Sorry for the delay

i am so sorry for the delay in any recent posts. everything has been very busy and crazy around here since vacation that it has been hard to try to find any time to post. I am finding myself working 3 days a week more than not, especially d/t our weekends that we need to work.

We had company of Justin's family, including mom, dad, sister and her son during the 4th. the kids had a great time together. Miles got to meet his aunt Julie for the 1st time. The trip was short and sweet, which was greatly appreciated after our vacation trek.

Miles continued to go to school, 1 day a week. It has continue to be an extreme challenge. He has a good friend, Matilyn there that helps him thru his day. She is the only one he talks about when we talk about school. I really think that he is in love with Mattie. Finally last week, Miles made some good headway about being at school. He actually ate some lunch, played with the kids, played on the playground, colored, slept, and appeared to have had a good time. He was spotted walking around to the office with his teacher Brandy. He has really connected with her. Hopefully, his day at school will be a good one again tomorrow. He has also been willing to give out hugs and high fives to may of the staff that he does not even know that well. This is HUGE progress especially since he is usually shy around other adults that he does not always know.

We had great weather for our dinner party --- BBQ-- in July. The dinner parties this year have been even better than the last 2 years.

At the end of July, Justin's mom returned for another summer visit. Again, this visit seemed to go by too fast. The kids loved the time alone with grandma linda. I worked many of the days that Linda was here, but this gave my mom some time to do her own thing and focus on her To-Do list.

Our friend, Sean and his wife have recently left for Atlanta, GA. This will be a big change for us since we have considered Sean to be an uncle to the kids. There were the final dinners out at Schmidts' Sausage House and a final poker game for the guys. We wish them well and hope to see them all soon.

This past weekend we also had our wine tasting fundraiser for the American Heart Association. This was a last minute decision to do for our Heart Walk Team, but we had a great time. It was in Powell at a GREAT Wine shop. The owners were spectacular and did a great job hosting us. It was a success and we will plan for 1 or 2 fundraisers there next year. At the same time, Miles and Sophia had their 1st, non-family member babysitter. This was a girl from Kindercare. The kids had a great time. We are happy to know that they do fine without us and we will plan to use other babysitter in the future since Ms. Tiffany will be leaving for college next week.

This week has been busy with a many things. On tuesday, I gave a 3 hour lecture at OU in Athens on Cancer and PT. It was a good lecture, best of all, they paid for my gas and a stipend for the lecture. We are having the house painted soon, so the decorator came to help us choose a paint color. Of course, we will now have a red door, paint color called..... baked bean. Justin, Sophia and Miles are so excited. I cannot believe that we will be using a color named after food.

We are also getting ready for Sophia's 5th b-day party. It is a full PRINCESS (whose surprised) b-day party. Tonight, we made our thank you take home bags for all that are attending. These are some pretty good bags, especially if you are 5. They include a fancy white purse full of nail polish, stick on earrings, lipstick, rings, necklaces, etc. I think the girls will really like them. Sophia had a great time helping me to fill the purses full of all the "goods". The b-day theme is Enchanted, the movie. She will be receiving a lot of good enchanted gifts, including the enchanted Giselle dolls, in her many outfits including a Prince. A castle will be built outside by Kevin and Dad. Margie and mom will work to decorate the princess castle. There will be a completely pink princess cake. I am really excited about making the princess castle cake.

Then after this week, we will be getting ready for school stuff. On Sophia's actually b-day, she has to go to school with all of her school supplies, including each individual crayon labeled with her name, and complete a Kindergarten Lit test. I have no idea what this includes, but I know that we have to go to complete the starting kindergarten testing. The next day will be our 9th anniversary. Wow, 9 year already. It really does not seem that long.

The heart walk will be that weekend. I am pretty excited to say that I think we will have raised close to $7500 by the time it is all said and done. I did not meet my goal, but i had a good time doing it. I figure that my goal will be $10,000 again next year and I already have some good ideas of things i would like to try next year for fundraising. This has definitely been a great learning experience. I have learned what works, and what does not work.

One week after her b-day, she starts Kindergarten. Then we will be traveling to IL for a visit. GO BUCKS football season starts very soon and I know that Justin and the kids are ready. Sophia is even getting a pink jersey this year. I think that miles will actually love watching football, especially with dad.

I cannot believe that the summer has gone by so quickly. Everything will change once sophia starts kindergarten. I am excited to be able to help out in the classroom by volunteering as needed. She will be playing soccer this fall and I might be helping to coach. I plan to sign Miles up for soccer as well. I think that the kid needs a little time running around with other kids his age, and really, how cute will it be to have 2 year old running around after a ball.

Well, that is the update for now. I will try to post pictures of the b-day party as soon as i can. I also need to upload the rest of the vacation pictures. We hope that everyone is doing well. We hope to hear from you soon. send us an e-mail and let us know what is going on at rianntaylor@hotmail.com