Halloween Pics (Outfit 2)

Livie-Bug the Lady-Bug!

This was the outfit Livia actually wore on Halloween to go Visit-Treating. We are so blessed to have so many family and friends close-by, that it would be silly if not selfish to just take Liv door-to-door to do the typical trick-or-treating. And it's not like she didn't get plenty of candy from all our visits!

So our first visit was to her Uncle Michael. He had to work on Halloween, but I like to think that we made the day a little bit fun for him  :o)

 

And Livia LOVED the Fire Trucks!

She's so lucky to have her Uncle Michael!

 

Livia got to be in...

And on the Fire Truck!

 

So then it was on to see...

 

Aunt Laura!

Liv and I both received treats from my sweet sister. Livia got candy & Laura's homemade pumpkin bread, and I got the jewelry I ordered from her just over a week before! Laura is now an official Premier Jewelry dealer, and I attended her first party was the previous Thursday. I just love the pieces I bought!

Our next stop took us to Anne & Jack Powless' house. We saw not only Anne & Jack... but Heather, Terry, Lexi, & Zane... and Warren, Jamie, Olivia, & Lincoln!

 

 Lexi, Olivia, Zane, & Lincoln

If it's not cool enough that Livie & Olivia share a very similar name, they also shared a cute little lady-bug theme for Halloween this year! (Note:  Jamie and I did NOT plan this! What can I say? Great minds think alike in so many ways!) We've dubbed the girls "O" (for Olivia) and "No O" (for Livia) when they're around each other. Luckily, the similarity of their names hasn't seemed to confuse them thus far.

 

Pictured above: Liv, Olivia, & Lincoln

Below: O- and No O- sharing a sweet kiss

 

And Liv decided that Lincoln shouldn't be left out

 

Then it was off to Livia's Grandma Trilby & Papa Bill's

 

Livia just loves her grandparents -- and Sugar

Livia keeps not only friends & family in her nighttime prayers, but animals as well. This particular moment, Sugar was outside due to all the excitement in the room! Laughter & squealing definitely rowls Sugar up.

After our visit with Livie's grandparents, we headed out to the middle of no-where. Our first stop out there was to Uncle Don & Aunt Bonnie's

 

Can't you tell how much she loves them?!

And as our good luck would have it...

 

3 Blind Mice were there as well! (ie: The Rat Pack)

 

Liv really enjoyed counting all her candy for Meg

Then it was off to my parents, where I got this wonderful picture:

 

And this one:

As much as she loves her Papaw and Nana, it was starting to get very late. So we made it a pretty quick stop.

And we made just 2 more quick stops for the night -- Livia's Aunt Kendra & Uncle Matt's, and my good friends Kellee & Marcus. I didn't really get any good pictures from Kellee's, but I did get some great ones of Liv's cousins:

 Maggie the Pirate

And Wolverine-Man, Nolan

 

Are they not the cutest?!

And Liv just adores Maggie...

 

As do I...!

So, that's our Halloween for this year! We had such a wonderful time, and I pray that I'll always be able to take Livia Visit-Treating -- she still got to say "Twick-owr-Tweet!" plenty  :o)

Much love and God's Blessings to everyone!

Friends Like None Others...

Have you ever had a friend who nearly made you speechless? I do. I've sat here forever staring at the blinking cursor upon the screen, because words just can't seem to express how I feel right now...!

Let me just start by saying that I am SO blessed to have such wonderful friends & family. I'm even more blessed that my friends & family also have little ones that Livia will get to grow up with. And though I can't say I love some more than others (even if that were the case, I still couldn't say that!), I will say that some certainly amaze me and maybe even know me better than others.

My friend Jamie is definitely one of these people... First though, let me tell you a little bit about her.

I've known her literally my whole life, and our Moms are best friends.

Jamie & her Mom, Anne, holding little Olivia a few months ago.

Jamie's originally from here, but has lived in some neat places like California & Ohio. I was tickled pink when I found out that she was moving back to this area, though! She & her husband moved back here a few months before having their daughter, Olivia. I'm sure that Olivia & my Livie-bug will be wonderful friends as well someday!

Jamie's story isn't all sunshine & roses though... Jamie's husband, Warren, is in the Army, and he recently went back into active duty, as he feels that it is his true calling... My friend will obviously be moving soon :'(

Warren has a townhouse set up for them to move into down at Fort Campbell where he's stationed (about an hour & a half away). But next month, he'll be deployed to Afghanistan... His unit is already there, and plans are that they'll be back by December before Christmas.

