Is it spring yet?

Well, its March and in true Minnesota style we got a huge snowstorm last week. Here are some new pics of us playing in the snow.

Happy Valentine's Day

Kevin and Avery picked me up yesterday from work and Avery had a big red heart painted on the side of his cheek! Apparently Valentine's Day is a big day at daycare. On the other side of his car seat was a big brown lunch bag decorated with red and pink hearts and full of Valentine's from his friends. I was one of the only Moms not to send in Valentines for the other kids in his class! Luckily the teachers had some extras and they let him scribble on the back and they signed his name for him. I feel so guilty. Not only did I not send Valentines to school or to anyone else for that matter, I didn't even get all of my Christmas cards out this year. I guess as long as I am working in the Christmas department, you can write me off for all of the winter holidays, the problem is that the winter holidays are really the only ones that count. Ugh!

Wintertime Workout Avery Style

Well, its been below zero about here for over a week so we have been scrounging for things to do around the house (and ways for Avery to burn some energy). Here's a short video of his new workout regimine.

Its official - daycare virus season is here!

No new pictures this week. We are all trying to recover from the terrible booger nose, coughing, hacking, headache cold that got Avery kicked out of daycare last week. I was thanking my lucky stars about a month ago that Avery had been so healthy. I bragged to everyone that this kid had an immune system made of steel. Now all three of us are trading viruses like baseball cards. Tomorrow we have another sick day for pink eye. If that goop ever clears up from his eyes, I'll try to take some more pictures/videos.

Don't forget to wash your hands!

Its official - winter is here!

We had our first real snow storm about a week or so ago. Here are some pics of Avery getting pulled around in his sled. I found a similar picture from last year - this kid has really grown. I think its time for a new sled!

our humble abode

Avery- January 2007

Avery - January 2006

Making Cookies

Here are some pictures of our cookie baking session. For those of you who know about my baking skills you realize that this was more about the process then the end result! Also, Kevin was out of town, so we were looking for an excuse to make a big mess!!

Christmas Excitement

Some pics from Christmas

Duck ride in Lindsay's bathtub

Testing out my new snowsuit

New frog boots (these actually fit)

Calling Pop-pop to wish him a Merry Christmas!

Superstar in the Making!

This kid loves to see himself on TV. Enjoy!

Naughty or Nice?

Naughty or Nice? That's debatable, it changes on a daily basis. Here's a pic of Avery with Santa. Can you tell he is scared out of his wits? That's why I am in the picture too.

Keep on Truckin....

In an effort to keep Avery occupied this morning (and avoid the sub-zero temperatures) we took him to the Mall of America to run around a bit. First we stopped a Nordstrom to get his feet measured. He must have just had a growth spurt recently (or I am a really incompetant mother) because every single pair of shoes in his closet (and on his feet) are 2 sizes too small. $200 later we headed to the amusement park in the center of the mall. There he rode the truck ride and the train ride. Realizing we were getting close to nap time we attempted to get lunch at a restaurant in the mall. About halfway through our meal, just after eating two bites of bread slathered in butter and then licking all of the rest of the butter off of the knife, Avery had a meltdown. We husseled back to the car (only 3/4 of a mile away when your at the Mall of America). He fell asleep in the stroller then woke up when I tried (emphasizing the word 'tried') to put him in his car seat. He screamed and cried all of the way home. Then once we got home decided he would not take a nap today (despite multiple viewings of the most boring Baby Einstien videos we own). Ugh - he has been torturing his parents all day! I just gave him some more butter for dinner and Kevin finally got him to sleep. From now on, Kevin promises he won't be mad when he sleeps for less than 2 hours at school!

Fingertip hug

Okay - one more story from Thanksgiving. During our stay in State College I became especially smitten with my nephew Mateo (the kid is really cute). Avery picked up on this pretty quick and did not want me to play with, hold or even talk to Mateo. He was a bit jealous, to say the least. When we got ready to leave, we asked Avery to give Mateo a hug. He had to think about it for a minute but then with a little bit of encouragement he stretched out his arms, reached around and touched Mateo's sides with his fingertips. Not exactly one of the bowl-you-over hugs that Natalie gives Avery every morning at daycare, (she comes running with her arms out and keeps running right through him - by the way, she is half his size), but its a start. Here is the play by play:

I'm thinking about it....

does this count?

Okay, okay, here it is, I'm hugging him!!

Thanksgiving 2006

Uncle Pepper with Mateo

Aunt Teresa with Avery

Nannie and Pop Pop with Mommy, Daddy and Avery

Here are some pics from our trip to Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving. We had a fun trip and were lucky to be able to visit with Susie and Pat, Patrick and the twins in Philadelphia as well as my parents, Pepper, Teresa and Mateo in State College. Avery had a great time playing with his cousins and loves hanging out with Pop-Pop.

