2012 - 2013: Our Year In Review!

Another Year Passes . . . . . Which Brings Another Anniversary!!  August 10, 2013, Is Our 11 Year Anniversary!! 

It is soooo hard to believe how fast time is going by!  Although as everyone knows from personal experience, it is sometimes tough to do, I try to take time to stop and smell the roses every day and appreciate life and thank God for what he has blessed us with. 

When going through pictures from our past year (which I cannot stand to do . . . anyone who truly knows me knows that, that statement is a flat out lie!!  I love it!) I cannot believe how many moments I have captured in photographs this past year!  I recently took a photography class and the instructor said that we are telling our story and that is so true, the pictures tell the story and I love and cherish every one of them just as I love and cherish my Sweetie on this our 11 Year Anniversary!!  Sorry I haven't gotten this blog all the way caught up from the past but I did want to go ahead and get our last year done and trust me, as much as I hate it   : )   I will get back through all those pictures and get this blog done for every year that we've been husband and wife!!  Happy Anniversary Sweetie - I Love You Bunches!!

So, where to begin, Year 10 to 11 began last August - unfortunately last year was a rough year for vacations - meaning that we did not get one . . . our first vacation was a trip scheduled to visit Josh and Taylor in Charleston - Mike had to have an emergency Root Canal and we ended up canceling our trip.  He had been in so much pain and the beginning of the procedure itself was a little rough (drilling into his jaw to put the medicine in . . .yikes!)  We were afraid to hit the road and be on the road or 11 hours away from home and have him in a lot of pain. 

Our second planned (and again cancelled) vacation was a trip to Destin, Florida.  We were so excited - we loved Destin when we were there for Sarah and Wes' wedding a couple of years ago.  But wouldn't you know it a hurricane hit.  We had to make a tough call - whether to again drive 11+ hours from home and be chased back home by the hurricane after a day or two or cancel.  Again, we made the tough call to cancel.  This time we went ahead and took the time off and did some work at home.  Also on this vacation Mike ended up getting a new truck!  Which meant a "new" car for me.  We traded my Black Escape and Bessie in and I took Mike's 2008 Escape.  It was a good thing that this was a working vacation - much of the working involved organizing the attached garage to be able to fit Mike's new toy in it!   

 



The end of summer brought Fall which brought Football and Fantasy Football!!  We again played our "You Know" league with our Best Buds, The Donners, Dave, Josh and Taylor!  Everyone in the League Knows that I have developed a love (or you could say an obsession for Football - ok maybe not Football - maybe Football a little but more for Fantasy Football!) and I AGAIN ended up winning our league this year!!  I'm sorry, I don't mean to BRAG, no I'm not sorry, I am BRAGGING!!  Not Really but I was thrilled with the Win!!  Football on Sundays with our Besties and Some of Our Family is the BEST!!

Fantasy Football Draft!  Where it all happens!
 

 

 

Fall also brings Labor Day which we hosted at our house in 2012.  Of course it rained (it doesn't often not rain when we host an event at our house)!  FOR MORE PICTURES OF LABOR DAY 2012 AT OUR HOUSE VISIT:  LABOR DAY 2012

 

 

 

Josh and Taylor were also in for a visit last fall.  We hosted a get together in their honor and were able to have some family pictures taken in the yard.  Although it didn't work out that we were able to photograph everyone in all the families like I had hoped we did get some very important pictures taken - pictures that mean so much more now and will be cherished by our family forever!

 





 

Before I go any further - I must apologize for the picture placement on this blog - I'm not a very skilled / experienced blogger and I struggle with picture placement and getting them where I want them to be. . .

 

Our family pictures in the yard was followed by a family get together!!  The nice fall weather allowed us to have a bonfire and visit with family and friends!  FOR PICTURES FROM THIS GET TOGETHER VISIT:  GET TOGETHER FOR JOSH AND TAYLOR

 

 

 

 

With fall comes Veteran's Day!  A few years ago I started a Facebook Album with pictures of the Veterans in our Families!  This year I put together a Four Generations of Wagners Serving Picture of You, Josh, Your Dad and Your Grandpa!

