This wasn't the post I intended to write tonight, but it's what has been mulling around in my heart and mind for over a week now. It finally came spilling out tonight on our adoption blog...I pray you find it worth the read.
Crazy!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
regarding the goats
Today was a drippy, snowy day...so I didn't take the camera with me when I headed out to the barn for chores today. I know, you can hardly stand the suspense of seeing pics of goats that "might be, probably are" pregnant. I'll try not to hold out on you much longer.
Family Issue Resolved
So I mentioned yesterday that we finally had a "family meeting" about an issue that has been concerning me for a while.
I tried to keep it light and fun...it was a "Fun Family Activity" to do before bedtime, not a "meeting."
I also made the mistake of warning Mark about it ahead of time. Yes, on this issue he was about as cooperative as the boys were.*
After everyone had gathered with their requested materials, I posed a simple question.
"How many hats does one person need?" You would think a simple question would receive a simple answer, right?
Wrong. "Well, we need one for doing farm chores." "And a play hat." "And one or two to choose from for nicer occasions." "What about a summer hat and a winter hat?" "Well I need this one because I like it." The answers, from the males in this household (all three of them!), came fast and furious and very un-simple.
I tried rephrasing..."How many hats does one person NEED?"
Maybe I am overreacting. Maybe this is a completely normal state of affairs in everyone's home, and they just never choose to blog about it (go figure!). Maybe I'm being too strict.
But if you're the one who is ultimately responsible for both the tidiness of the entryway AND for the rate of speed in which everyone can get out the door, you must draw the line somewhere.
And I drew it here. One family doesn not need to to have in its possession NO LESS THAN 35 HATS.
Check it out...I kid you not. 35 hats. And the hats with ear flaps that can fold down in winter were excluded.
To the girls' credit, we each had only 4 hats. Which left 8 or 9 hats to each of the guys.
I tried valiantly to whittle it down to just 3-4 hats/person. But the list of needs came out as:
1 for farm chores
1 for play
1 for summer to spray bug spray on
1 regular hat
1 nice hat
As they made their choices, they were sure to put them on quick before I took off with them! Ironically enough, the hats they were choosing to get rid of were some of the ones that I wanted them to keep! It was sure a lesson in something, but I'm not sure what...

Sadly, out of 35+ hats, these are the only ones that got weeded out. But, I think it's all about baby steps, and that NEXT time we do this, things might go a little more smoothly.

Here's the kids hat rack at the end of our Family Meeting. 3 kids. 14 hats. Sadly, I think I will still hear, as we try to rush out the door, "But I can't find that hat..." Grrrr! :)

Mark, I only add this last tidbit out of appreciation for your sense of humor and charm. Promise.
*But you all must know that Mark tried to hide some hats by the downstairs door "since I never seem to have one when I go out that way." Like I said, I shouldn't have warned him! Can I just say this man keeps me smiling? He does, he does! :)
Please do tell me if I'm over reacting and that this a perfectly normal state of affairs for every family. It may be just a guy thing. How many hats are at your house?
I tried to keep it light and fun...it was a "Fun Family Activity" to do before bedtime, not a "meeting."
I also made the mistake of warning Mark about it ahead of time. Yes, on this issue he was about as cooperative as the boys were.*
After everyone had gathered with their requested materials, I posed a simple question.
"How many hats does one person need?" You would think a simple question would receive a simple answer, right?
Wrong. "Well, we need one for doing farm chores." "And a play hat." "And one or two to choose from for nicer occasions." "What about a summer hat and a winter hat?" "Well I need this one because I like it." The answers, from the males in this household (all three of them!), came fast and furious and very un-simple.
I tried rephrasing..."How many hats does one person NEED?"
Maybe I am overreacting. Maybe this is a completely normal state of affairs in everyone's home, and they just never choose to blog about it (go figure!). Maybe I'm being too strict.
But if you're the one who is ultimately responsible for both the tidiness of the entryway AND for the rate of speed in which everyone can get out the door, you must draw the line somewhere.
And I drew it here. One family doesn not need to to have in its possession NO LESS THAN 35 HATS.
Check it out...I kid you not. 35 hats. And the hats with ear flaps that can fold down in winter were excluded.
To the girls' credit, we each had only 4 hats. Which left 8 or 9 hats to each of the guys.
