tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85993712537785767922024-02-20T11:30:01.882-08:00Balentine BlissSonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-59484234402643918772010-04-26T16:51:00.000-07:002010-04-26T16:56:34.187-07:00I Heart Faces - Smiles!<center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img src="http://www.livinglocurto.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/I_Heart_Faces_noborder_125x100.jpg" /></a></center><br />
<br />
This week's challenge is Smiles! I have one sweet, little drama queen on my hands. It's hard to capture a smile that's not faked, forced, or freaky. This rarity happened a couple of weeks ago at our local Botanic Gardens. I was quite excited to be quick enough to capture that fleeting moment!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfOWUN5R4ap_is4mQTInGuxeUxaKHZthu2brTw2iOn2U_q3dtZe1ED2arzlfn7MByM_26C7sAUxoM3jCj51cs9anQ5JhMuoGzhaJFi0KUwQP679naF9tXLarDuUvQIMJzwOhSV3-wc0U/s1600/Smiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfOWUN5R4ap_is4mQTInGuxeUxaKHZthu2brTw2iOn2U_q3dtZe1ED2arzlfn7MByM_26C7sAUxoM3jCj51cs9anQ5JhMuoGzhaJFi0KUwQP679naF9tXLarDuUvQIMJzwOhSV3-wc0U/s400/Smiles.jpg" tt="true" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Head over to <a href="http://www.iheartfaces.blogspot.com/">I Heart Faces</a> for some more toothy (or in our case, toothless) grins!Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-33362244899133363172010-03-29T17:58:00.000-07:002010-03-29T17:58:38.644-07:00I Heart Faces - Dramatic B & W<center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img src="http://www.livinglocurto.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/I_Heart_Faces_noborder_125x100.jpg" /></a></center><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.blogspot.com/">I Heart Faces'</a> theme this week is Dramatic B&W. There is already milllllions of entries ( OK, So I exagerated a little, but there are a bunch!), so here is one more of our pianist, Daylor. I liked the contrast of his creamy skin and the blackness of the piano. The mood of this image fits his personality and his seriousness of his music. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACjKUoRSCLbMdyuKLLTA_UdnECodl1wON3z88gbp6g0_RCCDRJxPHY14ZEMwvLH2jwMQ2KKIm83q012Netrow3Bz5Z1fbtoKiaQKkoYYaw8pU3u1SYxIKxUbOthLHmIeiLn4soWAcJWY/s1600/Dramatic+B%26W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACjKUoRSCLbMdyuKLLTA_UdnECodl1wON3z88gbp6g0_RCCDRJxPHY14ZEMwvLH2jwMQ2KKIm83q012Netrow3Bz5Z1fbtoKiaQKkoYYaw8pU3u1SYxIKxUbOthLHmIeiLn4soWAcJWY/s640/Dramatic+B%26W.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Head on over to I Heart Faces to check out all the drama!</div>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-63912623072942324762010-03-15T08:11:00.000-07:002010-03-15T08:22:05.588-07:00I Heart Faces - "All Bundled Up"<center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img src="http://www.livinglocurto.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/I_Heart_Faces_noborder_125x100.jpg" /></a></center><br /><center></center><br /><div align="left">Oooo! What a cold winter it was and still is for some folks! Lots of opportunities to get wrapped up and go outside for some fun "Kodak" (or in my case Olympus) Moments!" This week at <a href="http://www.iheartfaces.blogspot.com/">I Heart Faces </a>the theme is "All Bundled Up." My entry is of my daughter and is from a snow day earlier this year.</div><br /><br /><p></p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448879866853440434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdlcLVxR05Hhanqmjo2PB1g8fe85PHO-ckkNQYXLh8vsUV_P1dvRIgnmO3g8R1EwXW4SjL9TzcPa4kv4VhQDQKODL051wZd2vxgMEpqbSjC75toPE9yiaJylR5OBqvVAPXnpGejr0J0Y/s576/All+bundled+up.jpg" /></p><p></p><p>Head over to I Heart Faces for some "warm fuzzies" and check out all the fun!!</p>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-77394778070294481722010-02-22T19:47:00.000-08:002010-02-22T20:20:10.604-08:00I Heart Faces - Hands-on-Fun<center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img src="http://www.livinglocurto.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/I_Heart_Faces_noborder_125x100.jpg" /></a></center><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.blogspot.com/">I heart faces </a>assignment this week is all about hands. I have sooooo many images of hands that this one was a hard one for me to choose. I love photographing hands. Hands say so much about a person. I have a photograph of my sweet ,92 year old grandfather's hands. His hands are weathered, but strong and long, just like him. I have pictures of bitty baby hands that are so sweet and innocent and perfect, not yet touched by the environment or hard life. </div><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">The picture I choose is of my little girl's hands. I love how she is holding this little pumpkin - gently, tenderly, and like it is worth everything to her. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Hands speak for themselves.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441282856128625810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOLgTR0HUsmzJVHXATM6xk3yqyNZV1vSTTtBo7wR8z8XksLX29KbG3youSyRzK9usJou5_2KAyjnMIfj79cd0yoOJQDBKep6mSmrBtLHp88Ll860hXvzLIxrGt9XkDjl43Kp291kWIns/s576/Hands.jpg" /></div><br />Head on over to the hands on event now!Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-85375345938323787052010-02-08T19:38:00.000-08:002010-02-08T19:52:28.951-08:00I Heart Faces - We Heart Kisses<center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img src="http://www.livinglocurto.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/I_Heart_Faces_Photography_125.jpg" /></a></center><br /><p>So this week's challenge at I Heart Faces is a celebration of Valentines Day! Kisses! I actually shot this picture 4 years ago the day after I got my first dSLR. At that point, I had not clue how to utilize all it's bells and whistles so it's not pro-quality, but I loved catching this moment between my hubby and our little girl. It's still to this day one of my favorites!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436086411386015490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuh-NhK3SmHvGMGl84HxkYhzUSD10-mYr4jiGVZEVlOIfaj6-4XAyeZtx8C5TRBA5sXnWDKYRccE9mueKeDk7Uoc9S8GybGpMjrGsbdy4npzNKbR4GS3IkNLA_leOHblO-b4ne-ZUFe24/s400/Kisses.jpg" /><br />Go check out the rest of the entries <a href="http://www.iheartfaces.blogspot.com/">HERE</a> to check out more smoochies!</p>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-69342115180787515982010-01-18T12:50:00.000-08:002010-01-18T13:07:53.233-08:00iheartfaces - "We are Family" Photo Challenge<center></center><center></center><center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img src="http://www.livinglocurto.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/I_Heart_Faces_Photography_125.jpg" /></a></center><br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;">i</span><span style="color:#ff0000;">heart</span><span style="color:#000000;">faces</span> is having a photo challenge this week about families. My submission is of my parents with our kidos. Family is so very important to us and our children are so blessed to have two sets of amazing grandparents that insist upon (with no arguments from us) being part of our kids lives. They adore each other!<br /><br /><p></p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428186628874278546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50D0tB6oczLFodbNhCRv-j0qtJulP3L8xFkBHtRtKRtiVwZaT7XBpxB9faPJppLLd3B0KYPC_t5B8dV6RnomGR-N1oBFcdDEY253jAn4wO_DOHlZ9eh2vlHvyq0W6yv_R0ftXA2Ft94U/s400/We-are-family.jpg" /></p><p></p><p align="center"><br />Head on over to <a href="http://www.iheartfaces.blogspot.com/">i heart faces</a> for the family reunion and join in the fun!</p>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-62909496046850883152009-12-28T20:47:00.000-08:002009-12-28T21:14:09.068-08:00I ♥ Faces - "Hilarious Outtakes"I ♥ Faces contest this week is about funny outtakes and, boy, do have a BUNCH of those!! This one immediately came to mind, though. This was taken this summer after my daughter, Perri, had gotten an extra long ride on the "Crab" ride in Sea World. She found out all too soon (in her opinion) that all good things must come to an end.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420519365723770546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4d2ewkKvqiS3AqDlOl3VJazQl1MOaYrqIriga4fa3RsfN97ceyYJe_byrjlQQ3UPxtLr-hGS7R2-TPw1oz0PbTZ9UypAQ9m53Le0nP40-Os_6qGfP5h2yRWoaT2Vo9PGTlTBm5v7Vg0/s400/P9131919.png" /><br /><br /><p></p><p>Head on over to <a href="http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/2009/12/week-51-hilarious-outtakes-photo.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Iheartfaces+%28iHeartFaces%29">I ♥ Faces</a> for a belly laugh and to enter your own image!</p>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-52056372928010069962009-12-16T19:43:00.000-08:002009-12-16T20:36:15.038-08:00Annual Christmas Pictures - Balentine StyleAlas, 'tis the season of Christmas carols and hot cocoa, evergreen trees and tinsel, stockings hung with care and ......the annual Balentine Christmas picture in front of the tree. We have done this year after year and then take the picture and put it in a frame ornament to hang on the tree to commemorate the year. It's always the same procedure: we come home from church, everyone is in a great mood and excited to get their picture taken! We set up the tripod, do a couple of adjustments to the camera and Viola!...A lovely picture...Oh, if it were only that easy.<br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Me:</span> "OK, guys! Are we set?" <br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Them:</span> "We are ready. "<br /><br />Me: "OK. Now remember to sit still and put your best smile on when you see the red light start blinking. Ready?"<br /><br />Them: "Yes, Mama. Is this gonna take long?"<br /><br />Me: "Only as long as YOU make it take. Here we go! Smile!!!" (click)<br /><br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416047857297891778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2bf2Cpcd_RXB5m08vsFefwn6cIpBE1wPemuLvT-_Ft1g-dpIm_HWRj2qLcysQb6t-Qgrfz_X1f0C4E0F9eNOKqb0e-UigJOx2LKj1QT-chDwEFQLihRgx3RRCYrXXsxJJ2aRK3yi8Qg/s400/1.jpg" /> </p><p>Me: "OK! Not bad. Duglin - maybe sit up a bit and smile a little more!" </p><p>Them: sigh.....