Oliver. 18 months

I could stare at this little face all day. I love everything about him.

Yes I am well aware that I have been a not so great blogger for the past...well, lets just say it's been awhile. It's not like I haven't had anything to document. Quite honestly, this past year has been most eventful. The truth is, my heart just hasn't been into it. But I think I am ready to get back into the groove of the ever popular past time of "Blogging". Afterall, it's family history right? No need to feel guilty. Someday, I will thank me.

Be-lated Birthday!

I have been so terrible about blogging our family history lately. I even missed Oliver's First birthday blog!! SO this post is dedicated to our sweet little Oliver.

Oliver we are so happy that you belong to us. You are so loved in our family. You are pretty much a perfect baby. you are always happy and smiling and just all around a good boy. you make your mommy so happy. I love that when I get you out of bed, you are always glad to see me, or when I get home from being gone you act so excited, like you've never seen me before. I love how I can't move around the kitchen easily because you are hugging my legs and threatening to pull down my pants. I love watching you toddle around the house, your such a big boy all of the sudden and are into so much! You love being outside and get so giddy when you get to go out, you love splashing in the toilet too, and climbing up on everything. I love your wild curly Napoleon Dynamite hair..and I love our play time and make out sessions even though you'd rather be off unrolling a roll of toilet paper somewhere...The very thought of you makes me smile and I miss you when I'm away from you...I am so glad you are my little boy, I will love you forever....love mommy

Still in mommy's tummy.....

Our Halloween Froggy...

Dazed and Confused...

Already raising his hand preparing for school!

Little Monkey feet..

Birthday Swing..yes, this is hung in our living room...

Oh he loves birthday cake!

Mmmmmmm....Such a sweet mess..

So Happy to be turning one!

Some big boy toys!

Oliver's contest!

Oliver is entered in a great american photo search for gerber baby. check out the link to cast your vote!! http://gapc-vote.com/?p=2063370

just some pics of us...

Annie likes to go on "trips"..alot. She drags a suitcase around until she decides to "come home."

My new cheetah print chair! Grrrr....I've since got a pretty pillow for it!

My new "coffee/cocoa table"...it's huge I love it!!

Another view...recognize the pink chair!

Oliver and me....

I love this face and make out with it 10 times a day!!

Over the River and Thru the Woods.....

Hey Ya'll......We're here! South Ashevillle North Carolina!!! And what a welcome we've received...10 inches of snow this last weekend!! Crazy?? We were seriously snowed in...Ok, mom is a whimp and was certain the whole town shut down and found no reason to venture out. Except when we found out that life goes on and people are sledding!!! What fun we had. No we didn't have the proper attire, but we didn't care...these AZ folks we're just happy to be in the snow! I swear our new neighbors thought our kids jumped the gun a bit when it started snowing and they were trying to make snow angels in 1/2 inches of snow. But as you can see it didn't take long before they were buried!! We love our neighborhood, we've met so many friendly people here. They actually just knock on the door and introduce themselves and hand out their numbers like candy at Halloween...But more of that later just wanted to share some pics real quick...

Coco's oh so sad holy boots

Bartel sledding backwards!! Brave kid...

Annie eating a wintery snack..I hope that's not yellow...

A warm bath after a hard day in the snow.

Bartel...taking a nap..;)

Holy Snow!!! It got even taller then that!!

just beginning to snow..

Asheville High..looks like it should be in a movie!

Our rental....ok fine, it's the Biltmore here in Asheville...

Fall colors picture from our hotel window

Accidents Happen...

It's crazy when you can look back on a time of life or situation that was probably one of your most trying times, and see all the good things and blessings that came from it. What a bumpy ride we've had these past 4 months. There are things we;ve had to deal with that we never thought we'd deal with. I guess the real test is just how you endure them. Barts accident was a crazy fluke thing, but because of it so many opportunities and insights have come along. It's a bummer when your proved to be mortal. But it's a blessing when you can regognize the Lord's hand in sparing your life. It's a good time to reflect and re-prioritize your life...We've done just that.

Bart's doing great. His hand is healing remarkably his Dr. told us it's nothing short of a miracle that he has the use of his hand at all. He nearly lost his hand, and he is back drilling and filling and pressing on. He is happy and cheerful and enduring physical therapy. I think the most amazing thing to me has been Bart's attitude thru all this. He's such a trooper, so optimistic and as funny and happy as ever. He is such an example to his family.

Bart we love you, we are so blessed to have you in our life, you truly have been watched over, you could have been taken from us but, the Lord knows we need you and your contagious smile and spirit in our life a bit longer....

Bart and Jeff Lewis ready to begin Whiplash 09'

Safety nets and 5 point harnesses

Putting on a brave smile that only Bart can do....

Again smiling for his visitors....

Skin graft from his outer thigh to be put over his wrist and hand.

Incision that went "all the way up" his inner thigh to remove muscle for muscle graft.

Fraken-hand

Looking like his hand was going to fall off...