This weekend calls for a road trip. My brother is getting married on Saturday in Indiana. We will drive out early morning on Friday and then drive back on Sunday. Here are a few shots of them after they announced their engagement.

Yesterday Jared and I picked up some subs and had a picnic at the property where we got married. We needed some chill time together and he suggested taking a picnic. God has placed the most wonderful man into my life.

Even “Chuck” had a good time.

No, not baby babies. Baby cows.

My mom’s friend Mel runs a farm. Two weekends ago I spent some time in the mud and muck to help capture some sweet moments with her favorite calf, Sierra. Every morning Mel opens her door and Sierra runs and gives her kisses. She said that not many people believed her so she wanted proof.

Mel also has a horse, a minature horse, and a pony that chill with the cows.

Thanks Mel – I got some great shots.

When I was sixteen, my cousin Vanessa was born. Two days shy of a year later, her brother Zachary was born, the summer I turned seventeen. My sister and I babysat them quite frequently and were around for a large portion of their “tot” lives. When Zach was two, I went away to college. Samm, my sister, graduated two years after me and spent more time with them. While I was in Mansfield going to college, I missed out on a lot of their lives. Four years ago this June, Vanessa and Zach were in my wedding. This is the Zach that I remember…

It was emotional for me knowing that I would now be living in Mansfield all the time and not getting to see them over the summer when I wanted to or on frequent weekend trips “home”.

To my surprise, about a month ago, my aunt called me and said Zach would like to come and stay with us some weekend and watch Star Wars with you guys. On Friday night, Jared and I met them in Troy and brought Zach back with us. The agenda called for all six Star Wars movies.

I didn’t know what to expect from this kid, who is now 10, but in my mind stays at about 5 permanently. There are times when I am talking to Vanessa or Zach and I catch myself treating them like the little babies I remember leaving so long ago. We had so much fun this weekend. Jared is still trying to recuperate from the flu, so we laid low. Friday night we watched the first two of the middle trilogy, made popcorn, and played video games.

Zach showed me some of his artwork, freehand I might add …

Saturday brought the other 4 movies, a “hike”, and cookies.

We took him back to Troy this morning to meet his parents. He wanted to stay longer and I was so touched that I get to have a relationship back with this “baby” that I once held so near and dear to my heart. I was painfully aware of the years that have passed since I last took real time to sit down and talk with Zach or make time in my “busy” life to stop and see him and Vanessa. Hopefully this weekend will pave the way for many more to come.

Jared hasn’t been feeling well since Saturday. While we were at my parents we stayed in our pj’s practically all weekend. Monday morning Jared woke up and said that he wasn’t going into work. Jared is very particular about his job and missing work. He has an amazing work ethic and for him to miss work is a HUGE deal. When I came home to check on him at lunch on Monday he was still sleeping. He slept until 3 that afternoon. Today he didn’t go to work either, so I took him to the doctor’s this afternoon. The prognosis is the flu. I took this shot of him Friday night when it was first starting to hit him.

So keep him in your prayers. He has orders from the doctor to stay off work till next week.

I said in my earlier post that we visited with my brother. Here is a shot Jared snapped of us.

And one final shot of my aunt and uncle’s puppy, Mowzer.

Last night I scanned and uploaded some pictures of me from way back when. I cannot believe that it is March 3rd of 2008 already. Time flies so fast, too fast really.

Derek, Samantha, and me at Gramma Geiger’s.

Drama queen Danielle on the left and Samantha on the right. I was upset because I couldn’t sit in the chair. Dad and newborn giant Derek. He was over 11 pounds and 23 1/2 inches long.

My first birthday party. Oh dad, those shorts …

Last night Jared and I “babysat” while our friends went out for the hour. Now, as many of you know, Jared and I do not have children nor do we see them in the IMMEDIATE future. And by immediate I mean 6 months. ;). I love going down to Amy’s from time to time to watch Ella and “the twins”. Last night was one of those nights. Jared doesn’t usually go with me so the twins haven’t really warmed up to him all that much yet. I want to have children. I do. But sometimes Jared and I drop from exhaustion at the end of a week and look at each other and say .. how do we do this with kids ??? With a 3 1/2 yr. old and 1 1/2 yr. old twins, life can get crazy. Amy and Jim deal amazingly with it and give us the answer that everyone gives us. You just do it.

Here I am in the midst of the craziness.

She eventually warmed up to Jared, wait … maybe just the Sierra Mist.

They are pretty much my favorite kids.

We have a new addition to the Barden family.

2008 Jeep Patriot Sport. Black.

We will be accepting shower gifts.

Currency is preferred.