Another Gray Moment...

Is this not the biggest cheese you have ever seen?

More updates: Graysen now blows kisses, and gives lots of big, sloppy ones!

New Words

Graysen's newest word, besides 'ball', is 'bye-bye'. He says it more like "dye-dye" but either way it is super cute. Here is a video of his newest favorite, talking on the phone.

Teaching and Learning

Avery teaches Graysen all sorts of new things every day, GOOD and BAD. She is his biggest encourager, and my prayer for them is that as they grow she will always want to teach him new things, show him the world, and encourage him in new adventures. They are so blessed to have each other and I pray they grow to be the best of friends.

Avery LOVES to color, she spends a good portion of each day coloring and drawing. She loves it so much, that yesterday, she decided it was time for Graysen to learn.

I'd say he did pretty well for his first try!

Peek-A-Boo

To say that Avery and Graysen have SO much fun together is an understatement. I never would have imagined it to be this fun! With Aves going to preschool two days a week, Gray has been a little lost, but it is so cute because when she comes home, he is attached for the next two hours! Now, yes, we have our moments of "he's touching me" and "that's mine" but at the end of the day, the smiles and peek-a-boos are so totally worth it!

Graysen updates: He said ball on Sunday and got two more teeth today!

GrAySeN is TeN MoNtHs!

I'm not sure how, but it has happened all too quickly, Graysen is ten months already. I just wish he could stay this age and size just a little bit longer, he is at such a sweet stage. He has so much personality and he is getting quite the sense of humor. People are right, with your second baby, things seem to go by much faster!

I can hardly get him to sit still long enough for a picture so he has graduated to the rocking chair. And poor Aardvark, with Gray chewing on him like he has been he might not make it two more months!

Ave's First Day of Preschool!

It hardly seems possible, but true it is, Avery started preschool yesterday morning. I thought maybe she'd be a little sad, NO, she was not... but I was. However, I did keep it together as she hung up her backpack and walked in and sat down so confidently. She did awesome and had so much fun... which was apparent by the paint all over her clothes and the sand in every pocket of her pants! (Lesson learned, preschool is not the place to make a fashion statement.)

It was so nice to have some time with just Graysen. But when she got home he didn't leave her side for the next two hours. He was a little lonely without her here.

"THE" Napa Truck

So, aside from the fact that this is the CUTEST picture ever, the Napa truck has become a special part of our family. Back in the day, my grandfather worked for Napa, so my dad got some great tools and neat jackets out of the deal. But the best thing we got from Papa was the Napa truck, I remember being four years old, hauling things in the back and taking it for a spin. I never thought I would be so lucky to inherit "THE" Napa truck... well, I didn't. However, my Nana had one put away in her garage, original packaging, dust and all! The night we left for California she gave it to me for the kids to have, it was EVEN BETTER!

Here Comes Trouble!

Graysen is ALWAYS on the move. Last week he started pulling himself up and walking around holding onto furniture. I'm not ready for this but then again, he's got to keep up with his sister!

The Dynamic Duo Hard at Work!

GrAySeN is NiNe MoNtHs!

Well, Graysen is not so baby anymore! He is becoming more and more independent by the day. He crawls around, chasing Avery, touching outlets, dumping Harley's water and his newest is crawling up the stairs. I just can't seem to keep up with him!

Everyone was right about boys. They are so. SO. different than girls. He is obsessed with anything electronic, can't stop touching outlets and plugs, and he is bound and determined to find anything and everything dangerous that he shouldn't have! We never used or needed a baby gate with Avery. When she learned to crawl up the stairs, I taught her to turn around and go down on her belly. Not Graysen. No, he just keeps trying to go headfirst. His favorite thing is the remote control. No matter where or how I hide it, somehow he finds it! It really is to his benefit his smile is so cute and contagious.

Here he is attempting to crawl under the toy I put (on purpose) in front of the outlet with the tv cord in it! So funny, I had to take a picture before helping him out!

He hasn't grown quite as much this month. But he is happy and healthy and making huge progress developmentally! He is now 19 lbs. 12.7 oz. (32%) and he is 28.7 inches (58%).

Just because he's too cute!

Annie's Quick Visit

Ben finally got home last weekend and since then, we have been on the run. It has been so good to have him home, but I am exhausted!

