Happy New Year !! 2008 !!

Well...what a year it has been. A contrast between the very, very good (My marriage to Mike) and the very, very sad (Emily's death). As this new year starts in less than 4 hours I am very optimistic that this year will be one of the best.

Mike and I are very blessed and we both try to remember that and remind each other of that every day. I am so lucky to be Mom to my great kids...Adam, Gabe and Katy.

One of my New Year Resolutions is to start blogging again, on hopefully, a daily basis again.

A fellow blogger on the world wide web welcomed a brand new baby girl on this New Year's Eve....I can't think of a better way to end 2007 and start 2008 -- congrats Becky and Brendan !

Here is a toast wishing everyone -- our family, friends (especially my pregnant SIL and other expecting friends) and many others a wonderful, happy and very blessed 2008 !

I am famous ..but no one knows it

One of my favorite blogs to read is The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs. It is rolling on the floor, laughing your ass off, funny. Well, while I was searching 80's photos for my class reunion I came across a really throwback ad for Apple. Though "Steve" might get a kick out of it so I sent it to him and he posted in within an hour. So, the "much love to Jennifer" is me. :)

Check out the comments under the photo he posted on his blog --they are priceless.

I'll be signing autographs later .........

Thanksgiving ...just around the corner

I can't believe next week is Thanksgiving. And shortly after that is Christmas. And December 16th Mike and I will be married 6 months. Whee! Not sure how we are going to celebrate --we might wait and do it after the kids leave for Mississippi because we will have 5 days without work or kiddies. It will be like a honeymoon again.

Speaking of work ..Mike is in NYC right now for work. He says he has a huge corner room in a fancy hotel. We are hoping maybe in a month or two me and the kids can go up with him on one of these trips. They have never been to NYC and I really want to show them the city. Hopefully we can get the fancy room then too. I love visiting NYC --Mike and I have had a couple of great trips up there. Wish I was up there with him right now....looking for me some new subway socks. :)

Halloween and M&M

You know they say after a loved one dies that the first holidays without them are the hardest. Most would think Christmas but not Halloween. But, I am finding this Halloween very hard without Em around.

You see my sister LOVED Halloween -- she loved the candy -- did I say she loved the candy ? That is one of the reasons why her nickname was M&M.

And all the dressing up. Once she was a Mom she loved getting Ashleigh and Noah dressed up.

I can remember all the crazy customs we dressed up as kids. We would walk down to "new neighbors" house and she would be dressed as a crazy witch and give us tons of candy. My mom would make candy apples, that we loved, and popcorn balls. Emily, Philip and I would go out with my Aunt Kathy along with Brad, Chad and Valerie. What fun we had !

I know this sounds silly but when I was home in Brookhaven I went by her grave and decorated with Halloween flowers with little spiders. Then I left her some Jolly Ranchers and a Blow Pop. Some of her favorites. :)

Happy Halloween to all and be safe -- And Em -- Happy Halloween to you too ! Miss you !

The furry creatures of Reston....

This photo taken by Adam in our backyard (which is also the woods) is dedicated to Mike. See Mike --Katy and Gabe aren't the only ones gathering acorns. :)

Wrapping up the week.....

Wow ! It's Friday all ready. It has been a week since I was in Brookhaven for my 20-year-reunion. A fun time was had by all and it was great to catch up with friends from 20 years ago. Our class decided to have a 25-year so I guess we will all see each other again in 2013.

I got to go to the Mississippi School for the Arts while I was there. I wish we had something that awesome when I was a growing up there. The darkroom is to die for --it is HUGE ! Here is a photo below of the campus and the view of Brookhaven from the 6th floor dorms.

While I was in Mississippi I got to go through some of Emily's things. It's funny because Emily and I growing up traded clothes all the time.So, it felt only right that I kept a few of her favorite pieces of clothing. I don't know if I will wear them but it makes me feel good to know they are in my closet.

