Fourth of July:Flashback Friday

Okay, so it's officially 12:58 a.m. on Saturday...but it's still "Friday" to me!

Plus, Flashback Saturday just doesn't have the same ring to it!

{July 4, 1981} I was 20 months old.

We were celebrating the holiday at my Aunt Deb and Uncle Rick's place in Manhattan, Kansas

Isn't my mama beautiful!
She brought over one of our family albums the other day, with pictures of me around the same age as Barrett is now.
I see lots of similarities in us.

Every year around this time, I start to really miss this place....

Mamo & Bapo's place on Grand Lake {Bapo and Brandon fishing off the dock}

I miss the peaceful moments fishing on the dock, the wild and crazy moments of 14+ in one house, the golf cart parade and watermelon feed, the sunburns, fish frying, and boat rides. But most of all, I just miss spending the whole weekend with all of my family together.

{July 4, 2009} Barrett was 17 months old.

Hope you all have a safe Fourth of July weekend!!

Flashback Friday

Fourth of July 2008

Barrett was 6 months

with his cousins, Lauren and Emma

Trying to get his first taste of beer from Uncle Bobby


Hope you have a safe and memory-filled 4th with your families!

Flashback Friday~40 weeks

One year ago today...I was 39 weeks, 5 days pregnant with Barrett
Our due date was January 12th, 2008
Little did I know, that one year ago today...
I wouldn't be going into labor anytime soon.

This is me looking huge and swollen at 40 weeks
(Friday, January 11, 2008)

As Barrett's first birthday quickly approaches, I've been doing a lot of thinking back to one year ago at this time. It's amazing to look back at where I was and see how much our lives have changed since this time last year. More looking back to come, as Barrett's "birthday week" begins!

It's a BOY!!!

No, we're not expecting again...that would be crazy! But it was one year ago today ~Wednesday, August 29, 2007~ that we found out we were having a baby BOY! Our ultrasound appointment was at 12:00p.m. that day. Here is what I wrote about it in my pregnancy journal, I remember it like it was yesterday...

Although I was nervous about all the water I was supposed to drink for this appointment, once I got up on the table, she smeared the cold gel on my belly and we saw the first glimpse of our baby...I forgot all about how full my bladder was! Our ultrasound tech (Gail) was wonderful. She made us feel comfortable and explained everything she was doing and everything we saw on the screen. We'd just started, and she was moving the wand around on my belly trying to figure out what position the baby was laying in when WHAM, Justin and I both saw a 'pee-pee' shoot across the screen! I wasn't sure if he'd seen it, then he quietly asked Gail "so, will we be able to find out the sex today?" She said she didn't think that would be a problem! We knew shortly after that, we had a 110% sweet baby BOY!! Justin just squeezed my hand when she told us. I had to fight back the tears as I watched him move all around the screen. I knew how much Justin wanted a little boy, and even though I've always thought I 'd have a little girl, I couldn't have been happier at that moment just watching the excitement on Justin's face. Throughout the rest of the ultrasound, while she checked his heart and took all his measurements, he kept flashing us right and left! He's certainly not a shy little guy! We couldn't have been surprised if we'd wanted! Our tech said he'd probably be the little boy that's running around the house naked when he's two! It was a wonderful appointment and we both left the office grinning from ear to ear. We both took the rest of the day off work...don't think we would have been able to concentrate!

We went home that afternoon and took a nap together on the couch. Then that evening we gathered all of our family out at my parents house for a BBQ and big baby reveal! My friend Christie happened to be in town that week, and she's an awesome baker, so I had her make a special cake! She was actually the first to know the baby's sex because of this! Here is the cake she made....

I had everyone in our family write down their guess BOY or GIRL on a special page I'd made for my pregnancy scrapbook. Everyone was so anxious, we let them have dessert before dinner. Here's Gigi cutting into the cake while everyone waits..... Later that night, we had all of our friends over to share the news with them the same way! We let Christie cut into the cake, since she already knew!It was a wonderful day...I can't believe it's been a year! Now we have our beautiful baby boy and he's perfect!! God is so good!

Flashback Friday...like mother, like son

I know...it's been forever since I did a flashback! Well, here are a few!

My mom has been digging out my old baby pictures recently. It's fun to see Barrett doing some of the same things I did. We got Barrett's first 'grasp' of the beer can over the Fourth of July weekend, so Mom found some pictures of my first beer too.

Mommy was a Budweiser girl...Barrett prefers Bud Light!

And, it appears we have the same "taste" in other things too...

Me with my a foot in my mouth. I prefer the left.

