"through the fire and the flames we carry on"

i realize it is old news now since it did happen a little over a week ago, (i've been so busy and lazy lately.;)) but i would feel disrespectful if i didn't give mention to the great fire of herriman. of course, mark was out of town for this exciting event that started with a machine gun spark and led to 3 houses and a mountain being destroyed. =( the boys and i went to timberly's that night but by the time we left the flames looked enormous. i was assured MANY times by many people that there was no way the fire would get to our house and i definitely didn't need to load up the sectional or my cute, yellow side table. nonetheless i knew i would never be able to sleep with flames outside my window.  not that we got much sleep at tim's anyway. the kids were excited for the sleepover and tim and i stayed up late watching the news, worrying for loved one's homes and crying for the strangers whose homes were already gone. 

the brightside:

as sad as i am for the people and the animals that lost their homes, there is a kind of goodness that can only come with something horrible happening. it is so beautiful to see people caring about total strangers and to feel the unity that comes from going through something together. and it is really amazing that more homes weren't lost. also, i kind of like the smell of smoke and the boys think the black mountain will be perfect for halloween.=) 

{thank you to deann's neighbor for this photo, my phone pics just weren't cutting it.=)}


[okay, i know what you are thinking....what kind of a block captain am i? obviously not a very reliable one. i have been called everything from michael scott to george costanza for up and leaving my post. it's survival of the fittest out here on woods park.;)]

more of what we love....

-farmer's markets-

-drive-in movies-

[yes, my hair is crazy. it was really windy that night.]

[i think this is when mark said john lasseter was the director of toy story 3. so not right, dad!]

[the boys thought this vw van was so cool. dad- you scored major points when i told them papa used to have one. hippie.=)]

-german festivals;)-

[max and his crazy face.=)]

[oktoberfest food= heaven for mad]

[la moustache]

[it was only an hour and half wait for a 3 minute go on the bungee trampoline, that's all.;)]

guess who's back....

::mad's 1st day back at preschool::

[yesterday morning was the start of mad's last year of preschool. he's excited his friend, brooks, is in his class again and i'm excited that he goes 3 days a week.;)]

[school kids=)]

[we love ms. denise! thanks deAnn for the introduction.]

[too cool for school]

[the child loves his "special days." he's so fun to do stuff for.]

[we also got mr. squarepants off to another day of 2nd grade. he loved his get up!=)]

a fine and fancy ramble

my adorable niece, sadie bug, has been feeling a little left out now that all the other kids are starting school again, so on wednesday i took her and madden on a "field trip" to the zoo.  this is about how it went down.....

{these 2 little stinks insisted we rent a stroller and taunted me the whole time for not pushing them fast enough up the steep hills. "come on old lady!"}

{it was the perfect day to go. the animals were all outside and the kids got to see baby zuri (the elephant) playing with her ball and the tigers and gorillas play fighting.}

{love that face=)}

{just the cutest, little tutti fruitti tongan beauty}

{yes, i insisted they pose by the indian star(r) tortoise.;)} 

{"auntie, is that real?" -sade in her most precious voice}

{sadie also took quite a few pictures.=)}

{darlings}

{with cupcakes to follow, i think it was a pretty good first "field trip" for miss sadie rose.}