House News

OMGoodness-it has been awhile! Between closing out the school year, moving into a duplex, and chasing an almost 2 year old around, life has been crazy! I don't have a whole lot to blog about, but I wanted to at least post some pictures of our new house. As most of you know, we are in the process of building a home off of 98th and Elkhart. We are super excited because our closing date was set today for July 17th! That means that we will be able to move in prior to school starting-very good news for me!! :)

Here are a few pictures of where our house was and where it is now...

This was taken in mid-April



This is pretty much what it looks like now-front view



and...back view



We (okay I) :) still have some decisions to make on paint colors, but for the most part, we are done with the decision making (I hope!) It has been a fun journey, and I am so thankful for what God has provided us with. I am also thankful that my husband is a very kind and patient man when it comes to me and my decision making skills!

Our Big Girl

Check it out...our baby girl is now able to wear a full big girl ponytail! I know it sounds cliche, but how do they grow so fast?

Car Wreck

Ben and I were getting ready for work when we heard an "Uh-oh", and a suspicious crash from the living room. We ran into the living room to see what the big "uh-oh" was about, and fortunately this is what we found!




Thankfully no one was injured!

10 Honest Things About Me

I was tagged by Tiffany (others know her as T-Hood or T-Dog)

I just did something similar to this on facebook, so a few of these may be repeaters! Sorry to my avid readers on both! :)

1. I love to have pedicured feet, but don't enjoy the actual process. At times it can really hurt especially if I haven't gotten one since the summer before. My feet aren't used to them, and I usually end up squealing and apologizing the entire time!

2.I have an unhealthy addiction to caffeine...Mainly Dr. Peppers from Sonic...I can't drive past a Sonic without stopping-it's really sad-I don't even want to think about how much money I've spent there on my Dr. Peppers and caramel lattes. The worst part is that Avery's babysitter lives right by a Sonic...it calls to me every morning after I've dropped Avery off!

3. I LOVE movie popcorn with butter! I always get it even if I've just had a full meal. I can't help myself...once I've smelled it, I have to have it (with a Dr. Pepper of course!)

4. I love our church family! We are so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful group of people.

5. Over the Christmas holidays, I became addicted to what was supposedly a "teen" novel series...I am now a huge Twilight fan! I can't help it...the books are so addicting! I read all four of them (between 500-700 pages each) in four days. If I lived in a fantasy world (which I sometimes do), I would want to be a good vampire-not a bad vampire. Yes...there is a difference!

6. Before I buy anything I always look it over to make sure it is perfect...sometimes I grab the third or fourth item way back in the back just to be sure! I'm kind of OCD like that!

7. I love to shop when I have the time and the $$$! I never fully appreciated my shopping time until I had Avery! Now I'm lucky if I make it into one store without a melt down!

8. I love my baby girl (even during her melt downs) more than anything in the world! She is my favorite person (besides Ben, of course :))

9. I love the summer time! It is my favorite season for many reasons: Avery's birthday, my birthday, swimming pools, laying out, beaches, sunny days, Ben's out playing golf (he, he, just kidding Benny), vacation time...my list could go on forever!

10. I'm so glad I started blogging when Avery was born! It has been so fun to go back and read entries from the past!

Okay-I'm done! Yea! I didn't repeat myself too much from facebook! Now it's your turn...I tag Monica, Kathy, Lolly, and anyone else who wants to play! Have fun!

Tag...I'm it!

I was tagged by my fabulous cousin Monica and it was so much fun!!

Here is what you do:

1. Go to your 4th folder where you store your photos.
2. Select your 4th picture (no exceptions)!
3. Post the picture with an explanation and link it back to your tagger...I don't know what this means either, Kathy :)
4. Tag 4 people (or as many as you want) to do the same!!


Avery Laine Greene-July 4, 2007

This was taken on Avery's first 4th of July (hence the bib!) She was exactly one week old! Needless to say, we only saw fireworks on the t.v. that year! I love this baby so much!

Now it's your turn to play! I tag...
1. Kathy Wall
2. Rachel Riddle
3. Kristin McNeil
4. Brooke Deacon
and anyone else who wants to play!!

Happy New Year and a belated Merry Christmas!

Well...I had the best intentions of getting this post up before going back to school, but it just felt too good doing nothing during my break! Even though I was a tad lazy on the blogging, I did take lots of Avery pictures in the midst of her second Christmas season! Here are just a few of my favorites from the holidays...

This is a picture of us trying to get a picture of Avery (by herself) for our Christmas card...as you can see it was a little challenging! We ended up getting a profile pose by the Christmas tree-we were lucky to get that one! :)



All Aboard!!! Nana and Papa bought us tickets to ride the Polar Express. Here we are getting ready for the ride!





We were so proud of Avery-she did really well for the hour train ride! She loved it when we got to the "North Pole and saw the elves dancing!



Santa came aboard and gave Avery her first Christmas bell...



This is one of my favorites (sorry about the goldfish)! We were having Christmas with the Shurtleff clan!