 

 

FOR THE ENTIRE ALBUM OF VETERANS IN OUR FAMILY VISIT:  OUR FAMILY VETERANS



Fall also brought a Night Out At Hacienda to Celebrate Lexie Fifer's Birthday and for a Hacienda Gives Back Night to Benefit Matt to help with his expenses relating to his cancer battle.

 

Before we knew it Thanksgiving Rolled around - we hosted Thanksgiving for my Family at our House.  I baked my very first turkey!  This year started a new what will probably be a tradition with the reading of the Elf on The Shelf.  Nieces and Nephew, Lia, Makinley and Drake received their Elf on the Shelf from Grandma Polly and Cousin Monica read the book to them!  And, of course, since we celebrated Thanksgiving early this was Baby Robert's first Thanksgiving Celebration!  I'm not sure that he ate any turkey but I know everyone was excited that he was there!   FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THANKSGIVING AT OUR HOUSE VISIT:  THANKSGIVING 2012

After Thanksgiving it was time to start thinking about Christmas!  It was time to send Christmas Cards then the Christmas Holidays began!  Again, it was Baby Robert's First Christmas and although it was a lot of fun I can't wait for Christmas this year because I'm pretty sure by this Christmas he will have it all figured out!!  There is also hope that we will have our entire family together this year if Josh and Taylor are able to make it home for the Christmas season!   MORE PICTURES FROM CHRISTMAS:  CHRISTMAS EVE   AND   OUR FAMILY CHRISTMAS 

 

CHRISTMAS WITH STACY'S MOM AND FAMILY

CHRISTMAS WITH STACY'S DAD AND FAMILY

 

CHRISTMAS WITH MIKE'S DAD AND FAMILY

 

BABY ROBERT WITH SANTA AT THE E'ILLE IRON CHRISTMAS PARTY



Of course after Christmas there is New Years - as they normally do, Scott and Jenny, hosted New Year's at the House!  We played Apples to Apples, You Snoozed at the Bar, Billy and Melanie showed us their dance moves and The Boys Threw Snowballs at the Lake!  As always, it was a fun night at Scott an Jenny's!!  We were even able to Skype with Josh and Taylor for a bit!   FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM NEW YEAR'S 2012 AT SCOTT AND JENNY'S VISIT:  NEW YEARS

 

SNOOZING!

BOYS THROWING SNOWBALLS AT THE LAKE!

SHOWING US THEIR MOVES

 

ME AND MY SWEETIE!

NEW YEAR'S DAY WE WENT TO EAT CHINESE (SO WE COULD GET OUR CABBAGE IN FOR GOOD HEALTH AND GOOD LUCK IN THE NEW YEAR) WITH MOM, SARAH AND WES!

SINCE DECEMBER GETS SO BUSY WE STARTED A FEW YEARS AGO GETTING TOGETHER WITH MY DAD IN JANUARY TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS.  THIS YEAR WE ONCE AGAIN WENT TO CORK 'N CLEAVER!  YOU, SWEETIE, WERE GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO TAKE A PICTURE OF ME AND MY SIBLINGS WITH DAD - WAIT A MINUTE - WHAT HAPPENED TO ME IN THIS PICTURE?  THIS IS ONE THAT YOU WILL NEVER LIVE DOWN!

IS SOMEONE MISSING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS PICTURE???

JANUARY ALSO BROUGHT LOTS AND LOTS OF SNOW . . THE YARDSTICK IN MY YARD MEASURED 24" - DID I MENTION THAT IT WAS A LOT OF SNOW???

