Gymnastics

Dear Abigail,

You heart gymnastics...

And that's about all I can say about that :)

Love you!!

Another weekend

Dear Abigail,

After a long week in Snowshoe, it was time to get back to the normal life, and we all know our normal life just means we are going to be busy busy busy!!!

On Friday, Mommy had a baby shower for a girl I work with and you got to join us (thanks to your school being randomly closed...) but, your friend Jacob (and his mommy) got to join us, too, so it all worked out pretty good! You were very eager to show Jacob how the tiger roars and preceded to show him, right in his face, many many times! After a good nap, we decided to head to the park for an afternoon swing, and then that night Daddy ended up working super late, so Mommy and you ordered pizza and did Mommy's new favorite out of the ordinary dinner - ate it straight out of the box!!! and you did too!! I love setting my tables, but every now and then it sure is fun to not dirty a single dish!!

On Saturday morning, Mommy and Daddy and you headed to the park to burn some energy, and guess who we saw - Jacob and his family!!! It was such beautiful weather and we enjoyed every minute of it that day. After your nap, we headed over to Miss EP & Mr. Jay's house. We hadn't been over there, since, well, maybe Halloween - yowzers, maybe not... Anyway... they did SUCH a good job prepping their house for you 3 rugrats!! They even taped down the piano key guard thing! Good thinking because you and Ellie both went straight to the piano to try to open it. Mr. Jay even bought you kids cotton candy - which we avoided and decided to save for next time, like in 5 years, but it was the thought that counts. We had the jumpy house outside and we grilled and the boys played corn hole and the mommies chatted up! You even went to sleep over there, only to fall off a REALLY tall bed, but it didn't seem to affect you, as you went right back to sleep! We had a good time (and good food!) and were glad to get over to their house.

Sunday was a little laid back, well, sort of... You and Daddy went to Home Depot and then to Publix while Mommy rested/got things situated at the house. After our nap, I mean your nap, Ellie and Aunt Steph and Uncle Jaybee came over and Daddy grilled out - told you that weather was beautiful!!! You and Ellie blew lots and lots and lots of bubbles and we ate some yummy tacos. It was a fun weekend, getting back to normal!

Love you baby girl!!!!

PS - yes, that's right, not a single picture...

Snowshoe 2011

Dear Abigail,

We went on what now I can call our annual ski trip to Snowshoe, West Virginia. While some things were the same as last year, we had a lot of differences, too!

First, we decided to all ride together (that is, me, you, Daddy, and Uncle Jaybee, Aunt Steph and Ellie). We sent the majority of our ski gear up with Aunt Steph's parents at their last visit, so we weren't too too cramped in there. And we had a fancy luggage holder thing a majig on the roof!! So we set off Saturday (Feb 26th), right after lunch, with the thought that you little ones would take a nice long nap. Nah, you girls decided to watch movies and request snacks the whole way! We had decided pre-trip to stop in Bristol for the night, and stay where we stayed last year. Now, if you remember from last year, we put you girls down in separate rooms in pack n plays. Once asleep, we brought Ellie into your room and hung out in the other room. This year we had an different thought - why not let you to go to sleep together?!! Good idea, right? hmph... Well, long story short, it didn't work out. Ultimately, you both went to sleep in separate rooms and then, again, we switched you over to Ellie's room so the parents could hang out.

We were ready to roll Sunday morning, specifically you and Mommy. You woke up extra early and so were ready extra early! While the rest of the gang was sleeping/getting ready, we made our way down to breakfast where you discovered your first lady bug of about 2 million. You were quit intrigued with it, and let the waitress know that it marched across your table.

After a long 2nd half of a trip drive, including a stop to eat lunch, no nap and a super fast Walmart stop, we were finally headed up the mountain. Nona and Papa were so happy to see us, and we were all pretty ready to be there, too. You girls did really well considering the drive was over 10 hours AND you had about 30 minutes of nap time, total!

