SO MANY UPDATES...SO LITTLE TIME

All ready for church.


Handsome boy!


Beautiful girl!


Posing for Mama and Grandma.


After opening their 1st Christmas gift...Choo-Choo pajamas!!


Cool dude shades!


Cooking up something good!


Our tree on Christmas morning.


Ballerina girl and ballerina Abby!


Baylor and his new tractor from Grandma and Grandpa!


WOW! We were so blessed this Christmas. We all got so many gifts and spent so much time together, which was wonderful! Today was actually lonely because family time was done and Daddy went to work for the day (9-9) and we were left (me and kids) with a "mess" of all those blessings (toys, boxes, new things...). We did end up meeting with friends for a little shopping and lunch, so we weren't lonely all day. Now were are working to find places for all of our new things. The kids got so many neat and fun and useful things. Averie got a "personal" size trampoline (see videos below). Baylor got a petal driven John Deere Tractor with a trailer. I got a new beautiful pink coat and a black vest, I also got some jewelry picked out by Averie, it is a silver necklace with a small open heart connect to another smaller heart, she said it is her and Baylor. Daddy got shirts and a wallet and a travel mug with the kids pics on it and a gift card. Some of the misc. items the kids got, a Sit-n-Spin, tractor stuff, ballerina clothes, books, a puzzle...the list is longer than that, but we were so blessed to be able to have all of these things this year! And to be able to give a lot this year as well! HAPPY 2009!!!!

BOUNCING BOY!!

2008

BOUNCING GIRL

I will post the boy later...this took forever to load up!! ENJOY!

CHRISTMAS

Christmas 07


Christmas 06


Christmas 05


2008's to come soon!

CHRISTMAS FUN

Visiting Santa. The kids loved it and wanted to go back moments after we were done. They can't wait til next year to visit him again! It's kind of nice too, we've had the same Santa 3 years in a row now!


The finished sugar cookies! Decorated by Averie and Baylor!


The kids really enjoyed decorating the cookies with sprinkles and sugar and red hots!


Having painting time! Averie's beautiful abstract artwork.


Baylor's work of art.


They are so proud of their gingerbread choo-choo!


Outside time! We were out for about 15 minutes. Just walking around and getting some fresh, crisp air. Baylor was laughing so hard at the way Averie was brushing the snow off the little ledge. It just cracked him up!


Snow angel Averie!


WOW, Christmas is so close! I can't believe it. Everyone here is so excited and feeling so magical about the Holiday! Averie is just giddy with anticipation and Baylor just follows her lead! More photos to come, probably after the hustle and bustle of the week! Enjoy it everyone!!

Life According to Averie and Baylor

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

CHICAGO PICS

At dinner the night we got to Chicago...it was late for the kids, but they did great!


Averie and her favorite way to "ride" around the city! At least Matt's neck was warm!


The kids in the fitting room window at Macy's. I thought the view was neat and the pics turned out cute! Bright and sunny...but not warm!


Averie and her baby "Abby."


The kids at the hotel we stayed at, hanging out with the Christmas trees.


Wow! What a fun family time we had in Chicago! We were able to relax and keep the hustle and bustle of "regular" life at home. We rested, walked everywhere, shopped the Magnificent Mile and just spent time together as a family! The kids really enjoyed the Rain Forest Cafe, Disney Store (they've never been in our Disney Store), Macy's, American Girl and the few other restaurants we ate at. And mostly I kept up my healthy eating (I've been counting calories for the last month now). One splurge was the apple crisp Baylor had to have ;o) at California Pizza Kitchen. It was our last meal in Chicago and Matt would not share the brownie sundae he ordered with Averie...so we splurged! We definitely plan to go back when the weather is warmer and see some of the museums and the aquarium that is supposed to be amazing! We will also take the train and stay in a more luxurious hotel (meaning we would like a pool and a restaurant in the hotel). But all in all the location was great and we found our way without too much trouble! I even got to take a taxi about 5 minutes away to a baby shower for an old roommate (she is having a boy in February). We had so much fun and can't wait to have another family vacation soon!

