Detroit Tribune article on us!

http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2011/06/19/sports/doc4dfbcfe28c6e8103276258.txt

the One

I remember walking down Buckingham with him holding hands when he looked at me and I knew this time its gonna work and now I am ready to commit the rest of my life to him.

You see Thomas and I have been together since I was 19 and he was 18 as I stared at him at Wades graduation party thinking to myself, DAMN that kid grew up and he is lookin goooood!

Thomas and Wade were best friends growing up and Wade and I were always pretty close so I always knew of Thomas, most call him T and who could forget that name. And not to mention his great abs. Our first official date was a week after Wades party, it was more/less a group date but we held hands for the first time so I consider it a date. We went to the 4th of July fireworks and sat in Canada. That is when this all started...with fireworks.

We stayed inseparable and grew up together by doing all the 20 something phase that you go through, bars, parties, freedom, JOBS, and in the process we became best friends, learned from each other, learned about each other and had ups and downs but Thomas was always my best friend.

Naturally we were entering another stage of our relationship and it seemed right to talk about marriage, we love each other, we didnt want to be apart and it felt like the next step. We were 23 and at a friends wedding reception on a boat on Lake Erie. Thomas took me on a walk to the front of the boat, got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. It was so romantic and beautiful, I was on cloud nine and said yes without hesitation.

As time passed and we wanted a long engagement I started questioning myself, getting married so young, not having found out for myself who I really was (or thought I was) and it wasn't that I didn't love Thomas its that I think because I am a kid from a divorced family I was scared to death that I would do the same thing and I knew I didn't want to set myself up to fail. Then I did the hardest thing I ever had done before and told the man I loved that I needed to go travel and find myself and figure things out (sounds corny but still true). And we cried and we were sad and to this day thinking about it gives me a pit in my stomach. He knew I had to go and he let me and as I drove off in his moms old beat up cougar he would tell me he would wait forever (but I'm sure inside he wanted to kick my ass). So I packed up and followed my brother out to Arizona and spent the next few years floating around the west. But one thing never changed and that was my feelings for Thomas. He dated, I dated, never lasted, no one compared, and we talked to each other all the time when I would come home to visit, we were together and when I was 2000 miles away, in my heart we were still together.

I came home in 99 and the love was still there, just different. We both grew up, we both gained our own independence without leaning on each other or anyone else and I couldn't see Thomas without those same ol' fireworks that we saw on our first date.

And then one day on a walk on a spring day everything felt as if it had fell into place. We decided we were going to get married again, FOR REAL!

After going back and forth on the when and where's, something (or someone) had come into our lives and made it allot easier on the when part of getting married (asap) but the where was still the big question. Then one night my dad and I were talking and he said joking Carrie if Thomas could pick where he wanted to get married it would be a football field so where ever you decide he will be fine. And then I remember thinking my God, WHY NOT?! He was right, Thomas would LOVE it and I kinda felt like I owed it to him. Why not make it different?! We are not the normal couple so why have a normal wedding?!

So on June 15th 2001 I stood on the 50 yard line of Berkley's Hurley football field and said I do to a man that has made me laugh, smile, feel true love and he believed in me when I didn't even know who me was.

Thomas you have made my life a fairy tale, thank you for being my prince on a white horse and carrying me off to a beautiful life. I feel blessed and lucky to have you.

Not even 2000 miles can keep soulmates apart.

look at us now...

...and they lived happily ever after.

my lil cheeseball

Just a few cute pic's that my friend Jay took. Cassie is growing up so fast and yes I am emotional about it.
Come on, she is my last baby...
who isn't a baby anymore!

Happy Birthday to my Dad

If you have met me or have spoke to me before, you probably know how I feel about my dad. At 36 years old I still have no problem in the fact I am still a daddy's girl.

Growing up there are the obvious reasons why he was my hero, he was a firefighter, a police officer, handsome, brave and well, my dad. But as I reached the teenage years he became my friend, someone I wanted to be like and the person I would go to when life didn't make sense. He always had a way of dissecting problems and help make me realize what I needed to do or how I needed to deal with things. He made me feel special, he gave me my confidence, he was an adult size version of my best friend.

