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I have ever said that I do not heart grocery day? I don't mind the shopping part...it's the toting the 256 bags into the house and putting everything away part that drives me nuts.

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Cammie and Chloe received their report cards today...this was Cammie's first ever report card. I can't believe (a) that 6 weeks of school have already flown by and (b) that Cammie is in kindergarten...I know I've had 6 weeks to get used to it, but it just seems unreal that she is big enough to be in school.

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This has to be the strangest antique/art/junkstore that I have ever entered. It's located next to the hotel where our retreat was held so on our way out of town we stopped in. It was...strange. It had a weird assortment of things...things that I couldn't believe anyone would buy...and then when I saw the prices, I just laughed.

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Tiffeny (who owns Winston's mom) brought the puppies by for another visit today. It's good for the pups to be socialized as soon as possible and with as many people as possible...and our 5 kids plus half the neighorhood kids are a socialization in themselves. Cammie squatted down to pet one puppy and then several rushed her and she ended up on her bottom with 4 puppies kissing her.

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After our evening session, several of our friends came back to our cabin to watch the first debate. I'm not happy with the options we have for our country. For the second presidential election in a row, I have to go with the default "lesser of two evils"...

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We left for a marriage retreat in Monteagle this morning. When we got here, we found out that we could rent a cabin instead of staying in the hotel. Believe me when I say that the cabin was "basic"...but I loved the afternoon sun on the ceiling.

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Every single day, Forrest eats a bowl of Cocoa Krispies after school.

(The pic was a bit blurry...my finger slipped when I went to adjust the contrast...and it ended up looking like this...I decided Forrest would like it this way, so I left it).

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After Forrest entered middle school he was no longer interested in taking box tops to school. Out of habit, I continued to tear them off of packages and toss them in the "box top" drawer...for three years. When Chloe and Cammie came home from school asking if we could "start collecting box tops", I pulled out the drawer and showed them our stash. They looked happier than they had on Christmas morning. Chloe decided that they should ration them and each of them should only take in 30 per week. Once Cammie agreed, Chloe trimmed around the edges neatly and seperated them into 6 stacks of 10. For Christmas, Santa will be bringing Box Tops.

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Did you know that the entrance to Target is also an entrance into a time warp...seriously...you walk in expecting to "just pick up a few things"..."it will only take a minute"...and when you walk out, you find that you have lost two hours of your life.

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The new puppy came for a visit today. Winston willingly shared his water with her...hopefully this means he won't be too jealous of her when she moves in for good...

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I love curly leaf ornamental cabbages...especially when they have dew drops on them.

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My muffin can read.

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Comin' in for a kiss...

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The window box under the kitchen window...replanted for fall. Are pansies not the happiest flowers?

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Cammie presented me with this bouqet a few days before I left for NY. I was surprised to find that they were still blooming when I got in Monday night.

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Quordy. The only thing that made two 4 hour layovers bearable...and the most addictive iPhone game download out there.

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The Jersey skyline at sunset was gorgeous.

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I heart the subway. In fact, I heart public transportation in general...in big cities, not in Nashville.

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Happy Happy Birthday to me!

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Times Square

New York, New York

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Birthday present number 1. Honestly, I am spoiled beyond reason.

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After the mums are potted, it's time to break out the Fall wreath.

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I absolutely love mums...they signify the beginning of my favorite season.

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Saint Bernards grow extremely fast. It's a good idea to photograph them next to a stuffed animal while they are tiny and then rephotograph them next to the same stuffed animal periodically to show the progression.

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We spent the morning doing outreach to promote our Friends Day services tomorrow. I had forgotten how rewarding community outreach is.

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My knock-out roses after an afternoon shower.

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I heart kids that read.

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I tend to gravitate towards earth tones...in clothing, in decorating, in scrapbooking...I forced myself to use pastels for ths one.

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Chloe's first spelling test...I broke my "no magnets on the fridge" rule for this one.

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Shopping for girl toys...photo courtesy of Hannah who was bored to tears while furniture shopping.