Avery 1st Days of Preschool at CDC & HGBC

Avery had 2 "1st days of preschool", today and yesterday. Avery is going to 2 different preschools... 3 days a weeks at Hunter's Glen Baptist Church (CLC) and 2 days a week at our church, Christ United Methodist (CDC). We chose the two different schools because we feel they each provide different areas that we feel are important. HGBC offers a strong, rich bible based curriculum, and our church offers a strong academic curriculum. Also, we feel Avery attending preschool 5 days a week will be beneficial to her since she has such a late birthday and is the youngest for her grade level. Hopefully this will give her a 'boost' academically and socially so she is more than ready when it is time to attend kindergarten.

So yesterday was her first day at CDC and today her first day at HGBC. She was so excited both days and seemed to feel like such a big girl. She seemed confident and thrilled to go to school each day. She is familiar with both schools as she went to HGBC last year and has been attending Sunday school and other events at our church since birth. My heart strings were pulled once I realized my baby would be at school five days a week, all day, 9 am-12 pm! This may be more of an adjustment for me than for her!

"Prepping" for her 1st day of preschool the day before school starts.

1st day at CDC

Avery with mommy walking to her classroom at CDC.


Putting her school bag in it's spot.



1st day of preschool at HGBC-CLC.


Excited to go inside her school.

With her teacher, Mrs. Gina.

Our Little Ballerina is 3! Happy Birthday Avery!

Happy Birthday to our sweet Avery, our little ballerina! Today is your special day! We are so blessed to celebrate 3 fun-filled years of watching you grow and blossom! We love you, angel and look forward to celebrating many, many more birthdays with you!

You are full of smiles all the time! This picture shows how truly happy you really are!

Your birthday lunch after church... When we asked you where you'd like to eat, you said "hamburger." So we went to Fudrucker's- not a regular place for us to eat but we thought we'd try something different than our usual places. When time to order though, you decided on grilled cheese and fruit.

Your huge birthday cookie, Marilyn Monroe style!

Our pretty 3 year old, growing so tall!





After lunch we took you to Toys R Us to pick our your birthday present!

You picked out Barbie and her horse!

Mommy and Ashlyn with the birthday girl!

All about Avery:

1. The first feature you notice when you see Avery is her huge, sparkling grin! Most of the time she is all smiles from ear to ear, when she is happy and even when she is being mischievous! The only difference is her head is a bit cocked which is a dead giveaway when she has been up to something.

2. She LOVES her big sister, Ashlyn (pronounced by Avery as "Ashwyn"). She immediately looks for Ashlyn the minute she gets out of bed.

3. Avery loves music and loves to sing. She often requests whatever song she is in the mood for while driving in the car... most recently is the vacation bible school CD and Taylor Swift. Many of Avery's favorites are a reflection of what Ashlyn likes as Avery really looks up to her big sis, ie: Taylor Swift!

3. Avery loves dolls, stuffed animals, blankets/loveys. She sleeps with no less than 5 stuffed animals or dolls and at least 3 blankets. She must choose the blankets as well as which order they are laid down to cover her up.

4. Avery loves clothes and shoes. She is quite particular about what outfit she wears and prefers to pick it from her closet herself, panties and shoes also. She may not always match or even be dressed for the current season, but she is proud to have dressed independently. She also usually makes sure to have a bow for her hair.

5. She is quite independent, or so she thinks. "I want to do it myself" is one if her favorite and most used phrases.

6. Avery doesn't walk- she runs and bounces everywhere. She's a ball of energy.

7. She is still a cuddle bug. She loves to sit and cuddle in my lap, loves hugs and kisses and likes to be held a lot. I love it too!

8. Favorite show: Little Bear, although is usually content with watching spurts of whatever Ashlyn is watching

9. She loves pink and purple. Loves all things girls, including princesses and ballet.

10. One of her nicknames is stinker... she is quite mischievous and is not concerned with the consequences. Going hand in hand with that, she is headstrong. She does what she wants, when she wants. She is quite familiar with "time out" at home and at school. She usually shrugs this off.

11. She can be a bit shy or reserved at first meeting or in large groups. But with people she is comfortable with she is very engaging and playful.

12. She loves to help in the kitchen, cook, clean the dishes, empty the dishwasher

13. She is messy! She leaves a trail of activities everywhere she has played and it doesn't really cross her mind to put her things away. She must get that from her dad!

Rodeo Cowgirls!

