Boo!

This is for my girls! So the last few years I have not really decorated for Halloween. There are  several reasons for this: The first is, we get 'ZERO' Trick R' Treaters, our street is pitch dark and we live at the very bottom of a dark steep driveway, actually sounds perfectly creepy for Halloween, so there is no point in decorating just in case we might get some cute costumed kiddies knocking on our door. The next reason is that before the girls left home Halloween decorating was a really fun Family activity. The girls now have their own homes to have fun decorating and I usually go to Sage's cause her neighborhood is all Spooked out for Halloween and there are lots and lots of Trick R' Treaters. And the last reason is I guess I've gotten lazy and forgotten how much fun Halloween decorating is. Amber and the kiddies won't be down before Halloween so I know the pictures will bring back some fun memories, especially the silly guy on the porch. For many years Sage and Amber would use their Dad's old levi's, flannel shirt and cowboy boots to make this guy up!! I had the stuff packed away in the Halloween decoration box and couldn't resist making him up this year. He looks pretty good! So even though we will get 'ZERO' Trick R' Treaters I'm decorated and had lots of fun doing it!!

This is my Spooky decoration--its a domed cake plate filled with Skeletons and a black wreath and purple bats, love it.

I think the spider is my favorite!

Front Porch!

Dull and Boring!

Okay, I've fumed a few days now over the debate--and could it have been any more boring, I think not.  We are all well aware that the Economy is beyond in the tank and has gotten worse every day this week, I might add.  So here was the opportunity for either candidate to come out of the gate blasting (especially John McCain) but did they??  Heck a Moly, NO!  I am so disappointed in that fact there was so little passion and irateness on the part of these guys!  I am one pissed off American right now, I am livid over Wall Street, and more upset that Washington is sooo out of touch with Mainstream America!! And where the heck did they get those people in the audience??  Could they have been any duller in their questions?  Am I the only one fired up over the mess we're in right now, cause if I would have been asking the questions you would have seen the passion and ire I'm feeling.  These folks and the online questions were dull, boring and pointless, to say the least.  And Tom Brokaw, good gosh he stunk!  His monotone voice and attitude Suck, let alone his ridiculous attempts at humor.  It was the worst debate and it should have been so much more.  I want more and I expect more.  Where is the passion?  Where is the Crusader?  Where is the fighter for Mainstream Americans?  Where is the Maverick?  Please give us more, I really need to see more Passion on the issues in this Election.

2nd Presidential Debate!

Okay, tonight is the 2nd debate and these boys better put some meat into it.  The Economy better be the #1 issue cause it sucks!  I'm am beyond the name calling and the he said this and no you said that--baloney!  What I want to hear is, what the real honest to gosh plans are to get this Country on track and stop the downward spiral!!!  I could really get on it because I am sick of Wall Street and Washington being so out of touch with Mainstream America.  At this point both McCain and Obama better get in touch with the working folks of this Country who now are carrying the $700 billion dollar bailout, the War in Iraq and the "Oh woe is me" foreign aid policies on our braking backs.    

Debate?

Is anyone as interested in the V.P. debate as I am?  

Best Mommy!

Amber is such a great Mommy! I love that she really loves to play and be silly and have fun with Jake and Ella.

Best Auntie!

Seriously, Sage is the best Auntie!

Love this Girl!

This is our little Ella doll. She is almost 10 months and nearly walking, taking after her Aunt Sagey who walked at 9 1/2 months. Is she cute or what?

Tattoos! Yikes!

So this Uncle Jer being a Tattoo artist and Jake is loving it!

How many 5 year olds do you know with full on back tattoos? Crazy Fun!

So Cute

Jake and Ella read together!

Ella's favorite place to walk back and forth is under the dining room table. Oh yes, she's walking!

Family Fun

Jake in the SWAT car
Family and friends

Best Buds!

The girls

Jake practices kicking

The soccer player

So, last week I decided to take a long week end to visit my darling grandchildren. I drove to Amber's on thursday and stayed until sunday. The question is "Why does my time off fly by so quickly, and some of my days at work drag on endless?" I really get the saying "Time flies when you're having fun." I had so much fun with the kiddies and my time with them went by way too fast. Sage and Jer also came up, arriving friday afternoon. We really filled our saturday, we started with Jake's soccer game in the morning. It is the cutest thing to see these little 5 and 6 year olds running like crazy all over the soccer field. I loved it! Jake is really getting the hang of it, however sometimes he runs like a T-Rex, it is hilarious. After the game Ben's department had an Open House at their station for the community. That was fun for all of us to see where Ben works. Amber and Ben's friends the McMillins came also. The boys had the best time checking out the helicopter, swat car and boxing ring.

1st Day of Kindergarten!

Is that a look of anticipation or a look of dread--one day down how many more to go?

Jake's school is a short walk from home!

