The Boys Start School

Colin and Nicholas started school. They are still attending Calvary Christian Academy. Colin started 7th grade and Nicholas, 4th. (WOW! I can't believe it sometimes myself). Ryan also started Pre-K3 this year.

A quick Disney Trip

Because we had Labor Day off, we decided to head up to Disney (we have four 4-day passes that don't expire) and (of course) some indoor skydiving.



We stayed at Bella Vida, a condo development made solely for tourists. We stayed in a 4 bedroom, 3 bath condo (with a really-real kitchen, laundry room, etc) for $150 a night. it's on 192 about 6 miles East of I4 - I highly recommend it. Here are a few pics

The condo was two-story. A very good size.

As you can see, the inside was well-furnished.

The condo had a small private pool.

In fact, the boys got a little TOO comfortable, just like at

home (notice Colin's shoe and sock lying on the floor!)

Maggie, as always, was a real cutie.

The condo development had a clubhouse, with a gym and HUGE pool we had to ourselves!

We went to Disney Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM studios). We went on the new Toy Story Mania ride - an interactive 3D ride where you play amusement park midway games in 3D. DEFINITELY ride this one.

Our 4 pests riding a 5th in at the Honey I Shrunk the Kids set...

See the Kids sliding down a leaf below. Poor Maggie - She apparently was a little TOO shrunk to handle the slide very well.

Ry wanted to meet the Backyardigans and Jojo (above).

Ry also got to meet Handy Manny.

J and I also slipped in some indoor skydiving at SkyVenture. We spent 30 minutes in the tunnel - about six 2-minute jumps each. I got to fly with my instructor in the tunnel with me (I can maintain my position well enough that he can fly with me). J finally overcame her fear of flying "high" in the tunnel (I put high in quotes, because it's only like 10 feet up...).

We all had a blast - we definitely like Orlando.

Brandi Cavalancia 2002-2008

Brandi was born on April 7, 2002 and came home and became part of our family on July 14, 2002. She was a loved member of our family. Brandi had a stroke a few months back and appeared to have recovered. Over the last two weeks, Brandi had become lethargic, not wanting to eat (and other symptoms which I'll spare you details about). She went in for surgery to look for a blockage in her stomach and during her recovery appeared to have had some kind of neurological relapse.

Today, Brandi had become so overcome with what I can only describe as "crazy behavior" (for example, she walked in circles today, sort of like chasing her tail, for literally 20 minutes straight) that we knew she wasn't going to recover.

J and I made the decision to put her down to keep her from suffering (she was no longer eating or drinking, nor responding to our voice or commands). It was a truly sad day for everyone in the family.

Brandi was put down at 6:30pm on Wednesday, September 17, 2008. She will be missed.

Here are a few pics of her.

Ryan loved to play with Brandi. She was a loving dog that didn't

mind damn near anything the kids could throw her way.

Water - Brandi was ALWAYS at home in the water.

Brandi LOVED being at the lake - she would spend literally morning till night at the lake shore. We plan on taking her ashes and spreading them at the lake. It was her favorite place where she was happiest.

Brandi spent most of her time at the lake fishing. Mind you, she never caught a single fish in 6 years of summers at teh lake... but she never gave up. Perhaps it was the thrill of the chase...