10 years ago..

So it's been 10 years ago since Freeman and I first met.

Here is our story...

It was my first week of college at Scottsdale Community College, and I was hanging out with my sister and her friends in the cafeteria. I looked behind me and saw the cutest guy ever, playing pool with some guys. He had dark hair, amazing eyes, great smile, and had freckles. I told my sister that I thought he was so cute and she was all, "Oh, that's Idaho. I can introduce you guys tomorrow." So this wasn't like me at all to chase after a guy, but I felt like I had to meet him.

So the next day, I waited 2 hours in the cafeteria for my sister (turned out she had a lab she forgot about) I was sitting at one of the tables and this guy, Jason, comes up and starts flirting with me and trying to pick me up. I saw the cute guy walk into the room, and told Jason, "that I wasn't interested in him and that I was actually waiting around to meet that guy over there." He turned around and laughed and said, "You don't want to date that guy, he's Mormon!" And I said, "Well, those are the best guys to date!" So anyway, Freeman walks up and says, "Jason, why don't you ever introduce me to the pretty girls?" He smiled and walked away. My sister finally shows up with her friends after that.

A few minutes later, Freeman walks up and announces that he was tired of losing to everyone in pool and he needed to beat someone. My sister told him that I stunk at pool (not true, we had a pool table at home) and volunteered me. Well we had a great time playing and I did beat him in pool. We exchanged numbers and he told me he'd called me. Well, I left for work and when I got home he called and asked me out on a date for that night. So we went to Fiddlesticks at Scottsdale Pavillions and played minature golf (I hit some live rodent living in one of the holes, and still beat him) We went over and saw the dumbest movie ever (Eye of the Beholder). And yes we had our first kiss. Oh, let me rearrange the last part. Before the previews even started Freeman made his move and kissed me!

So that is the story of our first day and I can't believe I truly married my dream guy. I think he is the funniest guy ever, and can always find humor in any situation. He is my best friend and will always be.

Nate's 2nd Birthday

Welcome to Nathan's Street!

Our Nate loves Elmo so we threw him a Sesame Street Birthday!

We had the letter of the day: N

Number of the Day: 2

And sang songs, colored, and played games. We all had so much fun and Nate loved all his new presents... and became very protective over them too. (I think the word "Mine" entered his vocabulary that same day...)

Kate & Nate + 8

Yes, Best Friends Forever, these two are so cute together

What Up, I'm 2!
Cousin Miley, Nate, and Katelyn

The whole birthday crew

Megan holding our little Preston

Cousin Robby

Nate checking out a new Batman Backpack

Duck Hunt

Ernie and Burt lost their ducks so the kids are helping them find them.

Happy Halloween 2009

Halloween 2009

Family Picture of us all dressed up.

For those of us who has known us over the years...

Yes, this is our 6th year in a row as Cowboys

Here is a pretty convincing Spiderman... but it is really Freeman Jr.

Nate had is face painted at our ward's Trunk or Treat

This is a wierd expression, I think he was just tired.

Nate, Pierce, Laif & Freeman

These are one of our boys best friends.

Guessing which cup the candy is under.


FHE Activity

For one of our family home evenings we all painted pumpkins.

(these were the pumpkins picked from our preschool fieldtrip)

Left: Nate's

Right: Freeman Jr. (Isn't that creepy coming from a 3 year old?)

Preston hanging out.

He didn't feel like dressing up, just watching some Halloween specials on TV...

Here are the boys going trick or treating in our neighborhood.

They were so cute saying "trick or treat" & Nate just growling at everyone.

Preschool Fieldtrip to Tolmachoff Farm

For Freeman's Preschool we went on a field trip to Tolmachoff Farm. We were able pick some produce to bring home, a pumpkin and enjoyed a corn maze, petting animals and playing on the farm! It was a great learning experience for the kids and I think Freeman enjoyed seeing all the vegetables and fruits in their fields. (He's been my helper in the garden so to actually see something that really grows fascinated him.)

Here is our Preschool Group before entering the farm

Nate kept coming back to look at the baby pigs

How dare he! This guy came by to give the kids stamps on their hands for the train ride and Nate didn't seem to pleased

Out of all pumpkins... I try not to interfere with my kids choices but I had to tell Nate to find a "Happier Pumpkin."

