20 YEARS!!!!

This week school is starting in my town and I know that it has started most places in the country by now or will soon. I hated going to school when I was in kindergarten and I have vivid memories of crying my eyes out when I had to get on the bus. You see, I was painfully shy back then. Yes, it really is true...I was SO shy!!!! However, I don't think my dislike for going to school lasted long as every year at this time I have all kinds of fond memories of my first days of school. I loved going to get new shoes and clothes and I loved shopping for school supplies. That was my favorite part of starting school. Getting new paper and folders and pencils and crayons! It was a fresh start. Now, the schools give you an option to pay them a flat amount and you go to the school and they have all the school supplies that you need all neat and packed in a box....I know lots of busy moms that love this option...it is however, not an option for me. My most fond memory of school starting taken away to save a few minutes of my time....what kind of memory will that leave for my son? I hope to have the same fun with him getting our (his) list and going to the store to pick out the supplies that I...(I mean he)...wants. So, now on to the point of my post today.....this school……year marks 20 years since I met one of my best friends on the bus on the way home from school one day. TWENTY YEARS!!!! We were in 7th grade (12 years old) and from that day on we were together all.the.time!!! We spent our time trying to beat Super Mario brothers on Nintendo and walking to the mall. After 8th grade our lives ended when her dad took a new job and they moved to another state….So, after two very short years of spending our time attached at the hip we each started high school in two different states and then we ended up in colleges on opposite ends of the country….now….we are both married with a family of our own and kids that are starting school. Through it all we have kept in touch and our friendship has changed and matured and evolved along with each of us. We both have intentions of talking more often and trying to see each other even occasionally but life is…..well….life. It’s busy and we live 1,823 miles apart. However, every time we talk on the phone it is like we just saw each other the day before….it is comfortable and easy to talk for hours. I know that I can call her at any time of the day or night if I ever need a friend. We have been and always will be there for each other for all the ups and downs of life!!!! And maybe….down the road….when our kids are grown and married and have families of their own….we will have more time to spend together….but if not….I know that I always have a forever friend that is just a phone call away….and so does she!! Kristy, here’s to 20 years of friendship and to 20 more and 20 more after that!!!

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“Everyone has a “best friend” during each stage of life-only a precious few have the same one.”
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“Good friends are like stars…You don’t always see them, but you know they are always there.”
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“You meet people who forget you. You forget people you meet. But sometimes you meet those people you can’t forget. Those are your ‘friends.’”
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“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.”

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Bikes, Birthdays & Babies....Oh My!!!!!

Here is Jeremy on his new "big boy" bike!!! (Yes, that is a cop car in the back and Jeremy does go fast enough on his bike that he might actually get pulled over!)
It is a Thomas bike and so very cute!!!

Our "Day Out With Thomas was scheduled for the 19th....we got there and this sign was all we saw...it was rained out!!! It is a rain or shine event but it is not an event that goes on in a flood...that is what they had.....a flood!!! How sad....but we get to try again on the 26th....that is Sunday....and it has been raining every day since last Sunday....I hope and pray that it doesn't rain again and maybe the flood waters will go down and we can ride Thomas....this is an event that we wait all year for and I can't imagine having to wait another year to ride Thomas....please, all 3 of you that read my blog....pray for dryness!!!!

Here is Jeremy and his favorite friend, Olivia, playing pin the candle on the cupcake at Riley's (Olivia's one year old sister) birthday party....

Jeremy and his friend Dylan on the way home from the zoo a few weeks ago.

Jeremy holding Dylan's sister, Emma (2 months old)!! He loves to hold babies and has the longest attention span for this activity than any other....even playing with cars!!!! I think that he is in desperate need of a little sister or brother!!!! (Don't worry Mom!!! I'm not pregnant....yet!!!)

Jeremy in his Hokies sweatshirt and really cool birthday party hat and really cheesy smile!!!

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Sorry for the really long delay in posting pictures ... I hope that my 3 readers are still checking back in once in a while....and if there is anyone else out there that checks in ever that I don't know about....please....post a comment and say hi!!! I will try not to let the next post be so long....hopefully the next one will have pictures of Thomas....cross all those fingers!!!! And toes!