High Valley

We went for a quick over night trip to High Valley so Adam could help his dad on the cabin yesterday. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and along with getting some work done on the cabin, Cole had a blast hiking, 4-wheeling with Grandma, and just playing in general! And I got a little relaxation while Adam's mom took Cole on a couple of 4-wheeler rides and hikes! He got a little time fishing with Grandpa (even though there wasn't a fish to be found) and helping skip the bag of "skippin' rocks" he had given Adam's dad for Father's Day. We had a great time and the cabin is looking great! We're definitely going to have years of memories there!

Prego Friends!

It's been so fun during this pregnancy to have a couple of my closest friends going through pregnancy at the same time. My friend Stephanie (she was one of my college roommates and one of my best friends!) is due about 12 days before me. Renee, another really good friend of mine is due about 8 days after me! It was an answer to prayer that they both got pregnant and such a blessing to me that to have them go through all this with me! It makes it so much more fun! (Plus, both are having boys too!)

Last week I threw Stephanie a baby shower. It was so much fun and at the end we realized we had taken no pictures! So we hurried and snapped a couple just to have for the record books. Here's a picture of Steph and I together ... 8 months pregnant!!!

Finally, a birthday party!

After postponing Cole's birthday party until Grandpa (Adam's dad) got better, we had a hard time finding a night that worked for everyone in our families to be there. Finally we were able to come up with a time and Cole had his two year birthday party last night! It was so much fun! We had pizza and he had his Grandpa and Grandma, Granny and Papa, Great Grandpa Johnson, Uncle Neil, Aunt Jenny, Uncle Chad, and cousin Troy there. He thought it was the greatest to be the center of the excitement, especially when we sang Happy Birthday!

Of course he was COMPLETELY spoiled! He got a 50's Diner kitchen which he loved! He loves to take people's orders and ask "what you want?" and "how much money?". He also is now completely set up for hunting, fishing, and camping! He got his own tent (which he wanted Grandma in with him), gun, fishing pole, binoculars, compass, and telescope. He's thrilled! It was hard to get him to keep opening presents after he opened one and started playing with it! He's already making very good use out of his new birthday toys and we are having so much fun playing with him!

He also had an ice cream cake (his dad's choice) and wanted a caterpillar on it. They never turn out the way the picture looks:-) Oh well, it tasted good and Cole got to blow out the candle which is what he talked about all day!

Carving Pumpkins:-)

My parents have a very nice pumpkin patch this year and I thought it would be fun to carve pumpkins last night. We had our friends, the Childers over, and went and picked out pumpkins and then carved them at our house. It was lots of fun and they turned out really cute! Adam helped Cole make one with a "mad face", which is what Cole said he wanted. Mine was kind of a creepy happy face, they never turn out exactly as I planned! Renee did a cute happy face and Brad and Brock did the biggest pumpkin as a "scarry face". We also roasted marshmallows over our new firepit (still in the works) and made smores. Even with it sprinkling the last part of the evening, it was a really nice night! I love fall!!!

September!

Well, I don't have anything really exciting to blog about but felt like it was time I posted something. September is almost to an end and I for one am thankful! With the end of September comes the end of archery elk hunting. Not that I have anything against that in itself, but I'm ready to have my husband home again! Being a hunting widow is fun the first weekend, maybe even the second! But now that it's closing in on the 4th weekend without my hubby, I'm truly feeling like a widow! Cole and I have lots of fun together, playing and going on walks, and having fun breakfasts, but one of my favorite things is a nice Saturday morning, waking up next to Adam with no particular plans for the day, Cole getting up, we all have a nice hearty breakfast instead of a bowl of cereal, and then just do whatever we feel like doing! Maybe next weekend! Oh wait, of course Adam mentioned that duck season begins in October!!! I DON'T THINK SO!

Okay, so my attitude needs a little adjustment but I'm working on it!

Once October hits, I think my attitude will be better! It'll only be 2 more months until our new little guy arrives, my birthday is in October, and the weather will hopefully allow me to wear pants and a long sleeved shirt without sweating by afternoon! (my summer maternity clothes are no longer fun!) I truly love fall and can't wait to see the leaves start changing, feel nice crisp mornings and evenings, and maybe even bake an apple or pumpkin pie! I think I'm going to try an pumpkin pie from a real pumpkin this year!

Anyways, I thought I'd include a couple pictures for fun. One is of Cole being super spoiled and getting his breakfast on his new birthday beanbag chair and the other is a prego pic to show you the belly at 7 months pregnant! Hopefully by Monday I'll have some pictures of a nice elk to show you as well!

COLE TURNS 2 YEARS OLD!!!

So our little baby boy is now 2 years old! I can't believe how fast the time has flown by. He is such a joy in our lives and has made us laugh, cry, and love him more than we ever thought possible! God truly blessed us with this incredible son and we are so thankful!

I started the day by going in and singing him happy birthday! (unfortunately I video'd it and I think my voice sounded like I've smoked a pack a day for 20 years:-) Anyways, he had the cutest smile on his face like, really, it's my birthday?. Adam was hunting so the two of ate German pancakes while he got to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, his favorite cartoon! Then we went to church and when we got home Adam was home.

We were planning on doing a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese's that evening but Adam's dad got sick and had to go to the hospital so we post-poned the party for another day and Cole got to go over to Granny and Papa's (my parents) house while Adam and I were in the ER with his family. Not the way any of us would have chosen to spend the day, especially Adam's dad! After his dad was admitted to the ICU we went and got Cole from my parents and did a little birthday present opening party with the 3 of us at home!

He was thrilled to open his presents! He got a new gun so now he can "hunt daddy elk and hunt a big deer" with Adam! He also got a keyboard so he can play us some tunes and a t-ball set! Of course Adam set is up right in our family room and Cole whacked the ball acrossed the room, luckily missing the tv, windows, or any decorations that aren't t-ball proof! He was so happy and it was so much fun to watch his face light up as he opened each present! He is truly the joy of our lives! And we'll get to celebrate again when we have his birthday party sometime in the next couple weeks!

Labor Day Camping!

I'm a little late on getting my Labor Day Weekend post but thought it'd still be okay. We went up near the Stanley area for a weekend of camping and archery hunting for Elk. Though not much was seen or heard in the way of elk, we had a great time camping and being with Adam's family. Cole loved finding our "camping bot" (camping spot) and digging up as much dark, fine dirt from around the fire pit as possible and getting completely caked in it! We saw a few animals in passing, including elk and deer, and heard a pack of wolves one night. The weather was nice and cool too which was nice. Getting snowed on while we were packing up to come home wasn't as nice though:-) I'm definitely ready for fall though, I'm getting tired of my 2 pairs of maternity shorts!