Goodbye 2008 Hello 2009!!

WOW...I can't believe that this year will be over tomorrow at midnight!! 2008 has just flown by and Brian and I have truly been blessed this year!! We are of course very happy to see 2009 to get here, because we are getting married in 66 days!! Here are some of the things that we have been blessed with this year:

• We were blessed to have two beautiful nieces born this year. Sophie was born to my brother Jason and Sonya on January 7th and Kenlee was born to Brian's brother and sister in law in February (my mind draws a blank to her actual birthdate)
• Our sweet and oh so adorable nephew Aaron turned 1 this year!! He definitely had a birthday fit for a prince!!
• I was blessed to pass both of my math classes this summer...pray for me as I take one more (and my last math class EVER this summer)
• God had His hand on my dad and had the right doctors at the right place at the right time when he had his emergency heart surgery.
• We saw my brother off to the Marines on November 3rd and are so excited that in just 28 days we'll be on a plane to San Diego!
• I am blessed with a fiancee that can work one heck of a deal and got me a brand new car this year!

Things that we're looking forward to most in 2009:

• OUR WEDDING...of course
• Our amazing honeymoon in Disney World
• Seeing my brother for the first time in 86 days on January 29th
• By this time next year I will officially be SHSU alumni
• Possibly buying a house
• I look forward to meeting Julie's sweet baby girl
• Watching our nieces and nephews grow up and learn more each day

Brian and I have definitely been blessed this year and are looking forward to the blessings that God has for us in 2009. I will get a post up about Christmas ASAP. Have a very happy and safe new year!!

Ice Skating

This past Friday Brian and I were able to spend time with two of my favorite people...Rhonda & Summer. We met them at the mall where Summer had just gone to Libby Lou and then had a very yummy & entertaining dinner courtesy of Summer at P.F. Changs. After we had some yummy food at P.F. Changs we went over to the ice rink and went ice skating. Well Aunt Kelly took Summer ice skating while Rhonda and Brian watched. We had a great time and even though Summer had a hard time staying up on ice skates (even taking me down with her once!) we had a great time! Thank you Rhonda and Summer for inviting us to enjoy you on a fun adventure! We love you guys and can't wait to have Summer be the flower girl in our wedding!

Brian and I are starting a new tradition and having our own Christmas tonight! We will open the gifts that we got eachother and just spend time hanging out and enjoying our last Christmas as fiancee's! We will leave tomorrow afternoon when I get off work to drive to his parent's house to enjoy Christmas with his family and then we will drive back on Christmas morning to split Christmas up between my mom and dad. We are hoping for a Christmas day phone call from my lil bubba, but it is the marines so we never know. We definitely wish that Lil Bubba was going to be there, but before we know it we'll be in San Diego with him! We are so proud of you Lil Bubba and can't wait to see you! Brian and I wish you all a very merry Christmas!

Tag You're It

TAG YOU ARE IT

8 TV shows I love to watch:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Private Practice
3. Two & A Half Men
4. John & Kate Plus 8
5. Army Wives
6. The Bachelor when it's on
7. Desperate Housewifes
8. Brothers & Sisters

8 favorite restaurants:
1. Olive Garden
2. Lupe Tortilla
3. Cheesecake Factory
4. TX Roadhouse
5. Chick Fil A
6. Shogun (ok so I've only eaten there like twice but still)
7. Chilis
8. Saltgrass

8 things that happened today:
1. Cleaned My Apartment
2. Went to lunch with Granny
3. Made plans with Rhonda for Friday night
4. Finished Christmas shopping for Aaron
5. Mailed Matt some pictures
6. Got most of the stuff for Brian's stocking
7. Did a load of laundry
8. Went grocery shopping

8 things I am looking forward to:
1. Christmas with my family & Brian's family
2. New Year's
3. Brian's Christmas Party
4. Watching Aaron open presents
5. Meeting Julie's baby in April
6. MY WEDDING
7. HONEYMOON IN DISNEY WORLD
8. Going to San Diego to see my lil bubba

