Wheels of Hope

I want to share this awesome story with you guys -- please check it out (the McRoberts' happen to be our good friends):

http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=129381

A Week In the Life...

Well, I can't believe it has been a week since my last post. One day, I am going to take at least one picture each day to document how the week went by. I look back now and wonder, what, besides keeping up w/reading my husband's new blog, have I been doing. If you have read his blog, especially this last healthcare post, you will understand why it's been so time consuming for me :)

I don't have much in the way of earthshattering news to post today, but I will give a big shout out to my father-in-law -- it is his birthday today -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! He is enjoying it in the Poconos, not a bad bday present I would say. Now, when the card arrives late, let it be known that I addressed and stamped the envelope on Monday, left the card and envelope underneath his son's car keys and therefore I have fulfilled my portion in a timely manner. I better just leave it at that :)

Oh, I almost forgot: Here is something I found interesting. Click on this link and it will take you to a "Presidential Candidate Calculator". See who it says matches up most closely with your views. Ok, so I did take it twice because I am sure there was an error the first time around. haha.

http://www.vajoe.com/candidate_calculator.html

Soon, a week in the life in pictures...I'm sure you will all be waiting with anticipation. Hope everyone is well!

Grant's Farm

Wow, I have alot of shadows in these pictures, they are not very good, but I am posting them anyway. I wish I could post more -- I wish I could show you the real story behind this event (but that would mean I would be posting pictures of the kids in Cameron's class & I try not to post pictures of other people's kids unless I know it's ok w/the parents). Anyway, here's the story: one of the boys in Cam's class was invited to participate in Variety's day at Grant's Farm. Variety Children's Charity works with handicapped children, I am not sure of all of the details. Well, not only did they invite this child to come, but his entire 4th grade class. What a great day it was. My parents happened to be in town, so they came along with us. I watched Cameron pushing his friend in the wheelchair to see the nearby animals and to see the smiles on his face, it was priceless. I was proud of Cam being the friend he is. All of the kids, and the adults, had a great day. Variety did a wonderful job of making the kids feel welcome.

It Started out FUN!

Kelsie's golf league started last Saturday. Kenny went with her and she did really well. This Saturday, golf and volleyball are going to conflict, so my dad and I took her out to the course this evening to play her round. Well, it started off fun. THEN...MOSQUITOS ATTACKED US! I have never seen anything like it in my life. And under normal conditions, mosquitos love me and I swell up like crazy. This was just insane. We should have quit and tried to squeeze the round in later, but we kept at it. We just couldn't concentrate. I did manage to get these pictures before the attack started...

Company, Baseball & Sunburn

My sister, Mike, Cody and Madison (Shayna's baby) came down last weekend. It was a short visit, but we had a good time. Cam had a double header on Saturday morning, his team won 1 game and lost 1 game. After the games, we ran to the Mills Mall for a very short trip. When we got there, we noticed that Madison had broken out in a strange rash on her face. We couldn't figure it out. FINALLY, when my sister and I both saw that our own faces were red (we were in different cities by this time) did it dawn on us that she must have a sunburn. I could not figure out how she would have gotten a sunburn since it was probably about 60 degrees for most of the 1st game and then maybe 68 during the 2nd game. Now, looking at the pictures, we see that the sun was in her face, at least for these. Very strange.

Sorry, No More Copa Cabana for Me...

I have to post this b/c it boggled my mind when I read it. Here's an exerpt from an aritcle on AOL, discussing Barry Manilow cancelling his scheduled appearance on 'The View':

"I had made a request that I be interviewed by (co-hosts) Joy (Behar), Barbara (Walters) or Whoopi (Goldberg), but not Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Unfortunately, the show was not willing to accommodate this simple request so I bowed out," Manilow said in a statement on his Web site. In an earlier statement to the news Web site TMZ.com, which broke the news, Manilow said Hasselbeck was "dangerous" and "offensive."

Elizabeth Hasselbeck dangerous and offensive? Hmmmm. Here's what I say: Manilow, you're a wimp and I won't be copa cabana-ing anytime soon.

New Blogs...

Have you noticed that I have added a couple of new blogs on the right side over there? My husband would like me to highlight the fact that he now has a blog. I am not sure about the title of his, guess it comes from 'Forest Gump', not sure. But please give it a look. My sister has also started her blog -- yay! I hope she keeps it updated!

