Flashback Friday

It's Flashback Friday time!  Steve & I will celebrate 8 years of marriage on the 18th, so I thought I would take advantage of Flashback Friday to go back through the years.  You've probably seen many of these photos before, but some of you are new readers so they may be new to you.

 

Summer 1998- the year it all began.  Just a mere 19 and 20 years old, it's hard to believe I met my future husband at 19! 

 

 

We survived some time apart when Steve lived in Frederick, MD for 3 months.  I visited for a weekend and was treated to the beautiful Baltimore, MD inner harbor.

 May 2002- Steve finally graduated college.  He likes to tease me that I was in school for so long, it took me 5 1/2 years, took him 6.

February 2003- a Valentine's trip to Gatlinburg for my sister's wedding. 

 September 18, 2004 Husband & wife!!!!

 Just a few months after saying "I do" we got to celebrate a dear friend saying "I do".   It was fun to make wedding plans with Sharon at the same time.

 

 

We took an anniversary trip back to Disney World, we went there on our honeymoon as well.   

 

If two trips weren't enough, we headed back down to Orlando in February 2007. 

 9 months after that last trip, we welcomed Cooper Andrew into our family.  5 days old celebrating his first Thanksgiving.

 Although our first anniversary was spent in Disney World, we had maybe even a better 4th anniversary- 13 row seats to see Peyton Manning in action.   The game we went to was exactly one year to the day that Cameron was born, this was in 2009.  Obviously with the birth of Cameron we wouldn't have been able to up in 2010 for a game, Peyton was injured in 2011 and now he is gone.  Worth every penny to see that game!

 Just 5 days before our 6th wedding anniversary we welcomed Cameron Scott into this world....

 making our family complete!

 

 

I can't wait to see what God has in plan for us the next 8 years!

Second First day of Preschool

Cooper had his second first day of preschool today.  He's the big man on campus now, the three day a week class.  He has been so excited all week.  That didn't stop him this morning from taking a few minutes to read to Cameron.   I wanted to bottle them up right then and there and not leave the house.  However that would have lasted a total of about 1.2 seconds before started fighting or something crazy.

 

 

Cooper requested the same thing for breakfast as he did last year; chocolate chip muffins and a banana.  I threw some sausage in there as well.  He loves the Hostess choc chip muffins, which is exactly what I craved while pregnant with him.   

 

He has grown so much this past year. 



 

2012

 

2011

 

This may have been the most adorable thing ever!  Cameron wanted to wear his backpack inside school too.  He still has two full years before he starts preschool.  Benefits of having a child in September, they are the oldest in the class and get extra time at home with momma.

2012

 

2011- I mean really?  This is not even possible is it?

 

2012- Space theme "Out of this World"

 

2011

I thought I was going to get some more shots before he went into his classroom but he walked right on in, grabbed a chair, and started playing.   Besides the long break not much has changed, still has the same teachers, same building, same kids.  Like I said, he's just the big man now.

 

 

This is random but it's cute so I had to put it in here.  We came home and Cameron & Steve played outside for a bit.  I went out to get them and find Cameron pushing an empty stroller/tricycle.  It was cute, you just had to see it.



Last Day of Summer Vacation

Today was our last day of summer vacation and we celebrated by doing nothing.  We have enough going starting tomorrow and especially next week that we needed just a relaxing day at home. 

 

A couple weeks ago we went to Target in search of a school folder.  He had just plain red one last year, poor kid, so I was going to let him pick out his own this year.  School had already started so it slim pickins'.  I tried a different aisle and we were in luck because I found an Angry Birds one.  It was perfect.

 

 

We played with our neighbor and her grandson for about an hour this morning.  For some reason or another this morning warranted binoculars.

 Cameron had his backpack and lawnmower ready to go. 

 His absolute favorite activity is to throw rocks down the drain. 

 I have silly boys!

 We did have one appointment today and that was back to school haircuts.  I forgot to take a picture of Cooper when it was all done, I'm sure I'll get plenty tomorrow.  OH MY!  He is adorbs!

 

This is last years back to school haircut.  I mean really?  He was only 3! 

 Cameron needed one too.  He was so good.  Once I gave him the sucker he was all business.

 

The rest of our day was uneventful.  This is me after a 2 mile run in the heat and humidity this evening.  I have to say every step is miserable but I have never got back in my house and thought to myself, "man I sure did regret that run".

Labor Day Fun

Clarksville had their first town parade in nearly 30 years, so we just had to go.  It went down Eastern Blvd and Steve's parents live off of Eastern Blvd.  Perfect!  We walked down to Big O Tires and got ourselves a seat.  The parade was all Cooper talked about all morning. 

 

Give this kid a bag of something to eat he is all good.