8 things on my wishlist:
1. to go see my brother
2. to buy a house
3. for Julie to be able to come visit soon
4. Graduation
5. A phone call from my brother on Christmas day
6. for my car to get detailed
7. For Brian to get an assistant that does her job
8. for the stuff on my wedding registry (hey i registered for some cool stuff)

8 people I tag:
1.Denise
2. Michelle
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Trying To Catch Up

This will be a long post and I apologize in advance. I'm just trying to catch up on what has been going on in our lives. I am happy to say that I completed the semester with all A's and hope to make the dean's list again! This semester was challenging at times, but I have learned alot and made alot of new, close friends along the way and am happy to be on the other side of this semester! I am looking forward to next semester and taking my methods classes. It will require me to cut down on the hours that I will be able to work some, but I am kind of glad for the break, but won't be glad for the cut in pay! Thankfully I have an amazing fiancee that would do anything for me, just to see me finish school.

It feels really good to be out of school and here are some things that I hope to accomplish over the break (which is shorter this year than last year)...

1. Spend Quality Time With Brian & My Family
2. See Aaron Baron as much as possible...he probably thinks his Aunt Kelly has forgotten about him these last few weeks.
3. REALLLY clean my apartment...and maybe organize it too
4. Clean the inside of my car out
5. Read a good book...if I can find one
6. Finalize the plans for our wedding rehearsal
7. Maybe if Brian's lucky I'll clean out my closet and get rid of about 30 pairs of jeans that I never wear
8. I'm sure there's more that I can add to the list but I also need to have some fun too!!

We took some pictures in the snow last week. I literally could not believe that it was snowing. I had my work Christmas party that night, so when we got home I made Brian go outside with me and we took some pictures for Matt...I could not believe that he was missing this!! Kim took Aaron out to see the snow and he wasn't really that impressed, but at least he didn't have to wait FOREVER to see snow in Texas!!

Snow on Brian's Car We wrote a message to Matt on a complete stranger's car!!We Were Cold!Another Message To Matt
Brian's SnowmanI Was FREEZING!!

We were able to go to Brian's parent's house this weekend and had a good visit with them. We will spend Christmas Eve with them and then drive back here Christmas morning to spend lunch with my mom and grandparent's and then we'll end the night at Dad & Melinda's. We will definitely be missing Matt and wishing that he was there, but we're hoping for a phone call on Christmas day!!

Speaking of Matt...he is doing really well and entered the halfway mark yesterday. Only 43 more days until we fly to San Diego to go and see him! Please keep him in your prayers (and the rest of his platoon as well) as this is the harder part of bootcamp (more physical stuff) plus they are all getting over pneumonia. Also please say an extra prayer for Matt's ankle as it is really bothering him, he says that it is okay if he has his combat boots on, but once he takes them off it really hurts and is swollen. This is a previous injury (from cross country) but he can't go to medical about it, or they will set him back. He is getting ready to do several hikes with packs that way several pounds, so he could definitely use the prayers please!

Brian and I hope that each of you and your families has a wonderful Christmas and a blessed new year. We have definitely been blessed this year and can't wait to see what next year holds for us!

We're Still Alive

Yes Brian and I are still alive...it's been a BUSY few weeks! I am happy to say though that in just two days I will be DONE for the semester! I have had a pretty good semester and am hoping that it will be another all A semester!

We spent Thanksgiving with both of our families. We drove to Brian's parent's house on Wednesday afternoon...note to self don't drive anywhere the day before a holiday! We spent Wednesday night with Brian's parent's and had lunch with his family on Thanksgiving day and then drove to Huntsville to have Thanksgiving with my family at my Nan's house. It was all in all a quiet Thanksgiving, but it was nice. We definitely missed my brother though!

