2015 Recap

2015 is coming to an end. I can't believe it. Every year flies by faster than the previous year. Craziness! I am ready for 2016. New beginnings as always! Here's the traditional year in review for 2015.

January

 Jackson visited Crystal Bridges museum for the first time this month. He also went to two birthday parties. Busy boy! KK also came to visit this month. Too fun!

February

 Look at this sweet boy's cheeks! We celebrated Jackson's first Valentine's Day with hundreds of hugs and kisses. :) XOXO!

March

 Happy Spring! We celebrated Springtime in the daffodils, went to South Arkansas to visit family, and more.

April

 We celebrated Jackson Randolph's 1st birthday!!! He had a Poky Little Puppy party complete with birthday cake, ice cream, strawberry shortcake, and chocolate custard. :)

 Oh, how precious. Jackson loves smiling for sure!

May

 We had several walks with the wagon. It's one of our favorite things. :)

June

 We took advantage of Russell's weekends off and went on a couple of road trips. This was taken in Eureka Springs. Oh so fun!

July

 Jackson's first train ride! We got to spend time with family on this fun adventure. We love his little conductor hat. :)

August

 I started my own business, "Baked with Love" selling homemade cinnamon rolls.

 Also, friends and family surprised me on my 30th birthday with an 80's theme party. So special!!!

September

 Russell and I celebrated our 8 year wedding anniversary at one of our favorite places downtown.

 I also got to go to a Kelly Clarkson concert with my sister, Kelly, Whitney, and more friends. We had a blast!

October

 Jackson's first haircut. He did great and was so well behaved the whole time. My handsome boy.

 Met Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman, for the.......fourth time. No lie. I would meet her again and again if I could. She's the sweetest!!

November

 It was a busy month. Jackson and I went to the library for the first time and had such fun. His favorite part were the puzzles.

 Thanksgiving with family...Russell took this picture. We loved fall so much!

December

 We went to Journey to Bethlehem with Amy, Tony, and Leighann. It truly was wonderful.

Christmas 2015

Jackson is now 20 months old and learning new things every day. Time flies. We say is often, but time truly does fly. Wow!! Here's to a blessed 2016!

Happy New Year!

 

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Thankful for November

November has been so fun so far. Jackson loves being busy with anything. We tried "chocolate pudding art" the other day and he enjoyed it.

 I let him "paint" on a paper plate as well as the tray from his highchair. He wasn't quite sure what to do at first. It was cute though. :)

 I posted this on Instagram the other day and  just had to share it with y'all. I went to our local neighborhood market and saw this hilarious cardboard display of Ree Drummond. I honestly had to do a double take...you know, just to make sure she wasn't making a surprise appearance. HAHA!

 We were excited to take Jackson to Toyland again this year. It was pretty chilly out, so we bundled him up with his hat and pullover. :)

 He enjoyed looking at all the new toys out this year.

 Russell loved showing Jackson the Mega Bloks toys.

 Me with my sweet boy.

 Last Saturday, I helped host a baby shower for my precious, sweet friend, Hannah.

Elizabeth, Rhyanne, Mandy, Hannah, Adrienne, me, Lisa, and Carolyn. Love these girls lots!

 We cannot wait to meet "sweet baby Phillip" soon!

 I made the punch. It was quite fun to make!

 Jackson even got to try a cupcake from the baby shower. He definitely approved of the taste. Delicious!

Here is our big boy in his fire truck pajamas. He was so excited that the Hogs WON on Saturday! WOO PIG SOOIE!!

We are getting closer to Thanksgiving, everyone! Who's excited? I am more excited to see family! Have a blessed day, y'all!

 

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you a the one who is over all things. 1 Chronicles 29:11 

A Daniel Tiger Halloween

Hope y'all had a safe and fun Halloween this year! We had lots of fun. It was not hard deciding on a costume for Jackson this year. He has adored the character, Daniel Tiger, for months now. He loves the music they sing on the show, and claps his sweet little hands every time the show is on.

