Happy Days

Here are some pictures from a couple of fun days we had this week. It is so great that Sierra can get around on her own now. She just wants to explore everything. And Avery is little Miss Social. Everywhere we go she makes a friend. She just walks up to anyone who appears to be around her age and just says, "Hi, I'm Avery, Wanna play?" It is so funny, considering how timid she used to be. The first pictures are from the playground here in Spencer, which is always a good time. Avery made a friend named Olivia and they were so busy pretending to go on some wild adventure.

The next pictures are from Playtown Express, an indoor playplace. Sierra had so much fun climbing and jumping on everything. She loved the jump house although she wasn't on her feet for very long. She also tried many, many times to follow Avery up the big 18 foot inflatable slide, but, unfortunatley, I had to stop her. She was not very happy about that. Oh well, maybe next time. Avery had fun running around with a little girl named Ryan and then when she had to leave Avery immediately made another friend named Kailey. They had fun running around dressed up like princesses. It was such a good time!

Summertime, Summertime

We had a few things going on here this week. First of all, our big news, Sierra is officially walking. She had been doing really well for the past two months cruising everywhere and walking while holding one of our hands. But Tuesday we noticed her just walking without holding on to anything. And she would go pretty far. Everyday since then she has gotten better and better. Now, she loves walking all the time. Avery tries to get Sierra to chase her. So while Avery is running circles around the house, Sierra is so happy to be walking along with her trying to catch up to her and the two of them just scream and yell and laugh. It is so funny.

Tuesday was also Avery's half birthday. She was so excited to be 3 1/2 but she was very disappointed when she found out that we were not having a big party with all of her friends and cake and balloons. She is such a deprived child. So everyday since then we have had parties for her stuffed animals. Lamby is such a little party animal.

Last weekend we put up our new pool. We got one of those 3 foot pools that you just fill with water and hope it doesn't fall down (so far so good). It is absolutley perfect for Avery because she can touch the bottom. The only problem is that the water is FREEZING!!! We tried putting buckets of hot water from the kitchen sink into it but it is still really cold. So, I think 5 minutes is the longest Avery has lasted in it before her lips are quivering and she is ready to get out. Sierra will only go in if we hold her and she just dips her little toes in every once in a while. Hopefully, the sun will shine on it this week and warm it up a bit because I think the girls would love it if it wasn't so cold. I'll let you know.

And here are some more pictures from this past week.

Sierra loved the sprinkler

Avery & Sierra in the sprinkler

Avery & Sierra taking their first bath together

Sierra loves climbing up on the couch

Daddy, Avery, & Sierra picking blueberries

Sierra was really just eating blueberries

Our Trip To Pennsylvania

We had a great trip to Pennsylvania to visit Gramma and Grampa. Although it didn't get off to the greatest start. Luckily, April flew back here to make the drive with me and the girls. But, unluckily, the drive which would normally take about 8 1/2 hours, took us 12 due to a lot of traffic and construction. The girls were wonderful, considering the situation. But after about 9 hours in the car, Avery called up from the back seat, "Um, we have been driving around town all day. Maybe you guys better check the map because I think we are going the wrong way." But we eventually made it.

The first couple days we just relaxed and played in Gramma & Grampa's pool. It was a lot of fun! But then the weather turned on us so we had to find other things to do. We went to the playground one day. And another day we went to The Spillway where people come from miles around to feed carp. When we got there it was pouring down rain and there we were; me, Avery, Sierra, and Gramma huddled under an umbrella throwing molding bread at hundreds of huge fish, who, from the way they were attacking the bread, apparently hadn't eaten in days. It was quite a site! Avery absolutely loved it. She is still mimicking how the fish attacked the bread.

Avery hanging around at the playground

Sierra coming through the tunnel

Searching for critters at the creek

Back at the pool, in between rain showers, Gramma and Grampa inflated a huge slide they bought for the pool. And, of course, even though it was chilly and cloudy out, Avery had to test it out. What a blast! Then, Cory arrived on Wednesday to join in on the fun. And even though it was another rainy and chilly day Avery had to get in the pool with purple lips and teeth chattering to show off the slide to her daddy.

Avery testing out the BIG slide

Avery and Gramma playing chase...

Gramma Won

Sierra playing in the rocks

Avery and Aiden playing ball

Sierra in the play house

Aunt Jacey and Paul came in from Michigan. The girls had lots of fun playing with them while Mommy enjoyed watching the girls wear someone else out for a change. The rest of the week was spent playing and visiting with friends and family. Then, Gramma and Grampa had their Fourth of July picnic. It was a beautiful day and lots of people were there. Avery had lots of fun playing with Elizabeth and Ben in the pool. It was the perfect end to the week. But all good things must come to an end so we got on the road that night to try to beat the traffic. Luckily, we didn't have a repeat of the trip out and we made it home without a hitch. Now we are looking forward to our next trip to Michigan in a couple weeks!

Avery and Aunt Jacey Playing

Monkey in the middle

Avery & Elizabeth in the pool

Avery & Daddy

A Great Start to Summer 2009!

First of all, I apologize for not having updated the blog in over a month. We have had a few things going on, but I will get you up to date with everything from the past month.

June 9, 2009 ~ Avery's Last Day of School

Today was Avery's last day of school. Of course, her class put on a little show and they got their certificates for completing a year of pre-school. Unfortunately, Avery was positioned in the back for the show and she wasn't really too into singing this time around. But, about halfway through the show she realized that a girl in the front had on the same shoes as her so she worked her way up next to her. And unbeknown to the little girl, Avery was matching her shoe up next to the girls'. Well then Avery saw Brady and worked her way over to stand next to him just in time to hold hands with him while they sang her favorite song, "Friends Forever." Now with her first year of pre-school done, she asks almost everyday why she doesn't go to school in the summertime. I wonder how long it will be before she is counting the days until summer vacation.

