Aaron's knee.....

So we got home from our Christmas celebrations this afternoon, I called out Dr to see if they had the results from Aaron's MRI. He called back, and said WOW, Aaron did it good. He has a tear in the Medial Meniscus, and is to call the Orthopedic Surgeon tomrrow to schedule surgery. YUCK!! Not what we were hoping for. Then the urgent care dr called at 10PM (that is where he initially went to be seen) and Dr.Parrish said that after surgery he will need to be non-weight bearing for 4 weeks. That sucks! Thank god he works a job where he can sit, but it is going to be a long 4 weeks. As it is I really wanted the Christmas lights down off the roof, that is not going to be happening any time soon. We will let you all know when we find out when it is.

Christmas Day

We spent Christmas morning here, opening presents, Savannah dot an IPod,

Dominick a Nintedo DS
and then headed off to The Crittenden's for Christmas there. We had a great prime rib dinner, opened gifts, and played Monolopy Here and Now with EVERYONE!
Savannah played the elf (delivering presents) and Dominick was thrilled with his case of OLIVES from Uncle Shawn!

Christmas Eve

Every year on Christmas eve, Aaron had read The Night before Christmas. This year Savannah read The Polar Express (thanks Ruby) to everyone, then Dominick read The Night Before Christmas, then Aaron finally got to read it to the kids.


Did the annual picture of the kids in front of the christmas tree, this year Scarlett joined the picture.



Then we put out cookies and milk for Santa, carrots for the reindeer, and sprinkled "Reindeer food" for the reindeer. All traditions we have done for years, it was great!.

Christmas Eve Eve

Christmas is almost here. I miss my family and friends that are not near! It is hard to be excited this time of year. My family is far way (Boston, Las Vegas, and Yuma) and my best friend is in New Hampshire. I love my in-laws, and I am so glad they are here, close by to spend the holidays with. BUT I wish my kids had cousins to play with. I know that growing up having the 8 of us so close created special memories. My kids don't have that. Never did, probably never will. That makes me sad. Though they love their cousins dearly, they don't have the memories that we had of going to our grandparents every year, for every holiday. We have created new traditions, but I still miss the old ones.

New traditions:

~Grandma & Grandpa Sing take the kids to Storybook Land
~We go drive and see Christmas lights
~Aaron reads them The Night Before Christmas, every Christmas Eve
~They open their stockings ASAP Christmas morning
~Aaron and I open ours in bed
~We go to Aaron's parent Christmas day and celebrate with them

What are your traditions? What are your greatest Christmas memories?

May you all have a wonderful, memory filled Christmas!!

Let it snow frozen fog....

It just does not have the same ring to it. On Sunday we woke up to white everywhere. The kids thinking it was snow, rushed to get dressed and go outside, only to discover it was way more like frozen fog. It was really fine, but they still managed to make snow angels, and snowballs. We still 3 days later have yet to really unfreeze. Strange thing is that if you drive 2 miles down the road towards town, it is as clear as can be.


>

Ahhh...fooey!!

This has been a strange past 24 hours. Yesterday was the kids Christmas program. Savannah has a solo/speaking part. She did great! Then we went to dinner with Aaron's parents. They left, we got ready for bed and the phone rings. Its my MIL saying they cant get home because a tree has fallen in blocking the road/driveway. So Aaron gets out of bed, get dressed and drives over to help his dad. In the mean time a neighbor comes home, and gets his tractor to move the tree, so Aaron gets there and turns around and comes home. All this was caused by the HUGE windstorm we had last night.

Aaron gets up and gets ready for work, only to have his boss call and say don't come in there is NO power at the office. So he decided to go to her house and help her move her old home office to her new home office. He was getting stuff from the truck and heard a loud POP and he now can walk or straighten his left knee. 2 hours in urgent care, a brace, and an MRI scheduled for next Friday. They think he did something to his meniscus. So now he is hobbling around with the brace on, getting ready to go to work since the power in on again.

Plus the sump pump stopped working this morning. So he will have to dig that up and see what is wrong with it. All while not bending his knee. FUN FUN!

Damn, when it rains it pours....... I think we need a do over for today!!

Christmas Program

Tonight the kids had their All-American Christmas program. They have a new music teacher this year, she is really good. Savannah had her first solo/speaking part. She has never tried out before, and decided that since this was her last year there she would. She did great!!

