first words

One and a hundred

Sometimes when I want Avery to sit still somewhere for a few minutes I tell him to count to 100.  It usually buys me a few minutes to tend to Jake or whatever I need to do.  After he gets to a hundred, instead of saying one hundred and one, one hundred and two, etc.  he says one and a hundred, two and hundred, etc.

I guess 100 seems really big to him so now anytime he wants to exaggerate he uses the phrase "one and a hundred."  

This morning at the breakfast table:

Me: "Avery, are you hungry?"

Avery: "Yes, I'm really hungry, I'm ONE AND A HUNDRED hungry!"

This afternoon in the bathroom we were talking about hair - body hair, facial hair, hair on your head.  

Me: "Men have mustaches and beards, women don't."

Avery: "One time when I was in Texas I saw a gril with a beard."

Me: ???? 

Avery: "When I get big like my dad, I'm going to have beard. Do you think I can have a beard when I get big like my dad?"

Me: "Sure, honey, I'm sure you'll have a lot of hair when you get big like daddy because daddy has a lot of hair and mommy does too."

Avery: "Daddy has a lot of hair, he has ONE AND A HUNDRED hairs, here (pointing to his head), here (pointing to his body), here, here, here, etc.

Avery's Birthday Pics

Happy Birthday Avery!!  We love you buddy!

Waking up to the most awesome T-Rex balloon

T-rex and his friend T-rex

Awesome space shuttle cake from Kathy

birthday photo with Nanny Kathy

Cool new shark book from BB

Playing stomp rockets with Jake and Big Bill (the judge). The rest of the neighborhood kids followed shortly here after.

A walk with his favorite neighborhood dog, Maggie

Perfect way to end a perfect day!

Wisconsin Dells

Last weekend we went to the Wisconsin Dells for Avery's 4th birthday.  Apparently the Wisconsin Dells is waterpark capital of the world, actually more like the Jersey Shore of the midwest.  It was a super fun weekend for the boys, 3 indoor waterparks, 2 mini gold courses, and arcade, candy shop, etc. etc.  It was nice to get away for three straight days of play play play!

More Easter Pics

More playground pics

Happy Easter!!

Here are some pics from an egg hunt at nearby park.  Avery had a great time collecting eggs.  Jake was much more interested in the playground.

Um, yeah, I'd rather play with this soccer ball

Live baby bunnies!!

The hunt is on.

Jake 3, Avery 18!

Checking out the loot!

Wrestle Mania

Monday through Friday, 5:30 Central Time, Our house

April Showers

6 Months Cancer Free!!

Last weekend we flew to NC to visit with Kevin's family and celebrate Lindsay's 6 months in remission.  Lindsay is doing great!  She and Avery were so happy to see each other again and were practically inseparable all weekend.

Grace

In February we enrolled Avery in a new preschool at a small catholic school near our house.  We don't go to church very often, it feels really hard with two little kids, so this is his first real exposure to church, God, etc.

Last night we went to a fund raiser for the school at a local pizza place.  Totally unprompted Avery said to us, "We need to say Grace before we can eat.  That's what we do at school before our snack."   

Me: "Okay, go ahead buddy."  (slightly amused)

Avery: " Dad is great.  That is good.  Thank you for the food.  Amen"  (Then sign of the cross with extra shoulder touches) "Father, Son, Holy Spirit, AMEN!"  

So I guess that is the new grace for our house.

Spring is coming....

Just ask Mr. The King who has moved his boat from the bath tub to the melted snow lake at our back door.  

For the love of a balloon....

Somewhere I have a picture of me holding Avery in the rocking chair, he is asleep, still holding his balloon.  As you can see, Jake has the same kind of affection for these latex wonders.

Peek a Boo!

Winter Art

I totally forgot to post these pictures or our winter art project - colored ice sculptures.  Highly recommended for anyone living in sub-zero temperatures for a sustained amount of time.  We even started installing them in our neighbors yard, just for fun!

Maple Syruping

Photo of Mom by Avery

Is this the real stuff?

Looking for the right tree, bucket ready!

Listening for the sap to drip....