Friday, November 30, 2007

Our family got elfed!

Check out our elf family. Just copy the link below:

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1118345287

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Family Pictures!

We went out to the park in downtown Calhoun to take pictures for our Christmas card. The park had some really neat props set up for Christmas. Samuel really enjoyed playing on the big boxes. Merry Christmas!






"O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!"



David and I got our Christmas tree this past week! Samuel loves the tree and we even got some great pictures of him helping put on a couple of ornaments. He likes to crawl to the bottom of the tree and play with the branches. So we did put a few special ornaments at the bottom so that he can play with them. David did an excellent job of trimming the bottom of the tree, and we both managed to get the lights on!

Grandma Comes to Town

My parents came up to visit for a couple of days. Samuel kept us entertained the whole time. He is climbing on the furniture and finally doing some walking. Daddy held some cheerios in his hand and Samuel followed him all around the living room to get them. He can even do some turns while standing. We told Samuel that the gig is up, we know he can walk! He really is turning into a bright little boy. Unfortunately I only have pictures of my mama and Samuel from this weekend. Samuel is extremely ticklish, so mama was finding all of his tickle spots. Also Samuel was giving her kisses. I will have to get more family pictures up soon.





Monday, November 12, 2007

Some things are better with time

Wow, does time seem to fly by sometimes. I can hardly believe that my youngest brother just turned 18, and even harder to believe that my mother is about to be 50! As children, we expect our siblings to get older as we do, but it always seems that our parents stay in some kind of time warp until one day you realize that they have been aging all the while. I am by no means indicating that my mother, or "mama", is old or close to getting old(even though just the other day she stated that she didn't like this getting old business!) With David's father battling a serious disease, it puts into perspective just how statuesque these people are in our lives. My mama may be turning 50, but with it comes even greater wisdom and maturation. Exactly what I will need her to pass along to me over time as I have already begun to expand my family. My hopes are to one day become the great woman that she has set herself to being: having...a love for the Lord, a desire to obtain knowledge, the kind of patience that exists only in mothers, a deepening love for her husband, the ability to laugh and to cry, and the assurance that she is doing what she thinks is best for her family. A true Proverbs 31 woman is not built over night, but in the beauty of time one is made. The refining process is not always easy, but can always be found beautiful. To my beautiful ruby in the making, Happy Birthday!

Birthday Celebrations at Dante's Down the Hatch

My mother and brother both have November birthdays just a few days apart. So, the family decided to go to Dante's Down the Hatch, a fondue restaurant in Atlanta. Unfortunately we could not take pictures inside, so we took them right before we left. We had a great time cooking our own food and getting to see one another. For me, family time is crucial and I miss them very much being 3 hours away. I know that doesn't seem like a lot, but it is when your husband is the pastor of a church which means no weekends off!! Anyways, below are the pictures, so enjoy!


The Gale Crew!

What a wonderful blessing to be able to have the entire family celebrate the joy of life and the special birthdays of this month!

My daddy and mama are in love with each other more today than ever before. This is evident in there day to day lives. The Lord continues to expand their hearts to hold more and more love continually.

Happy!

We never seem to take photographs with just the two of us anymore! So here is the love of my life and me, happier today than ever before.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

The 102nd Dalmatian

Samuel made an adorable dalmatian this year for Halloween(special thanks to the Hunter/Hall family)! It did take him a little while to get used to having something covering his head. As you can tell, he finally resigned himself to the fact that it was going to be there for a while. Samuel went trick-or-treating with his friend, Hunter. He made a fierce pirate, and even check out those eyebrows! By the time we arrived, Hunter was gearing up for his second round of trick-or-treating. I am so proud of Samuel, he walked up to almost every door while holding my hand. The kids had a great time and got tons of candy! Samuel was so tired that he fell asleep on the way home.





Photographs for Parenting Magazine Photo Contest

These photographs were submitted in the 18th Annual Photo Contest. I am very excited about participating in the contest. Wish us luck!!




These two photos were taken outside, in our back yard. Samuel was playing in my guitar case. They were submitted in the 1-2 year old category.




This was taken at our church playground. It was submitted in the 0-11months category.

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Samuel's Super Dad

I knew that when I married David he was amazing. He has continued to show that throughout our two years of marriage. He helps me around the house with cooking, cleaning, and anything else that I may need. Lately he has done an all time high of good work. I have been sick with a thyroid disorder that has made the simple tasks in my life very exhaustive and he has been there for every step. He has filled in for me with Samuel so much, and made it so that he never knew that mama was sick. David has always been very helpful with Samuel in changing diapers, bathing, feeding, playing, and anything else that you can think of while being a full-time seminarian, pastoring a church, and being a husband! I have been feeling much better these past few days, but David still insists on helping with Samuel. We were getting Samuel ready for bed by giving him his nightly milk. I was going to clip his nails, but David offered to do it instead. This is a task that even the best moms struggle with. So below are pictures of Samuel's Super dad clipping his nails!





Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Happy Birthday!!

I can hardly believe it, Samuel turned a year old on October 3! We celebrated by going to Kangaroo Bob's, and then he had a doctor's appointment. He got a great report that he is doing what normal 1 year olds do. Also for those keeping up with his weight and height...22lbs & 15oz and 33&1/2in. We are amazed at the growth he has shown over the past year. Below are some pictures that were taken throughout the day!




I think that we were more excited about Samuel's outing than he was. As you can tell below, he was very unsure of the inflatables, and that was a pretty big slide!




This is Samuel and his daddy playing before he had to go inside to see the doctor!



Mt. Pleasant UMC threw Samuel a birthday party during our Wednesday night supper. This is the second time in Samuel's life that he has had cake. He cried when it came time for us to clean the icing off of his fingers!

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Fun with Grandpa





These are some different pictures of Samuel with his Grandpa. Samuel loves to spend time with Grandpa in his red car. So much that he even burned a hole in his sock because of all the miles that they have made in it!

Samuel's Birthday Party at Grandpa and Grandma's

We had a great time celebrating Samuel's first Birthday with his grandpa and grandma. All of our family was there along with some close friends, and Pop and Mimi. We were so glad to be able to celebrate such a joyous occasion with everyone there. Below are some pictures from the party along with Samuel's weekend stay with his grandparents. As you can tell, cake got everywhere...so Samuel and Camden had to rinse off before he could open his presents!!