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around the house

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she is soooooo 13.
can’t even stand up to do the dishes anymore.
she uses tongs to get the silverware from the bottom of the sink
so she doesn’t have to touch them at all.

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breakfast for dinner.

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look at all the “help” i get every night.

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talby was sick most of the weekend.
she looked so pathetic…poor baby.
she is feeling better now.

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i am getting ready for a scrapbooking weekend!
getting my supplies together…
organizing my photos in the sunshine.

April - That cracks me up about the tongs and the silverware….too funny !!

meg duerksen - crystal – i did make my blog header. it’s made of real paper and scrapbook products and then scanned it into my computer. i have no clue how to create anything digitally. i kind of want to learn but not really because i love to scrapbook with real products so much that i would miss it.
jodi – we are going to a place called “the hager house bed & breakfast.” it is a big old house that she has completely updated and set up only for scrapbookers, we went a year ago and loved it. her website is http://www.hagerhousebandb.com.
also i think the “scrap fun attic” in andover has retreats.
raci – for the record i don’t think i am doing that great of a job with my 13 year old….but thanks.
chris – thanks for checking out my scrapbooking. it definitely has to be something you love or it will become something that just makes you feel guilty that you aren’t doing it enough.
andrea – thanks. $7 at walmart!

Andrea - Cute shoes!

cynthia - love breakfast for dinner!
and i can relate to your daughter…i always hated when my mom would stack the plates after eating which meant that i would possibly have to touch leftover “food” on the bottoms….ick!
now after being a mom…you can pretty much touch just about anything!

Julie K - Annie’s pants on backwards cracks me up! Great shot.

jodi - Meg – can you pass along any info on the scrapbooking weekend? Is there a specific place that does this for ladies? I’d love to get a group together and do this!
Thanks!
Jodi

chris - Oh yes, I wish I had a sprayer, you can rent them , that would make things easier , I might rent one this summer and spray my cabinet doors in the kitchen , I hate painting furniture , well actually anything , but who else will do it.

chris - your scrap book layouts are lovely , I really need to try doing that , it looks fun.

traci - my daughter is only 11 and we already are going thru this!!! I will say you seem to handle it VERY WELL.
Your poor Talby….hope she is better!
Your pictures could seriously be in a magazne…they are just FABULOUS.

chris - That’s so good , I am looking so forward to my child reaching the teen years, yikes, and those pants on backwards crack me up. I hate it when my girls are sick , this was the first sick free weekend in a few weeks, poor babies.
I can’t get into scrapbooking, can you post some pictures of your finished work.
Chris

jerusalem - when I was 13 I had to load and my younger brother had to unload. I remember being soooo aggravated that he wanted me to put the steak knives in blade down so he wouldn’t cut himself when he went to grab a handful of clean silverware. I can remember huffing and rolling my eyes, thinking how ridiculous he was being, how demanding he was being. Ha!

Melanie - Meg,
I have a 13 yr. old son and he doesn’t want to load the dishwasher because he doesn’t want his hands dirty. (he will unload though) This from a boy who is outside in the dirt piles and playing football with his finds. I feel your pain:)

traci - i could tell by your daughters eyes that she wasn’t feeling well. glad she is better now. i have been trying to organize for scrap getaway too. this weekend. 11 great friends – i can’t wait!! have fun at yours.

Crystal - Meg- we would totally be friends in real life…I live for “breakfast for dinner” 🙂 I have been meaning to ask you….did you make your blog header? I love it and have kinda been looking for something fun like that for my blog…but I don’t want to pay someone a ton for blog decor…

Jennifer P. - Glad to know someone else makes a complete mess with their waffle iron too. I’m forever scraping runny batter off my counter top!—your waffles looked delish though!
Good luck with your scrap-fest :)!

meg duerksen - amy –
the jellybeans are already packed!
and of course i will room with you!
be sure to bring the bubble bath…it’s all about the bubbles.

amy - ooh… bring the jellybeans with you!

amy - and eating jellybeans and wearing cutie polka dot shoes? i’m anxious to get my 497 photos so I can start organizing! wanna be my roomie again?

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ROY G. BIV

my good friend…

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i bought this licorice
just for the color.
it’s flavored licorice…i don’t even want to try it.
but it is fun to look at.
my sunday school class will like them.

