Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family! I have been getting harrassed since I haven't updated my blog. (I think you know who you are!) Anyways, here is the most recent update. Sorry no picture...I will explain later. the move went well and today we will have been in our home exactly 1 month. About a 1 1/2 weeks ago we finally got cable in the house and as for internet...they keep saying soon. That is the same thing they said 3 weeks ago. So we have no internet service at the house. I try to check my email about once a week when I come by Andrew's office while he has a few moments for me to kick him off of his computer. So there is my exuse for not updating the blog more often....Now the good stuff: here is what has been going on the last month in a nutshell!
Zach was promoted to 1st grade since we moved to Colorado. After consulting with his teacher in Frisco, we decided that he would be better suited to be in 1st grade as opposed to kindergarten like he was in Frisco. That being said. He has managed to adjust well and has made new friends both at school and in the neighborhood. They recently tested his reading level at school and while we knew that he was a great reader we were very impressed with his results. Apparently, Zach has the reading comprehension of a 3rd grader and is capable of the reading at least 5th grade level books. (they didn't test beyond that) So needless to say that Zach is a outstanding reader and he loves it too which is nice. You can hardly get him to put a book down. The last book he read was Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets and he got a bunch of books for Christmas. Two of which he has already read! Amazing, isn't it!
As for Avery, she turns 5 months today and she sure is a joy! Still not rolling over, but is a very bubbly, smiley, happy girl. She enjoys tummy time and checking out the world and everything around her. She has a few rattles that completely enthrall her and she likes to play with her fingers constantly. No teeth yet, but trust me they have to be on their way the way she likes to chomp on her food. Speaking of food, she has started solids and now has a lovely meal choice varietyof rice cereal, oatmeal, carrots, and applesauce. So far she seems to like it all including the main food of choice...milk.
Andrew is enjoying his job and I am so proud of him. He has a new staff in place and is looking forward to the start of the new year to kick it into high gear. I am still enjoying staying home and am looking forward to making new friends, but of course still missing the old and keeping in touch with them.
Once we are up and running with internet I will get back in the habit of updating the blog more often with notes and pictures and responding in a more timely fashion to your emails. Until then, Merry Christmas and best wishes for a healthy and happy New Year!

We made it to Colorado! The new house is great despite the fact that it is still full of boxes. We have only been it 1 week and we are nearly done. Soon we will have all the modern conveniences...cable, phone, and internet but until then it is just unpacking and listening to the radio to figure what is going on in the world out there. Zach started school and he seems to be enjoying 1st grade. He has already made some new friends. As soon as we are done unpacking I will make sure to update again. We can be reached on our cell phones if you want to get in touch with us in the meantime!

Moving day is almost here! After a long day of packing the kids were ready for a bath. They have both been so good. Zach is a bit bored since all his toys are packed, but he is hanging in there. I think the only things that aren't packed are his game boy and a book which he has already read. Avery has also been good even though she only napped for 1 1/2 hours while the packers were here. That makes it kind of difficult for me to try to pack when she wants to be held. Luckily, Zach is a great big brother and is a tremendous help with his sister. I am not sure what I would do without him! Movers come on Monday and then we hit the road! Wish us luck!

Here is the proud Grandpappy with Baby Avery!

My dad was in town from the UK this last week doing some safety training. My brother Isaiah was also in town from El Paso and he will be joining my parents by volunteering for Mercy Ships until February. Zach had a great time with his Uncle Izzy-they went to the movies, played rummy & chess, and of course played playstation. Zach was sad to see him go; they had some quality time together since Isaiah watched Zach while we were in Colorado last week. Luckily they all had some time with Avery before they left. They hadn't seen her since she was about 10 days old.

Well leave it to the Wheeler family to keep it exciting. New news from this household...looks like we are moving again. Andrew has been promoted to a new job as the General Manager at Buffalo Sports Properties at the University of Colorado in Boulder. We will be moving quite soon to Erie, Colorado which is about 10 miles east of Boulder. We were in Colorado last week to find a house and looks like we will be in our new home by Thanksgiving. The house is new construction so check it out. the porta potty will be moved by the time we move in. Our house went on the market on November 4th and looks like we have been blessed because it went under contract today. So if you are in the area we will be in Colorado for Christmas!

Everyone says that she looks like Andrew; the fair skin, the blue eyes...but the other day a friend told me that she thinks Avery looks just like me. She has known me since I was about 4 months old andshe encouraged me to pull out some old baby pictures. You be the judge, what do you think?

These are my favorite trick or treaters!!!

As for the other one, she was an adorable little bumble bee. She had tights and a turtleneck on under her costume which was good because it ended up getting cold. She also ended up getting hungry so even though we brought the stroller she was held almost the entire time. That wasn't so bad since she kept you warm too. So her big treat of the night was a bottle! After we got home at about 7pm, we had a few trick or treaters and Zach enjoyed giving them candy too!

Look out for Darth Vader and his lightsaber! You can guess who is under that costume. Last night was a blast. I am not sure Zach had the whole trick or treat concept down. We met up with two of Zach's friends from soccer and they ran from house to house, cutting across lawns and such. We had a treat bag for Zach but holding it was too difficult with the lightsaber so he got candy with his hands and ran it down to the stroller to put into the bag and off he went again. We went trick or treating for about 1 hour and boy does he have a bunch of candy even with Dad eating some while we were walking.

Zach is growing too! Zach lost his first tooth yesterday. His bottom tooth had been loose for a while. (initially brought on by a wrestling match with dad!) Anyway, the other day we noticed that even though his tooth was loose and it would be out soon, his permanent tooth was coming in behind it. He was due for a dentist appointment, so while he was at the dentist, she had him wiggle it to see if he could get it out. He got most of it, and then Dr. Kelli helped him with the rest and pulled it out. He said it didn't hurt at all and now he is awaiting the tooth fairy!

Look who is growing. Yesterday Avery turned 3 months old. She is becoming such a big girl. She smiles all the time and we also will get an occasional laugh. She likes to coo and talk with Zach who just adores her. She is 11.5 pounds, right about at the 50th percentile. She is also sleeping through the night now which has given us new life. She normally will sleep from 9:30ish to about 7:00am. Perfect since we all have to be up and moving by then too.

Andrew & I just celebrated our 2nd anniversary on October 11th. We had a babysitter and were able to have a nice dinner alone without the kids! Andrew took me to a place called Roy's that had wonderful sushi & seafood. I can hardly believe that we have been married for 2 years. Time has gone by so fast yet it also seems like so much has happened. Moving around from place to place it has definitely been exciting.

We have our own website, but I never seem to update it often enough. Since my parents have their own blog, I thought I would try one as well to see if it is any easier. My hope is that I can update it more often with just a quick little paragraph instead of having to search for lots of pictures and things to write about. I can't say for sure how often we will add new posts, but I am hoping, once a week at least. With a new baby there is always something new going one with Avery or with Zach.