Puzzle Time

They glued the puzzle and now its hanging on Dylan's wall.
I am so thankful that Dylan loves spending quality time doing something amazing...hopefully this leads to model cars etc.

Monster Heaven

Veterans Day

Today was a unique
DAY! My Dad told me to include him on the
celebration at Maple Elementary so..I did and to
MY SURPRISE someone joined him...
okay the tears flew.
Today was a unique
DAY!

Ihop City

Friday mornings, Ryan and I usually take the time that we have alone and enjoy it at our favorite spot-IHOP! I love that place. Fresh coffee and food. Ryan had to work today so unfortuately I have been sitting here struggling....maybe Dylan and I will head that way after I pick him up! Ryan and I have been together for nine years now and fast approaching is our anniversary..NINE YEARS of MARRIAGE! Marriage is hard work! I mean this is the toughest yet most beautiful thing I have experienced in my life. I never told anyone that I loved them, I never even had a long term boyfriend until I met Ryan. Sure you have those highschool crushes that my family constantly brings up, but nothing major since highschool until Ryan! He has shown me what true love is. He loves me no matter what. We have been through some really rough patches and still stayed together-and are even stronger because of it.
I just knew the moment that I met him on a cold wintery night that he was meant for me. I met him working as a cocktail waitress in a local bar...ya...I never even gave one guy up there a chance in hell..for I knew what they all wanted. But for some reason Ryan sat at the bar and never said one word to me. I thought what on earth...this guy in not talking, showing off, being rude, getting drunk like crazy...he is actually having a good time with his brother and friend. I eventually saw him on the floor and made sure that he noticed me. I gave him a couple eye catching hints and soon it was off....he NEVER even left the bar that night until I did!!!! HAHA My shift ended at 4:00am!!! HAHAH.
We had the most chemistry that I had ever seen in a LONG time. People were amazed at my tought process that night! I am serious when I say, I never gave a second thought about any guy in there..and once he hit that seat I knew he was MINE! Weird I know....but ever since we have been togther. January 18th is the day we got married and started to enjoy our lives to the fullest!

Missing old times!

Ethan Gossip

It's nice to see Ethan making all A's. He is the apple of my eye and I thank God and Ryan for him daily! Ethan has had quite a struggle adjusting to "socialism" within school. He has made many new friends. Michael Hall and his family are awesome! They have become such close friends all three years togther in the same class. Many nights more to come. His teacher this year calls her self an instructor! She is very serious about her job and plans on making this year the most STRUCTURED year that Ethan has ever had. He
is adjusting...many rewards do come his way. Love you teddy bear!

Dylan loves...Mrs. Mitchell

I have to say that I was very nervous about Dylan starting kindergarten. He is so full of energy, and thinking of him sitting at a desk all day would be torture..atleast for him. He managed to go half day-EVEN though we wanted him to go all day. Each day it get's better and better. We love all his classmates! Mrs. Mitchell graduated from Purdue University and this is her first year teaching! If you ask me it's perfect, they are both full of energy!

Birthday Bash

Kian Campbell is turning four and we headed to Chuckie Cheese to celebrate! This was a huge adjustment for I knew deep down that we may not get another birthday with him for quite sometime...they have moved to Texas! We miss them soo so much! I have been going through a lot of ups and downs! I love you Campbell Family!!!!! Jackson and Kian are so very important!

Daddy Power

Updating you on how Ryan is when he is not stressed working or going to school! I love you baby! Boys admire you and all that you do!!!!!

October Bliss

My sister was married October 16, 2010 and I enjoyed every second! Thank you Jess for giving us beautiful memories. Dylan was the "ring dude" as he called it. My parents and I cried and cried...we love you Jessy..you will always be our "baby" My brother and older sister Tammy was also in the wedding and we all tried to keep it together. It was hard to let her grow up after all she is only 30...lol. We love her dearly and I could not ask for a better aunt for my kids!

Summer has began!!!!!

I love the summer time. It takes me back to when I was a kid growing up in Pittsboro, In. I loved that place...many sweet memories. I could always rely on that old town! I do miss it. Avon I guess is not so bad, we have many changes and lots to do. I am super excited about the Big Lots moving in, can't wait to see what they have.
Both my boys are loving the fresh air and all day hugs/kisses that we share everyday! I hold onto them tightly for I know this precious time will not last. Dylan my youngest is about to turn FIVE years old. I am so excited for the changes he will endure this year but I also look back to the innocent baby he was...I see the curious toddler he was and now, well my goodness all he wants to do is explore. He could stay outside all day if I let him. He loves riding his bike way more than Ethan my oldest ever did. I just know he is going to make great strides this year in who he really is. I love that little boy. Ethan, well he is slowly drifting into another world that seems special to me...he is in love with music. He wants to stop playing sports and make more of his time in music. I am very new to this I never played an instrument and never sang in the choir. I was more softball, volleyball, and swimming! So...we are going to take this one step at a time... but I cannot wait to see where this intrest takes us!!! Goodluck Ethan I know that whatever you do it will be amazing...

Now for Ryan and I. We have been living in a day to day routine and never really have the time for him and I. We need to spend more time as a couple and never ever look back. I know that right now he is sad...

Dylan and his adventure

I look at Dylan grow and mature everyday. I see him act so different than his brother, so full of life and wonder. Ethan thinks about his actions, and Dylan just does it. He is the one that takes that extra step and makes a difference...I love you Dylan and Daddy and I are very proud of you.