Another Musician in the Family

I almost forgot! Cameron started piano lessons this past Monday. It was very exciting. He wore his "bionic finger" and did a great job. He tends to want to be a perfectionist, so practicing yesterday was a little stressful, but I think he has real talent. Don't ask me who he takes after :)

Under Construction, Our New Student Council Member, and Remembering 9/11

First, Kelsie came home today with her exciting news that she is going to be part of her middle school's Student Council. Uncle Richie better get busy with his election, so Kelsie isn't the first "Hand" elected to national office. Kelsie says that she is most excited because Student Council gets to set up the school dances. And if she's setting them up, she HAS to go! Wait a minute! She may have to be the first council memeber to resign.

Now that we have a new air conditioner, it's only appropriate that we also have another major project start. The jackhammers were going strong today, ripping out our sinking porch. We'll be under construction for a few days while we have a new porch piered, poured and lifted to correct the problem that has caused the roof over the porch to start pulling away from the house. So, this is what being a homeowner is all about?!?!

Finally, we all know where we were 6 years ago today. I was at work and couldn't believe it when a co-worker was listening to the radio and announced that a small plane had accidentally flown into one of the towers. Well, we know it was so much more than that first report. We gasped at that first, incorrect report and how much worse it really was. I wanted to get off the Base and get to my kids, but the Base was closed down, I couldn't leave. It was an eerie feeling, 1000 miles away. This afternoon, I have had the tv on (while working on our "Best Buy" saga), and have been listening in part to the report General Petraeus and Ambassor Crocker are giving to the Senate. God bless these honest, straightforward American servants and those serving in the military at home and abroad, as well as those who lost loved ones on 9/11.

LIVE from New York it's....

Well, it was live and part of it happened on a Saturday night. Anyway, here are a few shots from Ken & Cam's trip out to NY over Labor Day weekend...

Part of the Croke family ...

At Karen's house, Geri & Aunt Dot...

Time for the Hand Family Open...Uncle Philip & Grandpa getting ready to tee off...

The trip would not be complete without a ride downtown. Without Mommy there, the best celebrity they could dig up was Brigitte Quinn from Fox News. Obviously she's no "Shepard Smith" :) But not bad.

More of the Croke family w/Cam...

Kenny getting in on the pictures...

Lady Liberty....

Back to Business...in the Heat! and Miscellaneous Thoughts...

Ok, well, we finished the long, holiday weekend in style! Kelsie and I made a trip out to what I call the "Dove Mall" and ate lunch at our favorite -- Chick-Fil-A and did a little shopping. Ken and Cam returned home from NY early Tuesday morning. Cameron made it to school and got back to business. A great, long weekend was had by all.

Tuesday morning our air conditioning went out. Bummer! I am waiting here for a call from the technician right now. Hoping they will be able to make it over today to install the new unit. Thankfully it hasn't been 100 degrees plus the past 2 days, but it is awfully sticky in here. We've been sleeping in the basement and on the main floor, wherever we can get 1/2 a breeze. Oh well, Kenny reminds me, that's what money is for. Personally, I prefer it for vacations :)

I watched the Federrer/Roddick US Open match last night -- unbelievable!

The Cards are 2 games out after their loss last night... and they are sending Mike Maroth to the mound tonight? Not sure I can stand to watch it.

Fred Thompson announces on Leno last night that he's running for President? Interesting venue choice. I hope he didn't totally offend New Hampshire by announcing on the same night as a NH "debate"??? And saying that it's harder to get a spot on Leno than a spot at that debate.

The Weekend Isn't Over Yet!

I hear that Ken & Cam are having a great weekend and more fun to come tomorrow when they head downtown. Should be fun. I think it would have been less expensive if I would have put Kelsie on the plane to NY, she's costing me a fortune! :) We are having a great time together, though. We saw "No Reservations" at the movies yesterday, got our nails done, ate at the food court, etc. Today, the first interesting thing that happened was...we got to church on time. Hmmm....could that mean that the weakest links on Sunday mornings are named Kenny & Cameron? We even picked up donuts and Krystal on the way and still made it right on time. Interesting observation. Anyway, we picked up a pizza afterward; Kelsie and Krystal watched a movie while I watched the Cards sweep the Reds (& I think I dozed for a few mins). Kelsie & I later went to paint pottery, then back home for a 1/2 hour walk in the neighborhood and then we finished her poster for Student Council. I am very proud of her -- her English teacher recommended her as a candidate for Student Council. She has to get 5 teacher signatures and complete a poster. So, here's the poster!


Whether she is elected or not, we are very proud of her! And we had fun working together on the poster :) Tomorrow is another day. I told Kelsie tonight, we actually need to spend at least an hour catching up on some laundry, etc. Not too much work, though....afterall, it's the last "unofficial" day of summer. Everyone have a good one!