Storybook Land and Santa

Every year since Savannah was born Grandma & Grandpa Fish have taken the child(ren) to Storybook Land and at the end they see Santa. This year was a little different. Savannah said she did not want to go. I told her then she needed to call Grandma and tell her. She chose not to. So last night in the pouring rain, we all packed into the Tahoe and headed to the fairgrounds. The kids were not thrilled to be there, and it showed. It took a record 15 mintues to go through it. Past years we have been there up to an hour. They rushed through it, did not want to see Santa. Like I cared, I wanted the annual picture. They went, not happilily but then went. I think this is the last year I will get these pictures. I am sad, very sad. My kids are growing up too quickly!

Fill In the Blanks

Fill in the Blank

1. My current favorite song: Silent Night, O holy night!!

2. The last book I read: I am still reading Robin McGraws book, Inside my Heart I just can't see to find time to finish it. Acutally I think I have only read about 4 chapters of it, not that I dont like it, just time issues.

3. The last book I bought: Some hardbacked books, for the 2 year old in the family we adpoted this year through Aaron's work.

4. The last cd I bought: It's a Christmas gift, and she might read this so I can't tell ya.

5. Another CD I wanted but didn't buy: The James Taylor Christmas, well almost any Christmas CD, I have tons but one can NEVER have enough.

6. What I'm wearing right now: Grey yoga pants, red long sleeved shirt, and white socks.

7. The last gift I bought for someone: Just did some more shopping online, but again can't tell you what because I KNOW that person/family reads this :)

8. The last time I laughed heartily and loudly: Saturday night, we took our friends our for dinner to celebrate Eric's birthday, and then they came back here and we played games, and drank a few drinks. Need I say more.....

9. My favorite holiday ornament: Ones that are evenly spaced out, and all match.

10. My house smells like: Douglas fir trees, thanks to the tree we cut down on Saturday,and finally got put up in the house last night. Plus a variety of winter candles that are burning.

11. The first thing on my to-do list tomorrow is: Laundry!

12. If I could sit on Santa's lap and believe that he'd bring me whatever toy I wished for, I'd ask for: Toy, hmmmm....... Canon Digital Rebel XLI with the extended lens.

13. If I could holiday shop in ONE store, all expenses paid, I'd shop at: Nordstroms

14. If an angel alighted on my doorstep today and said, "I'm here to grant a Christmas wish," I'd wish for: my long distance family and friends to be here for the holidays, and their return flights to be delayed FOREVER!!

15. When I see a bell ringer while out shopping, I: Dig in my purse if the kids are with me, they love to donate. By myslef, smile and wish them a Merry Christmas in reutrn.

O Christmas Tree O Christmas Tree

NO! I am NOT pinching, grabbing, or hurting him, I am tickling him because he has hit the age where he will NOT smile, no matter what. Silly boy!!

We finally got our tree up last night. That being said, I am NOT happy with it. I wanted it to be as tall as possible, that mean touching the ceiling. It does NOT! It just seems that nothing is going my way this season. I am in a funk. I dilike my tree, kids are constantly fighting, work is stressful, we are running around like chickens with our heads cut off.

I did buy some new ornaments this year, we have had the same ones since we were living together that first year. I really like them, but when did they become so expensive. 4 little tine silver dollar sized ornaments for $5. And that was at a discount store. Not some fancy store. Not the ones I really wanted that are $20 each.

Here is the tree. With only 4 presents under it. I have yet to get any more wrapped. Time just escapes me. Where does it go?

Change is in the air......

Some days everything remains the same, others it seems are full of change.

Yesterday was one of those days.

Aaron is having a rough time at work, he finally thinks its time for a change. He had a meeting with his boss (who is a great friend, and boss!) and let her know he was frustrated, drained, and that January 1st he will be job hunting. Now that is not normally what happens. But he trusts her, maybe things will change, maybe they will understand that his family will come first whether it is while he is working for them, or not. I am proud of him. His health/life is too important to loose over a job. What that means, I'm not sure. Will we be here in Albany, or even here in Oregon? I am open to change, I love change. Let's just see how much change he is ready for, as he dislikes change alot!

Savannah has struggled for the past 1 1/2 years as a Level 5 gymnast. This year it had come together. Last night they told her that she is moving to Level 6 on Wednesday. She is thrilled. She cryed. The coach (who does not yet have children) did not know what to think. I have told her that hard work pays off in the end. And she has been working her butt off this year. But I am afraid that she will now struggle with Level 6 skills. I guess life is always an uphill battle. She better her her armor on again and be ready to fight to stay a level 6. Good Luck Princess Buttercup!

