Ball Boy Fun!

Grammy and Granddaddy were able to purchase a special ticket for Evan to be a ball boy at a recent U of L game. He was happy to be able to help, but he also really liked getting to be really close to the action, being on the Jumbotron, and getting to meet some of the players. He was also a BIG fan of getting to see the dance team from his seat on the floor! Of course, the experience was made even better by a U of L win over Eastern Michigan State. Go Cards!

Survivor Day 2015

On December 10th, 2007, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I was certain that I was going to die and leave Carl to raise Evan all on his own. It was terrifying. Thankfully, with a great medical team and the support of family and friends, I was able to be healthy and cancer free. This past week, I became an eight year breast cancer survivor. I am so very happy to have another happy, healthy year with my family and friends. I have been able to enjoy family vacations, date nights, parties, time with friends and family, staying at home with my boys, volunteering, movie nights, snuggles, hiking, swimming, fishing, cuddles, laughter and MUCH more. I feel so fortunate to be well and to be able to enjoy my life. Don't get me wrong, there are rough days and tough times, but I am forever grateful for the opportunity to live life. I am looking forward to MANY more happy and healthy years ahead!

Carl gave me the perfect gifts! 

My parents watched the boys and we had a nice dinner at Mojito. 

"Live in the present. Tomorrow is never promised, so make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering. Happiness is a journey, just as life is. Enjoy the ride." 

Thanksgiving 2015

This Thanksgiving we traveled to Key West to visit Bonnie Mom and Grandpa. We had a lot of fun, which included a great cookout on the beach for Thanksgiving! We had lots of fun and made lots of wonderful memories.

Let's get the bad moments out of the way first (though they were very memorable). Evan's ear hurt really bad after the flight which ended up with about 3 hours of Evan screaming in pain, as we drove from Fort Lauderdale to Key West. We were really worried, as we thought he may have blown his eardrum.  Thankfully, the pressure finally released and he felt better. Also, NO ONE slept well on this trip, which made for some cranky kids at times and a few tantrums from both boys. Honestly, it sometimes made for some cranky parents too! Thankfully, there was LOTS more good than bad and we had a really great trip.

Here are a few pictures from our trip. I don't think they are in any sort of order, but they are some of the highlights of our trip.

Preston enjoyed drawing in the sand. He would tell us the different letters and pictures that he drew!

My boys!

The first sunset of our trip was SO pretty!

Bonnie Mom and Grandpa watched the boys and Carl and I went to The Cafe. We always like the food, but this was likely our best meal there ever!

On our second day, it rained a lot, but it was better by the afternoon. We went to Casa Marina for swimming and another pretty sunset.

Evan was pretty impressive getting up on the inner tube and floating around the pool!

We had a beautiful sunset after a day of rain.

Evan was excited to snorkel at Higgs Beach, but the water was not ever clear enough. It just means we will have to snorkel more on our next trip!

Preston really enjoyed playing in the waves!

Evan enjoyed finding shrimp and crabs in the seaweed! He would find clumps of seaweed that were still in the ocean, bring them ashore and then just start shaking them.  Little animals kept falling out, so we started collecting them in our makeshift Frisbee "aquarium".  Evan probably caught about 30 shrimps and crabs.

Grandpa took Evan fishing at Casa Marina. Evan caught several fish and was all smiles!

We went over to Geiger Key, where Evan was in heaven! He found so much cool stuff on our adventure!

We found an old boat that had washed ashore!

Preston was cracking me up with his sunglasses all week. In this picture, he has just told me he did not need help with his glasses!

Dancing on a boat!

Geiger Key is beautiful!

One of the fun things about Geiger Key is all of the cool stuff that is created. Preston really liked this "robot."

After our big exploration, we had a nice lunch at the marina. Evan enjoyed his tropical drink and both boys liked feeding Preston's lunch to the fish!

The Christmas decorations were starting to go up while we were in Key West. They were so much fun!

Preston LOVES the garden club. We did not get to stay long, but he had a great time!

We went out on the boat with Captain Eric. As usual. Preston fell asleep!

Evan caught lots of fish!

Preston liked playing at the beach. So much fun!

Evan found a HUGE jellyfish!

We took Preston to Fort Zachary, where he had fun playing with the canons, which he kept calling volcanoes!

Preston will find a "balance beam" everywhere he goes!

After the visit to Fort Zachary, we all went to lunch at Santiago's Bodega. Of course, Preston did not eat, as usual, but he entertained himself with Mario and was VERY good while we ate and enjoyed sangria!

We always take a sunset cruise in Key West and it is always one of my favorite times with Carl.

Our Christmas present from Bonnie Mom and Grandpa was a night out to see Randy Roberts. We ate at The Upper Deck and then did some shopping before the show. Randy did a GREAT job and he kept up entertained. He was also super nice! I would love to go back one day!

We went to a children's farm, which is run by the sheriff's department. The animals there are rescued and the inmates help run the farm and take care of the animals, We saw all sorts of cool animals, but I think the boys liked holding the alligator the best!

There was a bird at the animal center that kept talking to Preston and saying. "I love you!" He got the biggest kick out of it! SO cute!

Thanksgiving was spent at Fort Zachary. We played and then had a great cookout for our Thanksgiving Feast. It was fantastic!

This guy loves the ocean!

Our view for Thanksgiving was great!

Evan had fun making sand angels!

Mommy and Evan

This may be my most favorite picture from the trip! =) This was taken on Thanksgiving after an epic battle by Preston to not take a nap. After 2 hours of trying to get Preston to nap, I was exhausted. I finally put him in the stroller and took him for a walk. He was asleep in less than 5 minutes! We were able to take him inside, while still in the stroller and he got a good nap before it was time for a Thanksgiving swim in the pool!

Preston was all smiles at the beach!

Evan found a cool swing under the pier!

Daddy and Evan had fun with the big waves!

Evan started to step on this sea urchin, but avoided fully stepping on it with some quick moves. He was excited to see one and placed it in a safe area when he was done examining it.

Evan's Christmas present was getting to swim with the dolphins! He was in HEAVEN!

Evan loves all animals, but he certainly has a way with Ernie, Millie and Lola. They adore him!