I added some music to the blog. I cannot guarantee it will work but make sure your volume is on and try it out. If you want it to stop, just go to the bottom of the blog and adjust.
Some fun events leading up to Christmas Eve! The base had a float in the local Snowflake Parade. Geoff and the boys rode on it and Avery and I watched the parade. She loved every second.
The next night was the squadron Christmas Party. It was really fun but we left early because the boys were at a gymnastics fun night just down the street and Geoff and I both had to work the next morning.
Pics with Katharine and Katie.
We met Katharine and her husband Jay in Japan prob back in 2001. Crazy!
Avery had a dental cleaning after yoga one morning. Her naps are down to about one every two or three weeks. She gave up the ghost on our way to pick the boys up from school.
A little bit of block-building and dancing. Of course.
Followed by an impromptu photo shoot with Avery and Katy.
A serious pose.
"Take my picture mommy!"
Jack even wanted some pics with Katy. Bear was MIA in our house somewhere...
I love this pic of sweet Katy. She and Bear turn 11 next month.
The base had a red carpet day and I go to get a taxi ride with Geoff.
The ladies in our group.
I just couldn't get the serious face down until Geoff gave up.
The taxi ride itself (at least the accelerating/racing down the runway) lasted about 4 seconds. It was cool to see all the support that is involved for each pilot and each jet. We got to sit in a mock brief and get fitted in life support. It was so great of the folks at the base to let us do this! And thank you Geoff for signing me up!
Avery started her own gymnastics class in November. So far she has had three classes and there is only one other boy in her class. He wasn't there the first part of her first class or for the last class she had so she has had two private lessons with Coach Cheryl.
A little scooter action on a warm day.
Geoff and the boys went to Mt Bachelor for the first skiing of the season!
They drove up the night before and spent the night in Sunriver. Then got the mountain first thing in the morning. Avery and I stayed home. We went to a "Polar Express"-themed party at our friend's church. The next day Mary came to stay with Avery so I could help at a Christmas open house fundraiser. Three ladies opened their gorgeous homes for people to tour and have Christmas goodies. Then I picked up Avery and she was my date for my Christmas party at the gym. Busy weekend!!
A couple of more pics with K to the T.
The elementary school does such a cute Christmas program every year. The music teacher for the city schools is awesome. We were all sad when she "retired" last year. But she came back just for our school to prepare the kids for the Christmas program. You have to arrive an hour early to get a decent seat bc the auditorium is too small for the amount of people that come. So we got in the front but way on the side so we couldn't get too many pics. Here we are waiting for the boys' Christmas program to start.
Look for the boys in the middle row/center.
Each grade performs 3 songs...one with a prop and one where they move from their spot and dance.
On the way out of the school, Avery spotted Winnie the Pooh she wanted a picture with him. Jack said "Avery is a grown-up in that picture."
Avery got some holiday treats at the end of her second gymnastics class. The wonders of a hand stamp and a candy cane. It's the little things. Geoff has been volunteering at the boys 2-hour class gymnastics on the same night.
Please enjoy some more Avery and Katy moments.....
Being that Katy and Bear were hardly around Jack and Wyatt when they were little (except for walks/jogs when the boys were in the stroller)...they are amazingly patient and sweet to Avery. The dogs are older now and more calm. Although Katy is now on thyroid meds that are bringing her back to puppy-level energy at times. She has begun to use her upper body to pull herself over our chain length fence. She hasn't done that since she was a puppy.
Avery has started practicing gymnastics at home. I could really tell from this pic that baby girl's legs stretched out!
The second grade class had a Christmas party/gift exchange that A and I went in to help with. A had no problem hopping next to W like she was part of the class. All the kids had to buy an item for a classmate for $3. It was challenging to keep it under $3! Wyatt got a little Lego set. Jack got a shark.
And later when I was cleaning up the cookie-decorating station, I looked around for A and she had a front-and-center spot on the teacher's lap.
Aunt Amy, Uncle Matt, Chloe and Logan found the pretty-much-sold-out-everywhere Lego Advent calendars for the kids. Star Wars for the boys...
...and Lego Friends for Avery. The calendars were so cute. The kids were so excited to see what was inside everyday.
Our ice skating rink got these great seals in for kids. To push or ride. They are genius. I could now take the kids by myself. Avery rode most of the time. The boys and her friend Norah took turns pushing her.
Wyatt and Owen taking a break.
Impromptu gift exchange with their friends.
During the break we went to our friend's house to build gingerbread houses.
I met Heidi at yoga. But our kids go to the same school and her daughter is in the boys class this year.
We were missing their brother in these pics. There were six gingerbread builders/tasters.
I see a cute little face peeking between the boys....
Heidi and I went to her kitchen for maybe five minutes. And this is what we found. On a side note, how great is her dining room table and chairs?
Thanks for making it through this long post. The whole month up until Christmas Eve.
