2013 Roe Fam Winery Trip

This past weekend was our 4th annual Winery trip in Defiance, Missouri.  Each year we go to the Sugar Creek Winery and seem to have a great time.

Check out the view!


This year didn't seem to be quite as cold as last year, but we had to make a table swap after a couple hours to find a spot in the sun!  There was a bitter wind and the first table we picked had walnuts and leaves falling very close.  We didn't need anyone getting hit in the head by a walnut ... even if it would've been funny! :) What a view! 

These trips always seem to make my think of Robert, and this year wasn't any different. I was actually feeling quite sad at several points during the trip.  All I could think of was the two trips that I experienced with Robert. Our first year with some people A and K being a bit over-served and making quite the memorable year.  We won't release any of those embarrassing details....

2010

2011

 While walking out to the vineyards this year, I had to choke back tears. This is where Robert had planned to propose to me two years ago however he chose right outside the bathroom ... romantic! We were taking pictures out here together as a newly engaged couple and I was beyond excited to start our life together...

This year ... I was out there with 3 different couples ... the dating couple .. the engaged and ALMOST married couple ... and the married couple ... and Me.  It was a moment of sadness for me definitely missing my man...

Love this girl <3 Besties since grade school!

The "no gum" smile

 I did have a great time .... It was a fun day full of new memories and time spent with family and friends!  There's nothing better than spending as much time as possible with family and friends ... because after all .. our days are numbered! 

Counting down the days to Tobyjonesy day!  One month from Wednesday!!!! 

Weekend with Kiddos

My Mom and I got the joy of spending the weekend with both of my nephews and my niece. My oldest brother and SIL are both working for farmers which means they are VERY busy this time of year, so Dylan and Jacob were lucky enough to spend their 4 day weekend with me! :) 

Friday morning, Jacob came to school and helped me for 1/2 a day. He was so good with the kinders! He was reading to them and making sure they were staying on task ... always willing to give them a high five for a job well done.  It was that day that "23 kinders fell in love with him" that he decided he wanted to be a kinder teacher when he grows up ... I'm not sure he'd feel the same if he was there for a whole day ... ha! 

Friday afternoon, my Mom, the boys, and I packed up and headed to Indy to spend some time with a precious baby Brynzlee.  My brother was in a wedding this weekend, so we got the opportunity to keep Bryn during the rehearsal dinner Friday night and then overnight on Saturday, so N and K could have an "adult only" night and celebrate the wedding with their friends. 

Poor P is such a good sport...

We definitely stayed busy while we were there! 

Friday night consisted of a walk to their neighborhood park(...with 2 kids, a baby, and 4 dogs) and a trip to Orange Leaf for some Froyo!  

Saturday we did some shopping, went to the park, went to church, and out for dinner.  Bryn did so good staying on the go! She'd fall asleep almost each time we got in the car and would wake up happy when we reached our destination! 

Enjoying Mexican as a "big" girl!

My bro and SIL made it home Sunday very exhausted!  Too bad when they got home ... Brynzlee was finishing a 2+ hour nap.  She must've been exhausted! 

Bryn's tongue curl she loved to show us

so very precious

Sporting that Cards headband :)

 What a fun weekend having all of the kiddos together!

Love these kiddos!!!

Having Monday off sure makes the week seem better. Happy Columbus day! :)

Doug and Chelsea RoCo's Wedding

Wedding season for the RoCo's has begun! 

Doug and Chelsea said "I Do" and officially became Mr. and Mrs. Connor this past Saturday. It was definitely a weekend full of all kinds of emotions, but everything turned out just perfect, or as perfect as it could have minus some very special angels that had to attend from Heaven. 

I was thrilled when Doug and Chelsea asked me to be a part of their day.  What an honor!  Standing up there on Saturday, I couldn't help but think "that should've been me officially becoming Mrs. Connor exactly 1 year and 1 week ago" .. but I couldn't be more excited for Doug and Chelsea to have their dream come true.

Here's some pictures:

Special SIL time with the flower girl

Walking down the aisle...

I've always heard that angels can appear in pictures through "circles" or "spots" seen in them. I couldn't help but notice this picture that Robert's Aunt captured of me down the aisle with two special angels on either side.  One by my head and the other by my arm.  I knew Robert was right there with me ... and this picture just comes to prove that point. 

