RZw39W2/s1600/Picture+032.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RKgLIndwDWoyCYLSmmXtHVuhJaNg4l61p8m0b4fsxHJ-3TcVo3bSOB0YglaiT-LGFz8NLlSJcRFjbmC3WcZSGDxiTL_GhFw9cSBdqp1V9KtXlPooJ2Gpi9k_eBXFmxtC-2X12RZw39W2/s320/Picture+032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607788378074996130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Historic homes along the road. Plus a horse/Beagle hitching post.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div>Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-59626368543287900372011-05-15T10:00:00.000-05:002011-05-15T10:01:04.661-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">G.B. Stern<br /></div><br />Sunday gratitude:<br /><ul><li>letting my legs finally see the light of day in a pair of shorts.</li><li>good finds at the delightful <a href="http://www.downtowndavenport.com/residential/farmersmarket.html">Downtown Davenport Freight House</a> farmer's market.</li><li>freshly potted ferns on the front porch.</li><li>having my first local Tri Delta alum event to look forward to next weekend.<br /></li><li>watching the always inspiring <a href="http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/">Stephanie Nielson</a> piece on 20/20 friday night (<a href="http://abc.go.com/watch/2020/SH559026/VD55126905/2020-513-plane-crash-survivor">click here</a> to watch if you missed it).</li></ul>Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-14429673902190200142011-05-10T22:42:00.003-05:002011-05-10T23:01:31.319-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">My strongest trials now are past, my triumph has begun</span>.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Emmylou Harris<br /></div><br />My dear Uncle Kevin died today. He was my father's youngest brother. The man that stepped up and walked me down the aisle at my wedding in memory of my father. He was so sick so I'm finding peace today in knowing he is in no more pain, free of suffering and worry about his illness and what was to come.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCGOSxyMavPVcoRaz_q-KHDdq_b-Ofhauiy0_gFI75A9M_sGRTPiEupPV7Cz9bdSj0ndNGdr_qC_7PKk565YU6-vxUYH5_xiZO-HlwQdH58CIGYZ0DyGgeedKmBLETyB-Hx-2OBpWGRTr/s1600/Goblirsch-93.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCGOSxyMavPVcoRaz_q-KHDdq_b-Ofhauiy0_gFI75A9M_sGRTPiEupPV7Cz9bdSj0ndNGdr_qC_7PKk565YU6-vxUYH5_xiZO-HlwQdH58CIGYZ0DyGgeedKmBLETyB-Hx-2OBpWGRTr/s320/Goblirsch-93.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605297560728975922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Uncle Kevin and Nick at our wedding.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV20Y_qfP3_6pFWqJxBVS5d8yvB8Egh5L6H5J3QgLnzca1eGtwScsHia97Bwkl913hPF2vQ-8C9AAEsI9nuDLHKss_wusUpgNraAVI_2mTKKl0wtM2S4qStNCLwTvFVyD9wwb3bCpuVmG8/s1600/Goblirsch-125.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV20Y_qfP3_6pFWqJxBVS5d8yvB8Egh5L6H5J3QgLnzca1eGtwScsHia97Bwkl913hPF2vQ-8C9AAEsI9nuDLHKss_wusUpgNraAVI_2mTKKl0wtM2S4qStNCLwTvFVyD9wwb3bCpuVmG8/s320/Goblirsch-125.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605297566124639522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Walking me down the aisle because my father wasn't there to do it.<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtddgb_bcu6oin7Ivade86amaKZJekgg_39410qUlSDKGixxoAF9hyphenhyphen0zRbzi9zGX4Z1SUA0xLoVqXWIKeK35cRZuVyFxtMjHbot4Ad_wwpBKum571ICGpwFo3MV6Bu05ZaFiA2CAQGGHbB/s1600/Goblirsch-356.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtddgb_bcu6oin7Ivade86amaKZJekgg_39410qUlSDKGixxoAF9hyphenhyphen0zRbzi9zGX4Z1SUA0xLoVqXWIKeK35cRZuVyFxtMjHbot4Ad_wwpBKum571ICGpwFo3MV6Bu05ZaFiA2CAQGGHbB/s320/Goblirsch-356.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605302847163775442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Uncle Kevin and his wife, Sandy, at our wedding - married 25+ years.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>My mom said today, which is so true, that he and my dad are already getting in lots of trouble together in heaven. Laughing so hard like they always used to do. Southern accents raring their heads just like the old days and reminiscing about their happiest times.<br /><br />"Where the hell you been, brother!"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhWMQ9ed9fe4ptNN6F-LMRoT50hr_YNu3HzBXFcgvlFOim7lb8HakX2V-MVpZvG8IU57ZrBW8PkBZqHaFX4ezrRlTMqX3u_-MojN4e4utFxEwbfllh5hrVp6hkkrynPxjsIx0dErbgWkg/s1600/Kevin+and+Rand.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhWMQ9ed9fe4ptNN6F-LMRoT50hr_YNu3HzBXFcgvlFOim7lb8HakX2V-MVpZvG8IU57ZrBW8PkBZqHaFX4ezrRlTMqX3u_-MojN4e4utFxEwbfllh5hrVp6hkkrynPxjsIx0dErbgWkg/s320/Kevin+and+Rand.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605297572094469202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">My father and my Uncle Kevin in the 1980s.<br /></span></div>Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-87271607484179804722011-05-08T11:40:00.000-05:002011-05-08T11:40:01.055-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">G.B. Stern<br /></div><br />Sunday gratitude:<br /><ul><li>my wonderful mother!</li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlabGWMtJP59gFu8wtPfZ0Msx_KbZuW-5toNMgzzVMj0v6Wob0LbfxB0UxZSvWHLNY62pfcW4X7vvS23zgrZoxER-IJI8Ux3wicewHtRpuV9hKwXF4BJ46DBGTpVg8trb2da86fGaCT8V/s1600/n60600238_32042195_1919.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlabGWMtJP59gFu8wtPfZ0Msx_KbZuW-5toNMgzzVMj0v6Wob0LbfxB0UxZSvWHLNY62pfcW4X7vvS23zgrZoxER-IJI8Ux3wicewHtRpuV9hKwXF4BJ46DBGTpVg8trb2da86fGaCT8V/s320/n60600238_32042195_1919.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603968863723276146" border="0" /></a>Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-41896191163622290242011-05-04T10:39:00.001-05:002011-05-04T10:42:29.448-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A handwritten note is like dining by candlelight instead of flicking on the<br />lights, like making a gift instead of ordering a product,<br />like taking a walk instead of driving.</span><br />Margaret Shepherd<br /></div><br />One thing that I really love to do is send cards. In the day of Facebook wall posts, Twitter direct messages and email I think we can all agree that a solid piece of mail, stamped and carefully addressed, from a friend or family member is so appreciated.<br /><br />I spent 45 minutes in Hallmark yesterday picking out cards for some upcoming birthdays, anniversaries and, of course, Mother's Day. My grandmother used to send so many cards each month. She used to write them all out at the beginning of the month, carefully write the date that it needed to be sent in small print where the stamp goes and file them on her desk. Once the date approached, she'd cover her reminder date with the stamp and send it off.<br /><br />When she died, my mother said that many people told her that some years the only birthday wish they received was a card from my grandmother. For a few dollars or often just a cute 99 cent card, I love sending cards out whenever I am able.<br /><br />Beyond greeting cards, I love having stationary on hand especially for <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/thank-you-cards">thank you notes.</a> I suppose it's ingrained in my head from my mother, "You can't play with that toy until you send a thank you note!" Having cute, personalized notes on hand makes me want to take the time to say thanks in a handwritten note.