Plotting My Escape

Yesterday I caught Aidan peering outside pretty longingly. It almost seemed like he'd rather be out there than inside with me and Ava.

I could really see the gears turning in his head and just imagining the trouble he'd love to get into.

Drop Dead Gorgeous

While I took Aidan to the doctor the day after Christmas so he could be diagnosed with the exact same ailment as Ava (see one of the previous posts), Sean gave Ava her bath.

It was so cute - when I got home, Sean was so proud of the fact that he used the blow dryer on her hair, and even blow dried it upside-down. He snapped this picture of Ava with her beautiful mane.

Doesn't she look like a movie star in her dressing room getting ready to go on stage?

Guitar Hero Groupie

One of Ava's favorite things she did at Memaw and Pepaw's on Christmas was dancing to "Guitar Hero" while the big kids played.

Always needs to be the center of attention.

Christmas, Part 4 (? I think, I lost count...)

Christmas at Memaw and Pepaw's was really nice. We got there in time for the kids to open a couple gifts right before they had some lunch then much needed naps (I don't know who needed it more, the kids or Mommy and Daddy). After a rough couple of days with 2 sick kids, Mommy grabbed a glass of wine when the kids laid down so she could relax a bit.

After naps, they woke up to open even more presents, then we ate dinner and just hung out. Again, the kids got lots of nice things - LOTS of toys, clothes, books, and miscellaneous things. One of our favorite things the kids got was a little trailer for their wagon (it attaches to the rear axle and can haul things like coolers, blankets, diaper bags, etc. I am sure you will see it appear on this blog once the weather is warmer).
Sean and Lily. This was SO funny, because Sean and his brother look so much alike, Lily kept staring at him with that, "You look like my Daddy, only much bigger..." look:

Aidan playing tug-of-war with Uncle Ross' bull mastiff, Mable. How many big dogs are this gentle with babies?:

Christmas Eve

With all the craziness the holiday season always brings, we were looking forward to a nice relaxing Christmas Eve. It totally should have been, all we planned to do was go to church, go out to dinner, then come back to our house to watch movies and drink some cocktails.

Again, it should have been relaxing. The kids' colds were starting to take a turn for the worse - I had just taken Ava to the doctor Monday night where she was diagnosed with an
upper-respiratory infection and ear infection, and Aidan was starting to come down with the same.

Church was PACKED and sooo hot with the 1000 church-goers and clingy kids. We had to wait 45 minutes with those same cranky kids for a table at the restaurant. Dinner was a struggle as both Ava and Aidan pretty much refused to eat anything. To top that all of, Sean's steak was laced with fat and it made him sick later that night.

We managed to come home and let the kids open one of their presents (each got to open their Christmas PJs), and snap a few pics.

Christmas, Part 3 - Our Christmas

Now that we have kids, we made the promise to each other that we would wake up in our beds every Christmas morning. I don't know that I could stand not seeing their faces and the amazement displayed as they search to find what Santa left for them.

The night before, we left some milk and cookies for Santa. When we woke up, we checked to see if he had enjoyed his snack, then went to find their treasures.

We had a nice morning of playing with toys, hanging out in our pajamas, and having a nice breakfast as a family before heading over to Memaw and Pepaw's for yet another Christmas celebration.

I guess both Ava and Aidan managed to make it on Santa's nice list, because they got lots of neat stuff.

I think this pose says it all:

Lovin' on Lily

This past weekend was the first time the kids got a chance to spend a lot of time with their baby cousin Lily. Sean's brother and his family lives in Texas, so we don't see them more than a couple times a year.

Ava was beyond smitten - as she always is - when there is a baby around. She immediately wanted to hold her. Notice Aidan looks like a monster next to Lily, and he is only 5 months older. That's what happens when 2 kids are on the total opposite ends of the growth chart!