Busy weekend,

Savannah had her meet, then we went to PIR (Portland International Raceway) to see their festival of lights. They had a great time, there were some impressive light displays. But I think the thing the kids like the most was that we were actually driving on the speedway! :)

Then Dominick turned 9 yesterday. We took him and 4 friend (and grandma/grandpa Fish) to Chuck E Cheese. It was a fun time for the boys, Dominick does not like cake so we had cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies. They played games, won tickets, and traded them in for great (well maybe to them) prizes. I do have to say that I think 5 boys were much louder than the 12 girls I had at Savannah's slumber party a couple of years ago. They scream like girls, and the whole way to Salem, they did not stop talking, shouting, screaming, and making boy noises!

Happy Birthday Dominick!

State championships!!

Savannah competed at the Oregon Gymanstics State Championships yesterday! She had her best beam score EVER! 9.25 , this from a girl that could/would fall off the beam 2 or 3 times or more on a bad day. She totally stayed on, acted like she owned that beam and rocked it! She also scored her high all around of 35.20!



State is set up funny, they divide by level, then age. So she only had 3 of her 15 team mates in her session. This is Maria K., Kelsey G, Savannah S. & Savannah C. (I know I know, who thought there would be another Savannah on her team)


We are so proud of her!! Way to go!! Good job girls!

Thanksving weekend..........

We hosted Thanksgiving again this year. It as just our family, Aaron's parents, Aaron's brother and Aaron's aunt/uncle. His cousin was going to come but he has four boys, and one of them was sick, so they stayed home. My kids wish they had more cousins, it was quiet, and there was no one to play with. Maybe one of these years, we will live closer to either of the families that acutally have children, but for now it is just us. Kinda low key, and lonely! Missed Carey and her green bean cassarole!!

BUT the day after shopping was GREAT!! Got up at 2:45am, met up with Amanda & Angie. Headed to Salem. Not a lot of rain. Only one small fender bender (not my fault and no damages) Got alot of the shopping done. Nieces, Nephews, our kids, and MIL done. Just have to get niece/nephews in the mail now, that always seems to be the hard part. Got home around 3:30pm, took babysitter home (Aaron got invited to the Civil War game, and there was no way I was missing shopping....WOO HOO Beavers won!!)

Saturday morning, we took the kids to thier Grandparents for an overniter. We drove to Portland, stayed at the Embassy Suites, ran around downtown, had a great lunch at Rock Bottom Brewery, shopped, drank, and relaxed. It was the first time we had really been away for a weekend without them, and we will be doing it again!

It was a great long weekend. Now we head on to the crazy holiday season.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!!

21 Christmas Questions....

From my friend Stacy's blog challenge..........

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate??
Hot Chocolate

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
Wrapped in Santa wrap (different stle every year)

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Red and Greegn big old fashion style bulbs

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Nah.

5. When do you put your decorations up?
The weekend after Thanksgiving, around the 10th or so, we go buy a real tree and put it in the front room. Now that we have vaulted ceilings it has to be as tall as the ceilings :)

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Prime Rib and seafood fondue

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?
Getting new PJ's from Grandma Helen EVERY Christmas Eve, and wearing new clothes to Gramdma & Granpa Clarks on Christmas Day

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I don't remember

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
No

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
All white lights and ornaments to match the Christmas wrap. Kids each get their own tree in their room to put their ornaments on that Grandma & Grandpa Fish buy them each year.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
I love to watch it snopw, though I have no desire to go play or drive in it. But it's beautiful!! We get snow so seldom here, though, that we love it whenever it falls.

12. Can you ice skate?
Not after breaking both my ankles (at the same time) in 8th grade.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
From Aaron, it was Savannah's 2nd Christmas, he took my wedding ring in to be cleaned, and had the diamond doubled in size. Then he took her to a vending machine and bought LOTS of those fake rinkgs in the plastic balls, hid my ring in one and wrapped them all into a box. It was the best surprise ever!!

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Being with my family and giving to others, I love to give.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Christmas Sugar Cookies that the kids and I make for Santa

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Aaron reads the kids "Twas' The Night Before Christmas" EVERY year before bed on Christmas Eve.

