The Greatest Show on Earth...

Hi Everyone ~ We hope that you are all doing well. We are doing great. God has been so good to us. Just wanted to share lots of pictures with you to show you what's been going on with us. Enjoy!

As a big surprise for me (Averie), Daddy & Mommy took me to the circus. And, not just any circus, but the Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus...the greatest show on Earth! It was AMAZING! I LOVED every part of it. I was mesmerized by everything...the clowns, animals, lights, etc. It was wonderful.

Here we are...ready to go!

(Thanks, Nana, for watching Brady so that I could go with just Daddy & Mommy)

Once we got there, I got to pick out one thing at the circus. I picked this light up spin toy. It was fun, and I used it a lot during the circus.

So excited about the circus...

We also sat with my Uncle Todd, Aunt Helen, Carter, Kaitlyn, and Stephanie. We had so much fun watching everything!

One of Daddy's favorites...the motorcycles in the cage. It was amazing. 8 motorcyles were riding around in this cage!

Mommy & Me

Daddy & Me

One of Mommy's favorites...the elephants. They did some cool tricks.

I, of course, liked everything...I kept asking for the clowns, but when it was over, Daddy & Mommy asked me what my favorite thing was, and I said, "all of it." What a great time! (Oh, and we didn't sit in these seats...we were on the 3rd row. We just thought it'd be fun to take a picture here!)

The Gang

Water Park Adventure

Now, I (Brady) get a turn to tell you about my water park adventure. Mommy has been taking Averie & me to Ray's Splash Planet a few times this winter. However, I just contently stayed in the stroller while Mommy & Averie swam. Well, since I am old enough now, Mommy thought she'd try to put me in there today...and here is what happened.

The day started with Averie "reading" me the story about Brown Bear, Brown Bear. I loved it! So far, so good!

Then, after getting all ready in our swimsuits, Mommy set my down at the edge of the water...not so bad...I just kept looking all around at everything. Still, so far, so good...

Then, Mommy put me a little deeper into the water...and big mistake. I just lost it...

Still not lovin' it...



Even my big sister, Averie, tried to come and cheer me up...that didn't work.

Then, Mommy thought the fountains would be fun...well, I sure did not...I did not enjoy that either! :)
So, it was back to the edge of the water where I enjoyed it (or at least didn't cry!)...or in Mommy's arms in the deeper part while I watched Averie jump in.

With time, I am sure I'm going to love this place...Averie sure does! But, for now, I'll just enjoy watching it right at the edge...or in my Mommy's arms! :)

Bouncy Fun

So, here I am at Bounce U...an indoor jumping center...very similar to Monkey Joes (if you are familiar with that). It's so much fun. I love the slides...they go really fast. I have gone 2 times now with my good friend, Ella. We have so much fun together!

Ella & Me

Still love our Panthers...

We were so excited that our Carolina Panthers had made it to the playoffs. We just knew that they would do great...well, the introductions and the first 3 minutes were amazing...after that...well...we just fell apart. Regardless, Daddy & Mommy had a fun time and look forward to cheering our Panthers next year!

The introductions were awesome...fireworks, VERY loud fans, etc.

Daddy (& the rest of the guys who went to Tahoe for skiing/golfing) flew on the red-eye flight to get back in time for the game...they were all so tired, but we are glad they could make it. Too bad the Panthers didn't do any better...would have made it even more fun!

Mommy & Miss Joy having fun at the game!

Mommy & Aunt Helen
Uncle Thomas & Aunt Lindsey (they got engaged early December and are getting married November 28 of this year...I like calling her Aunt Lindsey now!)

Daddy & Mommy one more time...See you in the Fall, Panthers!

Silly Sister

Here I am...silly Averie...with a really funny idea! While Mommy goes to the potty, I will offer to "keep an eye on Brady," like I always tell her I will do. But, what I didn't know is that Mommy will be peeking in on me to see what I will do. Well, I sure thought it would be fun to dress Brady in my sweater vest...with fur around the neck. So, here it is...picture by picture...It sure was funny. I got a big kick out of it, and Mommy laughed too. (See, this is what happens when Daddy goes out of town!) Enjoy!

Check out my silly laughing face in this...I already think that is so hilarious! And, well, Brady...he'll just laugh at anything I do, so he just went right along with it!
Here I am...adjusting the hood so he looks just right!

Then, Mommy calls us to look at the camera...and we both did.

I thought I'd "help" Brady look at the camera...doesn't he look so cute? :) :)
Sure was a lot of fun...won't be long before Brady won't let me know do that anymore! :)

"Redneck" Fun

Our Uncle Thomas has an annual Christmas tree burning party in January. This year, we got to go and see the really big fire. It was so fun. I (Averie) just kept looking at it and running around...until the fire got really big...then I was in someone's arms. Brady also loved it. He just stared at it the whole time. We had a fun night!

Here is Brady...all ready!

Trying on Daddy's hat...how cute is he?

Daddy & Brady Boy

Mommy & her precious kiddies.

Opa & me...at the tree burning

Brady...mesmerized by all the flames

Me & my Uncle Thomas

Mommy & Brady
Mommy & Brady (without the paci)

Brady & Oma

Sleeping Boy

We had a good time!

Cousins

It's so fun to live so close to family. We get to see each other a lot. About 2 weeks ago was our Aunt "Blip Blip"'s birthday (Daddy's sister, Brittany). We enjoyed going out to eat and then having everyone at our house for yummy cookie cake. Of course, we had to take some pictures...Here it looks as if Brady & McKinly are having this very intense conversation...(Oh, and Aunt "Blip Blip" picked for Brady & McKinly to wear matching shirts...so cute!)

Then, McKinly just let Brady put his fingers in his mouth to use as a chew toy. McKinly looks a bit concerned, but he didn't seem to mind!

The Karaffa Grandkids ~ Brady, me, & McKinly

And, of course...always time for a picture of me with Brady.

Happy Birthday, Aunt Blip Blip. We love you!

A Sunny Day in Winter

Hi Everyone ~ We sure hope all is well for you. Things here are going great...My big sister, Averie, is growing up so fast. She has officially learned how to use the potty all by herself, and she has done a great job with it! We even went out to dinner to celebrate! YAH!! I am growing like a weed also. At my 6 month well check, I weighed 22 pounds, 29 inches long, and my head was 18.25 inches around...all off the charts in percentiles. (To put it in perspective, Averie at 6 months old weighed 19.5 pounds, was 27.25 inches long, her head was 18.25 inches around...all also "off the charts.") So, we have been doing great and enjoying every day life. We have had weather ranging from about 60 degrees all the way to about 5 degrees at night...It actually snowed here today, but nothing major...just an inch or so! But, on one of the days that it was warmer, Mommy thought it would be fun to take us out for some pictures...Enjoy!

This one is Mommy's favorite. I am not sure what was so captivating in Averie's hand, but it sure made for a great picture.

Averie sure loves me...she kisses me all the time...and always asks to hold me!

And, just to show you my winter hat, here I am...bundled in my cute hat!

This was my first reaction when Mommy put me in the grass...I wasn't sure what to think.

Then, the grass looked really fun to touch...of course, everything looks really fun to touch right now! :)

And, of course, a close-up for Mommy.