Top Chef

Audrey loves to help us make dinner. She grabs a chair then slowly and loudly pushes it across the kitchen to the stove. It makes me a nervous wreck because I'm terrified of her being burned. But she loves to help so she and Barker out voted me. However, if she ever gets so much as a tiny burn on her pretty little hands Barker will receive an awful beating, and you can expect a lengthy blog on both of their recoveries.

Audrey's First Musical: Beauty and The Beast

Prosper High School put on Beauty and The Beast this weekend so I thought it would be the perfect time and place to take Audrey to her first musical. I love plays and musicals (laugh away, I don't care) and I've been looking forward to Audrey becoming old enough to accompany me.

Before the show Belle hosted a tea time and Audrey loved it!

Most of the girls were shy or reluctant to sit on Belle's lap as if she was some creepy Santa. But not Audrey. She sprinted right up and tried to hug her. Belle picked her up and Audrey lit up like a Christmas tree!

After meeting Belle she got to have 'tea' which was lemonade with sandwiches, cookies, fruit and mints.

While they were eating Belle sang a song from the show.

Then she came around to interact with each of the girls.

And she gave them a rose to take home.


Audrey immediately smelled hers.



As Belle left she blew Audrey a kiss and Audrey sent one right back at her.

Then it was onto the show!

It ran until around 9:30, an hour and a half past her bedtime, but she was such a trooper! She never whined or became restless. She watched the entire show, was never scared, and danced in her seat to 'Be Our Guest' and 'We'll be Human Again' while grinning from ear to ear. I was one proud Mommy!
The show was fantastic! I'm not at all surprised that it was sold out, even on a Thursday night. We'll for sure be regulars at their productions now. Having a 2 and a half year old daughter is so much fun!

Fort Worth Stock Show 2011

Every year I really look forward to taking Audrey to the Fort Worth Stock Show. We do lots of shopping, eat bad for you food, pet all kinds of animals, run into lots of friends, and ride carnival rides. This year we got there around 10:30 and Audrey could barely hold her eyes open by one! She normally naps at 2:30 but she was exhausted so we cut the shopping short and headed to the rides.
Barker was in a rush to get me out the door and grabbed my camera but failed to put the charging battery in it! When I realized what he'd done I was sooooo mad. He quickly bought me a super cute pair of boots I would have never bought myself. I realized a few hours later it was probably an attempt to get out of the dog house. The boy has got this marriage thing down!
But seeing as how I couldn't use my camera, we only have a few pictures of Audrey riding solo for the first time from Barker's phone.



Asleep at the wheel...

Poor thing could hardly keep her eyes open.
On the carousel she sat on a bunny but had her head resting on her daddy the whole time, trying to sleep. We hit the road soon after that. Seconds later she was passed out and woke up from nap in a great, giggly mood.

Let it snow: 2011 Edition

We woke up at 9:30 this morning expecting to see snow. We just saw rain. But around 11 or so I looked out and noticed the neighbor's roof was turning white. Soon after every thing was blanketed in a crisp white layer of snow.
Emily sent me a text saying she wanted to see pictures of Audrey playing it, so here they are. I grabbed some clothes and ordered Barker out in it. I took pictures from the safety of the front porch. : )

Barker eating snow



And getting Audrey to take a bite.



Audrey making foot prints in the drive way.



Her little foot



They made a little snow man. Barker didn't bother to put on gloves but Audrey was smarter and started to roll the snow into a ball. No idea where she learned to do that?! We sure didn't teach her. She's just a natural snow angel I suppose. Maybe it's time for her first ski trip?!!

Then she wanted to throw snow balls so they dismembered poor mini snow man and threw him into the street.

Barker throwing the largest bit of snow man.



Audrey winding up and throwing (with her left hand, of course) her tiny bit of snow man.



She loved it! I think last year she was just kinda confused about why she was wearing so many layers amidst all the white stuff. But this year she would have stayed out much longer if her dad wasn't ready to warm his hands and make lunch. Maybe before dinner they can go back out for round two. The snow doesn't seem to be going anywhere any time soon.

Alumni Soccer Game 2011

Every January Barker plays in his alumni soccer game. It's always cold, but the old guys normally win and Audrey seems to have a good time. So I guess we'll continue to go for as long as Barker has knees.

Will and Barker



Barker with the ball



Audrey wearing the crown Sherri gave her that morning at Lily's party.

Birthday Parties Galore

Last weekend we had two birthday parties to attend but we were sick so we had to miss them. Audi was pretty bummed. But this weekend we had another two parties lined up and Audrey was excited to go!

