OK, so we finally took some pictures.  

The kids are going back to school! Sanity once again!

Sept 1st - Great day,  We got Julian to laugh at dinner and milk came out his nose.

New rule when playing with other kids: Take turns dying

Julian's first day of Kindergarten!

Got a lot of heart-warming, sentimental stuff in email this month.  Here's a few of them.

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angels were given a space in the cold basement.

  As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied... "Things aren't always what they seem."

  The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.

  The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel "how could you have let this happen!? The first man had everything, yet you helped him," she accused. "The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let their cow die."

  "Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave her the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."

  Sometimes this is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later.

  Think about this:

  Should you find it hard to get to sleep tonight; Just remember the homeless family who has no bed to lie in.

  Should you find yourself stuck in traffic; don't despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.

  Should you have a bad day at work; Think of the man who has been out of work for the last three months.

  Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; Think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return.

  Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; Think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week, for $15.00 to feed her family.

  Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance; Think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.

  Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror; Think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.

  Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking "what is my purpose"; Be thankful. There are those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity.

  Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities; Remember, things could be worse. You could be them!!!

  Should you decide to send this to a friend; You might brighten someone's day!

  This is for all of us Mothers and Fathers!... I'm sure we can all understand the power of love for our children~ We are sitting at lunch when my friend casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a family". "We're taking a survey," she says, half-joking. "Do you think I should have a baby?" "It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral. "I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations...." But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my friend, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes.

  I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but that becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable. I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die. I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "Mom" will cause her to drop a souffle or her best crystal without a moment's hesitation. I feel I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of her discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right. I want my friend to know that everyday decisions will no longer be routine. That a five-year-old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom. However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother. Looking at my attractive friend, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself. That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give it up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years - not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs. I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor. My friend's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic. I wish my friend could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving. I hope she will understand why I can think rationally about most issues, but become temporarily insane when I discuss the threat of nuclear war to my children's future. I want to describe to my friend the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or a cat for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real, it actually hurts. My friend's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally say. Then I reach across the table, squeeze my friend's hand and offer a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all of the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings. The blessed gift of God and that of being a Mother. Please share this with a Mom that you know or a future Mom you know. "Author Unknown"

 Just a nice thoght for today, hope you are living life well!

Note:Erma Bombeck needed an organ transplant, and even though she could have been moved to the head of the waiting list, due to her prominence and wealth (like Mickey Mantle), she refused to do such, and subsequently,died from organ failure.

 IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck

 I would have talked less and listened more.

 I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

 I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

 I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

 I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

 I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

 I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

 I would have cried and laughed less while watching television- and more while watching life.

 I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

 I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

 I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

 Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

 When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."

 There would have been more "I love you's".. more "I'm sorry's"... but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it ... live it...and never give it back.

 Stop sweating the small stuff. Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.

 Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who Do love us. Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with.

 And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, as well as spiritually. Life is too short to let it pass you by.

 We only have one shot at this and then it's gone. I hope you have a blessed day.   Don't Look Back...

  As you travel through life there are always those times when decisions just have to be made when the choices are hard, and solutions seem scarce and the rain seems to soak your parade!

 There are some situations where all you can do is to simply let go and move on gather courage together and choose a direction that carries you toward a new dawn. So pack up your troubles and take a step forward the process of change can be tough but think about all the excitement ahead if you can be stalwart enough!

 There could be adventures you never imagined just waiting around the next bend and wishes and dreams just about to come true in ways you can't yet comprehend!

 Perhaps you'll find friendships that spring from new interests as you challenge your status quo and learn there are so many options in life, and so many ways you can grow! Perhaps you'll go places you never expected and see things that you've never seen or travel to fabulous, faraway worlds and wonderful spots in between!

 Perhaps you'll find warmth and affection and caring, a "somebody special" who's there to help you stay centered and listen with interest to stories and feelings you share.

 Perhaps you'll find comfort in knowing your friends are supportive of all that you do and believe that whatever decisions you make, they'll be the right choices for you! So keep putting one foot in front of the other and taking your life day by day.

 There's a brighter tomorrow that's just down the road. So don't look back, you're not going that way! Author Unknown