Howdy, Avery!

Avery's into hats.

She loves hats... plays with hats... wants hats... wears hats... says "hat" and points whenever anyone has one on. She'll even point out hats on characters in illustrations in her children's books and sometimes puts random objects on her head (or my head) points to them and says, "hat." You get the idea - She's a fan of hats.

A couple weeks ago, Aunt Jen gave Avery two Cowgirl hats that she absolutely loves! Jennifer found them in her things in the process of packing to move and no longer wanted them so she thought they might be fun for Avery... and they are! Funny thing is that they fit her perfectly! HA! :) Poor kid.

Last Wednesday night we were getting ready to go meet some friends for dinner and came out into the living room to find Avery wearing one, and since I never miss an opportunity to "Mama-razzi" my kids I caught the moment on camera. I just loved it... Hope you guys do too!

Avery by the fountain outside El Fenix where we had dinner with Courtney, Leroy, Mollie & Drew, and Courtney's brother Chris. It was a fun night! ...The Cowgirl hat didn't make the trip, but next to the giant pig fountain it might have seemed totally normal! Maybe next time...


With Mollie

Julia's 2 months old!

Where does the time go? She's already growing up... Amazing. Julia's latest "tricks" include a little bit of baby-babbling, kicking motion-sensitive toys to make them play music, lots of good head control, and (my personal favorite) SMILING! She's got the most adorable smile, and pictures just don't do it justice. We think she may have a little bit of a dimple on her right cheek, but we're not sure just yet.

Here are a few pictures I snapped during our 2-month blanket picture photo shoot. I'm sure I'd say the same thing about boys if I had sons, but baby girls are the BEST. There is nothing that melts hearts quicker than little girls... We are truly blessed.

Mmmm... Tomatoes...

Well this post is a little old, and probably completely uninteresting to the majority of my blog-readers. But since this blog is pretty much the only baby book that Avery has (poor girl) and since I've been blogging the progress of the tomato plants out back, I'm going to write it anyway.

Avery's tomato ripened (hooray!) and was quickly used to make a 7-layer dip we took to Sherman last weekend when we went to help my sister move! It might have just been a trick-of-the-mind, but it was the yummiest tomato I think I've ever tasted. (Avery has tomato talent!) :) I wish we had more room in our backyard because after trying our hands at tomatoes, I want to have a more extensive garden. It's FUN and easy... and organic! :)

Way to go, Aves! ...There are three more on the vine, but don't worry... I won't keep posting things about tomatoes. :) Here are the last few tomato pictures and some pictures from "Moving Day" which include some cute cousin pictures with Jules & Drew. (Avery stayed and played in Dallas with Nana that day.)



The Moving Crew!... Julia was wiped out from watching everyone work so hard. :)


Collin & Andrew hook up the new TV and get it into place. Kobe was a HUGE help...


Jules loves cousin Drew...

Playing with the IKEA Train

Video taken the night Avery got her train. (If you haven't read the story about our outing to IKEA, you may not be able to fully appreciate this post.) :)

Just a picture...

I have about 3-5 things to post, but no time to do it right now... But while taking Julia's 2 month blanket pictures I was able to catch this sweet sister moment and wanted to post this precious picture.

My sweet girls... I hope I never take moments like this for granted.

Happy Father's Day, "Da-eee!"

Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father!
~Lydia M. Child

My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass." "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising boys."
~Harmon Killebrew


One father is more than a hundred Schoolemasters.
~George Herbert, 1640


Old as she was, she still missed her daddy sometimes.
~Gloria Naylor



Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance.
~Ruth E. Renkel



A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again. ~Enid Bagnold


A man's children and his garden both reflect the amount of weeding done during the growing season. -Unknown



Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth.
-Psalm 127:3-5