Colorado trip

Between Christmas and New Year's we made a trip up to Buena Vista, Colorado to go skiing with Doug and Sheila and their girls. Some friends of Sheila's family own a house there, so the Leavelle family goes up almost every year to stay and ski. The owners of the house, LG and Sally Jo, were so incredibly sweet and hospitable to share their home with all of us for a few days. Besides it being a very large home with all the amenities we could possibly need, it also had some unbelievable perks like a hot tub, the "dollhouse" room under the stairs, a ski equipment room (I counted over 100 pairs of ski boots!), a ski clothing room, and deer that would come right up to our bedroom window! We only ended up getting to ski one day because they closed the lifts on New Year's Eve due to high winds. But Avery got to go to ski school on that first day and had a great time. Scott skied with Kendall a little on the bunny slope that morning, and then he and I skied together in the afternoon. Another added bonus to our trip was that my Dad had some business dinners, etc scheduled in Denver for that weekend, so my parents drove over to the Leadville area and were able to watch Kendall and Judson while we skied. They also got to spend New Year's Eve with all of us at LG and Sally Jo's house. Even though we weren't able to ski on the second day, we still had a great time. During the morning and early afternoon the kids played and napped, so Scott and I had some time to relax there at the house and enjoy our beautiful surroundings. Late that afternoon we all went to a hilly road in the neighborhood and had a great time sledding. We celebrated New Year's Eve with pizza for dinner and watching the celebrations on TV. It was such a fun trip and we created some great memories together as a family!

My Mom with Kendall and Judson at the ski lodge. Kendall was waiting for Scott to get Avery all settled in ski school so he could take her on the bunny slope.

Avery with her ski school instructor and class

Avery learning how to plow by playing "Red Light, Green Light"

Scott and Kendall riding the magic carpet up to the top of the bunny slope

Scott and Kendall skiing together

Avery and Kendall LOVED playing Wii Dance with their cousins. It was hilarious to watch!

LG would put out food for the deer every morning, so we would wake up to several of them standing right outside our window. It was such a neat experience!

Avery, Kendall, Judson and cousin Brooklyn

the kids table

Avery and Bailey sledding

Avery and Scott

my Dad even got in on the sledding action

Braden and Kendall. I'm in the pinkish-red jacket in the background. I had done a 180 and was sliding down the hill backwards!

Judson was so cute in his little snowsuit

Mommy and Jud

Scott and Kendall

Scott and Avery in the crazy hats they found in the clothing room

My parents decided to get in on the crazy hat action

Avery and Bailey showing off this enormous icicle that one of the guys knocked down

Christmas Day

Christmas Day at our house started out bright and early a little before 7. That was actually a good thing though since Christmas fell on Sunday and we needed to get ready for church after opening presents. Avery received "Cookie" the FurReal puppy from Santa this year, Kendall received 3 Barbies from the Princess Charm School movie, and Judson received a Johnny Jump-up. Avery and Kendall's stockings were stuffed to the brim with all kinds of goodies like crayons, stuffed animals, coloring activities, hair accessories and candy. Judson's stocking had sippy cups, bowls in boy colors, and 2 different balls. Scott and I got the girls some 4 ft. tall paper dolls that came with all kinds of clothes and accessories for them to color and put on the dolls. Kendall's were Disney Princesses and Avery's were Barbies. As a little bonus we also gave them a new Sonicare toothbrush for kids:) Judson's gift from Scott and I was a Little Tykes sports center with a rattly football, a basketball goal, and a teeball part.

The entire Bedichek family attended church at Alliance C of C this year with Tom and Jan. After church we all headed over to their house and started preparing our Christmas dinner. After a delicious lunch, Judson and Eva took their afternoon naps, and the adults and older kids did our gift card exchange. It is always a lot of fun and everyone usually ends up with something they like. Then the little kids (Brooklyn, Avery, Kendall and Mason) got to open their gifts, and lastly, Judson and Eva opened theirs once they were both awake. The rest of the night consisted of playing with toys, eating some leftovers, and enjoying family time. It was a great day and a wonderful Christmas for the Bedicheks! We are blessed!

Avery and Kendall checking out their gifts from Santa and from Mommy and Daddy

Kendall is really into Backyardigans right now and was so excited to find Uniqua in her stocking

Judson had fun playing with the cups and bowls that were in his stocking

Avery and Kendall got started right away coloring fashions for their paper dolls

So far the bat is Judson's favorite part of his sports center

All the girls (minus Eva) kept themselves busy on their iPhones and iTouches while waiting for lunch to be ready

Scott got put on ham carving duty. Doesn't he look cute in his apron?

Judson received several boy toys like a truck and this train

He also got an ACU onesie so he could show his Wildcat pride

Avery and Kendall got a Barbie cruise ship from Doug, Sheila and their girls

Braden and Judson- he loved this huge puppy dog

Avery hanging out with the big girls. Bailey and Braden had received iPhones for Christmas and played with them almost all day.
Avery,Mason, and all the guys played a little teeball out back with the new set Mason received
Judson conked out on Scott before we were ready to call it quits for the evening. There's nothing as sweet as a sleeping baby!

Christmas #1- the Zimbal's

Merry Christmas 2011!

