My First Pony Ride

Here is a video of Luke and Grace taking a pony ride at Oktoberfest. I know it probably doesn't look like they are having fun in this video, but I am sure they were just in awe of riding this animal they have read about in all their books. Afterwards, they would not stop talking about riding the pony. Looks like it was just as much fun for them as it was for us to watch them.

Grace Reading

One of Grace's favorite things to do is read a book. Lately, her favorite thing has morphed into reading a book with a blanket on the couch. I happened to snap a pic of her in action, imagine that. The amazing part is that Grace climbed up all by herself. She pulled herself up onto the couch, retrieved a blanket three times her size and wrapped it over her tiny body. Then, she grabbed her book and began reading it to me. I guess she has seen me do this with Luke a few times and decided to recreate that situation. She is such a funny stinker.

I never thought I would say this, but I don't think I have enough books! For those who don't know me, I have a TON of children's books, most of which I purchased long before I ever had kids. Well, today the kids decided to pull out 2 bins worth of books and have me read them all. It was exhausting yes, but more sad was the fact that I am already bored with all these books. I must buy a few new books a month, sometimes even a week, but I already think I need to visit the bookstore again! I have an obsession, I know. The bookstore is my friend. Ryan, the kids, and I love to pile up in the car and visit the nearest bookstore so we can grab a coffee and watch the kids play on the train tables. Then, we have Luke and Grace pick out a book and before you know it, we have killed a couple hours. We just love it!

The sad part is that I bought my Halloween books this past month. I am currently working on Thanksgiving books and this weekend I noticed they put out the Christmas books. I am beyond excited. I just browsed the aisles and made my own mental list. Nothing makes me happier than to know my children love to read. As a teacher, I am aware of the importance of reading. I know I loved to read as a child and I am hoping to pass that on to my little tots. I am just not sure who loves it more!

Check out these pictures of Grace...

Oktoberfest

We had a family night of fun on Friday. It was Oktoberfest here on post so we enjoyed some bouncers, good food and a Polka band. It was nice to get out with the kids and be silly. We saw some of our friends and neighbors. We had some great German food and beer. I think the kids really had a great time. I know that in her previous life Grace was in a Polka band because she could not get enough. It must be the Czech in her!

Mimi's Tearoom

Mimi, we didn't know you had a tearoom in LA!

Happy Birthday Amanda!

Happy Birthday Amanda! In light of this day, I decided to write you a poem; a poem I know that only you could appreciate. We hope your day is out of this world...

ODE to the Home girl

Amanda Kim-Katherine, a stubborn, eccentric, sensitive, passionate ball of glory,
This is a simple ode to a girl with a compelling story.
She may seem complicated with a tendency to brew,
but deep underneath, a big heart through and through.
Her every breath lives for song,
and each quote, story, and word does make her strong.
The soul a fusion of goth and classic beauty,
listening to Staind everyday is merely a duty.

As she juggles the many facets of life all the while mobil,
She works her butt off at the Barnes to the Noble.
With her long hair so soft and shiny,
When Amanda wakes up in the morn, she is NEVER whiny.
In her world where school does not rule,
and boys most definitely still drool,
Miss Amanda still keeps a smile from cheek to cheek,
lest we hear words of luminosity she does speak.

So, my dear sweet sister Amanda, hold your head up high
and keep watching those hopeless romantic movies where the girl always gets the guy.
We love you more than these words I write,
your future is bound to be nothing short of bright.

Maxine on...

This is hilarious! My cousin Melissa sent this to me and I could not stop laughing. She always sends the best jokes. Thanks Melissa for always making me laugh!







Maxine on "Driver Safety" "I can't use the cell phone in the car.
I have to keep my hands free for making gestures.".......

Maxine on "Housework" "I do my housework in the nude.
It gives me an incentive to clean the mirrors as quickly as possible."

Maxine on "Lawn Care" "The key to a nice-looking lawn is a good mower.
I recommend one who is muscular and shirtless."

Maxine on "The Perfect Man" "All I'm looking for is a guy who'll do what I want, when I want, for as long as I want, and then go away. Or wait nearby, like a Dust Buster,charged up and ready when needed."