Barrett with a foot in his mouth. He prefers the right.

We also have the same sleeping style...

Me with my butt in the air. I am a little older, so apparently I slept this way for several years. And, NO...I'm pretty sure I don't sleep like this anymore :)

Barrett with his butt in the air

Flashback Friday~Jamie

Because she just left for AFRICA, and I've been thinking about her a lot this week....this flashback Friday is a trip down memory lane with my dearest friend, Jamie!!

We met our freshman year of college at K-State. She was an Interior Design major too and we had our first studio together. I was a nervous wreck because our first year of studio was combined with the Architecture students in the Arch. buildings. Since I was new to everything, I didn't have a clue what I was doing, and I was sooo thankful to meet her! I can honestly say that if it wasn't for meeting her and a few of my other ID friends (Amy, Kate, Abby...just to name a few) I might not have made it through that first year!

Skipping out of studio the last day of our freshman year...This was taken at Philsbury Crossing just outside of Manhattan.

Jamie and I had classes together for the next four years and made so many good memories together! We even went on two trips to Chicago for IIDA (International Interior Design Association). When I got married in 2002, Jamie was one of my bridesmaids.

With Jamie & Christie at my bachelorette party~On the Border in Wichita

Since graduation, she has been living in New York and has worked for a couple awesome firms out there. She is incredibly talented and an awesome designer! She is a wonderful friend and I miss being able to see her all the time!

This summer, she will be traveling to Africa to do some volunteer work. She will be in Tanzania for most of the time, but will also travel through South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. She returns to the states in October. See...she's amazing!!! I am so excited to hear all about her trip.

Have a wonderful time in Africa, Miss Jamie!! Write often and be sure to let me know when you start that blog :) LOVE YOU BUNCHES

Flashback Friday~BFE's

I talk about the BFE's all the time, so I thought you might enjoy some pictures of us from back in the day! Help me out girls...wasn't this our sophomore year in college? I'm trying to remember when it was that Christie had her hair that short.

my bridal shower~September 2002

The BFE's are myself, Megan, Audra, Amber & Christie. We've all been friends for a long time, but it was in high school, when we were inseparable, that we started calling ourselves the BFE's. NO...I've told you before...I can't tell you what it means. AND, NO...it's not "best friends for eternity"...just quit trying to guess, you'll never come close :)

Christmas 2001

At Mamo & Bapo's (Grand Lake)~ Summer 2001?

The first BFE baby~Hadley Elizabeth, April 2007

All you need to know is that these girls are my whole world! We are SISTERS!! I thank God everyday for them and I will never take their friendship for granted!

Flashback Friday~Audra

I'm hoping seeing a post all about HER will somehow motivate her to start a blog!! I know you want to, Audra :)

My friend, Audra...we've known each other since the 1st grade. This is us at one of my birthday slumber parties in elementary school. 3rd or 4th grade, I would guess! We're standing up on my mom's fireplace hearth, but don't ask what we were doing, because I haven't a clue!

I have so many wonderful memories with Audra. We went through elementary, middle school and high school together. Out of our group of friends, Audra was the first to drive. We had so many laughs piled into her navy Ford Escort! We'd "drag" main at night listening to "Hey Mickey." We always said Winfield had the best Main street to "drag"...tree-lined streets, and a place to turn around a both ends! There was also the time we'd been out sledding on a snow day. I think it was Audra, Megan, Amber & me. We were coming back to Megan's house. We came around a slick corner and spun the little Escort in circles! For some reason we'd been having trouble with one of the doors staying shut, so in the midst of spinning we had to keep a hold of the door, so it didn't fly open! Can you imagine us all screaming our heads off as we spun in circles!

Our freshman year of college, I went to K-State and she went to Emporia State. Then for our sophomore year, she transferred to K-State and we lived together in the Poppy Court house (see last week's flashback) for three years! It was our senior year that Kane proposed to Audra! We knew it was coming, and had already accepted Kane as a "brother", so we were sooo excited! I was working at the bookstore that night, and I remember Audra coming in to tell me the news! I don't remember much of what she said, but I do remember she was wearing a hot pink cardigan and she was beaming. I was so happy for her! This is us at her wedding~June 29, 2002.
I feel so blessed to have you in my life, Audra! It's been so much fun to have you in the same town...just a few blocks away, and now just a few miles away. I know I can call you or see you anytime I need a friend! We had great times hanging out as Newlyweds...then "couples dinners" as 'ol married folks...and now we have so much to look forward to as mommies! Our families are so beautiful and I can't wait for all the wonderful memories we have ahead of us, as we watch our babies grow. Lydia Grace is such a lucky little girl to have you as her mother.
Thanks for being such a wonderful friend! Cheers to the time ahead of us as stay at home moms!! I can only imagine the adventures we'll have! I love you!!

