Saturday, January 8, 2011

Christmas in Hemphill!

We split up our Christmas trips this year. We went to BC and College Station before and during Christmas and then went to Hemphill on New Years! In between, (among other things) we had Avaree's 15-month well-baby visit. The doctor told us that at 26.2 lbs she was in the 90th percentile for her weight, and at 32 inches she was in the 95the percentile for her height, but at over 16" the poor baby was off the charts for the size or her head! :) Her sweet Daddy said it must be her brain... :) hehe.

Before we left for our first Christmas adventure, I took pictures of beautiful Shannon and her handsome brothers as a Christmas suprise for their mom. I kept telling the boys that I was soooo impressed by their good attitudes. I know my brother would have called it at two pictures, if that, but these boys were great!! :) We took them in downtown Dallas, which was sooooooo fun! I had a blast and was happy that I was able to help. I am absolutely not a professional (nor do I want to be), but this was fun (and the editing is even more fun!). Here is one of my favs!!

Avaree LOVES Bella. She actually loves all animals. However, when she sees a cat, she immediately starts talking in this unintelligable language. It is the cutest thing ever. She certainly looooved having Bella AND Lois Kitty at my mom's house! :)

 Helping Pop Pop with his phone. If you know Ave, you know that she LOVES technology (cell phones, I-anythings, computers, etc.). Well...about a month ago I noticed that everytime Brandon called I would miss his call. It seemed coincidental at first, but then I realized that it was happening even when I had my phone in my lap. It took me THREE weeks (and Brandon tried too!!) to figure out that Avaree had "auto-rejected" Brandon. I didn't even know that this was an option on my phone!! Crazy girl! :)
 Brandon and Ken played golf at Cypress Bend while we were home. They even had a thrird member to their team, a FOX! Seriously! Brandon has pictures of it. Apparently, it joined around the 9th hole and followed them the rest of the way!
 YAYYYYYY for swinging! Thankfully it was just beautiful while we were in Hemphill. So we got to enjoy a LOT of outdoor time! (Ave's favorite!!) Pop Pop put a baby swing up for Avaree over a year ago, but now he has a big people swing that you can change it out with! Yahoo!! :)
 Avaree loooooooooooooves to swing. It has probably moved up on her top five list too. Have I mentioned how beautiful Hemphill is this time of year?? I LOVE the trees and all the beautiful colors! I miss that so much in our little concrete jungle! I also looooove to take pictures outside. I have no idea how to take good inside pictures. I suppose it's because God already did such a beautiful job with the landscape outdoors! :)
Love this face!!!!!
 Sooooooo sweet! We love Granmama!! :)

 My poor little city child was enamored with the leaves. She had never touched them before!

 Mama and Ave! My mom is so good of always grabbing the camera to take pictures of Ave and me together, since I'm usually the one behind the camera! :)

 Liz and Ave! I looooved getting to spend time with my "little" cousin! I missed most of her teenage years, but she was my world when she was born! :)
 Who knows what just happened here...but it was a cute pic! :)
 Avaree has loved this little dancing/singing Elvis Bear since she was little. She kissed it, talked to it, carried it around, loved on it, etc. :)
 Gotta love this little face. I was wanting her to do the "He loves me, He loves me not...", but she preferred to do things her own way. I wonder where she gets that? :)
 Liz did my hair and makeup for New Years Eve. I remember when she asked me to do her hair and makeup so that she could look just like me. My how time has changed things...hehe! :)
 Mom, Ave, Maw Maw and me on NYE 2010!

 Mom and Ave examining a leaf. Would you believe that my little city girl FINALLY decided that she can walk on grass??! This is huge! :)

 Love those blue eyes...
 Liz snapped this while I was putting Ave's hat on her. I just love the way she's looking at me. That's pure love and trust folks. Love her.
 Love this! Ave is in the background doing her "Where's Avaree? Here I am!" :)
 Liz had my camera and took way too many pictures of me. But, at least I got to play with the lighting while editing. This one is for her.. :)

 No caption needed.. :)
15 months and growing!!

Our first week back to school was difficult. And to top it off, Avaree has a terrible virus and feels awful. When I picked her up on Wednesday she had 103.5 and felt worse than I've seen her feel since the last time we were in the hospital. She had to have blood drawn and be cathaterized this week, so she was definintely traumatized. I finally got her to eat some pureed veggies tonight. Otherwise, she couldn't eat much and has had enough Pedialyte to last awhile. If you think about it, please say a prayer for her. Hopefully we are on the mend! The weather says we are getting snow tomorrow, so hopefully she'll feel well enough to at least look at it!
Bartons

Thursday, January 6, 2011

January Birthdays!!!!!!!!

Avaree would like two very special people Happy Birthday this month!!!


