Happy New Year!

5, 4, 3, 2, 1...HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Some may be happy that the tough, challenging times of 2014 are over and are ready for a new start in 2015!  Some may be sad to see a wonderful year of great things end.  For me, the new year is bittersweet.  2014 brought many trials and tribulations as I feel every year does!  2014 also brought joy and love in to our family.  2014 was a great year for our family--our little man turned one and we watched him learn something new it seems every day!  We were blessed with family vacations to Lake Gaston, Colorado, West Virginia, and lots of weekend getaways!  Finding a new church home and being blessed beyond measures with a wonderful small group was something Craig and I had been searching for and we are so glad we found such a wonderful place.  We have really found some of our best friends in this group!  It's amazing how God works in our lives each and every day.  

A new year always allows for a new start no matter how good or bad the past year was! Starting fresh always feels so good!  So here's to 2015--I hope your 2015 is better than 2014 and I hope you make the best of everything that is thrown your way. 

2015 has been off to a great start for us!  We brought the new year in pajamas and with a wonderful group of friends and spent the day doing things we love: ice skating, relaxing, and a good meal at Reginella's! 

So here's to 2015! 

Cheers to 2014

It amazes me how quickly life passes and how tied up we can get in life.  I woke up this morning and thought about blogging our year in review because I knew it had been a while and I was going to attempt to start fresh again in 2015.  What I did not know was that my last post was in September 2013.  Fifteen months have come and gone since my last post and well, needless to say a lot has happened. The last school year I last blogged about has come and gone and a new one has begun! It would take me hours to catch you up on all of the events and fun happenings we have had in the last fifteen months--I promise not to waste your time! 

In 2014,

Liam enjoyed his very first snow. Don't let the picture fool you--he'd much rather watch it at the door then be out in it!

Liam started walking at 11 months and it didn't take him long to start running! He's been nonstop ever since!

Our little man turned 1!

We joined River Oak Church in Chesapeake and have met a group of wonderful friends who we now call family! 

We flew to Colorado with Craig's Parents to see his family!

We spent lots of time with family!

We visited Busch Gardens and Raleigh for lots of family fun since daddy was working out of town most of the summer!

I started my 5th year of teaching Kindergarten!

We traveled to West Virginia with my family!

Liam fell in love with hockey and a hockey game is never complete without a popcorn bucket hat!

Liam was a dinosaur for Halloween!

We celebrated our second christmas with our little man! 

We have had a wonderful year filled with tears, laughter, and joy!  We couldn't be more blessed with what God has provided for us this year!  We are thankful for a wonderful family and family and are so excited for 2015 and what God has in store for us! 

Happy New Year Everyone! 

Happy Fall Y'all!

Fall is here and I am loving the cooler weather.  I love spending time by the pool and at the beach but I really love fall too!  I guess I like a few things about each season.  Well, I haven't updated lately but it's been quite a busy past 4 weeks in the Carlton household.  Heading back to work, taking an online class at TCC, and weekend trips--I haven't had much time to sit down and blog!

I went back to work at the beginning of September and what a difficult transition.  Leaving your little one for the first time is never easy and I don't think it will ever get easy but you learn to roll with the punches.  And let me tell you...3:30 pm--I'm heading home for my baby!  It's nice to know he's in great hands and it's also a wonderful feeling coming home to such a cute smiling face.  School has been good though--I'm enjoying my kiddos this year and I guess I didn't forget how to teach!

Little man is 5 months old now.  He is eating solids and well--LOVES it!  He doesn't let us forget to feed him and he has def. not missed a meal yet!  He's a growing boy!  He is sitting up on his own and scoots around when he's laying down!  It's amazing how fast they grow up--I continue to ask myself where the time went.  He had a small cold last week so we took him to the doctor and he weighs about 16 lbs. 11 oz. as of now!  

We went on a mini 4 day weekend get away to Hilton Head with Craig's family and we had a good time.  It was so nice to see family from Germany and spend time with our god daughter.  Liam was not a huge fan of the beach but he LOVED the pool!  He was also a TROOPER for spending 8 hours in the car!  We had a great time!

