Monday, July 11, 2011

Just stuff

I have been falling behind the last few weeks with my blogging. I’ve been preoccupied with lots of other things recently. Planning my sister’s engagement party, planning Riley THIRD Birthday party (I can’t believe he is almost 3!), & doing lots of other things besides the normal day to day living.

Picture 121

We have been on the go non-stop attending weddings, parties, & showers almost every weekend! Every weekend (and most weekdays) in July are totally booked! I love it this way, but sometimes I just want to slow down & enjoy being with my family.

I finally had a minute today to sit down & update some things that have been happening lately. First up, remember back a couple months ago when I asked you to specifically pray for my family & a big decision that was being made? Well, it took forever & we almost thought it wasn’t going to happen in our favor, but God proved faithful again, as always & we got some great news. It was a job that TAG was trying to get & he did! It is a great job, but he will start off working 2nd shift. He is still looking for something to do during the day to supplement, but we are relieved that he finally got a decent offer. Plus, this gets his foot in the door at a great company.

I know I say it all the time, but my sweet little Averly is growing up too fast. I guess it just happens with the second child because they want to keep up with the older one. She tries to {and does amlost} do everything her big brother is doing.  She loves watching Yo Gabba Gabba, Olivia, & Dora. Other than that she couldn’t care less about TV. She is really getting more into books & her favorites are 2 little books that I got in the $1 isle at Target. One about shapes, the other about colors. She likes to point to the objects & tell me what they are. She also loves the Animal Sounds book that was mine when I was little. She loves to learn new words & is gaining a great vocabulary every day!

She also loves to sing & dance. She will sing along with just about anything we start. She bobs her head & mumbles some jibberish but she knows exactly what she’s saying! One of her favorites is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. She gets stuck on the “how I wonder” part. She will just say “how I, how I, how I…” She also loves playing Ring Around the Rosie. As soon as we start, she’ll say “Ashhh, ashhh” & immediately fall down. Oh how I love her!

Picture 004

She wore pigtails again on June 22nd & it will finally stay in a ponytail as well.

Picture 005

I don’t think I ever posted it, but here’s a shot of her first ponytail back on May 9th.

Picture 270

She is definitely rocking the baby mullet these days. I almost want to cut it to even it out a little, but I just can’t bring myself to do it yet. Oh well, at least she’s cute with that mullet!

Picture 176

Little Miss loves to eat & get it all over her. She thinks it’s hilarious to be covered in food. Riley is just the opposite & runs to the bathroom at least 3 times to wash his hands while eating a bag of Cheetos. He can’t stand to be messy!

Picture 014

And this little man is growing up fast too.  He will be 3 in 5 weeks. My mind just cannot process that I am about to have a 3 year old! He really is the sweetest, most caring little boy ever. I am so proud to be his Mama!

Picture 159

This is usually what I get when I tell him to say cheese. :0) Only he’s got a mouth full here. Such a ham!

Picture 178

Riley & Averly have always played well together, but they recently seem to have strengthened their bond. Now that Averly can really interact & communicate with Riley, they both get more out of playing together. 

I actually think they look alike here too.

Picture 180Picture 181

Riley found his old carseat in the garage last week & decided he wanted to be a baby again. I have to say, sometimes I still wish he was a baby too!

Picture 182 Picture 185

Averly discovered her shadow on June 30th & waved at it for 10 minutes straight.

Picture 188

While Riley hauled grass with his truck.

 Picture 194

My girl is getting more independent daily. She even wanted to brush her own hair last week. I may have cried a little.

 Picture 195 Picture 202

Riley is so fatherly with Averly. Besides being super protective, he also likes to boss her around. A few days ago while he was playing with his trains she kept trying to get them, which he did not like. He told her to “Yeave dem ayone” & when she didn’t listen he said, “What I just told you?” Someone actually is paying attention all those times I have to tell him more than once with “What did I just tell you?”

 Picture 211

Averly got her first mani/pedi on July 2nd. She stared & stared at her feet afterwards. I think she liked it.

Picture 214

Most of our days are spent outside, but it is just too dang hot to stay out for long periods of time. The heat index today is 115! Cah-razy!

Picture 309 Picture 311

TAG snapped this picture one day when we were playing Hide & Seek. Averly shadows her brother constantly & when it’s his turn to count, she hides her face & counts “choo…choo….choo” {two is apparently her number of choice} until it’s time to come find us.

I seriously cannot say enough how much I love watching these two together!

Picture 312

That’s pretty much it…for now. There is more to share, but not until the time is right. Hopefully it will be soon though!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Moments like this I will cherish forever

When Riley actually wants to hold his sister’s hand while taking a picture. Even though the feeling isn’t mutual from Averly right now. I know there will come a day when he doesn’t want his little sister around, much less to hold her hand, so I am soaking it up now!

Picture 204

Impromptu, unscripted hugs between my babies. So glad I caught this one on film. These two are my world & it warms my heart to see them loving on each other.

Picture 205 Picture 206 Picture 207

So then I try again with a ‘posed’ shot of the two of them & Riley upsets her with the hand-holding. Again.

Picture 213

Oh well. Averly really does love her brother, though!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Fourth of July

We had a great holiday weekend full of family & friends! We did our biggest celebrating on Sunday afternoon when we went to a friends' house to play in the water. A bunch of families all went in together to rent 3 big blow-up slides/bounce houses for the kids. It was so much fun & the kids weren’t the only ones who enjoyed themselves!

Here’s my little Miss America before we left. She is really starting to look so grown up!

Picture 218

Riley brushing his teeth getting ready to go!

Picture 220

The first thing both kids did when we got there was run to see Aunt Brooke! They love their Aunt B!

Picture 221 Picture 225

Riley also loved this huge water gun.

Picture 227

Showing Mr. Anthony the big water slide.

Picture 228

Then R & A got changed into their swimsuits & joined the fun!

Picture 230   Picture 241Picture 243Picture 247 Picture 250 Picture 252 Picture 256  Picture 260 Picture 262 Picture 264

Some of the kids taking a quick break to eat.

Picture 267 Picture 268 Picture 279 Picture 285 Picture 287 Picture 296 Picture 300 Picture 301 Picture 305Picture 303Picture 304

Then on Monday we just stayed around the house & relaxed a bit. That night we watched fireworks that the neighbors were shooting off & shot a few our selves.

TAG showing riley how to hold a sparkler.

Picture 314

He LOVED the fireworks this year. Last year he was terrified so we came a long way!

Picture 318Picture 320

Averly also watched in her pajamas.

Picture 321 Picture 322

Riley’s first sparkler!

Picture 324 Picture 325  

Happy 4th of July! Now that the 4th is over, I’m ready for fall!!