Busy summer.....

I'm sorry I've been the worst blogger lately. Partly because we've been so busy, but mainly because I haven't been good about taking pictures. Here's what our summer has looked like so far (sorry to some of my friends that I had to steal these first few pics from. As I said earlier, I have not been good about getting pictures!).

My OBU girlfriends all met up in Hot Springs one night. It was so fun just hanging out and talking. We had the best time catching up.

That weekend we also had a baby shower for Amber and Anna Beth. She got some wonderful things. And it was fun to see everyone again.

Everyone and the kiddos. Except Bowden, Pierce and Maddox weren't there. My mom brought Aiden and he was trying to eat the jelly beans through the wrapper in this picture. Not a very easy thing to do.

Two weeks later we had Jennifer's wedding in Texas. This is Lauren, me, Dayle and Erin.

This is us at the bridesmaid brunch. Very laid back, but also very fun.

The OBU girls: Amber, Laura, Erin, Jenn, me, Dayle, Lauren and Katie.

Before going over to Texas for the wedding we went to Shreveport to see Ben, Kristen, Isabella and Brooks. We went to Chick-fil-a when we go there and Isabella showed Aiden how to climb up to the top of the playground. He had so much fun.

Aiden and Isabella were holding hands while driving down the road. So sweet. Jonathan and Aiden stayed in Shreveport while I went over for the wedding so I didn't get any more pictures of them, but I know Aiden had so much fun playing with "bebba" and "brooks" (that's how Aiden says their names).

He's moved to the big table (this happened several months ago but I thought I would share). He loves us all sitting together when we eat and we have to pray about 5 times during our dinner. We say "Thank Jesus" and Aiden yells out "AMEN".

He's turned into quite the helper around here. I'm grateful, but I think his daddy is even more grateful. Or maybe he's just glad that something is getting done around here...ha, ha!

This was Aiden and Jonathan on Father's Day. We had a really low key day, but it was nice to all be together. We are so thankful to have Jonathan as the spiritual leader in this house. My favorite part of the day is when Jonathan gets home from work and Aiden gets so excited jumping around and then he takes Jonathan by the hand and wants him to go play right away. So sweet.

We've been spending lots of time at the playground this summer. It's so funny how last summer Aiden could barely get up on the playground and this year he's all over the place and I don't even have to get up there with him. It's so nice.

Since he's been learning his letters he loves this part. He'll yell out all the letters to me.

"Hey Mom!"

And of course he loves the slide.

I promise to get better about posting pictures and taking pictures this summer. I can't believe he will be two next month!!!! He is talking so much now and has just been so much fun. Sometimes it takes awhile to understand what he is saying, but eventually we get it!

Carter + Aiden = Best Buds

We went to North Little Rock over the weekend and the majority of the time this is what Aiden and Carter were doing.  Aiden had so much fun playing with his cousin Carter this past weekend.  Anything Carter would do, Aiden would want to do.  It was so cute.  And Carter was so good with him.  It was so sweet to see them playing together.  

Carter got his work out pushing Aiden around.  But they both had a blast. 

So sweet.  He was just sitting there watching Carter run around the yard.  

Oh Carter!  You're so funny!  

Carter thought they "needed" a snack.  So he went inside and got juice boxes and chips.   

"Here Aiden try these.  I know you will love them."

Aiden loves putting on hats.  This is Carter's fireman hat that he kept putting on.  

This was Carter and Aiden a year ago!  I just had to put this is to show how much they have changed in a year.  It's much easier for them to play together now that Aiden is bigger. 

Carter has always been so sweet with his cousin.

Now this is the real reason we went to NLR.  Kristy had her baby shower.  This is me and my pregnant sisters.  Jill is due the very beginning of November and Kristy is due the very beginning of August.  

My mom, Kristy and Sandra (Paul's mom) at the shower.

I didn't get any pictures of her opening up gifts because I was trying to keep up with Aiden.  Sweet Sydney came to the shower with her mom and her and Aiden had fun running around together.  

Isn't this a cute pic of Sydney.  I couldn't get Aiden to look up, but you can see where he just spilled a drink down his shirt.  He wanted to drink out of a cup like the grown-ups were doing.  

