Highlights from THE PARTY!!

In a whirlwind of balloons, gift wrap, laughter, and cake, Logan celebrated his first birthday last Sunday. It was great fun! So many friends and family came out on a chilly January day just to show how much they love Logan! Thanks to all who were able to make it and though Logan will only remember this birthday through pictures, his father and I are grateful for all of the love and support shown to us throughout Logan's first year.

What a year it was!

Thanks again and bless you all!!

Waitin for cake!

Mimi and her decorations--so cute!

So, I am not the most crafty person in the world, mainly becuase it takes time to be crafty and well, when you work full time, have a proficiently walking one-year-old, and a crazy schedule, crafts and creativity usually take a back seat (hence the time between blogs). Anyhow, I was really wanting to do something meaningful for party favors for all of Logan's family and friends and was so excited to come across the BEST website that mixes two of my favs--photography and scrapbooking. The website is really for photographers, but she also posts photo gift ideas! That is where this idea came from...the site is fabulous and the cute magnets were a GRAND hit! Everyone loved them. Here are a few pictures below along with the webiste.

Photo Tips by Alexis Miller

http://phototips.alexismiller.com/

The theme of the day...

~my little man...stylin' in his jeans and new tennis shoes

Even though the balloons have all deflated and the cake has been eaten (it was so good!), Logan's 1st birthday party is one I will always remember. After all, some day we will get to show it to him via video and pictures and explain all about his beautiful ABC block cake, all the presents, and wonderful family and friends who gathered last Sunday to celebrate such a special little boy.

Below and above are some of the photos from the day...sorry they are out of order, but that is just how blogger uploads. Enjoy...

Logan's VERY special cake! It turned out exactly like the picture!!

Lovin' the little smasher cake!
He made such a mess, that I had to give him a bath in the middle of the party!
HA!!
SUGAR!!!

"Mom--are you sure I can do this?"

Hey...that looks like something I opened...

Thanks again to all who made time for us on this special occasion! We hope your new year is a special as our first year with Logan! Until next time...

S~

one

Fabulous First Birthday (pre-party with some family)

~this is really yummy!!!

~i want more!!! where did my cake go???

My sweet little miracle! One year ago today, you blessed our family with an answered prayer of so many.

I never knew I could love you so much. It seems like a dream...one that began a year ago today with a late phone call--"...water has broken and I am headed to the ER". That was enough for your dad and me to throw our bags (and yours) and a gazillion other things in the car and head north. I remember saying a prayer for you and for our travel before pulling out of the driveway--knowing that nothing would ever be the same. My, did word travel fast--before we could even get in cell phone range, we had a few "Well Wish and Good Luck" messages from various family members telling us to be safe and call us when we knew of your grand entrance.

Your grand entrance wasn't until 3:20 am...some 4 hours after that first phone call. Your dad drove white-knuckled through the blinding snow as we inched closer and closer to finally meeting YOU!! Sometime after 5 in the morning we plowed into St. Joseph Medical Center in South Bend and took a few deep breaths--one for making it there and one for the anticipation of the future finally unfolding before us...as we rounded the corner, bags in hand, there you were...in the nursery window getting ready for your first bath. There you were...in reaching distance...we had waited so long to finally find you and then, suddenly, you were there. So small, so sweet, so beautiful...

To say our life has changed would be putting it mildly...for you, my son, continue to brighten and bless each and every day we have together as a family. You bring sunshine to all my cloudy days. Your smile calms all our parenthood fears. Your laugh is contagious to all who are around. Your father and I can't remember what we did before there was you...Our sweet little miracle. Happy FIRST birthday~the best year of our lives!

Love~mommy and daddy

http://hoeneheaven.blogspot.com/2008/01/our-miracle-has-arrived.html

Last year's post...

It's here...

The clock has ticked passed midnight and it is officially Christmas--our first Christmas as a family of 3. Santa is on his way, we are sure (though it looks as if he has already landed). Is that the sound of reindeer on the roof?

At church tonight I was reminded once again about the real meaning of Christmas--Jesus came to Earth as a baby. He came as an innocent, little baby who grew into a busy toddler exploring the world He actually made. He grew into a little boy who loved to learn and listen to His Father. And finally, He became a man. The man who gave His life for me and for you. He died so that we could live--live life abundantly.