Christmas, Part 2

We had an early birthday party/Christmas celebration with Sean's family and grandma on his birthday. It was a fun - yet hectic - and FREEZING day. Also, both kids were under the weather, so that was fun too (sarcasm, anyone?).
The big hit of the evening was the set of bristle blocks Aidan got from Grandma. Almost the instant it was opened, the vultures flocked:

Old Man Jammies

One of the gifts Gram and Dzia got Aidan during our first Christmas celebration this year was a pair of "old man" pajamas. Two-piece, plaid, and flannel...nothing screams old man than that combination. Can I just say I think he looks pretty cute:

Happy (Belated) Birthday Daddy!

We recently celebrated Sean's last twenty-something birthday (honey - don't worry if you are reading this, because no matter how old you are, I will always be older).

I woke up early to make Sean a quiche, crescent rolls, and coffee, and let the birthday boy sleep in a bit. Sean woke to the sight of Ava and Aidan singing him "Happy Birthday", then they helped Daddy open his presents.

Hope you had a great day!

Loungewear

Besides the PowerWheels, I think the kids' next favorite gift was the bathrobes they received from Gram and Dzia.

Ava loved it so much that she cried when Sean tried to take it off of her for bedtime. I have a feeling they will get a lot of use out of these very practical - yet boring - gifts.

Christmas, Part 1

Having a family, we have come to understand it is nearly impossible to make all the rounds to see everyone on Christmas Day. Because of this, we celebrated Christmas with my parents this past weekend.

The kids had lots of fun opening and playing with their gifts. Some of the most memorable moments were:

1) Ava meticulously removing every scrap of paper from each gift before acknowledging what it was;
2) Ava saying, "I wonder what this could be" as she was unwrapping;
3) Aidan walking around with present in hand and tongue sticking out;
4) Ava responding to the stamp set she got, "What a nice gift!"
5) The kids practically beating the tar out of each other to play with the PowerWheels

By the way...I am still very jealous the kids got a PowerWheels from Gram and Dzia because that was the one toy I always wanted, but they never let me have one...Maybe I can take it for a spin.

Proof that the box is as cool - if not cooler - than the actual toy:

Cookie Monster

This past weekend, Ava helped Grandma make cutout cookies. This is a tradition we started last year, and plan to continue each year.

Ava had a blast with everything from dipping the cutouts in flour and stamping the dough to frosting and sprinkling the finished product.

It is so bizarre to watch her do things that I remember doing as a child - what a blessing to get to experience!

Meanwhile, in the living room, the boys were horsing around doing manly stuff (pay no attention to the Cabbage Patch Kid):

Dancing Queen

Ava has proven to be very musically inclined, and is also pretty light on her feet. We were watching one of Ava's favorite DVDs - "Classical Baby". It is a collection of classical music with fun clips and classic pieces of art...plus each DVD is only around 25 minutes (we highly recommend).

I snapped this video of Ava doing her best ballet:

It's My Birthday...

...well, not quite yet. Allow me to explain: Lately, Ava has been OBSESSED with birthdays - not just hers, but everybody's. She has been saying her birthday is next, and we then list all of the other special people in our lives whose birthdays are before hers. To put it into more simple terms for her, Sean said, "When it snows, it is your birthday".

He must have forgot where we live and that Ava's birthday is in the dead-middle of winter (that means it will snow a lot from now until her birthday). When we got our first real snowfall last week, Ava's first response was, "IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!"

Too precious. To take her mind off of the fact that it's not quite her birthday, she got to play out in the snow. She had lots of fun throwing snowballs at Sean as he was hanging the outdoor Christmas lights.

Miss Priss

This past weekend, I painted Ava's nails for the first time. We were just sitting on the couch the night before we got our family picture taken, and I thought it would be fun as well as a nice touch for the pic.

Ava was very good - she sat still while I was painting, and kept her hands spread out until they were dry. She REALLY liked it... so much that when she was washing her hands later that night she said, "No, don't wash it off!"

That's our girl - not afraid to play in the dirt, but still requires the girly-girl stuff.

A Look Into the Future?

OK, so I know every mother thinks their child is the most beautiful/cute/handsome one there ever was, but I think Aidan is quite handsome. He has those steel-blue eyes, sandy blond hair, and rugged good looks...

...hmm - sounds a lot like someone else we all know. What do you think?