Maxine on "Technology Revolution" "My idea of rebooting is kicking somebody in the butt twice."

Maxine on "Aging" "Take every birthday with a grain of salt. This works much better if the salt accompanies a Margarita."

Famous Phrases of the Trip

Here are some LukeISMS and GracieBYTES all wrapped up into one. These are a few phrases the kids said on the trip, along with a couple from Ryan and myself.

1) "Oh, look Mommy, Grace is beautiful; like a princess." Luke said this to me about Grace after he saw her all dressed up in one of her cute outfits.

2) "It's a bear!" GRACE'S 1ST SENTENCE!!!! We were so excited! She is in love with bears; her favorite a pink bear she sleeps with every night.

3)"It made a clang, don't lick it!" Ryan said this to Luke after he dropped his lollipop.

4) "Watch out Jack-bottom!!" Unfortunately, this was me after a car cut me off (slight case of road rage I have). I thought I did good by saying Jack-bottom instead of Jack-you-know-what!

5) "Pattycake, pattycake." Grace repeated this nursery rhyme several times now since our trip. She will be speaking in no time.

6) "Mommy, you're a chicken nugget!" Luke might have turned into a chicken nugget after this last trip. He called me this jokingly after I told him he was being silly.

7) "I NEED to go on a jet plane!" Luke might be a future airline pilot. He could not get enough of the airport and flying. He keeps asking me when we are going on another plane ride and I keep telling him not for a while. I hear words like expensive and total depletion of energy running through my head.

8) Luke asked Ryan when he was going to return to Texas and see his family and Ryan replied with, "Well, Luke, in about a month or so. That's a lot of 5 minutes!" This was funny because everything to Luke comes in increments of 5 minutes. "Luke, you have 5 minutes until bed time, 5 minutes until you turn that off, 5 minutes until bath time is over..." I think this is the only number he actually gets.

Pat-a-cake

Ok, now I know you can't see Grace in this video because it was taken in the car at night, but I had to act quickly in order to get Grace on film. Next time I will have all the lights on inside! If you listen closely, you can hear Grace say, "Pattycake," clear as a bell. She is getting so big! P.S. Sorry for all the yelling, we were just really excited to hear her.

It's a Boy!

My cousin Stephanie is pregnant again with a boy! This is a miracle story because it was such a long, hard road for Stephanie and Jay to get pregnant the first time; they had twins by the way!!! And so they of course thought they would not get pregnant again. Lucky for them, God ordered another round. As Martha Stewart would say, this is a good thing. Stephanie and Jay are wonderful parents and tremendously wonderful people as well. Congratulations Stephanie and Jay! We love you.

Ashlea and Bill

Our good friends Ashlea and Bill were married this past July. They are sickeningly good-looking and sweet to boot. Congratulations kids! You have many good things in store for you.

Riding in Style

We went to Toys "R" Us the other day, a favorite haunt for us and the kids just had a blast. They had so much fun in fact, that they even picked out their future cars! Keep dreaming my loves, but it sure was fun.

Top 5

This is something I actually wrote as I was driving back into Texas, my home sweet home, some time ago. I thought I would include it here. Just something to read.

The top 5 ways you know your back in Texas...

#5 Construction. I think Houston has been under construction for more years than I can count. Houston-area commuters spent an average of 56 hours a year in traffic jams in 2005, making this the seventh-most congested metropolis in the nation, according to a Texas Transportation Institute study. No doubt construction has something to do with this traffic congestion problem.

#4 There are more Taco Cabanas per capita than McDonald's.

#3 As you are driving down the freeway, a rod iron table and chair fall out of the back of a pick-up truck and cause sparks to fly and, thus, people to dodge them like Nascar racers. (This actually happened to me!)

#2 Everything IS bigger: big skyscrapers, big stadiums, big homes, big attitudes, etc.

and the #1 way you know you are back in Texas....

Big Trucks! Even though gas prices have strained America's wallets, Texans refuse to give up their big rigs. And I have to say, it is a nice sight to see.

