Big day, my boy met Santa.

We decided not to go out to the mall over the weekend after Thanksgiving, in our own family tradition.  But, with our little niece's 3rd birthday around the corner, we had to head out to our favorite local mall.  Well, we got lucky, because not only was Santa there, but there was NO LINE to see Santa. AND he let us take our own picture with him.  What a jolly fellow. :-)

James actually liked Santa this year. Look at that little smile!!  Santa predicted this trend will not last. haha.

oooo I'm so excited for Christmas.  Getting our decorations put up and then we'll have some pictures to show.  I love Christmas even more now that my boy gets to experience it.

First (second) Thanksgiving

We were lucky enough to have my whole family come to our house to celebrate Thanksgiving.  We missed my sis Michelle and her new hubby RH, but they were having a nice time with his family for Thanksgiving Day. It was my first time making a Thanksgiving dinner, and we only forgot our Cranberry. Dang!

We make roasted turkey, smoked turkey, mac 'n cheese, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, stuffing, gravy, special gluten free mac 'n cheese for my Mom, crescent rolls AND of course pumpkin pie and gluten-free apple pie.

Matt got me a new table runner and coordinating napkins (that I picked out) for my birthday, so I was really excited to get to set the extended table for 10!!

James totally got into the act and ate a little of everything.  Seriously everything- he turned into a potato face by the end. But, he got to wear his special 'First Thanksgiving' shirt and his 'gobble gobble' bib! haha, its too much. I couldn't resist.

Friday I got to give James his first Christmas present- the Little People Nativity Set!! I was so excited- of course he only gets to have it out during the Christmas season, so we have to start as early as possible. :-)  Christmas decorating starting soon... !!

Thanks again to all my family for coming to spend Thanksgiving with us. We have so much to be thankful for.

Sweet Baby Jack

We were so blessed to be able to celebrate with Mike and Natassja and help them prepare for the arrival of their first child, Jack Michael Prose.  Natassja looked WONDERFUL at her baby shower- so adorably pregnant.  How every woman wants to look when they are pregnant- just a sweet baby bump!

Mrs. Teresa, my mother-in-law, did a great job getting everything together for the shower, and I was so glad that I was able to help.  I was so blessed by the shower that she and Natassja threw for me that I really relished having the opportunity to kind of pay it back.  Natassja's nursery colors are baby blue and white, and her theme is world travel, hence the Eiffel Tower diaper cake, by yours truly.

I do have to give credit for the Martha Stewart pom-poms to Dana from the Orange Cat Photo Halloween party- such a fun decoration!

My highlight of the shower was watching Mike and Natassja play the 'diaper the baby' game where they see who can diaper the baby fastest while blind folded.  Of course Natassja won, so we set up a consolation prize for the loser, a 'Daddy Diaper Tool Belt.'  It was hilarious.  He'll be ready next time for sure!

We are so excited for James to have his first little boy cousin and our first nephew!! Yeah Jack! coming sometime around January 12, 2011...

James was playing around with Daddy and his 2nd cousin Amelia while we were having the shower.  We got a kick out of James' balancing act with Daddy, and we couldn't believe how much taller he was than Amelia- such a petite little thing! But she can walk already, so there James. :-)