My brother is doing great, but please keep him in your prayers. He entered what is called Phase 2 today and they moved to Camp Pendelton on Saturday. He will be here until December 28th and then will go back to Marine Recruit Depot. Please say an extra prayer for him, because he is trying to get over pneumonia! It is going around his platoon and he really can't afford to be sick. He also could use prayer for his ankle as well. Overall we are just praying for his safety and no set backs for him. He is in better spirits, but still misses home ALOT! We definitely miss him! We paid my dad and step mom last night for our tickets and on January 28th we will get on a plane and fly to San Diego where we can't wait to see my brother on Thursday morning! He even gets to fly home with us on Sunday! Please also pray that he will get what is called Recruiter's Assistance (RA) so that he can be here for an extra 30 days after his scheduled 10 day leave...this would mean he would be here for my wedding with no problems about getting leave!

We mailed out our wedding invitations last week and my Granny and sister get the award for being the first to mail back their RSVP's. We are really excited about our wedding and can't believe that in just 89 days we'll be saying I Do!

We have our Christmas tree up and our apartment decorated. I am hoping to get some presents wrapped and under our tree this week.

I will leave you with some pictures of our Christmas tree and of Thanksgiving. I hope you are all blessed this Christmas season!

Aaron likes to look at the world upside down!

He's so cute!

Dad & His Girls!

The whole family...we wish lil bubba was here!

His cool winter hat!

There's Aunt Kelly with that camera!

Our Cute Lil Christmas Tree!

Bridal Pictures & A Wedding

This weekend was a great weekend. Friday night wasn't so great, because I had to work on a project that I thought was due tomorrow but actually turned out to be due yesterday! I had written the wrong date down in my planner, though I was able to get it done with the help of my wonderful fiancee!

Saturday was nice, well minus the part where I had to work from 7-2, but after that Brian and I went over to Humble to have my ring cleaned. The Woodlands mall definitely needs a Jared's. Then we just ran over to the mall over there and looked around and then had a nice dinner at Texas Roadhouse...one of my favorite places ever! Also we came home to find a letter from my brother in our mail!!

Sunday I had my bridal portraits done, but started out the day with the girl that does my hair coming to my house to fix it. It looked AMAZING...thank you Cyon!! Mom, Kim, and I went to get my pictures done where we will be having the ceremony and it was great. The only bad part was that I was FREEZING!! I had stopped by my dad's house to pick up some make up that I had sent there, and while I was there grabbed a jacket out of Matt's room to take with me...good thing I did! The photographer ended up taking some pictures of me in the jacket...it was Matt's letter jacket, which I think will turn out good and turn out to be funny. I know that Matt will laugh when he sees that I have a wedding dress on with his letter jacket!! We hurried home and changed clothes so that mom, Brian, and I could go to my friend Aaron's wedding. It was a great wedding in a very neat little chapel! Congrats to Aaron & Rachel!

I had better be heading off to class, but just wanted to post a quick update. Oh and before I forget I want to say a very happy birthday to my sister!! I love you and hope you have a great day!! I will work on your birthday letter tomorrow.

The Mailman Is My Best Friend

Today was a GREAT day!! Brian and I were at the mall getting a few last minute things before my bridal portraits tomorrow and my dad calls. He called to tell me that he got a letter from my lil bubba!! I was so excited to hear about Matt's letter that dad had to remind me to give him some time to get it out of the envelope..haha!! The thing that made me laugh the most is that he told my dad he gets 8 hours of sleep a night so he's not tired! HaHa! If you know my brother you know that kid doesn't know what 8 hours of sleep a night means if his life depended on it!! I called my mom to let her know my dad got a letter and she ecstatically tells me she got 2 letters!! I couldn't wait to get home and see if my mailbox had a great suprise in it for me and guess what?!...IT DID!! My brother was so greatful for all of my LONG letters!! He told me to keep them coming with lots of pictures!! He is doing well, but he says that he does miss home alot and it's hard being away from home. He also says that the airport is right by their base and he watched probably a hundred planes come and go a day and that makes it hard. He says he wishes he was on one of those planes home or that we were on one of the ones landing there. If you think about it please say a prayer for him that he would be encouraged and wouldn't be so home sick. Today was a GREAT day!!