One Last Look

These are all the pictures we took on the trip home. Not much happening since then. I think the kids are still recovering from it. They got all the attention they could ever want and now it's back to, "go to bed and eat your vegetables." Check out that one picture of Luke carrying the suitcase. He actually carried that bag from the baggage claim area to the door all by himself. He is such a big helper! Hope you enjoyed.

Grace as Wendy

I almost fell over with laughter at this picture! It was pure coincidence that I actually caught it on film. This was taken on the trip home from Atlanta, obviously at a Wendy's. I was watching Luke navigate through the poles while out of the corner of my eye I see Grace standing underneath Wendy's red hair. She clearly knew what she was doing as she pointed to the hair above her. I quickly pulled out my camera and was able to snap this picture. I think red hair looks good on her. It just kills me and now I laugh every time I see this picture of Grace with Wendy's hair.

Nana the Great

I will miss Nana when she goes. She is the sweetest, most genuine person you will ever meet and she loves her grandchildren, especially her great-grandchildren. There are so many wonderful things to say about Nana that I don't think I could fit it in one post. She knits us blankets, teaches us valuable pearls of life, and always has a kiss and hug set aside for you. Before I left, she even bought me a St. Christopher clip to have in my car so that I may always be protected when traveling. She is always thinking of others and the most important thing to her is family. Gosh, I could go on forever....I love you Nana and we can't wait to see you soon. God Bless your beautiful soul.

Granddaddy and Me

Oh Granddaddy, how I love thee....There are no words to describe how much fun I have with you; from having pillow fights to sporting matching mustaches. Thanks to you I get to stay up late, ride on a 4-wheeler, and draw Mickey Mouse's. Thanks for all you do Granddaddy! I do love you so. Love you, Luke.

Video of the Kids Eating

Here is a little video of Luke and Grace eating at their new table. You can see Grace with the ketchup...what were we thinking? No, she actually does a great job of eating this most favorite of all condiments. Luke better watch out though, she is a ketchup thief!

Eating at the Kid's Table

While at Nonna and Granddaddy's house, my Mom bought a new kid's table and set of four chairs. I recommended this one to her as I have been researching the perfect table. I wanted one that was durable and cute. Anyways, the kids looooooved it. They played and ate all their food at the table. I think it makes them feel like big kids. It was fun to watch. Here is a slide show of everyone enjoying the table.

Justin and Natalie

Of course we visited the store while we were home and much to our surprise we saw Ryan's cousin Justin there. He had his beautiful daughter Natalie with him and she was scouting out the birds and running around, a favorite of all the grandkids. We haven't seen Natalie since she was a baby, and my how she has grown up. She is Justin's mini-me; a spitting image of him. It was really good to catch up as we have not seen them in quite some time. I will be including pictures of Justin's wedding sometime. Congrats Justin, you guys look great!

This and That

Here are some good times at the Wagner house....


Mary and Grace....they love each other very much. Miss you and love you Mary!


Luke wearing Nana's slippers. He actually wore these all around the house. I guess they were comfortable.


Lisa is almost 6 months along! My gosh how time flies. She is looking bea-u-tiful.


Caroline and Luke eating lunch. Oh, and look....it's McDonald's. I guess the saying goes...."What happens at Nonna's stays at Nonna's."

Wagon Ride

All the kids took a ride in Luke's wagon. I think it's funny they all pile in there together, but they love each other and for that I am grateful. We miss you cousin Caroline!

Homemade Pasta with Nana and Nonna

One of my favorite childhood memories is visiting my Nana and making homemade pasta with meatballs. Well, technically I just watched Nana make the pasta, but I can still distinctly remember watching her kneed the dough and roll up each ball in her delicate hands. The aroma of her finely tuned sauce made from scratch and memory triggers something in my soul and fills me with warmth.

Naturally, whenever I think of home, I think of Nana's cooking. Even though I may not always get Nana's pasta, as she lives in a different state, my mom has perfected her own version of this most wonderful of meals. So when we traveled home I was more than overjoyed because Nana is visiting TX, and thus, I get a double dose of pure Heaven. It brings a tear to my eye and a smile to my face just thinking about sitting at my parents table and watching both my Mom and Nana making pasta together. I joined in by rolling a few meatballs and taking a few pictures.