Jimaie - i LOVE this post!
i am allllll about color, color color! I am so happy i found your blog, i’m loving every minute of it 😀

Laura T. - Love all the colors —

cynthia - this makes me want to get my camera out!
i’ve been neglecting it lately…

traci - Yes, please tell where you bought the licorice at??? I would love to have some for my class. The kids would go wild

traci - i love it when you do color posts. so pretty.

Jennifer P. - No-no–eat the licorice! It’s actually good in that fake flavor, cough syrup kind of way :)! I craved it while I was pregnant, so I guess it will forever hold a special place in my heart. Your Sunday school class will appreciate it more though, I’m sure!
Thanks so much for the snippets of color again. These posts really do make me smile!

danelle - Where did you buy it?

kristin - i almost bought that licorice today…and like you i didn’t want to eat it.
gorgeous!

amy - I take it the pool table is set up?

jeanetta - when i taught art class the kids loved that memory tool for the color wheel.

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G is for goat

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annie’s teacher ms. trey raises goats.
what a treat for her to bring one of the babies to preschool!
i certainly was looking forward to it…annie said she was too.
then when she saw it she was a bit nervous and left to play with the dolls.

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he was adorable.

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we learned that goats have no top teeth.
i never knew that.
the kids checked the mirror to see if they had top teeth.

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we learned if you turn a baby goat upside down they say “MAAAAA!!!”
really loud.
she wasn’t scared…just preparing for what she knew was coming.

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you can cuddle a goat like a baby.
quite easily.
their feet are hard but look kind of like dog paws.

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their ears are so soft.
he really was like long legged puppy (that said MAAAA!)
ms. kristin wanted to keep him…if her husband said yes.
hmmmm…i wonder how that went?

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goodbye baby goat.

********************************************
my camera was messed up for 3 days.
and these pictures fall into those 3 days.
but karen russell fixed my camera for me over email – woo-hoo!!
these aren’t the best photos but the memory is recorded
and that’s what matters.

Jenny Pocknall - What a sweet goat. I want one!

Jennifer P. - I can’t tell you how bad I’d love to hold a baby goat right now! I’ve always been one of those that can’t just look at an animal, I have to TOUCH it. That goat looks so sweet and friendly and clean :)!
Glad Annie got that opportunity. Every kid should get up and personal with a farm animal at some point!

Mrs. Fox - Adorable pics! I have always been very grateful to goats. I am allergic to milk and as a baby, goat’s milk is the only thing I could drink without getting sick. They are a little smelly though.

Crystal - I LOVE goats…i keep telling my husband that ONE day we will have a mini goat…and a couple of chickens. 🙂 Very cute pics…so glad your camera is back in action!! 🙂 Have a happy day!

jessi nagy - i love baby goats!
how fun was that day?
my daughter and i both want a miniture goat! daddy keeps saying no!
but why???
they are so adorable!
what a great day for the both of you!
oxoxox,
jessi

Jen CD - Abby was telling me about this and she said, “Mommy, Annie’s Mom FREAKED OUT!”
how cute!
Jen CD

traci - how cute!!! my daughter always wanted a goat. we deprived her – what mean parents. my husband had a couple when he was growing up and they are mischevious little critters. we have slides of them on the back of his uncles car trying to get in to eat the seats. good luck to kristin.

kristin - yes.
: )

Lanny Stanard - Good Morning, I so enjoy looking at your blog,also thanks for visiting mine and leaving me a nice comment. I got a big kick out of your little girl in front of the computer taking pictures of her self.How cute is that. Thanks again Lanny at Simply Me.

amy d - he is soooo adorable, let’s see, if they would just stay that size……..hmmmm? i’ll just let lauren get one and goat sit for her when your on vacation. 🙂

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oh boy

sing with me….
“which one of these is not like the other?”

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oh my sweet sean…
he does not enjoy being in front of crowd of any kind.
he told his teacher we had a party that we had to go to
so we wouldn’t be at his program.
she didn’t buy it (but a good try on sean’s part)

i knew he’d be nervous.
and he was.

as soon as he found me in the crowd, he calmed down and did fine.
i was mouthing “turn around!!” and giving him the evil eye…
until he did it and i gave him a BIG smile and a thumbs up sign.