</p><p>ME: "One more time! Smile, everyone!" (click)</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416047854731224690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBugM1VQSHAs9SMfW3WQw2QxZS2jZCKjR0KqvHedqZsOZ-1Pr0sEZcwZOuhJigFQ9qoGcjc9i2aSVuylT8iAz4erqAx9PTqraO-8ZOHhSs8QsiMPxOWb3w-ttHUmW3iK1K-ADihjd_kWA/s400/2.jpg" /> </p>Me: "Well, we are getting there. Honey (Duglin)- I still think you have a better smile in there. Can you show it to the camera next time?"<br /><br />Duglin: "I guess."<br /><br />Perri: "How is my smile, Mommy? Is it a princess type smile or should I show more teeth?"<br /><br />Me: "Whatever you were doing before looks fine, sweetie. OK. Now let's try this again. SMILE!!!!!" (click)<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416047850924839634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6g4E7NUtFdLgW1UUUQvpZ5cfo8I3eRUxbdyBwvONyle0n1K6kUeaWJAbY2C5J5Oa9ZHidPlnY5KBSKQEkOihqQ9o9Oh7CheSsAv6nTJwHbMl6WkiYL1Ogvwl9aIqEEdFtijeOyVAr7E/s400/3.jpg" /><br />Me: "Umm, Duglin. That maybe too much of a smile, honey."<br /><br />Duglin: "But you SAID to smile bigger. I smiled bigger."<br /><br />Me: "Yes, you did, but it looks, well, like you are in pain, not smiling. Let's try this ONE MORE TIME! Everybody set? SMIIIIIILE!!"<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416047847113946418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GnwifVPmTrLWQxiejpUj9YwBblb0K8_HMhYejLt55xKR3jnUALcgvKho2w6Kf3tIZu2F6uDmJ-fpeWl_LsoxoZ1hCQV0oLT0BBjIMklbQR7Mar9i_BYShigCRayn79EC6SAa8WZbeBU/s400/4.jpg" /><br />Me: "Duglin."<br /><br />Duglin: "Yes, Mommy."<br /><br />Me: "You look like you are are gritting your teeth, not smiling."<br /><br />Duglin: "Mommy, I'm trying really hard!"<br /><br />Me: "I know you are, but I think that might be the problem. Just.....smile. Ahhh! I have an idea. Think of how you might look if Santa Claus were here and how happy you would be! OK?"<br /><br />Duglin: "OK."<br /><br />Me: "OK! ONE MORE TIME!!! Everybody say, "Look! There's Santa!"<br /><br />Everyone: "Look! There's Santa!!!!"<br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416047645626816514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoYz67kKfXO9Sma_XmSLejDu7eT25aY47ZC1iYBmfmu4dJ_AUEJpuOIoNS9csoHBwkgBSoD35fYiIBlOgYmWXCom2lv6LCokai5XEGRv5CrNlwRu0qG93I2PF4aLQeaamyMuoeWRucuI/s400/5.jpg" /><br />Me: "Wow. Umm (trying not to die laughing). That's an interesting face there, Duglin. OK. I can see this is not working. Let's do this one more time." So I devise a plan to say something funny right before the camera shoots. "Everyone ready?" </p><p>Them: "yes.....(moans, rolling eyes, whimpers)"</p><p>Me: "OK, camera's counting down. What's something that's funny?"</p><p>Daylor: "You mean like Daddy tooting?" (click)</p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlQHMNMgkhoJEgp6_FO1ECFDGC0W1DsHCorFzBob8V9BP7kMoRuausGwwa0455jO4bgIw-ZIWLFrDQvMvGfU5b68C5RzOx0d8qJXS8W9pkgdA01jFHGmJp58bulk_ZkISWbtDgJI74ng/s1600-h/7.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416047638463160882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlQHMNMgkhoJEgp6_FO1ECFDGC0W1DsHCorFzBob8V9BP7kMoRuausGwwa0455jO4bgIw-ZIWLFrDQvMvGfU5b68C5RzOx0d8qJXS8W9pkgdA01jFHGmJp58bulk_ZkISWbtDgJI74ng/s400/7.jpg" /></a><br /><br />So can you tell by the flare of my nostrils I knew it was over? As the famously, overly used cliche saying goes:</div><div> </div><div align="center">"If you can't beat 'em....." <br /><br /></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvDBZKWt1S0y4QxsjedG9xqdIAA_wEMePuHScmArKYjiu9lfNjeXvBEV7l-M9zdGOdXlwNzysoFj7XB5zO3Fe3y1Dd7nB-HC86c6SE4WBezMg_FjLbnXIfeyrChJFzLQ8K7LcbsDwxRs/s1600-h/8.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416047635121242482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvDBZKWt1S0y4QxsjedG9xqdIAA_wEMePuHScmArKYjiu9lfNjeXvBEV7l-M9zdGOdXlwNzysoFj7XB5zO3Fe3y1Dd7nB-HC86c6SE4WBezMg_FjLbnXIfeyrChJFzLQ8K7LcbsDwxRs/s400/8.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />OK - So, we did finally get a decent one. So what if Duglin looks a little constipated? Life imitating art...or is it art imitating life? Hmmmmm, I need to think about that one!</div><div><br /> </div><div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kdNCmw6m6dyar2cmyD0M7WIWSTRgpcfY2FeLCx3RtOOyHyVWF5sqWSnXo4TQ4-GoPlffcCOmusZpov7MGfunUY9ElO2J7lKGiJxARWQGsYMQYaJss51A2UGynaD_TI53qkDnvxo2UIQ/s1600-h/9.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416047631901918818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kdNCmw6m6dyar2cmyD0M7WIWSTRgpcfY2FeLCx3RtOOyHyVWF5sqWSnXo4TQ4-GoPlffcCOmusZpov7MGfunUY9ElO2J7lKGiJxARWQGsYMQYaJss51A2UGynaD_TI53qkDnvxo2UIQ/s400/9.jpg" /></a> Merry Christmas!!</div><div align="center">Love, </div><div align="center">The Balentines</div><div align="center">2009<br /></div><div><div><div><div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-9539366295330944732009-12-03T18:59:00.000-08:002009-12-03T20:07:19.368-08:00The Boy That Touched EVERYTHING<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLx_n51EhPZBW0onaH-QJ1TBlaRo-l2W3dG68HAFfbCtbNzANoikA1FUkuE6i7uMEw-iqUxLNdcscmEix5AfLeUIbPydPlKyUEvdTDt8aZAUXS_IcrnkpkGo3_4ZSNBR5l1JvpHTOMHA/s1600-h/PA173943.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411210538841040290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLx_n51EhPZBW0onaH-QJ1TBlaRo-l2W3dG68HAFfbCtbNzANoikA1FUkuE6i7uMEw-iqUxLNdcscmEix5AfLeUIbPydPlKyUEvdTDt8aZAUXS_IcrnkpkGo3_4ZSNBR5l1JvpHTOMHA/s400/PA173943.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />It had already started out a bad day. I had been awake most of the night with a migraine and after 14 hours had finally begun to get some relief. We had places to go and people to see, so the kids and I were scurrying around looking for lost coats, getting hair brushed, and, in my case, just starting to get dressed. I was standing in our master closet staring at the minimal amount of clothes that were clean when I heard loud crash in the den. I tugged on the semi-presentable jeans and ran to check out the latest broken item in the Balentine household. Before I had a chance make it to the doorknob, my youngest beloved son gently taps on the door.<br /><br />I opened the door. There he was. Eyes wide open. Blink. Blink.<br /><br />"Mommy?"<br /><br />"Yes, Duglin."<br /><br />"I accidentally put a marble in my stocking. When I accidentally tried to get it out, I accidentally pulled everything off the mantle and accidentally broke some stuff. Accidentally. Yes, absolutely, accidentally."<br /><br />(Anger and blood pressure rising.) "Duglin, did I not tell you guys last night as I was putting the garland and the stockings on the mantle that you CAN NOT TOUCH IT?!?!?!?!?!?!?"<br /><br />The previous night I spent an hour putting together the garland on the mantle. The hearth on the floor was now covered with a million pieces of Frasier fir clippings, lights, broken ornaments, broken stocking holders, and a pile of dirty stockings.<br /><br />Duglin is my touchy feely kind of boy. He learns everything he knows by touching it, taking it apart, seeing what happens when you break, throw, rip, cut, roll on, glue, drench, or mash it. Some people might say he's destructive. We choose to use the word "deconstructer." His purpose is not destroy, but to learn how to create by taking apart.<br /><br />So back to our scene at hand. <br /><br />"Duglin. How does one <em>accidentally</em> drop a marble in a stocking that is hanging two feet above one's head?"<br /><br />"I don't know, mom. I just happened. Accidentally."<br /><br />So here's the part that I could leave out and not tell you. How I would love to say that I handled the whole incident with grace and patience. It would be lovely to make you think that I am the perfect epitome of the maternal unit but in the spirit of transparency, I will tell you I totally blew my top. I became so angry that I had to leave the room. And not only leave the room, but slam my bedroom door behind me to bring home the point. The point being I. WAS. LIVID.<br /><br />Now, before you say, "Why, Sonya, it was only decorations," you have to understand that this was about the 8th thing in a week that my precious son had gotten his hands on and had ..........."disassembled." And yes, I did use a thesaurus to come up that word.<br /><br />I went back to my bathroom and slapped on make-up as I prayed and asked God to help me decide how this issue should be handled. God somehow gave me the control and calmness I needed to discipline my sweet boy firmly, but gently. <br /><br />Afterwards, I still was so angry looking at the mess I had to clean up, but decided to let it go until after we ran our errands. Again, I confess, I was mad that I can't have anything nice because I have a child that struggles with his impulse to touch <em>everything</em>. I was mad that I had so much to do and now I had more to do because I had to clean a mess when I got home. I was mad because I had to spend more money to replace the broken stocking holders and ornaments. I was just mad. Mad. MAD.<br /><br />Then it came on the radio while we were in the car. A song that I have heard and even sung a thousand times.<br /><br />"O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,<br />It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.<br />Long lay the world in sin and error pining.<br />Till He appeared and the Soul felt its worth.<br />A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,<br />For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.<br /><br />Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!<br />O night divine, the night when Christ was born;<br />O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!<br />O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!<br /><br />Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,<br />With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.<br />O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,<br />Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.<br />The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;<br />In all our trials born to be our friends.