I have the pleasure of hosting this week's Karnival and IÂ’ll start right off with a wonderful magical story written by airforcewife at her blogspot site - airforcefamily. It truly is a sweet tale of a magical moment between her and her children.

Robert, of New Victorian has a tender post about his baby reminding him to stop thinking about the future, and instead seize and enjoy the moment.

I can relate to Robert's experience, sometimes I've wished for my son to be a little older and other times, I've cried and wished for him to stay a toddler forever. The first time I went to the mall and discovered his clothes were no longer in the toddler section I cried. The same thing happened as I was writing about his graduation ceremony. ItÂ’s hard to let go sometimes.

Sissy, of And What Next, tells us her sister had the opportunity to shine under the bright lights of the tv cameras. At her site youÂ’ll find her first venture into the starlite by doing her first TV promo/news sequence. To watch the clip you must have either Real Player or Windows Media Player installed. If you don't have either, the site will provide you with links to download both.

From my blogsis, Val of One Happy Dog Speaks, we have a submission of Tounge Pictures. That is just too interesting a title to editorialize, so I'll leave at that. I too want to see what kind of hits she'll get from Google.

Our youngest participant, Brenna, seems to have hijacked her mom's site, Iowa Geek, to post her tips and really cool pics, on how she and her friends stay cool in the hot summer months. It's just too cute and funny to pass up - so please go see it!

Susie of Practical Penumbra, shows us a before and after pictures of her mom and brother that I found rather interesting. I especially liked how they have grown to look more alike than before.

My other blogsis, Sally of Whimsy Capricious, writes from across the pond how her precocious Tara is quietly terrifying her with her refrigerator magnets. Personally, I think TaraÂ’s simply exercising her imagination. I would only worry when she starts carrying hacksaws and butcher knives.

Over at FerdinandÂ’s, The Conservative Cat, he shows us his owners doing a bit of late Spring cleaning. For some reason, Ferdinand seems to be amused by their attempts at organizing their library!

In the Common Room, we find the Headmistress waxing poetic about a lovely pair of red boots, much like the kind Christopher Robin wears for his "expotitions".

Prochein Amy, shows us why her daughter giggled after she asked her to do a favor. I was amused by her daugher's clever use of space and sense of humor.

Contagion shares a humorous “Bad Dad” moment with us, with plenty of proof, over at his site, Miasmatic Review. It seems Clone's on his way to becoming a bartender.

Finally, we have a couple of cuties on display at ArmyWifeToddlerMomÂ’s site. ArmyWife shows us Pink Ninja's creativity and the end result of Dash's Perpetual Motion.

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IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776, The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

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This has been the reason I and some of my coworkers have been so sick for the past few days. At times it feels like I'm being disemboweled from inside of my body. Anyway, thanks NYC for being the cause of my ailment:

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Here are a few devices which have made my life (and my back) infinitely healthier, happier and more technologically advanced. Of course, the purchase of these this year has set my saving back a bit, which means no more presents for me for the remainder of the year. But I donÂ’t mind the expense because I live a very simple lifestyle (I'm not really a spender or a shopper) and am very happy with my high tech toys and the organizational edge in life they give me. Click on each device to read how they've made my life better and how they can make yours too.

- USB hubs and USB Cable extenders - taming the cable madness
- Creative's Zen Micro mp3 player - your life with a soundtrack
- My beloved Treo 650 - it's more than a phone

This picture was taken with the Treo 650

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