My Dearest Avery,
You're the best four year old I know. I realize I may be biased, but I really think so. We can tell that you're constantly trying to be a good girl. You test your boundaries and want to get your way but you're also always listening and trying to learn and get better.
As you started school, you moved to Mrs Clara and Mrs Ramona as your teachers. Mrs Clara is much more strict than your previous teachers so there was a bit of an adjustment at the beginning but you're learning. You are having trouble with one of your school friends, Barrett, so we're telling you to find a new friend but that's hard for you because you and Barrett used to get along so well. You're also using words like "fart" and "poppy face". We're teaching you to only use those words in the bathroom but the kids at school test the boundaries so so do you.
You've graduated levels in soccer and swim. You're really not all that interested in swim - you lose attention and make it difficult for the teachers to get you back involved. In soccer, you're getting much better at passing the ball and working with your teammates.
At the park, everyone comments on how nice you are to their kid and how beautiful your hair is. You like to feed your imaginary deer with leaves from trees. You also really like to play with your basketball hoop out front.
You've said some really funny and cool things lately too. You're going as Moana for Halloween - one day you told me, "Moana is strong like me". I can't tell you how proud I am that you said it that way. And you're right - the Disney princess is strong like you :) You've been listening to music in the car a lot and when "Thunder" came on once you said, "oh yeah".....haha, you're a rocker for sure! There was another time that dad was rushing to get you in the car to go somewhere - I was in the garage with Evan, and you told dad, "you just need to calm down". This is funny because I'm usually the anxious one, not dad. And you ALWAYS take your time getting into the car right now - I'm actually not surprised that it finally got the best of dad.
You can also spend hours on facetime with Grandma Gail. You love using the different picture frames around your faces to make you look like different things. Right now you can get special Halloween frames so that's been fun for you.
We went on a family road trip to Waco/Austin/Roswell/Portales for fall break. It was a blast and you were a very good passenger. We had a lot of fun and you made lots of good memories.
Here's your life in pictures right now....
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| Playing in the courtyard |
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| Reading to your brother |
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| He's always trying to take your toys |
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| Bestill my heart - I love you guys! |
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| Getting ready for the football season! |
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| Enjoying the morning in the backyard with Ellie |
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| Jazz hands help at the dentist |
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| At Alison's birthday party - you all dressed up as princesses |
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| Climbing around while I shopped at a vintage market |
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| We decided to picnic in the living room! |
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| Costco shopping! |
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| You love the baby shark song right now - including dancing to all the cool moves. So daddy got himself the appropriate shirt! |
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| Your favorite picture pose |
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| Trying to steal information for dad at the football draft |
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| Playing in Evan's room |
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| A scary sight! |
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| Ready for school! |
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| Getting new soccer shoes! |
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| You're learning to use scissors. Notice you've carefully placed all the little pieces of paper on each letter on the floor, you silly girl! |
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| Getting in some more "outside swim" time before the season ends! |
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| You've become very good! |
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| Playing with your brother outside |
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| Evan driving you to soccer practice! |
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| I don't know what's going on here but you set up all your stuffed friends around the console table behind the couch |
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| Swinging brother at the park! |
Here's us kicking off the football season in beautiful Arizona weather....
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| Poor dad - protecting the goods because we don't know how good your aim is yet! |
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| So cute....twinkies! |
Some photos from school, swim and soccer:
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| Just starting your new class....Octopus |
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| School Literature Night with Mrs Clara |
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| Elsa on Disney day for school |
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| School drop off |
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| First day pictures! |
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| All by yourself! |
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| Getting ready for the day! |
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| Traditional pre-soccer treat with dad! |
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| The two male coaches tried to fix your headband....let's just say they likely don't have daughters! |
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| School picture day! |
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| Silly even in the pool |
A small trip to Phoenix over Labor Day Weekend:
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| At the Arizona Science Center |
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| You and me doing some serious shopping while brother tries to steal food from my bag! |
And finally, the pictures from our road trip:
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| At the Austin Aquarium....it looked a little sketchy on the outside but was pretty cool and hands-on on the inside |
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| Feeding an alligator! |
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| One of my favorites! |
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| Feeding the sharks |
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| Lookin good! |
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| Ahhhh! |
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| Waiting for the bats in Austin! Dad and Evan had had enough but you and I were anxious for the bats! They took their time coming out so the pictures didn't turn out. |
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| Family picture day! |
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| Hotel playing! |
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| Shopping in Texas....what can I say! |
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| At Pottery Barn Kids....adding the Stein touch to the store haha |
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| Continuing with your tradition of picking out the loudest shoes to try on |
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| At cousin Rachel's animal rescue! |
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| At the Eastern game in Portales! |
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| Bon fire the night before the game! |
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| Checking yourself out! |
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| This is how we have fun in Portales while daddy works with the University |
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| Brother was a fan |
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| Pit stop on the road for some ice cream with dad! |
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| Road trip selfies! |
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| Aunt Lucia teaching you how to make empanadas! |
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| Getting into a game with grandpa! |
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| Showing your cousins how it's done! |
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| At University of Texas |
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| In Waco - getting real with the dinos! |
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| Hotel working out with daddy! |
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| You really did great! |
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| K-State game against Baylor...we lost in the last 15 seconds but we had loads of fun! |
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| Moved to the shade! |
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| At the original YETI store in Austin |
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| At the Zilker nature center in Austin - this place was way cool! |
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| Digging up dinosaurs |
We had a blast - lots of good family memories!
Avery, you're wonderful to have around. You're helpful with your brother, you pick up when we ask you to and you like to help us get things done around the house. When I'm watching you from a distance, at swim or soccer or the park or somewhere else, all we have to do is give each other a wink and a thumbs up to tell each other we're doing good. I love that instant connection with you from afar.
Love you will all my heart, babe.
Love,
Mom