<br /><br />He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,<br />Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!<br />Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!<br /><br />Truly He taught us to love one another,<br />His law is love and His gospel is peace.<br />Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.<br />And in his name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,<br />With all our hearts we praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord!<br />Then ever, ever praise we, His power and glory ever more proclaim!<br />His power and glory ever more proclaim!"<br /><br />I began to think of that tiny Baby that was born this time a couple thousand years ago. I began to think that He was a deconstructer, too. <em>Not</em> a destroyer, but a <em>deconstructer</em>. He took apart the shame, sadness, and filth in our hearts, and began to create something beautiful that only the Designer of a the universe could. He came, not to destroy, but to repurpose and redesign for a better life. Not because He had to, but because He <em>wanted</em> to.<br /><br />Maybe, that's God gave me my own little 'redesigner." To remind me that sometimes things have to be taken apart, pulled down, and redone in order to be built back up again, better and stronger, wiser and more effective. And in order for the perfect reconstruction to happen, things must be touched. Deeply touched.<br /><br />Jesus was a baby, a boy, a man, THE God who touched, is touching, and will touch everything. The question is are we willing to be redesigned?<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411210535656657378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFVmEIoOTx6jpJ-XfhYC3GIEJtkO3CrUcfZYXR5I3N6FblpwgpQwRRdjAgmIJBz5bMbtGlnbck9cwW2L9f0cWBqJeWR_yIoqs_rDvoaCWiVzftMNMCveG1mSiaHWz4CKZ-cbCib3ltgQ/s400/PA033658.jpg" border="0" />Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-64988925808426434172009-11-10T20:21:00.001-08:002009-11-10T20:50:47.940-08:00Disney Vacation 2009 - Day 3 - EpcotSo, I feel a little bad. Here's why. I am finding such little time to blog right now. I have a ton to catch up on, but I don't feel like I can post anything until I finish my Disney pictures. Why?Because I am obsessive.<br /><br />I have this thing that I do to myself. I call it discipline. Others might call it looney. But, whatever. Anyway, I don't allow myself to do things I really want to do until the one thing I really need to do gets done. Even if the thing that I think really "needs" to be done, really doesn't need to be done. For example, I won't eat anything in the morning until all my lamps are turned on and my blinds are open. If I don't do those things I don't allow myself to eat. Or, I don't allow myself to craft in the evenings (unless my crafting circle ladies are at my house) or blog unless all of my 3 clothes hampers are at least half empty and the kitchen is clean. OR, I don't allow myself to sit down during the day unless I am teaching a lesson or until the kids go to bed. Just keepin' it real! At least things get done! I may not have breakfast in the morning, but at least I have a super-duper bright and shining living room to pass out in, doggone it!!<br /><br />So, I have not allowed myself to blog because I have yet to have time to post all of my pictures from the trip. IT'S SO GOOFY!!!!!!!! But I seriously can't do it because I have ingrained upon myself that it has to get done! I'm the only person I know that grounds herself! So, maybe after I get all my pictures edited and posted I might blog be able to more! But until then. Sigh... Being grounded sucks. :)<br /><br />Anywho, now that I have shared that little tidbit of info about myself, here is day 3of our trip at Epcot.<br /><br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d54497a4e44517a4e7a413d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Disney Day 3 - Epcot" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d54497a4e44517a4e7a413d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/slideshows" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox slideshow</a></td></tr></table>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-68763346482530603392009-10-28T19:14:00.000-07:002009-10-28T20:03:58.297-07:00Number 10<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397840023113044082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 394px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4wW6urSwescobsBn1_3RDiFY9pCdXW8HCdSDbHSJ9gCBofrsx15E9CBc-R_u-r300Fq2-3SeaiH0SR-FjxbvFiAbTnF8DywLnUKJCAPHVnRlXchy8A8ZEAuprcMxSr30SI3Bu9jAz48/s400/PA013613.jpg" border="0" /><br />This is always such a busy time of year for our family as it is the season of vacations, holidays, and birthdays. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Daylor's</span> 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> birthday is at the end of September. It gets harder as the kids grow older trying to pick out themes that are age appropriate and still fun. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Daylor</span> has been playing the piano for a couple of years and absolutely has a gift for it. He's written multiple songs and insists on practicing at least an hour a day. So, in light of his enjoyment of it he chose to have a piano/keyboard theme.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397840032342552210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 335px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogc2QFMcL3Exo7U_W48s3NW-RZMwtK82MjakPftkVD25pzEj6_JSrQJhT5RoOoAY_K3Nw3CuGugU_yV4Xy-MoyIcjOkFHB0rU3Ggvasdgf9byM5WKr8bt89GeaPF2Dgk-7Y-Gr65PO4E/s400/PA043820.jpg" border="0" /><br />Now, we are not the type folks that go all out for parties. I have some friends who throw <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">their</span> kids AMAZING parties for their children. They make extraordinary invitations and party favors and games and decorations - every detail is thought of and it is so beautiful! Me, well, I have learned to accept that I might be in the minority of my buddies who throw birthday parties. Pretty much my kids are lucky if they get birthday hats! That doesn't mean we don't plan and put an emphasize on their birthday's because we do! Our parties are just a bit more (OK, a lot more) understated, but we still have a blast!! At our house, the party is ALL about the cake!<br /><br />If you will remember <a href="http://balentinebliss.blogspot.com/2009/02/lovehate-relationship.html">this post</a> from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">earlier</span> this year about my relationship with the confection, I challenge myself each time to make something creative and beyond what I think I can do. This year I made my largest cake yet! A 3 foot 3 inch keyboard cake. Probably one of the most fun I've ever done! <br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397840026218712482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBJtwga8Plm35JWO515lMIKtJGOKqLw8sQZR2RT8POtPz8ua1sSd3Mw8JT3DEEF5jhJ2MBK8jS1d9PdoRNpMSpFXeakkdFSteySiVaf__CqaMApXFdroMs-gS-uCbXi7lKR7R5Yj1JvM/s400/PA043773.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />I found a picture on line where someone had used Kit-Kat's as the black keys on a regular 13x9 sized piano cake, but it looked funky and off-balanced. So, I borrowed their idea and put 3 sheet pans together to make it life sized. This made the Kit-Kat keys look much more realistic. I iced the chocolate first after I marked on the cake how far to come down, then followed with the white icing. After waiting about 20 minutes for the icing to harden up some, I took a kabob skewer and using a ruler, I measured the keys one inch apart. I used the edge of the skewer to make the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">impressions</span> of the spaces between the keys on top and in the front of the cake. Then, I placed my Kit-Kats down. For the decorations, I used several flavors of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Tic- Tacs</span>, upside down Hershey's Kisses, and white <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Mentos</span> for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">blinky</span> lights and the knobs. The volume had to be ten, of course for Daylor's age, but it took some serious self control not to bump it up one more to eleven (for those of you who have no clue what I talking about, you would have to see the movie Spinal Tap to understand. And yes, I am THAT old.).<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397840027974085138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBqdViDkNXrpVRM3JH5V6xezogZaqrizOayhayLrfEQu6so11L6NhjG_ZXHH4PdnkD-tv5cEynoU_a3ayV9cA21F9jrTUcGB0PFkjWx0ljzfW0YYx5X48Sf_waC2Y-kSYvj-S2cYxhRo/s400/PA043775.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Because we had just come home from vacation we decided to have a family only small party where <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Daylor</span> got all <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">kinds</span> of great stuff he loved!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397840029987918498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 283px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOoOSSg74Gw4bqIOzzVf2G8Y3YWMq6Iei1js6H9XA_PgVwYLh718tIwWvPTtHkBicz6_ZZU5j5K3M7zPK96mqubMVOaQ-VsVJnWHWrbIcnhZGpZ6E8s2fa7L859AygN0sjA3OkmgHOGk/s400/PA043800.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p><br />The cake is always a surprise for them and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Daylor</span> seemed to get a kick out of seeing his keyboard in edible form.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397840203599789842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcHiwRzgLhcRXL4XMK7GqX0CUHjmlpXQ1GBkI-PRGvncMeEB1_omPQQ_Qtohde7Bwll8xWyI74g6ayvx89czruTxIWpSeNviahQmk0orxdYy9iiZFFOnstV6P_fnyVXMWHFuagl5T2SQ/s400/PA043843.jpg" border="0" /><br /> After gift opening and cake and ice cream, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Daylor</span> gave us a concert of some of the music he has been writing and Perri did a little interpretive dancing for the family.