Christmas Time

I love Christmas.

It's the most special time of the year. Each year we are blessed by our friends, family, and each other in more ways than I can count. Each year we wonder where the money will come from for presents for our children and each year, our Christmas tree has more presents under it than we understand. I understand one thing for sure...GOD takes care of us each year. Our kids enjoy a wonderful Christmas (as do mommy and daddy) and we have God, our family, and our friends to thank for the most wonderful day. This Christmas was not different. We woke up and each one of us opened a present, one at a time, like we do each Christmas and were amazed at the generosity and giving of everyone we know. Thank you to everyone who made our Christmas special once again!! Audrey was done after about one present. Oh well, her birthday is just around the corner! Hopefully she will be more into it then!

The boys were very excited and couldn't wait to open their last present...Guitar Hero.....something they had wanted for months and months!!! They now are playing it almost everyday and getting better and better at it...they love it!!! Thank you Nana!!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas too!

Here is Audrey trying to put her shoe on!

Audrey tries to put her shoe on after playing in the motor room at school!

To school with Audrey

I had so much fun on Tuesday. I took a day off of work and took Audrey to school. We had so much fun together and she did so many new things. She was asking to wash her hands a lot, walked with the cart to the motor room, went down the slide all by herself(and climbed up it), sang a bunch of songs, and is called the "language star" of her class. She just amazes me each and every day with everything she is learning and knows. I had such a fun day and took a few pictures and video on my cell phone so that I could share with everyone else.

At circle time, she was the only one that would talk and sing. When asked what songs the kids wanted to sing, she would answer for them. We walked to the motor room with a cart and she pushed it the whole way by herself and sung out the whole time. When we got to the motor room, she climbed up the slide, dunked under the opening to it, and scooted herself around to slide down it. After she went down, she would say bump. The slide was a lot of fun, but then she wanted to go on the trampoline. They put her on it and it has a bar for her to hold onto. She held onto it and bounced away. She loved it and was laughing the whole time. We then had to go on the swing. She loves it and it is always saved for last because if she gets on it first, then she won't get off the whole time they are there. She would go back and forth and side to side on the swing. When we were finished, she tried to get her shoes on all by herself. It was so darn cute. I took video of that and many other things. We went back to the classroom and had some cake and then she started to get fussy and I thought it was time to go. I took her out to the bye bye buggy (one of her other favorite things) and put her on it to take pictures. Well, WWIII started when I wanted to get her off of it. She screamed, tried to bite me, scratched me, and arched her back so that it was very hard to carry her. She then got mad when I was trying to put her in the car seat and started to arch her back and try to slide out of it. Of course, mommy eventually won the battle, but she is a strong  little cuss. She has a vibe for life and loves to sing and talk like someone else I know! I love listening to her and spending time with her. Tuesday was so much fun!!! 

There are some pics above and  a video of her below! I'm going to post another one in a different blog!

Audrey walks!

We were watching tv last night (our normal evening spot) and Audrey was sitting with her daddy. She scooted down off his lap and asked for Blake. Well, Blake was eating and he's also a little sick with a cold, so we told her this. She then asked for Brian. Brian said I'm over here Audrey. He was on the loveseat that was across the way. She started to walk to him and ended up over where Blake was at the coffee table. Blake said, "No Audrey, this is Blake, Brian is over there and he takes Audrey's body and places it towards Brian. Brian continues to talk to Audrey and give her oral directions on where he is. She listens to them and follows them to a T. She even knows her left from her right, so she knows which way to turn (Thank goodness for my wonderful husband who has taught her this). The amazing thing is that she walked all that way, listening to directions, and never complained or fell down while walking. This is the first time she has done all this by herself and been confident about. We were so excited and all clapping for her. She was excited and jumping up and down. Her brothers are doing so good with her. 

I AM SO PROUD OF ALL MY CHILDREN!!

Now, she should be getting her little cane soon. They said when she started walking more and trying things without help they would give her one. We will be able to bring it home with us and work with her on it. The only thing I'm concerned about is her using her cane to beat on her brother's. I honestly think with the spunk she has, that is exactly what she will be doing! Oh what fun that will be.

What a blessing it is to have such wonderful children...a definite GIFT FROM GOD!!

Christmas Tree

Audrey sits among the trees
She was waving!
Happy baby!
Our little angel!
Daddy and the kiddo's

Mommy helping Audrey walk and showing her the needles of the tree.

Mommy and the boyz!

Jim's mom used to stick her tongue out like this!!! :-)

She is feeling the needles with her head!


