Birthday Memories

My 6th Birthday is one that i have strong memories about. I remember ones before that, but not in as great detail. Since Avery's was coming up I got out the "old" photos picture album and shared all of those memories with her. My wonderful husband, with the help of modern technology, helped me get these here with her birthday pictures so we could share them both. I remember that my party was a surprise at my neighbors house, Aunt Margaret. I got lots of school clothes, bummer. I remember being given some dolls from a neighbor that were hers. Avery and i both got special dolls for our 6th, again, go you!! Aunt Colleen. Do we look anything alike? I hope that Avery will have good memories of her birthday, this one and all the others before and after.

6 Things we Love about YOU!!!

Happy Birthday sweet Avery. In honor of your birthday we wanted to tell you how much we love you. Here are some things we love.
1. You are creative and full of lots of great ideas
2. You have a amazing imagination
3. You are a beautiful singer and music maker
4. You love your family more than anything else
5. You want to take care of everyone around you, we call you tiny mommy
6. You are excited about simple & beautiful things...rainbows, backyard birds, flowers, the sunset

There are so many more things that you are, but more than those things i can not wait to see who and what you become. You have lots of dreams and ambitions. You are sweet, loving and mild mannered and sensitive. You love to color and play outside and do crafts. We love you more than all the stars in the sky!

I asked you what were 6 favorite things about your day(these are her words), in honor of turning 6. These are what she told me
1. Getting Kit!!!!! (Go you Aunt Colleen!!)
2. the tea set from Aunt Deb
3. Peanut Butter Brownies
4. "I felt really big" (turning 6 made her feel really big)
5. "I was really happy when Daddy brought home flowers for me"(Daffodils)
6. Lot's of craft stuff(she got a lot and she did a lot!)

1-2-3 Let it be a Fairy!

This year, Avery wanted to have a fairy birthday....since there was not going to be a big bash with tons of decorations and lots of people we tried to do something fun that fit the theme. This weekend my parents and sister were here so they got in on the action. We made clothespin fairies...decorated with silk flower petal skirts and silk leaf wings, scraps of my quilting fabric, pipe cleaners and acorn hats that the kids and i had collected under a fabulous tree while we were in Boston. Those acorns have been sitting patiently on our school shelf in a jam jar waiting for their moment to shine. Picture 1 is the mess we made, spread all the way across the dining room table. Picture 2 is Avery's sweet little woodland fairy....with a daisy skirt...almost done, she was missing her acorn hat. Picture 3 is all the fairies together. Mom really went to town on hers...rhinestones and everything.

sparkly fun

As part of Avery's birthday weekend, i planned some crafts. This one was quick easy and only required a few things....but simple sometimes is best. Kids love sparkle!!! A pipe cleaner, a big rhinestone and a little glue and there you have it. I found this idea online on a great kids craft blog. I can not wait to try more of the ideas.

Playground Fun

The weather was beautiful this week so we all headed off for the playground. The kids had never been to this one before so they had a ton of fun. I think we were there for a few hours and since it was a school day it was not taken over with big kids. I love homeschool. In fact on the way there that is what Avery said because she knew the other kids in the neighborhood were at school and she was headed out for some fun.

Crochet Cuteness!

I made this little hat for Avery the other night. My sewing machine has been giving me a little trouble lately so i was looking for some other craft to keep me busy. I found this. She is a great model. I used the yarn that i had in the house, otherwise she probably would have chosen another color. But she seems to like it and wore it all day yesterday. That was nice because usually the things i make go by the wayside quickly. I thought that the hat was a little plain on its own so i pinned on this flower i had made last year out of scrap fabrics.

Spring Clean Up!!

No, we do not believe in child labor but when they volunteer you bet we don't turn it down. This week we finally got some warm days that were not windy either. There were lots of leaves up against this stone wall and Avery took it upon herself to go find her rake and started clearing things up. Before we knew it the kid needed a yard bag for all that she had raked up on the yard and out of the "flower bed". See the little monkey in the background hanging from the tree? I guess that other picture of him needs some explanation too...he is not fond of loud noise so when Chris started up the leaf blower/sucker he had to go get him these Army earphones that help make things quiet. Silly boy. That is a face we see a lot. Thanks Avery for being a good helper.

More Rainbows

We had this beautiful bright rainbow in our backyard this week. This other one is of a rainbow on our rainbow quilt from the prism in our kitchen window. Kids sometimes say things that really make you think and it is so interesting to see how their little brains work and what they really think something is like. We were in the car and saw a different rainbow ahead of us. Avery wondered to us, "Do you think it will be very colorful when we go through it?". I had never thought of it like that, but she really thought we would drive through this colorful rainbow and see it just as it is. I kind of wished that were true. Very cute.

Good to the Last Drop

Back when i was thinking about starting this blog, i thought that it would be fun to include recipes once in a while. Sometimes i take 5 or more pictures of whatever i made for dinner that night, thinking i might blog it. This morning we made smoothies. The kids got to help and everyone got to enjoy. This is PB Banana Smoothie. Great for breakfast.

8 oz. Milk
1/2 Banana
1 T Peanut Butter
2 T Wheat Germ
1 T Honey
5 ice cubes

just throw it all in the blender and blend until smooth

Budding Musicians

Chris took these pictures the other night. My parents gave the kids a keyboard and that little guitar was Mitchell's birthday present. They both love to sit and play on the keyboard and make some music. We are planning on starting music lessons for Avery soon, i hope it is the piano but she thinks it should be the violin. Thanks again Mom and Dad.

Like Father Like Son

Recently Chris, the kids and I made a trip to West Point. As you can see he had to wear his uniform and Mitchell wanted in on the action too. These pictures are taken at my mom's house. Hi Mom!!! I am very proud of both of my boys....could they be any cuter? Mitchell likes dressing like a "shoulder"!!

hello everyone

my goodness, this has been a long week. Everyones been sick again with some kind of stomach virus, so that has been keeping me quiet. We have also been out of town a few times in under two weeks. Once to West Point and then to Gram's for a huge family function. I just wanted to let you who read this know that i am still here, just quiet right now...sorry about no pictures either. My technical support(ie Chris) is one of the afflicted. Hopefully things around here will get more exciting and more creative. Since my sewing machine is broken right now, i have been contemplating this sewing thing and why...what for...i am feeling like i have things i want to make but sort of blah about it. Maybe i will snap out of it! What else has been on my mind....if you want to know...i have been thinking a bunch about homeschooling next year and what kind of curriculum and books we are going to use. That stresses me out a little, but i think we got it right this year so i am hopeful that we will again. I think the hardest part about that is that there are so many great choices that it is hard to pick one. Any advice anyone? I have been wishing i was better at this mommy thing. We have had a few hard days and it is wearing me down a little. Well, it is time for me to get the kids up we have music class today. I also want you all to know that i love hearing back....i live for those comments!!!! And thanks for just listening today, it is nice to get some of that out there. I plan to be back with more soon.