Slop Day

I can't call it a snow day.  This morning there was wind, sleet, and messiness.  School was closed!  We cracked open her Blizzard bag and completed her at home activities and she watched a ton of tv.  *shrug*  If there was at least snow we could have gone out to play for a bit.

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.

4 Foot!

We finally had a little bit of growth after stalling out at 47".  If you recall I was so hopeful she would get that boost before the end of July cruise, to no avail.  Well at last, we woke up one morning and she looking longer and leaner.  Yup, 48"!  With the max on her car seat having been 49" and the seatbelt hitting properly she is now using her booster instead -- officially one more check mark in the big kid column.

This helps her school clothes fit a little better too.  I anticipate another inch or two in the coming weeks if she keeps pace with her past growth spurts (a few months after her birthday we have always changed sizes).

First Semester Down

Well the first semester is already over.  Avery did great, no surprise there, but I remain very proud of her.  During parent teacher conferences her teachers were very positive and I'm confident that we are on track.

Each Wednesday she has been staying after school to participate in robotics and really seems to enjoy it.  The neighbor also alerted us to another set of swim lessons through PEAQ, so we are one lesson in there as well.  Avery went to a karate class w/ her bestie and seemed to enjoy it, which firmly puts that on our list for NEXT fall.  I say next fall because she will then be old enough to participate in the muay thai classes as well, making the weekly fee more reasonable if she goes to both muay thai and jujitsu.  Sure, this all presumes that she likes it, but we'll give it a go.

We keep on dancing in the mornings, it keeps us warm on the days that are brisk.  I enjoy my extra bit of time with her each day and I hope it helps get her day off on the right foot.

Dancing it out every morning

My apologies to my neighbors.  I'm not a good dancer or singer.  But each morning after we head outside to wait for the bus we turn on iHeartRadio's 80's station and start spinning and dancing.  There's something about JCM's Little Pink Houses that gets me going at 7:30am.

The day will come when she doesn't want me to even look outside, much less walk outside, when the bus comes.  When she won't dance with me.  When she'll be too heavy or too mature for me to spin.  Until then, we dance.

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.