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397840199009826002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pRQI3h4ClQHgtWpIu9Fz00B8rrsqWBdtRCdxqdwMRuGWoPlsZUFv-JVkCiGrfYU93dlEkPRLhSw6IwI3U7NFBeahC87mfkpjFpgKd9ukjZqLmmXtqZYVn22zeGi0LxBNPe3b-cNz-x0/s400/PA043822.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Then the kids got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">thier</span> worship team together and sang a few tunes to end the night out.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397840207932792450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 309px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2j8pK4WcpgXn87WXJ-emkf5ulKhS8XDAZG9Ca8NeRWg35WejaCklfkMRoH4ufjdJ4eeT1SXV-rPf8M4x1WPRozehYPtPB4e8DDA-Zu205-W0cEToUo92Ks8C4n4GHDXvygDgJJ7Fzvs/s400/PA043864.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>We had a wonderful time and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Daylor</span> had a great birthday!</p>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-89440626957633576912009-10-26T20:56:00.000-07:002009-10-26T21:19:36.569-07:00DisneyWorld - Finally!Yay, me! Two posts in a week! Trying to get back into the swing of things! So, today's pictures are of the Magic Kingdom. This was the day I was most looking forward to! I wanted to see the kids eyes as we first saw the castle and watch them be bewildered by the front gates and beyond of Main Street. I have to say, my little fairy tale of what it would be like never happened.<br /><br />We woke up that morning in plenty of time to get ready and get to the MK. I had envisioned Perri all dressed up in her Cinderella gown that her grandmother had made her with her hair swept-up and encased in her tiny tiara. After all, we had reservations to have breakfast with the princess herself at 9:40. I thought we would have loads of time getting pictures of the kids as they walked through the gates all wide-eyed and innocent. Blah, blah, blah.<br /><br />Instead, that morning when we put on Perri's gown and she informs me (after wearing it for almost the entire week before we left) that it was now "itchy" and she really would "prefer for it to stay home this time." Her exact words. Alrighty, then. Let's just put your hair up and wear your crown. "Ummm. I think I just would prefer for Cinderella to see how long it is, so I would like to wear it down." Translation - "Mommy, it hurts like h. e. double hockey sticks when you put my hair up so I will officially throw a fit if you so as much show me a hairpin." (Deep sigh of surrender. ) So, not wanting to upset the morning, I decided that it could be her choice and went with just the crown. Whatever.<br /><br />Well, the little altercation cost us about 30 minutes, so we had to book it to the park. Our reservations were at 9:40. We walked, umm, ran through Main Street pushing photographers and tourists out of the way to get to the castle on time. Fortunately, we made it just in time. Not exactly how I pictured it, but that's OK. It was still wonderful.<br /><br />It was such a great day. The kids were so well behaved and precious to watch. So, here are a few shots of our first day in the Magic Kingdom. Day three will be coming soon!<br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d5449774e4467774e54553d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: DisneyWorld-2009-Part2" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d5449774e4467774e54553d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/slideshows" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox slideshow</a></td></tr></table>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-18889295271343645382009-10-23T22:46:00.000-07:002009-10-23T23:03:15.985-07:00Hello!Wowsers! It's been awhile, hasn't it? It's not that I don't love you anymore, it's just I have been sooo busy! I have so much I need to catch up on with you, birthdays, pumpkin patch stories, tons-o-stuff, but it's probably going to take some time!<br /><br />First, I know I still owe you some Disney World pictures. I have SO MANY, so it's been a bit overwhelming trying to figure out how to show them to you without boring you to death and also trying to get the time to edit all of them. I think since I know some of you will not want to scroll throw a ton of images on my blog I am going to show them in a slide show format. And don't worry I just picked out my favorites. I won't make you suffer through all of them!<br /><br />Doing a slide show kinda sucks though because the slide shows sometimes boogers up the pictures and distorts them, but what can you do? So, I am going to divide our vacation days up and do a show for each. Please feel free to skip them if you get tired of hearing about Mickey Mouse!<br /><br />The first set of photos is of Sea World. Again, sorry the some of the photos of fuzzy - it makes me vomit in my mouth a bit, because I am a perfectionist when it come to my pictures and they don't really look like that, but again, trying to get over it.<br /><br />So, enjoy! I will post day 2 of of vacation soon! Miss you guys and hope to get caught up soon!<br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d5445354f544d774e6a553d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="303" alt="Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Orlando Vacation 2009" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d5445354f544d774e6a553d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=smilebox&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img width="386" height="46" alt="Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none ;"/></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/slideshows" target="_blank">Make a Smilebox slideshow</a></td></tr></table>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-26369277077967184212009-10-15T19:37:00.000-07:002009-10-15T19:38:54.729-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmppAx1ObFYbduWj-DNfG-qmKSqwCp3RPygdEka6L-SgI7Fi0Tfg4I2Dwf0NGYj5QdkG5noHgqWo-ueWmELzTbkjHPb0FcotcVA3c8i4BWSrSTYrEhzxitGzYJxZ-Aoyg6dXDTB9dgq3Q/s1600-h/Perri's-birthday.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393021674717096770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmppAx1ObFYbduWj-DNfG-qmKSqwCp3RPygdEka6L-SgI7Fi0Tfg4I2Dwf0NGYj5QdkG5noHgqWo-ueWmELzTbkjHPb0FcotcVA3c8i4BWSrSTYrEhzxitGzYJxZ-Aoyg6dXDTB9dgq3Q/s400/Perri's-birthday.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">Happy Birthday 6th birthday to our precious princess. You are a joy and are ever so loved!</div>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-870878686149706702009-09-29T14:16:00.000-07:002009-09-29T14:33:40.931-07:00Double Digits<div><div><div><div>September 29th, 1999 at 3:26 in the morning my life changed forever. I went from being a daughter, wife, and sister to a daughter, wife, sister, and now, mother. Four weeks early, the tiniest baby I had ever seen, much less held, was placed in my arms and forever the make-up of the Balentine household was repurposed. I remember packing up the 4lb. 10 oz. sleeping bundle and putting him in his carseat thinking what do I do now? He's so tiny. He's so fragile. He's so perfect.</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387002908500413522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 321px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigb6UsNPY9wmEASdUVV5YYXSbiqQ_wyLYL5URfgTBWzRYCAS3u9WXXOLtn4GGedEtVOtkHrex8npCOr79s-U1vg-fdT4E6cBB0-QG6v8VMEamj9ZtYsiIGm5XTjwQbDtxUEJ6jXi8b7yY/s400/Untitled-2.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div><br /><p>The days following were exhausting and scary, but amazing and wonderful.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387002898860366834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3apagCkvXXV6jOEJ9gG256OTKRULJlpITYevolF115ld8zErlzj4JBZ3HaEhSP8M0t-jE-NpP5VPawbKYdFaCE-5UMLUfzYgRfIlDVnpiE2wbt2g5bR0YHJpvbbAqbqD6VV6jZSWxcCA/s400/Untitled-1.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Now here we are entering the double digits in age, an official "tween", and how the time has flown. He's no longer that tiny little bundle as he stands taller than my shoulders. He no longer is fragile as he can "throw down" with the best of 'em. And although he isn't perfect in character, he strives everyday to please his Maker and that makes him perfected in Christ. I adore this boy and the past 10 years has been the best of my life.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387002888528077458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 331px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKRNv5Sf2OrQYlgVWGPA2IHzlq13zSqLzT3C2QSNxK7ykCFLxOM7z90vOM7IyQYKjEr_fXqoe5tQcWaOvMhzgKb-7lPFuuzWa_v5npdbsOerR5u5GlfSrBzFlWbvDLww2IaGzY0Jq0PM/s400/P9193113.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>I am grateful for the gift of you, Daylor. We are so glad God chose us to be your parents. We look forward to what God has planned for your life. Happy birthday, D! We love you so much!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387002894910806338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 383px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoI_wZEsD0OcWMPUo8zSDM3F-sycTVfJAuHxiHypXsBBfTM4J6nzrr1kXf-DxoDIyB66TsiRtn1WNIO7cTuxwOJFu8ln5WL8ghIgnyPcvapKWOpOnVNtGADaAgJ7tRGBJUiuVXJZgH8NY/s400/P9193326.jpg" border="0" /></p>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-53707203103297381822009-09-26T19:11:00.000-07:002009-09-26T19:33:30.384-07:00I Heart Disney World!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385964958215218498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 291px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiWwI8Hyqf0BVTkVD5bKwIMZehYg__mu83s2-A8oIomdiXuNnmrXypQWWowuIrUucRV4Nqg02kdamPo6UFiCtItfh47gG4TTFx-J7Ks0A_FcKn8eEtJpTCCBxNqPwvsIqcRF-EF-42fQ/s400/P9182862.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />It's great to be home!!! I'm having a hard time believing we have been back almost a week. We had such an amazing time and it flew by in a blink of an eye. In fact, I have been feeling a bit off kilter because we have been planning and saving and planning and saving for almost two years and now that it's over, I am not sure what to do with myself. But with two birthdays in the next two weeks, Trick-or-Treat, Thanksgiving, and Christmas around the corner, I am sure that feeling won't last long!