Walk this way . . .

So, I'm going to call it . . . Hailey is officially walking! She's been doing "baby steps" and prancing around here and there but I'm going to go ahead and say, for sure, without a doubt - SHE'S WALKING!!! The video speaks for itself! (Warning: If you are watching this at work it DOES have music!!) :)

More of this, more of that . . .

My brave little bugs, running to the top, then sliding to the bottom, all by themselves. We are relishing the beautiful weather. After these pictures were taken Avery is now sliding down on her stomach, because she is so tiny she just whips uncontrollably down. When she is on her tummy, it slows her down a bit.





Could they be any sweeter? If I had been able to back up, you would see that all three of them were holding hands. Priceless!



I love my sisters,
oh yes I do,
I love my sisters,
this much is true .. . except when I am pushing, saying NO, or otherwise being a typical boy!!

A little of this, and a little of that . . .

Pete's first experience with hot chocolote (err . . .warm chocolate) on one of the few REALLY cold days we have down here. Avery's bed one morning. You might think "Why are is there newspaper in teeny tiny pieces all over the bed?" Well, Avery woke up during the night and Daddy thought it would be a good idea to give her the newspaper to read in bed, since she likes to read so much. This is what I found in the morning. Daddy's response was "I thought she would like the funnies . . . " Hailey's new found love . . . reading. I think I get a picture everyday of her cuddled up with some board book (still having a bit of trouble with those paper ones . . ) And finally, what could be better when you are two than your own personal bounce house in your garage? What could be better for a momma than for her two year olds to let off some steam when the weather was nasty, cold and wet for a week. I just pulled the bounce house into the garage and let them bounce away!!

Under the sea . . .

We went to the aquarium near our home mainly because we know our kids love animals (and partly because all our kids were free!)



We had a great time and adventure. They loved shouting, pointing and otherwise going crazy looking at all the animals. What were their favorites? I think the penguins and possiblly the sea horses! (Every time Avery sees or hears the word "horse" she says "Pete cry" which is a story from another time entirely!)





They had a little petting zoo with little starfish, sea urchins and hermit crabs. Guess who would touch it and guess who wouldn't???




Hailey also seemed to thoroughly enjoy herself also. She stared in great wonderment at all the animals zipping around her. I haven't seen her that quiet in some time . . .

Two weeks

Throughout Christmas, Pete had days off from work and then took off other days in order to have a full 14 days off. It was really awesome and we throughouly enjoyed being together as a family. On many days when we would be gettig the kids ready, he would turn to me and say "How do you do this by yourself?", which would totally make my day! On his first day back to work, it felt really wierd around our house. I had gotten used to having some help around here! This was so good for all of us. . .I think we are planning on doing it every Christmas break.





This was one of our trips to see the ducks in our neighborhood. I love the look on Avery's face as she is looking and thinking. So sweet, so cute, so smart, so wonderful!

New Years!

Pete and I actually got to go out to dinner together! We had a fabulous time at Stella Sola in the Heights. We could actually have a conversation and spent a few hours eating dinner!! What a concept!!

Thank you to Nana and Pa Pa for changing their plans to watch our kiddos! You don't know how much I appreciated it!

Christmas Day - afternoon

I was very excited to head to my parents house, because my sister and her boyfriend had been in town for days already and we hadn't been able to see them yet (again, reference to the lovely stomach bug!) They too, had been SO anxious to see the kiddos, since it had been a long time since their last visit! I was very happy to be able to get a really great pic of us all . . .and I made a point of making us do it!!

I think the kids really truly were on cloud nine over the past few days for the sheer fact that they got to see everyone that they love in a matter of days. I was so happy for them to be able to feel so loved from both sides of the family! To me, it made me be able to see the true meaning of Christmas!



My mom, of course, out did herself with dinner, decorating, and making sure that each of us felt special. My grandparents were able to also come for the celebration even though my grandpa hasn't been feeling too well lately! He seemed in good spirits though . . . I think it probably had something to do with those sweet little great grandkid faces yelling "GRAMPS!!!" and giving him big hugs.

Avery's new tea party set was a hit with EVERYONE! We all played together for the longest time!



A great gift from GG and Gramps!

Christmas morning

On Christmas morning the kids awoke to a tree full of presents and they seemed really excited. We started opening presents immediately, but you know at ages two and less than one, your tummy often has to be filled before everything is OK!

This was our first year to be in our own home on Christmas morning(when we lived in Dallas we were always running back nd forth between our families). It has always been very important to me that we have that tradition as a family and get to spend time together as a family. So I was uber-happy to atually be able to do that since alot of my other holiday plans had been quashed by the stomach bug!

Avery was really into opening presents and did it with alot of enthusiasm. Pete was more excited about the present, wanted to play with it, and then didn't understand why he had to open up another one! Hailey just wanted to eat the paper . . .which quickly increased our clean up time this year!