First was Lily's at a carousel. I'd have never thought to have one there but I'm glad Sherri did, cause the kids loved it.

The birthday girl, Lily, is three!



Audrey and Daddy rode over and over again.



Audrey and Jo



And there was cookie cake, which was a nice alternative to the traditional birthday cake.

* * *

That evening we went to Tom and Rebekah's for Margaret's birthday dinner. Now, if you read this blog you know how creative and talented Rebekah is when it comes to showers and parties. And this was no exception. It was a snow girl themed party down to the last detail. She made scarves for all the little guests. And they really enjoyed the smores and carrot cake cup cakes...get it...snow men have carrot noses ; )
But I must admit, she really out did herself this time with dinner. They yummy selection of comfort foods was delish...but the snow balls were to die for! She took crushed oreos and mixed them with cream cheese, shaped them into balls, then dipped them in white chocolate. That's right...get your keys, get in the car, go to the grocery store and buy those three items today. You won't be sorry.

The kids and their scarves


MG and her first birthday smash cake


She's a natural.

Happy birthday Lily and Margaret!

(Sorry I didn't get better pictures at either party but with Audrey always on the move, I can't seem to find time to snap as many decent shots anymore.)

Guess who really wanted to be here in time for Santa?!

Baby Quin!

Our friends Will and Shannon Schaffler welcomed beautiful baby Quin on Christmas Day, 2 weeks ahead of schedule. Because who could be a better birthday buddy than JC?

We were just able to meet his sweet self tonight, a week and a half later, because we were out of town when we got word of his arrival. And then we all got sick. Boo! So I had to make sure all three of us had several days of being fever free under our belts before I dared take them dinner. So in exchange for one of Barker's chicken pot pies I got lots of cuddle time with Quin. I wish I was a better photographer so I could truly show how precious this baby is.


The proud daddy and baby Quin

We laughed when we got home (after stuffing our faces at Angry Dog) because Will and Shannon seemed so calm and in control, like this was their 7th kid, not their first. At a week and a half I was still in the 'holy crap, this is our kid...what do we do now?' stage. But they're naturals.

Audrey grinned from ear to ear when she got to see the baby, and then she was out to see the dogs. When she came back she was less than thrilled to see I was still holding the baby. I thought maybe she was wanting to hold him (ha, fat chance kid) but nope, she wanted to be held. Jealous much? Maybe she does have some of my genes buried in her DNA somewhere after all.

The gift that keeps on giving

The Thursday before Christmas my cousin Raymond's kids were sick. Poor Fisher, the youngest, seems to me a magnet for every virus, germ, or bug around. But they had been fever free and on antibiotics for a couple of days before Christmas. Still, I was hesitant to let Audrey be around them. I knew we were going to be at the ranch and I didn't want her to get sick so far away from her doctor. So against my better judgement, since it was Christmas, I caved and took her to exchange gifts and play with her little cousins. And she had a blast.
The next day Connor had it, that night Jeannie fell victim, too. By Tuesday my dad was sick so we high tailed it out of the ranch but by Wednesday night Audrey was running fever, too. I thought Barker and I had somehow lucked out. Then Friday I got word that the boy's Pappy was down for the count. I knew then that we weren't out of the running. And sure enough Barker and I both woke up Saturday morning with fever. Awesome. I was really disappointed because I was supposed to get lots of baby cuddles on Monday but I had to post pone that until I'd been fever free a little longer. That's something I just don't like to risk. But on the upside, between doctor appointments, antibiotics and lots of fluids, we accomplished several things that NEVER happen in this family. I got to read! And I don't just mean thumb through my In Style Magazine. Being quarantined and on the couch with my nook gave me the opportunity to sit still long enough to finish 6 books so far and start another. And I got to capture Barker and squeak taking a nap! Barker never ever naps but this virus really took the wind out of his sails.

We're on the road to recovery but seeing as how this virus was so highly contagious, we decided to lock ourselves up until we were as certain as can be that we were no longer a danger to anyone else. This thing spreads like wildfire. Audrey was disappointed she had to miss her friend Peyton's birthday party. When we put her to bed tonight she whined 'I want birthday cake.' I had hoped she would forget me telling her on Friday (before Barker and I were sick) that she was going to Peyton's birthday party. When it comes to cake and presents, that kid's mind is a steel trap!
Sadly, it wasn't the kind of virus that made me sick to my stomach or unable to eat. So it didn't help with my new year's resolution to lose the 4 pounds I gained over the holidays. Bummer. Losing a few pounds is normally the only good thing about being sick.