JOEY

Joey has been extremely busy these past few months as I have been way more sick and tired with this pregnancy than the last. (Luckily I was the sickest after finals/ during the break and it hasn't affected me in my schooling) I am so grateful for him and his willingness to just take Avery out for a few hours so I can get some rest in a quiet house, he is always cleaning and picking up so I don't have to, and other various things I would regularly do! He is the BEST! Here is Avery at Kaden's birthday party. (Joey took her for me... she had been looking forward to it, as the invitation was on the fridge and she kept asking everyday, "Kaden birthday party today?") Two of my friends in the ward and myself had our first baby girls just within months of each other and it is so fun to watch them play together!
Along with pulling Mr. Mom duty Joey has still been able to enjoy his hobbies of golfing and fishing with his lab buddies. He has also taken up a new interest in woodworking. He made a really nice wooden pen for his dad. It turned out nicely!
Also during the semester he was able to travel with his marine biology class on a field trip down to Sapelo Island where UGA has a research facility.

We missed him but he was full of so many fun stories about his trip when he returned I was so glad that he was able to go!

Here is the facility where they stayed

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving "Grandma and Grandpa Scruffy" (I think I have mentioned before Avery distinguishes her grandparents by their dogs) came from TX to visit along with my brothers. It was an eventful weekend:) I don't know why we didn't get more pictures but here are a few...
I convinced Robert to go on what he thought was a 2 mile run with me cause he kept talking trash that he could beat me... well, I tricked him and took him on a 4 mile route and I smoked him. He would have beat me had we only done 2 miles (I am not a short distance runner but I knew I could beat him if I added some length, plus he didn't pace himself since he thought he was only running two miles). He wasn't too happy with me that night but he was the next morning:) What are big sisters for?!?!
We made a deal that if Joey would start running with me, I would go golfing with him. Joey has been doing some running lately, even if he has to bundle up Avery and take her along. Guess I better get ready to go golfing...maybe I can just drive the golf cart?!?!
It is so fun for me to watch my younger siblings interact with Avery. Ryan changed one of Avery's overnight diapers and that was hilarious! I'm just helping prepare them to be good daddies one day. Their future wives will thank me:) Avery has definitely hit the terrible twos and I think that she may have irritated them a little, but I just tell them Rose and I had to put up with you them when they were younger!!!
My mom took these pics as this is a daily routine of mine and Avery's. While mommy is putting on makeup, Avery thinks she needs to be too. Her #1 item she wanted for Christmas was chapstick, "chapstick like mommy's makeup!"
I know I am biased but I think Avery looks absolutely beautiful in this picture even with her crazy morning hair:) & Drumroll please.... Some exciting news was divulged Thanksgiving and we got a video of Rose's announcement that her and Bryan are expecting a baby June 14! Be sure to watch my dad; he is the funniest.

Halloween

Avery had so much fun this year for Halloween. She loved the idea of getting lots of candy. Joey and I ran to the thrift store and picked out costumes that totaled $11 for the both of us! I was D.J. Shockley and Joey was an old school golfer (The Legend of Bagger Vance). The night of Halloween we headed out in the rain to take Avery trick or treating in Marietta. We did a quick practice round at Grandma and Grandpa's and it didn't take long for Avery to figure out that all she had to say was trick or treat and she got candy! We are still trying to teach her what the "Good Candy" is...Why is it when kids get to pick out the candy they reach for the dum-dums, candy corn or taffy? CHOCOLATE is the stuff to pick!!!
There is a family in Joey's parents ward that we have become good friends with and they have a little girl just a few weeks older than Avery. We went trick or treating with them in the rain!

Avery and Finley...SO CUTE!

