Christmas

Audrey had a great Christmas and got to celebrate twice here in Indy and also in Macomb. She wrote a letter to Santa on our Christmas Eve, and made sure to include a request for everyone (including that coat for Isabella). She is such a thoughtful little girl. And of course Santa got some cookies and Rudolph an onion. The gifts under the tree weren't too elaborate, but my favorite was the set of sleds. The kids can't wait to use them!

I have to say, I *really* love the last picture here...

Four!

Audrey had a great 4th birthday. Complete with a new dollhouse and lots of other presents. We were lucky enough to all spend her special day together. She had informed me that she planned for her day to include: something special for breakfast, to get married, and to plant a tree...The actual day included the Children's Museum, especially a few rides on the carousel, and to the "balloon place" for dinner. She even got to eat mac-n-cheese at both lunch and dinner. Dessert only after dinner though...Definitely was her birthday!

Meeting Santa

Audrey was soooo excited that Santa was coming to school, and she couldn't wait when I arrived with her Santa hat to go meet him. Just as I expected, she greeted him without hesitation and sat right on his lap. She had an extended conversation with Santa, asking for a specific Cars toy she had been dreaming up. She was so disappointed though when we got in the car, and she realized she had forgotten to ask Santa for a coat for Isabella. She had been planning to ask him for one for awhile, but she got so excited that she forgot. We will have to include it in our letter to Santa. :)

Thanksgiving

Audrey had a great Thanksgiving and was lucky enough to see all of her cousins. This picture is the best I got of the Pierson/Bell cousins. The boys look like they are ready for a nap after all that turkey! Audrey also got to celebrate cousin M's first birthday. We should have stayed to watch her take her first steps instead of heading back home that evening. (Insert pole incident). As Audrey so wisely said as we checked to ensure my car was in one piece, "Hey, I have an idea. How about next time we visit Uncle P and Aunt D, we park on the street!" She does know how to break the tension!!

Swim lessons

Audrey has very patiently watched Ian take swim lessons the last couple of months. After tee-ball was over, she made it clear that she really wanted to get back into the pool. She absolutely loved her first swim lesson this weekend. She got to head into the pool with Eric, and she said she can't wait to head back next week. Though she requested some goggles for her next lesson. :)

Dinner Date

Look who my dinner date was tonight! Eric had a late meeting, and Ian unfortunately was so sick that he wanted to skip dinner and hit the hay by 5:30. So, Audrey and I made the most of it. I lit some candles and one of us had a glass of wine. I loved, loved, loved having some quiet time with her. We finished the night by snuggling on the couch while watching a little Giada. Eric thought she was asleep when he got home and found us lying on the couch, but not Audrey! That would be silly! :)

Though we now know that Audrey's rash from several weeks is shingles, I was trying to figure it out during this conversation, which happened just after a very trying dinner in which she hated the main course of a homemade soup:

Audrey, do you have any idea what your rash is from? Did you eat or touch anything that you think may have caused it?

After a moment of thought:

It was the soup. That soup from dinner tonight!