Happy, Happy Day, Tyler!

Tyler turned one year old today! Oh my goodness. What a big guy! He got to start riding in his forward-facing big boy car seat this week, and we all went out to dinner for his bday tonight. They sang to Tyler, which he loved! Matthew would have preferred the singing be directed toward him, but he did enjoy "sharing" (aka. taking over) Tyler's birthday ice cream. Happy Birthday, sweet Tyler!! We love you. :)

Tyler's big boy seat

Birthday fun at home

Sweet boy

A Spring in Our Step

Our springy steps so far...

We've taken a couple trips to the zoo, watched the boys riding the four-wheeler and playing in the yard most days, and enjoyed a couple visits from Missouri family. Also, we have officially transitioned into a van-driving family...and we are loving it! Wow, what a difference space makes in the fun-factor of riding in the car together. Vans are awesome. :) Easter was also wonderful. What more can you ask of a holiday than the celebration of our risen Savior, without Whom all faith would be meaningless; but with Him, all hope is found. Plus, warm weather, egg hunts and chocolate bunnies...okay, pretty great. Ah, springtime..

Zoo in March

Tyler on little 4-wheeler, Matthew with Tea's makeup

Special Delivery!

Egg Hunt Party

Our "Van-car"

So busy...so behind blogging!

We have been so busy lately that my greatest intentions of keeping this blog updated just continue to fall to the bottom of the list come midnight, but boy has it been fun here the last month. Tyler has been walking like a champ since my last posting, busy chasing big bro around (or maybe running away from!), Matthew has been ONE MONTH in big boy undies (hooray!!), and we are finally on the tail end of two yucky stomach bugs. Life in the Lord is good, good, good.

We had our annual snow in February, and Matthew really loved making his first snowman of memory, and this month we are thawing out, riding the four-wheeler all around and getting mentally ready for warmth to return to the good ole mid south!

Jon and I are busy in the Word these days, "studying to show ourselves approved unto God, workmen who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth" (2 Corinthians 2:15) and attempting to crucify ourselves daily that Christ may be seen to others through our lives and our family (Galatians 2:20). Matthew is excited, too, about his VeggieTales toddler devotional book (though he sings Bible songs out loud as we read it)...hey, all about a love for the Lord, so a joyful noise here and there is okay by us. Watch out world - Matthew's "little light of his" is already shining brightly!

Man, we will be celebrating both birthdays already next month. I can hardly believe it! Much more fun times to come!!

Mobility

Tyler has been really movin and groovin over the last month! He conquered stairs and got some early steps in over Christmastime. Still sticking with crawling as the favorite locomotion of choice, but as you'll soon see, we are close to full fledged flight! More pix to come shortly - and another exciting accomplishment for big brother...stay tuned!

Tyler learns to climb stairs

Getting close!

Ah, sweet reward.

Tyler's favorite speedbump

Letting go!

Ha! What do you mean don't go up these steps?!?

Early steps to daddy

Our Christmas Antics

Fun times over Christmas with our family...Christmas Eve with the Sullivans (cousin chaos!), Christmas morn at home, and Christmas day in Missouri. We also got to stay over for New Years at the Lake of the Ozarks. Lots of games and good times - What a great week!

Bailey and his cousin, Sage

Too much Christmas excitement :)

Rollerskating lesson with Aunt Sarah

Yummy!

Jammin' on his new guitar

Say Cheese!

Recorder quartet

Loving big brother's train table

Ready for presents

Little Christmas newbie

Cookie Construction

Two Christmas cookie-making sessions with the boys' best girlfriends!! Stylin little men that can cook?? Hmmm,I think we've got little heartbreakers on our hands. :)

Molly Cate & Matthew

Making reindeer

Caroline on the move

Matthew & Preslie

Building snowmen

We have liftoff!

The ornaments and goodies around the Christmas tree were enough to get Tyler's wheels moving this week - he officially started crawling this Tuesday! Hooray for Tyler. :) Watch out, Matthew! It's on, now.