I'm Back!

Well, seems like I took a little break from blogging for a while but I am back! I have not been good about taking pictures lately either!! But we had some photos taken recently in an attempt to get a Christmas card picture. Chase was very grumpy and Knox thought it was hilarious to make goofy faces almost the entire time but I think we got a couple that might work. Here are some others from that day. I'll save the potentials for the mail. Missed y'all!

See what I mean? Ha!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHASE!!!

I can hardly believe it was two years today at 5:45PM our world was completely turned upside down. Remembering that day and looking at Chase today has overwhelmed me with so much joy, it's beyond words. Last year, I was so grateful too but the memories were still too real. Today has been a great day of celebration. While I still can recall every detail of that day, I just haven't thought about it that much. I have just enjoyed Chase so much today and have hugged him over 1000 times already. Plus, I would be a puddle if I thought about two years ago. I didn't post a picture from the NICU because I would just it here and cry. Instead, I have tears of joy right now as I write this.

I just had to do something for Chase today even though he doesn't really know the difference. So I invited his two closet friends, Caroline Gray and Raines over for lunch and cupcakes. He was so excited. He loves those girls!!

Happy Birthday Chase! You will always be a reminder that God is MIGHTY TO SAVE!!!! Zeph. 3:17



He kept saying "HMMM!"


Chase and his girls, Raines and Caroline Gray

What a perfect way to celebrate! Thanks for coming girls!

Hilton Head

Jason and I have spent the past two days asking each other why do vacations have to go so fast? We spent last week at Hilton Head with the boys and had a really hard time coming back!! It was our best trip so far. I think the older they get the easier it is. Gorgeous weather and lots of fun! There is something so majestic about waking up every day and seeing the ocean. I can't help but think about what an amazing Creator we serve. Our Nashville friends Emily, Kris and Eleanor Douglas were right down the beach so it was a treat to see them throughout the week! Knox loved having a playmate. Highlights: making "sand clothes", dinner at sunset, swimming, flying or kite, playing with Eleanor. Until next year...


My favorite time every day....dinner on the balcony

Popsicles with Eleanor
Flying Lightening McQueen

Harbour Town at sunset


His "shy" look. Yeah right!





Making "sand" clothes in the surf

Recycling

Last year Knox's school started collecting rigid plastic caps to recycle through the Aveda recycling program. So we collect all of our caps and Knox takes them to school. This morning my little helper found them and enjoyed playing for a while. Did you know you can take your caps to any Aveda store and they will recycle them? I didn't think it mattered until I saw the Oprah show about where our waste goes. There is a mass of plastic waste double the size of Texas floating in the Pacific Ocean!! The caps choke animals and fish. Every little step counts, right? Also, I just read that you can take your plastic pumps from lotion bottles, soap bottles to any Origins counter and they will give you free makeup! Guess we will have to do that too....

Our big event over the last two weeks is that Knox has started preschool!! He LOVES it and I love it too. He is going 5 days this year, a lot for a 4 year old but he seems to be enjoying it. Today he said as he was getting ready for school, "Mommy, why do I keep doing this over and over again?" I always take his picture outside of school on the first day and I found these from last year and the year before. It seems like just yesterday I was pregnant with Chase and taking him for the first time.....my big boy.

Chicago!

On August 15th, our niece and Knox's cousin Kristine got married in Chicago. Knox had the honor of being the ring bearer in the wedding! He did a great job and took it very seriously. We had a blast being with family and enjoying Chicago-what a fun city!

The three of us on the Magnificent Mile over the Chicago River
I was so proud...isn't he the cutest thing? His cousin Ann Brendle walked down the isle with him. The pillow he is carrying is the same pillow that Jason carried when he was 4 years old in his sister Martha's wedding.
David, Martha, the beautiful bride Kristine, her new husband Aaron, John and Katherine


Knox with his cousin Caroline



Knox watching the first dance. Afterwards, Knox TORE UP the dance floor! We were cracking up.
His prizes for coming down the aisle!
Harbor on Lake Michigan
Uncle John, Jason and Knox
Navy Pier

Randoms....

Just a few pics from the past few weeks....

Our trip to the local Fire Station

Knox with Caroline Gray. He is not sad....he just loves to make this face when we ask him to smile. By the way, Chase LOVES her.

Chase LOVED the station and the trucks
Lounging with my boys



Our nickname for Chase has always been Peanut but now it's Monkey. Not only is he into EVERYTHING, but he loves to climb. He climbs onto the desk to get the phone, onto my desk to type on the computer, onto the kitchen table and stands up to get to the chandelier, somehow climbs up Knox's bed rails and hauls himself over them to get into his bed (and it's higher than the average bed). We cannot take our eyes off of him. Knox was not quite this adventurous. We were playing on the bed recently and he did this by himself. It warmed our hearts considering how far he has come and made us laugh. Check this out-no fear.