Church Halloween Party

For our church carnival Caleb and Madilyn dressed up as scripture people.

Caleb chose to be Captain Moroni and carried the "Title of Liberty" along with his sword.

Madilyn chose to be Mary, Jesus' mother. Actually, she really wanted to be Jesus but Mary seemed a better fit.

Train Pictures

Our "spring" family pictures. I have been talking Mark into taking pictures about 4 times a year. (And believe me, it's gruesome!) Photography is a hobby of mine that I would like to practice and improve on, but it's hard making my family my models when they cringe at the sight of a camera. Yes, I know I can be very "in your face" when I am learning new settings or have a particular project in mind, but they'll get over it. One day Mark and our children will love looking through the thousands of pics I have taken (right?).

Allison was so kind as to help me this time with my new camera. This was our first "photo shoot" with the camera and many of the pictures turned out blurry or too bright or the wind was blowing our hair, etc. Next purchase on my list: Photoshop! Trial and error...

Lukie Bear

Luke started eating baby food at about 5 months. We are sleep deprived and were hoping he would sleep longer at night with a full tummy. Some nights he still wakes up, but for the most part he is getting better. This picture is so funny because he did not like the green beans at first taste.

I think he looks like a little angel baby here!

He loves playing on our bed when we get him dressed.

Cutie pie!

Madilyn Singing about Fairy Tales

Madilyn Singing about Fairy Tales

(Please forgive the sideways view!!!)

Madilyn LOVES to sing and makes up her own songs all day long. This one was about fairy tales, but not all of it were actual words. Sometimes she fills in blanks with random hums or sounds if she can't think of words fast enough. We joke that she is from the East or from England because of the way she talks, "He-yuh= here, Ha-yuh= hair," etc. She is a mama's girl and loves putting on "mate-up", sticker earings, changing clothes 10 times a day, brushing her teeth, playing "shopping", you name it! She "ordanizes" everything and loves to "tu-luh"=color. Madilyn is a cutie pie and Mark and I love speaking her language, as you can tell.

Luke Laughing

Luke is now 4 1/2 months old. He is 14 lb. 11 oz. He laughs at almost anything, especially Caleb and Madilyn. Caleb usually tries to pick him up like the lion cub on Lion King and says, "You're the King of the world!" Madilyn rubs his head and cheeks and talks to him like a little mommy. She calls him "Lute" or "Lutie Bear". Luke is quick to notice when Daddy comes home because he gets serious and starts focusing on where his voice is coming from. Then, he makes eye contact and smiles so big! 4 months is such a joy. (That's when I am finally starting to function again!) I'll be even better when he starts sleeping through the night. We love our little guy.

The Beginning of 2010...

Madilyn & Caleb standing in the window frame

while new windows were installed at

Grandma and Grandpa's house...

Madilyn climbs into Luke's bed almost every morning.

If he's crying, she puts his binky in. If he's talking,

she talks baby talk back to him. Then, she climbs out and tries to wake

"mama bear" from her deep slumber saying, "Mommy, Lute is awate! Dit UP!"

and she starts listing all the things that could be wrong with him,

"He has a dirty diaper...he's hungry...he wants you..."

Thing 1, Thing 2, and Thing 3

(We need to get some shirts made for them to wear!)

Caleb fishing at Chocolate Bayou

Lukie Bear and Mama

Doesn't he have the biggest eyes and cutest lips!

Luke in the hospital

Luke had Jaundice in the hospital and spent most of his time

under bilirubin lights in the nursery. We went to visit him

during the day. His chubby little cheeks and lips were so cute

as he laid on his side.

A proud big sister! Madilyn cried when

she left with Grandma without Luke and Mommy.

Big brother Caleb! He was excited to take

this picture to preschool to show everyone

his new baby brother.

Luke Edward Empey

Luke was born November 10, 2009 at 1:43 a.m. He was 7# 2 oz. and 19 1/2 inches long. He had a head full of hair and olive skin. Everything went smoothly and he came quickly. He entered the world with the cutest cry, "Whaaa" with a very dramatic lips! I tried to take pics of him crying while Mark held him, but I was shaking so much they mostly came out blurry.

Here's our 3rd little aggie--one day old.

Holding our little 7 pounder...he's so tiny!

Mark holding Luke while he cries his first cries..."Whaaa"

Preschool

Caleb proudly started Preschool this fall. He loves his teacher, Mrs. Stephanie, and classmates. Madilyn "plays" school the whole time Caleb is gone.

Madilyn turns 3

Madilyn had the ultimate princess cake with ALL the princesses. She loves pink, of course, but also loves blue, so her cake was pink & blue. We had Mark's family over to celebrate. Madilyn does not like to be the center of attention, so she hid her face during the birthday song. (The Empey's sing loud- haha)