Daddy Zoo Date

Grandma Kisses

Grandma Laurie visited this week from Nor Cal - the first time she's seen Avery since she was only 1 mo old! We had sooo much fun baking cookies, splashing in rain puddles, learning new sign language, singing, and playing. Avery got to finally meet her Uncle Spencer too! Despite the storms, there was nothing but smiles in our house all week!

With Gma Laurie entertaining Avery all week, I was able to finish a commissioned puppy portrait that I've been working on for a dear friend in AZ. Bonus!

2009 Video!

Our year in review... basically a lot of Avery. :)

2009 from The McNeils on Vimeo.

A White Christmas

We spent the last week in Park City, Utah enjoying time with the Coe family for Christmas! So much fun...

Mid-slope hug.

Before I made him shave off Afghanistan!
We rode horse-drawn sleighs to the lodge for dinner!

Opa and the snow bunny.

Thanks Grandma Callantine for the snowsuit!

Dad taught Avery how to sled!

Opening gifts.

Uncle Casey reading Avery her new books.

Oma trying to avoid the sticky hands from A's first candy cane!

The Christmas Crew.

We also took lots of cute video, but you'll have to stay tuned for the annual McNeil video-card to see it!

Scary Santa

Avery's first picture with the man in red... classic!

Afghan Hike

Some new photos of Matt taken after hiking up a steep mountain near camp. Check out that facial hair!

Thankful

Thanksgiving with our CA family: Pettits & Baranowskis!

Bike ride around Lake Miramar: pre-turkey warmup.The cycle crew (minus Doug, who's taking the pic and Jacob, who's too busy throwing rocks in the lake!)The dinner roll diva.The knife-wielding manly man.The wine enthusiast.All hail the gravy queen.Avery's first turkey dinner. Liked the taters and bread... could care less about the bird."This guy cracks me up!"Jacob's bearded dragon, Darwin.Thanksgiving group kodak moment.

New Things

A smattering of new things:
Being a super-neat-freak, I have to continually chant the mantra "learning is messy, learning is messy" whilst Avery attempts the spoon.

Attempting the Spoon from The McNeils on Vimeo.

Clearly still working on placement...
... and portion control.

Got the bug a new seat for my bike. CA law requires helmets for all people under 18 on bikes... this was the smallest I could find and she's swimming in it! Had to put in additional padding and just look at that uuber-folded chin strap! Not exactly snug. Avery now smiles on cue... super cuteness. More photos of our bike adventures to come!

Just a really nice picture of when Oma was visiting. :)

She might be small, but this girl needed a new car seat! That infant seat was no longer fitting the bill. After WAY too much research we got this snazzy german-made ride. The smile was requested, so don't go thinking she likes being in the car any better!
Not yet 20 lbs, she still has to ride rear-facing, but this sits up higher and she likes being able to see out the back window.Last, but certainly not least, a handsome self-portrait of our warrior and the Afghan countryside. And yes, he's currently sporting a beard to fit in with the locals. :)

Painting Progression

This week my mom's been in town entertaining Avery - which has given me time to paint! This 3 x 4 ft piece was a commission and I'm stoked to finally have finished it! Here's how it progressed after each painting session...

Some pictures of my little helper. Climbing on easels is FUN!

Random Avery-ness

Making cookies with Oma (using her new sign for "hungry").

Cookies with Oma from The McNeils on Vimeo.

Check out my little helper - she even has the right back & forth technique! Only wish that toy actually had suction!

Little Helper from The McNeils on Vimeo.