Friday, January 27, 2012

Members Only

Friday mornings start out like this. Watching the garbage man carry our trash away. Quality entertainment, right?


Well, it gets better. We picnicked at a sunshine-filled park with our cousins. It's so cute to watch Avery look up to her friends and copy them. Check out their arms.

Next, we stopped by this cute little place. Avery had a blast. We bought a membership so we could go when those afternoons become a little too long.

Here's some fun pictures from the day.








She looks so stinkin' cute in that apron!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Friday the 13th

Is a lucky day around here. In January at least. Nanny's Birthday! We went to San Fransisco for some fun and shockingly found sunshine as well. It was beautiful and we had a blast being tourists around the city. Thanks Nanny for sharing your day with us!




One of our stops was Golden Gate Park. It's huge. We stopped at this park which was packed with kids. It was kinda fun to watch all these cute little people. Brian and I tried these tea cup things, and they were scary. You get going too fast and you can't stop. Woof.
Also, do you see that hill behind Avery in that last picture? It's a steep cement slide that all these kids fly down on pieces of cardboard. Brian tried it out. It looked a little intense from the top. And he had that "creepy old man" vibe while he waited in line as the only adult around. Come to find out, it's not meant for adult bums. He made it about half way and then slid off the cardboard. I laughed. Sorry babe.
We scrunched into a photo booth at Pier 39. We all had a good laugh. You can too.


And as tradition would have it, we ended the night in Union Square on the roof of Macy's at Cheesecake Factory. Yum


Thanks for having a birthday Nanny. I think Avery officially fell in love with you there. She talks about you--and to you--all the time now. It's so sweet.

Please excuse my awful voice. I was laying down and super congested. Am I the only one who thinks their voice is ridiculous when they hear it back? sorry Y'all.

Mini Me

Avery is my cute little shadow lately. The other day, this is where I caught her.



My newest student? Maybe. She can point out the 'A' at the end of YAMAHA at least.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Highlight of my Hiatus

Strawberries from The Homeland.

That's right. Brian and I went to our local farmer's market Saturday morning and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw #1: Strawberries in January, and #2: A banner that said "Santa Maria, CA Strawberries." We asked the guy how he got them here and he said he drove up that morning. It doesn't get fresher than that.

They were delicious, and smelled like home. The strawberry fields of home...not the broccoli fields. I can live without that one for sure. Avery loved them. In her hands, #17 and #18. I didn't know that little belly could hold so much.

Needless to say, we'll be back next Saturday for a refill. They were gone by Sunday night.


I'll try and update more often, but here are a few happenings since last time. We packed up Avery's outgrown clothes...and she started to climb. She can now climb on the dining room chairs and almost the couch. She's pretty proud about it.

She found my piano lesson sticker stash. I knew it was too good to be true that she was playing alone for 15 minutes. She was having a blast though.

She found Grandpa's glasses as well. Cute stuff.

THIS was a red-letter day! We went to some friend's for dinner and some much needed catching up and their boys happily entertained Avery without us in sight! It was so exciting for us to leave her alone. We've found us a baby sitter!


I reminded myself that I really don't like puzzles. At least not anything over 100 pieces.

I had to finish it once I got that far, and wouldn't you know, it's missing a piece! I think Avery's hiding it in her intestines.



And lastly, Avery's new kitty came. Can you tell them apart? I can. I'm having a bit of a guilt-filled dilemma.

Do I put away the new one until the original is thread-bare and lost all it's appendages, or do I keep switching them out every time kitty takes a bath in the washer so they wear the same? That feels a little shady. My child's not an idiot. She'll soon recognize the difference. I actually tried swapping them once, and because new kitty is still super fluffy, she actually looked and it, hugged it, and looked at it again. I felt awful. I think I may just save new kitty to show her in 5 years what she used to look like. Ideas?

Monday, January 2, 2012

Happy 2012

So I felt totally guilty going to bed last night without blogging. I won't lie, it was a nice break, with just a small side of guilt.

So, I'm back. With a new resolution. I have an entire closet full of craft junk. It's totally embarrassing. I buy the supplies to make a craft--thinking I'll make ten--and only finish one. So, 2012 is the "USE IT OR LOSE IT" year. The craft stuff I don't use up this year, I'm sending to the thrift store...coffin-sized bin of flannel included. After all, that's where today's project began.

I saw these adorable pin cushions using old wool sweaters and was unfortunately in need of a pin cushion at the time.

SO, I went to the thrift stores for the next couple months and instead of buying enough for my one perfect pin cushion, I bought a box full of other people's old used sweaters...among other things.

Yes, I made a pin cushion...6 to be exact. They are sitting in my craft closet if you want one.

I decided that box was the perfect place to start. So I looked on Pinterest to see if people were doing cute things with felted wool sweaters, and sure enough! I whipped out my sewing machine during Avery's morning nap and voila! <--I just google'd that. I was going to spell it wha-la, and Brian totally made fun of me. That's the last time I ask him for help!


A pair of slippers Avery totally loves! She wore them all day calling them her "boots."

Here's her boots and her hat. I love her.


These bad boys went over so well for Avery, Brian asked for a pair. I mean, was I REALLY going to use THAT ugly sweater in a pin cushion??