Thanksgiving Means...

Some people think of turkey and pie when they think of Thanksgiving. I forgot to eat real food this holiday, so turkey isn't really what Thanksgiving means to me. To me, Thanksgiving means...

*SUGAR RUSH! I had desserts, desserts, and more desserts! Yum!
*Being spoiled with love, attention, and sugar by my Mimi, Nanny and Nana.
*No sleep! (Maybe because of the sugar?)
*Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Grandparents! Family is bliss!
*Playing during an Aggie game and getting caught up in the excitement.
*Christmas decorating. I keep asking if I can open my presents now. A month's wait is too much!

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES!

Love,
Avery Sugar McClinton

Houston, We Have A Climber!

Dear Mommy,

Please stop calling me "the baby". I am 13 months old. I climb all over everything. I walk, I play 'big girl' games, I feed myself, I even know how to escape from hotel rooms. I am trying everything I can to show you that I am not a baby anymore. I've even started using my words! ("Mama", "Da", "Bebe", "Whoowhoo" for my lovey and even "A-Bree"!) So, please, opt for one of my many other nicknames, but just not 'the baby' anymore!

And while I have your attention, no other lovey will do. It's the puppy lovey or it's screaming. And yes, I know a difference, even in the dark. And when we used to play the hot and cold game with my pacis where I would hide them and then scream until you found them, I never thought you'd just stop looking. I'd like them back, please. I don't like going to sleep without them!

I'm glad we've cleared everything up.

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF KATIE'S TO DO LIST

Love,

Katie (NOT "the baby") Beth

Elegant Weekend

Fancy Nancy went to a posh hotel once (in Bonjour, Butterfly). She said that going to a fancy hotel is extraordinary.

You know something? Fancy Nancy is right! Nana and Mommy went to a Women of Faith conference this weekend, and DD, Daddy, Kate and I joined them downtown for some fun. We stayed at a posh hotel with glass elevators that went all the way up to the 30th floor! I also loved the chandeliers ("Mommy, those chandeliers look like jewelry."), the fancy soaps in our rooms, and the escalators in the lobby. I was living the high life!

While Nana and Mommy were busy during the day, DD and Daddy took us to Disney on Ice. I loved every part of it. I even told DD that this one was better than the last!

It was 'quite elegant' like my good pal Fancy Nancy says.

Thanks, Nana and DD, for my elegant weekend!

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES FROM THE WEEKEND

And check out what Katie learned to do:

Love,

Avery Fancy Nancy McClinton

Pirate Party!

I threw a party for my Daddy's 30th birthday. Turning 30 is big stuff, so I planned a very special party for him. At first, I thought I would do a princess theme for him, but once Mommy reminded me that he is a boy, I changed it to a pirate party. I've been working on it and looking forward to it all week, and when my guests started to arrive, I was beside myself with excitement.

We had so much fun! We played Pin The Treasure On The Map and had a pinata! We also ate a pirate cake (Mommy made it but I picked out what it should look like), and I got to decorate cupcakes with special toppers I chose all by myself.

It was such a special night to celebrate a special man! I love you, Pirate Daddy!

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES FROM THE PIRATE PARTY

Love, Pirate Avery

It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To...

I've witnessed parties before. In fact, as a guest, I quite like them. There's food, friends, and cake! But when my first birthday party came, I wasn't so sure I liked being the guest of honor.

All these people kept looking at me and talking to me and I was just sleepy, sleepy, sleepy. And grumpy. After I had some birthday food, I was ready to at least look around at all of my friends and all of the fun: riding toys, a slide, a tunnel DD built for me... I have to admit, it was pretty fun!

One thing no one told me, though, is that I'd have to sit in my high chair all by myself while everyone looked at me and sang. At first, I was embarrassed, then I was sad. But when I realized, finally, that the cake was all mine and the singing had stopped, WOW! All that sugary goodness just for me?!? And no one to stop me??? This party thing isn't such a bad idea after all! (As a side note, while everyone was singing to me and I was trying to fade into my high chair, Sister was busy sticking her muddy feet on the table, dancing around, and otherwise begging for the attention to be transferred to her.)

Something I completely understand is the present opening. I loved tearing into the gifts and hugged my new babies, read my new books, open and closed my singing cards, and squealed with delight over each and every toy.

I especially liked clean up time. I seemed to come to life when everyone went home and Mommy and Daddy were busy cleaning up. Mommy says when I get old enough to say no to parties, she'll listen. Until then, we'll keep celebrating Mommy-style.

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES from the party and Halloween celebrations

(Sister "helped" Mommy on the computer this morning and when Mommy reclaimed the screen, a few favorite pics had been deleted into the nothingness of cyberspace. She'll try to find them before next week, but for now, these are the ones that survived.:))

Love,

Kate "Is It Over Yet?" McClinton