I would have liked to include some pictures from Philadelphia but I was busy holding and feeding the babies and the only pictures Kevin got of Patrick were of him dancing around in his big boy underwear - not quite appropriate for the internet. Maybe next time.

Ahh, Ahh, Ahhh!!

Proud Auntie!

Carina and Baby Grace
Patrick (with his strong hair) holding Baby Sophie
Sophie Marie - 2 weeks old
Grace Elizabeth - 2 weeks old
Carina with Baby Sophie

Well, I ditched Kevin and Avery again to come to Philadelphia to visit my new nieces. Turns out they get along just fine without me (at least for a few days) and I was of much more help here. Wow, I thought having one newborn was tough, two is almost impossible. Even with several sets of hands its all we can do here to keep everyone happy! Here are a few pics of me with the girls and some on their 2 week birthday! Enjoy!

Happy Halloween!

We had our neighborhood Halloween party this weekend. Here are a few pictures of Avery and his friend Reese who lives around the corner. Are these kids cute or what???

Belly Button!

The newest body part the Avery has recently become obsessed with (besides his you know what) is his belly button. He has taken to liftly his shirt up to show everyone he knows (and some people he doesn't know) his little pot belly.

He also really likes the frog boots that Patrick gave him on our last trip to Philadelphia. They are a little big, but that doesn't stop him from wearing them. Thanks PT!

Summer Teeth

Although winter is fast approaching in Minnesota, Avery has his summer teeth coming in, some are here, some are there. In addition to his four front teeth (two top and two bottom) he now has 3 molars! Not sure if and when the rest of his front teeth are coming in ???

More pics of the twins

Nanny with Sophie
Baby Grace
Patrick in the NICU with Grace in her "Baby House"

Here they are - Sophie and Grace Ryan

Grace Elizbeth Ryan - 3lbs, 14oz

Susie with Sophie Marie - 6 lbs, 6oz

2 sisters, one big & one little

I love Nanny's Jelly

I made it home safe and sound from Hong Kong last Thursday. I stepped off one plane and got on another one to head to Philadelphia for the weekend. We left Avery with Susie and Patrick and my parents on Friday so we could go to our friends' Kevin and Ginger's wedding in New York. I was worried that Avery would have a hard time since I had been away for so long, but by all reports he was on his best behavior while we were away. He is especially smitten by Susie's au pair Teresa and loves hanging out with his Pop Pop and his big cousin Patrick. The picture as left is of him enjoying Nanny's raspberry jelly for breakfast. Forget the toast, he just likes to lick the jelly off the bread.

I didn't get many pictures this trip because I was seriously jet lagged. We were hoping Susie's little girls would be there, but they waited until last night to make their appearance in the world. Sophie and Grace Ryan were born around 6:30pm Tuesday October 24th. Sophie weighed a hefty 6lbs 6oz while little Grace was only 3lbs 14 oz. Both were about 17" long. Susie says the girls are doing great, no issues what so ever. They are just trying to get little Grace over 4 lbs so she can go home with her sister this weekend. Hopefully Pop Pop will get some pictures posted today. As soon as he does, I will include the link.

Daddy Ladder

In search of the best apples in Minnesota we went to our third apple orchard last weekend. This one was by far the least commercial, most authentic orchard we have vistited this year. We decided to try picking our own apples which Avery absolutley loved. Actually he liked picking up the apples off the ground an throwing them while yelling, "BALL!" more than anything else. We also went for a tractor ride, complete with sound effects from Avery, picked out a pumpkin and saw some horses. The photo below is of Kevin lifting Avery up to pick the apples from the top of the tree.


In other news Avery met a cat this weekend and learned how to meow, more like - YEEEOOOWWWW! I dyed my hair red (as you can see from the pictures) and it looks ridiculous. Finally I am leaving for Hong Kong in a few minutes for 10 days. I'm very sad to be leaving my guys. Maybe I will make a posting from my trip, but then I might have to change the name of the blog to the adventures of Mini-Mooks mom!

Cheerios anyone??

Okay, this is an old one, but I wanted to give you an idea of the kinds of things that take place in the morning when Kevin and/or I are trying to get to work for an early meeting.

Mowing the lawn (with my hat on)

Hot Wheels

Avery has finally grown into the big wheel we bought him this summer. His new favorite thing is to go 2-wheeling on it all over the neighborhood. He like to take his one hand off and wave at the neighbors while we are going down the street. He also likes to wear his 'hat' while riding. Unfortunately his head is growing much faster than the rest of his body so the helmet is already too small (as you can see). He must be a Santalucia!

I'll take this one!

Here are a few pics from our weekend with Matt & Ginger and Avery's cousin Lindsay. We went to an apple orchard on Saturday. The kids had fun riding in the wagon and looking at all of the apples and pumpkins. All in all it was a great weekend with the Templetons although the cousins took turns waking up and crying on Saturday night. We were all a little bit tired on Sunday!