Graduation...

My brother graduated from bootcamp on Friday!  I posted HERE when he officially became a Marine, but Friday was the actual graduation.  My parents, Kailey (his wife), her parents and aunt, my cousin, and a few of their friends were able to make the trip to cheer him on!  I am SO sad that I wasn't able to be there.  At least I have pictures to look at...  these are all from my mom...

They got to Parris Island on Wednesday.  Thursday was Family Day, so they were able to hang out with Eric and have lunch.  Here is the love birds... after 13 long weeks of not seeing each other or talking...

And, of course, here they are with my parents

On Friday morning they had graduation.  I got a text with this picture... they were thinking of me =)

(Mom sent him that picture of us while he was in bootcamp)

I know it was such an awesome, emotional, happy, fun day! 

Can't wait to see everyone again!!!

"W's"...

Whenever we go on a walk, we have to say "W" because Suzi knows what "walk" means.  For example, Garet will say, "Hey Kelly do you want to go on a W?"  If we say "walk", even in the middle of a sentence, Suzi will go crazy!  She LOVES walks W's! 

Anyway, yesterday morning we went on a W.  I haven't actually put on shoes that I have to tie in a long time (normally I just slip on flip flops)... so I realized that it is very difficult to bend over and tie my shoes!  So... my sweet husband helped me =)

Here are a couple pictures I took of Suzi (since we don't have our computer I don't have my editing program... so these are straight from the camera.  I didn't get to edit them).

She is just too cute!  And here she is, probably thinking, "Get that camera out of my face!"  =)

Marine...

Eric is officially a MARINE!  I am so proud of him!  All the recruits have to do the Crucible, 54 straight hours with only 3 meals (the entire time) they have to complete different tasks as a team.  This morning at 7 a.m. (EST) they were finished!  Of course I am representing today =)

Proud sister of a US Marine!

Happenings...

So I figured I'd do a short update on what we've been up to... 

- My brother is graduating NEXT Friday!!  I can't believe how fast it seemed to fly!  I have gotten a few letters from him (which I LOVE!) and he seems in good spirits, definitely counting down the days, but really positive about how things are going.  It's always nice to get an upbeat letter!  After his graduation he'll have about 10 days at home, then travel to Camp Lajeune, NC to do his combat training, and then he's off to California for classes.  They won't tell him how long he'll be in Cali until he gets there...  crazy.

- Our computer is at the doctor... For some reason it wouldn't let us burn CDs, so we took it to the Geek Squad (at Best Buy) and it had to be shipped off.  So... we are without for 2 weeks.  We have Garet's work computer, but it doesn't have all my stuff on it, and I just don't feel like messing with it.  So, you will be without many pictures for a while.

- Yesterday was my birthday.  It was really nice, and Garet made it special - he made me open my gifts first thing yesterday morning =)  One thing I get was a new camera lens!!

I LOVE IT!  I've only gotten to practice on Suzi, and lucky for me she decided to be good and sit still!  I will have to post the pictures once we get the computer back.  Garet gave me a Marines shirt - and it fits!  Woo hoo!  So I will be representing Eric here for his graduation!  We also went to a nice dinner last night.

- Tomorrow I will be 35 weeks!  Some people say 35/35, because you are 35 weeks with 35 more days to go!  Wow I have a lot to do!  The nursery is getting there... we at least have all the furniture in.  I still have stuff I want to put on the walls.  Don't worry I'll post some pictures when I get it finished.

- I have the day off from work Friday... no reason, just because I wanted a day.  I can't wait!  Speaking of work... we have a big show coming up next weekend - Home and Outdoor Living Expo.  It is new this year, so if you're in Hsv check it out!  Although, I'm hoping NOT to be there!  My boss said she wouldn't work me too hard, so we'll see if I have to work or not.

- This weekend I have Bunco on Saturday and my sunday school class is throwing me and another girl a shower on Sunday.  I'm sure it will go by too fast... like all weekends do =)

Random Things...

So I have been tagged! 
Missy tagged me to do a post of 10 random things about myself... here goes...

1. I hate seafood!  Gross!  I have tried lobster and crab, and I'll eat it, but would never order it.  But seafood in general - yuck! 

2.  Speaking of seafood... I really can't stand fish... or birds.  In the ocean I hate for fish to come near me!  And birds... they creep me out - is that weird?  This goes for butterflies too... pretty from a distance but please don't get close to me!

3.  I am about to be the sister of a U.S. Marine!!  My brother graduates from bootcamp in 14 more days!  I am soooo proud of him!  And I miss him so much! 

