Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

We try to take a sleigh ride each year before Christmas. This year we went with our dear friends, The Bilbro's. It was so fun riding around and eating chocolate chip cookies!

We are cold but cute:)

Deck the Halls

I am constantly amazed at how fast Caleb is growing up. This year as we brought out all the decorations and he just went crazy. He understands so much more this year and he is constantly asking questions. He loves the stockings, the nativity, and the ornaments on the tree.

This is December 2008. I was so afraid he was going to push the tree over!

This is December 2007. He could barely sit up straight in his bumbo.

This is December 2009. He loved hanging his ornaments on the tree an this year's favorites are the Thomas and McQueen ornaments My little noodle. He brings such joy to us and it is truly amazing for Wade and I to experience Christmas through his eyes. What faith and insight we can learn form him!

His little decorated section of tree. We can't post our family in front of the tree yet becuase it is our Christmas card pic!

STRIKE

Sarah (my niece) had her birthday party at the bowling alley. It was so cute seeing all the girls giggling and bowling at the same time. She is getting so big and turning into a little lady!

Mimi with Caleb. She snuck him all the treats even before the party started.

Red Velvet Cake- YUMMY!

The was Caleb's first time bowling. He loved watching them play and cheering!

Elmo's Green Thumb

We had a new adventure as we went to our first 'kid show'- Elmo Live! Caleb LOVES Sesame Street and all the characters so we knew he would love it! But he is so scared of big costumes (he trembles at Chic-fil-a when the cow walks around). He wouldn't let go of us until the last 30 minutes of the show and then he started to like to idea of the characters dancing around near him:)

He loves music and dancing!

Caleb with Nana and Papa after the show

My Sweet Tea

The other night Wade and I had a date night and enjoyed the Queens Feast in Charlotte at Ruth Kris and saw a movie. I love it when we carve out time to still have date night and have conversations that do not always happen in our normal dinner times. Of course we forgot to take pcitures during the entire time so we took this picture of ourselves at the movies:) Wade- you are the love of my life an I am so thankful how you lead our family daily and still have such a great attitude about life. You have been there so much for me lately and I so appreciate how you have let me vent, cry, and experience joy in the midst of grieving the loss of my Dad! I am so glad that Caleb will experience an incredible Dad like I had the opportunity growing up. You are a great role model for Caleb and I love how he runs up to you with so many kisses and wants to 'scare you' as you enter the room. I understand that it is hard right now looking for a new job and the thought of not providing for us BUT I totally trust you and your heart and know that God has new plans for you! DFTILY

4thof July

We packed up early and went to downtown Tega Kay, SC for a 4th of July Parade. I had heard it was small and thought it would fun to see how Caleb reacted.

At first he was a little afraid but them saw the Choo-choo, Homer, and the fire trucks and loved it by the end.

We spent the middle of our day at the pool at my Mom's house with the rest of the family. Caleb loves the pool and even more when there is Joshua and Sarah to swim around with and splash. I truly love the 4th of July Holiday,what it represents, and all the ways you can celecrate. It's even more fun when we can spend time together as a family celebrating and remebering our FREEDOM!

BOOM! BOOM!

We ended our day by watching Fireworks-AKA Boom Boom. We had no idea how Caleb would react to the loud noises and bright sky but he LOVED them. We got there way too early to get a good seat and he did OK waiting and playing in the grass.

Caleb and Daddy waiting for the big show!

This is how he watched the Fireworks. Such a sweet boy!

The Finale- I love fireworks and was so glad that we got to see them as a family this year.

Summer Showers

Caleb and I were playing at the Playground in our neighborhood and we felt raindrops but I questioned if it was going to last. Needless to say, minutes later we were in the midst of a million hard raindrops. I ran back home pulling Caleb in the wagon and laughing so hard at the same time. He was so excited to eat his apple at the park (but we never go to it), so as soon as we walked in the house with wet clothes he asked for "Apple".

It was the first time I never cut up his apple and he loved it!

He has a mind of his own and I am so thankful for these sweet memories with him. We have had such precious times together this summer so far!

