Playing in the Pool

We're not sure what Gabe's thinking here, but it's a funny picture!

Gabe loves his O-ball. It is his favorite toy. He would toss his ball outside the pool, and we would throw his ball on the otherside of the pool for him to fetch. It was funny listening to his gasps as his belly got into the cold water.

A little exploring!

Gabe took a wonderful nap after playing in all this water! Very refreshing on a hot day!

Evening Walks

In the evenings, David & I like to take Gabe and Brook for walks around the neighborhood. I'm sure the neighbors have a nickname for us by now. We often stop at this old fenced park to throw a few dummies for Brook. Then we circle around the block and get Gabe ready for his bath. I enjoy evenings like this when we can get some exercise and talk about our day.

An Outside Haircut

Well, it's hard to believe just how fast these babies grow and change. Gabe is very close to 11 months old, and we're loving him like crazy. He is so full of adventure and curiosity. He's waving good bye. He enjoys eating and trying new food. With 8 teeth now, he's eating basically what we eat except for desserts and spicy foods. I hope that he stays a good eater, because I love to cook a variety of foods. Looking back in time, life must of been boring without our little guy.

Our towhead after a haircut!

The following pictures are all about the process~ lots of toys, cheerios, and a comb to keep Gabe busy in his seat.

Mommy Moments

Here's Gabe doing his favorite sport- stair climbing. Notice the long drooler too! While climbing, he likes looking behind him to see who's following him. His little game is to throw his ball down the stairs and watch it bounce.

Three Gabes~ now that's overwhelming!

Precious little feet!

Enjoying my first Mother's Day! Dave surprised my by taking this picture. Of course Gabe was napping, and hubby was outside working for the most part. Simply Perfect!

A Mediterranean Afternoon

This is the third annual luncheon that our church hosts every May. This year's theme was "A Mediteranean Afternoon." In other years, the themes have been picnic and fiesta. I always look forward to seeing all the creative tables, listening to a testimony of God's grace (I tend to cry during these), and eating amazing food. Next to our Ashland retreats in October, this is one of my favorite activities to attend. Here are some of the Mediterranean tables:

I loved the potted herbs on this one.

A sea and shell theme with fresh flowers.

The center piece was a handmade oil lamp with dried beans and grains.

Shh! Don't tell! This was may favorite with the rich colors and individual jars of green olives for each friend to take home.

My mom and I worked on this table. My dad pruned the neighbors olive tree for some added greenery. I can't wait for next year's theme to be revealed.