tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83326803418555231932024-03-05T12:51:50.538-08:00Our familySturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-615726390208828282010-06-11T14:47:00.000-07:002010-06-11T15:01:25.898-07:00Musical train<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uE6HMK8y8B5NsDRZvYjlpmdSFppKU4GBauMe7WHx4OeQS5TU5JPn64zX2qISUDYsK6vcV-efZljYwbNw4cFVo8Kgfg6JL8-4TQ3hlaP6PBWWArdWB-GMUEkR6FrWWIBBQlMghMPyb4Xy/s1600/p_00062.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uE6HMK8y8B5NsDRZvYjlpmdSFppKU4GBauMe7WHx4OeQS5TU5JPn64zX2qISUDYsK6vcV-efZljYwbNw4cFVo8Kgfg6JL8-4TQ3hlaP6PBWWArdWB-GMUEkR6FrWWIBBQlMghMPyb4Xy/s320/p_00062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481637088619085362" border="0" /></a>At Morton's Public Library, they hosted one of our favorite local children's artist, Julie K. As she sang about choo-choo trains, the children formed a couple of lines and paraded around the parents. It was so cute! Julie joined right in without much hesitation. Anything trains, and he is ready to go!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheeWOPM7PRTs3qluAZLAQj1oH4rQrwJ4mdlBqPN5ZevlZ5WoX5mc86xHAONOQ_lCRuvB6Bkel_IIVRgVHnPLFtCg6SfsqLYiFVYcZ6bNlSeX02E24r_vQOK5RTpjKA4XOm3lU7tuYbSwms/s1600/p_00043.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheeWOPM7PRTs3qluAZLAQj1oH4rQrwJ4mdlBqPN5ZevlZ5WoX5mc86xHAONOQ_lCRuvB6Bkel_IIVRgVHnPLFtCg6SfsqLYiFVYcZ6bNlSeX02E24r_vQOK5RTpjKA4XOm3lU7tuYbSwms/s320/p_00043.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481637083985708802" border="0" /></a>Pekin's miniture golf features a train theme too - coal car, tracks, even a caboose that you go inside to tee off and then hop off to follow your ball down the tubes to the hole. Julian went around and around on that hole five times! And, he played a little game of make believe insisting that mom sit in the train seat and he called out "all aboard" then punched the pretend tickets. <br /><br />Julian only teed off the actually tee the first turn. After that he would just run up to the hole, place the golf ball about three inches away, then bend over and take his shot. He was very curious when the ball disappeared down the tube at the 18th hole. He didn't want any other balls to go down there since they weren't returned to you!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1Ro1ar6PBhS6kdITz0oHz6mk9W2ssvHTembiKVYrwb_oI5KBLxUb1srvIEBdiL1ifw26yGQOi8fRQlwjYc82Xj397Y71X3bZGYZSsd41dQeLvY3A29EJIbGCQOAqYontUp_cSPPZJho0/s1600/p_00058.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1Ro1ar6PBhS6kdITz0oHz6mk9W2ssvHTembiKVYrwb_oI5KBLxUb1srvIEBdiL1ifw26yGQOi8fRQlwjYc82Xj397Y71X3bZGYZSsd41dQeLvY3A29EJIbGCQOAqYontUp_cSPPZJho0/s320/p_00058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481637067069418258" border="0" /></a>At McDonald's (or, should I say "cock-a-doodle doo"), Julian made a new friend. He and Maurice were big cheeses in front of the cameras!Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-42670881141378761532010-06-08T19:00:00.000-07:002010-06-08T19:27:47.257-07:00Outdoor fun in the sun<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyikPS1Bawq3XpAA9ZZkTUdx_OxCSRPH7pBmGko6rwh_LlxSFUegd76ZUOzbUwt0S1lY6BA1KmamuDjwSSdSr74ZHHqMmLYMOMpv9mHKCTXF7BRlRyQSdu4xNprradvC3sJfBy7ZdEqLdF/s1600/p_00073.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyikPS1Bawq3XpAA9ZZkTUdx_OxCSRPH7pBmGko6rwh_LlxSFUegd76ZUOzbUwt0S1lY6BA1KmamuDjwSSdSr74ZHHqMmLYMOMpv9mHKCTXF7BRlRyQSdu4xNprradvC3sJfBy7ZdEqLdF/s320/p_00073.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480590559327142578" border="0" /></a>During a nature hike this week, Julian helped me collect dried seeds that resembled little garden snakes. My intention is to paint them with bright colors and polka dots like the figurines found in Oaxaca, Mexico.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrC1zipK67sZpdjAOIAexPpdSONBEm4pLeaijoSJVISpuBomrdogJZm_tL3oOrSXFOh7ikET-I4GmOweQkodGShRDCIN3reA1p6PBa20u3Mhy9dZQt4yKrH76wDtexTCV7RH73XCJDPun/s1600/p_00065.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrC1zipK67sZpdjAOIAexPpdSONBEm4pLeaijoSJVISpuBomrdogJZm_tL3oOrSXFOh7ikET-I4GmOweQkodGShRDCIN3reA1p6PBa20u3Mhy9dZQt4yKrH76wDtexTCV7RH73XCJDPun/s320/p_00065.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480590551498961362" border="0" /></a>This low branch was at a perfect height for Julian to climb. Julian also insisted that I come under the tree with him in order to help keep the sun out of my eyes.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUBoLbWqn_WEVahyPXu_Kfb0K6qpY700LfA7w7pVTtP0w5fJgTU-2X5iZfeMvP0f_AJuBp_J36S4YbAyn8Jv0xmZb7qXYhcVp9E3y0yVV2teotqtQ3mpD0CpG2_n_HZJojLBGOVYsDS7H/s1600/p_00056.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUBoLbWqn_WEVahyPXu_Kfb0K6qpY700LfA7w7pVTtP0w5fJgTU-2X5iZfeMvP0f_AJuBp_J36S4YbAyn8Jv0xmZb7qXYhcVp9E3y0yVV2teotqtQ3mpD0CpG2_n_HZJojLBGOVYsDS7H/s320/p_00056.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480590536169124690" border="0" /></a>Barefoot and fancy free coming down the slide!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJLktJSl9ixSzPU547hh58HWk6kRjPF3VoSmAcePycd-6jgJ2nUJDO21vcoNxDfQByVIXqy2XsvahioKL0Ouyud8miVasTWa9632cNfxvEZc7y3HGRzKgPlyJ7MRSc6tYE4bHrHvusfb1/s1600/p_00045.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJLktJSl9ixSzPU547hh58HWk6kRjPF3VoSmAcePycd-6jgJ2nUJDO21vcoNxDfQByVIXqy2XsvahioKL0Ouyud8miVasTWa9632cNfxvEZc7y3HGRzKgPlyJ7MRSc6tYE4bHrHvusfb1/s320/p_00045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480590530290417490" border="0" /></a>Julian got caught nibbling on some of the bread crumbs we were supposed to be feeding the ducks.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqQbfy8Y7EJV2MMwQBmew5LSXOug7nruvGUSLrmpgE3T6YySI55J0TlvOMZpM6dt9VPPOqT-uOrX_Jp8MooaRD387TtomOaCWBGMvEAQvLptawbloaLOhDXcWZVBLPtkmX4Ll3RzAZ3mU/s1600/IMGP8820.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqQbfy8Y7EJV2MMwQBmew5LSXOug7nruvGUSLrmpgE3T6YySI55J0TlvOMZpM6dt9VPPOqT-uOrX_Jp8MooaRD387TtomOaCWBGMvEAQvLptawbloaLOhDXcWZVBLPtkmX4Ll3RzAZ3mU/s320/IMGP8820.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480590524845300066" border="0" /></a>Could anything be better than playing in the sun with the garden hose?Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-64269191376631532072010-05-15T13:34:00.001-07:002010-05-15T13:44:15.911-07:00My first fish<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MjzWs_k70F3-5BGWdTqgTHS6Bd4uxPtE0dBM3-APOBxMZxlkXveqYZIebOF6hVKSKuf5aeywxjmNvE4tWCQB7zZ5bgourtLYDSp8liOYE7D_FIH9sxsTyKaN5HbK3kpU3DhEC2neBl8j/s1600/IMGP8681.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MjzWs_k70F3-5BGWdTqgTHS6Bd4uxPtE0dBM3-APOBxMZxlkXveqYZIebOF6hVKSKuf5aeywxjmNvE4tWCQB7zZ5bgourtLYDSp8liOYE7D_FIH9sxsTyKaN5HbK3kpU3DhEC2neBl8j/s320/IMGP8681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471598926800453154" border="0" /></a>Well, would you look at that! Julian had barely sat down to fish, when he had a bite. Those whole wheat dough balls sure did the trick! Daddy was kind enough to take the fish off the hook and toss him back into the pond. Afterward we wondered if maybe we shouldn't have left the tiny fish on the hook as bait for a larger catfish. All in all, this was a very appropriate first catch for a two year old we thought!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6EmNbohMu3d9QNO0b1RJauZT7v5Rc6suRaNTizr7Fai9l0YjAW57webGMVffY6UvJYsLlEDFXQqGf_WeZET39UkLBbZrr33PxRpIFKooikEpBtBaaOXchneeQpGQI1h62X4nGTq43nnA/s1600/IMGP8670.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6EmNbohMu3d9QNO0b1RJauZT7v5Rc6suRaNTizr7Fai9l0YjAW57webGMVffY6UvJYsLlEDFXQqGf_WeZET39UkLBbZrr33PxRpIFKooikEpBtBaaOXchneeQpGQI1h62X4nGTq43nnA/s320/IMGP8670.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471598912706470866" border="0" /></a><br />Julian was very serious about winding in his own reel. And, of course, he brought along his blue Bass Pro Shop folding chair to sit on.Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-3446530703387677452010-05-14T11:45:00.000-07:002010-05-14T12:29:54.790-07:00Trucks! Trucks! And more trucks!