Happy 8th Anniversary to us!!!

October 13, 2001

We're celebrating our anniversary today!! We're not going out to a nice restaurant or on a big trip....we're just at home taking care of the our kids and reminiscing about our big day when we started our lives together. Eight years ago our country had just suffered through the tragedies of September 11th. I, of course, was in the middle of planning all the last minute details of our wedding. After September 11th occurred, all of the tiny wedding details didn't seem as important anymore. The real things that mattered were family, friends and our faith in God. I am so happy to have married my very best friend and soul mate. I love you buddy!

Lil' Vols!

It's a Saturday in the Fall and you guessed it.....everyone around here is decked out in orange. We like to start them off early wearing the orange!!! It's probably humorous for those not from "these parts" but hey, we get a kick out of it! ha ha ha!!! Go Vols!!



A few Saturdays ago Justin went to the UT game and Sara and Miss Gabriella came over to visit and watch the game (well, we had the game "on" but I think we mostly talked the whole time and really didn't watch much at all!!). Ella and Drew are about 6 weeks apart in age and both had fun just crawling around and exploring. Madelyn loved having another little girl over!!

Ella is wondering what in the world Drew is "grunting" about!

Josh and his family came over a last weekend and we grilled out before the guys headed over to the UT game. Josh has 2 little guys now, Trence and Tripp. They are so cute!

Here is Drew doing what he loves best right now.....He LOVES to get into this one particular cabinet and pull all the water bottles out. I have no idea what he likes about it!! He's caught in the action right here!!

Soccer~Soccer~Soccer

Madelyn's 2nd year of Upward Soccer has officially begun! Ever since last year's season ended, Madelyn has been looking forward to this year. It probably has a little something to do with her favorite friend in the whole world, Lane. He is the coach's son and he and Madelyn instantly became fast buddies last year. They are also in many activities at church together too. So this year, they are on the same team again. Much to her delight let me just say! You will notice in all of these pictures that they are always standing next to each other. He happens to probably be the best player on the team and Madelyn.....well let me put it this way....she is just there to have fun and socialize!! :-) But anyways, she loves soccer and is having a blast. Since Justin is now considered to be an expert in soccer now (he did help a little last year so this makes him an expert in the Upward world!), he is helping coach the team this year.

The Mighty Pirates:

"Everybody put a hand on my arm and on the count of 3....."

"GO PIRATES!!!!!"

Someone turns 30 AND has an announcement!!!

Actually, more that one person has recently turned 30: Dave AND Robin. They both turned 30 August 22 and August 30th. To celebrate, we met up with some friends at Ruth's Chris. It also happened to be Boomsday so we had a front row seat for the fireworks. This is a perfect place to see Boomsday by the way....yes, a little expensive with the food but you get valet parking which helps get you out of the traffic quick and a great atmosphere to see the show!! Jim and Donna were also there but had left before we took these pictures. AND with all the kids with babysitters....it was a nice date night for us :-)!!!!

AND.....there is a special announcement!! Robin and Dave are going to be parents!!! YIPPEE!! Some of us have been waiting on this for a looonngg time!! Congratulations to the Greens!! Robin is due at the end of April....here is the first peek at the little Green baby!!

First day of this, First day of that!

When August arrives...so does the first day of a bunch of things. Madelyn started back to preschool, a new cheerleading class (she wanted to do this instead of dance this fall), and soccer. This year, she is going to preschool 3 days a week. She is one busy little girl that's for sure. Poor Drew, he just gets toted around to all of her activities! I have no idea how busy it will be when he starts doing things too. For now, he just started going to Mother's Day Out one day a week. Too bad it's not truly a "mother's day out" for me....I'm just going to stinkin' work!! BOO!

First day back to preschool:

First day of cheer class:

Getting ready to go to this year's first soccer practice:

P.S. If you have your speakers turned up...yes, it's Miley Cirus. I can't help it but I really like this song....I know, I know. It's Miley Cirus.

She's FIVE already?!

Yes, it's true. Our baby girl Madelyn has turned five years old. Oh my. That's hard to believe!She could have started kindergarten this fall but with the preschool teacher's advice and countless hours of pondering the idea.....she is staying in preschool for one more year. I truly hope this is the right decision for her. I mean, this affects the rest of her years in school, you know?! We are just trusting we have made the right decision.

It seems as if we celebrated Madelyn's birthday for several days! Her actual birthday was when we were in Destin. After we returned home, we had a "friend" party on Saturday and a "family" party on Sunday. Not to mention that tomorrow in her preschool class we will have yet ANOTHER party (really just a 15 minute "special" treat time as they like to say....).

Waking up as a five year old on vacation.....

She had so much fun at the friend party. It was at a local toy/book store and was a "Princess and Knight" theme. I had fun too because all I had to do was show up! They did the rest!! All of her little friends came and they were all so cute. The girls got to put princess costumes on and decorate wands. The boys dressed as knights and decorated goblets. They danced, ate cake, and played games. Madelyn is still talking about how much fun she had!!

The family party was at our house on Sunday. We had cake and ice cream and then opened presents. All of her cousins were there except for Sophie and Emma who live all the way in New Jersey (I've tried to explain to her over and over again how NJ is not just down the street....it's an 11 hour car ride!!).

Have you noticed every picture of Madelyn she is holding up the "five"....she was proud!

I'm so disappointed because among all of the chaos, I forgot to get a picture of all the cousins together :-( . After all the excitement, I think Madelyn literally past out from pure exhaustion. Wow, it's so hard to believe how time flies. I'm trying my best to savor these precious years of these little guys being sweet and little!! ha ha ha ha....