Playtime and Preschool!!!

The Murrays came over yesterday for a playdate. Ava and Addison always have a great time together. They had fun with play dough! (Ava wanted me to take a picture and put it on the blog!) We have also been playing dress up and doing preschool activities. Ava loves her dress up clothes from Amy and is learning a lot in our "school time!" In the past two weeks she has learned to identify Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd and their sounds! We've been working on Bible stories and a memory verse. She loves it!!!

Addison and Ava

Traditional clothing from India
She loves her dress up clothes!!!
Ava's Dd project...it's a door on a house that opens...behind the door their is a cat (for c).

Ava's first project and memory verse. She used an apple as a stamp and made ants with finger prints. We are working on Genesis 1:1!
Ava loved this rocking chair that Vivian gave her before she moved to New York. Emet has taken quite well to it too! He now climbs up in it by himself and rocks! (He was standing in it, but we have taught him not to do that!)

Youth Fest

Saturday we took our youth out to Zebulon for a youth fest. We were there for about an hour when the flood gates opened up. It poured rain, so we tried to wait it out in the cars...but it kept raining. The youth decided they would rather go to eat at the mall than wait for the rain to stop. It was a good choice, because it rained the rest of the day! We had fun with the youth though!

Brittney and Chelsie

Brittney, Ava and Chelsie

Jessica and Ava

The youth just haning out listening to the one band we got to hear!

Week In Review

Some of the highlights from the past week...

Youth Pool Party...Last Saturday we went to the Faircloth's for a pool party! Thank you John and Valerie for always opening your home to us!

Jon and Emet in the pool!

Ava loves swimming!


Say Cheese!

Emet has started feeding himself with a spoon. This week I got brave and let him feed himself ABCs and 123s. Quite a messy meal for a 15 month old! Cute pictures though!

Yummy!!!

Emet's first tractor ride!

We kept Precious for Don and Scarlet while they were out of town for a couple of days...she enjoyed the ride Ava took her on!

So Sweet!

I wanted to capture Emet's first time brushing his teeth on camera. Ava loves to get in on the action too!

He is a week and a half away from being 16 months old and he has one tooth that is all the way in and one that is about half way in...I can't believe he only has two teeth! Here he is brushing his teeth for the first time!

15 Months

Emet had his 15 month well check yesterday. I can't believe he is 15 months already. It seems like only a few weeks ago we were on our way to the hospital to welcome him into the world. Everything went well at our visit. Emet has gained weight and grown in length too!

21 pounds 2 ounces ~ 10%

29 3/4 inches ~ 10%

Emet had shots yesterday. He has always done well with his shots, crying only a little when they actually stick him. He did that...but he also reacted in a way we have never seen him react. He cried for about 30 minutes straight yesterday afternoon. After Motrin for his low fever, he calmed down enough to let Jon snuggle him to sleep!

Poor Baby!

Daddy had the magic touch!

Marty and Erin

Saturday night we were able to spend some time with our dear friends, Marty, Erin and little Brennan. Marty and Erin leave tomorrow morning to spend a year in East Asia. Jay, Jason and Charity joined us for dinner. Marty has been a great friend to Jon, Jay and Jason since our time together at ASU. What a blessing it was to see them before leave...it was great to hear about the work they will be doing. We will miss them!!!

Brennan and Ava

The Group

The Guys...Jon, Marty, Jay and Jason

Happy Birthday Lydia!

We had some time with all of the Chasteen family (minus Amy...we missed you!) last week! Allyson and Kevin and Jeremy and Liz (and of course all the kids) came into town last week. We enjoyed hanging out and catching up with our family. We don't see them often and it was great to have time together! Lydia just turned one...and we celebrated a little early with everyone. Nana made frozen strawberry cupcakes for the occasion! What a joy to see our little niece growing up!

Jon and Emet enjoyed their cupcakes!

Happy Birthday Lydia!

A little help from Carson and Ava with blowing out the candle!

Kelsey spent Friday night with us! Ava loved having her at our house for a sleepover. Here is a moment of their "dress up fun" from Saturday morning!

Favorite Things Tuesday...Baby Items

Kate posted some of her favorite baby items this week and I thought it was great to hear what other moms use and love. So here's to Favorite Things Tuesday and some of our most used, most loved, can't live without baby items!

Eletone Skin Cream

(I couldn't find a picture of just the tube of cream!)

Emet has terribly dry skin. We have been through it trying to moisturize his skin and keep it smooth. This is the only cream that comes close to making his sweet little legs feel like a baby's legs should. It is a RX and pricey...but it is what works for our baby!

The Ulitmate Crib Sheet

This is a MUST! A friend told me about this when I was pregnant with Ava. It snaps on top of your "cutesy" crib sheet (and if you have up a bumper isn't even noticeable). When your little one pees through those diapers onto the sheet, you just unsnap it...no more fighting with the mattress to change those wet sheets in the middle of the night!

Avent Pacis

The best pacis...and the only ones we use!

Emet is a paci lovin' baby! I don't know what we would do without what he refers to as his "baba." Love these Avent pacis. We even have two with glow in the dark handles...he can find them in his crib!

Spunky

Emet's lovey! My friend from Rolesville, Jacquie gave this to Emet when he was born. He loves it!

Lammy

Ava's lovey...Jacquie gave this to Ava too. She can not live without her Lammy! Lammy is well loved and a little worn and tattered these days!

Aveeno Baby Wash

We have to use Aveeno with Emet's sensitive skin. We love it!