Happy 5th Birthday Summer!!

Today is my friend Summer's birthday and she is 5!! Her and her mom Rhonda mean more to me than they will ever know and I love both of them so much!! Summer I can't believe you are 5 today!! It seems just like yesterday that your mom was calling me from the hospital telling me that you were finally here and for me to come and see you. I remember holding you and you started crying, I wasn't sure if you like Aunt Kelly very much, but now I know you love me so much!! I hope you've had a wonderful birthday in Disney World!! I can't wait to see you and to hear all about it, especially about your dinner with the princess'!! I love how you get so excited when you see me and always give me such sweet hugs, I love how you always want me to come over and have a slumber party. I love how you are so excited that you are going to be in my wedding and I know that you will make a beautiful and the most perfect flower girl ever!! I love you so much and hope you have a great birthday!!

Love,
Aunt Kelly

Congrats Julie!!

I just wanted to say a big congratulations to my best friend Julie who found out she is having a little girl today!! Julie I am so happy for you and I know you will make a great mom!! I miss you so much and hope to see you soon!! We've been through just about everything together and I am so happy to be on this incredible journey with you. I can't imagine a better best friend to share the last 16 years with! LYLAS!!

Updates & Pictures

We have been busy busy since about Halloween. Halloween this year was alot more fun than last year, because Aaron was able to enjoy it more. Last year he was barely 3 weeks old and could care less that he was dressed up like a monkey and just wanted to sleep the whole time....not this time! He wanted to be into everything and did not want anyone trying to hold him or hardly take a picture of him. Here are a few pictures though of the little man as Tigger.

Isn't he cute...don't mind the dog bed

He had to take a break

Are you talking to me?!

He did not want his picture taken

Dad let me go!

My brother is doing great...well we are believing and hoping! My dad was able to get a phone call from him last Thursday (his 19th birthday) but thought that the call might have been recorded. His recruiter called on Friday and talked to my mom Melinda and reassured us that it was actually Matt talking to my dad, but that he was reading from a script, because they had so many recruits that had to make phone calls (this was their first phone call) and plus at that point (4 days into boot camp) so many of them were very homesick and this was best for all. He did manage to tell my dad he loved him and then the phone got hung up. He stated that we should expect a letter from him in 2-3 weeks, but his recruiter was able to give us his address. We have all sent several letters, but I think I win because I have sent probably 10 letters and an envelope of pictures! The first week Matt was gone was really hard, but it has gotten better and is something that we are adjusting to. We are looking forward to going to San Diego in January and can't wait to see my baby brother! Thank you all for your prayers and please keep them coming!

My grandparent's left to go on a cruise on Monday. They left out of Galveston and are going to Cozumel I think. I hope they are having fun, because it has rained everyday since they left! I do miss them and can't wait for them to come home!

My good friend Rhonda took her daughter Summer, along with Rhonda's parent's to Walt Disney World this week. Summer will be 5 on Saturday so this is her birthday present! She is going to have dinner with the princess'! I hope they are having a great time and I can't wait to celebrate Summer's birthday with her when she comes back.

Wedding plans are coming along. We went this week and picked out the tuxes for Brian and the guys. We also had a bridesmaid drop out yesterday, but we will survive. I don't have time to find another bridesmaid, because the dresses have to be ordered by this weekend and I wouldn't do that to someone on short notice. Oh well such is life and we will survive.

Today is a rare day that I have no school or work. I was suppose to have school all day, but our class got cancelled. I am going to get my nails done for my bridal portaits on Sunday and then I have a few errands to run and then I am going to work on some school stuff. Tonight Brian and I are having my mom over for dinner and we're going to watch the country music awards!