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwHpFPSUFulyvb_LK6QO0W6afsVa2fvZpah_I7kyGdi060G3fr3CzFbtS7qSZFdhGFx0sYPNpyNWytQQHifROUyeztoy6H0w3N_iJYQi7UOKuDx_uQuqnQBzB4v_U7xgfA8AE70PQM-tD/s1600/IMGP8578.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwHpFPSUFulyvb_LK6QO0W6afsVa2fvZpah_I7kyGdi060G3fr3CzFbtS7qSZFdhGFx0sYPNpyNWytQQHifROUyeztoy6H0w3N_iJYQi7UOKuDx_uQuqnQBzB4v_U7xgfA8AE70PQM-tD/s320/IMGP8578.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471202451250332962" border="0" /></a>We met up with friends at the annual Touch-A-Truck event hosted by the Peoria School District today. Each kid received a "I touched a truck." sticker and bag for collecting prizes, snacks, coloring book, crayons, etc. Julian was all business as he headed out to see the trucks!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJ_YurOikMRa5Ppny5t7xrHRktPUltq5WlZnUoJAVxpCr5H67PX8ntfnNmwK8AEVi_bB0odTLZxr64gXxjcHL3PAWUD5kQsXNtE4zYWBvdUn4NsdhruGw0g9tO30I6F_wy9RjYd0Hh2ar/s1600/IMGP8656.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJ_YurOikMRa5Ppny5t7xrHRktPUltq5WlZnUoJAVxpCr5H67PX8ntfnNmwK8AEVi_bB0odTLZxr64gXxjcHL3PAWUD5kQsXNtE4zYWBvdUn4NsdhruGw0g9tO30I6F_wy9RjYd0Hh2ar/s320/IMGP8656.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471205037726821042" border="0" /></a>Julian got into hip action with some other kids soon enough. Fun, lively music played the entire time. I wish I would have taken a picture of the DJ (husband of the clown we noted)- he had six huge speakers set-up. They did the trick that's for sure, as it was a windy day and truck horns were honking constantly!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8U0l4zJ7GaM0L8E6gkgItZs9HJXs_MHoL26fS4OnQjq0FEmh5idivvMix0lrz7R1831yqv-qN70-_BmBsTvFneLgIcuJ_-zOBSC64MNsl-L_0mYH4iUph0codf7apGO2yp2h3cZBLLIud/s1600/IMGP8662.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8U0l4zJ7GaM0L8E6gkgItZs9HJXs_MHoL26fS4OnQjq0FEmh5idivvMix0lrz7R1831yqv-qN70-_BmBsTvFneLgIcuJ_-zOBSC64MNsl-L_0mYH4iUph0codf7apGO2yp2h3cZBLLIud/s320/IMGP8662.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471205031360921730" border="0" /></a>Julian was the last to part with his hula hoop; it was difficult to carry with both hands!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5085Gpdt_VWylTsc4E6qZriDvfIiw_be9XLPYgD8IWnwrmZVyZnrW6UddwoyL60Szg0_rCbeTQbjHO_rSoEWcx9mxtjYAOPIJIs3867gAozh7YRYrmOehEcWnb0cYTXeDlw-3KMtavu0/s1600/IMGP8653.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5085Gpdt_VWylTsc4E6qZriDvfIiw_be9XLPYgD8IWnwrmZVyZnrW6UddwoyL60Szg0_rCbeTQbjHO_rSoEWcx9mxtjYAOPIJIs3867gAozh7YRYrmOehEcWnb0cYTXeDlw-3KMtavu0/s320/IMGP8653.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471205025532193426" border="0" /></a>We took a break from touching the trucks, and sat under some trees to eat lunch. Julian kept watching all the action though!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrfyWBf2VJMpI-r55blJgFhFxQbEn5J_dLXFQaBqEfgqB_VKXJNRdNjh1mOgN_DEwu4F8cOM8u83w7X_CJqrusgP0m-4AS7KLq9z91xQ68YbM4gVczELakdybmEhQiVSSw9Q3Afh12zXD/s1600/IMGP8646.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrfyWBf2VJMpI-r55blJgFhFxQbEn5J_dLXFQaBqEfgqB_VKXJNRdNjh1mOgN_DEwu4F8cOM8u83w7X_CJqrusgP0m-4AS7KLq9z91xQ68YbM4gVczELakdybmEhQiVSSw9Q3Afh12zXD/s320/IMGP8646.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471205005777007666" border="0" /></a>Not my ideal place for a comfortable nap, but Julian must have known something we grown-ups didn't because before long two other boys jumped into the front loader too!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeaIi2__Yndb_EOpiIbC1rjEXApQatIreg3OMmVn49dmhqlFOynBJ9Q7-D-e9qPkZfG-ATX0q_6Ik80u_nZC-5sIwfafp8ts4B3BDA_JPCSxTxS_DJh1ynVQ1ICfCXRUVWOI1sjKcWarm/s1600/IMGP8647.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeaIi2__Yndb_EOpiIbC1rjEXApQatIreg3OMmVn49dmhqlFOynBJ9Q7-D-e9qPkZfG-ATX0q_6Ik80u_nZC-5sIwfafp8ts4B3BDA_JPCSxTxS_DJh1ynVQ1ICfCXRUVWOI1sjKcWarm/s320/IMGP8647.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471205016213787746" border="0" /></a>They all seemed tickled by their cleverness!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPgeKXTGHHpKQM3d5kW32EkuM2Qjw7wW1aR0TPlx_B3xuiRjYKAyiDUZ5hioVAfCXRXDFj4QSGapq2aqAfYeNPi3ItgcwFh20x2a6_I6UCujrJptzHd4zeXpjBlMeCfJoL9LSg5reZc6s/s1600/IMGP8625.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPgeKXTGHHpKQM3d5kW32EkuM2Qjw7wW1aR0TPlx_B3xuiRjYKAyiDUZ5hioVAfCXRXDFj4QSGapq2aqAfYeNPi3ItgcwFh20x2a6_I6UCujrJptzHd4zeXpjBlMeCfJoL9LSg5reZc6s/s320/IMGP8625.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471202494494066466" border="0" /></a>Inside the stadium they had carnival like activities for the kids. Julian was calm, cool and collected participating in the craft-like task of filling an elephant charm necklace with colored sand.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocIbBrvBCI2nQ5pYmIm4BrC19HijHRhAH9I0sIJobPGciAFe07io35nKBeLQ8wWAhR5QgbcBRrDpfFGXVSMR0jdcc6Zj87VF6lSgqtgjJaNpsVmjmIPkv0JjSBn5s8wRMXSYEktlkq_nk/s1600/IMGP8622.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocIbBrvBCI2nQ5pYmIm4BrC19HijHRhAH9I0sIJobPGciAFe07io35nKBeLQ8wWAhR5QgbcBRrDpfFGXVSMR0jdcc6Zj87VF6lSgqtgjJaNpsVmjmIPkv0JjSBn5s8wRMXSYEktlkq_nk/s320/IMGP8622.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471202475860940594" border="0" /></a>He was pretty good at fishing too! Maybe we'll take him to the fishing derby in Peoria this Saturday!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFrpOxaDp0J0CL0T_exHGMru6YZUet8evfAAGpsc_A2Su2bY0yAyhhU9GqcKSdbQbsnLimUMsFwXW2VxzmS03htuaSiIV9_xO_mbZEZxuf9-Im_UMiCy39f3mAPlI8kmtCUdxfZWiXkSR/s1600/IMGP8616.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFrpOxaDp0J0CL0T_exHGMru6YZUet8evfAAGpsc_A2Su2bY0yAyhhU9GqcKSdbQbsnLimUMsFwXW2VxzmS03htuaSiIV9_xO_mbZEZxuf9-Im_UMiCy39f3mAPlI8kmtCUdxfZWiXkSR/s320/IMGP8616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471202470919100226" border="0" /></a>He was really ready to take off and drive this tractor across the parking lot while wearing his hard hat from Ameren UE, of course. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5m00fDMsas2AAbJbhuuzbFQ-GOlXhVwBh4oMTSeqSWkKBlvtFkxjv1CziqDhXEr_-bZsbjZsZIrkHkUvLrZiLY8mjtpqjcUTAaIt-2Iey9sMS0q_-vSGXL3jyQ-nTs2YdhnoxCegD3E3/s1600/IMGP8597.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5m00fDMsas2AAbJbhuuzbFQ-GOlXhVwBh4oMTSeqSWkKBlvtFkxjv1CziqDhXEr_-bZsbjZsZIrkHkUvLrZiLY8mjtpqjcUTAaIt-2Iey9sMS0q_-vSGXL3jyQ-nTs2YdhnoxCegD3E3/s320/IMGP8597.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471202460515084402" border="0" /></a>Julian was pretty proud of himself for climbing into the driver's seat of the school bus. In fact, he reached for the CB radio at one point and seemed to be role playing! <br /><br />We'll probably go see more fire trucks this weekend at the 2nd Annual Fire Days in Pekin. There's a parade and free kid entertainment....they don't have to tell us twice!!<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-91757075249554652172010-05-04T13:40:00.001-07:002010-05-04T14:01:35.486-07:00Farmer Julian<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcjPcPSxqEk4GNEo70GLLNIwUuJnYDmn1sN4wlQG6lxNgyuvyF39V0p1ppULBw4tT9-cfvXLdVQWIdbG8GkPCaPdQyV1rk9AtVjSODpckmj-vNuIz4vxDe4CeNyzl9NS0xcz0N9sd88kG/s1600/IMGP8504.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcjPcPSxqEk4GNEo70GLLNIwUuJnYDmn1sN4wlQG6lxNgyuvyF39V0p1ppULBw4tT9-cfvXLdVQWIdbG8GkPCaPdQyV1rk9AtVjSODpckmj-vNuIz4vxDe4CeNyzl9NS0xcz0N9sd88kG/s320/IMGP8504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467521622405722002" border="0" /></a>We headed over to Fon Du Lac Farm Park with friends today. Boy, was Julian ever busy lending a helping hand wherever he could! First, there was digging up a new sand pit at the playground.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEZa77dPiVSeLeVPXVf4-prOuc9V_nQU1URmcFBS3V3So7TnMAut5xcjBDW-XspD1IPiMeBQ9M-kb64M2W4XI0nFoJ2bMejYBeReCdsopKmIpiMQWHr2O82rF2jRQxmQg9_8hJIy7-_Rm/s1600/IMGP8494.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEZa77dPiVSeLeVPXVf4-prOuc9V_nQU1URmcFBS3V3So7TnMAut5xcjBDW-XspD1IPiMeBQ9M-kb64M2W4XI0nFoJ2bMejYBeReCdsopKmIpiMQWHr2O82rF2jRQxmQg9_8hJIy7-_Rm/s320/IMGP8494.