Labor Day weekend and Dawson with the kittens

I like to swing with my eyes closed

I won't swing with my arms any lower than this either

The Tigers Fans....Go Mizzou! We beat Illini!

Grandma, Abby, and the cheeseball

Great Grandma and Grandpa with Dawson and his obsession with the pool balls

Great Uncle Phil and Dawson....dunce caps? the new Devo?

The family

Kitten #1 (who had just had a bath)

Kitten #2

My favorite D and kitty picture :)

Merry Christmas!

Can I get any cuter???

Dawson Turns 1

Dawson turns 1 tomorrow. We had a family party for his this weekend and he decided to grace us with his crawling ability (finally!). It was such a nice weekend to have family here with us to celebrate. We are so thankful for Dawson and for our family and friends who came to celebrate the first year of Dawson. We love you Dawson and we're so lucky to have you in our family!

The Engineer and The Great Pumpkin!

Dawson tried out a new outfit from Great Grandma Dillow with a train on it. He styled his own hat and poses....I know...he should be in professional pictures...

Our little tiny pumpkin seed planted in a plastic cup at preschool this spring was transplanted and grew into this vine and we got a cute pie sized pumpkin from it. Spencer was very proud!

Recent pictures

Mohawk Man!

Cute brothers!

Where's Dawson?

We are off to a great start this school year! Spencer is enjoying school, AWANA, and playing with new neighborhood friends that he has made. Dawson is enjoying his Music Together music class with mommy and getting lots of one on one each day! Dawson is still not crawling, but is a master roller and starting to get on his knees. He's 11 mo. this week! Jason is busy with work and has managed to get our new kitchen floor and carpeting ordered for our first floor. We can't wait for that to be installed! Jason is also a Sparks table leader in AWANA this year so Spencer enjoys having Daddy there with him. I'm enjoying MOPS at church, adult choir and getting ready for the Christmas performance, and I recently signed up to help in Spencer's children's choir class. I'm also volunteering at Spencer's school with his class parties and some bake sales this semester.

Halloween Preview

Spencer trying on Daddy's glasses

Dawson having his first cracker. He loved it! Dawson is enjoying some good table foods these days as well as the baby food and cereals we can get down him!

We went to the Peoria Chiefs Baseball game. Our church got to take part in many of the activities at the game that night. Spencer had fun sitting next to his friend, Alli, and Dawson liked the game, too. We even stayed till the end and saw the fireworks!

Grandma came to visit!

Here is my wonderful mom just playing with Dawson. We had a great visit with her last week. I very much enjoyed her company as Jason was out of town for work. I feel very blessed to have my mom in my life. She's been through so much with 2 brain tumor surgeries, chemo, radiation, and she's only 52. I'm delighted that she can enjoy her grandchildren and live only a few hours from us (although I wish the distance between us were shorter).

Did you know that Tiger lives at my house? Spencer and daddy went to a Fishing Derby with Caterpillar and had lots of fun. Spencer came home looking like he was straight off Broadway's, "The Lion King". He also got a mouse balloon that he cherished so much until it sadly lost it's air.

On a side note, I would welcome any prayer from you blog readers concerning my parenting of Spencer. I would have to say that age 5 has been our most challenging year so far. Please keep me in your prayers! Thanks.

Showing off...

Here's my 5 year old showing off his "muscles"...

Here is my 7 mo. old showing off his 3rd tooth...we've been calling him "snaggletooth" because it look more like a fang...

Dawson's New Trick

My littlest man can clap his hands. He also is starting to sit up (finally), and he got his 2 bottom teeth over Memorial Day at Nanny and Papa's house. It was a big weekend!

My baby is 7 months old today

My littlest man is 7 months old today. Time has gone fast in some ways, but we're very glad to have made it this far. Dawson has come a long way since birth! We are so thankful to have him in our family. He's such a cutie! We love you , Dawson!