Where does the time go?

What happened to the summer?!? What's happening to the year?!? It's unbelievable how time drains away and shameful that I haven't spoken with family in so long.

Colleen and Becky, the pictures of Italy are beautiful. It sounds like you had a wonderful time...but it's always good to be home, right? And you're right, we made it through the hurricane season (actually shouldn't say yet...goes until November) relatively unscathed unlike other areas of Central Florida. What a crazy year for storms! We feel very fortunate.

Stan, hope all is going well with your family? I only hear stories about your dog (don't know the name) and that it (he/she?) is spoiled rotten. Yeah, the jig is up, you big softie!

Lynn, I see your family is as busy as usually. It's wonderful to see you so involved in their activities. It's so important for them. How has the soccer season gone?

Nece, can't tell you how wonderful it was to see you and your family and spend some time...btw, I burned the CRAP out of a strip on each leg at the beach...seriously. Hope your kids came away from that unscathed since I'm the one that lotioned them up.... Oh, and the humidity dropped for a bit like 7 days after you left...wish you would have been here then...it was gorgeous.

Larry, I can tell I need to plant some citrus here. I've got an avocado pit I'm working on so I can plant it, just waiting for it to sprout, and am considering a pineapple (easy as can be to start here, I'm told). You ever done avocado there? It's "cooling" here....slightly. Stan was about at his wits end with the muggy...which doesn't bother me as much as I was afraid it would. You going to SL for Christmas too?

Julie, I miss you like crazy, littlest sister. With Josie not in dance, I didn't have that first day of heartbreak at the first dance class without you both there; we'll have to bring Josie's recital DVD so you and Ally can see it. How're the kids? We still need to connect by phone or something.

Mom and Dad, I'm assuming it's busy, busy as usually. Can't wait to see everyone in a couple months. That alone is going to be the best Christmas present ever!

Things are going well, other than watching the market fall with a mixture of desperation and horror and wondering where the bottom truly is. I've worried like crazy about Mom and Dad and how it has affected them. We just have to sit tight, I guess, and wait it out.

Josie is playing soccer and loving, LOVING it. It is really her sport and where she is happiest...even if the team she is with is...well, there will be time for stories about that later. She's doing choir and is on student council and was just elected student council president for the school.

Stan's middle school soccer team, with Cody taking the toughest defensive assignments, goes to district finals on Monday...which is basically equal to what would be "state" in Utah. We are so excited and I'm so nervous I almost feel sick! Cody is very not nervous...takes everything in stride. He's going to be making some big choices about what to do for high school...NEXT YEAR! (OMG, that's right, folks). We're pushing, not so gently, for the IB program. He is going on a trip at the end of October with his gifted geography class. They are going to Williamsburg, Williams and Mary, Monticello and all that good stuff for 5 days. We're very excited for him.

Well, guess that's about it. I'll let Bethany keep you posted on what's going on with her and Jake. I'm going to try to be better again...maybe that once-a-month goal is a good one, like Colleen. It's a start anyway! I love you all and can't wait to see you....

Lana