Our Summer

Hi!  Wow it's been a long time since I have updated our site.  All is well here.  The girls are growing quickly and keeping us busy.  Avie will be 6 months later this month and Quinn just started a new year of Pre-school a looks like a little girls now.  She loves being a big sister.  Tobi turned 9 and still manages to get into trouble even as an old man dog.  He got into Todd's dehydrated foods he takes hunting the other day.  He tossed and turned all night and his gas smelled like potroast, but he made it through!  Todd and I celebrated our 7 year Anniversary last month and took the family to Pacific City for a weekend at the beach!  A much needed get away together.  Here are some pics!



Our favorite 4-legged friend:

Now to go back in time a little to cover the high-lights of the last 4 months or so...

Quinn's Pre-school had a tea party for the Mom's, it was very sweet!

Some pics of the girls!

Avie was blessed over Memorial weekend and we had lots of family in town... which made it extra special!

The weather finally got nice and we Enjoyed lots of walks out looking for frogs... we found one.  He was big.

Before I went back to work in June, the girls and I went Arizona to see my family and friends for 10 days!  We had lots of fun, there are way too many pictures to post but thought I would share this one of both the girls at about the same age in the same swimsuit. 

Quinn had her first dance recital in June... she loved being on the stage and said that she just wants to do the recital part next time.

They both love their cousins ~  Quinn got to spend a week without Mom and Dad with her Anderson cousins last week and she loved every minute of it!

Avie & her little cousins Reece & Oscar!  How adoarble can they get!?

 Gwen, Quinn & Sawyer - cute little buddies...

And last but not least - Avie rolled over about a month ago and has been rolling her way around to whatever she wants now.  I am sure she will be crawling before we know it.  Once her colic went away, she has been the happiest baby!  We can't get enough of her!

Love,

The Arnells

Avie Jean

Hello - I thought I would finally post since Avie will be a month old in a couple of days.  Avie Jean was born on March 25th (Todd's birthday) at 7:04 am.  

A shot of my huge belly the last week & Quinn trying out Avie's crib!

It was a very fast delivery!  My prayers were answered there.  Quite the opposite of Quinn's delivery.  Instead of pushing for many hours, Avie was literally born with one push.  No epidural because there wasn't time, but still a much easier delivery for me.  I am glad I was induced, otherwise she may have been born in the car... my doctor didn't even make it.

Welcome to the world little one!  

8 lbs, 0 oz, 21 inches long

Loves from Daddy & Mommy

Avie meeting her big sister!

We got to go home from the hospital after 3 days, they kept us an extra day to monitor her heart rate/ oxygen levels.  I have a picture of her all hooked up to the monitors in the nursery but it was too sad to post.  She checked out fine... but she has since been back to the doctor because I wanted to find out if she was sick or just colicky.  Turns out she has colic, so we are learning how to deal with all the crying and fussiness and find ways to soothe her.  Apparently it is only going to go away with time.  In the meantime, we are doing a lot of swaddling, white noise, swaying and not getting much sleep but we are glad she is healthy!

Avie meeting her big brother!  He loves to sniff her... who wouldn't?!

Double trouble!!

I love this one!

Quiet, sleeping Avie... we love her!

Quinn has been keeping busy with dance, swimming and soccer.  Uncle Jay & Aunt Heather are her soccer coaches and her cousin Sawyer and friends Riley & Caleb are on her team too!  She's going to be a soccer stud just like Daddy... 

XOXO - The Arnells

Four Candles

Quinn turned 4 years old!  The celebration continued on all week... 

Quinn & Leslie's birthdays are just a few days apart, so we had the family over for dinner to celebrate.

The birthday girls

The present opening & showing off!  She started a dance class a couple of weeks ago & loves it.  It has 20 minutes of tumbling, 20 of ballet & 20 of tap.  And it's probably the cutest thing in the world to watch!  I love that she is not shy like I was.

Holding Oscar & practicing to be a big sister!

On her actual birthday, she wanted to go to "The Old McDonald" or "Booger King" but we chose the Olive Garden instead.  

