mmmm Turkey

Today is one of those days where you just can't help being thankful for life and family. Even if the point of the day wasn't thanks, just being with Ryan and the girls all day would be enough. We had an awesome meal I must say. Brining is the way to go for turkey, makes it so juicy. I didn't make a lot but what I did make turned out pretty well.
Not many pictures as I was in the kitchen most of the day and Ryan was watching football, and the girls, from his new recliner. The weather was beautiful and Avery and I had a nice walk. Life is good and I'm so grateful to God for the love He has for me and the love I receive from my family!
Isn't this the cutest little smile that Isabel has started!

She loved this!


Our new couch and recliner!

Hot Cocoa and baby cribs...

This is Avery first cup of hot chocolate. She thought it was pretty tasty.



Isabel loves to climb into Bitty Baby's crib! She climbs in, then out, then in, then out. Sometimes she leans over the side and falls out. So funny to watch her have such fun. See below that a certain someone else also had fun with Bitty's crib!

Little Miss Avery from June of 2007. How fast they grow up!!!

Cute girls!

Here is a video of the girls. Not much going on and it's a little long but someone out there should enjoy it! The rest of just some pictures I took for no reason at all other than they are such cute girls. I just love this outfit I got for Avery, she loves the fact that it twirls! Isabel is getting some molars so that finger just won't leave her mouth and yes, Avery does have a little blue eyeshadow on. She likes to put on makeup with me. Such a good mother to start bad habits early...



The video twice is a mistake, sorry!

Halloween

On Halloween, before the candy started, we went to the house of a woman who is in my work vanpool. (Miss Amy) She heard me talking about how much Avery loves cats and she said that she had 2 kittens that loved people and Avery should come over and play with them. We did and Avery was in heaven. Isabel was so excited all she could do was squeal and try to kiss them!


We had a nice Halloween even though I didn't get to spend much time with the girls. I volunteered to help out with our church Trunk or Treat and I was busy all night. Ryan had decorated our trunk and was manning that station so he was also busy but God truly blessed me with great friends and helpers and I never once had to worry about what they were up to. Between Kelly, Mercy, Tammie, Lani, Andrea and Lola they were constantly supervised! Ryan did have more moments with them so he got a few pictures. They were pretty cute. Avery LOVED all the candy and that was really the only thing she was interested in. She did win a fish but unfortunately I don't have pictures as Cutie-pie died very quickly. If she can't get a cat (which she isn't going to get!) she now wants a lizard or fish tank for Christmas!








Our Trunk, it looked good in the dark when it was all lit up!





I really think this is Isabel's favorite person, Lola. She gets so excited to see her. What's nice is that Lola gets just as excited to see her!

Field Trip!

Last Friday I was threatened with the possibility of jury duty! Now, I'm all for jury duty just not on my few days off when I would need to pay an extra $50 for a babysitter! Luckily my group wasn't called but we waited around until 11:30 to find out. As soon as we knew we were free we hit the road for a new "fun place", The Lindsey Wildlife Museum! It's a rehabilitation hospital for injured wildlife and they have some of the unreleasable animals on display for people to see. Since all of us love animals I thought it would be great, and it was. It is a very small place but they had a lot of birds on display, a cute little play room and outside a really nice park for picnicking. Since they are all wild animals clearly we aren't allowed to touch them so that was disappointing for Avery but we did get to see neat stuff. Here are some pictures from the day including some while we were waiting to leave. I got the membership pass which also gets us free admission to the Oakland Zoo so we'll be seeing lots of animals over the next year!


Playing with some of the silly string Gran-daddy sent. I think he meant for her to play with it but I had fun at first!





These birds just sat there and would occasionally make a little noise. Most of them have been there many years and have injured wings. They are really beautiful up close.

Playing with dolls

I say this all the time but the girls really are seeming older and older! My "baby" is growing out of those baby stages and while I know she is still very young she is an independent, feisty little thing who just doesn't seem as dependent on me as Avery is/was and just likes to do her own thing and not be bothered. Forget taking anything or even suggesting you will take something from her as she will pitch such a fit! I do think part of the reason she seems to be older than Avery was at this time is because of Avery. We rarely play with baby toys but moved right into toddler things and by watching her sister she is learning a lot of tricks. I just love to watch her little brain trying to figure things out. She is at that stage where she is picking up new skills so easily and it still amazes me!
Avery is too much fun but also at that stage where she picks up songs and phrases very fast. She also has reached that age where if you are at a store she "wants" all the toys. They are her "favorites" (does she even know what a transformer does!)





She loves to climb in chairs! She does this constantly and in any chair she can find! Sometimes she sits and sometimes she pushes on the back so I'm afraid she will topple over.


Again with another chair!


Typical Avery face, notice the barely suppressed smile...