The Caswells Meet

Today is our four year anniversary. I got a really great idea from my sister-in-law, Elizabeth, to tell the story of how we met and got engaged. Check out her blog and read their story.

I was living with a friend in Medford in 2005. We were checking out different churches in the area. One Sunday we went to Table Rock Fellowship. We were meeting some friends there, and Paul just happened to be sitting with those friends. Everyone decided to go out to lunch after church. Paul made sure that he sat by me! That night, my friend and I were invited to dinner at her brother's house. Her brother just happened to be engaged to Paul's sister, so Paul got himself an invitation too :) We had a great time that night visiting and playing games. The next day I got a call...from Paul, of course...wanting to hang out the next night. The only problem was that I was planning on moving in a couple of days, and that would be the last night I had with my friend. He ended up coming over and helping me pack up my things. That was a long packing job! We talked a bunch and both realized that we were very interested in getting to know each other better. I ended up moving back home for the summer, but Paul was persistent and made the trip to Florence to take me out for our first date. Everyone was very curious as to who had caught my attention, so this is the picture I took to show everyone. It was my first trip back to Medford to hang out with Paul after we had met:

We loved being together, but found that our ideas of "fun" were a little different. While he enjoyed being active in a multitude of outdoor activities, I was content to sit and read a book...

But we did have birthdays just two days apart...

And we even got each other to do things that we had never done before...

In December we took a trip to Florence (I had moved to Roseburg for my first teaching job by this time). Paul had always commented on wanting to go to the island in the river outside my parent's house. So this weekend he told me that he was going to bring his little boat for us to try going out there. He woke me up really early on Saturday morning and paddled me out to the island. Amidst wind and whitecaps we made it to the island. As we explored around, Paul led me to the side of the island that faced my parent's house. And there he proposed! Unbeknown to me, my family was watching from the deck of the house. It was such an exciting time! And I couldn't wait to marry Paul.

A little over seven months later we got married on a beautiful day at my uncle and aunt's house overlooking Siltcoos Lake. It was a perfect day! I couldn't have asked for more, and though we've had ups and downs just like every couple, I couldn't have asked for a better husband and partner. We completely love being married and can't wait to spend the rest of our lives together.

Boating

We went boating again with our friends, the Davenports. We took pizza out on the boat and played around in the water. Daddy and Mommy even got to wake board. It was a very hot day, and even though we were there in the evening it was so warm! Last year Grant was just a little tyke when we went boating with the Davenports. It was an entirely different adventure this year with a 1 year old. Grant did NOT want to wear his life jacket. Whenever it was on he was a fussy boy. We decided not to push the issue and only made him wear it for short amounts of time (don't tell anyone!). He also was not real fond of the cold water. We tried swimming around with him, but he just wanted to hang out in the boat. He had a great time playing in the bow of the boat with his friend, Claire, and learning to drive the boat. We have such great friends who are so generous in letting us share in their fun!

4th of July

We had a pretty low-key 4th of July. Daddy and Mommy got back from their rafting trip on the 4th just in time to take Grant downtown to watch the fireworks. We watched them from the Harry and David field. It was a wonderful place to watch fireworks. There was music and lots of nice green grass to sit on. At first the noise of the fireworks scared Grant, but he soon got used to it and really enjoyed them. He sat there and watched the whole show...including the flyover that started the show!

Time with Grandpa and Grandma

Daddy and Mommy went with the church high school youth group rafting over 4th of July weekend. Grant got to stay with Grandpa and Grandma Caswell for the first time. They had lots of fun! There was a birthday celebration for Great-Grandpa Caswell up in Tiller, so that was one of their adventures. Cousin Marissa was staying with Grandma and Grandpa at the same time, so she and Grant had tons of fun together. It was hard for Daddy and (especially) Mommy to be away from Grant for so long, but everyone survived and had a great time.

More Fun in the Sun

Wedding Day

Not our wedding, but a day of weddings :) We were invited to two weddings on the same day. Since they were both in Medford we decided that we could probably make both of them. We also decided that Grant would probably be fine going to the weddings with us. We were wrong. Our expectations were a little too high for our little man. He was completely happy and loved dancing to the music in each ceremony, but was totally unable to stay quiet when the time called for it. Mommy and Daddy took turns letting him run around while the ceremonies were going on. So although we were invited to two weddings, I think we were each only able to watch one. The weddings were both totally different and beautiful. Grant was able to find things to entertain himself at each one. All in all it was a wonderful day, but we will definitely get a babysitter next time!

Wedding #1: Jake and Jen

Wedding #2: Aaron and Callie

Sunny Days

We are loving summer! Medford has some great parks, and we are taking full advantage of them. Many of them have water features, and Grant has slowly gotten used to the cold water. The first time we went he fearlessly walked into the water area and was playing with some toys that other kids left there, all of a sudden one of the water fountains turned on and soaked him. He screamed and was frozen to the spot. Mommy had to run in and save him. Eventually he realized that when the water got him he could move himself out of it. He also loves the playground area at the park. He can climb around all by himself with just a little help from Mommy. Sliding down the slides is one of his favorite things!

On the way to the park with the Murphy girls

Totally unsuspecting of the impending downpour...

Sharing toys

He loves this part!

So warm and snuggly

Having so much fun on the playground

Cutest Dude