Happy Thanksgiving

We were blessed this year to be able to have family at our house for Thanksgiving. Even though it is a lot to cook, my mother in law is a great help and source of knowledge, especially in the kitchen. Richard's parents got to us late Monday and we had a great time having them here. Richard's sister and her family came on Wednesday. We had not seen them since the holidays last year and it was a long overdue visit. The kids loved having Collin and Cade here to play with them and a believe a fun time was had by all. Just looking around you could feel how blessed we were just to be together.
The cousins
Gran Gran and Gramma with the kids just before lunch

Monkey Around

We waited a little late to have Elijah's birthday party so my parents and some of our friends would be able to come. So November 19 was the big day! It was my first time to purchase a printable party from Etsy, but I loved it. It did take a little time to cut everything out, but it was very personal and everything turned out so cute.
I have been collecting sock monkey things for months, to be decorations as well as gifts, including the blanket on the table that my mom and I made.


On his actual birthday I ran by the store that morning and picked up some balloons for him to enjoy that day, and after being a little skittish at first, they are some of his favorite things now.
Did I mention this boy loves to eat? You wouldn't know it by his small size ( only 20 lbs and 25" at his 1 year check up) but he does, especially sweets! He tore into his cupcake and barely left a crumb!
We are so blessed by this little guy and thankful for his life!

Elijah Richard

I know I say this every time, but I really can not believe that he is a year old already. The memory of his birth is still so vivid to me, and the year has gone by so fast. I think this is the hardest 1st birthday of my 5 kids knowing it is the last 1st birthday we will have. He is my baby. I have cherished this first year, and even tried to cherish the times when he and I were up in the middle of the night. Elijah just started sleeping through the night about 2 months ago, and that is just because I have put him in a room all by himself. He wakes up once during the night, moans for a minute or two, then rolls over and goes back to sleep. We just stopped nursing a week ago and I am really okay with that, he is taking a milk cup like a champ. He loves table food and won't take any baby food anymore at all. He is my earliest walker. He has been walking for about 2 1/2 weeks and is getting faster every day. He says 4 words..."dada", "hi", "bye", and "yay". The "hi" and "bye" come along with a full arm wave and the "yay" with clapping! He is either happy or mad there isn't an in between with him, so you just hope you catch him happy. He is a momma's boy for the most part but he enjoys his daddy too.




Elijah, you are a blessing. You were a surprise from the beginning and a cherished one every day since. I love you!

Trick or Treat

The older I get the more I am enjoying Halloween. It has always been one of Richard's favorite holidays and I more and more can see why. I love walking with the kids while they Trick or Treat and seeing all the cute costumes, especially on the little ones. The kids are so excited and I am sure every kid does this, but my kids get into their role once the costume is on. They want to be called the name of whoever they are, etc... For the first time ever, I chose not to try to coordinate the 5 of them and just let them pick who they wanted to be. So here we have it...
The boys
Sock Monkey Elijah, Harry Potter Noah, and Bumblebee Jack
The Girls
Ladybug (for my mom) Emorie, and Laura Ingalls Michal Kate



The Castleman Crew ( I am beginning to think it is impossible to get a picture with all of them looking at me)
Hope your day was filled with blessings and smiles like ours!