Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Avery!

Christmas Eve 2012

We kicked off our Christmas Eve plans off with lunch. Many many years ago, my Grandparents used to take us all kids (my brother, and two cousins) out to lunch, the first year we went to McDonalds (after 1 year of that we went to “nicer” McDonalds, aka sit down restaurants where it was easier to keep track of us) and our parents would go out to lunch themselves. When we were all older the  two groups became one and now we all go out together (although lately there has been some requests made to go back to the original way of doing things, :) ). This year our lunch spot was Red Lobster. 

Avery & Mommy

Our lunch crew

Checking out the lobsters with Papa

  After lunch Avery’s cousins went to see Santa at the mall while we headed home to take a nap and rest up before it was time to open presents that night. 

Out cold

Avery has got a pretty good handle on the present opening concept now. He did a great job. 

Pro-present opener

He got books and tools and musical instruments, and a remote control car, he was in heaven. 
When all the wrapping papers had settled, there was just enough time to play with his cousins and check out some of the new toys before it was time get to bed so Santa could come. 

Avery & Danny checking their new tools

Avery playing the kazoo and driving his new car

My Christmas Cutie!

 

Barbeau Chritmas 2012

With so many people to celebrate with, we have to spread Christmas celebrations out  over a few days. It’s actually nice,  that way we can  enjoy the family we are with (and digest the food we ate) rather then eat, open, run across town and do it again. Avery started his Christmas with fun with the Barbeau Christmas. And no Barbeau Christmas (or gathering of any kind) is complete with taking some pictures of Papa T and GG and the grand kids. 

Papa T & GG & The Grand kids

This is the first year the all the grand kids were at Christmas, making this an extra special Christmas. After the pictures it was time for the real fun to begin. 

Got some

Let's see whats in here

Opening presents with daddy

Cars!

Avery did a great job opening presents with Daddy. Avery got some great new trucks and other great things, he is such a lucky little boy. 1 Christmas down, 2 to go.

Handmade Christmas 2012

Like last year, I wanted to have Avery make an ornament for the Grandparents gifts, I just think there is something extra special about handmade gifts, especially when they are made by little hands! This year we made “Salt Dough” Trees with finger print lights. 

Avery's Handmade Ornament for 2012

I am happy with how they turned out, and they were fairly simple to make. I mixed up the dough and rolled it out and used a cookie cutter to make the tree shapes then it was time to add the lights. Avery did an excellent job as the official finger print light maker and when he was done he gladly helped me roll out and play with the left over dough while the trees were in the oven drying. Once the trees were dry I painted them and wrapped them and just like that Avery’s gifts for Grammy and Papa and GG and GT were done. 

Playing with the leftover dough

Again like last year we got a handmade gift from daycare, this year was a cute reindeer expertly colored with brown crayon and a red finger print nose, that said it was from, Our little “dear”, and it came in a hand stamped envelope too! Best gift this year by far!

From Our Little "Dear"

 

Seeing Santa 2012

Even though our first attempt of seeing Santa this year didn’t go all to well, we wanted to try again.  This time we went to see Santa at the mall, when we got to the mall there was no line but Avery wasn’t quite ready, and when two little girls showed up we let them go in front of us. 
 Avery watched what the girls did, and seemed to think it would be okay to go a bit closer to Santa. 

Getting Ready to see Santa

Avery really did great,  he was a little shy, but he sat on Santa’s lap all by himself and got his picture taken. 

Avery & Santa 2012

I know this is one little boy who is on the Nice list for sure :) 

I sat on his lap, now, where's the cookie you promised me?

 

Holidazzle

Only in Minnesota do people line the streets in the cold winter weather for a parade of all things. Sunday my mom, cousin, Avery, and I, went to the Holidazzle parade in Minneapolis.

Here they come!

 Avery has really enjoyed driving past all the houses covered in lights so I was really excited to take him to a parade that consisted of floats and characters covered totally in lights.

Lights! 

This is Avery's "that is so cool" face

The weather was cold but not bitter cold, it was the perfect night parade. Avery ooooo-ed and ahhhhh-ed and giggled and clapped with excitement as each float passed. I loved the glow that reflected off of Avery's from all the lights. We all had such a great time!

Is there more coming?

 I think the only thing that would have made the it better for Avery was if they had a garbage truck covered in lights.

