A little walk through our neighborhood

The weather has been gorgeous!  Between unpacking and getting stuff for the house, we haven't been able to be outside to enjoy it.  This afternoon, Avery and I took a brisk cold walk around our new neighborhood!

Heading out for her first new neighborhood bike ride.  More to come.

One of the two neighborhood parks.  This one is a little closer to our house and has a basketball court.

Gorgeous sun on my gorgeous girl!




Creating snow tracks.


 Avery complained at first that we went all the way around.  Basically part of the neighborhood creates one big circle and we are at the back of that.  There are over 20 acres of wetlands and protected areas, so it feels quiet and there is a lot that we have to look forward to as far as nature and how this space transpires over the next few seasons.

Happy New Year - Happy New Home!

There is so much to update on, but we've been a little busy!  We moved into our new home on December 30, and for sure have a ways to go on unpacking boxes. 

Here is a picture of our new home, we are thrilled and so happy that this is where we will now call home.  It has been a while in the making looking for a new space and then everything just came together.  There are several more homes in our community still to be built, and when Avery goes to school in 1.5 (gasp!!) years, she will have a short two block walk to be at school!

At the start of 2011, one of the things I want to do is document our every day, every moment.  Not literally, but in one pic.  I will be posting (trying my best) one picture per day on the blog Every Day Your Way.  We have the chance every day to make it our day, our best day, our best moments.  So often people, including us are "so busy" but can't always share what they've been doing.  Most often it is the little things and time with family and friends that are the most important and are done your way.  So, take a moment to visit my new blog, no words, no explanations, just pictures of our days, our ways.

Happy 2011 to all of you and may it be the best yet!

Christmas Celebrations

As we were a week away from moving near Christmas this year, we were welcomed to "Valerie in-law's" home for a lovely Christmas Eve dinner.  Having a big house full of people always make the holidays seem more like the holidays for some reason!  



A rare good pic of just Chris and I.



Family Christmas Pic 2010

Auntie Amy's famous deviled eggs, Avery not so sure.



Taste Test




Ballard Family (plus A): Corbin 4, Amy, Ethan 2, Caelan 6, Phil, Avery 3


Everyone was way too generous with Avery, clearing out much of her Amazon Wish list, but she had a lovely time and so did we!!

A chef in the making

Chef Avery was busy in the kitchen today! She helped Daddy with Chicken Bean soup, made Pumpkin Muffins almost all by herself, except for reading the measurements and using the stove, and topped it off with crescent rolls filled with cheese and salami!  YUM! 

Snowflake Lane

What is better then getting candy from a real life toy soldier as you wait for Santa's arrival?  This has become our day after Thanksgiving tradition.  This year it rained and was really, really cold, but Avery had fun all the same!

Sometimes you have to go back to being a Kid

Thanksgiving is full of fun, traditions, family and food.  So, what better thing to do then introduce our kiddos to the silly fun of putting olives on your fingers?  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and it is a true reminder of everything we have to be thankful for!

Kiddos getting ready for this (adult) silliness!

Who do we think liked this the most?  Uh, Phil?