<br /><br />I purchase most of my stationary from Shutterfly (including Christmas cards) because they always have a great special going and it allows me to have custom stationary without the fancy paper store prices. I also love their darling <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/party-cards-stationery">invitations</a> and unique <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-gifts">photo gifts</a>.<br /><br />[Plus, if you're a blogger, you can have the chance to get <a href="http://www.shutterflycards.com/2011/03/spring-announcements-with-shutterfly/33/">50 free cards</a> from Shutterfly!]Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-1793063301081401892011-05-01T07:38:00.000-05:002011-05-01T07:38:00.213-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.</span><br />G.B. Stern<br /></div><br />Sunday gratitude:<br /><ul><li>actually seeing the sunshine pour through my windows for more than an hour.</li><li>freshly laundered and folded white towels.</li><li>smart and fun women in the Junior League of the Quad Cities.</li><li>the experience of waking up at 3 a.m. to watch the royal wedding on the phone with my mom - loved, loved, loved it all!</li><li>helping Nick in his golf shop with the merchandising - who knew I had a talent for dressing mannequins?</li></ul><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Rabbit, rabbit!</span></span>Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-59590778913912340692011-04-27T07:19:00.000-05:002011-04-27T07:19:00.518-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Football is like life - it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work,<br />sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Vince<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Lombardi<br /></div><br />Last Saturday I had the opportunity to meet up with my father-in-law at an event at the University of Iowa's Kinnick Stadium. My in laws have been involved with a organization called Camp Courageous for years and each year the host an event for the campers to meet the Iowa football players and tour the stadium.<br /><br />On Saturday I helped serve lunch, got a poster signed by the 2o11 Hawkeye seniors and a tour of the stadium. It was an amazing event. Not just because of the beautiful stadium and rubbing shoulders with the (very cute, very tall) football players but also seeing the look of pure joy on the campers' faces being able to participate in a wonderful day like this.<br /><br />Here's <a href="http://thegazette.com/2011/04/23/hawkeye-football-team-takes-a-break-to-meet-with-camp-courageous-campers/">a great article</a> from the event, and here are my fun pictures:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcag9ZMqlzVWVRreKTzLGGXCaomuGC7D60i9yfdTdj-j-wACVvvi_ruXtLnrKP6ecpotfhA8KauZ77tMcYb8OcqvrI7KilxtzSsgHpXF-9mgnjI3h3zRXuuhzEvP6nQcPovpCLeZmuPVoN/s1600/Day+at+Iowa+%25283%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcag9ZMqlzVWVRreKTzLGGXCaomuGC7D60i9yfdTdj-j-wACVvvi_ruXtLnrKP6ecpotfhA8KauZ77tMcYb8OcqvrI7KilxtzSsgHpXF-9mgnjI3h3zRXuuhzEvP6nQcPovpCLeZmuPVoN/s320/Day+at+Iowa+%25283%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600085033831112930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Serving lunch to over 150 people<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MswX4KWpa-dAwfUNtSvpTLsKe4NRB4LSlkMfMrvbCnu3tNR-9bWWmgLwvKPT8Fv8d6e7-TYPUgd0-AoNjhQs1CY3BZihJ3r9iXJOKnJsySCpNHoohlhmqdNILOTMvk5X8gnNQtk_BByb/s1600/Day+at+Iowa+%25285%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1MswX4KWpa-dAwfUNtSvpTLsKe4NRB4LSlkMfMrvbCnu3tNR-9bWWmgLwvKPT8Fv8d6e7-TYPUgd0-AoNjhQs1CY3BZihJ3r9iXJOKnJsySCpNHoohlhmqdNILOTMvk5X8gnNQtk_BByb/s320/Day+at+Iowa+%25285%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600085026733506546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Welcome from head coach Kirk Ferentz<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetLh6Ey4jXDP2FA-RHoD8_9L0E05VJj-SQE5Ro066Q6BRMjQjS4ZUjUTyDg4turVKw44FbKp6ZfEyseNM-3TwGp9X0QRZtYdjFjkU4-gN5td5PEGrnAGYvz34NMBfKPi_hUfYsCDq-Pno/s1600/Day+at+Iowa+%25287%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetLh6Ey4jXDP2FA-RHoD8_9L0E05VJj-SQE5Ro066Q6BRMjQjS4ZUjUTyDg4turVKw44FbKp6ZfEyseNM-3TwGp9X0QRZtYdjFjkU4-gN5td5PEGrnAGYvz34NMBfKPi_hUfYsCDq-Pno/s320/Day+at+Iowa+%25287%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600084726228697730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The group of players lined up to sign and greet.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUL_S0aQnREnbMcPBcjY_GuIKtHQadl5XheIrRqKm4nZLr8UN6za94F1aulAV5AEnWFQ4IUk4Ss184mXoViyRTnKXKXs0TWJmV7o4-cwtesuCHUxhMBA_s9HyiRckFLCh77Rc8kikEbXpU/s1600/Day+at+Iowa+%252811%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUL_S0aQnREnbMcPBcjY_GuIKtHQadl5XheIrRqKm4nZLr8UN6za94F1aulAV5AEnWFQ4IUk4Ss184mXoViyRTnKXKXs0TWJmV7o4-cwtesuCHUxhMBA_s9HyiRckFLCh77Rc8kikEbXpU/s320/Day+at+Iowa+%252811%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600084717997792306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The kids were so excited!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVCeRAN-fPZp73IXz-hdgBK__pW-o1HAeh0mFymWy6KY9BrTKdqrbd3MKPTxoOqrmb0cD_Bs89i2_UAoqB09xSsaHQFS3MZhFM0-rTk4Zn6dlInXt11-p2pLW4Fj0nBrEDBzl1ttq1OtU/s1600/Day+at+Iowa+%252812%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVCeRAN-fPZp73IXz-hdgBK__pW-o1HAeh0mFymWy6KY9BrTKdqrbd3MKPTxoOqrmb0cD_Bs89i2_UAoqB09xSsaHQFS3MZhFM0-rTk4Zn6dlInXt11-p2pLW4Fj0nBrEDBzl1ttq1OtU/s320/Day+at+Iowa+%252812%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600084709130671698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">View of the stadium from the suites.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_k_8CB9lWvv9x0oN9g8cqI2xWYz2w0F6bs2y7e0JBr0BT6M5KxSpSmBv2iHNcVfgSo-ZxbB9cQlbh0a0cv3Bi6m3dmb6k41FHlVFNrd4x8n8peLNqktYPki11kh91UCa8fmdbK8Cu_EV/s1600/Day+at+Iowa+%252816%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_k_8CB9lWvv9x0oN9g8cqI2xWYz2w0F6bs2y7e0JBr0BT6M5KxSpSmBv2iHNcVfgSo-ZxbB9cQlbh0a0cv3Bi6m3dmb6k41FHlVFNrd4x8n8peLNqktYPki11kh91UCa8fmdbK8Cu_EV/s320/Day+at+Iowa+%252816%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600084701645132146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sign in the locker room.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFUhktfSGTklyAtFxymXDG7GGppRLjd8YFlBj4KrXM-rFbHoiuAaLE6B7bSaObLUNKx62n2elkwMdpUUePNcJJNLnLPH-LFQ41xD0ArtGpvFykSIpAd7YurVegsKi556ui8VJ3_zaIcQk/s1600/Day+at+Iowa+%252817%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFUhktfSGTklyAtFxymXDG7GGppRLjd8YFlBj4KrXM-rFbHoiuAaLE6B7bSaObLUNKx62n2elkwMdpUUePNcJJNLnLPH-LFQ41xD0ArtGpvFykSIpAd7YurVegsKi556ui8VJ3_zaIcQk/s320/Day+at+Iowa+%252817%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600084695822850514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">My father-in-law, Joe, in Ricky Stanzi's locker.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvQXudO9ZjqDAmzwW-XLdD6c90vrIFNE28sgy6K8AgmS8yymRlaDxGMit_zVUB5n-zWCwaz-SoQEotVbCK4jRMESHau02vGO1aWYlMwjbMZ_GMc6bTpSyqsa8T2GoxlxDfH3MjoUGAG_Y/s1600/Day+at+Iowa+%252819%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvQXudO9ZjqDAmzwW-XLdD6c90vrIFNE28sgy6K8AgmS8yymRlaDxGMit_zVUB5n-zWCwaz-SoQEotVbCK4jRMESHau02vGO1aWYlMwjbMZ_GMc6bTpSyqsa8T2GoxlxDfH3MjoUGAG_Y/s320/Day+at+Iowa+%252819%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600083965293079266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Some players showing us around the locker room.