Last week, Nathan and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary in Negril, Jamaica. It was wonderful to get away for a whole week and spend time together, just the two of us. We got some much needed rest, we played hard and laughed a lot! We missed our babies a ton but we knew they were in great hands! We spent time reminiscing over the past 5 years and all that we have experienced together. We have been blessed with two amazing children, a new home, new careers that we both enjoy so much, new friendships, loss of family, Nathan's diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes, new found love for cycling together, the list goes on and on. A lot has taken place in this short period of time. I can 100% say that I love Nathan more today than the day that I married him and he is home to me.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Anniversary Trip to Jamaica
Posted by Courtni at 9/21/2009 0 comments
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Yesterday morning, Hailee woke up on schedule at 6:30am. After a 1:00am wake up with Jackson suffering from some tooth pain and, myself battling some insomnia lately, I was looking forward to a restful and "slow" morning before having to be at the church with Hailee that afternoon to get dressed and have pictures taken for April and David's wedding. However, that was not at all how the morning turned out to be...relaxing. Around 10:30am, Hailee started to complain that her head hurt, she had a temp of 102! As bad as I felt for my little girl, I did not want to have to call my sister-in-law on her wedding day to tell her that her flower girl was "calling in sick" to the wedding! So, immediatley the Motrin and Tylenol started. I thought after her nap, she'll feel better, I was wrong. She woke up and seemed to be worse than the morning. After a long and rushed morning, I am proud to say that Hailee made it to the wedding and even followed through as the flower girl. She did beautifully, she was so sick but so excited and didn't want to miss out on it. She had been looking forward to wearing her dress and throwing the flowers for weeks now. She was such a little trooper. I kept telling her that she didn't have to do it if she felt bad, but she would just shake her head and tell me, "I wanna do it Mommy." Hailee loves weddings and everything that goes along with it. A few months ago she found a DVD that had Nathan and I's wedding on it, she LOVES to watch it, so much that Nathan and I are growing very weary of it, ha! She always talks about her wedding dress and flowers and dancing to songs. She was so happy to be in April and David's wedding and I know she will be glad she did it when she sees these pictures.
April looked gorgeous and the wedding was so sweet. Welcome to the family David, Hailee and Jackson are excited to have you as an uncle!
Posted by Courtni at 9/05/2009 0 comments
Sunday, August 30, 2009
HHH Ride 2009
Nathan, Dad, Mom and I all went down to Wichita Falls, TX this past weekend for the Hotter N Hell Hundred ride. It was a lot of fun, the weather was perfect! Aside from missing our kids, it was a wonderful weekend. However, we are so looking forward to our vacation in only 2 weeks! We would like to go away and actually rest, ha!
Posted by Courtni at 8/30/2009 0 comments
Monday, August 24, 2009
What's Happening and Coming Up...
Happening Now..
Our little miss is taking tap and ballett classes once a week and she is loving it! I can tell she is going to love school. She listens very well to her teacher and is always interested in learning something new. There she is above, striking a pose, she loves the camera!
I took this video of our little man last week. He's such the sweetest child and I have loved every second of having him in my life.
Look at those dimples!
Even though Nathan's face is half covered, that has got to be one of my favorite pictures of my two guys!
Chillin at the park
September 4 - Aunt April (Nathan's sister) is getting married to David Tarver. Hailee is the flower girl and we are excited to have him in the family very soon!
September 14th - Nate and I are Jamaica bound, yeah! 5 years of "us" on September 18th.
October 14th- Jackson turns 1!
Posted by Courtni at 8/24/2009 0 comments
Today's My Birthday
I'm 27 years old today, that number is an odd reality. It's not a bad thing, just crazy to me to know that I am in my older twenties....approaching 30.
I celebrated last night with my parents, Leslie, Scott, Emily, Grandma, Grandpa, Nate, and the kids. Mom made my favorite meal and it was so great to hang out with all the family.
Nathan and I are going out tonight for a "kid free" dinner and I am celebrating with some of my closest friends throughout the week. I am so lucky to have the people around me that I have. I have been happy to hear Happy Birthday wishes on my phone or see them in my e-mail today from close friends and family. Thank you to everyone who has made me feel so special today!
