I'm all set up at the kitchen table, ready to upload some pictures.  Audrey is doing art next to me, and she keeps doing such cute things I have to pause a moment to blog them for memory's sake.  She is 20 months.

-"Mommy.  Mah-kers. Daw." (markers, draw)

-"Mommy.  A. D. R. E. Y.  Mah-kers."  (She wants me to write her name.) "K. A. T. N."  (Katelyn.)  "L. O. T. E."  (I finally figure out this means love.  How on earth can my child spell these words?  Oh yeah, she heard me recite these letter patterns a hundred times to Katelyn, when she was making Christmas cards.  WOW.)

-"Mommy.  Ah-oh.  Woh go doo?" (She has dropped the markers.  "uh-oh, what are we doing to do?" Drama already.)

-"Mommy.  Ah duh.  Peas?"  (All done, please?)

-"I goh Mommy shoes!"

She has taken a HUGE leap forward in her speech in the past week.  I remember this stage with Kate and even though I knew it was coming I was shocked at how suddenly one day Audrey woke up and was able to articulate her thoughts.  That morning her Nana asked her, "Do you want some chocolate milk?" and Audrey replied, "No, I want juice!"  Just like that.  The morning before, when asked the same question, she signed and said "juice."

Now she's singing Happy Birthday.  I love it when she sings.  Oh this is cute.  "Hah Burfday you, hah burfday you, hah burfday dee PAAAA-CEEEEE, hah burfday you!!  Yay!"

No pictures yet, but today Paul and I bought each other/ourselves our Christmas presents.  One of them was planned, the other was not.  Can you guess which is which?  (Bet you can.)

1.  The Xterra got 4 new tires, timing belt, seatbelt latch, new spark plugs and wires, gaskets, and other gizmos galore.  Seriously, it runs like a brand new car.  We're ready to take on I-35 and some Oklahoma snow (c'mon, snow!!)

2.  We got a new couch and recliner for the gameroom!  Paul is headed to La-Z-Boy in a few minutes to sign the papers and schedule the delivery.  We are really looking forward to actually being comfortable while watching tv.  The green couches, God bless 'em, lasted 10 years, but they weren't much to begin with.  We got them at the Room Store, they were the nicest we could afford at the time.  In the last couple of years they have declined to the point that when you sit down there is a thud as your bottom hits the wooden frame.  We switched out the loveseat to be directly in front of the tv (although this looks funny) because it had more padding left in it.  The loveseat is going to find a new home in Paul's office as soon as he gets it cleared out (he's pretty motivated now, with the new couch coming).  The old couch is going to find a new home via Goodwill or Salvation Army.

So anyways, a not-glamorous-but-very-expensive Christmas, and we are thrilled and thankful.

BTW I have to add that the children were spectacularly well-behaved at the furniture store, which must be absolute torturous boredom for a child.  Especially Audrey, who has another ear infection.

I took these pictures about a week ago.  I decided to take pictures of the typical michievous things Audrey does over the course of the day.  So here are a few.  I am sure some went undocumented.

1.  Breakfast.  I went to the bathroom and returned to find this.  Guess that box of cereal was in reach after all.

2.  Lunch.  That's ketchup.

3.  Art time.  Pirate-style pencil chewing.

4.  I went to the bathroom again and returned to find this.  That's crayon on the windowsill, not nearly as much as usual.  All I can say is that Magic Eraser is truly magic and we buy a lot of them.

5.  Audrey's new phobia is Chuck E. Cheese, and she spots him on these birthday balloons.  (I can't believe these balloons have lasted so long, and I don't mean helium loss.  See #6.)

6.  Audrey attempts to stab Chuck E. to death.  Should I be concerned?  Anyone know a good child psychologist?

7.  Work it out with a little boogie.  Mommy threw the balloons away.

8.  Chore time:  Polishing the glass with my slippers.

9.  Helping with the laundry:  checking the spaciousness of our hampers.

10.  Errand time:  she is "right-ready" as we say in my family.  This is why I keep the door locked.

11.  The second we get in the car, EVERY TIME WE GET IN THE CAR, Audrey takes off her socks and shoes.  No exceptions.  She doesn't even care if it is 40 degrees out like it was on this day.  Usually she uses a sock as a puppet for at least part of the trip.

12.  A little Blues Clues time.  Mommy was able to successfully go to the bathroom and return to a peaceful scene.

13.  Must be dinner time, she is climbing into the chair.  Usually the climbing starts around 5:00 and we don't usually eat until 6:00.  So there is always some battling with Mommy.

She sure keeps me busy!

Speaking of busy, I haven't blogged much because I have been extremely busy making stuff, much of which I can't post about, because it is secret in nature.  So just bear with me.  I'll add in some holiday pictures of the kids' Christmas programs and their holiday parties all at the same time.  Their last day of school for the year is Tuesday, and I have a slew of gifts and foody things to make before then.  Crystal and I got smart and decided to do our holiday baking together this year since we make all of the same recipes anyways, so we are doing that tomorrow.

When we were leaving school today, Katelyn took the initiative to hold the door open for several people to pass through.

Mommy:  Katelyn, that was very helpful!  Thank you so much.

Katelyn: Well, Mommy, I'm a super helper.  (assumes a superhero stance, complete with fist pump)  That's what THIS Hooper girl is all about!