I was telling my mom about a story from high school and she said"you never told me that" and I told her there were many things I probably didn't tell her back then because Em and I always kept each others secrets.

The weirdest thing happened on the way back to Washington and mad me think that Emily is watching out for us. After take off and we were above the clouds I look down out of the window of the plane and saw the strangest thing. In the clouds was a shadow of the plane....but around the shadow there was a bright rainbow that circled all the way around the plane. See the photo below. I know it might sound silly but part of me thought that it might be Em watching out for me and saying hi ! I have flown many, many times and have never seen that. Ok..maybe I am nuts but I do have faith that God and his angles touch us sometimes in unexpected ways.

In other good news -- Mike and many others survived the latest rounds of AOL layoffs this week - yea ! Sad news is that 11 people that he did work with in photo did get let go. His schedule is changing he is going more to a day shift during the week which I am happy about. Now maybe I will be less of a single mom and be able to workout every once in awhile.

But, there were some of didn't get laid off that actually complained when they had to switch departments or shifts. Which leads me to the Friday story -- people need to be grateful for all things in life. ;)

MY FRIDAY STORY

Rain Washed
Author Unknown

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, "Mom, let's run through the rain," she said. "What?" Mom asked.

"Let's run through the rain!" She repeated.

"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated, "Mom, let's run through the rain."

"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.

"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"

"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!'"

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If God let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories... So, don't forget to make time and take opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

I hope you still take the time to run through the rain.

Gabe's got braces

Well, now I have put my third child into braces. :) Adam, Bri (who still has them) and now Gabe. Katy will be next in about another year or two. Hopefully Gabe will be out of his by the time Katy gets hers on. Total in all after they are all done.....about $20,000 before insurance.

Gabe is really sore today so he gets to stay home and eat soup and shakes.

Here are Gabe's before and after photos.......

Before

After

10 Ten Things I Miss About High School

OK…we have all been there; high school was never easy on any of us. I get to go back in time next weekend to my Brookhaven High School 20^th Reunion – Go Panthers!! It got me to thinking ...what I really miss about high school compared to being an adult. Hope you enjoy….and feel free to add yours to the comments.

10 Ten Things I Miss About High School

10.) Pep Rallies – Where else can you go and yell at other people as loud as you want and be rewarded with a spirit stick? This just does not happen in the real world unless you work for Wal-Mart.

9.) Learning for Free - You got to learn lots of cool stuff and you didn’t have to pay for it. Yes, at the time you though school sucked. But, if I want to take German or learn to play the flute now they charge me big bucks – unless…. I steal my kid’s textbooks. But, what fun is that – no passing notes.

8.) The Drama – and I don’t mean the School Play -- Being in high school is better than any soap opera – you are livin’ it up in drama. Who did what to who where? Maybe that is why I went into journalism. Drama as an adult will usually just get you fired or on You Tube.

7.) The Glory Days of Summer – When the only care you had in the world is laying out in the sun, tubing the Bogue Chitto River and hanging out with your friends. The only thing you worried about was when Top Gun was going to show at the local movies. Summer now are just like any other day – I work, take kids to summer camp, go to sleep and do it all over again.

6.) Your Friends – Everyday was Girls Night Out -- Remember when your friends were your whole life – you talked to them for hours on the phone, spent days and days doing fun stuff together. Remember slam books? I guess that is My Space now. These days I am lucky I get to do a pedicure with a friend once every six months.

5.) Dancing – We danced in high school – slow dancing, fast dancing – after football games, in the spring, just for the hell of it – I mean the 80’s was the best time for music. :) The last time I danced…my wedding. One song- two minutes…tops!

4.) Driving for Fun – I didn’t care that my car was a yellow station wagon – I had wheels and gas was 99 cents. I could cruise Brookway Blvd. for hours with my friends and find simple pleasure in that. Now, I hate driving – the traffic, the auguring kids in the backseat, $3 for gas – kind of takes the fun out of it.

