A Day at the Mall

The last week of the year I was on vacation, but Charlie wasn't. So me and Avery hung out all week. I got a good taste of what it would be like to be a stay at home mom: WONDERFUL! Her nap schedule was WAY off and we ended up waiting for daddy to come home every night (at 11pm!) from work. This meant sleeping late and 5pm naps. I actually enjoyed it very much! We also shopped till we dropped most days. I was loaded down with returns, exchanges and gift cards from Christmas, so we were out and about every day. I loved every minute with my lil sweetie. I don't think I could survive a trip to the mall without the carousel, riding toys and the cookie shop! When I can tell a meltdown is on it's way, I simply say "I guess it's time for us to go home. Unless you want to be a good girl so you can _____(insert fun thing here)." It worked like a charm all week! Bribery at it's best. ;)

Tea Parties

You may remember Avery's first tea party - here. These days, we're having tea parties of a calmer sort. You know? The kind with little stuffed animals and baby dolls and tiny porcelain cups and a hostess in Tinkerbell PJ's. Those kind! Avery got two tea sets for Christmas and puts both of them to use at least once a day. She is becoming quite the hostess!

Wordless Wednesday

Helping Poppa

When Poppa is busy at work, he can always count on a little helper to be at his side!

The Pink Kitchen

After looking for a while online one day, I decided on Avery's 'big' gift - a pink kitchen. She absolutely LOVES it! I started trying to put it together the night before we left, after she went to bed. I am NOT very nice after about 9pm, since I wake up before 5am every day, so you can imagine how much fun I was having at 11pm trying to get this together by myself! Charlie finally came home from work and I handed him the instructions and went to bed. After 2 hours I was on step 3 of 22! And that was working nonstop, as fast as possible.

2 hours later... step 3 of 22!

Charlie tackled it the next evening and finished at 2am. I was in Vidalia on Christmas Eve and woke up to a text from Charlie that said "Merry Christmas Little Britches!" with the picture below. So, after 7 hours of work, Avery had the cutest lil pink kitchen I've ever seen.

We spent Christmas in Vidalia and she got to see the kitchen when we came home on Sunday. She LOVED it. It was so sweet! Even better, when she walked into our kitchen the next few days she would gasp (like she was surprised) and say "MY PINK KITCHEN!" It was like for a moment she forgot she had it and would remember all over again. PRECIOUS! She has been playing with it nonstop. We have already gotten our money's worth. Merry Christmas Little Britches!

This was right after I organized the play food and pots and pans. It looked like this for about 10 minutes 

She also got a robe for Christmas and the shopping cart with more FOOD!

Christmas 2010

We had a wonderful Christmas. An absolutely great time. Thank God for sending His precious son to save sinners like me!

Before the madness... 

Let the madness begin!

She loves her big wheel princess tricycle from her uncles!

Avery also enjoys playing with one of Charlie's gifts!

3rd bday party invite

Presto Blocks Girl Birthday Invitation

Personalize unique party invitations at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

Wordless Wednesday

Christmas Eve

This year, we started a new tradition. Alicia, Charlie's cousin, invited us over to her house for Christmas Eve. We opened presents with the kids, ate chili and lit sparklers. We had a great time! It was Avery's first time to see sparklers. She was too scared to touch them but loved watching them. I love making new traditions and enjoying spending time with our family!

Bram, Charlie's nephew

Avery and Layne, 2nd cousins

The 3 little cousins singing karaoke

December is for Baking

A Christmas tradition in our house is baking Christmas cookies. We had a great time this year and they were pretty yummy!