That weekend, I took her and her little girlfriend to get to Mani-Pedi's and granted her wish to go to McDonald's.  They both loved it!  (Mommy got a pedicure too!)

29 weeks pregnant in this pic that was taken 2 weeks ago.  Nope not having twins.  And yes I really do have 2 months left... it's funny the comments that complete strangers make about your pregnancy.  No one has been slapped YET... We went to the Portland auto show today to drool over cars & dream about what to get when I can finally get a new car.  I told Todd we either needed to go get one of those belly bands to hold up my heavy stomach with all of the walking or rent a wheelchair.  We opted to stop off at babies r us and get the band.  It actually provides some relief, I might just be wearing it 24/7 for the next 2 months.  I am having lots of ligament pain or something...   

Oh my - she loves that Camo Baby!  This is what she is doing now and what I need to be doing right after this.  Good night!

Merry Christmas!

We hope that you had a wonderful Christmas!  The whole season was even more exciting this year because Quinn was so into it... here are some pictures.

SNOW IN NOVEMBER

DECORATING OUR TREE & HER PINK TREE

HER GINGERBREAD HOUSE

QUINN AS MARY IN THE NATIVITY AT HER PRE-SCHOOL

COOKIES & CARROTS FOR SANTA & HIS REINDEER IN HER NEW PJ'S THAT SHE WORE ALL CHRISTMAS DAY

SANTA CAME TO SEE US AND SOMEHOW HE KNEW THAT QUINN LOVES PINK

TODD GOT ME A LITTLE PINK POINT & SHOOT CAMERA TO KEEP IN MY PURSE & SOON THE DIAPER BAG AND SOME CUTE NEW BOOTS

QUINN LOVES HER DOLL HOUSE FROM SANTA AND HER TANGLED DOLL FROM THE ANDERSONS... SHE WAS SPOILED BY ALL!  SHE IS QUITE THE PACK-RAT WHICH IS HARD FOR HER ORGANIZED MOM.  YOU CAN SEE THE PILE OF STUFF IN THE BACKGROUND.  I'M NOT ALLOWED TO TOUCH IT AND EVERYTHING GOES THERE!  EVEN A LOT OF MY STUFF...  

AFTER WE OPENED GIFTS AT OUR HOUSE WE WENT TO GRANDMA & GRANDPA'S AND HAD SOME MORE FUN.  ALL THE KIDS LOVED THEIR NEW PILLOW PETS & HAD FUN PLAYING IN GWEN'S TOY THAT SHE GOT.  I WONDER HOW MANY PILLOW PETS WERE SOLD THIS YEAR!?  THEY SEEM TO BE ALL THE RAGE.

SOME OF OUR FAMILY PICTURES FROM THANKSGIVING TIME THAT MY SISTER MONICA TOOK FOR US

Have a happy & safe New Year!

Love, 

The Arnells

Fall Update

Quinn is going to be a big sister to a little sister!  We found out last week that we are having a GIRL.  I am 21 weeks now, due April 1st!

The front shot in the black shirt is hiding a very huge baby belly!  I think I look like I am more like 30 weeks pregnant.  So do other people.  So wish me luck with these next 4 months or so!  Baby is looking healthy and we are all excited!

This is when we told Quinn that we were expecting a new addition to our family... she really wanted a sister.

She is becoming a little girl, so I guess it's time for another baby!  Here are some kind of recent pics of her!  

She loves her puppies & babies as you can see.  

Summertime fun!  

I wasn't so great at taking pictures this summer because I wasn't feeling so hot but here are a few.  

Swimming lessons with cousin Sawyer and at the beach with friend Riley.

In Prineville...

At the hospital when cousin Oscar was born... with Grandpa Arnell.

We are hosting Thanksgiving in a couple of days and have been busy getting ready this week.  I have the week off, so of course I got a cold.  I somehow always get sick when I take time off, it's like my body knows I am not going to be so busy and it gives into the germs.  We have had a little snow and ice today, so it is really feeling like the holidays are here!  

Have a great Thanksgiving!!