Our preacher, Bob, seems to be speaking directly to me in the many sermons of late, and so I feel compelled to write that while Chad and I feel so blessed and are so thankful for ALL God has given us, we know that we are not perfect and therefore, hesitate that we really deserve all of His blessings--we are not perfect people, we are not perfect partners, we are not perfect parents (by any means).

In fact, no one is perfect. Each and every one of us makes mistakes. We make mistakes, mess up, hurt feelings, and generally screw up royally--if you are like me, this happens more often than not. But what so many of us forget about (myself included) is that God loves us BECAUSE we are messed up. He chose us even though we didn't deserve it. He forgave us even though we continually screw up--royally. Did you get that? How in the world did I deserve such a sacrafice? Me? Someone who gets frustrated with random strangers in Wal-Mart on Christmas Eve. Someone who fusses at slow drivers on her way to work. Someone who harbors hurt feelings for those she knows she must face...

????

So...on this Christmas Eve (er..uh..Christmas Morning) my heart is so filled with the memories of this wonderful, crazy, fantastic, heartbreaking and blessed year and I dare to dream about what 2009 will bring us. One thing is for sure, it will bring more mess ups...and hopefully a softer heart for random strangers, slow drivers and those whose lives we drift in and out of...

There is only one perfect person in the whole entire world, and so many years ago, He came to Earth as a little baby boy, grew into a curious toddler, a smart young man and died so that I could live--so that we all could live...even in our imperfections...

Well...it is late. And this post has pushed me to droopy eyes and sugar plums dancing...

May you and your family know the

True meaning of Christmas and keep it in your hearts all year long, especially when you or someone you know has messed up royally...

S~

The Holidays are Here!!

And we are so excited! Besides fighting the stomach flu the last few days, The Hoene's are looking forward to our first Christmas as a family of 3. We can't wait to celebrate with all of our family in various places over the next few days. This slide show is of our first Christmas celebration at Aunt Barbara's house on Sat. We had a great time and Logan really cheesed it up with for the camera. Enjoy!!

More to come...
S~

So Thankful!!

There are so many pictures from our wonderful Thanksgiving's (PLURAL). We began at my Aunt Barbara's house on Sat. night, then my other aunt's (Aunt Anita and Uncle J) on Wednesday night. Finally, on the actual day the Hoene's hosted Thanksgiving for our family. We recently were able to finish our basement (thanks to my wonderful hubby, dad, and Uncle J) so our home was able to accomodate the whole crew. This year we have so much to be thankful for...of course Logan being at the top of that list. In fact, we asked some of our family to share what they were thankful for and here is what they said...I am Thankful for...
" Family, phone, health, school, pets, Holidays" ~Kaelyn H.

"God giving me a wonderful fiance, precious daughter, family and great friends. We are thankful for Ginger and Toby (the dogs), our health and our family's health." ~ Carrie Lea

"My family and friends and especially all my new little nephews and grandson. My wonderful wife for all of the caring love she gives me." ~ Corky

"Our ENTIRE family and the many blessings God has given us. Our son has completed our family in so many ways." ~Staci, Chad and Logan

Soon Logan will be turning a year old. It is so hard to believe the time has passed so quickly.

My little prince, when you one day look back on this make-shift baby book of the first year of your life, know without a doubt that each and every day, we thank God of blessing our lives with you...

~Mommy

We are WALKING!!

Yep...that's right! Logan has been taking steps for a few days now!! How did this happen? I vaguely remember him sitting up amidst his toys, perfectly happy, just sitting! Then, out of nowhere came the crawling--lightning fast, I might add. Mommy and daddy thought we were safe for a while since crawling seemed to come so naturally and he was so proficient at it. So much for mommy and daddy's thoughts on that one...

Logan will be 11 months old on Monday, December 1, and we can officially say he is walking!!!!!!!!

What a blessing!!

~Staci

Fun Fall Weekends...

I missed you Mommy and Daddy!! Look what I can do!

Learning to feed myself!

Cheap Gas!!!

Third Day concert at IU

Great Seats!!

We have been having a lot of fun around here on the weekends. Chad and I were able to get away this passed weekend just the two of us. We had a lot of fun, but missed our little guy so very much! Thanks to Mimi and Papa for babysitting. You are THE BEST!! Here are a few pictures from our weekend.

Working on Holiday Photos. Make sure to check out my webpage. I am going to post some examples on a blog as well.

The blog will be titled "Images by Staci" of course!

Keep Checking Back!

S~