10 years ago...

10 years ago I was getting ready for the biggest day of my life. I was going to say "I do!" to the man I love. What an AMAZING 10 years!!! I knew God was blessing me with Cory, but I had no idea of the blessings in store for us!

On the big day, July 31, 1999

I remember before I met Cory, talking to God and telling Him I was done dating. I didn't want to even think about dating anyone until the man I was supposed to marry. After that I met a couple of guys but I never had that feeling or confirmation from God. Then on October 9th, 1997, I met Cory. Seriously folks, I KNEW INSTANTLY!!! It was as if God spoke directly to me, "Kara, this is the guy!" It was crazy. Like many things, it was complicated, he was shy, I had some emotional baggage to get through etc. but in the end God was right and I got one heck of a guy!

At a wedding in 2003? I think?

If I tried to blog all about the wonderful things we have experienced over the last 10 years it would probably turn into a huge run on sentence that lasted forever! So instead I will try to sum it up shortly, well not really, but you get the idea :)

Top 10 Reasons I love Cory!
In no particular order

#1- He has grown so much in his love and service to God! I knew when I married him that he was a Godly man, but we were only 21 and still somewhat immature in our faith! It has been so amazing to watch him grow with the Lord and reach out to others in so many ways. From serving in Sunday School Leadership, to FAITH evangelism, to mission trips, to now helping out LuAnn and her family, it is AWESOME to watch him serve the Lord and lead the boys and me to do the same!

#2 - Cory loves me for me and not what I should be. He loves me in spite of the baby weight, crazy hair, no make-up, etc that he sees day in and day out! He knows I am not some skinny model with a hairdresser and make up artist! I love that he doesn't care and accepts with my flaws! He loves me for what is on the inside and for how God made me!

#3 - He is one FABULOUS Dad! I knew he was going to ge a great dad but he has far exceeded most of my expectations. In college he coached kids sports and I could see his love for children, but during our struggle with infertility I learned how much he really wanted to be a father. Then once Caden arrived, Cory was such a helper during those early weeks! As we have added to our herd, he continues to help. He is such an excellent role model for them in so many ways! He loves them unconditionally! He plays with them yet disciplines them. I love how the boys adore him!

November 2005

#4 - He makes me laugh daily! Laughter is so good to have around and it certainly fills our home! My dad is a funny man, so the guy I married had some large shoes to fill...let's just say Cory is filling them out! God knew I need a funny and equally sarcastic person to match me and I got him! Cory always makes it easier to laugh at myself and the silly things I do too! Cory's humor is a huge blessing and I see it coming out in our boys too!

#5 - Cory is so stinking laid back! This is really a good thing and I am learning from it daily! His personality totally balances mine and I truly believe I have grown less uptight over the years! Every time we had a big decision, he would just take it in stride. This has a lot to do with his faith, but also his personality. At times it can drive me crazy that he isn't 100% concerned, but he just rolls with it! It makes us both better people!

#6 - Cory is always trying new things and way more spontaneous than I am! Sometimes it annoys me when he picks on the fact that I eat the same thing at every place, want to go to the same places all the time, etc but mostly I am amazed at how he loves to try new things all the time! He will eat just about anything anywhere and loves to go to new places. He doesn't enjoy structure and plans as much as I do so his life is always an adventure! This has allowed me to travel to some places I would have never gone and experience some things! My all time favorite was renting a motorcycle scooter thing in Italy and going cruising around the Island of Napoli like a couple of locals!! SO MUCH FUN!

#7 - Cory loves to learn! It has been so wonderful to watch him grow and learn in so many things. Reading isn't his favorite thing to do, but he will do it to learn. He has learned so much over the last 10 years about business, God, parenting, and copiers! He challenged himself to read a book a month several years ago and keep a record and that challenged me! It is a joy to read things and discuss them with him! It keeps my mind sharp!