Avery at Center Stage

Friends Forever

Nana & Grandpa's Visit

Today was also the day that Nana and Grandpa arrived for their two week visit. We were so excited to have them here. Unfortunately, the weather was not very cooperative. I think we only saw the sun one day in two weeks, but we still had lots of fun playing with them. Avery helped Grandpa repaint her picnic table. They did a great job! One day, we all went to the nursery to get some tomato plants and flowers to plant. On the way there, Nana said to Grandpa "We should look for an S-U-N flower," spelling sun in case they didn't have one. And Avery said, "Yeah, and we should look for an A-V-E-R-Y flower too." We also took a trip down to New Jersey to visit some family and friends. We stayed in a hotel where the girls went swimming in the hotel pool with Nana and Grandpa and had a blast. We went to Alex and Stacy's where the girls both had a great time playing and Avery got to dress up like a firefighter. We also had lunch with Mommy's friend Anastasia and her son Alex. Then, we went to Aunt Marian's and played with Travis, Kennedy, and Caleigh. It was so fun to get to see all our cousins and friends!

Avery & Grandpa painting the picnic table

Avery & Nana decorating Sierra's Butterfly Cake

Avery & her friend Alex

The girls in the hotel pool with Nana & Grandpa

Avery playing dress up with Alex & Stacy

Sierra playing with Stacy

Giddy-up horsey

June 13, 2009 ~ Sierra's First Birthday Party

The Happy Birthday Girl

Today was Sierra's first birthday party. It was a beautiful day, Thank Goodness. We had Nana and Grandpa here and also lots of Sierra and Avery's friends from the neighborhood. Sierra had a lot of fun trying to keep up with all of the kids. As you can see, Sierra dug in to her birthday cake, although I'm not sure if she actually ate any. She was pretty tired at this point. All in all, it was a great day!

Sierra & Mommy

Yummy Cake (and messy, too!)

June 19, 2009 ~ Sierra's First Birthday

Happy 1st Birthday, Sierra!

Today Sierra turned one! It was a very rainy day but Nana and Grandpa were still here visiting so we all went to Playtown Express for some fun. Playtown Express is an indoor playground with inflatable slides, tunnels, a jump house and all kinds of fun stuff. Sierra had a blast cruising around trying to climb through some of the toys and riding on the pony and in the cars and playing in all the little houses. Avery was going out of her mind, she didn't know what to do first. She was all over the place. Nana could hardly keep up with her. She loved the huge inflatable slide, she must have gone down it at least 50 times. Needless to say, Avery was quite upset when it was time to leave. But we calmed her down by taking her to lunch at one of Grandpa's favorite restaurants, Cracker Barrel. A restaurant and a gift shop in one, after a morning of climbing, jumping, and sliding; it just doesn't get any better than that.

Sierra loves the pony ride...

And Avery loves the big slide!

Well that was all the great fun we had in June. Stay tuned to see all the fun we had in Pennsylvania for the Fourth of July.

On Golden Pond

Avery went on a "Pond Walk" this week with her school. Sierra and I were invited to go along as well. I was so excited to go because I have been so curious about how Avery interacts at school. Avery made it very clear that she did not want me to go to school with her, but too bad. The pond is right on the school's premises so it was just a 5 minute walk to get there. All the kids had on their boots and play clothes and had their nets in tow, hoping to catch a frog or some bugs or something. At first all the kids were really good and stood right along the shore line but by the end of the morning they gradually made it to knee deep water and the teachers were calling for them to move back. Avery's teacher, Miss Tammy was really good at catching frogs and she caught about 10 of them. She gave the kids turns at bringing the frogs to the buckets which of course Avery was one of the first in line. But, Avery was very bummed that she didn't catch a frog herself.

Avery was very social with the other kids, although I don't think she knows many of their names. At one point, I heard her yell out "Hey guys, come see what I found over here", proudly showing off a big rock she found. I also got to see a boy named Brady, who Avery has been talking about A LOT lately. At one point towards the end of the morning when Avery's boots and socks were soaked and she was getting tired and maybe a little bored, she sat down on the ground claiming she was done. As I went to sit down next to her , she saw Brady walk past and she suddenly perked right up and said, "Or, maybe I'll just go over there." Oh my God, she's only 3. Is she supposed to be noticing boys already??? And I thought it was so cute when she had a crush on Diego. We are in trouble!!

Walk This Way

Sierra has started to walk while holding onto our hands. She is doing so great and she loves that she can do it. We'll see if she follows in Avery's footsteps and is walking by her first birthday. I can't believe she will be one in less than three weeks. My, how time flies when you're having fun!

Avery is officially potty trained. She has worn big girl underwear to bed the past three nights with no accidents. Yeah, no more pull-ups!! Now maybe we can afford to buy our kids some more toys. Yeah right, just kidding!

Avery has also made some new friends this week. Yes, those are caterpillars. In case you didn't know, I HATE caterpillars. And , of course, Avery was, at first, a little nervous about holding them. So I had to put my heebie jeebies aside to help her (I've still got that itchy, creepy, crawly feeling just thinking about it). But once I helped her she had the two biggest caterpillars I have ever seen crawling all the way up her arm. Yuck!! But she loved it and now if Gracie's not around all she has to do is go out into the yard to find some playmates. We are going on a "Pond Walk" with her school on Thursday to look for bugs and frogs and such. I have a feeling we will have an especially hard time getting her to want to come home after that. I'll let you know how it goes.