Avalon, you are 5

Avalon, my sweet pea, you are my 5 year old baby girl today!

Since I did a photo collage for your brother's birthday post in January of this year, I am going to do the same for you, because well, as a sentimental mom, I just love looking through old photos and remembering you at each and every stage of growing up.

I mean, look at your baby pic! This picture hangs in your room above your dresser and honestly, every single time I walk by it, I pause and remember how little you were. How you fit in the crook of my forearm and you were so light I could carry you around 1 handed.

5 days old, 2007

You are growing leaps and bounds right in front of us lately, from how you try mushrooms for the first time, clean up your own room, carry your own backpack at school, feed Barkley, open your own bag of chips and pout for only 3 minutes instead of 60 when things don't go as planned. See, you have this tunnel vision I like to call it. When you have it in your pretty head that something has to occur a certain way, if any other scenario played out it FREAKS you out.

For example, I took you with me to find a bathing suit for me and we were so excited to shop at the mall together. Only, when we got there, it wasn't the store you thought we were gonna go to, and you lost it. Right there in the middle of the store. Complete meltdown. But you didn't tell me that, so it took quite awhile for me to figure out why you were so worked up. And I had to postpone my bathing suit shopping to save my sanity at the moment (and any public humiliation).

But those type of episodes are happening less and less and you are more able to accept things that come your way. And your daddy and I are breathing a big deep sigh of relief.

1st birthday party, June 2008

You have such a giving heart that sometimes I am amazed at how such a little person could think about others, so much, so early in life. You love to give people flowers, draw pictures for family and friends, bring your parents breakfast in bed and share everything with your brother. You teach me so much about giving and sharing with others.

2 years old, June 2009

The past 6 months have been filled with gymnastics, and boy are you a natural. It didn't take long for your first coach to put you into an invitation-only class, and just yesterday, your pre-team coach recommended you for team. When I told you, your face lit up so bright and you said, "You mean, I get to be with the big team girls?" The way you point your toes and straighten your legs without even thinking about it...the way you have no fear to try new tricks...the way you tackle each new trick as a project, and perfect it until you get it right...I am just so in awe of your beauty and grace. The team will be so lucky to have you. And what a very special extra birthday, gift!

3rd birthday party, June 2010

 In 2 months you will start kindergarten and we have a running joke in the house that "mama isn't ready." As in, you and your brother are growing up so fast and I cannot believe I have a 3rd grader and a kindergartner already.

But really, joking aside, you are so ready for Kinder it's not even funny. You are so eager to read and write. You put letters together on paper all the time, and so very soon they will spell actual words! You love to play educational video games on Daddy's big computer, swiveling back in forth in his big chair. Sometimes you don't even get dressed after your bath before hopping up and playing, you are that excited! You are a social butterfly and a teacher's dream, so I just know Kinder will bring great times for you ahead.

You don't quite understand why you aren't starting Kinder this very day, since you are finally 5. It's an almost daily conversation explaining every kid starts in August, regardless of their birthday. And then you chuckle and say, "oh yeah, I'm so silly."

4th birthday party, June 2011

But in the meantime, we are enjoying summer and really soaking in each and every day. Our family LOVES summer, and you definitely fit perfectly into that mold, too. We love swimming in the pool everyday, going to the beach, playing at the park, having picnics on the front lawn, bike rides around the neighborhood, bbq dinners out on the patio, you name it.

And oh, did I mention? You learned to swim a few days ago! For about 5 days in a row you begged us to get in the water with you so you could swim short distances (1-2 feet) to us and we would catch you. Well, this was fun and all, but it got a bit chilly. On day 5 when you asked, I turned you down and said not today  and then you asked if you could just do it on your own. I was hesitant but said yes, but I stood right at the edge waiting to jump in, and then...you just swam on your own! And then I was a great parent and got my phone to video tape it, still ready to jump in if I had to of course.

Preschool graduation, June 2012

Sweet pea, you are so bright and so loving and so sweet, this family just adores you. You make our family complete. I know I am making mistakes as a mama along the way, but your grace teaches me so much about God's love and I am so glad we can share that with each other. I look forward to all the days ahead of being your mama, learning everything you have to teach me.

I hope you enjoy everything five has to offer.

We love you,
Mama

sprinkler fun

party rock

Loudoun came home so excited one day to enter his school's talent show, but when he asked the school if he could pogo with no hands, they said absolutely not and he was devastated. He couldn't think of anything else he wanted to do and turned into that frustrated kid like the world was coming to an end.

So, I googled talent show ideas and high on the list was dancing with glow sticks in the dark. And we all knew we had a winner. Daddy and Loudoun picked out the song Party Rock and he went to school the next day to tell his after school coach his great idea.

The coach in charge of putting together the talent show had a background of 6 years in dance, and offered to put together a routine for Loudoun and his friend, Noah. He came home every night and practiced, playing the song on our iPad in the living room and yelling out: watch this! look at this one! check it out! He was so excited and we were rooting him on each step of the way.

On the afternoon of the talent show, I used double-sided sticky velcro and attached glowsticks to their chests, arms and back. Daddy tied the glowsticks to their belt loops and we also gave them some for their wrists, ankles, and a few to hold onto. All of the kids in the auditorium were already wondering about the glowsticks on their clothes, but they had no idea what was coming.

getting decked out in glowsticks before the show

Avalon waiting in the audience, sitting so nicely with us. We finally don't have to worry about her staying in her seat (she used to be a wanderer). Giving her a handful of her own glowsticks made all the difference. 

When the announcer called their names, they went on stage, the lights were turned out completely, the music started and the entire auditorium went WILD. Everyone was out of their seats, clapping and cheering and the kids LOVED the dark room and loud music. 

obviously the flash from my camera takes away from the pitch black room and glowing glowsticks.

 Loudoun and Noah totally nailed their dance moves and had big smiles on their faces the entire time. Rick and I were so proud, and couldn't believe how much Loudoun has grown in his confidence the last couple of years.

they even came off stage and interacted with the audience

After they finished and went back to their seat, all of the girls approached them, asking for glowsticks. And we heard so many kids say later that it was their favorite performance of the afternoon. Talk about good for Loudoun's spirit.

This all happened after work, on a Friday, on Rick's birthday, and Rick, Avalon and I had the BEST time watching Loudoun and all of the kids perform and share their talents with us. They were all so cute!

Avalon's handful of glowsticks, unedited photo