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467520924400442530" border="0" /></a>Then, Julian helped wind up the ribbons on the May pole.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivV1HichDjZvzgwDhZ4_hSGM7bzUeyMEv2XcxpOYomeJ2-lNsNuWfhCu5AEpVF8JT97E6yHWZvpj3Q3ubNYEqQw3EfJsgB-Y5nYlepE0WuZy0Q08VMXnldtYRQPslp-0ycM19QMEtk36XE/s1600/IMGP8443.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivV1HichDjZvzgwDhZ4_hSGM7bzUeyMEv2XcxpOYomeJ2-lNsNuWfhCu5AEpVF8JT97E6yHWZvpj3Q3ubNYEqQw3EfJsgB-Y5nYlepE0WuZy0Q08VMXnldtYRQPslp-0ycM19QMEtk36XE/s320/IMGP8443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467520280253333602" border="0" /></a>Here he is "testing" the cool shade in the pony's stable.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlFSbp4iS6KdAMqJwQNj4VwDjLYLw5gSSxHM7PvWx_nej76sAV1DnUfyOQ6mKZ_4zzSmYhFwOfEcWk5keiFvJuOUcMUY3I6da3Ra2gczI6Mjo6skvSp0MyylzqeLLHJFyvL3EJsvPBfpK/s1600/IMGP8455.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlFSbp4iS6KdAMqJwQNj4VwDjLYLw5gSSxHM7PvWx_nej76sAV1DnUfyOQ6mKZ_4zzSmYhFwOfEcWk5keiFvJuOUcMUY3I6da3Ra2gczI6Mjo6skvSp0MyylzqeLLHJFyvL3EJsvPBfpK/s320/IMGP8455.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467519319003300146" border="0" /></a>Julian checking out the saddle in the tool shed.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikimljd_XoVHEhHIUnT_kYjgMc0Jm6NSyCyGLjGbyHfL3pSaM-INgt-iuKg84GMymtk_Abn_68oWkz7MzrYP5fN09iYVTrYnY5rjDqZ2PRMCNy4dEIOkwKCm4L9l6uy7u6O0-jYKhnNqI_/s1600/IMGP8512.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikimljd_XoVHEhHIUnT_kYjgMc0Jm6NSyCyGLjGbyHfL3pSaM-INgt-iuKg84GMymtk_Abn_68oWkz7MzrYP5fN09iYVTrYnY5rjDqZ2PRMCNy4dEIOkwKCm4L9l6uy7u6O0-jYKhnNqI_/s320/IMGP8512.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467518861009298114" border="0" /></a>Milking the cow.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtaZzg8dUImLwiNLZ3dkj7BhllulccWX-EzCXOCepbSHV1azlpAZnkwOQOGy-xgmwgyD9TihcZ7wHD8cosjrY0VZhWxopJ7ECJipt2hUaOBy8kCI-C4DoD1DvgLYB8ikA3lSFvJsmdRbD/s1600/IMGP8510.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtaZzg8dUImLwiNLZ3dkj7BhllulccWX-EzCXOCepbSHV1azlpAZnkwOQOGy-xgmwgyD9TihcZ7wHD8cosjrY0VZhWxopJ7ECJipt2hUaOBy8kCI-C4DoD1DvgLYB8ikA3lSFvJsmdRbD/s320/IMGP8510.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467518502203941778" border="0" /></a>Then, dumping out the "milk" into the grass like he saw one of the volunteers on the farm do. <br /><br />Needless to say, Julian fell asleep on the car ride home. <br /><br />Mommy sang "e-i-e-i-o-u-1 farm park"!Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-46486339873683777222010-05-02T13:50:00.001-07:002010-05-02T14:23:25.751-07:00That's what little boys are made of!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkq4bJTMWU7lkwwx-0TGDjDsW72WCBFzdDqfKKwe1275c-qUiRuYRNQe1E11zIfrcJ_bdIPvRKn2etN42I3FX56Roq0XKHiKzbing1cfn3KchS4Jky_wZmm6ABGPFlhfGfqknjcHkpo7V/s1600/p_00044.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkq4bJTMWU7lkwwx-0TGDjDsW72WCBFzdDqfKKwe1275c-qUiRuYRNQe1E11zIfrcJ_bdIPvRKn2etN42I3FX56Roq0XKHiKzbing1cfn3KchS4Jky_wZmm6ABGPFlhfGfqknjcHkpo7V/s320/p_00044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466783260818773170" border="0" /></a>Julian has attended four Chiefs' minor league baseball games now. So, he was practicing his own baseball skills the other day. What do you think of this sitting down technique?! He was quite pleased with himself!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuJwBHFrW1NY41lHN-sw1k0h4H9Rh2t8_k60wb5PxOGWXTDXGgYJ_faIjwlucKyRhfGdSZIAJ3mmh4lTNwSFp5jqDZL9TjD9RZCZMzoMR04OGRYtZ5KdIhrZMte7IUBzabchmlxMggy5u/s1600/IMGP8332.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuJwBHFrW1NY41lHN-sw1k0h4H9Rh2t8_k60wb5PxOGWXTDXGgYJ_faIjwlucKyRhfGdSZIAJ3mmh4lTNwSFp5jqDZL9TjD9RZCZMzoMR04OGRYtZ5KdIhrZMte7IUBzabchmlxMggy5u/s320/IMGP8332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466782781173428066" border="0" /></a>Bath time was a whole lot more appealing the other night when Mom whipped out a travel size can of shaving cream. Julian thought it was funny sticking the rubber ABC's to his belly too!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOK5oLmXxKY_rICtTVq2CaEFh2tSmdOxhKlDG_47SFAOL46QtNngDI8PNNKHQ1L9Q1TWzDW8s5sRJO7x-4DLzTH9MBiy-qeX38MX169_31sgXr4l1ayXac1TwpSWsJwVoEXAwoZ2IA2lLe/s1600/IMGP8347.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOK5oLmXxKY_rICtTVq2CaEFh2tSmdOxhKlDG_47SFAOL46QtNngDI8PNNKHQ1L9Q1TWzDW8s5sRJO7x-4DLzTH9MBiy-qeX38MX169_31sgXr4l1ayXac1TwpSWsJwVoEXAwoZ2IA2lLe/s320/IMGP8347.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466779343557833074" border="0" /></a>Julian attended not one, but two children workshops this past weekend. He was in full concentration with the rather large hammer Home Depot provided for the kids. Lowe's usually has only small hammers for the younger crowd, so the heavier hammer was a really big deal!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFQRF3btePL9DSF2SUdanqOvQK4qLUIQvhOntBAQoTpfZifr2qTYbw4RBjgr8yNLMgAWyv3QaysNciCCXjNsDF9B5cmo-exdBkNA6WKkWY9RW2GDHaxlRebuoNVc1al2QIZ2_qjpeU3E6/s1600/IMGP8365.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFQRF3btePL9DSF2SUdanqOvQK4qLUIQvhOntBAQoTpfZifr2qTYbw4RBjgr8yNLMgAWyv3QaysNciCCXjNsDF9B5cmo-exdBkNA6WKkWY9RW2GDHaxlRebuoNVc1al2QIZ2_qjpeU3E6/s320/IMGP8365.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466779129319396546" border="0" /></a>The picket fence planter seemed to have Julian's seal of approval. He even found a little house plant to set in it which he had to kneel down and admire in the middle of the aisle on the way to the check-out.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptK2IzUUOpGLgXYToRAmTSbMMi-9vZhLbbf6xwrA1lOmiuznD7fpDZUuAb6X6s34h5_AlWZWrgwTgnDJkbYzkS10PivoLC8lAgwAPcZrGinhNIC5tL2tnq_x_sOtTwawAZj3pBJwEvWNE/s1600/IMGP8414.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptK2IzUUOpGLgXYToRAmTSbMMi-9vZhLbbf6xwrA1lOmiuznD7fpDZUuAb6X6s34h5_AlWZWrgwTgnDJkbYzkS10PivoLC8lAgwAPcZrGinhNIC5tL2tnq_x_sOtTwawAZj3pBJwEvWNE/s320/IMGP8414.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466778854272800306" border="0" /></a>At Wildlife Prairie Park, Julian thought the giant frog was a hilarious sandbox playmate. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkTxU5jk0C3sT9xJcvnzvnHGWTAh6QT-puhbwNZaLy5BWriMQtVsvekoho02xoe_BT7I4wkcPPd5VaD4opbS8CCO5W9RcR2kfzjuoKCR2ynsPRzZiH3xAez_IZ0uvZkdEEJsfaBEXPaEg/s1600/IMGP8405.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkTxU5jk0C3sT9xJcvnzvnHGWTAh6QT-puhbwNZaLy5BWriMQtVsvekoho02xoe_BT7I4wkcPPd5VaD4opbS8CCO5W9RcR2kfzjuoKCR2ynsPRzZiH3xAez_IZ0uvZkdEEJsfaBEXPaEg/s320/IMGP8405.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466778350051282178" border="0" /></a>Most of the animals were behind enclosures, however, this little turtle was found along the walking path. Julian had to show Mommy and Daddy how its head goes in and out of its shell (poke, poke). Then, he released it back into the talk grasses along the side of the path with that new baseball arm of his while Mommy rummaged through her book bag for the hand sanitizer!Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-58722855840288338122010-04-27T11:06:00.000-07:002010-04-27T12:09:54.511-07:00It's a great life!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbOuLAAM_mG7WGjo9Da0FDFpI8IGzPqFnUDazcAeQq7R8bxVupfJMHyML8qcigM8jccuuivIEzQGX0v2ktPKG0LC6pBIUTY9RnFIPAp3rpTpoL8jvAGlylBqe4urn0GqxzmHyvtppqAP6/s1600/IMGP8289.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbOuLAAM_mG7WGjo9Da0FDFpI8IGzPqFnUDazcAeQq7R8bxVupfJMHyML8qcigM8jccuuivIEzQGX0v2ktPKG0LC6pBIUTY9RnFIPAp3rpTpoL8jvAGlylBqe4urn0GqxzmHyvtppqAP6/s320/IMGP8289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464882524245526242" border="0" /></a>Nick captured this picture of Julian "hanging out on the tree swing". JuJu's favorite way of swinging these days is best described as the crazier the better!!!! He even pushes off the tree for a little extra fun -- agh!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW4By7fWtpgrY5ZCiDX0NLnFMVXm0sGwCpdQEGHdCsc1_1o0pbdj9Dg_Ef-baIeoxlzExhq4j6_-M7E_F8kd9vxSSfVDGaqG-fDEjzz84Ze9-rx9Hl6ipp49XrG-mzXn8cEAGKBzpTdPu/s1600/IMGP8256.