Character Breakfast 2012

I remember seeing pictures of friends' kids with Mickey and other characters at the Mint Restaurant breakfast last year and telling myself we were NOT going to miss that this year!  Bruce and I grabbed tickets as soon as they became available.  Somebody else was excited about it too!

"I can't believe it - it's really him!"

Of course those big bubbly masks and white gloves can be a little scary and overwhelming... so she wanted Mommy to walk with her.

Like a big girl she walked almost within arm's reach...... and then freaked out.

After getting inside and eating a little breakfast, the characters made their way from table to table.  We tried to snap a picture in-between but somebody was a little over-excited...

Silas was fairly quiet throughout the ordeal, but he did warm up to the idea eventually...

We didn't know who this princess was......  neither did Avery.

We were all four exhausted after an hour of fun.  Boy do we have some practice to do for stamina on our first trip to see the 'real' characters!  (probably not for another few years)

Afternoon at the Park

While Grace and Micajah were in Fairhope, AL, Mimi and Papaw stayed in Jackson all weekend to keep Eleanor.  On Saturday afternoon, we met them at the park for some play time.  A wonderful time was had by all!

Lounging Around

Now this is what I call a relaxing snack break:

Taking Baby for a ride on her horse:

Just perusing through the Sunday paper.  (her favorite section)

One of Avery's new things is to change Baby's diaper.  Actually, she likes to take it off and put it back on, take it off and put it back on, and so on.  She even gets the baby powder to sprinkle on...

"It just tastes better when we feed each other!"

After spending 3 days turning the house upside down looking for the beloved pacifiers (including a trip to the church nursery to ask if we left a few there...), it turns out that the pacis were right where Silas put them all along.  (There were 13. In case you wonder).

Silas' crib is right by the window in the nursery and he loves to wake up and open the blinds. And apparently deposit his paci.  

A little bedtime music.

Gotta hand it to them - what creativity. 

Haircuts...

Our first pseudo-haircut (a.k.a. bang trim) from a few months ago just wasn't enough for these ragamuffins.  We finally made the trip to the barber shop for their first 'real' haircut.  Little Miss Avery sat and stared at herself in the mirror with the cape on, smiling at her pamperer...  (this is my child that grabs the lotion after her bath and lies down on the floor saying "Spa!" "Spa!" so I will rub her down.  She's hysterical as she says "Ahhh" during her massage.  But I digress).  

Silas did great too - but was a little more unsure about the big chair and girl with scissors...

"Don't cut off all my curls!"

Aside:   I was worried Silas' hair wouldn't be curly anymore after we cut it... oh no.  they've multiplied.  I could just eat them up!  :-)  

Afternoon in the Park

We Warfs have been taking advantage of this absolutely beautiful weather lately!  We headed out Saturday afternoon for a little play time at the park - Silas and Avery had a blast!  

"Higher, Mommy!"

Miss Avery was her usual self. In charge.

"Ok Silas, you may go over there to play now."

"Can't find me?!"

Silas took his turn to drive the bus too...

A slide built for two!

Check up

Had my first 90-day 'check up' this week in Houston which consisted of bloodwork, chest X-ray, and skin checks. Praise God... all looked good according to Dr Ross and Dr Kim!  Blood counts were a little low, but that is to be expected on interferon. In 3 months, I'll return for CTs and more skin checks, and Dr Young wants to do a PET scan in April, which is fine with me. The more pictures, the better, right?

February 2012

Oh boy, the Warf household has been WILD lately!  Silas and Avery continue to wake up each day with a new sense of humor... they are hilarious. I have no idea where they get some of the things they do!  I've been a little tardy updating the blog with new pictures - mostly because of these two cute busy, busy, busy toddlers.  I wouldn't have it any other way (big smile!). 

Santa brought Silas and Avery a little piano and they both love playing on it.  It's too funny:  they somehow conjured up the idea to use Mommy's mixing bowls as a stool...

Note:  when visiting the Warf house, you might want to bring ear muffs (or plugs).  

And yes, they play AND sing.

