With it being
fire prevention week I find it difficult not to think about how quickly your life can change and how, in an instant, you can loose everything you thought was important and gain a new perspective more valuable than anything you could ever dream of.
I try not to think about what could have happened but my mind always returns to the same thing - my god we were home. If a few friends had not stopped by that day and had we not decided to B-B-Q in the yard and play
drinking games until somebody puked (yes juvenile I admit) Chris and I would have been in bed asleep and then who knows what would have happened. Thankfully our foolish attempts to reclaim our youth saved us.
I think the worst part of the whole ordeal was, as we watched the house engulfed in flames, knowing that our cat was still inside. The fire fighters were incredible. They new we were upset about our cat and we understood that finding Magic was not their first priority. They were so sympathetic and
optimistic to boot. They checked in with us regularly to let us know they hadn't found any signs she had perished and had convinced us how resourceful animals were and how she had probably gotten out of the house on her own.
After the fire was out the fire fighters completed their checks of the house (not sure the correct lingo) like making sure there were no areas of the structure that might collapse and that there were no lingering embers, and then they started to clear out. At this point Chris and I were so exhausted, physically and emotionally, and were basically resigning ourselves that we had officially lost everything, including the cat.
Then, like a scene from a movie, the last firefighter walked out of what was left of the house clutching something in his arms. He walked right over to us and there, soaking wet and looking like a drowned rat, was Magic. The poor thing had hidden under a couch in the corner of the house furthest from where the fire started. Then they took us to the ambulance and, now I can say
it must have been the funniest thing to look at, they put an oxygen mask on Magic just to make sure she was
ok. It was at that moment that I knew, although we had difficult road ahead of us to rebuild our home, we were going to be fine.
What I didn't know was how incredible our family, friends and colleagues were going to be. In less than a month we had a new apartment and, as a result of the generosity of the aforementioned, enough stuff to furnish it and start over. It did take some adjusting to get comfortable in an apartment filled with things that are not "yours" so to speak but we felt so lucky we made it work.
It has been 5 years since the fire and although I still sometimes feel sad that I don't have the tangibles I collected throughout my life, I am grateful for the memories that will always be with me. Memories that have help shape the person I have become and have helped me to define the person I want to be.
Chris has started a new tradition of baking a blueberry pie for dessert. (photo left). 
Grams made her Apple pie (photo right) so we had a battle of the pies. Newbie vs. the Veteran. It was a tough call and we had to eat a lot of pie to judge but after a thorough tasting the winner is ....
Gavin didn't really get Halloween last year. He loved running around the block, climbing stairs and knocking on doors. He just never wanted to wait for the candy. So I had pretty low expectations this year. I was hoping he would look cute, which our course he did, see for yourself; and I was hoping he would knock on a few doors and actually say trick or treat. No only did he exceed my expectations he managed to charm the whole neighborhood and got way too much candy. At each house it went something like this: 
By the 5th house his pumpkin was full and Gavin was just getting started. Halfway through he had so much cany he couldn't even carry the pumpkin anymore. I had to carry it and he would drag it up to the doors to get more. Good thing is since we don't let him have all that much candy he was happy with the handful of M&M's he had when we got home and pretty much forgot all about the rest of the candy. Great for Gavin not so good for mommy and daddy 'cause we ate it all.
I took Gavin and Spencer and met my sister, niece and nephew at the Bronx Zoo for their annual Boo at the Zoo. They have face painting, hayrides, hay maze, magic shows, sing alongs, etc for the kids and they can get goodies throughout the park at the
treat stations. Spencer of course slept the whole day away but Gavin, Quinn and Catherine had a great time. They are each individually a handful and when you put them together the are adorable but like a cluster of tornados. We considered the day a success since we only lost one child, Catherine, once and found her within seconds talking to a park ranger.
rything. Gavin on the other hand was wide awake and could have cared less about pumpkin picking. He wanted to be carted around in the Radio Flyer wagon (meant to haul your pumpkins) and go on hayrides. He had fun and thay was the most important thing but I must say that I was a little dissapointed. I really wanted to see him ride on a pony and try to pick "The Great Pumpkin". Instead he kicked around a couple and tossed a handful of little pumpking in the wagon. So no homemade pumpkin pie or roasted pumpkin seeds for me. There is still home. We try again with the cousins next weekend and hopfully we will have better luck.
On your birthday I pause for a moment and reflect on the infinite wisdom you unknowingly imparted on those whose lives you so graciously touched. You have changed me in ways I can not express in words and I am a better person having been blessed with your friendship. 
With that said....Chris and I make beautiful children. I know I should be modest but I can't help it. Look at these faces. My kids are officially the cutest kids in the world. I would venture to say this is an undisputed fact however I know there are other deluded parents out there who would make the same claim.