Before and After

You know I love a good before and after..... Well this is my favorite to date:

This happened at school in the gym yesterday.

This happened today at the dentist!

The marvels of dentistry!!

Earz Peered

That's what we call it at our house, and look who got it done!

She was so brave, but at one point i noticed she was just holding her breath, and thought to myself.....she's gonna pass out! So once we addressed the breathing 'thing' she really did great!

She picked her birthstone for her earring studs.

And I'm sure this shows my age, but I was just astounded that this cost 50$$$. Crazy!

I added the last pick just for fun: This is Avery and Grace "playing around". That hurt a lot worse coming off!

Befores and Afters

Avery has been wearing glasses for almost 7 years! She's one of the most responsible kids I know. She started asking about getting contacts last year. Her original ped ophthalmology totally nix it, "absolutely not, she's not old enough". I wanted to just try, and the answer was still NO.

Before:

A couple months later Brian saw an eye doctor here in town and told him about Avery and her wanting to try contacts. He said absolutely! We went in for an apt and guess what, she got fitted for her first pair of contacts.

After: (with her Ophthalmologist)

The first time she put them in she said, "Mom, this is AMAZING! I can see out of the corner of my eye now. " Before with her glasses, she had little peripheral vision. When she said this it almost brought tears to my eyes.

She can totally put them in and take them out by herself! It's a game changer people! No more glasses getting shoved into her nose when she wrestles around with her siblings. No more glasses falling off her face when she goes down the slide and steps on them when she lands..... the list goes on and on. I'm just really excited for her and grateful for her Dr giving her this opportunity.

1st Days

3's Preschool4's preschool

Kindergarten 1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

1st Days

4's preschool

Kindergarten

First Grade

Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade
All I have is "wow" where has the time gone?

One of my favorite kid quotes is : " The days are long, but the years are short". So very true for me.

8

I can't believe this little girl is eight.

This kid is truly the light of my life most days!

Things about Avery:
She loves to read (currently reading Judy Moody)
She is a good sharer
She is so patient with her little sister
She is kind hearted
She hates to have her hair brushed
She loves listening to Mindy Gledhill and Miranda Crossgrove
She unloads the dishwasher by herself
She got an aquatic frog for her birthday
She can fall asleep at the drop of a hat




In true girl fashion we went to get our toenails done.

They were all loud and excited. Screaming and singing to music on the way there, but as soon as they sat down in the chairs, they acted as if they were in a library....no one talked. They all sat quietly. It was the funniest thing.

We're so lucky to have three of these girls live right across the street from us....and the other two within a mile of us. This has been such a wonderful childhood experience for Avery (and me) to have a "playground" of kids right out our door....and great kids at that!

They each got a design that was totally like their personality!

And topped it off at "Yo Top It".

Mary Poppins

I feel as if I have so much to catch up on and blog about from our Summer. So many pictures to go through.

This was one of the highlights for Avery and me. We attended the Mary Poppins Musical with our friends. I'm not a huge musical fan, but this was absolutely amazing. The scenery and props, with smoke, lighting that made it look like stars were coming out into the audience, and people 'flying' in the air. It was all so breath-taking. Avery was in heaven.

Avery and friend Grace.

After the play we went across the street to the fountain. It was so warm still at 10 o'clock at night, we couldn't resist.

Before the play, we took the girls to Cara Amicos. You can't tell by the picture, but it has a great view of downtown Portland.

Me and Emily. She is one of the best! Fun, positive, smart, and likes good music (my kind of good music) to boot. I love to hang out with her, whether it's riding in her Tahoe listening to our music loud, going to lunch or anthro together or playing dance party wii. She's one of those people that I am grateful to count as my friend. Enough corny things said!

Every Once in a While

I think I am doing a good job at this whole "motherhood" job.

I found this piece of paper in Avery's room on her desk. It made me so happy. I hope she still feels this when she is 16, 20, and even 40.....

Rumplestiltskin the Musical

Avery performed in a community musical recently. This was her first time doing anything like this and I could not believe how calm and 'professional' she managed to be in front of a crowd of 200 people! She had nearly 7 parts with a few lines in each part. When I first took a look at all of her lines, I thought she would probably have to use her sheet in the final play.... but she memorized all the the lines! I don't know if I could have done that. Avery and Dad with flowers after her performance.

Up on stage of the Newberg High School Auditorium.

Singing her solo in a small performance a few weeks prior to the final play.

Yes....these photos are really making me think I need to invest in a new camera.

The Question

Last night we were driving home from the beach late (that's for another post....) and Avery said, "Mom, can I ask you a question?" The tone and sincerity in her voice was so sensitive and curious that I thought for sure she was using this quiet moment to ask me where babies came from or some other question that I would have to stammer my way through....

I took a big breath and said, "sure, what is it?"

Avery responded, " Can you walk around when you are on an airplane?"

Oh to be a child and have the thoughts and worries that only children do....

Christmas Date

This years Christmas Date: The play "Annie" and Italian food in Downtown Portland.

This is something Avery, and Brian for that matter, look forward to all year. It truly is priceless.

It is the only time of year Avery actually asks me to 'do' her hair. I am usually in heaven! How I love those curls.

Ahhhh this red wool coat. How I wish I fit into it!