Guess Who {actually} Won...

You got it...(or maybe you didn't) The Cardinals!! My mom, dad, Jason, Colin, and I went to the game today! It started at 12:40 and the weather was absolutely gorgeous! None of the starters were playing which is kind of a bummer but they actually won so I don't know what that says about the starters! Colin was really good. He found little Ryan's Woody doll from Toy Story this morning so he had to accompany us! He also spent about half the game flirting with some teenage girls behind us. He kept smiling and waving at them. They were loving it!

Chris Carpenter

Mom and Dad

Colin and Woody "taking a nap"...we tried to let him lay his head on the bag with snacks but he refused!

Colin found the Ipod in my purse and was putting the headphones in Woody's ears!

Me and the Jasoni!!!

WELCOME HOME JASON!!!!!!!

He's home!!! It's been an awesome day! I've been excited and a little nervous throughout the day! There were time I would think about how long we had until Jason would walk off that airplane and get teary-eyed with anticipation!

I got done with school at 4 and the plan was that mom and dad (and Colin)were going to go pick little Ryan up from football practice and then come get me from my house. Ryan was going to meet us over there from work and Colin and I would ride back to my parents house with him after the airport festivities. I could hardly wait for mom and dad to get to my house! I was sitting in front of the window so I could go outside as soon as they got here.

We got to the airport and got all set up. We had a banner, the video camera on tripod (since Josh and Rachel are away at school Rachel requested it be videotaped--Ryan was the camera man), and balloons. Jason had sent Colin some kind of Vietnamese clothing (I call it a kimono, Jason called it something in Viet I couldn't understand!) while on his mission so I brought that for Colin to wear. It was so cute.





His plane was supposed to get in at 6:20 and was a little late. He landed at 6:32. My grandma and grandpa and Aunt Kim and cousins Courtney and Katie also came to the airport. As it got closer to his landing time I called Josh so he could hear and mom called Rachel. I saw him through the window walking towards us--he was still far away though. Of course I was crying immediately. Little Ryan and Aunt Kim also saw him. I was giving Josh the play by play. Jason was walking towards us, and all of the sudden "he went into the bathroom". Dad's like "Couldn't he have done that on the plane?" They still hadn't seen him yet. As soon as he came out he rounded a corner and then I saw his reflection in the tunnel! It was surreal!-- It felt like slow-mo! After giving him a hug and crying some more, I gave him my phone so Josh could talk to him.






We all (sans Courtney and Katie) went back to mom and dads afterwards and had some food and got to visit. Uncle Brent met us over there and so did our friends, the Kibbys. I'm so glad he's home! We've been looking forward to this for quite some time! I don't think it feels like it's been 2 years, but on the other hand there were times when it felt like it took FOREVER--probably the last 6 months since it was so close but so far away!

Colin was excited to see Jason! He's been talking about it for a couple days. When we parked at the airport he was like "get me out of this seat. I need to go see Jason get off the airplane. Get me out of this seat!" It was so funny! He is definitely excited to have another Uncle back home with him!!

Welcome Home Jason! We are so proud of you and WE LOVE YOU!!!!!

This and That

I'm excited to blog tonight because I feel like I need a little break from reality! I AM READY FOR CHRISTMAS!! Not only because I truly think it is the most wonderful time of the year, but because it means my semester will be over! Call it senioritis if you'd like. I call it: sick of studying!! I still love it but I am sick of having numerous tests per week! It will be so nice to finish the semester, enjoy the holidays, and go out on clinicals without having to worry about studying and tests and more studying and more tests!

Anyway, enough of that! Yesterday my cousins little boy was christened. We weren't able to go to their church for it because I had to teach at our church during, but we did go over to their house afterwards for lunch! It was lots of fun to see everyone and Colin loved playing foosball with daddy! He was so funny. As we were dishing up our food he saw the cake sitting out and wanted it but we told him he needed to eat his lunch first. He ate, went and played for a little bit, then came upstairs and said "I want cake!" Ryan was like "If I said it it'd be rude but since Colin said it it was cute."

When we were taking these pictures with Nolan my cousin Nate was like "You guys look like a family"--I thought it was funny!