We had so much fun seeing everyone.  I went out with a few of the OBU girls to US Pizza on Sunday night, but of course I didn't get a picture.  It's always fun being back in Arkansas.  Sure do miss it and everyone there.  

Happy Mother's Day and a few favorites

You just never know how much you can love one person until you have children.  I LOVE being Aiden's mom.  Even more I love being able to spend every minute of every day with him.  It's not until you have children that you realize nothing else matters but them!  I couldn't read that somewhere, someone showed me that.  And that someone was my mom.  Thank you mom for being so selfless and putting us always before yourself.  Happy Mother's Day to my mom (Mimi) and Jonathan's mom (Grammy).  I feel so blessed to have two GREAT examples of mothers in my life.   You both mean so much to us.  

Aiden and Jonathan gave me this for Mother's Day.  It means so much to me because when my grandmother passed away 15 years ago all the granddaughters got diamond necklaces.  Well the setting was in gold and I just haven't worn it in a long time.  Jonathan took the diamond and put it in this platinum setting.  I love it and now I can always think of her when I wear it.  

Aiden sporting his "Mom's #1 Fan" shirt.  He asked to wear it.  I had nothing to do with it.  

Sunday after lunch we ran a few errands and somehow Aiden always finds the toy section wherever we go.  This is him checking out some riding toy that I'm pretty sure he's not big enough for.  

Here are a few of Aiden's favorite things lately:

Wearing hats.  Sometimes it's his hats, but a lot of times it's one of ours, so of course  it's too big.  

He has been obsessed with wearing his shoes and socks at ALL times.  He'll wake up and say "Shoes", "Socks" and want them on immediately.  It's so funny.  So this is him sporting his socks over his pj's, wearing his hat and eating strawberries (his new favorite food).

Cheesing it for mom

He has been cracking us up with these funny faces.  I'm not too sure where they are coming from.  

He loves Mother's Day Out.  This is one of his teachers.  I'm sad because Mother's Day Out is ending this week.  He has LOVED going and we are going to miss it this summer.  

He has loved this leap frog letter toy we got.  You put these cards in and spell out the words.  Aiden is getting so good at picking out the letters.  

Hercules thought he saw some food on Aiden's chin so he was licking Aiden.  Of course Aiden didn't mind.  

Aiden LOVES going to the zoo.  A few weeks ago we went with Madelyn and her mom.  (Or as Aiden likes to call her, "Mad Mad").

Checking out the monkeys

Trying to steal a sip of mom's drink

"Who me?  Does this face look like I could do anything wrong???" 

Country Music Marathon '09

I have wanted to do a marathon for a while now.  It's something I talk about forever, but kept making up excuses why I couldn't do it.  Well this was my year finally.  I decided that since I was turning 30 this year it would be a good year to do it.  I have been training since January for the Country Music Half Marathon.  Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday I have been running with a group of friends.  I have never been a runner so starting out was hard, but after I did it for a while it became easier and I loved it.  Today I got to put all my training into play and I finished at 2 hrs and 19 minutes.  And I didn't walk at all (there were times I was dragging my feet, but they were jogging).   I didn't really care about my time, my goal was to not walk and I'm so glad I kept on going.  This was just the most amazing experience ever.  The Country Music Marathon is here in Nashville of course and they have bands set up all through out the course (mostly country music), but there was the one band playing outside of a church and they were singing "Our God is Mighty to Save" and it was just awesome hearing Christian music.  It gave me chills and tears were in my eyes because I just kept thinking without Him I wouldn't be doing this.  God was definitely there through it all and without Him I wouldn't have "Pressed towards the Goal".  So here are just a few pics from the day.  Jonathan and Aiden came out to support but I never saw them until the end.  There were 35,000 RUNNERS!  And I can't even imagine how many spectators......let me just say a TON!  There were people lined on the streets for most of the 13 miles.  It was awesome just hearing people cheer you on the whole way.  

My biggest supports.....Jonathan and Aiden

Aiden, Me, Lyndsay, Jeannie, and Jordan.  Some of my running group.  

The girls at the Pasta party the night before: Lyndsay, Jeannie, Jordan and Me.

My metal!  I told Jonathan I want to wear it all week where ever I go!  

