Surprise! More kiddo pictures...

I was pleasantly surprised today when Tate was being helpful. He made his bed and helped with mine.

He also cleaned up his toys a couple times. (I can't get the red-eye out)

He also cleaned up the cake pan real good.

Sometimes I put Avery in giant bows and she resembles Princess Leah of Star Wars.

Even princesses must work.

Grandma Debbie, this is the necklace she was wearing the morning that you suggested she get a cute necklace. This one is nice because it's big enough to last into adulthood.

Did I already mention Avery says "bye bye"? It's usually quiet so I don't think anyone besides family has heard. She's starting to say things here and there (like diaper, water, and down) and it's fun to decipher new stuff coming out of her mouth =)

Chores

"Here ya go! I clean up!" Tate says with satisfaction after cleaning the dining room messy floor on his hands and knees....with his mouth.

cousins and sandwiches

Tate requested a photo shoot at lunch yesterday. This is one of the vogue poses he gave.
Aves and 2nd cousin Audrey. I remember when her brother Brandon and Tate had pictures at their first playdate.
Avery's predicament

I thought it was funny that Aves requested her snow boots be put on. Then this picture looks a little intimidating and makes me happy =)

Gettin Moved In

kitchen/dining area
hmmm, you can't tell, but the cupboards are a beadboard that I like

the throne room
our lovely backyard-the previous owners let us keep the swing set!
the front
my favorite room

Marie wants proof that we moved so here it is! We are enjoying our (first!) home. Although it was "move-in ready" there are many little projects that we will tackle to make it our own. There are some bedroom walls to paint, cupboards to organize, drapes to hang, and some furniture to buy. So far, we've hung some drapes, installed some blinds, and put in some carpet in the man-cave.

Funny Moment

Missy pie is growing up.

Wish I had my camera handy. I went in to check on the kids who were supposed to be sleeping. Light was on. Normal. Tate was reading in bed. Normal. What's the little one in the crib doing? She was also reading her own little book that Tate must have smuggled into the crib. I had to try to hide my laugh and be stern. Turn off the lights and go to sleep!

Avery at 16 months

Avery is quick. She loves to growl. She has been caught tasting toilet water a couple times. Perhaps she thinks she is a canine. She LOVES dogs and giving them kisses.
Here she is with cousin Taegen. They were twinners for Ian's blessing just because grandma had bought them similar outfits a while back. It is extremely rare to get a head-shot of her looking the camera's direction. These are some busy chicas!
Avery is a pure delight. Seriously. I LOVE her even more than she loves dogs! She can't resist tinkering with grandpa's stereo even though he will not be happy to see this picture =) She has been teething for what seems like forever and has three front bottom teeth with one bottom molar and some more random teeth on top. They aren't coming in happy little pairs as expected. The snotty nose made me think of her teething saga. She takes it all in stride pretty well.
Here's adorable cousin Baby Lane! He's a scant 20 lb at 4 months. A feather of a child =) Sorry Bre, I know you're tired of hearing how big he is, but this is for my records.

I watched mom take this picture. She was kissing Lane and smiling for the camera, but she's so fast that this is the best shot! Aside from being quick, Aves enjoys cuddling and it's best when she's tired and loopy. She'll get in my face and squish my cheeks around and give kisses and laugh a lot!

Tate and Avery share a room. We're used to hearing crying and giggling and babbling after we've turned off the lights and left the room. But last night she had a weak cry that lasted longer than usual. Eric checked on her and found her crib full of stuff Tate had emptied into her crib. She had nowhere to lay. Clothes, dolls, books, toys, and the worst were two nail clippers. Yikes.

Finally, Aves is a champion eater. She's been spotted eating almost an entire Dairy Queen cheeseburger, minus one bite. She'll try anything. Yesterday we were in Hobby Lobby (or as Tate says, "Hobby Hobby") and I was giving her my sour icebreakers to keep her happy and extend our shopping time. She had four in her mouth at once without even a wince. That evening at dinner I gave her soup and she got one little sauteed onion in her mouth and spit it out while making a sour face. Kids and their eating habits are just plain crazy.

It's nap time/quiet time now and I hear Tate hopping in her crib. Looks like quiet time is done, as is blogging time!

one more thing

I like days like today when Tate calls me honey.

"Look honey! It's a swing!"

More on Tate

Tate's latest reason for pictures is to show off his things. Everything is "mine". Manners are most definitely a learned behavior. When he wants your drink, he points and says, "Mine!" When we showed him these pictures taken by grandma, he said, "Juice!" He remembers that his reason for the photos was to show off the beverage.

Taters has also been getting in bed with us, if we forget to lock the door. He always wants his face facing mine. So when I roll over, I know to expect this not-such-a-lightweight kid to clumsily climb over me so he can be on the side he wants to be on.

Finally, I like how he says strawberries. They are "strawbabies".

Singing Time

We had a whirlwind weekend travelling to Pendleton and from there, to Portland for baby Ian's blessing. It's always so fun to see everybody in the family even if it's just for a few hours. To help with the long driving day, Tate and Aves were chowing on jelly belly's. Ever since then Tate has taken to singing (to the tune of Jingle Bells) "Jelly beans, jelly beans, jelly all the way!". Which is a nice break from the continuous "C is for cookie" he was singing last week=)