Santa came to Nana and Papa's house on Christmas morning! He brought Avery her first car as well as many other fun things. Mommy had as much fun playing as Avery (if not more!)





We spent the rest of our Christmas in Snyder with the Rossons. Avery got to play with a lot of her cousins! She had tons of fun in Colton's playhouse! Colton's Pops had it all lit up for the kiddos!







We hope you and your family had a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Finished!

Yea! I have finished the Christmas facelift! You should have seen my mom and I trying to get pictures of Avery though-not fun! This is the best shot we could get-the profile pose! I'm so sad...I don't think I've gotten a picture of her full face since her first birthday! She's way too fast for me and my photographing abilities...Help Regina! Can I go ahead and book a session with you for next November?! :)

Facelift

This blog is in the middle of a Christmas facelift...it's not finished yet! Avery is requiring my immediate attention right now, so please don't judge! I'll finish it sometime before December 25th! :)

Monica's Bow Give Away-ends at Midnight tonight!!!

Bow Giveaway!!!

My cousin's sister-in-law, Lori, is hosting a giveaway of stuff from my cousin's bow blog (Monica's Creative Corner).

If you're interested in FREE bows, check out Lori's blog at
http://loris411.blogspot.com to find out what is being given away, and how to enter and win!!

Monica's bows are awesome..if you have seen Avery's Halloween and Tech bows, those are from her hands!

Our Special Day!

This blog entry is dedicated to my loving husband!!

Four years ago today I married, you, my very best friend! I wanted to take some time today to share some of my favorite things about being married to you!

I absolutely love...

*sharing the joys of having a daughter with you

*having someone to tuck me in each night

*watching you take care of Avery, and making sure her needs are met
(even at 2:00 a.m. in the morning)

*letting mommy sleep when Avery is wanting to be up at 2:00 a.m.
in the morning

*having someone fill up my car when it's VERY close to empty

*knowing you will go and get me an ice-cream or Dr. Pepper
(whatever my vice is that day) as late or as early as I may need it

*long car rides listening to you sing Johnny Cash, or whatever
else you are in the mood for :) as I try to sleep on the passenger side :)

*how you can make me laugh even when I want to cry

*your keen sense of humor

*your "Pollyanna" attitude :)

*that you asked me to marry you

*YOU!

There are so many other things I could list as I think about the last six years (including dating) that we have spent together. You are such a wondeful person and precious gift to me. I love you more each day. Thank you for being my husband and best friend all in one.

I love you!

P.S. If I can find a scanner and some time, I'll post some pictures of us from the past!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween (a few weeks late again...sorry...I can't keep up!)

This year Avery was a Texas Tech cheerleader for Halloween! Very fitting considering that our big game versus U.T. was the next day! Go Tech! I had lots of fun getting her dressed up...my personal costume favorite was the socks! Lots of fun...Avery thought so too! I'm amazed the little, dangling footballs and beads survived the hands of a very busy toddler! On Halloween, we had a very busy night! First, we met Nana and Papa at Nonnie's assisted living house. This was Avery's first time to trick-or-treat, and by the time we left she was an old pro!! Yeah right! Our biggest problem was that she wanted to hold on to her candy rather than put it in her sack. She couldn't understand why we would give it to her, and then make her put it away! Who can blame her?!



After trick-or-treating at Nonnie's, Avery opened her Halloween surprise from Nana and Papa. This pumpkin is one of the surprises she loved the most!



The balloons were a pretty big hit too!



We also went to our church Trunk-Or-Treat at the Civic Center. Apparently we should have gone there first because it was PACKED! We did manage to find Raider Red and take a few pictures with some friends! Unfortunatly our pics. with Raider Red are a little blurry...Mommy had the camera on the wrong setting...Oops again! Mommy was tired!

Get Your Guns Up!



Yea! Avery found her friend, Aiden, in the mass of people! He looked so cute as a little pumpkin!
(Cropping courtesy of Regina Penney..thanks so much Regina!)



We hope you all had a fabulous Halloween! Now Thanksgiving is like what...two weeks away?! :) Maybe I'll get that post up before Christmas...we'll see!!

The Fair

OOPS...this blog is about a month overdue, but oh well...I wanted to share Avery's first experience on the merry-go-round! It's the first time that we heard her say "Whhhoooa!" I think she was trying to say "Wow", but it came out "Whoa"! Good times!! Unfortunately, the rest of our pics. from the fair are on my mom's camera. I haven't had a chance to download them to my computer yet...maybe next month! :)

Apple Country Festival

Last Sunday Avery and I went with some of our good friends (Amber and her sweet boys) to the Apple Festival in Idalou! We had such a great time, and Avery got to know her boyfriends a little better! Here are some fun pics. that I took while we were there...

Braydon, Bryson, and Avery off to Idalou!
Avery had never sat by a car window before...she kept sticking her head under the pull down shade to get a better view!



