Barney & Cheerios

When I am trying to cook dinner, the boys seem to be at their *craziest*!

Everyone is a little cranky, hungry and ready for Daddy to come home (me included)!

So, lately, my new game plan is....Barney & Cheerios!

A little purple dinosaur and a little snack before dinner makes everyone a little happier:)

Mommy finishes dinner with a little peace and quiet.

Ahhhhhh, now that's all better:)

His First

*I have a GA-ZILLION Christmas pictures, so many that it makes me tired even thinking about blogging them all...but I'm trying, slowly but surely.*  

This year....

a sweet little boy celebrated his very first Christmas!

And, it was so much fun watching him...

and capturing all of his reactions. 

opening his first present...

waking up on his first Christmas morning, 

and taking his FIRST STEPS, on Christmas Day!  (11 months, 2 weeks)

His first. 

My joy.

Happy Birthday, Blake!

It's birthday time again...

except this time, it's my biggest boy...

We decided to go to Nashville with some friends and have a night out!
 Grammie and Grandaddy babysat the boys and we were off! :)

Maggino's was the place...

and these were the people!

Stephen isn't really mad, just looking for a laugh.  (I think he got it!)

The girls:)

And our surprise guest!

I think I laughed so much that night, my cheeks hurt.  Literally.

When we came home, Layton Blake opened his gifts and the celebration came to an end.

But not before I got a picture of my sweet January birthday boys....

Luke (January 11th) & Daddy (January 29th)

Happy Birthday, Blake:)

We love you, and can't wait to celebrate many, many more!

When I said he was a climber,

I wasn't lying.

His First Birthday Party

He's ONE!

A few days after Luke's 1st Birthday, we celebrated with a p-a-r-t-y!

Luke with his Grammie and Grandaddy


My mom was sick, so Dad brought my grandmother to the party.
4 Generations

I had been planning his first birthday for months, I knew the colors I wanted, and how I wanted things to look....

I was excited to celebrate my baby boy's big day!

The banner

The table...

The centerpiece (my favorite!)

chalkboard plate and cupcakes

I placed Luke's pictures on the tables and around the house...


and made a highchair banner for cake time!


This was his very cute first birthday cake.
Yes, it WAS.
It didn't quite make it during the car ride to our house.
I was sad, but realized that it's just cake and so, I had to laugh....or I might have cried :(

Moving on...

Danielle and I cooked chili in our crockpots, one more spicy than the other, but both very yummy!

Our ONE year old baby...




Grandparents, aunts, uncles and a few close friends came bearing gifts and....

lots of hugs for the birthday boy!

Aunt Donna found his tickle spots, 

Mady walked from room to room, and Pops entertained the guest of honor. 

While, Mommy and Daddy definitely stole some birthday kisses!

We ate and


tried out the cupcakes,


opened gifts






and sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

as one little candle burned 

and a wish was made.
(and a prayer was said too!)

And then it was cake time!

Yep, it was good!


And this face says it all...

Happy 1st Birthday, Lukey!