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0HZf7A82gIj_CiVaxBt0I_IV_JJLNFACozGt3teMODvYzi1kaFpTHr8qpcxJH8xNNpnLIrsMLeJM185Kzdvbwd0PlP2cd2jyVcTp0nGo6cO7i-OcH_UUPbZ8mSs74BwtLCtb_NzPnXHF/s1600/Day+at+Iowa+%252822%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0HZf7A82gIj_CiVaxBt0I_IV_JJLNFACozGt3teMODvYzi1kaFpTHr8qpcxJH8xNNpnLIrsMLeJM185Kzdvbwd0PlP2cd2jyVcTp0nGo6cO7i-OcH_UUPbZ8mSs74BwtLCtb_NzPnXHF/s320/Day+at+Iowa+%252822%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600083956846654130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Heading out to the field through the tunnel.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiid5WFt0-i8cWoYeUMnulP3fNuvP9Bbz9OWCXYD3ou2Dt1-YkFEmkQZgsqTS6vD8rsyNp3WtDEkiNMUQuRAHYLU1thxyDaQ1HVmWIFZSPXlgwLyiMUJt_NgnUf2vC4f3CpkbVG3TzWrgtC/s1600/Day+at+Iowa+%252823%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiid5WFt0-i8cWoYeUMnulP3fNuvP9Bbz9OWCXYD3ou2Dt1-YkFEmkQZgsqTS6vD8rsyNp3WtDEkiNMUQuRAHYLU1thxyDaQ1HVmWIFZSPXlgwLyiMUJt_NgnUf2vC4f3CpkbVG3TzWrgtC/s320/Day+at+Iowa+%252823%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600083950037841218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">On the field!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8VsRc3zGLCqjx0vJuaxZzCpP37rA_gjUPQX9eDL2QBodZqwqTBAeMBCvbqVQdlOlMiYl7NGf8bAmST9K5-cmYbnKFSHXFPdPqPumTmq7v3Z805LfElh5IbZpKibB7V0_hfUH6e93fS5p/s1600/Day+at+Iowa+%252824%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 123px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8VsRc3zGLCqjx0vJuaxZzCpP37rA_gjUPQX9eDL2QBodZqwqTBAeMBCvbqVQdlOlMiYl7NGf8bAmST9K5-cmYbnKFSHXFPdPqPumTmq7v3Z805LfElh5IbZpKibB7V0_hfUH6e93fS5p/s320/Day+at+Iowa+%252824%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600083945842666050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The whole group.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJ_SXnbDS1CmeOoJTSkSLqxZnsJF4t9eblcMcpl-N-xfJ9-DK-nWLfx-XKuI3XPZj6kC1L9FnTmEDQity5RiACpSwgaw3gGolGjInzuUf8kQduOX461sl33bJ7DhnxKuFCs0F0tSmUapP/s1600/Day+at+Iowa+%252825%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJ_SXnbDS1CmeOoJTSkSLqxZnsJF4t9eblcMcpl-N-xfJ9-DK-nWLfx-XKuI3XPZj6kC1L9FnTmEDQity5RiACpSwgaw3gGolGjInzuUf8kQduOX461sl33bJ7DhnxKuFCs0F0tSmUapP/s320/Day+at+Iowa+%252825%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600083934985314290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">With some of the players. I wanted a picture because 1.) they were really nice and cute and 2.) I felt extremely dainty and petite next to them and I wanted to capture the moment!</span><br /></div>Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-29227021212202892222011-04-24T09:43:00.000-05:002011-04-24T09:43:13.080-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.</span><br />G.B. Stern<br /></div><br />Sunday gratitude:<br /><ul><li>that all of my St. Louis friends are safe after the terrible tornadoes on Friday night.</li><li>finally having (kind of) warm and sunny weather after all the rain!</li><li>the opportunity to spend the day with Camp Courageous at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.</li><li>being able to host Easter here in Iowa and include a friend who would have otherwise been alone today.</li><li>putting together Nick's goodies from "the Easter bunny."<br /></li></ul>Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-693593905532614422011-04-22T07:24:00.000-05:002011-04-22T07:24:00.161-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Every dog must have his day.</span><br />Jonathan Swift<br /></div><br />One part about this area of Iowa that we live in are the amazing community amenities. I joined the local YMCA and have <span style="font-style: italic;">four </span>branches to choose from for classes and facilities. Beautiful parks along the Mississippi River. And, there is a local dog park that we've heard a lot about.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Do you have children? </span><br /><br />Uh, no. We have a Beagle.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Oh, a dog? You have to go to the Bettendorf dog park!</span><br /><br />So I got Winnie's rabies' vaccination registered with the city and she was clear to head to the local dog park. Five beautiful acres, full fenced with 6 foot chain link, benches, doggie water fountains and, of course, many delicious Beagle-friendly smells.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOsJ8xK5r2vxrNwW87aI2U2Cda_eZfQFWb95DRaegGhEjtpMOviqycBYh0P1Tbm-Ch4AGc06SzaVlvJua7gwKNbm6csFxL_CTesASjVUYApA7LIjzRxtsV_wh05zycxtqrbfJ53yYG6XL/s1600/Picture+041.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOsJ8xK5r2vxrNwW87aI2U2Cda_eZfQFWb95DRaegGhEjtpMOviqycBYh0P1Tbm-Ch4AGc06SzaVlvJua7gwKNbm6csFxL_CTesASjVUYApA7LIjzRxtsV_wh05zycxtqrbfJ53yYG6XL/s320/Picture+041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598244755354293026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Nick and Winnie heading to the dog park gates.<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibU2OLyb0_AhnTqT9G77NKKX-6R0VBoRBDOpa-CFjizupLe3nz9bwGApM5cmwId_LevJUXNk9FUr2PeQXeji5Bi97_8nvKCfG5aNl5mSGzu03HkZkg1nuYy4JwKmomKA6HoBiv-vLkuZ4A/s1600/Picture+039.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibU2OLyb0_AhnTqT9G77NKKX-6R0VBoRBDOpa-CFjizupLe3nz9bwGApM5cmwId_LevJUXNk9FUr2PeQXeji5Bi97_8nvKCfG5aNl5mSGzu03HkZkg1nuYy4JwKmomKA6HoBiv-vLkuZ4A/s320/Picture+039.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598245600472330530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Heading in to check it out (sniffsniffsniff).</span><br /></div><br />I was worried that as an only dog-child, she would not enjoy being in a big area with a bunch of dogs. But she really did love it! She mostly sniffed every square inch of the park and didn't have much interest in playing but she had fun and that's all that matters.<br /><br />I just love this video because it captures her pure Beagle-filled joy. Ignore my shrill voice (I was praising her for coming when she was called!):<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwJItREWlUNcu25dbocRQNFY3q-fWwMVsRZQ_1-8eLNRlYIEFXDCkNcaxPXxgYxz_6SmGZEVy-tH6dFlXLMAQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-29766544928336966602011-04-18T06:57:00.002-05:002011-04-18T06:57:00.758-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony</span>,<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I'd like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company.</span><br />1970's Coca-Cola commercial<br /></div><br />As with any move, you notice regional and cultural differences about where you came from to where you are.<br /><br />There were huge things moving from Florida to St. Louis. Like, um, seasons. And pools not being open year round. Shoveling snow. And everyone wanting to know where you went to high school.<br /><br />Moving from St. Louis to Iowa, just four hours north, I expected the changes going from a rather large metropolitan area to a smaller region. But my husband is from Iowa. My in-laws live in Iowa. I'm familiar enough with the Midwestern aesthetic that it didn't seem foreign to me.<br /><br />And, generally, it really isn't too different. But there are little things that make me chuckle and the grocery store is the easiest place to recognize differences.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Side note: there are no </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.traderjoes.com/">Trader Joe's</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> here. Which may make me more sad than not having </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://happyforthismoment.blogspot.com/2009/04/grocery-store-is-great-equalizer-where.html">Publix</a><span style="font-style: italic;">. Wah. But I am learning to appreciate </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.hy-vee.com/">Hy-Vee</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> and their glorious self-serve food bars.