Nested Egg!

I will get to the title in a bit. My honey and I are currently sitting on seperate couches throwing a toilet paper roll back and forth to wipe our runny noses, watching a Christmas movie, refusing to accept the fact that Christmas is over and we have to wait another 10 months for the season to start again because I put up our decorations the day after halloween ; ) ( was that a horrible run-on?) I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and everyone remembered the reason for the season and had full hearts and homes. We were so blessed to celebrating with a bunch of 18 (13 adults and 5 kids). Lots of stocking and of course 24 hours of "A Christmas Story"!

Can I get a bit more serious and let you know I struggle with trusting God? Got serious fast, huh? It has been struggle of mine for years. I don't struggle with knowing Jesus is our Savior; however, I have had my moments of "what if none of this is true". My honey always brings me back to reality when I doubt. I stuggle most with fearing that if I trust God with every fiber in me, something bad will happen to me. I have been really praying hard about this, because I know the only way to unconditional happiness is total surrender to God. My biggest fear is something happening to Crewe.

ALLLLLL this to say a really neat thing happened through all of my prayers. I have decided that God wants us to pray about the big events and happenings in our lives as well as the little and I REALLY wanted to have a white Christmas so I starting praying for snow and low and behold this is what I woke up to Christmas morning. This is Lubbock Texas, by the way, so we are not known for having a white Christmas!

It was such a gentle reminder to me that God hears ALL of our prayers and I know if he listened to a prayer as small and insignificant as a white Christmas, he is listening to my pleading prayers for trust. In his time not mine, is another hard one for me.

On to the title and something a little more light. I found, yet another, recipe on pinterest that is fantastic and easy if you are feeding a large bunch. The recipe name is Bacon, egg, and toast cups, but we felt it needed something more, so the honey and grandma starting throwing out names. The worst was Poached pigs feet and the best was Nested Egg. How cute is that?

I forgot to take a "final product" picture. Luckily there was one left over. I sprinkled a little cheese on top and think this one is a keeper. I think I ate 3! You can find the recipe here.

Finally it was time to open up presents. I think it is sooo hard to buy gifts for your spouse when you share a checking account. I mean how are you supposed to make a large purchase and them not notice. Luckily I have a small job on the side that pays cash and my honey has been wanting a Citizen watch for a while now and NEVER ask for anything, so I decided is was time for a surprise and starting hiding (saving) my cash so he would have no clue. There was so much anticipation for giving him the gift and then I forgot to get a single picture. Bummer!!! Here some others of our Christmas.

Crewe practiced his walking.

An abundance of presents were opened by all.

Christmas lunch was a hit by Crewe's standards. (He reallly slept through lunch and ate after everyone else). Who wakes a napping baby? Not me!

Drinks were enjoyed, juice for the kids and peach bellini's for the adults.

The boys played and adult version of nerf wars.

And to all a goodnight!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!

All Aboard

We went to the north pole last night. It was amazing and really put us more in the Christmas spirit (if that is even possible for me). If you are ever in Lubbock if is definitely worth the money. I will let the pictures do the talking. It is the most amazing thing to experience stuff like this through your childs' eyes. Crewe loved the music and danced the entire time.

Crewe's popper (grandpa) insist that we arrive everywhere and hour early so here we are warming up waiting to get on the train.

Poppers with his grandboys.

Getting some lovin from daddy.

Crewe definitely does not have issues with strangers, but wasn't too sure what to think about the conductor. He had to give him the stare down before we boarded. 

 Once we boarded it was all smiles. I felt like I was 5 years old again. I am sure the aunt and uncle sitting across from us (childless) thought "If this is what children do to you we are NEVER having them!" Don't worry Cole and Joni it is worth it :)!

Cousin Wyatt pondering his next mischevious act.

Getting ready to leave the station.

The conductor puncing Crewe's golden ticket.

Sharing hot chocolate with Daddy.

At the North Pole waiting for Santa and the elves to board.

Playing and dancing with Aunt Joni.

Making sure this elf was legit.

And finally SANTAAAAA (incerpt Will Ferrel in Elf yelling Santa at the top of his lungs).

We ended our train ride dancing in the aisle to Jingle Bells and throwing people the "Whatz up" sign.

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

Warning: this is a looooong post!

Crewe had an amazing first birthday that was spent with close friends and family! Crewe has developed a great love for the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! He really just likes the first and last song, but that boy can dance when those songs come on. That, along with pinterest, inspired most of his party.

It all started with the invitation; I knew it had to be Mickey Mouse Clubhouse themed

We had a mini photo shoot.

I found a recipe for oreo cupcakes on pinterest. They were a hit and delicious. You can find the recipe here.

My honey cut and painted the cute sign for the front yard and I had every intention of taking his pictures next to it since we did not have professional 12 month pictures taken. What I did not intend for was the weather to be 35 and rainy.

Crewe was all about this mickey balloon.

This is another charm I found on Pinterest. I think it added so much to the table, was super simple, and taste delicious!

I made the party favors myself. I found the candy boxes at walmart for 0.47 (steal). I cut the mickey heads out of felt. I think the entire favor was maybe $2.00, including what was inside.

So this is what I invisioned for Crewe's first birthday cake, until my sweetie kindly asked me when the last time I made a cake with fondant was, to which I responded, "well never"!

So this is what we compromised on :)! The cake with the 1 candle on it. It looks like the cake above. Don't ya think???

His sweet Grandma made this shirt for him that turned out great! Crewe loved the way the minky felt and kept rubbing his belly when I first put it on.

He played with his buddy Nixon!

Opened presents

And drumroll please......................... THE CAKE! Ultimately Crewe enjoyed getting messy more than eating all the sugar. He spent the first 5 minutes trying to flick the icing off his hands.

He finally decided to take a bite.

John thought he looked like a little hobo with the icing goatee. I kind of agree.

I am so blessed for this past year and that God has trusted me to be your momma. You have taught me so much and all for the better. I am forever changed because of you. I love the time I right before you fall asleep in my arms and I lay you in your crib. Your Daddy and I joke that it sounds bad that we just want to squeeze you to death. We remind each other to not say that in front of others so they don't think we mean it literally. Both of us cannot get enough of you and even though it was hard to leave my job and there are days that I would gladly go back to work :) I feel so thankful I have not missed a single first in the last year. Most the time your Daddy doesn't miss them either because I am blowing his phone up with videos and pictures. You have lived in 3 different cities your first year and that must have made you well rounded because you have blossomed and become quite the social butterfly, which I love. You will give anyone a smile and most the time a high five if they ask. You are just like your Daddy in that regard. I think we will be having the "stranger danger" talk in the near future.

You are tall and skinny. At your 12 month well baby you weighed 21 lbs and were 31.5 inches long. Your weight is 40th percentile, length 90th, and head 85th. See you are already a genius. You can clap, kiss, wave bye-bye, shake your head no (which looks more like a full body jive), and you are definitely starting to get an opinion. Your are still taking it slow with sleeping through the night. I don't think you are in a rush to give up the middle of the night cuddles, but you are doing better. Diaper changing is still an olympic event. You scream with excitement and breathe like Darth Vador when somebody you recognize walks through the door (especially Daddy). We are still nursing, which I am sure you will like knowing when you are 20  ; )!

You are an absolute joy and I cannot wait for the next year. Please slow down how quickly you are growing!

Love,

Momma