<br /><br />I REALLY love Disney World! Everything about it is completely over the top and fabulous. The kids had such a great time, but I think it's the most exhausted they have ever been in their lives.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385964673088458978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 365px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6Fta76XSjPjwJUk9gmAszhZp_PxVqF8LAIXEGeNaXvpoXG29lvTkIJj9wSH2KSQDhXUG-ScodXl8P2P93s-CAQfOnfhOaEB1GYra05LJZT8brH7gDe9C4h1qhz6ueH9qBiuWapckFCU/s400/P9152412.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />We were also able to visit Sea World and head to Sarasota to spend some time with some precious friends of ours. It was a wonderful, amazing, and busy trip! I ready to go back!<br /><br />I took TONS of pictures. As in 1000's. I will try not to bore you with all of them, but I will be posting several as the weeks go by so you can get a taste of all we were able to do and see! It's going to take me awhile to get them up, so I am just going to spread them out over several posts.<br /><br />So, until I get caught up here are just a few pictures! <br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385964656575515090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEquzE1f8AGOoDV09OWOUSCcNNF6M-YOt59xZwo4iGpd84eItiWjIgQv2OeEkQ6QyVaGitX8qKvx2fbO12ejKhJd7sNHzw5bLbVtlZQ9x4RbDAUc9s5mIdPawH1p9V7hrllQCiQ4t9feI/s400/P9132026.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUqZ3_Icihz0derKVEAdB-IESRHnl4bCv5FxDNtaFSNCjU2wiqnRtmvL4BI4rp0r6SHKeq2HzR2-QqoinhPj1XkY9Hds7aIiJiFReT2VVCVqIVmRp1QWe-VP45YFmrat9JWQKmk4QVHE/s1600-h/P9182858.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385964678371139842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 292px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUqZ3_Icihz0derKVEAdB-IESRHnl4bCv5FxDNtaFSNCjU2wiqnRtmvL4BI4rp0r6SHKeq2HzR2-QqoinhPj1XkY9Hds7aIiJiFReT2VVCVqIVmRp1QWe-VP45YFmrat9JWQKmk4QVHE/s400/P9182858.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ61AWhVkz75TzfEbOFjwGJgICG6wiYwBTfLioNRsTOZFUW5U9nyTp9MG8HOIqutREwhEtfjV7XxBGvGqWdbQ1BBMDf37pUYH-E6-r3ZZm9pjvUHxMtATz5aU6VGZ2S-OHcDLQ72BwJeQ/s1600-h/P9142375.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385964665416030354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ61AWhVkz75TzfEbOFjwGJgICG6wiYwBTfLioNRsTOZFUW5U9nyTp9MG8HOIqutREwhEtfjV7XxBGvGqWdbQ1BBMDf37pUYH-E6-r3ZZm9pjvUHxMtATz5aU6VGZ2S-OHcDLQ72BwJeQ/s400/P9142375.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0AAcq40AP1iY21CxE627vwgXJ9WqqflSjLdtpPoehEFHHg81rZzhBevua4MTpB8EkQel0Erk4ut2xyjV3wOW00KRdCCNKZs0_Ud837E7L4Xyza2mZr_7nro9s-IYxAQhomoe2KwWK1w/s1600-h/P9142111.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385964660024331250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0AAcq40AP1iY21CxE627vwgXJ9WqqflSjLdtpPoehEFHHg81rZzhBevua4MTpB8EkQel0Erk4ut2xyjV3wOW00KRdCCNKZs0_Ud837E7L4Xyza2mZr_7nro9s-IYxAQhomoe2KwWK1w/s400/P9142111.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385964963364594850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 355px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRTCznApjJfI9XNTo9OCwHVlF-rPMd6W4LVATSx6bmUAa-vV8yU2xWXWNs0UR4jZCg7S8nsY78M7qyMz4hItD51wbP18jSwPpiEmNaMpGj5r0iLi00g-LYgNo1JfttfWzcxoSVOVjNYfM/s400/P9182985.jpg" border="0" /><br />I look forward to sharing more with you in the next couple of weeks! </div></div></div></div>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-64204002147243740002009-09-07T15:24:00.000-07:002009-09-07T20:02:19.708-07:00"Lack of Planning...""...on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine." One of my favorite sayings. And truly, lack of planning, for the most part, is not something I struggle with. You are talking to one <em><strong>serious</strong></em> control freak here. Planning is an essential part of my life. I am learning <strike>that if planning ahead is not done I go completely nuts and have nervous breakdowns with temper tantrums following</strike> to cope with the fact that others are not nearly as <strike>obsessive compulsive</strike> organized as I am and that is really OK. But for me, I am built to plan. I think that's why I was a wedding planner for 20 years and I had my entire wedding planned by the time I was 13. It's in my bloooood.<br /><br />There are 3 general rules for the subject of planning. <div><div><ol><li>Planning must begin several weeks if not months, even better years, prior to an event. Don't even try to come to me the day prior to an event. I can do it, but you're going hear about it.</li><li>There MUST be lists. Lots and lots of them.</li><li><em>Everything</em> must be entered into a Excel spreadsheet. </li></ol><p>See? TOTAL control freak. </p><p>And our vacation to Disney this year has been no exception. We booked and started saving for this trip in February of 2008. That's almost two years ago. I had the tickets a year in advance and our reservations for meals 3 months in advance (only because they wouldn't let me do it any sooner.) I had a house sitter booked (my sweet brother), my dog sitters booked (my parents) and had a the <a href="http://balentinebliss.blogspot.com/2009/05/big-reveal.html">"Big Reveal"</a> for the kids planned by last Christmas. I've gathered books, bought a Disney planner folder and typed out itineraries. (Do let me interject and say I have not planned out our days minute by minute for <em>this trip</em> - just what parks we will be at on each day and where our reservations are. We are on vacation, ya know!) </p><p>AND I started packing two weeks ago. I absolutely LOVE packing! I know. I need therapy.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378860534417333954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKh-kPMLEEw9j3TOeytlC1bcTD7u7xLdKahdT2iY1Bu8Ha1GbsjdXz-4dg7Fd8AYp3CwyV0FSmbpS8nkT00fborAEM08Jns1ttyaOhXuixvKQQd0QcfsaIdYk_R00NRGLi0njyNrdcUKw/s400/P9061715.jpg" border="0" /><br />Here's just some of the stuff we are taking. Oh - and see that white tee with the red polka dots in the middle of the pic and the Children's Place bag in the photo below? That's what I <strong>can't wait</strong> to show you. It's my latest "craft crush!!" Can't show you yet, because I am not finished with them, but I can tell you I am absolutely addicted!! You'll have to wait!<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378860529434766402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgxym7kSPWCNEiYlcYf3iQyS6lp7Luyv9lPLBJqHlml8DVicMeaXQX0ri9BZQRBoyld8ctoAu8Yy_63w5QGE_2MD0yCUjIlWG94KsAZ-KxCTFQGmLIJYhOm8SR7dGVMObKGohoNxJI1s/s400/P9061714.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div><br /><p>See that cute little smocked Cinderella dress? Love it!! Picked it up at a sweet consignment sale here in town, another obsession of mine. Perfect for breakfast with Cindy!</p><p>Here's an image of just a few of my brochures, books that I am borrowing, maps, and my cutie- patootie folder where I keep the most important thing -MY LISTS! Oh, and other minor things like reservation confirmations and tickets and stuff. Just minor things. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378860543184303794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7oPPL0Gkyz5-IDMnkElFLtBPCRtsmmGnonfpKqKbk7LhujdIq-61LGdujAVxG39cpDOX4pjAM3SpzT4alttqG9_WK2r_ZVkbYCbzyKvBseax2j5edGfeKomuOFRm1tYyqT0xAi0fw-y8/s400/P9061718.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>So there you have it. I hope you still love me despite the fact you have just found out that I am a planning maniac! We are just about ready to hit the road. </p><p>We leave in just a few days, so I may be offline for awhile, but I will try to post when I can. I'll miss you guys and will be back soon! Mickey Mouse, here we come!!</p>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-83739202327495401942009-08-29T18:55:00.000-07:002009-08-29T19:02:30.862-07:00Where in the world is Sonya Balentine?I know I have a practically fallen off the face of the earth, but things are sooooo incredibly busy right now. Disney is less than two weeks away. I have had two sick boys this week. I am currently participating in 3 children's clothing consignment sales and school is chugging along. I honestly haven't had time to sit much less get a little blogging in.<br /><br />So, I just wanted to let you know that I am still here. Life is wonderful and busy. I have created some really cute things in my crafting circle that I hope to show you soon. I am not sure how much I will be able to blog in the next few weeks though, but as soon as we get back from Disney World you can expect some serious blogging catch up. Hope you all are well and happy. Peace and joy to all of you!Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-74261677164856577002009-08-22T11:39:00.000-07:002009-08-22T18:13:57.981-07:00Just Like Chocolate Bunnies, Life is Sometimes BittersweetPerri has always been a picky eater. She has a hard time with certain textures and textiles, and therefore her diet has consisted of just a very few items that she will eat. Occasionally, we will playfully give her a hard time about her eating habits. One of these times was while Da Hubby was fixing dinner. He jokingly made the comment that she didn't like to eat ANYTHING. Perri made a very defiant objection to that comment to which my husband challenged her to name 5 favorite things she would eat. Her exact list:<br /><br />1. Captain Crunch<br />2. "Peanut Jelly Samiches"<br />3. Tacos<br />4. McNuggets<br />5. Chocolate Bunnies<br /><br />Two weeks ago my little picky eater started Kindergarten. Granted she is homeschooled so we didn't have to go through the drama of sending her to a school, but there is a still a bit of melancholy involved in thinking that the baby of our family is now considered school aged.<br /><br />I have always enjoyed documenting all of my kids firsts (as well as the seconds, thirds, fourths, and everything in between) in photos. I remember taking this picture like it was yesterday. It was the first time I caught her smiling on camera. I remember I had been trying to snap a shot of this for two weeks but it never failed, as soon I as pulled the camera out she would put her smile away. She was almost 10 weeks before I finally caught that sweet little grin.