Back To School :(

I wrote below, but tomorrow we go back to school from Christmas break, and Avery will have to head back to daycare.  She loves it there, and we have the BEST daycare provider ever, and she has lots of friends, but I'm still sad.  I took a few pics of her today, just because she was just in a really good mood, and it was so bright and nice outside.  Here are couple fun ones...

Maybe my new fave picture of her

Love that you can see her new top tooth, she got her two front teeth for Christmas! (Well she had one, but finally got the other one)

A little Sunday reading in her favorite chair, and her most favorite book of all time, Trumpety Humpety - it is literally falling apart, and has already been taped up once

She was starting to get mad at me :)

Deep into her book

Avery Kisses!

Avery has gotten really good at giving kisses, just beware if you ask for one because they are wet ones!!  We captured a few today.  You can see for yourself.  She comes at you... tongue out and all.  It is pretty funny!  Hopefully this changes over the next 16 years or so!  She is a sweetie and just likes to share the love :)

Kisses for her mama

Not sure what she was trying to do to me here! 

Aww..a nice one

Kisses for her daddy too

Here she comes!

Mama and Daddy Time!

Well tomorrow we go back to school and Christmas break comes to an end :(  It is this time of year when it is especially nice that Cullen and I both teach.  We are so lucky to be able to have this time together and this year we got two weeks.  I don't know where the time went.  We have had so much fun, the three of us and it was so awesome to have that time to spend together.  Avery has just been cracking us up daily, and I swear each morning she wakes up and it seems as though she has grown!  She is doing new things almost everyday, and has us laughing most of the time.  Today I took a few pictures of Cullen for his driving school website, and so since the camera was out already, Avery had to hop in for a few with Daddy.  Then he actually grabbed it and took a couple of her and I, since I don't have really any of those for about the last, hmm...6 months or so?  I still have lots of blog catching up to do, so don't be surprised if lots of posts are out of order.  I haven't got to my New Years pics yet, but those are coming.  It was pretty low key, but we had the best time with some great friends of ours.  Mara, Josh, Logan and Kristin came over and Avery even had a friend to play with.  More of that later to come.  

This is Avery's favorite new book she got for Christmas, we read it over, and over, and over, and over again.  The girl can't get enough.  She just brings it back and forth between the two of us...thanks Nana... :)

Merry Christmas!

So here is my first attempt at getting a little caught up on blogging, so they may be a little out of order because we have lots of Christmas stuff to update.  We celebrated Christmas Eve up in Chisago with Cullen's family.  Avery got to spend lots of time with Grammy and Grandpa and cousin Conner and it was lots of fun.  On Christmas Eve, we got dressed up, went to church, had dinner and opened presents.  Avery had a beautiful little red Christmas dress to wear, and the girl can wear red!  Her and Conner were so cute all dressed up, but it got pretty late for them.  They did really great considering and had lots of fun opening up their presents and trying them out.  It seems like it was just last Christmas where they just sat in their little swings, and now here they are all over the place.  They just make it so much fun.  Even though they are small, it is so great to see Christmas through their little eyes.  I know I keep saying it, but we really are just so blessed. 

Avery in her pretty Christmas dress - she looked like a little mini-Mrs. Claus..it was way beyond adorable if I do say so myself!

Giving a little Christmas attitude :)

A shot at a family picture, but Avery WAY tired and not loving it at this point..

Grammy and Granpda Bahn with Avery and Conner

Avery and Conner looking for Santa

Avery and Conner all tired out on Christmas..(they were up way past their bedtime!)

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning was a little different this year.  We usually celebrate Christmas morning at my mom and dad's house, after we open presents at our house, but this year, we stayed here most of the day.  My brother Jeff got a job down in Florida, so my parents went down there.  We sure missed them, and we had a really awesome day, just the three of us.  We did go over to my sister's for a little while to hang out, but otherwise, we had a lazy Christmas day, and never even got out of our jammies!  Avery got a new pair of Christmas pj's.  I bought them awhile ago and it is a good thing Christmas was today, as you can see!  She doesn't have much room left in them.  I should've known, she is really pushing those 12 month clothes!  She LOVES opening presents, and this was her third Christmas now, so she was a pro!  We just got her a few small things this year, but she loved them all.  She was so much fun today and we really had the best Christmas, despite being away from family.  We loved our time together.  I think she also finally kind of figured out how to go DOWN the stairs now too.  We practiced a lot today.  She is fast asleep now after an exciting few days.  I can only imagine how much fun next year will be... Only 365 more days!  (And uncle Jeff...you better be able to make it home next Christmas!  Love you :) - Warning, all Christmas morning pictures are straight out of bed, no make-up, etc..look at your own risk!)

