For Jackson...

I don't know how Jon discovered that Avery thinks "Jackson" is the funniest word ever, but here she is cracking up about it...

If you're happy and you know it....

She gets a little distracted at the end, but that's probably because she had already made us sing "Happy" with her 20 times this day. The funny thing is that Avery actually taught us how this song goes by doing all the hand movements herself. She must have learned this at daycare.

Please excuse our singing voices....

Happy Halloween...

For what started out as such a tough week for our family, we were so lucky to have our little Avery to lift our spirits at the end of the week. She had a great Halloween, and even got to do some trick-or-treating with our friends from down the street.

Avery got to dress up for school on Thursday and Jon put her in this adorable, and hilarious outfit....


Our annual pumpkin carving tradition before Trick-or-Treating. Avery helped draw the faces this year (ok, she really just stabbed the pumpkin with the pencil a few times)...

And she was very interested in cleaning out the pumpkees...

Here are their masterpieces...

Chloe put on her pumpkin costume for a photo with Avery...

Here is our little Ladybug getting ready for trick-or-treating...

The minute we got home, Avery dug into her loot. She had so much fun getting candy from strangers. Although she didn't really understand the concept and ended up giving half the people candy from her bag instead of taking candy from them...

Avery really wanted this lollipop, so we caved and let her have a little bit, even though it was about 20 minutes before bedtime. I really hope we're not regretting that decision at 2am tonight...

Avery's new hat...

Dear Grandma Kathy -
Thank you so much for my new "pumpkee" hat! I love it and I'm going to wear it everyday!!!

Love, Avery

Avery's fall weekend...

Our neighborhood rec center had a Fall Festival this weekend. We only got to go for a short time before Avery's naptime, so she didn't wear her costume, but she seemed pretty intrigued by all the other kids all dressed up. And she didn't seem scared of this monster at all...


There was a magic show in the rec center's gym, where apparently dunking is prohibited. Otherwise Avery would have definitely shown off her skills. Jon also claims his college gym had a rule like this which is why he never dunked...

After the magic show, Avery got to paint her very own "pumpkee". This is her new favorite word....

And she stopped the sing the "itsy bitsy spider" on the way out...

Avery was so proud to try on her dad's shoes later that day. Whenever she sees this picture she immediately says "daddy shoooes"....

Pumpkin Patch

We had a great day at the pumpkin patch!!! We met our friends Sarah and Beau (and their son Rory), and lucked out with beautiful weather! This was such a different experience than the trip last year when Avery couldn't even sit up on her own. This year she was running all over the place and really enjoyed herself.

Here is Avery in the hay maze. We let her lead us through...and she really did find her way out on her own! Smart girl!!



Avery loved the chickens. She was saying "bawk bawk" all day...

She also had fun watching the goats...

We took a hayride out to the field to find our pumpkins. Avery got to choose them of course...

She was also determined to carry one by herself. Too bad they were all about as heavy as she is! So we stopped and bought her a mini pumpkin on the way out, which she gave to Chloe when we got home....

Avery was really sweet with Rory, and she didn't freak out this time when we held him...

She even leaned down and gave Rory a kiss....

Here we all are at the pumpkin patch...

Grandma Kathy visits

Avery had a great weekend with her Grandma Kathy. We read lots of books, went to the farmers market, spent some time at Powells, had some great things to eat, and went on walks around the neighborhood.

Here are Grandma Kathy and Avery on a walk to the park during one of the few dry moments this weekend (Avery walked the whole way there and back without the stroller)...


Avery loves the swings. She calls them the "weeeeeee"....


She also loves to go down the slide, which she calls the "shide"...

This was a first - Avery now wants to walk across the bouncy bridge on her own without holding our hands!! What a big girl...

On the way home we stopped to watch the ducks. She loves to say "quack quack"....



And what visit from Kathy would be complete without books?! Here is our little reader and her Grandma with some of Avery's favorites...

And to top it off, Avery got to watch a "show" (this might be her most frequently used word since we started letting her watch a few minutes of sesame street once in a while - she's a TV junkie already!). She also learned to say "football" during this Patriots game!!