Avery's first day of school

Avery started kindergarten today. It was bittersweet to see my little girl all ready to go to school. I do think it was easier because she'd spent so much time in daycare and preschool. It was the backpack, though. She's never needed one, and it made her look so grown up. We had a special breakfast and made a big deal out of her going. I missed taking her to school because of work, but Daddy did a good job of taking pictures and keeping me posted.

Avery and little brother before she goes to her classroom. 

Our big little girl

Everyone gets pictures taken with our school girl. 

Asher's personality

I love Asher's sense of humor. He's not only very silly, but he's a right out there kind of guy, and it cracks us up. The other day he was looking for my iPod, on which he loves to play Angry Birds. I don't mind him playing in the car, or when we're waiting for something but I don't love him playing it when there are plenty of other, more stimulating things for him to be doing. So, sometimes I take it and 'hide' it from him. The other day, he asked me if I knew where it was. Well, it was on a ledge right behind him, so I took it and acted like I took it right out of his ear. He looked at me like I was magical, and asked me how I did it. I smugly shrugged and told him I could do just about anything. The next day he was looking for it again (the fact that he needs to look for just about everything is fodder for another post), and after I repeatedly told him I didn't know where it was he came close to me and asked me to look in his ear! Of course, I couldn't resist pulling it off the shelf again and pulling it out, only to hear him tell me that he KNEW it was in there. As funny as it was (I'm chuckling three days later), it does speak to his excitement and absolute trust that he has in what he sees. It's made it easy for us to trick him into thinking he has a magical finger that can turn the television on and off, as well as windshield wipers and even our car (thanks to the automatic starter). His enthusiasm and bright smile make even the silliest things seem special. We are truly blessed to have such a funny (and smart) little guy.

Asher turns 4

Today Asher turned 4.  This was a big day for him in a lot of ways! He'd been talking about it forever, and we'd been playing it up as the day when he would start being more of a big boy. So, to our surprise, in addition to being his birthday it was also the day he swam for the first time in the pool without a life jacket. He went all day without having a potty accident, and he woke up this morning with a dry pull-up.

We invited a handful of people over for his birthday party.  I try to make the kids' birthday cakes myself, and when I asked him what he wanted me to make, he told me he wanted a world cake. The world, really? Yep, the world. And he didn't waiver. So, I toyed with ideas of making a globe, or a flat map (which would have been infinitely easier), or a combination of the two.  Because he likes Diego,  I decided to incorporate Diego into the cake, and came up with this: 



Grandpa Ron, Aunt Linda, Uncle Richard, Michael, Nate, Katie and Max and Molly came over that evening. I made my famous (cop out because it's easy) shredded chicken and slaw for dinner and cake for dessert. Asher loved opening all his gifts and it was a very nice evening.

It's hard to believe that my baby boy is four. He is really a high energy little guy that always keeps us hopping- but he can be very snuggly and loving. He's always the first one up in the morning, coming to get me by tapping on me til I roll over or coming down in the basement to find me on the treadmill. He is shy in public and when he first meets someone but within a few minutes he warms up and acts like he's known you forever. I can't wait to continue to watch him continue to grow- learning things and becoming stronger. He's a light in our family and we all love him very much.

Sickies weekend

We had a bit of a sickie weekend at our house. Asher had a pretty high fever on Thursday night then all day on Friday. Saturday he still wasn't feeling well, but he was a bit better. I went grocery shopping and made minestrone and meatballs (two separate meals) when I got home. The kids were outside helping Jamie plow the driveway (we actually did have enough to plow, probably four inches worth). 

We had a sleepover in our bedroom, and Avery slept on our floor snuggled in about fifteen blankets. She woke up in the middle of the night thirsty and coughing a pretty bad sounding cough. Sure enough the next morning *she* was sick and running a fever. We were going to get together with the Coadys but canceled (again... we were supposed to get together Friday but Asher was sick) and ended up just hanging around the house all day. I think Avery watched TV all day and I got to spend a few hours in the basement going through boxes.

Avery's a star!