In Central Park, NYC, December 2007

#8 - I totally love that Cory is into most sports and that he loves that his wife is too! The joke around here is that he has to ask me to turn off "the game". With only 1 TV in the house there is never a fight about watching a game, because it is usually on! I really enjoy being able to talk sports with him and compete in our annual March Madness Bracket challenge! It is great to have this bond...now only if I was more athletic like him :)

#9 - Cory has an amazing work ethic! He is an excellent provider for our family! Back in the day in Houston, he always put in more hours than others to get the job done! Even when he was laid off from Dynegy, he didn't just sit around until his severance ran out to get a job. He worked on interviews immediately and he even created a side business of frying turkeys. God rewarded his dilligence and he had another job before his severance pay ran out and we were never without a check! Now at SPC, he still works hard and is always thinking business!

#10 - I totally love how Cory can communicate in writing so well. Cory isn't the best verbal guy, but when he writes down how he feels...WOW he can blow you away. I have so many notes, letters, cards, etc saved from the last 10 years and they make me melt all over again! He is one sweet, smooth, talker once he writes it down!

We have had our ups and downs, but through it all we have stayed by each other's side and grown together while growing with God! I LOVE YOU so much and can't wait to see what blessings are in store during the next 10 years! Thank you for loving me!

Taken June 2009!

Cole Loves ALL Food!

I marvel daily about what Cole will eat compared to the other two picky boys and also about how much he will eat. It amazes me about how much this chunk will consume :) The other boys were good eaters until they reach this stage of table food and then they became a little more picky. Of course they are different kinds of picky, but still pretty picky. Caden is getting a little better and Carter will eat some things that we eat more than Caden, but Cole is definitely our EATER! This is such a joy finally to not have to worry about what he will eat, just how much!

Anyway, I babble on...the point of this post is to show you Cole's new love...AN APPLE! The older two boys had an apple as a snack and while Caden gnawed his to the core, Carter didn't get too much off of his. I stupidly assumed that Carter had left his in the kitchen or put it in the trash. Of course not. While I was vacuuming in the living room, I noticed Cole chewing on something. Sure enough Cole found the apple and was going to town. I think eventually he even ate more than Carter :)

The Rest of Red River

You didn't think I forgot did you? Well, you probably were wondering!!! I have been so busy since we got home. If you follow me on Facebook, you know it has been a crazy weekend.

So I didn't forget and hopefully this is just the beginning of more regular blogging!

On Tuesday of our fabulous vacation we headed down to the community center to build, paint, and race boats! It was one of the best experiences ever. The down side was that Daddy wasn't there, but Pops did all the work and built some awesome boats!

Our instructions were to get a few pieces of wood, some nails, and a hammer and get to work. Well we were a little late to get a hammer, so Pops improvised!

Carter got a little bored while waiting for his boat to be built!

Here is Caden with his finished boat.

Carter showing off his boat.

Pops and Carter with his painted boat. It was a huge ordeal for this boy to put DOWN his paintbrush. It didn't really dry before getting put in the water!

Caden with his painted boat. He named it "saily", while Carter named his "ga-ga"

They lined up the boats in groups of 8-10 and dumped them off the board into the stream and let the current carry them away. Our boys' boats are on the far right.

Caden received 2nd place in his heat and Carter won 4th! Way to go boys!

Red River Day 2

Well Monday morning started off bright and early with Cory heading out to Las Vegas, NM to work at the SPC store there for a couple of days.  About 30 minutes after he left he called to say he left his wallet in my dad's truck.  So I headed off through the mountains to meet him on the road somewhere to deliver the wallet.  Silly boy!

Once I returned, we all got ready and decided we needed to get out of the cabin.  So we headed out to shop a little.  That is right folks, 5 adults and 3 kids, 1 wheelchair, and 1 stroller.

We had fun and actually stayed out for about 2 1/2 hours.  We shopped, played at the park and ate lunch!  Then the real fun began!  Cory was not here as I mentioned, so if anyone wanted to go 4-wheeling that meant I would have to drive the razor.  There was no way I was driving the 4-wheeler, but I thought surely I could handle the razor.  