I got older, moved far away, needing to prove to myself that I could stand on my own. And I did...kinda. 3,000 miles away I still needed my dad (and not just for a flight home). He was still that person that I called to make things right. Guaranteed whenever I called we wouldn't get off the phone till I was 'ok' with whatever issue a 20 something yr old goes through.

I move home, married my awesome husband and had 3 beautiful babies and today that's what phase of my life I am in. But it seems no matter what phase I am in, Marc Robert Chambers still plays a major roll in my life. Now, I'm the parent, I work full time, my weekends are filled with soccer and football games and busier than I have ever been before and I do my best to be the kind of parent that my Mom and Dad were to me. And DAMN, it is hard work!

I don't get to see my Dad as much as I want, I don't get to talk to him as much as I want as my days consist of trying to keep up and do as good as a job as he did. But at the end of the day this man is still the one I call for the exact same reasons I did when I was a kid. Yes I believe I am lucky and no I don't think every girl has the same type of relationship as I do with my Dad. He isn't just my Dad, he is my rock, he is my friend, and I can honestly say there are so many people and reasons why I am the person I am today but without him, I don't know where I would be on this very day.

Dad, you are my James Taylor, you are my hero, your that person that I look to when the world makes me wonder. So as I sit here writing this with a lump in my throat and big tears in my eyes knowing that someone else also thinks this about their dad, but ya know what?! they are wrong. You are my one and only and I just love and adore you more than I could ever express on a blog, a card or in person.

Thank you Pops, Happy Birthday and thank you for being my one and only.

My new hobby! PWAT

Judy found out about this cool new place called Painting with a Twist (PWAT) and she had a party for Chelsea on her birthday. Since that day, I have been hooked! Its so good for me to be able to take a few hours, without kids or cleaning my house and get some time to sip on some wine, hang out with some friends and come home with a kick ass painting.

This is how it works, they have a calender that they put out every month that shows you what picture they are painting in a class that night. You can find one you like in the calender and show up or you can grab 10 friends and have a private party where you can decide whatever painting you want to do. There are SO MANY to choose from and each week I find another one they have that I put on my "must paint" list. The list is long but who cares, it a fun hobby and I don't see myself getting bored with it any time soon. Anyone who has come has absolutely loved it and would go again.

Then you bring some wine and munchies if you want and learn how to paint. The instructors are all very cool and walk around helping you if you need it. And you don't bring a single thing, they supply the paint, brushes, smocks, canvas and you go home with your painting that day.

Do I sound like I should work for there marketing team? cuz that's what I hear when I read it back to myself. I don't care, Ill be a billboard! Here is the link! www.paintingwithatwist.com/ferndale

.." I wish you enough "

Recently I overheard a Father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the Father said, 'I love you, and I wish you enough. 'The daughter replied, 'Dad, our life together has been more than enough.. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Dad. 'They kissed and the daughter left. The Father walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?' 'Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'' I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,' he said. 'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means? 'He began to smile. 'That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone...' He paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.' Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.
He then began to cry and walked away.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them; but then an entire life to forget them.

TAKE TIME TO LIVE....
To all my friends and loved ones, I WISH YOU ENOUGH.

Gnomeo and Juliet

I took Tristen, Tanner and Haden to go see Gnomeo and Juliet in 3d today. Good movie and pretty cute too. But my favorite part was watching Tanner. He kept trying to grab everything that he thought was coming towards him, cracked me up. So as I'm watching him watch the movie he asked if he could whisper something to me. Sure whats up?! Mom what are you thinking about? Actually Tanner I was thinking how awesome you are. He got a huge smile and said wow mom we were thinking the same thoughts.
Man do I love that kid.

WackADoZoo

Tristen came home from school one day and said he was gonna try out for the 3rd grade play, "Whack A Do Zoo" He didn't say what part he was trying out for but I was excited to see him do anything because last year I had to go to NY for a work trip and missed the 2nd grade play. He kept coming home with new songs he had to learn and slowly everyone in the family was walking around singing practice makes perfect, practice makes perfect, ect. So I asked him what part he tried out for and told us he was the professor and had to wear a penguin suit. Right on, he said his teacher Mrs. Cole was hooking him up with the outfit and I had my fingers crossed that he wasn't forgetting anything. I pictured the day of the show he would inform me that he needs me to figure out how to make him look like a penguin.

