Christmas 2008

We had a wonderful Christmas this year but I must admit, I am worn out! I had a glimpse of what life was like for my parents the night before Christmas when I was growing up. And I only had ONE child to prepare for- not 5! It's definitely true that the older you get, the more respect you gain for your parents and recognize the sacrifices they made. I'm pretty sure that my mom is super mom because I think about all that she did (and still does) for our family and I'm amazed. Everything she does seems so effortless and turns out perfectly. Looking over my list of "to to's" for the holidays made me just want to crawl in bed and wake up after Christmas. I just hope that I can create the kind of happy home for my child(ren) that my parents created for us. I feel very lucky to have been blessed with such good parents and my biggest goal for 2009 is to better follow the incredible examples that I have been given.

Some highlights of the day:



The spin and bounce pony


We love Elmo!


One of the biggest hits: The Fisher Price Fun Park


Thanks, Granny and Popa, for the MagnaDoodle!


Audrey loves reading her new book from Great-Gma and Gpa McBride.


My highlights of the day:

1. Brett wrapped my Christmas present (the green one). It looked beautiful! And no, there aren't ornaments on our tree this year. I caught Audrey "bowling" with them, so I packed them right back up where they will be nice and safe until next year. Minus 3 red ones.


2. I got a sewing machine that is fully computerized and I CANNOT wait to use it!!! I've been making a list of projects for the new year.

3. Spending the holiday with family.

(poor Audrey was about to fall asleep in this picture)

I hope your Christmas was just as wonderful and that you all have a Happy New Year!

Water Obsession

Lately, Audrey is OBSESSED with water and gone are the days when I could wash dishes in peace and quiet while she watched her "show," as she likes to call it (anything on Noggin is her "show"). Now, she pulls a chair up next to me and when I am done with the dishes, she begins to clean her dishes.



She's caught on quickly that washing her hands is important.


Of course, we can't forget to clean our face.


Don't let the smile fool you. This never ends well.


In fact, the chairs stay locked in the coat closet during the day so she can't "wash" all day long. She usually ends up on the floor crying, "Water, water." Thank goodness Christmas is almost here. This girl needs some new toys.

Does anyone else's child do this?

Audrey's House of Fashion, Take 2

Seriously, this girl cracks me up. She creates these fashions all by herself and I about fall over laughing every time I walk in and see her.

Here we have a warm winter cap for those ice storm (for the South) or snowy (for the rest of normal America) days.


Yes, that is a pack of unopened socks.


I'm at a loss here. Shirtless, I'm used to. Pantless, more times than I can count. Pants tucked neatly under the diaper? WHAT? Has she actually seen someone dressed like that??


Can't wait to see what she creates next!

Cousins

Just thought the grandparents/great-grandparents would enjoy seeing a picture of Audrey and her cousins all in their matching Christmas outfits. Too cute!

Fun With Papa and Magra

Audrey LOVES going to see her Magra (name for my mom) and Papa and especially loves going on Saturdays when she gets to help Papa outside. During the summer, she would ride with him on the lawn mower and help pick (eat) raspberries and tomatoes. She would walk inside so proud with her filled bucket. Now that the weather has gotten colder, the chores have changed from picking berries to raking/blowing leaves. Here are some really great pictures that my mom took this weekend.

My Girl

I was at my mom's house today and while I was sewing, Audrey was getting pampered by Grandma. I walked in the kitchen to find my mom painting Audrey's fingernails and Audrey sitting there like she'd had her nails painted 1,000 times before, which by the way, she hasn't. This would be the first time. She stood up and blew on them to make sure they were dry and then after posing for us, went off to play.

Before we left, she found some clip on earrings in the toy closet and with those on and her nails painted, she suddenly looked all grown up. Ahh, time flies by way too fast!




Does this make you feel better, Ashley? Just a little?

Christmas Pictures Gone Bad

Last year, I took Audrey's picture for our Christmas card and she did so well. She smiled, looked happy, ACTED happy- the only frustrating thing was that I had an old camera that didn't take the pictures fast enough. Well, for Christmas that year, Brett bought me a new fancy camera that takes great pictures and I have thoroughly enjoyed it all year.

