Wednesday, November 26, 2008

I am thankful for...




With tomorrow being Thanksgiving, I would like to share a few things that I am most thankful for. Now please take note....some of the things I have listed are material things, but I am human and love them for what they are!!


* Avery & Ray- they are my life!!!
* my parents (and that includes Kay and Creamer)- I think about how lucky I am to have 4 parents and how wonderful it is to be able to spend our holidays together!!

* my sister- she would do anything for me

* my nieces and nephews- love, love, love them!

* Ray's parents- they are wonderful!!

* my friends near and far- I have been blessed with great friends! Miss the ones who live elsewhere every day!

* my wonderful coworkers

* Avery's friends & boyfriends

* the memories of my grandparents and my aunts and uncle who are no longer here- We always did Thanksgiving together

* Lucy (my sweet kittie that is almost 9 years old)

* my DVR - gives me a chance to enjoy my shows when sweet baby girl is in bed and I have Blue's Clues and Backyardigans on demand when Avery is begging for them!

* sweet tea

* Alabama's great football season- Tuscaloosa here I come!!

* chicken fingers

* the beach- would love to live on one some day!





Sunday, November 16, 2008

What moms will do to get the perfect picture!

Why do moms obsess with the perfect picture? I spent most of my picture time yesterday trying to get an 17 month old to cooperate just to get the "perfect" picture. After the repositioning and wrestling match was over, the candid shots were the best. Go figure! You would think that after 1200 printed pics (no exaggeration) from my own camera, I would realize that my favorite pics of Avery are the ones where she is just being her and no posing.

We went to yesterday to do Christmas and 18 month pictures. After a meltdown, quick game of chase, shattered Christmas lights, another meltdown, hot flash (mine), a wardrobe change of wiggling toddler, and another game of chase, we were able to get 30 pics of Avery. This was the hardest photo session yet. I was physically exhausted after 30 minutes!! Poor Mary (the photographer) really earned her pay yesterday! Now I have the job of picking a picture to make Christmas cards. I have attached a few pics from yesterday. Enjoy!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Avery's first obsession

Growing up, everyone had characters they were obsessed with. The first character (that I can remember) I obsessed with was Strawberry Shortcake. I had everything a girl could imagine...sleeping bag, preschool sleep mat (which my mom still has), lunchbox, and of course the doll.


Avery's current obsession is Blue's Clues. She cannot get enough of Blue and dear old Steve. (We do not like the new guy, Joe!) When she is ready for a little Blue time, she will grab her stuffed Blue and pretty much throw it at me. That is her way of telling me to turn it on. Luckily (or maybe not so luckily) we have a DVR, so we have Blue on demand. I wonder what her next obsession will be when she is tired of dear ol Blue.
OR maybe she is obsessed with Steve!!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

"Boyfriends" so soon!



With Avery being the only little girl around most of the time, it is so funny to me to see her interact with all the boys. She is prissy, but tough at the same time. She can hold her on with the best of them. Halloween was a blast this year being able to take her around the neighborhood. We are so blessed to have a tight group of friends with all of our kids around the same age.

It was so much fun to dress up our kids using the Wizard of Oz theme. Avery is surrounded by her "boyfriends" and you can just see how happy they are. I am well aware that at this age, Halloween is more for the parents! The years of being a princess or rock star are fast approaching, so I better enjoy the cute, themed Halloween while I can!!



But...going back to having boyfriends. The funniest parts of the play dates are when the mommas (including me) start asking the babies to give hugs and kisses out. With the cameras ready, every kiss and hugged is documented. Ray is so funny, because he is so protective over Avery and just the idea of us using the terms "boyfriend" or "girlfriend' gets him fired up. I can only imagine when she is a teenager. Start praying for us now!!! I have posted some pics of Avery and her many boyfriends...Please take note that most of these pictures are taken on the same day. :-)



Hunter and Avery





JW and Avery






Eb and Avery




Grayson and Avery




Let the blogging begin!

I have never been a writer. In fact, writing is definitely a weakness I worry about when teaching my students. After reading some great blogs, I have been inspired to start one myself just as a way to share the many wonderful memories of my daughter and the crazy life that Ray and I live. I also think about what it will be like to share this with her and let her start creating her own entries. Wow...getting way ahead of myself!!

Thanks to Wendy and Heather for sharing their blogs and inspiring me to join in with the trend. I hope I enjoy it as much as you both do.