luke's 3rd birthday!

Today we celebrated LUKE'S 3RD BIRTHDAY!!!

We feel so blessed to have our sweet little boy in our lives. What would we do without all the joy and laughter he has brought us. Three years has gone by, in what feels like a blink. As he grows older, as will our blessings.

This morning, I snuck out while he was waking up and stopped at Kroger for a Thomas The Tank Engine balloon. When I got home and handed it to him he said, "Where's the cake?" OOPS! He's only 3, and he's calling me out! Yes, he did appreciate the balloon too, I know this, because we had to take it with us on the car ride to the park. We made a stop at Cracker Barrel for breakfast. That was NOT FUN!!! I'll leave it at that! Let's just say we should have given them alittle something to eat to hold them over! After that crazy event, we headed to the Houston Memorial Park, in downtown Houston. We LOVE it there! The weather was PERFECT! We even got a little sun on our cheeks! We rode the train...which Luke calls him "James" because he's red. Then got off and just walked around the park and enjoyed the weather and scenery. They just opened a little hamburger shop right there by the train station, so on the way out we stopped in for a burger, and milkshake! Yum! Now the day is almost over, birthday just don't last long enough, and then we have to wait a whole another year. Thanks for all the birthday calls, cards, and gifts!

Luke at 3...

• LOVES TRAINS
• playing soccar
• in a big boy bed
• almost potty trained

We got Luke, Henry and tracks. Of course, he wanted more trains!

a day at the park

This has been a cold winter for us here in the south! I know, I know...it's still much warmer than ya'll up back home! I'm not complaining...trust me! Jake reminds me every time he flying up there, just how COLD it is! Despite our unusual cold spells, we are starting to get some pleasant spring-like days. So this past week we walked to the park again to let the kids be kids! This was the first time we Libby out of the stroller to roam and explore the play ground. It was very exciting for her and she liked the bark....as you will see her shelving it in her mouth!

Luke at almost three years old.

Climbing the rock wall!
The BIG slide...no fear!

Enjoying the swing.

She didn't go down the slide...just posing!

Trying to eat the bark.

Sweet!Little Jake!

cupcakes for classmates

With Luke's 3rd Birthday just around the corner, we made cupcakes for him to take to his Mother's Day Out Class to celebrate his Birthday. The classic Confetti cake mix (his favorite) and blue icing (for Thomas theme) and blue sprinkles! We had lots of fun making them! And I think he sampled a couple...just to make sure they were good enough to share with his friends!!

libby's 11 months

Here we are again already! Libby is eleven months old today! This past month she has changed a lot! For the past few weeks she has been standing in one place and balancing for up to a minute or so, but just yesterday she got behind her walking toy and starting taking steps behind it and off she went. It didn't take long for her to figure it out and once she did, she didn't stop the rest of the day!

She's also clapping now! When she does something, like stand in place, walk behind her walking toy, eats her food, or is just playing with her toys, she stops and claps! The cutest is when she's standing and claps...she so proud of herself!

She has become quite the big eater too, and healthy one as well! She will eat anything you give her! Some of the new things are; old fashion oats (I have recently started eating it for breakfast and I gave some to her too and she likes it!) craisins, raisins, chicken, and potatoes.

Libby's 11 month adventures...

• clapping
• standing/balancing in place
• taking steps
• walking behind stroller
• fifth tooth coming in
• eating raisins
• sitting in big girl car seat

This beautiful sweater and hat are from Grandma Grumpp...soo cute! We get lots of complements!


She didn't want to take pictures...sorry girl!

Her sweet brown eyes! And chubby cheeks!

Happy girl! Watching Luke get his hair cut!

Video of Libby walking!

bicycle gear

Check out Luke's new bicycle gear! At first, he didn't want to have anything to do with them. But, after we told him he could go on a bike ride, he decided to put them on...and liked it!

I love his pants all bunched up at
the bottom! Okay...I think he looks
like Uncle Sam in this picture.

my little stud muffin!

How cute is he! We went to the Gap the other to buy a new pair of sunglasses for myself, because Luke stepped on my old pair and crushed them! Anyways, he wanted to try on glasses for himself too! He put these on and said, "I'm a pilot!" How did he know those are aviator glasses??? To funny! I guess the Easter bunny will have to bring some sunglasses for him this year!

I'm glad I had the camera with us!


My two handsome studs!

libby's new carseat

Libby got her new carseat and it's as cute as a button! She enjoys the ride much better now and loves to look out the window! We have a mirror on the back on the driver seat, and I alway see her looking at herself...so cute!

good times

More visitor's!!! We are loving this!!! Our friends Kevin and Sarah, and Moose and Erin came in town a couple weekends ago and boy did we have a BLAST!

The guys all went to high school together and are Jake's best friends. Kevin and Jake are second cousins through their grandfather's. The girls also graduated from Belmont a few years behind the guys. And I feel so blessed to have them all as friends too!

The fun began the minute they all arrived on Saturday morning. The kids were 90% of entertainment, especially Luke! He's a spitten image of me when I was little....he does anything to make you laugh and wanted to be center of attention ALL the time! They all got a kick out of him and it made Jake and I so happy to see Luke enjoying them!

Saturday night the Colts played their first game in the playoffs, so we got a babysitter and headed to BW3's for wings and the game! There was a moment, when it hit me....I didn't feel like we were in Texas or Decatur, I was just so happy that we were all together laughing, talking, and having a great time! That's when you know you are good company and those moments are lifetime memories. And to make the night even better, the Colts won!!!

Monday, we walked the canal to Gooses Acres and had lunch! The was weather was beautiful...spring-like, so we got to eat outside under the arbor! After lunch, we rode Toby, which is the trolly. Then came home and made three pizza's on the grill and played catch phrase! Fun game! I'm pretty sure the girls won!! Right!!

It was hard to let them go on Tuesday. I wish there was more time to spend with all of them, but we will remember all the good times!

A BIG THANKS to all of you for coming down to visit us! You guys made Jake's year! He misses hanging out with ya'll! Can't wait until your next visit!

Jake, Moose, and Kevin.

Kevin is reading direction to Jake for pizza dough



Erin and Moose



Sarah and Luke making Tex Mix Chip Dip!!

Playing outside on Luke's bike.

The kids climbing on Erin!

Libby is looking.....

Now, Luke is looking!

Sarah and Erin walking with Luke!