December

I can't believe Christmas is in 8 days! This month has really flown by because we have been so busy. Hoping to slow down this next week and enjoy Christmas with the family. Avery is getting super excited about Christmas and I LOVE seeing it through her eyes. She thinks Jesus' birthday is the coolest thing ever! Probably because she gets presents but I'll take it! We have been doing the Advent ornaments this year and loving that. A lady at our church handmade all the ornaments for every child. Amazing! We've hosted three parties at our house in 3 weeks, seen Santa twice, driven around to look at Christmas lights dozens of times and listened to Rudolph and Jingle Bells hundreds of times:) I'm exhausted but loving every minute! Here is the recap of the month so far in pictures:

One of our trips to see Santa. Each trip looked the same. Poor Adalyn! :)

My sweet babies in their Christmas dresses

We put some lights outside and Avery enjoyed helping

Addy enjoyed chilling and watching all the work:)

Venture play date Christmas party. We had a book exchange and it was lots of fun!

Our sweet friends, the Jacksons moved to Corpus Christi. We had a going away party for them at our house and it was a bittersweet time. We will miss them so much!

Avery will especially miss her bestie, Avery Kate.

Adalyn and Crews. I'll miss watching him grow! :( 

We had our first ladies retreat at church and it was SO much fun! Almost half of our group was able to go. We had a great weekend together!

The lake house we stayed in was breathtaking!

I gained 10 lb after all the yummy treats;)

We also had a tacky sweater Christmas party at our house. So hilarious! 

I laughed all night at some of the sweaters.

Loved seeing Luke in a Christmas tree turtle neck:)

In the midst of all the craziness, these sweet babies have made me smile every single day. 

Adalyn is 15 Months

My sweet baby girl is 15 months old and I can hardly believe it! I am so far behind on blogging! It seems overwhelming to have anything else on my list of things to do, but I must blog our memories! I know we will love looking back!
So, about this sweet 15 month old we have walking around our house. Yes, walking! She decided it was time to take off. She does things on her terms:) It's about the cutest thing I have ever seen to watch her toddle behind Avery everywhere. She started walking a little over a month ago but is just now walking full time and preferring it over crawling.
Here is what else you are up to at 15 months sweet Adalyn,

Talking. You love to talk and the words you use now are: momma, dada, sis, shoes, hi, and no. Your first phrase was "What's dat?" You love to point at things and ask, "what's dat" in whisper. So funny! That was your sister's first sentence too. You are obsessed with shoes! No surprise that was one of your first words. You love to walk around holding shoes. Wonder where that obsession came from?! When you need something or you are sleepy, you just yell, "Mamamamama" over and over.  No other word has ever made my heart so happy than "Mama" This such a fun age, I love the way you still need me so much but yet you are getting more and more independent and developing so much personality.
You love to push babies around in a stroller, carry a purse or bag, wear bracelets, play peek a boo, clap and give kisses. You will clap, give kisses and wave hi and bye when asked. You love to play peek-a-boo and will even play all alone and just laugh at yourself! You sleep with your paci and have become attached to your little blankie/lovie. You suck your paci and rub the little blanket under your nose till you fall asleep. It's precious! You are such a mommy's girl and you are pretty much attached to me. You do love your daddy a lot too and love playing with him. You would rather be held more than almost anything else. I love that about you! I could hold you forever and literally do hold you almost all day. You play independently pretty well though. Just like your big sis, you will occupy yourself with your toys and play while I get things done. You're a pretty good eater, your favs are: sweet potatoes, raisin toast, peanut butter or almond butter sandwiches, eggs, chicken, and pizza. You love bathes, going for walks and shopping with mommy. You ADORE your big sis and want to do and have every thing she does and has. She is so sweet to you and shares so well with you most all the time. Avery loves to know that she is your "teacher" and teaches you how to share and take turns. Hope that never changes:) You love to hug! You will often walk right up to Avery and just squeeze her. Melts me! We all are so smitten by you! You are the cutest, little bitty, big cheeked, sweet hearted little girl. Can't imagine life with out you in it! Hope this stage goes by slowly cause I'm going to miss it  I know! Love you to the moon and back!!
Love, Momma

Halloween

We had a great Halloween trick or treating in our new neighborhood. I thought I was prepared for all the people that flock to our neighborhood on Halloween from the kind neighbors who had warned, but I had no clue! It was CrAzY! They shut the main street into the neighborhood down to decrease traffic and because one home has a haunted house you can tour. Several families grilled out and gave out free food and drinks. We had floods of kids at our house; at one point there was a line going up the driveway. I had over 600 pieces of candy and we only gave one piece per kid and still ran out. I believe the neighbors now and will be more prepared next year:) It was a lot of fun though! We went up and down our street and got plenty of candy, everyone just sat outside their home which was nice. Luke and Avery handed out candy from our porch and Avery enjoyed this more than trick or treating. 

One of my favorite pics of Avery. She was so proud of the pumpkin she carved with Daddy:)

Ariel and her little fish friend. Poor Adalyn was the little 'friend' to all of Avery's costume ideas. She was either going to be the camillian lizard friend of Rapunzel or the Flounder fish from Ariel. Fish it was, and the cutest fish I've seen:) One year she'll have an opinion on things and that will mess with Avery's plans;)

 I didn't make Adalyn sweat in her costume for trick or treating. It was so warm out and she was content to watch all action from her stroller while snacking on some chocolate:)

Fall Fest 2012

Fall Fest at Venture this year was a lot of fun as always. Avery had a blast with her buds and she's still talking about it. It's a lot of work but so much fun for us and the community! We had a little smaller turn out this year than the first year we did it, but it was kinda nice because I actually got to talk to people and meet lots of new faces. Fun memories!

My little sea creatures,  Little Mermaid and the little Fishy

some of our group praying before it started

 Avery liked the batman trunk

Our Under the Sea trunk. All Avery's idea!

 Luke, Avery and Avery Kate

 The best buddies, the Averys'

 Chic Fil a cow came as a princess and Avery was thrilled

 Enjoying the train rides. I think Avery rode 20 times:)

 Petting zoo!

My sister and Blaine came to help out. Couldn't have done it without them! With all I had to do to set up that day, they were a lifesaver with the girls! We loved having them here.

The girls really adore their Aunt and Uncle:)