ECFE Holiday Party

We took Avery to his  first Christmas party it yesterday , it was an ECFE hosted event with crafts and treats and Santa. Avery had a great time. He got to paint a dough ornament and play with playdoh. 

Work in progress

Avery's finished masterpiece

Making stars out of playdoh

Avery also had his face painted for the first time.  And after having a cookie and some milk we went to see Santa. 

Not so sure whats happening

That a big cookie for a little boy

Avery loves Santa, he has been pointing them out every for weeks so I thought he would be excited to see him at the party. That was not the case he didn't cry or anything too dramatic, he just wanted nothing to do with sitting on his lap or being near him in any way. 

Sorry Santa gotta go

After our failed visit with Santa it was off to one of the ECFE classrooms to play. He played and played until it was finally time to go home. 

Driving a one horse open sleigh 

Avery capturing the memories 

A slide, inside....sweet!

It was a really great time I am really glad we went. It was a really great way to kick off our holiday fun.

Avery the Baker

Avery’s Grandmas have been busy baking cookies and getting all the holiday treats for the family gathers ready and being the good little help he is, Avery has been more then willing to lend a helping hand (or tongue). In most cases Avery has volunteered to help clean up (aka lick the beaters or spatula) but this weekend Avery took his baking skills to a whole new level, making peanut blossoms. 

Baker in Training

With his bakers hat and apron on he set to work tasting, stacking and counting the lovingly purchased premade peanut butter cookies :)

First you taste

Next you stack 

They you spread them out and count 

Good work Avery.....maybe next you can help frost the sugar cookies.

Let it Snow!

Snow!

Finally, at 23 months, Avery got to play in the snow for the first time, and he loved it. He had so much fun being silly in the snow with daddy. Daddy showed him how to make and throw a snowball. He stomped around, smiling with every step.

Snowball

Walking in a winter wonderland!

 Avery also got to ride in a sled for the first time. Or more accurately Avery went on his first sled ride (he sat, I pulled).

Mush mamma mush!

We got Avery's sled for him last year, so Avery was a little on the big side for this year, but Avery didn't seem to mind, it just made it harder to pull....wonder if it’s too late to put a new sled on his list for Santa:). 

Snow is not all fun and games and Avery was up for that too. He shoveled like a pro, and even got to take a little ride in the skidsteer with Papa. 

Shoveling at Great Grandpas

Shoveling Gma & Papa's deck

Taking a spin in the skidsteer with papa

All in all I would say that Avery’s first snow day was a complete and total success!

Twenty Three Months

23 Months

At 23 months Avery is happy and healthy. He loves to sing, and frequently will ask you to “sing it” rather then read a book to him. His three favorite songs are Twinkle Twinkle little star, Bah Bah Black Sheep, and Happy Birthday. He wears a size 5 diaper, size 24-2T pants, 2T-3T shirts, 3T pjs and size 7 shoes and boots. And recently starting going potty on the potty! He isn’t potty trained by any means but its a start and we are so proud of our little boy....who is getting bigger everyday, and in one month will be 2 years old!

Girl Party

For the most part all the birthday parties that Avery has ever been to have been for boys, filled with trucks, sports, action figures, and all things “boy”. But this past Saturday Avery went to his first “girly” birthday party, a Strawberry Short Cake theme.

Happy Birthday Ashlyn!

There was pink everywhere, Barbie, ponies, and dolls, all things “girly”. Theme doesn’t matter much to Avery, a friend is a friend, and he loves all things birthday, especially the cake and candles and singing! 

Cake!

O Christmas Tree

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, How lovely are thou branches, especially when they are decorated by an almost 2 year old.

Putting the his star on the tree...or taking it off

Actually Avery wasn't much help. After he put the first ornament on, and took it off and put it back on a few times he was pretty much done. 

Avery's star on the tree

After that every ornament that I handed him to hang, he would wonder off with it, and play with it rather then hang it on the tree. 

O Christmas Tree 2012

There is no real theme to the tree, just ornaments that we like, with the most non breakable one at the bottom :)

Blog Worthy

Ever since I started this blog to share what is going on in our world with our friends and family I’ve tried to write 2-3 posts a week, but lately I haven’t been reaching that goal. It’s not that we haven’t been busy doing things, it feels likes were always on the go, but not everything we do is “blog worthy”. And for the moments that are, rather then making sure I get every detail recorded and posted hours from when it happened, instead I am living and enjoying those moments and catching the blog up when I can.