Some funny Avery statements

"I think when we get to heaven someday we'll still be able to Skype. Then we can talk to everyone down here (Earth)."

To her preschool teacher on Tuesday: "I'm exhausted today, Mrs. Shannon. I just didn't sleep all that much last night." (She slept just as much as most nights). That girl, she's a crack up.

Tonight after reading a compilation of Little House stories, Avery convinced herself that Mary went blind from a blizzard. At four, her mind is very active.

Nesting

This week is a big nesting week in the Lee house. Why do we save these projects for 3 1/2 weeks from my due date? I'm just grateful that they're getting done and excited about the results. This coming Saturday is a big work day at our home, with lots of help from our Home Group Bible study. However, we've done some prep work this week, so here are a few pictures.

My friend Tisa and I did a trial run on re-covering my dining room chairs. I bought these before kids and they have white seats which I have covered for years with these green checkered slips. The slips are falling apart so it's time for some new, kid-friendly fabric.

Old chair

New chair

Old 1989 doors.

New doors -- the white trim will be added this weekend.

Stacking blocks

Carys stacking blocks. Notice her funny expressions when the blocks fall over.

ABCs

Carys singing ABCs with Mommy. She's starting to catch on.

A few pics of Carys

To say that Carys is changing daily is an understatement. Sometimes it feels like she is changing hourly. Jeff often comes home from work and exclaims that Carys has changed so much that day. She is still a very sweet-natured 16 month old. She is a little too attached to Mommy, especially considering that the baby is arriving in about 8 weeks. She is also cutting her first year molars this month...she's handling it much better than her older sisters did, though it does wake her up more often at night than we would like. :-) Oh well, what's new?

Can Daddy take Carys on his trip?

Carys loves playing with baby dolls. Do you think she'll be this sweet with her baby sister when she arrives? I'm not too sure.

I bought this "My Breast Friend" pillow to replace my Boppy breast feeding pillow. Carys loves the pillow and is constantly pulling it out of the closet to sit in while reading.

Carys coloring with her big sister Avery.

The older girls built Carys a tent. Here she is hidden inside.

And, here she is peaking out. :-)

Picking out pumpkins

Two weeks ago the girls and I came down with the flu. We were down and out for days and prisoners in our own home. Finally, after being in the house for a week, we had to get out! What better place to spread germs than outside at a pumpkin patch. So, I packed everyone into the car (Jeff was at a day conference) with mud boots and drove to a local pumpkin patch. We were there for about 1/2 hour, picked out our pumpkins (1 small one for each girl and a large one to carve) and headed back home, coughing our heads off (especially me).

Cambria & Avery with their small pumpkins.

Carys, one of the few moments she smiled on this trip. She wasn't too thrilled about being in the jogging stroller. Note: The stroller has a seat for the new baby when she arrives in about 8 weeks.

Cambria posing in a pumpkin. Avery refused to participate.

All three girls with their pumpkins.

Carving the pumpkin

This past week we carved the large pumpkin...the girls also each have a small pumpkin that will remain intact. Cambria enjoyed being a part of the carving process. Avery just watched but didn't want anything to do with pumpkin "guts" or carving.

Scooping out the "guts".

The impossible task of getting a picture with Avery.

Cambria carves the pumpkin.

The finished product.

The pumpkin doesn't look as cool in this pic but the girls wanted a picture with it. :-)

Halloween 2009

It's been a ridiculously long time since I last blogged. I'll start with Halloween pictures and catch up with other October pictures. Last night our family had dinner with our friends at their cul-de-sac party. It was a lot of fun with all ages of kids, creative food and new people to meet. Afterwards, we trick or treated through our friends' neighborhood. Avery didn't last too long, so she, Carys and I headed home. Cambria went on for another hour or so with Jeff. She was really into the trick or treating and came home with a LOT of candy. It was a fun night for our family!

Mommy & Carys

Playing fall tic-tac-toe with candy corn.

More tic-tac-toe.

The girls -- two fairies and a UVA cheerleader (all three girls have worn the cheerleader outfit).

Avery & Carys checking out their candy after T&T.

Carys' first Kit Kat bar. Yum-O!

Silly glasses on Avery.

Daddy's tower of Smarties.