17. What tops your tree?
An angel if it's a "gold year" and a star if it's a "silver year"

18. Which do you prefer.. giving or receiving?
Giving. I dont receive well, but I LOVE to give.


19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
Silent Night

20. Candy Canes! yuck or yummy?
YUMMY!!

21. Favorite Christmas Movie?
White Christmas

State..........here we come!!

Savannah had a meet this weekend. It was sectionals. That means that you have to a special meet, where you can qualify for the State Championships. She has NEVER made it to state. At sectionals you have to score a minimum of 32.00 AND be in the top 72 for your region. Our region is the south part of Oregon (from Salem down). Last year at this same meet, Savannah had a TOUGH meet, she landed flat on her back in the middle of a jump from the low to the high bar, knocking the wind out of her, and scaring her coaches good.

This year.........she had a good meet. Not her best this year. But still a good meet. 34.325. Good enough to make it to State. Acutally the last person to make it got a 32.95, so not bad at all. She stuck her cartwheel on the beam, and make her squat on/jump to the high bar all without a hesitation. In addition is placed 7th on the vault out of all the girls in her age division.

It was a GREAT day!!

The only thing that could of made it better would of been SNOW. See we were in Bend, and when we are in Bend we want SNOW SNOW SNOW!!!

Migranes Suck!

Thats it, thats the nicest thing I can say! Oh and a HUGE thanks to a great husband who did daycare yesterday for me while I lay 1/2 dead in bed all day, hardly able to turn over it hurt so bad. Guess its time for another appt with the neurologist. That darn medicine did not work worth a darn!

How many of me

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 50 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

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Though if I use Patty there is only 2 people. There are 11 people with Aaron's, 0 people with Savannah's name, and only 1 with Dominick's. I would of thought that Aaron would of had more.

1st basketball game results....

Dominick played his first basketball game last night. It was great! He made 2 baskets, he is a great defender (well maybe because he is 3+ inches taller than most of the other players)! He had a great time, loved the game. And is ready to go back again! WOO HOO

The coach also coaches football, and wants to recruit him as wide receiver (I think, I dont know alot about football players). He is pretty quick on his big old size 6 feet! But Dominick is not sure that he wants people running after him with the intent on tackling him. We will wait and see and take it one sport at a time. :)

(Sorry for the crummy pictures, guess I need to play more with the camera and get the settings better)

Never a dull moment........

When we told Dominick in Sept, that he was playing soccer again this year he was in tears.
"No, I did not want to play again!" I think were his exact words, but we had already signed him up so we told him, "Sorry no quitting during the season, your team is counting on you."

Fast forward to this week, soccer ended for the first 1/2 of the season last Saturday. Dominick usually had practice on Tuesdays. So Tuesday after school he comes home, eats a snack, then disappears. I figure he is heading off to play his gameboy or PS2, but no he comes out in full soccer clothes, shin guards and is ready to go. So I say Dominick, remember soccer is over for fall season." And once again the tears start. "No, I am not ready to be done, I love soccer."

Do you want to play basketball?, I asked.

"No", and he storms off.

I get home around 8pm on Tuesday night, the first thing I hear when I walk in the door, is "Mom, you need to call Bobbie, she says I can play on Dexter's team" I have no idea what he is talking about. Then it hits me. Dexter was on his soccer team, and now he is playing basketball. So after a long phone conversation, Dominick went to basketball practice last night for the first time ever. Yes, there were tears, and I don't want to do this, so Aaron said. But all in all he did great, considering he has never played. Sure he has shot a few baskets here and there but never played the GAME.

Well, tonight is his first game. We will see how he does. Soccer has always come pretty easy to him. This could be a challenge.

I will report more tomorrow after his first real basketball game! Wish us luck!

Savannahs earns a trophy!

Savannah had meet this past weekend, in Roseburg. First off, it is one NASTY drive, in the rain, with all the Beaver and Duck fans wanting to get to their games. It took us 12 hours, from home to meet and back home. It was a L O N G day!

BUT it was well worth it. Savannah scores a outstanding 9.45 on the vault, and won 3rd place All-Around. She was excited to finally win a trophy! Great job sis!!

Sorry for the CRAPPY picture. This was held in the old courthouse, with crappy lighting, and she was clear across the gym.

Halloween 2006

The kids got all dressed up for halloween and trick or treating. tonight.

