Ben's Dedication

Aunt Jackie, Uncle Dave & Ben before church started.

What a beautiful family!

I was amazed at the all of the giant ice cycles in South Bend! There were some that had to be taller than me. Crazy. I've never seen anything like them!

One of the best pictures of Grandma & Grandpa Stephens!

Grandpa's eyes are even open!!

Ben just wanted a little bite of the very yummy dessert mommy had made!

Ben & Grandma Kandee

Jackie's mom came from Kansas for Ben's dedication.

               

This was the best picture I got. It sure is hard to get 2 grandkids and 2 grandparents all looking at the camera at the same time!

Christmas at Grandma Barbara's House

New Year's Day we had Christmas at my Grandma Barbara's house.

Great Grandma Barbara & Joshua

Grandma loves having Joshua around and equally Joshua loves playing at Great Grandma's house. It's probably best if Mommy doesn't know all of the adventures they have together! Ha!

We are so blessed to have her so close that she can watch Joshua grow!

Joshua in his new Purdue hooide (from Mommy & Daddy) walking around with Green Bear.

I just love this picture...so stinking cute!!

When figuring out a new toy, it's best to have your tongue out!

Actually, he was probably already teething at this point and we hadn't realized it yet.

Anyway, it makes for a cute picture! :)

If you can't tell by these next pictures, I couldn't get enough pictures of my little Boilermaker!

His first Purdue hoodie!

Yummy Yummy Yummy,
Auntie's got chocolates in her tummy
& she's feeling, feeling good!

Grandpa Bruce is nuts, I mean he got some yummy nuts for Christmas!

Joshua likes to look out Grandma's window. Apparently you can get the best view if you stand in the sink.

The funny part is, I'm sure this wasn't the first time Joshua's been in Grandma's sink. :)

 

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this picture!!

A true picture of him giggling & laughing with Great Grandma!

Who knew a sink & window could be so much fun?

This concludes our Christmas blogs.

We feel so blessed to have so many people to celebrate with each year!

Merry Christmas (again)!!

Christmas at Grandma & Grandpa Stephens

This year we spent Christmas Eve & Christmas with Grandma & Grandpa Stephens in Ft. Wayne

Grandpa Gary & Joshua

Baby Benjamin who was 5 months old in this picture.


Isn't he cute?

Baby Ben & Joshua talking about something. Looks pretty serious. Maybe they were talking about how their parents dressed them in striped Christmas pj's and now they matched. :)

Grandpa Gary & Ben rockin' the Santa hats!

Grandpa Gary thought it would be funny to give Joshua grapefruit juice.... he loved it and wanted more! Ha!

I couldn't pass this picture up. Joshua isn't wearing antlers. There is a reindeer (I believe it holds cards) behind him. I just thought this was too cute!

Hello blue eyes!

Joshua got a very special gift for Christmas. Grandpa Gary made him (and Benjamin) block sets!

He's not so much for setting them up, yet...but he sure likes to knock them down!!

Uncle Dave and Joshua just hanging out drinking some juice.

I think Uncle Dave was surprise how much weight difference 7 months can make.

Grandma Linda is such a wonderful cook. She always makes so many yummy things!

For Christmas this year, we (all the kids & their families) gave Grandma & Grandpa Stephens a web camera. Jim set it up so now they can Skype will all of their grandkids!




Here they are Skyping with Tom & his family on Christmas day!

Savannah really liked seeing everyone. She said hi to everyone including the dogs! Savannah told us about getting snow in North Carolina and everything that they had been doing.

We have Skyped with Grandma & Grandpa since Christmas & it's quite fun. Joshua even said hi Grandpa!

Milk time with Grandma Linda!

Grandma & Ben in their matching sweaters!

Benjamin's sweater was a gift to Joshua last Christmas from my parent's neighbors. He only got to wear it once before it got too small. We are glad Ben is getting some use out of it too.

I don't know where Grandma got her sweater or the if there is a story behind it, but I do know they look very cute together!


Merry Christmas, Stephens Families!!

Christmas at Grandma Dana & Grandpa Bruce's house

My mom has lots of things that sing and play music. Most of them are at Joshua's level and he can turn them on. This one (the snowman on the piano) is one of his favorites. The snowman sways back and forth as he sings & there are lights that blink on both sides of the piano.

