Friday, March 30, 2012
Kit!
Kit travels everywhere with us and Ava loves to coordinate outfits. This week she was surprised to get an early Easter surprise from Grandma.....matching jammies for her and Kit!
The Mister and Miss
What little helpers I have! They love to help clean.....and of course dressed in their Sunday best.....why not?
Bird Watchers
We set up a bird feeder several weeks ago that attracted birds such as cardinals and robins to feed on the perch we constructed out of wood. Ava was elated to see that birds actually came to visit and watched each day as our food supply diminished little by little. As we were watching one morning, we noticed a bird building a nest in the neighbors vent. We saw the bird make numerous trips inside the vent with pieces of grass, twigs and leaves. I explained that was how birds made nests. She was so interested in learning this, that she decided to record what she saw in a journal as she watched the bird. Of course Griffin didn't want to miss out and became the bird watcher's apprentice.
5 Years OLD brings many NEW things!
I listen to her talk and she sounds different.
Of course it's no different than last month when she wasn't five.
But I can't help but think it. She is more articulate, more knowledgeable, sassier.
We are on night 4 of sleeping without BB. She doesn't even know it. But I do. She has outgrown her blanket.
Two weeks ago, she asked to try to ride her bike without training wheels. It took a good 5 minutes and she was riding like she was 15.
About a week before she turned five, she sat in her room determined to read. She sat with all her BOB books that we checked out from the library and read about half of them. Ryan and I peeked in on her without her knowing and she sat there, more determined than we've ever seen her to learn something new and read. She read them to me later and allowed me to video her, so I need to remember to post the video. Reading. How is that time already?
Kindergarten registration is next week. And more than ever I want to home school her, lol. Mostly for my own selfish reasons, not that homeschooling isn't beneficial or something to laugh at, because I can absolutely see the benefits of it, it's just not where I think Ava would thrive. So off to school we will send her come this fall. But it isn't JUST school that made me cry in the middle of Target just thinking about it. It is that she is about to start LIFE. It doesn't matter what type of schooling or what age they start, there comes a point when they start to take on the responsibility of living and learning about life. Life lessons. Accountability for schoolwork, disappointment of being treated unkindly by peers, overwhelming feelings of making choices, discovering what you like and who you are, the list could go on and on. So it's not just that I'm sad that she's going to Kindergarten, I'm just sad that her innocence can't last forever because it can't, no matter how sheltered I may want to keep her. Life as we know it; play dates, outings to the library or the museum, trips to the toy store on a whim, is about to change. Gone are the days of doing as we please. However, I can honestly look back on the last five years with no regrets. We lived, loved, learned and most importantly, had fun. So onto this new adventure called school. I can promise that I won't allow life to end just because are days together will be shorter. We will make the most of it. Bring it.....school!
Of course it's no different than last month when she wasn't five.
But I can't help but think it. She is more articulate, more knowledgeable, sassier.
We are on night 4 of sleeping without BB. She doesn't even know it. But I do. She has outgrown her blanket.
Two weeks ago, she asked to try to ride her bike without training wheels. It took a good 5 minutes and she was riding like she was 15.
About a week before she turned five, she sat in her room determined to read. She sat with all her BOB books that we checked out from the library and read about half of them. Ryan and I peeked in on her without her knowing and she sat there, more determined than we've ever seen her to learn something new and read. She read them to me later and allowed me to video her, so I need to remember to post the video. Reading. How is that time already?
Kindergarten registration is next week. And more than ever I want to home school her, lol. Mostly for my own selfish reasons, not that homeschooling isn't beneficial or something to laugh at, because I can absolutely see the benefits of it, it's just not where I think Ava would thrive. So off to school we will send her come this fall. But it isn't JUST school that made me cry in the middle of Target just thinking about it. It is that she is about to start LIFE. It doesn't matter what type of schooling or what age they start, there comes a point when they start to take on the responsibility of living and learning about life. Life lessons. Accountability for schoolwork, disappointment of being treated unkindly by peers, overwhelming feelings of making choices, discovering what you like and who you are, the list could go on and on. So it's not just that I'm sad that she's going to Kindergarten, I'm just sad that her innocence can't last forever because it can't, no matter how sheltered I may want to keep her. Life as we know it; play dates, outings to the library or the museum, trips to the toy store on a whim, is about to change. Gone are the days of doing as we please. However, I can honestly look back on the last five years with no regrets. We lived, loved, learned and most importantly, had fun. So onto this new adventure called school. I can promise that I won't allow life to end just because are days together will be shorter. We will make the most of it. Bring it.....school!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
52 Weeks of Family Photos (February)
February 1, 2012
Getting ready for bed in Ava's room. Our nightly routine consists of dinner, bath in Ava's bath for both of them, family time in the playroom, reading books, rocking and tucking in. Griffin loves it when Ava comes into his room to rock with us. Some favorite books right now are.....Griffin: That's Not My Pirate, Goodnight Moon and Five Little Ducks and for Ava: whatever she picks up at the library, anything by Kevin Henkes and Fancy Nancy.