For a short season. . .

The Smiths' have become dear friends to us this past year. We met them last summer and quickly our lives and friendships just blossomed. Both our families have had great joys and heartaches this past year and I can see God's hand in why we had these friends during this season. I'm sad to see them move back home to TN in September. But I am so thankful they can be close to family and feel settled for the girls to grow-up. Precious Zi was born this year and she is such a treat. We have gotten to watch her while Jona and Rachael had date nights.

Caleb loves doing whatever Zi does and making her laugh:) He wanted so badly to wrestle with her.

Cute chubby checks talking to one another!

Water Day

At the end of school we always have Water Day. We put out lots of kiddie pools, water tables, anything that squirts, sprinklers, and a huge water slide. Caleb LOVED it all! He concentrated so hard until he figured out how to get water in the squirter.

The water was rather cold from the sprinklers but he kept going back to it even though it took his breathe away every time.

Start of Summer

Caleb wasn't even walking last summer so recently I realized how different this season is going to be for us. I am so excited to be off from work and spending a lot of time just hanging out and without a schedule:) His hair was hanging down in his eyes when it got wet so we got another haircut last week. He loves is going because it is the only time he gets a lollipop. Caleb loves to be outisde! So as the weather has gotten warmer we have spent a lot of time in the yard and patio. But with shorts and running around, comes falls and boo-boo's. But Mimi introduced Caleb to Band-Aids and life hasn't been the same since:)

He had his first ice cream cone. I found the greatest mini snack size nutty buddies and he savored every bite.

I thought he wouldn't like the cold texture BUT I was wrong.

Trying to catch the neighbors cat.

We Walked and Talked

It rained for 4 days before the Lois Lodge Walk-a-thon but on Saturday is was just overcast. So, we headed to Freedom Park, registered, got our T-shirts, and walked!

THANK YOU for all your support and encouragement for Lois Lodge. It is a special place that we love being apart of. Our friends, Joe and Amelia, were there so we walked and talked the whole time together. Caleb loves balloons so every time we passed them he wanted to touch them.

Truly the highlight of the time for Caleb was the ducks. We walked around this huge lake and on one side were all the ducks waiting to be fed. Before we left we let Caleb run around and feed the ducks our leftover bagels.

Lois' Lodge Walk-A-Thon

Susan, Caleb, & I will be participating in a Walk-A-Thon with some of our friends from church. It is for a non-profit organization called Lois' Lodge. Please consider making a donation on behalf of us walking. Your gift will go directly to provide shelter, counseling and support for women and families who are facing the difficulties of an unplanned pregnancy. Your donation will save the life of a child and provide hope to a woman and family in crisis. Last year Lois' Lodge provided support to over 65 women and families. You can learn more by visiting the website at www.loislodge.org/. The event is on March 28th. Please consider sponsoring us. You can give online at www.firstgiving.com/homegroup. If you would rather do so by check, you can post a comment here & we will get back to you with how to do so. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

Caleb's 1st Haircut

We went to this amazing kids place called Doolittles. It's a kids hair salon with little fun chairs, TV's, and lollipops!!! So, Caleb got his 1st haircut today. It was bittersweet for me. He looks so adorable with it but it makes me realize he is getting bigger:) He sat so big in the little red race car and watch Blue's Clues! Ms. Erica was so sweet to us and this is her cutting his first piece of hair. She took a before picture of Caleb, saved a piece of hair, and put it in a little frame for us!

Not only was it his 1st haircut but he has never had candy before but he got a LOLLIPOP! He wouldn't take it out of his mouth until it was completely gone! I think we will save this for a Doolittle tradition:)

Mommy and her handsome little man

Caleb's new haircut- It really is adorable. Erica did such a good job. YEAH Caleb- he did awesome!

Snow in March

I cant believe we actually got snow the first week in March. Caleb was sick with a high fever so he just stared out the window and played in the laundry basket. Wade's office was closed because of the snow so we finally took Caleb out for his first snow.

Me and my snowcutie!

He didn't really know what to think but I am sure he would have tried eating it after awhile:)