4.  I'm pretty sure peanut butter is my favorite food of all time.  I eat it by the spoonful.  Seriously.  It is bad - any time I get ice cream or a milkshake it must have peanut butter in it.  And no, it isn't a pregnancy thing, I have been like this. 

5.  I LOVE Eminem!  I can't help it... he is amazing! 

6.  We don't have cable.  or DVR (isn't that what records t.v. shows?)  And I'm happy about that.  I don't know what I'm missing - which is good because I could probably watch t.v. all day long if I had the time!

7.  I would love to go to Australia or Ireland!  In fact, in my spare time I used to speak in an Irish accent.  Just ask Garet.  (it was only in front of him and Suzi actually, and I stopped doing it because he would tell other people about it and make me "do the accent" in front of others.)  (Don't ask me to do it.)  (Thanks)

8.  I hate shopping.  Like clothes shopping.  I really need a personal shopper because I really can't stand going to the mall and looking for clothes!

9.  We went through infertility and treatments for about a year and a half before we got pregnant with Colin.  I am open about it, and actually think that brought Garet and I closer to each other and it definitely allowed us to build a stronger relationship with God.  I am thankful for our struggles because we wouldn't be who we are today if we hadn't gone through them.

10.  I am soooo excited about becoming a mom!!  And so excited to see Garet as a dad!  (6 more weeks!)

That took longer than I thought it would! 
I tag anyone that looks at this!  =)

Family for the weekend...

Garet's dad came to visit us this past weekend!  He got in on Saturday and stayed through Tuesday (yesterday).  It was nice to have him, and like last time, Garet put him right to work =)

We didn't have any really big projects this time, just odd and end things around the house.  Garet's dad is really handy and he made us this cradle for Colin!!  Isn't it beautiful?!

I was so impressed!  And it is so nice to have something that was made especially for him!  I love it!

We went to church on Sunday, then some of us took a nap while others did some touch up painting around the house.  Garet's dad also brought a lot of stuff from one of Garet's sisters... a rocking chair, bookshelf, jogging stroller, backpack, toys...  I can't wait to get organized!

(I always forget how short I am (or how tall they are!) until I see a picture!)

Garet's dad also brought his PRECIOUS dog, Jesse.  I have to admit I was a little nervous having two dogs inside... but him and Suzi got along great!  Suzi normally gets along with other dogs, she is just so big - and when she first meets a dog she likes to run up on them really close.  I think it causes the other dog to get defensive and therefore growl and stuff.  (I could really be the next dog whisperer). 

Anyway... Jesse is an 8 month old mix:

It was so entertaining watching the two dogs together!  Poor Suzi just couldn't keep up with the youngster!  They would pick a toy and one would chase the other, then the other one would get it and it would just go round and round!  If little Jesse had the tennis ball, Suzi would walk up to him and take it out of his mouth and walk off - it was hilarious!  She would show just how big she is sometimes too... Jesse didn't seem to mind one bit!

We have found that (thankfully!) Suzi isn't very possessive of her things.  She doesn't seem to mind that another dog is in the backyard (or the house), she doesn't mind sharing her toys, she doesn't seem to be jealous when Garet or I pet on another dog... The first thing Jesse did was go to her food and water and have a feast.  Suzi watched.  Then Jesse got Suzi's toy and proceeded to curl up on her bed!  Suzi watched.

We had such a nice visit!  It is always so great to be able to spend time with family!  Wish we were closer so we could do it more often!

Maternity Pictures...

When we were in Charlotte a few weeks ago, we got maternity pictures taken!  One of my best friends, Christy, gave us the session as a gift, which was so sweet of her!!  The girl that did them has a website: Dana Arndt Photography.  She was wonderful to work with, and they turned out really good!

Here is the link:  Maternity Pictures

(in case you're wondering I was about 31 1/2 weeks pregnant)

Good Morning...

Suzi is so funny with Garet - she LOVES him, and it is so adorable!  In the mornings, I get up first (I would say 98% of the time) and I always go into the bathroom to get ready, normally Suzi follows me in there and I tell her Good Morning.  When Garet gets up, she goes CRAZY!  I am talking running around, jumping up and down, wagging her tail (and knocking anything in it's path out of the way!)  It is soooo funny! 

This morning Garet stayed in bed and started talking to her... she just got so excited she did this:

hahaha!  She is NOT allowed on any of our furniture... and she knows it!  So, she was very hesitant to put her feet up there, but when Garet egged her on, she plopped her whole upper half up there.  She wouldn't go any further though.

Check out that Good Morning kiss!