life sweet life

It's been an eventful end of the year for us!  We've battled some illnesses, had some new things, visited with old friends... it's been fun!
Ethan is now officially 1.5 years old!  He is a busy busy boy.  He constantly is on the move, and doesn't like to not be.  He is saying a lot of words and surprising us almost every day with new ones.  His most recent word I noticed yesterday was "excuse me." Now, it's not nearly that clear, and a lot of times he needs a translator : ) He loves to watch Curious George, play with cars, read books, and do anything outside.
Dustin has been busy with prepping and doing stuff with our new church.  It's been a cool thing to be a part of. Grace Community Church on our first morning...

Well, life in pictures, we have to back up to the second weekend of November.  My grandparents came in to visit for my mom's bday weekend.  We celebrated with smores... this was my grandmothers second time to have smores (her first was just two years ago!) 

Playing around...

We love to go to story time!  Ethan loves to dance!

Family trip to marble slab- E-man was a big fan!

He likes to "read" his Bible (and can say Bible!) and we pray he will continue to enjoy reading it!
When Dustin and I sit down together to read, Ethan goes to get his little one and runs around jabbering as if he is reading from it!

We were able to take Ethan to his first MSU football game compliments of our sweet friends the Joseys.  We were a bit worried that he'd be a handful and that we wouldn't be able to watch much... but he did great!  He loved everything- the cow bells, the music, yelling!! It was a lot of fun!

Wesley let Ethan "ring" the cowbell....

Jonathan, Wesley and E-man.  And we won : )

Thanksgiving Day 2012

Ethan's first game of football. 

And just for fun... I had hoped to get some pictures in his cute Thanksgiving outfit that my mom got him, and the pumpkins that our friends the Lee's gave us....  and this was what I got.  Perfect conditions, but E-man didn't think it was so perfect.  He was pretty mad at me.  Oh well...

The next day... much happier for pictures... conditions and outfit not nearly as perfect.

  

December to come next...

    But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
(Titus 3:4-8 ESV)

October catch up

Here's a quick look at the rest of our October and beginning of November:

Our new church (grace community church) had our first baptism "service" the weekend of Oct. 20.  This weekend also happened to be the first cold snap that we have had this fall.  We had the baptisms in a pool... and told by the gasps of everyone who went under, the water was freezing! I know that our friends will never forget the day they were baptized!

Here is Dustin being baptized by his friend  Ryan.  Dustin was baptized by a church when he joined the church several years ago.  But this was before he believed in Jesus Christ for salvation.  Scripture lays out baptism as something that happens after you believe in Jesus for your salvation (and that baptism doesn't save you, it is a representation of someone who is dead to their old self and alive in Christ) (Acts 2:38, 8:12, 8:36-38 for example).  So Dustin even though it has been several years since he was saved, he wanted to be baptized in the order that Scripture lays out.

Ethan has been learning how to eat with a fork and spoon... and it's quite a messy thing to do, but he loves it!

My mom had a birthday, and my whole family happened to be in town.  We celebrated and ate a lot of monkey bread (requested as her birthday cake).

Ethan likes the fact that my phone now can take self portraits.

We love footy pajamas!

Ethan's cousin Liam dropped by for a visit.  Ethan couldn't stand Liam getting his dad time, so he jumped in on the fun.

We had a few sick days... and E-man learned how to wipe his nose : )

The beautiful weather has given us a lot of fun lunch dates with Dustin at the park.  Swinging is Ethan's favorite thing at the park!

Riley (the dog) is Ethan's friend... she just doesn't know it yet : ) he loves her.

Beautiful cool day for a walk.

We were surprised with a package in the mail box a few weeks ago with a happy for e-man (thanks richard and sheila!- though the batteries did quickly come out of that police car : ) )

More swing fun...

And this is what Dustin calls the "warrior face."  No he is not in pain or upset... he has started trying to lift things and make an agressive face and grunt... it's pretty funny.  He was walking around lifting the hammer and grunting like it has really heavy (and yes, I do realize that I probably should not have let him lift a hammer over his head, not the safest toy... oops.)

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

(Colossians 3:1-4 ESV)

Hey kitty!

As my usual, I'm behind on posting our little life in pictures here.
About 6 weeks ago, Dustin took a day off, and we took E-man to the zoo... this was something we had been wanting to do.  I'm glad we waited until we did.  He's just now starting to really "get" in to animals- names, sounds, etc., so our trip was right on time.  A little earlier and he wouldn't have known what he was seeing.

We visited the tigers at the perfect time.  They were right up at the window, as soon as we walked away, they went on their way too.  Ethan is mildly obsessed with cats right now... and so when he saw the tigers he kept saying "Hey Kitty" over and over.  Big kitty : )

Cougars were also kittys!

The only proof that I was actually there : )

Watching the chimps.  I have to confess that the monkeys entertained Dustin and I far more than they did Ethan.  We could have watched them for a long time... they were so fun to watch!

And this is what the excitement of the zoo did for our little man.  He took an incredible nap that day!  We will definitely be visiting again!