Fast forward to 3 days ago. Knowing the speed and capability of this new camera, I couldn't wait to get Audrey down to the beautiful town square to take her Christmas pictures. It turns out, though, that 20 month olds aren't crazy about getting their picture taken. I brought along my assistant (Brett) to jump up and down, scream, dance, do whatever it took to get her to smile, laugh, look remotely happy. His contribution was telling her to pray. So, this is what I got...

Cute? Yes (It's currently the background on my computer). Christmas card material? Not exactly what I was hoping for.

Then, there's the cheesy grin you get when you tell her to say, "Cheese."

If it was Halloween and she was dressed as a cat, this picture might work.

Once we made it to the train, I knew the photo shoot was over. I also knew that I would be lucky is even ONE picture was acceptable Christmas card material.


Turns out, there were some sweet pictures amongst 75 not so flattering pictures.


And one that you might even see on a Christmas card. However, next year, we might just have to leave the Christmas card picture up to a professional. I'll start saving my money now.

Future Fashionista

So, Audrey is in that really fun stage where she prefers to not have clothes on when we are at home. Unfortunately(?), she has not mastered being able to get her clothes off completely. This morning, less than 5 minutes after I got her dressed, I found her on the couch with what resembled a one arm shirt. You know that trendy look where you just have one sleeve and the other arm is bare. Yeah, that's what it looked like. Pretty funny. Then tonight, I walk in to find her watching Dora sporting this new look.


I think she's got some potential... just have to work a little on her modesty. ha ha

The Holiday Season Can Begin...

Audrey's Christmas pants are officially finished and I think they turned out so cute!!


Up close and personal with the ruffles.


My friend is embroidering this design on a shirt that Audrey will wear with her pants.


I must give MUCH of the credit to my very talented and PATIENT mother and a fantastic tutorial, http://jumpupanddown.typepad.com/jumpupanddown/2008/04/a-tutorial-ruff.html, that I came across with directions for making the ruffles.

Now, on to making 2 more pairs for my nieces. I thought they would enjoy matching with Audrey, since the 3 of them are all crazy about each other, and check off 2 Christmas presents in the process. I love multi-tasking!

The 3 Under 3

(Don't you just love Audrey's "give me a break" look? I interrupted Barney.)

For the past 2 days, I've had my sweet little nieces at my house, who are 2 and 3 years old. Audrey has been in heaven and I have to admit, I have enjoyed myself also. Audrey's happiness has come from having 2 girls to play with (and who actually play with her), be silly with, scream with, talk to, watch movies with, etc etc. You get the point. While I love these girls, my happiness has come from BEING LEFT ALONE!! Don't get me wrong, they still needed things (food, lots of food) but Audrey was so entertained by them that she left me alone. There were times I think she forgot I was even there. I got laundry done, snacks given out and cleaned up, clothes put away, lunch made and cleaned up, the dishwasher unloaded and reloaded... all before noon! That stuff usually takes me ALL day. Audrey wasn't following me around destroying stuff as I cleaned or needing to be held. It was WONDERFUL! So, I decided that having more children definitely has its perks. Now, if I just didn't have to go through the pregnancy again... and wait for one of them to be able to fully communicate, clean up after him/herself, be completely potty trained, and take my threats seriously. he he

Making cupcakes, kind of.


Just like her mom.


Helping to stir the cake (the only real useful helper)


These 2 were more interested in licking anything covered in cake batter.


You know you have a good cousin when they will let you sit on top of them to watch tv. Audrey is currently boycotting clothes.


The only one content playing by herself.

Good Riddance!

After putting it off for, well, let's be honest, a year and half, I am finally cleaning out my closet. I have 4 different stages that I could catergorize my clothing in: super skinny (hey, don't laugh, these are my catergories) pre-baby stage, aka really cute, rather pricey clothes; really fat, I'm eating because "the baby needs it", maternity clothes; extra large, no, I'm not pregnant ANYMORE, cheap, please let SOMETHING fit around my Dolly Parton chest and my J.Lo booty clothes; and last but not least, my current, average size. No, I never made it back to my original weight, yes, my hips and booty forgot to shrink back down to pre-baby size, but hey, I am happy and feel good in my clothes.