Avery's favorite activity at our ward trunk or treat. She could have cared less about the candy at this station. She just wanted to play in the water and keep the rubber duckies.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN (Only a month late)

13.1

**This may be a little lengthy (but it is fun for me to reflect on everything that got me to this point!) So back in March a group of us from our stake got together and trained for a marathon relay. At this point running more than the 4.3 miles had never crossed my mind and I was content until... Tenille became my full time running partner/one of my most fav friends ever and as we ran more, she'd casually mention she'd like to add a mile to our route. Eventually we were running 10 miles. We would begin our runs at 5:30am to beat the GA summer heat, and 4-6 mile runs, we referred to as "short runs!" Never in my life did I think I could ever run that far without walking! Unfortunately, Tenille and her family moved to Delaware in June, but before she moved I promised we would do a 13.1 mile run. We did it but it took me 2 hours and 25 min. (Tenille just finished running the Baltimore Marathon with an AMAZING time & she is pretty much my hero!) I thought that I might slack off after she moved, but after 4 months of a consistent running schedule, I am addicted to running and in July I signed up for the Silver Comet half marathon 10/31/09. A group of us began training. Because of my school schedule I was only able to do 3 days a week but my running schedule looked like this, Tues: 4 mile run Thurs: 6-8 mile run and Sat: 10-12 mile run. So if you don't already run or like to, this is why you should... Its a great way to start the day, you have more energy, its healthy, and it helps and carries over into other aspects of life. For example, whenever I am thinking I can't fill up 2 more pages of a 10 page paper assignment I think, you can run 10 miles and at mile 8 you're so close to finishing, just tough it out and finish strong! Running is such a mental game, so if you can beat it, you can beat so many of life's obstacles!!! Enough of that, here is SILVER COMET RACE DAY!!!
My racing buddies and running partners. Emily (in the blue jeans) she trained with us and was my main running partner until she got a stress fracture in her foot 4 weeks before the race:( She gave her spot to her husband and came to cheer us on!

Here we are anxiously anticipating the start

It rained (downpour)on us the first 2-3 miles, but the rest was just a light mist which was perfect for the remainder of the race. I had been reading lots of runners blogs before the race trying to find the best source of energy snack to use during the race. Unfortunately, most people said to use the GU gels (which I had previously tried and made me want to vomit), so I went to buy some Cliff Shot Blocks instead. While I was there a worker was putting out these new GU chomps, (which are the same consistency as the shot blocks but provide the same energy of the GU packs). I used these and loved them!
Here comes Amie and I heading down the home stretch! So remember back when I first ran 13.1 miles and it took me 2 hours and 25 min. I was shooting for a goal time of 2:11 (averaging a 10 min. mile) Well, I looked at the clock and it read 2:04. I started to tear up (partly because I could not believe it and partly a fulfilling feeling to see the finish of something you've worked so hard for), but it made it hard to breathe. I choked back the tears as I saw Avery and Joey and gave all I had left to sprint to the finish line with a time of 2 hours 5 minutes and 24 seconds!!!
My in-laws were so sweet they were holding this sign for me at the finish line and cheering me on with Avery and Joey! The sign was in pink and green which ironically matched us so we got a picture!
My biggest fans:) Joey was such a trooper and so supportive of all the time (Sat. mornings) I put into this. He stood in the rain from start to finish of my race having to hold Avery the whole time because I thought her shoes were in the car and they weren't:( I love them so much!

Uga VII: 2008-2009

Yesterday was a sad day in the Bulldog Nation as we mourned the passing of Uga VII. He was four years old and died of a heart attack:( This one was special for us because it is the one that Avery got to meet! In case you didn't know Uga comes from a prestigious line of English Bulldogs and any puppy that comes from this line is sold at a minimum of $10,000. Inside Sanford Stadium is the grave where all previous Ugas have been buried. RIP Uga VII!

FALL Festivities

WOW! It has been more than a month since my last post...just a little bit of what we've been up to. We took a trip up to North Georgia and hiked Amicalola Falls! It was a nice 2 hour get a way and Avery loved the waterfalls. We went with some friends of ours and had a really good time.
After a little bit Avery was not thrilled about walking anymore, so Daddy volunteered to carry her.

Family pic half way to the top

Its so BEAUTIFUL!!!

Here is Avery and Logan (Our adopted Athens Family, the Beckstead's) invited us bowling with them. Avery and Logan play so well together (sometimes too well, with a little bit of hugs and kisses) but are so CUTE!
WHy pay for bowling for the kids, they had fun playing in this little truck without putting money in it?!
Uncle Kevin moved back to GA to prepare for his mission.... We all decided a hair cut was MUCH needed!

Avery with the traditional nutter butter ghost cookies, which she devoured

Uncle Karl flew down for a visit from Utah and we had so much fun, including late night outings to the Waffle House...mmmmm:)

Pumpkin carving (and Kevin's new hair cut, SOOOO much better!)

Their completed pumpkin (Nice job guys)

The traditional weenie roast and s'mores at Granma and Granpa's

Avery with all her cousins. I love watching her try to run and keep up with them! They are so sweet and always are sure to include her.

Avery and Taylor BUDDIES

This puts into perspective how TALL she is! At her last dr. appointment a few weeks ago her height was barely under 3 feet (in the 96th percentile) but yet her weight was 26 lbs (in the 38th percentile). Tall and skinny little thing, and so darn CUTE!
Daddy and Avery in the Watkinsville Pumpkin Patch. We were disappointed with it this year; all the pumpkins had a bad side or were rotted so we just got a few pictures and went to Dawsonville in North Georgia. That Pumpkin patch was like none I've ever seen before!

I LOVE the country for this reason... Where else can you go and ride a COW train?!?!

Family pics in the Pumpkin Patch

This is the one in Dawsonville! I highly recommend it, definitely worth the beautiful two hour drive. They had pumpkins bigger than Avery!!! + hot apple cider, pumpkin rolls, pumpkin bread, pecan logs, basically any yummy fall treat you can imagine... I was glad we took the time to head that way!

Look Who's Growing Up

Our little Avery is growing up before our very eyes! We've reached a few big mile markers this past month and before school starts getting crazy again, I wanted to take the time to document it! (+ we got a new camera, so picture taking is so much more fun!) Above is a picture of Avery bouncing around before church, and ready to hurry and get to NURSERY!!!
I love this picture because it sums up Avery and her outgoing, never-ending, fun loving personality! :) (It was time to go to bed and she comes into our room, jumps on the bed, then plays a hiding game with dad, that he can't resist, and this results in bedtime getting pushed back another half hour...)
Although I put a diaper on her at night, for the most part she is officially potty trained!!!! YAY!!! I have not changed a dirty diaper in 3 weeks, and today I took the plunge and left her in her "big girl panties" to go shopping and run errands.... NOT ONE ACCIDENT!!! WOO HOO! We practically used the restroom at every other place we went to, but I was so proud of her! I love the idea of not changing diapers:) above: I found Boots (the stuffed animal in the pic above) in the bathroom and Avery tells me, "Boots go potty too."
Avery also got a "big girl bed", courtesy of "Gwanma and Pit-paw Pogo"(Thank-you). So, for about 3 months Joey and I were waking up to a surprise guest in our bed (Avery). She would sneak in so we would not tell her to go back to her own bed and since we have been desperately trying to break this habit. Ever since she has had her "big girl bed" (she is so proud of it), she has only snuck into our room once! :) She will wake up and tell us, "I sweep well, in my bed the WHOLE night!" We just go on and on about what a good girl she is and that keeps her sleeping in her own bed! [The sunbonnet quilt was made by my 90 year old Grandma for her bed and she loves the little girls. Grandma always does such a good job]

The first picture taken on our new camera! Man, I love these two!

So, I am always wanting Avery to let me do her hair and for her to actually keep her hair bands in her hair, but she always pulls them out :( A couple Saturdays ago she made my day.... I had just finished doing a hair cut on a friend of our and after he left Avery climbed up in the chair and wanted a haircut. I took full advantage of this opportunity, draped her and started trimming away. She was so good and excited that she even let me round brush blow dry her hair, put a bow in it, and she kept it in the whole day! Here is a picture of her that day, She is so stinkin' cute and she sure made her hairdresser's day!!!