Our Thanksgiving Cookies

I've fallen on the pinterest wagon and for the most part I keep the addiction under control. It has been a huge inspiration for ideas for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We had two family get togethers this year for Thanksgiving and Carli and I decided we would make cookies for both.

First we were going to make the cutest little turkey's ever, but despite all the reviews, this is not a friendly activity for a 3 year old! So Momma made a few of those and Carli helped me make the Pilgrim hats. She loved it! And did a great job throwing the marshmallows in the chocolate...

She may have eaten a few marshmallows...like six, and then I lost count.

While Carli LOVED making the hats, I think she enjoyed eating the turkey's the most.

Our cookies....we made a lot and had a lot leftover, but that's okay. What a fun memory Carli and I made in the process of creating them!

Ava at 18 mths

Ava Ruth turned 18 mths old on November 14. The time has simply flown by! She is such a little character and smiles all the time! What an amazing gift and blessing she is to our family.

We love you Ava-Boo!

18 month Stats:

31.25 inches (39%)
22 lbs 14 oz (28%)
Head: 18.5 inch (63%)

**Ava had quite the growth spurt in the last three months! She went from being in the 8th and 7th percentile to close to the top third! She gained 3 lbs and grew 2.25 inches! We are finally in the 12 mth clothes. :)

**Ava is still smaller than Carli was at this age. She is catching up though! She's only 3/4 inches shorter and less than 2 lbs lighter. Another growth spurt and she just might catch up! :)

Growing Way to Fast!!

Every once in a while when we are early on Sunday mornings, I like to attempt to take the girls picture. Key word here is ATTEMPT! But last week, the girls were in a cheesin' kind of mood just didn't want to stand! Hey - I'll take what I can get!

A true smile - kind of...

Woohoo!! A miracle!! Sweet girls!

Such a happy kiddo!

Did you do a double take? Yep, this isn't Ava any more - this was Carli in the same outfit!

We Are Such Morning People...

Actually, Ava wakes up laughing...the rest of us not so much!

We Took Christmas Pictures....

...last weekend and the girls did really well! Every year Grammy has the grand kids pictures taken, and this year we were all on top of the game and got them done in time to perhaps even have Christmas cards! Yes, miracles do exist!

Here is a sneak peak at the girls outfits...

The dresses were actually gifts from Ms. Jamie. They had purple flowers on them, so we switched the flowers out with red ones. I bought them red tights and black boots at Babies R Us. I actually spent the money and bought the bows b/c I didn't have time to make them this year. They will wear those bows a lot! :) We topped off the outfit with a black necklace and put red feathers on their boots!

We think the photographer got some good shots of all three kids and we have our fingers crossed that she got one with all three of the kids together! The important thing is that at least this year, all three kids would sit together for the same picture - last year they would have none of that!

Sisters Horsing Around

I was folding clothes in one room and heard uncontrollable giggles in the living room. So I had to go check it out and this is what I found...

What especially made me laugh is that they were taking turns as to who got to climb on who. Ava looks squished in this picture, but really, she was laughing so hard she couldn't take time to smile for the picture!

Birthday Video for Grandma

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Happy Birthday Grandma!!

Happy 84th Birthday an amazing, Godly woman who we are so very, very blessed to call ours! We love you so much Grandma!!

If only these pictures could tell the whole story of attempting to get a decent picture of two little girls who would rather be playing than sitting still smiling!!

A Birthday Message

Just for Pappy!

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**It is 10:15 at night, so pls excuse any misspellings, etc in the video, between a sleep deprived mother and a sleep deprived uncle - feel the love between the grammar mistakes! Maybe tomorrow I can get around to doing a transcript of the video just in case you can't understand her!

Happy Birthday Pappy!

Hey - we tried...

Three Amigos

Aunt Chelle and Logan have officially been in Tyler/Whitehouse about two months. We know it hasn't been very easy with Uncle Andy still having to stay in Waco until the house sales or he can find a job here. But we have been thoroughly enjoying having Aunt Chelle and Logan close by! The girls are LOVING that Logan can come over and play. We even get to take him to school twice a week! It has been lots of fun watching the kids play together and love on each other. What a blessing they are to our family!


What is funny about this crew is that Ava thinks she is just as big as her sister and cousin are. It is amazing what this little girl thinks she can do, and does accomplish! Gives her momma and Aunt Chelle heart attacks more often than not!

We can't wait for Uncle Andy to make it over this way so that we get to see him more often too!

Carli or Ava

Ava is starting grow into some of my favorite outfits that Carli wore. I think I remember these outfits a lot more than the small ones b/c I was nine months pregnant with Ava when Carli was wearing these. For some reason, I remember Carli better at 18 and 19 months than I did between 15 months and then. Can you guess who is who? You'll figure it out by the last picture.

Trunk-R-Treat

Last Sunday we went to Trunk R Treat at the church building. The girls had a lot of fun seeing all their friends and collecting candy.

Ava, Kenzie and Carli

Perhaps the best costume of the night!
Baby Hayden

Carli wasn't so sure about the whole collecting candy business. She is still pretty shy around big groups and folks she doesn't know.

Ava on the other hand had no fear! She ditched her bag, and walked around holding her hand out for candy. If she didn't like the way it felt in her hand, she'd give it back and dig in the bucket herself!

After we made our rounds outside, we went inside to check out the little festival our friend Leigh Ann had organized for the special needs kiddos. Since most of them had headed home, we got to check out all the cool things they had set up!

Almost got all three of them!

Painting our white pumpkin orange with our good buddy Riley.

Kenzie worked very hard on her pumpkin and didn't get a lick of paint on that white shirt - I was impressed!

Carli really enjoyed the fishing game.

The balloon room was the biggest hit of the night. We literally had to drag them out of it to head home!

Trunk R Treat 2011 was great fun! Thanks for all who made it happen and thanks especially to the Cooks, Manleys, Mays and Onkens for the little carnival - the girls thoroughly enjoyed it!