Jess turns 2

Jess turned 2 on 9/23 but we celebrated on 9/22 since Mike had to work Sunday. While I'd been dreaming of a princess party, Jess had her own ideas and we ended up with an Elmo party. Maybe next year she'll be up for princesses. Mike had tried to put her down early for a nap but of course she'd have nothing to do with it. She ended up crashing right before it was time for cake. Jason stood in for her while she went down for a nap and blew out her candle. One of the families we'd traveled to China with had come to the party. I'd hoped to get a picture of the girls together but when they came Jess was already starting to crash. Hopefully we'll be able to get together again and I can get some pics.
Jason showing Jess the Mulan Kitty he made at Build a Bear for her.










Jess on Sunday finally getting a taste of her cake.










ELMO!!!!










Jess loving Elmo.












The birthday girl on the front steps. I love her dress. I'd gone crazy trying to find a sweater for it since I thought it may be cold but of course, it ended up in the high 70's so she didn't need one.














Jess with her new instrument set.










Jess on her birthday ready for church.

Never Forget

Where were you when the world stopped turning

that September day?

Teaching a class full of innocent children

working on some stage in LA? - A Jackson

I had just finished doing calendar in my kindergarten class when my aide returned from the office and told me what happened. The teacher in the class next to me ran out; she was from New York and had family who worked at the Twin Towers. I didn't know anyone personally but I had coworkers from other jobs who lost people. Take a moment and say a prayer today for our country, our heroes, and the families who lost their loved ones.

Harry Potter/Camping

Last Saturday, I took Jason to see Harry Potter at Jordan's Furniture's IMAX. The last 25 minutes were in 3D and it was really awesome. We got up there early because you never know what traffic will be like and then Jason played his DS while I read sitting on the floor at the beginning of the line. We were the first ones in and got awesome seats. After the movie, we had ice cream while watching the liquid fireworks watershow in the lobby. Then it was off to the in-laws for the night before going to Maine on Sunday.



We got an early start on Sunday and stopped at Fort Williams in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. We walked around the mansion and fort ruins for a while and Jason waded into the ocean. I tested it but it was too darn cold for me! We continued on up to Casco, Maine where we would be staying at the Point Sebago Resort. We got there right on time. Of course, my sister, mother and niece were late and it was in my sister's name so we couldn't check in until they got there. Because we were going the last week of August, we got a deal on the park home. We were staying 2 nights for $140/night. Normally, you have to stay a week and the lowest price is $1400/week. After staying there, I can say it was nice but I would definitely not spend that amount of money to do so. The website said that floor plans could vary. To me that means that the furniture may be in different spaces or the rooms may be laid out differently. It does not mean that the room that looks to be a nearly normal size on the website would in fact be smaller than my bathroom. My mother had the best room with a double bed. Patricia and Michelle shared the futon (along with Michelle's many stuffed animals) in the living room. Jason, Jess and I were going to sleep on the bunkbed. The bunkbed mattresses were as wide as me. While, yes, I could stand to lose some weight I am not as wide as a normal twin mattress! The top bunk had no safety railing so we took the mattress off and Jason slept in the living room on it. Jess and I shared the bottom bunk - not sure quite how we managed it but we did. For some reason, everyone except for me seemed to forget that it gets cold in Maine at night. I brought a large comforter so I was comfortable at night; the next morning my mom told me she was freezing so she bought blankets at WalMart. We had a fire and roasted marshmallows - yum! That's the only part of camping that I miss. The camp has activities throughout the day for kids 3 and up. Jason spent most of the day on the beach and then went to play atomic dodgeball. We went on a hayride (where Jess fell asleep) and to a bonfire. On Monday, the rest of the family went home early but Jason, Jess and I stayed at the beach for a couple of hours. It was nice and relaxed then. We had a good time but I do think the place is overpriced.


Stopping for a stretch at a rest stop.

Trying out the water at Fort Williams



































Fun on the sand

Lulled to sleep on the hayride.

Jason running through the waterpark at Sebago

Our very small bunk room