Who would've thought there were so many fun things to do in Idalou, Texas? :)

The kids got their faces painted-they were so good! They didn't even touch their art work after it was applied!





We got our picture taken by a pretty, but kind of stinky waterfall....



We saw sheep (tried to pet them, but the sheep didn't like us very much...we were too cheap to buy food for them!)



We met Johnny Appleseed!!



We went on a hayride (my personal favorite even though I got swiped in the head by an apple tree!) :) Oh, and by the way, these are my back-up sunglasses...my other upteen pairs of sunglasses have either been broken, hidden, or ran over by Avery! These are not my favorite...so embarrassing!



And...last but not least, we picked out baby pumpkins (which the stem on ours has been biten off by a teething toddler)a pumpkin is a type of vegetable right?!

Gigi and Mu

Last weekend Ben's mom and grandmother (A.K.A. Gigi and Mu)came for a visit! We had a great time chilling at our house, and managed to get a few pictures...Avery's getting very hard to keep still during picture time!

Avery and Gigi


Come with me, Gigi!


Look what I can do, Gigi!


Unfortunatly I didn't get any pictures of Mu-Mu :( Sorry Mu-I'll do better next time! What's important is that Avery had a great time bonding with her grandmother and great grandmother! We were sad to see them leave.

'Twas the Night Before the 1st Day of School

I am sitting here wondering if I really have to get up by 5:30 A.M. tomorrow (and throughout May)...does that not seem ridiculously early?! Last year I could sleep in a few extra minutes, because Ben took Avery to the babysitter, but this year I am taking Avery to the babysitter. Our new babysitter lives about 5 minutes away from Rush so Ben says that it's really pointless for him to drive all the way to the other side of town so that I can sleep in a little later...I kind of see his point, but come on...5:30. That's crazy! On the positive side, I am really looking forward to meeting my new little group of 3rd graders...I will REALLY, REALLY miss my days with Avery, but it helps knowing that she is in a wonderful environment while we are apart! We have had such a fantastic first summer together, and I know that there are many, many more to come! I love you baby girl!

It's Official...

Avery is walking (well...toddling)! I'm not even sure when it happened..it seems like it was overnight. One day she was just taking a few steps, and the next she was full force toddling. As of today, she is walking about halfway across a room before falling down. It's funny b/c when she gets excited, her toddling becomes faster until she runs into something! My goofy girl! She is so proud of herself and getting more courageous every day! In fact tonight she had two accidents that brought on full force crocodile tears. We had to get out the owie lamb (courtesy of her first FBC Sunday School teachers) and try to ice down her forehead. Of course, she wanted to suck on the plastic ice cube rather than keep it on her forehead. What's a mom to do?

Cousin Time

A few weekends ago we drove to Austin to visit Ben's brother, Bert, and his family. Bert and Lara (his wife) just had a baby boy, Sean (two days before Avery's birthday and one day after mine!) We had a great time and Avery enjoyed playing with her oldest cousin Olivia who is 2 1/2. She tried playing with Sean, but was a little too active for a 1 month old! Here are several pictures of Avery with her family! We love them so much!

The Greene Girls eating breakfast~do you see any resemblances?



Bathtime with daddy~



Crazy cousins!



Beauty Shop-yes that is Ben playing beauty shop with the girls!



Avery and Olivia are giving night night hugs-they were so sweet to each other!



Gigi (Ben's mom) came to Austin to spend time with us! We love our Gigi! She is very special and fun!

The Champs

By now, most of you have probably heard that Ben and his partner, Tyler, did come in first at the Lubbock Stampede! Yeah!!! What surprised me the most, is how much fun I had watching them play-it was so amazing and very intense at times!! Of course I did have company with Ben's Aunt Judy and Dad. I might have felt a tad awkward out there all by myself!! It was also nice because Ben's dad narrated the entire round for me! I learned a great deal about golf in one afternoon...not that I will ever play myself, but I will definitely continue to cheer when I can find a sitter for Avery (thanks Nana and Papa)!

This is a picture from todays paper of Ben making a putt on the second hole-




I have many more pictures to post...so stay tuned!

We love you Benny!

The Stampede (AKA: Daddy's Golf Tourney)

Ben has been playing in the Lakeridge Stampede this weekend and is currently in first place! :) He still has to play this afternoon, so I am actually going to go and watch him (I only go when I know he's winning!) Just kidding, Benny! Avery really wants to go too, but we're afraid she might let out a squeal at a very inappropriate time! She has been known to do that! Avery and I are so proud of Ben...he is such a dedicated daddy and husband. He is also such a Godly example out on the golf course. Without even knowing it, he has been a strong witness for Christ. We can't wait to see how he does today! As Ben has said before, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Go Daddy--we're rooting for you!!

Summertime

This week Avery went to swim at her Nana and Papa's pool! Apparently her swimming lessons have really paid off because I caught her practicing a few of the moves that Mr. Jeff, her swimming teacher, taught us...splashing, kicking her legs...you know the basics! Way to go Avery!!