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW4By7fWtpgrY5ZCiDX0NLnFMVXm0sGwCpdQEGHdCsc1_1o0pbdj9Dg_Ef-baIeoxlzExhq4j6_-M7E_F8kd9vxSSfVDGaqG-fDEjzz84Ze9-rx9Hl6ipp49XrG-mzXn8cEAGKBzpTdPu/s320/IMGP8256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464882200578263986" border="0" /></a>Julian often likes to sit as his very own picnic table for lunch, snacks and dinner. He must have thought his spot was a little too sunny, so he improvised a shadier seat with a rain umbrella.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyT3WYAqQMSIrEXXHHSr9dI9pBWhJj3_MOX52TiEyK5uVpYY-Ox-RTTD9XJ_1an-cFLyGnoKsic8WvVAx9MpFxxkSvpfyZ9fo1eH_FX4QVzu1L9WAb1FHCbMXbQzQJHXZsIMGw0fucVC-/s1600/p_00048.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyT3WYAqQMSIrEXXHHSr9dI9pBWhJj3_MOX52TiEyK5uVpYY-Ox-RTTD9XJ_1an-cFLyGnoKsic8WvVAx9MpFxxkSvpfyZ9fo1eH_FX4QVzu1L9WAb1FHCbMXbQzQJHXZsIMGw0fucVC-/s320/p_00048.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464881147995243698" border="0" /></a>The Pages' Circus (it has a Spanish pronunciation, by the way) came to Pekin, IL last Wednesday. We toured the arena grounds during the morning and were able to see the elephants, camels, ponies, horses, tigers and lions. Julia's favorite thing t0 watch was the park ranger mowing grass on the riding lawn mower!!! Later that night we did attend the live show; Julian laughed out loud, clapped enthusiastically, jumped out of his seat and attempted to perform some upside-down acrobatics and spins of his own, and even cuddled up to an 8 yr. old girl to enjoy the second half of the show!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwjGtTdmIoI7ruz8ifhQVET9YcKcqVwvpaofGr0cTXrb-7FTR5Mns0-v4ROZT_NitDV-QsfHhxZqvaDGsu7zYOssR00_ixCSxBpXVvKau-5t3YXiC5owPi_KNyU1077J_OMkkE8Dgtmn-/s1600/p_00045.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwjGtTdmIoI7ruz8ifhQVET9YcKcqVwvpaofGr0cTXrb-7FTR5Mns0-v4ROZT_NitDV-QsfHhxZqvaDGsu7zYOssR00_ixCSxBpXVvKau-5t3YXiC5owPi_KNyU1077J_OMkkE8Dgtmn-/s320/p_00045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464880953013308162" border="0" /></a>What better way to raise Mom's heart rate than to fly down the slide on your belly!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOfGqxwEQJQk101ij061iLUugIkA05231TQTYhYcciv8WvpNIkmkEdpvMM9JkgpZs0LDlTmZJY_fExlHL3k3yAcKBvEu3gQ_RoRMNtwIA4TCGpEz9QKiL8Ut7OkOiXTQFpovDRrpcw_SA/s1600/p_00042.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOfGqxwEQJQk101ij061iLUugIkA05231TQTYhYcciv8WvpNIkmkEdpvMM9JkgpZs0LDlTmZJY_fExlHL3k3yAcKBvEu3gQ_RoRMNtwIA4TCGpEz9QKiL8Ut7OkOiXTQFpovDRrpcw_SA/s320/p_00042.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464880700369979010" border="0" /></a>Julian's trying to keep up with our neighbor, Tom, who has a riding lawn mower!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcd27wueP0XcC-Vaap-ohQRaCpjG0UVWqXsBSWB2dR4agjH9Qrct6SF1B-XpAMGnfe0nIgWs8yEo2iFSuLJ1IdBzG1UfxM4JLnIeE3fkQ1O27H9bwII8hyAkQW_cveka7JnaEbxscwi4fX/s1600/p_00035.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcd27wueP0XcC-Vaap-ohQRaCpjG0UVWqXsBSWB2dR4agjH9Qrct6SF1B-XpAMGnfe0nIgWs8yEo2iFSuLJ1IdBzG1UfxM4JLnIeE3fkQ1O27H9bwII8hyAkQW_cveka7JnaEbxscwi4fX/s320/p_00035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464880523989977122" border="0" /></a>We toured the "Art of the Brick - LEGO" exhibit at the Lakeview Museum with our friends, Walter and Monica. The boys were most captivated by the permanent hands-on exhibit with plastic pins that you press back and forth.<br /><br />And, finally I must confess to dragging the boys (Nick and Julian) to a Primetime Expo on Saturday that was sponsored by our local newspaper. We were the youngest attendees...apparently "primetime" is a bit older that I imagined. Many in the crowd were participating in chair aerobics to the Golden Oldies. The antique car show was pretty cool though, and the Elvis impersonator bestowed a silk sash on Julian!Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-87738109953592951762010-04-19T10:48:00.000-07:002010-04-19T19:00:40.329-07:00Fun in the sun!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EWbo1V9l0pO00_-blGo0hHhGqoFPKbg0mPnC6cy5zFmjPYnUyDOc241vKskDLWPLybAZi7NaJTf50Yz16vM2DS8mmtVeCFwTiQINRI7duBmqIVTuuxrvvw6sF1KQBhWB-yalu7WPinPi/s1600/p_00042.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EWbo1V9l0pO00_-blGo0hHhGqoFPKbg0mPnC6cy5zFmjPYnUyDOc241vKskDLWPLybAZi7NaJTf50Yz16vM2DS8mmtVeCFwTiQINRI7duBmqIVTuuxrvvw6sF1KQBhWB-yalu7WPinPi/s320/p_00042.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462033662709381874" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://localhost:1415/20f09e683f9ff24bea5fdd765188adcf/image/1420c0495f13ecf0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; clear: both;" alt="" src="http://localhost:1415/20f09e683f9ff24bea5fdd765188adcf/image/1420c0495f13ecf0.jpg?size=320" border="0" /></a> Thanks to all the time we spent outdoors in the backyard last summer, the dogs have become very proficient at digging in the dirt. Their favorite spot is this shady area next to Julian's play house. Julian doesn't seem to mind; in fact, he's benefited from the dogs' actions. The dirt (when dry!) is really lose, and the hole has really grown in size. Julian grabs his "sandbox" toys and digs right in. Here he is with his safety glasses from Lowe's as it was a breezy day and he was tired of rubbing dirt out of his eyes. The outfit was of his own doing too!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShGuMud1pdWpO6v_qxbCbFOWw_jrlvesFRar0owdLYJmTtFoRZlrtbKfwUb-Jvk0vogDuiBDVFB1X9pNnnvCcjqNpBPTkfrB9gHhkjjugkaGNgONZXyhcqEdoIQGIM6mm42aE62GqfAXb/s1600/p_00044.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShGuMud1pdWpO6v_qxbCbFOWw_jrlvesFRar0owdLYJmTtFoRZlrtbKfwUb-Jvk0vogDuiBDVFB1X9pNnnvCcjqNpBPTkfrB9gHhkjjugkaGNgONZXyhcqEdoIQGIM6mm42aE62GqfAXb/s320/p_00044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461908295383346978" border="0" /></a>Lots of dirty fun!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OPRMkuuiImTnjg39DjXIZ5jSntvCHyxFtUeLN1oQ4UWPrPjQbBMe6fm_xMFNqqdce1PzbXPIqWC_06ITa08tfH6fVqF6lAvKjCr4ScArzuYrgTpw3i35iX_5UiNSLGtGRCShUnvm26Ff/s1600/p_00046.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OPRMkuuiImTnjg39DjXIZ5jSntvCHyxFtUeLN1oQ4UWPrPjQbBMe6fm_xMFNqqdce1PzbXPIqWC_06ITa08tfH6fVqF6lAvKjCr4ScArzuYrgTpw3i35iX_5UiNSLGtGRCShUnvm26Ff/s320/p_00046.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461908699840421634" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A little clean fun, too!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktlQ4AnV4rab0Vw3ndbAOpICzTRYGeQnrGdpNp3tfOyqPVbC89jcx5mzY6CJ4V57C48-_9FFrRzm3T3f4p-b5eH08VpLHRdFFQS3goDag_NP_1IsPhzvtc7wZWlW83wGw-vICjtT2ODb2/s1600/p_00055.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktlQ4AnV4rab0Vw3ndbAOpICzTRYGeQnrGdpNp3tfOyqPVbC89jcx5mzY6CJ4V57C48-_9FFrRzm3T3f4p-b5eH08VpLHRdFFQS3goDag_NP_1IsPhzvtc7wZWlW83wGw-vICjtT2ODb2/s320/p_00055.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461909127908606098" border="0" /></a>Concentrating while climbing at the playground.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlitgWXPnM7oKj1JDLFu5hSXeC0Zjpx06e0SxijXVygHNDxKiN5J5NY1Z_4azrslWi9vWfyVIFhkHPYftW2tHvwhv6Xg2XD0Xpf7Vu73EyoCgkspXzlXaYJuf1X3CPL-FNef1KJm9b_60/s1600/p_00072.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlitgWXPnM7oKj1JDLFu5hSXeC0Zjpx06e0SxijXVygHNDxKiN5J5NY1Z_4azrslWi9vWfyVIFhkHPYftW2tHvwhv6Xg2XD0Xpf7Vu73EyoCgkspXzlXaYJuf1X3CPL-FNef1KJm9b_60/s320/p_00072.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461909545334337842" border="0" /></a>Give a kid a shovel, and he'll spread mulch around for you!<br /></div>Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-81130964803550550332010-04-06T15:48:00.000-07:002010-04-06T16:02:57.205-07:00Have lawnmower ... will travel<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkkV2eT9i0A7kxZJIOQ5f214CfmbxyQ0xMbj1i1VkOhcmIxftaekDvuG0BAOUFi8xtFvgNybX9UcWCzuGzgKTlBCm7l-Kzfld57EPW4OVKMPc4GiH7t0Xb5uLQBPKl59BHvl2GI-0Iphu/s1600/p_00125.