I tried valiantly to whittle it down to just 3-4 hats/person. But the list of needs came out as:
1 for farm chores
1 for play
1 for summer to spray bug spray on
1 regular hat
1 nice hat
As they made their choices, they were sure to put them on quick before I took off with them! Ironically enough, the hats they were choosing to get rid of were some of the ones that I wanted them to keep! It was sure a lesson in something, but I'm not sure what...
Sadly, out of 35+ hats, these are the only ones that got weeded out. But, I think it's all about baby steps, and that NEXT time we do this, things might go a little more smoothly.
Here's the kids hat rack at the end of our Family Meeting. 3 kids. 14 hats. Sadly, I think I will still hear, as we try to rush out the door, "But I can't find that hat..." Grrrr! :)
Mark, I only add this last tidbit out of appreciation for your sense of humor and charm. Promise.
*But you all must know that Mark tried to hide some hats by the downstairs door "since I never seem to have one when I go out that way." Like I said, I shouldn't have warned him! Can I just say this man keeps me smiling? He does, he does! :)
Please do tell me if I'm over reacting and that this a perfectly normal state of affairs for every family. It may be just a guy thing. How many hats are at your house?
Monday, October 26, 2009
This evening
This evening I was outside with my goatie girls, pondering their roundness...
I shall try to take pictures tomorrow to see what you would say on their pregnancy status!
And we've had a little bit of an issue going on around here for the past several months, though it hasn't seemed to bother anyone, except me, too much. We finally had a "round table" meeting tonight to sort it out, and I think we're all okay with the solution. I did take pics, and will try to unload the camera tomorrow to chronicle both the issue and the problem-solving that went on.
I shall try to take pictures tomorrow to see what you would say on their pregnancy status!
And we've had a little bit of an issue going on around here for the past several months, though it hasn't seemed to bother anyone, except me, too much. We finally had a "round table" meeting tonight to sort it out, and I think we're all okay with the solution. I did take pics, and will try to unload the camera tomorrow to chronicle both the issue and the problem-solving that went on.
How's that for ya'?
Sure...I go ahead and say I'll try to keep you updated here on what I'm posting on our adoption blog.
I really didn't intend to make identical posts today! Sorry...just a little over-zealous about our coffee store, I guess!
I really didn't intend to make identical posts today! Sorry...just a little over-zealous about our coffee store, I guess!
Coffee Fundraiser!
The Just Love Coffee Store has finally launched!Just Love Coffee Roasters was started by Rob Webb, coffee roaster and adoptive father of two girls from Ethiopia. He forged a way to merge his work and his faith in an amazing way, and Just Love Coffees was born.
He has made available to adoptive parents a seamless fundraiser. His company roasts fine coffees from over the world, makes it available through each adoptive family's online storefront, ships it directly to customers, and the adoptive family receives $5 per bag of coffee.
To many (myself included!) coffee is a life staple...and now it can be used to care for orphans!
We ask that you check out our storefront at www.justlovecoffee.com/Milligan. The neatest option is the 2Buy2 Coffee Club...receive 2 bags of coffee every month of every other month to save on time and shipping! We're definitely going that route! But you can buy bags of coffee individually, too. We will continue to receive funds from the storefront until our adoption expenses have been met. Then, for those of you in the 2Buy2 Coffee Club, you will still be supporting orphan care in Ethiopia through your purchases!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to either leave a comment or email us at milligansnorth at gmail dot com. If you browse around the Just Love Coffee site (which I encourage you to do-it's a really neat story!), make sure you come back to our page (Milligan will be in the URL at the top) to make your purchases.
We would appreciate your help in spreading the word...email to friends and family or post the link to our store if you get a chance! Thanks so much!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Traffic
Blog traffic is an interesting thing.
I keep track of our traffic, so I know that there are just over 30 of you who check in on us regularly. We appreciate that, we do! And for the most part, I know who you are. If I don't know who you are, I at least know where you are! It baffles me that so many of you care what's going on in our little corner of the world, but we're glad you stop by nonetheless! (And feel free to leave a comment to introduce yourselves anytime...)
I started this blog as our virtual scrapbook, since I'm not very good at keeping an actual scrapbook-and to help keep long-distance family in the loop. Both good things, though I never imagined I'd have others stop by daily to take a look at our "scrapbook." Can't say I don't enjoy it, though!
