Stevo's Party

Our friend Stevo has joined the Peace Corps and is leaving for Gambia at the end of this month. He will be gone for the next two years doing some sort of computer work with them. I have attached a link to Stevo's Gambian blog on my page here under blogs I read. We wish him nothing but the best and we'll miss him while he is away. Please keep our friend in your thoughts and prayers. Below are some pictures of his going away party at the lake.

Matt, Stevo & Joe

Matt & Sam

Joe & Stevo

Destin, Stevo & Joe

Joe, Sam & Stevo

The American & Gambian flag cakes

First Mother's Day

Joe and Sam made my first mother's day sooo special. When our alarm went off for church Sunday morning; Joe jumped out of bed and returned with cards and presents before I could even put my feet on the floor. He also grabbed my sweet little cuddle bug from the crib so that I opened everything in the bed with my two favorite men. I got two cards, one from Joe and one from Sam (super sweet), and a silhouette charm with Sam's initials and birthday on it for my charm bracelet AND.... a Ped Egg! hahahaha Seriously, I have been wanting one of those for awhile, so I am pumped about it. Hopefully, I will have smooth nice feet all summer long.

Then we went to church and to lunch with my mom and dad. We ended the day by eating supper with Joe's mom and watching the end of the Amazing Race. It was a great day.

Long weekend in Mobile

We had a really busy long weekend this past weekend. Joe, Sam, and I drove down to Mobile on Thursday for my dad's induction ceremony into the Mobile sports hall of fame, and to spend some time with my sister and her family. I am really proud of my dad; what a great honor.

After the ceremony was over Joe, Sam, and I spent the rest of the weekend at my sister's house. I miss having her in town, so that I can see her whenever I want. We really did a whole lot of nothing (which was nice). Friday we spent the day shopping in Fairhope. Saturday, Lindsey, Joe, and I took Sam and Jackson to the beach. This was Sam's first time ever at the beach, and it was a blast! I tried to teach Jackson how to swim, but he really just wanted to jump off the side to me instead of swim. One of the pictures below is Lindsey trying to teach Jackson how to swim.

Easter

I am a big holiday fan as it is anyway, but I love Easter! I love the colors, the flowers, the feeling of new beginnings, and being with family.

This was Sam's first Easter and we did the traditional Easter basket, cute outfit, and family pictures. Joe and I don't want the meaning behind Easter to get lost in all the bunnies, egg hunts and candy, so we mixed Sam's Easter basket with different and traditional things. We really want him to know that Easter is about Jesus and the sacrifice He made for our sins, and not about a bunny. Please don't get me wrong we love the Easter bunny, the eggs, and the peeps. We just don't want that to be his main focus each year. We want him to learn the scriptures and understand why we celebrate Easter; as well as have fun with the Easter bunny, finding eggs, and eating candy.

With that being said we had a good Easter. We got up early Sunday morning and finished making french toast for our Sunday School brunch, and then put Sam in his super cute Easter outfit. After that we went to church, and then to my parent's house for lunch with my sister and her family, Joe's mom and brothers, and my parents. Then, we went to Joe's aunt's house to visit his dad's side of the family for an hour or two. It was wonderful to see everyone, but needless to say, by the time we got home last night we were exhausted!

Sam's 6 month pictures

I cannot believe Sam is 6 months old! I took him this morning to get his 6 month picture taken. They are below for you to enjoy.

The Exersaucer

Joe and I bought Sam an exersaucer....sp? for Easter over the weekend, and it is one of the best things we have ever purchased! Sam absolutely loves it! NOTE to any new parents like us when your child can sit up on his or her own, get one of these, it's awesome. We got this one at Target and it took about 10 mins. to put together.

Sam's Easter Basket

Don't you love it when things come in EXACTLY how you imagine them in your mind! I am sooo pleased with Sam's Easter basket. It is so cute! I love it!!! If you know me then you know that I LOVE monogrammed things. I would monogram everything in my house if I didn't think it would be tacky. My mom has to remind me often that Sam is a boy and I don't need to monogram everything he owns. However, in this case I think it is completely appropriate and ADORABLE! I can't wait to fill his basket up fun Easter things!