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkkV2eT9i0A7kxZJIOQ5f214CfmbxyQ0xMbj1i1VkOhcmIxftaekDvuG0BAOUFi8xtFvgNybX9UcWCzuGzgKTlBCm7l-Kzfld57EPW4OVKMPc4GiH7t0Xb5uLQBPKl59BHvl2GI-0Iphu/s320/p_00125.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457160882845488466" border="0" /></a>Shhhh! Don't let the IRS know about Julian's new toddler lawn mowing service! It's quite the set-up. He crawls into the red wagon, hauls the plastic lawn mower in with him. Then, Mom gets to pull him along to the "work site".<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Here are some photos from the past week:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBoC-kcc_yDBSaxa6DSmR_FEhORO9kXWjzxPORlzIjxgP0WM736Kdz_oIQnhMEhsy-bQOe90n70Hhsu4owgAjnPunHWK7ykmwzgj9ia5x_V_Txg26fWccsI1hywRXQgsajYMFJ3XnJTtV/s1600/p_00093.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBoC-kcc_yDBSaxa6DSmR_FEhORO9kXWjzxPORlzIjxgP0WM736Kdz_oIQnhMEhsy-bQOe90n70Hhsu4owgAjnPunHWK7ykmwzgj9ia5x_V_Txg26fWccsI1hywRXQgsajYMFJ3XnJTtV/s320/p_00093.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457161741381701826" border="0" /></a>Hanging out in Grandma Shari's forsythia bush.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxro4ZMFOOt-9kdBZz_Etbv7JL0eJ0I8PveLriVOvknnGhPOW9ZVloMVqrSrvjxTb6SZwamdQUOEGjB0qIlWU7X0FfuxiichK2qPh06QZNgkRoRqGth9SoBwO5NSLmA22FxrWLHCjz3wjR/s1600/p_00089.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxro4ZMFOOt-9kdBZz_Etbv7JL0eJ0I8PveLriVOvknnGhPOW9ZVloMVqrSrvjxTb6SZwamdQUOEGjB0qIlWU7X0FfuxiichK2qPh06QZNgkRoRqGth9SoBwO5NSLmA22FxrWLHCjz3wjR/s320/p_00089.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457163099120724226" border="0" /></a>Swinging along the zip line that Grandpa Jerry installed.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSDNSOkWL-vDNEL7G2ZfDEleXliL50STA0cd5z9Prb9-6eGRPv_qCf71_p1pI6U8ep02ivypSnF0TE0QX7tfxxIo2kzO4yW_8bpykJDAFANrJDQ_G5JfrxAZpmXCDRDrtG-K9PIlFBXQi/s1600/p_00118.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSDNSOkWL-vDNEL7G2ZfDEleXliL50STA0cd5z9Prb9-6eGRPv_qCf71_p1pI6U8ep02ivypSnF0TE0QX7tfxxIo2kzO4yW_8bpykJDAFANrJDQ_G5JfrxAZpmXCDRDrtG-K9PIlFBXQi/s320/p_00118.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457163658462911506" border="0" /></a>Looking for what the Easter Bunny left in the yard.<br /><br /><br /></div>Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-59013841091126615352010-03-17T05:51:00.000-07:002010-03-17T06:09:00.771-07:00Going green!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpN4FzFycqR9EgfI-ZoXZxb_mF5lar8B7QLRq4YjS-H0UYRsNkbgN8p9qLkekoCJf7GrhWNJb4NTKD8nCz8SHKHd5DCP5E3P7P9odjJc_MMi4eaKwa1uY0nB-h6tFoEElHqzHKvxeeZl3/s1600-h/IMGP8182.JPG"><img style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpN4FzFycqR9EgfI-ZoXZxb_mF5lar8B7QLRq4YjS-H0UYRsNkbgN8p9qLkekoCJf7GrhWNJb4NTKD8nCz8SHKHd5DCP5E3P7P9odjJc_MMi4eaKwa1uY0nB-h6tFoEElHqzHKvxeeZl3/s320/IMGP8182.JPG" border="0" /></a> Happy St. Patrick's Day! Mother Nature must know that today is an Irish celebration -- we woke up to a thick blanket of fog outside. Hopefully the sun will appear in time for the annual St. Patty's Parade downtown. Julian made a shamrock wand with Miss Mary at the library yesterday; he's looking forward to waving it among the crowd.<br />So, here's Julian helping Mom cut up a big head of cabbage for a yummy salad. Of course he was the official taste tester; at one point he lifted up the entire head of cabbage and took a big bite out of it!<br /><div style="text-align: left;">In other news, Julian likes to tell you his name -- "Ju, Ju" he says. Ahhhh!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOr8ce2JgK7_KieLzzFgCbuVOiiY7d9Aa9UefYgeIHVC-eT8HMGhqprHSCg8UblbmR62QU9ZAQqcR8wUvA50qjP_ys8nRAoAyxKA1-MzOZcM93qI1DLsx9gn5CiamFgEw5weLVYbCXZiqy/s1600-h/IMGP8196.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOr8ce2JgK7_KieLzzFgCbuVOiiY7d9Aa9UefYgeIHVC-eT8HMGhqprHSCg8UblbmR62QU9ZAQqcR8wUvA50qjP_ys8nRAoAyxKA1-MzOZcM93qI1DLsx9gn5CiamFgEw5weLVYbCXZiqy/s320/IMGP8196.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449586903965368450" border="0" /></a>Julian's hot-stuff picture!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4q5cZigP2xDF_7n0SHRBlAflsuX0aaSXrxR5dOma2ySbwjzOnHDt7nGWNYf18b-4LLfzD3A5FgyO_PBlQ_LGWhB5v8_eO0aW5yjzqMI6Fh_MzVCGcuRB-S88KJT-C__7Gw1ilFOwzB-R/s1600-h/IMGP8100.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4q5cZigP2xDF_7n0SHRBlAflsuX0aaSXrxR5dOma2ySbwjzOnHDt7nGWNYf18b-4LLfzD3A5FgyO_PBlQ_LGWhB5v8_eO0aW5yjzqMI6Fh_MzVCGcuRB-S88KJT-C__7Gw1ilFOwzB-R/s320/IMGP8100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449588696475419378" border="0" /></a>Rockin' out!<br /><br /></div><br /></div><br /><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none; padding: 0px; background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-27003458728187338562010-03-12T12:47:00.000-08:002010-03-12T13:13:29.498-08:00Playing in Peoria<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlBr5aDrCm1wFQVv_zHn3RgQfuZPGGkrKh0l3kuuUBZU-K_FmuJRIZJTHPRKsSpSP6Z_ColjZO8TpiVOnWc4OBCSGe4jLcUUwgn2HjuTKGjlgnFKuBZmy4C5Jo1eXP5-70GvuPit14n55/s1600-h/DSC03164.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; clear: both; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlBr5aDrCm1wFQVv_zHn3RgQfuZPGGkrKh0l3kuuUBZU-K_FmuJRIZJTHPRKsSpSP6Z_ColjZO8TpiVOnWc4OBCSGe4jLcUUwgn2HjuTKGjlgnFKuBZmy4C5Jo1eXP5-70GvuPit14n55/s320/DSC03164.JPG" border="0" /></a> Guess Mr. Monkey had a little accident with Thomas the Engine on the train track! "Doctor" Julian soon had everyone up and playing again in no time.<br /><br />The weather has been very Spring-like lately, so you can imagine where Julian would spend every waking moment if he could. He's been raking up old leaves, digging in the dirt (mud really!), exploring behind the garage, testing out all his riding toys, and even rolling down the hill in front of the house. Mom and Dad got in on the act and had a great time too!<br /><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxIv5dDNR1_ttE5ujE1Rrc1FTVCB7UfwfRx8bPTSGKiodPSbgn9nkKCpjKfETQx--qHnBqK3JoHZ1P9-ZSH8A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxogdxAA5qG15Jng7L4zpO1a9OlCaQ6YwXzt8743cDZyb6CbYSrpQIPfEGTk7R1m4RgNoooUWrZzPHP1x61TQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-86313359004011949382010-03-02T10:42:00.000-08:002010-03-02T10:42:51.634-08:00Dress-Up<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDj4ucwo5-7B1XwbIn07UgB-5P8Ics2toLbaj6BZkTCXUC1fdD_WCO7MoTBKl6GuD78DBMG9AqVRnC2nokw8NlN-JaiKKj47Az9x7C2azaRPBRV5kNqRqJJXbG-_N0GX61EgKUJh3GqB0/s1600-h/IMGP8073.JPG"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDj4ucwo5-7B1XwbIn07UgB-5P8Ics2toLbaj6BZkTCXUC1fdD_WCO7MoTBKl6GuD78DBMG9AqVRnC2nokw8NlN-JaiKKj47Az9x7C2azaRPBRV5kNqRqJJXbG-_N0GX61EgKUJh3GqB0/s320/IMGP8073.JPG" border="0" /></a> Julian loves to dress-up like his hero, Dad!!! What do you think of his white A-frame shirt and black rimmed glasses? Isn't he just the budding engineer??!! <br /><br />Happy birthday, Dr. Seuss......"left foot, left foot, left foot, right; play, play, play all day and night"!!<br /><br />Last night we worked on a family project - fixing a slightly used wooden train table. Julian was totally focused on repairing the broken draw. He really kept his mommy and daddy going despite the distraction of Monday night TV shows like "How I Met Your Mother" and "Two and a Half Men". After the table was mended, Julian tested out how the trains rolled around on it. He kept pulling Daddy by the hand over to the train table to play "Toot, Toot"!<div style='clear:both; text-align:LEFT'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-25895747287484301652010-02-24T05:52:00.000-08:002010-02-24T06:52:45.198-08:00Toddler tricks<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz_VoC7xmlS598q6BRetym_AOmj0nTf2_6sYgaaxiAAcwSVevM7zJTuaJoJwKbiKGAPzg_VTsxgC4XW4jC9XQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />I was finally able to catch Julian in the act of doing his handstand. He picked up this trick after participating in a toddler's gymnastics course at Family Fun day at the Peoria Civic Center. As you can see by his quick get-away in his box car, he'd rather not have his gymnastics tricks filmed until he's perfected them! :-)<br /><br />Right now the little man is scanning the bar codes on some library books with his toy register. Do you think we visit the library too often?? Hope we don't have a late fee to pay - Julian's piggy bank is already swelling!