Thank you for all the sweet comments from everyone! They really do mean alot! Oh yeah today is also an exciting day, because my best friend Julie is finding out the sex of her baby today! I can't wait to hear what she's having! Love you Julie!

He Has An Address!!!

Today has been a good day....our mom Melinda got a call from Matt's recruiter this morning and he gave her his address!! I have about 6 letters that I am sending out tomorrow!!

I will write more later. This weekend is just going to be a hang out weekend. I have to work in the morning and then Brian and I are going to have a date night and then Sunday we'll be at church with dad and Melinda. I need to get Aaron's halloween pictures up as well. Have a great weekend and thank you for the prayers and Denise especially thank you for the sweet comments!

Happy 19th Birthday Baby Brother!!

Lil Bubba,

Today is your 19th birthday!! You have been gone to bootcamp for three days now, and it's been harder than I ever imagined, but I am so proud of you!! I am probably the proudest that I have ever been in my life!! I hope today is a good day for you and that you remember how much we love you and how proud of you that we are. I wish you were here to celebrate your birthday with us, and for us to take you out for your birthday, but there will be lots of celebrating when you graduate!! Mom, Kim, Guy, Me, Brian, Aaron, and maybe dad and Melinda are going to eat at Olive Garden tonight to celebrate your birthday for you! I can't believe that you're 19 today lil bubba! It seems just like yesterday that Kim and I were praying for a baby brother and so excited when we got to go meet you in the hospital and now you are a marine!! There's not a day that goes by that I haven't thought about you a thousand times, I'm always wondering what you're doing. Jake & JHud came into the bank to see me the other day and we were wondering if they had cut your hair yet, we were laughing at your one tatoo thinking what do they think of that! We also agreed that they will probably only let dad come to California one time, because after he opens his mouth it will all be over...haha! I love you lil bubba and I'm so proud of the man that you are becoming! I miss you more than you know, but am so proud and so blessed to have you as my lil bubba! Happy 19th birthday baby brother!! Only 85 more days til we get to see you!!

Love,
Your Very Proud Big Sister

Proudest Sister Ever!!

Well this weekend was a hard one, but it was one of the proudest weekends of my life. For months me and my sister and our mom Melinda have been working on a surprise going away/birthday party for my brother before he left. We had the party on Saturday night and though my brother was not 100% surprised we all had a great time! It was a great time with lots of family and close friends and a lot of my brother's friends! Thank you to everyone who came out to show their support for my baby brother! It meant more than you know to our family and it was so great to have everyone there.

Sunday was a hard day. Brian and I spent the night at Kim and Guy's on Saturday night after the party and then we all woke up and just hung out for awhile, Aaron entertained us and we just waited for my brother to call and say he was ready for us to come and pick him up to get him ready to go to the recruiting station (in case you are wondering why we didn't spend time with him that morning it was because he was busy getting last minute things done and seeing some of his friends). We went to my dad's and picked him up and me, mom, and Kim took him out to lunch and to run by a few more people's houses to say goodbye. We went out to lunch at Lenny's sub shop and then took him to the recruiting station where my dad, our mom Melinda, and Brian met us (Guy supports Matt 110% but someone had to stay home with Aaron). We all said our goodbyes and gave hugs their in the parking lot and then Matt told us it was time for him to leave, so my mom and Kim left and dad, Melinda, Brian, and I hung around for a bit. We ended up staying for about an hour longer and were able to meet Matt's recruiter and tell him goodbye one more time. As they loaded up in the van that would take them to the hotel in Houston, dad, Melinda, Brian, and I stood by the truck and watched them drive off. It was very hard watching them drive off knowing that we won't get to see Matt again until January 30th but we are so proud of him! I was doing good until Brian and I got in the car to drive home and then I just lost it. I thought that I knew what to expect with having several of my friends go through the same thing, but it's totally different when it's family...especially your baby brother. Matt called me on Sunday from the hotel and it was so good to talk to him and then I was able to talk to him again on Monday while he was at the airport. He got on a plane on Monday around 3 or so and headed to Chicago where he got on another plane bound for San Diego. We expect that he got there sometime during the middle of the night. We were told that one of us would get a phone call from him letting us know that he got there, but we haven't gotten that call yet....still waiting! Enough rambling on, so now I am going to add some pictures from Matt's party and also the message that I received from him on Sunday night....he writes everything like a text message, so that's why it's a little misspelled, but right about now I would take even a text message from him!