He practiced a ton and had the lead roll and even a solo! I could tell that the closer we got to the "night of", Tristen was getting nervous. He handles it pretty good too! I was proud of him, he worked hard and kept on going and didn't get discouraged!

We got a sitter for Tanner and Cassidy so we could actually watch the play and not have to chase Cass up and down stairs, stages, chairs, whatever.

Tristen goes and gets changed and comes out wearing a tuxedo!! OMG I couldn't stop staring at him he just looked so handsome and grown up. And not to mention how I thought he was going as an actual penguin, so I was cracking up. It is called Wack A Do Zoo so is it that bad that I didn't put this together sooner. Whatever, he looked adorable!

I went and snapped some pictures of the kids before the show~ Alex and Tristen getting ready for the big show.All the kids came out and Tristen was hiding behind the curtain waiting for his part to come up.Then he came out and was simply AMAAAAAZING. OMG he had SOOO many lines, he sang 2 whole songs by himself and he just nailed it!

Here he is holding his head because the animals wouldn't listen to him.

This is Miss. Pell the principle and Mrs. Cole Tristens music teacher. It was really cute watching him as people were telling him how great he did but when Miss Pell said how awesome he was, that kid was on cloud nine!

Watching my baby up on that stage was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. I am proud of Tristen for so many things but this topped it. He believed in himself, he overcame fear, he memorized a ridiculous amount of lines and sang his little bootie off. There is NOTHING like watching your kid proud of himself. Truly beautiful moment to see.

Then I came home and saw this picture of him, Hellllooooo can you say head shot?!

Maybe I'm moving to quick.

Family and Christmas

Hey it's 2 months after Christmas so I thought I should post some pictures of our family


Tanner and baby Ella


Cassidy and Claudia

Cassidy and her Great Grandma

Tanner, Grandma and Tristen

Tristen, Stella, Jackson, Tanner, Evan and Trey

Cassidy decided to join the gang

Somebody's getting married!!!!

Have you ever seen 2 people so happy? This picture is just a small example of HOW happy they are. I have watched Chelsea since she meant JR and she hasn't lost of that sparkle in her eye since the day she met him.

They make such a sweet couple and most of all, best friends.

And on Jan 10, 2011 while on vacation cruisin on a ship, JR asked Chelsea to be his wife....HIS WIFE, CT is gonna be a WIFE!!!

Its so weird to watch someone that you have seen grow up become such a smart, beautiful and amazing woman. I remember her as a baby with that sweet little raspberry on the top of her head, (she was the first baby I ever held too) then as an infant as Chels and our cousin Katie going everywhere as 2's, to middle school, to the volleyball star, to homecoming queen, to the college girl, to the traveling girl, now to the next stage and becoming a wife.

JR has fit into this wacky, amazing family so easily its scary. I mean of course its easy to love him when you see how happy he makes her but honestly he is just an all around great person who simply adores his wife to be. Awesome sense of humor, so handsome, ambitious, smart and did I mention how happy she is?!

I love watching love happen. And I love these two together. I love seeing happy tears...and in 2011 I think there will be allot of happy tears!

Chelsea and JR, I'm so proud to be apart of your amazing day, thank you, you have made me feel special on YOUR special day. I love you both so much and cant wait to watch your beautiful journey unfold.

TannerMan

Most of the Chambers always have a song in our heads and usually you can hear us singing, humming or whistling. This has been passed on to my Tanner man, he always has a tune in his head.
So I heard him humming the other day and I tried to explain to him that his Great Grandpa, Grandpa Deer and me always have a song we are thinking about and he gets that from us.
I said I love that your always humming a song Tanner, reminds me of my Grandpa! Tanner said, sorry Mom, I'm not humming, I'm singing out of my nose.

Cassie's smile

A couple months ago my little princess had some pictures taken and I wanted to share.

exhale....I often just stare at my babies knowing they will soon be grown and will not want to be called my babies anymore.

sorry my loves, all 3 of you will always be my babies.