Category Archives: avery

Back to School

It’s September, and today I took our youngest to his first day of preschool. All of my dear, sweet boys were learning and being well-taken care of, and I had a couple hours to myself to do WHATEVER I WANTED! So I headed straight to hot yoga! It was glorious! I went into a hot room and just breathed and stretched.

I love summer. I look forward to summer every year! But by the end of summer, with three little energetic boys in the house all day, every day, I start to get a little twitchy!

A few things really struck me this year as school started:

  1. I was verklempt when Kieron got on the school bus for the first time. When Avery started kindergarten, I was just excited, but this time I was a little bit sad and conflicted. I think it’s because I know now what the start of school means. To me it’s the official beginning of letting go. He will be gone for at least 1/3 of the day, every day (except summer and breaks) until he leaves home. Sniff.
  2. I realized how lucky my boys are to have siblings close in age. And I felt a little jealous. My brother is ten years older, so we never got to experience this stuff – getting on the bus together, looking for each other in the halls, knowing each others’ friends. We didn’t have sibling rivalry either, but these are the things I feel we missed out on.
  3. It was very quiet in the house with Avery and Kieron at school. A little too quiet (yes, even with SIlas, who never stops talking, at home). It’s a little nice and a little too quiet.

Avery’s first day of 3rd grade
IMG_5342

IMG_5337

With my school boys!IMG_5351

I offered to get him a new backpack this year (since we were ordering Kieron’s anyway) but he said he wanted to keep using the one he’s had since kindergarten. I’m glad!
IMG_5358

Boarding the bus. We had a very cranky driver the past two years, so we were delighted to see someone new sitting in the driver’s seat. She smiles, talks to the kids, and plays music.
IMG_7562

This year Avery and his BFF, Hayden, are in class together. Coincidentally, there is another Avery and also another Hayden in their class, both girls.
IMG_7551

Avery at lunch with Dalton & Hayden
IMG_7566

Kieron’s first day of kindergarten
IMG_5372 IMG_5373 IMG_5375

When he picked out his backpack, he was trying to decide between Star Wars & Construction Trucks. I was so glad when he decided on the trucks, it’s so much cuter!
IMG_7577

Waiting for the bus with his buddy, Louis.
IMG_7581

IMG_7583

He drew this family portrait before his first day of school
IMG_7574

First packed lunch
IMG_5370

After seeing both his big brothers start school, Silas was more than ready for his first day!
IMG_5386 IMG_5393 IMG_5401 IMG_5405

In front of his preschool. He was so excited to go in, but then he cried when it was time to say goodbye. What a cutie!
IMG_7594

Posted in avery, kieron, us | Comments Off on Back to School

Texas 2015

We had another fun trip to Texas this year to see Grammy and Papa. We had a great time and all of the boys made incredible strides with their swimming. There are a ton of pictures here, so I’ll let them speak for themselves!

“We’re here to pump (clap) you up!
DSC_2054

At the airport. The boys and I flew out together, and Jonathan joined us a week later.
IMG_7337

They were troopers on the airplane. I even got to read for an hour!
IMG_7340

Checking out those emergency manuals. I remember reading these thoughtfully as a child.
IMG_7341

First stop: LegoLand!
IMG_7344

On one of the rides.
IMG_7347

Poor Silas was an inch too short to join his brothers in this cool play space
IMG_7349

So he kept busy doing other things
IMG_7351

IMG_7356

IMG_7360

IMG_7363

Silas was also a year too young to participate in this fun activity (which is such a shame, because he drives his Jeep so well!)
IMG_7366

