Christmas Surprise!

And in case you are wondering how our families liked the surprise...





Many more fun Christmas memories to share soon... I just couldn't wait any longer on this one!!!

If you are a really good boy...

Santa comes to your house early!!! Or maybe if your parents are taking you out of town on Christmas, but either way. Haha. Tuesday was really the only day this week that Murray could be home with us most of the day, and since we will be in TN this weekend, we decided that December 21st was our Christmas morning! What's a date mean anyway right?

Murray and I exchanged gifts Monday night (aka Christmas Eve). We went with stocking stuffers this year, and I must say that Murray was creative and did a great job. It was somewhat of a random assortment, but it all suits me perfectly. Haha.

I got some new body spray, an antenna for my car (I can't get ANY radio stations to pick up), picture frames for the fridge that Cole can't break, and a total pillow (awesome travel pillow) that will be handy this weekend on our trip to TN!

Murray got a new Titans camo hat, a pocket knife, and some really awesome bookmarks. Haha. Seriously he has been wanting some, and I must say I found some great ones.

Anyway, our main focus this year was on Cole...

And we had so much fun! I'm sure that he didn't really understand the whole concept of Santa coming and bringing him presents for being a good boy, but we played it up anyway! Cole colored a note for Santa, and we left him cookies and milk.

So proud!



Cole actually told us "No!" when we asked him if he wanted Santa to come to his house. Haha. Like I have said before, we really like Santa... from a distance! I will say he was very happy Christmas morning when Santa had left toys for him though!

Here is what else Santa left... an empty glass of milk, only part of one cookie, and a note back to Cole.


We videoed a lot of it so enjoy the videos... I know they are longer than normal, but it was Christmas after all!

Christmas morning family photo!

He loved the drums... if you watched the whole video, you saw that he was hardly interested in anything else at first.

He did eventually make his way to his Elmo couch, but not without his drumsticks! ;)

Realizing Santa had eaten his cookies!

Listening to what Santa had written him in his note.

Unwrapping presents. He was much more into it this time than last year at Christmas or even this year at his birthday!

Checking out his stocking!

Cole taking a picture with his new camera of his Noah's ark puzzle. Like mother, like son!

The camera dance...

"Are you guys seeing what this couch does?!?!"

After changing clothes, we broke into more of our toys... playdough was a hit! He thought Mommy's snake was really cool.

Until Daddy showed Mommy up with Elmo riding a bicycle... I mean, come on Murray!


Checking out one of his new Elmo movies... life is good!

We swapped it later for Frosty and had a nice lazy Christmas morning!

Cole just kept coming back to the drums. Does he not look so cute sitting on that little stool?

Coloring in a new Elmo coloring book. I'll give you one guess for who Cole's favorite tv character is right now... Haha.

After we played for a long time with all our new toys, we celebrated even more by going to Chuck E Cheese for lunch! They were open on our Christmas. Haha. It was such a fun day, and we have such wonderful memories! I know that this weekend will only bring more excitement and fun! We can't wait to be with our families and enjoy their company. Merry Christmas!!!

Romantic Weekend... What's That?

So Murray and I had big plans for our anniversary this year. Well, maybe not huge plans, but we did have it worked out for Murray's parents to come stay with Cole so that we could get away for a couple of nights. Which these days equals big plans! Haha. We were just planning on staying at a hotel in Louisville, but seeing some movies, eating some places that aren't exactly kid-friendly, and mostly being free of responsibilities! Well you know what they say... the best laid plans...

On the day of our actual anniversary, I spent the day taking care of my puking little boy. The next day I spent the day puking. Murray's parents still made the trip up even despite our warning that our house was definitely a sick zone, and luckily Saturday I actually felt a little better so we headed to the hotel. We ended up watching movies in our room while laying on extreme opposite sides of our nice king size bed, and Murray used hand sanitizer about every 5 minutes.

Murray's mom said- well you spent your anniversary in bed... just not how you thought. Haha.

We did make it to the Melting Pot for dinner, and, even though I was really nervous, the food tasted great and stayed inside! As Cole would say "Hip Hip Hooray!"

We came home Sunday morning to find poor Mrs. Jennifer sick with the stomach bug and for me to come down with a migraine. We both spent most of the day in our beds with the doors shut while the boys fended for themselves.

Maybe we will try again soon... for now, here are a few pictures that make it look like we had a great weekend. Haha.

He was SO excited about Mimi & PopPop coming to play! I mean... SO excited! It makes Murray and I so happy to see how much he loves all of our parents. That love is returned a little bit too I think. Haha.

Our big night out...

So spoiled... Cole had to have his cheeseballs & coke. Yes, coke... he is my child. So sad.

Proof that kids recover SO much faster than adults. This was the afternoon of the day that he spent the morning throwing up... I promise you that I am still not in any shape to be jumping or dancing in my bed even 48 hours later. I think Mrs. Jennifer would agree with me too!

Waiting for Mimi & PopPop, Cole created a "silly walk." I couldn't get much of it on camera because he always asks to see the picture or video now, but he is so proud to show it to everyone because he realizes he is making them laugh. He is a little ham... that's Murray coming out in him!