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the highlight of the program was when his teacher came on stage
playing the part of “little bunny foo-foo”

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the kids were all giggly during the song.
then just as the good fairy said “now i will turn you into a goon”…

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the kid in the front row in the black with the red tie points and shouts
in pure donald trump fashion…
“YOU”RE FIRED!”
it was not part of the program
but it sure cracked me up and everyone else.
he was quite pleased with the crowd’s reaction.

and to think i almost accidentally-on-purpose skipped this program.
i would’ve missed out on so much.

emily loria - I forgot about the little bunny foo foo song, that is one I need to teach to my boys for easter! 😉

traci - your poor son. at least he calmed down and had fun with it. how scary for him. there is always one comedian in the group huh? glad you had a good time.

cynthia - that would have been me too…with the evil eye thing!
there is usually SOMETHING funny that a student must do to get a laugh whether they realize it or not but of course the teachers just don’t see it that way !

amy - funny… we teachers didn’t find the “YOU’RE FIRED” part that amusing. 🙂 Glad you folks in the audience got a laugh out of it, though. I guess we were trying to entertain you, after all.

Juliann Brenner - Hi Megan – I just started reading blogs (Erica sent me her link and I found yours on hers…what a world of tech. – I am so not tech. savvy; Annie puts me to shame with her 62-self-portraits). I miss you and think of you often. I have enjoyed catching up with you on your blog and you look beautiful in green 🙂

chris - I feel for him,my youngest is getting better now with that, but boy she would hate to be focused on. Your kids are so cute.

traci - I feel so sorry for scott or any child who is that scared to be in front of a crowd HOWEVER it is really NEAT that once he saw you he got over his nerves!!!
I LOVE simple, fun, cute programs like this.

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photo booth

i was resting (zoning in and out of sleep) on the couch.
annie was quietly playing.
i could hear her talking to her toys.
then i could hear the photo booth on the computer taking pictures.
i peeked up over the couch and saw this…

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photo booth uses the web cam to take your picture.
she apparently knows how to use it all by herself.

here are a few of her self-portraits.

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there were 62 pictures in all.
she is always into something…

Erica - That is way cute! Perfect for scrapbooking!

jeanetta - that is great. my youngest would be doing the same thing if we had it. good reason not to. lol.
isnt it amazing that a 3 year old can operate the computer better than my mom.

melissa @ the inspired room - HA! You know that doesn’t end when they are teenagers. I have photos all over our computer that look exactly like that but with 16 year old faces. Can you imagine the fun we would’ve had as kids if we had all these toys? We’d have much better pictures of ourselves too, instead of those blurry ones 25 feet away.
Just catching up here. Ooooo, naughty baby indeed! I love Naughty Baby posts. Funny, just like I said above, these things don’t end when they are teenagers! My 19 year old thought our toaster oven was a microwave and put a paper towel in it to cook her Chicken Tostitos. Smoke, fire, and a near death experience followed as we threw the flaming toaster oven out the back door! Phew. Crisis averted.
Kids!
PS, you look smashing in your green dress!
xo

Gini - That just cracks me up!

Karen Russell - Hey there,
Just saw you question on my blog and am hoping I can help you figure out the focusing issue.
My guess is that you accidentally switched the auto focus point.
On the top, right back of your camera, there should be a little button with a what looks like a dotted “t” inside a rectangle. If you press that button, and then scroll the top dial (by the shutter button), it should show you that it is changing the auto focus point. Camera’s usually comes from the camera shop with all of the boxes highlighted (which means that the camera kind of chooses what it wants to focus on) and I am assuming that that is the setting you are used to.
I have the center box highlighted 90% of the time – but that is kind of a complicated thing to explain.
Anyhow, I hope that helps and if you have a tough time trying to figure out what I am referring to, look up “Auto Focus Points” in your camera manual.
And by the way…you looked fabulous in that green dress!
Karen Russell

carrie - O my goodness that is tooo cute! i love it. 🙂 Kids are wonders at computers. No fear of screwing anything up! She is a cutie …love the mean face!!!

carissa - i can’t stand it… she is the cutest little toot ever! precious!

