Delightful

Delightful is the word I would use to describe Avery.
She is cute and sweet, and fun.
Sure, she can get angry and bite any toddler who gets in her way.
Sure, she can give a mean slap.
But she also claps when she's angry. C'mon, that's adorable.
She makes a quiet "bop" sound with her mouth that I like to imitate and Tate yells, "No More BOP!"
She has four teeth, two on top and two on bottom.
She will not sit still, unless she's strapped in a carseat or high chair.
But even then she bops her head to the car radio music or pushes the high chair around the room by hitting her head and legs back and forth.
She has a wild side.
She likes to wiggle on the trampoline.
She walks hyper-speed with her walker in the driveway. I always assisted because I thought her feet would go out from under her with the speed of that thing on cement, but she keeps up.
If you're eating something, she wants it. Now!

Anyway, she turned one last Wednesday. We had a nice little party with some cousins, an aunt and uncle, and both sets of grandparents. Here are a few pictures...

First off, look how excited she was to go to her party! =)

Then, this was the best shot, even though I couldn't remove the red eye. Eric had to do some quick blowing action because Aves wanted to touch the flame. I love the concern on Tate's face and Wes' grin in the background.

Finally, it was just fun to see her with some girly stuff, like this pink and purple purse! (For obvious reasons, most her toys are more masculine.)

(Mom got some much better pics that my be posted later =)

Diet

Today while I showered, Tate had some chapstick. He's been quite responsible with it in the past, so I had no qualms. Can you tell where this is going??

When I got out, he runs up to me, empty chappy container in hand, and declares, "All gone!"

He must be advanced because I remember liberally applying chapstick in 7th grade so I could lick it off because it smelled so good. He's only 3 and chomping away apparently. Plus, this means that his diet is expanding. He's always sooooo cautious to try something new. So maybe I'm happy about this?

A Vacation from our Vacation!!

(If anyone has a birthday coming up and wants a banner, tell me and I'll give you this one. I hate to throw it away and I'm not going to keep it!)

Eric took a week off this past week. The game plan was no plans! It was brilliant! It didn't work, though.

It began with General Conference last weekend. We had to go to Pendleton because one of my rules is that if family travels to be within about a 2 hour radius of us, we must go see them, if possible. Hence, the trip. Tate got to play with his cousins and I got to see my brother and his family. One of the talks that comes to mind from Conference was about not being so busy. Take time to be with your family and take time to ponder, pray, and read your scriptures. Take time to enjoy life. A busy life is not the best life. It's a wonderful point and I better work on it.

We returned home Monday for a party to celebrate Tate's third. He couldn't wait to blow out the candles and got those flames out before the Happy Birthday Song was sung! We had a monkey theme, which is one of his favorite things. We often hear "monkeys!" as he looks for his blankey named monkey. Surprisingly, this party was probably the most low-key point of the week.

We played pin-the-tail-on-the-monkey, which may have been too advanced for 3 year olds. However, I thought pin-the-tail-on-Avery was pretty funny. Duck Duck Goose will also most likely go better next year, too. Racing in the backyard was probably the best game for these four little boys. Free-play inside was another favorite. Anyway, our oldest is now 3 and a handful and we love him to pieces =)

On Tuesday we headed back to P-town for our 4 yr. dental check-up. I knew it had been a while, but didn't know it had been that long! Due to two hours a piece being pick-axed at to clean our disgusting teeth, Eric and I totally recommend keeping up on your dental visit each 6 months and will be doing that from now on, too! Eric doesn't have cavities, but I found out from my dentist/father-in-law at his home that evening that I have two! There I was bragging to the family about no cavities when he smiles at me and says, "Yes, you do. You have two." Oh, the let-down!

So, that was a LaGrande trip Tuesday evening and Wednesday to the in-laws. Thursday we were finally able to relax at home and do lots of laundry. We began at about 7am and as I was putting away the last of it, it was about 7pm. Of course, it was interupted, but that's a full day running the machines. We also did a last minute trip to the mall for family pictures and the kids' 1 and 3 year shots. Last time Tate wasn't very smiley and this time he was wonderful. Last time Avery was so happy and this time she was on the move!

Friday was spent at Country Mercantile because they have fall activities like a pumpkin patch and a corn maze. We got lost in the maze and were sooooo thankful to have some mini-Nilla Wafers in my purse to help us all last =) Eric didn't want to leave the house in the first place, but admitted that it was fun getting lost. Go figure! I was excited to go originally and then was grumbling under my breath in the maze. There was also a sweet petting zoo with the cutest little piglet that I loved. Avery loved it, too, just like she loves dogs and wants to get in their space. Tate liked to look and not touch.

Eric played in a golf tourney on Saturday while I went to the church for Super Saturday. Super Saturday is a craft day for all us ladies. Normally, super fun, but when the babysitters didn't show, I stepped in to help babysit some 25 kids. I was also teaching a little class on a little craft project. From there we went to Pendleton to watch grandma while ma and pa went to stake conference. We stayed the night so they could go Sunday morning as well. Then we drove home in time for our church meetings and now here we are. And Eric heads back to work tomorrow. So, this week that was supposed to be one to lay around and do nothing but enjoy that we're doing nothing has been the exact opposite. I had a blast, though. Eric says it was fun, too, exept for the dentist part. True that.

28 Years-You Made It!

Eric is now only my junior by two years again! He's wonderful. I love him.