</span><br /><br />Anyway, first, what do you call the carbonated beverage that comes in cans or 2-liter bottles?<br /><br />I call it "soda." Or even the overreaching title of "Coke."<br /><br />In Iowa, it's "pop." Not just a part of the venacular. It's actually referred to in the grocery store as pop. See:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSM3-chxz7dbdlshIa9xghnC3U0PnXaxtmTPsv2e7f3iTWAHH_tRHNRKWADLT5cxXR0NyqdIo8O9rp__Lqjcq5xWNtndLr2X25un2eVlQB_ThQEMHyhd3qkiCWXhdMksHuik0PtQVx0IBd/s1600/0329111810.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSM3-chxz7dbdlshIa9xghnC3U0PnXaxtmTPsv2e7f3iTWAHH_tRHNRKWADLT5cxXR0NyqdIo8O9rp__Lqjcq5xWNtndLr2X25un2eVlQB_ThQEMHyhd3qkiCWXhdMksHuik0PtQVx0IBd/s320/0329111810.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595905306393981634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Yes, I took a picture.</span><br /></div><br />I will be making a consorted effort to call it soda the rest of my life no matter how long I live in Iowa. Sorry.<br /><br />On another grocery note, I had to explain to a stock girl what capers were. I couldn't find them (they are usually with the pickles) and asked their location. I was answered with a blank stare.<br /><br />"Um, capers? Um... I don't know what those are."<br /><br />Have you ever tried to explain what a caper is? Yeah, me either. I had no idea how to describe it so I nicely had her to check with a coworker. Thankfully, two people later, the capers were located and the state of Iowa as a culinary resource was redeemed in my mind.<br /><br />The Spanish-style chicken with yellow rice and<span style="font-style: italic;"> capers</span> I made for dinner that night was delicious. As was the <span style="font-style: italic;">soda </span>I had with lunch today.Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-53812349329414127212011-04-17T07:06:00.000-05:002011-04-17T07:06:00.390-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.</span><br />G.B. Stern<br /></div><br />Sunday gratitude:<br /><ul><li>it's finally strawberry season again: love them freshly sliced in a bowl with breakfast.</li><li>Winnie running free at the local dog park.</li><li>my new YMCA membership, can't wait to get back to Zumba!</li><li>a stash of non-husband-approved shows like The Real Housewives of New York saved on my DVR.</li><li>The "Mildred Pierce" miniseries on HBO. Fascinating and beautiful.<br /></li></ul>Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-73953887811285760432011-04-15T07:15:00.000-05:002011-04-15T07:15:01.600-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">It's hard to imagine a bigger desert oasis than Las Vegas.</span><br />Cinnamon Stomberger<br /></div><br />A few weeks ago I headed to Las Vegas. Not for a crazy time, but to host a baby shower! Ashley is due in June so I took advantage of being able to see her for a bit before Logan arrives and host a celebration in her honor. I stayed with her and her husband for three nights and then Melissa flew in and we stayed in a hotel for another three. It was the perfect getaway - a mix of friends, their family, relaxation and fun times!<br /><br />Here are some cute photos of our great week together!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKunqJhKmb-VYG2PK_J-OqKmOsK4S0eMHSv2xh6PR7XZg1SmNRUGtPVsFVqgw0YhwA4QPT7UG8NwJAjmNm_ejJtBsmdLhZ9HiJpUCghIZqTvneXuXeLB-rDcwBmCV46sjCRl_gQ0N73k_f/s1600/Vegas+2011.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKunqJhKmb-VYG2PK_J-OqKmOsK4S0eMHSv2xh6PR7XZg1SmNRUGtPVsFVqgw0YhwA4QPT7UG8NwJAjmNm_ejJtBsmdLhZ9HiJpUCghIZqTvneXuXeLB-rDcwBmCV46sjCRl_gQ0N73k_f/s320/Vegas+2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594709851883409170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">An exciting Wednesday night in Las Vegas - laptops, pups and Conan!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIylYGUVNDMPK_NDUpyNZKZNyAgj4ZnfsGeem68P4j8RF-SsD6-I04xt69mI6noi-XZ8MOeRcVei7TLwWOCx04PggI9gFQphlYWFbLYvOpi218kdd0KOffiee8tvKvlWfOAWbm3NpDr_4J/s1600/Vegas+2011+%25281%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIylYGUVNDMPK_NDUpyNZKZNyAgj4ZnfsGeem68P4j8RF-SsD6-I04xt69mI6noi-XZ8MOeRcVei7TLwWOCx04PggI9gFQphlYWFbLYvOpi218kdd0KOffiee8tvKvlWfOAWbm3NpDr_4J/s320/Vegas+2011+%25281%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594709844357089378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Updating her registry and parking in the special spot!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRpt-Sl9xkKWL6rfTXIjP9PY4WB6ky6_W7DOxxm3hDkbQP1aslbR2y5rOsHMXhGO4wJYGLrNGjEy8gwQTBvIQ9axUh9QpYBGWMY4QyF-ZkeFGX89zT4JCdVFUvzwFO_C35M_WBhpUQWB8/s1600/Vegas+2011+%25282%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRpt-Sl9xkKWL6rfTXIjP9PY4WB6ky6_W7DOxxm3hDkbQP1aslbR2y5rOsHMXhGO4wJYGLrNGjEy8gwQTBvIQ9axUh9QpYBGWMY4QyF-ZkeFGX89zT4JCdVFUvzwFO_C35M_WBhpUQWB8/s320/Vegas+2011+%25282%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594709652619539170" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">On Thursday night we headed to The Mirage to see "Love" - it was wonderful!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5MNVD2QzK_mq2-16_XTxDh7vf7L31BUOl9r-bT978fU2HAW5iJfxd6wtggz3iyhyphenhyphenWt5dvj5x11NKzsg-ZY-_jZ-OmykFSdM-LhH7rrefPDv9z9L8NOpjYdykU19IVITw39psRZqHAIv0/s1600/Vegas+2011+%25286%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5MNVD2QzK_mq2-16_XTxDh7vf7L31BUOl9r-bT978fU2HAW5iJfxd6wtggz3iyhyphenhyphenWt5dvj5x11NKzsg-ZY-_jZ-OmykFSdM-LhH7rrefPDv9z9L8NOpjYdykU19IVITw39psRZqHAIv0/s320/Vegas+2011+%25286%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594709643865126674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Melissa arrived on Friday and we headed out to explore The Strip.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43akvlaIgIKlneh9po2wRdwu6k9iW9gctftuRPnDagcaSHeloveZ83AHdRwCwt-x4fw7KqUdP6KpUnh0KBjDwaGHi63Zw91eNr0a2zCj0jozPikrWKDXAuz4n4fHCAERskq2yKvl4jwJZ/s1600/Vegas+2011+%25287%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43akvlaIgIKlneh9po2wRdwu6k9iW9gctftuRPnDagcaSHeloveZ83AHdRwCwt-x4fw7KqUdP6KpUnh0KBjDwaGHi63Zw91eNr0a2zCj0jozPikrWKDXAuz4n4fHCAERskq2yKvl4jwJZ/s320/Vegas+2011+%25287%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594709636508591842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The Paris hotel at night.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtZbvU4DHhS5Fh2ENdggIay7z7ZG-khbp-da58YIZ1EIMi9u-_PVPGyv963uoR0SPv5tWfGl_KLCDIf3hkiEloPx7dfdxfTcKE2RvZGh1di4orgYdoWQaV8F3gO1iXNb-gF5ekxRq6JyA/s1600/Vegas+2011+%252882%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtZbvU4DHhS5Fh2ENdggIay7z7ZG-khbp-da58YIZ1EIMi9u-_PVPGyv963uoR0SPv5tWfGl_KLCDIf3hkiEloPx7dfdxfTcKE2RvZGh1di4orgYdoWQaV8F3gO1iXNb-gF5ekxRq6JyA/s320/Vegas+2011+%252882%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594709631277412722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Headed to The Palms for the Britney Spears special concert,<br />it was announced that morning and we made it work!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6cDNoWO0M5qDiu9Bt28VCZbWdSMrf8UbqlNZ25Ne6sXBWW3V_EE0HV6N8UH6mq_Mn0agoLsFy7YvptJD3Ue9ltUMMBI4EmEdYCYkb-PhEHh2W9Z46Dp1FOEDWJ5uPXEbKD5fMj_qtixx/s1600/Vegas+2011+%252883%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 313px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6cDNoWO0M5qDiu9Bt28VCZbWdSMrf8UbqlNZ25Ne6sXBWW3V_EE0HV6N8UH6mq_Mn0agoLsFy7YvptJD3Ue9ltUMMBI4EmEdYCYkb-PhEHh2W9Z46Dp1FOEDWJ5uPXEbKD5fMj_qtixx/s320/Vegas+2011+%252883%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594709625242303778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Waiting for Britney to take the stage.