Holiday Celebrations

I am so blessed to have been able to share the birth of our Savior with my little family! We didn't have many presents under our tree, on purpose, because we just wanted to enjoy the gifts that we have already received by being part of the family of such an awesome God. I did have fun watching Chase rip into the presents from his grandparents, of course, but the most amazing gift was that of SNOW on Christmas eve/day!!!

Chase was way to busy LOOKING at the snow to smile for the camera, but I got some good action shots nonetheless. :) (side note: Mommy should have put on some makeup too!)

In the days before Christ's birthday, we went to Northpark to see trains, and had lots of playtime with cousin Allison. We also did lots of window shopping, which he really wasn't that into-good thing they had play areas at the malls! Chase was invited to Gaylord ICE with nana too, what a great grandmother to have! Our small group was able to bless a family with Christmas gifts from the KLTY Christmas Wish too! Complete with some amazing temps outside in the days before Christmas, we couldn't have asked for a better holiday season--being able to enjoy and savor all that Christ is, and what an unbelievable Creator we serve, is truly the best gift mommy could have asked for this year.

Chase and his cool train hat (with nana) at Northpark Mall's huge train show...he's saying "ChooChoo" over and over. :)

Back to the Grind-HAPPILY!

I can not tell you how happy I am to be back home, and have things back to normal around here! The first few days were full of tantrums and craziness from Chase, but I guess we deserved it for being gone so much the last two weeks? We had a great Halloween with our first Fall Festival at Cityview-with NO pics taken, oops! Our family of firefighters would have made a great picture too---maybe one of the neighbors have a pic for me. I do have a picture of Chase though:He fell asleep on the way TO the festival!

I am really enjoying my study in the Psalms of Ascent, by Beth Moore...but have missed getting to discuss it with my study group!! Week 3, day 3 really spoke to me though. The bliss of being near to God, to know that he has truly delivered you from captivity, is an amazing feeling. It's such a good feeling that we can't wait to feel it again. Having faith that more laughter and joy WILL come is the essence of Psalm 126...even if that joy may look different than you'd hoped---God knows, more than you or I do, just how to give us the most perfect happiness!

"Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. Though one goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed, he will surely come back with shouts of joy, carrying his sheaves." Our pain is NOTHING compared to our joy in Jesus!

Lord, keep these thoughts in my mind, so that I may deal with today's fear-knowing that you will carry me through it all~!

My Plan

Over the next few weeks I have lots of fun things planned, but none of them involve Chase!! Isn't that sad? I am heading up to Sherman, TX to Austin College's homecoming, AND MY 10 YEAR COLLEGE REUNION! Can you believe I've been out of college for 10 years? I am excited to see all my girls, and even alittle nervous too. It will be so cool to see all the Kappas, and see pics of their growing families; and enjoy a margarita at our favorite spot!
Next weekend, I'm off to Vegas to see Tim McGraw in concert---wow! I haven't been to a concert in a long time, so I'm glad it's a low-key country one (I actually think I'm too old for a real concert anymore) Pics to follow, here's to my safety over the next few weeks!!!

I WILL MISS YOU CHASE!!!!!!!!!!!

Talk soon!

Swine-tacular October.......

I'm Scared of getting the flu!! All kinds of flu's....normal flu, avian flu, swine flu, bug flu....I'm sure there are others too, and the government is just hiding them, right?

Ok, just kidding---although I am alittle stir crazy from staying in my house in efforts to avoid getting sick! Of course, I'm also having a great time with my Chase. Here are some of the fun things I've been able to see:

-he knows all the colors of his crayons, and is starting to enjoy drawing "circles" and "squares" with mommy.

-he's very helpful in emptying the dishwasher, and reloading it too.

-the tabs don't reach eachother when I put on his diaper, which means he's getting a bigger belly!

-he knocks on the door every morning, and says, "I not tired anymore" to greet me; and I love it!

-he can't wait to see Aiden, Bane (Blane), Zach, and Addie. He has FRIENDS, which is so cute!

-he asks to "lay down in mommy bed" at night, which I'd love to do but I don't want to start bad habits...but it's very special to hear.

-his language is obviously growing SOO quickly!

-he asks to sit on the potty every morning (even though it's the big potty, and not the little one I just bought for him).

-he knows when "daddy gone to work" or "daddy at school", but loves to hear the garage open so he can yell "DADDY!" when he comes home.

It's so easy to think about his agressive traits, or his stubborn ways, or his tantrums, but I really had to just list all the ways that my Chase is an amazing little toddler! Hopefully we can get a handle on this flu thing, so we can spend time learning about God's great creation "hands-on"!