February 8, 2012 (Missing picture, will get)
Celebrating Ryan's 34th birthday. Aaron was coincidentally in town from Switzerland for a quick trip and was able to make it to celebrate also. We went to Salsa's, our favorite neighborhood restaurant and came back home to eat ice cream cake.
February 14, 2012
The day of love! Valentine's day. I loved treating the kids and surprising them all day long. It's not often we get to splurge like that and it's just so fun. The morning started out with hearts lined outside of Ava's door telling her something we love about her, which led her to her gift of a purring kitty cat, bubbles and mini m&m's. Later that day I picked up a cookie cake and surprised them after dinner. So much fun!
February 22, 2012
It was the year of the nonexistent winter. With temperatures in the 60's, 70's, 80's as early as January, we have spent a vast majority of our afternoons outside playing with neighbors in the cul-de-sac. The kids insist I ride along on the equipment with them, and I can't say that I mind.
February 26, 2012
An early birthday celebration for Ava. Gigi and Poppy wanted to take Ava to the American Girl Doll store the weekend before her birthday because they knew that it would probably be too much for her to go on her actual birthday with her party and everything. She might have been on overload! She had a great time and picked Kit as her doll and Kit hasn't missed a thing since we've had her. She enjoys grocery shopping, puppet shows, movies, parks, and the library, to name a few.
Getting ready for bed in Ava's room. Our nightly routine consists of dinner, bath in Ava's bath for both of them, family time in the playroom, reading books, rocking and tucking in. Griffin loves it when Ava comes into his room to rock with us. Some favorite books right now are.....Griffin: That's Not My Pirate, Goodnight Moon and Five Little Ducks and for Ava: whatever she picks up at the library, anything by Kevin Henkes and Fancy Nancy.
February 8, 2012 (Missing picture, will get)
Celebrating Ryan's 34th birthday. Aaron was coincidentally in town from Switzerland for a quick trip and was able to make it to celebrate also. We went to Salsa's, our favorite neighborhood restaurant and came back home to eat ice cream cake.
February 14, 2012
The day of love! Valentine's day. I loved treating the kids and surprising them all day long. It's not often we get to splurge like that and it's just so fun. The morning started out with hearts lined outside of Ava's door telling her something we love about her, which led her to her gift of a purring kitty cat, bubbles and mini m&m's. Later that day I picked up a cookie cake and surprised them after dinner. So much fun!
February 22, 2012
It was the year of the nonexistent winter. With temperatures in the 60's, 70's, 80's as early as January, we have spent a vast majority of our afternoons outside playing with neighbors in the cul-de-sac. The kids insist I ride along on the equipment with them, and I can't say that I mind.
February 26, 2012
An early birthday celebration for Ava. Gigi and Poppy wanted to take Ava to the American Girl Doll store the weekend before her birthday because they knew that it would probably be too much for her to go on her actual birthday with her party and everything. She might have been on overload! She had a great time and picked Kit as her doll and Kit hasn't missed a thing since we've had her. She enjoys grocery shopping, puppet shows, movies, parks, and the library, to name a few.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Ava's 5th Birthday Party!
Months and months ago, Ava asked if she could have a "baking party" this year for her birthday. The kids cooking place is just around the corner from her school so we see it several times a week. It was a great team-building experience for her and her classmates and neighbors to make pizza dough and decorate cupcakes and just hang out and be silly. Ava felt so special and was thrilled to feel so loved. I enjoyed sitting back and watching it all. She is getting so big right before me eyes. Happy birthday, Ava
21 Month Update
This is my absolute favorite age right now. So much learning is happening, so many new words are attempted and spoken, and much more understanding than we will ever know.
Griffers changes the dynamic of our family in such wonderful ways, as every child does when they become a part of a family. I love watching him through Ava's eyes and seeing how much adoration and love she has for him. He brings us constant joy and laughter, sometimes intentional and other times, just by his being, he is too cute for words.
My favorites:
I hope to always remember his secrets. He'll get right up to our ears and now whispers his version of "I love you too". I love his sweet breath.
At the risk of sounding strange, I hope to always remember the way he smells. I love to nuzzle against his neck when he clenches his hands around mine, and smell his sweet scent, because we all know he won't smell this way forever.....or even next year.
I love how self-sufficient he is becoming. I was in the kitchen the other day when I saw him sneeze in the other room. Before I could get up to get him a tissue, he ran over and got one himself and wiped his nose AND THEN went to the kitchen, opened the cabinet and threw it away. Daily tasks like these that require independence make me realize what a little boy he really is.
