Christmas in San Diego

Even though we were sick the whole trip, and the weather in Cali was cold & gray, we still managed to squeeze in a little fun, a little sun, lots of time with the cousins and some rest...

{card designed by lil' sprout greetings}

from our Little Pumpkins!!!

Happy 4th of July!

Saturday night Avery & I headed to my friends Jennifer & Jason's house for their BIG 4th of July Party. They live out in the country and had everything you could want for a 4th of July shindig!

Smoked BBQ, Fireworks, & Live Music! sparklers...

fireworks...

dancing...

& kittens...

Sunday Mike was home and we headed to our friends Billy & Julia's house for an afternoon of swimming & fun with friends

We left their house in time to catch the fireworks show over Grapevine Lake on our way home. It was a busy, but fun weekend!

Hope everyone else had a great 4th of July!!!!

Easter 2010

{checking out her Easter basket}
{yay...a new Thomas book!}

{decorating Easter eggs at Gramma & Papa's house}

{playing with Ellie, Noah & Uncle Jason}

{hunting for Easter eggs}

Valentines Weekend

We had a nice, relaxing & laid-back Valentine's Weekend. Saturday, we had breakfast at the Central Market Cafe and then grabbed a few groceries before heading home.

That afternoon, Avery helped Mommy make heart shaped cookies, using this yummy recipe from Southern Living!

I iced them with lemon-cream cheese frosting,
and Avery added sprinkles.

Avery couldn't WAIT to eat one!

Sunday {Valentines Day} we had a HEARTy breakfast (ha ha!)

Heart shaped waffles, using my favorite Alton Brown recipe here.

along with heart shaped strawberries & bananas,

and chai-spiced apples (recipe here)

For lunch we had heart shaped PB&J,

and dinner was tortellini in red sauce.

Mommy got pretty pink roses

and Avery got a giant pink peony from Daddy.

Monday, Daddy had the day off work {yippee!!!}

we took Avery to her first movie theater movie...

The Princess and the Frog

She did surprisingly well!

And loved her first taste of popcorn too!!

Hope everyone else had a wonderful Valentines weekend!

love is in the air...

I saw THIS tutorial...

and had to make this adorable heart banner:

which inspired me to make this heart wreath:
& reminded me of these cute PJ's I picked up for Avery at Costco:

and THIS cute clip I just got for her in the mail!!!

Do you feel the love???

Christmas Day

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there...
Good Morning!!!
{this little one slept until 9am...
probably the last year for that for a looooong time!}

Avery was a good girl this year!
She is learning to share & is excellent at using please & thank you!
She was definitely on Santa's Nice List!
Santa brought her....

kitty rain boots

LOTS of books!

{Thomas the Train, Finding Nemo Golden Book, "Slowly, Slowly, Slowly" said the Sloth by Eric Carle, and Freight Train by Donald Crews}

and her FAVORITE gift by far...

a Thomas the Train set!!!!

{which has been played with EVERY day since!}

Last we opened the stockings

poor Daddy only got coal in his stocking! :)

{Lump of Coal beer, coal chocolates, charcoal soap and black dress socks rolled into balls! ha ha, that Santa is so clever...or maybe it was Mrs. Claus!}

Later that day (once the icy roads had melted) we headed over to Grandma & Papa's house. They have a BIG family, so Christmas over there is crazy & fun!

look at that Christmas tree!!!

Avery & Ellie both got doll houses

and Noah got a Space Ship!

I hope you and your family also had a wonderful Christmas!

"Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!"