Potty Training

Oh my gosh! I have been trying to potty train Avery the last six months! We have spent hours on the potty and in the bathroom, or it seems that way! This is by far my least favorite thing about parenting! Anyway, tonight Jake took her in there just to see if she wanted to go....and of course she totally pees! She would not pee in the potty for the life of me. She would sit on there, jump down and then go! SOOO obnoxious! We were both so proud of her! Her reward was ice cream! She thinks she is so big!Yeah! We are on the right track! Hopefully she will be potty trained before this baby comes!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day this year was on a Monday, so Sunday morning came and Jake came in with breakfast in bed! He is such a good husband! Avery was so funny because she wanted her breakfast in my bed too! So she and I had breakfast in bed! Happy Valentine's Day Jake! I love you!

Super Bowl Sunday

We had my family over for the Super Bowl and had mock Cafe Rio salads, which neither Jake or I had never made before. We were a little nervous but they turned out pretty yummy! It is always fun to get together with my fam, craziness and all! They guys headed downstairs and all the girls stayed upstairs (and secretly watched Oprah)!! ...Go Packers!?! (is that who played?!!) Anyway, Avery and Hadley are so funny together. They pulled out the chair and were doing each others hair! Nothing gets by them!!

Discovery Gateway

Making new friends at the cash register. She played on this thing for probably 20 minutes!!

Ashlee joining in on the fun!!

I love the mysterious eyes peaking over the table!

She wasn't really quite sure about the noise the Helicopter made! I think she thought she really was going to take off!

...And of course, she had to play some music!

Last year, we bought a Discovery Gateway pass for Avery and I. Unfortunately, it expired January 31st, so we had to go make the last of it! I think Avery spent most of her time in the Market, "It's Double coupon day at the Market", a girl after my own heart!!

Thanks Ash, Karmindy, and Kaleb for coming and playing with us! What a fun day!

30 weeks...and the count down begins!

Reallly?! only 10 more weeks?! I'M ALMOST CERTAIN I'M NOT READY!!!

AND IT IS REALLY BOTHERING ME THAT I DON'T HAVE A NAME FOR THIS LITTLE CHICA!!
She is sooo wiggly at night and I can tell she is getting bigger. She likes to be up in my ribs which creates some lovely pain! I can feel my stomach stretching every day, but I haven't been gaining weight. I have gained back all that I lost, but now it's making me a little nervous. I know, I know, I shouldn't complain, but when you are supposed to be gaining it gives me a little anxiety. I go in for my next appointment on February 9th.

The Aquarium

I haven't seen my cute friend Jessica in forever, since she moved, so we decided to take our little girls to the aquarium in Sandy to catch up. Avery loves fish and every time we pass it on our way to my mom's she always wants to see "nemo"! I like going when it isn't crazy or when there isn't a field trip going on. I think Avery enjoys it a bit more as well! You don't have to fight to see the fish.

It was so good to see Jessica and Elliyah. I miss them a little much. Since then, Jess put Elliyah in Avery's dance class...so now we get to see each other every week! Yay!

My Little Ballerina!

My thoughts on putting a 2 year old in dance....

  Okay, so something that really bothers me and it is very lame, but it is one of those things. I hate it when you listen to professional dancers, or dancers in general (like, on So You Think You Can Dance) and when they are asked at what age did you start dancing and they say two....I just roll my eyes and want to puke. What 2 year old knows how to dance?!!!!.....

Here is where my thoughts were proven wrong.

This month Avery started dancing lessons. At first I was a little skeptical, "what is she really going to learn? and will it be worth my time and money, and how will she react to a teacher? I didn't really know what to expect and the only thing that kept pushing me to put her in was the fact that every time she hears music, she dances. She is slightly into head banging these days and a sort of break dance, not really sure where she saw that! but it is constant. She "shakes mah bootie" every where she goes. If she is sitting on your lap watching a show and there is music, she will start shaking her hips while on your lap. I don't know if it is intentional or it just comes natural, but it is hysterical!

