Happy 3rd Birthday, Avery!!!

We had a pre-birthday celebration on Saturday with my parents and uncle. We opened gifts, had lunch at BJ's, and ate some yummy cupcakes. Avery got some great gifts - a leapfrog learning pad, art supplies, a very cute outfit, Dora memory game, and some great toddler cd's. The pic below is the gift from my parents - new rain boots, umbrella, lunchbox, and sweatshirt. Love it!

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Today, Avery started her day off with opening two gifts from daddy. She told us yesterday that she wanted a crown and a mickey mouse lollipop. So, that is exactly what she got. (Well, the lollipop was plain and we just put a mickey mouse sticker on it. :)

We then made her requested breakfast - mickey mouse pancakes and strawberries.

Grams and Papa came over today and we had yummy steaks, opened some more gifts, and had more yummy pink cupcakes. Grams and Papa are taking Avery to Disney Princesses on Ice in March.

Avery absolutely loves playing games. She got a few for Christmas and even more for her birthday. She got Nemo - "Go Fish" and everyone had fun playing it together today.

Just a fun pic of the girls!

A couple cute pics of Riley

New Wheels

Avery got a new bike for Christmas from her great aunt and uncle. She hasn't mastered it yet, and the weather has been too lousy to practice. I'm sure those streamers will be flowing in the wind soon though.

2 year old daredevil

So, Avery has no fear of rides or rollercoasters. She was more scared of seeing the characters up close than of any thrill ride. Since she is in the 95th percentile for height she was able to go on almost any ride. She was exactly 40" tall with shoes on, which is the minimum height requirement for most rides.

For me, the absolute best part of our trip to Disneyland was riding Thunder Mountain Railroad with Avery. Jenni, Avery and I were able to sit three wide in the car, and Avery sat in the middle. When the ride started I was worried she would get scared. Right off the bat, the ride goes into a dark tunnel with bat eyes and everyone started screaming. That made Avery put a Kung Fu grip on the bar in front of her, but she didn't get scared. Jenni and I spent the whole ride just watching her expression as she laughed, smiled, and giggled. By the end of the ride, when she heard people screaming and hollering, she chimed in and gave a scream or two. Jenni and I were cracking up so hard, we kept looking at each other and laughing. For me that was the highlight of the trip. No pictures of Thunder Mountain Railroad, but here she is on the Teacups...she thought that was pretty fun. She obviously doesn't have the same trouble with motion sickness as her Grandpa.

Coughs and Sneezes

The girls have been sick for the past week and a half with bad coughs. This is the time I dread because both of them cough until they throw up. It is awful. We have been trying to teach Avery to cough into her sleeve and how to blow her nose. She has done pretty well, but today her nose was runny so I told her to go and get a tissue. As the snot was dripping out of her nose and down towards her mouth (another story completely to not have her lick it away) I said, "Avery, go and quickly get a kleenex." She replied saying, "It's okay, mom, I can just smell it back up." She proceeded to sniff while I proceeded to laugh.
So much for the tissue. :)

My New Years Resolution

I'm not one for usually making a New Years Resolution since I often do not stick to them, but this year I made one and I am planning on sticking to it. So, what is this resolution, you ask? No, it is not to lose weight (though after gaining 48lbs in pregnancy I definately need to) but rather to make sure every member of my family and friends receive a hand made birthday card that arrives on time. Sorry Aunt Kathy since yours is the 1st, it will be a day or two behind. :) I am so bad at remembering birthdays. I really feel like it is important to make the person feel loved and thought of on their special day. I know that I love getting messages on the machine and cards in the mail on my birthday so I need to be good about remembering everyone elses. Don't worry, I wont be offended if you do not remember mine (though it is Feb 27th) so do not feel guilty when you receive a beautiful creation in the mail on your day, but have forgotten mine this year. Just kidding :) I am really hoping to continue building friendships, rekindle lost ones, and make new ones this year. I have not always been good at keeping in touch and reaching out to begin new friendships. It has always been a struggle for me as I am an introvert and not a social butterfly. But, as I enter my 30th year, I am realizing more and more that family and friends are one of the most important things in life and I need to devote myself to them.

Thanks Mom!

I'm not passionate about a lot of things, but two things I absolutely love are scrapbooking and sewing. For Christmas this year, I made a few handmade gifts...not as many as I would have liked, but I have a 3 month old and a crazy almost 3 year old. As I was sewing my many gifts, I paused to think what I would do if I did not know how to sew. It is something I love to do and I am always so excited to pick out fabrics and try new patterns. I only learned to sew 2 years ago when my parents came down to visit us in Simi Valley. I wanted to make a diaper bag for Amy, so my mom brought down her old machine and she spent a few hours teaching me the basics. I was hooked! Ever since then I have slowly started to learn more and create fun things for friends and family. I have now selfishly taken over the spare room and turned it into my craft room. My parents bought me a craft table from Ikea and a craft organization center. I love it!! I am an organization freak so it has been so nice to have a place for everything and not have to clean up the dining room table after each day of scrapbooking...I can just leave everything out. So, all this to say I owe all my fun creations to my mom . Thanks mom!

