Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year's!

I know.  I haven't even posted Christmas pictures yet.  I will, soon!  But here are some pics of Auds and I celebrating New Year's Eve.  I've been thinking back to my years of getting dressed up, not leaving the house (or dorm, apartment, etc.) until at least 9 pm.  Funny how times have changed.  This year we are celebrating in front of the tv, with snacks, and I plan on both of us being asleep by 9.  But I wouldn't change it for the world.  :))


Barbie is the newest member of our family.

And this is her house.  It's pretty sweet.  :)

Happy 2013 to all!  It's going to be a great year!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Next Stop: Dance Moms!


Audrey had her first Dance Recital today and it was too cute.  She takes lessons at her school, during the day, so I don't get to watch her practice each week.  I didn't know what to expect, but she was really good!  Her and her friends did the cutest performance and I was really impressed with the dance moves they did.  Afterwards I told her my favorite part was when she leaped across the room, and she immediately corrected me and said, "No Mom I SASHAYED."  Right.  :)  Now, she's still a little stinker.  Her and her friends left their spots a few times to come give us hugs, and between songs they got into little scuffles about who was sitting where, but it was so darn cute.  I never took dance lessons as a child, so it's so neat to watch Audrey have this experience.  I'm so proud of her!

Here's a video of one of their performances. . .
It's little hard to see, but she's the 4th from the left.

Before the show, having fun with Madi. . .

So cute . . .

A real ballerina . . .

As long as she keeps having this much fun with it, we'll keep doing it!  :)

At the end they let each girl get up and perform their favorite "move."  This was Audrey's.



Class picture.

The cutest ballerina.  Maybe ever.  I wonder if we can apply for that Dance Moms show now . . .  ;)

Oh, and yes, her leggings ripped.  Right before the show.  Didn't faze her a bit!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Such a stinker

I just had to share . . .

So I picked Audrey up from school yesterday and told her we had to stop at the store for a few things.  For some reason, this just set her off.  "Nooooooo Maaamaaaa, I just want to go home and eat a snack."  etc etc.  Um, we're going to the store girlfriend.  So she whined her way through the store, came home and continued to throw a fit, got sent to time-out, tried to hit me so she lost television privileges for the night, calmed down for dinner, but then didn't want a bath, then didn't want to get out of the bath, then lost bedtime stories, and I just put her to bed at like 7:10.  GOODNIGHT.  Mommy is done.  She fell asleep right away, so I knew she was overtired.  But I was still so frustrated with her and her behavior.  Then at 2 am she tip-toed into my bed and I asked her what she was doing.  Her reply?  "I just love you the most Mommy and I missed you."  Heart.melting.  So I let her crawl into my bed and just cuddled with her for the rest of the night.  And guess who was the happiest camper to get ready this morning?  Little Miss Whineybutt from last night!  You never know what you're going to get I guess.  :)))  At least it's never boring!



Sunday, December 9, 2012

Christmas Pageant

Every year Audrey's school puts on the BEST Christmas show.  Each of the classes gets to perform two songs and it is always amazing.  The kids start practicing months in advance and you can just tell how hard their teachers work with them.  Audrey was SO excited to perform this year.  She's been singing her songs every night and rehearsing for me so well that I actually think "I" could have gotten up there.  ;)  Her class' first song was about Santa being on vacation, so all of the girls dressed up in Hula gear.  When her class got up there and performed it was seriously the cutest.thing.ever.  I don't have pictures to do it justice, because I was so busy just WATCHING.  James recorded it on his phone, but that didn't turn out well either.  Luckily I ordered the DVD.  Here's our little superstar front and center!







And then one parent had to be "that guy."  Every parent sat nicely in the audience, discreetly taking pictures, but then this jerk-o actually walked UP to the stage, sat his younger son ON THE STAGE people, and stood right in front of all of us for the performance.  Seriously?  Thanks for being in half my pictures and blocking my view buddy!



After the show with her besties, Sara and Madi.


Posing with Madi and the super sweet Dylan.  Dylan's mom was telling me that for the past few months all Dylan talks about after school is Audrey.  So cute!

I'll try to post the video when I get it.


Sunday, December 2, 2012

Open Spaces + Downtown Buildings+ Food Trucks (with adult beverages!) = Best Playdate Ever!