Anyway, we had our first lesson and she did GREAT!! She followed the teacher and did most of what she was asked. She was so fun to watch and she caught on quite quickly. It is a 45 min class which is a long time to keep the attention of a 2 year old, so halfway through they let them play in the gymnastic gym, which I also think is a great way of learning and stimulation. She is pretty smart for her age, she caught on quickly with the balance beam and her teacher even told me as she was jumping down the trampoline, that most 2 year olds can't get off both feet at the same time. Well...Avery can. I think this whole starting dance at 2 is great. It is great stimulation for Avery and it gives her something else to do. She loves it and I love to see her squishy body in her little leotard and tights!

...I guess I was proven wrong, 2 year olds can dance!! Ü

New Year's Eve

Still awake at 12:00 A.M.!! And happy! weird!

Who knew my letterman's jacket that I got as a junior in High school would fit Jake!!

My cute friend and her husband, Matt and Becca Hyer

Okay, these pictures are awful of me, but it is what it is! We went to our neighbors house and had an 80's murder mystery for New Year's Eve. The kids were invited and it turned out so fun! Jake really didn't want to go. We ran into the couple at Walmart and they asked if we were going to come, and I hurriedly told them yes we were!! Jake wasn't very happy seeing that we had just talked about it twenty minutes prior and he really didn't want to go, but secretly I really did, so I jumped at the chance to RSVP!! (I'm such a nice wife aren't I?!) It was so funny and so retarded that it was so fun! What on earth were we thinking in the 80's?!!??! SOOOOO UGLY!!!!!! The kids were also having a party of their own downstairs! They had food, a movie, and Avery's favorite, a disco ball and music! I'm surprised but she lasted until we went home at 12:30 am! Anyway, we enjoyed it and Jake admitted he had fun as well!! Happy New Year's! Here's to the new year!!

Snowmobiling

This is how I  remember my childhood at my grandma's in the winter. I also remember coming in from sledding and our clothes drenched from the snow, wrapping up in a blanket, while my grandma threw our clothes in the dryer, while we drank hot chocolate and sat by the fire. What fun memories!

My two little snow bunnies!

Zoey LOVES the snow! It was about as deep as she is high!

Beckee called me and told me they were going up to my grandma's to go snowmobiling. We did this A LOT growing up and we loved it! I jumped at the chance to give that same experience to Avery. Avery probably only spent 20 minutes outside as the car temperature gauge read 21 degrees, but she LOVED the snowmobile! Ben took her and Haddie around and Avery had this big cheesy grin the whole time! She rode on the sled with Johnny, but wasn't quite a fan. She told me it was "scary". Thanks Ben for entertaining my kid and dog!!!

Haylee's Blessing

Seriously, could she not be any cuter!?!

Christmas

Avery woke up ornery Christmas morning, I think there was just a lot of people and things going on, but all she wanted to do was open a couple presents and watch Bug's Life. Next year I won't be wrapping Santa gifts!

I love how she is laying! She is so interested!

The Hawkins' lovin their picture taken!!! ;)

Christmas Eve, Jake doesn't smile for pictures very often and I love this one because he is laughing and trying not to have it taken!

All of us at James' grave. A new Christmas Eve tradition.

Haddie was so funny, she hates her clothes wet so walking in the snow was a challenge for her! Mind you, it is FREEZING outside, but heaven forbid her pants get wet!

Sam thought it was a good idea too! I think he said he even was trying not to get his garments wet!!

Avery was so fun this year with the gingerbread houses, she actually understood what was going on and loved decorating them!

Jake looks exhausted because he is going off of 7 hours of sleep from the two nights before! He is a little crazy!

Thing 1 and Thing 2

We spent Christmas Eve at my mom's. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and ate way too much, we visited James' grave, made gingerbread houses, watched part of the nativity, exchanged gifts and some played monopoly. We were so exhausted we left my parents house around 11. It was so fun to be with my family and have the spirit of Christmas.

Christmas morning was the usual Hawkins' tradition of breakfast with his family. They all came over at 10 and we sat and chatted for a while and then all took naps! I was so excited this year to give Avery her presents, I wasn't sure I could last until the 25th. With all the Sub for Santa toys coming in, she kept asking me if they were hers. I had to keep telling her they weren't and felt a little bad! So I was glad that she could finally get to hers! Santa Nailed it this year! This year was by far one of my favorites! Merry Christmas to you!!