Winter Wonderland!

My Dearest Avery,

My sweet, sweet almost Five-year-old! There is so much to catch you up on.

You were Moana for Halloween....and you actually came home early with dad because you were cold! Ha, if we lived anywhere else you would've had to wear a turtleneck under your costume and a coat over it! You actually preferred to sit in the courtyard and hand out candy to others :)

In November, we went to Kansas for Thanksgiving. You got to spend some much needed time with your cousin Emma and your grandparents. You and Emma enjoyed eating together at the kids table. It was really cute - we've tried it before but this time it actually worked. And you asked her things like, "so, how was your day" as you two ate - you're growing up, kiddo!

At school, you're learning how to read and you know how to spell your first and last name (and some sight words). Out of nowhere one day, you spelled L-I-K-E. You're doing well but we can tell that you like to do things at your own pace - and you often won't admit that you know as much as you do. You're also singing Taylor Swift songs on the playground (We Are Never Ever Ever Ever Getting Back Together).

You had your second and last Preschool Holiday concert in December. I know lots of people hate these things but I could watch the videos from that night over and over and over again. You were one of the few kids who did ALL of the motions - even when Santa came in while you were singing "Here Comes Santa Clause", you didn't break in your motions (every other kid was way too distracted to care about motions). You had really big motions too - you were really into it - and, of course, we got there first so we could be front and center.

You also had a fabulous Hanukkah and Christmas. For Hanukkah you got to spin a wheel each night to pick what organization we donated to that night. For Christmas, you got Hatchimals, hair clips, a table and chairs in your room, a scratch off state map, and a karaoke machine. You LOVE the karaoke machine and really enjoy putting on shows for everyone (and your brother is your number one fan - he loves to sit right next to you and flap his arms while you sing). You are quite the performer too - you like to dance as you sing and point the microphone at your audience so they can sing along. My heart swells just thinking about it.

Grandma and Pop came to visit after Christmas. We got to play in the pool and have a snowball fight all in the same week! And we celebrated your brother's first birthday together. You care for your brother so well - you pick up after him and entertain him and tickle him. We've also caught you "patting" him just a little too hard, screaming because he's banging something so loud you can't hear your show, and sometimes getting too close into his face - so much so that he falls over! You generally mean well but we see you testing your boundaries sometimes.

You also got into a couple of different charter schools. While the public school you flow into is a great school, we have several other great schools around you too! The preschool you attend is a part of a PK-8 school system where kids learn a year ahead of where the public schools teach - you got into that school. And you also got into Basis, one of the best schools in the nation! I toured the school and think it's worth a try, although it's definitely not going to be a cakewalk. Just trying to give you the best possible start to life we can. Of course, I'm nervous for you, just like I was when you went from Ms Patsy's to Leman. I get anxious over these big changes for you - but so far you've handled them with such ease. If me bearing the anxiety is the price to pay for you taking the changes in stride, bring it on! I'd much rather that be on me than you.

Just a few other things you're doing lately: you like to "cuddle wuddle" for nap time with us, you don't like to let me leave when I drop you off at school, you like to play hair salon at school and take your hair out of its pony tail so it can be "beautiful" and you're constantly mimicking your dad and me. Watch out world, here Avery comes!

So, your dad decided to change the photo archiving system and I'm just getting used to it. Here's your life in pictures right now.....(completely out of order but I will try to do better next time).

We inherited fish from a neighbor. You named them Glitter and Sparkles from the Trolls movie

You're always up for entertaining your brother.....

And he ADORES you!

You clean up at night when Evan goes to bed and this allows you to play on electronics until bedtime.

Girlfriend is ready for soccer!

Saying hi to Mom, while she was on a work trip!

Petting a snake at the Arizona Science Museum

Snow! I woke you up to go outside and see it!

One of your favorite gifts is from Grandma and Pop - a karaoke machine. Evan loves to be your groupie!

You got another tool set for Christmas and love to pretend to fix stuff with it.

Already an Engineer! Using Evan's ball pit to your advantage!

You ask to hold him about once a day!

He usually does this to me when he's tired but I was on a work trip so he did it to you!

Santa came to visit the holiday party daddy hosted for his team at our house - you were so excited!

Helping dad make biscochitos.

First time in curlers on Christmas Eve!

Playing with gifts!

Christmas day in Tucson!

You both love Evan's new car!

Grandma and Pop came to visit right after Christmas and we went to Our Play Place.

Helping your brother with his first birthday gifts.

Snow fell on the mountains while Grandma and Pop were visiting so we had to partake!

You had a blast in the snow with Pop!

This was right before we went to Kansas City for Thanksgiving. We went to the Train Museum

Plane ride!

Valuable time with Emma!

Playing at Grandma and Pop's house on the lake!

What are these things?! We don't get to play in them in Tucson

We went for a few walks around the lake. Here you're with Pop, cousin Lillian and aunt Rachel

You chose the Vet costume!

Successful trip!

Working out with dad

About to get your hair cut

Haircut time!

You love your brother!

You love baths too!

Celebrating both holidays!

Two peas....

Checking out our new fire pit!

Beautiful!

Your holiday concert!

Swimming! You're learning to breath from the side when you do the "big scoops" or crawl stroke and the kicks associated with the other strokes

Birthday party fun!

Halloween trunk or treating!

ENMU had a basketball game with UofA so dad took you as his plus one!

Like a pro!

School costume parade!

Ready to go!

Playing with neighbors at a neighborhood tailgate party!

Brother serving you!

I'll get better at this new photo system. And hopefully blog more often. It's been a great winter and I can't wait to see what the next year has in store for you.

All my love,
Mom