My Christmas Crew

I attempted to make my kids sit down in front of the tree and take at least a few pictures each day that they had some Christmas clothes on. I figured if I did it enough times surely I would get at least a couple of pictures that were good. Here are a few that I think turned out pretty well. Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas.

You can tell from this picture that I was making silly faces to try to get them to smile. Caden tends to mimic what you are doing and it kinda defeats the purpose.

The Magic Tree & Santa

We visited the Magic Tree, which is a tree here in Columbia that is completely covered in Christmas lights. It is a fun holiday thing to visit and get a few pictures. Ricky brought our new camera and captured some cool shots. We also visited Santa at Bass Pro one night last week. We figured that Avery Lynn would cry when she was placed on Santa's lap (which she did) but I thought I had Caden convinced to sit on Santa's lap this year but at the last moment he decided he only wanted to stand next to him (which is what he also did last year). Nevertheless, we have a picture even if one kid is screaming and the other standing next to Santa. I'll take what I can get.

The Magic Tree

Avery Lynn, Santa, & Caden

Avery Lynn Laughing

This is from several weeks ago, but it will still make you smile.

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Halloween 2011

We had a good time celebrating Halloween. We had Halloween parties with playgroup and Caden's Little Ones Day Out and we also went trick-or-treating with friends on Halloween night. Caden dressed up as a cowboy, we called him Cowboy Caden. Avery Lynn was a horse. If you asked Caden what he was going to be for Halloween he would say "I'm going to be a cowboy and Avery Lynn is going to be my horse."

Getting in the spirit of the season.

9 Months Old

Avery Lynn is so much fun these days. I can't believe that she is nine months old. We went for her 9mo check-up today and she weighed in at 16lb 1oz (13th percentile). Length was 27 inches but that is what she measured in length at her 6th month appt and I think that had something to do with the fact that she was screaming by the time the nurse was measuring her and stretching a baby out when they are pitching a fit isn't the easiest way to calculate length. So I assure you that she is longer than she was 3 months ago but we just don't know how long. : ) Her head is also growing, coming in at the 95th percentile so it looks like she might just have a big o noggin like her big brother. Hopefully it will be filled with brains as we like to think that Caden's is. Anyway here is what Avery Lynn is up to these days...

• Speech: She can say Mama, Dada, Hi, & Bye-Bye. She has started jabbering sentences. Obviously I don't know what she is saying but what I mean is she started using more than just one sound/word over and over again. She changes it up and makes multiple sounds sounding more like a sentence.


• Sleep: She sleeps about 11 hrs at night and naps morning and afternoon for about 1.5 to 2hrs. She is a great sleeper!


• Food: She does all kinds of baby food and still nurses 4 times a day. She also likes crackers, puffs, cheerios, & shredded cheese. She likes a sippy cup with water. She has five teeth(six someday really soon).


• Movement: She is good at sitting up on her own but hasn't decided she is ready to crawl just yet. She will turn and wiggle a bit while on her stomach to get a toy that is out of reach but she is pretty content just staying put. She loves the Johnny Jumper that hangs from the door frame. She is a bouncing fool in that thing.


• Other Fun Fact: She loves to give kisses (wide open mouth ones). She can clap her hands and sign "more" when she wants more food. She likes waving Hi. She loves her big brother, he can always make her laugh. She loves pulling hair (especially brothers).

Here are some pictures of our cutie from the last few weeks.

Trying on a hat from her closet!

Dressing her up.

Happy as can be!

It's Fall Y'all

We have been enjoying the lovely weather here and have gotten to be outside a lot lately. We've gone to a couple of fall outings as you will see below. A couple of weekends ago Ricky's parents came up and we went to a Fall Fest at one of the many Mizzou Farms up here. Caden got to run around and play, go on a hot air balloon ride, pick a pumpkin, and go on a mule pulled wagon ride. It was a fun day! We also went to the pumpkin patch last week which was also fun. Avery Lynn didn't enjoy sitting on the hay bale as much this week so she is screaming in the picture (I guess pants are nicer than a dress when you have to sit on hay). Overall things are going well. I will do an update on Avery Lynn sometime soon after we go to the doctor for her 9 month check-up in a couple of weeks.

Avery Lynn, all smiles

Avery Lynn poses with a pumpkin

Caden picks out a pumpkin

Both Kiddos

Caden goes on a hot air balloon ride

Caden and Papa Ogles up in the balloon

Avery Lynn pulls headbands off these days

Nobody is really happy that they have to sit and take a picture

Caden enjoyed playing in the houses at the pumpkin patch

I think I told him to say "Pumpkin Patch" and this is the action I got to go along with it.

Caden got to hold a bunny rabbit (it blends into his shirt)Me and my children!

August Photo Shoot

Here are some pictures from our photo shoot we did with Art & Soul photography here in Columbia. We really enjoy working with Lana and are always happy with the images she captures.