Look who made The Manhattan Mercury!! I mean you REALLY have to look . . .

Yep, that is me in the pink sweater with my tan purse in line ordering my beloved coffee at Bluestem. I guess this is as close as I was going to get to the Today Show yesterday.

TODAY SHOW AT BLUESTEM BISTRO

There are two things I enjoy each morning the Today Show and a good cup of coffee. Today was a special treat. I stopped by Bluestem Bistro for my regular cup of coffee and, to my surprise, the Today Show was there doing a special feature on political views in the "Little Apple." I did not really want to get on TV this time due to the topic as I was afraid I would embarrass the Manhattan community and my family. At our house, it is a little less CNN and Fox News and a little more Hannah Montana and Thomas the Tank Engine on our televisions. Needless to say if my office didn't subscribe to Time Magazine, which I take home to read from time to time, I am not sure I could even tell you who each presidential candidate has chosen to be their running-mate. Besides, my last appearance on the Today Show was so great that I didn't want to some how ruin my reputation. ha. (For those of you who I have forced to watch my Today Show appearance over and over again on DVD you know what I am talking about). Above is Lester Holt. I really wanted to get my picture with him but he seemed too busy to interrupt for a photo.

TRUE STORY: I go into my office today and look above my desk to find a bat. I go out to the reception area and say "ok, is this a joke?" "Who put the bat in my office?" Everyone just looked at me with wondering eyes and replied, "You have a bat in your office?" Finally, people made their way to my office to find that in fact I did have a bat in my office. Yes a bat! There was a bat that was hanging upside down right above my chair. SPOOKY!

Morrison, Frost, Olsen & Irvine, LLP.,

Attorneys at Law

"We Will Go to Bat for You!!!"

The slogan above originated from Rod Olsen (who is the "Olsen" in Morrison, Frost, Olsen & Irvine, LLP.)

Pretty catchy don't you think? (no pun intended as you watch the video below)

The man featured in the video is Bill Frost (who is the "Frost" in Morrison, Frost, Olsen & Irvine) He took charge of the situation acting as if he had experience catching bats. Bill confessed that he saved his wife (before she was his wife) and some of her friends from some pesky bats too. It is great to have someone in the office with bat catching experience as you never know when there is going to be a bat hanging upside down above your office chair!!

*I was actually hoping for a much more dramatic video. I wanted Bill to swat the bat and for the bat to take off flying all over the office with everyone taking cover under their desks. Then, no doubt, the video would be "YouTube" worthy!

A night at the neighbor's . . . . . and we had a lot of fun!

As the adults continued to sit outside and converse the children all went inside. We didn't hear from them for quite some time. Then, out they came all dressed up. Kira and Emma were "rock stars" (so they said) and Keenan was a zoo keeper. I think Bryce was a repair man of some sort. I am not exactly sure what all the others were but they each identified themselves with some sort of title. It was so cute and funny how they all worked together and suddenly appeared in costume.

Ummmm. Good food. We are missing one little one in this photo. Logan's little sister must have been inside getting some food.

Here are the older girls having an appetizer.

Here are the boys . . . Hey, where is Logan?

Kira's first day of 1st grade!

The school year started today. Hard to believe summer is over.

More pictures from my parent's

50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration

at Big Cedar Lodge

Big Cedar has the most beautiful landscaping.

There are so many places that are truly picture perfect.

Here we in front of the waterfall by Devil's Pool Restaurant.

Keylee is getting ready to take her first swim. The waitress at Joe's Crab Shack asked if Kira or Keenan wanted to dance with her when the staff did their dances. Keenan was unsure but Kira jumped right up.

HAPPY 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

MOM AND DAD!!!

My parents, sisters and their families all spent the week at Big Cedar Lodge to celebrate my parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary. We had a great time. We took one large family photo. Each of my sister's chose a color for their family to wear. The picture below is of my sisters with my parents in the center. From left to right, Tisha, Susan, Dad, Mom, Kitra (me) and Tamie. We had such a great time. Kira cried on the way home, sad that we had to leave. THANKS MOM AND DAD for all the great memories, laugh and love. Fifty years is something to be proud of, you set a great example for your children and grandchildren. All the Grandchildren: back row: Taylor, Shelbie, Britt, Isaac, Keylee, front row: Keenan, Gage and Kira The Schartz Family: We chose a pale yellow for our family to wear in the family photo. I joked as I thought we looked like the Schartz Family Bumble Bees. More pictures to come!!