 

EARLY FEBRUARY WE LOST A DEAR LOVED ONE TO HIS BATTLE WITH CANCER.  BILL CHILDERS, ONE OF THE NICEST, MOST AWESOME MEN I HAVE EVER KNOWN.  I TOLD MIKE THAT I HAD KNOWN BILL 13 YEARS AND THAT WASN'T NEARLY LONG ENOUGH.  LOVED BY MANY AND WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. 

 

 

FEBRUARY ALSO BROUGHT VALENTINE'S DAY AND GRANDMA STACY HAD A LITTLE PHOTO SHOOT WITH BABY ROBERT ON HIS FIRST VALENTINE'S DAY!  WE PUT TOGETHER A LITTLE VALENTINE'S DAY SURPRISE AND HAND DELIVERED THEM TO MOMMY, GREAT GRANDMAS AND GREAT GREAT GRANDMAS ON OUR FEBRUARY OVERNIGHT VISIT WITH BABY ROBERT!

 

 

 

 

MARCH BROUGHT ST. PATRICK'S DAY!  WE DID THE PUB CRAWL FOR A BIT WITH OUR BESTIES!  TESSA HAD SOME YUMMY PIZZA THAT NIGHT!  THE NIGHT WAS AN EARLY ONE FOR US AS YOU HAD TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING.  WE ALSO HAD A ST. PATRICK'S DAY PHOTO SHOOT WITH BABY ROBERT!   MARCH ALSO MEANT AN ICEMEN HOCKEY GAME WITH E'VILLE IRON! 

 

 

EASTER WAS THE NEXT HOLIDAY TO ROLL AROUND!  ANOTHER PHOTO SHOOT WITH BABY ROBERT TO REMEMBER HIS FIRST EASTER!

 

SPRING WAS AN EXCITING TIME!!  JOSH GRADUATED HIS THIRD AND FINAL SCHOOL FOR THE NAVY WHICH MEANT A 30 DAY LEAVE AND A VERY LONG VISIT HOME! 

THEIR VISIT STARTED OUT WITH MIKE'S BIRTHDAY AND AN OUTING TO MAX AND ERMA'S!

Birthday Boy!

 

The Kids!

Deward & Carolyn!

Stacy & Polly!

OF COURSE THERE WAS A GET TOGETHER AT OUR HOUSE IN HONOR OF JOSH AND TAYLOR TO CELEBRATE NOT ONLY THEIR VISIT HOME BUT HIS GRADUATION AND HER GRADUATION AS WELL!!   FOR MORE PICTURES FROM THIS GET TOGETHER VISIT:  MAY 2013 GET TOGETHER FOR JOSH AND TAYLOR

 

 

 

 

 

 

THIS GET TOGETHER WAS FOLLOWED BY OUR FAMILY TRIP TO THE ZOO!  IT WAS A SUPER FUN DAY THAT WE WILL NOT FORGET FOR A VERY LONG TIME!!  OUR FRIEND, RHONDA, TAGGED ALONG WITH US TO TAKE OUR FAMILY PICTURES!  AGAIN, THESE ARE PICTURES THAT WE LOVE AND I PLAN TO DO A CANVAS GALLERY WALL WITH THEM IN OUR LIVING ROOM!  FOR MORE OF OUR FAMILY PICTURES AT THE ZOO:  ZOO TRIP 2013   AND  FAMILY PICTURES AT THE ZOO 2013

 

Our Family!

 

Josh & Taylor

Me

Mike - Doesn't He Look Happy!

Baby Robert!

Baby Robert, Amanda & Bobby

 

Our Family!

 

AND, OF COURSE THE LONG VISIT HOME FOR JOSH AND TAYLOR MEANT A FEW TIMES FOR YOU AND JOSH TO PLAY BALL WITH HIS BUDDIES!!  BABY ROBERT EVEN WENT ALONG TO WATCH YOU ALL PLAY!

 

 

Hey!  I Want To Play!

 

WE EVEN MANAGED TO DO A LITTLE FISHING WHILE JOSH AND TAYLOR WERE IN!!

