10 months old!

Happy 10 months old, Audrey!

It's getting really hard to take a good posed picture. Audrey is always blurry and Addison hardly smiles for the camera. 

The girls and their blankies, Lambie and Aba.

We brought the castle tent back out. Audrey tries to crawl out the windows and gets really frustrated. She ends up just dragging the whole tent with her. Like a hermit crab and a really big shell!

Audrey loves to crawl around with some toy hanging from her mouth. She's a funny girl.

On Friday, my niece will turn one! We are excited to celebrate with her!

A week from today I will be reunited with two of my favorite people and their children. Erin and Chandra are coming down to Florida!

Flamingo Gardens

We had a joint birthday celebration for Addison and Grandma over the weekend. Grandma and Grandpa spent the night and we had a nice dinner with Uncle Tommy and Aunt Heidi too. Poor Andrew worked 19 hours this weekend so we were very glad to have the company.

My favorite gift from Grandma and Grandpa was the membership to Flamingo Gardens. We went on Sunday for the first time. It's going to be a lovely place to take the girls on a walk.

Grandma helping Addison feed the birds.

Happy Audrey got to take a little nap and enjoy the ride.

Miniature Grandpa or humongous tree? 

The garden has 20 "Champion" trees and they are seriously stunning.

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for the matching flamingo shirts!

Spiky Bath Hair

Audrey likes to use her mouth as a third hand.

She is also climbing and standing (10 seconds is her record!).

Addison started taking an art class!

(thank you very much Grammy and Poppy!)

She also had her first dentist appointment and was a really good patient!

 She flew a kite all by herself! 

She was doing great until I told her to run with it...then it got stuck in the tree.

Addison’s 3rd Birthday Questionnaire and Self Portrait

Addison’s 3^rd Birthday Questionnaire

How old are you? I think I’m three.

What presents did you get for your birthday? A car, a Minnie Mouse was on my cake, and balls.

What makes you happy? The Barbie car.

What makes you sad? I don’t cry.

What is your favorite animal? The elephant, a little baby elephant.

What do you like to eat? Waffles with peanut butter and cinnamon.

What are you really good at? Playing with balloons.

What is your favorite TV show or movie? Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

What is your favorite song? Row your boat.

Who is your best friend? Lou Lou. I really like her nose. It’s wet.

What do you like to do with your Mom? I like to paint with you.

What do you like to do with your Dad? I’m going to fly a kite with him.

What do you like to do with your sister? I like to crawl in the tunnel with her.

Where is your favorite place to go? To the playground and swim in the little pool.

What is your favorite book to read? Cat in the Hat and Angelina Ballerina’s Birthday.

What do you want to do when you grow up? Build Legos.

What is your favorite color? Red. I like pink too.

What is your favorite toy to play with? Aba and Minnie Mouse.

What do you like to do outside? Play airplane in the grass.

What is your favorite treat? Chocolate.

Addison's Self Portrait

Happy 3rd Birthday, Addison!

Today is Addison Jane's 3rd Birthday! 

Yesterday we had a little last minute celebration with the Ritter's and Ranke's.

We had lunch and cake.

We opened presents.

Benjamin had a baby?! Just kidding.

Audrey got some lovin' from Great Grammy.

And Poppy.

 Our new four generation picture!

The Ritter crew, plus Benjamin's Caroline (who we think is a very fun, pretty girl!)

bubbles

 Addison loves her uncles.

Getting the ball out of the rain gutter.

A very brave Papa and Benjamin busting open the pinata. This picture was taken right before I was hit in the shoulder with a pinata chunk.

Thank you Grammy, Poppy, Nana and Papa for loving on our girl! You made her feel so special and we love to see how she glows around you all!

Vacation

Last week Andrew was able to take the whole week off! We had a nine day family vacation with no work interruptions! It was wonderful.

Monday we drove up to Orlando

and checked in to our cabin at Fort Wilderness. The cabin was perfect for us and the girls loved it. They slept in the bedroom and Andrew and I slept on the murphy in the living room. That night we unpacked and ate dinner at Trail's End.

The next morning we took the bus from our cabin to the marina and then got on the ferry to Magic Kingdom. It was a warm, sunny day.

  

Andrew and I took turns going on rides with Addison. It's a Small World. She loved it. Singing and dancing dolls = perfect ride for her.

 Tea Cups. We did it three times. She loved it!

Then we met Alice and the White Rabbit. While waiting in line to meet her Addison picked up some leaves and gave one to Alice. It was so Addison and so sweet. Alice loved it and kept it in her pocket.

 Prince Charming's Carousel with mommy

Dumbo with Daddy

 The girls with their souvenirs.

We left early the first day to go to the pool at Fort Wilderness. The pool was just as important to Addison. They had a toddler splash area with a slide that Addison loved! They had a bigger slide too. Addison said she wanted to try it and other toddlers were doing it so we did too. I walked her to the top and sent her down. It was an open slide so I could see her expression as she went down....she was in shock! Then Andrew caught her at the bottom. When asked if she wanted to try it again she quickly said no.

The big slide!

 That night we used the grill outside the cabin to make hot dogs and smores. 

On day two we knew we were going to spend the entire day at the park. The first half of the day was nice and sunny. The last half was very rainy.

We met Minnie. Addison kept touching her nose and Minnie would laugh.

Ariel's Under the Sea ride with Daddy.

 "Sharing" popcorn.

 Outside the Baby Care Center which we visited many many times.

 We met Mickey.

Addison taking a nap in the stroller.

Tomorrowland...notice the rain clouds!

 Riding Astro Orbiter with Mommy. She held her ears the whole time.

Then the rain came. We were prepared though!

We took shelter and enjoyed some lollipops and coffee...

while Audrey napped.

That night we had a Winnie the Pooh character dinner at the Crystal Palace. It was fun! Both girls loved their character experiences.

Celebrating Addison's birthday!

Day three at the park was cold and predicted to be rainy, but it didn't rain!

Race Cars with Daddy

The Barnstormer! Addison's first roller coaster! Andrew rode with her and waited for the front row.

My sweet baby!

"Sharing" popcorn again.

Addison showing Cinderella the alligator tattoo on her arm. A very sweet moment!

 Aurora and Addison. 

She loved all the flowering trees.

What a strong Daddy! We had to fold the stroller before going on any bus, ferry, or tram which was a pain. But we are so glad we brought it. We love our stroller. Total Audrey napped 6 times in it!

Our last night we went to Downtown Disney to visit the Lego Store and eat dinner. 

Addison loved the Lego creations.

Dinner at Rainforest Cafe.

We had such a great trip. We all needed this quality time together! It was our first family vacation.