Snow White Christmas

YES, I know- I'm a little late!!! I have been so busy (intentionally). I have been busy with Avery during the day, and when she goes to sleep, I have been painting the house! It looks sooo pretty, and I will post pictures (yeah right, is what you are thinking, I know) With all that being said, tonight I am taking off from paintig to make some updates on this blog!!

Again, we were so lucky to have our handsome Daddy home this Christmas. One tradition we have decided to start is for our little family to wake up in our home Christmas morning... and hang out and play all day. So, this was the first year we did that! It was sooo wonderful to spend the day together, playing with all of Avery's new toys that Santa dropped off!!

                                                                     THANKS SANTA!



THEN!!! It snowed on Christmas! How perfect is that?!?!

                                                                It's NOT a fashion show!!

Christmas Picture Catch Up!

I have every intention of catching up on this blog within the next few days! So here goes. The first update will be all the pictures from over Christmas with Daddy home :). We had some wonderful time as a "little family", but also enjoyed a day with some of our "big family". Avery is so blessed to have so many amazing people in her life (as are we). Those people, spoiled her rotten this Christmas! She LOVES all her goodies. Like I mentioned before, we are rearranging the downstairs so that I can move around the house without falling over toys :). It's amazing how much she plays with them all though, she doesn't take a break!
Here are the Christmas pictures!!

Nana, Papa Jim and Uncy Austin's visit!

 Avery's new kitchen from Nana and Papa Jim!

 The pups getting their prizes!

 All the food from Nanny and Pa!

 Avery's new apron from her BEALS family!

 Avery's "Avery" baby :)



Right after my family left, Ernest's family came! And as I was uploading them to the blog, I realized I dont think I got them all from my computer! I will add more SOON!

Home for the holidays!

YES!!!! WE HAD DADDY HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!
Hey everyone, Sorry it has taken me so long to update this blog. I'm not really sure of who reads it... BUT, I am sorry if you do! :) It has been so hectic around here, as I'm sure you understand. We are past the first month mark in this deployment, and while I dislike how little I get to hear from him, time is moving pretty quickly. Some days quicker than others...
So, as many of you know- Ernest was able to come home for Christmas. This is a definite blessing for our family, and we did NOT take it for granted. I'm pretty sure Avery and I followed him around every where, like lost puppies. He didn't seem to mind though... we were taking in every second that we could!


BELIEVE IT OR NOT (sarcasm) Avery was spoiled and loved-on over Christmas! She has so many new toys... so many in fact, we are rearranging our house so that we will have enough space to put her new stuff, without having it all over the house! We are (I am) removing our formal living room, and creating a Play Place for our little toddler! She LOVES having all the toys in one room... and really knows it's HERS. One thing I am planning to do while Ernest is gone is finally decorate and get our house how we want it. And if any of you know me, you know I am a bargain shopper! SO, I will be finding the best deals possible, therefore, it will take this entire year to get it done! But it sure will be a fun task. And I am excited about my husband coming home to a cozy, organized home!
These pictures were taken at the airport when Avery and I went to get Daddy! His flight got in around 9:30 PM, so Avery slept on the way down there. Mean mommy woke her up... but I'm pretty sure seeing Daddy again made it all better. I had made a shirt for her to wear to surprise him, but once he walked up- and he grabbed her, she wouldn't let go long enough for him to see. It said "All I want for Christmas is Daddy" and had a cute army man on the front. Here are the pictures that we took at the airport.

 So, don't mind me... a couple friends and I got spray tans before the guys got home... needless to say, I WON'T be doin that again!! It did NOT look right on me... Im PALE, We have a PALE little family... and that's ok with me.

Going Away Party

Hey family and friends! I am finally checking in for the first time since my handsome soldier left! Avery and I miss Daddy SOOO increcibly much, but like you will hear quite often- We are SOOO proud of him. We are doing well, and getting in the swing of things. We are used to him leaving for a month or so at a time- and because of this, we have taken over the household jobs... and started our daily routines with Avery and I. Cooking for 1.5 isn't the most fun... but I'm trying! I have always cooked too much for all 3 of us, now we are missing the main consumer of the meals! Ernest has made it safely to his training area, and I successfully changed the smoke detector in our bedroom with a vaulted cieling. Now, lets dicuss who is doing the dirty work- ME! :) I carried a smaller ladder up 2 flights of stairs from the basement to our room. Got it set up- and it's too short. SO, I carried it back down to the basement and carried the large ladder up 2 flights of stairs. The life of a military wife! I have had some wonderful friends do an awesome job at cheering me up. The greatest combination? A tub of Half Baked Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream, a ice cream tub coozie, and a huge spoon. Thank you Lisa Henson- You know how to comfort me! :) As far as Ernest goes, we have hardly been able to talk because he is so incredibly busy. The first few nights he had meetings until 11-12(their time) and had to get up at 4. He was exhausted, had the same cold as Avery and I... which isn't a good combination. But he says things are beginning end a little earlier... maybe 11... and he doesnt have to be up quite as early. He tries to call a couple times a day, but in general, it's only one phone call a day. I will continue to update everyone through this blog!! You can subscribe to it, so you will get updates as I send them.

So, I wanted to post some pictures from Ernest's Going Away Party that we had  on November 13. I wanted to give all of our families a chance to love on him before he left. We really appreciate everyone who came out- and missed those who couldn't make it. Thanks so much for all the letters, I know it will help his spirits. He asked me to put them in a package to be shipped for him to read while he is away. This will be a great encouragement for him!

 A little emotional when my dad was reading a story a friend sent me about while soldiers deploy.

DATE NIGHT!

Before Ernest left, he and I went on our FIRST date night since having Avery. It was a great night, and gave us some wonderful quality time to chat... without our sweet baby climbing all over the place! We ate at Copelands (where we had our first date). It was SOOO yummy, we always leave stuffed. After dinner we went and walked around the mall... then headed home. Here are some of the pictures we took when we got back from dinner. It was an awesome night... just with he was home now!