Anniversar-ay Part-ay!

I had mentioned a few weeks ago that my parents had celebrated their 30 year wedding anniversary this year.  My sibs and I wanted to do something for them to honor this extremely special occasion.  We decided on organizing a professional family photo shoot with the intention of hopefully getting a good group shot that we could get blown up to go in my parents house.

This was the picture that we decided on:

picture courtesy of Tiffany Newman Photography

I really like it.  Kind of looks like Mother Goose and Father Goose with all of their goslings huddled around. =)

Last night, we all got together to officially celebrate the big 3-0 years.  The menu turned out superb!  We cooked beef tenderloin, au gratin potatoes, and roasted asparagus.  We also had wedge of lettuce salads to start out with.  Now I'm going to pat ourselves on the back for a bit because none of us had ever attempted to cook beef tenderloin before...shoot, we had never purchased it before!  But we (Erin, Jenna, and I) put our heads together and did a great job if I do say so myself!  Ok, enough about us...

Our plan was to surprise Mom and Dad with the picture at dinner along with a special cake we had made for them. 

Here's a picture of the cake:

Don't they look so young and dapper?

The night went off without a hitch!  It was great fun!

We enjoyed the beautiful weather outside.

We snacked.

Brian pointed at the camera.

There were beverages.

Grapes got hung on a necklace.

We "cheer-ed" a lot.

Thomas and Evan got to join in on the fun.

Then came time for the big reveal!

We convened in the laundry room to prepare for the unveiling.

The cake was presented.

The picture was presented.

We oohed, we aahhed.  Mom clapped.  Dad smiled.

We hung the picture in the designated "family picture" spot.

Mom and Dad stood back and admired.

Had to sneak a quick photo of Evan with the godparents.

We cut the cake.

We ate the sweet goodness.

It was the perfect anniversar-ay part-ay!

My Mens

Friday nights are fun!  Getting to reunite with Daddy after a week is something we all look forward to all week long!

I love my mens!

Top O' The Mornin' To Ya!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

Hope your day was filled with lots of green and good luck!

We spread some St. Patty's cheer with green candied popcorn for Thomas's class at school. 

It tasted really good!  Like kettle corn...

We didn't spot any leprechauns and are still searching for our pot of gold at the end of the rainbow but it was a great, green spring day.  And I feel like I've got the best three good luck charms around! =)

Back to School, Back to School...

Back to school...

Back to school...

To hang out with friends and teachers so cool!

I got my lunch packed up...

His shoes tied tight...

Can't wait to see my little darlings tonight!

Oh! Back to school...back to school...back...to...school...

Well, here goes nothin'!

(who's got the song from Billy Madison in their head??  Just wondering...)

3 Months

Evan is three months old today!

Oh my goodness...can't believe it...(promise I won't say this every time he gets a month older!)

He's so smiley...I love it!  His whole face lights up when you talk to him.  I think he's going to be a charmer!

sorry this picture is blurry...he was moving when I took it but I love how his eyes are lit up

Let's see, what is he up to lately??  He's still quite the chunk.  We're already breaking out the 6 to 9 month clothes...

He's still usually quite content and just goes with the flow.  He's starting to sleep for much longer stretches at night.  Pretty consistently he goes at least 6 hours...sometimes we even go 7 or 8 hours at a stretch...go Evan!

His day consists of sleeping, eating, getting his diaper changed, and hanging out under his play gym or doing tummy time.  He's found his thumb and works really hard at sucking it.  It's pretty cute.  He sometimes gags himself on it, but is still darn determined to figure out how it all works!

He sits up when we prop him on something.  He sat in the Bumbo the other day for awhile and will sit in an Exersaucer for a bit as well.  He's a strong bit!

He's still an absolute joy to have around.  We all love him so, so much.  Often times I will find Thomas leaning over in his face talking to him or trying to show him something.  It's so much fun to watch!  And I'm sure it gets even better when they're older!

His third month of life will bring some big events...he's getting baptized in a few weeks and his surgery to repair his lip is scheduled a week after his baptism. 

He blesses our life and enriches it so much!  Happy 3 months sweet baby Evan!  We love you!

Spring Fever

I believe it's safe to say that the Blanchers are ready for Spring!

And oh, what a glimpse we are getting today!  It's such a B-E-A-UTIFUL day!

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!

Happy Mardi Gras!

Wherever you are, I hope your day is filled with fun!

We got to celebrate the Mardi Gras season in Shreveport this year by going to the Gemini parade last weekend...and we had a ball!

Evan stayed back home with Nini and Papa due to the cooler weather conditions but Thomas braved the weather to hang with his mom and dad at the parade.  He was ready to catch some beads!  (or so he thought...)

We bundled up and headed over to a lot that our friends, the Speckmans, had reserved for the parades.  Now, I've grown up in Shreveport and have never had the luxury of being over on the "lot" side of the parade.  It's pretty cushy!  You have your own port-a-potty and everything!  Plus we didn't have to battle for road space with other parade attenders...I'm a fan!

It was good food, great beverages, and even greater company!  It really was a lot of fun to cut loose and get into the Mardi Gras spirit!

Some pics of our party, pre-parade:

Bri-ne and Jen-Jen

Adam and T, refusing to open his eyes

Me with T, still refusing to take a picture with his eyes open

Getting ready...

note the football in T's hand...these were his coveted possessions...all he cared about


Throw me somethin' mister!

Peyton got a stuffed dinosaur chef!

We got lots of beads...

lots and lots of beads...

yes, that's Thomas crying in the lower left hand corner...he was spent...

Laissez les bon temps roulez!