Hometown Visit

I know...it's been like 2 weeks since I've posted anything. Are yall so tired of seeing that Sunday Nap post? Sorry, Avery and I just got back recently from a wonderful visit to my home town, Tyler. It was a week long trip, full of things to blog about...but I won't bore you with all the details from the trip...just the highlights. Oh and know that the "highlights" are all memorable things but it doesn't mean they are all positive! By the way, David didn't get to go with us this time because of the academy...but that's why Avery and I were able to stay and visit for so long.

Avery's Highlights (chronicalogical order)....sorry my spell check is not working for some reason:

• Surprise birthday party for Pa Pa
• Fun w/ Shane and Evan
• Cousin Ryan and rides on his John Deere Gator
• 
• G-ma's here!!! (great grandma)
• Grandma's birthday cake...yummm....(and while no one was looking, shoveling in Ryan's piece of cake too!

• Sunday school...didn't want to go at first....but started having a BLAST once they started singing!
• Shrimp and onion rings at Clear Springs
• No nap...when there was playing outside to be done w/Sushi (our cat)
• Shopping and Ci Ci's with Grandma and G-ma
• Lexie!!
• Eating soap at Lexie's that looked like candy
• The park
• Lexie for the second day!!
• Mazzio's with Angela and Lisa
• Coming home to see Daddy

My Highlights:

• 5 hour drive with 2 year old
• Locking my keys in my car in Palestine (Fire dept. came out to "rescue me" (how embarassing))!
• Night spent at Cherie's house....and sweet baby Luke
• Pedicure with Mom
• Movie with Dad
• G-ma's here! (Four generations...well five counting Avery's baby..Lovie)

• Dave, Tara, Ryan and my new nephew, Rhett
• The three cousins

• My best friend, Kelli
• Avery spitting out bubbles from the soap that she ate
• Defeating and mastering "Toy Pop" w/ Kelli
• Mazzio's w/ Angela and Lisa
• Six hour drive home w/ 2 year old due to being stopped at an out of control brush fire and then a train a few minutes later....not fun!
• Coming home to my husband
• As a whole...bonding even more with my precious baby girl

Sunday Nap

Now, tell me who...WHO can resist a good ol' Sunday afternoon nap? It's a given in our family. A true must. And they are legendary!

Cadet Ellis

I'm so proud of my husband, Cadet Ellis. He has made it through half of his six month training at San Antonio Fire Training Academy. Just three more months till graduation (then you can be a real fireman again... doing real fireman stuff)! He has 40 guys in his class (actually 2 are girls) and has made a lot of friends, but has to be with these guys 5 days a week all day. They do intense physical training, lecture class which involves studying and tests and of course do "fire fighter training". I think we are both ready for him to go back to shift work...24 on, 48 off. Working every 3 days is not that bad. I haven't posted many pics of Cadet Ellis since we've lived here, but I've been meaning too. I guess there are just too many posts to create about Avery!

Saying bye-bye to Avery before heading out... must have been one of the mornings that we were all up before 7:00!

He didn't want me too, but I just had to get a shot of these massive boots that they have to wear daily as part of their uniform.

Heading out the door, with backpack on & lunch and running shoes in hand.

Going out, to bring home the bacon. Thanks, Babe! Graduation is right around the corner... March 19th. All are welcome to come ...announcements and invites will be sent out. Mark your calendars!

SAHM - The Secret Playground

About a month ago, while Avery and I were out strolling we came upon a facsinating discovery! First we heard the sound of birds (birds in a cage) and followed the tweets. We walked right into the Secret Playground. It had been there all along and we didn't realize how close it was. How fun it is now,for a 2 year old, to walk over to the Secret Playground on such a pretty day!

You can see the bird cage that lead us to the discovery, in the background in the second pic.

Simply The Best

I forgot that I had this sweet little pic... It's the last of all the Christmas pics that I'll post, but to me it is the best one. This is simply the best gift that was "opened" this Christmas!

OK, here is more evidence of a Smart Tot. Early this morning, Avery had my hair bands and she said that she was going to make an eight.... she made two of them....

HA! Don't worry, she not ALL brains...she is a silly girl too!

Add More Firsts

Gotta add a couple more "firsts of many" to come. While David was gone this weekend at his last deerlease run for the season, Avery and I went to her first movie! We went to see the Bee Movie, which was way, WAY over her head...but she sat through the entire previews and movie. She even had some energy to dance with the music during the credits at the end. She was amazed at how dark it got when the movie started and how bright and sunny it was when we left. She loved the "big TV" and of course the popcorn....she even brought her candy necklace to eat on.

Who can go to the movies without getting popcorn???

I know that we all think that our own child is the smartest, cutest and most talented, but I just have to brag about Avery's first real drawing. We went to Bennigan's last night for supper and Avery had a paper with a tree already on it. She said she wanted to draw her and Grandpa in the woods. Thinking that she was going to scribble something, David and I were both shocked to see her draw exactly what she wanted and saying what each detail was... "this is the eyes, this is the nose,... mouth, hair, legs and feet". Grandpa, can you guess which one is you?

First of Many...

The new year has brought a few firsts for little Avery already. Firsts of many of course. This is Avery's first kitchen for some great cooking! A kitchen is what she would tell Santa that she wanted him to bring her. Why is it with kids...and all of us....when we get a new "toy" we play with it all day for days, but about a week later it's not so exciting anymore? Every once in a while she gets in a mood and cooks up a storm!

Oops just realized that her eyes are closed here, but I did get a shot of her wearing her oven mit.

Avery's first necklace....it's small, it's not mine, and it's made of candy! I remember having a candy necklace that I loved when I was little. But unlike Avery, I was kind of a hoarder with all candy (halloween, christmas)....my brother can testify to this. Guess I didn't comprehend that after I ate all my candy...I could, you know, possibly get more! So, my candy necklace lasted for years......... don't think Avery's will last very long at all.

Hopefully this next "first" won't be of too many.... First busted lip! Avery slipped off the chair while playing with her new playdough and hit her mouth on the chair. I'm just thankful it wasn't a broken tooth (like your little boy, MK!) ( I know....it doesn't even compare with Arkansas teeth!)

Hey, but check out those sweet "beaver teeth".....that's what Avery called them after studying herself in the mirror this morning. It cracked me up!

And the Most Favorite Christmas Toy goes to............... her tricycle that she got on her birthday in April!! What? That thing is a huge hit now! Because, it is one of the firsts of many. A couple days ago she actually rode it (by pedaling, not scooting) by herself.

Does she not look like the cutest, tiniest, most precious thing here?!

May this new year bring your all of our little ones lots and lots of only wonderful firsts of many! Happy 2008!