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjM8cAGvp7hYVvf0i03PRh7iQbkyj7ftnfPkWZytX4gxYn4YfI7uUvWtt301DIKKUC0z4zeZCsUABA4lS4NihZHWH9DrPA_2xC9UcmKwFN0RoM7hYEIGidUFr32xISRagGoJHqC710nJm/s1600/Vegas+2011+%252885%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjM8cAGvp7hYVvf0i03PRh7iQbkyj7ftnfPkWZytX4gxYn4YfI7uUvWtt301DIKKUC0z4zeZCsUABA4lS4NihZHWH9DrPA_2xC9UcmKwFN0RoM7hYEIGidUFr32xISRagGoJHqC710nJm/s320/Vegas+2011+%252885%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594709344184298018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The guest DJ was Pauly D from Jersey Shore.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlMwpK9JdKqG2lLVaqrhaWAEXTqayhqoIYbjN2386sG3P-K12Yhrv987m_HZ_aZ2GTcoLGsQ30_kzH2dmK8lvjW2Bcny7g-b69RJ9qYBuuNmoJuDTm8J7HOmkpDLkHvyBlngJrk-W_Kmq/s1600/Vegas+2011+%252884%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlMwpK9JdKqG2lLVaqrhaWAEXTqayhqoIYbjN2386sG3P-K12Yhrv987m_HZ_aZ2GTcoLGsQ30_kzH2dmK8lvjW2Bcny7g-b69RJ9qYBuuNmoJuDTm8J7HOmkpDLkHvyBlngJrk-W_Kmq/s320/Vegas+2011+%252884%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594709334380162658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">He was really good and very, very tan!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgec9KUQIGSmftZxcZ4wFg1eylbdC6r1TS6oRuodvHHDdXFHnS3JMLgEkYeoevVxXGESp-EMkwf5sdxzbh8odePKn_IbJsECOj3c3eigwIpNetYu7ggDr6EC53qJ8lVFp3_sq5xLkeOaLx/s1600/Vegas+2011+%252889%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgec9KUQIGSmftZxcZ4wFg1eylbdC6r1TS6oRuodvHHDdXFHnS3JMLgEkYeoevVxXGESp-EMkwf5sdxzbh8odePKn_IbJsECOj3c3eigwIpNetYu7ggDr6EC53qJ8lVFp3_sq5xLkeOaLx/s320/Vegas+2011+%252889%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594709332470564210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">She put on a great show, her back up dancers were amazing!<br /><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXNJ7K_LdIkkUVxaXl8gcgIoAPOA1muwZlQSlxAeokh0ralw7x1SQ3i6iLiAhm5SjS7eoJI6gXGjrrby-LhedWKnIOiGPVEAy5QvIbyUSfZk8I8kk4KY_10Sh_gA0U2hVdtXpev2haQhw/s1600/Vegas+2011+%252891%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXNJ7K_LdIkkUVxaXl8gcgIoAPOA1muwZlQSlxAeokh0ralw7x1SQ3i6iLiAhm5SjS7eoJI6gXGjrrby-LhedWKnIOiGPVEAy5QvIbyUSfZk8I8kk4KY_10Sh_gA0U2hVdtXpev2haQhw/s320/Vegas+2011+%252891%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594709321310383234" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidh4VHTVnpzwaG-lrUAHLtyCRVhKsr-mlFte0JtKKeS2EtRG9HBqpG4o4F0rTGSA7K8By_NqGQD6yu7KvvtXPcHvbQNcJfD6fxbGzvhBSTw3LJAeY3TsPfjkRkzeLqgHG-fuE6qCnX3VMT/s1600/Vegas+2011+%252892%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidh4VHTVnpzwaG-lrUAHLtyCRVhKsr-mlFte0JtKKeS2EtRG9HBqpG4o4F0rTGSA7K8By_NqGQD6yu7KvvtXPcHvbQNcJfD6fxbGzvhBSTw3LJAeY3TsPfjkRkzeLqgHG-fuE6qCnX3VMT/s320/Vegas+2011+%252892%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594709323929823794" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyg2bz7Gxfq6rmaWPeTGaEgH2WN3zf22BfnL3cyAnYu9ui9hhcVJ_GAAYpK6ckvr55pF6eBuY2ym01eMdH9xI6hMYcVV9LVtwqRmo7rNW0m7Gm9FQmRuRV13-RHEuQ8p6lxyzVowB4HTES/s1600/Vegas+2011+%2528130%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyg2bz7Gxfq6rmaWPeTGaEgH2WN3zf22BfnL3cyAnYu9ui9hhcVJ_GAAYpK6ckvr55pF6eBuY2ym01eMdH9xI6hMYcVV9LVtwqRmo7rNW0m7Gm9FQmRuRV13-RHEuQ8p6lxyzVowB4HTES/s320/Vegas+2011+%2528130%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594708606815585730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">One Saturday I hosted Ashley's baby shower at the home of <a href="http://happyforthismoment.blogspot.com/2010/08/at-beach-life-is-different.html">RaeAnna</a>'s sister.<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoX-G9IxqLSMQTDHXqwYRgfWaFK0stE6Rdc7mySkOF-IelDUSuVXRN8iMGF135JG4N8Bb5J0uL-SeCTjnUPb2S0ZSXEhh6ij0ohaz_KZXmYjRsyzDSwM2fAT7imaSTneHzVf1Eh4xxZvfv/s1600/Vegas+2011+%252895%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoX-G9IxqLSMQTDHXqwYRgfWaFK0stE6Rdc7mySkOF-IelDUSuVXRN8iMGF135JG4N8Bb5J0uL-SeCTjnUPb2S0ZSXEhh6ij0ohaz_KZXmYjRsyzDSwM2fAT7imaSTneHzVf1Eh4xxZvfv/s320/Vegas+2011+%252895%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594713102805975202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The theme was bees with yellow and black and white gingham.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixk-Y3_YjLo_Ki9Sszsg2xY5Zz9-XdjO8a8KPl-wf4kMEeWn4jKZSZ9UtrZyeB-6cCXRnBnraJeY6fpo15fVNHaqg4BfWF12gGEyIceHrK93rWu_XoS1qMXgROtSQYu0v7Ff7R7wMrwEI7/s1600/Vegas+2011+%252897%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixk-Y3_YjLo_Ki9Sszsg2xY5Zz9-XdjO8a8KPl-wf4kMEeWn4jKZSZ9UtrZyeB-6cCXRnBnraJeY6fpo15fVNHaqg4BfWF12gGEyIceHrK93rWu_XoS1qMXgROtSQYu0v7Ff7R7wMrwEI7/s320/Vegas+2011+%252897%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594709040457840786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Ashley's dog, Paisley, was the bee greeter!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijb740MmpSs7nrlmtx4hfhvizJYQ7yUEz0P1FigDH7sOrA-u_eYLaKtGvLOnT6Kz3-A8d5F0-r7NTNeZ7oCtDnzWZADD1GG5gZKxo5d-HZaP_rVAuWG0BsQTVtkNuTQHxqnX2LRsWz0iub/s1600/Vegas+2011+%2528104%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijb740MmpSs7nrlmtx4hfhvizJYQ7yUEz0P1FigDH7sOrA-u_eYLaKtGvLOnT6Kz3-A8d5F0-r7NTNeZ7oCtDnzWZADD1GG5gZKxo5d-HZaP_rVAuWG0BsQTVtkNuTQHxqnX2LRsWz0iub/s320/Vegas+2011+%2528104%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594709031520106466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lots of generous gifts.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryCx-mdV-jThew8p_iFx8aw4bmLrBn9H9X-5-cUKloW9y2KyKutbHGZjhtId0NTP6WHDLQ0Ro7fGG_niJkEi3IOL8VTKXnCgZSt657Ci8pdsA3A78z7XJFNTKA8kAQV-I_2-0eo_lGWNT/s1600/Vegas+2011+%2528105%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryCx-mdV-jThew8p_iFx8aw4bmLrBn9H9X-5-cUKloW9y2KyKutbHGZjhtId0NTP6WHDLQ0Ro7fGG_niJkEi3IOL8VTKXnCgZSt657Ci8pdsA3A78z7XJFNTKA8kAQV-I_2-0eo_lGWNT/s320/Vegas+2011+%2528105%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594709023554955122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Yum!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ju1dp7v3QRJyHSKYoQnRJdHncke1SIfEPvl9Ri604X3Gbo9qtKanvbEDXZpESupyI7AOMuJ4DyKngmNUp_bqcTgvFcuiIj5s59MpR9opNsLGLa8aInLbYjaSE9DduQPR4uDUs75kIGvr/s1600/Vegas+2011+%2528108%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ju1dp7v3QRJyHSKYoQnRJdHncke1SIfEPvl9Ri604X3Gbo9qtKanvbEDXZpESupyI7AOMuJ4DyKngmNUp_bqcTgvFcuiIj5s59MpR9opNsLGLa8aInLbYjaSE9DduQPR4uDUs75kIGvr/s320/Vegas+2011+%2528108%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594709021998940834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Hostess-ing.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoVgtlIKdsNu6zisVQmMTGjTP9gozpYil1SCQaokvuGV4Ekpz7mMoJCzlaN9QWFot5BnGUbca-Efoz7KL7nPJW98jlcU3mHI9cCSQZFq8svnTAgW5o7214SGkG59zPKrlWmPMabhxslWvt/s1600/Vegas+2011+%2528109%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoVgtlIKdsNu6zisVQmMTGjTP9gozpYil1SCQaokvuGV4Ekpz7mMoJCzlaN9QWFot5BnGUbca-Efoz7KL7nPJW98jlcU3mHI9cCSQZFq8svnTAgW5o7214SGkG59zPKrlWmPMabhxslWvt/s320/Vegas+2011+%2528109%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594709013972909890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Big spread of great food.