Lifelong dream fulfilled

I fulfilled a lifelong dream during our trip to Disneyland. Well, that might be overstating it a little bit but whenever I visited Disneyland as a kid I always wanted to eat at the restaurant inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. So this time I planned ahead and made reservations a couple weeks in advance so that Jenni and I could dine at the Blue Bayou Restaurant. It was a nice time, and we made it halfway through our desert before the cellphone rang...which could only mean one thing, Riley was crying.

Princess Coronation Ceremony

One of the funniest parts of Disneyland was watching Avery at the Princess Coronation Ceremony. The Princesses made there grand entrance, and then danced around on stage. There was some instruction on how to be a good princess and then a lesson that consisted of instruction on the proper way to twirl, curtsy, wave, and prance around. Avery was pretty enthralled with the whole thing. I will try to attach the video clip it's classic, it shows other kids just standing around while Avery sways back and forth, spins, waves...hilarious.

The Merriest place on Earth

The day after Christmas we headed down south with Jenni's parents for Avery and Riley's first trip to Disneyland. Avery loves everything Disney, especially the Little Mermaid and all the princesses, so she was amped up for this trip to "Mickey's house".
The six of us piled in our Expedition with some luggage strapped on the roof. The drive went well, with only one major meltdown from the 3 month old. We were guided by my new GPS navigation system, thanks Mom and Dad.

Sleeping Beauty's castle, with snow.

"First Visit" button.

Dumbo

Christmas

We spent Christmas in Pittsburg (CA). Thanks to Grams and Papa for hosting us, we had a great time and enjoyed great food.

The obligatory "baby's first Christmas" outfit.

So serious. (hats by Aunt Amy)

That looks like enough to go around.

All I want for Christmas is...

Sorry, Dad, this is the best one I got.

Santa Claus...What a Joke!

Okay, so I told Jenni after Avery was born I didn't want to do the whole "Santa Claus Thing" with our kids. Not because I'm a grinch like my sister in law says, but I just don't think we need to go out of our way to deceive them when there is plenty of fun to be had at Christmas time without needing to get Ol' St. Nick involved. I guess I'd just rather focus on the "real meaning" of Christmas. However, Avery watches her share of TV and movies and started telling me all about how Santa comes down the chimney on Christmas and brings us presents...she left out the part about the birth of our Lord and Saviour. Since Jenni is far less spiritual than I am, she gave into the whole deal and assisted in leaving out cookies and milk for Santa. :)
Probably the real reason I'm not into Santa is that if I'm gonna spend money to buy gifts for my kids then I want to get to credit for them! LOL

All jokes aside, Avery knows Christmas is the day we celebrate Jesus' birth. She loves opening presents. She loves seeing her cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. She loves the candy. I think that is plenty. I'm okay with her being scared when we walk by the Santa Claus at the Mall. I don't feel the need to share time with a fat guy and flying reindeer.

Luke Chapter 2 verse 10-11 (click)
...I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

Bi-annual Dollar Tree and Dessert Festivities

So it's quickly becoming tradition. Leave the kids with grams and papa, and go out with Derek and Amy to shop for stocking stuffers at the dollar tree and then have dessert. Let me tell you, the dollar tree in Pittsburg has some high quality and highly affordable treasures to be found. Since we are shopping for each other simultaneously, the key is to be discreet, keeping your purchases on the DL...the second key is to lather up with hand sanitizer after leaving the store. For some reason we did not take pictures at the Dollar Tree, but I will let you use your imagination.

For dessert we headed to Mimi's Cafe. The waitress said they were out of bread pudding, but after Amy gave her the death glare she rustled up a fresh batch.
That's Jenni's breastfeeding privacy device, not a fashion acessory.

Derek and I had an appetizer platter for "dessert". I'm not sure what's happening here.

Here's some of the Dollar Tree booty from my stocking...I haven't tried the Gas Relief pills yet.

Joy to the World!

Gingerbread House

Jaron and Avery put together a fantastic gingerbread house this year. Jaron was a good sport as I picked up the kit and made him put it together with Avery even though he was sick. Good job Daddy!! Avery had a great time and that's all that matters. Riley had fun just hanging out in her bouncy seat while I videotaped and ate chocolate.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving in Gilroy with the whole Hansen clan. We had a great time visiting with everyone and eating tons of yummy grub!!