Tonight at gymnastics class, Avery won a "Star of the Week" award. The teacher gave it to her because when she was hanging from the bar she is the one that got her feet up into the air the farthest. The look on her face when she got her little certificate and pencil was priceless! She was so proud of herself, she wanted to call Granny and Papaw to tell them... AND she finally had something to bring to show and tell tomorrow!

Something cute.. when we were standing there before class, she was watching all the other girls in their classes. Some of them are really good! But she was just looking down on them from the balcony and I heard her say "I just can't believe I'm here." How sweet is that??!

Happy New Year

We just came off a really fun weekend. The kids went to school on Thursday and I got to stay home. Even Jamie was gone, giving me the rare opportunity to actually be ALONE. I got a bit of house cleaning done, which is always good to do when the kids aren't around. I also went grocery shopping so I didn't have to do it on the weekend. I nearly cried when I couldn't find the car after ten minutes of wandering around the parking lot with NO coat on. I swear I'm losing it... 

Friday was a weird weather day. It was warm and wet, then it started raining and ended up raining all day. Mom and Paul dropped by on their way to Florida to drop off a few things and to say goodbye. When Avery asked why they went to Florida, Asher answered that Papaw doesn't like the snow, which is funny and pretty true. He was upset when they only stayed less than an hour, but after a few minutes on the Wii he was back to his old self. We got to go out a little bit, and Jamie brought in some wood, but we spent a lot of the day inside playing games. The kids especially liked the rainbow jenga game and the Hungry Caterpillar game. We made yummy pizza for dinner. 

Saturday it got colder and it was snowy. We all spent time picking up things and packing away the last of the Christmas stuff. The kids got to go swimming, which always tires them out so we had a good 'quiet time' of Asher sleeping in front of one TV and Avery and I watching another one (I actually got to drift off a few times... although Avery did keep saying "mom... I love you" which she does sometimes when she's content). Asher finally got to try out his new shaving kit, which he's been wanting to do since Christmas. 

Asher and Avery also discovered sleepovers. Saturday night it was on Asher's floor and Sunday night it was Avery's bed. I was surprised at how well they did together, and was even more surprised they wanted to do it in the first place. 

Sunday Avery and I left to go to church together. Unfortunately they didn't have an 1115 service because of the holidays, so we wandered around and looked at the kids' area. It seems like a nice church, so I hope Jamie comes with me once and we can all go together. That's the dream anyway. So, Avery and I ended up going to a movie together. Gulliver's Travels. It was just okay and furthered my commitment to the fact that 3D movies SUCK. We both hate them and they're more expensive. I hope this is just a fad- there are so many out there that are 3D though, just as we're starting to go to more movies. 

The weekend ended with a fairly sucky dinner. I try to make a nice dinner on Sunday but Jamie wanted fondue so I went with leftovers for the kids and fondue for us. I have my tried and true recipe that calls for emmenthaler and gruyere, but only had gruyere and asiago. Bad bad bad idea. Bleh. I did make half a dozen meatloaves and a salmon loaf and some taco meat for later this week... yes, a ground beefapalooza! I like prepping food for the week, but it sure makes for a long day in the kitchen!

First gymnastics class

Tonight was the kids' first official gymnastics (or nimakskiks, per Asher) class. The kids were so excited, neither one of them wanted much dinner. 

Asher is signed up for a class 15 minutes before Avery's- so we arrived a little early and looked around. There were tons of people there! I was really surprised. 

Asher is the only one in his group. His 'coach' Kristen let Avery go to the pre-K room to help him get adjusted. Sure enough, a couple minutes later she emerged sans Asher who she said was doing just dandy. Her class started just after that and there was one other little girl in there. They went downstairs and we got to watch her hopping and stretching. They went over onto the bars and hung upside down then worked on backward somersaults and cartwheels. Asher soon came onto the floor- the only boy in a sea of young girls- and began doing the same thing. 

It sure was cool watching the kids listen to their teachers, take turns and follow directions. They both had a fantastic time and can't wait for next week.