Double trouble

Enjoying a cold frosty one.

Goofballs.


Eva comforts Sam as he faces his fear of Santa.


Reading a few books about baby Jesus.
We bought the kids an early Christmas present - the Little People manger and drummer boy sets. They love to play with them, and they're great visual aids when we read.

Look who's walking!
She's been practicing for several weeks. And in the past few days, she seems to have mastered it.

Holiday photos

I'm about 2 holidays behind. At the rate I'm going, look for Christmas photos in February!

We are fortunate to have great neighbors all around us. This year we went trick-or-treating with the family next door. They have a little guy named Noah who's just a few months younger than Sam. Noah dressed up as a fireman, Sam was a train engineer.

What a team.

Noah, me, Princess Eva and Sam

Eva, Noah and Sam love riding in the wagon. This is Noah's wagon, but we're talking to Santa about delivering a wagon of our own.

A great shot of Sam smiling. As a baby, he loved to smile for the camera. Now we have to catch him in the moment. Many thanks to our neighbor Jamie (Noah's mom) for catching this one.

This sums up fall for me. A relaxing afternoon outdoors, playing in the leaves.

Cookie monsters

A few weeks ago, Michele baked some cookies then went upstairs for just a minute. She came back down to Sam saying, "Mmmm Mama, cookies." A single cookie was missing from the cooling rack. Eva had chocolate smeared on her face.

Sam was more than happy to re-enact what transpired.

Not wanting to be alone in this crime, Sam shared his first cookie with Eva.

...who is so happy about it that she's giving her scrunchy smile.

Michele baked cookies again just the other day. Eva crawled into the kitchen and cried and cried until Michele finally picked her up. As soon as Eva was in Michele's arms, she reached down, snagged a cookie and chowed down.

I'll say one thing: she's a fast learner.

Celebrating Eva

Several photos from Eva's birthday and the days that followed.
We sure love this little girl.

A page is turned

Today we celebrated Eva's last day being zero!

Sure, tomorrow's the big day for her. And perhaps more so for Sam, who is keenly aware that her birthday is coming. (Tonight at bedtime he insisted tomorrow is his birthday too!)

But today I reflected on the past year since her birth. Here are a few of my favorite photos.

Getting ready to leave the hospital, wearing the same dress that Michele wore home from the hospital when she was born. (2 days old)

Getting to know Sam -- and vice versa. (5 days old)

Celebrating the New Year. (3 months)

Relaxing in the bumbo chair. (5 months)

All smiles on July 4th. (9 months)

Modeling her new barrett. (11 months)

Enjoying our backyard. (last weekend)

Fun photos

Eva loves to play with Sam's Tonka truck, which of course has given Sam a renewed interest in it. It was Sam's big gift for his 1st birthday. Hard to believe that Eva turns 1 in a week!

Having fun with Mom just before bed.

I can't believe how big he's getting.

Here's a preview of his Halloween costume. We're not much on store costumes so Michele used her creativeness and came up with a train engineer. Sam + trains = Heaven. Don't let his serious face fool you - he loves this costume and wants to wear it all the time!

What a happy little girl.
...until bedtime, when she feels compelled to curse at us for thinking she should have to fall asleep all by her lonesome! Thankfully she konks out in about 5 minutes. Come morning, she's forgiven us and all is right with the world again. Until naptime...

Muchas gracias

Many thanks to my family for making my 35th birthday a memorable one. In the photo above, Sam is helping me blow out candles while (left to right) Eva, my nephews Payton and Landon, and Michele cheer us on along with the rest of my family.

Our own Strawberry Shortcake.

Many thanks to Michele's parents and extended family in Orlando for sending Eva several fun outfits!

Finally got out the bike trailer. First time all summer. Eva enjoyed her first ride while Sam watched out for her.

Sam peeking out the window.

Cousin Landon joins us for a photo on Labor Day weekend.

For more fun photos from Labor Day weekend,
check out my sisters' blogs:
Heart of Life
Bealor Family