Halloween 2009

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Barrett's First Soc. Game for the Fall

Barrett has been waiting his whole life to be just like his big brother. Well, today...I think he impressed us all. He ran more than any child out there...and made the only goal for his team today. If only you could have seen him waving his hands above his head. He was sooo proud of himself. He came over to Carson and asked him if he saw him make that goal...just like he (Carson) would have done!!

Here are a few pictures from his first day of Soc. for the fall!!

Carson's First Day of School

Oh, the joys of having the BEST street ever!! Carson is very lucky this year to be riding the bus with sooo many of his friends that live on our street! He started school this past Thursday...and he LOVED every second of it!! As most of you remember...last year about this time -- we had many melt downs (from him) about having to go to school. He didn't like the fact that Barrett and I were at home while he had to go to school. This year..not only am I back at work...but he has the same teacher and group of friends that he had in 1st grade. His class was a looping class (this was just PERFECT for him). So, between riding the bus with all his friends, and going back into a classroom with people he knows -- he is SURE to have a FABULOUS YEAR. He told me the other day that he didn't really want me to meet him at the bus stop(that is at the end of our street...one house down from our house...he would just walk home with his buddies. That just about broke my heart!! The first day I met him at the bus stop...he got off...told me hi...then kept on walking with Mason (his friend). He was totally embarrassed that I was out there. When did he grow up???? Just yesterday...I remember giving him a bottle...and NOW...he thinks he is sooo big!! Wow, I just really sounded like my mother just then!!

Oh well, To New Adventures this year!!! Here are some pictures from his first day and all his friends from our street getting on the bus together!!

Barrett's First Day of School

As most of you know...I have decided to go back to work. While I did enjoy being a SAHM....it was not something I could see myself doing all the time!! Barrett is 4 1/2 and all his little buddies were either in Kindergarten or in 4 day a week Pre-K, so I really felt like he needed that too. Well, can you REALLY imagine ME at home 4 days a week by my self???? I would have DIED of BOREDOM!! Anyway, I decided that I would try and find something that would allow me to be with Barrett and have "teacher" hours. I took a teaching position (Kindergarten) at Goddard..a private Early Childhood Center. Barrett is in the Pre-K program there...and we could not be happier with his teacher and all the things he will learn this year. He had a hard time the first couple of days, but by Friday....he was loving school. I get to see him a good bit, and he is just right beside me (well, across the sidewalk).

Here are some pictures of his first day of school....enjoy!!

The Indy 300 Car Race at the KY Speedway

Davy's company has a Suite at the KY Speedway, and we love to go when we are given tickets!!! This past Sat. we took the kids to their 1st Race...and they LOVED it!! We didn't know (at first) that we got to go to the infield, so when they announced that we could go down there...we were floored! We were able to go down to the garages and on pit road. I am not a big race girl (at all), but I loved watching how excited the boys and Davy got....you gotta love the "father-son" bonding time!! This looks like what my life will consist of....sports, races, hunting, etc....I better enjoy it!! Here are some pictures from our fun night!!

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Kings Island with the Davis Family

We went to Kings Island Friday night with our neighbors (the Davis Family). We have really enjoyed our season passes to Kings Island. We have been several times on Friday evenings, and have found it really enjoyable..the lines aren't too long at all!!! The Davis family has 2 children (a little boy Barrett's age and a little girl that is 3). We had a BLAST!! It was fun to watch Barrett have a little friend to run around with at the park (normally he is the odd man out when we go). Davy, Carson, and John went and rode The Beast while Deb, the kids, and I rode other rides. Here are some pictures from that night :)

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July...what a busy month!!!

I can't believe that it is already August. Our summer has flown by!! I feel bad that I haven't posted anything since my grandfather's death, but a week after that...I was in TN for a month. The month of July was CRAZY!! I lived out of my car pretty much!

When we moved last year to Cincinnati...I knew that I would have to go back to TN to take one last class(this professor wouldn't let me take it online...he still uses an overhead...urrgghhh). So, on July 5th I loaded up my car and headed South. I am so grateful for my family and friends that helped me out with the boys this past month...I could not have done it without them!! My boys were all over the place this past month...my in-laws kept them here for a week, then they took them back to Ark. for a week (were they got to stay at my sis-in-laws for 3 days), then I picked them up and stayed with them through the weekend, and then on to my parents' house for the next two weeks. Needless to say...they got to see lots of family and friends over the past month.

My class was in Memphis, TN..so I would stay with my cousin some during that time or I would drive to where ever the boys were at the time. I only had class on Mon. and Wed., so I had a long weekend (which was nice).

I will have to report that I AM DONE!!! I have successfully finished my Ed.S. program...and would have walked at graduation this weekend, but the thought of getting back in my car to drive anywhere...doesn't sound good to me AT ALL!!

I am going to enjoy the last 3 weeks of summer with my family and friends...then it is back to work for me!!!

My Grandfather...James Rogers

As most of you know, the Lord brought my Grandfather home to be with him on June 26, 2009. We drove down to MS on Saturday morning, and the visitation was that evening and his funeral was on Sunday afternoon. Words can not express what a great service they had for my Grandfather. It just amazed me at all the wonderful things people had to say about my Grandfather and Grandmother....makes me proud to call them "mine". The support from our friends and family was just amazing!! I know my Grandfather would have been pleased. Barrett reminds me often that he is named after his great-grandfather...and I am so glad that he realizes that!!Over the past several months..my Grandfather had been through a lot. He was also in a great deal of pain. It broke my heart to hear news updates and sometimes hear him in the background!! It was also sad to not be able to just "run over" and visit him during his hospital stay. Although, I am able to remember that wonderful smile from his last birthday party in the hospital this past April. I have pulled a few pictures of my Grandfather and my family and wanted to share them with you!!

