South Padre Island vacation

We went on vacation at the end of February. Our first vacation as a family. Actually, our first vacation for any of us! Eric told the kids they should be happy to get to see the ocean at such a young age. He had to wait until he was 30 to do so. Here is Dylan checking out the ocean for the first time:

He LOVED the beach. He would run and run and run. He also liked playing in the surf, throwing sand and practicing writing his letters in the sand.

Here we are on our daily beach walk. Dylan often went more than once.

Here is Miss Avery in her first swimsuit. She loves the water, so it was a given that she would enjoy swimming in a pool.

More pics in another post. Picasa is lame-o and only lets me upload 4 pics at a time.

Backtracking...

Well, Renae has put me to shame lately with her 10 blogs a month. So I figured I'd better get busy. So here is a bit of backtracking. These pics are from when Gpa Danny and Easton came to visit last weekend. Dylan had fun showing grandpa his rink and how much his skating has come along. He also enjoyed playing with his cousin and thought it was hilarious that Easton walks! (He must think Avery will never be able to walk?) So here are a few pics:


Out for a night skate

Poor Easter - no skates yet...

Hey guys - let me out!

Skating figure eights with Grandpa!

Well, there were supposed to be more pics, but as usual, blogger sucks. So please imagine a picture of Eric holding up his cool new "Brainerd Hockey" tshirt and a picture of Eric and Dylan with Eric's sweet birthday cake. For those on FB, consider yourselves lucky (or smart, whichever you prefer) because you have seen them.

I have more pics to upload one of these days, so perhaps I'll do another post then. Maybe.

January is here!

Well, I'm testing out posting via Picasa via PC. Gasp! Tricia is using a PC?! What is this world coming to?!?!? Well, as it turns out, the Christmas present I asked for (updated Mac program for iPhoto) was not compatible with Nona, as she is too old. So I'm still using my parent's cast off lap top. Gotta admit, its been handy. Plus, now I can fill their computer up with junk instead of my own! Sweet! : )

Well, its January. Normally the most lame of all the months of the year. So far tho, things are good. Dylan is in hockey now 2 times a week and he is really loving it. He's getting closer to gliding but as of right now, he still pushes with one leg. Avery is busy working on her skills. I've been putting her on her hands in knees and she'll rock back and forth for a bit before falling on her face. That makes her mad and then she doesn't want to do it anymore. But, its a step in the right direction! She's starting to learn to eat with her hands now too. She LOVES eating puffers, so soon I will be starting to give her other things. The beginning of the end of baby food! Woohoo! My food processor (and the cook) are ready for a break!

Well, here's some pics of them. I apologize to those who have seen all these on FB. Its not my fault theres a few losers who don't have FB!

Happy Boxing Day!

Merry Christmas, fans! Instead of starting at the beginning, may I ask you to scroll down to the bottom of this post? Blogger still uploads pictures backwards and I didn't feel like exerting a ton of brain power. I am in a food coma, after all. So please, scroll to the bottom and work your way up.

19. Well, I apologize if there are a lot of mistakes and spaces and numbers out of order. Its hard working with this crappy website. Especially when you have no mouse and you are using a PC. They are just not good.

Well, thats it from me! Hope you all had a great Christmas and we'll see you in January. I hope!
19. And finally, Avery watching the sword fight and being glad that shes immobile and protected by her dad. She's not a big sword fighting fan.

18. Sword fighting with Gpa. I'm not sure if anyone won. I know those of us who were NOT playing didn't enjoy it. WHACK! ow!

17. Dylan opening his stocking.

17. Avery enjoying a new toy from Auntie Kacie, Uncle Fast Eddie and Easter Bunny Hanson.

16. Dylan oo-ing and ah-ing at a shirt he received.

15. Out of order, but oh well. The fam again.

The Christmas tree. It had a rough beginning, what with falling out of the pickup and all.

13. Avery's first time in tights! I pitied her. Poor thing - tights suck! Dylan got to wear sweatpants to church b/c according to him, "these pants are too floppy!" He was talking about his jeans. Clearly, we have him in sweatpants too often.

11. Avery having fun in her saucer

10. The Fam. Eric just HAD to sit like that. Not to mention that he has no pants on.

8. How come no one wiped this boy's face? Geez.

7. All the cousins with Gma and Gpa

6. At Maple Lake - all the cousins posing together in front of the tree at Gma's request.

6. Dad joined him on the ice to help him and film him with our new Flip! (my xmas present)

5. Slappin the puck around on the ice

4. Avery hanging with mom and watching her big brother skate!

3.Dylan before he got on the ice for his first hockey practice.

2. Dylan opening more presents. Not sure what was in this one, but I'm sure it was awesome!

1. Start here. Well, before we left for the Wikoff Family Christmas at Maple Lake, we opened presents at home. Dylan was pretty excited to receive this new hockey stick. He's quite the skater now!

Just under the wire!

Phew! Got a November post in before it was too late!! Just happened to click on our blog to see what we are up to and to my surprise, there was no post for November. Thot to myself - "well, I must fix that!" So to fill the void of November, a lame post. At least, I predict it will be lame.

Lets see, what have we been up to...hmmm.....well, we just got back from a week-long visit to Gma and Gpa Puppy's house in Aberdeen. Uncle Tommy was the only sibling to join us for the weekend. He spent a good portion of it asleep on the couch. : ) The kids had fun. Avery is sitting up now, so thats been a fun development. Dylan had a good time going to "C.C. Deville Park" (aka, C.C. Lee Elementary's playground - I bet you can guess who told him that it was called CeeCee Deville Park, can't you?) with his dad and riding his bike to see the snowman shrine down the street from Gma and Gpa's house. Eric and I had fun playing with Gpa's teeny tiny video camera and I am even more convinced now that the Flip is THE Christmas present for me! Santa has been notified. : ) We took lots of video, so look for a "Thanksgiving 2009" dvd at a home theatre near you. Well, that is, if Gpa Puppy figures out how to burn it. Gma Puppy was supposed to be coming to our house tomorrow to help out while Eric has knee surgery on Wednesday, but she is now sick and unable to come. Her laptop with the videos was to arrive with her so that I could just do the dvd myself (gpa was having troubles), but it is looking like the release date for "Thanksgiving 2009" is going to be pushed back. Dang, huh? I know you were all look forward to catching that flick! It includes clips of CeeCee Deville AND the snowman cult! I bet you are even more bummed, now aren't you?!

Well, I'll wrap this up with a reminder to you all that the annual Christmas letter is currently at the press, so be looking for it in a mailbox near you!

Here's a picture to hold you all over until then!

Dylan and Avery

: )