Your daily dose of sugar :) Enjoy!

Annalyn is almost 5 months old!! I can't believe how fast this year has flown by! Our friend Tomi took her pictures at 3 months & yes I am just now getting them posted .... it's been a busy month. Anyway there are some really cute ones! She was so easy to take pics of! She just smiled the whole time even though she hadn't had a nap all morning. I love the ones with the red scarf & of her in her blessing dress. Thanks grandma for the dress & to all those that came to the blessing! It was such a special day for us. We love both are kidos & are so thankful for them. Hope you like the pics!
So I promised awhile back that I would post a recipe for bundt cake that I made at Bunco at my house. I am finally getting around to that...sorry for the wait :) Here it is:
Bundt Cake Recipe
1 package cake mix* (I used vanilla but you can use any kind you want)
1 package instant pudding*
1 cup sour cream
1/2 c vegetable oil
1/2 c milk
4 eggs
1/2 warm water
1 c chips (white chocolate or semi-sweet)
Blend all wet ingredients in a bowl then add the dry ingredients & mix for a minimum of 3 minutes (it helps make the cake fluffy). Add chocolate chips and mix well. Pour cake mix into well greased & lightly floured bundt pan. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Don't cook for more than 60 minutes. Cool cake in pan at least 1 hour.
* Some flavor suggestions - devils food cake & chocolate pudding / vanilla cake & cheesecake pudding / lemon cake & lemon pudding / Butter pecan cake & vanilla pudding.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 8 oz package cream cheese
1/4 c butter, softened
2 1/2 c powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1-2 Tbls heavy whipping cream (optional) - the more whipping cream you put in the more sugar you will need to make it thick. If not using whipping cream start out with only 2 c powdered sugar.
Don't frost cake until it is completely cooled or the frosting will melt :) sprinkle shaved chocolate all over for finishing touch. Enjoy!

Annalyn's first time eating cereal

These pics are backward in order but I can't seem to figure out how to switch them around :) Enjoy though!

My BIG Helper all clean and ready for the day!
Cleaning Up - thanks brother!
After Eating
During the Feeding
Before the feeding

So this morning I decided it was time to try out feeding Annie cereal. I know it sounds stupid but I have forgotten almost everything I did with Kurtis...like time lines & amounts to feed & development stage ect....
She did really great though for the first time & actually acted like she wanted more after about the first 10 bites. It was pretty funny. I keep looking at her like this little baby but she is defiantly not my little infant anymore. Kurtis wanted in on the action and kept her hand back from her mouth while I fed her (which was actually really helpful) every time I would go to put a bite in her mouth her hand would meet the spoon there.
I haven't blogged for so long that i keep feeling like I can't blog about a current event i.e. Annie eating for the first time...until I catch up on all the other stuff I haven't shared since February. Anyone else feel that way? This is not the case though so don't hold back because you feel bogged down on blogging :) Blake is taking the trailer out for the first time this year tonight for the weekend. Looks like me & the kids will be staying indoors with this December weather. YUCK is all I can say. Well here are the pics from this morning! Have a great weekend everyone.

Potty Training Days

Monday was Day 1 of ROUND 2 with potty training Kurtis and I would have to say it was has been a complete success!!!! YEAH!!!!!
I spent the majority of the morning in the bathroom with him which wasn't fun but thanks to my mom I didn't have to take care of annalyn so it was just Kurtis & I & the toilet :) I decided to go cold turkey this time straight to underwear (no nakedness or diaper because I don't want him to get used to being naked & the diaper was a crutch for him) he loves the underwear & after me helping him and urging him to go the first 3 or 4 times he started going in the bathroom himself to go (around noon) which made me literally cry I was so happy :) The rest of the day he went in on his own took off his undies, peed, wiped (? not sure why), flushed & had me help him wash hands. It was great! I even took a chance and put him down for his nap with just undies on and he made it!! 2 1/2 hours got up dry then I took him to the toilet he peed & I gave him a treat :) I did put a pull-up on him for bedtime because Blake wanted to but I am telling you if he wouldn't of cared I would have taken a chance on that too. The next day was a total success so last night he was begging to wear his undies to bed so we thought what the heck lets try it & he woke up this morning dry!
Speaking of Luck Annie has gone a full week with sleeping through the night. We feed her between 9 & 10 then put her down an hour after she eats & she sleeps till 6 or 7 we go in put the Binky in her mouth or bring her into our bed she falls back asleep and then I feed her at 9. I am thanking heavenly father everyday for that because I am so grateful & hope that it keeps up. :)

Birthdays, Babies & More!!!

So things have gotten to a new normal around here...I am just now realizing that the "normal" I was waiting for will never happen again because I now have 2 kids and not 1....anyway I have been dying to share that Annalyn (drum roll) slept through the night last night. I woke up this morning at 7:30 & felt totally rested & thought to myself now that weird & then light bulb...annie is still sleeping! It was an amazing feeling that lasted all of 30 seconds until the next feeling came - is she still breathing - why I had to ruin the moment with that I don't know. Obviously she was or I wouldn't be posting...but I am sure some of you know what I am talking about. So the moment of truth will come tomorrow morning if she decides to sleep 9 hours again.
I have been a slacker & really wanted to post some pics of Kurtis & how adorable he was at his birthday so I thought I'd sneak 1 in now. Blake made him mickey mouse pancakes on his actual birthday & put candles in them...he loved it and was so excited that it was his birthday! He LOVES candles & blowing them out so we had to relight them about 5 or 6 times and sing each time. At least he is no longer afraid of the birthday song.
Annie is getting so big & can now smile YAH! Whenever she is asleep on me Kurtis wants to join in so I frequently will have them both on me asleep. I love those moments. I actually had one today :)
I got another nephew this last weekend! Jenny had her baby, Kannin, & we are so excited! He is so tiny & has SOOOO much hair. We are so happy for her! It has been great to have her living close again. I am soooo looking forward to this weekend - VALENTINES - I can't wait to go out with my hubby on a Date with no children! Hope you all have a great Valentines!

Annalyn Mae

Avidson Family 2009

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Christmas with the new baby!

1st family pic at my mom's Christmas party...Kurtis & Annalyn got royally spoiled :)

Christmas Day - I got dressed!!!! Yeah!!! Annalyn looked so adorable in her Christmas dress, thanks Kazie!

Christmas Eve - Kurtis loves holding his baby sister & especially liked helping her open her presents...what a great Big brother!

Christmas Night at Blake's moms - we got all the boys to hold still (well except for stetson) for 5 seconds and take a group shot! Kurtis had so much fun playing with his uncles that day! Uncle Matt & Aunt Kirstin got Kurtis the bike below for his Christmas gift. He keeps asking to ride it but I am not one of those cool mom's that lets bikes in the house. Sorry sweetie have to wait till spring.

So Blake & I got home from the hospital on the 21st & I decided that even though Annalyn was only 1 week old & I was recovering from the c-section I did not want to stay home Christmas day so we went over to the grandparents for breakfast & then up to Blake's moms for the rest of the day..it turned out pretty good although by the end of the day I was literally in tears from pain & so very thankful that my in-laws offered to keep Kurtis that night :) My mom & dad were so great & came over Christmas Eve with my sister & her family. They made us dinner then watched Kurtis open up some Christmas PJ's & 1 toy :) It was such a great Christmas because we got to have Annalyn here to share it with us! We hope you all had a great Christmas too!