Avery, Bella, Crackers, and Elmo

Have you ever had an experience like this as a mother?

You know you've purchased something from the grocery store. A goodie perhaps. You have your mouth all set for it. You go to the pantry. And the goodie has already been eaten by your husband and children.

That happened to me today.

Isn't that frustrating?

Well, nonetheless, it was a productive weekend. I thought I would have a before and after to show you today, but alas, I didn't have the proper materials, even though I thought I did.

So, we still put our tree up...yay! It's my first grown up, real tree, as an adult. We went back and forth on whether to have a real or fake tree and decided to go with a real tree. Since Jason's family is visiting this Christmas, we thought it was worth it. And it smells awesome. And we sprang for the good tree, so the only needle we've had on the floor is when we put the light on and rustled it around a bit. I didn't think I'd have enough ornaments, but when I started putting them on there, I realized less is more because the tree is gorgous on its own.

No, we are not watching a Nazi film. That would be Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade.

Avery has discovered how to open doors. I mean, not turn the knob, but she can get to one room from the next if the door is semi-closed. Oh, and she has discovered the dog food. Before I could blink, she had eaten a piece. Oh my goodness.

Tonight, we had crackers out on the coffee table and she pulled some out. She calls them cookies. Yes. Yes they are. I just let her take some out, to try and get some pictures. Just watch Bella as she takes them out...

Nom, Nom, Nom...

Bella is wondering where the crackers have gone...

Bella is following her around the coffee table...

I can only picture the talking in Bella's head..."Please, sir, I want some more...."

"Mom, these are so. good."

Bella: "I know if I am patient, she will give me some."

I am going to call my mom out here for a second. My mom has introduced Avery to the computer. So when I pull mine out, she is sure it is for her.

Here is her hand wanting to see what's on the screen...

Normally, I wouldn't let her touch the keys. But for documentation purposes, I did....

And this is what she thinks we are always looking at, because my mom has introduced it to her...

And what she REALLY wants to see...

"La la la la, La la la la, Elmo's World..." It would be annoying if Elmo wasn't so darn cute. Which he really is. And if I didn't see the joy in Avery's face every time he comes on the screen or anywhere else for that matter.

After we were done with that, it's a little crawling over Bella, who doesn't seem to care one iota.