One of the most prominent aspects of our life right now is our Ethiopian adoption, and I'd like to share with more of you our adoption journey. Our adoption blog (www.familywovenbyfaith.blogspot.com) gets only 1/3 of the traffic of this site, and most are different readers. So I will try to post here when I post there, so that you can follow along better on how God is moving in our lives through this process!
I keep track of our traffic, so I know that there are just over 30 of you who check in on us regularly. We appreciate that, we do! And for the most part, I know who you are. If I don't know who you are, I at least know where you are! It baffles me that so many of you care what's going on in our little corner of the world, but we're glad you stop by nonetheless! (And feel free to leave a comment to introduce yourselves anytime...)
I started this blog as our virtual scrapbook, since I'm not very good at keeping an actual scrapbook-and to help keep long-distance family in the loop. Both good things, though I never imagined I'd have others stop by daily to take a look at our "scrapbook." Can't say I don't enjoy it, though!
One of the most prominent aspects of our life right now is our Ethiopian adoption, and I'd like to share with more of you our adoption journey. Our adoption blog (www.familywovenbyfaith.blogspot.com) gets only 1/3 of the traffic of this site, and most are different readers. So I will try to post here when I post there, so that you can follow along better on how God is moving in our lives through this process!
Opportunist, foiled again
I know some people would say about their poor hive-covered, arm-casted toddler
"Poor thing...let's do everything possible to make her comfortable."
I am too opportunistic for that.
Arm in a cast=only one thumb to suck.
Other thumb=covered in band-aid, unable to be picked off due to limited dexterity from cast.
Hives=baby on Benadryl, too tired to cry long about not having a thumb to suck.
We've been unsuccessful in breaking her of her thumb-sucking habit for forever...I'm going to take advantage of this situation. It's perfect, isn't it?
Not quite. Apparently she still can suck her thumb on the casted hand, she just hasn't been. Until now.
Nice try, mom.
"Poor thing...let's do everything possible to make her comfortable."
I am too opportunistic for that.
Arm in a cast=only one thumb to suck.
Other thumb=covered in band-aid, unable to be picked off due to limited dexterity from cast.
Hives=baby on Benadryl, too tired to cry long about not having a thumb to suck.
We've been unsuccessful in breaking her of her thumb-sucking habit for forever...I'm going to take advantage of this situation. It's perfect, isn't it?
Not quite. Apparently she still can suck her thumb on the casted hand, she just hasn't been. Until now.
Nice try, mom.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Oh, to be an allergist...
...as there is not a single one in Anchorage that works on Fridays!
I must say I am very impressed with the NP we saw at the office yesterday. She called me at 8 a.m. to see how Anna was doing, and had faxed a referral to the (closed) allergist office by 8:15, and called again about 1/2 hr. ago to check on Anna.
We were fearful that she had had another reaction last night at my mom's...she was due for more Benadryl then, but it seemed she was far more swollen, red, and itchy than she should have been for just needing another dose.
I woke her at almost 1 a.m. to give her more Benadryl, and then after another dose this morning, the hives seem to be fading and she seems more like herself.
Please just be praying for her, that she doesn't have any kind of reaction to anything before we can figure out what triggered it. Thanks!
I must say I am very impressed with the NP we saw at the office yesterday. She called me at 8 a.m. to see how Anna was doing, and had faxed a referral to the (closed) allergist office by 8:15, and called again about 1/2 hr. ago to check on Anna.
We were fearful that she had had another reaction last night at my mom's...she was due for more Benadryl then, but it seemed she was far more swollen, red, and itchy than she should have been for just needing another dose.
I woke her at almost 1 a.m. to give her more Benadryl, and then after another dose this morning, the hives seem to be fading and she seems more like herself.
Please just be praying for her, that she doesn't have any kind of reaction to anything before we can figure out what triggered it. Thanks!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
This morning (updated)
UPDATE: Urticaria hives. Simply an allergic reaction. It has been sad (because she's uncomfortable) but fascinating to watch the rash change shape and location all morning. About a half-hour after I took the pics below, her entire back was red, and within an hour after that, none of it was, but other parts of her body were worse.
