My Dearest Avery,
We've had a crazy, non-stop few months! In September, you had your first soccer tournament ever and soccer just hasn't stopped since then. You're also doing horseback riding lessons weekly and coming to all of Evan's activities so it's just crazy! In October, we had Grandma Dotty and Pop in town to visit and we did all the things Halloween related. You got to go fishing with dad in November and then we went up to Flagstaff for Thanksgiving, meeting your Braune cousins up there to do the Polar Express and the North Pole Experience. After that, you had a big musical performance at school and you got recognized with the Responsibility Award from your teacher! Then came your other grandparents, Grandma Gail and Grandpa John for Evan's Webby dance and our holiday party. We finished out the year snowboarding in celebration of Evan's birthday and you were so brave in tyring it and getting back up when you fell - you really loved it!
You've grown into a "bigger" kid lately - saying things like, "is it just me..." and "oh my GOSH!" You like to laugh and joke a lot. Your best friend at school is Natalie - you two are stuck on each other right now which is cute to watch. You've started to self-teach yourself piano, since I put the keyboard back up in the playroom (Dad's got you linked to some free lessons on the iPad). We sold your Barbie stuff in exchange for some roller skates so you can skate with Evan (he got his for Christmas and although you said you didn't want any before, you became jealous). But you wanting to get rid of your Barbies was a shock for me.
We've questioned a couple of times if you still believe in Santa. Like, when we told you Santa wasn't going to be able to make it to the party, you acted like you were relieved...but after that you told me you believe in Santa still while we were on a walk together. You definitely have friends that don't believe anymore.
You've gotten crazy better at soccer and riding! You took a while to score your first goal in a competitive game but you finally did it in December and then the next game you score three goals! It's safe to say you've found your groove - just hope the holiday break didn't set you back any because you have two tournaments to start off January! And you're loping in your riding lessons! You're getting better at what to do when with your horse but it is still hard for you to concentrate on everything you need to do at once (it will get easier and become more natural with time). I'm just shocked at what one hour a week does - it's fantastic!
Here's your life in pictures right now....
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| You get some of the best sunsets at your tournament games in Kino Sports Complex |
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| Dropping Evan off at preschool (he likes taking a picture before going in - it's now tradition) |
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| Riding! |
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| Eegee's before a game! |
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| I get a lot of inactive pics because I'm so anxious during the action parts that I am not paying attention to the camera! |
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| So cute - your team! |
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| Here's an action one! |
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| Cheering Evan on at a t-ball game! |
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| Your hair has grown so long! |
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| We decided to make a ghost for our tree for Halloween! |
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| Mommy/Daughter walk! |
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| "Helping" to clean the courtyard |
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| You used to say you liked being goalie because you got more time playing but now that you're scoring, you say you don't want to be goalie - haha! |
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| Final product! |
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| We're still doing our family walks but they may not be EVERY weekend! We still try! |
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| Mommy/Daughter date to Dunkin! |
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| You were a Dark Beauty for Halloween! |
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| Grandma and Pop visiting in October! |
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| Tombstone! |
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| You have such a beautiful backdrop for riding! |
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| Marana Pumpkin Patch with the grandparents! |
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| Corn Maze! |
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| You and Evan are best friends right now! |
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| Disney on Ice show - you were SO captivated! |
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| Halloween party at Evan's school! |
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| CDO Soccer (your club) went to a UofA girl's soccer game one night - you had a blast! |
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| Costume night at practice! |
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| This is how we dress for the cold in Tucson! |
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| You really wanted a white pumpkin this year! |
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| Watching Evan play his soccer game! |
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| Fishing with Dad near Sonoita (and stopping at a winery on the way home) |
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| Spending time in Mesa while waiting for your soccer tournament - this was a cute little Mexican restaurant and we also went to the Natural History museum across the street! |
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| You somehow convinced your teammates to do ring around the rosie between games! |
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| You and Evan were the team's entertainment between games! |
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| This was when you received the Responsibility Award in your grade assembly at school! SO proud of you (Dad has been helping you with this a lot recently). |
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| You next to Natalie at school! |
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| When we went to Flagstaff for Thanksgiving, Uncle Will told us he had never been to the Grand Canyon, so we all went before hopping on the Polar Express! |
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| Prepping for Snowboarding! |
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| At the North Pole Experience |
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| We took you on a Parent/Avery morning to Elevate trampoline park and Bookman's for some comic books! |
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| Getting ready for your third grade performance at school! |
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| You were on the glock and spiel and you did great! You were pretty nervous before, though. |
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| Christmas PJ day at the last soccer practice of the year! |
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| You got a lot of books and gems and spa stuff for Christmas! |
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| Reading the letter from Santa! |
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| We did a lot of baking in December - this is banana bread with chocolate chips! |
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| Playing dreidel! |
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| Ha, a gift from Grandma Dotty and Pop! |
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| A Merry Christmas! |
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| Celebrating Evan's birthday! |
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| You were not a fan of the strawberry cupcakes with vanilla icing - lol, more for Evan! |
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| Heading to Snowbowl for Evan's birthday! |
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| You took snowboarding lessons! |
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| You loved it except you had a hard time keeping your board - twice you let it go and the second time you got a warning from the ski patrol! |
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| Bob travels from kid to kid in school and you got him for winter break - we took him everywhere and you wrote about it in a journal! |
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| One of my favorites - you and your cousins! |
Oh my dear Avery, time is flying by like crazy. You are such a busy girl but it's all good things and we're enjoying watching you learn and grow. When I ask you if I can keep you, you tell me yes and you also tell me you don't want to grow up. I tell you that it's my job to make sure you grow up into a good big person so I plan to do just that!
I'm so excited to see what 2023 has in store for you, Bave.
All my love,
Mom