While Ben was gone, Melissa and our dear friend, Siama were able to come stay with us for the weekend. It was a very brief visit, but, as always, we thoroughly enjoyed our time together. However, I took very few pictures this weekend or at all while he was gone. I was just a "little" preoccupied trying to keep up with company and two kids. Whew!

We went to the Avila Fish & Food Market while they were here. As we were leaving, Miss asked Avery to take a picture. This is what we got, she is definitely not lacking confidence! She just kept going from one pose to the next like she was at a photo shoot. Everyone walking by was laughing hysterically!

Annie & Avery on the pier

Daddy Turns 29!

Another year older and another year smarter! Ben has accomplished many things at 29. This year he finished his Masters and we had Graysen, just to name a couple! He really is amazing. God has truly blessed us this year and I am so grateful for Ben and for the faithful, very patient husband that he is. Not to mention, he is a very fun, loving daddy!

Right now Ben is somewhere in flight between Omaha and Colorado Springs. He has been TDY for a week and a half already and we can't wait for him to get home Friday night! What a way to spend a birthday, huh?

This is a super cute video I got of Ben and the kids the other night. Aren't I sneaky?

Church For Life VBS

Okay, so we LOVE our church, that's a given. So needless to say VBS was great, but I didn't realize quite how great! It totally rocked! With Ben being gone for two weeks, I was thrilled to be able to help out and have something to keep me busy. I had the three year old class, so I had Avery with me. Graysen was next door in the nursery, which at first, was a little weird to be away from him that much, but I wanted to be able to serve where they needed me and be a blessing to the kids. And honestly, these kids were so awesome, their energy and witty comments kept me going all week!

All the kids during worship.

The theme was "Superheroes", aren't they cute?!

Caleb and Avery

Gray On The Go!

I knew it was coming, just didn't realize it would come this quickly. Last Monday, Graysen got up on his knees and crawled two, little crawls. Then on Tuesday, he started crawling a few feet here and there. And then by Wednesday, he was crawling everywhere, from room to room and chasing Harley all over the house. He is everywhere, and now he has gotten FAST! We have re-entered the world of safety locks, gates, outlet plugs and trying to keep him out of all Avery's stuff!

This was a video from last Tuesday. (You should see him go now!)

Black & White Edition - KY

Our Week at Nana & Dada's

Our week at Nana & Dada's was beautiful. Not only did we have perfect weather, but it was just a great, relaxing time. It was so nice to be on the farm with lots of space. Oh, how I miss having a nice, big backyard!

We got to do so many fun things. Avery had a blast spending time in the pool, playing with her cousins and going to the barn to milk PJ. She even had her first sleepover with her cousin, Kayla! Ben was busy helping Bud around the farm and driving the tractor. As for me, I enjoyed relaxing and doing my favorite thing, baking! So with the freshest of ingredients and theabundance of fresh milk, I was inspired. From all the milk, I shook and shook and after about two hours, I (finally) had butter and buttermilk. With that, I made Raspberry-Blueberry Muffins, and then Diana and I made yogurt. Fun! That is my idea of vacation!

Ave watching the cows.

Doesn't she look happy?

Avery riding Soxy.

Aren't they cute?!

Avery, Landon & Hunter in the sandbox.

Just being silly!

Talk about relaxing!

Dada & Gray on the tractor.

Avery and Nattie playing "tea party".

Gray in the wagon.

...and on the mower.

On the horse at the Discovery Museum.

The Museum ROCKED! Even Gray loved it!

This one's for Papa! :)

Graysen is in love with water.

(Maybe even more than sister!)

Daddy and Gray in the pool.

Nashville!

After our beautiful week in Murray, we headed to Nashville for the night. Mom, Miss and Nanny were flying out early the next morning, Dad and Mike were headed back to Montana in the new motorhome and Ben, the kids and I were headed to Nana and Dada's for another week of vacation. So in between, to take a break from our vacation, we stayed the night in Nashville. We went to dinner, then ice cream, a great little carriage ride that toured us around downtown Nashville, then swimming at the hotel. It was a nice little "getaway".

Mike telling Ave all about the horse!

The tour!

Me & Gray at dinner