8.46 am

It's hard to believe that two years ago today, at 8.46 am, sweet Addison was born. Allen and I sat last night and walked through what we did that night before she was born ~ it was a busy night and Addison's arrival was not expected!!! But she came into this world perfect and we wouldn't have it any other way. So today, we're celebrating Addison. If you've met her, you know she can capture your heart with her sweet smile. She's a snuggler and she loves her big sister. Her first word was "more" and she took her first steps when she was 17 months old. She eats more than most adults but never seems to gain weight. She's our adventurer and she only has one volume - loud. Rules don't apply to her, so she thinks, and she uses her smile and her sweet little arms held out for hugs to get her out of trouble. She loves baby dolls and loves to jump and bounce. She carries KiKi wherever she goes. She's our Addison and she is two years old today!

until then...

it's such an exciting time of year for our church as we head into 21 days of prayer and fasting. i think it's a great way for us, both corporately and individually, to grow in our relationship with the Lord. allen and i are praying and believing for some very specific things and we want to start this year by giving Him our best ~ our complete focus on Him. i know it will be an amazing journey, so i'm asking that you pray for us as we travel through it. while our decision to fast and what we are fasting is a personal decision, i wanted to share why i wouldn't be around much for the next few weeks. the internet...facebook, blogs, shopping...takes up a lot of my time each day. time that could be spent with the Lord, better focused on my children and preparing to be the wife my husband needs me to be. so i'm am going to 'log off' of the internet and refocus my priorities. (disclaimer: i will, however, be checking email because i work from home...and if they don't hear from me for 21 days i will lose my job!:)

i will leave you with the two sweetest girls in my world...and we'll see you soon! love you!

with all this rain, they've been excited to try out their new rain coats

addison, not really sure what to thinkavery, trying to catch it on her tonguering around the rosies with daddy

**if you're interested in fasting you can read more about it here

new years rockin' eve

so, times have definitely changed. i can think back pre-kids, pre-marriage, to all of the new years eves spent out very late. this year we didn't even make it to midnight CST. we did watch the ball drop in new york and we did watch robbie maddison jump to the top of the arc de triomphe replica in las vegas. normally when we watch these stunts you realize that while they are dangerous, they aren't always life threatening. but this had the potential to go very wrong. he jumped 100ft vertical, not at an angle, had to stop himself on a 35 ft roof and then freefall down 5 stories, land on the ramp and coast the rest of the way. if you didn't watch it, it's amazing (crazy)...and here it is for your viewing pleasure. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL0CJgu6Q0g (note - there is a bit of language used at the end...it was on espn too and i bet the guy didn't know he was live, or maybe he did and just didn't care. both are realistic options.)

BUT, before we settled in for ryan seacrest and robbie maddison we had a fun night out with some of our favorite friends. we went bowling. riveting, i know...but it was so fun and the kids loved it. we were there with every other young family that wanted to be back home by 10pm. :)

allen, because everything is a competition

avery's first try - notice the helpsecond try, with guidance but no helpthird times a charmaddison - eating - but with stylei think they were strategizing how to beat elliegirl talkdon't they look so big??addison wanted a turnshe did it!the whole grouphappy new year!

christmas with the drews

did you have a merry christmas?? we sure did! this year was very exciting for avery and everything was very magical. you could see the excitement in her eyes and hear it in her voice every time she saw something new or opened a gift. and sweet addison didn't feel all that great, but she managed to muster some excitement for a few things.

all in all we had an amazing day. i'll let the pictures tell our story...these were a few of our favorite things

me and the girls, christmas eve

addison loved the pack n play for her baby. a lot.

a really lot. she sat in it all day.

and got a little frustrated with the slinky

avery's favorite was/is the trampolineshe practiced and got higher...

and highersweet addison finally got a turnbut it wasn't long before avery joined herafter some coaxing, addison loved the sit n spinyou tell me...who enjoyed the basketball goal the most??

and we ended the night with bedtime stories and breathing treatments!

all i want for christmas...are twins!

if you've been reading this blog for any amount of time, you know that people commonly (and i do mean all the time) ask if my girls are twins. if you're not up on the story, you can read about it here, or perhaps here. If you have a while, stop off here, here or most recently here.

it seems like we get asked that question at least once a week...and i'm always baffled. sometimes what is most funny is the response from onlookers who "get" the obvious.

like last night. i was in the store buying gift bags. avery was chatty and all over the place and sweet addison was quietly sitting in the buggy waiting (yes, and all is right with the world). so it's finally our turn and the checkout lady (girl) talked about how cute the girls were, asked if they were ready for christmas, looked at them closely and said "are they twins." the woman behind me almost choked on her gum. i just smiled and said, "no, they aren't, but you would be surprised how often i'm asked that" and gave the woman behind me a knowing look.

later that night we had christmas dinner with allens mom. she gave the girls each a precious ballerina doll that can dance with you (it attaches to your feet). holding both of them we realized...i finally got the twins that everyone wants me to have!

merry christmas...and may common sense abide in your house this season!

well, you coming?

sunday night we went to the polar express with pop and nana and aunt casey! it has, for two years now, been one of avery's favorite movies and i knew she would love it. we've known since thanksgiving that we were going but we kept it a secret until saturday. she was crazy excited and apparently very serious about the ride as she asked if the kids from the movie would be there.

so off we went on the polar express, complete with our pjs and polar temperatures. they apparently thought it enhanced the experience to make you wait (outside) until the last minute to board. we were all freezing!!!

once on board we got to listen to the story, see the elves, drink chocolate milk and eat cookies AND they got a bell and a keepsake ornament. super fun for all. the icing on the cake for avery was that two of her best friends were along for the ride ~ sophie and ellie! you'll see in the pictures that friends always make it more fun!

thank you pop and nana for an unforgettable christmas experience! we love you!

addison and pop peeking out the window

we couldn't get a family picture with addison...she was far too busy

avery was so excited to meet mrs claus...and see santa again addison saw santa too.....and her feelings weren't quite the same
but we did manage to get a picture

she did, however, love the bell...and to no ones surprise...the chocolate milkthe elfaren't these three friends so sweet??such sweet friends!

choir robes and cupcakes

avery's 4k christmas program was last wednesday at school. the entire 4k was decked out in precious red mini choir robes with white collars. they sang and quoted scripture and it was precious. i would love to show you the video but i don't have the connector. sad, i know.

then it was off to a reception - we made the reindeer cookies

and, last friday was avery's class party at school. they did some really neat activities. one was explaining the plan of salvation by using a glove (provided) and it was color coded. they walked through each step and then, when it was time to sing happy birthday to jesus, the cupcake matched the glove and went in line with all the colors. what a crafty mom! avery had a great time...we sure do love miss peggy!

addison got a cupcake too...to no surprise!