Riddle

Here is a riddle that Jeff told the girls and I tonight:
"I am very tall. Sometimes you can see me, sometimes you cannot. And, I have a big, white hat."
The girls and I were stumped for about 30 seconds before Avery piped in, "Mt. Rainier". She was correct, while Cambria and I were still clueless. We all got excited at Avery's answer and cheered for her...she became incredibly embarrassed, buried her head in my arm and then burst into tears. I know that she doesn't like attention in the same way that Cambria does, but tears?????

Avery's first day at preschool

Yesterday was Avery's first day of 3-year-old preschool. She was so excited and did SO well with the drop-off. I did not expect that from her. She will be 4 in November so she is definitely ready for her own school experience, but she has been struggling with separation anxiety lately so I expected a big scene when I left. Boy, was I relieved.

When I picked her up at noon, she had lots to tell me about her first day. Each kid was allowed to bring their teddy bear to the first day and they sang songs about them, and did some teddy bear projects. She also had a great time with playdough, the playground and playing with old and new friends.

After preschool, Jeff, Carys and myself took Avery to McDonalds to celebrate. I dislike McDonalds so much (especially when I'm pregnant), but anything to make her feel like it was a special day. :-) We are proud of our Avery.

First day of 1st grade

This morning we dropped Cambria off for her first day of 1st grade. She's been so excited about school starting. She was the first one up this morning and the first one dressed. She knows several kids in her class and I'm sure it's going to be a great year for her.

Cambria with her new backpack full of supplies.

Mommy and Cambria (I had grandiose plans of getting my hair dried but oh well.)

Daddy & Cambria.

Checking out the desk.


Walking Cambria to school (usually she'll ride the bus but today we drove her there and walked her in).

Dinner out

Last night we went out for Chinese (a night early) to celebrate the first day of school. We had fun as a family...the girls love the round table with a lazy Susan and we had some fun conversation. I especially loved the food since I was having a craving.

The whole family.

Pointing at something and enjoying the lo mein (or chow mein as they call it on the West Coast)


Avery being silly.

Bedtime

Jeff and I were watching Carys play with the car tonight. I got out the camera and, of course, she notices that I'm video-taping. Here is what happened while I was taping.

Another crazy Carys video

This video is especially for the grandparents -- a chance to see their wild, youngest granddaughter. She still moves her feet and hands constantly, and says "oooo", but she also has a psycho laugh. Enjoy!

Blah!

Carys' favorite video is Baby Mozart. She loves the part where Bart the dragon says, "blah". In fact, all three of our girls have loved that part. Here she is giving a taste of her "blah"ing.

Technology

Carys, like all toddlers these days, is obsessed with technology. I love that she types on the computer like she's an adult.

This same day the girls had built beds on the couches. The living room was a MESS! I let them keep their mess for two days, but then too much fighting was occuring so I banned the beds.

A morning at the park

We've had some amazing weather lately. We spent a lot of time at the park this past week so that the older girls could ride their bikes and Carys could swing.

Where is Cambria?

Snack break for Avery.

Obsessed with riding the bike now.

Daddy/Daughter Camping Trip - 2009

Jeff and Cambria went on their 2nd annual Daddy/Daughter camping trip with their friends. This year they learned from their mistakes and left earlier on the Friday. This way they were guaranteed to get a campsite. They had a fun time with their friends and Cambria learned to ride her bike without training wheels. Below are a few pics from the overnight trip:

The girls before leaving on the camping trip. Note the nice, neat hair pre-camping.

By the afternoon, Cambria was riding her bike with wild hair in her face. :-) Only on a Daddy/Daughter trip.

Pancakes for breakfast.

The dads.

Silly faces.

Daddy & Daughter.

Rock houses that the girls spent a LOT of time building.

Riding a 2-wheel bike

Friday, while camping with Jeff and some other daddy/daughter friends, Cambria took off her bike training wheels and rode like a champ. Below are two videos of her riding. The first video is her riding on the road around the campsite and the second video is her riding through the woods around the campsite and then onto the road. She is on cloud nine about her accomplishment, of course, and Avery already can't wait until she can take off her training wheels.

A photo shoot with Avery

Avery had her own little photo shoot while we were stopping at a zoo bathroom today. Here are a few of the funny and cute shots she took:

A look at Carys' almost 8 teeth. Note the 3 teeth on the bottom and the fourth on the way in.