So...30, new camera, and Jada is pretty cool...

So this past week I officially entered my 30's! I was overwhelmed with love and really thankful for the ways God has totally given me more than I could ever imagine. Brian threw a surprise party for me which was a total surprise and then I was able to go on a "personal retreat" with one of my friends, Sarah Brown. It was refreshing in the Lord and in rest! So, 30 is not so bad :) Last week I got a new camera as well! For any of you photo friends, it is a Nikon d300 so there is quite a lot for me to learn! I finally took it out of the box and got to play a little today and oh how fun!!! Jada was the subject of my experiments and she did wonderfully! She is sporting her new look with a low pony-tail which I think makes her look so much older! This month is kinda crazy for all of us around here...Brian's birthday is next week so it is a fun birthday month! Anyway...love you guys and enjoy the pics...and by the way, my arms are not that strangely long :) but I thought it was kinda fun!

Jada these days...

Thought I'd update the blog with some new pics of Jada playing in the kitchen...she is definitely a little girl...loves to "help" in the kitchen!

Grammy and Grumpy's Birthday Weekend!

We just returned from a great weekend visiting Brian's family. Brian/aka: Grampa Grumpy's birthday was Saturday and Sue/aka: Grammy's birthday was Sunday! It was a full weekend of birthday celebrations, playing and catching up. Jada had a great time with her 4 year old cousin Madyson. They sat at their own table, rode in a fun wagon, played on the swing and of course, played fetch with Samson! These are a few pics from the weekend!

a little catch up...

Wow, this year has really been great...just crazy busy! Jada girl has grown so much and is doing so many fun things!!! She is repeating a lot of words, she has said "Hi" to all of her toys and just about everyone at any store...when she wakes up I walk into her room to get her and she just smiles and says "Hi." It's pretty darn cute! She also got a new wagon b/c she is obviously too mature for her baby stroller :) and she has LOVES it.

These pics are from two weekends ago. It was Mike's birthday and he wanted to take Jada to the park to feed the ducks...it was truly a lot of fun, the ducks were certainly not shy about their love for the bread and they especially liked Jada b/c she would throw whole pieces of bread at them!! After she finished successfully feeding the ducks the whole loaf, we walked through the park and read a sign that says "Please don't feed the ducks"...oops!

We're cookin'

My mom and Mike totally shocked us with a wonderful Christmas gift of a new stove...our good friend Terry came and helped finish the gas installation stuff...isn't it beautiful!!!!?????!!!! We are so thankful...I will be even more thanful when I cook my first meal and the burner doesn't turn off in the middle of the meal or when it doesn't decide on it's own to cook on high even when the knob says low :) Thanks Again!!!

what a month!!

So the month of December has been a wonderful and tiring month! Lots of photo shoots, basketball season beginning for Brian and our Jada bug on the go! Through the craziness, we have been blessed with a new family in out lives, the Stanleys. Emily (the Stanley's youngest daughter) is one of Jada's all time favorite people...I thought I would post a pic of them and of course please notice their sweet matching outfits :) Their family has really encouraged us and brought about sweet "community" in our lives.

Also, The Smithers were able to come visit us! We have missed them so much and we were SO happy to spend sweet time together. They always show us more of Christ and when they leave we have so much to "chew on". We really feel loved by them! Cherish (the Smither's youngest daughter) is precious and she quickly won many smiles and excited squeels from our Jada! We gave Cherish a dance costume and she and Jada played and danced...well, Cherish danced while Jada watched and played the music :).

While the Smither's were in town, we were able to connect the Stanley's and the Smithers which was a lot of fun for Evan and Cherish too...they got to play paintball and climb on hay along with lots of other fun things out at the Stanley's property. I thought I would include some cute pics of them :)

We are off to MiMi & Papa's house and then we'll return Christmas eve to celebrate Christmas here...then off to Grammy & Grumpy's after Christmas. It should be a fun week of Jada being spoiled, catching up with family and some much needed rest!

Merry Christmas! -

Visit to MiMi & PaPa's

This past weekend Brian and I went to Boerne to photograph a wedding...meanwhile Jada went to my mom and Mike's to be TOTALLY spoiled. Mike built Jada her own personal swingset with all of her favorites (a puppy dog flag, 2 sets of chimes, and her name written across the top :)) She had a blast!

Brian and I got to spend some time with our good friends, Shane and Steph Menn. I added some pics of our time as well!

Walking and Playing...

Brian and I like to take Jada to the park near our house...here are some pics of the fun. As you can see, she loves the slide! :)

Jada is everywhere these days...she is walking all over the house and loves to play outside! It has been so much fun to chase her around as she has learned to walk :)

The greatness of the Puppy Pillow

Here is the pic to go along with "why we love puppy pillows" Isn't it great?!

Madyson's birthday & Why we love puppy pillows, elephants and baseball

It has been a while since I've updated our blog, so there are a few fun things that I must include today...

Last weekend we all traveled to New Braunfels for Jada's cousin Madyson's 4th birthday party. It was so much fun. Madyson (aka: Cinderella) had a great time playing with lots of friends and lots of bubbles! Jada had a blast as well...she received a princess hat from Madyson that she thought was pretty fun to wear backwards :).

Jada was given one of the greatest gifts a true puppy loving toddler could ask for: a giant pillow, PaPa's idea hand made by MiMi, out of puppy dog fabric! It has caused endless delightful squeels and it has given Jada a soft place to land while trying to learn how to walk! She will get brave enough to take a few leaning steps into the pillow. I don't have a picture of it yet...but it will come! We love puppy pillows!

Karli is a sweet friend of ours that I taught dance to almost 10 years ago, stayed close with her sweet family and now she is a college student here at A&M. Karli, who is amazing with kids and seems to always give amazing gifts, gave Jada a giant elephant yesterday! Her name is Ellie and when Jada first met Ellie squeels, giggles and smiles were immediate! Jada snuggles with Ellie, pokes Ellie's eyes, and really likes it when we set her on top of Ellie to ride her. Most importantly, turns out Ellie was Jada's motivation to walk confidently half way across the room! Without hesitation, Jada stood up from my lap, walked to Ellie and just layed her head on Ellie's back (without falling :)), celebrated about her great walking success, then returned to me (falling into my lap). It was an exciting day. We love Ellie the elephant!

And finally, tonight Brian, Jada and I joined the beloved Borchgardt family at Blaine's last baseball game of the season. Blaine was great! He hit the ball well, slid into base (with or without an incoming throw:) and most of all had fun doing it. Jada had a blast pushing her stroller around the ball park and playing with Sara. We all had a great time and were thankful to see Blaine in his element!