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372860538251060818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwM-305nUL7YCZSE1Pd7elYbzOdQcqmY5VuGR4tP4XAyzOw2C-GhbT2pani-2dK5KB-K_yIkmjctUkZSDbF1IaLIJfQu1OKh1EN2WK5ghfnIqxFt1-OwmLFB215wKetRF949F_LJyvEYQ/s400/DSC00101.jpg" border="0" /><br />I caught the first time she lifted her head.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372860541813991522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 317px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyDT1l2EtsGAgDtvamGNIpYeYBa4R2YVRBK5-5mdpA_34R9dJDtBGaFmRuvV1gt_uPxA7JtJRUxETFmunw-0uOf0m7luRO1lSNbgI0rX3D5Je5bP8VAu51x_cg_Nx5-BgC72a-5SXPrY/s400/DSC00418.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>And when she started pulling up and "cruising the house."</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372861128894140338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzZJgpnYOVLFC7xwk9TuQGajdBcdF6sREvQrVVj8LrPHj1DYm5hs0VKzMKV_td8bL7cirJKoI5ZwTxScR3BJMHH92iwD9IA9GNeOdMjNxP0F8DfnJL_6BD0Kcu0QktOejg8hU3sg6dZc/s400/DSC00842.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p>We made sure we got her first expression of when she tasted solid food and veggies. As you can tell she didn't like them back then either.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372861104137391026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 348px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyEwm1dfXzE7s1kSYmHa0O4ivLHIYBGZKOGF-F46QUPreWPA9j-6br3FMSyDMdKKE5cwgMDKOH-sW2X6BNB9JRAovuqhsseTJm5b-D9f0fs6IYV6ak59xvo15F-2EPcNjafmp5zAZzUE/s400/DSC00537.jpg" border="0" /></p><br />We most certainly had to get a shot of her (and this is a big one) in her first smocked dress!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372861113163028034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHc7f9_-smOQFFWExa5ge7-Ts_tSI0RCx2XPSjVODmBu9-nLSw9QOz-NlN8XI2VIMEc1L_21TOfcAxSlhzf-IJarNEKjdbTHk-IV5E-DL-wJ33EIn-UYYlSv7bNBtcBi4R2QfV-rUs2oQ/s400/DSC00606.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />We covered the first time we took her to the zoo...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372861116515337330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5MOVzIourgHUZ6y7benaFZCUvkJNEfqMD2G1Wx7pzGnAc9ztdeuKL2eHt-RDCUir-glIS8X46SVbfMkfKV5MinRDejLwzp8iOCRHCx3wV8CQD56PmNIDtEOFCcyJNnWO6CQt85yzBPQ/s400/DSC00701.jpg" border="0" /><br />Her first swim. She loved and still loves the water!...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372861135687618450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 264px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbZguWYO6e_KaZRBNOprY6_3Gs3RV_aqY9pGpIeKV0__iGy_UnJ3xakxUIeoi9hA0AGc-yzX4DHa6oqES-11bIW1R0siPubTZQQypCwKTkEv4s8nTZOwFQ7MmTUcvHDsZSLyP63ytmuc/s400/DSC00905.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Her first birthday...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372862349535091042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAjPdsTpbGwFGGsrpktLda6Xmzlz5l1_TdtNcsWNe8_SgEaZUG77jduMV8Ra5D2bxepmLpkoFMHUpdMZo7anF5uuJuolmQGzK_QHiFW4-W6oTxd-HAsqQZyRrHtgd6SJgAAz0PG6C528/s400/DSC01266.jpg" border="0" /><br />And when she began to walk.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372860529337504578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 272px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreGSRYfjGRj8jfdYuFIwdDoK8eWPnyCjUCIi0eiHLkwhT9i1ZUb4sLPyRzdKW2iYApPYzExwLsoHymDmDyv9JpXJABL7UTj68QzP9UTC9lM80T3yxpgZTgomZjRhY7T0w1o1D8NxPYYQ/s400/01202005+060.jpg" border="0" /><br />School seem like such a long time away. We loved having her as the baby and she was so tiny and petite and so very, very loved. Still is!<br /><br />We caught several others firsts as she continued to grow.<br /><br />Her first fishing trip...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372860521006166338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 285px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvK6uD-LRhtRfrY1GjkdbuiwHSLoBaFFVl3iOz04aRrT5zcW4pKXiDm20h-JxEKtG9kBapCAJTvXrR5lDlqaXTl254mTBb6dzfLbFEpGAYv7MR0VdgNWPSaEkxMhgJFGzN45X63Ot55f4/s400/10-19-2005-009.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>Here's her first jump off a diving board. She has always been such a brave little thing. I think having two older brothers has really helped her here!<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372860127070388658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKAmEg0CNQG2foNJlU1fapg1uSmn0NZvu3MR91AGnZDG4geM95AY7kfWSlayd4miUv1n1PfAaEdzwK9oOSZ2IZoOi7KVFICXo9fxkopUgn9Fj139GwLbWDUyM1wxC_bkmC8eEJXz_qq4/s400/06-17-2007-019.jpg" border="0" /><br />Her first swim in the ocean...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372860519016580946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazQT02yOSwEW_DntHMGRAM5Ab4QiHrJbeaoeGWv-oMb6_hgJ5_6pzsRFkW-x1Du6GlKjEmzz-dY1ibenTM2gdJacWZCJF-QNPNmgsekyio7rZnh5RWGJYTXc1IL0XuQLpWJIYYXQUHEk/s400/10-3-07-143.jpg" border="0" /><br />Her first night in a "big girl" bed...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372860120549837330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6oDZ9kwBAOVVaY7BSdmhXGpNDr5MfntSos1vIb1RJmrb4COU3pbfxjoTaz2zp79wfldJcYhDxAJ7bezeTgU5mGtlrAgf5tUvwRmxvKuHhuWKfhyaK7jNunbI6mYlF5eev9l79tY3ooM/s400/05-11-2007-092.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />And her first haircut...<br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372860118402911890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 337px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyA5Lf9WTolallQKaUHVr8nzoZLq3OrusExYaK4rxGyaeVJbOVJpErfx0qwvCYWC1Ymr7HFV0Y0iYn10OJa4e3rdM5n0AC0wXg6rSBBHeKTmXacfRfr5kj_fIHAW5dZiOl-2XUQFU2MA8/s400/02-29-2008-005.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />School still felt so far away and she still in many ways felt like a baby. Next thing I know, time sneaked up on us and it's her first day in kindergarten. Wow! Time has flown and she and my sweet boys are growing up so very and way too fast!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372895914072639154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 325px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKL-NzeOSqOsk7_DT6ypd81ynZKiC4H916HeK1vJtsDN75drtyaUJvRxIf0g2XNfTadw805veW1m6o7pWRj_n76wmpq80Dat2NtLhavpTo9qjqGnja2ktTlTJ-mWgZ3L4FJKaJ5sXuRds/s400/08-10-2009-090.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Pretty much my entire life I have been a milk chocolate kind of girl. I love the stuff. Could possibly eat it for breakfast, lunch & dinner everyday. Lately, however, a good piece of quality dark chocolate has been such a treat and change from the norm. It's sweet bitterness has such a full and substantial flavor. I am really coming to enjoy it!<br /><br />I suppose now that my kids are getting bigger I am realizing that even though a wonderful part of my life is over, (the diapers, kids having a nap time, baby food jars, and Binky nursing babies part - the sweet, milk chocolate part of my life), a whole new wonderful part of my life is just beginning. Its certainly not what I am used to. I have had, after all, a baby/toddler in my home for the past decade. This new part of having all elementary aged kids is a bit unusual, but not in a bad way. It's just <em>different</em>.<br /><br />Sometimes I long for those precious baby days. I guess that's why experiencing this new part of life is somewhat bitter. Do I mourn for those days? Honestly, I would say yes. Sometimes. But it is overwhelming laced with the sweetness of joy for the present and days to come. Just like dark chocolate.<br /><br />So MY lists of 5 favorites over the years have changed.<br /><br />My list ten years ago would have been:<br /><br />1. Rocking babies in the middle of the night.<br />2. The tiny clothes, diapers, and itty-bitty shoes.<br />3. All the firsts of the first year.<br />4. Watching Da hubby read the Bible over sleeping babies.<br />5. Milk Chocolate Bunnies.<br /><br />My 5 favorites list now:<br /><br />1. Hearing my kids sing praises to their Maker without being prompted to do so.<br />2. Watching my kids conquer fears and putting their trust in their Savior.<br />3. Walking hand in hand with Da Hubby behind our kids who are walking hand in hand.<br />4. Having the privilege of being able to teach my kids at home.<br />5. Dark Chocolate Bunnies.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-M11w1uwhf9nuW6oL0i3baYbXzJvm8yy6ORUD9cW9Zo770m9RMjzhRGdjBvoN2dWwVaTKVrQHvsAlLuJ9nje3MS-_h_vMaVFO1wETW17gnwm_KLGlQU2BEf78X41ewUxkORkviHBD1Y/s1600-h/Firsts-for-Perri.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372860101922411218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-M11w1uwhf9nuW6oL0i3baYbXzJvm8yy6ORUD9cW9Zo770m9RMjzhRGdjBvoN2dWwVaTKVrQHvsAlLuJ9nje3MS-_h_vMaVFO1wETW17gnwm_KLGlQU2BEf78X41ewUxkORkviHBD1Y/s400/Firsts-for-Perri.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-30104465363293443352009-08-11T19:16:00.000-07:002009-08-11T20:40:17.409-07:00Summertime...Parting with Such Sweet SorrowWhere did it go? Our summer just flew by this year. We kicked off our break with the great Disney World reveal, and I assumed the time would creep by in anticipation of the trip. But I was SOOOO wrong!<br /><br />I made a poor judgement call last summer in thinking that summertime was the perfect time to clean up and "catch up" (whatever that is) on getting my house in order. Can I say that it was the most boring and miserable summer I have ever had?! I totally had my priorities all screwed up and decided that this summer the kids and I were just going to have fun. And we did!! So much in fun, in fact, that I have gotten WAY behind in my blogging.<br /><br />In order to catch up, I am creating one great big, huge post and cram some of the highlights of our summer. So without much further ado? A due? Adou? Whatever. Here is the most random post in the history of Balentine Bliss. (Which, BTW, is celebrating it's one year anniversary this month! Yay, me!)<br /><br />So, this summer we went to the dog park with the puppies and the parents,<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368898450867730194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIFCCqbcXjDElOdd6S5msPs_8PGmoIsmOGChXGCAokyYYuuN7PE_fpHgafeSAep31pOVDVvXZRZjv6ks19IP_pS4MpgoVleX5sC6MNZnIFIltxfdH7-nrJ-GfLYpAFu8Zg4Z9smAhL2k/s400/dog-park.