Jamie is so optimistic and happy about everything. I'm so amazed & proud of her! And to add to her happiness, this sweet couple is expecting another baby! I was almost speechless with joy when she told me her wonderful news last week. They see it as a true blessing - with Warren being in the service, Olivia will have someone very close to grow up with.

So why does Jamie amaze me?

Well, Jamie absolutely has a heart of gold. In the midst of all the craziness in her life she still thinks of others so much. After she found out about Laura Belle's engagement, I told her that I eventually wanted to get Livia a little dress from Lid'l Dolly's for her to wear to the wedding.

Well, Jamie's Mom was on vacation in Tennessee last week, and you'll never guess what Jamie had her do...

She got Livia these adorable dresses from Lid'd Dolly's...!

(Back view)

And the colors of the one of the left are exactly what Laura Belle has in mind for her wedding! Livia won't actually be in the wedding - she'll only be two. But aren't these dresses both perfect choices for her Auntie's wedding?!

I can't get over how sweet it was of Jamie to do something so wonderful & sweet for me (and Liv). She is truly a blessing in my life, and I only hope that I can bring half as much happiness & love into her life as she's brought into mine.

She's truly a friend like none other.

Livia's 1st Birthday Party (Continued)

Maggie-Boo and Livia getting ready to eat

Livia LOVED the balloons - by far the best 'gift' I got her!


See her hair sticking out everywhere? From the static electricity from the balloons, of coarse.

Big grins & a big balloon!

We even managed to get a snapshot of our little family. (A very rare thing!)

We just love that little girl SO much!

One more of the 3 of us

And here's Livia's BEAUTIFUL cake! Made by Sandy's Cakes and Candies here in Evansville - I would recommend them in a heartbeat for any event. Absolutely delicious! And stinkin addicting too... I've polished off almost all the leftovers myself!

Here's me & Liv and her sweet little polka dot cake

And look!

She even got a personal little bitty cake all for herself - they did that for free! I'm so glad K~ gave me their contact info. She's used them for many of her kiddo's b-day parties, and I know I've always loved the cake!

Livia couldn't wait to try her cake

She was so sweet at first - just barely poking at it, and gently nibbling little bits of the icing.

She didn't even want to get her fingers in it here; she's just taking a bit right from the cake itself!

A BIG bite!

Oh, she loves it!

Still pretty clean for having full access to a whole little cake right in front of her.
.
Then Mr. Michael started making her grin and giggle from across the table.

More big grins!

She is SUCH a happy baby - and her birthday was such a happy time for all of us

Oh, Liv just loved her little cake!

She gave it patty-cakes it was so good!

WOW - big bite, kiddo!

In the end, she did a pretty good job of getting icing almost everywhere.

And she was so happy that it was totally worth it. Hey, look at those little tooth-ers!

So why's Mr. Michael cracking up & grinnin like a monkey?

Everyone really close to Livia knows that she has some really cute tricks - like putting her hands up to her head when she hears, "Oh, my goodness!" And that's exactly what Michael said to her while she was eating cake!

And this is what happened...

Hands right up to her head... and therefore icing too!

Everyone thought it was an absolute riot - Livie included!

Yeah, Livie - Oh My GOODNESS!

Well, it definitely made for some really cute pics, huh?

That's right, Laura Belle! I'd be cringing too - he's such a rascal that he just might do it!

My Mom managed to snap just a couple of pictures of me opening the gifts Livia received - see Maggie-Boo in the background 'helpin!'? You can barely see the top of her head & her cute little hairbow. That's one of the things Livia actually got from Maggie & her Mamma - some SUPER cute little hairbows! I love how K~ always has an adorable bow in Maggie's hair. I hope I can make Livie look as cute as Maggie always does :o)

I shouldn't have a problem with that right now, though - Livia got SO many wonderful presents - the cutest little clothes & outfits, and something I'm so grateful for - books! We just love books around here. Liv takes absolutely no interest whatsoever in the television, so books and fun little games are our go-to's during the day. Matt & K~ and my Aunt Dana & Uncle Darrel got Liv some REALLY cute, fun toys as well. What a blessing!

I'm so thankful for everyone who was able to be a part of this VERY special day! It's a day I will cherish forever :o)