 

Taylor's Big One!



WITH MAY COMES MEMORIAL DAY!  WE SPENT MEMORIAL DAY HOSTED BY SARAH AND WES AND BY SCOTT AND JENNY!!  EVERYONE WAS GLAD TO GET TO SEE JOSH AND TAYLOR AND BOBBY, AMANDA AND BABY ROBERT!  THE WEATHER WAS GREAT!  DRAKE, MAKINLEY AND SOPHIA HAD FUN PLAYING GOLF, HORESHOES AND SOCCER WITH JOSH AND TAYLOR AND A GIANT SLIP AND SLIDE WAS SET UP AT SCOTT AND JENNY'S!  GREAT TIMES WITH FAMILY!!  FOR MORE PICTURES FROM MEMORIAL DAY:  MEMORIAL DAY AT SCOTT & JENNY'S  AND  MEMORIAL DAY AT SARAH AND WES'

 

 

GIVEN THAT THE NAVY LIKES TO CHANGE THINGS A TIME OR TWO OUR VACATION PLANNING DIDN'T QUITE LINE UP RIGHT AND WE ENDED UP HAVING TO LEAVE FOR VACATION DURING THE TIME THAT JOSH AND TAYLOR WERE IN.  BUT IT ALL WORKED OUT FOR THE BEST!  SINCE ALL OF OUR VACATION PLANS FROM THE PRIOR YEAR FELL THROUGH WE WERE IN DESPERATE NEED OF A VACATION!  THE FACT THAT JOSH AND TAYLOR WERE IN FOR SO LONG AND WE HAD HAD A NICE LONG VISIT WITH THEM COMBINED WITH THE FACT THAT WE WERE PLANNING TO VISIT WITH THEM ONCE THEY GOT SETTLED IN WASHINGTON MADE LEAVING THEM FOR A WEEK EASIER EASIER.  THE FACT THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE AN AWESOME TIME WHEN WE VACATION WITH THE DONNERS (AND DAVE) MADE IT ALL THE MORE BETTER!  IT WAS A WONDERFUL, RELAXING VACATION!  WE DIDN'T PLAN TO DO MUCH OTHER THAN HANG OUT AT THE BEACH!  A PRETTY "GOOD" "SUNTAN" FOR ME RESULTED IN HAVING TO GO SHOPPING FOR A DAY TO GIVE OUR SKIN A BREAK BUT ALL IN ALL IT WAS A FABULOUS WEEK THAT SEEMED TO LAST MORE THAN A WEEK!

 

WE VACATIONED AT PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA AND STAYED AT AUNT JUNE'S HOUSE!  IT WAS A NICE PLACE TO STAY - JUST A BLOCK OFF FROM THE BEACH!  AUNT JUNE HAD A GOLF CART FOR US TO USE WHICH MADE OUR TRIPS OVER TO THE BEACH EASY!  BEACH LIFE WOULD BE ONE THAT WOULD BE VERY EASY TO GET USED TO!!   FOR A BUNCH MORE PICTURES FROM OUR BEACH VACATION VISIT:  OUR BEACH VACATION 2013

 

 

 

  

BY THIS TIME WE WERE INTO THE MONTH OF JUNE AND SADLY WE HAD TO SEND JOSH, TAYLOR AND NALA OFF TO WASHINGTON.  THEY'VE ONLY BEEN GONE A COUPLE OF MONTHS BUT IT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER AGO THAT THEY WERE HERE!  NOT TO WORRY THOUGH, OUR PLANE TICKETS ARE BOUGHT AND OUR ROOMS ARE RESERVED AND WE ARE HEADED TO SEE THEM IN JUST A FEW SHORT WEEKS!  CAN'T WAIT TO GET OUT AND SEE WASHINGTON AND HOW BEAUTIFUL IT TRULY IS! 

