Valentine Rambles

New blog

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:56:00 +0000

For those of you who are wondering if I fell off the face of the Earth. Well I did, sort of LOL.

I actually started a new blog recently. Just go to 5valentines.com and you can catch up on our recent happenings, and you can sign up for email notifications just like I had on this blog.

See you over there!

Susan Koman Breast Cancer 5k

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 01:49:00 +0000

(Yasmin is 3rd from the right in this picture)

Today I had the privilege of seeing and walking with some amazing women. Women who are survivors of breast cancer. We walked with our friend Yasmin, who at the age of 32 became a breast cancer survivor after a double mastectomy and grueling chemo treatments.

I walked for Yasmin, JoAnn Oelke Stevenson, but most importantly for Linda, my step-mother, who is so bravely going through chemo treatments right now. The positive outlooks common among these amazing women are key to their positive outcomes, of that I have no doubt.

Watching the "survivors march" as everyone prepared to start the 5k, and watching the amazing women finish the race with much fanfare truly brought tears to my eyes. I can only hope that our efforts will help find a cure so that my daughters will never have to deal with this terrible disease.

Chihuly at night

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 04:54:00 +0000

My friend Margie came up from Florida for a visit, and she, another friend Michelle and I have had a great time going on photo safari's while she's here.

There is currently an exhibit of Chihuly blown glass at Cheekwood, a grand estate turned botanical garden and museum. It can be seen during the day, but it is amazing at night! Here are a few of the pictures I took at the exhibit.

Where did 20 years go?

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Mon, 31 May 2010 04:19:00 +0000

20 years ago tonight, I was in labor.
20 years ago tonight, I was still waiting for the child I had waited so long for.
20 years ago tonight, I was ready for her to hurry up because I was tired.
20 years ago tonight, I was unaware that I still had several hours to go.
20 years ago tonight, I was walking the floor, along with a lot of other people waiting for her.
20 years ago tonight, I was wondering what she would be like.
20 years ago tonight, I was wondering if she would have red hair, because I had dreamed she did (she doesn't LOL)
20 years ago tonight, I was ready.
20 years ago tonight, I was unclear of just how un-ready I was.
20 years ago tonight, I was already in love with my daughter, and I hadn't even met her yet.
20 years ago tonight, I was about to learn how much that love would grow.

Big blue eyes, Carrot the stuffed bunny, dress-up, plays, soccer, basketball, the "goth" phase, big sister, young lady, beautiful woman. This is my daughter.

I love you Meagan! Happy birthday.

Soccer time again

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 04:05:00 +0000

Robbie is playing soccer again this season. He is doing a great job, as long as he stays out of the goal. He much prefers to be on offense, so he gets very bored very quickly in the goal LOL Once he is bored he loses track of the game and he sometimes gets scored on. So far, though, his team is 2-0. Hopefully they will keep up the good work this season.

Katie's Party

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:14:00 +0000

Katie's birthday party was today. Yes, just hers. Robbie decided he wanted to go to someone elses ice skating party instead LOL.

We went to a kids cooking place, and the girls had a lot of fun making their own mini pizzas. I think Katie liked having a party of her own :)

Lots going on these days!

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:19:00 +0000

Robbie and Katie have been very busy lately.

The other week they had a musical play at school called Go Fish. It was REALLY cute. Katie was supposed to an eel, and Robbie was a shark.

No birthday pictures yet. Weather has been to cold or wet. Will get some soon though.

Spring soccer has started, so there will be more soccer pictures coming soon. I sat out there tonight for practice and FROZE, but Robbie was a happy clam because there was mud everywhere, and I don't think he missed a single puddle LOL

OK, so I've really fallen off the blogging wagon

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:40:00 +0000

I promise to post some pictures from the past several months, but I wanted to post one really quick.

Our Girl Scout group had a Father/Daughter dance last weekend, and of course I made sure Rob and Katie went. Katie had such a good time, and was so proud to be there with him. I was taking pictures of all the dads and daughters, so I got to hang out with them too.

Here is a picture of Katie and her date :)

Scouts everywhere!

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:11:00 +0000

Robbie and Katie are officially scouts. Here is a picture of Robbie in his uniform, and of Katie with her fellow Brownies. Yes, the picture was taken in our house. Yes, I am the troop leader of 8 squealing girls. I think an essential part of my uniform will be ear plugs.

It really is true

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:01:00 +0000

They say a parent's perfect revenge is that you get a child just like you.

OK guys, you win. She's too much like me (maybe even more like me than "he who shall not be named").

And it's driving me crazy.

If both of us survive her choosing a major and getting through college it will be a bloody miracle.

I hope you're happy :)

On another note, wanted to share a new piece of her artwork. The kid has a lot of talent.

Soccer season starts with a bang!

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 02:04:00 +0000

Today was Robbie's first soccer game! The team played really well, and we are so proud of all of them!

