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?

Snow for Days

The snow came, and stayed and fell some more.  We had a couple of at home snow days for Avery to play and explore and she really did enjoy it!!  It is a rarity that it snows "in the city" around here, and when it does, there is no reason to venture out because people don't know how to drive and the city is not really planned for snow for days.

Walking through the snow!

Playing at the park with Hailey

When you are a kid snow is pure joy!

Trick or Treat!

It was such a fun Halloween!  Our Berry Fairy was super excited for all of the festivities, from dressing up at school for a parade, to visiting stations where mama and daddy work to actual Halloween Trick or Treating hosted by the Johnson Family!  Thank you again for a lovely time, I will let the pictures speak for themselves!

Ready for the School Parade

With her pumpkin

Smiles from a beautiful fairy!

Pretty smiles from pretty girls!

On her way and on her own

Avery, Caelin & Charlie

Trick or Treat at our hosts!