While Mom Was Napping

It was not unusual for me to wake up and wonder down to the basement and find pillow beds, blankets all over and of course more toys than any one family should own.

 As long as they made room for me and gave me a blanket I didn't even care!

 What can I say we are a family of couch potatoes!

 My sweet neglected family!

 What a cute kid! If only I had her metabolism, and immune system!  

Holy Sickness

Lucky for us, Dad was in town all week long!  Somehow I managed to get sick, and bring the girls down with me!  

Thank goodness for husbands is all I can say!  I wouldn't say that he nursed me back to health, that would be a stretch.  But he stayed in the basement and kept the girls happy while took many naps!

Luckily Avery didn't get Strep like me, she just had a cold that wouldn't go away. But still we were miserable together for many days!

  Addie joined us for a day or two but then she was ready to play and rejoin the living population.

Luckily we managed to drag ourselves out of bed for an enjoyable Thanksgiving dinner, but were ready for bed by dessert.  We managed to stay sick for an entire week! Longest week ever. I am so grateful for all Addie's help and willingness to take care of herself while I was dying. Husband was also really good at bringing Dinner home and letting me sleep! Now we are healthy and ready to celebrate Christmas!

It's Christmas!

This week has been an interesting on for us.  Addie finally caught on to the true meaning of Halloween candy.  She caught me snitching some of her candy and emphatically said "hey I'm the one that went Trick or Treating not Mom." Then on another day we stopped by her friends house to see if Camryn could play, they weren't home and Addie huffed "that is not very nice of them!" So to say the least these little Monsters are keeping my on my toes! (But if you ask Addie she is a kid not a monster, Avery doesn't even deny being a monster)

 Avery has been pushing the limits of just about everything.  We put her to bed and say if you get out of bed you will get a spanking.  But 2 this week we have found her asleep somewhere in the hall! So much for my empty threats!

 Friday the snow started and by Saturday morning we had a nice little blanket of snow.  Addie was so excited because it was Christmas time! Paul was even more excited that I had him put up the Christmas light before it snowed.

 It is true your eyes do not deceive you. Avery actually likes the snow this year, go figure!  I was counting on her hating it.  She seems to be polar opposite of Addie, and last year you would have thought I was physically harming the child by putting her in the snow! 

 Looks like things change!  Both the girls had a blast getting their daddy with snowballs! 

Never a dull moment with these 2 around.  If they aren't kicking and screaming at each other they actually get along.  When the stars are aligned it is actually quite nice!

Happy Ween!

For the corporate world they view unimportant holidays as major holidays and very important family holidays as just any other workday!  Thus our Dad missed out on one of our favorite Holidays!  

I am not completely selfish I would be willing to trade Corporate America President's Day or MLK Day to have Halloween count as a paid day off!

 That being said we managed to enjoy our Halloween!  Addie wanted to be Mavis from Hotel Transylvania, so we all decided to be nice vampires.

 It took a lot of spray to make Avery's hair black.  She was so excited to get black hair, I could get her to stop touching it!

 The mob of neighborhood kids came and kidnapped us! We hit the neighborhood running and went well in to darkness!

 I had to give up on trying to get Addie and Camryn to wait for Avery.  They were just to excited to slow down and Avery wanted to stop and eat the candy as she received it.

 Good thing Grandma came up!  Avery got to take a much needed break, my arms were able to regain feeling, and Addie was able to continue Trick or Treating with Tate and Lily!

I will give the little Vampire in Training come major props, she would walk up to the door and say Trick or Treat, Thank you, Happy Ween and then run off to catch up with the others.  Until her little legs got tired she was a good little trick or treater.  Addie on the other hand has become a pro.  She only needed me to carry her bag when it got to heavy!

Quick Get Away

After 14 hrs. in the car arriving at the coast was a welcoming site. We had the time and at the last minute decided to jump in the car and take a quick trip to Cannon Beach.

 Avery happily greeted her favorite seal!  Actually the only seal that she will even get near!  She was terrified of the Seals at the Seaside Aquarium while Addie couldn't get enough of them!

 After a fun day of chasing waves and digging holes those two liked to get in a few rounds of Just Dance 4.

 Why would I even think that Avery would love the beach, she is polar opposite of her sister! Avery was doing alright until a sneaker wave came up and totally got us. But still it was Paul and I who got soaked the girls were safe and sound high in our arms! Yet, after that Avery was very skeptical of the water, she like to keep her distance!

 The first 2 days were a bit hazy then rainy in the afternoons, but have no fear we managed to keep busy!

 After 2 fun filled days, Avery decided to stir things up a bit and have a bout of Croup that scared her parents half to death.  But after a ride in an ambulance, a couple hours in the ER, and a really long night, the sun decided to shine and give up 2 absolutely beautiful days.

 We managed to get out a bit and enjoy the sunshine, but not too long!  2/3 of the family needed a nap.  Addie managed to sleep thru the entire thing, she thought it was a dream.

 A little ice cream will make everything all better!  We managed to create several masterpieces!  The girls discovered the fun of watercolors.  They wanted to paint just like Abby's grandma!  

 We didn't dare take Avery out, but I couldn't resist a beautiful sunset! 

 The rest of the family enjoyed the sunset from the warmth of the house!  What can I say we were a little protective of Avery, and Addie didn't want to leave her Dad.  

 Let the Madagascar marathon begin!  

 Lots of movies, games, art work, dress up it was time to tell Mr. Bear Good-Bye.  

It was extremely fun and exhausting trip.  We are forever Thankful for the Parkers and their generosity and preparedness.  As Avery needed a humidifier and some cold medicine and then when Paul got a stomach bug, they had everything we needed form medicine to movies.  We were all able to relax and enjoy our quick get away to the coast.

P.S. If you are ever in Cannon Beach their EMTs are amazing, not even a dirty shoe mark to be found!

Family Picture

Wow we are a good looking family! 

As I looked and admired our last family portrait I realized that we were missing someone!

 How could we not include this cute little Monster!

 We are seriously blessed with 2 amazing girls! 

 Every time I look at Addie she seems to have grown another inch!  

 Addie and her best friend Ellie.  Addie informed me that Ellie was her dog, we were just taking care of her until Addie joined our family.

 I look at these beauties and if I didn't know that they came from my body I would have to wonder!  Are any of my traits dominant? I never ever have thought of myself as recessive! Good thing Paul and all my Dad's genes make cute kids!

Field Trip

Addie had her 1st field trip, thus Mom and Ave did too!

Addie's pre-school took a field trip to meet Smokey the Bear. 

 They learned all about the animals and plants in the forest, what happens when there is a fire and how Smokey the Bear came about!

 Lets just say they were skeptical about Smokey, Avery wanted nothing to do with him and didn't want to be near him!

The fire truck was by far the coolest part of the field trip!  All the kids loved getting to man the hose!  All in All I think it was a fun outing.