Our Week with Riley

Last Saturday when we left Sidney from our fourth of July extravaganza, we brought one fun cousin with us, Riley!

Whew, this was a busy week.  Here are some of our adventures:

We took her to the dollar theatre to see Rio 2.  The kids loved the movie but enjoyed the candy the most.  While we were in the drug store picking our candy, Carter was pointing out various options to Dawson.  When he came to the necco wafers, Dawson yelled "I want those!  I want Holy Spirit Candies!"  Yup buddy, I guess they do look like a host!  In the theatre he told me "Holy spirit tastes good!"  Hmmm, guess I have more work to do in the area of religious education!

We also went to the Akron zoo and splurged on stuffed animals for all.  Ava got a purple tiger named Twinsie (because it's a twin to byger) Riley got a fox named Foxy Glamorous Grace (not sure, there may be more names), Carter got a leopard called spotty and Dawson got a Komodo Drago named Cuddle Bean.

Another cousin picture

Poor Dawson, he had another nap meltdown this day.  It's hard for a 3.5 year old to keep up with the big kids.  He was walking around the zoo begging to go home to take a nap.

Skymax was also on our list!  Riley loved jumping.  She was starting to do front flips, that looked more like front rolls.  When we left all four kids were sweating with red cheeks, success!

Then we went down to Columbus to return Riley and we got to spend some time with Uncle Patrick and Aunt Sara.

They have a great park behind their apartment that we enjoyed.

Thanks Aunt Margie for all the pictures!!

Little Greenbriar School House

Another Fun Hike!

We saw Uncle Jay's favorite insect, the millipede!

We traversed mountain streams!

I was nervous about bears because this was an isolated hike, so we sang the whole way!  Mike and I tried singing 99 bottles of pop on the wall but the kids declared it "annoying."

Then we explored the school house and graveyard.  The kids really wanted to play school, so we did!

Cade's Cove

Cade's Cove is one of our favorite areas of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.  There is an eleven mile loop through the cove that is scattered with historical cabins, churches, mills and barns of the late 1800's and early 1900's.  It is closed two mornings a week for bikers to explore without motor vehicles.

On the way to the cove we saw our only black bear.  I was so excited that the kids got to see a bear from the safety of our car!

Mike and I biked the cove while Grandma and Bo took the kids on a short hike through the cove.  

Then after our bike ride, we met as the cove was opening to cars and drove to the Village area.  

Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Bo, Dawson, carter and Ava in front of a nearby stream.

In the Village we explored a mill, barn, smokehouse and much more.  The kids were able to watch the mill in action and see corn being ground up for corn meal.  We even purchased some corn meal to make homemade corn bread!

The kids were so excited to explore Carter Shield's cabin.  Nothing too exciting, but they obviously loved the name!

Gatlinburg - Sugarlands Visitor Center and Cataract Falls

We just wrapped up a fantastic week in Gatlinburg that we spent with family.  We went with Bo and Grandma, Uncle Jay, Aunt Tiff and cousin Andrew.  We had a fantastic time and nobody wanted to leave!  Poor Ava sobbed on and off for about 45 minutes once we got into the car to drive home.  But we made it home safe and sound and here are some pictures from our first day.  We visited the Sugarlands Visitor Center and hiked to Cataract Falls.

Investigating a tree stump

Ava had a ball hiking with her Bo.  He likes to hike quickly while Dawson has the three year old meander.  So Ava would take off with her Bo.  She nicknamed his Bo Bo and Bo-ey on this trip!

The Five of us at Cataract Falls

The kids had a ball climbing on the rocks and exploring the area.

Lots more pictures to come!!

Pictures from the Week

(Read in your best Oprah voice)

You're getting underwear and you're getting underwear and you're getting underwear!!!

You would think it was Christmas day!

But Dawson was very excited about his dusty underpants!

Pretty Roover, we had so much fun this afternoon making clover crowns and necklaces.  She also spent a lot of time practicing riding her bike without training wheels.  I really think this is going to be her summer to master it!

Carter and I played baseball, he is doing such a great job hitting the ball when I pitch it to him.  I'm having so much fun playing modified baseball games with the kids!  