3.) No Internet, No Cell Phones, No Xbox 360 – I love my technology but there was life before IM and Google. Sometime it was nice not being able to be found. And, I thought Atari and Pac Man were the greatest inventions ever. Now my kids don’t even have to go to the library or use an encyclopedia – it is all there with the touch of mouse. And if I want to find them -- GPS on those cell phones. :)

2.) No Bills! – I mean that what we had parents for – they paid for everything – gas, clothes, a field trip to D.C. – that was the life – we just didn’t know it then. Any money back then I made all was spent on me, me, me. Now, I have to be all responsible and stuff. :)

1.) Making Out - Kissing is one of life's most innocent guilty pleasures – who does not remember playing Seven Minutes in Heaven and Spin the Bottle. (And don’t worry parents of mine– I was a “good girl” in high school) Back then, I had time to have a make-out session - no one knocked on the door or yelled Mom. Now, I cannot remember the last time had a French kiss lasting longer than 3 seconds. I mean sex is great but don’t you ever miss the fun in making out in a dark closet somewhere? :)

How can we do this to so many children ?

I hate that there are so many children that have to go many, many months and years without seeing their parents and living in fear that Mom or Dad might never come home.

Three months

Today marks three months since Emily passed away. I went to sleep last night and woke up this morning thinking about her. You know, I feel like I should be more depressed but I know Emily would have hated that.

Instead, I move forward with life, cleaning the deck, getting ready to add to pizzazz to it with new stain. I taught Katy today how to ride a bike without any training wheels or help. :) We went to the skate park and watch Gabe try and do a half-pike. Afterwards, Gabe, Katy and I went and ate ice cream from Ben and Jerry’s (one of Em’s favorite foods) and toasted her life with chocolate. We just sat, watched the fountain and all the people gathered around it and talked about their favorite “Aunt Em” stories.

Life to me to so precious, I think that more so after Emily's death. I almost feel like if you take life for granted, if you wallow in your own fears and short comings you are asking for bad karma to come your way. I guess that is the “damn optimist” in me. I have three friends right now that are all dealing with their fathers' having cancer and I think – Thank God all mine and Mike’s parents are healthy. I am so happy that a have a close relationship with all my families – no matter what state or country they are in.

I see friends who have a disabled child and I am so grateful my children are both happy and healthy. I am happy most days for the life I have. And if I wake up and wish for more I just try to remember to be thankful for what I have.

I wish Emily could have lived a long life. I would have loved to see us as old ladies – regaling stories of our youth. I understand she watches over Noah and Ashleigh like she never could have before. I am happy she finally has the peace and love she sought for so long.

“A brief candle; both ends burning
An endless mile; a bus wheel turning
A friend to share the lonesome times
A handshake and a sip of wine
So say it loud and let it ring
We are all a part of everything
The future, present and the past
Fly on proud bird
You're free at last.”
written en route for the funeral of, Ronnie Van Zant of the band, Lynyrd Skynyrd.

I still miss you Em – but just know I feel your presence at the strangest times and know you are okay.

No move to NYC for us ....

As some of you may have seen AOL is moving their corporate headquarters to NYC. That does not mean that where Mike works is closing. In fact, they just opened another daycare center on the Dulles Campus, so that might give an indication that the 4,000 people there will stay put.

In the Washington Post today...." The company said that while senior executives would depart for Manhattan, most of the 4,000 employees at the Dulles campus would remain. "

Good for us -- I would hate to try and have the 5 of us live in a 1000 sq ft apt for $3000 a month in Manhattan. ;)

Coming soon....

Katybug...a retrospective look...coming soon...the first nine years. :)

We are getting ready today for Katy's 9th Birthday Party tomorrow. This year it get to be on her birthday !! And since we have a heated outdoor pool in Reston she gets pool party. In fact it is a High School Musical Swim Party and Sleepover -- with a sing along to HSM. Just can't wait for that. :)

Here is a sneak preview of Katy's nine years of photos......

