So Many Faces, So Much Attitude

Oh our Avery...she keeps me laughing and on my toes everyday! Everything about her is so beautiful.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Ps. 139: 13-14

Just Some Fun

Random pictures of random family fun in the past few weeks.

This is the dress and shoes Ben got Ave while he was TDY in Louisiana! He's got good taste, huh?

We had just finished dinner and Ave tells me, "Thanks mom, that was too 'licious'!"

Graysen has such a sweet, fun personality!

WoW!

The kids' Christmas present from Nana & Dada!

The beautiful sky over our house the other night...

... and a perfect rainbow!

Ben's New Found Passion

While we were in Montana, we had some terrible weather and ended up inside...ALOT! But through Ben's boredom he discovered how to use the ever so expensive camera that we have but have never figured out how to use properly. Here are some of my favorites.

My Personal Favorite!

(She was waiting oh so patiently for everyone to get going!)

Me and Graysen

We got to spend a lot of time with our dear friends and mentors, Mike and Siama. They are more than friends, they are family. Mike and Ben went out one beautiful morning and took some gorgeous pictures.

The reality of it all!

Oh, we miss Montana!

Okay, so I took this but I LOVE it! It just makes me smile.

This is my dear, sweet friend Amanda who I miss terribly!

My beautiful sis and Garrett.

Beautiful baby boy!

This is a perfect picture of my sister, Melissa! It's just HER, she's so fun!

Christmas Eve - Presents

Ave opening Polly Pocket.

Ben and his new UK coffee mug!

Papa & Graysen

(Ave was thrilled she got to open all of Graysen's gifts for him!)

Amanda & Garrett

More presents...

Ave & Graysen in their Christmas jammies from Nana Diana!

Oooo....and my new Danskos from my sisters!

So after our lovely dinner we open presents. Every year the girls draw names for girls and the boys draw for the boys, it works out really well and we always have a good time with it! I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family, and I am so thankful for each year we are all able to be together on Christmas!

Christmas Eve - Candlelight Service & Chinese

Our handsome baby boy!

Papa, Nana & Avery

Me and Ben

My personal fav! No more, no less...it's JUST US!

And one for show.

My mom and her mommy. We were lucky to spend Christmas with four generations!

Papa and Ave playing at dinner.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.

Me & Ave

Every family should have lots of traditions come Christmas time, my favorite is Christmas Eve. For quite a few years now, our family goes to Christmas Eve service at church and when we get home we have take-out Chinese for dinner, and then we open presents. Seems odd to have Chinese on Christmas Eve, at least Ben thought so, but we LOVE it. This year with so many people, we decided to go out to Chinese, which was great, because then we didn't have to clean up the mess of nine people! Then we went back to Mom and Dad's and had a great time opening presents.

Graysen is TwO MoNtHs!

Yesterday, we went for Graysen's two month check-up. With Ben being in Louisiana, I took both him and Avery to his appointment and after his appointment, he had his immunizations to get and Ave had to get her second flu shot, needless to say, it was a bit of a nightmare! And if that wasn't enough for one week, I had to go in this morning to find out my left ear is severely infected and I have shingles...AGAIN! Last week, in Montana, I found out my right ear was infected and the first round of antibiotics didn't quite take care of it so I am back on another trying to get rid of it. I don't know why, but it seems that every time Ben leaves, that's when EVERYTHING goes wrong!? Anyway, we are managing and Avery has been a great, little helper (besides her piercing, two-year old voice!) and I am so thankful for the abundance of patience the Lord has given me this week! And I suppose, what doesn't kill you, will only you stronger, right?

Graysen is 23.5 inches (64%) and 12 lbs 14.8 oz. (62%) and his head is 16 in. (49%).

Sesame Street Live!

Just a few days after we got to Great Falls, Sesame Street Live was performing, so my mom, Ben and I took Avery. She was SO into it! She loved all the characters, and she sat so nice through the whole show.

I'd like to say Graysen (and Ben) enjoyed it but I think they slept through the whole thing!

Ave & Nana right before the show!

Waving to Elmo at the end of the show!

Christmas in Montana

Admiring all the snow.

Yes, that's Ave watching Papa sweep snow off the deck...in SHORTS!

Ave couldn't wait to ride the tractor with Papa!

This year we decided to spend Christmas with my family in Montana, and wow, it was COLD! We really enjoyed time relaxing and Avery was so thrilled to see snow! She rode on the tractor with Papa and loved going sledding with her buddy, Ben. Everyone loved meeting Graysen and spoiling him rotten. It was so great to see our family and friends.

Cookie Decorating

Jen, Graysen & me

Very few sprinkles actually made it onto the cookies!

Ave & Nana baking cookies.

We love to get together with Mario and Jen when we go back to Montana but this was the last time we will see them there! They will be moving next summer, which is sad but after some time spent in Colorado, they will move to LA, only a few hours from us!

While we were there, we got together to decorate sugar cookies with the kids, however we ended up doing most of the decorating! The attention span was much too small and they did way more eating than decorating. But we had a great time anyway.