We went to our normal Christmas Tree farm (Sunset Tree Farm) today. We got up early to go and packed up REALLY warm clothing. It's normally very cold there and sometimes raining. We stopped by Starbucks and got each of us a coffee. Brian ended up with a COLD carmel frappacino. He said he loved 'em!!! We got there and it was sunny and very warm. Jim was so hot he had to roll up his sleeves. 

The boys and Audrey sat on the gravel to pose for us. Then the boys went and got a saw and we were off. It seems like every year, we find the perfect Christmas tree and this was one of those wonderful years yet again. We always pick out more than one so that we can go pick which one we want. The kids always have so much fun picking out the Christmas tree because each year they get a chance to help out by cutting it down.

This year, Audrey loved the feel of the trees. While the boys were busy cutting the tree with the saw, she sat down beside one of them and kept trying to rub her head against the needles. She kept saying needles, needles. It was so adorable. She is also walking more with help. We love to hold her hands and help her along and you can just see the joy on her face when she is walking!

The boys got the tree cut down and we then went to strap it onto the top of the van. We got back to the van and the boys went inside to get some hot apple cider. They love going in there and looking around. The owners have other things there to for purchasing. We never get anything, but it is always fun looking. When Jim finished strapping the tree to the top of the van we were off. We stopped at McDonald's on the way home and got some breakfast! The boys loved it and had a wonderful day....we all had a wonderful day (so far). It's so much fun getting our Christmas tree with the family. It's up in the mountains and oh so much fun!!!

Today was such an awesome day.............We're gonna get busy decorating now. Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

Audrey is Hilarious....or so she thinks!

OK...so Audrey was eating her breakfast this morning and then wanted some Cheeto Puffs. This tends to be her most favorite snack. She loves to eat it after every meal. SOOOO.....she finished her breakfast and we put some Cheeto's in front of her. After eating them for a while, she decided she wanted more (even though there were plenty still in her bowl.) Jim told her she had to finish what she had. She got mad and threw some graham crackers on the floor that were also on her highchair. Well, we've had this problem before and asked her not to do it. Jim went up to her took her hand and asked if she wanted it smacked. She said, "Yes." So, he did it. He said is that what you really want and she said no. He told her again that he would smack her hand if she threw anything else on the floor. He stood up and she said......... "YOU'RE KILLING ME HERE." We all busted out laughing and then she said, "Audrey, you're hilarious." Of course, the you're killing me here comment was better than what she said the other day which was you're pissing me off. I don't have a clue where she got that one from!!! :-)

Anyway, her sense of humor has eclipsed all of her siblings by far. She has the best sense of humor I have ever seen or heard. We are always laughing at the things she does!!!

SO..........AUDREY IS HILARIOUS!!!

Audrey goes pee-pee

Today, while the boys and I were at church, Audrey went pee-pee in the potty. Daddy and I have to switch off taking the boys and going because Audrey is not yet old enough to sit in the sanctuary without making a lot of noise. We just don't feel comfortable leaving her with anyone we do not know.

So............I'm sitting in the sanctuary with Brian listening to our pastor talk about thankfulness when I get a text page from Jim saying that Audrey had went in the potty. RIGHT THERE.........I was thankful. Here is my little girl who cannot see anything. She can't see sitting on the toilet modeled or even how to go, but she is one smart cookie and figured it out and she went!!! I called as soon as I picked up Blake and we were headed home. I congratulated her and am so proud of her. I'm hoping she will pick it up and continue to go on the potty......one way down...one way to go. 

How thankful I am this holiday season for God and all of my wonderful family and friends. I know we wouldn't make it with all of you. YOU all are blessings to each and every one of us and we truly appreciate you. 

THANK YOU!!!!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

My first post.....pondering thoughts

I'm sitting on the couch listening to my little girl who is almost 2 say there we go, there we go....wondering exactly what she is talking about. Not sure, but she is happy. She talks all the time and absolutely loves to sing. She also loves her older brothers with a love very strong. She learns everything at an amazing rate. We say a word to her once and she is repeating it (therefore, we must be careful of what we say! :-)

I'm also listening to the 3 wonderful men in my life out in the backyard working. They are all 3 working on planting new grass in our yard. Our old puppy tore the whole yard up and it's needed replanting for some time. It's fun to listen to all that is going on. Jim, explaining to the boys how it's done and then the boys thinking they have a better way. Then of course, there is the fighting that goes on between the 2 boys......ahhhh.......to be young again (NOT!!!) Jim also has bagpipe music playing, so it's nice to listen to it!!!

Audrey is now screaming for her water..............I better go make her some more before she gets too awful upset!................

I'm figuring this out, so will post pictures as I get it figured out!!!!!