Flying High

As many of you have not met Anita, here she is!
From left: Shane, Tracy and Willie, Anita, Mom and Dad
We all went up in that float plane to our right (even Willie) over Lake Chelan, Washington.

Great Sand Dunes

Aaron and I took Mom here when she came out this past summer. It is a beautiful area! Note the people for scale.

Tracy's World

Top: this is my favorite city park, Garden of the Gods, in Colorado Springs

Middle: this is a pic of my boys in Olympia, Washington. Willie has a new sister, Bailey. People seem to think we are a dog rescue group. I'll post a pic of Bailey when I remember to save one to my jump drive.

Bottom: this is me next to my future tug boat, the current owners just don't know it yet. I plan on being a tug boat captain when I grow up.

Amy - these were the only pictures I had and I am sitting here at my desk during my office hours that nobody comes to, so I thought maybe I could make you smile if I posted something :>)

So Blessed

Thanksgiving has just passed, and I am overflowing with gratitude for my many blessings. Each member of our family is such a blessing and enrich my life. People come and go in our lives but our family is forever. Thank you to each of you for being such caring individuals, so honest and upright. I am so proud of each one of you. Thank you for being my wonderful family. I love each one of you. Mom

Broadway Bound

We "broke ground" last week for the stage and now have finished all but the hole filling, 1/4 round and polyurethane. This of course has never prevented a show. Nightly we gather for a quick game of "pig" at the basketball hoop, and then a show. They love being announced. I get on stage and announce each of them with their special talent they have chosen to perform that night. The show goes on for quite a while. It's amazing how talented each of them are. We have had, Flying girl, super basketball man, Gavin the magician, wall beating man (with a blow up sword), super ballerina, flower ballerina man (Cohen)...the list goes on. I'll post pictures again when it's all done. Velvet drapes, spot light, rope lights, paint job...you get the picture.

As Seen on TV

Christmas is in the air! Sales have started, shelves are being stocked, and wish lists are being compiled as anxious children eagerly dog-ear pages of the Toys R Us catalogue. But not Gavin. No, he had little interest in the newly featured toys sure to be this years must-have item. So I worried, "Would Santa know what to bring this 6 year old child, that would bring enough joy to fulfill a years worth of anticipation?" Finally a clue. A normal enough ride home after dropping the twins off at preschool lightened my dilemma (Cohen babbling, and Gavin wondering aloud if he had been short changed when he spent the $6 he had saved up several months ago). Then out of nowhere,
Gavin: "Mom, I want a Swivel Sweeper."
Amy: "A what?"
Gavin: "A Swivel Sweeper."
It took me a minute or two to understand and then it was hard to keep my composure. You see, Saturday morning the kids come into our room to watch cartoons while we try to get a few more minutes of very interrupted sleep. I try to keep at least one ear on alert, while I snooze to be aware of inappropriate cartoons or silence, which any mother knows means trouble. When I heard an info-mercial, I wasn't too worried. Nor was I when a half hour later finally rolled out of bed, and the info-mercial was still on. Stunned at how captivated my four sweet little children were, I took a few moments to watch and see what had held their attention for so long. That's right, the "Swivel Sweeper". The benefits of a vacuum with the lightness of a broom, the 360 degree head seeks out dirt in any direction...yada, yada, yada. So this year Santa's elves can either try to match that kind of technology or just mail in 2 easy payments of $19.99. Never underestimate the power of advertising.