Nate loved picking fresh produce

Nate, Free and Tiff

Petting the Chicks

Nate was so excited to go into the farm

Petting the goats

Corn Maze

Campout

Freeman has been wanting to take the boys camping for quite some time, and after having the baby, Freeman thought it was the perfect time to take them and give me a chance to take a break and spend time with just Preston. Freeman found a great campsite in Camp Verde and him, Uncle Nick and the boys had a great time camping.

Nate and Freeman in their very own Sleeping Bags!

Off on their own quad adventure

Uncle Nick and Freeman

Mmmm.. Pancake breakfast

Dunking the boys

The night before they roasted marshmellows and made smores. I heard they loved them!

Father and Sons

Either Nick is helping Freeman across, or ready to push him in... He always has something up his sleeve so I'm not quite sure on this pic..

Tree Climbing

What's in a name?

So here is the breakdown of how we picked out the name Preston Brooks.

Preston: Freeman was originally a twin, and before his twin passed on they were going to be name Preston and Thurston. When Thurston died, they changed Free's name to Freeman after his dad. So, yes Freeman has two kids named after him. He's like that one guy... George Forman.. naming all the kids after him. Just kidding. Anyway, we also wanted the name to end in a "N" just like his brothers. (FreemaN, NathaN)

Brooks: We would joke around with our moms about naming one of our kids after them, and we found out that both of our maternal grandmother's maiden name is Brooks. (No we aren't related) So Brooks is in honor of our mom's. :)

Preston Brooks Carney

On September 15, 2009 at 1:04pm, Preston Brooks Carney was born. He was 8lbs 8oz and 20.5 inches long! I was induced 2 weeks early because he was measuring big and it was once way to lessen my chances of a c-section. They were going to call us in Monday night but the hospital was so busy we were going to have to go in the next day. Well, Freeman stayed up late playing XBox and what not, and as soon as he layed down for bed at 5:00am the hospital called and said we could come in! I was laughing so hard, but Freeman couldn't find what was so funny... ;)

I was prepared to have my labor as natural as possible and was looking forward to try the technique called hypnobirthing. My first nurse didn't seem supportive and was saying, "Oh, you are going to need this and that, you'll need potocin because we want your contractions to start and we want them to hurt..." Fortunately I wasn't a push over and stood my ground and said, "I want you to talk to my doctor and this is what I want. " Thankfully, the nurse's shift was ending so I didn't need to deal with her. I was already having contractions so all the doctor had to do was break my water and my contractions began.

The hypnobirthing worked for the first 2 hours, but at 7cm I was screaming for something to relax me! Yikes! Then an hour later I had to tell Freeman to get the nurse because my body was ready to push and get the baby out! The nurse didn't look convinced but as soon as she checked she said I was ready to go and I can't believe how fast those nurses could move! Okay, so for this next part I screamed until it was over, so, no hypnobirthing wasn't a total success but it did help!

Preston Brooks

Enjoying some phototherapy for his Jaundice.

He was Combs positive which is where the baby and mother's blood antibodies mix which causes the high level of bilirubin, causing jaundice.

Here is my welcome home cake!

The house was spotless and I had pictures drawn by my boys and husband as gifts!

Kisses from big brother Freeman

Freeman helping with the feeding




Daddy Freeman reading bed time stories to the boys.

Preston at 2 weeks

already at 9 lbs 5 oz

Grandma Jolene with the Carney boys

Summer Recreation

This Summer Freeman was busy learning gymnastics and soccer. Here are some pictures of his last day of classes.

Gymnastics

Walking the Balance Beam


Nathan copying the kids in class. He can't wait to be in his own class!

Straddle Stretch

Body Positions

The kids had to go from a "tuck" position, and open up to a "Star," and then with their legs together and arms straight up in the air. Here is Freeman in the Star position.

Freeman recieving his ribbon!

Soccer

Practicing his kicks

Stopping the Ball

or

Freezing the Ball

Freeman recieved a soccer medal! He is sneaking in his thumbs up...

Freeman was so excited about his medal that he had Dad Freeman pin it up on his wall, along with his ribbon from gymnastics.

Game of Soccer

Freeman would run around with the other kids, but with his personality he doesn't like to take away the ball from the other kids. He was one of the youngest in the class, so next year we hope to see him steal the ball away more. He is a great listener and loves to do the soccer drills. We surprised him with his own soccer ball and cones that him and Nate use all the time.



Team Picture