Tractor

We finally got Avery on the tractor at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Mommy had to ride with Daddy first to show Avery that it wasn't scary.

Caitlin even took a ride with Daddy

Covering his ears

Family Photos

We got some family pictures taken before Christmas at Sears. Here are a few of our favorites.

Avery held her hands without even being told! We didn't even notice it until we were looking through the pictures afterwards.

Caitlin decided to scratch her forehead the day of the pictures

Cousin Guk

We love this stage where Avery's learning to say new words and even making up his own words! He started calling his cousin Callan "Guk" (like duck, but with a G). We have no idea where he got that name from, but it seems to have stuck. When he sees a picture of Callan, he shouts "GUK!" He also knows that Guk goes with Aunt Nay and Uncle Gene. The other night we were going to a Penn State volleyball game and Avery had his phone with him in the car. We told him to call cousin Guk and tell him he was going to see the "growl" (the Nittany Lion). This is how the phone call went: (it started with Avery pushing a few numbers on his phone, then putting the phone up to his ear) "Hi Guk. Me growl. Bye." It's so neat watching him put words and ideas together to make sense (even if it only makes sense to him!).

Mimi and Poppop Visit

Mimi and Poppop visited a few weeks ago. Ever since Thanksgiving, Avery has been saying "Mimi pie." Mimi always makes the best pies for family gatherings, and Avery had a chance to try one at Thanksgiving. Also, whenever he sees applesauce, he says "Poppop" because Poppop always makes the best home made applesauce. Avery loves it!

As you can see, Mimi never looks at the camera!

Airplanes

Avery loves airplanes so we decided to take him to Gravelly Point where they fly right over your head while taking off and landing. We also went to the new Air and Space Museum so he could see planes that were a little quieter than the ones flying overhead.

Renee, Callan, Gene, Brian, Caitlin, Tawnee, and Avery

just the 4 of us

I believe this is a plane that also turns into a car so it can fly or go on the road...great invention!

Avery was so overwhelmed when we entered the museum. He had so many airplanes to point at. It kept him pretty busy! He kept repeating, "Oooohhhhh, Mama Mama!" as he pointed to each one.

More pointing...

Still pointing!

I don't think Avery realized that airplanes were so loud since we usually see them from a distance when they're way up in the sky.

This is a plane like Grandpa Swartz flies

Pictures from Home

A few pictures from our last visit home...

Avery likes to hold Caitlin, but when he's done he pushes her away and says "NO!"



Driving already?!

Avery hopped right in the front seat one day when I left the car door open. He grabbed my sunglasses and was ready to go! (He even has his seat belt on!)

Avery's new game of rolling pool balls on the table

Brother and sister chillin' at Grandma's

Caitlin and Mimi with matching outfits on

Little League World Series

About a month ago we ventured to South Williamsport, PA to the Little League World Series. We thought Avery would like to see a real baseball game since he loves to watch it on TV with Daddy. Brian and I had always gone with our families growing up, so we wanted to carry on the tradition with our kids. The weather forecast said chance of rain, but we thought we would go anyway. The whole way there I kept saying "Should we really be doing this? I feel like it's going to be a disaster!" But we kept going, and when we got there, it was sunny with blue skies. First disaster happened before we even got to the field...Caitlin had made a mess all over the place. It was all over her, me, Brian, the car, and her car seat. After everybody got cleaned up as best as they could with baby wipes, we were ready to have a good time. We got to the stadium and saw a long line of people. Wondering what the big deal was, we asked what they were waiting for. They said you had to have tickets to get into the stands to sit down (even though they were free), otherwise you had to sit on the hill. With two little kids the hill wasn't an option for us, so we took our places at the end of the line and waited. Not really sure where these free tickets were going to come from, we continued to wait. Meanwhile, we ate lunch...line never moved. Caitlin got hot and restless...line never moved. Avery got tired of standing...line never moved. I took Avery over to a shady spot to sit awhile and noticed an old man lingering around the line of people where we were standing. He seemed to be looking for something, but I wasn't sure what. I noticed he was an usher, but still didn't know what his intentions were. He talked to a few people and then noticed Avery and I sitting in the dirt in the shade. He came over and asked how many people were in my party. I said 2 adults and 2 kids. He handed me 3 tickets and told me to go to the front of the line! I couldn't believe it! I was so thankful I almost gave him a hug! He said they were his extra tickets that he didn't need. So we moved to the front of the line and into the stadium. Realizing the first game wasn't over yet, we took whatever seats we could find and planned on moving to better seats once things cleared out a little for the second game. Meanwhile, Caitlin is hungry and crying because it's so hot. It's now about 2:00 or 3:00 and Avery is starting to get tired because it's nap time. I took Caitlin to find a quiet spot to feed her (this didn't exist at a baseball game with thousands of people around!). I found a place under the stands where the maintenance people sat during their break. Not exactly the cleanest place, but it worked. She fell fast asleep and I returned to our seats only to find the field covered up for a rain delay. After awhile, the rain stopped and they cleaned up the field so they could finish the game. As they raked the field it started pouring again! Remember this is only the first game...we came to see the second game. We had already been here about 2 hours and still no sign of the second game. After a few more rain delays we decided to leave. (I don't think I saw a single pitch!) We gave our tickets to the people (a grandfather and his grandson who reminded me of my brother when he was little...full of energy, never standing still the entire time we were in line, constantly throwing a ball or stones into his baseball glove) we had been standing in line with since we felt like we knew them. (It didn't hurt that they were Penn State fans, too!) We headed back to the car as it started raining again. A shuttle bus picked us up, but couldn't take us all the way to our car, only back to the parking lot. So we started walking the rest of the way to the car, Brian carrying Avery and I carrying Caitlin. I had an umbrella and was trying not to fall in the muddy field. The wind started blowing very hard and I almost lost the umbrella and Caitlin! I stopped between 2 vans to try and block the wind a little but that didn't help. I kept running to the car and jumped in the trunk when I got there, but I couldn't close the door so it kept pouring in. Finally we were all in the car...drenched! (see pictures below) Luckily we were all laughing. We decided to at least make our trip worthwhile so we went to the mall while we were there and got some birthday gifts. We might not have seen any baseball that day, but we did make some great memories! (The game we went to see that was supposed to start at 3 or 4 never started until 7 that night...and was over in 4 innings! Glad we didn't stay for that!)

Avery all ready for a baseball game

He was smiling so much I just kept taking pictures of him!

Crew cleaning up the field...the first time


At least Caitlin was dry!

Poor Avery! Good thing I brought a change of clothes for the kids.

Avery passed out on the way to the mall