Fever!

This weekend was packed.  Avery got to spend time with her bestie.  Saturday we went bowling, out to eat with his family, and then to an arcade.  She brought along his Valentine gift with a homemade card.  God bless the gal, she's bold - she straight up asked him to marry her and said if not, you're my boyfriend.  Today (Sunday) we went to a local fundraiser event called Sweet Sunday and sugared up.(after cathecism and church).

She was off all day, but went down hill fast later in the afternoon.  Before I knew it she was cold and was asking to go to bed at 6:30pm.  By the time I tucked her in she had a 99.5 reading at her ear and a 98.6 at her forehead.  She doesn't get sick often, I'm not used to seeing her like that.

I guess I need to look up the procedure for school if she wakes up not where she needs to be.

7!

It was a very busy weekend. We spent most of Saturday with my sister, who helped us prepare cupcakes for Avery's party.  There was cleaning and putting out Halloween decorations on Friday afternoon and into Saturday.  Sunday was church, last minute prep, and post party cleanup.  I'm exhausted -- but the girl had a good weekend and a happy birthday, that's all that really matters.

She celebrated 7 with her neighbor friends, a few old school friends, and Nonna/Nonno.  The Halloween theme was a success.

Buses and Birthdays

Two weeks for both.  New bus number this year and she will be getting on a little earlier in the morning and getting off a little earlier in the afternoon.

The girl decided she wants a Halloween themed birthday.  While I might get some odd looks from the bakery I guess I should go all in and get things in order for her to have a few friends here.  The next two weeks will be a bit of chaos, but I guess she's worth it.  1st grade... 7 years old... here we come!

Keeping July Jumpin

We had our 5th of July shin-dig with our neighbors and the girl had a blast with her hood crew.  So did I!

This week, while a few of those neighbors are leaving for vacations, the girl headed to VBS at her old pre-school's church.  This is a half-day program, but she loves it, so we were in.  To our pleasure several of her old friends were there, so she got to see some old friends again.  Next week she heads back to Camp Splash.

Today we took our first visit to the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden.  Seriously, why haven't I been there before?  What a treasure!  It was hot (as it has been for most of this summer so far) so we were there less than 2 hours, but I will totally be back.

Girl knows how to party

This past weekend was all late nights for the girl.  On Saturday we hung out with the neighbors and it turned into her first sleep over.  Honestly, I didn't think I would be okay with her doing sleepovers.  It's a different world we live in.  I would be hard pressed to get to know the family of school friends well.  My comfort with my neighbors surprises even me.

This of course means she was up late.  We woke early the next morning for church and she refused to nap later that day (unlike me) which is why she crashed on the drive home on Sunday night.  I couldn't pass up the opportunity to catch up with two old college friends, as one was driving this way to pick his son up from the airport.  It's such a weird dynamic to be with your friends from when you were 20 in the presence of your 6 year old.

Summering

Here we are, a month into Avery's first official summer break.  She spent the first two weeks staying up late and sleeping in even later followed by tv time and playing outside with her neighborhood friends.  Yes, I made her do a bit of "school work" each day, it wasn't 100% work-free.

From there we headed out on our first cruise for 2024, a 9 nighter out of Baltimore  The weather wasn't pristine, but we still had a great time.  She loved the kids club and made a friend there.  She also killed it on the rock wall, conquering two of the six paths available.  I don't know how she had the energy but she was running every step of the way in Cococay looping around on the free water slides.

Now that we're back home she is spending this week at Camp Splash, a swim camp at our local public pool.  Here too she made a friend, and my advice to repeat the person's name seemed to help her remember another new friend's name!

Next week we have some activities planned for the 4th and subsequent weeks will take her back to Camp Splash and two Vacation Bible Schools.  She does have a "gap" the few weeks before school starts back up.  At this point I plan to revert to the chill strategy we had as the summer started.

Fellow Grads

Last night Avery got to hang out with our neighbors a few doors down.  The eldest is also a K grad.  Today she got to go hang with her bestie.  Summer is off to a good start.  Doubt I can keep up that pace of action packed fun for her, but I am sure she will have a great summer.

I can stick my tongue through!

I was right - one week later and another tooth came out (bottom left front).  She loves sticking the top of her tongue through.  I can see the buds of the first tooth coming back up through.  Nothing else is notably loose at this point.

We had a great weekend.  Friday we hunt out with the neighborhood crew in mass and had a blast.  Saturday Avery had her friend from Pre-K, Tucker, come over to play.  We also scheduled play dates for subsequent weeks to hang out with other friends.

This week and next we have swim lessons once again.  Time to get ready for the summer!

Christmas Highlights

Christmas was a success.  Avery was quite pleased with the transformers (along with other gifts) that Santa delivered on. Her big gift from us was an electric scooter, which she has taken to quite well.  She seemed happiest with a last minute gift request that we met - a Nerf gun.  There were several board games added to the collection, a bit of clothes, a few treats, all the good stuff.

From day 1 off Avery has been missing her friends, so I know she will be ready to head back to school.

Yesterday I caved and took her into the Pediatrician.  She's been coughing longer than I did - and I went down right after Thanksgiving.  Dr. D wasn't concerned, so at least I know we're good to go.

Awesome Progress

The very next day (after my previous post) Avery came home bounding off of the bus and telling me she made a friend!  There is now a girl that she turns back and waves to saying "I'll see you tomorrow!" every day.  My heart is happy to see her happy.

She seems to be doing quite well at school.  We had one day with a bit of "trouble" where she got a yellow star vs green, blue, or purple.  I can see the improvement in her handwriting.  Her reading too - we read Green Eggs and Ham tonight and she did a good bit of reading with some encouragement.