<-Big BOY!---Foam Pit!->

A Different Holiday

Fall is here, and my head is swirling with all the "traditions" of the season-all those special moments I get to share with my hard working husband and unpredictable 2 year old. I remember each year as a mother so clearly, and I am excited to make more memories with my family! Even more special will future holidays be, as I walk through changes in my grandfather who has dementia. I want so much for my son to know him as I do. Tears will be shed, as they are at this moment, but the joy of my Chase running to him for a hug and a "lo five" will surely be the best memories of this time. I see grandaddy light up when he sees Chase, regardless of how good or bad the day has been for him-priceless. I pray for my grandmother, who has chosen to walk with him through the changes alone (so far)-without the help of hired caretakers. I pray that she gets strength and compassion that only God can give her-because in her words, "We vowed to be with eachother in good times and bad". How amazing a bond they have, for over sixty years now. It is my hope that I can enjoy good times and bad with Sean, for many years to come, just as they have. I lean on Him when my thoughts jump into the future, which is uncertain, and will be unhappy and heartbreaking; I must enjoy NOW. My grandfather is an amazing man with stories of the past that make me burst with pride-that's my grandaddy! He's accomplished so much in his life, and been a believer for as long as I can remember. I know that this walk will not be lonely for him, God holds his hand and prepares him for a life even greater than his life now. I am blessed and honored by each moment, each memory I get to make with this God loving, God trusting, God fearing man. This holiday season will be full of emotion, but mostly I pray that the holidays will be full of JOY!!! I pray for each family member touched by my grandfather, that they enjoy every moment with my grandaddy. Thank you God for allowing me to know and love a man after your own heart-and for giving me the peace in knowing that each difficult day is comforted by You. I love my family, and can't wait to spend special moments with them this season, and to hear some stories from the past too. :)

Meeting Chase!

Amanda

Been MIA for a bit-so here are some fun family pics.
Chase met 'face-to-face' with a very mean fan, and then met a very nice ER doctor shortly after that...he's fine. Evidently this kind of thing "Happens all the time." Huh?

OUCH!
We also went to a birthday party, where Chase played with his other friend Addyson. Look at that smile: Watch out Addison Crawford, this other Addy is pretty cute!!!!!!!!

Also got Chase his first fishing pole, and daddy has shown him the technique behind a good cast.

We also played in the sprinkler abit, looks like Chase and Thomas weren't fans. :)

I've had fun in my first week alone with Chase, as Allison went back to Kindergarden. Chase was happy to get mommy all to himself again, but has still been alittle lonely. I hope that we can start up more fun groups now that school has begun! Enjoy the pics guys, later!

Zoo!

This is my ALL TIME favorite picture-Chase on the train at the zoo. If you don't know, Chase is absolutely fascinated by trains, so this was the best day ever for him!

My friend Debbie brought her cute 1yr old Carson, and her daughter Megan for Allison to play with.

Mommy and Chase on the train.

Megan and Allison playing with the cow--right before she peed on them!

This was the tone of the day-lazy, cloudy, PERFECT day for the zoo!

Allison and Megan loved the zebras.

Monkeys were a hit-is this a picture of "evolution"? NOPE, just a reflection! haha

Looks peaceful, right? WRONG, they woke up as I entered the driveway-no nap for mommy!

I loved it-and I let Chase run around the zoo like a...well, like a monkey! We had a great time, can't wait to go again!

4th O' July

We had a great time hanging with our friends, The Crawfords, invading their parent's saltwater pool~!

Of course, our men had to have an impromptu swimming lesson for our boys-poor Chase and Jett!

Not many pictures of the mommies, but some good ones of daddys and sons :)

Last but not least, the first of many "supervised dates"!

Father's Day Pajamas

Chase loved his pajamas SO MUCH! I got them on clearance from JC Penney :)
We had fun hanging out with poppa and daddy, laughing the night away.

Trip to Great Wolf Lodge!

Chase's 2nd Birthday!

Chase had lots of fun with his friends and family last weekend. I'm pretty sure his favorite toy is still the recorder we got him from Walmart for $1, but he's having lots of fun reading his cool new books too! Here are some pictures from our fun weekend-too bad it rained though!


We had a Luau theme, Chase got into the lei's!

We made cupcake cones, for easier eating by kiddos! This is Chase with his cousin Kendall.

And Chase with his friend Addison. Cool picnic table Chase, your parents are pretty awesome!

Chase blowing out his 2 candles :)

This is not what I ordered....

...but I'll take it!

Easter Fun!

We had a blast celebrating the gift of mercy and life from our Savior over Easter Weekend! Chase got sooo much candy and stickers from our very first Egg Hunt at Cityview Church, and the fun never stopped.

First, we went to the Underwater Egg Hunt at Keller Pointe last week:

*)"REAAADY---GOOO"

*)Waterfall

*)Help Daddy..

Chase and Zach hunting with Sean.

Then we had our Annual Easter Family Gathering in Mansfield-with the Easter Bunny!

*)HUGS!

*)The bunny with my grandparents

*)Reading the Easter Story

*)Playing piano with cousin Allison

Such a beautiful weekend, great weather, and an amazing time to remember all that has been done for us on this earth. Praise God for his Son, and the gift of true forgiveness!