It was pretty cold out, but atleast it was not raining this year! Aaron - Sumo Wrestler

Savannah - 50's Girl

Dominick - Wicked Jester

Scarlett - Princess

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Pumpkin Patch Trip

Every year we gear up for the annual Pumpkin Patch trip, for the past 3 or 4 years we have went to Bauman Farms outside of Gervis. It is the coolest place, they have 3 hay mazes, a corn maze, a apple cider barn, a country store, slides and swings in the hay barn, and more.....

We have seen the pumpkin patch in rainy, windy, overcast and now sunny conditions. This year Dominick's feet had grown enough that he needed new rubber boots. Problem is that now that he is wearing a men's 6.5 they aren't cute anymore. So Aaron headed off to Coastal Farm, and they got new boots. As you will see from the pictures, we probably could of held off until the Annual search for the Perfect Christmas Tree to get them. :)

Notice the extreme difference in footwear. Yep, she takes after her mom!

There's medals in the house..........

Savannah had a meet on Saturday (10/21/06) in Wood Village. It was a great day! She woke up happy smiling and ready to go. She was that way the whole day. They warmed up, she was smiling, they moved to their first event (floor) she was happy! She performed, she was great. Moved to vault. She did super (even though they had a crappy mushy mat to land on). They moved to bars. And she rocked it! Made that darn squat on she has been struggling with for MONTHS!! They moved to beam. And she blasted off! She was solid, and did her cartwheel like she had been landing it for months, (not like she had been struggling with it for a year like she had been).

She won a medal (6th palce) on vault!

And she won a medal (5th place) on bars!

And her team won 3rd place all around!

Way to go girls!!

Outside/Inside Challenge

I scrapbooking friend of mine does weekely Blog challenges. This weeks is outside/inside. What does it look,sound,feel like outside and inside around you.

OUTSIDE

It is cool no, it is COLD out today. Out back it is foggy, but there is nothing to see but the swimming pool, so I didn't take a picture of it. The pictures is of our front entery area, the pong mostly. My flowers around out pond don't seem to realize it's fall. They are blooming pretty red blooms, and my gardina plant has two fresh blooms on it. Crazy!

INSIDE

Inside it is the usual. Kids, kids and more kids.

They are pretty good today. Only 2 time outs so far but then again it is only 11am, lunch is in 45 minutes, then nap at 1pm. I can't wait. I have laundry to do, need to pack for a crop on Friday night, and make dinner for Savannah's for when she is at gymanstics for 4 hours tonight. The house has candles lit, I love the smell, and since we dont have a fireplace, candles will have to do. My littlest girl, Meghan, has figured out how to jump up and down in the Exersaucer, and boy is it loud! Now it is mostly clean, need to sweep at nap time.

Double Header Soccer this weekend.....

GAME 1 against Scorpins














Game 2 against the HorseFlys (aren't we happy we did not get that team name :) )

Oh ya, and notice the heads almost cut off in picture 2, that Savannah is why I don't let YOU take pictures!!

Dominick moved up to the U-10 level this year, but there is an odd number of teams, so each team had to play a double header one weekend. This was our weekend, which worked out great since Savannah did not have a meet, I got to see BOTH games!!

The weather was great, brisk 50's for the 1st game, and closer to 60 for the second, BUT it was NOT raining!! WOO HOO

They won both games, 4-2 and 3-2. They were long running games, the boys did great! Played their positions, and got more aggressive this time.

GO YELLOW JACKETS!!!

Weekend In Bend

So another meet down. She did well. Had troubles on the beam, but still got a 7.40, if she had stayed on it it would of been an 8.40. I so need to glue her feet to that beam!

Great floor routine, great bars, and good vault (though her score on vault was low, not sure why, that's why I'm not a judge :) )

We had a girls weekend with another mom/daughter. Stayed at Eagle Crest. It was beautiful. Shopped some, and had lots of wine! What a great weekend!

September 2006

So now that school has started, we dont seem to be doing much except homework, gymnastics and soccer. Here is a picture of Dominick's soccer game on the 30th , they won 5 to zero! Way to go Yellow Jackets!













Savannah had another gymanstics meet on the 23rd. She stuck her cartwheel on the beam (which has been a huge challenge for her this past year) YEA!! But I was so excited I did not get a picture of it. So here is a picture on bars, she is rockin' her swings!!

HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIES....

