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Workflow Matters

One key challenge that has prevented me from posting is workflow related to pictures. A few years ago, I had a really good one. I used Picasa desktop version to edit, direct upload to Google photos, and then linked the photos in Blogger. It was streamlined and easy, and the main reason I stayed with Blogger when most people have moved to Wordpress or some new, sexier platforms. A few things that broke this workflow: Picasa has been discontinued by Google and there is no comparable option. It was free, easy to use and had very useful features. Most editing software now have fees/subscriptions. Taking more photos using my phone vs. the digital camera. I had a very organized folder structure for pictures taken with the digicam and they're saved in the laptop + external drive. Ideally I want phone photos from the same event or dates to be in one folder, but I haven't figured out a way to efficiently do this. I transitioned to a MacBook last year and now have to deal with the quirks...
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Neighborhood Egg Hunt

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We have been in our current neighborhood for more than 4 years and always appreciate opportunities to meet the neighbors especially since these interactions rarely happen organically. Our HOA organized an egg hunt for the kids Sunday before Easter. We arrived from Panama City Beach on Saturday, went to church Sunday morning, had swim lessons for all three kids in the afternoon, then the egg hunt. I felt tired just typing that but when you're in the moment, you just make things happen. :) The egg hunt happened in a neighbor's backyard. A number of families showed up and we got to talk to neighbors we haven't met before, or haven't seen in a while.  Leanne is grumpy here because she just woke up from her nap.
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Spring Break at Panama City Beach, FL

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The kids get a whole week off school in April for spring break. We always intent to take advantage of these long breaks to go somewhere else and spend money, er, time together. :) We were at Panama City Beach, FL during fall break last year and enjoyed it so much that we decided to go back. What we didn't carefully consider this time was the weather. It was cold and windy most days so despite our best intentions, we couldn't stay very long at the beach. The waves were wild compared to the calm waters of fall. Still, it was nice to get away. The ocean is always good for the soul. The hotel we stayed at had heated pools so that's where we hung out most of the time. Of the three kids, Ela is the most enthusiastic about the pool. She would stay there all day if we let her. Neil might seem disinterested in the beginning but he goes with the family and finds himself enjoying too. Leanne still takes long naps after lunch so I had to stay with her while Rich watched the older ones....
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Where do we go from here?

Hello, blog! It's been very quiet here. No posts in 2021, which is sad.  I don't remember things/events very well which is why I like writing things down on my paper planner and taking pictures. The app that I consistently use on my phone is Timehop because I enjoy getting reminded of the past through pictures and videos. I'm on a 1500+ day streak! With the kids, it has been awesome/bittersweet to see how much they've grown. However, some things are not sufficiently captured by notes on a planner or pictures -- state of mind, current perspectives, events, challenges and inspirations. A friend's blog post linked on Facebook prompted me to revisit this site and consider its future. In the past, this was my way of documenting events primarily for me and eventually for the kids to look back on. I think that will continue, but maybe inject more stories here and there. Also, I spend too much time online scrolling mindlessly through people's posts. This will help me sh...
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Quarantine Baking

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We just finished week 6 of quarantine due to COVID-19. People are coping in different ways and I've seen a lot of people bake bread and desserts, our house included. So far, I've made four cakes and two batches of cookies. All from scratch. I think this is my first time to bake anything from scratch,  not using store-bought mix. I don't have a mixer so all this baking has been done by hand. I didn't want to buy a gadget that may not be used a lot, but I've enjoyed baking so far... The first cake was too heavy (still good) because I did not get the mixing order right, but the later ones are much better. :) Chocolate Chip Cookies - Batch 1 Chocolate Chip Cookies - Batch 2. I followed this recipe:  https://newsroom.hilton.com/static-doubletree-reveals-cookie-recipe.htm Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting for Rich's birthday. Butter cake with vanilla frosting for Daniela's birthday. Chocolate cake for our anniversary. No fros...
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Project 52 - February 2020

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Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9
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Leanne's Dedication

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We had Leanne's dedication/parent commissioning on February 20 - 02.20.2020. :) We invited a few friends and we had lunch at a buffet restaurant afterwards. We chose Proverbs 3:5-6 as her life verse. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."
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