August Instagrams

8.7.2014

Love having a little garden!

8.13.2014

Had this cute view while making lunch today.

8.16.2014

Soaking in the last days of summer with a neighborhood s'mores party.

8.18.2014

I know the day will come when she will be way too cool to hold her mom's hand at the store...so when that little hand grabs mine, I hold on tight! #avri

8.24.2014

A little Sunday afternoon tea party.

8.26.2014

This little cutie is off to 2nd grade!!

8.29.2014

Our cute Kindergartener!!

Back to School

The girls got to be pampered at Aunt Lindsay's salon for back to school haircuts. We gave Emery a darling bob, Avri had a few inches trimmed off, and even Claire got a little trim. We love going to see Aunt Linny and getting all dolled up!!

The girls had Back to School Night on Monday. We visited classrooms, dropped off school supplies, talked to teachers, and a few other things. They were both really excited, but a little timid too. 

Avri had her first day of school on Tuesday. She was so excited!! She had a great day, loved being back with friends and back to learning new things. She loves her teacher, Ms. McNabb, and is super excited for the mystery class pet they will be getting next week!

Emery's first day was on Friday. She couldn't wait!! She looked adorable, and after some pictures and dropping off her backpack, she was out on the playground with Avri! Ave was an excellent big sister and watched out for Emery and rode home with her on the bus. I'm excited for all the ways the girls will learn and grow this school year!

Snippets

Here are some other random happenings from May...

Movie night!

 

We love getting out for walks!

Emery loves her scooter and zips around on it so fast!

 

"Decades Day" for Spirit Week at Avri's school. 

Not too bad for throwing it together the night before, right? ;)

Emery had her end-of-the-year program for Pre-School. Next stop: Kindergarten!!

Avri received the Outstanding Reading Award at a school assembly. Go Avri!

I do hate posting this, but it may be the only baby bump picture I share this pregnancy. I am growing astronomically--every inch of my body! This bump is only 15 weeks!!

These three cuties and I packed a picnic lunch and picked Dad up for lunch at the park. 

My friend put together a Mommy-Daughter date one evening. We went to Rio 2 and then out for frozen yogurt. So fun to have some time with the two older girls.

Pulling Teeth

Avri was dying to get her second loose tooth out. Especially since the new tooth was already growing in behind it! One night that James was home he agreed to pull it out.

First they tried the string trick....but it didn't work. It kept slipping off her tooth.

Then James pulled out his Leatherman. Seriously. He used the pliers and after a couple attempts finally got the tooth out!! Avri wrote another note to the Tooth Fairy asking to keep her tooth. The Tooth Fairy complied...unwillingly. ;)

Avri's Birthday

Every year I am in denial about how old Avri is turning!! SEVEN! She was so excited and is already even more excited to turn 8 next year! :)

The morning of Avri's birthday she got to open a few gifts before school, including a new outfit and earrings.

Emery, Claire and I had great plans to pick Avri up from school with birthday signs and surprise her. Well...we didn't get there early enough to stake out a spot, so we had to just show her our signs in the car. ;)

Later that afternoon we met up with Dad to finally see the movie Frozen. The girls were in heaven and LOVED it.

After the movie it was dinner, then back home for a couple more gifts and birthday cake of course!!

Hopefully Avri had a special day. We are so grateful she is in our family!!!

An umbrella!!!! Avri has wanted one forever and her dreams finally came true! :)

Happy Birthday Avri

Happy Birthday to this cutie pie who is growing up too fast. Avri loves school, reading, writing stories, playing outside, helping mom and dad, and has a growing testimony of the gospel. I often finding her reading her beloved copy of The Book of Mormon. She is an easy-going, kind girl who desires to make good choices. I sometimes forget that she's only 7, because she usually acts and talks like she's older. We sure love this girl and all she is, and is becoming. She loves to ask questions and learn new things. She loves to go to the library, and she almost always checks out informational books on nature and animals. She is a great helper and is great to help out with dishes, sweeping, etc. She still has the hardest time falling asleep at night, but is an early riser. She does have a stubborn side and can give some sass when she wants to, but overall she is just a sweetheart. She also has a very goofy side, but she reserves this for only close family members. :) She loves to pick out her outfits and do her own hair. She has mastered the ponytail and is working on braids. Although she is so "grown up" she still loves to snuggle and be mommy and daddy's little girl from time to time.

