Oh how it makes my heart happy,..

That I am getting 50 free Christmas cards just for telling you how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE shutterfly's cards. I always order my cards from there. We got Emery's birth announcements and address labels from there too. I am always getting discounts or promo codes for free stuff, and you know how much I love free stuff!! :) The best part is....You can do this too!! Just go to this link and fill out the survey, then they will send you an email with the directions for you to follow. It is super easy and is saving you about $50!!! :)

Here are the cards I'm considering for this year...

I like how I could put a verse on this card...

I like how many pictures I could put on this card...

I like how simple this would be...

And I like the classic look of this one...

I have also used their site to make calendars and photo books.

Check out these links:

Calendars

Christmas Cards

Personalized Christmas Cards

4 months...

Miss Emery you have quite the little personality!! You definitely like to show off. Whenever we take you out and someone talks to you, which everyone always does, you will smile back at them and sometimes even laugh. I LOVE to see you smile, it melts my heart! Although you are so sweet, I am beginning to tell that you are going to keep Daddy and I on our toes :) Here is what you have been up to this month...

-You still LOVE bath time.

-You talk and smile and laugh all of the time.

-You eat every four hours, and take three naps (two long ones, and one short one) and you sleep 10-11 hours at night.

-Everything, and girlfriend I mean EVERYTHING, goes straight in your mouth. You will even grab my hand, and proceed to stick my fingers in your mouth (No one worry, I am married to a germophobe so I only let her if my hands are clean)

-You are a drool machine, and I can see your teeth coming in on the bottom, looks like you will be an early teether.

-You really like to stand up, and your legs are strong enough to hold yourself up, and you just hold onto our hands to keep your balance...such a big girl!

-Your favorite toy right now is a little lion that is crinkly in the middle and has two rubbery paws that you chew on constantly.

-You reach for everything, and get really frustrated if you can't reach it, or if you can't pull it down.

-You started rice cereal on your four month birthday, and weren't really a big fan, but you have started warming up to it, and seem to like it pretty well....bananas are up next :)

-You are 12 lbs 11 oz (40%), 24 3/4 in. (75%), and your head circumference is 16 cm (95%)...your head has to be big because you are so smart :)

Every time I hear the song that's lyrics say: "How he loves us. Oh, How he loves us. Oh, How he loves us. How he loves us, oh." I think about what a perfect blessing you are. God shows me every day how much he loves me when you smile at me, or laugh, or talk, or just snuggle with me. You are perfect Emery, I pray every night that you will be as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside, and that you will grow up to seeking God's heart and that Daddy and I will be everything you need for us to be and that we can be great examples for you. We love you!!

CrockPot Recipe Linky :)

Life Sweet Life is doing a linky for crock-pot recipes, so I'm going to share a super easy one. It is Brad's favorite thing for me to make!!

Ingredients:

1. Package of Chicken breasts

2. 1 can of black beans

3. 1 can of corn

4. 1 packet of taco seasoning

5. 1 jar/container of mango peach salsa (I use the kind that they make fresh at Kroger)

6. 1 pack of cream cheese

You put everything into the crock-pot except for the cream cheese, and cook on low for 5-6 hours. Then you put the cream cheese block on top and cook for an additional hour or hour and a half. So easy and SO SO good :)

Happy Belated Halloween

We had a fun and busy Halloween. It was so fun dressing Emery up. She was the cutest bumble bee you have EVER seen! The best part is that her costume cost all of $4. The tights were Gymboree on 75% off, for $0.98, and I made her tattoo using tulle and elastic for $3!! She already had the black headband, yellow jacket, and black shirt. Thank you to Miss Charley for letting us borrow her big yellow bow :)

Brad was even a good sport and wore black to match Emery, which really made my heart happy!

And how cute are these two little super heroes? :)

Wow is about the only word I can say...

Not sure if you know this by all of the bragging I have done about him on this blog, but my brother is AMAZING!! I remember growing up and asking Mom all the time what Ben would look like and be like when he got older, and I can promise you he is even better than I could have imagined. He has always had a sensitive sweet spirit, and a lot of motivation to do things for people. When he heard about the murder-suicide of the Drews, he immediately wanted to do something, anything to help them. Of course, he chose the thing that he does best...golf. In a matter of about 3 weeks he planned (with the help of his friend) a HUGE golf tournament and silent auction to benefit the Ragen and Mason's trust fund. He got multiple corporate and personal sponsors. He organized multiple donations for the silent auction, and got the word out to maximize participation. They had to start turning teams away because so many people were interested in playing. I literally have tears in my eyes as I type this because I am so proud of him. Brad told me it was one of the nicest events he has ever been to. They got great media coverage, and then even more people donated to the trust fund.
Brad's team that played in the tournament.

Ben, Kim's Mom, and Tyler

Ben, Ragen and Tyler

Ben and Kim's parents...they were so appreciative of what Ben did!!

Ben and Chip...Ben's friend and the golf pro at Hanging Rock.

Some of the silent auction items...there was autographed sports equipment, restaurant gift certificates, vacations, services, and lots lots more.

Workin' hard!!

Hokie Pokie

Last weekend Emery, Brad, and I went with the Smith's to the VT Soccer game. Brad really enjoys going to watch their games since he played there, and since it was going to be a good night we decided to go. Eating Moe's was just a bonus :) We always love getting to spend time with Katie and Donny, and emery and Maddy are so sweet together...

The ladies with the Hokie Bird :)

Just watching the lights at the game

Pretty Maddy

Smith Family

Our family of three

This is what Emery did the whole second half...I don't blame her

A little catchup...

So I have been MIA lately...that's because I am back to work. It has been really hard, and there is no way I could have gotten through it without my wonderful husband, family and friends. I got lots of little notes, and sweet prayers from some pretty amazing ladies :) I just refuse to spend my time at home with Emery and Brad behind the computer screen, so that's why I haven't been blogging lately.

It has been REALLY hard to find time to get everything done around the house because when I get home I am EXHAUSTED, and all I want to do is play with Emery. So the dishes, laundry and vacuuming are definitely taking a backseat to family time :) It is also near impossible to find time to workout which is really sad because it's something that I really enjoy doing.

I am so blessed that my Grandbess and Granny are both watching Emery one day a week, and to have found the sitter that I did. She is absolutely wonderful!! If I can't be at home with her, this is the next best thing!! She keeps her on her schedule perfectly, plays with her, and just loves on her all day. Emery seems to be adjusting really well. It does make me jealous, but I'm glad Emery has someone to stay with that loves her :) Here are some highlights about what Emery has been up to lately...

-She can roll over belly to back and back to belly

-She talks all the time

-She can squeal with delight

-She will laugh out loud

-She likes to pull Mommy's hair

-Her favorite time of the day is bathtime, if it wouldn't take me 400 days to upload a video, I would show you...

-She is the happiest baby