Christmas in full swing.

We returned from the warm weather and had to get right to work on decorating for Christmas.  Christmas tree went up at the beginning of December.  This was Oliver's first year enjoying the Christmas decorations because I am pretty sure he doesn't remember anything from when he was 1 month old.

 He loves the tree and the lights.  I am sure he is thinking "Why is there a tree in my house?" though.

 He could lay on the floor and enjoy the lights for a long time.  I wonder what he is thinking.

 Gingerbread house making is a tradition.  Daddy helped with construction this year. 

Cookie decorating.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer with Nana and Papa

And the tradition of decorating cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve day.  Hady wore her new Anna dress.

And I was decked out in my new IU gear from Christmas at Grandpa and Catherine's.

Thanksgiving

 Thanksgiving was quite awhile ago...I know.  Other holidays have come and gone, I have turned seven, our basement remodel is finished, Oliver can do new tricks...but I am just sitting down to put pictures and words on my blog.  This seems so long ago and our next trip to the beach is right around the corner.  This makes me think of all the things I want to do in the warm weather.  It is cold here, like numb your hands and freeze your face in just a few minutes.  I am a boy that likes to be outside.  The beach is my favorite place.  The beach makes me happy because we spend countless hours outside like it is summer when it isn't.

Family picture on Thanksgiving day.  Not the warmest weather but warmer than today in Indiana.

 Our closest attempt at recreated daddy's favorite picture.

Oliver is one! by: mommy

I don't even know where to begin...You. Are. One!  You have come a long way since the day you were born and the first week of your life but you are a survivor.  Every day you bring us so much joy and our life would not be the same without you.  Your sister loves you fiercely.  She doesn't always do the best job showing it but she loves you.  She loves to play with you.  She loves to watch you.  She loves to take care of you.  And most of all she loves to love on you.  Your big brother is your protector.  He would never let anything happen to you.  He watches everything you do to make sure you are safe.  He doesn't want to see you hurt.  Your daddy loves to make you laugh.  He loves your hugs when he walks in the door.  He loves to cuddle with you on the couch and loves to see you splash around in the bath tub.  I love watching you grow.  Because I get the privilege of being with you every day to see what you learn, to see you see things for the first time, to see you touch things for the first time, to see you learn to walk and talk.  We all love you more than you will ever know.  And most certainly more than we could ever show you.

This first year of your life you have grown so big.  You weigh 21 pounds and have grown to 31 inches.  You have mastered playing, sitting, crawling, eating, waving and riding on ride on toys every where in our house.  You love to play with balls.  If someone joins in, it makes it more fun but you will chase a ball anywhere.  You love to crawl super fast wherever you go.  The faster the better.  You love to eat raspberries and blueberries.  You love to wave.  I think you just like to see people smile at you but then most of the time you get shy and turn away.  Your most favorite toy continues to be anything and everything you can ride on.  You still don't sleep through the night.  You wake up two times most nights.  Its ok.  I know we will all sleep through the night someday.  You can say 'momma' and 'da'.  Rice tries to get you to say his name but that will probably take some time.  You love your pacifier and you have recently started to drink whole milk. 

My wish for you is you keep smiling.  You smile because things make you happy.  You smile because you have no worries.  You smile because you are loved.  Keep smiling little guy.  And HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY!

Halloween

First up...Zoo Boo.

 Next up...Hady had some friends over to celebrate a little early.

 Eating dirt pudding...YUM!

 Trying on different costumes.

 Next up...Halloween parties at school.

 Hady got wrapped up like a mummy.

 I had my very own IU cheerleader cheering me on.

 We made some crafts and ate some yummy cookies.

 And finally trick or treating...BRRRRR.  It was cold.

 We ran to keep warm.