family fun

We spent the past weekend in Iowa attending my cousin Matt's wedding. We had such a great time and the wedding was beautiful! It was such fun hanging out with my cousins and talking about the "old days". For those of you who don't know, on my dad's side of the family there are a whole slew of us that are the same age (there are 21 grandkids), so growing up, since we lived not far from each other we spent a tremendous amount of time together. We had BBQs pretty much every Sunday all summer long. So when we get together now it almost seems like old times (except that we can legally drink now! :) Anyway, I had a great time talking to everyone (although they probably were ready for me to leave as I tend to talk a lot...I know...shocking isn't it?) and trying to figure out how we're going to get together more often. :)
Thanks Matt & Ann for including us in your special day...we had so much fun and congratulations!!

While we were at the wedding Brianna (or Bee-a as Braden would say) and Braden spent the day with the Wolfe family and from the sounds of it had a great time as well.

Thanks so much Cathy, Greg, Tyler, Justin, & Nicole for watching Brianna, she loved it!

So, now we're trying to get back into our "normal" routine. We really have nothing planned until the middle of October when we are heading to Galesburg for Knox Homecoming. Can you believe we've been out of college for 5 years already. Yikes...scary thought! Anyway, I think thats about all to report for now. Enjoy the latest pictures!

september 11th

I remember...
As a senior in college, I was working in the Business Office at Knox College when the planes hit the World Trade Center. I forget the details of how we initially heard, but as soon as we heard that the first plane hit, we turned on the radio and listened as they reported the second plane crashing into the World Trade Center. We looked around at each other in shock and horror. Wondering what and how this was happening. I don't think I watched as much news or listened to as much radio in my life as I did on September 11, 2001 and the days following. Yes, we were a long way from New York, but it was the first time in my life where I didn't feel safe. There were students who had family and friends in New York and also students who were from the Middle East who wondered if they were in danger because of their nationality...it was such a strange time. I think we who have grown up in this country have taken for granted the safety we've had here, I know that I have. Six years have passed and still I remember almost every detail of that day, I remember a professor telling one of my classes that Galesburg used to be high atop the "hit list" for other countries during war time, because of its railroad hub. I remember that Bob was on the golf course when he heard about the attacks from Harley. I remember sitting at the Children's Museum where I worked that afternoon listening to the radio. I remember going to a vigil/memorial service the following night and then going to the first Sr. Meeting of the year, just to do something that was "normal". I don't really know what I'm trying to say with this post, after six years it seems like everyone has gone on with their daily lives, like they should, but I guess I just wanted to say, even though today I got up and came to work like every other day...I still remember.
God Bless all of those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001...I hope you have found some peace and know that we still pray for you.
Thank you to those who risk your lives each and every day protect us all; our police officers, firefighters, EMTs...you are true heros.
Finally to our military...I believe you have one of the most thankless jobs...people disagree with the war so they take it out on you...but the only reason they can speak out against the war without fear of persecution is because of you and because of soldiers before you. So, thank you, thank you...for giving of yourselves so selflessly to protect my family. And to your families...thank you for sharing your soldier with all of us. There are lots of us who appreciate every day the sacrifcies you make for us, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts and keep you in our prayers. Stay safe, and come home soon!

pictures

I just finished uploading some new pictures that Nancy sent me from the last couple of Brianna's visits to their house. Enjoy!
Thanks for the pictures Nancy! :)

busy, busy, busy

Hello again!

Sorry we haven't been around much lately but things have been busy and to be honest there isn't much to report. Bob and I have both been working a lot, and Brianna is busy with daycare. She moved into the 2-year-old room a couple weeks ago, it was a tough transition for her because she loved her teachers in her old room, but after the first couple of days of crying when I dropped her off she has done pretty well. She is talking like crazy now...she is never quiet anymore...she gets that from her dad I think ;). (As I'm typing this she is insisting that "daddy play!!") She got some new puzzles at a resale we went to and has taken them apart and put them together a million times already.
She spent a few days with Grandma Nancy and Papa Bob last weekend while we attended a wedding for our friend from Knox, Josh (one of Bob's golfing buddies), it was a beautiful wedding and we had a great time. Unfortunately I don't really have any pictures of the wedding (only a few random shots), but when Holly posts her's I'll let you know :). Other than that not too much happening in the Carroll household, Bob is heading to northern Wisconsin on Thursday to have a weekend of golf with his college friends, so Miss Brianna and I will have some mommy/daughter bonding time. We don't have much planned for the weekend, hopefully it'll be somewhat relaxing. :)
Oh...I guess one exciting thing...for me anyway...is that I'm typing this from my brand new laptop! I had ordered one from Dell at the end of July, expecting it to be shipped within 2 weeks, well as of last Tuesday my estimated ship date had been bumped to September 26th!! A full 2 months after ordering, and that was no guarantee that it was actually going to ship then (I was on my 5th estimated ship date). Needless to say I was very bummed, annoyed, angry, etc, so Friday night I was searching the internet and found a HP that had almost exactly the same specs plus a few more bells and whistles for 1/2 the price...so I got my new laptop on Friday and cancelled my Dell order that same night.
Anyway, I think thats about all for now, but I'll leave you with a picture of Brianna in her fairy princess outfit. I will be posting a few more pictures soon mostly of Brianna in this outfit a couple from wedding and some from the flooding outside our house a few weeks ago(like tonight sometime). Hope everyone is doing well and I'll try to post more often (I know I say that all the time, but hey...I have a life too! :)
Have a great week everyone!!