 

 

 

NEXT UP WAS MIKE'S COMPANY PICNIC AT BURDETTE!!  WE WERE ABLE TO BRING AMANDA, BOBBY AND BABY ROBERT ALONG WITH US FOR THE PICNIC!!  BABY ROBERT ENJOYED PLAYING IN THE KIDDIE POOL! 

 



THIS WEEKEND WAS ALSO FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND!  SINCE MIKE WAS OFF WORK WE WERE ABLE TO HOST FATHER'S DAY AT OUR HOUSE!!   BRENDA AND TERRY NORMALLY HOST IT FOR THE SANFORD SIDE BY THEY WERE WORKING ON SOME HOME RENOVATIONS SO WE OFFERED TO HOST IT FOR THEM!  FOR MORE PICTURES FROM FATHER'S DAY AT OUR HOUSE VISIT:  FATHER'S DAY 2013

 

JUNE ALSO BROUGHT BABY ROBERT'S FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY AND HIS FIRST HAIR CUT!  THE FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY WENT GREAT!  WELL I GUESS MY PREPARATION FOR THE PARTY DIDN'T GO SO GREAT BUT THE PARTY ITSELF DID!!  SINCE I'VE BEEN KNOWN TO BAKE AND DECORATE A FEW CAKES IN MY TIME, OF COURSE, I WAS GOING TO MAKE OUR GRANDCHILD'S FIRST BIRTHDAY CAKE IF I WAS ASKED TO DO SO!  SO ABOUT WEDNESDAY EVENING I STARTED BAKING AND CUTTING PIECES FOR THE CAKE!  THURSDAY I STACKED THE CAKE AND PUT ON A BASE COAT OF ICING AND FINISHED CUTTING ALL THE DECORATION PIECES.  FRIDAY MORNING ABOUT 2 AM I LAID DOWN TO SLEEP FOR A BIT.  WHEN MIKE GOT HOME AT 6 AM I HEARD HIM IN THE KITCHEN SAY "OH MY GOD. . ." I THOUGHT TO MYSELF HE LIKES THE CAKE - EVEN THOUGH IT WAS JUST THE BEGINNING OF A CAKE. . . WHEN I GOT INTO THE KITCHEN I SAW WHAT HIS "OH MY GOD" WAS ALL ABOUT . . .THE DOGS HAD EATEN THE CAKE OR AT LEAST BIG CHUNKS OUT OF THE CAKE. . . SO MY FRIDAY EVENING WAS SPENT RE-BAKING.  THANKFULLY THE CAKE THAT WAS EATEN WAS NOT COMPLETE AND THE PIECES THAT I HAD SPENT TIME CUTTING HAD NOT YET BEEN PUT ON THE CAKE - GIVEN THAT FACT I WAS ABLE TO RE-BAKE IT AND HAVE IT COMPLETE FOR BABY ROBERT'S BIRTHDAY PARTY ON SATURDAY!    FOR MORE PICTURES FROM BABY ROBERT'S FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY:  FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY

 

AS I MENTIONED OUTSIDE OF THE FACT THAT THE DOGS ATE THE CAKE THE BIRTHDAY PARTY WENT OFF WITHOUT A HITCH - THE HAIRCUT ON THE OTHER HAND DIDN'T GO QUITE AS GOOD.  IN THE END THE HAIR GOT CUT AND BABY ROBERT GOT HIS CERTIFICATE FOR BRAVELY RECEIVING HIS HAIRCUT BUT I JUST DON'T THINK IT WAS A VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR HIM!   FOR MORE PICTURES:  FIRST HAIRCUT

 

I DON'T LIKE THIS MUCH!

LOTS OF FAMILY SUPPORT!

 

WAS IT WORTH IT - I'M JUST NOT SURE!