You know...God shared his son for 85 years with us...and for that I am grateful!!!

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First Time at Kings Island Water Park

I took the boys to Kings Island Water Park for the first time today. They LOVED it!! I did too!! It is amazing all the stuff that they have to offer for little kids. I was kindof scared to take them..in fear that I would only listen to Barrett cry b/c he couldn't do the things that Carson could do -- but they had a ball. Now, I feel like there are some other slides that Carson probably is tall enough to ride...and when Davy comes....we will hit those slides as a family. Here are a couple of pictures from our fun day!!

Dinner at Montgomery Inn at the Boat House

Not only did we enjoy a great visit with the Grimes, but Jerry Miller (a friend from church in TN) was in town too!! Jerry emailed me via facebook that she would be in town and wanted to find out info. about church. We decided to meet them for dinner on Sat. night at Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse. I love this place. The atmosphere is wonderful and the food is great too! It was nice to be able to catch up with old friends over a great dinner. The kids (and myself) enjoyed watching the "big boats" FLY by!!

The Grimes Visit!!

We were so excited that the Grimes came to visit us this past weekend. This makes that second time that they have made the trip to Cincy. And for that...we thank them! It is sooo nice to see our TN friends!! We had a full weekend (as we usually do) trying to get as much in as possible. On Friday, we took the kids to the Children's Mus. for the afternoon. They love going there and just running wild!! Here are some pictures from that fun day!!

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A Day at the Park

I love summer days here when we can take the kids to the park! It is sooo nice outside...and our parks here are just amazing. We were so excited that our neighbor was able to go with us too. We always try and pack a snack to enjoy at the park...it is just something about eating a snack at the park that the boys just love!!



After we finished playing at the park, we decided to enjoy a fun lunch at Burger King. The people sitting around us were just laughing at the fact that all 4 were soooo excited about their toy. I was soooo embarrassed!! Carson's face is just tooo funny!! He isn't a big girl fan just yet!! They were all great though!

Gotta Love the Ice-Cream Man

The kids were so excited when the Ice-Cream Man pulled into the neighborhood!! They heard his bell and came RUNNING in begging for money. Well, we told the kids that if they wanted ice-cream they had to use their own money. Barrett was all for it, but Carson....not so much! He hoards that money (seriously). They went up to their rooms and grabbed their money. They waited at the end of the driveway for that "Wonderful" truck to show up. Finally, he makes it to our street. I can remember when ice-cream was like $.50-$1.00 at most. The boys both got snow cones and they were $2.00 -----I was FLOORED!! Needless to say....we will not be meeting the ice-cream man that much!! Here are some pictures from our day!!

Day 3 in North Carolina...Aunt Jean this is for YOU!!

Today, we enjoyed a fun day at the Outlet Mall, movies, and ended our outing with some GREAT Mexican food!! After shopping at the outlets, we took the kids to see UP (that was a SAD movie). Everyone knows how expensive...and what a rip off...snacks at the movies are (right?). Well, Holly and I decided to go to Target and get the snacks there...then we only had to buy popcorn. After we got all the goodies, we had to stuff our purses FULL to get it all in there. I had major FLASHBACKS of growing up and my family doing this. I can also remember saying that I would NEVER do that...boy, did I eat my words!!! Here is what my purse looked like!!


The things we do to "save money"!!

Day 2 in North Carolina...THE BEACH

We had a blast at the beach with the Johnson Family...it was a fun filled day for sure. The boys loved playing on the beach. They chased waves the whole time (after I got their pictures made.

I am going to put two different Smilebox slide shows on here. One is the beach pictures in white...and the others are just a few from playing in the water!!

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Make a Smilebox slideshow

Day 1 in North Carolina

We arrived at the Johnson's house around 11am this morning, and they had a fun filled day planned for us!! We usually try and get together with them 2-3 times a year. Davy and Van enjoy riding dirt bikes together....and Holly and I enjoy great conversations and watching the kiddos play together. This year makes 5 years that we have been able to meet-up with each other. It is fun to be able to look at pictures of the kids throughout the years (I wish I was home to find the old pictures to put with the new ones).

Here are our pictures from our first day...we are hitting the BEACH (Atlantic Beach) tomorrow...yippy!! Those who know me -- know that I will have my "beach pictures" done first!!!

Enjoy:
When we walked into their house...this is what was waiting on me...b/c today is MY birthday!!!



We enjoyed a great lunch at Zaxby's...we really miss Zaxby's -- we don't have one in Cincy.



After lunch, we took the kids bowling. My boys LOVE to bowl -- so the adults and the kids played too!!! After the kids played...they then rode a roller coaster inside the bowling center!! This place was very clean and very nice!! We all had a blast!!






After bowling we were able to go to one of Morgan's softball games...then back home for a GREAT dinner!! The kiddos ate very well...we told them we would take them to Cold Stone (an ice-cream shop)if they ate all their dinner. We didn't have any problems!!


And last...but not least....we went to Cold Stone for ice-cream. It is the BEST!!! Barrett and I shared one...and Carson and Davy shared one. We had a great night and the kids were soooo tired!! We came in and put them all to bed!!



Awww...as I finish this last part -- I am racing to the bed. We have another big day planned while here in the big NC!!