Meredith's Baby Shower

Recently, we celebrated the upcoming arrival of Harper Joy Thurman with a fun baby shower with some friends.

Meredith with Erika's little girl, Emersyn

Welcome baby Harper frame that I made.  I took out the glass of the frame and covered the backer board of the frame with fabric from Hobby Lobby (adhered with spray adhesive), then I hot glued a magnet clip onto the fabric to hold the ultrasound picture.  I printed the "Welcome baby Harper" sign and then used spray adhesive to put it on the frame.

I strung balloons onto yarn with a needle through the ends of the balloon

and hung it as decoration over the mantle.  I spray painted a garage sale frame white

and hung the word "BABY" from the top of the frame.

HARPER spelled out with some great alphabet cards I found here

(free printable!)

Alphabet cards

Welcome to this world, baby Harper!

Born this morning at 9:29am!

My Little Photographer

Lately, whenever he sees the camera, he wants to use it to take pictures.  I let him use our little camera on occasion, and boy, does he go to town on taking pictures.  I start looking through the pictures, and I wonder why we have 7 pictures of our "new carpet."  He wanted to take a picture of it...it was cool in his eyes.  

So we set up the ultimate tower and home for all his animals,

and I let him snap away taking pictures.

Peek-a-boo!

But the best part was getting to knock it down.  Of course!

He thought this makes for the best picture anyway!

I think I had a good 20 pictures of the tumbled tower!

It was a fun memory though, and I'm glad I let him snap away taking pictures.  

We had fun together and made a memory, and in the long run, 

I know I'm going to be so glad I had his well-documented 

memory of the tumbling tower!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Birthday Grayma!

 Happy Birthday, Grayma!

We love you so much!!!

Thanks a Latte!

To say "Thanks" to Brayden's preschool teachers for all that they do, I wanted to put together a little something from Brayden for them.  After all, they do have 8 boys and no girls each day for preschool...whew!  His teacher said her motto for her class is "Don't sit on your friends."  Only with boys.  She said one day she had to finish their circle time whispering, because none of them wanted to be quiet, so in order to gain their attention, she whispered.  It worked!

I'm thankful for them.  For pouring into my little guy.  For partnering with us in helping to teach him the basics to get him ready for all the life ahead.  For building a foundation centered on Christ.  I am thankful.

I found this card and printed it (free printable!).  Then I got a Starbucks mug wrapper and cut part of it to fit the front of the card (flipped over to the corrugated back side).  I glued it down on the 2 sides and bottom, so a gift card could slide in the top.  Then I wrapped it all in baker's twine.  

Voila!  Thanks "a latte"...and enjoy one too!

Preschool Thanksgiving Party

This week, Brayden had his Thanksgiving feast/party with his preschool class.  He learned all about the pilgrims and indians and even got to watch the Pre-K class do a play about it.  They made feather necklaces which listed the things they were thankful for...his says that he's thankful for "Trees, Leaves, and Playdoh."  Go figure.  

His Indian name is "Running Elk."  He does run a lot.  I remember getting these names when I was in elementary school.  So fun.

Brayden's preschool class...

8 boys.  0 girls.

His Thanksgiving feast

Brayden and Christopher (on the left)

Chris is probably his best bud in the class.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Brayden's Vaca...

While we were on the cruise, Brayden got to spend the week at Mimi and Papa's house in Oklahoma.  He had such a blast there, because he keeps talking about all the fun stuff they did there.  He told everyone in his preschool class about everything that he did there.  Must have been lots of fun!

Feeding the ducks with Papa at the park

Piggyback ride from Amy!

Visiting Nanny & Grandpa (as Brayden calls him)

Paul & Brayden

Paul's girlfriend Sara with Brayden

Brayden at Aunt Pam's house

This picture cracks me up...he looks so serious about it!

So sweet!

Swimming with Dolphins

While in Cozumel, we did an excursion where we got to swim with dolphins.  It's something both of us have always wanted to do, so we were super excited to get to swim with these amazing animals!  We got off the cruise, hopped in a taxi for a short ride to Dolphinaris in Cozumel.  After getting our life vests and short instructions, we split up into groups and got into the cove.  It is an enclosed pool/cove, but it's right on the ocean, which was really amazing.  

We got out in the water as a group first and lined up out in the deep water.  The dolphins would swim back and forth so we could pet them as they went by.  Then we got to individually go out there and get a dolphin kiss and hold their fins!

The best part came when we got to ride the dolphins.  We went out in the deep water and the trainer would send them to us.  We held out our left hand and the dolphin would swim under us, belly up, and we grabbed onto their fins and rode them.  They gradually sped up really fast ...it's amazing how fast they are.  It was incredible!