2010 in Review

We had an amazing year. 2010 was a great year and we are SO thankful. God blessed us in SO many ways! This is our 2010 recap (with the rest of the updates on older posts!)....Santa 2010

LAST Christmas. We have come SO far!

From sitting up, to crawling to walking.

With lotsa love from our families

From Lots of naps, to two naps, to ONE!

New friendships with those we love! (Cousin Noah with E!)

Tons of time with all THREE Grandmas this year!

New toys and adventures

A whole lot of cuteness

New experiences (and remembering them!)

New places and lots of mommy & daddy time!

A FIRST birthday!

Healthy, happy and employed parents!

A bunch of fun in 2010!

We continue to be blessed and know that God has great things for us in 2011, too. Happy New Year!

Christmas Card

Fun Holiday Wishes Christmas

Make a statement with custom Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Shutterfly cards--MY FAV!

This post will be my opinion on Shutterfly's holiday cards. I have always loved Shutterfly because of their fair prices and great codes/deals on photos, cards, and photo gifts. I started an account for the 50 free prints, and was immediately hooked. In previous years, I have done a variety of holiday cards--including Shutterfly. I like the modern designs and the classic ones too. Click here to see some of their options this year!

The HARDEST part about Shutterfly is making a decision! Seriously! The shipping is fast and easy, the uploading is just as quick. Using their site is simple....its just DECIDING what to pick! I've made some amazing photo mugs for my parents. They were so beautiful they won't even drink out of them! The coffee mugs are just great.

In years past, I made a calendar for Jerret. He would get it as a gift and take it to work (to think of me all the time :) This year, I'm going to make one for our family so we can see how Ephraim has grown. Each year in 2011 will have a photo of him that month in 2010~ I thought it was clever! Here is a link http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars/

I do love Shutterfly's holiday card options, but there are great ones for Thank Yous and Birthday Cards, too!

For writing this post, Shutterfly is giving me 50 holiday photo cards. I know this gift for my review will go over great with the family and friends receiving the holiday cards!

Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving 2010

Everything in life is new. Rain is a weird concept. Its wet and coming from everywhere. People make you giggle, for no reason. Jumping (or as I call it "bummmppp") is entertaining ANYWHERE. My cousin, the big kid, teaches me how to play cops and robbers. I take Ham off the nearly ready Thanksgiving table and shove it in my mouth as fast as possible....mom catches me. This ham stuff that grandpa smoked is amazing. Green beans have a new look--in a casserole. I learn how to run in circles around the couch and Not fall down. I still don't like to sleep anywhere but my own bed. I stay up all night crying/fussing because I want to sleep in my bed. I sleep the whole car ride to grandmas. I taste this orange stuff....called pumpkin pie. I LIKE it. I get photos taken with my cousin. We could hardly sit still.

--Memories from Ephraim's Thanksgiving 2010

I am SOOOO Thankful for just SO many things. I am so thankful for my family, friends, church community and jobs. We have SO much when I look back to where we started. Jerret and I were both single, living in inexpensive apartments in Carbondale. We both had huge aspirations of being leaders in companies. Little did we know that God had different plans for us. Down a windy road and end up at today....we have a great little family. I'm just so thankful for Ephraim and the joy he brings me (nearly!) everyday. (Hey, he is approaching 2....he can't help it somedays!) Its so amazing to see the world in his eyes, to be unconditionally loved by him and to share and show that love to him, too.
This Thanksgiving I'm also thankful for HEALTH. For our families' health, safety and happiness, too. We have had a few medical scares, but God has provided healing. I'm so thankful for our jobs, our house and our church. We have clothes, cars, and money for food. While it seems we don't have "it all" sometimes, that is because we are comparing to unrealistic and selfish worldy views. In terms of MY life, MY family and MY God, we currently have it all....and, I'm thankful.

Three Ways to GIVE to Missions for the Batsons

Feeling especially GIVING this time of year? We hope you are! Jerret and I are raising funds for a Mexico mission trip that is QUICKLY approaching! Due to some amazing people, I have THREE awesome ways you can help support us!

Pampered Chef--all Julie's commission will go to our trip! SHOP NOW

Shop for Thirty-One gifts (bags, purses, storage and MORE!) 25% of ALL sales is going to our trip! SHOP NOW!

Live in St. Louis? Bring your kids or pets to Storytime with Santa! Click here for more details.

For those who have already helped us through prayers, financial donations and encouragement, we REALLY appreciate it! We hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

HURRY! The deals and money to missions won't last long!!
Love,
Jerret and Stephanie (& Eph)

Storytime with Santa

Storytime with Santa and Family Photos!

Parents and kids hate long lines at the mall. This year, make a change. Register TODAY for a 45 minute session with your kids and a small group of other kids and Santa.
No waiting, no stress, no over-priced photos, or cranky kids.

Rooftop's own Greg Herndon will be taking some of the photos! (Another photographer will be announced soon!)

It's Simple!

Who: You and your kids!
What: Storytime with Santa & Photos (on a CD)
When: Saturday, December 4 from 8am-Noon
Where: Rooftop Community Church, 6915 Weber Road, Affton, MO
Cost: $40 per family or $25 for one child
Full payment (non-refundable unless a replacement is found) is due by November 30!
Don't wait! Call today!

How it works:
Arrive at the church, checkin.
Get a quick photo for ID purposes (parents included).
Kids sit in a circle.
Santa arrives.
Santa reads a story.
Children/family names drawn for photos with Santa.
After families are done with photos, enjoy a quick snack (test the milk and cookies for Christmas Eve!) and off you go!

We will give additional details for pickup of your CD of Santa and
kid photos the day of the event.

Use the photos in your baby books, for holiday cards, and scrapbooks!

To register:
Email collinsbatson@gmail.com or call Stephanie at 314-882-1760

Halloween 2010--times FIVE

We celebrated Halloween FIVE times this year!
1. At Doisy
2. At Purina
3. At Daycare
4. Trunk or Treat at Church
5. Halloween Night!

We are tired, but had a blast!!!

My guy getting ready on Halloween night!

Trying to get this kiddo on camera is hard!

E with our neighbor friends

Chasing the puppy around the house Halloween night!

Trunk or Treat. J has C, a friend's baby from church!

Puppy on the move!

Trunk or Treat...Momma and E in the trunk!

Family photo at the trunk or treat!

E, the bat, at daycare! Eating a yummy cookie

E and daddy at Purina! Arf Arf!

E and daddy at Purina! Arf Arf!

Editing for momma at Doisy! E came to work with me one day!

Vampire momma with her little bat boy!

E is eating pretzels in mommy's messy office

Visit to T-town, October

We went home to do some business and daddy stayed home to study! He had lots of tests and homework to do....and, momma took the trip by herself to Tremont. It was rough trying to get the little guy to sleep in a new place, but it was fun with the fam!

Couldnt get enough of this "home" phone. We don't have one!

Ashley King cut Eph's hair at her new shop, A Touch of Style in East Peoria area!
(He is crying because he is ONE, not because of AshleY!)

Silly boy with Gram

Double Trouble!

Cousins!

messy time

Eckerts AGAIN!

I planned a family trip to Eckerts. SURE, we were all tired from the day, but we had a great time seeing the kiddos play, pick and be cute! See below! Pictured is: Grandpa Lummy, Grandma Rena, Grandma Alice, Grandpa Gordon, Cousin Noah, Uncle Bill, Cousins Marci and Avery, and lots of other people, animals and scarecrows!