He is officially obsessed with helicopters. He'll go on and on about the one that Uncle Aaron has (who he calls "bobo" b/c that is what Aaron calls him,lol) and pat his head and make propeller noises, mimicking the remote control one that flies near his head. He picked out helicopter books at the library and will seriously sit and look at them for 15 minutes.
He is speaking more 2 sentence words, adding mommy to most words....."mommy moo moo" (smoothie), "mommy man" (sees a construction worker), "mommy siiiide" (outside). Some of his newest cute words are "she she"(sissy), "saw-wee"(sorry--we all love the way this one sounds and we try to get it out of him as much as possible b/c it sounds so cute!), "Bunny" (either Barney or bunny snacks), "Shoes", "you-kay?" (are you okay?) and "peez" (please).
Griffin's favorite food right now is smoothies, which we add all sorts of fruits and veggies to. He still won't eat many vegetables, raw or cooked, so we add them to smoothies together. Ava likes all sorts of combinations as well. Thanks to the Vitamix from the Easter Bunny, smoothies are a staple.
I bought him some hand-me-down Toy Story shoes from a friend and he loves them! When he first started wearing them he had to show everyone his shoes. He was so proud.
Griffers changes the dynamic of our family in such wonderful ways, as every child does when they become a part of a family. I love watching him through Ava's eyes and seeing how much adoration and love she has for him. He brings us constant joy and laughter, sometimes intentional and other times, just by his being, he is too cute for words.
My favorites:
I hope to always remember his secrets. He'll get right up to our ears and now whispers his version of "I love you too". I love his sweet breath.
At the risk of sounding strange, I hope to always remember the way he smells. I love to nuzzle against his neck when he clenches his hands around mine, and smell his sweet scent, because we all know he won't smell this way forever.....or even next year.
I love how self-sufficient he is becoming. I was in the kitchen the other day when I saw him sneeze in the other room. Before I could get up to get him a tissue, he ran over and got one himself and wiped his nose AND THEN went to the kitchen, opened the cabinet and threw it away. Daily tasks like these that require independence make me realize what a little boy he really is.
He is officially obsessed with helicopters. He'll go on and on about the one that Uncle Aaron has (who he calls "bobo" b/c that is what Aaron calls him,lol) and pat his head and make propeller noises, mimicking the remote control one that flies near his head. He picked out helicopter books at the library and will seriously sit and look at them for 15 minutes.
He is speaking more 2 sentence words, adding mommy to most words....."mommy moo moo" (smoothie), "mommy man" (sees a construction worker), "mommy siiiide" (outside). Some of his newest cute words are "she she"(sissy), "saw-wee"(sorry--we all love the way this one sounds and we try to get it out of him as much as possible b/c it sounds so cute!), "Bunny" (either Barney or bunny snacks), "Shoes", "you-kay?" (are you okay?) and "peez" (please).
Griffin's favorite food right now is smoothies, which we add all sorts of fruits and veggies to. He still won't eat many vegetables, raw or cooked, so we add them to smoothies together. Ava likes all sorts of combinations as well. Thanks to the Vitamix from the Easter Bunny, smoothies are a staple.
I bought him some hand-me-down Toy Story shoes from a friend and he loves them! When he first started wearing them he had to show everyone his shoes. He was so proud.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
The American Girl Doll Experience
Ava has been to the AGD Store several times, but has never shown a real interest in getting a doll. However, recently when she learned that Gigi and Poppy were going to get her one for her fifth birthday, we have been researching online which one she'd like. The choices are plentiful; will she have long hair? brown eyes? freckles?
Well, Aves decided she wanted a shorter haired doll b/c Katherine's (her knock-off version) hair "gets too tangled and hard to brush". Nice logic, I like it. She also decided that she wanted a pre-named doll, one that comes with a story and book to go along with it. She said she had to have Kit! She fell in love with her. And sure enough, once we got to the store and showed her every doll imaginable, she insisted, "I'll just cry if I don't get Kit", in a most dramatic tone.
Once she picked Kit out, they got matching outfits and Ava changed into hers immediately at the store. We ate a great lunch and even had an early birthday cake brought to our table. Ava loved the experience and I'm so very glad we waited until she was ready to get the doll so that she could fully enjoy the experience.
Well, Aves decided she wanted a shorter haired doll b/c Katherine's (her knock-off version) hair "gets too tangled and hard to brush". Nice logic, I like it. She also decided that she wanted a pre-named doll, one that comes with a story and book to go along with it. She said she had to have Kit! She fell in love with her. And sure enough, once we got to the store and showed her every doll imaginable, she insisted, "I'll just cry if I don't get Kit", in a most dramatic tone.
Once she picked Kit out, they got matching outfits and Ava changed into hers immediately at the store. We ate a great lunch and even had an early birthday cake brought to our table. Ava loved the experience and I'm so very glad we waited until she was ready to get the doll so that she could fully enjoy the experience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)