the 12 months before Christmas

i am such a procrastinator--if it weren't for the last minute i'm sure i'd never get anything done... for months (one could even argue a couple of years) i've had intentions to start a blog. after receiving many dropped hints, "pokes and prods" by family and friends, ready or not here it comes....

i start with a glimpse into our lives, a sort of year in review "the 12 months before Christmas 2007." (this is a long one; better go get ya a cup of hot chocolate and a cookie or something).

starting with Christmas 06...

(1.) avery's unique personality and independence blossomed as was evidenced by her standing for the first time, and deciding to shower, too (not simultaneously; both were her idea). she also took some of her first steps in dec at 9 months.




(2.) abby got her first taste of performing in the sunshine (singing) group and her dance recital at fantasia dance studio (she is on the far right).



(3.) Christmas was wonderful and shared w/ grandpa & grandma schultz and aunt bethaney who had just returned from a mission to seattle, wa.

jan 07

(1.) we were graced with a visit from wendel & ashely who were "in transit" so-to-speak as they were moving from phoenix, az to seattle wa. we loved having them visit; they are responsible for these awesome head-and-shoulder shots of the girls. avery "mastered" walking while they were here.

(2.) we were also surprised with snow flurries that actually stuck (for a little while). we took some time on a saturday to visit the fort worth zoo, too.




feb 07

(1.) abby and avery can be 2 peas in a pod; (note to self: they can also be partners in mischief). it's wonderful to watch them play together, and their friendship continues to grow and bloom as long as abby can be in charge. these are pictures in their Christmas-turned-valentine's dresses.




(2.) oh, and we also discovered that avery takes after her aunt britney (note the tongue)!




march 07

(1.) we take family time again to head south 2 hours to glen rose, texas home of fossil rim wildlife center. it is a 9 mile wild animal safari, drive-through style. the animals are free-roaming and as you drive through at 5 miles/hour you are able to feed them (toss the food out the window is more like it--except the giraffes, you can feed them from your hand). we all had a ball. the most fun was in fact feeding the giraffes; abby was brave and even did it! i drew the line, though, and rolled up the window when foot-long strings of giraffe-slobber started dripping in the car right where i was sitting.










(2.) the spring is always exciting because that is when we head to the dallas arboretum for the dallas blooms festival! there's never a shortage of exploring and learning--petting zoo, crafts, storytime, kindermusik, face-painting, feeding the fish in the koi pond, etc. and, it's always more fun w/ friends (abby and friend jenna; and again w/ friend sarah)






(3.) avery celebrated her first birthday! she enjoyed chocolate cake and reading one of her storybooks w/ daddy and abby from grandpa and grandma skidmore. (sorry about ALL of these pictures--i'm much shorter on words than i am on pictures.....)




april 07

(1.) who doesn't think of childhood when eating popsicles, orange push-ups, ice cream or anything cold on a stick eaten in hopes of chasing the summer heat away. here in texas it starts getting warm early, and fast. it seems like we ate popsicles for a lot of months this year.



(2.) abby received her first "real" haircut by yours truly. it was hard to cut off her curls, but they haven't completely gone away since. it sure made her look older.


(3.) her first Easter egg hunt at preschool. she is fourth from the right.


(4.) more arboretum adventures on the day before Easter; abby and friend, marinda, came home with "princess" face painting.


(5.) Easter sunday--this series of photos says so much about the abby-avery dynamic. it is so funny to me (but of course, i'm the mom). avery clearly wants what abby's got (the dandelions) and clearly abby doesn't want her to have it, until the end when she succumbs and does what mom asks her to! look closely at avery's expressions--they're pretty hilarious.










(6.) it's always a party when grandma schultz comes to visit.


7.) i participated in the american cancer society relay for life (my older brother battled lymphoma last year); here i am with friends caroline and then with ariah.




may 07

(1.) the food wars began. avery went through a phase where she would not be fed by anyone. she insisted on feeding herself (and the floor, chair, hair, carpet, ....). as a result i kept a bottle of baby soap in the kitchen for her sink baths that became a daily routine. we'd often dry off w/ a dish towel! there were days when she took 2 or 3 baths, especially when you counted the real ones in the tub w/ abby.




2.) abby "graduated" from the mesquite church of Christ day school complete w/ program and all.



(3.) avery decided she had "graduated" from baby swing to big girl swing.



(4.) i love these pictures because you can see avery's clearly defined muscles; she has always been a strong girl. her pediatrician even mentioned it at her 2-week appointment. abby may not be quite so strong (see pict of her trying to pull avery)




(5.) abby in charge = happy sisters; they are playing "dog"; can you guess who's the dog?


(6.) abby demonstrates that she wants no part of sharing avery's lunch, or her messy-eating style.



(7.) being silly with daddy and pretending to be asleep; daddy really was asleep until these two came along :)




june 07

(1.) in late may (last 2 days) and all of june and half of july abby participated in the mesquite marlins swim team. avery was not happy about this; she wanted to go in the water, too. in true abby-style, abby was always cold even in the texas summer heat.






(2.) abby "graduated" from her little gym class, and again avery was not pleased that it was not "her turn."






(3.) abby celebrated her 4th birthday at the little gym