The Zoo!

We FINALLY made it to the Louisville Zoo this summer, and had so much fun!  The boys loved it, and are both finally at an age where they actually enjoy looking at the animals!  Thanks, Meemaw, for helping me take them!  We are looking forward to going again when Josh gets home for R&R!!!!!!!!

Photos of our fun day:

Watching the monkeys

Ty's face = hilarious!

Those hippos oops, I meant rhinos (thanks honey, lol!), sure were stinky!!!

They loved the Carousel...rode it twice and....

this is what Caellum did each time we got off of it!  Gotta love temper tantrums! :-)

He didn't mind posing because he got to slide down his back when we were done!

Meemaw and her grandsons

Every animal is "Puppy" according to Caellum

Ty's new favorite toy from the Zoo...thanks Meemaw!  He has an obsession with cars that have doors which open and shut!

It's NOT All About Me!

I am a firm believer that God puts things in your life to wake you up, open your eyes, or get you out of that daily rut you are in.  This past week, God definitely opened my eyes.  Lately I have been all about me, me, me.  I have to get to the gym no matter what, I need to get this done, I need help with that, I need to get to the kids to bed on time so I can relax....and the list goes on and on! I never thought selfish would be a word that I would use to describe myself, especially during the middle of a deployment!  I have just been so self-centered lately, only focusing on what I need to do and get done.  Well, God taught me a lesson this week...It's NOT all about me, and never should be!  I don't want to go into details about everything that happened in this situation, so all I will say is that I very unexpectedly took two more kiddos into my house this past week.  From Tuesday-Saturday I was a mommy of four boys!  It was crazy, it was stressful, it was such a blessing!  Having those two adorable kids in my house and thinking about their situation made me realize just how blessed I am.  It wasn't about me anymore (even though there were many times I wished it was), it was about those boys.  Most of the week, I complained about it to Josh, who kept reminding me that it wasn't about me...gosh I hate it when he's right! :-)  But he was so right, and I feel so bad for all the complaining I did.  I am so glad the Lord chose me to be there for those boys.  It was an honor to help them out, and such a blessing in disguise.  I also have to thank my mom, who helped me out tremendously while the boys stayed with me.  Having a good support system is CRUCIAL during a deployment, and we have been so incredibly blessed to have so many people supporting us.  So thank you to all of you who have helped us, whether it has been praying for us, mailing Josh a card or package, watching the boys for me, coming to spend time with us, emailing Josh some words of encouragement...anything and everything that you have done for us, we appreciate.  Seeing the situation that unfolded this past week with these kids showed me that not everyone has that kind of support, and I am so thankful that we do.  We love you all, and thank you all for everything you continue to do in support of us!  And please remember David, and his family, in your prayers.  He is one of Josh's soldiers that is going through a very tough time right now.  Thanks!  Hopefully, when that selfish nature of mine starts creeping back in as I know it will,  I will look back at this past week and remember that it isn't all about me!

It's Been Four Years...

Since I married my best friend!  Josh, you are truly my soul mate, and I love you more than words can describe!  Just like the lyrics in one of our favorite Brad Paisley songs, "And I thought I loved you then..." My love for you only grows stronger with each passing day.  Maybe next year we will actually get to celebrate this special day together, since we've only spent half of our anniversaries together!  Happy Anniversary, Josh!  I love you with all my heart and soul! 

Bubby and Kelly!

On July 2, 2011, my baby brother, Billy (Bubby as we affectionately call him), got married!  The beautiful Kelly is now my newest sister, and official aunt to my boys!  I had the privilege of being one of her bridesmaids, and Ty was the ring bearer!  Their wedding was wonderful, and so much fun!  We all had a blast!  Sorry about all the photos, but it was such a fun "wedding weekend," from the rehearsal dinner at the Reds game to the awesome band they had at the reception, that I had to post lots of pics!

Ty and Maddie getting ready to practice walking up the aisle at the rehearsal.

 The rehearsal dinner was at the Reds game, and was so much fun!  They even had a beautiful fireworks display after the game to celebrate Independence Day, which went along perfectly with Billy and Kelly's fireworks theme!  Ty couldn't have cared less about the game going on, but loved running up and down the stairs, and playing with the stadium seats!

 The happy couple!

 Good, ol' Uncle Bubby...always teasing the kiddos! :-)

 Wedding Day!  Up-dos and make-up are done, just gotta get our dresses on!  My sister, Michelle, Maddie (Michelle's kiddo), and me!

At the church with my boys!  They both looked so handsome all dressed up, the only thing missing was daddy...we missed him so incredibly much that day.

The beautiful bride, and her sweet, loving parents

 

Aunt Kelly with her nepews

 We were "rolling on the river"...in short dresses...yikes! :-)

 Handsome little man in his tux!

 Maddie made the cutest flower girl with all her blonde curls

 Billy sang his version of Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" to Kelly, and then he sang "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" to her later that night.  Too cute!

 I was trying to get a good shot of them being sent off at the end of the night with sparklers...this was the best I could do!

  I was so nervous about Ty walking down the aisle.  Like any toddler, experiencing the "terrible two's," he  can be sweet and obedient one minute, then in the blink of an eye, transform into a screaming, temper-tantrum throwing monster!  So what Tyson were we going to get at that moment?  I thought for sure he was going to throw a tantrum and refuse to walk up the aisle.  But, to my surprise, he actually did it!  It was the cutest thing!  I'm not sure if you can see it, but when they got to the end of the aisle, Maddie gave Ty a kiss and a hug...adorable!  I was so proud of him!  The first video has no sound because I uploaded it from my video camera, which I have yet to really figure out...I have no idea why I can't get sound on it.  Thanks to my uncle Greg for grabbing my camera last second and figuring out how to take a video at moments notice!  I really, really wanted that moment captured for Josh since he was missing it, so thank you!  The second video was captured by my Dad, and you should be able to hear the sound on it.  Can you tell I'm one proud Mama?!

Congratulations, Bubby and Kelly!  You pulled off an amazing wedding, and we were thrilled to be a part of it.  Love you both!

Micki and John

One of my best teacher friends, Micki, got married the last weekend of June.  Micki used to be my "partner-in crime" back in the day!  Good,old Struble Blue Jay teachers!  The photo below was taken right before I started dating Josh, when Micki and I took a vacation on Spring Break to Destin, FL.  The trip with her was a blast, and I will never forget it!

Micki and John got married at a beautiful estate in Aurora, IN.  The wedding was so charming, and the reception was one of the best I have been to.  Here is a picture of the adorable bed and breakfast where the wedding was held.

Micki looked breathtaking, and John so handsome!  They make such an awesome couple!  And I LOVED her dress...she looked so gorgeous!

This is the Micki I know...crazy girl climbed out on the roof looking for her groom! 

                          Look at how happy they are!

These are my girls!  Kristin (she teaches at Struble too...my other great friend!), Micki, and myself...I miss seeing their smiling faces everyday at school!

Micki and John, I wish you all the happiness in the world!  You make a gorgeous couple, and will make the most beautiful babies...better be popping some out soon!  Kristin, I hope you gave her the "fertility idol," or whatever it's called, lol! Love you, girl! Congratulations, and thank you for including me in your special day!