Wordless Wednesday!

Showin' our Carolina Panther Pride...

I was so hoping that this would be a post about a Carolina Panther victory over the Dallas Cowboys during last nights game. Unfortunately, it's not. We were once again defeated 21-7! Despite our dismal 0-3 start to the season, we will remain true to our team and hope to celebrate a victory soon!

Let's Go Panthers!!!!!!!

Party Day!

I've been MIA for the past week or so. I took an unintentional little blogging break. Our schedule this fall is very full. Between school, sports, and church related activities my weeks seem to be quite crazy at the moment. I know we will settle into a routine soon, but as for now I am just trying to keep up and manage the chaos! I have been meaning to blog about Sophie's first birthday party for a while now. Here is the much belated post...

Friday, September 11th, we celebrated Sophie's 1st Birthday with our family and friends. We went with an ice cream theme and everyone got to create their very own ice cream sundae. Most of the party took place in our backyard, so I was truly thankful for beautiful weather.

I had SO...much fun decorating for this party.

Now I have done my share of bug, football, Elmo, and Wonder Pet parties, but there was something so special about planning a party for my little girl.

I got to use lots of pink and brown...two of my favorite colors.




We played some ice cream themed games...

pin the cherry
on the ice cream cone,
an ice cream pinata,

and an ice cream cone relay game.

I think the kids enjoyed just playing in the sand box...

and on the play set the most though.

My sweet friend Jessica made her birthday hat.
Sophie wore it as we all sang "Happy Birthday"!

Then it was time to dig into her cake!

Sophie didn't hesitate at all!
She is not really a big sweet lover,
but she enjoyed making a mess with her cake!

After all the fun outside, it was time to open presents.
Her cousin Jake was there to help her out!

For the favors, everyone went home with ice cream cone bubbles.

We were so thankful to all our dear friends and family for coming to celebrate such a special occasion with us, and for making the evening so wonderful!

Celebrating Gottcha Day!

One year ago today, our lives were forever changed!

One year ago today, we held our daughter for the first time!
One year ago today, our prayers were answered and our dream came true!
One year ago today, God poured out His love and blessing on our family!

Home for the first time!

As I think back to that special day, I am reminded of a chorus that we regularly sing in church.
I have been singing it in my heart all day long.

"We will remember
We will remember
We will remember the works of Thy hands.
We will stop and give You praise
For great is Thy faithfulness!"

Thank you Lord Jesus for our precious baby girl!

Here are pictures from the moment we were introduced to our precious Sophie girl!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

I can't believe it...

My baby girl is ONE today!!!!!

My heart is bursting with JOY!!

One year ago today, unbeknown to me, a young lady gave birth to a precious blue eyed, blond hair, little girl.

One year ago today, that young lady made the hardest decision of her life.

Because of her courage, strength, and self-less love, we are able to celebrate this special day!!

Today, I can not stop thinking about that young lady.

As we sing "Happy Birthday" my heart is flooded with gratitude towards her.
I honestly can not even begin to put into words my deep love and appreciation for her, and the precious gift she gave to us!

We are, and FOREVER will be, eternally grateful!

Praise the Lord...she chose LIFE and today we celebrate!!!!!!

“For YOU created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful I know that full well.” Psalm 139: 13-14

T-shirts and a Great Give Away...

So some of you have commented about the t-shirts that I have been making my kids. They really are SO... easy and fun to do. I found a GREAT tutorial on The Cozy Nest-- one of my favorite craft blogs. She explains each step on making these fun shirts. The designs are endless.

( I made my letters by finding a font on the computer that I liked. Then I enlarged it to the size that I wanted.)

(Just so you know...I hand stitch around my design instead of using my sewing machine. I can control the stitch better that way, and I like the look a little better too.

And speaking of The Cozy Nest---She is hosting a great give away including
everything you need to make this adorable ribbon blanket and block.

- A Charm pack of Hushabye (used in project above) by Tula Pink!

- A Charm pack of Odyssea by MoMo. (Would work great for a little boy Ribbon Blanket and Block.)

- Not pictured but included in giveaway, batting for block and ribbon for block or blanket!

So go check it out!

Lovin' this weather!

The past few weeks here in the Carolina's have been AWESOME!
We have spent a lot of time enjoying the great outdoors and taking in the warm sunshine!

It's not too hot and not too cold, but JUST right.

Most days you can find us...

picnicking in our backyard, swinging, building sand castles,

or playing in the water table.

We don't have to venture too far from home in order to have a great time!
Keeping things simple is my goal most days.

Soon our warm days will be gone, and they will be replaced with the cold days of winter.
Right now I am grateful for these sweet moments with my little ones
and the beautiful days of fall!

Fun at the fair...

Oh how I wish every weekend could be a three day weekend!!!! It's just enough time to have fun, be productive, and relax too.

We spent a lot of time this weekend at Matthews Alive.
It's our towns annual Labor Day festival.

The boys look forward to it every year!! They LOVE the rides---who doesn't!?!?

We spent Friday evening taking in all the festivities.

It was Sophie's first time riding a carousal.
She LOVED it!!! She pitched a little fit when it was time to get off!!!

Hudson and I got to ride on the carousal too!

A trip to the fair is not complete with out a few treats...

how about some soft served ice cream...

and a snow cone.

Saturday morning we headed back to the festival, but this time it was to participate in the parade.

Our adoption agency sponsors a float each year and they asked our family if we would like to ride on it.

We were so excited to be a part of the parade!
The boys had a blast passing out candy and waving to all the spectators.

It was a beautiful day and we had a wonderful time!

Happy Hudson!

Wordless Wednesday!