DECORATING THE TREE

Here are the kids putting a few ornaments on the tree. They really enjoyed decorating the tree and house. We have a lot of updating to do here...

MISC. UPDATE

The family at Thanksgiving.


The kids enjoying their Thanksgiving Day desserts! COOKIES!!!



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The kids and their bowling balls!!


Baylor watching his ball roll down the alley. He got down on his knees every time.

My parents and I (it was their idea) took the kids bowling (for their first time!) the day after Thanksgiving. They (the kids) were a tad nervous at first (as they are most new places and environments) but they warmed up and went with the flow. It was so funny to watch Baylor run up their and get down on his knees to help "push" the ball down the alley each time. He managed to knock some pins down here and there. I also got to leave part way through the second game to do some shopping. It was so nice to take my time and enjoy shopping and my iced coffee (sugar free vanilla - from McDonalds. My weakness!) while the kids bowled and then my parents took them home for lunch and a nap! I found some shoes and odds and ends for the weekend in Chicago (that's this coming weekend...it should be FUN!!! I can't wait!!! More shopping!!!).

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Averie and Baylor "dressing up." Averie said, "I am a princess and Baylor is a ladybug." They dress up quite frequently these days. They are also into stickers and coloring, Little People, Choo-choo's and driving the fire truck and big truck around the house (ride on toys that we brought in for the winter). They are best buddies and I just love to watch them play together! I am so lucky!

SICK HERE

Well, Baylor came down with a bug Saturday...we were at Thanksgiving dinner up north and Baylor was acting very needy...he even requested a nap part way through the day!! Saturday and Sunday morning he woke up stinky (never does that) and vomited his juice Sunday am and several times yesterday. He finally has kept some bread and toast down today after getting sick twice this am after breakfast... I just hope it stays away from the rest of us because we are having Thanksgiving dinner here Thursday. It should be interesting... so much to do!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!



Averie's First Thanksgiving.



Baylor's First Thanksgiving.

HOT COCOA

The kids chugged down the hot cocoa the other day, they loved it! They also posed for some cute and silly pictures! Cocoa face and all! We are all getting so excited for the Holidays. It will be so much fun this year! I am already ready to get the decorations and tree up, even though if I do that I will be ready to take it down too early...so we will wait a little bit! We are getting excited for Thanksgiving as well and will be doing our turkey hands this week. It will be very fun and interesting to see their responses! I think the kids will enjoy it. I will definitely have some pictures from that later on this week. We also have a Birthday Party-Thanksgiving Dinner-Border Battle Party on Saturday. Yes it is all of those in one with Daddy's family next Saturday. It should be great! I still have to find out what I am responsible for making, but we are getting very in to the Holidays these days! And there is so much more to come in the next month or two! We can't wait!

PINK PRESCHOOL

Here is Averie painting with pink. We painted with pipe cleaners, cotton balls, q-tips, brushes and Popsicle sticks...to experiment of course! It was neat to see what kind of print each item made. Fun fun!

INDIAN SUMMER

Here we are at the park enjoying the 70 degree weather today!


Averie enjoying the "animals!"


Baylor on the elephant!


Weeeeeee


High on the hill!!

TRICK-OR-TREAT & CHOO CHOO

Two black cats!

Chowing on some candy! YUM!!

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CHOO CHOO

Averie and Baylor standing in front of the Blue Bird (or Thomas as Averie called it).



Two black cats peeking out the train window...



Averie was SOOOO excited to be riding on a train! We went with Shawna, Jayde and Jett to a little Halloween train ride. It was very fun and festive. They also had a corn maze, hay ride and other activities that we may do next year! So much fun!!

SILLY KIDS

Here are a few pics of the kids from the Birthday dinner for Grandpa Bill. The kids enjoyed themselves by looking at their silly faces.