Here is our little "Daniel Tiger" at Daddy's work. They always love for kids to come and show off their costumes every year. Special thanks to Aimee, who made the ears and also to Maureen, who made his tiger tail. :) 

So cute!

He loved sharing his candy at Daddy's office as well. Too funny.

Here is Jackson checking out his loot. 

Friday night, we lit the jack-o-lantern that Russell and I carved for sweet J. It was so cute watching his reaction to the light inside the pumpkin.

Playing around and laughing. It's what we do best!

I love this one of my boys!

Sweet boy

Russell worked so hard for the past three weeks to build Jackson a "trolley" to fit over the wagon we have. I enjoyed painting some of the pieces, but he did most of the work. Here is our Daniel Tiger in his trolley. Ding, Ding! 

Our family with the trolley at Fall Fest. 

It was so good to see our friends, Kelsey and Abbey there too!

Fun activity to try! 

We also went to Laynette and Rusty's house to trick-or-treat and to visit for a few minutes. Laynette goes all out for Halloween, so it was fun to drop by.

Our little tiger was getting sleepy. :)

We still made time to stop by Starbucks and get a "frappula" for Halloween. Did you know they only make these Frappuccino's one day a year? 

How I love my little pumpkin. It is so bittersweet to look at these pictures. Time truly flies.

Last night, when I was putting Jackson to bed, I held him and sang, "Great is thy faithfulness," "I love you, Lord," and more. Jackson rocked back and forth and clapped his hands and gave me the biggest smile. It was the perfect reminder that no matter what you are going through, good or bad, God is faithful!! It brought tears to my eyes. Cherish every moment with your babies, kids, teens and adult children! :) It's worth it for sure!

 

If you honor your father and mother, things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth. Ephesians 6:3

Mer's Like Totally Awesome 80's Surprise Birthday Party

So on August 30, I turned 30!!!

It has been a great few weeks in my thirties thus far and looking forward to more fun and adventures for sure! I was looking forward to by birthday weekend because anytime spent with Russell and Jackson is time well spent. Our plans were to maybe go eat somewhere, family time, and go to church. I was very surprised on August 29th, when Russell and friends helped throw an 80's surprise birthday party for me!

Here's how it went down:

Russell told me earlier that week that one of my best friends, Mandy, was coming to babysit Jackson so we could go on a date night. First I thought that was extremely sweet of her, and I just went along with Russell's plan. "I'm just here to babysit," Mandy said. :) We had a date with just the two of us at Abuelo's Mexican restaurant. It was SOO good!!



I walked in our front door, and I was so surprised to see balloons, 80's decorations, and Mandy's daughter, Eden right by the door. :) When I walked around the corner, there were my amazing friends! OH my word, it was so fun to see them and such a surprise!

I got such a huge kick out of the cake! It's a cassette tape with an 80's mix. 

I thought this was "totally cool!"

Then, minutes later, my sister, Kelly, and my nephew and niece walked in the door!! OH MY WORD!!!! I was brought to tears for sure. I cannot say enough how much I love them.

Oh, how I sometimes wish Logan and Lauren could be little again, like Jackson. ;) 

Me and my boys! Love love love.

My whole heart! 

Helping me blow out the candles. Precious moments.

Mandy actually decorated and everything while we were on the date. So sneaky and sweet. :)

A fun and totally 80's group pic!

Mandy, Kelly and me

Meredith, Kelsey, and Kari with her sweet girl, Rylie

Lauren even fixed her hair the 80's style. 

Chad and Logan chatting

*Disclaimer: The big white box is actually a cheap babyproof from the fireplace. EEK!

Carolyn, Etta and me! 

Russell and I are so beyond blessed by Mandy, Chad, and their kids. They mean the world to us!

More decorations

So funny! Mandy attached pictures to VHS tapes!

This pic makes me wanna sing, "I think we're alone now" by Tiffany! Too funny!

Family picture!

 

It truly was a wonderful night with family and friends. I love them so very much!

 

I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people Psalm 52:9