Pudding Paint

My preferred way to finger paint.  Successful family night.  Audrey didn't paint much.  She mostly just wanted us to paint pictures for her while she ate.  Paul called his masterpiece the Titanic.....it looks like a large turtle to me, but what do I know.    Maybe I'm looking at it from the wrong angle.

Being a Mom

I feel so lucky everyday that I get to be a Mom to this little girl.  Being snuggled up on the couch with her reading stories is my favorite thing to do.  She would let me read to her all day, and I would but sometimes I feel like I have to be productive.

Audrey is growing so fast.  I told her a couple days ago that she wasn't my baby anymore, that she's a big girl now.  She got this frustrated look on her face and said, "is baby!".  Apparently she is still a baby, and I don't mind.   She can be my baby forever.

I love that she just gets me. We can have a maniacal laughing contest, or dance around like crazy people, and she thinks it's awesome.

About a week ago I was having a really bad day.  She was dancing around the kitchen and singing to herself and I had to pause and remind myself that THIS is what life is all about and nothing else matters.

Life is good!      

Feeding the Ducks and a Morning at the Temple

Sadly I didn't get any pictures of Paul and me at the temple.  I love to be there, and there's something special about the Houston temple that I just can't quite put my finger on. We don't get to go very often together.  Rod and Anne were so nice to watch Audrey one of the mornings they were here.  I think she really enjoyed having them all to herself.  I don't think she even missed us.  I got a little weepy on the way home from the temple just thinking about the time she was able to spend with her grandparents, maybe because I miss mine so much.  I'm so grateful that she has two sets of really great grandparents...three if we count adopted ones. It means so much to me that she has such great examples in her life.

Later we fed the ducks.  They were happy we shared our food.  We had quite the following.  I've never felt so popular in my life.  Some of them were nicer than others.  The best part was watching Audrey feed the baby ducks.  They were so cute.

Independence Day

I'm sorry for the next few posts.  I really have to get caught up before Audrey's Birthday because I'm planning on some awesome pictures.

The Kendall's came out to visit again.  We really enjoyed having them around for a few days.  It was really nice to spend the 4th with family.  We had good food and good company....which just happens to be my favorite combination.   Sadly we saw no fireworks this year, Audrey was too tired.

Don't mind my dying garden and the brown spot in my lawn.  Apparently I do not have a green thumb.  I'm working on it. Maybe some day Paul's mom will rub off on me.

We had some minor difficulties with the water and Dean and Jane ended out with a face full of water.  It turned out to be a pretty awesome picture. I feel bad, but it didn't seem to traumatize them.

Let's get together again soon!

Paul's Birthday

It was Paul's birthday.  He turned old.  We went to see the ducks.  It was something he wanted to do with Audrey for his birthday.  She loved it.  I thought she might be scared because the ducks were really insistent on getting their fair share of the bread we brought, but she love them. 

As always I had lofty plans for Paul's birthday.  He requested a cake and I was going to make it perfect.  It didn't turn out the way I planned.  Instead of a double layered chocolate cake with mouse, it ended up being cubes of chocolate cake layered with chocolate mouse and butterfingers on top. I was kind of happy that it didn't turn out in the end because it was really good.  So good that I'm going to have to do it again very soon.  

Another year older, another year wiser.

I'm just glad he spent it with me!

Response to Cousin Love

My sister recently posted a video of Audrey three baby cousins sitting together on her blog.  Audrey watched it over and over and over.  She asked to watch them again today and this was her response.  I think she is missing out on all the babies. So if you have a baby and you want to facetime she might love it! She needs a little baby brother or sister.  

It's been a while....

I though you might want to see another Audrey video.  Every week we try to go to Merian and Mike's house for dinner.  We feel like were at home when we get to see them.  Audrey loves being there.  She recently discovered the rocking horse.  She loves him.
Because we missed last weeks horse riding at the reunion....here's our version.