The box that the snowman is sitting on was made by my Grandpa Wilbur and Grandma Evelyn. It's the perfect height for Joshua to just walk around and around and around.

Dad went and picked up our Christmas Dinner. Yummy Red Lobster!


Since we celebrated the week after Christmas, we were okay with a non traditional Christmas dinner. Actually, it tasted so good, we decided it would work again next year! Joshua loved the cheddar biscuits!

Joshua was home all day with daddy since Purdue was closed for New Years. Apparently it was more fun to play with daddy then to take a nap because Joshua didn't nap well  (or at all) for Daddy.

This picture is after dinner before we opened presents. Joshua was already ready for bed hugging one of Grandma's Christmas bears.

The part about this picture that might surprise you is that it was taken before we opened any presents. Those are just the toys that Joshua has a Grandma Dana & Grandpa Bruce's house to play with!

This is when we really noticed Joshua playing with his mouth again. Tongue hanging out a lot and lots of drool. Yup, he's cutting teeth again.... Looks like the kiddo may actually have more then 2 teeth!!

Joshua's new drum from Auntie Jennifer. He loves it!!

I knew she was getting him some kind of drum (which was a bit scary), but this one is great! He bangs on it, it lights up & plays music. Three of his favorite things - banging, lights & music all in one toy!!

Joshua was getting pretty tired by this point and laid down on a present sent from Florida.

Don't worry, he rallied and got the present opened. Next time I would pick something other than books to make a pillow out of Joshua!

So this picture doesn't really look like much, but what it shows is Joshua throwing small jars of mustard that Jim got as a present from my parents.

Joshua loves having 2 of something, one in each hand, and throwing them. It can be balls, blocks, and in the case, mustard. We are working with him on what is okay to throw and what isn't. I'm pretty sure he has no idea what we are telling him!

Daddy inspecting Joshua's new radio.

It's really neat. There are magnets on the back so it will stick to the fridge. Joshua loves it because he can carry it around. There are 3 different settings and they all have different songs. He can dance to all of them!!

It's hard for us all to imagine what our life was like before Joshua, but Auntie Jennifer sure has taken on her role as Aunt very well.

There are many days when she comes to the shop for lunch and gives mommy a little break. Auntie just thinks she is playing with Joshua, but it's really a second for mommy to catch her breath and get ready for the afternoon.  Thanks Auntie!!

It's not often we get a picture of just my mom, sister & myself but we finally did & it turned out good!

I am so lucky to have them here in town with us. They are a huge support (dad too) and I really appreciate all the help they give us!


Thanks guys & Merry Christmas!!


Love you!!

Pershing Family Christmas

We had Christmas with my Dad's family December 18th

Great Grandpa Wilbur & Joshua

I'm so glad that my grandparents are here in town and can watch him grow up. I wish all our relatives were closer for that same reason.

Joshua was the life of the party like normal. He is such a trooper at gatherings. At this time he wasn't walking on his own. He was using a walker and would walk holding your hand.

This little boy is so much fun. He's so cute, expressive really tells us what he thinks & what he wants.

We are so lucky to have him!

Cousins Braden & Arianna  show Joshua a basketball game that Grandpa Bruce & his siblings played with as kids. That game has some age on it!

Joshua was very interested in the ball...and it moving around. He crawled off with it several times. He even threw his big orange ball in there. Maybe next Christmas he'll understand it better.

Grandma Evelyn, me, my sister & Aunt Brenda.

Looks like a group of trouble makers!

The Pershing Ladies in attendance at Christmas.

Mom, Me, Grandma Evelyn, Auntie, Arianna, Aunt Brenda, Shannon & Joy.

Not to be out done, the men wanted their own picture. The men had to wait for Joshua to get up from his nap before they could get their picture.

Back row: Grandpa Wilbur, Dad, Brandon, Tom & Uncle Tim
 Front row: Ryan, Brian, Braden, Joshua & Jim


Don't ask me why they are holding the tray of desserts. Silly boys!!

One of my most favorite Christmas traditions is Grandpa Wilbur reading the Christmas Story from the Bible.

This year I recorded him reading it so we could share it with the family members that couldn't make it.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do every year!