Field Trip

It's field trip day.  I'm not going on this one.  The weather has definitely cooled off, but the rain seems to have held off for them - so I am sure she'll have a blast at the farm with her friends.

The first marking period is over.  While I don't have the report card in my hand we can monitor along the way.  She has straight As with a few A+ / 100%s!  She loves math and walks around singing (as she always has, but now it's songs they've learned for an upcoming Veteran's Day celebration).

Water is expensive

Developmental swimming starts tonight.  Last night they had an hour and a half telephone call that made me want to weep.  Like I don't get enough meetings during the day?  They also mentioned the fundraisers that they do for the regular team and the volunteer requirements, lest you need to pay another $400 - and this is on top of the fees to participate to begin with.  It's insane.

I know for a fact we didn't have to deal with this when I was a kid.  What gives?

Also, this past weekend Avery went to Castle Blood in Monessen.  She liked it, I loved the decor, but she said it was boring.  I am translating that to mean it wasn't scary.  We're going to have to do a real haunted house and recalibrate.

Kennywood's open

We didn't let this summer get away from us without visiting Kennywood.  With her now being "of height" (52") she was eager to ride coasters, and boy did she.  Avery rode every coaster including the Steel Curtain and she wanted more.  Her bestie is still a bit under that magical height, so that tempered some of the coaster-riding.

Start of Summer

Summer is busy for us.  We already took our first cruise where girl had a blast.  She was tall enough for the Flowrider, so she was out there perfecting her boogie boarding skills.  She still loves the rock wall too.  Without hesitation she's doing the water slides and even the Abyss dry slide w/o fear.

A pre-vaca trip to the library and she checked out 7 books.  Granted, she only got through 2 before their 2 week due date, but now that she learned about their reading challenge she's even more committed to get through the others -- and win some prizes.

The first week of swimming went well, she loved it!  The first practice she swam 300 meters!  I'm impressed.  We missed the second week, and the first swim meet, due to our vacation, but we're back to it today.  While we were on vaca we worked on her freestyle a bit together and instantly saw an increase in speed with better breathing practices and she worked worked worked on her freestyle in Cococay's swimming pool.

Today is her first day of 'schoolwork'.  I love that she's to the point with her personal discipline and reading abilities that we were able to create a to do list that she can refer to each day.

1).  Reading for 20 minutes.

2).  2 pages from her bible workbook

3).  2 pages from her handwriting workbook

4).  2 pages from several sections in her 2nd grade workbook (Writing, Grammar, Space/Science, Math)

Matter of fact she's out there right now reading - and she even set herself a timer.  I'm almost obsolete at this point.  I'm proud, but sad at the same time.

Next week she has Camp Splash at the town pool.  I hope our weather stops acting a fool so the pool isn't freezing and she can get more practice and play in.  This will disrupt some of our 'schoolwork' but we will still get some learning in.

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.

Busy Girl Activities

First grade is going quickly... and quite well!  The first semester is already over.  Since my last post here we've gone to 100 Acres Farm for Halloween (kid friendly) activities, we saw Beetlejuice 2, we went on our Icon of the Seas cruise, we lost our beloved Saffy, catechism has started back up, she started singing lessons, and she started a trial of Jujitsu.

Actually, the school where she started offers both Jujitsu and Muay Thai.  Tonight she tries the later for the first time, but her response to Jujitsu was "I want to come here every day."  Singing didn't receive that high of praise, but she seems to enjoy it as well.  I am excited that she is finding things that she enjoys enough to explore.

Tomorrow she goes on a school field trip and for better or worse my name was drawn out of those willing to help chaperone.

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.

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.

First Grade Here We Come!

Just like that, Kindergarten is over.  Today we celebrated with Avery's graduation ceremony.  It was nicely done and the kids did a great job.  Her answer to what she wants to be when she grows up... "Work on my computer from home" got a pretty good chuckle from me.  We went for a post-ceremony breakfast and later went to meet her bestie at the trampoline house.  It was a good day.

This means that she will now be here at the house while I work.  Time to come up with a schedule to keep her learning and engaging her brain rather than sitting like a log in front of the tv.

Easter Preparations

We love our neighborhood - and our neighborhood friends!  Yesterday Avery got to participate in a 4 house Easter egg hunt with our neighbors.  Each house had a ton of eggs out and we had a blast.  We also survived the long mass for palm Sunday this weekend.  I think this is the first year where Avery is really understanding what we're celebrating.

Last night she had a rare bad dream that had her up and quite distraught shortly after going to bed.  How do parents of kids with frequent nightmares or night terrors do it?  It breaks my heart to see her so upset.

Also, the teeth are still hanging tight.

Loosey Toothy

Not one, but two.  Finally, she's so excited - the bottom two front teeth are both wiggling.  Her expectations of her tooth fairy are pretty high given how friends have scored with their tooth fairies.  We'll see how that goes.

We are very much in the routine of school and the weekends blasting by.  Homework gets completed and every chance we get we head outside to play.  Fortunately there has been some pretty unseasonably pleasant weather lately, so we've had opportunities to hang out with our neighbor friends.

It also seems to be birthday season.  We've attended two parties in the past month and a half and have another two coming up in the next few weeks.

We did a spur of the moment event earlier this week when I spotted a Bubble Show going on at the fairgrounds.  The price was reasonable enough so I bought us tickets while she was at school and announced we had somewhere to go when she got home.  It was ok in my book.  She dug it, that's all that matters.  My expectations for these types of things have definitely been elevated thanks to cruising.

Getting things in order

After a few appointments not only is Avery's back looking better, but she's feeling better.