AND....I'll apologize now for making you cry, because I'll bet $1 million you've got a Kleenex in your hand as you finish reading this!

Flashback Friday~Poppy Court

Amber posted a picture in her Flashback Friday that put me in the mood to reminisce about my college days! Well, my sophomore through senior years anyway.

I lived in a house on Poppy Court with Audra, Christie and Amber. Megan lived there for a summer and came to visit a lot! We also had a handful of roommates, most of whom none of us got along with :) My parents bought the house when my older brother was in college, and it's been full of college kids and memories ever since! My little brother is living there now, but after he finishes his last few classes this summer, my parents plan to sell it. GOOD BYE Poppy Court house....we'll miss you!
The girls and I had some great experiences there and I wouldn't trade a single day in that house for anything. Here are some of my favorite memories:

*Being scared out of our britches one night after dark when we heard tapping on the kitchen window and what sounded like footsteps on the ROOF! It was too dark to see out the window and with the lights on inside we knew whoever was out there could see right in, so we all ran to the hallway and huddled up on the floor. We thought someone was breaking in. I'm pretty sure we even called the police. Then found out it was some of our crazy guy friends!

*Our first "party" at the house....things got a little out of hand! A neighbor down the street, we call Waterboy (he watered his lawn non-stop), was a bit upset with all the beer cans in his yard! "Okay, thanks!"

*The night we were coming home from Aggieville in Kane's (Audra's husband) truck, and Christie lost her lunch out the back window...Kane had to go wash the truck!

*The "Velvet Love Machine"...our name for a huge red velvet bean bag type thing! Does anyone have pictures of that 'ol thing?!?! It was great for napping!

*Brent (Megan's husband) & the Goldschlager shots

*The time I got a bottle cap stuck in the garbage disposal!

*Wearing our aprons & "baking" pies in the kitchen with Audra; Eating Chipolte burritos on the living room floor; Pulling all-nighters in my room building that darn model; Having 3 other closets to wear clothes from; Scavenger hunts around the house; and oh so many more!!

I have so many great pictures from our Poppy Court Days. I'll have to share more later. Those were some good times...I love you Audra, Amber, Christie & Megan!!!

Flashback Friday~Bapo

Memorial Day weekend makes me think of my grandpa; my mom's dad. We called him Bapo (pronounced Bop-o) and he was the best grandpa anyone could ever ask for. Bapo passed away in August 2005, and we've missed him dearly everyday since.

This is me with Bapo and my older brother, Brian

Me with Mamo & Bapo

In my family, Memorial Day weekend means FAMILY REUNION! Our reunion is a golf tournament and family picnic in Bartlesville, OK. This tradition has been going on for over 20 years, and it was started by Bapo. He loved to golf and he loved family, so he combined the two and made a reunion that people actually enjoy going to! He was always so happy on that day! I can still picture him standing at the first tee box, waiting for his team to tee off...wearing a golf polo tucked into his shorts, golf hat, and his tan legs! AND if you couldn't tell he was an Oklahoma State fan by his golf bag & head covers, you were blind!

After the tournament and picnic, Mamo (my grandma) & Bapo, my family, and my aunts, uncles and cousins would all caravan to Grand Lake. This is where my best memories of the holiday weekend are! Mamo & Bapo had a place on the lake. It was a cozy little 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom lakehouse, but when our family of 17 plus would move in for the weekend it became very cozy!! It was right on the lake, with a deck that looked out across the water, and you could watch the sunset behind Sailboat bridge. Bapo had his own fishing dock and boat. We would spend all weekend eating incredible meals prepared by Mamo, my mom and my aunts...we would fish off the boat, the dock and the point; ski; swim in the pool; ride around on the golf cart; and love every minute of it!

We sold the lakehouse a few years ago, and every Memorial Day since, it makes me a little sad to think about how much I miss it and how much I miss my Bapo! I'd give anything to have just one more weekend at the lake with him! He was always excited to take you fishing, bait your hook for you and even clean the fish you caught! I'm sure I'll share some of my lake pictures and memories here soon. With Summer around the corner, I'll be thinking of the lake often!

I miss you Bapo, and I know you'll be at the tournament this weekend...you wouldn't miss it for anything!

All of the grandkids at last year's reunion...we now have three great-grandkids and three, almost four married into the family grandkids :)