Tuesday was Jake's 1st day of Kindergarten. I am so glad that I went up to walk to school with him on his first day. I remember the girls first days of school so clearly, they were much more nervous, excited and sort of frightened than Jake. He took the whole morning in stride and I am so proud of him! I think Am's and I both had lumps in our throats but kept the tears totally under control. When we met him after school he proudly announced that he already had a "best friend". And so Jakes school years begin!

Charger Fan!

PaPa wasn't able to see Jake off to his first day of Kindergarten so as a consulation he sent Jake a Chargers jersey and pennant!

Week End with Amber, Jake and Ella!

Sooo Cute!

Ella Standing!

Jake being Silly Jake!

They love playing with Sagey and Uncle Jer!

A picture with PaPa!

Amber and the Kiddies Come for the Weekend!

Amber, Jake and Ella spent the weekend with us. They arrived on friday and left (Boo Hoo) this morning. Jake is a busy five year old--he was either in the pool, playing games with PaPa or hanging out with Sagey and Uncle Jer! Ella our little Diva Doll is crawling and amazingly Free Standing, this little doll is going to walk early, just like her Auntie Sage!

Best Surprise Ever!

Okay, so yesterday was my birthday and we will not mention just how old I am. Let's say over 50 but not yet 60. Anyway this is how my day went....early, early yesterday I took Dana to the airport (4:45 UGH!). He's in New Orleans at a convention so I'm Home Alone, well not exactly all alone cause Toby the fearsome watch dog is with me. I decided way before Dana went away that while he was gone I would catch up on around the house type projects. So this is what I accomplished on my birthday---since I arrived back home from the airport before the chickens were even up and I didn't feel sleepy I started a new book and worked a crossword puzzle. Then I got busy, I talked to Sage and Amber and Jake and Dana, all wishing me a Happy Birthday! After my happy conversations I headed out to the garage and painted a new baseboard for the living room and since I had the paint out I painted all the baseboards in the dining room and the master bathroom...I cleaned the plantation shutters in the dining room and my bedroom and the wood blinds in the other bedrooms, changed the sheets on the bed and cleaned the bathrooms. Oh, and did I mention moved some furniture from the living room out to the garage hopefully to be replaced with something new. I was then saved with a call from Sage letting me know that they we would pick me up at about 4:00 PM to do some errands and then go to dinner. Yahooo, work is finished for the day! Sooo, Sage and Jer pick me up and off we go---when I asked where we were going they said "Oh it's a Surprise!" Yep! they surprised me alright, the took me to P.F. Changs at the Irvine Spectrum and better than that Amber, Ben, Jake and Ella were there to surprise me for my birthday. It just doesn't get any better than that! Thank You Sage, Jer, Amber, Ben, Jake and Ella for the best Birthday ever.

Dana's 40th High School Reunion!

On the Dance Floor!

The Wilson group

More of the Wilson group.  Sorry, I didn't get any of the Lewis Group!

Diane and Bobbi chatting and having fun!

A Handsome group of guys--Bill, John, Dana, Tom, Bill, Wes and Ron.

Margie, Dana and Tish

Sooo, Saturday was Dana's 40th high school reunion.  Dana has always been a part of the reunion committees for each of the reunions, they do such an awesome job to make the event so much fun.  This one was no exception, it was great and so fun to see so many people.  I love that this group of grads really stay so connected after all these years!  I think the reunion was a huge success and that they will look forward to the forty-fifth!!  

Fun Weekend at Amber's!

Sage and I went to Amber's for the week-end. Before heading up there I had this plan in my head to not really do anything special just hang out with the family and hold and play with the kiddies for the 2 days that I would be there. Even the best laid plans can go awry and I am so glad they did. Am's is a stay at home Mom and when we come up she really looks forward to getting out and about and that is just what we did! Shortly after arriving we headed out to the Corner Bakery (love it) for lunch. Then we headed to Old Navy, Tillies and Baby Me (love, love it) for school shopping for Jake and just girlie shopping for Ella! We spent friday night hanging out and chatting it up! Saturday we had the best ever outting, thanks to Russ we went to the Circus-The Greatest Show on Earth! I have never been and can really say it was never on my list of things to see. Having been, I have to say it is honestly so much fun! Our tickets entitled us to go down on the floor before it all started, there are all kinds of the Circus performers and Jake was able to get their autographs on his program and have pictures with them--really lots of fun. The actual circus acts are really amazing and I really loved being there with the kids! My happiest memories at this point in my life are seeing new things in the world through my Grandchilren's eyes. Thank you Jake and Ella for making the world sparkle for me again. And thanks again to Russ, I had the best time! Saturday evening we took Jake for Sushi, his favorite and needless to say we had fun and a lot of laughs. Since Sushi is Ben's least favorite he stayed home with Ella--Thank you, Ben we'll do your favorite next time. Love you Guys!