Rockin the new Christmas jammies

Her new little shape van/car thing...she is her daddy's girl

All of her new books, and she still brings me her old favorite to read - the girl LOVES to read books and I'm not going to complain, it is awesome snuggle time

Playing with daddy - what she does best

Reading a new book with daddy

The Bahns on Christmas morning - we're going to try to make new jammies and an early morning Christmas picture a tradition - Avery has two of her shapes from her new toy and her new ornament in her hand..she carried them around all morning! (Yes, this is straight out of bed, no make-up, etc...this was big to post up here, so please don't look too close!)

Hmm..maybe a Christmas haircut next week for the little one??  I may just have to bite the bullet and do it.  Those of you who have seen her lately might agree..but I'm having such a hard time with it..though I think it might be time!

Waiting patiently for daddy to get her present out of the box

Checking out one of her new books

Opening a present

Fake Christmas Morning

We usually celebrate Christmas morning with my family, but this year my parents packed up for Florida to visit Jeff, so we celebrated Christmas morning on Saturday instead!  It was Avery's first Christmas this year and she had lots of fun figuring out what to do with those presents and she loved that she actually got to rip up paper!  She has also been so funny this year with my parents nativity.  She loves to go over and play with the figures.  They are just plastic, so she can't hurt them at all, and every time we get to Nana and Grandpa's she heads right for it.  On Saturday, she carried a few of them around with her all day long.  She always seems to chose baby Jesus, and usually a wiseman as well.  She also got a Jack-In-The-Box which she was fascinated with.  It was a great day, but would have of course been better if uncle Jeff could've been there.  

All tired out at the end of the day

Playing with her friends from the nativity - we need to learn they aren't for eating though

Opening a present with Nana

Avery and her first purse.. She is ready to hit the mall!

Checking to make sure Grandpa is seeing this cool new toy!

Waiting for it to open!

Checking out what this new toy can do..she LOVED LOVED it!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...

Merry Christmas!  I have been a bad blogger lately and have lots of catching up to do.  Last week we visited Santa, and we've also had Christmas with my family, so I have lots of pictures to post.  We've been busy, busy, busy and they probably won't get posted tonight.  I promise to get them up soon though.  I'm thinking we'll have some time on Christmas day when we just enjoying some peaceful, family time together.  

We were at my parents for Christmas today with my family, and Avery was playing by my mom's beautiful tree before we left tonight.  I took the opportunity to try out some fun things with my camera,  and thought these pictures turned out kind of different and cool.  The little one near the bottom in her cute, cozy jammies would be Avery!  She looks like she is putting the finishing touches on Nana's tree!  Here is wishing you a beautiful Christmas.  Enjoy this special time with your loved ones.  I am so thankful everyday for my amazing family and all of the blessings I am so fortunate to have in my life.  May your Christmas be filled with peace, love and joy.

Needed Prayers

One of my oldest and dearest friends Kristin (she was a bridesmaid in our wedding) and her family are in need of your thoughts and prayers right now.  On Friday night, her parents home in Winthrop burned down.  From the sounds of it, they lost most everything.  However the most devastating news of all is that her mom, Deb, didn't make it.  Her dad is okay.  He is in the ICU at HCMC right now being treated for smoke inhalation, but should be okay.  Her mom was a teacher at GFW and was just a great lady.  She will surely be deeply missed by all of those who knew her. In November, her parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.  Kristin also has an older brother and sister.  I can't imagine how difficult this must be for them right now, especially at this time of year, on top of it all.  Right now they are just worried about getting their dad better.  Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.  

Under the Weather

Avery came down with the flu this week, poor little thing.  Luckily it was only a 24 hour thing, but it was no good.  I got to stay home with her on Friday and she spent the day resting up.  She would try to play, and then just lay her little head down.  She got lots of rest, and is pretty much back to normal.  Uncle Jeff wanted new pictures, so here you go.  I did take a few that day...even though she wasn't feeling well, she just looked so sweet and I loved all the snuggling we got to do that day.  We're sure glad she is back to her normal, energetic self again!

This little ice cube thing works wonders and came in so handy when she wasn't feeling well

Oh mom, I wish I could just go out and play

I can still try to play with the tree right??

Sweet girl

Bonding Time

This was a few weeks ago (notice the sunny sky and lack of snow) and I came downstairs after getting ready to find Avery and Daddy deep in a game of Super Nintendo - Super Mario Brothers 3!  What can I say, Cullen loves Mario.  Avery just liked to hold the control.  I think the Super Nintendo was from when we were like 8 years old or something.  It's still fun, nonetheless!  However, a Wii may need to be in our future one of these days!