Playing with my old toys
IMG_7378

Raising the Jolly Roger
IMG_7382

IMG_7383

Grammy and the boys
IMG_7385

IMG_7393

IMG_7401

IMG_7407

Happy hour
IMG_7416

IMG_7428

IMG_7443

Silas loves Cosette! He is asking for (two) kittens now.
IMG_7457

He enjoyed being in charge of her meals
IMG_7497

Bedtime
IMG_7458

IMG_7477

Papa and Avery heading out to the Perot museum of Nature and Science
IMG_7480

Meanwhile Grammy and the little boys did some baking
IMG_7485

IMG_7487

IMG_7491

IMG_7495

DSC_1977

DSC_1986

DSC_1987

DSC_1989

DSC_1992

DSC_1998

DSC_2003

DSC_2006

Daddy finally arrived! The boys were (literally)  lining up to be tossed into the pool!
DSC_2012

DSC_2013

DSC_2015

DSC_2016

DSC_2024

DSC_2025

DSC_1979

DSC_1982

Happy hour!
DSC_2030

DSC_2034

Photo courtesy of Avery King
DSC_2038

DSC_2040

DSC_2046

DSC_2048

DSC_2050

DSC_2057

DSC_2062

DSC_2063

Notice Silas saying “suckers!”
DSC_2064

DSC_2066

DSC_2069

DSC_2071

DSC_2072

DSC_2076

DSC_2078

IMG_7514

IMG_7520

IMG_7528

IMG_7530

Water War 2015
DSC_2089

DSC_2101

DSC_2103

DSC_2107

DSC_2109

DSC_2112

At the park
IMG_7504

IMG_7507

In the evenings we worked on this 750 piece puzzle (Avery’s choice)
IMG_7532

Playing Mille Borne
IMG_7535

IMG_7536

And we’re off
IMG_7538

Highlight of the trip home was not only saving money on a layover, but getting to ride in a prop plane!
IMG_6695

IMG_6699

Posted in avery, kieron, places, us | Comments Off on Texas 2015

August

Here are a few photos from August. This first one is from a walk we took one evening. A year from now the boy’s new elementary school will be here!
IMG_6601

Not the greatest picture, but it’s our 12 year anniversary selfie
IMG_6622

IMG_7173

IMG_7264

IMG_7190

IMG_7232

Silas & Natalie – he’s only three, and already picking up the ladies
IMG_7240

At the Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast
IMG_7272

IMG_7273

IMG_7276

IMG_7284

Posted in avery, kieron, us | Comments Off on August

Neskowin

We went to Neskowin to visit Nana in August. We had a fun time playing on the beach and in the nearby stream. Unfortunately we didn’t get our camera out very much, but here are a few cute shots we took on our phones.

Room service
IMG_7202

IMG_7207

IMG_7210

The boys loved burying each other in the sand. Avery made Kieron into a sea monster, compete with shovels for wings, a trough for a tail, and even some decor on top!
IMG_7215

Then it was Avery’s turn
IMG_7217

The boys took this small inflatable out in the stream.
IMG_7225

IMG_7226

Posted in avery, kieron, places, us | Comments Off on Neskowin

Rattlesnake Lake

To beat the heat this summer, we spent a lot of time at the river and Rattlesnake Lake. It was the longest, hottest summer I can recall, so much so that the river and lake got incredibly low and revealed ground and stumps that I don’t think had seen the sun in many years! We had a fun time canoeing, paddle boarding, and swimming around. Each week we returned to the lake it revealed more stumps and treasures to explore!

My little monkeys! I’ve always wanted to get a shot like this of the boys (thank you Pinterest).
IMG_7313

IMG_7330

That’s Rattlesnake Ridge up there in the background
IMG_7301

Paddle boarding
IMG_7261

That’s Jonathan towing the boys back to shore.
IMG_7258

DSC_1770

DSC_1806

Cheers!
DSC_1814

This little guy had a close call. As I returned to shore with the paddle board, I discovered him just before I stepped into my flip flops, he was perched right in the middle of one of them. He became the boys’ pet for the afternoon.

DSC_1831

IMG_7246

Dry, cracked earth. I never realized that when lakes dry up, the mud left behind is so sticky that any and every bug that lands on it gets stuck. Sooooo gross!
IMG_7257

Posted in avery, kieron, places, us | Comments Off on Rattlesnake Lake