Family History!

The above picture was taken in 1984/1985 I was probably a year to a year a half old. Cute huh? Well those bibs that I am wearing were given to me by my Aunt Sandy. She bought them at a yard sale. Aunt Sandy is no longer with us but I think of her often. She was a special person, always with a smile on her face and she shared a birthday with my younger sister and cousin. And like my mamaw, when she hugged you, you could smell her scent on you for hours afterward.

Well this past Christmas, just a week ago, my Aunt Amy stated she had a gift for me. I was very surprised because I am not in the drawing for gifts and didnt expect anything. She handed me the box which I unwrapped and there they were. Those bibs. She explained to me that every grandchild in the family, 13 of us, had worn these bibs and she saved them for me for MY CHILD. I was the first one to wear them and she wanted to make sure my baby got to wear them. I could have cried, but there was way to many people around for that.

So on New Years Eve, a day that I had off and could see my baby girl in those bibs all day long, I put them on her. They fit perfectly!! She looked so cute in them. I dont think I can express in words how special this is to me but it is and I am without words. My daughter is wearing a piece of clothing that I have worn. She looks just as cute too huh?

Mom's Christmas

Mom went OVERBOARD!!!! She bought sooo much I just dont know where to put it all. But she loved seeing Ava's face opening the gifts. We ate way tooo much and had a lot of good laughs.


(Mom and Robbie)

(My Wonderful Little Family)

(My sisters, Ashley and Jessica)

(RJ, Emily and Jess)

Emily adn Ava sitting at the Dora table mom got them. They had a good time.

Christmas isnt complete without a BOW on the head

AND with my child, the day isnt complete until there is a bump or a bruise!

Christmas Morning

Our Christmas was quiet this year. Ava is still not old enough to realize what is going on but I was super excited for it all. I was up early, due to my normal schedule, sleeping in as become non existant. Ava and Kenny though slept in until after 7 which I know made Kenny happy.


She went into the living room and saw her kitchen but wasnt too sure about it. I had to walk her over to it and show it all to her. Once she warmed up to it, she played with it most of the day. She seemed really happy. She grinned from ear to ear all morning.




After playing with her toys a little bit, we all got ready for the day and went to Aunt Vicki's for breakfast with Kenny's side of the family. It was a lot of fun. Ava got to play with Blake and see her grandma, Becky, and Aunt Lucy. However Ava didnt get a nap at all in the morning so when we got home a little before lunch time, she crashed within 10 minutes of being home.



Santa left Ava her two favorite snacks in her stocking: Cheese Its and Gold Fish Crackers. She snacked all day while playing with her toys.

Back to her kitchen....

Mamaw's Christmas

After Dad's wonderful Christmas, we headed down Mamaw's to celebrate with Dad's sisters and their families. Mamaw had a really good time seeing her kids and all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.


Emily helped everyone open their gifts. She helped Dad and Mamaw to make sure they knew what they were doing. She kept them on pace to get all the gifts open quickly so she could see what they got.

Ava opened her gift from our cousin Wolfgang and went right into the living room, found a chair and began to read. She loves that book! I hope she continues to love to read.

Dad's Christmas

So Christmas Eve, we headed down to Harpers Ferry to celebrate Christmas with the Kidwiler side of our huge and divorced family. Dad didnt go overboard with the grandkids but he did just enough to make the day a huge success in the eyes of Emily and Ava.

Ava had lots of fun playing with her Aunts while Emily played tea party forever with Dad. She got really excited when Grandpa suggested they use real 'tea' instead of just water. Who knew you can use real tea to have a tea party?! She was excited.

Ava has the whole unwrapping of the gifts down. She knew exactly what to do and helped with everything. She got a little side tracked with the amount of candy and donuts but got refocused with the gift was for her.

My Birthday!

So on this day last year I decided to start blogging. I have been pretty regular at it and happy to be doing it. One day I like to think Ava will look this page up and read all my random thoughts and see how much I loved her through words also. This past year has been amazing. So much as changed yet so much as stayed the same. We are preparing for Christmas. A fun one it will be this year with our bouncing toddler.

My birthday this year has been very special, as it has every year. Kenny took me to dinner this past Saturday, he again is working this year on my birthday. We spent an evening together talking about our little girl while she spent the evening with her Nanny (my mom). My present was also my anniversary gift so I have had it for a couple months months now. A new digital camera so I can take a million pictures of my baby girl.

A hug from her this morning made my day. I cant wait to pick her up and get another hug.

My friends and family have already made this day special just by remembering and wishing me a happy birthday. I was greeted at work by a decorated cube and signing from friends.

I have always tried to make my birthday a big deal, look at what I am up against, Christmas is 4 days away! LOL. But everyone has always make it special and let it be MY DAY!

So Happy Birthday to Me!

A new baby....

Yes that is right, I am going to be an Aunt again! I do not have any words to describe the feeling. My sister in law, Erika, is expecting this spring. I am overjoyed at the fact that I will have another baby to spoil.

Erika and I have a relationship that some families want or some families could careless about. We are sister in laws that treat each other as we were blood sisters. If she needed anything she knows all she has to do is call and YES I WILL ANSWER! She is younger than my middle sister but older than my baby sister so she is right there in the age group of our family.

When I met Erika she was shy and didnt say much. I met her at Thanksgiving at Kenny's moms house. I have never been quiet so I spoke with the family like I had known them for years and gave a big good bye and told them I would see them at Christmas.

It wasnt until the following Summer, that she and I got to spend some time together. We went to the beach with the boys father and step mother. We spent the whole week surrounded by each other. One evening we went out on the deck and talked until 3 am about the boys and issues and what we want out of life. There we became best friends. I think in that little bit of time we made up our minds that we would be friends and date brothers. I am thankful for it.

Now she is having a baby. I look at her as a little sister and it is unbelievable to me that she is even old enough to have a baby! That she is a grown woman, married, and now will become a mother. I looked at my sister Jess the same way when she told me she would be having my niece, Emily.

I know she will be a great mother. I have tried not to do the annoying 'I did this or I did it this way' but that is really hard when you have gone through the experience. I just want her to be prepared, as prepared as any new mother can be. She is getting the most precious gift any person can get, she and her husband will become parents and open their hearts to a little person. Loving a child is something special, it doesnt need to be learned, it comes naturally and it takes over your whole heart.

Her life is about to change in so many different ways. It will be exciting to watch her get her rythm and routine. She knows we all will be there to help her when she is challenged and tired. I cannot wait to hold her child in my arms and know that I will get to love this child for the rest of my life, as an Aunt!