Our first falling out of a tree injury.  Poor kid, I didn't see the fall but I heard the thud.  He did recover pretty quickly, but even with ice he has quite the egg on his head.  

Safety Village

This morning Carter had his graduation from Safety Village.  He had a blast this week and he loved telling me all about fire safety, bike safety and watercraft safety.

Carter, Ava and Dawson 

There was a cookout afterward with hot dogs, popsicles and cookies.

What a fun week!  

T-ball!

This past week was a t-ball marathon.  There were three games scheduled, and them one more was added due to a rain cancellation.  It was the first full week of summer vacation, so we didn't have any other obligations.

His t-ball skills have improved so much!  He was playing pitcher in this picture and throwing the ball to first.  He was throwing the ball to other kids while they weren't looking, and after a little talk he will now stand there, arm back waiting for eye contact.  Sometimes he stands there for quite awhile!

The funny little move he does with his leg while batting!

The ever dramatic I missed the ball so let me lay here curled up in a little ball.

Throwing and 

Catching!

We are having a ball watching you play and so are these wacky little kids!

Ava

So much happening!

 

 

 

Next Saturday Ava has her very first dance recital.  She is so excited, and here is a little sneak peek.  They are dancing to A Whole New World from Aladdin and she is wearing a Jasmine costume. 

 

 

 

 

Here is the All about Me poster that Ava made for preschool this year.  There is a picture of our family, a picture of Ava and Daddy from gymnastics, hiking in the woods, a picture from her 3rd birthday and a picture of Ava and Carter together when they were 2.5 and one.  It was funny, because if Ava had her way, she would have made the entire poster consist of baby pictures.  So instead she put a picture from when she was baptized.  She listed her favorite color (pink) food (pepperoni pizza) book (Charlotte's Web) and movie (Frozen). 

 

 

A pretty big milestone for Ava, she has recently stopped using pull-ups a night!  We've tried on several occasions, by she would wake up soaked night after night.  Now she has had many dry nights and if she does wake up she is only slightly wet and she will use the restroom and get clean dry clothes.  Success!!!

 

Today was also an exciting day for her because she got to ride a school bus at preschool.  They talked about the rules of the bus and she got to take a short ride (just around the parking lot.)  She was so proud of herself and even bragged to her big brother that she got to ride bus 63 today! 

 

The Rest of our Weekend

Saturday was also Carter's first t-ball game of the season.  He was so proud of his t-ball uniform and he loved his hat and shirt with his name on it!

 

 

One of my favorite moments from the game:  Carter was playing pitcher and he caught the ball.  Instead of immediately throwing the ball to first he stopped to dust off his pants and then leisurely look around while everyone is yelling "throw it to first!!"

 

 

 

 

Then after the game we stopped for our first ice cream of the season!  Birthday Cake Ice cream for all!

 

Mike and I also finished our first half marathon on Sunday morning.  Great big thanks to Grandma and Bo who kept the three monkeys happy.  Yay!!  I'm so proud of both of us and I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed the experience.  We are already planning our next!

Pro Football Hall of Fame

 

This past weekend Mike and I ran in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Marathon.  The race expo was held at the Hall of Fame and included free admission.  We were able to take Bo and Grandma with us to see it and pick up our race bibs for the next day.

 

 

 

The kids weren't too interested in much of the information on the history of the NFL, but they did like trying on the helmets and shoulder pads.  There were also casts of the hands of NFL players and it was interesting to compare hand size and leg size (geez, those guys are big!!)

 

Carter helmet head

 

 

 

Dawson did pretty well, I don't think his legs broke until the we went upstairs to see the second level.  And by the way, his legs break at least three times a day.

 

 

Ava with Terry Bradshaw's locker

 

Ava and I hanging with Troy

 

And Bill Cower getting his victory shower.  Dawson choose to jump in this picture as well!  I think the kids also liked looking at the super bowl rings.  Ava and I were looking for Steeler's rings and Carter said in a sad pathetic voice "Where are the Browns?"  His Daddy told him next year buddy, next year.

