School Work & More School

Well school is going pretty good so far. I had a brief moment of freaking out a few weeks ago when I realized how much field experience (which for those of you that don't know education majors have to have so much in classroom time called field experience that is documented before we can receive our certification to teach and to receive our degree) I would have to do this semester....32 hours worth!! Plus the 18 hours of classes that I'm already taking! It's beginning to all fit in and hopefully this semester will work out just nicely. As my Granny says this too shall pass! Though I atleast can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel as I have just this semester, and then three more regular semesters and school this summer and then I will officially be a college graduate! It's a faint light but atleast I can start to see it! In other news my sister has decided to go back to school and be a teacher! I am so happy for her and so proud of her! Kim it will be hard work at times, but it will be so worth it!

It hit me yesterday that January was almost over, which means that Julie has been gone for a month already! Now if all of the rest of the months would just hurry up and fly by that would be great! I have been lucky enough to get 2 e-mails and several myspace messages since she's been gone! Continue to keep her in your prayers though!

Ok I'd better wrap this up so that I can head to class pretty soon. For those of you that don't know Wednesdays are the day that I go to school ALL day so it makes for a long day! Other than school I'm always working but atleast I have some great friends to keep me laughing along the way!

Aaron We Love You!!

Today marks one year since my sister came and told me that she was pregnant!! I remember it like it was yesterday. Kim had called me a few days before and asked if she could borrow $30 to go to the doctor, but she had told me that she was going to the doctor because at the time she was considering having surgery done on her sinuses. I loaned her my credit card with strict instructions to bring it back to me right after her appointment, because I love my sister but she's not the best at having a credit card at her disposal! She comes into the bank and gives me my credit card back and then tells me to come outside, well we are standing outside the bank and she tells me Kelly I didn't go to the doctor about my surgery, and immediately I started crying (as Brian would say I do about everything) and knew exactly what she was going to tell me she was PREGNANT!! I was the first person she had told...she hadn't even told Guy it was a for sure thing yet!! She told me to keep it quiet, because she was going to tell Guy and our parent's that night!! Both of my parents called me just thrilled but also wanting to know why and how I'd kept that secret from them!! We were all so excited and just couldn't wait for Aaron to get here, I will admit that at first I wanted a niece, but now I can't imagine my life without my Aaron Aaron as I like to call him!! We thought we'd all just die waiting for Kim's due date to get her and it came and went and still no baby. Aaron decided he was going to make his entrance into this world just when he wanted to!! I will never forget Guy calling me on October 2nd and telling me that they were at the hospital, but that they weren't sure they were staying. Well that was all I needed to hear and Brian and I were in the car and off to the hospital with my Lil Bubba right behind us. Lil Bubba & I couldn't wait to meet our nephew and there was no doubt in our minds that we weren't going to not be the first ones there! Our family and Guy's parent's crowded into the waiting room and waited and waited and finally at 2:37 am Guy Aaron Barker was born!! Lil Bubba was asleep on the floor and I remember waking him up and telling him Aaron was here!! The first time I held Aaron I told him that we'd all been waiting a really long time to meet him!!

Aaron,

Uncle Brian and I love you so much!! It always makes me so happy to see your cute lil chipmunk cheeks and to see you smile and talk to us!! We have had a great four months with you and can't wait for many more!! I love you my lil Aaron Aaron!!

Love,

Aunt Kelly!!

HAPPY 22ND BIRTHDAY JULES!!! I just wanted to say happy birthday to Julie!!! Today is technically the beginning of her birthday in the states, but her birthday is almost over, over seas. Julie I can't wait for you to be back in the states so we can celebrate together again!! I miss you & hope you have had a great day!! Your present is in the mail...sorry it didn't make it in time for your birthday!! LYLAS!! Here's to 22 more years of friendship!!

In other news I start back to school today. I am actually in the computer lab at school waiting for my first class to begin. It will be a busy semester that is for sure!! Though I am looking on the bright side and I am finally a SENIOR!!

Houston...We Have A Place!!

