Stop and Smell the Roses

Just in case you needed a reminder.  This video says it all. 

Holiday Road

Ok, we're not the Griswalds, but what better way to catch up on the summer than walking down memory lane.  So, here's a pictorial of what's been going on this summer.  Unfortunately, we did not make it to Wally World :(

We celebrated Koebe's birthday!

We got a mohawk for the last day of school.

We got a big girl car seat.

We fell asleep in our big girl car seat.

We went on our first airplane ride to Oregon (with just mom).

We had fun with Grandpa!

We surprised a sister for her birthday in Oregon!

We went to Houston (ok-Cleveland) and hung out with friends!

We got big hair and got a dog (for one day- thanks Shaunna!)

We celebrated our 10 Year with a hot date to Wolfgang Puck's 560 and Wicked!

We went to Toy Story 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and straightened our hair ;) )

We went to YMCA Adventure Camp as a family and caught fish!

We went swimming.

We celebrated the 4th!

We (Trevor) went to a private concert and met B.o.B.!!!

We Made It!

Dear Aprille,

Happy 10th Anniversary to the love of my life!!!  Does it really seem like our first 10 years together has already passed us by? Was it really that long ago you and I were working the luau in Hawaii, serving POG (passion-orange-guava to all you mainlanders out there!) to all those tourists who sat and sang "Pearly Shells" as they slurped down chicken long rice, lomi lomi salmon and kalua pork? 

It was there that it all began as the girl in the red luau dress caught my eye and stole my heart.  It feels like it was just yesterday you and I began this journey together.  If I could go back, I would do it all over again, except I would have worked up the courage to ask you out at the beginning of the summer and not the end, only so we could have had even more time in paradise together.

From serving "passion", to finding it with you, till now, your passion for life is what still keeps my heart beating faster than ever.  May our passion bring us another 10 years of the same kind of love the past 10 has brought us.  I love you.

Aloha,

Me

Happy Birthday, Again!

Happy Birthday to my best friend.  I'm going to reach back- waaaaaaaaaaaaaay back for a little birthday surprise.  You remember this one babe?  (For those not in the loop, it's a little summin' summin' I cooked up while we were dating)

mystery

this person is special i'll have to agree

she enjoys the ocean, sand and lazy palm trees

her basketball skills are outta sight

favorite colors are many as long as they're bright

quiet she's not but fun she can be

driving cars fast is one of her hobbies

she's one in a million but fifth out of seven

her family's on maui- a place next to heaven

don't get me wrong- oregon is her past

she misses it most cause you can't pump your own gas

she despises cats and can't stand little pups

but one thing she won't turn down are peanut butter cups

she's fearless & forthright, she can really do it all

but please don't dare her, she'll do anything even jump from waterfalls

describe her you ask, well she's cute and she's tall

loves cookies more than anything and bounces off the walls

her passion was at the luau, the place where we met

she's changed by life forever, how can i ever forget

we're getting hitched- life's been like a twister

when looking at rings, people say, "oh, she's not your sister?!"

i lover her, i need her, she's taught me to laugh

she's aprille lyman, admittedly my better half

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Koebe!  The birthday countdown that started when Kalee had her birthday in March is officially over- Koebe is now a 7 year-old!  Seriously, no joke about the countdown.  "Dad-only four more weeks till my birthday!" "Koebe, you don't have to keep reminding us how many weeks there are left until your birthday." "Dad, only 14 more days till my birthday!"  I give up.

Koebe has been the biggest joy to watch grow up.  Watching him develop from a toddler into a little man has been such a rewarding experience- and funny too.  The other day, he went to a friend's birthday party who he doesn't get to see as often as he would like and this is what he wrote in the card:

Do we spend time together?  No.  Do we see ourselves? No.  Let's get together to spend some time.  Happy Birthday!

Then, a high school senior who used to babysit for us is graduating and happened to work in Koebe's classroom during the week and the class wrote her a card thanking her.  What did he write?  "I'll see you in church sometime." (She goes to our church, by the way).

Then today, when asked, "Koebe, now that you are 7 do you know what that means?"

"I get balls!!!!", was his reply.  Ok- so it took us about 5 minutes to stop laughing and when we finally got him to explain what he meant, he related now that he will be in second grade, he will be allowed to play with balls at recess.  Phew!

Koebe- we love you!  Happy Birthday!

Weary

This is what I get to do for the next three days:

Fly Dallas to Philly
Fly Philly to State College, PA
Drive from State College to Bethlehem, PA
Fly Bethlem to Columbus
Fly Columbus to Dallas

This is what I get to do next week:

Fly Dallas to Philly
Fly Philly to Manchester, NH
Drive to Hanover, NH
Fly Hanover to Boston
Fly Boston to Newark
Fly Newark to Hartford, CT
Somehow get to Maryland
Fly Baltimore to Dallas

Bring. It. On. (I love you honey???)

Smell of Life

"Fruit Loops are the smell of life.", said Kalee after she inhaled deeply over her fresh bowl of Fruit Loops tonight.  She could eat cereal every day, for every meal- especially Fruit Loops.  'Nuff said.