Christmas 2009

We had great plans for Christmas this year, but due to the nice blizzard accross the state they changed dramatically. We were going to spend Christmas Eve at home with my parents and grandma and then head to Dave's parent's house on Christmas Day. Well thanks to the impending blizzard warnings, we changed plans and heading to my parent's house on Tuesday (22nd) and then got snowed in until Saturday (26th) when we headed to Dave's parent's house for the night. Fortunately we were able to venture out to my aunt and uncle's house for a short Christmas Eve gathering, but left just in time before the road home was snowed in. Regardless of the change in plans, we had a wonderful Christmas. Audrey had fun playing with the grandparents and Dave and I had a wonderful "vacation" as Audrey wanted nothing to do with us when Grandma and Papa were around.

(ignore the date stamp on the pictures)

Sitting on Grandma's lap

Coloring with Papa

Carrying around Grandma's big jug of water

Sitting in my rocking chair from when I was little

Reading in an empty cabinet, her favorite spot and Grandma and Papa's

Audrey loves the Count from Sesame Street so she really loved the count doll we were able to find for her.

Santa Claus 2009

Audrey has been completely enamored by Santa this year. She can spot him from a mile away out the window as we are driving around town and his reindeer of course, which she just calls them his deer. So we thought this year would be extra special for her to go see Santa and tell him what she wants for Christmas. We decided to avoid the mall this year and went to see the Santa in town here that sits outside in what is best described as a shed by Nick's Hamburger Shop (very great place if you don't mind your hamburgers being cooked in an inch of grease). Well, we were wrong to say the least. I placed her on his knee and she just froze! She wouldn't even turn around to look at him. Poor Santa tried so hard, but she just sat there with this blank look on her face. Oh well, maybe next year.

Horsing Around with Daddy

One of Audrey's favorite things to do, besides reading, is horsing around with Dave. I was able to catch them a couple of times.

Hanging out in "the box"

Our Little Girl

I was taking some pictures after church one day and when I saw them couldn't believe how our baby now looks like a little girl. It's like she woke up one morning and aged a couple of years! It's amazing how fast they grow.

Audrey loves running all over. Just this week she started saying "set, go" (she forgets the ready part) and then proceeds to run from one side of the room to the other. She does this over and over. I wish I had half the energy she does! Here she is caught in the act.

Sommersaults!

Audrey has mastered the sommersault and I just happened to get one on video.

Little Miss Ladybug

Taking a break to eat some Halloween Candy


Bug on a window...

As you can tell from the title to this entry, Audrey was a ladybug this year for Halloween. I thought she looked super cute. We went and took pictures like we did last year and then took her to a few houses in the neighborhood for her first trick or treating experience. By the last house she finally said Trick or Treat and also thank you to the homeowner. Next year I'm sure it will be a blast for her. We then went back to the house to hand out candy to the rest of the kiddos. Audrey stayed in her costume all night and helped me answer the door. We had a lot of fun and can't wait till next year!

18 Month Pictures

A Day at the Apple Orchard

On Saturday, Audrey and I went to an Apple Festival with my friend Kirby and her daughter Dillyn. We didn't exactly know what to expect, but thought it would be something different to do. There were pony rides, farm animals, inflatables, hay rides and of course apple picking. The girls weren't too interested in the pony rides, but enjoyed looking at the ducks, chickens, donkeys and bunnies. Everyone agreed that the best part was the apples drizzled with caramel...yum!

Audrey chillin' with her apple.

Dillyn smilling for the camera.

Audrey and Dillyn

Go Bobcats!!

Last Friday was Brookings Homecoming and to celebrate, our daycare had a wear red and black day. I decided to get a little creative and paint Audrey a onesie and I think it turned out pretty good! I also added ribbons to the daily ponytail to mix it up a bit. It's amazing how that little creative mommy gene comes out once in a while. At daycare she also got a bobcat paw tatoo and red and black painted toenails.

Go Bobcats Go!! All she needs is a pom!

Outside Fun

It is absolutely gorgeous weather here this week, so we are taking full advantage because the snow will be flying soon I'm sure. Who'd have thought it would still be in the 80s in September!! Audrey had tons of fun playing outside tonight and I got some great pictures.

Trip To SA

This past week we were back "home" in San Antonio. Audrey had her one year surgery doctors appointment so we decided to make it a vacation of sorts. Since the last trip did not go very well, we decided to make this one as easy and appointment free as possible. It worked!! We were able to relax and enjoy our time catching up with family and friends. As we only had one doctors appointment and zero picture appointments this time as opposed to 3 doctor and 2 picture appointments like last time, we were able to spend most of the trip hanging out and "enjoying" the heat.

We took Audrey to the zoo while we were in town. Believe it or not, Dave and I never went there the whole 5 years we lived in San Antonio! We had a good time, minus the extreme heat and humidity in the air. We also enjoyed Don and Lori's pool. After the rain, the water was nice and refreshing. I do think Audrey's favorite part of the trip was playing with Dalon & Kristin's cats and chasing them around their house.

As for the doctors appointment, everything turned out great. Her surgeon said her head looks terrific! We'll be back when Audrey is 3 for another checkup. A great excuse to get down and see everyone again. Thankfully, next time will be during the winter up here!!

Helmet No More!

After one year, we are finally a helmetless family! When they first told us Audrey would have to wear a helmet for a year, it seemed like an extremely long time. But looking back on it, it actually went really fast. At 60 days to go, I made a countdown (more for me than Audrey). I also made one for her daycare so they could have fun with it as well. Every morning as we were getting ready for the day, we would pull one day down and Audrey would take the number and throw it in the garbage. Before we knew it, there was only 7 days left...one week! It was almost hard to believe that it was finally coming to an end.

So what do you do to celebrate getting rid of a helmet? Throw a Hair Accessory Party of course!! Many friends came over to celebrate with us and brought plenty of cute bows and ponies for Audrey to wear. She even got a case to put them all in!

So I'm sure you're wondering what we got Audrey for all her troubles this past year. Since we figured she'd get plenty of hair things from our friends, we decided to get her what every 17 month old needs...a new car!!! She loves to sit in it with all her stuffed animals and "drive" around.

House Pictures

We are finally settled in our new house and I had a chance to take some pictures for all of you who kept hounding me. An earlier blog entry has pictures of the outside, so these are just some of the rooms on the inside. We have not gotten the basement family room fully put together or Audrey's play room, so once those are complete I'll get those pics up.

The front door into the living room.

The living room looking into the dining room and the stairs up to the bedrooms.

Another look at the living room.

Dining room

Kitchen

Master Bedroom

Audrey's room. You may recognize it as we decorated it the same way it was in San Antonio. I figured we only got to enjoy it for 6 months in San Antonio and I really loved how it turned out. We even had a friend come help us install a chair rail!