December Sip and See

I threw a "Sip and See" for my friend Julie the middle of December.  If you aren't from the south then I will explain what a "Sip and See" is.  It is where you have drinks of any sort, sip on them, and see and cuddle on the new baby.  I guess its a thing in south and when my friend told me about it I thought it was a great idea for a little shower for baby number two for my friend Julie.  I hunted around on Pinterest and found some great ideas for a hot chocolate bar.  I started putting things together and was excited with how things turned out.  I was able to do a lot with the food table and didn't have to do many other decorations since my tree and house decorations were up for the holidays.  Julie and sweet Abigail were showered with love and gifts and we all had a wonderful morning together!  I really liked doing the sip and see and will be throwing another shower for my friend Katie in April.  It's baby land on this side of the Mississippi and I think more and more just keep on coming!  It's the time of life we are in right now and I  am loving getting to experience life and babies with all our dear friends here!

My hot chocolate bar!  I made way too much food like I always do so there was lots to share after the party!  I can't help it, I always go overboard!

 My sweet nieces.  They were excited to have a girls day out and come to the baby shower!

 Sweet Abigail Ella Joseph!

Happy Birthday Snapshots

I told you last time there were going to be more pictures of the JBear!!  I wanted to show the fun pictures of him opening some presents and trying on his clothes he got from Grandmama.  That little boy loves new clothes and shoes.  Most kids, or at least I have seen it many times, don't really like clothes.  It is just boring to them.  No, not Jonah he loves clothes.  He would not open any more presents until we put his new shirt on him.  What a cute little guy.  We just went to REI yesterday and bought him a pair of new shoes, and he of course had to wear them out of the store.  I think this could be bad.  Tim already has a big shopper on his hands, yes yours truly, so now that Jonah is into it this momma and baby boy are going to have some fun:)

 Yay we finally got it opened and see our new outfit from Grandmama.  Grandmama is known for her thoughtfulness and remembers everyones birthday.  Now let me just fill you in that she has 5 children plus all of their spouses, 15 grandchildren and 13 spouses, and 24 great-grandchildren!!  Yes my friends and she remembers everyone single one of them, a card plus a gift.  Better than most of us can do. She is one amazing woman and she is 82 still going strong!

 Can't wait to try those new shorts on!

 Okay everyone check it out!  So cute, thanks Grandmama!

 Happy Birthday sweet Jonah!  We love you so so much!  Jonah gets german chocolate cake with the coconut frosting.  It's his Daddy's favorite too!  Thank you Mimi for thinking of my boys!

Happy 2nd Birthday Jonah

It's funny because last year we were in Montana around Jonah's birthday and this year we were there for this birthday.  Mimi did an awesome of having everything we needed.  Birthday banner, plates, napkins, hats, cake, presents, she had it all.  It was nice being at the cabin and celebrating with family and neighbors.  I can't believe Jonah is two!  It seems like the time does go so fast and I am trying to cherish every moment and I have with him.  All the cuddles, new discoveries, new words.  It is the best being at home with him and I am blessed that I am able to do it.  He is my little buddy whom I do everything with him and I love it just that way.  Happy Birthday Jonah we love you so much!


Dear Jonah,
Happy Birthday sweet boy.  I don't even know where to start but first of all want you to know how much your Daddy and I love you.  You are our world and we love being a part of your life.  You bring us such joy and I find myself looking at your Daddy more times than not smiling at all the little things you are saying and doing.  We will be riding in the car and the excitement that comes across your face and then is said with such delight about a new thing you have just seen or discovered brings us such joy and pride.  I love to watch the way you find worms, bugs, and ants and then bring them to me with such delight.  You are seeing and and learning so many new things everyday and I just can't get over how much fun that is to see and partake in everyday.  I love our morning cuddles together, our park adventures, our grocery store runs, our jogs on the trail, setting up train tracks and watching you drive them all day.  I can't get over how in love we are with you.  Thank you for showing us what love is. We pray that God will use us to show you his love and that you will see Christ in our home and that you will know that we love and serve a Holy God.  We also pray someday you will know our Savior and have a personal relationship with him and will know the greatest love of all.  God will never fail you and loves your more than anyone will ever love you.  Daddy and Mommy love you to the moon and back and will still love you more.  I can't tell you how happy you make us.  We love you Jonah Gabriel and look forward to celebrating many more birthdays with the most special and loved little boy.

Love,
Dad and Mom

I just realized there are two sets of birthday pictures and the ones that I uploaded are not the best ones. Oh well I guess you will be getting one more post of the birthday celebrations!

 Mimi did the Cars theme which was perfect for a two year old.  Jonah is into Cars right now and loves any new truck, car, train, bus, or anything with wheels!!

Mimi and Papa making Swedish pancakes with the very best Montana Huckleberry syrup you will ever have.  Anyone that comes to visit us when we move will be getting a taste of this at the cabin!

Jonah and Penne playing.  These two were best buds.  They played and tired each other out and had the best time doing it.  Every morning when Jonah would wake up the first thing we would say or ask for is "puppy."

Opening presents.  Do you see the concentration?!!

 Choo Choo!!!!  And then he got busy playing!!!

It's Time to party!

I threw a big party for Tim on Sunday for all of his classmates, family, and some of our close friends.  It was a great turnout with about 30 people including children.  So if you know me well, you know I love to throw a big party.  I am obsessed with searching pinterset for all the lastest and greatest decorating and party ideas, and love to read blogs and magazines for ideas as well.  I have had a collection of ideas for Tim's big party for awhile now and it was fun to see it all come together!  It was so great that Tim's mom was out for the party because she was a huge help watching Jonah so I could run errands, pick food up, and watched him the day of the party.  Tim was reluctant for me to throw him a party as he did not feel he was really done, but I informed him that he had accomplished so much and I wanted to recognize and celebrate him so we did.  Thanks to everyone that came out to celebrate!

There was lots of Jonah and Mimi time.  So sweet!

The spread.  I went with UNC carolina blue (except I was a little off on the color and went more aqua oops!) and then had cupcakes, a scrub cake, and flavored popcorn.  I had a great time putting the table together.  Then in the back I displayed his diploma from residency!

My friend Kpo made the cake and she did a great job!

I saw this cute sign on pinterest and tried to recreate it.  It was better on pinterest but I was still pleased with how it turned out!

The flavors of the popcorn were Salt and Vinegar, Caramel, and Jalapeño Cheddar.  They were all very tasty!

My dear friend Katie's little girl Kaitlyn.  What a cutie!

These are some of my dearest friends here in North Carolina.  We all met at small group, go to the same church, most of our husbands are residents together, we have had children together, and have stayed friends since then.  It has been so fun getting to know these girls and they have become my closest and dearest friends here.  It will be so hard when we all leave in a year and go our separate ways, but we will always cherish the time we had!

Enjoying a little cupcake!  He hardly gets dessert so this was a fun little treat.  By the end of the night he had frosting all over him!

Caleb enjoying a cupcake too.  Looking at this picture makes me see he is getting so big!

Tim enjoying sometime visiting with his friends and colleagues.
 

My friend Katie Beth and I!

Katie Beth, Melanie, Julie, and I.  Oh and Emery with Melanie!!

Some cousin love.  Amelia and Jonah have a love/fight relationship.  They are both the youngest and sometimes don't get the whole sharing thing.  But then they have these cute little moments where playtime is great together.  Here Amelia is loving on Jonah and they are both having a blast!  So sweet to see cousins together.

Congratulations Tim!!!