Avery's Fifth Birthday (Round 2)

Round two of Avery's birthday started the day of a big snow storm. Gramma and Grampa had to leave early to avoid driving through the storm but Uncle Bobby, Aunt Ami, Jack and Luke got here a day early for the same reason. The cousins quickly got reaquainted and had a ball together. Avery and Sierra introduced Jack and Luke to snow. The kids (including adults) had lots of fun playing in the snow. It was a fun day of sledding and shoveling. We spent the next day at the bowling alley, bowling and playing in the arcade.

Luke and Sierra on a Boat Ride

Sierra, Jack, and Avery warming up for The Lanes

Jack, Avery & Sierra on the Miniature Merry Go Round

We also took Avery and Jack up to Wachusett Mountain for their first skiing adventure. They spent the morning taking a ski lesson while Bobby, Ami, Cory and I hit the slopes. With it being the kids' first time skiing, their lesson took place on a mound of snow. They both did great! Avery couldn't wait to hit the big slope (The Bunny Hill). So after lunch, off she went up the Magic Carpet (basically a conveyor belt that takes you up the bunny hill). And then down she went, straight down the hill at top speed (as I was having a heart attack), but she made it all the way down without falling. So we all spent the afternoon on the Bunny hill. Avery and Jack both did great while Cory and Bobby tried to work with then on snowplowing and turning. We were all exhausted by the end of the day.

Avery & Jack ready to hit the slopes



Avery & Daddy taking a break in the snow

Avery coming down the Bunny Hill, What Form!

Cory trying to get Avery to turn

Jack & Avery in their lesson

The Skiing Clan

On Avery's actual Birthday, we just had a relaxing day at home. The kids got out and played in the snow a little. Then Avery got to open presents and have Cake #2.

Avery opening presents with some help from Sierra and Jack

Avery with Cake #2




Saturday was the day of Avery's Birthday Party. We had a Pool Party at the indoor pool where she takes swimming lessons. The kids had lots of fun swimming, jumping, and playing in the pool. Followed up with pizza, cake and ice cream. It was a lot of fun!

Everyone having fun in the pool

Avery with some of her friends having some snacks

Avery with Cake #3 (Her Puppy Dog Cake)

Avery opening more presents with help from Alex, Stacy, & Jack

The kids sorting through Avery's new toys

Cute Cousins Picture
Sierra, Stacy, Avery, Alex, Luke, & Jack

Silly Faces Picture

Cute Picture of Luke & Sierra

The Paradise Family

Avery's 5th Birthday (Round 1)

This year, Avery's birthday lasted about ten days! It started about a week before her actual birthday, when Gramma and Grampa arrived from Pennsylvania. Followed by Nana and Grampa arriving the next day. Luckily, we got almost two feet of snow two days before they got here so we had some snow to play in. Daddy worked really hard at grooming our front yard to make an awesome sledding hill. We had lots of fun sledding with everyone!

Daddy & Avery Having Fun on the Sled

Grandpa & Sierra Taking a Run on the Tube

The Whole Gang Up on Saylor Hill




Nana & Avery after a Fun Ride

Avery with Birthday Cake #1 (It's a Big Top Cupcake)




Avery & Sierra with Gramma & Grampa

Avery & Sierra with Nana & Grandpa

We also had a fun day at the bowling alley. Here in Spencer we have Candlestick bowling where the pins are a little different and the balls are much smaller. So it is lots of fun for the kids, but a little frustrating for the adults who are used to regular bowling. There's also a little arcade with skeet ball, air hockey and lots of fun games. It was such a fun day!

Avery having Fun Candlestick Bowling

Sierra Taking a Turn

Gramma Helping Avery Play a Jump Rope Game in the Arcade

Sierra on The Race Car

Snow, Snow and More Snow!

We were so excited Sunday morning when we woke up to snow! It was only an inch or two, which is pretty pathetic when you consider it is the middle of January in New England, but we'll take what we can get. We had lots of fun playing in it, throwing it in the air and at each other. And we even managed to get in some sled riding, although after the first run down the hill we were pretty much sledding on grass. Little did we know what Mother Nature had in store for us....

Sierra Throwing a Handful of Snow in the Air

Avery Getting Ready to Take the First Slide Down

Mission Accomplished

Avery Trying out Her skiis for the First Time

Avery taking Her Skiis to the Hill





Avery & Sierra Getting Ready to go Sledding

I just had to put this picture in. Avery looks so cute!



On Wednesday, Mother Nature definitely made up for our lack of snow so far this winter. We got close to 2 Feet of snow in about 12 Hours. It was unbelievable!

Avery's Favorite Part of Winter - Getting Sprayed with snow from Daddy's Snow Thrower!

And Sierra's Favorite Part of Winter - Eating Snow!

My Two Snow Bunnies Knee-Deep in Snow

Now That's a Fun Slide!

"King of The Snow Mountain"

Christmas 2010

We had a great Christmas this year. We were home on Christmas morning and woke up to lots of presents from Santa. Avery got the DQ Blizzard Maker that she hasn't stopped talking about for 2 months. She also got A Scooby-Doo Haunted House and skiis to play around with and practice with in the yard. And Sierra got a Dora Dollhouse with all of the furniture and figures to go with it. We had a fun morning playing with everything before heading to the airport for Pennsylvania.

Coming Downstairs Christmas Morning




Avery going for the big present
Ready...1,2,3, Rip

Christmas Night we flew out to PA. First was Christmas at Great-Gramma and Great-Grampa's.

Our picture with Santa

Avery entertaining herself with a cardboard box before the presents were opened

Yeah, Present time!

The Saylor Great-Grandchildren (Sierra, Avery, & Baby Braden)

Great-Gramma and Great-Grampa with their Great Grandchildren

The Saylor Family

Yet another Christmas at Gramma & Grampa's

"Don't you just love my pink, flowery hat"...

"Boxing gloves, now that's more like it!"

Break time for Sierra and Grampa

And now it's time for some fun in the snow...

Sierra sledding down the hill

And Avery not far behind.



Then back home in Massachusetts, we couldn't wait to break out the DQ Blizzard Maker!