 

 

 

WE ARE NOW ROLLING AROUND TO JULY.  WITH JULY CAME 4TH OF JULY.  WE CELEBRATED AT ED AND JAMIE'S HOUSE!  WE WRAPPED UP THE EVENING AT MARY'S HOUSE FOR THE FIREWORKS!   FOR MORE PICTURES:  4TH OF JULY AT ED & JAMIE'S

 

JULY ALSO BROUGHT US TO DINNER AT THE RED WAGON FOR GRANDMA WAGNER'S BIRTHDAY.  THERE WERE A LOT OF WAGNERS AT THE RED WAGON THAT EVENING!  WE WEREN'T MISSING VERY MANY FROM THE FAMILY!!  FOR MORE PICTURES VISIT:  GRANDMA WAGNER'S BIRTHDAY DINNER 

 

 

JULY ALSO BROUGHT LIA'S BIRTHDAY!  WE WERE ON AN ERRAND TO PICK UP A LITTLE SOMETHING AND WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TO HER BIRTHDAY DINNER AND MOVIE BUT WE STOPPED BY THE NEXT DAY SO BABY ROBERT COULD DELIVER HER BIRTHDAY PRESENT! 

 

 

I MENTIONED OUR ERRAND THAT CAUSED US TO MISS LIA'S BIRTHDAY LUNCHEON.  THAT WAS OUR TRIP TO LOUISVILLE AREA TO PICK UP AN OLD PONTOON BOAT TO FINALLY BUILD OUR DOCK OUT OF!!!  THERE HAVEN'T BEEN MANY POSTS ABOUT PROJECTS FOR THIS YEAR AS WITH EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON WE REALLY HAVEN'T DONE A LOT OF PROJECTS!  THIS WEEKEND MAY CHANGE ALL THAT - I THINK WE HAVE A FEW THINGS UP OUR SLEEVES THAT WE WANT TO WORK ON TO TRY TO WRAP UP!!  ALL IN ALL I THINK THE YARD IS COMING TOGETHER AND LOOKS NICE - I WILL POST SOME PICTURES AT THE END OF THIS YEAR'S EVENTS!  BUT NOW I POST PICTURES OF THE DOCK!!

 

THIS YEAR BEGAN A NEW JOURNEY FOR US AS WE BEGIN TO PREPARE FOR OUR RETIREMENT WAY DOWN THE ROAD!  WE INVESTED IN SOME FARM GROUND!  THE GROUND IS BEAUTIFUL AND HAS A SMALL LAKE ON IT.  A FEW WEEKS AGO WE MADE A TRIP OVER TO TRY OUT THE LAKE!  ALTHOUGH WE DIDN'T CATCH MUCH YOU DID SEEM TO CATCH ENOUGH TO KEEP YOUR INTEREST!   

 

 