HEY I FOUND A COMPUTER ROOM AT THE HOTEL, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SENDING THOSE FLOWERS FOR ME.
AND I AM GNNA MISS ALL OF U VERY MUCH, IF I HAVE EVER NEEDED ANYTHING ALL IVE HAD TO DO IS TALK TO YOU, AND IT MEANS ALOT.
BUT I WILL C YALL IN JANUARY AND CAN NOT WAIT TO C U.
KEEP AN EYE ON DAD 4 ME, AND MAKE SURE YALL SEND ME LOTS OF PICS OF AARON I HAVE A FEELING HE ISNT GNNA LOOK THE SAME IN 3 MONTHS. WELL TELL MOM DAD MELINDA BRIAN KIM GUY AND AARON I SAID HI AND THAT I LOVE THEM ALL. I CANT WAIT TO C YALL

LOVE
MATT

The awesome cake

The marine bear I made my daddy for his bday

He will miss his Uncle Matt

So Cute!

He's Watching for His Uncle Matt

I Love Him So Much!

We're Lucky Sisters

He Was Tired & Decided To Rest!

Poppy, Matt, Mom, Nana

Jake Dean & Me

Matt & His Brother From Another Mother..Mac

Dad & All Us Kids (the six of us are rarely together at the same time)

All 6 Of Us!

He Was Heavy & Has To Gain 50lbs while he's gone!

Mom & Her Kids & Aaron Baron

Matt & His Buddies

I Hope They Give Him A Bigger Hat In The Marines!

Matt & Chelsea

Thank you all for keeping my baby brother in your prayers! These last few days have been hard, but hopefully they get easier everyday! Only 85 more days til he graduates!

Say A Prayer

Please say a prayer for our family this weekend, but mostly for my Lil Bubba. These are his last few days at home before he leaves on Sunday for the marines. We support him 110% but will miss him greatly, especially since he will be gone during the holidays. We had a great time last Sunday with my whole family going to church together and then at the end of the service Pastor Maddoux prayed over him. It was so neat to see everyone come up to Lil Bubba after church and shake his hand and thank him for his service to our country. Brian and I will spend Friday night at my grandparents so that we can be there when Aaron comes to trick or treat at his Gigi's and great Granny's house. Aaron is also excited to trick or treat at his Pops and Meme's house so that Uncle Matt can see him in his Tigger costume. Saturday we will spend the day hanging out with my brother and then Sunday is the day...the day we take my lil bubba to officially join the marines!

Lil Bubba I am so proud of you and support you 110%!! I will miss you more than you know and can't wait to see you in San Diego!!

Thank you all for keeping my brother and all of our troops in your prayers!!

10 Facts About Me

I have read several people's posts on this and think this is a neat idea, so here goes...

1. I am 23 years old and still scared of extreme darkness. It is silly I know, but yes to an extent I am scared of the dark.
2. I always have to leave for things at certain specific times. For example when I leave for work I always have to leave my house at 6:05 am or when I have class I always have to leave my house at 7:15 am or I feel like my day is all messed up and start to feel stressed.
3. I do not like tomatoes but will eat ketchup, the same goes for hot dogs I will never eat hot dogs, but will eat a corn dog.
4. My car has to be clean at all times, this includes the inside and outside. It really bothers me if my car is dirty.
5. I can remember alot of random numbers: codes for work, birthdays, cell phone numbers, etc. but can't seem to memorize stuff for math!
6. I feel like I always have to change my status on myspace or facebook to match whatever I am doing.
7. I have to be completely covered up when I sleep, I do not like my feet or arms exposed at all, this includes during the summer.
8. I have this irrational fear that someone will be hiding under my car and will grab my feet when I go to get in. Yes it is irrational and weird, but oh well. Often times my friend Matt likes to tell me that he's going to do this to me.
9. I can not stand clowns whatsoever, especially if they are in a haunted house.
10. I can not watch scary movies or I start to think that the things that happen in those movies can happen to me, this may be why I am think someone will grab my feet and why I am scared of clowns.