"Waitin' at a stop light yesterday as a funeral procession made its way through the gates.
And it made me think about where I'm at on my not so straight and narrow path...
All the generous and mostly undeserved blessings that I've had.
I had an all-American Mom and Dad, some of the coolest friends you could ever have.
Found love I thought I'd never find...sometimes I can't believe this life is mine.
And I'm not planning on leaving yet, but the truth is, you just never know,
And if this is as good as it gets, I think I'm good to go.
Got to hold my newborn baby son and girl, and the hand of a man that's my whole world.
I've laughed so hard, I couldn't stop, seen the sunrise from a mountain top. No, I'm not planning on leaving yet, but the truth is, you just never know, and if this is as good as it gets, I think I'm good to go."
Above is a piece of a song that I've always liked. Yes, I know I'm turning 27, not 87, but I still really enjoy the meaning that's behind it.
Posted by Courtni at 8/24/2009 1 comments
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Diamondback 100
This weekend, the family (Mom, Dad, Nate, Hailee, Jackson, and myself) loaded up and headed down to Altus for some camping and cycling. We were going to support my Dad and Nathan riding in the Diamondback 100 cycling event on Saturday morning. We got up early on Saturday to see the boys off. I did not ride this event so that I could spend my time with the kids and my Mom. Nathan and Dad did great, both riding 65 miles in just over 4 hours. It was beautiful scenery, perfect temperature, flat rodes, a perfect combo. They rode through the Quartz mountains and little towns I had never heard of. Mom, the kids and I ate at this little cafe on Main Street for breakfast, drove around the state park and took Hailee and Jackson to a playground while the guys rode. We had a great time doing a lot of nothing, just spending the day however we wanted. Saturday evening, Hailee saw a ferris wheel and some go carts on the side of the road. It looked as though it was closed, I thought it was a "traveling fair" that was not open. We pulled over to see if it was running and sure enough, it was. Nathan took her on the ferris wheel and a few times around on the go carts, she loved it! Once we played awhile there, we took a drive through the "mountains" and must have seen fifteen dear, which is probably my Dad's favorite animal. He can spot them five miles away. Hailee was so excited and said, "Papa, Papa, look, stop, don't move." while we were driving. It was a loooonnng drive. :) It was a great night with the family even stopping for ice cream at 10:00 on Saturday night, which, if you know me is a pretty big deal, the time and the dessert.
Hailee had so much fun, she continues to make me laugh everyday. We were driving down the road Saturday just to see what was in the town. My Dad had mentioned Subway. Hailee was sitting in the back and without missing a beat, she said, "Subway, eat fresh" with this big smile across her face. We all started to laugh because we had never heard her say that and we don't say it, so I assumed she had picked it up on the radio or TV, it was just so funny. She just amazes me, literally everyday with what she stores in her little mind.
Jackson is getting bigger and louder, constantly starting to babble and giggle. He's just the sweetest little boy. I am not being byast, he really is. I would think that if he belonged to any other momma. He cuddles and laughs with us, and loves his big sister and Marmie and Papa.
I am very proud of Nathan and my Dad, they both did great! We're all getting geared up for the biggest ride of the season, HHH in Wichita Falls, TX on August 29th.
The start of the ride, always my favorite part, because Oklahoma summer sunrise's are the best!
Hailee cheering her Dad on with a stick?
Posted by Courtni at 8/02/2009 0 comments
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Marmie's Playhouse
I just want to publically say how wonderful my Mom is. After working as a career professional for over 30 years, she is now watching and caring for my children and my niece. She is caring and committed to teaching, guiding, and nurturing them. I know that it is a hard job to take on, but I am so grateful to have her there with my kids everyday. Above all, my greatest contribution to this world is my children. I am extraordinarily blessed to be a mother of two healthy and happy children. I am also grateful to have a career that is fulfilling and rewarding to me personally. Although there are moments when I wish I could be with my kiddos during the day, I always rest in knowing that my Momma is with them and that she is pouring into them, her love, patience, kindness, service, humor, and wisdom. I'm proud to call her my Mom, and Dad, you're pretty great also! You know I love you both! Below, are some pictures that Mom has sent to Leslie and I of the kids during the days.

Posted by Courtni at 7/28/2009 0 comments







