Missing Daddy

My sweet little guy all snuggled up in bed, but that is not what makes these pictures so special.

Notice the small red photo album by his head...it is pictures of him and his daddy and he sleeps with it every night. When I put him to bed it was next to him on his other pillow, but when I went into the room to check on him it was right next to his head.

Poor guy misses his daddy SO much! I thought after we made it through the first couple of weeks we would be kind of "home free", but not for this daddy's boy. He asks for him several times a day and often ends up tears over wanting him. Breaks my heart! Luckily, we are halfway through the deployment and will see daddy in about 6 weeks!

We are looking forward to our month in Alabama where we can spend time with our family!!

Ornament Exchange

Katie and I hosted our Second Annual (or was it third?) Ornament Exchange here at my house Tuesday night. It was a great time of yummy food and good fellowship with friends.

Katie and Allison

Katie and I. We are matching in our black!

Dani and Tiffany

All the gals

I ended up with a super sweet ornament. It is from the Willow Tree collection and is called Angel of Prayer. Rather than hang it on my tree and have it for Christmas use only, I put it on my nightstand right next to my Bible and cross that my friend Dani gave me. Funny thing is, it was Dani that brought the ornament I got and she got my ornament. Great minds think alike!

I really enjoyed my evening with these ladies and am sad that this will be my last ornament exchange here in the 'Burg.

Awesome

I got Cole this shirt that reads "Awesome just like Dad". So cute and so true!

He doesn't stop moving so the best picture I could get was him by the trash can. :-) He is giving me his cheese face again.

On the go!

So thankful to have an awesome hubby and an awesome son! Can't wait until we are all back together again. Halfway there!!

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday morning Cole and I went to the Officer's Club on base for a pancake breakfast with Santa. Cole was not on his best behavior (or even mediocre behavior for that matter) on this morning so it turned out to be almost more trouble than it was worth.

I should have had a clue as to his behavior to be when he was doing this right before we left:

And this:

I did get him to pose with me though.

And he smiled with Kaden too.

Thinking about what he can get into next.

Decorating a bag to hold all his crafts.

He didn't want to sit in Santa's lap, so he just stood next to him instead.

That afternoon we headed to the UCM bowling alley to celebrate Andrew's 5th birthday. Cole chowed down on some Chick-fil-A nuggets and fries, as well as a huge piece of chocolate cake.

For party favors Carisa made all the kiddos Superman capes since superheroes are all the rage right now with the boys.

Cole loved running around in his cape and shouting "Superman!!"

On challenging days like these I remember and recite my most favorite parenting verse.

"Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Galatians 6:9

I am hopeful that in due time I will reap a harvest and see the fruits of my labor. This thing called motherhood is just flat out hard!

Crown Center

On Monday Cole and I met Katie and Ty at Crown Center in Kansas City. They had lots of fun stuff for the kiddos to do and Cole got to sit in Santa's lap.

Cole was enamored by this huge Gingerbread Village and the trains going through it. I must say it was pretty cool!

Check out all the ingredients and time/hard work that went into making this display!

In the Crayola play area getting to slide on a big box of Crayons.

With Ty in the crayon house.

Mommy and Cole

Katie with Ty and Cole in front of the laughing Santa Claus. Cole wasn't so sure what to think about this.

Waiting to eat lunch at the train restaurant, Fritz's.

You place your order by using the phone.

After lunch we went outside and played on all the equipment they had set up. Cole was in the spaceship getting ready to take off. :-)

He liked riding the horse.

We topped off our trip to Crown Center with a Peppermint Pothole from Sheridan's. It was so good! Cole and I shared it, but we were only able to eat about half of it.

Thankful for good, fun days like these, even if they feel like they are few and far between. Looking forward to better days ahead!

Joy

Nothing quite brings me

like this little guy!

How can you not smile when you see this silly "cheese" face?

Or this one?

Looking off with amazement...we were heading to see Santa.

"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Nehemiah 8:10

Sunday Best

Here some pictures of my cutie (silly ones and all!) before we headed to church Sunday morning. I believe winter is here because it has been down right chilly the past few days. Let's just say I am happy to be heading to Alabama where the temperatures are not near as cold.