My friend Yvonne sent this to me:

1. Who were your best friends?
Deanna, Terrie, Debi, & Denise

2.What sports did you play?
None

3. What kind of car did you drive?
Piece of crap Ford pick up (thanks mom/dad :( )

4. It's Friday night, where were you at?
Football then the dance, or cruisin' the gut

5. Were you a party animal?
Parties - yes, Animal - no

6.Were you considered a flirt?
No

7. Ever skip school?
Yes...thats all I'll say

8. Were you a nerd?
No

9. Were you in any clubs?
DECA

10. Did you get suspended/expelled?
no

11. Can you sing the fight song?
There was a fight song????

12. Who was your favorite teacher?
Mr Geisler

13. Favorite class?
Marketing

14. What was your school's full name?
Lebanon Union High School

15. School mascot?
Warrior

16. Did you go to dances?
yes, thats where I met my husband many years ago!

17. If you could go back and do it over, would you?
NO WAY IN HELL!

19. Favorite memory of your Senior Year?
Getting engaged and graduating

20. Were you ever posted up on the senior wall?
did we have a senior wall?

21. Did you have a job your senior year?
Yes, I worked at Van's stationers

22. Where did you go most often for lunch?
7-11, Hasty Freeze, Home (mom kept a killer Margarita mix in the fridge)

23. Have you gained weight since then?
Who hasn't

24. What did you do after graduation?
Short term: Don't remember
Long term: Got married, had 2 children, lived happily ever after!

25. When did you graduate?
1987

26. Where are most of your classmates?
Probably alot still in Oregon

27. Are you going to your ten year reunion?
Already past, and yes, i went, i was pregnant, it was ok, most had NOT changed they still all hung out in their little clicks!

28. Who was your worst teacher?
Mr Becker the typing teacher or Mr McDaniels the change jangler. YUCK!!

1st meet of the season........

Savannah had her first gymnastics meet of the season on Sat. She did well on floor and vault, had a fall on the beam but she still qualified for sectionals which is great! Not her best meet, but was a good meet to get the jitters out, and get back into the swing of things. Her team won 2nd place overall. And the gym won quite a few trophies! Way to go. Next weekend we are off to St. Helens, Savannah does not care for the layout of this gym, plus it is a long drive and they do not compete until 5pm. Hopefully she can have a good meet, and come home proud of her effort!

A friend of mine post a weekly blog challenge, this weeks was a countdown....

10 Things I Wanna Do Before I Die
1. Quit daycare (please make this way before I die)
2. Wear a size 12 again
3. See my kids happily married & meet my grandbabies
4. Get another tatoo
5. Visit Costa Rica
6. Celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary with all our friends and family
7. Hot air balloon ride
8. Have a designer decorate my home
9. Spend Christmas where snows lots
10. Move to a water (ocean, lake, river, etc) front home

9 Places I Last Spent Money
1. Festival of Red (food, drinks, and babysitter)
2. Costco (groceries)
3. 14^th Avenue Salon & Spa
4. Athletic Edge (open gym time)
5. Aeropostale (clothes for Savannah)
6. Nordstroms (make-up)
7. Rocky Mt Chocolate Factory (Carmel apple for Savannah)
8. Fred Meyers (groceries & trellis for the flower out front)
9. Paypal (scrapbooking paper...shhh don’t tell Aaron)

8 Sounds I Routinely Hear Around My House
1. Kids playing
2. Savannah's radio
3. Dominick's play station
4. The kids strongly discussing something (aka fighting)
5. The phone ringing
6. Scarlett (dog) running through the house chasing Silvan (cat)
7. One of the two babies "talking"
8. The doorbell (or knocking at the door)

7 Real Restaurants Where I Last Ate Out
1. Wyatt's, Riley's, and 10 others (at the Festival of Red)
2. Subway
3. Red Lobster
4. Applebees
5. Pizza King
6. Los Dos Amigos
7. Red Robin

6 Things I Scratched Off my To-Do List Recently
1. Get Savannah's gymnastics scrapbook up to date
2. Return Aaron’s shirt to Costco (from July birthday, it was too small)
3. Purchase a new Mom's calendar for 2007
4. Post the final sign up's for meet next weekend
5. Purchase zip drive for the computer
6. Back to school house cleaning

5 People I Don't Know but who I'd Like to Hang Out With
1. Stacy Kocur
2. Sophie Kinsella
3. Rachel Ray
4. I am not really into people that I don’t know, so I only have those 3, sorry

4 Songs That Make Me Happy
1. The Star-Spangled Banner
2. Somewhere over the Rainbow
3. God Bless the USA
4. Jack & Diane (yes, an oldie but a goodie)

3 Things I Hate To Do
1. Cleaning the bathroom
2. Anything involving dirt, digging, planting, etc.
3. Anything confrontational

2 Things I'm Really Good At
1. Multi tasking
2. Taking on too much at one time

1 Really Bad Habit
1. Eating unhealthy

Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)" ?