Robbie actually scored the first goal of the season for his team! He also played goalie for a short while and saved a couple of goals. He really focused and paid attention, and we could not be more proud of how he played! Here are a few pictures from the game. (it is a link to an online album)

Nolensville Titans Soccer 2009

Margie's birthday weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:34:00 +0000

Over Labor Day Weekend 4 of us got together and went to one of Michelle's cabins to celebrate our friend Margie's 50th birthday (Margie took the family picture at the top of the page) We had such a great time and got SO many pictures. We hiked and shopped and hung out and enjoyed the mountain air! Here are a few pictures from our weekend.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:37:00 +0000

I am heading to Blowing Rock for the weekend for a girls weekend. My good friend Margie is turning 50, and we are celebrating in style.

Thought I would share a couple of pictures. The first 2 are with my new lens Rob bought me. I LOVE this lens so much!! It is so sharp and clear. Grabbed a couple of snaps of the kids yesterday afternoon.

And here are a couple of shots of Chloe. She is such a sweetheart. She and Hammock became fast friends.

On a sadder note, we lost Josie last week to a nasty virus. We miss her. The hard part about having animals is losing them.

Much love to everyone!

Soccer...part deux

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:00:00 +0000

We are trying soccer...again. Robbie went to evaluations on Saturday, and I have to say for not having played on a team ever, he did well. We are waiting to hear from his coach to find out when practices will be. I think he will do well this time.

Always the opposite

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:57:00 +0000

Have to laugh at my kids. The other night they were getting ready for bed, putting on the clothes they want to wear the next day (yes my kids rarely sleep in their pajamas). Robbie comes out checks his shirt, pants, stands and puts his shoes outside of his feet (to simulate wearing them)and puts on his hat and says "yep, I look good". ... Katie comes down with clashing colors, and as she is walking away I notice her shirt is on backwards and she is oblivious to it. What's wrong with this picture LOL

First day of 2nd grade

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:15:00 +0000

Can you believe it? In some ways it seems like the summer was very long, and in some ways it seems to have flown by.

Here are the requesit first day of school pictures. I told Robbie don't worry, in a few years I'll start forgetting to do them LOL.

Goodbye Dominick

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:03:00 +0000

On Friday, July 3rd, Rob's dad, Dominick, passed away. At 93 he lived a long full life, but we were not ready to lose him so soon after losing Rob's mom. They passed 7 months and 1 day apart.

The sad thing is what we have found out about him since he passed. In going through his papers we learned:

He saved a man from drowning
He safely landed a plane after an emergency on takeoff
He received several commendations from generals while in the Marines
He received a thank you/recommendation letter from the Andrews Sisters, saying his band was one of the best they had ever played with.
He received a letter of recommendation from Rudy Valle
He had a letter of recommendation written for him to Eddie Rickenbacker (WW1 Ace)
He received the equivalent of special ops training in WWII

He never told us these things while he was alive, and we have to wonder why.

He was given military honors at the funeral. A Navy honor guard was in attendance, and he would have been so proud. We hope he smiled as he looked down on the proceedings.

New Haircut

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Mon, 25 May 2009 14:13:00 +0000

Katie got her hair cut this weekend, and it is SO cute! Our friend Margie took some pictures for before, during and after LOL

Overdue update!

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:59:00 +0000

I didn't realize it had been so long since I updated the blog! Things have been hectic around here since the beginning of April.

Rob's company processes tax payments for the IRS, so from the beginning of April until tax day things were crazy with long hours and swing shifts.

THEN, the were up against a deadline for a PCI compliance audit, which is needed for them to continue to be able to take Visa payments. After many long days, including a couple of 36 hour ones over 2 weeks, they succeeded in getting their PCI certificate back and all is good. Had they not gotten their compliance, they would have basically had to shut down and everyone would have been looking for jobs.

At the end of April Meagan completed her first year of college! It's hard to believe. The best part is, she made DEAN'S LIST AGAIN!! We are very proud of her. On the 31st of this month she will turn 19 and officially start the last year of her teens. THAT is really hard to believe! I'm hoping to get her out for some pictures very soon.

Other than that, we are wet and green in Tennessee. While our friends and family in Florida are terribly dry, we've had LOTS Of rain, overflowing creeks around here on several occasions. But it is all beautiful and green.

That is all for now. Hope all is well with everyone. Still hoping to make it to Florida sometime this summer, but probably won't be until late July if we do.

10 years ago today!

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:13:00 +0000

Hard to believe isn't it!

Yep, 10 years ago today Rob and I snuck off and got married.

I'm sure the next 10 will be just as wonderful :)

http://www.bethvalentinephotography.com/slideshows/anniversary.html

The outtakes

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:01:00 +0000

As usual, photographing Robbie is never easy. This is what I had to weed through yesterday to get some pictures of him LOL

7 year pics

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 02:46:00 +0000

Robbie let me take their 7 year birthday pictures today. Granted, I still got plenty of faces that I will share later, but for now here are a few keepers.

Birthday happenings

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:36:00 +0000

Finally posting some pics from the birthday party. It's been a busy week, and I've managed to get a cold.

It was a CRAZY, chaotic night, but everyone had fun and that's what counts.

A great video

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:44:00 +0000

I saw this posted on Facebook, and I just loved it so had to share here too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGYx3

Heard from the back seat

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:31:00 +0000

Robbie: Katie, we will be 7 on March 4th. That's really close!

Katie: I KNOW! I know when our birthday is Robbie! (said in her most exasperated voice)

Robbie: I am so done being 6.