Silas still loves to get Mommy's pots and pans and cook:

And eat....  Chocolate, in particular. 

This boy is his father's child.  Can't get enough chocolate!

Sorry, you'll have to bring your own Valentine's cupcakes. We ate them all.

Every night as we're getting ready for bed, Silas and Avery enjoy their cup of milk then brush their teeth... and brush the puppets teeth, brush Baby's teeth... everybody must have sparkly whites before bedtime.

Brush, brush, brush Baby!

As soon as Silas and Avery go to bed, I go to bed too!  (Hence no blog updates for a few weeks)  The interferon shots are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights right before I go to sleep.  We've finished week 4... so 44 weeks left to go.  Some days are better than others (physically as well as emotionally), and I'm learning what works best to alleviate the headaches and body aches... and I sleep more hours than Avery does.  Ha!  All in all, I may not feel great, but it's much better than some people said it'd be!  Bruce and I head back out to Houston this Thursday for the first 90-day 'check-up'...the first of many, we pray, that prove God's complete healing in my life.  

In the meantime, we trust in the bigger Plan.  

I mustn't forget our precious cousin, Elle.  She is almost six months old and Silas and Avery absolutely adore her!  Eleanor is such a great sport and seems to have such a laid-back, easy-going personality... which is a good thing when Avery insists on brushing her teeth/gums and Silas gives big sweet hugs:

Another fun picture of this smiley gal... she's usually always happy.  A lesson we all could stand to learn from Miss Avery.  Sing with me now... 

Whenever I see your smiling face

I have to smile myself

Because I love you

Dance Party

Koonce-Gore Christmas

A new tradition was begun yesterday, January 21 at our house:  Christmas with the Koonces!  Since the Christmas holidays are so rushed and with our 'real' jobs, children (multiplying each year!), deer season... we decided to wait until January to have our "Gore" Christmas.  Brilliant idea if I must say so myself:-)  We all met at our house Saturday afternoon (after the morning hunt...) and, like always, had a grand time.  

Here is Avery helping Elle show off her new rolling skills.

"Here, let me show you couz!"

We ordered pizza and had salad and delicious brownies (thanks, Abbie!) and let the babies entertain us... and sometimes we entertained them:  

Aunt Kelly, you're funny!  

We are so excited that our families will be growing again... Kelly and Talty are expecting in July!!  Congratulations y'all.  You'll be awesome parents!!

Meanwhile, Caleb (a.k.a. baby whisperer) confidently handled the dynamic duo with poise and charisma as they laughed and played.  Note that he was also performing some fancy footwork while Millie was begging him to throw the tennis ball for her (which he somehow found another hand to do... amazing!).  

Although the decibel level in our house was well over the safe limit for a good couple of hours, these two found time to discuss current events. 

We may be a motley crew, but we sure have a good time!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Interferon and Other Updates

Twenty IV interferon daily infusions:  check.
After each treatment, I'd come home and crash. The best part - Silas and Avery cuddle time before all three of us hit the sack:

I start the 3 x wk injections that I can give myself on Monday. These will go on for 48 weeks. We head back out to Houston February 23 for check-ups... 

Silas and Avery are doing great - 16 months old and think they rule the house (I'm not telling them that they're probably right:-).  These two are hilarious... just last night, they ran around and around and around the kitchen island for at least 30 minutes laughing at each other!  Don't let them fool you, they fight too... and hug and absolutely adore each other. Too sweet.

Here are some recent pictures.

Happy girl

Happy boy as long as he has food in his mouth and in his hand...

All smiles after Sunday naps

Um... I think we got him  (tackled Daddy with the camera, that is)

And finally, it's basketball season at the Warf household.  This means several things:  1. UK basketball.. which Bruce cannot watch unless he is standing up and standing up with his face three feet from the TV screen.  There is always yelling, jumping, and other animations involved.  2. Upward basketball... every Saturday in January and February. So far, everything is going really well.  Here's to another great season with Christ being shared to many, many kids and families!   3. Silas and Avery's first real exposure to the big bouncy ball - which they love!  This picture makes his Daddy smile from ear to ear: