Twenty Eleven

Is anyone else bothered by the new year, 2011? Twenty E lev en.

The look and sound of it is clumsy and prime numbery.

2010 was so even and succinct.

Avery is wizz-banging around, chasing Oak-ey. Giggling.

Tonight I was laying by her while she fell asleep. All the pasis have chew holes in them so they don't "work" properly. She fell asleep without a pasi.

Is it weird that I got teary eyed? I came down and told Jimi about the milestone and he said, "that's a good thing". Which I know, but it still makes me...it makes me something. Nostalgic? Sad? Because soon I won't be seeing my little Avery twirling her hair with that darn pasi in her mouth.

She got really good at hair twirling. She would take a chunk and swirl it in her ears and eyes. Then she would thread it through her fingers and shunk it in the palm of her hand. Mind you, the habit's not broke...but it's fading.

They grow up, I tell you.

This is a common sight in our house.

Living room slash bike shop.

I wouldn't say it's baby proof, but it keeps everyone entertained.

Time for bed.

He pulls himself up to standing position at the couch and crib. My wheels are turning for his first birthday party coming up. Can you believe that? A couple of weeks.

Time is flying. And as much as I don't like the cosmetic part of 2011, I want it to hang around for a good long year.

Playing

I got a new camera for my birthday (woo hoo!) so of course the first thing you do with a new camera is take a thousand pictures of anything and everything around you.

Including this perfect little model, 

and this one eating (smoking?) a snack with his blanky. He would cry when:

a.  it (his blanky) fell off his table

or

b. I tried to take it away so that it wouldn't get all foody

he loves that crazy blanky.

Then the other day we had play group at the park.

The kids were magnetically attracted to this dirt pile.

They found and named a worm.

Except for Avery. She just sat by me and drank her pop the whole time.

Yesterday at church, Jimi was at work so I was solo. Avery for some reason thought it was funny to scream loudly in the middle of sacrament meeting. I tried everything. I was stern, I held her face in my hands while I threatened, I bribed. She kept screaming.

Then a new strategy occurred to me. She is very aware of others' feelings, so I said to her, "Avery you are making mommy very sad. Can you say you're sorry and stop yelling?"

She said, "sorry mommy" and stopped yelling. Yessss.

Two of our neighbor kids like to stand and peek inside our windows. I guess they can see through the cracks in the blinds? Tonight during dinner we could hear them right outside the window as we ate. Jimi had to go and tell them (nicely) to buzz off!

Are you imagining two starving children wearing nothing but rags which hang off their skinny bones, looking lustfully at the plenty on our table? Because that's not what it's like, I swear.

When Avery gets frustrated with Evan, she exclaims,

"EEeennaaAAN!

She asked me to take a picture of Bernice's hand.

The name "Bernice" stuck with her cabbage patch. I love it because it is my grandma's name.

Evan crawled off my lap, over to the remote control, and changed the channel. I think we finally ended up watching the spanish channel.

Avery loves playing with Oakley. She's always asking, "where's Oak-ey?

Piper, Oakley, and Evan have all chewed on that dingo.

I Have a Question

Why does Oakley scratch to go outside, but then when you open the door she immediately turns around to come back in?

Why does she always have eye boogers no matter how often you wipe them off with a sock you find on the floor?

And finally, this is the "spot the ball" bonus round.

Can you see it?

(That reflection adds like 10 pounds. I should have worn my vest.)

Today...

Why did I dare take two crazy dogs, a restless two year old, and an unpredictible infant on a run into a strong head wind today? That is what I was wondering as I was getting them ready (which takes longer than the actual excersion).

Well,

because the dogs need to bleed off some of their energy,

because the triathlon is in a month, and I don't want to be the total last one to cross the finish,

but mostly because Avery took the shortest nap ever, and bedtime was light years away. I might as well burn up some time...

Evan is too big for the cargo hold, hence the new configuration. It worked really well.

Avery left him alone, mostly.

I came downstairs to Avery holding out her yogurt cup for Oakley to eat.

That is a fair trade off for all the terrorizing she has been doing.

She chases them around with a stroller or something, and they ice skate around the floor, trying to escape.

At least he is sweet.

And we finished planting stuff. Who knows if it will grow.

I got the best phone call from Jimi:

"guess where I am"

"where"

"at the airport, coming home!"

We thought he wouldn't be home until Wednesday.

But I blogged about our day anyway.

