Friends, Friends, and more Friends!

So I am ridiculously behind in my blogging ventures.  I'm still catching up from our trip to the States which we have been home for over a month!  To my defense, uploading pictures to facebook or my blog is daunting unless it's only 1 picture at a time.  Our internet works but that's about it, uploading or streaming takes forever, so to upload blog pictures takes much effort and time...both I have been lacking lately :)  So even though these next couple of post are late,  I definitely need to document these sweet times and people in our lives!

We met this group of friends through church when we first moved to Colorado and have been friends ever since.  The more kids we all have, the less we see each other, but it's always so fun to get together when we do!  We miss them all so much and were so thankful to get to see everyone when we were home even for just an afternoon!

Seriously, some of Gentry's favorite people!  Tink and Bode!!  

This was the first time we spent time with Bode that he got to participate with the older kids, and G loved this little sword swinging guy!

G teaching Tink to jump of the wall to the pool...way to be a good example buddy!

The epitmy of peer pressure, stand strong Tink!

Shamu proved to be an essential participant in the pool.

The boys planning their attack!

My dear friend Kenz and her cute baby boy who looks like he belongs in our family :)  We will take him anytime!

They played for hours!

G loved being the big kid and pulling Tink and Bode around :)

More driving around the pool

All aboard!

I love their sweet smiles :)

Bode hung with the older kids all day.

Ethan is getting so big!!

Analucia!

Look at those cute kids!

Flying babies, swimming Shamu's, and lot's of cute kiddos!

Even Nemo came to hang out!

1...2...3  Jump!

Mason enjoying some treats!

Mason enjoying more snacks...in the pool!

Practicing the back stroke.

Hopefully Eric doesn't see all these pictures of kids eating snacks in his pool...

Top view

The party moved inside to play with legos.

Of course we always joke that these two will get married, but even if they don't they really are such sweet friends and G loves his little Tink!

When we all started hanging out, G was the only kid and had just turned 1!

Bode's sweet face after he gave us all a scare in the pool!

Towards the end of our pool time Mr. Bodes decided to take a jump in the pool with his hooded towel.  Of course his momma jumped in to get him right away.  When she brought him up out of the water his towel was over his face and it made me so nervous I ended up jumping in the pool after her.  This all happened in the span of about 3 seconds, so I'm not exactly sure that Kenz needed me, but it was one of those spolit second mom urges and I just reacted.  I'm pretty sure I must have looked like a Saturday Night Live skit character frantically jumping in the water and flailing around, acting as if I'm helping when in reality I was just over reacting, but regardless it satisfied the mom panic urge in me.  Kenz and everyone there were really gracious and acted as if I actually helped, but I'm well aware that it was probably really funny to watch me sprint by the pool and jump in with clothes on attempting to save a little one that was already being saved :)  Thanks for being good friends, and not laughing to my face guys :)

We were so excited Bode was okay!

But don't let it happen again Mister B!

Rachel, Mackenzie, me, and Brianne!  Courtney already left so she missed the photo op!

Then the party moved to the park.

Making devious plans :)

Sisters

I don't know what Cameron told her, but I think it hurt her feelings, look at that lip!

Baseball with Gramps

Gentry and his Minions :)

Adult conversations!

Then it was time to build tents in the living room!

Again, Gentry ordering his Minions around!  (Seriously guys I'm so sorry if he was bossing the kids around!)

Intense sword fighting spontaneously busted out :)

After spending time with Bode, Gentry told us he really wanted a little brother, and in fact he thought we should probably adopt Bode to be in our family cause "he's a good little guy".  If you know my son, you know how much he DOESN'T want any sibilings so that's saying something!

Chaos with kids!

Cute Mikayla :)

There's nothing like a good fort in the living room!

Mason building some train tracks.

If we did adopt Bode, he certainly looks like he could be G's little brother!

Saying good bye to his favorite "girlfriend, but not like a marry girlfriend, just a friend and she's a girl" Tink :)

Celebrating 10 years of a Love Story

Today marks 10 years that Jeff and I have been married!  It's crazy that 10 years has passed since I stood as a teenager and said "I do" to Jeffrey.  I feel like it's one of those things that should make me feel old but in reality I just feel so blessed and thankful that we get to celebrate such a sweet day together.  

Much has happened in our 10 years.  Our young love has withstood through 2 deployments, a surprise baby, 2 undergrad degrees, 1 graduate degree, numerous less than ideal jobs, couple of start up businesses, both finding our passion and dream jobs, 4 houses, 2 states, 2 countries, 2 miscarriages, the hoping and discouragement of waiting for another baby, the laughter in times of happiness, and the flowing tears in the midst of pain.  We have both made huge mistakes while hurting the other deeply, and both loved beyond our capacity at times for the good of the other.  All the elements of a great love story are weaved into the last 10 years of life together.  

When we were in NM we took a night and drove up to Ruidoso which is the town we got married in.  It's not a place we go to often especially since we moved to Colorado and then Costa Rica, so when we do get to go it's a special treat to stop by the magical little hacienda that we got married at.  Being the ever hopeless romantic that I am, we had to stop for a quick photo op and reminisce about the day our love story all started.  It was sweet to be there especially knowing how close our 10 year anniversary was.  

Off highway 70 on a dirt road in San Patricia New Mexico,

you will find a bridge

that leads you farther away from the noise of the world,

to a quiet hacienda nestled at the base of the rolling hills,

and to a doorway that was the beginning of an epic love story.

It was 10 years ago to the day that a young 19 year old girl stared down at this white gazebo thinking she knew what love was.

She walked down this stone overgrown path, arm in arm with her dad

thinking "life can't get any better this"

to meet her prince charming who was tearfully waiting to take her hand.

In the ten years that have passed, much has changed.  The ear to ear smiles that radiated that overcast Saturday in 2003 from these two, is now replaced with a settle comfortable smile that suggest the excitement of young love has evolved into a steady, unwavering love.

Their big plans to change the world and everyone in it, have matured into faith that God has them exactly where He wants them.  

Their ideas about what life is all about, have changed, as they added a son to their family, as they wait and hope for more kids, as they engage in adventures as a family, and as their heart is burdened more and more for other's to know and experience God's unfailing love.

Though they have been tempted and pushed to their limits, they have never let go of the young love that began on a rainy night 10 years ago.  While they would both say it was definitely one of the best days of their lives, they would also both agree that they are looking forward to seeing where the next 10 years takes them, because this has certainly been a worthy love story.

 Happy 10 year Anniversary Jeffrey.  I love you more than the day I said I do and we danced in the rain.

The rest of our night away consisted of Jeff working (good thing I have been working on setting realistic expecations over the last 10 years) cause our trip back to the States fell during a time when Jeff was in the middle of numerous projects.  I did manage to pull him away from the computer for some quality time together and it was great even if it was for one night!

Working away

Proof that he didn't work the whole time :)

We stayed at the place we spent our first night as a married couple!  

I am beyond blessed to be celebrating 10 years of marriage and couldn't imagine life without Jeffrey.  Thank you God for all the blessings you have given me especially for a loving marriage.