<br /><br />Another "trick" Julian has picked up from his parental units is hanging coats up over the back of a kitchen chair. Of course, Julian insists on taking off his zippered sweaters, jackets and PJs (which he is supposed to be currently wearing indoors) and hanging those up over his little chairs too!<br /><br />Daddy has been helping Julian develop a skill - writing his name. Julian really does like drawing, especially with Daddy's new MECHANICAL pencils:<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dweid2PIpOnzhRzB69YxTpJ_I324diwZtycWC40tCwkVH5QTxd0lN-KNA9gDB0Fy_b5KB9iAVfHEG-IDurRug' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-69758737830592979122010-02-22T11:37:00.000-08:002010-02-22T11:59:13.324-08:00Fun, fun, fun!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIJ0hL6ej2zhmG9YOzEGidiHBizfwNSSUcpdP_nsV2i3JSVpK4VMWht8SnNtgn21KwAQxu7-zNidZmR90j2KMbnXgBvxtSTVpdpncEvqPqLyiDIbHhRC7oZWZWWxGdMBhkQjSQHN4zo86/s1600-h/IMGP7978.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIJ0hL6ej2zhmG9YOzEGidiHBizfwNSSUcpdP_nsV2i3JSVpK4VMWht8SnNtgn21KwAQxu7-zNidZmR90j2KMbnXgBvxtSTVpdpncEvqPqLyiDIbHhRC7oZWZWWxGdMBhkQjSQHN4zo86/s320/IMGP7978.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div>Researching on the web for activities for toddlers seems to be my most recent hobby. This marble launcher idea was borrowed from <a href="http://www.toddleratplay.com/">www.toddleratplay.com</a>. I'd say it has Julian's 100% endorsement.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4v1H93y5iZEE6iK3-EHG9K_4qWZ0qvBIQQfkP8TdWiDwQZd1clAIZHMSH7XqmtYOxIu2mPLHGoX9uw1a73BCmDyHrLTB9siDl2WyYQeVqAgamIKoDBDif6a7qJpfosJKYz5DEOUjFYsj/s1600-h/IMGP8057.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4v1H93y5iZEE6iK3-EHG9K_4qWZ0qvBIQQfkP8TdWiDwQZd1clAIZHMSH7XqmtYOxIu2mPLHGoX9uw1a73BCmDyHrLTB9siDl2WyYQeVqAgamIKoDBDif6a7qJpfosJKYz5DEOUjFYsj/s320/IMGP8057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441156748611571794" border="0" /></a>Any guesses on who was eating this piece of pizza?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nscGqk3dIPmGa2X1YLq5Vhhil8FVK9I362oWnUQJz_FoqUtCVO_Ku8bv4BNgRVt-C8_fiTpYqKJPhPfnEZ_0qpwNKnW6KoluPcdOS0uWt-z7-oLz3Qu5Ot__qw08sXvNgPr7uVv89lD3/s1600-h/IMGP8058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nscGqk3dIPmGa2X1YLq5Vhhil8FVK9I362oWnUQJz_FoqUtCVO_Ku8bv4BNgRVt-C8_fiTpYqKJPhPfnEZ_0qpwNKnW6KoluPcdOS0uWt-z7-oLz3Qu5Ot__qw08sXvNgPr7uVv89lD3/s320/IMGP8058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441157672136166114" border="0" /></a>Oh, yeah...eating your slice of pizza upside-down is part of the Julian technique too!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2829nD29MJBqXR5x102_jLoD7HP8Ts-DcfCOMW1U1ichAf3Gph4Fw1vLsXWZqd4tE8qoJxpNxOTXpsz3WdjhWlkk6dz34MXDOmKZ8uTcBjdPSCfNKf4F6-CzfQ-374n2N6t14fPzVRoiH/s1600-h/IMGP8024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2829nD29MJBqXR5x102_jLoD7HP8Ts-DcfCOMW1U1ichAf3Gph4Fw1vLsXWZqd4tE8qoJxpNxOTXpsz3WdjhWlkk6dz34MXDOmKZ8uTcBjdPSCfNKf4F6-CzfQ-374n2N6t14fPzVRoiH/s320/IMGP8024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441159159991175650" border="0" /></a>Just having a little fun on the "farm" at Galesburg's Discovery Depot!Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-62275731000530519482010-02-17T12:00:00.000-08:002010-02-17T12:20:57.506-08:00Tea for two!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHB0hyYgdIYVxVra02dmWj4h2k8tz2sc3JN7Elos9_Yp4kQpVs6UVbwHMOKH0vp4xcndefiR6t1Bko-Xq5XdUA3IwEwC6RBmW9fYMgduf2SgilGUpFToVCp_-pG1EvPH0xWp1XrnBA48Jt/s1600-h/IMGP7951.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHB0hyYgdIYVxVra02dmWj4h2k8tz2sc3JN7Elos9_Yp4kQpVs6UVbwHMOKH0vp4xcndefiR6t1Bko-Xq5XdUA3IwEwC6RBmW9fYMgduf2SgilGUpFToVCp_-pG1EvPH0xWp1XrnBA48Jt/s320/IMGP7951.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439307266351247218" border="0" /></a>Julian was busy rearranging chairs in the kitchen. First, he pulled over a couple of chairs in order to create a blockade around his favorite "seat" - a.k.a. the spiral shaped plant stand. He played peek-a-boo with the camera a couple of times! Then, he lined them all up in a row which seemed to resemble a train. He even placed a few "passengers" in their own seats -- a stuffed lion and a Dalmation puppy dog. <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR42G5_g53Hd4F5KLMHQfG_O9ZkKI8XHuTe4ijmEprymqKAJoBXeNR47gn-Avn234vB89y8bU2ijRfSadDIfhZ7qaQhN3-9LCDvEnDbZR9uSJWyVNrgAMVjeHU1rrARTw3vhe-ow9OYXST/s1600-h/IMGP7957.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR42G5_g53Hd4F5KLMHQfG_O9ZkKI8XHuTe4ijmEprymqKAJoBXeNR47gn-Avn234vB89y8bU2ijRfSadDIfhZ7qaQhN3-9LCDvEnDbZR9uSJWyVNrgAMVjeHU1rrARTw3vhe-ow9OYXST/s320/IMGP7957.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div> Later on he set-up a tea party scenario. We had read a story featuring a tea party the night before; I suppose he remembered. I supplied him with some snacks and water which he quickly divided between himself and his furry "guest". He seemed quite pleased with himself and his domestic skills!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8ZLyd0US2KdOp_tacSR4excSetEwNIk74O-YQ8KIpuPHTSKFNirPduIpiUrSpKZv5LaeS-GLWMtjNd2IZzo2jKyMHoYtKpHyG-RWHm46uuOI1hi5FIIpxUpRIaxZtdmAGjwY8Fpx9kAz/s1600-h/IMGP7938.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8ZLyd0US2KdOp_tacSR4excSetEwNIk74O-YQ8KIpuPHTSKFNirPduIpiUrSpKZv5LaeS-GLWMtjNd2IZzo2jKyMHoYtKpHyG-RWHm46uuOI1hi5FIIpxUpRIaxZtdmAGjwY8Fpx9kAz/s320/IMGP7938.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439308972601595858" border="0" /></a>In other news, on a visit to the Illinois State Museum over the weekend for their Olympic-themed Super Saturday program, Julian was caught trying to pick the nose of a moose. Yuck!! For his fine digging skills, he won the gold medal:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirA8aGLH9xpNCEd01eUzna5lNcIwgGEnQozXWqmq6RrpSyHvpfBodBJBVvtcNvgzgSQKmnr372FxXktBhv19qAm64G-kUMeuvlRwaD6BkcBAg5ZqP65E6VvHafQ-HhCg8uP22PHEfKbZpn/s1600-h/IMGP7937.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirA8aGLH9xpNCEd01eUzna5lNcIwgGEnQozXWqmq6RrpSyHvpfBodBJBVvtcNvgzgSQKmnr372FxXktBhv19qAm64G-kUMeuvlRwaD6BkcBAg5ZqP65E6VvHafQ-HhCg8uP22PHEfKbZpn/s320/IMGP7937.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439309598799451826" border="0" /></a><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-37050591786153481802010-02-12T09:34:00.000-08:002010-02-12T15:23:22.531-08:00Won't you be my Valentine?<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEDCPJcOda__g1GwrEK_NpdEt3FtHSS2t5LSzUbiS7yvVJdYHpuvGwasz-hpopj8uvV0WSvyHjh_JIMpqyrSGuymKSoytEcXinohTv0EuKv-QUTyg3v-fukLyIpo1E-YpTWwqCS8Sr-UV/s1600-h/p_00044.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEDCPJcOda__g1GwrEK_NpdEt3FtHSS2t5LSzUbiS7yvVJdYHpuvGwasz-hpopj8uvV0WSvyHjh_JIMpqyrSGuymKSoytEcXinohTv0EuKv-QUTyg3v-fukLyIpo1E-YpTWwqCS8Sr-UV/s320/p_00044.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>At the play gym this morning, Julian received his first Valentine from a little girl, "Miss Olivia". He came over to show me right away with a very blissful smile on his face. Then, he was "Mr. Serious" trying to store his card in his pocket for safe keeping. What a guy!<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-28855948138899957442010-02-07T18:28:00.000-08:002010-02-07T18:40:20.421-08:00Rocketman<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOKq2fP4a3-apoECKxo5Aq2F98y3YfneNoCLre0DTRUNdPE-90UN6etLpFMMCwE7VIona7yOdqceUM7ECDcLYnXIXwF8ysQUUqWzoPXKuy2FDTyJIO3GOwKD27Hl0zsg9W1VA2oHU7meZ/s1600-h/IMGP7879.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOKq2fP4a3-apoECKxo5Aq2F98y3YfneNoCLre0DTRUNdPE-90UN6etLpFMMCwE7VIona7yOdqceUM7ECDcLYnXIXwF8ysQUUqWzoPXKuy2FDTyJIO3GOwKD27Hl0zsg9W1VA2oHU7meZ/s320/IMGP7879.