These aren't KUBOTA?! WHAT?

"Grandpa David & Grandma Ruth sent me these boots and mommy just told me they are John Deere"

Sleepy Head

Wiped out after an evening of fun at James' company Christmas party.

Thanks Alyssa!

8 Things I Did Today:
1. Went to the gym
2. Took Chandler to the doctor (ear inf)
3. Grocery shopping
4. Laundry
5. Cleaned the kitchen
6. Caught up on the business' bookkeeping
7. Purchased a elliptical machine for a bargain price, thanks Rakel :)
8. Blogged

8 Favorite Restaurants:
1. Amaya's-Red Oak
2. Celebration-Dallas
3. Chuy's-Dallas
4. Randy's BBQ-Red Oak
5. Fuddrucker's
6. MoonWok-Cedar Hill
7.
8.

8 Favorite Shows:
1. Dancing With the Stars
2. ER-sad this is the final season
3. Today Show
4. The Biggest Loser
5.
6.
7.
8.

8 Things I Wish For:
1. To win the weight loss challenge at the gym
2. To have a new fence around our house by the end of next year
3. To have the exterior of the house painted
4. The continual success of our business
5. A trip to Disney World
6. A trip to Wyoming to see the Tetons
7. Caught up on scrapbooking, especially Chandler's baby book!
8. The mice to stay out of my house!!!

8 Things I Look Forward to:
1. Spending time with family over the Christmas holidays
2. Our cruise in February
3. The first snow
4. A great workout
5. Friday nights when I don't cook :)
6. Home improvement projects around the house
7. James coming home
8. Everyday of motherhood...it's the BEST!!! :)

Christmas Tree Discovery

So, I have had the Christmas tree up now since the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Chandler has noticed it's arrival and up until yesterday would only look at the tree. He had a fun time pulling a few ornaments off and examining them closely. Yes, I'm happy to post my Christmas shopping is COMPLETE! :)

Look Who's Walking.......

and look who the PROUD parents are! Yes, we did use our laptop as an incentive to walk from me to James...and it worked. He still seems to enjoy crawling as his means for getting around, but we know it won't be long.**Thanks momma for capturing these precious pictures**

Thanksgiving with the pony and other familia

Thanksgiving this year we drove about 2 hrs away to the big city of Graham to celebrate with my Uncle David and family. Kirby and Chandler, look at that smile on his sweet face. He loved riding Star, the pony.
Ryan and his wife Kirby leading Chandler around on his first "real" pony ride
My cousins Erin and Ryan Bowden leading Chandler around on Star.
Me and my sweet boy getting ready to saddle up and ride his first pony
Rance, Ryan and Kirby's son, and Chandler playing together before the big feast

Animal Lover

Chandler, much like his father and mother, has a great love for animals. Especially, the dogs. His favorite, at least for now, is our 12 yr old lab, Chloe.

Here's the update....

Look at this precious boy, what a MIRACLE he is! We are so blessed!


Tonight we had fun being silly. James was pulling Chandler around in his wagon, and I happened to catch Chandler with a scared look on his face, moments before he was smiling...I mean come on, "Would this face lie ?" Thanks Steph for the shirt...do you remember giving that to him? I think you picked it out for him before he was born.


Drew, James and Larry...Thanks Larry for sending the pictures, since I forgot my camera! :(


This past weekend we drove out to East Texas, Van, and celebrated Thanksgiving with Drew. L to R: Larry, Drew, Bailey, Jacob, my head and Chandler. Linda was taking the photo and James and Emma were out counting dogs. HA...we had more dogs there than people...CRAZY! (Actually, I'm not sure where they were) We skipped the traditional feast and went for grilled burgers and a campfire. Fun times! :)


One, EARLY, morning Chandler and I headed to Stephenville to deliver donuts and invoices to a board meeting. James and our crew had just completed a massive clearing project there. **The picture above was only taken for blogger and scrapbooking purposes**


We stopped and had some fun at the park before heading back home to Red Oak. The boy loves to swing.


