Happy blogiversary to me!

Today is a profound date for this ol' blog right here, because on August 16, 2008, I reluctantly started to blog.

If you click on the link above you can read my first post, which was, how shall I put it?  Oh yeah, it was BO-RING. And why did Tracey and I look like that? So pale, so so freakishly pale....

So here I am, FIVE years later, and I'm still at it.

I started it because Tracey told me I had to, kept it up because my friends were doing it, and fell in love it with because it fulfilled something in me.  A creative side in me that I guess I didn't even know I had. It gave me a connection to others out there in the world who I would have never known otherwise, and now it's a way for our families to keep up with us.

I love blogging. It's a carefree part of my life that I just allow. Life is serious, our lives are serious, and I like having something that just isn't serious.

Oh and check this out, not only is it my blogiversary, but it's also my 799th post, which annoys me to no end that it's not 800.  But I shan't let that ruin my special day.

So Happy Blogiversary to me! I think I shall send myself some roses.

Can't help falling in love

This weekend my parents will be married FIFTY years. 

FIF-TY. 

Holy crud, that's a long time. 

 When I look at these sweet pictures of my very young parents (my mom was 18, my dad 19) I can't help but appreciate the fact that they've stuck it out together. 

Marriage isn't a walk in the park, or maybe it's a walk in a really hilly park, you know like a hard walk.

And I appreciate the fact that they never gave up on that walk.

I can only imagine what they must think when they look back at these pictures.

Probably something like, "wasn't that just yesterday?"

Congratulations, mom and dad! Celebrating 50 years is a BIG DEAL.

Here's to FIFTY more. :-)

My parents song, by the one and only Elvis:

Wise men say only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you. 

Shall I stay
Would it be a sin
If I can't help falling in love with you.

Like a river flows, surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand
Take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you 

Class of '93

In May of 1993, a group of big-haired, big-headed, life-lovin' kids walked down the isle to pomp and circumstance to leave behind all that they knew. It was time to spread our wings and leave behind the easiest days of our lives. 

And that was twenty years ago. 

WHA? Did I say TWEN-TY? 

Yes, I have been out of high school for twenty years, and THAT is just straight up ridiculous.

 Never one to miss a good time, I loaded myself up for a whirlwind trip home so I could go hang out with people who knew a very different Gretchen. 

I went to a very small private school, and when I say small, I mean small.

My graduating class was a grand whopping total of....28 kids! Which was actually a big class for GCHS, my sister graduated in class of 13, so 28 was massive.

So when you see this picture of a mere 10 people it might seem sort of sad, but to me it feels like home.

 I went to school with two of these girls all the way through K-12, and the rest of us all joined together by seventh grade.

These two I've known since kindergarten...

And Lyndsay and I go back to seventh grade.

And although we are all approaching forty, have careers, kids, and mortgages, get us together and suddenly we are back....

First day of school

Thursday morning at exactly 6:05 my ever faithful alarm clock came into my room and told me it was time to get up. 

If this child ever starts to sleep in I'm doomed.  I can always count on my early riser to get me up and moving, and the first day of school was no exception.

But even Hope bounced out of bed early with those first-day jitters.

I love the first day of school because the kids are always eager and willing to go. Fast forward a week or two and I'm sure I will be dealing with the moans and groans.

And even better than dropping off happy? Picking up happy!

They both reported that they had a great first day of school!

Glad to have this show on the road.

An open house that turned us to mush.

In this here post, I'm going to do my best to not make any mention to, "where did the summer go?" Because I've recently noticed how much I abuse that statement. And that's annoying. 

Here goes..

Tuesday night we walked the familiar halls of school again, getting all pumped up for another school year. 

As we walked into the school both of the kids were grinning from ear-to-ear, they just couldn't hide their excitement. And then whenever Hope would see some of her friends, there would be squeals and hugs. 

Such girls. 

Hope has the teacher she wanted all along, and her "first best friend" is in her class. So basically, first grade is looking epic.

Pierce has a teacher that we don't really know anything about, but he's got his best friend in his class, which means life is all good.

As I filled out paperwork for the school year Pierce worked on a little 'get to know me thingy' where he answered some questions.

Paul was walking around the room and I was busy filling out stuff, so neither of us was paying much attention to his answers. Finally Paul glanced down at it, and when he saw what he wrote for his hero? Well, he turned to mush.

And so did I.

As we left his classroom all the other third grade teachers stopped us to say how disappointed they were that they didn't get him in their class. Meanwhile his new teacher piped up to say how excited she was to have a great leader like him in her class.

You know sometimes I'm very guilty of focusing on what needs to be corrected in his behavior (and Hope's) and not appreciating just how well behaved he is. All those comments were a good reminder for me for focusing more on the positive.

I am so blessed.

I'm not sure where the summer went!

It's going to be a great year!

The event of the weekend did not involve a real shower.

The event of the weekend?

The event that had Hope beside herself in excitement?

Her very first baby shower. 

Oh me. 

Since I had told Hope that we would be "going to Jaclyn's baby shower soon" it seemed all our conversations lead to that very topic:

"Mommy, when is the shower?"

"Mommy, who will be at the shower?"

"Momma, what will we do at the shower?"

"Mommy, whose baby will take a shower?"

No joke. It didn't dawn on me that she would take the term "baby shower" LITERAL. But I guess it makes sense when you don't have any other reference, and you are only 6 years old. 

But her main reason for such excitement?

BABIES.

Hope loves babies.

And any chance to be around them, talk about them, or learn about them pleases her like punch.

And it pleased me to look over and see Jaclyn taking a practice turn with a sweet little baby. OH EM GEE, SHE'S HAVING A BABY SOON! SQUEEEEEE!

The shower itself was very shower-esque.

Games, finger foods, sweets, and gifts out the yahzoo. I don't share fond love for baby or wedding showers, but it was exciting to see Jaclyn getting goodies.

And Hope was itching to get all up in the action.

Thanks to Aunt Jo-Jo she finally worked up enough courage to get right up in it.

And she was in it to win it.

And I'm sure contemplated taking down her competition.

Competition and all, Hope's first baby shower, (even if a baby was not literally showered) was a success.

And now she waits with anticipation for Mr. Camden to arrive.

But that goes for all of us.

Hurry up Camden Carter, Aunt G is READY!

Celebrating, part I

We've just returned from the land that flows with, you know, milk-n-honey. ( I really think I need to think of a new catch phrase for IN.)

It was a whirlwind of a trip, with just enough time to celebrate some important people. Some born, and some unborn. 

First up, it was all about these three...

For me it's always exciting when it's a multi-person birthday because then I get multi-desserts to choose from. HOLLA.

 I was super excited to see Jaclyn and that sweet growing belly!

And I will have you know that she's not wearing maternity pants. I'M NOT EVEN KIDDING.

So yeah, we celebrated

And just did what we do best when we are together.

Hang.

Eat.

And take too many pictures.

Another fun time In Indiana.

That must end in the traditional round the table pic.