the past 8 years...

Brian and I are celebrating 8 years of marriage today.

It seems like yesterday, it seems like so long ago.

We have definitely seen each other at our best and worst, and you know what, we're still completely in love and each other's best friend.  

While looking for some inspirational quotes on wedding anniversaries, I came across this one...

A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year. – Paul Sweeney

Isn't this the truth?!?!  I love it, and this year was one for tenacity.  

I'm finishing up my doctoral degree in 5 weeks (yahoo!!!), we have survived some major bumps in our family life, but we are stronger than ever because of our love, trust and partnership.

Enough of that, here are some great pictures from Brian and I over the years...

 Back in 2003 when we were still in college

 When I was in grad school getting my Master's degree, we would meet up for dinner in restaurants half way between Lawrence and Kansas City

Proposal night, in my teeny tiny studio apartment in Lawrence

 One of our engagement photos on the plaza in Kansas City

Cutting the cake and toasting

Hubby and wifey

Doing some snorkeling in Riviera Maya on our Honeymoon

 Enjoying our time together on our honeymoon

 Celebrating our first anniversary in Chicago at a friend's wedding

And now our pictures are more like this...

And we wouldn't have it any other way...

Love you Brian, Happy 8th Anniversary!

Last weekend of summer

I'm pretty sure I have 3 kids at my house (Brian being the biggest one!)

We headed to the pool on Monday evening to celebrate another summer in the books.  It actually was a bit chilly as the sun was hidden behind the clouds, but the kids had fun anyway.

 Jumping off backwards into the pool

 Being super silly

 A little photo op - we are so spoiled having such cute kids!

We spent the weekend at birthday parties, riding bikes, playing with some toys that hadn't been played with for a long time, and enjoying our time together as a family.

Side note, we started a new parenting tactic this past week and it's been fabulous!

We have really started rewarding the kids for being good helpers at the house.

They get to earn "monies" as Maggie calls it, and we have started a little savings piggy bank for all of their hard work.  They earn money every day and then the next morning we pay them their quarters.  On Saturday, at the end of the week, they take 10% of their earnings to church,  and then split the rest of the money 50/50 for savings and spending.  Colin really wants some new fance Nerf shooter gun that costs almost $40.  He is earning his way there, little by little.

We are really pleased with how the kids have been behaving and haven't had to send them to time-out for the past week.  Hopefully this trend will continue...

Another fun Friday evening! Doggies and Baseball!

Brian and I are wanting to get a dog for our family fairly soon - and we heard about this program at a local community college where they get a group of shelter dogs and cats at the beginning of the semester and then the veterinary tech students spay, neuter, immunize, socialize, train, microchip, etc. the animals as part of their program and education.  Then, they adopt out the animals for free at the end of the semester and get a new batch the next year.  So, I contacted the program and we went to see a few dogs today.

We saw 3 dogs, and they were all awesome.  I'm a big softy for animals.  The coordinator sent me a couple pictures of the doggies, and we are going to try to decide this weekend which one we want to take home with us in December.

 This is Cheeto.  He's a boxer/pit bull/random other dogs mix that is a little over 1 year old.

He was so sweet and will likely grow a little bit more before he's done.

Brian loved Cheeto.

 Then there is Delores.  She's such a sweetie, too.

Colin and Maggie love her the most because she sat for them and let them give her a treat.

She is about 2 years old (they think), and is pretty much full grown.  

She would't be as high energy as Cheeto, but I'm sure Colin and Mags will wear them out.

And here is Tater Tot.  He's a shepherd mix of some sort, a little less than 2 years old (they think).
He LOVES the water and goes swimming in the creek whenever he can.

We haven't really decided what we are going to do yet.  It's comforting knowing that EVERY semester, all the dogs get adopted out to good families.  So I know whichever one we don't pick will go to a good home.

After we saw the doggies, we ran over to the Royals game.

The team is actually doing pretty well still, so the game was packed.  Brian was volunteering there and handed out the giveaway hats for the night.  I took the kids all over the outfield and we played lots of games.

 Maggie loved the carousel and we rode it twice!

 The boys were getting a drink so Maggie and I took a selfie!

