Happy Birthday Ron!!!!!

This afternoon, while drinking a cup of tea (in honor of Ron!) I traveled back in time to 13 years ago today... And what happened thirteen years ago today, well, Kay and Ron came to visit Dennis and I in Moscow, Russia. We were so lucky to have them come and see us all over the world!! I went through my photos and picked out a few highlights for all to enjoy, so please do :-)


Kay and Ron at the Bolshoi Ballet - don't they look awesome?!



I love this one - definitely my favorite!



Our guide Felix, whom we enjoyed greatly. This was on our way to the site of the battle of Borodino.


Are we pretty or what?!


Ron and I at St. Basil's on his birthday



Happy Birthday to you, Ron!!!



Ron was a ruble millionaire for roughly $100 US bucks


To my dearest Ron, I want to wish you the happiest of happy birthdays. May your day be filled with love and laughter and may you be surrounded by family and friends :-) Wish we could be there to give you a big birthday squeeze!!

Overwhelmed!

I feel compelled to write even though it is way past my bedtime on a work night... I came home this evening after attending a meeting for Alison's PTA and had the great fortune to have a wonderful husband who had taped the RNC for me tonight. I went upstairs, kissed my kids and then settled on the couch ready to take it all in.

First off, Guliani was amazing. Loved him!!! I thought he had some great points and a really superb delivery. Nothing, however, could have prepared me for Sarah Palin. She rocked da house!!! I cried, I laughed, I cheered and I was so proud to be an American. I have waited a lot of months throughout this campaign for someone to point out the obvious about Obama - thank goodness McCain found a woman to do the job! She makes us PTA moms look good :-)

A few pundits were saying well, it was a good speech, but wait until she has to speak from the heart or the cuff. Let me tell you no one could have delivered that speech if they didn't feel it in their heart and to the very core of their belief. If I were Joe Biden not only would I get "the VP thing in writing" , I would be working something fierce on my delivery before I had to stand up and debate her in October!

I do not want to turn my blog into a political forum, however, with that being said I do have a passion for politics... I have been so charged up lately and totally consumed by the conventions! But, my PTA business ( I'm running a magazine campaign - do you think that may one day qualify me to be President?!) will be keeping me busy for the next month, so how about I check back in on this subject after the Vice Presidential debates and we'll go from there :-) Thanks for listening y'all. God Bless and God Bless America!

PS I promise pictures in my next post!!

McCain/Palin - woo hoo!!!

I am sitting on the edge of my seat as I absorb all of this exciting information that keeps filling my ears, mind, heart and soul as I learn more about the next Vice President of the United States. I am so proud of McCain for choosing such an up and comer in the GOP and embrace the experience she does have as opposed to the lack of experience shown by Mr. Obama. This is an historic race to the "nth" degree and I an so proud to be a part of it. I found these funny cartoons posted after the DNC on another website and wanted to share them with you. Laugh out loud as you look forward to the RNC on Monday and get ready to ride the wave of Country First with McCain/Palin '08

http://olbroad.com/2008/08/30/obamarama-79/

1st Day Pix

So there they are: the Gage babes 3. Everyone was so happy and excited this morning. It is going to be a great year!!!!

The First Day of School

Can you feel it...the excitement is in the air!! My kids actually went to bed EARLY last night so that they could be up and ready for today. I have snuck out of bed slightly ahead of them so that I can enjoy my first cup of coffee, get their lunches packed and sign the cards that I bought to put in their bags. I have written their names on crayons, on Kleenex boxes and French dictionaries. They each have 12 brand new precision sharpened pencils, two new pairs of shoes (one indoor/one outdoor), new coats for when the cold winter air comes calling. I think they are prepared. It certainly was alot of work to get them here, but we all LOVE the first day of school :-)

I will post pictures after I return from dropping them off this morning. There will be no tears; just high fives, hugs, good lucks, have fun, don't forget your manners, learn lots, and play nice! I think I hear Ali just rousing and the shower beginning to run. It is official, August 28, 2008, the beginning of the next 10 months of our lives - starts now!

A Day at the Forestry Farm

We had such a lovely day today and probably better than most especially because it was a Monday and I wrote the post I did 12 hours ago...

The kids and I picked up Grandma, Wren and Berg and went to the Forestry Farm this afternoon. It was super hot, but we endured. We rode the train, walked through sprinklers, saw a baby Yak and a Grizzly Bear walking in circles!! Our highlights were in the children's zoo where we were able to see the baby White Bengal Tigers and a very entertaining Capuchin Monkey; plus it was air conditioned in there!!! The kids had a refreshing popsicle and a play at the playground and then we were off to visit the butterfly garden - boy, was it ever hot in there :-) I was able to get some great shots of the kids in some trees out front too! After we had had our fun, it was back to Grandma's for watermelon and fort building in the basement.

Again, it was a lovely day of simple pleasures, warm weather and family memories.

Monday

What is it about Mondays?! You either love them or hate them, right? I am sitting firmly on the fence of not being able to jump for joy on a Monday morning. I guess I look back at the weekend and think about all the things I could have accomplished, but didn't and then realize on Monday that I have 5 more sleeps and busy days ahead before I can get back at it - whatever the task at hand might be...

With this Monday, I find it to be the last Monday before the kids are officially third and seventh graders. School starts on Thursday and we won't look back for 10 months. My list should probably be longer in getting them prepared for the big first day, but it isn't. I am thinking about my future Mondays with them safely at school and me at work to tidy up whatever messes Saturday left behind. Ugh - I for sure don't like Mondays. But, on the other hand, once Monday is said and done the rest of the week is pretty good because you always have Monday to compare it to!!

Whatever this Monday and any future Mondays may bring for you, I wish you peace, laughter, no long lines at the post office or grocery store, and sunny skies because "Rainy days and Mondays can always bring you down..."no excuses necessary!