Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving 2011 was spent with the Green family.
It really was something special, because the ENTIRE family was able to be there together.
Jordan and Freesia came up from San Diego.
Blake and I were, of course there from down the street.
Jillian and Kyle came down from Utah with their girl Becca and baby boy, Paul.
Vance and Melissa were able to come down from Idaho at the very last minute.
and Quinn and Becky came down from Utah with some Big news!

Yeah. It was a pretty awesome Thanksgiving.

Becca helping with the rolls

Kaleb… looking awesome.

Jillian's second attempt at pie crust. Bad shortening made for a crumbly first try. (her second try was delicious.) 

Jordan and Dad doing their part. 

Baby Paul being super cute.

Blake took this one… I don't think I could get that close to sleeping dad.

Its me and my boy! (who seriously looks like my dad in this picture.)

Auntie Becky soothing Kaleb

Jill and her pie.

Jordan… being… um, Jordan. :D

My Green bean Casserole. So so good, I'm telling you. 

Freesia's salad. Fruity and Delicious.

The Green Family Turkey. (and baby Paul for size comparison) 

Ok, holy molie. Freesia made this pumpkin cheesecake that was the most amazing thing I have ever tasted. It was beautiful and delicious and just so rich. 

Pudding pie! (with home made whipped cream)

Betsy even came by to visit Kaleb (oh, and probably the rest of the family too.)

Later, after dinner, we decided it was time for a "grandchild photo shoot". Becca, Paul and Kaleb were gonna be the stars, and Blake's product photography soft box was the tool.

Kaleb was sleeping at first...

But he eventually woke up. He still couldn't sit up like Paul, so he looks a bit slouchy.
Oh and look how Mexican my son looks sitting next to his white cousins! I was so happy and proud of my brown baby

A little brother and sister shot. So sweet.

We then tried to take some pictures of Kaleb by himself. . .

For this one we propped him up on the boppy… I kinda think he looks like Mr. Burnes. "Excellent." 

Then we flipped him over, so he was on his tummy on the Boppy. He seemed to like that more...

until he started to fall over. 

Then he started falling asleep, singing and smirking.
"Hey Mooooooooooom!"

I tried to sit him up to wake him up and that was the end of that.

After a quick nap, we tried a different tecnique… Laying the babies on their back and shooting down at them.
This was met with shouts of joy.
Success. 

Kaleb was happy and we got our smiley picture.

The next day we decided to do a huge family portrait. We enlisted the help of a tripod and timer, and we were good to go.

Good lookin' family right?

Below are some of my favorites from the day…

Dad, Mom and the Grandkids.

Jillian, Kyle and the little ones
(Kyllian)

Blake, Me and our fussy one.
(Blaige.)

Vance and Melissa… Battle style
(Valissa)

Jordan and Freesia… showing their best sides…?
(Jorsia.)

Quinn and Becky. She forgot to make the Jell-o
(Quicky)

Our Family.
We rock.

That was our Thanksgiving. It was awesome.

Kaleb is 2 months old!

Kaleb is two months old.

He is now:

• Smiling
• lifting his legs to help change his diaper
• Sleeping more often (still mostly during the day)
• Holding up his head all on his own
• loving his swing!
• maintaining his awesomeness

Oh how captured we are by this baby boy.

Halloween 2011

For Halloween 2011 (Kaleb's very first Halloween) We decided to be Bakers and Kaleb was our "stud muffin".

Oh I thought I was so clever!

We had tons of fun at the Ward Halloween Party. They were taking photos there and we tried to get a good one, but Kaleb's not quite holding his head up completely yet so….

First try: Mom's fixing her hair and Kaleb is singing, Dad looks great.

Second try: Kaleb is yelling, Mom looks ok, Dad looks great.

Third try: Kaleb is done, Mom looks ok, Dad looks kinda crazy.

And now a couple more...

Well, we had fun anyway! Passing out candy from a giant soup pot with a ladle (again… I thought I was just so clever!)

Kaleb did as well as can be expected. It will be so much fun when he knows whats going on.

Kaleb's Baby Blessing

Kaleb was blessed on the last Sunday of October (the day before Halloween)

Blake's Parents, Jordan and Freesia were able to make it, along with my Grandma, My father and his family and a few aunts and cousins. 

Blake did a wonderful job!

It was such an amazing feeling, seeing my husband with our little son in his arms, Blessing him like I'd imagined him doing for months (well… years really)

I sat there and listened to Blake's encouraging words and was so thankful for my Husband and my baby son.

After the initial blessing, Blake prayed:

Kaleb, we pray for the spirit to be with us as we give this blessing. 
We bless you that you will recognize and be drawn to all things good, and the spirit of truth.  
We bless your body to meet the needs of your spirit throughout your life, and that you will be healthy.  
We bless you with a desire for knowledge.  
You are already very blessed with family who love you, and who care about you, and we bless you that you will look to these family members for guidance, that they may be good examples for you in your life.  
We also bless you that you will make good decisions in your life. 
We leave these blessings upon you and all blessings that your Father in Heaven has in store for you, and we do so in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 




After Church, Mom and Pop Green had a lovely lunch and get together at they're place

The Clausen's came by with their little darling… Not sure how Kaleb felt about it...

Blake and I with our little blessed boy

My favorite part! Kaleb was blessed in my father's baptismal gown. Yes, my father wore that gown over 50 years ago when he was baptized into the Catholic church. It was WONDERFUL having a piece of Barrera up there with Kaleb.

I think my Dad liked it too. :D

Also… I made amazing pumpkin sugar cookies… FROM SCRATCH! No pictures of them but this is the recipe, and they were fabulous.