Well, on November 18th, I turned 33. Janise's birthday is the day before mine and our playgroup had a celebration for us on Friday! Look at that awesome cake from Lucia who has a 2 week old!!! My baking hero!
Stan also took care of dinner for my birthday and let me go shopping with Allison on Friday, drove to Greensboro on Saturday so we could be at Heather's daughter's birthday party and let me go shopping with Janise on Saturday just before he took me out for dinner!! Seeing Allison, Heather and Janise in one weekend was such a gift - having dinner alone with my hubby was also a special treat (thanks to Moo and Nanny for that one!)Well, there is a lot more, but I am going to go work out now. I am also learning to value in doing the things I need to do for myself in a less than scheduled pattern. Both boys are down, my BLOG is updated and dinner is leftovers. If I work out now, I can do my quiet time instead of working out tonight and that sounds like a great ending to my day.
Happy 33rd to me. Hard to believe. Thanks for reading and for the support and friendship you each give to me in your own way.
Well, Stan and I made a huge accomplishment for us...we took the two kids, two strollers and two 30 + year olds and ran a 5K!! We managed to run the entire race and finish with a smile. I was so pleased! I would love to be able to do more runs together and raise our kids to understand the importance of exercise. My personal goal is a half marathon (without the stroller), so we shall see. Maybe once the kids are a little older. :) It seems so difficult to find time to do these things at this stage of the game. I am glad we made this happen and now I know we can do it!!
As you can see Connor finished well...
It was so nice to be with Stan for this race. His work has been doing it for 10 years to benefit the Food Bank. We got to see all of his co-workers and participate in something meaningful to him. It was great to do a service activity with our kids as well. It was a great family event. We love our daddy Stan!
And, last but not least, the boys in their pumpkin hats. I had wanted them to wear them for the race...but they BOTH had other ideas. This is the best picture I got out of several I took the morning of the race. Oh well. They are cute anyhow!! 
I love craft time with the kids. Connor, of course, is not quite into it, but Landon loves crafts. I love the time spent focusing on a craft so his little mind just opens up and he shares it with me. He shares his thoughts about:Snippets of time. Oh, how I love this journey. I am reminded to slow it down. I pray that God will help me be content. I pray that God will guide me as a mom. I pray that my priorities will mirror those that are of eternal significance. I pray that in this season of hustle bustle, I will take each day and live it to the fullest, praising the God of the universe who has given us life, abundant, loving us and lavishing us with that love each and every minute. Let that love be my guide in this journey.
I also love listening to Landon talk with his friends while doing crafts together. Sophia and Landon are just the best of friends and had a blast doing this craft. I think it took 15 pictures at least and a bribe with M and Ms to get this picture!
Finished products. So much fun!
Landon shows off his imagination by creating a new superhero power- Lightyear Mini-lasers, aka marker tops. :)
And, last but not least, my little cowboy! 
It would be so nice if kids would look at the camera...alas. 
To infinity and beyond!
Too darn cute.
Landon, Connor, Sophia and Emelia all looking at Nanny who was being her sweet silly self. What a crew!
Nanny and Mr. Potato Head.
A family photo- not too bad!
Nanny and Buzz.
I couldn't believe we were able to get this shot! I love my little Connor bug!
We had to bribe Landon to get this one...with more candy. :) Three year olds!
A mommy picture for a change! Janise is such a dear dear friend. I don't know how I would get through this time in my life without her! Those days when I need to hear it most, she is so encouraging and always pointing me to God for strength. I am so very thankful for her friendship! Love you Janise!
Speaking of thankful. This lady is a treasure. I absolutely adore my mother-in-law. I know I am biased but I really believe she is the best mother-in-law in the world. I don't know how I would get through this journey of motherhood without her either. The number of times she has just showed up, given Stan and I a date night, cooked a meal, helped me in a bind, played Santa's elf, got me out of the house, etc...the list goes on...is unparalleled. She is the most self-less person I have ever met, never meets a stranger and her heart just radiates love, esp. to her family. Kay, you don't know how much you mean to me! I love you!
Sophia and Landon really are two peas in a pod. I love watching these two together, though we are learning that adolescence may need to be a time of close supervision! :)
Here Landon and Sophia are checking out their loot. They got plenty of chocolate, enough to get them all sugared up before bed. Who didn't do that on Halloween? Hope you enjoyed!
One year ago, Stan, Landon and I welcomed this precious baby boy into our family. Connor came into the world not knowing how much he would bless our lives. It has been an amazing year learning and growing together with this little bundle of joy. My cup runneth over with thanksgiving for the precious gift Connor is to me.
We started the day with some playtime and peek-a-boo with mommy in his room. Connor loves to crawl behind his rocking chair and peek at me around the other side as well as underneath. He thinks it is hilarious! I have to admit, I do to. I love grabbing him up really tight and tickling him as we play.
Connor had a lot of fun opening his first birthday gift from my parents. They couldn't be here the weekend of his birthday so they came the weekend before and gave him a new little rocking chair. I tell you, the tissue paper was the hit! He did love his little rocking chair as well and has been practicing climbing in it since!
We had a big birthday party for Connor and Landon must have thought the party was for him. I think 10 of his friends came, he got to put on tattoos and play in a bounce house. He was quickly asking me when his birthday was following this partay!
Connor got a new airplane from his Nanny. He has already figured out how to push the little button over and over and over again as he dances to the music the little plane plays. Nanny has a way of knowing just what to get these little fellas! 
True to form, Connor was NOT into his cake. Anna made the cutest little puppy cake (his head featured here) and was so excited for Connor to just dig in. Connor is my neat child who I am not sure has a sweet tooth...so, we got him to play a little bit by giving him the fork to stab the cake with! So sorry for the anticlimactical cake experience Aunt moo!
It is always fun trying to get a family picture these days...
I think the highlight of Connor's day was opening a card from his friend Ryan. Ryan made this card which had lots of painted colors on the inside. Connor just grinned from ear to ear, kept looking at the card and even tried to taste it! It was so sweet to see him enjoy this homemade gift. It made my heart gush...as you can tell.
Thanks Aunt Moomoo for the delicious cake (that everyone else enjoyed!).
Uncle Marc had a moment at Connor's party. Connor has been a little shy around his uncle Marc. But...on his birthday, he went right up to Uncle Marc and sat on his lap. Marc was smiling so big and asked me to please take his picture- he was one proud uncle!
Connor got to jump in his first bounce house. My friend, Stacey, called just before the party would start and offered to bring her little girl, Baylie's, bounce house. I said, "SURE"! I looked outside as they were blowing it up...to see a huge princess castle! The things a mother of boys does not think about. :) I laughed so hard and welcomed the princess bounce house to my little boy's first birthday party!