Lauren - Thank you Annie for making me laugh today! I love the second photo in this post most – maybe because you can’t quite tell if she REALLY feels grumpy, or because she’s working so hard at LOOKING grumpy when she’s not.
Thanks for sharing Meg!
🙂

hqm - That is so sweet!

Shelly - Naughty Baby is also a Funny Baby!!
Very cute!!

chris - Oh my gosh that it so cute, and funny, I wonder what she will be when she grows up , a scientist maybe ? she just has to try everything for herself, fearless I love that .

Tiffany - Oh my gosh, that is tooooo funny! I think I’d have to make a photo album of all 62 pictures. :o)

Melanie - LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

Ainslie - Now that is the cutest thing ever!!! After your post yesterday about the over cooked bread in the microwave, I’m beginning to think Annie loves to get up to mischief. Those photos are hilarious…I love them!!!

Jennifer P. - I have never heard of Photo Booth before, but I would totally buy it if I got pictures this great! I think those are just about the most candid, honest photos a kid could take of themself! Precious! I love the way she had all the Little Einsteins lined up along the front there too–and the Memory game–all too cute!!!

traci - 62 pictures!! WOW…shes just adorable!!! She will either keep you young or make you old..lol

traci - 62 pictures of that little cutie. you hit the jackpot. that is too funny!

Mom - I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time!She’s so funny. Where does she get this?

Crystal - SO precious!! I LOVE it!! 🙂 Hope your day is sunnier than ours has been!! 🙂

Present Past Collection - This has got to be one of my favorite posts so far this year! Absolutley hysterical. And I love the one where she’s not looking too thrilled with her photo results. Just like a woman. And notice how she has to show us her toys? Just like a blogger. But then there’s always the kiss to greet us Hello!
Priceless and totally adorable!

Lee Ann - I love it! Those expressions are priceless. What fun to be a kid.

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naughty baby

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this is what bread (zweibach) looks like
after cooking for 8 minutes and 57 seconds.
our kitchen was FULL of smoke.
it smells like a campfire in here 4 hours later.
i’m grateful it wasn’t worse.
annie just kept saying “i so sorry mom.” cough cough.

craig…it’s time to get those smoke detectors up!

kristin - i am so glad those are zweibach.

amy d - OMG! i thought for sure that was HAMMY in the microwave, my stomach quickly returned when I scrolled down to see it was only bread. whew!
NO SMOKE DETECTORS!, who’s the naughty baby now!!

emily loria - Oh-oh.

Kate of all Trades - I had a naughty baby this weekend too. He pulled a lamp down of a table in his room, took off the lamp shade and the bare bulb burned a hole right through the carpet, pad and all. Luckily he wasn’t hurt, that’s the good news. Bad news: carpet has to be replaced before we sell. It’s really, really ugly.

carissa - oh gosh… the little lessons of life!
so glad everyone is safe & sound!

cynthia - nice.
fortunately my little “rule follower” has never been down this path!
knock on wood.

danelle - at least it wasn’t silverware in there to cause a fire!! our microwave has burn marks in it because of that.

traci - First of all..I love your microwave…very nice! I think all kids have done that, kinda surprised it hasnt happened already. For us it seemed to take FOREVER to get the smell out.
And yes…get the smoke detectors installed!!!

chris - I was wondering how those low microwave location workout with little kids, they need a lock.
I really though those were poops , not to be gross, but at first glance, yikes, my little brother put our kitten in the micro for a few seconds when he was little,he was the youngest too hmmm! she was fine , he denies it but I caught him, kids just gotta love em. Make for great post material .

Tiffany - Imagine if it would have cooked the other 91:03 minutes! Oh my… lol

Jennifer Peterson - I think it’s time you start calling these part 1, part 2 and so on :)!
Smoke detectors would probably be a good idea!
Did she just want it warm, or was it more a microwave fetish? Thank goodness it wasn’t an egg or something metal :)!

Nana - This picture gives new meaning to the word “zwiebach”. There may be others that know the tradition better than I do, but I believe that zwiebach were eaten fresh the day they were baked but toasted the second day, thus “twice baked” which is what zwiebach means. Since these were made on Saturday, Annie must have known that they needed to be “toasted” to be good on Monday.

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green dress

i was wrong….
it fits!