Katy, age 3, in St. Pete Florida

Katy, age 8, at the wedding in June

School starts back today !

WOW !! Katy and Gabe in 4th and 5th grade !! When we moved to Virginia, Bri was only in 4th grade and now she is a freshman in high school. Adam, now a freshman in college !!

This year Katy and Gabe start a new school. I little different for them because they went to Beech Tree since Kindergarten. Here are some photos I have taken of Katy and Gabe the 1st day of every school year for the past 6 years. This morning Gabe would not let me take the photo at the school ...nor could I walk him to class. :) (In case you wonder where Adam is..that was the time when it was not "cool" to have your mom following you with a camera. )

Today, 2007 ! 5th and 4th grade !

2006-- Katy, 3rd and Gabe, 4th grade

2005 - Katy, 2nd and Gabe, 3rd grade

2004 - Katy, 1st and Gabe, 2nd grade

2003 - Katy, Kindergarten and Gabe, 1st grade

2003 - 1st year in Virginia and Gabriel 1st day of kindergarten. He is getting a hug from big sister Briana, 4th grade, and little sister Katy, who is in Pre-k at St. Phillips at that time.

WOW...can you say time flies!!

Last day for pool fun

Today is the last day for Glade Pool, the one 2 minutes from our house, to be open for the summer. So, in honor of the closing we went and swam for 3 hours, had pizza for dinner at the pool and just enjoyed the last lazy day of summer before school starts tomorrow. :) Katy does still get to have a pool party though because there are two heated pool in Reston that stay open until Sept 30th. Whee !

Ice cream truck visits the pool for a last minute treat

Gabe coming out of the cold blue water

Katy, now a big time swimmer, has been practicing her strokes

Katy FINALLY goes off the diving board -- whee !

Great Country Fun

On Saturday, Mike and I decided that we need a day out with the kids, away from the house...so we drove out to the country, across the hills and streams of Loudoun County to Great Country Farms.

Of course everyone else had the same idea so it was PACKED. We had to wait 1 1/2 for pancakes but in spite of that we did end up having fun. We got to pick potatoes fresh out of the field and that night we had so many that I made some homemade mashed potatoes -- which were enjoyed by all. :)

Here are a few photos from the day......

Mike and the donkeys -- they are having a heart-to-heart chat

Gabe and Mike try to fiqure out on of the mazes at the farm

Me and Katy -- she is resting for a moment on the way to pick potatoes

Hurrying through the field getting fresh potatoes

This spud is for you
My favorite photo of the day -- Gabe in the apple orchard

So hilarious and somewhat true....

I came across this today on a few blogs:

Ten Good Reasons You May not Want to Have Kids and 20 Reasons Not to Have Children, 10 Reasons to Have Children

Or my life the way it really is might be what some parents want to title it. It is hilarious !

My favorite "You will be a bad parent if you don't listen to them. You are obligated to listen to all kinds of nonsensical irrelevant crap, all kinds of worthless interests and recaps of the Hannah Montana marathon they had on TV last weekend. You are obligated to tell them about life, sex, how to spend money, hygiene, calculus etc. "

Of course, I don't think they put in that you are exhausted pretty much 24/7. And if you are a single parent, there are not enough close to enough hours in the day to get it all done.

With that being said they are also wonderfully rewarding, give you boundless love and if you are lucky they will bless you a thousand times over. Now, that does not necessarily mean that I want another one. The three I have keep me quite busy enough. Plus, I get to be a new aunt soon and lots of friends my age are now having babies so plenty of babies to play with -- then return back to the parents. :)

Exciting News !!!

Looks like I am about to be an Aunt Jennifer again !! My brother Philip and his wife Michelle are expecting !! Yea !! Our whole family is so excited we can't stand it. She is due around April 20th. Of course my Mom hopes it is twins ;) LOL !

