The Reason for the Season

As Christmas day is fast approaching, I find myself making lists, checking them twice, running last minute errands, wrapping presents and baking frantically. In the middle of all that, last Monday Blake and I had the privalege to attend our very first Happy Birthday Jesus party. Our group of moms at church have done it annually but this was the first one for us. I can't describe the overwhelming feelings I had watching my little guy color a picture of baby Jesus in the manger and sing with him happy birthday to Jesus. I am so amazed and humbled to watch my son have his first experiences about Jesus and to help him learn what it is all about. I am so thankful that the party refocused me and reminded me to be thankful for what Christmas is all about. He is the reason for the season :)

Blake's First Picture














Video of the group singing Happy Birthday!

Whoo Whoo

One of Blake's favorite Christmas decorations in the house is the toy train that is under our Christmas tree. We set it up last week and Blake absolutely loves watching it go round and round. The train doesn't actually make the whistle blowing noise but I guess we said it enough that when Blake wants the train on he will say "whoo whoo" :) It is so sweet! The train has sentimental value because Brent's grandparents passed it down to us and Blake loves laying with us in front of the tree just watching it go round!

First time watching the train!

21 Months!

Today Blake is 21 months old. It doesn't seem possible to me that he is already closing in on turning two. We have been having so much fun these past couple of months. Recently Blake has been like a recorder for us. He will pretty much try and repeat anything you ask him to say. His favorite saying is "here you go" and he is 100% boy and all the energy that goes with it. He is passionate about being outside regardless of the weather and his second passion is food. He loves to eat and can eat just as much as Mommy does in a meal. Even though he rarely sits still, Blake does love to cuddle and he has such a sweet loving spirit which can be seen when he is loving on his cousins. Blake is such a joy in our lives and we can't wait to see what he will start doing next!

Tree Trimming

OK, blogger is giving me a hard time right now so I will just post the pics. I wrote this nice paragraph about our weekend but it got deleted when inserting pictures so I will just give you the highlights instead. Friday we got our "treeeeee"(how Blake says it). Saturday we decorated it and the house. Blake absolutely loves the lights and especially the star. He lit up right along with it when we put it up. Sunday we went to church and baked cookies for our cookie swap tonight! Overall it was a very festive fun weekend!

Ready to start our search...

Blake was looking for the perfect one

Borrowing Daddy's gloves, Blake thinks this is the one!

Blake was a big help!

Lights, lights and more lights!

Putting on the Star!

My sweet boy!

Thanksgiving

We traveled to Roanoke for Thanksgiving this year so we had a warm up dinner at my parent's house earlier in the week. We had a great time in Roanoke and loved spending time with our newest niece and cousin Rachel. Here are the pics from our holiday weekend!

Blake has made it to the kids table! The Cousins

Early Thanksgiving at my parent's house

Rachel's First Thanksgiving

Our family!

Eating Turkey

Aunt Kim and Rachel

Uncle Brent and Rachel

Cousin Blake and Rachel

Fall Back!

Wow, where has the fall gone! I can't believe we are almost to Thanksgiving. I again apologize for the delay in an updated post. Our computer caught a virus in this flu season but now everything is up and running so I wanted to post some pics of Blake's fun fall. We have had a blast this particular season. Blake is that perfect age where he is understanding more and talking more everyday. He loves playing with Daddy outside and helping Mommy whenever he can.

Watching the last Cubs game of the season with Daddy. Blake actually grabbed his bat and ball before sitting down, we did not pose this!

Helping Mommy clean off the pumpkin seeds

First experience carving a pumpkin with Daddy

Mommy's first experience carving a pumpkin too!

On a hayride with Daddy on Halloween!

Since it was such a warm night on Halloween, we changed Blake's costume. He was the cutest Cubs Baseball Player!

Trick or Treat

Fun Family Night

Sleeping in the shopping cart at Target. Mommy wore him out!

Daddy and Blake built a leaf fort! Blake loves playing in the leaves :)

Our Little Monkey!

These were taken tonight at our church's Hallelujah Harvest! Had to get these up quick for the family to see. Hope you all enjoy them :)

Ready to go!

Mmmm

Getting candy from Uncle Joe

Looking for something good!

Totally shocked that Blake went down the inflatable slide all by himself!

Such a good little monkey!

Blake with Bobble and Maw Maw

Blake with Mimi and Poppy

Cousin Rachel

Blake's newest cousin Rachel McCollum was born last Friday, Oct. 9 at 10:12am. We were blessed enough to be able to drive up to Roanoke early Friday morning and be there for her birth. This is Brent's sister and husbands first child, so we were excited for Blake to have a cousin on that side of the family. Rachel is so precious and has been doing great. We can't wait to return so we can all love on her a little more :)

Mommy and her princess

Aunt Kim & Uncle Brent

The Proud Uncle

So precious...I love how they made the little girls hats with bows

She has a good amount of blondish hair that has some curl!

Blake was excited to meet her!

Zoe meeting her baby sister!

We love you Aunt Lori, Uncle Dusty and Cousin Rachel!

Blake's Fall Days

Once again I am sorry for the delay in posting pics of Blake. After Brent's birthday, I got involved with an event at church and then we were waiting on our new niece to arrive. I think things are starting to settle down and since the holidays are approaching fast I will do my best to keep this updated more frequently. Here are some of our recent fall adventures!

Blake at a cross country race with Daddy. This shirt is one that Daddy wore when he was a toddler. If you expand the pic. you will see that the shirt reads Jogger, Marathon, Cross Country, Running, Race, Finish Line! Hope it comes true for Blake like it did for his Daddy :)

Apple Picking at Knotts Island

Only Daddy could reach that one!

A fun family outing with friends

Anyone who knows me, knows I am not much of a baker but with all those fresh apples I had to do something with them. My first homemade apple pie. Yes! I even made the pie crust from scratch. It was delicious!

Our first baby enjoying the lake!

Our two kids!

Look how big he is! He can now stand on his stool to brush his teeth.

Enjoying the nice fall temperature outside

Blake helping Daddy out with the grass.