Happy Birthday Mom

Mom's birthday isn't until Sept 5th...and we won't tell her age...but we went ahead and celebrated it yesterday. It seemed like a very quick trip because we got there around 1:30 from church and then had to head back at 4:30, but it was worth it and a lot of fun. I know I say this a lot, but it really is such a blessing when my whole family can get together all at the same time. It makes holidays like these seem so much more enjoyable. Ashleigh and Sloan obviously didn't make it, but they were there in spirit just the same. Happy 39th Birthday Mom!

(...oops, did I say that number out loud?)

I promise -- we really are not brother and sister! :) Though I will admit that we look like it!
This one is for Mom ~ she is always saying that Nathan and I look the same in every picture -- pretty sure we don't have one like this yet. :)

Rachel and "Dan the Dork"

(haha ~ that's for the tea comment, Dan!)

Grammie and Eli

Maggie serving her BEAUTIFUL cake!

Preston and Zachary

Nate and Daddy

One of my FAVORITE people on the planet, and one of my closest friends -- my grandmother, Milah

Aunt Tab and Preston...so cute!

And somehow, Grandaddy and Ben avoided the camera during the day! Better luck next time...I'll get 'em back! :)

Horrible Pics, I know...

Okay -- so I totally FRIED my camera at the fair Friday night -- yep...note to self: Enfamil and a digital camera should NEVER be put into the same bag! Oh well...live and learn, I guess.
So anyway -- it is with MUCH hesitation that I post these pics...but here goes.
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These first pics are from our trip to the Wilson County Fair. We did have a great time even if there aren't many pics to show for it! The night really did get away from us too! We got there at six and didn't leave until 11pm! I know, right? But Eli was such a champ and took it all in...he didn't cry at all and just watched all the lights and everything. It was so cute! Zachary and Nathan had a blast riding all of the rides they could. If ever a grown man can look cute on a kiddie ride at the fair -- that's my Nathan! If I can recover the pics from my camera, I'll post those at a later time -- but I have a feeling they are lost forever... :)

Obviously cell phones don't catch the "motion" very well!

And these last two pics are from Eli's 4 month check up. I know-- 4 MONTHS! CRAZY!

He got a clean bill of health...overall. He weighed 14 lbs and is 25 inches long now! Pretty good for a preemie, huh? He does have a heart murmur (as I suspected) and so we are going to follow up with a cardiologist at Vanderbilt later on. He also has pretty bad reflux and so he is now taking medicine for that...but again, that's one of those wonderful characteristics of a premature baby! Life could be a lot worse and so we are thankful for the news!

Zachary is such a WONDERFUL big brother. He said the sweetest thing the other day, and I quote:

Zachary: "Mommy, do you wanna know what I think?"

Me: "Sure - what are you thinking buddy?"

~~ insert long pause as he is really trying to think this through... ~~

Zachary: "I think that I love Eli just a little bit more than I love Petey."

Okay y'all -- if you don't know who Petey is...scroll back through all the pics of Zachary every posted. Petey is the "used to be blue" now grey dog that goes with Zachary everywhere. I mean, this dog is seriously his best friend and he has had him since the day he was born...seriously! So cute... All I could think is "Eli, son you have no idea how much you are loved!!"

Vacation Pics...Finally!

So one of the great joys of living out in the country with a little land is that we don't get anything but dial-up Internet!! Yeah, I know right?? So uploading vacation pics has been a nightmare! But needless to say -- they are finally ready! I didn't comment on what all the photos are about -- because they are pretty self explanatory! We had a fun filled week with campfires, a trip to Mackinaw Island, family fun, beach time and trips to town! Anyway -- vacation was great but we are also glad to be home again. Here they are...

Make a Smilebox slideshow

"Take Me Out to the Ball Game"

On the 4th of July, we all had tickets to go to the Sounds game for fun and fireworks. But, it rained us out! :( So, Saturday night we all headed downtown again. It was Faith Night and so there was a concert -- but most of us only made it for the game. We had so much fun -- the usual: funnel cakes, "hot-cot candy" as Zachary calls it, ice cream -- you know, the usual junk food that tastes SO GREAT at a ball game! Everyone made it back too - except for Ashleigh and Sloan (we missed y'all!) and so the evening was great. Plus -- we actually got to see the FIREWORKS! And if you know me, you know that a good fireworks show is one of my favorite things...I mean, it is right up there next to banana bread and starting IVs! :) Anyway - he are some pics from the evening and a video of the GRAND FINALE!! Oh - the Sounds won too!
Zachary, Peepaw, Ben and Preston
Brandon and his little brother, Dillon
Maggie & Mom

Preston

"Holla"

Nate & Lyn

Rachel and her new guy - Dan

Cousins - they really do love each other!

