I forgot...I have to brag a little...here's the little dress I knit for Gabby. That black "fun Fur" is a pain in the BUTT to work with, but overall, I think it's a very cute dress!

Cute Kids.....
Oh, come on, you gotta oooh & aaah over my adorable kiddos! This picture was taken at The Somerset Collection (used to be Somerset Mall) on Daddy's birthday...July 19, 2007. Gabby snagged Duncan just as I pressed the button!

Just for the record...Duncan was 3 years, 5 months and Gabby was 4 years 9.5 months in the picture.











Warren's "new" downtown area has a cool feature--a fountain area where you can run around & cool off. In the winter, it's a skating rink. Gabby & Duncan enjoy running and getting wet. We have discovered, after a number of falls, it's best to wear water shoes/sandals when you go into the fountains! I also love it when the kids lay down & make "water angels" on the flat surfaces! I guess they are looking forward to snow/winter...even in 95 degree heat!


















We've put my mom's house up for sale...$151,000. I'm REALLY hoping it sells quickly and for the asking price...but, we have not had a single showing yet and it went on the market August 24th...OK, 5 days! But, the woman we have selling for us got Donna's uncle's condo sold in 6 days! Tomorrow we are selling mom's car to the neighbor's grandkids. It's sad to see so many things going when I know how much mom loved them, worked for them, enjoyed them.

Gabby begins Kindergarten on Sept 5th!! YIKES! We bought the stuff from her school supply list today. Duncan also had to get "matching" items...paper to "write" on, a folder for his papers, tissues, etc. This weekend we're going to Arts, Beats & Eats in Pontiac (http://www.artbeatseats.com). That should be fun...the kids LOVE the bouncers and there's always good food to try, maybe even find a Christmas gift or 2. Sunday we are going to a BBQ at the Oliver's house. The kids can't wait!!! They adore Ashley! So, it'll be a fun weekend.

Tuesday, Steve has knee surgery. We are PRAYING for a good outcome & speedy recovery. Steve's mom is going to play babysitter for the kids.

Gabby's up to 11.3 kg and 97 cm...24.91 pounds and 38" for those non-metric people. So, height is going well...weight is still WAY under. So, we're trying periactin again as an appetite stimulant. I hope it goes better than our 6 week trial at the begining of the year...she LOST weight (1.5 pounds) on an appetite stimulant...go figure!

Me, I'm just trying to hold together. I stress about every stinkin thing and have lots of aches and pains from lack of sleep & stress. Duncan's eating a bit better now that we're not at Grandma Jill's every day. He actually got up last night & asked for help using the toilet. :o) OK, it was at 3 a.m....but that's better than peeing in the bed! He's growing up!

It's been a serious BUMMER of a couple weeks here. On Wednesday, July 25 I went to visit my mom in the hospital...and she didn't know who I was! When she finally recognized me, she had me back in high school...or maybe college! YIKES! That was FREAKY! She was talking about seeing my dad & that he was redecorating his office...dad passed away 8 years ago. Then she thought I went to the zoo with my cousin Jim--only she called him Jimmy. We have not referred to Jim as Jimmy since he was about 12! And Jim passed away almost 14 years ago. EEK!

Thursday morning started with a call that my mom's cat was dying! Kidney failure...He was nearly 19 years old. I picked him out as a 1 month old kitten, left him with my parents when I got married...He was an OLD cat! Of all the days to die, he had to choose the day my mother died too! Geez!

Yeah, my mom died on July 26. Got a call from the doctor at 1 p.m. that she wasn't doing well. Steve & I went to see her. By 3:45, we couldn't understand her because she was in so much pain. We had them go to pain management--no heroics. Went home, fed the kids & put them to bed. I went back at 9, stayed till 10:10. Before I got home, Steve called the emergency only cell phone I was carrying to say the hospital called...mom had died.

My brother & his family arrived late Friday afternoon. We made visitation and memorial service arrangements on Saturday. Family came from Rochester, NY on Sunday. Visitation was Monday afternoon/evening. Memorial service was Tuesday morning. Lawyer's office Wednesday morning--I begged off going to sort stuff at my mom's house on Wednesday afternoon. I'm still reeling--my mom & my cat on the same day! Nice!

I thought this "doctored" picture of the kids generally describes how I feel!!



















Steve went back to work today. The kids & I hung out. Tomorrow we put mom's ashes in the ground next to my dad. Wednesday we have a person coming to appraise the stuff in my mom's house. Anyone want a 4 year old, 3 bedroom ranch in pristine condition in the city of Roseville, Michigan????!! Anyone??? I'm already sick of dealing with all of this!