I was quite relieved with such a simple diagnosis. Most likely, she has a newly developed food allergy, as she hasn't consumed anything new or out of the ordinary in the past day (well, maybe zucchini. She never likes zucchini muffins, so just picks at them, but last night I brilliantly hid an entire shredded zucchini in our Chinese Beef and Broccoli, which was lacking the broccoli-hence the need to add something. I suppose if I was really brilliant, I would have checked on the condition of the broccoli in the fridge before commencing dinner preparations. Hmm...add menu planning to my list).
Anyway, knowing her brothers' allergic tendencies, a referral to the allergist is in order...
****
This is my daughter as of this morning. We have an appt. with the doc at 12:45...for my black-eyed, casted-arm and now rash covered little girl. The rash is everywhere-her cheeks, her neck, down the one arm we can see, her back and bottom, her legs. Surprisingly just a little bit on her stomach. Poor baby-this just isn't her month!
I was quite relieved with such a simple diagnosis. Most likely, she has a newly developed food allergy, as she hasn't consumed anything new or out of the ordinary in the past day (well, maybe zucchini. She never likes zucchini muffins, so just picks at them, but last night I brilliantly hid an entire shredded zucchini in our Chinese Beef and Broccoli, which was lacking the broccoli-hence the need to add something. I suppose if I was really brilliant, I would have checked on the condition of the broccoli in the fridge before commencing dinner preparations. Hmm...add menu planning to my list).
Anyway, knowing her brothers' allergic tendencies, a referral to the allergist is in order...
****
This is my daughter as of this morning. We have an appt. with the doc at 12:45...for my black-eyed, casted-arm and now rash covered little girl. The rash is everywhere-her cheeks, her neck, down the one arm we can see, her back and bottom, her legs. Surprisingly just a little bit on her stomach. Poor baby-this just isn't her month!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Jacob's Motorcycle Birthday!
Shortly after giving up the aspiration of being an astronaut, Jacob latched onto wanting to be a motorcycle man when he grows up. No amount of persuading can convince that he can do something else along with that...it's not enough, apparently, to just drive your motorcycle to work!
My mom was able to arrange a motorcycle ride for him for his birthday! Her employer has been a family friend for years, and her employers husband has a very nice BMW Dakar dual-sport (that name means nothing to me. I'm just parroting back info, here). And Rusty was more than happy to have an excuse to have to get the bike out and take a ride before winter!
I was able to find a helmet on freecycle...doesn't fit the best, but we're in general going for "costume" use here! Rebecca's friend had given her the leather jacket from her little boy, and he's wearing his motorcycle t-shirt underneath it all!
We were worried he would be nervous about riding with Rusty, as he hasn't spent that much time with him before. But he was one eager boy to climb up on that bike!
My five year old. *sigh*
My mom was able to arrange a motorcycle ride for him for his birthday! Her employer has been a family friend for years, and her employers husband has a very nice BMW Dakar dual-sport (that name means nothing to me. I'm just parroting back info, here). And Rusty was more than happy to have an excuse to have to get the bike out and take a ride before winter!
I was able to find a helmet on freecycle...doesn't fit the best, but we're in general going for "costume" use here! Rebecca's friend had given her the leather jacket from her little boy, and he's wearing his motorcycle t-shirt underneath it all!
We were worried he would be nervous about riding with Rusty, as he hasn't spent that much time with him before. But he was one eager boy to climb up on that bike!
My five year old. *sigh*
Happy 5th Birthday, Jacob!
Jacob at 9 months old...
2 years old...
3 years old...
4 years old...
Five years old pictures are coming!
Today, you turned 5. Wow-you are so incredibly excited about being 5, even though tonight at bedtime you were already calculating when you would be six and then seven. Slow down-I'm not even used to you being five yet!
Jacob, there are tons more reasons than this, but here are 5 things I love about you!
1. Your smile and your hugs! They can turn any grouchy day into a happy one! (I know I'm putting two in for one, but I wasn't going to be able to keep my list down to just five)!
2. Your laugh...it's completely contagious and joyful!
3. Your imagination. God has such big plans for you, and knowing you, you'll come closer to imagining them than any of the rest of us could!