This was our year to spend Christmas with the Bedicheks, so the Friday before Christmas we celebrated with my parents in Coppell. We opened presents in the afternoon so the kids would have plenty of playtime and then enjoyed some green chile chicken enchiladas (my Memaw's recipe)for dinner. Some of the things Avery got were an umbrella, a china tea set, roller skates, a jewelry box, and earrings. Kendall got a My Little Pony, an umbrella, a Lite Sprite, and a jewelry box as well. The girls also got some really neat pink storage cubes to put all their dress up clothes in, and all 3 kids received a cool art easel from my aunt. Judson really liked tearing the wrapping paper and was almost as interested in the paper and bows as he was in the actual toys. He did get some really fun boy toys though. He got a race car with a rattle remote control, a steering wheel toy, an activity walker, and the Spinnin' Sounds Speedway. Scott and I both received clothes and gift cards, and we got a docking station for our iPhones and iPad. Although we missed having Amy and Chris and my Aunt Milly there this year, we had a really nice time together and enjoyed experiencing the magic of Christmas from our kids' perspective.

Avery, Kendall, and Judson with their Mimi and Poppi

Avery and Kendall checking out Jud's race car and showing him how it works

roller skates for Avery and My Little Pony Princess Celestia for Kendall

Avery with her umbrella. These were one of the girls' favorite gifts this Christmas.

Judson practicing his driving. He's already preparing to take out some girls and break his Mama's heart!

Hanging out with Daddy and playing with his new octopus.

New earrings for Avery! She has been waiting 8 weeks to change them out.

The kids' new art easel has a chalkboard on one side and a glow board on the other.

Scott and Kendall

Judson- 7 months

Judson turned 7 months old on Christmas Day. The picture above was taken on Christmas morning, as he was playing with the bowls and cups Santa put in his stocking. He continues to be a happy, easy-going baby who rarely cries and loves to smile and laugh. He can roll, spin on his belly to change direction, scoot backward on his tummy, and scoot forward on his bottom inch by inch now. He is just now starting to get up on his hands and knees some and pulling up to a kneeling position. He also likes to stand up and hold onto things, although he's still too wobbly for me to let go for more than a few seconds. He started babbling around 6.5 months, which is really cute. His first thing to babble was "ma-ma-ma", which I absolutely loved since both of the girls did "da-da-da" first. Judson has also learned to clap, tries to wave sometimes, and is working on drinking out of a sippy cup. He nurses 5 times a day and eats baby food at lunch and dinner. He has tried all of the veggies now, some of the fruits, and some fruit and oatmeal/cereal combinations. So far the only things he didn't seem to like much were green beans and sweet potatoes. He really likes peas, squash and carrots and has even eaten some garden veggies that contain spinach! That's my little Popeye! He goes to bed between 7:30 and 8:00 and usually gets up between 6:00 and 6:30, which we call the rooster wake-up. If he doesn't mess his nap schedule up by falling asleep in the car, then he will usually nap around 9:00, 1:00 and 5:00 for about 2-3 hrs total. Right after Christmas he has his first ear infection, but it wasn't too bad. When I took him for that visit to the doctor, he weighed 19 lbs 9 oz. He is still wearing sz 3 diapers, sz 3 shoes and 9 mo or 6-12 month clothes, although some of them are getting too short in the sleeves or legs. I am so curious to see if he continues to be tall. Scott and I are obviously not tall, but we both have some height that runs in our families. Happy 7 months Jud! You are so sweet and so much fun!

playing with a puzzle at Memaw and Dedaw's house on Christmas Day

Judson would just smile and laugh every time Avery did this with the umbrella she got for Christmas
He loves the Johnny Jump-up that Santa brought. He really gets going with it and it is great exercise for him!
Kendall loves to show him how to score baskets on the Little Tykes sports center we gave him for Christmas. He just sits and watches and then rolls around and plays with his bat.

Polar Express Day

The Monday before Christmas the kids and I spent the day at my parents house and then Scott and I took the girls on the North Pole Express train ride in Grapevine. During the day, the girls received an early Christmas present from my Mom- handmade Rapunzel dresses for their "My Twin" dolls! After putting the new dresses on their dolls, they had a tea party with them using my old china tea set. When they finished the tea party, Avery and Kendall helped my Mom make gingerbread men (and ladies). They looked so cute rolling and cutting out the dough in their little makeshift aprons that Mimi put on them. When it came time for the train ride, Judson stayed behind with Mimi and Poppi, but I'm sure we will be doing it again with him when he gets a little older. Prior to boarding the North Pole Express, we watched a little show put on by the conductor and 2 of the elves to get all of the kids pumped up and ready for the ride. The walkway leading out to the train was lined with Christmas trees and there was fake snow falling on us, which the girls really liked. Each train car had an elf who led Christmas carols, dancing, and let the kids come up to the front to tell what they wanted for Christmas during the ride. Our elf was quite the entertainer and tried to keep us laughing with jokes and some silly antics. Then there was a visit from Santa Claus, who patiently took pictures with each child or family and handed out bell necklaces to all the kids. Then Mrs. Claus joined Santa and took pictures with all the kids as well. It was a fun family activity that helped us all get into Christmas spirit!

Avery and Kendall with their My Twin dolls dressed in the new Rapunzel dresses

silly poses!

tea time

helping Mimi make gingerbread men

Mimi tied dish towels around them for makeshift aprons

story time with Mimi while I finished up some last minute Christmas shopping

Avery with her ticket for the North Pole Express

Kendall and Mommy

Kendall and Avery in their matching jammies. They had to wear rain boots instead of the matching slipper boots :(

Kendall telling the elf what she wanted for Christmas

Avery's turn to tell what she wanted

Santa Claus!

Mrs. Claus