Pool Time

What Day Is It?!?

It's HUMP day!  Yes, my family is obsessed with the "Hump Day" commercial.  I was awoken this morning by my father calling to recite the commercial to me!  I'm apart of quite a comical group of people!  I am probably different than most people because...well...I'm NOT excited that it's hump day!  This is my last week with my little munchkin and it's going by WAY too fast!  It's hard to believe that 4 1/2 months ago I felt like I had forever and I'm still not sure where the time went!  We have an AMAZING nanny that will be keeping him so I know he's in good hands but honestly--who wouldn't want to spend every day with this little one?

Okay--enough of the sappy stuff! We have a 4 Month Old!  We can't believe it!  I'm a little late with the post but our little one was 4 months old on August 7th!  Time sure is flying by but we're enjoying watching him grow and learn so much! We even have a little roller on our hands and a little one eating solids!!

We've been busy as we always are--I don't think there has been one post where we haven't been busy and have something on our plate.  Craig went on a Mission Trip to Ohio at the beginning of August to help build a church with a group of people from our church.  He really had a great time but Liam and I missed him terribly and couldn't wait until he got home!

We were able to take our first Family Vacation of Three and it was just a mini get away!  We went to the Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg with my family!  We really had a good time and Liam really enjoyed being with his cousin and being in the water--kicking his feet and smiling up a storm!

Craig also had his first car show here in Chesapeake and he really enjoying showing off his Mustang!  He even won a "Sponsorship Award"!  

Overall we have had a great summer and really enjoyed being able to spend so much time together!  Being BUSY isn't all that bad--it's normally FUN stuff that we're enjoying!  From road trips to all of Liam's firsts--we're a busy little family of three!  Especially when momma goes back to work--when will the laundry get done?!?!?  That we will all have to figure out! 

A Very "Special Day"

We had an exciting weekend in the Carlton Household!  My BFF tied the knot in Virginia Beach on Saturday and what a beautiful wedding it was!  She was such a gorgeous bride!  From the rehearsal dinner to the reception--everything was PERFECT!  I was so honored to be apart of her special day! It was great to see so many good friends!  Memories were made and lots of fun was had by all!  Here are a few pictures of the beautiful celebration!

Rehearsal Dinner Fun

Hubs and Myself

Beautiful Bride!

Sisters!

Beautiful!

Newlyweds First Dance

Dancing the night away!

Looooved seeing these beautiful ladies!

It was also my first time leaving Liam over night but we all made it!  Daddy made sure to keep me updated on all of their happenings while I was getting ready for my BFF's special day!  He did a great job with our little man and I was so excited to kiss Liam's chunky little cheeks when I got home! I'm so proud of Craig for doing it all on his own!

Since the fourth of July we have been able to relax a little and spend some family time at the pool!  Liam even got in the water for the FIRST time!  We had a blast and it was fun to see him kicking his feet and loving the pool! We're looking forward to many more weekends and fun times at the pool!

Liam's First Time At The Pool

Happy Birthday America!

Happy 4th of July!

Hello July

June has come and gone and July has arrived!  Wow, summer is already flying by!  July is an exciting month for us!  Liam turns 3 months old, my BFF is tying the knot, wonderful friends are coming to town, and we get to celebrate our 1st fourth of July with our little nugget!

Liam is quickly approaching 3 months and he is continuing to change every day.  Our poor little man has his first cold--congested and a terrible cough!  We're keeping close watch on him and saying many prayers to make sure his cough doesn't turn into anything serious!  Even though he doesn't feel well he is still in high spirits--talking, smiling, playing, and well---still eating all the time!

 Our little sick boy

My BFF is about to tie the knot in just 12 days!  I'm so excited for her and counting down until the party begins!  I'm so excited to be apart of her big day and am looking forward to seeing all my sorority sisters too--it sure will be a good time!

Bride to Be!

Fun Bridal Party?! I think so!

Sorority Sisterssssss!

Happy July, Y'all!