Later that evening, we were blessed to sit down together and enjoy some handcrafted perfection. It is these little moments I will remember forever. Wow, I am going to miss Nana when she goes back home. We love you Nonna and Nana!

My Sweet Ryan

Of course, I did get a picture of Ryan and myself on this trip. Words cannot describe what this one means to me. He is so good to me and I thank God for every day I get to spend with him. Thanks Ryan for all you do; not only for me, but for your family, friends, and country.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day

Today is National POW/MIA Recognition Day. God Bless the troops!

I copied this from whitehouse.gov:

National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2007
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

America has been blessed by the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who have answered the call to defend our country and protect liberty around the world. On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we honor a special group of patriots: those who have been prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action. We remain forever in their debt, and we renew our commitment to them and to their families never to rest until we have accounted for every missing service member.

To commemorate this day, the National League of Families POW/MIA flag is flown over the White House, the Capitol, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the World War II Memorial, and other locations across our country. This flag is an enduring symbol that reflects our solemn commitment to our courageous service members who have been imprisoned while serving in conflicts around the world and to those who remain missing. America will always remember these heroes, and we underscore our pledge to achieve the fullest possible accounting for every missing member of our Armed Forces.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Friday, September 21, 2007, as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. I call upon the people of the United States to join me in honoring and remembering all former American prisoners of war and those missing in action who valiantly served our great country. I also call upon Federal, State, and local government officials and private organizations to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Remembering a Friend

On September 11th, tragedy struck our small Army family once again. A brave pilot and a friend of Ryan's, died tragically when his helicopter crashed. Cpt. Scott Shimp should be a reminder to all of us that these courageous men and women are doing dangerous jobs in order to ensure our freedom. Please take a moment and pray for Scott and his family, as well as all soldiers serving in our armed forces. Let this remind us of all the solders working and fighting for some of the things we might take for granted. God Bless Capt. Scott Shimp, Warrant Officer David M. Stanley, and Sgt. Jeffrey Scott Angel, who lost their lives on this tragic day.

I wanted to add this short article about these heroic men:

The U.S. Military has identified three Fort Campbell soldiers who died when their Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Jackson County, Alabama on Tuesday night.

The Soldiers were all assigned to Company C, 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

Capt. Scott N. Shimp, 28, of Bayard, Nebraska was a Blackhawk pilot, and the company commander. He joined the Army in June 2002 and arrived at Fort Campbell in May 2007. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Aviator badge and the parachutist's badge.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 David M. Stanley, 33, was from Fort Rucker, Alabama. Stanley joined the Army in November 2000 and arrived at Fort Campbell in November 2003. His awards and decorations include the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon.

Sgt. Jeffrey Scott Angel II, 24, a Blackhawk helicopter repairer from Gauley Bridge, West Va., joined the Army in November 2002 and arrived at Fort Campbell May 2003. His awards and decorations include the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Army Aviator badge.

The three Soldiers were traveling in a helicopter that went down at approximately 7 p.m. near Skyline, Ala., in Jackson County, on September 11. They were flying from Fort Campbell to Chattanooga Municipal Airport in Chattanooga at the time of the crash. The accident is under investigation.

A memorial ceremony will be held Sept. 17 at 10 a.m. at the Fort Campbell Passenger Processing Center.

Taken from WHNT-TV19, Huntsville, AL, web site

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” Joseph Campbell

I See a Baby

A few more pictures of Grace enjoying Baby Bryant and one of Amanda and myself.

Playing with Mimi

My children learn so many new things with Mimi. She fixes them up, kisses, hugs, admires, watches, plays, and teaches them all kinds of little pearls. When they go see Mimi, they get to play with their Daddy's toys he played with as a child. They create projects that their Mommy will keep forever. Grace and Luke adore Mimi and the time they get to spend with her is priceless. There is no better love than the love of a Mimi and there is no other Mimi who is better to my children.









"Just about the time a woman thinks her work is done, she becomes a grandmother."
-- Edward H. Dreschnack

Video of Grace with Grandpa

Grandpa and Grace

More good times turn into great memories at the Nesrsta House. My kids are very dramatic; a personality trait I relish and loathe at times. However, on this trip I most definitely favored my children's dramatic flare, especially when it came to interacting with their grandparents. I just happened to capture a rare moment between Grandpa Nesrsta and Gracie.