Must Write Thank You Notes, Must Write Thank You Notes

Ok...if you see me, talk to me or email me please remind me that I must finish writing thank you notes. I need to be the Thank You note bot. I just got our very cool thank you notes back last Saturday and they are already addressed. So, now I just need to find 6 spare hours to finish these...correct ? Easy, peasy....it will be just like writing a college term paper in 5 hours.

Now don't get me wrong....it is not that I am not grateful for all the wonderful things we have been given. And I do, really do, want to thank every person in special way. Now, I just need to leave all the other house chores, and the last of the unpacking and get this done. :)

Must Write Thank You Notes, Must Write Thank You Notes,Must Write Thank You Notes, Must Write Thank You Notes,Must Write Thank You Notes, Must Write Thank You Notes :)

Hot, Hot, Hot

After five straight days of temperatures mainly in the 60s and 70s, are going to hit 90 today and 100, maybe in 105 tomorrow. To make matters worse, the humidity will be brutal. So, we are planning on cooling down by the pool on Saturday and maybe even Sunday. Now that Katy has become such a good swimmer she wants to go more. Our pool near the house is very nice -- it has diving boards and water slides...of course I bet the water will be very cold because of all the rain and cool temps but after n 100 temps it will feel nice. we have friends coming over Saturday evening for a BBQ and celebrate the last of summer. :)

Photo is not of our neighborhood pool --i wish -- but though it might cool us down to look at it. :)

New Style Van ???

Hmmmm.......this morning coming into work I pulled up beside this......not sure what inspires someone to paint a van purple and then glue dinosaurs all over it....but it is an interesting artists concept.

Finally....something good about getting older....

Elderly Staying Sexually Active reports the Washington Post today:

"Many people maintain rich, active sex lives well into their 80s, according to the first detailed examination of sexuality among older Americans.

The nationally representative survey of more than 3,000 U.S. adults ages 57 to 85 found that more than half to three-quarters of those questioned remain sexually active, with a significant proportion engaging in frequent and varied sexual behavior."

Good to know there is something to look forward to in the later years. I hope that I still wear my hair long, have a camera in my hand and Mike and I get to travel....along with lots of other elderly fun. ;)

Adam's First Day of College

WOW !! I have a freshman in COLLEGE !! Way to go ADAM ! We went to his freshman ordination on Tuesday. And starts classes today.

Man, it did not seem like that long ago that I was standing in line to get my college ID. Of course ,I did point out to Adam that he was born at the end of my sophomore year. The great thing is because I was married I got it get a grant for school...lol. Of course I told Adam that I was him I would not try to to repeat that route. Much harder to study when you have an infant at home. :)

But, I would not trade him for the world. He has made me, his Dad and the rest of my family so very proud.

TGIF !!!

Whee ! Thank god it is Friday ! And thank goodness no really events going on this weekend so we can unpack more boxes, Craigs list stuff we don't want or need and maybe even take the kids to see Harry Potter on Sunday. Weather is suppose to be great so we are grilling tomorrow night !

Christina has our cool Thank You notes done so we can start getting those out too next week. I love to be able to cross things off the list.

Have a good weekend ya'll !

Two months married today ...whee !

Well...Mike and I have made it through two months of marriage. Talk about a making use of those vows right away...what a ride the last two months have been. :)

But, we are finally settling into life. This weekend we are unpacking the last of the boxes. Yea ! The house will be nice and organized for the most part.

So...even though it sounds silly we are going to celebrate tonight with a bit of champagne. And a nice candlelight meal on our wonderful back porch. We will give thanks for our great life together, the support of my kids and our families and the blessing of the house we bought.

I am not sure if we will celebrate again until maybe 6 months ...or even a year. But, celebrating tonight seems quite right to do !

