Well it is true, I will be going to New Orleans the end of October for a week. But I do need to change the tune a little bit. This trip is organized by AGC which is the Association for General Contractors. It is an organization that my company works through to get our insurance and other benefits. I proposed the idea to my boss and asked if he would allow me to miss that week of work in order to make the trip. To my surprise, he agreed but jokingly (with a hint of seriousness) said that they would just work me harder before and after. Feeling that I pushed my luck to get the time off with no pay cut, I decided not to go for the $500 expenses that I need to cover.

I went to the meeting today and the 5 others that made it to the meeting are all getting their expenses sponsored by their respective companies. In the flier they advertised the activity with they mentioned that if someone wasn't interested in actually going they would appreciate a donation to help offset expenses of those of us who are going. Being the only one in that group without the company fundage and not being able to cover them all ourselves, I'm first on the list to be covered with any donations. I'm pretty sure that will happen, but I would love to come up with all of it, or at least a large portion. I do also have to get a few other supplies to take with me. I was talking to Ken on instant messenger and he brought up the idea that I could try and get a family sponsorship. So here's the pitch, if you could help out with even $20 bucks I could go to the organizers with AGC and tell them that I need less money and maybe someone else could come that otherwise wouldn't. Ken has pledged his share and encouraged that I make this pitch. I plan on taking our video camera and documenting some of the trip to present to my boss, but I will of course share that with all of the family.

If you're wondering what we're gonna do there, I am too. I'm told that all Habitat for Humanity requires is that you are willing to work an 8 hour day each day and provide your own transportation to and from New Orleans. We will be working on the Musician's Village and staying at Camp Hope which is located in a former elementary school. So if you're interested and able to help a little, let me know.

Peter

Well I thought I would add some pics I took of Andrew yesterday before he decided to throw up all over the outfit. The pants are still too big for him and they are 0-3 month size. He is growing though, weighed him at 12.5 pounds the other day, He just has Peter's body with no hips. Anyways he has been great for us except he has now really found his lungs this morning and cried from 4 until around 9 unless he was being held by one of us. But he definitly is a great kid and I love him more and more everyday.

We can't wait to take a vacation to Newport Beach with Mom and Dad. It will be nice to be able to see friends and family since we haven't really been there in a year. Peter has decided to head to New Orleans with some people here that are going to do the Habitat for Humanity there around the end of October. He is really excited and found out he doesn't have to pay for any of it.

Things are well and we are having tons of fun with Andrew and watching him grow. Love you all!

Love,

Anne

From Dwight Schrute's blog on NBC.com...

LOST BATTLESTAR

Dwight Schrute here with a much belated addition to my ‘blog’.

‘Where the “F-“ have you been!?’, scream my (literally) hundreds of
readers.

Well, I’ll tell you. There have been some big changes at Dunder-
Mifflin and I have been busy as a beaver.

[Note: I know full well that that phrase makes no sense whatsoever.
Beavers are not busy unless their dams are continually knocked down
and destroyed by pesky neighborhood kids and/or storms]

Plus with the beet harvesting and my laser tag team (the Gandalfs!)
making it to regionals, my time has been quite limited.

There is a question that has been eating away at me like a flesh
eating bacteria or a wolverine.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE CAST OF BATTLESTAR GALACTICA CRASH LANDED ON THE ‘LOST’ ISLAND???!!!

First of all, they would have lasers. Adama would quickly secure the
hatch for his crew. The survivors of the Oceanic flight 815 would be
herded up like little children and inspected like cattle.

“Could these people actually be Cylons!” Starbuck would be thinking
to herself. Then she would think, “That one who calls himself Sawyer
is pretty hot. I wonder what he would look like swimming in just his
jeans.”

Starbuck would take Sawyer on a reconnoiter of the island and they
would visit the swimming hole and start necking. And then Kate and
Apollo would stumble upon them and they would all be getting it on
when a huge crashing would come through the jungle and one of those
huge unseen monsters would tower above them (the monsters that
disappeared after episode 8 of season 1) and they would be
screaming.

AHHHHH!!!!

Cut to commercial.

Meanwhile back at the hatch, Adama would want to imprison the “Lost”
cast in the old cave with the creek in it, but president “Roslin”
would want to reason with them and have both casts mate in order to
create more surviving humans.

Meanwhile the Cylons would have contacted the Others and they would
form an “alliance” to destroy all the good humans and especially that
annoying French woman who lives on the other side of the island.

