24 Things for my 24th Birthday

For my 24th birthday, I thought I would treat you all with 24 things you may or may not.. and possibly don't care to know about me. Enjoy!

1. I am a twin! Happy Birthday Dev! No we are not identical. You would be surprised how many people have asked us. My Mom use to say 'everything but the parts'.

I love being a twin and we have always been really close and great friends. He's only ever yelled at me once in our entire lives. (July 09) and it was the worst day ever!

2. I have a bedtime ritual. I go around the house & close all the blinds (they must be facing all the same way) and make sure all the doors are locked. Once in bed, I have to roll 3 times; right, left, right before falling asleep.

3. I worry every second of every day & then some.

4. I really like to clean & organize. I love vacuum lines & my favorite cleaning tool is my new Shark Steam & Mop. Everything must have a place or its considered junk and has to go.

5. Lake Powell is my favorite place to be.

6. I am a people pleaser. I hate that about myself.

7. I still wear my lime green, glow-in-the-dark retainer every night. I've had it since the 8th grade. Gross I know!

8. Growing up I wanted to be a dentist; I made it as far as a dental assistant. Matt is finishing up the rest for me.

9. I am a huge list maker. I always start off writing things I have already done so I feel like I've already accomplished things.

10. I really don't like talking on the phone

11. My greatest fear in life is that something bad will happen to Matt or he will die before me. I

can't even think about it.

12. Graduated from Springville High School in 2004 - Go Devils!

13. Some days I am quiet & shy and other days I am loud & outgoing.

14. I hate washing my hair. Well its not actually the washing part but the blow drying/styling

that I hate. So if my hair looks greasy - that's why.

15 My favorite numbers are 1,4,7,0,6. I don't know why! The rest of them just don't seem that

great of numbers though. Which is weird because I always have good luck on years that aren't my favorite numbers. (2005 - got married, 2008 - got pregnant, 2009 - had a babe) weird huh?!

16. I had braces from 2nd grade until 8th grade along with 3 surgeries. Yes - I had big time

messed up teeth. Hopefully our children don't get that from me. But I guess if they do - thank

heavens Matt is a dentist.

17. Whenever I hear an interesting word I have to type it on my fingers as if I was using the

keyboard. Its so weird but I HAVE to do it.

18. I am baby hungry. No I am not announcing or saying anything - but I can't wait to have another one.

19. I love to bake/cook. Baking mostly. I get on allrecipes or bakerella all the time. And love to try new recipes & add my own little spin on things. My favorite baking tool is my new KitchenAid Mixer Matt gave me for our Anniversary. I have always wanted one and I love love

love it! This is a pic of my first loaves of bread I made in it.

20.I hate leftovers and refuse to eat them. I think I would rather eat garbage.

21.My favorite holiday is Christmas! I love everything Christmas! I've even started to put up the

decorations! You were my inspiration Mel!

22. My little brother Blake is the funniest person I know. Sorry if the picture offends but this is how Blake is constantly. His bum is always showing!

23. Matt & I met October 2004.

He wasn't going to ask me out because I was too young (18) I didn't want to go out with him because I thought he was too old (23) somehow it worked out and we got engaged Feb 05

and then married July 16, 2005.

24. I really don't like getting older. Every year it comes around I get really depressed.

Laughing, Veteran's Day & Cake Pops

Today Matt had school off so we were way excited to have Daddy home! Averi is obsessed with Matt. She has to know where he is at all times and is always following him around. She loves Matt to scare her too! She has started this scream/laugh and its the funniest thing so here is a short clip of it!

This afternoon we went to the Westerville Rec Center and went swimming. They seriously have the cutest swimming pool and Averi had a blast. She loves the water & splashed like crazy! She crawled all around and even gave herself a little dunk! I love that she likes the water so much!

Thanks Grandma for the swimming suit!

Climbing up the stairs

Attempting to go down the slide... Matt got a big NO from the lifeguard. I guess he's too old or something!?! Who would have guessed

On Saturday we had a shower for my great friend Ciera who is due in 4 weeks and as a favor I made these cake pops. You can find them on bakerella.com and they are SO yummy! So I thought I'd share the recipe. They are pretty easy & fun to make.

Cake Pops

Bake one cake mix as directed on box

let cool; grind up in food processor (looks like dirt)

add one can of frosting and mix

roll into balls and freeze overnight

dip in chocolate

8 Months Old

Averi is 8 Months today and to celebrate she got her 2nd flu shot! H1N1 is tomorrow. Wa-hoo! I am determined to be as healthy and sanitized as possible. Everyday I wipe everything down with a Clorox wipe & wash my hands 100x a day. I know I am crazy but I'm hoping it will keep us as germ free as possible.

Here are a few little things that Averi is doing:

*Loves to be scared and chased around the couches

*Has 2 teeth and bites her finger all day long

*Sleeps from 8-8...it's awesome!

