Caitlin and Brandon's Wedding weekend

The last weekend we were in Texas was Caitlin and Brandon's wedding. I was so honored that she asked Haven to be a flower girl in the wedding. I love Caitlin like a little sister and have enjoyed getting to know her over the last few years. The weekend was so special to me because of the hours we spent discussing her future wedding day on so many occasions. You may remember that Mandy and I also got to help decorate when Brandon was getting ready to propose. I think it was just so much fun to able to share in her special memories from start to finish.

I have to share about there wedding day. It will be remembered for the rest of our lives. We got to the church a little early because Haven was going to be in the wedding. Regan, Jake and my parents showed up about 15 minutes before the wedding so we could get everything orchestrated. Regan was going to stand at the back and send Haven down the isle to me in the front row of the church. Everyone had been seated for the wedding when a policeman came in and said that there was a bomb in the building and everyone had to get out now. You think I am joking don't you...well I am not. I immediately went to tell Regan to get our families out of the church, he hesitated briefly but seeing the cop he proceeded into the quiet church to get Jake and tell our families to leave. They thought he was nuts, he grabbed Jake and left. As he was leaving the pastor got up and told everyone to go get in their cars because there was a bomb in the building. The fun begins... It had to be over 100 degrees with 90+% humidity outside (in Houston). Long story short...We sat in our cars for 2 hours before they allowed us to go back into the church. It turns out some high school kid in the youth group was making a video for school, or something like that. After lots of tears and TONS of sweat, the bomb squad allowed us back inside for a beautiful wedding. The Reception was a blast, pun intended, and everything ended up working out. Caitlin & Brandon, thank you for letting us share your special day with you!

Rehearsal Dinner: It was HOT and HUMID!!! (check out the sweaty kiddos)

Caitlin and I

It was hot!!!!

Me and my other half. He is amazing! I sure do love him!

The 4 of us.

Haven at the rehearsal. She looked so cute in her cowgirl boots.

Haven in her pretty tutu.

More Texas Fun

During our trip we did so many things and I took so many pictures. I just got my new camera the night before we left for our 2 week trip. I was very excited about having the camera that I took so many pictures. It is really hard to pick only a few to post. My Texas trip is getting harder and harder for me to post about so I am going to try and finish it very quickly and not write to much. We are going on another trip in a week and I still have to finish this one plus our other one. So here we go.
We went to the Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory, the kids had a great time. Jake loved it all and Haven really liked getting the ice cream at the end. The last two pictures are of Jake playing domino's and Haven just looking cute

Next Stop: Paris Texas

Our next visit was to go see my Grandparents in Paris Texas. We drove to Paris on Saturday after we spent our time with my Brother and Carly on Saturday. We spent the whole day with Grandmother and Granddaddy on Sunday and half the day Monday. I am so thankful for the time that I got to spend with them both. Granddaddy is 90 and Grandmother is 85. They had been in a Rehab center for the past approx. 80 days. Grandmother had broken her hip and Granddaddy had congestive heart failure. They looked very well for everything that they were going through. We left Paris on a Monday and they moved into their new assisted living place. They loved it. They had been there about a week, Grandmother had only good things to say about the place. (That was rare for her to be like that after she moved her out of her own house.) On June 24th she had a heart attack and on July 2 she passed away. More photos to come from that trip. I thank God everyday for the time that the kids and I were able to share with her. These pictures are great memories of the last time we got to spend with Grandmother.

Jake and Grandmother
Jake was always so sweet with her. She would always tell me how sweet of a boy he is and that she loved talking and playing with him. The day this picture was taken Jake and Grandmother had been playing football. Grandmother would just play from her bed.

Grandmother loved birds. As I was growing up she would tell us all about them and she had bird feeders outside her windows so she could watch them everyday.

Jake is into the Silly Bands lately and got Granddaddy and Grandmother each a pack. Granddaddy liked to say that he was a part of a pack with Jake and these Silly Bands. After this picture Jake took Granddaddy to eat lunch and Jake was passing out his own Silly Bands to some of the other men. God has sure given us a loving, caring, kind, sensitive, generous little boy. I love you Jake and I am so proud of the little boy that you are.

Jake giving Grandmother her Silly Bands

The kids and I surprised Granddaddy when we came to see him at lunch

Granddaddy, mom, and Jake

Everyone talking with Grandmother

Time with Carly

While in Texas we got to spend a day with my Brother and his daughter Carly. First we went to get the Grand kids picture taken, that did not go over so well. Haven was still sick and would not let me put her down and Carly wanted Stephen. So we got a picture with Stephen and I with our kids all together. My mom loved it. Then we took a trip to Chucky Cheese. The kids had a great time. Here are a few pictures from there.
Mom and Haven

Jake

Mom Haven and Carly

Mom Haven and Carly

June Texas Trip With the Gradke's

The kids and I took a 2 week trip out to Texas this June. We were able to spend the first 3 days with Regan's brothers and there families. Haven had a fever the whole time we were there, so she was not really herself. The kids got lots of time to hang around the house and play. They all really enjoy spending time together. Haven loved to walk Fudge, the dog, about the only thing that would make her happy. One night we went to see Grayson, Griffin, Thade, and even Ryan's lacrosse games. I really enjoyed watching that. Jake now wants to play lacrosse. Here are a few of the pictures that I took during those 3 days. Enjoy

Griffin and Thade during the game

Grayson, Tatum, and Jake

Grayson, Thade, and Griffin

I love this picture of Thade. This was after his lacrosse game.

Reed also wants to play lacrosse. He was trying on Grayson's stuff

Haven and Fudge

Haven and Adalae

Grayson and Haven
Griffin and Jake

Jake's First Round of Golf

Guest Blog: By Regan
Today was a great day for me as a Dad. I took Jake out to play his first round of golf. The whole idea of "playing golf" to Jake is always greeted with sighs and the rolling of eyes. He says it is BORING and not fun. I think he has disliked it because all we have ever done is hit balls on the range and watch it on TV, which he really does not enjoy. There is a par 3 course called The Futures Course at the 500 Club that was perfect for his first round. After his second shot he looked at me and said, "I love golf!" I am not sure if it was because he hit a good shot, was trying to make me happy, or if he was genuinely having a great time. It was HOT (105 degrees) out there though so his enthusiasm faded on about the 5th hole. I don't blame him, we were both dripping with sweat. Regardless, it was a great time filled with good talks about golf and nature on the course. I look forward to many more rounds with my Best Buddy. Thanks for going with me today, Jake.

Scorecard. (I had him sign it just like playing in a tournament.)

Haven Playing House

The other day I found Haven playing house. I have been waiting for this day ever since she was born. I have always played house with her and her baby's but this time she was doing it on her own. She has started to pretend. She started off by wrapping her baby's up in her night nights and rocking them then putting them to sleep. So when I told her it was time to take a nap she had to take her baby's. It was just too sweet. After her nap Peaches (PJ and Grandpas dog) came to greet her and she wanted to play house with her. So Peaches and Haven played in her house and played with her stuffed animals.