Happy Birthday to Aunt Jamie TODAY!!!!!





Happy Birthday to G-Pops on the 29th!!!!

 

Coming up (I PROMISE): Christmas in Hemphill!! Forgive me: I have a sick little one and a few other things to do!! hehe..

Bartons

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Christmas in College Station!

Just to give you an idea of why it has taken me several days to get these pictures up: I took 669 pictures over the Christmas holidays, and now that I have learned to edit a little bit, I have to go through EVERY one! :) For some reason, some of my very favorite pictures from our time in CS had an "error" on them and wouldn't even upload. :( But, I still got some great shots!!!

Ave opening her stocking from Santa G-Pops and GiGi!  


 Avaree helping open presents scavenging for paper to rip into shreds!! :)
 Avaree and her Great Great Grandmother, Mimi! What a blessing that Avaree gets to know her!! :) We were so happy that she got to be home for Christmas!!!
 Flying with GiGi!
 Ave watching the letters DVD with Paw Paw!!!
 "Peek-a-boo" down the hall!! Avaree loves to run around the big circle at GiGi and G-Pops house. It's like a track compared to our house!
 Sweet picture: I love these smiles!
Doing her Indian trick on GiGi's bed! She loved GiGi's soft pillow! 
 Avaree liked this Santa...just don't try to put her near the "real" Santa. :)
 beautiful girls and sweet friends :)
 The handsome and beautiful Uncle D and Aunt J! They have already been married over a year! Time has FLOWN by!
 "The Barton Family Singers" practicing "Let there be Light" the the night before! They are amazing together. I must say that I'm pretty partial to the guy on the left though!! Could someone give him my number? :) hehe...
 On Sunday after church (after the Barton family singers had rocked the house with their beautiful song), we got to meet up with our sweet friends Jon, Lisa and Micah for lunch!!! Micah is 21 months old and sooooooo smart! :) Aren't they precious?
Ave's shirt says, "I'm on my Auntie's Nice List!!" We LOVE Aunt J!!! :)
 It was bitterly cold while we were in College Station, so I wouldn't let Avaree go outside to play; however, this did not stop her from trying to get out the door... :)

We had a great time in CS! Daddy was happy because he got to be with his family, sing at CBC and eat Wings 'N More...ha! :)

Stay Tuned: Christmas in Hemphill and the January Birthday Blogs are coming up next! :)

Bartons

Monday, January 3, 2011

Christmas in Bridge City

It was beautiful the whole time we were in B.C., so we really enjoyed some good outside time! (And by "we" I especially mean Avaree! The child would sleep outside if she could!) :)

Dad and Denise took us to see their property at the lake! You can tell that the water is really down, but the view is unobstructed and soooo beautiful! Can't wait to make lots of memories there!
 Avaree touching a pine cone for the first time! Soon after I snapped this she gave it back to Daddy! ha! :)
 Papa love!


 beautiful girl...
 Avaree and Colton looking at Sweet Pea! They really liked one another. Keller wasn't as enthralled with Ave, but they were both precious! Wish they could spend more time together!
 Precious moments...
 What a Papa will do to make his kiddos laugh...
 And yes, she still loves to kiss "her friend!" :)
 Niecey made a little wagon for Avaree!
 But she decided she'd rather push than ride... :) hehe!
 Ave loved playing with the boys' airplane!
 Sooooooooo sweet!!!
 My two favorite guys and my favorite girl= a perfect picture! :)
 Ave opening one of her books that I wrapped in penguin paper! :)
 Niecey liked her gifts! :)
 Ave is a professional paper shredder. She doesn't discriminate either...wrapping paper, tissue paper, toilet paper: she loves them all! :)
 This has always been a traditional Christmas shot for all the cousins in our family. However, at one time we could all fit on one couch. ha! Even though we all have separate lives and families, it is always wonderful to get together and celebrate the lives of those that are in Heaven and love on one another!
 Charlie, Claire and me!
 We love Uncle Spencer!
 Family Portrait!!
 Brandon playing Santa the night before. I'm sure in the years to come the "put together" won't be so quick! :)
 Me: "Avaree, loooook: This is from Santa!! What does Santa say?? Ho...Ho...Ho, Merry Christmas!" Avaree: (she just grinned!)
 Look at those precious sleepy eyes!!!!!!
 Playing with Noah's Ark!
 I'll perfect this before next year... :)
Avaree woke Uncle Spencer up Christmas morning! :) I think he was glad that she did! It was soooooooo fun to be with my family AND my brother on Christmas morning. It had been years since we were at the same place at the same time, and it was so wonderful! :) Love him!

We had a great time in Bridge City!!

Stay tuned: Christmases in College Station and Hemphill are coming up next!! :) Love to all!
Bartons