4 years ago today...

December 30, 2005

4 years ago today, I got married to my very best friend, Matthew James Ivester. What a beautiful and amazing day December 30, 2005 was. All of our closest friends and family joined us and celebrated with us on that amazing day. I was so excited and absoutely enjoyed every second of that day. 4 years ago today, my life changed greatly. I have no doubt that God designed Matthew and I for each other, and joining together in marriage with him was one of the greatest decisions of my life. We both have changed so much in four years. We have grown together, made important decisions together, had a sweet baby girl together, etc.
Who would have thought that 4 years ago today I would be sharing the role of a parent with Matthew.

What a great four years these have been, Matty. I look forward to MANY more years with you. Thank you for taking such good care of me (and Cadence). Thank you for loving me how I need to be loved. thank you for understanding me-even when I don't understand myself. Thank you for always being there for me and supporting me. Thank you for providing for me and Cadence. Thank you for being so silly and for loving my silliness. Thank you for making me laugh. Thank you for leading me and our household as we follow Jesus and His plan for our family. Thank you for teaching me so much about myself (the good and the bad). Thank you for being SO SO SO selfless. Thank you for accepting me-the good, bad and ugly. ;) Thank you for speaking truth to me. Thank you for being slow to anger. Thank you for being you-at all times. Thank you for having such a tender heart and gentle spirit. Thank you for loving Jesus before me and for putting Him first. Thank you for being my best friend. Thank you for asking me to marry you. Thank you for marrying me 4 years ago today.

I love you all there is and all there ever will be,

Ab

I love the Christmas Season!

Our family (Ruckers and Ivesters) LOVE traditions. Christmas is definitely filled with lots of our fun traditions. Here are some pics from the season so far (there are more traditions to come in the following weeks).

Decorating mom and dad's tree (we missed Ruck, Andrea and Brie)

Andrea and her gingerbread house

Me and my gingerbread house

Downtown Gville with the Ivesters

Infront of our tree downtown

With Kaitlyn

Bebe, Aunt Kaya, Poppy and Cady

Seeing Santa Claus after Ft. Inn carriage rides

Sesame Street Live (not a tradition, but it was super fun)

Hollywild with Christi and Evan

Christmas cookie baking/decorating with the Ivesters

With all of these fun traditions, I pray that I NEVER forget the REAL meaning of Christmas. Thank you, Jesus, for coming to this sinful world to save me. I am undeserving and I love you! Happy Birthday!

A Happy Thanksgiving!

We alternate each year on Thanksgiving between the Ivester's and the Rucker's. This year we had lunch with the Ivester's. Matt decided he wanted to fry a turkey. It was quite a funny, flame-filled experience, but it was the best turkey I have ever eaten. Good job, Matty! We had a great, relaxing, fun day. We went that evening to my parent's house to see them for a little bit and celebrate. Here are some pics from our Thanksgiving.

Us with Ash and Kaitlyn

Matt putting the turkey in

A few flames

Just in case

Mmm the finished product!

Such a fun Halloween!!

This was Cady's second Halloween (last yr she was 3 days old and didn't trick or treat, so this yr was her first time trick or treating). She dressed as a ladybug (cutest ladybug ever, by the way). :) We met with some of our neighbors and went around the neighborhood. Matt drove us and some neighbors in the golfcart and that was super fun. After trick or treating, we went to one of our neighbor's and hung out in the driveway/garage. We all brough appetizers and this particular neighbor provided chicken bog. It was super yummy! We put the kiddies to bed around 8ish and we all had our monitors and hung out until about 11. It was a great night. Here are a few pictures of our sweet Cadybug, ladybug.

Daddy and Cady picking out some candy at a house

Our family

Mimi took this of Cadence when they came to visit her. She was looking out the front door.

Sweet bug

Love her.

Cadence's 1st Birthday!!

Cadence had a great first birthday. From the moment she woke up until the time she went to sleep, she was CELEBRATED!!!! :) I am BIG into birthdays and I have always enjoyed making them special. I am thankful to my parents who raised me to love birthdays and who always made me feel extra special on that special day. To this day they still make it extra special. And Matt has definitely taken on the role as birthday planner for my bdays. He goes out of his way to celebrate me. He makes me chocolate chip pancakes in the morning and makes me feel special throughout the day. I've always said I wanted to do the same for my children and we did, indeed for Cadence.

We started out her birthday by cuddling in the bed (one of mommy's favorite past times). Matt brought her to me before he left for work and we sang "Happy Birthday" to her and cuddled her. After he left for work, we went downstairs and I made her pancakes. I have never made pancakes (that is Matt's specialty) so they were a tad ugly. They tasted super good though. We spent the morning playing with all of her goodies from her birthday party. We played dolls, had a tea party, etc. After Cady's nap, Mimi came over and drove us to the zoo to meet Matt. Mark also came and dropped Aubrie off for the afternoon. We had a picnic lunch and then spent the afternoon at the zoo. Cadence LOVED it and so did Brie. They were precious. Cadence was born at 12:25 pm so at that exact time we sang to her and gave her the minute birthday kiss.

The zoo was great (and exhausting...it's the most I've walked since surgery and it didn't feel that great. BUT I wasn't going to let it ruin her bday). Mimi dropped us back at home and we both rested for awhile. When Matt got home from work we made sugar cookies and put frosting on them and let Cadence get a little messy again. She loved it!! Then we gave her a birthday card from us and let her open one last present (a pink play-laptop). She was real pumped. After that, we went outside to swing her (one of her favorite presents from BeBe and Poppy). We played outside for a long time. While we were playing outside BeBe and Aunt Kaitlyn came and brought us supper. Later, Poppy showed up and we had a great supper. After supper we watched her BIRTHday video (no worries-nothing gross on there haha) and celebrated her yet again. We ended the night by singing "Happy Birthday" yet again to her. You can never sing that enough!!! After the fam left Matt and I gave her a bath, read to her and said our prayers. I can't believe our little girl is one. It sure was a great day and I definitely think she'll grow to love birthdays like her mommy!! :)

My One year old first thing in the morning

Happy Birthday!

Cady and her Birthday Pancakes

At this exact time a year ago she was born. This is her minute bday pic

Posing at the zoo


Daddy and Cadence looking at one of the many animals


Mommy and Cadence and the Orangutans

Cousin Aubrie and the Birthday girl


Daddy, Cady and Mommy

Leaving the zoo on daddy's shoulders

Eating her cookie with icing

Loving her swing!

Posing with BeBe

Happy 1st Birthday, Sweet Cadence Grace!!!

Today is my sweet little girl's 1st Birthday! I cannot believe it has been a year since she entered our lives. What a blessing she is!! Here are some pics in review of this past year.

Our Sweet Family

The day she was born

One month old

Two months old

Three months old

Four months old

Five months old

Six months old

Seven months old

Eight months old

Nine months old

Ten months old

Eleven months old

Twelve months old

Cadence Grace Ivester,

You are such an amazing blessing to my life (and your daddy's). You are such a fun, sweet girl. Your laugh is so contagious. I love when you crinkle your nose when you get really tickled. I love how you love. I love how you snuggle. I love how you say "Tickle Tickle" and "Touchdown" (with the hand motions). I love how you lay your head on my chest when I tell you to love on me. I love how you are so active. I love how you dance and sing. I love every inch of you and every little thing about you. I can't wait to see you grow and to see how our relationship grows. I pray we will be best friends like I am with your Mimi. I pray that you grow to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and that you will follow Him all of the days of your life. I pray for your future husband...that he will be such a man of God and that he will lead you and love me like your daddy leads and loves me. You are such a special little girl, Cadence and I am beyond thankful for you.

I love you,

Mommy