Starbuck would shoot the unseen monster and Sawyer would say
something witty and sexy, like “Nice shot, blondie. Where’d you
learn to shoot a laser like that? From watching princess Leia?”

She would say, “Put a sock in it Sawyer” but the attraction would be
too much for them and they would have to start making out again.

MORE NEXT WEEK on THE CONTINUING SAGA OF ‘LOST BATTLESTAR™’!!!

(there wasn't any more next week -Marnie)

Barb & Buffy - Paige Schickedanz would like to know which Vancouver ladies are interested in attending Time Out in Tacoma, WA. I belive it is on Saturday, Oct. 21st - an all day event. Paige thought it would be fun to meet the night before and get a hotel room - make a weekend out of it. I don't know if I can go - we have Cirque du Soleil tickets for Friday night and Dave has all-day Scout stuff that Saturday. I will work on a sitter, but it would need to be someone who can shuttle the kids to soccer games. Regardless -if the two of you are interested, please let me or her know. I think it would be a lot of fun -I went last year with my Mom and Kim. Well worth it.

Also - on a sad note - for those of you who knew Ann McOmber of the Centerville Ward - she took her life a couple of days ago. She had battled depression for a while. If you are interested in sending your sympathies to her mother, Grace, her mailing address is: 1721 Horner Way Fremont, CA 94536. We just saw the both of them this last visit - very sad news.

Nothing else. Tracey - love the pictures. Can't wait to see those kids again! Marnie - I will vote for you, although I have no idea what Sprinkles is - and from the sound of it, I am better off not knowing. Let's just say, it's a good thing Krispy Kreme is 20 minutes away!

Love you all...
Adina

Wow, how do I get so far behind? If I would just keep up I could post little short updates instead of the novels I feel compelled write! So Buffy, is your job all worked out and official now? I hope so, how exciting!! Things here have been really exciting for the past two weeks. First of all, Hayden started preschool! He went 2 days last week and will start going the three days this week. So far he loves it! When I dropped him off today he ran in and started playing with a new friend. Before I could even say I was leaving he yelled “Bye mom, see ya later!” I’m glad he felt comfortable there! We’ve settled into a nice little routine we all seem to enjoy. The second big news is that Danica started crawling! Two weeks ago at church I did a lesson on tithing in Primary. Tom was teaching Sunday School so I had to bring Danica to my class. We were sorting pennies on the floor and the kids got worried that Danica would get the pennies. I told them not to worry because she couldn’t crawl. But sure enough, she crawled right over! Everyone started laughing, it was great! She is still pretty slow and mostly just crawls to what she can see but I’m okay with that! She also loves to pull herself up on everything! She even thinks she can stand up if she puts her hands on a book on the floor, so she just straightens her legs and puts her bum in the air. We have also started to work on waving and she waved a few times over the weekend. Very cute!

I am working this week on getting my scrapbooking stuff in order. I am going to a crop on Saturday with Lexi and I want to get a lot done. I’m trying to get 2005 started and finished… needless to say I’m a little behind! But hopefully I can get caught up before Christmas. We had a “Teddy Bear Picnic” yesterday, inspired by the classic song. We invited over a few friends and their teddy bears. We played hide and seek, wore teddy bear disguises, played games and had a picnic. It was a lot of fun.

Well we hope all is well with everyone! I’ll post again soon!

To all those out there who read this, please take action...

This is very serious. I have a love in my life that cannot be forsaken but we have been kept apart for so long that it is just becoming too much. I have struggled with it daily and gone to others for solice but it never brings the same joy.

Imagine my rejoicing when I found out yesterday that there is a chance for us after all. But I will need the help of all who read this.

You are wondering, who is this love that is worthy of this kind of joy? Well, let me introduce you to the wonder of the Sprinkles Cupcake. It is difficult to express in words the perfection that exudes from these amazing little pastries.

In the past I have been forced to take the journey to that city to the north and visit the rich folk in order to find their pleasure. But now I have a chance, a small one, but it is still there. For you see, Sprinkles is having the layman VOTE for the next location!

Now I know that you may be thinking, if they are so good why don't I vote for my own city? Remove this temptation from your mind. It is an evil selfish thought. I am pleading, do this for me...do this for your daughter, sister, sister-in-law, cousin, neice, whatever I am to you...do it for me. Do it for love.

I thank you all for your support in this difficult time and hope that we will all see better days when there is a Sprinkles in San Diego. Thank you, thank you very much.

