Another busy week...

This week was extra special because Aunt Kaci was in town!! She is moving here in August and we are so excited! The girls had so much fun with her and we were all sad to see her go, but excited that she will soon call Tucson her home! Here are some highlights of our week before Kaci came and then also a bit after. Unfortunately there is only one picture of her...I neglected to capture one single picture of them playing with their aunt...I'm sorry Kac! She spent so much time with them and they loved every minute! ************************************************************************************ So yesterday for playgroup with our church friends we went to a splash park to celebrate Mikaela turning 3! It was really fun, although Avery was more interested in the playground part than she was in playing in the water! Finley really liked it though! The girls started swimming lessons this week and that is how it went, Avery kept complaining that it was to cold and she was ready to get out and Finley thought she had died and gone to heaven...such different personalities! This was the last day that we got to see the Pearce's (Mikaela and Katcher) :( We will all miss them so much, but Avery is especially sad...she has talked about Mikaela so much...you really can't explain to a 2 year old what moving is...she keeps telling me that she is moving to a new house too like Mikeala. I told her that Mikaela wouldn't be able to come to our house again and she said...mom, I will be so sad that she can't come...they will be missed! Here Mikaela and Avery are splashing around... Avery venturing out a little... The little sun babies... Here Finley and Katcher are exploring the water... *********************************************************************************** Avery got to go to her friend Matthew's birthday party at Pump It Up! Aunt Kaci stayed with Finley so mom could take Avery and Mikaela! They had a blast as usual! Look at me mom! *********************************************************************************** Last Saturday, we woke up and went for a hike up sentinel peak! It was really fun! Avery even got to get out of the backpack and hike for a bit herself...what a big girl! Peek-a-boo Fin!! Here she is finally! The hiking queen- happy as can be! The Hiking duo! Mom and Fin stopping for a photo... *********************************************************************************** For playgroup last week we decorated sugar cookies at the church! It was really fun - mostly just a chance for the kids to load up on frosting, but hey that's the best part anyway! Here's Finley just hanging out in the corner...I really do try to involve her when I can...there is really only so much she can do at this age, and she usually prefers to be down crawling around anyway! Avery is quite the little negotiator! She will find a solution for you no matter what and it always goes in her favor! Here Avery and Emma are negotiating who gets the sprinkles next...************************************************************************************ These next few pictures were taken at our trip to the fire station last week. When we did this with our other playgroup, Avery was really into it...this time not so much. She kept running around their rec room telling me she was getting exercise. None of my pictures of the group in front of the trucks turned out but when I get a copy from a friend I will post it...here is what poor Fin got to do (besides be carried around by mommy) she just hung out as usual! This is typical Avery mooching some snacks from a very apprehensive Naomi! I love Naomi's expression! It's like she's saying what are you trying to negotiate now Avery? Here Avery is playing her favorite Ring around the Rosie with her friend Ellia. Ellia is about the only kid that Avery knows who will play it with little coaxing!

Our week in pictures...lots of pictures...