In the past few weeks we've been busy.  There was a Thursday trip to Kennywood w/ her bestie.  She had a blast!  She is also quite brave and was willing to ride everything that she was able to ride.

Last week she attended vacation bible school at the church where her daycare is.  She has talked about last year's VBS ever since, so I knew it was a win.  She again had a blast.  This week she is at summer fun week at our church.  I'm hoping they make it fun, but I suspect she isn't going to be impressed.  Let's put it this way:  1).  We pulled into the parking lot and she said "wait, it's at the church I don't like?"  2).  They do mass right at 8am.  The good news is this week is all day (from 8am-4pm) rather than half day like last week.

I tried to capitalize on the time w/ her last week in the afternoons.  We went to the pool a couple of times, where she got to play with some friends.  We also got her hair cut and had our nails done in prep for upcoming vacations.  Yesterday we capped off by hitting the pool again with her bestie.

Fall Fun

Girl has been having a big time so far this month.  She and I have taken off every Friday in October to enjoy the seasonal activities and have cut out a bit early a few days this week to enjoy company.

In September we enjoyed the Oktoberfest here in town.  So far this month we have hit the Houston Pumpkin Festival and their Halloween parade. We would have gone to the Hickory Apple Festival but the rain kept us away.  Instead we hit the apple orchard to get our 'supplies' for other activities (read:  applesauce!).

This week Aunt Jackie came to visit and Aunt Susanne stopped in for a few days.  We've been all about the games and fun.

She did go to her yearly dr visit and comes in at 44 lbs, 3'8" - she is in the 95% for both. Lots of changes in leadership at school going on too, but we're rolling with it.

Time flies, look who is 5!

 Where has the past month and a half gone.  Heck, where has the past 5 years gone?

It's true!  I have a 5 year old now.  She was off of school and I was off of work.  She got to decide what she wanted to eat all day and we went to the trampoline park for a bit of fun. There was time to play with our neighbor friends, time to open presents, and time to eat some cake.

This year's theme is, as previously mentioned, Batman.  The cake turned out awesome.  The colors and look is spot on to the inspo pictures I provided the bakery.  This year we went with Canonsburg Cake Company.  Taste wise, it is good - the icing is a bit grainy, but pleasing... at least to me.  Shockingly, she didn't like the cake.  I maintain that she tried the Batman logo, which was fondant and was turned off.

I will pick up the cupcakes tomorrow for her party with friends and family on Saturday. Right now it looks like the weather will cooperate - no rain and in the lower 80s.

What else have we been up to?  As I mentioned, time is flying, but there has been a few trips to the pool and a few trips to the trampoline park to mention.  We have also been caring for a foster kittie family!  Her Pre-K2 year has started this week as well.  She is in Miss Donna's class with some of her old friends and a few new names (new to me at least).

Quality Time

The past so many days have been all about quality time with Avery's bestie, Luke.  We went to Idlewild a week ago and had a blast at the park and in the water area.  She is fearless on the rides. All was awesome until the very end of the day when she toppled on the swinging bridge and scuffed up both knees pretty good.  She's okay, but I was a bit worried as I ran up the tower what I was going to find.  We are pretty lucky as far as boo-boos go.  There haven't been too many so far.  *fingers crossed for the next 5 years*

This (long) weekend she got to hang out at his place watching fireworks last night.  Today they got to swim together.  Tomorrow is the town parade -- yep, together.  I adore his parents, so it is good quality time for me too.

Birthday party planning has begun.  We know 100% we want a Batman theme and I am pretty set on going to Simmon's farm.  I hope that the weather isn't scorching come the end of August.

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.

Ready for Summer

We have had a lot of colder weather.  It was pretty nice yesterday and today so we spent some time outside.  It feels so good.  Yesterday Avery spent some time on her swing set, today she road her bike out front.

A week and a half ago our favorite consignment store had the Easter Bunny stop in for a visit.  We definitely got a keeper photo with the bunny this year.  Her face is epic.

I measured her and she's definitely above 42".  I think that means a few more options will be open to her at Idlewild this year.

Bigger and Bunnies

This past week Avery got her second ever hair cut.  I left it to Avery to answer the hair stylist on what she wanted.  Hence, we have a little girl w/ hair to her shoulders. I could have cried when she went that short. I know it will grow back, but I'm a little sad.

This weekend had us meeting with the Easter bunny twice.  Avery remains not a big fan.  This of course makes for some fairly funny photos.

While we were out and about we visited with her Aunt Mandy.  In order to ride in Aunt Mandy's car we took along Avery's booster seat, which she got to ride in for the first time -- talk about a big girl!

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?

On a roll

Avery went bowling for the first time today!  No bumpers for us, but we did make use of the little ramp to help her out.  She loved it and did pretty well.  50 and 85.  More remarkable, not trying to steal the show, but I had a 112 and a 174.  That's pretty good for me - especially after 5 years plus of not bowling and a frozen shoulder last year.

We also went to DQ after and Avery had her first ever blizzard!  She is getting to the age where she can do so much more and actually enjoy it.  I need to start planning some day trips for the summer.

I scored a used student flute from someone formerly in the comunity.  Now I need to refresh my skills enough to start teaching kiddo.

I needed this quality time with her. Last week Mommy had a very jealous moment with her.  Daddy was sick and stayed away for a while, so I get why she was all about him.  It was shutting the door in my face twice that pushed me over the edge.  I at least found a way to explain how I felt to her and we had a talk.  I really want to be able to talk to her about things in general and I hope it helps her understand how normal her feelings are as she gets older.

We also had a talk tonight about our conscious.  I was pretty impressed, during the convo I asked if she remembered what they talked about at church yesterday and she nailed it - love.