This is why I LOVE being a mom of boys...I had so much fun driving them around in the razor!  Caden and I took the razor 1st up to Goose Lake with Gigi and Pops on the 4-wheeler.  Mom had a blast, not sure she wants to do it again, but she had fun.  I think I made her nervous driving around with her grandson!

Gigi and Caden getting ready to ride.

Momma and Caden ready to roll out!

Caden had so much fun!  I didn't drive fast enough for him and it rained on us quite a bit but it was gorgeous!  Then we decided to take Carter up on the Greenie Peak trail.  Just for a bit on the straight, smooth part.  He had a blast.  He kept saying, "I yove this momma, we are in the nakey woods!"  (I love this , snakey woods)  

Carter and Momma ready to go!

Pops and Carter ready to go!

We are having a blast!  Can't wait to share all the pics when I get back!

Family Vacation

We packed up and headed west on Saturday.  We brought Gigi, Pops, Aunt Jana, and Grammy Flo with us and are having a great time in Red River.   It took a while for us to get here, but traveling with the boys always does!  Saturday evening we didn't have time to do too much, but we sure made up for it on Sunday.

Here are a few pics to keep you entertained until the next time I can post!

Cole was having a blast crawling around and getting into everything.  He has now stood up alone for the first time and is walking with his push toy.  He is all over the place!!!

Momma and her two big boys walking out by the cabin.

Cory and I headed to church at Faith Mountain Fellowship.  Great time, good message!  Then we took the Razor and 4-wheeler out for some fun.  I don't have pics of that they are on my dad's camera, so you will have to take my word for it that we had fun!  

Photo Shoot

We got our pics from Sarah and they are FABULOUS, AWESOME, AMAZING, etc.!

THANK YOU SO MUCH SARAH!!!!! How I am going to pick?!?!?!

Longhorns - Elks Rodeo 2009

It is that time of year again in Woodward! RODEO TIME!!! We got to go see the Longhorns today! It was hot, although windy, and we found a shady spot and had a quick picnic lunch and watched the cattle go by! The boys couldn't remember our outing last year to see the Longhorns, so they were very confused about what was going to take place. Carter was more worried about the horses and Caden kept asking if they were cows or longhorns...so mixed up!

Cole was not sure what was going on, but still flashed his million dollar smile :)

Okay by picnic, I really meant drive thru at Carl's Jr. I am so lazy!

Carter didn't want his picture taken, but Caden and Cole were quick to smile for Momma!

Caden and Carter were in awe.
All of my guys watching the herd.

Check out these cows!

4th of July - LOTS OF PICS

Finally some pics from the 4th...I know you were all holding your breath in anticipation!

Gigi and Pops got here Friday night and we had tons of fun!!! The boys got bedtime stories.

Gigi read to Carter,

while Pops read to Caden.

Saturday morning we played around the house for a few hours. We started by playing dress up...

Carter the construction worker

Caden the "red" knight

They made Pops play too...doesn't he look thrilled!?!?!

Carter got his "white" knight on too. Cole thought it was so funny!

We got to the park and had some lunch first. Hot dogs, chips, pop...what a great way to start the holiday!

Cole snacking

After lunch we played for a while...Cole loves to swing :)

Gigi and Pops decided to take the older boys for a walk

Then on the pedal boats across the lake. So much fun, but Pops was the only peddler...his legs were sore :)

After playing in the park for a while, we headed over to the new water park for some fun in the sun! Wonderful Ed got us all bracelets to get in to the water park for free from 1pm-3pm. We stayed almost the entire time and had so much fun. Even Gigi and Pops got in the water! It was so great and we can't wait to go back more this summer!

Caden loved the water park! He was swimming everywhere!
Carter was starting to get tired after an hour or so, he was clinging to Cory as much as possible.

Cole had enough of the water park after an hour or so and just hung out in his stoller with his juice!

We ended the evening by getting just a few fireworks for the boys. Just some smoke bombs and sparklers. They enjoyed it and didn't really think much that we only spent $10 and it didn't last very long!

Gigi helping Carter with his sparklerCaden and his sparkler

A pretty one the boys lit up!