Christmas in the Wild

For Christmas, we took Alex's family to Lazy 5 Ranch in NC. We had 2 cars and we laughed most of the way as Ostrich, Emus, Buffalo and deer all poked their heads inside of our car for some snacks.

baby's first christmas!

Since Ava doesn't quite understand Christmas yet, it was a little more exciting for us than for her. Here are some pics Christmas Eve & morning (in her high chair) and a few we took of Ava & her bff Ashlyn in their matching "Baby's first Christmas" nightgowns. They are so cute!

I like to move it- move it!

One of our favorite things to do recently is play the Madagascar Soundtrack in the morning when Ava is sitting in her high chair having her bottle. The first song is a nice slow intro and the second one is, I like to Move it-move it! We then start dancing like crazy around the kitchen with one of us holding her. I also get a pretty good workout too. When I become an aerobics instructor, I'm going to use the first 5 songs on that soundtrack for one of my classes!

Here are a few pics of us getting ready for Christmas- don't you love those pillow feet?

thankful

One verse I am so thankful for, not only for others but myself as well:

^{Philippians 1:4}In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I'm glad He's not done with me.

He's not done with you either.

i like polka dots!

I think i'm in love with polka dots (well not really LOVE, but I like them a lot!) Ava's bed sheets are pink with white polka dots. The big bed in her room has sheets that are green with white polk dots. She has many different pants/leggings with polka dots. I just made her a dress with polka dots and tonight bought her 3 pairs of shoes with polka dots! (each under $10). I fell in like with these sweet shoes the moment i saw them in a really nice kids clothing store. However, I don't have $30 to spend on shoes for a cute girl who can't walk yet!
A friend told me about www.puddlejumpers.com, where i bought 2 pairs for $8 for next year. And tonight- my first time on Ebay in about 2 years- I won a smaller version of this pair for $10! yay! i'll def be taking pics of her in them once they get here!

i like chalk

more family photos

A friend of a friend- Amy Prikazky just started her own photography business this year and came down to Columbia to do a marathon photoshoot one morning with a whole bunch of our friends. Here are a few!

sitting with st. nick

At our annual Young Life Christmas party, we had a surprise guest- the big man himself! Ava wasn't too interested in telling him all she wanted this year for Christmas. I think she was too busy checking out all the tacky sweaters everyone was wearing.

happy thanksgiving!

my first attempt at appliquing...made a matching onesie for ashlyn!