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">This cardboard box was a big hit. Julian was pretending to climb aboard the spaceship with varioius animal friends. Daddy would countdown, then pick up the entire "rocket" and its passengers in order to "blast off" to the moon. Both boys were laughing and having a good time, and luckily the bottom of the cardboard box stayed intact the entire time.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MVq9hvs87cpOH6_tplI_C__w_ts2DH0CfLS8drQO7cTIA_DdlvXkrJ00sTFXd3dyqf-IcEGEkuq4WHzySwgA19cCp2NxpuQSWgYMYRRc8uz5Kb3hCcI7jkd5rgUYb8Ungdw1tQEfiFn4/s1600-h/IMGP7847.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MVq9hvs87cpOH6_tplI_C__w_ts2DH0CfLS8drQO7cTIA_DdlvXkrJ00sTFXd3dyqf-IcEGEkuq4WHzySwgA19cCp2NxpuQSWgYMYRRc8uz5Kb3hCcI7jkd5rgUYb8Ungdw1tQEfiFn4/s320/IMGP7847.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435694838367581730" border="0" /></a>What a perch! Julian was careful not to let his little friend fall off his lap (he kept his ankles flexed) while flying his toy planes. The coordinated jacket with planes and a red, motion activated light was a big hit too.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP56xnVi4DVd6ddG_DpgpS4Xzq0FdwGP91D41M0OqK2itMNxIe5BpLzF1scNsAxneRpfIgVGDNbh4x_4gB8UqPDUsDzjwWEBnibquiXpO2z7GnHdo6c473GG_XSI38KmWG2yJDV9j8Zit3/s1600-h/IMGP7861.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP56xnVi4DVd6ddG_DpgpS4Xzq0FdwGP91D41M0OqK2itMNxIe5BpLzF1scNsAxneRpfIgVGDNbh4x_4gB8UqPDUsDzjwWEBnibquiXpO2z7GnHdo6c473GG_XSI38KmWG2yJDV9j8Zit3/s320/IMGP7861.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435696210890972274" border="0" /></a>We found some good uses for the firefighter's hose that Uncle Jack passed along to us. Besides using it as a pull toy for the dog, it makes a great road for toy cars!<br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-77876757021187230412010-02-02T10:54:00.000-08:002010-02-02T11:27:53.187-08:00Happy Groundhog's Day!We took advantage of the free day at the Peoria Zoo, and had an awesome time! The animals were quite active. The llamas, goats, ponies and zebu all followed us around begging for treats. The monkeys were eating their lunch out of paper bags - sometimes they would climb inside the bags to retrieve the morsels from the bottom. Julian ate his lunch while watching the monkeys eat theirs...ur, monkey see, monkey do! (Luckily he didn't try to climb into the diaper bag!)<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br />The lioness seemed ready to have Julian for <em>her</em> lunch:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5BUK7IHLlTTIFhAhsb0Q-9H2vKxR9qgu0qFsWxH0rNAXkhZqIGbiKnggafe9nAZXInj_awYt780EmGNQ89B2qDDR0z9AEUy-_rYf8FWe7K-DJ4AgvgFKlFvENyakdDa6z8EXRtW-tmwD/s1600-h/p_00001-1.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5BUK7IHLlTTIFhAhsb0Q-9H2vKxR9qgu0qFsWxH0rNAXkhZqIGbiKnggafe9nAZXInj_awYt780EmGNQ89B2qDDR0z9AEUy-_rYf8FWe7K-DJ4AgvgFKlFvENyakdDa6z8EXRtW-tmwD/s320/p_00001-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Mom, can we go look for the giraffes NOW?!!!!<br /><br />After all the walking around, Julian enjoyed a little snow for dessert as we were leaving!<br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4bhoOLtAAzsdHH82rHORgtsuED_S7-34bto17gC7tfqzXgs-Yf5lPlClKaO4y9zo59tOOaAQeQr6jXj6a3N7fXkoPEVjyYASR3xTNFbPjuL4X7knQqsX5yUJiEhn7nzgL1D6P1KUf54qD/s1600-h/p_00002.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4bhoOLtAAzsdHH82rHORgtsuED_S7-34bto17gC7tfqzXgs-Yf5lPlClKaO4y9zo59tOOaAQeQr6jXj6a3N7fXkoPEVjyYASR3xTNFbPjuL4X7knQqsX5yUJiEhn7nzgL1D6P1KUf54qD/s320/p_00002.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQPNuoPY-FxZHtm8Cg2AlJxCs3KCDFQSenkRlnfH1vmvUtUYGwH1Nb_exSiUG3iNaO1esmS2UvWEkNe2eJAY__bCchX01mW7m4flu422qAJnjKQCEoG6zetdRPgw9W95T094Z9837-hew/s1600-h/p_00004.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQPNuoPY-FxZHtm8Cg2AlJxCs3KCDFQSenkRlnfH1vmvUtUYGwH1Nb_exSiUG3iNaO1esmS2UvWEkNe2eJAY__bCchX01mW7m4flu422qAJnjKQCEoG6zetdRPgw9W95T094Z9837-hew/s320/p_00004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />And, this was a very exhausted Julian on the car ride home - yes, that is a cracker hanging out his mouth:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aB2Z2iXuZkGEtxIfqC7gqAXm5UlZSqQlzwugn0nblvrdBlPRPT8E3cfWDBZGaA0928Nl7RamYsgOo5KUs632dNOc9Zbi88H47mfOIZOiRz8oMeCcFGG2sShE9tUBjR-ASYkd53gTWhjp/s1600-h/p_00001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aB2Z2iXuZkGEtxIfqC7gqAXm5UlZSqQlzwugn0nblvrdBlPRPT8E3cfWDBZGaA0928Nl7RamYsgOo5KUs632dNOc9Zbi88H47mfOIZOiRz8oMeCcFGG2sShE9tUBjR-ASYkd53gTWhjp/s320/p_00001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433724067928236418" border="0" /></a><br />In other Julian news, he is as busy as ever working with his tools. Here he is in action:<br /><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx_7vrVGeKePMx1CSTIrOoQUOpmqG5tSIGoApf3OcEbJjnm_sl6V1Wb4MSHgu7Jn_gokz47Hga1JH0WB6EUXw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />(The battery on the camera ran out just before cute, silly Julian put on his safety glasses upside down!)<br /><br />And, finally, here's Julian examining the craft project of the day: <br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzP0SpZeU1j18mzoGS8bD5maB_2mtpHAa8OckOpdfVL_eQ7GDKbPko3CoWeY0KK-ZN5r1TAR7JEQAIkJCYpSg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />(Mommy got a little mixed up with her furry friends' names...hedgehog??...what??? <br />Oh, how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?)Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-19607820974214307262010-01-28T09:30:00.000-08:002010-01-28T09:33:31.472-08:00Hmmm...what to get into next<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIg-ltGE-n6H2T3AUWwXB2T4xAWWcA9kEKoFUwZ9TGBt9DI_OwJB9huTdVtny0-rcUD8G7qKKKair2r2A5xYPpp_0FMRx6cT9sGT_DPoDWR_pNcx7yLOdVEJ0T9EEPVv4MXTZAxhAXxcul/s1600-h/DSC02910.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIg-ltGE-n6H2T3AUWwXB2T4xAWWcA9kEKoFUwZ9TGBt9DI_OwJB9huTdVtny0-rcUD8G7qKKKair2r2A5xYPpp_0FMRx6cT9sGT_DPoDWR_pNcx7yLOdVEJ0T9EEPVv4MXTZAxhAXxcul/s320/DSC02910.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br />This look (especially with the tongue out) says it all. What can I do to stir up some trouble? How can I get that camera away from Dad so I can be the photographer for awhile? You may think I'm cute, but wait until you see me in action! I'm a big boy now, so beware! (Mom can't wait for warm weather again to let the little man loose outside!)<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-35533182441531143892010-01-23T17:35:00.001-08:002010-01-23T17:36:07.518-08:00Now wait a minute!<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6PtLorj0wSfPf2axSAkpEvNqU0bV_Jjz_-YXp3UrBlm6oT9xy9PyeFRryUssJNnsRZM1XYuKhDPWRF06wNpNl0gJFMopKQhzMtH9aMxHJAps7NWk1D4PEeBmSgRIKd2SgH8Dskndv3IU/s1600-h/p_00077.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6PtLorj0wSfPf2axSAkpEvNqU0bV_Jjz_-YXp3UrBlm6oT9xy9PyeFRryUssJNnsRZM1XYuKhDPWRF06wNpNl0gJFMopKQhzMtH9aMxHJAps7NWk1D4PEeBmSgRIKd2SgH8Dskndv3IU/s320/p_00077.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>Here we are at Lowe's Build and Grow kids' program. Julian looks a little worried in this picture. Hey, whose kid project is that anyway? As it turned out, Mommy had to go ask for another hammer so that each of the boys could have their own tools to work with. The Tic-Tac-Toe game box turned out great - on the first try! Julian was busy this evening stacking the game pieces into a tower and knocking them over; it's a very versatile game, you know! <br /><br />As a family we ventured out to the Family Fun Fest at the Peoria Civic Center. Thank goodness they had a Toddler Town set-up this year with its own bouncy castle, because the lines at all the other "big kid" inflatable games were really long. We didn't even bother trying to take a pony ride or have our faces painted. The local gymnastics studio created an obstacle course for the lil' tikes; Julian loved their jungle theme so much that he nearly walked off with their stuffed cheetah. (He did help the cheetah to ride on the rocking horse, go down the slide and crawl through the tunnel before trying to make a get away with him!)