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p>Visited some of our relatives in NashVegas,<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368897234523692706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 295px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkMjGzP6m5w8hRyiyA2sIazPBNsoFV8ZRh6i4dciTy1-NhPU-xlJqtcI4f3i-gFhTMC9Fqc-_hV1uha4r_EIXyc4Wl-3sTA-6uTXF7Jbcg2sUBmjQMudjK9UecWOBfbF_Zcp5LlB0Iw8/s400/06-15-2009-106.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Had one storm that had hurricane force winds and another that dropped a twister a few miles away from our home,<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368897797596586514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6CRL6d1CDGh-BHnB38DgimIXhxSm45h3ASeXyV3if0PveCV5MZwrWp2NiAjgoUbxcKdEf2WeBmGUoJzMbqJeBedd45oXvHiXsvjCNHR_SRdaz672bh6OtVF7OOmxyhWRETO1WVA6rUqs/s400/07-31-2009-343.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Grew and ate bunches and bunches of this stuff,<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368897769465559106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqy8TXIw5E3F4Z_s7_HbcBpzh-g6Q2_-ake2ecSFoc6rtr3cqbgmUbIz-tNKizzVMRZZt0-bl2wA5fE1_KNemxU91N5FgVe6RJTO1rE1C-0ZvTgO1N66yjbEPxUKiLlhGXYpHT0C7XLks/s400/07-24-2009-039.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Played for hours & hours in the backyard,<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368897779066113442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0az2Yjfw6Eii2Q0j6RoMyz5pV2gCucyQBHVHfMProFqPtdhOmAHXNck3B1WcOmn5yU4qq2oq5BdVDwqakAYUlOcFMoJ1SGRK1biUYB7ZuCbfKjLTUnhwXomhx_xGnVBdMPRLGlmuVvuA/s400/07-24-2009-065.jpg" border="0" /><br />Rescued and watched these little guys grow up then subsequently learn to fly away,<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368897496931917058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLbyY3ir5as4OT4qTWGiuR4up6c4TkeI5Gd6LmqjO1t0HUFZ_DI0E2959O-GcBrPUTabWH3_1Rl4SM0LNmQKUhFM8EJIGsuiBDA0zZxBzXqFoDX0snpMxMMv4Oid1KEmM2FOdbCgVfWI/s400/07-06-2009-058.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368897514341201810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrL4mL70rEGHuTeeJQlzkKM5TN9ymvVDKABTyKkQ8fmUHwsKhgpjWwoW6Y8mVLXUFPCZNudmCTObKegD7rAxeugimFfGRDRX91G2UXvy2D6qKoik0AROaeKCHQ-LxNiqlS6FF0aHez4JY/s400/07-15-2009-020.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Had a long and fun (and exhausting) week at VBS, </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368897521426999586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 331px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh196NiCWc5amUTACPvkNVWgMMr5uaaWpL0fByPGWa7pUjwIHKriTAvulvS8GKAum2NbE7oxsC0RLKSe8SqtRmootpj19gILUp2IG6FQIlqpn0Tufbq5Kjt8A5gFWDLXLdSky6rVqE0hKg/s400/07-24-2009-025.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><br />Went to the sprinkler park several times,<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368897236716160834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 279px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyk6asv9hpkvj9XTb2KawuaR8qOMZH04Uw7W7zs_yeZnCvEV_1niRHrHMqeDvw3NQ_zHJBwa0cyw8W51gO3E7LCeYgqQItUSBZ4bi5Ml729dpBdkrPmVicT6n-KrWT5I9m0SYvVI0rfSU/s400/06-28-2009-030.jpg" border="0" /><br />Had a fabulous 4th,<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368897245681530178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5m_aVgWrprV_VSUFkTLXQMUjH2S3KhOFyKp_d-dhrvU5gsaZUtKKFAWblg03JeJG4VE3hg9WIUBI1sDoloQk70cgO-Uvav77ms9Px2Txhd4z5-nIxEyxYMcxgaLBbm9AiNUhPAfvbOA/s400/06-29-2009-044.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368897262224296242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILqD9A0UL6-W6OPu1OVksceq01sGIs41PadMWh-xpDt_2ptTqZthAK7ZEgaN0TecQCNsxqSNPJHw9YziCtTHNa7-DxUg9xJyAThnf8JYZTLj_VCwCLsQlxoOtkbUnXGjdyhcgldegSu4/s400/07-06-2009-038.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Picked, pealed, and froze about a million peaches,<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368897256546394434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWEMlTeVUtEB9wlkhjePHwvB8F9KFcOx7v2uY7CzXioTAjCc5qkkH8Wl4QnmCVz6hBsAkZ_609AJ7RfW7q1Ii3vD2XJXOQ_ckGcYo39jMM0eB-qektcu0L2aAeV917h3JF8LciQtz8BEw/s400/07-04-2009-043.jpg" border="0" /><br />Did some serious swimming,<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVAFfxOF1iHDE03D4w90_SX2WGJCWlowCk-E_sHKsh9XdDEjjxAD55fVNiWRKPCTnfgK7eRGbQPyjXCGCvPZenqJB7zXKeyX8F_BS4hV8bhM7mhv31HaqFIT1OmZ6AVCHrn8uXF_Ujag/s1600-h/08-08-2009-058.jpg"></a><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368898303319060866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 316px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihP9184gicgYJtWQup3sjnPJ2WuLK8_SU_r_zNLtTY7zBmgLw4PucVWPqK9_8RLMRwFrKKBBi6IhGonKou9uoh-cBToWXq6d5iIWpuxQeao533l5pPp_j0ipJnw3JlHsxyMkt3hy7RhR0/s400/08-10-2009-063.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p>And first handedly (yes, I know it's not a word) learned the definition of "belly-flopping,"<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368897790393905234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_sQJV7sON_dwlirX-m_ucVLKhru4k20RbmYJIctl1uV-bB0PkxiOm6wbzeNcR4Sl3daYCijjphZZmk5jpMbvj-s-GxqvhL2DMBx1B7LzrY_Adqags9rqqVwWIFb0dnV20oNdUQKqI1o/s400/07-24-2009-101.jpg" border="0" /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368898030030785986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 290px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRRL9PnQRWlosHqNZgZdrKWMTNHZOmFX88NgIydq3rZIoJDkhHha3t5bhzMvOZJne5nckCHjNd1co4Q4YuQGBNJwUZKy1OrjHI0IdsExVlhWKASswViI0UewcZiQnBf5bjY_d03BsH48/s400/08-08-2009-020.jpg" border="0" /> <p></p><br />Got a not so extreme make-over,<br /><br />Before:<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368898021064865922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 391px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjQIfSWHZVsV-sLSxJWKFY_O_18akTipbusC2Lz7uBI3bfX6KuALkMGZlvtewSpBjOsDbmNO02ExkvbrLZcvBKXlQunWImorCdaedVRIM_APcVdXoifHdg195y-OOG7FKKBI6QkmUydg/s400/08-05-2009-060.jpg" border="0" /><br />After: <p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368898026334709778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 399px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWHLv2nGNqZ7CwiepmQzXqkxoDymGf24Ma6Hr5k3tEtq4tWeE-_eNDFdy2_YJEyDqjz_09XVJp0TvfiU3JILr8v9UpYhgw50JNd_aOfCQBdjldhNJDWxoSTPn3dFJuN42q4EaCEb-Z2U/s400/08-05-2009-067.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p>Visited our downtown "Riverwalk,"<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368898276870069442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TjZJyigoRNFpJiBzCA5VRZO3SIa4CLF524JJhyphenhyphenE9DzwpYma64wbY0xpsNJiLmv8o0CPCy7kz-vf2e2hzr4o23D5gDe7DBeuTFEg3QOk7PolPXhJMMjAXcGQewSTFaTe_3PD8Vx1AjY0/s400/08-08-2009-037.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368910081979873714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 332px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7zMs2A1Ukp12TcqZAZJCi0sT7uttw5pDuKjM2M2S_300-rswJ4GzgAA0_1jq_eFUEJWoKLgcN2Vkz8cKuT5aRMwRrGicyHO66i42jnGBvi8XY6A1Z7U8mvvdKW5M6cm-PDMlLSIF0UA/s400/Riverwalk.jpg" border="0" /><br />And rode the trollies,<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368898295909451170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxPI_ToUpOGWe0pzrDO7oD87uzxQs7qX2uiat-3h8NZTogUhIjQoIUh53RLmYyS91pQMF5zHEexciZsESxkgRGKEgQgEPIsh2anE4tSSEOM_7_ntTbb803J06dm45XVGWqkUD7DJs9qA/s400/08-08-2009-086.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368898291526904786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatIo_aWkzxGPjG9-80s_MzKH53GrxyXPrtVb1a569rHr9SKM-01or_OLTR0UrGvb3X5EtFYv4W4L8pG3GRWSt6iN4XH200aFzKqIBxT9NufJz78JCDDSXF3inVGtmbBzrkkGuRuGfnhw/s400/08-08-2009-058.jpg" border="0" /><br />Hung out at the bird exhibit at our fantastic zoo,<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368898015007598178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 314px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYghcB68PqS1GdoYpkANFvLRuUePqR9nhzw83O8gb1CS4Hx8uhP2Mz-uS39W7ZR2MtDajaavZx6Srfoezp2NooSfEOTc3Zcu5ibbAlZ2vT0nTlmy1p9XgrrAgVZimV2PQnfr6u29s0VQ/s400/08-05-2009-043.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368898010054761506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBUntD6k_GuNnzKv3Wr-5EqjVCJNsrbV5-MuJkHbsKgzuQ0IFzqh23MIqgRUIOli3bFjAhQpqqFRXdgXlRrCyXKrbHe0fJ9e00uflqJkT9yGu6yPaPTSFkbnvLSt0FAbrY-W9YaTGYcA/s400/08-05-2009-031.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368897802370441842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDhztEO8xTDL3eXOMHG6IPk1Q7QBh71BPs2qmkUqYki_qQS5gn1FZL9rbIyhZDnMqSCRs3DNA_IW4Gh5D9g4hxRxCiKTjgUah_bxyIK5Fq4pMJAoR4FixbiPdiurUXE-8jotHzcD_Kc8/s400/08-05-2009-015.jpg" border="0" /><br />Had some family worship time,<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368897498520519874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJMV__Zy0uUW-z-5E1aXT6olDxydkMOCX2OtMLcn_CqQDc7RrwITMgbQMl1FaTwRS_59tBkmwg44TvrvH4qqO-GGYDuHJtnB3GLO4V-wK-4ypVY0XiO7IXm7g007RdqyEaOuKvNko_a0/s400/07-08-2009-024-copy.jpg" border="0" /><br />And spent the whole summer just being together, loving each other, and having a wonderful time.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368897509425540738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzvex2oDWf7K0MtC_Hp1qiu-2H0B2prebOMcLe7psEEee2WUfFPhBDEwTmP8XxRht6a8TWbhLq0S7mGc6-NPEYHfKokI9Af6jJU7iyIaHYCcefeNsmIq6IFJX_RyW-t3GLIAEtOcju7Q/s400/07-09-2009-010-copy.jpg" border="0" /><br />We started school yesterday and now have only 30 days until DISNEY!! If the time goes anything like this summer's did, it will be here in a jiffy!</p>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-87585718382119090182009-08-10T15:15:00.000-07:002009-08-11T19:05:31.278-07:00I ♥ Faces - Funny, Silly Faces & Pets<center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img src="http://www.livinglocurto.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/smallbutton.jpg" /></a></center><br /><br />I ♥ Faces contest this week is silly, funny faces. I was doing a shoot of my daughter, when my youngest son popped his head in to steal the spotlight.