911!

Okay, I have one excuse anyways for not updating my blog very well. We actually had a fire last week at our house. My oven literally exploded with us in the house!!!! I was using my oven to cook Abigail and I some toast for breakfast. I noticed a funny smell, but wasn't too concerned about it. We sat down at our table which is RIGHT next to our oven and it started popping really loudly. I jumped up and suddenly, huge clouds of black smoke came from the back of it, and then flames and sparks pouring out of it. I pressed the "fire" button on my alarm system and picked Abigail up who was pretty upset by now. I grabbed a jacket for her and ran out to wait on the firemen! Abigail absolutely loved the firetruck roaring up our street. It was definitely a highlight of her little life! They cleared the house of danger but we were left with quite a mess. There was soot everywhere, even inside my cabinets in sippy cups! We had a fire cleaning crew here for a whole day cleaning carpets, curtains, washing all of my dishes. We've got a burnt floor which we'll have to replace. The damage was pretty minor considering the size of the fire--but most of all, we are thankful we are alright. Abigail and could have been hurt very badly--I had just stepped away from the oven. My face and feet would have been badly burned. I was pretty shaken up! There was some incorrect wiring during installation. So, I'm waiting for my new oven to arrive and Abigails enjoying eating out. We stayed at a hotel for a couple of days and we were able to swim too. We're definitely proof to have some good insurance.

New Years

We headed to Kansas City for New Years. That's always a cold drive! We always go to this place in Crown Center called Fritz's. It's a burger place--but what makes it fun and different is the small train that goes around the perimeter of the restaurant and "drops off" your food. It's so loud and filled with people, but we all love it, especially little conductor Abigail.
Everything else around her stops when she gets some colors. That's little Jack getting his hat on too!

With Aunt JJ at Strouds Chicken. My parents had their rehearsal dinner at this place 35 years ago. It was so much fun. JJ is the funnest Aunt--as you can see the babies are drawn to her. Jack is 6 months younger than Abigail and they're the same size:)

Abigails fun new Minnie chair from Nanny. We thought this chair just looked like Abigail! "Miss Cool" having some milk in her big girl chair! She crosses her legs like this all the time now. She even does it in her sleep:)

Christmas Day!

My parents flew in to spend Christmas with us in Dallas. It was so fun having them here with us. My Mom and I made a complete Christmas dinner---okay, mostly my Mom, but I was her 1st assistant. Our turkey turned out great.
Okay, this pie is from Thanksgiving, but I had to show my Mom. This was my first homemade pie to make. My Mom makes most things from scratch, but especially pies. I'm trying to learn her craft so I can pass it on to my kids as well. I was kind of proud of my pie:)

Colby surprised us all with footie jammies just like Abigails on Christmas morning. Hilarious!!

I got Abigail a little stroller for her babies that she just loves. It goes everywhere now. We also bought her 2 goldfish--which had disastrous results!! We picked out 2 really cute goldfish and bought this nice tank to put them in. 24 hours later they were sucked up in the filter, very dead looking. We just scratched that whole idea. Needless to say, we're not buying her a puppy any time soon:)

Christmas Parties

We had a really fun Christmas this year in Dallas. This is the first year we've been here at Christmas since,...EVER! It was nice to be at our house. The weekend before Christmas I had a little Christmas party at my house for my friends! I actually cooked and everyone brought something. Our parties are actually wilder these days with all of our kids. We try to have conversations in between supper throwing, sippy cups and bottles:)
Ashley, Nancy, Me and Abbie

Our group is growing---Parker and Paxton are the brave little boys in the group:)

Our attempt at a baby picture. Of course, someone's toe had to be bitten, and it was little Mollie!

Parker and Abigail playing our piano. These two are the same age, and are into the same stuff. Ashley and I have been encouraging each other for 21 months now, and I think they're turning out okay Ash:)

We also had Abigails Sunshine School party at church. I am the room Mom this year and have no idea what I'm doing. I'm learning as I go:) I just think they look so cute in their little seats.

Abigail loves her school and Miss Leslie.

She made me a beautiful plate at the party. She really enjoys painting, and I have to say, she's pretty good at it for a one year old:)

Happy Fall!

Yes, the leaves fall a little bit even in Dallas. It's been really cool this week--it was literally summer here last week and suddenly it was "cold" fall (cold for Texas:)) A good time for being outside with the pumpkins. We've been inside a lot lately because poor Abigail had her very first ear infection, a double one to boot, and is still finishing her second round of antibiotics. So we are so glad she's feeling better now.

This is her very own little pumpkin that has a couple of bumps on it that she promptly called boo-boos. She doesn't miss a thing!

We've had a fun time before getting sick---my whole family came from Kansas City and stayed with us. We had fun as usual--the guys went to the TX vs. OU game while the girls did a little shopping and lots of talking! We also went to Belton, TX to see our good friend Libby cheer at the football game. Abigail got to go on the track with all of the girls and got a pom-pom which she loved. Her cousin Kole really wanted one too, and called it a "pom-flag", but his Daddy said no way!

Our little gymnast

Abigail went to her friend Gracie's 3 year old birthday party at ASI gymnastics and had a blast. She really is quite the little climber and flipper for being so little. Colby taught her how to do "flips" and she actually tucks her little head in with the proper form! Here she is "jumping" on the trampoline with all of the big kids watching. I was proud of her, but a little exhausted after chasing her around a huge gym, and all of its hazards for an hour.



I had to show her TWO ponytails to everyone. Her hair is still short on the top, but long and curly in the back---long enough for her first two ponytails.

First Day of "School"!

Abigail started Sunshine School at our church this week! She's in a little one year old class for two days a week. I have been looking forward to this for a long time. Without our families in town, I just don't get a lot of breaks during the day, so this worked out perfectly. It also allows me to do a little dental hygiene work. I wasn't sure what to expect, and wasn't sure if Abigail would like it, but I'm so glad we took her. I had no idea what a big operation Sunshine School is at our church. There were tons of kids there, so Abigail was just in awe. I thought it might be overstimulating to her since she doesn't have sibling/cousin's around a lot---Nope!! She didn't want to go home when I picked her up!! She loves it. When I dropped her off, the teacher had music on and was dancing with the babies---I just think it will be so good for her. So, I didn't plan much for the day because I was so focused on getting her bag/lunch/etc. together and just getting her started. I drove off and just took this huge breath, like "Aaahhh"---it was a wonderful and sort of strange feeling. I'm really looking forward to doing some things for myself while Abigail is in school---solo grocery trips, working out alone, meeting Colby for lunch alone, doctors appointments for ME actually, and just being able to dive into a project/cleaning at home without having to stop because nap time is over!!

We're so proud of our big girl with her school lunch bag. Wow, it's going by fast.

Okay, she's still a baby with strawberry sunglasses on!! We take long walks in our neighborhood all the time, and she likes to wear her sunglasses. She cracks us up. She's got quite a little personality already. If you ask her what her name is she will answer "Abby" very clearly. I love it!