Here are her birthday questions:

What’s your favorite color?  I like all the rainbow colors.
What's your favorite animal? I would say puppy.
What's your favorite book? Magic Treehouse
Favorite food? Chicken Noodle Soup…that’s homemade.
Least Favorite Food? Peppers
Favorite movie? Frozen
Favorite song? I Feel My Savior’s Love
Favorite part of the day? School
Where is your favorite place to go? Beach
What's your favorite thing to do? Read, play
What are you good at? Reading, making people happy, making people laugh,
What do you want to be when you grow up? A mom, a person who learns about animals
Who is your best friend? Millie
What makes you happy? Home, parents, family, jokes, playing with friends
What makes you sad? When I can’t play outside
What’s your favorite toy (thing) to play with? My sisters
What was your favorite thing about being 6? I lost a tooth!
What are you most excited about for being 7? Another loose tooth, to go to 2nd grade.

The long-awaited day finally came!!! Avri lost her first tooth!! She has been looking forward to this for months and months!! On Sunday while we were watching the First Presidency Christmas Devotional, Avri told me her tooth was hurting. I took a look inside and found out why--it was loose!! She was SO excited and wiggled it like crazy for the next few days. Yesterday, while she was over playing at the Evans', Nate told her he would give her $10 if she let him pull her tooth out. For some reason this didn't sound like an appealing deal to Avri, but it did motivate her to pull it out herself!! She came home with her bloody tooth wrapped in tissue and a huge smile with one less tooth!!

She left the Tooth Fairy this note...

The Tooth Fairy reluctantly obliged and left her tooth, a $1 bill, and a receipt. She was a very happy girl!

Love getting my money's worth... ;)

Avri: 2010, Claire: 2013

Cutie pie school girls...

Rocking their pose of choice. :)

First Day of School: Avri

Avri's first day of 1st grade was today! She has been SO excited for this day to finally get here! She laid out her outfit last night, took a shower, got her nails painted, and received a special father's blessing on Monday night. She has had a hard time sleeping the past several nights, so I've been worried about her getting a good night's rest. Sure enough, sometime in the middle of the night she came and took James' spot in our bed (he was at work). Luckily she slept the rest of the morning and woke up all by herself ready to get to school. I was able to go in her class with her, deliver her school supplies, meet her teacher, and take lots of pictures. :) She clung to my hand the whole morning and when I asked if she wanted me to go yet she told me no, she was nervous. I stayed with her as long as I could, and was happy as can be walking around holding hands. I tried to give her some encouragement and to remember that most of the other kids were probably feeling the same way, so she should be brave and help make others feel better which in turn would help her feel better too. She ended up having a great day, made new friends, and is excited to go back tomorrow! So bittersweet sending her off all day, everyday, but I know she will do great and will learn and grow so much. We sure love our Avri!!

I wish our hands were in the picture...she was holding onto mine with both of hers. So sweet. So glad she still needs her mommy sometimes. :)

Day at the Salon

Avri and Emery have been begging for a day at Aunt Linny's salon (and I was anxious for it too!!) Since we were up for Grandma's Back-to-School sleepover, it worked out great to fit that in to our weekend too. The girls both got trims and loved getting pampered by Lindsay. Lindsay-thank you for fitting us in to your busy schedule and working your magic on our hair. :)

Avri's "selfie" after she got her hair done.

Emery looking nice and relaxed while Ave helped Lindsay rinse her hair.