Favorite Spot

Since the tree has been put up, this has been Sidney Kate's favorite sitting spot. She plays with the presents, ornaments and anything else within her reach. It's the farthest spot from the TV too but she'll sit and watch Dora just the same.

6th Year Anniversary

For our 6th year anniversary we decided to go to Boone and Blowing Rock for a little shopping, eating and campus walking. I can only say ASU is totally different and we just graduated in 2002.

The top buildings are where we stayed our freshman year-2 dorms, connected, on a hill; yet we didn't hang out. We had a connection of Chad (Uncle Chad) but didn't hang in the same circles I guess.
That and he'd retreat home frequently for Wolfpack games and whatnot-while I stayed and supported our Mountaineers! :)

Playing Around and Posing

No words-just laughter.



Daddy's always behind me showing her how to pose.

I made him join in the shot this time. So any modeling agencies that want her-you'll have to take him too-haha!

Gingerbread House Making

Gran Mary set us up with some Gingerbread House making fun at CCCC. We headed over after work and daycare one day. When we arrived the houses were on the tables and there was candy, cookies and yummy treats all around for decorating.

Once we got going pretty well, Sidney Kate asked, "Can I have one?" I let her have one and next thing I knew she wanted to decorate one and eat one. Smart girl.

She didn't want to stop decorating, she found more and more spaces that needed candy.

Final product and classic expression (slightly posed.)

FIRST Haircut!

As you may know, Sidney Kate has A LOT of hair. And we've been hesitant to cut it (or even talk about it) because she's had so much for so long. Well, come the age of 2 1/2 with ends that were all lengths we decided it was time for a trim. One day after work Mommy and SKV went off to Eva's for a "yittle" haircut.
BEFORE
(it looks crazy because it had been in a braid)

"I'm not so sure about this."

Tada!
Check out those even ends! (It's like nothing was cut=perfect!)

And a sucker for being such a good girl during the process.
Thanks Eva! (Eva cut Daddy's hair when he was a baby too!)

Baby Ring

Aunt Jill's Mommy, Peggy, gave Sidney Kate a ring at her baby shower. She's finally grown into it and LOVES to wear it! She decided she wanted it on the same finger as Mommy's; because the other was "yucky" of course!

THE Christmas Card

Just so you know, the following pictures about killed this pregnant woman!
Getting these pictures, these 3 pictures, took longer than anything I've done in my life! (Well, it felt like it.)
77 pictures later we ended up with exactly 3 pictures that I would let be published. Craziness I tell you-this may be the last year of the Venable-do-it-yourself-at-home-Christmas-card
This one almost didn't make it, then I rotated it and found it acceptable.

I wish upon a star that this was a real live shot-but it was totally scripted. Don't be bummed-it's still cute. :)
I'm sure she'll have the same face Christmas morning-just different outfit and hairstyle.

Surprisingly the dogs cooperated-for dogs that is. She said some funny things while we were posing them. "Des boys are too big." was one I remember.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE VENABLES!

Fall Fun with Friends

Here are some fun fall pictures of a night with Ben and Jackson. Somehow I missed getting a picture with Jackson.

Ben and Jackson play so well with Sidney Kate. I hope she learns how to be a friend like them.

They both helped her up and down the climbing walls so she could slide into the leaves. Super sweet and kind boys!

Sunday's Best

Why they don't make adult clothes as cute as these I'll never know. (They probably do and I just can't shop for them-haha.)
This outfit came straight from Gran Mary and isn't it too cute!

Hair by Mommy.

Pose by Daddy.

Cheeses all around!

All dressed up and nowhere to go...

Actually we DID have somewhere to go. We had to go see a princess get married!

Dress-check. Matching hot pink shoes-check. Matching earrings-check. Gum-check.

She would have followed Courtney around all night had I let her. She wanted to touch her dress, talk to her and just plain look at her. She had a very fun time at her first wedding!

Childhood Dreams and Headphones

All children (or at least we once did-back in the day) grew up with these massive headphones at home. Fun for playing around in and listening to whatever music our parents deemed "in" at the time. :)
Here is SKV playing in some Winston Cup headphones at Grandma and Papa's house.
Who doesn't use a Christmas candle as a micrphone?

Here is her Mommy, about 29-30 years ago, playing in some too. Notice these have cords, wireless hadn't quite made it around I guess. :) Or headphones that picked up radio stations (as seen above).

Daddy has a picture in some too but I don't have that...maybe GG will scan it and send it over. :)

Football Fun with Friends

It's been so long since I took this I can't even tell you which game it was. A chilly one toward the end is I can say (based on clothing).
SKV and Daddy chilling during tailgating.

Our pal Nathan, who has grown a ton!

Nathan and SKV enjoying some quality game time together.

Someone caught their attention-probably the neighbors next door.