*Side note* I am sick of our camera and the blurry pictures that it takes. I want to get a new one for Christmas. Anyone have a camera out there that you absolutely love? I want suggestions and I want to research to make sure we get a good one- so hopefully come December 25 we'll have some decent pictures on this thing!

Also...Colin's goodnight song tonight was "I'm so glad when Jason comes home!" We are on the downslope, folks!! Less than 21 hours and he will be here! The banner's made, the balloons are bought! I CAN'T WAIT to go to the airport tomorrow!!! I better remember to wear my waterproof mascara! (I think tomorrow's gonna be a looonngg day at school!)

Pics

I wanted to add some pics so we took some while we were playing outside after dinner tonight--until the bugs came out and bit me a million times, then it was time to go inside! For some reason Colin kept putting the golf clubs up to his eyeballs!





And for those of you who look forward to the countdown, 6 more days until Jason gets home!!!

Here's the Deal

I don't have any pictures. Lame, I know! And I really don't have anything to post. But I felt like doing it so I am! I got what might possibly be my last email from Jason while on his mission today. He informed me that he will be home in LESS THAN 200 HOURS!!!! I cannot wait!

As far as everything else goes, we're just chugging along! Colin continues to be hilarious! On Saturday we were at Kohl's and Ryan and I split up. I had Colin with me. When we were finished looking at our stuff we headed back to the men's section to find Ryan. Colin had himself a little tantrum because he didn't want to ride in the cart anymore. I got him out as I was trying to call Ryan because we didn't see him. I was a little exhasperated and exclaimed "where is your freaking dad?" A minute later we saw him walking in another direction and Colin goes "there's my freaking dad!" It was so funny!

I can't think of anything else right now. I'll try to get some pictures this week--and if I don't I'll definitely have some next Tuesday night!!!!

Monkeys and Airshows

When we got up this morning Colin was singing the Five Little Monkeys song. I thought it would be fun to make some finger puppets for him! So I drew the monkeys and he colored them and helped glue! It was lots of fun!



This afternoon we went to the Airshow put on by the Air Force. It took forever to find a parking spot and walk over but I'd say it was worth it! We probably weren't as prepared as we should have been. About halfway through our walk over we decided we should have used the stroller (it was in the trunk but we didn't get it out!)--Colin's pretty heavy! Then, once we were in there we decided we should have brought cash because we were dying of thirst!! We tried to use the ATM but it was broken and I ended up just waiting in line for nothing!


Colin liked to see the planes. I think the really loud ones scared him a little bit! It was so cute when he covered his ears while they were flying! At one point when I was waiting in line for the ATM he told Ryan "let's go in the hangar and get away from the airplanes!"

Our friend, Mike, flies the C-21's. He was standing over by them and Colin got to get in and check it out!




P.S. Happy Anniversary to my parents!! They've been married 28 years today! Thanks for everything! We love you so much!

Teens

That's right, folks...nineteen more days!!!!!!!!


(Here we are 2 years ago when Jason left!)

Photos

I decided not to be lazy tonight and go ahead and walk upstairs to get the cord to transfer the pictures from my camera to computer! So here are the final pictures from Jeannie's trip!





He loved the dump trucks!!

How Colin looked when we told him it was time to go home...pitiful!

At the second park we went to Monday

Just want to show you how HUMONGOUS Ryan's sandwich was from Lottawatta!


Once again, it was a wonderful trip and we can't wait for the next one! My mom was out of town today so my friend watched Colin while I was at school. He had so much fun and they gave him a toy to borrow when we came home. On the way home he told me that he wanted to show "Jeannie Grandma" when we got home. I explained to him that she went home on airplane and that he will see her again at Christmas time. He started to cry! So here's to hoping that Christmas comes semi-fast!

Side note: Another cute story from today- Colin was driving around his car tonight and told me that he was going to go say a prayer and then drive to church. How cute is he?!

Too Fast!