Ceremony pictures

The previous flower girl, Addison, handled her job just perfectly. She was a little nervous when she started down the aisle, and may have forgot to throw any leaves until the very end, but she made it down the aisle and right next to me. She was so entertaining while she talked during the wedding. Here's some points to remember:
~Right after she made it up the stairs and next to me ... before Chelsea made it all the way down the aisle she said "Is it over yet?"
~She noticed one of the photographers in the balcony and had her hand over her eyes pointing saying, "Do you see him? I do!!"
~In the middle of the ceremony she looked at me and said, "Did you know Doug has a brother named Crazy Jake ... he's right there." (as she points across the alter)
~And when the minister asked us to pray she informed me that she "prays at her school all the time."

The photographer captured a simply precious picture of her when we were asked to bow our head in prayer.

Don't let this fool you ... this was the only time that she wasn't talking. 

Reception Pics

It was a great weekend full of some much needed time with many family and friends! 

What a beautiful wedding! Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Connor!

One Year

I wish this post was being written to reflect on Robo and I's first year of marriage.  It could discuss the highs, the lows, and everything in between. I wish I was looking back at the pictures that reflected all of those plans put into place to make my dream come true of becoming Robert's wife.

Instead, I think of the day exactly 17 months and 6 days ago that made all those plans come crashing down.I can't help but think of:
-the wedding dress that I only tried on 3 times that's in a box
-the engagement ring that I wear on my right hand, reminding me daily of the love of a truly special man
-the wedding band that sits in a ring box on my dresser....that I sometimes try on just to remember how beautiful it is
-our first house together that is all packed up in boxes and stored ....
and all of the memories that Robert and I made together.  Those short years with him felt like a lifetime of love and happiness. 

"It's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all"

I was sharing my story with a co-worker this week and she said "Look at you. All you've been through and you still come to work smiling each day and loving on all these kids." It's definitely those kids that keep me going. I'm so thankful to love my job!


Spending Saturday with Robert's family and friends this weekend was definitely where I needed to be. Memories kept coming back to me discussing this wonderful man who was taken from his earthly home way to soon. 

The drive home tonight was bittersweet. Tears were flowing. Tears of sadness for missing the one man that brought so much joy to my life .. and tears of happiness for all of the wonderful people I have to pick  me up at times like this. 

I'm looking forward to the gathering of the RoCo's at Doug and Chelsea's wedding this coming weekend. It'll be sad to be experiencing it without Robert, but I know he'll be watching over all of us! 

Robert, I miss you and love you more than words can even begin to describe. I thank you for all you've given to me and would just like to say Happy Anniversary! It will always be our anniversary to me. 

Here's some pictures to share with you from our engagement session almost 2 years ago. 

Amy's Bridal Shower

Yesterday turned out just perfect! 

Lots of planning and prepping came together for a day to celebrate Amy and her upcoming wedding! 

We started early leaving home about 7 to head to STL to start the festivities. My SIL's mom and sister road with my mom and I down there. We met Amy and my SIL at Costco to buy all the fruit and pick up the cake. We returned to Amy's to cut and skewer fruit, gobble down some lunch, and pack everything to head to the shower!  We were able to throw the decorations up in about 15 minutes thanks to the help of everyone!!  Mom and my Aunt also made a run back to Amy's for a few items that we forgot. 

The shower began with introductions and people grabbing food.  Don't worry .. there were NO games .. since Amy and I are not game lovers.  We talked, ate, opened presents, and left.  Lots of quality time with special people from near and far. It's so nice for everyone to get together and to see people that we don't get to see as much as possible.  

Here's some pictures from the day.  Be sure to check Amy and K's blogs for more pictures to come! 

Amy and her soon to be MIL!

Amy and both of her Moms

Very Proud Grandma

Mullink Sisters

3 Generations

Everything turned out great!  I'm so thankful for the 35ish people who came to shower Amy with love! Looking forward to celebrating together again at the wedding!! 

Such a Sweet Moment

I know I've said it before, but I love watching my nephew play football.  It's a "Proud Aunt" moment to watch him play a sport he loves and to see how much skill and confidence he's gained since starting last year. This fall is so busy that I won't get to make it to as many of the games that I'd like, so my Mom and I plan to go to as many as we can to cheer on #56! 

I have to share a story from his game today.  

