So You Think You Can Dance

Avery has caught the dance fever!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We've had a busy week. Last Saturday we drove to Comanche to visit Daniel's grandmother (Gigi) along with Uncle Cody, Aunt Amy, and Baby Sage. Then we spent one night in Crawford with Nanna, Grandpa, and Uncle Jacob. After that Papi and Grammy flew into Dallas from Miami, and Uncle Jason drove up from Austin. We had a great time and I guess I was so busy relaxing and letting the grandparents do all the work that I was a slacker with the picture taking. But here's one of Gigi with all of her great-grandkids. Avery loved Thanksgiving this year because she is becoming quite the eater! It's funny because now Aidan (of all people!!) is becoming the kid that plays with his food and whines about having to eat anything that's not french fries or ice cream.

Baylor Visit

On Tuesday we stopped by Waco to meet my good friends Leslie and Jen and their kiddos Jack, Theo, and Corinne at Baylor! Aidan, Jack, and Corinne became fast friends and loved running around on campus. And Avery and Theo had fun being stroller-bound together. After lunch we went to the bear pit but the bear was sleeping so we did a little shopping and then walked around some more. The kids were wiped out but they had a blast and so did I! Thanks for meeting us Leslie & Auntie Jen!!

Potty Training Update

OK, so if you're wondering how things are going on the potty training front, here's the scoop: it's not going at all. Aidan will sometimes sit on the potty if we ask him to, but has no interest in tee-teeing there. He pretty much goes where he pleases, and really doesn't seem "aware" of things. So if nothing else, we'll concentrate on it in the spring when he's closer to 3 (I keep hearing that's the normal age for boys to finally get with the program). Aidan has, however, learned to take his diaper off and today he emerged from naptime with it on his head, and wearing his shirt like a toga. He's HILARIOUS (eye-roll).

A picture of Daddy

This is Aidan's first real picture that's not just scribbles, and it's a portrait of Daddy! The things on the sides are the ears, and the vertical lines are, of course, the legs. I'm so proud of my little artist!

Under the Weather

Avery has felt a little puny the last couple of days (feverish, sleepy, cranky, and snotty) and it turns out she has her first ear infection. I think she began to feel better today after some medicine and a long nap. She and I stayed home today while the boys went to Waco for the Baylor game against A&M (which we WON!!!!!!). Here's a picture of her snuggling with Daddy, and one of her getting into some trouble when I wasn't looking.

Sliding

OK, I think I've figured out how to post videos, if I go through YouTube. Daniel went hunting with my dad, grandfather, and brother this past weekend. I stayed home with the kids and luckily the weather was nice enough that we got to venture outside a few times. Here's one of the kids sliding.

Two Little Indians

Another Mom's Club activity...we are staying busy lately!

Trick or Treat

Here are some pictures my friend Lindsay sent me from Halloween. Aidan and Brooke were so happy to see each other again! Brooke was a monkey and so were her little brother and sister. We trick-or-treated up and down our block and then let the kids play while we passed out candy at home. Thanks Lindsay!

Halloween: To Be Continued

We trick-or-treated with our friends the Jacobuses who were visiting from College Station. My pics weren't that great so I'm waiting to see how Lindsay's turned out :) But here's a picture of the pumpkin I carved. This was going to be a family project, but after a long day of cranky kids on Wednesday, I left Daniel in charge of the kids and retreated to our bathroom where I carved it in peace :)

Baylor Homecoming

This past weekend we went to Waco for Baylor Homecoming. We went with the Brooks family to the parade on Saturday morning, and the kids loved it. Then all nine of us managed to get in the same Chevy Yukon, and off we went to the football game. The kids all sported green spray-painted hair (James' green mohawk was the best!), and the big kids and I wore bear claw face tattoos in support of the Bears. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough because they lost :(

Trunk or Treat

Here are some pics from our Mom's Club trunk or treat this morning! We loved seeing our friends' costumes, including two super heroes, another Minnie Mouse, and even the Energizer Bunny! We're trick-or-treating with our friends the Jacobuses tonight, then heading to Waco for Baylor Homecoming!

Pumpkin Painting

We had a pumpkin painting party this morning with our Mom's Club. Unfortunately both of my kids kind of woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. Aidan skipped his nap yesterday and all he did this morning was whine about having a snack, even though he'd just had a huge breakfast. Avery was just not in the mood to be there at all...I think she's still fussy from the shots she got yesterday at the doctor. Aidan eventually sat and worked on his pumpkin (after he got his snack), but by this point Avery had had enough. Luckily she's sleeping now. It's going to be one of those days, I guess!

Tipping the Scales

Avery Kate had her 1-year appointment yesterday and weighed in at 18 lbs. 5 oz. (10th percentile) and 29 1/4" (50th percentile). So she has a couple more pounds to go before she can face forward in the car. She's doing great with table foods and is now done with formula. But I guess she's starting to slim down by becoming more mobile. She can walk a little bit if we hold on to her hand but is just not interested in trying to walk without help!

Back-to-Back Fall Festivals

This Saturday night our neighborhood had a fall festival. We got to debut the kids' Halloween costumes - Mickey and Minnie Mouse! My mom made them again this year and they are a big hit! Aidan loved the bounce house and seeing his friends, especially Snow White Kaelyn, Fireman Jack, and Cousin Bunny Sage! Then tonight we had another fall festival up at our church. It's a little hard to keep all the kids' accessories on them (mouse ears, shoes, gloves), but they look fantastic!

Pebbles

Saturday mornings are usually "Daddy & Kids" time while I sleep late. When I got up this morning, the three of them were getting back from going out to breakfast and then running errands like they usually do. Only today Avery had a new "Pebbles Flinstone" hairdo, and was wearing her Christmas onesie from last year which I'd put away in her "outgrown clothes" drawer (NEWBORN SIZE...a little snug!). I made a note to myself to lay out Avery's Saturday morning clothes the night before from now on. But I have to say I thought the 'do was genius, and very stylish! Go Daniel!

Tagged

I've been tagged by Leslie in a blogger game. I was supposed to go to the 6th folder of pictures on my computer and post the 14th picture from that folder. Oddly enough, it's one of my all-time favorites of Aidan! In fact, this very picture is on my mouse pad. He was almost a year old and this was his first bluebonnet photo shoot.

OK "Auntie Jen", Leslie and I agreed that it's your turn to be tagged! Pick the 6th album in your photos and post the 14th picture.

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the Dallas Arboretum on Monday to see their pumpkin patch. They have "Mommy & Me" every Monday with crafts, a petting zoo, face painting, etc. Aidan loved the hay maze and the big pumpkin house. A friend of mine was there to take 1-year portraits of Avery, and some of both kids, which I'll post later. Luckily Grammy was there to help wrangle both kids!

Avery's Birthday Party

We had a low-key birthday party at home with cake, presents, and balloons today. Avery's family (Mommy, Daddy, Aidan, Grammy, Papi, Great-Pa, Gamma, Grandpa, Nanna, Cookie, Gigi, Uncle Cody, Aunt Amy, Aunt Lindsay, Uncle Jacob, and Cousin Sage) was there to help her celebrate! She started out very dainty eating her cake but then she really got into it :)