*Fake cough's all day long

*Is actually napping now! Usually one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening

*Gets super excited when Matt comes home & cries when he leaves the room. She does neither for me!

*Loves to go to the park and swing & play with her friends

*poops like crazy

*Not the best eater! loves cereal & fruit for breakfast but other than that - she just wants a bottle. I'm not giving in though. I make her eat!

*Wears 9-12 month clothes. She needs the length because she's so tall!

*She walks around the furniture and sometimes will let go and she will stand alone for a few seconds and then fall.

*She has learned to fall on her bum instead of her head. Its nice!

*And just tonight she found the stairs to climb - yikes!

We love our little girlie SO much! I honestly don't know what I ever did without her!

Our little Witch

For Halloween we went down to Grandpa & Nana's house to trick or treat and have brunch! Averi LOVES her Grandpa & Nana & Uncle Sean and we had a great time spending a few hours with them! I love this picture so much! It just shows what amazing grandparents they are! I don't think we could be any luckier!

Averi looked SO cute in her costume! I honestly wish she could wear it everyday!

Halloween night we headed to a party with a bunch of our friends! None of my pictures turned out super great, maybe I'll be stealing some... But we really had so much fun! Thank you Beckstroms! We had to cut the night early from lack of naps that day! But Halloween only comes around once a year so we had to celebrate all day long!

Trick or Treat, a Fairy & Few Random Pics

Last night was our neighborhood's "Beggars Night" Yes - they do it a little different here in Ohio. I am not sure how I feel about trick or treating on a different night other than

Halloween. I just don't understand the point but oh-well! The last 2 years we've had about 2 kiddos knock on our door but this year we had a ton! It was SO much fun! I love Halloween and I think there is nothing cuter than little kids dressed up! Our neighborhood is great

because its full of young kids! We sat out on the porch like old farts and waited for the kids

to come! Averi cried every time someone scary came to the house. I can't blame her, one chubby little kid scared me to death! Not because he was chubby but because he really was dressed up scary!

But I think the scariest part of the night was we actually had a lady in her 40's come trick or treating and then had the nerve to take 2 Snickers instead of one. I wanted to ask if she thought she might be a little bit to old but she looked like she might punch me in the face if I did.

Matt hurried and finished carving our pumpkin before the kids came. I thought it turned out pretty cute...I mean scary!

Daddy & Averi eating candy

I just have to say how cool my mom is! (you to Dad) They are headed up to the Jazz game tonight, they are HUGE fans and she dressed up as the 'Jazz Fairy' to try and win Season tickets! Good Luck!

On the sunny days, Averi and I head to the park a block away from our house and we swing! She loves it now and just kicks and kicks her feet... maybe she is just trying to go higher?!

She is just so dang cute!

This is Averi's new hangout or hideout. She crawls over and opens the doors and plays forever! She loves to pull everything out sometimes will just sit in there. She is easily entertained!

Little Pumpkin

Over the weekend we carved pumpkins with friends and we squished Averi in one for a few pics! We even tried to attach the top! Poor baby

As long as she can chew on something she could have cared less!

Grandpa & Grandma Visit

Grandpa & Grandma Johnson came to visit us and we had the best time. Averi loved having them here and I am sure she is going to miss all the attention. They spoiled us like crazy and we miss them so much already.

Here is a recap of our fun week!

We headed down to Hocking Hills and rented a cabin. The leaves there were so cool and we had the best views. We had so much fun!

Looking out the back deck. We sat out here in the hot tub forever and it was great.

That night we had a big steak and crab dinner - Yum!

Bath time! Averi LOVES Grandpa! She kept him in her sight the entire time! She is a big time Grandpa's girl!

Matt & I enjoyed watching Grandpa & Grandma wrestle Averi to get her diaper on and dressed for bed! Its quite the task because she is way too busy to hold still.

Grandma &Averi

While we were there, we stopped at the Rocky Outlet. The boys were in heaven! My dad came away with a birthday present and a new pack. He said this is his new annual stop when he comes to Ohio! He even spoiled Matt and bought him a new pair of shoes! Thanks dad - you are the best!

We also walked/hiked around Old Man's cave. It was freezing but we did it anyway. It is so pretty there and fall is for sure the time to go! Averi got all bundled up and yes - continued to spit! Its what she does all day long. She gathers spit and then with all her might spits as far as she can.

Me & Mom

Aren't they so cute!

Mom & Matt at Ash Cave

When we got back, we took Averi to her first pumpkin patch! It seriously was so cute! Besides it was freezing again! But they had a big Hay ride out to the pumpkin patch, hay maze, a corn sand box, and baby animals. Averi loved the cow! It was only 15 days old.

Grandpa picked out Averi's first pumpkin! It was just her size.

My love bug!

Thank you SOOOOOO much Mom & Dad for coming out! I know you just left today but we miss you so much and I feel so homesick now so we must plan something soon!