We also ran into some old friends of ours, Brian and Sara Walker -- along with their two little ones Camden and Scott. It was good to catch up with them too!

And here's the video -- it was such a great show!

Big Man on Campus...

Well, Zachary started preschool again this week...sniff, sniff. :) No, we actually did okay -- much better than last year! But with that said, I am DREADING next year when kindergarten starts...okay, gotta stop thinking about that! Needless to say - he is loving it! And in his words, "Mommy, it's GREAT!"

He's in the 4-year-old class this year -- and there 24 kids in his class! (Don't worry, there are three teachers too!) You can keep up with his preschool adventures through their blog... Little Lights Stars.

As for me -- I'm hanging in there. I miss having my little man here with me. But I am trying to use the free days to focus more on Eli, getting the house ready to go on the market and trying to catch up with my scrapbooks -- and so that is working out pretty good. Anyway -- here are some pics from the day!

7 Years & Counting....

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!

Yesterday was our 7th Anniversary! Man, I can't believe it's been that long! We didn't get to go on our date last night -- so no pics of that...but we will be heading out to celebrate soon...so I'll post more then! But here are some pics just the same...

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The first day we met:

"Hey, I'm Nathan. So you must be the Lindsey that I've heard so much about..."

August 10, 2002 ~ "I Do" August 2009 ~ "I still do!" :)

Update on the boys...

Updates...updates...updates!
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The family.... We are doing great -- still getting used to being a family of four, but we are totally enjoying the process! Now that we are home again -- the house is going on the market and the building process is about to begin! I'll post pics of the new house soon -- but we are very excited about it all!
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Zachary... Big man on campus! He started preschool today actually -- yes, those pics will be posted soon! He is super excited about life -- and he still loves everything and everyone. He is so sweet too...he is always saying, "Mommy -- I love ____, she/he is my best friend!" Fill in the blank with whoever -- even if he just met you! He is probably going to be playing some type of fall ball, but we haven't decided what just yet. Right now -- we are just taking life one day at a time! He loves being "big brother" and now that Eli is laughing a lot, he is eating it all up! Anyway - here is our little man...

Eli -- Hmm, where to start? :) Eli is growing like a weed -- he has his four month check-up in a couple of weeks, so I'll update more on him then. He is sleeping all the way through the night now -- 10 to 14 hours at a time! He eats like a Barnes, and is eating us out of house and home! He loves to laugh and he is now recognizing familiar faces -- which we all love! I am just now trying to introduce baby food to him...yes, I know it is two weeks early but y'all -- formula just ain't cutting it for him! He still cries a lot -- which we are working on. And he loves to be held -- ALL THE TIME! (Thanks Grammie!) :) And so here is our other little man...

And here are the Barnes boys together...

Ashleigh & Sloan

On July 24th, we headed back up to Lighthouse Christian Camp for an appreciation dinner for Ashleigh and Sloan. Incase you don't know, Lighthouse is a christian camp for disadvantaged/abused children. Sloan helped his father, Ben Chapman, get it started way back in 1981 and has stayed there ever since! He has helped the camp grow and build into two camps, a Widow's home and an Orphanage. Ashleigh and I started coming around back in 1997 and then worked there on staff starting in summer 2000. (Plus, this is where Nathan and I met in December of 1999! But that's another story...)

Ashleigh and Sloan have worked together at the camp their entire marriage, from 2001 to now. But now Ashleigh has been accepted to law school in Virginia Beach, VA and so they have moved! :( They will be there for 3 years while Ashleigh is in school -- and then, who knows where the Lord will lead them next! We are so proud of them both and so excited for the new opportunities that lie ahead for them...but we are also very saddened to see them go. Anyway - before I get teary eyed -- here are the pics from the night's activities!
Scenic shots from the camp -- thanks to Jeanie!

Other shots from the night!