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90RK2KXfIHSPlowVinZjP2g2P2bsIAQtJ8hOlRyYQOvp5DvOQ2025LiqYBCyb3aw0BRTof-q-CnrsZqrNpKDyZnVVQQ9ObYcat0nDtNvQjQ3_9WIT5_K0_SZA_kKUm1fgyXN7jwYlQRI2/s1600/Vegas+2011+%2528112%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90RK2KXfIHSPlowVinZjP2g2P2bsIAQtJ8hOlRyYQOvp5DvOQ2025LiqYBCyb3aw0BRTof-q-CnrsZqrNpKDyZnVVQQ9ObYcat0nDtNvQjQ3_9WIT5_K0_SZA_kKUm1fgyXN7jwYlQRI2/s320/Vegas+2011+%2528112%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594708621956808738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">With the mama-to-"bee"<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqk_v0b_XLQ_3SH5a5TsF1dAKJnZciBa7A7KdTjVQabUb1f4H2UGvqeOJUSX4WeFt2j3RLurCijqKjLHwOQnx-R1uZpzYmTeJhwfwX1M8OZnwhRp2yadpoU9-vBn4Xg0Rj8xSZqa5z11M/s1600/Vegas+2011+%2528121%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqk_v0b_XLQ_3SH5a5TsF1dAKJnZciBa7A7KdTjVQabUb1f4H2UGvqeOJUSX4WeFt2j3RLurCijqKjLHwOQnx-R1uZpzYmTeJhwfwX1M8OZnwhRp2yadpoU9-vBn4Xg0Rj8xSZqa5z11M/s320/Vegas+2011+%2528121%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594708614620061938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Opening gifts.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhap2T3vkyzarwVtyjS_Tb0lUDtvysDCEowYoRmvBVlS6keQeeFLJ48ZVj09raWiFPwZ2kRCXoN8sS0Z7o3NqSCGwsO7pg3KclhKpFid0G45ro4ecxo1G1dRtsjzVKgytPD-ccWn_HoHMiL/s1600/Vegas+2011+%2528127%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhap2T3vkyzarwVtyjS_Tb0lUDtvysDCEowYoRmvBVlS6keQeeFLJ48ZVj09raWiFPwZ2kRCXoN8sS0Z7o3NqSCGwsO7pg3KclhKpFid0G45ro4ecxo1G1dRtsjzVKgytPD-ccWn_HoHMiL/s320/Vegas+2011+%2528127%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594708607766148338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">With my dear college friends!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KCcigaSNZM-VCjRLc8RNBvSQ33Yf50PSgtK07lP3o1qH_edM8QqTb8yZma9I_psFEXC7dvqLdtI_tU39OJ8kqofhB9DhSVyBLedP48z-TwgZZInRHzaGGnz4byPs4dihM242VlYOp1g7/s1600/Vegas+2011+%2528133%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KCcigaSNZM-VCjRLc8RNBvSQ33Yf50PSgtK07lP3o1qH_edM8QqTb8yZma9I_psFEXC7dvqLdtI_tU39OJ8kqofhB9DhSVyBLedP48z-TwgZZInRHzaGGnz4byPs4dihM242VlYOp1g7/s320/Vegas+2011+%2528133%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594707081827066258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Out to dinner at our hotel on Saturday night.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1Tn4xHeRWO_D8epwrc0V3uxVZ828XVvv_NXVn7k4sBa6a25SuT-GUQZQOAla8cqndCjiAh8xeysaC8CX-TTLdp07B4AIIw1SoFG7v9mpSXRTrVVUM537I9VDu7p85DCapi8aViTdv6bu/s1600/Vegas+2011+%2528135%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1Tn4xHeRWO_D8epwrc0V3uxVZ828XVvv_NXVn7k4sBa6a25SuT-GUQZQOAla8cqndCjiAh8xeysaC8CX-TTLdp07B4AIIw1SoFG7v9mpSXRTrVVUM537I9VDu7p85DCapi8aViTdv6bu/s320/Vegas+2011+%2528135%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594707071568838930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">My very first big Vegas buffet on Sunday morning.<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXNfUtguy9W1QfCRuG0_HjHEXAxl3HStCaBT2j_WRzTgNMBinCMH2ldW0hIhyfqJfHKfaxFsqPP8al-GwCkwt1rvPv5u_Qhs5KUflHa8-o6qX3cQy0_h6gTUfETYzHAoSsPh00Jjqrr6O/s1600/Vegas+2011+%2528136%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXNfUtguy9W1QfCRuG0_HjHEXAxl3HStCaBT2j_WRzTgNMBinCMH2ldW0hIhyfqJfHKfaxFsqPP8al-GwCkwt1rvPv5u_Qhs5KUflHa8-o6qX3cQy0_h6gTUfETYzHAoSsPh00Jjqrr6O/s320/Vegas+2011+%2528136%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594714364821242530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Melissa and I then headed to The Strip to explore.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKz7irkptv7l3WCZRHTvIKcsPgMi0HODWEYNWSUBCbuTuBeIQj7472jdh2EGXCVNp3Ua3CGPKjKWA5XZcPtHxM3xR8y31hBW57c8vxFZmYOs658hzcA-MVaUj2PeL8XNix9sTAWEONfM9o/s1600/Vegas+2011+%2528141%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKz7irkptv7l3WCZRHTvIKcsPgMi0HODWEYNWSUBCbuTuBeIQj7472jdh2EGXCVNp3Ua3CGPKjKWA5XZcPtHxM3xR8y31hBW57c8vxFZmYOs658hzcA-MVaUj2PeL8XNix9sTAWEONfM9o/s320/Vegas+2011+%2528141%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594707067541715730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Our favorite spot to see each time we are there is Bellagio's Conservatory that is updated every season. Beautiful, beautiful!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvtVbI2RA-w92r9zSHALtIeqmAI0lX2Uh4BJfB7xxGfED1pyf0RZyt5uuwv97MTcDaKdKh_V20bx57S78TZhhG8AucfFhF4RtPf-cEX_EuRe2s_CDtfj2wd3z_3nZz_jjKLFxR7sfToPa/s1600/Vegas+2011+%2528137%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvtVbI2RA-w92r9zSHALtIeqmAI0lX2Uh4BJfB7xxGfED1pyf0RZyt5uuwv97MTcDaKdKh_V20bx57S78TZhhG8AucfFhF4RtPf-cEX_EuRe2s_CDtfj2wd3z_3nZz_jjKLFxR7sfToPa/s320/Vegas+2011+%2528137%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594707062540464994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">This time the theme was a fantasy garden with a Ferris wheel, big butterflies and bright colors.<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoHLeXM4V-5VAHfeufBrJiIeaQ27PcIUdbf2Jhc0XUtdGK53whO3pGSG_AerTU_94lQk82hcxgXj5-ogIA4Vx_dGmH6obl25dewXXcQjQLxSNyTVe5zLk4zkXEqt8a2EQOA4VeKb3yYTD/s1600/Vegas+2011+%2528143%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoHLeXM4V-5VAHfeufBrJiIeaQ27PcIUdbf2Jhc0XUtdGK53whO3pGSG_AerTU_94lQk82hcxgXj5-ogIA4Vx_dGmH6obl25dewXXcQjQLxSNyTVe5zLk4zkXEqt8a2EQOA4VeKb3yYTD/s320/Vegas+2011+%2528143%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594715039232665058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcu02lJKrlMf8IRQGpC604eKawdBphElVm0wmlWn9OJUvMIbdgp7-ocBlNxiZEr4ZDiDaPkua3e-z8D_dfHFZu4-vRdzRrtjjZsB5-hs_dr0AmuUFRvocbDFJjUIoxqOY3tzTN4trr8A1/s1600/Vegas+2011+%2528151%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcu02lJKrlMf8IRQGpC604eKawdBphElVm0wmlWn9OJUvMIbdgp7-ocBlNxiZEr4ZDiDaPkua3e-z8D_dfHFZu4-vRdzRrtjjZsB5-hs_dr0AmuUFRvocbDFJjUIoxqOY3tzTN4trr8A1/s320/Vegas+2011+%2528151%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594707053135908370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Watching the fountains in front of Bellagio.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Hfjsjp9kisr523jnRrRYlCLG3DCQUPCsHqP-YixkYrFYBPdfECmzBARh87Qpr5RmbpWKDUWqfAd_23MS9mqIxVgZFanzlnDKo5dRVsMIdz-0yPRILKPPDJtvjVOGfjdntlxI_k4sSX7v/s1600/Vegas+2011+%2528150%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Hfjsjp9kisr523jnRrRYlCLG3DCQUPCsHqP-YixkYrFYBPdfECmzBARh87Qpr5RmbpWKDUWqfAd_23MS9mqIxVgZFanzlnDKo5dRVsMIdz-0yPRILKPPDJtvjVOGfjdntlxI_k4sSX7v/s320/Vegas+2011+%2528150%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594714367586924194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Our last stop were the Lions at MGM - so sweet!<br /><br /></span></div>Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-23018584883792567912011-04-13T07:21:00.001-05:002011-04-13T07:49:51.449-05:00<div align="center"><strong>Where thou art - that - is Home.</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">Emily Dickinson<br /></div><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">After many curses of "we're never moving again" our place is finally in working order. Because this is a rental I sort of staged the whole thing so it looks cute and all the stuff we need is up and out but a lot of our stuff is nicely labeled and boxed in the basement. This was the last of many, many rentals that we looked at before the move. I always joke that this is the one that didn't make me cry. It's a duplex built in the 1970s but has been completely updated inside from windows to the wood floors. New kitchen, new bathroom, new carpet, new everything. Compared to everything we looked at, this was such a relief to find. </div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">The unit from the outside isn't anything to write home about, just cement but well kept and clean. The inside, however, I really love. The couple that owns the whole duplex, the other unit is rented out to a very nice 30-something woman, is about our age and are taking a year abroad in Singapore with the husband's job. Being that they are our age, the style and color choices is very much in tune with what I like and all of our furniture fits nicely. </div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Here's a little photo tour of our new place: </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOshQ5YrXtQyGA-QqciOa0fl9INUoHyN2grFq1i6hIFcroaUt5mSvz7_OLQxIG77CbjkP737LUG3gW9XHp452HhZsLO01ocEf3TxecFYGED7CES_IhiM4i7fqGfbSR5ULyUTisIBGfKcpf/s1600/Judson+Court.