Today we went to the Mesquite Rodeo. We had a blast! Our family went with Brian, Steph, Payton, Hudson, Steph's parents & Izzie, and Danielle and Tatum. The girls loved wearing their cowgirl hats and seeing the bulls and horses. And of course, they enjoyed the peanuts and cotton candy treats.

My big girl... is a Kindergartner

Well, today was the big day... Ashlyn's first day of Kindergarten! To say that she was excited would be an understatement! She woke up quick and sat right up as soon as I rubbed her back and she squealed, "Yeah, the first day of school!" Then she said, "I was so excited I couldn't go to sleep."

Ashlyn was giddy all morning as she ate breakfast and got dressed. She came in to my room with her backpack on before we even combed her hair. She was ready to get to school! She wore an adorable Gymboree outfit: cream colored shirt with rows of hearts and a denim skirt with embroidered hearts on the ruffle hem. And her new Twinkle Toes Sketchers... very cute tennis shoes that apparently are the 'in-thing' and she sbsolutely loves... we went to 3 or 4 stores before finding them in her size.

When we arrived at her school, (after maneuvering through the 100's of cars bringing kids to school) Ashlyn walked right in to her school with a spring in her step. She even walked a few feet ahead of me so independently! I was thrilled and relieved that she was confident enough to walk in by herself, but a bit sad to realize she is really growing up quicker than I'd like and there is no slowing it down.

I was trying to capture this huge milestone and each moment of it by taking pictures. We took pictures at home and at school. I got so caught up in taking the pictures of Ashlyn as she walked through the hallways of the school, that I took her to the wrong classroom. Somehow we ended up in the 1st grade area. Here reaction was, "Mom!" in that high-pitched fluctuating tone that girls are so good at making.

Eventually we found the Kindergarten area. She put her backpack in her locker (I was in disbelief to find out they had lockers already) and then dropped off the bag full of school supplies. We stood in line to greet the teacher and take a quick picture of Ashlyn with her teacher, Miss Ellis. Ashlyn found a seat at a 4 person table with a couple other girls. I snapped a couple more pictures and suddenly it was time for me to leave. She was drawing as I left and seemed perfectly content and without concern that I was leaving. Part of me wanted to hide behind the corner and just watch her for a few minutes. But I made myself leave and really didn't have a choice as I heard the Principal's voice over the intercom letting parents know it is time for them to leave the building.

The emotions of realizing that I had just dropped off my 5 year old first born didn't hit me until I pulled into our drive way. I walked in to a quiet house (Avery was still in bed) and tears filled my eyes as Chris asked how it went. I gave him details from the morning events and just had to take a deep breath and smile.

Luckily I had a mom's group meeting this morning to take my mind off Ashlyn being gone at Kindergarten all day plus Avery was home and we spend the day together. Avery missed her throughout the day and asked several times, "Ashlyn's at school?, At Daffron?"

I left the house early to make sure I was at school before Ashlyn was out at 2:45 pm. Again I had to attempt to battle the chaos of all the cars trying to get in and out of the school parking lot. I was standing in front of the school as the Kindergartners marched out in a single-file line after their first day of school. Ashlyn had as big of a grin on her face as she did went I left her that morning. I knew instantly that she had a wonderful day. I think she was almost as excited to see me as I was to see her. She didn't waste any time before she began to tell me all about her day... gym class and lunch time in the cafeteria first. Of course I asked 100 questions about the details of the day as well. She had a great first day and can't wait for tomorrow!

Ashlyn's "Back To School Fling"

Ready or not (and I'm not), Kindergarten is here! In two days Ashlyn will officially be our big Kindergartner! She has been ready to start Kindergarten all summer and she is so excited. Up until a week or two ago I haven't been bothered about Ashlyn starting Kindergarten. But suddenly as the time approaches, I am quite anxious and less emotionally prepared for this next step than I thought I was.

Yesterday we went to Ashlyn's new school for the "Back to School Fling". We met her teacher, toured the entire school, bought a school t-shirt and water bottle, signed up for the PTA, saw her classroom, cubby hole, and LOCKER! I can't believe she has a locker! Her teacher, Miss Ellis, actually attends our church and I know her somewhat from volunteering with Special Angels. She was the Sunday School teacher last year for the twins I work with. I'm very excited that Ashlyn has her as a teacher.

