Fun with family!

It's Monday, and we're exhausted! Exhausted because of all the FUN we had this past weekend!

This past weekend we had company in town - Grandma and Grandma White came down to Charlotte with Jeff's grandmother, Non. Then Jeff's brother Brad and his girlfriend Nikki came in for Friday night only. We love having our house full of family!

Avery enjoyed giggling and playing in the family room. She is in heaven, because we cleared away the coffee table to create more room for her to move around, and move around she did! She crawled around playing, and even figured out how to crawl into the bottom part of her exersaucer and was rocking back and forth in it. Quite entertaining for her, and humorous to us as well!

Saturday we started the day off enjoying the warm spring air. Jeff, Avery and I spent the morning at the park taking a long walk, showing Avery the ducks and she even got her first experience on the swings!

Ready...

Set...

GO!

We spent the afternoon playing at the house and then went out to dinner, where Avery was the life of the party, slamming her hands against the table, talking and yelling out in glee, and smirking at all of her admirers. Highlights included drinking water from a straw and trying a french fry... as well as obsessing about her little apple shaped teether.

Sunday was our first Easter with Avery! We went to church in the morning, where she kicked her legs and bobbed her head to the music. At some point during the service the pastor asked us to lift up a "joy," and I just thought "this." This. Right now. This awesome time in my life is my joy! We have so much to be thankful for. When we got home Avery napped while Jeff and I had brunch together. The whole crew came over after brunch to start getting Easter meal together. It was a beautiful day, so we enjoyed a little walk around the neighborhood before the meal.

Avery LOVES her first official bouncy ball (pink, with easy-to-grip spikes!) from Grandma White. We are already teaching her how to catch... which is a first priority for both Grandma and Aunt Meg, since they are both Phys. Ed. teachers! She loves to reach out her hands and grab the ball when it comes toward her. Her is Ave with her new friend "spike:"

Another funny tidbit was teaching Avery to "tap out" when she is done eating. When she gets close to being done, I started tapping the highchair tray twice, and now she repeats it. She may only be mimicking the motion for the sound it makes, but it's more funny to think that she is actually "tapping out" when she is finished eating.

Well, for now I will "tap out" myself. Need to get a good night's rest tonight. I am home from work tomorrow with Avery while Donna is on Spring Break. Then Grandma and Grandpa Bricker come in Tuesday evening to take over care for Wednesday and Thursday! It's fair to say she will continue to get plenty of love and attention this week.