sibling love

I just walked by the kids' room where they are supposed to be sleeping.  Tate's on the floor covered in blankets while Avery body slams and punches him repeatedly.  Surprisingly, Tate looked content.  I ask, "Avery!  Why are you beating on your brother?!"  Even though her speech is gibberish, she said, "Because I love him." 

Huh?

I even asked if that's what she said to which she sweetly replied, "Uh huh" =)

Christmas Photo Shoots Outtakes

This is Ken.  Let it be noted that although grandpa Stoddard is a softie with his grandkids, he has his limits.  When Avery demanded he play with Ken, he repeated loudly and seriously, "I do not play with dolls!"  I wish I had it on tape.  It was very funny.  This morning Avery demanded grandma play "run" with her.  It was entertaining to see grandma Stoddard run sprints up and down the hallway in her pajamas with Avery.

Avery's Christmas outfit.  Note the three soaps in hand, her current favorite toy. Then,  posing with Teresa's dog, Hershey.

This gal is a close talker and player, so I enjoy this documentation of her even playing that her dolls close talk, too.

This is my first year to do Christmas cards, and it is hard to choose just one picture!  I did it though with the consolation that I would show all the outtakes on the blog.  Here's Avery, my 6.5 month pregnant belly with baby boy, and Tater-nater:

It took us a couple shots at the beginning of this shoot before realizing that our spelling was off =)

The kids are laughing at Bre.  She was blowing up a balloon and then letting it fly with the air going out.  Comedy gold.

Avery was done.

Thank you photographer grandma!

I left the kidlets with mom today and went to Walmart for some stuff.  I got distracted by the toys and wanted to get some Christmas shopping done for the toys.  It was too overwhelming, though, and I decided it would be a very nice thing to shop with Eric for the kids anyway.  Mom was busy taking some pics of the kids (shown here).  And she made a delicious apple pie.

**Disclaimer**  Don't read the following if you don't like potty talk.

I am a mother of little ones and potty talk is quite normal around here.  So Avery has been doing pretty well with potty training the past few weeks.  She also attends speech class at a local elementary school and is improving her speaking skills.  So, it's exciting for me to be able to understand things she's saying more and more.  (Tate was the same way--started speaking more understandably in his 3rd year.)  This morning Avery was on the toilet and said "I poo."  Followed by, "Ma poo bi."  (big)  I was wondering how she would know that!  But my favorite was what she said next with big eyes and arms wide as if showing the size of a fish, "Da poo rea bi!"  (real big).  I died laughing, but she was very matter-of-fact, or in awe.  No, she's never been invited to see such things, must just be imagining!