 

Then Mike and I picked up our bibs at the stadium and we were ready for our race!

FIVE!!!

 

My little Avery Girl,

Five years old, it doesn't even seem possible.  What an amazingly sweet, funny and kind little girl you have become.  My heart just aches at the thought of sending you to kindergarten next year, but I know that you will love it as much as your brother.  I was recently thinking that you are an amazing blend of your Mommy and Daddy, but entirely your own little person.  I love that you have my dark hair and I am regularly told that you look so much like me.  But you definitely have your Daddy's sleeping preference, you can stay up much later than your brothers and sleep in later, if they let you.  (Unfortunately Dawson has his Mommy's love for the morning time and enjoys waking up the whole house.)  You also have hands that look just like Daddy's hands.  But there are so many more amazing pieces of you.  Avery, you have a quiet little sense of humor.  Unfortunately I miss it from time to time in the cacophony of three kids, but it comes shining through when we have our dates together. 

 

Ava's Silly personality

You have lost a tooth and I can see the tip of a pearly white adult tooth beginning to poke through. 

 

 

We are reading together every day and you are doing great!  It is interesting to see how every child learns to read differently and you have a great memory.  Carter preferred to sound out each word and you prefer a whole language approach.  I will tell you a word and you remember them so quickly.   

Right now you are enjoying your dance/gymnastics combo class.  I asked you if you were interested in playing t-ball with your brother but you chose to pass.  You are still really interested in riding a horse and you want to learn to play the flute, just like me!  It's so fun to watch your interests change and evolve as you grow.

 

 

At your ballet class this morning.  You are learning all sorts of new moves.  You like to do grand jetes and plies.

 

In the past I have done birthday interviews and I like documenting your current interests/dreams.  Here they are:

 

Favorite color:  Pink and Purple (because purple is in the rainbow and pink isn't)

Favorite toy:  Ever After High

Favorite TV show or Movie:  Frozen

Favorite food:  pepperoni pizza

Favorite outfit:  Polar Bear Shirt

Favorite Game:  My Grandma's spooky I spy Game

Favorite Art activity:  Coloring with my Grandma

Favorite Animal:  Giraffes and Horses

Favorite Song:  Let it Go by Demi Lovato

 

My Own Sleeping Beauty

 

Favorite Thing to play outside:  soccer

Favorite Drink:  Chocolate Milk

Favorite Holiday:  Halloween

What do you like to sleep with: pinky

What do you want to be when you grow up:  artist

What do you like about Carter: he swims with me in swim class

What do you like about Dawson: I like to climb trees with him

What do you love about yourself: I like gymnastics and ballet

 

 

 

 

What do you pray about:  My Mom and Dad and Family

What do you like to do with Daddy:  wrestle with him

What do you like to do with Mommy:  go shopping at justice

Favorite Book:  Sofia the First

 

 

Happy Fifth Birthday to my sweet little Roover girl.  Mommy and Daddy love you forever and ever.

If you agree to let Tracey host a birthday party

 

And now, in the grand style of Laura Joffe Numeroff, an ode to my wonderful husband:

 

 

 

 

If you agree to let Tracey host a birthday party, she's going to want a bounce house to go with it.  When she walks into the backyard she is going to want to rake all the leaves that have accumulated over the winter.  While raking the leaves she is going to realize that we haven't mulched the beds in the back of the house since we moved into the house (2012).  So you are going to have to go to Home Depot for some mulch, and screen to replace the screens with holes in them.  While she is at Home Depot, she is going to walk by the blinds and finally decide to replace the two blinds in the sun room.  While you are trying to replace the blinds with three ever so helpful helpers hot on your heels (see picture above), she is going to remember that she needs to bake fifty cupcakes for the party, so she will start making a mess in the kitchen.  When the cupcakes are done, she will remember she wants to try two new icing recipes for you to try.  After the cupcakes are decorated, she will remember she wants cupcake balloons for the party.  And of course, a craft!  While she is scouring stores and the internet for these things you are going to shake your head and wonder why you ever agreed to let Tracey host a birthday party in the first place.  And chances are, when August arrives, she's going to want to host another birthday party!