New Photos added

I just added Adam's graduation photos to Shutterfly. And more family photos from the spring to my Smugmug account. I also added a few photos of took at Rochelle and John's wedding this past weekend.

And what a wonderful wedding. It was right on the water in Maryland and the weather was perfect. And when Rochelle walked in with her dad and did the father/daughter dance there was not a dry eye in the place. Rochelle's dad has been quite ill so it was a wonderful sight to see him there.

Jalynna Singing in PopStar Kids

Here is Dad and Minda's granddaughter and my niece Jalynna singing in the Philippines on the TV show PopStar Kids. She came in 2nd place and she should have won first ! She has an amazing singing voice for 11-years-old !! The first video is her sining Miracle which you can view on the blog and the second one is from the finale which you have to it this link to see - Jalynna singing.

I am sure we will here much more from here in the coming years ....

Unpacking....and angels

I look around the house and there are still boxes of mine that need to be unpacked. I know Mike must think I am a lazy bum because he has manged to unpack most of his. Of course, he did move into the house in April so he has had a few month of leeway time on me.

I know this sounds nutty but it is a very emotional process for me to unpack. Every time I open a box I find some reminder of Emily just waiting to be looked at. A photograph, a set of earrings she gave me, a pair of shorts that we went shopping together for. Even though Emily did not live near me I am shocked as to how much she intertwined with my adult life. Of course we are sisters and siblings so she has been part of my life since I was 2 1/2. I don't know why it surprises me to find so much of her inside those boxes but it does.

Just last night I pulled out a box I had full of perfume. Emily loved perfume. When I went home at Christmas she would come into my room everyday and ask to borrow some of mine. At the time it drove me a little batty because she had her own but she said she loved wearing something different. And it just made me so damn sad to realize when I go home in October for my class reunion that Emily will not be there to steal my perfume.

Of course in the mist of all this unpacking I have my ipod playing in the background -- when I hear the song In the Arms of the Angel by Sarah McLaughlin. It was so poignant and maybe it was Emily's way of letting me know she does has comfort now. And that she is a little redhead angel now. :)

In the Arms of the Angel by Sarah McLaughlin

Spend all your time waiting
for that second chance
for a break that would make it okay
there's always some reason
to feel not good enough
and it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
oh beautiful release
memories seep from my veins
let me be empty
oh and weightless then maybe
I'll find some peace tonight

In the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you feel
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here

So tired of the straight line
and everywhere you turn
there's vultures and thieves at your back
the storm keeps on twisting
you keep on building the lies
that you make up for all that you lack
it don't make no difference
escaping one last time
it's easier to believe
in this sweet madness oh
this glorious sadness that brings me to my knees

In the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you feel
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here

Photos, Photos and More Photos :)

OK ! I finally have uploaded the photos from the Wedding, Honeymoon, and other pre-wedding events. The photos are on Shutterfly. You will be able to order prints, frames, calenders and hey ....don't you want a luggage tag of us ? ;)

I still need to add more edits from the wedding and put them in order. And I still need to load Adam's graduation photos from another camera. Along with many other photos from the past two months. But, this is a start.

And, if you have photos from the wedding please create a gallery on Shutterfly (with your name on it) and post them so we can see them. :)

These are going to be on a password protected site. Here is the link - Our Wedding Photos. If you have not gotten an email from me with the password please email or call me for it.

I am sorry all the photos are not going to be available to all my blog readers. There are many people at these events who might not want to be on the open web. But, I did upload around 25 pictures from the wedding to my Smugmug account that you are welcome to view and comment on. Mike and Jenn's Winery Wedding Photos is the link. I will also add some honeymoon photos later so you can check out those too. :)

Back to being a mommy

The Katy and Gabe come back Saturday. Yeah ! It has been a nice break but I am ready to be a full-time Mom again. I always miss them when they are at their Dad's but this summer has been harder than usually. I guess with Emily's death it just has made me a little more on edge about having them so far away.