Dylan's team was having a great game and playing well.  In the 4th quarter, they were up 37-0.  There was an "official's time out" called.  Next thing I knew, they had moved onto the next play.  The other team was in possession, and from the looks of it, I thought I was watching a play in sloowwwwww motion.  One of the players on the other team had the ball and was running towards the end zone. Most of the players on Dylan's team weren't moving too fast, and there were a couple chasing after the runner.  They kept diving and missing him.  While he was running, my SIL informed me that this player on the other team had autism. The coaches agreed to allow him to score a touchdown if they were winning or losing by quite a bit towards the end of the game.  

What came next was almost a tear jerker (unless you're Kathy Roe ... because she was already crying...).  The player made it all the way to the end zone.  He dropped the ball and made his celebratory stance.  Other players were coming up and hugging him and both of the teams and crowds were applauding.  The player ran off the field and jumped into the coaches arms hugging him.  It was such a proud moment for him and a time for him to *shine*! 

This moment brought me back to reality.  It was amazing to see two teams of young players allowing this player his own chance to score.  

The teacher in me pointed out that this was such a "teachable moment" for the players on both teams. How wonderful for them to see two coaches come together to allow a star to shine. Seeing my nephew's team clapping and cheering melted my heart.  

It's so good to see that there are still great people in this world, and sometimes it's the little things in life that lead to big lessons learned! 

What a special day, and I'm sure this player was elated.  I'm so glad I was able to witness this play! 

Hope you have a great week! 

Next up .... tobejonesy bridal shower!!! 

I'm Still Here

Don't you worry, I'm still here and breathing ... just been busy and can I just tell you that kindergarten is simply exhausting!

I keep telling people this year that we could make some money if we just had a reality tv show of the students of Hope Academy.  There's certain ones that you just have to turn your head and laugh!  Parks, Burns, and I sure do have quite the interesting group of kinders this year.  

We've have one student refuse to come in from the playground... not just once, but TWICE ... The second time the assistant principal went out to get her.  Her reason for not coming in .. "well ... I just wanted to play" 
This same student one day threw herself back in a chair exclaiming, "Mrs. Burns .... there's something wrong with me ... I really need to go to Ms. Pets room ... I just can't learn"  ... if only you knew this girl. 

My class this year consists of very busy busy BUSY children.  I have one that screams almost daily that I "can't talk to him that way ... I don't even know what DFS means!"  I actually got screamed at twice today.  He came over to apologize for the first time ... and when he got mad again he made sure to scream "AND NOW ... I'M NOT EVEN SORRY!"  Good thing I just turn my head and laugh.  

Today, my principal informed me that I just need to "get them straightened out" ... I'm trying my best.  

Then I come across things such as this ... 

.... and I'm brought back to reality.  My heart hurts for so many of  my students because they've been through more in their short 5 years .. than I have in my life.  (and let me just say that I've been through quite a bit ... but I'm also soooo blessed).  Many of these students just need someone to love and care about them.  Now, if you ask my Mom and sis ... they say I'm mean.  It's called "tough love", and at the end of the day ... I hope my kiddos know just how much I love them.  Even my kid that screams at me tells me almost every day that he loves me.  Makes my heart melt .... 

Besides work, I've been quite busy soaking up some time with the family!  

This past weekend, my Mom and I headed to STL to help with some Tobejonesy day details.  I was a little worried at first because I'm not quite as crafty as my dear sis ... and sometimes I have a heard time picturing the visions in her head.  After WAYYY too long at Hobby Lobby and even a trip to JoAnn's, we got all the supplies needed for a craft.  It turned out so well, and I'm pretty sure we accomplished the Amy Roe vision ... unless she just said that to make me feel better. 

Here's one choice of fabric we picked out ... the ONLY thing we could find in this "teal but not quite teal" blue that Amy dreamed up ...

I know it's kind of tablecloth/curtain fabric ... but I promise you'll be surprised with how it turned out!  

This week, I also able to attend my nephew's JFL game.  I really enjoy watching him play and he's definitely gained some confidence since last year.  Here's some action shots ...

 One of the many reasons I love fall.  Watching football is so fun ...especially when you're a proud aunt!  Love my #56! 

It's definitely been a busy, busy couple of weeks!  Each day seems to get better at school, and I know I'll look back on these beginning days and feel like my kinders have come such a long way. BUT at the end of the day ... I feel like this...

Looking forward to a 3 day weekend that will include some family time!  There's nothing better than time with family!