Fall 2005 family pictures

I was up in Westborough, Massachusetts for Labor Day weekend and got some more pictures of my nieces. Why is it that taking pictures of kids is so much fun?!

Claire and Bridget are growing fast, and talking a lot. They even say grace at dinner quite often! Audrey has started kindergarten and rides a school bus every day for this first time. She got a new backpack and lunchbox for this year! Brenda and Richard settled the debate over whether to get rid of the twins' cribs when they discovered they could remove one side of each and turn them into a kind of day bed (for little people, of course).

Audrey is amazing with wanting to help with everything, even when dad wants to go shovel mud off the driveway! She also seems to enjoy gardening with grandpa and cooking with mom or grandma.

Grandma and Grandpa Lyle are doing very well. I didn't get any good pictures of them this trip, so I'll have to rectify that during my next one.

Me and Audrey	Richard and Claire hanging out
Hide-n-seek...counting to 10	Hide-n-seek...no peeking!
Hide-n-seek...Claire's hiding place	Audrey's first day of kindergarten!
Claire & Bridget seeing Audrey off to school
Claire, Bridget and Audrey	Audrey with butterfly hair pin
Brenda reading to her girls

Frazier, this is for you...

This is for you, Derrick

Philosophy of Charles Schulz

Charles Schulz penned the cartoon "Peanuts" from October 1950 to February 2000. He decided to retire the strip with the Sunday paper of February 13, 2000. Mr. Schulz died the evening of February 12th, as his final frames were being printed around the world.

These are some quotes that reflect his personal philosophy on life:

• Big sisters are the crab grass in the lawn of life.
• I love mankind; it's people I can't stand.
• My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I'm happy. I can't figure it out. What am I doing right.
• Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia.
• Jogging is very beneficial. It's good for your legs and your feet. It's also very good for the ground. If makes it feel needed.
• Sometimes I lie awake at night and ask why me? Then a voice answers, "Nothing personal, your name just happened to come up."

The following is also attributed to Charles Shulz and can be found many places on the web as well as those e-mails that get circled around the Internet every few years. I could not find any official Charles Schulz / Peanuts sites that either verified or denied the authenticity of these words. Personally, it's nice, but I doubt that he really wrote it.

Try answering the following questions in your head:

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

The point of this exercise is that few of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Now consider these questions:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.

The lesson? People who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the most credentials, money, or awards. They are the ones who care.