Summertime, Summertime, Sum-Sum-Summertime!

Summer vacation has begun!  I have been out of school now for not even a week and we have been super busy!  The end of the school year always includes a party with all of my co workers at my boss' house.  Luckily for Avery, her buddy from daycare was there to play with.  

Since the pool wasn't open yet, the kids were able to run across the cover.  Avery wanted no part of it!

She and Lucas enjoyed the hot tub instead.

We have been so lucky to have Avery in Megan's care all year long.  Megan has been caring and wonderful for Avery and Avery loves going to her each day!  We never really told Avery it was her last day at Megan's, but she cried her eyes out!  It was so sweet!  Thanks Megan!  

Not only is it summer time, but it is also garage sale time!  Check out these two fun finds!  

Sunglasses- $0.25

Rocking Horse- $5.00

We spent Memorial Day weekend at my mom and dad's for some family time and to check up on my mom's recovery after surgery.  Avery loves getting to spend time with Ga and Papa and Lucas and the rest of our big family.  Enjoy the pictures!

Enjoying some snuggle time with Lucas!

Papa tried to teach them to play golf.  Avery seems to be a bit concerned! :)

Popsicle Time

Auntie Ashley came over and surprised the kids at the back door.  They were so excited to see her!

Papa put the sprinkler out in the backyard for the kiddos to play with in the hot Chicago day.  Lucas loved it... Avery was not into it!  She just ran away and hit far from it.  Silly girl!

Later that night, Auntie Robyn made a super cool bath for the kids.  They loved the glow sticks in the tub!

Sunday afternoon, we headed to my grandma's house for a cookout with some of my dad's family.  

Check out this little diva!  We are going to be in trouble in a few years!

 

The neighbors behind my grandma's have 2 fake deer.  She would not leave them alone.  At one point, she was sitting in the grass talking to them.  How cute is that?

Right before we got ready to leave, I had Avery take a picture with Great Grandma.  

This was 3 minutes later!  She didn't get a nap that day and after running around with Lucas all day, she was tuckered out.  

Then Monday afternoon, we headed home to see daddy.  They were both so excited to see each other!

Avery, Dave and I spent a lovely Mother's Day together.  Avery woke me up in the morning with a cold diet coke!  (She knows what mama likes!)  The evening before, I was the very lucky recipient of a Cricut!  I cannot wait to use it and hope to make all sorts of crafts this summer.

Later that morning, we took Avery to my classroom to meet the baby chicks!  Each year, my third graders get eggs and get to watch them hatch.

A little apprehensive!  

Hi Chicks!
 

Then, we had to stop at the park...

After Avery's nap, Ga and Papa came over.  Not only was it Mother's Day, but it was Grandma G's birthday!  So we of course celebrated.  And took pictures!

We are always encouraging Avery to try new foods.  Sometimes she likes it, sometimes she doesn't.  This was a case of not liking.

Future Performer??

Dave got his own personal concert tonight...hope you enjoy it as much as we did!! :)

Springtime Fun

I feel as though I have neglected our blog for the past month, but the truth is, there really hasn't been much to update on.  Since the weather has gotten so nice, we have been outside a lot!  There is a little dairy farm here in Bloomington, Ropp Jersery Cheese Farm, where they have all of their animals on display for you to visit with.  Avery loves this farm and loves being able to pet the new calves!  Luckily for us, the last two times we have visited, the owners have let Avery feed the calves!  She thinks this is pretty cool!

Avery and her dad have also been doing lots of work outside.  Avery has loved being able to "use" the tools and "help" daddy.  

A couple weeks ago, we had dinner with some friends and lucky for Avery (and Daddy) there was a four wheeler for them to ride.  At first Avery didn't know what to think of it, but quickly began to enjoy it.  Along the ride, they found a hidden away playhouse for her to play around in.

At the end of April, my mom had knee replacement surgery.  Avery and I spent 4 days in Chicago helping to take care of her.  Poor Avery spent 10 hours in the hospital on the first day.  Lucky for us, the nurses and doctors found her entertaining, even when taking my moms walker into the hall saying hi to all the other patients.  Each time my mom had physical therapy, Avery would walk out in front of her saying, "Come on Gaga, come on!"  She was grandma's personal cheerleader!!  

Edwards Hospital even had a little outdoor courtyard that we spent a lot of time in!

Avery even found a duck to chase!

In addition to helping out my mom, she got to spend some time with Papa and her aunts and cousin Lucas!

Finally, a couple videos to share.  The first one is more like a video response to a video my cousin Amy posted of her 3 year old son dancing.  Avery watched this video over and over again and then needed to dance with him!

The second video is one Dave found a little while ago that I never posted.  I have a container of 100 cookie cutters that Avery loves to empty, sort, put back and sometimes she uses the container as a hat.  Enjoy!

And now, especially with all the warm weather, Avery has been treated to some ice cream.  Her first treat of the season came in the form of the good old Dilly Bar!  On the stick was a bit challenging so we ended up with it in a bowl!  Hope you are all enjoying the warm weather too!  Love from Bloomington!

Easter "Hop"penings

We hope everyone had an enjoyable time with their families over the Easter holiday.  Ours was really nice and especially fun with Avery being able to run around looking for eggs and take part in some of the other traditional activities. 

Of course, what is an Easter without some egg coloring?  Last year, she was not old enough to help with this, but this year we thought we would try it out.  Avery is in a stage now where she wants to do everything on her own!  Including dying eggs.  Surprisingly, this activity worked out neater than we had thought (hence the towels on the table!)

Helping drop in the color tablet

We, I mean she, was very excited about the eggs turning colors.

Avery wanted to get the eggs out on her own....

Then, the following morning, of course there was the Easter egg hunt.  We had been practicing for over a week, so she was an old pro by this time!  And yes, she is dressed in a fleece sleeper, a windbreaker and winter boots. 



Finding her Easter basket!

 Later that afternoon, we were heading to my Grandma's house, Gigi as she is known to Avery, for Easter dinner.  Since there is a new baby in our family, the cradle had to be returned.  But, not before one last ride in it.  Below is a picture of Avery at 1 month old and then her on Easter morning this year!

We decided to do a potluck dinner for Easter and I brought a sunflower cake....

and some deviled eggs...

and since I am not that creative on my own, I guess I should thank Pinterest.  :)

Easter did not get by us without a few gifts for Avery from her great aunts and aunts and ga and papa and gigi.  It seriously was like a mini Christmas.  We were so appreciative of everything Avery got and all of the chocolate that came home with us.  ;)

But, most of all, it was just fun to spend some time with our favorite people!

Avery's personal jungle gym!

Since the weather has been so nice, we have been spending a lot of time outside.  For Christmas, Auntie Ashley gave Avery a sand and water table.  It hasn't been that nice for the water yet and before we could put the sand in, Avery had begun filling it up with the rocks in our backyard.

Last night we attended a surprise party for a family friend.  Dave's parents were in New Jersey visiting their daughter so Avery had been missing them.  She sure was excited to get Papa back playing with her.... her way.  :)

Then, we couldn't help but stop at the park to play a little!

And I think Avery found her new best friend at Ga and Papa's house!  A giant monkey!

I will leave you with this face!  :)  Love from Bloomington!