School's Out For Summer 2023!

 My Dearest Avery,

Oh my love, do you ever not have a quarter that seems so big, full of activity, excitement and change? This past quarter is no exception, my dear. You really knocked it out of the ballpark at soccer tryouts - and you made the Gold team again! Most of your team will join you again with a few exceptions. 

You finished the third grade with your project week in the coding group and you also had your ninth birthday party at Funtasticks. Your friends had a blast - we limited the group size so you could maximize the value and I think you really liked it that way.

When school let out, we went up to Great Wolf Lodge in Scottsdale and you and Evan really liked kicking off the summer that way. Then we headed to Boston so you could attend the Arsenal soccer camp there - you made some good friends and got coached by Coach Tan, the Arsenal Women's Team soccer coach! When you showed him and your group what Brazilian Toe Touches are, he was shouting "brilliant, Avery, brilliant" in his English accent! While it was mostly older boys in your group, you held your own and did really well and you LOVED going! You even took naps a couple of times after camp because it was so exhausting for you. 

We're back from Boston and you went to a birthday party at Elevate (a trampoline park) and caught your hand on a monkey bar, resulting in a buckle fracture of your wrist. You got the cast on yesterday and will wear it for three weeks. You're handling it ok thus far - you've picked a very pretty cast and it's water proof!

Your personality is evolving too. You're trying to make sarcastic jokes every now and then - you make good ones and not-so-good ones but you're learning. You mean no ill will - just trying to be funny. It's a sign you're growing up! You are exploring some individual time with your teammates more and more on your own (without family by your side) and you're working out daily to refine and strengthen your skills. You were facetiming a friend and dad overheard your friend talk about how she was going to say a bad word and you just said you didn't really see a need to use bad words (oh my heart). You're really a good kid!

Here's your life in pictures right now:

Easter baskets!

You call this an "old lady bag" so of course, the EB had to get you one ;)

Crayola Experience in Phoenix!

End of season team party!

Pool season!

Scottsdale fountains!

Tryouts!

New socks - early birthday present so you can wear them at tryouts!

Your birthday party at Funtasticks!

The girls really showered you with love!

Trampoline park!

Birthday cake! You wanted a strawberry cheesecake!

Claire's gift card made you so happy!

Summer reading!

Last picture with Evan as you drop him off at preschool - next school year he's at Basis with you!

Pinata, of course!

Mother's Day brunch!

Some of your Claire's swag!

Good dentist checkup!

The annual custom jersies came in!

Bringing Evan to flag football camp!

The new version of Toys-R-Us at Macys

Evan's graduation day...it was also your last day of school

Diamondbacks Game!

With snakes, of course!

Phoenix Children's Museum

Smoothies at GWL, of course!

Picnic with dad on a summer day

Regular family workout in the summer (minus mom)

Boston Tea Party museum!

Downtown Bosotn

You loved all of the pride month stuff on display in Boston!

The Boston Science Museum was cool - you loved Spot the robot!

Getting ready for our red eye!

You did NOT like it as much as you thought you would!

Yummy breakfast in downtown Boston

The same bench we ate on when you were one (in Boston's Qunicy Market)

Boston Aquarium!

Beautiful location for your soccer camp!

Red Sox vs Yankees and some great seats thanks to Raytheon & Aunt Ash!

Facilities at the boarding school where your camp was held

Making friends on the first morning!

Waiting for dinner in Cape Cod!

Initial meeting with the coaches for the week!

Bowling for the first time in Boston!

Getting ready for family pictures in the Cape!

Saying farewell to Coach Tan!

Vivien's birthday party!

Donuts for my birthday...a day after you hurt yourself and before we could get in for the cast

Fireworks July 3 at the FC Tucson soccer game!

You picked a beautiful cast - with glitter!

Fondue!

The day you hurt yourself - you were tired and in pain :(

Avery, you are always keeping us busy and on our toes trying to keep up with you. You're loving and sweet and really just the best personality we could ask for! Coming up we have two soccer camps (that you're ok and cleared to play in) and a trip to Kansas City to see family before fourth grade starts! You're also working on plans to take Dad to San Diego over Labor Day to see the Wave play (as a birthday gift to him). 

I love love love every moment with you.

All My Love,

Mom