Category Archives: avery

Autumn Days

Fall is in full swing, the leaves are changing color, and the trees are brilliant shades of gold, orange, and fiery red. While enough leaves are still on the trees to make them look full and pretty, piles are accumulating on the ground, beckoning little kids to shuffle through and throw them about. There is fun to be had! Fall is such a pretty season, especially in the northwest, but I think even more so here in Snoqualmie. The colors of fall are striking in contrast to the blues and grays of the mountains and fog, and the lush greenery our region is known for. Yes, there is much rain to contend with, but it’s pretty even when it’s raining, and when it’s not, we get outside and enjoy all the northwest has to offer.

Kieron loves being outside! He’s learned the word “shoes” and will repeat it over and over when he wants to go out. When it’s raining, I say “I’m sorry babe, look, it’s raining, we can’t go outside right now.” But despite his usually mild manner, he can be quite stubborn. He will not take no for an answer. So sometimes I take him to the window, or even just outside the door, so he can feel that it is indeed raining. And when I bring him back in thinking this must be the proof he needs, he bursts into angry tears and makes his way into the coat closet where his shoes are kept. He goes inside, closes the door, and continues his pity party alone, poor little guy. Needless to say, I get him out as often as the weather and our schedule permit.

Avery is a busy boy between preschool, dance, and now swimming twice a week. He’s such a talkative, imaginative little guy, and is always cracking us up saying funny things. This past week he’s insisted on sleeping in his tent at the foot of his bed. Jonathan and I joke to each other that he’s “occupying” his room as part of the 99%. I can’t believe this is comfortable for him, but he seems to be getting a better night’s sleep down there.

I love pictures of toddlers checking out nature

Sharing the sandbox

At times they play quite sweetly



20 weeks

Brothers in coordinating PJ’s

Reading a story at bedtime (Kieron gets really antsy)

We peek in on the boys each night before heading to bed. This is what we found at the foot of Avery’s bed one night

And here’s our little Kieron sleeping

Jonathan got an iPad for his birthday, but it’s the little boys who get the most use out of it


My secret to getting veggies into a toddler who doesn’t eat veggies:



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Salmon Days & Remlinger Farm

We had an action-packed first weekend in October. That Saturday we went to the Salmon Days Festival in Issaquah. We had fun checking everything out and watching the salmon try to jump the fish ladder. At the end of the day, the boys got to try their first cotton candy, which they both loved.

The following day we met up with our friends/old neighbors, Jessica, Vasili, Lily, & Owen, at Remlinger Farm in Carnation. Avery and Lily enjoyed going on all the rides together. Before leaving, we treated Avery to his first candy apple. Avery saved some of the seeds and planted them in the back yard the next day. That’s when he informed me he was growing a candy apple tree!

Picking pumpkins







Jessica, Vasili, Owen, & Lily

Kieron loved playing peek-a-boo on the train




Snacking on kettle corn

The daddy’s and Kieron


Riding the train at the Salmon Days Festival (Avery appropriately picked the animal cage)

Go, salmon, go!




Tired festival-goer

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First Day of Pre-K

I just realized that here it is, almost October, and (gasp) I forgot to post pics from Avery’s first day of Pre-K! The morning went smoothly, and he had a great first day at school. It’s been almost a month now and he’s still loving class and brings home lots of cute art projects.

“Avery, open your eyes!”

“Okay, there we go!”

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Dad is Rad

Jonathan and Avery went on a couple of special outings at the end of summer. A few weeks ago they attended their first Seahawks game together. We’re not much of a sports family – never watch games at home – so this was pretty foreign to Avery, not to mention a little noisy/overstimulating. Overall, he seemed to have fun just being out with Dad. Although Jonathan reported later that when they left (right before half-time, Avery was getting tired), he said to Avery, “I had a good time at the game with you,” to which Avery replied, “I didn’t.” Wow, brutal honesty.

The following weekend Jonathan took Avery on his first camping adventure. We surprised him after preschool with a sign that read “We’re going camping!” We sounded it out with him, and his reaction when he finished the last word was so incredibly cute. Shock, excitement, followed by, “let me go get my flashlight!”

They left on a Friday afternoon, and planned to stay one night, two if things went well. Fortunately, Avery was in good hands with his father, the Eagle Scout, and he rated this experience far better than the football game, so they stayed until Sunday. The pair had a blast hiking, exploring, building campfires, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, telling ghost stories, and enjoying each other’s company. Plus, there was the added bonus that without cell reception, Daddy could not possibly be distracted by the iPhone. When it was time to come home, Avery tried to convince Daddy to stay a few extra nights, and even suggested that Daddy could bring his laptop and work from the campsite.

Heading out to their first Seahawks game together

“Camping is so much fun!”





With a railroad tie he found

Collecting wood for the fire







Expert s’more chef

Sunday morning

The boys say bye to Daddy before he leaves for work in the morning

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Tiny Dancer

As summer began to wind down, we started to look for a fall activity for Avery. He made it clear to us that although he enjoys kicking a ball around in the backyard, he did not want to play soccer again. And he insisted he did not want to do karate, he wanted to learn to dance. Having grown up dancing, this was music to my ears, but Avery isn’t exactly the kind of kid who runs around busting a move. Did he really understand what he would be getting himself into? And I don’t want to be one of those parents who pushes their children into doing what the parent wants them to do. So I asked Avery to try a free trial class at the local karate place, and if he didn’t like it, he could do dance. Karate did not go well – it was awful. Avery was totally uncooperative and unwilling to participate, but I couldn’t keep Kieron off the mats. So dance it was!

Avery had his first dance lesson last Wednesday. The class is half ballet, half tap. There are eleven little girls… and Avery. He absolutely loved it! He wanted to go back the next day, and was so disappointed to have to wait a week for his next class. I’m thrilled (and relieved) that he’s enjoying his lessons, and I’m relishing being a dance mom while I can. Who knows, perhaps we have a future Baryshnikov or Gene Kelly on our hands?



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