no camera blues...

So our camera started acting up a while back...we took it in to get fixed and they sent it off to somewhere else. Well it is 5 weeks later and still no camera...I have been using my mom's off and on but I really am so bummed that it is taking that long. The silver lining in it all is that, thankfully, Tim and I bought new phones that have an ok camera phone, so I have been taking a lot of pictures on that. It's a good thing because yesterday I noticed Brooke's hair looked like it had grown quickly. I got out the little rubberbands I bought so long ago (hoping she would have some hair when she was born) but almost 15 months later I finally got this...

It's the little things in life...

4 years!

November 19th, Tim and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary! Somehow the time has flown by...We dated for 2 1/2 yrs and were engaged for 6 months, so we have been together for over 7 years and I have loved this adventure that we are on together! I love my husband more today than ever and it's crazy to think I will love him more on our 5 year anniversary than I do today! God has truly blessed me with a husband that is more wonderful than I could have ever imagined!

For our anniversary we were able to go to Napa, which has become one of my favorite places! We left Brooke overnight for the first time with my family, and headed to downtown Napa. We stayed at the AVIA hotel, and went to dinner at Cole's Chop House (AMAZING!). It was so great to have quality time to ourselves.

Our hotel

Our dinner was SOOO good! (even worth the cheesy pictures!)

Family Pictures

A couple of weeks ago, our good friends from college, The Wyatt's, came up to Napa and we were able to schedule a day to take some family pictures. I love how they turned out! To see more click here. Thank you Max and Sarah!

I heart her!

Alice in Fallapalooza-land

We have had a great couple of weeks, busy, but so fun! We have been to 3 pumpkin patches, VCS' Country Fair, Halloween Parties, and Tim's brother Todd came to visit! So for Halloween this year we went to our church for their annual Fallapalooza, which is like a big carnival. Tim was was working the youth side with paint ball and bounce houses so Todd, Brooke and I walked around, played games, and got candy...I am not even going to try to lie...the candy was totally for me! It was such a fun night!

my little Alice

Brooke and Uncle Todd being silly

going on a hay ride

Brooke and her friend Abi giving each other a hug

Brooke and George...she loved his glasses!

The Queen of Hearts, Alice, and the Mad Hatter

Our Family

Daddy and Brooke

Mommy and Brookie

The picture on the left was Brooke last year on Halloween as a ballerina at 6 weeks old. Now she is a big girl walking all over the place. I love being this little girl's mommy!

crazy love

So, I am in a girls small group that meets on Tuesday nights. We have been meeting for the past 5 weeks. We were reading a book by an author from the Woman of Faith Conferences (who will remain nameless) and as it turns out, none of us where that excited about it once we got to reading it...and it only took us 4 weeks to speak up about it. I think the chapter about picnics and dogs sent us over the edge.

I know for me, being a part of a small group is an important part of my spiritual growth, as I tend to be a somewhat lazy person by nature. I need accountability and people to encourage me to grow. That is one of the reasons that I am so thankful for such a godly husband, who strives to be more like Christ each and every day. So our small group decided that we should switch books and go for something a little less "picnic and dogs" and a little more real. So we are starting Francis Chan's Crazy Love tonight. I just finished reading the intro/preface and I can't wait to get into the first chapter. In the preface this part really stood out to me,

"The core problem isn't the fact that we're lukewarm, halfhearted, or stagnant Christians. The crux of it all is why we are this way, and it is because we have an inaccurate view of God. We see Him as a benevolent Being who is satisfied when people manage to fit Him into thier lives in some small way. We forget that God never had an identity crisis. He knows that He's great and deserves to be the center of our lives. Jesus came humbly as a servant, but he never begs us to give Him some small part of ourselves. he commands everything from His followers."

I am praying that this book will challange me and shape me into the woman that God wants me to be: a fervent follower of Christ, a wife, passionate about wholeheartedly, serving the Lord

and a mother with an unquenchable hunger to seek after God.

Kids Gone Wild!

So, we have a new favorite place! There is a place called Kids Gone Wild right around the corner from our house. It is basically a big warehouse with 5-6 bounce houses and a climbing/play area for younger kids. Tim and I have baby proofed our house as much as we can, but there is only so much you can do. We wanted to find a place where she can explore and play with whatever without being told "no". Tim found this place online (which is funny since it is around the corner from our house...) and we have been 3 times in the last 2 weeks. Brooke LOVES it! She has so much fun and is so tired out when we leave she always takes a long nap. Yesterday we went with some friends and had so much fun!

She LOVES the slides!

So much fun!

so much energy

where's Brookie?

Brooke with her friends Drew and Makayla

going through the tunnel with Abi following right behind

The girls: Abi, Brooke. Drew, and Makayla

Brooke thinks she is a big girl!

She LOVES the big slide!

The crew: Abi, baby Micah, Brooke, Drew, Gabe, and Makayla

Brooke's 1st B-Day Party!

We celebrated Brooke's birthday on October 3rd with some of her friends. We had a ladybug themed party, which seems fitting since we have always called Brooke our little "Brookie Bug." I channeled my creative side (which is extremely limited) and tried to "DIY" as much as I could. We went to Stonegate Park and had a fun lunch and play time. We had a great time! (Brooke always has a great time when there are food and boys around...I wonder where she got that from...) :) There are a ton of pictures, but I just love all the pictures from her party!

I made her invitations

ladybugs!

caterpillar sandwiches

Happy Birthday Brookie

cupcakes

ladybug army

my baby is 1!

Brooke walkin' with Grammy and Papa

Brookie and Auntie LeLe

us with Brooke's friend Kate and her mom Mary

Brooke and Mrs. Marie

Mitchell and Brooke (boy #1)

The Browns and the Galvins

us with Michele

John & Deej with Brooke

she can't walk on her own yet, but she thinks she can already run!

sweet face

my little ballerina on her toes

Brookie and Shane (boy #2)

Brooke and Uncle Mikey

Bren & Berto (boy #3)

mommy and the baby

Kate, Madie, and Brooke

flying with daddy

family picture

what a big girl!

Yay!