Wow, what a weekend!  Last soccer practice, putting up the Christmas tree, and then the BEST PLAYDATE EVER!  ;)  Hilary and I talked about taking the kids to the new Klyde Warren Park for awhile now, and we finally got to go today.  Now, for Auds it was old news.  Her daddy lives downtown.  She thinks of this park as "HER" park.  Her and James walk there all the time.  It was so funny when we were leaving, and I told Audrey to get in the car to go to the the Downtown Park, and she acted all shocked, saying, "Daddy says we just walk to the park!"  Well not from Mommy's house girlfriend!

I didn't know what to expect, but this park was AMAZING.  It had everything: 

Amazing hills to roll down . . .

A super cool climbing area. . .

 Picture perfect rocks to sit on.  :)


Lots of free space to run around . . . 


Food trucks GALORE.  Where to eat???



Much needed adult beverages for the mommies.  Where else can you watch your kiddos play and sip on a Miller Lite?!

Beautiful scenery.

Lunch with friends!

Look who stopped by!  James knew we were going to the park, and had to stop by to see his girl.  He lives just a few blocks from the park.


High fives

Everyone there was so friendly.  The kids couldn't help but make friends with everyone they saw.






Fun artwork

This sealed the deal for me.  An outdoor magazine/book area where you can just grab whatever you want to read?!!  Sign me up!



And there's a sand area?



The kiddos were begging for ice cream at the end.  And with a bunch of fun food trucks stocked with ice cream sandwiches made with homemade cookies, what did Audrey want?  Yes.  A covered banana with chocolate and sprinkles.  This picture will haunt her the rest of her life.  ;)  I will save it for her Rehearsal Dinner slide show.  Because I am an awesome mommy like that.



Auds and I really had such a fun day playing with Hilary, Cade, and Devyn.  We can't wait to go back!

Christmas Decorating


AAHHH!  I've tried to post this 3 times now, and cannot get the pictures in the correct order.  So, whatever!  ;)  Yesterday James came over and we took Audrey to get our tree.  She was so excited!  It's really fun to see her so into the Christmas spirit.  We stuck to the good ole tradition that has been going on for many years now . . . James getting the tree all set up and putting the lights on.  And then me not liking it.  I am not a perfectionist in most areas of my life, but for some reason the Christmas tree always brings out this OCDness in me.  The lights have to be "just so", the decorations in the right order, etc. etc.  It's funny at this point.  James now just says "Ok, I'm going to put the lights up so  you can tell me how to rearrange them."  ;)  And we always have Elf on while decorating.  "I just love to smile.  Smiling's my favorite!"  


Seriously, this movie cracks me up every year.  

The finished product:

This was supposed to be at the end of the post, but Audrey is SO EXCITED to have our Elf, Frederick, come visit us again.  It's so much fun to see where he is every morning.

This is James as I was asking him to rearrange the lights.  Again.  But he did!

Auds loved hanging up the ornaments.

Helping Daddy get the lights ready . . . 

Watching Elf and organizing decorations . . .

Bring on the Christmas festivities.  I can't wait to see the trains at Northpark, look at Christmas lights, build Gingerbread houses . . .and send and receive Christmas cards.  Woo-hoo!

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Soccer

James and I decided to sign Audrey up for soccer a few months ago.  We found a program, Soccer Tots, that offered classes for 3 year olds every Saturday morning for an hour.  We had NO idea what we were getting into.  Before we signed up, I passed along this great idea of soccer to Audrey's BFF's, Sara and Madi's, moms.  They were in too.  And then we actually got to the first day of practice.  I had visions of the parents sitting on the sidelines having ADULT conversations while the kiddos practiced nicely on the court.  Not so much.  The first practice was a nightmare.  Kids running everywhere, not listening to their Coach, fighting over spots to sit in, etc.  The next few weeks were also very difficult.  It was a constant rotation of kids being pulled out to be disciplined.  The moms found ourselves passing over the practice duties to the dads.  We just got too stressed out with the constant behavior problems.  But 2 weeks ago James couldn't make practice so I had to go.  I didn't think we would make it.  But, to my surprise, everything FINALLY came together.  After weeks of practicing together, all of the kiddos just seemed to get it.  They all followed directions.  They weren't bickering and were focused on doing a good job.  When Coach Jessie set up a maze for the kids to kick the ball through and then score a goal, Audrey ROCKED IT.  I was so proud.  And today they all rocked it again.  It's amazing to see how far they all have come.  And, if I do say so myself, Audrey is a pretty good lil soccer player.  :)









Oh, and in true Audrey fashion, her teammates are all wearing their soccer shirts, while Audrey insisted on wearing a Princess one.  Nice.