Asher's walking!!!!

At the end of September, shortly after his first birthday he decided to start walking! Here's the proof in video! He's pretty much walking like a pro now (end of Oct) and is soo cute doing it!!

Cake Decorating Course two...

Starting in September and ending in October, I took my second Wilton cake decorating class at our local Michael's. I, once again, took the class with my sister and law Melissa! Here's a link to our first class post!

We had 4 classes and we only had to bring a cake to the final class which was nice! (as opposed to the first course which was 3 cakes!!) We mainly learned how to make flowers out of royal icing! We mainly used buttercream during the first course so it was fun to see what you can make with another type of icing!! Up above is a few examples of the flowers we learned how to make!

At our final class, we put all those flowers to good use and made a pretty cake!!

We also learned how to do the basket weave which actually turned out really pretty!!

Our instructor is going on maternity leave and won't be back until January so I can't take course 3 until then and I can't wait!! I have loved all the things I have learned during these classes!! It is so handy and practical since I love making my kid's cakes and all!

Women's retreat

Women's Retreat 2009

In September, after a few months of planning, we had our women's retreat!! God is so good and faithful! It was so refreshing and seriously one of the best retreats that I have ever been too! I really believe that the prayer team and all the prayer that was put behind it really made the difference!

God answers our prayers!

We had so many beautiful things that were incorporated into the weekend that made it even more special! On Friday night, we had a candlelit communion service which was so powerful!! My main job for the weekend was the speaker and I am so glad that God led me to her website because God showed up when she spoke! She is so in love with Jesus and only wants His name to be Glorified!! She allowed God to speak through her and He touched our hearts!! Her name is Tammy Smith and her website is here!! :) (She is in picture at the top on the left)

Not only did we get some awesome God time that weekend but we also got to have some really good fellowship and fun with some pretty awesome ladies! Staying up late playing fun games and talking was a highlight too!

We even got to do some adventure stuff this time at the retreat which was exciting!! I love stuff like that!! In the picture above, I'm rock climbing to the top!!

Here I am climbing this pole to do this........

walk across a rope bridge!!

It was so much fun! I had such a great time getting to know some new women too and all the encouragement that comes with that!!

God is good!!

Rocket shoot.......

At the beginning of the school year, our friends from church had their 2nd annual Home school rocket shoot. It was a lot of fun last year and we always enjoy getting together with other homeschoolers so we knew that we definitely wanted to attend this year too.

Basically, we all bring an empty two liter bottle that we use to make the rockets. After we design our rockets then we shoot them off!!

Gene attaching the rocket.....

Dax helping to launch the rockets....

The kids making their rockets and then all kidslined up ready to go!!

All my little kiddos with their rockets!!

Not only do the kids get to learn about Science but they also get to have some good fellowship!!

Asher's First Birthday Party......

We had Asher's birthday party at the local state park and it turned out wonderful! It was really secluded in the woods and even had a playground for the kids. We grilled chicken and ate lunch there as well!

Now to the fun part!!!

CAKE!!!!

In the first picture we were singing happy Birthday and in the second he has just gotten his first taste of his "little" cake!

In these pictures he is getting a little bit messy but not bad........

I turn my head for second and turn back to see my dad painting Asher's face with blue icing!! My dad, the troublemaker!!! :) He even painted Asher's arms with icing! LOL! Asher had fun eating his cake and probably would have kept himself pretty clean if it weren't for my Dad! (Wink wink)

Asher's super sweet face!

Asher's First Birthday cake....

I love making my kid's birthday cakes! It's definitely time consuming but I always feel it's worth it in the end! For Asher's cake, I really wanted to do a fondant cake even though I didn't have any experience with it! So I researched it a bit and tried it! It ended up being so much fun to work with and relatively easy compared to other cakes I have done!

I was pretty excited with the way it turned out!! ;)

Here's his main cake and a little "Squash" cake that he could eat all by himself at the party!

Asher is A One year old.....

A normal smile.......

A cheesy smile..........

Asher turned one at the beginning of September!! (the 4th)

He's such a sweet boy and we love him so much!

Here are some fun facts about Asher!

*His hair is laying pretty flat these days..... goodbye to crazy stickup hair.

*At his first birthday he was cruising along pretty smoothly but not walking yet.

*He loves to be with his brothers and sister.

*He loves to try and imitate anything we do and say.

*He loves to give us his cheesy smile because he know it makes us laugh! In fact, he does alot of things to make us laugh these days! He's so cute and funny!

*He loves to worship with us and even tries to lift his hands in praise!

*At his doctor's appointment he was 30 inches (50%) and 20.5 pounds (25%). He is our littlest at his first birthday when comparing him to the others.

Holiday World.....

At the end of August we headed to Holiday World as a family for the day! It is a family friendly themepark in Southern Indiana and great for kids our ages!! The kids had a blast and I'm so glad we got to go!! It was my treat because I used my saved up birthday money! :)

Hayden and Asher on the airplane ride

It was their first ride of the day

Dax and Grace

Dax on the bumper boats!

The two little boys and I on the carousal!

Grace on the swings! I rode with her and I was actually a little scared! It was super high and went super fast!

Gene and the kids at the water park area!

The Jungle jets video!!
(Grace, Gene and Dax are on the left side...lines 2-4)
I was a little nervous letting them go on this but they did perfectly fine and had a blast!!

Dax and Grace racing.....

Dax all ready to go again!!

Gene and I with the little boys!

Asher and Grace all smiles!!

Past Holiday World trips: 2007 and another post from 2007

Last day at the pool.....

One of our favorite things to do this summer was to go to the pool! These pictures are from our last day at the pool in August!

Hayden offering me a drink of water!

Dax doing a little "jig"

Grace all ready to swim!

Asher playing with the little geyser!!

Speaking of "jigs".... I see a common thread in Dax ......... He must like to do a little jig when he swims!! This picture was taken in June 2007!! :)

Happy Anniversary to my Hubby......

7 years ago on the 24th of August Gene and I said "I do"!! It's gone by so fast which probably has nothing to do with fact that we had four little kiddos in those 7 years! I am so blessed!! He is amazing! We have learned so much during these years but yet just when we think we arrived to a new level in our marriage ....God teaches us something new! It's a good thing and in fact, I hope we never stop growing! Marriage is such a powerful tool that really helps to shape us into who God really designed us to be. It definitely isn't always easy but so worth it!!

Believe me, I have not been perfect at this and to tell you truth.... I can be my most "ugliest" self with Gene which is sad but he loves me no matter what! I am soooo blessed to be married to someone who is so patient with me and loving. He is not perfect either but we are perfect for each other! He has strengths that I don't have and vice versa.... we compliment each other well!

So here is to lots of good memories and many more to come!!

I love ya babe!