We got the kids all dressed up to go see Santa today! We went today hoping the snow would have kept people away from the mall... silly us. It was packed and we waited for a good spell. But Avery was awesome and just danced and sang and kept herself- and some other line waiters- thoroughly entertained. It helped that she was wearing clicky shoes and a dress that twirls up when she spins!

We were so proud because she actually talked to Santa this year!!! She went right up to him, sat next to him, and chatted away! Last year she stood near Santa, but wouldn't talk to him! Ah, progress! Here's Avery waiting in line. She really, really, really wanted to wear this dress for her Christmas program. A little too formal for school! I finally convinced her that we didn't have the right tights for the dress, so it couldn't be worn. Phew. (never fear...we got the 'right' tights)
Here's Oliver waiting in line. He's such a good boy! He was smilin' at daddy here... Some more of the Christmas kids...Here they are after seeing Santa gettin' a little sister/brother time!
We made it home- very slowly through the snow- and Oliver was hungry. Jeff asked to feed him (and not get Avery ready for bed!) so he could be still and watch the Colts on the computer. After a couple of minutes, our mini Colts fan started to notice something great was happening and this was the result....
Hooray! It's Christmas and Oliver's pumped! It's been a while, so here's a photo update of the last couple of weeks... Oliver doing what he does best... laying on the ottoman and 'talking' to mom and dad! We have a lot of pictures of him with this floral ottoman behind him. Maybe I should start putting blankets down to mix it up? He doesn't roll over yet, so he hangs out here a lot. He can watch Avery sprinting by, see the tree, and see us in the chairs- its his favorite!
After a fantastic Thanksgiving, Jeff and I continued in the Smith Family Christmas tree acquisition. Some people like to go to the forest, some people to a lot... we go to Lowe's. Every year! So, we had a neighbor babysit and made the trek to the local Lowe's for our tree. This was the first year we let Avery help! I know, not very nice of us... but I love decorating the tree and never wanted to battle with a little monkey over the placement of each ornament (can anyone say control freak??). So... this was the year she got to join us! She did awesome and had a ton of fun!
She's a bit excited!!
Oliver got to "help". Typical 2nd kid... all the rules are bent for him! :) He was really enthused!

Then we had some friends over for the 1st Annual PJ Christmas Party! We had some grub, watched kids play, decorated cookies, and tried to watch a Christmas movie. Hopefully this was the beginning of a new tradition! Here's our buddies...
Decorating cookies...
And lovin' on Oliver! And finally, Avery's class had their little Christmas Program today. She was sooo excited when she walked in the room and saw us sitting in the front row! She couldn't wait to sing for us and the rest of the parents... we may have a little performer on our hands!
After songs, the kids got to decorate cookies. Avery did that for a bit, but eventually decided to skip the middle-man and just started eating candy straight off of the decoration plate! Sneaky little thing!
Here's a little clip of Avery singing her heart out!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

So this may be a bit obnoxious, but I captured this video shortly after I posted the last one. So if you don't like cute babies doing a lot of "talking", maybe you shouldn't watch this. Oliver's been chatting up a storm today and it just makes us laugh! Enjoy!

This has been Avery's quote lately. She's got work to do. She's a worker. She spent a few days working on one project where she was drawing our family. She has spent hours the last few days coloring. Avery doesn't just sit and color for long amounts of time. Until now. She always says things in exasperated tones... I have so much work to do. Stay here, 'cause I have to work... things of that nature. One of the results is of her work is that she's learned to write her name!! So exciting! I can't believe she's big enough to be writing her name!! So here's a sampling of her work.

First of all, while she was working her hair was bothering her. Here is daddy's solution...

Jeff cut out the outside of the flower and the clouds, but Avery cut everything else! It was a team effort with the glueing and then Avery wrote her name all by herself!!!

And finally, here's a video of Oliver doing something close to laughing?! Were not completely sure if he likes what's happening or not, but he sort of smiles and laughs. The video is way to long and I sound obnoxious, but grandparents like this sort of stuff!!

Ok, first of all... take a gander at these eyes. Aren't they amazing?? Having blue eyes myself and a daughter with beautiful eyes, I thought I was always partial to blue eyes.... but his are just so dark and dreamy!!! I can't get enough of them. Ok, thanks for indulging me.
We've had a little bit of everything going on with the Smith's lately. Here's a little update.
Avery has started soccer! It is so fun! She's doing a good job following directions and learning some very basic parts of the game. She's very partial to the pink ball. We'll need to get there early every week, just so she can claim it! Here's a video of her pre-practice warm up skills!

She's in awe of her coach! The first week she kept stroking her hand and playing with her necklace. She constantly wants to show her how she can get a goal!! Tonight, she walked in and said, "hi, coach!!" So funny that she just started calling her coach! Here's Avery and her first coach ever!!!

They got their shirts today! There's only one blog reader that can appreciate the number I chose for her!! Remember how long it took me to "earn" that number, sport Marty??? I was a little more uptight then! Just a little!
Today we woke up to a nice blanket of snow... the first of the year! So Oliver experienced his first snow!! He doesn't really have a snow suit, so his visit was brief. Here's visual documentation that I actually let him experience the first snow of the year.
Avery all bundled up and ready to play!
The kiddos together on the deck. I believe this is when Oliver's lip started shivering. A little backtracking to leaf fun! Avery jumping in the pile!
Here's Avery "helping."
I had gone in at this point, so I'm not sure what is happening here. Probably on homage to her buddy, Tommy!

Mmmmm... smoothie popsicles! This is for the 5 minutes for Mom fun with food photo contest.
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We had a cowgirl and a duck for Halloween this year! We went around our cul-de-sac trick-or-treating and then to the fall festival at church. Here's Avery before we went trick-or-treating...


The double french braids and freckles were so cute! She loved being a cowgirl!!

"YEE HAW!!!"

Her hat says 'sheriff'. So here she is being a mean sheriff.

And here's our little duck! The costume put him right to sleep! We borrowed it from the neigbors, so we had to show him off while trick-or-treating!

Avery galloped all over the place! Here we are heading to her buddy Mia's house.

Oliver was pretty pumped about the festivities!!!
Here is the last post in the long line of my mega post. We went to Indiana last weekend and got to meet our new nephew, Jack! He's two weeks older than Oliver and soooo cute! It was so fun to hang out with the old crew and to have everyone meet Oliver. Jack and Oliver weren't often in the same room- someone was always sleeping or eating or crying. So, these were the only pictures I got of the cousins...
Jack's got the best dimples, although you can't really tell here...
Enjoying time with Uncle Adam....
The kids with their buddy, Erin...

Avery made her first garland with her friend, Sarah...