I will NEVER forget where I was on this day 5 years ago, it was one of the saddest days of my life. I remember waking up and turning on the news, and just sitting there watching it, I could not pull myself away. I watched it all day........all week.

No, I knew no one personally, but the tragic day haunts me just the same. I am once again, glued to the TV, watching the remembernce ceremonies, the news coverage, etc........and I am once again in tears.


Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)"

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Out in the yard with your wife and children
Working on some stage in LA
Did you stand there in shock at the site of
That black smoke rising against that blue sky
Did you shout out in anger
In fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry

Did you weep for the children
Who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below

Did you burst out in pride
For the red white and blue
The heroes who died just doing what they do
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself to what really matters

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Teaching a class full of innocent children
Driving down some cold interstate
Did you feel guilty cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone
Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her
Did you dust off that bible at home
Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Speak with some stranger on the street
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watching
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some stranger
Stand in line and give your own blood
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

The greatest is love
The greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day

-Alan Jackson

Back to School

The kids went back to school this morning. WOO HOO!!
It has been the best morning in months, no fighting, no arguing, no nothing.
They like a schedule, they actually thrive on a schedule. :)
Now hopefully they get off the bus smoothly and it will be a SUPER day!!

GO BEAVERS!!

Our great friend Rob offered us his tickets to the opening Beaver game. It was a great night for a game, and the Beavers kicked butt!! But then again, Eastern Washington was not the best ranked team. :) But it was a great night, no small children getting bored, and beautiful weather!!

Thanks Rob!!

Last week of summer.......

I can't believe how quick summer has gone. This is the last week before school starts. Savannah will be a 5th grader. WOW!! It seems like just yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital, all 11lbs of her. Now you would never know it, she was one of the smallest girls in her class last year, and is the smallest 10 year old on her team. She has grown 3+ inches this summer alone, and is once again taller than her brother. Dominick is entering 3rd grade, he has grown into such a young man. He has his fathers sensitive side, but is 100% boy. Dirt and all, much to my unhappiness (those of you that know me well, know how I feel about dirt, YUCK!)

They are with their granparents (Crittenden) today, they are gonig to OMSI and then spending the night. It is the first time in a long, long time they have spent the night there, and they both were anxiously waiting my the door at 9am this morning, even though I kept telling them "Not until 9:30, and you know Grandma is always 10 minutes late", so my smartypants sons says" Mom, it's 9:40, where are they......" Soon there after the arrived, and the kids ran off to the car. It is a great thing, having Granparents live so close, and that are willing to spend quality time with our kids. I hope they know how much I appreciate it!

Summers almost over, the kids are heading back to school, the leaves are turning brown already. Where has time gone?

Who's your hero?

HERO

Someone we admire.
Someone we look up to.
Someone who gives us hope.
Not a myth or an icon or a legend-
Someone solid, genuine and real.
An ordinary person who does extraordinary things.
A hero picks us up when we are down.
Believes in us before we believe in ourselves.
Inspires us to expand and embrace what’s possible.
Helps us realize that we can be heroes too


Just a thought for today........who is YOUR hero?

Family

It's so quiet this morning. This past weekend my sister, brother in law, and niece flew in from Easthampton, MA for a visit. Autum is 11 and almost as tall as me. I can't believe how much she has grown in the last year since they moved. It was great to get us all together again, as my parents were also here.














Again it's so quiet this morning, which is a good and bad. After having my parents here for a week, and others for the weekend. I am exhausted. I played hostess all weekend, cooking, cleaning, and trying to make sure everyone had fun. Its exhausting. I think daycare is easier most days. But then again, I sure do miss my family when they are miles and miles away.





























In attendance: Me (red shirt, Aaron, Savannah, Dominick, Mother ( tan tank top), Daddy, Chris (my sister in green tan top), Patrick (my BIL in maroon shirt (beard), Autumn (my niece in black swimsuit), Nicole (my niece in turquoise shirt), Jon (Nicole's fiance in glasses), Gary(sisters good ex-husband in blackish gray shirt), Jen (Garys wife), Rachel(Gary/Jen's duaghter) & Gawyne (Gary/Jen's son).