Avery's Sports Class

Avery started a new sports class today. She's going to learn the basics of a bunch of different sports starting with soccer. Her teacher is Coach Lisa, who all the kids love. I think they really like calling her "Coach", too. There are also three boys in the class right around Avery's age. Today, they started out with a little warm-up and stretching routine. Then they all got to show off their muscles before moving on. Then they did a little running, which by the way, Avery won by a mile, not that it was a race but I'm just saying, "Go Avery!" They also worked on dribbling the ball across the field, stopping the ball with their foot, and passing the ball back and forth. Avery did such a great job with everything and I was really impressed with how well she listened to Coach Lisa and followed instructions. Hopefully, that will carry over to home! And Sierra so badly wanted to play along but luckily, the field was big enough that she could run alongside the big kids without getting in the way. So we all had a fun time!

Avery & Sierra warming up before class

A little warm up run

Avery dribbles down the field

Awaiting instruction from Coach Lisa

Getting ready to stop the ball

Sierra playing on Home Base

Labor Day Weekend

We have had such a great weekend! It started out with a little mini vacation. Thursday night we went out for a nice dinner and then we spent the night at a hotel in Sturbridge. The girls had a great time swimming in the indoor pool and hanging out in the hotel room. Then on Friday we went to The Ecotarium in Worcester. They have a small Children's Science Museum which the girls had fun exploring. We also went on a train ride which took us all around the Ecotarium and through a dark tunnel. It was pretty cool. There was also a lot of animal exhibits to see, including a polar bear. And we got to play on the playground too. It was a lot of fun!

Sierra & Avery relaxing at the pool

Avery checking out the wind exhibit

Sierra, Daddy, & Avery making a cool drawing

Sierra peaking in on the ferrets


Avery, our fearless leader, stops to check the map

Avery's getting ready to ride the train

Sierra & Mommy on the train

Avery on the train
Avery & Sierra in the sandbox


The Polar Bear


Then on Saturday we went to our friend Lauren's birthday party where we got to play with lots of friends from the neighborhood and jump around in the jump house. What a blast! And, finally, Saturday night we went to The Spencer Fair with Gracie and Jack. We got to see more animals including cows, bunnies, goats, horses, and chickens. Sierra loves looking at all the animals! Avery and Gracie went on the merry go round, a tug boat ride, and a big slide together. And they played one of the carnival games and each won a lovely toy horn. Avery and Daddy rode an elephant and Avery and Mommy went on the ferris wheel. Of course, Avery spotted the cotton candy stand from the top of the ferris wheel, which was the perfect ending to a fun night at the fair.

Avery, Gracie, Jack & Mark on the tug boat ride

Avery & Gracie playing the Catch a Duck Game

Avery & Gracie blowing their prize horns

Weeeee! Avery & Daddy on the Big Slide

Sierra checking out all the cows

Avery & Daddy riding an elephant

Avery & Mommy getting ready to ride the ferris wheel

What a fun ride!

A Fun Day at Davis Farmland

As usual, I am a little behind on my updates but I have to share these pictures from Davis Farmland from 2 weeks ago. The girls had such a blast. We started out by checking out all the farm animals. Of course we had to feed the goats right off the bat. Avery loved having them lick the food right out of her hand. And Sierra loved it, too. Except she was just picking mulch and dirt up off the ground and trying to feed it to them, which they weren't too happy about, but I was really impressed that she was not the least bit hesitant around the animals. Then we had a lot of fun looking at all the other animals, they were especially intrigued by all the chickens just walking around everywhere.

Avery feeding the goats

Sierra taking a turn

A demonstration on how long the animal's tongue is (Check out Avery in the corner)

Next we headed over to the Spray and Splash area. The girls both had a great time spraying and being sprayed with the water. And it was such a beautiful and hot day that I didn't mind it either.


Then after filling our bellies with lunch we made our way to the playground area. The girls had a great time climbing, sliding, crawling through tunnels, digging in sand, and making friends with lots of other kids.

We ended the day with an ice cream cone, of course, and a very quick face painting due to the melting ice cream cone. And, finally, a nice nap for the girls on the ride home and a nice quiet drive for Mommy. What a great day!

It's A Boy!

We are so excited to announce that Avery & Sierra's new cousin Luke Robert Smith Paradise was born this morning at 10:14 am. He weighs 8 pounds and is 19 inches long. Ami and Luke are doing great. Bobby said Luke looks just like his big brother Jack when he was a baby. We'll try to get some pictures to share.

Our Trip to Grand Haven

We had a great trip to Grand Haven, Michigan earlier this month. We stayed at a house right on Lake Michigan not too far from where Aunt Jacey and Paul live. It was the four of us, Aunt Jacey, Paul, and Gramma & Grampa. We had such a great time. The girls had fun on the beach everyday. They both loved playing in the sand and splashing in the water. Avery found lots of little girls to play with and Sierra had a great time digging in the sand (and eating a little too). We were also just a few blocks away from the marina where Paul has his boat so we were able to go over there and use the pool and hang out with Aunt Jacey and Paul's friends and their little girls. We also spent a little time in downtown Grand Haven which is a cute little town with lots of shops and restaurants. And one day while we were shopping we found out that the coach of The Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins was in town so we went over and met him and got his autograph. Then the next day Cory, Jacey & Gramma went back and got to see the Stanley Cup. It was pretty exciting! Here are just a few of the pictures we took of all the fun we had. Enjoy!

Everyone out on the Marina

A pretty Michigan sunset

Cute Sierra

Catching a glimpse of The Stanley Cup

Having fun on the beach

Avery in the sand

Sierra with handfuls of sand

More playtime at the beach

Family Photo

The Saylor Family

Cute Girls

Keeping Sierra entertained on the plane ride home.

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!