First day of Preschool...

Yesterday marked a big milestone for Julian. He started preschool. It's only two days a week for 2 1/2 hours, but I can already tell it's going to be so good for him to have that peer interaction that he is really needing. I can't believe how fast these 3 1/2 year have gone. My baby is almost 4.

The first picture is of him running out the door, excited to go. The picture is blurry because he was going too fast for me to focus. Then at school, he jumped right in. We thought he was going to be clingy and crying when we left, but didn't even seem to remember who we were. We were glad it went that well. I think the little dress-up closet he saw with the princess dresses in it helped a bit too.

Our new vacation spot...

Well, as of September 10th, we are now the proud owners of a prime piece of geothermal Alaska real estate, right at the base of the Mount Spurr Volcano.

"HU"? Yes, I know. Either my husband has completely lost his mind, or he's a genius. I guess only time will tell.

He was mentioned in the Anchorage Daily News for winning the parcel he bid on (#16) after outbidding Ormat (who at the end of the auction, bid and won 3.5 MILLION DOLLARS worth of this volcano land). I guess somebody is thinking this land will be very valuable someday.

So insane or genius? I'll let you know.

In the meantime, we'll be taking the family several times a year for vacationing. You are all welcome to join us! It's sure to be a great time (just don't get to comfortable - we may have to evacuate suddenly).

Here's the news story:

www.adn.com/money/story/527293.html

September 11

On my way home from picking up Chase from school today I realized that I feel like a very small minority when it comes to 9/11. I saw one flag flying in someone's yard during the whole 2 or 3 mile drive home.

Unless we're 7 years old, we saw what happened to this country and we saw the brave people who sacrificed their lives trying to help other people. It amazes me that people have become so cold to that day. We should ALL let that day be a reminder of not only the horror and loss of life that happened on 9/11/01, but also to let it be a reminder of all the men and women who have fought for and died for us. For us to have the freedoms we do. And it should be a reminder of how absolutely lucky we all are just to be Americans.

Maybe it hits closer to home for some of us. We stayed the summer of 2001 in Hoboken, NJ, which is directly across the river from Manhattan. The towers were right outside our apartment window. When we went into NY (which was several times a week), our stop was WTC. We were in there a lot. We met people who worked there; elevator men, servers, restroom employees, information desk employees, bussers, cashiers, retail store employees, subway employees, etc...actual real people, with real names and real faces. Some people that I know for sure did not live after 9/11. In fact, Chad, me, the kids, and my mom had an early lunch on one of the top floor restaurants just two weeks before they went down. If we had been there one week longer we would have witnessed the whole thing with our own eyes, out our own window. So I don't know, is it because it hits home for me? I really don't think so. I think I would feel this way if I had never even been to NY. I really don't have much tolerance for people being so complacent. Please care about this country. If you don't like it, go somewhere else. Please.

PUT OUT YOUR DAMN FLAGS!!!!!!!!

JD WINS FIRST GAME AGAINST LEHI!!!!!

Last Wednesday Chase's school Juan Diego played their first game in Pleasant Grove against Lehi and kicked some serious butt! They were animals!!

That's my #7 out there takin' that Lehi kid DOWN!!!!

Go Eagles!

I heart San Francisco

Here are a few of my favorite pics from our Napa trip this past weekend. We went to celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary, which is quite an accomplishment now a days I think. Anyway, we spent the first night and next day in the Fishermans Wharf area of San Francisco and we had such a good time. We started off our day with the most amazing breakfast I've ever eaten at a place called "Dotties". You would never guess (except for the line streched down the street), that this little tiny dive lookin' place served such a fabulous gourmet breakfast. Chad had an apricot french toast that was so fantastic. I had the special fritatta, which was tomato, avacado, jalepeno, corn and feta cheese. All I can say is, I can't even say how delicious it was. You will have to go there and try it for yourself.

We had a late lunch at "House of Nanking", which is our very favorite place in the whole world to eat chinese food. Then Friday night we headed out to our B & B in Napa in our cute little upgraded convertible mustang.

We stayed at the cutest place called "The Adagio Inn" in St. Helena. It was run by a lady named Polly and she was a wonderful host and an amazing cook. We met two other couples staying there and it was great to get to have nice conversation for breakfast with such nice and interesting people.

We hired a driver to haul us around through Napa all day so we could just sit back and enjoy the wineries. We tried to squeeze in so many, but there just isn't enough time for more than about 5 each day. We did manage to make it to "Beringer", "V. Sattui", "Del Dotto" (which was by far our favorite and funnest), and "Castello di Amorosa". We actually were able to fit in "Hess" on our way out on Sunday too. But that's all we could fit in on Saturday. Then we made dinner reservations at "Martini House", which we salivate for an entire year thinking about...but we slept through our 9 o'clock reservation. What a couple of old poops. Chad woke me up at 9:45 and I was so disoriented, I thought it was the morning and couldn't understand why he would be telling me we missed dinner. It was so weird. Anyway, we were so bummed, but Chad found a cool little french place called "Bouchon" that was open until 12:30 so we at there and had a great meal anyway. And while we ate, my amazing husband handed me a little box that contained the most beautiful and sparkling eternity anniversary band. I put a pic up. He's so sweet. I was overwhelmed and the whole trip was just seriously so perfect.

We made it home late Sunday night and relieved Grandma and Grandpa from their kind service. Also, our wonderful Melanie came in and helped out for a night too. Thanks you guys for helping us out. We needed this break SO much and it meant everything to us. We have the best family and ex-nanny in the world.

Grandpa's Birthday Party

I went to my parent's house last Saturday night to celebrate Wil's Birthday with them and their friends. It was so much fun to see everybody. They are such great people and I always have such a great time when I'm with them. Unfortunately, Chad got stuck at home babysitting. We all missed him but it was a fun time too.