Dafun

I got up in the morning and went for a walk;

I rode the elevator;

played with new friends;



and listened intently.




I may be small compared to the others,




But I'm potty trained and I'm ready to go.

It was my very first ever

First Day of School!

Yes, it's hard to believe, even for me.

I couldn't wait for my brother to get home so I could tell him I went to school,

and to utter my now-famous line:

"Dafun."

When did I become such a big girl?

Never Forget

It's hard to believe that yesterday marked the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on our country.

I will never forget walking out of the shower on that Tuesday morning to news that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center, and then another. And still two more at the Pentagon and at a random field in Pennsylvania. I will never forget the confusion that followed, not knowing what it was all about. I will never forget Davey D, the DJ of the local radio station, say that it was Armageddon. I will never forget that for the first time in my life I believed it myself.

I will never forget being glued to the television for days on end. I will never forget the devastation, the loss of life. I will never forget the stories, the heroes ~ policemen, firemen, ordinary people doing extraordinary things. I will never forget the members of congress ~ both houses ~ standing outside the US Capitol singing "God Bless America." I will never forget the sense of unity that ensued the days and weeks following. We put our differences aside and joined hands with the world.

"On that terrible day, the nation became a neighborhood, all Americans became New Yorkers."

Governor George Pataki

Ten years later, we live in a different world. A world shaped by the events of that day. It's evident at airports, sporting events, and by the number of flag-covered caskets carrying a brave solider who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our safety and our freedom. To them and their families, Thank You!

Ten years later, I still get goosebumps on my skin, a lump in my throat, and tears in my eyes when I hear the National Anthem.

I Love the United States of America; may God continue to bless our great country; and may we never forget.

One of Two

Two out-of-town visits

Two sets of cousins played with

Two week-long summer camps

Two camping trips

Two milestone-birthday celebrations

That's what summer vacation was all about!

Today, however, it was back to business.

It's the first day of second gradeI somehow get the feeling that these yearly photo sessions are getting old

That's unfortunate.

For him, since he has ten years until he's a senior.

But time flies.

It doesn't seem like two years have passed since the bus fiasco I wrote about here.



This morning he got on without incidence. When we got there I heard him say,

"Yay, it's the first day of school!"


Yes, it is, my man...have a great year!



Never one to be left out, M got in on the fun herself.