4 Years Ago Today...

I married my best friend only dreaming of how great life would be. Little did I know that God had even better dreams in store for us! I was truly blessed December 16, 2006 with a man who earnestly seeks to be a devoted husband, friend, father, and most importantly Christian leader for our family. Murray provides me with laughter, security, spontaneity, love, understanding, faithfulness, AND he's not so bad to look at. Haha. There are so many reasons why I love him and why I know that he is the best guy out there for me. He truly provides my life and our family with the balance we need, and he always points us to the One whom we can always rely on. Thank you God for my wonderful husband and all he has brought to my life. Thank you Murray for 4 awesome years... here's to 100 more. :)

17 Months Old!

Where has the time gone? Each month just flies by faster and faster. Especially with the busy-ness of the holidays and everything. Cole is changing so much every day. I am constantly amazed at his comprehension, expanding vocabulary, imagination, and sense of humor. He loves to make people laugh and is such a good boy. Don't get me wrong... we definitely have our moments and the word "No" has definitely been added to his vocabulary, but overall we couldn't be more blessed with this sweet, smart boy!

This is his new favorite spot... he drags all kinds of toys under there, but this time I caught him working hard on his computer. So proud of himself!

Prime example of his imagination... one day he came into the living room to find me wearing his "hat" and insisted that I put on the other one. So funny!

His Daddy is one of the biggest reasons behind his sense of humor and imagination. It is so obvious why God designed family with 2 parents. We definitely both bring different strengths, and I am so glad that Cole gets to learn from his silly Daddy!

Today we finger painted, and Cole loved it. I wasn't sure how he would like it because he normally hates for his fingers to be messy. This however seemed to be different, and he was all about it! We definitely will be doing this again!

It made it a few places other than his fingers and paper, but that's what the bath is for. I mean, how can you resist a grin like that?!?!

Speaking of baths, Cole loves them! Especially when Daddy is doing bath time. He is so much fun!

Cole is starting to say some really sweet things. He has repeated "I love you" for awhile when we prompt him, but he has started saying it back on his own lately. Yesterday Murray told him he loved him, and Cole said "I love you too." It almost made me cry! Also he is at the age that he wants everyone to know that we are his. He will point to us and say "my momma" or "my dadda." It's so sweet. Here he is showing off something new that I taught him.

We stole this dance from Cole's best buddy Davis. Cole LOVES to do it. It has been REALLY hard to get it on video though because Cole wants everyone to do it, and, if he sees the camera, he wants to watch himself on it. He hasn't quite figured out he has to do something first before he can watch it. Haha. Usually he does the last part of the dance better, but this was the best video yet. I'm telling ya... it's been tough!

I have no idea why this was so fun to him, but it really got him tickled! I love hearing that belly laugh!

Working on a puzzle with Daddy.

This age is so fun. He is really being able to express himself so much better. Sometimes we still fall back into crying/whining, but most of the time he tries to use his words to tell us what he wants, what's wrong, or just what he is doing. I love when we ask him something, and he answers yes or no.

I know there is so much more that I am forgetting, but my blogging zeal is wearing off by this point... scroll down to understand why.

By the way... I'm 18 weeks and feeling great. Murray has felt the baby moving now, and we are just so excited to find out if it is a boy or girl. Make sure to vote if you haven't yet. Girl is winning by a landslide so far!

***Don't miss my 2 other posts below.***

Holiday Fun!

We have really been getting in the holiday spirit around our house! Cole is loving all the Christmas decorations and parties. He always wants our Christmas tree's lights on, shows me all the Santas and snowmen around the house multiple times a day, wants to jingle all the jingle bells, and loves playing in the SNOW that we have had!


Thanks to Liz for telling us about this fun toy from the Dollar Tree! It has entertained Cole countless times!

One of the hospitals that Murray works for hosted a community Christmas party. Frosty, Rudolph, and Santa were all there. Plus face-painting, cookie decorating, and hot chocolate!


Adding sprinkles!

Ummm... are you sure about this guys?

I LOVE IT!!! (It was a snowman.)

We got a few inches of snow so the family headed out to play. We played in the snow last year, and Cole liked it. This year was so much more fun though because he actually knew what we were doing. We could hardly get him to come inside. We had to bribe him with a bubble bath. Haha.

Posing with Santa in all his cute winter gear.

Heading to the backyard for some real fun!

Trying to clean off his slide.

So cute!!!

Working hard pushing snow around!

This is SO fun!!!

Nothing like driving in the snow! Gotta watch out for crazy drivers like this guy!

I can't even tell you how much I love this little boy. He is the light of our lives!

Love the smiles. I wish I could describe to you the excitement that he had!

We had to do all our normal backyard activities too... can't forget to swing!

Making snow angels with Mommy.

So sweet.

Throwing a snowball at Daddy... this one actually caught Murray offguard. I love it! Haha.

Family picture... Seriously one of my favorite days of all time!

Sporting his cute winter church clothes and checking out his ornament for this year... a snowglobe. He loves it and pulls it off the tree ALL the time to shake it. Luckily for Mommy it is plastic! :)

A local restaurant in town had a kids eat free night and threw a holiday party at the same time so several of our friends met us there to take advantage. Santa showed up, and he was so merry! Seriously he was all that Santa should be, and the kids loved him! Cole didn't want him to hold him, but he loved Santa's jingle bells and hung on every word Santa said.

Getting his hand stamped to show everyone he was on the nice list.

Our fun group taking a picture with Santa.

Daddy, Cole, and Santa.

***Make sure to check out my post below... I have been in blog withdrawal and am making up for lost time!***