After a fantastic there-are-no-words-to-describe-it Gringo's Mexican dinner, some of us sat down for those scrumptious brownies and ice cream. There was one person who loved them the best and her name is Gracie. Grandpa generously fed her the most perfectly symmetrical spoonful of brownie and ice cream duo that any toddler has ever seen. Grace, ever the ice cream/chocolate eating half-pint she is devoured each bite with precision and accuracy. As you can see by the pictures and video, there could not have been a more eager participant.

Thanks Grandpa for making Grace's dreams come true. We love you!











"The reason grandchildren and grandparents get along so well is that they have a common enemy." ~Sam Levenson

Precious Boys

Oh, be still my heart. These pictures brings tears to my eyes. My sweet, precious Luke just loves his new cousin. Of course, he has already had lots of practice with his little baby sister Grace and younger cousin Caroline. But, THIS is priceless. I have pictures and video of Luke holding tiny Bryant and singing him "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." He is trying to put him to sleep and gently patting him. My son is the sweetest bundle of joy and while he may pull my strings occasionally, he really is the most benevolent boy I know. Ok, I am going to stop writing now because I think I could go on forever...







"Only those who look with the eyes of children can lose themselves in the object of their wonder."
-Eberhard Arnold

Video of Luke Singing to Bryant

It's a girl!

Congratulations to Sandra and Jason! They had a beautiful baby girl named Isabella on Aug. 30th. You can check out their blog listed as 'the burk's' under my links. Congratulations guys! She is precious.


The Burkinators.


Isabella girl.

M & M

Uncle Mike and Aunt Michelle, the proud new parents! I love this picture of them and they seem so happy. They have a cute little addition to their family and many wonderful moments to come. Congrats!



"Having a child is surely the most beautifully irrational act that two people in love can commit."
-- Bill Cosby

Uncle Eric and Aunt Amy

I thought this was a good picture of them. These newlyweds have some great things ahead of them.


Aunt Amy reading to Luke.

Uncle Chris!

Uncle Chris is so much fun! Luke loves Uncle Chris for many reasons, but the best reason is that they play video games together, which gives me a chance to socialize a little bit. I may regret it when I get home because all I hear is, "Mommy, can we play video games like Uncle Chris?" But, overall, the time they spend together makes it all worth while. They are two peas in a pod, those two. You might notice there are no pictures of Chris with the kids, well, this is because he was too busy playing video games with Luke. I guess I was busy hogging Bryant that I did not get a picture of it. Next time, I will be sure to snap some pics. Thanks Chris, for all you do!


"Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family." ~Anthony Brandt

Uncle Brandon!

As you can see, there are a lot of Uncles and Aunts to go around. We love it! The kids have so much fun hanging out with them. Since I took so many pictures I thought I would showcase each of them. Here are a few shots with Uncle Brandon.


Helping Grace into her high chair.


With Luke, who is eating a doughnut.

"When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses." ~Joyce Brothers

Uncle Eric!

Uncle Eric, you are too much fun! In fact, in these pictures, I am not sure who is having more fun. Luke always has a great time with Uncle Eric. My kids truly love being around family.







"To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there." ~Barbara Bush

Making Brownies with Aunt Amanda

While visiting family, Luke decided to help his Aunt Amanda make some brownies. I am sure she did not need the help, but it looked like a lot of fun to make them together. And the brownies were delicious, mmmmmmm...


Stir it up together...


Let me try Aunt Amanda!


Ah, a work of art. Grace's eyes are closed in this picture, but it is still cute.

"Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts." ~Author Unknown

Baby Bryant

There are a lot of pictures of precious baby Bryant. After looking at all the pictures we had taken over the course of the trip, Ryan joked that there were too many pictures of me and the baby. I am a little bit of a baby hog! Ryan just kept reminding me not to get any ideas because we have enough on our plate. He did not have to remind me. I am quite aware of the rigors of taking care of two small children under the age of four. Exhausting as it may be, I couldn't help but be excited for Mike and Michelle as they have a wonderful journey ahead of them. Everyone looked great and happy. Get ready, there are a lot of pictures...