 What a goofball (I wonder who she gets it from?!?!)

 I thought this picture was pretty cool with the sun in the corner

Waiting in line to get into the game - it was pretty hot for a while, but then some clouds came in and it was a beautiful evening

Don't know why, but Colin always loves to sit on the 'bench' seat on the carousel.  

He ended up moving to an animal that was closer to me so that I could stand by Maggie, too.

Both kids did the "Little K" where they hit the ball and ran the bases.

Colin hit all 5 pitches really well, Maggie made contact with 2 (which I thought was pretty good!)

I thought this one of Maggie was super cute!

 A little better of a family picture

Grammie and Granddad were there, too.

 Everyone had such a fun time...

And we stayed up super late (way past our bedtime), and had cotton candy, and hotdogs, and pretzels with cheese, and peanuts and lemonade...

so we got a little goofy late into the night

 Oh, and here's a random picture of Maggie at gymnastics last week - 

She's perfecting her handstand!

Gymnastics and Carnivals

Both kids started gymnastics this week.  Somehow we lucked out and were able to get the 2 classes scheduled to start on the same day, at the same time.  That makes it really nice for us!

Maggie is in the Krazy Koalas class (full of 3 year olds)

And Colin is in Level 1 boys, pretty much full of 5-7 year olds

He's working on handstands and cartwheels (which should be interesting to see!)

The Parkville Days carnival and parade was this past weekend.  

Even though it was literally 100 degree outside, we headed out there to enjoy the fun.

Once again, the kids had a blast on the rides.

We even got some ice cream after the carnival for a special treat

A little blurry but cute!

Colin told us, while on our way to get ice cream, that this was a "special, special day".  

It's so cute that the kids love spending time with us.  We know someday that won't always be the case.

Also, here are some random pics I found on my phone that I wanted on here:

 Maggie just looking cute one day while at the playplace at McDonalds

 We took the kids bowling the other weekend - about 1 game was good enough for everyone.

We had a great time!

And a quick picture of Maggie with her teacher, Mrs. Fredde.

She is so great with Maggie, we are lucky to have such wonderful teachers at Pre-K

First day of Pre-K (again!)

The kids headed off to start another school year this morning.

It went SOOO much better than last year.  Both the kids just love Christ Lutheran and there are some wonderful teachers there.

 Maggie is going to be in Mrs. Fredde's class

 That backpack is still so big on her!

 Colin is going to be in Mrs. Heiss's class (she's the director of the school)

 He's lookin all grown up these days

 So excited for another year of school!

Bike riding fools

Colin is officially a 'big kid' and is riding his bike ALL THE TIME!

He loves it, and is super proud to show anyone that is willing to watch.  

Brian went on a few bike rides with him around our neighborhood this morning - and I actually got a bike of my own this afternoon so that I can ride bikes with the family, too.  I was the only one without one, I know, so sad.  But we are now only waiting on a bike attachment so that Maggie can ride along on the back of the bikes and we can do some family bike rides!

 Maggie looks so big in this picture - she loves her Barbie bike (we got it as a hand-me-down from a dear friend), but she gets tired really quickly, so we have to be close to the house to drag the bike home when she gets worn out.

 These two have pretty much been round and round in the cul-de-sac at the end of the street.  And before too long, there are usually at least 3 families all out riding bikes with them!

 Sometimes Maggie switches over to Colin's old Toy Story scooter.  She loves that thing, too!

Oh, and school starts this week for the kids.  Which really isn't that much of a change since they have been going there 3 days a week all summer. But, what will be a change, is that we won't have Brian's cousin Claire watching the kids during the week now.  She was such a joy to have around, and the kids just loved it when she brought her brother Caleb to play, too.  They went to the pool, parks, out to get smoothies, etc. with Claire.  We are going to miss her!  She leaves for her freshmen year of college at K-State in a week.

We are so excited to start another year of school at Christ Lutheran.  

Maggie gets to be in Mrs. Fredde's class and Colin is in Mrs. Heiss's class.  Both of them are great teachers, so I'm sure they will have a wonderful year!

Oh, and I got both kids signed up for gymnastics starting next week.  Should be fun!