Here's a video we made in the summer of 2001 with Annette, her nieces Brooke, Haley, and Kara Beth, snd our puppy, Abby.

I spent a good deal of the weekend free time transferring digital photos from old technology (floppy disc) to my computer, so I can burn them onto a CD. It is amazing how quickly time passes. When Annette and I were first married, we would invite her nieces from Texas to come to Alabama for a visit, and we had a great time, or at least that's what the photos tell me. Now those girls are all grown up. I had photos of Connor as a little baby, and now he's in preschool. I sorted through photos of our very first "baby," our dog, Abby, who was hit by a car and died the day before 9/11. It was a blessing to see the photos of such great times in our lives, but it made me a little melancholy. Time has a way of slipping by, and before you know it, the days you thought would never end are the good ol' days.

The things I look forward to nowadays mostly involves my children. Chloe is doing so well- we took her to Andi Stalsworth's birthday party the other night, and while Andi opened gifts, Chloe entertained by doing roll after roll. It was cute. Connor is doing great- he's started preschool, and loves his family. Annette has been ill recently, but the baby's doing great- I look forward to having anew baby boy.

I submitted a video clip of COnnor and me to America's Funniest Home Videos, and they sent me back a release. That's not a guarantee that they'll play it, but that's a pretty good sign.

God is good, and has really blessed our family and church. The words to my favorite song, "Made Me Glad," are as follows:

I will bless the Lord forever
I will trust him at all times
He has deleivered me from all fear
He has set my feet upon a rock

And I will not be moved, and I'll say of the Lord,
"You are my Shield, my Stength,
My fortress, Deliverer, My Shelter,
Strong Tower, My very present Help in time of need."

Whom have I in heaven but You?
There's none I desire beside You.
For You have made me glad, and I'll say of the Lord,
"You are my Shield, my Stength,
My fortress, Deliverer, My Shelter,
Strong Tower, My very present Help in time of need."

September 15 has been a good day. Our church hosted gospel singer David Phelps in concert tonight, and he was terrific. But the really eventful part of the day occured when Annette and I went to the Doctor's office and found out that our baby we're expecting in February is a little... boy! I was THRILLED. I couldn't stop laughing and smiling. I was really hoping for a boy. THe main reasons are that I have enjoyed Connor so much through four years that I thought another son would be really great, but mostly, I wanted Chloe to be my little princess all by herself. She has daddy charmed already. I can't wait for our little boy...

Connor has become an internet junkie. He used to be into his cartoons, like "Max and Ruby" and "The Wonderpets," but ever since the day I introduced him to their websites (yes- Max, Ruby, and all the Pets, plus many of their friends all have a spot on the WWW), all he wants to do is interact with their games on line. He would play for hours if we would let him. I am constantly amazed how little kids like Connor can so easily pick up the feel of navigating on line, especially since he can't read sentences yet. He is very comfortable with a mouse. Go figure.
I took Connor to go see boxer Mike Tyson last Friday. I know. But it was Iron Mike. He is training at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood, for no apparent reason (he doesn't have a fight lined up), but there he was, in all his, um, glory, training, with hundreds of people watching. It was like the Friday not too long ago when we were going through the Forum shops at Ceasars (we hadn't been, so we went), and Connor got to shake hands with Pete Rose. (I know- who's next... O.J.?) We also saw comedian David Brenner that day, and I got his photo with the boy.
Chloe is doing new and adventurous things each day. SHe and I have a bit where I hold her around her legs, and lift her straight up. I like to do this while seated on the couch, because there's a mirror on the wall behind me, and when I lift her up, she can see her reflection. It never fails- she goes crazy! She gives a loud, low "Ohhhhhh!" and starts smiling and babbling at herself. It's too cute.

It's September, and the official end of summer. As much as we love Nevada, we are never sad to see summer go. Too hot for us.
We just returned from a week in Avila Beach, California. We had a great time in a timeshare right on the beach. Connor and dad spent a lot of quality time together. We're so grateful to our dear friends, Rob and Betty, for allowing us to stay at their timeshare. If you ever get a chance to visit the central CA coast, by all means, GO. It is really great.
Connor turned four Sunday. I get the whole thing of kids growing up fast. You turn around and they're four. What's next? I really try to spend a lot of time with Connor every day. Just this past weekend we did some things together, including going to the 51's game. I'm getting him acclimated to baseball. He loves to eat crackerjacks, cheer the announcement of each Las Vegas player, and his consuming passion at the game is to see the 51's mascot, Cosmo. Oh, if you don't know, the 51's are named after Area 51, where many are convinced UFO's frequent. We have friends, including Rob who I mentioned before, who work there. It is fun for me to question these guys about their jobs, and receive the old "If I tell you I would have to kill you" line. I think anyone who has the ability to kill in their line of work is pretty cool. The most I can do at the church is throw a darting glare every once in a while.
Oh, I had a sighting in San Luis Obispo last week. I didn't know until I left, but in Starbucks I sat next to one of the baddest Ultimate Fighters on the planet, who just happened to win a championship in Vegas the Saturday previous, Chuck Liddell. He is a bad dude, and I say that with much respect.
"Starbucks? They should call it four bucks." I love that joke.
Anyway, Connor turned four and we had a party at the home of our friends, Andi and Bill. They allowed us to swim in their beautiful, custom built pool, made with a waterfall, built-in slide, the works. We cooked hot dogs and shared a beautiful (did I say hot?) September evening with friends. Connor loved all his presents and wanted to stay in the pool the entire night.
The baby's getting her personality, and it is so funny to watch. Chloe makes faces and tilts her head to Annette, and goes crazy when she sees herself in the mirror. She is going to be a heartbreaker.
Wow- a big post, and I haven't even gotten to all the great things God is doing at Green Valley. Soon...