Since I am post-baby and comfortable that my body will never be the skinny little thing it used to be, I figured it was time to finally get rid of all of my category 1clothes. However, that is the only category of clothes that is leaving my closet since I think I would like to have another child (today) and therefore, will eventually need those other clothes (but those are now organized within their own groups). Turns out, I had a lot more money to spend on clothes pre-baby and the stack of category 1 clothes leaving my closet was shocking. Now, you might be thinking that it could be worse, but the sad truth is that I already donated a pile just about as big as this to my sister this summer.


I can't tell you how freeing it felt to walk in my closet and just pull everything off the hangers. I almost messed up and got rid of things that fit just because I was enjoying myself so much. It was like turning over a new leaf. Finally acknowledging that I will never be able to wear those clothes again and not caring anymore. I mean, why torture myself? Plus, now that Brett's side of the closet is twice as full as mine it means that I can go shopping, right?!

I must say that I am thrilled to be free of the little voice inside my head that says, "If you would put down that cookie and go hit the treadmill, you might be able to wear that beautiful wrap sweater that you drove to 2 different stores to find and bought hot off the rack with no coupons" (gasp). Well, guess what? I like coupons now and while the sweater is beautiful, it itches.

Now I'm going to eat some cookies. Take THAT little voice.

Picture of the Week

I'm still laughing about this picture! As we were leaving the house this morning, Audrey insisted on getting her hat. She LOVES hats and tries to turn everything into a hat- boxes, pots and pans, the advertisement display's sitting on tables at the restaurant (you know, the ones featuring the yummiest looking dessert that you won't be able to stop thinking about because of the obnoxious, in your face display). Anyway, enough about my self control issues. Little Miss Independent wanted to put on her hat today all by herself and I about fell over laughing when I looked outside and saw her. The flap in the front technically goes over her ear and because of the way she was wearing it, the back of the hat was pointed just like the front. Positioned this way reminds me of those Trojan helmets (I think those are the right ones). Ahhh... thank goodness for the moments that make us laugh.

Gatlinburg Escape

Brett and I were able to escape to the Smoky Mountains for a few days last week and I have to admit, I could have stayed longer! I missed Audrey, but I knew that she was in good hands so I wasn't worried about her. She was spoiled rotten and probably had more fun in 4 days than she's had her entire 19 months with me. But I guess that's the point when you stay with Grandma and Grandpa!

Brett and I stayed in a beautiful cabin with great views of the leaves changing.




The first day we drove into the park and hiked around. Before we left, Brett said that he would like to go on an easy/moderate hike. Nothing strenuous. I should have just laughed at him because I knew this would happen...


Now, I know from the picture it probably doesn't look bad, but let me assure you, it was. This hike, that was indeed labeled "strenuous," was 2 miles straight up with a 1700' elevation change (I think that's how you explain that). All I kept thinking was that if I made it up alive, it would be all downhill on the way back.

Point of destination: "Chimney Tops" If you wanted to get the best view, you had to climb the rocks. I chose to go about halfway where I stood a chance of getting down without killing myself (and everyone else in my path).


Brett chose to climb to the top. Here's his proof.


What's funny is that no one was going to the top when we got there. Once Brett started climbing, you could hear gasps and whispers (it was really funny) and suddenly there is a line of people going up behind him.


Going downhill (steep enough to make you just want to run the entire way) was not as enjoyable as I had hoped. I can't say it was worse than going up, but by the time we got to the car, my knees were in major pain. I think I have the knees of a 60 yr old.


Lucky for me, Brett was too sore the next day to want to do anymore strenuous hiking so we decided to head to North Carolina to see the Biltmore Estate. Ahhh... I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this house. It is AMAZING!! My mom and I went and toured the house a couple of years ago and I knew that Brett would love it, too. We love looking at houses and you just can't beat the biggest home in America.





We were also able to get in some shopping at the outlet mall, ate lots of yummy food, and visited one of my closest friends from college and saw her little 4-month old baby for the first time.

While we were gone, Audrey had her own fun and my mom took lots of pictures to document. Here are some of the best...

Sat in wet cement.


Found a new hiding place in the cabinets of my parents new (under construction) house.


Ate LOTS of ice cream.


Invaded Stryker's space-


and made peace with Stryker by giving him lots of hugs.


Thanks, Mom and Dad!!!