Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Trick or Treat!

 Our little Flower
 Looking at the doggies outside

 She didn't mind the costume and just played and explored like normal
 even flowers need a snack break... yummy!

 Ready for dinner
 Monie had such beautiful pumpkin arrangements on her porch

Saturday, October 30, 2010

What I've been up to...

 FELT!  I have been busy busy cutting sewing and stuffing felt to make a felt card table playhouse for my favorite fifteen month old. Claribel played with it for a few minutes before nap time and I know she will have tons of fun in there...  So, here we go... picture time!
 Front Door(flap that lifts up) with an open close sign and mailbox that opens and has a pocket on the inside for mail to drop into
  Ice Cream Shop-  I still have novelties to finish that will stick to the velcro (banana split, ice cream sundae, ice cream cones, ice cream sandwiches, and popsicles)  There is also velcro on the table on either side of the flower for the ice cream to stick to.
 Mail Center- I am working on making letters (I have two each of the colors on the black pockets for sorting).  The brown package on the table is a peek-a-boo flap and under the table is a "doggie door" with a large mail pouch for unsorted mail.  I have a sorter that will be really excited once I am done with the mail.
The Garden- there are two corn in a husk that fit into pockets on the corn stalk (one is shown), 4 pockets in the "soil" for some beets, carrots, and maybe some onions that she can pick, strawberry bush with removable (velcro) flowers and strawberries, the other half of the tree that wraps around by the front door with two little red birdies that can come out of the nest.  I was going to add some fruit to the tree, but kind of forgot about that... I guess I could add it by hand later.
Inside of the house (view from the front door): fireplace, clear frame for a 5x7 photo, vase with flower, curtain over the window at the ice cream shop, table with tablecloth and goldfish bowl with removable stuffed goldfish.  The goldfish bowl ended up being one of my favorite things :)
Three pockets for whatever she wants to put in there and curtains for the window on the garden side

I definitely DID NOT come up with this idea on my own...  I really liked the house I found at http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/search/label/felt%20playhouse (for Christmas, Ray and I are going to make a DIY play kitchen- also a project on her blog)
I also got inspiration and ideas from MissPrettyPretty's shop on Etsy

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

New Mexico

After we left RMNP on Wednesday am, we dropped off the rental car at the airport and made the long trek in the RV down to the Lavin's Cabin in the mountains in NM.  I don't think there could have been a better last minute family vacation.  We were able to spend 3 nights hanging out and it was great!  Not to mention, of course, Ray, Claribel and I were able to finally kiss that little Lizette's head!  What a sweet, adorable little darling they have.  It is so hard to live so far away...  Hopefully one day we will live closer together again...
Ray, Tucker and Dad went fly-fishing one day and the rest we just hung out and enjoyed the wonderful mountain air on the awesome porch!
Rebecca said she was pretty sure Lizette had smiled at her,
all I have to say is that she smiled at her Aunt Melissa!
Claribel enjoyed wearing some warmer clothes and exploring a new place...
and of course meeting her new cousin! 
Although she wasn't quite sure about her mama holding another baby at first :)
Auntie Allison also squeezed in some snuggle time- good thing Lizette loves to be held...
Finally, the first of many Petty cousin photo shoots... very fun!


The visit went by really fast, and it was hard to kiss that sweet L's head and breathe in that new baby smell one last time before we see them at Thanksgiving.  WAY TOO LONG in baby time! 

Rocky Mountain National Park

All of the Pettys and Don and Monie were supposed to go to Destin, but with the unknown of the oil spill, that trip was delayed until next year.  Ray and I desperately needed a break from work and Texas heat so we headed to the Rockies!  We flew into Denver and rented a car to drive to Estes Park where we stayed in a pretty rustic cabin just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park.  My mom and dad bought an RV this summer and were staying at a campground in the park.  Sleeping was a bit of a challenge in our one room cabin, but we adjusted ok and Claribel was a champ as always! 
We had a great first vacation as a family of 3.
We went on a nice one walk one evening before we headed back to our cabin.  It was a rough ride for the Bob, but Claribel didn't seem to mind and took a nice little nap.

Ray was able to practice his fly-fishing skills with dad
our last afternoon we drove the long way out of the park to the north entry and took pictures at each pull off spot as Claribel napped in the back seat.  BEAUTIFUL... what a mighty Creator we have!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Double Happy!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Aunt Rachael and Popsi!
Happy Birthday to you!


We hope you both have FABULOUS days!
lovelove,
Ray, Melissa, and Claribel

Monday, July 12, 2010

Happy First Birthday Claribel!



Thursday, June 24, 2010

Happy Birthday Monie!

Happy Birthday to one of my favorite people!


I am looking all over to find you and give you a hug and kiss!
Where are you?  I miss you!  Hope you have a bright sun-shiny day!

Friday, June 18, 2010

Happy BD and DD!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Allison,
Happy Birthday to you!

We hope you have a great day and good trip!

ALSO...  
Happy due date to RebeccaWe hope to meet that little Lizette VERY SOON!!!

We love you both very much!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Rebecca's Baby Shower

Well, it is about time for that little Lavin baby to arrive and I thought I would share some pics from Rebecca's baby shower (a few months late). Sorry about the mixup getting the pics to you Rebecca, I should have done this a long time ago!
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Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Playing with Picasa...

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Finally took a little bit of time to play with Picasa a bit- you are right, Kelli, pretty easy.  I still have lots to learn, but this collage tool is definitely the way to post more than one pic!

Pool Day

We tried to take our first trip to the pool this past Sunday... we got all swim diapered, coconut sunscreened, blue hatted, and swim-suited up. We made it almost to the pool and heard thunder and the lifeguard whistle... So we went again yesterday and and had a great time!
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Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Hands Pattering

Claribel is crawling really well these days. You can hear her hands pattering down the hall. This is the warning I get when I'm in my office and Lil'Bel is coming to chew on my papers. Interestingly enough, one of the things she likes the most in here are the spec books for my projects (probably one of the only people in the world who wants to look at one).

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Tearing up Laughs!

for some reason, cbel thought this paper tearing was the funniest thing! candice and melissa really had her going. our favorite is when she throws her head back.

That's My Girl!

cbel has already shown us that she has a sense of rhythm by tapping to music once or twice, but this is the best! i'm not very creative when i need her attention, so i do what any drum enthusiast would do and start tapping. can you guess what she did?