15 Years From Now...

...this is what I get to look forward to!

And what is so scary...is that time will be here before I know it.

Audrey's 1st Day of Dance

The past couple of years Audrey has taken gymnastics. She enjoyed it, but recently became a little bored. So for several months she had been asking to take ballet. I made her choose which activity she wanted to participate in and she chose dance.

Once she was signed up for dance class and we purchased her dance shoes, leotard and tights, she was so excited she couldn't stop talking about it.

I was one excited mommy, also, because I spent MANY years dancing. So for my little girl to follow in my footsteps made me so excited. All those cute costumes, make-up, songs, and recitals, although expensive, are so thrilling!!

For weeks, Audrey would ask me to "teach" her some ballet. We would practice a few moves (mine were quite rusty :/) in the house.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, the time came for her to start ballet/tap class.



Can you tell how excited she is?!? I didn't even have to bribe her to stand there and smile. She did it voluntarily because she is thrilled to be a ballerina. :)


When we arrived at class, we discovered that our neighbor, also Audrey's dear friend, was in the same class with her. That just compounded the excitement!

Audrey had a wonderful time and has been dancing around our house all day, every day since class.

Our Life in Photos

I had many photos that didn't really require a blog post all by themselves, so I thought I'd post them all here together.

A few weeks ago, my girls and I were invited to attend a "going-away" lunch for my mom. She had been employed at this job for 30-something years and due to budget cuts, she was cut. Nice, huh?? Anyway...this group of co-workers (show in this photo) have been together since I was around Audrey's age. They are like family to us. It was so wonderful to get to have lunch with them and reminisce and hear all of their hilarious adventures they have had together.



Here, Audrey and Addison are "riding" with their Uncle Keith. Before those of you that know him have a heart attack or report me for neglect, this was posed for a picture in my mom's driveway...NO! They weren't out on the roads traveling like this!! I am MUCH smarter that that! LOL


Addison- my Miss Hollywood! It doesn't get much cuter than this!!



Yep, Addison is soaking wet, dirty and standing in the dog's water bowl with one shoe on. She was having so much fun!


Addison was acting silly with Granddaddy's hat.

I promise Audrey is around too. She just isn't a fan of photos anymore :(

Good Times with Grammy

Recently, Corey went on a 2-week hunting trip to Colorado. My girls LOVE their daddy. Although they are accustomed to him being gone a good bit working, I knew his absence for this long would be very hard on them (and me too!).

My mom had been going through some stressful times at her work and having issues with back pain. She really needed a break.

So...I thought, what could be more fun and relaxing than to have Grammy come up and spend a few days with us. Then I made the call to Grammy and asked her to pack her bags to stay with us for a while. It didn't take much arm-twisting to get her to agree.



Even though things looked like Grammy would never get to come (car in body shop, pain blocks for back, work obligations, etc), she finally made it 2 days after when she planned to come.

The girls were thrilled and it made them forget for a few days that their daddy had been gone so long. For Grammy, she got 4 days of hugs, snuggles, cartoons, sunshine and dress-up play. I loved watching the girls enjoy their Grammy and having my mom there with me all the time to talk to and laugh with. Another bonus is that while she kept the girls entertained, I was able to take care of many "projects".

We all certainly enjoyed our beautiful, relaxing time with Grammy.

Addison- 18 months old

In the blink of an eye, this sweet girl has gone from a wiggly, precious newborn to a happy, energetic, entertaining toddler. Addison is so comical and quite strong willed most of the time, too. She is my sunshine. I love hearing her call for me or yell "MAMA!" when I walk into a room. That makes my heart smile.

There are so many things I want to remember about you, my Addison, but I will never be able to list them all. But here are a few things I never want to forget: You-

• weigh 21 lbs. 7 oz.


• are 31 1/4 inches tall


• wear size 4 diapers


• wear size 4 shoes


• wear size 12-18 month clothes


• have started saying all kinds of words. You love to tell Boots the dog to "sit-sit", You say "scat cat" when someone sneezes, shoes, clothes, Boots, Sadie, Mama, Dada, Sis, Ga (grammy), Nanny, Pawpaw, cat, dog, eat-eat, juice, cookie, and many more! I can't belive how much your language has developed in just a couple of weeks.


• love playing in the sandbox and with the play kitchen


• learned to climb the ladder on our swingset and go down the slide (assited)


• get excited when you see "Elmo"


• try to put on everyone's shoes


• want to give everyone a hug


• love to "read" books


• will start to dance anytime you hear music


• love to walk around with your microphone and "sing"


• love to eat fruit- especially bananas


• try to color like your big sister. You even ask to "colllllor"


• inform us when you want to "pway"


• are going throug terrible seperation anxiety. You are NOT happy about being left at preschool


• find it facinating to take your pants and diaper off


• are SO stubborn and strong-willed


• are a little clown

Little Bit,

Thank you for the past 18 months! They have flown by and I'm not even sure that I can close my eyes and remember you as a "baby". But you are taking off full speed ahead into this toddler territory and are smiling and laughing your way through each day. I love you, dear one. I love that you remind me to laugh and play and pause long enough to hold and snuggle you. Because I know so well that those moments are fleeting. I love you, Little Bit! You are my sunshine!