4. Your wholeheartedness. This is a hard one to describe with just that one word. But you are completely in whatever you are in at the moment! If you're happy, the world knows it. If you're angry, we can hear that, too! If you love someone, your amazing hugs will communicate it loud and clear. If you're not thrilled with someone, much to mommy's embarrassment at times, you're pretty open about that, too. If you're experiencing something, you're in it with your whole body. You could be a walking Nike commercial or something...you just do it. There is nothing cautious about you, which has caused me the white hairs I have and the scars you have. You just live life...more intuitively than even other children. I mean, you're only just turning 5. And you've been like this for forever. Yet there are sad, distracted people in this world paying big bucks to life coaches who instruct them to live the way you do...wholeheartedly. I love that about you. (Can you wholeheartedly be five, too, instead of wishing for six or seven or eight)? :)
5. Your love for God. You love His Word. You talk about Him. You think about Him. You're asking questions, always seeking to understand Him more. God loves that about you, too...and your life will be blessed because of it.
I love you, my medium-boy Jacob. I simply cannot imagine my life without you, and I would choose you again and again if given the chance! Happy birthday...enjoy being five!
2 years old...
3 years old...
4 years old...
Five years old pictures are coming!
Today, you turned 5. Wow-you are so incredibly excited about being 5, even though tonight at bedtime you were already calculating when you would be six and then seven. Slow down-I'm not even used to you being five yet!
Jacob, there are tons more reasons than this, but here are 5 things I love about you!
1. Your smile and your hugs! They can turn any grouchy day into a happy one! (I know I'm putting two in for one, but I wasn't going to be able to keep my list down to just five)!
2. Your laugh...it's completely contagious and joyful!
3. Your imagination. God has such big plans for you, and knowing you, you'll come closer to imagining them than any of the rest of us could!
4. Your wholeheartedness. This is a hard one to describe with just that one word. But you are completely in whatever you are in at the moment! If you're happy, the world knows it. If you're angry, we can hear that, too! If you love someone, your amazing hugs will communicate it loud and clear. If you're not thrilled with someone, much to mommy's embarrassment at times, you're pretty open about that, too. If you're experiencing something, you're in it with your whole body. You could be a walking Nike commercial or something...you just do it. There is nothing cautious about you, which has caused me the white hairs I have and the scars you have. You just live life...more intuitively than even other children. I mean, you're only just turning 5. And you've been like this for forever. Yet there are sad, distracted people in this world paying big bucks to life coaches who instruct them to live the way you do...wholeheartedly. I love that about you. (Can you wholeheartedly be five, too, instead of wishing for six or seven or eight)? :)
5. Your love for God. You love His Word. You talk about Him. You think about Him. You're asking questions, always seeking to understand Him more. God loves that about you, too...and your life will be blessed because of it.
I love you, my medium-boy Jacob. I simply cannot imagine my life without you, and I would choose you again and again if given the chance! Happy birthday...enjoy being five!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Movin' Right Along...
Okay, I did it. I finished posting July.
I am now officially only 2 1/2 months behind in blogging. All in an effort to catch up in time for Jacob's birthday...which is today!
Which is also why I've had time to blog. Andrew has been working on finishing Jacob's birthday present (a bunkbed out of popsicle sticks for Jacob's little stuffed Elmo), so we haven't done as much school as we would normally. Besides, Jacob has been very happily playing with the new toys he rec'd from our family party yesterday...happily playing since 6:30 this morning. And I have a pretty nasty head cold. So...I blogged!
Enjoy the catch-up, and I'll try to post pics of Jacob later tonight!
I am now officially only 2 1/2 months behind in blogging. All in an effort to catch up in time for Jacob's birthday...which is today!
Which is also why I've had time to blog. Andrew has been working on finishing Jacob's birthday present (a bunkbed out of popsicle sticks for Jacob's little stuffed Elmo), so we haven't done as much school as we would normally. Besides, Jacob has been very happily playing with the new toys he rec'd from our family party yesterday...happily playing since 6:30 this morning. And I have a pretty nasty head cold. So...I blogged!
Enjoy the catch-up, and I'll try to post pics of Jacob later tonight!
Basement Project
This is my basement. This is my basement in the middle of a construction project. We had a wonderful work team come and start the project of remodeling part of our basement into a small two-bedroom apartment, (which I'm sure I posted pics before, but can't for the life of me find the post. I guess that's what happens when you post anything within a four-month time span of when it happens...no way of locating it by date).