I tag Denise and Maranda.

This is what makes me proud to be a marine sister!

This is a bulletin that my lil bubba posted on myspace, and this is what makes me proud to be a marine sister! I love you lil bubba and will miss you like crazy, but can't wait to see you in San Diego!! **Ignore the spelling he writes everything like a text message**

SO IN 10 SHORT DAYS, I WILL BE LEAVING EVERYTING I HAVE EVER KNOWN AND HEADING TO SAN DIEGO FOR MARINE CORPS BOOTCAMP, WITH MY BOY ROB!!!!

I WILL GET INTO SAN DIEGO ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 3 DAYS BEFORE MY 19TH BIRTHDAY, I WILL BE THEIR FOR 13 WEEKS, I WILL MISS THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS, AND NEW YEARS WITH MY FAMILY.


AFTER MY 13 WEEKS OF TRAINING I WILL GRADUATE, WHERE MY DAD STEPMOM, MOM, AND SISTERS WILL COME C ME GRADUATE, AFTER GRADUTAION I WILL BE HEADING BACK HOME FOR ROUGHLY 10 DAYS, THAN BACK TO SAN DIEGO FOR INFANTRY SCHOOL.


I WILL MISS MY FAMILY ALOT, I WILL MISS HANGN OUT WITH THE BOYS, AND JUST THE EVERYDAY THINGS OF LIFE.


BUT I AM EXTREMELY EXCITED AND CAN NOT WAIT TO GO, I DONT EXPECT FOR ANY OF YALL TO FORGET ABOUT ME WHILE IM GONE, CUZ I WILL BE BACK.


MATT>>>

I saw both of these today and they are so true! In 19 days my baby brother (aka lil bubba) will leave for marine bootcamp! I will miss him more than he will ever know, but I am proud beyond words! I have friends that serve in the Army and Navy and I love them all and are so proud of each of them, but having your baby brother join is a totally different feeling. Lil Bubba we will miss you more than you know, but you are always in our thoughts and prayers and we will write to all the time!! Get ready San Diego because our crazy, loud family will be there cheering the loudest when he graduates! My lil bubba is not only my brother but also one of my best friends and Kim and I will be lost without him while he's gone.
Thank you to all of my friends who are serving our country in the military, and a very special thank you to my baby brother who is my hero! I love you lil bubba!

Other than that Brian and I have just been working and finalizing wedding plans!! I recently found out that I made the dean's list for last semester, which I was really excited about, because this is the first time I have ever done that!!

We also celebrated my dad's birthday last Thursday with a surprise birthday dinner for him and he was truly surprised! We are always excited to celebrate birthdays in our family, but this birthday was extra special, because we were reminded that had God not had his hand on my dad this summer that he may not have been here to celebrate this birthday with us. We are so thankful for all that God has done for our family and for my dad, because like I told him in his birthday card, I can't begin to imagine my life without him.

Aaron's 1st Birthday

A picture w/Aunt Kelly before the party!




He probably thinks Aunt Kelly help me I look silly!




The cake!!




He wasn't so sure at first!




Am I suppose to eat this?!




Bring that back mom!




Am I going to get in trouble for this?!




Wait I wasn't done!



Please bring me more!!





Yes I eat EVERYTHING!


How can this sweet face be 1 already?!



He LOVED his slide!


A picture w/Uncle Matt before he leaves us for the marines!