They will start day camp on Monday and I promised them we are going to check out every pool in Reston during the rest of the summer. :) Katy is going to be taking a month of swim lesson so she can get ready to be on the winter swim team at the Y. Adam starts college August 22nd !! Seems hard to believe that he is starting that journey of his life.

And now that they will be back I will finally have an excuse to see the Harry Potter movie. And I have crazily agreed to get them hamsters -- we are taking one off a friends litter.

This is the one of the many reasons I love having kids -- I get to do all the fun kid stuff and just say I am tagging along -- but secretly it is fun being a little bit of a kid again. I love the silliness and the laughter of them and being able to be as silly as they are.

So many adults are pissed off all the time over the stupidest stuff -- and yes I do get mad at times -- do we all -- but it is such a waste of time and energy to spend the precious moments of life being angry.

If anything Emily's death has brought home to me once again is that there is only one life to live - I choose to live mine the happiest I can. I am going to try not to worry or be angry. I am going to look at the my husband and children and tell them each day that I love them. I am going to let my parents know once again how much I appreciate the life and love they gave me. I am going to teach my children not to be afraid to live -- to try new things and be glad that God has given us so many, many blessings.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. " - Mark Twain

Or as 85-year Nadine Stair old says:

If I Had My Life to Live Over

I'd dare to make more mistakes next time.
I'd relax. I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I would take fewer things seriously.
I would take more chances.
I would take more trips.
I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.

I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I'd
have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly
and sanely hour after hour, day after day.

Oh, I've had my moments and if I had it to do over
again, I'd have more of them. In fact,
I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments.

One after another, instead of living so many
years ahead of each day.

I've been one of those people who never go anywhere
without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat
and a parachute.

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot
earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.

If I had it to do again, I would travel lighter next time.
I would go to more dances.
I would ride more merry-go-rounds.
I would pick more daisies.

For once I can say --- I was RIGHT !!!

Way back in the cold of winter I kept saying to my beloved over and over again that we wanted to hurry up and sell his condo so we could buy ahead of the spring market. And IF we could find that perfect house and bid on it while it was still very brrrrr outside the better we would be. And IF we could get those sellers to then close in the Spring...well life would be even better.

Well folks...that is what we did. I knew the market was very close to being at the lowest point at that time. I had read and read and read about Northern Virginia real estate until I was blue in the face. As Mike put it once..." we might want to think about getting another realtor when you know more than he does." So, we got Bonnie, our wonderful realtor, and the rest is history.

With all that being said, today there came out the charts on Fairfax real estate over the past couple of years and look what month everything was the lowest in every category. -- February 2007 -- and when did we put in a contract on out place -- February 2007. :)

Now... let's just hope our wonderful home continues on the upward tread of gaining equity.

Amazing people, amazing world

I have been amazed how many people have hit my blog through Google and read about Emily. Many were friends of hers I didn't even know. Today, one of her friends, Kelley, who I have never met send me a comment through the blog. It is great to read about how many people loved and cared for my little sister. (And Kelly -- if you read this look at your comment - I sent a reply).

Out of the blue, I got a card in the mail Tuesday from one of my and Emily's closest friends and neighbor growing up -- Kim Cockern. I have not seen or heard from Kim in 20 years but it was so nice getting that from her.

I came across 3 text messages on my phone that Emily sent me the end of May. They all sounds so positive and upbeat...and in everyone she ended them with ...I Love You. I can't bear to part with any of them and I forwarded them to my email address so I will always have them.

This time a month ago we were talking on the phone -- she asked me about Mike and the kids, told me the latest saga in her life...nothing major. Just Em being Em.