The following aren't the best quality, but I like them anyway.
First we have Tate with a Wii controller because Eric was playing his new birthday game. I just like how he runs around in his undies with the Ernie backback and that hair. I'm trying not to cut it until after Halloween, for the costume's sake, but it's starting to drive me crazy. We'll see if we last.

Avery is our mover and shaker. Climbing to the steering wheel. Insisting on grown-up food, like spaghetti here. Tate could learn a thing or two from her eating habits-like eat dinner. But he'll come around. When he's 20. Whatever.

I guess I haven't posted in a while because I've been busy teaching my children to be piano virtuosos. Here's the proof. kind of.

Labor Day 2010

We all wish we were a part of this motley crew!

We also wish that I had a tape recorder on me for this scene above. I just remember that Wes was the leader and the instructions to Jonas were that he is an Avatar. Jonas was upset because "I want to be an Avatar that turns into a dragon!"
"No," Wes responded, "you are just a plain Avatar and if you don't do that then you might as well not play."
Or something like that. It was very intense.

Summer is ending.

Doesn't it look like his arm is missing? Aaaaahhhh!

Hopefully someday, they will play together well.

I snapped this shot because it looks like I curled her bangs like I did mine in 6th grade.

This is how Tate eats zucchini (disguised in chocolate cake).

Aves is 10 months old and sometimes army crawls, sometimes regular crawls, but really prefers to be spotted around like this. I coached Eric's cheesy grin.

She's also an avid reader, but I won't let her read "The Hunger Games" yet.

She wore this bonnet to church and my favorite comment was a friend wishing she could get away with wearing a bonnet.

We just returned from three days in Pendleton to watch Grandma, who now resides with ma. She's doing well. Teresa is a HUGE help and was there when grandma, Tate, and Avery all seemed to need attention at once. Diane was there before I arrived and bakes some AMAZING food so I didn't even have to turn on the oven! Grandma appreciates her food, too. She ate really well.

When mom arrived yesterday afternoon, she stayed with Avery so Tate and I could enjoy one of our final days at the pool this summer. He's getting more brave about blowing bubbles, heading into deeper water with me, kicking a little, and sometimes getting his face wet. We took Aves last weekend and she pretty much wants the slide over and over and over...and you get the picture.

When we returned from the pool, we didn't stay long. Tate was insistant on ramming into fragile grandma. At one point she stood up from the couch and he pushed her back into it. I couldn't get him into the car fast enough, but surprisingly, he didn't sleep the entire trip back. At least he did all night, so I won't complain. Also, he's been doing good with his potty training. Huge sigh of relief!!

As my gift to me, I picked up the book, "The Hunger Games", from the library and read late into the night and let Tate watch cartoons ALL morning while I finished it. It's disturbing, but good. I at least have to read the second one. I hear number three is more greusome, so I've been advised just to skim it.

And now, more tv for Tate while I get some garden tending and laundry and housecleaning and baby care completed. Now that I've said it, I feel guilty, so maybe I'll let him clean with me =) Actually, both kids are a little sick, so he's supposed to sit and be lazy all day, right?

Goings-On

Tate's been working on his faces- angry, sad, happy, and surprised. I'm trying to get him to do it so I can take pictures and then make a feelings book. You know, a feelings book to teach him about emotions, but first I'm teaching him to do the faces so I can make the book to teach him with. Do you see the weird cycle we're in here? Lots of times, he just "roars" (above).
I was born blonde, and am now a burnette (naturally). However, sometimes the blonde in me sneaks back. Like when I bathe my grandmother in her late 90's and see a reflection in the faucet and for a split second think, "Woah! I've let myself go!". Then I quickly remember that that's not my reflection. Quickly, mind you.

Or when I am listening to my new itunes playlist (thanks for the b-day gift in-laws!), and when a new song comes on I think, "This station just keeps playing my favorites!". Again, that was only a quick thought. =)

Thankfully, Avery is a burnette and didn't inherit my blonde genes. She's such a smarty-pants, I just know it! She's also a thrill seeker, unlike me. She loves ma's roller coaster (above). She stands up and rocks back and forth, which appears that she's trying to make it pick up the speed.
This was her first taste of ice-cream at a mini-Olympics we attended for Tate. He didn't like the lines and had a hard time leaving the b-ball hoop, and the cookies were divine!! That's all I remember from that. It was a few weeks ago and my memory is always weak. But my food memory is always strong.
This is some of my zuchinni. I am the only one eating the veggies from my first-time garden. I hope to improve my gardening skills every year. Our weeds are out of control, but these zuchinni don't mind. I neglected to pick some one day and when I went out there yesterday, this giant one had grown. I haven't tried it yet, but I hear the young smaller ones taste better, so I'll just puree it and sneak it into stuff so the fam won't let-on. I took some of our excess vegetables to church yesterday for people to take, but I kept this biggie. I was afraid that they would judge me, "Did you see how big it was? Everybody knows the little ones are the best. Gahstly!"

I've been enjoying playing dress-up with Avery. Especially for church. This dress has toille!!
But she looks awesome in the buff, too =)

I call this photo "the Early Bird". Tate picked out this car wash toy at Toys R Us the previous day. He looked pretty cute toting it to the cash register because it was nearly as tall as him. But Avery likes it, too, and was first up this morning so she had it all to herself without him pushing her out of the way.