Learning to move on....

I hope god stands strong in all of our hearts! Ryan we have to stay strong and together!! That is the true meaning of family!

A New Decade, A New Beginning

Hello all! Hope everyone is doing well.

Goodbye (20)00's, welcome (20)10's. The past decade has brought many changes in our lives - good and bad. Most importantly our marriage and our children. Both have contributed significantly to making me a better person and I am thankful everyday for my wife and children.

Right now I am in a bit of uncertainty with my career and schooling. My new job hasn't quite worked out the way I had hoped. Very demanding, little reward and I recently found out that I will no longer be in the position that I hired in for, with no clear path of where I'm going. Quite frustrating to say the least. I've discussed my possibilities with Melissa but we haven't really came to an agreement on what I should do. I've got a little bit of time before any changes will come about, but I don't want to wait until the last minute to make a decision. I'm not happy and for the first time in a very long time I don't look forward to going into work every day.

My schooling is becoming much more difficult with the demands of my job. At the end of my work day I am usually completely exhausted and have no drive to open a text book to study. I've been going to school and working full-time for over 5 years and I feel it is starting to take a serious toll on my emotional and physical wellness. Our boys are getting older and at a stage where I feel I need to spend as much time with them as possible - provide the male guidance I rarely had growing up. The guilt of being away from them that I have been able to rationalize in the past has begun to manifest itself into a much heavier burden. I miss them dearly every second I am away. The sleep deprived days from the previous nights of studying has started to wear my body down. I feel as though I cannot get enough sleep on the weekends to compensate from the few hours I squeeze in during the week. I know I am not the most physically fit person and I don't want to be in the Indy Star obit at 40 years old.

Basically, the future that I've put in a lot of time and effort to has become an unknown when I thought everything I was doing was helping to make it more predictable. I don't want a cardboard cutout life but I also need some stability. Not sure what is going to happen in the next few months but as long as I can come home to the same people I know I can handle it.

Take care.

Starting the New Year!!!

I have been looking and looking for a good job that could possibly lead me into a career. It's tough. I have been looking for two weeks now and I am not getting to far,I am not giving up! I hardly ever give up. If there is a will there is a way!
The holidays are over tucked away ready for a fresh start! I love breathing the fresh air winter brings! Watching out the window now wondering if everyone I care about and love is okay! I hope so. I love you all. My blessings are to you all.
I am watching my son grow right into a little boy, Dylan Chris Campbell. He is right at the end of special era and at the break of a whole new world, kindergarten! He is so excited but at the same time scared at what lies ahead of him. He wants to jump as high as he can at times and I see that in him. He wants to challenge the world and the world to challenge him! I find him saying and asking things I never heard out of Ethan our first son, Ryan and I look at each other with so much joy! Not that Ethan does not give us joy, but this joy feels different. I feel like I did a better job with the second child and really gave it my all! He seems more bold and determined! I love you baby boy!
My pride and joy as we call him knows that he is the first and there is a lot of changes riding on his back from day to day and he still remains to have that smile that melts your heart..Ethan. I look at him and wonder how I got so lucky. He is so adorable and loves to be held. I cherish him. Even though these tough little boys drive me crazy, when they are not around I start to get a little shaky. I feel all dark and unhappy and the instant that I see them again, the take all that away in a second! I love you boys!
My goals are as follows. 1. Lose Weight 2. Parenting Class or two 3. Save to take a Summer Vac. 4. JOB and 5. Grow my hair out


I hope that I have strength to follow through with all of this! Wish me Luck!
MC

Loving Life!

Getting together with family and friends is nice babe! Can't wait till Christmas! Ethan is doing super in basketball and loves his new coach! Dylan is tackling letters, numbers, shapes, address, phone numbers, and most of all tieing his SHOES..almost there! Ryan is handling new job (which is very demanding), and school which I have no idea how he even does it...and most of all loving us. Me...well I handle the house...which is rewarding when you go to get cloths or bath towels..always there...and never out! I love being on top of the housework but I would rather be working! Makn that Money!!!! But all in good time! I love being here with Dylan and he loves it too! I hope that Ryan and I keep this going because many family and friends don't get to hear from us that much!

My desktop wallpaper. Love this picture. 2 more weeks of school this semester and then a much needed break! Looking forward to the holidays with our family and friends.

Better Late Than Never (I Guess)

Sometimes I let the hustle and bustle of every day life overshadow the more important details that keep getting lost in translation. And, unfortunately, it's my family that are the obscured details right now. I can honestly say that I've never been this busy...ever. The pressures from my employer and my school have distorted my priorities to the point that I can't keep straight what my priorities are anymore. I feel I take the support of my family for granted too often and I should tell them how important they are to my success and how much they are appreciated - even if I don't spend as much time with them as I should. I was looking at a slideshow of family pictures on Melissa's facebook page last night and it was very disheartening to notice that I haven't been involved in a lot of family events due to my obligations to school and work. It was really hard to take in.

I was happy to make it to Ethan's basketball practice on Monday night. I really enjoy sitting back and watching him interact with his peers and playing a game he really likes. I am so proud of his efforts at school and his grades show it. Dylan has really grown into such a loving boy. He can melt my heart in a second. His energy level is unparalleled and he is always smiling. I love watching them grow into such different personalities.