Photo Updates

Alia 6 Months


Avery 3 yrs

Although these photos turned out pretty good the other 159 photos we deleted looked more like the one below.

Avery and Gaven's Birthday in Platteville

Gaven turned 11


Avery and the monkey cupcakes Amanda picked out


Hitting the pinata full of candy


All of the kids waiting for a chance to get at the candy


Amanda put up the water slide for the party


There was a major hail storm that went through Platteville when we were there. In this picture we are in Amanda's basement. The boys are trying to do crafts even though water is coming in through the walls and ruining their creations. Avery was just happy sitting on Daddy's lap and reading stories. Alia decided it was a good idea to scream while we were in the small, cramped space.


We ventured out the next day to look for storm damage. It was quite the storm with winds up to 90 miles an hour, hail, and lots of rain. We were running through the hail to get to shelter and Amanda was hit several times. She has bruises to prove it, so did our rental car.
There were several trees down at our local park. This picture shows three of the biggest ones.


This is what happens when you leave the two experimenters alone. Avery was pumping the air pump while Austin held the end in the bird seed container.


Then they put the nozzle in the cage to see if they could blow seed at the birds. It actually worked.


Alia playing with my cousin's daughter.

Happy 3rd Birthday Avery!

Grandpa and Grandma Davis came for a visit to help us celebrate Avery's birthday. Here are a few of the highlights:


When I asked him what he wanted this year for his birthday, he said a lion. We compromised with him and made him a lion cake since I don't think a lion would get along very well with Venus.


He asked to have a piece of the eye.


Meet Peacock, the newest member of our family. Aunt Laura and Tony gave Avery a fish for his birthday. Peacock is a Beta.



Here is Avery on his new balance bike. It teaches children how to ride a bike without needing training wheels.






Grandma and Grandpa wanted to explore our new city so we rented golf carts for a day.


We enjoyed a visit to the Georgia aquarium, the world's largest.




Cooling off in our pool.

Grandma and Grandpa, thanks for visiting us during Avery's birthday and making it a special one! Orla and Tony, thank you for Peacock, what a great gift for a 3 year old!

And last but not least...


1 week


1 year


2 years


3 years

Alia and Banana 5 months

Alia


Avery

Fun 4th

We were eager to experience a holiday in a different part of the country. Things here definitely feel different. Our first stop was the annual parade. Like most parades it was filled with music and candy and all the old cars anyone would care to see. The difference here was that it was almost 90 degrees at 10 am. Here are the highlights


Avery showing his American spirit



Alia enjoying her frisbee


People warned us about the golf carts but this is out of control


Not to be outdone, Alia showing her spirit


Next, we decided to visit a neighboring town.


Since this town is known for "having homes" we had high expectations for their annual "home made ice cream festival. We tried all 4 flavors and liked them all.

After a morning of candy and ice cream we decided a nap was in store. Then after being well rested we went to a BBQ and sat and watched the fireworks. Both Avery and Alia loved them. Brandee and I did too.

Come on, laugh with us!

Someone thinks her brother is grand.....

Like Mother Like Daughter

While unpacking I found a dress that once belonged to me. I wore this dress when I was Alia's age. Mom says the day wasn't so picture perfect because I wouldn't cooperate for the cameraman. Everyone tried and tried to get me to smile. I finally did after I threw up all over myself. The stain is still on the dress and visible in my baby picture. Now fast forward to this week. I was excited when I found the dress and decided to try it on Alia. I tried in vain to get her to smile and had similar results. Alia also threw up on the dress, adding to my stain. I hope she will get to pass the tradition down to her daughter someday....

Happy Father's Day!

We enjoyed a great weekend exploring more of our new city. Friday and Saturday were spent cruising around in a golf-cart we rented. The trails are wooded and beautiful and Avery really enjoyed riding in the cart. Since the paths are wooded and there are no signs anywhere, we got lost quite a bit. I wish I had a picture of us on our cart, but we forgot to take one. We also enjoyed a picnic and finally used the awesome basket we were given for our wedding. (Thanks Kelly!) On Sunday we went to the local lake and played in the water. I would say it was refreshing, but I think the water was at least 80 degrees, nothing like the 40 degree Lake Superior waters!

Bodily Functions and other gross stories

Twice now Alia has tried to embarrass me with her bodily functions. The first time happened in my home town, at my church. Church was about to begin and I noticed Alia needed a diaper change. I left Scott and Avery in the sanctuary, grabbed a diaper and wipes out of the diaper bag and headed for the bathroom. When I was changing her, she began to pee. I tried to catch the pee with her new diaper only to realize that the new diaper was upside down and inside out. Realizing this, I pulled it out from under her while she continued to empty her bladder. Now what to do? There I stood, with no new diaper and a little girl with pee-soaked clothes. I had to strip her down to nothing and walk back to the sanctuary to retrieve another diaper and new clothes. Too bad we were seated half way to the altar and I had to pass by several curious onlookers with a naked baby in tow.

The second time she tried was today. She definitely wasn't making it easy to make some new friends. It was a hot day, like every day has been so far in June. I decided to walk to the park with Avery and Alia to meet some moms from the neighborhood because they meet weekly at the park. I put Alia on the front pack and Avery wanted to "ride" his bike so I gave in and let him. I say ride in quotes because he refused to pedal and instead pushed with his feet. The park is a few blocks away so it took 15 minutes to get there. Once there, I was really sweating from carrying Alia and dragging Avery and his bike. I tried to look somewhat presentable even though I was sweating from every pore in my body. I walked up, took Alia out of the carrier and sat down on the bench. She was standing on my lap for about five minutes while I talked to the other mom's and while Avery played in the sand. I glanced down at one point to see how wet my shirt had become from all of the sweat only to discover that the whole front of my shirt is covered in poop! I look at Alia and notice that she is also covered in poop. Great, now what. Did the other mothers notice? I decide to nonchalantly stand up and pretend to get something out of my bag which was on another bench. I look for a diaper and wipes which I always carry only to realize that they were in another bag and not in the bag I had at the park. Fun times! I then quickly decide to put Alia back in the front carrier so no one could see the poop on the front of my shirt or all over her. Then I try to explain to Avery as quietly as I can that we need to leave the park and head back home. Of course, he wasn't pleased because we had just gotten there. The worst part of leaving was realizing that I was now covered in poop, as was Alia and we had to walk back the several blocks in the sweaty heat, dragging Avery on his bike. I wonder what those mom's thought of us on our first meeting, what a great first impression!

Growing up...

I've been working with Avery trying to teach him the ins and outs of dressing oneself. Here is our progress thus far. He managed this all by himself!


Playing in the bouncy house


This deserves some explanation. When we were unpacking our home, Venus noticed that there was a bed that wasn't currently being used. She begged and pleaded with us until we finally gave in. Look how happy she looks!

It seems that in the move we acquired one hampster and lost the boy

Alia and Banana 4 months

Alia


Avery

Sweet Surprises....

It's official, I can call this place home and feel good about it because.....


"Hey Mom, what is that coming down the road?"


THERE ARE ICE CREAM TRUCKS!!!!


We had just gotten back from a very sweaty walk and we heard music down the street. I jokingly told Avery it was an ice cream truck because that's what you see in the movies. I was really surprised and quite happy when it actually was an ice cream truck. How cool is that? Oh, and the neighbors just dropped off homemade cookies : ).