Now, once we got there, things might have seemed a little different. Biggest difference, NO SNOW! That's right, last year, if you recall, we had to break out the snow chains, still got stuck, and walked up a driveway in our snowboots, just to get to the house. This year, it felt like a warm spring day!! It was crazy, and you just kept asking for the snow (as a matter of fact, you asked for it the whole trip, and even pointed it out when you saw it on the mountain top where we skied!)

The week went by pretty fast, and while I may have a little bit more details if I had written this the week of, I still have a pretty good synopsis of how the week went down!

Monday it rained. Well, it didn't start off raining. It started off as a really nice day, so you and Ellie and me and Aunt Steph and Nona went on a little hike, while the boys patrolled the weather, sending us updates via walkie talkies...

Nona took us to a really cool cave, and a crazy path to get us there, but once we were there, you girls had fun playing in the woods. About 10 minutes into our trip, we got a call from the Daddies warning us of a massive storm quickly approaching, so, to calm their nerves, we headed back home. BUT, we didn't make it, and instead got a smidge wet, but we survived. And they weren't lying either - one heck of a storm passed through, that even frightened me a little! We clearly weren't going to be doing anything in the snow that day, so what else were we to do but cook! You girls helped Nona cook banana nut muffins and you were quite good and mashing up those nannas!

Monday afternoon (I think it was Monday...) we headed up to the top of the mountain to play at Big Top. Again, if you recall, Big Top is where there are lots of jumpy house things and video games and all kinds of fun things to do when it's raining on a mountain top!! It had one of those really big jumpy slide things and you LOVED that. Then you saw a trampoline and insisted that you jump on it. Now, it was one of those trampolines that you sit in a seat and jump and go really high, but you failed to notice the thing you had to sit in and get buckled up in. We waited in line and watched the little boy in front of us and when it was your turn, you wouldn't get in that seat. Oh well, they had plenty of other things to jump around on.

Tuesday was a little blurry for Mommy, mainly because it was my first day skiing and I was living it up! But, you, Nona and Ellie had tons of fun doing all sorts of things! Including making brussell sprouts!!! GAGARONI! Aunt Amy would be so proud, though, but man alive, Mommy was happy she wasn't a part of that!

Wednesday the boys went out skiing that morning while I stayed in with you girls. BUT, guess what, we took you girls up the mountain to go skiing yourself!! That's right - you skied!!!! Mommy was so stinkin' proud of you! You did so good and loved every minute of it. "Aunt" Mel (that's Ellie's Aunt Mel) is a ski instructor on the mountain, specifically for kiddos, SO, who better to teach you to ski, huh! And she did such a good job - you were a champ, no doubt!

Here's you on the magic carpet...

Look at you go!!!

You are loving it!!!!!

And again...
All by yourself!
And then you needed a break!!

After another couple runs, you and Aunt Mel decided to have a snowball fight, and I'm pretty sure you won!! We got you girls home for naps and then off I went skiing again! Oh, speaking of naps... so, we decided to try to give the sleeping in the same room thing another go because Nona had an extra bedroom. Again, it didn't work out. Both of you had your own personal issues, and therefore we had to put you in Nona's bed while Ellie fell asleep in the other room, then put you in that other room once you were asleep! Sleeping arrangements were pretty crazy the first couple days but we got things figured out and while you never truly slept good in the same room together, you at least weren't sleeping in the bed with me (like you did the first night!!). We have Nona (and Papa) to thank for all that because she was so good about getting up with both you girls in the morning (and even in the middle of the night if it called for it!). We were EVER so grateful, no doubt!

So, Thursday and Friday get a little mixed up, too (i really need to make a point to write stuff down!!!) BUT, I've got the main points, just maybe not in the right order...

So at one point, Daddy and Uncle Jaybee took you girls to the park that they claimed was FOREVER away, but ended up just being 11 miles!!

And at some point we all went swimming! Yep, swimming on a ski vacation! It was a little chilly, so Mommy didn't last too long in there, but you loved it and I had to persuade you with who knows what do get you out of the water!!!

You and Nona and Ellie made us breakfast one morning, which consisted of biscuits and gravy (Aunt Steph is supposed to send me pictures!!)

