Grace's 1st Bike

Grace took a spin on her new bike that Santa brought her so I had to post a picture. She is getting so big. It is so hard to believe that she will be 5 soon.

By the way... Is anyone else as tired of twisty ties and rubberbands as much as I am?
I feel sorry for the people who have to box up toys. Is there a machine that physically twists all of these ties and rubberbands or does someone have to do it by hand? I am so tired of taking toys out of the packaging that they are in. Every little finger and toe that these toys have are tied in the box so tightly that I have to untwist, cut, and force out just so the girls can play with the toy.

Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful time this last week celebrating Christmas will all of our families. The time off to spend as a family is really a great refresher. We spent most of Christmas taking care of each other. Ava caught a yucky tummy virus and Grace seemed to get the fever portion of it. At times her fever was as high as 104. Ashley and I followed up the trail but Ashley got the worst of it. All in all is was still a great time. The best part of all of this were the conversations about how Christmas is all about celebrating Jesus and his birthday. We hope that you had a wonderful time with your family and were able to enjoy the season and the true reason for it.

Grace really seemed to understand the whole idea of asking Santa for something and then waiting to see if he actually brings you what you asked him for. She asked Santa for a Baby Alive and was so excited to see her when she woke up. Baby Alive is almost like having a 3rd child in my house. She talks all the time about being hungry and to please feed her. Sounds just like the other 2 in my house.

Ava didn't understand but Santa brought her a pink cozy coupe car. Her favorite thing is to climb in on the side through the window. She really seems to have this Dukes of Hazzard thing down well. Hopefully, this isn't something she will need to know in the future. She does this so fast that I can't even get a picture of it.



Merry Christmas to each of you!

Gingerbread Houses

Grace and I went over to our friends Luke and Mrs. LeAnn's house to decorate Gingerbread Houses. The kid's knew exactly what they did and didn't want their houses to look like.

Christmas Picture Attempt

This year I decided to forego my more formal Christmas picture of the girls in their dresses since I bought these adorable Christmas overalls that I thought would make a great casual picture. I took at least 50 shots and settled on one just so that I could finally send out cards. I realized why I love going to the same place every year. It takes longer for me to get the girls dressed than it takes Lisa at Charis to snap a great picture.

Blessed and Thankful

As I think back on the past few years the only word that comes to mind is "Blessed." God has truly blessed me with a wonderful husband and two beautiful, healthy daughters.

Ashley, Grace and Ava thank you for letting me be your wife and mommy.

I am so Thankful for the great family and friends that we have. Each of you are so special to us. During this time of the year I pray that you will see the true blessings that God has given you.

Fall has arrived

The weather has been so nice lately that the girls have gotten to play outside when we get home in the evenings. There is no place that they would rather be than in the backyard playing on their playground or in the playhouse. Ava loves going in and out of the playhouse and Grace has learned how to swing all by herself.

Great Weather

The weather has been so wonderful the past few weeks. It is just perfect for playing outside when we get home in the evenings. The girls have really enjoyed being able to play on their playground. Grace has learned how to pump the swing all by herself and Ava just loves playing in the playhouse.

Trick or Treat

The girls had a lot of fun on Halloween. Each year we meet Uncle Chicken, Aunt Shelley, Caleb and Leah at Grammy and PaPaw's house for dinner and trick or treating. We new that Ava wouldn't understand but she wasn't about to let Grace do something that she thinks she can also do. She would carry her bag to the door and hold it out knowing that the person on the other side was going to put something in her bag. Even though she has no idea what candy (other than a dum dum lollipop) is she would not let you touch her bag. If you tried to take her bag to help her carry it she would scream at you.

Grace on the other hand was pretty skilled at it this year. It was all you could do to keep up with her and take care of Ava also. Along with her cousin Caleb she ran from house to house. Thank goodness for Grammy who helped out alot since Ashley wasn't able.

Candy, Candy and more Candy

Halloween is around the corner and we all survived the Fall Festival at church on Wednesday night. Grace was excited and overwhelmed at the same time. Her main concern was how much candy can I collect in my bag. Which she THINKS she is gong to get to consume all of it. Boy is she in for a heartbreak. Ava noticed the DumDum Lollipops and that was all that she cared about after that. Thank you to Grandma for indulging her and teaching her at a very early age what those are even though she shouldn't eat candy.

On the way to our car we stopped to drop off our Bloomers for Bulgaria and this lady was looking at Grace and then back at me and I couldn't figure out why she was looking so oddly at me. Then I realized that in the 50 degree temperatures Grace had taken off her shoes to get into the bounce house and didn't put them back on. Needless to say she walked to the car with barefeet in the cold temperatures and never once cared. Only Grace!

Grace decided to be Minnie Mouse and that Ava also needed to be Minnie Mouse. We have Minnie Mouse and Teeny Tiny Minnie Mouse (as Janice calls them).

Ava has started walking full time now and thinks that she can also run which causes her to slide into Home plate as we call it. Home plate tends to be walls, furniture, and sometimes us.

Ashley is starting to get around much better after his back surgery. He is getting around a little bit more each day.

Big Orange Pumpkin Farm

We went to visit the Big Orange Pumpkin Farm this weekend at Owens Farm. Grace and Ava both enjoyed the hay ride, train ride and pumpkins. Only Grace enjoyed the animals because Ava has a fear of them whether they are real or stuffed. There is a stuffed rocking cow in her nursery and when she see's it she starts shivering and crying. We finally had to move poor Mrs. Cow to another room in the house so she couldn't scare Ava. I have no clue what we are going to do when it is time to sit in Santa's lap.

Baby Steps & Spelling

Ava is starting to take her first steps around the house. Oh what fun it is for her to see everything in the house from a new perspective.

Grace is starting to spell more and more words every day. She is always telling me to stop driving (in traffic) so that she can spell out all of the signs.