Still Here!

Hi All! I am still here, I promise. We have just been crazy busy (who isn't this time of year?) and blogging keeps being put on the back-burner. Between going on our first family vacation just the three of us :), crazy work schedule, and preparing for someone's (!!!!) birthday......I haven't had much time.

I will come back soon, or soon-ish!
xoxo

Wine and Canvas

I know that many of you have heard of Wine and Canvas, but this was our first rodeo.

 Date night!

 Can you tell what this is going to be?

 Kellen taking it too seriously

Getting there!

 It was so interesting to see everyone's variation of their own painting after we all had the same direction and began with the same palate.

 Finished

 Can you guess who's is who's?!

Viola!

Who wants to do this with us next?! DOUBLE DATE!

4 Hands

My dear cousin Audrey presented this to Paige on her baptism day and I just had to share it.

She is really into photography, and for her final project in photography class she had to come up with an expression of 'four.'

She chose to photograph the hands of Paige, me, my mom, and my grandmother: 4 hands, 4 generations.

It is really hard to capture on my camera, but seeing the details of each hand is pretty cool.

I also think it is neat how my grandmother, who never wore her wedding rings from my grandfather who passed away last February (generational thing), is wearing them here.

 

I love seeing this greet me from the dining room! 
This is something we will treasure forever. Thank you Auds!!
xoxox

10 months

10 Months Old!!

Weight: 16lbs 14 oz

Length: 30inches

Standing, assisted.

Crawling like a madwoman! My life (and poor Vera's) is over!

Still not too excited about baby food, but getting better. Attempting each mealtime Chokes and gags with table food. I think Paige thinks she wants to be the next kid on the cover of Time 'bonding' with her mother.

Sleeping 10-12hrs at night, 1-2 naps during the day.

Constantly jabbering, likes to talk to Captain and tell him secrets.

LOVES babies and other kids, especially at the pool.
Claps all the time and dances to her music, likes to say her version of the ABC's along with us.

Should I be worried about he terrible twos? We are beginning to have thrashing meltdowns, including what I am pretty sure are swear words at us in Paige-ese.

Baptism

Last Sunday, with our family and closest friends present, Paige Clara was baptized.

It was such an emotional day! Kellen and I both were blown away by the outpouring of love and celebration we received. Not until everyone had left did it really hit me, then the tears came :)

This experience fueled our fire to raise Paige knowing the love of God and His story.

She was baptized at our church, St. Luke's United Methodist. This is the same church where I was baptized and where Kellen and I got married, so that made it even more special.

.

Hambone!

 As the minister was introducing her to the congregation, all she could do was grab at his microphone. Everyone was laughing. Way to keep it classy, Paigey!

 

 

 

So blessed!

 (I used our open house as a dry run for Paige's upcoming birthday.)

We had a cake made from the baker who made our wedding cake, Heavenly Sweets.

Paige was more interested in the card envelopes than any of the real gifts she recieved. 

Yet again, we were blown away with the thoughtfulness of everyone. My parents made a donation to Paige's college fund in honor of her baptism, Kellen's mom gave Paige her sister Amy's rosary (Amy passed away when Kellen was young), and Kellen's dad gave Paige a signed Bible that his great great grandfather game to him as a Christmas present in 1953. 

With love hands, He formed you.

With open arms, He welcomes you.

With everlasting love, He will keep you. 

I am obsessed with two things right now (linked):

1. Mango Coconut Chia Pudding . I used regular almond milk instead of light because the extra sweetness was worth the extra 20 calories it brought.

2. The Sock Bun and sock curls. I am pretty sure this is how my hair will be all summer!

Cake

I found this beauty at the flea market for $3. Why don't they make things like this anymore? I think she polished up quite nicely and will be a fun way to travel the cakes and pies I should NOT be eating