ALSO A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN "CHATTING" WITH THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW ON FACEBOOK SHE MENTIONED "THAT SHE HAD A SECRET. . . " WELL THAT'S ENOUGH TO DRIVE ME CRAZY AND YOU HUBBY AT WORK. .  SO AFTER MESSAGING BACK AND FORTH A BIT AND OFFERING TO SET UP A CONFERENCE CALL WITH HUBBY AT WORK SO THEY COULD SHARE THEIR SECRET THEY AGREED THAT THEY WOULD CALL AT 1 AM WHEN HUBBY GOT HOME FROM WORK.  SO AT 1 AM AS SOON AS HE WALKED IN THE DOOR A PHONE CALL WAS MADE TO THE WAGNERS OF WASHINGTON!  AFTER SOME BS ABOUT BEING SENT OUT . . . . JOSH WHO COULD NOT KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE OR KEEP UP THE "LIE" MUCH LONGER ANNOUNCED THAT TAYLOR WAS PREGNANT!!  YAY!  WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE ANOTHER GRANDCHILD ON THE WAY!!  AFTER "PATIENTLY" WAITING (ME MORE PATIENTLY THAN HUBBY, WHO KEPT ASKING ME, HAVE THEY CALLED ANYONE ELSE, HAVE THEY TOLD ANYONE ELSE. . . ") THE WORD WAS FINALLY OUT WITH A FACEBOOK ANNOUNCEMENT LAST WEEK ANNOUNCING THAT NALA (OUR GRANDDOG WOULD BE A "BIG SISTER" MARCH 8, 2014)!!  SO NOW WE ARE FREE TO SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE THAT WE KNOW!!  WHEN I LEARNED OF THE BABY'S "OFFICIAL" DUE DATE, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE MY BIRTHDAY, I TOLD HUBBY THAT SOME OF THE COOLEST PEOPLE I KNOW WERE BORN ON THAT DAY . .  KNOWING THAT WAS OUT OF CHARACTER FOR ME TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT I KNEW IT WOULD CRACK HIM UP!!  OF COURSE HE WANTED TO KNOW WHO ELSE I KNEW THAT HAD THAT SAME BIRTHDAY!!  HA HA, ISN'T HE FUNNY!!  AT ANY RATE, WE ARE THRILLED AND CAN'T WAIT TO MEET OUR SECOND GRANDCHILD NEXT MARCH!!  THE ONE THAT BOBBY AND AMANDA HAVE ALREADY GIVEN US HAS BEEN LOADS OF FUN AND HAS HELPED TO FILL OUR LAST YEAR OF MARRIAGE WITH SO MUCH FUN, JOY AND EXCITEMENT!  IT WILL BE AMAZING TO HAVE TWO! 

 

 

AND OF COURSE AFTER THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT THAT BRINGS US UP TO AUGUST.  AUGUST IS A MONTH FULL OF BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES IN MY FAMILY!  WE RECENTLY CELEBRATED DRAKE'S BIRTHDAY!  DRAKE HAD A VERY FUN PARTY!  UNCLE MIKE ENJOYED HIS PARTY TOO.  DRAKE DECIDED TO PICK "TEAMS" FOR HIS PARTY.  HIS FIRST CHOICE WAS GRANDMA POLLY BUT SADLY FOR GRANDMA POLLY SHE WAS DROPPED SORT OF HASTILY AND REPLACED BY UNCLE MIKE WHO MUST HAVE BEEN THE COOLEST UNCLE THERE . . .NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT I BELIEVE HE WAS THE ONLY UNCLE THERE.  AT ANY RATE. . HE AND DRAKE WERE ON THE BIRTHDAY PRESENT TEAM I GUESS YOU COULD CALL IT.  DRAKE WAS AT ONE END OF THE ROOM AND UNCLE MIKE WAS AT THE OTHER END.  DRAKE WOULD OPEN A PRESENT AND RUN ACROSS THE ROOM TO GIVE THE PRESENT TO UNCLE MIKE AND THEY WOULD THEN HAVE TO "HIGH FIVE IT."  THEY WORE ME OUT TRYING TO MOVE QUICK ENOUGH TO GET PICTURES OF THE BIRTHDAY BOY RUNNING BACK AND FORTH! 



AND THAT GETS US UP TO OUR BIG DAY, AUGUST 10, OUR 11 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!  I'M SURE THAT I'VE MISSED SOME EVENTS BUT AS I SAID AT THE BEGINNING I WAS THRILLED WITH ALL THE PICTURES I HAD TO LOOK BACK THROUGH DOCUMENTING THE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES OF OUR LAST YEAR TOGETHER!  IT'S BEEN ANOTHER GREAT ONE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY, MANY MORE! 

I'LL WRAP THIS UP BY POSTING A FEW PICTURES FROM GRANDBABY VISITS THROUGH OUT THE YEAR AS WELL AS PICTURES OF THE YARD AS IT IS NOW AND A FEW PICTURES OF US, AFTER ALL, THIS IS ABOUT US AND OUR LAST YEAR! 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY SWEETIE!!  I LOVE YOU BUNCHES!!  I HOPE YOU ENJOY READING AND REMEMBERING ABOUT OUR YEAR IN REVIEW!!