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594739528444763570" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOshQ5YrXtQyGA-QqciOa0fl9INUoHyN2grFq1i6hIFcroaUt5mSvz7_OLQxIG77CbjkP737LUG3gW9XHp452HhZsLO01ocEf3TxecFYGED7CES_IhiM4i7fqGfbSR5ULyUTisIBGfKcpf/s320/Judson+Court.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>From the front door, living room and dining room.</em></div><em></em><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfdSQz7z0RJ8ChGT7QysdrR4H6F_YekpJ_-r4H9ljo1O42Ki87BO0jFacjy8P8se1sHHsQiN8xWTzvisr0TDCKGGq2dP-IEvHw0EMW2sf1y0Ihx_iFIbnD-0i3nS-rZnfrJRBzm-6j7v2/s1600/Judson+Court+%25282%2529.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594739526005957186" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfdSQz7z0RJ8ChGT7QysdrR4H6F_YekpJ_-r4H9ljo1O42Ki87BO0jFacjy8P8se1sHHsQiN8xWTzvisr0TDCKGGq2dP-IEvHw0EMW2sf1y0Ihx_iFIbnD-0i3nS-rZnfrJRBzm-6j7v2/s320/Judson+Court+%25282%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>To the left, stairs to the bedrooms and bath.</em></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVM4wFgXna8oqBpfKQF0NfmLKYv8nHNkhjdjGH9S85U2fuLsc3YbbovaQ5FiBNE_ZkKS6FZJHs8WCGQMc7IdTleLHfZ-qCMzcZc02nusVYaW-LsDpA04Y7TuunD5RBy9MgBiM5eqQWhWzs/s1600/Judson+Court+%25283%2529.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594739521759769314" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVM4wFgXna8oqBpfKQF0NfmLKYv8nHNkhjdjGH9S85U2fuLsc3YbbovaQ5FiBNE_ZkKS6FZJHs8WCGQMc7IdTleLHfZ-qCMzcZc02nusVYaW-LsDpA04Y7TuunD5RBy9MgBiM5eqQWhWzs/s320/Judson+Court+%25283%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>To the right, living room (+ Beagle).</em></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6TYXgob290uaWTwZNz6sWCRXK8iwp-gFI7i0bjFc9NIIR5QhkO-sH2OwFzRPQ610Q1UDwlW3jnz2TQoqIq5TmYRNCoWubiIv19Q7qFHjkQ9jq5_eUOUwt5lgvZldyi4IXh5vzO69vT4i/s1600/Judson+Court+%25284%2529.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594738793103234690" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6TYXgob290uaWTwZNz6sWCRXK8iwp-gFI7i0bjFc9NIIR5QhkO-sH2OwFzRPQ610Q1UDwlW3jnz2TQoqIq5TmYRNCoWubiIv19Q7qFHjkQ9jq5_eUOUwt5lgvZldyi4IXh5vzO69vT4i/s320/Judson+Court+%25284%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a><em>From the dining room.</em></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyPeG3jQ4UgLPi2QKh0Vqh-71iG73VZudv-E1AHdJsWU0Ypl0QstSTe0HFmwDncRaf7hRC8V8RSiDpdXCwJF8E_9x9CzuVoAn0Z9iiv2CAkO7DtGOq8kfjkgSWIH6B-5YV6uN99IEhdYp/s1600/Judson+Court+%25286%2529.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594738790991249826" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyPeG3jQ4UgLPi2QKh0Vqh-71iG73VZudv-E1AHdJsWU0Ypl0QstSTe0HFmwDncRaf7hRC8V8RSiDpdXCwJF8E_9x9CzuVoAn0Z9iiv2CAkO7DtGOq8kfjkgSWIH6B-5YV6uN99IEhdYp/s320/Judson+Court+%25286%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>View of the dining room, painted brick wall and sliding glass doors to the back deck.</em></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5V9O1kw453dcNGJAYx-Xoc5IH_tZMwzpzV7cO67YMLfIpEW2ni03lLg0JiMSUTlgNNwpZWWKMNjbBCNh0n5oiXMU-YqPK_DgbLHbmSp4MNQGXLEUUCtkyeN0xe5psdnQ0DcliYDu-vAM0/s1600/Judson+Court+%25288%2529.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594738780064401026" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5V9O1kw453dcNGJAYx-Xoc5IH_tZMwzpzV7cO67YMLfIpEW2ni03lLg0JiMSUTlgNNwpZWWKMNjbBCNh0n5oiXMU-YqPK_DgbLHbmSp4MNQGXLEUUCtkyeN0xe5psdnQ0DcliYDu-vAM0/s320/Judson+Court+%25288%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>From the dining room to the kitchen.</em></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXQWgeZ82XHJb8Bkh_a3Gs2goyB7dmJ3vy8tX8D-dA7TZ9bVOyAkYoiD17V2PVK0WdGvLRC4ooX5Dz_UPxUcGyN1hnwZC_aiUtTqaPL6TQRhuWKqaFHejtl1pbVbLhT1Bye3VlKdpntz_/s1600/Judson+Court+%252810%2529.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; display: block; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594738776363550178" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXQWgeZ82XHJb8Bkh_a3Gs2goyB7dmJ3vy8tX8D-dA7TZ9bVOyAkYoiD17V2PVK0WdGvLRC4ooX5Dz_UPxUcGyN1hnwZC_aiUtTqaPL6TQRhuWKqaFHejtl1pbVbLhT1Bye3VlKdpntz_/s320/Judson+Court+%252810%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Dining room.</em></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprIB_v7kPljvdn2mB0FQQbe6x2B-yzjGRZCZN_DhFfk5k5KfniUbCR1OAptzIOH67tJ4kl4RJemHWXF6bF0wJoBiPv622dPWRRWGrZQPUXjWaqh4XXtDM8UVp8WXnT2-ATCJwEV1G0PI4/s1600/Judson+Court+%252811%2529.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; display: block; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594738769851342098" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprIB_v7kPljvdn2mB0FQQbe6x2B-yzjGRZCZN_DhFfk5k5KfniUbCR1OAptzIOH67tJ4kl4RJemHWXF6bF0wJoBiPv622dPWRRWGrZQPUXjWaqh4XXtDM8UVp8WXnT2-ATCJwEV1G0PI4/s320/Judson+Court+%252811%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Kitchen wall near the basement door.</em></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSPlj9NMIiM_a57weSBHeF8fS_QynXWcgRiDmb8tolK6OuTxPSc6t8jXl7jKXneDqtkmXmylAW6LXuGyUJfdR7rppRqRHzuKeodYJnOoMZnzWBmsItf85U83b1vyt_W3cw3tsEdahlMjf/s1600/Judson+Court+%252812%2529.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594737741602351970" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSPlj9NMIiM_a57weSBHeF8fS_QynXWcgRiDmb8tolK6OuTxPSc6t8jXl7jKXneDqtkmXmylAW6LXuGyUJfdR7rppRqRHzuKeodYJnOoMZnzWBmsItf85U83b1vyt_W3cw3tsEdahlMjf/s320/Judson+Court+%252812%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Kitchen.</em></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIRzPYqXN_Knlu1Ypo_JydqPN4jHTCoYLpD8GqEf7bhOsQ1cvHPQVy8HKI6BqXiMUsiHIq19UClYFJO6tjDSURnnwDaDES7C5oPZMulq36hrTwuz3X4ZKnlJI10DN8EZRwEjsXCd2l_-E/s1600/Judson+Court+%252813%2529.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594737738057065186" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIRzPYqXN_Knlu1Ypo_JydqPN4jHTCoYLpD8GqEf7bhOsQ1cvHPQVy8HKI6BqXiMUsiHIq19UClYFJO6tjDSURnnwDaDES7C5oPZMulq36hrTwuz3X4ZKnlJI10DN8EZRwEjsXCd2l_-E/s320/Judson+Court+%252813%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Kitchen again.</em></p><br /><p align="center"><em></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hdcP8YYMgpXFnqgihmevJ6CqKQVxL-IKzplFY9NGtQtvLr-iyIzLuvkJphZobTW4MbVX-BwHIlnKPjoKQLkQvOj7_f-W-jy_T877ExS05bhAkNhcI9ptWJAfLhp-CYx4_7-_gNGV-n39/s1600/Judson+Court+%252814%2529.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; display: block; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594737733300283170" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hdcP8YYMgpXFnqgihmevJ6CqKQVxL-IKzplFY9NGtQtvLr-iyIzLuvkJphZobTW4MbVX-BwHIlnKPjoKQLkQvOj7_f-W-jy_T877ExS05bhAkNhcI9ptWJAfLhp-CYx4_7-_gNGV-n39/s320/Judson+Court+%252814%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a> Heading up the stairs.</p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-zleqJ_iMYydQQtACItBEXyTcMjs1_PhsCPjH2v17qnS7lFYt5vQ7ZNF2DYRJ8TWmWlwIcXc4eRbSEWd7NGcV1owACMCsR9zQzy9VotBWWdhmCXSvE_QUEKOYRjWiR_d57v_7Zj8E14R/s1600/Judson+Court+%252815%2529.