One of the pictures of me with baby Bryant.


Uncle Ryan with Bryant Edwin. He just looks so good with a little baby.


Mimi telling Luke about the baby.


Grace was mesmerized as well. Mimi showed her how to be gentle with the little baby, just like one of her babies.


Luke looooooved Bryant. He was asking to hold him and kiss his little head all the time. He is really excited to have a new boy cousin. Here is a picture of Ryan telling Luke to be gentle with the baby. Luke was so good, he just kept rubbing the baby's head softly.


Luke giving Bryant a kiss.


Grace coming back for more.


Grace patting Bryant here, but at one point I think she actually slapped his head. She realized fast that this was an actual baby and not one of her plastic baby dolls. We all had some good talks with her about it. After that, she was just kissing and petting gently like her big brother.


Surprise! Another of me with the baby. I just love the babies.


...and Ryan with Bryant. This little baby has a lot of love already. We are a big family with a lot of love to give.

Breakfast at Noon

Since we had to get up so early and travel, our schedule was a little messed up. By the time we finally had a chance to sit down and eat, it was close to noon. The kids had pancakes with syrup, which they promptly smeared all over Ryan. Hook em Horns Grace!


Grace couldn't sit still. Who could blame her after that long car ride?!


Yummy food!


Grace enjoying her breakfast.


Grace wiping some syrup on Daddy.

and Automobiles

I know I am kind of going through our trip backwards, but there is just too much information to include. I have only given you brief summaries of this jam packed mini vacation as to not bore some of you to death. Let me guide you back to the beginning of our trip. Well, it all started with a 4 hour drive to Atlanta. Why so far, you ask? Well, that's because we live out in the middle of nowhere and so airports are not in demand. Sure, you can fly out of Dothan, but then you still have to change planes and it also cost an extra $200 per ticket! Then, the next closest airport is in Montgomery. The Montgomery Airport is much like Dothan. So, that leaves you with Georgia or Florida, thus causing you to travel a very long distance. The kids did great though. I think they were excited to be traveling anywhere frankly. I thought since I was giving you a rough summary of the entire trip that I would include the car trip as well.


The Park 'n Fly bus ride.


Luke passed out. We had to get up at 4 am to start this trip, so about two hours into it, Luke and Grace finally took a cat nap. It wasn't long enough though if you ask me.

Trains

There was a lot of traveling involved on this trip. Our flight departed out of the Atlanta Airport and if you have ever flown in or out of that airport than you know it's huge. It is so big in fact that we had to take the terminal train all around the airport to get to our destinations. Everyone kept smiling at the kids because of the expressions on their faces. Also, the tram accelerates and comes to a halt very suddenly, so the kids were gripping so tightly that they had white knuckles. Needless to say, they were in awe of traveling on the train. They were frozen in amazement and holding on tight. It was a joyful experience for us to share in their excitement with so many new things happening to them.

Video of Kids Flying

I know it is against the rules to have electronic equipment on while the plane is taking off, but being the rebel that I am, I decided to record the kids anyways. It is a little long, but it was worth documenting.

Planes

For those of you who don't know, we took a little trip home to Texas this past week. Ryan was tired of not seeing new "firsts" like the birth of his new nephew because he has been gone so much. The kids were really excited to see everyone too. It was a very fun trip and a much needed mini vacation. I took tons of pictures and video to share with everyone. I even maxed out my memory card; not a surprise to anyone who knows my obsession with pictures. I hope you enjoy...


Luke looking at all the big jets through the window. He was pretty amazed and in awe of all the commotion.


Ryan entertaining Grace before the flight. Grace kept tapping at the window and saying, "Whoa" to all the airplanes.


The kids getting ready for take off. Luke had his own seat while Grace sat on Ryan's lap. We brought new books and new games/toys for the kids to keep their interest. We also let Luke have some coke with his pretzels, a rare treat. Not only was he closer to Heaven in the plane, he was also in kid Heaven with all the new treats!


There was a lot of static, as evident by Grace's hair on the plane.