I wanted to start my mom's tradition of having cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning, but alas, I still was bit queasy, so that is a tradition that will just have to wait until next year! We very rarely had cinammon rolls growing up and this was such a fun thing that she did. In recent years, she has even been decorating the cinammon rolls in a tree formation!

All in all, we enjoyed spending time together and it was fun to get to watch the kiddos and their take on Christmas this year!

Avery with one of her favorite gifts . . .the Dora purse. She likes to put her keys and cell phone in there, prance around and say "hello!" "Boots! Helllloo!"


One of Pete's favorites . . .his perfect size football. His daddy is relly proud at how well he can throw and catch! We call him our little QB!


Yes, that is a HUGE yawn for our little baby . . .I know honey, it's way too early . . .please cue your brother in on that!


The tent! For some reason they seem to like the sheet that I drape over our dining room chairs better!! :)


One of the cutest things was this Black and Decker tool dress up/play set. What a hit! Pete refused to open anymore presents without his goggles firmly attached to his head!!





Mommy and her girls . . .. Do I still look little green around the gills?? :)

Christmas Eve

I kept singing in my head on Christmas is "All I want for Christmas is the stomach flu . . . " NOT!

Hailey and Avery had the stomach flu on Monday and then I came down with it Christmas Eve. I cried my self out all week because my plans of family get togethers, pictures with Santa, and our annual family cookie bake were out the window.

On Christmas Eve, I stayed home and recuperated while Pete took the kids to his family's celebration. Once again the morning was spent crying by me because I was so upset my little family was separated for such a special time. But I know that the kiddos were loved and taken care of by Pete's fam. Pete said the kids were fantastic and had a ball all day - so really I couldn't ask for anything more for them.

Luckily, I had all day to rest, so I was feeling better to be able to enjoy Christmas morning with the kids.


Hailey, Avalynn, Kylynn - very happy cousins!!



Aunt B taking care of Hailey



Grandma and Hailey



Grandpa chillin' with Pete



The five cousins that are 3 and under!! (Oh Pete . . .I have got to teach you how to take pics with my camera . . . any of my professional photo friends . . . don't judge him by this pic!! :)



Aunt Jamie and the baby of the family! (for now at least . . . )



Isn't there always that ONE present that everyone wants to play with!!!

The Twins Turn The Terrific (sometimes Terrible) Twos!

Where has the time flown? My sweet little miracles are now two, and truly, I can't believe it. Pete and I waited and wanted these babies for so long that every year on their birthday I am in awe of them . . . and all of their "perfectness"!




So we wanted to spend all day together as a family. We woke up to Daddy's famous french toast, which Avery and Pete LOVE! Lil Pete seriously eats more than I do!

We decided to go to a wildlife park near our home and what a hit! This "zoo" was really the coolest thing. I have never seen some of the animals we saw that close up. There were llamas, camels, rhinos, zebras, emus, ostriches, deer, kangaroos, donkeys, and the list just keeps going and going. The kiddos are so smart - they would see a new animal and just keep screaming out the name of that animal with utter fascination (and alittle bit of fear on Lil Pete's part!)

As we were first driving in Daddy Pete was so mesmerized with all the animals that come to meet your car. There are so many animals that it is difficult to drive! He rolled down all the windows and was feeding the animals out of his hand. All of the sudden he looked my direction and was laughing because this huge emu had stuck his head inside the car looking for a handout. Needless to say . . .I was not amused.


Then we rode a tram with a really knowledgeable zoo keeper. We learned all kinds of things about the animals (like not to feed the emus from your hand because they will bite it off . . .yes, the same emus that Pete was feeding earlier and yes, the same emu that stuck it's head into our car, inches from my head . ..needless to say, again, not amused.)


Avery, of course, was fearless. I think she wanted to jump out of the tram a couple of times and run after the animals. At one point, she was hanging over the side petting a camel (yes, they are OK to pet). She also got to ride a pony which she still talks about! She had the best smile on her face and was just radiant the whole time! I have the coolest pic of her riding the pony and giraffes walking around in the background!



Pete loved it too, but in his own special way! Most times, he wanted to be holding Mommy's hand and look at the animals from afar (in most of the pics of Pete, you can see my hand not too far off!) . No hanging over the side of the tram for him! He is such a smartie and was calling out the names of all types of animals as they would come up to the tram. Sorry, baby, but I have to include the picture of you screaming your head off because you ddin't want to ride the pony!




We finished off the day with brownie sundaes (which I think is going to be our new traditional birthday desert!) They LOVED it and scarfed it down! What a fun day for us all to celebrate the birth of our precious little ones!



Avery and Pete, always know how much we love you and how lucky you are to have so many people in your life that care for you! Yo are truly special, unique individuals that have so much to offer the world.