I'm sure I'm leaving tons out, but here's what you can take from this trip - FUN! You and Ellie had so much fun playing together, copying every single thing each other did, playing with Jackie (or Daisy as you preferred to call him) or yelling at Jackie, or playing with your rolly bee/lady bug, or on and on and on!

Here's you looking for snow with Daddy...

Playing blocks with Ellie...

Snuggling with Ellie...

Reading books with Ellie
And then nosy Jackie joining you girls...

We had so much fun and you love you some Nona and Papa, too! Oh, and another highlight for you was when Aunt Carol made you your own personal scarf!!! You loved it and insisted on wearing it the whole night!!

Such a good time and we can't wait to go again next year! You are gonna be one heck of a snow monkey!!!!

Love you!!!!!!!

Tricycle

Dear Abigail,

For Christmas you got a tricycle from Papa Rob. At first you couldn't exactly get the hang of pedaling, and Daddy and Mommy tried really hard to teach you, but it was winter and we were doing so in the house, so it wasn't working out for us so much. Then we took a visit to Papa Robs, and it was pretty outside, and he got you to peddle all by yourself. Well, it turned cold again by the time we got back to our house, so back to peddling inside. You did good, but there is a limited amount of space so you didn't get to utilize your full potential. FINALLY some pretty weather came our way and low and behold, you were an all star tricycle rider!!!

Mommy's so proud!!!!! Love you big girl!!

Drawing with Daddy

Dear Abigail,

I was able to grab a quick pic of you and Daddy having a little play time together...

You demanded he draw a snowman, all while sitting in the back of your grocery cart...

Then demanded a 'BIG snowman'...
Daddy for some reason made him a mean and scary snowman...
And then you asked him to draw "Daddy and Abby". So he did... sort of...

You love playing with your Daddy! And he loves you!!!

Mimi's Visit

Dear Abigail,

Mimi stopped by for a little 4 day weekend visit! AND, she brought Em and Katie with her!! They picked you up from school on Friday and Miss Sabrina told Mimi that you reminded her (Miss Sabrina) multiple times that Mimi was picking you up! After picking you up from school, you guys were able to put in a little park time before a storm came through. On Saturday, we set out early and headed to none other than shopping! (it wouldn't be a visit if we didn't go shopping with Mimi, huh). After ALL day, literally, all day, of shopping, we headed back to the house just in time for Mommy and Daddy and Katie to head to a hockey game. You on the other hand, got to stay up late with Mimi and Em. And, when I say stay up late, I really mean it. We got home around 10 and Em's exact words when we walked in the door were "Abby just went to sleep". Of course, Mimi denied it, and said that it was more like 9. And of course, I assured her 9 wasn't cool either but she claims that you just weren't tired and that you finally fell asleep after she rubbed your back. That Mimi! She sure knows how to make nasty habits doesn't she!

On Sunday, we headed to our first trip to the zoo since fall! It was nice, too. We got there fairly early, before the crowd got there, and were able to enjoy lots of animals, or should I say snakes???? Mimi was not happy about her baby girls touching snakes!!

You also shared lots of popcorn...

Then we played on the playground forever, except you refused to get in the net part, which I think would be so cool, but not you. You just wanted to swing...

And of course you rode the carousel, somehow convincing Mimi to get on an animal, too!!

Overall, a pretty nice visit to the zoo...

After a long day at the zoo, we headed back to the house just in time for Daddy to grill us out some burgers. Mommy, being silly and all, thought she had to work on Monday, so Mimi and the gang were going to head home that next morning, and therefore, we were sending you to school. Well, don't be mad at me, but, I ended up having that Monday as a holiday, but you were already at school, so me and Mimi and Em and Katie ran a few errands, ate some lunch, and then they headed off back to Munford. Mimi was tempted to go get you, but I told her you'd be okay and forgive us, right??! Not to mention, we're headed to Munford in a couple weeks anyway!

Love you baby girl! and you love you some Mimi, too!