Life has been unusually busy with uneventful stuff as of late and I have found it difficult to keep up with the blog, so I will do a sort of catch up in pictures for you...here goes... ********************************************************* Mom..."Avery you did such a good job of eating without making a big mess! Good job!" Avery..."Yeah, I am getting big. (pause) I want to be like daddy when I get big. (longer pause) Then there will be TWO Kristians!!" Here is the hero with his two little girls. Avery wanted Finley to do ring around the rosy with her (one of Avery's favorite things to do) but since Finley is just a bit to young she thought "row row row your boat" would be fun! She is a really great big sister! Finley has been on a more compatible schedule as her sister lately and so they have been able to take a few baths together...I don't think I have seen Finley happier! Bath's are usually her favorite time of the day anyway but it is like Christmas when she gets to take one with her sister! So FUN!!! About that great big sister thing...I call this picture "little miss innocent." Lately Avery has had some problems with biting...she likes to bite Finley on the foot. I am not sure it is totally out of anger or jelousy...I think it is more about energy and lack of control. But even with this impulse problem she is the best big sister a little kid could want...Finley just adores her! This is not a biting aftermath picture, but I thought it captured the image well. You would think she was advertising her new cup...I asked for a smile and our little superstar obliged! Sometimes, I just can't resist taking pictures of my girls! Finley is a really good sport! "Mom...I know I'm cute...let's get going already!" Some mornings I put Fin's hair up in a sprout on top of her cute little head...I guess because I was subjected to such torture as a child...anyway...I take it out at nap time and when she gets up it often looks like this...all that I can say is "Punk Rock Girl...she's my punk rock girl..." ******************************************************** Yesterday(tuesday) was graduation day for this session of movers and shakers! Here she is recieving her certificate! She was so excited that it was pink! Movers and shakers is actually one place that we go each week where Finley has a lot of fun! She loves to explore and follow her big sister around...she grins just about the whole time! Well, I said just about... Here the girls are having some great fun on the bars. Look out Finley! This was also Avery's last class with her friend Mikaela...she is moving to Indiana and will be greatly missed! Avery had her over last night to play and started to cry when she had to leave...she will really miss her little friend! ********************************************************************** Last Wednesday for our church playgroup we went to the Community Food Bank to learn more about what goes on there. The moms had a good time, but it was definitely a little boring for the kids...except when we went outside to the garden. They had some fun walking around with the chickens and trying some fun foods. Everything is grown organically and they sponsor free classes for people to learn how to grow all kinds of things in the desert...it is a really great community program! Avery is a kid who will try anything at least once...so when our tour guide offered us some purslane or verdo lagas (supposedly this is a vegetable...but it resembles an herb and tastes more like an herb) she was first in line. When does the fun begin Fin asks... Avery was so nice to share a plant with the chicken...here chicken, chicken... Poor Finley...missing a shoe...bored out of her mind...poor second child!

Video at Grandma's House

I got this video to work!!! I am so happy...it kinda took forever, so I am not sure how much I will do this, but it works for now! She is out front of Grandma's house watching for cars to come by and splash in the water. Sometimes when she gets really excited she goes into a mystery man voice...I'll get one on here where you can hear her talking in her normal voice...she has the sweetest little voice usually! Watch for her football stance! Have fun!!

Trip to visit Gramma "A"

On Friday I had the great opportunity to take the girls up to Scottsdale to see Grandma "A" (Ackerman) as Avery calls her. Carol graciously watched Avery for me so I could go and do a little birthday shopping with only one instead of two! You realize what a huge difference that makes when # two comes along...she would have gladly taken Finley also, but Finley would have just cried and cried...she is still leary of anyone but mom or dad. She has gotten a little better though and warmed up to Carol by the end of the day. Anyway...Carol took Avery to the park with Aunt Erica and her soon to be step kids Trinity and Stratton. Erica is getting married to their dad Rustin and we are all so thrilled for her!! He has some really great kids- it was fun to meet them and Avery had so much fun! Grandma has a railroad park right next door to her house and it is a huge hit! She took some really great pictures while we were there...much better than I could have done for sure...enjoy! ****************************************************** Grandma A made a really fun fruit bowl for Avery...she loved it! Mom and Finley having some fun at Grandma's Avery eating some lunch with her soon to be new cousin Trinity Carol does such a great job taking pictures! This one is so fun!

Summer and ice cream just go together!

Aunt Erica, Trinity, and Stratton riding the train

Patiently waiting for their turn on the train...

Here are the kids playing at the park

Thursday playgroup...

So on Thursday's we have a playgroup with a bunch of mom's and kids we met at a library group about a year or so ago...most of us have since had second babies and so it is so great to get together and compare notes and get advice...oh and let the kids play too! Today Jaden (the little girl with the blue paint and brown hair) had her birthday and her mom had a great idea to let all the kids finger paint in the kitchen! They had so much fun as you can plainly see!

A little budding artist and her friends...

When the kids were done painting, they headed outside to the pool. Much to her mother's disapproval, Avery decided that being naked would be really fun...oh to be so innocent! She thought this was perhaps the greatest thing she has done in a long time... so great that I could hardly get her out!

My two little sweethearts saying happy birthday mom! Daddy and the girls got mom a really great ice cream cake from Carvel's! It was awesome! Happy 25th mommy!!!