It's fun to compare

Okay, so I'm blog-happy! I often find myself taking pictures of Aspen and think of a time when Avery was just in that spot... (Can you tell who is who? I'll give you a hint... they go in the same sequence each time.)

At the computer with dad

First stages of rice cereal

Happy in my crib

Little People Bus

DVDs

Photo Shoot

The White Rock ward was sponsoring a fund raiser for the Young Women and some semi-professionals were there to take photo shoots. Couldn't resist. This will serve as Aspen's 1 yr photos even though it's a little premature.

My Precious Children

I love my babies. Avery is a darling. Aspen is so squeezable and full of sweet happiness that I could just love on her constantly... No wonder why strangers are never hesitant to stop and sweet talk the little one(s). I think we should have lots of babies! ;-)

Let it SNOW baby!

Our poor snowman is now covered in snow! Monday was the second time Brian has had a full "snow day" from work this season. We've been getting bucket-loads and it is glorious! Our untouched garden area has probably accumulated 8 inches or more. I love that we get the four seasons here.

Breaking in our new sled!

Yes, she did pull him down the mini hill :)

Wintery Goodness

If that's not wintery goodness, I don't know what is!

Playing "sleepy bunny" by the fire

We've been having lots of wonderful snow, so guess what we did!

Avery has learned by heart her first scripture! Moses 1:39. When she said it all by herself a few nights ago, I was thoroughly impressed! She's just awesome. She forgot 2 words for the video and her "thirty" always sounds like "forty."

Okay, so this is the same thing, but she does some funny random stuff in the end and laughs. I love her personality. She is just so funny!

In the kitchen

Avery captured a few moments of where I spend 50% of my day. Funny to see it in action.

That's me

I can't help but share with you some of the things I find very "me" and how much I love them:

• finding ways to eat healthy and balanced (to the extent my husband will allow)
• homemade yogurt, whole wheat flour, brown sugar, honey, brown rice, nuts, fresh fruits and veggies, chocolate
• more protein (eggs mostly), less sugar
• building up food storage
• "brown paper packages tied up with string" (I adore simple earthy stuff - though I'm not a tree hugger or an organic nut - the waste in wrapping paper, mostly for the money, cuts me to the bone so why not use left-over packaging paper and twine? I love it.)
• grocery shopping
• THRIFT SHOPPING (I go every week, sometimes more) I like getting a good deal and I won't lie: I like to buy things and find neat stuff.
• Amazon.com (Though our Prime trial membership is up, we can still buy anything we did before with free shipping if we buy over $25 - which is easy... probably too easy.)
• Papa Murphy's Pizza. I couldn't ask for anything more.
• taking forever to place exactly what I want on the wall because I'm a perfectionist
• being organized (or at least having stashes)
• to-do lists
• taking a nice walk
• blogging

I like it like that

Many mothers (mostly who have kids in school) are always saying how crazy or busy life is, understandably so. Some things self-induced and some natural. I know this invariably will be me some day because I plan to be involved in my kids' schooling and activities and finding meaningful things to do with my personal time; however, I do hope I can still keep things minimal and simplistic to my very best.

I like the simplicity of my life at this moment. People ask if I'm busy and honestly, not at all! At least 2-3 days out of the week we never even leave the house (especially in the winter). We play, eat, do daily chores, watch shows, sing songs, read books and whatever. We go to town when we feel like it, make a play date because it's twice as fun, take the bus for kicks, laugh, and jump on the bed.

I like my kids at this age because many things are simpler. Gifts are as easy as I want them to be: lucky charms cereal, 88 cents hot wheels, you name it. Grocery store runs are the bomb (which is good because we go there every single time we're in town). Riding the free trolley is the hit of the day and buying a 10 cent dum-dum at the bookstore can't be beat.

I won't deny that it'd be great to have a little more personal time each day to get some things taken care of for my own sake, but as long as the kids are up, I've decided they're the best thing I can do with my time and I can stop letting the other things nag at me. Er, in theory that's the idea. :) Sometimes I can't help but do a few things while Avery watches Dora or something... but if I opt to sit and watch with her, I don't regret it.

Tiling

We have finished tiling the hallway, bathroom, storage room, and pellet stove area downstairs, and wanted to show off (at least the stove area)...

BEFORE

Focus on the stove in the corner. There was a warped tile platform under the stove previously.

Now behold!

Just in time for Christmas. :)

Today Brian installed a new garage door opener and I am SOOOOOOOO happy! It actually works properly and we can open it from the car! Brian has also been doing other projects in the cold today and I am very thankful for all his hard work!

Pure Happiness

We put stuffed animals under the tree for fun. Avery got cozy with them!

She can eat her weight in pancakes... and anything that comes from our plate for that matter.

Playing with our new headbands :)

Coming home from a relief society activity last night, I got to hear Avery talking to me over the phone for the first time. It was pure happiness. That little innocent childish voice over the phone is my daughter! How surreal is that. Here she is speaking to me like she's her own little person, and of course she is. She says, "Mom, I had a hangumber [hamburger]." and some inaudible things and "See-ya la-er mom."

Aspen 11 months

Aspen is cruising along with her curiosity. She is investigating more things and testing her limits. She's not real mischievous, just interested. I like seeing her look into new things. She has finally started to use her knees in the 'proper' crawling way. Good for her!

It's been a month or so since I started giving her formula. It began with just a 2 oz. supplement at night and now she has completely weened herself and drinks formula like a little piggy. (I thought a 8-oz can of formula would last 2 months, but in 1 month she has already gone through 32-oz!) I'm not too upset about her choice because it does make things a lot more convenient I'll admit.

She looks like Brian in this pic. Do you love her sweater and no-pants and booties outfit? I do!