<br /><br /><br />In other news, we can finally see the grass (and lots and lots of mud) in our yard again! It's been under a naturally white cover for nearly a month.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-62292264912858109542010-01-21T14:45:00.000-08:002010-01-21T14:49:23.207-08:00Hey buckaroo<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5TlAdNFeZZCLHeHo6iJU0tUqHAxMvfooEb9WQI6QC9Q0pztRXvbyOgb84nGlURv5cDCnVmO14ZWoJ7KnsVC5vSEmclF10MgeOsnz2CP-nBCxPdZ2uJoyIlC9K9-nlTVTpZw099ZTRVZh/s1600-h/IMGP7799.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5TlAdNFeZZCLHeHo6iJU0tUqHAxMvfooEb9WQI6QC9Q0pztRXvbyOgb84nGlURv5cDCnVmO14ZWoJ7KnsVC5vSEmclF10MgeOsnz2CP-nBCxPdZ2uJoyIlC9K9-nlTVTpZw099ZTRVZh/s320/IMGP7799.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Julian rediscovered a few of his pre-Christmas toys. He lugged around his baby doll -- feeding him cheese balls, reading him books, even setting him IN the potty. Then, later on when he was riding around on his horse while wearing the cowboy hat (of course!), he picked up the baby doll and took him for a ride too.<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-26172435116977645852010-01-18T13:15:00.000-08:002010-01-18T13:15:56.670-08:00Bookworm<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXi5Egxt-7nW94VmimUzVPV_DqwZ9qHg3Ke4LJWz977roNSrP1KjY3p1QiShOA6hc__8dfDxJtcIiHpaisSjC0TDZlEGt1j2-rUwrrxgMt0KcL0lLAWKI-jFbZh4fgL9115GEyD87D11w/s1600-h/IMGP7795.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXi5Egxt-7nW94VmimUzVPV_DqwZ9qHg3Ke4LJWz977roNSrP1KjY3p1QiShOA6hc__8dfDxJtcIiHpaisSjC0TDZlEGt1j2-rUwrrxgMt0KcL0lLAWKI-jFbZh4fgL9115GEyD87D11w/s320/IMGP7795.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>A bed of......books! Julian had carried these five oversized books into the kitchen by himself. He sat down on the bottom rung of the metal plant stand to "read" them when a couple fell to the floor. Instead of getting upset, he just went with the flow, and decided to lay down on top of the books for awhile! Go figure.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-59079886798875224402010-01-13T13:05:00.000-08:002010-01-13T13:11:01.074-08:00Testing the soil quality<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9cMbPjHBxeboukr3_SJLAr7ktsM8bARsyYyHd_2XDBl2nTczJZ_06CQVhyvqt0pdtmdEJUCYHCdQfjG4DpmETkKdzIX7GpQwe7cMJZhhP9zI-laQtSusApzjJWP1J98KSpIJJ7sQNCiG/s1600-h/IMGP7745.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9cMbPjHBxeboukr3_SJLAr7ktsM8bARsyYyHd_2XDBl2nTczJZ_06CQVhyvqt0pdtmdEJUCYHCdQfjG4DpmETkKdzIX7GpQwe7cMJZhhP9zI-laQtSusApzjJWP1J98KSpIJJ7sQNCiG/s320/IMGP7745.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />In lieu of taking a nap this afternoon, Julian and Mommy planted some tulip bulbs. The instructions say to keep the bulbs in a dark, cool location that is between 40-50 degrees F. That might actually have been a problem before this week, even indoors in our unheated basement as the temperature has been well below freezing since New Year's Eve. (By the way, that white shirt didn't stay white along the sleeves for very long.)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbz5tZD1k3BglBZgN4YV6Kcroi0iMVBlkapbIwM22agqtRCpwki1RMgCF8uryIfGspquiCA6GcfVvJIk498eRaTgZX0V3Q3RGcfnGsMGsLgqlusneZqLMB2itZF6mVH4gnvsuP_Z7g8nGD/s1600-h/IMGP7735.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbz5tZD1k3BglBZgN4YV6Kcroi0iMVBlkapbIwM22agqtRCpwki1RMgCF8uryIfGspquiCA6GcfVvJIk498eRaTgZX0V3Q3RGcfnGsMGsLgqlusneZqLMB2itZF6mVH4gnvsuP_Z7g8nGD/s320/IMGP7735.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426334631587419826" border="0" /></a>Earlier this week, while Mommy was folding the laundry, Julian thought he'd help her by putting additional clothes on. He ended up wearing one shirt, one sweater vest, two jackets, one diaper, one pair of slacks and a pair of "big boy" underpants on the outside! He was definitely warm!<br /><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-91894992765872983982010-01-10T12:11:00.000-08:002010-01-10T12:28:37.557-08:00Here, let me lend a hand!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vvw13c4p6_cMoJ2chyphenhyphennufWvxPMNP2AfQFl9CiViqcTaakj1uylk9r31xlktG-RzIOt8zueV4jKjZSp_5za2T1D45tg6zSKvcoM-YNTjmAlxtDjL0wH9qKe7dCJFnKD5FS9zEn-gUMbHn/s1600-h/IMGP7727.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vvw13c4p6_cMoJ2chyphenhyphennufWvxPMNP2AfQFl9CiViqcTaakj1uylk9r31xlktG-RzIOt8zueV4jKjZSp_5za2T1D45tg6zSKvcoM-YNTjmAlxtDjL0wH9qKe7dCJFnKD5FS9zEn-gUMbHn/s320/IMGP7727.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Julian and Daddy hard at work. Julian's little pretend drill quickly ran out of batteries, so Daddy kindly "shared his toys". This is one of Mommy's favorite toddler activities of all time -- watching the boys work together so nicely. The 2010 calendar is already marked for Home Depot's kid projects each first Saturday of the month.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOHMRcxbfzNyOwIHay1czZAMDRDYULd0Mu1ItdgVXMriPV1Fsl5rdj0ehTWUQvZv4XnR3__ewJCcy7sHse0ZdFxjF3xYKkTZYwyL4u7UpDDYlEhYmRTEwGD_Eb6wKDnj9-_BLlNFhCWMa/s1600-h/bongoinsnow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOHMRcxbfzNyOwIHay1czZAMDRDYULd0Mu1ItdgVXMriPV1Fsl5rdj0ehTWUQvZv4XnR3__ewJCcy7sHse0ZdFxjF3xYKkTZYwyL4u7UpDDYlEhYmRTEwGD_Eb6wKDnj9-_BLlNFhCWMa/s320/bongoinsnow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425210000660535570" border="0" /></a>Bongo wasn't interested in coming inside this afternoon. He seemed to want to bathe in the sun. Well, it is 20 degrees after all, and that would be 20 degrees warmer than it has been all week!<br /><br /><br /><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332680341855523193.post-75483122552179040142010-01-08T11:11:00.000-08:002010-01-08T11:17:58.739-08:00Bringing the outdoors inside<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx30Hxc8x-9-cXAdSMMl-H187I57WK-2PFWqVX3F80Qn-7iOqgbUgvMLJFSjsSOeCPi4cOGX4aPYzNX0ObScBvcN3rf3AiX8F9s9QWZPkxwtyJB6P_aPgMx2eAYHDfxo-FR9mmSgBighu/s1600-h/IMGP7665.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx30Hxc8x-9-cXAdSMMl-H187I57WK-2PFWqVX3F80Qn-7iOqgbUgvMLJFSjsSOeCPi4cOGX4aPYzNX0ObScBvcN3rf3AiX8F9s9QWZPkxwtyJB6P_aPgMx2eAYHDfxo-FR9mmSgBighu/s320/IMGP7665.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div>The best way to play in the snow -- shirtless and indoors, of course! Julian had a great time INDOORS shoveling the snow (in his dish pan!), building snowmen (well, the kind that pop out of ice cube trays, anyways), and sprinking salt around (watching the snow melt, in the pan again). Mom loved the fact that Julian could play comfortably while she sipped on hot chocolate in her plush booties and PJs. Julian was given spray bottles with red and blue water to "paint" the snow patriotic colors. Oh, boy, did he enjoy himself, and get carried away "painting" the kitchen walls too! All was easily cleaned up with a quick towel wipe down.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwlMXKtGm7uFIOjDWl2-Z5ii-i7ZqeUJ0nmUwbD5KXr5LK8CaEgzIbF19MKVS0G5zz9n2IuDADmhku23wLZRssMP6tKPIasbUv9Gx6jojNhSWzO5fsB8PPkb1hk0Rc1uYX2PGRwnK-xVO/s1600-h/IMGP7707.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwlMXKtGm7uFIOjDWl2-Z5ii-i7ZqeUJ0nmUwbD5KXr5LK8CaEgzIbF19MKVS0G5zz9n2IuDADmhku23wLZRssMP6tKPIasbUv9Gx6jojNhSWzO5fsB8PPkb1hk0Rc1uYX2PGRwnK-xVO/s320/IMGP7707.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424450045233554818" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVrWLeQbtosrTRzMZKzKC0XUj43onGuEiaylBALDFZdpjmE_XUGNlnytHsyqsdSefCUJFGos7gYUazSN5ktE7YoeJnv1yj1JFfPkN6DHlzwKqzepB7KfJO580qYt7ihLY-aOA9uAZI6lj/s1600-h/IMGP7682.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVrWLeQbtosrTRzMZKzKC0XUj43onGuEiaylBALDFZdpjmE_XUGNlnytHsyqsdSefCUJFGos7gYUazSN5ktE7YoeJnv1yj1JFfPkN6DHlzwKqzepB7KfJO580qYt7ihLY-aOA9uAZI6lj/s320/IMGP7682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424449423180355090" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">A little taste testing took place too!<br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Sturm familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379015073603614480noreply@blogger.com0