 

With Cooper next to Scott and Cameron knocking off a bag of Chex Mix, I was able to sit back and relax.  Doesn't happen much. 

 So this elderly couple pulled up next to us and got out their chairs, low and behold they also had a dog.  Well it took all of about .5624 seconds for Cooper to jump in Scott's lap.  Thankfully they had some type of shopping car contraption for the dog and all was well again.

Check out that genuine smile... wanna guess what was coming down the street?

 

The marching band of course.

 

There was also a ta kwan do demonstration.  Someone broke a board and ran it over to Cameron.  He gave them the strangest look.  Was probably wondering where the Tootsie Rolls were, cause the 832 he already had wasn't enough.

 

I found out on Facebook just minutes before the parade that a girl from Cooper's church class was going to be in the parade.  That is her sitting down waving.  She is super cute!

 I really don't know what to say about this one.

 

Sweet Frog was also there and we got coupons.  My boys love Sweet Frog, I don't think it's because they feel it's the best of the three frozen yogurt places or because it has a frog on the sign.  I'm gonna go with the frog.

 

 

We finished our Labor Day by going to Scott's for a cookout once Steve got home from work.  Yes, he had to work today, but he's off Wednesday.  Can't be upset about that.  

"All In"

 

Today was a typical Sunday for us, with the exception we only had one church service so we had an extra hour to spare this morning.   Cooper was been playing this game since he was probably younger than Cameron.  He always loved to line his animals up on the window sill.  Now Cameron likes it too.

 

 

The afternoon was spent during our usual as well.  We are pretty boring people!  We played Hungry Hungry Hippos.

 Cameron got his chapstick fix in.  He loves chapstick!  Runs around the house asking for it all.the.time.

 It's the September so I had to make my first pot of chili.  These boys sure do love their chili, which is good because we may be eating it for a number of days.

 We colored for a bit this morning.  I am so impressed with Cooper and his coloring.  His teacher at church even commented on it this morning.

 I didn't have the heart to tell Cameron the lid wasn't off of the marker. 

 

I think I mentioned this already but our student minister Matt spoke this morning.  He did a fantastic job.  Last summer when Steve was on the search committee he made a comment that Matt would easily fill in for a senior minister anytime.  He preached on being "all in".  All in for Jesus, and what is it in our lives that keeps us from being all in.  He said his was Coke, like the drink not the drug.  He said it's on his mind when he goes to bed and when he gets up. I get it.  I have been the same way about Diet Coke before.  There are mornings when I wake up and just think about when I can get that first drink.   For me it's a number of other things.  It's been television, blogging at times, I've been on a reading kick lately and it's the only thing I've wanted to do in the evening.  I could should be spending time with Jesus, instead I'm reading a book.  I try to justify it by saying it's by a Christian author but it's no excuse.  Bottom line is I need that time with Jesus.  It's one reason I decided to join Community Bible Study.  It's a 9 month long intense study and it keeps me going every night.  There are 6 nights of reading and or questions to answer.  There are so many reasons and excuses we give ourselves, what is keeping you from being "all in"?

The 'ber months have arrived and all is well with the world

 

There is just something about the calendar flipping to September 1st that gives me a sense of joy.  I love fall!!!  I love the changing weather,football, pumpkin picking, the final Twilight movie, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and of course there is my anniversary and both my kids birthdays.  I just love fall!!!   I've also decided to make this my comeback month.  I plan to return to my blogging glory days.  I don't know if I can return to 2010 status, but I'll do my best.  I generally have more topics in the fall so it should be fairly easy.

 

I don't have a great topic today to blog about but I needed to kick start this new habit.   We spent our morning taking Steve's car to get looked at.  His check engine light came on.  Toyota is quoting about $700 worth of stuff that needs to be done.  Needless to say we are getting a second opinion.  The rest of the day was spent hanging out at home and playing.  Hurricane Isaac is taking his sweet time arriving to Southern Indiana so I was able to get a run in this evening.  Boy was it humid!  My neighborhood is pretty flat, we have two small hills and that is it.  I usually avoid those, but I added them to my route tonight.  I gotta start making it challenging, right?  

 

Steve made pancakes for dinner tonight and had two special helpers.  I have no idea what he is saying to Cameron, but it looks intense.

 

Steve's dad and brother went to the IU football game today.  They left at 10 this morning for the 8:00 pm game.  Crazy!  We sent Scott a video of the boys clapping to the IU fight song, it's so cute to hear Cameron holler out "IU".  I'm not a huge college football fan, I prefer NFL, but it's nice to see football on again.  Watching the college teams tonight reminds me that NFL is less than two weeks away.  Sports Illustrated has Denver in the Super Bowl.  Can't say I would be angry with that.  I still love my Colts, but I still love my Peyton too.