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.

13.1 x 3

1st Days

So as not to be out done by her siblings just because she isn't in grade school yet......

3's Preschool

4's Preschool

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".

The Last Day of Summer

To celebrate the last night of summer the kids were invited to a back yard fire, to roast marshmallows, make smores, and a read Harry Potter under the stars.


This was their invitation in the morning:


Before we started reading though, I made them tell me some of their highlights from the summer:




Disneyland (this happened in May before school got out)

Playing at the Beach with Friends

Our friends from Texas coming to visit

Playing outside in our yard with neighborhood friends

Swimming in our friend's pool

Camping (jake's)

The Cousins

Going to the cabin

Going to the fountains


I really did have a fun summer and for the first time am starting to feel like this childhood phase (the phase that has been my life for the last 10 years) of parks and fountains and meeting friends for lunch is almost over.... I caught a glimpse of them getting older, and not wanting to hang out with their mom. I had a twinge of sadness on this night. The night was warm, the stars were out, there was no sand in our smores.... I tried to soak it in.















Grace and her baby Elizabeth.