My Dearest Avery,
Continuing with the latest theme, you've had a very busy fall 2021! You were a Dia De Los Muertos skeleton for Halloween and we hosted a trunk at your school's trunk or treat. In November, we took a trip to Kansas City to have Thanksgiving with my side of the family and meet Benjamin who was born earlier that month. You absolutely loved your time playing with Emma. And then in December, Grandma Gail and Grandpa John came to visit, we had Santa over, then we went to the North Pole through the Flagstaff portal and finally for Evan's birthday we went to the Scottsdale Princess hotel for the festivities up there!
School has taken some twists and turns the past few months, as COVID cases are spiking again. Basically every other second grade class had most or all students quarantined at some point along the way but your class happens to be the best masking class in second grade. They canceled clubs and student hours for November and December to curb the risk and now there is a mask mandate for the next two months. I know you enjoy club so hoping things can start back up again at some point soon. You got your COVID shot in November to prepare for going to KC (we could only get the first one before the trip but we'll take what we can get at this point) and you got your second shot early in December. You didn't like the idea of getting the shot but you studied the specific side effects and it helped you identify how you were feeling, which gave you something to concentrate your nervous energy on.
You're still doing your chores and getting used to the fact that work comes before play. You are, however, enjoying the money that comes with chores! You just bought a charm necklace with your own money! You're also a really great big sister. You play with and care for your brother so well. You get mad at each other but you really love him deeply and you petition for him when he's in trouble even if he's in trouble for something he did to you!
You are very analytical when it comes to serious things....kids have started talking about Jesus at school and you feel like an outsider so we've been talking with you about that. You like to dab and sing "baby" when you're making up songs (and your voice is getting more operatic when you sing). You're starting to not want to share everything about your day with us but you seem to still say your favorite place to be/thing to do is be with your family.
You've decided you're not sure if you're going to be an astronaut because I told you that your family can't be with you when you're in space :( I mean, maybe by then we will be able to be with you but it's not likely. I tried course correcting and telling you that you can "Facetime" with us back on earth but that didn't seem to make up for my first comment (oops)! We're still going to try looking into Space camps this summer.
Here's your life in pictures right now.....
 |
| Evan likes taking pictures as he enters his preschool so you get to join in on the fun! |
 |
| Arts and crafts! |
 |
| Still doing our walks when we can! |
 |
| Soccer! You and Evan are so cute together and you're getting SO GOOD at soccer, along with all of your teammates! |
 |
| You two always sit next to each other at the end of practice huddles! |
 |
| Fire pit dinner and s'mores! |
 |
| Corn maze! |
 |
| Petting zoo except one was violent so we left quickly ha! |
 |
| Fun times together?! |
 |
| Mt Lemmon fun! |
 |
| We turned caterpillars into butterflies! |
 |
| Christmas picture outtakes! |
 |
| Halloween! |
 |
| Believe it or not, your pumpkin is still going strong in our courtyard! (Evan is having a hard time saying goodbye) |
 |
| Our trunk at trunk-or-treat! |
 |
| Your take on Halloween! Good news is you still like the small buckets and you still say it's time to go home when your bucket starts getting heavy! |
 |
| ENMU came to Tucson again for a game with UofA so dad took you to visit with the alumni! |
 |
| Sidewalk chalk with the neighbors! |
 |
| Teaching me Pok-e-mon! |
 |
Thanksgiving weekend at Grandma Dotty and Pop's house!
|
 |
| Your "style" - shorts over pants! |
 |
| Sleepover with the cousins! |
 |
| Grandma Gail and Grandpa John visiting! |
 |
| Baby Benjamin! |
 |
| SANTA! He did the macarana with you! |
 |
| Movie night with new stuffies! |
 |
| Oh my heart at soccer! |
 |
| While waiting our turn for the North Pole, we visited the Grand Canyon! |
 |
| Homework....even at the hotel! |
 |
| Winterhaven with Ms Laura and Mr Don! |
 |
| Mad because I'm winning! |
 |
| New boots! You're always stylin! |
 |
| On the bus to the North Pole! (we were the only family masked - sigh) |
 |
| Stamps in your national parks passport! |
 |
| Helping the elves! |
 |
| Breakfast before heading back home! |
 |
| Scottsdale Princess! |
 |
| Evan's Spiderman cake! |
 |
| You FINALLY got your Barbie Dream Camper! |
 |
| Make-up! |
 |
| Christmas morning! |
 |
| Fun at the Science Center! |
 |
| McCormick Train! A fave! |
 |
| Waiting for lunch! |
Avery, you are definitely the sweetest girl I know. You're very caring, inquisitive and fun! You like to have a good time, show off your style and take care of others. I love your big heart!
All My Love,
Mom
