happy anni-veg-a-versary!

wow.

16 years.

i woke up this morning thinking about 16 years.

is this what i thought it would look like 16 years ago?

scrambling to make home lunches.

racing to do hair.

hurring kids out the door.

wash day.

football practice.

soccer practice.

dance.

back to school night.

nope.

i never could have even imagined it would be this good.

because i have have my best friend

with me through it all.

it may not sound romantic.

but me, him, griff, home, racing through this life

we've created together...

its perfect.

I love you josh.

(but not so perfect that we can't escape

to vegas next week for a little R & R)

wink. wink.

looking back...

first day of school 2008.

ethan 6th

emma 3rd

sam 1st

eliza-still asleep in bed.

first day 2009.

emma 4th

sam 2nd

eliza kindergarten

me. great with child.

first day 2010.

emma 5th

sam 3rd

eliza 1st

griff 10 months.

me. in desperate need of a trim.

yesterday 2011.

6th, 4th, and 2nd.

wow.

we're all growing up.

and i still need that trim.

here we go again!

prepare for picture overload!

first day of school.

it kills me how fast time is flying.

i feel like i just posted this!!!

ethan. 9th grade.

emma. 6th grade.

sam. 4th grade.

eliza. 2nd grade.

griff. home with mom.

griffy was like...."oh no you don't!

get back here"!!!

i loved this shot of sam seeing

one of his buddies.

he put his arm around him

and welcomed him to class!

it is going to be a great year.

all the kids have great teachers!

griff on the other hand

wandered around all morning miserably saying,

"liza school? sammy school"?

yepper.

school.

i love it.

emma big day.

i take a break from my craziness

to bring you an important event in the

carmack household.

behold....

emma gets braces!

i love this one.

seeing herself for the first time.

emma is the best sport.

even though her mouth has been killing her

she has gone on merrily with life.

she is taking really good care of them

and is counting down the 15 months.

love you emma.

you look awesome.

and alarmingly grown up.

yikes.

so much to say...so little time. hold please.

and it starts.

update.

griff has been so sick the last couple of days.

it makes for lots of cuddling.

poor guy.

can you tell how he felt about me

taking his picture?

i'm so mean.

griffin being sick means lots of this.

CARS.

it really is a cute show.

but i'm over it.

next.

we are relandscaping our back yard.

and by we i mean josh and i.

it sucks.

moving curbing, re-sodding, new perennials...

but it will be so nice when its done.

we are going for low maintenance.

i have a lot of redeeming qualities.

gardening is not one of them.

next.

we have a new member of the family.

can you guess what it is?

this is her home.

that's right!

a floppy earred bunny!

we love her.

the kids carry her around like a baby.

ALL DAY.

poor girl.

{thanks richins. she's loved.}

next.

getting your teeth whitened at the mall

can be highly embarrassing.

but totally worth it.

i'm just say'n.

next.

reb lobster does not suck.

our friends had a gift card.

free food? i'm in.

i had never been there before

and the salmon i had was some of the best.

and the cheddar bisquits...have mercy.

and last but not least,

our friends stayed with us this weekend

and its official.

we miss them.