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i put it on…poofed my hair and smiled for the camera.
lauren took the pictures.
do you like the arsty one at the end?

i don’t think i will wear this to church next week…
but i love that i can actually fit into it.
grandma do i look like you did?

traci - you look wonderful it that dress. how sweet that your grandma gave it to you. you and your husband need another date night – wear it proud girl – you look fabulous.

Jilly - I cannot tell you how much I love love love that dress on you! WAY too cute! Your hair, the bag, the shoes, you! TOO CUTE!

mrslimestone - Very chic 🙂

meg duerksen - thank you girls for all the happy comments.
i love the feel of the dress…but i think if i wore it out i would seriously risk ripping it in half. it fits but it’s snug across my hips and if i sat down in it who knows what might happen. could be considered lewd behavior…
my mom commented and wants everyone to know it was very early 70’s not 50’s or 60’s when she got married. 🙂
if i was one size smaller or it was one size bigger…i love the idea of jeans under it and head out to party.
and teh family portrait idea is a riot!
our foyer color…is the same as in our old house so i have it memorized and i don’t even have to go look.
it’s Behr paint and it’s called Salted Ash. i have no idea why it’s called that..
but it’s a great color. i think you have to actually ask for it. we didn’t see it in the books but it was in the computer. it’s very pea green.
have a great night ladies!
-meg

lulu sparkles - lovin your ‘do & dress !

grandma - Meg. You look wonderful in the green dress. So glad you like it.
It was a fun visit.
I have eaten all but two slies of the bread from the “bread stick”. Glad I don’t live near that place.
Love you
Grandma.

Andria - Meg,
I love the dress. You rock girl!!!! P.S. Is it cheeky to ask what the pea green color paint is called in your foyer?
Love your blog as always.

Kate of all Trades - How fun, the pictures are cute. I’m sure your grandkids will enjoy these later. The dress will live on!

Tiffany - LOL that would be chic, not sheek! ooops…

Tiffany - LOVE IT!!! So retro and sheek and it matches the shoes perfectly, I am jealous….

amy d - love the hair!!!!!!!!! you crack me up 🙂 i think you should dress the whole family like that for a family portrait.

Queenie Bee - I think this calls for a girlfriends party…you wear this dress, and they wear dresses equally cool. It would be the funnest ev-er…just wish I lived close enough!

jerusalem - That is too great! To bad real life doesn’t have “Spirit Days” where you can dress up for a theme. That would be great for 60’s day or a Grease theme! What fun!

gabrielle - you look totally adorable!! that dress is amazing…I remember one time putting on on of my Moms dresses..she had a 20 inch waist..I fit in it when I was 15 but had to stuff the bra….

amy - love it.

Lee Ann - Oh my goodness! I love the whole look. You’ve got to find someplace to wear that…out in public.

cynthia - i think you can pull it off….especially with the hair!
and i loved that you had a purse to “fit” as well.
how fun!

Mom - Ouch that hurts! It is not 50’s – it’s 70’s.
It looks adorable. If I had a scanner, I’d scan the picture of Grandma wearing it so you could see that you look a lot like her. You need her green shoes though.
Great shots Lauren!

Jennifer P. - I think you look just like Mary Tyler Moore! SO cute! I agree you have to go out in it at least once. I’d throw jeans on under it, do your hair like you normally would–and just be retro-chic like crazy :)!
Great photography Lauren! You may have a future in fashion!

Sarah Keith - Oh! So 50’s LOVE!!!!!! That dress is FUN! I love it!

carissa - that is the best! very special! that dress is vintage class couture at it’s best!
you not only put it on, but you really did it right! did your grandma see you in it? how fun… how pretty… really!

jessi nagy - aaahh you look so cute! so retro! i love it!
fun!
oxoxox,
jessi

jeanetta - too cute! you look so amy winehouse.

Andrea - Oh that dress! I was going to comment yesterday asking if you’d have to change the dress or your body to make it fit. I’m so glad you didn’t have to do either. It is SO cute!
I say take it out on the town! At least once!

traci - Dont you just LOVE IT when you think something wont fit and walla ….IT FITS???
love it…
ya know, with your normal hair, some long beads you could pull it off.
Your so cute

Crystal - Ok, I promise to stop stalking your comments but…that is SO CUTE!!!!! OMG you are totally a blast from the past in that gem!! 🙂

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