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594737723073364994" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-zleqJ_iMYydQQtACItBEXyTcMjs1_PhsCPjH2v17qnS7lFYt5vQ7ZNF2DYRJ8TWmWlwIcXc4eRbSEWd7NGcV1owACMCsR9zQzy9VotBWWdhmCXSvE_QUEKOYRjWiR_d57v_7Zj8E14R/s320/Judson+Court+%252815%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>The second bedroom is the office/guest room (when I blow up the air mattress!)</em></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_YH3uCX46HQJ-YNcs4-B_qZcRpqnlhqu94_2nYZCQj8KE_2qPpDHmNPVOyInChlzu_pgFbrxmZH44QDlWeRSiPHatxjl2ILNHjyYZcRunKadhvjgJa59SrkG-NlYks1fGk9XtpVpbeYP/s1600/Judson+Court+%252817%2529.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; display: block; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594737719857436290" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_YH3uCX46HQJ-YNcs4-B_qZcRpqnlhqu94_2nYZCQj8KE_2qPpDHmNPVOyInChlzu_pgFbrxmZH44QDlWeRSiPHatxjl2ILNHjyYZcRunKadhvjgJa59SrkG-NlYks1fGk9XtpVpbeYP/s320/Judson+Court+%252817%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Bookcase with guest supplies to the left.</em></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPWKq5yRSlwvLN7DdLVe0C8OW3X9JU-JarLis4bYo82Pwj8rL-XhSuy7EvIiCjjoXWEqaAePysdyiG2yV643z9Mjf29-EuIUlr9vfOXodQpZgWyOGmp-80cM9lPv7G75RGJh9hI5BDvcK/s1600/Judson+Court+%252819%2529.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; display: block; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594736363166491570" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPWKq5yRSlwvLN7DdLVe0C8OW3X9JU-JarLis4bYo82Pwj8rL-XhSuy7EvIiCjjoXWEqaAePysdyiG2yV643z9Mjf29-EuIUlr9vfOXodQpZgWyOGmp-80cM9lPv7G75RGJh9hI5BDvcK/s320/Judson+Court+%252819%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>The other, larger room is ours.</em></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCTonewXrQQnqrHWve12lwTsHgQyxmDJPGAVUwtqPwuqPtm_cqYSm8x4AJg0TW48nYHdlFL5HRLHiziD1Q6dSpPT_IDO355CIl9C3cbLfMA7FP8hY53uSYsXl1vjcgL34eBnQcxqty19F/s1600/Judson+Court+%252821%2529.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594736357780676626" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCTonewXrQQnqrHWve12lwTsHgQyxmDJPGAVUwtqPwuqPtm_cqYSm8x4AJg0TW48nYHdlFL5HRLHiziD1Q6dSpPT_IDO355CIl9C3cbLfMA7FP8hY53uSYsXl1vjcgL34eBnQcxqty19F/s320/Judson+Court+%252821%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Our room.</em></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWWCAmRFR6G5ez1R-V174hMe9Dmiv-zhm-zjGaNbd16qpi8sbBfhgODyScFJ2L0CJ4ZdwKc_oJic-2ySXULGSgFaXMESAUqUxl1Y9Qb0Y3AmhQNUZGN-J2Slvargdu2XlTyedDlUEkIWl/s1600/Judson+Court+%252822%2529.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; display: block; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594736350222330242" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWWCAmRFR6G5ez1R-V174hMe9Dmiv-zhm-zjGaNbd16qpi8sbBfhgODyScFJ2L0CJ4ZdwKc_oJic-2ySXULGSgFaXMESAUqUxl1Y9Qb0Y3AmhQNUZGN-J2Slvargdu2XlTyedDlUEkIWl/s320/Judson+Court+%252822%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Bathroom upstairs, it has great slate tile.</em></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOClkiX7dPoJk43223977A1PKvXZi6dVduWZFt_t4MNJtociaU6aYCs81wXaeAKphstuVrpGYn-QKdy6u_HoGGA-yLcU0r2qVW8qSWz5p5qFdCpb-Xw4NN7N17iHsieSazasUya8GxCWH/s1600/Judson+Court+%252824%2529.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; display: block; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594736345740620898" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOClkiX7dPoJk43223977A1PKvXZi6dVduWZFt_t4MNJtociaU6aYCs81wXaeAKphstuVrpGYn-QKdy6u_HoGGA-yLcU0r2qVW8qSWz5p5qFdCpb-Xw4NN7N17iHsieSazasUya8GxCWH/s320/Judson+Court+%252824%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a><em>Bathroom again with my favorite medicine cabinet (it's huge and holds everything!)</em></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_z9bntWeA2uBD7jqVhVTP8yKJQzNfO8QV61DoEjRQhBlH6kHga9LA8YVWCLJ_2AjfHmPoyD49_Aowz9e5l6ipvf1q7E0fdBuaQTfDFf9TBSWc8decMFDjGgc1N9d2gyuvnsTTxU_3bp7D/s1600/Judson+Court+%252825%2529.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; display: block; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594736343521604962" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_z9bntWeA2uBD7jqVhVTP8yKJQzNfO8QV61DoEjRQhBlH6kHga9LA8YVWCLJ_2AjfHmPoyD49_Aowz9e5l6ipvf1q7E0fdBuaQTfDFf9TBSWc8decMFDjGgc1N9d2gyuvnsTTxU_3bp7D/s320/Judson+Court+%252825%2529.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Bathroom, great towel racks installed.</em> </p>Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4915023042406344114.post-6716711983888128752011-04-11T07:29:00.001-05:002011-04-11T11:05:01.791-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Happy people learn that happiness, like sweat, is a by-product of activity. You can only achieve happiness if you are too busy living your life to notice<br />whether you are happy or not.</span><br />Frank Pittman III<br /></div><br />In the last six weeks, I've been busy. So busy in fact that I haven't updated this blog at all!<br /><br />Here are the highlights:<br /><ul><li>Unpacked and set up an entire household (lots of pictures to come of the final result!).</li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-TiOThTJCAe0P4Oyda81Fw5mMK81ipy_R7S9Sz10pCbOPWO5lxTaeQMsz5OWYBCMlCaGdLNBMpxFtVLCkUFRv4v4wzhkTbmtwReTILmr_vFrvJ9z1HIH8FZDUM-yLDqig__6gHyvUue9/s1600/Judson+Court+%25285%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-TiOThTJCAe0P4Oyda81Fw5mMK81ipy_R7S9Sz10pCbOPWO5lxTaeQMsz5OWYBCMlCaGdLNBMpxFtVLCkUFRv4v4wzhkTbmtwReTILmr_vFrvJ9z1HIH8FZDUM-yLDqig__6gHyvUue9/s320/Judson+Court+%25285%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594128567864019682" border="0" /></a><ul><li>Helped Nick clean, merchandise and host a lovely grand opening of the club's golf shop.</li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MQJOU3f7R6Px9b2mzIa_ZYEOdR7Aj-SZz4K3BMDyGSmK3vs6O3F-CH4e7GjnXtk-CxPdmTvvgoV_T6hexya46yWUzCu17HpZ8JZUzut7n4uX58_LI1oM2UGs3itp_C1vk_EDlO7vBnqd/s1600/Golf+Shop+Grand+Opening+%252822%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MQJOU3f7R6Px9b2mzIa_ZYEOdR7Aj-SZz4K3BMDyGSmK3vs6O3F-CH4e7GjnXtk-CxPdmTvvgoV_T6hexya46yWUzCu17HpZ8JZUzut7n4uX58_LI1oM2UGs3itp_C1vk_EDlO7vBnqd/s320/Golf+Shop+Grand+Opening+%252822%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594129731729137202" border="0" /></a><ul><li>Hosted a baby shower for Ashley.<img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYXABKSGzGgi0sKGe7hnrImZQm80IQL7II-6zTdF3hFEOz29-bjg38QUDz0w0IBHsj90T30duKlpMupGJDkG2coSAS33qzH8sIuB2L77Q9fKfvIuc2ZUYpBCpR09ByMccrAHN76akv8tf/s320/Vegas+2011+%2528112%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594128572081010498" border="0" /></li></ul><ul><li>Saw Britney Spears put on a fantastic performance at The Palms.</li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8brZyuolKXwHyGsl7voi7peWkVuBY7OUs3jkMSersgzfdtkzPbcJVpGAieG06za_FWcSRv-Qp1flJuTnIxI0XtXayftH_Bf_91Y_CfpsdDlkxPQcjGX20vvdiBpmEBjzCKojqETssJ3h/s1600/Vegas+2011+%252889%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8brZyuolKXwHyGsl7voi7peWkVuBY7OUs3jkMSersgzfdtkzPbcJVpGAieG06za_FWcSRv-Qp1flJuTnIxI0XtXayftH_Bf_91Y_CfpsdDlkxPQcjGX20vvdiBpmEBjzCKojqETssJ3h/s320/Vegas+2011+%252889%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594129738664021330" border="0" /></a><ul><li>Plus, my mom came to visit, we visited Nick's parents for a quick overnight trip, spent the day in Iowa City, went to a David Sedaris reading and learned that soda = "pop" around these parts.</li></ul>Looking forward to keeping you all updated on our new happenings!Randall @ Happy For This Momenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05641122256831489079noreply@blogger.com6