More pics from the parade....

Recent Pics...

Graham is quite the mountain climber these days - he LOVES to climb up, over, around, through...

Graham loves his frogs that his Ammi gave him - truth be told, he's addicted to baths! He crawls to the tub every time the door to the bathroom is open. We've started blowing bubbles in the tub, too. Which he LOVES! The shower in his tub also has one of those detachable "sprayers" which we've always used. Graham loves to play with it! It's always "raining" in his tub...

He's turning into such a little man with his button down shirts. We dress him a little like his daddy these days.
Graham received a birthday card that plays music - he can't get enough of it. He loves to open and close it.
Trying to keep baby toys and dog toys separate....very hard.

My two fellas on the dock. This was the beginning of our "minnow adventure". Graham's Papa puts his minnow trap in the water every once in a while so that Graham can play with the minnows. (And so that Papa can use them as bait and catch fish!)

Graham LOVES playing with the minnows - they're slippery and very hard to pick up, but he can catch 'em!

Graham's first parade - the Grand Illumination in Norfolk to kick off the holiday season. We went with our dear friends the Andersons.

The kiddos - we're missing Jasper!

About to brave the cold...

Waiting...

Graham was ENTRANCED - he loved all the colors, balloons, dancers, floats. Very fun. This will definitely be an annual tradition for us.

Graham's new favorite thing - feeding the dogs. He literally hands them his food. The girls love it. Mom - not so much.

Graham's Gigi sent him another card that plays music - so fun!

Another fun day at the park. We rode our bikes - with our hats and gloves.

Graham has always been neutral on the slide - now it might be favored over the swing...

Crunching leaves and playing in the dirt - what could be better?

The day was rather windy, and blowing leaves were so fun to chase!

It's finally cold here. So, out comes Kyle's big screen for the backyard and the fire pit. Kyle and his buddy (also Kyle) watched football last night. Warming it up for the super Bowl!

We play a made-up game called "clothespins". Usually the game involves putting clothespins in pans (me) and taking them out (Graham). This time I couldn't resist covering his clothes. The two of us laughed so hard!

Wrong order...this should have been up above. I watched a bit of the American Music Awards with Kyle before the guys watched football. Gotta love a cable outlet in the backyard! (Yeah - crazy, I know. But so Kyle Gift.)

Graham is ONE!

This past year has been such an amazing, fabulous, full, busy year. I can't imagine our life without our little boy. He brings such an incredible amount of joy to our home. Kyle and I can be having an absolutely awful day, and all we need is a smile from Graham to turn everything around. God has so blessed us with this little one (who isn't so little anymore!), it's hard to put into words how privileged we feel to be raising and enjoying this little life. Happy Birthday, little sir! We love you so much.

The giant cupcake for the little boy...
cupcakes for the adults, and cake bites (oh so yummy - from Cookies By Design)
Graham with his BeBe

Graham's little lady friend, Allie (and Allie's mom!)
Graham's little friend, Jasper (and Jasper's mom!)
the kiddos hard at work...
The temperature was 75 degrees! Crazy for November, but the perfect day for Graham's water table. The kids were soaking wet! Who would have thought this little boy would have a change of clothes for his party!?



This cupcake is as big as my head, MOM!

I think I like the icing the best...




My new favorite thing - I loved painting my Ammi's face with icing!



Graham's cousins were happy to help open presents - too cute!

The party favor - super cute cookies from Cookies By Design. One of the things we want Graham to learn as he grows up is to care for others who are in need. As a party favor, we gave a donation to one of our favorite charities, Compassion. We hope Graham will decide to make this sort of thing a larger part of his future birthday parties.


Happy Birthday to my baby Graham!