They just sent out an email looking for kids that want to do their 8-week robotics after school activity.  She didn't seem interested at first, but when I showed her the bee-bot videos the school posted last year she was into it.  Of course, she doesn't want to not ride the bus, but it's only 1 day a week for 8 weeks and a good excuse for me to cut out early to go pick her up.

Making Friends is Hard

It happens to all of us, and I knew it was coming for me, but I am so ill prepared to see my baby crying because of friends.  She came home tonight a bit tired, so that didn't help.  Before bed she told me that she didn't have anyone to sit with on the bus.  She said she asked a girl to sit with her but she ignored Avery.  I suspect that Avery whispered it and the girl didn't hear her, but still.  The tears came and she was so sad.

I did my best to tell her that she doesn't remember when she started at her previous school knowing no one.  Then we counted off all of her friends there that would scream her name excitedly to see her -- because they got to know her and how wonderful she is

Otherwise, school seems to be going well.  Lord help me to help her little aching heart.

A great year

I am happy to say that Avery was very happy with her Christmas presents, even though they weren't exactly what she asked for.  We got to visit with lots of folks and enjoy our little break.  As we head into another long weekend for New Years we have plans to hang out with her bestie for a movie.

It really has been a great year, but it's gone so fast.  As we head into 2023 I suspect it will go even faster as we register for Kindergarten and all those things.  I intend to reserve some quality time with her before school gets into full swing.  It is a wild ride, but she's the best.

End of the Year

While Avery isn't in "school" we are definitely getting a taste of the end of school year activities this year.

Her first dance recital is on Sunday  I have to admit, I'm glad the dance season is over.  I'm not sure if we'll have the over the top gal or the run and hide gal on that stage.

The paper came home, she moves to the Pre-K 2 class on the 13th... you know, as the current class "graduates" (gowns and all).  I can't believe next year that will be her.

We did get out and about with her best buddy at the trampoline park and swimming the weekend before last.  We also went swimming at town park for the first time this year -- here's to another year with a season pass.

It's a Monster!

Avery's best bud's parents invited us along to Monster Jam!  Avery has watched some on TV/phone and seemed to enjoy it.  Both she and her buddy love cars.

I wasn't sure how she'd feel about the earplugs, but being the always concerned Mom I had both my larger ear protection and the small ones that go in the ears to offer her as she preferred.  She did leave my larger protection on during the event.  Turns out they had part of a suite from work - so we were pampered, well fed, and able to have a few drinks.  The kids had a blast.  What more can you ask for?

Reading what is Important

Friday was Avery's Valentine's day party at school.  We readied our treats with a card on the outside. I wrote each name as I prepared the gifts.  When we arrived at school she wanted to put them into the bins for each of her friends.  I can't tell you how impressed I am that as I handed her each one she was able to read the name.  Proof they are all working to learn how to spell their names, but gosh it made me proud.  She even made the leap from the one girl who goes by a nickname (which is what I put on the card) to her full name on the bin. I am a very proud mama.

More Fall Fun

I took Friday off to enjoy the day with Avery.  The weather is so perfect and the rain held off, so we went to the Living Treasures park, but not the one out by Somerset.  It was a really nice place.  Not too busy, perfect for Avery. They even had a little picnic area outside.  Avery was a little too short to consider riding the camel, but we did all the other things and had a blast.

Today we met her buddy Luke at the Houston Pumpkin Festival!  We got there early to watch the parade, had a bite, walked through vendors, and took a minute for a couple of kiddie activities including the trampolines (again).

Sprinkler Playdate

Avery got to go to her best buddy's place yesterday.  The pictures of them holding hands and running back and forth in the spray from the sprinkler are beyond cute.

I love too that I got to hear her defending herself in the way I have tried to tell her when we talk about things.  She proclaimed "that's not nice" among other things.  She's also a little bossy, but that surprises no one.

I don't like that anymore

A few days ago the kid tells her Dad she wants different sounds on her bed time sound machine.

After three years of gentle "neighborhood sounds" she now wants Brahm's lullaby.

Tonight she says "I don't like that any more" to the critter projector and we reverted to the black, red, and white abstract shapes insert.

The opinions are coming a bit more frequently, for sure!  Ger memory is remarkable. She is doing well remembering pieces of the Our Father when guided through.

Another playdate with her buddy Luke this past weekend.  We went for a walk and saw Santa in the community and grabbed a yummy cinnamon bun.  That is on top of seeing the Grinch in town several times in the past couple of weeks.  she loves passing the town Christmas tree and Sarris tree all lit up at night.

Big Girl

It has been a busy and exciting month for Avery. She moved up to the first pre-school class early in the month.  While her besty didn't move up with her, he wasn't too far behind.

School photos are done and are cute, even though she isn't doing more than smirking, not really smiling.

Today she went to school in underwear!  We had a great day yesterday, she made it the whole way through and earned herself a candy bar after dinner.

She doesn't really look like a toddler anymore.  Her legs are long and she can run pretty darn fast.  We have had a good time outside with the neighbor girls, last night we were playing with caterpillars off of the kale plants.

Best Buddies and Holidays

Avery's best buddy's Mom invited us to their neighborhood this weekend.  They had an ice cream truck coming to their community.  It was nice to see them play.  Boy were they happy to hear they were going to get to visit and even more so to see them spot each other.  We had a great visit and it made what would have been a lonely 4th of July a great time.  She was also able to do so much more at the little park all by herself.  They were up and down for the slide a bunch of times.

The neighborhood was going crazy last night with fireworks, including the folks across the street.  Avery wasn't too fond of the loud ones this year, but she was content to watch from the windows inside.