It is Winter?!

It is about to be January... man, where is my Winter? 64 degrees in Ardmore right now!! I am so mad! I want snow... I want freezing temperatures... I want a WINTER! I moved 100+ miles away from Fort Worth--- wishing for a colder, snowier, winter season and despite the fact I'm in another state, I am still experiencing "Texas weather"!

You'd think on "nice" sunny days like these the kids & I would be outside soaking up some sun & fresh outdoor air. NOPE! We are indoors pouting (well Mama is, anyway) because I hate the heat... I hate summer... and most of all- I HATE "Texas weather"!!

I think I did enough complaining..... for now. (Checks tomorrow's forecast) I'm sure I'll have more to say soon enough...

But for now:
Here is an example of the artwork I am blessed to receive from Hunter. This one shows us sitting on the couch- imagine that- watching Spongebob. Exciting! It amazes me how much better his writing has improved since he started Kindergarten in September! Such a smarty pants!

Avery got a ride-along for her birthday & is still trying to master how to get on & off by herself. When we push her, she kicks her feet up high & enjoys the ride... We are going to have some problems with her ;)

She is getting so big! MAKE IT STOP!

... but with the type of day I'm having today, I'm sure she'll "master" something new soon & I'll regret saying that.

To all those lucky bloggers out there that actually have winter weather, snuggle up close to a fire for me tonight with a mug of hot chocolate, pretty please? With marshmallows on top :)

Home is Where your Heart is...and your daughter sleeps

Christmas just hasn't been the same being a "grown-up"... but it sure is nice seeing my brother & sister... Oh how we have grown! My little sister (not so little, eh?) has outgrown me... and my brother did that a couple of years ago. I can't believe that we are so old already! Where did time go?? Just a little less than 5 years ago, my brother, sister & I would line up on Christmas morning in age order (yes, I was always last) to run into the living room & find what Santa had left us. As annoying as I thought this was back in the day- now more than ever do I wish that tradition was still alive.

But now, I have a family of my own (I have for 5 years now, but this year really sunk in because we had our own house- not apartment- and lived in a different state than our families) we are creating our own Christmas traditions. Or trying to at least. It is hard when every family wants us to be at there house at the same time as the other family. As the years go by, we try to figure out what the best plan is but yet we always end up running around all of Fort Worth all day long dragging our exhausted kids & begging them to be on their best behaviors! (Too much to ask for from kids who just opened the presents of their dreams at the wee hours in the morning, huh).

Man, do me & my sister look like my mom here, or what? No matter how hard I try to convince myself that I was adopted, you can't deny it here... or when my brother or sister remind me "That's what mom says" when I blurt out a silly phrase. Well, at least I didn't ever have imaginary friends. HA

For Christmas morning, we were at my in-laws' house in Fort Worth. Santa decided to vist Avery here... She loved opening presents & snuggling with Minnie :)

Although I really enjoy going home (to the Fort Worth area) Avery DOES not like sleeping anywhere but her own bed in her own room. So every trip is miserable & we hardly get any sleep. Driving home, she cried the whole way--- we were so happy to see our little rent house!

If you don't already know, Hunter's new obsession (besides video games) is Legos. This particular set Melinda, Cody's mom, got for him. It took Cody, Hunter & I a little over an hour to put this together. And this is just ONE of the many boxes he got for Christmas from several people! Oh Lord!

Avery got a princess tent for Christmas from a family member. Since we only have a 3 bedroom house for now, we have the kids' rooms packed tight with toys & such so we had no other choice but to put her tent in her room as well. A day and a half passed without her going in it. Finally, after Hunter brought 5+ stuffed animals & blankies, it looked comfy enough for my diva of a 1-year old. Wonder where she gets that? ;)

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas holiday!

Much love from The Baetz/one little Frazier household :)

My Walkin' Girl

Yupp, Avery is now a walking machine! She has chosen to take her sweet little time, but finally it seems as if she is ready to begin walking... Hunter started walking around 10 months or so -so I started getting a little nervous when Avery hadn't around that time... then even more nervous when we arrived at a year, but on her birthday she took a few steps- and hasn't stopped since... Here we go! Whoo!

Catching Up...

First of all- Happy Holidays!! So much has happened since I blogged last... where to start? Thanksgiving was great. We went back down to Ft. Worth and saw both families. Cody and I weren't able to do the Black Friday shopping like we did last year throughout the night, but we did manage to get out a little bit that day & get some done :)

December came way too fast to me. I had been trying to put it off for so long, but it was inevitable... December came. Avery turned 1! It happened so fast that I couldn't totally soak it in- it still hasn't totally sunk in that my baby girl is a 1 year old already...

For her birthday we went down to Ft. Worth and celebrated with family and friends. It was a Minnie Mouse party & we had lots of fun! She absolutely LOVED it when everyone sang Happy Birthday to her- it was just adorable.

Hunter had a blast at the party as well. His best friend, Heather, is my best friend's daughter :)

So, now it was time to focus on the upcoming Christmas festivities... first and foremost: a picture with Santa! Avery didn't have it... I figured that she wouldn't, but hey- it was worth a try!! Hunter looks as handsome as can be, though... such a big boy.

Hunter brought me home a present from school-- yes my first hand-made Christmas gift. I love it! A picture of him and Santa & an ornament with his fingerprints... can't wait for more of these precious gifts (the best ones are always hand-made)!

We hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday. I will try to blog a bit more than I have been- after Christmas is over, it will be a lot easier!

Avery has learned to throw fits... real fits- those kind where they throw their body on the floor & scream... yes, it has begun already. Whatever happend to the terrible 2's? Why is it all of a sudden... the terrible childhood years ha ha!? She gets her temper from her daddy (shh- he says she gets it from me, but we all know that just isn't true) :)

Must attend to my fussy 1-year old now... more blogging later.