Luke playing his game boy. The kids were actually really great. There was a tinge of anxiety and stress involved with traveling with two small children. Ryan and I were worried about how the kids would react to flying. It was Gracie's first plane ride and only Luke's second. Surprisingly for us, the kids loved it. They were quiet and respectful. The flight attendant even commented on how well they were doing. She said she was prepared to intervene if things went south. Luckily, we didn't need any help or alcohol (wink, wink) to get us through the trip. We just might "leave on a jet plane" again!

The Three Amigos

I have many more pictures to come from our mini vacation, but here is one my sister Lisa gave to me of the 3 kids. It was taken a while ago, but it still just cracks me up. I am lucky for many reasons, but truly lucky to have cousins that love each other and enjoy being together. There will be a lot more good times now that there is another addition to the family. We took lots of pictures of Baby Bryant. It was so much fun.

Remembering 9/11

"War has been waged against us by stealth and deceit and murder. This nation is peaceful, but fierce when stirred to anger. This conflict was begun on the timing and terms of others. It will end in a way, and at an hour, of our choosing."
--George W. Bush, Speech at National Cathedral, September 14, 2001



Today is a day of remembrance, a day for which silent prayers are abundant and sighs of sadness are extended. It also personally fills me with a sense of pride knowing our soldiers are still fighting for our freedom everyday. I hope we all hold our loved ones a little tighter as we are blessed with the gift of life and freedom. God Bless everyone.





"You can be sure that the American spirit will prevail over this tragedy."
--Colin Powell

Out of Town

Sorry guys....should have posted this earlier, but we are in Houston. We will be back soon. Take care everyone!

Grace's Bow

Check out Grace's new bow. My friend Laura made it for her and I think she looks so cute. You can check out her other bows if you click under the sweet bowtique link. Thanks Laura!

More good times...

...at the Nesrsta House! Here are some pictures we took over the weekend.








This is a car for sale that Ryan and I always see on our way to Dothan. We just had to stop and check it out. And, of course, I had to get a picture of it with Ryan. It is truly a beautiful car.

My Pants are too Big!

After the laundry was folded, Luke picked up a pair of Ryan's shorts and started parading around the house in them. He also put on his favorite Spider man pajama top over his other shirt. It was too funny to watch him.

Luke's Certificate

Luke received a certificate for recognizing all 26 letters of the alphabet!! We are so proud! I know my son, who is starving for education, is happy as well.

Lunch with Old Friends

We had a Labor Day Lunch today with one of Ryan's college classmates and his wife. Aaron and Katey Sherbondy are two of the coolest cats I know. It was so nice to catch up with them and they look so great. Katey is pregnant also and I must say that it is illegal to look so good with child. We hope to meet up again soon.

Katey is also a photographer. You should check out her website because she is amazing. She does landscapes, wedding, fine art portraits, matting and framing. Her website is www.frontporchphotography.net.

Labor Day

Happy Labor Day Everyone...Ahhhh September. I love September because it marks the beginning of Fall and this means:

--cooler air....eventually
--fall leaves
--my second favorite holiday Halloween
--and.....FOOTBALL!!! Yessssss. Ryan and Luke have already been enjoying football. There is absolutely no one out on the streets. It's a ghost town. Everyone is inside watching football. I am officially in a great mood!

Lisa is having....

a BOY!!! My sister Lisa is pregnant with a boy! We are super excited because we know they really wanted one. Congratulations Lisa and Dennis. May Baby Boy Woods be happy and healthy. We love you guys!

Crazy Month

Last month was a crazy month. Let's just sum it up:

--Baby Bryant was Born
--The kids have been sick....the entire month
--My best friend Melissa had her car broken into
--Brandon hurt his hand
--My husband on casual duty for a week UGH!

My Gosh, my eyes hurt just reading them. Baby Bryant being born makes up for all of them though. Let's hope September is just as productive!


These are words my family lived by this past month! Hahaha

JP is Engaged!

I can't believe it! My friend since high school, JP, is engaged to a wonderful girl named Silvana. They have been engaged for a couple of months, but I wanted to make sure they told everyone. Congratulations you wild and crazy kids! We love you!