Feliz Cumpleanos

Deaw Andwew,

Wemember times likes these when we had fun togethew? Yeah, me toos. I hope you have a pwetty good birfdays, and so does my famiwys. Sowwy about my poor spewing. I have a speach impediments, and it's hawd to type wif paws.

Happy Birfdays
Petey

Happy Birthday Andrew

Andrew, mom and I want to wish you a happy birthday in hopes that today will be "magical" (inside joke). We look forward to your homecoming in November and promise to train you on the round-a-bouts at Lee Road. Maybe we should have Sarah train you.

We love you and are very proud of your work at KIPP. Talk to you soon.

Anybody else carving pumpkins?

Pumpkins primarily carved by Wes "The Surgeon" Gaines

The View from Temecula

"Southern California Burning" was a headline I saw yesterday, and that is an understatement. As you all know the fires are everywhere, including Temecula. My school is an evacuation center for some 300 out of the 500,000 and growing residents who had to leave everything. As I was helping today, I couldn't even begin to grasp that feeling, of knowing your home and all of your memories are at risk of burning to the ground. A few of our teachers at my school have lost everything...Here are some pictures from our home of the Temecula fire, and the adjacent fire that is in Fallbrook.

Fire!

fire
Originally uploaded by famousscientists

This fire is crazy! I can hardly breathe outside, we had to keep our kids inside today and it doesn't look to be getting any better.

Saturday Breakfast

Saturday morning breakfast together has become a favorite in the young life of the Gaines family Fort Wayne Addition. This week we listened to a Hank Williams record and took breakfast portraits (normal day). Make your own breakfast portrait and send it to me. Here are ours:

Gracie's Birthday Week

Well, here it is. From the shores of the Pacific to the shores of Bishop we celebrated Gracie's first birthday in style. Take a look at some of the footage from both coasts and yes, get ready to see some cat-like reflexes by the ice cream cake delivery grandpa.

Autumn 2007

Autumn colors are finally arriving in Indiana, Cash and I went for a walk today and found this tree down the street. Here is a poem for the season!!

Etudes by Elaine Equi

Autumn is a solitude.
Winter is a fortitude.
Spring is an altitude.
Summer is an attitude.

Summer is a multitude.
Autumn is an aptitude.
Winter is a quaalude.
Spring is a prelude.

Spring is a lassitude.
Summer is a longitude.
Autumn is a gratitude.
Winter is an interlude.

Winter is a beatitude.
Spring is a platitude.
Summer is a verisimilitude.
Autumn is a semi-nude.

Weekend photos!

I (Sarah) added a new web album in the sidebar of photos from Gracie's first birthday weekend. I didn't end up taking as many photos as I thought, so somebody post more that we can add (Ahem, Jacob, we're going to need that video slow-mo, stat).

LOVE WINS

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=3059155

Read the following story...it happened just 20 miles north of B-town. Ispiring...and get a box of Kleenex

Love you all,

Jeff

Happy First Birthday, Gracie!

We wanted to wish Gracie a happy first birthday, straight from the Fort! Cash had just woken up from a nap, so please ignore his lack of enthusiasm. He really wanted to play that drum, but he just couldn't muster the strength. Can't wait to see you this weekend!

Greyson playing soccer

Hey ya'll check out little man playing a little soccer if you have time at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3801068371294175188.

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Originally uploaded by stevelamps

and played some soccer. All in all it was a fun morning here in Midland. Hope everything is going well for you guys too. Miss ya.

Shea, grey and steve

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Originally uploaded by stevelamps

raked the leaves....

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Originally uploaded by stevelamps

went for a jog...

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Originally uploaded by stevelamps

ate dirt.....

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Originally uploaded by stevelamps

sat by the fire....

Fall morning fun

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Originally uploaded by stevelamps

Thought it might be a good morning to go and have some fun with Grey outside, so here's what we did.....

Home Sweet Home

Becky and I closed on our home today and received the keys. We are very happy and ready for this next chapter of our lives. It just so happens, this is homecoming week (probably the biggest week of my job) so we are planning on moving in on Sunday. Blessings on all of you!

Happy Birthday Shea

Happy birthday to the most beautiful mommy in the world. You are the best mom to one of the craziest little boys I've ever known, our son Grey. No one else could do it as well as you Shea. I love you so much.