quick trip to Lakeway

Avery and I took a quick trip out to Lakeway this afternoon. We had hoped to see Eric at the station but he was out running calls. So we decided to stop at the Hill Country Galleria for a little bit. We did an exchange at Eddie Bauer for Eric, browsed in Dillard's, and stopped at Panera to have a heart shaped Valentines Day shortbread cookie. Avery enjoyed her cookie! We spent the rest of the day at home. Happy Saturday!


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pancakes, afternoon out, and smocked clothes

Eric had to work a really long day shift today, 7am to 10pm.  So Avery and I started our day off right with some yummy pancakes and fruit for breakfast.  I'm usually not a big breakfast eater, especially pancakes and waffles but lately I've been wanting them.  I don't make anything fancy, just some good old Bisquick pancakes!

After breakfast, playing, and morning nap we headed out for the afternoon.  Our first stop was for some lunch at Chickfila.  That is our lunch spot of choice!  We shared a chicken strips meal and a fruit cup.  Avery always loves people watching when we go there... lots of kids running around to watch.

Our first errand was getting some groceries at Super Target.  I picked up the fresh produce we need and some smaller items (stuff I can't buy in bulk at Costco).  We ran all our Target stuff back to the house to unload it, do a diaper change, let Rolo out, and give him some water.  Then Avery and I loaded back up into the truck and headed out to Costco.

As always, we bought a bunch of stuff at Costco.  I'm really good at sticking to my list of things we need and use on a regular basis.  I never go in there and buy random stuff because you end up dropping $500.  I buy a good majority of our staples at Costco.  I got super excited to see a jar of this fabulous Roasted Green Chile sauce at Costco today!

This brand of sauce is AWESOME!  It is a brand that Eric always used to buy in CO, and we have never seen it here in Texas.  It is something that we buy if we are in CO visiting, or we have Eric's mom buy some and send it to us.  I can't wait to make some roasted green chile chicken enchiladas soon!

Here is the back of the truck with all our goods from Costco... and Avery chilling in the back seat.  Yes, I have a cooler back there for milk and eggs.  It didn't get that warm today, but I am so used to having to bring the cooler grocery shopping because it is always so hot here!

I was putting away some of Avery's clean laundry and decided to pull out all of the new smocked clothing I have bought for her to wear this spring/summer.  I LOVE smocked clothing.  It is a southern thing for sure and I know it isn't for everyone.  Isn't it all so cute!  She will be wearing the strawberry dress for her 18 month pictures the very beginning of April.  This stuff is an expensive addiction.

Well, time to figure out what I'm going to have for dinner.  Have a great Friday night!

i'm still alive

I haven't posted since Monday.  We really haven't had much going on around here.  It's been a quiet week.  Eric has been at work or in school.  Avery and I have run our usual errands, house work, and playing.

I promise to break out the camera some this weekend and get back to my regular blogging :-)

our first art project

First thing I have to say:  Eric passed a very important skills test at school today!  We are all very happy about this!  The rest of the semester will be a breeze for him (hopefully!) and he will be graduating the beginning of August with his RN.

Since Eric was at school all day today, Avery and I went out for a little while in the morning.  We went to Walmart to pick up some random things we needed.  We came home, had lunch, then Avery went down for a short nap.  I don't know what is going on with her naps lately, but she is starting to give up her morning nap and just take a shorter afternoon nap.  I miss having two breaks during the day!

What could be more fun than playing with the big Huggies diaper box?  Not much!

Well maybe painting in the bath tub is!  I decided to do a little art project this afternoon with Avery.  I put her in an old t-shirt and diaper and stuck her in the tub with a blank canvas.  I gave her a little bit of paint to rub around with her hands and feet.  I used a paintbrush to put some color on the canvas.  We made a mess but it was fun.  She didn't quite understand what to do with the finger paints, but I know she will get it soon!  I'm looking forward to doing fun arts and crafts with my girl!

I hung our masterpiece on the wall in the playroom.  Avery's first art project with the help of mommy!

Eric and I are having BLT sandwiches, seasoned curly fries, and baked beans for dinner tonight.  And of course some left over cake from yesterday!  I'm looking forward to some plans I have for this week.  Tomorrow Avery and I are going to Barton mall to meet Angie, Kinley, and Angie's mom Colleen for a little morning shopping.  On Thursday, Avery and I are driving out to the galleria library to do story time with my friend Vanessa and her son Everett.  We'll also browse the stores at the galleria afterwards!