TO VOTE CLICK HERE (at the bottom of the page click on "vote for the next Sprinkles location" then put in your email and scroll to San Diego, CA for the city :)

I have a break at work so I have decided to write in here. Great to hear from you all! I am so glad that everything is going well in Germany with Mike and Brooke and the girls! How exciting to start your lives there! I will definitely have to come visit before you all leave.

Everything is great in San Diego. I had a great weekend up in Vancouver with Mom, Dad and everyone up there. I got to see the local real estate of Vancouver and see Wicked which was amazing. I would have to say it is the best musical I have seen...meaning that I was obsessed with the music and I wasn't at all disappointed with how it actually turned out (like I was with Aida and Jekyll&Hyde). Thank you so much Mom and Dad! It was awesome!

I am now back to work and this week is turning out to be quite the busy one. I think I will definitely have a lot to do through the end of the year. We are revising an entire program that hasn't been edited at all for about 30 years (tons to do!) and in the middle of that we are doing some revisions to our money-maker program (L.E.T.) for a re-print of the materials...all pretty time consuming. Right now I have a break because I can input the changes faster than my bosses can write them so I am waiting for them to send me what they have done.

This weekend I am going to be headed up to Disneyland after work on Friday to spend the night and then run the Inaugural Disneyland 5K bright and early on Saturday morning. Should be a fun time and I am really excited to do it. You can look at the course here. I am running it with my friend Kristy and her sister. I will post pictures, I promise.

Not much else is going on. I am eagerly awaiting the new fall TV shows...The Office next Thursday and Lost on October 4th. There are a couple new shows that I think I am going to check out. One is "30 Rock" which has Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan from SNL along with Alec Baldwin and I think it is about a SNL-type show...the behind-the-scenes sorta. The other is on after that and is called "Twenty Good Years". John Lithgow and the dad from Arrested Development (i always forget his name) are in it as men that figure they have about 20 good years left in their life so they are going to make the most of it. Both shows are on NBC on Weds nights before Lost. So I think I am just going to set aside Weds as my TV night in general although my DVR does help in case I miss anything.

Can't wait to see Anne, Peter, and Andrew in a couple of weeks along with Mom and Dad! Love having any of you guys come visit me here! :) Anyway, I am back to work.

Love you all
marnie

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers that went out Isaac's way...and Tracey, don't feel bad for spelling his name wrong - how many times have we spelled your name wrong?

For those parents out there that don't want to deal with this whole bone infection thing...
Apparently children get it often, usually following some type of bone trauma, but sometimes from any bacteria that sneaks in through a scratch or cut. When the doctor asked me if Isaac had any cuts or scratches on his legs, I had to laugh. He's 11, of course he does. Countless. Anyway - that is likely the source. Kids are more prone to the infection because their bones are more porous and highly vascular - especially long bones that are growing - like his femur. It's just really important that any cuts or scratches are cleaned out. I think Isaac will be much better at this now.

The doctor called today - they were able to culture some bacteria and will likely know exactly what type tomorrow. In the meantime, Isaac takes 6 pills a day for long while. He will go back to school and soccer tomorrow...

Wicked was awesome. Hanging out with Marnie, for the short time we saw her, was awesome. All of you are awesome. Seeing Kim next week will be awesome. Later, all.

Adina

Isaac has been discharged. He is being treated for osteomyelitis - bone infection. Hopefully they will isolate the bacteria this weekend and he will be on antibiotics for a good while. He feels good, other than being tired. They will follow his progress closely. Love you all...
Adina

So good to hear from Mike & Brooke & girls...sounds like Germany is going to be an unbelievable experience for you guys - I'm a wee bit jealous - but we are so looking forward to our visit there. I think we have decided to come during your second year there - your third year already sounds busy with other family! Anyway - glad you arrived safely, glad you are finally together, and glad for your large branch - that's awesome.

For those who aren't aware, Isaac's "flu" turned out to not be the flu. He is at Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital in Portland - admitted last night. He had some leg pain start at the same time as his fever, I finally took him in on Wednesday night and a battery of tests ensued - blood work, urine, x-ray, and finally MRI, which led to his admission. Extra fluid around the hip- indicative of inflammation and infection - and 'something in the bone'. I hate that one - when they have nailed what 'something' is, I will sleep better. They have assured us that they don't think it is a tumor, but they haven't been able to say that it is bacteria, either. Cultures are growing and we are playing the waiting game. I stayed with him last night, Dave is with him now. Best case scenario: they decide it is a bone infection and send him home with a 4-6 week antibiotic regimen. This is what I am praying for - your thoughts and prayers would be appreciated.