***Update....my friend Brent was there watching the race and got a picture of me.  He sent this picture after I had done this post, so of course I had to add it.  Here I am smiling as I ran by him.  I think this was around mile 7 or 8 so that's why I'm still smiling.  Glad he didn't take my picture around mile 12 because no telling what I would have looked like!  

Happy Easter!!!

We hope everyone had a Blessed Easter.  We had a very low key one, but it still nice.  We went to church and then out to eat with some friends.   Here is Aiden ready for church.  Of course he couldn't let go of his soccer ball. 

This was Easter last year.  Wow, he has changed so much!  

Still won't let go of his soccer ball.

Poor Aiden has a scratch under his eye because his momma didn't clip his nails.  

The family Easter 09.  I don't love this picture but it was the only we got that day.  If you can't tell the sun was definitely in our eyes.  I think Aiden and I look more a like in this picture than we ever have.  Maybe it's because we're both squinting.  But we were thankful for the sun that day!  

"For by grace we are saved through faith....it is the gift of God."  Eph. 2:8

We're back.......

 Hello blog world!  Sorry we've been abandoning you lately.  I have NOT been good at taking pictures of all that we have been doing.  It has been a busy last few weeks.  Last Friday (the 3rd) Jonathan and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary!  It has gone by so fast.  We had a great time, we went out to Ruth's Chris and actually got to enjoy a nice dinner alone.  I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have such a wonderful husband.  He not only is a wonderful husband but an awesome daddy!  Aiden and I are so blessed to have him in our lives.  

Lately all Aiden wants to do is go outside to play.  He thinks whenever we are leaving that we MUST be going to play.  It gets really challenging when he figures out that we are just going to run errands and not doing what he wants.  This is what usually happens when I tell him we're about to leave.  He grabs as many balls as he can he goes for the garage door.....

Aiden just got his first pair of boat shoes.  I love them.  

Today we took Aiden to his first Easter Egg Hunt.  The zoo was putting one on and I think all of middle Tennessee were there.  It was CRAZY!  But I think Aiden had a good time.  This is me telling Aiden where to put the eggs.  (We practiced at home yesterday so he'd know what he was doing.  And so he'd have a head start on all the other kids!!  Just kidding)  

Of course he had to investigate all the eggs before putting them in his basket.

"There's some more eggs Aiden!"

He got it!

"Excuse me, but I knew what I was doing all along!"

Aiden and momma

Of course we couldn't go to the zoo and not go see the animals.  Aiden LOVES the elephants.  

We went with some of our friends and here is Aiden, Jonathan, Caleb and Jerry.  

After the egg hunt they got some prizes and one was a lollipop.  I guess I got Aiden in mid-lick.  He was really loving that lollipop.  

Oh, and yesterday Jonathan and I took Aiden to get his passport!  We are planning on taking a trip this summer to Guatemala to go see Grammy and Daddy Ron.  They went back to Guatemala 2 weeks ago because their furlough was up.  We sure do miss them, but are so thankful that we can talk to them on the camera on our computer.   I hope everyone is having a good weekend.  I promise I won't wait this long again to post.

Bargain shopping...

We had some consignment sales around here last week and I was so happy about all my bargins that I had to share.  I got everything below (shorts, t-shirts, polos, 2 jackets, pants, shoes, car, bag, and a booster seat) all for a little over $100!!!!  I was so excited.  I love a good deal.  

Here are all the shorts I got.  I LOVE plaid shorts on little boys.  So I got a few of those.

Here are all the tops I got.  I think I counted 21!  

The shoes I got are from Stride Rite, Children's Place, LL Bean and Gap and all were like $3 or $4.  

I love these cute little seersucker pants.  

And this seersucker jacket will be so cute for church.

I can't pass up a funny t-shirt either, especially when it was only $1.

And I couldn't pass up this bag because it was Aiden's colors in his room and everyone knows a girl could use just one more bag.  

This car was only $10!!!  We will use it outside but on this day it was cold so I just brought it inside.  

This doesn't have anything to do with my bargin shopping, but I love this picture.  Aiden has been putting on Jonathan's hats and he loves wearing them.  I just thought it was so cute.  

It's a little too big for him right now.  

This what Aiden has been doing lately to let us know he is ready to eat.  He will push his high chair into the kitchen.  It's hilarious.  This boy is not afraid to let you know what he wants.