It's amazing how quickly our time with Shelby flew by! Nine weeks came and went in the blink of an eye it feels like! We know Shelby was excited to see her Mom again...get back into her routine and get back with her friends, but we also know she had an absolute ball out here! Paige and Shelby did more giggling and laughing than any two girls this summer. While Ben was counting the days until she left (too much estrogen in the house for HIM!), Paige is going to really miss having her big sister around! Shelby is a lovely, wonderful, smart, funny girl with a heart that is pure gold (can you tell I am a proud bonus mom? hehe).

Anyways...we are draining the last drops out of our summer break. Sam's Dad and Sam went to Oregon to camp for a week. Lilly bug is having a two day sleep over at our house and then Paige will go to her house for a few days. On Wednesday, Ami and I are taking the kids to Point Defiance Zoo (pictures I promise!) . Next week brings reminders that school is just around the corner. I have to register Ben for Kindergarden, and Sam has his high school orientation. Just so that we don't get TOTALLY bummed out about summer being almost over, we will be going to the Kitsap County Fair next weekend. Nothing like ending the summer with a good old fashioned fair and rodeo. We have some of the best bull riders in the States come to this fair to show off their stuff....and get their stuff battered! hahaha....

You also know that summer is almost over when I receive our Christmas Card catalog and have actually placed our order for Christmas cards (we get them personalized every year!). Ok, ok, ok...for those of you who know me well, I will admit...I am VERY anal about being organized and I am completely, unabashedly NUTS about Christmas! :) . So for those of you who are groaning out there about me already having done my Christmas cards, let me just rub it in a little more- I've already started buying gifts! hahahahhahahahahaha...Gotta LOVE Christmas! (Sam HAS forbid me to play Christmas music before Thanksgiving! haha).

Hope all of you have a wonderful week....don't forget to keep in touch with us!
pinger29@web-o.net

Hugs to you all...
Mark,Jaye and Gang