I'm off to shower and rest. We'll keep you updated as we are.
Adina

Barb, I forgot to bring th ephone number with me to the library, but I REALLY would appreciate it if you would call Lon Parks for me at Remax in Lawton, Ok and give him my e-mail address (or Mike's). If you could ask about the house for me that would be great. I would look up the number on-line but the natives are getting restless. Thank you so much-in advance. We love you all.
Love, Brooke

Just a quick note here from the local library to let you know we have arrived safely. Our houshold goods have all arrived, and we should be in the Honda by Tuesday. We really love the house and the neighborhood. The playground is right across the street, which the girls love.

The guy chosen to be our sponsor when we arrived just happened to be LDS, with 3 girls. And that folks... has been an awesome blessing. They have been running us all over the place until we get our car. The branch has about 150 attending here so that is a huge deal.

I met my boss yesterday and I think things are going to be great. I feel real at home back in an Infantry battalion. Sounds like we are going to be freezing our butts off in the field all winter, but hey, that is what I get paid for. The area is really pretty and the architecture around here is just fantastic. We cannot wait to get out and see it all. Please let the Bennetts know we have arrived. We should be up on Internet and phone within 2 weeks.

We love and miss you all!

Mike, Brooke, Jane, Sadie, Ellyn

Here is a picture of my wonderful parking spot, the building from the street and a close up of the damage that I did to poor Remus. You can't really tell but it is not so fun. Anyway, just thought I would get these up here.

--
Marnie

Photo to follow when I get one taken. Mom decided that she needed a run-around car during the non-winter part of the year. So, she took me down to the Toyota dealer and bought herself a 2005 Toyota Corolla CE. Very nice driving (when she lets me drive it), great 31-39 mpg, 4-door, sandstone beige. It really fits her style. I seldom see it around the home anymore...she's just off and running, trying to find ways to take it for a spin. I was proud of her determination to get it at the price that she chose. The dealer said it couldn't be done; funny how he came back within 2 minutes and tossed the deal her way. "Her way or the Highway". She got the deal for the price she wanted. I'm not that good in deals like that. Anyway, when she is home sometime, I'll try to catch a picture of the car. It is difficult to catch a moving vehicle...it is seldom in park.

Take care and photo to follow..........Dad

No - it's not my birthday, at least not yet. But I have procured my gift...tickets to The Killers. I found some on craigslist - and probably paid too much for them, but I want to go. So - it is my birthday present. I thought I would take up the Stinchfield practice of purchasing my own gift in advance. I think Dave is up to his birthday in 2009 - as far as advance gifts go.

Wicked is this weekend - I have been listening to the soundtrack faithfully. Marnie will be here and we're excited to see her. Then we get a visit from Kim & Treven - it is going to be a nice September.

Boys' soccer games begin this Saturday. Isaac has been battling the flu this week, so I'm not sure if he will play or not. Morgan's first day of pre-school is tomorrow. She can hardly contain herself.

Dave was called as Scoutmaster. His life is now consumed with scout meetings and reading scout materials. Between that and coaching Parker's team and training for the marathon, he is one busy man. He is excited for the call, however, and is determined to do his best. No doubt he will.

OK, ladies. My running log. So far this week, I have run M/T/Th - and plan to run F/S. My goals at this point are simple: run without a break - no more pretending I need to stop to tie my shoe (yes - brutal honesty - I've done this) when really I just need to stop and breathe! So far, so good. Question for Tracey - I think you face the same dilemma as I do with winter approaching and children at home. Do you take them out in the cold and run anyway - or do you wait for Tom to be home, and then run? I am looking for a solution...I don't want winter to stop me in my tracks. In January, it rained solid for 29 days - I need to get around the weather.

Anne - love the pictures of Andrew. He is such a little man! I'm so happy for you guys.
Mike & Brooke - can't wait to hear from you guys - you've been constantly on our minds! Hope the trip went well.

This is getting too long and I need to start the day. Love to all.
Adina

Couldn't resist commenting on Annie's baby. Finally have discovered some genes that are stronger than the Stinchfield ones! Andrew is a darling baby (not that the Stinchfield looking ones aren't:-)) Love - Lexi