Jack and Cooper. BFF 4 ever

Jack and Cooper were lucky enough to be invited to the social event of the season -- Heidi L's 5th birthday party. Cooper came over to go with Jack and he was dressed to the nines! After seeing Cooper, Jack wanted to wear a tie as well. I think these boys were looking to pick up some chicks at Heidi's party!

T.M.I.

Dear Mackenzie Phillips,

It's too much. Too much information. While your life sounds like a V.C. Andrews novel, I just don't want to hear about it.

You have ruined the Mama's and the Papa's for me. California Dreamin' and Monday Monday will never be the same.

I need to be assured that I will not turn on the Today show and hear this kind of talk. Kids are getting ready for school! I don't want to feel like I need to shower after watching OPRAH.

Let's put all of this to rest and focus on more important topics like Jon and Kate getting rid of their dogs and Kanye being mean to that cute little Taylor Swift.

Keep on keeping on.

Sarah D.

The Pottery Place

The week before school started my friend Jamee and I took our kids to Champaign for one last hoorah. Our friend Amber had raved about the Pottery Place so we could not wait to try it out.

Emily and Jack
Jack's football

Painting his oatmeal bowl

The fine chocolate dish Jack

painted for Mam

Finished products (I did the pitcher)

before firing

This can be the cover of their

wedding programs.

We ate lunch at a BBQ joint

inside an old red barn

right next door to the Pottery Place.

We all gave it two thumbs up.
Very good food and really cool decor.

A ride on the merry-go-round at

the mall to end the day.

~~~~~

A week later our stuff was finished

Professionals we are not, but I love how it all

turned out. Jack was impressed with how

shiny it all was.

Jack was supposed to save this for Christmas

but he could not wait.

Mam loved it!!

Painting pottery was a great time.

I recommend it highly and think that pretty much anyone would

have a good time.

We can't wait to go back.

Fall Festival

It's here.

The hottest event in the J.C.

That's right....

It's Fall Festival time!

Porkburgers, corndogs, and shake-ups.

Friday and Saturday

9/18 & 9/19

On the square in Newton,IL

Best of all, I'll be there!!

On the courthouse lawn (SATURDAY ONLY), directly across from Arndts.

9am-????

SARAH SELLZ

www.sarahsellz.blogspot.com

lots and lots of cute bags

& this year, something new--SUNGLASSES!!!

Stop by and see me.

I

Swayze

We knew this one was coming, I just hoped and prayed it would not happen.

We lost Patrick Swayze. In this summer of celeb deaths, this one seems to have the most sting. We don't know these people, yet it feels like we do. I always thought that if I met Swayze he would be able to teach me to dance, clean up the riff raff from any bar I worked at, and be so cool while robbing a bank that I would later go surfing with him.

Thanks Swayze. It really was the time of our lives.

Labor Day at the Diel Pond

Ever Labor Day weekend, the Champaign Diel's host a super fun wiener roast at the Diel Deer Cabin/Pond. It's become one of my favorite events of the year.

Ronnie and Marla Diel brought their new dog Murphy.

Harrison squealed with joy every time he saw the dog.

Murphy is the best dog ever.

Harrison pulled his hair and tried to give him kisses.

Murphy did not care.

By the time we left, I was ready to see if Murphy had any
brothers or sisters still needing a home.
I slept on that one and am happy to report we are
still 100% pet free.

Harrison and his Daddy.

(Cliff makes a rare blog appearance)

Gabe and his big catch

Gabe's even bigger catch.

Gabe (with lots of help from Ben Bierman) caught this snapping turtle.

Gabe named it Goliath.

He really, really wanted to take him home.

I am happy to report that the Fulton household remains

100% turtle free.

It's bullet point time

• Why do I need to teach my baby how to read? He's a baby for heaven's sake. You've seen the commercial. It seems a little creepy to me to have an 18 month old that can read. Cliff thinks it is a great idea. Not gonna happen. I'm also not going to teach my baby sign language. He's not deaf. (if he does become deaf, I will consider it) (if he becomes Mexican, I'll consider Spanish)
• I LOVE GLEE!!!! Watch it. Fox 8:00 Central time on Wednesday nights. I'm seriously thinking of starting my own show choir.
• Baby gates are dangerous. My arms and legs are covered with bruises from what I have taken to calling babygate '09
• Cliff is back. No more working out of town. The camper has a for sale sign in it. Campers we shall not be.
• I just saw a bumper sticker with Obama's campaign symbol that said "Got birth certificate?" Really? Really, really? Have we not cleared that up yet? Yes, yes I do have a copy of his birth certificate and I will be happy to show you. I doubt that would be good enough though. He's our President. Get over it. (by the way, he's also black, don't ya just love it)
• If the babygate bruises were not enough, falling out of the booth at chips and sauce has added bruises upon bruises to what has turned my body into something that you might see at S.W.A.N.
• Colleen Leffler had a baby. Colleen. Wow. He's a doll. Congrats Colleen.
• The Newton Eagles are 2-1. Last Friday's game at Olney was good old fashioned Newton Eagle football. I love it.
• I tried to take pics of my myriad of bruises. They just were not that flattering so you will have to use your imagination.
• For those who have asked, we have rescheduled our Disney trip. Things were not working out with the planning and if I could not do it right, we were not going to do it at all. We are now going the first week in February. I am so excited. Planning it may be as much fun as the trip itself. Sorry I did not let you in on this sooner.
• My life has become a little calmer. For a while there it was straight out of Compton. A lot of you were genuinely concerned and I really do appreciate it.
• Harrison is a mad man. He is all over the place. Today he climbed up 5 stairs. Looks like it's time to put up another baby gate. Think the football coach would loan me some pads?

Just a swingin'

Bubba, this one's for you

This afternoon Jack said "Mom, let's do some dancin'.......put on some Michael Jackson!"

We don't always dance on tables at our house, but today was a dance on the table kind of day!

Enjoy Jack and his moves with your head tilted to the side. Jack's Mom can't figure out how to rotate the video.

~~~

This one is for Jack's Aunt Bubba.

For her love of dance, song, Michael Jackson, and for reminding us on a daily basis that it really does not matter if you're black or white.

The boys

Harry at Mam and Bamps

Jack and his best friends
Gabe, Dawson, Cooper, and Dexter

Digging a hole to China

Not sure how close to China they got with the plastic spoons,

but I know they had a great time.

Takin' out the trash

I need this today. Some of you may know why, even if you don't I think sometimes we all need a little Julia Sugarbaker.

School---DAY ONE

Jack and the Prince before school.

Harry wanted to show off his new school shoes like his big brother.

This year we will be taking our cousin Hadley Zumbahlen

to school with us.

Hadley was really excited for her first day of school!

Scout Schackmann!

We are SO excited that she is in Jack's class!

Jack and Hadley

Heidi brought a friend.

I am SO happy Jack and Heidi are in the same class this year.

Not only are they great friends, this also gives Jack and Heidi's mothers a

chance to go to lunch very often after dropping off their children!

Jack and Heidi

Hanging up the backpack

It was a completely different scene from last year's first day.

Jack immediately went and started playing.

No tears, no clinging.

Hadley let me tell her good-bye and give her my first day of school speech.

Jack finally came over and gave me a hug after some prodding.

And the first day is over......

I asked Jack how it was, he said

"it was the greatest day I ever had"