Avery

Avery is 20 months! It is amazing how much the second child learns so quickly. Avery can say her ABC's, count to 15, and talks in complete sentences. She already has great manners and says thank you and your welcome at the appropriate times. She loves being around people and loves to play with her big sister! I know that Alexandra gets annoyed sometimes but Avery mimicks everything Alexandra does from playing to talking. She is very very curious and gets into EVERYTHING! We are currently working on a toddler curriculum which she really enjoys! At bedtime, she loves to take the books and read to me before she goes to bed. She is good at telling me all about the pictures. Avery had a span where she was very interested in potty training. She has experienced pooing and peeing in the potty several times. We bought her pull ups and she wore those for a day or two and all the interest of potty training has disappeared. She still goes in the potty twice a day. I am proud that she has showed interest so early but I am letting her take control of the potty training. She is so sweet and has the same personality as her big sister! Can you imagine Alexandra times 2? My goodness what a blessing it is to be their mommy!













My sweet porcelain doll! Precious moments













Avery watching daddy and sissy ice skate.













Silly girl.



















Avery loves to dress herself!

Alexandra

Alexandra has been telling us for a couple of weeks that she would like to get her ears pierced. Toby and I just said "yes" and kept going about our business. We didn't really know where this came from and thought it would disappear. It didn't disappear and she actually kept getting more and more excited about it! Toby and I would tell her all about what was involved with getting your ears pierced! She said "okay I am ready"! Sunday afternoon we went to Claire's to get her ears pierced. She did so well sitting in the chair eating a sucker and sitting very still while they marked her ears. Toby and I were glad that there were two ladies piercing her ears simultaneously. As soon as the piercing guns came out, Alexandra became very uncomfortable and lunged for me. The ladies suggested for her to sit in my lap. She sat in my lap still not feeling comfortable about the situation. Finally, the piercing was over. She did cry a bit but then was all smiles when we celebrated with some Braum's ice cream! I can't believe she has her ears pierced, she is growing up way to fast.

Ice Skating

We got the cousins together to go ice skating. We had a wonderful time taking the girls ice skating for the first time! We tried to go during the holidays but it was way too crowded so we waited until everyone was back in school. The girls talked about it all day. Once we got there and got the ice skates on they closed the ice rink to reice it. So the girls had to wait about 10 minutes before they could get on the ice. They were hesitate about getting on but once they touched the ice they were all smiles the entire time. It was a joy to watch them walk the wall and then finally getting enough confidence to skate in the middle of the ice rink. Avery of course, is to young to go ice skating so we had fun taking pictures and walking around the mall.

Kaitlyn, Madelyn, and Alexandra waiting patiently to ice skate.

The family on the ice!

Alexandra with her daddy

Holly, Joel, Madelyn, Toby, and Alexandra

Sweet Avery

Alexandra with no hands!

You did it!!

Happy New Year 2010

Toby and I hosted a New Year's Party for family and friends to ring in the New Year! The kids pretty much entertained themselves so the adults got to play some fun games! All the kids except the babies made it to midnight. They got to ring in the New Year with a glass of sparkling white grape juice! The adults well we rang in the New Year with Sparkling Champagne! Happy New Year, 2010!!!!! The New Year's Resolutions are the same lose weight and eat better. Hmmmm....maybe we should come up with some new ones. We'll see.

dog pile

A White Christmas

It was great waking up to a White Christmas! Once we opened presents and had breakfast we decided to go outside and play in the snow. It got more exciting when our neighbors came outside and played with us!

Avery walking in the snow.












Avery lovin the snow!













Alexandra throwing a snowball at the camera.

Alexandra chasing a remote control car with Tucker's sword.













Tucker and Alexandra with Tucker's swords(they have another name).

The spirit of Giving

This year Toby decided we were going to bake some cookies and take them to our local police department. He suggested taking them to the police officers on night shift. He said people give them goodies during the holiday season but the night shift guys get stuck with nothing or very little. Alexandra was so excited!!! We baked the cookies and Toby took her to the police statioin in Rockwall to give them their goodies. Two Rockwall officers came out to take the cookies. They had these stuffed animals with fleece blankets to give her. She was so excited they could hardly understand what she was saying to them. Then they asked her is she had a sister or brother, of couse, she said sister and they gave her one to give Avery, too! She told them the cookies were for them and the could eat them now if they wanted. It was great to see her face! Next year, we plan on giving to the police officers and letting Alexandra chose an angel from a tree to give to as well. It is time to show her what the holiday season is all about.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight......

The girls had a wonderful time making cookies for Santa! I am sure Santa had a wonderful time eating them!! The girls woke up early Christmas morning and ran down stairs anxiously to see what Santa left them. It was priceless to be behind the camera to see their reaction and I am so glad I captured it. They were squealing and screaming in disbelief. It did not take long for them to get caught up in their new toys. It is so nice to spend Christmas morning home with the family. I remember those special times growing up and am so glad I can carry on the tradition with my family! Merry Christmas to all!

Eggnog and cookies for Santa!

The girls reaction to what Santa left them.....priceless.

The girls checking out their dollhouse.

Avery hugging her Bitty baby from sissy.

I love Alexandra's reaction to her cutting food...

sweet lovins.........

Avery on her police rocker!

Christmas Eve at Nana and Papa's

Next stop Nana and Papa's! It is so fast and furious when we get there that is is always hard to take pictures and watch the girls open presents. They both enjoyed the gifts they recevied from Nana and Papa. Avery's first gift she opened was a shopping cart. It was all over then. She forgot about all of her other presents and concentrated on her shopping cart. She pushed the cart around Nana and Papa's house collecting things to put into the cart. We enjoyed watching what she chose to put in the cart! Alexandra was excited and surprised every time she openend a gift. Then we all dug into our stockings! What a wonderful with family.




















Alexandra with her tea set for her dolls.


















Avery and her shopping cart with her cabbage patch doll.

Christmas Eve 2009

This year at my grandparents house Santa Clause made another appearance! He came to give the first gifts for Christmas. The girls were excited to see him as usual. Avery was a little hesitant she didn't know what to think about him up close and personal but enjoyed him from a distance. The first gift for the girls this year was a monkey, cat, and puppy that roll around and laugh. It was hilarious to watch all of the animals at one time! After Santa left, we ate dinner and opened more presents given by the family. What a blessing it is to spend time with family and celebrate Jesus's birthday.




















Alexandra thanking Santa for his special gift.















Avery holding onto mommy!













Nana and Avery












Girls enjoying dinner.

Avery enjoying Elmo!

Alexandra excited about her Tag book!

Christmas with The Wootens

We meet with The Wootens to celebrate Christmas. All the girls enjoyed their gifts and had a great time playing together. The adults also enjoyed their time together and loved that the girls played some by theirselves!!

Alexandra showing me her play-dog kitchen set.

Joslyn helping Avery open up her home cleaning set.

Joslyn opening up her Little People Airplane.

Christmas Slumber Party

During the Christmas break we had the cousins over for a sleep over. The girls had a wonderful time! I had several activities to keep them busy. We ate pizza, decorated cookies, made reindeer food, watched a movie, drank hot chocolate, and looked at Chrismas lights! Needless to say, the girls had no problem going to sleep. I can't wait until the next one!















Hot chocolate and cookie eating time!












Making reindeer food. They are stirring the ingredients together.













Avery playing with play-doh.












I was impressed with Alexandra's ballerina she made out of play-doh.