16 days until my parents come to visit!!!  :-)

evening trip to the park

Today was a good day.  After lunch, Avery and I went over to Hobby Lobby and Super Target to pick up a few things we needed.  Eric was at school for a couple hours so it worked out perfectly.

Once Avery and I got home, she settled in for a nice long early afternoon nap while I relaxed.  My best friend Angie and I started to text and she told me she was in the area with the kids.  She was spending the afternoon down south since he mom was flying in early evening.  I told her to stop over with the kids and visit.  They stayed over for a little while until they needed to head to the airport.  The kids played and we all chatted.  It was nice to have friends stop over unexpected... even if I was in my rattiest sweats and t-shirt I own!  :-)

Avery wanted her dinner around 4pm as always, and then we decided to head over to the park for a little while.  It was very warm here again today, and we have a good chance of thunderstorms tonight.  It is so humid out!  I brought my camera along to get some pictures of Avery having fun and playing at the park.

Here she is just getting out of her stroller and so excited to be there!

Walking up the stairs to the bridge and slide.

At the top before the bridge!

Walking across the bridge with the help of dad.

On top of the world!  HA!

Getting ready for me to catch her after going down the slide.

Doing some swinging.

Avery is in bed, and Eric is fixing us a really nice dinner.  We are having roasted lemon shrimp and green beans with red pepper risotto.  Eric stopped at Central Market after school to pick up a few new beers to try since they are having a big beer sale, and brought me home a little container of tiramisu!  I'm really looking forward to dinner and dessert tonight!

Happy Friday!

love bug

This morning I dressed Avery in her little love bug Valentine's Day shirt for some pictures.  It is SO hard to take nice pictures of her now.  She is just all over the place.  And as soon as I have my big camera out with the big flash she just stares at me with no expression.  I need to do some research on how to best photograph kids that aren't too sure about the big camera!

The best smile I could get out of her.

Perfecting her door opening skills.

Trying to run away from me and my camera.

Back in the chair again for another try with no such luck.  Maybe we'll try the Valentine's Day pictures again another day.

My friend Vanessa and her son Everett stopped over for a little while this afternoon.  The kids played with all the toys while we talked.  I have some Italian Chicken cooking in the crock pot and it smells wonderful.  I can't wait to eat dinner tonight.  I'm serving the chicken and sauce over egg noodles.  I'm also going to steam some carrots to go with it.  I heart food.

yesterday

Avery and I had a late morning out yesterday.  She decided she didn't want to take her morning nap, so around 10:30 I loaded us up in the truck and headed out.  I felt like having lunch out, so we stopped at Chickfila.  We both lunched on some yummy chicken tenders, waffle fries, and fresh fruit.  I love Chickfila.  They are so family and kid friendly there and I think the food is delicious!

While at Chickfila, we met some really nice policemen.  Avery thought it was so cool when a policeman gave her a police badge sticker!  She was all smiles.  We put the sticker on our playroom bulletin board.

After lunch and meeting the policemen, we headed over to Hobby Lobby.  I've been wanting to buy a couple blank canvases, paint brushes, and finger paint.  I've seen tons of great toddler finger painting ideas on Pinterest that I have been wanting to do with Avery.  We have to go back to Hobby Lobby either today or tomorrow to buy some mod podge to use on our canvas after it is painted.  Once we have all our gear, we'll spend an afternoon finger painting!  I'm excited!

It got pretty hot here yesterday.  This is our little thermometer that sits on the kitchen window sill.  It said 82 degrees early afternoon yesterday.  I'm sure it got even higher as the afternoon went on.  NOT COOL TEXAS for February.  We've barely had a winter and I hate that.  I like the changes in seasons and we don't really get that here.  I miss snow and cold, I miss the leaves changing colors, I miss actually being excited for nice spring weather (I could care less now because we ALWAYS have it), and enjoying a hot summer for only 3 months, not more than half the year.

This post is a day late because starting around noon yesterday, our internet was down.  It was still down when I went to bed last night.  I seriously was starting to get the shakes without being able to get online!  HA!  Thankfully all is good today!