Jeannie's trip has gone by way too fast! I can't believe she's leaving tomorrow! On Saturday morning we got up and went to IHop (Ryan stayed home to mow the lawn...lame!). It was delicious! We stopped by Wal-Mart to get Colin some big boy underwear! He picked out 'Cars'. That afternoon we met my dad at the Cardinals game. The Cards lost but it was a lot of fun to be there! That night we grilled some hamburgers and just hung out!




There was a section of missionaries at the game. My dad told me to look at them and I asked him where they were. He was like "Are you serious?" Duh--they're the section with all white on! During the 2nd inning he took Colin for a walk and they went up to visit the missionaries. They weren't hard to spot--the only two red shirts in a sea of white!

Sunday was a relaxing day. We got up and went to church. When we got home we had lunch and hung out for a little bit before naptime. Everyone but me took a nap. I wanted one but thought I should study for a little bit because I've got 2 tests this week! We had a yummy dinner that night and then went to the park--which is Colin's new obsession! He threw the biggest fit when we had to leave and woke up at 7 o'clock this morning telling us he needed to go to the park!

Ryan had to work a little this morning so Jeannie and I took Colin up to the park. We bribed him to get him to leave, telling him that Grandma would buy him a truck if he left--too bad bribes won't work all the time! We went to Target to get his toys and came back to get ready to go to the zoo. Turns out Colin decided he didn't feel like going and it was getting close to nap time so we decided to just go to another park. Afterwards we went to my parents house so Colin could take his nap. My dad stayed with him while Ryan, Jeannie, and I went to Lottawatta Creek. They give you SO MUCH FOOD! It was really good though! Now we're just hanging out getting ready for Colin to go to bed!

I can't believe it's already the end of her trip! I'm so glad she was able to come hang out with us! We're already gonna start counting down until she comes back!

P.S. The potty training went okay-- On Friday night my mom and dad gave him an Elmo potty movie. Saturday morning Colin told me that "Elmo wants Colin to poop in the potty!" That's when we decided to go ahead and get him some big boy underwear! He was excited about that and wanted to wear it over his diaper! Saturday he peed in the toilet 4 times! Sunday morning his diaper was dry and he peed in the toilet. After that though, he wasn't as excited. The other times we tried to get him to sit on the toilet and try to go he'd start crying. Hopefully we got a good head start for when he really decides to potty train!

-Stay tuned for more pics from Jeannie's visit!! (I don't feel like getting the camera cord right now to upload them!)

1st Day of Jeannies Trip

We had such an awesome day today!! Ryan had to go to work so Jeannie, Colin, and I decided to go apple picking at Eckerts. It was SO MUCH FUN! A tractor pulled us in a trailer over to the apple orchard. Colin was obsessed with it! All he talked about was buying a tractor in the store after we picked our apples! Apple picking was awesome! Colin loved it! He looked so cute carrying the bag around and picking them off the trees! They told us you're not a real apple picker unless you eat one so we all had one! When we were finished the tractor pulled us back to the store and Colin got his toy tractors!






After apple picking we went to Mickey-donalds (McDonald's) for lunch. Colin ate all his food! Then we went ran to Wal-Mart to get some stuff and Colin got to drive the Mickey truck.


Tonight we went out to O'Charley's for my moms birthday dinner. {Happy Birthday Mom!} My grandparents and my aunt and uncle came! It was so good and lots of fun! Afterwards we went to my mom and dads for cake! (Rachel made it and it was delicious!)

It was such a great day! We're so glad Jeannie's here with us for the holiday weekend! I'm glad we were able to hang out with my family tonight! My mom and Rachel leave to drive out to Idaho tomorrow. It will be weird not having her here for the next few months!

If you look closely you'll notice the two clowns in the back (aka: Ryan and Brent) who are holding their knives up!




We're excited for all the fun things we're going to do during the rest of Jeannie's trip!

Counting Down

You can't see very well unless you zoom in on the picture but Jason gets home in 27 days!!!! My mom and dad got his itinerary the other day and we are SO EXCITED to see him THIS MONTH!!! yay!!

P.S. Ryan and I saw some missionaries in the airport when we were on our way to D.C. and judging by the condition of their shoes they were on their way home! I was so excited for them and couldn't help but thinking about how in a few short weeks that will be my brother! The countdown has officially begun :)