Santa 2008

On Saturday we went to our neighborhood Holiday Extravaganza. Santa arrives in a fire truck outfitted with the local firefighters. They serve cookies & hot cocoa in the club house. This year they played The Polar Express on the outdoor movie screen along with small bon fires to relax around!! The kids LOVED Santa & he spent a lot of time listening to each child's wish for Christmas....

Waiting in line for an hour isn't so bad when Mom & Dad are there to entertain!

Adam's First Christmas!! He made a great Mini Santa!

Madison smiled pretty so that she could get her candy cane & Christmas stickers!

2008 Christmas Card Outtakes

A day in the life of Madison & Adam

My little man LOVES to eat!! I love this age! They'll eat pretty much whatever you put in front of them.

When I was a little girl, I used to pretend that onion rings were bracelets. Now that I have a little girl, it's fun to watch her pretend with food as well!! Madison loves to put strawberries on her fingers.

Madison, Austin & Ethan had a great time riding in the stroller.

The kids love when Daddy comes home from work! They enjoy playing music together & strumming the guitar just like Papa does!

The kids & I like to go to the various parks in our neighborhood every week. Madison enjoys exploring in the woods & collecting rocks...

...while Adam enjoys soaking up the sun.

Madison & Adam love reading books together. Here Madison reads the pop up book while Adam rips it apart!! It took forever to tape that thing back together!

Tink & Superman..

This Halloween Madison went as Tinker Bell & Adam was a mini Superman for his first time out. Trent & I went shopping for costumes for both kids; since Madison's original costume was 'itchy' (of course). After we saw the uncanny resemblance of Madison & Tinker Bell we knew we had our costume! She had the best time being a princess for a night. Mom came over & fixed her hair, adorned with roses used from our wedding, while I did some last minute alterations to the dress. Adam made a great little Superman & was entertained by watching all of the kids trick-or-treat!

Madison tested out the candy before we even got started trick-or-treating!

It's a bird... it's a plane... it's Super Adam!

Adam enjoyed crawling around & chewing on grass at the Halloween party!

The Pirates escorting Tink to collect their treasures from door to door.

Pirate Austin stole a kiss to start off the night.

Adam & I hanging out!

Madison was intrigued by the local haunted graveyard down the street.

All of the Mommas enjoying the festivities of the night!

We had a great Halloween & can't wait for next year!

It's Football Season!!!!!

GO COWBOYS!!!!

Movin' on....

August has been a VERY busy month for us! Full of new beginnings, friends & fun. Mom has finally moved back to Texas from Arkansas. Yeah! The kids are getting so big & summer has almost come to an end. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from this month. Not many, as you can see, due to the STILL broken camera... I'm sure I'll get it fixed someday!

********
I have a great CD by Audio Adrenaline, a Christian band.

I've always liked this song, but now it makes sense to me....

It's so nice to hold on to memories of Graham. At least we have those...

Goodbye By Audio Adrenaline

You'll be fine tomorrow
The sun will rise again
It's never easy to say goodbye
You know I'll always love you
You know I always will
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
My old friend (my old friend)
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
We've reached the end (we've reached the end)
I don't cry with sorrow, I cry with joy
The memories we made can't be destroyed
You know I won't forget you
You know I never could
And when I said I loved you
You know I meant for good
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
My old friend (my old friend)
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
We've reached the end (we've reached the end)
You know I'll always love you
Goodbye

******

A Memorial Golf Tournament for Graham & his kids

Trent, Brian, Carol & Mary Morgan (Graham's Mom & Grandma)

A few of the guys from a BBQ in memory of our friend...

Trent was the entertainment for the kiddos at the BBQ.. Here's Madison flying high!

I took care of Trinity for a few days last week so that her & Madison could play & just be kids!! She's such a sweetie with a beautiful little spirit.

Madison had fun while Trinity pushed her on the trapeze bar.

Tye turned 2!!

Adam's ready to PAR-TEE!!!

Madison LOOOOVED her beautiful butterfly. My carpet during nap time...not so much!

Madison has officially become a "terrible two"! Full of a need for exploration with an impish smile!! Madison's favorite thing to get into is Mommy's makeup! I'm in trouble for sure!

Adam is already 6 months old!!! He loves being on his belly & rolls around the room for transportation!! He's the happiest baby I know & flirts with everyone he sees!

We're SO lucky to have two high spirited, beautiful kids. They brighten our lives in so many ways. They truly are "My Sunshines"!

My two beautiful boys hangin' out at Kevin & Sarah's..

Graham Scott Raff

One of our very best, long time friends, Graham; is gone... After a lifetime of sorrow for the loss of his own father, and years of being a lost little boy himself; he decided that he was done. Wether it was an accident or not, we'll miss him forever.....

I'll never forget all of the laughs, SO many laughs, his smile, wrestling matches, punches to the stomach, smoked chicken, viewings of Blazing Saddles & Top Gun, hiking trips, Cowboy games, endless Thanksgiving dinners (thanks for the free turkeys BCC), UNsweet tea made just for him, off roading in the Neon, Chimays, being our best man & how his toast made me cry, live music shows, plucking his brows, shooting clay pigeons in Kenedy, karate kicks, pool & poker games, Forth of July fireworks in the street, political e mails!, gazing into his beautiful fish tank, trips to Manor range, shaving Greta, RHCP, cleaning his darn house, trips to the lake, golf in the rain, heart to hearts, the corduroy couch (he called it HIS!), road trips, months spent living with us in the guest room, hugs & love shared.

I'm thankful that his last words to me were, "I love you Samantha". I love you too Graham Cracker.

We always shared a special bond that only he & I could understand.

I'll miss you my sweet brother in Christ & friend forever.

May you Rest In Peace in Jesus' arms........