Summer is Over.

Today is the First Day of School!! Christina starts her Senior Year, Zachary starts Third Grade, and Caleb starts Kindergarten! Saturday, Mike took Caleb shopping for his backpack and lunch box. He got coordinating Spiderman Backpack, and Lunch box! How cute! Zachary did not want a new backpack or lunch box. He found a BLUE backpack we have had for ages, from who only knows where or when, but its BLUE, and thats what he wants. Who are we to argue NOT spending any money on a new one? Caleb is so super excited to start Kindergarten, that Saturday morning he woke Mike up, completely dressed with his backpack and shoes on, ready to go to school. He was even finishing eating his breakfast which is why his cheeks are full. The boys love to color. They will spend the longest time drawing pictures and coloring them. He is so obsessed with Golf, he even draws it! Mike took the boys for a last beach vacation before school starts. They found a different beach and they had it all to themselves! Thats a pretty cool city that they built! Aww! I love these pics! Best Buddies! Or else they are trying to pull each other into the water... Wow! Check out that road! They stayed 2 nights. One at the Putt Putt Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, the other in Jupiter. Zachary fell at the hotel and scraped his face up. What IS it with my kids getting hurt? They are conked out after a busy day at the beach. Caleb learned to swim during this trip. We knew once Zachary started swimming, that Caleb would quickly learn. He swam the entire length of the pool. But not in these! Someday Caleb, you will fit in these. NO Rush!!!! While the boys played down south, Frank and Christina went to Universal Studios! Elektra's new shoes light up when she walks, so she was dancing around making them light up. Her and I played Tattoo Parlour. She told me what to paint on her and where. Of course, I had to give myself a little tattoo too. This weekend Mom and Dad were here so we met up with our Cousin June and her 2 kids, Dixon, 18 and Cody, 14. Everyone came over to the Blue House for a BBQ then we went to the Circus. We had fun seeing the Elephants and Tigers! Check out my moms hair. I cut 8 inches off! We were up high, but actually had very good seats. They don't do a 3 ring circus any more. More like one continuous show, so you really get to see the entire show. Cousin June and her son Cody. I didn't get one of Dixon tho. Did anyone else? Send it to me!! Dad and I enjoyed watching the Circus too!

Every Little Girl Needs Pink Sparkly Shoes

Christina and her friend Chase (been friends since 3 yrs old!) left AZ for FL on Aug 7th. In this picture they were 5 years old! They had alot of fun in AZ and FL. Here is her contribution to the blog: We had a lot of fun. In AZ, Chase and I went Tubing and to Sedona. In FL, we went to, Disney World, Universal Studio's, "The Groove" (teen club at universal with friends), the beach twice, the mall, saw two movies, looked up our old favorite movies and had a gigantic pillow/MATTRESS fight. and imagine this, we still fight like brother and sister at times. lol and yes, we are just friends to clear the air. (BTW mom, I just heard Caleb ask Zachary if he "wanted to see big cat poop" hahah) Sedona, AZ.

On the Mummy ride at Universal Studios.

Holding Zeb. We wrapped him in a scarf.

He looks happy! right?! Chase, Justin and I went to DisneyWorld on Tuesday. We rode on the go-carts and I had my own car while Chase and Justin shared one. While I kept going my way, these two losers, (may I add. lol) decided it would be funny to stop in the middle of the track so that everyone behind them couldn't pass. See in the picture how there are four lanes and only three are filled with cars? The one that isn't filled is Chase and Justin's lane. ha ha. They finally came around with about 15 other cars behind them. BOYS! On the monorail. Taken the day he left. He left Saturday the 15th. I'm so glad they got to hang out for such a long time! Mike took the kids to Universal Studios. It started raining, and everyone left! Mikeys 'umbrella'. They had the playground all to themselves! All week Elektra has wanted to wear dresses. Not just any ol dresses, but Princess Dresses. Princess Elektra going for a stroll with Auntie Corinna. Now Princess Elektra is taking her babies for a stroll. Princess Elektra likes to pile pillows on the couch, sit on them, (notice her shirt even SAYS Princess) then flip herself over backwards, to the other end of the couch. Michelle was invited to speak at a American Liver Foundation Meeting. She spoke really well as she told her story. Please go to http://www.liverfoundation.org/ to learn more about liver disease, (FYI- People develop liver disease for various reasons. Viruses, hereditary defects, and reactions to drugs and chemicals are among the known causes of liver breakdown. Michelles was acute liver failure with no apparent reason. You can develop liver disorders at any age, no matter how healthy you are or how good you feel. But there are ways to treat and even prevent this disease and somewhere out there is a cure waiting to be discovered. Heavy drinking, drug use, or Hepatitis are not the only causes). You can also go to http://go.liverfoundation.org/goto/mattinglymiracle to help support Michelle, Leonard and I on the Liver Walk on Sept 12th in San Jose.

Princess Elektra put my shoes on

Then she insisted I put HERS on. She calls these dolls Zachary & Caleb. She makes them dance and kiss each other. I finished my 6th puzzle. Princess Elektra likes to sit next to me and color while I do the puzzles. Today we went to Gilroy's Outlet Mall. Princess Elektra and Michelle needed shoes, (Princess Elektra got 2 pairs of Pink Sparkly Shoes, but none were in her mommys size, so Michelle had to settle for a simpler version) Leonard got a new pair of unscratched Sunglasses (I'm so glad to know I am not the only one that can destroy a perfectly good pair of glasses in mere seconds.) and I got some new belly button rings. We came back to the Blue House where a Jester entertained his Princess Elektra. But Princess Elektra wanted to play 'dress and act like a cuckoo bird' too. And what a Princess wants, a Princess gets! Princess Elektra was worn out after a fun day with Mommy, Daddy & Auntie, but she refused to take off her new sparkly pink light up shoes even as she was falling into dreamland. The 20th is the next (and should be LAST) court date. I will update everyone on whats been happening and will happen after that date. Anyone wanting to donate money for Leonard and Michelle Mattingly, for legal and medical bills, can send a check to Desert Rock Ministries 7307 S. Harl Ave #6 Tempe AZ 85283. Or call Desert Rock Ministries at 480-752-7992 for more information. All monies will be sent directly to them. Whoever donates to them through this ministry can write it off as a charitable donation. Please forward this information to anyone that you know who may want to donate anything to them. Thanks, Mauri and Bruce Freedle