At any rate, we needed to get it finished up in time for our VBS team, so a bunch of us from church put in a very long, late-night week finishing up.
Kristin is a true servant...scrubbing the free-but-very-disgusting toilet that had been donated.
Tommy lovin' doing the drywall!
David and Mark figuring out cabinet placement.
Keith leveling out the countertop.
Our children eating popcorn and watching movies late into the night while we worked!
At any rate, we needed to get it finished up in time for our VBS team, so a bunch of us from church put in a very long, late-night week finishing up.
Kristin is a true servant...scrubbing the free-but-very-disgusting toilet that had been donated.
Tommy lovin' doing the drywall!
David and Mark figuring out cabinet placement.
Keith leveling out the countertop.
Our children eating popcorn and watching movies late into the night while we worked!
Building the Buck House
During the last week of July, Mark took two half-days off work to build a house and pen for our buck and his friend. (To read why they couldnt' just go in the barn with the rest of the critters, here is an excerpt from my post shortly after getting our buck:
Goat bucks stink. We knew this. They have some disgusting habits, which as distasteful as they are, are a necessary evil if one needs to breed goats. (Let's just say that in the goat-world, buck urine is a powerful and attractive cologne, so they take it upon themselves to spray it liberally all over themselves). We knew that the buck would need to be housed separately, because he, well, stinks. What we weren't quite prepared for is the sheer tenacity in which the odor clings to everything within breathing distance. For those of you who know the layout of our farm, he is in the barn, and we can smell him from our front door. You know something stinks badly when it stinks too much to live in the barn).
With that said, we had an enjoyable family time getting the buck house built! Mark really is amazing. Two afternoons and all the scrap lumber he could procure, and voila! The boys have been quite happy, and and at some point I'll post a pic of their finished pad. Another victory here at Faith Mountain Farm!
Goat bucks stink. We knew this. They have some disgusting habits, which as distasteful as they are, are a necessary evil if one needs to breed goats. (Let's just say that in the goat-world, buck urine is a powerful and attractive cologne, so they take it upon themselves to spray it liberally all over themselves). We knew that the buck would need to be housed separately, because he, well, stinks. What we weren't quite prepared for is the sheer tenacity in which the odor clings to everything within breathing distance. For those of you who know the layout of our farm, he is in the barn, and we can smell him from our front door. You know something stinks badly when it stinks too much to live in the barn).
With that said, we had an enjoyable family time getting the buck house built! Mark really is amazing. Two afternoons and all the scrap lumber he could procure, and voila! The boys have been quite happy, and and at some point I'll post a pic of their finished pad. Another victory here at Faith Mountain Farm!
A family hike!
Shooting Class
Through his 4H Club, Andrew was able to take a gun safety/shooting class at the local gun club. Mark, of course, was delighted to have such an activity with which to be involved!
Mark was very pleased with how well Andrew did-not just in his shooting (a pretty nice grouping!), but in how careful he was and how seriously he took the class. I'm sure this won't be the last of this with Mark and the boys!
Mark was very pleased with how well Andrew did-not just in his shooting (a pretty nice grouping!), but in how careful he was and how seriously he took the class. I'm sure this won't be the last of this with Mark and the boys!
Glacier Hike
We finally got to meet Rebecca's new boyfriend, Mike, the weekend of Andrew's birthday. Then a few days later, they came down and we hiked Exit Glacier together.
Despite the rain, we had a great time!
Suffice it to say that we like Mike...though "like" may not be a strong enough word for the kids' estimation of him.
They are particularly fond of him.
Despite the rain, we had a great time!
Suffice it to say that we like Mike...though "like" may not be a strong enough word for the kids' estimation of him.
They are particularly fond of him.
One more birthday celebration...
Having gone camping for his birthday, Andrew was disappointed not to be able to have over Nana and Papa, and Tommy. So, Sunday evening we had an impromptu get-together for brownies for one last birthday hurrah!
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Lots of love to go around! (And isn't Ben such a sport, letting the kids put Anna's hair clips in his beard)? :)
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Lots of love to go around! (And isn't Ben such a sport, letting the kids put Anna's hair clips in his beard)? :)
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