Emily would be surprised and thrilled to know that so many people loved and cared about her. And miss her..... I know I miss her. :)

You know, so many people have asked me how I am doing. Most days I am fine. There are times when I see something that reminds me of Emily and I get sad but mostly I try to remind myself that she is at peace and in a better place. I know she is watching over Ashleigh and Noah ...and I am sure also keeping an eye out for Gabe, Katy, Adam and Bri. (Photo in the blog is of her and Adam -- she loved being an aunt) When I think of that... it makes me feel better. Thanks Em ! And we all love you !

Yes...we are back

Yes..back from a wonderful honeymoon. Here is one picture to tide you over.This was taken in Jenner, Calf. In the background is where the Russian River flows into the Pacific. Magnificent views from here. We also had a great time visiting wineries all over Napa, Sonoma, Russian River and everywhere in between. I'll post more pictures soon.

We are also getting the wedding pictures this week and should post a link to view them by the weekend.

Don't except many posts this week from me -- I am trying to catch up at work after being gone away forever and when I am not there I am working on unpacking boxes and boxes and boxes at the house. :)

One the way to honeymoon...finally

Well....we are sitting here in the wacky Denver airport (the terminal looks like many circus tents) on are way to be in the wine country of California soon.

This is a much, much needed break for both Mike and I -- after weeks of very happy events, very sad events and seeing many family members and friends we are looking very forward to some alone time soon. :)

We might be updating the blog while gone...of course we brought the camera. :) But we will see.....

Have a happy 4th to all !!

We are back......

After a very, very long week in Mississippi and several flight delays we are back. Emily's funeral was unbelievably moving and sad. My good friend Kelly Green did the music and every time I would hear his voice sing it would make me feel better. Emily played and loved the guitar so he played his during the mass.

During a time like this you realize how fragile life is and how incredible your parents are. I saw amazing strength and love in my Mom and Dad. I loved my children with my while heart and soul so I can't even imagine how hard this is for them. Yet, they both seem to find much comfort knowing my sister was finally at peace. Even though Emily and I had are differences at times and I didn't agree with the way she sometimes lived her life I am going to miss her terribly. She is my only sister.

She was zany, beautiful, smart and very outgoing. I will miss hearing her voice and seeing her do kooky faces. I will also miss the silly nicknames she gave everyone she knew and loved. It is funny -- we both ended up giving some part of each other to our daughters -- Ashliegh, my niece, is named for my middle name Leigh and Katy is named Kathleen -- which is the Irish form for Catherine, for Emily's middle name. I know my neice, Ashleigh, 7, and my nephew, Noah, 9, will grow up now without their mom. Please continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

With that being said I really good not have made it through the week without the support of my husband (as of two weeks now) Mike. He was a source of stabily and strength for me.And helped me laugh when I needed it most. My friends and family love him even more than they did. My children were also a wonderful comfort for both me, their grandparents and cousins.

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”

Emily Catherine Smith DiLisio, 35, died June 23, 2007, in Hattiesburg. She was born in Brookhaven on Nov. 23, 1971, to Philip E. Smith Sr. and Phyllis Bonfiglio Hobbs. In 1989 she graduated from Brookhaven High School and was named the Brookhaven Lions Club Water Carnival Queen. She attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi. She was a 1991 graduate of Pensacola Junior College, with an associate degree in computer networking. She served in the United States Navy. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hattiesburg.

Survivors are her father and stepmother, Philip E. Smith Sr. and Minda Smith, of Dubai, United Arab Emirates; her mother and stepfather, Phyllis Hobbs and Russell Hobbs, of Hattiesburg; her son, Noah Steven DiLisio, of Hattiesburg; her daughter, Ashleigh Faith DiLisio, of Hattiesburg; her brothers, Philip E. Smith Jr. and wife Michelle Smith, of Brookhaven, and Sean Philip Smith and Tomas Herman Smith, both of Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and her sister, Jennifer Leigh Davis Heffner and husband Mike Heffner, of Reston, Va.

You will be very, very missed little sister ......

Emily Catherine Smith DiLisio
11-23-71 to 06-23-2007

We all love you M&M - Watch out for all of us from above