Landry's first birthday... yes, it was in April. That's not too long ago.

So this post is completely backwards.  I haven't blogged in so long that I forgot that you have to start with your last pictures and post backwards chronologically.  So enjoy Landry's birthday in reverse order!  But before we start, Avery wants to type her name right on here so here it is... big and blue just as she requested...

AVERY

Uncle Nate and Landry are fast friends.

I mean really close... Does Nate realize Landry digs in her diaper a lot?

Apparently he doesn't care and Landry is quite entertained with what is in his mouth.  An aspiring dentist?

At the end of Landry's birthday (remember this is backwards) we decorated Easter eggs so the Easter bunny could come that night.  Jay and Gabe meticulously decorated... you know with Jay there is going to be a plan.  No random dunking into colors here.

Listening to Avery's plan of action

Patiently waiting for the deepest color... well, sort of patiently.  Avery checked her eggs every few seconds or so, resulting in a lot of cracked shells.

In honor of Lucy herself, we had breakfast for dinner.  It's one of her favorite meals.

We had Landry's birthday party at my parents' farm.  Landry loves to pick flowers and she could pick to her heart's content out there.  And I look for any excuse to make the drive and stay there for a few days.  It's a great place to get away.

Pawpaw got to come (GayGay too but I rarely get a picture of her since she's always taking pictures!)

Neeno and Pop were there

Uncle Nate and Aunt Brenna came for the festivities

Gabe and Sierra partied with us

Ro and Nolan even drove in for the fun... with their parents of course!

Camera-shy Avery even pulled out a few smiles that day

This is one of Landry's greatest talents... the fish-face.  She does it on command and goes all out for it.  You can see where my dad burned the weekend before in the background.

I love that the girls are old enough to interact and play so well already.

I'll get these pictures out when the girls are older and fighting and remind them that they can have fun with each other.

Landry thoroughly enjoyed herself

Dressed in our finest for a family picture

Aren't those flowers cool?  They're my favorite at the farm right now... we think they're downy paintbrush.

My sweet little one year old

My sweet-toothed little one year old

She ate more cake than me... and that's saying something because I like cake

Both my girls have had the "One" cake.  My mom saved the cakepan she used for all of us, so now we pass it around when our kids have their first birthday.

I get a sick pit everytime I think of this, but Landry's great-great grandmother, her 2 great-grandmothers and great-grandfather, her grandmother and grandfather on my side  were all together in one place and I didn't get a generation picture.  How did I miss that opportunity?!?!  I did get some pictures of her and her double great-grandmother.  But Nanny, Papaw and Grandma Mac, if y'all are reading this, I fell down on the job and need another chance. :(

Alright, Easter is next.  I might just get on a little kick and post it today, maybe.

Cheukawaka training begins...

Don't you think she's ready for Deer Run?  Only 7 more years until she can go...

I love spring...

To be really honest, I just like the change of seasons, but spring has been good to us so far this year.  It's finally warm enough to pretty much be outside all day long, rain or shine.  Luckily, Avery and Landry like it too.  Here's a shot of my pretty goldfinches and one of the indigo buntings that come and see us in our backyard.

This is what the girls look like after a long day of playing outside.  Gotta love those empty stares.

You should have been there when I changed her next diaper.  I was amazed there was still sand in the sandbox.

I know this is out of focus, but I just wanted to ask why my kids grow mullets.  I can hardly fit a clip on the top of her head, but I can put a ponytail in the back.  Go figure.

One of the sweetest pictures I have of Avery right now.  I love it.

We talked about how God sends the rain to help flowers and trees grow in the spring.  She was adamant about taking her plastic sunflowers out for a drink so they could grow too.

Rolling out the cookie dough

Popsicles are too cold to eat without gloves.

She dressed herself this morning... Although, I think it looks pretty good.

Completely out in the swing.  Landry took a 15 minute nap like this.  I've got a video of her snoring.

Riding in the trailer together

Rain, rain, don't go away!  My girls love the drainage ditch!

Stubborn Girl

This is really for the grandparents out there (read: "Boring and long for anyone else").  Landry is 12 months and has only taken one step by herself... until yesterday.  I was convinced that she didn't have good balance at all yet and that it would be a while until she attempted walking for real.  She once again proved to me that her lack of attempts at things had nothing to do with ability and everything to do with... well, just plain stubbornness.  By the way, there was no coercing here.  I just looked up and this is what she was doing.

Landry learning to clap

Avery is a pretty good little teacher!

Avery's phone conversation with Roselyn

I should be ashamed of myself... but I'm really not. :)

So it's been awhile... this may be as good as it gets folks!  There are so many other fun (and necessary) things to do that I never want to sit and blog.  But, for the sake of my parents and out-of-town and out-of-country aunts and uncles, I will at least make an honest attempt at keeping this relatively recent.  Three months isn't that bad is it? ;)

Here are some updated pictures of my girls.  They're fun and busy right now.  Landry has hit that great stage where we're really starting to have fun and Avery and she are interacting together.  Avery says she loves sisters and wants "2 sisters and a lot more".  We'll see about that.

Landry at 8 months (yeah, I know she's 10 months now, but it's still a cute pic).

Playing at the farm

Tara and JM took some family pics for us.  These two were my favorites.

Can you ever have too many bath pictures?  Avery loves being "naked as a jay bird" and will happily announce that to anyone she happens to be streaking by at the moment.  That has been one of my most successful motivators in potty training in fact.  If she's gonna be "naked as a jay bird", she has to use the potty, not the carpet to relieve herself or else she has to put clothes on.

This girl loves cooking with me.  I think I need to make her a little miniature apron soon.

Intensely watching PawPaw filet the fish.

Meet Tinkerbell... Cinderella is in the background.

Does anyone else have this problem?  Where did she learn this crassness?  Uncle Clint?!?!?

Giving Q a bath.

Yelling at me through the window that she is done!

Nap time anyone?

Swinging with Neeno

Avery is actually a better conversationalist on the phone than I am.  Which isn't saying that much since I despise talking on the phone, but still impressive for a two year old.  I'll try to upload a video of a phone chat.

Alright, on to other things now.  Hope you enjoyed!