Forever Friends...vol. 1

There are some people in your life that are forever friends... in fact, they are more than friends, they are in some ways soul mates.

These are people... that you can happily vacation with ...that even though you haven't seen them in years it's like you were just in their living room yesterday ...that you can put your kids in the tub together and it isn't weird at all ...who tell you the truth no matter how much it hurts ...who encourage you just by being around ...who pray with you, cry with you, laugh a lot with you, live life with you ...that you can always and forever just be you around and still be liked and more importantly loved! These are the people that your memories are made of.

I really want to share our Forever Friends with you! Aaron and I are very blessed to have more than one or two so here's my first installment! (these will come from time to time in no particular order... )

Jason and Stephanie Trook are Forever Friends! Jason and Aaron have a fun past behind them and I know that they have a fun future ahead as well! A and J were best friends in high school. I praise God that He gave A friends like J to grow up with during some of the hardest developmental years of life!!

Stephanie and I got lucky!! A and J freindship brought us together too! We had a few double dates in the college years and have stayed close through the distance since then. Too bad digital camera's didn't come around til later!!
We were able to spend some time with the Trook family on our way back home from Amrillo. We stopped in Lubbock for a great meal and fun catching up... Their kids Wesley and Meredith are utterly amazing! J and S are great parents! Once agin we didn't skip a beat. Even with the kids in the mix this time it was like we'd never been apart. My prayer is that our children's freindships grow to be as strong as ours. But we had been apart and it was so hard to leave again. Hopefully not for too long! We love you guys!!

Wesley sportin' a Hanna Montana Wig! Jack wasn't too sure what to think...
Wrestiling time with Uncle A... Jack had to get int he mix... he thinks he's a big kid!
Loving on mommy and daddy!
Meredith showing off her "Student of the Week" poster! (great artwork!!)

Our Forever Friends!!

Gammie's Backyard!

At Christmas Aaron's Grandmother told us that she would like to be called Gammie by the new great-grand babies. I thought it was the cutest thing ever and am trying to get it to stick!!

On Saturday we spent pretty much the whole afternoon in Gammie's backyard! The boys had a blast!! I took so many pictures that I don't quite know how to post them all... I think a few slide shows might be easier than making you all scroll through the mass of photos that I uncontollably shot! Hey if you were hanging out with these two cuties you couldn't help but fill up your card either...

Jackson

Cousins!! - Jackson and Axton

Fun With Nana, Gramps and MiMi

Playing With Mommy and Daddy

Oh the Zoo!! And 23,000 other people!

Sandi and I took the kids to the Fort Worth Zoo on Wednesday... I was so excited because I am a huge fan of the Ft Worth Zoo... Any other day it is a great place to be... BUT this day.... oh my!! This Day! I got some good pics even though it was "this day"

Friends in Orange

Jo's Gaze

Here's the secenerio... Perfect Weather, Half Price Wednesday, Spring Break, Wonderful Zoo... all this combined equals MASS CHAOS!!!! I read a news article that said 23,000 other people tried to visit the Zoo on Wednesday as well!!

On Lookers

Oh, obbee doo
I wanna be like you ooo ooo
I wanna walk like you
Talk like you...

The day started out pretty good... light trafic, great parking (close and for free because we arrived at exactly the right time!) We were at the head of the line of 23,000 other people.

Making Mountains out of Termite Hills

BUT... why is there always a but?? PJ started puking as we arrived and pretty much didn't stop for most of our visit... so not only was there a mass of 23,000 insane parents and grandparents and kids, but we had a vomiting machine that fell asleep in Jackson's stroller for a good portion of out visit... what a day! PJ is feeling much better thank goodness...

PJ's ride

I have to give props to Joelle! She was an amazing sport... at the Zoo with a hyper 1 year old, a puking brother, a distracted mom, and did I mention 23,000 other people!!

Monkey in a Cage?

Zoo Hugs

All The Animals That Jack called Bup Bups (aka Puppies):

Amarillo By Morning

So yesterday we left REI at 5:30 grabbed some grub and headed down the road to Nana and Gramps! Jack slept most of the way but I think he was excited and worke up about 30 min. before we arrived in Amarillo. We got there about Midnight and Jack had to stay up for about an hour to show off for a while before conking out!

Today has been fun hanging out with family and friends. Here's a highlight...

Taco Villa with Matt!!

Matt is one of Aaron's high school buddies... Taco Villa was one of their old stomping grounds and holds a special place in Aaron's Heart and stomach, so we met up for lunch to reminice about good times and great hot sauce!

Nana's Work!

we stopped Nana's offce to show Jack off... I don't know if you can see or not,but that wall behind Janet's desk is a collage of pictures of people that she loves... they are ALL Jack except one of Lindsey and a family pic of us (which Jack is in too)... Poor Ronnie (Gramps) didn't make the cut!! HA!

The Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile!!!

Who would have ever guessed that we would get to see such a historic grand monument in Amarillo!! I was so excited!!!!

Visit to Grandma Barker's

Jack had fun with Grandma Barker and playing with all her fun figurines. He also got an early b-day gift... Grandma made him a great John Deere blanket that he and daddy tried out.

At the Park With the Fam!

Uncle James and Aunt Lindsey met us at the park for kite flying and playgrounding!! Fun times!

Home Again Home Again Jiggity Jog

After dinner with the fam we headed home for some Wii time and desert... bath with Nana and Gramps... Long Day! Jacks all tuckered out and sleeping soundly!!