Happy 27th!!

Just want to give a little recognition to my husband cause today is his birthday. He's one incredible husband, father and person and I'm so glad he was born 27 years ago today!

I love you babe and hope you feel truly celebrated and loved today...you are my favorite!

All Things Merry & Bright

We spent Christmas this year with the Finzel side of the family in Denver...we had celebrated Christmas early with my family before they headed to Minnesota and Arkansas for the holiday. Here are some pictures from our time with the Finzels -

Asher opening his stocking Christmas morning (notice my amazing bedhead)

Daddy showing him his cool new book

Reading with Grandma Finzel

"Yeah, I like Christmas!"

Um, this was just cute cause he is our little present! :)

Checking out his new toy from Grandpa & Grandma Finzel

My hot husband...oh yeah.

My sweet family

I was in charge of dishing up the mashed potatoes and Mark came over and started stealing some...don't worry, he got in trouble. :)

Asher helping dad load up the dishwasher after Christmas Dinner. He LOVES coming over to the dishwasher and taking out all the dirty silverware...it's awesome, really.

Santa, Baby.

Asher really enjoys being tickled these days....he giggles and laughs so hard and it's pretty stinkin' cute!

Hope your Christmas was filled with many blessings - family, friends, joy, laughter, and most importantly, a reminder of Christ's birth and love for us!

Have your cake...and eat it too!

On Saturday we had a little birthday party for Asher at my parent's house. It was fun to spend time with family and friends to celebrate Asher's 1st year of life! Of course, the best part of the afternoon was watching Asher enjoy and devour his birthday cake...

The cake

Asher's personal cake ("Before Asher")

Singing "Happy Birthday" and Ash wanting to touch the cake

He doesn't know what's about to hit him -

Getting a little frustrated cause we weren't moving fast enough...

Scoping out the cake with Grandma Brokke & Grandma Finzel

Grandpa Brokke and Grandpa Finzel showing him how it's done

Starting to get the hang of it....with Grandpa and Grandma Brokke

Grandpa and Grandma Finzel

He could care less about this picture...the cake now has ALL his attention

Mmmmm

Yeah, a total mess.

This is how it's done...

Personal cake..."After Asher"! Yeah, he did some damage.

Opening gifts
(had to have the pacifier by this time to avoid a total meltdown)

Playing with his new toys!

Such a fun day celebrating our little man - nothing like a first birthday party with family and friends! A true joy in life.

Happy 1st Birthday!!

Believe it or not, our Asher-man is 1 year old today...actually, at 4:37pm to be exact! I absolutely cannot believe that a whole year has already gone by. It has been a whirlwind filled with so much change, excitement, and joy. We never could have fully prepared ourselves for parenting & what a difference Asher would make to our family but, obviously, it is a change we are so thankful and grateful for. We love this little boy so much. He is such a delight to us - so full of life and excitement - seeing the world with a sense of discovery and wonder that only a child has!

This 1st birthday is bittersweet to me as he is no longer my "baby" but starting to turn into a little boy right before my eyes. But, at the same time, it is exciting to see him grow and develop in his personality, likes and dislikes, and truly into the person God created him to be!

We are having a little birthday party for him on Saturday but needed to at least do some celebrating on his actual birthday so I made him some toast with jam on it for breakfast (he usually has oatmeal so this was a treat) and had him open one of his gifts from us:

Um, guys, I'm not so sure about the fire in the middle of my toast...

A sweet smile

Venturing out and touching the plate...even though he was still unsure about the candle

Trying to get the hang of wrapping paper...

Don't worry, he figured it out pretty quick!

Getting ready to read his card (his face cracks me up here!)
"Playing" with his new toy.
Since he is teething, EVERYTHING goes in his mouth and he was more interested in chewing on the blocks than putting them in the jar. Of course.

Happy 1st Birthday Bubba Boy....we love you!

Bedhead

So, Asher had a major "bedhead" situation the other day after his nap. I couldn't resist taking a picture of it because, seriously, his hair was sticking straight up and I could not get it to go down! While he doesn't have a lot of hair, it sure is wild and likes to do its own thing:

So Thankful!

This year we spent Thanksgiving with my family in Colorado Springs. Both of my brothers came home from college and it was such a wonderful day of being all together as a family. Hard to believe that it was Asher's 1st Thanksgiving as it seems like he has always been a part of our lives! He thoroughly enjoyed all of the delicious food...especially the tastes of pumpkin and cherry pie Grandma Brokke gave him while I wasn't looking!

On the way to Grandpa and Grandma's House
Enjoying his first Thanksgiving meal of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and corn - all mashed up of course. Mmmmm...doesn't it look delicious?

My middle brother Derek and me -

I've been reflecting on all the things I'm thankful for this year and there are many:
My amazing husband
My beautiful son
Our families
Incredible friends - both close by and far away
Our home
Health
Mark's job in the midst of an unstable economy & the fact that God provides for our every need!
A great Small Group
Being able to stay home with Asher and see him grow, learn and develop daily

But mostly, I'm so thankful for the Lord in my life. He is so faithful and trustworthy, even in the midst of my own doubt, fears and insecurities. He desires intimacy with me and pursues me. That's incredible! The blessings He has given me are more than I could have ever imagined for my life. I'm SO thankful for His salvation, His presence, and the life He gives to me spiritually, emotionally and physically.