24th Birthday!

The time has come, and I am one year older. This year, having a baby along made the celebration a little more "low key" than other birthdays. We opted to go to dinner with some friends and could not of had more fun! We sure do have some amazing buddies in our lives- and having them there to celebrate was wonderful! We have our normal group of friends that are 99% of the time at all the gatherings... which makes you really grateful for those people- always there for you to count on! We went to California Dreaming (one of my favorites). Since it was my birthday- I got a free meal! AND... I was able to choose any meal on the entire menu... so why get 1 rack of ribs when they have a 2 rack meal?! I mean come on... I needed to get my free meal's worth! SO, for the night I was on the Adkins Diet... and ate almost the entire 2 racks of ribs... and chose to leave my pashed potatoes! Mmmmmmm Mmmmmm... they were yummy! Come on now- I have a baby to feed... she takes about 500 of my daily calories- THEREFORE, eating 2 racks of ribs is only helping- not hurting! I need my fill too! :) Ok, I'm done defending myself for the ribs... here are the pictures from the night. So much fun- and thanks to all my sweet friends that could make it!

Mike and Helen

Avery was in one of her "fussy" moods... and wanted me up and moving almost the entire time. I would sit, she would freak, I would stand- she would stop. (see, already working off the ribs!)

Sam and his 2 boys

Sweet baby's teeth were hurting too.

Rhonda with Aiden

All the girls!

Yes, this is blurry... the waiter we had reminded my of Ferris Bueller... and he really had a difficult time taking out group picture.

Take 1:

Bueller??... Bueller???... Bueller??

Take 2:... He just... clicked it...I love this picture- but not so much either

And finally... Take 3- People around us were literally cheering when he finally figured it out. YES- we were THAT group!

And- my BEAUTIFUL 12 white and 12 red roses from my sweet hubby with the most perfect card. Im a lucky girl! I love you handsome!!

Final Christmas! #3

This was at Ernest's Great Aunt Mary's house. We love visiting them and eating the yummy yummy food! Lots of pictures taken here!!

Avery loves her Grand-dad

So this year we stayed at a hotel since we have no idea when Avery will have a "good" or "bad" night. we didnt want to wake everyone up all night. We were first going to stay where Ernest's sister was staying.... but when we got therem got our key, saw who was across the hall (drunk old druggies) we quickly turned around and went to the next exit to a MUCH better Hampton Inn. ehhh- that first hotel was NASTY...how a "non smoking" hotel smells like a smoke stack... guess someone wasnt following the rules!! Thank you Lord for clean hotels!!

Avery's thinking "wow that is one cute baby!!"

This was Avee's face when we walked in the first NASTY hotel.

playing on the bed. Baby bouncing... SOFTLY!

They were POOPED when we finally got home!!!

Christmas Day!

One thing we have decided is that now with a baby- we want to stay at home, or close to home on Christmas Day. Especially when Avery is old enough to really enjoy the Holiday- we have chosen to not spend it traveling. Since my mom lives so close (6 miles away) we spent the afternoon there. We of course enjoyed the day, and all of us got great gifts! These pictures were taken with the awesome camera Ernest got me for my Chrisrmas/Birthday. Its an Olympus E620. We have wanted a real nice camera to have now that Avery is here- one to take wonderful pictures as she grows... and Ernest surprised me with an amazing one this year!

Christmas Day!!

With my mom's dog

hmmm... to scream or not to scream

Reindeer Butt

Santa's stash for Avee

PASSED OUT on her Gammie!!

sleeping on her G-PA

Avery's gift for daddy- Willow Tree "new dad"

Christmas Morning

Christmas #2

Our next Christmas Celebration was on December 20- At Ms. Jackie's (Ernest's stepmother's mom.) We always enjoy seeing everyone there, we just hate we generally only see then at Christmas. Once  again- Avery scored some great things!!! We didn't take many pictures here for some reason, but hopefully someone who did will send some our way!!!

Here is a family picture taken.... Has to be one of my all time favorites!!

Christmas 2009- Xmas #1

This was Avery's FIRST Christmas... and we took pictures of EVERYTHING!! :) We are enjoying having Daddy home this year because they are planning to be deployed next year. We sure did enjoy having him here though!!

First Christmas was at my dad and Stepmom's house. This was on December 13- which luckily worked out so my sister and her family could make it. We were also very lucky that Ernest was able to get out of a course he thought he was going to. Avery racked up on awesome gifts and a ton of precious clothes!! She has LOVED playing in her exersaucer. Here are pictures from The Bishop Christmas.

On our way to my dad's

Uncle Austin

The kids... and kids :)

Avery with her Grandpa Jim

The WHOLE family

A picture my sister took.

Another from my sister

This is her new toy!! Picture taken with MY new Christmas/Birthday present from Ernest