She was bubbling with excitement all day leading up to and during the school fling.We saw several families that we know that have older kids at the school and they each had such positive opinions of the school. As soon as we walked into the school, to the gym and were handed her Kindergarten packet of information with her teacher's name on it, I had to fight back the tears. I fought back the tears again when we saw another Kindergarten teacher that attends our church and volunteers in the children's choir at church. Ashlyn ran up to her and gave her a hug and that brought tears of relief to me and gave me a sense that it will be a great Kindergarten year for Ashlyn. Then again I was fighting the tears as we walked through a maze of halls and rooms to finally get to Ashlyn's classroom and saw the small tables, computers and learning tools that she will use this first 'official' year of school. As I took in everything around me in the room I wasn't sure if I was going to keep the tears from rolling down my face. Then I looked over at Chris, and his eyes were a bit red and teary as well.

While we are both truly excited for Ashlyn to start Kindergarten this is bitter sweet. It is hard to realize that our 'little' girl is entering Kindergarten, that she is excited to go to 'big' school, and that she feels more ready for it than we are! She isn't the least bit scared or unsure about going to Kindergarten all by herself. I am so grateful and it gives me a peace of mind to know she is confident and feels ready for this great big change called Kindergarten!

On a side note, Avery went with us to see Ashlyn's school. She acted just as excited and interested as Ashlyn. That's probably because she was at Ashlyn's side which Avery always finds very comforting. She loves her big sister!

Last Week of Summer

Sadly, this is our last week of summer vacation before school begins. I wanted to have some special time with the girls and have a fun week before the calendar fills and the schedules begin. On Sunday after church Chris and I took the girls to my parents' community pool to swim. The girls really love to swim and are quite comfortable in the water. Ashlyn is getting so close to being able to swim without any flotation device, but still needs the blow up arm floaties. Avery wears a zip-up body suit with built in flotation and also the blow up arm floaties. We spent the afternoon swimming and soaking up the sun. They both have a pretty golden tan, despite always putting on sunscreen. Ashlyn and Avery both love for Chris to throw them up in the air and splash down in to the water... little dare devils!

On Tuesday I took the girls to Boomerang's Bounce house. They had a great time bouncing and sliding and running around.

On Wednesday I took the girls to one of the city's public pools. I've been nervous all summer to take them by myself but decided to go since they have done great in the water this summer and Ashlyn has really wanted to go. She remembers going a few times last summer. (She has a great memory of things, it truly amazes me!) What always catches Ashlyn's attention as we drive by this rec center is the tall, multi-colored water slides. She also recalls last summer not being tall enough to ride these slides. To her dismay, she still isn't tall enough this summer. The rules say you must be 48" tall; she is around 45" tall. Those life guards are sticklers! Most of them anyway! On Ashlyn's first attempt to go down the slide, she climbed way up all the steps only be told she wasn't tall enough. She had the most pitifully disappointed look on her face as Avery and I watched her climb back down to where we were waiting for her. So we went swimming in the big pools and played in the water fountains. I slyly waited until a quite 'laid back' lifeguard rotated to the top of the slide and we attempted the slides again. Bingo! Ashlyn took turns sliding down the 3 different slides over and over. One of the slides is enclosed and could hear her squeal as she came down. So funny and she absolutely loved it. But then, the life guards rotated positions again and spoiled all Ashlyn's fun. Once again, she was turned down and had to walk back down all those steps. I was so proud of her when she didn't complain and instead was happy to have gotten to try out the water slides. While Ashlyn was sliding, Avery played in some water fountains at the foot of where the water slides dump out. Afterwards we went over to the sprinkler playground where Avery had a blast sliding over and over down a slide more her size and then we moved indoors to the lazy river. What a fun place so close to our house that has so much for the girls to enjoy. I'm glad I decide to go despite my nervousness of watching them by myself in the water.

And now, as they say, all good things must come to and end. This is the end of the summer, but we have wonderful things to look forward to as school begins...like, Christmas is only 4 months away! Ashlyn has already been working on her Christmas list and singing Christmas carols! I haven't been able to think past the first day of school though.

Precious Ballerina, Avery!

Avery started her first ballet class today! She has been asking for months to take ballet class. She tried on her pink leotard and ballet shoes yesterday (they are the same Ashlyn wore when she first took ballet at age 3) and Avery did not want to take them off. She did very well for her first day. She followed her teacher right in to her class and looked like she was enjoying herself every time I peeked in to the class. She loved showing Chris and me the dance steps she learned in class once we got home and has continued to dance around the house this evening.

Watching the older girls dance

So cute in her leotard and ballet shoes!


During class with Miss Tiffany