Here is the mastery of climbing onto the lid of the dishwasher. He surprised me oneday; I had my back to him briefly, pouring him milk...I'm sure, and when I turned back around there he was sitting as PROUD as could be.


One of Chandler's many discoveries has been the dishwasher. The boy is fascinated with it. He loves to open and close the lid and throw all the silverware out on the floor, yes, I keep the knives up and away!


James turned 33 on the 8th so he celebrated with a NEW CAR...a Honda Fit. Aside from the Expedition we purchased in '04 this was his first NEW car. I know he doesn't look all that thrilled in this picture, but it had been a long day for him.

We had a small, fun party at his parents house in Red Oak. Thanks Linda for the yummy enchiladas and awesome German Chocolate Cake...as you know, two of J's favorites!


Chandler has enjoyed playing with the older kids lately. This day the Brandt kiddos came for a visit. Lucas all kicked back and relaxed.


Chandler and Halli


I love this picture...Chandler's friends JR and Megan Gorrell.

Happy Halloween

What a difference a year makes! Chandler was 2 weeks old here. We didn't do much in the way of celebrating last year. However, this year we are headed to Waxahachie for Chandler's first fall carnival. Stay tuned MOIR pictures to come.
Isn't he the cutest penguin you've ever seen?

6 Years

6 years and our precious boy, Chandler! Happy Anniversary James(posting this one day late)...I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!

Chandler's FIESTA...October 18

I apologize in advance for the messaging on this blog...I had a hard time posting this blog. The formatting was different.
Stephanie Dettmer with her masterpiece of a cake...Thanks Steph for all your hard work!!
This is the cake that is soon to be all over the birthday boy!
JR Gorrell stands amazed, "Is he really going to eat all that"?
Chandler gets some encourangement from 2 of his favorite people...his mommy and daddy.

James couldn't resist...he thought Chandler needed some help...are you kidding me the boy didn't need any help!!
Campbell Hamilton, Chandler's little girlfriend (at least according to his mom & dad), isn't she adorable?! :) **Note the 70's print or vintage high chair...that was mine & my sisters when we were little**
Not too much of a mess on this birthday boy!
Megan Gorrell, daughter of our good friend and photographer, John Gorrell (thanks John)...another cutie!!
Chandler, Josh and Asher Middleton...Asher is almost a month older than Chandler...they have been lil' buds since their mommy's were prego's!
Please help me get out of this bounce house.
Yes, we know we went a little overboard for his first birthday!! Betcha' can't wait to see what we do for his second?! :)

Chandler was all partied out by 7 pm and fell asleep in his Grammy's arms

Celebration of FIRST'S

FIRST family trip to the TEXAS State Fair (October 15)

Grandma Linda, Chandler & James

Grandma Linda, Chandler & Me

FIRST trip to New Mexico in the fall, Los Alamos

(October 9-14)

Sittin' and a drinkin' with Grandpa David

FIRST exposure to balloons, while Grandpa David supervises

FIRST b-day party in New Mexico (Second "1st" b-day party)

FIRST lesson...listen, rather, on the acordian...thanks Grandma Ruth

FIRST big climb up the stairs at Grandpa David's house

FIRST of many pictures with Great-Grandma Olga Tatter

Too, too pretty not to post...Santa Fe, New Mexico

FIRST trip to Santa Fe Ski Hill

FIRST Pumpkin Patch Picture

(L to R: Katie, Alyssa, Chandler, Me & Collin)

Cupcake...GONE! (Chandler & Katie)

FIRST "1st" Birthday Party, with the McCook Family (October 4)
**Alyssa, I had orginally posted more pictures from your trip, however, due to the fact that it's late and it's been awhile since I've posted...in editing this post I managed to delete several of the pictures, sorry!**

FIRST trip to Trade Days in Canton & FIRST taste of a corn dog...yummy!

FIRST successful mount onto toy...I had my back turned to him briefly, when I turned around there he was sittin' on his toy like a BIG BOY.

Lil' Buddies: Chandler & Asher Celebrating, Chandler's little buddy, Asher Middleton's first birthday(Chandler's FIRST friend b-day party). He is 2.5 weeks older than Chandler.