Let's Share

This picture is from Thanksgiving. Avery was sharing her toys with Oakley.
The Christmas miracle is that Oakley didn't even try to eat them.

Oakley has been staying with us for the past week. Last night before bed time, Jimi was teaching Avery to give "five". She would come give me a five, then go back and give daddy a five.

Oakley was laying on the floor asleep (weird, I know), and Jimi said, "go give Oakley five."

She squated down and "fived" Oakley's little paw. It was cute.

H is for Happiness

...and happiness is the West Desert

... dogs and kids are suddenly happier than ever while in the West Desert.

...squealing with delight, prancing around, tongues lolling out...

...running around aimlessly,

raggy-muffins playing in the dirt, glorious dirt... (who is her mother? why doesn't she do something with that hair?)

...finding a water "hole". I'm not so sure they were supposed to be digging this hole, but at least they were able to quench their thirst after all that frolicking.

...the culprits fleeing the scene.

It is a favorite place for us to be.

The Kelvingtons were there, but since they have their own blog now, I guess I didn't feel compelled to document their existence. (Woo hoo for both husbands' extended days off!)

Viva Las Vegas Bike Ride

Saturday, Jimi did a 62 mile bike ride.

It started downtown and, wouldn't you know, 45 miles into the ride led to the park by our house! Me and Avery had to walk just a few blocks to watch him ride by.

This is her yelling "go daddy!" (not really).

So he took a little break to get a picture with Avery.

We were so proud.

Then he rode up Boulder Highway to the downtown area where it started.

And he beat us!

Not kidding, we weren't there at the finish line. I am so bummed. We walked back home, let the dogs out and had some second breakfast. And without much more ado, we drove downtown but he was already there! Dang!

Two days before the race, he crashed big time. See the road rash there on his arm? It's all over his body. He was going about 30 mph down a pretty steep hill that turned, and his bike slid out from under him. He went tumbling down the hill after it. He actually went flipping off the side of the mountain into the rock and brush.

Me, Avery, and the dogs went on a little walk toward the trail to meet him, and he came riding up covered in dirt and fresh flesh. I said, "did you crash? You crashed!" in a bit of a panic. But really, it wasn't so bad. His bike sustained minimal scrapes, and he didn't break anything, so that's good...

His goody bag came with these sweet arm bands. Avery rocked them all night.

And Oakley misses her family.

Can't Sleep, Must Party

Giving Dolly to Sammy, Oakley eyeballing it...

more eyeballing...

so sweet! (notice the Nettie quilt underneath. It's a good one)

We made homemade caramel for dipping

Avery taught Sammy how to play Piggies

Oakley successfully stealing dolly for the millionth time

wee wee wee all the way home

We brought Piper with us to our little slumber party. Between Piper barking at Oakley, and Oakley trying her hardest to get Piper to play with her, they are two annoying dogs. So when it was finally time for bed, I thought Piper would be happy to be in her own room with the door shut, safe from Oakley wagging her tail in her face. However, most of the night Piper whined to get out of the room!? Does she want to be backed up against the couch between it and Oakley's body? Was that fun for her? I don't know. Plus it was totally windy outside and that made a "scary" noise, so she was all in a tizzy most of the night. Then out of nowhere I had to throw up 3 times starting at 5 am. (I forgot to take my beloved Zofran to the party).

So when we all finally got up, Jamie reported that Oakley was up all night whining to get out of her room too. As we were sitting there on the couch recounting our sleepless night thanks to the two dogs, we noticed the bozos were fast asleep on the floor.

When we got home, we took a nap. In the middle of it, I awoke to Piper scratching her ears. The whole bed was shaking. I pushed her off the bed, "get down you stupid dog!"

Then we went to McDonald's for lunch. My pregnant palate suddenly wanted a Mcdouble, ok?

And it was actually really exciting because I got Avery her first happy meal. I don't know why, but that was so fun for me. It came in a little box with golden arch handles, she got to drink from her own juice box, and she got a cool "American Girl Kit" that she is playing with right now.

I have been dreaming of the day I would buy my child a happy meal. It's finally here.

Guess

guess who is staying at our house for a few days?

guess who is going to be a great family dog...being very patient with a toddler rolling around in her, poking at her eyes, and sitting on her?

guess who is ready for bed?

AND!

guess who is in labor? ps this picture was taken at the hospital after they gave us Oakley and before they went in. Jamie is in the middle of a contraction here. "quit taking my picture!" she moaned. eeeek! I am so excited!