O Christmas Tree

We found our pretty green tree! Thanks Home Depot!

Christmas Eve... the poor tree was brittle and dead.

Just in case...

I was last minute getting our cards out so here it is:

We took our pictures at Orange Circle where there are tons of cute vintage shops and a really big Christmas tree. Our friends Josh and Kristen took them for us, thanks guys!

Merry Christmas...

Michael, Pierson and I were asked to be in the live nativity for this huge community creche. We only had to do it for an hour and I must say it was a pretty awkward hour. FIrst I look hecka cute right? Second, the stools they gave us were weird heights and you couldn't get comfy on them. Third, people asked the same questions all night (is that a real baby? Is he just laying there? Is that your baby?) And fourth, so many people (who we did not know) took our pictures.

BUt I do have to say that the community creche was really cool. People from all over the community brought their different nativity sets and they were all displayed at our church building. There was live music that was really impressive. It was a great activity to focus on the reason for the season :)

2! (I'm holding back the tears...)

Oh man. I seriously never thought that my baby girl would ever turn 2. I remember talking to Lacey about Chase turning 2 when I was holding Avery as a newborn and thinking that she would always be my little baby, but alas, 2 she is in every sense of the word. She is a whopping 27 lbs and 33 in tall, making it into the 50th percentile for both.


If I had to describe Avery in one word it would be pure girl (I guess that is two). She loves all things pink and all things pretty. She loves having pretties in her hair and always has, putting on mommy's pretties, and wearing pink (it seriously has to be in EVERY outfit she wears). She loves babies and is so good at taking care of them and her new baby brother who she LOVES. She is kind and compassionate. I think she is going to be great at making friends with everyone and making sure everyone can find a friend in her. She is concerned with other's well being. When playing she will get in the other kids face and say "fun? fun?" to make sure they are having fun or when Pierson criess she will tell me and then go to him and pat him and say "its okay baby, its okay Pierses". She is "well composed" as her doctor put it. She is so so so incredibly good for other people and will go with the flow (unless it's mom's flow and mom really needs her to go with it, then its melt down). Today her nursery leader told me just how cute she thought Avery was and how sweet she is to everyone. This girl can seriously capture anyone's heart.

For her birthday her cousins sent her a princess jewelry game. Avery put on every piece except for the 4 pairs of earrings... her ears are only big enough for one. We also got her the play kitchen behind her. I have enjoyed many yummy meals since :)

We started off Avery's birthday party with making Christmas tree party hats and then went straight to dinner. Homemade individual pizzas to top, pasta salad, jello jigglers, and clementines (Ave's favorite). The kids played around the block as everyone ate.

Then we brought out the birthday cake! Super artistic, right ;)

Avery was really excited about the birthday cake. She had kind of been out of it until the cake and presents came into play.

I have to give myself some props for this cake because I cooked it using only one pan (other one is in the freezer full of lasagna) and it took FOREVER oh and I started at 10:30 at night... not the smartest idea ever.

Avery got a lot of fun presents at her party, but her favorite is her new bitty baby, Katie, from Grandma and Grandpa Adams. It has taken the place of Abby, former fave baby doll. Sorry Abby, but Katie is the new and improved version of baby doll.

We ended the night with a pinata! Avery was really excited about the pinata and its not really a party without it!

We had a fun birthday and it reminded us of how lucky we are to live where we do. There aren't many pluses to apartment living, but here it is so nice because all of Avery's friends share the same front lawn. We literally walk out of our house and have tons of fun things to do and people to play with. I really love it here!

Here is Ave's Happy BIrthday video. Watch her blow out the candles... it's my favorite part.

Did I mention how much I LOVE this little girl?

Thanksgiving Turkeys

We went Michael's Aunt Marcia's house for Thanksgiving. She only lives about 45 minutes northeast (?) of us. She is the sweetest lady and has such a fun family. I forgot my camera (of course) but Aunt Marcia was nice enough to take picturse of us when Santa (yes, Santa on Thanksgiving) visited. She even bought Avery and Pierson the cutest little pj's. It was a great Thanksgiving!
Avery did really well on Santa's lap (she was even the first one). She held it all together until Mike walked up to get her and she had a strained smile... I guess she could only hold the fear in for so long, but she did smile for this picture. Right after she broke down. Sweet girl.

Here is little P and Santa and me. I told him I wanted a new sewing machine and to go to Utah... maybe I'll get one of those :)

By the time the we got home the kids had had it. No naps (yikes!) and a short snooze on our way home did not put kids in happy moods, especially when we tell an almost 2 year old she has to go to bed. I love Michael's face.

Pierson was HUNGRY. Why do mom and dad always take pictures when he's sleepy and/or hungry? What turkeys!

Eye Candy...

Morning smiles!

Avery is such a good mommy to her baby named Abby. She LOVES Abby.

What a shot! No idea what she is doing but I got it on camera :)

Oh man I love this crazy little girl.

I think this was his 7 week birthday. He is such a good baby.

Sweet smiles!

Avery loves to hold Pierson and everytime she asks me to take a picture... silly.

Avery put on my sunglasses to "weed" her thank you note from Alexis...

8 weeks old!

He better love his mommy because his mommy loves him!

Pierson :)

I tried to posted this video a while ago and before I actually published it I got sidetracked and Mike shut down the computer so I think this is Pierson at 8 weeks. Enjoy!