Color schemes

After being in our house for three years, we are finally getting around to painting the foyer/kitchen. We got two estimates to paint our two story foyer and the kitchen. One was for $500, the other was for $2,000! Guess which one we're going with?? Quite a difference in price, but the $500 dollar guy comes highly recommended from members of our ward who have used him. The hardest part is trying to find a color!!

I picked out this color called 'Rye' from Home Depot. At first it seemed a little too dark, but now it's growing on me and I think I like it. It's a great color during the day with the natural light. I haven't decided for sure yet, so I might try "on" one more color. I need to make a final decision soon though.

S.AIC Company picnic at Si.x Flags

My company, S.AIC, held their annual company picnic at Si.x Flags in Maryland. We took Abbey and my cousins and her family joined us too. It was a very hot day! But I guess that's better than rain. Abbey had fun riding rides and playing at the water park with Brandon.

Tabbitha and I sitting on a bench while we wait for the kids to finish the ride.

Abbey loved the tea cup ride. That was the first ride we got on.
Abbey returns to the tea cup ride with my cousin and Brandon.

Abbey and Brandon cooling off in the water park.

Nieces and Nephews

My mom's birthday was in August. All her grandkids were there to help her celebrate. These are my nieces and nephews. They are the cutest bunch of kids!

TJ, Maya, Abbey, Rachel, Daniel and Christopher

My newest niece, Maya Ashley Ngo

Abbey starts Kindergarten

Abbey started kindergarten after labor day. She was very excited about starting a new school and making new friends. She realized that she was a big girl now and was going to the big school and no longer in preschool anymore. I went in to work late that morning so I could take her in to school. I never understood why some parents get emotional when their kids go off to kindergarten until I took Abbey to school. I have always been in Abbey's life and love her to death. She's kind of the kid we never had (yet). It has been a time of reflection leading up to this day. We love being part of her life and seeing her progress. She is as much part of our lives as we are of hers.

Abbey has to take ESL in the mornings and then she has afternoon kindergarten. I'm not sure why she has to take ESL, but the county seems to think she does. So, she has a long day of school every day. She gets to ride to school bus to the babysitter's house and gets picked up from there.


Abbey did not want to wear what her mom picked out for her for the first day so she had a little bit of a melt down. So, she picked out her own clothes.

Fall of Freddie?

Well, by now everyone's heard the headlines of how the government has taken over Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. I won't even begin to try and figure out what it all means, but for me, the bottom line is that their stock plumented down to a mere .89 cents a share today (at closing on Monday). What a sad, sad day for those who are invested in the company like we are. Steve has been investing the last couple of years and now it's all gone. We're hoping (and praying) that things will get better. Can it get much worse than this?? Who knows. One thing I do know for sure is that my "stay at home" fund is severely depleted.

Is it Friday yet?

Yeah, it's only Monday, but I can't wait until the work week is over. I got in to work this morning and could already feel my stress level rise. I don't think there's ever a 'slow' time in Recruiting. I've been trying to fill some Contracts positions for the past couple of weeks and can't find any qualified candidates (translation: candidates who fit in to the salary range we are looking for). Other than that, it's just another day at the office.

This past weekend we went to the temple with our Stake. As usual, it's always a nice experience when you go to the temple. The weather was very rainy so it was great for pho (Vietnamese noodle soup). So afterwards, we went to lunch with the Rhoads at Saigon Cafe in Sterling (I love that place). Then we stopped by my brother's house and picked up Abbey. I called her on the way there and she was so excited to hear from us. According to my mom, she had been waiting all day and was crying when she couldn't get a hold of us earlier in the day. Sure enough, when we got home, there were three messages on the answering machine from Abbey. She spent the weekend with us.

Overall, we had a great weekend. We are busy every weekend this month so along with every Monday morning, comes the great question of 'Is it Friday yet?'

Berryville Pool Party

Our annual ward pool party was on August 23rd. Since my niece Abbey has been going to church with us and has made friends, we decided to take her to the activity. It was fun to see everyone there and just hang out. We always have such a big turn out for this event. I couldn't stay for the entire thing, but Steve was there to watch Abbey. She had so much fun and by time she got home, Steve said she crashed.

We had to bring a dessert so Abbey and I made cupcakes.

The best part of baking is licking the batter!

Abbey eating with Hannah and Malia Collier.

Playing on the playground with Maria Butterfield

Abbey 'swimming' in the kiddie pool.

Wyatt Hambrick having fun in the pool.

Audra Downum - cutest baby ever.