Summer Fun!!!

We have had a really good summer so far. With school, and work its hard making time for fun, but we have managed to have some good times! Today we went swimming at my mom and dads, and boy did Kira wear me out! She played and played for over 4 hours! Then we grilled out, and made some tastey s'mores!

Miss Sophia Aubree Stephens

One of my really really good friends had her baby on June 24, 2009 at 8pm via c-section. Adam and Jennifer Stephens are the proud parents of Sophia Aubree Stephens! She is the most beautiful baby that I think I have ever laid eyes on. I am so proud of Jen. Her water broke on its own at the hospital at 5am. She was in a lot of pain, and got her epidural around 9. Around 11 she was 4cm. The baby's heartrate started dropping, so they had to sit her the the Budda position. Jen was really uncomfortable. Around 7 the doctor checked her, and she will STILL 4cm. After some discussion and thought, they knew that she needed to have a c-section. It was so exciting because they did not find out the sex of the baby! I always thought it was a girl, but the majority went with it being a boy. Mommy and baby are healthy, and I couldn't be more proud of my friend!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

I have to work all weekend, so I wanted to give a little shout of to the 3 most amazing Poppas out there: MY Poppa, My Fiance, and My Brother!

You all are so amazing in so many different ways.

My Poppa will always to my first love, and I will always be his little girl...

My fiance, Ryan, is brave for being such a amazing single father. Though it had not always been easy or perfect, he has done a good job at raising such an amazing little girl. You are a great Daddy!

My brother, is easing in to fatherhood just like I knew he would. He is protective, and his world revolves around my nephew!

I hope all three of you have a great day...this is YOUR day and you deserve it. I am sorry I cannot spend it with each of you! XoXo Brooke

Another Night in Harrison Co

Tonight we were planning on going to play some BINGO, but we found out that you have to be 21. I asked Kira if she had her fake ID ready, but she didn't :). So, we went to see Up at the theater. It was really really good. Slightly on the sad side.

Speaking of sad...I miss my best friend, Jennifer. I am in a grouchy mood tonight, so I opened a bottle of wine and it made me miss her. Wining is a favorite past time of ours. It sucks having your best friend live so far away. I wish we lived minutes apart like we did in Vincennes. There is going to have to be a visit SOON.

This picture is from an amazing night in VI..."A beach in VINCENNES?!?!"

Tomorrow Ryan, Kira, and I are going fishing. The ONLY person that I have ever fished with is my Poppa. Poppa knows that I don't touch the bait or the fish. Hopefully Ryan can live up to those expectations!

I also need to give a special shout out to my brother, Greg--HAPPY 31st Birthday Brother!

We're ENGAGED!

Yup, thats right...Ryan asked me to marry him on Saturday, June 6, 2009. We went to Indianapolis for the weekend. First we went to the Indiana Wine Festival. That was a ton of fun. We got to taste all kinds of wine from different wineries in Indiana, we also saw the Gun Blossoms play. After that we got cleaned up, and went to eat at The Slippery Noodle. Afterwards he took me to the canal. At the canal he rented a private gondola. We got in and the guy was singing to us in Italian (I was chuckling about it), when the gondola turned around there was a guy standing on the bridge above us with the sign that said, "Brooke, will you marry me?" Then he pulled out the most amazing ring! Of course I said, "yes." It was probably one of the best moments in my life. The ring is absolutely beautiful...Kira helped him pick it out (they went one day while I was at work.) Now, I am ready to start planning a wedding! We are almost 100% sure on the date...October 23, 2010!

Before he asked... "Brooke, will you marry me?" The RING

Going Out of Town!

To by some time, I thought I would blog a little. I am waiting for Ryan to get home. We are going to Indy today to spend the weekend. I couldn't be more excited. I think it is much needed. Right now him, and my Poppa are playing golf. I am lucky that they have an awesome relationship. They do all sorts of "boy" stuff together.

ANYWAYS...we are leaving around 1ish. Ryan has an "agenda" of stuff for us to do. We are staying at the Hyatt downtown. There is a wine festival going on that is in walking distance, so we bought us tickets for that. The Gin Blossoms are playing, there will be a cheese and wine tasting booth, picnic, and lots more! At 7:30 we are eating at the Slippery Noodle, then I dunno what. It will be nice to get away from work and school. This is the first year that I will not be going on vacation with my parents, due to school. So, I think that we will be talking little trips like this every so often. Well...I guess I am going to go back to waiting "patiently" for Ryan to get home! Pictures and more to come!

Kira's Trip To Her Nana's

So, Kira emailed her Nana (Vicki) asking if she could come and spend the weekend with her. Kira and a busy busy girl over the summer, so it worked out that she would go the 1st weekend after school got out. Apparently they did all kinds of things, that she has not done in quite some time. After having to go to the eye doctor with her Papaw Jeff...I am pretty sure she had a BLAST. Papaw Jeff did make up for it by getting an ice cream cake from DQ! Ryan and I love seeing her having a good time doing the "simple" things. It won't be long before she will be jumping in her car heading off with friends. I know the times like these are cherished by every family member. Kira is already planning her next trip...

Thanks for the great photos Vicki!

Busy Busy Family!

So, it has been while since I have updated. We have been pretty busy people here in Harrison Co. Last Thursday my bestest came into town. We had a much needed girls day...although it did not get started without just a tad bit of craziness. Jen locked her keys in her car, and of course did not have a spare. After calling around the cheapest price that she could find was $54!!!! I decided that I would call some of the local auto places. I threw around the "Redden" name, and a guy from VanWinkles came and unlocked it for.......................FREE! Jen slipped him some money. After that we headed to Hubers for wine tasting. I have never tasted before, and found out that I like something other than "grape juice" (thats what Ryan calls the wine I drink.) We ordered fondue, sat outside, and took pictures. Then we headed to Babies R' Us to get girls for friends that are having and had babies. We then headed to the mall, then our friend Lindsay met us at Cheesecake Factory. Needless to say, I had a blast and wish that we could do it more often. Jen and I went from living exactly 2 minutes away, to living almost 2 hours away :(. I miss her like crazy, but talk often. Below are some pictures from our day out.

My next thing to blog about is my nephew. I have been babysitting him 2 Fridays a month for quite awhile now, but the time has come to for me to only focus on school. Last Friday was my last day of babysitting him on a regular basis. I have loved watching him grow, and learn new things. He is a complete doll, and I feel blessed that I have got to spend so much time with him.

My second closest friend, Jennifer Stephens, is getting ready to have a BABY! I went to her baby shower on Saturday. She doesn't know if they are having a boy or girl, so there was no pink or blue! I had a great time. While I was there, Ryan was golfing with his best friend Nick, and Kira was at her Nana's house for the weekend. I am going to have to get the pictures from Vicki (Nana), and post them on here. Kira had a complete blast! They went horse back riding, bike riding, hiking, and swimming.

The nexy big event, was that my baby cousin graduated high school on Sunday! Congrat Richard Christian!

Last, but not least, I need to wish my mom and dad Happy 35th Anniversary! They truely are what marriage is all about!