Ten Months!

I was hoping to get some better pics but realized he was going to be 11 months by the time I posted them! So these will have to do (for me anyway;)!  

The babe is ten months! And he is busy, busy, busy boy! Crawling, pulling up, blabbing, exploring- he's full of fun and surprises! We never know what he's going to find, do, or go next!   

Peek-a-boo is one of his favorite new games, crouching down when we say "Where's Blaise??" and popping up for us when we excitedly say "There he is!!" He's starting to stand on his own now too-for a few seconds at a time-but plops down instead of taking steps to come to us.  

Snoozing in the car-this is what I try to avoid every day! We usually stick pretty close to home to prevent sleeping in the car-he doesn't transfer well inside and the nap gets short changed. He *usually* take two 1 1/2 hr long naps a day-him and I both value this time! (And occasionally we get to share in one together;) 

"Ohhh!" he loves to say.  Playing for balloons for the first time-so exciting! He also has been saying "wow" and "what" a lot. 

Sunday afternoon nap

He likes to bang on the toilet like a drum. I try to prevent this, but sometimes it's fun to let him have some fun. I mean look at that smile! Pretty hard to resist...

The guitar is his other favorite "toy"! Daddy lets him play with it too. He's only spit up inside it once! ;)

Ava pushing Blaise at the Zoo

"Ohh a lizard!"

One of our routine stops at the gardens-ringing the bells!

B&B

The piano at g'mas-another favorite!  

Blaise & Friends

Lots of little ones-Blaise-Meredith-Parker-Graham-Austin-William-Nora!

Babies and the Mommas! 

Blaise & William

Blaise's first friend birthday party! Noelle turned two! Katherine is also his little play mate...

Blaise and his bud Graham 

Blaise laughing it up with little Ava from downstairs

Lily & Blaise in the nursing room at church-these two don't hold still! And we are learning that the room is not baby proof...Blaise managed to knock over a lamp and a room divider! Nice. This was taken on Mother's Day-Lily's baptism day!

Blaise & Brenna

Old Friends, New Babies!

Before ... (taken in July)

and after!  (taken in November) 

I would have posted a pic of us from high school and college, but I don't have a scanner :) . Meghan's little Hailey Colleen was born in early September just a few weeks after Lyndsay's Ellie Grace. 

After a visit from Meghan (who lives in Maryland) in April, Caroline came into town! Caroline is a good friend from High School and is currently living in Alabama where she and her husband serve with RUF.  They welcomed baby #2, Adie, in December, joining big sister Eliza! 

Adorable Chase and Eliza warmed up to each other quite nicely! It was so good to see old friends, but it does make me wish they lived closer! It makes me appreciate more the times we do have together. (Caroline, I stole your title:) 

Playing at the Park!

The Spring weather has been absolutely gorgeous! Here are some pics from a recent Sunday afternoon/evening picnic at the park with some friends from church.

Noelle

Baby Abraham saying hello!

Cate & Gigi

Alisa & Brenna 

Blaise chatting with Miss Abby 

Texas Sheet Cake

We had this on Mother's Day. This cake is so not good for you, but it’s so delicious! It’s a Drissell family classic and my dad’s favorite birthday dessert. (As long as it’s served with ice cream of course!)

Texas Sheet Cake

Ingredients for Cake:

1 cup butter

1 cup water (I sometimes use 1 cup coffee)

1/4 cup cocoa

2 cups sugar

2 cups flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup sour cream or ½ cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Frosting

1/2 cup butter

4 tablespoons cocoa

4 tablespoons buttermilk

1 box (1 pound) confectioners' sugar, sifted (4 1/4 cups sifted)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 bag milk chocolate heath chips

Directions:

Cake: Combine butter, water, and cocoa in saucepan over medium heat; heat until butter melts. Add sugar, flour, salt, eggs, soda, sour cream, and vanilla; mix well. Pour into a 15x10x1-inch jelly roll pan. Bake at 325° for 30 minutes. Make icing five minutes before cake is finished.

Icing: Five minutes before cake is done, combine butter, cocoa, and milk in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Spread over the HOT sheet cake then sprinkle with milk chocolate heath chips. (M&M’s look fun & festive too-along with the heath chips of course! :)