In the summer Brian and I went to check out a few places to have our wedding. My dad kept insisting that we go to this place in New Waverly called The Vineyards at Waverly House Manor and boy I am glad that we did! This was the last place that we looked at that day, and we knew that if everything could be worked out we wanted to have our wedding here! My dad had done some electrical work for them when they were first starting up and so we asked my dad and Melinda to come along with us this weekend, so that we could go over a few questions we had about the contract with Mary (the sweet lady that owns the place). When we got there she showed my dad and Melinda around (them having not seen the finished product) and then sat down and started talking about things. Brian and I were truly blessed when we sat down to talk to her, because she ended up giving us a really good deal on the wedding package that we chose, because of all the hard work my dad did for them when they were just starting out! I literally wanted to start crying when she told us this, because it was such a relief! When we got back in the car I told Brian that it pays to have people that know and love your daddy! Everyone should check out the website, because this place is absolutely beautiful and Brian and I can't wait to have the wedding of our dreams here! The website is: www.thevineyardsofwaverlymanor.com

In other news I want to say congratulations to Jason & Sonya Marie on the birth of little Sophie! She was born last Monday and is absolutely beautiful! She felt so small, but I guess that is because I am use to holding Aaron!

I start back to school on Wednesday and I am sad that the break is over, but I am glad to be getting back to another semester. Each semester I just tell myself that it is one more semester closer to graduation! This will be a CRAZY BUSY semester for me, as I am taking all education classes that require alot of in classroom time, so if I am not returning phone calls or messages, please know that it's not because I don't want to.

Here's a few cheers & jeers of the day:
Cheers: To finding a wedding place and getting a discount this weekend!
Jeers: Starting School on Wednesday
Jeers: Aaron being sick & me not seeing him this weekend...oh yeah and Kim too!
Jeers: To why I can't figure out why my ipod won't work...get back to me on that one!
Cheers: To having friends at work like Alicia, Rick, and Matt that make me laugh, which in turns makes going to work not so bad!

Oh yeah one last thing I just want to say Happy 10 Months to Brian!! I love you babe!! Yes Brian and I are one of those couples that celebrate our anniversary every month...I can hear my sister now saying oh please! I can't believe that it's almost been a year! Before we know it, we will be walking down the aisle!!

Christmas 2007

Brian and I were so blessed this Christmas!! It was a little crazy at times, between finishing up school for the semester, working like crazy, wrapping presents, and packing to go everywhere but we had a great first Christmas together. We both worked part of the day on Christmas Eve and then we drove to Brian's parent's house in Fairfield (not too far from Dallas if you don't know where it's at). We enjoyed dinner with his parents, brother, sister in law, two adorable nephews, and family friends. We had a great time watching his nephews Riley & Bryson open presents, but somehow the only pictures we have are on Brian's mom's camera! Brian and I each took a present for eachother to open there. He gave me my diamond stud earrings that I absolutely love!! I gave him his diploma framed to put in his office and a tie rack...kinda nerdy I know, but he needed one!

Brian and I woke up early Christmas morning in time to have breakfast with his parent's and then stop by his grandma's on our way out of town and then we were on the road again to my grandparent's. We always open presents in the gameroom at my granny's house and it never ceases to amaze me at how the gameroom is exploding with presents. This was a really fun Christmas, because it was Aaron's first!! He was definitely spoiled this Christmas!! We ended the night at my dad's where we got to hang out with family and just have a really great time. We got to spend alot of time with my big brother Jason and Sonya and that was great. Even though they just live in Huntsville we're always all so busy that we don't get to spend alot of time together.

Brian and I were truly blessed this Christmas and it was a great first Christmas, but I think we're both glad it's over because it was crazy busy! We are still working on taking the tree down, but hey we may get it down by Valentine's!

Aaron is just chilling waiting to open his presents!!

Aaron is tired of opening presents!!

Celebrating our 1st Christmas together!!

Aaron loves his GiGi!!

Jason & Sonya Marie (& lil Sophie too!)

Me & Sonya Marie!!

Jason & I!!

For those of you that are wondering where the pictures of Kim & Matt are, I have them, but Kim refuses to let me put them up!!

We Love You Julie!!

On December 20th we all got together to have dinner with Julie before she left for Iraq. It is always great to see Julie and it's always great having her home. This time was bittersweet because we knew that Julie would be leaving for Iraq in just a few days, but also this was the first time that Julie got to meet Aaron. He definitely loved Julie and let her hold him for quite awhile! I am so proud of you Jules! I miss you like crazy, but I know you are doing great!

Aaron is ready to go meet Julie!










Best Friends Forever!! LYLAS!!

The three of us have been through everything together!