Happy 8th birthday, Cameron Michael!

Today is one of my most special days, the day my Bubba boy, Cameron was born EIGHT years ago!

Oh, Cameron, what can I say about you on this special day of yours?  There are so many things that come to mind when I think of you!  Passionate, persistent, stubborn, sometimes exhausting, loving, kind, sweet..

I always say that the way you born is so fitting to who you are.  When you decided you were ready to enter the world, you were very dedicated & made it happen very quickly.  There was nothing calm about it!  You're still like that.. when you decide you want or "need" something, you want it right now. Two seconds it too long to wait!  

You still love to hear stories about our time together when you shared my body.  You were constantly in motion & I always felt like I was carrying my best friend with me where ever I went, I was never alone.  You always had the hiccups, especially at night & you loved to stretch & pull the heck out of my already too-short torso!

When you were a baby, if you weren't happy, we all knew about it!  You're still like that today.. very vocal about your likes & dislikes, hence, passionate.  Though there are times I can be impatient with you at the end of a long day, I would never change a thing about you.  So many random times, you'll just say the sweetest things.  "You're so pretty, Mom" "Mom, if I could choose any mom in the world, I would choose you."  Feelings are mutual, sweet kid, I'd never choose another son!

Love this picture above so much.  It was a sweet moment with you & incidentally, I was also 16 weeks pregnant with your sister! Speaking of your sister, we definitely need to work on "that whole thing."  The two of you tend to bicker & fight A LOT.  Causes a lot of inharmonious moments in our days.  But, I know you guys love each other.. I can see it!

Nothing speaks truer to me than the quote from The Night You Were Born (which also makes me weep each time it's read!), "On the night you were born, the the moon smiled with such wonder that the stars peeked in to see you, and the night wind whispered, LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN. Because there had never been anyone like YOU.. ever in the world."

Our summer vacation

Well, the kids are back in school & our summer vacation to Georgia was about a month & a half ago, but I'm finally getting around to posting some pictures.  Better late than never, I always say!  So, we try to take a family vacation every other year & this year my mom had the brilliant idea to invite Mike's parents along for a fun, old family Schuth/Pernecky getaway.  Or, like my dad likes to say, a Schunecky vacation!

Fourteen of us stayed comfortably at this amazing house on Lake Arrowhead.

As amazing as the house was outside, it was even better inside.  Three stories for plenty of space for our rowdy group!  We basically got to the house & never left, that's how wonderful it was.  There were four water bikes, kayaks, paddle boards & rafts to just float the day away... bliss.

Mike & I have been together 20 years as of June 27th this year, but we've never gone away with both his family & mine.  We have a different situation since my parents moved from Chicago to Florida when I was eighteen.  Mike & I followed about six years later, but our families have been essentially separated other than visits here & there throughout the years.

So many people that I talked to were surprised we were able to harmoniously travel together.  I'm thankful our families get along & ended up having an absolutely fabulous week.  We relaxed, played cards, cooked & everything just fell into place.

The kiddos had a relaxing time too & loved swimming in the lake.  I was a bit worried I'd be skeeved out about lake swimming, but it was awesome & there were no creatures lurking about, thankfully.

Sisters & Reesey!

The gals

The original Pernecky family minus Erika

Unfortunately, Mike's sister, Erika wasn't able to make it since her teaching job already started.

I'm blessed to have such an awesome family! Don't consider them in-laws!

I stumbled upon this picture of me & my sister & could not stop laughing when I saw it.  Two strong personalities!  

The Schuth/Pernecky Family

The whole goofy clan, all 14 of us!

Sweet Jovi & Lenny!  I adore my in-laws!  My father-in-law is truly one of the most fantastic people I have ever met in my life.  He would do anything for anyone without a single complaint ever.  Other than my grandpa, I've never met someone with such a pure, sweet heart.

My parents!

And then there's my sweet brother-in-law, Nick who I met when he was the ripe, old age of twelve!  

Mike & Mel

Oh my, who is this gorgeous couple?!?!?!?

The "kids"

Our week away went far too fast, as it typically does, but I'll never forget it!