Tree Trimmin'

One tradition we have is putting up the Christmas decorations the day after Thanksgiving. One of us always gets up early to hit the Black Friday sales, then we decorate the rest of the day.

It is always lots of fun to look at the ornaments and reminisce about them as you hang them up. I find that I seem to forget what we have, and then it's a pleasant surprise to see them again.

Here is our finished product:
Another tradition: Ava helping to put the star on the top of the tree:

And a tradition in the making - Aidan crying when we tell him he can't play in the tree:

Happy Thanksgiving!!

This year we spent Thanksgiving at my parents' house. It was really nice, because Sean's family was also there to celebrate with us. We are so blessed that both sides of our family are so close that we can spend holidays together.

I absolutely LOVE Thanksgiving - you get to spend time with family, eat lots of yummy food - and most of all - the start of the holiday season.

Hope everyone had a wonderful day!

What's Thanksgiving without a few rounds of Euchre?

Little Miss

Ava - when did you get SO big? I snapped these pics one evening when Ava was watching "Max & Ruby", I thought she looked so cute sitting there like a little lady.

CAUGHT, Part 2

It appears Aidan is practicing to try out for the US Olympic Bobsled team. Is there really NOTHING this little boy won't try to get into?

We had no idea how good we had it with Ava - she never tried to pull any of this stuff!

CAUGHT!

This weekend, I was in the middle of trying to get breakfast ready for the family. I put Aidan in his room, opened his toy box and took a few out, then asked Ava to play in there with him.

Things were going really well - the kids were playing nice and quietly, and I was able to get started without a toddler pulling himself up my leg and a three-year-old wanting me to pick her up and dance with her.

That's when Ava came into the kitchen and said, "Aidan's in the toy box!" Lately, she has been in a heck of a tattling phase, so we usually blow it off. She told me again, so I said, "Oh, is he reaching inside to get a toy out?" Expecting Ava to say yes, instead she said, "No, he's IN the toy box!".

I walked into his room to find the following:
Stinker.

O, O, O, Who's That Kid With the Oreo Cookie?

IT'S AIDAN!!

This past week, we let Aidan partake in his very first Oreo (well, it was a mini-Oreo, but he doesn't need to know quite yet they come in a larger size - and we DEFINITELY can't let him in on the Double Stuf secret yet).

The experience was everything you'd expect it to be: first, apprehension; next "mmm, this is pretty good"; finally...disgusting chocolate mess.

This is part of Aidan's training so he and Ava can take on the Manning brothers in the Double Stuf Racing League.

Parents, Lock Up Your Daughters...

...Aidan is walking!

The past week or so, Aidan has really shown interest in learning to walk. He had been taking one step here and there, but the other night he let go of the wall and took about 6 steps to Sean.

Tonight, for some reason, he decided he wanted to do it. Mommy spent about an hour letting Aidan practice letting go of the couch to test his walking skills.

As soon as he would take a few steps, we would all get really excited and clap - which resulted in a huge open-mouthed smile on Aidan.

I captured a clip of him in action...it won't be long now until he is in an all-out sprint. We're SO proud of you little man!

Mommy's Little Helper, Part 2

A little while ago, I created a post talking about how much Ava loves to help Mommy. The other day, her helpfulness continued.

In the normal morning rush, I was trying to get both kids fed, lunches made, and finish getting myself ready. Aidan's toast popped out of the toaster and I asked Ava to put it on Aidan's tray. I expected her to simply put the toast in front of him. Instead, she went the extra mile: I turned to make sure she was complying, and saw her tearing it into smaller pieces for her baby brother. SOOO sweet.

Ava can sometimes be on the moody side, but when she wants to be, she can be the sweetest little thing you can imagine.

Horsin' Around with Daddy

Here is a glimpse of a typical night in our house. Usually after dinner, Ava requires Sean to get down on the ground and act like a dinosaur. He is such a good sport especially after a morning at the gym and a long day at work.

This night, Daddy was able to give Ava a ride as well as tickle Aidan and make him happy. Usually, Mommy sits back and watches with a smile on her face enjoying the laughter that ensues.