Holiday season- picture update!

When you don't update in over 3 months, there is certainly a lot of catching up! The easiest way to do this is through pictures!

November: We celebrated Drew's baptism. I was able to go up and stand on the side of the baptismal pool and have a front row seat of this awesome occasion.

Another monumental occasion for Drew occured at the end of November, his first UGA football game! I was a little envious because I have never even been to a Georgia football game, but was so excited he got to be a part of it. His friend, Bryce, from school invited him and they had a blast!!

We had our family pictures done by my sweet friend, Lindsay. Here is her website. She is awesome. If you are local, I highly recommend her! Here are some of my favorites:

I did some crafts, including my first crib bumper for a friend and a canvas picture wall hanger for our living room.

Crafting is by far my most favorite hobby these days!

December is always slam packed full of fun and family. I was honored to have been asked by my sister and some friends to take pictures for their christmas cards. I am (not even close) to being a 'real' photographer, but that doesn't mean I don't think it's really fun to pretend! Here are a few of my sister's family:

Molly and Will, in this next shoot, are the two little ones that I keep a few days a week for my friend, Mary Anne. They are such sweet kids and Jett and I love having them around to play with!

I also snapped a few for our friends, Clifton and Brittany, of their little boy, Stetson. I have known Clifton since the summer before 6th grade and it is so neat to have a friendship now with his wife and have our little boys play together.

Our visit with Santa went well and involved no tears or injuries. Last year, if you recall, we had to leave the Santa line and rush to the ER for 12 stitches in Jett's head. Glad that wasn't relived!

Jett had the first of many class Christmas parties. It is on days like these that I truly realize how lucky I am to be able to stay home with my kids and attend these types of fun get togethers. He made an angel banner with his foot prints and 'read' us a story about baby Jesus.

Drew had a special request from Santa this year...a puppy. So he wrote his letter and wished for the best! Christmas morning, the boys met Trooper.

My most favorite memory from Christmas morning was the moment Trooper came running out from behind the sofa, Jett said with so much excitement 'Look, look, a kitty cat!!":)

It was a great Christmas this year. Matt's Aunt Terri was here from Boston and stayed with us for about a week and a half. The boys miss her so much now that she is gone. She spoils them rotten when she is here!

Jett before Christmas service at church.

Drew before service. Nice, huh.

All in all, it was a fantastic holiday season. We got to spend a lot of time with great friends and our family that we love so much.

Baby chicks and ponies!

We went to a party Friday afternoon for Jett's little friend Maxx's 3rd birthday. There was a mobile petting zoo at Maxx's house. Jett now wants some baby chickens and a pony.

Don't we all...

Drew's big news...

I know it sounds so cliche, and is really just something people say for lack of anything else...but "Where does the time go?" Seriously, Drew is BIG. Drew is cute, and smart, and a smarty pants, and loud, and obnoxious and I love him so insanely much. He's big now though and this is something that is fun and extrememly un-nerving. I am finding that I like this stage. He can have a real conversation with me, give ideas and opinions. He has his own "style", doesn't mind "skinny" jeans and loves his shaggy hair. He talks about girls and absolutely adores his little brother more each day.

Drew made his own decision that changed his eternity forever. All by himself, he prayed at bedtime last month to have Jesus come live in his heart forever. He totally caught me off guard and as I peeked over at him with his eyes closed, my heart exploded. I had to turn my head so he wouldn't see me tearing up. I am so grateful that the Lord keeps showing me that Matt and I are doing things right, cause boy does he know we wonder sometimes! After a long conversation and questions this week, Drew has also decided that he is ready to be baptised. He will meet with our children's pastor at church and then, on November 6th at West Ridge Church, Pastor Brent will baptize him. My heart is overflowing.

Our summer in a picture nutshell.

It zooms on by at a pace that gets faster and faster every year. I had so much fun staying home with the boys this summer. I have chosen a few of my favorite pictures from the last few months to detail our favorite season.

When we weren't at the ballfield, we were often being pretty lazy!

We took pool safety very seriosuly! (This picture CRACKS ME UP!!!)

We played outside...

Jett got his curls cut off. :(

Drew rocked at beach volleyball!

We had a fabulous vacation with our extended family.

We served our community through outreach.

And, Matt and I are about to add another great year of marriage to our list.

Blessed Indeed.

Our little all-star!

Well, that was sure fun! We made some great friends and some great memories this summer while traveling around north GA with the 6u all-star Powder Springs Seminoles. Drew learned so much being a part of this team. The boys took home one first place trophy, one second place trophy and ended up playing in the semi-finals in the state tournament. Not too shabby!! We have a ton of pictures, but I will just post a few.

Potty training is like child birth...

Someone else told me this "Potty training is like child birth because if you remembered all the yucky details, you'd never have another child!" This is so true! It also gave me comfort in knowing I wasn't the only one that can not remember the slightest thing about potty training Drew. This somewhat monumental event in his life has left my memory completely!

So, I am starting fresh. Jett, in the last 3 days, has done awesome!! He is wearing big boy undies around the house and only had one poop accident (those undies got thrown in the trash!). He sometimes tells me he needs to go and when he doesn't, I take him anyway. I thought he was too young, but he is surprising me!

It looks like a coin slot...to a 2 year old...

Wellllll...can you tell what this is?

No? I'll help you out. It is a disassembled Play Station 3. Which, in good health, looks like this:

After disassemly, the culprit of the non-function and loud clancky sound when shaken was:

placed so innocently by this little rascal:

The surgery was performed carefully by Matt and my dad. We gathered around once completed to watch if the machine had survived...waiting anxiously for the disc that had been inside all along to seamlessly eject. Drew cheered with excitement at the site of the blinking green light and Alvin and Chipmunks popping right out. Good as new. Nice work, surgeons, nice work.