Last Days of 2011

Tonight we watched the ball drop in NYC as a family, grateful that it happens at 9pm for us so we can go to bed (ha ha ha)! With only a few hours left in 2011 for California, thought I'd post a couple photos of our last few days this year. We have spent the past week very focused on spending quality time with Avery before she graduates to "big sister" status. She is as eager as any of us to meet her brother, but certainly the least cognizant of how much it will change the only-child world she's enjoyed these past 3 years.

Baking Mommy's favorite cookies - peanut butter blossoms! Wish I could say some of the 2 dozen made it to 2012, but alas... they barely lasted 24 hours.

Avery's first professional pedicure. What a sweet treat to go on a pampering mother/daughter date.

Our big Christmas gift to Avery this year was a pedal bike (purple, of course). She has done so well on her balance bike that I think only a few more months of pedal practice with the training wheels on and she might be ready for the real deal. 

For all it lacks in Christmas snow, I could never honestly say I don't love winter in San Diego. Where else are you barefoot swinging at the park on Dec 31st?!

2011 was a great year for us.

Highlights include:
* Traveling to Ohio, Italy, Guam, Nor Cal, Arizona, Michigan
* Friends and family visiting San Diego - Oma/Opa, Grandpa Mark, Uncle Casey, Uncle Spencer, the McGaheys, Gigi Ravenscroft, Grandma Laurie, the Streits, & the Gaines family.
* Matt being home for all our birthdays and major holidays
* Celebrating 9 years of marriage!
* The growth of Custom Climbers
* A fully potty trained kiddo
* Learning we'd be expanding our family by one baby boy (& a healthy pregnancy)
* Quality family time: tent camping, at the beach, Houghton Lake, sailing San Diego bay, Disneyland, Sea World & the Zoo.
* Matt's many successes at work and recognition of his talents in new 2012 opportunities.
* Avery's swim lessons - going from refusing to get her face wet to an absolute fish!