Garner

Ok, I am only two months behind now!

We went to Garner State Park - west of San Antonio - for TWO weeks this year! I didn't win the screen shelter debate this time...there's always next year. The girls did well. They finally caught on to the sleeping outside thing after about five nights. They both loved playing in the dirt and with sticks. They did pretty good swimming, though neither really preferred floating on tubes because the life jackets swallow my little girls. We enjoyed hiking one morning and Ann Alyse climbed the "mountain" by herself most of the way and Avery did a little toward the end. Ann Alyse and Daddy even got to ride "horseys" one day! Ann Alyse loved it so much she fell asleep on the last half of the ride! We also enjoyed getting to dance with Ann Alyse at the dance some. Avery was always asleep by that time!

Avery loved playing in the car with the windows down, climbing over the seats and, of course, waving to everyone who walked or drove by!

Daddy & Ann Alyse at the cave on top of the "mountain"!

Daddy & Ann Alyse before their horse ride!

Mama & Ann Alyse at the dance!

The girls in the big tree. Ann Alyse loved this tree and had to stop and get in it every time we went down to the river.

Avery's 1st trip to Garner and to get a picture in front of the sign.


The Philley Four!

Avery's 1st Birthday and Walking!

Avery took her first steps a few weeks before her first birthday and we were so excited because we were all at home when it happened! We grabbed the camera, the video camera and got her in action! So cute!

Then came my baby's 1st birthday! Time really does fly! We enjoyed her actual birthday, just the 4 of us at the Houston Zoo. We came back home to cake and presents, too! Then on Saturday, we had a big birthday bash with friends and family! We had a cupcake party and everything was decorated in cupcakes. It was lots of fun!

Avery showing off her skills at the zoo while we sat down to eat a snack!

Avery enjoying her birthday cake!

Avery loved getting right us to the monkey at the glass...I guess something caught both of their eyes at this point!

Mama and her girls on the carousel!

Every eating her cupcake at her birthday party!

Easter

We had a great Easter this year! We had three egg hunts - well, probably close to ten if you count every rehide and rehunt in our own backyard! We dyed eggs and made a huge mess. Ann Alyse did discover that if you throw the eggs against the fence they will bust. That was fun considering we did almost two dozen eggs!

In our Easter best!

It's really too early for Avery!

Easter morning!

Ready to dye eggs!

Ann Alyse & Avery's first egg hunt together!

Ann Alyse & Avery at the park at our playgroup's Easter egg hunt!

Baby Dedication

Ok, I've got to backtrack since I have not posted anything in months! I will be working on going through the major events we've had over the past few months!

Baby dedication was great! Our church now does it by appointment instead of in groups. I like that much better because I feel it's more personal. We did this in February 2008 so Avery was about 10 months old. She wore the same Dress that Ann Alyse wore two years before! Ann Alyse wore a smocked dress that was mine when I was her age! It's still in immaculate condition!