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368892447086502402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RKOKywaYIQx-v4sZmcf9eB3fmZP2fTW-b6ThKFbV4OkjQaoImdIzGihL-ySJraNuukREOePM_QAXBnGWrxKO4qcsZUEif6lw_8Brzw4b7w_n6SkE9CTsz7IWvtH8YKzFB4Z-GqjbOG8/s400/Silly-faces.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p></p><br /><p>Head over to I ♥ Faces to join in the fun!Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-41695028093432684852009-07-29T13:39:00.001-07:002009-07-29T14:14:21.277-07:00And the Winner is...Our Little Mikey!! After 1000 votes, our name won first prize by a landslide vote of <em>over</em> 280 votes. Would that mean we had 281 votes? Anywho, thanks to everyone who voted for our name, "Mike Byson." This is a pic of our little guy. He is the oldest of the new babies of the year.<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363985317380842562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 285px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCSRwjympSGjSWFbCx2pmUBFMY0oBXUJI0EnwBfZhlhnj9HzFoGmdTEtl02ltmGtgvYcdxaZ_I2GPTHqq4Gb3ykwFHbFhQeV1AOadysjRgVshEZDVYt5QltqstLYuCODRYbo5nc-hAl4/s400/Mike-Byson!.jpg" border="0" /></div><div></div><div><br />We headed out to the park for the day and had a blast flying kites, </div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363984695491727330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvV3RUf12kJRi_tKCyd6fUPti8zacMwiCqKUDd9yZTg4r3uuy_kaMMBooJmTVrSdzvNhoTC-v9Q2-Bh19ncU1iSSz7NhLg-jPRh-nm8wuzEDnKs8ejjk0baD5OMNkElR2nogA-hysZQ4/s400/07-27-2009-010.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1O0TzugVJZXrbHZE2dTAAYq0jxCIywMISYP4M89yGnRNLPaO9Nr98O9HhRG60OJxBL3UhLw4czmZTAXBGu4I5bwLAg4a22-BmuIXojxqlyEGBjEToChnwpjkX-FzE4va6f-DWIyC9sSg/s1600-h/Mike-Byson.jpg"></a>taking pics of all the buffalo - this one's giving me the stink eye....,<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363984705031264018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTBOVPCjLxIJfOAbKZwEa2BsPRSgtsyjRJ48MLOmjLUeUz91Wjd4tBqI5SepKYywTg28YIv5ffWmXiP-N5SHVZf1y8aEwsCgUBbIwhj360WVy5Wpi297hX_qmXjGxd3ukRuOvB1hIeU4/s400/07-27-2009-028.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSJ9n4p8wNVrmILy2x2pgumRvgpc3qIJ65IPN7rb6-9WeSXGeaqgvlzyv_Zg_vLTrBZgXwiOyxZFMj1r31s2BJYgNfDNfcNQoZPe3UOGMBET9hlDct32ntKHDLDzgvWS6Hgb4y6hvRTI/s1600-h/6414_120468669248_95263459248_2225913_5723206_s.jpg"></a>playing with the over sized basket and soccer balls,</div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363984907378785634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwbVEIwJ2tYowLpuicgkItyrfDOtLqOQuWcceKOe2rsTo-YGWATsynSv-uQiP6dXFA0633BxkyPfgyX40JIbeuwREWCWydtXH7XPfzBElbR9oylclKuatMxfO7hFtWlQF007D2STx_2g/s400/07-27-2009-042.jpg" border="0" /></div><br />and posing for the ever popular "We don't want to have my picture taken, but my mom is making us, anyway" shot.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363984692483187458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_5gOzbnKsqI2b7L6mG5NkJhUzRhD7Grs09mqO14x07AdLlnbPnIBfUxL_CCCdSzSPHpGiMq_vlodaKdk3IIm6Xkk6-Mck46iTn8rsStAbCzShJytW-pRAOAUhcM7BAQyNVxNwoHug7I/s400/07-27-2009-002.jpg" border="0" /><br />They announced all the winning names. Here's me trying to explain in a VERY squeaky mega phone how we chose the name.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363986103524344450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic38VycF-m5_aofIlWZNR_bX8uAJc18FlKNvqKId4qhgSTJZc43uMEftGRRCsSG5gibgp4nGljct-8hWGbP_fbPjl70lh7CsuDPwJx8mNLVSFzuXMLLRgeXncN8UMnJOxfKCvuFQTABgA/s400/Larger.jpg" border="0" /><br />Perri "liberated" one of our prizes very quickly.</p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3E9AOtjB_1rj_Tgfs7_XRJmxKAY3Mkj1oUHx6ecN2JsSPnBZ4yAaD-SL9Gif3daOu6iYR31FRSYPyVuJOVIv_SzpgnMtJjIoB5t2fCXtxM2UbdpqnrCrPdz0ZixM3TVnLVqNLvyKSe9s/s1600-h/07-27-2009-014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363984700236319474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3E9AOtjB_1rj_Tgfs7_XRJmxKAY3Mkj1oUHx6ecN2JsSPnBZ4yAaD-SL9Gif3daOu6iYR31FRSYPyVuJOVIv_SzpgnMtJjIoB5t2fCXtxM2UbdpqnrCrPdz0ZixM3TVnLVqNLvyKSe9s/s400/07-27-2009-014.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p>Mom and Peepa all came to join in the fun.<br /></p><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPM3I3UPI3-7KIKbpduVwMJ_RUAd1YA-Vdx1BGEw4sxR7P5VoAYC8pd7mYkBQYUFJsA24iTl15qbmJp3a4HEy8xSLpH2lLibeuV_qxNEUm-TAh2BIYGRA5EjNXXlk9unElAHUY0qq2E8/s1600-h/07-27-2009-012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363984695009442114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPM3I3UPI3-7KIKbpduVwMJ_RUAd1YA-Vdx1BGEw4sxR7P5VoAYC8pd7mYkBQYUFJsA24iTl15qbmJp3a4HEy8xSLpH2lLibeuV_qxNEUm-TAh2BIYGRA5EjNXXlk9unElAHUY0qq2E8/s400/07-27-2009-012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We even made the <a href="http://www.wmctv.com/global/category.asp?c=151146&clipId=&topVideoCatNo=15040&topVideoCatNoB=124083&topVideoCatNoC=105461&topVideoCatNoD=124506&topVideoCatNoE=124957&autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=3987701">NEWS</a>:<br /><br /></div><div></div><div>And the <a href="http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/jul/26/whats-in-a-02/">PAPER</a>!</div><div></div><div><br /><br />Thanks to everyone who voted for our baby!! We had a wonderful time - Wish you could have been there!! </div></div>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-57217930034112387962009-07-27T12:23:00.000-07:002009-07-27T12:32:48.254-07:00I ♥ Faces - At the Beach<center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img src="http://www.livinglocurto.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/smallbutton.jpg" /></a></center><p><br />This weeks theme at I ♥ Faces is "At the Beach." I have dozens of photos that I love from our trip to Destin a couple of years back, and have already entered several in I ♥ Faces past contests. This image, though, is one of my fav.'s that I haven't entered yet and is of my little girl, Perri. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363223973271396130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAG8qTm6kZXyS3aZHbra5hbsh-evut_VKVgGCM6MEmkFiQUV4sDVe36UrWjtVn-SocKMxGYNiEHkzgvnglvnBZj3ztbOKAfPzgvLdAlOKtZxy3P7H4IU4Tr-arCeE-1GV2DgUkYec4D60/s576/Perri---Beach-2.jpg" border="0" /> </p><p> </p><p>Head over to <a href="http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/">I ♥ Faces</a> for the beach bash and enter your own image!</p>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-39486450703053543452009-07-22T20:16:00.000-07:002009-07-22T20:36:31.998-07:00Short and SweetsDa Hubby came home on Monday after work with a haircut and meeting him at the door, the kidos immediately noticed. Here's how the conversation went:<br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#3333ff;">K</span><span style="color:#ff6600;">i</span><span style="color:#ff99ff;">d</span>s: "Daddy!! You got a haircut!!"</div><br /><div><span style="color:#993399;">Da Hubby:</span> "Yep."</div><br /><div><span style="color:#ff99ff;">Perri:</span> "You look nice, Daddy."</div><br /><div><span style="color:#993399;">Da Hubby:</span> "Thanks, sweetie."</div><br /><div><span style="color:#ff6600;">Duglin:</span> "Looks good, Dad."</div><br /><div><span style="color:#993399;">Da Hubby:</span> "Thanks, Dugley."</div><br /><div><span style="color:#3366ff;">Daylor:</span> "Dad? What's that white stuff in your hair?"</div><br /><div><span style="color:#993399;">Da Hubby:</span> "That would be gray hair, son."</div><br /><div><span style="color:#3366ff;">Daylor:</span> "Oh, it looks weird."</div><br /><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">Me:</span> "Daylor!! That's rude!"</div><br /><div><span style="color:#3366ff;">Daylor:</span> "Uhhh, no, mom. What I meant is that his hair looks experienced and smart."</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361493157901231330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 329px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh904w6o45pVoW3JC4Wt_GL4aNNMj_ebNExBpbaoGxSPFQVpynCcAv5I_2hl-hcczyc4IegaPnuRAht9zHhVhPWntbOmvTQJcXsoboseHbkHdAbh_4MeeDkfqgUE13yh6Yw9ZByfGwRK10/s400/Gray-hair.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Nice.</div>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599371253778576792.post-76843206758290626122009-07-20T20:24:00.000-07:002009-07-20T20:34:30.434-07:00Vote for Mike Byson!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VI3Wp0xwBPW1crEVB76gp-GSlEV63kU33ZzAwFcOvlOtNUa1Tv91hEmsI-AdZAPsRcn1rvcoTk3ZIV6CGXuqD9CRyM6ix4317EQyoSa0ZHgPW-7qcbA8S1Wp8wn8YFW1DtfBtKrkcM4/s1600-h/Mike-Byson.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360751238124478162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 303px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VI3Wp0xwBPW1crEVB76gp-GSlEV63kU33ZzAwFcOvlOtNUa1Tv91hEmsI-AdZAPsRcn1rvcoTk3ZIV6CGXuqD9CRyM6ix4317EQyoSa0ZHgPW-7qcbA8S1Wp8wn8YFW1DtfBtKrkcM4/s400/Mike-Byson.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Just for fun, my family submitted a name to a baby buffalo naming contest for a park here in the city well known for its roaming buffalo! (Shelby Farms) 8 names are being chosen for the 8 babies that were born this year. Out of over 400 submissions our name, “Mike <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Byson</span>,” (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Da</span> Hubby's idea), was chosen as one of the 16 finalists! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Yay</span>, us!<br /><br />I am shamelessly asking, OK, maybe begging my friends and family to go to <a href="http://www.shelbyfarmspark.org/sfpc/">http://www.shelbyfarmspark.org/sfpc/</a> to vote for our name to win! Just click the link, then click the “vote here” link, and vote for “Mike <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Byson</span>.” You can only vote one time per email address and we would love to have as many as possible! Anyone from anywhere can vote!<br /><br />This would thrill my kids to death if we could win of one of the 8 names!! Thanks for humoring me and taking a second to do this! I’ll owe ya one!</div>Sonya @ Balentine Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14284872948356077508noreply@blogger.com2